Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:51 pm
Okay, this is it. The last chapter. Well, there is a epi, whick will be out this weekend, so keep your eyes open.
Chapter 10
"Looks like someone had a good night," Maria teased as she watched Liz float around the kitchen.
"Eww, Maria, I do not need to hear about my brother's sex life," Isabel groaned in distaste as she washed the rest of the vegetables for the salad. Liz giggled and tried to hide the furious blush that crept up her neck and stained her cheeks.
"Spill girlfriend," Maria said, ignoring Isabel's protests.
"Maria, that's private," Liz's blush grew wildly as she tried to evade her friend's persistent probing.
"Oh come on," Maria begged, "ever since you and Max got back together, you've been all surreptitious, depriving me of all the juicy details," she pouted.
"Maria!" Isabel cried in annoyance, causing Liz to laugh at her sister's expression. It was true. Her and Max were slowly making there way back to what they once had. Every since he had opened up to her three months ago, they had been slowly working things out. When he had went away for rehab, it had been the longest four weeks of her life. Of course he called her and the kids every other day and she would go down to visit him where they would undergo counseling, but the fact of being away from him when things were just getting on track scared her.
It seemed like once the gates had been open and she showed him that she didn't blame him for Josephine's death, he willingly talked to her and his therapist about their daughter. He still hadn't worked up the courage to visit her gravesite. Liz knew it was because visiting Joey's grave was like finally facing the truth. She was gone and never coming back. Liz had faced that fact months ago; had learned to let go. But Max never had that closure. Instead, he choose to run away, ignore it, hoping that if he didn't acknowledge her death it wouldn't be real.
Then there was the guilt that ate at him daily, consuming him to where he turned to alcohol to soothe his conscience and pushing her away in the process. She never knew what had been going through his head that day she came home to find her house surrounded by police and paramedics, mainly because he had shut himself off from her the moment he saw her standing there with a panicked look on her face. She never knew he felt so much guilt and fear. Guilt for letting her out of his sight for just a second, and fear that she would blame him for letting their daughter die.
When he was released from rehab, he returned to his apartment across town. Even though they were working things out, he didn't want to rush things between them. They had agreed to take things slow and work on there relationship. Things had been said and done after Josephine had died that they both regretted and hearts needed mending. So they continued to see the family therapist and let things progress slowly.
They began 'dating' again, and Max would show up at her front door with flowers just like he did when they had first been allowed to go out on dates. Of course, this time it wasn't just her he would be picking up, but two eager six-year-olds as well that didn't understand why if their parents were back together, they still lived in separate houses. Liz and Max had sat them down and had a long talk about what was going on, and that even though mommy and daddy didn't live together, they still loved each other and them very much and were working to fix their family.
"Does that mean no more fighting?" Hannah looked between them sadly.
"Or screaming?" Justin piped in hopefully. Max and Liz shared a pained look that soon turned to guilt for what they had put their babies through.
"No more fighting," Liz promised, pulling them into her arms.
"Or screaming," Max added, rubbing their backs gently. Justin pulled away first, looking at his daddy tentatively.
"D-does that mean when we talk about Joey, you won't get so sad?" Max swallowed thickly. He knew the kids never talked about their sister much, but he always assumed that it was because they were still young when she died and didn't understand. Truth was they never spoke of her around their parents because it always made their mommy cry and their daddy upset, which led to them arguing. Max nodded stiffly, wrapping his son in his arms.
"You can talk about Joey all you want Big Guy...all you want," he choked out, pulling Liz and Hannah against him as he cried.
Just because they were taking things slow, didn't stop Liz and the kids from spending nights with him at his apartment or him with them at the house. They were gradually returning to a family again.
Liz was brought out of her wandering thoughts when Hannah and Justin came barging through the back door, screaming at the top of their lungs, Kyle and Michael right behind them with large Super Soakers in their hands.
"Hey!" Liz laughed, trying to pry the two wiggling forms from behind her back as they tried to escape their uncles.
"I swear, you guys are so immature," Isabel rolled her eyes as she watched the two soaked, overgrown men prance around the kitchen.
"You know what your problem is, Iz?" Kyle started, ceasing his attempt at retaliation against the twins. "You don't know how to let loose, let your hair down and have fun." Kyle looked over at Michael and saw him send him a small smirk, knowing he knew what he was thinking. Before Isabel could react, they turned the soakers on her and hosed her down.
"Ahh!" she screamed as they continued to spray her. Only when their guns were completely empty did they let up.
"Uh oh," Justin whispered, seeing the murderous look in his aunt's eyes. Kyle and Michael shared a look before running out the door, Isabel hot on their heels. Maria and Liz had to lean on each other as their laughter overcame them as they watched the trio through the screen door. Isabel had cornered them against the back gate and she had the water hose in her hand. They were apologizing furiously, but she wouldn't hear any of it. All the parents just looked on in amusement.
It was Forth of July and they were having a get together to watch the fireworks later on that evening. Zan strolled through the back gate. He turned to see his sister spraying Michael and Kyle with the water hose. He raised a questioning eyebrow, but ignored their pleas for help.
"Hey Moms," he smiled, placing a noisy kiss on her cheek before turning and doing the same to Nancy and Amy. They had all grew up so close, that each one of them called their friend's mom, mom.
"Hey you," Diane smiled. "Where's your brother?" she questioned expecting to see Max trailing behind him. Zan took a seat across from his dad and Jim, who were preoccupied in a game of Gin.
"He had a meeting with Lou. He said he'll be here soon." Max had returned to the department one month ago after the lieutenant felt he was ready to return after the rehab and counseling. He was happy to be back, and the lieutenant was glad to see him doing better and working through his problems.
"I hope he makes it before the fireworks start. The kids really wanted to watch them with him," Liz said as she came up behind them having heard what he had said.
"Don't worry, he'll be here," Zan assured as he fixed himself a huge plate of food and settled down with the twins on the blanket spread out on the ground and listened as they talked excitedly about the fireworks they were going to see soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max zipped up his duffel bag and tossed it over his shoulder. Looking at his watch, he saw that he had just enough time to make it before the fireworks began. He had promised the twins he would be there, and he didn't plan on breaking that promise. Suddenly, the sirens in the house went off and he was nearly ran over as his fellow firemates ran past him.
"Evans." Max turned around to see Dan rushing toward him. He liked Dan. He had went through training with him and Zan and had become fast friends.
"What's going on?" Max asked as he began to run along side him.
"Five alarm at the Orange Street orphanage. You in?" he panted out as he strapped on his gear. Max hesitated briefly before grabbing his gear in climbing onto the engine. The sirens blurred to life as the engine pulled out of the firehouse. He prayed the twins understood
~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz watched the twins stare at the back gate for the tenth time in five minutes. The fireworks had started twenty minutes ago, and Max still hadn't arrived or called to say he was going to be late.
"He'll be here," she smiled reassuringly. The twins nodded and turned their attention back to the fireworks. After another fifteen minutes went by, Liz grabbed a bowl off the table and headed into the kitchen to busy herself. Flipping on the small black and white they kept on the kitchen counter. She grabbed the bag of ice from the refrigerator.
"When we return, we'll have more news on the fire alarm five that has engulf the Orange Street Orphanage..." the anchor woman announced, causing Liz to stop what she was doing and stare at the screen. Maria came through the door in search of her.
"Hey, there..."
"Shh," Liz waved her off as she frantically flipped through the stations.
"What's going on?" Maria whispered, coming up beside her.
"Come on..." Liz whispered as she searched each station for info. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, that was Max's district. She finally found a station that was broadcasting the fire.
"...once again, two firefighters died in the Orange Street Orphanage and three are still missing. There is no word what started the five alarm five that swooped through the building earlier this evening..." Maria ran to the back and called for Zan. At her panicked voice, everyone ran into the house. Maria shushed them before they could ask what was going on and went and wrapped her arms around Liz's waist in comfort.
"Investigators aren't releasing the names of the fallen firefighters until their families have been notified..." Liz's heart pounded in her ears as she listened to the news. She felt her knees grow weak and she was grateful for Maria's support.
"Oh god," she whispered brokenly.
"Liz, no. Don't even think like that, Max is fine," Maria stated firmly, knowing exactly what was going through her best friends head. As soon as the words left her mouth, the phone shrieked, causing all of them to jump in start and stare at it with dread.
Chapter 10
"Looks like someone had a good night," Maria teased as she watched Liz float around the kitchen.
"Eww, Maria, I do not need to hear about my brother's sex life," Isabel groaned in distaste as she washed the rest of the vegetables for the salad. Liz giggled and tried to hide the furious blush that crept up her neck and stained her cheeks.
"Spill girlfriend," Maria said, ignoring Isabel's protests.
"Maria, that's private," Liz's blush grew wildly as she tried to evade her friend's persistent probing.
"Oh come on," Maria begged, "ever since you and Max got back together, you've been all surreptitious, depriving me of all the juicy details," she pouted.
"Maria!" Isabel cried in annoyance, causing Liz to laugh at her sister's expression. It was true. Her and Max were slowly making there way back to what they once had. Every since he had opened up to her three months ago, they had been slowly working things out. When he had went away for rehab, it had been the longest four weeks of her life. Of course he called her and the kids every other day and she would go down to visit him where they would undergo counseling, but the fact of being away from him when things were just getting on track scared her.
It seemed like once the gates had been open and she showed him that she didn't blame him for Josephine's death, he willingly talked to her and his therapist about their daughter. He still hadn't worked up the courage to visit her gravesite. Liz knew it was because visiting Joey's grave was like finally facing the truth. She was gone and never coming back. Liz had faced that fact months ago; had learned to let go. But Max never had that closure. Instead, he choose to run away, ignore it, hoping that if he didn't acknowledge her death it wouldn't be real.
Then there was the guilt that ate at him daily, consuming him to where he turned to alcohol to soothe his conscience and pushing her away in the process. She never knew what had been going through his head that day she came home to find her house surrounded by police and paramedics, mainly because he had shut himself off from her the moment he saw her standing there with a panicked look on her face. She never knew he felt so much guilt and fear. Guilt for letting her out of his sight for just a second, and fear that she would blame him for letting their daughter die.
When he was released from rehab, he returned to his apartment across town. Even though they were working things out, he didn't want to rush things between them. They had agreed to take things slow and work on there relationship. Things had been said and done after Josephine had died that they both regretted and hearts needed mending. So they continued to see the family therapist and let things progress slowly.
They began 'dating' again, and Max would show up at her front door with flowers just like he did when they had first been allowed to go out on dates. Of course, this time it wasn't just her he would be picking up, but two eager six-year-olds as well that didn't understand why if their parents were back together, they still lived in separate houses. Liz and Max had sat them down and had a long talk about what was going on, and that even though mommy and daddy didn't live together, they still loved each other and them very much and were working to fix their family.
"Does that mean no more fighting?" Hannah looked between them sadly.
"Or screaming?" Justin piped in hopefully. Max and Liz shared a pained look that soon turned to guilt for what they had put their babies through.
"No more fighting," Liz promised, pulling them into her arms.
"Or screaming," Max added, rubbing their backs gently. Justin pulled away first, looking at his daddy tentatively.
"D-does that mean when we talk about Joey, you won't get so sad?" Max swallowed thickly. He knew the kids never talked about their sister much, but he always assumed that it was because they were still young when she died and didn't understand. Truth was they never spoke of her around their parents because it always made their mommy cry and their daddy upset, which led to them arguing. Max nodded stiffly, wrapping his son in his arms.
"You can talk about Joey all you want Big Guy...all you want," he choked out, pulling Liz and Hannah against him as he cried.
Just because they were taking things slow, didn't stop Liz and the kids from spending nights with him at his apartment or him with them at the house. They were gradually returning to a family again.
Liz was brought out of her wandering thoughts when Hannah and Justin came barging through the back door, screaming at the top of their lungs, Kyle and Michael right behind them with large Super Soakers in their hands.
"Hey!" Liz laughed, trying to pry the two wiggling forms from behind her back as they tried to escape their uncles.
"I swear, you guys are so immature," Isabel rolled her eyes as she watched the two soaked, overgrown men prance around the kitchen.
"You know what your problem is, Iz?" Kyle started, ceasing his attempt at retaliation against the twins. "You don't know how to let loose, let your hair down and have fun." Kyle looked over at Michael and saw him send him a small smirk, knowing he knew what he was thinking. Before Isabel could react, they turned the soakers on her and hosed her down.
"Ahh!" she screamed as they continued to spray her. Only when their guns were completely empty did they let up.
"Uh oh," Justin whispered, seeing the murderous look in his aunt's eyes. Kyle and Michael shared a look before running out the door, Isabel hot on their heels. Maria and Liz had to lean on each other as their laughter overcame them as they watched the trio through the screen door. Isabel had cornered them against the back gate and she had the water hose in her hand. They were apologizing furiously, but she wouldn't hear any of it. All the parents just looked on in amusement.
It was Forth of July and they were having a get together to watch the fireworks later on that evening. Zan strolled through the back gate. He turned to see his sister spraying Michael and Kyle with the water hose. He raised a questioning eyebrow, but ignored their pleas for help.
"Hey Moms," he smiled, placing a noisy kiss on her cheek before turning and doing the same to Nancy and Amy. They had all grew up so close, that each one of them called their friend's mom, mom.
"Hey you," Diane smiled. "Where's your brother?" she questioned expecting to see Max trailing behind him. Zan took a seat across from his dad and Jim, who were preoccupied in a game of Gin.
"He had a meeting with Lou. He said he'll be here soon." Max had returned to the department one month ago after the lieutenant felt he was ready to return after the rehab and counseling. He was happy to be back, and the lieutenant was glad to see him doing better and working through his problems.
"I hope he makes it before the fireworks start. The kids really wanted to watch them with him," Liz said as she came up behind them having heard what he had said.
"Don't worry, he'll be here," Zan assured as he fixed himself a huge plate of food and settled down with the twins on the blanket spread out on the ground and listened as they talked excitedly about the fireworks they were going to see soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max zipped up his duffel bag and tossed it over his shoulder. Looking at his watch, he saw that he had just enough time to make it before the fireworks began. He had promised the twins he would be there, and he didn't plan on breaking that promise. Suddenly, the sirens in the house went off and he was nearly ran over as his fellow firemates ran past him.
"Evans." Max turned around to see Dan rushing toward him. He liked Dan. He had went through training with him and Zan and had become fast friends.
"What's going on?" Max asked as he began to run along side him.
"Five alarm at the Orange Street orphanage. You in?" he panted out as he strapped on his gear. Max hesitated briefly before grabbing his gear in climbing onto the engine. The sirens blurred to life as the engine pulled out of the firehouse. He prayed the twins understood
~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz watched the twins stare at the back gate for the tenth time in five minutes. The fireworks had started twenty minutes ago, and Max still hadn't arrived or called to say he was going to be late.
"He'll be here," she smiled reassuringly. The twins nodded and turned their attention back to the fireworks. After another fifteen minutes went by, Liz grabbed a bowl off the table and headed into the kitchen to busy herself. Flipping on the small black and white they kept on the kitchen counter. She grabbed the bag of ice from the refrigerator.
"When we return, we'll have more news on the fire alarm five that has engulf the Orange Street Orphanage..." the anchor woman announced, causing Liz to stop what she was doing and stare at the screen. Maria came through the door in search of her.
"Hey, there..."
"Shh," Liz waved her off as she frantically flipped through the stations.
"What's going on?" Maria whispered, coming up beside her.
"Come on..." Liz whispered as she searched each station for info. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, that was Max's district. She finally found a station that was broadcasting the fire.
"...once again, two firefighters died in the Orange Street Orphanage and three are still missing. There is no word what started the five alarm five that swooped through the building earlier this evening..." Maria ran to the back and called for Zan. At her panicked voice, everyone ran into the house. Maria shushed them before they could ask what was going on and went and wrapped her arms around Liz's waist in comfort.
"Investigators aren't releasing the names of the fallen firefighters until their families have been notified..." Liz's heart pounded in her ears as she listened to the news. She felt her knees grow weak and she was grateful for Maria's support.
"Oh god," she whispered brokenly.
"Liz, no. Don't even think like that, Max is fine," Maria stated firmly, knowing exactly what was going through her best friends head. As soon as the words left her mouth, the phone shrieked, causing all of them to jump in start and stare at it with dread.