Max gave Liz two days to settle into her new suite before giving into his temptation to question her about what happened. After walking past her door a couple of times he finally got the courage to knock on her door.
He was given permission to enter and found Liz sitting on the sofa with Nate by her side propped on a pillow. She gave Max a small smile and seemed more relaxed. There was still an air of tension around her but some of the weight seemed to have been lifted.
“You look better.” Max commented sweetly as he sat down beside her.
“Liar.” Liz retorted with a rueful grin. “I feel a bit better though. Thank you.”
“I just want to know what the hell happened.” Max pressed gently.
“It’s hard to explain.” Liz began. “I just don’t understand everything myself.”
She took a deep breath to try and force down the lump in her throat. Tear pricked her eyes.
“It all seemed to be going well. Michael was back and he remembered everything and he was responsive. We went home and he met Nate for the first time and there was just this incredible connection between them.” Liz smiled through her tears. “It was so beautiful.”
“Where did it go wrong?” Max asked.
“He just stopped talking to me.” Liz replied. “I don’t mean that he didn’t discuss things with me he just stopped talking to me.”
“Just you?” Max questioned.
“Yeah.” Liz recalled. “Not a word. If we were at the dining table and the he wanted the salt and he would have had to ask me for it, he would have just gone without. He wouldn’t talk to me or look at me or touch me.”
Max pulled Liz into his arms and comforted her as she cried. Her emotions overwhelmed her and she sobbed into his shoulder. She had had such high hopes for a relationship with Michael and they were destroyed in such a harsh way and in such a short period of time.
“He would talk to the staff and his officers but not a word to me.” Liz hiccupped. “He spent every spare second with Nate.”
“Things between you and Nate didn’t get any better?” Max queried.
Liz shook her head.
“What did you mean when you said that he hates you?” Max asked.
“He blames me.” Liz replied. “Even when he was inside me all he wanted was Michael. Not me. Then Michael left and we all thought he was dead and Nate blamed me for it.”
“Blamed you?”
“All he knew was that his father wasn’t there anymore and blamed for it.” Liz answered.
“The sparks?” Max probed. “He is trying to hurt you?”
Max’s memory returned to the day he entered her subconscious and placed her in a coma. A shiver ran up his spine as he recalled the look of pain in her eyes and his own feelings of terror.
“It’s his power blast.” Liz revealed.
“He’s power blasting you?” Max nearly yelled in surprise.
“He’s just a baby; he doesn’t know what he is doing.” Liz was quick to defend her son.
“Of course not.” Max quickly reassured her.
“He was upset and didn’t understand what was going on.” Liz continued as her anger rose.
“But now he knows that Michael is alive and that you didn’t do anything wrong.” Max countered gently.
“We took him away from his father of course he is angry with me!” Liz retorted hotly.
“Did he do it when you and Michael were both there?” Max asked.
Liz’s lack of reply confirmed his suspicions. He rubbed his face roughly and exhaled loudly. He didn’t know what to do or what was really going on.
A loud commotion from the hallway startled him out of his thoughts. He could hear a male voice yelling in Antarian followed by the suite doors being forced open. Michael stood in the doorway; an image of pure fury.
“Where is my son?” He demanded.
“I told you to stay away.” Max growled in return.
“I want my son.” Michael hollered. “Give him to me now!”
“No.” Max retorted with thinly veiled venom.
Max turned to see Liz crouched further into the sofa cushions. She was pale and her lip trembled. What worried Max most were her hands pressed tightly against her ears. Nate beside her seemed to have perked up and was gurgling as though he was trying to get his father’s attention.
Max looked at Michael and noticed that Liz was right. His gaze never once went to her. Even in her state of deep distress Michael was uninterested in her.
Michael and Max continued to yell at each other until Liz snapped. She slammed her hands down on the wooden table in front of the sofa and shouted at them to both shut up. It wasn’t her scream that got their attention. It was the sound of the table exploding under Liz’s hands that caused them to turn and stare at her.
Liz stared at the splintered mess on the floor in horror.
Max stared at Liz in shock and concern.
Michael looked at her.
The Universal Truth of All things... COMPLETE
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, Erina, Forum Moderators
Uni has started again so this is to tide the story over until I can get back to it.
Thank you for the awesome feedback - I love it
Michael had been forced out of the palace and into a transport home on Max’s orders. He now sat on the end of his bed in shocked silence. His already confused mind was spinning even faster.
He missed his son and needed the comfort and calm that came from being near him. Being near Nate helped him repress the memories of his time in captivity. A shudder ran through his body as he released a tremulous breath.
Counting slowly from one to ten Michael tried to suppress his nausea. A cold sweat broke out all over his body as his vision clouded. This was getting ridiculous. He shouldn’t be feeling like this anymore. It had been two months.
Another image popped into his mind’s eye. The image of Liz staring at the splintered table in horror was clear in his mind. Feelings of guilt and fear coursed through his veins. He did that to her. It was his fault.
Michael stood up and began to pace around the room. It was still strange for him to be in that room. A day after he got back he moved into a different room from Liz. It was too difficult to be so close to her.
A lump formed in his throat and tears pricked his eyes.
Why was everything so hard for him? What had he done in his previous life to deserve this? Had he been that bad? Had he done such evil things?
The thoughts spun round and round in his head until he felt dizzy. He walked towards the door and straight past the nursery and to the next door down the corridor. After a moments hesitation he entered the dimly lit suite. The familiar scent of Liz’s perfume hit him.
Sitting down at her desk he scanned the room. It felt homely and safe. Closing his eyes Michael tried to picture Liz in his mind. Her eyes, her hair, her smile. The way she chewed her lips when she was nervous. Her laugh. Her hands. Her creamy skin.
A gasp escaped his lips. His eyes shot open as he tried to control the feeling of horror and revulsion in his stomach. His brow creased in frustration and pain as he dropped his head into his hands.
Rubbing his hands on his trousers he formed a resolution in his mind. His fear wouldn’t win.
Running out of Liz’s suite Michael ordered his staff to prepare a transport. He knew that Max would still be more than willing to kick him out again so he ordered that his transport should stop outside the palace gates and he would make his way in on foot.
Thank you for the awesome feedback - I love it
Michael had been forced out of the palace and into a transport home on Max’s orders. He now sat on the end of his bed in shocked silence. His already confused mind was spinning even faster.
He missed his son and needed the comfort and calm that came from being near him. Being near Nate helped him repress the memories of his time in captivity. A shudder ran through his body as he released a tremulous breath.
Counting slowly from one to ten Michael tried to suppress his nausea. A cold sweat broke out all over his body as his vision clouded. This was getting ridiculous. He shouldn’t be feeling like this anymore. It had been two months.
Another image popped into his mind’s eye. The image of Liz staring at the splintered table in horror was clear in his mind. Feelings of guilt and fear coursed through his veins. He did that to her. It was his fault.
Michael stood up and began to pace around the room. It was still strange for him to be in that room. A day after he got back he moved into a different room from Liz. It was too difficult to be so close to her.
A lump formed in his throat and tears pricked his eyes.
Why was everything so hard for him? What had he done in his previous life to deserve this? Had he been that bad? Had he done such evil things?
The thoughts spun round and round in his head until he felt dizzy. He walked towards the door and straight past the nursery and to the next door down the corridor. After a moments hesitation he entered the dimly lit suite. The familiar scent of Liz’s perfume hit him.
Sitting down at her desk he scanned the room. It felt homely and safe. Closing his eyes Michael tried to picture Liz in his mind. Her eyes, her hair, her smile. The way she chewed her lips when she was nervous. Her laugh. Her hands. Her creamy skin.
A gasp escaped his lips. His eyes shot open as he tried to control the feeling of horror and revulsion in his stomach. His brow creased in frustration and pain as he dropped his head into his hands.
Rubbing his hands on his trousers he formed a resolution in his mind. His fear wouldn’t win.
Running out of Liz’s suite Michael ordered his staff to prepare a transport. He knew that Max would still be more than willing to kick him out again so he ordered that his transport should stop outside the palace gates and he would make his way in on foot.
Sorry to anyone out there who has been waiting for an update - uni sucks ass! I hope this answers some quesitons at least until I am able to finish this bloody thing!!!!
Thanks for all the lovely feedback - I love it as I am sure you all know!
The transport landed half a mile from the palace. Michael walked quickly through the streets and brushed past the guards at the entrance. Walking in through the front door would result in him getting kicked out again. So instead he walked round to the gardens at the back. He knew that Liz’s room overlooked a water garden.
He spotted Liz’s balcony on the second floor. This was going to be tough. Scouting around the walls he found nothing he could use to scale her balcony. Walking along a little bit he spotted a trellis leading up to another balcony.
Taking a deep breath he began to ascend the unstable wooden frame. About halfway up he had to pause to calm his breathing. He was really out of shape. Continuing up he realised that the balcony he was climbing up to was Kyle’s. This could be a problem.
Kyle was Michael’s best friend. He had always felt that Max was his friend because he had to be. But Kyle. Kyle had taken the time to get to know him and the two had often watched ice hockey and football together back on Earth.
But one thing that Kyle was above all else, was highly protective of Liz.
Being as quiet as possible Michael saw Kyle’s shadow on the balcony. Peeking up and over, he saw that Kyle was facing away from the window. Being as stealthy as possible Michael climbed over the wall and crept over to the connecting balcony.
Making his way over Alex’s balcony and then over Tess’, Michael finally made it to Liz’s balcony. Taking a minute to calm down and settle his mind and body, Michael sat down. He watched Liz through the window. Trying to gauge how she was doing.
He watched her lean over their son. She was trying to change him but she kept flinching. Standing up Michael approached the doors to her suite. He could see sparks shooting from Nate to Liz.
He was so focused on his son that he failed to notice Liz staring directly at him in shock. He looked her in the eye and was pained to see fear there as well. He held up his hands in surrender and slowly entered through the doors.
“Can we talk?” Michael whispered, hoarsely.
Liz nodded with wide eyes.
She remained standing. Her shoulders with raised with tension and her lip was pulled between her teeth. She turned abruptly and Michael saw her hands clench. After a few moments she turned around. The fear and shock were gone. They were replaced with anger.
“I don’t know Michael.” She retorted. “Are you able to talk to me?”
“I know that you are angry…” Michael began before being interrupted.
“Angry?” Liz spat. “You think I am angry? I am so far beyond angry that I can barely see straight.”
“Liz, please.” Michael begged in a hollow voice.
“Do you have any idea what I have been through since the day I stepped foot on this God forsaken planet?” Liz bellowed. “Do you even care?”
Michael felt his vision cloud and a rushing noise swept through his ears as Liz yelled at him.
“After everything that you said! You wanted to marry me! You wanted us to be a family.” Liz was breathless from ranting but she continued bringing all of her emotions to the surface for the first time in so long. She had repressed her fear, anger, frustration, humiliation and every other emotion for so long they burst forth without a second thought.
Michael’s breathing rang loud in his ears as he swayed. His vision completely gone he stumbled backwards to find something to brace himself against.
Liz continued to shout.
A loud crash was the last thing he heard before he blacked out.
He opened his eyes later to see nothing. Reaching up to his face he found a damp cloth covering his eyes. Releasing a slow breath he tested his senses. The noises in his ears were gone and he could see again. He sat up and looked around the room. His eyes fell on Liz who was asleep in a chair beside the bed.
Looking around the room Michael expected to see Max or some of the others. But they were alone.
Swinging his legs over the side Michael faced Liz. He leaned forwards and placed a gentle hand on her knee; waking her.
“Michael…” Liz whispered as she sat up straight.
“Please. I need you to just listen for a minute.” Michael stated. “I know that I screwed up. I know that. It’s just so hard. I don’t know what to do.”
Michael willed the lump in his throat to dissolve as he rubbed furiously at his face.
Liz sat unmoving in the chair. She wanted to know what was going on but she was afraid to at the same time. Her mind had conjured up so many awful reasons as to why he was the way he was. But to actually know… That was something else entirely.
“The transport was fired upon but we made it to the ground and evacuated before it exploded.” Michael began. He stared off into space as though seeing the events replayed in his mind as he retold them.
“We were surrounded almost immediately. Kivar’s troops lined up the rest of the crew and soldiers and executed them. I was knocked out after they made me witness it and they took me to my cell.”
Tears checked his cheeks and dropped onto his clothes.
“I met him. Kivar. Not what I had imagined. He looked pretty normal. Just an average guy. Not particularly smart or good looking. Just a guy! He talked for hours. I didn’t really hear him cause my head hurt and my body ached. The ropes were so tight.”
Scratching absently at his eyebrow Michael tried to get back on track.
“He ordered them to get any information they could get out of me.” Michael gave a small chuckle. “I knew what pain was… but God! I never told them anything. I swear. I wouldn’t tell them anything.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Liz consoled him.
“Kivar started getting really angry. He was impressed how well a ‘human’ lasted but he was getting impatient. He figured it out.”
“Figured what out?” Liz asked.
“How to break me.” Michael revealed. “I was sitting in that room. Tied to the chair. And the door opened. The last person I expected in the world walked in and continued where the others had left off. It didn’t stop, for a whole month. It didn’t stop. Day and night. No sleep, no food, no rest. Again and again and again.”
Michael started to tremble. He gasped for breath as he sobbed openly. Liz placed a soft hand on his ice cold fingers. She rose and stepped closer to him.
“They made you see me.” Liz realised. “They wore my face as they hurt you.”
Michael nodded as his shoulders shook. Michel hunched over and rested his head on his knees. She didn’t think that it was possible but her heart broke further. She sat down next to Michael but refrained from touching him.
“Michael.” She called softly. “I need you to look at me.”
Michael sniffed loudly as he tried to pull himself together. Rising slowly he turned to see her looking at him. He saw the tears that marked her face.
“Look at me.” She asked. “Look into my eyes.”
After taking a moment to gather himself together, Michael granted her request. He saw her mussed hair and the lines on the side of her face where she had been lying on her arms as she slept. He saw lines around her mouth that had been caused by sorrow. Finally he looked in her eyes.
What he saw made him sit up and calm down.
Despite the pain and anguish, despite the tears and sorrow he could still see her love for him. The softness of her gaze and the emotion radiating from them was something he hadn’t seen in so long. It was something that the shape-shifters had never managed. They could look like her and sound like her. But they would never be her.
Fear crept into him again. Noise and darkness swept over him but he fought through it. He wouldn’t let the fear win. He wouldn’t give up again. He wouldn’t lose her again.
Michael swept her into his arms and crushed her to his chest. He sobbed into her chocolate hair as he cried apologies into her ear. He lay back into the bed and pulled her to him. Rolling over he placed Liz on her back as he encircled her waist with his arms and rested his head under her chin.
Liz wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him as tightly as she could.
“I will never hurt you.” She whispered. “I promise.”
Thanks for all the lovely feedback - I love it as I am sure you all know!
The transport landed half a mile from the palace. Michael walked quickly through the streets and brushed past the guards at the entrance. Walking in through the front door would result in him getting kicked out again. So instead he walked round to the gardens at the back. He knew that Liz’s room overlooked a water garden.
He spotted Liz’s balcony on the second floor. This was going to be tough. Scouting around the walls he found nothing he could use to scale her balcony. Walking along a little bit he spotted a trellis leading up to another balcony.
Taking a deep breath he began to ascend the unstable wooden frame. About halfway up he had to pause to calm his breathing. He was really out of shape. Continuing up he realised that the balcony he was climbing up to was Kyle’s. This could be a problem.
Kyle was Michael’s best friend. He had always felt that Max was his friend because he had to be. But Kyle. Kyle had taken the time to get to know him and the two had often watched ice hockey and football together back on Earth.
But one thing that Kyle was above all else, was highly protective of Liz.
Being as quiet as possible Michael saw Kyle’s shadow on the balcony. Peeking up and over, he saw that Kyle was facing away from the window. Being as stealthy as possible Michael climbed over the wall and crept over to the connecting balcony.
Making his way over Alex’s balcony and then over Tess’, Michael finally made it to Liz’s balcony. Taking a minute to calm down and settle his mind and body, Michael sat down. He watched Liz through the window. Trying to gauge how she was doing.
He watched her lean over their son. She was trying to change him but she kept flinching. Standing up Michael approached the doors to her suite. He could see sparks shooting from Nate to Liz.
He was so focused on his son that he failed to notice Liz staring directly at him in shock. He looked her in the eye and was pained to see fear there as well. He held up his hands in surrender and slowly entered through the doors.
“Can we talk?” Michael whispered, hoarsely.
Liz nodded with wide eyes.
She remained standing. Her shoulders with raised with tension and her lip was pulled between her teeth. She turned abruptly and Michael saw her hands clench. After a few moments she turned around. The fear and shock were gone. They were replaced with anger.
“I don’t know Michael.” She retorted. “Are you able to talk to me?”
“I know that you are angry…” Michael began before being interrupted.
“Angry?” Liz spat. “You think I am angry? I am so far beyond angry that I can barely see straight.”
“Liz, please.” Michael begged in a hollow voice.
“Do you have any idea what I have been through since the day I stepped foot on this God forsaken planet?” Liz bellowed. “Do you even care?”
Michael felt his vision cloud and a rushing noise swept through his ears as Liz yelled at him.
“After everything that you said! You wanted to marry me! You wanted us to be a family.” Liz was breathless from ranting but she continued bringing all of her emotions to the surface for the first time in so long. She had repressed her fear, anger, frustration, humiliation and every other emotion for so long they burst forth without a second thought.
Michael’s breathing rang loud in his ears as he swayed. His vision completely gone he stumbled backwards to find something to brace himself against.
Liz continued to shout.
A loud crash was the last thing he heard before he blacked out.
He opened his eyes later to see nothing. Reaching up to his face he found a damp cloth covering his eyes. Releasing a slow breath he tested his senses. The noises in his ears were gone and he could see again. He sat up and looked around the room. His eyes fell on Liz who was asleep in a chair beside the bed.
Looking around the room Michael expected to see Max or some of the others. But they were alone.
Swinging his legs over the side Michael faced Liz. He leaned forwards and placed a gentle hand on her knee; waking her.
“Michael…” Liz whispered as she sat up straight.
“Please. I need you to just listen for a minute.” Michael stated. “I know that I screwed up. I know that. It’s just so hard. I don’t know what to do.”
Michael willed the lump in his throat to dissolve as he rubbed furiously at his face.
Liz sat unmoving in the chair. She wanted to know what was going on but she was afraid to at the same time. Her mind had conjured up so many awful reasons as to why he was the way he was. But to actually know… That was something else entirely.
“The transport was fired upon but we made it to the ground and evacuated before it exploded.” Michael began. He stared off into space as though seeing the events replayed in his mind as he retold them.
“We were surrounded almost immediately. Kivar’s troops lined up the rest of the crew and soldiers and executed them. I was knocked out after they made me witness it and they took me to my cell.”
Tears checked his cheeks and dropped onto his clothes.
“I met him. Kivar. Not what I had imagined. He looked pretty normal. Just an average guy. Not particularly smart or good looking. Just a guy! He talked for hours. I didn’t really hear him cause my head hurt and my body ached. The ropes were so tight.”
Scratching absently at his eyebrow Michael tried to get back on track.
“He ordered them to get any information they could get out of me.” Michael gave a small chuckle. “I knew what pain was… but God! I never told them anything. I swear. I wouldn’t tell them anything.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Liz consoled him.
“Kivar started getting really angry. He was impressed how well a ‘human’ lasted but he was getting impatient. He figured it out.”
“Figured what out?” Liz asked.
“How to break me.” Michael revealed. “I was sitting in that room. Tied to the chair. And the door opened. The last person I expected in the world walked in and continued where the others had left off. It didn’t stop, for a whole month. It didn’t stop. Day and night. No sleep, no food, no rest. Again and again and again.”
Michael started to tremble. He gasped for breath as he sobbed openly. Liz placed a soft hand on his ice cold fingers. She rose and stepped closer to him.
“They made you see me.” Liz realised. “They wore my face as they hurt you.”
Michael nodded as his shoulders shook. Michel hunched over and rested his head on his knees. She didn’t think that it was possible but her heart broke further. She sat down next to Michael but refrained from touching him.
“Michael.” She called softly. “I need you to look at me.”
Michael sniffed loudly as he tried to pull himself together. Rising slowly he turned to see her looking at him. He saw the tears that marked her face.
“Look at me.” She asked. “Look into my eyes.”
After taking a moment to gather himself together, Michael granted her request. He saw her mussed hair and the lines on the side of her face where she had been lying on her arms as she slept. He saw lines around her mouth that had been caused by sorrow. Finally he looked in her eyes.
What he saw made him sit up and calm down.
Despite the pain and anguish, despite the tears and sorrow he could still see her love for him. The softness of her gaze and the emotion radiating from them was something he hadn’t seen in so long. It was something that the shape-shifters had never managed. They could look like her and sound like her. But they would never be her.
Fear crept into him again. Noise and darkness swept over him but he fought through it. He wouldn’t let the fear win. He wouldn’t give up again. He wouldn’t lose her again.
Michael swept her into his arms and crushed her to his chest. He sobbed into her chocolate hair as he cried apologies into her ear. He lay back into the bed and pulled her to him. Rolling over he placed Liz on her back as he encircled her waist with his arms and rested his head under her chin.
Liz wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him as tightly as she could.
“I will never hurt you.” She whispered. “I promise.”
Thank you to all of you lovely people out there in fanfic land who have taken the time to read my first attempt at publishing a story. Thanks to everyone who has left feedback. And I would like to give a huge massive shout out to my fabulous beta - KarenEvans! You are a star!
Kik
The sounds of their son crying caught their attention as they both rose from the bed and walked towards him. Liz took a deep breath and reached down to pick up Nate. Hope filled her heart as she touched his little hands. Michael was back and they were happy, well happier, and Nate would know that she wasn’t going to hurt him.
Then he sparked her.
Liz handed Nate over to Michael and sat down in defeat. Tears filled her eyes as she though of how much her son obviously hated her. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong.
“How long has he been doing that?” Michael asked in concern as he sat down beside her with Nate pressed against his shoulders.
“Since before he was born.” Liz mumbled, sniffing softly.
“And you have no idea why?” Michael pressed.
“If I knew; don’t you think that I would have done something?” Liz shot back in anger. It wasn’t fair. She had been there for every feed, every waking hour and she had devoted herself to him after he had been born and he hated her for it. It wasn’t fair. “I’m going for a shower.”
Michael sat in contemplation with his tiny son cradled in his arms. Closing his eyes Michael sat back and formed a connection with Nate. It was unlike the previous connection he had made with his son that consisted mainly of emotions. This one had images too. Michael looked at all of the images of Liz in Nate’s memory and found hundreds. Liz was the person who was with him the most. It didn’t make any sense.
Focusing on the emotional side of things Michael sensed what he could only define as resentment from Nate towards his mother. There was anger and betrayal. It was odd for Nate, who was so small, to feel that way. Digging deeper Michael found a fear of being left alone.
Deciding to experiment Michael placed Nate on the sofa and walked out of the room. Within a few minutes he heard Nate crying; it was soft at first then it became more distressed. He heard the water in the shower turn off and Liz come rushing out of the bathroom.
“Don’t pick him up.” Michael stated.
“He needs me.” Liz retorted.
“He’s angry with you; he will just shock you again.” Michael replied. “Do you know why?”
“No!” Liz retorted angrily.
“Did you leave him alone at any point?” Michael asked.
“You think I abandoned him?” Liz yelled indignantly.
“I know you would never leave him, it’s just that I connected with him and that’s how he feels.” Michael explained calmly.
“What?” Liz asked, slightly deflated.
“Was there a time when you left him alone? Even just over night?” Michael pressed. He knew that this was hurting her and he needed to get to the bottom of it.
“Never. At least not for longer than a couple of hours and even then he was never alone. He was with one of the others.” Liz replied.
Michael watched her ponder his question. Her lip became caught between her teeth as she tapped her thumbs on the sofa cushion. Realisation seemed to dawn on her as her body deflated.
“When?” Michael asked gently, he walked over and sat beside her resting a hand on Nate who had stopped crying.
“Before he was born.” Liz replied.
“Huh?” Michael asked in confusion.
Liz didn’t answer she just turned to Nate and picked him up. He immediately started shocking her with little bursts. Her face tensed in pain as she held him tightly to her chest.
“You can do that all you want; I am not going to stop holding you.” Liz whispered loud enough for Michael to hear. “I am your mummy and I will never leave you again; I promise! I love you.”
Nate continued to shock her. Her lower lip trembled but she kept her hold on her son.
“I can’t fix it if I don’t know what happened.” Michael continued. “Please let me help.”
“It hurt.” Liz whimpered. “After you were gone it hurt so much.”
“What did?” Michael asked.
Just as she was about to reply the door burst open and Max entered with a furious look on his face.
“I thought I told you to leave and not come back.” Max growled.
“It’s alright, Max.” Liz replied. “Michael and I have sorted some things out.”
“Such as?” Max was not going to let Liz wander back into a painful situation if he could help it.
“When I was captured they used shape shifters.” Michael explained.
“I don’t understand.” Max confessed as he entered the room and sat down on a chair. It was the first time he had heard Michael speak of his time in captivity.
“The face that tortured him … was mine.” Liz explained.
Max’s jaw dropped slightly. Everything suddenly became a lot clearer. He looked at Michael whose head was hung in shame.
“You two are ok, though?” Max asked trying to change the subject away from hurting his brother.
“Liz and I are working things out but Nate is another story.” Michael replied looking at Max in appreciation.
“He is still blasting you?” Max asked in concern.
“Blasting?” Michael asked in alarm.
“Sorry.” Max muttered as Liz glared at him.
Michael took Nate out of Liz’s arms and placed him on the cushion.
“You don’t hurt mummy!” He lectured his son. Nate began to cry but Michael refused to pick him up. “He has to learn.”
“He’s five months old!” Liz admonished. “Please pick him up.”
“Fine!” Michael replied lifting his son. “But only because you want me to.”
“Michael said that Nate feels like I abandoned him and that is why he is punishing me.” Liz revealed to Max.
“When did you leave him? As far as I am aware you have barely let him out of your sight since the day he was …” Max trailed off. “Oh!”
“What?” Michael demanded. “Something happened and I want to know what.”
Max looked at Liz in expectation and conveyed through his eyes that she should be the one to tell him about what happened.
“Does it have anything to do with what you were saying to me earlier?” Michael asked Max. Seeing the look of confusion on Max’s face he clarified. “About putting Liz in a coma? And there was something about her on a cliff.” His voice was low and rough with fear and unrecognisable emotions.
Michael saw the death glare that Liz shot at Max who merely shrugged it off.
“He had a right to know!” Max defended his actions.
“Not like that!” Liz retorted.
“Were you planning on telling him?” Max demanded.
“Do you think he has any plans of telling me everything that happened to him whilst he was captured? No, I don’t think so!” Liz snapped back.
“I am in the room!” Michael stated in annoyance and panic. “What happened?”
After a moments silence Liz started to talk.
“You remember the day I came into your suite because Nate needed to be near you?” Liz asked. She continued when Michael nodded in the affirmative. “Your presence is very comforting to Nate, as I am sure you know, and when you left and we heard about your … your …”
Michael placed a loving hand on Liz’s arm and then moved it up to her face and caressed her cheek.
“Your disappearance.” Liz amended. “Nate kept trying to find you. He knew that you weren’t there anymore and he kept using his little powers to try and find you. The problem was that the further along in the pregnancy I got the more I noticed his attempts to find you. He used his powers as a beacon I think and the pain got more and more intense.”
“From him trying to find me?” Michael asked unhappily.
“Around seven months it got too much. I couldn’t take it anymore and I had done everything I could think of. Max couldn’t do anything so we decided that the best thing to do would be put me in a coma so Nate could use any extra energy from me and not hurt me in the process.” Liz finished.
“I will never forget the look of terror and pain on your face the day I put you under!” Max confessed in a hoarse voice. “You just kept saying over and over again that if anything went wrong that it wasn’t my fault and that Maria and I were supposed to look after Nate if anything happened.”
“But he doesn’t hate me for leaving!” Michael concluded.
“I guess because he could still sense I was there maybe just ignoring him.” Liz said.
“We have to get this stopped now!” Michael stated. “It can’t be learned behaviour to hurt you.”
“Listen to Mr Dad!” Max joked.
Michael grinned ruefully. His grin faded at another memory though.
“What about the cliff?” Michael probed.
Liz groaned in annoyance. She shot a fiery look at Max and slumped against the sofa cushions with her arms folded against her chest.
“Well Max, since you seem to have such a clear picture in your head of what happened then maybe you would like to inform Michael of my attempt to kill myself!” Liz growled at him.
“What?!” Michael yelled. He startled his dozing son causing Nate to start crying again. Cradling his son in his arms Michael’s head swung violently from Liz to Max for a few moments before he started to get dizzy. “What happened?”
“It was on the one year anniversary of your … disappearance that Liz asked Maria to babysit so she could have some alone time. It had been over two hours and we still hadn’t heard from her so we decided to split up and look for her. After searching the entire palace we still couldn’t find her so I went out on my horse to look for her. I spotted her standing at the cliffs just above the west side of the purple lake.” Max stopped to look from Michael to Liz.
“Oh please don’t stop there Max!” Liz spat out in anger. “You have to tell him the best part!”
“I rode up behind her and as I approached her she stumbled towards the edge I jumped off of my horse and grabbed her arm. Her feet went over and her whole body was about to go down but I pulled her back.” Max finished.
Michael sat in shock for a full minute not taking his eyes away from Max. He was too afraid to look at Liz.
“You’re not actually believing this crap are you?” Liz muttered.
“So tell me your side.” Michael replied glancing at her sideways.
“I was there but I was never, ever going to jump!” Liz defended herself. “I wouldn’t do that! Ever! You have to know that!”
“We all do stupid things when we are upset!” Max soothed.
“Bite me asshole!” Liz snarled. “You rode up behind me. It was windy I didn’t hear you approach until you called out my name! You startled me and I lost my balance for a second!”
“You could have died!” Max stated gently.
“Max, go away! Seriously, you are starting to piss me off!” Liz barked at him.
Max nodded and left the suite. He was feeling much better about the situation. Michael had a right to know about what had happened in his absence and Max was glad that he and Liz seemed to be communicating. He only wished that things between Liz and Nate would improve. With a spring in his step Max walked through the palace to his suite where he planned on seducing Maria.
“Nothing to do with suicide?” Michael clarified.
“No! He surprised me, that’s all!” Liz groaned. She was getting really tired of all of this.
“Ok.” Michael conceded.
“OK? You mean you believe me?” Liz asked astounded.
“Of course I believe you! And even if I didn’t you have your story and you are sticking with it!”
“Til the end!” Liz joked. She leaned over and kissed him gently.
“I have an idea, bear with me.” Michael requested.
He manoeuvred Nate into a more comfortable position in his right arm and pulled Liz flush against his side with his left arm. Placing a gentle kiss on his son’s soft spot he formed a connection. Maintaining the connection he leaned over and kissed Liz passionately on the lips.
Confused about what he was doing, Liz did as he requested and just followed his lead. She could sense the connection between them form and raised her hand to caress his face. Their tongues stroked inside their mouths and gently traced their lips.
Michael sent all of his love to Liz via Nate. Using his connection with Nate he allowed his son to experience Liz through his own eyes and heart. Nate had to know how wonderful his mother was and Michael intended to show him. Her beauty, her grace and her kindness. Her love for everyone around her especially for her son and his father.
After several minutes Michael removed his lips from hers and tried to catch his breath.
“Thank God. I thought I was going to die!” Liz panted.
“Why not stop?” Michael laughed.
“Never!” Liz winked suggestively.
Taking her left hand in his he placed it on Nate’s chest. She looked at him with confusion apparent in her eyes.
“Take him!” Michael commanded softly.
Without questioning him she complied. She cradled Nate against her chest and waited for his to spark her. Every muscle in her body was tensed. She had learned in the past five months that hope was useless.
Nothing happened.
She looked up at Michael in shock and saw a smile on his face.
“What did you do?” Liz asked with a hoarse voice.
“Nothing!” Michael replied.
“No, tell me!” Liz begged.
“I just showed him how much I love you and how wonderful you and how lucky he is to have a mother who loved him so much!” Michael replied, a single tear marking his cheek.
Liz gasped with joy and held Nate tight to her. Michael pulled her to him so she lay against his chest. She rested her full weight on him and the two of them played with their son.
With a peaceful look on his face Michael turned to Liz and kissed her temple.
“I want more!” He whispered into her ear.
“Me too!” Liz replied, smiling.
THE END
Kik
The sounds of their son crying caught their attention as they both rose from the bed and walked towards him. Liz took a deep breath and reached down to pick up Nate. Hope filled her heart as she touched his little hands. Michael was back and they were happy, well happier, and Nate would know that she wasn’t going to hurt him.
Then he sparked her.
Liz handed Nate over to Michael and sat down in defeat. Tears filled her eyes as she though of how much her son obviously hated her. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong.
“How long has he been doing that?” Michael asked in concern as he sat down beside her with Nate pressed against his shoulders.
“Since before he was born.” Liz mumbled, sniffing softly.
“And you have no idea why?” Michael pressed.
“If I knew; don’t you think that I would have done something?” Liz shot back in anger. It wasn’t fair. She had been there for every feed, every waking hour and she had devoted herself to him after he had been born and he hated her for it. It wasn’t fair. “I’m going for a shower.”
Michael sat in contemplation with his tiny son cradled in his arms. Closing his eyes Michael sat back and formed a connection with Nate. It was unlike the previous connection he had made with his son that consisted mainly of emotions. This one had images too. Michael looked at all of the images of Liz in Nate’s memory and found hundreds. Liz was the person who was with him the most. It didn’t make any sense.
Focusing on the emotional side of things Michael sensed what he could only define as resentment from Nate towards his mother. There was anger and betrayal. It was odd for Nate, who was so small, to feel that way. Digging deeper Michael found a fear of being left alone.
Deciding to experiment Michael placed Nate on the sofa and walked out of the room. Within a few minutes he heard Nate crying; it was soft at first then it became more distressed. He heard the water in the shower turn off and Liz come rushing out of the bathroom.
“Don’t pick him up.” Michael stated.
“He needs me.” Liz retorted.
“He’s angry with you; he will just shock you again.” Michael replied. “Do you know why?”
“No!” Liz retorted angrily.
“Did you leave him alone at any point?” Michael asked.
“You think I abandoned him?” Liz yelled indignantly.
“I know you would never leave him, it’s just that I connected with him and that’s how he feels.” Michael explained calmly.
“What?” Liz asked, slightly deflated.
“Was there a time when you left him alone? Even just over night?” Michael pressed. He knew that this was hurting her and he needed to get to the bottom of it.
“Never. At least not for longer than a couple of hours and even then he was never alone. He was with one of the others.” Liz replied.
Michael watched her ponder his question. Her lip became caught between her teeth as she tapped her thumbs on the sofa cushion. Realisation seemed to dawn on her as her body deflated.
“When?” Michael asked gently, he walked over and sat beside her resting a hand on Nate who had stopped crying.
“Before he was born.” Liz replied.
“Huh?” Michael asked in confusion.
Liz didn’t answer she just turned to Nate and picked him up. He immediately started shocking her with little bursts. Her face tensed in pain as she held him tightly to her chest.
“You can do that all you want; I am not going to stop holding you.” Liz whispered loud enough for Michael to hear. “I am your mummy and I will never leave you again; I promise! I love you.”
Nate continued to shock her. Her lower lip trembled but she kept her hold on her son.
“I can’t fix it if I don’t know what happened.” Michael continued. “Please let me help.”
“It hurt.” Liz whimpered. “After you were gone it hurt so much.”
“What did?” Michael asked.
Just as she was about to reply the door burst open and Max entered with a furious look on his face.
“I thought I told you to leave and not come back.” Max growled.
“It’s alright, Max.” Liz replied. “Michael and I have sorted some things out.”
“Such as?” Max was not going to let Liz wander back into a painful situation if he could help it.
“When I was captured they used shape shifters.” Michael explained.
“I don’t understand.” Max confessed as he entered the room and sat down on a chair. It was the first time he had heard Michael speak of his time in captivity.
“The face that tortured him … was mine.” Liz explained.
Max’s jaw dropped slightly. Everything suddenly became a lot clearer. He looked at Michael whose head was hung in shame.
“You two are ok, though?” Max asked trying to change the subject away from hurting his brother.
“Liz and I are working things out but Nate is another story.” Michael replied looking at Max in appreciation.
“He is still blasting you?” Max asked in concern.
“Blasting?” Michael asked in alarm.
“Sorry.” Max muttered as Liz glared at him.
Michael took Nate out of Liz’s arms and placed him on the cushion.
“You don’t hurt mummy!” He lectured his son. Nate began to cry but Michael refused to pick him up. “He has to learn.”
“He’s five months old!” Liz admonished. “Please pick him up.”
“Fine!” Michael replied lifting his son. “But only because you want me to.”
“Michael said that Nate feels like I abandoned him and that is why he is punishing me.” Liz revealed to Max.
“When did you leave him? As far as I am aware you have barely let him out of your sight since the day he was …” Max trailed off. “Oh!”
“What?” Michael demanded. “Something happened and I want to know what.”
Max looked at Liz in expectation and conveyed through his eyes that she should be the one to tell him about what happened.
“Does it have anything to do with what you were saying to me earlier?” Michael asked Max. Seeing the look of confusion on Max’s face he clarified. “About putting Liz in a coma? And there was something about her on a cliff.” His voice was low and rough with fear and unrecognisable emotions.
Michael saw the death glare that Liz shot at Max who merely shrugged it off.
“He had a right to know!” Max defended his actions.
“Not like that!” Liz retorted.
“Were you planning on telling him?” Max demanded.
“Do you think he has any plans of telling me everything that happened to him whilst he was captured? No, I don’t think so!” Liz snapped back.
“I am in the room!” Michael stated in annoyance and panic. “What happened?”
After a moments silence Liz started to talk.
“You remember the day I came into your suite because Nate needed to be near you?” Liz asked. She continued when Michael nodded in the affirmative. “Your presence is very comforting to Nate, as I am sure you know, and when you left and we heard about your … your …”
Michael placed a loving hand on Liz’s arm and then moved it up to her face and caressed her cheek.
“Your disappearance.” Liz amended. “Nate kept trying to find you. He knew that you weren’t there anymore and he kept using his little powers to try and find you. The problem was that the further along in the pregnancy I got the more I noticed his attempts to find you. He used his powers as a beacon I think and the pain got more and more intense.”
“From him trying to find me?” Michael asked unhappily.
“Around seven months it got too much. I couldn’t take it anymore and I had done everything I could think of. Max couldn’t do anything so we decided that the best thing to do would be put me in a coma so Nate could use any extra energy from me and not hurt me in the process.” Liz finished.
“I will never forget the look of terror and pain on your face the day I put you under!” Max confessed in a hoarse voice. “You just kept saying over and over again that if anything went wrong that it wasn’t my fault and that Maria and I were supposed to look after Nate if anything happened.”
“But he doesn’t hate me for leaving!” Michael concluded.
“I guess because he could still sense I was there maybe just ignoring him.” Liz said.
“We have to get this stopped now!” Michael stated. “It can’t be learned behaviour to hurt you.”
“Listen to Mr Dad!” Max joked.
Michael grinned ruefully. His grin faded at another memory though.
“What about the cliff?” Michael probed.
Liz groaned in annoyance. She shot a fiery look at Max and slumped against the sofa cushions with her arms folded against her chest.
“Well Max, since you seem to have such a clear picture in your head of what happened then maybe you would like to inform Michael of my attempt to kill myself!” Liz growled at him.
“What?!” Michael yelled. He startled his dozing son causing Nate to start crying again. Cradling his son in his arms Michael’s head swung violently from Liz to Max for a few moments before he started to get dizzy. “What happened?”
“It was on the one year anniversary of your … disappearance that Liz asked Maria to babysit so she could have some alone time. It had been over two hours and we still hadn’t heard from her so we decided to split up and look for her. After searching the entire palace we still couldn’t find her so I went out on my horse to look for her. I spotted her standing at the cliffs just above the west side of the purple lake.” Max stopped to look from Michael to Liz.
“Oh please don’t stop there Max!” Liz spat out in anger. “You have to tell him the best part!”
“I rode up behind her and as I approached her she stumbled towards the edge I jumped off of my horse and grabbed her arm. Her feet went over and her whole body was about to go down but I pulled her back.” Max finished.
Michael sat in shock for a full minute not taking his eyes away from Max. He was too afraid to look at Liz.
“You’re not actually believing this crap are you?” Liz muttered.
“So tell me your side.” Michael replied glancing at her sideways.
“I was there but I was never, ever going to jump!” Liz defended herself. “I wouldn’t do that! Ever! You have to know that!”
“We all do stupid things when we are upset!” Max soothed.
“Bite me asshole!” Liz snarled. “You rode up behind me. It was windy I didn’t hear you approach until you called out my name! You startled me and I lost my balance for a second!”
“You could have died!” Max stated gently.
“Max, go away! Seriously, you are starting to piss me off!” Liz barked at him.
Max nodded and left the suite. He was feeling much better about the situation. Michael had a right to know about what had happened in his absence and Max was glad that he and Liz seemed to be communicating. He only wished that things between Liz and Nate would improve. With a spring in his step Max walked through the palace to his suite where he planned on seducing Maria.
“Nothing to do with suicide?” Michael clarified.
“No! He surprised me, that’s all!” Liz groaned. She was getting really tired of all of this.
“Ok.” Michael conceded.
“OK? You mean you believe me?” Liz asked astounded.
“Of course I believe you! And even if I didn’t you have your story and you are sticking with it!”
“Til the end!” Liz joked. She leaned over and kissed him gently.
“I have an idea, bear with me.” Michael requested.
He manoeuvred Nate into a more comfortable position in his right arm and pulled Liz flush against his side with his left arm. Placing a gentle kiss on his son’s soft spot he formed a connection. Maintaining the connection he leaned over and kissed Liz passionately on the lips.
Confused about what he was doing, Liz did as he requested and just followed his lead. She could sense the connection between them form and raised her hand to caress his face. Their tongues stroked inside their mouths and gently traced their lips.
Michael sent all of his love to Liz via Nate. Using his connection with Nate he allowed his son to experience Liz through his own eyes and heart. Nate had to know how wonderful his mother was and Michael intended to show him. Her beauty, her grace and her kindness. Her love for everyone around her especially for her son and his father.
After several minutes Michael removed his lips from hers and tried to catch his breath.
“Thank God. I thought I was going to die!” Liz panted.
“Why not stop?” Michael laughed.
“Never!” Liz winked suggestively.
Taking her left hand in his he placed it on Nate’s chest. She looked at him with confusion apparent in her eyes.
“Take him!” Michael commanded softly.
Without questioning him she complied. She cradled Nate against her chest and waited for his to spark her. Every muscle in her body was tensed. She had learned in the past five months that hope was useless.
Nothing happened.
She looked up at Michael in shock and saw a smile on his face.
“What did you do?” Liz asked with a hoarse voice.
“Nothing!” Michael replied.
“No, tell me!” Liz begged.
“I just showed him how much I love you and how wonderful you and how lucky he is to have a mother who loved him so much!” Michael replied, a single tear marking his cheek.
Liz gasped with joy and held Nate tight to her. Michael pulled her to him so she lay against his chest. She rested her full weight on him and the two of them played with their son.
With a peaceful look on his face Michael turned to Liz and kissed her temple.
“I want more!” He whispered into her ear.
“Me too!” Liz replied, smiling.
THE END