Anything But Ordinary (AU, M/L, Mature) [Complete]

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry for the Philip/Tess scene, but that had to be done. Relax, there won't be more P/T in the future. Martine - something normal? What's so great about normal? And welcome roswell4life, I'm glad you like this.


Part 40

“Call me as soon as you’re there, okay?” Isabel said and hugged her big brother.

Max nodded, “I will be fine,”

Isabel barely kept her tears away, “How can you know it, Max? It’s dangerous. If our Dad is really as bad as we think...it’s too dangerous,”

“We are being careful,” Alex said behind her back.

And they indeed were. Philip was still in Roswell, but Max was already in the airport, waiting for his plane to New York.

Max and Isabel had informed their father that they wanted to have some holidays and spend time together, before Isabel’s wedding. Philip was hesitant and didn’t want to agree at first, but they persuaded him in the end.

Now they were in LA, but Max would be on his way to NY soon. They didn’t know if they weren’t followed, so they all changed their looks.

Isabel had black hair and glasses, while Max was a blonde now. Alex remained brunette, but with beard. Soon after Max’s plane, Isabel and Alex would go to Mexico, spending some time together and alone.

They had everything planned, at least they thought so.

Max had told everything to Isabel and Alex; that Tess’ pregnancy was fake and that their father had helped her completely. He even told them that Tess and Philip were sleeping together.

Isabel then had asked what he was going to do about Tess. Max had shrugged, replying that he didn’t know yet, but he wasn’t going to stay with her.

He and Tess were over. Max would never trust her anymore. At first, when he had met her years ago, she seemed like a good person and Max really had cared about her then. But she had destroyed everything.

And because of what?

She wanted Max to be her husband, for him to be completely hers, but...they were married, but Max would never be hers completely. His heart belonged to Liz and as soon as everything with Philip and Tess would be cleared, Max was going to find Liz and make things better.

He didn’t want to search her for now, fearing that if she was in his presence Philip would hurt her again. She didn’t deserve it. Nor her family deserved everything his father had done to them.

Would Max be able to make everything right?

~ ~ ~

“You have my number, right?”

Nancy smiled softly, “Yes, I have it,”

Liz thought for a moment, “And did I give you the info about my hotel?”

Her mother nodded, “Yes, I have the number of the hotel,”

“And...”

Nancy chuckled, “Relax, dear. Nothing bad will happen. You are going away just for three days. Chris will be with us all time, I won’t let anything bad happen to him,”

Liz bit her lip nervously, “I know...I just don’t like leaving him,”

“Everything is going to be fine, just concentrate on your work,” Nancy said.

“I know, Mom, but...you and Dad will be alone with Chris, because Michael still isn’t back from Boston,”

Michael had called them a day before, telling that everything was wonderful with Maria and that he had decided to stay there for two or three days.

Liz was happy, but that meant that she would be in NY, Michael in Boston, while their parents were alone with Chris in Florida.

And Liz still couldn’t shake away that bad feeling.

~ ~ ~

“Inform me,” the blonde woman ordered.

The other man obeyed, “Right now, Alex and Isabel are on the plane to Mexico, Max is on his way to NY. Michael Parker is with Maria DeLuca in Boston and Liz Parker is in airport, waiting for the plane to New York as well,”

“What about Philip?”

“He is still in Roswell, his plane leaves tomorrow,”

The blonde woman nodded.

“It won’t be long now...” she muttered quietly.

“What do you want us to do about the kid?” another man asked.

“Chris? His grandparents are with him, right?” she asked.

The man nodded.

The woman thought about it for a moment, before answering, “Don’t do anything at the moment, just keep following them,”

“Tell all men to stay in their places, we need to wait for the right time,” she added.

“Alright,” the man nodded.

“You can go now,” she said and the room was empty, besides her, in a moment.

She looked at the wall, where pics of Philip, Max, Isabel, Tess, Toposky, Alex, Mr. Whitman, Jeff, Nancy, Liz, Chris, Michael, Maria, Jeremy, Khivar were. Right there was a table with piles of papers.

They had been working on this for years. She had spent all her life on this case.

And it wasn’t long now. Just a little more time and everything would be over.

[Erina]

Sorry for being late this week. But better later than never, right? I promised Ju that I would post two parts tonight, but then I realized where exactly this part ends and decided not to post part 42 tonight, but don't worry, I will do it tomorrow morning and...it will be in 12 hours, so you don't have to wait long. Enjoy!


Part 41


Max carefully followed his father’s car, trying to be as far as possible, so his father wouldn’t notice him.

Max knew which hotel Philip usually stayed in when he was in New York, so he had been monitoring it for the past few hours.

His father didn’t disappoint him; Philip was staying in the same hotel, but left ten minutes ago and Max was now following him.

Max saw the car stop and he turned into another street, disappearing. As soon as he was out of view, he stopped the car and ran back to the corner, where he could see his father.

Max briefly looked around, there were warehouses all around. Philip got out of the car, his bodyguards both in front and behind him.

He watched as another two cars drove by and more men in black suits got out. More bodyguards and Max could see more guns.

Suddenly the realization that this was going to be much more dangerous than he’d thought hit him and he briefly checked that his own gun was still here.

He didn’t like guns, but his father insisted that he had one. Philip had said that it was a dangerous world and since Max was his son, carrying a gun never was a bad thing, since he didn’t have bodyguards like his father.

Philip and two other men went inside, accompanied by a couple of bodyguards, while the rest stayed outside.

Max looked around and saw another door to the same warehouse. Quickly and quietly he ran to it, praying that the door would be open.

Hesitantly he touched the door and sighed in relief when it opened. As quietly as possible, Max went inside.

It was rather dark inside and he tried to be quiet and fast as he made his way through boxes, closer to the place where the other men were.

Finally, he could see them, but they weren’t talking. Max watched one man give Philip a bag. His father opened it and, reaching inside, took one smaller bag out. There was something white in it and Max feared Alex had been right and Philip was involved in drugs as well.

His father gave one of the bags to the man behind him and he checked it. When he saw the needed nod, Philip pulled out a bad of his own.

His father’s bag was opened and Max could see money in it. A lot of money.

As the men began to close the bags, one of the boxes that Max was leaning against fell to the ground, making a sudden noise.

He immediately moved away, as the men took out their guns. He could hear them shouting and the guns started firing. Max quickly ran, but groaned in pain when he felt a bullet against his right shoulder.

Muffling a groan of pain, Max managed to move to the nearest room. He couldn’t go back outside; out into the open field because he could easily be seen. The other men didn’t know him and would kill him in a second.

He couldn’t let his Dad see him either because then everything would be ruined. The only thing Max could do now was find a place to hide, pray that no one would find him, and wait until he was sure everyone was gone. And hope that he wouldn’t bleed to death.

Finally reaching one room, Max opened the door and quickly pulled himself inside, still wincing in pain. The room contained small closet and some supplies and Max quickly squeezed himself into the small space between the wall and the closet.

Soon he heard the door open again. He stopped breathing and listened to the heavy footsteps. The person was obviously walking around the small room, opening the closet.

The door opened and closed again, but Max still remained silent, knowing very well that it could be just a trick.

A moment later the door opened and closed again and Max wasn’t sure if he was alone in the room or if someone else was there.

So he remained silent, barely breathing for a long time, what seemed an hours, but probably it had been only minutes.

The pain increased and Max hesitantly looked around the small room.

He was alone.

He checked his watch. It was night already and he had been there for many hours.

Quietly he went outside and listened. Max knew very well that someone could be still waiting and going around, so he didn’t go to the same door he went it. His rented car was there and they most probably had noticed it.

Thank God he rented it under false name.

He couldn’t go out through the main door either, so Max wandered quietly around in the dark, hoping to find another exit to the world.

It was the middle of the night when Max finally got out. It was dark and he only briefly knew to which direction was a road. He moved slowly and quietly, holding his right shoulder.

His injury most probably was nothing bad, he was lucky he had moved one centimetre to the right at the last second, otherwise he surely would be dead by now.

Max sighed in relief when he got out of the warehouse territory and directly into the woods, but he was still far from the main road. His shoulder needed to be bandaged and his shirt was covered in blood.

It took another two hours for Max to get to the road, but sun started to appear. It was morning now and he was beyond tired. His shoulder ached and he fought to stay conscious. His eyelids were heavy and he was so tired...

He saw a car driving and his instincts were first this time. Not caring about danger, he ran to the middle of the road, throwing his good hand in the air, stopping the car.

The car indeed stopped, but Max couldn’t do this anymore. With a thud he fell to the road.

He closed his eyes and sighed when he felt soft hands touching his face.

They felt so good, so familiar...

“Max?” he heard the most beautiful voice to say.

He barely opened his eyes and saw her.

“Liz?” was his last word, before darkness consumed him completely.



See ya in 12 hours.

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback! Martine - I can't tell who the blonde is...yet. But it won't be long now.


Part 43


Liz was panicking. Max was regaining and losing consciousness every few seconds and she was worried about the amount of blood that was on his shirt.

With power Liz didn’t know she had, she finally got Max inside her rented car and drove back to the city, hoping to reach a hospital as soon as possible.

What the hell Max was doing on the middle of the road at 7 am in the morning so far away from the city? He was supposed to be in Roswell, happily married to Tess, not bleeding to death somewhere in the woods.

Liz had a meeting with Metachem managers early in the morning, but that could wait. She wouldn’t leave Max alone.

“Don’t go...to hospital,” Liz heard Max’s weak whisper and she turned her head, only to see his eyelids barely open.

“What? You’re crazy, you need a doctor,” Liz protested.

“Please,” Max pleaded. He couldn’t go to the hospital, his father would know in a minute that he was there; it was too risky.

Liz didn’t know what to do.

Taking a decision, Liz drove to the side and stopped the car.

“Fine. You won’t go to the hospital...yet, but I need to bandage your shoulder,” she said.

Max merely nodded and sat up, while Liz opened the first aid kit. She had some water and cloth, that would do, she thought.

Carefully she tore his shirt and looked at the wound. It wasn’t as deep as she thought, obviously he was lucky, and the bleeding had stopped.

She cleaned the wound and gently bandaged his hurt shoulder.

To Max, the whole situation seemed bizarre. He watched as her delicate fingers worked on his shoulder and he couldn’t help but think that she had gotten more beautiful than the last time he had seen her.

Momentarily Max felt a pang of pain in chest, knowing that the last time when they had been this close was years ago, just some hours after their wedding in Las Vegas.

Her hair was longer and somehow darker and her body was definitely more feminine, judging by the new curves. Max could see she was concentrating on his shoulder, trying to not to hurt him, but she was nervous as well, biting her lower lip softly.

For a moment, Max’s lips curved in a smile when he noticed no wedding ring on her finger, but that soon disappeared. What if she had a boyfriend… or a fiancé?

What was she doing here, in New York? Was she living here now?

Liz finished and found a blanket. “Your injury isn’t serious, but you still should go to see a doctor as soon as possible.”

Max nodded, his eyelids once again heavy as he fought against sleep. He’d had a long night and he was worn-out. He leaned back and as soon as his head touched the back seat, he asleep.

Liz started worrying again. What happened to him? And what she was going to do with him now? She couldn’t let him sleep in her car; he needed a proper bed, food and a doctor.

Deciding to do the only thing she could do, Liz started the car and continued the long way back to the city. If he didn’t want to go to the hospital and Liz didn’t know his address in the city, she would take him to her hotel room, hoping that he would soon regain his strength.

While she was driving back, Max didn’t wake up, he didn’t even stir. Liz kept stealing glances at him. Despite the fact that he was wounded and he probably had a rough night, he still was handsome. Obviously he had gotten better with the years.

Yeah, his marriage to Tess probably made him very happy, Liz thought bitterly.

Soon they were at her hotel and Liz gently shook Max, trying to wake him up.

“Max, Max… you need to wake up,”

Max slowly opened his eyes, his whole body ached, but the pain in his shoulder had become dull.

“Can you stand up and walk?” she asked hesitantly.

Max weakly nodded and got out of the car slowly, Liz by his side, supporting him.

“Where are we?” Max asked noticing the high building.

“At the hotel I’m staying in,” Liz responded shortly. “Can you go to the elevator and wait for me while I get the keys?”

Max nodded and slowly took his way to the elevator, while Liz went to the main desk. Soon she joined him and they were on their way up to Liz’s room.

Walking inside and noticing the single bed and Liz things all over the room, Max started to say, “Liz, I’m sorry that you are being dragged into this, it would be better if I go and...”

Liz cut him off, “Max, you’re hurt and weak. Get some sleep, while I run to the shop and get us something to eat, okay?”

Max forced a tight smile. “Sure. Thanks, Liz,” he said sincerely. “I really appreciate it, knowing our past and...”

Liz interrupted him once again, “Let’s not talk about it now, okay? First you regain some strength and then we will talk,”

She helped him to get to the bed and as soon as his head hit the pillow Max was asleep. Liz pulled a blanket over him and looking one last time at him, she went out of the room.

They would indeed talk later.

~ ~ ~

“What do you mean you lost them?” Philip yelled out in rage, “You are the best ones in the country, but you can’t keep a track on my children?”

Men lowered their heads in shame.

Philip thought for a moment, “What about the Parkers? Are they still in Florida?” the last time he had gathered information about them was years ago.

One man straightened. “I’m going to check on it,” he disappeared after Philip’s nod.

Two hours later, Philip knew everything. He knew that Liz was in New York and Michael was in Boston. He knew that the Parkers now owned another cafe.

And what was the most important...He knew about Liz’s little son, who, judging by the picture in his hands, strongly resembled Max.

See ya tomorrow.

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback! Martine and begonia9508 - Chris won't get hurt, I promise. And once again Happy (belated) birthday *cad*! The next part will be on Monday, as usually.

Part 43

“My heart was broken, Max,” Liz quietly said. “You betrayed our marriage by signing those papers and you didn’t even try to find me. Did I mean so little to you?” she cried, not fighting tears anymore.

She had returned back an hour ago, but Max still was sleeping. Not wanting to disturb him, Liz had simply sat down and watched him in his sleep.

He looked so calm, so peaceful...so Max-like. Like she knew and remembered him. At least tried to remember. But during that hour, Liz’s anger surfaced back with full force.

He had divorced her pretty quickly, not really caring to talk to her, to explain the situation. No… he obviously hadn’t cared about her enough.

“Liz...I know I made mistakes and you have the every right to hate me, but believe me...I hate myself for doing all this. Tess’ idea to bring you to my party was the worst idea ever, because it just started everything,” Max cried in despair.

No, Liz thought, it wasn’t the worst idea ever, because then she wouldn’t have her son, Chris.

Liz sunk to the bed, not far from Max. “I felt so alone, so lonely. I thought you and me had something special... something real… something rare. A true love, but obviously I was so wrong, since you threw everything as soon as possible,” she said. “I was so happy at first, when we got married. We didn’t think about the consequences, but perhaps we should have. Perhaps that was our greatest mistake, we didn’t think, we just acted.”

“You turned away from me and....Tess was pregnant with your child, my parents lost everything, then Michael got thrown in jail. I felt so alone, so… hopeless,” she cried.

Max fought against his own tears. “I’m not saying I’m not guilty, but there are some things you should know, Liz,” he said.

Liz lifted her eyes.

Max took a deep breath, “First of all, Tess was never pregnant. It was just a trick to get me, no more. Even my father helped her with it.”

“Oh my God,” Liz gasped. “If there was no baby, then...Michael didn’t kill it that night.”

Max nodded, “And before you ask, no, I didn’t know that all along. I overheard my father and Tess just a few days ago, before that I really believed that our child died that night years ago.”

“But you still married her,” Liz whispered brokenly.

“I know,” Max said sadly. “And believe me, I truly regret it, but then again...I regret many things I have done in the past,”

“Why did you divorce me so easily?” Liz asked hurt. “It seems like you forgot your wedding vows as soon as you came back to Las Cruces,” she accused angrily.

Max shook his head, “I never wanted to do it, but...I was shocked that Tess was pregnant and I just lost my...balance. When my Dad came and told me that your parents had lost everything and he’d offered them money, I…. just thought I was doing the best thing. I did that for you, Liz.”

Liz shook her head, “Perhaps you’re right, Max. Perhaps you did a good thing, by providing money for Michael to get out of the jail, but...you still could come and tell me by yourself. I felt used and dirty that I had to take your father’s money.”

“I tried, but your family were out of the state, before I could react,” Max said and Liz just nodded, remembering that they indeed had left very quickly.

“Then...why didn’t you try to find me?”

Max sighed, “I tried. And not even once, but several times. The first time I went by myself, asking people and calling around just to find out that no one knew about you and your family,” he said. “The next two times I hired a PI, but I wasn’t lucky then either. Believe me, Liz, I tried to find you.”

Liz nodded weakly.

“What are we going to do now?” she asked quietly.

Max had given her his explanation, he had tried to find her....but did he still love her as much as she loved him?

Max was silent at first, “I’d love nothing more than ...be with you again, Liz, but...that’s not possible,” he said quietly. “You’re all I ever want, but my life isn’t an easy one at the moment. My father is a bad person, if you are with me, it puts you in danger again. I can’t let that happen, knowing that my father has the power to destroy you completely.”

“And that’s it?” Liz said rather loudly. “How long are you going to let him rule your life for, Max?”

Max shook his head. “I’m working on exposing my father,” he admitted.

Liz gasped. Yes, Philip was evil, but she didn’t know Max was able to turn against his own father.

“I have been working on it for years actually,” he added. “When you left, something...snapped inside me and I vowed to make things right again. Even if it took all my life.”

“What about Isabel? Does she know?”

“Yes. We have some information on him, but that’s not enough,” Max said. “But my Dad stepped over the line seriously, when he decided to marry Isabel off to his old business partner.”

Liz’s head was spinning. How cruel was he?

“What Isabel is going to do? Did she really agree?” she asked.

“No. Alex, her boyfriend, and I are trying to find something on my father, before the wedding and ... the wedding was supposed to be soon, but...my Mom died,” Max told quietly and closed his eyes for a moment, fighting back the tears.

He had to be strong.

Liz was speechless. Diane was dead? How was that possible?

Her parents said they had seen her not so long time ago. Perhaps it wasn’t her, just like Liz suspected. Perhaps she was spending holidays in Florida.

But as Liz looked at Max, who was still grieving for his mother, she knew it wouldn’t be right to ask if his mother spent holidays in Florida.

It didn’t matter anyway.

Diane Evans was dead.

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback! Enjoy the next part, the calm before storm.

Part 44

Liz placed the phone back on the hook. She just had finished a very quick talk to Michael who still was in Boston with Maria.

She wanted to inform about non-existant baby, but she wanted to do it personally, not when she was New York and he in Boston. No, she couldn’t just blurt it out; she needed to explain the whole situation.

She had called mainly to find out when he was going home. Although he had sounded like he never wanted to leave Boston, he promised to be home in two days. And Liz would be there too.

Before calling Michael, Liz had phoned into work and said that she was sick, that way she could spend the rest of the day un-interrupted, discussing things with Max.

It seemed like fate had been against them and their relationship all the time. More precisely – Tess and Philip was the reason why they were apart. But that was childish to think that way, Liz thought. Perhaps Tess and Philip did everything in their power to separate her and Max, but if their love had been strong enough...

Apparently their relationship wasn’t strong enough. What about now? She and Max had finally met each other, where they would go on from now? He was married to Tess, while Liz...Liz needed to tell him about Chris.

Perhaps it was some sign, that Max had to know about his own son. After all, Liz found Max in the front of her car outside the city, early in the morning.

What was he doing there?

Max came out of the shower, his shoulder still aching slightly. He was drying his hair with a towel, when he noticed that Liz was watching him.

Max swallowed, not knowing how to act around Liz now. She had changed and although Max was eager to know the new Liz, he didn’t know her thoughts about them in the future.

“I’m sorry for involving you,” Max said. “I will be gone in 10 minutes,” he said, thinking that Liz probably wanted him out.

“What? Why do you want to go away now?” Liz asked surprised. “I hope you’re going to see the doctor, by the way.”

Max shook his head. “It’s only a scratch,” he shrugged and placed the towel back in the bathroom.

Liz folded her arms in the front of her and came closer to Max, “What happened to you?”

“Liz, I… it’s safer not to know,” he said sincerely and took a step forward, coming closer to Liz. “I really want you to be safe.”

Unaware of his actions, Max lifted his hand and slowly stroked her cheek, giving him new memories of Liz.

Liz closed her eyes and for a moment enjoyed the feeling of Max’s touch. If only things had been different...

“So...and what are you going to do now? Just… leave?” she asked, clearly hurt.

Max took his hand away, “I ... don’t want to, Liz. But Philip is my father and I don’t want you to be hurt again.”

“You’re just pulling away again?” Liz cried frustrated and angry. “You’re still letting your father rule your life, Max. Perhaps you have plans to expose him, but...is putting your father in jail the only way?”

“Liz,” Max sighed. “He has lied, blackmailed, burnt, destroyed, probably even killed. I can’t risk. Not with you.”

Liz still wasn’t sure, “Perhaps you’re just finding excuses to leave and forget about me again, you’re most likely happy with Tess.”

Max chuckled, “Tess? I married her for wrong reasons and I have never been happy with her,”

Liz was confused, “Then why don’t you divorce her? You divorced me in a matter of hours and you said you loved me, while you’re together with Tess for years.”

He sent her a small smile, “I married her because I thought it was the best thing to do. After she lost the baby, at least I thought so, and you left...I felt alone and lost. Everyone expected me to marry her, and… I just did it,” he admitted.

“Our marriage was never real, because I have never loved her, Liz. My heart belongs to you. Forever,” he added gently.

Liz lifted her eyes to look in his, but remained silent.

“I know… everything between us has been hectic, but I have never stopped loving you and if there is a chance you feel the same...I’d like us to try again, when everything with my Dad is over and we all are safe,” Max said.

Liz’s face remained neutral, “And what if you suddenly decide you’re better with Tess, huh? I won’t survive another rejection from you, Max. I don’t want it.”

He smiled warmly, but Liz still didn’t return it, “Me and Tess? No, it’s over completely. If before I felt sorry and somehow cared about her, I don’t anymore. I think the fact that she lied about the baby says it all, but if it’s not enough...Then there always is this situation...I can’t have a wife who sleeps with my own father.”

Liz gasped, “You’re kidding, right?”

Max slowly shook his head, “Unfortunately, no. I saw them together with my own eyes and I can only wonder for how long they have been sleeping together,” he said disgusted.

“That’s just...sick,” Liz said.

Liz wondered how she and Tess could have been friends in the past. Tess had clearly hurt not only her, but Max and Chris as well. Because of her lies and manipulations Max married her, but...Liz still couldn’t believe Tess was capable of sleeping with Max’s father. It was simply unbelievable.

Max nodded, “Alex and I... are getting closer to exposing my father. I found out something yesterday and...it won’t be long now, Liz. I know I have no right to ask you this, I have hurt you too much and too deeply in the past, but... can you wait for me?”

Wait for him?

After everything, could they still be together?

“I...don’t know, Max,” she replied, feeling somehow guilty for not saying ‘yes’. “I’m not sure if I can trust you,” Liz said sincerely.

Max smiled again and took Liz’s hands in his. This time, looking at Max, Liz couldn’t help but smile weakly as well.

“I’m going to do everything in my power to gain your trust back,” Max said.

And Liz believed him.

[Erina]

Thanks for the wonderful feedback. Liz perhaps isn't yelling at Max....or throwing things...but it doesn't mean he and she will be together in the next part....or in next ten parts.


Part 45

Jeff was drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper, when Nancy came out of Chris’ room.

“He is playing now,” Nancy said, sat down and took the other half of the newspaper, starting to read it.

Jeff sighed, putting everything away and asked Nancy, “Do you think I did the right thing?”

Nancy looked at him, “About what you’re talking about?”

“Liz,” he replied. “I mean, I know it’s not like I can forbid her to move out, after all, she is 23 and has Chris, but....”

“You’re worried about her?” Nancy finished with a small smile.

Jeff nodded silently.

“I can’t believe she grew up so fast,” he said. “With Michael it’s somehow different; he was the firstborn, but Liz...sometimes I look at her and I see her as five years old, with those pigtails and that cupcake dress,” he chuckled. “She still is my baby.”

“A baby who has a baby of her own,” Nancy smiled. “I know you’re worried and don’t want to let her go, believe me...I don’t want to either. I’m scared she isn’t going to cope with everything, but she is a young woman, a mother and she is stronger than we think. I have faith in her, and although I’m scared to let her go, we have to believe her, Jeff,” she added.

Jeff smiled weakly and turned his head to the room, where his grandson was playing, “It’s going to be so quiet now. I will miss having Chris around every day.”

“I’m sure Liz is going to need our help,” Nancy persuaded him. “I bet we will still watch him when Liz is at work.”

Jeff remained silent, after a moment he asked, “Do you think we will ever go back to Roswell?”

Nancy almost dropped her cup of coffee; she surely hadn’t expected Jeff’s question.

“Why are you asking about it so suddenly? We haven’t mentioned Roswell since leaving,” she asked.

Jeff shrugged, “I don’t know. Perhaps seeing Diane Evans reminded me of Roswell. Besides, we were born and raised there,”

“We have a good life here now,” Nancy pointed out. “Do you want to go back to Roswell and start everything again? We aren’t that young anymore.”

“Hey, I never said I wanted to go back,” Jeff argued. “It’s just... Roswell is home... real home. I miss it,” he said quietly.

“We have nothing there, but distrust and non-existed friends who turned their backs on us,” she said, rather bitterly.

“My own father established The Crashdown,” Jeff whispered quietly. “He put his heart, his soul into it, but... now it’s probably been turned into some cheap hotel,” he spat in disgust, his anger about his family’s fate coming out.

He continued, “I dreamt that Michael would continue my business, The Crashdown included, but now... I have nothing to give my kids, Nancy, nothing,” he cried. “What did we do to deserve this?”

“Calm down, Jeff,” Nancy tried to placate him. “All this worrying and stress isn’t good for your heart, you know that,” she pointed out.

“I can’t help it,” he replied.

“Jeff, you have nothing to worry about,” she assured her husband. “We have created two very beautiful and smart children... two wonderful personalities. And that’s the only thing we should care about.”

Jeff smiled, “I know, and we already have a grandchild.”

“Well, now you see that there is no point worry about such things as money… or the restaurant...I know how you valued it, but...you can’t change the past, Jeff. It’s better if you focus on the good things around you.”

Jeff nodded.

“Thank you,” he said a moment later, a smile on his face. “I really needed to hear that.”

Nancy smiled in return as he took her hands and just held them, “I love you, Jeff.”

~ ~ ~

Liz was very, very nervous as she and Max drove in a rental car to her apartment. They had talked some more, and although Liz still wasn’t sure about giving Max another chance, she knew she had to tell him about Chris.

Instead of just telling and explaining, Liz decided to invite him to Florida, saying that she had to show him something.

Or rather someone, she thought.

Liz had finished her work in New York as soon as possible and was coming home now. Michael would be there almost at the same time and Liz strongly suspected that he would bring Maria with him, although he hadn’t said anything about it.

At least she hoped Maria would come to Florida. Liz wanted to talk to her and since Max was with her... she kind of hoped she could help them renew their friendship.

As soon as they had landed, Liz tried to call her parents, but apparently they were out. When they didn’t answer their cell phones, Liz started to worry.

Now she was not only nervous about Max seeing and meeting his son, but she was worrying about her parents and son as well.

Liz almost jumped out of the car, when Max stopped the car by her apartment building.

“What’s wrong, Liz?” Max asked worried. He saw how tense and yet nervous Liz was in the car. Something was wrong.

“What? Nothing... it’s nothing,” she replied, trying to shake the bad feeling away from her heart. “Can you just come up with me?”

Max nodded and they both went upstairs.

Liz quickened her steps when she stepped in the hallway and saw that the door to their apartment was open. She stopped abruptly in the doorway, staring at the apartment.

It was completely trashed. Chairs were upside down and papers were everywhere.. The shelves were empty and her mother’s favourite vase was broken. Yet she could see the TV and the rest of the electrical items. They hadn’t been robbed. Or had they?

Her heartbeat quickened as she started to run to her son’s room.

Empty.

“Mom? Dad? Chris?” Liz yelled, but tears appeared in her eyes as she realized that something indeed was wrong. Very wrong.

Max scanned the area and his gaze fell on the pool of blood, near the kitchen area.

Liz looked at Max and almost immediately she saw what he was looking at.

“Oh my God,” Liz cried.

What had happened to her family?

Max was quickly by her side, pulling her in his arms, letting her cry. “It’s okay, Liz, we will find out what happened there, I’m sure your parents are fine...” he said, “We will call the police and… ”

“What the hell happened here?” they heard Michael’s angry roar from the doorstep.

Liz pulled herself away from Max. “Michael, I can’t find them,” she cried, but then she noticed fury in her brother’s eyes and she watched as Michael approached Max in a couple of steps.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he roared, not giving Max any chance to say anything, immediately hitting him instead.

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback! Enjoy the next part.


Part 46

Screams.

Blood.

Fear.

Despair.

And in the middle of everything was a little boy. Brown-haired with hazel eyes.

Liz gasped for air as she tried to erase the awful nightmare from her memory. Fresh tears started gathering and she did her best to blink them away. She couldn’t afford start crying again.

Crying wasn’t going to help her find her parents or her son.

They had called the police as soon as Michael had gotten over his shock of seeing Max Evans again.

The police came and went, not finding any clue that would help them in any way. Liz started to cry harder and Max’s arms wrapped around her tighter.

He gave her balance and supported her silently, not really knowing what had happened or who Chris was.

Liz had only nodded when the officer had told her they would do everything possible to find her family, not really believing that they would actually do it. After that, still sobbing, she had turned to Max, ready to explain to him about Chris, but he had silenced her, telling that they would have time later.

First she needed to calm down, he said.

Calm down? How was she supposed to calm down when she didn’t know anything about her son’s fate? Would Max be calm when he would find out that his own son was missing?

Probably not.

Then there was Michael, who still didn’t accept Max. He refused to acknowledge him, although Liz had pleaded him to not act like a child. If she wanted Max there, he would be there.

But Michael refused and was very rude to Max, and Liz simply decided to ignore it. Her only thoughts were of Chris.

Max had immediately hired a private investigator and Michael had explained the situation and given the needed information alone.

Liz couldn’t do anythingbut just wait.

And hope.

Thoughts, bad thoughts, filled her mind. What had happened to Nancy, Jeff and Chris?

It couldn’t have been a robbery, since nothing was taken. But the apartment was a mess and her loved ones were missing.

Perhaps they had been kidnapped?

But, why? They weren’t rich… so why someone would want to kidnap them? They didn’t have any enemies...

Wait...

They didn’t have enemies in Florida. But there was a person who disliked her family.

No, no… it couldn’t be. Mr. Evans had left them alone for years; why now? Why do something to them after five years? It wasn’t possible.

Or was it?

Philip was the only person...the only possibility. Besides, she’d met Max a couple of days ago. What if he somehow found out and... it was some sort of revenge?

No, no, that wasn’t right. How could he find that out so quickly? Had someone been following her? Even after all these years?

No, Liz scolded herself; it was crazy that her meeting with Max had somehow caused this disaster.

After all, if Philip followed her and knew everything about Liz and her family, he probably knew that Chris was his grandson.

He wouldn’t hurt his own flesh and blood, would he?

~ ~ ~

Hours later, Liz was sitting by the window in her bedroom, just staring at the nearest park. Her whole body and mind were numb.

There was a soft knock at the door and Liz turned her head, only to see Max leaning against the door.

“Michael and I... we cleaned everything as best as we could,” Max informed her, leaving out the small detail that Michael had used every chance to insult him, telling that he wasn’t wanted here and that he should leave.

Max didn’t listen to him. Liz hadn’t said anything; she wanted him there, by her side, even if he was kind of confused.

Who was Chris?

Judging by toys and other baby stuff, Max would say Chris was a little boy.

Did Liz’s parents have another baby? They were in their middle-forties, though.

Liz sighed and stood up from the window. “Max,” she said, taking a deep breath. “There is something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” he asked softly, eyeing the different baby toys in her bedroom uneasily.

Gathering all her courage, Liz said, “I...hid something from you, Max. Something you should have known, but...I was scared and young and… I’m so sorry I left you in dark, but I had my reasons, although they still are wrong and I still should have told you and....”

“Just tell me,” he urged.

“You and I...we have a son.”

[Erina]

Yeah, I know....I'm evil. Thanks for the feedback and enjoy the next short part.


Part 47

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Max half-cried, half-shouted. He just hadn’t heard her correctly, right? Because there was no way they... had a son together.

“We have a son,” Liz repeated quietly.

Max was speechless; it wasn’t possible, was it?

“When... How...?” he uttered.

Liz merely smiled and answered his unspoken questions, “He is almost five and he has your eyes.”

Deciding that a picture was worth thousand words, Liz stood up and took a photo-album from one of her drawers. Opening the first page, she took out a recent photo of Chris.

“Here,” Liz said, handing the photo over to Max. “You can see him for yourself.”

With shaking hands, Max hesitantly took the picture from Liz’s hand. It took another minute before he dared to look down at it.

He gasped at the sight of little boy. He was smiling and Max could clearly see that Liz was telling the truth; the little boy indeed had his eyes, while he had inherited Liz’s hair.

He was simply beautiful. And he was his.

Still confused, Max raised his eyes back up to look at Liz. How could she not tell him about his own son?

He knew that he had hurt her deeply by divorcing her and leaving her so quickly and easily after their wedding, but would she really be that cruel to hide his son from him?

Was it...just some sort of revenge?

Max had hurt her… Philip had hurt not only her but her whole family. But was Liz that cruel?

No, Max thought. She wasn’t.

He had made mistakes, had hurt her, but he knew her. She wouldn’t be able to do that just to hurt him. Liz loved her family, thus she loved her son and hiding his own father from him would definitely hurt him.

No, Liz didn’t do it on purpose.

“Why?” Max asked hurt. What made Liz hide his son from him?

Liz looked at the ground, “I know I did wrong; you had the right to know, but...I guess I was just scared, Max. You and I were together for such short time and you left me so suddenly, I wasn’t sure what to think. I didn’t know if you wanted to see me, let alone know that you had a son with me.”

“I love you, Liz. I’ve only ever loved you,” Max said. “I would never have left my son.”

“But you left me!” Liz cried. “I know you had your reasons... but everyone has reasons, how could I be sure that you wouldn’t leave us again?”

“Liz....”

“No, Max. You and me, we both know that with your father... we can’t make our own destiny. He said loud and clear that he didn’t want me or any of my family near you. I was doing it to protect my son,” she exclaimed as tears appeared.

Max reached out to touch her, to ... comfort her, but she backed away.

“I couldn’t go to you, Max. I had a son and I needed to protect him, even if it meant hiding him from his own father,” she whispered quietly.

Max remained silent. Was he so bad that his own son needed protection from him? On the one hand, he somehow understood Liz’s reasons, but on the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel hurt.

And everything... everything that had gone wrong in his life, especially with Liz, was because of that man. A man that Max refused to call ‘father’ anymore.

He was just Philip now.

It was one thing to hurt him, but now Philip had brought pain not only to Liz, the woman he loved, but to his son as well.

“What are we going to do now?” Max asked.

Liz shook her head from side to side as she fought against her tears. “I don’t know, Max, I really don’t know. I don’t know where my son is,” she sobbed.

This time Liz didn’t back away when Max moved closer and a moment later, he was holding her in his arms, whispering soothing words in her ear.

He was telling her that everything would be alright, that they would find their son.

Their son.

But did Max believe his own words?

Was fate that cruel to take away his son, even before he’d had the chance to know him? What had he done in the past to deserve this?

Still staying strong, Max just held Liz until she wasn’t crying anymore.

~ ~ ~

“How is he?” the blonde woman asked.

The other person in the room shrugged, “Scared.”

She sighed, “You know I didn’t want to do this, but we didn’t have any other choice. He has found out everything.”

The man nodded, “I don’t blame you; don’t feel guilty, I’m just...sad that he had to go through something like this.”

“Liz is probably worried,” he added.

The blonde sent him a small, yet sad, smile, “So is Max.”

“So is Max,” he repeated quietly over and over again, looking to the bed where his wife and grandson were sleeping so peacefully.

[Erina]

Aww, thank you for the feedback. So, you think they were Jeff and Diane, huh? We'll see, we'll see. It won't be easy to read this part though.

Part 48
A day earlier, in Roswell

Philip was working in his office at home, but his thoughts wandered to his children. They had both claimed that they had gone on vacation, but neither Isabel nor Max were on vacation.

His children had lied to him and Philip was furious.

All his life, he had done nothing but take care of them, doing what was best for his children. Especially Max.

And if what Philip was thinking was true, then his son had been pretending for years. He thought Max had accepted his fate as his son and heir, but if it all just had been a plan to get away, then...Max had betrayed him.

And Philip wouldn’t accept that. No one betrayed Philip Evans, even his own son.

But Max apparently had his own son now.

Philip was indeed shocked to see that Elizabeth’s son, Chris, looked a lot like his own son when he was a little boy. Did Max know about him? No, Philip thought. He had made it clear to that Parker girl, that he didn’t want her or her family near Roswell. Besides, Philip was doubtful that Max would still marry Tess, knowing that he and Elizabeth had a son.

No, Max wouldn’t sleep peacefully at night, knowing that he had a son.

So, Philip did the only thing he could do. He sent his men to Florida to collect that boy. He wasn’t sure what was he going to do with him, but after all... With Max’s son, he could much easier manipulate him.

Knock, knock

“Come in,” Philip called.

A woman burst into the room.

Philip stood up immediately, knocking his chair in the process. “What the hell are you doing here?” he yelled in rage.

“Philip...”

“Get the hell out of my house,” he said. “I told you I don’t want to see you.”

“You just have to listen to me, please,” Topolsky pleaded.

Philip sneered, “I don’t have to listen to you, Kat, you and me... we’re through, I told you that loud and clear the last time we met.”

Topolsky didn’t back away. “Please, Philip, I...I need your help,” she cried.

He took in the sight of her. Once, she had been a beautiful woman, but now.. .she was nothing. Just a piece of garbage.

“Listen, you and me, we had our fun. I helped you get the Parkers’ property and you helped me,” he smirked. “But it’s over now. It has been over for years now, Kat. I don’t want to see you again.Get out,” he repeated.

“No, no,” she shook her head frantically. “I... just need some money. You’re rich; you can give me some.”

“No,” he said sternly. “I don’t want you to see in my house again, you’re bad image for me now.”

Apparently he had made a mistake when he had given her drugs years ago, when they still were together. He had given her just little, just for fun, but she hadn’t known when to draw the line.

Now she was nothing like the woman he knew years ago. She looked awful and even more... she’d stopped working and caring about the real world, thus she was bankrupted now.

He was disappointed in her. Topolsky had been a strong woman, a clever one, at least he had thought so, but apparently he had been wrong, very wrong.

“Please, Philip,” she said desperately. “I’m not asking for much... just a little,” she said trying to sound seductive, but she failed miserably.

“I said no!” he yelled. He had seen this in the past with others. He would give, but they would come for more and more. No, Philip didn’t want to deal with it. It was her mess, not his.

“Just get out and never come back, or I’ll call security,” Philip warned.

Suddenly the desperation disappeared from Topolsky’s face and she hissed, “No, you wouldn’t dare.”

“Wanna bet?” he smirked.

This time she smirked back, “You can’t toss me away so easily, Philip, remember I know some things about you,” she warned.

“You don’t have the guts,” he sneered.

“Wanna bet?” she repeated his question.

Topolsky continued, “Just give me the money or I’m going to the police and tell them everything I know about your connection to drugs, to the Parkers, to the Whitmans, to the Andersons...and many others.”

Philip sighed. “Fine,” he said and pulled his drawer open, taking out the small pile of money he always kept there. “Will five thousand be enough for you?” he asked.

Her eyes shone at the sight of the money and she greedily took it. “I knew I could count on you, Phil,” she grinned and turned around to walk out of the room.

Just when her hand reached the knob, a gunshot was heard in the room. Shocked she slowly turned around and looked down, hesitantly touching her stomach. Lifting her hand up, she saw the blood on it.

When she collapsed on the floor, Philip put the gun away in his drawer.

If she had known him so well, she had to know that he wouldn’t take any risks. Topolsky had become unreliable and could expose him.

Placing his chair back at his desk, Philip took his phone and called all the necessary people, who would ‘clean up’ this mess.

Now he had one less problem.


I know, I know...

[Erina]

Thanks for the feedback. Lol, sorry, aliens won't take Philip, but..... Enjoy the next part.


Part 49

“What kind of wedding would you like to have?” Alex asked.

Isabel lifted her head from Alex chest and looked at him, “Why are you asking this?”

Alex shrugged, “Just wondering.”

Isabel smiled and put her head back on Alex’s chest and continued looking at the sunset. They had been simply enjoying each other’s company for the last few days and for a moment Isabel wanted to believe that this was what life really felt like.

Happy.

They had created their own little world together and Isabel never wanted it to end.

“Ok,” she said. “What kind of wedding I want to have with Khivar... or in general?” she asked hesitantly.

She and Alex loved spending time together, but Isabel was afraid even to hope that someone like Alex would want her. Would want her as a wife. After all, just by being with her now and this place, put him in more danger than he knew.

Alex smiled sheepishly, but Isabel didn’t see it, “Just... in general.”

Isabel smiled widely, “I’d love to get married on beach. You know, right here,” she said. She was mesmerized by the beautiful sunset and beach was wonderful; she would love to get married here.

This was paradise in contrast to her life back home in Roswell. What did she have there? Her mother had died recently and father bluntly ignored her existence now, he wanted to get her out of the house, by marrying her to Khivar. Then there was her brother, Max, unhappy in his marriage and in life in general.

“Good,” Alex just said, but Isabel knew that he, just like her, was smiling.

“What about you?” she asked then.

Alex sat up and made her to look at him before answering, “I want the same thing as you,” he replied, before producing a ring.

Isabel gasped and tears appeared in her eyes, even if they weren’t voluntary.

“Isabel Evans, will you marry me?” Alex asked seriously.

Tears escaped her eyes. “I...don’t know if we can do this, Alex,” she said with a sniff. It was one thing to enjoy being together, but... they had different lives in Roswell. Although she wanted nothing other than to say ‘yes’, she wasn’t sure if they should really do that.

“Do you love me?” Alex asked.

Isabel nodded frantically.

Alex continued, “And I love you, Isabel; that should be enough.”

“But,” she protested weakly. “I’m getting married to Khivar soon.”

Alex chuckled. “Do you really believe Max and I are going to let you marry that bastard? One way or another, we won’t allow it to happen,” he said seriously. “If Max doesn’t find anything, I’m going to kidnap and bring you exactly to this spot, only to marry you.” Alex said determined. “Will you marry me, Isabel?” he asked again.

Isabel nodded, “Yes,” she said, all her previous protests disappearing. Alex had given her a fairy-tale and Isabel didn’t want it to end. Ever.

Alex silently slipped the ring on her finger.

~ ~ ~

Isabel woke up later that night. Confused as to what had woken her up, she reached for Alex, but got only empty space.

Frowning, she sat up and she heard something. Someone, most probably Alex, was walking in the living room.

She stood up and went outside the door, determined to find Alex. Why he was up anyway?

She momentarily froze as she saw a body lying on the living room’s floor. Noticing that it was Alex, she was by his side in a second.

“Alex!” she called, shaking him, but he was obviously out cold.

Frantically she reached to find his pulse and check his breathing. Sighing in relief, Isabel realised that he was still breathing. What had happened?

Looking around the room, Isabel didn’t see anything usual at first, but then she heard a click behind her.

“Stand up,” the person ordered in cold tone.

Hesitantly and slowly Isabel stood up and turned around, only to see a gun pointed directly at her.

~ ~ ~

“Damn,” Max cursed as he put down his phone. Nor Isabel or Alex were answering and he had been trying to call them all day. He was worried.

Worry wasn’t the only emotion he felt.

He was sad, confused, feeling guilty... angry... disappointed. Max was disappointed in himself. Although he had been able to give reasons for his actions in the past, it was so much harder now, knowing that there was a child involved – his own son, nonetheless.

He was so confused. And he had to think what to tell Philip, since he and Isabel had been gone for a much longer time than they had previously said. He was surprised Philip hadn’t called or tried to find him.

But then again... his father acted weird all the time and Max couldn’t predict his actions.

Then there was despair, since Max didn’t know where and with who his little son was. He felt helpless and he didn’t like it.

Max refused to leave Liz’s side, so he had slept on the couch last night, although Michael had protested rather loudly about it. But Liz hadn’t said ‘no’ and that was the most important thing to Max.

He needed to get his life back. But he and Liz needed to find their son first. The rest – uncovering Philip, divorcing Tess and everything else – would come later.

That was the plan. He had demanded that the private investigator worked fast and tomorrow they would find out if there were any leads or any other useful information.