Boarders and Babes (AU,CC,MATURE) [COMPLETE]

[Vix]

Blaise, and about six other guys, looked from Max to Liz. The way they were eyeing Liz made Max’s nostrils flare. Had he looked away from the other pack of boarders he would see an identical look on his companion’s face. They made quite a pair with hard set eyes, and thin set lips.

Blaise, and his friends weren’t quick to notice their reactions because they were allowing themselves time to assess Liz’s physical attributes. Their unwanted eyes roaming over the plains of her body. Max’s jaw clenched as he watched their beady little eyes take in her curves, the way he had. He could just picture their hands touching her and he felt a sharp quiver of rage slice into him.

“She your little honey?” Blaise asked smiling in a way that he probably mistook as inviting.

Liz opened her mouth to snap out a retort, but Max’s growl deep in his throat stopped her. She looked over at him.

“Yeah,” Max’s return was clipped, “She’s mine.”

Liz’s fist grew more taunt at her sides. A shiver ran it’s course through her; the tone was so... Different it caused a spell of excitement to run through her body, but she would dwell later on the words. She had never heard him use that tone. No matter how mad he had been at her his voice was never that icy. She had slapped him, beat his head into the concrete, left him high and dry, and generally called him everything under the sun. Yet, he had never used that tone with her.

Max felt Liz’s hand become more tense and encased his fingers around her fist more firmly.

“She an East?” Blaise asked. He was either ignoring the look in Max’s eyes, or he was too stupid to recognize ‘murderous’ when it was staring him down.

“No,” Max didn’t miss a beat, “She’s West.”

Liz could almost swear there was a note of pride mixed in with his statement. He would be proud to be with the other side? He was definitely a crazy bastard.

“So that’s what we’ve been missing?” Blaise grinned again, “Damn boy, if I would have known that I would have switched sides a long time ago.”

“Wouldn’t have done you a hell of a lot of good.” Liz rolled her eyes.

Blaise glared at her, “You’re a little spitfire, aren’t ya?”

“She’s my little spitfire Blaise, so back off.” Max pulled her closer to his side as he purposefully strode to the fence around the park.

Liz threw a glare over her shoulder before she was out of sight, around the corner, and safe from the sickeningly slimy boarders.

“Having a testosterone flare Boarder Boy?” Liz couldn’t help but ask as she stopped to look at him.

He smirked at her to her relief. He was beginning to scare her back there. His voice wasn’t the only thing cold. His eyes and rigid stance were more than sub-zero. She hadn‘t been scared for herself really, but she had known that he was something more than angry. He was jealous, and conspicuously possessive. Another shiver went through her body, the same pleasure coursing through her veins. He was possessive of her. The way his voice had hardened, and his eyes had flared... It was arousing, looking up she found that his eyes were normal again- warm and cocky. She didn’t know which she liked better, both were intense, both elicited feelings in her she would have to deal with all too soon.

“Come on, Spitfire.” Max said pulling her forward with the exaggerated nickname, breaking her concentration.

“I’m not a Spitfire.” Liz protested quickly.

“Then what are you?” Max asked looked at her quizzically.

“I’m Superwoman.”

*

tbc...


It wouldn't all fit on one post- sorry guys
Later,
Vix

[Vix]

Part Twenty

Alex shuffled the cards again, dealing to the other three teens and himself accordingly.

“Think they should be back by now?” Maria bit her lip while she glanced over to the clock for the millionth time.

“They’re fine.” Isabel said idly as she rearranged her hand.

“They’re probably killing each other.” Michael offered in a reasonable voice.

The other three nodded.

“Ok, next question,” Maria started again trying to draw her attention away from thoughts of her little sister, “The Matrix Trilogy or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?”

“Matrix.” Isabel and Michael said at once causing their respective others to glare at them.

“You’d pick Keanu over honor?” Alex asked in disbelief.

Isabel just smiled at him, “I’ve just got something for computer dweebs.”

Maria looked expectantly at Michael, “Keanu?”

“Trinity.” Michael grinned at her smiling even more when she huffed and rocketed out of her seat.

Isabel found herself being jousted out of her comfortable position as her sister claimed her place.

Isabel, not to be easily miffed sat down beside Michael, they both smiled across the table.

Michael looked deliberately into Maria’s eyes, “What can I say?”

“Trinity?” Maria scoffed.

“Just got a thing for a chick on a bike.” Michael licked his lips with a wicked smirk.

*

Kyle looked over at the kitchen and wanted to know what exactly was being said. He couldn’t help the intense feelings of protection that had come to dominate his relationship with his sisters. He had been their self made protector for so long that he wasn’t sure he knew how to be anything else.

He was contemplating on whether he should drag Tess into the kitchen to spy on them, but at the moment the blonde girl curled against his shoulder. Looking over at her in surprise he noticed that her eyes were closed and her breathing even.

He had no problem breaking the law and helping his sisters do the same at the races. He had no problem planting his fist deep into Alex’s face, but he couldn’t bring himself to wake the East bookie.

Moving ever so slowly he brought his arm around her, pillowing her against his side. Her soft curls tickled the side of his jaw as she snuggled closer, her hand fisting in his black shirt.

Kyle let out a sigh as he looked from the kitchen back to Tess. Drawing her curls around his fingers he turned back to the television, absently playing with her hair as he listened to her breath.

*

Max set his shoes down beside his board, the dock was quiet this time of night.

Liz untied her shoe laces and stacked her high tops on the deck of her beloved board.

They were both uncharacteristically silent. The stars were bright against the inky sky, and the sliver of the moon showing showcased them both. Liz adjust herself beside him, their feet grazing the water below the dock.

The waves against the shore were soothing to her and she found her thoughts drifting away, as they had on the way to the beach. There was so much to think about, so much to decide.

Max was lost in thought as well. His fingers itched to grab hers, that rested beside him on the dock. They’d only dropped hands to take off their shoes, no he wasn’t sure where the boundary lied.

“You said we needed to talk?” Liz said curiously after a few more moments of edgy peace.

Max’s fingers began to burn again, not to take hers, but to get up and run. Not from Liz, but from the story he now had to tell.

“Hava, was the littlest, the sweetest, and the most cheerful baby ever.” Max said trying to think of the good things, but he found that they too brought an unexpected wave of pain.

“I bet she was.” Liz said trying to reassure him, she readjusted her hand, leaving it brushing against Max’s.

Max wound his fingers around her own, “When we were in Japan we were a close knit family. It was great. We were never apart unless necessary. The business was blooming, and the community was so great. I remember the cherry blossom trees most. They were the most beautiful shades of red.”

Liz could almost see his memories in his eyes as he looked back at her. Japan had been a placed he loved, with people he had loved, “What happened?”

“Hava didn’t understand the concept of swimming very well.” The comment was significant in nature, but soft in tone and Liz’s heart clenched knowing what was coming.

Max’s fingers tightened painfully and he seemed to gain strength from her so she squeezed back, “We were all at home. My parents had just thrown one of their renowned celebrations at our house. My parents were exhausted and we were all supposed to be asleep already.”

His eyes began to drift off and he looked out into the endless water, “She loved our pool. We’d always go out and she had these adorable little dragon printed arm floats, but she could never manage to blow them up herself.”

Liz felt her eyes water at his pain inflicted voice and she knew. She knew what had happened. Her mind supplied all the unwanted images that he wasn’t ready to vocalize.

“Our parents blamed themselves, and our family crashed and burned.” Max said shrugging trying to recollect himself, “We moved back to the states after that, and since then our parents have been doing one thing or another for the business. We don‘t talk about her. It’s like she was never there.”

Liz kept her vision trained on their joined hands, his knuckles so taunt they were white. On impulse she brought their union to her lips and brushed his knuckles in what she hoped was a comforting manner. As she lowered their hands back to the dock her eye sight caught the faint scar across the inside of her thumb.

She had been lucky. The healing had gone so much better than they had even hopped. Looking at the boy beside her she felt it was her turn to lay some of her cards on the table. After all he had told her about Hava... Something she had a feeling he hadn’t told many people.

Liz adverted her eyes, if she was going to expose herself, she wasn’t sure she could do it while looking him in the eyes.

“It was a Sunday.” Liz said now staring intently at the water splashing under their feet, “He always did his practice runs on Sundays.”

He was surprised to hear her talk. He wasn’t sure what he was going to hear, so he sat patiently watching her organize her thoughts into words, “I remember watching him smile as he approached me, his engine roaring as it always did. He was so proud of his car. We all were. And he was so proud of us. He was a great man.”

Liz coughed gently as she found her throat tighten involuntarily.

Max released her hand, and drew himself sideways, running his long digits up her back, and his other hand taking and stroking her fingers.

“He lost control, something startled him, I’m not sure. He was such a great driver I don’t know what went wrong.” Liz said slowly, “We didn’t even want to read the autopsy, we all knew the everything they did. Burned alive.”

Silence beat between them, “I tried to save him. It was stupid, I knew I couldn’t save him but I went after him anyway, and I spent the next couple of years in and out of dermatologists’ offices because of it.”

Max’s eyebrows drew together and he titled his head.

Liz lifted her hand and pointed out the now faint scars that were to others unnoticeable, but to her a constant reminder.

“Metal.” Max said nodding as if he understood.

Liz laughed, and Max jerked lightly at the bitter sound, “Not Metal, flesh. I was trying to pull him out of the car and one of the people who rushed out of the stores dragged me away from the car.”

Max’s hands stilled briefly. He couldn’t imagine watching someone he loved burn alive, and not being able to stop it. He could only hurt for her loss and try to offer her somewhere to displace the pain. ‘I’m sorry’ just didn’t seem like enough, and he knew it wasn’t.

Pulling her slightly he brought her against his chest, and she went willingly. It seemed her fight had left her with her story.

Max could feel her erratic swallowing against his chest, “So much pain,” He whispered as he stroked her back slowly.

Liz scoffed in a pitiful tone, “I won’t take your pity.”

“You’re not going to get it.” Max said evenly, holding her fast as she tried to pull away. “You’re strong, and loyal, and stubborn, but knowing what you’ve been through. You’ve come away stronger than I would have.”

Liz didn’t like pity, but she didn’t like what she felt was an undeserved compliment. Struggling against his pull and her own comfortableness in their current position she forced herself to sit and face him, “You sell yourself short.”

“I don’t ...”

“Don’t argue with me.” Her tone left no room for any type of defense. The rough tough boarder babe he knew was back in place.

He didn’t like the cracking of her voice, and the trembling of her hands, but he liked it all too well. He loved her vulnerability in front of him, the sense of trust that gave him was almost intoxicating, but knowing she was hurting... He didn’t like that feeling, and he didn’t want her to have that feeling. Ever.

“Never thought this would happen.” He said with a grin after a while trying to lift the mood.

“What?” Liz asked.

Max looked her directly in the eyes, “We just had a conversation.”

“What?” Liz feigned surprise, “No.”

“Yes,” Max nodded for emphasis, “and you didn’t insult me once.”

“I’m not that bad.” Liz said defensively even though she knew she was.

Max tilted his head to the side, “Not that bad? Yeah as in an elephants not that heavy.”

Liz stuck her tongue out at him leaving him with unwanted, yet not unpleasant, images in his mind.

The silence covered them again and Max broke it this time, “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

As corny as the phrasing was Liz inwardly smiled at the gesture as she shrugged.

“I’m sorry for what I said, about my parents...” Max began, her slapping him at wishing of their deaths finally making sense.

“Bygones.” Liz said quickly, not wanting to ruin their current level of peacefulness.

Max began to think about his day, his wonderful, abusive, emotional roller coaster of a day. One thing stuck out in his mind even more than Liz’s story, and that was her reaction at the skate park.

They had stood side by side facing a common threat, more of an annoyance really, and he had called her...his. She hadn’t hit him. She hadn’t insulted him since. She didn’t even try and bite his fingers when she kissed them, and she had kissed them.

He began to fear waking up in a few moments. How could Superwoman change so quickly? Or, was this just a side of her he wasn’t privy to before?

Never one to wonder for long he started to speak, but Liz beat him to it.

“I won’t tell anyone.” Her voice was quite, as if she weren’t really playing attention.

“Thank you.” Max said looking down at the top of her head, “Why did you tell me?”

Liz took a moment before speaking, “I was thinking about it. Since you said.... What you said about your parents... I’ve been thinking about mine. Besides, you shared with me.”

Max nodded slowly, “I knew you’d have questions about what you saw in our books.”

Liz shook her head, “You didn’t have to tell me. You didn’t owe me an explanation.”

Max looked at her, “You didn’t owe me one either.”

“For the way I’ve treated you?” Liz asked incredulously. Figures she gets ready to apologize and he steals her thunder.

“I would have just figured that was you being ya know, you, a bitch.” Max said smiling innocently before laughing.

“Ok,” Liz said rolling her eyes, “Doctor Kavorkian.”

“I would be a good doctor,” Max said in his defense, “Just need a more willing patient.”

“Babe,” Liz’s eyes flashed at him, “I’ll play doctor with you. And you’ll be more than willing.”

Max’s eyes grew in size by halves. This was a whole new perspective on her ridicule. This was ... Flirtatious.

“You might want to be careful.” Max warned narrowing his eyes seriously.

Liz’s eyebrows rose, “Oh really?”

“I might just take you up on that offer.” Max said evenly, his tongue ring flashing at her.

Liz considered her position., “And if you did, and I didn’t want you to, I could break you in half.”

Max smirked at her, “With a smile.”

*

Isabel watched as her sister dribbled down the court furiously, the blue spiked biker in hot pursuit.

Alex idly drummed his fingers against the concrete as he sat, back to the garage door, shoulder to shoulder with Isabel. Isabel watched him from her peripheral vision, appreciating not only his relaxed and comfortable position, but his perplexed, and rather adorable, facial expression.

What ever he was mentally toying with was serious, or she assumed it was.

“I’m a dweeb.”

Apparently she was wrong.

She noted the endearing hue that came to his cheeks as she laughed at him, reeling in her mirth she looked at him seriously, “Ok.”

Alex chuckled at them both, “I meant that I’m a computer dweeb.”

Isabel looked at him and she smiled somewhat politely, “Did you hit your head?”

“You said you had a thing for computer dweebs, thought I’d just,” Alex shrugged, his shoulders now tense with slight embarrassment, “let you know.”

Isabel nodded seriously, reveling in not only his discomfort at the admission, but in the admission itself, before leaning over to whisper in his ear, “Computer dweebs are sexy.”

Alex’s smile grew as he grinned at the ground, glad to be done with that lame confession.

But, Isabel was just getting started, “Racers are sexy.”

Alex felt the back of his neck heat as her lips barely stroked the rim of his ear, and her breath tickled his skin.

Isabel ran her nails over Alex’s bicep, “Tattoos are sexy.”

Alex’s muscle involuntarily bunched under her touch.

“And mechanics,” Isabel smiled as his ear’s started to turn red, “Mechanics really turn me on.”

Alex was quiet for a few moments glad that his brother was too preoccupied to notice his heated expressions. Turning to look at her he almost swore at her self pleased smile. She just wanted to get a rise out of him. Making a quick decision he stood up, reached down, and pulled her over his shoulders in what was clearly a fireman carry.

Isabel’s eyes popped out of her head and she started to laugh, “Alex! Put me down!”

Alex just beamed as he walked towards the shop door.

When inside he found the light switch, and a suspiciously empty table with all it’s previously held objects scattered on the floor.

Convenient.

Alex wrapped his arm firmly around her thighs, and guided her to sit on the table.

“Thanks Mr. Caveman.” Isabel said sarcastically blowing a piece of hair out of her face.

“You know what’s sexy?” Alex asked, ignoring her remark and leaning in, her knees resting against his stomach.

Isabel just quirked her eyebrow at him.

Alex’s hand reached up and brushed against her hair that was pulled into a tight French braid. Taking the band in his hand he yanked it smoothly out, pulling the braid to wave around her face, “Wild racer chicks.”

Isabel smirked at him, “Copycat.”

Alex’s lips twitched before he took on a serious expression, “Soft lips, those are sexy.”

Isabel’s tongue snuck out to grace his thumb as he dragged it across her bottom lip.

“Soft skin.” Alex continued letting his hand move from her mouth, across her neck, into the back of her neck, “And hard kisses.”

Isabel couldn’t make a sound before his lips crushed hers, then she whimpered, letting him abuse her lips with his own. She let his tongue grace her mouth and maul her own.

Then he was gone, her mouth still burning from his.

Alex watched her calm her breathing, her hair mused, her lips swollen, and her eyes wild with desire. She was sexy. She was... Incredible. He could still taste her and he was beginning to get a little intoxicated by her scent because he felt like he couldn’t stand at the moment, if it wasn’t for her legs around him he couldn’t have... Alex looked down as if suddenly realizing something.

During their kiss she hand moved her legs, and he had shifted to be against her, her legs had locked around his hips.

Isabel noticed at the same time and started to remove them, but Alex put his hands on both of her thighs, stilling her motions. He drug his nails down her thighs, his hands warm, and his nails stimulating every nerve ending in her legs, causing warmth to flood her.

“You’re Sexy.” Alex said evenly looking back into her eyes. Her gaze spoke of hunger. It matched his own. “I want you.”

Isabel quivered a little at the tone in his voice, he was so powerful. His lips, his hands, his voice... She was being drugged by passion, and she knew it. And she didn’t know if she wanted to stop it.

*

Michael watched as Maria raced past him going for the goal. He just watched her. Her sweat slicked body seemed to glow, and her pouty full lips, alluring as they were, were drawn into a smug smile as she scored. But her victory was short lived because she came down wrong from her jump shot, and busted her butt her hands flying to her left ankle.

Michael was towering over her before she could find her footing and get back up. Bending down he looked at her ankle, “You ok?”

“Fine.” Maria grumbled as she forced herself up.

Half way there Michael’s hand stopped her, “Quit moving.”

Maria didn’t take well to being ordered around. Grinding her teeth together she shoved through his hold and sprang to a standing position grimacing. She had probably bruised her ankle on the way down, but nothing more serious. She did not need to be babied.

Michael glared at her, “I said not to do that.”

Maria raised her eyebrows at his commanding tone, “And I was supposed to listen to you because?”

Michael’s jaws clenched and he smiled tersely before bending down and scooping her up bridal style.

Maria, usually having no objections to being carried around by some sexy man was highly annoyed at his apparent need to treat her like a child, “Put me down.”

Michael grunted as he moved to Alex’s car at the end of the driveway setting her on the trunk.

Bending down he took her feet into his hands, “Which ankle was it?”

Maria quirked her eyebrows at him as if in stupidity, “What are you talking about?”

Michael’s eyes blazed as he looked at her innocent expression, “Maria.”

Maria took a small amount of pleasure in his terse tone, “I don’t need your help.”

“Red, I didn’t ask if you needed it now did I?” Michael’s voice was clipped.

Maria was no longer amused. Now she was pissed, “I’m not Tess or Max or Alex! You can’t push me around.”

Michael leaned in close, his face serious and intimidating. Everything about him screamed “be terrified”, but she knew she was safe. Truth be told, she was aroused by the way he was leaning into her, even if it was in anger.

“I take care of those I care about.” He said slowly, “Get over it.”

Maria, not to be out done by his slow patronizing tone copied it, “Left ankle.”

Michael removed her shoe, and her sock gently fingering the joint.

Maria glared at the top of his head but it was only half heartedly. After all, how could she rip apart someone who cared about her?

*

Part Twenty One


Max stared at the water, apparently if they weren’t insulting each other they had nothing to say. Ironic.

Max had sat there for the past twenty minutes thinking the day’s events over in his mind. He never thought the day would end like this. He didn’t even think the month would probably end like this. Snorting slightly he looked to the skies, the fates have a weird sense of humor. Turning to look at Liz he amended that thought, or Superwoman does. Superwoman.... She had called herself a superwoman.....

“So,” Max began watching her face carefully, “You’re Superwoman?”

He could see the ends of her lips twitch softly but in a complete fashion to herself she glared at him with a sneering voice, “Got a problem with that?”

Max, not to be out done, grinned cockily at her, “You’re mine. Got a problem with that?”

Liz hated to be controlled. She was not submissive, and hearing him claim her like property made her blood boil, her heart speed up, and her thighs clench. What would usually result in her going into a raging fit and jumping him made her want to jump him alright, but not how she would have thought.

Looking him over from spiked hair, to defined arms, and baggy pants she scowled at him, “If you tell anyone I’ll kill you.”

Max’s eyes widened slightly before his grin softened, “If you really want to keep me quiet... There are ways.”

Liz almost smiled at that but instead she stood up, causing Max to get to his feet too.

He knew it. She was going to run. It was too good to be true. He wondered what she would do if he just kidnapped her and tied her up in his room. It’d make his life a hell of a lot easier.

Liz surprised him though, she turned, leaning against his body ever so slightly, blocking his path to run. She lowered her lashes, the slow seductive move making Max’s stomach jump.

Leaning up she placed her hands gently on his shoulders, smiling coyly at him, and then all he saw was water.

He came up to find her practically doubled over laughing. Sputtering, he shot daggers at her, “You suck.”

Liz’s laughing stopped as she looked at him seriously, her eyes burning in such a way that made him swallow, “Maybe.”

Max watched as her tongue traced her soft pink lips before letting out a frustrated growl and diving back under the water. He definitely needed to cool off if she was going to insist on giving him those kinds of thoughts.

Looking up, underneath the calming water he could see her, the moon shining against her, silhouetting her in the dark. She looked tough. That just made his heart speed up.

She looked hard as rock, and from the way she shoved him in he could tell that she was strong, and from the way she handled everything he could tell her strength was more than physical. Some would think that her denial or her tears would make her weak, but not him. Her tears just made her stronger to him.

Maybe it was because they had cracked straight through his arousal to his heart, a new place for anyone to be. He really did care for her.

Shit. That was going to make things harder...not that they were easy now.

Max surfaced wanting to curse his feelings. They had just gotten to the easiest stage of any kind of relationship, flirtation. At the rate of progress they were making by his mid twenties she might actually like him. Then before he lost his teeth she might care about him on the same level.

Forcing a smile he hoisted himself out of the water, watching as Liz wearily backed away down the dock towards the shore, “Scared?”

Liz let a cocky grin slip, “Just cautious.”

“That’s a first.” Max scoffed.

The dig made her stop her retreat, “Excuse me?”

“If I recall it correctly I’m the one who saved you from becoming a pancake.” Max said inching slowly forward with his words.

“No,” Liz, unmindfully, marched forward stabbing him in the chest, “You’re the one who slammed my head into the curb.”

Max backed up a step, her following, then another, “You’ll live.”

Liz glared heartily at him, “Bite me Boarder Boy.”

Max’s grin was quick, but his movements were quicker. His hands were firm on the back of her ribs, and his grasp was hard and sharp. Before she knew it her hair was in his hands, her neck exposed, and sensations were exploding in her body as his teeth trailed up and down her throat.

Biting her own lip to keep from letting out the moan of pleasure curling in her throat she dug her nails into the wet shirt that clung unyieldingly to his hard body. A body she had been admiring as she had retreated earlier.

At the prodding of her nails Max’s hands slid down her body cupping her against him. Liz, lifted her legs up around his, and taking every opportunity she would afford him Max pulled her off the ground, her legs locking just above his hips.

The water from Max was seeping into her shirt and pants, it was slippery on her skin, but all Liz noticed was the way Max’s hands kneaded the back of her thighs, and the way his tongue danced across her flesh, licking at her collar bone.

That time she did moan.

And Max’s breathless laugh against her vibrating body made her beam recklessly. And then she found herself free falling.

She was flailing as she broke the surface and lunged for him, “You fucking prick!”

Max smiled at the laughing insult thrown by her as he treaded water, “One good turn deserves another.”

“More like one good trick.” Liz grumbled grabbing his shoulders and sliding her legs around him once more, the water between them seeming to heat with their bodies.

Max’s eyes widened slightly at the bold move from her. And she smiled sweetly, too sweetly.

“What?” Liz asked her lips pouting slightly, “I’m not allowed to climb on my property?”

Max laughed and considered it for a moment before mocking her earlier threat, “If you tell anyone I’ll kill you.”

Liz chuckled softly as she ran her nails up the back of his scalp pulling his head back and attacking his lips. Max was happy to comply.

*

Kyle glared at the instant replay on his screen. His favorite team was eating turf and throwing the damn game away.

Kyle, tempted to yell, settled for tossing a coaster at the television.

That’s when he heard it. The soft giggle from the girl next to him. Narrowing his eyes at the television he spoke evenly, even tenderly, “You’re supposed to be asleep.”

Tess raised her head from his shoulder, losing the warmth of his contact as she pulled back, “Who can sleep when they’re sucking so badly?”

Kyle glanced over at her, “You do have a point.”

“I’m always right.” Tess said deadpan.

Kyle’s eyebrows raised in suspicion, “Ok, sure.”

Tess mock glared at him, “Don’t agree too enthusiastically.”

Kyle smiled at her, “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

Tess smacked his shoulder, “I’m always right. Just get used to it.”

Kyle laughed, “And why do I have to get used to it?”

Tess leveled her eyes at him and spoke clearly, “Because I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

Kyle’s lips twitched and his eyes visibly brightened, “Good.”

Tess turned back to the screen and after a few moments threw a coaster of her own, “They really do suck.”

Kyle’s smile only widened. He couldn’t even take his team’s defeat to heart as he wound his arm around Tess.

*

“Alex,” The name was as soft as a moan, and spurred him on more as he ran his hands over her soft flesh, his mouth wreaking havoc on her body.

Isabel’s head lolled back against the table as she found herself arching against the hard surface, into the warm depths of that glorious mouth.

This tongue lavished her navel as he slowly drew it upward, the shirt preceding his movements as he pulled it over her head. He stopped at the blood red bra and placed two, caring, hot, open mouth kisses to the soft petalish skin on each breast.

Letting his tongue explore more he traced the limits of the cloth between them, his scorching breath seeping through the fabric making her nipples tighten.

“Alex,” Her throat was starting to close up and she couldn’t control the quiver in her voice any more than the one in her body, “Alex.”

Alex’s administrations halted as he looked up into her eyes, his own burning with desire and dark with heat, “I love how you moan my name.”

Alex let his skilled finger tips grace the sides of her breasts down to her ribs, and the further, gripping her hips tightly, “I wanna hear you scream it.”

Isabel’s eyes closed and she rolled her hips against not only his hands but his own body causing his teeth to tear at his lips. She could feel the heat off his half exposed body, the excited fluster of his abdomen against her, the throb of his arousal against hers, separated by two layers of denim. She tightened her thighs around him and felt him shudder ever so gently against her, giving her a feminine satisfaction at the reaction, “Alex.”

Alex’s eyes opened with a snap, the fire kindling past burning. Past anything as dangerous and plunging into deeper depths of want. She had never had anyone want her like that. So completely. It made her mouth dry up as she reached for him. He went willingly, the blazing need inside him making his kisses hard and demanding.

The change in tempo was instant and she arched her body so that her barely clad breasts and bare stomach brushed his, pelvis grinding blindly against his. She felt the air leave him as he drove his tongue inside her mouth more fiercely, his own realistic need eating away at his control.

Control, he told himself, control. That thing he needed to hold on to deeply. If he wasn’t careful he would take her right here, in the middle of the shop, on top of a hard wooden table.

His stomach tightened at the thought of having her in the middle of passion, hard and fast, but his heart clinched as well. He would love to have her, anywhere, but he wouldn’t allow their first time to be so rushed, to be so reckless, and so public.

Pushing back slightly he rested his head against hers. Looking into her eyes he felt himself melt against his newly found resolve. He could always make their second time perfect instead. Her lips parted slightly and her tongue snaked out to sooth the swollen flesh and he shuddered again.

She lay open for him and he knew she was ripe for the picking, but he also knew he couldn’t do it like this. She was special, and she needed to know that as much as he needed to show her.

Pulling back even further he drew himself to sit backwards on his legs, cursing Tess, because he knew it was her constant feminine influence in his life that had made him so sentimental as to worry about the first night of intimacy between him and his princess.

He swallowed, his princess. Shaking his head he smiled at his sensitivity. He wanted everything to be perfect for his princess. He was officially a soft hearted chump.

Pulling himself off the table was painful. He felt his discomfort from his body’s arousal, but also the tug toward her body was so strong he almost leapt at her again.

Instead he took a steadying breath and grabbed her shirt from the floor and shook it out. Walking back to Isabel, who now sat up with her eyebrows creased he motioned with his head for her to lift her arms. As she did so he slid her clothes back on allowing his hands to glance slightly down her sides.

Swallowing again he leaned forward pressing his lips to her crown, his mouth gentle and warm.

As he pulled back he motioned outside with his head and Isabel yanked him hard backwards, “Explain.”

Alex smiled at the commanding tone in her voice. He gauged his words carefully because Isabel didn’t seem thrilled at the turn of events, then again he didn’t really feel thrilled.

Leaning back towards her he wrapped his arms chastely around her waist, clasping them behind her, “I want you.”

“I figured that out all by myself.” Isabel’s sarcasm goaded him.

“I want you so badly I can’t stop shaking,” Alex said leaning in pressing his head against hers letting her feel his tremors.

“Then why the hell did you stop?” Isabel exhaled in annoyance.

“Because I want you on a bed of silk roses, and I want you completely. I want you over and over again all night.” Alex brushed his lips over the corner of her mouth which was slightly open at the admission, “I want everything for you.”

Isabel’s eyes were wide, and shiny in the dim light, leaning in she smiled widely at him before kissing him softly in gratitude.

Suddenly he was thrilled. One smile from her, that look in her eyes, like he was a shining knight was all it took to sturdy his resolve. He pulled her close and nuzzled her neck. He was her shining knight.

*

“So, you’re going to go back?” Maria asked as she sat, perched on Alex’s hood, talking to Michael.

Michael’s fingers idly played over her now lightly throbbing ankle, “One day, just to visit. It’s wonderful there, there’s so much culture every where you turn. It’s not like the states. Here there’s so many different things meddled together that they all just fade into the back ground, but in Japan. It’s so... “

“Potent.” Maria supplied wrapped up in his touch and in the way his eyes lightened at the topic.

An easy grin cracked across his face, “Exactly.”

The silence between them grew and for once Maria didn’t find it heavy or awkward, the moon was bright in the sky, and the stars were glowing. All in all, if her ankle didn’t hurt like a bitch, she would have considered it romantic.

Michael seemed wrapped in his own thoughts as the pads of his fingers ran down her ankle bone, then back to her heel. The light pressure didn’t hurt exactly, but instead the caress was a kind of sweet pain. Maria watched as his clouded eyes watched the sky, clearly not seeing the celestial bodies in the firmament.

“Michael?” Maria called out, reaching her hand to brush against his knee, that sat precariously next to her thigh.

He jumped gently at the sensation focusing on her with a small frown, “It’s only me right?”

Maria, clearly confused at the questions smiled politely, “In the universe?”

Michael’s eyebrows creased, “What? No, I meant between you and me.”

Maria, not any closer to understanding offered what she thought made sense, “No, it’s me too.”

Michael’s eyebrows quirked in a half raised fashion, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Maria swallowed, “Listen you perplexing porcupine, if you don’t rephrase your question I’m going to push you off the car.”

Michael gave her a doubtful look before he did as she ordered, “I’m the only guy with you right?”

Maria was taken aback. Did he really think she’d be parading around kissing him senseless if there was someone else? Without thinking she started her tirade, “What the hell do you think I am some whore? I would never lay my lips, or any other parts of me, on you if I was with someone else! You obviously don’t even fucking know me!”

Michael leapt off the car as she started yelling at him. Walking over he scooped up the basketball, trying to keep his anger under control, but it was painfully obvious by the incessant slamming of the poor ball that it was a losing battle.

Maria scoffed as she began to push herself off the car to take the fight to him but he was against her in flash, pushing her back on top the hood, “You’ll hurt yourself again.”

“No,” She glared ruefully at him, “I intend to hurt you actually!”

“Fine,” Michael bite out leering at her, “just don’t hurt yourself in the process.”

Maria was taken aback. His eyes were like fire seeping into her bit by bit, determined to burn her alive. He was so angry at her and yet he still was keeping her out of harm’s way. Watching as the tick in Michael’s jaw slowed little by little she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in ever so slightly.

Michael’s eyes narrowed as she rested her brow to his, “It’s only you Michael.”

Michael’s eyes slipped closed for a second, when they opened again they focused on her. They were so warm and caring, not a single trace of his earlier anger in them. Smiling, Maria pressed her lips gently to his. As he dipped forward trying to lengthen the kiss she pulled back, breaking contact, “Michael, I’m sorry.”

Michael shrugged going for her lips again.

Maria laughed lightly as she again pulled out of the way of his mouth, “I forgot you don’t really know me.”

Michael, quickly becoming annoyed at her physical avoidance, grabbed the back of her neck, “Give me time.”

Before she could respond he pulled her against him, his mouth was brutal on hers and his tongue soothing against her bottom lip.

Michael’s lips slowly pulled back, “You don’t know me either.”

Maria opened her eyes, their focus off and clouded with the beginnings of lust, “I guess I don’t, but I know some things.”

“Like?” Michael asked pressing his warm mouth to the side of her neck, just below her neck.

Maria opened and closed her mouth a few times before speaking, “I know you’re responsible, competitive, and...”

Michael tongue flicked along her sensitive jaw, “And?”

Maria lightly shook her head to clear her thinking, “And I know you’re caring and protective. If you love someone you go to the line for them, but also try and control them a little bit.”

“Control them?” Michael pulled himself to an erect position, “Just because I don‘t want to lose them doesn‘t mean I control them!”

Maria saw the consternation spread from the set of his brows to the thin line at his mouth and smiled slightly. Placing a hand on his cocked head, resting comfortably on his cheek she leaned in and pressed her perky lips to the side of his drawn mouth.

“You’re used to taking control in most situations because you play the adult role in your relationships with your siblings.” Maria explained, “So, instead of waiting for them to mess up you try and make them avoid the mistake all together.”

“No I don’t.” Michael said defensively, “I let them make their decisions.”

“Like Tess and Kyle?” Maria asked.

“I didn’t do anything to them.” Michael said pulling back from her touch.

“So, it wasn’t you who demanded that he come pick her up so you could interrogate him?” Maria asked smiling, “And I guess I imagined you calling me and asking me what you could expect from him?”

Michael glared, “I didn’t make her decision I was just trying to figure out how to fix a potential problem.”

“And if I would have told you he was a player?” Maria asked smugly.

“I would have chased after them, beat the shit out of him, and drug her home.” Michael admitted shaking his head.

Maria smiled for a moment, not finding his intentions towards her brother offending, “Michael, there’s an upside to your sister dating my brother.”

Michael didn’t think there would *ever* be an upside to his sister dating, but to humor her he’d ask anyway, “And that is?”

“It got you to call me.” Maria said dipping her head slightly.

“No it didn’t.” Michael said moving back towards her, his hand resting under her jaw, bringing her face to his, “I would have called regardless; the situation just gave me an opening.”

“And you took it.” Maria said nuzzling his nose lightly with her own.

“Who could pass up an opportunity like that?” Michael asked pressing his lips to hers in a slow, hot kiss.

Maria didn’t know who could, but she was glad that he hadn’t.

Michael’s mind rolled over the phrase, passing up an opportunity. It was exactly what he had done. Maybe, avoided an opportunity was more like it. He wanted to tell her things that he hadn’t told others. That he hadn’t told anyone to be more specific. Things about racing, the future, and more importantly the past. Were you supposed to tell your girlfriend those things so soon?

Michael’s mouth broke away in surprise, “You’re my girlfriend.”

The statement was laced with surprise, and the sentiment was reflected when Maria’s eyes skyrocketed open to stare at him bewildered, “I’m what?”

Michael looked at her, his eyes wide for a moment before he focused in on her, “You’re my girlfriend, right?”

Maria looked at him critically, “I don’t remember being asked.”

“You always have to be difficult, don’t you Red?” Michael asked rolling his eyes.

“Sort of.” Maria smiled leaning in and pressing her lips to his nose, “You should probably get used to it.”

Michael raised his eyebrows, “We’ll see.”

*
Part Twenty Two

“So you want to be a doctor?” Liz asked her chin bobbing on Max’s shoulder as he carried her, piggy back style, down the road.

“That’s my plan.” Max said gruffly hitching her up higher on his back.

“Your plan,” Liz said tilting her head to look at the stars, “but not their plan.”

Max grimaced at the pronoun, he hated thinking of his parents as a ‘they’, but they had really left him and his siblings no choice, “No, they want me to follow in Daddy dearest’s footsteps because Michael won’t.”

“The franchise.” Liz concluded.

“Yep, they keep trying to pin me with these summer intern things and I can’t stand it.” Max confided in her, “I love my parents, but they don’t even know me.”

Liz nodded her head solemnly, her lips brushing idly against his shoulder, “At least they don’t know about your ...hobbies outside the law.”

Max grinned, “I guess, sometimes I wish they’d find out so they could disown us.”

Liz stared at his back, “You want to be disowned by your parents?”

“It’d be a clean break. They couldn’t drag us back and we wouldn’t have to worry about filling these little predestined molds they’ve made for us.” Max said honestly turning the corner, the Valenti shop coming into view.

Liz could understand the logic, but couldn’t sympathize with the sentiment, her mother was all the parent she had left, and she couldn’t imagine being disowned by her. Looking from the skyline to her house she noted a strange happening on the hood of the West racer’s car.

“Maria and Michael are going at it *again*.” Liz shook her head against Max’s.

Max smirked at his brother and Maria before glancing back at Liz, “Seems to me that they have the right idea.”

“You’d think so wouldn’t you.” Liz scoffed with a laugh.

Stopping suddenly Max let loose his hold on Liz, letting her fall to her feet. Turning around he leered over her using his height against her vertical ineptness, “I do think so, got a problem with that?”

Liz smiled up at him letting her head tilt with fake consternation, “Maybe.”

Max inched forward, leaning towards her smiling face, “Maybe?”

Liz took the opportunity of his slightly lowered body to jump on him. Linking her legs about his waist and her arms about his neck she managed to surprise him enough to throw his balance leaving them both tumbling to the grass beside the sidewalk. Subsequently the boards that had been strapped to Liz’s back fell carelessly to the ground.

Liz looked cockily down at her boy toy from her perch on top of him, “Maybe not.”

Max let lose a laugh before he reached for her, leaving them rolling in the grass fighting for power in the most pleasurable way.

*

“Was that a squeal?” Michael asked pulling his lips from Maria’s ear lobe.

Maria’s eyes took a moment to focus then narrow, “That was Liz.”

“Liz squeals?” Michael asked skeptically.

Maria, ignoring Michael’s inquiry, turned her head, listening and looking for what she must be confusing for her sister enjoying herself.

That’s when she saw them, tousling on the ground. Of course Liz was squealing in glee, Maria thought dismally she’s finally gonna kill him.

"Is she trying to choke him again?" Michael asked dispassionately.

"It looks like they're," Maria looked closer to be sure, "playing."

Michael's head popped off the hood of the car; he couldn't believe this unless he saw it.

True to Maria's statement the two twisted teens were laughing wildly as they battled for control on the ground.

Liz smiled as Max pressed her arms into the ground, "You think you can hold me?"

Max smiled at the words, his sincerity at the wish to do just that pushed aside, his cocky attitude shown through instead, "Oh I think I can."

Liz reared her hips against his, causing his eyes to narrow and the hue to intensify, if that was possible.

"That, Superwoman, is dangerous." Max's voice was gravely and his fingers were kneading her arms pleasantly.

"Really?" Liz asked doing it again, slower, her lower body grating against his and her games doing the same to his control.

"Ahem." The cough came from behind them, causing both to jump, partially because of surprise, and the other portion from embarrassment.

Maria's eyes were wide and smiling, "Finally cross to the dark side?"

"I didn't think she could get any more evil." Max said conversationally, receiving an elbow in the side for his trouble.

Pushing Liz back to the ground he sneered down at her, "Watch your elbows."

Liz, growling in return, "Make me Boarder Boy."

"Oh My God," Maria said rolling her eyes, "You two flirt horribly!'

Michael gave his brother a nod and wink before picking Maria up by the waist and hoisting her over his shoulder.

"Porcupine! Let me down!" Maria's voice was high with surprise as she half heartedly struggled against his hold.

"You're ankle must be feeling better." Michael said as if he wasn't carrying her across her own lawn.

Maria experimentally rotated it around, and not very surprisingly, found that it had stopped its acute pain. No doubt it would be tight tomorrow but nothing was permanently, or even severely, damaged.

"Michael," Maria's voice was as sugary as honey as he carried her into the garage.

Assuming Michael's grunt was a justified acknowledgement she continued, "Where are you taking me?"

"To your bike." Michael explained as he dropped her to her feet beside the fire red machine.

"And what am I doing here?" Maria asked looking between her precious baby and her boyfriend.

"We," Michael corrected leaning forward, dragging her bottom lip into his mouth, letting his tongue lavish it ever so teasingly, "are taking a ride."

"On my bike?" Maria asked shaking her head to clear the clouds that had rolled in when his teeth nipped at her chin.

"Unless you wanna walk." Michael shrugged straightening up.

"I'll go get the keys."

*

Alex nuzzled Isabel's ear as she sat the popcorn in front of them on the coffee table.

"I still don't see how this was more important than the game." Kyle gripped as he reached for a hand full of the buttered mutilated corn.

"Because you were losing." Isabel offered as if it should have been obvious.

"Not by much." Kyle said defensively.

All eyes turned to him skeptically.

After a beat Kyle shrugged, "Ok we were down by 40, but we could have come back. We had time."

"Since when does two minutes constitute time?" Alex asked his sister with raised eyebrows.

Chuckling at Kyle's expense Tess settled into the couch, and firmly into Kyle's side.

Kyle, although highly disturbed at the thought of his sister being cozy with her new beau, took it in stride as he compensated for hugging Tess a little closer. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to the racer’s public intimacy with his sister, but he didn’t think Isabel would give him much say so in the matter.

Maria tromped through the door and straight across their line of sight as she made a bee-line for her room. Michael, who entered behind her lingered at the hallway, looking shocked at the two couples sharing the couch. Peace, with Kyle Valenti in the room… strange. This night just kept getting stranger and stranger.

And as if on cue two seemingly possessed teenagers tromped in behind him, startling the others.

Kyle’s eyes sharpened and he tensed, seeing Max’s arm around his most protected sister did horrible things to his stomach muscles. He shook his head briefly, not in denial or argument of the situation. He was only disparaged at the thought that from then on out he would have to more actively worry about all three of them. His hostile sisters had now fallen. And he knew it.

Maria hadn’t actually brought a date home since junior high, and Isabel was entirely too comfortable for him to think her closeness with Alex was a flippant gesture of teen lust. And the losing straw was Liz’s smile. With ‘border boy’s’ arm around her waist she looked genuinely pleased.

Staring at the rolling previews he sighed. He could hate the boys for these worries, but then he knew they’d simply hate him because of the blonde in his arms. They were all precious things to be protected, no matter how surly they could be at times.

Michael perched against the wall watching Maria rifle around on the table until she pulled her keys from the mess of mail. With a victorious grin on her face she turned to him, “Off we go.”

“We go? We go where?” Isabel asked leaning back against the couch arm to peer upside down at her little pixie of a sister

“We go bye bye.” Maria said thumping Isabel in the head, “We shouldn’t be too long.”

“Ass.” Isabel stuck her tongue out at her sister before turning back to the movie, snuggling a little closer to Alex.

Alex looked Michael over really quickly, “Are you gonna need a ride when you get back?”

“Nah, I got it covered.” Michael replied not taking his eyes off Maria.

After the couple was out the door Liz snorted, “They’re completely hopeless.”

The four teens, who were particularly cozy on the couch, looked accusingly at her.

“They are.” Liz shrugged, her movement moving Max’s own arm up and down, as it rested around her shoulders now.

“Yeah,” Kyle said with a tight lipped smile, “Because they’re the only ones.”

Liz’s half hearted glare and Max’s broad grin brought laughter to the rest of the on lookers.

*

“You’re not driving.” Maria said staring at Michael incredulously, “Repeat after me; Maria’s bike. Maria’s.”

Michael rolled his eyes, “You don’t know how to get there.”

“Maria’s Bike.”

“Fine, just let me drive to our shop, and I’ll pick up my own bike.” Michael’s voice was exasperated.

“Maria’s…”

“Yeah, yeah.” Michael grumbled, “I got it.”

Maria smiled brightly as she let threw her legs over her baby, kicking up the kick stand and steadying it, waiting for him to climb on back.

“Hold on.” Maria said patronizingly.

Michael directed a fierce stare at the back of her helmet, but his annoyance quickly faded away. Having her snuggled tightly between his legs could have that affect on him.

Taking the moment to enjoy the feeling of her against him, and the wind against his face, he leaned back and just simply let the experience lighten his mood of surrendering control.

At least it gave him time to think about what he was doing. He wanted to explain to her what happened in Japan. He wanted her to know, and he didn’t think he could do it while everyone was around. He’d never done it before, and he didn’t even check with the other’s to ask if it was alright.

Did he have to check with them? The whole ‘girl-friend’ business was something so foreign to him, he didn’t know the rules, or plays. Playing by ear was the most that he could do. He wanted to tell her, to kind of share something of himself. He knew they had fire, but what else?

As Maria pulled up to the curve Michael nimbly jumped off, careful not to cause her to dump the bike, knowing she would probably never forgive him for it.

She waited while he gathered his helmet and bike, and as soon as he was off down the street she was trailing him.

He skillfully winded his machine through traffic, across the highway, and then started onto the hard packed desert.

Maria hadn’t been out here, and her unfamiliarity with the terrain made her a little edgy, especially with the quickly approaching evening. She needn’t worry though, Michael wouldn’t take her, much less his own bike, somewhere dangerous.

In fact where they were going wasn’t dangerous, at least not physically. It was his spot. Michael’s safe point in life. She had Frasier Woods and Michael had this barren desert as a kind of refuge to emotional trials. It was only fair that they come here, that she be here.

It was twilight when he stopped on the side of a quarry. He was backlit by the bluish light, which played wondrously off his dyed spikes.

“So, porcupine, what are we doing here?” Maria asked as soon as she had her helmet off.

Michael motioned her over to where he was leaning against his bike, a vision of ‘cool’.

She stopped a near foot from his body, “Not gonna tell me?”

“You wanted to know what happened in Japan right?” Michael asked not really meeting her eyes.

Soundlessly she nodded.

“Alright then,” Michael tried to categorize his thoughts, “I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you. I’m not sure the others will appreciate it.”

Maria stayed silent, watching the battle in his eyes, as he obviously warred with himself.

“I’m not sure they’ll care either.” Michael took on of his hands out of his pockets and ran it over his spikes once, twice, and a final time before finally meeting those inquisitive eyes, “I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you, but I want to. You said that we don’t really know one another, and that’s true…but I want to know you, and I want to tell you.”

“What ever you say stays between us.” Maria reached out and ran her fingers over his arms in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.

Michael nodded then took a moment to clear his throat, “There were..”

His voice clogged in his throat just as it had earlier, “In Japan, we were happy.”

“We were a real family. All seven of us.” He said begging her to do the math and know with out the words.

Her eyes filled with sympathy, and for a moment he felt a reprieve.

“What happened?” Maria’s voice was soft, walking on troubling territory now.

Michael pushed away slightly, bending and grabbing a few rocks from the ground.

“Hava.” Michael chunked one out into the deep crater, “Her name was Hava, and she was our… she was the youngest.”

Maria stayed silent as rock after rock plummeted to it’s deep death.

“We weren’t careful enough, and I don’t think our parents have forgiven us for that yet.” Michael found it easier to stare at the darkening sky and confess than staring into Maria’s sympathetic eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault.” Maria said, almost instinctively.

“You don’t know that.” Michael said quickly.

“I’ve seen you with the others, you’re to caring to be at fault.” Maria reasoned, knowing her wording was jumbled in her need to comfort him.

Michael’s back was rigid with the tense anguish roaming freely in his body.

“She was so young. So little.” Michael said, his voice harsh, “She was the center of our family for three years. And then our family fell apart.”

Michael’s body heaved slightly as he gulped air in. It felt as if the words were taking parts of him with them as they left his mouth. Parts of his heart that until now had been inadequately held together with sticky denial.

“Hava died.”

Maria had known it was coming, and she had also known how vital it was for him to say the words. She knew what it was like to harbor that kind of pain, that kind of dark abysmal grief.

She slipped her tiny arms around his waist and pressed her cheek into his jacket. She knew no words would help him, but knowing he could lean on her just might.

Michael’s head sank and his breath escaped in one harsh expulsion. Taking solace in her closeness, he turned and wrapped her tiny frame in his arms.

“You don’t have to tell me baby,” She whispered into his chest, “I get it.”

Michael’s eyes burned as he clenched them against the onslaught of tears, but they stubbornly slipped out and into her hair. He’d never told anyone, and now he knew why. The pain of saying it was as severe as the grief itself.

Maria didn’t know how long they stood wrapped together, but by the time Michael’s breathing had returned to normal and his body stopped trembling it was full night and the moon was well over horizon. Some would consider the man who had shed tears in her arms weak, but all she could think was that to carry grief so long, so silently and now, to open so boldly were traits of a strong man.

There weren’t any words between them as he turned her to face the rising moon and held her steadfast against his chest matching his breathing to hers. Slow and steady.

Maria laid her own hands across his at her waist and held her tongue. She had more questions and comforts, but now was not the time. The first step towards intimacy of a kind they had only before touched on was made. She wanted to ease that pain for him, but it brought her, her own pain knowing she was as helpless as he against ghosts.

They stayed that way, in silence, listening to the sounds of the night as they leaned on each other, consumed in their own thoughts.

*

“So,” Alex rested his cheek against Isabel’s hair, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“If I get my way.” She murmured into his neck, nipping there.

Alex let out a whoosh of air and a jerky laugh, “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

Isabel gave a husky laugh, “You’ll die happy.”

That thought kept Alex’s body strung tight as he eased into the driver’s seat, Max in the passenger side, and Tess crouched between the two from the back.

“You’re sunk.” Max snorted as Alex turned onto the main street.

“Yeah, I’m sunk.” Alex’s sarcasm was accentuated from the cut of his eyes and the snort from Tess.

“We’re sunk.” Max shrugged glaring at nothing particular.

“So,” Tess turned to look at Max, asking a question that had been bugging her since she’d seen him come in with Liz, “how did that miracle occur?”

“You know me. I just have that magic touch.” Behind Max’s casual cocky grin hid his joy at the memories he had of today. It wasn’t a miracle, just a hard earned gift. As far as he was concerned he’d beaten her down and she‘d given him something he didn‘t want to share. Not even with his siblings, at least not yet. He might just jinx it and it was something he had fought hard for, and had the battle wounds to prove it.

And across town, Liz was examining her own wounds. Actually, though she’d never admit it, she was admiring them. Max had left a trio of love bits just below her collar bone. She thought of a few caustic remarks about men and territory, but wisely kept them to herself as she knew of a few marks left on Max’s body. And now that she let herself she spent a few daydreaming moments mentally praising that vision in her head.

With a goofy smile and her hand at her collar is how Isabel found her moments later. She almost laughed, but thought better of it. She hadn’t seen that particular look on her sisters face for a very long time. It made her shiny eyed just to witness it. Wisely Isabel cleared her throat, held back her tears, and began to chuckle.

“Seems like Boarder Boy has left an impression.”

Liz snapped back to reality guiltily. “You’re one to talk. I’m surprised you and Alex could bare to separate.”

The scathing tone died half way between the sisters and Isabel, smile a mile wide, walked over to her younger sister and pressed her lips to her cheek. Liz waited till Isabel was at the door, “Just don’t tell Kyle. He’ll kill me.”

Isabel nodded as she shut the door behind herself.

Liz picked up the phone experimentally. She didn’t know all the rules of this game her Boarder Boy had dragged her into. Was he supposed to call? She had accused Isabel of being inseparable with Alex because she couldn’t tear her own thoughts from Max.

Kyle came into the room a few moments later looking for a CD and found her still holding the phone.

“Just call him.” Kyle said with a roll of his eyes.

Liz’s mouth nearly hit the floor, “You OK?”

Kyle shook his head. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be ok with all three of his sisters dating, “Listen. I know you gave me a lot of flack for Tess and dating an East and all that bullshit. If you’re really into Max, take my word, and don’t let that get between you. It’s not worth it.”

Liz looked at the phone still in her hand and then back to her brother. It tore at her to admit it, and even more to vocalize it, but her sense of love and decency had the words pushing through her stubborn lips, “I’m sorry.”

Kyle only lifted his eyebrows.

“I should have slacked up. I was just aggravated because of my own drama.”

“True. And?”

It wasn’t quite what she’d expected from him, but she knew she didn’t deserve the easy way out. She would have made him grovel as well, “I was wrong.”

“True.”

“Damn it Kyle.” Liz clenched the phone, sorely tempted to vault it at his head, “Are you going to rub my nose in it?”

That brought a smirk to his face. He wanted to. Some petty part of his ego wanted to torture her with her mistake, but he loved her more than his anger so he shrugged and reached an arm out, “Forgiven.”

She smiled and grabbed his hand, yanking him into a hug, “I love you.”

Kyle squeezed her close with a smile, “Call him.”

*

Michael pulled up to the garage as Alex turned off the ignition. He got two steps from his bike before Tess pounced on him, “What happened?”

“Did you guys have a fight?” Alex stayed where he was but his eyes told of his concern.

“No, we just,” Michael tried to search for the right words, “We just talked.”

“Hava?” Max asked carefully, not knowing what the reaction from the other three would be.

Tess kept her eyes on the ground, Alex and Michael both looked to him with narrowed eyes.

Michael nodded, and Max moved his head in sync, “Me too.”

Tess looked back at Max, then to Michael, “I didn’t.”

“I should have.” Alex shrugged. He had time. He planned on keeping Isabel around for a good long time.

Tess wrapped her arm around Michael’s waist and leaned her head against him.

Alex and Max followed behind them into the house.

They sailed into the kitchen and found dinner still on the counter from the local delivery place, and their mother and father were sitting solemnly at the table.

“Nice to see you finally found your way home.” their mother smiled into her food and then back at her children.

Tess stood for a moment, looking at her mother very carefully. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother’s smile had reached her eyes. Had it ever? Was the woman so cold inside she didn’t have the heart to smile at her own children. With idea of her sister still fresh in her mind she took a second to consider her mother’s perspective more clearly. How much could it hurt her to look at them, and not see Hava every day?

Tess was blessed with the buffer of a child’s memory and time. She couldn’t recall a lot about Hava which was it’s own special type of grief, but she never stopped to consider how it would feel to loose a child.

Taking a bold and unnerving step she sat at the table between her parents. Her siblings stilled and watched her carefully, not quite sure what was about to happen and if they wanted to be a part of it.

Both of her parents looked at each other and then back to Tess, putting their silverware down and preparing for battle.

“I met a guy.” Tess decided the bridge had to start somewhere.

“His name is Kyle. He’s a mechanic and going to University in the fall.” Tess looked back and forth from her mother to her father.

Her father was the first to speak, “Did something happen between you and Kyle?”

“Did he get you in to trouble?” Her mother’s face was pale and like fine porcelain; like her own, and looking pointedly at her flat stomach.

“No,” Tess counted to five before she spoke again, “I thought you might want to know what was going on with me.”

“Well,” Her mother looked down at her plate and the back again, “How long have been dating this young man?”

Michael set a plate down in front of her, and never one to leave a soldier on the battle field alone he sat beside her. He wasn’t sure when but he’d started to think of anything involving his parents as a war. He too was starting to reevaluate his parent’s actions. He had a one sided view of their pain, and having relinquished his tight grip on his own grief made him more aware of the fact that he hadn’t seen his own parents surrender their own.

As Tess started to answer her mother’s question the phone rang and their father stood and walked into the parlor to answer it.

The males in the dining room and adjacent kitchen stood still watching their mother and sister have a shallow, yet polite conversation about mundane things families shared every day.

“Max,” The call broke Max’s trance like state and he carefully walked around the far end of the table to get to the parlor, insensibly afraid what ever had gotten into his sister was catching.

“It’s a Liz.” His father titled the phone towards him and noticed his son’s confused look, taking a leaf from his daughter’s book he tried a smile, “You’re girlfriend?”

Max glanced at his father’s face, “One of my patients.”

The smile thinned out, “I see.”

The easy acceptance made Max feel like an ass, and with a sigh he took the phone, holding it at his side, “Dad.”

[Vix]

..............


The look his father gave him was guarded and his now free hands were crossed over his chest. The only thing that kept his mouth moving was the way Liz had looked when she spoke of her own father and condemned him for his harsh dismissal of his own. Had his father been dead as well he wouldn’t even be able to have this conversation. That thought made his stomach clinch. He usually didn’t like the man, and he wasn’t really a part of his life anymore. But there was always this peripheral consistency of the chance of a reconciliation. Would he wait till it was too late?

“I want to be a doctor.”

“This is not the time for this conversation.” His father was curt and made a move to go back into the kitchen.

“Dad,” Max tried again, determined, “I want to try.”

“The real world is hard Max.” His father kept his tone’s down, “It’s not something you can play at. If you work for the company you’re guaranteed a steady job. It’s safe Max.”

Max sighed. His parents didn’t want to ruin his dreams, but they didn’t believe in him enough to try, “I appreciate you and mom wanting something easy for me, but what’s easy isn’t always what’s right. Something’s better when you’ve earned it.”

Max smirked at himself and down at the phone. He’d learned that the hard way of course, but after all that was the only way to earn it.

His father looked far from convinced, but he wasn’t ignoring his words as he was prone to doing, “We’ll talk about this more after you get the first semester under your belt.”

Max’s look brightened from a smirk to a real smile, “Thanks.”

His dad nodded patting his shoulder awkwardly as he walked towards the door.

Max brought the phone to his ear with a smile, only to find out she’d hung up. Figures, he thought, his Super Woman wasn’t known for her patience.

When he went back into the dining room he found his entire family sitting at the table, their words slow coming, but a nice start to a change.

He took a seat between Michael and his father, sitting across from Alex who was watching things unfold before him.

He’d call Liz back later, she’d understand.

The End


Ok, hoped you guys liked it

And Incase anyone's interested I'm gonna be having an Author chat at Candy Is Dandy the 23rd

I was also thinking about doing a type of epilouge... idk yet though- tell me what you think


Later,
Vix