banner by Hunter…sweetie I do believe you have out done yourself…so beautiful! Thank you so much!!
Title: Sacred Vows
Author: jake17
Pairing: M/L
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell
Summary: For as long as Max Evans could remember he has only wanted one thing, to help people and serve God. With only three months to go before making his vows to become a priest he finds himself blindsided by a beautiful young girl who desperately needs his help. Will he make the choice to save her soul or will he throw away the only life he has ever known for the chance at something he never expected…love.
Chapter 1.
Tears streamed down her face as she raced down the winding road past the many farms and acres of woods that lined the road by her house.
“Liz the chemo isn’t working; her body is just too weak. It’s time you started making plans, I’m so sorry…we did everything we could.”
Liz barely remembered getting in her car everything was a blur as the tall evergreens whisked by her.
Fearing that she was too upset to drive she spotted a small sign on the side of the road.
Grace of Angels Shrine
Open from 10 am till dusk
Wiping the smudged mascara from her cheeks she looked at the sign more closely.
She had never heard of this place but from the small white cross underneath the words she assumed it had some religious meaning.
At that point she didn’t care she was distraught and needed a place to calm down
Turning onto the narrow dirt road that seemed to go on forever Liz suddenly felt as if she were in another world.
Tall oak trees followed the length of the road with an abundance of purple and yellow wild flowers that were scattered about in thick patches.
Noticing a small parking lot she turned off and just sat in her car exhausted and lost.
Laying her forehead on the steering wheel she began to cry.
As she searched in her glove box for some napkins to clean her face she noticed something odd through the bulky branches of the woods across the way.
Using her sleeve to wipe her makeup from under her eyes she stepped out of her car and discovered a small paved path that was almost hidden by heavy brush and tall bushes.
Turning the corner her eyes widened with wonder as she gazed upon something out of a fairytale …something magical.
Giant willow tress and flower gardens were spread out before her. Fountains and babbling brooks flowed throughout the misty dew kissed forest making it seem like a scene out of Neverland not the religious sanctuary she was expecting.
The small path split into three skinny walkways that forked off into different directions.
The one directly in front of her led to a large structure with a wooden cross and stone pews that looked as if they had been naturally there all along.
The one to the left disappeared into a wide layer of tall elm trees.
As she looked to the right she noticed the edge of the unusual form she saw from her car.
Slowly she followed the curved trail until it opened into a large circle.
On one end of the circle was a small worn bench on the other was something truly amazing.
It was soaring majestic statue of an angel.
There were large clay pots filled with red roses at her feet and dozens of translucent glass candleholders that lit up her saintly loving expression.
Liz looked up at her outstretched concrete wings that seemed to touch the edge of the sky and sighed.
She wondered what kind of place she had accidentally found herself in. Not being religious herself she felt a little uncomfortable being there but she couldn’t help admire the pure beauty of the figure in front of her.
As she looked closer she could see pieces of paper folded or rolled up into scrolls that were placed in the creases of her garment and at her feet.
Some were old and yellowed from time and the elements others were crisp and new like they had been placed there only moments ago.
Curious Liz approached one of the older notes and began to remove it from its place.
“Please don’t!”
Liz quickly pulled back her hand and brought it to her chest holding it there as her heart raced.
Surprised thinking she was alone she became breathless as she stared into the most beautiful gentle amber eyes she’d ever seen.
“I’m so sorry, I-I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Standing before her was a young strikingly handsome man dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans with muddy work boots.
He looked truly upset that he had frightened her.
His voice was like velvet, smooth and deep. It immediately had a certain calming affect on her.
Lowering his shovel onto the ground he shyly pointed at the precious paper Liz almost removed.
“It’s just that these are…prayers.”
Confused Liz looked him over assuming by his clothes that he was a gardener that worked for the church.
“Prayers?”
Brushing his dark hair from his eyes he nodded slowly almost intimidated by her.
“People come here who are…hurting or in need and they write their prayers on pieces of paper and place then with the angel in hopes that she will carry them to
God.”
Liz burst out laughing but stopped suddenly when she saw what she thought was hurt in his eyes.
Shaking her head she softened her voice realizing that he was serious.
“I’m sorry I-I didn’t mean to laugh. I just find it hard to believe that people think that this …works.”
Nodding he calmly retrieved his shovel.
“Don’t you believe in God?”
She was so taken aback by his seemly pure innocence. She could tell from his wide-eyed expression and earnest tone that this wasn’t an accusatory question. It was an issue of concern, a caring inquiry.
Liz was dumfounded.
“Honestly …no.”
Shock and sorrow filled his sensitive face.
Whispering out of what she could only surmise as respect he walked closer to her raising his hand to the statue.
“You are surrounded by such beauty how can you not believe there isn’t some divine creator behind it all.’
Liz looked all around her and back into his naïve eyes.
Suddenly she remembered how she ended up there to begin with. Feeling her world crashing down all around her she began to cry.
Bitterness and anger filled her voice as she pointed her finger at him.
“Life isn’t beautiful, its hard and lonely and I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this but there is no God!”
Brushing by him she pushed the branches out of her way as she ran back to her car tears flowing down her face.
Feeling as if the wind was knocked out of his lungs he slowly sat down on the bench.
Spotting something shiny on the ground he reached down and picked up a thin gold bracelet with a tiny charm of a heart dangling from it.
Looking up he heard the engine of her car as it sped up the road.
Closing his eyes he tried to steady his beating heart.
Squeezing the chain in his hand he couldn’t stop from wondering what would make her so angry, so sad.
Running his hand across his stomach he was confused by the feeling he was having.
He kept picturing the graceful slope of her neck and her long raven hair as it swept across her flushed cheeks.
“Brother Maxwell, Father Paul needs your help in the rectory.”
Quickly shoving the bracelet in his pocket he made his way back up the path gripping the shovel in his hand tightly.
He was sure he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
Convincing himself that he wanted to help her, that this feeling was one of duty and comfort part of what his life would be devoted to soon and nothing more he walked back to the rectory.
I know I can help her he quietly told himself as he ran his fingers over the bracelet that was tucked safely in his pocket.
Whispering into the crisp spring air he hoped his prayer would be answered.
“Please bring her back to me.”
oh destiny you little devil 
