Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:17 pm
Charmed Again
Chapter 10
San Francisco, California
Max walked down the hall toward his locker. He hadn't slept at all the night before and now he was just tired as hell.
''Maxwell, you look like hell.'' Michael said, catching up to him as he reached his locker. Max didn't answer, instead he opened his locker and reached out to get his History books out.
Michael sighed and shook his head. ''Is it Liz?'' He asked, knowing that the answer to his question would be a yes even though he knew that Max would probably try denying it.
''No.'' Max answered dryly. ''Look, I got to go. The bell's about to ring.''
He quickly shut his locker and headed toward homeroom, hoping that Michael wouldn't follow him to class.
''You wanna to talk about it?'' Michael asked, quickly catching up to him. And that's when they ran into Maria.
''Michael,'' She said. ''We need to talk.''
''Hey, not right now, okay?'' Michael answered. ''Max has Liz issue's and he needs me to talk to.''
''Michael,'' Max said sharply.
But it was too late. Maria's eye's grew wide as she shot Max a look. ''What happened?'' She asked immediately concern written all over her face.
''It's nothing, okay?'' Max snapped, sidestepping the both of them and continuing down the hall. Michael shook his head and went his own way while Maria on the other hand went after Max.
''Something happened yesterday, didn't it??'' She asked as she fell into step with him. ''What did she tell you?''
''Nothing good.'' Max said as he continued down the hall.
''Well, what did she say?'' Maria asked curiously. ''I mean, did she tell you about Future Max?Is that why your all...sad and depressed?''
Max stopped in his tracks and turned to face Maria.
''Did she?'' Maria asked. ''Please tell me she did and that I'm not making a total fool of myself right now.''
''She didn't tell me about...Future Max.'' Max said calmly, ''Who is he?''
''Look, I'm sorry,'' Maria said. ''I shouldn't of said anything only you looked so depressed that I guessed that she had told you but apparently I made a huge mistake.'' She paused. ''I better get going now anyway's. I don't want to be late for English.'' She slowly took a step back but Max stopped her.
''Maria, who is Future Max?'' Max repeated again, his voice rising slightly.
''I can't tell you.'' Maria said. ''Liz, will kill me if I do, okay?''
''She's right you know,''
Max turned to find himself staring at Liz. Her beautiful brown eye's staring right back at him. He felt his breath catch in his throat. God, he still loved her and he still wanted her. He didn't care if she had or had not slept with Kyle. He wanted her so badly.
''Maria, you should get to class.'' Liz said with a small sigh as she pushed a strand of her dark long hair out of her face. ''Your gonna be late for class.''
''Your right,'' Maria said, shooting Liz an apologetic smile. She quickly turned on her heels and hurried down the hall, leaving Max and Liz behind.
''Liz, who's Future Max?'' Max asked, trying to put his feeling's about her aside for just one minute. He had to know who the Hell Future Max was. And just by the sound of it, it did not sound good.
''I'll tell you.'' Liz said softly. ''But not here. We have to go someplace else.''
''Fine,'' Max said. ''We can go to my house. My parent's aren't home.''
Liz shook her head. ''No, not your house. Let's just go outside, okay?''
''Alright,'' Max answered. Anywhere was good enough with him.
He followed Liz as she led the way through the school and out the door that led outside where the Basketball court was. She led Max just a little bit past the Basketball Court and under the big Oak tree where she and Isabel had talked the day before.
''Is here okay?'' Liz asked, sitting down under the big Oak tree.
Max sat down beside her. ''Yeah, It's fine.''
''Good.'' Liz said.
''So,'' Max started, not quite looking her in the eye. ''What was Maria talking about before? Who's Future Max?'' He paused. ''Liz, just please don't lie to me. Especially if this is in anyway alien related.''
Liz nodded. ''I'll try. But, first off, I just wanted say, about yesterday.'' She looked up at Max with a serious face. ''I'm sorry. I shouldn't of pushed you away like that. I should of just told you the truth then, I don't understand why I didn't. I was acting like a real bitch. And I shoudn't have. So I'm sorry.''
''Don't you dare.'' Max said in barely a whisper. ''Don't you dare apologize to me. I shoud be the one apologizing to you for the way I've been acting for the past couple of day's. The way I acted with you in that classroom. God, to think I almost grabbed you like that...'' He looked down at the grass, unable to bring himself to look at her.
''Well, I did come on a little too strong.'' Liz said. ''I mean, I was so mad when Isabel told me that you weren't letting her go to College in San Francisco. And that you had threatened her. I just sort of lost it, you know? Because I knew...I knew that the Max I knew never would of done that to his sister.''
''I know,'' Max said, still looking down at the ground. ''But i've been so stressed out lately, Liz. What with Alex's death. And then you...you were so sure that Alex was killed by an alien and I...I didn't want to beleive that. I didn't want to beleive that because I knew that It would mean that I was responsible.''
Liz saw tear's in Max's eye's and Liz immediately felt guilty. How would he react when she would tell him that Alex was actually alive?
''No, Max.'' Liz said. ''You know your wrong. Even if Alex was killed by an alien. You are not responsible. Your not the one who killed him.'' She placed a comforting hand over his. ''You gotta stop thinking that everything that goes on around here is your fault okay?''
Max smiled a little. It was funny how Liz alway's had a way with him. She alway's knew how to make him feel better.
''So, I guess I should tell you about...Future Max.'' Liz said, biting her lower lip. ''I just...I don't want you to angry at me, Max. And I know you will be once I'm done telling you everything.''
Max shook his head. ''No, Liz. I won't be mad at you. I promise, okay? Just...try me.''
Liz looked up at him uncertainly. He was wrong. She knew it. Once she would be over telling him all about Future Max and all about Alex being alive, he would get angry. She was just about certain that he would start accusing her. Asking her why she hadn't gone to him about this before.
''Liz?'' Max asked, encouraging her to tell him. Liz took a deep breath and then started,
''Back in October,'' She said slowly. ''When you caught me in bed with Kyle.''
Max winced when she said that. Even though he had forced the truth out of Kyle and that he knew now that it had all been a setup. It still hurt when he thought about it.
''I had...a visitor. Someone came to me.'' Liz said. ''From the Future.''
''The Future?'' Max asked, confused. How was that possible?
''The visitor from the Future was you, Max.'' Liz said. ''You said the Granolith could be used for time travel.''
Max didn't know what to think. Why would a Future version of him go to Liz? And how exactly had he used the Granolith to turn back time?
Liz sighed. ''You said that we were happy and that we were married. But it made Tess feel abandoned, so she left. But you needed her-all four of you needed to be together. There was this huge threat to Earth and Tess wasn't there.'' Liz paused and then went on. ''You told me I had to change what had happened. You said I had to make sure you fell out of love with me so that you could turn to Tess. That way, she'd never leave. So you told me I had to change the Future.''
And suddenly everything fell into place and he felt as though all the air had left his lungs. ''Kyle,'' He whispered. ''You pretended to sleep with him because you knew I'd catch you.''
Liz eye's were brimming with tear's. ''I had to make you stop loving me. And it was the only way I could think of. I mean, I tried so hard to get you to fall out of love with me. I went to you that night with that whole lame Romeo and Juliet speech. But that didn't make you fall out of love with me and-''
But before Liz could finish what she had to say, Max pulled her into his arm's, kissing her softly and taking in the amazing feeling of her in his arm's.
''I didn't stop loving you,'' He said, tear's pricking his own eye's. There's just no way I could ever stop loving you, Liz. No matter what you did. Your in my blood, Liz. Your a part of me.'' He held Liz in his arm's, pressing her against him. ''I love you.''
''I was only trying to do the right thing,'' Liz said, sobbing quietely into his chest. ''I'm so sorry that I had to put you through all of this.''
''It's okay, Liz.'' Max said, holding her tightly. ''I'm here with you and I'm not gonna let you go.''
''I love you, Max.'' Liz said. ''I never stopped loving you.''
Max couldn't believe everything she had gone through. How strong she had been all these months. He hated to think of how she must of been feeling everytime she saw him with Tess. He thought she had moved on-but in reality her heart must of been breaking everytime she had seen him with her.
''There's something else I need to tell you,'' Liz said, pulling back a little from his embrace. ''Something happened yesterday, and I should of come to you...but we weren't really speaking so I didn't say anything.''
''What is it?'' Max asked, holding her's hand's in his.
''I found out some thing's.'' Liz said. ''About myself and about Alex.''
''What thing's?'' Max asked, worriedly.
''You know that thing that attacked us in the classroom the other day when we were talking?'' Liz asked.
''Yeah, of course.'' Max said. ''I talked to Michael and Isabel about that and they think it could of been an alien of some sort. Were just not sure.''
''It wasn't a demon, Max.'' Liz said. ''It Shax. A demon. When it hit you with that energy ball and you fell unconscious. It tried to kill me, it threw this energy ball at me but I managed to dodge it. I used power's Max. I orbed. One second I was standing there, Shax was about to throw that blast at me and the next thing I know I was standing on the other side of the room.''
''A demon?'' Max asked. ''It attacked you and you used power's? But, Liz, you said you that he left right after he attacked me. You never said anything about him going after you...''
''I know,'' Liz said. ''I just didn't know what to say Max. I didn't understand what had happened, how could you have?''
''Well, your okay right? He didn't hurt you?'' Max asked.
''No, but he came close.'' Liz answered. ''As soon as a dodged his attack he just vanished.''
''Didn't Ava say that I had changed you when I had healed you?'' Max asked. ''Maybe you developed power's.''
''It's more than that.'' Liz said. ''Later, after the attacked I headed to the cemetery. I hadn't gone to visit Alex...since his death. And I just had this urge to go and visit him.''
Max swallowed hard, still hold Liz's hand's tightly. ''What happened? Did that demon attack you again?''
Liz nodded. ''He did. When I was at Alex's gravesite. I felt this presence watching me. I knew there was someone else there. And then Shax appeared once more out of nowhere.'' She paused and took a deep breath before going on. ''And so did Alex.''
Max froze. ''Liz,'' He said, ''How? How is that possible. Alex is...we buried him. I-''
''I know,'' Liz said, tightening her grip on Max's hands. ''That's exactly what I thought when I saw him. I couldn't believe it, I was in complete shock. But he was there. I mean, Max, he was real. He protected me from that demon. And then this women and this man appeared. They said their name's were Piper and Leo. The women, Piper, she managed to knock him down and then I remember Alex grabbing my hand and then the next thing I know I'm standing in this old and beautiful Victorian house in San Francisco.''
''San Francisco?'' Max said, completely confused. ''How? Who were those people who saved you?''
''Piper and Leo.'' Liz said. ''There was also this other girl...her name was Phoebe. Piper and Phoebe Halliwell.'' Liz bit back a laugh. ''They said that they were witches. They tried to explaining everything to me. Who they were and what they did. They had just lost their sister, Prue.''
''And Alex?'' Max asked, ''How is he alive?''
''He said he was Whitelighter.'' Liz explained. ''Basically an Angel who takes cares of witches. That's what he said any way’s. And then while we were in the living room talking, Shax appeared out of nowhere again. Piper and Phoebe rushed me upstairs to the attic with them. And they kept mumbling some stuff about not being able to vanquish Shax without The Power of Three. And then Leo and Alex joined us and Leo said some stuff about me being Piper and Phoebe's half-sister and-‘’ She stopped. ‘’God, telling you all of this just make’s me feel like I belong in a asylum.’’
‘’Liz,’’ Max said. ''I believe you. I do. I mean, if aliens exist...there's gotta be something else out there right?''
''Yeah,'' Liz said slowly. ''I guess your right. I talked to Alex yesterday. After you left. He told me some thing's. He doesn't remember how he did. He know's he was killed. But he doesn't know who did it. He said that there was some thing's he just couldn't remember, even before he died.''
''I-I want to see him.'' Max said. ''Alex I mean. I want to talk to him.''
''Of course.'' Liz said immediately. ''Of course you can see him. I'm just not really sure how to get him here. He usually just...appeares.''
''Those power's you said you had.'' Max said. ''What exactly are they? How do they work?''
''I'm not sure.'' Liz said. ''I'm not even sure I can control them. I mean, the only time I actually used them, It was like a life and death situation.''
''Look,'' Max said, giving Liz a reasuring smile. ''Whatever's going on with you, your power's, Alex, and those women, Piper and Phoebe. We'll deal with everything. We alway's do, don't we? And I promise, I'm not going anywhere Liz. I love you, Liz. And whatever's going on it, we'll get through it. You have my promise.''
Liz smiled a little as he pulled her back into his arm's. And Liz believed him. They would be okay.
As long as they were together.
*****************************************************
Chapter 10
San Francisco, California
Max walked down the hall toward his locker. He hadn't slept at all the night before and now he was just tired as hell.
''Maxwell, you look like hell.'' Michael said, catching up to him as he reached his locker. Max didn't answer, instead he opened his locker and reached out to get his History books out.
Michael sighed and shook his head. ''Is it Liz?'' He asked, knowing that the answer to his question would be a yes even though he knew that Max would probably try denying it.
''No.'' Max answered dryly. ''Look, I got to go. The bell's about to ring.''
He quickly shut his locker and headed toward homeroom, hoping that Michael wouldn't follow him to class.
''You wanna to talk about it?'' Michael asked, quickly catching up to him. And that's when they ran into Maria.
''Michael,'' She said. ''We need to talk.''
''Hey, not right now, okay?'' Michael answered. ''Max has Liz issue's and he needs me to talk to.''
''Michael,'' Max said sharply.
But it was too late. Maria's eye's grew wide as she shot Max a look. ''What happened?'' She asked immediately concern written all over her face.
''It's nothing, okay?'' Max snapped, sidestepping the both of them and continuing down the hall. Michael shook his head and went his own way while Maria on the other hand went after Max.
''Something happened yesterday, didn't it??'' She asked as she fell into step with him. ''What did she tell you?''
''Nothing good.'' Max said as he continued down the hall.
''Well, what did she say?'' Maria asked curiously. ''I mean, did she tell you about Future Max?Is that why your all...sad and depressed?''
Max stopped in his tracks and turned to face Maria.
''Did she?'' Maria asked. ''Please tell me she did and that I'm not making a total fool of myself right now.''
''She didn't tell me about...Future Max.'' Max said calmly, ''Who is he?''
''Look, I'm sorry,'' Maria said. ''I shouldn't of said anything only you looked so depressed that I guessed that she had told you but apparently I made a huge mistake.'' She paused. ''I better get going now anyway's. I don't want to be late for English.'' She slowly took a step back but Max stopped her.
''Maria, who is Future Max?'' Max repeated again, his voice rising slightly.
''I can't tell you.'' Maria said. ''Liz, will kill me if I do, okay?''
''She's right you know,''
Max turned to find himself staring at Liz. Her beautiful brown eye's staring right back at him. He felt his breath catch in his throat. God, he still loved her and he still wanted her. He didn't care if she had or had not slept with Kyle. He wanted her so badly.
''Maria, you should get to class.'' Liz said with a small sigh as she pushed a strand of her dark long hair out of her face. ''Your gonna be late for class.''
''Your right,'' Maria said, shooting Liz an apologetic smile. She quickly turned on her heels and hurried down the hall, leaving Max and Liz behind.
''Liz, who's Future Max?'' Max asked, trying to put his feeling's about her aside for just one minute. He had to know who the Hell Future Max was. And just by the sound of it, it did not sound good.
''I'll tell you.'' Liz said softly. ''But not here. We have to go someplace else.''
''Fine,'' Max said. ''We can go to my house. My parent's aren't home.''
Liz shook her head. ''No, not your house. Let's just go outside, okay?''
''Alright,'' Max answered. Anywhere was good enough with him.
He followed Liz as she led the way through the school and out the door that led outside where the Basketball court was. She led Max just a little bit past the Basketball Court and under the big Oak tree where she and Isabel had talked the day before.
''Is here okay?'' Liz asked, sitting down under the big Oak tree.
Max sat down beside her. ''Yeah, It's fine.''
''Good.'' Liz said.
''So,'' Max started, not quite looking her in the eye. ''What was Maria talking about before? Who's Future Max?'' He paused. ''Liz, just please don't lie to me. Especially if this is in anyway alien related.''
Liz nodded. ''I'll try. But, first off, I just wanted say, about yesterday.'' She looked up at Max with a serious face. ''I'm sorry. I shouldn't of pushed you away like that. I should of just told you the truth then, I don't understand why I didn't. I was acting like a real bitch. And I shoudn't have. So I'm sorry.''
''Don't you dare.'' Max said in barely a whisper. ''Don't you dare apologize to me. I shoud be the one apologizing to you for the way I've been acting for the past couple of day's. The way I acted with you in that classroom. God, to think I almost grabbed you like that...'' He looked down at the grass, unable to bring himself to look at her.
''Well, I did come on a little too strong.'' Liz said. ''I mean, I was so mad when Isabel told me that you weren't letting her go to College in San Francisco. And that you had threatened her. I just sort of lost it, you know? Because I knew...I knew that the Max I knew never would of done that to his sister.''
''I know,'' Max said, still looking down at the ground. ''But i've been so stressed out lately, Liz. What with Alex's death. And then you...you were so sure that Alex was killed by an alien and I...I didn't want to beleive that. I didn't want to beleive that because I knew that It would mean that I was responsible.''
Liz saw tear's in Max's eye's and Liz immediately felt guilty. How would he react when she would tell him that Alex was actually alive?
''No, Max.'' Liz said. ''You know your wrong. Even if Alex was killed by an alien. You are not responsible. Your not the one who killed him.'' She placed a comforting hand over his. ''You gotta stop thinking that everything that goes on around here is your fault okay?''
Max smiled a little. It was funny how Liz alway's had a way with him. She alway's knew how to make him feel better.
''So, I guess I should tell you about...Future Max.'' Liz said, biting her lower lip. ''I just...I don't want you to angry at me, Max. And I know you will be once I'm done telling you everything.''
Max shook his head. ''No, Liz. I won't be mad at you. I promise, okay? Just...try me.''
Liz looked up at him uncertainly. He was wrong. She knew it. Once she would be over telling him all about Future Max and all about Alex being alive, he would get angry. She was just about certain that he would start accusing her. Asking her why she hadn't gone to him about this before.
''Liz?'' Max asked, encouraging her to tell him. Liz took a deep breath and then started,
''Back in October,'' She said slowly. ''When you caught me in bed with Kyle.''
Max winced when she said that. Even though he had forced the truth out of Kyle and that he knew now that it had all been a setup. It still hurt when he thought about it.
''I had...a visitor. Someone came to me.'' Liz said. ''From the Future.''
''The Future?'' Max asked, confused. How was that possible?
''The visitor from the Future was you, Max.'' Liz said. ''You said the Granolith could be used for time travel.''
Max didn't know what to think. Why would a Future version of him go to Liz? And how exactly had he used the Granolith to turn back time?
Liz sighed. ''You said that we were happy and that we were married. But it made Tess feel abandoned, so she left. But you needed her-all four of you needed to be together. There was this huge threat to Earth and Tess wasn't there.'' Liz paused and then went on. ''You told me I had to change what had happened. You said I had to make sure you fell out of love with me so that you could turn to Tess. That way, she'd never leave. So you told me I had to change the Future.''
And suddenly everything fell into place and he felt as though all the air had left his lungs. ''Kyle,'' He whispered. ''You pretended to sleep with him because you knew I'd catch you.''
Liz eye's were brimming with tear's. ''I had to make you stop loving me. And it was the only way I could think of. I mean, I tried so hard to get you to fall out of love with me. I went to you that night with that whole lame Romeo and Juliet speech. But that didn't make you fall out of love with me and-''
But before Liz could finish what she had to say, Max pulled her into his arm's, kissing her softly and taking in the amazing feeling of her in his arm's.
''I didn't stop loving you,'' He said, tear's pricking his own eye's. There's just no way I could ever stop loving you, Liz. No matter what you did. Your in my blood, Liz. Your a part of me.'' He held Liz in his arm's, pressing her against him. ''I love you.''
''I was only trying to do the right thing,'' Liz said, sobbing quietely into his chest. ''I'm so sorry that I had to put you through all of this.''
''It's okay, Liz.'' Max said, holding her tightly. ''I'm here with you and I'm not gonna let you go.''
''I love you, Max.'' Liz said. ''I never stopped loving you.''
Max couldn't believe everything she had gone through. How strong she had been all these months. He hated to think of how she must of been feeling everytime she saw him with Tess. He thought she had moved on-but in reality her heart must of been breaking everytime she had seen him with her.
''There's something else I need to tell you,'' Liz said, pulling back a little from his embrace. ''Something happened yesterday, and I should of come to you...but we weren't really speaking so I didn't say anything.''
''What is it?'' Max asked, holding her's hand's in his.
''I found out some thing's.'' Liz said. ''About myself and about Alex.''
''What thing's?'' Max asked, worriedly.
''You know that thing that attacked us in the classroom the other day when we were talking?'' Liz asked.
''Yeah, of course.'' Max said. ''I talked to Michael and Isabel about that and they think it could of been an alien of some sort. Were just not sure.''
''It wasn't a demon, Max.'' Liz said. ''It Shax. A demon. When it hit you with that energy ball and you fell unconscious. It tried to kill me, it threw this energy ball at me but I managed to dodge it. I used power's Max. I orbed. One second I was standing there, Shax was about to throw that blast at me and the next thing I know I was standing on the other side of the room.''
''A demon?'' Max asked. ''It attacked you and you used power's? But, Liz, you said you that he left right after he attacked me. You never said anything about him going after you...''
''I know,'' Liz said. ''I just didn't know what to say Max. I didn't understand what had happened, how could you have?''
''Well, your okay right? He didn't hurt you?'' Max asked.
''No, but he came close.'' Liz answered. ''As soon as a dodged his attack he just vanished.''
''Didn't Ava say that I had changed you when I had healed you?'' Max asked. ''Maybe you developed power's.''
''It's more than that.'' Liz said. ''Later, after the attacked I headed to the cemetery. I hadn't gone to visit Alex...since his death. And I just had this urge to go and visit him.''
Max swallowed hard, still hold Liz's hand's tightly. ''What happened? Did that demon attack you again?''
Liz nodded. ''He did. When I was at Alex's gravesite. I felt this presence watching me. I knew there was someone else there. And then Shax appeared once more out of nowhere.'' She paused and took a deep breath before going on. ''And so did Alex.''
Max froze. ''Liz,'' He said, ''How? How is that possible. Alex is...we buried him. I-''
''I know,'' Liz said, tightening her grip on Max's hands. ''That's exactly what I thought when I saw him. I couldn't believe it, I was in complete shock. But he was there. I mean, Max, he was real. He protected me from that demon. And then this women and this man appeared. They said their name's were Piper and Leo. The women, Piper, she managed to knock him down and then I remember Alex grabbing my hand and then the next thing I know I'm standing in this old and beautiful Victorian house in San Francisco.''
''San Francisco?'' Max said, completely confused. ''How? Who were those people who saved you?''
''Piper and Leo.'' Liz said. ''There was also this other girl...her name was Phoebe. Piper and Phoebe Halliwell.'' Liz bit back a laugh. ''They said that they were witches. They tried to explaining everything to me. Who they were and what they did. They had just lost their sister, Prue.''
''And Alex?'' Max asked, ''How is he alive?''
''He said he was Whitelighter.'' Liz explained. ''Basically an Angel who takes cares of witches. That's what he said any way’s. And then while we were in the living room talking, Shax appeared out of nowhere again. Piper and Phoebe rushed me upstairs to the attic with them. And they kept mumbling some stuff about not being able to vanquish Shax without The Power of Three. And then Leo and Alex joined us and Leo said some stuff about me being Piper and Phoebe's half-sister and-‘’ She stopped. ‘’God, telling you all of this just make’s me feel like I belong in a asylum.’’
‘’Liz,’’ Max said. ''I believe you. I do. I mean, if aliens exist...there's gotta be something else out there right?''
''Yeah,'' Liz said slowly. ''I guess your right. I talked to Alex yesterday. After you left. He told me some thing's. He doesn't remember how he did. He know's he was killed. But he doesn't know who did it. He said that there was some thing's he just couldn't remember, even before he died.''
''I-I want to see him.'' Max said. ''Alex I mean. I want to talk to him.''
''Of course.'' Liz said immediately. ''Of course you can see him. I'm just not really sure how to get him here. He usually just...appeares.''
''Those power's you said you had.'' Max said. ''What exactly are they? How do they work?''
''I'm not sure.'' Liz said. ''I'm not even sure I can control them. I mean, the only time I actually used them, It was like a life and death situation.''
''Look,'' Max said, giving Liz a reasuring smile. ''Whatever's going on with you, your power's, Alex, and those women, Piper and Phoebe. We'll deal with everything. We alway's do, don't we? And I promise, I'm not going anywhere Liz. I love you, Liz. And whatever's going on it, we'll get through it. You have my promise.''
Liz smiled a little as he pulled her back into his arm's. And Liz believed him. They would be okay.
As long as they were together.
*****************************************************