and as for the rest of my wonderful regular readers... 
well you'll have to wait and find out the answers you're all dying for! 
Part 41
Max raised his hand hesitantly to knock on the door of the Valenti’s house. He had come straight here after his talk with Ava and though he hadn’t appreciated her lecturing him on how he should have acted, he knew she had been right. He had done it again; he had gone and hurt Tess.
Just like I kept hurting Liz. He thought to himself. God, I can’t keep hurting the people I care about!
Ava’s word kept ringing through his head. “Had it been Liz pregnant instead of Tess…would you have left her hangin’ like that?”
Would he have? He wondered. Would he have been this upset, would he have turned his back on her? He shook his head. Of course not. He would never do that to Liz.
Then why did I do it with Tess? He wondered.
Max realized that he was still standing in front of the door, his hand raised in mid-knock. He shook himself out of his thoughts and proceeded to knock on the door. The door swung open to reveal Kyle glaring at him.
“What are you doing here?” Kyle asked, his tone angry.
Max flinched slightly, knowing instantly by his tone that Kyle knew that he and Tess had an argument. He only hoped he didn’t know why.
“I’m here to see Tess.” Max replied.
Kyle still stood in the doorway, not letting Max enter as he scowled at him. “What the hell did you do to her this morning?” he asked. “She’s been upset since she came from meeting you.”
“We…we had a… disagreement…”Max told him, looking down at his shoes. “I really need to talk to her Kyle.”
“Why?” Kyle asked angrily. “So you can hurt her again? You just keep seeming to hurt people who care about you Evans…” Kyle said, voicing Max’s earlier thoughts.
Max looked away, pained by the truth. “I know…” he whispered.
“No, I don’t think you do!” Kyle told him, his voice loud and mad. “I don’t like you hurting the people I care about and expect them to forgive you! I don’t know if I should let you in or not.”
Max looked back up at Kyle pleadingly. “Please Kyle, I’m here to make things right.”
“Let him in Kyle.” Tess’s soft voice called from behind him.
Both Max and Kyle turned to look at her, surprised at her request. She stood in the hallway, staring at Max quietly, not really acknowledging him. She turned her gaze back to Kyle and nodded slightly.
“It’s okay.” She replied, turning around and heading back into her room, leaving the door open.
Kyle glared at Max before stepping aside to let him enter. Max stepped inside quickly before Kyle changed his mind and slammed the door in his face. Although Max had powers which he could use against Kyle should he ever find himself in a position to do so, Max really didn’t want to take the quarterback on. Remembering that he was Liz’s friend, maybe someone she had even once loved…he couldn’t seem to bring himself to hurt him. Even though he still felt angry at Kyle whenever he saw him and Liz’s image together, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything.
He was just walking towards Tess’s room when Kyle stopped him. “You hurt her too Max and you’ll have to answer to me!” Kyle told him coldly, before taking off to the kitchen.
Max stared after Kyle’s retreating back, silently grateful that Tess and Liz both had such a friend looking after their safety. When Max got to Tess’s room he stopped at the doorway, waiting hesitantly to see if Tess would call him in. She might have allowed Kyle to let him come in the house, but he wasn’t sure she wanted him in her room.
Tess sat with her back to the wall on the bed. She looked up from the spot she was staring at on the floor, her hands lying protectively around her stomach.
“Close the door behind you Max.” she said, looking at him briefly before continuing her staring at the spot on the floor.
Max closed the door behind him lightly and hesitantly sat on the bed next to her, his back also against the wall. But he couldn’t make himself relax, he was too tense. They both didn’t say anything; both avoided each other’s eyes.
Finally Max looked up at her to find her watching him quietly.
“I-I …I was just…what I wanted to say was…”Max stammered, not able to put his apology to words.
“If that was an attempt at apology Max.” Tess said evenly. “Then that really sucked!”
Max looked at her before quickly looking away. “I’m sorry.” He whispered. He looked back at her, his voice now talking softly. “I didn’t mean to say those…all the things I said in the pod chamber. That was a bad reaction…it just…surprised me.”
Tess let out a small, dry chuckle. “Of course it surprised you. I expected it to surprise you.” She looked at him, her eyes hurt as she tried to put on a brave face. “But you forgot that it took me by surprise too, and contrary to what you may think, this has changed my life too; put my life in more danger than yours.”
Max looked down at his hands to escape her hurt look. “I know…I realized too late…” he trailed off.
“No, I don’t think you realized it at all.” Tess told him bluntly. “It only struck you when I told you and walked out.”
Max didn’t reply, knowing she was right. He hated to admit it but she was right. He hadn’t realized the effect it could have on her until she had told him.
“I didn’t want this anymore than you did Max.” Tess told him, her voice now low. “And…I’m scared. For you, for me and for my baby…”
Tess’s voice cracked slightly and Max met her eyes which were pooling with tears. “What am I going to do Max?” she whispered. “What if the baby’s an alien? Where do I go? How do I go through this?”
Max reached out to hug her, trying to calm her. But even he was thinking these thoughts. Even he was trying to figure out what could be done to ensure the safety of the child.
Tess finally let go of Max, sniffling as she wiped her tears. She turned away from Max, not wanting him to see her like this. She was horrified that she had cried. No matter what happened she had promised herself that she wouldn’t cry.
Max tried to act inconspicuous as she wiped her eyes, knowing she hated to show weakness. When she finally had composed herself he took her hands in his.
“I-I don’t want you to go through this alone.” He told her. “This is my problem too and…well…we’ll figure it out.” He told her with a slight shrug. “We’ll figure it all out…together.”
Tess looked at him hopefully. “You sure Max?” she asked and her voice wavered a little.
Max swallowed the guilt and doubt as he nodded. “I’m sure.” He told her. He paused, looking down at her stomach then back up at her. She watched him, knowing he wanted to ask something. Finally Max cleared his throat nervously.
“Do you-do you want me to…help you connect with the baby? To see if everything’s all right?” he asked, almost embarrassed.
Tess smiled slightly. “I would like that.” She told him.
Max hesitantly pulled up her shirt to reveal her stomach a little and he put his hands on it. He concentrated, hoping he could do this right. He almost immediately felt a pull. He closed his eyes as he could feel his child, alive inside of her.
When he opened his eyes, he looked up at Tess, his awed eyes matching hers. “It’s a boy…” he whispered.
Tess nodded happily. “I know. I saw him too.” She told him.
Max sat back, a bit in shock and awe. “Wow…”he whispered to himself. “I have a son…”
But even as he said this he felt a small knot in his stomach, this slight longing that wished this could have been Liz sitting next to him. Max turned his head to look out the window, not letting Tess see the pain riddle through him as he thought of Liz.
This was something he had wanted to have with Liz. A family. Sure maybe not now when they were so young…but later on, when they were more settled. But then he remembered Kyle and Liz…together and he shook his head. He doubted that after that she even wanted to have anything to do with him. Not that he would ever find out anyway.
“Max…” Tess whispered, touching his arm lightly when she felt his body sag with defeat.
Max turned sad eyes at her. His smiled was strained. “I’m fine.” He told her, although she doubted that. He got up abruptly from the bed. “Let me go get something for you to drink.” He told her and rushed out.
As he walked past the den, he saw Kyle watching him cautiously. Ignoring him, Max went to the fridge and pulled out two Cherry Cokes. He was just heading back when he heard Tess scream his name in pain.
Kyle jumped up from the couch in panic as Max dropped the Cherry cokes and both ran to Tess’s room. Max rushed past Kyle and saw Tess lying on the floor, clutching her stomach as tears rolled down her face.
“Max!” Tess shouted in pain, rolling up into a ball as she cried. “Oh God, it hurts so bad!”
Max fell to his knees next to Tess. “What’s wrong Tess?” he asked in panic, not understanding why she was crying so hard.
“What did you do to her?” Kyle demanded angrily as he also got down and propped Tess up against him. She was still clutching her stomach and crying.
“I didn’t do anything!” Max replied angrily before turning back to Tess.
“Please, make it stop…” she cried.
“What’s wrong?” Max pleaded with her. “Tell me!”
Tess looked up at him in pain. “The baby…” she whispered. “Something is wrong…I feel it…”
Max sat back stunned, not understanding how this was possible since he had just checked him. He didn’t notice Kyle stiffen in anger and shock at Tess’s words.
“You got Tess pregnant?!” Kyle hissed at Max in rage.
Max looked up startled, for a minute forgetting Tess. “Kyle this is not the time…” Max ground out.
“Kyle…”Tess whispered from her place on the floor, her voice begging him to stop.
But Kyle glared, seething at Max and before Max could react Kyle had punched him in the face…hard.
“Kyle!” Tess screamed. She shifted on to the floor until she was lying next to Max, who was getting up groggily.
Kyle stood glaring at Max. “You asshole!” he shouted. “What the fuck were you thinking?!”
“Kyle…please…”Tess pleaded.
Kyle looked at her, all of a sudden realizing that she was still in pain. He fell beside her. “Oh god Tess…” he cried, picking her up. “I’m sorry…”
By now Max was up, holding his sore jaw. “Tess, let me try to heal you.” He told her, more concerned for her.
“No!” Kyle growled. “You will not touch her!”
Max looked angrily at Kyle. “You don’t have a choice.” He told him. “I’m the only one who can help!”
Kyle looked at him stonily, knowing he was right. He glanced down at Tess who was still curled up into a ball, her face pale and beaded with sweat. He gently picked her up and put her on her bed. He stood back and sighed as he looked from her to Max.
“Fine.” He replied, his voice cold and hard.
Max nodded gratefully and put his hands on Tess’s stomach, concentrating on healing her. Just a moment ago he had connected with the baby and everything seemed fine. He didn’t understand how in a matter of fifteen minutes things had changed and so drastically.
Kyle watched with his jaws clenched as Max’s hands glowed blue, spreading to Tess’s stomach. He saw Tess relax visibly and the pain being erased from her face and he breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how mad he was at their carelessness he was thankful that Max was here and that whatever he was doing seemed to be working.
After a minute or two Max fell back on the floor, panting hard and weak. Seeing Tess stir and get up slowly, sitting up, Kyle grabbed her into a fierce hug. Tess was a bit taken aback but then reached out to return the hug.
When he let her go, he moved back to look at her critically. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Tess nodded. “Much better.” She confirmed. By now Max had got his wind back and he got up, walking over to Kyle and Tess.
“You sure?” he asked, his voice also concerned.
Tess nodded. “I’m fine.” She told him. “Whatever you did worked…for now.”
Kyle nodded. “Good.” Then his gaze turned hard. “Now that I know you’re okay…what the hell were you thinking?” he yelled at them, acting as if Tess’s life had not been in danger a minute ago. He turned to Tess and glared at her. “What the hell were you doing with Evans and when?” he demanded. Tess flinched and turned her head slightly away. Kyle now turned to glare at Max, angrier than he had been before, now that he knew Tess was okay.
Max involuntarily took a step back. “You got her pregnant?!” he shouted at Max. He looked at Max with disgust. “It’s not been two months since Liz died and you could wait to claim your next conquest Evans?”
Max flinched at those words but was not able to defend himself because Kyle continued his tirade. “Was it all an act then?” Kyle demanded, stepping closer to Max. “All this…this so-called love for Liz? Was it just a way of tagging her or hell maybe getting back at me? Yeah, you thought it’ll be fun. Pull one on ol’ Kyle. First Liz then Tess…see how far you can push him.”
“Don’t you dare doubt my feelings for Liz.” Max growled.
“What the fuck am I supposed to think?” Kyle asked, now only inches away from Max, glaring up at the alien king. “What do you expect me to think? If you think I’m going to clap you on the back and congratulate you…well you’d be dead wrong!”
“Kyle…it wasn’t his fault alone…” Tess said.
Kyle whipped around, turning his angry gaze at her. “You should have known better!” he told her. “Max has always let his emotions control him…I would have thought you would have been more in control.”
“Leave her out of this Kyle!” Max warned.
“She’s part of this family Max, she’s my friend. I have to look out for her!” Kyle told Max fiercely.
“Maybe she can look out for herself!” Max shot back. “Maybe she doesn’t need your help! Or maybe you were just too darn busy to notice!”
“Max…”Tess whispered warningly, knowing he was pushing Kyle. But Max ignored her as he also got angry at Kyle. Right now all he could see was Kyle and Liz…together, laughing.
“Maybe you were too busy fooling around with Liz to notice that Tess needed you!” Max replied.
“Don’t you dare turn this around on me Evans!” Kyle hissed. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Oh, believe me I think I do.” Max told him steely, their conversation now having unwittingly switched to Liz and that night. “I saw you Kyle. I saw you with her that night!”
Kyle suddenly went quiet, boiling at Max but not trusting himself to speak. Now was not the time to tell him.
“How long were you waiting to swoop down on her again?” Max taunted. “Or were you waiting at all? Was she with you before that night? Was that why she kept pushing me away? Were you the ‘normal’ boy she was talking about?” Then Max smirked, looking him up and down. “Oh that’s right…you’re not normal anymore. You’re just like us ‘freaks’.”
“Max, you better shut up now.” Kyle said, his voice low and menacing. “How can you doubt Liz? You should know better!”
“Should I?” Max questioned. “Because that sure doesn’t explain your being there with her!”
Kyle clenched and unclenched his fists, pushing back the urge to knock some sense into him.
“If you had any idea of what she did for you Max, you would regret ever even remotely thinking about Liz that way!” Kyle replied evenly before turning around and storming out of the house, knowing that if he was there a minute longer, he would spill all. And right now he didn’t think Max deserved to know anything about Liz Parker’s secret.
TBC....
As for Serena knowing a lot more...well I still don't know about that. Still working on what she knows and what she doesn't! 