Roswell Fanatics

****

Her breath came in short inaudible rasps.

I’m alone with Max. He’s gonna ask me and…oh God, she thought breathlessly.

It’ll be okay, she coached herself, you can get through this, just say something and go from there.

She slowly averted her gaze back to him and immediately wished she hadn’t. His expression was of clarity, as if he could finally see what she was hiding.

She knew that he had seen the flashes of Future Max, of her and Kyle together but she didn’t know how much he knew. She had deceived herself into thinking that she could explain them away without telling him the truth, but looking into his eyes, at his determined, scrutinising expression, she knew that her plan would fail.

“Can I have my feet back please?”. The stability of her tone surprised her.

Her stared at her in silence
Liz tried to pretend that he wasn’t breaking through her defences.

With a wave of his hand, she was free.

“Thank you,” she said moving her feet, thankful that she was back in control of herself.

She fixed him with a blank stare. “Now what do you want?” she demanded.

He began advancing towards her, her first instinct was to take a step back further away from him, his proximity would make her weak but if she moved, it would be admitting that to him and she couldn’t do that.

Lives are at risk. His too, you have to do this.

So she stood still, her heart pounding wildly against her as Max came closer towards her, his eyes slowly, torturously sweeping up the length of her body.

“You ran out on me today,” he drawled casually, “we didn’t get to finish clearing everything up.”

To stop herself from shaking and to steel herself from the power of his commanding confidence, she folded her arms across her chest.

“There’s nothing to clear up Max,” she told him. “Thanks for last night, I appreciate it and you’re a good friend and I’m-”

“Scared,” he finished for her.

She paused at his words.

That was enough verification for him, not that he needed anymore. He had understood what really mattered the second he had made his presence known and she had whispered his name. He had taken her by surprise, she didn’t have time to put on an act, her feelings for him had glowed only be to quicker hidden under behind a wall he was determined to destroy.

“I‘m not scared,” she said defensively.

A small smile escaped his lips. He could see how now so clearly, how could he have not done so before?
“You’re scared,“ he affirmed. “I can see it in your eyes and because…”, he stopped a few centimetres away from her. “…you won’t let me get too close to you.”

He captured her in his gaze and never let go.

“Why would I be scared?” she asked in a low voice.

Max took a step forward leaving them a few millimetres apart. He could hear her quick whispered breaths and if he lowered his head just a little and tilted her chin, their lips would meet.

The very thought sent blissful shivers down his spine. This was the girl he loved! He wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

With unfathomable confidence, he lowered his head. He was tempted to direct his lips to hers but restrained himself and led them to her ear.

He could smell her, if he closed his eyes he could taste her, he wanted her.

“Because you know what I’ve come for,” he whispered.

Liz found that she couldn’t breathe, she couldn‘t move even if she wanted to. His warm breath tickled her ear, she couldn’t stop her eyes from closing to savour the effect it had on her.

“And what’s that?” she breathed.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, a panicked voice screamed that he was too close, that she was getting dangerously close to breaking.

That voice was momentarily smothered in silence the instant, she felt Max’s lips on her cheek. It was short and light but it’s effects were far-reaching.

“You. I’ve come for you Liz, like I promised you I would,” he told her earnestly.

When he lifted his head back up to look into her eyes, the intensity of the Max-induced spell was somewhat lessened.

The voice of rationale though fading was back.

Despite the painful cry of loss from her heart, Liz knew what she had to do.

“Well you can’t have me,” she told him simply.

A day ago, Max would have been discouraged by her words, but that night, discouragement was not in his vocabulary. He loved her and she loved him, he knew it. There was only one stumbling block to get rid of.

“Did you sleep with Kyle?”, he asked.

“I told you, yes.” Her reply was quick and harsh. It was a defensive reply and once again, Max wondered why he hadn’t seen the signs before.

“Do you love me?” he asked.

“What?” she asked confused by the change in topic.

She felt unstable and unsure of the direction the conversation was going. Max was different, he looked at her as if he knew everything, he was calmer, controlled and possessed with the same confidence she had felt when he had carried her over his shoulder into Maria’s car. That confidence unnerved her.

“Simple question, do you love me.”

Oh God. I love you more than anything in this world!

Her eyes blurred.

Just do it, she told herself, get it over and done with.

“No.”

Her heart contracted in pain, but she stood still with an unrelenting gaze.

To her surprise, Max didn’t even flinch. No pain was etched in his features.

Liz couldn’t suppress her expression of hurt and confusion.

Why does he look unaffected? She puzzled. He’s just calm. Do I really mean nothing to him?

“Now that’s a blatant lie,” he responded.

A look of surprise swept her features before she took a step back.

Max felt his heart soar. They would deal with this tonight. No more secrets.

“What do you want Max?” she asked cautiously.

“The truth,” he replied simply without closing the gap she had created between them.

“You already know it,” she argued. “I slept with Kyle. I don’t want to be with you.”

He knew the latter words were a lie but the ferocity with which she said them left a mark.

But he wasn’t giving up. He was going to push her till breaking point because there was no way he was going to live his life the way he had the past week and he didn’t want her to either.

“I took some time out in the desert today,” he told her, “to think things through. The flashes Liz, when I healed your hangover, I had them, you know that. That’s why you ran away.”

“They don’t matter,” she shook her head sadly.

“They do to me!” he shouted startling her. Heaving a heavy sigh, he gave her an apologetic look and continued in a softer tone.
“They matter when I see everything you saw when I serenaded you from your balcony…after I saw with Kyle. You loved me then and you love me now.,” he told her.
“And then there are theses images of me, older and in leather,” he emphasised in disbelief, “talking with you. The words were too fast,” he said replaying the images in his mind, “but I felt your heartbreak then.”

“What do you want me to say?” she shrugged tiredly.

She was tired of lying, of arguing, of telling the person she loved the most hurtful things she could think of.

“Nothing yet,“ he told her gently. “Your feelings don’t match up with your actions Liz. I know you and the only reason you would betray me, betray us is to help us. So, you went to Kyle to push me away to who? Tess?”

Liz threw her hands in the air in admittance.

“She’s who you’re supposed to be with Max,” she argued.

“According to Nasedo and the Destiny book?”.

“No, according to you!,” she retorted. The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them. She prayed irrationally that he hadn’t heard her but the look on his face told her he had.

“What’s that supposed to mean?,” he asked.

Liz closed her eyes as she mentally berated herself.

Of all the things to tell him. Why?! Why?!

She shook her head in reply before opening her eyes. “Nothing,” she added weakly.

“No, it means something. This has to do with the other images of a different me doesn’t it?” he interrogated.

Liz felt herself take another step back from him.

Dammit! why can’t I just stand still. Now he knows I’m lying!

“No,” she replied.

Stick to one word answers, that’ll help be now, she thought sarcastically.

“I know you’re hiding something Liz…” he told her. His eyes darkened with an intensity that made her feel like she would readily sink to floor if he touched her.

So keep your distance, she told herself.

She took another step back as he advanced.

“…and you nearly killed yourself because of it. What you did with Kyle, how we’ve been this past week doesn’t make sense to me.”

Keep away, keep away, she pleaded silently as she took several more steps back.

“There’s a reason for all of this,” he continued making up for the space she was trying to leave between them, “and I need you to tell me why so that I can change your mind.”

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

He’s too close, he’s too close, she panicked.

Her self-control was waning, her whole life was once again being thrown into disarray by Max Evans and the only way to stop it was by keeping her distance from him.

“What if I touched you huh?” he asked reaching for her head.

She quickly took another step back and avoided his grasp.
She shook her head fearfully. “ Don’t ”, she replied.

But he wasn’t going to stop, she realised as he continued to advance. He was like a primitive, alien form of Max. It was Max unleashed and it left her trembling in a state of surprising deep arousal.

Oh gosh, what’s happening? she thought flustered.

“Do you think I’d get a flash and find out then?,” he continued his attack.

Liz took another step back and found herself against the wall. Her lowered eyelids flew up in panic. Her eyes met his. She found that she couldn’t move. She doubted that he was using his powers on her but she had no explanation as to why, she couldn’t order her body to move to sidestep him and escape. The only thing she could do was press herself against the wall as he closed the gap between them, essentially pinning her in.

“What if I kissed you?” he asked in a low voice that made her skin tingle.
She averted her eyes to his chest, she could smell his scent, she suddenly had a craving to run her hands over his toned chest.

“Ohhhh,” she exhaled, “I can‘t do this,” she whispered to herself.

“You and I both know that I’d see everything,” he continued as if oblivious to the effect he was having on her. “You’ve been hiding behind a wall and it’s cracking.”

She wasn’t looking at him , he knew that, but he also knew that she knew that he was staring at her wanting nothing than to caress her soft skin. The air heavily dense with desire enveloped them, intoxicated the, swaying their bodies closer and closer together until sparks flew from one to the other.

“You can’t hold out much longer,” he told her huskily, “and I will keep coming until you do,” he vowed.

Liz felt his eyes on her, coaxing her to look up at him.

And I want to so much!!, she screamed, but…but. She suddenly couldn’t find a reason not to.

But what? came the loud thought. I refuse to believe that our love ends the world but since it’s supposed to, then…

Their gazes met, tears flooded her eyes. “I’m tired of handling this on my own,” she told him, “at least you’ll understand why things have to be this way.“

She paused and took a deep shaky breath. “In the future, the world ends because we’re together.”

The shock and incredulity he expressed reminded her of when she had first heard the news.

The news must have him off balance because he took a baffled step back to give himself room to think.

“What?” he asked in disbelief.

Liz had reached her point of tolerance. She clenched her jaw and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

I have had a week of hell away from him, she argued with herself tersely. Just for this one time, screw the world because I want to kiss the man I love!.

“You know what?,” she took a step forward, wrapped her arm around Max’s neck, stood on tip-toes, “I’ll just show you,” and lowered his head towards her, capturing his lips in a hard kiss.

Shocked by the intimate contact that had haunted their dreams, they broke apart searching for each other before both their lips met again, at first softly reminding each other of their hopes, dreams and love and then deeper and more passionately letting each other in completely. It was only then that their connection, in it’s entirety, fiercely roared back from it’s dormant state.

Liz couldn’t help but moan in pleasure as their bodies merged, her other arm found its way to Max neck, while his found their way to her waist. They re-explored her back, her sides, everywhere they touched created an electrifying charge that hummed through their lips. Max couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop. He had lost all control and was loving every second of it.

Liz didn’t even know that they had move until she felt herself once again pressed up against the wall. But this time, she was free to order her body parts to move wherever she desired and she took full advantage of the opportunity. Max tasted, nipped and sucked at her neck before starving for the taste of her sweet lips, he found his way back.
It was then that the flashes came, it was in a passionate uninhibited kiss that Max knew everything.

AN: Hey guys, reposting this part. I've got the new part ready to go, just waiting for this fic to be pruned, then I'll post it.


Previously

She paused and took a deep shaky breath. “In the future, the world ends because we’re together.”

The shock and incredulity he expressed reminded her of when she had first heard the news.

The news must have him off balance because he took a baffled step back to give himself room to think.

“What?” he asked in disbelief.

Liz had reached her point of tolerance. She clenched her jaw and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.

I have had a week of hell away from him, she argued with herself tersely. Just for this one time, screw the world because I want to kiss the man I love!.

“You know what?,” she took a step forward, wrapped her arm around Max’s neck, stood on tip-toes, “I’ll just show you,” and lowered his head towards her, capturing his lips in a hard kiss.

Shocked by the intimate contact that had haunted their dreams, they broke apart searching for each other before both their lips met again, at first softly reminding each other of their hopes, dreams and love and then deeper and more passionately letting each other in completely. It was only then that their connection, in it’s entirety, fiercely roared back from it’s dormant state.

Liz couldn’t help but moan in pleasure as their bodies merged, her other arm found its way to Max neck, while his found their way to her waist. They re-explored her back, her sides, everywhere they touched created an electrifying charge that hummed through their lips. Max couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop. He had lost all control and was loving every second of it.

Liz didn’t even know that they had move until she felt herself once again pressed up against the wall. But this time, she was free to order her body parts to move wherever she desired and she took full advantage of the opportunity. Max tasted, nipped and sucked at her neck before starving for the taste of her sweet lips, he found his way back.
It was then that the flashes came, it was in a passionate uninhibited kiss that Max knew everything.

****
Saturday evening – part 3

Tired and exhausted silence reigned.
Raw from the mental and emotional exorcism, they sat apart, on either side of the back room couches. Each lost and dazed, battling with an assortment of feelings and thoughts. The power of words had been exhausted in the early stages of the aftermath, all they could do, was look at each other and then look away.

"She mindwarped you". Her voice was bruised, her throat aching from a combination of throwing up and ,what had seemed at the time to be, never-ending sobs.

"She mindwarped you too," said Max. He had seen it all; his future self's visit to Liz, what he had asked her to do. She had never slept with Kyle!
Of course now that the truth was out, he knew that he had always known but had been blinded by pain and his own self-pity.

His relief had only been short lived because he had then seen the hell Liz had gone through for the past week. The way everyone had treated her, the way he had treated her- he hated himself for that. All week, she had been alone, facing the animosity of the people whose lives she had saved.

Then Tess had to intensify that by mindwarping her into seeing him kissing her. But she hadn't stopped there, she'd not only been mindwarping Liz but him also. All the memories he'd thought he'd recovered were all her manipulations, her memories. Max had seen it all when he'd connected with Liz. It was as if a haze had lifted and he was finally seeing the truth in everything.

"You have feelings for her." Liz met his eyes, they didn't hold denial or regret, they held acceptance. She pursued her lips grimly. The intimacy of some of the mindwarps had made them difficult to see and stomach, but she had seen everything they'd done together, fictional or otherwise. They had nothing left to hide from each other - no lies, no denials.

From the flashes, Liz had had to face an astounding conclusion, that even though Tess had manipulated Max and there was no excuse for that, but the foundation, the feelings had been there. Sure Tess had chased him, but he had stopped running and he turned to her. He hadn't been forced to do that; the smiles, the talks they'd had, none of that had been a mindwarp.

At first, after finding that out, she had flinched at his touch, shouted at him for using her, for stringing her along like a toy when all the while he had feelings for someone else. Her accusations were not completely true. While Max did have feelings for Tess, they were nothing in comparison to what he felt for her, she knew that, but she had to lash out. What she had seen of the two of them had amplified her insecurities about her and Max's relationship.

At the end of the day, what if she, small town girl Liz Parker wasn't enough for an alien king?

"Do you love her?". She knew the answer to that, but to be able to breathe, she needed to hear the words.

"Not like I love you," he replied in a voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry for what I did, for what I–my future version, made you do."

She smiled at him tiredly in acceptance of his apology. They had been through this already; she had said all she needed to say to him in the immediate aftermath of the flashes and so had he. They had done enough apologising and shouting tonight.

"What do we do about Tess?". She didn't bother to suggest the continuation of her plan to stay away from him and for him to be with Tess. The second she'd kissed him, that plan was compromised.
Max wasn't going to give her up, not now and she wouldn't fight him on it - she was tired of fighting a losing battle, you couldn't go up against love and win. They were in each other's lives and that was final. And unfortunately, they still needed Tess, that was indisputable.

"She's-"

"Manipulative and dangerous?" she supplied shimmering with anger. Tess had violated her mind. She would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Tess wanted Max.
Liz wasn't about to give him up again.

He nodded sheepishly. "Aside from that, when she wasn't trying to mindwarp me, she was nice."

Liz felt her jaw drop. She had not just heard him say Tess and nice in the same sentence after all this.

"She's smart-"

"The appropriate word is calculating Max," she corrected him, "she's calculating".

Max nodded again in agreement. "She's funny, she's not so bad" he added.

"When she's not using her powers on us," she retorted angrily. "Are you so taken by the blonde hair, baby blues and cleavage that you can't see her for what she really is?!", she cried out in disbelief.

"You know that's not true!, I know who she really is, Liz. I'm not saying we trust her."

"Obviously," she quipped.

" It's just that she's not all bad and maybe we can use that somehow," he explained placatingly.

Liz massaged her temples to try and calm her raging mind. From the fire in his eyes, she knew Max felt as negatively towards Tess as she did maybe even more so and that he was trying to ensure their survival by coming up with a plan but she had had enough of worrying about the Tess situation.

"I'm tired of talking and thinking about this, I've been doing it for a week and it's draining," she sighed looking away from him.

"Yeah it is," he agreed. She could hear the comforting smile in his voice. It was so good to have him back.

After a period of silence and private contemplation, their eyes met.

"What happens now?" asked Max.
He didn't know what to do, he had no right to demand anything from Liz after all the pain being who he was had caused her.

When she got up, he got up. When she began to make her way towards him, he stood still and did nothing.

His heart thundered with uncertainty as she stood millimetres away from him. She was close enough for him to feel her breathing brush over his t-shirt.
She lowered her gaze to a part of his body and he followed its direction. He held his breath as she tenderly placed her hands in his, their fingers naturally entwined. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze. He looked at her baffled.

She couldn't still want him like that, after everything could she?

"Liz..."

Liz smiled up at him amused at his current faltering of speech. "Now you come with me," she said leading him up the stairs to the apartment above.

They had each experienced each other's pain, now it was time to heal.

****

Max said nothing as Liz led him through her kitchen, living room and finally into her bedroom.
He had no words when his eyes clashed against the bed that had previously been the source of his nightmares. He could still see them together, laughing between the sheets, her naked thigh free from coverage.

He felt her squeeze his hand. "It didn't happen Max."

"I know," he responded.

"That bed holds a bad memory for you huh?"

"Yeah." He looked at her suspiciously. That was obvious, why did she have to ask?

"Me too."

Max had stopped trying to guess what was going on in her mind because as he had learnt tonight, Liz Parker was full of surprises. She had sacrificed her happiness for him and the whole planet, her strength had surprised him and had done something which he had never thought possible, it had made him love her more. After he had been a complete monster to her this past week and everything Tess had put her through, she hadn't told him to leave the cafe and never come back. It amazed him. She was amazing.

She looked up at him, eyes alight, with a brilliant smile on her face. "What do you say we make new good ones?".

For the umpteenth time that night, Liz had once again left him grasping for intelligible words.

He was completely under her spell as she led him to the foot of the bed, brought their entwined hands to her lips and gave them a small gentle kiss.
The simple gesture was one of love, of who she was to him, of him to her, of who they were together. Overcome with emotion, Max could only look at her in wonderment.
The look in her eyes made his jaw drop and guaranteed that he had no hope of piecing together a complete sentence.

"Liz?".

Liz grinned at his dumbstruck expression. "Yes Max..." she nodded teasingly bringing her arm around his neck. "...that is my name," she mummered with a smile before their lips met.

The simple gentle kiss sent a violent bolt of energy through each of them, freeing their restrained passions and reservations, allowing them to love each other completely.

****

The atmosphere around them crackled and sparked but neither of the pair noticed the vibrant orange and firey red jolts they were creating around them.

Liz didn't remember when they got onto her bed or how her sweater came off. Max couldn't remember when or how his jacket came off.
Neither cared.
All that mattered to Max was that Liz was back in his arms and he planned to cherish every moment of being able to touch her again.
All that mattered to Liz was that she was kissing Max and he was kissing her back. It wasn't a dream like so many she had had over the past week.
Max kissed her eyelids, her earlobes, everywhere not covered by clothing. It was an expression of his love for her and while her body burned with desire, her heart threatened to explode with joy.
She had him. Her Max.

He was with her completely and while did appreciate the way he kissed every inch of her flesh he could find, she found that her hands were growing restless, she ached to taste more of him the way he had her.

Driven with desire, Liz rolled them over until she was on top of him. She sat up, straddling him and savoured the image of his flushed face, tousled hair and intoxicatingly dark drunk eyes.

"Liz-".
She silenced him with a kiss; the continuation of many. His skin was hot, extremely kissable and lickable.
His shirt had to come off.
She was officially drunk on Max Evans.

****

When Liz found herself back under his heated body, burning with his touches and kisses - she knew that the growing intensity of their interaction would demand the removal of her top and most definitely her bra. After all, his shirt was off, it was only fair.
So when she felt Max's fingers start to tug and push up her top, she covered her hands over his planning to help him along.

"I can't do this!", the words were panted and breathless but had the same effect as those spoken clearly and loudly. "I can't do this with you."

The abrupt end of the onslaught of his sweet kisses was bad enough but when he completely moved away from her and looked at her with what looked like deep regret in his eyes, Liz felt her heart explode.

"Wh-wh- wha-what?" she managed.

Suddenly it was heard to breathe and his voiced sounded far way, she couldn't hear what he was saying. When she sat up, he flew off the bed as if she carrying the plague. He looked at her, through her, around the room, he was in his own world where the act of making love to her was obviously horrifying to him.

When he turned his back to her, Liz's vision blurred. Humiliated beyond words, she willed the tears to stay back until he was gone. Gingerly she reached out for her crumpled sweater on the bed and wrapped it around her for comfort.

****

AN: Hey guys.
We got pruned, so here's an update. One update down, two more to go before my holiday, enjoy...

P.S. Lyrics to "The Promise" are by Tracy Chapman

Previously

"I can't do this!", the words were panted and breathless but had the same effect as those spoken clearly and loudly. "I can't do this with you."

The abrupt end of the onslaught of his sweet kisses was bad enough but when he completely moved away from her and looked at her with what looked like deep regret in his eyes, Liz felt her heart explode.

"Wh-wh- wha-what?" she managed.

Suddenly it was heard to breathe and his voiced sounded far way, she couldn't hear what he was saying. When she sat up, he flew off the bed as if she carrying the plague. He looked at her, through her, around the room, he was in his own world where the act of making love to her was obviously horrifying to him.

When he turned his back to her, Liz's vision blurred. Humiliated beyond words, she willed the tears to stay back until he was gone. Gingerly she reached out for her crumpled sweater on the bed and wrapped it around her for comfort.

****

Saturday evening – part 4

Max didn't want to make love to her. She had given herself to him and he had rejected her. Liz suppressed the images of intimacy between him and Tess, she had seen in the mindwarps. Max probably wanted to make love to someone like him.
On a physical level, why wouldn't he prefer Tess over her? Tess had a great body, great breasts, she was any guy's dream. She was just plain old Liz Parker, doe-eyed brunette, nothing special.

Liz furiously blinked back tears as she stared at his naked back. She wasn't going to let him see her cry, she would keep whatever dignity she had left.
"Right, I understand," she told him.

Her cold formal tone took Max by surprise.

"What are you talking abou..." his words trailed off as he took in the her defensive body language, the way she folded her arms across her chest. She stood, closed, shut off from him, as if she was protecting herself.

"Liz, what's wrong?" he asked. He took a step towards her and she took a step back.

She looked at him as if he had gone mad before pursing her lips in decision. "Nothing, it's just, I get it now."

"Get what?" he asked confused.

"Why you don't want to sleep with me. I'm only human right?!", the hurt and anger in her voice was evident. "Antarian sex is probably on a different level. And okay, I may not be as well endowed as Tess but-"

He raised his hand to silence her. "Wait, you think that I stopped because I didn't want you? You think you're not enough for me?" he asked incredulous.

"You practically ran away from me Max!", she argued. "What else am I supposed to think?".

She was right of course. He had left her suddenly and without explanation.
He was an idiot.

"Liz, I'm sorry. It's just-we were getting near that line and I can't go there with you quite yet for two reasons. And none of them are about me not wanting to make love to you," he explained.

He saw her defenses lower and took it as his cue to be near her again.

He gently apologetically caressed her arm and rested his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry for the way I just left you there, that was stupid of me, I didn't think."

She nodded in acceptance of his apology. Max sighed with relief, he wanted nothing more than to make her feel special and beautiful and loved, instead by his thoughtless actions he had made her feel unwanted. He vowed to make it up to her.

She looked up at him shyly. "So you do wanna...," she blushed embarrassed.

"Yes," he nodded, "you have no idea how much-it's just, I need to go do something first."

He picked up his shirt off the bed and grabbed his jacket.

"You're going to her aren't you?" she asked.

He turned around to face her. He couldn't lie.

He knew how Liz felt about Tess, he felt the same way, but he had a past with her that he couldn't deny and a hope that maybe, they could all be happy.

Liz opened her mouth struggling to get words out. He was leaving her to go see Tess. To go see, the evil witch who had violated their minds, all because of what? Of his feelings for her? For closure?

"Reason number one?" she asked.

"I can't cross that line with you until I know that...".

His expression said it all. Now she understood.

"That she won't try to hurt me?" she finished.

Liz realized that she had been thinking about this all wrong. She had thought that was defending Tess because of his feelings for her and to some extent trying to excuse her behaviour because of their past together. But he was doing it all for her. She had a feeling he knew exactly how dangerous Tess was and all Max wanted to do was to keep her safe and give them a chance for victory when their enemies came.

It was then that Liz was once again reminded and struck with awe, that she was looking at a King.

"My Future self said she left because of the way I treated her and so far, we're friends. Maybe I could talk to her about us and see how she reacts."

"Max, she mindwarped you and me," she reminded him.

"I know, but if we need her, then we've gotta try different options. One of which includes talking to her."

"What if she mindwarps you?" she asked. "You can't protect yourself from her."

"Not yet," he said cryptically.

"What do you mean?".

"I'll be safe," he promised her as he headed for her window. "I'll call you when I get there and then call me fifteen minutes after."

"Come back to me".

He stopped at the window and turned to her with a smile that was of instant comfort to her. "Always."

He crawled out of her window and onto her balcony. A question struck her as she watched him go. Not satisfied with letting him go without an answer, she raced to her window just as he neared her ladder.
"Hey!" she called out.

He glanced back at her.

"What was reason number two?" she asked.

Instead of replying, he crossed the balcony floor, knelt down to her level and kissed her deeply. "When I get back," he promised.

Liz nodded dazed and breathless. She could live with that answer for now.

"Hey," he called to her before disappearing down the ladder. " I love you."

"Love you too," she smiled.

She waited until her mind stopped replaying their moment before she turned away from the window and back to her room.
In the sudden quiet, the enormity of the night's events hit her. They had thrown Future Max's plan off the train track. She was back into the world of the unknown, she was nervous and worried but all that was secondary to the overriding happiness that prevailed. Everything would be okay in the end because, Max would come back to her and they would face the future together.

****

"Max," he could hear the relief in her voice already and he hadn't even engaged the enemy, if she could be called that.

"Hey, I'm here," he told her.

"Okay, I'll call you in fifteen minutes. Be careful," she warned . "Love you."

"Love you." Everytime he said those words, it always felt like the first time.

****

When Kyle answered the door, Max got a strong feeling of deja vu. The last time Kyle had answered the door, he had wanted to turn him into dust. Now, a small part of him still wanted to turn him into dust for being half naked and in bed with Liz but what he felt most towards Kyle, now, was gratefulness. Although he didn't know it, he had helped Liz save all their lives. He had been a good friend to her especially last night when he and Maria had rescued her from the party.

"Hey Max, you here for Tess?" he asked.

"Is she in?".

Kyle stepped aside to let him in.

"Tess! Max is here!", he shouted.

"Be out in a minute!", she replied.

It struck Max, how comfortable their interaction was. Tess had finally found a home...maybe she wouldn't be so quick to leave it this time.

"Sooo how's Liz?".

Max wanted to laugh at the awkward way he asked the question and wouldn't meet his gaze. If only he knew.

"She's doing okay," he replied. "Thanks for helping her last night," he added.

"She's a special girl," Kyle said. "So is Tess," he added pointedly.

That took Max by surprise. It almost sounded like Kyle was protective of her, which of course he would be if she was like family to him. Only it didn't seem to be the surrogate brother type of protectiveness. Before Max could respond, the Sheriff came into the living room.

"Hey Max" he greeted the young brooding King. He had heard the news about Liz and Kyle, it was all over town.

"Sheriff, hi."

"Listen, I heard about you and Liz, everything okay?" he asked.

"It's getting there," Max replied honestly. It was getting there, but not in the way they all thought.

Tess entered then, ending further conversation.

"Hey," she greeted him with a smile.

Anger flared the second he saw her as he remembered the mindwarps. She was cunning and calculating, he reminded himself.

"Hey, feel like a walk?" he asked.

"Sure. I'll just grab my coat," she replied.

Max studied her as she waved off the Sheriff and Kyle. Her smiles were genuine, everything else about her was okay...apart from the fact that she held on to a past that would never be. Nasedo had drilled their destiny into her and he supposed that it would take a while for her to accept that they would never be.
That still didn't excuse her actions, that still didn't stop her from being a danger to them. He couldn't upset her enough to mindwarp him, he had to be careful and choose his words wisely.

****

"Is everything okay?" asked Tess.

His visit was a bit of a surprise but it was welcomed. Him being here with her meant that he wasn't with Liz and that their night together obviously hadn't turned into something more.

"Yeah, well as okay as it can be," Max replied.

She felt for him, she really did, but it would be over soon and he would be happy again with her. "It's been a pretty sucky week for you huh?".

He flashed her a rueful smile. "That it has. Thanks for being there, you're a good friend."

She was a good friend. That was a start.

"You're welcome. Don't worry Max, you'll get over her."

"You don't like her much do you?" he asked.

I hate her guts.

"From the way she broke your heart? No, I really don't and to be honest, I never did. And I know you think it's because of our past and everything but it's not. I just never thought she was good enough for you." She was mincing her words but that was the gist of it. Liz wasn't good enough for him. She was.

"Don't you think you're being a bit too harsh?" he asked.

Tess shook her head in disgust. Unbelievable!, Liz had really done a number on him.

"Not if we look at what she did to you. Max, I'm your friend and friends are honest with each other," she shrugged, "I'm just being honest."

"And I thank you for that."

They walked in companionable silence for while, Tess took the silence as a time to enjoy their close proximity to each other. She loved walking with him, being near him in any way possible.

"What if Liz and I became friends after this?" he asked.

Tess stood still. He had to be kidding.

"You'd actually consider being her friend?!".

Was he out of his mind?!

It was then that Kyle's annoyingly wise voice reverberated in her mind.

"I love him Kyle."

“And he loves Liz, and if you can’t see that I feel sorry for you.”

What did Kyle know anyway? He knew nothing of their life back in Antar. He also didn't know that she and Max had bonded a lot this week, they were a lot closer that they'd been since she got here. Kyle didn't know anything.

"Tess, you saw everything I saw tonight. Even death can’t destroy their love. You don’t have a chance. I’m your friend and I’m just telling you the truth”.

Max's voice drew her attention back.

"She's part of our group, she shares our secret," he explained.

"I get that," she nodded. He was looking out for all their interests, it was typical of him. "You're looking at the big picture. You can be nice to her Max, but don't expect the rest of us to be. I'm sorry if it's not what you want to hear," she added apologetically.

The concerned friend card was the best way to handle this situation and it was working like a charm. She could give him her opinions all under the guise of the "concerned friend".

"I can't ask you to pretend. It's better this way," he shrugged.

"I'm glad you feel that way," she smiled up at him.

They resumed their walk in silence.

"Tess, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry again, for the way I treated you at the beginning of all of this. It was wrong of me," he apologized.

"In your defense, I wasn't exactly being subtle about it," she told him truthfully.

"I still mean it."

She looked up at him confused. He still meant what?

"Even though I'm not with Liz, I don't want to be with you...like that. I care about you a lot, but as a friend," he told her.

She nodded slowly. Of course he didn't want to get into a relationship so soon after Liz, she would give him time.

"I understand," she told him.

"Pretty heavy conversation for a Saturday night huh?" he joked.

"It's better than battling our alien enemies or the FBI, plus, it's better to have it on a Saturday than a Monday."

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Monday is just so Monday".
They shared an amused laugh. She loved the fact that she could make him smile and laugh like that.

His cell rang disturbing their moment.

"You okay?" asked Liz.

Max glanced down at Tess. She hadn't tried to mindwarp him, so to that extent he was okay. He'd had no idea how much she hated Liz till now. Even though she tried to hide it, now that he was more aware of her, he could see her hate seething, threatening to seep out of her. He wished that there was way he could help her move on.

"Mac hey. Yeah, I'm fine. What's up?" he asked.
Mac was in New York, she wouldn't mind him using her as an excuse. She wouldn't have minded if she was here. All she wanted was for he and Liz to get together. He made a note to call her after he talked to Liz. Mac knew a whole lot more about what was going on here than he did and he'd make sure that she told him everything.

Liz sighed with relief."Good. Are you nearly done because I miss you already."

I miss you even more.

"You guys are at The Spot? Sure, I'll be there in half an hour," he told her.

"See you then." He could hear the smile in her voice.

"See you then."

He hung up and turned to Tess. "Mind if I walk you back? I gotta go meet Mac and the guys."

"No problem," she agreed. "Are you and her really just friends?".

"Yes," he nodded. "It's good to have someone not involved with us, I like hanging out with someone-"

"Normal?" she supplied.

"Yeah," he answered.

Tess laughed to herself. When would he understand that they weren't normal? Normal was Liz Parker, normal was boring.

****

****

If you wait for me
then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart

Liz swayed to the music as she checked her emails. In Max's absence, she had remade her bed, tidied the already tidy kitchen, her room and had finally settled in front of the computer.

She felt his presence and turned to find him standing in her room in front of her window.

If you think of me

"Hi," she smiled.

If you miss me once in awhile

"Hi," he responded with a smile.

The two stared at each other and slowly drank each other in. The storm was over and now, it was time to take things slow, to appreciate every smile, every kiss, every touch.

"How did it go?" she asked.

Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart.

She rose from her chair, he moved from the window. They met in the middle of her room.

Liz couldn't read the expression in his eyes, they were dark, intense and passionate, but she had no idea why or what it meant. All she knew was that if he didn't hold her soon, her knees would give way and she would fall.

As if he read her mind, she felt his arm encircle her waist and pull her close.

Remembering
Your touch

"First dance with me," he told her.

Your kiss
Your warm embrace

It felt like forever since she'd been in his arms. Her arms encircled his neck and she rested her head against his chest. They fit perfectly.

I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting

If you dream of me
Like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart

Liz smiled in surprise as she listened to the lyrics. It was describing their relationship perfectly. They always found each other, no matter what happened. She idly thought that the lyrics might as well have been their vows.

Max held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. And she was to him. Liz was his everything, the one person in the whole world who made him feel like he could do anything. It tore him apart inside to think that he might have to let her go.

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace

Lifting her head from his chest, their gazes locked and directed by a force that neither would deny, they sought each other out and found themselves in a blinding kiss.

"It's been a pretty sucky week for you huh?" Tess smiled goodnaturedly.

Max flashed her a rueful smile. "That it has. Thanks for being there, you're a good friend."

She beamed at that. "You're welcome. Don't worry Max, you'll get over her."

"I just never thought she was good enough for you," she argued. Her tone tried to mask the extent of her dislike but it didn't do a good enough job.


Liz took a deep breath to recover from the kiss and the flashes.

I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting

She broke out of their embrace. "Oh, so she basically hates me."

Tess hated her. That was not a surprise, but to actually her telling Max in a round about way just really brought it home. Tess hated her with a passion. Liz could understand that because she hated her with the same amount of passion.

"If I told her about us", began Max, "I don't think she would have handled it well. Which is why I think that-"

"No." Liz put her index fingers to his lips to silence him. " We're not staying apart," she told him vehemently. "I'm not having that Max. We'll deal with Tess somehow but it will not involve our separation."

She was going to fight for him this time. They were worth fighting for and she had no intention of losing.

Confronted by her determination and stubbornness, Max knew this was one fight he couldn't win and one he didn't want to win. He pulled her back into his arms. "You're very take charge," he teased her.

"I know what I want," she murmured, welcoming his hot kisses.

I've longed for you
And I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are

As the intensity of the kisses deepened, Max felt something primal, alien and very very powerful start to awaken in him again. The same thing had happened earlier on tonight, he had felt it rising within him and if he hadn't stopped when he had, he might not have been able to. Much like he had to do now.
He broke their kiss, much to her disappointment and rested his forehead against hers. "Liz," he began breathlessly, "we have to stop."

"Why?" she asked. "Tess was reason one and we'll handle her..." crestfallen, her arms dropped from his neck, "...but there's reason two."

He nodded and took a step back to create some distance between them. He couldn't talk to her properly when she was near him, he couldn't think straight. The growing desire within him was not to talk, but to take her and mark her, to make her his forever.

"You wanted to wait till your wedding day. I don't want to take that away from you," he told her.

Liz studied him curiously, he seemed to be struggling with an internal battle. He was almost shaking. She had felt it in his kisses, the desire, it was strong, primal and definitely alien.
She could feel it as she looked into his dark eyes. It frightened and excited her at the same time, she felt her body respond to him of its own accord. He was irresistible, she didn't understand what was happening between them. All she knew was that she wanted it to happen.

She took a step towards Max, to close the gap between them, but he took a step back. He didn't trust himself to be near her, he always tried to be in control. She was looking forward to making him lose it, so she took a step forward and took his hand in hers to make him stay in place.

"I'm happy that you're ready to honor my wish Max, but I want you and need you now. Our lives aren't normal, this war? It's coming. This past week, I've been trying to prepare myself for a life without you and now that I have you back, I don't want to waste anymore time. I want to enjoy every second I have with you. I don't want to wait," she told him.

"Are you sure?" he asked. His self-control was slipping. He knew the time had come for him and if she didn't want this then he would definitely have to stay away from her.

"Positive," she replied.

He sighed with relief. "Then wait here, I'll be right back."

Liz ran her fingers through her hair in frustration as he raced out of her room and onto her balcony.

He's going to be the death of me if I don't get laid, she thought to herself.
Whoa, wait, did I? Innocent Liz Parker just think that?
Since when did I become sexually frustrated? she wondered.

She looked towards the window and the answer was clear.

Ever since Max Evans saved my life.

Curiosity and restlessness got the better of her and Liz found herself peeping out of her window. He stood in front of the barbecue she sometimes used and had his back to her. "Max, what are you doing?" she asked pouting.

"Wait there," he told her laughing.

"Okkkay," she sighed like an impatient five year old told to look away from something beautiful.

Finally he finished whatever it was he had been doing and headed back to her. She stepped back to let him in.

He pulled her to him the moment he stepped back into her room. "A little impatient aren't we?" he teased.

"Very."

"Okay, just one more thing."

"Make it fast," she warned.

He led her to the middle of her room. "Liz. I want you to wait till our wedding day."

"Max-"

"I want our wedding day to be today."

She froze at his words. Had he just said....
She looked at him for confirmation and he nodded.

"What?" she asked.

Had he really just said...

When got down on bended knee and held out his hand to reveal a perfectly made diamond, Liz could do nothing but stare at him in shock.
"You changed my life Liz. You made me alive and knowing all that we know now, I don't want a day to go by where you're not my wife, my mate," he told her.

She opened and closed her mouth trying to formulate a sentence.

This was unbelievable. Unexpected. It was...

"Max, we're underage, we can't get married." Finally something came out of her mouth and it was logical and rational thought. That was good.

"That's why I'm proposing to you," he told her. "So that you're my fiancee but I'm also proposing to you so that you can be my Queen."

His what? she wondered dumbstruck. Queen as in...queen?

"You sacrificed your happiness for our lives Liz, you show the strength of a Queen. There is no one else I would rather have by my side than you. I want give you that wedding night, for our first time to be as husband and wife. I've chosen you as my mate, my wife, my Queen for life."
Max took a deep breath before plunging ahead. This was by far the hardest and scariest thing he had ever had to do. His heart, his future happiness, all of it was on the line. "Will you have me?".

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms

Liz looked down into the loving eyes of the man she would sacrifice her life for. She had dreamt about this moment countless times and now it was actually happening.
Max Evans, her dream man, was proposing to her. His love humbled her so much that she got down on her knees to give him her answer.

"Yes," she told him.

"Yes?" he asked incredulous.

Had she really said yes to him?

"Yes!" she squealed with delight.

Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise

He pulled her up into a hug and spun her around the room in his arms. "I love you," he told her setting her down.

"Always," she replied.

If it's one that you can keep
I vow to come for you
If you wait for me

"Max, how can you marry us?".

"On Antar, the wedding ceremony is more of a formality. The couple actually wed each other. In our case, the King marks his bride with his seal and she does the same to him," he explained.

"I have a seal?" she asked surprised.

How could that be when she was human?

"It's like a reflection of your essence," he replied. "After the couple mark each other, they're wed. Their consummation finalizes the bond made between them."

"Max," she asked cautiously, "how is it that you know all this?".

"I don't know," he answered. "I know I didn't know any of this before tonight, till I decided to ask you. Liz, I have no idea what's going on. I just know things now. I know for example that once we're bonded, Tess can't mindwarp us. I know that that energy blast that happened between us last night, it was us, our connection, our emotions out of control."

"Maybe the information was in your mind all along but you couldn't access it till you needed it, maybe it's like a point of maturation or something, or maybe when it comes to choosing your mate, it's all instinctual and unlocks information you didn't have access to before" she theorized.

"Maybe," he agreed amused as he watched her ponder on different theories. She really was the best thing that had happened to him. She was pure, true, real and was the most important thing in his life. So there was no way that he was going to let her walk into this with her eyes closed.

"Liz are you sure about this?" he asked, "Because once we do this. That's it, the connection we had before will seem like nothing compared to this one. Once we got through with this, we're bonded together till death. And by doing this, you'll be changed, you'll have powers like me and the danger that follows me."

Liz felt her heart swell up with love. Was it possible to love someone so much that it hurt?

"I'm already part of that danger," she told him. "At least now I'll be able to protect myself. Max, I've never been sure of anything in my life. I don't know how to describe it but, it feels right."

"Are you scared?" he asked her.

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms

"A little," she replied honestly, "but I trust you."

Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it's one that you can keep

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "So come on Evans," she kissed him gently, a kiss of reassurance and promise.
She adopted a teasing melodramatic tone. "Mark me, make me your Queen."

I vow to come for you
If you wait for me

And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart.


****

AN: Hey all,

The new part is up and another one will follow sometime next week.
Now for some feeback response.

LoveIsForever - I am really happy that you're liking how this going because this is your challenge. So thanks for the feedback.

Earth2Mama wrote:Wow! HEAVY! "Mark me. Make me your Queen." The best words I've yet to hear!

The second those words came into my head, I loved them! lol, glad you did too.

Smac wrote: I am just surprised he decided this because wasn't he just thinking before he got back to her that he might have to let her go?

When Max gets back from Tess, he thinks that the only way they can make sure that Tess doesn't leave, is to not be together. That he should go ahead with part of FMax's plan and give Liz up but Liz is having none of that plan and that's all the encouragement Max needs to abandon his plan and do what his heart is screaming out for him to do - propose - because, they're completely in it together and committed to each other.

Hope that explains it.

extingman wrote: 1st of all I am so glad that they are finally going to take the plunge. I only hope we get the details! Will the other aliens feel it happen since this sounds like a pretty intense alien ritual?

Are reading my mind?

extingman wrote:Will they also be able to talk telepathically? Will they be to read peoples thoughts?

The former question will be answered in the next part and the latter will be answered later. So will the question of if FMax and FLiz went through the same ritual

extingman wrote:I sure hope you are not going to let anyone interupt them,

I'm pretty sure you'd all agree that this has been a long time coming, so I am strongly enforcing the now interruption rule.

Ti88 - thanks for the feedback chica, hope this part will get you doing more happy dances,

roswellluver,frenchkiss70, begonia9508, IzzyEvans2201_PuertoRico, g7silvers - thanks all for the feedback, it encourages me to get these parts out quicker.


Previously

"Liz are you sure about this?" he asked, "Because once we do this. That's it, the connection we had before will seem like nothing compared to this one. Once we got through with this, we're bonded together till death. And by doing this, you'll be changed, you'll have powers like me and the danger that follows me."

Liz felt her heart swell up with love. Was it possible to love someone so much that it hurt?

"I'm already part of that danger," she told him. "At least now I'll be able to protect myself. Max, I've never been sure of anything in my life. I don't know how to describe it but, it feels right."

"Are you scared?" he asked her.

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms

"A little," she replied honestly, "but I trust you."

Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise
If it's one that you can keep

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "So come on Evans," she kissed him gently, a kiss of reassurance and promise.
She adopted a teasing melodramatic tone. "Mark me, make me your Queen."

I vow to come for you
If you wait for me

And say you'll hold
A place for me
In your heart.

****

Saturday evening – part 5a

Liz was going to be his Queen, his wife, his mate. He had constructed daydreams about marrying her and now that they were about to become reality, Max wasn't sure where to begin. He felt humbled by the way she willingly and trustingly put herself in his hands. He had a responsibility to that love and trust and he would happily spend the rest of their lives together fulfilling it.

Now would be a good time to start, he reminded himself as he realized that she was still in his arms, looking up at him, expecting a response.

"Umm, okay." He suddenly remembered what he was holding in his hand and lifted it up to show her. "I should put this somewhere first."
He stepped out their embrace and placed the diamond on one of Liz's shelves.

"Where did you get that anyway and how could you afford it?" she asked.

He turned to answer her. She still where he'd left her and he couldn't quite get himself to move towards her again.
What was about to happen was one of the most important things he would do in his life. He didn't want to mess it up, so he stood where he was as he answered her question and frantically searched his mind for further conversation that would delay what was about to happen.
Maybe after that, he would be less nervous.
"It's a little trick I learnt from Superman, one of the advantages of being half alien," he replied with a nervous smile.

"Oh," she nodded vehemently. "It's umm, beautiful by the way," she added, biting her lower lip nervously.

Max felt his cheek heat up as he flashed her a shy smile. "I'm glad."

An awkward tentative silence settled over the pair as Liz waited expectantly on Max and Max tried to get his heart to stop pounding so much that it hurt.

When it was obvious that he wasn't quite ready to take the initiative and make a move towards their joining, Liz did for him.
"Whenever you're ready Max," she said in a lighthearted tone.

"Oh," he blushed, "I'm sorry. I just want this to be right and perfect. I guess it's my turn to be nervous," he admitted.

"Max." She held out her hand to him in invitation and he accepted.
Liz had no idea where she was getting the confidence to do or say anything she did tonight, but she was grateful for it.
She constantly surprised the small part of her that still viewed her as, the innocent Liz Parker who didn't evade the law or get involved with aliens let alone love one of them – but she wasn't that Liz Parker anymore.
She'd matured to become the girl who pulled her alien boyfriend and soon to be husband into her arms and tell him things that she'd only heard herself say in dreams and wishes.

"It's okay that we're both nervous," she told him. "I think that's the way it's supposed to be. I want this to be good and perfect for you too. I love and trust you."
She removed her arms from his waist, removed his from hers and placed her hands in each of his. "And I know you love and trust me, so let's do this together, okay?".

Max's gaze shifted from their clasped hands to the beautiful face of his wife-to-be. With one look, one action or a few words, she made him strong. She made him feel invincible. She made him a man.

"Okay," he breathed in reply as they shared another soft gentle kiss.
With his eyes firmly locked on Liz, Max pulled back from their kiss and took a small step away from her.
It was time to begin.

****
Liz felt a huge surge of butterflies in her stomach as Max started walking around her. He was close enough to touch but she didn't move, she didn't say a word. Her eyes followed him as far as they could.
She felt him brushing against her skin like a soft caressing wind as he circled her, she could feel the shivering heat of his presence, his desire charging with hers and his eyes burning every area of her body they focused on.

He was assessing her in a way that made her breathing shallow and the need to touch him almost unbearable. Liz bit her lip trying to keep hold of her restraint, but when she felt him behind her, she couldn't just stand there anymore.

"Max." She whispered his name as a plea for the pleasing torture to end, for him to touch her, to hold her.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she felt his strong warm hands on her shoulders. His body was only millimeters away from hers, she moved a little.
When their bodies touched, the charge that swept through her body left her breathless with need. Liz momentarily closed her eyes, reveling in the sensations he was creating within her.

I feel like this and he hasn't even marked me or made love to me yet, she thought in wonderment.

His breath tickled her ear and she felt herself sigh.

"Can I take off your sweater?" he asked.

His voice made her tremble. "Um sure," she nodded slightly.
Liz gulped as his fingers brushed against her increasingly heated skin. He slowly took off her sweater and by the time it was off, Liz felt almost naked.

After a half circular movement, he stood in front of her, their bodies almost touching.
"You okay?" he asked stroking her bare arm.

Liz looked from her arm to him, amazed at how much he made her feel by doing so little. Of course he always did, but tonight was different.
Tonight, it was as if each of them carried a powerful charge and when they touched, it spread like wild-fire throughout their entire system, as if adding more fuel to the inferno of desire burning within each of them.

"Yeah," she nodded. "When we do make love, I think I just might explode," she joked.

"In a good way, I hope?" he grinned wickedly.

Liz felt her face heat up. "Yeah," she laughed lightly, "in a good way."

"So, where do you want it?" he asked.

She looked at him momentarily confused and all too aware of his fingers still stroking her arm.

"My seal," he clarified.

"Oh, umm." She glanced down at her body wondering where the best place to have an alien seal was.
Max fingers left her skin and Liz felt the loss immediately. Her fingers automatically started rubbing the area where his fingers had been.

"It can stay visible or blend into the skin and become visible when you want it to be," he explained, " so it can be anywhere."

"In that case," she looked down at her right arm; the arm she was rubbing, her eyes trailed to her upturned palm and then lower to her wrist.
"Here," she held her hand out to him and pointed to the area just below her palm. "I want it here."

Max looked down at her outstretched right hand and with the sound of his heartbeat pounding loudly in his ears, he tenderly took her wrist and placed a soft featherlight kiss where his seal would be.

"Okay," he confirmed. With one arm around her waist, he drew her to him while his other hand encircled her wrist.

"Now look into my eyes, take deep breaths and just let your mind go," he told her in a low voice.

Liz did as he told her; she took deep breaths and just let her mind go. That was easy enough to do because once she fixed her focus on his eyes, his darkening malts of chocolate, she fell into him, utterly and completely.

She felt the pressure on her wrist, an imprint and then that was it, she could see it all.
She could feel the warm tingling sensation as it gathered force and momentum as it raced along her arm. It was no longer heat, it was energy. A powerful, awakening source and Liz could feel it changing her.
Her breathing mimicked the pattern of a hiccup. The energy was everywhere, it was strong and powerful affecting every cell in her body and at the core of it, was Max.
She felt him all around her, in her, surrounding and joining with her.
After touching every part of her body, it flooded into her chest and finally exploded with such force that her back arched violently in Max's hold.
It was wonderful, she thought idly as she sank back into him.

****

The room was filled with ragged breaths as the pair struggled to find strength to talk or stand without support.
For Liz, things started coming back into a blurred focus.

"Are you okay?" she heard Max ask.
She nodded but realizing that wouldn't be an adequate response considering the circumstance, she pulled away from him so that he could see her.

"I'm okay," she told him.

Max wiped away the remnants of tears on her cheek.
If she was okay, then why was she crying?
He would never forgive himself if he'd done anything to hurt her.

Liz caught his hand and pressed it against her cheek. "Max," she looked up at him in amazement, "I can hear you."

"You can?" he asked amazed.

If she could hear his thoughts, that meant it worked.

She nodded with a brilliant beaming smile. "Yeah it did. I can feel you too. Before I could too but this is different. I can feel what you're feeling right now. I can feel you in me. Max," her eyes glazed over dazed by what was happening, "this is amazing-"

She broke off when she noticed the bluish glow emanating from the inner wrist of her right hand. She lifted her hand so they could both see.

The glowing stopped to reveal what looked like a blue tattoo.
A V pattern made up of five dots in dark blue. "That's the royal seal of Antar," Max told her.
And in light blue, an abstract line drawing that went between and around the royal seal.
Max's finger gently traced the lines in wonderment.

She touched his seal. "And this is...you," she said looking up at him.

He nodded. hat was his seal, the royal seal of Antar along with his individual seal. It was on Liz. Liz was carrying his seal!

"How do you feel?" he asked her.

Liz took a deep breath and tried to find the words to explain what she felt. "I feel different, better, stronger, more aware," she rambled.

"That's good," he sighed with relief.

"And Max, I know things," she whispered in amazement. "I know things about you, about Antar, I can feel it all in my head- and don't worry, I'm fine," she told him before he said the words aloud.
To Max's surprise, Liz drew her arms around his neck and kissed him.
She couldn't help it. Now that she could sense him within her, the desire to touch and taste him was blissfully overwhelming.
"You know what's going to be even better?" she asked between kisses.

"What?" asked a dazed breathless Max.

"When you can feel me too," she replied.
She pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "So, where do you want it?" she asked imitating his earlier question.

****

AN:

crazeesmilee wrote:ah, it's been really hard to get back into this board after it went down...but i'll come back for one of your stories! ooh, we got new faces.

Hi Juliet, glad to have you back and we do have new faces, :waves: hi new faces, lol , welcome and here's the next part...

P.S., I was tempted to go NC-17 for this next part, but my muse took me somewhere else and who am I to argue?

Oh and //.......// will be used to show when Max and Liz are communicating mentally.




Previously

The glowing stopped to reveal what looked like a blue tattoo.
A V pattern made up of five dots in dark blue. "That's the royal seal of Antar," Max told her.
And in light blue, an abstract line drawing that went between and around the royal seal.
Max's finger gently traced the lines in wonderment.

She touched his seal. "And this is...you," she said looking up at him.

He nodded. That was his seal, the royal seal of Antar along with his individual seal. It was on Liz. Liz was carrying his seal!

"How do you feel?" he asked her.

Liz took a deep breath and tried to find the words to explain what she felt. "I feel different, better, stronger, more aware," she rambled.

"That's good," he sighed with relief.

"And Max, I know things," she whispered in amazement. "I know things about you, about Antar, I can feel it all in my head- and don't worry, I'm fine," she told him before he said the words aloud.
To Max's surprise, Liz drew her arms around his neck and kissed him.
She couldn't help it. Now that she could sense him within her, the desire to touch and taste him was blissfully overwhelming.
"You know what's going to be even better?" she asked between kisses.

"What?" asked a dazed breathless Max.

"When you can feel me too," she replied.
She pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "So, where do you want it?" she asked imitating his earlier question.

****

Saturday- part 5b

Mac couldn't tear his eyes away from her. She had an unnatural glow about her, she took his breath away. Everything about her seemed...more somehow.

"Max?", she looked at him expectantly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked.

"I asked where you wanted my seal" she smiled shyly.

Her seal. On him!.
It sounded too good to be true or real, but it was was both.

Max tore his eyes away from her long enough to consider where he wanted to be marked.

"I don't know," he shook his head clueless. "I don't care, wherever you want," he shrugged with a smile.

What was important to him was that he was going to be marked, where that would didn't matter to him at all.

Her eyes trailed down his body making him shiver.

"How about..." she placed the palm of her hand against the area of his chest where she could feel his heart beat. "here?".

He covered his hand over hers. "That's perfect."

Max watched as she studied where she would mark him with her fingers.
Did she have any idea what doing that did to him? he wondered.

If she didn't before, she must do now, he amended as she looked up at him with a shy smile and tinged pink cheeks.

"You're, um...gonna have to take off your shirt," she told him.

Take off my...

Max gulped. "Right, oh okay."

****
Liz bit her bottom lip as she stood before her shirtless husband-to-be. She knew he felt self-conscious under her heated gaze but she couldn't help but stare and take her time. He was beautiful and there was no way she was going to just stand there any longer looking at him without touching him.

Max's pulse raced and his breathing strained when Liz closed the space between them and trailed her fingers across his chest. He closed his eyes to let the sensations that skin to skin contact created in him wash over him.

A delighted smile pulled at Liz's mouth as she watched the glowing trail her fingers were leaving across his chest.
Tears flooded her eyes, she had always felt less, inadequate because she couldn't do this to him but now she could. It was the icing on the cake.

"Max." she whispered looking up at him. Sure that she had his attention, she rested her hand at the edge of his shoulder. " Look." She trailed her fingers down the length of his arm and again a shimmer of gold, blue and orange followed.

"Liz," he breathed surprised staring first at his arm and then at her.

"I can do it to you now," she told him.

Max was speechless, the whole night was in a word - amazing. What was happening between them was unimaginable.

Her palm rested on his chest, where her seal would be.

"You ready?" she asked.

He covered her hand with his. "Yes."

She wrapped an arm around his waist pulling him closer and he did the same.

"Okay. Look into my eyes, take a deep breath..."

// Liz, I know all this//

"Max, don't interrupt," she grinned clearly enjoying her role as marker. "Where was I...Oh right, so take a deep breath and let your mind go".

Max's quiet laughter trailed off when he felt their joining begin. It was one of the most profound things that he had ever been privileged to experience.

Liz was there, with him, in him. He could feel everything she was feeling, he knew everything she was thinking. He felt the change, she was the key to all the Antarian knowledge he knew he had but somehow couldn't quite reach. She made him so much stronger than he was alone.
And then, it was over and he was back in her room, in her arms.

****

"Max you okay?" he heard her ask.

Her voice sounded faraway.

"Yeah," he answered dazed.

"I'm more than okay, Liz," he searched her face trying to express or voice what he was feeling but coming up short everytime. "I can feel you too," he said finally finding the words. His hand flew to his heart for emphasis, "in here, everywhere."

Their fingers naturally laced together. "I now pronounce us husband and wife," Liz declared happily, " King and Queen." Their lips met in deep acknowledgment of their union.

"Max," Liz said breaking their kiss. "I'm so happy, I can't describe it, this..."

"I know," he nodded, "I can feel it," he told her with a smile.

Liz couldn't stop smiling. She was Liz Parker-Evans now.

Max is my husband, my incredibly sexy, shirtless husband.

The blush that flushed across his cheeks made her cringe in embarrassment.

"You heard that didn't you?" she asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "We'll place restrictions on it later," he told her as he led her to the edge of her bed, " because tonight, I want to know every single thing that will make you feel good and I want you to know every single thing I think and feel when I make love to you."

Hearing the words and the intensity with which he said them, was enough to leave Liz speechless and screaming for him to kiss her - but to add the fact that she could feel the overwhelming love that accompanied the words...Liz couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Max wiped away her tears with his free hand. He was going to make tonight perfect for her.

"Keep a hold of my hand," he told her, " then," he placed his other hand on her bed,"put your other one like this."

She obliged. "Now what?".

"Now, close your eyes and picture changing your room to the one you'd want for our honeymoon," he told her.

Was he kidding? could she do that?!

"Max-"

"Liz, we can do it. So close your eyes."

Liz closed her eyes and imagined her honeymoon room. Their bed would have cream silk sheets, paneled floor boards, elegant cream colored walls with gold patterns along them, white and red roses by her bedside table.

She felt energy, hers and his blend together and when she opened her eyes, she was presented with the room she'd imagined in her mind.

Her eyes grew wide with shock. "Oh my gosh."

"Do you like it?" Max asked.

"It's just the way I imagined it. We did this?" she asked.

He nodded.

"I helped do this?" she asked incredulous.

Max again nodded.

Liz couldn't help it. She screamed and squealed with delight and jumped around the room. Max enjoyed the outburst, it felt incredible to be able to share the alien side of who he was with Liz and to have her overjoyed about it.

He swept her off her feet and carried her back to the side of the bed and set her down. "It's not quite carrying you over the threshold but..."

Liz tenderly caressed his cheek silencing him. "It's carrying me over the threshold Max," she told him sincerely. They were about to cross the matrimonial threshold, for their physical bodies to become one.

They kissed. It was shy and tentative at first but as the couple felt not only their own but each other's reactions to their tongue dueling, the kiss gradually deepened and became more passionate.

Liz's hands were everywhere, her lips tasted and sucked every area of flesh that was available to her.
Max was officially her addiction.

Max couldn't not touch her. She was his. His wife and mate forever - the need to show her how much he would love and treasure her was becoming increasingly overwhelming.

The remainder of clothing each were covered in became too much of a nuisance. They slowly and reluctantly took a step back.
Max looked down at his naked upper body and then at Liz's clothed one.

//I've already lost my shirt, so you first//

Liz opened her mouth to argue against it but when faced with Max's raised challenging expression, she pursed her lips together flustered and gave in. He was right, he was shirtless while she still had her top on.

"Fine," she told him and pulled off her top and tossed it on the floor. When she gathered up the courage to meet his gaze, she not only saw his reaction to her but she felt it too - and it was more than she could have ever hoped for. He didn't need to say anything, she already knew.

Her eyes drifted to his jeans and then back to him, with a it's-only-fair expression she grinned at him.

//Your turn// she told him.

And so it began and continued. Never disrupting the moment with the use of their audible voices, they stood watching each other undress, their eyes roaming and drinking in any area that their partner gradually revealed to them.

When Max finally took off his boxers, Liz gulped.

Oh. God.

//Are you okay?// asked Max.

// Yeah// she nodded. //It's just...you're...wow//

Max blushed. //Is that good?//

//It's um...//

Before Liz could suppress them, the images of what she would like to do to the new area of Max's anatomy he had just shown her, escaped and played not only in her mind but projected into his.

"Oh no," she groaned burying her face in her hands.

Why did that have to happen? she groaned. She had seen Max's fantasies when she had taken off her bra and while it had been embarrassing for him, it had served as more heat to her already burning body. That had been fine with her, but now that it was her turn to be embarrassed, it was not fine.

//Liz//

She shook her head in her hands refusing to look up at him.

"Liz."

She shook her head. She was so focused on how embarrassing and ....embarrassing that was, that she didn't realize what Max was doing until she felt his hands on hers.

"Liz," he said softly pulling her hands away from her face.

"Max, this is really-"

"Embarrassing, I know," he told her with a shy smile.

"It's just that, you see everything and my thoughts about you especially now aren't exactly pg-13 and the fact that you know is just really..."

"Embarrassing," he finished.

"Yeah."

"Liz, the same goes for me," he told her. "I mean, I'm a gentleman but the things I think about you and what I want to do to you aren't very gentlemanly and I'm really not sure how..."

"I'm reacting?" she supplied.

"Yeah."

"I'm taking it pretty well actually," she grinned. "Um, God I can't believe I'm actually saying this aloud, but I like it...a lot."

"Same goes for me."

"Okay then, so we both don't mind it, embarrassing part over with. Feel free to...project," she told him.

"You too," he grinned. His eyes landed on her underwear. "I believe, it's your turn."

Liz looked down at her cotton blue panties and then back at Max. "You can do that for me."

Max couldn't believe what he had just heard her say. She wanted him to...
"Are you sure?" he asked.

Liz took his hands and placed them on either side of her hips. Where she got the boldness from, she would never know but she was thankful for it.
"I'm very sure," she answered.

Max took a calming deep breath in preparation. She was biting her lower lip again...in anticipation, he could feel it bubbling within in and it was all the encouragement he needed.

He got down on his knees in front of her. His brushed his fingers across her abdomen. She was so perfect, so fragile, her body was to be honoured... it was, as one song he'd heard a while back had put it, her body was a wonderland.

Liz sighed as she felt him slowly pulling her underwear down her legs. The things he did to her, just with a touch were unbelievably breathtaking. She was completely naked and was no longer shy or embarrassed, she just wanted him.

Her legs felt like jelly, when he kissed either side of her outer thighs and then her stomach. "You are beautiful." Liz felt her eyes close as his breath caressed her skin.

"Same goes for you," she mummered as her fingers ran through his hair.

Max slowly stood up, lifted her and gently placed her on the bed and lay down next to her propped up by his elbow.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I won't be if you don't kiss me," she answered.

"I'd be happy to oblige," he told her as his clips crashed against hers.

On top of silk, surrounded by a growing circle of golden blue energy, the couple tenderly explored each other's bodies, kissing and caressing each other until finally, they became one and made love.

****

****

Moans, cries and sighs rang throughout the room as together, Max and Liz ascended into. past and through the clouds.

It was the single most mind-blowing event in any of their lives especially when they both exploded in that oh so good way Max had joked about.
When Liz opened her eyes, Max was by her side, but she realized that they weren't in her room. They were somewhere else, dressed in purple regal attire, surrounded by beautiful vibrant whirls of blue, gold and stars.

"Max, where are we?" she asked.

"We're..." before he could answer mentally or vocally, a voice echoed around them.

"Welcome my son."

****

No, thought Max, it couldn't be. The voice, it sounded like...

His eyes grew wide as a few feet in front of them gold dust started to fall and as it did, shapes and forms materialized into numerous faces stretching as far as the eye could see.

It was the faces at the head of the crowd that caught Max's attention. He knew them! They of course where in the human form they knew he was accustomed to, but he knew their energy.

"Max, those are your parents," said Liz in awe.

Max stood speechless as his parents approached. They were dressed in the same outfits as he and Liz.

Suddenly it all made sense. "We're at the Blessing".

"Father, Mother" he greeted them. He couldn't say or do anything else but stare, these were his real, biological parents. Meeting them, was the shock of his life.

"Zan," began his mother. He knew her name...Aurora

"Max," he corrected her. Zan was who he had been on Antar, he wasn't Zan, he was Max Evans.

"Max," she amended smiling. She was beautiful, really beautiful.

Her attention turned to Liz. "This must be, Liz, your wife."

Liz bowed her head as a sign of respect at being in the presence of Max's parents and being called his wife. Antarian tradition, it was part of her now.
"How do you know my name?" she asked.

"Once the King is joined with his mate, their names and faces ring out all through the Valley of the Kings," answered Queen Aurora.

"Which is where we are," she said.

"Indeed," confirmed King Lor.

Max's father, she thought in awe as she listened to him explain.

"This is where our essences gather for such an event as this. To bless the King and his new Queen, to affirm their joining," he finished.

His eyes focused on Max, "She is beautiful son and worthy of you."

Max beamed proudly at his wife beside him. "Thank you."

Queen Aurora took her son's hand, the hand of his new bride and brought them together. "I trust you will take care of each other, support, grow, guide and love each other even when your path isn't easy which it won't be. Our enemies are coming for you."

"We know," nodded Liz, " and we will do all those things you just said."

"Take care of our son," the King and Queen told Liz.

"With my life," she promised. Liz felt the enormity of the responsibility she had just undertaken. She was a Queen to a planet, a wife to her husband and there was a war coming. She looked over to her husband by her side. There was a war coming, but together they would get through it.

In front of their eyes, the King Lor and Queen Aurora disappeared and reappeared at the head of the crowd of the Antarian Kings and Queens.

"King Max," the voice echoed all around them. "Queen Elizabeth, we bless this union and bless your reign. May you prosper in love. Be well."

A bright blinding light exploded around them. When they opened their eyes, they were back on the bed, naked in each other's arms.

Max shifted his body so he wasn't crushing her. "You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Max that was..."

"I know."

"Your parents."

"I know."

She nestled against him. "I'm glad I got to meet them and that they approve."

"Me too. I wish Isabel could have met them too, it would have made her so happy", he added.

They held each other and lapsed into comfortable, companionable silence as each came to terms with what they had just experienced.

Liz felt incredibly honoured and lucky to have felt and seen everything she had tonight. Being with Max was where she would be forever no matter what happened, she belonged to him and nothing would ever change that.

The night had given Max more than he had ever imagined. He had married Liz and he met his parents. Not that they needed it but after the blessing, their marriage seemed more official, almost like signing a marriage certificate. They were married, joined forever, Liz was his wife. They had trouble coming and they would deal with that then, not tonight, tonight it was their would of perfect peace and pleasure.

"Did I mention that I love you," she asked pulling him away from his thoughts.

He glanced down at her and feigning concentrated thought he replied, "I...can't...seem...to remember".

"Well I do," she grinned planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

Max knew what she wanted and as their lips met in a slow agonizingly teasing kiss, he was only too happy to oblige.

****

Max and Liz showed each other just how much they loved each other all throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning. As the couple made love again and again and again and again, thousands of seemingly normal Americans were jolted from their sleep or came to a sudden halt.

Millions of seemingly ordinary people all over the world stopped what they were doing as a strong peaceful feeling overcame them. Those not old enough to remember smiled, were comforted by that sense of peace and went back to whatever they had been doing.
But those who still retained detailed knowledge of the Antarian royal marriage ceremony took an extra moment to celebrate because they knew that their King had finally found his Queen.

AN: Hey all. I finally have an update for this fic. It's unbeta'd (You will get my next part Flora, I promise, lol) of excuse any mistakes but this part has been in my head for so long that I just wanted to get out there.
Thanks for the wonderful feedback, bumps and support. I thought I should make this part special seeing as I haven't post for a while, so it's a very long update which I'm happy to say includes us finally catching up with Mac.
So enjoy....

oh and as in the last part : //......// means that they're communicating telepathically.


Previously

Max and Liz showed each other just how much they loved each other all throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning. As the couple made love again and again and again and again, thousands of seemingly normal Americans were jolted from their sleep or came to a sudden halt.

Millions of seemingly ordinary people all over the world stopped what they were doing as a strong peaceful feeling overcame them. Those not old enough to remember smiled, were comforted by that sense of peace and went back to whatever they had been doing.
But those who still retained detailed knowledge of the Antarian royal marriage ceremony took an extra moment to celebrate because they knew that their King had finally found his Queen.

****

Sunday


Roswell


She had been drifting between the gap of sub-conscious and conscious awareness, content with the warmth of her body and her mind. She stayed in that place until the feeling of serene satisfaction escaped into an almost feral moan. Gradually, reluctantly, she opened her eyes with a lazy smile on her face. Memories of the night before forced her small smile to explode into a full blown grin along with a soft low chuckle.

She had married Max last night. Met his parents, became Queen of a distant planet, a not so distant peoples and made love to her husband!

The blur of the maroon became her maroon sheets as she turned her focus back to the present.
Hmmm, she thought idly. The sheets are back from cream to maroon.

She turned to talk to Max, her arm reaching out at the same time expecting to come into contact with her husband's incredibly hot body, but instead, saw no-one and made contact with nothing but sheets. He wasn't there.

Propping herself on her elbows, her eyes swept her room. Everything looked disturbingly the same. Her bed wasn't in the marital form it had been last night, gone were the cream silk sheets, panelled floor boards, elegant cream colored walls with gold patterns along them. Her room was the same as it was before her and Max changed it.
Like sand trickling into an hour glass, panic started to spill in Liz.

He had to be there, she thought to herself. Last night did happen.

"Max!", she called out.

No answer.

Sitting up on her bed, pulling up a bed-sheet for cover, she called him again, this time louder and still there was no reply. She listened out for running water in-case he was in the shower but heard nothing. Wrapping a bed-sheet around her, Liz slid off the bed and went to check the shower. Maybe he was just there waiting to surprise her or something.

He wasn't in the shower or the kitchen.

Had he been there at all?

She had tried sensing him, like she had last night but she couldn't. The hourglass of panic cracked, she was in overflow, her thoughts and fears scattered everywhere.
Liz clutched tightly at the sheet against her chest.
"Oh God, am I crazy?".

Maybe last night had been a figment of her imagination, a strange incredibly life like fantasy because she felt sore. Energized but sore.

She couldn't concentrate on anything around her. Her chest was tightening. Small doses of oxygenated air came in an out of her lungs while tears were threatening to spill.
Her happiness had been brutally ripped away. Nothing had changed, Max didn't know the truth.

"I still lost him," she whispered.

She told herself to calm down or she would faint. She could feel the darkness tugging at her and she nearly welcomed it. It was a sudden rush of love and concern that pulled her back.

It wasn't her love and concern she was feeling. It was Max. She could feel him again. It was real! Last night had really happened.

// Liz, are you okay?//
His voice rang in her mind and reverberated soothingly throughout her entire body.

"Max?" she called aloud sinking into a chair. Realising that he couldn't hear her, she closed her eyes, took deep breaths and concentrated on their connection.

// Yeah, I'm fine. I woke up, everything looked normal and I couldn't find you anywhere-//

// - I know// he finished gently.

// kinda made me question my sanity especially since I couldn't feel you//

She felt a wave of apology from him.

// that’s my fault, I'm sorry. I had to shut you out//

// Why?// she asked.

// I had to do something and wanted to keep it a surprise. I didn't think you'd worry, didn't you get my note?//

// What note?//

// I left a note on my pillow, telling you that I'd be back//

// Oh //

Liz made her way to her bedroom. The note, it turned out, wasn't on the pillow anymore; it was now on the floor. Suddenly she felt very foolish.

// Found it.// she told him sheepishly. // It must have fallen off. It's 6am Max, where are you anyway?//

//It's a surprise. I'll be there in about half an hour//

//Okay. And Max?//

//Yeah//

// Can you not completely block me out? I mean, I want to still feel your presence but not what you're feeling if that makes sense//

// I'll try//

Liz felt him pulling away, she couldn’t hear his thoughts, but the cord that held them together was still there. She could still feel him.

// Better?// he asked.

// Much// she smiled.

// See you soon. I love you//

// Love you too//

Liz blinked several times. "I just had a telepathic conversation with by husband." She laughed in amazed acceptance. Her eyes landed on her inner right hand wrist. It looked normal, but what was it Max had said? She could make the seal visible or invisible.
She held out her hand and concentrated on wanting to see the seal. A little area of her skin glowed gold, then blue and finally like the lost city of Atlantis rising, the seal appeared. Liz traced her fingers along it feeling its power. It was incredible. Everything that had happened to her was incredible and daunting at the same time. But, she had chosen this path and no matter what danger lay ahead, her choice made her happy.

Replacing the sheet she covered herself with for a robe, she went back to the kitchen to fix a large breakfast for her and Max. Last night had used up a lot of their energy, she blushed remembering the things they had done. They needed to replenish themselves because now, they had to deal with the aftermath of their decision. It saddened Liz that she couldn't enjoy what had happened between them to its full extent when they had to deal with Tess, prepare for a war with Khivar and all the while attempt to have a marriage, lead seemingly normal lives and also deal with their friends.
Her parents arrived at 1pm but she had to open up the cafe at 10am. If Max got here at 6:30, then they'd have some time to formulate their plan and spend some quality time before heading back to real life.

****

Max climbed through the window and back into his wife‘s room. His eyes landed on the rumpled bed. A proud satisfied full smile decorated his relaxed features.
He'd had sex with Liz Parker! He couldn't help but feel a masculine pride about that.

He patted the small white velvet box in his pocket as he made his way to the kitchen. That was an advantage to their bond, he didn't have to look for her, he knew exactly where she was. He stood in the entrance into the kitchen and watched her as she cooked on the stove. Beautiful, smart and incredibly sexy in that knee-long robe.

And she was his.

Desire surged through him as he watched her. He wanted to spin her around, rip off that robe and-

"Before you do that," she turned smiling at him, "I think we should eat."

They met by the breakfast table. Ignoring the fact that she had a hot pan in her hand, Max wrapped his arms around her and began kissing her neckline.
Her body hummed for him, with him.

"I thought I'd censored you,” he murmured lazily.

He really couldn’t wait to get her robe off.

Her husky chuckle spread to his fingers, which itched to touch all of her warm welcoming flesh.
"You lifted that when you started your fantasy," Liz answered. Placing the pan on the table, she turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck and pillaged and plundered his mouth. She had wanted to start slow but his desire watching her had added fuel to her own. After last night, there was no way she was holding back.

Not that she could anyway. She wasn't tired. Neither of them was. Thanks to Antarian ways, they would be charged up for a week and their release would be one thing...each other.

When they broke apart for air, Liz realised that firstly, she was sat on the table and secondly, that her robe now only covered the lower half of her body. She didn’t remember Max helping her onto the table or him removing her robe. All she remembered was his deceptively innocent hands, his sweet mouth and talented tongue sending her over the edge.

Breathless and slightly feverish, she still found the will power to, for the moment, be sensible.
"We really need to eat," she told Max.

His eyes never left her naked upper body. Liz bit her lip, she knew exactly what he wanted to eat and she so badly wanted to give in, but she couldn't. They had things to sort out first.

"Food," she emphasised covering herself with her robe. She hopped off the table patted his toned ass, ignored his surprised look and sat in the chair opposite. "We have a lot to talk about and little time."

Max gritted his teeth resisting the urge to growl. One minute she was melting in his arms and the next, she was all business. He knew she wanted him as much as he did her, but he also knew that she was right. They did have a lot to plan.

"Let's get down to business," he said, “while we eat.”
He picked up the pancakes by the stove, some syrup from the cupboard and plates while Liz picked up the hot pan he had remembered to move before helping her onto the table.

The eggs and pancakes were delicious. Food was exactly what they needed as support to go through this, thought Max.

"Okay. About Tess,” Liz began.

Max blew out a breath. The thought of that girl almost made him loose his appetite. Almost.

"I know,” Liz agreed, “but we need her for now."

****

They talked about everything. What to do about Tess, the upcoming war and their relationship in the presence of their friends. It was decided that Liz would, as she had told Tess, stay out of the “alien madness” unless called upon. Max would stay friends with Tess while try to get her and Kyle together.
It hadn't surprised him to find out that Kyle was in love with Tess, because his behaviour around him made sense now. Max also had a feeling that Tess would be with Kyle is she wasn't so obsessed with him.

It was also decided that, the less contact he and Liz had in public, the better it was for all concerned. Even if Tess didn't get together with Kyle, keeping her…“sweet” as Liz put it, bought them time to prepare if she turned against them.

Max would also start training everyone. They needed to hone in their skills, Liz included, to prepare for Khivar. That had been his parent's wedding gift to them. This morning as he made his way through the quiet streets of Roswell, he had been hit by a vision from them. They'd told him, shown him of the other Antarians on earth, waiting to be called up when the time came.

Khivar was bringing the battle to earth, not just to destroy them, but to take over the planet. They weren't sure when it would happen but it wasn't too far into the future. The thought of being leaders to any people during war was a daunting feat, let alone aliens, but the couple were consoled by the fact that it wasn't here yet. They would take it step by step. Which meant that they would have to keep their relationship a secret. It was safer for all of them that way.

"It sucks that we have to do this," said Liz, "but it could be worse."

"We could be apart," nodded Max. He stopped her as she made a move to gather the dishes. "Let me wash up. You did the cooking, I'll do the clearing up".

He quickly took the plates, leaving her no room to object and started washing up. He could feel her watching him, he knew her thoughts and they were anything but innocent. His body craved hers and her his, so it came as no surprise to feel her pressed up behind him.
"Let me help.” Her hands came around him and joined with his in the sink.

"Liz," he warned.

How did she expect him to finish what he started if she was so close.

"Max, let me help," she insisted. bathed in soap suds, their fingers linked. The last tether of Max’s restraint broke. He abandoned the washing up in favour of kissing her.

Liz wanted more than kisses, a lot more. "You have protection?" she asked as began unbuttoning his jeans.

Max nodded before reaching for her lips again.
She was so hot. So delicious. So beautiful.

"Our sex drive's going to be in overdrive for about a week,” he murmured against her ear.

"Good thinking,” Liz breathed. “I'll carry some spares too."

As his hand disappeared under her robe, Liz couldn’t hold back any longer.

God, the things this man did to her.

She led him back to the breakfast table and hopped on.

"We have time for a quickie" she wrapping her legs around him.

"Liz!".

Her eyes lit up with amusement. After everything they had done last night, she could still get him to blush.
"Don't sound so shocked Max,” she laughed, “we're married. You don't get the PG version of me anymore.”

Their lips brushed softly, once, twice then all gentleness was overthrown by blinding, primal passion.


****

"I love you," Liz told him as hand in hand they slowly made their way to her room.

"I love you too," replied Max.

She didn’t think she would ever tire of hearing him say the words or of saying them herself.

“Hey.” They had just stepped into her room when he pulled her to his side and pressed his lips against her for a searing kiss.

“Wow, not that I mind but what was the for?,” she asked.

She watched him search his jacket pocket and pull out a white velvet box.

"This was what I left you for this morning to get,” he replied.

Liz stared at the box then at him. The box either held two things a ring or a pair of earrings. She received the answer when he nervously opened the it and presented it to her.

"Max," she gasped. She watched stunned as he took the ring out and held it before her. He'd put the diamond stone into a beautiful white gold band and put it around a delicate necklace.

"I know you can't wear it now,” he explained, “so I put it on the necklace."

"How did you manage this?" she asked.

"Mr. Haynes from the jewellery stored owed me a favour,” he replied. “He's a secret UFO nut, I slip him a few of Brody’s good books every now and then."

"I'm sure he appreciated being woken up early,” she mused.

"He's an early riser. He didn't mind and don‘t worry about it, he didn‘t ask any questions." said Max.

Liz nodded dumbly as she inspected it. It beautiful. "I love it.”

“Really?”.

How could she not? It was perfect. She wouldn’t have wanted anything better.

Her lips found his in a soft deep kiss.

//I love it, Max//

// I love you//

They broke apart just so he could help put the necklace on her. Once that was done, their lips found each other again pulling them deeper and deeper into each other until their bodies demanded release. Release they didn’t have time for.

Liz placed her hands against his chest to pry their bodies apart. "We need to stop.”

"Uh huh,” nodded Max before capturing her lips once more. Liz felt herself melting into him. Her resolve was weakening, but not fast enough.

"Need to shower,” she managed as he did incredible things to her neck.

"Will take you," Max responded as they stumbled towards her bed. He lay back taking her with him.

"Max,” she breathed as she nibbled his ear. “I need to shower.”

Images of a naked, soapy Liz filled his mind.

"Will join you,” he breathed.

"Ooooh…“
That sounded soo appealing but…

“…no," she broke away from him, "we need to get ready.”

Space, they needed to keep apart.

She moved and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I need a quick shower and you need to go home and deal with the others."

The heat from him inflamed hers as he crawled over to her. She knew that she should move if she didn’t want to be pulled back in but, one goodbye kiss wouldn’t hurt.

She turned to him captured his face in her hands and kissed him till they were both breathless.

// You need to go// she told him.

Max nodded his head in agreement. They’d had their fun for the morning.

He gave a chaste kiss on the cheek. “"I'll have you later."

"That's a promise,” she smiled.

****

****

During his drive home, all Max could think about was Liz in the shower. He wondered how her skin felt under running water. He wondered what it would be like to have a shower with her…

****

Liz felt his presence intensify as she showered.

//Max?//

//Yeah?//

// Where are you? Because I it feels like you're very near//

// I’m pulling into my house//

//Oh//

She felt his fingers trail down her arms, his soft kisses on her neck and nearly sank to the floor. Liz looked wildly around her. He definitely wasn’t here so why did her body react as if he was?

// Max ?//

// I’m thinking of you// he replied.

// Thinking of me in the shower?// she asked.

She felt his sheepish but unrepentant embarrassment.
// Sorry, couldn't help it. Didn't even know I could do that //

// Projecting physical presence//, she mused. //I might try it out on you a little later on. We’ll definitely have to see how far this goes, I mean can you actually project to me? Could I see you? //

She felt his amusement.

// Later my sweet scientist. Right now, someone’s knocking on my door. Love you//

// Love you too//.


****

Isabel and Michael were taken aback by the Max that greeted them at his door. The bags around his eyes were gone and power radiated off him like the sun.

"Hey Iz," he nodded at her. "Michael."

"Hey," they greeted him in unison.

This was very unexpected.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Max asked.

"You seem..." began Isabel.

"Better than your usual self," finished Michael.

He couldn't stop staring at his friend. Something big had definitely gone down with Liz.

"Did you two want something?" Max asked. From the expressions on their faces, it was clear that they could see he was different, the question was, did they know why.

"Oh yeah. Did you feel something last night?" asked Michael.

Damn, he’d forgotten about that. To be fair, he never really knew about it until after he and Liz had made love.

"Feel something like what?", he asked letting them into his room.

****

Back at the Crashdown, Liz was on her way to open the Café when Max let her eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I don't know," she heard Michael say, "but it packed a punch. Jolted me out of my sleep."

"But it wasn't bad..just peaceful. Like something big happened, life changing but good," added Isabel.

"What she said,” said Michael.

Liz froze at the bottom of the stairs.

// Oh God . They felt us having sex?!! //

// Liz you know that's how it works at the wedding. // replied Max gently.

// I know//. She opened the back door and let everyone in.

//But I have a ton of Antarian knowledge in my mind. It didn't hit me that all those Antarians out there know we had sex!! Oh God //

// They felt peace and comfort. They didn't feel us actually having sex...Liz? //

She turned over the chairs and slid them under their tables.

// I'm over it.// she responded. //I'm over it. Oh God! //

She could feel Max's amusement.

// Don't laugh at me // she warned him.

"What are you laughing at?" she heard Isabel ask.

// Ooops. Gotta go //

Then the voices were gone.

Liz bit her lip to hold back her laughter. She could only imagine what Michael and Isabel were thinking of Max right now. She would deal with Max a little later.

At that moment, Maria came in from the back room.

"You're looking good,” she noted. “In fact you're glowing. Last night went well?".

Liz wanted more than anything to tell Maria about her and Max, but two worlds were at risk. Her and Max had to stick to the plan they’d agreed on.

"Yep,” she replied nonchalantly.

"How well?" prodded Maria.

"We talked about everything. It was good. We thought it would be best if I stay out of the Czechoslovakian business for a while, unless they need help," she replied.

That answer seemed to satisfy her because she began helping Liz set up.

"I might join you on that one since me and Spaceboy are over. We can spend more time together," said Maria.

"I really am sorry for not telling you about Kyle," Liz apologised. She was, she really was but it had had to be done.

"I know,” sighed Maria, “I'm still a little mad and hurt, but I'll get over it…just promise that you'll share the big things in your life with me or talk to me about them at least?".

"When the time is right I will," she answered.

"Wasn't that answer I expected, but for now I guess it'll do“.

****

"I called Tess and asked her if she felt it too and she did," said Isabel.

"I guess I'm the only one who didn't," said Max.
He had to be very careful. Everything had to be done right, there was no room for mistakes.

"What do we do about it?" asked Michael.

"It didn't last long whatever it was. It's probably some kind of sign, of what exactly remains to be seen, but you said it didn't feel dangerous, so it won't be a threat," he replied.

"Maybe because you didn't feel it, it has something to do with you," suggested Isabel.

He stiffened at that suggestion. He had to take them off that line of thought or else they would put the pieces together and then it would be over.

"Yeah, you're better of a sudden," said Michael.

"How are you and Liz?" asked Isabel.

"We talked,” he replied casually. “She's taking a break from us. We'll ask her for help if we need it…and me and her will try to be friends later on," he added.

"You're a bigger person then I am," said Isabel.

Max breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. They believed him.

"Guess Maria will follow suit since we're not together anymore," added Michael.

"You two broke up?" asked Isabel surprised.

"Yesterday," he replied.

Apparently, a lot had happened yesterday. "Woah. I'm sorry,” she told him.

Max saw an opportunity and went for it. "That means we all have time on our hands. Time we can use to train.”

"Train for what?" asked Michael.

"In-case you haven't forgotten Michael, our enemies are out there. They killed Nasedo and are probably waiting for a good time to attack us. We're not ready, we need to get prepared,” he replied in a tone that gave both Michael and Isabel pause for thought.

"When do you want us to start?" asked Isabel.

"This afternoon,” he replied. “All four of us at the quarry.”

"Why the sudden gung-ho attitude. What aren't you telling us Max?" asked Michael. To him, Max’s sudden turnaround wasn’t making sense. First sorting things out with Liz but not getting back together with her and to seem completely fine about it and now he was action-leader all of a sudden?
Something was definitely going on.

"There's a war coming and we need to be better then we are right now or they will destroy us and all we love,” added Max. “Not to be rude guys, but I need a shower and sleep.”
Without waiting for responses, Max headed to the bathroom leaving a mystified Isabel and Michael.

"I guess I better go call Tess," said Isabel.

****

New York

Mac surveyed the bustling airport considering and over ruling suspect faces with trained precision. She felt a stronger sense of purpose, an urgency to get things done here and head back to Roswell. It had struck her as she flicked through a magazine on the plane. A strong, powerful, yet pacifying force had swept over her.
She didn't know exactly what it meant, but she knew that something good had happened, something very significant that changed everything. The biggest problem was that she didn't know what that everything was. All she knew for definite was that whatever the ending to this drama had been before, it wouldn't be anymore.
Everything was up in the air. Which was why she had given Zan the details of a later flight while she had taken an earlier one. His appearance had caused her to amend her plan to replace Liz with Tess and warn the rest of them about their enemies. In fact, it wasn't a plan anymore, but a vague summary of what she needed to help happen.
She had changed Future Max's plan, apparently so had Zan - they were all flying by the seat of their pants.

No threats yet, she sighed with relief. She didn't want to stealthily have to kill someone the first few minutes of her arrival.

****

After going through standard airport arrival protocol, Mac chose a seat in the arrivals section that would suit her purpose; she had her back to the wall, clocked easy exits and then waited.
Zan and Ava were identical clones of Max and Tess, so she would have no problems spotting them. She had given nothing away about herself, so she was at an advantage. She figured that they would arrive at least half an hour before her flight which meant that she had enough time to call Roswell, freshen up and grab something to eat.

****

"Yo Ava! Enough wit that girly crap. We got to go," shouted Zan.

"Chill out! I'm ready." Ava shouted as she walked into the living room.

She knew they were both nervous, but did he have to take it out on her?
She received no apology as she stared at him expectantly. She wanted him to say a simple, "you look tasty", but he didn't seem to be capable of throwing a compliment…at her anyway.

"Aight, let's go then," he said before turning and heading for the door. Shaking her head in resignation, Ava followed after him.

What they were doing, it was dangerous. They didn't know how it was going to turn out, but it gave their lives a noble purpose.

****

"Hey stranger," answered Max.

Mac could tell from his tone that things had gone well.

"Hey yourself," she greeted him. "I take it you and Liz are back at it?".

"No."

She nearly jumped out of her seat. "What?!".

"Don't lose it. Let me explain. You were right about Tess. Her and I aren't meant to be."

"Good."

Because otherwise I would have to knock some sense into your alien ass.

"I talked with Liz. A lot came out of it and we...we decided to start off as friends first."

"Friends."

Friends?! She hadn’t been expecting a “friends” result!

"Uh huh".

But then again, it was understandable considering Tess’ mind warps and everything. You couldn’t just get over that in a day.

"Do you love her?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Does she love you?".

"Yes."

"Do you both want to get back together sometime?" she asked.

"Yes."

A very definite and positive yes. That was fine, she could work with that.

"And Tess is out of the picture?" she clarified.

"Erased,” confirmed Max.

"That's good enough for right now."

"Well, I'm glad you're happy. I do all this for you" he joked.

After their laughter died down, he sobered up. "Mac, what do you know about all this?".

"I know a lot,” she answered. “What I have to tell you as I said before, can't be phone conversation. I need to do it in person so that there's no room for misunderstandings.”

"When are you coming back?".

"As soon as I sort out my friend's problem. Which I'm hoping should be a few days. I'll call to check in anyway."

"Should I be worried?" he asked.

"I can take care of myself Max, believe me. Just take care of your end and I'll be fine okay?".

"Okay."

The way she figured it, it wouldn’t be long before he and Liz got back together. They couldn’t resist each other.

"In the meantime. What's mine is yours, so feel free to hit my house and take a car,” she told him.

"Are you serious?!" he asked.

Mac smiled to herself. Who would have thought that a straight arrow like Max would get excited over cars.

"I never joke about my girls,” she replied.

"Wow, thanks."

"You're welcome. Later Max."

"Later, Mac".

****

Mac recognised them as soon as they walked in. They were the spitting image of Max and Tess give or take a few things like: spiky hair, hair dye, tattoos and piercings.
Her eyes narrowed at the girl, Ava. She wondered if she was the same as her scheming dupe back in Roswell.
One Tess was problem enough but two?

Nevermind, if it comes down to it, I can kill her and take off, she reasoned.

Zan, Max's dupe, was sex on legs. Not that Max wasn't but he was good boy sex on legs while Zan...Zan was a very bad boy sex on legs.

You're not gonna crush on your King's Dupe. He is off limits and... she took another look at him before glancing back at her magazine...cocky as hell.

****

"Area's clean," said Ava.

"Thought it would be. They wouldn't show up here anyway. They don't think we're a threat just yet," said Zan.

He glanced at his watch.
We've got twenty minutes to spare.
His eyes surveyed the waiting area looking for something to keep him entertained. Movement caught his eye as a gorgeous dark haired girl lowered a magazine and flipped through it.

A wicked grin crossed his lips. They had twenty minutes to spare after-all.

"Get yourself summit," he told Ava before heading over to the girl. He sat in a seat next to her, exchanged a polite smile.

"Waiting for someone?" he asked.

"Something like that," she answered.

She had killer eyes and lips that could do some serious damage.

"Name's Zan,” he told her.

"Mac."

I bet you’re a screamer, he thought to himself.

"You live in the city?" he asked.

"I'll be staying here for a while. You?".

"Lived here my whole life."

All my freakin life.

He pushed the depressing thoughts that threatened to flood his mind. He was talking to a fit chick, who if she stopped being so coy, he could arrange to meet later on.

"So the guy you're waiting for, he's a boyfriend?" he asked.

If she had a boyfriend, she was off-limits. He had standards.

"She's a friend and I don't have a boyfriend anymore,” she replied.

"He's missing out."

That earned him a smile, a killer one at that.

He didn’t usually do this. Usually they came to him. Usually they were easier than, no doubt, she would be. There was something about her that made him want to try.

"Buy you a cup of coffee?" he asked.

"What about here?,” Mac asked pointing to Ava who stood nearby with a cup of coffee. “She not your girlfriend?".

"No. She's a friend, more like a sister,” he added.

"Okay then." In a movement that sent a jolt through him, Mac put her arm over his and gripped it to the arm rest. "Are you that easily snared by a pretty face?" she asked.

What the hell?!

Zan tried to move his hand but he couldn’t. It was stuck to the arm rest!

If it came down to it, he could knock her out on the sly and leave.

Noticing the sudden tension between them, Ava quickly made her way over to him.

Mac leaned into him. "Mackenzie Serena James," she told him.

Serena. The chick from Roswell. The fine chick from Roswell who he had just hit on and who didn’t look too impressed by him.

He let out a long breath. "Dammn."

"Yep.” She patted his hand and just like that it was free.

So the chick liked to play. He could play.

“Everything good?” asked Ava.

"Chill," he told her rising from his seat. "This is Serena.”

Mac stood up. She had been beautiful sitting down, now that she was standing, Zan knew that sometime during all of this, he would have to mix business with pleasure.

“Got on an earlier flight?” he asked her.

"You can never be too careful. So are we gonna stand here or are we gonna go?" she asked.

Ava watched the pair in silent horror and heartbreak. She had always known that Zan didn't love her as his wife, but she had always held onto hope.
Zan had spent his life always waiting for someone else. It was painful to accept that now, that someone else had finally arrived.

AN: Hey all, thanks for the feedback. I'm going to keep it in NYC in this next....

PREVIOUSLY

Zan tried to move his hand but he couldn’t. It was stuck to the arm rest!

If it came down to it, he could knock her out on the sly and leave.

Noticing the sudden tension between them, Ava quickly made her way over to him.

Mac leaned into him. "Mackenzie Serena James," she told him.

Serena. The chick from Roswell. The fine chick from Roswell who he had just hit on and who didn’t look too impressed by him.

He let out a long breath. "Dammn."

"Yep.” She patted his hand and just like that it was free.

So the chick liked to play. He could play.

“Everything good?” asked Ava.

"Chill," he told her rising from his seat. "This is Serena.”

Mac stood up. She had been beautiful sitting down, now that she was standing, Zan knew that sometime during all of this, he would have to mix business with pleasure.

“Got on an earlier flight?” he asked her.

"You can never be too careful. So are we gonna stand here or are we gonna go?" she asked.

Ava watched the pair in silent horror and heartbreak. She had always known that Zan didn't love her as his wife, but she had always held onto hope.
Zan had spent his life always waiting for someone else. It was painful to accept that now, that someone else had finally arrived.

****

The Promise - chapter 14(? I think, lol)

New York


To Mac's surprise, they took a taxi to Zan and Ava's apartment.

"What? no car or I'm-a-bad-ass motorcycle?" she asked him teasingly.

The small half smirk that had looked cute on Max was dangerously sexy on his dupe.

"I'm working on the bad-ass motorcycle," he replied.

"You're a mechanic?" she asked glancing at his hands for clues.

"Some days. Other days I work behind a bar," he replied.

The expression on her face told Zan that she wasn't surprised.
What?! did she think that she had him all figured out?
She unnerved him. No that wasn’t the word, she was damn right disarming.
She knew close to nothing about him and yet she was looking at him like she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Her assessing eyes travelled to Ava who sat quietly next to him. She was quieter than usual, he noticed. He knew she wasn't throwing out the celebration works for this, but he wished she'd get over the fear she had and tap into the nuclear power he knew she had in her. It was always brimming just below the surface, but she never let it out.

Well she would have to this time or they would all be nothing but ash floating in air.

"What do you do?" Mac asked her.

"I work at a tattoo parlour," she replied timidly.

Mac nodded in acceptance of her answer. The rest of the cab ride was experienced in silence.

Every now and then, she would glance at the pair beside her who were so eerily similar to her friend and the blonde wench and yet seemingly so different.

It was just plain weird.

Most of the time though, her focus was what was out of the cab window; looking at the busy streets, tall buildings, the life sound and people that was NYC.
The last time she'd been here had been with Jason, a week before she found out what a complete jackass he was. They'd had a good time then, she shopped, he'd complained, they argued and made up.

"Yo, we here."

****

Here, was definitely way out from the exclusively rich and private demographic where her penthouse apartment was.
Here, was litter and dumpsters decorating the streets, tattooed, pierced cross dressers walking past.
Here, was in two words, underground bohemia.

Noticing the expression on Mac’s face, Ava immediately jumped to the defence of their humble living environment.

"Our last place was underneath the subway where we hatched. This is a step up," she explained.

Mac shrugged in acceptance. This was definitely better than the rat infested subway.

The apartment was pretty decent, a decent size for two people and surprisingly tidy. Maybe Zan had a few of Max's tendencies, like neatness.

The thought surprised Mac. Of all people to think of as the tidy, she had picked Zan. Ava, timid Ava, would be the likely suspect, but something about everything around her screamed Zan.

Looking around, it also struck her how strange it was that there were no pictures of friends or family.

How sad.

"Want a drink?" Ava asked once they were settled in the living room.

Yeah, so you can poison it? No thanks.

"Why don't you fill me in first. Then we'll see about the drink," Mac answered.

Ava looked at Zan.

Weird, she defers to him, nothing like Tess...then again, it can all be an act.

Mac followed Ava’s gaze to Zan, who sat comfortably on the sofa like he was King of the world.

I'm guessing he's gonna be doing most of the talking, she thought dryly.

"Me, Ava, Rath and Lonnie were chillin in the sewers,“ he began, “when out of the blue, there's a bright blue light and there I am in leather..."

So far, she had lowered her gaze to below his nose. But as soon as the image of Zan in leather pierced her mind, her eyes jerked up to meet his and locked on.

Electricity surged between them. She wasn’t surprised by the fact that she felt it, she was surprised by the fact that she felt it from Zan!.
It thrilled and scared her at the same time. She tried to look away but couldn’t.

What the hell…

Her thoughts trailed off as his voice surrounded her like a cocoon. He was surround sound and then suddenly, the world around them became Zan's story.

They were sitting on the sofas, not in the apartment, but underground. To the side of them a few feet away, the drama Zan was talking about unfurled.
Her gaze moved from Future-Max glaring at the stunned dupes to a stunned Zan.

"What’s happening?" Mac asked.

"Hell if I know," he replied.

"I didn't know you could do that," said Ava amazed.

"It's an all round shocker," he responded.

The surprise was gone from his eyes. He was back to being over confident Zan.
Mac fixed him with a blank unimpressed stare.

"I guess it's show and tell, continue," she told him.

"Everything was eye-blink speed. Future Max saw Rath and Lonnie and dusted 'em, no questions asked…”

Mac watched and listened amazed as the action happened around them.

“… Thought I was next but he had other plans".

****

Zan told Mac everything, showed her everything, things he hadn’t even told her. He didn't miss a detail out.

Ava noticed he was so animated, more than she'd ever seen him.
Mac/Serena, whatever her name was, was bringing him to life in front of her very eyes.

"So story so far," Mac interrupted, "Rath and Lonnie in Future Max's timeline killed you and tried to kill Tess when she and Max came to New York.."

Ava noticed her disapproving tone at Tess, her dupe's name.
She would ask about it later.

"...they were also going to hand you over to Khivar once on Antar so, Future Max comes back for a little payback and saved your asses."

"Yeah," he agreed.

Instead of telling them what happened next, he showed them one of his many one to one talks with Future Max.


"I don't know what's going to happen now. I've altered a lot. You and Ava are alive," said Future Max.

He had the same jaded, world weary expression he had when he was telling her that she had to go to Roswell.

"For how long?" asked Zan.

He smiled a bitter sweet smile. "As long as you decide. Destiny is what you make it now. For you and the Roswell set...they're going to have to spearhead the battle, they have the granolith. Maybe at least one of us can have a normal life."


Suddenly it ended. They were back in the apartment.

"Got a bit of normal. Got a job, a house, but we decided to head back in the game,“ continued Zan. “Nicholas wanted us for the summit just as Future Max said it would play out“.

"Zan turned him down cold," Ava said proudly.

"He's a little bit pissed, but he ain't done nothing to us yet. He thinks we don't care, which is good 'cause Ava and I,” his eyes glittered with mischief about to be revealed, “ we've been bad rebel aliens."

"How bad?" asked Mac.

Why did she have a feeling that what he was going to say next, was going to force her to change her plans?

"We snooped around. They got husks and body possession of some high ups. Military, industry, they got someone in. We need to track down where the husks and devices are and destroy them. 'Cuz if this ain't Khivar preparing to lock and load, then I don't know what is. The Roswell versions as I see it, don't need to know any of this. We take care of it, leave them to handle what they gotta deal with, but to do that, we need your help.”

His eyes bored into her. A current passed between them. She quickly averted her gaze.

This was not part of the plan.

“You're the only other person 'side from his Liz who knows what's what", he finished.

****

Zan and Ava had left her to give her some space and time to think.
And that’s what she’d done. Think, think, think.
She had two choices. She could leave- but she couldn't. She had no choice but to help. Zan was King too and they were trying to help stop Khivar.

Ava came back into the living room, hair wet from what Mac assumed was a shower.

"I'll have that drink," Mac told her, "Ice cold coke."

Ava nodded brought back the drink and watched her drink it.
She wondered what Mac had that appealed to Zan. He liked her, she could see it.
And Mac…she just didn’t seem to care. She didn’t care that Zan liked her!

"You got a question, ask it," said Mac surprising her.

Ava had forgotten that she was an Antarian soldier. She was always aware.

"You don't like me much do you?" she asked.

Mac put her drink down. "I don't like your dupe,” she answered bluntly. “She's scheming and manipulative, which you could be.”

Zan walked in, interrupting their conversation. "Future Max didn't dust her. I'd say that's proof."

He stood protectively by Ava.

How loyal.

Mac lifted a blasé eyebrow. "He didn't know that his Tess was evil behind those baby blues of hers."

He raised his eyes challengingly. "I vouch for Ava.”.

Mac sighed getting up from the sofa.
Apparently, she had to spell it out for them.

"Let's get one thing straight. You call me out of the blue, drop this bombshell, be a dupe! and expect me to be all ice cool with you?!
I. don't. know. you.
So I don't trust you. I'm doing this for Max," she told them.

Zan was taken aback by the envy he suddenly felt for his dupe. She spoke his name with such fervent passion.
He wished she’d say that about him and at the same time wondered where the heck those thoughts were coming from.

"What's so great about my dupe anyway?" he asked casually.

"He's my King. I'd risk my life for him and his friends. You two, not so much,” she answered.

"You got trust issues man," he told her.

"No. I got dupe issues,” she retorted.
Since they were going to do this, they had no time to stand around and chat.

“Come on let's go," she told them.

"Where to?" asked Ava.

Honestly, it was like she was the teacher when it should be the other way round.

"My apartment,” she told them. “It's not safe here. Nicholas probably has someone on you.”

"Don't think so," objected Zan. She may know more about Antar and his alien-side, but she had to recognise who was giving the orders around here.

Who did she think she was? His leader?!. "Where do you get off..."

****

Five minutes later, the homeless bum who frequently set up camp near their house was a pile of dust.
Zan was speechless.
The guy had been there on and off since they'd moved in…he was a skin.

Mac looked up at him from the pile of dust. "Like I said, take what you need."

This time, Zan didn't argue.

****