Thanks everyone, enjoy the new part 
Thirty-Five
2 weeks later
“Hello?” Isabel answered breathlessly.
“Hey Iz,” Max greeted his sister.
He had made a point to ring her at least once a week since he had moved to New Haven. It surprised him sometimes how much he truly missed both her and Michael. They had been together most of their lives and it was hard adjusting to life without each other.
“Max hi!” Isabel replied excitedly.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m good.” she replied.
“And the baby?” he asked. He hated that he couldn’t be there to check on things for her but so far everything seemed to be going well, and Max made sure he checked in with Alex too knowing that Isabel left things out to avoid worrying him about things.
“Good too.” she grinned.
“Great,” he sighed in relief.
“How about you?” Isabel asked.
Max smiled. He wanted to tell Isabel about Liz’s pregnancy but they had agreed to wait until Liz and Max were able to share the news with their families, something they were planning on doing soon.
“I’m great,” he told her.
“I’m really happy for you Max. How’s Liz?”
“She’s good too; things are working out better than I ever dreamed. I know I made the right decision Iz, but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss you.”
“I know,” Isabel agreed. “I’m just sorry that it hurt Tess so much,” she admitted.
Max nodded. “How is she?” he asked.
Isabel sighed. “Truthfully, not good Max but at least she’s gone back to work. I don’t hear from her very much so I make a point to ring her and drop by.”
“Thanks,” Max told her.
“She’s my friend too Max,” Isabel reminded him.
“I hate to ask you this but has she said anything about my stuff?” he wondered. It wasn’t like he was in a big rush to get any of the things that belonged to him in the apartment but he figured the longer it was left the harder it would be when he finally got around to collecting them.
“No.” she replied.
“Do you mind packing my stuff up?” Max asked.
“I will but I think you should call her about it. It shouldn’t be up to me,” Isabel told him.
“You’re right,” He agreed. “I’ll ring her tonight,” he promised.
“What about your car?” Isabel asked then. It had been sitting in her driveway for the past three weeks but Max would have to decide what he wanted to do with it too eventually.
Max frowned. He loved his 4WD and he hated the idea of getting rid of it but it just wasn’t practical to keep it and he didn’t really want to drive it back to New Haven.
“I guess I will have to sell it,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Do you think you could ask Alex if he could organise it for me? If not I can ask Dad.”
“No, I’m sure Alex won’t mind.” she assured him.
“Great. Thank you Isabel.”
“It’s ok.”
“Have you spoken to Michael recently?” Max asked then.
“Yeah actually he called last night,” she smiled. “I think he finally got the hint that if he didn’t ring and check in like he was supposed to he’d get an unwelcome visit.”
Max chuckled. “How are they doing?” he asked.
It had been a couple of weeks since he had spoken with Michael but he knew that things were going ok in New York. Michael had managed to get a job which he was enjoying and Maria was working hard on her album.
“Good. He said he doesn’t see Maria much but it’s not so bad,” she replied.
“Good, good.” Max smiled.
“Max I have to go.” Isabel said then, “but I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
“Ok Iz.”
“Thanks for calling,” she told him.
“I love you Iz,” Max whispered.
“I love you too little brother,” she grinned.
***
Max sat nervously with Liz in the Doctors office. This was the first appointment that he was attending with Liz and today they got to see the baby.
“You ok?” Liz asked.
Max smiled. “Just anxious.”
“It’s ok. Everything will be fine,” she said.
“I know, I guess I’m excited too,” he revealed.
“Me too,” she told him.
Liz knew it was too early to find out the sex of the baby. She suspected that Max could find out, or possibly even knew, but she thought she might like for it to be a surprise.
“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” she decided to ask.
“I don’t mind,” he replied. “You?”
“I think I want to wait,” she told him. “Is that ok?”
Max chuckled. “It makes it a little hard but I’ll do my best not to stumble upon the information,” he promised.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Liz Parker?” the receptionist called then.
Liz and Max stood then. “The doctor’s ready for you,” she smiled at them.
“Thanks,” they nodded before making their way into the office.
***
Tess looked at the phone as it rang and contemplated whether to answer it. She knew it would only be Isabel or Kyle. They were the only ones who ever called her anymore and she didn’t want to talk to either of them.
“Hi. You’ve reached Max and Tess. Leave us a message.”
She felt the emotion build as she heard her voice. It was happy voice because it was taped during a time she was happy. But now thanks to Max and Liz Parker she would never be happy again.
“Hi Tess.”
Her eyes darted to the phone when she heard his voice.
“I wanted to talk to you but I guess you’re not home.”
She stumbled to the phone and picked it up.
“Hello?” she said breathlessly.
The phone was silent as Max contemplated what to say now that he was talking to her.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Lonely, sad. I miss you,” she replied.
“I’m sorry,” he told her.
“Are you coming home to me?” she asked.
On his end, Max closed his eyes. “No,” he whispered.
Immediately a sob erupted from Tess’s throat. “I’m so sorry,” he told her. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
Tess didn’t reply for a few seconds. “What do you want then?” she almost snapped at him.
“I wanted to talk to you about my stuff,” he told her.
“Oh,” she whispered.
“If it’s ok Isabel is going to come over and pack it up for me.”
“You’re not coming yourself?” she asked.
“No,” he told her. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea,” he added.
“Please Max, just come home. Whatever I did we can fix it,” she cried.
“I wish it was that simple Tess but it isn’t,” Max told her. “You can’t help who you love, and I love Liz.”
“What about me? You’re just going to cut me off?” she cried. “I haven’t heard from you since you left and now you ring me to tell me that you’re going to send your sister over to pack up your stuff?”
“I’m sorry,” he told her again. “But I think it’s for the best.”
Tess shook her head. “Best for you Max or me?”
Max sighed. “Best for both of us. I don’t want you to think that I’m coming back to be with you, because I’m not. I just think you need time to accept it and my presence would just confuse you.”
“Whatever you tell yourself to feel better Max,” she snapped bitterly.
Max hated this side of Tess. It wasn’t the first time he had been subject to it and he knew it wouldn’t be the last. He would accept her scathing words, and anger because he deserved it. He certainly deserved a lot more.
“I’ll tell Isabel to come by when you’re at work,” he informed her.
“What about the apartment?” she asked then.
“The lease is almost up, I’ll let the agent know I won’t be living there any longer and I’ll leave it up to you to work out a new lease.”
Tess shook her head sadly. It was silly to get her hopes up but when she had heard his voice, she hadn’t been able to stop herself. Hadn’t she known that this time would come; there wasn’t an awful lot in the apartment that she thought he would like but the idea of Isabel coming in and packing up Max’s life with her broke her heart.
“I’ll talk to you soon Tess. Look after yourself” Max whispered.
He waited for her to speak but when it was obvious, she wasn’t going to say anything he gently placed the phone down on the cradle.
***
Tess slowed as she pulled her car up out the front of Isabel and Alex’s house. Max’s 4WD sat in the driveway and she felt her excitement grow. She had known he would come back for her. He hadn’t been able to let go of her any more than she had been of him.
She was practically out of the car before she had pulled it to a halt and she took of in a run towards Isabel’s front door.
When Alex opened the banging door he was almost barrelled over when Tess pushed past him.
“Tess…what?”
“Where is he?” she asked excitedly.
Alex frowned. “Who?”
“Max,” she said. “I know he’s here. His car is in the driveway.”
Hearing the commotion Isabel made her way into the hallway and frowned as she watched the conversation between Tess and Alex unfold.
“I’m sorry Tess but Max isn’t here. He’s in New Haven,” he informed her.
“But his car!” Tess objected.
“Tess, Max left the car at the airport and Alex and I picked it up,” Isabel told her knowing she needed to step in.
“But…”
“Max asked us to sell it for him,” she added.
“NO…” Tess cried.
Alex and Isabel watched then as Tess sunk to the floor in a sob. They didn’t know what they could do for her.
A second later, as quickly as she had fallen, Tess rose and rushed towards the bathroom with Isabel hot on her heals.
“Tess are you ok?” Isabel asked after she watched Tess be sick in her porcelain toilet.
Tess shook her head. “I think I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
Thirty-Six
Isabel knocked on the apartment door with determination. Her encounter with Tess the day before was still fresh in her mind.
“Tess open up the door,” she yelled.
A minute later when Tess still hadn’t come to the door Isabel used her powers to enter. She knew that she was inside and she wouldn’t let her avoid her a second longer.
Once inside Isabel found the smaller blonde still in bed.
“Go away Isabel,” she said.
“Tess you can’t do this.” Isabel said as she pulled the covers back.
“Leave me alone,” she grumbled.
“Tess did you mean what you said yesterday, are you pregnant?” Isabel asked.
“I’m not sure, I think so,” she replied.
“How can you not know?” Isabel demanded.
“Yes ok Isabel, I am,” Tess sat up and cried.
Instantly Isabel felt bad. “Oh Tess I’m sorry. It’s just that if you really are pregnant then you need to tell Max, especially if you’re feeling sick.”
Tess cried harder now. “I think something’s wrong Isabel,” she said.
“Why what’s wrong?” Isabel asked.
“Something doesn’t feel right but I can’t work out why,” she replied.
“Tess you need to talk to Max,” Isabel stated.
“Why? He won’t care.”
“Of course he will,” Isabel insisted.
Tess covered her stomach with a hand then and smiled. “I always wanted to have a family with Max,” she admitted.
“I know,” Isabel said. She knew that the news of Tess’s pregnancy would shatter Max, and most likely his relationship with Liz. Max would feel obligated to be there for Tess and she knew it wasn’t where his heart lied.
“I really need him right now Isabel,” she cried.
“I know.” Isabel said. “Do you want me to call him?” she offered.
“No!” she cried.
“Tess you have to tell him.” Isabel insisted.
“I know.”
“You should ring him, especially if you think something is wrong,” she added worriedly. “He can help, you know he can.”
“You’re right,” she agreed.
Isabel sighed in relief, at least she gotten through to her.
“I’ll ring him,” Tess agreed.
Isabel opened her handbag then, pulled out a piece of paper, and jotted down Max’s work number for her. She thought it would be best not to give her Liz’s home number.
“Here’s his number at work,” she said.
“Thanks.” Tess smiled.
“Do you want me to stay?” Isabel offered.
“No, I’ll call him I promise. Just give me some time to work out what I’m going to say.”
“Ok,” she agreed. Isabel studied Tess then, she didn’t look well but there were no obvious signs that there was something seriously wrong with her or the baby but something had obviously convinced Tess that there was.
“Tess can you feel the baby, you know the connection?” Isabel asked.
Tess nodded. “That’s how I know something is wrong,” she said.
“Ok,” Isabel frowned. “Ring him Tess, if you don’t I will,” she added.
***
Liz giggled as Max kneeled down in front of her and pulled up her work shirt so that he could place butterfly kisses on her stomach.
Liz’s stomach had began to show a lot more in the past week and Max appeared to love it. Soon Liz knew it would be impossible to hide it from the people she worked with.
“Max,” Liz cried as his lips tickled her. “Stop it.”
Max grinned up at her. “I’m just saying hi to our little one,” he told her.
“I know and he or she says hi back,” she told him.
Lovingly Max cupped her stomach. “God I can’t wait to meet him,” he whispered.
Liz smiled back happily. “Me either,” she agreed.
Reluctantly Max rose to his feet and pulled Liz to him. “I should get back to work,” he said. They had just enjoyed another nice lunch together one of the things that they had learned to cherish in the past few weeks. Neither one of them took any of the time they spent together for granted anymore. It had taken them too much, and too much hurt for them to be together to not appreciate every second they now had.
Liz kissed him sweetly. “Ok,” she agreed.
“I love you Liz,” Max whispered. He often found it hard to believe that she had been able to forgive him for everything that he had put her through. For the months of waiting for him to make a decision. It astounded him that it had taken him so long, he was an idiot. He could have had months of bliss with her rather than only the one they had just shared. Max knew if it took every last breath in his body he would make it up to her; he would prove to her every day that he loved her and only her. He would show her that she and their baby were his life.
Liz’s smiled brightened, she would never tire of hearing it, and in fact, she was convinced that she needed to hear it from him so that she could be sure that it was real, that he really had picked her.
“I love you too.” she replied.
***
Tess picked up the phone and looking at the number Isabel had written down for her, dialled nervously.
Was she really doing the right thing?
Would Max even care?
There were a million questions going around her head but when the phone was answered, she knew that it was too late. Her decision had been made.
***
Max frowned as his phone rang again. It hadn’t stopped all afternoon and he was struggling to get any work done.
“Max Evans,” he greeted crisply.
The phone was silent.
“Hello?”
“Max?” the voice asked hesitantly and extremely quietly.
“Yes, who’s this?” he asked.
“It’s me, Tess,” she replied.
Max was surprised. “Hi Tess, what’s up?” he asked.
The phone was silent for a few more seconds and Max was just about to ask if she was still there when she finally spoke again.
“I’m sorry to call you at work. It’s the only number Isabel gave me.”
“It’s ok,” he said. “Is something wrong?” he asked. Her behaviour was erratic but according to Isabel, she had been like this since he had left her.
“I need you to come home Max,” she told him.
Max sighed, he didn’t need this today. “Tess you know I can’t,” he told her. “I’m sorry but…”
“I’m pregnant Max,” she interrupted him.
Max froze. “What?” he asked.
“The baby, I think there’s something wrong,” she cried. “I need you to come home.”
Tess was pregnant. No, it wasn’t possible he hadn’t been with her for months.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
Tess resisted the urge to yell at him, angry that he would doubt her word.
“Of course I am,” she snapped. “It's yours,” she added just in case he had any doubt.
“Tess…”
“I’m sick Max, the babies sick,” she cried again. “You need to come home.”
Max felt like he was in an ocean and was being pulled under then, along with the world around him. How could this be happening just when he had finally gotten everything he had ever wanted, just when he had gotten Liz? Oh and Liz, she was pregnant. Of course, no one knew this but she would be heart broken when she found out that Tess was also claiming to be carrying his baby.
“I’ll make arrangements,” he choked out.
“Thank you Max,” she smiled happily.
“I’ll see you soon,” he said before he placed the phone down.
***
He had been quiet all afternoon and now Max was staring at her like something was very wrong.
“Are you ok?” she asked as picked up her drink and took a small sip.
“No,” he shook his head and tears instantly filled his eyes.
Alarmed Liz rushed towards him, it was a very rare occurrence to see a man, especially Max, brought to tears.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I love you Liz, so much and I love this life we have together.”
“Me too,” she agreed.
“I don’t want it to change, or for things to end.”
“It won’t,” she promised but her worry only increased. “What happened Max?” she asked.
“Tess called,” he whispered.
“Ok, what did she want?” Liz asked sinking into the seat next to him as she waited for him to talk to her.
“She says she’s pregnant,” he choked out.
Liz gasped and her hand covered her heart. “What? No that’s not possible,” she denied. “Is it?” she asked then.
Max looked at her guiltily. “In theory yes,” he admitted.
Max knew that including the last month he’d been with Liz, that it had been at least another 2 months prior to that the last time he had been with Tess intimately. So it was possible that she was pregnant what Max couldn’t understand was why it had taken her so long to work it out, or in fact to tell him.
Tears filled Liz’s eyes.
“I’m so sorry Liz,” he whispered. “She says the baby is sick, she wants me to come home.”
“Are you going to?” Liz asked choking back a sob.
“I don’t want to,” he whispered. “But I have to, if she’s sick, if the baby is really sick…”
Liz reluctantly nodded and her hand unconsciously moved to cradle the life growing inside of her.
“Does this change everything?” Max asked.
Liz looked at him surprised. “Do you want it to?” she wondered.
“No, I want to be with you and the baby; I love you, that hasn’t changed.”
“But now you have to look after Tess and her baby too,” she whispered hurt.
“I, yes,” he said his head falling.
Liz stood then. “You should go,” she told him, “make sure the baby is ok.”
Max nodded feeling completely defeated. “But I’m coming with you,” she whispered.
Max’s gaze snapped to Liz’s instantly. “You are?” he asked hopeful.
“We’re in this together now Max, remember? You promised me that me and the baby came first that hasn’t changed has it?” she asked.
“No,” he replied quickly. They would always be his first priority.
“Then I’m coming with you, we’ll go to Roswell and tell our parents about our baby,” she smiled thinking of how happy her parents would be, “then we’ll deal with Tess, and if she’s pregnant we’ll work something out,” she said.
There was no way that she was going to give up Max now, she and the baby both needed him, and she had her doubts about Tess’s claims. Hell she’d always had her doubts about Tess.
“I love you so much,” Max cried, crushing her body to his.
“Just promise me that it’s you and me, always me and you,” she pleaded.
“Always and forever, Liz, always and forever,” he whispered.
