Sorry for the delay, it's a whole lot later than I would have liked, but life gets in the way sometimes it seems.
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback!
FallenMagic - Rida, seem to know just how to say exactly what I need to hear 
. I was so worried about people thinking that I was just letting Max off scott free, along of course which the lack of an Isabel/Alex coupling, which I thought might not go down too well. It's just as you say though, life isn't perfect, and I just didn't see everyone being together... Thanks for reading, and glad I didn't disappoint - the same hope goes for this one too...
begonia9508 - Let's hope that you're wrong...
Morning Dreamgirl -
Yes...Are you sure there isn't a way you can't just kill her and take her place?
LOL oh Ashley, thank you! I so needed to laugh when I read that from you.
Onto your questions, which finally I can begin to answer 
:D - as far as they know at the moment, Abby is completely human, although later in life, who knows...
I think as far as the planning went, Liz and Max did the best they thought they could. It's not ideal, far from it...but the thing which keeps them going is that hope that things will work out. Them getting back together might not raise quite as many eyebrows as you're thinking, they are friends again, and everyone knows they were once involved... It might be seen as a little surprising, but I don't know about so unlikely. It's not like they've got back together months after or anything like this, even now it's over a year, and they've taken their time to build a new friendship in the view of others... *shrugs* sorry, maybe I'm just rambling, but there I go lol.
As for Mr and Mrs Evans... No, I imagine they won't be too welcoming at first, but people do make mistakes, and life does go on. If the two of them get back together, it might take some time, but I think probably they'll come around.
When it comes to university, I see them going to different places, but probably in near vincinity, including Alex and Liz... They are still involved in the group, and like it or not, the things they've been through can't easily be put behind them...
RhondaAnn - Kyle's not a part of the group in this so there's not really any reason why they'd think of him as a possible match for Tess - the cannon storyline didn't continue as far as the White room and Destiny, so basically Kyle's just another kid at school, who did of course date Liz at one time.
g7silvers - I'd love to agree, but deal with her how? I know it's a horrible situation, but they really are trying their best...
Alien64 - Thanks
pandas2001 - I've never thought of Liz and Max as particularly selfish characters though - it seems as though they're always having to make sacrifices for others, and I guess that's what this is... It sucks, but there it is.
Emz80m - Maybe they would take the time they had if it was just them...but remember that Liz saw their parents and friends too - they're unwilling to put their happiness above their family and friend's lives I guess...
Timelord31 - Thanks for reading
roswell3053 - Well you know what people say - Life isn't fair 
.
behrluv32 - You're right, it's a big mess, but then isn't that par for the alien abyss that they live in?
isabelle - You made it :D:D Thanks for taking the time to read, I know you've been really busy and so glad you like the story so far.
You're right about Tess being the fly in the ointment - that person who's always there to mess it up between Liz and Max - you'd never mistake me for a rebel would you lol. As for Abby and powers, she hasn't shown any signs yet, so I guess they'll have to cross that bridge when they come to it.
Flamehair - I know it's out of character for Liz to have a one-night-stand, but if she doesn't usually drink, and did that night, maybe they think she could have been drunk and not really known what she was doing...?
LoveIsForever - Yup, hard all round for our couple here it seems.
Okay, so I apologise repeatedly to you guys, as said above, I didn't mean this to take as long, but I've been neck high in papers and notes (a little exaggeration there yes). Seriously though, I have been majorly busy with revising, and my time on the computer and internet has been next to nothing compared to normal.
I have now officially finished though :D - still trying to work out what to do next year, but as of this morning, the exams are over at least.
So, hopefully beter late than never, here's the new chapter.
~Kat
Chapter 5
After waiting a couple of minutes, I now move to towards the door, listening carefully just as Max did earlier. He’ll be long gone by now, sitting in his homeroom, which is of course different to mine, and hopefully the corridor outside is going to be empty…
One, two…three… Here goes…
Taking a breath, I open the door and step outside, closing it quickly behind me and looking round.
My breath catches in my throat as I notice Tess talking to someone at the other end of the corridor, fearing for a moment that she’ll see me, and just know… It seems that she’s unaware of me though and after a moment, I let out a sigh of relief, taking a deep breath and walking towards her since that’s the direction in which my homeroom is found.
I half expect her to say something as I approach, but still she seems unaware of my presence, apparently completely involved in talking to whoever is with her.
That’s when I realise who the other person is… Kyle… Although I try not to stare, it’s difficult not to watch her for a moment, and as I see her laugh at something he’s said, I realise that look on her face is one I’ve never really seen before. She looks truly happy…and while she’s clearly flirting with him, it’s nothing like the ‘throw’ tactics she employs with Max…
Is it really, could it be…?
I’m not really sure what to make of this new development, but after everything we’ve been through, dare I really hope…? I hold my breath, quickening my pace as I pass them and going into class, apologising to the teacher quickly and then sitting down.
Unsurprisingly perhaps, I get very little work done during homeroom, my mind occupied by other things, hopes, or prayers even…
My preoccupation doesn’t go unnoticed by Alex either, who pulls me to one side as soon as we’re in the corridor again. “Lizzie, are you okay?”
I nod absently, although I’m really not completely with him at the moment. “Yes I’m fine Alex…just I was thinking is all…” I respond, attempting to excuse myself quickly to make a trip to the ladies room.
He raises his eyebrow in surprise. “Again? You know the last time you went this often you were pregnant…that isn’t the case this time is it…?”
I can feel my cheeks flushing, no doubt turning a deep shade of red. I had temporarily forgotten my earlier excuse… “What, oh no, definitely nothing like that…” I shake my head, laughing it off. “I just…” I trail off without finishing. “I’ll join you and Maria in the canteen okay…?” Without waiting to see if he’ll respond, I dash off, ducking into the restroom a little way down the corridor and then locking myself in one of the cubicles…
If I’m right, and Tess is finally moving on, it’s everything we’ve been hoping for, but the question is how to find out… I mean I saw her earlier, she was still all over him in Math…is Kyle just a bit of fun for her until Max comes around, or is it more she’s got into a habit of flirting with Max but Kyle’s the one she’s interested in now…?
I wish I could get inside her mind, understand what she’s thinking…
Sighing, I lean my head against the cool metal side of the cubicle, desperately wanting it to be the latter of the two… If only…
“Liz?”
I bit my lip as I hear Maria’s voice, having little doubt that she’s here because of me having just dashed off from Alex. No doubt he went straight to her locker and told her where I was…
“Liz?” She calls again, and I hear her pushing open a couple of the doors.
Taking a deep breath, I slide the lock off and open the door, revealing myself to her. “Hey Maria…” I greet her with a weak smile, hoping that my internal conflict will remain just that – internal…
“Hey Chica…Alex said you seemed upset about something…?” Her concern is obvious and if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, I HATE lying to her…
Unfortunately, I don’t see much option but to continue at the moment, and I shake my head. “What, oh no, I’m fine…” I assure her with another smile as I step out and pretend to be freshening up.
She reaches over, stopping the water and causing me to look up. “You look tired…”
Well that is something that I can laugh about, and laugh I do… “Maria, I have a one-year-old daughter, I’m holding down a part-time job, and I’m still going to school…I think it would be way more worrying if I wasn’t tired…”
I can’t help but chuckle in amusement at the rather sheepish expression which she now offers me, nodding. “Yeah, I guess you’re right…sorry…”
Shaking my head, I sigh and look over. “It’s okay Maria…now, can I finish freshening up so that we can go to lunch?” I motion to the tap and smile as she nods, finishing what I’m doing quickly and then heading back out onto the corridor with her.
I need to talk to Max, but that’s going to have to wait I guess… For the moment, it’s business as usual as we head into the canteen, grabbing some drinks to go with our sandwiches and then walking over to where Alex is already sat with the others.
It’s strange in some ways, the fact that we still all sit together, but I guess that’s just a part of having shared the secret for so long… We might not be best of friends anymore, but there’s something between the six of us that we can’t quite give up… “Hey guys…” I greet them with something of a smile.
Max doesn’t look up, and I know that’s probably because after what happened between us not an hour before, he wouldn’t be able to hide how he feels. Isabel however does nod, and Michael greets Maria with a smile, moving over so that she can sit next to him.
“I-is Tess not here yet…?” I ask hesitantly as I note her absence at the table.
“Does it look like it…?” Isabel responds bluntly.
I bit down on my lip and shake my head. “No…I guess not…sorry…” Shrugging, I take a seat quickly, still trying to think over just how to deal with this and find out where we stand, as I pull out my sandwiches and open the can of soda I just bought.
Asking her right out would be the easiest of course, but then after everything I’ve given up and been through, no way am I going to risk it all to do that… No, the simplest route on this occasion is definitely not the way to go!
Trying to ease the tension at the table as usual Alex goes off into a tale about what he was doing in computer class this morning, but I have to admit I zone out somewhat as two figures approach the table.
“Hey guys!” Tess beams around at us, in quite a surprising manner as she walks up with Kyle.
Max looks up, expecting to have to fend off another round of passes, but a look of shock passes over his face as he notes Kyle’s presence. “Hey Tess, Kyle…” He nods to both of them as they take a seat.
“So I thought we’d go to Senor Chows, and then see a movie maybe…?” Kyle briefly nods to Max, before turning back to Tess as he makes his suggestion, seemingly having been in the middle of a conversation with her.
I hold my breath as I hear this, risking the slightest glance at Max, who I find is looking back at me too. We both know what this could mean…
“Sure, sounds great…” Her voice tinkles a little as she responds with a smile, resting a hand over his and then looking round at us, one by one. As finally she gets to Max, it’s almost as though she’s giving him one last chance, and much as I try not to, I feel myself growing excited. “Max, I just thought I’d tell you, Kyle and I are going out this Friday…together…”
A few short words, with a far greater meaning than Kyle will ever know… He actually looks a little surprised, but it’s nothing she can’t deal with I’m sure, and I can feel my heart begin to beat faster as she waits for Max’s response.
Being careful never to give the slightest indication of how much this means – although I’m sure I know what he’s feeling – Max nods simply. “Well I hope you have a nice time…”
The rest of lunch passes without much event, and we pack up quickly at the end, clearing away our rubbish and grabbing our bags, heading back to our lockers before afternoon class starts.
“Maria, I have something I need to do before class, so I’ll go on ahead and see you later okay?” I excuse myself quickly, practically running down the corridor away from our lockers. I only slow as I reach the classroom, pushing open the door and walking inside, taking my seat quickly, and waiting…
A few minutes later, as I expect, Max walks through the door. He blinks in surprise, knowing that I don’t usually arrive until after him.
“Hey…” I greet him softly, offering a small smile as he comes to set next to me as always.
“Hey…” He responds likewise, although minus the smile.
“So…Tess and Kyle…”
He nods. “Yup… I hope they’ll be very happy…”
“Yeah, me too…” I smile again, taking a deep breath. “So…”
“So…” There’s a small twinkle in his eyes and although he doesn’t say anything more, his meaning is clear as he reaches under the desk to take my hand in his. It’s such a tiny gesture, but it means so much… This is what we’ve been waiting for…
There are so many times I’ve thought this would never happen, and yet here we are…
This isn’t going to be a quick fix, and instant solution… It’s going to take time, but that’s okay…
We’ll go one step at a time, take it slow, but in the end, we’re going to be together… Max, Abigail and I…our family…
, along with those who fbed to me on 'write on' in the preview section.
Wow, is this really my fic lol
Thanks