Post
by Zanity » Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:47 pm
A/N: Thanks for the feedback everybody. This part's a little long but the last one was quite short so it evens out... Enjoy!
Chapter 6 -- Consequences
September 1st, 2000
I’m Liz Evans and it’s time to get back to reality. Max still has nightmares of the white room every now and then. It still amazes me that the parts which wake him up screaming in terror are the parts when Pierce starts in on me. Pierce performs all kinds of horrors on him and he tosses and turns but the moment I’m in danger he wakes up in panic. It’s humbling how much he cares about me. I’ve had a great summer traveling the world, loving my husband, and learning to use the gifts I’ve received as a result of becoming alien royalty. But tomorrow we’ll be back in Roswell, and this dream we’ve been living this summer may just com crashing down around our heads. Max is confident he’ll be able to work everything out, I just wish I shared his optimism. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow, but until then I’m Liz Evans and I’m scared.
After Max and Liz checked in to the hotel they spent their wedding night in, just a half hour drive from Roswell, the pulled out their phones and started making phone calls to prepare for their return.
*********
Liz called Maria on her cell.
“Hello?” Maria answered.
“Hi Maria.” Liz began.
“Oh my god, Liz it’s you! What’s up? Why are you calling? Is something wrong? Where have you been? And what’s the big idea running off and not saying goodbye?....” Maria rambled.
“Calm down Maria! I’m fine. Everything’s OK. It’s just, Max and I will be arriving back in Roswell tomorrow, and we needed to know what you guys told our parents when they questioned you before we call them and arrange for the inevitable confrontation with them.” Liz interrupted.
Maria calming down said, “Alex and I told your parents that wherever you were, as long as Max was with you, you’d be safe because of how overprotective Max is. And we even talked them into pretending you were spending the summer in Florida with your aunt so we wouldn’t have to deal with an irate Tess all summer. Isabel and Michael took care of the Evans you’ll have to talk to one of them about that.”
Liz responded, “Yeah, Max is on the phone with Isabel as we speak. By the way, we need to talk to the whole gang when we get back tomorrow. We have big news, both local and Czechoslovakian, but uh, leave Tess and Kyle out of the initial meeting you guys will need to know first, because Tess is going to be unpredictable when she finds out, and Kyle just really isn’t part of our group yet. So have the rest the gang meet us at the quarry at say 1:00 tomorrow.”
Maria answered, “No worries Liz, we’ll be there minus Kyle and the gerbil.”
Liz finished, “Thanks Maria. See you tomorrow.”
*********
Max called Isabel on her cell.
Isabel, noting Max’s number on her caller ID, arranged for a little impromptu privacy and answered, “What’s going on Max, Where are you?”
Max responded, “Hey, Iz! We’re in a hotel just outside of town. We’re coming home tomorrow and I’m just about to call our parents and arrange a meeting with them, but first I need to know what you guys told them when they questioned you.”
Isabel replied, “We told them that you and Liz probably just got stressed out between finals, playing counselor to the rest of the gang, and trying to cope with you own problems too; so, one of you had obviously planned a little get away so you could help each other out instead of worrying about the rest of us. Then after talking things over with Maria and Alex, I made another note that looked like you had left alone… without Liz and made sure mom and dad would cover for you with everyone else so we wouldn’t have to deal with an upset Tess.”
“Thanks, Iz; by the way, we need to have a meeting tomorrow, just the original six of us, 1:00 at the quarry. Liz and I have some news, how did Liz put it, oh yeah, both local and Czechoslovakian.” Max stated.
“Don’t tell me that’s their code word for… oh well, it could be worse. So until 1:00 at the quarry, then you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.” Isabel finished.
“Bye Iz.” Max said as he hung up.
*********
Max and Liz looked at each other and took a deep breath, the next calls were the hard ones; the next calls were their parents.
*********
Liz called home and waited nervously as the phone rang.
Jeff answered, “Hello?”
Liz sheepishly responded, “Hi, dad.”
“Liz! Are you ok? Where have you been?” Jeff immediately questioned.
“I’m fine dad. Everything’s OK. I just called to tell you Max and I will be arriving home early tomorrow and we want to arrange a meeting with all four of our parents; we have a lot to discuss. Would 6:00 tomorrow morning, in our living room be OK?” Liz questioned.
Jeff answered, “6:00 tomorrow it is then, and you better have a lot of answers for us.”
“We will dad, see you then.” Liz finished and hung up.
*********
Max dialed his house and waited.
Diane answered, “Hello?”
“Hi, Mom.” Max replied.
“Max! Is that you? Where have you been? Is everything alright? When are you coming home?” Diane queried.
“Whoa Mom, yes it’s me. Long story. Yes, everything is fine. Tomorrow early, that’s why I called we need you and Dad to meet us at the Parkers at 6:00 tomorrow morning. We have a lot to discus and we need everybody together to do it.” Max responded.
Diane quickly agreed, “Yes, we’ll be there. I’ll see you then and I agree we have A LOT to discus.” before she hung up.
*********
“Well that went as well as can be expected.” stated Max.
Liz took a deep breath and said, “I’d have to agree.”
Max set the alarm for 4:00 and said, “I now its only 5:00 now but we’ll need a good nights sleep tonight so let’s shower and head to bed.”
As Max and Liz washed each other in the shower they used their healing abilities to relax all the muscles in each others bodies. This left them both so relaxed that when they got out of the shower they both went straight to bed and were out before their heads hit the pillows.
*********
As the alarm goes of both Max and Liz wake up and christen the new day to calm their nerves for the up coming meetings. They then get dressed and check out and begin the last leg of their trip back to Roswell.
*********
Max picks Liz up out of the jeep, she’s holding a box with the binders and videotapes Max prepared for their parents inside, and he carries her into her parents’ living room where he sets her down and prepares to face the four angry parents sitting in the room. Liz sets the box she’s holding down and takes her place by Max’s side, then Max begins, “Mom, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Parker Liz and I got married.”
This statement is of course answered by a chorus of “What!?” from all the parents. In the pandemonium that follows the following can be made out…
Nancy questioning, “Liz, are you pregnant?”
Jeff renouncing, “No you didn’t!”
Philip proclaiming, “It can’t be legal, we’ll just have it annulled!”
Diane stating in shock, “Oh my…”
The rest of their statements, questions, and accusations are lost to noise being created by the other parents.
Liz braces herself in her husband’s arms, while Max shakes his head and waits for them to calm down. After a few minutes of continued yelling, he decides to get things back under control, and in a tone of authority befitting his role as king he hollers, “QUIET!” As the parents quiet down, Max continues still in a tone of authority, “I know what you guys are thinking and I know most of what your objections are going to be so if you’ll let me explain I can answer your concerns a whole lot more efficiently than the shout fest I just witnessed could. Even criminals are entitled to a defense, so I ask that you hear us out before you pass judgment. Can I count on you to do that?” He looks pointedly at each parent soliciting a dejected “Yes” from each one before he continues.
“Now first off Liz is not pregnant, if she were this conversation would be a lot simpler, we wouldn’t need your permission. We’d just inform you that we’re married and you’d have to deal with it. As it is this conversation is a little more complicated but our lives are in much better shape.” Reaching into the box he started pulling out the binders and tapes and hading one to each parent as he continued, “Second you’re right dad it technically isn’t legal yet and any one of you has the right to get it annulled, however just as our choices have consequences so do yours. I’m handing each of you a binder and a video. The video is of our wedding ceremony. The cover on the binder has one of our wedding photos, as you open the binder the first page is a copy of our wedding license. The next two pages are copies of the consent forms I forged.” Reaching into the box he pulled out a folder and removed two pieces of paper and placed them on the table before continuing, “These are replacement forms all filled out requiring only your signatures. Hopefully by the time Liz and I are done we will have convinced at least one of each of our parents to sign these making our marriage legal. The next two pages in the binder are copies of each of our birth certificates; the next few contain copies of our current driver’s license and passports in Liz’s case both with her maiden name and her married name. The rest of the binder is filled with pictures of us in various places we went on our honeymoon.”
Max paused for a moment so the parents could look through their respective binders, then began again, “Now I know you’re probably thinking this was irresponsible and that we’re ruining our lives, but that’s not the case. It may not be a decision you approve of, but we made it full well considering the consequences and are planning on facing those together. I know we’re young, I hadn’t planned on doing this quiet this soon but believe me when I tell you that this marriage was and is going to happen one way or another; even if it takes us another two years to pull it off until we’re both 18 and you’ll have no more say in it, it’s going to happen. Now originally I hadn’t planned on proposing till later this year or maybe even next year, and then I originally planned on us getting married the summer after graduation. Then we would move in together when we both went to Boston, Liz to Harvard, me too if I got accepted if not I’d be going to another college or university in Boston. On the original timetable I’m sure none of you would have had any huge problems with it, but either way we’d be 18 and you could either accept us or not that would be your business.”
Taking a deep breath he continued. “However, some things happened, at the end of the spring, that are too personal to go into right now and we were forced to move up the schedule. Now this has the following consequences that need to be addressed, first now we need your support, now you actually do have the power to stop us, second we need to do something about living / sleeping arrangements for the next two years. In order to discuss those topics properly I’m going to overview a best case and worst case scenario from our point of view followed by what we are realistically hoping for.”
Meeting their parents eyes he states, “Best case would be that all four of you sign your permission and give us you full support. Mr. and Mrs. Parker let us move into the apartment behind the Crashdown that they fixed up for Liz’s Grandma Claudia. Next spring on our first anniversary we have a wedding ceremony to renew our vows with all our friends and family present. This gives Mr. Parker his chance to walk Liz down the aisle, and Liz the chance to have her maid of honor and brides maids and throw the bouquet and me a chance to have my best man and throw the garter etc. Then when we graduate we both go to college in Boston as originally planned and we’re back on track.”
He pauses to let that sink in before continuing, “Worse case all four of you fight us on this as much as possible. You annul our marriage. You send us off to boarding schools on opposite sides of the country. Liz and I file for emancipation to avoid this and fail. We try to run away and you get the sheriff or other law enforcement official to track us down. March comes around and I turn 18 and transfer myself to a school wherever Liz is. I help her try for emancipation one more time so that we could try and get married again on our first anniversary, but fail. October comes around and Liz turns 18 and transfers out of boarding school and we move in together. We both graduate. On our second wedding anniversary we invite our friends to be witnesses while we elope again. And we work our way through college wherever we can.”
Once again he pauses to let the parents digest what he said before continuing, “What we’re realistically hoping for is that we convince at least one of each of our parents to go ahead and sign their permission legalizing our marriage. Then we either, find and rent our own apartment; or if the Parkers agree, we could arrange to rent the apartment in back of the Crash. We understand that we are asking for the rights and privileges that belong to the adult world; and that with rights and privileges come responsibilities and obligations. So realistically if we want the right to be married we need to accept the responsibility of paying our way. But we also know that if Michael can make a go at it with one income, then we should be able to with two. It may not be as fun or as pretty as life at home with you paying our way, but if that’s the price we pay for being together so be it. Then we’d still want the wedding ceremony next summer and we’d still plan on college in Boston.”
He pauses to solidify his composure before he continues, “The next thing I need to address is the fact that there are multiple parts of marriage, and while you may have the power to annul the legal contract, Liz and I will still be married in our hearts and minds. We will still honor our vows to each other, and we will refuse to take off our rings.” *Not to mention we’ll still be married by Antarian Law.* he states through his connection to Liz before finishing, “Lastly I’ll address the most important issue regarding marriage; our feelings for each other. I love Liz with all my heart, I have since the day I first laid eyes on her and I will until the day I die. She is the love of my life and she completes me in a way no one else can. I’d give my life to protect her and would willing pay any price if would make her happy. In fact in Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 5 Juliet asks Romeo to stay longer and he responds with his willingness to stay and face his death simply because it is her desire, I know for a fact that given a similar situation I would respond in kind to Liz’s desires. She is my life and I will not live without her.”
That’s when Liz spoke up saying, “Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Mom and Dad, Max has done most of the speaking here because he’s better in these situations than I am but there is part of this you need to hear from me and that’s my feelings for him. I love him, not as in a school girl crush, not as in puppy love, but I truly deeply love him with my entire being. He’s my soul mate. I never told you this before but I was in the room when grandma died, and for just a few moments she regained consciousness, Max was there at the time to support me so he can verify that I’m telling you the truth. Anyway, when she woke up I told her she meant the world to me and that I didn’t know how I was going to go on without her. She told me that I’d be fine that when she looked at me so excited about life that she saw herself. She said that was a gift that she’d take with her. Then she asked me to promise her one thing, that I’d follow my heart wherever it may lead me. I gave her that promise and then she passed on. That sort of makes it her last request and I plan to fulfill it. The thing is my heart belongs to Max, it’s in his possession and the only place my heart can ever lead me is someplace with him. Even if I don’t know Max as well as I know I do and he someday breaks my heart and shatters it into pieces, every last piece of that shattered heart would still belong to him. And following my heart would still bring me back to him. There will never be another Max in my life and I beg you to please support us in this decision.”
After Liz’s speech Max could sense that it left her emotionally drained so he picked her up and stated, “This conversation and the anticipation of it has been hard on Liz. I’m taking her to her room so she can get some sleep. You should watch one of the tapes of our wedding video. Then, if you have any unanswered concerns, I’ll be in Liz’s room. Please be quiet as you come in, because Liz will be sleeping. She’s already made her feelings and wishes known and I can speak to everything else, so try not to disturb her.” With that he carried Liz to her room and used his powers to help her relax into a peaceful slumber.
*********
After watching the movie, when the parents started discussing what to do, Diane excused herself and went to talk to Max. Entering Liz’s room she found Liz sleeping on her bed with Max gently stroking her face saying, “That’s right, rest now my love, when you wake I’ll have this whole mess straitened out one way or another. Have sweet dreams my beloved…”
“Max?” Diane interrupted.
“Yes mom?” Max replied, without turning his attention away from Liz.
“Does she know?” Diane questioned. When Max turned to look at her with questioning eyes, she clarified, “Your secret.”
Max took a deep breath and answered, “Yes, she knows, you can’t build a relationship on secrets or lies. I could never allow our relationship to get anywhere near romantic until she knew.”
Diane feeling a little hurt asks, “How come you can trust her and not me?”
Max knew this was coming, but she already knew he was different and already had an idea of some of what he could do, and he had been baring his heart a lot lately, so he figured he could tell her a portion of the truth with out really pulling her any further into this. Having this in mind he began, “God mom, this has nothing to do with trust, it really has nothing to do with what I want either. Try to understand, I knew from the day I first laid eyes on Liz, back in the third grade, that she was the only girl for me. I knew I could either be happy with her or miserable alone for the rest of my life. I knew those were the only two options for me, but I also knew I had a secret that I could never share, and I knew I could never have Liz unless I told her, it wouldn’t be fair to her. All said and done I knew back in the third grade that unless I could somehow tell Liz, I would spend my life alone. On top of that there was a very good chance that as soon as Liz found out, she’d want nothing to do with me, that she’d think I was a freak or a monster. Add to that the fact that part of the secret is that, like what I did to the bird I can help people.”
Fighting back tears he continued, “Now for seven years knowing what I knew, can you imagine how many times I sat in the Crashdown watching Liz trying to get up the nerve to tell her, how many times I’ve stood at the fire escape that leads to her balcony for the same reason, or how much it hurt me every time she got a scraped knee, or a twisted ankle, or a broken arm, or got a cut, or a burn knowing I had the ability to go over and take away her pain, but I couldn’t because I couldn’t risk exposure. Or could you imagine how much it hurt to see her start dating someone else because I had to hide what I felt about her. Then one day, both the worst day and the best day of my life, September 18, 1999, Liz was shot. I couldn’t loose her I just couldn’t. She was there dying, leaving me, and I couldn’t lose her, so just like the bird, I healed her. After that something changed, what ever it is in me that wouldn’t let me tell her before, made it so that I couldn’t not tell her then.”
Having lost the battle to hold back the tears he pushed forward, “But even then I had to keep my distance. I had to give her time to sort out her feelings; I didn’t want her to be with me out of gratitude, or some since of obligation. Her happiness was too important to me for that. It wasn’t until her grandmother was dying and I was the one she turned to for comfort, and I was the one she wanted to hold her and comfort her, and it was my shoulder she wanted to cry on, that I began to believe that my dreams of being with Liz might come true. Anyway the point of the matter is; I knew I could trust her and had wanted to tell her for seven years and couldn’t, before fate stepped in and forced the issue. Similarly I know I could trust you, and I really want to tell you, it’s just not in me, I just can’t. I sincerely hope that one day I will be able to tell you, I also hope that when that day comes the knowledge doesn’t change your life too much. But whatever happens know this, I love you; and you and dad finding us is one of the best things that ever happened to Isabel and me. Believe me I know what the alternatives look like and they aren’t pretty. Can you accept that, and trust me?”
Diane saw the vulnerable look in her son’s eyes as he asked that last question. She also knew today was costing Max a lot emotionally. She’d never heard her son open up in entire years as much as he had in the last few hours. All of a sudden she knew she couldn’t deny him either of the two requests he’d made today, so she answered, “Yes, I can trust you, and I’ll sign the consent form.”
At that Max eyes lit up and Diane thought the smile that crossed his face was priceless as he hugged her and professed his gratitude. After a few moments Max pulled back and asked, “When you go back down if Mr. and Mrs. Parker haven’t signed yet could you send them in?”
Diane responded, “Sure honey.”
Max realizing all that he said suddenly asked, “And Mom? Could you please not mention the healing to anyone… including the Parkers?”
Diane, confused, asked, “Why wouldn’t you want the Parkers to know what you did for Liz? It can only help elevate you in their eyes.”
Max with a pained look on his face replied, “Remember after the fire, how hard the sheriff tried to get you to question me? He had been hounding me, looking for dirt on me because he suspected what really happened the day of the shooting. The fact that I have these abilities made me a threat in his eyes, even though the only unusual thing I’d ever done was save someone’s life, but that didn’t matter because I’m different I was a threat. People are afraid of people who are different, the more people there are that know I’m special, the more danger I’m in. Please you have to help me keep this quiet.”
Diane’s eyes widened as she finally started to see why keeping this a secret meant so much to him. She’d do anything to protect her son, so she said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize… of coarse I won’t tell anyone.” Mother and son shared another embrace before Diane went down stares to rejoin the others and sign her consent.
As she left Max turned back to a sleeping Liz and gently stroked her face once more saying, “One step closer, now if I can just convince one of your parents. Don’t worry everything will be ok my beloved.”
*********
Diane arriving back in the Parker’s living room wasted no time in signing her consent to the marriage. Philip immediate questioned her, “What on earth are you doing?”
Diane looked at him straight in the eye, and with all the determination of a mother protecting her cubs stated, “I’m giving them my full support and unless you want to be sleeping in the guest room for a very long time, so are you.”
Philip looking shocked asked, “Why?”
Diane answered with a question of her own, “Philip, when was the last time Max asked us for anything? Anything? And for that matter, when was the last time he spoke to us about his feelings, or his plans for the future?”
Philip thought back and honestly couldn’t remember Max ever asking for anything and Max never discussed his personal life, so he answered honestly, “I can’t remember.”
Diane pushing forward said, “Neither can I, but now he’s not only asking, he’s baring his soul and he’s begging us for this and I’m not about to turn down my son the first time he’s ever asked for my help. Besides even you have to admit that they seem to have thought this through rather thoroughly that this isn’t just some whim or spur of the moment thing. Both Isabel and Michael made a big point of telling us that both Max and Liz are planners. If they think they can work this out and Max wants it this badly there is no way I’m going to deny him. And beyond that I’m going to do everything in my power to support him in this. He loves her Philip according to both Isabel and Max he always has. Please help me give him this.”
Philip looked at his wife and knew he lost this one; the determination in her eyes told him he’d best join her or he would not be a happy camper until he did. So he turned and signed his name to the consent form.
The Parkers just looked at the Evans incredulously until Jeff spoke up, “I can’t believe you two are going along with this.”
Diane looked at Jeff and said, “Max wants to talk to the two of you if you haven’t decided to sign. I know they’re both young, but honestly Max has always been more mature than anyone in his age group, and while I don’t know Liz all that well, from what I do know and from what I’ve been told, I’m pretty sure the same can be said about Liz. You heard what they said earlier, neither one of them is planning on having this interfere with their future; further they are both prepared to fight for this. Honestly, besides the fact that you don’t want to give up your daughter so soon, which by the way if they end up living in that apartment back there, she’d still technically be living under your roof, do you have any real objections or concerns?”
“No not really,” Jeff admitted, “It’s just they’re so young how do they know what they’re feeling is real and not just teenage hormones, or a high school crush?”
“I think you two should go up and talk to Max, and watch his reactions towards Liz, how she’s got his attention even when he’s focused on talking to you, it should help assuage your doubts.” Diane stated.
Reluctantly the Parkers went in to see Max.
*********
As the Parkers entered Liz’s room they saw Max gently grazing Liz’s sleeping face with the back of his hand saying, “It’ll be ok Liz; I won’t let them take me way from you. It’ll be alright you’ll see…”
Jeff cleared his throat to get Max’s attention the queried, “You wanted to see us?”
Max looked at the Parkers but never stopped caressing Liz’s face as he spoke, “Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I know that to say you’re not too happy with me right now is an understatement. I can imagine what you’re feeling, because I know what my reaction would be if my daughter came back home to Liz and me at the age of 16 telling me that she was married and just got back from a three month honeymoon; and it definitely wouldn’t be pretty for the boy involved. But I also know that Liz would rein me in and after my initial reaction, and I’d have to start considering things rationally. I’d have to start considering the fact that my daughter does have a life of her own, with her own feelings, her own thoughts, her own opinions, and the ability to make her own decisions. That’s what I’m going to have to ask you to do right now.”
“I know for a fact the Liz loves you both very much, I also know that one of her biggest regrets is that with all the changes that have taken place in her life this year, she hasn’t been able to be the perfect daughter she’s always tried to be. She feels like she’s letting you down. She feels the distance growing between you and her and it both scares and hurts her. That’s a big part of the reason we want the apartment behind the Crashdown, because I don’t want to take her a way from you. I don’t want her to have to make a choice between us. I can’t let her loose you. But I also can’t let you take her a way from me.”
Stealing a glance at Liz he took a breath and continued, “All throughout history children have grown up, met their mates, and left their families to start new ones. It’s the way of things, but right here, right now, in this culture, Liz and I found each other much sooner than what is the norm. As a result none of us, parents and children alike, are quite ready to let go of our previous bonds. Marriage at our age however, is not unprecedented and in some cultures and in some periods of history it’s even common place. Liz and I both love each other very much and we know that this is the right thing for us, we need this. You’ve heard our declarations of love earlier as well as our vows to each other. If you’re being honest you’ll have to admit those aren’t words spoken during a high school fling but rather things that are said when truly in love. But Liz still very much needs both of you as well, so I’m begging you if there is anything I can do, anything I can give you, anything I can tell you, anything I can promise, that will convince you to support us in this, please tell me now and I’ll do it. I don’t want Liz to wake up to have to deal with this again. Having us on opposite sides is too hard on her; so whatever I need to do to resolve this, tell me so I can do it now.”
Jeff and Nancy saw how affectionately Max was behaving towards Liz even as he was speaking to them. The words he spoke rang with both the truth and the concern he had for their daughter. They looked at each other and knew this battle was over; especially with the kids having Philip and Diane’s support, as lawyers they could do a lot in supporting the kids in this; and the way the kids and laid it out, the more they fought them, the worse their lives sounded. The Parkers both knew weren’t going to be able to stop this now. It was Nancy who spoke, “We’ll sign the papers, and we’ll discuss living arrangements later. But if you ever do anything to hurt her, I will personally make your life a living hell.”
Max responded by looking her in the eye with a gaze so piercing it sent a shiver through her as he spoke, “No Mrs. Parker, if I ever did anything to hurt Liz, my life would already be such a living hell, that anything you might do to me would seem like heaven in comparison.” Then softening his gaze he leaned down to wake Liz with a kiss. As Liz stirred and opened her eyes to see Max a smile crept across her face. Max smiled back saying, “Good news love, our parents have agreed to sign their consent.” With that Liz’s eyes lit up, her smile broadened and her arms wrapped around Max who looked over to the Parkers, and announced, “I live to create smiles like that, thank you.”
Liz suddenly becoming aware of her parents ran over to them hugging them both saying, “Thank you, thank you, you won’t regret this I promise you.”
Jeff and Nancy shared another look. Both were a little encouraged that they were making the right decision by their daughters reaction to the news, and they were both thinking, *God, I hope we won’t.*
After the Parkers returned to the living room Liz shut her door and sealed it while Max soundproofed the room. Noting that it was still only 9:00 and their appointment with the gang was four hours away they celebrated with a couple of rounds of love making and a shower before re-entering the living room.
*********
Upon entering the living room Max grabbed both consent forms and placed them in his binder of masters, and grabbed the other four binders stating, “I’ll return these with copies of the legitimate consent forms this evening.” Then he looked at the Parkers and asked, “Would it be alright if we had a little get together in the Crashdown after it closes tonight? You four could join us, we have gifts we brought back for everybody and pictures and slides of our trip to show everyone.”
The Parkers smiled hesitantly, “Sure we’d love too see those.”
With that Max and Liz thanked their parents again, grabbed their box of the remaining binders and videos and left.
*********
In the jeep Max used his powers to duplicate the master binder into the remaining binders while Liz changed a couple of papers into copies of the newly signed consent forms. She put one copy of each into a folder that already contained a copy of their marriage license; the school will need those. The then drove to the bank and got a safe deposit box and put the master binder in it. Then they headed out to the quarry to face their friends.
*********
Max and Liz arrived at the quarry to find their friends already waiting for them. Max helped Liz out of the jeep and they both bent the light around their rings, making them invisible, before the casually approached their friends.
Isabel spoke first, looking at her brother she queried, “So what have you and Parker been up to all summer?”
Max looked at her with a smirk and responded, “Parker and I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time together this summer, in fact we parted company less than 24 hours after we left the cave.”
It was Maria that jumped in next with, “Don’t tell me you two didn’t spend the summer together.”
Max smiled, “I said Parker and I spent very little time together…” as Max continued both Max and Liz let their shielding drop to display their wedding rings, “Liz Evans and I spent the balance of the summer on our honeymoon.”
The shocked silence that followed was broken by Michael raving, “How could you Maxwell! You heard the message from the orbs! You belong with Tess! What exactly is Liz going to do to help us against our enemies? What were you thinking Maxwell?”
Max with fury in eyes stared right back at Michael and responded, “First off I do not accept that I have no choice in whom I marry. Second even if Liz was off limits under absolutely no circumstances would I ever be with Tess, no more than you and Isabel could ever be together. Thirdly my decision to be with Liz is just that my decision it has nothing to do with you or our enemies. And Fourth…” calming down a little and looking at Liz sending her a flash of what he wanted her to do he sarcastically commented, “Will you please do something to help me knock some sense it to Michael?”
Liz smiled and responded by snapping her wrist at Michael in a shooing motion causing Michael to go flying more than 50 feet straight up in the air. Max chuckled as he stated, “You might want to set him down gently unless you were planning on a healing demonstration too.” Liz raised her hand and it glowed softly as she slowed Michael’s descent and made him hover six inches off the ground for a few moments before allowing him to fall unceremoniously to the ground.
Max glaring at Michael questioned, “Now, do you think you can remain calm enough to have a rational discussion about this?”
Michael looking at Liz shocked, questioned back, “H- ho- how did you do that?”
Liz giggled at the shocked looks from everybody, and replied, “Apparently it’s a side effect of one of you guys choosing a human as your mate. There were triggers placed in you when they designed you that cause us to evolve a few thousand years or so, so that we won’t be defenseless against your enemies; that is assuming we accept your choice.” She smiled and melted into Max’s embrace as she made the last statement.
Max explained further, “When I healed Liz in September I had to form a connection with her to do it, I got to see her during that connection. I already knew long before that, that Liz was who I wanted to spend my life with and I had that knowledge during the connection. That was the first part of the trigger, the second part was when I reversed the connection and let her see me. Some time either before or during that connection she had decided the same about me, completing the trigger and beginning her changes.
Apparently the changes can take up to four years but further connections, i.e. when we were getting flashes accelerate the process. So by our people’s standards Liz and I have actually been engaged since then. Also right after we made love the first time on our wedding night there was this bonding ceremony that took place on the vision plane, you know where we healed Michael. So we’re married by the standards of both of are planets and Liz is officially my queen.”
It was Alex that asked the next question, “So how do you guys know all this. I mean some of that like the four year thing seems awfully specific for you to just figure out.”
It was Liz who answered, “Yeah, well, after our bonding I was feeling a little guilty about standing in the way of destiny and was wishing we could speak to Max’s mother, then all of a sudden while still on the vision plane we sort of flew to Antar and did. Riandra called the technique Vision Conferencing. She gave us a lot of new information and helped us learn about our powers over the summer. Which reminds me, we need to schedule a time tomorrow when Michael, Isabel, Max and I can get together because there’s someone Riandra wants us to meet and we think Michael should be there when we meet him for the first time. Then Isabel when we’re done here Max and I will take you to meet Riandra so she can setup the meeting for tomorrow.”
Michael immediately asked, “I take it Riandra is the name Max’s and Isabel’s mother, but who does she want you to meet that you want me there for?”
Max got a huge grin on his face when he answered, “She wants us to meet, General Volar, your father Michael.”
Michael’s eyes went wide at that news and Isabel stammered, “You mean you want to take me to meet our mother today and both of us to meet our parents tomorrow?”
Max still smiling, “Yup, it’s sort of like a dreamwalk we need a mental image of who we’re trying to contact in order to do it, we could reach Riandra because of the message from the orbs. Whenever we plan to meet her tomorrow she’ll make sure she has an open connection to Volar when she enters the vision plane so she can take him with her. Once we’ve met we’ll be able to contact him again anytime he’s not busy.”
Michael questions, “Not busy?”
Liz answers, “Unlike a dreamwalk this doesn’t actually take place in their heads it takes place on the vision plane. When we try to contact them they feel a slight pull on their minds telling them that someone is waiting for them on the vision plane, so they finish what their doing and then the join us there. One day we had to wait over half an hour on the vision plane for Riandra to show up.”
Max then speaks up, “And one last bit of news, we can’t trust Ed Harding. It seems one of King Zan’s gifts in his first life was that he got visions. Specifically, he had visions of Liz being his queen. He spent seven years searching their entire solar system for her before he died. While he did marry Ava, who they made Tess from, it was a ploy to buy time because of some law stating that a king has to be married by a certain age. He refused her the title of queen and refused to consummate the marriage so that he could have it annulled when he found Liz. When we all died there, all marriage contracts and betrothals ended just like they do at death here. The thing is all of our protectors that were sent here were members of King Zan’s personal guard and all privy to his mental image of Liz. So if Ed Harding was sent here as our protector he should have recognized Liz on sight as my Queen. That means he either isn’t who he said he is or he’s betrayed me. You’ll also note I’m calling him Ed Harding not Nasedo, that’s because he may not be the same shape shifter that Riverdog knew as Nasedo. And Nasedo may be a real protector.”
Maria looked from Max to Liz incredulously, “Boy, when you two say you have big news you don’t kid around. Is there anything else we should know about?”
Liz said, “Uhm, yeah first you’re all invited to the Crashdown after closing tonight to see pictures from our honeymoon and to receive the gifts we brought back for everyone. Second, all of us that have them need to work on our powers at least once a week for a while. And third and most importantly, Max and I are planning on renewing our vows on our first anniversary next spring so that we can have a wedding ceremony with all our friends and family. Maria, would you mind being my maid of honor, for it?”
Max cut in, “And Michael would you be my best man? And Iz would you mind doing your planning Nazi thing for it?”
Smiles and squeals reigned for the next few minutes as they worked out the details of who would be doing what in the wedding ceremony, what time would be good for Michael to meet his father, and when would be good times to work on their powers.
*********
