Roswell Fanatics

****

Max's POV

"Where's Xan?" I ask.

"Spending the night with 'Ria and Mike," she replies.

I gulp as she bends over to put away the lap-top and notes she was working on.

"Oh."

This is so much better than my fantasies.

****

"Max, what are you doing?" she asks.

"I'm watching you make dinner," I reply.

"You're supposed to be helping me make it."

I did start out doing that, I cut up carrots and tomatoes, but I couldn't concentrate and kept stealing glances at her. I figured since I was around potentially harmful utensils, it would be safer for me to just sit, watch and indulge.

"I prefer doing this," I tell her.

She has her back to me, she shakes her head in disapproval but I can tell she's smiling. "You men are such visual creatures. So easy."

"Damn proud of it too."

She drips something on her hand and lick it off to taste. I shift to watch the pleasure etched in her features. Restraint has me gritting my teeth for a few seconds, then I think, screw it, she's mine.

I'm by her side in a flash. Ignoring her gasp of surprise, I pull her flush against me and into a rough hard kiss.

"Max, dinner," she breathlessly protests.

Keeping her presses against me, I use my free hand to turn off the stove. "We'll order in. Right now..." I nibble on her earlobe and mummer into her ear exactly what I want to do to her now.

"I don't think that's physically possible," she responds. Her eyes are dark and brimming with curiosity.

"I beg to differ."

And two hours later, she agrees wholeheartedly.

****

Two weeks later, Liz tortured me for hours again, when I came home to find her wearing nothing, including underwear, expect for her favourite maroon shirt of mine and black tie. She pranced around the house in it. The sight of her feeding our son, sexy to innocence, nearly drove me to madness. After Xan went to bed, we spent a sleepless night heated and cooled from the movement of our slick and sweaty bodies. How did I get so lucky?

****

The music video she did with Jake has become really popular. The song's a success too, but I'd have to agree with comments that the requests for it aren't just for that song but for 'that video'. It's received attention not just for the band and Jake, but for Liz too. You bet your ass I tuned in for the interview with the band and Jake, all who raved about how natural, beautiful, intelligent and fun Liz is.
She just brushes it off as if it's nothing, but FHM voted her girlfriend of the week this week and I can't help but be proud that she's mine. She got offered a spread which she turned down. Liz isn't a media hound, getting photo publicity isn't a part of who is or of her career. She goes out with me to events and has accepted that I'm forever in the public eye and so is she, but other than that, she's pretty selective about the media stuff she does. That elusiveness about her, has charmed the showbiz media, they absolutely love her.

MTV asked her to guest report on the red carpet for the MTV Movie Awards and she said yes because it's something she's never done before and it sounds like fun. That's something I've learnt about Liz, she likes challenges and getting herself to try new things and get as much out of it as she can. Another thing I know about her, is that because she likes to explore the new, she likes a base of stability. Our relationship is now stable and she likes it the way it is.
I don't. I want it all and I've waited and been patient long enough. It's been over a year.

A whole year since she told me she needed time. I was willing to do that then, but not now, not anymore because I don't think she needs time. She's had time, now she needs a good hard shove and however it plays out, I love her enough to give it to her.

It's not that I'm not petrified by her reaction, I am, I don't want to lose her, but I can't be what we are anymore. I need that commitment, I need her to meet me where I'm at, where I've been for the past year. I want to be her husband with all that entails and it hurts me that she still doesn't want to be my wife.
I've accommodated and compromised with her, given her everything I am. I feel like I love her more than she loves me at this point, which logically, I know isn't true, but I know it won't be healthy for us to stay in this limbo. I don't want to anymore, so I'm forcing a change to the rules.

****

Today, isn't a good day to do it, it's the MTV movie awards day and Liz has to leave earlier than me because she's doing the red carpet interviews and 'm arriving later, but there's never a good time for this.

I enter her room- that's right, her room. She still keeps her things in her room and just sleeps in my bed- to find her putting the last touches to her hair. She's a vision in white slacks, strappy heels and a white silk strapless top.

"Hey."

I notice the white roses on her table.

"Hey...who are the flowers from?" I ask.

"Oh," she turns to her side to face me while putting on her earrings. "From Jules, he's moved on."

Not that I don't believe her, but...

"You got that from roses?" I ask.

"White roses, not red. Plus he sent me this." She tosses me a jewellery box, which I open to find a white gold bracelet with a diamond set in.

I'm supposed to get that he moved on by sending my girlfriend this?

"It's the rock from the ring. He put it into a bracelet instead," she explains. "Wanted me to have it because he did buy it especially for me no matter what. He's totally met someone."

Seeing my wary looks, she rolls her eyes. "And I didn't just get that from the roses and the bracelet, although they're big clues, but he's been talking about this 'friend' here and there. He called me as soon as this stuff got delivered and we talked. Turns out, her name's Ashley and he's been dating her for a month now but didn't say anything because he wanted to make sure it wasn't a rebound thing."

"That's good..."

I mean, I know nothing would happen between Liz and Jules, but him dating someone else gives me an extra source of reassurance.

"...at least someone's moving on."

She stops doing what she's doing and straightens up. "That's a sentence of subtext if I've ever heard one. Spit it out Evans."

"Okay. It's been a year Liz and you're not wearing my ring," I tell her simply.

"We're doing this now?" she asks.

"We're doing this now," I confirm solemnly.

"Max-"

"No. Liz, I've been patient, I've given you time, but it's been a year. A year in which I feel like I've put more into this relationship then you have."

"What-"

"Let me finish. A year where I've adapted for you. It's about time you adapted for me."

"I'm not ready," she responds.

"Time's up..."

I've made the choice to be brutal and I'm going with it.

"...You have to make a choice either marry me or we separate. You move out and we share Xan."

Her face pales and I can tell she's more than shocked right now. "And me and you?".

"I want it all Liz and if you can't give me that, then we're over," I tell her resolutely.

Her eyes flash. "You're emotionally blackmailing me into marrying you?".

****

Liz's POV

I can't believe this is happening. It's all out of the blue and from the grave determination in his eyes, I can tell he means every word.
I'm scared, I don't deal well with fear, so it's easier to turn it into anger.

Apparently, he thinks so too because his voice is distinctly louder and harsher when he replies. "No. I'm just telling you the truth. I love you Liz, but if we stay like this, I'll start to resent you for holding back from me and that is not an environment I want to raise our son in..."

I can tell that this is tearing him up inside but it doesn't make hearing it any easier.

"...He deserves more. I deserve more. I deserve you, all of you and if you can't give that to me, then you might as well leave me."

I close my mouth which as been hanging open since he started his speech. I clench my jaw. "I don't do ultimatums Max, they piss me off."

"Well be pissed off because that's the way the cards are laid out now. Liz I have done everything to be good enough for you. I've done everything I can to rebuild the trust I broke between us-"

"I do trust you", I protest.

"You're not showing it where I need you to," he retorts. "You've said that there's nothing more I can do to make you ready to marry me, that you're the problem, but the fact that you don't want to be fully committed to me, tells me that you don't fully trust me for marriage."

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. How can he think that?

"It's not about you Max, it's about me! and I do trust you, with my life..." I swallow back tears, "...with my heart."

He shakes his head sadly knowingly. "You say the words, but don't back them up with action."

Oh that smug, arrogant, stubborn, know it all. I wanna kick his ass right now, at the same time, I can't lose him. I can't give him up. I won't.

"Fine. You want action?" I challenge.

"Whatever!" he retorts.

"You smug son-of-a-bitch."

"What do you want Liz?!".

I step right up to him until we're toe to toe. "The question is, what do you want Max?".

I have to fight from stumbling back at the breadth and strength of the passion in his dark eyes when he looks down at me. "I want you to marry me. I want you to put on my ring, to be proud to have the whole world know that you want 'til-death-do-us-part' with me!"

This time I really do stumble back. He thinks I'm ashamed of him?

"You want me to put on the ring?!" I ask.

"Yeah!".

"Fine. Fine." I stride across the room, yank open my drawer, "Fine", I take out the ring box, open it and shove the ring onto my ring-finger before thrusting it out to him.

"There, you happy now?!".

"Ecstatic!".

"Asshole."

He grins and my anger instantly dissipates. "Yes," he takes my outstretched hand and kisses the ring, "but you're going to marry this asshole."

I glance at the ring on my finger dazed as the truth of what I've just done sinks in. A slow smile sweeps across my lips. "Yes, yes I am."

No freak-out, no shaking hands or feeling of dread.
I'm just excited and happy and perfect.
I'm engaged to Max!

I scream and hop into his arms. "We're getting married!".

****

Max's POV

"Yes, we are." I respond hugging her close, not just for her, but for me too.

Relief doesn't even come close to summarise how I feel right now. My decision wasn't easy to come to, I risked losing her forever, but I didn't think it would come to that, although there's always a chance.
Liz was comfortable in our relationship, she didn't want to rock the boat or change it. A year ago, I gave her the choice, moments ago, I took it away from her because I had to. I had to force her to make the change, so we can move onto something better. It was a risk that just paid off.

She pulls back, her face beaming. "Thanks, I needed that push."

"Glad to do it." I wonder if anything will ever top how I feel right now.

"I love you and I'm going to make an excellent wife, but if I screw it up, too bad, you're stuck with me," she tells me.

"Same goes for me."

One second we're smiling at each other and the next, we're all over each other. I can't get enough of her and her clothes are creating an annoying barrier.

"Max, we can't. I can't be late," she tells me.

"Do you have to go?".

Laughing she breaks away. "Yes."

She fixes her hair and grabs her keys. Just as I think she's on her way out, she races to me, grabs the back of my head, pulls me to her and kisses me thoroughly. "We'll celebrate tonight. See you on the red carpet, maybe."

With backward wave, she's gone and I'm left deliriously stunned stupid in her room with the taste of her still on my lips.

****

Liz's POV

On the way to the awards, I called my parents first about the engagement. They were overjoyed and said it was about time, I let Max make me an honest woman. Then I called the one person I know who once told would spread the news to all our friends. Maria and she didn't fail to disappoint.

I am extra hyper on the red carpet and that's good because my nerves are shut off. It's fun chatting to the stars. What surprises me is that some I've never met know me, not just as Max Evans' girlfriend, but as Liz Parker, from 'that video' and from the other stuff I've done. It's so weird.

The producer in my earpiece tells me that Max is headed my way and that they're cutting to us. I thought I was only going to see him when I got instead, but now is better.

Oh wait, I have to remember to be professional.

He's wearing a blue-shirt and jeans, very casual and very hot. I can't help but respond to the wink he throws my way with a smile and one of my own.

"So Max, how are you on this fine afternoon?".

Okay, so I'm having fun with this.

"Great actually. Not just that I'm here with all the fans, but my lovely girlfriend agreed to marry me."

"I do believe she did," I grin, "Congratulations."

The voice in my ear is going crazy, raving on something about an MTV exclusive. Before I realise it, Max and I are being interviewed about our engagement and wedding.
We answer the question as best we can, which is fun because we play off each other, that is until Max moves in to kiss me.

"Hold on there buddy, I'm on the job," I tell him.

Before I can stop him, he kisses my forehead instead. "I'll see you inside."

And he's off greeting more press and signing autographs. I stare after him until the producer tells me to stop staring at him dreamily and snap back into work mode.

I spend the rest of the red-carpet being congratulated by the people I'm interviewing about my engagement. Word really does spread like wildfire.

****

Max was nominated for best male performance in Synergy and he wins. I watch proudly as he goes to pick up his award. He does the usual thanks to the fans, cast and management, all what I expected him to say until...

"And I also wanted to say to my fiancee Liz...," his eyes find mine. I'm shocked to see my face on the screen, I know I'm blushing but now I can actually see it. "...I love you and I can't wait to marry you."

The room erupts in thunderous applause and whistles. I'm embarrassed but pleased and can't stop smiling.

I really do love that man.

"Parker and Evans are finally getting hitched. Finally, this will-they-won't-they thing ends and we can all go home people," comments Jimmy Fallon, "Although, I feel like I should warn you crazy kids, don't do the shot gun Vegas wedding- Britney, Nicky Hilton- which seems to be all the rage these days. Other than that, congratulations kids," he finishes mimicking Elvis.

****

The rest of the night, I feel like I'm floating on air.
I'm marrying Max Evans.
I can't wait.


****

TBC

AN: Hey all, early part again

BehrObsession wrote: This is for keeps, right?!

There are only 4-5 parts left to this fic, so yep, it's definitely for keeps

taressa05 wrote:. This chapter was great, it was so full of good moments. Makes me wonder if we are gonna get some angst in the next one.

I can say without giving anything away that there will be no dreamer angst in this part, not too much in the part after that either, it's the part after that one that will...

Smac wrote: Glad Jules seemed to be moving on as well.

He does doesn't he?



Alma
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Thanks for all the feedback. I'm am so jazzed that they're getting married too, it's taken me 28 parts to get here and I'm so happy .
Here's the next part, enjoy...


PREVIOUSLY

"Parker and Evans are finally getting hitched. Finally, this will-they-won't-they thing ends and we can all go home people," comments Jimmy Fallon, "Although, I feel like I should warn you crazy kids, don't do the shot gun Vegas wedding- Britney, Nicky Hilton- which seems to be all the rage these days. Other than that, congratulations kids," he finishes mimicking Elvis.

****

The rest of the night, I feel like I'm floating on air.
I'm marrying Max Evans.
I can't wait.


****

Nice to meet you anyway - part 28b

Liz's POV

We needed time to clear our schedules and organize, so we set the wedding for July, which gives us a month to get everything prepared.
Of all the things to think about for my wedding, I never thought in a million years that I'd have to be stressing about keeping the media on a leash. Every magazine and entertainment show wants to know where we're getting married, when, what my wedding dress looks like and who's going to be on the guest list.

The media is something that stressed me out for two days or so, but now I'm just not letting it bother me, there's too much to do and I want to enjoy every bit of it. Thank goodness I'm not doing this alone though.

All my wedding plans are in the uber capable hands of Isabel; the wedding planner Nazi. Maria's planner Andrea, worked for Isabel's company. To help with her psycho-perfectionist tendencies, Isabel started a wedding planning business, her people are the ones to hire for a Hollywood wedding and she is personally organizing mine. Along with her, I have my mum, Max's mum and my other girlfriends to help with anything I need.

Since I'm occupied with the wedding, Max has the task of arranging our honeymoon. Although Xan's nearly two years old, Max and I don't feel comfortable leaving him alone for two weeks, so we decided on a short honeymoon which we'll extend when he's older, maybe in a few months.
I don't know where we're going for the honeymoon, I told him to surprise me. The thing about marrying someone like Max, is that money is absolutely, not an issue. As well as that, my parents -because I'm their only daughter- and his - because he's their only son and they never thought he'd settle down- also want to contribute. Since money is certainly no object, I can truly have my dream wedding.
Where will this dream wedding take place you ask? Roswell, New Mexico.

"Of all the place to have a wedding Liz, and believe me, with your funds, you can have it anywhere, why your small, desert hometown?" Isabel asked when I told her.

"Because it's where I've always wanted to get married and Max loved it there at Christmas, he's fine with it. I know I can get married somewhere exotic or glamorous, but there's a breath-taking rawness about the place I want to get married. When you see it, you'll know what I mean," I told her.

There's this beautiful estate on the outskirts of town, near the desert that is booked by the well-to-do for certain events. I attended Pam Troy's graduation party, her parents threw for her and even though it had been redecorated for the night to fit her somewhat distasteful requirements, I could see the place was breathtaking, not just indoors, but outdoors. It has this tiled outer area surrounded by a beautiful garden. The whole place is against the rocky desert background, like an oasis.

When I showed it to Isabel, she fell in love with it as I had. Because Roswell is a small town, the new contingent of wedding related people that kept coming in and out was noted. News travels fast, we couldn't keep the information from the media if we tried. So now security is another thing we've had to concentrate on.

This is my life now and I love it.

****

The pre-nuptial agreement.
The quintessential contract for new Hollywood marriages. According to Maria, she and Michael have one, to save a bloodbath if he dared screwed her over. So I thought it only be wise to bring it up to my husband to be while sat on his lap.

"Why do you want one?" he asked.

"Isn't it just the thing to do?"

"Yes, but- I mean, signing a pre-nup...isn't that just like expecting things to go wrong? I'm marrying you with a 'til death do us part' attitude," he told me earnestly.

"Me too, but your parents might wonder..."

"They don't."

At my quizzical expression he elaborated. "I've talked to them about it."

"Okay..." I played around with his fingers, trying not to feel ridiculous, "it's just that, I'm not marrying you for your money."

Beside me, I felt him chuckle. "Well that's comforting."

"And if by some disaster," I continued, "we didn't work out...I just don't want anything from you."

He stilled my finger movements with his hand. "Come again?".

I finally lift my eyes up to his. "I mean, we'd both contribute for the kids, that's separate from you and me."

He scrutinizes me as if trying to figure out if I'm serious. "I take it back, let's do the pre-nup."

****

I thought I was pretty victorious in that battle, until I found out what Max wanted to give me incase we divorced. Wayyyyy too much money.

I didn't know that one person could be worth that much.

"Max, I'm not letting you give me that much money for being married to you!", I objected.

"Liz, if we did split up, I would still love you and want you to have this."

I narrowed my eyes at his pleading ones. "a quarter and that's all I'll take."

"Great," he grins, "that's the cash sorted. Now onto the houses and cars."

"Houses and cars?" I ask with mild trepidation.

Yes ladies and gents, Max has two beach houses in California, one in Miami, two apartments in New York, one in Boston, a villa in Italy, Prague and another one on a privately owned Island.
I won't even get into how many cars he has.

He won't let it go until I've picked two houses and a car worth an astounding amount of money.

"Max, this isn't why I wanted this pre-nup," I tell him.

I just wanted it in writing that we'd leave the marriage with what we came in, that I didn't want his money. But I think in doing that I offended him; his money is a part of him and he wants to share that with me to...even if we divorced, which is just plain...Max.

"I know," he gives my hand a warm squeeze, "but I love you."

That's it, case closed and it's one I really can't argue against.

****

I was having a brooding day when the next wave of chaos came. I was whining to Max how we didn't have anything new to do in our marriage.

"I mean, we already live together, so that's nothing new. We've already had sex, had a child. What else is there?" I asked pacing in-front of him.

Max being the sweet and patient man that he is, indulged me. "Well...um there's our first sexual encounter as husband and wife, our first married fight. Liz, my parents have been married for 30 years and their marriage is still evolving. Us living together didn't even scratch the surface of it. We have our whole lives together and believe me, there will be a lost of firsts that we'll go through."

I sank down beside him. "You're right, I'm just...tired and going mildly insane."

In a way that's completely natural for us now, he put his arm around me and drew me to him. "Well, here's something to get you even crazier, I want to buy us a house."

I turned to look up at him slowly. "What?".

"Incase you haven't noticed Liz, my house is a bachelor-pad."

I lift incredulous eyebrows.

"Sure, I've got six spare rooms, a pool, gym- but we'll need more space for the kids. I want somewhere that we redecorate and recreate together."

I sat up then, wondering just when he had lost his mind. "The house on top of the wedding?"

He just smiled and turned his charm on me. "Our first house together. I want to do this for us Liz, for our family."

I melted like butter on a hot stove. "Okay. Why not?".

****

Max's POV

Between the wedding plans, honeymoon and house plans, mine and Liz's schedules have been pretty hectic, but we always find time to spend together and with Xan. It's during one of our couple only time that my bride-to-be comes up with an insane suggestion.

"Why don't we re-virginise ourselves?" my sometimes neurotic bride asks.

"I don't think that's physically possible Liz," I tell her.

"I know that," she scolds me as if I said it was, "what I'm saying is why don't we abstain from sex, both types, until our wedding day. That way it'd be like..."

"We're virgins again?" I supply.

"It sounds stupid I know, but it'll make that moment when we have married sex, so much sweeter. I think."

"You're blushing," I accuse her with a smile.

"That'd be because I feel stupid."

Her arm folding and pouting is so childlike and cute that I bend to her wishes. "Aww, don't. Let's do it. Let's...re-virginise ourselves."

"Really?".

Her big wide excited eyes have me laughing. "Yeah. Only, do we have to start from now?".

Catching my drift, she shakes her head. "I think tomorrow would be best."

I nod, already helping her take off her top. "Then, I should really make today count."

"Uh huh," she nods, laying back and pulling me on top of her.

****

Our first session is slow and gentle, the next is fast and hard and we move from the couch to the floor. I take her like a man starved for air. It's desire fueled adrenaline that gives me the strength to carry her to our bedroom.

We play wrestle on top of the sheets fighting for dominance each of us would gladly give, until finally wanting more, I let her take the top.

"Max, this is crazy," she utters in-between kisses.

"I know," with my hands on each side of her face, I hold her face in place above mine. "But, I love this crazy."

Her brilliant smile disarms me and freeing her from my grasp, I let her burn me; her lips and hands sear my skin, leaving a bit of her in me.

The thought of not being able to do this with her for three weeks drives my appetite for her to an insatiable level. Pounding blood roars in my ears, her addictive scent surrounds me and seeps into every pore making my skin crave for more and my mouth for the taste of her.

I don't know how many rounds we go, I lose count after the first time on the bed. All I'm aware of, is her and how she makes me feel. I watch her want me, ride me, take me up and over with her. As I do the same to her, I can't close my eyes. As her body quivers under mine, I watch her watch me and what I see in her eyes blows my mind.

"Max," she gasps. Her arms drop away from me, her eyes flutter shut and she goes limp. She's gone limp before from exhaustion, but never like his.

"Liz?". My heart jumps up to my throat when she doesn't respond. I roll off her to give her room to breathe. Thank God, she's still breathing.

"Liz." I nudge her cooling cheek. Still no response.

I killed her from too much sex. Too rough, I panic.
Of course she's not dead idiot, she's still breathing, so she's just fainted?

I sit her up and cradle her against chest fanning a pillow in her face. "Liz honey, wake up."
It takes a few nudges, but she slowly comes to.

"Hey," she sits up yawning.

"You had me worried there. Are you alright?" I ask watching her for any signs of sickness.

"Yeah, I just- that was..."

"You passed out," I point out to her.

"I did?," a goofy smile graces her lips, "Huh, now that's a first."

"Not funny."

I don't think she understands just how worried I was.

"Max, I'm okay," she assures me. "That was just really intense and not to mention the fact that I was already tired out from today..." she plants a soft kiss on my lips, "...that was amazing."

I can't help the pride, I'm a guy with a very satisfied woman on his hands.

"Thank you. Do you need water or anything?" I ask.

"No, just a nap," she replies yawning, "I'm so exhausted right now."

"Okay."

I watch her make herself comfortable and in a matter of minutes, she's fast asleep with content smile on her lips. Rubbing away the concerned frown on my forehead, I press my lips against hers. "Rest."

****

Liz's POV

I wake up slowly and reluctantly. My body's doing that soft aching thing it does after a particularly hot bout of sex with Max.

I can't believe I actually passed out. Max seemed a bit scared and worried, but sleep was pulling me in fast, I had to give in. I reassured him but I don't think that was enough.

I slide out of bed, have a quick shower where I'm amused to find quite a few teeth marks all over my body and go in search of Max.

To my surprise, Michael and Maria are over. Maria's playing with Xan downstairs and apparently Max and Michael are playing basketball. Where he gets the energy from, I don't know.

"When did you get here?" I ask her.

"About an hour ago. Max said you were exhausted, so I thought I'd hang with Xan until you were up."

"Okay."

I join her and Xan in the play pen.

"Wedding's got you tired huh? she asks.

"Yeah, there's that."

She rubs her hands gleefully. "I sense a juicy story, do tell."

I signal to Xan. "Not in the presence of minors."

She gets up and heads for the kitchen. "I need a drink anyway."

I give Xan a quick kiss and follow her in.

She's sat on chair waiting for me. "So..."

I tell her about my re-virginised plan, which she laughs at but lets go.

"So we decided to make up for three weeks in one go," I tell her.

"Nice."

My face flushes at the memory. "It was more than nice Maria. It's like we completely lost it with each other, like we were starved for each other. I felt like I could eat him alive and the things that he did..." I go onto explain in detail exactly how creative Max got with his tongue and fingers.

"Wow," she breaths fanning herself with her hand, "I think I need to take Michael home and have my way with him now."

I roll my eyes with a smile. "Anyway, I kinda passed out."

"You mean while you were..."

"Uh huh," I nod.

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"No, I mean really. I am so jealous right now," she says.

"Yeah, but I was tired to begin with."

"But still Liz, passing out from sex...that's hot."

I can't argue with that. "Anyway, I gotta go talk to him 'cuz I think he's feeling guilty," I tell her.

****

****

Max's POV

"Liz is coming over," Michael tells me.

I turn abruptly to see that Liz is indeed approaching us.

"What do I say to her?" I ask.

"Sorry for fucking you so much that you passed out?" he supplies.

"Michael," I hiss.

"What?," he shrugs, "It's the truth."

Before I can retort, she's here.

"Hey Michael," she greets him.

"Hey Liz, how are you holding up?". The smirk on his face says it all and causes Liz to shoot a disapproving frown my way.

"He knows," I admit.

She turns back to him, her cheeks a soft pink. "I'm fine thanks Michael."

"I'm gonna go find Maria," he says after a moment.

We both wait until he's out of earshot before we talk and say exactly the same thing by asking how each other is.

We both laugh and smile shyly at each other.

"I'm okay," Liz replies.

"You sure?" I ask.

"Positive." She takes my hand into hers. "Max, about what happened-"

"I'm sorry. I was too aggressive, I would never hurt you Liz-"

"You didn't. Max, I'm fine. As for aggression, I'm pretty sure my nails did some damage to your back and let's not get into what I did with my teeth. I would have told you to stop if I didn't like it."

I understand what she's saying but the bottom line is...

"Liz, you fainted."

"I did, but you didn't hurt me. I loved what you did," she admits with a shy smile.

"Really?".

"You're blushing," she accuses.

"I just- I've never let go like that except with you and I don't want to scare you off."

"I'm not scared off, if anything, I'm turned on."

"Really?".

I sound like a parrot, but I can't help it. She is more than I ever hoped to get.

"Really. If you ever did anything I didn't like Max, I'd tell you. You know," she wraps her arms around my waist and brushes up against me, "aside from your money, great sex is another reason I'm marrying you."

I lean down and nip her bottom lip. "You're so shallow."

"Damn proud of it too." She stands on her tip-toes, kisses me senseless and then walks away with a swing in her hips. She knows I'm watching.

****

Liz's POV

It's two weeks until the wedding and things are pretty busy and stressful, but I'm enjoying each moment or at least trying to.
This morning, I was doing new house stuff with Max and the interior decorator and in the afternoon, I had my wedding dress and bridesmaid fitting to do; not to mention cake tasting and talking flower choice with Isabel.

Xan's all tired out from it all and asleep. That's what I should be doing now, sleeping, but I've got to agonize and come to a choice over three color patterns for the kitchen and two flower arrangements Isabel narrowed down for me.

I'm too busy trying to choose that I don't notice Max until he makes his presence known.

"Hi."

I look up from the samples to see him in a t-shirt holding his jacket- it's quite a hot evening- and his long lean legs covered in denim.

He is definitely all man and all mine. "Hey," I respond.

"Hard day?". My eyes follow the movement of his toned ass into the kitchen.

"Uh huh."

Moments later, he comes back in and takes off his shirt right in front of me. "Really, what have you been up to?".

I'm mesmerized by his toned chest. "A lot." Catching the wantonness in my voice, I look up at his face and find him staring at me quizzically.

"Like?". He opens the bottle of water he took from the fridge and guzzles it down before dropping on the couch opposite me.

"Like-like um..."

Think Liz, think.

An image of me licking his neckline bursts into my mind in vivid detailed color.

I gulp.

"Liz? are you okay?".

He honestly must know what he's doing to me.

"What's with the no shirt?" I ask.

He looks down at himself and then back at me. I can tell by his expression that he has no idea the effect he's having on me.

"I'm hot," he replies.

"Yes, you are," I breathe the words out.

"Liz?".

Oh screw this. He's sitting there half naked, with tight abs, a chiseled jaw line and an adorably clueless expression on his delectable face- it's like dangling food in front of a starving person.

Abandoning the pattern choices, I cross over to him, straddle him and fulfill my neck licking fantasy.

"Uh Liz?".

I make my way to his earlobe, "I've had a stressful day Max, I need a bit of release."

"But-"

My lips pressing against his doesn't give him a chance to say anything. Then after that, he forgets whatever it is he was going to say.

I explore and taste his toned chest with my fingers and tongue. "You're tasty, did anyone ever tell you that?".

He groans. "Only you."

I'm naked in a few quick moves and pretty soon, so is he.

"Liz-"

I silence him with a finger against his lips. "I don't need you to do anything...much. I just want you to lay back and take it."

"I can do that," he responds breathlessly.

"Good," I shift positions until he's exactly where I want him. "Now let me get to work."

****

"Liz, where's Xan?" he asks.

I lift my head up from his shoulders. "Asleep. We've had a busy day him and I," I reply.

"If your stress release pattern was anything to go by," he smirks, " you rode me pretty hard".

My face is instantly on fire. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I liked it. Although..."

I bite my lip in anticipation at the heated look in his eyes.

"...sometime soon, you'll have to sit back and take it."

I climb off him and start to gather my clothes. "It's only fair."

I don't bother putting my bra back on, I just shove on the top. Now...where exactly is my underwear?

"Two weeks left and you've fallen off the re-virginised wagon," he tuts.

"Just this once."

Ah ha! Found it.

"That's what they all say," he teases.

Zipping up my jeans, I focus my attention on him. "Hey, I didn't do it on my own."

"I didn't make the first move."

"Right. I overpowered you and forced myself on you."

He grins. "I feel so violated." He reaches out to grab me but I dodge him easily. "Hey!".

"That was just a one time slip," I tell him. "We're back on the wagon."

"What if I want to fall off?".

"You can do that by your lonesome because I'm not falling off with you," I reply.

"No fair," he pouts.

"Aww. That's because, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind."

"You wait, once these two weeks are up..."

I plant a quick kiss on his cheek before dancing out of his reach, "I look forward to it."

Feeling limber and refreshes, I hold up the kitchen samples to him. "Now, which marble pattern do you like best for the countertop?".

****

Max's POV

It's nearly midnight when the doorbell rings. I've just finished talking with Liz on the phone. Her, Isabel and Xan are in Roswell doing wedding stuff. We've only got a week left until Liz walks down the aisle to marry me.

It's with vision of our wedding day that I open the door to find a tear stained Tess.

She falls into my arms, sobs wracking her small frame. Not knowing what exactly to do, I lead her in, closing the door behind me.

"What's wrong?" I ask her once we're seated in the living room. I hand her some tissues which she uses to clean up her smudged face.

"Is Liz here?" she asks.

Why would she want Liz?

"No, she's in Roswell. She won't be back until tomorrow," I reply.

"I need a drink. A strong one," she tells me.

I set her up with some JD and coke. It's after one long gulp that she manages to talk.

"I went over to Alex's, we had stay-in dinner plans," she begins.

"Okay."

Tess and Alex, none of us are quite sure how that happened. Not that they're both terrible people, it's just, no one ever imagined them together. I'm not quite clear on how the getting together happened. I know Alex and Laurie broke up just after Christmas. We had a dinner party after New Years were I've heard Alex and Tess hit it off. Since then, they've been spending time together, as friends, but Liz and I have been getting the 'more than friends' vibe from them for sometime even though neither have said anything yet.

If they did get together, I would be happy for them...it's just strange. Alex isn't usually Tess' type. She likes to date people in the limelight, like her and not that Alex is handsome, it's just she usually goes for a different type to Alex. She also can be a bit cold and mean sometimes, which is why I'm surprised Alex likes her. Knowing that he dated Liz, I wouldn't have pegged Tess as his type, but then again, I dated Tess at one point.
It's just...weird.

"Everything was going great, we were talking and joking around and then I kissed him."

"Oh." I don't feel uncomfortable hearing that or seeing Tess with Alex. If I ever needed a more blatant indication that her and I were just friends, this would be it.

"Yeah oh. It just happened you know? but it was nice. I went for it again, but before we got too much, he broke away."

"Did he say why?" I ask.

"He asked me what I was doing and I said 'I was kissing you'. He asked why and I told him, it was because I liked him...a lot and that I didn't fully realize that until the kiss."

"And what did he say?".

"He said he liked me too."

"That's good."

I'm still not seeing the problem.

"But then he said, even though he liked me, we won't work. That we see relationships differently."

That sounds very familiar.

"Different how?" I ask.

"The open relationship thing's come back to haunt me, Max. He said he's a one girl guy and that he doesn't do open relationships. So I said neither did I anymore, but he didn't believe me," she finishes sadly.

I wait a moment before pointing out the obvious, that is what friends are for right?

"It could be because after we broke up Tess, you've been a serial dater," I tell her gently.

"I know, but I don't want that with him. I really like him Max," she whispers the words almost reverently. "He's different. When I'm with him, I feel different. I feel...more"

Thinking of my soon to be wife, I nod. "I know the feeling."

"He told me to leave, wouldn't believe what I told him...I don't suppose I blame him- but you see that's why I need Liz, so that I can explain and maybe she'd talk to him for me."

For Tess to need a favor from Liz, this thing with Alex must be pretty important. Not that Liz and her haven't made peace, it's just that Liz is still pretty wary of Tess, not so much with me, but with Alex. Although she would be happy if they got together, knowing Tess' history, she's a bit protective of her friend, so Tess would have to beg.

"Why don't I switch you to some coffee and we'll talk some more huh?" I offer.

"Sure, thanks Max."

"I've sort of been where you are, so I think I can help," I tell her.

Tess and Alex, I'm still having trouble grasping that, but then you can't help who you fall for right? I should know.

****

TBC

AN: Hey all, thanks for the supporting and humourous feedback, .

I missed updating last week, RL as usual comes into play. But I made some time this week to dish this next part out, there are only four parts of this fic left, so i'm going to try to post weekly again because I'm itching to get started on my other fics, not that I don't love this one, it's just that I'm so excited to write the last parts.
Okay not gonna say much about this next part, but I will have an author's note at the end of it.

BehrObsession wrote: I hate that this story is coming to an end very soon. I absolutely love it and, maybe, you could think about writing a sequel that follows them through their lives as a married couple.

I did think about it, but I think I'll leave that to Behrsgirl77 with her excellent Confessions of... series


PREVIOUSLY

He told me to leave, wouldn't believe what I told him...I don't suppose I blame him- but you see that's why I need Liz, so that I can explain and maybe she'd talk to him for me."

For Tess to need a favour from Liz, this thing with Alex must be pretty important. Not that Liz and her haven't made peace, it's just that Liz is still pretty wary of Tess, not so much with me, but with Alex. Although she would be happy if they got together, knowing Tess' history, she's a bit protective of her friend, so Tess would have to beg.

"Why don't I switch you to some coffee and we'll talk some more huh?" I offer.

"Sure, thanks Max."

"I've sort of been where you are, so I think I can help," I tell her.

Tess and Alex, I'm still having trouble grasping that, but then you can't help who you fall for right? I should know.

****

Nice to meet you anyway - part 29a

Tess' POV

Alex Whitman isn't my type...at least I thought he wasn't.
I was fine dating other people and I'll admit it, for a little while, I was holding onto the hope that Max would ditch Liz and come back to me. I'll also admit that that was the reason I got back in-touch under the guise of friendship.

My plan didn't work out because he broke off our friendship for her. Am I bitter? I was then. He chose her over me, so that they could get their relationship stable. I resented her for that, she had him twisted around her little fingers.

When she saw it fit for him to let me back into his life again, I made an attempt at the Dream in Colour Productions party. I dressed to have mouths watering for me, but all he said was that I looked beautiful, as usual and kept giving jealous boyfriend glances at Liz and the men who talked to her.
That's when I really knew it was over, that Max's love for Liz was stronger and more intense than what we had together.
What can I say, it broke my heart and I'm not one who's used to getting her heart broken.

By the time of the party they threw where I met Alex, I was dealing with it by dating, keeping a friendship with Max while trying to figure out what was so special about Liz Parker.
Not only does Max love her, but the showbiz press have like this crush on her or something. She's all shy, pretty, talented but confident at the same time. I was jealous, which is why she was and still is wary of me, although now, I think it's for another reason. Namely Alex.

It was during my 'what's so special about Liz' mental rants, that I met him. I was stealthily - at least I thought anyway- watching Max and Liz. They were talking to Noah, Max sitting and Liz standing. When he left them, Max pulled her down onto his lap, she laughed and I could see the beauty he had fallen for. They were so comfortable around each other; she abandoned her glass of wine for his, he abandoned his for the chance to talk into her ear. Watching them, I admitted that they were something special.
I could feel the 'woe-is-me' pity part coming on and that was when Alex stepped in.

"They're so right for each other aren't they?" he asked.

I wasn't in the mood for conversation.

"Is that what you have to tell yourself to feel better about the fact that she's not with you anymore?", I sweetly shot out.

"First off, I'm over Liz that way and happy for her and Max. Secondly, if I did feel that way, it'd be better then you telling yourself that he deserves better, when Liz is everything for him."

Because his words couldn't be truer, I narrowed my eyes at him and shot him a withering glare. "Like you know anything nerd boy," I spat.

He just smiled complacently. "Aren't we back in high school."

His calm response pissed me off. "Did I ask you to come over here and talk to me? I don't think so!".

"As someone who's been a casualty of the Max and Liz saga, I know the emotional wounds. Saw them on your face, thought I'd come by and share my scars to make you feel better. Forgive me for thinking that even for a bitch, you might have a heart that needs mending."

He left me, literally, speechless. No one except Max and others who had a general dislike of me and weren't afraid to show it, talked to me like that and the fact that a guy like Alex who wouldn't even register on my radar would dare say that me, angered and intrigued me. So doing something I've only done once before, I, Tess Harding, followed after a guy.

I let him finish off his conversation with Maria, another person who has no problem calling me a bitch.
I don't know why, but I grudgingly checked him out: tall, lean and if you studied him hard enough, toned. He had a quiet confidence about him that you wouldn't notice and he wasn't bad looking, just not mouth-watering.
There was something charming about him though, if you want that sort of thing- which of course at the time, I didn't.

"I'm a bitch sometimes," I told him.

"Yep."

He wasn't making it easy.

"Want to share war stories?" I asked. I could act out being apologetic no problem, but this time, I actually was.

"I'm all for giving people second chances," he replied with a small smile.

We talked for most of the night. It felt good to commiserate with someone who'd been burned and survived and he made me laugh.
We exchanged numbers, though I thought and later he confirmed, that he was just doing it for form with no plans to give me a call or that I would him, since I'm the one who initiated the whole number swap.

The next day, I called him, another first for me. We talked on the phone, which progressed to coffee, then to dinner and then general hanging out and then to me somehow...

"Falling in love with him?" Max supplies.

Taking another sip of hot chocolate to steady myself, I nod.

I'm in love with Alex Whitman. I want an exclusive, just you and me, relationship with one Alexander Whitman, non-showbiz, computer guy.

This is a shock to say the least and it's one that's obviously registered on my face because Max shots me a knowing smile.

"That's how I felt when I realised I was in love with Liz," he tells me.

Because I'm okay with him and Liz now, I can say this. "Max, you were always in love with Liz. Why do you think I wasn't happy about how close you two were? You were in love with her and you didn't know it."

"And when I did, she didn't make it easy for me."

When I lift a curious eyebrow, he blushes before explaining.
"Well...she-um- she...to put it lightly, she didn't believe me- that I loved her, that I wanted to be exclusive. She kicked me out of her house actually."

"Your kidding!" I laugh, "the no-woman-ever-rejects-me Max Evans was rejected by woman he was in love with? How did the two of you finally get it together?".

"We would have got together eventually because I wasn't going to give up on her, but Xan definitely made it easier because I could come into contact with her more frequently."

"Speaking of that, I did the math and you mister, slept with her before you broke it off with me. You cheater," I grin.

"Open relationship remember?" he quips.

"Yeah, yeah. That wasn't the best of plans was it?".

"It worked for a while, we had good times," he replies.

"Yeah, but don't tell me Liz didn't take it up as a block between the two of you."

"She did. So will Alex. Me, I was lucky because after you and I broke up, I stopped dating. You on the other hand," he makes a tutting sound and I glare at him, "add serial dating onto our ex-open relationship and you got two blocks with Alex."

Fabulous, it's never been this hard for me.

"How do I break them down?" I ask.

"Are you sure about this Tess? I'm your friend, but I'm Alex's too. If you're not sure about this, then don't do it, because I don't want him hurt."

I hold back the outburst to tell him that I'm hurting too because of this, because at the end of the day, I guess he's looking out for both of us.

"I'm positive Max. No offence to you, but I've never felt anything like what I feel for him. I mean, we were great and all but-"

"No offence taken Tess, I get you. Okay, as I'm experienced in the ways of winning over the sceptical love, I can tell you that first off, you've got make your mind up that whatever happens, you're not going to give up. With people like Liz and Alex, you really have to prove yourself."

"This is like a military op," I joke.

"Hey, love is war," he grins.

"Okay, so no surrender. What's next?".

"Next, will be recruiting Liz to the cause, which will be trying, but between the two of us, we should be able to do it."

"Okay. I'm willing to beg."

"Good to know. Before that, let's work on your gestures."

"Gestures?" I ask.

He shakes his head in sympathy. "You're lucky to have the voice of experience here. Gestures to show how you feel about him, 'cause right now Alex, will not take your calls. Trust me on this. So the classic is voice mail messages; wanting to talk, explain a bit- but not all- about what you feel for him. You can do that now."

"Now?!".

I'm suddenly very nervous.

"Yes now," he says getting up. "And while you do that, I'll leave a voice-mail on Liz's phone to tell her what's going on, give her time to think it over."

He makes his way to the other room to give me and himself some privacy for our calls.

I take my cell and stare at it. I can do this, just call and leave a voice-mail, I won't even be talking to him personally.
Taking a deep breath, I dial.

****

Max's POV

I'm not quite sure what wakes me up, maybe it's my body's internal clock, whatever it is, I'm grateful for it because I have a big problem and not a lot of time to solve it.

Tess and I stayed up the whole night talking about relationships, Liz and Alex and how we Hollywood players ended up falling for monogamists and discovering the beauty of the so called 'ordinary' people.
We started to watch a dvd Tess picked out from the collection Liz set up- I'm telling you, living with her is a movie education among other things. We must have fallen asleep because it's 12pm in the afternoon and Liz will be arriving home any minute now.

"Tess," I nudge her slightly, then when she shrugs me off and continues to sleep, I nudge her harder. "Tess!".

"What?!". She's not a morning person when she doesn't have to be up for a job.

"You have to go." I'm tugging her up and looking frantically around the room to see if anything needs to be tidied, evidence to be rid of.

"What? why?" she asks.

I grab the mugs, some junk food we busted out with last night and dash into the kitchen to clean up while Tess follows slowly behind me.

I check out my clothes. They aren't suspicious.

I'm losing it, I know that, but you don't understand. Neither does Tess.

"That's great, we can talk to her about Alex," she yawns.

I put the washed mugs and food away. "No, we can't."

I usher her into the living room, stuff her cell into her bag and hand it to her.

"Why not?". She has her arms crossed over her chest, a clear sign that she's not going anywhere until she gets some answers.

"Because you slept over here, which is not what I left on her voice mail and if she finds you here, she'll freak and she'll-"

Leave me.

I can't even say it.

"We'll just explain."

"There's no explaining okay? We haven't got long until the wedding. She is stressed and emotional and not exactly rational okay? She may be later, but not at first, so we need to get you out of here before she sees you."

"Too late."

My heart just stopped. I'm not breathing and my world is slowly tilting into hell. I drop my hands away from Tess' shoulders and take a step towards her. "Liz."

She holds up her hand to halt my footsteps. Knowing that I am very much on shaky ground, I stop.

Isabel is behind her with Xan in her arms gurgling 'dada' while Isabel herself narrows her eyes in suspicion. Liz, she just stands there rigid and blank save for the unbearable pain in her eyes.

My mouth works, but no words come out. How do I say this and get the right message across. I'm panicked enough to settle for the age old guaranteed to make things worse, "I can explain."

She shakes her head with a bitter smile. "No explanations remember?".

With that, she turns and rushes upstairs.

"Liz, wait!". I call after her, but I don't follow because I know that won't help right now.

****

Isabel's POV

If this is what it looks like, a lot of people are going to skewer Max and since I'm here first, I'm taking the first shot.

I shift Xan in a more comfortable position. "Do you know that yesterday, she had this massive freak out? Was she really doing? Did you really want to marry her? Would she screw it up? Would she be enough for you?
I told her that you two would make it work, that she was more than enough for you, that she was the start and end for you. It looks like I was wrong. Good thing she's already packed."

"You weren't wrong," Tess quietly states.

"You," I slice out the words, "need not to talk right now."

"Look, Isabel, Tess and I did not sleep together. I did not cheat on Liz. I left a message on her voice mail explaining," Max tells me.

Oh. Hmmm

"I took her phone off her and switched it off to let her get some peace," I tell him.

But still...

"Turn it on and check her voicemail," he pleads.

I shoot death rays at him, but because he looks like he's hanging on by a thread, I take Liz's cell out of my bag and check her voice mail. There's one from Maria and then one from Max.

"Hey Liz. I know you're probably asleep right now, dreaming about me again..."

I hope he doesn't get any sappier.

"...anyway, don't freak out, but Tess is over here. She's a mess, she went over to Alex's and to cut a long story short, turns out she's got a thing for him.
And he's like someone else I know and making it hard for her, not that I blame him. We're just talking and I'm gonna pass on my wisdom, but I think we're going to need your help to work on Alex, so think about it. Love you, soon to be Mrs Evans."

I hang up and with it, my protective friend rage.

"You heard it?" he asks.

"Yeah."

He heaves a sigh of relief. "You believe me?".

I glance over at Tess and frown. I'm not too fond of the girl, but I've noticed her and Alex giving off vibes and she looks concerned about this whole mess.

"Yeah," I reply, "I believe you."

****

Max's POV

Isabel believes me, that should make it easier to convince Liz. I can't lose her, not now. Not when we're so close.

She comes back in carrying a small travel bag. She doesn't even look at me, instead, she walks up to Isabel with her back to me. "Let's go."

"Liz."

That's all Isabel says and I don't know what female communication they do, but it has Liz turning to face me.

"Tell me you love me."

It's not a question, it's not a demand, it's a challenge and something more. My last chance to solve this sanely.
My voice is trembling and I don't think I can keep the desperation out of it. My eyes plead with her to see the truth.

"I love you," I tell her.

Five humming seconds go by.

"I think you should go."

I blink. She's not looking at me while she says the words, she's looking at Tess. That means she believes me right?

Tess pats my back in a show of good-luck on her way out.

"You've got a good one here Liz," Tess tells her.

"Thanks, I know."

She's smiling, that's good right? I don't know, I'm not sure what's going on. I'm just glad that she hasn't chucked me out of the house or left me.

"I'll just take Xan out to the garden," Isabel tells us, leaving us alone.

****

****

Liz's POV

Okay, I'll admit it, I went a little insane and blew things out of proportion. It's just, after freaking out last night on whether Max could be satisfied with me for the rest of our lives and I come home to fine him trying to get Tess out of the house, both looking like they just woke up, I lost it. It was like one of my fears come true.

So I went upstairs and packed a few additional things, went back downstairs and couldn't leave him.
I love him and he loves me. Sweep away what it looked like and I know Max wouldn't cheat on me. And if he did, no way would I just leave. We've come too far for that, I'd want to know why and I'd want to physically kick his ass. That's why I had to look at him, that's why I needed to ask and when he responded, the world made sense again.

Now, we're alone and he's still not sure what to do or what exactly is going on and that's my fault. I walk up to him and circle my arms around his waist. Immediately, his tense muscles slacken.

"I believe you," I tell him. I smile and he smiles back, wrapping his arms around me.

"But you didn't before."

"I had a moment of temporary wedding cold feet insanity," I stand on my toes and kiss him. "I couldn't leave because deep down, I know you wouldn't cheat on me. Not unless you'd had a moment of temporary cold feet insanity and even then-"

He stops me with a kiss deeper and longer than mine. "No cold feet on my end. I've wanted to marry you for the longest time."

Because he needs the reassurance, I playfully slap his chest. "See, that's the kind of thing that has me feeling all warm and gooey inside. I'm sorry for freaking out."

"You're forgiven. Liz," his eyes take on that dark shade that has my pulse racing, "you're all I want."

"I know. So are you. I think though that I'll lift that whole 'I'll walk out on you if you cheat' rule. We should be all about communication even if it's not pleasant," I tell him.

"Agreed. I left a voice mail explaining why she was here," he says after a beat of silence.

Realisation crashes down on me like a tonne of bricks and I feel like an idiot.

"Isabel-"

"I know, but it's legit-the reason, everything."

"I trust you Max," I tell him. "I know what happened here might throw you off to that, but I trust you."

His lips graze my forehead. "You stayed, I know you do."

My arms circle his neck, I lift myself up locking my legs around his waist and kiss him hard on the lips. "I missed you," I sigh.

I love the way his hands run along my back. His hand cups the back of my head guiding me back to his lips where our tongues dance and reacquaint themselves with the way we each taste. I ease back due to need of air.

He grins. "It goes unsaid that I missed you."

"So tell me about Tess and Alex."

"Later, right now, I wanna say hi to my boy."

"You gonna put me down?" I ask.

"Not yet, it makes me feel manly," he replies as he makes his way to the garden with me still attached to him.

"Well then." I won't complain, I kind of like being carried.

****

Max's POV

Liz and I saw no reason to have two separate bachelor/ette parities seeing as Maria and the rest of the women and the guys got a hold of each of us before we left to head for Roswell. We planned a joint one in Roswell.

We've closed off this quaint bar/restaurant that Liz likes and with close friends and family, we eat, drink and karaoke. Liz had taken it upon herself to torture me because she's wearing a top with no bra underneath- I found that out from our close dancing. To top that off, she's wearing a short skirt, which, when I followed her into the ladies bathroom, I found is covering a very lacy sexy thong.

Right now, she's sitting on my lap, slyly grinding into me. "You know, I could give you a little strip tease tonight, seeing as you didn't get a stripper and all," she purrs into my ear.

"Really?".

I've already got images hitting me at nanosecond speed.

"I could, but that would be unfair, dangling candy in front of you but you can't have it."

Ouch, she is a tease.

"Liz," I growl.

"Uh huh?". Her expression is the picture of innocence.

I halt her subtle movements. "You don't want me to lose it tonight when we've done so well on re-virginising do you?".

"Aww, you're no fun," she pouts.

"I'll be plenty fun tomorrow. I'm gonna have a heck load of payback for you Parker."

"I can't wait," she grins.

"Liz," I take her hand and link our fingers, "are you sure about tomorrow?".

"Yeah...aren't you?".

"I am, I just want to make sure that...you're sure."

Okay, I'll 'fess up, I'm petrified that she'll back out at the last minute.

"What? should I be offended?" she asks.

Do not want to tick her off the night before our wedding. How to put this nicely...

"Of the both of us, who would be most likely to pull out?" I ask.

"I'll give you that," she agrees, "but seriously, I'm ready. Thank you for waiting for me Max."

Is she kidding?

"Thank you".

"For what?" she asks puzzled.

How can I explain this? That life made sense when I met her even when it didn't seem to on the surface. That she made me into the man I am today and for so many more things but ultimately for love.

"For everything," I reply.

****

"This is it, you ready man?" asks Michael.

"More than ready," I reply.

I am suited up and so are my best men; Michael, Kyle, Alex and Noah.
I haven't seen Liz since last night. Me and the men stayed in a hotel while the women folk took over the Parker household. We talked on the phone though and I talked to her today, just to stay linked. I can't wait to see her, it's as if everything I've done has been leading up to this moment of making Liz my wife.

"You got your endgame," Noah congratulates me, "I wasn't sure if you could, but you did it."

"Thanks man and thanks guys for helping me out through it all," I tell them.

"Let's not get all sentimental, we've got the reception speeches for that," Michael responds.

"Yeah man, we'll leave you to yourself for a bit. Last thoughts and all," Kyle adds.

****

Liz's POV

"You calm, you cool, you not gonna run out and ditch him?"

"Maria, stop giving her ideas," scolds Isabel.

"I'm not calm or cool but I'm definitely not going to ditch him," I reply.

I look at myself in the mirror. I'm every inch the Hollywood Bride. My dress is amazing; cut, tailored and made for me - an off the shoulder, silk, diamond beaded gown - a shimmer of white gold and cream in colour.
My hair tumbles around me, framing my professionally natural made up face.

My Mum attaches my veil. I roll my eyes at the tears threatening to spill. "Mum, you promised, no tears until the actual ceremony," I tell her.

"I can't help it, my baby girl's getting married."

I lean over to the table, grab a tissue and hand it to her. "I know, isn't it awesomely weird?" I ask.

"Very. Be happy," she tells me.

"I am, I will be," I respond.

My mother, Isabel, Tess - yes Tess, it's all part of the Alex-Tess plan- and Courtney leave to go take their positions, leaving me alone with Maria.

"Any last words?" I ask her.

"Just a few. You love Max?” she asks.

“I do,” I reply.

“He loves you?”.

Remembering that this is exactly the same thing I asked her on her wedding day, I reply, “He better do.”

“He does. Want to spend the rest of your life with him?”.

“I do.”

“Then go say those two words that’’ll seal the deal," she grins.

"You are wise woman," I laugh.

She hugs me. "You're gonna knock him out."

"I hope not, he has to stay conscious to say the vows."

"Aww, who's cute," she grins before leaving.

Left alone, I turn back to the mirror. "This is it," I tell myself.

My cell on the table vibrates. I check the text message from Max: See you out there. xxx

He's so sweet, I find it amusing how he's still slightly terrified that I'll leave him at the altar. I do like to keep him on his toes, but, I text back: You too. xxx

****

I curse when the door bell rings, I wonder who it could be and if whatever they want is going to take long.
I'm supposed to meet Maria in fifteen minutes for a shopping trip, then after that, I'm meeting Julian for dinner. He's the only one who knows so far and that's just because he was here when I checked the result of the test.
Of course after that I had to verify completely with my doctor and I did.
It's definite.
I got really busy with work and everything, forgot to take the pill but always made time for sex with my husband - I love that - and now, I'm three weeks pregnant.

I'm so excited to tell Max, but I'm determined to hold off until our one year anniversary in a few weeks. The fact that he's off doing press junkets for his film makes it easier to resist temptation for me.

"Hi," I greet the somewhat familiar woman in front of me. I know her from somewhere.

"Hi, um, we haven't met before, but I'm-"

"Ashley Holmes," It hits me. "Jule's girlfriend."

"He's told you about me?" she asks almost surprised.

"Of course, I've seen pictures and everything, but you were blonde before."

"I decided that brunettes have more fun," she shrugs.

"Can't argue with you there." I'm curious as to why she's here, so I invite her in.

"Thanks, I'm sorry for intruding if you have company, I can-"

"Oh no..."

Maria probably won't make it on time anyway.

"...my parents are out with my son and Max is off press touring, so I'm left to amuse myself."

"Oh."

"I've been bugging Julian to bring you down when he comes to visit," I tell her.

"Same here. Belated congratulations on your wedding by the way," she tells me.

"Thanks, it's a shame I didn't get to meet you then, Jules said you couldn't make it."

"Yeah, he was pretty short notice about it. Lovely house."

"Isn't it?" I beam proudly. It took a lot of hard work and money, but this house, our house has a blend of both my and Max's tastes.

I hear a click- no more like a cocking, you know like the sound a gun makes in movies when you take off the safety.
Weird.
I glance back at Ashley and my brows furrow in confusion.
I must be in some twilight zone, or dreaming or something because that would be the only explanation as to why she's point a gun at me.

***

TBC

AN: I know most of you are thinking WTF? But all will be explained in the next part, guaranteed and it's not going to be pretty but this fic is dreamer insured.

Tess and Alex are a strange couple, but I wanted to tie up that end of things and also wanted them as red-herrings for this. If there is anything that's going to truly mess with Max and Liz , it's going to be from outside forces that they can't control because I think you'll agree with me that they've been through enough of their own internal battles to let another one put a dent in their relationship.

And it has been nearly a year since they got married, I made a conscious decision not to include the actual wedding, honeymoon and what happened in between in this part, but they'll be included as flashbacks in the following parts.

See you next Thursday or maybe Wednesday if I can make it.

xx willow


****

AN: Hey all, three parts to go...

Earth2Mama wrote:I'm glad you actually skipped the wedding/reception. I sometime get very depressed reading about weddings. And it's not up for discussion as to why

Now that's made me curious



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Thanks for all the wonderful feedback guys.



PREVIOUSLY

I've been bugging Julian to bring you down when he comes to visit," I tell her.

"Same here. Belated congratulations on your wedding by the way," she tells me.

"Thanks, it's a shame I didn't get to meet you then, Jules said you couldn't make it."

"Yeah, he was pretty short notice about it. Lovely house."

"Isn't it?" I beam proudly. It took a lot of hard work and money, but this house, our house has a blend of both my and Max's tastes.

I hear a click- no more like a cocking, you know like the sound a gun makes in movies when you take off the safety.
Weird.
I glance back at Ashley and my brows furrow in confusion.
I must be in some twilight zone, or dreaming or something because that would be the only explanation as to why she's point a gun at me.

***

Nice to meet you anyway – part 29b

Liz's POV

I hold up my hands, palms outwards in a sign of non-threatening surrender. "Okay Ash, I'm all for the right to bear arms, just not when they're pointed at me."

Not the smartest thing to say, but cut me some slack, I've never been in a situation like this before.

She hits me with a narrowing glare. "You think you're so smart, so fun, so witty".

I have nothing to say to that, I'm just concerned about why this woman is pointing a gun at me. I'm pregnant, I shouldn't be in a situation like this, especially now.

"Why are you pointing a gun at me?" I ask, careful to keep my voice calm and just a little bit curious.

"Poison would have been much more classic, but then, it wouldn't have given us much time to talk," she replies.

Huh.

"You were going to poison me? Why? I don't even know you."

I might understand somewhat if it's someone I ticked off, but this is the first time I'm meeting her.

"Julian links us both and he's why I'm here. You're a problem for us Liz Parker."

Not to nit-pick but...

"It's Parker-Evans," I wiggle my ring finger at her, "I got married."

That should clear up any warped I-may-be-interested-in-Julian ideas if she has any.

"Julian never calls you that you know, you're still Liz Parker to him. It's like he's in denial that you're married," she tells me.

I'd have to agree with her there, Jules still calls me L.P or Parker. I'm constantly telling him that technically, I should be L.E or Evans now.

"Hey, nicknames don't change with marriage," he retorted, so I just left it. It's not like it matters that much to me anyway...but it obviously does to Ashley.

"You're a problem between us Liz, he's still not over you."

It's been like a year and then some, he must be over me by now. First off, because he's dating Ashley and he's happy with their relationship.
Secondly, he came to wedding and was genuinely happy for Max and I and thirdly, he's on friendly terms with Max and vice-versa, as he is with me. He hasn't given any more than platonic signs at all.
We're celebrating the fact that I'm pregnant with Max's baby for dinner tonight, he must be over me.

"It's been a long time since him and I went out," I tell her, "and now, he's with you and happy, he told me so."

"We are happy, but we could be so much more if only he'd let you go."

There's a flash of madness in her eyes now, so I take a tentative step back. "Listen, why don't we calmly talk about this without the gun."

"No..."

I take another step back as she aims at my chest.

"...let's talk with the gun."

I should be more afraid than I am at the moment, but a big part of me is in denial that this is really happening, it doesn't feel real. I must be in some kind of shock or adrenaline induced clarity calm because that would be the only way which would allow me to be standing and talking right now.

"Okay, so let me lay this all out. I'm happily married and am just friends with Julian. He's in a relationship with you, which he's happy with, except you think he's not over me."

"That's right."

"So, shouldn't you be talking to him about this? I'm not part of your relationship. That's your business. I'm not reciprocating his feelings, therefore, I'm not in the picture," I tell her.

"But you are, as long as you exist, you're in our picture. He won't let you go unless he can't talk to you or touch you."

I blink back the terror that has my blood running cold. "I'm guessing that's where the gun comes into play."

"Connect the dots," she shrugs with ease, " with you six feet under, sure he'll grieve but I'll be there for him until he finally lets you go and can build a full life with me."

She's crazy.
She's actually crazy. She terrifies me because she's the worst kind of crazy, she's the smart crazy. She's an attorney, I know that about her; graduated from Harvard Law; comes from money and has everything a normal person could ask for. She's a smart woman who really believes in her whole plan, that murder will be the answer.

"What about my life Ashley? My life, with my husband and my child."

My children. My baby growing inside me right now.

"Sacrifices have to be made Liz, I'm really sorry."

Oh fuck this shit, gun or not.

"You're sorry? Just who the tell do you think you are?!..."

I like anger better than terror, I can handle anger better.

"...you can't just threaten to take away someone else's life just because you want yours to be better!. You have no right!".

"I have every right when it involves my happiness!"

In a fit of fury, I reach for my cell on the table. I still my movements when the barrel of the gun digs into my stomach.

My baby.

"Do. Not. Do. That," she tells me in a dangerously low voice. She grabs the phone from me and tosses it away. "You don't understand, so I'll make you understand why this is the only way."

I only breathe when she takes a step away from me, taking the gun with her.

"Go on," she signals to the couch, "take a seat."

Not willing to push my luck, I do what she says. There has to be a way out of this. If I'm late, Maria will call my cell which is smashed up on the floor.
My parents are out, thank God with Xan and are going over to Max's parents house to bond. I'm beyond grateful that they're away from danger.
Julian is coming over...but that's tonight and a long way away. My only hope is Maria or my own ingenuity if I get the opportunity to knock this crazy bitch out.
My safest option now is play along, keep her talking and not aggravate her.

"Did Julian tell you how we met?" she asks conversationally.

"At a charity fundraiser," I answer.

Where you were obviously still sane.

"Yeah. He came along and was all brooding. I was attracted straight away, so I made conversation, made him laugh, once, just once. That's all it took to break the ice. He said that I 'must be something special because he hadn't laughed for days'. We became friends after that, that's when he told me about you," her tone and expression turns sour, " the girl who owns and broke his heart. Told me the whole deal from when you first dated, to his punch up with Max. He was still healing and I helped him."

"He told me you did. That you were good for him," I tell her.

Maybe she'll see that I'm not a threat.

"He talks about me?" she asks pleased.

"You're his girlfriend, he cares about you."

"He cares about you too. Liz this, Liz that..."

Okay, she's losing it again.

"...You know I'm a natural blonde?".

"Is that a rhetorical question?" I ask.

Her eyes narrow. "There's that wit he raves on about. He also raved about your hair, how silky soft it is and how he loves the color, 'like a dark chestnut horse in summer light' – his words. I wanna make him happy, so," she primps her hair, "chestnut in summer light it is."

Okay, so I didn't really notice it before because everyone has similar season hairstyles, but her long loose curls are the style I had my hair last month.
I can almost hear eerie violins playing as I realize that we've moved from crazy to bordering psychotic stalker tendencies.

"Whatever I did for him, what I do, doesn't seem to be enough to go up against the perfect Liz Parker-Evans," she admits despondently.

I'd feel sorry for her, if she didn't want to kill me.

"Exactly, Parker-Evans. I'm married, I love my husband. I am not part of your thing with Julian," I tell her.

"You have to have everything don't you?...".

There's a rush of raging envy in her eyes that has me looking at anything else but her eyes.

"...you can't be satisfied with fame and fortune and your own husband, you have to have other people's partners too."

Oh for the love-

"Look Ashl-"

"Shut up! I'm not done making you understand yet."

****

Julian's POV

I open Liz's door with the spare key Maria gave me. The house should be empty; Liz shopping with Maria while I decorate the house- well the living room and dinning area.
It took some convincing but I finally got Maria to help me out. Of course, I had to lie about the reason for the dinner because I'm the only one who knows about the baby.
I have to say, sharing a secret with Liz makes me feel good, special, valued and trusted.

I could have hired people to decorate but I wanted this to have my personal touches- for me to do this means we've come a long way Liz and I. I am truly happy that she's happy and that I can still be a part of her life.

I use one of the boxes as a doorstop before heading back to the car for the rest of the decorations. It's only when I step in a second time that I hear the loud voices.

Damn, I'm busted.

Closing the door, I follow the sounds expecting Liz and- wait...

"You think you can have everything you want, but you can't have Julian!".

...is that Ashley? What's she doing here? She's supposed to be in New York.

"For the last time!, you can have him. I. Don't. Want. Him!".

The desperate frustration and exasperation in Liz's voice has me picking up speed.
When I finally find them, my jaw drops. I'm rarely taken aback by situations but in this instant, I am.

Liz is standing, her body language does indeed show anger and frustration, so does Ashley's...except, she has a gun in her hand.

"What's going on here?" I ask.

Two pairs of eyes latch onto me, both surprised, on hopeful and the other panicked.

"Thank you God, Jules-"

"Baby what are you doing here?-"

"Maybe you can talk sense into your girlfriend and get her out of my house-"

"Shut up!".

It happens so fast, I don't have time to stop it until it's too late. Ashley whacks Liz across the face with the gun. I reach Liz just as she steadies herself up again. I help her up.

"You okay?" I ask her.

Rubbing one side of her face, she fixes with an incredulous glare. "No."

I turn to Ashley. "What are you doing here and put that gun down."

"No." She takes a step back and takes aim at both of us.

What the fuck?

"Ashley, what are you doing?" I ask her.

"About to make things better for us," she replies with a smile.

Liz mutters a few choice curse words beside me in frustration but I keep my focus on the real danger.

"I don't understand," I tell her.

Ashley opens her mouth to explain, but Liz jumps ahead of her.

"You don't?, well you will soon. Can I give him the run down?" she asks Ash but doesn't wait for her reply, "Your girlfriend here wants to kill me because, you're not over me and therefore I'm inadvertently stopping your relationship from progressing. That about covers it."

"That's insane," I murmur.

"Great choice of word there," Liz quips.

"Ash. Liz has nothing to do with us," I tell her.

"She has everything to do with us. With her alive, you can't get over her and move on to the full with me. But with her gone..."

"Don't be ridiculous," I dismiss her with a wave of my hand.

"Don't ridicule me Julian. You may hate me at first, but you'll understand that it was for the best eventually."

How could I not know that she was unstable like this?

"Wake up Ashley, she has nothing to do with us! You have a problem, talk to me." I stand in-front of Liz.

"You made her a problem in our relationship. You're obsessed with her Julian. She's like a virus that's infected you. She needs to be eradicated."

"Eradicated? Do you hear yourself? Put the gun down Ashley," I tell her.

"No. I can take the fact that your apartment is like a shrine to Liz-"

"What?" Liz interrupts.

Oh no.

"Nothing," I tell her.

Ashley catches my look of panic and grins. "Oh, you didn't know?" she drawls.

I hate her right now. "Drop it Ash," I warn her.

"No. This interesting. Did you know that Julian has pictures of you framed in his apartment? He has one of your Viencenzia ads framed there and at work too. He also has that spread you did for the catalogue-"

"Stop it" I order her but it's too late, Liz is going to find out and everything's going to go horribly wrong again.

"And don't forget the stills out of that music video you did, right by his bedside table and in a few drawers in his kitchen and office."

I suddenly feel deathly calm and advance on her. "You went through my drawers?".

The gun stops any further movement from my end, at least for now. "I had to see the extent of your obsession honey. He had pictures of you two together as well as us on his mantle piece, but all in all, you dominate his life Liz. Bet you didn't know that did you?".

I chance a glance at Liz and realise that she's no longer behind me but beside me, a few steps away.

"No, I didn't," she says quietly.

I can read her eyes; she's hurt, angry and a little bit freaked out.

"Liz-"

"Uh uh," she shakes her head at me.

"As I was saying..." Ashley continues.

There's a danger and madness in her eyes I never noticed before. Was I really that blind?

"...I can take all of that, but what I can't take anymore, what pushed me over the limit, is when you call me Liz in bed."

"What?" asks Liz.

Damn. I never thought she heard me after the first time.

"Oh yeah, especially with my hair now," she continues, "Just when he's about to come, he looks into my eyes, kisses me and then ruins it all by whispering your name when he thinks I can't hear. He sleeps with me, pretending it's you. What do you think about that?"

****

Liz's POV

I feel sick, disgusted and dirty.

"What do I think?," I echo her, "I think you two deserve each other."

"Liz-"

"Hell no Jules, don't touch me, don't talk to me. A year. A year! And you've been obsessing and sleeping with her while calling out my name? What is that?! What the hell is that?!"

His lips move helplessly with no sound coming out. I roll my eyes in disgust.

"So you understand now, why I'm doing this?" asks Ashley.

"I understand that," I point at Ashley," you're crazy and that," I point at Julian, "you're twisted."

I have to get out of here. I have to get out of here now
I grab my bag from the chair.

"What are you going?" Ashley asks.

"I'm leaving, do what you want but leave me the hell out your warped game," I reply.

I turn my back and head for the cordless to call Maria.

"Don't walk away from me!".

I ignore her, pick up the cordless. That's when the shot rings out and I find myself knocked to the floor. Instinct kicked in and my hands broke my fall, so I look like I'm about to start a rep or press-ups. A deathly silence fills the room, then is sucked out by Ashley's cry. "Julian!".

Jules?

I sit up and turn around. Julian lies on the floor, Ashley by his side.

Oh my God.

"Jules?". I crawl over to him. There's blood seeping into his light blue shirt from the bullet hole in his shoulder.

He's alive.

We help him sit up.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, just a flesh wound," he winces.

Then it hits me. "You pushed me out of the way. You took a bullet for me. You saved my life."

"I did, yes."

He's so calm and collected about it. It freaks me out.

"You idiot," I hit him on his good shoulder. The tears come and are unstoppable.

"Hey, saved your life remember?" he complains.

I kiss him on the cheek in thanks.

"This is all your fault," Ashley accuses as she rises to stand.

I almost forgot that she was here.

I look up at her. She is seriously whacked. Leaving Jules on the floor, I stand up to her. "I'm not the one who pulled the trigger," I tell her.

"It's because of you that he got in the way," she retorts.

"Oh- Get a flipping a grip! This is not my fault but both of your doing- not that he deserved to get shot-"

"Of course he didn't, you did!".

My angry clears too late, I hear the shots.
Two of them. I stumble back, then my body rushes to meet the ground.
I've been shot.
She shot me, I get that.

My shoulder hurts like a mother and my abdomen...throbbing pain-oh no, my baby. My hand covers source of the pain, hoping to keep my baby safe.

I'm getting cold and I can't focus. Sound, vision, it all swims in and out.
I can see Jules hovering over me.
I hear him. "Liz, Liz, keep your eyes open. Stay with me..."
And he's out of focus again. I can't see him. I can't hear him...

Max.

I see him standing at the alter, waiting for me. He leads me to him with his eyes. They stay on me through the whole ceremony as if there's nothing else in the world to see but me.

"...I Max Evans give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed".

He slips the ring onto my shaking finger, my smile grows wider when I see that his hands are shaking too.

"...I Liz Parker, give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed."

He winks at me and I wink back.

"...In as much as you have each pledged to the other your lifelong commitment, love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves.
When frustration, difficult and fear assail your relationship - as they threaten all relationships at one time or another - remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there....
.....You may kiss your bride".

My heart's in my throat when his lips meet mine. The gentle persuasion of his lips and tongue hints at more to come and leaves me feeling light, heady and wanting more.

"I love you", he whispers before we turn to the congregation of family and friends who cheer us on.

****

He sweeps me into his arms.

"Max," I giggle.

"Hey, carrying you cross threshold number one, here." He kicks the door closed with me still in his arms.

"How many thresholds to go?" I ask.

"There's the honeymoon threshold-"

"Which will be..."

"Wait and see. Then there's our old home and soon,our new one- all of which I will carry you across."

"You are such the manly man," I tease as he gently places me on my feet.

He takes a step back to study me.

"What?" I ask suddenly self-conscious.

"You're beautiful."

His voice brushes over me and leaves me shaking. "I'm nervous," I tell him.

"So am I," he smiles.

He takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. "Guess re-virginisation has its effects huh?".

"I love, I really do."

He draws me close and captures my lips with him. So warm, so soft, so gentle, I'm immediately his to do as he pleases with. I reach out to unbutton his shirt but he draws away.

"Payback Liz, remember?".

He goes behind me and slowly unzips my dress. "I'm going to take my time tasting, touching you and then..." a groan escapes my lips when he whispers the last part in my ear.

"Get started then," I tell him.

I sink into him when he nips a sensitive area on my neck. "So demanding..." he chuckles.
Biting back on desire, I let him trail his finger along my naked back. "...and so mine."

****

"Italy? Italy?!", I squeal.

"Yes, you like?" he asks although he already knows I do.

I circle my arms around his neck and crush my lips against his. "I love."

"Wait until you see the hotel, it's right near Lake Como. The view is spectacular."

****

I lift my hand up from his stomach and grin up at him.

"Liz."

He's frustrated. Good.

"I love the way you taste," I tell him.

His fingers weave into my hair and he drags me up to meet his burning lips. There's nothing slow or gentle about our frantic search for each other, mouth to mouth, skin to skin. Greed for taste, greed for more urges us on.

"I'm mad for you Liz..", he rolls me over until he's on top of me. "However much I have you, taste you, it's never enough."

I lose my breath, my vision blurs as he slowly fills me and keeps the pace torturously even.

"Max" I call for him, in the whirlwind of pleasure I call for him. Our fingers link and he joins me. The sharp edgy release spreads to my toes and up to my brain.

"Not yet..." he murmurs, his voice arousingly breathless. I open my eyes to find him watching me, dark and dangerous desire pulling me in again, "there's more to feel yet-"

"Liz, the ambulance will be here, just hang on".

Jules?

There he is. He looks so scared, so worried. I want to tell him not to be, but I can't. I'm so tired and sleepy.

I just want to-

"...if she dies Ashley, you die. That's a promise..."

"...I didn't- Oh God, there's so much blood. I have to-I have to go-"

"No! You are not going anywhere. You run, I will hunt you down, find you and kill you. Stay."

There's banging on the door...voices...police...ambulance...paramedics...hospital...so tired-

"Hey, how come my robe barely covers my ass and yours is all proper?" I pout.

"Because it's one of my many perverted fantasies," he grins.

Rolling my eyes, I slip onto the chair on our patio. I look out onto the pure sandy beach and breathtaking ocean in the distance.

My husband can afford to take me out for a week on a private island. It's still hard to accept, but I'm getting used to what being married to Max Evans entails.

"Here," he hands me a glass of champagne. "Happy six month anniversary."

Our glasses click together, "Happy six month anniversary Max". After one sip, the glass is out of my hand. "Hey!".

"I'm gonna get drunk off you," he tells me.

I don't quite understand what he means by that until he reclines my chair, unties my robe and pours some champagne on my naked body.

"Max, we had sex like ten minutes ago," I tell him with a smile. He really is insatiable, but then again, when it comes to him, so am I.

"And I think we've had an adequate break."

I watch him take a strawberry from the bowl bite into it and then uses the rest to dip on my body and eats it.

"You seem to be having all the fun," I observe.

"I do, don't I?".

Putting the strawberries aside, he pours more champagne on my breasts and my stomach and proceeds to lick it off me. My skin throbs under his assault and when his clever fingers join the party, all coherent thought on my part is lost. Just when I'm about to drag him up to me, his mouth meets mine. I can taste the champagne, strawberries and hints of me on him, it drugs me and drives me wild for more of him.

****

"So Jules' is coming over next week," I tell him.

"He is?".

"Yep," I grin, "Got a problem with that?".

I can almost see him smile on the other end. "As long as he knows you're mine, none at all."

"He does and he has a girlfriend don't forget. They've been together for a while so it's looking pretty serious- not marriage serious but long term."

"Even better."

"You're still not jealous are you?" I ask.

Julian's come up to visit me a few times now, even when Max is here and there haven't been any incidents so far.

"Me and him have a truce. We know where we stand," he replies.

Guy stuff.

"Whatever. Love you."

"Love you. What are you wearing by the way?".

He never learns.

"It's never gonna happen Max."

"Can't blame a guy for trying."

"In your case, persistence will never pay off, but you will get an excellent welcome home, I can promise you that."

"Can't wait."

"Me either."

****

Max's POV

I'm at the airport on the way to another cast interview when my phone rings.

"Hello?".

"Mr. Evans?".

"Yes."

"This is Claire Harriet from Fairview Hospital, you're listed as one of your wife's emergency contacts-"

"What's happened?" I interrupt.

"Your wife's been admitted with two gunshot wounds. She's in surgery right now".

Every sound fades away except for the nurse's voice.

"Is she okay?", I ask.

"We won't know until she's out..."

I'm not really listening, I'm working out how long it will take me to get home.

"I'm on my way".

****

It doesn't take me long to catch a flight back home. I have my publicist cancel my appearances, next I call Liz's parents, then I call Maria because Liz was supposed to be shopping with her today.

"I'm on my way there now Max. Julian called me," she tells me.

"Do you know what happened?" I ask.

How does my wife end up with bullet wounds?

"He was pretty vague about it, he had to go but he said there'd been an accident, I think he was in shock."

That doesn't give me much.

"Call me as soon as you know something. I'm on my way back now."

"I will."

Fear of the unknown is much worse than fear of the known. I don't know how bad she is or what exactly happened.

****

I'm tired, exhausted and scared for my wife when I finally arrive at the hospital. I have to battle my way through the press, which is easier than it usually is because I'm in no mood for politeness.

What do I know so far?

That Julian's girlfriend shot him in the shoulder and Liz in her shoulder and abdomen. I don't know exactly why she went after them, but that's not my priority right now, I just want to see Liz.

I find Maria and Michael and her parents in the family area. Xan's being taken care of by my parents for now.

"How is she?" I ask.

"We don't know much, she came out of surgery a while ago though," Nancy answers.

The doctor comes in just as she finishes. "Mr Evans?".

"Yes," I answer.

"I'm Dr. Harris. May we talk outside?".

Talk outside? That doesn't sound too good. I can't afford to look at everyone else as I follow him out. I know the expression on their faces because it's what I'm feeling, blind panic and fear.

"How is she?" I ask, willing my hands to stop trembling.

"She's stable, sleeping. The surgery went well. She lost a lot of blood, we managed to save her...but there was too much damage to her-", he breaks off and clears his throat, "she lost the baby."

Baby?

"I'm sorry what?" I ask.

"She was three weeks pregnant, you didn't know?".

I shake my head dumbly. I feel like someone just took a bat to my chest.

Pregnant? She was pregnant?

I knew there was something up by the barely concealed excitement in her voice everytime we talked on the phone but- she was pregnant, we were gonna have another baby...now we won't because it's gone. Dead.

"Would you like to sit?".

I nod, lowering into a chair.

"When can I see her?" I ask.

"In about an hour. Although she's stable, she's still liable to slip, but so far she's doing okay."

I swallow the dry sand in my mouth. "Thank you doctor."

"I'm sorry for you loss Mr Evans."

I nod and sit there even after he leaves. I'm not sure what to do, where to go.

"Max."

I look up to see Julian in a shoulder sling.

"She was pregnant," I tell him. "She lost the baby."

He sits beside me. "I know." At my puzzled expression he continues, " I was at the house when she took the test. I just stopped by, spur of the moment, we weren't supposed to meet up until later but- she swung open the door, hugged me and pulled me in. She was so happy and excited. She promised me to secrecy, she'd wanted to tell you first, but couldn't hold it in. She wanted to wait until your anniversary to tell you."

"What the hell happened? You were there, how? Why? I want to know all of it," I demand.

He hesistates. That and the guilt I detect in his eyes has me clench my jaw. "What did you do?" I ask.

****


TBC

AN: Hey all, finally got a part sorted. Part 30 will be divided into two or three sections depending on length and this is the first part to it.

Ellie wrote:"What did you do?"

...Well see Max, it's like this. I'm a freak who doesn't have a real grasp on boundries between friends. I totally disrespected you and your wife by keeping my "love" for her alive and feeding my Liz addiction with all sorts of paraphernalia which I have strewn around the house. I don't know if there's a 12 step program for this because I haven't even looked.
-Ellie

This was absolutely hilarious, lol,

Earth2Mama wrote:
I'm still not explaining that diddy on weddings. Uh uh....not gonna!

Fine, fine, I'll drop it

anonymousarfan wrote:"What did you do?" Well, that's kind of a funny thing to ask....let's see I'm a freak, twited pervert who happens to have been dating a crazy psycho bitch, that's what happened

Loved this!!

anonymousarfan
Alma
begonia9508BehrObsession
BelevnDreamsToo
cherie
cocopucks
coloradospace
D.D
Earth2Mama
Eccentric One
Ellie
Emz80m
Dreamer06
FamersAmers
FSUMSW94
janesdilemma
Jason's Lover
kay_b
Liz86000
Lolita
Maxsgurl
NorafanofMaxandLiz
RASaero611
roswellrox
Surfgirl02
su-lyn
Timelord31
urpersonaloddball
vampyrax
VeronicB


Such a long list of people!! thanks guys for the bumps and the feedback. I should have the next post up by Tuesday at the latest.


PREVIOUSLY

"Max."

I look up to see Julian in a shoulder sling.

"She was pregnant," I tell him. "She lost the baby."

He sits beside me. "I know." At my puzzled expression he continues, " I was at the house when she took the test. I just stopped by, spur of the moment, we weren't supposed to meet up until later but- she swung open the door, hugged me and pulled me in. She was so happy and excited. She promised me to secrecy, she'd wanted to tell you first, but couldn't hold it in. She wanted to wait until your anniversary to tell you."

"What the hell happened? You were there, how? Why? I want to know all of it," I demand.

He hesitates. That and the guilt I detect in his eyes has me clench my jaw. "What did you do?" I ask.

Nice to meet you anyway - part 30a

Julian’s POV

Where to begin…
I think in this case, the simplest explanation will do to start things off, root of all things to do with this horrific day.

“I have a problem and it’s completely my own to deal with…”

Guilt, shame and relief swamp me. I haven’t got it all out but it already feels good to begin to finally say it.

“…I’m in love with your wife Max, I’m in love with Liz. I never got over her, I don’t think I ever will.”

I glance over at him for a reaction. He just stares at me with narrowed eyes, his jaw is not yet clenched but it will be before I’m done but for now, he just stares and waits, so I continue.

“She doesn’t love me like that, we’re ‘good friends’ to her and that’s on me because I let her and you continue thinking that, so I could stay close to her.”

I think now of what being close to her has just cost her and close my eyes briefly against the images.

“I don’t have a lot of regrets in my life, the majority of the ones I do have centre around Liz: for letting her go all those years ago, for not leaving it alone the first time she told me she’d loved you- my pride and ego wouldn’t let it go. Most of all, I regret not letting her go no matter how much it could have cost me…”

I could say so many things here, but it wouldn’t matter, what matters now is the bottom line, so I’ll edit.

“…I took up with Ashley to forget about Liz. I have the people I choose to spend time with checked out and Ashley didn’t raise any alarms. She seemed, for lack of a better word…normal. I had decided that with her, I would move on with my life, but I didn’t leave Liz behind, I brought her into our relationship. Ashley knew about her and was very accommodating and understanding- not once did I notice anything that worried me, even when…she changed her hair colour and hair styles to ones that closely matched Liz’s and not even when she changed to the Alter-ego fragrance. She was obsessed over my relationship with Liz and I dint’ even know it.”

He doesn’t need to know all of it, it won’t help anything now.

“Ash followed me here. She knew Liz’s schedule somehow- I don’t know how long she’s been targeting her- she thought Liz was an obstacle in furthering our relationship and with her gone…,” my blood still runs cold at the thought, “…we could move it to the next level.”

She will pay for her misguided scheme. She will pay heavily.

“My wife is lying that hospital bed, our child is dead, because you were obsessed with her and shacked up with an unstable girlfriend who in turn, got obsessed with your obsession and tried to kill her.”

His jaw is clenched now, his voice chillingly calm.

I meet his hard eyes. “I'm sorrier than you’ll ever know.”

A look of absolute derision is his initial response. “I’m not too concerned about how sorry you are. I’m more concerned about how bad, how guilty you feel. Does this- knowing your part in it, does it cut you up inside?”.

“More than you’ll ever know.” I clear the thickness of unshed tears out of my throat. “If I could be in that bed instead of her, I wouldn’t regret it one bit.”

He doesn’t acknowledge that with words or any expression.

“Liz was going about her daily business today unaware that because of you, her life was about to be shot up.”

I can’t argue against the truth. The pain of sorrow and guilt twists my insides to the point of torture, the sharp pain as my back is slammed against the wall is nothing compared tot eh rage and thirst for vengeance coming off him in droves.

“You selfish, greedy, son of a bitch!.” He punctuates every word by slamming me harder against the wall.
I don’t fight him. I would do more than this in his situation, I would inflict more pain, more torment, than ever imagined.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve helped cause? What you’ve helped destroy?!”.

I’d much prefer him to beat me to a pulp, that I can handle, but the raw grief that flashes in his eyes? That is worse than any bodily inflicted torment.
Arms and hands break us apart, against the blood roaring in my ears, I hear Michael and Jeff tell Max to calm down before security gets here. I have to blink several times to clear my vision.

Max stands, fists clenched, harsh heavy breathing which threatens violence in full force. Michael and Jeff are on either side of him. They are joined by Maria and the rest of the family who glare at me.

“Get this piece of trash out of here,” Max orders in disgust before striding back into the private waiting room.

“You better go,” warns Maria.

If I argue, I have no doubt that even though I took a bullet for their friend, they’ll have no problem having me tossed out. They’ll have every reason to once Max tells them of my part in the causing of today’s events.
So I leave, but I’ll be back to see Liz. She probably won’t see it this way right now, but we’ll need each other her and I. There’s a media storm brewing that we need to get through together.

****

Max’s POV

I want to ram my fist into his face and chest until the skin covering my knuckles bruises. I want to do something that will make me feel better but all I can do is pace like a caged animal in the waiting area.

When the others come back in, I tell them what Julian told me; they need to know that and about the baby. It’s strange, I didn’t know that Liz was pregnant until a little ago, but even in that short amount of time, knowing that our baby is gone, I suffer the loss of all the hope and dreams I had for him/her.

I get through the sympathy and hugs and gain strength from their words of encouragement and support. I have to be strong for Liz, she’ll need me for what’s coming: the wife of a famous actor, a powerful business man and a talented attorney. There’s so much politics around that triangle and the media will lap it up.

I have to contact my publicist and no doubt that there will be have to a liasing session with Julian’s people and the police.
Then I need to see Xan. How can I explain to a barely two-year old that his mummy got shot by a psychopath who killed his little brother or sister? He’s a child, he doesn’t need to know all this, I know that and I’m grateful for it, because if I had to explain it all, I don’t know where I’d get the words from.
I have to wait to do all these things though, the hour’s almost up, if I know Liz is okay, when I see her, everything will be better and I can do what I have to do with less worry.

****

Liz’s POV

When I wake up, I’m a little fuzzy on the details as to where I am and why I’m here, but in the time it takes for the nurse to get the doctor, the details big and small come rushing back to me.
I know why my body feels bruised and sore and why my heart hurts in the most sour of ways.

The doctor comes in. Dr. Harris. He’s nice enough, the nurse takes my vitals while he tells me what happened to me. I only have one question and even while I ask it, I know the answer but even in the darkest of situations, there’s always that irrational hope.

“And my baby?” I ask.

“I’m sorry…”.

And I can tell that he is.

“…there was too much damage, the wound was-”

“I get it,” I cut him off softly.

I’m cold all over, not outside but inside and my heart hurts not in that sour way anymore, but in that sense of loss that feels like someone cut a chunk of it out. And the tears, I can’t stop them form pouring out but even that’s not enough. The doctor and nurse give me some privacy as my mouth opens and thick sobs tumble out. The sobs wrack my body and that physical movement, that sensation, feels like something instead of the numbing ice I felt before.

I give myself this time to let go, to let just a bit of it out.
Then, I dry my tears, wipe away the grief, anger and hollow sense of loss from my face. I compartmentalise and put it away because I know that there’s a lot I need to do.

Max knows by now and he must be devastated, he’ll need me to be strong. And I have to be, for him and for Xan.
There’s a lot we’re going to go through and maybe after all of it, maybe then it’ll be safe to let go again.

When the doctor comes back in, I know what I have to do and go about making arrangement for it. He offers me drug induced sleep, advises me to rest because my body needs to recuperate.

“I understand that doctor, but I’ve had enough rest for what I need to do for now, after that, you can drug me up all you like. I’ll rest,” I promise him.

****

Maria’s POV

This whole situation seems unreal, like something I’d act in, not live in.
All eyes hit the door at the doctor’s entrance.

“She’s awake.”

I for one am relieved by that news. Even though we knew that she was alive before, knowing that she’s awake to talk and we can see her, does a lot for comfort.

“Can we see her?” asks Nancy.

“Of course, but don’t be too long and take it easy on her,” the doctor replies, “She’s still recovering and I want her to have more rest after the visits.”

“Okay. So who gets to see her first?” I ask, although we all know, but it needs to be said.

“Max can go,” Jeff replies.

“I’m sorry but he can’t,” interrupts Dr. Harris.

“Excuse me?” I ask.

“Mrs Evans has specified who she wants to see and as well as Mr Reed, Mr Evans isn’t allowed to see her,” he replies.

“What madness is this? He’s her husband!”, argues Michael.

“Damn straight he is,” I agree. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“I apologise but my loyalty lies with my patients’ wishes and if she doesn’t want to see her husband, I can’t come in the way of that,” he responds.

This is insane.

“Surely it would be alright for me to just see her-”

“I can’t do that Mr Evans, I’m sorry.”

To say we’re all stunned by the news is an understatement. Poor Max, he looks shell shocked.
He turns those lost and confused eyes on me. “She doesn’t want to see me,” he says dully, “why doesn’t she want to see me?”.

“I don’t know Max, but don’t worry, I’ll find out,” I promise.

I don’t know that the hell is going on with Liz, but she can’t do this to him.

****

She’s got colour in her cheeks now, but she’s a long way from being okay. I don’t know what to say, so I fall back on normal.

“What did you get yourself into this time Petunia?” I ask as I sit beside her.

The smile is small and doesn’t reach her eyes. “Well you know me Maria, can’t not have drama in my life. What do you know?”.

“All of it, Julian told Max.” At her and expression, I continue, “He told Max that he’s still in love with you and that crackpot Ashley figured that by killing you, she and Julian could live happily ever after.”

“That’s the edited version,” she says wryly, “but it’ll do.”

I grip her hand tightly, “That bitch is gonna fry in hell for this.”

“Let’s hope so. How’s Max?”.

So she does care.

“How do you think? Hurt, worried, confused. Why won’t you see him?” I ask.

“Because I need some space to deal with this on my own.”

“Liz, I know people need space even in marriage and that’s fine, but it’s all about ‘we’ now and you’ve cut him off. He’ll die without you,” I tell her.

“A bit melodramatic Maria, but I know what you mean. I know I’m hurting him but this is the only way I can deal with this.
I can’t afford to break down, not yet, not when there are police statements to make, the media to handle and no doubt court to prepare for.
I’m not keeping him away for good, I just can’t let him in just now because I’ll fall apart. He needs me not to do that, Xan needs me not to do that, so I can’t do that. Do you understand?”.

I hate that the people I care about are in a situation like this, I hate that she’s in pain.

“I get you, but this sucks all round and I’ll tell him, but promise me you won’t shut him out in this Liz. You need him, you know you do,” I tell her.

“I know, but he can’t go through the unedited version of what happened with me, it won’t do him any good.”

I notice that she doesn’t promise me that she won’t shut him out and because she looks suddenly so tired and pale, I don’t push her.

“I’m sorry about the baby,” I tell her.

She stills at that and carefully blanks her expression.

“It happened Maria, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Right.”

I can’t say it from first hand experience, but I don’t think that’s the usual response to these things and I’m way out of my depth on how to deal with it but I’ll do my best.

****

“How is she?”.

Max pounces on me a few feet from her door. I walk along the corridors with him.

“If I didn’t know her, I’d say she’s holding up well but I do, so I can say she’s holding on by a thick thread which will thin out over the next couple of days,” I tell him.

I can tell he’s itching to go to her and hold her in his arms. I remember her face when she talked about the baby.

“You can’t see her Max, she needs a little space. I know it sucks, she’s not happy about it either but-”

“You think she blames me?” he asks quietly.

I hold him to a stop. “Blames you for what?”.

“For not being there when she really needed me. I was at an airport planning to go a friggin press tour, when my wife and unborn child were being threatened at gun point. I’m wondering if she thought about me, called out for me in her mind, wished I was there to help and I wasn’t. I couldn’t help her.”

I wipe away the tears running down my cheeks. “It’s not your fault,” I tell him, “either of you. There is no way you could have known and it’s stupid to blame yourself or think that she blames you. Believe me, if she did, she’d be vocal about it, we both know that.”

That tugs a small laugh out of him. “You’re right. It’s just so hard not to be with her. I just want to see her, to touch her.”

I can almost hear the ping. I love light bulb moments. “I’ll take care of it,” I tell him.

****

Max’s POV

I don’t know what Maria said to get this done, but I’m thankful to have a friend like her. I sorted through the statements, spent time with Xan and came back to the hospital at Maria’s call.

She’s asleep now- drug induced- so she won’t be waking up anytime soon. I can touch her and just look at her and hold her hand, at least for a little while. I can talk to her and hope that somehow she’ll hear me.

“I love you Liz and I’m not going anywhere, I’m not leaving you alone even if you push me away. We’ll get through this together.”

I trace her features reverently. “I almost lost you today. We lost our baby and that’s hard enough, but I’m glad I didn’t lose you too.”

I lift her hand to my lips. “I’ll just stay here for a while.”
I link our fingers and rest our entwined hands against my cheek and watch her sleep.

****
TBC

AN: Hey all, I managed to get Tuesday's update done for today, so here it is.
Part 31 should be up by saturday at the latest.

VeronicB wrote: As coloradospace said there wasn't nearly enough "Julian beating"!!!

I know, but physically beating didn't seem right in the last part. In this part however...

You're all not happy with Liz keeping Max out, I'm not going to explain that, I'll just let it ride itself out in the fic

Realistic Dreamer wrote: I'm hoping that this story is not dreamer insured, because it's more than time for Max to get away from this dysfunctional woman. She's piled more hurt and pain on him in two years than anyone has a right to receive from someone who supposedly "loves" him.

Aww, I hope the way I write this, by the end you will have changed your mind about this, that I'll have somehow made Liz likeable again.


Thanks all for the feedback, it's been interesting reading. I can't wait what you all think of this next part...


PREVIOUSLY

“I love you Liz and I’m not going anywhere, I’m not leaving you alone even if you push me away. We’ll get through this together.”

I trace her features reverently. “I almost lost you today. We lost our baby and that’s hard enough, but I’m glad I didn’t lose you too.”

I lift her hand to my lips. “I’ll just stay here for a while.”
I link our fingers and rest our entwined hands against my cheek and watch her sleep.

****

Nice to meet you anyway - part 30b

Liz’s POV

I saw my baby today.
Not the one that had been growing inside me recently, who I’ll now never get to meet, but the one whose smile makes me smile back and really mean it. Just to have Xan in my arms relieves the chocking ache in my chest that I get when I’m left alone for too long with my thoughts.

Xan doesn’t prod or question, he’s my little ray of light and I needed that before facing making my police statement with Julian. He’s already made his, I’ve yet got to make mine but so that I don’t’ have to deal with him regarding our joint statement again, he’ll be here for mine and we’ll just corroborate after.

There’s a knock on the door before he enters looking… a little worse for wear.

“What happened?” I ask. I’m not concerned, he doesn’t deserve any of my concern, I’m just curious.

He rubs his jaw. “Just had a run in with your husband.”

“Good, you deserve it,” I tell him. He’s getting no pity from me.

“L.P-”

“Don’t call me that.” I back up into my bed as far as I can. I really don’t want him near me. “You’ve lost the right for terms of endearments with me Julian.”

He’s all apologies and regrets, I can see it in his body language and facial expression, but excuse me if I don’t give a damn.
I hate him.
Hate’s a strong word but it’s what I feel for him sometimes. Other times I just feel nothing, like I wouldn’t care if he lived or died. The Julian who stands before me now is not the same man I knew all those years ago, or maybe he’s always been like this but I didn’t know him long enough back then to find out.

“I just want to clear something up with you now. I’ll accept the fact that we have to be in the same room together and interact with each other through this whole nightmare, but we’re not friends. After this we never will be. There is nothing that you can say or do that will ever make this right Jules. You’ve been lying to me for over a year! And the feelings you have for me?…”

"Just when he's about to come, he looks into my eyes, kisses me and then ruins it all by whispering your name when he thinks I can't hear. He sleeps with me, pretending it's you.”

I shake the memory away. “…They’re not healthy, in fact, they scare me. I’m not healthy for you-”

“Liz, I-”

“I know you’re not all to blame for this. You didn’t pull the trigger, but what you did in that relationship- I never want you near me or my family again after this. No phone calls, no presents, no nothing. Just walk away or I’ll find people to make you, but if you genuinely care about my well-being, you’ll respect my wishes and just go.”

“I deserve that, I deserve all you said and I promise you Liz, Ashley will pay for what she did to you one way or another. And if after all we get through, if you still want me to walk away, I will.”

There is nothing he could do after this that will make me still want him to be a part of my life.

“I wanna believe you Julian, but your truth telling record hasn’t been very good so far, so I’ll believe it when it happens,” I tell him.

And if it doesn’t, you can bet your ass that I’ll do everything legally possible to keep you away.

There’s another knock on the door. It’s the detectives assigned to our case. I take a deep steadying breath and look across the room to find Julian watching me. That used to give me comfort, now…not so much.

He crosses the room to my bed and lifts a questioning eyebrow. “You ready?”.

I used to find that charmingly arrogant…now, not so much.

“Let’s just get this over with and don‘t touch me,” I snap, snatching my hand from under his.

****



Max’s POV

“Max, will you stop that pacing? It’s driving me nuts,” Noah complains.

I glance at him and realise that he’s just as angry as I am except, he’s tense and sitting down while I’m prowling the door in front of Liz’s room.

“Sorry man, but I just can’t sit still knowing that he’s in there with her and that she has to go through this without me.”

“And you’re pissed about that too,” he adds after a beat.

“Damn right I am!”, I hiss, “She’s got no right to do this to me,” I growl out.

The hurt of Liz shutting me out has evolved into anger and I’m riding that emotion like a perfect wave.

“Giving Julian that well deserved beat down didn’t help I guess,” he dryly comments.

I accidentally swung at him and connected with his jaw while he was dragging me off Julian.

“Sorry about the jaw man,” I apologise again.

“Don’t worry about it, ‘injured in the line of duty’. You did the right thing, that guy has no respect for what you and Liz have.”

I nod at the grim memory. No one had told me that Liz had lifted his ban for today, or that she was giving her statement with him. I had to find out from Noah, who came for post-statement support for her. I was frustrated that I didn’t even know what’s going on with my own wife and then Julian strolled down the hallway with that smugness in his eyes and glee in his voice.

“She banned you and I from seeing her, but today, she’s letting me in and still leaves you out in the cold. What do you that says about you Max?”.

The idea that Liz could be seeing me and him in the same light pushed me over the edge. I thought ‘screw the fact that he’s still recovering from a gunshot wound’ and went to work on his face and any other area I could ram my fist into. He landed in a few blows but wasn’t any match for my anger, hate and frustration.

The hallways were quiet and Noah stepped back to let me do what I had to do and only stepped in when he thought I was heading into putting Julian in a hospital bed. I’m grateful to the guy for taking a bullet for my wife, but that doesn’t negate the fact that he’s a sleazy, slime ball who’s still obsessed with her. I couldn’t stand it if after all that’s happened, Liz lets him back into our lives.

I freeze at the door opening; the two detectives come out and pause to acknowledge my presence.

“It’s done?” I ask.

“Yes, she’s just taking a few minutes out with Mr. Reed.”

My jaw will no doubt be sore from the way I’m grinding my teeth but so be it. If she’s smiling and laughing with that bastard-

The door opens a second time and said bastard comes through. Oh and look at that, he’s a whole lot less smug than he was going in.

He waits until the detectives round the corner away from us.

“Look Max, I know we’re not on the best of terms right now-”

Noah’s snort cuts him off. I bite back the urge to smile.

“…but, I will help Liz get justice.”

Now that, I believe. He loves her be it in a twisted unrequited way, so he will get her that.

“And after that?” I query.

That little almost gloating sparkle is back in his eyes. “We’ll see what we seem it’s up to Liz.”

Okay, take a breath Max-
If she takes him back-
And another one.
And- you know what?…fuck this.

I shove past him, shove open her door, step in and slam it behind me. Her startled eyes meet mine and in them, I can see her concern as she takes in my hollow eyed, messed up appearance. Sleepless nights and running worried hands through my hair aren’t exactly conducive to looking good.

“Max-”

My raised hand interrupts her. “You shut me out Liz.” I come to a halt at the foot of her bed. “And then let him of all people in here!”.

“I know I shut you out and you have every right to be angry- okay pissed, enraged,” she amends at my expression, “but I needed some space from you to get a hold of myself to handle this.”

I resist the urge to kick something.

“You’re not supposed to be handling this alone. I’m here,” I tell her.

“But you weren’t there Max!…”

I flinch at the underlying accusation in her words.

“…you don’t know what happened in detail, you can’t help me with that.”

“So tell me, so I can help you now,” I plead.

She heaves a tired sigh and with it, the energy to fight with me. “That’s why I didn’t want to see you before, because I know I’d tell you…but I couldn’t, I can’t because I didn’t want to have to end up getting a lawyer to defend my husband for murder.”

Equally drained, I make my way to her side. “That bad?”.

“I’ll tell you later.” Her carefree comment and smile calms my adrenaline quivering muscles.

She shifts aside to give me room to sit on the bed next to her facing her. Our fingers find each other and naturally start to play with each other while we look on in silence.

She’s awake, she’s here, she’s whole.

It takes a load of effort to keep myself composed as waves of various emotions swamp over me hard and fast.

“I’m still mad,” I tell her when I’m confident to speak again.

“I know.”

I look up at her, her eyes bright and shimmering, I pull her into my arms. I need to hold her, feel her heart pounding against mine and finally, I break.
My movements must surprise her at first, that would account for her initial stiffness before sighing into my hold and wrapping her arms around me.

“I was so scared,” I murmur against her hair.

Her fingers soothingly trail through my hair. “Hey, I’m here, I’m alive, I’m okay now.”

I’m desperate for her words to give me peace, but I know deep down that even though she’s alive, she’s far from okay.

****

****

Liz’s POV

“Can’t you bust me out of here? Pretty please Max?”, I pout.

He shakes his head solemnly. “Doc’s orders Liz, you’re body’s been through enough trauma what with the shooting and surgery. Just a couple more days.”

It’s hard to admit it, especially when I’m trying very hard not to, but him just being around lightens my load.
He’s sleeping better now that I’ve lifted the ban from him. We talk, just not about the baby I lost or about Julian. We don’t talk about how, I while stupidly trying to think the best of a person- second chances and all, I catastrophically ruined not only my life but more importantly his life. Max doesn’t deserve any of this pain.

I shouldn’t have stayed with him, but I love him and all that’s brought him is pain. If I just left him alone, even if Ashley had come along, at least then, she could have killed me instead of my baby. I deserved it, that innocent life didn’t.
I can’t talk about any of those things with him, not yet.

Julian’s still banned and so far, he’s staying away. Any further contact we’ve had, has been through each of our representative, it’s working well so far.

“Will you be okay with going back to the house?” he asks.

“Wondering if I’ll freak out at the sight I got pumped with lead?” I tease.

He grimaces at that. “Not funny Liz.”

I keep forgetting that my survivor’s humour doesn’t sit well with him. “I’m sorry. I can say right now that I’ll be find, but I don’t know how I’ll react on seeing it all again. I will tell you this, I love our living room area, I’ve got good memories of us there, I’m not gonna let this one thing mar them all. That bitch is trying to get off with temporary insanity,” I fume, finally bursting out with the one thing that’s been driving me crazy since I found out.

“She is crazy,” he comments.

“Yeah, but there was nothing temporary about it. Everything she did was calculated and definitely premeditated. She had it all planned, how she’d act after, what she’s say, so that she’d get off with only serving some time ‘cause she’s not the usual criminal is she?
There is one good thing about Julian in this and it’s that he won’t let her get away with it. His out for her blood and I’m not gonna stop him from getting it.”

The haze of anger and bitterness clears from my head and I realise that I’m squeezing Max’s hand painfully tight. I loosen my hold, only to have him grip it back so tight that my eyes shoot across to his in surprise.

“I’m okay. I’ll deal Max.”

“We’ll deal, Liz.”

I wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger and I wasn’t the one who stayed with a guy obsessed with another girl.
I did tell obsessed guy that I only wanted to be friends, I made it clear. I kept him in our life, I did that. Which means I helped make this mess.

Max shouldn’t have to clean it up, but he’s not going to let me do this my way.
A part of me, is glad that he won’t and the other part’s scared to have to let go of the only method that’s worked for me before. He sees that, I know he does and he’s such a jerk for it too.

“You close me out, you push me away Liz, I won’t stand for it. I won’t go.” He lifts my left hand to his, kisses each finger and lingers on my ring finger, on the promises and vows we made.

We’re married. That means I should be handling things different, but I’m not sure how and I can’t bring myself to ask.

He sears me with the concrete certainty in his eyes. “You push and I’ll push back.”

My breath catches in my throat at that, all I can do is nod.

He’ll push back.
That’s what frightens me about him.
That’s exactly what some part of me is hoping for.

****

Max’s POV

Being hospitalised - no matter how many flowers, balloons or cards and company you keep - affects a person. Add on the stress of preparing for the trial and strategising with Julian and his lawyers and you’ve got a very restless, tired and bored Liz.
I’m grateful for Xan, he makes her happy…seems to be the only person that brings light into her eyes.

The doctors have told me that she’s having a delayed reaction to the ordeal. After having a few mandatory sessions, she has refused to see a therapist.
Leslie has even given me a ‘I know you’re frustrated but be gentle with her’ pep-talk. They’ve told me that her mindset’s pretty fragile, so I shouldn’t push her with anything, that I should let her come to me.

I’ll follow that advice for a few days, but they don’t know Liz. It isn’t about her not trusting me anymore, it’s about how she deals with things. As one of the past problems she’s had to deal with, I know how she works. When she’s fragile, she’s stoic, detached and all about thinking logically and rationally.
She’s stubbornly good at it too…that’s gonna have to change.

****

She’s fine at home, she deals with being there, aside from the occasional spark of fear in her eyes. She makes conversation with me, but it’s almost like she’s going through the motions, like part of her has left me.

The shocker comes after we put Xan to bed and she tells me that she’d rather sleep alone in one of the guest bedrooms instead of our bed in our room. That silences me in two, but I let her.

“Goodnight Max,” she murmurs before kissing me goodnight on the cheek and leaves me alone to think about her.

She’s all I think about until her screams jolt me from my bed. I do a quick check to make sure Xan’s okay. He’s sound asleep, that boy can sleep through an earthquake I tell you.

I burst into her room to find her thrashing around tangled in her sheets. She’s crying and pleading for someone not to hurt her, not to hurt her baby. Swallowing the lump that forms in my throat, I make my way over to her, turn on her bed-side lamp and gather her in my arms.
She struggles against me, pushing me away, but I hold onto her.

“Liz, Liz baby, wake up, it’s just a dream,” I softly tell her.

She doesn’t hear me, the first time or the second, but eventually, I break through the darkness she sees and she finally settles down, opens her eyes to find me.

“Max.” She buries herself in my chest.

“Ssh, it’s okay. I’m here.” I pull her shivering, sweaty form closer to me, for her sake as well as mine and rock her to peace.

When her breathing levels out, she breaks away from me and quickly wipes her eyes clean as if all of a sudden, realises that she isn’t supposed to fall apart.

“Xan?” she asks.

“Blissfully asleep,” I reply carefully watching her movements.

“I’m sorry that-”

“Don’t be. Not about this.”

She just looks at me, her eyes dark and confused. I want to shake her, tell her it’s okay to be vulnerable, but she’s had enough for tonight.

“I’m fine now. I disturbed you, you can go back.”

Not on your life.

“I can, but I won’t,” I respond.

“Max-”

I shake my head dismissing her protests. “I’m not leaving you alone Liz, you won’t share our bed, that’s fine. I’ll share yours.”

My heart constricts when she doesn’t fight me on it, she just stares at me with a blank expression and then slides back in the covers and turns off the light.
I sit there in momentary shock that she made it that easy. She sleeps with her back to me, I slide in next to her, put my arm around her and shift closer until she’s pressed against me. Again, she doesn’t fight me on this and that worries me.

****

I don’t sleep until I’m certain she is and before I do, I plant a goodnight kiss on her head and wonder if above the loud piercing cries of her pain, if she can hear mine.

****

Liz’s POV

I can’t believe last night happened. I have nightmares, but not that bad. I was doing so well, then that bitch of a nightmare comes along. It was of the shooting again, except both Julian and Ashley were trying to kill me. It was a riot, fun for the whole family-oh wait, part of my family is dead.

And Max stayed.
He’s too much in love with me to leave me alone, which is why I’ve gotta get a handle on these nightmares, I can’t keep pulling him into this.

A hot shower is just what I need to renew the focus I lost when I woke up with him next to me. Before I broke and let my heart have its way, I slipped him a thanks and hightailed it to the ensuite shower.

I’ve got to keep it together, breaking down won’t help anyone. I have to put aside grieving and everything else and just deal.
I don’t know if he knows that I know, but Max, he’s in pain.
He didn’t get the chance to celebrate the pregnancy- my fault again- and he’ll never get to know his son or daughter. Me crying, thinking about how I feel and screaming at all hours of the night can’t help. The least I can do is help put away the woman who pulled the trigger of death.

Okay Liz, take a breath. A day at a time as always, you can do it.

I turn off the water, turn and freeze.

I thought he’d have gone back to our room, but he must have followed me in here. He’s sitting on the edge of the bath tub opposite just watching me. I can’t decipher the look in his eyes as he approaches the glass doors but, it has an accelerating effect on my pulse rate.
My breathing shallows as I watch him slide open the door.
I should move or say something, but can’t seem to do either. I just watch him…hold out a towel for me.

I blink at it several times as if it’s a foreign object, before I take it and automatically go about wrapping it around my body. He steps aside to let me pass, I take the opportunity to flee.

****

When I’m back in my room, I’ve got goose-bumps and it’s not because I’m cold.
I can tell he’s followed me back in here, I have no idea what his game is or why he’s doing this, but it has to stop.

Confident that I’ve got a handle on the situation, I turn, open my mouth to tell him to go, but my words are muffled by the pressure of his mouth on mine. I lift my hands to his shoulders to push him away, but of their own accord, they circle around his neck, slide down to his back and press his hard body against me.

I should stop. I should pull away, but the taste of him. I’ve missed this. I can’t stop.
I let him persuade and seduce me with his mouth and his clever tongue. I drown in the dizzying heights he takes me with his mouth. Heat for heat, I give back and somehow, in that frantic giving and receiving, the edges of the sharpest cuts of grief and pain fall away.

When he breaks away, I wonder how I’m still standing.

Bewildered: Extremely confused.
That’s Max right now.

Find the words.
Find the words.
Open your mouth and say them.

“Max-”

He presses his index finger against my lips to silence me. Still thirsty for him, I shift my lips and slowly suck his finger in and out of my mouth.

“Liz,” he growls and captures my lips again for a vicious probing kiss that has nothing to do with comfort and a lot to do with desire.

Pressing me against his tense and alert body, he drags his lips away from mine and lifts my hand, palm up to his lips.

“I’ll go check on Xan.” With that, he steps out and walks out of the room.

I stare after him carefully closing and open my eyes but this time, the tears can’t be tucked away.
As they stream down my flushed cheeks and the taste of him still lingers in my mouth, something sweet and soothing shifts in my heart.

****
TBC