Roswell Fanatics

Okay... I'm back finally. This is just a filler part... sort of lol. In the next chapter, you'll get your answers. And in chapter 13 we'll switch to Liz's POV. So hang tight we're almost there.

I'm on my way to work so I don't have time to respond personally. But thatnks for your feedback It's much appreciated.

Now, on with the part.

<center>Chapter 11</center>

My tongs in hand, I step out of my apartment, dragging two large garbage bags behind me.

I hoist the bags into the back seat before I peel out to the parking lot, headed for the laundry mat.

I’ve apologized to my mom and Robert for what happened with him and as a peace offering I offered to do her laundry. Though I’m still not happy that she’s dating, there’s nothing I can really do about it. And if this guy makes her happy, then I guess I’ll have to live with it because her happiness is the only thing that should really matter. She deserves it for once in her life.

My thoughts quickly drift to the one person that I can’t seem to forget. Michael is convinced that the only reason I’m in to her is because of the chase. It’s the challenge of catching her that I like.

I immediately laughed that off. I’ve always liked things simple. I don’t like to play games especially when it comes to my heart. I’ve had it broken by a few women to be wary of games. But what Liz is doing… I have no idea what we’re doing. Regardless, I can’t seem to let go.

In such a sort time, she’s come to mean so much to me.

It’s late Friday afternoon and Coin Laundry is practically deserted. I drag my bags in behind me and quickly head to the back, out of sight from the few people that are here.

She’s already there, sorting through the clothes she has already washed and folding them neatly.

She smiles when she sees me and I can’t help but smile back. I have to admit, doing a favor for my mom is not the only reason I’m here.

I drop my bags when I step in front of her. Her smile widens as she wraps her arms around my neck.

“Hi.”

“Hey.” I slip my arms around her waist just as she leans up.

I can safely say that right now, I’ve never experienced anything like kissing Liz. There’s a whirlwind of emotions that run through me. But no matter what, I’m always craving for more.

“I missed you,” I say as I trail my lips down her neck.

“You just saw me last night,” she counters, tugging my hair so that I can reunite my lips with hers.

I meet her request, caressing her lips with my own before I reluctantly pull away.

“Only for a few hours.” She smiles at me as she brushes back my hair from my forehead. Her fingers lightly caress my scalp and I close my eyes in bliss. “I’m slowly becoming addicted to you, Liz Parker.”

She laughs and kisses the underside of my jaw before she steps out of my embrace. I catch her coy smile as I turn to start my first load of laundry.

“I take it you talked to your mom,” she says, eying my tongs as I pick up one of my mom’s bras.

“Actually, this is mine. There are a few things you don’t know about me, Liz.”

She bursts into laughter. I chuckle along with her until I realize I’m twirling my mom’s bra with my finger. I quickly drop in into the washer in disgust. I know my mom’s a woman, obviously, but still it’s a little disturbing knowing that she wears the same things that I might find sexy on someone like Liz. God…. Ewww!!!

“Max, are you okay?” she asks through soft giggles. “You look a little green.”

I start the wash and quickly move to her side. I need to get a disturbing image out of my head and I use Liz’s soft lips as a distraction.

I only manage a soft peck before she pulls away. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

She tugs my hand in answer and I follow her as she leads me towards the restroom. My cheeks burn a bit when she pulls me through the women’s door but I find comfort in the fact that there are only two other people in the building, one of whom is male.

Smirking now, I lock the door, my heart thumping in excitement.

“Privacy,” she whispers.

She squeals slightly when I lift her onto the counter and she opens her legs to allow me to step in between.

My mouth hovers over hers, teasing her when I lean in close, only to pull away again.

“Stop,” she commands.

I obey, swooping in with an insistent kiss.

She quickly responds, her small hands cupping my cheeks. Everything else falls away as we fall deeper. All I feel, all I know is her. My skin tingles everywhere she touches as her fingers fall from my cheeks when she wraps her arms around my neck.

My hand wanders through her hair before coming to a stop at the back of her head. I pull her forward, titling her head as I slide my tongue smoothly against hers. Her whimper sends a chill down my spine and I release a groan of my own.

We continue on for long minutes. And I hope the woman up front doesn’t have a bladder problem because I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.

My free hand itches to touch her and moves from her thigh, slides up the side of her petite body and settles beneath her shirt. Her skin is soft, its warmth radiating from her to me. I feel like I’m burning.

This… affair has done nothing to quench my thirst for her. And it started when I had shown up at Dominque’s, convinced that I was craving one of their smoothies and a piece of Philly pie. But somehow, I ended up on the couch in the breakroom, with Liz straddling my lap.

It had been a few days since that night at the party. And whatever force that keeps pulling me towards her is now affecting her as well. For the last few days, our affair has become a regular occurrence. And though it feels good to be with her for those short hours, I can’t be satisfied with that. I want her to myself. Because I think I’ve fallen head over heels in love with her.

My fingers reach the strap of her bra. My logic gone, I work on the clasp, easily snapping it apart.

She sucks in a long breath and pushes away from me.

The gravity of what just happened hits me like a two ton brick. I stumble back, breathing hard and my gaze darting from her swollen lips to her wide eyes.

“I’m sorry. I...”

She shakes her head. “Let’s just go back.”

She doesn’t wait for my response. She unlocks the door, attempting to leave. But I grab her arm before she can even get the door open.

“Liz, wait…”

“Max, no.” She pulls out of my grasp, but I block her path to he door.

“I’m sorry. I just got carried away… You know I wouldn’t take advantage of you.”

“I know that.”

I cup her chin, urging her to look me in the eye. “Do you?”

“I do. I…” She bites her lip as a blush stains her cheeks. She is so gorgeous. “I wanted you to.”

“Take advantage of you?”

“I…. I liked what you were doing.”

If that’s true, then why the hell do we have to sneak around like this? Why do I have to share her with another guy that she obviously isn’t into? What’s in this equation that I’m missing?

“But I shouldn’t… we shouldn’t be doing this…”

I nod. “No, we shouldn’t.” I step forward to cup her cheek. “I should be able to take you out in real dates. We shouldn’t have to sneak around in a laundry mat bathroom.”

“Liz, you should be with me. We should be more than just an affair.”

Her lip quirks up a bit and I can tell she’s trying to contain her smile. “I’ve never had anyone so interested in me before.”

I laugh in complete disbelief. “I find that hard to believe.”

With a sparkle in her eye, she gives a genuine modest smile. “You’re just saying that.”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Liz.” Her eyes are starry and I take that as a good sign as I grab her hips and pull her closer. “We can be good together, Liz.”

I nip at her neck, barely containing my smile when she leans into me. I think I finally have her under my spell. “Can you come over tonight? I want to make you dinner.”

“Dinner?” she says, her eyes widening in excitement.

“Yeah,” I chuckle, “you know, it’s usually the last meal of day. Served right around…”

She laughs and playfully hits my chest. “I know what dinner is,” she giggles. “You want to cook me dinner?”

I nod, burying my fingers in her dark hair. “Okay,” she says and my heart almost stops in relief.

“Okay?”

“Okay.”
***************

Isabel grimaces. “I’m not sure I should be comfortable seeing you in that apron, Max.”

Turning off the stove, I pull off my “master-baker” apron, courtesy of Tess.

Maria snickers and I throw it at Isabel who shrieks when it hits her in the face. “Eww! I don’t want to know about you doing that.”

“It’s not my fault that your mind’s in the gutter,” I laugh. “It simply means that I’m a master in the kitchen.”

“No,” Tess says cheekily, “it means you play with yourself. You whack off, you spank the…”

“Shut up, Tess!” I shriek, my cheeks red hot.

“I didn’t hear you denying it,” Maria teases.

“Eww!” Isabel wails. “Okay I don’t need to hear about my brother’s sex life. And apparently this is the subject you guys feel the need to discuss so I’m going over Alex’s.”

She leaves the kitchen in a huff. But comes back a second later with her jacket.

“I still don’t see what this Liz person finds so attractive. I mean, look at you.” Her eyes travel up and down my body with a disgusted look and I return her gaze with a hard glare.

“Look at’em,” Tess growls, “I’d take a bite out that arse.” She grabs my butt and squeezes as she passes for emphasis and I yelp in response. I shoot her a warning glare to which she just flutters her lashes.

“Of course you would, you horny bitch,” Maria teases, “You’d do a horse if it looked your way.”

Laughing, Tess flips her off. I swear they’re the female version of Michael, Alex and myself.

“Good luck anyway. I’ll see you guys later.”

She leaves soon after.

“Maria, Michael’s staying the night with you, right?”

She smiles secretly as she nods. I’ve barely seen him around here now that they’re back together. It won’t be long before he’s permanently gone.

I light the candles on the table and set out the bottle of wine. As I take one final look at my handy work, I realize that I’ve done a hell of a job.

“Max, this sure is a lot for a girl that already has a boyfriend,” Maria says.

“That’s the point of this,” I answer simply. “I want her to realize that I’m better for her.”

“And you loooove her,” Tess adds.

Maria snorts. “Please. He barely knows her.”

“Actually Maria, she’s right. I’m in love with her.”

“What!?! But Max…”

I push them both to the door before they can say more. I don’t need the extra drama right now. I’m already nervous as is.

They both leave with promises to call for details, leaving me alone with my nervous energy. She’ll be here in less than five minutes.

Thirty minutes later, I’m still alone. The candles I lit a half hour ago have mostly melted just as my hope that she’d show. I’ve officially been stood up and my disappointment quickly turns to anger.

I worked my ass off and she didn’t have the decency to even show. Calling and giving me an outright lie for not coming would’ve felt better than this.

Undoing the buttons on my shirt, I start to pack up the now cold dinner. So much for her being the one. And I start to think that maybe Michael was right. I think that its time to give Liz up and move on to someone else; someone that I wouldn’t have to sneak around with.

But damn do I love her.

And I don’t want to give her up. And I do know her well enough to know she wouldn’t just not show up.

Suddenly, the conversation I had with Serena comes rushing back to me.

She’s a good girl but she’s caught up in some shit. Just don’t hurt her.

My anger dissipates, only to be replaced by worry. What did she mean and what type of “shit” is Liz caught up in? And how am I supposed to help?

I’m only giving this to you because I think you can help.

As my worry grows, I get the nagging feeling that I can’t just sit here. Liz wouldn’t just stand me up. I know that.

Rushing to my room, I search for the jeans I was wearing that day. The address is still in the pocket.

Liz has been obviously hiding a part of her life from me. Before I didn’t want to push her to tell me anything she didn’t want to. I didn’t have the right. But if there is something I could do to help her, I’d be there in a heartbeat.

TBC……….

P.S.

Earth2Mama: Yeah I've been addicted to the Sims for years. And this is the first time I could play it without my computer crashing or it running slow. It's a completely different game and I'm addicted all over again.

Alrighty folks, I'm finally back with a new part. Thanks for the feedback and your patience.

Erina
FSU/MSW-94: No, no La'Shon, please rant on. I enjoy it
begonia9508
Queen Fee
Earth2Mama: At least you didn't spend $1200 on a brand new computer just for the Sims lol. (Okay, not just for it but it was the main factor ) I swear its a diease.
Ellie::twisted: lol
vampyrax
Mica
Alien614

Alright, this is it! You get your answers, or maybe just more questions. :shrugs: But this is the last of Max's POV and starting with the next part, you'll get to see Liz's POV. I hope you enjoy!

<center>Chapter 12</center>

I’ve called about half a dozen times within the last ten minutes. She hasn’t answered. She hasn’t called.

I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two possibilities; one, she’s in trouble and wasn’t able to get here, or two, she’s blowing me off for that “boyfriend” of hers.

Just because I refuse to believe that she would stand me up, I’m reluctantly going with option one.

I finger her address in my pocket. And on the verge of getting up to actually see for myself that she’s alright, there’s a knock at the door.

Relief floods through me as I bombard the door, almost running into it in my haste to pry it open.

I find two blonds standing on the other side, giggling quietly.

“What are you two doing back here?”

Tess has a knowing smirk etched on her features while Maria sticks her head through the door. “Is she here? Are you two doing something naughty?” Maria teases.

“Have you put that enormous donger to work yet?” Tess snickers.

“What?”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed how well your jeans fit. She’s got to be full to the brim by now,” Tess laughs, her eyes zeroing in on a particular region. It’s a wonder I haven’t turned permanently red being around Tess. “How many rounds did you go?”

“Are you on break now?” Maria pushes by me and slips into the apartment with Tess on her heels.

“Are you two on crack? What are you doing here?”

Maria shrugs. “We just wanted to see how you two lovebirds were doing.”

“No we’re not on crack,” Tess clarifies.

“Crack is whack,” Maria adds. I think Tess is rubbing off on her and I don’t think that’s a good thing.

Tess nods. “We’re just being nosy.”

It figures, I shouldn’t have put it past them to want the details of my date before its even over.

“Well there’s nothing to be nosy about. She never showed.”

“What?! She stood you up?” Maria shrieks.

Tess wraps her arm around my shoulders. “I always knew she was no good for you, Max.”

I shrug from her grasp. “No you didn’t, Tess. Besides, she‘s good for me. I love her.”

Maria grabs my hand and pulls me over to the couch. “Max, I know you really want to be in love and I know you want to get married, but I don’t think falling for the first girl you see is right.”

“But what if the first girl is the one I’m supposed to be with? I know she is.”

“Max, she already has a boyfriend. How do you know she’s not out with him right now?”

Tess sits on the coffee table across from us. Her eyes are soft and I feel like we’re having a ‘Full House’ moment. “I bet you feel like a dog’s breakfast right now,” she says.

I roll my eyes. “Look, if she can’t see what a good sexy bloke you are then she doesn’t deserve you. I thought it was a load of crock when you told me she had a boyfriend in the first place.”

“Besides,” Maria chimes in, “she seemed shady from the get go. I mean, come on, Max. You didn’t even know her real name up until a while ago.”

My protest goes unheard when the phones shrills. Three pairs of eyes swing in the direction of the sound before I reach over the back of the couch and grab the hand set.

“Hello?”

“Max?”

Relief flows through me only to be replaced again by worry. She sounds funny. “Liz, what’s wrong? Where are you?”

She giggles then sniffles, mumbling something I can’t decipher. I get up from the couch and move away from Maria and Tess’ prying ears.

“Liz?”

“Max, I really, really miss you.”

“Liz, are you drunk?”

She bursts into laughter, muttering out a muffled ‘yes’ in between cackles. “I’m not as drunk as I am high.”

I run my hands through my hair in utter confusion. In all the time we’ve spent together, Liz never told me she was into drugs. I’ve never seen her drink more than a glass of wine, let alone get completely trashed.

“I thought you were supposed to come over tonight?”

Her laughter stops and she lets out a low moan. “I couldn’t get away. I’m sorry. I tried… I really want to see you.” She giggles and I’ve heard enough.

“Liz, where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

She breathes heavily into the phone. “You know, sometimes when I close my eyes all I can see is you. You make everything better and I feel like Liz again.” Her voice sounds far away, soft, like she’s in a dream.

“Liz, I’m going to hang up, but I’m going to call you right back on my cell phone, okay?”

She whimpers. “Are you sure it’s gonna be you?”

My heart tears in two at the fear in her tone. What is going on? “I promise baby. Just answer it when it rings next.”

“Okay.”

I hang up and make a beeline towards my keys.

“What’s going on?” Maria asks.

“I’m going to get her. I’ll be right back.”

I dial as I hurry down the hall, towards the elevator.

It rings a while before she picks up. “Liz?”

“It’s you!” she squeals.

I step out of the elevator and quickly stride into the night. “Tell me where you are.”

She starts to cry. “I don’t know.”

“Did someone take you? Are you hurt?”

“I left. I finally left.”

If that pretty boy Ethan laid a finger on her, I’ll break him in half. I peel out of the parking lot, her address crushed in my fist. “Are you near your house?”

“I think so.”

“Look around you. What do you see?”

She giggles. “Lucky’s liquor.”

I try and keep her talking until I find my way to her street. She lives on the other side of town. Not that I live in Beverly Hills or anything, but compared to this, it might as well be.

I pull to a stop, peering out the window at the rundown building.

“Okay, Liz I’m outside your building. Where are you?”

When she doesn’t answer I step out of the car, squinting at the graffiti covered buildings, lining the street. There are few working street lights that emit an eerie orange glow.

Picking a direction, I start walking, calling Liz’s name into the cell phone as I go. I assume she’s passed out. I hope she has considering that someone could have snatched her. If anything happened to her….

Up ahead, I spot a large neon sign, glowing brightly in the dim light. Lucky’s Liquor is just at the end of the block and I quicken my pace.

I find her in an alley, dressed in a trench coat and sunglasses. I drop to my knees beside her.

I pull off the sunglasses and cup her flushed cheeks. “Liz, wake up.”

She rouses slowly, her eyes opening to small slits. Still, she smiles when she sees me. “You came.”

“I’ll always be here for you, baby. I’m going to get you out of here.”

She reaches for the glasses and places the dark shades back over her eyes. “The light hurts.”

I scoop her into my arms, noticing the three inches heels on her feet. I can see her ankles to the top of her calves, clad in black fishnet stockings. I can smell the marijuana and liquor on her as I turn to make the short trip back to my car.

“My bags, Max.”

I open the door and slide her into the passenger seat. “What?”

She points back in the direction of the alley and as soon as I get her settled, I jog back to find her bags.

I return with two suitcases and small back pack. I toss them into the back, anxious to get her out of here and away from whatever she’s running from.
***********

This is not the way I wanted Liz in my bed. She mumbles sleepily in her drunken stupor as I remove her heels and set them aside.

I undo the buttons on her coat, sliding my fingers through the soft material. Peeling it away, I stumble back at the amount of exposed skin. Clothed it just what looks like a bra and a mini skirt, it’s enough to make me blush, yet it’s impossible for me to turn away from her smooth silky skin.

Again she mumbles, shuddering beneath my gaze. I feel like I’m violating her, watching her when she’s most vulnerable, staring straight at the secrets she’s been trying to keep without her permission.

I dress her in a t-shirt of mine and tuck her in safely beneath my sheets. She curls into herself and settles into sleep.

I try to put together the pieces I’ve uncovered tonight. But the more I try and figure it out, the more confused I get. I can only imagine what brought Liz from the girl I’ve been falling in love with to the girl… the stranger laying in my bed now. And I realize that I don’t know her as well as I thought I did.

And it just makes me want to know her all the more.

“Max,” she moans softly.

I brush back her hair as she reaches out to pull me down next to her.

“Stay with me.”

I comply after I pull off my shoes and jacket. She snuggles against me, pressing her nose against my neck.

“If I told you my deepest darkest secret, would you still feel the same about me?” she asks suddenly.

“Yeah, I would.”

She shakes her head and pulls away so I can see her glazed eyes. “I won’t be simple Liz Parker anymore when you know. You’ll look at me different. You won’t like what you hear.”

“Maybe not.” I shrug, holding her tighter. “But I’ll be right here with you, regardless.” My lips meet her forehead in a silent promise. Her frown smoothes out and I kiss her parted lips as her eyes fall shut.

Her nails dig into my skin for dear life as if she’s afraid I’ll vanish into thin air. I reassure her silently while tears leak through her closed lids. She lets out a tortured whimper.

“I- I’m a prostitute.”

The breath is stolen from my lips and my gaze wanders over her smooth features. Out of all the things…

“What?”

She squeezes her eyes shut even tighter as if she’s trying to avoid the truth. “I like the way I am with you,” she says. “With you, I don’t have to be Lilly or Beth, or anything other than Liz. Sometimes you make me forget…. what I really am.”

Shocked into silence, I can only slide my hands down her arms in comfort.

“I don’t want you to hate me, but I don’t blame you if you do. I just want this one night with you so when you’re gone, I’ll know what it feels like to be held by someone who really cares.”

TBC……….

I know! I know! I said Sunday or Monday, but I had a paper to write. I tried. But, I'm finally back and I'm glad I was able to surprise some of you with the revelation in the last post. lol

Tinkerbell_Luvs_Roswell
Strawberry88
Erina
Queen Fee
Alex Balex
FSU/MSW-94
sonii
Behrsgirl77:
Behrsgirl1230
flyawayraven
anonymousarfan
Ellie
Alien614
Jason's Lover
Earth2Mama
spacecowboy: Sorry, but her POV starts right where Max's left off. What she's been up to will mostly be explained in later parts.
LairaBehr4: welcome back lol
begonia9508
jamy21: Welcome! You'll find out what's been going on in this part and in the next.
Roswell 10/2/00
truman11883

If I missed anyone, I'm sorry. It's 3 in the morning so that's my excuse. lol So, here's Liz's POV, starting off where Max's left off. The rest of the story will be in her POV, so I hope you enjoy.

<center>Chapter 13</center>

I awake to this amazing, familiar spicy scent and I cuddle closer to the cool, soft fabric. Unwilling to let go of my dreams just yet, I squeeze my eyes shut in attempt to retrieve just one before they are gone.

Unfortunately I’m too slow and I become all too aware of my surroundings.

I must have fallen asleep on the job. Baffled at the oversized t-shirt I’m wearing, I attempt to get up and search for my clothes, but dizziness holds me captive.

I fall back against the pillows, back into the realm of that delicious spicy scent. But my stomach churns and my head spins. I couldn’t enjoy lying here if I wanted to.

I suppose I should be worried that I’m waking up in some stranger’s bedroom. It’s only happened a handful of times on the job when Ethan forgot to come in get me in my intoxicated state. And by chance of God, I haven’t been taken advantage of yet, htough I know of many girls who haven’t been so lucky.

“Liz? Are you up?”

My attention is drawn to the door and my breath is caught at the sight of Max standing in his boxers and a t-shirt.

Now I know why this place looks familiar.

What the hell am I doing at Max’s place?

My entire body sighs in relief, yet stiffens with fear as he steps inside the room. How did I get here?

The last thing I remember is getting ready for our date. Then Ethan came in. He said I had to work.

Does Max know about me? In my inebriated state, did I accidentally let it slip that I’m a hooker?

He doesn’t meet my eyes as he shifts from foot to foot. He looks uncomfortable and I realize he knows. I refuse to acknowledge my breaking heart. For some reason, I had dreamed that if by some chance Max had ever found out about me, he’d still care for me. I had hoped that somehow he’d see that I’m still the same girl that he’s been getting to know.

But they were just dreams. They don’t usually come true for me anyway. I don’t want to be here now. I don’t want to see the disgust in his eyes.

“Where are you going?” he asks when I start to climb out of bed.

“I’m sorry for intruding. I’ll just get out of your way.”

“Liz, you don’t have to…”

“Max, I have to go. I have to work and…”

“Liz.” He pushes me back down on the bed. “Lay down. You don’t look so good.”

“Max…” His eyes meet mine for the first time and I can see the sincerity. It’s rare that I see that from a man. That alone is enough to make me settle back under the sheets.

He tells me to relax before he leaves the room.

He returns a few moments later with a hot bowl of soup. He hands it to me, smiling slightly. I take it, letting the steam float up and warm my face. He hands me a spoon before leaving again. He says that he’ll be back to check on me soon.

I daintily sip the soup consuming half of it before nausea overwhelms me. On instinct, I stumble to my feet and stagger out of the room in search of a bathroom.

Finding it just in time, I collapse onto the tiled floor, sticking my head into the porcelain bowl just before I begin to heave.

When I’m done, I pull myself up, coming face to face with my reflection in the mirror. I can’t bear to look at what I’ve become and instead, I splash cool water over my heated skin.

“Liz?”

I whirl around in surprise but dizziness rears its ugly head once more and I stagger to keep my balance.

A sturdy pair of arms embraces me before I hit the floor. “Whoa! Liz, are you alright?”

“Um…”

“Hey, hold on a second.” I’m being lifted and that spicy scent surrounds me again. He carries me back into his room and tucks me under his sheets. He has a way of making me feel so safe, yet he still won’t look me in the eye. And I’d rather not stay here and witness his rejection.

“You don’t have to pretend to care, Max. It’d be better if I just left,” I say just as he begins to leave the room.

He looks guilty, dropping his eyes as he turns to face me. Who was I trying to kid, thinking that this would work when I first started letting my guard down. Who would want a used whore? I can’t give him anything but a notch in his bed post. That’s all I’ve become.

Still, I just hoped...

I couldn’t stay away.

“Max?”

We both turn towards the door at the new voice. A moment later a tall shaggy looking guy stands in the doorway, his eyes immediately wandering over to me. I burrow beneath the sheets.

“Oh! Dude, I didn’t know you had company.”

He smirks as his eyes drift from me to Max. Obviously he’s gotten the wrong idea about what’s happening.

“I’m assuming that this is Liz?” he says, his smirk growing into a full fledged grin. “Good going, Max. Maria told me that you had a date last night…”

“Michael now’s not the time…”

“Aww come on. You finally get the girl and you won’t even introduce us?”

Max sighs in annoyance. “Liz, this is Michael, my roommate. Michael this is Liz. Now can you ple…”

Michael turns to me with a devious smile. “Hey, do you know he’s been falling all over himself because of you for awhile now. I swear all he talks about is Liz this… Liz that…”

“Michael!” Max starts for the door and pushes Michael out.

I blush, thoroughly embarrassed now, though Michael walked in on a wholly innocent scene. Ironically, I don’t want Max’s friend thinking that I’m easy. But as soon as it gets out that I’m a prostitute, I’m sure it won’t paint me in the best of light.

“Liz…”

“Thanks for letting me stay here last night,” I interrupt. “But I have to get to work and everything… plenty of things to do…”

Once again I try and climb out of bed. Dizziness settles upon me but I try my best to ignore it.

But before I can get my feet on the ground, his soft voice flows to me, embracing me and keeping me warm.

He steps closer. “Please stay, Liz. Please.” I shiver with his plea. “I just… I don’t know how to handle this. I just never thought that you would… I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be indifferent.”

I want so badly to believe him. I want… I need his acceptance.

“Please. I just… I just don’t understand. How did you get into this?”

All he has to do is look at me and I’m under his spell. Another step and he’s standing beside the bed. He drops to his knees, hesitantly reaching out to me. My eyes fall shut as he cups my cheek.

His thumb brushes over my lips and I open my eyes just as they begin to tear up.

“Talk to me, Liz. What’s going on?”

He looks so sincere, so caring, so… loving, I don’t know. I’m not used to this.

I will myself to stay in control. But looking at his eyes, so safe, so comforting, I can’t help but let go. The dam breaks and I really want to pour my heart to him so that he can help heal me.

“I’m not a bad person, Max.”

He sits back on his heels, his fingers gently sliding from my skin. I miss the warm contact. “I know, Liz.”

“I just… I haven’t slept with as many guys as you think I have. Ethan lets me work at the restaurant so that I don’t have to.”

He frowns, his lip twitching in displeasure. “What do you mean, “he lets” you?”

“Gavin, Ethan’s brother, he… he likes to have control.” My eyes drift shut when I think about how much control he’s had over me at times. “He doesn’t want me working and Ethan knew that… that I wouldn’t…The money I make, I give to Gavin.”

“Gavin’s your…” He gestures with his hand, but I know what he wants to say.

“Yeah,” I breathe quickly. Gavin’s my pimp. I always feel like a dog when I think about it. He’s basically my owner.

Max still looks confused, but I’m so drained I don’t think I have enough energy to explain anything else to him. Cramps course through my abdomen and suddenly, I feel tired; its miserable stacked on miserable.

I spot my fully packed bags sitting in the opposite corner. A small sense of accomplishment and dread fills me. Last night, I was supposed to leave my life behind for good. But here, I find myself in another strange bed, even though it is Max’s. I wonder if I can ever break out of this cycle.

I’m terrified of leaving my old life behind. I don’t know what’s next for me and I certainly don’t know where to start. But I know I want to take some control in my life.

Max shifts, sliding under the sheets beside me. I’m sure my surprise is evident but when he wraps his warm arms around me, I can’t help but cuddle into his side.

“You are so beautiful, baby. You deserve better than this. So much better.”

I realized that awhile ago, yet I never had the courage to leave until now. I don’t want to feel like this dirty, abused person anymore.

The tears come suddenly and I’m no longer able to hold them at bay. They flow freely onto Max’s t-shirt but he responds by tightening his grip. Everything I’ve been holding in for the past year comes flooding out with exhaustion hot on its heels.

As I drift off, I pray that I can let go and that I can finally get my life back on track.
*************

I wake up to pain and for a minute, I believe I’m back where I’ve been desperately trying to escape from. Max’s peaceful form sleeping beside me offers temporary relief until the sharp pain in my stomach spreads across the expanse of my waist and curls around to my lower back.

Suddenly feeling nauseous, I climb over Max in an attempt to scramble to the bathroom for the second time today.

I feel empty and even more drained than I did before I fell asleep when I’m done. I hear someone calling my name faintly and I drag myself up just in time to see Max stagger into the room, his eyes groggily squinted.

“Are you okay?”

This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve been a permanent resident in the bathroom for a day after a night on the job. Still, the cramps increase the discomfiture ten-fold and I almost double over in pain.

“Liz!”

“No, no I’m fine,” I assure him through gritted teeth when he tries to pull me up. “I’m fine. I promise. I just… I just really want to freshen up and change. I’ll feel better then.”

He looks skeptical and pulls me to my feet. It only serves to bring the dizziness back and I sway on my feet. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital. You don’t look good.”

“No. Just… do you mind if I use your shower?”

He swallows thickly as his eyes widen. “Um… no. T-There’s some fresh towels in here if you need them.” He gestures to the small closet behind the door.

He still hasn’t let go of me and I still can’t seem to find my balance. Smiling softly, he leads me to the toilet and gently pushes me down so that I’m sitting on the closed lid.

He kisses the back of my hand, the adoration that I’ve gotten so used to seeing in his eyes replaces the guilty look he once wore.

His fingers still laced with mine, he reaches over and turns on the facet in the tub, setting the temperature before he pulls the lever to plug the drain.

I can’t help but smile faintly. I wouldn’t be able to stand long enough for a shower without hurting myself. He pours a generous amount of bubble bath into the water and blushes at my inquiring look.

“Do you uh… do you need any more help?” he asks, gesturing to my clothes.

We’re both red faced as I shake my head. With another kiss to my cheek, he leaves me alone, closing the door behind him.

It’s a while before I can gather the strength to stand and when I do, I have to hold on to the edge of the counter. I manage to get the oversized shirt over my head and I start to work on peeling off my stockings when trails of red liquid flow down my leg.

I hug my stomach in pain as the trails grow thicker until it’s a heavy flow and I faintly hear myself screaming out in pain.

I am met with the cool tile floor and I barely register when the door bursts open. My eyes are heavy and my heart pounds.

That spicy scent surrounds me. I think someone’s calling my name, but it fades into silence as I fade into darkness.

TBC………

Sorry it took so long everyone. But I finally finshed this part and hopefully you won'y have to wait so long for the next one. Thanks to:

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This part is sort of short, but its answers your questions, so I hope you enjoy!


<center>Chapter 14</center>

When I wake, I feel a weight against my arm. I can see the bright white even through my eye lids and the insistent steady beeping beside me.

I hear a soft moan beside me when I try and pull away. My eyes creeping open, the first thing I see is a mop of dark hair resting against my shoulder.

“Max?”

He shoots up, almost falling out of his chair before he can right himself. He blinks rapidly to ward off the sleep and if I wasn’t so confused and feeling so bad, I’d laugh.

“Liz? You’re awake!” His eyes are wide with a glazed look.

His large arms engulf me in a tight hug and he holds me there for a few blissful minutes. I’m content to disappear in his grip. He pulls away just enough to cup my cheeks.

“Baby…” His eyes darken as his thumb stroke my cheek. “You went into shock. I didn’t… God, I’ve never been so scared in my life, Liz.”

“You were scared?”

He nods, his eyes glistening. “I thought… you passed out and you were so still. I didn’t… thank God you’re okay.”

He strokes my cheek, making me feel so safe. I haven’t felt safe in a long time. “What happened?”

“Liz, I don’t know how to tell you this but… you… did you know you were pregnant?”

My stomach drops and a lump forms in my throat. I can feel my heart starting to break.

I swallow thickly. “Were?”

“I’m sorry…”

I turn away from him. I don’t want him to see me like this. I’m not the girl he thought I was.

“Liz…”

“How far along was I?”

He breathes deeply. His voice shakes when he speaks. “A little over three months.”

At the first hiccup, I shut my eyes, hoping that it’d hurt less. There’s a sudden emptiness that not even Max’s strong arms around me can heal.

Still, knowing that my life, my actions is what caused this, I honestly believe that it’s for the best. My child… I’m not ready to make that kind of commitment. I’m not in a position. It wouldn’t be a good life and I would want better for my child.

Yet still, it hurts like hell.

Once I calm a bit, Max and I settle into silence.

He squeezes my shoulder before he says quietly, “I’ll go tell the doctor you’re awake.”

The doctor comes in and checks my vitals. He says that I’m fine and I might be able to go home tomorrow.

Max stands beside me the entire time, holding my hand. I feel so emotionally vacant at this moment and it’s exhausting. I allow my heavy eyes to fall shut and I quietly drift off feeling Max beside me.
*********

Max is there when I wake again. He’s always there. I don’t want him to be. I don’t want him involved in this.

My heart breaking further in two, I whisper out in a shaky tone, “I don’t think we should continue this.”

He frowns. “What are you talking about?”

I drop my eyes. “Us. I don’t think we should go any further. We shouldn’t see each other anymore. We’ve already… I don’t want you involved.”

He looks as if his heart is breaking. He acts like I’m worth it and he makes me feel like I should feel like I’m worth it. But I can’t be anything significant to him. I can’t be anything but a good fuck. That’s all I’ve become and it’s going to take some time to find myself again.

“I’m already involved, Liz.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I can see his jaw grinding. His fists clench at his sides. “Liz,” he starts, his voice eerily even, “you’re lying in a hospital after miscarrying and going into shock. Do you think I give a shit about myself right now? It’s almost unnerving how much I’m afraid for you right now.”

It feels as if I’m breaking off a long, intense relationship, yet all we shared was an affair.

“Max, don’t do this…”

Because you’re too wonderful to push away.

He drops into the chair he occupied earlier, his fingers slipping through mine. “Liz, Id on’t want to do this. I’m not worried about myself right now.”

“That’s the problem, Max. If Ethan or Gavin ever finds out about us…”

His finger stills my lips before he shifts his fingers soothingly through my hair. “Baby, nothing’s going to happen, okay. You’re safe now. We just have to get you out of here.”

I shake my head because he’s not getting it. “No, Max. I’m not worried about me. It’s you! He’ll come after you! Max, please, I don’t want you hurt because of me. I’ve already lost my baby because of this, I don’t want you lose you either! Max…”

“Liz, Liz, no…” He tries to soothe me before I break out into hysterics. “I’m fine. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere and as far as me being involved, I have been since the very first time I saw you. Liz, you’re too good to be true and I’m not about to let you go. You’ll have me as long as you want me.”

I start to cry once I cave. I can’t help it, I should’ve resisted him in the first place, but I can’t help but admit that he’s been the one bright light in my life in a long time.

“Liz, talk to me,” he says as he wipes away my tears. “What’s got you so scared?”

I let out a whoosh of air as I stare into his glistening eyes. I can’t deny him I don’t know hwo to turn away from his comforting gaze. And after a moment’s hesitation, I begin my story.

“I-I met Ethan a few years ago. He seemed like a nice, sweet guy and we went out on a few dates. His parents aren’t alive either so I guess… I guess I found comfort in that. A little over a year ago, his grandfather passed and left a huge inheritance to his older brother. Gavin was already prostituting a few girls when I first met him and at first I did it because I was broke. The restaurant I was working at closed and I couldn’t pay my tuition, was about to get kicked out of my apartment and…”

Max squeezes my hand as I swallow back a sob. “Liz, you don’t have to tell me. You don’t need to get worked up now.”

“No. Now that I’ve started, I want to get this out.”

He nods, smiling softly in understanding and I wonder where he came from and why I didn’t have the fortune of meeting him before all of this.

I tug on his hand and in seconds, he’s lying next to me, engulfing me in his warmth.

“I was desperate then and I didn’t know what to do. I was three days away from losing my home and I needed fast money. He said that I wouldn’t have to do anything explicit and once I made enough money, I could quit.”

“After a while Gavin really started to like me. I was one of his favorites and he didn’t like when I was around anyone else besides him. I mentioned to him that I wanted to leave and… and I remember the first time he hit me. He… Ethan was there and he never… Gavin told him that he’d cut him a piece of the inheritance for making sure that I stayed put. He wanted me as this thing that he could control his… slave. He made Ethan watch after me.”

“Oh Liz. Does he hit you often?”

I shrug. “Not much lately.”

“Once Dominque’s opened, Ethan saw the application and told me that I could work and give a portion of my check to Gavin so I wouldn’t have to… be with anyone.”

“Liz, I’m so sorry.”

“You have nothing to do with it, Max.”

He brushes gently at my wet cheeks. “When I first met you, you told me your name was Lilly.”

“I used that name if Gavin ever got suspicious. It’d make it harder to find me. At work and school I told people my name was Lilly and everyone could honestly say that they didn’t know a Liz Parker. I never knew if he was following me or had someone watching me and I grew paranoid. And when you came along, I thought that you were someone that he had sent.”

He smiles a bit. “I’m not.”

I half-heartedly return his gesture. “No, you’re not.”

We fall into silence and Max’s gaze drop from mine. His embrace never loosens and I curl against him, taking solace from his solid form.

Moments later, his smooth voice slices through the silence. “Liz, have you ever considered going to the police.”

Shaking my head, I bury my face against his chest. “Gavin said that he’d kill me if I told.”

Another moment of silence passes. “I think you should tell someone. This can’t go on. I mean, how many other girls is he hurting like this?” His grip tightens even more around me and it amazes me that he’s still here. I wouldn't have imagined that anyone would stay through this.

He is what I need and what I want.

“Max? Can you ever see someone loving someone like me?”

His light eyes lock on to mine as the corners of his lips lift slightly. “I already do baby.”

TBC………

P.S. I've posted a new story. If you're interested, here's the link: Best of Me

Hey everyone. I'm back finally. I just want to say thanks fo all the feedback.

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I appreciate it. Now, on with the part.

<center>Chapter 15</center>

Serena pokes her head into the room, and I smile warmly at my friend.

“Hey.”

“Hey hun. How are you feeling?” She embraces me tightly.

“I’m okay.”

She gives me a knowing look.

I sigh in defeat. “I feel horrible. My hormones are all out of whack and I feel… I feel like I want to burst into tears every five minutes.”

“Sweetie,” she lies beside me and takes me into her arms. “I’m so sorry.”

“I… I know that there’s no way I would have been able to rightfully take care of a child right now. I know that. I know it! But… God, I just feel like I lost a part of myself. I just want my baby back.”

“Lizzie...”

“And then I just feel stupid for feeling this way. I mean I didn’t even know I was pregnant. How can I love someone I don’t even know?”

“Liz, you are not stupid.” Her hands immediately go to her stomach. I stop myself from bursting into tears for her. “I know how you feel. After I had my abortion I felt the same way. It doesn’t matter if you knew you were pregnant or not, that baby was a part of you and you shouldn’t feel stupid for loving it.”

Wiping away a few tears, my hand slides down to where my baby laid. I feel empty. “How did you deal with it? I mean, not only did you have to deal with the grief of losing your child, you… he…”

“Raped me?” she finishes. I nod, amazed that she can even say it without breaking. If there roles were reversed, I’m not sure I’d be strong enough. “You’ll heal with time.”

I nod, wishing that the hard part was already over and I didn’t feel the way I do.

Once I’m all cried out and my eyes burn from rubbing them so much, I send Serena an embarrassed smile.

“Sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. You’re more than entitled to your grief. You feel a little bit better?”

“I’ll be better when I can get out of here.”

She strokes back my hair, her green eyes hopeful. “And when you get out of here, you’ll be going…”

“Anywhere but where I’m coming from,” I finish.

A small hint of a smile plays on her lips and her eyes fill with tears. “Oh sweetie, I’m so proud of you. God… if I didn’t pack such a weak punch, I’d kick both Ethan and Gavin’s ass.”

I smile. “I know you would.”

Serena, although a bit older than me, is the only person in this world I feel knows what I’m going through. She got stuck in the same situation as I did and unlike so many other girls, survived and managed to make a better life for herself. When I met her on my first day of work it felt like a blessing. She’s my best friend and I don’t think I would have survived if it weren’t for her.

“Hey, you know you always have a home with me,” she says.

“Really?”

She nods eagerly, shifting her fingers comfortingly through my hair. “Yeah. I’ve had the guest room ready for you for awhile now.”

“Thanks, Serena.”

“Though I’m surprised Max hasn’t already asked you to move in with him. Where is he anyway? He was here when I called.”

“I made him go home and get some rest. And he has asked me to move in with him.” Her eyes widen. “Well, I stayed with him the night I left and…”

“You didn’t like… you know…”

I smile. “No. He was the perfect gentleman. Earlier today, he told me that if I needed a place to stay that I was welcome to stay with him.”

“Well, just so you know I won’t feel bad if you choose to stay with him. I can tell that he cares about you.”

Another pang hits my heart. “I know. But I think I’d rather stay with you, if you don’t mind.”

“Sweetie, I wouldn’t have offered if I had minded. But why don’t you want to stay with Max? You do like him right?”

I sigh. I don’t know how to describe Max. He’s been the best, staying with me whenever possible and not complaining when I break into impromptu crying sessions.

“I do. I think… I think I more than like him but… I just don’t want him involved. I mean he is already but if Gavin or Ethan ever… I just can’t do that to him. And what if he realizes that I’m not at all what he makes me out to be? What if he doesn’t want to be with me anymore? I don’t think I can take any more heartache right now.”

“Hon, that boy is so smitten he can’t even see straight. Do you not see what you do to him? And I don’t think Ethan and Gavin will be enough to keep him away from you.”

I can’t help the blush that creeps over my cheeks. Every time I think about him and everything he’s done... I don’t know. He’s one in a million and I wonder what it is about me that he noticed.

Serena becomes silent and her face in scrunched in a pensive frown.

“Hey, what’s up?”

She shakes her head. “Its just… well, I think I found my dad.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah,” she says with a nervous smile. “You know I’m been searching. His name is Ralph Carlson and he lives in Michigan. I sent him a letter and he called me a few days ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I didn’t really know what to do and telling someone makes it more real. I mean, I haven’t seen my father since I was three when he took off for rehab and now…”

“So, what are you going to do? What’d he say?”

“He says that he only left because he felt like I was better off without him and he wasn’t fit to be a dad. He wants to get to know me. After seeing what you’re going through and remembering what I went through, I know it must be hard for him to lose his child.”

I grab her hand, sharing her pain. “I’m really happy for you, Serena.”

She laughs and wipes her eyes. “I swear we’re having like a tear fest today.”

“I’m going to let you rest. I know Max will be back any minute to hover over you.”

I smile, watching her as she gets up to leave.

“Hey Serena?”

“Yeah, hun.”

“I love you.”

Her smile is bright. She’s been my best friend throughout of this. “I love you too, hun.”

With a smile, I close my eyes and wait for sleep to take me.
************

Max is there when I wake, holding my hand, kissing my knuckles gently when my eyes fall on him.

“Hi, beautiful.”

As he places a kiss just in front of my ear, his voice rumbles against me, sending shivers up and down my body. It’s been so long since someone has called me beautiful and to hear it now, it almost brings tears to my eyes.

“Hey. When did you get back?”

He smiles while the pad of his thumb strokes my cheek. “About an hour ago. I didn’t want to wake you.”

“And you sat here until I woke up? Max, you know you don’t have to spend all of your free time here.”

His eyes twinkle. They never cease to hold me captive in their honey depths. “Baby, you know there’s no where else I’d rather be.”

I blush, leaning into him so that he can peck my lips softly with his.

“I brought you something.” He reaches for a grocery bag on the table beside the bed. “I snuck in some vanilla ice cream. I thought that you’d be awake, but since you weren’t… it kind of melted.”

I peek into the bag, taking in the soggy mess and my heart melts with it. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”

“What did I ever do to deserve you? Every time I’m with you I… I know you’re going through a lot right now Liz, but I just want you to know that I’m here, okay? You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

I bury my fingers in his hair, bringing his forehead down to mine. Now, I can’t hold back the tears and they flow freely. He has no idea how much he means to me. I want to ignore it as insurance if he ever comes to his senses, but I can’t.

Still, I have nothing to give him.

What am I going to do?
*********

Max reluctantly left to get ready for work and I find myself alone, feeling so small in this hospital bed.

With someone here, I can block out the emptiness I feel. I can ignore it, busing myself with company. Now, it weighs on me heavily and I feel the blunt pain of losing my child.

The relief I feel when my door opens is short lived. Just as I begin to think that it’s Max coming back to keep me company or Serena returning to offer her support, my breath is stolen as his cold hand clamps down on my mouth, halting my scream.

“Didn’t think I would find you?”

Gavin pierces down with striking green eyes. My own widen in terror. “Didn’t think I would find out what you were up to? Ethan told me everything. But don’t worry, my little brother got his.”

Through my tears, I can make out a syringe he clutches in his hand. I attempt to scream, struggling against his vice grip.

“I know what you’re little boy toy wants you to do. You know what happens to snitches?”

He smiles as I continue to struggle, leaning down close so I feel his warm breath against my ear. “I’ll take care of him. Don’t screw up, Beth. You can’t win.”

His hand raises and I shut my eyes, fighting until I feel a prick in my arm. My limbs go numb and drop limply to the bed.

The last thing I see before I drop into darkness is Gavin’s smiling face.

TBC………

I'll be back as soon as I can.

Hey everyone! I'm back finally. Thanks for all the feedback and bumps while I was on my little hiatus lol.

FSU/MSW-94: Thanks so much for your help! Now I can write the rest of the story without worrying if I'm sounding like an idiot lol.
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behr_able: Welcome to the story!
*Vicki*: Welcome! Sorry you had to join on a cliffhanger though lol.

Just so everyone knows, I'm not a police officer, nor have I ever been in a situation like this. So if something is off or seems unrealistic, I apoloize. I only know what I see on CSI lol and I barely know that.

So anyway, I hope you enjoy.

<center>Chapter 16</center>

I come into consciousness slowly. I can hear voices around me. They are unfamiliar until I can get my bearings.

I struggle to move as it feels as if my limbs are dead weight lying against cool sheets. I let out a whimper as I struggle to lift my heavy lids but as soon as I see the brightness of the light around me, I shut them tightly.

“Liz? Are you okay, hun?”

“My head hurts,” I moan.

I feel a hand stroking back my hair and fingers squeezing mine. “Max?”

“No, sweetie. Max, isn’t here.”

“I want Max.”

“I know, hun. We’ll try and get in touch with Max as soon as possible.”

I feel the weariness lift and I’m able to open my eyes. My gaze connects with Serena’s.

“Hey, hun.”

“Ms. Parker, how are you feeling?” My eyes swing over to my doctor, making me dizzy with the action. “You should still be okay to go home today. Just don’t overwork yourself. I suggest a few days bed rest and you should be fine.”

“What happened?”

He goes about checking my vitals. “You were injected with a heavy sedative. You were out for almost an hour and a half, but you are going to be fine.”

His words are enough to jog my memory and I sit up despite the dizziness. “Gavin! Gavin was here!”

Serena, despite my struggles, forces me to lie back down. “We know hun. He tried to sneak you out of here, but a nurse spotted him and he took off. The police are out looking for him now.”

“The police are going to want a statement from you when you are ready.”

“No! You don’t understand! He’s going to go after Max! You have to help Max!”

Her eyes widen though she pastes on a soft smile. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

I give her an evil look. She knows Gavin. I know Gavin. If he finds Max…

Serena hands me the hospital phone. “Call him. Make sure he’s okay.”

I quickly dial the number that I have learned by heart so long ago. I sit in silence while the phone insistently rings. When he picks up, I slump onto the bed in relief.

“Max, thank God you’re okay.”

“Of course I’m okay. I’m on my way to work. What’s wrong? Do you need anything?”

“Max, Gavin was here about an hour ago…”

“What?! Did he hurt you?!”

“Max, just listen! He… I think he’s going to come after you! I need you to get out of your apartment! Call the police.”

“Liz, how can he know where I live? I…”

“Max, I’m serious! Please, just…” The thought of someone hurting him and because of me brings tears to my eyes. “Max, can you just do this to make me feel better? Please? Just do this for me.”

He sighs. I know he’s caving and I breathe deeply to calm myself. Serena grabs my hand, squeezing gently.

“Okay. I’m leaving. Do you need me to come down there?”

“Will you?”

“Of cour…” He’s cut off by loud banging and the fumbling of the phone.

“Max?!”

The line dies as my blood runs cold.
***********

I am finally released from the hospital after the police took my statement and my doctor gives me the green light that I’m not going to have any reactions to the sedative that Gavin injected me with.

Now Serena and I rush towards Max’s apartment. I see the flashing lights of police cars before we pull into the parking lot. There’s an ambulance. My heart drops to the floor and I’m on my way out of the rolling car before Serena grabs my arm.

“Slow down.”

“But Max…”

“Liz you just got out the hospital. I don’t think Max would want you to go right back. Just take it easy.”

I reluctantly agree. She takes forever to pull the car to a stop and help me out the car.

I spot that one guy… Michael I think, talking with some officers. I gesture to Serena and we make our way over.

“Michael. What happened? Where’s Max?”

“Are you alright?”

“Where’s Max?”

He gestures to the ambulance. My breath leaves me in a long wind when I see him sitting in the back of the ambulance….alive.

I shrug out of Serena’s hold, limping towards him as fast as I can. When he sees me, he lets out a visible sigh and opens his arms, winces and grabs his shoulder.

Once I reach him, I bury myself into his chest. One arm enfolds me and I feel his lips on my forehead. It’s like safely I’ve never had before.

“Are you okay?” he asks when I finally bring myself to pull away.

I sniffle. His hand cups my cheek, capturing my tears as they fall. “I’m okay. God, Max. What did he do to you?”

He has a bandage wrapped high around his arm. His left eye is swollen and there’s a gash on his forehead.

“I’m fine. He just roughed me up a bit. He’s in custody.”

“Oh Max.” I touch his shoulder. He hisses, grimacing at the contact. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He’s gritting his teeth. He’s certainly not so. “It’s just a graze. I was lucky.”

Graze? “By a…a…”

He nods.

He had a gun.

I tremble with terror but Max holds me up, keeping me from falling to my knees.

“I’m so sorry, Max.”

“It’s not your fault, Liz. You didn’t do this.”

I want to protest, but I don’t. After checking him over once more, the paramedics release Max and an officer comes over to take his statement.

I stay tucked under his arm the entire time, refusing to move for fear that if I do I’ll wake up to a horrible reality that he won’t be here.

“It started when he broke in. I turned around and he shot at me. Knocked my phone right out of my hand… oh yeah, I was on the phone w-with Liz…” he gestures to me, “…She was telling me that I had to get out of my apartment because she knew he was coming after me.”

The officer looks to me with her brow raised. “I already gave my statement at the hospital,” I tell her.

She nods and returns her attention back to Max. “Where were you when he broke in?”

“I was uh f-facing away from him on the far side of the living room I think because when I heard the door open and I turned around. Yeah…That’s what happened. I turned around and he shot at me. It knocked the phone out of my hand. He shot again and it nicked my arm.”

“Then what happened?”

“I think… I think his gun jammed, or maybe he ran out of bullets. The next thing I know he was swinging the gun at me…” he points to the gash on his forehead. “We fought until Michael came in. He pulled him off and we were still fighting when you guys came.”

Throughout, he rubs my arm, somehow able to sense when I need comfort through his recount of what happened. I tighten my arms around his waist, returning what he gives. He tries to hide it, but I can feel him trembling in my arms.

The officer thanks him, reminding him that they’ll stay in touch before she leaves.

Michael and Serena join us. “You guys okay?”

We nod, though it’s obvious that neither of us is fine. “Did you call everyone?” Max asks.

Michael nods. I can see a shudder run through him as well, but he does well to hide it. Not only did I put Max in danger, but his friends also. It follows me like a dark cloud.

“I told them to just stay put. It’d be no point for them all to rush over here.”

Max agrees. “I should go see my mom. I know she’s just about out of her mind now.”

I panic because I don’t want him to go as if being with me will keep him from harm when in fact he’s in this situation because of me.

But I can’t detach myself from him and I’m prepared to throw myself in front of a bullet if it means that he’ll stay close.

“Are you going to stay with her?” I look at him with pleading eyes, hoping that he’ll get the message. Don’t leave me.

“I have no where else to go. I can’t very well stay here at my place. They’re still combing through the scene for evidence.”

Serena and I exchange glances. She’s nods and I send her a grateful smile. “Max, you could stay with us at Serena’s apartment.”

He glances between the two of us. “I couldn’t impose. I’ll be fine at my mom’s…”

No. “Max, Serena says its fine.” Then it suddenly occurs to me that he may not want to be with me. Maybe all of this has changed his mind, rightfully so. He realized that I’m not worth it.

I loosen my hold on his shirt, unaware that I was holding him so tightly. I step away, preparing myself for the evitable. “I-I mean if you don’t want to that’s okay… I just wanted…”

He pulls me close again quickly as if he doesn’t want me to be away for too long. Maybe he feels the same as I do. “I’ll be anywhere you want me to, Liz,” he whispers in my ear.

I can only nod mutely, dumbfounded by the look in his eyes. “I just need to go see my mom and then I’ll be over.”

“I can go with you…”

“No. I want you to go home and lay down…”

“But Max…”

“Liz, you just got out of the hospital. All this excitement today, I don’t want you to have to go back.”

He kisses me, lingering on my lips and I’m reduced to nodding mutely again. But as Serena gently pulls me away, I can’t help the panic that courses through me. My fears for him gather inside me like a quiet storm and it takes all that I have to stop from running back into his arms.

When we get to Serena’s place, my new home, she guides me to my room. The room I should’ve been occupying days ago, if not for my hospitalization. The weight that bears down on me gets heavier and once I’m left alone, I allow myself to break down.

I cry for my lost child, the shadow I’ve cast over Max, his family and friends and this horrible road I chose to take.

This is my doing and I need to make things right.
*********

A few hours sleep is enough to calm me down a bit. There is a soft touch on my cheek and I lean into it before I even open my eyes.

“Hi,” Max says, smiling softly. “I didn’t mean to wake you. It’s late. Go back to sleep.”

I hadn’t realized how exhausted I was and I almost comply with his request. But my eyes stay locked on him as he kneels beside the bed, his fingers running through my hair.

“Serena said it was okay if I slept in here. But I wasn’t sure you were okay with it…”

I tug on his arm and scoot back to make room for him. I notice he’s already in his pajamas, better known as his boxers and a t-shirt.

He’s so beautiful. In every sense of the word.

His arms immediately wrap around me, cocooning me in his warm safety. “While I was visiting my mom, I called my dad.”

I groan. His parents must hate me. I nearly got their son killed. Now I have his lawyer father after me?

“Is he going to press charges?”

He nods. “Or course we are. He offered to help. He wants to represent both of us.”

“Both? He’s going to be my lawyer too?” He nods, smiling. “But this is my fault. How…?”

“Liz you didn’t make Gavin come after me.”

“But, Max… if I had stayed away from you, if I had…”

He silences me with a finger to my lips. “If you had stayed away from me then I’d be in more pain than I am now. Don’t you know what you are to me? You’re everything to me.”

I can see now, as true as the sun is bright how he feels about me. As he gazes at me now, I can see it and it helps me heal.

Still, there are a few things that not even his love for me can mend. I have to fix the problems I have with myself first before I can give even a once of what he’s already given to me.

“Max, I think that we should cool it for awhile.”

“What?”

“I know… that we haven’t even begun to get into our relationship, but I don’t think this is the right time. I mean…”

“I thought you wanted to be with me.”

I can see him pulling away already and I realize that he’s just as vulnerable as I am. Maybe he has a fear of losing me as I do of him. Suddenly I don’t feel so alone and it makes me all the more determined to be with him again.

“I do. You have no idea how much I do. But not like this… not now. I just got out of a bad situation and I need to get on my feet… by myself. I need to find myself again without having to worry about if I’m neglecting you in a relationship or not. I want to make myself better so that I’m worthy enough to be yours.”

His hand caresses my cheek with the gentleness that I have come to know. “But you already are baby.”

No. He’s not getting it. “But I don’t think I am and that’s what I need to work on. A relationship where you have to constantly tip toe around me because of my insecurities is not something that I want for you or me. I don’t think you’d want that either.”

He’s silent, his eyes drifting over the mattress before meeting mine. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“I just hope that when I’m ready…”

Is it unreasonable to ask him to wait? I don’t know how long it’ll be before I’m ready to be with him. It’d be unfair to him if I tried to keep him from finding someone else. And while it would send a dagger straight through my heart if he were to fall for someone else, I have no right to keep him to myself.

But then he smiles and I know that whenever I’m ready, he’ll be there. “I’ll be waiting. I’m not going anywhere. You’re a strong woman, Liz. One of the strongest I know and I just want you to know that I’ll be here for whatever you need.”

I know that now. I believe that now.

“Will you still stay with me?”

His arms tighten around me.

I can sleep peacefully tonight.

TBC…………

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm sorry for making you wait for long.

Earth2Mama
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FSU/MSW-94
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This story is nearing its end, so I'll try not to wait you guys wait too long between parts.

Meanwhile, enjoy this one.

<center>Chapter 17</center>

Two months later

Its a few weeks before I believe that I’m well enough, mentally and physically, to return to work.

Along with counseling, the bustling commotion that I endure at work helps me deal with the grief of losing my child. I’m not able to dwell on the angst and instead I’ve had to deal with it head on to get through my days.

Now two months since the incident, I’ve finally come to peace with what happened. I’m still sorry that it happened, but I know it happened for a reason. My child wasn’t meant to be and I know, at this point in my life, I wouldn’t be able to give a child a good life.

The bell above the front door chimes. Out of habit, I look up, catching the eyes of Maria and Tess.

I smile as they wave, making their way to their usual booth.

Over the last two months, I’ve become pretty close with Max’s friends. Aside from Serena I don’t have many, close to any, friends. It’s been so long since I had girl friends to hang out with.

“Hey ladies. Can I get you anything?”

I notice the absence of a small bundle in Maria’s arms. “Where’s Savannah? I haven’t seen her in awhile.”

“She’s spending quality time with her daddy while mommy gets a breather.”

I smile when I think of the young child, so innocent and helpless, depending on her parents to care for her. I can’t help but wonder what kind of mother I would have been. And when I consider the situation I was in, I know it wouldn’t have been the best environment for a baby, let alone me.

Tess and Maria order their usual. I bring something for myself to eat on my break.

I slide in next to Tess. “How’s it going, girl?”

I shrug. “It’s going. I’m just ready for my shift to be over so I can go home.”

“We thought we’d stop by to keep you company, since your usual fan club can’t be here,” Maria teases.

I smile. “What are you talking about?”

Tess scoffs as she rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a drongo, Lizzie. You know that if Max wasn’t in New York, he’d be in here drooling while watching you work.”

I blush. “No. He just wants to watch over me.”

Tess snorts. “What a load of old cobblers. You make his donger hard when he sees you.”

“Tess!”

It’s taken me awhile to get used to Tess’ bluntness, but once I did, I realized how fun she is to be around, albeit a bit embarrassing. I find myself turning red everytime I’m around her.

“Have you spoken to him, Liz?” Maria says.

“Yeah. He called the other night. He said that Isabel found an apartment and he should be home in a couple of days.”

“Good onya! I know you’re foaming like a rabid dog to see him, Liz.”

Maria frowns. “Did you just call her a dog?”

“No. I didn’t. And I wasn’t speaking literally. Geez Maria, don’t get your knickers in a knot.”

“My knickers aren’t knotted, Tess,” Maria growls.

Tess rolls her eyes. “Anyway Liz, I think you should crack onto him. He’s mad over you.”

“Did you guys come over to promote a relationship between Max and me?”

“That and keep you company, as stated before.”

I know Maria and Tess mean well, but I don’t want any outside influences when it comes to my decision about my relationship with Max. I don’t want it to be about anyone but me and him, whether I decide to wait two years, or jump into his arms the second I see him.

It’s about us.

I promptly change the subject. “How are you and Michael doing since he moved in with you, Maria?”

“We’re doing good,” Maria answers with a smile. “Sav’s glad to have her daddy back at home…”

“I bet you have a naughty all the time,” Tess adds. “Do you ride him well?”

“Oh my God! What is wrong with you? I swear that’s all that runs through that mind of yours.”

As they argue, I sit back and enjoy my lunch. I feel a sense of normalcy and I welcome it with open arms.

I feel as if my life is finally in my hands.
**********

I spot him instantly when the plane begins to empty out. He scans the bustling crowd before his eyes find me and I smile brilliantly, waving wildly.

His pace quickens, as does mine and soon I find myself in his embrace.

“Welcome back.”

He grins. “Miss me?”

I scrunch my nose. “Not really,” I tease. “But I’m glad you’re back anyway.”

Max has been a dream. He has been my rock, truly becoming my backbone. With the exception of my father, I have never had a man in my life that cared so much about me. And I can see that as clear as day now.

In those first few days after Gavin was arrested, he stayed with me until he was sure that I was okay.

Knowing that he wasn’t going to be able to keep himself out of jail, Gavin pleaded guilty and is awaiting his sentencing. Max was there when we learned that in exchange for a lesser sentence, he turned in his own brother.

Max had barely let me out of his sight and made me feel as safe as possible when Ethan went on the run, fearing that he would come after me. He was found days after and arrested. His court date is in two weeks.

Max was there as I cried when I found out he was arrested. I knew that that part of my life was finally over. No longer under Gavin and Ethan’s control, I was free to do anything I wanted and I felt overwhelmed.

“You ready?”

I take Max’s offered hand and we retrieve the rest of his bags before heading to the car. Max recounts his time in New York on the ride home and I laugh with him when he tells about the trouble he had getting around the city and getting lost multiple times.

Because I have to work, I leave Max at his apartment and he spends the rest of his day with his friends and mother. He calls later that night, intending just to say goodnight, yet time passes on and it’s two in the morning by the time I glance at a clock.

Two days later, I look up from the counter to find him staring back at me. I grin, butterflies immediately taking residence in my stomach as he waves. He slides into his usual booth and picks up a menu, though I’m sure he’s memorized it by now.

I deliver a Mountain Dew to table five before I make my way to his booth. His eyes stay fixated on me the entire time. The way he looks at me. The way he speaks to and touches me makes me feel… beautiful.

I haven’t felt that in so long it’s taken me awhile to recognize what it was.

I stop in front of him, pulling my order pad from my apron, as if I didn’t already know what he wants.

“Hey Max.”

“Hey. Is your shift almost over?”

“I have about fifteen minutes. Do you want to order anything?”

“No I was just… I just wanted to know if wanted to have dinner with me.”

“Oh, tonight?”

Is he asking me out… like on a date? We’ve hung out before, plenty of times in the last two months, but there is something different about him tonight. There’s a glimmer in his eyes that makes it seem different.

And if it is, am I ready for that?”

“Yeah. If you want to. I know you might be tired…”

“No. I’m not tired.”

“Good. I mean I know you want to take things slow, so this doesn’t have to be anything other than the two of us having dinner and maybe catching a late movie?”

I can’t help but smile at his little boy expression etched on his masculine features. So exposed, yet so strong. Why was I chosen to be so lucky?

“I’d like that.”

“Really?” His eyes brighten. “Great. Um, do you want to go straight from here, or…”

“We can leave from here if this is appropriate attire.” I gesture to my uniform.

His eyes travel from my feet, up my legs and thighs, and over the short skirt of my uniform. I know he has a thing for my uniform. He’s told me so before.

I’ve been “checked out” before, by every type of men. The majority of the times, especially in the last few years, I’ve been repulsed. Yet now, I welcome it, my cheeks coloring as his eyes send shivers running through me like a live wire.

“That’s… You look great.”

Blushing, I take in his compliment. “Thanks. But maybe I should go home first. I don’t want to go out smelling like a grill.”

He laughs. “Okay. I’ll follow you home then and we can leave from there.”

I smile, excitement bubbling inside my chest. I swivel on my heels, determined to make these last fifteen fly by.

At home, Serena is getting ready to head to work. She finds me in the bathroom busily running my fingers through my hair and making sure my lip gloss is perfectly glossy.

While Max waits in the living room, I’ve changed into something more “date” appropriate.

“Hot date?”

“Max and I are just going to dinner.”

She smirks as she helps smooth back my hair. How was he even looking at me with my hair as wild looking as it was?

“Sounds like a date to me.”

“Well… hey, did you get that message I left you? Your dad called.”

“I know. I talked to him. I’m going to fly out to Michigan to meet him.”

She lets out a shaky breath and I know she’s excited, albeit a little nervous. “Really?! I’m so happy for you!”

“And I’m happy for you,” she retorts. “Look at you all glowing and whatnot. You’ve come a long way Liz.”

“I know.” I look down the hall, towards the living room. Max is out there waiting for me. He’s been waiting for so long and I wonder if it’s time to put a stop to that.

I breathe deeply, to warn off upcoming nerves before I walk down the hall and meet Max.

“Ready?” he smiles offering his arm.

“Yeah.”
*************

“Come on, Liz.”

“No, Max. Leave me alone.”

“Come on. Please? It won’t be that bad.”

He grins and I can’t stop giggling. “No, it’s dishonest.”

“It’s not. It’s free food.”

I cross my arms and attempt to glare at him. “No. It’s called lying.”

He huffs. “It’s not. I mean… well it is but…” He stops, obviously trying to come up with an excuse, yet failing miserably when his shoulders drop. I giggle.

He resorts to pouting. He’s so cute. I can’t help it. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

His face brightens with a grin. “Great!”

He drags my chair around the table so that I’m sitting close to him. His arm drapes around my shoulders as his hand comes to rest on my knee. I lean against him. I can smell his cologne and feel the hardness of his muscles hiding beneath his shirt.

I pray that he doesn’t notice my erratic breathing or the loud pounding of my heart.

Our waitress heads towards our table. Max leans in close, his lips nearly touching my ear. “Okay, here she comes. Relax. Just follow my lead.”

I nod subtly, caught up in being surrounded by his presence. My eyes fall shut and I let myself fall. For a moment, I can let myself pretend that this is real. I can pretend that we are really together and we aren’t just doing this in hopes of getting some free food. It feels good to pretend.

He nuzzles my neck, tickling the sensitive skin there. I let out a squeal of giggles and I feel him smiling against me.

He does it again and I try and push him away before I snort with laughter. “Stop,” I giggle.

He lets out a mischievous snicker but his kiss is what stuns me into silence. His lips drag over my neck and my eyes fly open only to find our waitress standing tableside and smiling warmly.

“Oh! Max…”

I nudge him and he sits up straighter, doing a damn good job of acting as if he had no idea the waitress was on her way over here.

His eyes wide, he stutters, “Oh, um, we were just uh…”

“It’s okay. It’s refreshing to see such a young couple in love. You two are cute together.”

I blush and Max tightens his arm around me. “Thanks.”

“My wife and I are celebrating our first year anniversary.” For added appeal, Max gives me an adoring look and steals a kiss on my cheek. “Though we’ve been together for what, five years?” He looks to me for approval.

I gasp in pseudo disgust as I slap his chest disapprovingly. “It’s been six. I can’t believe you don’t know.”

“I’m sorry sweetie. It’s just that ever since I’ve been with you, my life has been heaven.”

The older woman smiles with her hand pressed against her heart. “Aw. Congratulations. I can tell you two are going to last.”

“Thanks!”

We order and when she returns with our food, she brings a bottle of wine, on the house.

“I feel so bad,” I pout when we’re finally left alone.

“It’s their own fault for not checking to see if we wore rings. Besides, it’s not as if they don’t have a million of these chilling in the back.”

I laugh when he wiggles his eyebrows as he pops the bottle open and pours both of us a generous amount.

As he starts to eat, he pulls me even closer. I give him a confused look to which he simply shrugs. “We have to keep up appearances. They’ll get suspicious if we don’t act like a married couple.”

I nod, though I still watch him out the corner of my eye. He has a smile on his lips, though faint, is obviously hard to miss. I shake my head with realization.

“You just wanted to do this so you could be close to me!” I accuse with narrowed eyes.

He gasps, leaning away slightly. “What?! I reject your case and will not aspire to furnish a retort.”

I laugh. “Yeah, because you’re guilty. You just wanted me to sit next to you.”

He rolls his eyes. “Whatever Liz. I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I don’t know what’s going in that head of yours, but this is just pretend.”

I nod, accepting, but not believing.

We eat in a comfortable silence and I relax leaning against him. I feel at ease with him.

“I should feed you,” he blurts out.

“What?”

“You know, to make it believable.” He holds up a forkful of his lasagna, with a silly grin on his face.

I melt into a puddle as he slips the fork into my mouth. In return, I feed him off my plate as or waitress passes by, smiling wistfully as she does.

He takes my hand beneath the table and I’m convinced that this isn’t for pretend. I throw him a smile and continue eating with my left hand.

After dinner, I can’t help but feel disappointed because I never received a “pretend” kiss. He’s kept himself safely retrained, yet I keep waiting for him to make a move.

After all the cuddling we did, I’m not sure that I’ll ever be able to get the smell of him off my clothes. I’ll never wash this outfit again and I’ll stuff it under my pillow for a quick sniff at night.

I wonder if he’d still like me if he found out how much of a dork I am.

He treats me to a movie afterward, my choice. In the theater, he keeps his hands to himself and I find myself getting increasingly frustrated that he just won’t lay one on me. I lean towards him, hoping that he’ll get the hint, wrap his arm around me and pull me against his chest.

He doesn’t. He laughs at a scene in the movie, eats his popcorn and drinks his pop as if I’m not over here suffering.

Finally, I turn to face him. “What?” he whispers looking a little surprised to find me watching him with a glare.

I grab a fist full of his shirt and pull him to me. His lips are warm and inviting, responding to mine just as I feel him relaxing against me.

“This isn’t for pretend,” I warn him.

He nods eagerly, leaning in for another taste. He opens his mouth, inviting me in. I sigh in relief, feeling the last broken piece of my heart mending.

When we part, his smile is blinding, bright in the dark theater. I know he’s been waiting for this. He’s been waiting for me.

Now I think I’m ready. Liz Parker is ready to live again.

Max makes me happy and I’m not going to postpone my happiness anymore.

Liz Parker is going to be happy.

TBC…..

Hey everyone. :waves:

FSU/MSW-94
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Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy.

<center>Chapter 18</center>

“Serena, I don’t think I can do this.”

My pacing is halted when Serena steps in front of me and gently guides me to the couch. “Liz, you can do this. I know you can.”

She sits me down and pulls me into a comforting embrace. “You’re going to do fine, Liz. And we’ll all be right there to support you.”

Still feeling antsy, I get up to pace again, checking my watch as I do. Max will be here any minute now to take us to Ethan’s trail.

I haven’t seen Ethan or Gavin in so long that it’s been easier for me to put my past behind me. The things that I have done that I’m not proud of have been quickly put in the back of my mind until now. In the weeks before this day, I’ve tried not to think about it. I’ve tried to focus on other things. But now that the day is here, I’m a nervous wreck.

Because Gavin pled guilty, Max didn’t have to testify in court against him. His sentencing was as few days ago and I felt a great sense of relief when I realized that he would finally be out of my life.

When Max arrives, he lets me bury myself in his embrace. He doesn’t mind when I cling to him on the elevator ride and during the walk to his car.

“You’re going to do fine, baby,” he says, with Serena’s added encouragement coming from the backseat.

“Just think,” she says, leaning in between the front seats, “After this, they’ll be out of your life forever. And you and Max could live happily ever after and have that honeymoon you and I were talking about.”

“Serena!!” I immediately go red, glancing at Max’s smiling face before turning in my seat to glare at my best friend.

She grins. “What? Didn’t you say you wanted to just “get away” with Max? Lying on the sand on a beach somewhere, wrapped in his arms…?”

“You shut up right now!”

“What?”

I throw a timid glance at Max. “Um… Serena and I were just talking. I didn’t… I mean I… it was just a dumb fantasy.” I groan realizing that I just admitted one of my fantasies to him.

As my cheeks burn bright red with a deep blush, he brings my hand to his lips. A delicate kiss flutters against my knuckles and I liquefy into my seat.

“Well, I for one don’t think it’s any where near dumb. And fantasies like that have a very high probability of becoming reality.”

“Really?”

I forget about everything but him and his soft lips on my hand. He steers with one hand, holding my gaze until Serena clears her throat.

“Um, this is all sweet and whatnot, but I’d like to make it to our destination in one piece. So Max, if you could focus on the road, that’d be great.”

Max returns his attention to the road, but doesn’t let go of my hand. The butterflies in my stomach calm a bit and I feel a newfound assurance going into the trail. After this I can truly be free.

To my surprise, Maria, Tess, Alex, Michael and Diane are waiting for us when we arrive. I’m amazed and suddenly overwhelmed at how much these people care. Especially Alex and Michael, they barely know me. If I weren’t involved with Max, they wouldn’t be here but they’ve taken me in and made me feel like a part of their little family and that’s what I’ve been missing for the last few years.

Max’s father meets us at the front of the court. He surprises me when he embraces us both. I give Max a look to which he simply nods. We’ll talk about it later, he means.

He quickly briefs us again on what’s going to happen inside the court and on wobbling legs, I grip Max hand as we head inside.

With Mr. Evans prompting, I let Max go and take my place at the front of the room. I try not to glance at Ethan sitting at the defendant’s table. But I feel his stare. I feel him trying to pull me back under and chill runs up my spine.

“Just stay calm Liz. You’ll do great,” Mr. Evans tells me. “There’s no way any jury will let him go free when they hear what we have against him.”

As I take my seat, I feel a bit of confidence building at his words. I’ve gone two months away from Ethan, but it seems like a life time ago. I’m not about to cower away now.

As the trail wears on, I’m brought to the stand, answering questions as honestly as I can. Mr. Evans is fierce in court, and I’m sure I’d unravel if he weren’t on my side.

Mr. Evans also calls up several other women who have come forward to admit that they were raped and/or abused by Ethan. And as Ethan’s attorney begins to protest, Mr. Evans provides a video tape from a camera located in an alley where Ethan often took the women to harass them.

I look away as the tape is shown.

After the closing arguments, we are released for the day for the jury to begin deliberation.

I decline offers to be treated for dinner and I ask Max to take Serena and I home. He makes a light dinner for the three of us amid our protests.

Afterward dinner, I’m ready to turn in for the night.

I grab Max’s hand before he can leave. “Will you stay?”

He agrees without question and follows me wordlessly into my room.

We lay on our sides, facing each other. I run my fingers through his hair, watching him with his eyes closed. His brow is slightly furrowed, drawn into a small frown. I wonder what’s going through that mind of his.

As I trace the lines on his brow, I say, “What are you thinking about?”

He unveils molten gold when he opens his eyes, making my heart jump against my chest. God, what power he has over me!

“Nothing.”

“You’ve just been really quiet for the last few days. Is something wrong?”

“No.” He lifts a finger to the bridge of my nose, makes the short journey to the tip of my nose and then finally ending at my lips. “Nothing’s wrong.”

I don’t believe him. I’ve been able to open up to him and I want him to be able to come to me whenever he has a problem. I want him to trust me.

“Max you can tell me.”

“Liz, I just don’t think this is a good time with the trail and all…”

“Max, forget the trail for a second. Something is bothering you. You can tell me,” I urge him. “Are… are you having second thoughts about us?” I ask quite meekly. But immediately after the words are out of my mouth, he begins to protest.

“No! No, Liz that’s not it at all. I… It’s just my grandfather is going into a sort of semi retirement and he wants me to be co-owner of his store… in Roswell.”

“Oh,” I mutter once it dawns on me what he means. He might be leaving me. “You want to do this.” I can see it in his eyes.

His fingers play on my cheek, and then travel all the way down to the small of my back. “But I’ve got a good thing here,” he says looking directly in my eyes.

“Max, I don’t want to be the one holding you back.” It’s one of my greatest worries. One of the reasons I was so afraid of being involved with him. With anyone. I don’t want my problems to interfere with anyone else.

“But Liz…”

“Max, if this is what you want, I think you should go for it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being where I was, is that you shouldn’t left anyone get in the way of what you really want.”

He nods, his hand now stroking my arm. “But I want you.”

I nearly choke. I hadn’t expected that. “Well… er… I-I think my former advise applies. Don’t let anything get in the way.”

He smiles. “Not even you?”

I blush. “Um…”

“Liz Parker, blushing?! No! Can’t be.”

He stifles my giggles with a kiss.

Before our kiss can progress any further, I pull away. “Hey, are you going to tell me what’s going on with your dad?”

He looks annoyed that I pulled away but doesn’t say anything. I fight back my smile.

“We’re trying to work everything out. After what happened, he realized that he could lose me at anytime and he wants to make up for lost time.”

“That’s great Max. I’m happy for you.”

He grins, pulling me closer. “I’m happy for me too, because now you’re going to let me kiss you some more right?”

I roll my eyes, trying to look as exasperated as possible. But I can’t get my lips to form a frown. “I guess,” I sigh.

“Yay!”

He pins me to the mattress and peppers playful kisses on my neck.

I squeal with delight.

I could stay like this for a lifetime.
************

In early afternoon, we gather in the court room to hear Ethan’s verdict. I wait with baited breath as the juror goes through all the formalities before uttering the first syllables ‘guilty.’

In relief, I collapse into my seat.

My past is behind me.

I’m ready to move forward.
***********

Max and I relax on the couch of my apartment enjoying our first moment alone since the trail ended a couple of days ago.

I try and pay attention to the movie playing, but his lips on my neck make it difficult to do so.

“Max, I’m trying to watch this.” This, I don’t even know what it is. His bicep lies behind my head, so soft, yet so sturdy. It’s hard to think. I turn into his broad shoulder.

He stops for a moment, shifting so that his leg rests along the back of the couch and the other dangling over the side. He pulls me between, my back against his chest.

I can’t concentrate with him sitting behind me like this, and yet I don’t want to move. When he starts up again, I don’t stop him. In fact, I angle my head, guiding him across my neck.

I cover his hands which lay neatly over my stomach as I turn to capture his lips with my own. He lets out an appreciative moan when our tongues meet and I smile against him.

I turn fully in his arms, wanting to get closer. Wanting to get lost in the glorious feeling of just him and the next thing I’m aware of is his hands under my blouse, against the bare skin of my back. They slide smoothly towards the clasp of my bra before sliding back down again. Over and over. Each time feeling a bit more disappointed that he doesn’t go through with the act.

His neck looks enticing and I move over his chin, his stubble tickling my cheeks as I do. I find his pulse beneath my lips, racing as wildly as mine. It makes me smile as I move towards his cute ear.

He hisses. “Liz… damn…”

I hit a sensitive spot, his fingers dig into my back. It gets me even more excited.

One moment, I’m enjoying having Max melt in my arms, shivering as I hit his spot, the next, we spring apart when the front door opens and Serena, Maria and Tess find us panting and red faced.

“Whoa! Is it sizzling in here or is it me?”

Tess giggles. “No, I think it’s them.” She grins broadly. “Hey! You two getting’ jiggy with it?”

Max chuckles as he tries to straighten up. I pull my lips inward to keep from smiling.

Maria scowls. “Getting jiggy with it? Tess no one says that anymore.”

She shrugs and follows Serena to the couch across from us. “I’m just trying to figure out you Americans. You men are stupid bastards and I hope all of your ears turn to arseholes and shit on your shoulders.”

“They’re not all bad, Tess,” Serena offers. Her gaze swings to Max. “I mean look at that bulk of manliness sitting right there.”

“I’d rather not be referred to as a ‘bulk’ Serena, thank you very much.”

“Well my man has a nice bulk back home, if you know what I mean,” Maria says.

After a few more bad puns, I’m unable to take it anymore. I drag Max into the confines of my room.

“Oh thank you!” he says. “I don’t know how long I could’ve listened to them.”

Laughing, I perch on the edge of my bed.

He sits close, his lips landing on mine within moments. His hand cups my cheek, his thumb softly caressing my skin. A bud of excitement blooms within me, growing as he becomes bolder with each stroke of his lips against mine.

A sudden knock on my door has me wilting and Max and I jump apart as if we were two juvenile teenagers upon being caught kissing for the first time. Serena pokes her head in as Max and I try and act as normal as possible.

“Liz I was just looking for my shirt…” She looks between Max and I and I give her a pleading look. “Um, but I think I know where it is. Sorry. Uh… We’re going to be out for a while, so… you know. Whatever.”

With a wide grin, she sends us a wink and closes the door behind her.

We slip into silence, throwing occasional glances and laughing when our gazes eventually meet.

Max clears his throat. I cough. I can’t imagine how stupid we look sitting here on the end of my bed, our thighs slightly touching and smiling at each other like idiots for no reason. I haven’t been this nervous around a guy I liked since high school.

Maybe it’s because I know what’s about to happen. He’s ready to give himself to and I want to be able to do the same.

I can hear the front door closing and I count the seconds before one of us makes a move. We can’t sit like this forever right? One of us is going to have to get up. Pee. Eat. Something.

I catch unexpected movement out of the corner of my eye. I smile when he grabs my hand, but he does nothing else. When I finally left my gaze from our joined hands, I find him staring.

“What?”

He shrugs, his smile growing. “I just like looking at you.”

I feel a soft flutter in my chest at his admission. His sincerity and honesty is something not a lot of guys possess. And I finally understand why we’ve been sitting here like lumps on a log because he wants me to set the pace. Everything is up to me and that’s something I’ve never had before.

Biting my lip, I let the warmth he lends me melt my embarrassment. He responds immediately, almost as if he’s assuring me he wants this as much as I do. As we kiss, as the fire between us begins to ignite, my confidence grows. With each caress the hesitation dissolves, both of us become bolder as I find myself straddling his lap.

My arms are clutched around his neck. His are circling my waist, my shirt bunched in his fist and his fingers pedal soft across my back.

I want to feel him.

“C-Can I take your shirt off?”

He looks surprised, his eyes widening and his jaw slackening. He recovers quickly, nodding eagerly. “Whatever you want, Liz.”

He watches, his eyes taking on a glazed look as if he’s hypnotized. I unfasten each button. Slide it off his shoulders and down his arms, my fingers gliding against the muscles of his biceps.

He lets me have free rein, my hands roaming and exploring this new territory. And he watches me, his eyes submissively trained on mine even as I take him in. He’s so open. I can see everything he’s feeling in his eyes.

Sometimes what he’s feeling can be so intense that I can actually feel it radiating off him in waves. Crashing into me and knocking me into sweet oblivion.

“Let’s lay down,” I say, my own voice barely above a whisper.

We lay face to face, our fingers laced. “I’m a little nervous,” I admit.

“Me too,” he smiles. “We don’t have to…”

“I want to.” His eyes tell his excitement. I know he’s ready. He’s ready for me to love him and I think I’m ready to please.

“Can you take my shirt off?”

He doesn’t do as I ask at first. He kisses me, melting me down, building me back up and then doing it all over again. He loves me with his mouth and makes it difficult not to burst into flames.

He works his way down my neck and finally when he reaches my collarbone, his hands begin unfasten my blouse, kissing each new exposure of skin. My blouse melts off me like ice and his arms are like a breeze of warmth.

He whispers in my ear, leaving precious kisses behind as he does. His tenderness makes me smile and I guide his hands to the clasp of my bra, giving him permission to go on.

“You’re so beautiful, Liz,” he whispers as if he voice is unable to get any higher. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

I guide his palms to cover me and he looks at me to lovingly. I’d give him anything he’d ask for, but unfortunately, all I have to give is myself yet fortunately, that’s all he wants.

I can’t explain how right this feels, my skin a milky white against his natural tan. Unhurried, I rid him of his jeans and boxers. He doesn’t make another move, content with kissing me until I guide his hands to the zipper of my pants. Once he’s freed me from my clothing, he pulls me back on top. I settle between his legs, adapting to the feel of his bare length beneath me.

Max grabs a condom from his wallet and I help him put it on. We don’t join until I’m ready, until I guide myself over him. He doesn’t move until I do, his hands on my hips burning though to my insides.

We move tenderly slow and a bit clumsily as we get used to being together like this. We find our rhythm. He swallows my moans and I cut off his grunts. We increase in pace as we reach our peak.

After a final push, I fall over the edge, his name on my lips as I take my plunge. He catches me before I hit the bottom.

He tosses the condom and immediately returns to my side.

There’s a huge difference between sex and making love. I found the difference and I want to hold onto it for as long as I can.

TBC……

Because I’m not an expert on what goes on in a court room or the correct sentencing for what was done, I didn’t involve how much time Ethan and Gavin actually got. I only know what I see on CSI and they are barely in the court room. Just know that they won’t be bothering Max and Liz anymore lol

Thanks for your feedback everyone. There's only one more part after this and then we're finished. So I hope you enjoy.

<center>Chapter 19</center>

The first thing I see when I wake in the morning is Max laying just a few inches away, his features peaceful in sleep. I smile instantly, kissing his bicep which lies beneath my cheek. He stirs, pulling me closer as his arms curl around me.

Trapped in his embrace, I lay in contentment. I’m pressed against him, savoring every moment as I never thought that I would have this. Months ago, I never believed that I would actually make love with someone.

Max is the sweetest person and I still have my doubts that he’s even real. I’d pinch him, but I don’t want to wake him.

I’m ashamed to admit I’ve been with more men that’s necessary and I’ve witnessed the ugliness. Most of them had girlfriends, were married, or even had families. And not that I wanted them to, but not one of them took the time to make sure I was pleased, unless it was for their own male ego wanting to keep up the pretense of being the best in bed.

Max, on the other hand, let me set the pace. There was no pressure. He was so open, seemed so humbled that I would allow him to be with me in that way. He made sure that I was in bliss because he wanted it to be enjoyable for me. There was no ego, no arrogance. Just him. Just me.

Now he lays deeply in sleep, tangled with me in the most intimate way. And I’m still grinning like an idiot, just as I was before I fell asleep.

My sleeping beauty. He’d probably cringe if he heard me call him that.

I’m pulled from my delicious memories of last night when I hear Serena rummaging around in the kitchen.

Careful not to disturb him, I ease out of his arms, slip into a shirt and shorts and creep out into the hallway.

“Morning love bug,” Serena sings when I enter the kitchen. I automatically blush. “You look rested. What did you and Max get up to last night?”

“No much,” I lie.

“He’s still here?”

“He’s asleep.”

God help me, I can’t stop grinning when I think of him.

She passes me a cup of coffee. “I’m guessing by that smile he didn’t camp out on the floor.”

“Not necessarily.”

There’s a mischievous glint in her eyes and I know what’s coming. “Is he dressed or…?”

I blush. I can’t hide anything.

She gasps. “Oh my God! You two went all the way didn’t you?”

“Serena let’s not…”

“Look at the sparkle in your eyes girl! Was he good? Did you enjoy yourself? You had to have enjoyed yourself.”

“Serena…”

She crushes me in a hug. “Oh I’m so happy for you! You’ve hooked a good one Liz. Look at you all glowing and stuff.” I rub my cheeks as if that’d hide the apparent “glow.” “So how was it? Give me details.”

“What happens between Max and I is private.”

She rolls her eyes. “I don’t mean those details. I just want to know how you went about it. Who initiated it?”

“Well,” I drawl, biting my lip. I wonder if Max would mind me gushing about him. “I did.”

“Go Liz!” she hollers.

“He was actually a little apprehensive about it. You know he wasn’t sure if I was ready and all that… Serena he was so sweet. God, I can’t even explain how great he is.”

Taking my hands in hers, she squeezes them gently. “I’m really happy for you Liz. I’m glad you’ll have someone here when I’m gone.”

I frown, my grin immediately falling. “What do you mean ‘when you’re gone’?” Before she even opens her mouth, I feel a ball of fear welling in my stomach. I don’t want to lose my best friend.

“Well, my dad called last night and he was telling me about some new houses being built where he is and I’m thinking of moving to Michigan to be closer to him.”

“What? You’re leaving? You’re moving to Michigan?” First Max and now Serena?

She shrugs sheepishly, her lips curling into a soft smile. “Yeah. I’ve actually been thinking about this for awhile now. I applied to one of the local colleges up there and I’m going to be taking a few classes.”

My breath leaves me as if I’ve just been punched in the stomach. Serena’s leaving me? This is all so fast.

“I can’t believe this. Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

“I don’t know. I really didn’t want you to be here all by yourself. And before you start thinking of yourself as a burden, stop it right now! If Max hadn’t come along, I would’ve asked out to come with me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re my best friend Liz. But now you’ve got someone to love you. You’ve got someone to belong to now. And so do I.”

I sit back in my chair, my jaw still hanging open. Everything’s changing so fast. Max is moving to Roswell. Serena is moving to Michigan. I’m happy for the both of them. But where does that leave me?

She frowns, obviously noticing my lack of enthusiasm. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I mutter, managing a weak smile for her sake. “It’s just everything’s so different…You’re moving to Michigan and taking classes, which I happy for you by the way and… and Max is moving to Roswell…”

“He’s moving to Roswell? When did this happen?”

“He told me a few days ago.”

“Oh, sweetie,” she pulls me into another hug. Sometimes I think Serena is more of a mother figure than a best friend. It’s something that I needed. “You two will work this out. I know it. Just by looking at you two anyone can tell that you were meant for each other. Why don’t you go with him?”

I sigh, still skeptical. “He hasn’t even asked me. Maybe he doesn’t want me to go. And if he does ask me, I’m not sure I’d go. Everything’s just changing so fast.”

“There’s nothing wrong with change. It’s your turn to be happy Liz. You need to embrace that and stop being so afraid. Take a few chances. I promise you Liz. It’s your turn.”

I take her words to heart, though it still doesn’t lessen my fear. I return to my room, finding Max sleeping exactly as I left him.

My heart warms and just as I cuddle against him, a muffled ring tone feels the silence. I know its Max’s cell phone and fumble around the room to find it.

I pull it free from the pocket of his discarded jeans and flip it open.

“Hello?”

“Oh! I’m sorry I though I dialed my son’s phone.”

“No Diane. It’s Liz.”

“Oh, hi Liz. How are you?”

“I’m good thanks. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m great,” She sort of giggles and I smile, her happiness contagious. “Is Max around?”

“Yeah uh, he’s sleeping though.”

“Oh! You guys are at his place then. I called there and I didn’t get an answer.”

“No. He’s uh…. We’re at my apartment.”

“Oh,” she says, her voice deep with realization. My cheeks burn. It’s blatantly obvious he stayed the night to her now. Whether or not she knows what we did is another question, but it’s still not any less embarrassing.

I clear my throat, hoping to end the awkward silence. “Um, do you want me to wake him?”

“No it’s okay. I was just calling because I wanted to invite you two over for dinner tonight. Do you think you can make it?”

I glance at Max, still fast asleep. I can’t stop my smile and I can’t wait to slip next to him, back into his warm arm.

“Yeah, that’d be great Diane. What time?”

“You guys can come around at six.”

“Okay, we’ll see you then.”

“Great! Bye Liz.”

“Bye.”

I sit his phone on the night stand and eagerly crawl back into bed. He’s warm lying naked beneath the sheets and he barely stirs when I pull his arms around me. My toes glide along the outline of his calf, feeling its strength and softness.

Right here and now, I feel so safe, like I belong. As sappy as it sounds I get this tingly feeling in my stomach and I feel so incredibly giddy it’s ridiculous.

I could stay like this forever.
***********

I awake an hour later. My eyes blink open just as Max is rousing into wakefulness.

He groans, flexing his fingers and stretching his legs out as far as they can go. “Look who finally decided to join the land of the living,” I tease.

He hides his grin in my neck. “Good morning, beautiful.” I feel the warm texture of his lips against my shoulder. “You have clothes on. Have you been up?”

“I had coffee with Serena. You sleep like the dead.”

“The dead sleep well.”

“So I see,” I laugh as I brush back his disheveled hair.

I only get a small kiss before he jumps out of bed and stretches. I appreciate the view but I wasn’t planning on letting him out of my arms so soon.

I pout when he dodges me when I reach out to him and instead slips into his boxers. “Max, come back here.”

He leans over and I receive a measly peck on my lips before he straightens. “As much as I’d like to stay in bed with you all day, nature calls. And when it calls, it roars. You got an extra tooth brush?”

My eyes follow him as he makes his way to the door. “Yeah, check in the cabinet.”

He smiles, sending me a wink that if I were standing, would have me swaying on my feet.

We spent the day lounging around the apartment and I’m tickled pink when Serena and Max get into an argument over whose better: Jon Stewart’s Daily Show or Stephen Colbert’s Colbert Report.

The tiff ends when Serena leaves to go to work, leaving Max and I alone. As I lean back against his chest, watching a CSI rerun, I can feel him looking at me. I can feel the intensity and when I shiver because of it, his arms tighten around me.

His lips touch the delicate space behind my ear as he reaches for the remote. The TV goes blank and I lean my head back against his shoulder. He nuzzles my neck, his words soft and smooth when he speaks.

“I’m in love with you Liz.” He lets his words permeate as he kisses my neck. He’s implied that he was in love with me before, but hearing the words, whispered with such sincerity and honesty brings tears to my eyes.

“I love you so much, I don’t even know how to explain it.” His breath tickles against my ear, tracing the rim before ending with a kiss against my jaw. “I want you to come to Roswell with me.”

I pull away just enough to fully see his face. “What?”

“I can’t be without you, Liz. There’ll never be another you. Will you come with me?”

I unravel at the vulnerability in his eyes, the slight unsure smile on his lips. Is he unsure that I’ll say yes or no?

“Max, are you sure? I mean you’re talking about living together right? Don’t you think we’re moving too fast?”

I don’t think that I could leave Philadelphia. This has been my home for so long. Even though the tough times, I couldn’t imagine calling somewhere else my home.

“No, I don’t Liz. What matters is, is that we’re both together and happy being together. I know I love you. Do… do you love me?”

He looks so much little a little boy, uncertainty clouding his handsome features. And I realize that my answer could either make or break him. Do I love him? I’ve thought about it before, but I’ve been too afraid to come to a conclusion and what it would mean.

And as I watch him watching me, looking as if he’d die if I wasn’t with him, it’s clear to anyone what he feels for me and my heart swells.

“I…yes Max. I do love you.” With his grin, my heart stops.

“You do?! So then you’ll come with me?”

I bite my lip, not wanting to crush his spirit, but this is a big decision and I want to do what’s right for both of us. “I don’t know. I love you, Max, I really do. But what if it doesn’t work? What if we’re moving too fast and I get down there and I hate it?”

“Liz, baby, don’t ever doubt us. I’m not going to be with anyone else. I know this is real. You and me. We’re it. I’ll stay here if that’s what you want. Whatever feels right for you. I just want to be with you. Anything to be with you.”

I never imagined that I’d have the power to break a man. Little Liz Parker have someone dying to be with me because of who I am and not what I do behind closed doors. It seems unreal and yet like the most natural thing in the world.

“Can I think about it for awhile?”

He nods, burying his face against my neck. “I love you.”

Smiling, as I whisper the words back, I feel another door open for me; a new opportunity for me to be one step further from where I came.
*************

Max and I make it to Diane’s house for dinner. Her boyfriend, Robert, greets us at the door while she runs about the kitchen in a frenzy trying to get dinner ready on time.

Max and Robert shake hands in an obvious sign that they found a way to get along despite Robert dating Max’s mom. Max had actually confessed to me that he liked Robert a lot and that he was good for his mom. Though he made me swear never to tell anyone or else I was in for it. He said he wanted to keep the intimidation factor up.

At dinner, Max keeps one hand on my knee at all times, occasionally wandering higher, his fingers trailing to places they shouldn’t. It wasn’t until I punched him very close to his crotch that he behaved.

“Max, Liz there is actually a reason we wanted to invite you over tonight?” Diane says as we all lounge in the living room.

“We have some good news,” Robert adds.

They glance at each other, I guess pausing for dramatic effect. When Diane finally turns back to us, she’s beaming. “We’re engaged!” she shrieks, showing off the diamond on her finger.

Max jumps to his feet. “What?!”

He immediately goes into overprotective mode and I find it quite comical when he lectures his mother and boyfriend about making sure they were ready for such a huge step in their relationship, when just a few hours ago, he was asking me to leave everything I know and move to Roswell with him.

I see how happy Diane is. Her smile is a mile wide with Robert sitting close beside her. I want that. And I know Max can give me that and I can give it to him.

What is here for me when my heart is in Roswell? This is a chance for me to start all over. With Max.

After we stop by his place to pick up a few of his clothes, he drives us back to my apartment. But I grab his arm before he can get out of the car.

“Max?”

“Yeah baby.”

“I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you too.”

“No,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. “I want to be with you. Always.”

His grin mirrors mine as he leans over the seats, whispering softly before he kisses me. And when he’s done he promises me a lifetime of many more.

TBC………

Here it is everyone. The last part. hope you enjoy.

<center>Chapter 20</center>

Three years later

I look up at the cloudless sky from beneath my sun hat and rub the remaining dirt on my hands on my overalls. Max always teases me when he sees me in my gardening outfit. He says I look like a farmer.

I tend to the flowers swaying in the soft summer breeze, enjoying their scent as it floats to my nose. I pick a few and sit them aside to be placed in a vase for later.

Jessica, our neighbor across the street stops by for lunch. Just a few years older than Max and me, she was the first to greet us when we moved in last month and since then, we’ve become close friends. She and her husband Preston and their daughter Sasha moved in their home just months before we did and she told me that she was ecstatic to have another newbie in the neighbor to hang out with.

“This place is coming along nicely, Liz,” she says as she takes in my dining room.

“Thanks. You know I found the cutest living room set the other day…”

“I don’t think will want anything “cute”,” she laughs. “Besides, didn’t you tell me he already had his eye on something else?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t see it. It was like a deep red and oh my God! Just perfect.”

Jessica snorts and takes a sip of her lemonade. “Good luck with convincing him.”

“I think I can do it.”

Max wasn’t too fond of our wooden dining room table at first. He wanted a glass table and I almost died when he pointed it out and I thought about the time I would spend trying to keep the damn thing clean.

But after I reminded him how much more sturdy the wooden table would be for those… special occasions, he quickly agreed with me. Since we’ve been together, I think I might have turned him into a fiend.

“So me and few of my girlfriends were planning on going out to diner tomorrow night. I’d love it if you could come. I know you’re busy and all…”

“No. Um… I’d really like that.”

“Great. I know it’s hard for Max to let you out of his sight but he has to learn to share you.”

I laugh, overwhelmed by an incredible sense of belonging and acceptance. I’ve always felt that I belonged with Max and he accepted me, but it’s different with everyone else. I felt isolated when we first moved down here and it took me a while to feel like I was welcome.

Now it feels as if my life is finally coming together.

“I’d better get going. Preston and Sasha were napping when I left and they whine like there’s no tomorrow. Especially Preston. Grown ass man.”

Laughing, she helps me clean up before I see her out. And after a short break I head back outside to mow the front lawn before moving to the backyard.

I work diligently. Our backyard was nothing more than a clump of dirt which was the deciding factor when we were down to the final wire in picking houses. I wanted something that I could transform and mold into my own.

I finish in the garden then mow the lawn. Max wanted me to leave that for him to do because he said it was a “man’s job.” But after he realized I did a better job than he did, he shut his mouth.

He knows by now that not everything in this relationship has to be traditional. I’m sure he figured that out the night I proposed.
**********

Two years earlier

I scurry around the kitchen, making sure everything is cooking smoothly. Going through a mental checklist, I bring out the wine, and pull out our good table cloth and set the table.

The intercom buzzes and I rush to light all the candles and dim the lights. I asked the front desk to buzz me when they see Max’s car pull into the parking lot and now the butterflies begin to take up residence in my stomach.

Max has let me set the pace of this relationship, not wanting to scare me away. Because of that, I know he is wary of proposing because he thinks that I’m not ready for such a huge step. But I’ve been ready for awhile now and I don’t want to wait for him to get the hint.

We’re living in a modern world, why can’t I propose to him?

I rip off my apron, make sure the food is ready and then do a quick mirror check. For some reason, Max always liked the way I looked in green. So I went out and found a simple deep green dress with thin straps and dipping neckline. I run around barefoot making sure everything is ready just as I hear the locks turning in the door.

He stops dead when he notices the lack of light and the flickering candles all over the place.

“Liz?”

He drops his keys and I make my presence known. His eyes rack over my body and suddenly I feel naked.

“Hi,” I breathe, feeling weak under his gaze. But tonight, I’m determined to hold my own. I’m doing the seducing here.

I circle him, stop behind him and help him out of his jacket. After I hang his jacket in the closet, I return in front of him, draping my arms around his neck.

“Baby, you look… you are amazing.”

I smile against his lips while I give him a proper hello kiss. I slip him a little tongue before a pull away, gently slipping out of his arms.

He pouts when I tug on his hand. “Liz. Come back here. You look too hot for me not to kiss you.”

“There’ll be more of that later. Now, it’s dinnertime. And did you even notice the atmosphere I created?” I tease.

Grasping my hand, he follows along, nodding at the candles and flowers I’ve placed around the apartment.

Before I can push him into his seat, he slips his arms around my waist. “This all looks great baby. You’re just too much of a distraction.”

I grin and let him hold me in his tight embrace for a few moments longer. When I move around the kitchen I can feel his eyes on me. At one point he groans and I hear him whispering headedly to himself.

“She just had to fucking wear green.”

I bite back a smile as I set his plate in front of him. “For dinner we have pasta, Italian bread, a lovely salad and fruit of your choice on the side. For dessert, we have homemade pumpkin pie. What would you like to drink sir? Water, juice or wine?”

His turns his nose up and speaks in a haughty tone, “Wine would be lovely.”

I giggle, leaning down to kiss his pouting lips as I pour him a generous amount of wine.

“So what’s the occasion?”

I shrug casually, hoping my nerves don’t show. “The occasion is that I love you. Can’t I just cook you a nice dinner once in a while?”

“I’m not complaining.”

As we tuck into our food and he tells me about his day, I grab his hand across the table. He smiles softly, squeezing my fingers and it’s all the reassurance I need that everything will be okay.

During dessert, I find myself in his lap, laughing as I wipe off the pumpkin pie smeared over his mouth.

“When I told you to dig it, I didn’t mean literally,” I laugh.

“You know how much of a sucker I am for pumpkin pie.” His face now clean, he kisses my chin as he slips his hand beneath my dress. His fingers massage my knee with light touches before he moves high on my thigh.

“I really enjoyed this baby. Thank you.” He punctuates his gratitude with a long, satisfying kiss.

“Well I do have an ulterior motive. I wanted to butter you up before I revealed my surprise.”

“Well, I’m all buttered. Bring it on.”

I giggle as I slip out of his arms. “Okay, but you have to close your eyes first.”

“But…”

“Close them! No peeking. Don’t open them until I tell you to.”

He pouts but obeys and I retrieve his ring from the drawer I hid it in earlier. When I reclaim my place on his lap, his arms immediately slide around my waist.

“Max, I really don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“Liz…”

“Let me finish okay?”

With his eyes still closed he rests his head on my shoulder.

“You restored my faith that there are still some great people in this world, and that I was worth knowing. You’ve been so wonderful to me and I love you and… I don’t know if I’m doing this right but… open your eyes.”

Those long lashes that I love lift off his cheeks and his gaze immediately meets the gold band in my hands.

“Liz! What…”

“Will you marry me Max?”
***********

I cried hysterically as if he had been the one to pop the question after he said “yes.” Because of him, because of who he is I’m able to have the life I’ve always dreamed of.

I have a backyard. We have a yard. My husband and I. I’m still grinning as I carry my tools to the shed. Max is due home any minute and I quickly drag the bag of grass clippings across the lawn to be picked up later.

I tidy up the shed a bit and push the lawn mower to its rightful place.

“Elizabeth Evans!”

I jump about ten feet at the booming sound of my husband’s voice as he enters the shed. I quickly wipe my dirty hands on my overalls as if that’d hide the evidence of what I’d been doing.

“Hey babe. When did you get home? I didn’t hear the car.”

He accepts my kiss, but he still looks at me with that disapproving look that makes me feel guilty every time. “What were you doing?”

I flutter my lashes and wrap my arms around his waist. “Nothing. I was just potting some flowers.”

“You were not. You mowed the lawn didn’t you?”

I pout. “Maybe.” I kiss his cheek, knowing it gets him every time.

His eyes soften. “Baby, how many times have I told you not to push that heavy mower around all day…”

“I didn’t. The lawn just needed a little touch up. Besides, I was working with the flowers all day.”

He chuckles. “Don’t you get enough of this at work? You just have to come home and garden too?”

It took me a while to get where I wanted to be in my career. But a year after we got here, I landed a job at a local plant nursery. A year later, I convinced the owner to let me expand off her nursery and start a landscaping company. While I worked on that, Max and his grandfather expanded their repair shop and the extra income helped us get our home.

“You and your green thumb,” he mumbles against my lips. “Admit it. You mowed the lawn and dragged that heavy bag out front, didn’t you.”

“You’ll still love me if I say yes, right?”

“Liz!”

“What? I can’t just sit around waiting for you to do everything for me. I’m not handicap.”

“I just don’t want you getting hurt, baby.” His hands slip between us and come to rest on my round stomach, the main reason why we decided to move from our tiny apartment. “You two mean everything to me.”

I sigh. “Why do you have to stoop so low and make me feel so damn guilty?”

He laughs at my glare. “Because I love you and it’s for your own good.” He scoops me into his arms and carries me into the house. He’s been doing that a lot lately and I joke with him that after the baby is born, my legs won’t know how to function anymore.

“When I reach my ninth month you won’t be so eager to carry me around.”

“I’m a big strong man…” he continues, ignoring my snort, “besides, you’ll always be light as a feather to me.”

“Oh the sweet talk,” I laugh as he carries me up the stairs and into our room.

He sets me on our bed and crawls over me. “Max! No! I need to go clean up.” I screech, attempting feebly to push him away.

He whispers hotly in my ear, tugging on the band that was keeping my hair in a messy bun. “I like it when you get dirty. My sexy farmer.”

“I’m not a farmer, I’m a gardener!”

“Regardless, I can’t get enough.”

At just four months it’s awkward when we do this. I can only imagine what it’ll be like when I get as big as a house. But I succumb to him when he kisses me. He always gets me. But I’m not complaining.
**************

I awake in the middle of the night, tempted to wake Max with one of my cravings.

I turn to shake him awake, but as I watch him, looking exhausted, albeit peaceful in sleep, I forget about my craving. I snuggle beneath the sheets, his arms wrapping around me to protect me and our child.

I still mourn the loss of my first child and I cried when we first found out that I was pregnant. But this is a second chance at life. It’s my turn to be happy. And I get to share it with the man I love.

“Liz?” My sniffling wakes him. “Please tell me that whatever it is you’re craving we already have downstairs.”

“No. I’m not craving anything.”

“Is it your back?” he’s already moving to give me a massage.

“No. Just… I love you.”

He relaxes. “I love you too.”

We lay in silence, his hand resting on my belly. Life is great. But the only thing missing…

“Max, on second thought, would you mind getting me some strawberries and cream?”

He rolls out of bed, groaning and grunting to himself. I bite back a smile, watching adoringly as he slips through the door.

He returns with a bowl of fresh strawberries and cream. Now life is perfect.

The End

Thanks to everyone who stuck with this story through to the end, for all the feedback and bumps. I appreciate it and I hope you enjoyed the ride.

Tiffany