What I am to you... (AU M/L Adult) Part 13 7/26/09 (WIP)

[cornflakegirl]

Title: …What I am to you
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating:Adult
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary: A story of friendship, love, denial and above all things soul mates……







What I am to you….


Part One


What I am to you… is not real
what I am to you… you do not need
what I am to you… is not what you mean to me
you give me miles and miles of mountains
and I’ll ask for the sea…..

Damien Rice *Volcano*


The Paper Soul Mates


“It has to be in the shape of a person silly….” She admonished snatching the paper from her best friend’s fingers.
Ten year old Liz Parker was determined to follow her Grandma Claudia’s instructions to the letter; after all her future happiness depended on it!

“The first thing you need to do is make a cardboard cut out of a person…..”
“The second thing is to make a list of what your soul mate will be like….”
“And last but not least you have to bury them deep in the ground and in a few years time fate will send to you the person you’ve described and that person will be your soul mate.”

Even for one so young Liz had a good understanding of what a ‘soul mate’ was. At the tender age of seven her grandmother had placed her on her knee and told her the story of how ‘soul mates’ came about. She had told her that once upon a time people had two heads and four arms, the people had done something terrible to upset God and as punishment he had sent a bolt of lightning from the heavens which split them straight down the middle and they were destined to wonder the earth only half made until they met their soul mate, the person who would complete them.

Wanting to cover all her bases Liz had decided that making the paper soul mate would increase her chances of meeting her other half and that’s what brought her to the back yard of Max Evans, with him being her best friend and all she had decided to ensure his future happiness as well as her own but so far he didn’t appear to be taking it seriously. “Come on Max! You have to do this right otherwise you won’t meet your soul mate or get married or have babies or-”

“This is really sissy Liz” Max whined snatching his paper airplane out of her hands. He didn’t know why he let her talk him into doing stupid things like this, if Alex or Michael ever found out that he was making paper dollies he’d never live it down “and besides I don’t never ever want to get married…..all girls have cooties!”


Liz raised tear filled eyes toward Max her expression one of pleading
“please Max, I’ll love you forever…”

Max would do anything to keep Liz from being upset and of course he wanted his best friend to love him forever and so snatching up a piece of paper he started to write down his list, it didn’t take more than a few seconds before he was finished “there I’m done.”

“Already?” Liz questioned wearily “maybe you should let me see what you’ve written” she replied whilst leaning forward to take his slip of paper.

“No!” Max shouted whilst moving out of Liz’s reach, the tips of his ears turning pink with embarrassment “if we show each other what we’ve written it might not come true.”

Liz regarded her best friend pondering what he’d just said “you mean like a birthday wish when you blow out the candles?”

Max nodded “yeah exactly, so we should just fold up our lists and tie them to the dolls, okay?”

Liz followed Max’s lead and dropped her paper soul mate into the steel flask that Max had pilfered from his father’s briefcase. Once the lid was sealed they placed it in the hole they’d made just below the elm tree in Max’s yard and together they knelt scooping the earth over the canister. Max helped Liz to her feet and they stood back and surveyed their handy work.

“I can’t wait for my soul mate to find me…” Liz sighed her head resting against Max’s shoulder as he placed his arm around her.


16 Years Later

“You can’t do this” Max Evans whispered hoarsely as he watched his girlfriend move around the apartment they’d shared for two and a half years boxing up all of her possessions, erasing all traces of a life shared together “you can’t just leave without any explanation!”

She halted her actions and turned sad eyes on him, what could she say to make him understand why this had to happen? “Max please don’t make this any harder than it has to be” she murmured softly.
The last thing in the world she wanted was to hurt him; he was such an amazing guy but that didn’t change the fact that their life together, their relationship would never be how she needed it to be “I’ve made up my mind and there’s nothing that you can say or do to change that.”

Max moved behind her his hands gently caressing her shoulders as he spoke softly against her ear “not even telling you that I love you?”
He felt numbed by this turn of events; he had thought that things were perfect between them, that they would spend their lives together. He had never expected to come home from work one day to find her leaving “whatever the problem is we can fix it, our love is strong enough to fix this.”

She allowed herself to believe his words for a split second and leaned into the comfort of his embrace but she knew in her heart that some things just couldn’t be fixed, no matter how hard you tried and oh how she had tried but she couldn’t delude herself anymore “I know that you believe what your saying Max but one day maybe soon you’ll realize the error in that statement and you’ll thank me for this.”

He stepped away from her then feeling her words sting him as a slap to the face would “I’ll thank you?” he growled as she turned her tense body to face him “I’ll thank you for breaking my heart?” he asked incredulous.

“Yes you will!” she cried moving past him into the living room, no longer being able to look at the pain radiating from his eyes. He couldn’t see the reason for her actions yet but soon it would become clear if he would only stop denying what he truly felt. Her leaving was an act of love whether he knew it or not.

“I’m going to go now… I’ll come by and pick up the rest of my stuff once I get settled.”

Max felt the panic mount in his heart as he watched her hand poised on the door, this was really happening she was going to walk out that door and out of his life forever.

“Goodbye Max!” she murmured painfully no longer able to hold her tears at bay, reaching out to stroke his cheek she smiled sadly as his eyes flickered closed “I’ll always care for you…” and with those parting words she was flying out the door suitcase in hand desperately trying to see her way through the tears.

For a second he had just stared blankly at the open door still not quite believing that this was real and then he was out the door and chasing her down the hall, her name tumbling from his lips as her eyes locked with his just before the elevator doors sealed.

“Tess….” He hissed painfully, the weight of his anguish causing him to double over on to the floor. He stayed that way for a long while too shocked to move before he pulled himself together enough to stand. Once able to place one foot in front of the other without stumbling he walked slowly don’t the hall past his own apartment door which still lay ajar and stood before the apartment right next to his. His hand gravitated to the bell unconsciously as he leaned against the door jamb feeling all his strength deplete.

It was only a matter of minutes before the door was flung open, its occupant pulling the door widely open “hey you!” she murmured cheerily before she noted the expression on Max’s face “Max what’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly a hundred awful scenarios churning in her mind “what is it, what’s happened?”

Max took one look at her concerned eyes and the dam broke- his body and emotions giving way as he fell into his best friends embrace, pulling himself tightly against her as he sobbed “Liz…” the only word issuing forth from his lips.

Liz watched in dismay as Max completely came apart in her arms, no longer able to support his full weight they slumped to the ground and she pulled him to her tightly, pressing his tear soaked face to her bosom. Realizing that he was in no fit state to tell her what was going on she comforted him as best she could “It’s goina be okay Max” she murmured “what ever has happened we’ll fix it, I promise” she placed a tender kiss to his temple hoping that she would be able to keep that promise……

TBC?

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: R possibly NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary: A story of friendship, love, denial and above all things soul mates……
Note: I just wanted to say thanks for all the amazing feedback, I really appreciate your comments and I just hope that the story lives up to your expectations. Hope you all enjoy the next part.

Kat

Part Two

Every Boy's Got one….

“Its goina be okay Max….whatever has happened we’ll fix it, I promise…”

Liz’s words were a balm to his wounded heart; he had no real concept of time as she rocked him gently in her embrace but the numbness of his limbs bore testament to just how long they had been locked together at the threshold of her apartment.

He still hadn’t managed to tell her what had transpired between him and Tess, his mind seemingly unable to form any coherent thought or words but Liz being the friend that she was didn’t force the issue. She had simply clutched his tear stained face to her heart and let him cry a river.

“Maybe we should go inside” she murmured her mouth pressing against his temple.
She was beginning to worry that something utterly devastating had happened, she had never seen Max break apart like this before and she had been there through all of the trials and tribulations that had transpired in his life to date. Her mind had ran through a multitude of maudlin scenarios but she had pushed them aside and concentrated all of her energies and attention on her best friend.

“She’s gone” he whispered a tremor evident in his voice “Tess….she’s gone.”

‘Gone?’ Liz felt her heart plummet at the possibility of what that one word could mean and despite Max’s inertness she needed to know what was going on, for the sake of her sanity if nothing else “what do you mean gone?” she waited a beat for his reply but none was forthcoming, he just simply burrowed further into her body his head resting against her lap.
“Max you need to talk to me I’m- I’m scared…”

Hearing the fear in her voice stirred him from his catatonic state and when he raised his eyes to meet her tear soaked face his heart contracted in his chest, he hadn’t even realized that she had been crying right along with him.
He pulled himself into an upright position and reached out a hand to touch her face “Liz I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare or upset you I just-I just needed you...”

She placed her own hand atop the one he had placed against her cheek and she squeezed in urgency “what’s happened to Tess?” she asked softly her heart racing, if anything had happened to Tess she knew Max would never recover and she didn’t know how well she would fare either, after all she counted Tess as a close friend.

Max read in her eyes what she feared had happened to Tess and he rushed to reassure her, even if Tess no longer had a heart she most definitely had her health “I came home from work today to find her packing up all of her things” he watched as confusion danced in her eyes “she walked out on me Liz.”

Liz stared at him dumbly, had she heard right? There was no way in hell that Tess would leave Max they where the most in love couple she knew “I just don’t believe it” she cried incredulously “why would she just walk away from your relationship, it doesn’t make any sense.”

Max nodded his head ever so slightly, it sure as hell didn’t make sense to him either; you would think that after sharing a life with someone they’d at least have the courtesy to tell you why their leaving you.

“Come on” he said as he pulled his aching body from the floor “lets take this little pity party inside” he extended his hand to Liz and made a valiant attempt to smile when she seized it.

Liz let Max lead her to the couch, sinking back into the cushions she pulled her legs up underneath her and turned to face him waiting expectantly for him to elaborate on the reasons behind Tess’ departure.

Max glanced at Liz and sighed he realized that she was waiting for an explanation but he didn’t even really know if he had one. Running over his conversation with Tess he couldn’t really gleam the reason behind her leaving, she had been pretty cryptic when she had told him that their relationship was over.
“According to Tess I’ll eventually be grateful that she left me.”

“She did not say that!” Liz cried in disbelief. This whole situation was a shock to the system, she had thought that Max and Tess’ relationship was solid she had even hoped that there would be wedding bells for her best friend in the not so distant future but now all of that looked unlikely. She couldn’t help but wonder what had brought about Tess’ decision “were you guys having any problems that you didn’t tell me about?” she asked even though the likelihood that Max had kept something about his relationship with Tess from her was remote.

Max threw his head back against the head rest “you know I would have talked to you if there was anything remotely wrong….I thought things between us were great. I just can’t get my head around this Liz” he sighed.

Liz scooted forward pressing her head close to Max’s “people just don’t walk unless there’s a reason, what exactly did Tess say?”

“Well she said that she couldn’t go on pretending anymore, whatever the hell that means...” he replied angrily “and of course I don’t love her the way she needs me too.”

“Max it would have been impossible for you to love her anymore than you already did” Liz replied.

To say that she was confused about Tess’ reasoning was an understatement; Max was the perfect boyfriend to Tess- loving, attentive. What more did the girl want? Liz didn’t want to voice the real question that was plaguing her mind but she knew that Max had to be thinking the same thing- was there a third party involved in this separation?
“You don’t think that someone else could be involved?” she asked hesitantly not wanting to hurt Max unnecessarily but the elephant in the room needed to be addressed by someone and what were best friends for if not for asking the tough questions?

Max closed his eyes willing the tears not to fall “it’s the only logical explanation” he replied painfully “you just don’t wake up one day and decide you’re not in love anymore, there has to be some kind of catalyst.”
He searched his memory for any tell tale signs that she had been having an affair but to his knowledge there had been none. Tess’ behavior hadn’t changed in any way or perhaps she was just a better liar than he credited.
“She’s been seeing someone behind my back and now she’s left me for him, it’s the only logical explanation.”

Liz looped her arm through Max’s and placed her head against his shoulder “Maybe, but you don’t know for sure Max and I gotta say that I never saw anything that suggested that there was someone else because believe me If I had I would have totally smacked that bitch down!”

Max turned his head and smiled into Liz’s hair “so Tess is a bitch now, I thought you liked her?” despite the gravity of the situation and the heaviness of his heart, Liz had managed to eleveate some of his pain, just her mere presence made things seem a little brighter.

“I do, I mean I did but after the way she’s hurt you” Liz sighed “it’s unforgivable…”
Liz couldn’t wait to see Tess at work tomorrow; she’d have a few choice words to throw her way.
Max deserved a better end to their relationship and if it was revealed that she had been cheating on him, well all she could say for Tess was ‘Hell have no fury like your ex boyfriend’s best friend on a rampage’

“Maybe there is no one else involved” Max stated hopefully “maybe she just needs some time to work out what she wants.”

“You really believe that?” Liz queried softly she really hoped that time was the only thing that Tess needed but from what Max had said it sounded as if this action was final.

“I don’t know” he murmured “It’s what I hope is going to happen.”

“Your going to try and get her back aren’t you?” she asked then, not really needing him to answer because she knew that’s exactly what he had in mind.

Max nodded “I was hoping that you could try and talk to her and find out why she left.”

Liz wasn’t sure that it would be such a good idea for her to get involved “you really think she’s going to tell her deepest darkest secrets to me your best friend? I know that Tess and I were close but she knows that my full loyalty lies with you Max.”

Max smiled at her comment, she really was the best friend a guy could ask for, she was his one in a million and he felt humbled by her unwavering love and support “if it’ll make you uncomfortable Liz you don’t have to get involved and while we’re on the subject of your friendship with Tess don’t feel that you have to cut her off because of me.”

“But-” Liz began to protest before Max placed a silencing finger against her lips.
“No buts” he replied “regardless of whether Tess and I work things out I will not be laying down any ultimatums, okay?”

Liz nodded and smiling she replied “there would be no choice to make Max; I’d pick you every time.”

Max pulled her into a tight embrace “Thank you” he whispered against her ear.
“Welcome” she answered hugging him back with all her might “so you want to sleep over?”

“Sean isn’t here?” he asked his eyes sweeping the apartment as Liz’s live-in boyfriend crossed his mind for the first time. Despite his dislike of Sean DeLuca the last thing Max wanted was to cause problems in Liz’s relationship, especially when he had enough of his own to contend with.

“He’s away on a business trip; he won’t be back for a couple of days so I could really use the company.”

‘So could I’ Max thought as he watched Liz stand and out stretch her hand for him to take “well I can’t have my girl go lonely now can I?” Max answered grabbing Liz’s hand.

“Let’s go to bed then” she said leading him by the hand through the apartment to the bedroom.

After stripping down to his boxers and t-shirt Max sank wearily into bed taking his usual place on the right side, whenever they did this, which was quite often (Sean was away a lot) it was an unspoken rule that the right side was his and the left Liz’s. He watched as she flicked off the bathroom light and in turn the bedroom light and went around to her side of the bed and scooted under the covers. Max closed his eyes when he felt her small hands snake around his waist as she spooned him from behind. He couldn’t put into words how much it helped having her here, he didn’t know how he’d ever survive if Liz weren’t in his life.

“Night Liz” he murmured his eyes drifting closed as he felt the comfort of sleep and her embrace lull him.

Liz nuzzled Max’s neck “Night Max” she clutched him tighter and made a vow that she would do everything in her power to reconcile him with Tess, she would do anything to put things right for him after all when he hurt, she hurt; when he bleed she bleed too, that’s what best friends were for….

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: R possibly NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary: A story of friendship, love, denial and above all things soul mates……
Note: I’m really overwhelmed by all the feedback everyone left, I really appreciate your support. Hope everyone enjoys reading the next part….


Part Three


How to hook up best friends and alienate people…..



On Friday morning Liz Parker walked into work with fire in her step, bypassing her own office she went straight for Tess Harding’s. Ignoring the protestations of Tess’ personal assistant she barged her way into the office the door slamming closed behind her. She watched as Tess’ eyes flashed in surprise. Had she really thought that today wouldn’t have started off with a visit from her? After all Tess had ripped out her best friends heart and stomped on it for good measure and unless she had a reasonable explanation Liz would be doing some ripping of her own, preferable hair and skin…..

“I think we need to talk don’t you?” Liz replied coolly her back pressed firmly to the door to prevent Tess’ assistant coming to her aid.

“I’m sure that Max has filled you in on all the details by now Liz so there’s really nothing more I wish to say” Tess sighed internally as she saw Liz stalk toward her desk, she really didn’t have the energy or inclination to get into a fight with her. Of course she was upset that she had broken up with Max, as his best friend that came with the territory but Liz wasn’t in possession of the full facts “Liz please don’t make this any more difficult than it already is…” Tess pleaded.

Liz couldn’t believe Tess, she was acting like the injured party when she had no right to, after all she was the one who had done the dumping “To be honest Tess at this point I don’t give a damn how difficult things are for you, my main priority and concern lies with Max.”

Tess shook her head in disbelief; Liz and Max really were two of a kind “of course it’s always about each other with you two isn’t it! Why did I even think this situation would be any different?”
Tess watched as confusion swept across Liz’s features- she was just as oblivious as Max when it came to the glaringly obvious “I don’t want to get into an argument with you Liz so please just leave my office” she replied wearily.

Liz blatantly ignored Tess’ request and sank down into the chair facing her, she would be damned if she allowed Tess to fob her off. She had promised her best friend answers and come hell or high water she wasn’t vacating this office until she got some.
“I don’t want to argue either I just want you to tell me why?”

Tess closed her eyes, how could she sit here and explain to Liz the reasons for her ending her relationship? She knew that Liz would not believe her if she told her that her relationship with Max had been a sham, that they had merely occupied space together in their apartment and while he had been with her in body and mind he had never been there in heart or soul.
“Things just weren’t working between us” she replied vaguely, even as the words left her mouth she instantly regretted them, from the looks of Liz they were like a red rag to a bull.

“Don’t feed me that old line Tess because it won’t wash” Liz hissed “just admit it already you where having an affair with someone weren’t you?” there was no point in skirting around the real issues. This was one question that Max needed to have answers to and she needed to know herself.

Tess felt a twinge of indignation at her accusation “I did not cheat on Max” she spat her blue eyes flashing “under no circumstance did I give my body or heart to any other person” she continued her eyes piercing Liz as she added “the same can’t be said for Max though…”

“Are you implying that Max was cheating on you?” Liz asked incredulous. She watched as Tess’ eyes flickered to the pile of papers before her before returning to her face, she didn’t answer the question but from her look Liz knew that she believed it to be true. “You cannot be serious, Max would never do such a thing and besides where would he have found the time to have some clandestine affair? When he wasn’t with you he was with me…”

‘Exactly!’ the word was on the tip of her tongue but she refrained from saying it, Liz would just laugh off any suggestion that the bond she and Max shared was anything other than close friendship. “I know Max wasn’t having an affair” but he might as well have been her mind screamed “I didn’t mean to imply that…”

“Then what did you mean to imply?” Liz asked defensively.

The two women sat staring at each other for long moments, the silence in the room deafening until a soft knock at the door broke their stale mate.

“Tess you ready to go?”

Liz turned a death glare on the person who had interrupted her interrogation “actually she isn- Kyle?” Liz’s gaze traveled from Kyle to Tess her face hardening as she noted Tess’ discomfiture “Kyle Valenti?” she challenged.

Tess squirmed in her seat and attempted to smile at Kyle “I’ll be ready in two seconds” she replied. She turned to Liz once again and saw her jaw clench, the last thing Tess wanted was for Liz to get the wrong impression about Kyle. It was obvious that Liz thought that her suspicions were true but Tess’ relationship with Kyle did not go beyond the realms of friendship. He had been such a comfort and support to her as she had thrashed out her feelings about Max and Liz, he had lent her a shoulder to cry on when she most needed it but that was as far as things went. While her love for Max had grown into the kind of love one would feel toward a friend she was not ready to launch into another relationship anytime soon and it was important that this situation wasn’t misconstrued and relayed to Max.
“Kyle and I have a coffee date” she told Liz.

“Really….. a date?”

Tess flinched as she realized that her attempt to convince Liz of her innocence had failed miserably “a coffee date…” she parroted willing Liz not to look for any hidden motive where there was none. “Kyle could you just give Liz and I a minute?”

Kyle was not oblivious to the tension in the room and he could guess as to what Liz was doing in Tess’ office, it was only natural that she would be there to chew Tess out for dumping Max. He really felt bad for Tess, she didn’t deserve to be painted as the villain, in fact no one did. From what Tess had told him Max had never seemed to realize or act upon his feelings for Liz, Tess just couldn’t go on sharing him anymore. He could really empathize with Tess’ situation after all he had dated Liz for a brief time in high school and even he had been intimidated by the strong bond she shared with Max, looking back he realized that was why their relationship hadn’t lasted.

“Sure thing Tess” he replied in answer to her request to give them a minute, he walked toward the door and turned to smile at Liz “it was nice to see you again Parker…”

“You too Kyle” Liz murmured her gaze never wavering from Tess. When she heard the door click closed she rose slowly from her seat, fists balling at her sides “you better start explaining or fur is goina fly Tess!” she would do anything necessary to fight Max’s corner in his absence and if that meant actual bodily harm so be it.

“Kyle and I are just friends Liz” Tess replied softly “my relationship with Max may be over but I’m not looking to jump into another. Kyle has just been supporting me, a shoulder to cry on so to speak.”

“Why should I believe you?” Liz whispered, if Kyle and Tess were seeing one another Max would be devastated, so much for her attempt at reconciliation between the two of them it was clearly evident that Tess wanted to move forwards.

Tess came around the desk and touched Liz’s arm tenderly “you should believe me because we’re friends. I know you feel betrayed because of how I’ve treated Max but Liz trust me when I tell you this is for the best. I know Max thinks I’ve broken his heart but that just isn’t possible…” she murmured.

“Isn’t possible?” Liz echoed she really wasn’t following along with Tess.

Tess nodded and swallowed down the lump that had arisen in her throat “to break someone’s heart you have to own it and with Max I never did….”

“Tess…” Liz murmured her confusion visible; Tess was speaking to her in riddles.

“I could say more but I realize its not my place to interfere, something’s just have to come to light in their own good time” Tess answered and smiled weakly at Liz “I hope that some day we can rebuild our friendship Liz and I mean what I said about Kyle.”

Liz didn’t really know if they ever could rebuild a relationship, it all sort of hinged on what was to happen between Tess and Max. “I have to tell Max about Kyle...” Liz said softly.

Tess bowed her head before walking to the door, she paused momentarily and turned “I understand but please don’t let him believe that this is Kyle’s fault, we really are just friends...”



Liz climbed over the railing of her balcony and onto Max’s, one of the reasons they had chosen to live in this apartment building was the ability to move between each others homes with ease. Finding the patio door unlocked Liz slide the door open and stepped inside, she could hear the glare of cartoons and thought that Max really had snapped, that was until she walked into the living room.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded as she stalked around the couch to stand in front of the television. Her gaze flickered from Max to her brother and she felt her irritation kick up a notch as she watched Michael dribble milk onto his bare chest. Judging from their attire of nothing more than boxer shorts it was evident that Michael had spent the night and the last thing that Max needed was Michaels brand of sympathy.

Michael ignored his sister’s question and cast a glance at the patio doors “can’t you use a door like a normal person Liz? I mean what if Max and I had been jerking off in front of the TV or something….” He mumbled around a mouthful of lucky charms.

Liz shuddered at the mental image “ewwwwwwww”.

Max shook his head and moved to the far end of the couch “I second that ewwwwww” he said whilst giving Michael a sharp look.

“It really did sound better in my head…” Michael replied helplessly his eyes sweeping from Max to his sister.

“Anyway..” Liz sighed “I just stopped by to see how you were doing Max” she smiled as he pulled her down into his lap.

“I’m bearing up” he murmured swatting her hands away as she tried to smooth his hair “Michaels been keeping me company…”
Liz looked in her brother’s direction her eyes narrowing “why is that exactly?”

Michael tossed his bowl on the floor before answering “My apartments being fumigated, Max is letting me crash for a couple of days.”

“You asked Max if you could stay here, why not just ask me I am your sister?”

Michael saw the hurt in her eyes and leaned across and placed a tender kiss to his sisters forehead, he hated it when she got upset “I’m sorry babe you know I would have asked, it’s just you know how much I hate Sean DeLuca and I’d rather eat my own turd than sit across a breakfast table from that-”

Liz cut him off, she didn’t need him to remind her how much he disliked Sean although Michael disliked everyone she was involved with romantically according to him no one would ever be good enough for his baby sister “Sean’s out of town on business, you would have known that if you had asked” she said pointedly.

“Liz…” Max said bouncing her on his knee “does it really matter where Mike crashes?” the last thing he wanted was for another fight to start over Sean DeLuca. Michael had never pulled any punches when it came to voicing his dislike for Sean; he on the other hand quietly seethed over Liz’s relationship with DeLuca, he totally did not deserve someone like her in fact Sean Deluca wasn’t even fit enough to lick her boots but alas Liz had chosen Sean and he would support her in every decision even if he disagreed.

Liz softened as she looked into Max’s eyes “you’re right, as long as he’s safe and not causing you any trouble everything’s fine.”

“Gee that was a real subtle threat Liz” Michael mumbled as he stalked into the kitchen.

Liz rolled her eyes before smiling at Max “so I have a proposition for you…”
“I hope its nothing unsavory Parker..” he joked tightening his grip around her waist, she really was amazing….

“Friday night you my friend are going on a date!”

Max watched Liz closely, had she really just said that he was going on a date? If this date didn’t involve either herself or Tess sitting across a table from him then he wasn’t interested. “Liz I don’t think that’s such a good idea unless you’ve managed to convince Tess to talk to me.”

Liz ran a hand across Max’s cheek, she had mulled over what Tess had said about her relationship with Kyle being strictly platonic and she realized that even if that were true it wouldn’t stay that way for long despite what Tess thought. So she had decided last night the best thing would be for Max to try and move on so logically that meant dating. Of course she didn’t expect him to get over Tess immediately nor did she expect him to fall madly in love with Serena the friend she had arranged for this date but it may go some way to softening the blow when she told Max about Tess’ coffee date.
“When I went to speak with Tess yesterday she had a visitor..” she trailed off hoping he would fill in the blanks himself.

Max tensed “by visitor I take it you mean male?”

Liz nodded she really didn’t want to break it to him that the visitor had been Kyle Valenti but they had a no secrets policy in their friendship “It was um Kyle Valenti.”

Max sucked in a breath he had obviously misheard her “did you say Kyle Valenti?” he watched as she nodded “the Kyle Valenti you dated in high school for three months and two and a half days?” please say no… he willed her.

“Did I really date him that long?” she wondered aloud.
“Lizzz” Max whined this morning was slowly turning into a nightmare.

“Sorry but yes, same Kyle” she watched in alarm as Max’s head slumped against her shoulder “but don’t jump to any conclusions, they were just going for coffee and Tess assured me they were just friends…”

“This can’t be happening” he murmured his head still burrowed against her “wasn’t it bad enough that he stole you in high school?” out of all the men in the world to have coffee with Tess had to go and pick Kyle Valenti. He absolutely hated the guy sure they had been friends along time ago, good friends in fact but that was until he had started dating Liz.

“Max don’t make this out to be something it isn’t okay?” she said holding his face firmly “I believe that they are just friends.”

“Yeah for now..” he interjected.

“That’s why I suggested this date with my friend Ser-”

“Yes” he shouted cutting her off .

“Yes you’ll go?” Liz asked hopefully.

He couldn’t believe that he was even contemplating going on a date after only breaking up with Tess two days ago but if she could go and have coffee with another man then he could go out to dinner “Yeah I’ll go…”

“Yea!” Liz replied her arms going around his neck in a choking hug “you’ll have a great time Serena is just the best….”

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: R possibly NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary: A story of friendship, love, denial and above all things soul mates……
Note: Thanks for all the amazing FB I really hope everyone likes this part.



Part Four


Dressing up and dressing down….


“You know Liz I think that I can just about manage to dress myself.”

Max chuckled as he watched her antics, for the past half hour he had been talking to the back of her head as she rifled around in his closet looking for ‘the perfect date outfit’ whatever that was.


She had openly berated him when he had suggested that he go ‘as is’, from the colorful and somewhat amusing vocabulary she had used it was apparent she didn’t think that his black tee emblazon with the slogan ‘Dude, Where's My Bar?’ would be appropriate dinner attire.


“Oh please Max” she mumbled whilst flinging discarded garments into a pile behind her “you only learnt how to tie your shoe laces when you were fifteen, so if you think I’m letting you choose your own clothes for this date think again…”


Max pierced her with his gaze “I was not fifteen I was eight and that whole loop and scoop thing was extremely confusing…” he grumbled the tips of his ears turning scarlet.


Liz emerged from the closet and smiled at him sweetly whilst thrusting a white button down shirt and black dress pants into his arms “here go get showered then put these on, your going to be late for your date with Serena.”


“Liz you realize that this isn’t a ‘date’ date” he cautioned as she pushed him toward the bathroom “sure we’ll eat dinner and I’ll do the gentlemanly thing and pick up the tab but that’s as far as it goes I’m not looking for another relationship or a rebound.” He was beginning to regret ever agreeing to go out on this date with Liz’s friend; his agreement had just been a knee jerk reaction to being told that Tess had a coffee date with Kyle Valenti.


“Max will you just relax” she murmured as she pushed him toward the shower “Serena knows the score, I’ve told her that you aren’t looking to date, she knows this is just casual.”


She couldn’t believe that he would suspect her motives to be anything but pure, she would never try and force him into a relationship with another woman so soon after his break up with Tess, she just wanted him to have a little fun and to forget about his situation for the evening. Of course by ‘fun’ she meant good food and conversation, him hooking up with Serena for a one night stand was out of the question. Serena was a great person but she just wasn’t suitable romantically that was the main reason she had thought to ask her to go on this date, she definitely wasn’t Max’s type.


Max sighed as he peeled off his t-shirt “couldn’t we just cancel” he asked hopefully his eyes pleading as he watched Liz hop up onto the counter “you and I could rent a movie maybe get some take out, what do you say?”
The closer he got to his ‘date’ the more apprehensive he became, after being in a relationship for so long he had forgotten what it was like to date even if it was casually, he was just so out of practice.


Liz felt a twinge of guilt that she was pushing him to do this, ever since he had agreed to it he had been trying to come up with an excuse to cancel and while she may have wanted nothing more than to curl up on the couch and watch a movie with him going on this date was in his best interests.
“Max you can’t just cancel, Serena has been looking forward to this all week, we can do something tomorrow night okay?”


“Okay” Max sighed as he kicked off his jeans “do you think you could give me a little privacy while I get naked” he asked his hands resting at the waistband of his briefs.


Liz laughed out loud “I have seen you naked before Max...” she shook her head at him he could be so prudish at times.


“Yeah when we were five” he scoffed “a lot of things have changed since then” he said with emphasis his eyes lingering on his crotch before returning to Liz.


She raised her eye brows as her gaze traveled down his lower half before snapping up to meet his gaze “you sure about that Max because it doesn’t look- Hey!” she mumbled against his hand that was currently clasped over her mouth.


He held one hand firmly across her mouth while the other snaked around her middle, setting her on her feet he lead her to the door before he removed his hand and said “a mans ego is a very fragile thing Liz, now let me get showered”



She giggled as he closed the door in her face; he was just the cutest thing when he got embarrassed. She loved how his dimple always showed and the way his ears heated up, it was just adorable. They had been his trademarks for embarrassment even when they were kids. The vibration of her cell phone startled her from her revelry and she fished it from her pocket murmuring a ‘hello’ as she hit the send button.


“Liz is that you? It’s Serena…”


Liz pressed the phone a little closer to her ear “Hey Rena what’s up?” she really hoped that Serena wasn’t calling to pull out on Max, despite all his protestations Liz knew that he would be disappointed and possibly see this as another rejection.


“I’m just calling to check that I’m appropriately dressed for the date I don’t want to go too over the top incase Max had something casual planned.”


Liz released a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding “Max has reservations for ‘Villa Italia’ so I’d wear something classy.”


“Great! So I thought I’d pull out my little red number the one that dips slightly at the front, I mean depending on how well the night goes I may need to wear something that comes off easily, if you catch my drift…” Serena murmured across the line.


Liz held her cell away from her ear and stared at it, was Serena really planning to wear her patented ‘fuck me’ dress on a dinner date with Max? Liz shook her head to dislodge the mental image of how Serena looked in that thing. When she said it dipped a little at the front that was the understatement of the century, if it pushed her boobs any closer to her face she’d lose an eye.
“You’re planning to wear the ‘fuck me’ dress!” Liz hissed into the telephone.


Serena was oblivious to Liz’s tone “Well Max Evans is one hotty totty I have been dying to get my hands on. Tess Harding’s loss is the rest of womankind’s gain…”


Liz squeezed her cell phone tightly, how dare she even think about putting the moves on Max. Serena and the rest of womankind better just keep their hands off Max’s totty or she’d slap them down “um listen Rena I wouldn’t go pouring yourself into that dress if I were you.” Liz said sarcasm dripping off her words.


“Why?” Serena barked down the line.


“Well Max has had a change of heart, he’s not really ready to get back onto the dating circuit just yet” Liz was shocked at how easily the lie rolled off her tongue “I was just about to call you...”.


“Whatever Liz” Serena seethed “next time you need someone to play rebound girl don’t call me!” and with that the line went dead.


“End of call, end of friendship….” Liz muttered as she snapped her cell phone closed.



“Hey who was that?” Max questioned as he walked into the living room buttoning up his shirt “will I do?” he asked gesturing to what he was wearing.


“You look extremely handsome” Liz replied as she circled around him “but I’ve got some bad news..” she really didn’t want to disappoint him but what was the alternative? She would be damned if she’d let Serena paw all over Max.


“What kind of bad news?” Max asked apprehensively, what else could possibly go wrong for him?


“Serena had to cancel on dinner, something came up I’m sorry Max” she replied apologetically and she really was sincere in her regret, she had wanted him to have a good time tonight.


“What was it that came up?” Max asked making his best attempt at sounding disappointed after all Liz had went to a lot of trouble to arrange this and him cutting cartwheels across the floor because he didn’t have to go out with her friend probably wouldn’t be well received.


Liz tried to think of a plausible excuse for Serena canceling but all she could think was what a dirty skank she was, she didn’t even know Max and she had planned to get it on with him “she had an outbreak of herpes!” the words just flew out of her mouth before her brain had a chance to process them. ‘Herpes’ that was a really plausible explanation way to go Liz.. She berated mentally.


She watched as Max visibly blanched, he always had been squeamish “herpes!” he squeaked “you set me up on a date with someone who had an STD? With a best friend like you I don’t need enemies”


Liz slapped Max’s arm “not that kind of herpes dufus!” she was really thinking fast on her feet “she’s got a cold sore” at Max’s raised brow she shrugged “what can I say the girls a little vain.”


Max eyed Liz and then shook his head “anyway it doesn’t matter I’m pretty relieved that I don’t have to go and make ideal small talk with a total stranger.”


Liz really did feel bad “but now you have to cancel your reservation at the restaurant..” she stated apologetically.


“I don’t have to cancel, we could go out to dinner.”


Liz gestured between Max and herself “us?” when he nodded enthusiastically she shook her head “Max look at the state of me, I’m hardly dressed for dinner..”


Max stepped toward her his hand reaching out to pull on her pony tail “I think you look beautiful” he murmured.


Liz raked her eyes over her denim dungarees and rolled her eyes “I think your high from the fumes of your aftershave Evans.”


Max laughed “so go get changed we don’t have to be at the restaurant for another twenty minutes and I know it won’t take that long for you to beautify yourself.”


Liz felt her smile brighten at his sweet comment “flattery will get you everywhere Mr Evans” she murmured as she ran toward Max’s patio doors so she could slip onto her balcony and into her own apartment “you shall go to the ball cinderfella..”


All Max could do was laugh and watch as she disappeared from sight “It looks like tonight won’t be such a disaster after all…..”

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: R possibly NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary: A story of friendship, love, denial and above all things soul mates……
Note: Note: I am so so so so sorry for the lack of updates on my stories but at the moment RL is throwing me for a loop and my writing time has been reduced to zero because of it. I really appreciate you all hanging in with this story. I will try my best to update again by the end of next week but I’ll make no promises.

Kat

Part Five



Snail paced epiphany…..



“Do I scrub up or do I scrub up” Liz murmured as she twirled a full circle in front of Max.

Max smiled goofily as she strutted in front of him her red dress fanning out around her, he had to admit that she did look beautiful but then Liz could wear a sack cloth and still look great “eat your heart out Kate Moss” he replied giving a teasing wolf whistle much to Liz’s delight.

Liz felt her cheeks heat slightly in embarrassment, she shook herself mentally for blushing at Max’s comment after all what where best friends for if not for pumping up the ego? “We’d better high tail it to the restaurant or they’ll give away your reservation.”

Max grabbed hold of her hand squeezing tightly as he led her to the door “well if you hadn’t taken an obscene amount of time getting changed we wouldn’t have to hurry now would we?”

Max had to laugh as she narrowed her eyes at him, he was truly thankful that Serena had cancelled on him and he would be spending the evening with the one person in the world he was most comfortable with.

Liz knew that Max was jesting and she couldn’t help but play along, since his breakup with Tess this was the first time she had seen him genuinely happy “Max you can’t put a time limit on beauty, so unless you want to eat alone I suggest you shut your sarcastic mouth and hold the door..”



“What do you mean you’ve given away the table?” Max asked in irritation trying his best to look menacing as he pierced the hostess with a glare.

She looked apologetically between Max and Liz “I’m very sorry sir but the restaurant has a strict policy on reservations, we did hold the table for a customary ten minutes but we had a couple walk in off the street so we gave your table to them” she replied gesturing to a table in the far corner of the restaurant.

Max’s gaze snapped to the table thieves and his jaw almost hit the floor “this cannot be happening..” he whispered. Out of all the restaurants in the entire city Tess and Kyle Valenti had to pick the one that he was at and to add insult to injury they had stolen his table as well.

Liz felt Max tense beside her as Kyle leaned across the table to whisper intimately in Tess’ ear “lets just go Max, we can find another place to eat” she cursed the heavens for their cruelty, just when Max was beginning to find his footing again he had the rug unceremoniously pulled out from under him. She couldn’t believe that Tess had lied to her; from where she was standing her and Kyle looked pretty cozy with each other “come on Max” she said tugging at his hand.

Max stood firm “I don’t think that will be necessary” he muttered stiffly “the table is big enough for four place setting, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if we gate crashed.”

“What?” Liz and the hostess hissed simultaneously.

Max put on his best show of casualness as he smiled at the two women before him, anyone would have thought he had just suggested something absurd “Our good friends Tess and Kyle won’t mind if we join their little dinner party.”

Liz stumbled as he pulled her toward the table “I really don’t think this is such a good idea Max.”

“Tess! Kyle! Fancy seeing you two here” Max exclaimed almost unable to repress a smile when Kyle choked on his drink “you don’t mind if Liz and I join you” he said more as a statement than a question but there was little room for any protestations as he had already pulled up a seat for Liz before planting himself beside her.

Liz wanted to crawl under the table and die of embarrassment, talk about awkward situations… she just didn’t know what had gotten into Max; it wasn’t like him to be so forceful but she supposed that jealousy and wounded pride would do that to any man. She smiled at Kyle and then Tess but she didn’t notice, her gaze was firmly set on Max as they partook in a staring contest “sorry to butt in on you guys but we lost our reservation.”

Kyle watched as Tess’ grip tightened on the stem of her wine glass “that’s okay it’ll be great to catch up, I mean we haven’t seen each other since high school Li-
Kyle’s words died on his tongue as Max fixed him with a cold look; he had obviously made a wrong move in mentioning high school. It seemed that he still hadn’t forgiven him for ‘stealing Liz’s affections’ as Max had put it.

Tess watched blankly as Max helped himself to a glass of wine, she couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. Of all the places to run into her Ex she had not envisaged that ‘Villa Italia’ would be the venue. She felt completely sorry that Kyle had been placed firmly in the middle of her angst ridden triangle and no doubt Max had Kyle pegged as the reason for the disintegration of their relationship.
“Why are you doing this Max?”

Max placed his wine glass on the table forcefully causing the liquid to slosh against the rim and spill onto the pristine table cloth “I just thought we could get the dreaded meeting of the ex’s new partner out of the way, it just seems like the adult thing to do. So how long have you and Tess been together Kyle?”

Kyle shifted in his seat uncomfortably “it’s not like that Max.”

Max smiled nonchalantly “Kyle there’s no need to pretend, I hope that the two of you will be very happy together, after all you both deserve each other” he rose from his seat “excuse me I need to use the restroom.”

Liz watched in shock as Max stormed towards the restrooms, she glanced apologetically at Kyle and Tess and then rose from her seat ready to go after her best friend but Tess stilled her “no I’ll go, I think it’s about time I told Max Evans a few home truths… for all our sakes.”

Liz and Kyle sat in an uncomfortable silence as Tess disappeared into the men’s room in search of Max. Kyle was the first to break the ice “fancy a drink?” he asked waving the wine bottle under Liz’s nose in enticement.


Liz nodded enthusiastically thrusting her glass at Kyle “fill it all the way to the top Kyle, all the way to the top…”

Max had just pulled his zip up when he heard the restroom door bang closed; he turned startled eyes toward an extremely pissed Tess Harding and looked on as she locked the door.


“Where the hell do you get off?” she hissed venom dripping from her words “you had no right, no right whatsoever to speak to Kyle like that.”

Max turned to face her, his jaw set in anger as he bit out “I’ll talk to him how I damn well please” he lowered his gaze from her feeling the full weight of her betrayal “how could you Tess? How could you cheat on me with Kyle Valenti when you know how I feel about him.”

Tess squeezed her eyes shut in frustration “I did not cheat on you with Kyle or anyone else for that matter, I was completely faithful pity the same can’t be said for you.” She watched as confusion swept his face, he really had no idea what she meant.

Max couldn’t believe her audacity “you know that’s not true Tess” he murmured “and I’m not the one whose out on a date you are.”

Tess resisted the urge to beat his head off the tiled wall “you’re here with Liz.”

Max laughed openly “you know that my relationship with Liz isn’t like that Tess.” Max couldn’t believe how low she would go to deflect the blame away from herself, next she would be telling him that she thought there was something going on between Liz and him.

“Well believe me when I tell you Max that our relationship always felt like it was three sided” Tess fumed, there was no way she was going to stand there and be painted as the villain of the piece. Her relationship with Max had broken down for the simple reason that he was in love with someone else, namely his best friend.

Max couldn’t quite believe what she was implying “don’t be so ridiculous Liz is my friend that’s as far as it goes.”

Tess stood toe to toe with Max her blue eyes flashing ice “so am I to believe that you sleep semi naked in bed with Michael and Alex also?”

Max shook his head “I don’t know where your going with this” he hissed moving around her to unlock the door and escape her accusation “but I’m not going to stand here and listen.”

Tess grabbed hold of his arm stilling any further advancement toward the exit “your in love with her” she stated softly.

Max shook off her hold “done be insane! While it’s true I love Liz, I’m not in love with her...”

“Why are you so afraid to admit it to yourself huh?” she questioned pressing her back firmly against the door to stop his retreat “are you worried that it will ruin your friendship with her? Or have you buried these feels so deep inside of you that you actually have been able to convince yourself that there’s nothing there?”

Max felt his mouth flap open and closed as she fired off her questions, he wanted to retort with some witticism but all thought had fled his mind “this discussion is over Tess” he muttered as he removed her from her sentry at the door. He felt her following close behind him as he weaved through tables and he picked up speed determined to get Liz and get the hell out of there.

When he finally reached his destination he frowned at the sight before him, Liz was practically falling out of her seat as she giggled hysterically at something that Kyle had said. Max’s jaw clenched as he watched Liz drain her wine glass and gesture for Kyle to refill it.


“Liz I think you’ve had enough” Max stated softly as he pried the wine glass from her fingers. He fixed his gaze on Kyle communicating to him silently that if he attempted to refill Liz’s glass he’d be wearing the contents and the imprint of Max’s fist.
“I think it’s time to get you home.”

Liz swayed in Max’s arms “noooooo the party is just getting started and while you were gone Kyle and I where just getting reacquainted, I don’t wanna go home Max.”

“Well that’s just too bad” Max murmured as he wrapped his arms around her waist “because we are leaving right now.”

Max brushed past Tess and guided Liz toward the exit, she stumbled forward and almost hit the pavement face first but Max managed to grab hold of her. Realizing that she wouldn’t make it to the car on her own legs Max scooped her up into his arms and carried her across the car park toward his car. “I’m going to pound Valenti for plying you with drink like that, what the hell was he thinking? No scratch that I know what he was thinking.”

Liz burrowed her face into Max’s shoulder and groaned “I’m sorry Max it’s just that you and Tess were gone so long and one glass of wine just seemed to turn into half a bottle…God I’m such a pathetic drunk!”

Max smiled as he seated Liz in the passenger side “you’re going to pay for this in the morning Liz.”

“I know” she hiccupped as her head lolled against the head rest.
Max ran his fingers across her cheek “just let me know if you feel sick okay?”

Max fumbled in his pocket for his keys, finally finding them he stumbled through the door careful not to wake Liz. She had fallen asleep on the ride home and he hadn’t the heart to wake her, so he had carried her up ten flights of stairs to his apartment since the elevator had decided to die whilst they where out to dinner.

He kicked open his bedroom door and gently deposited Liz in his bed placing the waste bin beside her incase she needed to be sick during the night. Kicking off his shoes he climbed under the covers beside her and eventually fell into a restless sleep….

The next morning Max woke to the sound of Liz retching in the bathroom, he quickly climbed out of bed and went to her aid. He found her practically drowning in the toilet bowl as she spilled the contents of her stomach, he had been right last night when he’d told her she would suffer “hey you need someone to hold your hair back?”

Max crouched down behind Liz and pulled her hair back from her face as she continued to be sick “its okay” he soothed as he rubbed circles on her back. When she had finally finished Max turned her head toward him and proceeded to dab her mouth with a wet cloth “how you feeling?”

“Like death warmed up” Liz murmured hoarsely, she felt like such an idiot after her antics last night “Max I’m sorry about last night.”

Max placed his hand underneath her chin “you don’t have to apolo-
Max let his hand fall away from Liz’s face as Tess’ words from last night came back to haunt him “your in love with her…”

Max felt his breath leave him in a whoosh as he realized that Tess was right, he was in love with his best friend. He looked at her face noting her panda eyes and smeared lipstick and he felt his heart flutter, the way it always did when she was near him. How could he have been so stupid? So blind? And of all the times and places to have an epiphany that your in love he had to have his whilst she was hung over and sitting beside the toilet.

Liz watched as Max hyperventilated “are you okay?” she asked with concern.

Max nodded dumbly “I- I’m fine, I’m good, everything is okay.”

“Okay..” Liz murmured. She reached out her hands expectantly to Max “um can you help me up my legs are still wobbly.”

Max clutched her hands “sure I can- I can do that” he muttered as he pulled her to her feet.

She pitched forward slightly and placed her hands against Max’s chest to balance herself and eyed him suspiciously “are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes!”

She narrowed her eyes at him “and we’re okay?”

“We’re great!”

Liz nodded as she pulled away from Max convinced that everything was alright between them “well I’m just going to go back to my apartment and take a shower, I’ll see you later?”

“Absolutely”

Max watched as Liz shut her apartment door, grabbing his keys he decided that he needed to talk his revelation through with someone and there was only one person who would understand and that someone was Tess….

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: R possibly NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary-Liz Parker and Max Evans have been the best of friends since childhood. At the age of seven Liz enlists Max’s help to ensure that they both meet their soul mates, so following guidelines given to Liz by her grandmother they make ‘Paper Soul mates’ and bury them in Max’s back yard. Sixteen years later their friendship is still strong but their respective romantic relationships are a disaster. When Tess Max’s long term girlfriend leaves him without explanation Max turns to his best friend for support completely oblivious of his feelings for her. When Max finally realizes that he loves Liz will he have the courage to tell her? And will she realize her own true feelings.




Part Six



The truth will set you free…..well sort of.



The incessant pounding at her apartment door finally managed to stir Tess Harding from her sound slumber. Kicking off the covers she cast an angry glance at her nightstand and cursed at the red glowing display of her alarm which read 7.30. Stomping down the stairs she pulled her nightgown more securely around her “this better be a life or death situation” she yelled to her unwelcome visitor sliding back the dead bolt, her words of reproach instantly dying on her tongue at the sight of Max Evans.

She cast a sweeping glance over him and waited for an explanation as to why he was standing on her doorstep at 7.30 on a Sunday morning but he merely stared at her his face stricken.

“Max what the hell are you doing here?” she finally questioned unable to keep her irritation in check, after their encounter and word exchange last night he was the last person she had expected to see.

Now that Max was standing face to face with Tess he realized that she might not be the best choice of person to thrash his feeling out with, she may not want to listen to him ramble on about how in love he was with Liz, talk about rubbing Tess’ face in it. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her any further than he already had but what plausible excuse could he come up with to explain his out of the blue visit?

Tess leaned against the door jamb and regarded Max carefully, she was still waiting for his answer but from the plethora of emotions clearly playing across every nuance and curve of his face she knew that none would be forthcoming.

She watched as he tried to conjure an excuse, his mouth flapping open and closed like a fish out of water, not being able to stand his discomfiture she finally spoke his mind for him “you’re here about Liz...” she stated softly.

Max nodded mutely and followed Tess into her apartment closing the door firmly behind him. He watched her move across the room to the couch but did not follow, he stayed rooted by the door “Tess everything you said last night was the truth and I just want you to know that I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Tess knew his apology was heartfelt and genuine; she smiled thinly and gestured for him to come and sit beside her. She waited until he was seated at her side before she turned fully and addressed him.

“Max I know that it was never your intention to hurt me” she sighed, her hand reaching out to pat his in a placatory gesture “and truth be told I’m over all the hurt… I’m over you. I just want all of us to have the happiness we deserve.”

“You really mean that?” he asked cautiously unsure if she really was okay with the way things had transpiring between them.

Tess nodded and with a smile tried her utmost to dispel his uncertainty “things hadn’t been right in our relationship for a long time. Yes at first I was hurt but eventually my feelings for you turned into something more platonic and it was then that I knew we couldn’t keep up the pretense, neither of our hearts where in it.”

Max knew her words to be true, for the latter part of their relationship they had coasted along and the physical aspect of their courtship had dwindled away to nothing, they were more like roommates than lovers.

“I don’t know what to do about this Tess” he muttered miserably. If he revealed his true feelings to Liz and she rejected him their friendship would be over and he knew that he couldn’t live without her so maybe it was better to just keep a lid on things, after all what he’d never known he’d never miss, right?

Tess watched Max in disbelief, he had just come to the most profound conclusion in his adult life and he didn’t know what to do? Men…. “What you do is tell Liz that you’re in love with her, it really isn’t that complicated.”

“She’s in a relationship...” Max replied weakly.

Tess visibly blanched, was Max Evans really telling her that he wouldn’t pursue Liz because she was in a relationship? And personally she would use that term extremely loosely since Sean De Luca was the other party involved “let me get this straight you’re not going to tell Liz of your feelings because of her relationship with Sean De Luca, is that a correct assumption?”

“Yes…”

Tess was indignant on Liz’s behalf at that pathetic excuse “Oh please!” she mocked “Liz’s relationship as you call it is about as real as our relationship was. Liz barely sees Sean; he’s either at the office or away on business. You’ve slept in their bed more times than he has.”

Max closed his eyes and sighed “I know it’s a lame excuse- I don’t give two hoots about Sean De Luca; I guess I’m just afraid she doesn’t feel the same way. I don’t want to make this big hearts and flowers declaration and then loss her from my life, I’d never survive. I’d rather pine away secretly and have her friendship than put myself out there and loss her.”

Tess sighed “Max a life lived in fear is only a life half lived, if you don’t tell Liz that she’s the one for you she may end up settling for Sean and trust me you will regret not seizing the opportunity.” She paused momentarily to let her words sink in, she’d be damned if she let Max throw away his happiness especially since trying to ensure that it happened someday had cost her dearly “and besides Liz is as crazy about you as you are about her.”

“You really believe that?” he asked hopefully.

Tess nodded and smiled “Max what you and Liz share is so far beyond friendship, normal mixed gender friends don’t sleep semi naked together on a regular basis nor do they share significant news with each other before their respective partners. Liz is just living in denial like you were; she just needs a little shake to realize her true feelings.”

“Tess I need you to come some place with me” Max muttered excitedly as he pulled her to her feet and toward the front door, he stopped short when he met with her resistance “I know under the circumstances it’s a lot to ask.”

“Its not that Max, I’m not exactly dressed from an outdoor escapade” she grumbled gesturing toward her bathrobe. Noting the flush creep into Max’s ears she smiled fondly and began to trudge up the stairs “just let me pull some clothes on then we can go…”



“Explain to me why we’re here...” Tess asked as she loomed over Max’s hunched figure “and why are you digging a hole in your parent’s yard?”

Max clawed at the dirt with his bare hands, he knew that they hadn’t buried the canister deep so it wouldn’t take too much time or exertion to get to it “I’m looking for my soul mate...”

Tess’ face crumpled in confusion “excuse me but did I just hear you say soul mate?”
“Uh huh…”

Tess shook her head in frustration “correct me if I’m wrong but I thought she was half way across town at her apartment not buried under a tree in your family’s backyard...” she replied sarcastically.

Max ignored Tess’ barb and kept on digging “when Liz and I were seven years old we made paper soul mates and buried them in this very spot.”

“Why?” Tess queried.

“According to Liz’s grandmother it would ensure we met our soul mates.”

Tess looked on as Max pulled a tarnished canister from the ground and dusted his hands against his jeans “you loved her even then didn’t you” she stated softly.

Max nodded ever so slightly as he turned the paper doll between his fingers, his eyes lingering on the word he had scrawled sixteen years ago, the word which encompassed all the things he hoped in his heart that his soul mate would be.

Tess loomed over Max’s shoulder to see what had him so enthralled “what does it say?” she whispered excitedly.

Smiling Max passed the slip of paper to her and uttered the word or rather the name etched into the paper in red crayon “Liz…”

Max and Tess shared a smile as they placed the canister back into the earth, just then Phillip Evans came out back, his sun hat and hedge trimmer clutched firmly in his grasp.

“Max, is that you son?” he called in the direction of the elm tree, his hand rising to shield his eyes from the suns blinding rays “and is that Tess with you, what are you doing back there kiddo?”

Tess dusted herself off and made her way across the lawn to Mr. Evans, thumbing her finger in Max’s direction she laughed and answered Phillips question by replying “Max was looking for his soul mate.”

Phillip Evans shook his head in confusion and dead panned “in the backyard….”

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary-Liz Parker and Max Evans have been the best of friends since childhood. At the age of seven Liz enlists Max’s help to ensure that they both meet their soul mates, so following guidelines given to Liz by her grandmother they make ‘Paper Soul mates’ and bury them in Max’s back yard. Sixteen years later their friendship is still strong but their respective romantic relationships are a disaster. When Tess Max’s long term girlfriend leaves him without explanation Max turns to his best friend for support completely oblivious of his feelings for her. When Max finally realizes that he loves Liz will he have the courage to tell her? And will she realize her own true feelings.




Part Seven


The best relationships are the ones rooted in friendship....


Max sighed as Liz burrowed her head against his chest, he pressed his chin against the crown of her head and covertly inhaled the clean scent of her hair. He pondered how oblivious he had been to all the signs, all of the inclinations held within the recesses of his heart, why had it taken so long for him to realise that he was hopeless head over heels in love with his best friend? His hold on her tighten imperceptibly as he brooded on the fact that he had been holding all of these feelings and wants within himself for two whole months.



It had been eight weeks since he'd scooped a hung over Liz Parker into his arms and held her hair back while she retched, eight long agonising weeks since he'd hunted for a long forgotten piece of paper buried in his back yard and eight weeks looking on as Liz played house with Sean De Luca....

Liz smiled into the fabric of Max's shirt as she watched the television, she loved lazy Sunday afternoons which consisted of hours of X Files re-runs and a tub of Ben and Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie. She felt completely at ease ensconced within Max's embrace "you know Rain King is my absolute favourite episode" Liz murmured as she watched the little girl twirl her baton in welcome as a bemused Mulder and Scully looked on, she couldn't help but smile.

Max gazed down at her, his eyes softening as she flashed her beautiful smile toward the television "I know that's why I put this episode on first" he replied his eyes never wavering from her face. As much as he loved watching the X Files Liz was definitely more riveting.

Liz turned her face toward Max and was surprised to see him staring intently at her "your just too sweet but do you know what would be even sweeter?"

Max shook his head at her hopeful expression, he knew exactly what she was going to ask but he played dumb "no what?"

Liz gave him her most dazzling smile and fluttered her eyelashes for added effect "do your Mulder impression, please Max?"

Max chuckled as she swished her head against his shoulder "well would I be rewarded for my efforts?" he asked playfully.

Liz mulled over his request, her eyes falling to the ice cream tub wedged between her thighs "you can have the last scoop of fudge brownie" she replied knowing that Max would find that a satisfactory renumeration since he would usually try and fail to wrestle the tub from her kung fu grip.

Max's eye brows shot up in mock amazement "your offering me the last scoop?"

Liz rolled her eyes "yes and don't try and make out that its some feat because it isn't, you got the last scoop last Sunday."

Max snorted "Is that so because I distinctly recall chasing in circles after you while you shovelled the remainder of the carton into your mouth."

Liz waved her hand dismissively "look thats not talk semantics I solemnly promise that I will spoon feed the last scoop to you if you do your Mulder Impression."



Max's lip quirked at the thought " spoon fed huh? its a deal." He shook his head as Liz clapped her hands together in glee and watched him intently, he glanced across the living room and felt his ears heat in embarrassment, turning his gaze quickly back to Liz he schooled his features as close to Mulder's as possible and said "Holman I do not gaze at Scully..."

Liz applauded "that was great Max" she replied as she shovelled a generous helping of ice cream onto her spoon and into Max's mouth " see I'm a woman of my word" she smiled holding up the empty tub for inspection.



"This sucks Satan's cock!"



Max and Liz turned collectively toward the recliner in which Michael Parker was seated, Liz fired the empty ice cream carton at his head "and to think you kiss our mother with that vulgar mouth" she admonished "why are you even here? it's not as if Max and I have you shackled to the chair, if you don't want to watch X Files re-runs there's the door" Liz gestured to it with her thumb "you can go right ahead and walk out it."

Michael scowled at his sister and fired the ice cream tub at her in retaliation but Max deftly caught it right before it hit Liz square in the face "traitor" Michael muttered to Max who merely shrugged his shoulders. He returned his gaze to his sister "for your information I came over here to watch the game" he glanced at his watch "which I've already missed ten freakin minutes of thanks too you two geeks watching lame ass repeats."



"I thought you liked the X Files" Max said "just the other day you were telling me how hot Scully was in medical scrubs."

Michael cast an annoyed look at Max "yeah I do and she is but not as hot as hockey players.." he trailed off as Max and Liz crumpled against each other in hysterics "whats so funny?" he barked.

Max wiped tears of laughter from his face and clutched Liz's head to his chest as she snorted in amusement "not as hot as hockey players?"

Michael felt his cheeks flame as Max threw his words back in his face, he really did need to learn to think before he spoke "that sounded better in my head" he jumped to his feet defensively when they continued to laugh and wagged a finger at them "now you know I didn't mean that the way it sounded, when I said hot I didn't mean that in a sexual way..Oh too hell with you two" he bellowed in embarrassment and stalked toward the door.

"Hey come back we're sorry Mike" Max shouted.

"Michael" Liz called as she jumped off the couch and ran toward the door blocking her brothers exit "we're sorry for laughing at you but you just make it so easy for us" Liz held up her hands in surrender at Michael's dagger-ed look "I'm sorry okay..I love you, Max loves you and as a token of that love take my apartment keys and watch the game on my 42 inch television." Liz smiled as Michael's eyes sparkled as he snatched the keys dangling enticingly from her fingers but she saw his face fall and knew what he was thinking "don't worry Sean's out of town on business, so you'll have the apartment all to yourself."

Michael smiled and pulled his sister into a hug "I love you your the best." he waved goodbye to Max whilst Liz was still in his arms "I'll leave you guys to it" he said pulling the door closed behind him "catch you dorks later."



Liz flopped down onto the couch and placed her head in Max's lap "that feels so nice" she sighed as Max ran his fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes and just listened to the dialogue playing out on the television. She listened on as Scully gave Shelia a pep talk.

"Well, it seems to me that the best relationships-- the ones that last-- are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is... suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with."


Max listened to the words and they summed up his entire relationship with Liz, the way he felt about her had slowly crept up on him. In retrospect their shared closeness wasn't that of typical friendship, he could see that to someone from the outside looking in their interactions with each other would have appeared extremely intimate and they were. He would never contemplate sharing his bed with any of his other female friends nor would he loving stroke his fingers through their hair.

Looking back it seemed that the love had always been there for him at least, whether it was the love of an innocent ten year old as he scribbled his best friends name onto a paper soul mate or the all encompassing love that threatened to overwhelm him at this very moment. He wanted nothing more than to confess to Liz and let his true feeling for her be known to the world.

Tess had been spurring him on, attempting via telephone and email to jar him to make his heartfelt declaration but even the acts of bodily harm she had threatened could not force the words past his lips because if he was honest with himself, completely honest he was terrified that she would reject him, that his love would be unrequited and for the thousand reasons that could suggest that she felt for him what he felt for her there where a thousand others to refute them and Sean De Luca was top of the list. Liz wouldn't be with Sean if she didn't love him, if she wasn't invested in their relationship would she? or could he dare hope that she was merely sleep walking through life with Sean the way he had been with Tess? was she just waiting to wake up and realise that Max was the one for her?



Max stilled the stroking of his hand through her hair as he listened to her even breathes, he thought his actions had lulled her to sleep until she murmured a 'please don't stop' against him thigh. He resumed the motion his thumb sweeping across her forehead and into her hair. He was silent for a while before gently enquiring about Sean "So De Luca's away on business again?"

"Yeah" Liz murmured her eyes fluttering closed as Max's fingers danced softly across her brow "some buying exhibit or other, why do you ask?"

Max shrugged even though she couldn't see him "just curious, he's away a lot I just wanted to make sure everything is okay."

Liz turned over and rested her head in Max's lap her eyes rising to lock with his "why wouldn't things be okay?"

Max shook his head and cursed himself for starting this topic of conversation, over the last number of weeks he had asked a lot of questions about Liz's relationship with Sean, trying to ease them into conversation as flawlessly as possible so that she wouldn't suspect he was fishing but the questions in her eyes as she looked at him now meant she knew something was amiss. "You must miss him is all I'm saying- he's away so often."

Liz's brow furrowed and she paused before she finally mumbled " I guess so." Max felt his spirits rise slightly at her unenthusiastic response and before his brain could get in gear his mouth started to run away with itself "I'm not in love with Tess" he practically shouted, he chanced a look at her face and noted that she was staring intently at him "I..there's someone else I care about." he whispered softly as he gazed into her eyes, they seemed to register surprise before she smiled warmly and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"So that's what you've been hiding from me" she muttered "so will I like this mystery woman?"

Max smiled "I think its safe to say that you'll love her just as much as I do in fact she-" Max was cut off mid sentence by Liz's ringing cell, she smiled apologetically "hold that sentence okay" she murmured as she fished the offending item out of her pocket and hit the send button "hello" she answered as she extracted herself from the couch mouthing Sean's name to Max as the identity of her caller "your coming back early, thats great..."

Max watched as she laughed at something Sean had said and he felt himself die a little inside, he had been so close to confessing his feelings, he had been spurred on by a TV characters speech to put his heart on the line and he almost had, closing his eyes in sadness and utter frustration he sunk back against the couch lamenting how the word hello could steal his thunder and his hopes.

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary-Liz Parker and Max Evans have been the best of friends since childhood. At the age of seven Liz enlists Max’s help to ensure that they both meet their soul mates, so following guidelines given to Liz by her grandmother they make ‘Paper Soul mates’ and bury them in Max’s back yard. Sixteen years later their friendship is still strong but their respective romantic relationships are a disaster. When Tess Max’s long term girlfriend leaves him without explanation Max turns to his best friend for support completely oblivious of his feelings for her. When Max finally realizes that he loves Liz will he have the courage to tell her? And will she realize her own true feelings.


Note: Big thankyou to Stacie for moving this back to the forum for me


Part Eight

Coffee dates and broken plates....


"I was in the process of making my heartfelt declaration, of finally, finally admitting my feelings to her when he calls and says he's coming home early. Talk about fates conspiring..." Max grumbled as he dumped the last packet of sugar into his untouched coffee.

Tess clapped her palm against her mouth as Max took a sip from his coffee cup, she couldn't help but chuckle as he coughed and spluttered. Listening to him pour his heart out for the last hour, her eyes alternated periodically from his expressive face to his hands as they absently dumped sugar packet after sugar packet into his mug, all in all she'd counted twenty packets. It was no wonder he was pulling faces after tasting that particular concoction, that one sip probably containing enough sugar to cause a cavity.
"You have no one to blame but yourself Max" Tess murmured "you've had ample opportunity to tell Liz of your feelings."

Max grimaced, of course he knew that Tess was right. No higher power was responsible for his current predicament, he only had himself to blame "I know- I know" he muttered whilst gesturing with his hand "the only thing that's stopping me from confessing all to Liz is my own cowardice and ineloquence. I just never seem to be able to find words poetic enough to convey the extent of my feelings."

Tess rolled her eyes, men they were so dramatic! "Max, no one expects you to be Pablo Neruda. You don't have to wax lyrical and it doesn't have to be all hearts and flowers. You just need to be honest. True."

"I doubt I'll get the opportunity now, he's been gone so long they'll probably barricade themselves in her apartment and have wild animalistic sex day and night to make up for lost time." Max sighed deeply and scrubbed his hand across his face in an attempt to dislodge the image "and you know the wall between our apartments is paper thin, it'll be like listening to it in surround sound. In fact their probably going at it hammer and tongs as we speak." he lamented a muffled "Oh God.." whispered despairingly as he knocked his head repeatedly against the table top.

Tess felt a slight blush steal across her cheeks as the other patrons of the coffee house looked in their direction, she smiled weakly before placing a stilling hand atop Max's head "don't be such a drama queen. Sean will most likely be jet lagged and in no state or mood to perform, the hot animalistic sex probably won't take place for at least another twenty four hours."

Max lifted his eyes and glared at her "this is the last time I seek you out for support and a pep talk, Tess Harding."

Tess reached across the table and squeezed Max's hand affectionately "Okay you really want to know what I think about this whole situation?" she waited for Max's nod of approval. Pushing her coffee cup to one side she leaned further across the table toward Max, her soft and honest eyes locked with his "I think that Liz is as deluded as you were about how she truly feels. I know you have this rosy perception of their relationship but Max you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. I mean look at us.." her hand motions between them before she lays it flat against the table "when we were together people looking in on our relationship would have believed us to be blissfully happy but that just wasn't the case." Tess smiled softly " to summarize I don't think you should give up hope, have a little faith and everything will come good in the end."

Max reached across the table and clutched Tess's fingers, his eyes shinning with gratitude and warmth as they rose to meet hers "Kyle's a lucky guy."

Tess sucked in a startled breath "Kyle?" she shook her head "we're just friends" she wondered if her words sounded as hollow and false to Max's ears as they did to her own and judging by his Cheshire cat like grin she wasn't fooling anyone least of all herself. Feeling the flames of embarrassment ignite her cheeks Tess burrowed her face between her hands and murmured "can we please get back to talking about your love life...."




"I've been seeing someone else...."

Liz's hand faltered, had she just heard him correctly? The plate slipped from between her fingers slopping soapy water all over the front of her jeans. Turning slowly she fixed her gaze on Sean and with a calm she didn't feel asked him to repeat what he had just said.

"Her names Maureen, I met her six months ago at the gym. I'm sorry...." he shrugged his shoulders as he apologized, his face devoid of emotion and she knew he didn't really mean it.

Liz turned her back no longer able to stand the sight of him "you've been carrying on behind my back for six months" she gritted, her teeth clenching in time with her curled fingers against the sink "your not sorry at all, you Bastard...."

He took a step toward her "it's true I'm not sorry" he murmured aligning the front of his body against her back "our relationships been dead in the water for a long time Liz, mainly due to your frigidness" he ground himself against her thigh and whispered against her ear "can you really blame a guy for looking elsewhere."

Liz squeezed her eyes shut in revulsion at the feel of him pressing against her and felt no small measure of relief for the fact that she had never given Sean DeLuca her body. "Why don't you go grind your pathetic manhood against your whore, bastard!"

Liz let out a surprised yelp as his fingers dug into her forearms, spinning her around to face him he pinned her against the sink " I think it's about time I had some remuneration for suffering years of your prick teasing."

Dread. panic. rage. They consumed Liz in equal measure as he continued to hold himself against her, his hot breathe rasping vulgar words into her ear and then something inside of her snapped. Before she knew what was happening she had reached into the luke warm water in the sink and she lashed out at him with the first object she laid hands on. The plate crashing against the side of his head took him completely by surprise and he stumbled back a step, disorientated.

Sean raised his bloodied fingers for her inspection "look what you did, you bitch!" he hissed venomously as he took a step toward her.

Liz felt her anger ratchet up a notch, reaching for the remaining plates on the side board she held them firmly, the stack nestled in the crook of her arm "I'm warning you Sean don't come any closer or you'll be spending the night in casualty" Liz smiled calmly. sweetly before flinging a plate at his feet to emphasize her words.

Sean danced out of it's path "Jesus!" he yelped, hands raising submissively "can't we just be civilized about this."

He was unbelievable, Liz lobbed another plate at him and managed to hit his hand, she smiled in satisfaction as he cursed and clutched his injured hand "you try to sexually assault me and you accuse me of not being civilized?"

"Okay, I'm sorry about that but you provoked me!"

Liz's eyebrows practically arched off her forehead "provoked you?" she fumed, her fingers flexing against the cluster of china still cradled in her arms "you tell me your cheating on me, you call me frigid and I'm the one that's provoked you!" she spat the words at him, her anger and disgust at the man before her boiling over, with a frustrated scream she fired the remainder of the plates against the floor at her feet "get the hell out of my apartment, out of my life. I never want to see you ever again" she panted.

"I'm not leaving here without my stuff" he sneered, arms folded across his chest.

Liz sighed "fine, you have five minutes to grab what you can then I'm calling the police" she waited until he disappeared into the bedroom they had shared before slipping out of her apartment and into Max's.


"Max!" she called out hoarsely, her waterlogged eyes sweeping over the darkened living room in despair "Your not home" she whispered brokenly before sinking down onto the couch, her legs suddenly feeling boneless, all of her earlier bravado leeching from her body she clawed at her eyes and sobbed brokenly.


"Liz?"

She drew in a shuddering breath and tried to force a smile but it looked more like a grimace "I didn't even hear you come in."

Max clutched her tear soaked face between his hands, his fingertips swiping at her tears "Christ Liz what's wrong?" he queried softly his voice catching in his throat as she turned her sodden cheek into his palm and sobbed.

"Please.." he croaked feeling her upset and pain as acutely as if it were his own "please tell me what's going on."

Liz had to blink to clear the tears swimming in her vision, her heart ached at the stricken look on Max's face, she flashed back to Max's break up with Tess and remembered how cut up she had felt at not knowing what was happening with him, she realized that he must feel as helpless now as she did then. Flinging her arms tightly around his neck, her tear moistened lips brushed his neck "I'm sorry" she murmured, pressing her body as close to his as physically possible, leeching warmth and comfort from his embrace.

Max tightened his hold on her, his chin pressing against her forehead "you have nothing to be sorry for Liz" he murmured soothingly. Pulling back he smoothed her hair from her cheek, his thumb stroking across her eyebrow "talk to me Liz..."

She nodded once, her eyes falling closed as she rasped "he's been cheating on me, six months, he's been screwing some other woman."

When Max remained silent she chanced a look at him and flinched at the rage burning in his eyes, reaching out a hand to his clenched jaw she tentatively called his name "Max?"

The touch of her cool hand against his heated flesh brought Max's eyes to rest with her's "I'm going to kill that sonofabitch!" he seethed, his hand curling into a fist so tight that the normally tanned skin of his hand was a pallid white under the stress and strain of bone and sinew. "How dare he hurt and treat you like this! how dare he!!"

Liz swallowed the lump in her throat and placed her hand over Max's clenched fist, the tips of her fingers caressing some of the tension away "he's not worth it Max, I just want him gone out of the apartment, out of my life..please calm down."

"He's still in there?" Max asked in disbelief, springing to his feet he touched his hand to Liz's cheek and whispered a soft "wait here" before he disappeared over the balcony to her apartment.

"No! Max..." Liz stumbled to her feet and trailed after him, the last thing she wanted was an altercation between her scumbag ex and best friend. When Liz finally managed to drag her energy depleted body over the rail of the balcony she found that Max had Sean pinned to the wall by his throat.

"I oughta choke the life right out of you" Max hissed through gritted teeth, his fingers biting into Sean's flesh with bruising force.

Sean gasped for breath "you. don't. know. all. the. facts. please." he rasped, fingers clawing at Max's hands.

Liz shook her head, Sean truly was pathetic. How had she ever thought him a man? "He's not worth it Max" Liz called out softly. She momentarily distracted Max and he unconsciously loosened his grip giving Sean an opportunity to strike back.

"No!" Liz screamed as Max staggered backwards and hit the ground with force.

Sean kicked Max in the gut "like I said you aren't in full possession of the facts" he murmured, his fingers massaging the bruised flesh of his throat "not that it's any of your business but she deserved everything that happened here tonight." Sean walked in a circle around Max "two years I waited for that frigid little bitch to give it up. Two years of frustration and teasing, can you really blame me for trying to take a piece tonight...any self respecting man would."

Max's eyes registering surprise snapped toward Sean "what did you just say" his voice was low and threatening as he pulled himself to a standing position. He turned his gaze momentarily to Liz and felt his heart seize in his chest as he watched her bite her fist to muffle her sobs. If Sean DeLuca had touched her he was a dead man.

Sean shrugged a shoulder oblivious to the murderous intent in Max's eyes "I thought she might have screamed attempted rape when really it was just a guy attempting to take something he'd earned.

Max's fist connected with Sean's nose with a ferocious force, the crack of bone and splatter of blood richoceting off the walls. Sean stumbled, the backs of his legs connecting with the couch.

Max cradled his blood spattered hand against his chest and cursed, his legs shook as he stalked towards Sean "If you ever touch her again I'll kill you" Max backed him against the door, his foot scuffing Sean's suitcase "Get the hell out and don't ever show your face around here again."

Max turned away from Sean and hissed in pain as Liz flung her arms around him, she had inadvertently knocked his bruised knuckles.

"Sorry" she murmured pulling his hand gently away from his chest so that she could examine it.

Hearing the door open they both craned their heads toward Sean, watching in satisfaction as he fumbled with his bags.

"You two deserve each other" he spat poisonously before slamming the door behind him.

Liz was the first to look away from the now closed door, her attention drawn back to Max's injured hand "this looks pretty bad, we'll have to ice it to stop any further swelling" Liz raised her eyes toward Max, as he turned to look at her she gasped in shock at the tears pouring unchecked down his cheeks. "Oh Max" she pressed her hand against his face "I never meant for you to get hurt, Sean is so not worth it."

Max shook his head and pulled her close "it's not my hand" he managed to choke out.

"It's not?" Liz asked as she rubbed circles on his back in an attempt to sooth.

"He attacked you Liz! I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"What? no Max" Liz pulled Max's down turned face toward her "look at me" when he didn't comply she pressed her hands against the sides of his face and forced him to look directly into her eye's "you have nothing to be sorry for, the only person at fault here is Sean and he didn't really get the chance to do anything" she shook her head and smiled slightly "I kinda clobbered him with half of the dinner service your mom and dad bought me as a house warming gift."

Max let out a half laugh, half sob "Who knew those ugly things would come in so handy."

"Yeah" she replied, her hand ruffling his hair "I'm okay, really."

He searched her face, seeking reassurance that she really had managed to fend him off before things went too far "really?"

She pulled him firmly against her chest, her hands winding around his waist "Really. As long as I've got you in my life Max nothing will ever really go wrong...."

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating:Mature
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary-Liz Parker and Max Evans have been the best of friends since childhood. At the age of seven Liz enlists Max’s help to ensure that they both meet their soul mates, so following guidelines given to Liz by her grandmother they make ‘Paper Soul mates’ and bury them in Max’s back yard. Sixteen years later their friendship is still strong but their respective romantic relationships are a disaster. When Tess Max’s long term girlfriend leaves him without explanation Max turns to his best friend for support completely oblivious of his feelings for her. When Max finally realizes that he loves Liz will he have the courage to tell her? And will she realize her own true feelings.


Note: Thanks to everyone who left feedback, it's very much appreciated. Sorry this update took so long to churn out and that it's so short but I've been suffering a severe bout of writers block. I guess thats just the peaks and troughs of writing fanfic. I've managed to gain back some momentum so it shouldn't be too long until the next update. Thanks for sticking with me.

Kat



Part Nine


Commiseration and Inebriation


"That's it, I'm taking a vow of celibacy....screw men!"

Max winced as he took a swig of tequila straight from the bottle "that statement may have been believable if you hadn't tacked on the screw men" Max smiled wryly at Liz's eye roll and arm swat handing her the tequila bottle as a peace offering.

"I didn't mean that in the literal sense" she grumbled before her lips engulfed the bottleneck, taking a healthy draw. She spluttered a little as the liquid burned a trail down her throat, swiping her hand across her mouth she locked eyes with him "you where in the room for Sean's little tirade about the lack of intimacy in our relationship."

Max snatched the tequila from her grasp and raised the bottle to his mouth, he was suddenly unsure how to broach this topic of conversation. Despite how intertwined their lives were, each others sex lives was never something they had been privy to and in light of his growing feelings Max was slightly uncomfortable talking about it with her.

Liz watched as Max nervously plucked at the Jose cuervo label, he hadn't so much as glanced her way "when you've finished desecrating that, the elephant in the room is still gonna need to be addressed."

Max cast his eyes toward her briefly and tried to appear nonchalant "I don't know what you mean..." when he dared to look her way again he found her all scowl.

"You find out that I'm still a virgin and you have absolutely nothing to say about that?" she queried.

Max shrugged and offered her a crooked smile "ah- I don't really know what you expect me to say Liz, I mean this is uncharted territory for us." Max could tell that she was not at all satisfied with his answer.

She scrunched her nose, head lolling to the side as she spoke "so you don't think it's abnormal for a woman of twenty six to still be a virgin."

It was more of a statement than a question but the defensiveness in her tone startled him, could she really think that he would think less of her because she had chosen to remain chaste? "what? no! no! I don't think that Liz" he denied vehemently his hand bridging the physical and emotional distance between them as his fingers locked with hers "I think that it's beautiful that you've decided to wait for the right guy." he felt reassured when she smiled softly and squeezed his hand.

He scooted closer to her, his forehead brushing against the ends of her hair as it fanned out on the cushions behind her "I've never talked to you about this but I really regret my first time. It was the most humiliating experience of my life" Max closed his eyes against the memory "It was clumsy and awkward and to this day I still cringe when I think about it."

Liz smiled and touched her forehead to Max's "I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you remember and its perfectly natural to be nervous your first time" she soothed.

"That may be so but is it normal to have to ask the girl where to put it?"

Liz's eyes rounded at his words "exactly what age where you when you had your first dalliance with sex?"

Max felt his ears flame and with a groan burrowed his face against Liz's shoulder "Sixteen..." Max felt Liz shake with laughter and he couldn't help but grin, after what she had just gone through he would tell her a thousand embarrassing stories just to see even a ghost of a smile grace her lips.

Liz pressed her palm flat against her mouth but she couldn't suppress her giggles any longer, holding her side she moved the hand from her mouth to swipe at the tears rolling down her cheeks "I guess someone wasn't paying attention in sex-ed" she murmured good naturedly.

Max dug his fingers into her sides playfully and grinned "I was too busy playing hangman..."

Liz giggled even harder, the lilt of her laughter was infectious "well I hope you've learnt where to put it since then."

Max bite his lip to refrain from telling Liz exactly where he'd like to put it now, he felt suitably ashamed at the unbidden thought "I can assure you that I do Miss Parker" he replied smoothly.


"That's good to know" she murmured her gaze locking with his "I still can't believe your not shocked that I'm a virgin. I thought for sure you would have been more vocal about all this but maybe it's because I'm not a guy. If Michael were the one sitting across from you confessing to still being pure would you be so sweet and impassive?"

Max raised an eyebrow "Pure? thats debatable...." he snarked "you are right though if Mike was telling me all this instead of you I'd be unmerciful in my teasing for no other reason than it'd annoy the hell out of him." turning serious his eyes lingered on her face for a moment before he looked away "I wish that I had waited to share it with someone special" he sighed.

Liz nodded sympathetically "it still would have been special with Tess regardless."

Max's head whipped around at her comment, his heart twisting in his chest "yes it was special but Tess isn't the person I wish I had shared the experience with."

Liz looked at Max quizzically unable to discepher the emotions radiating in his eyes, tearing her gaze away from him she smiled slightly as something came to mind "hey Max do you remember the paper soul mates we buried in your backyard when we were ten years old?"

Max nodded slightly in affirmation but Liz missed the action, her eyes fixed in front of her as she reminisced "you know to this day I'm still clinging onto that silly notion, that there's this one person out there in the world that's my equal, my match in every way..." she rolled her eyes "you must think that's really pathetic."

Max glanced at Liz, adoration shining in his eyes "saving your body and your heart for the right person is far from silly Liz. You aren't willing to settle or compromise and that's so admirable. Maybe someday soon we should go dig up those paper soul mates and remind ourselves what we're holding out for."

Liz scooted forward pressing her head close to Max’s "at the moment I really do need to be reminded" she murmured sadly.

Max looped his arm around her shoulders and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead "he is out there Liz and maybe in the most unexpected place."

[cornflakegirl]

Title: What I am to you…
Pairings: M/L, some M/T, L/Other
Rating:Mature
Disclaimer: I own nothing just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Summary-Liz Parker and Max Evans have been the best of friends since childhood. At the age of seven Liz enlists Max’s help to ensure that they both meet their soul mates, so following guidelines given to Liz by her grandmother they make ‘Paper Soul mates’ and bury them in Max’s back yard. Sixteen years later their friendship is still strong but their respective romantic relationships are a disaster. When Tess Max’s long term girlfriend leaves him without explanation Max turns to his best friend for support completely oblivious of his feelings for her. When Max finally realizes that he loves Liz will he have the courage to tell her? And will she realize her own true feelings.

Note: You guys are just wonderful! Thank you to everyone that left feedback, it really does help to know that people like the story, I can get a tad insecure about my writing at times so thanks for all the positive comments. I hope you enjoy the next part.
Kat



Part Ten



Skittles, Absinth and Michael Bolton......



"So I thought we could have lunch together and then you could help me fumigate."

Max stumbled backwards as Liz breezed past him into the apartment, for someone who had downed a half bottle of tequilla the previous night she was extremely chipper and clearly not hungover like he was.

Closing the door as softly as possible he stumbled into the kitchen and groaned as the clattering of cupboard doors and clinking of glasses reverberated through his brain "how come whenever we get smashed together I'm the one that always ends up with the hangover?"

Liz clinked two glasses together and smiled gleefully as Max's hand shot to his forehead, he was such a guy...no pain threshold whatsoever "I'm impervious to the effects of alcohol".

Max shot her a 'yeah right' look before greatfully excepting the glass of water and two aspirin she thrust before him, grimacing he crunched the pills before taking a healthy swig of water "so what's on the menu?" he queried, nodding at the bag she'd left on the kitchen counter "between the nausousness and foul tequilla taste in my mouth I don't have much of an appetite."

Liz narrowed her eyes, hungover or not he was still snarky "well it's a good job that it's nothing too filling.." she murmured as she rummaged through the bag, she offered Max a smile and a ta-dah! as she pulled out a jumbo sized bag of skittles and a bottle of absinth.

Max's eyes widened in disbelief, his stomach doing somersaults "you can't be serious" as he watched the corner of her mouth upturn he knew that she was. Rubbing a hand soothingly over his stomach he shook his head resolutely "not a chance! my intestines are still drowning in tequilla, not everyone has a lead lined stomach like you" he pushed his index finger playfully against her shoulder.

Liz swatted his hand away, she really hated when people poked her "here" she grumbled, slapping the bag of skittles against his chest "munch on these while I pour us a couple of shots, who knows it may even settle your stomach."

Max folded himself into a chair, watching apprehensively as she poured the red liquid into two shot glasses. He went to work on the skittles using his teeth to tear open the bag "you know when you said lunch I had imagined a foot long from Subway not E numbers and booze."

Liz cupped her palms together and smile her thanks as Max poured a generous helping of the rainbowed candy into her hands "I thought you said you were'nt up to eating anything" she popped a few skittles into her mouth before adding "anyway a liquid lunch will perk you right up, hair of the dog and all that jazz...."

He knew she wasn't going to take no for an answer and truth be told he was powerless against her, he never could deny her anything "alright" he mumbled snatching up his glass "but if I collapse due to alcohol poisoning your paying the cab fare to the hospital."

"Cross my heart" she threw him an eyeroll as she made the gesture against her chest "so what do you say to moving this little shindig next door to my place."

"I say no" Max deadpanned as he sullenly chewed on a mouthful of skittles. His eyes strayed from Liz as she pouted, he would not let her wear down his defenses "Liz moving this next door would actually require moving and I just don't have the strength."

Liz sighed dramatically as she recapped the absinth and snatched the skittle bag from Max's hand "okay you just stay here and recuperate. I guess I'll just have to think up wicked and spiteful ways to dispose of Sean's belonging all on my own."

Max caught her arm gently as she swept past him "not so fast" he couldn't helping mirroring the smile she was flashing him "all of a sudden I'm feeling better and what kind of friend would I be if I wasn't there to relish- I mean support you in your acts of petty revenge." The prospect of watching Liz irradicate all trace of Sean De Luca from her life had rejuvenated him to no end.

Liz arched an eyebrow "acts of petty revenge?"

Max smiled and tugged on her hand "yep and I already have a few suggestions..." he replied pulling her to the door.



Liz tapped a finger against her lips as she contemplated the articles of clothing hanging in Sean's side of the closet "we could shred his armani suits and cut off the tips of his silk ties."

"No" Max murmured from his position at the end of the bed "that's too amaturish."

Liz flopped down beside him and sighed "your right, any suggestions you want to throw out there."

Max rubbed his chin thoughtfully "Sean's allergic to peanuts right?"

Liz's brow furrowed "yeah but how did you know that?"

Max looked at her thoughtfully, it was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he made it his business to know everything he possibly could about someone competing with him for her affections but he didn't want to tip her off as to his feeling for her, he wasn't ready, atleast not yet "I don't know you must have mentioned it or something."

Liz nodded doubtfully "maybe...but what does a peanut allergy have to do with sean's armani suits?"

Max smiled "it's not a severe allergy so he wouldn't go into anaphylactic shock, at most it would cause a mild irritation."

Liz narrowed her eyes "what is that wicked mind of yours concocting."

Max leaned in close to her "how about we rub peanut oil into his suits" a grin almost spilt his face as he watched her eyes dance in glee "maybe we could douse his boxers as well."

Liz clapped her hands together "I love the way you think Max Evans..." she pulled him to his feet and shuffled out into the living room. Pouring two generous helpings of absinth she handed one to Max and downed hers in one gulp before turning her attention to Sean's cd collection "those" she pointed at the cd tower distainfully her balance wavering slightly as the alcohol weaved through her veins "their his pride and joy so we have to be especially viscous- I mean vicious" she hiccupped.

Max trailed a finger over the spins of the cd cases, scowling he withdrew a cd from the rack and turned toward Liz "Michael Bolton?"

Liz flung her hands in the air and giggled "I know it's so gay" she stumbled toward Max and snatched the cd from his grasp, opening the case she removed the disc from the spindle and twirled it around her finger "you know he used to do bench presses every morning whilst listening to 'how am I supposed to live without you...."

Max shook his head "thats just....wrong on sooo many levels" sean deluca was an even bigger pussy than he had first imagined, wait until Michael heard this little tidbit, it would make his life....

Liz flung the cd over her shoulder and leaning forward she placed her hands on Max's shoulders "so I was thinking we could score every cd in his collection and put them back in their cases that way he won't suspect anything until he goes to play them."

"We could do that..." he agreed locking Liz's arms around his neck in an attempt to steady her "or we could be more creative and score words into them."

Liz cocked her head to the side and smiled "words like- cheater, lying bastard, scumbag"

Max smiled "or we could go for something alittle more below the belt."

"Below the belt?"

Max nodded his lower lip jutting out as he tried to make it look as if he was thinking of a response when in reality he had enough insults for Sean Deluca to fill a dictionary "I was thinking along the lines of Cock Sucker, Needle Dick, Limp Dick, No Dick so on and so forth."

Liz pressed her forehead against Max's shoulder and giggled "you know most of those names are very, very fitting" her head snapped up, her glassy eyes locking with Max's she scrunched her nose "even though we never did the deed I did have the misfortune of seeing him naked on occassion" Liz raised her little finger to Max's face and wiggled the tiny digit "I swear I've seen bigger cocktail weiners and this was it erect!"

Max laughed heartily, gleefully, his male pride bolstered by that particular disclosure. So Sean's was a cocktail weiner? not to talk himself up or anything but Max had always compared the size of his to a frankfurter "maybe we should get started on this little pet project' he murmured softly as he gently lowered Liz to the couch "before you pass out."

Liz growled playfully at her best friend and handed him a pen knife "just get carving...."



"Okay all of Sean's suits have had a long soak in peanut oil-" he lowered his voice to a whisper as his eyes landed on Liz, she was lying face down on the couch snoring softly and the sound was like music to his ears, he must be pretty far gone he mused if snoring was an attractive attribute...

Crouching down beside her he turned her gently on to her side and pushed a lock of hair that had strayed to her cheek back behind her ear "hey sleepyhead..." he murmured softly in an attempt to rouse her, if he let her sleep out here on her lumpy couch he'd never hear the end of it. "I'm goina put you to bed Miss Parker" he whiserpered close to her ear cradling her in his embrace.

Liz's head was jossled against Max's shoulder as he lowered her on to her bed "um Max?"

"Hey sorry I woke you" he murmured, sliding her shoes off he pulled back the sheets and ushered her under "lay back and get some sleep, I'll stop by and see you in the morning."

Liz clutched his hand, using the mattress for leverage she pushed herself up, her palm coming to rest against Max's cheek "I don't know what I'd do without you Max, your the best thing in my life."

Max felt a flood of warmth at her words "right back at ya."

Her eyes locked with his in the darkened room, the light from the moon her only guide. Her fingertips brushed his stubble roughened cheek before sweeping over his soft full lips "thank you" she whispered before pressing her mouth against his.

Max was stunned, his lips pressed together in a firm line until her felt Liz's moist mouth open over his own in a small gasp, he groaned and pulled her closer capturing the tip of her tongue with his own. But at that contact Liz pulled away, a confused smile strecthing her lips, she raised her hand to her mouth, eyes fluttering closed before her head pitched forward into Max's lap.

Max sighed forlornly as he softly lowered her back against the bed, pulling the covers over her he placed a tender kiss to her forehead before leaving the room, uncertain of what tomorrow would bring......