Okay guys, I have a huge appology to make about how long this has taken I know, but hopefully my offering today of two chapters
will go some way to making up for that. I'm really sorry that it has taken so long, but I am immensely grateful for all the feedback you've given me. Basically my last month at work was really crazy, and then I was moving back home at the end of my work placement. Less than two weeks after I did that, I was off to Atlanta to meet some wonderful ladies. After I came back there was my birthday party, and uni to get ready to go back to. I know this probably all sounds like an excuse, but seriously I really haven't had much time on the computer the last few weeks in particular since I got back from holiday. I've kept saying that I'm going to update, and then running out of time, or being called away to do something else.
Anyway, I restarted uni this last week, and finally here I am. I'm so sorry the time it's taken me to update, but I do intend to be updating on a more regular basis again now assuming nothing major happens to stop me.
Dani, behrlyliz, LoveIsforever, Cyn, Ellie, Isabelle, Begonia, Rigel, OmegaRam1, WildSphinx, Liz2Infinity, Sidney and Timelord31, thanks so much for all the feedback and the bumps guys
, it means so much to know that you're all enjoying the story.Dani - I'm glad you liked, the information about Tess will come, but it might take a while, I hope that you'll be patient with me
behrlyliz - I'm glad you liked it. I'm sorry I didn't get back sooner, had a really busy time when moving back home, and then I was on holiday so didn't get to update. I promise I'm going to try and do better in future though. Thanks for the bumps too
LoveIsForever -
you could say that lol - it'll be explained in more detail eventually but life just sometimes throws things at you, and things happen...So Max and Liz and the other timeline got together really young huh?
Cyn - glad to see that you're still reading and enjoying. If you want to ask some questions, you're welcome to, I just won't promise to answer :
. Begonia9508 - I promise all will be explained in time
Ellie - It's amazing what people can deal with if they have to. I'm glad you like the post. Thanks for the bump, sorry it took me so long to get back.
Isabelle - thanks for the feedback as always hun. I'm glad you thought that Michael was in character, I was a little woried about that, but glad you think it worked...well sort of lol.
I couldn't resist putting the bit in with Maria, it was too tempting, and she really is such a sweetie. Of course you're right about it being difficult for Emily though, I can see some very awkward questions coming up, but for now I guess at least she has something familiar to cling to in Liz
Rigel - Emily is definitely going to be confused, and I tend to think it's a fine line as to what she should be told really, being so young.
OmegaRam1 - Welcome to the story, I'm glad you're enjoying it. As for Michael...well, you know Michael, he's never really one to listen to common sense has he?
WildSphinx - glad you're still reading and enjoying
Liz2Infinity - you are going to have to be patient, but I'm looking forward to showing you too
Sidney - Thanks, glad you like the story so far
Timelord31 - welcome to the story, glad you're enjoying it.
So anyway, here's the next two chapters, I hope you all enjoy them and as always I'd love to hear what you think.
Chapter 11
Isabel looked over at Max, wondering how he would take the question. It was a perfectly reasonable one of course, but whether anyone was really ready to talk about it was another matter.
Liz seemed to realise the question wasn’t exactly a welcome one and looked around somewhat apologetically. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry…”
Max, who had been lost in thought, looking down at his ring, looked up at the edge in her voice. He swallowed and shook his head. "No, you're not prying..." He responded. Despite the fact that he knew this wasn't his wife, that he knew this wasn't the same girl he had grown up with, seeing her like this caused exactly the same feelings inside. He didn't want to see her upset, or nervous... In just the same way as would be true for the woman he had lost, he wanted to see her happy, smiling and laughing...
Despite his words, Max didn't volunteer any more information though, and Liz waited in silence, knowing that one of the others would speak, as, when and if, they were ready... She didn't have any right to demand answers... Who was she, a stranger...? A stranger with a familiar face yes, but they no more knew her than she knew them... She knew nothing about their pasts, but already she knew they were far different from her own...
If they wanted to tell her about themselves, that was their choice, and she would just have to wait until they were ready...
"Mommy!"
Although she had been deep in thought, Liz's attention immediately returned to her daughter the moment she heard her voice. She turned quickly to the little girl. "What is it honey...?"
Emily looked around the group, her big brown eyes wide and innocent. She rubbed her stomach. "Me hungry..."
The whole room erupted into laughter. Maria grinned and looked over at Liz. "She is so cute you know..."
Liz shook her head and couldn't help laughing. "Cute, and smart..." She commented softly. Even at two-year-old, her daughter already knew how to play certain people in order to get what she wanted...
Max couldn't help smiling at her. He looked round the rest of the room. "Well, it is probably time for breakfast...how about we all go out and find some...?" He suggested evenly. He knew that breakfast would delay the giving of answers, but that wasn't his primary thought. He just couldn't see the little girl looking like this and not do something about it...
Liz smiled, surprised to some extent how like her Max this one looked right at this moment in time. Emily always knew just how to wrap him round her little finger, and she guessed that it was no different with this Max even if he wasn't her 'father'. How weird was this for him...seeing this little girl, and knowing, that in another reality she was his...? She wondered to herself for a moment before shaking herself out of it. She reached out her hands, beckoning her daughter over as everyone seemed to agree with the idea. "Emily...come here please..." She requested, reaching into her bag again and this time pulling out a brush and blue hair band.
The little girl looked over and immediately ran over, flinging herself around her mother's legs much to the group's amusement. Liz smiled and shook her head. Deftly, she unhooked the arms which were surrounding her legs and lifted the little girl up high, depositing her back on her lap and positioning her sitting forward as she began to brush through her daughter's hair.
Emily giggled as she was lifted up in the air, but as she found herself sat back on her lap, she pouted, inching forward as though to slide back down as her mother paused a moment to get something else out of the bag.
The group watched with curiosity, wondering how this would end up, and they soon got their answer. Just as Emily was about to jump down, Liz reached out, her hand closing on her arm. "No..." She told her daughter softly. The little girl looked puzzled, presumably having thought she wasn't looking, and Liz grinned, indicating the back of her head. "Mommies have eyes here as well remember..." She told her laughing.
This caused another eruption of laughter from the group. As he regained his composure though, Max began to look a little pensive. For all her joviality and laughter, this couldn't be an easy thing for her... In some ways, this Liz was so much younger than the rest of them, yet in others, she had been through so much more than any of them... She had become an adult at such a young age, taking on a responsibility only he could even come close to imagining... He knew how difficult it would have been with Xan had he kept him - not that the difficulty was the reason he gave him away of course, but it would have been hard...and he'd have been eighteen... This Liz was fifteen when she had Emily... She was obviously doing an amazing job...
Liz laughed with the rest of the group, pulling Emily further back onto her lap slightly. "I won't be a minute sweets, have a little patience okay...?" She knew probably it wasn't much good saying that...it wasn't an attribute the little girl was known for but she could hope...
Emily turned round slightly. "Want down!" She insisted, trying to inch forward again.
Liz sighed and shook her head. "NO!" She told her in an even, firm tone. "I want you to sit here a moment so I can finish putting your hair up and then we're going to get something to eat like you wanted okay?"
Apparently placated by the offer of food, the little girl nodded and sat back.
Liz picked up the water bottle she had pulled out of her bag, spraying a little onto her hair and brushing through again. She used her own powers to dry it quickly and then swept the dark locks back into a ponytail. Turning the little girl slightly so that she could check, once she was done she nodded and deposited her back on the floor. Suddenly, she realised that all eyes in the room were focused on her. She blushed slightly. "Sorry...I didn't mean to hold you up..."
The others quickly assured her she wasn't, apologising themselves but explaining that it just seemed a little strange still seeing her like that with Emily.
There was another short silence after this, one which was broken by Max as he asked if everyone was ready. Prompted by this, everyone began to gather jackets and coats, and it was at this point they realised that Liz and Emily's lightweight summer ones were hardly sufficient.
"Izzy...do you or Maria have anything you might be able to loan Liz for now...?" Max asked after a moment's thought. For Emily, he looked over at Liz. "Could I have a look at her jacket a moment?" He held out his hand as he made the request.
Although a little surprised, Liz nodded, passing it over. "Sure...but you know I can manage honestly...I'm more interested in Emily, and I'm sure I would be able to pick something up for her soon enough...as long as we're not going far it shouldn't be a problem..." She told them, feeling exceedingly awkward for putting them out as Maria and Isabel walked over to the closet. The two of them appeared to be discussing something - one obviously liking an idea, the other not... As they heard Liz's comment though, they shook their head. "Honestly, it's not a problem...in fact, we were just saying we do have some stuff you could keep if you wanted..." Maria looked over at Max awkwardly, wondering if he would pick up on the suggestion they were making...
Although he had been studying Emily's jacket carefully, he wasn't oblivious to what was being said. He knew that Maria was referring to his late wife's clothes - which should at least fit her of course. Given their flight from the last place, he hadn't got round to disposing of them yet, and although it might be a bit morbid, maybe that was a good thing...
Liz looked a little uncertain. "I d-don't understand..."
Concentrating a moment, Max didn't answer as he placed his hand on the jacket in his hand, turning the colour from a light blue to a navy, and the material from a cotton to a type of wool. The result was something of a duffle coat - nothing fancy, but practical at least. "How's this...you want to try it on Emily?" He asked, beckoning the little girl over hesitantly given that he didn't want Liz to feel he was overstepping the boundaries.
Realising what he had done, Liz smiled and nodded to show it was okay. The young mother bobbed down next to her daughter and smiled. “Go ahead sweetie…” She watched her little girl go over, allowing Max to help her put it on and smiled again. "Looks good..."
Max nodded, looking up. "The suggestion for you...you might not like it, and I know it might be a bit morbid...but w-e still have Liz's clothes - our Liz..." He explained in a stilted fashion.
Taking in what he was saying, Liz nodded. "Oh...right...I..." She looked uncertain.
Maria stepped forward. "You could simply think of them as a base - you know, the actual clothing...the details I'm sure Isabel or Max could change to your liking so they were yours..." She shrugged. "I-it was just an idea, but from the little you have with you, I'm guessing you don't have tons of money to throw around - much the same as us - and this would be a way to use something we already have..."
Listening carefully to the explanation, the younger girl nodded. She couldn’t deny they were right about money… "O-okay...if you're sure you don't mind..." She looked up at Max, needing to reaffirm this.
He smiled and nodded, surprised in truth how comfortable he actually was with the suggestion... Then again, as Maria pointed out, it did make sense... "Perfectly sure..." He assured the young woman quickly.
Isabel watched as Liz nodded again and then she smiled, reaching into the closet and pulling out a short, dark wool coat along with a thick red jumper. "How about you try these on, and I can make a few quick alterations right now...?" She suggested softly.
For the next five minutes or so, that was exactly what she did. The basic fit of the coat was good - as expected, but Isabel lengthened it, making it a three quarter, and changed the colour from black to brown, altering the neckline slightly as well so that basically you had a completely different coat, and for the jumper she simply changed the colour from red to green. Once done, she stood back and looked at Liz after she had changed into the ‘new’ clothes. "Okay, spin around..." She motioned to her.
Liz rolled her eyes, but did as she was told. "Well, do I pass...?" She asked laughing a little.
Despite himself, Max couldn't help smiling. This wasn't his wife, and he knew he probably shouldn't, but he already felt so comfortable with her... He nodded. "Yes, you no longer look like you came to New Jersey in winter expecting a New Mexico summer..." He commented, trying to resist making the comment which seemed automatic. She was beautiful... The coat wasn't fancy, but it was fitted and certainly made the most of her trim figure. Her long brown hair shone as always, falling down over her shoulders, only held back from her face by two small clips either side, and those big brown eyes glistened like two stars.
The others laughed and everyone smiled. Max had taken care of creating a thick jumper from Emily's thinner cardigan for now, although of course more clothes for her would be a necessary purchase very shortly, and it seemed they were all ready. "Alright then...let's go!" Max motioned to the door and everyone began to head out. As usual Liz reached for the bag with Emily's stuff, but as he had the night before, Max got there first. "It's okay...I got it..." He told her softly, smiling.
Liz couldn't help but smile back and nod. In some ways this was so hard... After what had happened yesterday, seeing everyone here, and alive, it was amazing... Everything was tinged with sadness of course, but the fact that they were there... She shook her head mentally, unable to find the words. It was just amazing... "Thanks..." She responded softly, holding out her hand to Emily. "Come on sweets...lets get something to eat yeah...?"
The little girl grinned and ran over. "Me walk?"
She laughed and nodded. "Alright, but you have to be good..."
Receiving a nod from Emily, the two of them headed out of the room, closely followed by Max. Isabel hung back for a moment, watching her brother, a smile of satisfaction settling over her face. His gaze had been fixed on Liz almost the whole time they were making alterations to the coat, and now as they headed out, she could see his focus was on the brunette child and her mother. She had been delighted to see him so apparently full of energy and it was wonderful to see him smiling again.
Chapter 12
Heading out of the hotel they were staying in, the group walked a little way down the street, crossing over and then continued down one of the small side-streets. A short while later, they found themselves outside the diner at which Max and the others usually went to for breakfast.
"It's not much, but the food's decent and the prices are pretty cheap..." Max commented as he saw Liz looking over the frontage.
She looked over at him and nodded, conscious of the fact that he obviously thought she was looking at it critically... In fact, she was doing anything but, instead actually thinking that it sort of reminded her of the Crashdown...without the tacky theme... "I'm sure it's fine..."
Kyle shrugged. "Well it does us anyway..."
Maria pushed open the door and headed inside, followed by the rest of the group. Immediately they stepped inside, the guy who had been stood behind the counter came over. Although the group had only been in the city about a week, they were already regulars, and the girls were something of favorites with him. "Isabel...don't you look wonderful..." He grinned and called out as he approached. Upon noticing Liz, who he had not seen before, he smiled again at Isabel. "Are you going to introduce me to this third beautiful young lady...?"
She laughed and nodded. "Sure... Martin, this is Liz...a friend..."
He smiled and held out his hand. "Always pleased to meet such a beautiful lady..."
Liz blushed awkwardly but returned the smile, about to thank him for the compliment when she felt a tug on her leg. She looked down.
"Mommy...I'm hungry..." Emily looked up again.
She laughed and shook her head, lifting the little girl up and sitting her on her hip.
Max smiled in amusement and motioned to a table. "How about we all sit down and order something to eat then...since Emily is so hungry..."
Martin looked over at him, noting the fact that Max was carrying the bag for the little girl, but also the lack of a matching ring to his on the young lady's finger. "Oh Max, have you been a naughty boy then...what would your wife think if she saw how like you this little girl looks...?" He commented in a purely teasing manner.
Although not intended, the effect on Max was immediate as the smile dropped from his face, a glazed look passing over his eyes. He dropped the bag he was carrying at the side of the closest table and looked over at Martin sharply. "She's not mine!" He responded in a tight voice. For a moment there, he had allowed himself to pretend that she was...that this was 'his' Liz... But it wasn't...this Liz wasn't the same girl had grown up with...she wasn't his wife...
Isabel bit her lip as she saw the change in her brother. A moment before he was happy and laughing. He had been talking to Liz, and the two of them seemed to be getting on well. Now though, he refused to meet her eyes as he sat down.
Liz swallowed as she heard his response. She blinked in surprise as tears sprang to her eyes, but she pushed them back, telling herself there was no reason for them. Max was simply telling the truth... Emily wasn't his...she wasn't his responsibility...she was hers... She began to feel guilty herself for thinking in any other way... Her boyfriend had meant so much to her...how could she even think for a second of moving on so soon...? Turning her attention to dealing with the little girl in her arms, she excused herself from the group a moment to go and ask about a high chair.
"Max, did you really need to react like that?" Maria asked scoldingly. She had seen the look on Liz's face after his response...
Max looked over at her. "What, I just told the truth!" He replied sharply and then refused to say anything more.
When Liz returned a moment later, followed by Martin carrying a high-chair, she busied herself sitting her daughter in it carefully, avoiding looking over at Max for the moment.
Isabel looked over at her. "Do you need some help Liz...?" She offered softly.
The other girl shook her head. "I'm fine thanks...two years of this makes you something of an expert..." She commented with a weak smile.
The other two girls nodded, not really knowing what to say to that. It was difficult, knowing that she looked so like their friend, and yet that her past was so different... It seemed natural to offer help given it seemed unusual to see her with a child... And yet, this Liz had been a mother for two years...she seemed comfortable with the role, and was obviously coping just fine...
The group ordered some food, and then settled down to wait. Isabel, Maria and Kyle set to trying to involve Liz in some conversation but neither she nor Max seemed interested...
Liz simply sat watching her daughter... She remembered so many other times like this... Sitting in the Crashdown, with Max... Talking... After getting pregnant proper dates became something of a rarity - mainly for monetary reasons - but they spent a lot of time just talking...in the Crashdown, in the Jeep...in her room even... The practice continued after Emily was born because it was 'easy'... It was such a simple thing, but yet it held so many happy memories...
Of course that was over now, she reminded herself... She had to remember that this Max was someone completely different... However hard it might be, she was going to have to make Emily understand that this wasn't her father...she couldn't have her bothering him like that...
"She's a cute kid..."
Liz looked up, surprised given that she had not heard Martin approach. She offered a small smile of thanks. "Yeah..."
"Looks a lot like her parents I think..." He commented softly, his eyes drifting over to Max for a moment too as he set a plate down in front of her.
Liz shook her head awkwardly. "O-oh no...you've got it wrong...she's not his..."
Martin shrugged and nodded. "Whatever you say..." He smiled at her again. "It was nice to meet you Liz...hope you enjoy your breakfast..." With that, he headed back to the counter, already having delivered the food for the rest of the table before hers...
**********
She was beautiful...she was sweet, and lovely...but she wasn't his... Max watched Liz from a distance for a moment as he came back from the rest room... He couldn't help it... There was just something about her... He knew it was wrong...and yet seeing her like that... He shook his head, his gaze never faltering as he watched her as she lifted Emily out of the high chair and onto her lap. She he saw her lips move, although he was too far away to hear her voice, as she spoke softly to the little girl, giving her a kiss and then holding her safely on her lap as she leant over to pull something out of the bag.
As she offered the object to the little girl, Max recognised it as being the doll she had been playing with earlier... DeDe... He smiled. Everything about the scene seemed so normal...so basic... A perfect scene of family life... A father watching the mother of his child... Except he wasn't Emily's father... Liz wasn't his wife, and Emily wasn't his child...
Part of him felt as though he already knew Liz, and then another knew she was really just a stranger... Even from the little she had told so far, he knew her life had been completely different to his own... She had been pregnant with ‘his’ child at fourteen... He hadn't managed to work up the courage to speak to her at that point... Yet in her reality, she had known him...she had loved him... They had shared an unbelievable experience... What had life been like for them...?
"She's good looking..."
He looked round, surprised by Martin as he spoke. He didn't like the way he was looking at her... He knew it shouldn't, but it bothered him... "Yeah..." He responded stiffly, biting back the urge to tell him where to go. It wasn't his place...
"Maybe I'll ask her out sometime...assuming I wouldn't be treading in your toes of course...?" Martin looked at Max questioningly.
He shook his head awkwardly. "N-no...of course not..." He replied, his tone sounding something like he was trying to convince himself as much as he was the other guy... The idea of Liz with someone else...even though he knew she wasn't 'his'...it just cut into him... As much as he tried to tell himself it didn't matter, that it wasn't his concern, he just couldnt ignore it...
Martin shrugged. "Okay, well I might just try that then..." He stood watching the table of young people for a moment, apparently oblivious to the dagger-like looks Max was shooting him, before heading over as a new group walked into the diner and he went to seat them.
Max took in another breath, telling himself again that it didn't matter, before continuing on back to the table to rejoin his friends.
**********
Shaking her head mentally as she watched her brother, Isabel sighed. That morning Max seemed to have come so far...and yet now...now he was back to square one... He was hardly speaking, and even when he did, he refused to even acknowledge Liz was there it seemed...
It wasn't that she didn't realise it must be hard for him...it was strange to all of them seeing Liz walking around after seeing her body... For Max, to see the image of his wife walking around, and yet know it wasn't her...it must be heartbreaking... But she knew it was little better for Liz...
And yet despite all this, the two of them had been getting on so well... They had been smiling, talking... Both looked happy...really happy...
But now...? Now her brother looked as though he wanted to lock himself back up in his room, away from everyone, and Liz didn't look much better... She was certain that they both had a lot to work through...it was understandable... Better would be to work through it all with someone though, maybe even each other, together... No one said they had to be lovers, but they had a lot in common, and if anyone could understand what the other was going through, it was Max and Liz. A friendship between the two could be a huge step towards each of them moving on…
Unfortunately, it seemed, both Liz and Max were determined for the moment to do this alone...
"Isabel...?"
She looked up in surprise at the sound of her voice. Isabel swallowed. "W-what...?" She asked almost hesitantly.
Maria laughed and shook her head. "I don't know about Max not paying attention...but you're doing a pretty good impression of zoning yourself..." She commented in an amused tone.
She gave a wry smile, her eyes now fixed on the figure of the young brunette. "Sorry...I guess I have other things on my mind..."
She nodded slowly. "I think we all do..."
"Yeah..." Isabel nodded back in agreement, sighing and forcing herself to quit her contemplations, at least for the moment. "I-I'll be right back..." She stood up and exited quickly, hurrying away from her friends still sat at the table before anyone could ask if she was okay...
(j/k)) Thanks to anyone that's reading this story, I just hope that you're all enjoying it.
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