A Thousand Years
Chapter twenty one
He let out a shuddered breath, lifting his weary, beautiful face slowly, his lips trembling, parting with shock towards the empty space where she had just been.
He could still see silky wisps of her raven hair trailing high in the air behind her like the wings of an angel.
Which is exactly what she was to him, all those years spent wrapped in the arms of her memory, her love, protecting him, giving him strength, when everything seemed lost… never ever leaving him.
Leading him back through time and space, through soaring heavens and ancient galaxies, back to where he belonged… home.
He heard her words still, spoken so sweetly, effortlessly, falling from her lips beckoning him to end his torment.
The declaration that he had been waiting for, the answer to everything, like music drifting, rising, lifting his ravaged soul, bringing life to a man who had so much ripped away in the blink of an eye, whispered in his ear, forcing him to accept what he believed to be an unattainable dream.
Barely able to stand he braced himself against the bar, knuckles white, rough hands twisted painfully from broken bones that never healed properly, griped the dark wood as he searched for the courage to take that first step.
With just the faintest hint of her intoxicating perfume still lingering sublimely in the air, surrounding him, wrapping around his skin, eliciting a fire inside him that no other could inflict pushing Max, now standing alone with only the sound of his pure heart beating hard in his ears he turned the corner.
Limping painfully down the hallway, soot still clouding his lungs, unseen burns searing his already scarred body, he walked towards the sparkling, white lights emulating from entrance to the grand ball room.
His soulful brandy gaze hovered shyly against the shiny wooden surface as he reached for his aching leg placing it along the other as he stepped carefully onto the dance floor.
A marred of indiscernible voices seemed to fade as a sudden hush swept among the crowd before him as everyone stilled realizing what was happening.
Knowing all eyes were on him he froze for a moment before reaching up to smooth down his unruly long dark hair, and wrinkled suit, feeling as if everyone could see just how out place he was.
Time seemed to still as he bravely took a deep breath lifting his thick eyelashes that beautifully guarded his wounded honey tinted gaze.
Tensing his sore muscles he began to feel his courage quickly leaving him as the number of people stilling their previous actions began to stare at him.
Suddenly he felt a tiny hand close inside his as small fingers curled tightly around his palm.
Wide azure blue eyes bright with an understanding, knowing gleam stared up at him.
Calmness showered down on him like warm rain as he knelt beside the blonde little girl beside him.
Cherry punch stained lips smiled up at him lovingly beckoning him to come close to her.
“Lily… ” Max breathed out in a sigh of relief feeling instantly comforted.
Reaching up to cup his face, she titled her head to the side sadly, knowingly, as if she could feel the painful remnants all of his dark secrets, all the guilt and shame that dwelled deep inside him.
Hiding the quiet suspicion that he didn’t deserved to love, and to be loved, especially from someone as special as Elizabeth Parker, he lowered his head casting his tormented expression away from her.
It was in that moment she understood his hesitation, the depths of his fear.
Deep down inside Max never felt worthy of such a gift and suspected that someday she would see that darkness and feel it too.
“She’s waiting for you Uncle Max…. be brave… believe the truth of my words… what you did, you did to survive. You are free now; your soul has been washed clean. You deserve to be happy… go to her.”
Unsure if she was right, if he would ever really be able to let go of the weight bearing down upon his shoulders, he somehow felt that if someone as special as Lily believed in him, that maybe someday … someway he could.
Pressing his lips against her golden curls he whispered softly so only she could hear.
“Thank you Lily.” He breathed out with a level of love and gratidute only she could understand.
Letting her hand slip from his fingers she stepped aside looking out into the crowd where Liz was standing still waiting patiently among the couples floating effortlessly around the dance floor.
He breathed out anxiously shoving his trembling hands inside his pockets unsure of how to do this as he lifted his vulnerable gaze to her.
His heart clenched as his warm amber eyes connected to her ebony wide stare like fire and ice, his burning desire melting against the cool embers of her love that endured over thirteen years.
A fiery passionate timeless love fusing, combusting like fireworks cementing their unwavering unbreakable bond.
With all uncertainty gone as if never existed at all she held out her hand inviting him to join her.
With each step limping tenderly towards her he felt the judging eyes of the crowd fall away until all he could see was her.
As the music began he shook his head, scratching that place behind his ear, unsure, fearing he wouldn’t know, wouldn’t remember…
So many years spent damned to darkness, caged in silence, living each day surrounded by death, forced to kill, a warrior survived by blood stained hands harboring the rage of a murderer.
He wondered if he had any humanity left inside him.
It had been over a decade since he embraced her in this way, he couldn’t help the insecurities searing inside him.
An alien, a man, a freak, what was he? Would she know if he didn’t? Would she be able to see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch?
Coming closer to her he heard Lily’s sweet voice in his mind urging him on.
Be brave…
Standing a breath apart from her now he raised his right hand out to her wrapping his fingers around hers gently, holding her arm outward properly, tenderly resting his left hand against the small of her back.
Hearing the swell of the music begin he took a tentitive step only to stumble, as his anxieties over took him along with the pain of the bone still broken in his leg.
Closing his eyes feeling as if he was failing her he heard Liz whisper softly to him.
"Max, it's just you and me out here. We've done this before, not so long ago. We were meant for this, right here... right now. You can do this. I believe in you, I always have."
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
Finding the courage in her meaningful, loving words he began to slowly sweep her across the dance floor.
“Max…”
Suddenly hearing her breathe out his name once again, he swallowed hard before gazing up into her eyes seeing all the love and acceptance he had been waiting for his entire life silently looking back at him.
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more
Tilting his head to the side, his lips shivering as his hands trembled against her he whispered deeply looking down at her feeling as if he was dreaming.
“Is this real?”
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
Letting his hand go she reached her arms around his neck pressing her body close to his, angling her mouth to brush along his parted lips.
His eyes slid shut as he felt the rhythm of her heart race against his chest, her sweet breath flush against his mouth.
“You have nothing to fear anymore Max, I’m here, and I always will be.”
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more
Trying to further explain her resistance in the beginning he reached down and pressed his finger gently to her pale pink lips halting her words.
“That’s all I needed to hear, the rest doesn’t matter anymore, as long as you’re here with me now.”
Cupping her face sweeping his thumb lightly across her bottom lip he pressed his forehead to hers doing his best to move his aching body to the music sweetly rising and falling all around them.
"You are so beautiful Liz... so beautiful."
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
Feeling as if he were drifting in and out of heaven oblivious to the many people staring at them, just as lost in the beauty of their love as he was, he couldn’t hold back any longer.
Wrapping his strong arms tightly around her he lifted her fervently against his battered body suddenly unaware of any pain, just a need… a need to feel her… all of her…
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more
Soft lips brushed along her neck to her ear huskily declaring his love for her as the music swelled all around them.
“I never stopped loving you, not for one day, one second… from the very beginning it was all about you Liz. I would’ve waiting till the end… till the very end.”
Breathlessly leaving the shell of her ear he took her lips pouring all of his heartache and pain into her, languidly, passionately, tasting the sweet solace that he had waited so long for.
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more
As their song came to an end so did their kiss as they hesitantly let their hands slip from each other.
Only she didn’t let go, not all the way.
With the tips of her fingers still curled inside his hand she led him off the darkened dance floor as white stars flickered all around them.
Walking to the entrance of the ball room Liz turned to him, her hands reaching up to fist his shirt tightly bringing his mouth to hers.
“Max, take me home… we’ve waited long enough. “