Roswell Fanatics

Title: A Different Kind of Life
Rating: TEEN
Couple: M/L
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell we’d still have a show to watch.
Summary: Response to Ripley Rip Tide’s challenge.

Prologue

Max Evans strode confidently down the halls of West Roswell high. He looked for his target and zoomed in on it. He hadn’t seen her all day and was anxious to.

As if sensing eyes on her she turned around. His anxiousness turned to concern when he saw her face. There was something wrong and he knew it.

“Liz?” He asked drawing her away from Isabel, her best friend.

“Can we go somewhere and talk, Max?” She asked quietly.

“Sure.” The earlier confidence was drained from him. His instincts warned him that something was terribly wrong. “Where do you wanna go?” He asked taking her hand.

She gripped it tight and looked up into his eyes. “The desert, I guess somewhere where we can talk alone?”

“Alright. Come one.” He led her to his jeep. He made sure she was seated and stood there looking at her their hands folded together in his lap.

“Is everything ok?” He asked softly, pushing the hair out of her eyes.

She started to shake her head yes then changed it to a no tears starting to run down her cheeks. “Can we go?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He ran around the jeep drove out to the bare desert.

Once there he helped her climb down and led her to a quiet spot under a tree where they had spent most of their time together during the summer.

He spread a blanket down on the ground and wrapped his arms around her. “What’s wrong?” She snuggled into his arms and remained quiet.

“Liz?” She asked.

“Shh, Max.” She silenced him.

Max recognized that she wanted silence and waited even though he was beside himself with worry.

“Max, do you love me?” She asked hesitantly.

Caught off guard Max had to think about that one for a second. “I care about you, over time it’s come closer to love.” He stated carefully, knowing they were both touchy about the subject.

“That’s what I feel about you.” She clarified.

“Ok, Liz what are you getting at?” Max asked.

“Max, I’m getting to it.” She said and took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

“Come again?” He said shocked.

“I’m pregnant.” She said turning to look at him.

He stood up quietly and paced. “Max?” She asked curling up into a tiny ball on the blanket.

“I don’t know what to say.” He stopped and looked down at her.

“Are you angry?” She asked.

He paused again. “I don’t know.”

He sat back down and she scooted away from him. “Don’t move away from me, Liz.” He said in a strangled whisper.

She gladly scooted closer. “Tell me what you feel, Max?” She asked hesitantly.

“I feel shocked, afraid, happy, and I am angry, but not at you, at myself.” He took her in his arms.

“You’re happy about this?” Liz asked shocked.

“Yeah, it’s kind of exciting knowing we created a child. I could never be upset over it.”

“That’s how I feel.” She said with a smile on her face. “What are we going to do?” She asked turning serious.

“Is marriage an option?” He asked uncertainly.

“It can be.” She said, “there’s also adoption.”

“I don’t like that option.” He shook his head.

“I don’t either, there’s one more, but we’re not considering it.” She said looking him straight in the eye.

“No, we’re not.” He looked her right in they eye to show he supported her.

“Alright, adoption.” She said her hand and eyes drifting down to her tummy.

“I don’t like that one either.” Max told her.

Liz was quietly shook her head.

“Marriage then?” He sighed.

“It won’t be so horrible, will it?” She pulled out of his arms and faced him.

“I don’t think so.” He shook his head.

“We have to tell our parents.” Liz looked at her hands.

“I know. We’ll just sit here for a while, just us two, well, three?” He asked pulling her back into her arms.

“I like that idea.” She nodded and rested against him once more.

TBC?

Title: A Different Kind of Life
Rating: TEEN
Couple: M/L
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell we’d still have a show to watch.
Summary: Response to Ripley Rip Tide’s challenge

Part 1

Liz sat at her vanity finishing her hair. She had finally fought off her morning sickness but the nausea was still making itself apparent.

The door creaked open and she glanced in the mirror to see who it was. She sat her brush down, “Hello, Mother.”

“Elizabeth.” She nodded.

Nancy Parker came up behind her daughter and picked up the brush. Liz flinched when her mother began brushing her hair.

“Elizabeth, I haven’t pulled your hair since you were a young child.” Her mother said offended.

“Maybe because you haven’t touched my hair since I was a young child.” Liz pulled the brush away.

“Elizabeth, I feel as if, you’re pulling away.” She stated finally.

“I was never close to you.” She met her eyes in the mirror.

Nancy let out a small gasp of hurt. “I suppose I haven’t been the best mother, over your life, but you know you can still tell me things, correct?” She asked.

Liz smiled sweetly. “What would I have to tell you mother?”

“Well, anything at all, I suppose.” She said.

“I have nothing.” She said easily. Trying to prevent her hand from covering her stomach.

“Alright.” She stood up exasperated.

“Have a good day at school, Elizabeth.” She exited.

“It’s Saturday, Mother.” She said before she shut the door.

Her maid bustled in the room. “Did she harass you?”

“No, Mayella.” She smiled at the maid that had been with her since she was a child. “Has Max called this morning?”

“No, not yet, Liz.” She smiled stroking her hair. “Let me do it for old time sakes, no?”

“Alright.” Liz consented and handed her the brush.

****

“Come in, Max.” Nancy Parker shuffled Max into the parlor.

“Good morning, Mrs. Parker. May I speak with Liz?” He asked.

“Yes, Elizabeth,” she emphasized the proper name, “is here.”

“Mayella, will you get her please?” She asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” She excused herself to go find Liz.

“So, Max, how are you doing these days?” She asked.

The Evans and the Parkers were the most influential and wealthiest families in Roswell. A marriage to bring the families together had been long in coming, yet none had been so perfect as Max and Elizabeth. They had never been anything more than friends. Until this past year, their Junior year in high school. They finally took a step forward, and everything was going perfectly.

“Good.” Max answered. He was all too aware of the plan between his parents and Liz’s.

“Good morning, Max.” Liz entered the room.

“Good morning, Liz.” He looked down at her, his eyes scanning her condition.

“I’m fine.” She assured him.

“Are you two going out?” Nancy inquired.

“Yes, Mother, don’t expect me home till this evening.” She to her mom more than asked.

“Don’t forget, we’re having the Evan’s over for dinner tonight.” She smiled.

“I won’t.” She said. How could she? She had been dreading it all night and it had kept her up half the night. She knew she should have slept better the night before. Tonight was going to take a huge toll on her strength.

“Are you ready?” Max asked pulling Liz into his side away from her mother’s icy stare.

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Goodbye, Mrs. Parker.” Max called. Liz left without saying anything.

****

Max paced in front of his mirror. He had taken Liz home early because she had looked tired and admitted to not sleeping well the night before. He made sure she had fallen asleep before he left for his house.

“Max, you seem extra nervous tonight.” Isabel stepped into the room unannounced as usual.

“Yeah.” He said not answering her.

She walked over to the closet. Max watched her carefully. She pulled out a couple of shirts and he groaned.

“Which shirt?” She held them up to him.

“What’s wrong with the one I have on?” He asked. He thought he looked ok.

“You already wore that today and Mrs. Parker saw you in it. You have to change. Liz will have changed into a dress as well.”

“Why haven’t you changed?” He asked taking the black shirt from her hand.

“If you haven’t noticed. I was wearing a pink dress earlier, the color I am wearing now is blue. Max that’s kindergarten work.” She said while making his shirt was ironed and laid right.

“Isabel, this shirt was just ironed.” He said annoyed.

“I know.” She stepped back. “OK, you’re good.” She gave him the ok.

“Thank you, princess.” He said sarcastically.

“That’s right.” She nodded before leaving.

He sat down on the bed to think and calm his nerves before they headed over to the Parkers, where he and Liz would drop their bomb.

“Max don’t you dare sit down on that bed.” She called through the door.

“Go away!” He called through the door. Sometimes his baby sister really got on his nerves.

“Fine.” He heard her footfalls down to her own room where she slammed the door.

He took a deep before standing up and opening his door. He had a long night ahead of him and he had to be the strong one to comfort Liz, whom he knew was going to need it, even more than he.

TBC

A/N: Sorry it took so long for the next part to come out! If I want to continue writing fanfics my grades need to come up or I won’t be allowed on the computer anymore for anything more than homework, so I’m not going to be around as much, but I’ll try to get up a post at least every weekend, if I can manage more I will.
Mattie

Title: A Different Kind of Life
Rating: TEEN
Couple: M/L
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell we’d still have a show to watch.
Summary: Response to Ripley Rip Tide’s challenge

Part 2

“Nancy, it’s good to see you.” Diane Evans entered the foyer of the Parker residence.

“You two, Max and Isabel come on in.” Nancy shuffled the three inside.

“It’s a pity the men had a meeting in Albuquerque.” Diane commented her husband’s absence.

”I know, Jeff said he’ll try to fly home before this little get together is over.” Nancy laughed. Both parents actually worked in Albuquerque but being the model parents, set up home a few hours away in Roswell, where the kids could grow up in a nice quaint little town.

“Max.” Liz said relieved as they walked into the parlor.

“Hey, Liz.” He pulled her to his side once she was in arms reach.

Diane and Nancy watched the two together happily.

Noticing, they pulled slightly away from each other.

“Let’s eat, shall we?” Nancy ushered them into the dining room.

Liz sat next to Max. She looked at the food and then looked like she was ready to pass out.

“Are you ok?” Max whispered in her ear.

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder for a minute. Then she leaned up to whisper in his ear. “I don’t think I’m going to eat very much tonight. I can’t stomach it.” She said nervously.

“Are you feeling alright, Elizabeth dear?” Diane asked worriedly.

“Yes, Mrs. Evans.” Liz sat up. “I’ve, not been feeling well the past few days.”

Max rubbed her hand under the table until she flipped her hand over and linked her fingers through his.

“You wanna go lie down?” He asked her quietly.


“No.” She shook her head.

“Alright.” Max said and went back to eating his dinner.

Halfway though the dinner Jeff Parker and Phillip Evans arrived. Liz tensed at having to tell both parents at one time but later felt it was smarter than one set at a time.

****

The party retired to the parlor once more. Liz sat close to Max. If she had been any closer she would have been on his lap.

He massaged her lower back, relaxing her for a time he knew was not going to be relaxing.

Liz was looking paler by the minute.

“Elizabeth, sweetie, why don’t you go upstairs and lay down?” Her mother said almost concerned.

“No.” She shook her head and laid her head on Max’s shoulder.

“Are you sure?” She asked.

“Yes. Max, can I speak with you for a moment?” She said standing up. Max was up on his feet in a second.

“Yes.”

“What is it?” He asked once they were out of earshot of the parlor.

“We have to tell them fast.” Liz said urgently. “I can’t wait much longer, Max. It’s making me nervous and I don’t think that’s good for the baby.” She pushed her face into his chest.

“Alright.” He stroked her hair. “Let’s go back and tell them.” He said and turned around and stopped when he saw Isabel.

“Tell them what?” Isabel folded her arms.

“Nothing, Isabel.” He said annoyed.

“What, I’m not letting you go back in there without you telling me first.” She planted herself firmly in front of them.

“I’m pregnant.” Liz said just to get it over with. She buried herself in Max’s chest.

“That’s what I thought.” Isabel shrugged. “You could have told me before.”

“You knew?” Max said pulling Liz closer. If Isabel knew, how much did the parents know?

“Yes.” She smiled. “Hey, I’m behind you all they guys.” She hugged them both. “What are you going to do?” She asked casually.

“Get married.” Max told her.

“Ok, when?” Isabel was going to be a total help.

“Isabel aren’t you a little too excited?” He asked.

“Well, I’m going to be an aunt I am entitled to a little happiness aren’t they.”

“Let’s tell the parents first? Then we’ll see.” Max was relieved that they had at least one ally.

Satisfied, they both turned to reenter the parlor.

****

The room was silent. Liz shifted closer to Max. The parents were stunned.

“Come again?” Jeff Parker broke the silence.

“I’m pregnant, Dad.” She said with a little more confidence.

Silence. Dead Silence.

“Say something, Somebody?” She asked.

“What do you expect us to say? You go off, you date this guy for what six months, and now you’re pregnant. What are the people at the country club going to think.”

“Mother does the country club really matter?” Liz asked stunned.

“Elizabeth, you really have no idea what this means.” Her father stood up and paced. He shot an angry glare at Max.

“What do you two plan to do?” Diane spoke finally.

“Get married.” Max answered his mother.

“No.” All four couples said at the same time.

“Why not?” Isabel said, speaking at last. “You four have wanted them married for years once you found out they were the right age.” All parents turned their glare on her.

“Yes, we know, we’re not stupid. So what if it’s a little early?” Isabel shrugged.

“No, absolutely not.” Nancy Parker spoke up. “You, will not have this baby, Elizabeth.”

“What do you mean by that?” She asked as her hand flew down to cover her tummy.

“You will not have this baby, end of discussion.” Nancy said firmly.

“Mother, if you’re saying that-“ Nancy cut her off.

“You know what I’m saying. I’ll make an appointment with the doctor.” She said easily as if it were a flu shot.

“No.” Both Liz and Max answered.

Diane could tell her son was becoming angry with the discussion and she was not about to allow her grandchild to be terminated. “Well, there are other options for you two.”

“Like what, Diane?” Nancy and Jeff asked.

“There’s always adoption.” She said calmly.

“No, do you know what this baby will do to Elizabeth’s reputation. What it will do to Parker Inc. To Evans Firm?” Jeffrey Parker said getting angrier. “The whole country will think that my daughter’s loose, or easy.”

“Well maybe she is.” Phillip Evans stated.

Jeff Parker stood up.

“And maybe she isn’t.” Phillip continued evenly. “No one but us will know. We can arrange a private adoption, no one will ever have to know.” He said easily. “You never know what the possibilities are when a lawyer’s child get pregnant.”

“No.” Liz said quietly. “I’m keeping this baby.”

“We’re keeping it.” Max put his arm around her in support.

“Elizabeth, you can’t. How are you supposed to go to college? How are you supposed to go on with your life?” Nancy Parker begged.

“No, I’m n-not giving u-up my b-baby, I c-can’t.” She said trying to hold in the sobs.

“You can and you will, Elizabeth.” Nancy left the room too angry to speak anymore.

“Your mother’s right.” Jeff said. “It’s going either way, Elizabeth, you pick.” He too left the room.

Liz turned to Max who lifted her into her lap where she could successfully curl into him.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered.

“Don’t be.” She said quietly, waiting for the wrath of the Evans.

“I think that it’s your choice, kids, well, Max and Liz. Whichever you want to do. We’re support you with adoption, but not marriage. You are too young. Give the baby up, there will be others.” Diane said quietly.

“Others!” Max broke out. “Others, won’t matter compared to this one. Each one is an individual. You of all people should know that, Mother.”

“Don’t speak to your mother that way.” Phillip stood up and pulled Diane up with him. “Elizabeth, I’m sure you don’t want to stay here tonight, you’re welcome at our house.” He said before leaving. Diane following quickly.

That’s how their parents always left, no goodbyes, nothing.

“Come on, Liz. Come to our house.” Isabel said. “You don’t even have to change, you can borrow some of my pajamas for the night.”

“Alright.” She held on as Max stood up and cuddled her close in his arms.

“I love you, Max.” She whispered against his neck. It was something she needed to say along time ago, but never found the courage. She felt it was the right time now.

Max just swallowed and acted as if he hadn’t heard the comment.

TBC

Hope that makes up for the shorter part!
[/b]

b]Title: A Different Kind of Life[/b]
Rating: TEEN
Couple: M/L
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell we’d still have a show to watch.
Summary: Response to Ripley Rip Tide’s challenge

Part 3

Liz woke up it was still dark outside but it was 5:30.

She rolled over into Max’s embrace before she realized the morning sickness was going to hit.

She jumped out of the bed and to the connecting bathroom in the next minute.

Max was less than two seconds behind her.

“You ok?” He asked leaning against the door of the bathroom.

“Go away.” She told him.

“Why?” He asked pushing off and making his way toward her.

“Please, Max. I want to be alone.” Her face turned pale again and she leaned into the toilet, only dry heaves.

“I’ll be back.” He turned and left the room.

Relieved Liz let the tears run. She hated being this way. When she was a little girl she rarely was sick and now it came every morning. She was terrified of it. Her nanny had always been there to help her.

“Elizabeth, calm down.” She felt a cold cloth on her forehead.

Diane Evans’ voice was calming. “Lean against me, Sweetheart.” She directed.

Giving in, Liz rested against her. “It’s never been this bad before.” She said.

“You had a hard evening. Just take long, calming breathes.”

Liz did as she was told. “I’m sorry.”

“No, Elizabeth.”

Max stood uneasily in the doorway.

“Are you ready to go back to bed?” Diane asked.

“Can I wash up first?”

“Of course.” Diane handed her a washcloth where she sponged off and pulled her hair in a bun to keep it off her face.

“There, you go. Call if you need anything else.” Diane handed Liz off to Max.

“Thank you, Mom.” Max said before attending to Liz.

“Are you ok?” Concern etched on his face.

She started to nod her head yes then quickly turned to a no. “I’m going to be sick.”

She went back into the bathroom shutting the door in his face.

“Leave her be, Max. She wants to be alone.” Isabel said.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because she does. If she wanted you in there, the door would be open.” Isabel explained. “She’ll come out when she’s done.”

She sat in the recliner in Max’s room. “I’ll wait here with you.”

“Thank you.” He said gratefully. “For everything, Isabel.”

“You’re welcome.” She curled up and went back to sleep.

Max paced in front of the door.

“Max.” The call was faint within the bathroom.

He opened the door. “Help me, Max.” She said quietly not looking at him.

“Liz, you’re hot.” He felt her forehead.

“I’m freezing.” She curled up in a ball. “This is more than morning sickness, Max.”

“Come here.” He lifted her in his arms.

“Isabel, go get mom.” He carried her.

”Liz, what’s wrong?” Isabel woke quickly.

“She’s sick, go get mom.”

Diane came quickly back into the room.

“Max, we’ll take her to the Urgent Care Center. Come on.”

“I don’t have anything to wear.” Liz fought.

“It doesn’t matter. Come on, Max, carry her.”

Max obliged.

****

“What can I do for you this fine morning, Ma’am?” The receptionist asked.

“We need to see a doctor. My son’s girlfriend is sick.”

The receptionist looked up. “Oh, Mrs. Evans.” She said surprised. “What’s wrong with Elizabeth?”

Diane cursed silently. The Parkers and the Evans were known by everyone in town, the pregnancy would be public knowledge within days.

“Just let me see the doctor.” She said shortly.

”Alright, it’ll be a fifteen minute wait.” She handed her a clipboard. “You have to fill this out.”

She snorted and went and sat next to Max and Liz. “Elizabeth, you have to fill this out, then we’ll call your parents.”

“No.” She tucked herself into the safety of Max’s side as she took the clipboard.

“I’ll do it.” Max said gently removing it from her hands.

Ten minutes later, they were called into the room. The MA”s eyes grew huge when she looked at Liz’s papers.

“Here you go, Mrs. Evans, Elizabeth.” She said looking astonished.

“If you know what’s good for you, young lady,” Mrs. Evans threatened. “You’ll keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes, Mrs. Evans.” She nodded.

“Hello, Elizabeth.” The doctor walked in.

“Dr. Yule.” She nodded. She was pale and weak, and she wanted Max but he had declined to come into the examination room with her.

“Elizabeth, what have you been feeling?” He asked softly.

“Like I have the flu.” She said simply she lay back on the examination table and closed her eyes. “I’m tired, and cold, and I ache everywhere, and I’m pregnant.”

“I know. Have you been putting a lot of stress on yourself, lately?” He asked while taking her temperature.

Diane answered for her. “Her and Max told us about the baby yesterday.”

“Was there yelling?” He asked.

“Yes, and tension.” Diane said.

“That would do it. She’s not to be stressed, Mrs. Evans, you should know that. She’s young, and she’s a petite girl. She’s also early in pregnancy. Elizabeth, open your eyes.” He slipped the thermometer out of her mouth.

She groaned and turned over.

“Oh, my.” He said looking at the thermometer. 101.1.” He said aloud.

“What?” Diane jumped out of her chair.

“I suggest taking her to the ER.” The doctor said.

“Elizabeth, can you stand up?” Diane asked.

She moaned and rolled over.

“Max!” She called out the door. Max came around the corner.

“What?” He said worriedly.

“Carry her to the car. We have to go to the ER, Isabel, call Mr. and Mrs. Parker.”

Liz felt safe and content in his arms. She realized some of the pain went away.

“Max, please help me?” She asked. She felt as if he were the only one that could. He was getting distant. “Talk to me, Max. Stay with me? Don’t leave.” She said almost frantically. It was getting darker, fuzzier.

He stretched a smile down at her. “We’re taking you to the hospital now, Liz, you and the baby are going to be ok.”

“Hurry.” She said before she slid under the cover of darkness.

TBC

b]Title: A Different Kind of Life[/b]
Rating: TEEN
Couple: M/L
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell we’d still have a show to watch.
Summary: Response to Ripley Rip Tide’s challenge


Liz fought to pull herself from the darkness. She heard the voices around her but couldn’t quite place them.

“Liz, wake up.” Someone was calling her.

She tried to move her head but it was so heavy. “Max?” She said the first name that entered her mind.

“I’m here.” He said quickly.

“Good.” She went back under.

Max cursed silently noticing her loss of consciousness.

“Max, will you leave her be for a while?” The doctor asked.

“No.” He sat down in a chair. “Will she and the baby be ok?” He asked again.

“We don’t know, Max. She probably will be, it’s up in the air about the baby.” The doctor told him honestly.

Max nodded and looked back at Liz.

“Max, the bleeding has to stop on it’s own we’ve done everything we can now.” The doctor said and left the room.

Max dropped his head into his hands.

Liz woke up a few minutes later and Max was shooed out of the room into the waiting room.

Their eyes all turned to him.

He tried to smile but it faltered.

“Max, we’ve been thinking.” Diane said. “Why don’t you sit.” She directed him to a chair.

He looked skeptically up at his mother.

“Max, it would be best for everyone, all around if this baby were to be put up for adoption.” Phillip filled in.

“Dad! How could you be thinking of this right now?” Max asked appalled. “We don’t even know if there’s going to be a baby. She’s in there right now, being examined. I may not have a baby anymore.” He said angrily. He stood up and began to pace.

“Max, calm down, Sweetheart.”

”Calm down, Mom?” He looked at her. “I’ll be back.”

He left the hospital room he needed to get out, to think.

****

Max walked through the gardens quietly. He was thinking.

“Max.” He turned towards his mother’s voice.

“Hi, Mom.” He said. “Sorry about earlier.” He immediately apologized as he had always been taught.

“No, it’s alright.” She said. “Why don’t we sit and talk?” She nodded toward a bench.

He sat and looked at her waiting for whatever was coming next.

“Max, I know you’re young and this is an odd question for a teenage boy your age but, do you love her?”

“Not like she loves me.” He said after a pause.

“So you don’t love her.”

“As a friend.” He said.

She sighed. “Max what have you gotten yourself into?” She looked at her son. “If you marry her, like you say you will, Max, it would be the end of both of you. Marriage is a huge step, given, so is having a child. But Max, you can’t do the things you will want to do in college. Your life isn’t yours once you have a child. And, Max, a loveless marriage is hell.” She told him. “It’s a struggle to keep it together when you love your spouse, but when there’s no love, there’s no chance of it surviving.” She rested her hand on his arm.

“What are you getting at.”

“Max, look at it this way. Say you and Elizabeth get married, you go to college, but you don’t make it. As I said before, your life is not yours. Everything will have to go towards that child’s welfare.” She looked at him seriously. “I’m not saying it’s guarantee, but it’s a huge possibility, Max. Think about it for me.” She said.

“But I thought you wanted the families joined.” Max spat.

“I do, Max, we all do, but not so young, never so young.” She shook her head. “We thought after college.” She explained.

“I wanna be alone now, Mom.” He stood and left her sitting there on the bench.

****

Liz was even more tired now she had just had another round with her mother.

She glanced up when Max entered the room. She saw it in his eyes, she’d lost the baby wasn’t hers anymore.

“Max.” She barely could say his name before the tears poured.

“Liz, we have to, we can’t keep this baby. It wouldn’t be good for us, any of us.” He told her holding back his own tears. “There’s no way, we have college.”

“I won’t go to college.” She demanded.

“You’re going, Liz, we’re young, we’re not ready for this type of responsibility. This way the baby will go to a Mommy and Daddy who have been waiting years for this to happen.”

Tears streamed down her face, leaving streaks and each one was burning the same streaked pattern on his heart. He sat on the bed and pulled her head onto his lap.

“Our baby will be loved very much.” He said. “We’ll make sure of it. Some adoption homes even allow some kind of contact between birthparents. We can find one.” He said.

She didn’t say anything. Her hand slid down to her baby. How could they be thinking about this.

”The doctor said the baby is ok.” She choked out.

“It will be a beautiful baby, Liz, like you.” He whispered.

She let out a sob.

She had a choice. She had to choose between the two people she loved most. Her boyfriend or her baby.

The choice was quick and with very little hesitation.

“Get out, Max.” She said and moved her head off his lap.

“Liz.”

“I said get out!” She screamed.

Looking lost, he stood up from the bed and left the room.

He heard her sobs through the door.

****

Isabel walked cautiously into the hospital room. “Liz?”

“Izzy.” She turned towards her. “What am I going to do?” She asked.

“I don’t know.” Isabel said honestly ready to come to her best friends defense.

“I want this baby. She’s not going anywhere.”

“She?” Isabel smiled.

“It’s too early to tell gender but I have a feeling I have a baby girl in here.” She smiled briefly then it faded.

“Are you done talking to Max? He’s out there distressed right now.” Isabel stroked her hair.

“I know.” Liz turned toward the wall. “I’ll speak to him when you leave.”

”Liz, whatever decision you make, not Max, you, I’ll stick by you. I just wanted you to know that.” She whispered.

“Thanks, Isabel, that means everything to me.” She let out a smile. “I think I’ll talk to him now.” Liz said taking a breath.

“Alright.” Isabel stood and went to retrieve her brother.

****

”Hey.” He said quietly. “I’m sorry-“ He started.

“No, Max, you’re right.” She said slowly barely able to get the words out. “We can’t take care of this baby. We can’t married. We’ll give her up for adoption.” She shrugged.

“Just like that?” He asked walking slowly towards her.

“You did it.” She accused.

Max winced at the full truth of that statement.

“Alright. I think we can do this.” Max sat slowly on her bed once again. She automatically moved her head to his lap and he stroked her hair.

She let the tears run freely now.

In one month she would turn eighteen, in two, she’s be a high school graduate. In three, she would be gone.

tbc
I have Spring Break this week but I'm limited on comp. time because I'm not at home and I'm technically not on vacation because I'm working at my sister's house so I'll try to post before the end of the week but I doubt it will happen. BYE GUYS!

Hey Guys! I'm back! Thanks so much fb it’s so inspiring. I’m falling in love with this story. I woke up this morning with a thousand new ideas in my head but I have to pick and choose which ones I’m going to use. It’s not easy! Thanks again.
Mattie

“Max! Max, wake up.” His mother was in his room shaking him awake.

“What?” He rolled over.

“Elizabeth is gone, have you seen her?” She asked worriedly.

“No, I took her home last night.” He was alert now.

“She’s not there, her car’s gone, and it looks like her most important things are gone.”

“How would you know this?” He pulled a shirt on and headed downstairs.

“Mrs. Parker just called. Her maid woke her up with the same news.”

“Have you tried her cell?” He asked. He was trying not to panic.

“Yes, she’s not picking up.”

Max sighed. She had seemed distant and worried the night before. She had spent all day with Isabel.

“Where’s Isabel?” He asked.

“In her room, trying to call her.”

Max stalked past his mother and into Isabel’s room.

“Where is she?” He demanded.

Isabel looked at him with a blank stare. “She’s gone.” She stood up and sat her cell phone down.

“What do you mean gone?”

“She left, Max. She’s not coming back.”

“What!” He shouted. “Isabel give me your cell.”

“No, Max. You obviously don’t care. Liz wanted to keep the baby.” She said angrily. “You wanted to put it up for adoption, so she left.”

“She can’t just leave.” Max dropped to the bed.

“She can and she did. She’s eighteen, Max, she has every right.” Isabel said sympathetically.

“But the baby.”

“Will be taken care of. Liz would give her life for that baby. I guarantee, she’ll be fine. She promised to call if there’s any trouble.” Isabel stroked his back.

“You knew?”

“She told me yesterday. I was shocked, but then I supported her. That’s her baby; you can’t make her give it up. It’s a scary world out there not knowing where your baby’s going.” Isabel reasoned.

“It’s my baby too.” He said.

“Yes, it was your baby. Now, do you want to adopt it out, or would you want to his or her mother raise it?”

“I see your point.” Secretly Max was relieved and proud of Liz. She had the courage to do what he had wanted to do. Liz would raise his son or daughter, and he knew Isabel was right, she would give her life for their baby. Now Max was upset he hadn’t had the courage to do it.

“Are you going to press kidnapping charges, Max?” Diane Evans asked.

“No.” He said simply and stood up to return to his room to be alone.

“Why not?”

“Because she had no choice, she’s protecting our child. I won’t, and because I won’t you can’t either.” He shrugged and left the room.

Isabel smiled at her brother after he left.

“Why are you smiling, Isabel?” Diane asked.

“He did the right thing, now would you please leave me alone?”

****

“So you do interviews in the morning?” Liz asked frustrated.

“Yes, from ten to one.”

“Thank you.” She handed him the filled out application and left.

That was the fourth one today.

”Now, to find a clinic.” She said to herself.

She found one quickly enough and hurried inside.

“Hi, I’m Liz Parker, and I was wondering if I could make an appointment?” She said timidly.

“For when, Sweetie?” The receptionist was an older lady and had surprisingly nice eyes.

“Whenever, sooner would be better.” She said. “Pre-natal care.” She said.

The woman’s eyes flickered down to her stomach. She hadn’t grown very big yet. “How far along?”

“Four months.” Her hand went down to her stomach protectively.

“Just fill this out and we’ll get back to you.”

Liz filled out the form. She was getting tired of filling out forms.

“Our pre-natal staff is here on Wednesdays, next Wednesday we have an opening for nine in the morning.” The woman looked at her screen.

“That would be wonderful.” Liz said handing back the form. “Thank you.”

She left the building. It was five o’clock, she’d been on her feet all day. She hadn’t even looked at her apartment yet.

It had been four days since she left Roswell. She found a place on the corner that wasn’t too greasy ate quickly and left.

Liz pulled up to the rundown apartment building. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst either. She hadn't left unprepared. She had spent weeks finding the cheapest places so that everything would be good and final when she arrived.

She checked in and went to what was to be her home. The apartment had come furnished so she collapsed on the bed.

There was a couple yelling next door.

It smelled of cigarette smoke.

Something was moving around in her cupboards that she had yet to clean.

This was the complete turnaround from what she had grown up with.

Where there had been pretty frilly sheets, there was now course material that was chafing her skin.

Where there had been food whenever it was needed, there were now bare cupboards.

Where there had been Max, there was no one.

No one except her, and her unborn child.

A Different Kind of Life

Part 6

“Ms. Parker?” The bouncy MA called.

Liz stood wearily from her seat in the waiting room chair. Thankfully, her child had not decided to make her show, which gave her plenty of time to save up for maternity clothes which she would be needing.

“This way.” The MA skipped down the hall, there’s no way you could call that form of movement walking.

“Thank you.” Liz said quietly and followed her into the room.

“You don’t need to be shy, babe.” She said handing her an examination gown. “I’m Maria. I’m not supposed to get to friendly because I have a very full waiting room out there, but I’ll take a few minutes out.” She sat down.

“Am I supposed to change into this?” Liz asked.

“Yes, now I know your name is Elizabeth, I’d like to get to know you. How old are you?”

“I’m eighteen.” Liz said. “How long do I have till the doctor comes? I don’t really like to change in front of people.” She said shyly.

“You have a while. I’ll leave you plenty of time, I know this place. Anyway, where’s the kid’s father?” She asked bluntly.

Liz’s eyes widened. Who was she to get so nosy? “Not here.”

“I see that.” She said walking over to her.

Does she know of a thing called a personal bubble?

“I like you, Elizabeth Parker. Don’t know why, usually takes me a while, but I like you.” She said seriously.

“OK. You’ve only known me for a few minutes.” She said loosening up a bit.

“Exactly. If I can stand being in the room with you for that long, I like you.”

”Ok. Can I change now?” Liz asked. She liked her but she wanted out of this appointment so she could continue her futile search for work. Her money wasn’t going to last forever.

“Sure. See me before you leave.” She said before bouncing out of them room.

Liz smiled. She was interested in having this girl for a friend. She was just the type of person she needed from her droll, serious world.

“Ms. Parker how are you doing today?” The doctor comes in. “I’m Dr. Roberts, and as long as you come here for pre-natal care, I’ll be your doctor.” She smiles.

“Thank you.”

“Now, Elizabeth,” The doctor starts.

“Liz.”

“Liz,” She smiles. “I read here that you had trouble with your pregnancy earlier, true?”

“Yes, some bleeding but everything was fine.” Liz’s voice shook.

“Let’s do this quickly, we’ll take an ultrasound, see how baby’s doing and then a pelvic, we should be done within the hour.” The doctor set her clipboard down and washed her hands.

Liz watched in anxiousness. “Why aren’t I showing yet?”

“I don’t know, some women don’t show very much, others show by the fourth month. It all depends on the women. Lay back, dear.”

Liz complied.

Exactly an hour later Liz was changed back into her normal clothes.

“The baby seems to have an abnormal heartbeat, right now.”

Liz eyes widened.

“But, there is a chance that the baby will outgrow it. Most do. We’ll keep a close eye on baby to follow the heart rate, all right? Baby does seem a tad bit small, but you’re a small girl so there’s really nothing to worry about. That’s normal for a small mother to give birth to low weight babies, although, I was the biggest baby in the hospital and my mother was the smallest woman, so there’s no telling.” The doctor said steadily.

Liz just nodded trying to process everything.

“Why don’t you come back in two weeks?”

”Sure.” Liz nodded, still shocked.

“Will you be OK?” The doctor asked.

“Yes, just give me a moment.”

”Any questions?” The doctor said kindly stroking her hair.

“If there is a heart problem, will the doctor be able to fix it?” She asked quietly.

“Yes, most cases are fixable, very few are not. Even things that couldn’t be cured ten years ago are beginning to be fixed. Don’t worry about it, Liz. I’ll see you in two weeks.” She left the room. Leaving a terrified Liz.

So now she was alone, in a strange city, a strange state, with no one to help, and a sick baby.

With no one else in the room, she let the tears run.

****

”Max, why don’t you go on home, Sweetheart?” Diane asked her son. “You should be out with the guys, hanging out, before you start school.”

“No, I’ll keep working.” He shook his head.

Inside, since the day left, Max promised himself he would work hard to become the man he needed to be. If he worked hard enough he could find Liz and their child, and open a division of his parents law firm wherever they were.

“You worried about Elizabeth?” She asked standing up.

“No.” He flipped back around to the computer where he was filing away old cases.

“Are you sure?”

”Yes, Mother, and if I was I’d as Isabel, not you.” He said coldly.

Hurt by her son’s rejection Diane buried herself into her work.

“Dad says they’ve had reports of Liz’s whereabouts, somewhere in LA.”

”Like in Los Angeles, California?” He looked up.

“Yes.” She was satisfied that she got her son’s attention.

“Why are you looking for her?” He asked almost angrily.

He didn’t want her to be found. He wanted her to go living her life as she was, without family interference, until he found her himself.

“We’re trying to help.”

”Stay out of it, Mom. Tell that to Mrs. Parker too, it’s not like she cares about her.” He stood up.

“I’ll be back after lunch.”

He stalked off to go find Isabel.

****

Maria poked her head into the exam room at the crying girl.

“Hey, don’t cry.” She hopped up onto the bed and hugged the smaller girl.

“My baby’s sick, I don’t know where it’s father is, I don’t know if I’m gonna get a job or if I’ll have a home next week, my life is a mess!” She said wiping away tears embarrassed at having been caught and angry that someone had intruded.

“No, you’re baby’s going to be born totally healthy I can feel it. You’re looking for a job?”

“Yes.” Liz answered.

Maria hopped down from the bed and handed Liz a tissue.

“Look, Elizabeth.”

”Liz.”

”Liz,” Maria amended. “We have a position open as a receptionist. How are you with computers?”

Liz’s head shot up. “What?”

“How are you with computers and filing?” She repeated again.

“I used to work in a law firm, a family friends, I’d say I’m pretty good with it.” Liz said hesitantly.

“Come on.” Maria dragged her out to the receptionist.

“Sally, what about that receptionist position, has it been taken?” Maria pulled her into the back room.

“No, not yet.” The woman called Sally didn’t look up from the computer.

“Well it is now.” Maria said finally.

“Yes, Maria, and who would it be filled by?”

“Elizabeth Parker.”

“And Ms. Parker, have you had prior experience?”

Liz explained.

“Have a seat, dear.” Sally nodded to the chair.

She sat. They conducted a thirty-minute interview. Liz walked away from the clinic with a new job in hand, as well as a more secure future.

Part 7

Liz sat staring at the computer screen. The neighbors had been in a fight and had kept her up. And when they were quiet, her baby wasn’t. The baby was beginning to make an appearance and was hard about it too.

“Liz, you ok?” Maria asked sitting down in one of her rare moments of free time.

“Yes.” She yawned and went back to typing up her end of the day reports.

“You have a name for the baby yet?” She asked looking at her stomach. She was seven months along.

“No, I don’t even know if it’s a boy or girl. I just like to call it a she.” She smiled and took her hand from the keyboard to smooth it over her tummy.

“I think Maria is a wonderful name.” She said standing up again.

“I think not.” She smirked back.

“Fine.” She shrugged. “It defines a strong and smart woman.” She said. “You sleeping at night?”

”Yes.” She said a little too quickly.

“No you haven’t. Liz I’ve known you for what, three months now?”

“Yes.” Liz nodded.

“Where do you live?”

”On Crescent and Twelfth.” She said.

Maria raised her eyebrows. “Down there?”

“Yeah, it’s not the best place in the world to be pregnant but I really don’t have a choice.” Liz said defensively.

“Hey, calm down, it’s alright, I wasn’t accusing you.” Maria answered soothingly calming her down.

“Sorry. Just tired.”

”That contradicts your last statement.”

”Hey, I’m pregnant, I’m allowed to be tired.” Liz smiled.

“Yeah. I guess.” She went back to assign more rooms to patients.

****

”When was Liz’s due date?” Diane Evans asked while sitting at dinner late in October.

“December 3, earliest.” Max said staring intently at his food.

“What do you suppose she is doing?”

“How should I know?” He shrugged.

Isabel watched with intense dislike at her brother and mother. Her father was as usual in Albuquerque.

“Can I be excused?” She pushed away from the table.

“Yes.” Diane said staring at Max still.

He glared right back. Isabel marched from the room.

“Would you stop glaring at me?” Diane said bitterly. “It was her choice to leave.”

“It was your choice to bring her up.”

“I just thought it would be healthy for you to at least talk about it.”

“Not at the table mother.” He shook his head. “I’m going to finish a paper I have to write.”

“You work too hard, Max.” She looked concerned.

“I have to.” He too walked from the room leaving Diane by herself.

“Liz, how are you doing?” Isabel asked softly.

“Fine.” Liz said through a yawn.

“Are you sure, you sound tired.”

“I am.”

“How’s the baby?”

“We’re almost sure it’s a girl. It’s harder to tell when they’re a girl because we never know if we’re just missing something, we never know for sure until they’re born.” Liz sat up in bed.

“And her heart?”
“Not good.” She said softly.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re still not able to get a steady heartbeat. But it’s beating, and she sure is moving.” Liz laughed after her last comment.

”They say it could be that she’s in a weird position that’s harder to get a read. I’ll keep you posted, Izzy.”

“Do you want me to tell him?” Isabel asked softly.

“No, Isabel, please don’t. I’m doing fine on my own. I have friends here who are willing to help.” Liz pleaded.

“I won’t until you want me too.” Isabel promised solemnly.

Isabel looked up when she heard a knock on the door. “Isabel?” It was Max.

“Coming, Max. Liz, I gotta go, she said quietly.”

“Yeah, I know, I’ll talk to you soon.” Liz said smiling sadly on the phone.

“Goodbye, love ya.” Isabel hung up the phone.”

“That was her wasn’t it?” Max asked sadly at his sister.

She started to shake her no, but then turned into a quick nod.

“How is she?” He sat down on the bed.

“She’s ok.” She lied swiftly.

“And the baby?”

“Perfect.” Isabel felt bad about lying to the child’s father, but it was Liz’s wish.

“Good.” He turned to leave but then turned around quickly. “Thank you.” And he shut the door.

****

“Alex, I found the perfect roommate.” Maria hopped onto her best friend’s bed.

“Who?” He asked looking up from his computer at the desk.

“She’s a girl I work with.”

“Name?”

“Liz Parker.”

“The pregnant one?” He said skeptically.

“Yes, but, Alex, she lives down on Crescent and Twelfth.” Maria started to plead her case.

“So.”

“Alex, she’s nice and sweet. She has no one to help her take care of the baby. And besides, we have to find someone quick before Serena moves out.”

“Maria.”

“The baby might even have a heart condition. Alex, please. I know she’ll take care of her rent. She a nice girl, she’ll stick to herself.”

“Fine.” Alex agreed. “But this better work.

Alex had a lot of faith in his best friend’s trusting habits. She could judge character easily and knew when someone was going to make a good friend.

“Great.” Maria hopped off the bed and went to work.

****

“Morning, Liz.” Maria waltzed in later that morning.

“Morning, Maria.” She said back.

“Bad night?”

“Yeah, on top of the neighbors, the baby was restless.” Liz said.

“Well, you won’t be bothered by neighbors.”

“Hmm?” Liz said only half listening.

“Our, my best friend and I, just lost one of our roommates, and there’s no way we could keep the apartment with just the two of us. You wanna move in?”

Liz looked up now from the computer. “Excuse me?”

“It’ll be 500 a month plus groceries, but it’s furnished and everything.”

“I don’t know? Where’s it at?”

“Orange County.”

“So far?”

“We can carpool to work. But, what do you say, you don’t want your little Maria born down there do you, Liz?”

“It sounds alright, and no, I don’t want Hannah to be born down there.”

“It’s settled them. Can you move in next week?”

“Can I see the apartment?”

“No.” Maria said. “you’ll like.”

Blindly trusting her new friend Liz accepted the new offer.

TBC

I’m sorry this part took so long guys. I’ve been stuck. Blah. I think the birth might be in the next two chapters. Hehe. Thank you all for being patient.

A/N: this actually was quite a quick chapter to write. I wasn’t expecting this so soon. I’m starting on the new chapter of Two Kinds in a few minutes. Enjoy. It’s sort of a short chapter.

“Liz, are you alright?” Alex popped the door open. He heard quite a bit shifting around in her room.

“Yes, Alex.” She said from flat on her back on the floor.

“You sure?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Ever since I was little, I would just lie out on my back whenever I was stressed or aching. It’s the most comfortable position.”

”You’re pregnant, Liz.” He asked concerned, he’d come to care for her over the past month she had been living with them.

“I noticed. If I get back in that bed I swear, I’m gonna scream.” She said.

“Fine. Where does it ache?” He said coming to sit next to her.

”Lower back.” She said closing her eyes. “Sometimes I wish she would just come, yet I know it’s the safest place in the world for her to be, and I don’t want her to leave it.”

“I know, she’s going to soon, Liz.” Alex said.

“Could you get me a warm pack, Alex, not hot just lukewarm?” She asked.

“Yes.” He stood and left her on the floor and returned a few minutes later.

“Thanks.” She settled it under her back to where it was comfortable and closed her eyes.

Alex sat by her not feeling quite right leaving her by herself.

Maria poked her head in the door fifteen minutes later.

“Is this some sort of slumber party without me?” She asked sitting down next to Alex.

“Quiet, Maria.” He motioned her.

“Why?”

“She just fell back to sleep.” Alex said.

“Why are you letting her lie on the floor, Alex? She’s pregnant.”

”She wants to be here.” He shrugged.

“Why?” Maria whispered.

“It’s more comfortable here.” Liz told Maria peeping through her eyelids.

“Baby giving you a lot of trouble?” She sympathized.

“Yeah, much more than usual.” She said and shifted to rest her head in Maria’s lap.

“Are you sure that’s all it is?” Maria stroked her hair concerned.

“It’s too early for her to be born.” Liz shook her head in denial. “We still have another month.”

“If you’re sure.”

A few minutes later, Liz excused herself to go the bathroom.

“Umm, Maria, can you come here for a second?” Liz called.

“In the bathroom with her?” Alex asked disgusted.

“No, Alex, just outside the door.” Maria whacked him on the head before going to see what was up. “What’s wrong, babe?” She called.

“I think my water just broke.”

****
The doctor stepped out of the room frustrated.

Maria followed close behind. “What’s up, Morgan?”

“It’s not good.” The doctor was a good friend of Maria’s from when she had been a freshmen.

“Why?” She asked eagerly looking at an exhausted Liz who was resting briefly inside the room.

“She’s been in labor for four hours and the baby hasn’t even turned. She’s a month early, we may have to perform a cesarean.” He said through a sigh.

”Luckily it’s a slow night and she’s the only one, huh?” Maria asked. The labor and delivery floor was unusually empty.

“Yeah, the memorial hospital is taking most of our L&Ds.” He said. “I don’t even know how much longer we’re going to stay open here.” He turned back towards the room. The nurse was reattaching a band around Liz’s stomach to monitor her heart beat as well as the baby’s. “You wanna tell her, or do you want me to?”

Maria took a deep breath before walking in to the room to deliver the news.

“Hey, how’s little Maria doing?” She asked softly stroking the hair from her face.

“Hannah’s doing great.” Liz emphasized. “Besides the fact that she refuses to come.”

“Liz, the doctor told me something.” She sat down in the chair next to her.

“What?” Liz said noticing the look on Maria’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“The baby still hasn’t turned. And because of the heartbeat, they want to perform a cesarean.” She said slowly.

Liz stared blankly ahead. She remembered from biology class that the baby usually turned before the mother’s water broke. She nodded.

“They want to do it soon, Liz. For your health and little Maria’s.” Maria told her stroking her hand.

“Alright.” She whispered. Her face contorted again. The pain was harsh but as the doctor had said earlier, they were making no progress.

One hour later, Liz held her little girl, Hannah Bella-Marie Parker, in her arms.

“She’s gorgeous, Liz.” Maria said to her. Liz was drifting in and out of sleep but refused to let anyone take her daughter except for a few tests.

“The doctor said she was healthy looking for a one month premature.” Liz whispered proudly. “She only looks healthy though.” She said through tears.

“What happened?” Maria had waited in the waiting room outside during the procedure and was only now allowed into the room.

“She has a heart murmur. It’s fixable but he doesn’t want to risk it on such an early birth. They have medicine she can take until she’s big enough to cope with the surgery to fix it.” Liz held her baby delicately close to her body.

“She’ll be ok. There are so many medical advances out there for her, Liz. Don’t worry.”

“Hello, Mommy.” The nurse knocked on the door. “Ready for first feeding?”

“Yeah.” Liz said trying to sit up but wincing in pain.

“Here.” Maria adjusted the pillows. “I’ll be outside, Babe.” She told her.

“No, Maria, please stay?” Liz pleaded, not wanting to be alone.

“Fine.” she rested once more on the bed.

****

Max had a hard time focusing on his book that he had been reading for English.

“Max, what is wrong with you?” Michael asked his best friend.

“Nothing, I just feel jumpy.” He thumped the book down on the table and paced to the window.

Liz had a month to go till the baby was born. He knew that Isabel talked to her regularly and that she wasn’t telling him everything. Which was fine if that was what Liz wanted.

“Why don’t we call it a night?” Michael stood up as well and stretched.

”I think that would be a good idea.” Max said not looking at his friend. “Goodnight, Michael.”

“Goodnight.” He left the room quietly noticing his friend wasn’t going to say more.

Max showered and crawled into bed exhausted making sure his cell was on.

He was almost asleep when his phone started ringing, without looking at the number he answered. “Hello?”

”Max?”

It was Liz! “Liz, Liz, where are you?” He shot up in bed.

“You have a daughter, she was born at 3:25 a.m. on November 4. She weighs 5 lbs, 6 ounces. Her name is Hannah Bella-Marie Parker. Congratulations. Goodbye, Max.” And the line went dead.

Max stared at the phone in disbelief before he shot out of bed. “Isabel!”

****

Liz squeezed her eyes shut. She should have told Max about Hannah’s condition but that would make him try to come and look for her and she couldn’t have that.

“You ok?” Maria asked concerned. The feeding had left her friend drained and she had protested calling Max until morning.

“I’m fine.” She whispered fighting off the pain, both in her abdomen and in her heart before she fell asleep.

Liz awoke later for another feeding at the insistence of the nurse, even though she wasn’t crying.

“Breastfed babies usually lose weight after birth before they start gaining, Mommy, it’s best to feed whenever possible.” The nurse insisted.

Taking her daughter from the nurse she took her advice. After she was done Liz just sat and cuddled her baby.

“Are you keeping the baby?” The morning nurse asked the next morning.

“Of course, I’m keeping her, why would you think anything different?” She hadn’t been acting distant from her child had she? She couldn’t remember putting her down except she was sleeping.

“There’s a Social Worker here to see you.”

“What?”

“Hello, Ms. Parker, my name is Winifred Smith and I am going to be your caseworker.” She introduced herself as if Liz wanted her there.

Liz gazed back at her. Her brown eyes filled with anger at the woman sitting next to her.

PART 9
“Mom, I told you not to let her come in her by herself!” Maria bustled in behind another woman she assumed was her mother.

“Maria, w-what’s going on?” Liz pulled the infant protectively to her chest. Hannah opened her eyes for a quick second before grunting and closing them to fall back into a deep sleep.

Liz smiled down at her daughter before turning back to them.

“Actually, Liz, don’t freak out on us.” The other woman stepped forward. “My name is Amy Valenti, and you already know my daughter, Maria.”

“I’m Winifred, as I already introduced. I can tell you’re already worried about why we’re here, but there’s no reason to.” She smiled softly at Liz. “In Orange County, where you currently live, there is a great program for people like you. It’s called Time Out For Parents.”

Liz looked at her skeptically. “And what is this?”

“It’s for single parents with children with special medical issues. What we do is offer care for the child at no charge to the parent as well as help with medical bills. Usually, we install these children or infants in homes of strangers, luckily, Amy Valenti here has been a part of this program for five years and is willing to take care of the baby for you, when you decide to go back to work.” She finished.

Liz stared. Help with medical bills could be a great thing considering she was a single eighteen-year-old mother. She hadn’t even thought of what kind of daycare she was going to send her to or anything else for that matter.

“Also, usually, we will supply you with a crib or diapers occasionally, depending on your monthly income.”

Liz glanced down at her daughter who was beginning to grunt some more. She was tiny, yes, but she was adorable. Her face scrunched up like she was ready to cry. A tiny squeal came out but her face and lungs were gathering the energy to let out a real cry.

“She looks hungry,” Liz said hoping to get them out of the room and time to think about the program.

“You go ahead and feed her. One more thing, Liz, in the state of California there must be a father’s name on the birth certificate.” They stood and left the room, Maria shooting a sympathetic look back at Liz’s shocked face.

****

“Isabel, has she called you yet?” Max said standing impatiently in her doorway.

“No, Max, and she probably won’t in the next couple of days. In case you didn’t know, childbirth is an extremely tiresome event. In a few days she’ll call and fill me in. She might even call you now that she’s born.” Isabel explained gently.

“Thanks.” He turned around and went back to his room. He had been awake since Liz’s phone call a few hours earlier. She was a little more than a month early. The thought terrified him. What if something had gone wrong? What if he could have been there for her? He should have, and he knew it. Now he was kicking himself because he wasn’t. Because he was unable to disobey his mother’s wishes.

****

“How’s Mommy doing?” The afternoon nurse walked in.

Liz smiled it was such a new thing to be called Mommy. It was a name earned and it was something special.

“Fine. She just ate again.”

“That’s wonderful, Mommy.” The nurse took her and laid her down. “I have to take her to an exam room down the hall, the doctors going to run a few more blood tests. Don’t worry, Mommy, they won’t hurt her, in the long run they may save her life. She’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Liz watched her daughter be pushed off in the basket.

“Hey.” There was a knock on the door a few minutes later. Maria and Alex walked into the room with a bouquet of yellow roses.

“Hello, guys.” Liz said.

“Where’s the baby?” Alex asked disappointed, he had fallen in love with her at first sight.

“She’s having some small tests run.”

“When will she be back?”

“In a few minutes, why don’t you two sit down?” She offered.

“Sure, why not?” Maria asked. She handed her the bouquet and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

“So, Maria told me her mother’s offered to be Hannah’s TOP.”

“Yeah. I was thinking about that. Should I do it. I think it would be best actually.”

“Yeah, and Amy’s really good with children. Look at Maria for instance, she turned out great.” Alex said with a smirk.

Liz raised an eyebrow. “If that’s my baseline, maybe I better find elsewhere to send my daughter.” Liz teased.

“Good point.” Alex nodded solemnly. He ducked to avoid the blow he was coming but not fast enough.

Liz chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh too much it hurts, stitches remember?”

”Oh yeah.” Alex sobered. “So when’s my baby coming back?”

****

Max’s cell phone rang and an unfamiliar number popped up on the display screen. He answered it quickly.

“Hello?”

“Max?” He heard. He knew that voice. He would know it everywhere.

“Liz?” He said desperately.

“Yes. Look, Max, I called you for a purpose. I need to put your name on the birth certificate. In the state where I’m at, it’s required. They may send you child support papers or whatever, but, I’m gonna try to get them to waive it.”

”Liz, where are you?”

“I can’t tell you that. But, Max, don’t be surprised if you get a document in the mail, alright. Don’t try to find me, us. We’re doing fine. She’s doing fine. We were just a little early. She didn’t want to be in there anymore. Bye Max.” She hung up the phone and wiped angrily at the tears that had made their way down her face.

“Ms. Parker, have you decided what you are going to do with TOP?” The worker entered the room again.

“I think it would be the best thing in the world for me.” Liz agreed.

****

“Hello, Ms. Parker.” The doctor woke her up.

It had been the first time she had rested for any length of time. “Hi.” She rasped.

“I’m sorry for waking you up, but we’ve found more conditions for Hannah.” He entered the room.

“It’s alright, where is she?”

“In the nursery. They’ll keep her for a while.” He said. “Would you mind if my friend’s son joins us? He thinks he’s my intern.” The doctor smiled.

“Sure, why not?” Liz said. If the doctor was comfortable with him why shouldn’t she be?

“Hi!” A young man walked in.

He wasn’t extremely tall but not short. His hair fell into his eyes. Usually that got on her nerves but on him it was kind of cute. It was the first time she had remotely looked at a guys since Max.

“Hi, I’m Kyle Valenti.” He held out his hand.

She took. “Liz Parker, as you already know.” She knew that name, Valenti. She searched her brain for it. Maria’s mom’s name was Valenti!

“No chance you’re related to an Amy Valenti?” She asked.

“Yeah, she’s my stepmother.” He smiled, “You know her?”

“Yeah, she’s my TOP.”

“Looks like I’ll be seeing you around then.” He winked at her.

“Alright, Kyle, you can be in here if you promise not to flirt with my patients.” He said firmly but with a smile.

“Sorry.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. And took his place by the doctor.

“Kyle’s gonna be a doctor someday.” He explained smiling at him then turned to his charts. “Ms. Parker, the tests have come back.”

“Ok.” She struggled to sit up

Kyle was immediately at her side helping to support her arms and stayed until she was comfortable. He stepped back and jammed his hands in his pockets again.

“Thanks.” She said quietly. “Now tell me about Hannah.”

“We’ve found a series of small holes in her heart.” He held his hand up to keep her quiet. “They’re all fixable. We want to wait until she’s a little older so we won’t delay much of her development. It’s a major surgery but the chances are extremely high that once she has this surgery, she will live her life out as a normal little girl.”

”It can be fixed, like her murmur?” She asked anxiously, suddenly wanting to hold her as if she could protect her from the world.

“Yes. We’ll do the surgery at the same time. She will be heavily monitored until the surgery. We’re going to put her on an Apnea Monitor. We’ll explain everything when it’s time for you to go home. Amy Valenti, your TOP, is already trained for Apnea Care. Any questions?”

“Not at the moment, can I see her please?” He asked.

“Yeah, it’s time for another feeding anyway. How far apart are her feedings?”

“Every two hours.”

“That’s perfect.” The doctor smiled easily. “You’re doing great.”

“It’s only been two days.”

“I know, we might send you two home tomorrow.”

“Good, home is good.” Liz nodded.

“Yes. You’ll be more comfortable.”

Kyle studied Liz’s lost look. She wasn’t ready to go home yet. He’d have to think about that one.

****

“Liz?” The knock was soft knock on the door.

“Come in.” She called. She pulled Hannah closer and covered her head with a small blanket while she nursed.

“Hello, Liz.” Amy Valenti walked into the room. It was the first time she had come unaccompanied by Maria.

“Hello, Mrs. Valenti.” She smiled at her.

“Liz, I know you’re scared to take her home and I know that after a C-Section or any birth, is a difficult thing. If you want, I know you’re not ready to go home by yourself yet, if you want you can stay with us until you’re rested. I talked to my husband about it. He says it’s fine.” She said.

“Mothers go home all the time right after birth.” Liz replied. She didn’t want to go home alone any more than Amy wanted her to go home but she put on a good argument anyway.

“Those mothers have husbands.” She said determinedly.

“Maria offered to help at our place.”

“I would feel much better if you came home with me. That way you wouldn’t be alone with the Apnea Monitor the first week or two. And it will give Hannah time to get comfortable with me before you leave. You’ll leave after Thanksgiving, alright?”

Knowing that Amy was every bit as stubborn as her daughter, Liz gave in.


TBC