The Kitchen was alive.
Maria had her Latino music cranked.
How so many people could be in the same room, while dancing, cooking, singing, and not somehow run into or trip over each other Max had no idea. Liz had abandoned him to help Katie, Reilly and E set the table with Isabel directing them of course. She could turn a simple dinner into a major production. Max smiled as he thought about back at the palace on Antar when Isabel had hundreds of cooks, maids, and butlers at her disposal. How Alex had all his hair.......but thats why Alex was perfect for his sister. He was so laid back that he had a calming effect on Iz.
Max may be a king. But this was his element, his family. He would give anything for his biggest decision to be which park Liz & him should take the kids too. But there were so many responsibilities to millions of people and there was no one else hands his willing to put his peoples lives into. Maria says behind every strong man is an even stronger woman. Michael begged Max not to tell Maria how right she was.
Liz is my inner strength, Max thought to himself. There would be no way Max could balance family and kingdom without her. He would have walked away long ago if not for Liz. If he had to choose between the two, there would be no choice. Liz and now their children, would always come first. Liz knew him better than he knew himself. She knew that his sense of duty was so strong that if he had walked away from his people it would have been a heavy weight on his shoulders.
Max was brought back to the kitchen with Michael’s announcing dinner was ready. Max pulled out Liz’s chair for her then helped Katie into her’s & Ethan into his high ch...errr Big Boy chair. Then he took his place by Liz. She reached over and took his hand and gave it a small squeeze. Max looked around the table filled with their family and Michael’s incredible Mostaccioli (What!?!? Can’t blame a guy for being hungry!!).
But Max knew that this was a moment he wanted to remember for the rest of his life. So he closed his eyes trying to commit every detail every sound into his memory.
First there was Ethan on his left already covered in food. With noodles in his hair and sauce on his hands and having the best time ever making little people out his garlic bread.
Isabel. Who was to put it mildly was glowing. Also looking like she was about to pop but for the sake of his health Max was going to keep that to himself. She kept looking at Ethan giving big smiles all the time Max could tell she was dying to wave her hand and clean him up.
Reilly, the perfect reflection of her parents. Trying be Miss proper like her mother but failing miserably because of her father’s tickling.
Alex who was trying to avoid being hit Maria and her talking hands. Laughing at poor Michael, trying to listen to Kyle and his latest “a Buddhist walked into a bar” joke all the while doing his best to make his daughter laugh.
Maria, who was in his opinion the best training any soldier could ever get, was yelling at Michael for not holding her chair “like Alex and Max had done for Isabel and Liz”
Michael, his other best friend, who had on many occasions shown his courage, his selflessness, saving members of his family countless times.
But this courageous warrior flinched at the tiny pixie next to him. Michael responded with a
“Kyle didn’t hold the chair for Tess!!!”
“Tess was already sitting down when he got here!!!!”
Maria then continued with her rant.Michael just nodded every so often after that. Michael had once told him when she got like that he watched Braveheart in his head. Once he had shouted out “Three Hundred and One!! I knew it!!” He tried to cover with thats how many times he needed to tell Maria he was sorry. She had given him a doubtful look then made him tell her he was sorry Three Hundred and one times.
Tess. She had proved herself over and over again much to the chagrin of Maria. But now even Maria had expected that Tess was now a member of this ever growing family.
Kyle, who was now laughing at his “brilliant” joke. Though many a hard time had been made a little easier by Kyle finding some humor in the situation. Max would never forget the time that they had been lined up against Kivar and his armies for the first time and was scared to death. When Kyle leans over and says “ Okay guys, You know there is no getting out of this. Someone has to do it. Paper, Rock, Scissors, who tells Kivar those shoes don’t go with that shirt.” They had been so tense that they all started laughing even Stonewall Guerin. But the problem was they couldn’t stop laughing. Which had made Kivar more than a little nervous or so the stories went. That this King was a little more than a mere boy had taken one look at Kivar and busted up laughing had thrown Kivar off his game that day. It had been the first of many victories.
Katie, Daddy’s Little Girl. Who was trying to copy her prim and proper cousin with about as much luck as Reilly. A smile from his baby girl could melt the toughest soldier’s heart just ask Michael how many times he had been able to tell her no. Notta, none. Which was just another attribute Katie had received from her mother. Poor thing had his ears though.
Liz. That one word said so much. She was the most amazing woman on any planet. Hands down. She was the glue that held this particular family together. On any given day she was a mother, a peacekeeper, a best friend, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a Queen. Any one of these things are not easy by themselves but Liz does them all with at the same time with love and a smile.
The way she was calming Maria, while cutting Katie’s bread, laughing for Kyle’s sake and smiling for Ethan, just showed that all of this came naturally for her. She didn’t remember that she had done almost this exact same thing last night. Liz was Liz no matter what. Together they were Max and Liz and that made Max feel somewhat better. When he had talked to Larek earlier, Larek had been halfway to the transporter before Max could stop him. Max needed him there. Max had an idea what or rather who was behind all this. This person suddenly takes a “vacation” after ten years then the next day this thing with Liz happens. But Max trusted his person with his life, so he would await their return before taking any drastic actions. As they were finishing diner Max had what he hoped was a great idea. But it would require Babysitters. Now for the difficult decision..... Which grandparents to call? His parents or Liz’s? Or his other Mom on Antar? But that would mean having to explain Liz’s memory thing. Also risking offending whoever he didn’t ask. Oui Vey.....what was king to do? He could almost feel the light bulb over his head when it came to him. JIM AND AMY! Perfect now please don’t let them be busy.
Max reached down and took Liz's little hand to his mouth and gave it a soft kiss then gave her a wink. It was worth the ribbing he received from Kyle just to see his bride blush. So with the excuse of needed to hose Ethan off Max picked him up and headed upstairs.
Liz didn’t like the kids to use their powers at least when they were at home on earth she wanted them to do normal kid things which Max agreed even though being alien royalty wasn‘t exactly normal. This one time though Max made the exception. With a quick wave of the hand Max done what Isabel had been dying to do, over a now noodle free Ethan.
Max made the appropriate phone calls to set everything in motion. Max then grabbed E and two pairs of ear plugs and made his way downstairs. Ethan grinned as his daddy put his ear plugs in he knew what was coming. Aunt Maria, a very happy Aunt Maria. Hopefully what ever it was didn’t make Aunt Tess very happy too. But it probably would hence the earplugs. Just in case though Ethan covered his ears. Daddy asked him if he was ready and he shock his head yes.
Daddy went into the dining room asked who wanted to go dancing at Irving Plaza? Mommy looked confused, poor mommy. As soon as Aunt Maria stops screaming I’ll go tell Mommy what Irving Plaza is, Ethan thought. Unkle Michael & Unkle Kyle groaned. Ut oh Aunt Maria is taking a deep breath in here we go..... Ethan connected with his sister and cousin “Quick! cover your ears!!!”
“YYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!”
When Ethan opened his eyes, Aunt Maria & Aunt Tess were jumping up and down together. The they dragged Unkle Michael & Unkle Kyle upstairs to get ready. Daddy took my ear plugs out and asked me if I thought that was a yes. I giggled. He put me down and I ran to my Mommy and jumped in her lap carefully I didn’t want to hurt Kira and Eli.
Liz tried to keep the smile off her face Ethan was trying so hard to be serious.
“So, Mommy Irvin Plaza is where Daddy takes you dancing!!! And.... And.....”
The more excited Ethan got the more Ands there were.
“And....you wear the red dress daddy bought you and Katie and I help you get ready. Then you go to the top of the stairs and Daddy always waits at the bottom with Unkle Michael and Unkle Kyle and Unkle Alex And then...”
Katie interrupted “Daddy looks up and sees you. He says you take his breath away. I don’t why you want it but Daddy says he doesn’t mind.”
“Then after everyone has yelled up the stairs......twice. Then finally my mommy is ready.” Reilly added “Then my daddy whistles softly for a long time and shakes his hand back and forth like this” Reilly shook her hand up and down. Then in perfect imitation of her mother “Alexander Charles, I am in fact the size of an elephant.” “But my Daddy just ignores her and kisses her hand helps her down the stairs.”
As Max picked Ethan up off his mother‘s lap “So my love we best get going we don’t want to keep these three waiting.” Katie and Reilly took off running with Ethan wiggling to get down so he could catch up with them.
Max looked at his wife and wiggled his eyebrows like only Max could. He picked Liz up in his arms faster than you could blink and carried her up to their room.
And of course it happened exactly as Katie, Reilly and E had predicted. It didn’t matter that Liz had worn that dress a dozen times before she never failed to take his breath away. This time though Michael and Maria were the last ones down looking slightly disheveled but very very happy. Which earned Maria a look from her mother and Michael a slap on the back from Jim.
The parents kissed and hugged their kids goodbye till Maria dragged them to the car.
Maria thanked Max for his brilliant idea. “Its just so fabulous to do something just the eight of us you know? Its been so long. Serena is going to be so bummed she missed this though.”
AN: Irving Plaza is actually my favorite place to go dancing in NYC. But for my writing pleasure I moved it to Roswell
Alright this is short, I know but on the upside I have lots more written this is just all I have typed. Have a incredible weekend everyone!!!