Two more parts left.
Lyrics used are by Jet.
Part 20
Maria held Michael’s hand tightly in her own as she sat in the front seat next to Max. He squeezed her hand back as he scanned the horizon. She could feel him tense up right before he raised his hand to the right side of the Jeep.
The Jeep suddenly shook and Maria screamed.
“Everyone down.” Michael muttered tensely as only Maria got down lower. Eyes wide, she watched as Max sped up more, passing their friends’ cars and going off the road into the desert. Zan raised his own hand and directed it in the same direction as Michael.
Another explosion hit the desert floor, dust rising in tall billows, reaching out to them with grainy ghost fingers. Maria held her breath, ignoring the burning sensation deep in her throat that threatened to choke her. Michael’s outstretched hand glowed blue, the dust plumes lighting up brilliantly as his pure energy flew through the air, hitting the uninhabited desert floor somewhere near the road.
Low mutterings reached her ears as the three hybrids spoke to each other. Max turned to the left hard, turning the jeep around swiftly, jerkily. Headlights blinded her as she peered through the windshield. Sight returning to her, she wondered why they hadn’t blasted the vehicle before she recognized it as Tess’ truck.
Where was Alex’s car?
Tess’ truck broke hard as they swerved away from each other. In the distance, two sets of headlights raced on the main road. The second set illuminated the car in front of it, it’s driver speeding through the dark night to stay alive. The main road curved to the left, a dirt road leading to the Granolith chamber on the right. Alex veered to the right, the car bouncing unsteadily as rubber wheels flew off the pavement and crashed into the dusty dirt road. It’s followers swerved slightly to the left as they hit the ground, loosing speed momentarily.
Max took advantage of that moment and raced to meet up with them. Flooring the Jeep, they made up ground quickly, catching up to the two vehicles in only seconds. Michael stood in the Jeep, grabbing onto the roll frame to prevent himself from tumbling out. Concentrating on the vehicle in front of them, he raised his hand, Zan doing the same, and released his energy at the same time as Zan. Their shots met in the air, combined into one large ball, and hit their target successfully.
Sparks flew through the air, fizzling in the cool night, and fluttering harmlessly to the ground. A gaping hole remained in the vehicle as they pulled away from Alex’s car, turning off their headlights as though that would help them remain hidden. Max swerved again to follow them, their tracks dirty wakes of air.
Tess’ truck flew past them, following Alex’s car closely. The two vehicles sped over the dirt road, inching closer to the chamber. Maria watched them wistfully as they followed the van in front of them. The bumper hit the ground several times, as Michael and Zan hit them again and again.
Suddenly, the van turned again, and headed straight for the Granolith chamber. Maria watched as in the distance Tess and Alex parked their cars, the doors opening, aliens and humans alike clambering out of the vehicles as though they were on fire. They stumbled slightly as they raced up the hard textured rock, shoes slipping in their haste.
Max followed the van, Michael and Zan still firing at the rapidly falling apart vehicle. Pieces flew off into the night as the power of the hybrids interacted with the human materials. The van pulled alongside the rock formation, the doors opening swiftly. Two men jumped out, running to the base, hands raised and waiting for someone to make a wrong move.
Alex, Tess, Kyle, Serena, and Isabel stood still, frozen high off the ground. Ten feet above them stood the opening to the chamber, waiting patiently to be told to open. Max barely stopped the vehicle before he, Michael, and Zan jumped out and ran to different areas. Maria sat in shock where she was, not knowing what to do. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she climbed out gingerly and ran quickly to stand behind Michael.
He glanced down at her. “Maria, go back to the car, it’s not safe.”
Maria placed her hand on his. “I know, but I’m not going to just stay there. I want to be with you. In everything you do.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Maria smiled, not backing down. “If anything happens to you, I’ll be devastated. I can’t lose you. And if I do, I don’t want to be left standing. I’m staying.”
Michael lowered his hand and took both of hers in his as the first blasts from his friends rocked the earth under his feet. He smiled at her and kissed her deeply, a connection opening instantly. Maria pulled away, shocked.
“Not the time, Michael. Later.” She smiled at him, pulling her hand away before he grabbed it back and lowered himself onto one knee on the ground as the sound of alien fighting blasted in his ears.
He kissed her hand hastily. “Maria Deluca, I love you and don’t want to live another day without saying you’re mine. I’m yours already; you melted me, Pixie. Love me, live with me, marry me, Maria.”
She gasped. “NOW?! You’re asking me to marry you now? Your timing sucks, Spaceboy. But yes, yes I will marry you! Now kick some alien ass!”
He laughed, rising to tower next to her again. Smiling happily, she stood slightly behind him, allowing his frame to protect her. Staring at the sight in front of her, she struggled to pay attention to who was winning.
A scream broke through her reverie as she watched Serena running down the mountain, blasts of bright light flying through the air in front and behind her. Maria stepped out from behind Michael, ready to run to her, to see if her new friend was hurt. She didn’t want to see anyone else die tonight, except the bastards who killed her best friend.
Michael stared at the situation in front of him, Serena running, not caring about the blasts aimed at her. He watched her jump off the rock formation, running on the ground in the direction he knew Zan had run off to. Behind the van, a man stepped out of the shadows for an instant, his hand trained on the girl. His hand glowed brightly as he took aim and started to release his energy. But before he could release it completely, Michael shot him down, rage and anger pouring through every muscle, vein, cell in his body.
The man fell onto the ground, dust rising to cover his average looking body. Hand flying to graze his chest, he gasped hard, fighting the burning pain that enveloped his entire body. Fighting for breath on the dusty earth, he cursed loudly, his last breath choking on his last word. “Fuc-“
Serena ran quickly, tears mixing with the dust on her face, dirty tracks streaming over her beautiful face. She wiped at them as she fell onto the ground next to Zan, his eyes closed, his face twisted into a painful grimace. Taking his hand, she whispered his name.
“I knew you would come.” He smiled, his face relaxing as the words choked him.
“Always.”
His eyes flickered open and made contact with Serena’s. “I’m going to die in a minute, and I just wanted you to know something….”
She squeezed his hand and lowered her lips to his. Whispering onto his lips, hers grazing his gently, she murmured, “I know. I love you, too.”
“I do love you, Serena, but I was going to say…I’m an alien. And that…that…this isn’t…our…final goodbye. Don’t stop…fighting.... I love you…and I’ll see…you…six months…ago.” He shut his eyes as he gasped for breath, his words raspy, caught on his lips and tongue.
Air scraped in and out of his lungs, rasping loudly as it drifted out of his body for the last time. His once vibrant body convulsed, fighting death as it claimed him. Serena placed her hand over his heart, feeling it beat randomly, chaotically, small groans escaping from the alien king. Tears streaking down her cheeks, she focused on his heart, wishing she had any powers, wanting desperately to save him, or at least stop his heart so he suffered no more.
Tears dripping onto Zan, she leaned down and kissed him deeply, saying goodbye as his heart slowly stopped beating. “It’s just a static fight, Zan, just a static fight.” She pulled away, staring at his face, an expression of content resting comfortably. And as she stared at him, she fell apart, screaming loudly, sobs wracking her body, even as she felt a familiar set of arms pulling her up.
Max pulled her arm, wrapping his arms around her as she fought against him, trying desperately to fling her small body back to the ground as the dust began to settle over Zan’s chilling body. He pulled her away, not wanting her to witness the process of death, he didn’t want her to see the one she loved turning blue, cold, and hard.
“No!” She screamed. “Let me die, let me fucking die!” Sobs still wracking her body, she stopped fighting, instantly going limp. “Please.” She begged. “Please let me die.”
“No.” He said. “We need you, Serena. Help us and then you can grieve, you can die if you want to.”
“Fine.” She agrees calmly, “But you have to put me down.” Her voice was icy, void of all emotion as she quickly constructed a wall between the part of her that knew what she needed to do and the part that wanted to throw herself off a bridge.
Max set her down on her two feet and she patted her pocket, double checking to make sure she hadn’t lost the crystal. She quickly made her way back up the rock formation, crouching down through the opening in the rock. Calmly, she made her way through the pods, past the sympathetic and shocked faces of people who considered her a friend. Detached, she squatted at the base of the Granolith and fiddled for a few minutes before finally pulling the cool hard crystal out of her pocket. Holding it in her hand, she inserted it into the base that she had just been working on.
Lights burst through the chamber, the Granolith itself blazing purple, then blue, then green. The Antarian symbol appeared on the wall and everyone stepped back from it, except Serena and Tess.
“Done.” Serena stated, resisting the urge to touch the Granolith one last time. Her work here was done.
Tess raised her head up high. “I guess I’m off, but before I go, there’s one last thing I’d like to do. Serena, how much time do we have?”
Serena glanced at the dial on the wall, time ticking off rapidly. “Fifteen minutes, then you lose the chance.”
Tess nodded, before glancing at their prisoner, sitting, bound, between Michael and Max. She strolled over to him and placed her hand on his forehead. “You’re a killer. You killed our friend.”
He smiled, “I bet you never even knew who she was, did you, Queen Ava? She was the one who stole Zan from you.” Serena’s wall slipped a small inch. “She’s the reason you died. The reason you all died on Antar.”
Tess released a small amount of her power into his head and smiled as he grimaced. “Did you like that? Why did you kill Liz?”
“Because Kivar didn’t want to take a chance on her still retaining her powers and being able to destroy him. She was too late last time, but this time she’s not even close.”
Tess looked up from him and stared at Max, his face calm, but his eyes glazed over with anger. He nodded at her and Tess nodded back, releasing her full power into his brain, instantly killing him. His head lolled onto his shoulder and she felt for a heartbeat that didn’t exist anymore. Satisfied, she walked back over to Kyle and kissed him deeply. Her smooth, strawberry flavored lips grazed his, her soft tongue licking a line on his full lips that opened slowly, granting her entrance. She took advantage of that as Kyle wrapped his arms around her, bringing her body closer to his. She moaned quietly as she felt his warm body secure next to hers. His tongue snaked out and stroked hers gently, the two touching and pulling away before meeting again and again. The kiss turned impatient, passionate as they struggled to be closer together, hands tangled in clothes and hair. Slowly, they calmed down, love flavoring the kiss, a promise, and a whispered goodbye.
Kyle stroked her cheek softly with one hand, the other one still wrapped tightly around her waist.
Well, I been thinking about the future, but I’m too young to pretend. It’s such a waste to look behind you, should be looking straight ahead. Yeah, I’m gonna have to move on before we can meet again. Yeah, its hard, if only you had seen.
His face neared her ear and she struggled to hold in her tears as his warm breath tickled her ear, his warm words gently stroking her soul.
“Just remember, Tess, you’re human, too.”
She nodded. “Love you.”
She could feel his smile against her cheek. “Love you, too.”
10:34: Flinders Street Station, I’m looking down the tracks. Uniformed man askin’ am I paid up. Why would I wanna be that?
Pulling away slowly, she glanced at the Granolith, then trained her attention on it. Without a glance back she placed her hand on it, watching in wonder as it sucked her hand in. Quickly, before she could have a second thought, she stepped in. The Granolith accepted her weight, and slowly, she began to float. She closed her eyes as the people around her began to disappear, a flash of bright light blinding her through her eyelids. Or maybe those were her tears.
Yeah, gonna have to move on before we meet again. Yeah, it’s hard. If you had have only seen. Take control. Don’t be afraid of me, ‘cause every once in a while, you think about if your gonna get yourself together.
She allowed the tears to flood her eyes in that split second that it took for her to travel back six months.
You should be happy just to be alive, and just because you just don’t feel like coming home doesn’t mean that you’ll never arrive.
Kyle stared absently as the place Tess stood only a second ago. “Now what?”
“I guess we go home and wait for life to change.” Isabel said, staring concerned at Serena from Alex’s arms.
Max crawled back through the pods, everyone following him. “We should all just go home, get some sleep before graduation.” He opened the door and stepped out into the moonlit world. Everyone followed him, stopping as they noticed Max standing frozen. They glanced down at the same thing he was looking at.
Max swallowed hard, Michael voicing his own thoughts. “Shit.”
He stared down beside his friend at the army standing below the
rock formation, waiting for them, hands aiming already.
Yeah, I’m gonna have to move on before we meet again. Yeah, it’s hard. If you had have only seen. Take control. Don’t be afraid of me.
Static Fight (M/L,Teen) COMPLETE
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
Okay, guys, this is the last real part. The only thing left to post now is the epilogue. So, I hope you all have enjoyed the story, I know I've enjoyed writing most of it! And thank you all for reading it all! You've stuck through a lot, this fic, finished, is almost 200 pages long (I think). I need to leave for class in a few minutes, so this is just a fly by post.
Some lines from End of the World were used, as well as the song...oh crap...I can't remember the name of it! Oh, you know what it is, the Sheryl Crow song. I SHALL BELIEVE! Yea, that's it. lol.
Hope you all like it!
Part 21
Tess stared at the ground that she was currently sprawled out on. Rain clouds rumbled above her, but she knew it wouldn’t rain. Not tonight. The rough cement caught her hair as she struggled to sit up, her muscles not ready to be used yet.
The clock on the Wells Fargo bank chimed loudly. Seven o’clock. Tess jumped up, her muscles protesting, but she ignored them. Liz would be killed in a few hours. At about this time, Max was seeing Liz and Kyle in bed, just like Liz had planned. And in about an hour Tess would find Max in the park, looking like a piece of himself had just died.
She had to work fast.
***
“Thanks, Kyle.” Liz murmured as she scrambled out of bed, her heart breaking as the look on Max’s face multiplied in her mind. Each time she saw it, it broke her heart again. It was only a matter of time before she broke down completely, shattered into a million pieces.
Kyle watched, dumbstruck. “Want to tell me why you wanted Max to see us together in bed?”
“No. Not really.” She turned around to face him, still holding the towel tightly around her body. Her eyes glittered with the tears she was holding hostage. “Kyle, just, when he asks you what happened, tell him we slept together. Please, Kyle, do that for me.”
He climbed out of bed, walking across the room to take her shoulders in his arms. “Why, Liz? What happened to make you want to
hurt him that way?”
One lonely tear snuck its way down her face. “I can’t tell you.”
“Will you tell me anything?” He asked angrily.
“No.” She replied simply.
“I hope to Buddha you tell someone. Tell Max before you destroy him completely. Tell him before you let yourself be destroyed.” He reached for his shirt and yanked it roughly over his head, his dark hair disappearing.
“Kyle, don’t be mad at me.” She beseechingly whispered.
He pulled the shirt down and stepped into his pants. “I’m not mad, Liz, I’m just confused. I want you to be happy.” He walked over to her, his pants still undone. “You’re my friend and I don’t want to see you hurt.” Kyle hugged her tightly. “You’re a good person, Liz, who makes good decisions, but this was not one of them. You and Max belong together, don’t ruin a good thing.”
He released her and finished making himself decent. Grabbing his jacket, he smiled at her before walking out the door. “Think about it.” He called out as he left.
Liz shut the door after he was gone and sat down on the bed, finally allowing herself to think about everything she had possibly just lost.
Future Max opened the door and walked out into her room, allowing himself to sit down next to her. “I’ve fought a thousand battles, but watching you do that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“The look on his face…on your face.” she asked, not glancing at him.
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
“I’m going to be alone.”
“No, Liz, you aren’t. You are an incredible girl, and you turn out to be an even more amazing woman.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks and dripped off her chin onto her clenched hands. “Don’t you realize what you are to me, and what you’ll always be?” She lifted her head and he felt himself beginning to slip into an entrancement, just like he had been doing for the past fourteen years. “You’re the love of my life. Everyone else is gonna be second best, there’ll never be another you.”
“Liz,” he began, “You’re the love of my life, too.” He couldn’t say anything more as emotions flooded him. He couldn’t believe he had just made her doom them both. All those wonderful memories he had, she never would. She would never remember their wedding, the weddings of their friends, their late night celebrations, all the times they cuddled together during their study breaks, the concerts they danced in front of the stage at, the love that kept them both alive when everyone around them couldn’t go on another day, the love that kept them sane.
Reaching out for, he reminded himself that this Liz was not his, and that he needed to be strong for her. He wrapped his arms around her as she fell apart. He hated that, he had always hated it when she cried, especially when it was him that made her. And this time was no exception. Lovingly, he stroked her hair and placed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
“You’ll find happiness. I can’t guarantee anything, but I know that your life will be worth it. And if you have all those things I could never give you, I will be happy, too.”
Liz sniffled loudly and wiped the tears away from her face. “Just as long as he’ll be as miserable as I am.” She smiled and more tears cascaded down. “I should, umm…” she pointed at the bathroom, “get dressed.”
He pulled away from her. “Yeah, probably.”
She smiled and lifted her clothes off her dresser, walking back into the bathroom while Max watched her every move. Closing the door, she stepped into her clothes, pulling the jeans and sweater on.
“So what happens now?”
“I don’t know.” He replied honestly. “This is a different world now, the future is to be determined. It’s what I’ve always said to you, Liz, we create our own destinies.”
She nodded. “So the world could end tomorrow and no one would see it coming.”
“It’s highly unlikely, but it could happen.”
She stepped out of the room. “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and you wouldn’t even care, would you?”
“I would care. Your Max would care. No matter what, we will always love you.”
Tears fluttered down again, “And I will always love you, until my dying day.” She bit her lip gently. “Do something for me.”
“What?”
“Dance with me. I want to have my wedding dance.”
He didn’t say anything, just grabbed her hand and guided her outside onto her balcony. Pulling her close into his arms, he thought he could hear the music that he remembered with his whole soul.
Come to me now, and lay your hands over me. Even if it’s a lie, say it will be alright, and I shall believe.
He held her hand tightly in his and her hand clenched automatically around his, clinging to him for life.
I’m broken in two, and I know you’re on to me, that I only come home when I’m so all alone. But I shall believe that not everything is going to be the way you think it ought to be. It seems that every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me. Please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe. And I shall believe.
Her hand tightened on his shoulder, massaging the tense muscle that resided there. His hand stroked her waist gently.
Open the door and show me your face tonight. I know it’s true, no one heals me like you. And you hold the key. Never again will I turn away from you. I’m so heavy tonight, but your love is alright. And I do believe.
Elizabeth’s hand stroked his hand gently as he twirled her on the balcony. As the cool texture of his body slipped away she twirled in the silence, her body mirroring the state of her emotions, sinking into a huddle on the ground, her own arms wrapped tightly around her torso to keep her from breaking into a million pieces. The cold wind blew steadily around her thin body as she crawled towards the window, tears flowing rapidly down her soft face and forming a puddle on the smooth cement as she collapsed and sobbed for everything she had just lost.
That not everything is going to be the way you think it ought to be. It seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me. Please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe. I shall believe.
Her eyes lifted to the sky where the V-shaped constellation burned brightly, mocking her. She wiped her hands on the worn fabric of her jeans, and stood up, her mind yelling in protest. Her legs carried her involuntarily to the edge of the balcony, and her hands braced themselves at the edge of the wall. Her feet carried her to the edge, led her to stand on the wall, her eyes forcing her to look down into the alley below, to where she would never see Max again, to where her destiny did not lay.
Her mouth opened reluctantly and the wind carried the tortured scream from her lips and tossed it thoughtlessly into the surrounding darkness.
“MAX!!”
*****
Tess laid her hand on the doorknob, praying that Serena was right. Quickly, she opened the door and blasted the girl she already knew would be perched on the bed, examining her closet. Taking a deep breath she walked into her room and sealed the door with her powers before walking
to the door and staring at an unconscious former version of herself.
***
“What do we do, Max?” Michael asked, clutching Maria’s hand tightly in his own. Next to him, Alex clasped Isabel’s hand just as tightly.
“I don’t know.” Max stated calmly.
The decision was made for them as the army of angry aliens below them released fire. Their individual blasts joined as one and hurled towards the friends. Max quickly put a shield up.
“What do we do? If we run for it, we might have a slim chance of surviving.”
“What about fighting?”
Max yelled at them to hurry and figure something out, his strength rapidly draining against the attack of at least a hundred aliens below them. Before they told him anything, the shield dropped as the next blast took to the air.
***
Tess placed her hand on the unconscious girl’s head and forged the connection, concentrating hard on breaking through the dense walls she knew so well. Conjuring up all the memories she had of the past six months, she embedded them deep in her mind, forcing her to live the six months that would never happen in her lifetime. When she was done, she allowed the other version of herself to wake, but quickly left her to think it all over.
***
Max sat on the bench in the park, haunted by the vision of Kyle with Liz. He stared at the grass, growing long with no one else to notice, no one else to care about it. Stoically, he stared into the distance, searching for something, anything to steal his attention. A voice behind him interrupted his search for a meaning for tonight.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She whispered, the words spoken out of a memory.
“No.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No.”
***
Her mind finally kicked in and forced her to walk calmly back into her bedroom. Her hand reached automatically behind her pillow, brushing against the smooth leather binding of her journal. Her hand clenched around the object and pulled it out, automatically opening to what she had written today.
Max came to me yesterday. But it wasn’t my Max. He was from the future. He told me things that yesterday I would’ve thought were impossible, insane, but today, today everything changed. And I don’t think they can ever go back. I know they can’t. Grandma told me years ago, that if it isn’t complicated, it’s not true love. But sometimes love isn’t enough. Love isn’t enough to save the world….
She slammed the cover shut, attempting to shut her mind from thinking about this day. It had been a long day. All she wanted now was to sleep; to escape her life. Elizabeth slipped the journal into a large envelope and reached for a pen and piece of paper. She calmed her unsteady hand and slowly wrote a note in her careful and analytical script.
Max, Maria, Alex, Kyle, Isabel, Michael, Sheriff Valenti-
I couldn’t stay any longer. I’m sorry. I was drowning, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t rise above it all to take that one necessary breath that would sustain me until everything had worked itself out. I’m sorry. I’m leaving. I’m sorry.
Her hand faltered as her tears slipped unbidden down from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and staining the beige paper upon which she quickly scribbled two more lines and her final goodbye to her friends.
She hastily stuffed the note into the envelope and licked it closed, quickly addressing the envelope to Max Evans and haphazardly sticking stamps in the right hand corner. Her legs carried her smoothly down the stairs to drop the package into the mail slot outside of the Crashdown. She walked back slowly to her bedroom, paying careful attention to the surroundings she would never see again, all the things she had grown up with and would miss tomorrow.
***
“Max,” she started. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but you need to listen to me. Look at me.”
He turned his head to look at her. “You look different.”
She swallowed hard and took his hand in her own, remembering the painful look in his eyes. “That’s because I’m not the same Tess. I’m from the future, six months in the future. Tonight something horrible is going to happen.”
“You’re too late to stop it, it’s already happened.” He turned to look back into the park, hoping that if this was an alien out to get him, that they would end it all soon.
“Something worse, Max, something you still have the power to prevent. I know you think Liz and Kyle slept together, but they didn’t. Liz was visited by a future version of you who told her that she had to make you fall out of love with her or the world would end and everyone she loved would die in less than fourteen years. So she pretended to sleep with Kyle.”
“She could never make me fall out of love with her.”
“So go save her life. She’s going to be killed in less than half an hour unless you do something.”
Max jumped off the bench and turned to stare at her. He glanced into her eyes, unconvinced, but saw the honesty shining at him. “Where?”
“Her room.”
He took off running.
***
Elizabeth walked cautiously into the bathroom, her hand trembling as it touched the surfaces that future Max had touched only hours ago. She smiled on the inside as she touched the glowing heart he had left for her, their initials in the center. ME + LE. But then, that’s how it was in his future. But not hers. She took a deep breath as her hands reached the bottle of pills resting on the sink. She carefully read the bottle Do not take on an empty stomach.
Her stomach grumbled softly as if to remind her that she had not eaten in almost a whole day. She wouldn’t have eaten at all if future Max hadn’t told her to. She grabbed the empty glass sitting on the sink and slowly filled it with cold water, which splashed onto her hand, numbing it even more than it already was.
Her lips opened involuntarily as a song slipped through her vocal chords.
“I’m sick of old songs that try to sound new. I’m sick of all the lies that try to sound true. I’m sick of me, I’m sick of you. I’m sick of being sick, and I’m sick of that, too. One plane ticket and it goes away, goes away. One stray bullet and it goes away. Make it out, write it down, let it out, breaking up. There’s nothing quite like the burning sting when you find out you’ve lost everything. One plane ticket and it goes away. One way ticket to a better place. Yeah, one plane ticket, a one way ticket, fifteen minutes and it goes away…I’m sick of being sick and I’m sick of that, too.
“I’m sick of being sick and I’m sick of that, too.”
Her other hand reached for the crackers in the medicine cabinet. She nibbled them slowly, before gagging and throwing the rest in the garbage. She wouldn’t need those anymore, not after tonight. She hesitantly opened the bottle and withdrew the necessary number of pills. She focused on the mirror in front of her as she swallowed them, one by one, before throwing the glass at the wall and slamming her hand into the face of her reflection. She wanted to hurt the girl in the mirror as badly as she had hurt herself, as badly as she had hurt Max. But it was necessary; all this pain had to happen, it was destiny, all of it.
Elizabeth shook unsteadily as she made her way to the bed, collapsing into the comfort it once held. Now the bed was a reminder of all the pain she had caused. She forced herself off the bed and collapsed onto the ground, swearing she would never lie in that bed again.
***
The last thing she saw as the darkness of sleep gained control of her body was the figure in black walking leisurely towards her from the shadows.
He approached her, a smile blazing on his face. His dark blue eyes shone chillingly as he gazed at her beauty. Slowly, he trailed a finger down her face, leaving a trail of burning pain behind. Her eyes opened with a start.
“Hello, Clyona.”
She sat up quickly. “Who is Clyona?”
“You. Have you seen anything interesting recently? Or have you stopped seeing?” He walked towards her slowly as she backed up until her back was pressed against the wall. Menacingly, he crawled nearer,
inching closer to her as she jumped away.
He laughed, climbing up and following her around the room as she tried to hit him with objects from her room.
“Resistance is futile.”
“What do you want?” she asked, dodging the dark corners in her room.
His outstretched hand reached for her, dragging her body towards him until she stood in front of him. “You. Isn’t it obvious?”
She glared at him as he threw her down onto the bed. Painfully slow, he withdrew a knife from his jacket pocket, holding it up to the light as she punched him with all the strength she contained in her slim worn out body. He pinned her to the bed with his weight and raised the knife to
her wrist.
The knife sliced deeply into her delicate skin causing her to call out in pain. She glared at her with venom in her eyes, hitting him with her one good arm as her body drained its blood out her wrist. He ignored the punches and slapped her in the face.
“Do you remember who I am now?”
She watched in amazement at her blood streaming out of her wrist, forming the Antarian symbol on its own. The knife was lowered to her other wrist, digging into the soft flesh. The blood flowed easily as she began to lose consciousness.
“Faustus.” She spat out. “You won’t get away with it this time.”
Darkness began to clutter her mind, and the world began fading to black again when a voice nagged in her mind.
“You!” Max’s voice sliced through the fog and she welcomed the sound before giving into the darkness. It would all be okay, now.
***
Max punched Brody in the jaw, worried by the maniacal look in his eyes. “Brody, what are you doing?” He asked as Brody raised his hand to blast him.
“You don’t remember me, Zan? Your good friend Faustus from your past life. Come on, you honestly don’t remember me?” He twisted the face of his host into an expression of shock.
“No.” Max stated. “Why don’t you have a body of your own?”
“Well, I could…but I choose to stay in this one for confrontations.”
Faustus placed his hand on Max’s shoulder, in what would seem a comforting, friendly, gesture, were it not for the blazing pain that radiated into Max’s skin.
Max pulled away quickly, raising his own hand, focusing on the rage he was feeling. Rage that someone would hurt his Liz, no one would get away with that.
“What are you doing here?”
Faustus laughed merrily. “You’re just like her, blissfully ignorant.” He stopped laughing and leaned against the wall, relaxed. “I’m here to kill both of you, and everyone else involved with you.”
Max glared, his anger reaching the boiling point in his veins. It would always be his fault when something bad happened to those he loved, but he was not willing to stand aside while someone tried to kill them. He wasn’t that weak.
“Why?”
“Zan, Zan, Zan.” He took a step closer to Max. “You’re an alien king who cannot be allowed to return to the throne under any circumstances. And she’s the beautiful seer that you’ve been in love with for two lifetimes now. Can’t you see that a union between the two of you would be disastrous?” He tilted his head, a faux sympathetic expression glazing his face.
Seeing no other choice, Max blasted Brody’s body, killing the alien possessing him before he had a chance to get out. Not wanting his boss to die, he knelt by his side, and erased all the memories that Brody would’ve had of this night as he healed him.
He finished and rushed to Liz’s side, watching the blood still trickling from her wrists. Instantly, he kneeled by her side, forging a connection between them as he felt her weakening quickly, fading into death.
Visions of a future version of himself coming into her life yesterday blazed through the connection. He saw himself telling her that she had to make him fall out of love with him, hiding when he kissed her in Whitaker’s office, and watching from the bathroom as she and Kyle were in bed, talking. He watched as they shared the wedding dance she thought she would never really have a chance to have.
His hands were soaked with her blood as he placed them over her wrists, knitting the veins and flesh back together. Worried, he replenished her blood and fixed the other wrist, a faint scar remaining on her skin.
Exhausted, he broke the connection, watching as her lips turned up slightly. He waved his hand over her body and the bed, getting rid of any sign of blood.
“Hi.” She whispered as her eyes fluttered open.
“Hi.” He replied.
“How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Been better.”
He placed a tender kiss to her agreeing lips. “I’ll be back in one minute.”
“Okay.” She replied, closing her eyes again. “I’ll just stay here.”
Moving quickly, he climbed back off the bed and scooped Brody off the floor. He moved him through the window and down the fire escape, stealthily moving between the buildings until he reached the UFO Museum. Taking a deep breath, he left Brody on the ground right outside the back door and ran back to the Crashdown.
Nervously he climbed back into Liz’s room and found her lying still on her bed, curled up. He sat down on the bed and stroked her back lovingly as she murmured quietly.
“We have a lot to talk about.” Her voice rang out, breaking the silence. Turning over, she reached her hand out to him and he laid down next to her. “But first thing first, I didn’t sleep with Kyle. I love you and only you.”
He moved closer to her, relishing in the feel of her smoothly clad body against his own. “I love you, too. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you. You’re the love of my life, Liz Parker.”
“Kiss me.”
He followed her instructions. His warm lips met hers tenderly, willingly, erasing the slight chill from Liz’s. Their lips moved slowly, seductively, caressing each other, making promises they both had every intention on keeping. Max opened his lips, pulling Liz’s bottom lip into his mouth and licked it gently, causing her mouth to open, allowing him entrance.
Their connection flared to life as Max slipped his tongue gently into her mouth, their tongues meeting eagerly. Liz’s tongue stroked his intimately as he continued his exploration into her soul.
Concentration solely on her, Max stroked her hair away from her soft, warm face as flashes of them flickered through his mind. He watched her memories like a film reel, scenes of their lives together running in his private theater.
His hands wandered lower, running over her shirt until he reached the bottom hem. Feeling Liz moan quietly, he deepened the kiss, their tongues stroking each other passionately, sensitive lips rubbing, sucking. Slowly, his hands slipped under her shirt, leaving a tingling path in their wake as he rubbed small circles on her back and stomach.
Liz’s hands moved into his hair, holding him closer as the continued their kiss.
Max broke the kiss, their connection overwhelmed with memories of their more intimate times together, and attached his lips to her neck. Slowly, he trailed his lips over the sensitive skin on her neck, paying acute attention to the way Liz responded. Overwhelmed with pleasure as Max began sucking gently on a spot under her ear, she arched her back, tilting her head back to give him more room to roam.
His hands reached up higher, barely grazing the underside of her bra. Pulling back, he stared into her barely open eyes and smiled. He reached for the hem of her shirt and started pulling up. In a husky voice that only turned Liz on more, he asked quietly, “Is this okay?”
She nodded, slowly and raised her arms, allowing him room to peel her shirt off. Max threw the shirt off the side of the bed and stared down at the girl in his bed.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispered, starting to lower his body to lay on hers, but she stopped him.
Whispering the words from an earlier experience, she tugged on his shirt. “Can you take this off?”
He smiled. “Can I? Yea.” Together they pulled the t-shirt off his muscular frame and dropped it off the bed.
Liz ran her hands over his firm muscles, and Max shivered, addicted to the tantalizing feel of her fingers running over his skin. Goosebumps erupted over her skin as Max leaned down, Liz’s arms wrapping their way around his waist, and began kissing her on the neck. His warm breath grazed her shoulders as he moved to kiss them, his smooth chest rubbing against the lace edging of her thin black bra. Liz’s moan forced all the blood from his head into a lower region and he groaned, feeling his own reaction. In turn, Liz moaned as she felt the hardness poking into her leg.
“Something’s poking me.” She whispered breathily.
“Really?” Max asked, returning to her neck.
“Ye-ye-yes.” She groaned, tilting her head to the side again.
Max reached his hands down between them, his large hands dangerously close to her breasts. One lone finger slip over them and she inhaled quickly. “You caused it.”
Liz reached up and wrapped her arms around Max tightly, his hand still trapped between them. Softly, his whole hand covered her still clad breast and massaged, grinning into her neck as he felt her nipple harden, poking gently into his palm. Taking advantage of her raised position, Max reached behind her and unclasped her bra with his powers. Pulling away slightly, he slipped it off her arms and stared down at her, a smile emblazoned on his lips.
“What?” She asked demurely, trying to cover herself.
“No.” He said, pulling her hands away. “You’re too beautiful to be ashamed.”
She smiled, holding his hands. “And you don’t think I’m slutty?”
He smiled and laughed. “You’re not slutty, Liz. It’s not bad if you’re doing it with someone you love.”
“I love you.” She replied, leaning closer to him.
“I love you, too.” He answered, leaning in the rest of the way and claiming her lips with his own. Gently, he laid her down and covered her slight weight with his own.
She smiled, breaking the kiss, before touching their lips together again, and again. Giggling, Liz reached down for the sheet crumpled around their waists and pulled it up to cover them completely.
***
Tess stared up at the balcony, listening to the sounds of giggles and faint sounds of a bed squeaking. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Eeeewww.” Crossing the street, she disappeared from the timeline.
***
Kyle laid on the couch, still wondering why Liz had been so weird when he noticed Tess standing at the foot of the couch, rubbing her head gently with a confused look on her face. He sat up quickly, staring at the beautiful blond in front of him. His heart broke a little as he watched the lost look on her face and wondered if he had completely ruined his chances with her.
“So…Max is probably yours now, isn’t he?”
“Huh?” She asked, sitting next to him. “Umm…Kyle. I just had the weirdest dream ever, but it made me realize a few things.”
His heart sank. “Like what?”
She turned to look at him, quickly finding herself lost in his beautiful blue eyes. “I don’t want to be with Max.” Smiling, she reached for his hand and he stared at their joined hands in stunned silence.
“Wha-what do you want?”
Words from a memory flowed through her mouth. “Let’s talk.”
***
“So what are you looking for out of this life?” Kyle asked her inquisitively, his hand full of popcorn reaching to his mouth. His eyes opened wide and he leaned it, awaiting her answer.
“I don’t know.” She replied softly.
Kyle chewed silently, watching her.
“Max Evans?”
Tess’ head flew up and she made eye contact with him. “No.” She replied, truthfully, a smile grazing her face. “No! I’m not looking for Max Evans.”
“Then what?”
Tess chewed her lip, deep in thought. A wistful smile crossed her face as she came to an answer. “I’m looking…for someone.”
“Someone in particular?”
“Maybe.” She replied nonchalantly. “I’m looking for someone to have fun with. I don’t want perfection, that’s not normal. I want someone who can mistakes. I want someone to make mistakes with.”
She smiled again as Kyle leaned forward. Her head tilted towards his as his warm breath tickled her skin. She laughed gently.
Kyle leaned in closer to her ear and whispered for her benefit. “I’m really good at making mistakes.”
Her lips inched closer to his as she murmured under her breath, “I know.”
As Kyle’s lips met hers in a gently caress, she realized the others had been right all along. Their lives were their own; their destinies were theirs to create.
***
Max laid back on his back, flushed and sweaty. Liz let out a deep breath and cuddled closer to him.
“Still love me?” He asked.
“You’ll learn to do it better.” She laughed. “Yes, yes I still love you.” She reached over and entwined her fingers with his. “I’ll always love you.”
Some lines from End of the World were used, as well as the song...oh crap...I can't remember the name of it! Oh, you know what it is, the Sheryl Crow song. I SHALL BELIEVE! Yea, that's it. lol.
Hope you all like it!
Part 21
Tess stared at the ground that she was currently sprawled out on. Rain clouds rumbled above her, but she knew it wouldn’t rain. Not tonight. The rough cement caught her hair as she struggled to sit up, her muscles not ready to be used yet.
The clock on the Wells Fargo bank chimed loudly. Seven o’clock. Tess jumped up, her muscles protesting, but she ignored them. Liz would be killed in a few hours. At about this time, Max was seeing Liz and Kyle in bed, just like Liz had planned. And in about an hour Tess would find Max in the park, looking like a piece of himself had just died.
She had to work fast.
***
“Thanks, Kyle.” Liz murmured as she scrambled out of bed, her heart breaking as the look on Max’s face multiplied in her mind. Each time she saw it, it broke her heart again. It was only a matter of time before she broke down completely, shattered into a million pieces.
Kyle watched, dumbstruck. “Want to tell me why you wanted Max to see us together in bed?”
“No. Not really.” She turned around to face him, still holding the towel tightly around her body. Her eyes glittered with the tears she was holding hostage. “Kyle, just, when he asks you what happened, tell him we slept together. Please, Kyle, do that for me.”
He climbed out of bed, walking across the room to take her shoulders in his arms. “Why, Liz? What happened to make you want to
hurt him that way?”
One lonely tear snuck its way down her face. “I can’t tell you.”
“Will you tell me anything?” He asked angrily.
“No.” She replied simply.
“I hope to Buddha you tell someone. Tell Max before you destroy him completely. Tell him before you let yourself be destroyed.” He reached for his shirt and yanked it roughly over his head, his dark hair disappearing.
“Kyle, don’t be mad at me.” She beseechingly whispered.
He pulled the shirt down and stepped into his pants. “I’m not mad, Liz, I’m just confused. I want you to be happy.” He walked over to her, his pants still undone. “You’re my friend and I don’t want to see you hurt.” Kyle hugged her tightly. “You’re a good person, Liz, who makes good decisions, but this was not one of them. You and Max belong together, don’t ruin a good thing.”
He released her and finished making himself decent. Grabbing his jacket, he smiled at her before walking out the door. “Think about it.” He called out as he left.
Liz shut the door after he was gone and sat down on the bed, finally allowing herself to think about everything she had possibly just lost.
Future Max opened the door and walked out into her room, allowing himself to sit down next to her. “I’ve fought a thousand battles, but watching you do that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“The look on his face…on your face.” she asked, not glancing at him.
“Maybe it’s for the best.”
“I’m going to be alone.”
“No, Liz, you aren’t. You are an incredible girl, and you turn out to be an even more amazing woman.”
Tears streaked down her cheeks and dripped off her chin onto her clenched hands. “Don’t you realize what you are to me, and what you’ll always be?” She lifted her head and he felt himself beginning to slip into an entrancement, just like he had been doing for the past fourteen years. “You’re the love of my life. Everyone else is gonna be second best, there’ll never be another you.”
“Liz,” he began, “You’re the love of my life, too.” He couldn’t say anything more as emotions flooded him. He couldn’t believe he had just made her doom them both. All those wonderful memories he had, she never would. She would never remember their wedding, the weddings of their friends, their late night celebrations, all the times they cuddled together during their study breaks, the concerts they danced in front of the stage at, the love that kept them both alive when everyone around them couldn’t go on another day, the love that kept them sane.
Reaching out for, he reminded himself that this Liz was not his, and that he needed to be strong for her. He wrapped his arms around her as she fell apart. He hated that, he had always hated it when she cried, especially when it was him that made her. And this time was no exception. Lovingly, he stroked her hair and placed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
“You’ll find happiness. I can’t guarantee anything, but I know that your life will be worth it. And if you have all those things I could never give you, I will be happy, too.”
Liz sniffled loudly and wiped the tears away from her face. “Just as long as he’ll be as miserable as I am.” She smiled and more tears cascaded down. “I should, umm…” she pointed at the bathroom, “get dressed.”
He pulled away from her. “Yeah, probably.”
She smiled and lifted her clothes off her dresser, walking back into the bathroom while Max watched her every move. Closing the door, she stepped into her clothes, pulling the jeans and sweater on.
“So what happens now?”
“I don’t know.” He replied honestly. “This is a different world now, the future is to be determined. It’s what I’ve always said to you, Liz, we create our own destinies.”
She nodded. “So the world could end tomorrow and no one would see it coming.”
“It’s highly unlikely, but it could happen.”
She stepped out of the room. “I could get hit by a bus tomorrow and you wouldn’t even care, would you?”
“I would care. Your Max would care. No matter what, we will always love you.”
Tears fluttered down again, “And I will always love you, until my dying day.” She bit her lip gently. “Do something for me.”
“What?”
“Dance with me. I want to have my wedding dance.”
He didn’t say anything, just grabbed her hand and guided her outside onto her balcony. Pulling her close into his arms, he thought he could hear the music that he remembered with his whole soul.
Come to me now, and lay your hands over me. Even if it’s a lie, say it will be alright, and I shall believe.
He held her hand tightly in his and her hand clenched automatically around his, clinging to him for life.
I’m broken in two, and I know you’re on to me, that I only come home when I’m so all alone. But I shall believe that not everything is going to be the way you think it ought to be. It seems that every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me. Please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe. And I shall believe.
Her hand tightened on his shoulder, massaging the tense muscle that resided there. His hand stroked her waist gently.
Open the door and show me your face tonight. I know it’s true, no one heals me like you. And you hold the key. Never again will I turn away from you. I’m so heavy tonight, but your love is alright. And I do believe.
Elizabeth’s hand stroked his hand gently as he twirled her on the balcony. As the cool texture of his body slipped away she twirled in the silence, her body mirroring the state of her emotions, sinking into a huddle on the ground, her own arms wrapped tightly around her torso to keep her from breaking into a million pieces. The cold wind blew steadily around her thin body as she crawled towards the window, tears flowing rapidly down her soft face and forming a puddle on the smooth cement as she collapsed and sobbed for everything she had just lost.
That not everything is going to be the way you think it ought to be. It seems like every time I try to make it right, it all comes down on me. Please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe. I shall believe.
Her eyes lifted to the sky where the V-shaped constellation burned brightly, mocking her. She wiped her hands on the worn fabric of her jeans, and stood up, her mind yelling in protest. Her legs carried her involuntarily to the edge of the balcony, and her hands braced themselves at the edge of the wall. Her feet carried her to the edge, led her to stand on the wall, her eyes forcing her to look down into the alley below, to where she would never see Max again, to where her destiny did not lay.
Her mouth opened reluctantly and the wind carried the tortured scream from her lips and tossed it thoughtlessly into the surrounding darkness.
“MAX!!”
*****
Tess laid her hand on the doorknob, praying that Serena was right. Quickly, she opened the door and blasted the girl she already knew would be perched on the bed, examining her closet. Taking a deep breath she walked into her room and sealed the door with her powers before walking
to the door and staring at an unconscious former version of herself.
***
“What do we do, Max?” Michael asked, clutching Maria’s hand tightly in his own. Next to him, Alex clasped Isabel’s hand just as tightly.
“I don’t know.” Max stated calmly.
The decision was made for them as the army of angry aliens below them released fire. Their individual blasts joined as one and hurled towards the friends. Max quickly put a shield up.
“What do we do? If we run for it, we might have a slim chance of surviving.”
“What about fighting?”
Max yelled at them to hurry and figure something out, his strength rapidly draining against the attack of at least a hundred aliens below them. Before they told him anything, the shield dropped as the next blast took to the air.
***
Tess placed her hand on the unconscious girl’s head and forged the connection, concentrating hard on breaking through the dense walls she knew so well. Conjuring up all the memories she had of the past six months, she embedded them deep in her mind, forcing her to live the six months that would never happen in her lifetime. When she was done, she allowed the other version of herself to wake, but quickly left her to think it all over.
***
Max sat on the bench in the park, haunted by the vision of Kyle with Liz. He stared at the grass, growing long with no one else to notice, no one else to care about it. Stoically, he stared into the distance, searching for something, anything to steal his attention. A voice behind him interrupted his search for a meaning for tonight.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She whispered, the words spoken out of a memory.
“No.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No.”
***
Her mind finally kicked in and forced her to walk calmly back into her bedroom. Her hand reached automatically behind her pillow, brushing against the smooth leather binding of her journal. Her hand clenched around the object and pulled it out, automatically opening to what she had written today.
Max came to me yesterday. But it wasn’t my Max. He was from the future. He told me things that yesterday I would’ve thought were impossible, insane, but today, today everything changed. And I don’t think they can ever go back. I know they can’t. Grandma told me years ago, that if it isn’t complicated, it’s not true love. But sometimes love isn’t enough. Love isn’t enough to save the world….
She slammed the cover shut, attempting to shut her mind from thinking about this day. It had been a long day. All she wanted now was to sleep; to escape her life. Elizabeth slipped the journal into a large envelope and reached for a pen and piece of paper. She calmed her unsteady hand and slowly wrote a note in her careful and analytical script.
Max, Maria, Alex, Kyle, Isabel, Michael, Sheriff Valenti-
I couldn’t stay any longer. I’m sorry. I was drowning, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t rise above it all to take that one necessary breath that would sustain me until everything had worked itself out. I’m sorry. I’m leaving. I’m sorry.
Her hand faltered as her tears slipped unbidden down from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and staining the beige paper upon which she quickly scribbled two more lines and her final goodbye to her friends.
She hastily stuffed the note into the envelope and licked it closed, quickly addressing the envelope to Max Evans and haphazardly sticking stamps in the right hand corner. Her legs carried her smoothly down the stairs to drop the package into the mail slot outside of the Crashdown. She walked back slowly to her bedroom, paying careful attention to the surroundings she would never see again, all the things she had grown up with and would miss tomorrow.
***
“Max,” she started. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but you need to listen to me. Look at me.”
He turned his head to look at her. “You look different.”
She swallowed hard and took his hand in her own, remembering the painful look in his eyes. “That’s because I’m not the same Tess. I’m from the future, six months in the future. Tonight something horrible is going to happen.”
“You’re too late to stop it, it’s already happened.” He turned to look back into the park, hoping that if this was an alien out to get him, that they would end it all soon.
“Something worse, Max, something you still have the power to prevent. I know you think Liz and Kyle slept together, but they didn’t. Liz was visited by a future version of you who told her that she had to make you fall out of love with her or the world would end and everyone she loved would die in less than fourteen years. So she pretended to sleep with Kyle.”
“She could never make me fall out of love with her.”
“So go save her life. She’s going to be killed in less than half an hour unless you do something.”
Max jumped off the bench and turned to stare at her. He glanced into her eyes, unconvinced, but saw the honesty shining at him. “Where?”
“Her room.”
He took off running.
***
Elizabeth walked cautiously into the bathroom, her hand trembling as it touched the surfaces that future Max had touched only hours ago. She smiled on the inside as she touched the glowing heart he had left for her, their initials in the center. ME + LE. But then, that’s how it was in his future. But not hers. She took a deep breath as her hands reached the bottle of pills resting on the sink. She carefully read the bottle Do not take on an empty stomach.
Her stomach grumbled softly as if to remind her that she had not eaten in almost a whole day. She wouldn’t have eaten at all if future Max hadn’t told her to. She grabbed the empty glass sitting on the sink and slowly filled it with cold water, which splashed onto her hand, numbing it even more than it already was.
Her lips opened involuntarily as a song slipped through her vocal chords.
“I’m sick of old songs that try to sound new. I’m sick of all the lies that try to sound true. I’m sick of me, I’m sick of you. I’m sick of being sick, and I’m sick of that, too. One plane ticket and it goes away, goes away. One stray bullet and it goes away. Make it out, write it down, let it out, breaking up. There’s nothing quite like the burning sting when you find out you’ve lost everything. One plane ticket and it goes away. One way ticket to a better place. Yeah, one plane ticket, a one way ticket, fifteen minutes and it goes away…I’m sick of being sick and I’m sick of that, too.
“I’m sick of being sick and I’m sick of that, too.”
Her other hand reached for the crackers in the medicine cabinet. She nibbled them slowly, before gagging and throwing the rest in the garbage. She wouldn’t need those anymore, not after tonight. She hesitantly opened the bottle and withdrew the necessary number of pills. She focused on the mirror in front of her as she swallowed them, one by one, before throwing the glass at the wall and slamming her hand into the face of her reflection. She wanted to hurt the girl in the mirror as badly as she had hurt herself, as badly as she had hurt Max. But it was necessary; all this pain had to happen, it was destiny, all of it.
Elizabeth shook unsteadily as she made her way to the bed, collapsing into the comfort it once held. Now the bed was a reminder of all the pain she had caused. She forced herself off the bed and collapsed onto the ground, swearing she would never lie in that bed again.
***
The last thing she saw as the darkness of sleep gained control of her body was the figure in black walking leisurely towards her from the shadows.
He approached her, a smile blazing on his face. His dark blue eyes shone chillingly as he gazed at her beauty. Slowly, he trailed a finger down her face, leaving a trail of burning pain behind. Her eyes opened with a start.
“Hello, Clyona.”
She sat up quickly. “Who is Clyona?”
“You. Have you seen anything interesting recently? Or have you stopped seeing?” He walked towards her slowly as she backed up until her back was pressed against the wall. Menacingly, he crawled nearer,
inching closer to her as she jumped away.
He laughed, climbing up and following her around the room as she tried to hit him with objects from her room.
“Resistance is futile.”
“What do you want?” she asked, dodging the dark corners in her room.
His outstretched hand reached for her, dragging her body towards him until she stood in front of him. “You. Isn’t it obvious?”
She glared at him as he threw her down onto the bed. Painfully slow, he withdrew a knife from his jacket pocket, holding it up to the light as she punched him with all the strength she contained in her slim worn out body. He pinned her to the bed with his weight and raised the knife to
her wrist.
The knife sliced deeply into her delicate skin causing her to call out in pain. She glared at her with venom in her eyes, hitting him with her one good arm as her body drained its blood out her wrist. He ignored the punches and slapped her in the face.
“Do you remember who I am now?”
She watched in amazement at her blood streaming out of her wrist, forming the Antarian symbol on its own. The knife was lowered to her other wrist, digging into the soft flesh. The blood flowed easily as she began to lose consciousness.
“Faustus.” She spat out. “You won’t get away with it this time.”
Darkness began to clutter her mind, and the world began fading to black again when a voice nagged in her mind.
“You!” Max’s voice sliced through the fog and she welcomed the sound before giving into the darkness. It would all be okay, now.
***
Max punched Brody in the jaw, worried by the maniacal look in his eyes. “Brody, what are you doing?” He asked as Brody raised his hand to blast him.
“You don’t remember me, Zan? Your good friend Faustus from your past life. Come on, you honestly don’t remember me?” He twisted the face of his host into an expression of shock.
“No.” Max stated. “Why don’t you have a body of your own?”
“Well, I could…but I choose to stay in this one for confrontations.”
Faustus placed his hand on Max’s shoulder, in what would seem a comforting, friendly, gesture, were it not for the blazing pain that radiated into Max’s skin.
Max pulled away quickly, raising his own hand, focusing on the rage he was feeling. Rage that someone would hurt his Liz, no one would get away with that.
“What are you doing here?”
Faustus laughed merrily. “You’re just like her, blissfully ignorant.” He stopped laughing and leaned against the wall, relaxed. “I’m here to kill both of you, and everyone else involved with you.”
Max glared, his anger reaching the boiling point in his veins. It would always be his fault when something bad happened to those he loved, but he was not willing to stand aside while someone tried to kill them. He wasn’t that weak.
“Why?”
“Zan, Zan, Zan.” He took a step closer to Max. “You’re an alien king who cannot be allowed to return to the throne under any circumstances. And she’s the beautiful seer that you’ve been in love with for two lifetimes now. Can’t you see that a union between the two of you would be disastrous?” He tilted his head, a faux sympathetic expression glazing his face.
Seeing no other choice, Max blasted Brody’s body, killing the alien possessing him before he had a chance to get out. Not wanting his boss to die, he knelt by his side, and erased all the memories that Brody would’ve had of this night as he healed him.
He finished and rushed to Liz’s side, watching the blood still trickling from her wrists. Instantly, he kneeled by her side, forging a connection between them as he felt her weakening quickly, fading into death.
Visions of a future version of himself coming into her life yesterday blazed through the connection. He saw himself telling her that she had to make him fall out of love with him, hiding when he kissed her in Whitaker’s office, and watching from the bathroom as she and Kyle were in bed, talking. He watched as they shared the wedding dance she thought she would never really have a chance to have.
His hands were soaked with her blood as he placed them over her wrists, knitting the veins and flesh back together. Worried, he replenished her blood and fixed the other wrist, a faint scar remaining on her skin.
Exhausted, he broke the connection, watching as her lips turned up slightly. He waved his hand over her body and the bed, getting rid of any sign of blood.
“Hi.” She whispered as her eyes fluttered open.
“Hi.” He replied.
“How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Been better.”
He placed a tender kiss to her agreeing lips. “I’ll be back in one minute.”
“Okay.” She replied, closing her eyes again. “I’ll just stay here.”
Moving quickly, he climbed back off the bed and scooped Brody off the floor. He moved him through the window and down the fire escape, stealthily moving between the buildings until he reached the UFO Museum. Taking a deep breath, he left Brody on the ground right outside the back door and ran back to the Crashdown.
Nervously he climbed back into Liz’s room and found her lying still on her bed, curled up. He sat down on the bed and stroked her back lovingly as she murmured quietly.
“We have a lot to talk about.” Her voice rang out, breaking the silence. Turning over, she reached her hand out to him and he laid down next to her. “But first thing first, I didn’t sleep with Kyle. I love you and only you.”
He moved closer to her, relishing in the feel of her smoothly clad body against his own. “I love you, too. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you. You’re the love of my life, Liz Parker.”
“Kiss me.”
He followed her instructions. His warm lips met hers tenderly, willingly, erasing the slight chill from Liz’s. Their lips moved slowly, seductively, caressing each other, making promises they both had every intention on keeping. Max opened his lips, pulling Liz’s bottom lip into his mouth and licked it gently, causing her mouth to open, allowing him entrance.
Their connection flared to life as Max slipped his tongue gently into her mouth, their tongues meeting eagerly. Liz’s tongue stroked his intimately as he continued his exploration into her soul.
Concentration solely on her, Max stroked her hair away from her soft, warm face as flashes of them flickered through his mind. He watched her memories like a film reel, scenes of their lives together running in his private theater.
His hands wandered lower, running over her shirt until he reached the bottom hem. Feeling Liz moan quietly, he deepened the kiss, their tongues stroking each other passionately, sensitive lips rubbing, sucking. Slowly, his hands slipped under her shirt, leaving a tingling path in their wake as he rubbed small circles on her back and stomach.
Liz’s hands moved into his hair, holding him closer as the continued their kiss.
Max broke the kiss, their connection overwhelmed with memories of their more intimate times together, and attached his lips to her neck. Slowly, he trailed his lips over the sensitive skin on her neck, paying acute attention to the way Liz responded. Overwhelmed with pleasure as Max began sucking gently on a spot under her ear, she arched her back, tilting her head back to give him more room to roam.
His hands reached up higher, barely grazing the underside of her bra. Pulling back, he stared into her barely open eyes and smiled. He reached for the hem of her shirt and started pulling up. In a husky voice that only turned Liz on more, he asked quietly, “Is this okay?”
She nodded, slowly and raised her arms, allowing him room to peel her shirt off. Max threw the shirt off the side of the bed and stared down at the girl in his bed.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispered, starting to lower his body to lay on hers, but she stopped him.
Whispering the words from an earlier experience, she tugged on his shirt. “Can you take this off?”
He smiled. “Can I? Yea.” Together they pulled the t-shirt off his muscular frame and dropped it off the bed.
Liz ran her hands over his firm muscles, and Max shivered, addicted to the tantalizing feel of her fingers running over his skin. Goosebumps erupted over her skin as Max leaned down, Liz’s arms wrapping their way around his waist, and began kissing her on the neck. His warm breath grazed her shoulders as he moved to kiss them, his smooth chest rubbing against the lace edging of her thin black bra. Liz’s moan forced all the blood from his head into a lower region and he groaned, feeling his own reaction. In turn, Liz moaned as she felt the hardness poking into her leg.
“Something’s poking me.” She whispered breathily.
“Really?” Max asked, returning to her neck.
“Ye-ye-yes.” She groaned, tilting her head to the side again.
Max reached his hands down between them, his large hands dangerously close to her breasts. One lone finger slip over them and she inhaled quickly. “You caused it.”
Liz reached up and wrapped her arms around Max tightly, his hand still trapped between them. Softly, his whole hand covered her still clad breast and massaged, grinning into her neck as he felt her nipple harden, poking gently into his palm. Taking advantage of her raised position, Max reached behind her and unclasped her bra with his powers. Pulling away slightly, he slipped it off her arms and stared down at her, a smile emblazoned on his lips.
“What?” She asked demurely, trying to cover herself.
“No.” He said, pulling her hands away. “You’re too beautiful to be ashamed.”
She smiled, holding his hands. “And you don’t think I’m slutty?”
He smiled and laughed. “You’re not slutty, Liz. It’s not bad if you’re doing it with someone you love.”
“I love you.” She replied, leaning closer to him.
“I love you, too.” He answered, leaning in the rest of the way and claiming her lips with his own. Gently, he laid her down and covered her slight weight with his own.
She smiled, breaking the kiss, before touching their lips together again, and again. Giggling, Liz reached down for the sheet crumpled around their waists and pulled it up to cover them completely.
***
Tess stared up at the balcony, listening to the sounds of giggles and faint sounds of a bed squeaking. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Eeeewww.” Crossing the street, she disappeared from the timeline.
***
Kyle laid on the couch, still wondering why Liz had been so weird when he noticed Tess standing at the foot of the couch, rubbing her head gently with a confused look on her face. He sat up quickly, staring at the beautiful blond in front of him. His heart broke a little as he watched the lost look on her face and wondered if he had completely ruined his chances with her.
“So…Max is probably yours now, isn’t he?”
“Huh?” She asked, sitting next to him. “Umm…Kyle. I just had the weirdest dream ever, but it made me realize a few things.”
His heart sank. “Like what?”
She turned to look at him, quickly finding herself lost in his beautiful blue eyes. “I don’t want to be with Max.” Smiling, she reached for his hand and he stared at their joined hands in stunned silence.
“Wha-what do you want?”
Words from a memory flowed through her mouth. “Let’s talk.”
***
“So what are you looking for out of this life?” Kyle asked her inquisitively, his hand full of popcorn reaching to his mouth. His eyes opened wide and he leaned it, awaiting her answer.
“I don’t know.” She replied softly.
Kyle chewed silently, watching her.
“Max Evans?”
Tess’ head flew up and she made eye contact with him. “No.” She replied, truthfully, a smile grazing her face. “No! I’m not looking for Max Evans.”
“Then what?”
Tess chewed her lip, deep in thought. A wistful smile crossed her face as she came to an answer. “I’m looking…for someone.”
“Someone in particular?”
“Maybe.” She replied nonchalantly. “I’m looking for someone to have fun with. I don’t want perfection, that’s not normal. I want someone who can mistakes. I want someone to make mistakes with.”
She smiled again as Kyle leaned forward. Her head tilted towards his as his warm breath tickled her skin. She laughed gently.
Kyle leaned in closer to her ear and whispered for her benefit. “I’m really good at making mistakes.”
Her lips inched closer to his as she murmured under her breath, “I know.”
As Kyle’s lips met hers in a gently caress, she realized the others had been right all along. Their lives were their own; their destinies were theirs to create.
***
Max laid back on his back, flushed and sweaty. Liz let out a deep breath and cuddled closer to him.
“Still love me?” He asked.
“You’ll learn to do it better.” She laughed. “Yes, yes I still love you.” She reached over and entwined her fingers with his. “I’ll always love you.”
Well, it's been fun! Hope everyone has enjoyed the ride, here's the last stop. Hope to see you on the next trip! (currently going on in the AU w/o aliens forum 
)
Epilogue
3 Years Later
“I still can’t believe you’re getting married today, Lizzie.” Maria exclaimed, clasping the silver and diamond teardrop necklace on Liz’s thin, tan neck.
Liz smoothed her hands over the tight bodice of her long white wedding dress. Taking a deep breath, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, reflecting over the long wavy curls of dark brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Anxious, she twisted the small ring on her left ring finger, the thin yellow gold band studded with the three small diamonds twisted easily on her slender finger.
“I can’t either, Maria.” She turned to face her best friend and again smoothed the skirt of the flowing white dress that clung perfectly to her tanned body, the tight bodice showing off her thin waist, the skirt flowing out from the waist, swishing on the floor with the satiny train. “Do I look okay? Do you think Max will like it?”
Maria embraced her tightly. “Darling, you look wonderful. You’ve never looked more beautiful in your whole life. And Max would think you looked gorgeous if you were wearing a paper bag.” Lovingly, she kissed Liz’s cheek, careful not to smudge either of their makeup before pulling back and smoothing her hair back away from her own face.
The v-neck blue dress Liz had chosen for Maria swished around her knees as she moved to the table where their bouquets were waiting for them. Vivid pink lilies were mixed in with white roses and blue flowers in bouquets of varying sizes.
Liz turned impatiently to survey the room. “Where is Isabel, Maria? She should be here by now. Do you think she changed her mind and decided not to give me and Max her consent?”
“Would that make a difference?” Maria asked calmly.
Liz shook her head, her perfect hair fluttering delicately through the air. “No. I love Max, and Max loves me, and that’s all we need.”
“So just calm down. Besides, she called a few minutes ago to say she was stuck in traffic and will be here in five minutes.”
At that moment, the door to the bridal suite burst open and a flustered Isabel rushed in, her cheeks pink and her hands full. “Sorry, sweetie.” She said as she rushed to the bride’s side and kissed her cheeks carefully. “I had to pick up a few last minute things.”
Liz sighed a breath of relief. “It’s okay, we’re not running late, yet. Your dress is on the bed.” As Isabel turned to the bed and began stripping off her street clothes, careful not to mess up her perfectly smooth hair that was curled and twisted on top of her head, a few tendrils falling to frame her face.
“Oh my God! Maria!” The flustered bride turned to her maid-of-honor. “Maria! I don’t have anything old! Or anything blue!” She touched her hand to her mother’s necklace that rested on her neck. Maria rushed to her side, and beckoned for Isabel to join her. Isabel grabbed a small velvet bag and approached them, the back of her dress unzipped.
Maria grabbed Liz’s hands in an attempt to calm her jittery nerves.
“Liz, calm down. You’re marrying my brother, nothing is going to go wrong.”
“Is the caterer here yet? What about the cake? That hadn’t arrived by the time it was supposed to. What are we going to do without the cake? Max loves cake!”
Isabel opened the velvet bag, ignoring Liz for the moment as she grabbed Liz’s bouquet and plucked a single blue lily from the base. Approaching her, she slid the contents of the bag into her hand and placed it into Liz’s hand, closing her hand around it.
Liz looked at her curiously, struggling to breath. Curious, she opened her hand and stared down at the necklace resting in her palm. The corner of the dark metal, surrounding the Antarian symbol, was broken off, a leather chord making the piece into a necklace.
“I thought Max and Michael buried this.” Liz whispered, emotion choking her voice.
Isabel shrugged. “They did, but I made Michael dig it back up for you.”
Liz threw her arms around Isabel and hugged her tight, tears glistening in her eyes. “Thank you.”
They pulled apart and Liz stroked the cool metal. Isabel laughed as Liz wiped a solitary tear away. “None of that. Don’t ruin your makeup.”
Liz ran her hand in front of her face, effectively fixing her face.
“Now, about that blue problem.” Maria said, tucking the blue lily into her best friend’s shiny hair, securing it with a bobby pin.
The door opened again and another young woman walked into the room, followed by Nancy Parker. Nancy closed the door behind them and approached her daughter quickly, exclaiming over how beautiful she looked and how happy she was for her.
“Serena!” Her sister cried out. “Is everything ready?”
Serena nodded, her dark red hair reflecting the light from the nearby lamp. "Yup. Everything is perfect.”
Nancy scurried out the room as the girls grabbed their bouquets and walked excitedly out of the room, and down to the outside square through the cream colored hallways. Isabel walked in front to open the door and Liz started laughing.
“What?” Isabel asked, self-consciously.
Liz doubled over in laughter, clutching at her stomach. “Your dress! You left the zipper down on your dress!” She gasped for air as Isabel turned to Maria who promptly zipped it for her. Liz straightened up and wiped her eyes merrily. “Whoo. Thanks. I needed that.”
They continued without interruption down to the small room next to the outside square. Jeff was sitting in a chair, next to Tess, peeking through a small window as everyone finished sitting, Max in his black tuxedo standing next to the minister under a trellis, vines woven with pink and white lilies reaching their fragrant tendrils out to him. Michael stood next to him, his unruly hair slicked back for the occasion. Kyle, Alex, and Zan stood next to them, both looking dapper and anxiously waiting for the girls to enter.
Nancy slipped through the door, an usher approaching her on the right. She smiled as she took his offered arm, glancing at the people attending her daughter’s wedding. They approached the front row of chairs and Nancy took her seat in the second chair on the left.
An attendant opened the door and the little flower girl took off down the aisle, music beginning to play. She pranced in her fluffy blue dress that swished with every step she took, and threw silky petals into the air, the petals fluttering down onto the white runner monogrammed with Max and Liz’s initials.
Maria walked out the door next, as the maid of honor. Max smiled at her as she made her way down the aisle, her eyes locked with Michael’s the majority of the time. She was hoping that today would make him remember how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Gracefully, Isabel walked down the aisle next. She smiled shyly at Alex who stood next to Kyle, and gave her brother a discreet thumbs up.
Tess hugged Liz quickly, and whispered, “Good luck” in her ear before grabbing her bouquet from Serena and doing a small happy dance before walking out of the room and down the aisle. She grinned at Max as she approached the altar and mouthed the words: “She looks beautiful.” Max smiled back at her and glanced at Kyle, who hadn’t taken his eyes off of his girlfriend since she entered the square.
The door opened again and Serena adjusted her dress quickly. Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her pretty face and slowly walked down the aisle, making sure to acknowledge the people she had gotten to know well in the past three years, ever since she had found her real family.
Jeff reached his arm out for Liz and she placed hers in his. He smiled lovingly at her, at his little daughter. “I’m proud of you, honey.” He said quietly as they began walking down the aisle, all the guests standing at gazing at the beauty that was Liz.
“Thank you.” She whispered, trying not to move her lips, but knowing exactly what he was talking about. Not only was he proud of her for marrying Max, but he was proud of the other accomplishments in her life. Like graduating college a year and a half early, already having a promising job so close to finishing school, and for following her dreams, wherever they led her.
Her eyes locked with Max’s and she gasped as their connection flared to life so easily. Max stood tall, his short dark hair standing up, revealing his tanned face, the amber eyes penetrating hers, the warm lips turned upwards in a brilliant smile as he took in her appearance. His black tuxedo made him appear even slimmer and taller than normal clothes, the crisp white tux shirt contrasting deeply with the blue vest and tie.
They continued taking small steps to the altar, Jeff giving small bits of advice until they stopped in front of the officiate. They turned to face each other and Jeff kissed Liz on the cheek and she smiled at him.
“Who gives this woman to marry this man today?”
Jeff smiled nervously. “Her mother and I.” He turned back to Liz and lifted the veil from her face. “Good luck, Lizzie Bear. Remember, follow your heart.” Max walked down to the two of them and Jeff took Liz’s hand and placed it in Max’s. Liz smiled at him, mouthing the word hi as they gazed excitedly at each other.
They walked up the tile stairs to stand below the trellis, the fragrance reaching Liz through her happiness induced fog. “Your hand is sweaty.” She laughed.
“So is yours.”
“We come together to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Max and Liz have both prepared their own vows. Max, would you go first?”
Max nodded and took a deep breath before spilling his heart and soul through his rehearsed words. “Liz, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. From the first time I saw you, I knew you were special, that you were different. And the past seven years that you have allowed me to be in your life, have meant the world to me. I have seen you grow and mature in ways I never thought was possible, but I was doing the exact same thing with you. And not only have we changed, but so has our love. It has matured from the innocent puppy love we first experienced into something adult, something that has the ability to last the rest of our lives.
“I love you for everything that you do. I love the way you wake up in the morning with your morning breath and that cute little smile gracing your face. I love the way you giggle when I tickle you, and the way you try so hard to tickle me back. I love the way you frown when you’re studying past midnight, and the way you sneak yourself chocolate when you’re too worn out to last another minute. I love how obsessive you are, and I love how you accept my love, and reciprocate it so well.
“Liz Parker, there will never be a day that you are not the first and last thing on my mind, because I truly love you. And today, nothing would make me happier than for you to take me as your lawfully wed husband, because you already know I’ll be yours forever.”
Liz blushed, not tearing her eyes from Max’s for a second. She gripped his hands tighter as the minister told her to continue. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled quietly.
“Max, you have opened my eyes to things I never knew existed. From the day at the Crashdown when you comforted me after the shooting, you have always been there for me, always been a helping hand for me, and a shoulder to cry on. We had our adventures, and saw things I never would’ve seen if it weren’t for you.
“We had our hard times, but we overcame them, as I’m sure we will in the future, because our love is strong and pure. It has been tested over and over, and each time, it triumphs, and so do we.
“I love you for more reasons than I can tell you. We’d be here all night. But I love you because you’re amazing, you’re everything I never knew I even wanted, and everything I always dreamed about. My grandmother once told me to follow my heart, no matter where it led me, even if those places were as scary as they were alluring, and everything would turn out right. Lucky for me, my heart led me to you, and only happiness has resulted from that.
“I love you Maxwell Evans for everything you are, all the things you do, and all the dreams you have. I will always love you, and yes, I will take you as my husband today, and for always. Even in our next four lifetimes.”
They smiled happily as the minister asked if anyone had any reason why they should not wed and only silence answered the question. Exchanging the rings passed quickly, both in a fog until the minister asked if they would take each other in holy matrimony. With massive smiles blazing on their faces, their both said “I do.”
“With the power invested in me by the state of New Mexico, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Max smiled and they both leaned in to meet in the middle. Their lips met and embraced each other, happiness overwhelming them both. Liz broke the kiss, smiling and they turned to face their friends and family who applauded joyfully.
“Everyone, I now introduce you to Max and Liz Evans.”
THE END
)Epilogue
3 Years Later
“I still can’t believe you’re getting married today, Lizzie.” Maria exclaimed, clasping the silver and diamond teardrop necklace on Liz’s thin, tan neck.
Liz smoothed her hands over the tight bodice of her long white wedding dress. Taking a deep breath, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, reflecting over the long wavy curls of dark brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Anxious, she twisted the small ring on her left ring finger, the thin yellow gold band studded with the three small diamonds twisted easily on her slender finger.
“I can’t either, Maria.” She turned to face her best friend and again smoothed the skirt of the flowing white dress that clung perfectly to her tanned body, the tight bodice showing off her thin waist, the skirt flowing out from the waist, swishing on the floor with the satiny train. “Do I look okay? Do you think Max will like it?”
Maria embraced her tightly. “Darling, you look wonderful. You’ve never looked more beautiful in your whole life. And Max would think you looked gorgeous if you were wearing a paper bag.” Lovingly, she kissed Liz’s cheek, careful not to smudge either of their makeup before pulling back and smoothing her hair back away from her own face.
The v-neck blue dress Liz had chosen for Maria swished around her knees as she moved to the table where their bouquets were waiting for them. Vivid pink lilies were mixed in with white roses and blue flowers in bouquets of varying sizes.
Liz turned impatiently to survey the room. “Where is Isabel, Maria? She should be here by now. Do you think she changed her mind and decided not to give me and Max her consent?”
“Would that make a difference?” Maria asked calmly.
Liz shook her head, her perfect hair fluttering delicately through the air. “No. I love Max, and Max loves me, and that’s all we need.”
“So just calm down. Besides, she called a few minutes ago to say she was stuck in traffic and will be here in five minutes.”
At that moment, the door to the bridal suite burst open and a flustered Isabel rushed in, her cheeks pink and her hands full. “Sorry, sweetie.” She said as she rushed to the bride’s side and kissed her cheeks carefully. “I had to pick up a few last minute things.”
Liz sighed a breath of relief. “It’s okay, we’re not running late, yet. Your dress is on the bed.” As Isabel turned to the bed and began stripping off her street clothes, careful not to mess up her perfectly smooth hair that was curled and twisted on top of her head, a few tendrils falling to frame her face.
“Oh my God! Maria!” The flustered bride turned to her maid-of-honor. “Maria! I don’t have anything old! Or anything blue!” She touched her hand to her mother’s necklace that rested on her neck. Maria rushed to her side, and beckoned for Isabel to join her. Isabel grabbed a small velvet bag and approached them, the back of her dress unzipped.
Maria grabbed Liz’s hands in an attempt to calm her jittery nerves.
“Liz, calm down. You’re marrying my brother, nothing is going to go wrong.”
“Is the caterer here yet? What about the cake? That hadn’t arrived by the time it was supposed to. What are we going to do without the cake? Max loves cake!”
Isabel opened the velvet bag, ignoring Liz for the moment as she grabbed Liz’s bouquet and plucked a single blue lily from the base. Approaching her, she slid the contents of the bag into her hand and placed it into Liz’s hand, closing her hand around it.
Liz looked at her curiously, struggling to breath. Curious, she opened her hand and stared down at the necklace resting in her palm. The corner of the dark metal, surrounding the Antarian symbol, was broken off, a leather chord making the piece into a necklace.
“I thought Max and Michael buried this.” Liz whispered, emotion choking her voice.
Isabel shrugged. “They did, but I made Michael dig it back up for you.”
Liz threw her arms around Isabel and hugged her tight, tears glistening in her eyes. “Thank you.”
They pulled apart and Liz stroked the cool metal. Isabel laughed as Liz wiped a solitary tear away. “None of that. Don’t ruin your makeup.”
Liz ran her hand in front of her face, effectively fixing her face.
“Now, about that blue problem.” Maria said, tucking the blue lily into her best friend’s shiny hair, securing it with a bobby pin.
The door opened again and another young woman walked into the room, followed by Nancy Parker. Nancy closed the door behind them and approached her daughter quickly, exclaiming over how beautiful she looked and how happy she was for her.
“Serena!” Her sister cried out. “Is everything ready?”
Serena nodded, her dark red hair reflecting the light from the nearby lamp. "Yup. Everything is perfect.”
Nancy scurried out the room as the girls grabbed their bouquets and walked excitedly out of the room, and down to the outside square through the cream colored hallways. Isabel walked in front to open the door and Liz started laughing.
“What?” Isabel asked, self-consciously.
Liz doubled over in laughter, clutching at her stomach. “Your dress! You left the zipper down on your dress!” She gasped for air as Isabel turned to Maria who promptly zipped it for her. Liz straightened up and wiped her eyes merrily. “Whoo. Thanks. I needed that.”
They continued without interruption down to the small room next to the outside square. Jeff was sitting in a chair, next to Tess, peeking through a small window as everyone finished sitting, Max in his black tuxedo standing next to the minister under a trellis, vines woven with pink and white lilies reaching their fragrant tendrils out to him. Michael stood next to him, his unruly hair slicked back for the occasion. Kyle, Alex, and Zan stood next to them, both looking dapper and anxiously waiting for the girls to enter.
Nancy slipped through the door, an usher approaching her on the right. She smiled as she took his offered arm, glancing at the people attending her daughter’s wedding. They approached the front row of chairs and Nancy took her seat in the second chair on the left.
An attendant opened the door and the little flower girl took off down the aisle, music beginning to play. She pranced in her fluffy blue dress that swished with every step she took, and threw silky petals into the air, the petals fluttering down onto the white runner monogrammed with Max and Liz’s initials.
Maria walked out the door next, as the maid of honor. Max smiled at her as she made her way down the aisle, her eyes locked with Michael’s the majority of the time. She was hoping that today would make him remember how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Gracefully, Isabel walked down the aisle next. She smiled shyly at Alex who stood next to Kyle, and gave her brother a discreet thumbs up.
Tess hugged Liz quickly, and whispered, “Good luck” in her ear before grabbing her bouquet from Serena and doing a small happy dance before walking out of the room and down the aisle. She grinned at Max as she approached the altar and mouthed the words: “She looks beautiful.” Max smiled back at her and glanced at Kyle, who hadn’t taken his eyes off of his girlfriend since she entered the square.
The door opened again and Serena adjusted her dress quickly. Taking a deep breath, she plastered a smile on her pretty face and slowly walked down the aisle, making sure to acknowledge the people she had gotten to know well in the past three years, ever since she had found her real family.
Jeff reached his arm out for Liz and she placed hers in his. He smiled lovingly at her, at his little daughter. “I’m proud of you, honey.” He said quietly as they began walking down the aisle, all the guests standing at gazing at the beauty that was Liz.
“Thank you.” She whispered, trying not to move her lips, but knowing exactly what he was talking about. Not only was he proud of her for marrying Max, but he was proud of the other accomplishments in her life. Like graduating college a year and a half early, already having a promising job so close to finishing school, and for following her dreams, wherever they led her.
Her eyes locked with Max’s and she gasped as their connection flared to life so easily. Max stood tall, his short dark hair standing up, revealing his tanned face, the amber eyes penetrating hers, the warm lips turned upwards in a brilliant smile as he took in her appearance. His black tuxedo made him appear even slimmer and taller than normal clothes, the crisp white tux shirt contrasting deeply with the blue vest and tie.
They continued taking small steps to the altar, Jeff giving small bits of advice until they stopped in front of the officiate. They turned to face each other and Jeff kissed Liz on the cheek and she smiled at him.
“Who gives this woman to marry this man today?”
Jeff smiled nervously. “Her mother and I.” He turned back to Liz and lifted the veil from her face. “Good luck, Lizzie Bear. Remember, follow your heart.” Max walked down to the two of them and Jeff took Liz’s hand and placed it in Max’s. Liz smiled at him, mouthing the word hi as they gazed excitedly at each other.
They walked up the tile stairs to stand below the trellis, the fragrance reaching Liz through her happiness induced fog. “Your hand is sweaty.” She laughed.
“So is yours.”
“We come together to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Max and Liz have both prepared their own vows. Max, would you go first?”
Max nodded and took a deep breath before spilling his heart and soul through his rehearsed words. “Liz, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. From the first time I saw you, I knew you were special, that you were different. And the past seven years that you have allowed me to be in your life, have meant the world to me. I have seen you grow and mature in ways I never thought was possible, but I was doing the exact same thing with you. And not only have we changed, but so has our love. It has matured from the innocent puppy love we first experienced into something adult, something that has the ability to last the rest of our lives.
“I love you for everything that you do. I love the way you wake up in the morning with your morning breath and that cute little smile gracing your face. I love the way you giggle when I tickle you, and the way you try so hard to tickle me back. I love the way you frown when you’re studying past midnight, and the way you sneak yourself chocolate when you’re too worn out to last another minute. I love how obsessive you are, and I love how you accept my love, and reciprocate it so well.
“Liz Parker, there will never be a day that you are not the first and last thing on my mind, because I truly love you. And today, nothing would make me happier than for you to take me as your lawfully wed husband, because you already know I’ll be yours forever.”
Liz blushed, not tearing her eyes from Max’s for a second. She gripped his hands tighter as the minister told her to continue. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled quietly.
“Max, you have opened my eyes to things I never knew existed. From the day at the Crashdown when you comforted me after the shooting, you have always been there for me, always been a helping hand for me, and a shoulder to cry on. We had our adventures, and saw things I never would’ve seen if it weren’t for you.
“We had our hard times, but we overcame them, as I’m sure we will in the future, because our love is strong and pure. It has been tested over and over, and each time, it triumphs, and so do we.
“I love you for more reasons than I can tell you. We’d be here all night. But I love you because you’re amazing, you’re everything I never knew I even wanted, and everything I always dreamed about. My grandmother once told me to follow my heart, no matter where it led me, even if those places were as scary as they were alluring, and everything would turn out right. Lucky for me, my heart led me to you, and only happiness has resulted from that.
“I love you Maxwell Evans for everything you are, all the things you do, and all the dreams you have. I will always love you, and yes, I will take you as my husband today, and for always. Even in our next four lifetimes.”
They smiled happily as the minister asked if anyone had any reason why they should not wed and only silence answered the question. Exchanging the rings passed quickly, both in a fog until the minister asked if they would take each other in holy matrimony. With massive smiles blazing on their faces, their both said “I do.”
“With the power invested in me by the state of New Mexico, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Max smiled and they both leaned in to meet in the middle. Their lips met and embraced each other, happiness overwhelming them both. Liz broke the kiss, smiling and they turned to face their friends and family who applauded joyfully.
“Everyone, I now introduce you to Max and Liz Evans.”
THE END
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