Roswell Fanatics

Title: The Path We Take
Author: Emz80m
Disclaimer: I dont own anything. But thanx Jason
Category: M/L/Ma M/M & A/I (Dreamer guarentee)
Rating: ADULT

Summery: Liz and Michael are siblings and are best friends with Max and Maria. They are also good friends with Isabel and Alex. Liz is in love with Max and Michael is in love with Maria but Max and Maria are dating. This follows Liz's journey when she follows the path that she thinks will make all her dreams come true..

1.

Have you ever got to a fork in the road and not known which road to take? Have you ever traveled the path you have always wanted to walk along but to only find out you must walk it alone after it's too late to turn back. I have, and I walk that path everyday.

Liz Parker stood proudly on the stage in front of her peers as she gave her valedictorian speech to the graduating class. Getting to this moment had been tough but she had made it and her parents and friends couldn’t have been more proud of her.

'Congrats sis, now you get to face the real world' laughed her brother Michael as he have her a hug. Michael was a year older than Liz but they were still close, always hanging in the same circles, both sharing best friends, both without want they wanted most.

'Thanks. I cant believe it's finally over' she smiled in reply.

'Michael' they were interrupted in their sibling moment by their best friend Maria Deluca who threw her sobbing body at Michael.

'Maria what's wrong?' Liz asked concerned at the state of her best friend.

'We broke up' Maria cried is response never leaving Michaels arm. Liz and Michael shared a painful look then Liz signaled that she was going to go find Max.

Max Evans, Maria Deluca, Michael Parker and Liz Parker had been best friends for many years, along with Max's twin sister Isabel and her boyfriend Alex Whitman. When Isabel and Alex and Max and Maria had started dating through their junior year Michael and Liz had both been devastated. Having feelings for your best friend while he or in Michaels case she dated your other best friend was not something that Liz was proud of but was something that she as well as Michael had never had any control over.

Liz found Max over near his jeep looking almost as bad as Maria. 'Max' she whispered and touched his shoulder to get his attention.

Max looked up and smiled at her before pulling her into a hug 'you were great Liz. I'm so proud of you.'

'Thanks, are you ok? What happened?'

With a last look in the direction that his girlfriend had just run Max took Liz's hand 'Come for a walk with me' he stated and led them away from the school. They walked for about 10 minutes before they found themselves in the park and Max sat down at a bench.

'I got accepted to Harvard Liz,' Max said breaking the silence.

'What!' screamed Liz 'Max that's fantastic'

Max smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes 'glad someone thinks so'

'What do you mean? You are going aren’t you?'

'Yeah. Once I got the acceptance I was so excited and so were Mum and Dad. I don’t think Dad would have let me turn it down even if I wanted to'

'Max, what's this got to do with you and Maria breaking up'

'I told Maria and she just lost it Liz. She was so mad that I was breaking our plans. I asked her to come to Boston with me but she said no and wouldn’t even listen to anything I said. In the end she told me that if I go to Boston then we were over'

'And you chose Harvard?'

'Yeah. I thought once I made the decision I would feel better about hurting her but I don’t'

They got up silently and walked back towards the school where Max had parked the jeep.

‘You must have plans with Michael and your parents, I should get you home’ he told her helping her into the passenger side of the jeep.

‘Um actually no. Our plans are for tomorrow night’

‘Oh well do you feel like a drive?’

‘Sure’

*****

‘Boston Michael. He’s moving to Boston just like Liz and he made his decision weeks ago and didn’t tell me. When I told him to make a choice he didn’t even care. I mean 2 years I’ve been with him and we haven’t even been together’ Maria had been babbling on like this since Michael had taken her home.

‘Maria’ he called

‘I mean you think he would have at least tried to’

‘Maria’ he called again

‘Am I not attractive. Is that it?’

‘Maria for god sakes’ he yelled and the he grabbed her and kissed her.

2.

Max drove them out to the dessert to an unfamiliar area to Liz, seeing the confused look on her face he answered her silent question ‘I come out here to think. I stumbled upon it one day when I was driving around’

‘Wow it’s beautiful’ she replied as she got out of the jeep and followed Max to an area where he had placed a blanket.

‘So when do you leave for Florida?’ he asked her.

‘2 days’ she replied.

Liz had decided after receiving her early acceptance to Harvard to leave Roswell immediately after graduation. She didn’t want to stick around and watch the man she loved make plans for his life with his girlfriend. As far as she was concerned it was bad enough have to watch them build their relationship over the past 2 years.

‘Penny for you thoughts?’ Max smirked at her quietness.

Turning to face him Liz was struck by the look in his eyes, it was unfamiliar yet comforting. Liz and Max had always been the closest of the group, with their mutual love of science and their similar personality traits they had just clicked.

‘Well being that I will soon be a Harvard student I would hope they are worth more than a penny’ she smirked.

‘You could never put a price on your thoughts Liz Parker’ he smiled back.

‘So, we’ll be close next year. Probably even share classes now. I thought for sure I was going to be all alone’ she finally pulled herself away from his soulful eyes.

‘Yeah. I’m glad I was really going to miss you’

‘Really. Could have fooled me. This is the first time we’ve spoken in months’ she replied, a tone of bitterness breaking through.

Maria and Liz had had a fight a few months earlier whilst working in her family’s restaurant. Maria had excused Liz of having feelings for her boyfriend and being jealous that she couldn’t have him. Liz in turn had excused Maria of flirting constantly with her brother, and backstabbing Isabel to Pam Troy.

Liz was positive Maria had never told Max what the fight was about just like she had never told Michael but since that night Max had avoided Liz and pulled out of any of their friend’s time.

‘Liz…’

‘Save it Max. The fight was between Maria and I. I didn’t drag Michael into it or Isabel or Alex. But Maria certainly did a fine job turning all my friends against me’

‘That’s not what happened. I didn’t even know anything about the fight’
‘Then why have you avoided me like the plague for the past 2 months Max? It hurt’

Max looked at her pained ‘You know I love you right’ he told her reaching out to caress her arm.

‘Yeah I know, I’m your best friend’ she replied quietly.

‘Yeah you are my best friend. You know me better than anyone so how come you don’t know why I’ve been avoiding you?’ he replied back just as quietly.

Liz shrugged, keeping her face turned towards the ground so that he couldn’t see the tears that were forming in her eyes. Max gently reached out and lifted her face his ‘I love you, not just as my best friend’ he told her quietly and then leaned in and placed a gentle but passionate kiss on her lips.

Liz responded just as passionately and quickly the two were lying side by side caressing each other’s bodies. Clothes were slowly discarded and moments later Max lay above Liz ‘I’ve never done this before’ he whispered to her. Liz looked at him with surprise ‘me either’

‘Tell me?’ he asked her as guided his member into her core.

‘Love you Max’ she moaned.

‘You?’ she asked.

‘Love you too’ he responded as he broke her virginity.

Liz was in heaven as her best friend and man that she loved made sweet love to her. Maybe the road was about to get smoother.

3.

~2 months later~

Liz sat on the floor of her bathroom in Florida holding onto the small stick in her hand with tears slowly sliding down her face when the phone rang.

‘Hello’

‘Liz is that you? Hey it’s Maria’

‘Hi Maria what’s up?’

‘Guess what Lizzie. Max and I worked everything out and we’re back together I’m coming to Boston to so I will get to see you all the time’

Liz looked at the stick again and felt her heart shattering in pieces.

Controlling her sobbing ‘Ah look Maria this is a really bad time so I’ll have to call you back okay. Bye.’

When the phone hit the receiver she let the sobs come. Positive. He was back with Maria. Positive. They were going to Boston together. Positive. She was pregnant and the father of her child just got back with his ex-girlfriend.

********

It was hours later when the phone woke Liz up. She had eventually cried herself to sleep over the news of her pregnancy and the fact that even though he had told her he loved her he was getting back with is ex-girlfriend and hadn’t even told her himself.

‘What!’ Liz snarled into the phone

‘Looks like I caught you at a bad time Lizabelle should I ring back’

‘What do you want Max?’ she replied again. Her voice calming as the tears started all over again.

‘What’s wrong Liz?’ he asked concerned.

‘Nothing’s wrong’

‘Don’t lie. I know when you’re crying. Talk to me sweetie’

‘Don’t call me that. I don’t think your girlfriend would like it very much’ she snapped.

‘Oh. You know. Who told you?’ he asked.

‘Doesn’t matter. It should have been you but it wasn’t.’

‘I’m sorry Liz. That’s what I was calling for’

‘What are you sorry about Max. The fact that you lied to me and told me you loved me. What was that so I would sleep with you? It probably wasn’t even your first time.’

‘Liz no that’s not true it was and I never lied and if you calmed down you would realise that everything we shared was true.’

‘Yeah well if that’s true than why did your ex-girlfriend call to tell me you were back together’ she snapped again.

‘Liz I know your upset with me and I understand but I felt I owed it to Maria to try again. She came and apologised for everything she said and told me she wanted to come with me to Boston. We were together 2 years Liz and I do love her, I owe it to her to give it another go. I know I have probably hurt you and that was never my intention. I’m so sorry.’

Silence greeted him at the other end. Liz had hit mute so that she could sob in silence but in the back of her mind she was making decisions.

‘Liz are you there? Listen we’re leaving for Boston to find an apartment next week. Please call me as soon as you get to Boston so I can see you’

Silence.

‘Liz? Sweetie please say something?’

Silence

‘For what’s its worth. I do love you, very much’ and then he hung up.

A/N: Thanks to everyone that posted. I have replied to some of you personally over some things you brought up so thanks. BTW i know it may seem like it now but this story wont be Maria friendly, so if you are a fan take note. I love Maria but wanted to explore a new angle away from Tess, let me know what you think.

4.

Liz sat at a table outside the cafeteria enjoying the sun and a reprieve from morning sickness.

‘Liz is that you?’ a voice interrupted her silence.

Liz looked up and saw one of best friends standing before her in shock. ‘Hey Iz’ she smiled and got up and hugged her friend.

‘What are you doing here?’ she squealed. “Alex is going to be stoked that you’re here’

Liz smiled at her friend’s excitement and nervously looked herself over to see if her clothes made her present condition obvious. They did.

Sitting back down she gestured for Isabel to join her. “Um I am going to school here’ she finally replied.

‘What! What happened to Boston and Harvard? That’s your dream. Max didn’t say anything about it’

‘Izzy’ a voice yelled from across the quad and began running towards them.

‘Alex look whose here’ she squealed at her boyfriend.

‘Liz is that you?’

‘Yeah its me. God it’s good to see you two’ she told them honestly; she needed all the friends she could get lately.

‘Why aren’t you at Harvard?’ Alex asked.

‘I had to pull out. I’m going here and staying at my aunts.’

‘What’s going on Liz’ Alex asked seriously and sat down next to Isabel.

‘I’m pregnant’ she whispered.

Silence.

‘Wow’ Alex finally answered.

‘Yeah that was pretty much my reaction too’ she tried to fake a smile but it never reached her eyes.

‘So that’s why you staying at your Aunts?’ Isabel asked.

‘Yeah. I got offered a full scholarship so living with my Aunt is the best solution so that I can stay in school for longer’

‘Wow. How’s did the parentals take it’ Alex asked.

‘Ok considering. Michael was pretty pissed with me’

‘Why?’ Isabel asked.

‘Guys apart from my family you are the only 2 people I’ve told and it needs to stay that way. Promise?’

Isabel and Alex looked back and forth at each other then back to Liz’s pleading face and both nodded.

‘Liz where’s the dad?’ Isabel asked.

‘Um he’s not in the picture. Turns out that what we had wasn’t what I thought. He doesn’t live here anymore’ she answered vaguely.

‘So how far along are you?’ Alex asked.

‘3 months’

‘Well whatever you need we’re here anytime’ Isabel told her ‘Ditto’ added Alex.

Liz smiled it was great to have friends around again. ‘Um thanks guys. I appreciate you keeping this a secret for me. It’s something personal that I am not ready to tell the world.’

5.

~Boston~

Maria walked into the apartment to see her boyfriend sitting at the kitchen bench with the phone.

‘Hey’ she smiled.
‘Hey’ he said without removing his eyes from the receiver.

‘Waiting for a call’ she asked raising her eyebrow.

‘Yeah, I called and left a message for Michael to ring me’

‘Oh, how come?’

‘Come on Maria, school started a month ago and we haven’t heard a thing from Liz not to mention the fact that she isn’t in any of the classes that she is meant too. And today I went to the registrar to check and see if she even goes here and they don’t have a Liz or Elizabeth Parker listed.’

‘Ok. But I think your over reacting a bit here Max it’s not like she’s dropped off the face of the earth.’

‘Isn’t it? When’s the last time you heard from her?’

‘Um I called her in Florida but she said she couldn’t talk and would ring me back. She never did.’

‘Yeah well I talked to her that night and haven’t heard from her since either’

‘Has Michael said anything to you about her?’

‘Um Michael and I kind of aren’t talking right now’ she told him.

‘What! Since when?’

‘Um since we had a disagreement before we came out here’

Max looked at his girlfriend, but the face that looked back at him seemed to be a stranger now. Since moving to Boston they threw themselves feet first into their relationship immediately becoming intimate but it wasn’t lost on Max that his girlfriend wasn’t a virgin the first time they were together. Only his guilt over the fact that he too had given himself to another first stopped him from questioning her about it. He may not be the most honourable person around but he certainly wasn’t a hypocrite.

‘Well I called the Parkers but they are apparently away so I left a message asking Michael to call me.’

‘Have you tried her mobile?’

‘It’s disconnected and I don’t remember the number for her Aunts in Florida’ he said defeated.

‘Hon, I know that Liz was a big part of your life for a long time, a big part of both of our lives but I cant help but think that our relationship has come along in leaps and bounds since we’ve been away from our friends and Roswell. She knows where we are, she’s probably just jealous that we’re back together. She’ll call.’ And without waiting for her boyfriend’s reaction she left to take a shower.

****

Ring Ring

‘Hi you’ve reached Max & Maria, leave a message after the beep’

‘Hi Max, it’s Isabel. Haven’t heard from you since you started school. I miss you. Please call me back’

Ring Ring.

‘Hello’ said an out of breath Isabel.

‘Hey Izzy’

‘Oh my god Max, it’s so good to hear your voice. God I miss you’

‘Yeah me too. How’s UCLA treating you and Alex?’

‘Great. We love it out here Max; I wish you had come with us’

‘Yeah I know but who could turn down Harvard Iz?’ he laughed.

‘Well Liz apparently’ she responded back.

‘Liz?’

‘Yeah. She’s at UCLA with Alex and I’

‘Thank god’

‘What are you talking about Max?’

‘Sorry Iz. I’ve been so worried about her. She was supposed to call when she got to Boston and I haven’t heard anything from her. Then I found out the other day she isn’t even enrolled at Harvard anymore and her mobile is disconnected’

‘Wow you’ve really been worried haven’t you’

‘Yeah, it’s so unlike her not to contact me for such a long period of time. Can you give me her new number?’

Isabel hesitated unsure of how to broach the answer with her brother ‘Actually no I cant’

‘Oh okay well if you can get the number from her and sms me then’

‘No you misunderstood. I have the number but it’s given out with a strict no distribution rule. If you call her she’ll know where you got the number from and I don’t want to upset her’

‘Iz what’s going on? Why is she attending UCLA instead of Harvard anyhow?’

‘You should ask her that yourself’

‘I would if I could get in contact with her’ he yelled into the phone.

‘I’ll ask her to email you. That’s the best I can do Max.’

‘Ok. Thanks Iz’

6.

Ring Ring

‘Hello’

Silence

‘Hello’ Maria said into the phone.

‘Is Max there?’

‘Michael is that you?’

‘Yep. So is Max there?’

‘Yeah hold on’ Maria took the phone away from her face ‘Max’ she called out.

‘So how have you been?’ she asked while waiting for Max to come to the phone.

‘Ok. You?’

‘Good thanks’


‘Hello’ Max said into the receiver after taking it from Maria.

‘Maxwell’ replied Michael.

‘Hey Mike. How are things?’

‘Ok. You?’

‘Good thanks’

‘So you called?’

‘Yeah I was worried about Liz but I talked to Isabel last night and she told me that Liz was staying out there to attend UCLA’

‘Yep’

‘Mike is she okay. Isabel was vague and wouldn’t tell me why?’

‘She likes Florida, the school is excellent, she met someone, and lastly but surly the most obvious, your not there.’

Max faulted at both his comments.

‘She met someone?’

‘Yep’

‘Oh well that’s great I hope she’s happy’

‘Look if that’s it I need to go. I guess I’ll see you when you come home at Christmas?’

‘Yeah. Bye Mike’

‘Later Maxwell’


******

Liz looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She knew that she looked huge for someone that was 6 months pregnant but the doctor said it had to do with her petite frame and that everything with baby was fine.

‘Hey Liz, how are the new clothes?’

‘Um not too bad Iz. I’ll be out in a second’

Iz had taken her shopping to buy some new clothes since nothing she or Isabel owned would fit around her stomach any more. The were on there way to lunch in the food court when Isabel brought up the taboo subject.

‘I spoke to Max again last night. He really misses you, you know’

‘I know. I miss him too but it’s better this way Iz. The less people that know the better.’ She replied vaguely but happy with the story she had come up with.

‘When are you gong to tell everyone else?’

‘I don’t know’ she answered honestly’

‘Are you sure that what you doing is the best way to go about it Liz. They are going to be so hurt when they find out’
‘Positive. I will never be able to thank you and Alex for everything your doing for me Iz but I am going to try my best. Thanks for agreeing to be there with me. I know my mum said she would but who knows when I could go into labour’

‘I am honoured you asked me’

With the serious conversation over the girls enjoyed a casual lunch and shopped on well into the afternoon.


A/N - Guys I double posted today because i might not get to post in the next 2 days. Sorry but i am moving house I am also finding the time to update more often because i am on holidays. I have updated all my other fics too so check them out too if you havent already. Alien Hocus Pocus, You've Got Main and Finding a King which are all on the AU Board or posted in work by author.

7.

~2 & a half months later~

‘Come on Lizzie that’s it just breathe’ Isabel soothed her best friend as they sat in the delivery room of the hospital. By all account she was about 3 weeks early but the doctors assured them that everything was fine. Consequently though Liz’s Mum wasn’t in Florida yet and wouldn’t be there for the birth of her first grandchild.

‘Izzy go get Alex. I need to tell you both something’

‘Liz it can wait’

‘No I don’t want to wait. I waited long enough to tell you’

‘Okay’ Isabel replied and then quickly went to grab her boyfriend.

When they both returned Liz waited to the end of her next contraction before starting.

‘I cant tell you guys how much I love you both. Thanks for being here for me. I know you are going to be angry with me when I tell you this, especially you Isabel and before I tell you, you both have to promise that you wont tell anyone.’

‘Of course we promise Lizziebean. Don’t we Iz?’ Liz waited for Isabel’s confirming nod before continued.

‘Max is the dad’

‘What!’ gasped Isabel.

‘Liz why haven’t you told him’ Alex added just as shocked.

‘Because he’s a lying son of a bitch Alex’ Liz bit out as another contraction hit her.

‘He told me loved me and then he got back with Maria. He wants to be with Maria Alex I don’t want him just because I am having his baby. He should live the life he wanted, he has everything he wanted not. Harvard and Maria’

‘Liz that’s not true. Max is miserable without you. Please you have to let me ring him. He can be here in a few hours’

‘No Isabel. Your promised’ Liz cried. ‘I promise you I will run and you will never see you niece or nephew’

‘No Liz please don’t do that. I promise I wont tell him, yet’

‘Isabel’

‘That’s the best I can do for the time being. Why now Liz? Is you didn’t want him to know’

‘Because I am banking on some family traits that might have made it painfully obvious’ she joked, Isabel and Alex both smiled with her.

2 hours later Jackson Maxwell Parker was born into a world to a delighted mother, Aunty and adopted Uncle.

****

Thanksgiving was a lively affair for the threesome and their newest edition. The Parkers had been out for a short visit a few weeks earlier to meet the new edition to their family. Liz had told Michael the true paternity of Jackson when he had jokingly pointed out that Jackson had ears like Evan’s. To say that Michael was livid was an understatement but he rained it in and eventually admitted that the same thing had happened with him and Maria. Well except for the fight they had, the next week she was leaving for Boston with Max. He admitted to his sister his devastation at her betrayal and both had decided that maybe Max and Maria deserved each other after all.

Ring Ring

‘Izzy that’s your cell’ Alex called out to girlfriend who was in the kitchen.

‘Thanks Alex, Hello’

‘Hey sis! Happy Turkey Day’

‘Max, hey thanks, same to you. What are you up to?’ Isabel looked over her shoulder hoping that Liz wouldn’t realise who she was talking too.

‘Um nothing actually and I miss you and Roswell like crazy right now’ the sounds of Jackson whimpering was heard then along with Liz’s unmistakeable voice ‘Izzy do you know what we did with’ she stopped dead in her tracks at Isabel’s head shaking.

‘Iz? Is that Liz? And who’s the baby?’

‘Um yeah that’s Liz we’re having thanksgiving at her Aunts. The baby is Jackson’

The baby in the background was quickly forgotten by Max ‘Would it be ok if I said hi?’

‘He wants to say hi’ Isabel told Liz and held the phone out for her to take it and too take Jackson from her arms.

‘Hello’ she said hesitantly into the phone

‘Hey Lizabelle. Do you know how nice it is to hear your voice? I miss you’

‘How are things Max?’

‘There good. School is hard I could do with a study partner. It’s not too late you know’

‘Believe me when I say that yes it is. Sooner or later Max you are going to have to stop pretending’ she replied.

‘Pretending what Liz?’ he asked confused and hesitantly as Maria walked in the room.

In the background Jackson’s hungry cry brought Liz out of her haze of anger, which was boiling, under the surface.

‘I have to go, did you want to talk to Isabel again?’

‘No tell her I’ll call her later’

‘Oh and Max tell you girlfriend that if she goes near my brother again I’ll fly across the state just to kick her ass’

‘What?’ Max asked confused

‘Later Max’ and she disconnected the call.

A/N Hey guys I'm sorry i left you hanging but i am moving house and i havent got my phone line in the new house yet and wont till Tuesday. So i am at the old house right now so i i dont reply to your feedback or pm's for a few days please know that i am not ignoring you *S*. This part is kind of short so i might post part 9 too. Thanx for reading.

8.

‘I can’t believe we’re home’ Isabel said to her boyfriend and best friend as they made their way down the boarding pass way.

‘Izzy who is coming to pick you up?’ Liz asked concerned.

Alex, Isabel and Michael had finally convinced Liz to come home to Roswell for Christmas. Liz had given in eventually when she realised that there was no reason anyone had to even know Jackson was there. She would spend the majority of her time with her family and was planning on staying with her brother at his apartment rather than with her parents above the restaurant

‘I am getting a lift with Alex actually. I told my parents that I didn’t know what time out flight was getting in. They bought it’ she told her friend. She knew that Liz was concerned about running into her family. Isabel hoped that she would eventually change her mind and allow the rest of her family to enjoy the wonders of Jackson as well, but so far there was no such luck.

~Christmas Day~

Liz and Jackson were celebrating Christmas with her parents and Michael when she decided to call Isabel.

‘How about we call Aunty Izzy hey pumpkin’ she cooed to her 2-month-old son.

Across town Isabel was talking to Alex on her parents line when her cell started ringing in the lounge room. Seeing is ringing Max picked it up and answered it.

‘Hello’

‘Say Merry Christmas to Aunty Izzy pumpkin, can you do that’?

‘Hello, Liz is that you?’

‘Hey Iz, someone wanted to wish his Aunt Izzy a very Merry Christmas and thank her for the all the wonderful gifts he got him’ Liz laughed into the phone.

‘Um Liz it’s actually Max. Izzy is talking to Alex on the other phone’

‘Shit’

‘Who’s that with you Liz?’

‘Um that’s Jackson, can you just let Iz know I called. Thanks Max’

She went to hang up the phone but stopped when she heard him calling out to her ‘Liz wait’

‘Yeah’

‘She’s off now I’ll just hand you over. Merry Christmas Liz’

‘Liz’ Isabel called

‘Oh god Iz I cant believe I just did that!’

‘What happened?’

‘I didn’t wait to hear you answer I just started talking to Jackson into the phone telling him to make a sound for Aunt Izzy’

‘Oh, did he say anything?’

‘Just asked who it was?’

‘What did you say?’

‘I just said it was Jackson and that I had to go. He doesn’t know I am in Roswell does he?’

‘No of course not’

‘Good than the whole connection to the Aunt thing should work’

‘Liz can I show him the photos?’

There was a long silence on the other end.

‘Yeah Iz. I will plan on making a trip to Boston after Christmas to talk to him’

‘You could do it now you know?’

‘No. It’s Christmas I don’t want to ruin it for anyone.’

‘Thankyou Liz you don’t know how happy you’ve made me’

‘It’s me who should be thank you Iz. I don’t know what Jackson and I would do without you and Alex’

‘I love you guys, Merry Christmas’

‘Love you too Iz, Merry Christmas’
[/b]

I'm a sucker 2 chapters in one day

9.

When Isabel got off the phone she ran upstairs to grab the photo book she had of Jackson that didn’t have any from his birth in it. She was heading back down the stairs when she noticed her brother in his bedroom staring at something in his hand.

‘What you got there?’ she asked, startling him out of his.

He lifted his head and looked at his sister and gave her a small smile.

‘I bought this before I got accepted to Harvard. I was going to, you know’ he told his sister as he handed her the black box. Isabel gasped when she opened it and saw the beautiful princess cut diamond.

‘Max this is beautiful but I don’t think it’s really Maria’s type’ she told her brother honestly. ‘Please tell me your not going to do this’

‘Yeah I know, and no I haven’t been planning on doing it for a while. I don’t know what I was thinking when I picked that for Maria, you’re right’

‘I k now what you were thinking, or rather who you weren’t thinking about’ Isabel told him quietly. ‘Things will work out you know’

‘Who do you think I was thinking of then?’ he asked her cautiously.

‘You know maybe you should come home to Florida with Alex and I for a short holiday before you head back to Boston’ she replied avoiding his question.

‘You think?’

‘Yeah I think the warm weather would be nice. Hey I have some photo’s of Jackson that I was going to show Mum and Dad do you want to come and take a look?’ she asked.

Max smiled at his sister, she had a way of making his problems seem smaller in comparison to how he builds them up in his mind. He couldn’t help but think that she was right about a trip to Florida with her. He missed Liz like crazy and thought it was the best opportunity to make things better with her.

He looked at the ring in his hand, maybe this was what he needed to fix things with Maria. Their relationship was happy enough but he knew she doubted his commitment to their relationship and it was urging her to reconsider returning to Boston where he admitted she had never really been very happy. He had hardly seen her since returning to Roswell but she was coming to dinner that night with him and his family.

Placing the ring back in its draw he made his way down to look at the photos his sister wanted to show him. Whoever this little boy was he had become a big part of his sisters life and Liz’s apparently. Before he could get to the lounge room the doorbell rang.

‘Hey’ he said when he saw his girlfriend standing on the other side.

‘Hey’ she responded coolly and handed him a bag of presents.

‘Can we talk?’

‘Sure. Come up stairs’

Isabel saw that her brother was now busy and wouldn’t be sitting with them to look at the photos so began showing her parents instead.

‘This is Jackson, I just wanted to show you some photos of him’ she told them

‘Oh Isabelle he is adorable’ commented Mrs Evans.

‘Who is he Iz?” asked her father.

Isabel didn’t say anything at first and her parent continued to flick through the photos until they got to the one, which was Isabel’s favourite. It was one with her, Liz and Jackson that Alex had taken and Jackson’s little ears were sticking out of the hat that he had on, he looked remarkably like his father.

‘Isabel?’ questioned her mother when she same to the photo. Liz was holding the Jackson the Isabel was holding his little hand.
***

‘When they entered Max’s room he pulled his girlfriend in for a hug and wished her a Merry Christmas.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked when she didn’t respond.

‘I don’t think I am coming back to Boston with you’ she replied.

‘Ok. How come?’

‘I miss Roswell Max. There is nothing for me in Boston’

‘What about us?’

‘I don’t know. You tell me, do you want there to be an us Max? It doesn’t seem like it sometimes?’

‘Maria where is this coming from?’

‘Max we’ve been together for so long and I don’t think you will ever want to make a commitment’

The shoe finally hit. She wanted him to propose to her, she wanted the ultimate commitment. He could understand where she was coming from but was he ready? Was she the one for him forever? A thought of Liz flashed through his mind and then he remembered what Michael had said. She stayed because she met someone.

Making a decision he walked over to his dresser and opened the draw and pulled something out.

‘Maria’

***

‘Isabel?’ Her mother asked again.

Sighing at the fact she knew that she was going to have to lie to her parents for a little while anyhow.

‘He spends a lot of time with Liz’s Aunt in Florida. We’ve kind of got attached’ she told them.

‘Gee he looks exactly like Max did at that age, doesn’t he Phillip?’

Before Phillip could respond they were interrupted by Max and Maria coming into the room. Isabel looked up and saw the look on Maria’s face and automatically knew that something big had happened.

‘Mum, Dad, Isabel, Maria and I have an announcement’ Max told them.
‘What is it son?’ his father asked.

‘We just got engaged’ Maria squealed and than ran over to hug Dianne and Phillips Evans.

‘Congratulations’ their parents told them.

‘Isabel?’ Max asked his sister.

Bending down and picking up the photo album with the pictures of his son Isabel cast a last glance at her brother and his fiancée.

‘I hope that the two of you are very happy. But you have no idea what you’ve done Max’ and she left.

A/N Okay guys as a huge thanks for being so patient with me and for so many of you leaving feedback here is part 10. But guys get that brick ready because if you hate Max now or think Liz is being a bitch you are going to looove part 11 which i will post tomorrow afternoon. I should have my phone line on tomorrow and cant wait to write back to you all. Enjoy

10.

Across town Liz had just put Jackson down for a nap and went in search of her brother who had disappeared for a few hours.

‘Hey’ she said when she found him sitting in one of the booths of the Crashdown.

‘Hey’ he said back.

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked him

‘I have to tell you something. Please don’t be angry with me’

‘What is it Michael?’

‘Maria knows you’re here’ he told her

‘Just me?’

‘Yeah’

‘That’s ok’ she replied with a small smile.

‘That not all. I haven’t been completely honest with you about something but now I need your advice. I don’t know what to do anymore’

Liz nodded indicating that he should continue.

‘Maria and I have been seeing each other still’
‘You mean since she went to Boston with Max?’

‘Yeah. She comes home as often as she can because she doesn’t like it there very much. One day I found her on my door step and well it’s being going on since then’

‘So does she know that you’re in love with her and that what you’re doing could ruin your friendship with one of your best friends?’

‘She says that she loves me too and that she isn’t gong back to Boston’

‘So she is going to break up with him?’

‘I don’t know. We had a fight about it this morning. She says she doesn’t want to hurt him and that in time with them being apart it will be easier but I’m not so sure. I told her I wouldn’t continue on like this unless she broke up with him she left upset and wont answer her phone’

‘Oh Michael I am so sorry. I wish I could tell you to stay away from her but I now that it’s hard but if you want my honest opinion?’

‘Yeah I do’

‘If you really want this then maybe it’s worth fighting for. But then again it sounds like she wants her cake and to eat it too. Be careful I think our history with those two tells us that it usually comes back to bite us in the ass’

****

Isabel and Alex sat quietly as dinner with Isabel’s parents, Max and Maria that night.

‘So have you two thought about when you want to get married’ Dianne asked.

‘Not until after I graduate’ Max told her quickly. The entire table noted the look of confusion on Maria’s face.

‘Can Alex and I be excused please. We are expected somewhere?’ Isabel asked out of nowhere.

‘Where are you expected Isabel? It’s Christmas and you’ve been at the Whitman’s for most of the afternoon’ her father responded.

Isabel looked at Alex pleading with him to make this easier for her. Alex had been just as concerned as Isabel when she had told him what Max had done, and also agreed with Isabel that any decision Liz had to share the news with Max would certainly not go ahead if Maria was to be a permanent fixture. Liz had told them both that she would not loose Jackson too Max’s make believe family. They knew that Liz was right he was pretending, Max was scared of being alone, scared of change and was allowing Maria to manipulate him. They both also suspected that Liz knew more than she was letting on.

‘Actually we wanted to see Michael’ Alex told them truthfully. Michael would be where they were going.

‘Great Maria and I might come. I haven’t seen Michael much since coming home’ Max told them.

‘NO!’ Isabel yelled. ‘I mean no. I think that you and Maria should continue on with your celebration. Don’t mind our departure’ she added sarcastically.

‘Actually Max I need to get home. I am sure my Mum is going crazy with being by herself with Jim and Kyle bye now’

‘Ok well I’ll give you a lift. Is that ok Mum?’ he asked.

‘Sure kids go ahead’ Dianne and Philip told them.

Both couples left separately but would end up at the same destination.

A/N I'm back.. phone line is now working *YAY*

11.

The look of devastation on Liz’s face when they told her the news was expected, it was Michaels reaction and very quick exit that caused quite a stir and a lot of confusion with Isabel and Alex. When they asked Liz she told them it was not her place to tell and so they left it there.

As expected, when it sunk it Liz was furious and any plans of letting Max share Jackson’s life were thrown very swiftly out the window.

An hour later Liz thanked her two best friends for telling her themselves and walked them to the car. None of them saw the figure watching them from the shadows or his look of shock when he saw Liz.

Liz and Jackson were spending Christmas night at the Crashdown since her parents had gone over to have late drinks with some friends. Liz was just getting ready to feed Jackson when there was a knock on the door. Thinking that it was Michael she quickly threw on her robe and opened the door.

‘Forget your key?’

‘Don’t think I was ever given one’ Liz looked up shocked when she realised it wasn’t her brother standing at the door. It was Max Evans.

‘Hi Liz. Can I come in? It’s pretty cold out here’ he asked with a small smile.

‘What do you want?’ she asked when she came out of her shocked state; she made no move to let him into the apartment.

‘I didn’t know you were home for Christmas I was going to ask Isabel to take this back to Florida for you but since you’re here I thought I give it to you personally’ he responded handing her a beautifully wrapped package.
Liz made no move to take it.

‘Liz’

Before Max could continue he was interrupted by Jackson’s loud cries.

‘Shit’ Liz cursed and then took off to the spare room to her son without thinking about the fact that Max was standing in the doorway.

Liz picked up Jackson ‘Hey there pumpkin what’s all the noise about?’ she cooed to her son totally oblivious to the fact that Max had followed her through the apartment and was now standing at her door watching her.

‘You hungry pumpkin? Here you go’ she continued on opening her robe and letting her son take hold of her nipple.

Max stood at the door with his mouth open.

‘Liz!’ a voice yelled from the front of the apartment.

Liz turned around at the sound of the voice and came face to face with a shocked Max Evans.

‘Liz’ Michael yelled again and then stopped when he saw the scene in front of him.

‘What the hell are you doing here Maxwell?’ he snapped.

‘Um’ looking between Michael, Liz and Liz’s son ‘I came to see Liz’

Liz moved and sat down on the bed her heart in her throat at the moment.

‘Michael could you please call Isabel?’ she said trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. Max moved forward and sat on the bed in front of Liz where he began to stroke his son’s thick brown hair.

‘Liz is this Jackson?’

Liz nodded, the tears continuing to fall.

‘Is this why you didn’t come to Boston? Why you’ve been avoiding me?’

Liz nodded again.

‘Liz you should have told me, told us. Maria and I would have been there with you too’

Liz’s head snapped up at his comment and she looked at him in shock, the shock soon turned to anger when she realised that he had no idea that this was his son, he thought that she was with someone else.

‘Didn’t your boyfriend come home with you for Christmas?’

At that comment Liz snapped ‘GET OUT’ she told him.

‘Liz?’

‘GET THE FUCK OUT YOU BASTARD AND YOU AND YOUR BACKSTABBING SKANKY FINANCEE KEEP THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME, MICHAEL AND MOST ESPECIALLY MY SON’

‘Liz calm down it’s not good for Jackson’ cooed Isabel who had just walked in on the scene.

‘GET HIM THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME IZ, TAKE YOU FINANCEE AND GO BACK TO BOSTON MAX. FORGET THE NAME ELIZABETH PARKER AND DON’T EVEN COME ANYWHERE NEAR US AGAIN. YOU DESERVE THAT CHEATING BITCH’’ she yelled again. Isabel had taken Jackson from her at this point and handed him to Alex for burping but the screaming had caused him to cry.

Liz went to her son immediately ‘Oh Pumpkin, mummy’s sorry don’t cry’ she cooed taking him from Alex. Her back was to Max when she placed her son on her shoulder.

Max immediately took a sharp intake of breath when the baby opened his eyes and looked up him. It couldn’t be, he thought to himself but looking back at him was a set of eyes which mirrored his own.