Roswell Fanatics

Part 9

‘bang, bang, bang’

“ummm…I m…I m coming,” Liz said as she went to the door.

She looked into the peep hole and saw it was Max. She sighed heavily and opened the door a little bit, “ummm…Max, now is not a good time. Loretta is napping, she’s had a long day and if your looking for Michael he was called out on a three day trip to Utah. Maybe you can come back when he comes home.” Liz said quietly not letting her fear catch in her voice.

“No, I need to talk to you. It’s important. Please…it’s urgent,” Max plead with the door.

After a couple of minutes, Liz opened the door fully and Max practically ran in not acknowledging her really.

“So, we got a problem. Maria…ha…Maria is pregnant and from what she says and from what the doctors says she is three weeks pregnant which makes sense because the last time we slept together was…well three weeks ago. I mean I was all set to leave her…I was…on my way to tell her that and now…” Max rambles as he looks up to see her face. What he sees shocks him to the core.

“Wait…what…what happened to your face?” Max asks curiously.

“It…it’s nothing, do you want tea or something?” Liz hurriedly goes to the kitchen to make a pot of tea.

“Liz, answer me. What…who, did that to you? Please, don’t tell me that…it was an accident. No accident could have done something like that unless it was a car accident and in that case you would be in the hospital. Liz…tell me,” Max say calmly as he walks up to her.
“Max…I…don’t, please don’t make me,” Liz says as she begins to cry.

“Liz…did…NO,NO…DON’T…don’t tell me he, my…best friend…NO, NO, NO LIZ…did, he…did Michael do that to you?” Max asked as he began to cry a little himself.

There was silence, that felt like hours.

“Liz…??” Max pleaded with her for an answer, “Liz turn and look at me.” Max said as he placed his arms on either side of her.

She turned and starred at his feet, “yes,” she answered so quietly that he almost couldn’t make it out, but he heard her. He wished he hadn’t or that he was imagining it, but he heard it. His best friend, how could he never have known that something was wrong? How could he not have seen it…had he really been that blind, that self indulged all this time. His best friend, who he trusted more than anyone, was…an abusive husband. He felt numb. He couldn’t believe he didn’t see all of this, that everything was…so horrible. He didn’t want to believe it, but it was there if it was a dog it would had bit his ass.

His, Liz. Wait…did he just think what he thought he did…was he still in love with Liz? After all those years of pushing it to the back was it still there? Maybe, that’s what his mother was saying…wait he couldn’t think of that right now. Right now his main concern was making sure that Liz and his daughter were safe and he would do anything to make that happen.

Max kissed Liz on the forehead and held her, letting her cry every tear she had.

“Liz, you need to go to a hospital. Who knows what kind of injuries you might have? We need to get you examined,” Max said dragging her to the door.

“NO MAX, NO! Then…they will know…and then what if they take her away from me, what if they tell him and I can’t…no I don’t care about the injuries please don’t make me go!” Liz cried as she fell to the floor in front of him.

Max wanted to throw up, his friend had put these thoughts of fear in her head.

Max bent down to where her tears fell.

“Liz, listen to me. No one is going to take her away, I will make sure of that ok. She is my daughter too, and I am going to get you looked at, I care about you too much not to help you. It will be alright and after, you and Loretta will stay with me.” Max stated brushing strains of hair over her ear.

“What about Maria, won’t that be weird and she knows…EVERYTHING, and now she is pregnant and like… OMG! No, we should stay here,” Liz rambled.

“Liz, I will take care of Maria and everything ok, come on.” Max said as he helped her off the ground.

He turned to where Loretta slept, “Loretta, honey…you have to wake up,” Max said softly tapping her.

Loretta woke and looked up at Max, sleepily she took his hand. He quickly grabbed necessities and threw them in a bag.

He then went back to Loretta and took her hand softly and led both Liz and Loretta to his car.

TBC

Part 10

The drive to the hospital was silent, awkwardly so. Max, couldn’t think straight. How could his best friend do something to a woman who is…perfect. Max hated him right then and there, he could never forgive his friend of the unspeakable crime he committed. Liz felt embarrassed and ashamed. For the entire ride to the hospital, she just starred out her window, fighting the urge to jump out of the car as it was moving and run away from everything. But, she knew she couldn’t, she had to stay for the sake of the little girl asleep in the backseat.

The drive was only twenty minutes but it felt longer to both Max and Liz.

When there Max parked and turned off the engine. For a few minutes they just sat there, neither one knowing what to say.

“ummm…I was thinking, maybe we should…just find a hotel for the night or so…ummmm…it wouldn’t be fair to you, you know to be put in that position with Maria and…everything,” Max said quietly.

Liz just nodded and then it hit her, “Wait! How long are we going to be gone for because Michael will be back in a few days and if he sees that I left and went to the hospital…No, No…you know what we should just leave and you should take us home now…it is too risky, what if he comes home early and what if he sees that the chores aren’t done and what if…” she was rambling, her thoughts were running through her head at lightening speed.

Max turned in his seat and saw the look of terror in her face as she rambled.

“Hey, Hey, Hey. Liz calm down ok, just calm down. Don’t worry about Michael when the time comes I will take care of him and everything. You have to take care of yourself right now. You are hurt and need to be looked at and need the rest to get better alright. Don’t fight me on this,” Max stated opening the door and stepping out of the vehicle.

He went to the other side of the car and helped Liz and then Loretta out.

They walked into the hospital and Liz felt even more embarrassed, as if everyone was watching her.

Max walked up to the receptionist and banged on the counter to get the elderly lady’s attention.

“Excuse me, mam. This is my friend Liz, and she was beaten pretty badly, we were wondering if she can an exam and stuff just to make sure everything is ok,” Max smiled sweetly.

The lady looked at Liz and then back to Max, she nodded and grabbed pieces of paper and a pen.

“Have her fill this out and a doctor will be right with you,” the lady said snottily.

Max took the papers and the three of them went into the waiting area.

Max began to fill out all the paper work, while Liz pulled a blanket over Loretta and just starred at her. This wasn’t fair, no little girl should have to go through all of this and be put in the middle of some battle that she had nothing to do with. Liz then looked at Max.

“I want Loretta to stay with someone else for the time being, I don’t want her to have to worry about anything. She has to go to school and be fed. Just promise me she will stay with someone nice…until, well until this is all over,” Liz said as tears rushed down her cheeks.

Max just looked up from the paper work and nodded, “ummm…ya, ok. I have a colleague of mine who has children of his own and a wife that is very nice. He always says he owes me for getting him out of some legal trouble awhile back. I will give him a call later.” Max stated as he looked over at a peaceful sleeping Loretta and smiled.

After Max was done all the necessary paper work he handed it in and went to go make a couple of calls. The first one was to his colleague, Kyle Valenti.

Max dialled the number carefully on his cell phone and cleared his voice it only ran twice before someone picked up.

“hello,” came the voice of his wife Isabel
“Hey, Isabel it’s me Max,” Max said cheerfully

“well, hello stranger. Been awhile, what’s up?” Isabel said sweetly

“Oh…long story there, Isabel…ummm…Isabel, is Kyle around?’ Max said in a hurry.

“oh, ya. One minute. Oh and Max, I expect you to come over and visit some time soon, little Henry and Marissa miss you,” Isabel said before handing the phone over to Kyle.

“hello,” Kyle said as he chewed on a carrot

“hey man, it’s Max listen…I need to ask you a favour,” Max continued to tell him the story and Liz’s wishes.

“no problem man, the kids are always looking forward to new guests, you can drop her off after your done at the hospital,” Kyle stated

“Thanks man, it’s appreciated. Look I have to go now, but I ll see you in about an hour k,” Max said as he looked over to where Liz was sitting nervously.

Max hung up the phone and dialled another number, this one was going to be harder then the first call.

It rang several times before it was picked up.

“Hello,” came the voice on the other end.

“Hey Maria. Listen I am out on a…business trip and I won’t be back for a few days so…” Max began

“No, your not! Your with her aren’t you! You are with that little two-timing whore while I am in OUR house two months pregnant with your child!” Maria screeched

“Listen I don’t need…HEY! I thought you said you were only three weeks pregnant…another lie?” Max asked as he was beginning to get very upset.

Caught in her lie, Maria was at a lost about what to do next, “I…uhhh…well, what I meant was…”

“Maria, SAVE IT. Look, I thought I could but this is just not worth it. Consider this marriage over, we’re through and you know…tell my father that I want a divorce. I don’t give a f***** crap about you or him. Bye.” Max stated as he hung up the phone.

He turned and went back to where Liz was sitting fidgeting with her fingers.

He sat down beside her, “it’s done. Don’t worry, Kyle is a good man and one of my greatest friends, his wife is nice too. She’s like a sister to me and a great mom to her kids, Loretta will be safe there,” Max said trying to ease her nerves.

Liz just nodded.

After that they sat there quietly again until a doctor came up to them.

“Elizabeth Parker, will you follow me please,” both Liz and Max got up to follow the doctor.

“Wait, what about Loretta?” Liz asked as she looked back to her sleeping daughter.

The doctor just smiled, “she’ll be fine the nurses will keep an eye on her for you.”

~~~

The walked into a small white examining room and Liz was asked to sit on the exam table.

Doctor Morrison, ran a bunch of tests and checked Liz for any internal bruising or problems.

When the doctor came back with the results, he found something interesting.

“Well, it seems your blood work shows that your pregnant,” Liz’s eyes widen and she looked back to Max.

Max just stood there in shock.

“ummm…is anything else wrong or anything?” Max asked trying to change the subject, Liz and him will talk about it later tonight.

“Nope, everything else looks fine. Your free to go…Oh and make sure you get rest, lots of rest,” the doctor stated as he left the room.

TBC

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PART 11

After Liz was examined, the three of them left the hospital. The drive was silent, Loretta had fallen asleep in the first 5 minutes of the ride and both Max and Liz were lost in their own thoughts.

LIZ

‘I m pregnant…this can’t be happening. Not now…there’s just so much happening, I can’t take care of a baby and…oh no! Michael…he’ll freak. Especially, because…there is no way that…No Liz you can’t think about that right now. You have to concentrate on taking care of Loretta and your unborn child.’

Liz looked over to Max, who seemed to be concentrating hard on the road a head of him.

‘I wonder what he’s thinking…’

MAX

‘I can’t believe it…she’s pregnant…wait what if that bastard…NO! Max don’t think of that right now. All that matters is getting her and Loretta safe…that’s all that is important. You can figure out the small details later. Wait…the baby, well there is more then a good chance that the child is mine. I mean she could be pregnant with my baby and Loretta…Wow! Max way to go…maybe I should stick to briefs from now on, atleast when I m around Liz…Max! Snap out of it! This is no time for sarcasm. You have to get Loretta to Kyle’s and then keep Liz safe…that’s all that matters…remember- stick to what’s important and try not to be a complete ass this time around’

Max told himself as he quickly glanced at Liz, who was at that moment starring at him as well. She gave a small smile and turned her head back to look out the window.
Max looked away as well and continued to stare seriously at the road as his thoughts were once again tortured by well…endless thoughts of the past months events.

~~~

Max pulled up to a nice white, picket fence house. Liz thought that the family who lived there must be one of those perfect families you see on television or in books, because the house looked just like that… a fairy tale life.

Both her and Max got out of the car and Max carried a still sleeping Loretta to the front door.

He rang the doorbell and waited. Kyle was there in a flash, as little Samantha walked right beside him. Samantha looked to be the same age as Loretta and had long flowing blonde hair and green eyes…the spitting image of her mother.

“Hey,” Kyle said as he opened the door for Max.

“come on in,” Liz followed close behind.

When inside, she was overcome by the beauty of the house. She almost cried at the sight, it was perfect. Exactly what she had always dreamed of giving Loretta- a perfect cozy home, with a fire place and maybe a library, because Liz lived to read to Loretta as she fell asleep.

She then turned her attention to the sleeping beauty, cradled tightly in her fathers’ embrace. She was gorgeous. She took her hand and placed a piece of hair behind her ear and tip toed over her and whispered so only Loretta could possibly here.

“Sleep well my darling and know that if you get scared at night and don’t know where you are. I m with you. These people are nice and will take care of you for a couple of days, while me and your…well, your dad figure out how to get us out of this mess. He can’t bring you or me pain anymore, daddy will make sure of that.”

Liz looked over to Kyle and Isabel as they stood talking to Max. Isabel looked over at Liz, she looked cold and tired and well…completely worn out. Her clothes had been ripped to shreds and have tons of stains all over them.

Liz smiled weakly at her, “She…Loretta, should sleep through the night, unless she has a bad dream which seems to happen a lot right now…but if you give her warm milk with a little sugar and sing to her she will go right back to sleep.”

Isabel smiled and nodded, she could tell she cared a great deal for her daughter, “I will remember that…don’t worry, we’ll take care of her as if she was our own.”

Liz had to hold back the tears and nodded. Max gave Kyle Loretta and ran a hand over her sweet and innocent face.

He cleared his throat, “ummm…I ll…I will call you tomorrow and maybe talk to Loretta. She can’t talk, she ummm…well…she just can’t medically…ummmm…but I would like to talk to her and you guys. We’ll only be gone a week at the maximum and will be staying at a hotel in Utah. Make sure, she stays safe and gets some clean clothes, and fed and well…you know the rest,”

Kyle nodded, “no worries man…she’ll be fine.”

Max nodded and turned to Liz, “we should get going.”

“Wait!” Isabel stopped them

They both turned around and starred at her, Isabel just smiled, “don’t move, I will be right back.”

Max and Liz looked at each other then back at Kyle, Kyle only shrugged and Isabel ran up the stairs and came down a few minutes later.

“Here, there’s some clean clothes and pjs and what not, some shampoo. The good stuff, because hotels don’t usually have…the good stuff and then there are some magazines and conditioner, because what is the shampoo without the conditioner. There’s also two never been used tooth brushes and tooth paste and a hair brush and socks. Basically, everything I thought you would need and you can keep the clothes by the way. There’s also some money for shopping and don’t try to stop me Max! This is our gift to you guys,” Isabel smiled.

Liz began to cry, never before had she met two people so gracious in her life. She gave Isabel a huge hug that for a split moment caught Isabel off guard.

Max, just smiled.

“Come on Liz, we need to get you some rest,” Liz nodded and after another quick look at her daughter took Max’s hand as he helped her out the door and waved back to Isabel and Kyle.

~~~

Liz fell asleep on the way to the Hotel. Max had to wake her up when they got there.

He went to register and got a key and brought a couple more towels up with him.

The hotel was nice, comfortable…not overly pricey, but still it made you feel relaxed.

They made it to their room and Liz slipped into some Pjs Isabel had packed and brushed her teeth. Max laid on the bed and watched some television.

When Liz came out of the bathroom, she stalled in front of Max. All of a sudden she was over come by shyness around him. She didn’t know what to say or not to say. That never happened to her before, not in front of Max at least. She felt safe with him, but at that moment…she felt, well…nervous.

Max looked from the television to Liz and saw that she timid and nervous. He smiled and patted the empty space beside him, offering her a place to sit.

Liz walked over and sat beside him.

There was silence for awhile, both of them looking seriously at the television, not really paying attention to what was on but, thinking about what they wanted to say.

Then Max spoke, “so…Liz there’s…well…I don’t mean to put you on the spot, which I know I have done a lot to you over the past month. However, there’s something that I have been wondering about since leaving the hospital…so…I need to know…ummm”

“Yes, the baby is yours,” Liz interrupted needing to get it off her chest. She has also been thinking a lot about that since finding out.
Max, looked at Liz and smiled a little.

“Are…are you sure, I mean you don’t need to feel…I mean if he, you know and…I can’t even say it! But, if you’re not sure because, he…well you know. Then I mean you can tell me, I won’t think less of you…Not that I think less of you now...Oh Man! I really have to learn to not put my foot in my mouth,” Max said exasperated.

Liz chuckled, at his loss of putting together correct sentences. He was so cute when he muttered and stuttered. She took his head into her hands and looked him in the eyes, not even blinking.

“Max, the baby is yours because Michael and I haven’t been together in over three years and to answer your other question he has never raped me…he is too drunk too see straight anyway. He just hits me. You are the only possible father to this child, just like you were the only possible father to Loretta.” Liz smiled at him and kissed him softly on the lips.

Max soon intensified the kiss and before it got too hot he stopped and looked at her, “are you sure, that you want to…because we don’t have to, if your too hurt or not in the mood or if…wait could it hurt the baby, because I don’t want to hurt the baby, I mean wait…if we…will it hurt you…ummm,”

Liz laughed, “Maxwell, it’s alright. I want to, with you and no it won’t hurt the baby. We’ll do it gently ok. So, I love when you stutter and mumble, but I want you to do one thing right at this moment or else I will be angry and that is…Shut-up and KISS ME,”

Max laughed, “yes mamma, your wish is my command.”

That the two, made love and it was more beautiful then any other time in their lives. That night Max, realized something he never thought he would ever realize or find…he found out, what it means to really be loved and what it means to love someone so much you think your heart will jump out of your chest…Yes, he Maxwell Philip Evans was beyond any doubt in the world…IN LOVE (and for real this time)

TBC

Tell me what’cha think!!

Part 12

The morning light shone through the hotel window. Inside the small, but cozy hotel room Max laid in the king sized bed wide awake. Liz slept peacefully beside him. She was so tired, the past month had been nothing but a day to day roller coaster ride for her. She had been happy, sad, confused, frustrated all at once.
Max laid there, not really thinking. His mind refused to work and his heart, just kept saying the same things over and over again. He needed to fix things, make them right. The way they were supposed to be like eight years ago and he knew where he had to go and who he had to talk to make it all happen.
So, Max quietly got up from the bed and got dressed. He scribbled a quick note and left it on his pillow. Before grabbing his car keys, he kissed his beauty softly on the forehead whispering sweetly in her ear, “I will be back soon Princess.”

He walked out the door.

~~~

3 hours later

‘knock, knock,knock’

“Hold on! I m coming, if this is my 9:30 interview you are very late and I don’t like…” and then he opened the door.

“Hey Dad, can I come in…thanks, so what’s up? That’s good,” a cocky Max said as he swiftly passed his father and walked into his father’s massive study.

“Maxwell, what the…? Your supposed to be at work, and look at you in jeans. Where are your work clothes?” His father asked angrily shutting the door behind him.

Max turned around to face his father quickly, “OH! Ya, about that…well it seems. Screw it, no need to be polite right dad? I quit. Think I will get a job at a new firm or better yet maybe go into practice by myself, ya that’s what I am going to do. That way I will be able to spend some time with the family. Not you dad, but you know other family members who aren’t…well, assholes. Which reminds me I m going to need to divorce Maria. So, now that I quit and well…and well, I don’t care a piss about your feelings or Maria’s for that matter. I m done playing your little tune Pops…Get a new fiddle,” Max said seriously, adding a touch of sarcasm for dramatic effect. He was actually feeling very proud of himself, this was the first time ever he had stood up to his Dad.

“Son, have you been dipping into my special cigars. Your insane if you think I m going to let you quit the business or further more divorce Maria. You know as much as you want to, you can’t blame me for everything that is wrong in your life son,” his father said walking to his desk chair and sitting down.

“You know…your right, you are absolutely right. I can’t blame you for everything that is wrong with my life. I screwed up, I gave in to you and your wishes, why? Because I was hoping that maybe just maybe I could earn a smidgen of your respect…hell even your love. But what I realized in the past month is that, I don’t need it. I don’t need you or your damn business. I need love and since you or the women I married never even heard of the word let alone the meaning. I will settle to learn on my own. You hurt me more then anyone has ever hurt me in my life. I wanted to be exactly like you…I wanted to be in power, have the great life. So, I did every damn, flipping thing I could think of to make you think I was great and deserving of love. I dated the rich, pretty girl and I got into the powerful schools and got the grades. Then I did the one thing! I will regret for the rest of my life… I let you get away with hurting the one women that would give her life to save mine, I helped you keep the most evil of secrets,” At this point Max was in tears.

“You, slept with my fiancée, got her pregnant- all so you could be powerful. You did all of this, while my mother was baking you your favourite apple pie and waiting while you got back…from…from the office late. My mother has done everything for you, and you used her day in and day out. Why? Because she is power to you and that’s all you care about isn’t it? Not your family, not even your job…but control and power, that’s what you love. Well, I will not be apart of it anymore! It took me eight F***** to do this and ya, I feel like shit that it took this long. I don’t know when it happened…wait…no, I do know. I know because it hit me that morning, like a ton bricks---I had became…you. I did it, I became you and it made me sick inside, so…I did it, I made the decision while jogging down the same stupid streets…that I was going to do something about it. I was going to fine me and I did, in…in a small 8 year-old girl I found who I was and it’s not you. So, screw you dad. I m going to draw up those divorce papers and sign them and you can…ahhh you can go to hell for all I care.” Max said as he snarled at his father and stormed out of his father’s study.

His father sat there stunned at what his son had done. He had…he had walked away from him…well, that wasn’t going to happen.

~~

Max walked to down the hall, stomping and wiping the tears from his eyes.

“Maxwell,” a sweet voice called from behind him.

He stopped in spot, “Mom not know, I will call you later.”

“I know Maxwell…I know everything. I know what he did, I know about your father and Maria and I know about Liz and Loretta,” Max turned around quickly and looked at his mother stunned.

“What, you think I m that dumb. I have my own resources you know. I am not as dumb as people may think or want to believe,” his mother wheeled herself closer to him.
“Maxwell, you are my son and I love you more then anything. But I also love your father. I know you don’t understand it, hell I haven’t figured out why I haven’t walked out on him yet, with the knowledge…wait no, I do. Security, Max. You see when I first found out about Maria and him, I was furious. I packed my bags and then…then I stopped and looked around. This is my life, this is who I am. Yes, it is not fairy tale…but it is what it is. I love you, and I admire you beyond belief. So go, don’t come back and live your life. Be who you really are and don’t let false faces and images of the perfect life screw it up…I was too late to make my happy ending…but son you have a new beginning, so take it and build your life right this time. Go, never come back to Roswell, there are too many horrible things here. Start fresh and always remember, I live in you.” Max was beyond tears at this point. He bent down to his mother and kissed her on the forehead and nodded.

“I love you mom and I am so…sorry,” Max stuttered as more and more tears fell.

“Max, I love you. There is nothing to be sorry for,” Max stood up and wiped the falling tears from his eyes and left the house.

He got into his car and drove.

As he got on Peach Avenue, he stopped the car and ran to the door. He banged on it hard and it flew open.

Isabel was startled, “Max?”

“There is no time to explain, where is she? Where is Loretta?” Max said in a rush as he flew past Isabel.

“Loretta, sweetie.” Max yelled and then he found her, drawing on the floor.

Loretta looked up and smiled at him.

Max bent down and kissed her on the forehead and hugged her.

“ahhh…there’s been a change of plans. Where leaving, getting out of here for good. I can’t say where, if my father…no…never mind. Come on Loretta sweet pea. You, me and your mom are going away. Ok,” Loretta nodded and Max picked her up and grabbed her teddy and a blanket.

“Isabel, thanks for…for everything.”

Max walked back to his car and carefully helped Loretta in to her seat.

“Where going to your house first, to get your crayons and you know favourite stuffed animals. Everything is going to be better now, I promise honey.” Max said looking over to his daughter who, was smiling in the passengers seat.

“I promise.” Max said starting the engine.

TBC


We are coming to the end of this part of the story...it is going to be like a series or something the next story will be: "As the Bath Water Drains" and it will not be yet of course there is still five or so more chapters of this one...but just so you know.

Part 13

Liz woke up to the telephone ringing. She looked around for Max and couldn’t find him.

“hello,” she answered quietly

“ummm…Liz, it’s…Maria, is Max there?” Maria asked sadly

“Maria, oh. No he isn’t. How did you get this number anyway?” Liz asked a little shocked to her voice.

“It doesn’t matter how I got the number, just…when you see him, which I m sure you will. Just tell him that he won. I will give him the divorce,” Maria replied coldly

“Oh…ummm…ok, I can tell him,” Liz said a little afraid of her tone.

“Good. Listen Liz, I m not going to apologize for what I did. However, just know that I will never, ever forgive you for what you did. I want you to know that you and Max deserve each other and when the time is right, you will get yours.” Then the line went dead.

Shakily, Liz hung up the phone and laid back on the bed, replaying the conversation she had just had with Maria. She then looked to the empty space beside her and saw the note.

She carefully picked it up and read it.

Dear, Sleeping beauty.

I had to go and take care of a few things, things that I have been putting off for way too long.

I shouldn’t be gone long and if I am I will call you.

Much Love
Max

Liz, reread the note about ten more times and then it hit her. He was going to his father. She never knew the whole story about what went wrong with Max and Maria’s relationship. He would never tell her, but she had a deep suspicion that whatever it was and whatever made him loose his faith in love, it had to have something to do with his father.
Liz never liked his father, he was too much like the evil parents, you see in the movies. The ones who care only about themselves and what made them happy---the ones with power and who used that power to control others, even their own family.

Liz decided to wait for his call and go for a shower.

~~~

Max pulled up to Liz’s apartment building and helped Loretta out. He took her hand and they went inside and up to her apartment.

The door was already unlocked and open, which Max found strange because he was sure he remembered locking it before taking Liz to the hospital.

He then tightened his grip on Loretta’s hand and walked in, once in he found an awful sight. There Michael sat on the couch, watching television with a beer in his hand.

“Michael? What are you doing here?” Max asked hiding Loretta behind him.

Michael looked up and smiled cockily, “what am I doing here? Dude, I live here…but,” Michael started getting up from the couch.

“Let me guess, what you are doing here. Oh and look you brought the brat,” Michael said finding Loretta behind Max.

Max quickly turned to Loretta, “Loretta sweetheart, here are my car keys and I want you to go to the car, get in and lock the doors ok. I will be there when I can.” Max stated looking Loretta in the eyes.

The scared Loretta nodded and did what she was told.

Max turned back to Michael once Loretta was out of sight.

“Oh! Why did she have to go, we could have had a fun time…wait! You don’t think she is scared of me do ya?” Michael said with an evil laugh.

“So, let me guess why you’re here…hmmmm…Oh! I know you came back for your shirt,” Michael said getting up in his face.

“Max, my friend…you see I m not an idiot. I have known since the beginning that you have been screwing my wife behind my back for what…a month now. I see the way you look at her when we went out to dinner and what not. Granted, we don’t do that anymore…not for oh I would say a good 4 years, almost. I also know, that Loretta is yours,” Michael stated sternly turning around and walking to the kitchen area.

Max was shocked to say the least, “Michael, I…”

“you what? Didn’t think I knew did ya? Oh…I knew since the moment she was born. Dude she has your eyes and thankfully, not your ears and there is that little tiny fact, that I can’t have children. Bad sperm count or something, so as time went on… I put the pieces together and instead of confronting the issue… I decided that…payback is really a bitch ain’t it,” Michael said with a chuckle.

Max was beginning to get scared, why was Michael all of a sudden acting this way, why now was he saying all of this.

“Oh, and Maria says hey. She called, not to long ago and told me about your little visit with your dad and what not and everything else. The hospital called as well, something about a check-up appointment mishap. Apparently my wife is knocked up again, news to me. Then again, I always seem to be the one of the loop on things like these, isn’t that right. So…for my big finale, you are going to tell me where my bitch is or else,” Michael said breaking his beer bottle in half and taking the sharp piece in his hands.

Max starred at the broken glass and then back up to Michael, “No.” He said simply.

“What did you just say?” Michael glared back.

“I said no, I won’t tell you where she is. You don’t get to hurt her or my daughter again, ever. So, go on take your best shot. I dare ya to,” Max said taking a step forward.

“You want to know why, Liz is with me and not with you? Well, the answer is fairly simple. You see, you’re an ass and I m not as big of an ass as you. I guess you can say she chose the ladder of the two,” Max said with a laugh.

“Are you being smart with me?” Michael said coming closer to Max.

“Ya, I think I am. Wow! You’re good, didn’t think you could tell when someone was being smart with you…thought it was a bit too much for you to handle,” Max stated, starring him deadly in the eyes.

Right when he said that Michael took the broken beer bottle and smashed him over the head.

That did it, the two began to fight like it was there last fight ever. They were thrown into walls. Max was thrown on the ground and beaten to a bloody pulp, Michael was smashed in the head with a lamp. It was a bloody war.

As they fought, little Loretta sat in the car and cried. She really needed her mommy and…Max.
TBC

Part 14

Loretta sat silently crying in her father’s car, for what seemed to be an hour. She starred out the car window impatiently waiting for someone to come out of the building doors.

Then it happened, she saw her father weakly open the building doors and after tripping a couple times he made it to the car and waved for Loretta to unlock the door for him. She did immediately. Max climbed into the driver side and was completely out of breath. He was badly bruised and beaten, his hands and face and even arms looked like they had been sawed all the way down them. Where there wasn’t blood there was bruises on top of other bruises. Loretta cried harder.

Max turned and looked out of his good eye towards his daughter and tried to smile. He coughed a couple times as blood came out of his mouth. Loretta wanted to scream, but of course she couldn’t. Then when things were calming down, somebody came out of no where and started banging angrily on the car windows. It was Michael, he wasn’t nearly as hurt as Max was there was no blood just bad bruises. Max scrambled to lock the doors and stumbled to get the engine started. He eventually drove off as Michael screeched from behind him to come back and fight like a man.

The car was silent for 20 minutes, then Max pulled over to the side of the road.

He turned to Loretta, and smiled a weak smile, “I m sorr…sorry. I couldn’t get your favourite stuffed animals, but before we leave I will get you new ones sweet heart,” Max stuttered.

Loretta just looked up at him and with her innocent eyes told her father that it was ok, that she was just glad he made it out of there alive. She knew how horrible Michael could be in his drunken states. He is worse then any mad man ever, especially with a beer bottle in his hands.

“Come on, we should get you back to your mother, before she has a panic attack,” Max said starting up the car again.

~~~

Inside the small hotel room, Liz was pacing back and forth and back and forth. She had just got off the phone with Isabel, who said that Max had picked up Loretta about three hours ago and from what she knew he was coming right back to the hotel. However, hours had passed and they weren’t back yet. She was beyond worried at this point. What if he went back to her apartment, he didn’t know that Michael was home now. What if Michael hurts him, no matter how strong anyone was, Michael could the living snot out of them if he wanted. He was a mad man. Liz was making herself sick. She sat on the bed and began to cry.

Just then the door of the hotel room opened and Loretta and Max walked in. Well, Loretta walked and Max stumbled in.

“Oh, Loretta sweet h…Max! Oh, my God are you alright?” Liz bent down to Max who was lying helplessly on the ground.

“Loretta, baby go start the shower for me please,” Liz said helping Max to a near by chair.

She ran to the phone and called the reception area and asked for extra blankets, towels, ice and a first aid kit.

She then went back and knelt in front of Max, “Max…sweetie, maybe, maybe we need to get you to a doctor…I mean your coughing up blood there could be something wrong with your lungs or something,” Liz said as she began to cry worryingly.

Max shook his head slightly, “no, nothing is wrong with my lungs. He just cut the inside of mouth with a broken beer bottle and I can’t swallow anymore blood, so I m trying to cough it up.” Max said as he coughed again. He hurt all over and he felt as if at any moment he would pass out because of the pain.

“Ok, baby. We’ll get cleaned up when the first aid kit gets here. Honey, why did you go there? I mean, you should have told me first because…I was so worried and I thought that… I mean you could have been killed,” Liz cried.

Just then Loretta came out of the bathroom and sat on the bed and starred at her parents. Liz turned around and almost ran towards her daughter.

“Are you ok? He didn’t hurt you or anything right?” Liz asked in panic.

Loretta just smiled and looked towards Max, who’s head was down.

Liz looked at her daughter and then towards Max and knew, what he had done for their daughter almost immediately. It was like the special communication her and her daughter shared, she could always know exactly what her daughter wants to say to her. Liz leaned and hugged her daughter.

She went to the bag with all of the clothes Isabel had packed her and pulled out a long sweat shirt and passed it to Loretta. Loretta put in on and laid on the bed. It had been a long day, for the little one and almost as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light.

~~~
The first aid kit and other supplies had come just as Loretta had fallen asleep. So, Max went for his shower to get all the blood off of him and Liz got all the bandages prepared.

After Max was finished showering, he felt a little better. All the blood was gone and he found that his wounds weren’t as bad as he first thought. The only thing that felt permanently damaged, was his ego. ‘Why couldn’t he defend himself better, to protect him and his daughter?’ Truth be told he felt like a looser and a complete ass for even considering going back there, but he needed…no make that wanted to make his daughter happy and he new, from observing her, that she loved her stuffed animals. He wanted to make this as easy for her as possible…but after everything he went through that night…in his mind he still failed not only his daughter, but Liz as well. He couldn’t finish Michael off the way he desperately wanted to. He couldn’t make him feel as much as Michael had made Liz and Loretta feel for all those years… and he also knew deep down inside that it was partially his fault for everything that happened to Liz and her marriage to Michael.
If he, Maxwell Philip Evans (screw up extraordinaire) done the right thing eight years ago and left Maria as soon as he found out what she did and went back to Liz then maybe…maybe things would be better. No, no he couldn’t think of things like that now. The most important at that moment was getting Liz and Loretta and himself far away from this life as possible.
They had to start over, and let the past be the past…hopefully.

When he came out of the bathroom, in only his sweat pants he sat on the edge of the bed, carefully as to not wake his sleeping daughter.

Liz got up from the floor with the first aid kit and kissed him sweetly on the forehead, “how’s our hero?” She asked with a weak smile. Max just starred off into space and nodded seriously. Liz could tell he was upset about something, but new she shouldn’t push him for answers that night. After all he had a hell of a day.

So, Liz just went to putting bandages and cream on his horrible looking wounds, “maybe we should take you to a doctor…I mean these wounds are-”

“NO, no doctor…we don’t have time for that. We need to leave and not come back to Roswell ever again. We have to, there are just too many demons and monsters in this town. I don’t want Loretta and our baby growing up in that prison,” Max said angrily.

“Roswell, isn’t that bad…I mean it’s home to us,” Liz said quietly.

“Not, anymore. We have to leave, we can be a family like we always wanted. Sure we can’t get married, with you and Michael still be legally married and all. But, we can create a life together, away from everything and everyone that has hurt us so much here, Please say yes,” Max pleaded getting on his knees in front of Liz.

A tear fell from her eye and she nodded, “okay,” we’ll leave first thing in the morning.

Max smiled and yawned, “ya, I like that idea…come on lets get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a start to a whole new life for me and our children. Max stated getting up from the kneeling and taking Liz by the hand to the bed where their sleeping daughter lied.

That night marked the beginning of their new lives together, but sometimes the past has a way of…well biting you in the behind- no matter how far you run.

THE END

The next series or sequel will be starting next…keep an eye out for it.