EYA Part 31
Friday afternoon
Tess closed her locker and scanned the halls for Max. Something was going on between him and Liz Parker, she was sure of it. Even when they weren’t friends after the Kyle incident, they had still talked and acted fairly normal around each other. Now...now was different. When they got back from Vegas Max had seemed so protective of Liz, watching her every move as if she could disappear any moment, and when they were together…it was like they were trying too hard not to seem together. She had thought that he was just being a macho male after what had happened to Liz in Vegas…oh why couldn’t that pervert have just finished her off? It was time to do something about it.
Max rounded the corner and started down the hall toward fourth period AP History, his eyes on the floor and his arms loaded with books. It was the only class he shared with Liz and he was anxious to see her again, even if Tess’ presence would stifle their enjoyment. Waking up in Liz’s arms that morning had been so natural, so right. And even if he hadn’t already been a morning person, he would be now if he got to wake up wrapped around her every morning. A smile crept across his face as he remembered the amorous greeting he had received.
Tess watched Max moving distractedly down the hall and timed it to step out directly in front of him, deliberately causing him to stumble into her. His books clattered to the floor as his arms went up automatically to steady her from falling.
“Oh! Sorry! I wasn’t watching…” Max looked up and saw that it was Tess that he had run into. His guard slammed up immediately and he dropped his hands from her arms as if her skin had scalded him. “Oh! Hey, Tess. Didn’t see you there.” He took a step back and crouched down to gather his books together, hoping she would move on.
“Hi, Max, let me help you with those,” Tess knelt down beside him and started piling books together, bending over to show off her cleavage and watching Max out of the corner of her eyes.
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry about it.” Max tried to move faster to hurry it along, not even noticing the show she was trying to put on for him.
“What are all these books for?” Tess asked curiously, brushing her hand over his deliberately.
“Oh, you know that research paper that’s due in AP History, I just thought I’d get it done this weekend.” Max stacked the last book on top and stood up hurriedly.
“That’s not due for another two weeks. I haven’t even glanced at the assignment yet.” Tess got up and started moving down the hall with Max. “You and Liz sure seem to get involved in your school work.” Tess watched carefully for Max’s reaction.
“What?” Max’s eyes darted to Tess, back down again. “We don’t work on this stuff together or anything,” he added hurriedly. Calm down, Max! You’re acting like you’re trying too hard! “I mean, I guess we do both think that grades are really important. I know I want to do something important with my life some day, and I want to get a good education.” Better, keep your tone even, disinterested.
Tess raised her eyebrow at his reaction. Yep, definitely something going on. Time to step it up a notch.
“So, Max, I was wondering,” she moved closer, using the crowded hall as an excuse, allowing her arm and the side of her breast to brush against him, “maybe we could get together after school sometime to…study.” She gave him a sultry look to let him know that she didn’t really mean she wanted to study and licked her lower lip provocatively.
Max’s step stumbled when she brushed against him and he deliberately bobbled his books so that he could use that as an excuse to pull away from her.
“Yeah, sure, we could do that sometime next week maybe,” Max said, mustering enthusiasm into his voice. After we take you out to the Granolith chamber and annihilate you once and for all! He added maliciously in his thoughts.
“Great!” Tess’ step hopped a little in glee. If she could just get him alone for a bit, he wouldn’t even remember Liz Parker’s name! She tucked her arm through his just as they reached the door to their class and walked in with him, searching the room for Liz. She smirked in satisfaction when she saw that Liz had been watching the door. Tess turned adoring eyes up to Max and leaned provocatively into his arm. “So we’ll get together next week!” She drawled huskily, loud enough to make sure Liz heard clearly. Tess let Max go and moved smugly into her seat.
The class dragged by slowly, each wrapped in their own separate thoughts. When the bell rang Liz sprang out of her seat and hurried out the door. Max made sure to ignore her exit and made his way out as quickly as he could, deliberately going in the opposite direction as Liz. He knew that she had sensed his roiling anger and deep disgust.
Tess hurried after Max and followed him to his locker. “Let’s have lunch together, Max,” she chirped brightly. “We could go out somewhere.”
“Uh, I told Isabel and Michael that I’d meet them in the quad so…maybe some other time,” Max tried to school his expression to make it appear that he actually enjoyed her company.
“Oh, okay. I’ll just eat lunch with you guys then.” Tess tried to hide her frustration. “Is Alex going to be there?”
Max’s shoulders stiffened at the mention of his friend. “I don’t know, maybe.” Max had made sure that Maria and Liz took Alex out to lunch today to avoid any contact with Tess.
“I haven’t seen him in a while. I wonder…”
Max cut her off. “So how’s your room coming along at Valenti’s?” He knew that she would be distracted by that.
“It looks really great!” She enthused. “We’ve got the whole thing done and I’ve been experimenting with different colors for the walls. You should come over and see it. Of course, it’s sucked that I had to be grounded for the entire week to work on it, but Jim’s been pretty cool. He may even let me off the hook for the weekend. Do you think we could get together for a movie or something?” Tess batted her eyes hopefully.
“Hey, Max. How’s it going?” Michael interrupted smoothly, stepping between Max and Tess. “You still have to work on that special project at the UFO Center this weekend? Cause there’s a killer movie out that I’ve been wanting to see.”
“Oh. Yeah, I do have that project, all weekend. I won’t really have time for anything else,” he threw Tess an apologetic look.
“Oh,” Tess looked dejected, then straightened her shoulders. This isn’t over yet!
“That’s too bad, man. I guess I’ll ask Maria if she’s free,” Michael answered, ignoring Tess.
“Max! Over here!” Isabel waved them over to a table, glad that Tess was with them so that they could keep an eye on her.
They all sat down, Tess making sure that her thigh was pressed firmly to the length of Max’s. If anything else, he was a teenage boy, with hormones to match, and she was sure that he couldn’t keep ignoring her. As they all talked about school and town events Tess slipped her hand under the table and stroked Max’s thigh. His leg muscles hardened under her fingers, immediately tense. Good! He’s reacting to my touch! I knew he couldn’t resist. She moved her hand up higher on his leg, deliberately massaging toward the inside.
Max could not believe her gall. It was bad enough to have to act as if he enjoyed her company, but this was too much. He reached down and removed her hand from him
Tess smirked slightly. He obviously didn’t want to get turned on in front of his sister and friend. She needed to get him alone.
“Max, I really need to talk to you in private for a minute.” She stood quickly and pulled a surprised Max to his feet.
“What? I really don’t think…” Max looked to his friends for assistance.
“I’ll only keep him for a minute,” Tess interjected, looking at Michael and Isabel’s surprised expressions. She dragged Max back into the school before he could protest further.
Keeping hold of his arm she dragged him into the Eraser Room, locking the door behind them. She turned to face him, her back blocking the exit.
Max reached around her to unlock the door and leave, a sudden feeling of panic rolling over him. “Tess, I really don’t think that we should be in here like this. You know what the kids use this room for.”
“I just wanted to have a little privacy for a minute. I think we need to talk.” Tess stroked his arm up and down, taking a step closer to him. Max retreated one step before he made himself stop. He couldn’t afford to make her any more suspicious.
“Wh…what did you want to talk about?”
“Us.” Tess looked him right in the eye and saw him flinch. Not the right reaction, Max! She didn’t want to use her power on him just yet. This would be much more satisfying if he came to her himself. She just had to make sure he knew she was still interested.
“What about us?” Max swallowed nervously, sweat began pooling at the back of his neck.
“I just think that we’ve grown a lot closer in the last few months and I was wondering if we can do something about it.” Tess reached up and cupped the side of Max’s face in her warm hand, she ran her finger over his bottom lip and waited for his reaction.
“I thought that we agreed to be friends.” Max stumbled back a step, but Tess pushed in even closer.
“Well, if you aren’t seeing anyone, and I’m not seeing anyone, why shouldn’t we at least give it a chance? We’ve never really seen what would happen if we dated or anything. Maybe we’d find out we’re perfect for each other. I think that we’ve become very good friends. You helped me when Nacedo died, and I helped you when Liz slept with Kyle,” you need that reminder of her betrayal, she thought smugly, watching him flinch again. “I’m ready to see if we can be more than friends.” She held both his arms and pressed her chest to his, rubbing her breasts across his hard body. She stood up on tiptoe to kiss him, hoping he would lean down. When he didn’t, so she pressed open-mouthed kisses over his neck, feeling his pulse jump wildly under her tongue. Her hand began an exploration of his chest ending at his waistband. Boldly she reached into his pants to cup his cock.
Max was stunned for a moment, but when her hand groped into his pants he grabbed both of her arms and set her back from him roughly. “I thought you understood that I’m not ready to be more than your friend right now. I don’t…we can’t…, this is too fast for me.” Max groped for a better explanation. “I don’t want to be with anyone right now.” Except Liz.
“Not even Liz?” Tess spat out harshly, hurt by his reaction. It was time to use her gifts. She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes in concentration.
The door swung open before she could launch her attack. Tess swung around in frustration.
“Tess! There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Isabel took Tess’ arm and steered her out the door, giving Tess the cover story her and Michael had cooked up while watching them disappear into the Eraser Room.
Max slumped bonelessly against the wall, sick with disgust. Her touch had repelled him, causing such deep revulsion that he thought he might be sick. He hadn’t felt so violated since Pierce had…done what he’d done…in the White Room. He slid down the wall and rested his head on his arms, knees up. His body shook and the deep breaths he was trying to inhale started to sound more like hyperventilation.
He felt her before he saw her. Her presence wrapped him in safety and love. Home. Her touch stilled his tremors when she knelt beside him and he leaned sideways into her waiting arms. She surrounded him with her comfort and caressed a hand through his hair and down his back, massaging away tension.
“Liz.” Saying her name was an affirmation of everything good.
“Sshhh,” she murmured softly, feeling him calm, aching to take away his suffering, hurting from the way his voice cracked over her name. His mind overflowed with memories of past torment and his helplessness today. He’d had to be strong to endure Tess’ evil touch and not shout out his love for Liz.
His face crumpled as he let the tears flow, soaking her shirt, releasing his emotions to her safekeeping. She rocked him gently until the episode subsided.
He sat up at last, sniffling and using his sleeve to dry his face. He glanced at her briefly before looking back at the floor. “I swear I’ve cried more in the last week than I have since I got adopted,” he joked weakly.
“You’ve had plenty of reasons, and I’m glad that you’re letting it out. It’s not good to keep things inside,” Liz reassured softly.
“I need to get out of here,” Max stood up and pulled Liz to her feet.
“Let’s go,” she said, heading for the door.
Max drove them both back to the Crashdown and they climbed the fire escape so that those working in the restaurant would not wonder why Liz was out of school so early.
Climbing in her window, Max started to remove his clothes, dropping them on the floor as he headed toward the bathroom. He left a trail all the way in and stepped into the shower nude. He turned the water on as hot as he could stand it and began scrubbing his body hard with a washcloth. Over his thighs and cock where Tess’ hands had dared to touch him, up his stomach and especially his neck where she had dared to lick and kiss him. He forced the cloth roughly over himself until the water began to cool and then he just leaned his forehead against the hard tile and breathed.
Liz undressed slowly and waited for him on the bed. She knew what he needed right now and she would wait until he was ready. Her heart ached for the suffering he was going through.
Max emerged slowly from the bathroom. He looked lost and drained. His steps led him straight to Liz and she lay him down on the bed. Her lips traveled over his body slowly, paying special attention to cover all the angry red marks on his skin where he had tried to scrub away his revulsion. Max sighed and lay there relaxed, his eyes closed. Liz moved her hands over him as well and continued her gentle loving until she heard Max’s breathing accelerate and felt his chest moving rapidly beneath her lips. She moved down his body and took him into her mouth. Max whimpered softly, his hands moving restlessly on the bed. Her tongue licked out to explore the flare of his erection and sucked lightly on the slit. Max’s hands moved into her hair, taking soft handfuls as his hips began moving of their own volition. Liz increased the suction and moved her mouth up and down over him until Max pulled her up the length of his body and took her mouth in a desperate kiss.
His tongue slipped out and teased her lips open, delving in deep to explore her sweet mouth. Goodness. Safety. Home. He sucked on her bottom lip until she moaned in pleasure. Her legs straddled his hips and he moved one hand down to guide his erection to her wet center. He moved the tip teasingly over her slick heat before plunging to the hilt in one swift motion.
Liz dragged in a ragged breath at the immediate connection. Max clamped his hands over her hips and drove himself into her. Everything was heightened and they began to rock frenziedly in long, heated strokes. Her walls clamped over him tightly and massaged away the hurt and the memories. Their motions continued, feeding the passion, stoking the fire until neither could take it anymore and they fell…
Liz collapsed on top of Max to catch her breath, feeling his chest heaving under her cheek.
“Are you okay?” She asked, reasonably sure he was, but needing to hear it.
“Yes.” Now. “How did you know…?” He asked curiously, his hands twining through her hair, straightening it and then tangling it again.
“I didn’t like the way she was clinging all over you today, so I told Maria and Alex that I wanted to keep an eye on her,” she answered, never more glad that she had followed her instincts.
“I’m so glad you did,” Max rolled to the side, looking into her amazing eyes.
“Me too.” They lay together side by side, their bodies eventually cooling.
Liz sat up after a long time to check the time.
“We have to get ready to go to your mom’s,” she stated regretfully.
“Already?” Max groaned. This day just wouldn’t end, would it?
“It’ll be fine,” Liz asserted bravely. “She’ll be okay with this.” I hope. Liz’s hand drifted over her stomach, they needed to do this. There was no other way.
Max’s hand covered hers over their child. “We’ll be okay,” he corrected firmly.
TBC
Everything You Are (CC,M/L, Mature) AN PG 15 5/3/07 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
EYA Part 32
Liz decided that she needed a shower before heading over to the Evans household and Max designated himself to help her ‘get cleaned up’. This involved a lot of soap and even more giggling and teasing. They dried each other off, in a much better mood than they had been in earlier in the day. Liz finished wrapping the thick towel around herself and remembered that her clothes were still in her room. She was laughing as she came out the door, just in time to see her mother walk in.
“What’s going on, Liz?” Nancy asked her curiously.
“Oh! Hi, Mom,” Liz reached back and pulled the bathroom door closed firmly behind her, hearing a startled yelp within.
“What was so funny?” Nancy moved further into the room eyeing the unmade bed and scattered clothes. Liz was usually such a neat child.
Liz rushed to pick up the clothing scattered around the room, surreptitiously kicking Max’s boxers under the bed.
“Nothing. I mean I was just remembering a joke that Isabel told me in school today. It was so funny. Sorry about the mess. I was going through my clothes to see what to wear tonight. I didn’t know that you and Daddy were coming home so early and I told Mrs. Evans that I would have dinner over at their house tonight. She wants to go over the duties of my new job.” Liz hoped she didn’t sound as guilty as she felt.
“We just wanted to get home to see you. We thought we’d been away too long.” Nancy thought that Liz looked a little tired, drawn. “Are you okay, honey?”
“Yeah,” Liz looked up, surprised by the question. I actually feeel remarkably fine for a seventeen year old, pregnant, married girl with alien powers who just skipped school to comfort my emotionally distraught husband who happens to be an alien king. Thanks for asking! She giggled a little under her breath at her runaway thoughts. “I missed you, Mom,” Liz said instead, giving her mom a big hug. Nancy wrapped her arms around Liz and soaked her in, loving the emotional moment. Liz was back! She sniffed back her tears. Every mom had horror stories about their teenager’s awkward years and she hoped sincerely that Liz was over it.
“We missed you too, honey,” Nancy ended the hug and looked at Liz again. Had her eyes always looked that wise? She ran her hand over Liz’s damp hair.
“Is it okay if I spend the weekend at Isabel’s? Mrs. Evans wants to give me a thorough orientation into my new position and they invited me over.” Liz gauged her Mom’s reaction. Nancy looked ready to protest, so Liz rushed ahead, “I know you and Dad were really proud of me that I got this new position, and I really want to show them that I’m serious about my work and will do a good job for them. Plus Isabel and I have been getting closer than ever, she’s a really good friend, almost like a sister.” Or sister-in-law.
Nancy didn’t want to say no to Liz when she had just re-bonded with her.
“All right, but your father and I want you back on Monday!” Nancy had to take a quick step back for balance when Liz bowled her over with an exuberant hug.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Liz said, laughing out loud. “Oh! I’ve got to get ready!” She whirled around to find an overnight bag.
“I’ll let you get packing. I’ve got to check the store receipts. Make sure you say hello to your father before you leave. Do you need a ride?”
“No. They’re gonna pick me up in a little bit. Thanks again, Mom, really,” Liz gave her mom one more hug before she left the room.
Liz made sure she locked the door behind her mom before going back to open the bathroom door. Max was inside, sitting on the toilet wearing only his jeans.
“Is the coast clear?” He whispered.
“Yeah,” Liz licked her lips, staring fixedly at the jeans. No way he was wearing anything underneath them, she’d kicked his boxers under her bed.
Max followed the direction of her thoughts and flushed slightly pink. “I, uh…”
“I know,” Liz moved further into the room and kneeled down in front of him allowing her fingers to smooth up his thighs. Max’s hands reluctantly stopped her fingers before they found their ultimate target.
“Liz. Liz!” Liz’s eyes snapped up to meet his. “Your parents are home.”
“Oh.” Liz sighed her disappointment. Then she brightened. “Mom said I could spend the weekend at your house. I think she forgot you live there. Of course, she doesn’t even know we’re dating again or she would never have said yes.” Liz stopped rambling when she saw how happy that made Max that she was his for the weekend. “I hope your mom lets me stay.”
“She will,” Max stated with finality.
“Okay,” Liz agreed hopefully. “I told my Mom that someone was going to pick me up to take me to your house, so maybe you’d better,” she gestured for him to get up with obvious reluctance, “get dressed. You’ll have to go out my window and actually knock on my door. Do you think you can handle walking in the front door?” Liz joked.
“I’ll see what I can do ma’am,” Max stood and saluted her before going out to her room and grabbing his shirt and shoes. He looked around surreptitiously for his underwear, while Liz pretended she didn’t know where they’d fallen. Max gave up with a sigh and finished dressing. He gave her one more long kiss before crawling out her window. He popped his head back in briefly to say, “Thank you. For today. I really needed you and you were there.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Max, just like you are for me.” Liz cupped his face in her hands and kissed him one more time.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Mom, we have to talk.” Isabel sat down beside her mom on the couch.
“Sure, honey, what is it?” Diane asked with concern.
“Max and Liz are coming over in a few minutes, and Max wants to tell you what he is. What we are.” Isabel looked for her mom’s reaction.
“That’s great, Isabel! I was hoping that was what this dinner was about.” Diane didn’t understand why Isabel would be nervous about this.
“He has other things to tell you too. You need to be really understanding, no matter what you hear,” Isabel rushed on.
“What things?” Diane inquired, pretty sure that she knew.
“That’s for Max to tell you, Mom, I really can’t speak for him. He’s had a lot of hard times in the last week or so and he really just needs our support right now. Can you promise me that you’ll be there for him?” Isabel’s voice trembled slightly as she finished her request. Tonight depended solely on her mother’s favorable reaction. She didn’t know how Max would take it if their mother wasn’t behind them.
“Isabel! I’m surprised you even have to ask! Of course I’ll support you and your brother whenever you need me. I’m sure your father will too when we tell him,” Diane was slightly hurt that her children didn’t know for sure that they could trust her with anything.
“Dad? I don’t know if Max is ready for that yet,” Isabel said uncertainly. “I guess that there’s no way to keep this from him, huh?”
“I don’t keep secrets from your father, Isabel, and when he gets back in town tomorrow I’m going to tell him everything,” she stated firmly.
“Okay. Yeah, of course you shouldn’t lie or keep things from him. He’ll be okay with it, won’t he?” Isabel begged for reassurance.
Diane hugged her daughter and kissed her hair. “He’ll always love you and your brother just as much as I do,” Diane reassured.
They both turned as they heard the front door opening and closing.
Max and Liz appeared in the doorway with their arms around each other. Diane stood to greet them warmly.
She stood on tiptoe and Max leaned down to receive her kiss and he hugged her tightly thinking that this might be the last time she would freely accept him as her son. She hugged him back reassuringly before turning to hug Liz too. Liz was a little surprised, but more than pleased by this show of acceptance.
“I’m so glad you could come,” Diane said brightly. “I bet you two are hungry! Liz could you come help me set the table and then we’ll be all set.” Diane steered Liz out of the room. Might as well start treating her like family, she thought.
“Is, I don’t know if I can do this,” Max turned to his sister, suddenly anxious not to lose his mom.
“She’ll be fine, Max. Trust me,” Isabel told him. They wandered into the kitchen to see if they could help. Liz was finding her way around nicely, chatting with Diane about her new job as if they were old friends.
“I can’t wait to get started!” Liz enthused.
“I know I made the right choice in you, Liz, just like my son has,” Diane angled a glance back to catch Max’s surprised, pleased expression.
“Thank you,” Liz said sincerely.
They sat down and enjoyed a normal family dinner. Diane had restrained the impulse to mess with the dinner recipes hoping not to scare Liz away with her unique cooking game.
Diane finally pushed away from the table and began clearing when she saw that none of the teens were really eating. The conversation had become more stilted as the meal progressed and they kept exchanging meaningful glances back and forth. When the table was cleared they all reconvened in the living room and sat down comfortably.
Diane sat on the sofa beside Max who had Liz tucked as close as she could get into his side. Isabel sat across from them on a cushioned chair, tucking her legs under her.
“Max, I know that you wanted to talk to me about something tonight, maybe it’s just best if you just say it,” Diane started the ball rolling.
Max’s gaze darted to Isabel, who nodded, and his hand tightened around Liz’s. She gave him a comforting squeeze back and nodded her head against his shoulder.
“Well, …this is really hard to say,” Max squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. These next words would change the rest of his life. Again. And he didn’t know if he could take one more heartrending moment.
“Just say it, Max,” Diane encouraged him softly, taking his free hand in her own. She wanted to just blurt out that she knew, and that it was okay, but she also felt that it was really important that he tell her. That he face his fear and feel that he could trust her with himself.
“I know that you’ve always wondered where we, I mean Isabel and I…where we came from. You were always asking us what we remember about ourselves, and we’ve always told you the truth. Our lives started when you found us on the road that night. Isabel and I…well you know that we’ve always been…different. You asked me about that video when we were kids and that hurt bird flew away, and I told you that I couldn’t talk about it then. But I think I’m ready now.” Liz’s hand smoothed up and down his back when he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, a reassurance that she was there.
Max flicked his eyes up to his mother’s and then back down again. He licked his lips nervously before continuing. “Mom, Isabel and I aren’t from around here.” He met her eyes steadily. “We’re aliens.”
Diane’s mild reaction was almost a let down after what he had imagined all his life.
“I know,” she said simply, leaning back and smiling gently.
“You…you what?” Max was awash in confusion, looking to Isabel and Liz to see if they had heard the same thing.
“I know. I put it together a few days ago. I’ve wondered for a long time about you two and I’ve seen too many unexplainable things not to wonder…”
“This…this is incredible! Don’t you…aren’t you…do you still…?” Max’s eyes were filling with tears and his voice choked over what he wanted to express. All this time he had worried what she would do, how she would treat them if she found out they were different, and now here she was calmly telling him that she had known for days and she had never once treated him as subhuman or as anything other than her son.
Diane couldn’t stand to see her son in distress and leaned in to give him a strong hug. He threw his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her neck and letting the sobs escape him. Isabel drew closer to join the embrace and they pulled her in together. They rocked and patted and cried and murmured reassurances for several moments while Liz gazed on in awe and gratitude that they could place their trust in this amazing woman.
Max finally leaned back and turned to Liz hugging her as well before using his sleeve to dry his face. The smile he bestowed on her lit up the room to reflect the joy he felt about his mother’s reaction.
Liz beamed back at him in relief and then handed out tissues to everyone. Diane and Isabel giggled nervously as they wiped their tear-streaked faces. Isabel settled on the floor in front of her mother’s feet and Diane leaned against the back of the couch.
Max took a deep breath and started again. The hardest part was over, or maybe it was just beginning. “I have something else to tell you. Liz, Isabel and I discovered something else recently. Liz is a part of why we’re here on Earth right now. I was a king on the planet we came from. We were in a war and we were losing pretty badly. There was betrayal within our ranks,” Isabel gripped his ankle, showing her anger over Tess’ betrayal, “Tess,” wow, it was even hard to say her name after the revulsion he had felt for her today, “she’s one of us too. They sent Michael, Tess, Isabel, and me to Earth so that we could grow in power after we had died on our planet. The original plan was for us to come back and free our people from enslavement. Together we have different strengths, and working together we were supposed to be this ‘super group’ that could overcome our enemies. Just recently we got a communication from our alien mother that Tess was the one who betrayed our people and was responsible for our deaths on Antar,” Max paused to see how Diane was taking all of this. Her face was rapt with attention, just taking it all in.
“When they found out that Tess had betrayed us, they made arrangements for Liz to be created.” Diane sucked in a surprised breath, she hadn’t seen that one coming. “They used Liz’s parents to create her, manipulating the DNA to create a perfect partner for me to replace Tess. I can’t really get into all the technical details, we don’t really know how they did it.” Max unconsciously fingered the stone at his neck. “I’ve always been drawn to Liz, and I’ve never known why. It’s like she was made for me,” he laughed nervously, “well, I guess she actually was made for me, so…” Liz hugged his back and he turned to give her a quick kiss, drawing strength from her. “She’s 100% human, with a few extra talents thrown in. She’s a little more advanced than regular people. She can have visions of the future.”
“What? How is that possible?” Diane interjected.
“It’s a talent that all humans are capable of, it’s just that humans don’t normally use that part of their brains and it’s been turned on in me,” Liz softly explained. Diane just nodded her acknowledgement.
“There were some Antarians that had this talent also, not many, just a couple. They’ve seen into our future here on Earth and they’ve sent us a message that Michael, Isabel, Liz and I have to be together. Our mission is to protect Earth from those who will try to destroy us. They said that we aren’t the ones who will go back to Antar to free them. Our son will.” Diane started visibly.
“Liz and I are going to have a son,” Max stated with more confidence. He would never be ashamed of that connection between him and Liz.
“Years from now, right?” Diane asked hopefully, somehow knowing that nothing was easy for her children.
“Now,” Max contradicted firmly.
“You…Now?” Diane pointed back and forth between them, temporarily struck speechless.
“Yes. We lied to you about where we were last weekend. We went to Las Vegas and while we were there we got married. The communication stone,” Max fingered his necklace again, “told us that we were expecting a child. It triggered the message and told us about our past and our future.” Max pulled Liz in until she was almost seated on his lap.
“I’m sorry that we lied, but I can never be sorry that Liz is in my life. I need her like I need air and I won’t let her go. Ever.” Max’s eyes dared anyone to challenge that.
“Max! I…I know that you love Liz. This is just so…wow! A baby!” Diane slumped back at the realization. “I’m gonna be a grandma! When are you due?”
Liz flushed slightly, “It’s a little different than a normal pregnancy. It lasts ten months, so I’m due around the first of the year. The baby is supposed to remain really small for the first eight months or so because the development of his alien powers will drain a lot of my energy.” Liz flushed brighter and buried her face in Max’s shoulder when she realized what else they had to tell Diane.
Max stroked her hair and turned to his mother.
“What? What is it? This isn’t going to hurt Liz, is it?” Diane asked worriedly.
“No! No. I won’t let anything hurt Liz,” Max squirmed a bit. “The baby needs special nutrients to develop it’s alien side so that it won’t drain away all of Liz’s resources.”
“What nutrients? Like vitamins?” She was planning a trip to the health food store first thing in the morning.
“Um…this is really hard to say.” Max licked his suddenly dry lips and dropped his eyes, they fell on his sister and he flushed brighter and darted his gaze away again. “Liz and I need to be…together for the baby to receive nourishment.” Max prayed his mother would understand and drop it.
“Together? Can the baby sense your nearness? I don’t understand.” Diane shook her head in confusion.
Max’s blush increased, he felt like his face was burning and he could feel Liz trembling against his shoulder. He straightened his posture and faced his mother. It was time to make things clear and move on.
“We need to make love. Often. The child needs to receive the nutrients in my sperm a couple times a day in order for the pregnancy to be maintained. If we don’t, then Liz and the child will die. We’ve already discovered that if we don’t then Liz and I both develop a high fever and Liz gets weaker until we…Anyway, once the fever starts we only have twenty-four hours to be together or they would…would,” Max broke off, not wanting to say what would happen. He buried his head in Liz’s arms and she stroked his hair and neck, massaging out the tension.
“It’s okay, baby,” she murmured, for his ears alone. He gave a small nod.
“This is…unbelievable,” Diane was stunned. There was so much that she hadn’t even known. These children of hers were a complete mystery.
“We need to know if you can help us to stay together,” Max expressed his deepest concern.
“I can…Yes. Of course I’ll help you,” Diane thought rapidly. “New Mexico law states that a marriage is legal even if you’re underage as long as you have parental consent. You have my consent, we just need to get Liz’s parents. Do they know?”
Both Max and Liz shook their heads in a vigorous ‘no’.
“Do you think you can tell them?” She asked tentatively.
Liz looked uncomfortable. “I don’t think that they’re ready for all of this yet. I don’t know how they’d react, and I can’t risk being kept away from Max for even one day or…” she didn’t finish the sentence because she felt the slight tremor of Max’s reaction against her body.
“Okay. Okay, let me think here.” Diane massaged the side of her head where an enormous headache was brewing. Max reached out and brushed her fingers aside. She felt a warm tingle and then the pain was…gone. Max smiled shyly and lowered his hand.
“How did you…?” Diane asked in wonderment.
“That’s my primary gift. I can heal people,” Max stated shyly.
“That’s…that’s so amazing!” Diane always knew that her son was made for great things. His heart was pure and his gift suited him perfectly.
“I think you should hold off on telling your parents about the alien side of things. Let’s wait a couple months and then tell them that you are pregnant and we’ll get their consent for the marriage. You two can live here if you want, after they consent. You are staying in school?” Diane asked with worry.
“Of course!” Liz responded resoundingly.
“Absolutely! We may have this huge destiny to save the Earth, but we have a responsibility to ourselves to learn everything we can while we have the opportunity,” Max added with certainty.
“Good! Okay, so you’ll go to school. We need to work out a way to keep you two together until you can reveal your pregnancy, Liz. Let me work on that and I’ll come up with something.”
“Wow. Great. Okay! Um, I kinda told Mom that I was spending the weekend over here to learn the ropes about my new job. Is it all right if I stay here this weekend?” Liz was uncomfortable inviting herself over.
“Perfect! Yes, of course! It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other better,” Diane enthused. Her thoughts turned inward, planning. “We have to tell your father when he comes home tomorrow.”
“He doesn’t know…anything?” Max had a small hope that he’d figured it out too and wouldn’t be in total shock.
“Sorry, honey, no he doesn’t, but I know he’ll be just fine. I want to tell him alone first, okay?” Diane thought the news would come better one on one.
“I can be there if you want,” Max volunteered stoically.
“I’ll tell him first and then we can all talk,” Diane asserted.
“Okay. Are you really all right with all this?” Max questioned uncertainly.
Diane hugged him again because she could. “I love you and your sister more that anything in life. God brought you both to me for a reason. You have filled my life with joy and happiness everyday that I have had you and I do not regret one single moment of it! You need to know that I love you both,” she reached out her hand to draw Isabel into their embrace, “more than anything on this earth or any other. I will love you and help you and be there for all of you no matter what happens in our future,” she pulled Liz into the hug as well, “And I can’t wait to meet my grandson!”
Max, Liz and Isabel sighed in relief and contentment. Things were going to be okay.
TBC
Liz decided that she needed a shower before heading over to the Evans household and Max designated himself to help her ‘get cleaned up’. This involved a lot of soap and even more giggling and teasing. They dried each other off, in a much better mood than they had been in earlier in the day. Liz finished wrapping the thick towel around herself and remembered that her clothes were still in her room. She was laughing as she came out the door, just in time to see her mother walk in.
“What’s going on, Liz?” Nancy asked her curiously.
“Oh! Hi, Mom,” Liz reached back and pulled the bathroom door closed firmly behind her, hearing a startled yelp within.
“What was so funny?” Nancy moved further into the room eyeing the unmade bed and scattered clothes. Liz was usually such a neat child.
Liz rushed to pick up the clothing scattered around the room, surreptitiously kicking Max’s boxers under the bed.
“Nothing. I mean I was just remembering a joke that Isabel told me in school today. It was so funny. Sorry about the mess. I was going through my clothes to see what to wear tonight. I didn’t know that you and Daddy were coming home so early and I told Mrs. Evans that I would have dinner over at their house tonight. She wants to go over the duties of my new job.” Liz hoped she didn’t sound as guilty as she felt.
“We just wanted to get home to see you. We thought we’d been away too long.” Nancy thought that Liz looked a little tired, drawn. “Are you okay, honey?”
“Yeah,” Liz looked up, surprised by the question. I actually feeel remarkably fine for a seventeen year old, pregnant, married girl with alien powers who just skipped school to comfort my emotionally distraught husband who happens to be an alien king. Thanks for asking! She giggled a little under her breath at her runaway thoughts. “I missed you, Mom,” Liz said instead, giving her mom a big hug. Nancy wrapped her arms around Liz and soaked her in, loving the emotional moment. Liz was back! She sniffed back her tears. Every mom had horror stories about their teenager’s awkward years and she hoped sincerely that Liz was over it.
“We missed you too, honey,” Nancy ended the hug and looked at Liz again. Had her eyes always looked that wise? She ran her hand over Liz’s damp hair.
“Is it okay if I spend the weekend at Isabel’s? Mrs. Evans wants to give me a thorough orientation into my new position and they invited me over.” Liz gauged her Mom’s reaction. Nancy looked ready to protest, so Liz rushed ahead, “I know you and Dad were really proud of me that I got this new position, and I really want to show them that I’m serious about my work and will do a good job for them. Plus Isabel and I have been getting closer than ever, she’s a really good friend, almost like a sister.” Or sister-in-law.
Nancy didn’t want to say no to Liz when she had just re-bonded with her.
“All right, but your father and I want you back on Monday!” Nancy had to take a quick step back for balance when Liz bowled her over with an exuberant hug.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Liz said, laughing out loud. “Oh! I’ve got to get ready!” She whirled around to find an overnight bag.
“I’ll let you get packing. I’ve got to check the store receipts. Make sure you say hello to your father before you leave. Do you need a ride?”
“No. They’re gonna pick me up in a little bit. Thanks again, Mom, really,” Liz gave her mom one more hug before she left the room.
Liz made sure she locked the door behind her mom before going back to open the bathroom door. Max was inside, sitting on the toilet wearing only his jeans.
“Is the coast clear?” He whispered.
“Yeah,” Liz licked her lips, staring fixedly at the jeans. No way he was wearing anything underneath them, she’d kicked his boxers under her bed.
Max followed the direction of her thoughts and flushed slightly pink. “I, uh…”
“I know,” Liz moved further into the room and kneeled down in front of him allowing her fingers to smooth up his thighs. Max’s hands reluctantly stopped her fingers before they found their ultimate target.
“Liz. Liz!” Liz’s eyes snapped up to meet his. “Your parents are home.”
“Oh.” Liz sighed her disappointment. Then she brightened. “Mom said I could spend the weekend at your house. I think she forgot you live there. Of course, she doesn’t even know we’re dating again or she would never have said yes.” Liz stopped rambling when she saw how happy that made Max that she was his for the weekend. “I hope your mom lets me stay.”
“She will,” Max stated with finality.
“Okay,” Liz agreed hopefully. “I told my Mom that someone was going to pick me up to take me to your house, so maybe you’d better,” she gestured for him to get up with obvious reluctance, “get dressed. You’ll have to go out my window and actually knock on my door. Do you think you can handle walking in the front door?” Liz joked.
“I’ll see what I can do ma’am,” Max stood and saluted her before going out to her room and grabbing his shirt and shoes. He looked around surreptitiously for his underwear, while Liz pretended she didn’t know where they’d fallen. Max gave up with a sigh and finished dressing. He gave her one more long kiss before crawling out her window. He popped his head back in briefly to say, “Thank you. For today. I really needed you and you were there.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Max, just like you are for me.” Liz cupped his face in her hands and kissed him one more time.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Mom, we have to talk.” Isabel sat down beside her mom on the couch.
“Sure, honey, what is it?” Diane asked with concern.
“Max and Liz are coming over in a few minutes, and Max wants to tell you what he is. What we are.” Isabel looked for her mom’s reaction.
“That’s great, Isabel! I was hoping that was what this dinner was about.” Diane didn’t understand why Isabel would be nervous about this.
“He has other things to tell you too. You need to be really understanding, no matter what you hear,” Isabel rushed on.
“What things?” Diane inquired, pretty sure that she knew.
“That’s for Max to tell you, Mom, I really can’t speak for him. He’s had a lot of hard times in the last week or so and he really just needs our support right now. Can you promise me that you’ll be there for him?” Isabel’s voice trembled slightly as she finished her request. Tonight depended solely on her mother’s favorable reaction. She didn’t know how Max would take it if their mother wasn’t behind them.
“Isabel! I’m surprised you even have to ask! Of course I’ll support you and your brother whenever you need me. I’m sure your father will too when we tell him,” Diane was slightly hurt that her children didn’t know for sure that they could trust her with anything.
“Dad? I don’t know if Max is ready for that yet,” Isabel said uncertainly. “I guess that there’s no way to keep this from him, huh?”
“I don’t keep secrets from your father, Isabel, and when he gets back in town tomorrow I’m going to tell him everything,” she stated firmly.
“Okay. Yeah, of course you shouldn’t lie or keep things from him. He’ll be okay with it, won’t he?” Isabel begged for reassurance.
Diane hugged her daughter and kissed her hair. “He’ll always love you and your brother just as much as I do,” Diane reassured.
They both turned as they heard the front door opening and closing.
Max and Liz appeared in the doorway with their arms around each other. Diane stood to greet them warmly.
She stood on tiptoe and Max leaned down to receive her kiss and he hugged her tightly thinking that this might be the last time she would freely accept him as her son. She hugged him back reassuringly before turning to hug Liz too. Liz was a little surprised, but more than pleased by this show of acceptance.
“I’m so glad you could come,” Diane said brightly. “I bet you two are hungry! Liz could you come help me set the table and then we’ll be all set.” Diane steered Liz out of the room. Might as well start treating her like family, she thought.
“Is, I don’t know if I can do this,” Max turned to his sister, suddenly anxious not to lose his mom.
“She’ll be fine, Max. Trust me,” Isabel told him. They wandered into the kitchen to see if they could help. Liz was finding her way around nicely, chatting with Diane about her new job as if they were old friends.
“I can’t wait to get started!” Liz enthused.
“I know I made the right choice in you, Liz, just like my son has,” Diane angled a glance back to catch Max’s surprised, pleased expression.
“Thank you,” Liz said sincerely.
They sat down and enjoyed a normal family dinner. Diane had restrained the impulse to mess with the dinner recipes hoping not to scare Liz away with her unique cooking game.
Diane finally pushed away from the table and began clearing when she saw that none of the teens were really eating. The conversation had become more stilted as the meal progressed and they kept exchanging meaningful glances back and forth. When the table was cleared they all reconvened in the living room and sat down comfortably.
Diane sat on the sofa beside Max who had Liz tucked as close as she could get into his side. Isabel sat across from them on a cushioned chair, tucking her legs under her.
“Max, I know that you wanted to talk to me about something tonight, maybe it’s just best if you just say it,” Diane started the ball rolling.
Max’s gaze darted to Isabel, who nodded, and his hand tightened around Liz’s. She gave him a comforting squeeze back and nodded her head against his shoulder.
“Well, …this is really hard to say,” Max squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. These next words would change the rest of his life. Again. And he didn’t know if he could take one more heartrending moment.
“Just say it, Max,” Diane encouraged him softly, taking his free hand in her own. She wanted to just blurt out that she knew, and that it was okay, but she also felt that it was really important that he tell her. That he face his fear and feel that he could trust her with himself.
“I know that you’ve always wondered where we, I mean Isabel and I…where we came from. You were always asking us what we remember about ourselves, and we’ve always told you the truth. Our lives started when you found us on the road that night. Isabel and I…well you know that we’ve always been…different. You asked me about that video when we were kids and that hurt bird flew away, and I told you that I couldn’t talk about it then. But I think I’m ready now.” Liz’s hand smoothed up and down his back when he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, a reassurance that she was there.
Max flicked his eyes up to his mother’s and then back down again. He licked his lips nervously before continuing. “Mom, Isabel and I aren’t from around here.” He met her eyes steadily. “We’re aliens.”
Diane’s mild reaction was almost a let down after what he had imagined all his life.
“I know,” she said simply, leaning back and smiling gently.
“You…you what?” Max was awash in confusion, looking to Isabel and Liz to see if they had heard the same thing.
“I know. I put it together a few days ago. I’ve wondered for a long time about you two and I’ve seen too many unexplainable things not to wonder…”
“This…this is incredible! Don’t you…aren’t you…do you still…?” Max’s eyes were filling with tears and his voice choked over what he wanted to express. All this time he had worried what she would do, how she would treat them if she found out they were different, and now here she was calmly telling him that she had known for days and she had never once treated him as subhuman or as anything other than her son.
Diane couldn’t stand to see her son in distress and leaned in to give him a strong hug. He threw his arms around her tightly, burying his face in her neck and letting the sobs escape him. Isabel drew closer to join the embrace and they pulled her in together. They rocked and patted and cried and murmured reassurances for several moments while Liz gazed on in awe and gratitude that they could place their trust in this amazing woman.
Max finally leaned back and turned to Liz hugging her as well before using his sleeve to dry his face. The smile he bestowed on her lit up the room to reflect the joy he felt about his mother’s reaction.
Liz beamed back at him in relief and then handed out tissues to everyone. Diane and Isabel giggled nervously as they wiped their tear-streaked faces. Isabel settled on the floor in front of her mother’s feet and Diane leaned against the back of the couch.
Max took a deep breath and started again. The hardest part was over, or maybe it was just beginning. “I have something else to tell you. Liz, Isabel and I discovered something else recently. Liz is a part of why we’re here on Earth right now. I was a king on the planet we came from. We were in a war and we were losing pretty badly. There was betrayal within our ranks,” Isabel gripped his ankle, showing her anger over Tess’ betrayal, “Tess,” wow, it was even hard to say her name after the revulsion he had felt for her today, “she’s one of us too. They sent Michael, Tess, Isabel, and me to Earth so that we could grow in power after we had died on our planet. The original plan was for us to come back and free our people from enslavement. Together we have different strengths, and working together we were supposed to be this ‘super group’ that could overcome our enemies. Just recently we got a communication from our alien mother that Tess was the one who betrayed our people and was responsible for our deaths on Antar,” Max paused to see how Diane was taking all of this. Her face was rapt with attention, just taking it all in.
“When they found out that Tess had betrayed us, they made arrangements for Liz to be created.” Diane sucked in a surprised breath, she hadn’t seen that one coming. “They used Liz’s parents to create her, manipulating the DNA to create a perfect partner for me to replace Tess. I can’t really get into all the technical details, we don’t really know how they did it.” Max unconsciously fingered the stone at his neck. “I’ve always been drawn to Liz, and I’ve never known why. It’s like she was made for me,” he laughed nervously, “well, I guess she actually was made for me, so…” Liz hugged his back and he turned to give her a quick kiss, drawing strength from her. “She’s 100% human, with a few extra talents thrown in. She’s a little more advanced than regular people. She can have visions of the future.”
“What? How is that possible?” Diane interjected.
“It’s a talent that all humans are capable of, it’s just that humans don’t normally use that part of their brains and it’s been turned on in me,” Liz softly explained. Diane just nodded her acknowledgement.
“There were some Antarians that had this talent also, not many, just a couple. They’ve seen into our future here on Earth and they’ve sent us a message that Michael, Isabel, Liz and I have to be together. Our mission is to protect Earth from those who will try to destroy us. They said that we aren’t the ones who will go back to Antar to free them. Our son will.” Diane started visibly.
“Liz and I are going to have a son,” Max stated with more confidence. He would never be ashamed of that connection between him and Liz.
“Years from now, right?” Diane asked hopefully, somehow knowing that nothing was easy for her children.
“Now,” Max contradicted firmly.
“You…Now?” Diane pointed back and forth between them, temporarily struck speechless.
“Yes. We lied to you about where we were last weekend. We went to Las Vegas and while we were there we got married. The communication stone,” Max fingered his necklace again, “told us that we were expecting a child. It triggered the message and told us about our past and our future.” Max pulled Liz in until she was almost seated on his lap.
“I’m sorry that we lied, but I can never be sorry that Liz is in my life. I need her like I need air and I won’t let her go. Ever.” Max’s eyes dared anyone to challenge that.
“Max! I…I know that you love Liz. This is just so…wow! A baby!” Diane slumped back at the realization. “I’m gonna be a grandma! When are you due?”
Liz flushed slightly, “It’s a little different than a normal pregnancy. It lasts ten months, so I’m due around the first of the year. The baby is supposed to remain really small for the first eight months or so because the development of his alien powers will drain a lot of my energy.” Liz flushed brighter and buried her face in Max’s shoulder when she realized what else they had to tell Diane.
Max stroked her hair and turned to his mother.
“What? What is it? This isn’t going to hurt Liz, is it?” Diane asked worriedly.
“No! No. I won’t let anything hurt Liz,” Max squirmed a bit. “The baby needs special nutrients to develop it’s alien side so that it won’t drain away all of Liz’s resources.”
“What nutrients? Like vitamins?” She was planning a trip to the health food store first thing in the morning.
“Um…this is really hard to say.” Max licked his suddenly dry lips and dropped his eyes, they fell on his sister and he flushed brighter and darted his gaze away again. “Liz and I need to be…together for the baby to receive nourishment.” Max prayed his mother would understand and drop it.
“Together? Can the baby sense your nearness? I don’t understand.” Diane shook her head in confusion.
Max’s blush increased, he felt like his face was burning and he could feel Liz trembling against his shoulder. He straightened his posture and faced his mother. It was time to make things clear and move on.
“We need to make love. Often. The child needs to receive the nutrients in my sperm a couple times a day in order for the pregnancy to be maintained. If we don’t, then Liz and the child will die. We’ve already discovered that if we don’t then Liz and I both develop a high fever and Liz gets weaker until we…Anyway, once the fever starts we only have twenty-four hours to be together or they would…would,” Max broke off, not wanting to say what would happen. He buried his head in Liz’s arms and she stroked his hair and neck, massaging out the tension.
“It’s okay, baby,” she murmured, for his ears alone. He gave a small nod.
“This is…unbelievable,” Diane was stunned. There was so much that she hadn’t even known. These children of hers were a complete mystery.
“We need to know if you can help us to stay together,” Max expressed his deepest concern.
“I can…Yes. Of course I’ll help you,” Diane thought rapidly. “New Mexico law states that a marriage is legal even if you’re underage as long as you have parental consent. You have my consent, we just need to get Liz’s parents. Do they know?”
Both Max and Liz shook their heads in a vigorous ‘no’.
“Do you think you can tell them?” She asked tentatively.
Liz looked uncomfortable. “I don’t think that they’re ready for all of this yet. I don’t know how they’d react, and I can’t risk being kept away from Max for even one day or…” she didn’t finish the sentence because she felt the slight tremor of Max’s reaction against her body.
“Okay. Okay, let me think here.” Diane massaged the side of her head where an enormous headache was brewing. Max reached out and brushed her fingers aside. She felt a warm tingle and then the pain was…gone. Max smiled shyly and lowered his hand.
“How did you…?” Diane asked in wonderment.
“That’s my primary gift. I can heal people,” Max stated shyly.
“That’s…that’s so amazing!” Diane always knew that her son was made for great things. His heart was pure and his gift suited him perfectly.
“I think you should hold off on telling your parents about the alien side of things. Let’s wait a couple months and then tell them that you are pregnant and we’ll get their consent for the marriage. You two can live here if you want, after they consent. You are staying in school?” Diane asked with worry.
“Of course!” Liz responded resoundingly.
“Absolutely! We may have this huge destiny to save the Earth, but we have a responsibility to ourselves to learn everything we can while we have the opportunity,” Max added with certainty.
“Good! Okay, so you’ll go to school. We need to work out a way to keep you two together until you can reveal your pregnancy, Liz. Let me work on that and I’ll come up with something.”
“Wow. Great. Okay! Um, I kinda told Mom that I was spending the weekend over here to learn the ropes about my new job. Is it all right if I stay here this weekend?” Liz was uncomfortable inviting herself over.
“Perfect! Yes, of course! It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other better,” Diane enthused. Her thoughts turned inward, planning. “We have to tell your father when he comes home tomorrow.”
“He doesn’t know…anything?” Max had a small hope that he’d figured it out too and wouldn’t be in total shock.
“Sorry, honey, no he doesn’t, but I know he’ll be just fine. I want to tell him alone first, okay?” Diane thought the news would come better one on one.
“I can be there if you want,” Max volunteered stoically.
“I’ll tell him first and then we can all talk,” Diane asserted.
“Okay. Are you really all right with all this?” Max questioned uncertainly.
Diane hugged him again because she could. “I love you and your sister more that anything in life. God brought you both to me for a reason. You have filled my life with joy and happiness everyday that I have had you and I do not regret one single moment of it! You need to know that I love you both,” she reached out her hand to draw Isabel into their embrace, “more than anything on this earth or any other. I will love you and help you and be there for all of you no matter what happens in our future,” she pulled Liz into the hug as well, “And I can’t wait to meet my grandson!”
Max, Liz and Isabel sighed in relief and contentment. Things were going to be okay.
TBC
EYA Part 33
Max shut his bedroom door behind himself and leaned back against it, suddenly nervous. Liz lay sprawled across his bed in a tank top and underwear reading her lit assignment. She glanced up when he didn’t immediately join her.
“What?” She asked with a small smile, reasonably sure that she already knew.
“I don’t know. It’s just strange, I guess. Mom knows now. She knows that we’re in here together, and she knows what we have to do for our son. Don’t you feel different? We don’t have to try to hide from her,” Max asked after a long moment.
“Yeah,” Liz answered softly, sitting up and patting the space beside her on the bed. “It’s freeing and embarrassing at the same time. There are some things that mom’s should not know about.”
“It’s different with us though. She had to know. Everyone knows. It’s crazy!” Max burst out in frustration.
“I know that it should be a private thing, but at least everyone is supporting us so far. You have the coolest mom on the planet. I can’t believe she wasn’t freaking out about everything we told her!” Liz absolutely knew that her parents would not react well.
Max, Isabel, and Liz had spent the last couple hours explaining the communication stone, how they found it, and the message it had contained to Diane. She had taken it all in mutely, nodding a little to let them know they could continue. She was especially frightened by the plan Max had come up with to get information out of Tess before they took her out to the desert. She was conflicted about killing Tess. She’d seemed like such a normal girl. Wasn’t there some other way to detain her? Rehabilitate her?
That was a very unpopular suggestion. All the kids agreed that she needed to be destroyed in order for them to live the life they were destined for. She was simply too dangerous.
Liz leaned up to embrace Max. His arms automatically surrounded her, one hand dropping to caress her flat stomach, loving that connection between the three of them.
Liz nibbled on the sensitive cord of his neck, right under his chin and he growled low in his throat. Liz laughed, “What was that?”
He pushed her back onto his bed and held himself over her. “That’s what you do to me.”
Liz wiggled her hips up to come in contact with his, meeting the evidence of his arousal. “So that’s what I do to you, huh?”
Max growled again and kissed her lips thoroughly before rolling to his back to lay beside her.
“I thought we agreed to wait this weekend to time how long it takes between fevers?” His tight voice indicated his unhappiness with the plan.
“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease you like that.” Liz rolled to her side to face him and put her hand over his chest.
Max put his hand over hers to stop her from moving it over his sensitized skin. “Maybe we should go to bed.”
“Yeah, good idea.” Liz scooted up with Max and they slipped under the covers. Max spooned in behind her with his left arm over her side caressing her stomach. He inched up the tank top she was wearing to enjoy her smooth skin. He inhaled the clean scent of her hair and closed his eyes, content.
6:47 am
Liz moaned quietly in her sleep and her hands moved restlessly over Max’s broad chest. Max turned into her arms and his hands tugged up her tank top. His strong fingers caressed her nipples, causing them to pucker into hard knots. Liz moaned again at the intimate contact. Her body undulated against his and he bucked his hips forward, seeking friction against her body. Max’s face brushed over her heated skin, dropping light kisses across her neck and down her chest. Dissatisfied with the clothing between them, he dragged her shirt up and off, dropping it over the side of the bed. Liz’s hands busily relieved him of his boxers while Max stripped her of her last garment.
Her breath came in panting gasps when his lips closed over her hard nipples. His teeth lightly grazed over and then his tongue soothed them. Her fingers clenched the tangled sheets of the bed in a tight grip when Max trailed his hand down her body to her center. Her slick heat enveloped his fingers as he thrust two deeply inside of her. Her juices flooded over his hand as he pumped them in and out. Her back arched off the mattress and her mouth opened in a soundless scream of pleasure as she came hard.
Their eyes snapped open in the same instant and they stared in shock at the position of their bodies. Max swept down and took her lips in a consuming kiss. His tongue stroked the seam of her lips and she parted them eagerly for his invasion. He explored her mouth thoroughly, sucking her tongue as his body hardened further at the sound of her panting moans of pleasure and need.
Liz clutched his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his hips, arching her aching center closer to his pelvis. Max slowly removed his fingers from her and stroked the slickness over his erection. He teasingly rubbed the head of his cock over her core until she whimpered in protest. He pulled back to look into her eyes as he entered her, filling all the empty spots inside her that were calling for him. Her eyes went wide and then closed in ecstasy as her head rolled to the side. Max took the invitation and began thrusting deeply within her as he sucked and nipped down the exposed column of her neck.
Liz’s hands could not hold still. She massaged his shoulders, smoothing his straining muscles. She enjoyed the slick texture of his skin over his chest, circling the nipples and pinching lightly. She arched up to taste his skin, licking up the salty taste and humming in the back of her throat. Max sped the movements of their hips as the sounds of her pleasure increased his own.
At last, they could no longer control the feelings spiraling around them. With a series of deep, regular thrusts Max poured his seed into Liz as she screamed her enjoyment. He collapsed on top of her and she pushed him to her side so she could catch her breath. They looked into each other’s faces and burst out laughing at the same time.
“I guess we should note the time,” Max sputtered out between chortles of mirth.
“I’ll break out the charts.” Liz wiped the tears streaming from her laughing eyes.
“That might just have been a chart topper!” Max adlibbed.
“Shut up, Max!” Liz agreed wholeheartedly.
TBC
Max shut his bedroom door behind himself and leaned back against it, suddenly nervous. Liz lay sprawled across his bed in a tank top and underwear reading her lit assignment. She glanced up when he didn’t immediately join her.
“What?” She asked with a small smile, reasonably sure that she already knew.
“I don’t know. It’s just strange, I guess. Mom knows now. She knows that we’re in here together, and she knows what we have to do for our son. Don’t you feel different? We don’t have to try to hide from her,” Max asked after a long moment.
“Yeah,” Liz answered softly, sitting up and patting the space beside her on the bed. “It’s freeing and embarrassing at the same time. There are some things that mom’s should not know about.”
“It’s different with us though. She had to know. Everyone knows. It’s crazy!” Max burst out in frustration.
“I know that it should be a private thing, but at least everyone is supporting us so far. You have the coolest mom on the planet. I can’t believe she wasn’t freaking out about everything we told her!” Liz absolutely knew that her parents would not react well.
Max, Isabel, and Liz had spent the last couple hours explaining the communication stone, how they found it, and the message it had contained to Diane. She had taken it all in mutely, nodding a little to let them know they could continue. She was especially frightened by the plan Max had come up with to get information out of Tess before they took her out to the desert. She was conflicted about killing Tess. She’d seemed like such a normal girl. Wasn’t there some other way to detain her? Rehabilitate her?
That was a very unpopular suggestion. All the kids agreed that she needed to be destroyed in order for them to live the life they were destined for. She was simply too dangerous.
Liz leaned up to embrace Max. His arms automatically surrounded her, one hand dropping to caress her flat stomach, loving that connection between the three of them.
Liz nibbled on the sensitive cord of his neck, right under his chin and he growled low in his throat. Liz laughed, “What was that?”
He pushed her back onto his bed and held himself over her. “That’s what you do to me.”
Liz wiggled her hips up to come in contact with his, meeting the evidence of his arousal. “So that’s what I do to you, huh?”
Max growled again and kissed her lips thoroughly before rolling to his back to lay beside her.
“I thought we agreed to wait this weekend to time how long it takes between fevers?” His tight voice indicated his unhappiness with the plan.
“I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t tease you like that.” Liz rolled to her side to face him and put her hand over his chest.
Max put his hand over hers to stop her from moving it over his sensitized skin. “Maybe we should go to bed.”
“Yeah, good idea.” Liz scooted up with Max and they slipped under the covers. Max spooned in behind her with his left arm over her side caressing her stomach. He inched up the tank top she was wearing to enjoy her smooth skin. He inhaled the clean scent of her hair and closed his eyes, content.
6:47 am
Liz moaned quietly in her sleep and her hands moved restlessly over Max’s broad chest. Max turned into her arms and his hands tugged up her tank top. His strong fingers caressed her nipples, causing them to pucker into hard knots. Liz moaned again at the intimate contact. Her body undulated against his and he bucked his hips forward, seeking friction against her body. Max’s face brushed over her heated skin, dropping light kisses across her neck and down her chest. Dissatisfied with the clothing between them, he dragged her shirt up and off, dropping it over the side of the bed. Liz’s hands busily relieved him of his boxers while Max stripped her of her last garment.
Her breath came in panting gasps when his lips closed over her hard nipples. His teeth lightly grazed over and then his tongue soothed them. Her fingers clenched the tangled sheets of the bed in a tight grip when Max trailed his hand down her body to her center. Her slick heat enveloped his fingers as he thrust two deeply inside of her. Her juices flooded over his hand as he pumped them in and out. Her back arched off the mattress and her mouth opened in a soundless scream of pleasure as she came hard.
Their eyes snapped open in the same instant and they stared in shock at the position of their bodies. Max swept down and took her lips in a consuming kiss. His tongue stroked the seam of her lips and she parted them eagerly for his invasion. He explored her mouth thoroughly, sucking her tongue as his body hardened further at the sound of her panting moans of pleasure and need.
Liz clutched his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his hips, arching her aching center closer to his pelvis. Max slowly removed his fingers from her and stroked the slickness over his erection. He teasingly rubbed the head of his cock over her core until she whimpered in protest. He pulled back to look into her eyes as he entered her, filling all the empty spots inside her that were calling for him. Her eyes went wide and then closed in ecstasy as her head rolled to the side. Max took the invitation and began thrusting deeply within her as he sucked and nipped down the exposed column of her neck.
Liz’s hands could not hold still. She massaged his shoulders, smoothing his straining muscles. She enjoyed the slick texture of his skin over his chest, circling the nipples and pinching lightly. She arched up to taste his skin, licking up the salty taste and humming in the back of her throat. Max sped the movements of their hips as the sounds of her pleasure increased his own.
At last, they could no longer control the feelings spiraling around them. With a series of deep, regular thrusts Max poured his seed into Liz as she screamed her enjoyment. He collapsed on top of her and she pushed him to her side so she could catch her breath. They looked into each other’s faces and burst out laughing at the same time.
“I guess we should note the time,” Max sputtered out between chortles of mirth.
“I’ll break out the charts.” Liz wiped the tears streaming from her laughing eyes.
“That might just have been a chart topper!” Max adlibbed.
“Shut up, Max!” Liz agreed wholeheartedly.
TBC
EYA Part 34
Diane smiled to herself as she cooked breakfast on Saturday morning. She had a new recipe for pancakes that she'd been dying to try on the kids. She looked forward to the inventive ways they would try to hide their distaste. Her smile widened when she thought of Liz's reaction. She hadn't yet been indoctrinated into the joys of Diane's cooking, but she might as well start treating her like family. But maybe she should cook her something normal on the side to make sure she still got her proper nutrients. Diane rummaged through the refrigerator looking for milk, juice, and fruit. Satisfied she closed the frig with her hip and turned with her arms filled.
"Let me get that for you, Mom." Max moved forward to take some of the items from her hands. He inhaled appreciatively as the aroma of cooking pancakes filled the room. "Something smells good," he stated, glancing around the kitchen. Maybe his mom had started cooking normally now that Liz was around.
Liz had walked in behind Max and automatically began to set the table. She was feeling more at home here now that Diane knew all about her and Max. Diane thanked her and made sure that Liz was seated next to Max, placing a large glass of milk and juice in front of her plate.
"Sit down kids, it's almost ready," Diane said cheerfully. "Where's Isabel?"
"I'm right here," Isabel groaned as she walked into the room.
"You sound tired, honey. Didn't you sleep well?" Diane asked with a worried look in her eyes.
"I slept fine until about 7:00," Isabel glared pointedly at Max and Liz. Liz ducked her head in embarrassment and Max's face turned three shades of red.
Diane glanced back and forth between her children. "What happened at…?" Her own face flushed hotly the moment their meaning registered. She busied herself in the kitchen, transferring pancakes and scrambled eggs to the plates and sliding them onto the table.
Isabel took in the smell and she smiled for the first time that morning.
"This smells fabulous! What did you put in these?" Isabel picked up her fork and dug in, taking a large bite.
Diane's eyes danced with mirth, anticipating their reaction. "They're jalapeno chocolate chip! And I slipped the extra peppers in the eggs."
Max's eyes went round and he forked up a large bite as well. His eyes closed in appreciation of the sweet and spicy taste. "This is officially my new favorite food. Great idea, Mom! I love this! Liz, give it a try."
Liz looked slightly more dubious and she cautiously took a small bite. She chewed thoughtfully and took another bite, sampling the eggs. "It's a little more spice than I'm used to, but really very good," Liz complimented Diane.
Diane's expression was priceless. They really seemed to be enjoying their breakfast this time and she could clearly see that they weren't spitting it out anywhere. Diane sat down at her place at the table and tried her breakfast. Her eyes watered and she took a quick sip of her milk. How could these kids be shoveling it in like that? She knew, of course, about their love of Tabasco, but really!
Max and Isabel finished in record time and asked for seconds. Diane shook her head as she prepared the rest of the batter and placed a large plate filled with pancakes in the middle of the table. Her kids helped themselves to generous portions and cleaned their plates.
Liz finished what was on her plate and then had a small bowl of strawberries with a slice of cantaloupe. She watched in amusement while Max and Isabel ate their breakfast with almost comical enjoyment.
At last Max sat back from the table, his hands over his stomach.
"Wow, Mom, you totally outdid yourself!" He rubbed his belly and smiled at her.
"Well, I…I'm glad you liked it, son," Diane answered, not precisely sure if she was pleased or disappointed that her game had backfired.
Isabel turned to Liz. "So, Liz, can you feel the baby inside you yet? Like sense it I mean?" Isabel was excited by the idea of becoming an aunt and wanted to be involved.
Liz nodded her head, her hand drifting to her stomach. A small smile broke over her face and she glanced at Max. He couldn't repress his own proud smile as he remembered the spark of life they had felt within her when they formed a connection. "We can feel him in there. It's hard to describe. He's too small to form thoughts or anything, but we can feel…love, I guess. Contentment and peace." She looked to Max for confirmation. His eyes glowed warmly with love as he reached out a hand to cover hers on her belly.
"It's too bad we can't go shopping for maternity clothes! You're so tiny, but I guess the baby won't show for a while, huh?" Isabel was disappointed that they would miss out on a shopping opportunity.
They all laughed.
"Is there something you want to tell me, son?" Phillips stern voice pierced the happy mood at the table.
Diane turned around quickly in her seat, her face filled with dismay.
"Phillip! You're home early! Can I get you something to eat?" Diane stood and gave Phillip a quick hug, hoping he had not heard the conversation at the table.
"Max, I think we need to have a talk." Phillip turned on his heel and left the room.
Max's worried eyes met his mother's and he gave Liz's hand a quick squeeze before he followed his dad into the den.
"Hey, Dad, we missed you this week," Max offered weakly.
"Did I just hear that Liz Parker is pregnant?" Phillip cut right to the point.
Max had been looking down toward his feet, but he straightened his posture and met his father's eyes as he answered.
"Liz Evans is pregnant, Dad. We got married last weekend," Max stated bluntly, not ashamed of their actions.
"What?!" Phillip roared, taking a step closer to his son. "You two are children! I can't believe how irresponsible you were! I thought we had a talk about birth control and safe sex! Weren't you listening?" Phillip pulled his agitated hands through his hair causing it to spike up oddly.
"Calm down, Dad!" Max answered in an authoritative tone. "Liz and I have loved each other from the minute we met, and it's only natural that we wanted to express that love physically. We did use birth control, but it doesn't always work!" Max couldn't stand the thought that his father would think he would be careless with Liz. He would protect her from anything!
"This is unbelievable! What are you planning to do? You kids are in high school for goodness sakes! How are you going to graduate? Have you even thought about how you're going to support a family? What do Liz's parents have to say about all this?" Phillip couldn't imagine that they'd be thrilled with Max right now.
Max shifted his stance, suddenly uncomfortable. "Liz's parents don't know yet, Dad. There's a lot about this that you don't know."
"What else is there to know? My teenage son got his teenage girlfriend pregnant and made an impulsive decision to marry her! Did she push you into this? It was her, wasn't it? Did she pressure you to marry her?" Phillip was angered by the apparent lack of judgement that his usually cautious, responsible son was showing.
Max grew hot with rage at the tone in his father's voice.
"First of all, I did not have to marry Liz! I love her and we got married before we knew that she was pregnant! I will never regret that decision and I will love her and support her until the day I die. I will not have you hurting her with doubts about my love for her or making her feel ashamed of our son! Do you understand me?" Max's hot anger was blinding.
"Max, honey. Let me talk to your father alone," Diane had heard the entire exchange and thought that she needed to intervene. Max stood frozen, staring his father down. Phillip was shocked by the entire exchange. He looked to his wife in confusion. Had she known about all of this and not told him?
Diane took Max by his shoulders and turned him toward the door, leading him reluctantly out.
"Don't let him talk about Liz that way," he requested on the way out. Diane hated the hurt look she saw in his eyes. Her son had been hurt enough.
"I won't, honey. You go to Liz and wait in the living room. I'm going to tell him what's really going on and then we'll come out to see you," Diane reassured him.
"I should be here when you tell him," Max protested.
"I think that there's a lot going on and he'll take it better from me." Diane reached the door and found Liz waiting. Liz took Max's hand and led him out to the living room. They sat on the couch, Liz cradling Max to her warm body.
"They'll work it out, Max. It'll be fine," Liz soothed.
"He shouldn't have said that stuff. Thought it," Max was hurt by his father's lack of understanding.
"He was just shocked. How could he know what was going on with us, Max?" Liz answered reasonably.
"He should know me," Max asserted stubbornly. He was feeling very defensive suddenly.
"You never let him in, Max. After today I think he will know you," Liz responded, pulling his face down to kiss him softly.
"Ewww!" Isabel plopped down in a chair across from them. "It's bad enough that I have to wake up to you two moaning and groaning, but do I have to witness all your PDA's?" Isabel needed a distraction and she really enjoyed watching Max flush red.
"Isabel! You know…" Liz started defending them.
Max cut her off. "She knows, Liz. She's just trying to embarrass her brother. Isn't that right, Isabel?" Max arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, well, if I had something more entertaining to do, I would," Isabel smiled smugly.
Max snatched up the remote and tossed it to her. "Your entertainment, my lady," he quipped, and turned Liz into his arms for a real kiss. Liz was startled, but responded eagerly.
Isabel averted her eyes and flipped on the TV. One day she wouldn't mind if Max had something to tease her about. She started channel surfing and tried not to think about her mother exposing all their secrets to their father. She felt itchy, filled with anxiety and had a hard time sitting still.
Max reached across and took her hand. "We have each other. And Mom. If he'll listen to anybody, it's her." Max filled his voice with confidence.
"Thanks." Isabel took a deep breath and squeezed his hand back, before letting him go.
They both shot their eyes toward the door at a loud, "WHAT? Have you gone insane?" They looked at each other worriedly as the voices muted down to a murmur again.
Minutes later the door swung open and Max rose to meet his father. Phillip looked very agitated and looked from Max to Liz to Isabel. His hands wouldn't be still, nervously smoothing down the seam of his slacks and rubbing together shakily.
"Max, your mother is not well. I'm going to take her to the hospital and we should be back…"
Max watched his father in astonishment. "Is she sick? Where is she?" Max started around his father, who was blocking the door.
"I think that she's just in shock over all these new developments. It's not every day you find out you're going to be a grandmother at such a young age. She probably just needs rest. She's losing her grip on reality," Phillip said sadly.
"What…what makes you say that, Daddy?" Isabel asked softly. Her eyes met Max's. Phillip hadn't believed a word that Diane had told him.
"She thinks that you all are…I can't even say it. I just need to get her to the hospital." Phillip pulled his keys out of his pocket.
"Did she tell you what we are? Did she tell you that we're aliens?" Max inquired gently. His father looked ready to crash.
"What? Are you saying…? Has my entire family gone insane?!" Phillip sounded desperate.
"It's true, Daddy," Isabel put in, moving to stand by Max. Liz stepped up, slightly behind them.
"Show him, Max," Liz encouraged softly, knowing that Phillip could not believe until he had physical evidence.
Max thought for a moment and reached out his hand. A green wall filled the space in front of them, separating Phillip from the children. Phillip stumbled back in astonishment, tripping and falling on his rear. He sprawled there in stunned amazement until Max closed his hand, allowing the shield to collapse. He had chosen that because it was the flashiest of his powers, and it appeared to have served its purpose. Max stepped back when he saw the fear float through his father's eyes. He turned to embrace Liz so that he wouldn't have to witness the contempt that he knew would follow.
"Daddy?" Isabel stepped forward tentatively. This was not going as well as she'd hoped. She reached out her hand to him and he scrambled away from her. Hurt swamped Isabel's eyes with tears. She stepped back again, giving him space and hugged her arms to her body.
"Phillip, these are your children," Diane said from the doorway. She couldn't bear what this was doing to her family. She moved forward and helped her husband to his feet. He pulled her behind him protectively, but she pushed him aside impatiently.
"We've all told you the truth. Max and Isabel are aliens. Liz was made to be with Max. Their son is our grandson. I know that it's a lot to take in right now but you're being an ass!" Diane shouted impatiently.
Phillip snapped out of his daze to gape at his wife. She never raised her voice to him! He re-ran what she had said through his head again. He looked from wife to son to daughter to daughter-in-law. He saw his family. He saw the devastation and hurt that was reflected in each face and he realized that he was responsible for putting it there.
"I…I have to think about this," Phillip stood up slowly and started to walk away, his head down.
"Phillip!" Diane went after him, taking his arm. He shook her off.
"It's the best I can do right now, okay?" Phillip ground out in frustration. He left the room and his bedroom door closed decisively.
Max, Isabel, Liz, and Diane stared at each other with identical expressions of hurt and fear.
TBC
Diane smiled to herself as she cooked breakfast on Saturday morning. She had a new recipe for pancakes that she'd been dying to try on the kids. She looked forward to the inventive ways they would try to hide their distaste. Her smile widened when she thought of Liz's reaction. She hadn't yet been indoctrinated into the joys of Diane's cooking, but she might as well start treating her like family. But maybe she should cook her something normal on the side to make sure she still got her proper nutrients. Diane rummaged through the refrigerator looking for milk, juice, and fruit. Satisfied she closed the frig with her hip and turned with her arms filled.
"Let me get that for you, Mom." Max moved forward to take some of the items from her hands. He inhaled appreciatively as the aroma of cooking pancakes filled the room. "Something smells good," he stated, glancing around the kitchen. Maybe his mom had started cooking normally now that Liz was around.
Liz had walked in behind Max and automatically began to set the table. She was feeling more at home here now that Diane knew all about her and Max. Diane thanked her and made sure that Liz was seated next to Max, placing a large glass of milk and juice in front of her plate.
"Sit down kids, it's almost ready," Diane said cheerfully. "Where's Isabel?"
"I'm right here," Isabel groaned as she walked into the room.
"You sound tired, honey. Didn't you sleep well?" Diane asked with a worried look in her eyes.
"I slept fine until about 7:00," Isabel glared pointedly at Max and Liz. Liz ducked her head in embarrassment and Max's face turned three shades of red.
Diane glanced back and forth between her children. "What happened at…?" Her own face flushed hotly the moment their meaning registered. She busied herself in the kitchen, transferring pancakes and scrambled eggs to the plates and sliding them onto the table.
Isabel took in the smell and she smiled for the first time that morning.
"This smells fabulous! What did you put in these?" Isabel picked up her fork and dug in, taking a large bite.
Diane's eyes danced with mirth, anticipating their reaction. "They're jalapeno chocolate chip! And I slipped the extra peppers in the eggs."
Max's eyes went round and he forked up a large bite as well. His eyes closed in appreciation of the sweet and spicy taste. "This is officially my new favorite food. Great idea, Mom! I love this! Liz, give it a try."
Liz looked slightly more dubious and she cautiously took a small bite. She chewed thoughtfully and took another bite, sampling the eggs. "It's a little more spice than I'm used to, but really very good," Liz complimented Diane.
Diane's expression was priceless. They really seemed to be enjoying their breakfast this time and she could clearly see that they weren't spitting it out anywhere. Diane sat down at her place at the table and tried her breakfast. Her eyes watered and she took a quick sip of her milk. How could these kids be shoveling it in like that? She knew, of course, about their love of Tabasco, but really!
Max and Isabel finished in record time and asked for seconds. Diane shook her head as she prepared the rest of the batter and placed a large plate filled with pancakes in the middle of the table. Her kids helped themselves to generous portions and cleaned their plates.
Liz finished what was on her plate and then had a small bowl of strawberries with a slice of cantaloupe. She watched in amusement while Max and Isabel ate their breakfast with almost comical enjoyment.
At last Max sat back from the table, his hands over his stomach.
"Wow, Mom, you totally outdid yourself!" He rubbed his belly and smiled at her.
"Well, I…I'm glad you liked it, son," Diane answered, not precisely sure if she was pleased or disappointed that her game had backfired.
Isabel turned to Liz. "So, Liz, can you feel the baby inside you yet? Like sense it I mean?" Isabel was excited by the idea of becoming an aunt and wanted to be involved.
Liz nodded her head, her hand drifting to her stomach. A small smile broke over her face and she glanced at Max. He couldn't repress his own proud smile as he remembered the spark of life they had felt within her when they formed a connection. "We can feel him in there. It's hard to describe. He's too small to form thoughts or anything, but we can feel…love, I guess. Contentment and peace." She looked to Max for confirmation. His eyes glowed warmly with love as he reached out a hand to cover hers on her belly.
"It's too bad we can't go shopping for maternity clothes! You're so tiny, but I guess the baby won't show for a while, huh?" Isabel was disappointed that they would miss out on a shopping opportunity.
They all laughed.
"Is there something you want to tell me, son?" Phillips stern voice pierced the happy mood at the table.
Diane turned around quickly in her seat, her face filled with dismay.
"Phillip! You're home early! Can I get you something to eat?" Diane stood and gave Phillip a quick hug, hoping he had not heard the conversation at the table.
"Max, I think we need to have a talk." Phillip turned on his heel and left the room.
Max's worried eyes met his mother's and he gave Liz's hand a quick squeeze before he followed his dad into the den.
"Hey, Dad, we missed you this week," Max offered weakly.
"Did I just hear that Liz Parker is pregnant?" Phillip cut right to the point.
Max had been looking down toward his feet, but he straightened his posture and met his father's eyes as he answered.
"Liz Evans is pregnant, Dad. We got married last weekend," Max stated bluntly, not ashamed of their actions.
"What?!" Phillip roared, taking a step closer to his son. "You two are children! I can't believe how irresponsible you were! I thought we had a talk about birth control and safe sex! Weren't you listening?" Phillip pulled his agitated hands through his hair causing it to spike up oddly.
"Calm down, Dad!" Max answered in an authoritative tone. "Liz and I have loved each other from the minute we met, and it's only natural that we wanted to express that love physically. We did use birth control, but it doesn't always work!" Max couldn't stand the thought that his father would think he would be careless with Liz. He would protect her from anything!
"This is unbelievable! What are you planning to do? You kids are in high school for goodness sakes! How are you going to graduate? Have you even thought about how you're going to support a family? What do Liz's parents have to say about all this?" Phillip couldn't imagine that they'd be thrilled with Max right now.
Max shifted his stance, suddenly uncomfortable. "Liz's parents don't know yet, Dad. There's a lot about this that you don't know."
"What else is there to know? My teenage son got his teenage girlfriend pregnant and made an impulsive decision to marry her! Did she push you into this? It was her, wasn't it? Did she pressure you to marry her?" Phillip was angered by the apparent lack of judgement that his usually cautious, responsible son was showing.
Max grew hot with rage at the tone in his father's voice.
"First of all, I did not have to marry Liz! I love her and we got married before we knew that she was pregnant! I will never regret that decision and I will love her and support her until the day I die. I will not have you hurting her with doubts about my love for her or making her feel ashamed of our son! Do you understand me?" Max's hot anger was blinding.
"Max, honey. Let me talk to your father alone," Diane had heard the entire exchange and thought that she needed to intervene. Max stood frozen, staring his father down. Phillip was shocked by the entire exchange. He looked to his wife in confusion. Had she known about all of this and not told him?
Diane took Max by his shoulders and turned him toward the door, leading him reluctantly out.
"Don't let him talk about Liz that way," he requested on the way out. Diane hated the hurt look she saw in his eyes. Her son had been hurt enough.
"I won't, honey. You go to Liz and wait in the living room. I'm going to tell him what's really going on and then we'll come out to see you," Diane reassured him.
"I should be here when you tell him," Max protested.
"I think that there's a lot going on and he'll take it better from me." Diane reached the door and found Liz waiting. Liz took Max's hand and led him out to the living room. They sat on the couch, Liz cradling Max to her warm body.
"They'll work it out, Max. It'll be fine," Liz soothed.
"He shouldn't have said that stuff. Thought it," Max was hurt by his father's lack of understanding.
"He was just shocked. How could he know what was going on with us, Max?" Liz answered reasonably.
"He should know me," Max asserted stubbornly. He was feeling very defensive suddenly.
"You never let him in, Max. After today I think he will know you," Liz responded, pulling his face down to kiss him softly.
"Ewww!" Isabel plopped down in a chair across from them. "It's bad enough that I have to wake up to you two moaning and groaning, but do I have to witness all your PDA's?" Isabel needed a distraction and she really enjoyed watching Max flush red.
"Isabel! You know…" Liz started defending them.
Max cut her off. "She knows, Liz. She's just trying to embarrass her brother. Isn't that right, Isabel?" Max arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, well, if I had something more entertaining to do, I would," Isabel smiled smugly.
Max snatched up the remote and tossed it to her. "Your entertainment, my lady," he quipped, and turned Liz into his arms for a real kiss. Liz was startled, but responded eagerly.
Isabel averted her eyes and flipped on the TV. One day she wouldn't mind if Max had something to tease her about. She started channel surfing and tried not to think about her mother exposing all their secrets to their father. She felt itchy, filled with anxiety and had a hard time sitting still.
Max reached across and took her hand. "We have each other. And Mom. If he'll listen to anybody, it's her." Max filled his voice with confidence.
"Thanks." Isabel took a deep breath and squeezed his hand back, before letting him go.
They both shot their eyes toward the door at a loud, "WHAT? Have you gone insane?" They looked at each other worriedly as the voices muted down to a murmur again.
Minutes later the door swung open and Max rose to meet his father. Phillip looked very agitated and looked from Max to Liz to Isabel. His hands wouldn't be still, nervously smoothing down the seam of his slacks and rubbing together shakily.
"Max, your mother is not well. I'm going to take her to the hospital and we should be back…"
Max watched his father in astonishment. "Is she sick? Where is she?" Max started around his father, who was blocking the door.
"I think that she's just in shock over all these new developments. It's not every day you find out you're going to be a grandmother at such a young age. She probably just needs rest. She's losing her grip on reality," Phillip said sadly.
"What…what makes you say that, Daddy?" Isabel asked softly. Her eyes met Max's. Phillip hadn't believed a word that Diane had told him.
"She thinks that you all are…I can't even say it. I just need to get her to the hospital." Phillip pulled his keys out of his pocket.
"Did she tell you what we are? Did she tell you that we're aliens?" Max inquired gently. His father looked ready to crash.
"What? Are you saying…? Has my entire family gone insane?!" Phillip sounded desperate.
"It's true, Daddy," Isabel put in, moving to stand by Max. Liz stepped up, slightly behind them.
"Show him, Max," Liz encouraged softly, knowing that Phillip could not believe until he had physical evidence.
Max thought for a moment and reached out his hand. A green wall filled the space in front of them, separating Phillip from the children. Phillip stumbled back in astonishment, tripping and falling on his rear. He sprawled there in stunned amazement until Max closed his hand, allowing the shield to collapse. He had chosen that because it was the flashiest of his powers, and it appeared to have served its purpose. Max stepped back when he saw the fear float through his father's eyes. He turned to embrace Liz so that he wouldn't have to witness the contempt that he knew would follow.
"Daddy?" Isabel stepped forward tentatively. This was not going as well as she'd hoped. She reached out her hand to him and he scrambled away from her. Hurt swamped Isabel's eyes with tears. She stepped back again, giving him space and hugged her arms to her body.
"Phillip, these are your children," Diane said from the doorway. She couldn't bear what this was doing to her family. She moved forward and helped her husband to his feet. He pulled her behind him protectively, but she pushed him aside impatiently.
"We've all told you the truth. Max and Isabel are aliens. Liz was made to be with Max. Their son is our grandson. I know that it's a lot to take in right now but you're being an ass!" Diane shouted impatiently.
Phillip snapped out of his daze to gape at his wife. She never raised her voice to him! He re-ran what she had said through his head again. He looked from wife to son to daughter to daughter-in-law. He saw his family. He saw the devastation and hurt that was reflected in each face and he realized that he was responsible for putting it there.
"I…I have to think about this," Phillip stood up slowly and started to walk away, his head down.
"Phillip!" Diane went after him, taking his arm. He shook her off.
"It's the best I can do right now, okay?" Phillip ground out in frustration. He left the room and his bedroom door closed decisively.
Max, Isabel, Liz, and Diane stared at each other with identical expressions of hurt and fear.
TBC
EYA Part 35
The teens spent the day working on blocking a full connection between Max and Liz. They practiced retrieving specific memories between Isabel, Liz, Max, and Diane. Each tried not to show the strain of the waiting.
Phillip remained holed up in his room, not even coming out to join them for lunch.
Diane tried to be cheerful and upbeat about everything, but the strain showed in her expression, and when Max showed her how he made a connection he felt her fear and uncertainty slam into him. He didn’t indicate that he knew about her distress. All of them were caught at one point or another staring at the empty doorway that they had last seen Phillip disappear through.
Isabel revealed to Max and Liz her plan to graduate early and attend college. Max was very concerned, thinking that she planned on leaving; too far away to help with their fight. Isabel reassured him that, after all that had taken place recently, she was going to attend the local community college for now. This prompted a discussion about Max and Liz finishing high school by the middle of their senior year. They made plans to consult their counselor at school to find out exactly how many classes they still needed to graduate. That would mean they could finish school by winter break, just in time for their son’s arrival.
The door was heard opening down the hall and everyone raised anxious faces to the doorway. Phillip appeared, dressed casually in sweats and a T-shirt, appearing tired and rumpled.
He briefly met the eyes of each member of his family before dropping his gaze back to the floor. Sitting in the armchair across from the sofa he rested his elbows on his knees and stared down between his legs.
Max and Isabel stopped breathing as they waited for their father to accept or reject them.
Phillip took a deep breath and faced them all. “Your mother was right. I’m an ass,” Phillip started. “I didn’t handle any of that well at all and I’m ashamed of myself. I know that I was shocked and said things that I shouldn’t have, and I’m more sorry than I can say that I hurt you so much. Can you forgive me?”
Max felt tears welling in his eyes and opened them wider so they wouldn’t spill over. He’d done enough crying this last week to last him a lifetime.
“There’s nothing to forgive. We’ve kept things from you our entire lives and I can’t imagine how you felt hearing it all come out in one sitting like that,” Max stood up and cautiously moved one step toward his father. Phillip stood to face his son and looked him in the eyes. Same eyes. Same face. Same son. He pulled Max in for a close hug, never wanting to let go of his precious boy.
Isabel felt the tears streaming down her face and dropping on her clenched fingers. She had longed for this final moment of acceptance her entire life. Diane gave Isabel an encouraging squeeze around the shoulders and motioned for her to join Max and her father. Isabel stood on shaky legs and tentatively touched her father’s arm to get his attention. He pulled back slightly from Max and reached an arm around Isabel as well.
Liz smiled happily and Diane sat next to her on the couch with a comforting arm around her shoulders. Liz leaned her head down onto Diane’s shoulder and sighed. She was so happy for Max! If only her own family could be so accepting. It would never happen.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Dinner that night was filled with animated conversation. They filled Phillip in on the details of Max and Liz’s connection and thier origins. They talked about Michael and how he had been left in the desert the night that the Evans had picked up Max and Isabel. Phillip was grieved to find out that they had left Michael alone out there and they had missed the opportunity to have another son.
When the conversation turned to Tess, and their plan to get rid of her, Phillip grew concerned. He was a lawyer and had seen a lot of things, but he could not condone murder.
“Absolutely not! There is no way you can go out in the desert and just…just kill her!” Phillip was shocked to the core of his being. He felt that there were other options that they just hadn’t explored yet. Some way to imprison her or…
“Dad,” Max started, “you have no idea what she is capable of. She’s already almost killed Alex. I had to heal him, and if we hadn’t found out what was going on when we did, then Alex would be dead right now. Dead, Dad.” Max shook his head. “You know me, Dad. I don’t like the idea either, but I will do everything in my power to make sure that Liz and my son are safe. They have a destiny that cannot be disrupted by Tess’ obsession with power and control. She cannot know about our son and she cannot be allowed to interfere with his destiny. Thousands of lives are depending on us keeping him safe, and the Antarians told us what they saw! She was planning to betray all of us. She wanted to be the one carrying my baby! She wants to be in control of my son, to control the incredible gifts he will possess, and we can’t allow that to happen. Her powers bend people’s perception of the truth. She’s too dangerous to hide away somewhere, she’d only break out and make sure that nobody would even notice. They told us to destroy her and that’s just what we have to do!” Max’s eyes glowed with the passion of his belief.
Phillip sighed deeply. His son was no longer a boy, but a man protecting what was his. There was no deterring him, and, truth be told, he would kill Tess himself if she hurt his family.
“You’re sure?” Phillip had to ask one more time.
“No doubts, Dad. We’ve seen what she’s done, what she will do. We don’t have another choice,” Max’s voice was filled with certainty.
“Okay. Monday, huh?” Phillip scrubbed his hands over his eyes.
“Yeah. We’re meeting her here. She thinks that she’ll just show me how to do the memory retrievals, but I’m going to make a connection and pull out everything that she knows that might help us with our fight. She learned a lot of tricks from Nacedo, and we need every advantage we can get. She may even know what our enemies plans are for us here on Earth,” Max said. He was still nervous about allowing the connection, but he felt the potential payoff was worth it, especially since Michael, Isabel, and Liz would be backing him up.
“I’m going to stay home on Monday, just in case,” Phillip volunteered.
“That’s not necessary, Dad. There’s nothing you could do,” Max told him
“I can be here for you. I need to.” Phillip couldn’t bear the thought of his children in danger. How was it that they had been oblivious to all that they had gone through in the last two years?
“Thanks, Dad.” Max could tell that this was important to his father and his chest swelled with happiness that his father could still care what happened to him after everything.
Liz stood suddenly, looking flushed. Her eyes were wide. Max felt it at the same time. Heat.
“I…um…excuse us please.” Max grabbed Liz’s hand and pulled her with him, down the hall and to his room.
Pulling the door firmly closed behind him; he leaned against it, panting already. Liz covered his mouth eagerly with hers, her breath coming in irregular gasps. “I’m sorry,” she panted out breathlessly.
“I’m not,” Max scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, laying her down gently. He knew that soon neither of them would be capable of gentleness or slow caresses. They would be consumed by their need for each other and thoughts of tender, slow loving would be non-existent. His mouth covered hers hotly, tongue seeking that deeper penetration. Her lips parted eagerly and she moaned low in her throat; that sound that he loved. He growled and increased the pressure of his lips and his hands moved on their own to strip her out of her clothes. Her hands helped to relieve him of his garments and soon their garments were all tangled together on the floor.
Max’s hands traveled over the silky planes of her body lingering at the places he had learned she loved. Liz’s fingers wandered over his hard body, loving the play of muscles beneath them. His body was hard and ready for her and he reined in enough control to check her slick opening with his fingers to assure himself that she was ready too. Liz’s hips bucked up eagerly under the pressure of his hands, begging for more.
Max slipped within her waiting body with one long thrust and released a sigh of pure pleasure. He held still for a moment, allowing her to adjust to his presence and when he felt her hands on his hips, urging him to move, he couldn’t wait any longer. Their mouths mated along with their bodies, hands exploring, caressing, pinching and soothing. Liz couldn’t contain the sounds of her strong release and Max muffled her scream with his mouth, thrusting his tongue and muting her cries. Max moved within her several more times before joining her over the edge. This time it was Liz that muffled his moans as his body shuddered and then went still over her.
Max moved over to the side, still connected to Liz and they smoothed their hands lovingly over each other. Looking into his eyes, she smiled at him tenderly.
“It’s a good thing your Dad knows that we’re married or he would have never…”
“Oh my…nonono! Liz, we didn’t say anything about this aspect of your pregnancy! What is he going to think?” Max’s distress struck Liz funny and she started to giggle. The laughter caused her inner muscles to contract around Max rhythmically and she felt him stirring back to life within her. She stopped laughing at the smoky look in his eyes and she rolled over on top of him to take his mouth in another hot kiss.
She began moving over him slowly, able now to think and take her time pleasuring them both. They each panted out endearments and words of love until they were out of breath. Max’s hands guided her hips in an up and down motion that drove them insane. The connection had remained strong throughout their joining and Max hung on to control tightly as he felt Liz starting to reach the edge. He plunged into her deeply, triggering her to let go and tumble into bliss. Liz was so focused on the pleasure coursing through her that she had to stop her movements, and Max quickly rolled them over so that Liz was once again underneath him. Bracing his hands on each side of her writhing body, Max dug his knees into the bed and used the leverage to pound into her deep and strong. Liz’s nails scratched over his back, leaving long trails of abused skin. The pleasure and the pain swamped him and he groaned loudly as he came inside of her.
They lay side by side again, and when they looked at each other this time they both burst out laughing.
“If they didn’t know why we left before, then they certainly do now!” Liz’s eyes danced with mirth.
Max groaned in exasperation and threw his hand over his eyes.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Is something wrong? Where did they go? Is Liz feeling all right?” Phillip asked with concern.
“Oh…um…Liz will be fine, honey.” Diane stepped in, gesturing for Isabel to leave them alone for the moment. Isabel escaped to the kitchen, in search of a snack. She thought that maybe the kitchen was far enough away to not hear the noises that were sure to emanate from Max’s room.
“Phillip, we haven’t really told you everything about Liz’s pregnancy,” Diane thought that was a good start.
“What? You already told me it would last ten months and that the baby would be very small for the first eight months. Is the baby affecting Liz’s health? Does Max have to heal her?” Phillips brows were drawn together in concern.
“Well, in a way he is healing her.” Diane shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was one thing to hear about all this and another entirely to have to tell someone about it. “One of the things that the communication stones told the kids is that this pregnancy is very hard on a human body. Liz is entirely human and the baby is part alien. Their son needs special nutrients to develop his alien traits and he drains Liz’s resources when he needs that extra boost. If Max doesn’t supply what they need then both Liz and their son would die.”
“What?! How does Max get these vitamins? Is there anything we can do to help? How do they know when she needs them?” Phillip’s mind was boiling with questions.
Here came the hard part.
“It’s not vitamins that Liz needs. It’s Max. Max has special properties in his, uh…sperm, and they need to be together at least twice a day so that the baby won’t drain Liz’s energy. They know when they need to be together because both Liz and Max develop a fever at the same time. Liz’s fever is caused by the drain on her resources, and Max was given a protective impulse that connects him to her and lets him know, whether they are together or apart, that they need him. He experiences her symptoms, although to a lighter degree. Liz gets weak, Max just gets a fever. Michael has the protective impulse too, but in him it’s delayed. The aliens needed to insure that there was a back-up plan in case something happened to Max, so they planted the impulse in Michael as well because he is the only other being on the planet that can ensure their survival.”
Phillip just stared at her.
“Michael and Liz?” Phillip finally sputtered out.
“Max would never leave Liz alone like that. It’s not Michael’s fault that they planted that impulse in him. He feels really awkward about the whole thing, so please don’t bring it up in front of him,” Diane requested softly.
“Like I’d just bring something like that up?” Phillip sputtered in disbelief. They both turned to the doorway at the sound of a loud groan.
Phillip covered his ears and Diane followed him out of the room to join Isabel in the kitchen.
Isabel turned from the freezer where she was putting away the ice cream and saw their expressions and her father with his hands over his ears.
Her laughter rang through the house as she turned back to the freezer to get some ice cream for her bewildered parents.
TBC
The teens spent the day working on blocking a full connection between Max and Liz. They practiced retrieving specific memories between Isabel, Liz, Max, and Diane. Each tried not to show the strain of the waiting.
Phillip remained holed up in his room, not even coming out to join them for lunch.
Diane tried to be cheerful and upbeat about everything, but the strain showed in her expression, and when Max showed her how he made a connection he felt her fear and uncertainty slam into him. He didn’t indicate that he knew about her distress. All of them were caught at one point or another staring at the empty doorway that they had last seen Phillip disappear through.
Isabel revealed to Max and Liz her plan to graduate early and attend college. Max was very concerned, thinking that she planned on leaving; too far away to help with their fight. Isabel reassured him that, after all that had taken place recently, she was going to attend the local community college for now. This prompted a discussion about Max and Liz finishing high school by the middle of their senior year. They made plans to consult their counselor at school to find out exactly how many classes they still needed to graduate. That would mean they could finish school by winter break, just in time for their son’s arrival.
The door was heard opening down the hall and everyone raised anxious faces to the doorway. Phillip appeared, dressed casually in sweats and a T-shirt, appearing tired and rumpled.
He briefly met the eyes of each member of his family before dropping his gaze back to the floor. Sitting in the armchair across from the sofa he rested his elbows on his knees and stared down between his legs.
Max and Isabel stopped breathing as they waited for their father to accept or reject them.
Phillip took a deep breath and faced them all. “Your mother was right. I’m an ass,” Phillip started. “I didn’t handle any of that well at all and I’m ashamed of myself. I know that I was shocked and said things that I shouldn’t have, and I’m more sorry than I can say that I hurt you so much. Can you forgive me?”
Max felt tears welling in his eyes and opened them wider so they wouldn’t spill over. He’d done enough crying this last week to last him a lifetime.
“There’s nothing to forgive. We’ve kept things from you our entire lives and I can’t imagine how you felt hearing it all come out in one sitting like that,” Max stood up and cautiously moved one step toward his father. Phillip stood to face his son and looked him in the eyes. Same eyes. Same face. Same son. He pulled Max in for a close hug, never wanting to let go of his precious boy.
Isabel felt the tears streaming down her face and dropping on her clenched fingers. She had longed for this final moment of acceptance her entire life. Diane gave Isabel an encouraging squeeze around the shoulders and motioned for her to join Max and her father. Isabel stood on shaky legs and tentatively touched her father’s arm to get his attention. He pulled back slightly from Max and reached an arm around Isabel as well.
Liz smiled happily and Diane sat next to her on the couch with a comforting arm around her shoulders. Liz leaned her head down onto Diane’s shoulder and sighed. She was so happy for Max! If only her own family could be so accepting. It would never happen.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Dinner that night was filled with animated conversation. They filled Phillip in on the details of Max and Liz’s connection and thier origins. They talked about Michael and how he had been left in the desert the night that the Evans had picked up Max and Isabel. Phillip was grieved to find out that they had left Michael alone out there and they had missed the opportunity to have another son.
When the conversation turned to Tess, and their plan to get rid of her, Phillip grew concerned. He was a lawyer and had seen a lot of things, but he could not condone murder.
“Absolutely not! There is no way you can go out in the desert and just…just kill her!” Phillip was shocked to the core of his being. He felt that there were other options that they just hadn’t explored yet. Some way to imprison her or…
“Dad,” Max started, “you have no idea what she is capable of. She’s already almost killed Alex. I had to heal him, and if we hadn’t found out what was going on when we did, then Alex would be dead right now. Dead, Dad.” Max shook his head. “You know me, Dad. I don’t like the idea either, but I will do everything in my power to make sure that Liz and my son are safe. They have a destiny that cannot be disrupted by Tess’ obsession with power and control. She cannot know about our son and she cannot be allowed to interfere with his destiny. Thousands of lives are depending on us keeping him safe, and the Antarians told us what they saw! She was planning to betray all of us. She wanted to be the one carrying my baby! She wants to be in control of my son, to control the incredible gifts he will possess, and we can’t allow that to happen. Her powers bend people’s perception of the truth. She’s too dangerous to hide away somewhere, she’d only break out and make sure that nobody would even notice. They told us to destroy her and that’s just what we have to do!” Max’s eyes glowed with the passion of his belief.
Phillip sighed deeply. His son was no longer a boy, but a man protecting what was his. There was no deterring him, and, truth be told, he would kill Tess himself if she hurt his family.
“You’re sure?” Phillip had to ask one more time.
“No doubts, Dad. We’ve seen what she’s done, what she will do. We don’t have another choice,” Max’s voice was filled with certainty.
“Okay. Monday, huh?” Phillip scrubbed his hands over his eyes.
“Yeah. We’re meeting her here. She thinks that she’ll just show me how to do the memory retrievals, but I’m going to make a connection and pull out everything that she knows that might help us with our fight. She learned a lot of tricks from Nacedo, and we need every advantage we can get. She may even know what our enemies plans are for us here on Earth,” Max said. He was still nervous about allowing the connection, but he felt the potential payoff was worth it, especially since Michael, Isabel, and Liz would be backing him up.
“I’m going to stay home on Monday, just in case,” Phillip volunteered.
“That’s not necessary, Dad. There’s nothing you could do,” Max told him
“I can be here for you. I need to.” Phillip couldn’t bear the thought of his children in danger. How was it that they had been oblivious to all that they had gone through in the last two years?
“Thanks, Dad.” Max could tell that this was important to his father and his chest swelled with happiness that his father could still care what happened to him after everything.
Liz stood suddenly, looking flushed. Her eyes were wide. Max felt it at the same time. Heat.
“I…um…excuse us please.” Max grabbed Liz’s hand and pulled her with him, down the hall and to his room.
Pulling the door firmly closed behind him; he leaned against it, panting already. Liz covered his mouth eagerly with hers, her breath coming in irregular gasps. “I’m sorry,” she panted out breathlessly.
“I’m not,” Max scooped her up into his arms and carried her to his bed, laying her down gently. He knew that soon neither of them would be capable of gentleness or slow caresses. They would be consumed by their need for each other and thoughts of tender, slow loving would be non-existent. His mouth covered hers hotly, tongue seeking that deeper penetration. Her lips parted eagerly and she moaned low in her throat; that sound that he loved. He growled and increased the pressure of his lips and his hands moved on their own to strip her out of her clothes. Her hands helped to relieve him of his garments and soon their garments were all tangled together on the floor.
Max’s hands traveled over the silky planes of her body lingering at the places he had learned she loved. Liz’s fingers wandered over his hard body, loving the play of muscles beneath them. His body was hard and ready for her and he reined in enough control to check her slick opening with his fingers to assure himself that she was ready too. Liz’s hips bucked up eagerly under the pressure of his hands, begging for more.
Max slipped within her waiting body with one long thrust and released a sigh of pure pleasure. He held still for a moment, allowing her to adjust to his presence and when he felt her hands on his hips, urging him to move, he couldn’t wait any longer. Their mouths mated along with their bodies, hands exploring, caressing, pinching and soothing. Liz couldn’t contain the sounds of her strong release and Max muffled her scream with his mouth, thrusting his tongue and muting her cries. Max moved within her several more times before joining her over the edge. This time it was Liz that muffled his moans as his body shuddered and then went still over her.
Max moved over to the side, still connected to Liz and they smoothed their hands lovingly over each other. Looking into his eyes, she smiled at him tenderly.
“It’s a good thing your Dad knows that we’re married or he would have never…”
“Oh my…nonono! Liz, we didn’t say anything about this aspect of your pregnancy! What is he going to think?” Max’s distress struck Liz funny and she started to giggle. The laughter caused her inner muscles to contract around Max rhythmically and she felt him stirring back to life within her. She stopped laughing at the smoky look in his eyes and she rolled over on top of him to take his mouth in another hot kiss.
She began moving over him slowly, able now to think and take her time pleasuring them both. They each panted out endearments and words of love until they were out of breath. Max’s hands guided her hips in an up and down motion that drove them insane. The connection had remained strong throughout their joining and Max hung on to control tightly as he felt Liz starting to reach the edge. He plunged into her deeply, triggering her to let go and tumble into bliss. Liz was so focused on the pleasure coursing through her that she had to stop her movements, and Max quickly rolled them over so that Liz was once again underneath him. Bracing his hands on each side of her writhing body, Max dug his knees into the bed and used the leverage to pound into her deep and strong. Liz’s nails scratched over his back, leaving long trails of abused skin. The pleasure and the pain swamped him and he groaned loudly as he came inside of her.
They lay side by side again, and when they looked at each other this time they both burst out laughing.
“If they didn’t know why we left before, then they certainly do now!” Liz’s eyes danced with mirth.
Max groaned in exasperation and threw his hand over his eyes.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Is something wrong? Where did they go? Is Liz feeling all right?” Phillip asked with concern.
“Oh…um…Liz will be fine, honey.” Diane stepped in, gesturing for Isabel to leave them alone for the moment. Isabel escaped to the kitchen, in search of a snack. She thought that maybe the kitchen was far enough away to not hear the noises that were sure to emanate from Max’s room.
“Phillip, we haven’t really told you everything about Liz’s pregnancy,” Diane thought that was a good start.
“What? You already told me it would last ten months and that the baby would be very small for the first eight months. Is the baby affecting Liz’s health? Does Max have to heal her?” Phillips brows were drawn together in concern.
“Well, in a way he is healing her.” Diane shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was one thing to hear about all this and another entirely to have to tell someone about it. “One of the things that the communication stones told the kids is that this pregnancy is very hard on a human body. Liz is entirely human and the baby is part alien. Their son needs special nutrients to develop his alien traits and he drains Liz’s resources when he needs that extra boost. If Max doesn’t supply what they need then both Liz and their son would die.”
“What?! How does Max get these vitamins? Is there anything we can do to help? How do they know when she needs them?” Phillip’s mind was boiling with questions.
Here came the hard part.
“It’s not vitamins that Liz needs. It’s Max. Max has special properties in his, uh…sperm, and they need to be together at least twice a day so that the baby won’t drain Liz’s energy. They know when they need to be together because both Liz and Max develop a fever at the same time. Liz’s fever is caused by the drain on her resources, and Max was given a protective impulse that connects him to her and lets him know, whether they are together or apart, that they need him. He experiences her symptoms, although to a lighter degree. Liz gets weak, Max just gets a fever. Michael has the protective impulse too, but in him it’s delayed. The aliens needed to insure that there was a back-up plan in case something happened to Max, so they planted the impulse in Michael as well because he is the only other being on the planet that can ensure their survival.”
Phillip just stared at her.
“Michael and Liz?” Phillip finally sputtered out.
“Max would never leave Liz alone like that. It’s not Michael’s fault that they planted that impulse in him. He feels really awkward about the whole thing, so please don’t bring it up in front of him,” Diane requested softly.
“Like I’d just bring something like that up?” Phillip sputtered in disbelief. They both turned to the doorway at the sound of a loud groan.
Phillip covered his ears and Diane followed him out of the room to join Isabel in the kitchen.
Isabel turned from the freezer where she was putting away the ice cream and saw their expressions and her father with his hands over his ears.
Her laughter rang through the house as she turned back to the freezer to get some ice cream for her bewildered parents.
TBC
Authors Note: The song is ‘With Arms Wide Open’ by Creed. It helps if you’ve heard it before.
EYA Part 36
Sunday Morning
Well I just heard, the news today
It seems my life, is going to change
Liz woke slowly to the gentle sound of Max’s voice. He lay with his head by her stomach, his hand a warm comfort over their son. She listened in awe at the pure, true notes that Max was singing for their baby. His breath puffed warmly against her skin as he sang.
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy, stream down my face
His fingers caressed her taut abdomen softly so as not to wake Liz. The connection between the three flared brilliantly to life. Peace. Joy. Family. Tears filled Liz’s eyes as she watched Max and their son connect on a level deeper than any they had achieved before.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Well I don’t know if I’m ready
To be the man I have to be
Liz threaded her fingers through Max’s hair. He turned wet eyes to look at her with such an expression of awe and love that she gasped for breath. She prayed that he would continue singing now that he knew she was listening.
I’ll take a breath, I’ll take her by my side
We stand if awe, we’ve created life
Max twined his fingers through Liz’s, holding her tightly. Liz released her breath on a sigh of relief that he could share this beautiful part of himself with her.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Wide open…
Max scooted up to lay his head at her shoulder, looking down at their joined hands over her flat stomach. He turned back to her, his eyes filled with the strength of his emotion as he softly sang the next part as if it was wrenched from his soul.
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he’s not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open
Liz sobbed her heartbreak. Max meant those words with everything inside him. His son would have a different life than he had. Richer, fuller. No hiding, no secrets from everyone he loved. Max turned back to the baby, caressing her skin gently.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Max finished softly and turned his head into her neck, releasing the tears he had been holding back. His shoulders shook with the force of his quiet sobs, and Liz enfolded him in her arms giving him the only comfort she could.
Max couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that inundated him. He felt bad that he knew Liz was suffering with him through their connection, and at the same time he was unspeakably grateful that she knew. That there was one person on this Earth that was his and his alone. That she would stand by him, suffer with him, celebrate life with him. It was staggering. It was overwhelming. It was Liz.
He dragged in a ragged breath and grasped for control. He wiped his damp cheeks with the back of one hand and met Liz’s eyes. She met his gaze levelly, looking deeper that anyone else could. She knew without words that Max was overwhelmed by the events of the past week. She understood his wish for his child to grow up safe and accepted and loved without condition. She saw the moment that Max comprehended her understanding of what he had done this morning.
“I’m going to thank God every day for you and our son.” His voice was firm. Steadier than he thought it should be after what he had just done.
“I thought you didn’t believe in God,” Liz breathed softly, knowing he needed to talk it out.
“Do you know that when Isabel, Michael, and I were kids we made a pact. A list of rules really. They were the rules that we made together after we realized that we weren’t normal. That we were freaks and that people would try to hurt us if they knew who we really were.”
Liz stroked her hand through his thick, soft hair, gently smoothing the ends and running her hand back up. She knew that Max needed to tell her in his own way, that this apparent non sequitur was leading somewhere.
“It was ‘How to Hide in Plain Sight’ in twenty rules or less. Never reveal yourself to anyone. Never use your powers where anyone might see you. Don’t make friends outside our circle who might get too close to the truth.” Max’s voice was bitter. He took the hand that wasn’t stroking through his hair and brought it to his mouth for a sweet kiss. “We were good at it. We didn’t see any other options, and we didn’t even understand half of what would be done to us if we were caught.” Max breathing accelerated, coming in short pants that he worked to control. His eyes closed at the sharp memory of what had been done to him. Liz’s hand massaged his gently.
“And then one day, there was you.” Max smiled behind closed eyes and replaced the evil thoughts with pure ones of Liz and all she meant to him. “I had watched you for years. Years, Liz. But you were against the rules. Isabel dated casually, never getting too close to one boy. She had fun and knew that it was just that. I couldn’t even imagine doing that with you. I knew even then that if I were to ever let you get close to me that I would never let you go. You were everything. Everything in a way that I knew I would never feel for anyone else. And it hurt, Liz. It hurt so bad to try to shut off that part of myself that loved you, that couldn’t imagine a life without you. But we had the Rules.” Max sighed a soft breath of air that puffed over Liz’s skin warmly and lay his head back against her shoulder.
“When you were shot and I saved you...I can’t even explain what that was to me, Liz. Instant connection. Instant knowledge of you and who you were. And, Liz, you were even more beautiful inside than I had ever dreamed of. You have the most pure, loyal heart…Michael and Isabel were freaking out that you knew. But I had faith in you. You would never betray me. It’s not in you. I would never regret revealing myself to you that day because it was right in a way that nothing had ever felt before in my life. And you brought me the world. Literally. You showed me things about myself and living life and just being. Does that even make sense?” Max felt her nod of agreement.
“When we were together it was so new and so different that at first it scared me. I started to doubt myself. That I could be good for you. That I could keep you safe. And when I stepped away from you I thought I was doing this noble thing. To give you back a normal life. To give you back everything you gave up by allowing me into your life.”
“I didn’t give up anything. You gave me everything I needed, then and now,” Liz insisted quietly.
“I know that now. It just took me awhile to figure out that life without you was empty and meaningless. When we got back together, that was the happiest time of my life back then. And then…” Max took a breath and forged on, “when I was taken, all I could think about was you. I was guilty that I had put you in danger, and at the same time I hung on to you. Thoughts of you, your gentle touch, the feel of your hair brushing over my skin, your perfect smile, the love in your eyes that you reserved only for me. Me, Liz. How is it possible that you could love someone like me? Someone so lost and confused about…everything? I just accepted it. It was a gift and I was never giving it back. And then we learned our ‘destiny’,” Max scoffed at the word. “When you left that day I was completely shattered. How could it be that the answers to all my questions were right in front of me and it still felt so…wrong?”
Max hugged her tightly to him, as if fearing to lose her again.
“I understand why you left. It took awhile to try to get over the initial pain. So much pain that summer. I needed you in a way I never had before. I couldn’t imagine turning to Isabel or Michael, and certainly not Tess, to confide what had happened to me in the White Room. I needed you. I ached for you and prayed for you and made promises that if I would only get you back…” Max broke off, swallowing, these memories were hard. He didn’t like making Liz feel guilty about leaving him at that time in his life, but if she were ever to understand him…
“You were doing what you thought was best for me and my race. So selfless. I could never have done it. I’m way more selfish than you are. Even then I held onto the hope that I could win you back. I needed that hope like I needed air, because that’s what you were to me. It was hard to breathe without you. I was hollow and empty. I didn’t know how to be anymore if I wasn’t a part of you. When I saw you with Kyle…I…I can’t even tell you what that did to me. My hope was gone. My worst fear all along was that you’d realize that you needed something more…normal. When I saw…what I did, it was like a huge neon sign was winking: ‘I’m Over You, Max Evans’. I didn’t handle it very well. I’m so sorry that I ever doubted you. The pain was more than I thought I could bear. I wanted to get away, lash out, hurt you like you hurt me. That’s why I took Tess to New York. Petty, I know. Selfish.” Max shook his head, not liking how he had acted back then.
“I didn’t believe in God. How could I? Here I was, literally an alien on this planet. Dumped here for unknown reasons, hiding my entire life from everyone who ever loved or cared about me. Lying constantly to my parents and friends about everything I was, denying myself. And then the one thing that gave me hope…gave me a reason to be myself…was just…gone.” Max felt Liz shudder under his cheek. He raised up on one elbow and silently brushed her tears away. Liz was absorbing all the raw emotion that was emanating off Max in waves.
“And then there you were again. My precious gift was back. Made for me. Literally. Mine. True destiny. And now, because of you, I don’t have to hide anymore. My parents actually accepted me for who I am. I can’t even explain how incredible that is. And this,” Max’s hand traveled over her abdomen, “this amazing child will not grow up the way I did. He won’t be ashamed of who he is. He’ll have parents and grandparents and our friends who will love and support him through all the difficulties of growing up different. He will embrace life wholeheartedly. He’ll have friends and guidance and…and…he’ll take this life that has been given him and make it his in a way that I never could growing up.”
Liz’s eyes were streaming tears. Max had so much love inside him, so many hopes and dreams for their son. Her heart ached for the way he was forced to grow up. She regretted the time they had spent apart, but she didn’t feel guilty any longer over it, because Max didn’t blame her. Everything that had come before had resulted in this…this incredible time in their lives that was at once scary and exhilarating. The best and the worst. Pleasure and pain.
“And now…now everything has changed. I used to think that if there was a God then he was needlessly cruel. I had worked all my life to not hurt anyone. To just be, you know? And then all this crap happened and I thought, what’s all this for? What did I do to deserve this? It was easier to believe that there wasn’t anyone up there planning all that then to believe that He just didn’t care about me. But, you know what? If all that didn’t happen then I wouldn’t be right here with you now. We’re having a child, a son, that is you and me together. A boy so special that I would endure all of that over again just to have this moment right now with you.” Max’s lips paused to gently brush over Liz’s. She sighed into the caress and parted her lips to encourage him.
“Did you feel his heartbeat? When I was singing?” Max spoke against her lips, his eyes open to catch her expression.
Tears spilled over again as she nodded. Their joined hands settled over their son again and they reached for him.
Thump, thump, thump
They smiled behind their kisses and their bodies joined in a healing embrace.
TBC
EYA Part 36
Sunday Morning
Well I just heard, the news today
It seems my life, is going to change
Liz woke slowly to the gentle sound of Max’s voice. He lay with his head by her stomach, his hand a warm comfort over their son. She listened in awe at the pure, true notes that Max was singing for their baby. His breath puffed warmly against her skin as he sang.
I close my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy, stream down my face
His fingers caressed her taut abdomen softly so as not to wake Liz. The connection between the three flared brilliantly to life. Peace. Joy. Family. Tears filled Liz’s eyes as she watched Max and their son connect on a level deeper than any they had achieved before.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Well I don’t know if I’m ready
To be the man I have to be
Liz threaded her fingers through Max’s hair. He turned wet eyes to look at her with such an expression of awe and love that she gasped for breath. She prayed that he would continue singing now that he knew she was listening.
I’ll take a breath, I’ll take her by my side
We stand if awe, we’ve created life
Max twined his fingers through Liz’s, holding her tightly. Liz released her breath on a sigh of relief that he could share this beautiful part of himself with her.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Wide open…
Max scooted up to lay his head at her shoulder, looking down at their joined hands over her flat stomach. He turned back to her, his eyes filled with the strength of his emotion as he softly sang the next part as if it was wrenched from his soul.
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope he’s not like me
I hope he understands
That he can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And he can greet the world
With arms wide open
Liz sobbed her heartbreak. Max meant those words with everything inside him. His son would have a different life than he had. Richer, fuller. No hiding, no secrets from everyone he loved. Max turned back to the baby, caressing her skin gently.
With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I’ll show you love
I’ll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
Max finished softly and turned his head into her neck, releasing the tears he had been holding back. His shoulders shook with the force of his quiet sobs, and Liz enfolded him in her arms giving him the only comfort she could.
Max couldn’t stop the flood of emotion that inundated him. He felt bad that he knew Liz was suffering with him through their connection, and at the same time he was unspeakably grateful that she knew. That there was one person on this Earth that was his and his alone. That she would stand by him, suffer with him, celebrate life with him. It was staggering. It was overwhelming. It was Liz.
He dragged in a ragged breath and grasped for control. He wiped his damp cheeks with the back of one hand and met Liz’s eyes. She met his gaze levelly, looking deeper that anyone else could. She knew without words that Max was overwhelmed by the events of the past week. She understood his wish for his child to grow up safe and accepted and loved without condition. She saw the moment that Max comprehended her understanding of what he had done this morning.
“I’m going to thank God every day for you and our son.” His voice was firm. Steadier than he thought it should be after what he had just done.
“I thought you didn’t believe in God,” Liz breathed softly, knowing he needed to talk it out.
“Do you know that when Isabel, Michael, and I were kids we made a pact. A list of rules really. They were the rules that we made together after we realized that we weren’t normal. That we were freaks and that people would try to hurt us if they knew who we really were.”
Liz stroked her hand through his thick, soft hair, gently smoothing the ends and running her hand back up. She knew that Max needed to tell her in his own way, that this apparent non sequitur was leading somewhere.
“It was ‘How to Hide in Plain Sight’ in twenty rules or less. Never reveal yourself to anyone. Never use your powers where anyone might see you. Don’t make friends outside our circle who might get too close to the truth.” Max’s voice was bitter. He took the hand that wasn’t stroking through his hair and brought it to his mouth for a sweet kiss. “We were good at it. We didn’t see any other options, and we didn’t even understand half of what would be done to us if we were caught.” Max breathing accelerated, coming in short pants that he worked to control. His eyes closed at the sharp memory of what had been done to him. Liz’s hand massaged his gently.
“And then one day, there was you.” Max smiled behind closed eyes and replaced the evil thoughts with pure ones of Liz and all she meant to him. “I had watched you for years. Years, Liz. But you were against the rules. Isabel dated casually, never getting too close to one boy. She had fun and knew that it was just that. I couldn’t even imagine doing that with you. I knew even then that if I were to ever let you get close to me that I would never let you go. You were everything. Everything in a way that I knew I would never feel for anyone else. And it hurt, Liz. It hurt so bad to try to shut off that part of myself that loved you, that couldn’t imagine a life without you. But we had the Rules.” Max sighed a soft breath of air that puffed over Liz’s skin warmly and lay his head back against her shoulder.
“When you were shot and I saved you...I can’t even explain what that was to me, Liz. Instant connection. Instant knowledge of you and who you were. And, Liz, you were even more beautiful inside than I had ever dreamed of. You have the most pure, loyal heart…Michael and Isabel were freaking out that you knew. But I had faith in you. You would never betray me. It’s not in you. I would never regret revealing myself to you that day because it was right in a way that nothing had ever felt before in my life. And you brought me the world. Literally. You showed me things about myself and living life and just being. Does that even make sense?” Max felt her nod of agreement.
“When we were together it was so new and so different that at first it scared me. I started to doubt myself. That I could be good for you. That I could keep you safe. And when I stepped away from you I thought I was doing this noble thing. To give you back a normal life. To give you back everything you gave up by allowing me into your life.”
“I didn’t give up anything. You gave me everything I needed, then and now,” Liz insisted quietly.
“I know that now. It just took me awhile to figure out that life without you was empty and meaningless. When we got back together, that was the happiest time of my life back then. And then…” Max took a breath and forged on, “when I was taken, all I could think about was you. I was guilty that I had put you in danger, and at the same time I hung on to you. Thoughts of you, your gentle touch, the feel of your hair brushing over my skin, your perfect smile, the love in your eyes that you reserved only for me. Me, Liz. How is it possible that you could love someone like me? Someone so lost and confused about…everything? I just accepted it. It was a gift and I was never giving it back. And then we learned our ‘destiny’,” Max scoffed at the word. “When you left that day I was completely shattered. How could it be that the answers to all my questions were right in front of me and it still felt so…wrong?”
Max hugged her tightly to him, as if fearing to lose her again.
“I understand why you left. It took awhile to try to get over the initial pain. So much pain that summer. I needed you in a way I never had before. I couldn’t imagine turning to Isabel or Michael, and certainly not Tess, to confide what had happened to me in the White Room. I needed you. I ached for you and prayed for you and made promises that if I would only get you back…” Max broke off, swallowing, these memories were hard. He didn’t like making Liz feel guilty about leaving him at that time in his life, but if she were ever to understand him…
“You were doing what you thought was best for me and my race. So selfless. I could never have done it. I’m way more selfish than you are. Even then I held onto the hope that I could win you back. I needed that hope like I needed air, because that’s what you were to me. It was hard to breathe without you. I was hollow and empty. I didn’t know how to be anymore if I wasn’t a part of you. When I saw you with Kyle…I…I can’t even tell you what that did to me. My hope was gone. My worst fear all along was that you’d realize that you needed something more…normal. When I saw…what I did, it was like a huge neon sign was winking: ‘I’m Over You, Max Evans’. I didn’t handle it very well. I’m so sorry that I ever doubted you. The pain was more than I thought I could bear. I wanted to get away, lash out, hurt you like you hurt me. That’s why I took Tess to New York. Petty, I know. Selfish.” Max shook his head, not liking how he had acted back then.
“I didn’t believe in God. How could I? Here I was, literally an alien on this planet. Dumped here for unknown reasons, hiding my entire life from everyone who ever loved or cared about me. Lying constantly to my parents and friends about everything I was, denying myself. And then the one thing that gave me hope…gave me a reason to be myself…was just…gone.” Max felt Liz shudder under his cheek. He raised up on one elbow and silently brushed her tears away. Liz was absorbing all the raw emotion that was emanating off Max in waves.
“And then there you were again. My precious gift was back. Made for me. Literally. Mine. True destiny. And now, because of you, I don’t have to hide anymore. My parents actually accepted me for who I am. I can’t even explain how incredible that is. And this,” Max’s hand traveled over her abdomen, “this amazing child will not grow up the way I did. He won’t be ashamed of who he is. He’ll have parents and grandparents and our friends who will love and support him through all the difficulties of growing up different. He will embrace life wholeheartedly. He’ll have friends and guidance and…and…he’ll take this life that has been given him and make it his in a way that I never could growing up.”
Liz’s eyes were streaming tears. Max had so much love inside him, so many hopes and dreams for their son. Her heart ached for the way he was forced to grow up. She regretted the time they had spent apart, but she didn’t feel guilty any longer over it, because Max didn’t blame her. Everything that had come before had resulted in this…this incredible time in their lives that was at once scary and exhilarating. The best and the worst. Pleasure and pain.
“And now…now everything has changed. I used to think that if there was a God then he was needlessly cruel. I had worked all my life to not hurt anyone. To just be, you know? And then all this crap happened and I thought, what’s all this for? What did I do to deserve this? It was easier to believe that there wasn’t anyone up there planning all that then to believe that He just didn’t care about me. But, you know what? If all that didn’t happen then I wouldn’t be right here with you now. We’re having a child, a son, that is you and me together. A boy so special that I would endure all of that over again just to have this moment right now with you.” Max’s lips paused to gently brush over Liz’s. She sighed into the caress and parted her lips to encourage him.
“Did you feel his heartbeat? When I was singing?” Max spoke against her lips, his eyes open to catch her expression.
Tears spilled over again as she nodded. Their joined hands settled over their son again and they reached for him.
Thump, thump, thump
They smiled behind their kisses and their bodies joined in a healing embrace.
TBC
EYA Part 37
Max and Liz stood in the hallway preparing to face Max’s family for the first time since their hasty exit the night before. Max’s forehead was touching Liz’s, his hands framing her face, her fingers wrapped around his upper arms. He looked into her eyes and took a fortifying breath.
“We can do this,” he whispered huskily.
“No problem,” she answered, nodding, in the same hushed tone.
“It’s not like they don’t know why we had to leave.” Max thought about what he had just said and winced. Maybe not the best idea to bring that up right now.
“Do you think they told your Dad?” Liz was an interesting shade of pink.
“I hope so. I really don’t want to be the one to explain that to him. It was bad enough to have to tell my mom.” Max’s breath puffed against her face. Liz inhaled and closed her eyes.
Sensing something different in the stream of her continual fascination with him, Max asked, “What are you doing?”
Liz’s eyes popped open in surprise then she looked down self-consciously. “You smell so…good,” she said on a laugh.
Max turned his nose to his arm and inhaled dramatically, smiling. “I don’t smell anything different. What do I smell like?”
Liz inhaled again, long and slow. Her smile widened. “You smell like spice…like cinnamon.”
“What?! You’re kidding!” Max turned his head to smell his arm again and then tested the other one.
“Nope, it’s true. My sense of smell must be heightened right now or something. I swear I could smell you even if you left the room,” Liz asserted.
“Ewww…he must stink really bad!” Isabel chuckled as she passed them in the hall, startling the couple. “Are you two coming to breakfast? You must have worked up quite an appetite!” Isabel continued into the kitchen to the sound of Max and Liz’s groans. It was too easy.
“We can do this,” Max repeated.
“We can do this,” Liz affirmed.
They linked hands and walked together into the kitchen.
“Morning, kids,” Diane chirped out brightly. She was dishing out the last of the oatmeal and placing it in front of Liz’s spot at the table. Liz watched her in fascination. I have a spot at the table. A warm feeling crept through her as she slipped into her seat beside Max.
“Did you two sleep well?” Phillip looked over the top of the Sunday paper.
“Um, yeah, thanks, Dad,” Max answered uncertainly. He looked to his Mom with raised brows to see if she had told him. Diane winked and gave him a nod. Max wasn’t sure if he was relieved or mortified.
“I wanted to talk to both of you this morning,” Phillip put the paper down on the table, folding it neatly. He glanced to Diane and she came to stand behind him, her hand on his shoulder.
Max and Liz looked at each other and then back at his parents, identical expressions of concern mirrored in each other’s eyes.
“It’s nothing bad!” Phillip didn’t like to see the panic on the kid’s faces. “Your mother and I have been thinking about restoring the rooms over the garage. They were supposed to be a mother-in-law apartment, but we’ve always just used the space for storage. Max, I could use your help moving the stuff to a storage unit today, and then your mom will scrub it down. We wanted you two to have some space to yourselves, now that you’re…married,” Phillip still had a hard time picturing his little boy all grown up and so obviously in love.
“Dad, that’s…that’s fantastic!” Excitement filled his tone and his eyes shone at the possibilities. He squeezed Liz’s hand under the table enthusiastically.
Liz stretched her fingers under his to work out the kinks he had put in. Her smile was a mile wide. “I’d really like to help,” she offered Diane shyly. Diane nodded.
“I could use a hand with the lighter chores, but I don’t want you straining yourself,” Diane accepted.
They ate their breakfast with enthusiasm for the day ahead.
Liz and Diane cleared the table in companionable silence while Isabel left to see Alex.
“I really can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for Max and me,” Liz started. “I don’t know if you realize how much your support means to Max…and me.”
“Honey, I would do anything for Max, and it’s you that he has chosen to love, so you’re my family too. I’ll always be here to do whatever I can.” Diane gave Liz an impulsive hug.
“I’ve been thinking about your work schedule, and how to make sure that you and Max can spend time together every morning and night.” Diane busied herself scrubbing the counters, not looking at Liz.
“I can’t wait to start working! Just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it!” Liz said with enthusiasm.
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell your parents what’s really going on? They might be upset at first, but surely they’ll come around like Phillip did.”
Liz was already shaking her head. “You don’t know them like I do, Mrs. Evans. They’re not going to make it easy, and I just have to find the right time and the right way to say it. Max and I…we’ll just have to figure out how to make sure we can be together every day. It sounded like maybe you had a suggestion?”
“Well I was thinking that you could work here after school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from four to eight, but you can tell your parents that you have to be here all week from four to nine or so. That gives you and Max a chance to spend some time alone together. And please, you can call me Diane.”
Liz blushed again at the reference to alone time. She nodded her head, completely flattered that Diane was allowing her to be so familiar with her. “That’s great...Diane. That takes care of the nights, but…” Liz trailed off, not wanting to say more.
“Yeah, I was also thinking that you are a really smart student, right?”
Liz nodded, uncertain where this was leading.
“So your parents wouldn’t find it unusual if you had to ‘tutor’ someone at school every morning at six-thirty.” Diane glanced at Liz for a reaction.
Liz had stopped loading the dishwasher and just stood staring at Diane. “You are a genius!”
Diane smiled in satisfaction. “Max will pick you up in the morning and bring you to your apartment.”
“Wow! We have our own place,” Liz wrapped her mind around that idea. A slow grin crept across her face. “I want to see it!”
Diane grabbed her hand and they giggled like school girls as they went out the back door to the outdoor entrance.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max lifted another heavy box down the stairs to the waiting SUV. He slid it into place and wiped his brow before starting back up the stairs. Their own place! His heart leaped at the thought of setting up house with Liz. This made it so much more real. He was grinning when he stepped back into the large main room. The apartment consisted of one large room for the kitchen, dining, and living area. A door led to a small bathroom with a tub/shower combination, a toilet, and a sink, while another door led to a medium sized bedroom with a window facing the back yard.
Phillip watched his son’s face glow with pleasure as he cleared out more of the boxes.
“You look happy,” Phillip blurted out.
Max looked up in surprise and then away again. He scuffed a shoe along the hardwood floor before nodding his head. “Yeah, I am. Liz does that for me. Everything about her, when we’re together, things are just so intense,” he stated simply.
“I noticed,” Phillip said wryly.
Max looked up sharply to see if his dad meant anything by that comment. Phillip smiled at him and clamped his hand over his son’s shoulder. “I was going to have a talk with you before you got serious about a girl. Tell you how to please a woman, what she expects from a man,” Phillip laughed as his son’s face turned magenta. “Somehow I think you’re doing just fine without me,” Phillip added on a teasing note.
“Dad!” Max couldn’t meet his father’s eyes.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Really. It’s just that I’ve never seen this side of you before. Or heard it,” Phillip added under his breath.
“No way! I did not just hear you say that,” Max clapped his hands over his ears and grinned.
“Are you tormenting our son?” Diane asked from the entrance.
Liz crossed the room to Max and he smiled in answer to the question in her eyes. He took her hand and led her around the space that was theirs. Diane and Phillip watched them looking so happy and smiled in satisfaction. They had made the right choice.
Four hours later
Max lay back on the couch in their apartment that had formerly resided in the Evans’ den. Liz lay with her back against his chest cradled in the V of his thighs. Max allowed his hands to wander to her stomach and quietly said ‘hi’ to the baby. The work had gone quickly with the four of them together, and now the place looked ready to live in.
“I’m going to put curtains on the windows over the kitchen sink and in the bedroom,” Liz said, her mind picturing the homey touches that would make the place theirs.
“Good idea. I can change the wall colors if you want,” Max volunteered, looking around at the white walls.
Liz turned in his embrace to nibble on his neck. “You’re a handy one to have around, huh? I knew there was a reason I was keeping you.” she bit down gently on his collar bone.
“You’d better think of more than one reason.” Max flipped her around so they were chest to chest. “I plan on being around for a long time!”
“I’m sure I’ll come up with something,” Liz’s hands were busy undoing the buttons that lined his shirt.
Max’s hands moved over Liz’s to still her actions. She glanced up at him curiously, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.
“We have to talk,” Max started.
Liz scooted back a little. That was always an ominous way to begin a conversation, and did not often bode well for the listener.
“About what, Max?” Liz asked hesitantly.
“I think we should call Michael, Isabel, and Maria to come over here so we can talk about tomorrow,” Max told her.
Liz nodded her head and they went downstairs to use the phone in the kitchen.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I don’t understand you, Michael. You seem like you would be such a slob, but your apartment is immaculate,” Maria plopped beside him on his couch.
“What can I say? I’ve got the magic touch.” Michael wriggled his fingers in front of her.
Maria’s eyes widened to saucers. “Do you mean you just,” she waved her hand around in the air, “wish it all away?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that, but yeah, I just…clean,” he waved his hand over the empty cereal bowl on the low table in front of him and it sparkled like new.
Maria’s eyebrows drew together. “Is that sanitary?” She questioned, poking a finger at it with obvious distrust.
“Yes, Maria. No one’s died yet from eating off my dishes! Geez, Maria,” Michael rolled his eyes and snorted at her reaction.
They sat for a while in silence and Maria kept sneaking glances at him out of the corner of her eye.
He picked at a fingernail and waited to see how long it would take her to break the silence.
“Why did you want me to come over this morning, Michael?” Maria burst out at last.
“What? Oh, well I guess I just wanted to see you,” Michael answered honestly.
“You just wanted to see me,” Maria restated, obviously expecting further illumination.
“Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?” Michael retorted. Couldn’t this girl just accept a simple statement?
“Yeah there is. You never just call because you want to see me. Something’s up, isn’t it? Is it something bad? Are Liz and Max okay?” Maria’s imagination was working overtime on the various scenarios of what could have gone wrong now.
Michael’s hands closed over her shoulders. “Calm down, Maria. I just thought that we could get to know each other. You know, talk. You don’t have any inhibitions about talking, do you?”
“No, of course not, Michael. It’s just kinda weird is all. So what do you want to know about me?” Maria asked, thinking of the million things she would like to know about him.
“Why do you care about me so much?” Michael asked the question that had been burning in him for a long time.
“What? Why? I don’t know, Michael. You’re frustrating and abrasive and way too blunt. You’re rude and obnoxious and you treat me like crap half the time…”
“Gosh, thanks, Maria that really clears things up,” Michael leaned away from her on the sofa.
“…but the other half of the time you are incredibly sweet and caring. You make me feel cherished and special. I think that your attitude is just a cover for the person that you really want to be, but can’t. I want to be the one to bring that out in you. I want to see you happy,” Maria finished as if he had never interrupted.
Michael leaned forward again and surprised her with a kiss. “I knew there was a reason that I loved you.” Michael couldn’t believe how close she was to the truth about his gruff exterior. That’s what scared him about falling for her. She was very perceptive, and that had been a danger to him before, when he thought he might have to leave her behind one day.
“I…I’d like to try something,” Michael said hesitantly.
“Okay,” Maria was slightly out of breath from the kiss. Michael really knew how to kiss!
“I want to make a connection. Like Max and Liz have.” Michael slid his fingers through her hair on either side of her face.
Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. “I thought we said we weren’t ready for that yet. I mean, I think you’re a great guy and all, but I’m not ready to carry your baby, Michael!” Maria asserted quickly.
“No, Maria! I meant like their mental connection. I want you to see me,” Michael’s tone was serious.
“Ohh, Michael,” Maria breathed, knowing how hard it was for him to want to connect with someone, to share himself with her.
“Breath,” Michael whispered as he looked into her bright eyes.
The connection bloomed slowly, tentative at first, and then more sure of its direction.
Maria gasped as Michael allowed her access to all the parts of his life that he had kept only for himself, not even sharing with Isabel and Max.
The confused little boy, too afraid to reach out to his friends when they were found wandering in the desert.
The confusion of the child welfare system he had been rudely thrust into and the utter panic at the sight of all the unfamiliar things around him.
The helpless fear as Hank shoved him around.
The childhood screams as Hank took off his belt and beat him.
The joy of rediscovering Max and Isabel. The connection they shared.
The acute longing for a family of his own and a place to belong.
The frustrated lust he felt every time he looked at Maria.
The disbelief that she could care about him.
The resolve to stay a stonewall so he wouldn’t allow her too close to him.
The recognition that it was too late, he could never leave her behind.
The sick guilt over taking a human life, however necessary it was.
The panic over what had happened to Liz in Las Vegas, and the guilt that he had not prevented it.
The hurt that Max didn’t include him in the life-altering decisions he had made in Vegas.
His confusion over the connection he now shared with Liz. At once proud to be her protector and scared that he would ever be called upon.
The flood of joy at the realization that Earth was home, now and forever.
The crack in his heart that he had made to let Maria in.
Maria’s hands were on Michael’s face, her thumbs brushing his tears away as the connection slowly ebbed. She closed the distance between them and met his lips with hers. The kiss turned hungry as each absorbed what they had seen from the other. Their mouths mated frantically and hands roamed freely over each other’s bodies. The couch wasn’t big enough and they rolled to the floor, neither particularly noticing the new location.
Ring!
Maria gasped for breath and looked up at the sound of the phone. Michael ignored it and pulled her down for another hot kiss.
Ring!!
Maria pulled away again and glared at the phone. It was calling to her to pick it up and answer it. It was unnatural to not immediately pick up a ringing phone.
“Leave it,” Michael gasped and tried to pull her down again. Maria scooted off of him and reached for the phone, shooting him an apologetic smile.
“He…hmmmhmm,” Maria cleared her throat and tried again, “Hello?”
“Maria? Is that you?” Max asked.
“Yeah, I’m over at Michael’s. We were…talking.” Maria slapped Michael’s wandering hands away and ignored his smirk as he listened to her side of the conversation. “Did you want to speak with Michael?”
“Actually, we wanted to talk to both of you. Can you guys come over to my place?” Max asked.
“Um, sure. Right now?”
“Yeah. And use the entrance behind the garage. Liz and I have the apartment over the garage now so…”
“You guys moved in together?!” Maria squealed with excitement and Michael blocked his ears, rolling his eyes.
“Um, yeah, sort of. We’re working out a way to make sure Liz can be here as much as possible every day. We’re gonna wait to tell her parents for another couple of months.”
“We’ll be right over,” Maria stated and hung up the phone. She scrambled up and put her shoes on, looking at Michael to check his progress. He stood up slowly and moved closer.
“I take it we’re heading over to Max’s?” Michael drawled, reaching out a hand to caress her shoulder.
Maria moved out of the way, not wanting to be distracted. She stood at the door with her hand on the knob and tapped her foot impatiently.
“Move it, Michael! I want to go see their new place!”
“And you’re just going to walk out the door like that?” Michael smiled and gestured to her top.
Maria glanced down and blushed to the roots of her hair. She hurriedly did up the first five buttons of her blouse and raised her chin defiantly.
“Move!”
Michael moved.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Oh, Liz! I can’t believe this! You’re all grown up with a place to call your own!” Maria gushed after she had taken the ‘grand tour’. “We should get you guys some candles and some flowers for the little table. Oh and do you have dishes?” She went back in the kitchen and opened all the cupboards. There was already an odd assortment of plates, bowls, and cups.
“Come sit down, Maria, Max wants to talk about tomorrow,” Liz watched the enthusiasm die in Maria’s expression replaced by one of grim determination as she remembered what was happening tomorrow.
She went and sat beside Liz, who was curled against Max on the couch. Michael sat across from them on a hard chair from their little kitchen table, and Isabel sat on a small rug on the floor, leaning against the arm of the couch. They all looked at Max expectantly.
“Well, I thought it would be a good idea to go over everything for tomorrow so everyone knows what their part is in this and so it’ll go smoothly.” Max’s hands massaged Liz’s shoulders when he felt her tense.
“Liz is starting her job here at the house tomorrow, so she’ll be in the den working when Tess arrives at four thirty. Liz will meet Maria in the back yard outside my window. Maria, you’ll be the lookout, to make sure no one else is spying on us, and Liz, you’ll watch everything that Tess does to make sure she’s not making me see things.” Maria and Liz nodded.
“When I’ve got what I need from her I’ll suggest we take a ride together out to the pod chamber. I know she’ll go with me. She’ll leap at the chance to be alone with me,” Max cringed at the thought of what Tess wanted to do with him if they were alone together.
“Isabel will follow us out there to back me up in case anything goes wrong.” he tightened his grip on Liz as he felt her tense.
“I’m coming too,” Michael interjected.
“Me too,” Liz added softly, not being able to bear the thought of wondering if Max needed their help.
“No. You’re both staying here. We already talked about this.”
They both started objecting at the same time.
“Are you crazy? You can’t go out in the desert with just you and Isabel! She could do all sorts of things to your mind out there!” Michael objected the loudest.
Max shook his head. “This is my decision, Michael. Liz can’t go…”
“I need to be there for you, Max,” Liz pleaded with him.
Max took her face in his hands and made her look at him. “You are too important to me, Liz. I couldn’t concentrate on what I have to do if I feel like you or our son might be in danger. Please understand that, Liz,” Max’s fear for them vibrated in his tone.
Liz just nodded. Their connection was flaring brightly and his worry was palpable. She wouldn’t do anything that would distract him from his goal. Max sighed in relief and kissed her on the forehead.
“That’s why you’re staying here too, Michael.” Max watched his friend, “You need to be here to protect Liz and our son in case anything happens to me.”
This caused another uproar in the room.
“What do you mean if something happens to you? This is too dangerous. We need another plan,” Isabel insisted.
“No. We have to do this now, and now that we know what the Granolith is capable of we need to use it.” Max’s voice was certain.
Michael was still stuck on Max’s previous statement. “What did you mean ‘take care of Liz and our son’? Are you saying you want us to…” Michael stuttered to a stop.
Max looked from Liz’s hurt expression, to Maria’s stunned one. He nodded slowly, finally turning to Michael.
“Everyone in this room knows how important it is that our son survives. There are thousands of lives out there depending on his growing up and leading the rebellion. It’s bigger than all of us, and we can’t be selfish,” Max stopped, remembering his conversation with Liz that morning. He couldn’t be selfish anymore. He was a father.
“I need to know that if I don’t come back…” Liz shook in his arms, tears streaming down her face, “that you won’t let Liz or the baby die. You need to promise me that you’ll take care of them,” Max’s voice rang with authority.
Michael looked from Max, to Liz huddled in his arms, and finally to Maria. Maria stared back at him, fighting her urge to write her name on his forehead to brand him as hers, and she nodded at him slowly.
“I promise,” he said simply. “But you’d better get your butt back here and do it yourself! There are people here on Earth that are depending on us,” he couldn’t resist adding.
“It is my complete intention to come back here to all of you.” Max smoothed his fingers through Liz’s soft hair and felt her tears soak into the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Are you up for this, Is?” Max questioned seriously.
“I’ll back you up, Max. Tess won’t be a threat after tomorrow,” Isabel’s voice held certainty and her eyes flashed fire. She had a score to settle.
“We have a plan then,” Max sat back and closed his eyes, envisioning what the new day would bring.
TBC
Max and Liz stood in the hallway preparing to face Max’s family for the first time since their hasty exit the night before. Max’s forehead was touching Liz’s, his hands framing her face, her fingers wrapped around his upper arms. He looked into her eyes and took a fortifying breath.
“We can do this,” he whispered huskily.
“No problem,” she answered, nodding, in the same hushed tone.
“It’s not like they don’t know why we had to leave.” Max thought about what he had just said and winced. Maybe not the best idea to bring that up right now.
“Do you think they told your Dad?” Liz was an interesting shade of pink.
“I hope so. I really don’t want to be the one to explain that to him. It was bad enough to have to tell my mom.” Max’s breath puffed against her face. Liz inhaled and closed her eyes.
Sensing something different in the stream of her continual fascination with him, Max asked, “What are you doing?”
Liz’s eyes popped open in surprise then she looked down self-consciously. “You smell so…good,” she said on a laugh.
Max turned his nose to his arm and inhaled dramatically, smiling. “I don’t smell anything different. What do I smell like?”
Liz inhaled again, long and slow. Her smile widened. “You smell like spice…like cinnamon.”
“What?! You’re kidding!” Max turned his head to smell his arm again and then tested the other one.
“Nope, it’s true. My sense of smell must be heightened right now or something. I swear I could smell you even if you left the room,” Liz asserted.
“Ewww…he must stink really bad!” Isabel chuckled as she passed them in the hall, startling the couple. “Are you two coming to breakfast? You must have worked up quite an appetite!” Isabel continued into the kitchen to the sound of Max and Liz’s groans. It was too easy.
“We can do this,” Max repeated.
“We can do this,” Liz affirmed.
They linked hands and walked together into the kitchen.
“Morning, kids,” Diane chirped out brightly. She was dishing out the last of the oatmeal and placing it in front of Liz’s spot at the table. Liz watched her in fascination. I have a spot at the table. A warm feeling crept through her as she slipped into her seat beside Max.
“Did you two sleep well?” Phillip looked over the top of the Sunday paper.
“Um, yeah, thanks, Dad,” Max answered uncertainly. He looked to his Mom with raised brows to see if she had told him. Diane winked and gave him a nod. Max wasn’t sure if he was relieved or mortified.
“I wanted to talk to both of you this morning,” Phillip put the paper down on the table, folding it neatly. He glanced to Diane and she came to stand behind him, her hand on his shoulder.
Max and Liz looked at each other and then back at his parents, identical expressions of concern mirrored in each other’s eyes.
“It’s nothing bad!” Phillip didn’t like to see the panic on the kid’s faces. “Your mother and I have been thinking about restoring the rooms over the garage. They were supposed to be a mother-in-law apartment, but we’ve always just used the space for storage. Max, I could use your help moving the stuff to a storage unit today, and then your mom will scrub it down. We wanted you two to have some space to yourselves, now that you’re…married,” Phillip still had a hard time picturing his little boy all grown up and so obviously in love.
“Dad, that’s…that’s fantastic!” Excitement filled his tone and his eyes shone at the possibilities. He squeezed Liz’s hand under the table enthusiastically.
Liz stretched her fingers under his to work out the kinks he had put in. Her smile was a mile wide. “I’d really like to help,” she offered Diane shyly. Diane nodded.
“I could use a hand with the lighter chores, but I don’t want you straining yourself,” Diane accepted.
They ate their breakfast with enthusiasm for the day ahead.
Liz and Diane cleared the table in companionable silence while Isabel left to see Alex.
“I really can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for Max and me,” Liz started. “I don’t know if you realize how much your support means to Max…and me.”
“Honey, I would do anything for Max, and it’s you that he has chosen to love, so you’re my family too. I’ll always be here to do whatever I can.” Diane gave Liz an impulsive hug.
“I’ve been thinking about your work schedule, and how to make sure that you and Max can spend time together every morning and night.” Diane busied herself scrubbing the counters, not looking at Liz.
“I can’t wait to start working! Just tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it!” Liz said with enthusiasm.
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell your parents what’s really going on? They might be upset at first, but surely they’ll come around like Phillip did.”
Liz was already shaking her head. “You don’t know them like I do, Mrs. Evans. They’re not going to make it easy, and I just have to find the right time and the right way to say it. Max and I…we’ll just have to figure out how to make sure we can be together every day. It sounded like maybe you had a suggestion?”
“Well I was thinking that you could work here after school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from four to eight, but you can tell your parents that you have to be here all week from four to nine or so. That gives you and Max a chance to spend some time alone together. And please, you can call me Diane.”
Liz blushed again at the reference to alone time. She nodded her head, completely flattered that Diane was allowing her to be so familiar with her. “That’s great...Diane. That takes care of the nights, but…” Liz trailed off, not wanting to say more.
“Yeah, I was also thinking that you are a really smart student, right?”
Liz nodded, uncertain where this was leading.
“So your parents wouldn’t find it unusual if you had to ‘tutor’ someone at school every morning at six-thirty.” Diane glanced at Liz for a reaction.
Liz had stopped loading the dishwasher and just stood staring at Diane. “You are a genius!”
Diane smiled in satisfaction. “Max will pick you up in the morning and bring you to your apartment.”
“Wow! We have our own place,” Liz wrapped her mind around that idea. A slow grin crept across her face. “I want to see it!”
Diane grabbed her hand and they giggled like school girls as they went out the back door to the outdoor entrance.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max lifted another heavy box down the stairs to the waiting SUV. He slid it into place and wiped his brow before starting back up the stairs. Their own place! His heart leaped at the thought of setting up house with Liz. This made it so much more real. He was grinning when he stepped back into the large main room. The apartment consisted of one large room for the kitchen, dining, and living area. A door led to a small bathroom with a tub/shower combination, a toilet, and a sink, while another door led to a medium sized bedroom with a window facing the back yard.
Phillip watched his son’s face glow with pleasure as he cleared out more of the boxes.
“You look happy,” Phillip blurted out.
Max looked up in surprise and then away again. He scuffed a shoe along the hardwood floor before nodding his head. “Yeah, I am. Liz does that for me. Everything about her, when we’re together, things are just so intense,” he stated simply.
“I noticed,” Phillip said wryly.
Max looked up sharply to see if his dad meant anything by that comment. Phillip smiled at him and clamped his hand over his son’s shoulder. “I was going to have a talk with you before you got serious about a girl. Tell you how to please a woman, what she expects from a man,” Phillip laughed as his son’s face turned magenta. “Somehow I think you’re doing just fine without me,” Phillip added on a teasing note.
“Dad!” Max couldn’t meet his father’s eyes.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Really. It’s just that I’ve never seen this side of you before. Or heard it,” Phillip added under his breath.
“No way! I did not just hear you say that,” Max clapped his hands over his ears and grinned.
“Are you tormenting our son?” Diane asked from the entrance.
Liz crossed the room to Max and he smiled in answer to the question in her eyes. He took her hand and led her around the space that was theirs. Diane and Phillip watched them looking so happy and smiled in satisfaction. They had made the right choice.
Four hours later
Max lay back on the couch in their apartment that had formerly resided in the Evans’ den. Liz lay with her back against his chest cradled in the V of his thighs. Max allowed his hands to wander to her stomach and quietly said ‘hi’ to the baby. The work had gone quickly with the four of them together, and now the place looked ready to live in.
“I’m going to put curtains on the windows over the kitchen sink and in the bedroom,” Liz said, her mind picturing the homey touches that would make the place theirs.
“Good idea. I can change the wall colors if you want,” Max volunteered, looking around at the white walls.
Liz turned in his embrace to nibble on his neck. “You’re a handy one to have around, huh? I knew there was a reason I was keeping you.” she bit down gently on his collar bone.
“You’d better think of more than one reason.” Max flipped her around so they were chest to chest. “I plan on being around for a long time!”
“I’m sure I’ll come up with something,” Liz’s hands were busy undoing the buttons that lined his shirt.
Max’s hands moved over Liz’s to still her actions. She glanced up at him curiously, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.
“We have to talk,” Max started.
Liz scooted back a little. That was always an ominous way to begin a conversation, and did not often bode well for the listener.
“About what, Max?” Liz asked hesitantly.
“I think we should call Michael, Isabel, and Maria to come over here so we can talk about tomorrow,” Max told her.
Liz nodded her head and they went downstairs to use the phone in the kitchen.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I don’t understand you, Michael. You seem like you would be such a slob, but your apartment is immaculate,” Maria plopped beside him on his couch.
“What can I say? I’ve got the magic touch.” Michael wriggled his fingers in front of her.
Maria’s eyes widened to saucers. “Do you mean you just,” she waved her hand around in the air, “wish it all away?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that, but yeah, I just…clean,” he waved his hand over the empty cereal bowl on the low table in front of him and it sparkled like new.
Maria’s eyebrows drew together. “Is that sanitary?” She questioned, poking a finger at it with obvious distrust.
“Yes, Maria. No one’s died yet from eating off my dishes! Geez, Maria,” Michael rolled his eyes and snorted at her reaction.
They sat for a while in silence and Maria kept sneaking glances at him out of the corner of her eye.
He picked at a fingernail and waited to see how long it would take her to break the silence.
“Why did you want me to come over this morning, Michael?” Maria burst out at last.
“What? Oh, well I guess I just wanted to see you,” Michael answered honestly.
“You just wanted to see me,” Maria restated, obviously expecting further illumination.
“Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?” Michael retorted. Couldn’t this girl just accept a simple statement?
“Yeah there is. You never just call because you want to see me. Something’s up, isn’t it? Is it something bad? Are Liz and Max okay?” Maria’s imagination was working overtime on the various scenarios of what could have gone wrong now.
Michael’s hands closed over her shoulders. “Calm down, Maria. I just thought that we could get to know each other. You know, talk. You don’t have any inhibitions about talking, do you?”
“No, of course not, Michael. It’s just kinda weird is all. So what do you want to know about me?” Maria asked, thinking of the million things she would like to know about him.
“Why do you care about me so much?” Michael asked the question that had been burning in him for a long time.
“What? Why? I don’t know, Michael. You’re frustrating and abrasive and way too blunt. You’re rude and obnoxious and you treat me like crap half the time…”
“Gosh, thanks, Maria that really clears things up,” Michael leaned away from her on the sofa.
“…but the other half of the time you are incredibly sweet and caring. You make me feel cherished and special. I think that your attitude is just a cover for the person that you really want to be, but can’t. I want to be the one to bring that out in you. I want to see you happy,” Maria finished as if he had never interrupted.
Michael leaned forward again and surprised her with a kiss. “I knew there was a reason that I loved you.” Michael couldn’t believe how close she was to the truth about his gruff exterior. That’s what scared him about falling for her. She was very perceptive, and that had been a danger to him before, when he thought he might have to leave her behind one day.
“I…I’d like to try something,” Michael said hesitantly.
“Okay,” Maria was slightly out of breath from the kiss. Michael really knew how to kiss!
“I want to make a connection. Like Max and Liz have.” Michael slid his fingers through her hair on either side of her face.
Her eyes went wide and she shook her head. “I thought we said we weren’t ready for that yet. I mean, I think you’re a great guy and all, but I’m not ready to carry your baby, Michael!” Maria asserted quickly.
“No, Maria! I meant like their mental connection. I want you to see me,” Michael’s tone was serious.
“Ohh, Michael,” Maria breathed, knowing how hard it was for him to want to connect with someone, to share himself with her.
“Breath,” Michael whispered as he looked into her bright eyes.
The connection bloomed slowly, tentative at first, and then more sure of its direction.
Maria gasped as Michael allowed her access to all the parts of his life that he had kept only for himself, not even sharing with Isabel and Max.
The confused little boy, too afraid to reach out to his friends when they were found wandering in the desert.
The confusion of the child welfare system he had been rudely thrust into and the utter panic at the sight of all the unfamiliar things around him.
The helpless fear as Hank shoved him around.
The childhood screams as Hank took off his belt and beat him.
The joy of rediscovering Max and Isabel. The connection they shared.
The acute longing for a family of his own and a place to belong.
The frustrated lust he felt every time he looked at Maria.
The disbelief that she could care about him.
The resolve to stay a stonewall so he wouldn’t allow her too close to him.
The recognition that it was too late, he could never leave her behind.
The sick guilt over taking a human life, however necessary it was.
The panic over what had happened to Liz in Las Vegas, and the guilt that he had not prevented it.
The hurt that Max didn’t include him in the life-altering decisions he had made in Vegas.
His confusion over the connection he now shared with Liz. At once proud to be her protector and scared that he would ever be called upon.
The flood of joy at the realization that Earth was home, now and forever.
The crack in his heart that he had made to let Maria in.
Maria’s hands were on Michael’s face, her thumbs brushing his tears away as the connection slowly ebbed. She closed the distance between them and met his lips with hers. The kiss turned hungry as each absorbed what they had seen from the other. Their mouths mated frantically and hands roamed freely over each other’s bodies. The couch wasn’t big enough and they rolled to the floor, neither particularly noticing the new location.
Ring!
Maria gasped for breath and looked up at the sound of the phone. Michael ignored it and pulled her down for another hot kiss.
Ring!!
Maria pulled away again and glared at the phone. It was calling to her to pick it up and answer it. It was unnatural to not immediately pick up a ringing phone.
“Leave it,” Michael gasped and tried to pull her down again. Maria scooted off of him and reached for the phone, shooting him an apologetic smile.
“He…hmmmhmm,” Maria cleared her throat and tried again, “Hello?”
“Maria? Is that you?” Max asked.
“Yeah, I’m over at Michael’s. We were…talking.” Maria slapped Michael’s wandering hands away and ignored his smirk as he listened to her side of the conversation. “Did you want to speak with Michael?”
“Actually, we wanted to talk to both of you. Can you guys come over to my place?” Max asked.
“Um, sure. Right now?”
“Yeah. And use the entrance behind the garage. Liz and I have the apartment over the garage now so…”
“You guys moved in together?!” Maria squealed with excitement and Michael blocked his ears, rolling his eyes.
“Um, yeah, sort of. We’re working out a way to make sure Liz can be here as much as possible every day. We’re gonna wait to tell her parents for another couple of months.”
“We’ll be right over,” Maria stated and hung up the phone. She scrambled up and put her shoes on, looking at Michael to check his progress. He stood up slowly and moved closer.
“I take it we’re heading over to Max’s?” Michael drawled, reaching out a hand to caress her shoulder.
Maria moved out of the way, not wanting to be distracted. She stood at the door with her hand on the knob and tapped her foot impatiently.
“Move it, Michael! I want to go see their new place!”
“And you’re just going to walk out the door like that?” Michael smiled and gestured to her top.
Maria glanced down and blushed to the roots of her hair. She hurriedly did up the first five buttons of her blouse and raised her chin defiantly.
“Move!”
Michael moved.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“Oh, Liz! I can’t believe this! You’re all grown up with a place to call your own!” Maria gushed after she had taken the ‘grand tour’. “We should get you guys some candles and some flowers for the little table. Oh and do you have dishes?” She went back in the kitchen and opened all the cupboards. There was already an odd assortment of plates, bowls, and cups.
“Come sit down, Maria, Max wants to talk about tomorrow,” Liz watched the enthusiasm die in Maria’s expression replaced by one of grim determination as she remembered what was happening tomorrow.
She went and sat beside Liz, who was curled against Max on the couch. Michael sat across from them on a hard chair from their little kitchen table, and Isabel sat on a small rug on the floor, leaning against the arm of the couch. They all looked at Max expectantly.
“Well, I thought it would be a good idea to go over everything for tomorrow so everyone knows what their part is in this and so it’ll go smoothly.” Max’s hands massaged Liz’s shoulders when he felt her tense.
“Liz is starting her job here at the house tomorrow, so she’ll be in the den working when Tess arrives at four thirty. Liz will meet Maria in the back yard outside my window. Maria, you’ll be the lookout, to make sure no one else is spying on us, and Liz, you’ll watch everything that Tess does to make sure she’s not making me see things.” Maria and Liz nodded.
“When I’ve got what I need from her I’ll suggest we take a ride together out to the pod chamber. I know she’ll go with me. She’ll leap at the chance to be alone with me,” Max cringed at the thought of what Tess wanted to do with him if they were alone together.
“Isabel will follow us out there to back me up in case anything goes wrong.” he tightened his grip on Liz as he felt her tense.
“I’m coming too,” Michael interjected.
“Me too,” Liz added softly, not being able to bear the thought of wondering if Max needed their help.
“No. You’re both staying here. We already talked about this.”
They both started objecting at the same time.
“Are you crazy? You can’t go out in the desert with just you and Isabel! She could do all sorts of things to your mind out there!” Michael objected the loudest.
Max shook his head. “This is my decision, Michael. Liz can’t go…”
“I need to be there for you, Max,” Liz pleaded with him.
Max took her face in his hands and made her look at him. “You are too important to me, Liz. I couldn’t concentrate on what I have to do if I feel like you or our son might be in danger. Please understand that, Liz,” Max’s fear for them vibrated in his tone.
Liz just nodded. Their connection was flaring brightly and his worry was palpable. She wouldn’t do anything that would distract him from his goal. Max sighed in relief and kissed her on the forehead.
“That’s why you’re staying here too, Michael.” Max watched his friend, “You need to be here to protect Liz and our son in case anything happens to me.”
This caused another uproar in the room.
“What do you mean if something happens to you? This is too dangerous. We need another plan,” Isabel insisted.
“No. We have to do this now, and now that we know what the Granolith is capable of we need to use it.” Max’s voice was certain.
Michael was still stuck on Max’s previous statement. “What did you mean ‘take care of Liz and our son’? Are you saying you want us to…” Michael stuttered to a stop.
Max looked from Liz’s hurt expression, to Maria’s stunned one. He nodded slowly, finally turning to Michael.
“Everyone in this room knows how important it is that our son survives. There are thousands of lives out there depending on his growing up and leading the rebellion. It’s bigger than all of us, and we can’t be selfish,” Max stopped, remembering his conversation with Liz that morning. He couldn’t be selfish anymore. He was a father.
“I need to know that if I don’t come back…” Liz shook in his arms, tears streaming down her face, “that you won’t let Liz or the baby die. You need to promise me that you’ll take care of them,” Max’s voice rang with authority.
Michael looked from Max, to Liz huddled in his arms, and finally to Maria. Maria stared back at him, fighting her urge to write her name on his forehead to brand him as hers, and she nodded at him slowly.
“I promise,” he said simply. “But you’d better get your butt back here and do it yourself! There are people here on Earth that are depending on us,” he couldn’t resist adding.
“It is my complete intention to come back here to all of you.” Max smoothed his fingers through Liz’s soft hair and felt her tears soak into the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Are you up for this, Is?” Max questioned seriously.
“I’ll back you up, Max. Tess won’t be a threat after tomorrow,” Isabel’s voice held certainty and her eyes flashed fire. She had a score to settle.
“We have a plan then,” Max sat back and closed his eyes, envisioning what the new day would bring.
TBC
EYA Part 38
Monday morning 4:17am
Max moved restlessly in his sleep, breath harsh. His head tossed sideways on his pillow, his blankets were bunched in his fists. The chords of his neck strained as he screamed in his nightmare, but only a muffled sob escaped his lips. His forehead beaded with sweat and his mouth worked soundlessly, begging.
Diane sat slumped on a chair in Max’s room. She had anticipated his nightmares returning without Liz there to comfort him and so she had slipped into his room silently just after midnight. It had been her full intention to watch over him all night, but the soft regular sounds of Max’s breathing had lulled her unwillingly to sleep at little after three a.m..
Max bolted upright in his bed, breathing hard and stood up immediately, running his shaking hands through his sleep matted hair. He leaned over and rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Diane woke with a start to see her son in distress and was just about to make her presence known when his phone rang loudly in the silent house.
Max reached across quickly to his nightstand and snatched up the receiver.
“Liz,” he panted into the phone, knowing it was her. Diane could hear his end of the conversation.
“I’m sorry I woke you…I know that I can’t control it but I wish it didn’t affect you…Me either,” said on a sigh of relief as he sat back on his bed, his breathing instantly calmer at his connection to Liz. “I love you too….Yeah, I’ll be there by six-thirty….Okay, are you sure?….Six o’clock then….I can’t wait to hold you, touch you…I need you, Liz,” the longing in Max’s tone made Diane begin to feel like she was intruding on something intensely personal. She stood up and cleared her throat to let Max know she was there. The effect was immediate and shocking.
Max gasped out loud and whirled in place, dropping the phone and raising his arm toward the intruder. A vivid green shield immediately divided the room from wall to wall between him and the danger. Wild panic leaped from Max’s eyes, the nightmare too fresh and vivid for him to realize who he was protecting himself from.
Diane let out a startled cry and shielded her face with her arms instinctively, not knowing what would happen next.
“Max?! MAX!!! What’s going on?” Liz’s voice could barely be heard over the harsh panting of Max’s breath, but it was enough to bring him back to reason. He took a closer look at the now huddled form of his mother and dropped the shield immediately. He closed the distance between them swiftly and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and started apologizing.
“Mom! I am so sorry! I didn’t realize…I just had a bad dream, and…I would never hurt you!” Max pulled back, dreading the look that would be in his mother’s eyes. He never wanted her to fear him. He would never bring her harm.
“Max! I know you would never hurt me! I’m sorry I startled you, I just…I wanted you to know I was here before you said anything too private to Liz,” Diane reassured him quickly.
“Liz!” Max ran back and picked up the phone. “Liz? Oh, Liz, I’m sorry about that…My mom…Yeah, she startled me and I…No, don’t worry, everything’s fine now….Yeah, I’ll see you in a little bit….Love you too. Bye.” Max said softly and hung up the phone. He turned back to his mother.
“Did the phone wake you? Liz and I are so connected now that my nightmare woke her up. She was just calling to make sure I was all right,” Max explained.
“The phone? No, I heard you and I thought that maybe you were having a bad dream, or anxiety about everything that’s going to happen today, so I thought I’d check on you,” Diane blurted out. She didn’t think her son would appreciate her staying up all night watching over him, and he didn’t know that she knew about his regular nightmares.
“I must have been yelling in my sleep.” Max scratched the back of his neck, looking at the floor nervously. What had he said? Or screamed. He glanced back up to see if she looked suspicious. She gazed back at him steadily and sat on his bed, patting the place beside her. Max sat down and Diane gave him a huge hug. She knew that his only real comfort was Liz, but maybe she could substitute for today. Max allowed himself to be held for a moment, hugging her back and then pulled away self-consciously.
“You should go back to bed, Mom. I’m just going to go for a run and then shower before I pick up Liz.” Max stood and pulled on jogging shorts over his boxers and a sweatshirt over his T-shirt. He popped his head out of the neck of the shirt and glanced at his mother. She looked tired, but determined.
“Max, you can talk to me about anything. Is there anything you want to tell me about these nightmares you’ve been having?” Diane tried to inject her voice with comforting calm.
Max was startled by her question. She had known that he’d had nightmares? What else did she know about? He shook his head in a gesture of confusion. It was too early to have to deal with this.
“Mom, I….I don’t think…” Max swung his head toward the door as it opened suddenly.
Phillip poked his head in and found his wife and Max.
“Everything okay? I heard the phone,” Phillip asked the two.
“Yeah, Dad. Everything’s good. That was just Liz, checking on me. She knew I was awake and worried so…We’re fine. Mom, you should go back to bed,” Max hoped she would take the hint. He couldn’t tell her anything right now.
Diane watched the curtain fall over her son’s eyes and her shoulders slumped in temporary defeat. She met Phillip at the door and blew Max a kiss over her shoulder. “Be careful on your run, son,” she advised as she closed his door behind them.
Max sat on the bed and rested his head in his hands. Breathe, he commanded himself. The adrenaline from his nightmare and then the scare by his mom was rushing through his system. He got up and searched for his running shoes, finding one by his hamper and the other under the bed. He tied the laces and crawled out his window out of habit. He glanced back in at his room one more time. That was the last night he would spend in his old room. After the meeting today with Tess he planned to move all his things up to the garage apartment. He crossed the darkened backyard and out to the sidewalk where he began to run.
6 a.m.
Max pulled his Jeep to a halt in back of the Crashdown and was immediately greeted with the sight of Liz running across the darkened alley to hop in the passenger side. He pulled her in close for a deep kiss that left her breathless and smiling. She pulled back and looked over his strong features, searching his eyes to see if he was okay. The connection and the reassurance of his physical well-being satisfied her that he was back on an even keel. She sat back as Max shifted the Jeep in gear and rushed back to his house.
“How did your parents take the ‘tutoring’ idea?” Max asked with a sideways glance at Liz. She smiled softly at him before answering. She couldn’t stop looking at him! It felt like they had been parted for days, and not just hours. After waking with him practically every morning for a week it seemed unnatural not to rest cuddled in his arms. Her fingers twined more tightly with his, unconsciously not wanting to let him go again.
“Um…they thought that I might be taking on too much with the new job from four to nine at night, every night, but I told them it was something I really want to do,” Liz’s soft laugh rolled out to him happily. A small grin tugged at his lips.
“So you really want to do it, huh?” Max couldn’t resist teasing.
Liz licked her lips, watching the play of emotions on Max’s face before nodding her head. “Yeah, I really do,” she said, her voice husky with intent.
Max took a deep breath and pulled into his driveway. Taking her hand he let her around to the back entrance to their apartment and led her up the stairs. Opening the door, he waved a hand and candles flamed to life from every available surface. Liz gasped out loud and turned her shining dark eyes to Max.
“It’s beautiful. Perfect!”
Max ducked his head, pleased by her pleasure. “I know you like candles,” he said softly.
“I like you better,” she returned boldly and placed her hands inside his jacket to slip it over his arms. Next, she tugged at the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. Her hands worked busily to shed him of the rest of his clothes and soon he stood before her, magnificently naked and aroused, his body bathed in candlelight that made gorgeous shadows over his well-defined muscles. Liz moved closer and inhaled his scent deeply. “Mmmm…I love how you smell!” She darted her tongue out and lapped at his nipple, causing a pleasured gasp to escape him. She allowed her hands and mouth to roam freely over his torso until finally he took her by the arms and walked backward with her over to their sofa. He sat down and placed her between his knees. Her jacket fell to the floor soundlessly, followed by her blouse and bra. She gasped in a ragged breath as his mouth closed over her nipple. His tongue circled delicately before he sucked it deeply within his mouth. The nipple popped out again, rigid and aroused. He turned his attention to the other one and suckled until she was gasping for air, her hands holding his head to her.
His hands moved to the button of her jeans and the silence was broken by the slow slide of the zipper. He dipped his fingers into the waistband and drew down her jeans and underwear together, leaving her as naked as him. Liz leaned forward over him and took his mouth in a kiss that told him how much she had missed him in their hours apart. She kept her forward motion until he was fully reclined on the sofa and she was lying on top of him. Her hips moved over him in an instinctual gesture of longing. Max’s hip’s mirrored her movements. They continued to arouse and tease each other to greater pleasure until they couldn’t stand not completing the act.
Max slid into her warm tunnel with a sense of coming home. Liz moaned loudly at the completion and began to move over him. Max’s fingers massaged over her hardened nipples, gently plucking and rolling them in the way that always caused a sexy groan. Her sounds of pleasure heightened his own and his hands sought out all the sensitive points on her body that he could reach.
Liz cried out her release and Max continued on, building the friction, stoking the fire for a new explosion. Liz’s thighs trembled with her efforts to quicken her movements. She took him in long, hard strokes, designed to give him the maximum pleasure she could. Max took her hips in his hands to help her movements and they crested together moments later.
Liz collapsed, gasping against Max’s chest. She could hear his rapid heartbeat drumming in her ear. Turning her head, she brushed her lips over his heart and then rested her head on him again.
Max’s arms were wrapped around her and they shared a quiet, peaceful moment. At last they sat up together and talked in hushed tones about what lay ahead.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I think so. As long as I know you and the baby are safe…”
“Max, are you sure? Michael should come with you…”
“No, Liz. You know why he has to stay with you.”
“I don’t think… I could never be with Michael.”
Max kissed her forehead. “You won’t have to be. I’ll always come back for you.”
Liz breathed in his scent again and nodded.
“What if we…” Liz trailed off as an idea formed in her head.
“What?”
“I just thought of this. I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of it before. What if you and I kept a conscious connection while you’re in with Tess? You can use my power to see through her visions because you’d be connected with me. We’ve already proven that you don’t need to be touching me to see what I see as long as we’re fully connected.” Liz’s voice rose in breathless excitement. Maybe this was a way she could help without endangering herself or their son.
Max thought through what she was saying. He wanted to cover all the angles before be agreed to anything. Liz held her breath, waiting for his verdict.
At last he nodded. “I think that might work. If I think she senses anything strange though I’ll break the connection myself,” he warned.
Liz nodded and lay her head back on his chest, a small smile playing over her lips. She would be a part of this after all.
4:00 p.m.
Max and Liz got dressed in their apartment slowly. They lingered over each garment and watched each other’s every movement. They knew that everyone would soon be knocking on their door for final instructions. Liz smoothed the pretty comforter over their new queen sized bed. Diane had been very busy while they were in school that day using her nervous energy to purchase furnishings and linens to be delivered that afternoon to welcome Max and Liz to their new home. They had put the bed to use right away, coming together almost desperately, cherishing every touch, every glance, as if it would be their last.
A knock sounded on the door and Max hugged Liz close before turning to allow Michael, Maria, Isabel, Phillip, and Diane into their apartment.
They sat around the living area and reaffirmed each person’s part in the plan.
4:32 p.m.
The doorbell rang loudly through the house causing everyone within to stiffen their posture and take a fortifying breath.
Max opened the door and smiled welcomingly to Tess. She smiled back as she stepped over the threshold.
“You look good, Max,” Tess complimented, looking over his form-fitting sweater and jeans that molded to his muscular thighs. He had chosen them for comfort and ease of movement, but now she made him feel naked. She nodded her approval and trailed her hand over his chest when she moved past him into the house. Max took a deep breath and turned to face her.
“Thanks. You look nice too,” he told her, praying that it came out sincerely.
She preened happily, flipping her hair back and glancing at him coyly. Max tried not to retch.
“Maybe we should just, uh…” Max gestured to the hall toward his room.
“Yeah, let’s go to your room, Max,” Tess purred, she took his arm and led him away.
“Hello, Tess,” Diane greeted from the doorway to the den.
Tess turned, startled and disappointed that they weren’t alone in the house.
“Hello, Mrs. Evans. Working from home today?” She struggled to remain polite.
“Yes. Phillip and I both are. Are you two going to study?”
Tess tried not to let her frustration show. “Yeah. We’ve got a big project to work on so…”
“Oh. Well, don’t let me keep you.” Diane went back into the den, leaving the door open.
“You didn’t tell me your parents would be here,” Tess hissed, pulling Max around to face her.
“I didn’t know until this afternoon. Will that be a problem?” Max asked innocently. They had all agreed that Tess would be less likely to pull her tricks if she had a larger audience to fool.
“No. I guess not.” Tess was busily rearranging her plans for Max. She had hoped to seduce him into bed with her, but with his parents in the house she would have to wait for a better opportunity to be alone with him. She could still do it, but she didn’t want to divide her attentions between warping Max and his parents at the same time. She wanted to remember this for a long time to come.
Max opened the door to his room and stepped in. He pulled a chair over by the bed and gestured for her to sit on the bed in front of him while he took the chair. He knew that by this time Maria was watching for trespassers in the back yard and Michael and Isabel were waiting in the front. Liz was crouched right outside his window and Max could feel the fear and excitement through their open connection. Be careful, Max! Tess took her seat with her back to the window.
“So where should we begin?” Max started.
“Well…I thought we could start with a connection for the memory retrieval. Take my hands, and breathe deeply. Look into my eyes and think about where we come from, what we know about ourselves. Feel the emotions you felt for me then, remember back…” Tess voice droned on hypnotically. Through Liz, Max knew that Tess wasn’t trying anything funny yet. He reached out slowly to take Tess’ hands and allowed a limited connection. He followed along with her suggestions for a few minutes until he felt her fall deeper into the Antarian memories. He removed a part of his mind, as he had practiced with Liz and began probing gently for memories from Tess.
Rapidly he moved through sequences of her life that he would process later. Her upbringing appalled him. So cold and emotionless. He felt a momentary pang that she had never really had a choice of who she would become. Her fate had been sealed the moment she was created.
He came across many new tricks and things that would aid them in the future. He also saw scenes of her use of Alex that sickened him and strengthened his resolve for what needed to be done this day. He probed deeper for clues that might help him in his fight here on Earth. He wanted to know if she was in league with the skins and what they planned next. He saw her in deep conversation with Nicholas. They were plotting her triumphant return to Antar, carrying Max’s child and marrying Khivar. He felt her smug satisfaction that she had outsmarted all of these stupid humans and aliens on Earth. She would go back triumphant to rule with her chosen king as she had wanted all along when she had plotted against them on Antar.
He moved his full attention back to Tess as he heard her asking him a question.
“…anything, Max?” He caught just the end of her question.
“What? No, sorry. I don’t think I can really concentrate with everyone here, you know?” He answered with practiced ease. He had rehearsed that line several times in his mind already. “Would you mind if maybe we just go out to the pod chamber? No one will disturb us there.” Max almost smiled at the eagerness that lit her face before she carefully schooled her expression back into a casual acceptance.
“Sure, if you think that’ll help you, I mean,” she voiced huskily. She couldn’t believe her good fortune! Her plan was going into action today after all!
They got up and went out to the Jeep.
Come back to me! Liz sent out, filling her thoughts with confidence and love.
Always! Max answered before he started up the Jeep and took off down the road with Tess beside him.
TBC
Monday morning 4:17am
Max moved restlessly in his sleep, breath harsh. His head tossed sideways on his pillow, his blankets were bunched in his fists. The chords of his neck strained as he screamed in his nightmare, but only a muffled sob escaped his lips. His forehead beaded with sweat and his mouth worked soundlessly, begging.
Diane sat slumped on a chair in Max’s room. She had anticipated his nightmares returning without Liz there to comfort him and so she had slipped into his room silently just after midnight. It had been her full intention to watch over him all night, but the soft regular sounds of Max’s breathing had lulled her unwillingly to sleep at little after three a.m..
Max bolted upright in his bed, breathing hard and stood up immediately, running his shaking hands through his sleep matted hair. He leaned over and rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Diane woke with a start to see her son in distress and was just about to make her presence known when his phone rang loudly in the silent house.
Max reached across quickly to his nightstand and snatched up the receiver.
“Liz,” he panted into the phone, knowing it was her. Diane could hear his end of the conversation.
“I’m sorry I woke you…I know that I can’t control it but I wish it didn’t affect you…Me either,” said on a sigh of relief as he sat back on his bed, his breathing instantly calmer at his connection to Liz. “I love you too….Yeah, I’ll be there by six-thirty….Okay, are you sure?….Six o’clock then….I can’t wait to hold you, touch you…I need you, Liz,” the longing in Max’s tone made Diane begin to feel like she was intruding on something intensely personal. She stood up and cleared her throat to let Max know she was there. The effect was immediate and shocking.
Max gasped out loud and whirled in place, dropping the phone and raising his arm toward the intruder. A vivid green shield immediately divided the room from wall to wall between him and the danger. Wild panic leaped from Max’s eyes, the nightmare too fresh and vivid for him to realize who he was protecting himself from.
Diane let out a startled cry and shielded her face with her arms instinctively, not knowing what would happen next.
“Max?! MAX!!! What’s going on?” Liz’s voice could barely be heard over the harsh panting of Max’s breath, but it was enough to bring him back to reason. He took a closer look at the now huddled form of his mother and dropped the shield immediately. He closed the distance between them swiftly and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and started apologizing.
“Mom! I am so sorry! I didn’t realize…I just had a bad dream, and…I would never hurt you!” Max pulled back, dreading the look that would be in his mother’s eyes. He never wanted her to fear him. He would never bring her harm.
“Max! I know you would never hurt me! I’m sorry I startled you, I just…I wanted you to know I was here before you said anything too private to Liz,” Diane reassured him quickly.
“Liz!” Max ran back and picked up the phone. “Liz? Oh, Liz, I’m sorry about that…My mom…Yeah, she startled me and I…No, don’t worry, everything’s fine now….Yeah, I’ll see you in a little bit….Love you too. Bye.” Max said softly and hung up the phone. He turned back to his mother.
“Did the phone wake you? Liz and I are so connected now that my nightmare woke her up. She was just calling to make sure I was all right,” Max explained.
“The phone? No, I heard you and I thought that maybe you were having a bad dream, or anxiety about everything that’s going to happen today, so I thought I’d check on you,” Diane blurted out. She didn’t think her son would appreciate her staying up all night watching over him, and he didn’t know that she knew about his regular nightmares.
“I must have been yelling in my sleep.” Max scratched the back of his neck, looking at the floor nervously. What had he said? Or screamed. He glanced back up to see if she looked suspicious. She gazed back at him steadily and sat on his bed, patting the place beside her. Max sat down and Diane gave him a huge hug. She knew that his only real comfort was Liz, but maybe she could substitute for today. Max allowed himself to be held for a moment, hugging her back and then pulled away self-consciously.
“You should go back to bed, Mom. I’m just going to go for a run and then shower before I pick up Liz.” Max stood and pulled on jogging shorts over his boxers and a sweatshirt over his T-shirt. He popped his head out of the neck of the shirt and glanced at his mother. She looked tired, but determined.
“Max, you can talk to me about anything. Is there anything you want to tell me about these nightmares you’ve been having?” Diane tried to inject her voice with comforting calm.
Max was startled by her question. She had known that he’d had nightmares? What else did she know about? He shook his head in a gesture of confusion. It was too early to have to deal with this.
“Mom, I….I don’t think…” Max swung his head toward the door as it opened suddenly.
Phillip poked his head in and found his wife and Max.
“Everything okay? I heard the phone,” Phillip asked the two.
“Yeah, Dad. Everything’s good. That was just Liz, checking on me. She knew I was awake and worried so…We’re fine. Mom, you should go back to bed,” Max hoped she would take the hint. He couldn’t tell her anything right now.
Diane watched the curtain fall over her son’s eyes and her shoulders slumped in temporary defeat. She met Phillip at the door and blew Max a kiss over her shoulder. “Be careful on your run, son,” she advised as she closed his door behind them.
Max sat on the bed and rested his head in his hands. Breathe, he commanded himself. The adrenaline from his nightmare and then the scare by his mom was rushing through his system. He got up and searched for his running shoes, finding one by his hamper and the other under the bed. He tied the laces and crawled out his window out of habit. He glanced back in at his room one more time. That was the last night he would spend in his old room. After the meeting today with Tess he planned to move all his things up to the garage apartment. He crossed the darkened backyard and out to the sidewalk where he began to run.
6 a.m.
Max pulled his Jeep to a halt in back of the Crashdown and was immediately greeted with the sight of Liz running across the darkened alley to hop in the passenger side. He pulled her in close for a deep kiss that left her breathless and smiling. She pulled back and looked over his strong features, searching his eyes to see if he was okay. The connection and the reassurance of his physical well-being satisfied her that he was back on an even keel. She sat back as Max shifted the Jeep in gear and rushed back to his house.
“How did your parents take the ‘tutoring’ idea?” Max asked with a sideways glance at Liz. She smiled softly at him before answering. She couldn’t stop looking at him! It felt like they had been parted for days, and not just hours. After waking with him practically every morning for a week it seemed unnatural not to rest cuddled in his arms. Her fingers twined more tightly with his, unconsciously not wanting to let him go again.
“Um…they thought that I might be taking on too much with the new job from four to nine at night, every night, but I told them it was something I really want to do,” Liz’s soft laugh rolled out to him happily. A small grin tugged at his lips.
“So you really want to do it, huh?” Max couldn’t resist teasing.
Liz licked her lips, watching the play of emotions on Max’s face before nodding her head. “Yeah, I really do,” she said, her voice husky with intent.
Max took a deep breath and pulled into his driveway. Taking her hand he let her around to the back entrance to their apartment and led her up the stairs. Opening the door, he waved a hand and candles flamed to life from every available surface. Liz gasped out loud and turned her shining dark eyes to Max.
“It’s beautiful. Perfect!”
Max ducked his head, pleased by her pleasure. “I know you like candles,” he said softly.
“I like you better,” she returned boldly and placed her hands inside his jacket to slip it over his arms. Next, she tugged at the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. Her hands worked busily to shed him of the rest of his clothes and soon he stood before her, magnificently naked and aroused, his body bathed in candlelight that made gorgeous shadows over his well-defined muscles. Liz moved closer and inhaled his scent deeply. “Mmmm…I love how you smell!” She darted her tongue out and lapped at his nipple, causing a pleasured gasp to escape him. She allowed her hands and mouth to roam freely over his torso until finally he took her by the arms and walked backward with her over to their sofa. He sat down and placed her between his knees. Her jacket fell to the floor soundlessly, followed by her blouse and bra. She gasped in a ragged breath as his mouth closed over her nipple. His tongue circled delicately before he sucked it deeply within his mouth. The nipple popped out again, rigid and aroused. He turned his attention to the other one and suckled until she was gasping for air, her hands holding his head to her.
His hands moved to the button of her jeans and the silence was broken by the slow slide of the zipper. He dipped his fingers into the waistband and drew down her jeans and underwear together, leaving her as naked as him. Liz leaned forward over him and took his mouth in a kiss that told him how much she had missed him in their hours apart. She kept her forward motion until he was fully reclined on the sofa and she was lying on top of him. Her hips moved over him in an instinctual gesture of longing. Max’s hip’s mirrored her movements. They continued to arouse and tease each other to greater pleasure until they couldn’t stand not completing the act.
Max slid into her warm tunnel with a sense of coming home. Liz moaned loudly at the completion and began to move over him. Max’s fingers massaged over her hardened nipples, gently plucking and rolling them in the way that always caused a sexy groan. Her sounds of pleasure heightened his own and his hands sought out all the sensitive points on her body that he could reach.
Liz cried out her release and Max continued on, building the friction, stoking the fire for a new explosion. Liz’s thighs trembled with her efforts to quicken her movements. She took him in long, hard strokes, designed to give him the maximum pleasure she could. Max took her hips in his hands to help her movements and they crested together moments later.
Liz collapsed, gasping against Max’s chest. She could hear his rapid heartbeat drumming in her ear. Turning her head, she brushed her lips over his heart and then rested her head on him again.
Max’s arms were wrapped around her and they shared a quiet, peaceful moment. At last they sat up together and talked in hushed tones about what lay ahead.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I think so. As long as I know you and the baby are safe…”
“Max, are you sure? Michael should come with you…”
“No, Liz. You know why he has to stay with you.”
“I don’t think… I could never be with Michael.”
Max kissed her forehead. “You won’t have to be. I’ll always come back for you.”
Liz breathed in his scent again and nodded.
“What if we…” Liz trailed off as an idea formed in her head.
“What?”
“I just thought of this. I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of it before. What if you and I kept a conscious connection while you’re in with Tess? You can use my power to see through her visions because you’d be connected with me. We’ve already proven that you don’t need to be touching me to see what I see as long as we’re fully connected.” Liz’s voice rose in breathless excitement. Maybe this was a way she could help without endangering herself or their son.
Max thought through what she was saying. He wanted to cover all the angles before be agreed to anything. Liz held her breath, waiting for his verdict.
At last he nodded. “I think that might work. If I think she senses anything strange though I’ll break the connection myself,” he warned.
Liz nodded and lay her head back on his chest, a small smile playing over her lips. She would be a part of this after all.
4:00 p.m.
Max and Liz got dressed in their apartment slowly. They lingered over each garment and watched each other’s every movement. They knew that everyone would soon be knocking on their door for final instructions. Liz smoothed the pretty comforter over their new queen sized bed. Diane had been very busy while they were in school that day using her nervous energy to purchase furnishings and linens to be delivered that afternoon to welcome Max and Liz to their new home. They had put the bed to use right away, coming together almost desperately, cherishing every touch, every glance, as if it would be their last.
A knock sounded on the door and Max hugged Liz close before turning to allow Michael, Maria, Isabel, Phillip, and Diane into their apartment.
They sat around the living area and reaffirmed each person’s part in the plan.
4:32 p.m.
The doorbell rang loudly through the house causing everyone within to stiffen their posture and take a fortifying breath.
Max opened the door and smiled welcomingly to Tess. She smiled back as she stepped over the threshold.
“You look good, Max,” Tess complimented, looking over his form-fitting sweater and jeans that molded to his muscular thighs. He had chosen them for comfort and ease of movement, but now she made him feel naked. She nodded her approval and trailed her hand over his chest when she moved past him into the house. Max took a deep breath and turned to face her.
“Thanks. You look nice too,” he told her, praying that it came out sincerely.
She preened happily, flipping her hair back and glancing at him coyly. Max tried not to retch.
“Maybe we should just, uh…” Max gestured to the hall toward his room.
“Yeah, let’s go to your room, Max,” Tess purred, she took his arm and led him away.
“Hello, Tess,” Diane greeted from the doorway to the den.
Tess turned, startled and disappointed that they weren’t alone in the house.
“Hello, Mrs. Evans. Working from home today?” She struggled to remain polite.
“Yes. Phillip and I both are. Are you two going to study?”
Tess tried not to let her frustration show. “Yeah. We’ve got a big project to work on so…”
“Oh. Well, don’t let me keep you.” Diane went back into the den, leaving the door open.
“You didn’t tell me your parents would be here,” Tess hissed, pulling Max around to face her.
“I didn’t know until this afternoon. Will that be a problem?” Max asked innocently. They had all agreed that Tess would be less likely to pull her tricks if she had a larger audience to fool.
“No. I guess not.” Tess was busily rearranging her plans for Max. She had hoped to seduce him into bed with her, but with his parents in the house she would have to wait for a better opportunity to be alone with him. She could still do it, but she didn’t want to divide her attentions between warping Max and his parents at the same time. She wanted to remember this for a long time to come.
Max opened the door to his room and stepped in. He pulled a chair over by the bed and gestured for her to sit on the bed in front of him while he took the chair. He knew that by this time Maria was watching for trespassers in the back yard and Michael and Isabel were waiting in the front. Liz was crouched right outside his window and Max could feel the fear and excitement through their open connection. Be careful, Max! Tess took her seat with her back to the window.
“So where should we begin?” Max started.
“Well…I thought we could start with a connection for the memory retrieval. Take my hands, and breathe deeply. Look into my eyes and think about where we come from, what we know about ourselves. Feel the emotions you felt for me then, remember back…” Tess voice droned on hypnotically. Through Liz, Max knew that Tess wasn’t trying anything funny yet. He reached out slowly to take Tess’ hands and allowed a limited connection. He followed along with her suggestions for a few minutes until he felt her fall deeper into the Antarian memories. He removed a part of his mind, as he had practiced with Liz and began probing gently for memories from Tess.
Rapidly he moved through sequences of her life that he would process later. Her upbringing appalled him. So cold and emotionless. He felt a momentary pang that she had never really had a choice of who she would become. Her fate had been sealed the moment she was created.
He came across many new tricks and things that would aid them in the future. He also saw scenes of her use of Alex that sickened him and strengthened his resolve for what needed to be done this day. He probed deeper for clues that might help him in his fight here on Earth. He wanted to know if she was in league with the skins and what they planned next. He saw her in deep conversation with Nicholas. They were plotting her triumphant return to Antar, carrying Max’s child and marrying Khivar. He felt her smug satisfaction that she had outsmarted all of these stupid humans and aliens on Earth. She would go back triumphant to rule with her chosen king as she had wanted all along when she had plotted against them on Antar.
He moved his full attention back to Tess as he heard her asking him a question.
“…anything, Max?” He caught just the end of her question.
“What? No, sorry. I don’t think I can really concentrate with everyone here, you know?” He answered with practiced ease. He had rehearsed that line several times in his mind already. “Would you mind if maybe we just go out to the pod chamber? No one will disturb us there.” Max almost smiled at the eagerness that lit her face before she carefully schooled her expression back into a casual acceptance.
“Sure, if you think that’ll help you, I mean,” she voiced huskily. She couldn’t believe her good fortune! Her plan was going into action today after all!
They got up and went out to the Jeep.
Come back to me! Liz sent out, filling her thoughts with confidence and love.
Always! Max answered before he started up the Jeep and took off down the road with Tess beside him.
TBC
EYA Part 39
5:47 p.m.
Liz watched the Jeep round the corner at the end of the street and was glad to feel strong arms wrap around her. Her legs were shaking and her fear threatened to swamp her. She leaned back against his chest and let her head fall back onto his shoulder. Her eyes were determined, but her hands were trembling with the force of the control she was exerting as she tried to hold back her terror. She didn’t want Max to feel it through the link they maintained, and knew he would work better if he wasn’t worried about her. She tilted her head back until her eyes met Michael’s and she knew instantly that he was feeling helpless and left behind, like her. Michael was a doer, not a sitter, but he had told his king he would protect Liz. His hands linked in front of her, cradling low on her abdomen, reminding them both what was at stake. She rested her hands over his and stared blindly down the deserted road.
Maria watched from several paces away. The sight of Michael and Liz together pulled her in so many directions that she couldn’t pick an emotion to express how she felt about it. She was scared, proud, and jealous as all hell. It was just so…intimate. She knew that they were both feeling loss and needed each others comfort, and it made her feel bad that she was being so petty, but still…She moved closer and ran a comforting hand down Liz’s arm so she could feel a part of the tableau. As she began to pull away, Liz reached out and caught her hand, pulling her in for a hug. Liz held on tight and Michael wrapped his arms around them both.
“He’s scared,” Liz whispered.
Michael led them into the house.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I think it was a great idea to go out to the desert alone,” Tess chattered as they sped down the road. Her left hand trailed up his arm, settling on his shoulder as she tried to catch his eye.
“Um, yeah. More private. I think I’ll be able to concentrate better.” Max was feeling the strain of maintaining a polite façade around Tess. And if she doesn’t stop touching me soon I’m going to hit her, he thought as his body shuddered in revulsion. He shook the thought out of his head and took a deep breath before turning to try to smile at her.
Tess’ smile widened until all her teeth were showing as the satisfaction of feeling his shudder of desire ran through her. This would go so much easier than she had ever anticipated. Max was so weak! She’d make sure he didn’t even remember Liz Parker’s name! She began a massage of the tight muscles in Max’s arm thinking how they would soon be wrapped around her.
Max began to worry that she would sense his connection to Liz if she continued the physical contact.
“Could you look in my glove box for some music?” He blurted out. She needed to stop touching him!
“Oh…sure. Max,” Tess reluctantly released him and opened the glove box. She rooted through it for a few minutes before she found a Gomez cd. Max almost groaned as she started it playing. He didn’t want to associate Tess with Gomez. At least the volume of the music precluded further conversation. The wind began to pick up as they drove further into the desert, the sand dancing in low whirls on the ground and across the road as it was disturbed by their passing.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“He’ll be fine,” Maria reassured her. “It’s Max! BB doesn’t stand a chance! And with Isabel there to back him up? I mean, come on!”
“Yeah. You’re right, Maria. You so totally are. He’s coming home in an hour or two and we can be together without worrying from then on. Right?” Liz needed to hear it again. Maria hugged her tighter and solidly agreed.
Michael sat across from them, staring out the window and allowing his knee to bounce in a nervous release of energy.
“What are they doing right now?” He blurted out suddenly, leaning forward to peer at Liz, suddenly still as he waited for her answer.
Liz stared back at him, but her eyes were turned inward.
“He’s driving. He feels really disgusted by the entire situation. I think, I think she’s touching him or…no she was, but he distracted her with music. They’re listening to Gomez. They’re almost there.” Liz sent Max a wave of reassurance.
“Almost there,” Michael repeated. He leaned back and his knee started bouncing again.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max parked the Jeep and hopped out, immediately heading up the trail to the cave entrance. Tess jumped out and scrambled to catch up with him, her canvas purse bumping her hip as she hurried. He sure was eager to be alone with her! She caught up and grabbed his hand so he would slow down for her.
Fear rolled over Max in a suffocating wave as he worried that she would sense Liz through the connection. He tugged his hand free and severed the connection with Liz. He couldn’t put her in danger.
Tess gave him an odd look. She had felt strong emotions pouring off of him, but it was obvious he didn’t want her to know. Maybe he was nervous about his first time. She’d help him over that.
The cave door rumbled open and they both walked inside. Max led the way further back into the cave toward the Granolith chamber.
“Max? Aren’t you going to close the door?” Tess waved back toward the gaping entrance.
“No. I thought we could leave it open. Fresh air, you know?” Max responded quickly.
Tess arched a brow. Oh well, at least they were the only ones here. The only other people that would ever come out this far were Michael and Isabel, and they’d told her today that Michael had to work and Isabel was spending the day at a friends house.
She ducked through the entrance to the large Granolith chamber and watched Max staring at it. He looked transfixed. She moved in closer and touched his arm. She immediately warped him into thinking she was the hottest girl on the planet. She sent his brain the message that he wanted her and only her and that he needed to possess her now. She moved so that she was directly in front of him and boldly ran her hands up his muscled chest.
Max looked down at her in confusion. Something was not right. He shook his head and tried to think, licking his suddenly dry lips. He had something to do here. Think! He was distracted by Tess’ hands as they traveled over his chest. His breathing hitched and she put her hands behind his neck to pull his lips down to hers.
Tess’ fingers snagged in the cord of the necklace Max had worn for almost a week now. She followed the cord around to pull the stone out from where it had hidden just under his collar. Her eyes widened as she took in the alienness of the bauble. She touched her finger to it and was instantly shocked by the force of a strong electrical current and thrown back to land on her butt several feet away. Tess gasped, her eyes widening in horror. She scrambled awkwardly to her feet and backed away further, until the wall of the chamber stopped her progress.
It’s impossible! Her mind wanted to reject the flash she had received when she had dared to touch the stone. Max and Liz and a…a…baby? A son! That was supposed to be her son! Her eyes flashed with rage and her fingers curled into claws as she advanced toward Max. She would kill him herself and then take the baby from Liz! A growl forced its way out of her throat.
Max was instantly jolted back to himself when Tess touched the communication stone. He watched her recoil in horror and then moved into action when he saw the murderous glint in her eyes. It’s too soon! His mind screamed at him. There was no way that Isabel had made it into the chamber yet!
“You lying bastard! You’ve been with Liz this whole time! You think you’re going to get away with making a fool of me? You’re going to pay for this and then I’m going to make Liz pay. She’s never going to see your son!” Tess’ eyes narrowed as she tried to focus her rage enough to unleash a mind-shattering warp on Max.
Max moved closer to the Granolith and slapped his hand on it. He kept his eyes on Tess watching her concentrating her powers. He focused inward and channeled the power of the Granolith into himself as Alex’s research had shown him. The Granolith began to glow with a blue-white light that steadily got stronger.
Tess unleashed a monstrous blast at him, fully expecting him to crumple into a lifeless heap on the ground. The blast made Max stagger back a step, but he didn’t release his hold on the Granolith and the light flared brightly as it absorbed the shock and channeled the power back into Max.
Max felt the hair all over his body rise as the power rushed into him. His pupils dilated to cover his iris’s causing his eyes to appear black and alien. His lips began the chant that would trigger the power outward from the Granolith to his target.
“Jihadima aracma jarindafe dai,” he chanted the words steadily. The Antarian words rolled from his tongue as if born to him. My enemy shall be destroyed.
Tess recoiled in horror as the realization of what Max was doing rolled over her. She scrambled back again pulling at her canvas purse, her hands shook so badly that she spilled half the contents in search of what she needed.
“Max!” Isabel rushed in to find the Granolith glowing with an unholy light. She ran behind him and placed her hand close to his. She pulled in the power as fast as she could and chanted with Max.
“Jihadima aracma jarindafe dai!” Their voices rose together and echoed in the stone chamber, feeling the power rising within the long-dormant Granolith.
Tess’ stubby fingers wrapped around the object she had been searching for and she pulled it forth triumphantly. The device was larger than her hand, but compact. Nacedo had provided it to her in the event she would need to kill her fellow podsters before they headed back to their planet. The device rose off her palms as the energy pulsed through it. It darted forward, exploding with light just as Max and Isabel hurled the killing force of the Granolith directly at Tess.
The energy whipped through the room, stirring clouds of dust up from the stone floor and blinding them all with light. The walls of the chamber shook and loose rocks tumbled around them.
Max heard Tess cry out in terror and watched her fall to the ground writhing in agony. Max’s knees crumpled underneath him and he went down hard, surprise careening through every fiber of his being. The chamber went black and the last thing he heard was Isabel thudding to the ground behind him.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“He’s gone!” Liz gasped out in terror. The emptiness inside her mind echoed mockingly back at her. She had felt when he had consciously removed their purposeful connection. She’d even understood it, but she had still retained a sense of Max. It was as much a part of her as their son. Now that connection was just…gone. She turned hollow eyes toward the sound of Maria’s voice and found her legs would no longer support her. The room went black and she fell.
Michael leaped forward to catch Liz in his arms before she hit the ground. He carried her to the couch and stared at the frightened faces of Maria, Diane, and Phillip.
“What should we do, Michael?” Maria’s voice came out high pitched and scared.
“I don’t…I…We need to go to him!” Michael rasped out, torn between his promise to take care of Liz and his duty to his king.
Phillip was already grabbing his car keys. “I’ll go out there myself. You all stay here.” He rushed to the door before realizing he didn’t really know where he was going.
“Where?” He turned helplessly.
Michael grabbed Phillip’s head at the temples and concentrated on the location. He stared into his eyes and willed him to know where to go.
Phillip nodded. “I’ve got it!” He ran out the door and left it swinging open behind him.
Diane wrung her hands and tears streamed down her face. Her entire family was in jeopardy. How could it all have gone so wrong? She knelt before the sofa and began chafing Liz’s cold hands between hers. Liz moaned and turned her head restlessly before her eyes opened. Realization swept freshly through her and the tears rained over her face.
Two hours later
Michael sat in the overstuffed chair in the living room holding Maria tightly to him. They both watched Liz rocking herself back and forth on the couch. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was humming Creed’s ‘With Arms Wide Open’ under her breath over and over. She would not let anyone touch her.
“I don’t know what to do! There has to be a way to help her!” Maria whispered in despair.
Michael shook his head. Liz wouldn’t listen to anyone right now and when they went anywhere near her she freaked out screaming for them to get back, stay away from her! Diane had tried to call Phillip’s cell phone to find out what was going on, but when she dialed it the phone rang from the table in the entry. Phillip had forgotten it in his rush to aid his children.
Now all they could do was wait.
TBC
5:47 p.m.
Liz watched the Jeep round the corner at the end of the street and was glad to feel strong arms wrap around her. Her legs were shaking and her fear threatened to swamp her. She leaned back against his chest and let her head fall back onto his shoulder. Her eyes were determined, but her hands were trembling with the force of the control she was exerting as she tried to hold back her terror. She didn’t want Max to feel it through the link they maintained, and knew he would work better if he wasn’t worried about her. She tilted her head back until her eyes met Michael’s and she knew instantly that he was feeling helpless and left behind, like her. Michael was a doer, not a sitter, but he had told his king he would protect Liz. His hands linked in front of her, cradling low on her abdomen, reminding them both what was at stake. She rested her hands over his and stared blindly down the deserted road.
Maria watched from several paces away. The sight of Michael and Liz together pulled her in so many directions that she couldn’t pick an emotion to express how she felt about it. She was scared, proud, and jealous as all hell. It was just so…intimate. She knew that they were both feeling loss and needed each others comfort, and it made her feel bad that she was being so petty, but still…She moved closer and ran a comforting hand down Liz’s arm so she could feel a part of the tableau. As she began to pull away, Liz reached out and caught her hand, pulling her in for a hug. Liz held on tight and Michael wrapped his arms around them both.
“He’s scared,” Liz whispered.
Michael led them into the house.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“I think it was a great idea to go out to the desert alone,” Tess chattered as they sped down the road. Her left hand trailed up his arm, settling on his shoulder as she tried to catch his eye.
“Um, yeah. More private. I think I’ll be able to concentrate better.” Max was feeling the strain of maintaining a polite façade around Tess. And if she doesn’t stop touching me soon I’m going to hit her, he thought as his body shuddered in revulsion. He shook the thought out of his head and took a deep breath before turning to try to smile at her.
Tess’ smile widened until all her teeth were showing as the satisfaction of feeling his shudder of desire ran through her. This would go so much easier than she had ever anticipated. Max was so weak! She’d make sure he didn’t even remember Liz Parker’s name! She began a massage of the tight muscles in Max’s arm thinking how they would soon be wrapped around her.
Max began to worry that she would sense his connection to Liz if she continued the physical contact.
“Could you look in my glove box for some music?” He blurted out. She needed to stop touching him!
“Oh…sure. Max,” Tess reluctantly released him and opened the glove box. She rooted through it for a few minutes before she found a Gomez cd. Max almost groaned as she started it playing. He didn’t want to associate Tess with Gomez. At least the volume of the music precluded further conversation. The wind began to pick up as they drove further into the desert, the sand dancing in low whirls on the ground and across the road as it was disturbed by their passing.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“He’ll be fine,” Maria reassured her. “It’s Max! BB doesn’t stand a chance! And with Isabel there to back him up? I mean, come on!”
“Yeah. You’re right, Maria. You so totally are. He’s coming home in an hour or two and we can be together without worrying from then on. Right?” Liz needed to hear it again. Maria hugged her tighter and solidly agreed.
Michael sat across from them, staring out the window and allowing his knee to bounce in a nervous release of energy.
“What are they doing right now?” He blurted out suddenly, leaning forward to peer at Liz, suddenly still as he waited for her answer.
Liz stared back at him, but her eyes were turned inward.
“He’s driving. He feels really disgusted by the entire situation. I think, I think she’s touching him or…no she was, but he distracted her with music. They’re listening to Gomez. They’re almost there.” Liz sent Max a wave of reassurance.
“Almost there,” Michael repeated. He leaned back and his knee started bouncing again.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Max parked the Jeep and hopped out, immediately heading up the trail to the cave entrance. Tess jumped out and scrambled to catch up with him, her canvas purse bumping her hip as she hurried. He sure was eager to be alone with her! She caught up and grabbed his hand so he would slow down for her.
Fear rolled over Max in a suffocating wave as he worried that she would sense Liz through the connection. He tugged his hand free and severed the connection with Liz. He couldn’t put her in danger.
Tess gave him an odd look. She had felt strong emotions pouring off of him, but it was obvious he didn’t want her to know. Maybe he was nervous about his first time. She’d help him over that.
The cave door rumbled open and they both walked inside. Max led the way further back into the cave toward the Granolith chamber.
“Max? Aren’t you going to close the door?” Tess waved back toward the gaping entrance.
“No. I thought we could leave it open. Fresh air, you know?” Max responded quickly.
Tess arched a brow. Oh well, at least they were the only ones here. The only other people that would ever come out this far were Michael and Isabel, and they’d told her today that Michael had to work and Isabel was spending the day at a friends house.
She ducked through the entrance to the large Granolith chamber and watched Max staring at it. He looked transfixed. She moved in closer and touched his arm. She immediately warped him into thinking she was the hottest girl on the planet. She sent his brain the message that he wanted her and only her and that he needed to possess her now. She moved so that she was directly in front of him and boldly ran her hands up his muscled chest.
Max looked down at her in confusion. Something was not right. He shook his head and tried to think, licking his suddenly dry lips. He had something to do here. Think! He was distracted by Tess’ hands as they traveled over his chest. His breathing hitched and she put her hands behind his neck to pull his lips down to hers.
Tess’ fingers snagged in the cord of the necklace Max had worn for almost a week now. She followed the cord around to pull the stone out from where it had hidden just under his collar. Her eyes widened as she took in the alienness of the bauble. She touched her finger to it and was instantly shocked by the force of a strong electrical current and thrown back to land on her butt several feet away. Tess gasped, her eyes widening in horror. She scrambled awkwardly to her feet and backed away further, until the wall of the chamber stopped her progress.
It’s impossible! Her mind wanted to reject the flash she had received when she had dared to touch the stone. Max and Liz and a…a…baby? A son! That was supposed to be her son! Her eyes flashed with rage and her fingers curled into claws as she advanced toward Max. She would kill him herself and then take the baby from Liz! A growl forced its way out of her throat.
Max was instantly jolted back to himself when Tess touched the communication stone. He watched her recoil in horror and then moved into action when he saw the murderous glint in her eyes. It’s too soon! His mind screamed at him. There was no way that Isabel had made it into the chamber yet!
“You lying bastard! You’ve been with Liz this whole time! You think you’re going to get away with making a fool of me? You’re going to pay for this and then I’m going to make Liz pay. She’s never going to see your son!” Tess’ eyes narrowed as she tried to focus her rage enough to unleash a mind-shattering warp on Max.
Max moved closer to the Granolith and slapped his hand on it. He kept his eyes on Tess watching her concentrating her powers. He focused inward and channeled the power of the Granolith into himself as Alex’s research had shown him. The Granolith began to glow with a blue-white light that steadily got stronger.
Tess unleashed a monstrous blast at him, fully expecting him to crumple into a lifeless heap on the ground. The blast made Max stagger back a step, but he didn’t release his hold on the Granolith and the light flared brightly as it absorbed the shock and channeled the power back into Max.
Max felt the hair all over his body rise as the power rushed into him. His pupils dilated to cover his iris’s causing his eyes to appear black and alien. His lips began the chant that would trigger the power outward from the Granolith to his target.
“Jihadima aracma jarindafe dai,” he chanted the words steadily. The Antarian words rolled from his tongue as if born to him. My enemy shall be destroyed.
Tess recoiled in horror as the realization of what Max was doing rolled over her. She scrambled back again pulling at her canvas purse, her hands shook so badly that she spilled half the contents in search of what she needed.
“Max!” Isabel rushed in to find the Granolith glowing with an unholy light. She ran behind him and placed her hand close to his. She pulled in the power as fast as she could and chanted with Max.
“Jihadima aracma jarindafe dai!” Their voices rose together and echoed in the stone chamber, feeling the power rising within the long-dormant Granolith.
Tess’ stubby fingers wrapped around the object she had been searching for and she pulled it forth triumphantly. The device was larger than her hand, but compact. Nacedo had provided it to her in the event she would need to kill her fellow podsters before they headed back to their planet. The device rose off her palms as the energy pulsed through it. It darted forward, exploding with light just as Max and Isabel hurled the killing force of the Granolith directly at Tess.
The energy whipped through the room, stirring clouds of dust up from the stone floor and blinding them all with light. The walls of the chamber shook and loose rocks tumbled around them.
Max heard Tess cry out in terror and watched her fall to the ground writhing in agony. Max’s knees crumpled underneath him and he went down hard, surprise careening through every fiber of his being. The chamber went black and the last thing he heard was Isabel thudding to the ground behind him.
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
“He’s gone!” Liz gasped out in terror. The emptiness inside her mind echoed mockingly back at her. She had felt when he had consciously removed their purposeful connection. She’d even understood it, but she had still retained a sense of Max. It was as much a part of her as their son. Now that connection was just…gone. She turned hollow eyes toward the sound of Maria’s voice and found her legs would no longer support her. The room went black and she fell.
Michael leaped forward to catch Liz in his arms before she hit the ground. He carried her to the couch and stared at the frightened faces of Maria, Diane, and Phillip.
“What should we do, Michael?” Maria’s voice came out high pitched and scared.
“I don’t…I…We need to go to him!” Michael rasped out, torn between his promise to take care of Liz and his duty to his king.
Phillip was already grabbing his car keys. “I’ll go out there myself. You all stay here.” He rushed to the door before realizing he didn’t really know where he was going.
“Where?” He turned helplessly.
Michael grabbed Phillip’s head at the temples and concentrated on the location. He stared into his eyes and willed him to know where to go.
Phillip nodded. “I’ve got it!” He ran out the door and left it swinging open behind him.
Diane wrung her hands and tears streamed down her face. Her entire family was in jeopardy. How could it all have gone so wrong? She knelt before the sofa and began chafing Liz’s cold hands between hers. Liz moaned and turned her head restlessly before her eyes opened. Realization swept freshly through her and the tears rained over her face.
Two hours later
Michael sat in the overstuffed chair in the living room holding Maria tightly to him. They both watched Liz rocking herself back and forth on the couch. Her arms were wrapped around herself and she was humming Creed’s ‘With Arms Wide Open’ under her breath over and over. She would not let anyone touch her.
“I don’t know what to do! There has to be a way to help her!” Maria whispered in despair.
Michael shook his head. Liz wouldn’t listen to anyone right now and when they went anywhere near her she freaked out screaming for them to get back, stay away from her! Diane had tried to call Phillip’s cell phone to find out what was going on, but when she dialed it the phone rang from the table in the entry. Phillip had forgotten it in his rush to aid his children.
Now all they could do was wait.
TBC
EYA Part 40
It started just before five in the morning. Liz’s sleeping form began to toss restlessly on the couch, her eyes moving behind the lids, hands pushing her hair back from her flushed face. She moaned softly under her breath.
The sound of her quiet moan woke Michael instantly from a light doze he had fallen into on the floor. He was vaguely surprised that they had fallen asleep at all, but all those hours of nervous, tense waiting had taken their toll and everyone had fallen asleep where they sat. He sat up carefully, trying not to wake Maria, and shifted her head gently from his lap to a throw pillow on the carpet. Maria adjusted her position and opened her eyes slowly, slightly disoriented. She blinked her eyes to clear them from sleep and sat up also. Her eyes fell on Michael who was crouching on the floor in front of the couch, staring at Liz. His eyes were wild when he glanced back at Maria.
“Oh no!” Maria breathed softy. Understanding flashed between them.
“What are we going to do?” Michael implored her, needing an answer.
“You’re not affected yet?” Maria questioned as she crawled across the floor toward Michael.
Michael assessed his own condition. He was warm, but not fevered. Probably just from anxiety. Yeah. That had to be it. And stress.
“I’m fine, so far,” he told her, not looking fine.
“Okay, that means that its just started. You don’t get affected until a half hour, forty-five minutes after Max and Liz, right?”
“Yeah. I think. We don’t know how this works!” Michael sounded desperate.
“Mr. Evans should be back anytime now from the desert. I’m sure he’ll bring them back.” Maria tried to interject a positive note into her voice, inwardly praying that she was right.
“It’s already been too long! What are we gonna do?” Michael asked again, gently brushing Liz’s hair away from her face again, unable to look away.
“We are not going to panic. This only gets worse, right?” Maria motioned toward Liz.
“Yeah, the last time she fainted before I put her in the bathtub. That helped for a few minutes. Do you think she needs a bath?” Michael stood, ready to scoop Liz into his arms and carry her to the tub.
Maria reached out a restraining arm and held Michael back.
“Maybe we should hold off on that for a while. I’ll go into the kitchen to get an ice pack and we’ll try to keep her cool from here. We have twenty-four hours, right? That’s a lot of time, I know Max would never leave her alone longer than that, no matter what’s happening to him.”
“Is it twenty-four hours from the fever starting, or twenty-four hours between baby feedings?” Michael’s hair was a wreck from raking his fingers through it nervously, and he couldn’t think.
“I…I thought they said from the fever starting. I don’t remember!” Maria started to panic.
“You didn’t see her the last time. She was in really bad shape, and she’d only been fevered for maybe three hours tops.” Michael still couldn’t take his eyes off Liz’s restless form.
“Max,” Liz moaned, turning her head as if searching for him.
“Shhh…It’s okay, it’s alright.” Michael dropped to his knees to murmur in her ear, stroking her hair gently. Maria was shocked by the tenderness in his voice and touch. This was a new side of Michael. Liz quieted under his care, her body momentarily still.
“I’ll go get the ice pack.” Maria bolted from the room, conflicting emotions roiling through her. It was stupid to be jealous of the way Michael touched and soothed Liz. Liz was obviously in need of his comfort right now and she was grateful that Michael could give it to her. She was. Really. It was just strange that he could barely bring himself to show that side of himself to her. Maybe it was time to have another talk with him. He’d said he wanted her to know the real Michael. Inside. She desperately wanted to feel that closer connection with him again. Her hands shook as she dropped ice into a plastic bag and wrapped it in a towel.
Returning to the living room she stopped in the doorway, frozen by the sight of Michael sitting on the couch, cradling Liz in his arms. Michael’s eyes met hers across the room, and she shivered at the fevered gleam she saw in them. She shook herself free of doubts and misgivings and raced across the room with the ice.
“I’ll get another ice pack,” she offered hurriedly. She shoved the pack she was holding into Michael’s outstretched palm and ran back to the kitchen to prepare another one. Her thoughts raced. As she delivered the second ice pack to a grateful Michael she bolted up the stairs to find Mrs. Evans. This was going to be a rough morning, and she needed the support.
Thirteen hours later…6:07 p.m.
“Ma...Max?” Isabel croaked out, her voice raspy as she reached out a hand without opening her eyes, sweeping it across the ground in front of her. Something was wrong, very wrong, and all she could think of was Max. Something had happened with…
“Oh my God! Max! Max?” Isabel sat up abruptly, trying to gain her feet. She fell back again, dizzy and awkward and stayed on her hands and knees, searching for Max. Her eyes swept over the rough stone floor and landed on her brother, lying crumpled on the floor across the cavern.
“Max?” Isabel crawled across the stone floor to get to him, not yet trusting her balance. Reaching him, she pulled him over until he was on his back, her hands slipping on his sweat-soaked skin. His eyes remained closed, but his lips were moving soundlessly. She leaned in closer, trying to make out what he was saying. He’s burning up!
“Liz…Liz…Liz…” Max kept mouthing over and over, no sound escaping his lips.
No! This was the worst possible timing. Max was in heat again over Liz! They had to get out of here and get him to her or…no; that did not bear thinking about. Pulling in a huge, fortifying breath Isabel pulled Max’s head into her lap. She slapped his cheeks lightly, talking to him constantly, trying to pull him out of the stupor he was in. “Come on, Max! Wake up. Please wake up.” Isabel began rocking him in her lap while silent tears dripped down her face onto his still form. After fifteen minutes, he still had not roused.
Isabel’s brain started working again, clearing from the fog of shock that had engulfed her. Gotta get Max out of here. Gotta get him to the door. Isabel, very gently and very carefully, laid Max’s head back onto the cold stone floor. She scooted back and used the cave wall to support her awkward steps to the entrance. She stared at the closed door in confusion. She knew she had left it open after she came in. She reached up and placed her palm over the hand mark that began glowing on the wall and was blinded by the light of day as the door slid open. Her arm went up to shield her eyes and she thought she saw the shadow of movement back lit by the blinding sun.
“Isabel! Thank God you’re okay! I couldn’t get in! I…I tried, but I couldn’t…” Phillip ran through the entrance and swept her into his arms as soon as it had widened enough. He ran his hands over her back, checking for injuries and then held her away from him. “Where’s Max?” He questioned grimly.
Isabel’s tear streaked face collapsed into new sobs as she hugged her father one more time. She quickly grabbed his hand and led him back to Max.
“You have to help him, Daddy,” Isabel sobbed.
“Oh my G…Max!” Phillip couldn’t believe that his strong son, who was never sick, could look so helpless and…broken.
Phillip leaned down and pulled his son into his arms, shocked by the heat that was pouring off of him. “Max! Max? Wake up son!” Phillip reached around to cradle him into his arms like a child. He staggered as he stood with Max in his arms and led the way out of the dark cave.
As he lay Max in the car across the back seat Max began to moan and his eyes flickered open, squinting in the light. He glanced around vaguely, looking for something. “Liz?”
Isabel cried again at the desperate, lost shudder in Max’s voice, shaking in relief that he was conscious.
“We’re going to her now, Max. Just hang on okay?” Isabel crowded into the back of the car, crouching on the floor in front of the seat he lay sprawled on.
“Where is she, Is? She needs me,” Max’s husky voice was desperate and his eyes begged her to find Liz for him.
“She’s at our house, Max. I’ll get you there as fast as I can,” Phillip said as he got into the car and started the engine.
Max struggled to sit. A wave of dizziness washed over him and he slumped sideways in his seat. Isabel reached out to straighten the drunken angle of his posture and tried to summon any energy that she could to try to transfer it to him.
“Max. Max!” Max’s eyes swung to Isabel at her imperious tone. “Can you try to heal yourself?”
“So hot, Is. I’m so hot. She needs me, Is. They need me. I have to be with her now.” Sweat dripped down his face and he couldn’t summon the energy to move his hands to wipe it away. He hung on to Isabel’s arms for balance as the car swayed into motion.
“Max! You have to focus! You have to try! Can you heal yourself?” Isabel was desperate. Max had taken the brunt of the blast that was meant to kill them both.
“I…don’t…don’t know, Is,” Max’s voice was weak and his head fell back onto the car seat.
“Max! Don’t pass out again, okay? Liz needs you to stay strong!” She didn’t even feel guilty using Liz’s name to goad him into cooperation when she saw Max struggle to open his eyes again. He needed to stay conscious so that he could heal the injuries that Tess had inflicted on him.
“Look at me. Look at me, Max!” Max swung his eyes toward Isabel with a great effort, blinking drunkenly.
“Good! Okay, try to feel the energy I’m going to give you, okay?” Isabel held both his arms in hers and concentrated. It was very difficult, the damage she had sustained had weakened her considerably, but Max needed this more than she did.
Max took a heaving breath as he felt the raw energy permeating his being. It flowed around him, shoring up the weak spots. He rallied some until he realized what it was doing to Isabel. He pushed her hands off of him and sat up weakly on his own.
“Isabel, you have to stop! We need you too!” Isabel lay her head in his lap, barely conscious after what she had done.
Max rested his hand in her hair and lay his head back again, closing his eyes. I’m coming, Liz!
Back at the Evans house
“She’s getting so much worse!” Maria exclaimed worriedly. They had moved her up to the apartment and she had calmed slightly when Max’s scent surrounded her from their new bed as she buried her face in his pillow. Michael huddled across the room in a chair, miserable and sweating and unable to move his eyes from Liz. His wretched expression clearly revealed his inner battle to fight his urge to be with Liz. They could wait awhile longer. They could. Michael shuddered again, clamping his teeth in concentration.
Liz lay unmoving now on the bed, covered in sweat. They had removed most of her clothes to make her as comfortable as possible and she lay on top of the sheets in only her bra and underwear. She writhed on the bed in pain occasionally, turning her head back and forth in search of something that wasn’t there.
Diane sat beside Liz, brushing her hair back and bathing her body with a cold washcloth. She was past crying, beyond worried. If Liz and this child died she knew her son could not go on. She prayed he was still alive to…No! She couldn’t allow herself to doubt right now. Her children were strong and they were coming back to her any minute!
Liz struggled to sit, barely able to open her eyes. She inhaled strongly as if attempting to scent something in the air. She moved closer to Diane taking a breath and her brow furrowed in a dissatisfied grimace. She crawled across the bed to Maria and inhaled again. Same reaction. Her eyes lit on Michael across the room and she struggled off the bed.
“Liz, honey! You shouldn’t try to move.” Maria was pushed aside as Liz staggered over to Michael. She breathed him in and sighed in satisfaction, crawling into his lap. She curled up there and rested her head under his chin. Michael’s arms encircled her naturally, gratefully, both getting what they needed for that single moment in time.
Maria’s eyes couldn’t let go of the sight before her. Michael wrapped around Liz like she belonged in his arms. Liz taking momentary comfort from the pain she was experiencing. She’d stopped asking for Max about an hour before, and her body was getting weaker and weaker. Diane left the room to get more ice, and Maria could see the tears streaking her face.
Maria stood up, suddenly decisive. “That’s it! We have to do something. Get up, Michael.” She hauled him to his feet, still cradling Liz. “Put her over on the bed. You can still hold her,” she added as he shot her a desperate look. Michael sat down with Liz on the soft mattress and held her to his chest. “You have to do it. You have to help her. Now.” Michael gave Maria a disbelieving look, sure she didn’t mean it. Maria’s mind whirled with the idea. She ran out of the room.
Michael looked down at Liz, so helpless. The urge to give her what she needed and end all this needless suffering was overpowering. He stood and slowly unbuttoned his jeans, hands shaking, and started to lower them over his hips.
Maria came running back in just then and stood, shocked, in the doorway.
“What the hell are you doing?!” She exclaimed in horror.
“I’m…you…what did you think I was gonna…? You said we had to do it!” Michael was distinctly uncomfortable with the situation, but he was unwilling to let Liz suffer any longer.
“I meant with this!” Maria beat him on the shoulder with a turkey baster. “You can just fill it up and I’ll inject it. It should solve everything. Jeez, Michael!” Maria shook her head. It was noble, sort of, that he had been willing to do that for Liz, but still!
Michael fended off Maria’s attack and saw the possibilities of the plan. He grabbed the baster out of her hands and took it into the bathroom.
“It’s okay, Liz.” Maria sat beside her to comfort. “We’ll take care of you and your son.”
Liz moaned in pain, clutching her stomach. Her eyes went wide and her nostrils flared as she took in a large breath. She struggled to sit up again.
“Max?” She fought against Maria’s restraining hands to get off the bed. “MAX!!”
“Liz, honey! You’re in no shape to go wandering around.” Maria was having a difficult time holding her down.
“Max! He’s here.” Liz subsided against the bed, too weak to continue, knowing that Max was on his way.
Maria looked at her in disbelief and then turned to the doorway as she heard a commotion on the stairs leading up to the apartment. Her eyes widened again as Phillip and Isabel supported a staggering Max as he stumbled into the room. They led him to the bed where he closed the distance that separated him from Liz.
TBC
It started just before five in the morning. Liz’s sleeping form began to toss restlessly on the couch, her eyes moving behind the lids, hands pushing her hair back from her flushed face. She moaned softly under her breath.
The sound of her quiet moan woke Michael instantly from a light doze he had fallen into on the floor. He was vaguely surprised that they had fallen asleep at all, but all those hours of nervous, tense waiting had taken their toll and everyone had fallen asleep where they sat. He sat up carefully, trying not to wake Maria, and shifted her head gently from his lap to a throw pillow on the carpet. Maria adjusted her position and opened her eyes slowly, slightly disoriented. She blinked her eyes to clear them from sleep and sat up also. Her eyes fell on Michael who was crouching on the floor in front of the couch, staring at Liz. His eyes were wild when he glanced back at Maria.
“Oh no!” Maria breathed softy. Understanding flashed between them.
“What are we going to do?” Michael implored her, needing an answer.
“You’re not affected yet?” Maria questioned as she crawled across the floor toward Michael.
Michael assessed his own condition. He was warm, but not fevered. Probably just from anxiety. Yeah. That had to be it. And stress.
“I’m fine, so far,” he told her, not looking fine.
“Okay, that means that its just started. You don’t get affected until a half hour, forty-five minutes after Max and Liz, right?”
“Yeah. I think. We don’t know how this works!” Michael sounded desperate.
“Mr. Evans should be back anytime now from the desert. I’m sure he’ll bring them back.” Maria tried to interject a positive note into her voice, inwardly praying that she was right.
“It’s already been too long! What are we gonna do?” Michael asked again, gently brushing Liz’s hair away from her face again, unable to look away.
“We are not going to panic. This only gets worse, right?” Maria motioned toward Liz.
“Yeah, the last time she fainted before I put her in the bathtub. That helped for a few minutes. Do you think she needs a bath?” Michael stood, ready to scoop Liz into his arms and carry her to the tub.
Maria reached out a restraining arm and held Michael back.
“Maybe we should hold off on that for a while. I’ll go into the kitchen to get an ice pack and we’ll try to keep her cool from here. We have twenty-four hours, right? That’s a lot of time, I know Max would never leave her alone longer than that, no matter what’s happening to him.”
“Is it twenty-four hours from the fever starting, or twenty-four hours between baby feedings?” Michael’s hair was a wreck from raking his fingers through it nervously, and he couldn’t think.
“I…I thought they said from the fever starting. I don’t remember!” Maria started to panic.
“You didn’t see her the last time. She was in really bad shape, and she’d only been fevered for maybe three hours tops.” Michael still couldn’t take his eyes off Liz’s restless form.
“Max,” Liz moaned, turning her head as if searching for him.
“Shhh…It’s okay, it’s alright.” Michael dropped to his knees to murmur in her ear, stroking her hair gently. Maria was shocked by the tenderness in his voice and touch. This was a new side of Michael. Liz quieted under his care, her body momentarily still.
“I’ll go get the ice pack.” Maria bolted from the room, conflicting emotions roiling through her. It was stupid to be jealous of the way Michael touched and soothed Liz. Liz was obviously in need of his comfort right now and she was grateful that Michael could give it to her. She was. Really. It was just strange that he could barely bring himself to show that side of himself to her. Maybe it was time to have another talk with him. He’d said he wanted her to know the real Michael. Inside. She desperately wanted to feel that closer connection with him again. Her hands shook as she dropped ice into a plastic bag and wrapped it in a towel.
Returning to the living room she stopped in the doorway, frozen by the sight of Michael sitting on the couch, cradling Liz in his arms. Michael’s eyes met hers across the room, and she shivered at the fevered gleam she saw in them. She shook herself free of doubts and misgivings and raced across the room with the ice.
“I’ll get another ice pack,” she offered hurriedly. She shoved the pack she was holding into Michael’s outstretched palm and ran back to the kitchen to prepare another one. Her thoughts raced. As she delivered the second ice pack to a grateful Michael she bolted up the stairs to find Mrs. Evans. This was going to be a rough morning, and she needed the support.
Thirteen hours later…6:07 p.m.
“Ma...Max?” Isabel croaked out, her voice raspy as she reached out a hand without opening her eyes, sweeping it across the ground in front of her. Something was wrong, very wrong, and all she could think of was Max. Something had happened with…
“Oh my God! Max! Max?” Isabel sat up abruptly, trying to gain her feet. She fell back again, dizzy and awkward and stayed on her hands and knees, searching for Max. Her eyes swept over the rough stone floor and landed on her brother, lying crumpled on the floor across the cavern.
“Max?” Isabel crawled across the stone floor to get to him, not yet trusting her balance. Reaching him, she pulled him over until he was on his back, her hands slipping on his sweat-soaked skin. His eyes remained closed, but his lips were moving soundlessly. She leaned in closer, trying to make out what he was saying. He’s burning up!
“Liz…Liz…Liz…” Max kept mouthing over and over, no sound escaping his lips.
No! This was the worst possible timing. Max was in heat again over Liz! They had to get out of here and get him to her or…no; that did not bear thinking about. Pulling in a huge, fortifying breath Isabel pulled Max’s head into her lap. She slapped his cheeks lightly, talking to him constantly, trying to pull him out of the stupor he was in. “Come on, Max! Wake up. Please wake up.” Isabel began rocking him in her lap while silent tears dripped down her face onto his still form. After fifteen minutes, he still had not roused.
Isabel’s brain started working again, clearing from the fog of shock that had engulfed her. Gotta get Max out of here. Gotta get him to the door. Isabel, very gently and very carefully, laid Max’s head back onto the cold stone floor. She scooted back and used the cave wall to support her awkward steps to the entrance. She stared at the closed door in confusion. She knew she had left it open after she came in. She reached up and placed her palm over the hand mark that began glowing on the wall and was blinded by the light of day as the door slid open. Her arm went up to shield her eyes and she thought she saw the shadow of movement back lit by the blinding sun.
“Isabel! Thank God you’re okay! I couldn’t get in! I…I tried, but I couldn’t…” Phillip ran through the entrance and swept her into his arms as soon as it had widened enough. He ran his hands over her back, checking for injuries and then held her away from him. “Where’s Max?” He questioned grimly.
Isabel’s tear streaked face collapsed into new sobs as she hugged her father one more time. She quickly grabbed his hand and led him back to Max.
“You have to help him, Daddy,” Isabel sobbed.
“Oh my G…Max!” Phillip couldn’t believe that his strong son, who was never sick, could look so helpless and…broken.
Phillip leaned down and pulled his son into his arms, shocked by the heat that was pouring off of him. “Max! Max? Wake up son!” Phillip reached around to cradle him into his arms like a child. He staggered as he stood with Max in his arms and led the way out of the dark cave.
As he lay Max in the car across the back seat Max began to moan and his eyes flickered open, squinting in the light. He glanced around vaguely, looking for something. “Liz?”
Isabel cried again at the desperate, lost shudder in Max’s voice, shaking in relief that he was conscious.
“We’re going to her now, Max. Just hang on okay?” Isabel crowded into the back of the car, crouching on the floor in front of the seat he lay sprawled on.
“Where is she, Is? She needs me,” Max’s husky voice was desperate and his eyes begged her to find Liz for him.
“She’s at our house, Max. I’ll get you there as fast as I can,” Phillip said as he got into the car and started the engine.
Max struggled to sit. A wave of dizziness washed over him and he slumped sideways in his seat. Isabel reached out to straighten the drunken angle of his posture and tried to summon any energy that she could to try to transfer it to him.
“Max. Max!” Max’s eyes swung to Isabel at her imperious tone. “Can you try to heal yourself?”
“So hot, Is. I’m so hot. She needs me, Is. They need me. I have to be with her now.” Sweat dripped down his face and he couldn’t summon the energy to move his hands to wipe it away. He hung on to Isabel’s arms for balance as the car swayed into motion.
“Max! You have to focus! You have to try! Can you heal yourself?” Isabel was desperate. Max had taken the brunt of the blast that was meant to kill them both.
“I…don’t…don’t know, Is,” Max’s voice was weak and his head fell back onto the car seat.
“Max! Don’t pass out again, okay? Liz needs you to stay strong!” She didn’t even feel guilty using Liz’s name to goad him into cooperation when she saw Max struggle to open his eyes again. He needed to stay conscious so that he could heal the injuries that Tess had inflicted on him.
“Look at me. Look at me, Max!” Max swung his eyes toward Isabel with a great effort, blinking drunkenly.
“Good! Okay, try to feel the energy I’m going to give you, okay?” Isabel held both his arms in hers and concentrated. It was very difficult, the damage she had sustained had weakened her considerably, but Max needed this more than she did.
Max took a heaving breath as he felt the raw energy permeating his being. It flowed around him, shoring up the weak spots. He rallied some until he realized what it was doing to Isabel. He pushed her hands off of him and sat up weakly on his own.
“Isabel, you have to stop! We need you too!” Isabel lay her head in his lap, barely conscious after what she had done.
Max rested his hand in her hair and lay his head back again, closing his eyes. I’m coming, Liz!
Back at the Evans house
“She’s getting so much worse!” Maria exclaimed worriedly. They had moved her up to the apartment and she had calmed slightly when Max’s scent surrounded her from their new bed as she buried her face in his pillow. Michael huddled across the room in a chair, miserable and sweating and unable to move his eyes from Liz. His wretched expression clearly revealed his inner battle to fight his urge to be with Liz. They could wait awhile longer. They could. Michael shuddered again, clamping his teeth in concentration.
Liz lay unmoving now on the bed, covered in sweat. They had removed most of her clothes to make her as comfortable as possible and she lay on top of the sheets in only her bra and underwear. She writhed on the bed in pain occasionally, turning her head back and forth in search of something that wasn’t there.
Diane sat beside Liz, brushing her hair back and bathing her body with a cold washcloth. She was past crying, beyond worried. If Liz and this child died she knew her son could not go on. She prayed he was still alive to…No! She couldn’t allow herself to doubt right now. Her children were strong and they were coming back to her any minute!
Liz struggled to sit, barely able to open her eyes. She inhaled strongly as if attempting to scent something in the air. She moved closer to Diane taking a breath and her brow furrowed in a dissatisfied grimace. She crawled across the bed to Maria and inhaled again. Same reaction. Her eyes lit on Michael across the room and she struggled off the bed.
“Liz, honey! You shouldn’t try to move.” Maria was pushed aside as Liz staggered over to Michael. She breathed him in and sighed in satisfaction, crawling into his lap. She curled up there and rested her head under his chin. Michael’s arms encircled her naturally, gratefully, both getting what they needed for that single moment in time.
Maria’s eyes couldn’t let go of the sight before her. Michael wrapped around Liz like she belonged in his arms. Liz taking momentary comfort from the pain she was experiencing. She’d stopped asking for Max about an hour before, and her body was getting weaker and weaker. Diane left the room to get more ice, and Maria could see the tears streaking her face.
Maria stood up, suddenly decisive. “That’s it! We have to do something. Get up, Michael.” She hauled him to his feet, still cradling Liz. “Put her over on the bed. You can still hold her,” she added as he shot her a desperate look. Michael sat down with Liz on the soft mattress and held her to his chest. “You have to do it. You have to help her. Now.” Michael gave Maria a disbelieving look, sure she didn’t mean it. Maria’s mind whirled with the idea. She ran out of the room.
Michael looked down at Liz, so helpless. The urge to give her what she needed and end all this needless suffering was overpowering. He stood and slowly unbuttoned his jeans, hands shaking, and started to lower them over his hips.
Maria came running back in just then and stood, shocked, in the doorway.
“What the hell are you doing?!” She exclaimed in horror.
“I’m…you…what did you think I was gonna…? You said we had to do it!” Michael was distinctly uncomfortable with the situation, but he was unwilling to let Liz suffer any longer.
“I meant with this!” Maria beat him on the shoulder with a turkey baster. “You can just fill it up and I’ll inject it. It should solve everything. Jeez, Michael!” Maria shook her head. It was noble, sort of, that he had been willing to do that for Liz, but still!
Michael fended off Maria’s attack and saw the possibilities of the plan. He grabbed the baster out of her hands and took it into the bathroom.
“It’s okay, Liz.” Maria sat beside her to comfort. “We’ll take care of you and your son.”
Liz moaned in pain, clutching her stomach. Her eyes went wide and her nostrils flared as she took in a large breath. She struggled to sit up again.
“Max?” She fought against Maria’s restraining hands to get off the bed. “MAX!!”
“Liz, honey! You’re in no shape to go wandering around.” Maria was having a difficult time holding her down.
“Max! He’s here.” Liz subsided against the bed, too weak to continue, knowing that Max was on his way.
Maria looked at her in disbelief and then turned to the doorway as she heard a commotion on the stairs leading up to the apartment. Her eyes widened again as Phillip and Isabel supported a staggering Max as he stumbled into the room. They led him to the bed where he closed the distance that separated him from Liz.
TBC