Roswell Fanatics

First of all, thanks for all the wonderful feedback
Jason's Lover
youre my dreamgirl
sprayedadhesive-I've got you listening to Truth Doesn't Make a Noise before every chapter? Wow, I must be good. I'm glad you're loving this fic as much as I love writing it.
candycane14- Don't worry, the pictures are in focus
DreamerMaxBehrian- Oh don't worry about Liz, the night isn't over yet, and she won't let Max get away with his two-week abandonment that easy. And yes, Max was being selfish, but for most of his life he's been selfish, so it's hard for him to break the habbit. And furthermore, he's a boy. And boys aren't all that bright in relationships sometimes. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback, as usual. You really are spoiling me.
aussietrueblue
LairaBehr4- Yes, Jeff. He doesn't sit in the park every day, Max just happened to catch him that one day. And you will find out more about Jeff later... *dun dun dun* as the plot thickens. And I should have mentioned before, Max and Isabel are not related in any way in this fic. It just didn't seem to fit with the story. Max needed to be an only child, but I still wanted Is in this, so there you have it. Thanks for the feedback!
begonia9508
alizaleven- Thanks! And I really love that picture you have in your signature.

Again, thanks for the wonderful feedback! You guys are great.



Part 11

Claudia had heard the strumming of a guitar in the backyard and the singing of a strong, powerful male voice blending beautifully with the music. She pulled on her robe and sat in the living room, looking out the window. She knew who it was, and wasn't surprised in the least to see Max Evans serenading her granddaughter from beneath her window. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. Max seemed to always show up and do the right things at the times she least expected it. She shook her head, but continued to smile. It wasn't up to her to decide whether Liz and Max should be together. She could no longer shield her granddaughter from the real world, Liz would have to learn how to fend for herself. Now was the time for Liz to face reality and learn about living again. Claudia's previous attempts had all failed, and as she sat there surveying the intensity in Max's voice, and thinking of how Liz opened up so quickly because of Max, she knew that she had to let go. She had to believe in Liz enough to let her live her own life.
~*~

Liz's eyes sparkled, and she noticed Max looking awestruck at what was happening. The expression on his face was priceless and Liz started to giggle at his loss of coherence. He blinked, and then Alex and Michael quietly approached the two. Liz linked her right arm through Max's left arm and stood slightly behind him. Max sensed Liz's fear, and reassured her that Alex and Michael were people that she could trust. Liz finally nodded and moved to Max's side, facing the other two. Her eyes were set on the ground for a long minute, and gradually made their way up to sweep over the two males, before returning her gaze back on Max. He gestured towards Alex, "The wonderful guitarist and my best friend, Alex Whitman,” Max proclaimed.

"Hi Liz," Alex said, a comforting smile on his lips.

Liz hesitantly smiled back and nodded. Then she awkwardly looked back to Max. He lovingly kissed her cheek before pointing to Michael, "That's Michael. My umm... he's kind of like my brother, I guess."

Michael looked surprised for a split second but then returned to his calm, cool and collected expression, "Hey Liz,” he said casually.

Liz nodded again.

"These are my friends, Liz. They won't hurt you. And if you let them, they'll be your friends too," Max said softly.

Liz looked around and bit her lip, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Then she blushed and looked back towards the ground. Max pulled her closer to him, and she seemed to burrow her head into the crook of his shoulder, as if to hide her face away from the two strangers. Max began running his fingers soothingly through her long brown strands of hair. Alex watched the two with a look of admiration on his face.

"Ah hem." Michael cleared his throat and Alex continued to watch the two who seemed to be in their own little world. Michael tried again, a little louder. "Ah hem." When Alex still didn't notice, Michael grabbed him by the sleeve and as quietly, yet forcefully as he could, dragged him away.

When the two left and Max and Liz were alone, Liz's expression changed, as memories of how much she suffered when he was gone returned. She slowly pulled herself out of Max's embrace, and met his eyes with a questioning look. Max started to walk towards her, ready to apologize, but she only backed away, determined to get an answer before she flew back into his welcoming arms. She silently mouthed 'why?' The look of wonder and hurt in her eyes nearly killed Max. He dropped his hands limply to his sides, trying to explain. "Liz, I... it wasn't... I. I didn't want you to... I didn't know if you were mad at me, or… I was just..." He stopped, closed his eyes, took a breath and started again. "I was afraid you hated me. I didn't know what to do, so I did the pathetic thing, and ran away from you when I wanted nothing more than to be with you."

His soulful eyes captured her dark ones, and she held up two fingers, signifying two weeks. He closed his eyes, unable to face the depth of pain he felt. "I'm sorry, Liz. All I could think about those two long weeks was you. Every time I saw someone smile, I'd see your smile lighting up the darkness I felt. Every time I listened to a love song, I thought of you and your gracefulness. Every time I saw a child I thought of your innocence and purity. Every time I saw a couple, I thought of us. Liz, I missed you more than anything in those two weeks and I'm ashamed of myself for doing what I did." Max started approaching her again, and this time she turned her back to him, shutting her eyes tightly as if to ward off the tears that were now forming.

Everything seemed to be happening so fast. The majority of her life she was living in a shell, hardly experiencing anything. This new emotion that was now forcing her out of her shell and back into the world of people made her confused and scared. She wanted to have friends. She wanted Max Evans in her life. She was just so afraid of opening up. She was afraid of giving too much, she knew that if she started anything with anyone it would be more intense than the average teenager's relationship. She seemed to have this need for Max, and as much as she wanted to hide it, she couldn't. She needed him to be there for her. She needed him to be her friend. She just... needed him.

"Liz?" Max asked quietly as he tentatively touched her shoulder.

She flinched, caught off guard by his touch. Max winced painfully, knowing that she was afraid of his touch added tenfold to the hurt and painful emotions he was holding inside.

"If you want me to go, I will, Liz." He said softly.

Liz turned around, and Max saw the fresh sheen of tears in her eyes. She brusquely shook her head, and walked up to him, reaching up on her tip toes and wrapping her arms around his neck. He could hear her soft sniffling, and feel her tears wetting his grey t-shirt.

"Shh, Liz.,” he said, smoothing her hair. "I'm sorry, Liz. I'll be here for you. Please, don't cry." He gently cupped her cheeks and brushed her tears away with his thumbs. "I love you Liz... I even sang for you to prove it. And I am not one who sings on a regular basis,” he joked lightly, which prompted a laugh out of Liz. The first real genuine laugh Max had heard from her. He noticed Liz start to shiver. "It's getting cold, isn't it?" Max asked. She nodded, and opened her mouth to say something. Her lips formed an "I" but no words would come forth, and she tried again but to no avail. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and willed herself to speak, but she couldn't. Her tongue wouldn’t let her vocal chords project, causing her to become flustered. Her breathing started to come out in short pants and new tears of frustration filled her eyes. Her shaking continued, and Max pulled her to him. "Liz, please, don't try to talk. It's okay. Come on." He tried calming her with his words, while leading her shaking body inside the house. The whole time, trying to hide his fear as her breaths continued to come faster and faster, and she started to lose oxygen.

He ran to the door, banging mercilessly on it.

"Claudia!" He shouted.

Liz's pale face turned a sickening frail gray, and just as Claudia opened the door, her trembling subsided and she fell limply into Max's arms.
~*~

First of all, a fond thank you for the wonderful feedback...
begonia9508
DreamerMaxBehrian & LairaBehr4- Since you know, great minds think alike, and you guys said *or at least thought* the same thing... You are correct about Liz hyperventilating, and I'm glad to hear you guys were fond of the Max/Michael brotherliness in this. =) Thanks for the wonderful feedback and the amusing comments too.
Ellie
youre my dreamgirl
sprayadhesive
Michelle
Jason's Lover
mel1016- Yes, maybe they can heal each other. I'm glad to know you're liking this fic. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Pixie_Stix- and thank you Glad to know you like the Max and Liz relationship that I've created.
aussietrueblue

You guys are great! I hope you enjoy the next part... (it's sort of on the longish side )

Part 12

"What happened?" Claudia asked as she helped Max guide Liz's limp body to the couch.

"She was trying to talk and all of a sudden she just... just... started breathing fast, and then..." Max's worry and concern was evident in his voice. "Is she going to be okay?"

Claudia grabbed a brown paper bag and placed it over Liz's nose and mouth.

"Yes, she'll be okay," Claudia said casually. She didn't need to instruct Liz on what to do, Liz started breathing deeply into the bag, and soon her breaths regulated. Liz gave the bag back to Claudia after she was sure that her breathing was normal. Now she was taking slow, deep breaths with a look of concentration etched on her face.

"Has this happened before?" Max asked.

Claudia nodded. "Sometimes, if she's feeling intense emotions, or trying too hard to push herself to do something, she'll just lose it…she hyperventilates. She's been doing it periodically ever since, since Kyle died. It was worse when she was younger… and then when her mother... well, after that, she sort of stopped when she…when she bottled all of her emotions inside."

Max was silent after that, holding Liz's left hand in both of his hands and kissing her palm.

"How long will she be like this?" Max asked Claudia, never breaking his constant look over Elizabeth's frail body.

"Well, her breathing is getting back to normal. She'll just need to rest for a while," Claudia stated. The two were silent as Liz's body slowly started to gain life back, and she curled herself into the fetal position on the couch, closing her eyes and letting a deep sleep consume her.

"Is it safe for her to sleep right now?" Max asked.

"Yes."

Max nodded, but didn't let go of Liz's hand.

"Max," Claudia began, breaking the silence. "I know you care about my granddaughter, but do you have any idea how bad it was for her when you left her alone for two weeks?" Max closed his eyes as he brought his head down and kissed Liz's hand again.

"I know," he said. "I was being selfish at the time. I was afraid she didn't want to see me after... the... uh-"

"The what?" Claudia began to perk up.

"After the incident with Sean and Tess."

"Who are Sean and Tess?" She asked.

"These kids from school. They kind of scared her, I guess... and Sean was saying bad things about her... and I kind of lost it and beat him up." Max's voice became quieter as he said the last few words. He didn't know how Claudia would respond to that. He soon found out when her soft laughter was heard, warming up the dark house.

"Max, you remind me of Liz's father."

After those words, Max turned his gaze from Liz to Claudia for the first time. "What?"

"I remember back when Jeff was first with Nancy. He hardly told me anything about his girlfriends, but when he was with her, she was always on his mind. He'd tell me about her playing guitar, her beautiful voice, and I remember whenever there were problems between the two, he'd tend to run from them. It's a good thing I was there to knock some sense into him." Claudia continued to chuckle. "The only thing I can't seem to convince him to do is..." Her voice trailed off as she looked down to Liz's sleeping form.

Max tucked a strand of Liz's hair behind her ear before standing up. "Claudia?"

"Yes, Max?"

"Could I… maybe stay here tonight? I just want to make sure that she's okay." He asked hesitantly.

Claudia smiled. "I'll get some blankets and pillows."

"Thanks."
~*~

The next morning Max woke up to the smell of freshly made waffles. He rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and sat up, cracking the stiffness out of his back. He yawned, and then stood up to stretch out.

"Good morning, Max." Claudia smiled at him as she placed 3 plates of warm waffles on the kitchen table.

"Morning," Max replied. He walked into the kitchen, seeing Liz at the freezer pulling out vanilla ice cream. He smiled when he saw her shiver from the coldness as it touched her fingers.

"Good morning, Liz." He said as he walked over by her and asked he if could help with anything.

Liz slightly blushed, and seemed to look everywhere but into Max's eyes. Max smirked a little and Claudia laughed. "Max, just sit down. We have everything covered."

He took a seat and watched as Liz got a scoop for the ice cream. She walked over to him and placed two scoops of vanilla ice cream on top of his waffles.

"I don't like ice cream." Max said with a serious tone.

Liz stood there a moment, dumbfounded. Then she gingerly reached for the plate to take it away, but Max halted her arm with his hand. "I'm kidding, Liz."

Max got the response he was hoping for. She hit him lightly on the shoulder, rolling her eyes at him. He smiled, happy that she was finally communicating with him like this.

They all ate their breakfast in companionable silence. Max couldn't seem to break his gaze away from Liz's mouth as she ate. He was beginning to become aware of her feminine power, not that he never was before, but now it seemed to be affecting him more and more. He was glad there was a table separating them so that nobody could see the affect she had on his lower anatomy.

"Liz?" Max asked. "There's this annual carnival, and I was wondering if you wanted to go there with me today."

Liz's bright smile and shining eyes was enough answer for him.

"Liz always loved carnivals," Claudia smiled.

"Great," Max responded. "I'll just have to… go home, change, and get my camera."

"You always have that camera with you, Max." Claudia stated.

"Yeah, well, I like capturing special moments on film." He smiled, looking at Liz. "Although, truthfully, I wish I had my camera with me right now." Liz glanced down shyly as a hint of pink crept into her cheeks. Max loved when she did that.
~*~

When Max reached his house he was surprised to find his father there.

"Hello, Son." Philip said.

How typical, Max thought. His father always called him son, as if to remind Max that he was more of a mantelpiece than an actual human being.

"Hello, father." Max replied sarcastically. His father seemed not to have noticed his sarcasm, and ruffled his hair. Max cleared his throat, "How was the business trip?"

"I won the case." Philip said casually.

"Surprise, surprise."

Philip smiled as he got a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table. He glanced at his son before saying, "Your mother told me you're progressing."

Max looked at his father questioningly, "Progressing?"

"Well, you know. You’re more social."

"Right." Max said.

Michael walked into the kitchen in a white wife-beater and his red boxers, yawning.

"Michael, I presume?" Philip stated, standing up and extending his hand for Michael to shake.

"Yeah, that's me." He said, shaking Philip's hand.

"My wife told me a lot about you, Michael. I hear you're a good artist." Michael shrugged. "Well, I think that we should all have dinner together tonight. Get to know each-other." Philip suggested.

Max and Michael looked at each other, silently communicating an exaggerated sigh.

"Actually, dad, I have plans today." Max said.

Michael continued, "Yeah, me too."

Philip looked at his coffee mug sullenly. "Well, Diane was taking off work tonight and wanted us all to eat together." He said, letting the sentence linger on.

"Well I guess I can take Liz to the carnival later on tonight." Max said. If it meant that much to his mother that they eat together, then he’d do it.

Michael folded his arms across his chest, "Carnival?" He asked Max.

"Yeah."

"I guess I'll change my plans and take Maria there tonight too, since I'll be eating here."

"Okay." Max nodded. He felt selfish again at that moment because he wanted to be alone with Elizabeth that night.

Max called Liz's house and informed Claudia that he would be there later in the evening, around 8:00. She assured him it was okay, and he waited for what seemed like forever for the "family" dinner.
~*~

Surprisingly dinner went well. Diane seemed really happy to be bringing everyone together. Michael was quiet, but still held his mocking demeanor, Philip made conversation, and Max enjoyed the moment. Dinner with his family was a rare occasion. His father was gone most of the time, his mother rarely took off from work, and when they had family dinners it was usually something he felt forced into. Something was changing though. He felt like he belonged in his family. He glanced at his mother as she proudly complimented Max's photography talent, as well as Michael's artistry.
~*~

Once dinner ended, Max and Michael piled into Max's jeep. First they picked up Maria, and she sat in the back with Michael. Max refused to glance towards the back of his jeep in fear of being scarred for life, especially after catching them making out that one day in his house. In retrospect, Max found the memory funny and started chuckling to himself as he pulled into Liz's driveway. He parked his car and hopped out of the jeep. "I'll be right back."

When she answered the door he had to do a double take at her beauty. She looked very natural and content. Her hair was worn down, as it always was, but it seemed to have more life in it. He had this incredible desire to run his fingers through her long dark mane and smell the silky strands. Her pale skin seemed to compliment the darkness of her hair, and she was wearing simple khakis with a black tank top that gave her the 'girl next door' look.

"Liz..." He said, admiring the beauty before him. She smiled, and he continued, "Listen, I'm sorry about having to come later, my parents wanted me and Michael to have dinner with them and-" She brought her finger to his lips to silence him, as if saying he didn't need to explain. She understood. Feeling the touch of her fingers on his lips made Max's heart melt, and a pulsing desire to spread throughout his body. Liz swiftly removed her fingers as she saw his amber eyes darken, and she felt her heart begin to beat erratically. This was a new feeling for her, and as much as it frightened her, it excited her even more.

Max took her hand in his, and began walking her to his jeep. "Umm... Michael and his girlfriend Maria are going with us, Liz. Is that okay?"

She nodded in the affirmative. Max smiled, opening the car door for her.

"Hey, Liz,” Maria said in her bubbly-like tone. "I'm Maria, and you and I, chica, are going to become good friends."

Liz smiled at Maria, actually meeting her gaze. She was astounded at Maria's forwardness and chattiness. For some reason Liz felt that Maria would be a good friend to her. Unlike Tess, Maria seemed like she was an accepting person, and her bubbly personality was unique and different.

The four of them drove to the carnival as the radio decided to play good songs for once. Good songs that Max normally liked, but ironically, all had lyrics that had to do with rain in them. First Garbage's "Only Happy When It Rains" came on. Normally he'd be blasting the song, but instead he quietly switched the station.

"Hey, I like that song." Maria shouted from the back of the car.

Max glanced over towards Liz to see her looking out the window.

"Sorry, Maria," he said just as "No Rain" by Blind Melon came on. This was one of Max's all-time favorite songs. No matter how he was feeling, this song always seemed to cheer him up. He always had this urge to dance when the song was on... but as the lyrics began...

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain,
I like watching the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view but it's not sane

Max changed the station again.

"Oh come on, Maxwell. That's one of the few mellow songs I actually like." Michael said. When Max refused to change the station back, Liz reached towards the dial and switched it back, turning up the volume.

Max looked over at her and noticed her bopping her head to the beat.

"See, Liz likes it too. Right, chica?" Maria yelled above the noise. Liz began lip synching the song, and Max felt his heart swell. She seemed to feel the same way he did when she heard the song. Soon Maria and Michael could be heard singing with the music…

I just want some one to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
You know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made

And then Max joined in with the others, belting out the next lyrics,

And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that there's no rain
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
And it rips my life away, but it's a great escape
Escape... escape… escape...

There was silence in the car, followed by Michael and Maria head-banging as the last verse rolled around.

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
You don't like my point of view
Ya think I'm insane
It's not sane.... it's not sane...

Once they all reached the carnival, Maria stood by Liz and whispered something into her ear. Liz's eyes sparkled as she began to giggle.

"What?" Michael asked.

"Oh, nothing Mikey G," Maria grinned. "Just telling Liz how you could never in a million years win a stuffed animal. You have very bad hand-eye coordination."

Michael glanced over to a booth. There were three pins stacked up, with a bunch of guys attempting to knock all three down with a ball.

"Yeah, ‘cause those games are rigged." Michael said.

"Oh yeah?" Maria asked.

"Yep." Michael responded.

"Then how come that hot guy over there just won one for his girlfriend?" Maria dared.

Michael gritted his teeth, making his way over to the booth.

Max and Liz stood by one another, watching as Michael attempted to knock the pins down. After three failed attempts, Max went up to the stand.

"Let me try." He said, and on the first try, he got it. Liz clapped encouragingly for him after he won, and he picked out a huge white teddy bear for her. She jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Max held onto her tightly, not wanting to let her go. He was in complete bliss just feeling her body pressed up so close to his. She kissed him on the cheek before pulling away.

"Goddammit!!" Michael yelled on his fifth try. "This is a waste of my money."

Maria laughed. "Don't worry, it was worth it to see you all pissed off like this." She grinned.

Michael glared at her.

"Oh come on, you're sexy when you’re pissed," she said.

He seemed to smirk after that.

Liz laughed, watching the interaction between Michael and Maria. They certainly had an odd relationship. Max took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Liz's petite waist from behind and kiss her cheek. What he really wanted to do was kiss the soft pale skin pulsing at her neck. He had to refrain from doing so though.

"How about we go on some rides," Max suggested to everyone. They all complied, with Max and Liz holding hands as they began leading the way to the 'Gravitron'.

"Dude, I am so not going on that ride." Maria began, "That thing gives me headaches. I mean, they are seriously like massive migraines. It's almost as bad as when I'm on my period."

Liz laughed loudly, smiling at Maria's openness. This girl was crazy and she loved it.

"You want to come on it, Liz?"

She nodded, and Max, Michael and Liz began making their way to the ride. Maria pulled at Michael's shirt, "You are not leaving me out here alone with all these creepy carnies around!" Maria scolded him.

"Maria." Michael said.

"Michael... they're eyeing me and it is totally freaking me out. It's like they're…"

Michael pulled Maria into his arms and kissed her passionately, leaving Max with no other option than to avert his eyes.

He looked to Liz, "Shall we?" He asked. The two made their way on the machine, and once they were off, Maria and Michael were still kissing.

"Get a room." Max said, jokingly. The couple broke apart.

"Good thing I decided not to go on that ride." Michael said.

Maria looked to Liz, "See, us girls, we have power." She winked. Her eyes lit up as she looked beyond Liz at the large circular contraption up ahead. "Come on, let's go on the Ferris Wheel." Maria suggested, pulling Michael with her. The group started to walk, but were halted as a familiar voice called out to them.

"Hey! What are you guys doing here?" Alex asked as he and Isabel made their way over to the four of them.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Max gave Alex a knowing look.

Max noticed Liz tensing up. He looked back over to Alex and Isabel. It couldn't be Alex that she was getting uncomfortable around... then he put two and two together.

"Oh, Liz. This is Isabel." He said, pointing towards Is.

"Hello." Isabel said, nodding towards Liz. Liz just smiled shyly, intimidated by her presence. The girl was tall and beautiful, she looked like she could be a model.

"Hey girlfriend." Maria said, hugging Isabel.

Liz smiled watching the two friends embrace.

"Are you guys going on the Ferris Wheel?" Alex asked.

"Yep, Maria's suggestion." Michael confirmed. "And we all know that when Maria wants something, she gets it." The six of them laughed, and Liz started to feel at ease with the now larger group. The tension in her body subsided.

"Well, I'm up for a little stargazing tonight." Alex mentioned as he glanced at Isabel dreamily. "Want to go on it?" He asked her.

She smiled, "Of course, Alex."

The three couples got in their own seats.

Alex and Isabel were watching the stars beautifully masked against the darkness of the night. Isabel's laughter could be heard from the two other couples riding in separate seats. Michael and Maria were kissing avidly, as usual. And Liz rested her head on Max's shoulder, sighing contentedly. Max took the chance to smell her hair. It was a soft, gentle smell, almost like a baby's…

"Baby shampoo." He stated out of nowhere.

Liz looked up at him with a small smile on her lips and the faint raise of an eyebrow.

"Your hair," he said, reaching out to smooth a strand behind her ear. "Smells just like baby shampoo."

Liz giggled and rested her head against his shoulder once again.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it, Liz?" He asked.

She nodded, closing her eyes.

"The view is great from up here, huh?" Max asked, staring down at her.

She removed her head from his shoulder and looked up at him. He slowly pulled her chin upwards, bringing his mouth closer to hers, but as they parted their mouths, the Ferris Wheel stopped, and a deep voice cleared his throat.

"Time's up," The carnie said.

The two got off the Ferris Wheel and joined up with the others. Maria immediately made her way over to Liz.

"See, those carnies ruin everything." She said a little too loudly, causing the Ferris Wheel worker to give her a nasty glare.

Liz laughed, sparking Max's memory. He brought his camera with him, and now was the perfect opportunity to get pictures of Liz. She seemed so happy tonight, so natural. Almost like she was beginning to fit in again. He could sense her awkwardness every once in a while when Isabel was by her, but he understood that. Isabel intimidated very many people with her cool Ice Princess demeanor. The rest of the night Max captured numerous pictures of Liz with the gang. One of his favorites was with her and Maria. The two seemed to have a silent bond. He had noticed it when he first saw them interact, when Liz met Maria's eyes. That was the first time she actually met one of his friends' eyes.

Max's thoughts returned to the previous night, with Liz trying so hard to tell him something. He wondered what she was going to say to him, and he was honored that she was attempting to talk to him. He was just worried that she would never actually be able to. Maybe she was so used to not speaking that her vocal chords were impaired, or that she would never be able to speak without hyperventilating.

Max turned his head to the ground, deep in thought, but when he felt her hand gently touching his shoulder, and looked up to see her smile of reassurance, he felt comfort. And at that moment he knew somewhere deep in his heart that one day she would talk to him. He felt it in his bones, all he had to do was be patient. Liz Parker was exceptional; he could see it in the way she communicated with the gang and with himself. Especially with himself. Liz unknowingly taught him a lot, and at that moment he felt limitless. He could spend forever gazing into Elizabeth's doe eyes, smelling the soft hint of baby shampoo in her hair, and waiting for her to speak. Max hugged Liz to himself, and Maria grabbed the camera from him.

"It's my turn to play photographer." She stated, winking. The rest of the night, Max's roll of film was full of pictures of him and Liz. Now he couldn't wait to get them developed.
~*~

Thanks for all the feedback again...
sprayadhesive- Aww. You love me? Stop, I'm blushing. I'm glad that the interaction I had of the gang together could make you laugh.
strawberry88
DreamerMaxBehrian- Originally, he slept on the floor and Liz slept on the couch, but as I was editing it, it didn't seem right. In my head, I thought "He should take her to bed, then sleep on the couch himself", so I had deleted the one where he slept on the floor beside her, but I forgot to add in that he'd taken her to her room and then slept on the couch. So yes, that's what he did. And I'm glad you mentioned the camera being like another character in this fic. Makes me feel like I'm doing something right. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback again.
Jason's Lover
begonia9508
Michelle in Yonkers - Glad you're enjoying what you've read thus far.
aussietrueblue
youre my dreamgirl
Ellie
LairaBehr4
candycane14- Girls' night out... hmm, you're on to something there.

Thanks for the feedback, and sorry for the delay in posting...

Part 13

Max awoke Sunday morning to the blinding sunlight shining through his window and the sound of birds chirping. He slowly opened his eyes, rubbing the sleep away from them as he yawned. He lay in bed for a while as a smirk curled his lips, thinking about the events of the previous night. Liz Parker was becoming more and more alive, and he had noticed her spirited side. She was still endearingly shy and innocent, but held spirit just aching to be free. He got out of bed, cracked the stiffness out of his neck, and then headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Morning, Max. You're up early." Diane noted as he walked into the kitchen.

"Yeah," Max replied, unable to stifle the smile on his face. Diane poured herself some coffee and asked ever so casually, "So did you have fun last night with Elizabeth?" Max nodded in return. Diane sat down across from him and patted him on the hand. "Maxwell, I want you to know that I love you and I'm always here for you. Okay?"

"I know that, mom." Max said, looking her in the eyes.

"I'm just so happy that we're finally…" She let the sentence trail on and Max smiled. The two of them sat in companionable silence. Mother and son just content with eating breakfast together. Diane collected she and Max's plates and brought them to the sink. "So Max, honey, when do I get to meet this Liz girl that you've fallen completely head over heals in love with?" Max blushed and looked down. He wasn't used to discussing his private life with his mother, and even though they were getting closer, it still felt a little awkward at times. They hadn't exactly been the bonding type.

"Umm, whenever you want." Max said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. He had wanted Liz to meet his parents, maybe his mother could help her or something.

Diane smiled, "And what about Claudia Parker. She's such a sweet lady."

"You've met her?" Max asked, surprised.

"Yes. Lately she's been outside sitting on her porch quite often. I've introduced myself to her and she's a lovely woman."

"Yeah, she is. Strong too."

"Well, how about tomorrow night?"

"What?" Max asked, lost in thoughts of Liz.

"Have them over for dinner tomorrow night. I'd like to meet Liz."

"Sure," Max smiled.
~*~

Liz stood in her room in front of the mirror. She studied her reflection and smiled as "Ode To My Family" by the Cranberries came on her cd player. She turned the music up louder, grabbed a brush and began combing through her long brown hair. Her thoughts were consumed by Max Evans. He was so supportive of her and she wished she could tell him just how much she valued him, but she couldn't. All she could rely on were her thoughts and attempting to show him her thoughts with a gesture or a look. The time she tried to talk to him, she absolutely lost it. She couldn't even get a murmur out, let alone an actual sentence.

She set the brush down on her vanity and stood in front of her mirror. She reached out and touched her reflection, skimming her fingers over the face in the mirror. She closed her eyes as she listened to the lyrics...

Understand the things I say, don't turn away from me,
Cause I've spent half my life out there, you wouldn't disagree.
Do you see me? Do you see? Do you like me?
Do you like me standing there? Do you notice?
Do you know? Do you see me? Do you see me?
Does anyone care.

Unhappiness where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn,
Cause we were raised,
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother,
She hold me, did she hold me, when I was out there?
My father, my father
He liked me, oh he liked me
Does anyone care?

Understand what I've become, it wasn't my design
And people everywhere think something better than I am.
Do you know you did not find me. You did not find.
Does anyone care?

Unhappiness where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn,
Cause we were raised,
To see life as fun and take it if we can
My mother, my mother,
She hold me, did she hold me, when I was out there?
My father, my father
He liked me, oh he liked me
Does anyone care?


She took a deep breath, still tracing her hands along her reflection in the mirror, and hesitantly opened her mouth.

"I," She choked out the words, forcing herself to continue in a muffled, barely audible voice "miss you..." Soon her vision became blurred as tears seeped from her eyes, but she finished because she had to. She had to admit out loud what she hadn't let herself admit in 5 years. "Kyle." She sniffled, wiping at her tears and looking at herself again. She swallowed past the lump in her throat and went to her dresser drawer to pull out a picture. She looked down and skimmed her fingers over the faces of her mother and father. "I'm..."
~*~

Grandma Claudia walked to Liz's room and was about to knock when she heard soft crying. She furrowed her grey eyebrow in question, and then heard an ever so faint "sorry" being spoken.

Claudia slowly creaked open the door to find Liz looking down at a wooden picture frame.

"Liz?" She asked as she took small, tentative steps towards her granddaughter. Liz looked up at Claudia with dried tears flecked onto her cheeks and red-rimmed, puffy eyes. And then Claudia heard it, and her prayers for the past 5 years had been answered.

"I'm... sorry," Liz's speaking was slow, and she struggled with the words, forcing them out... "grandma."

Claudia clutched at her chest and gasped in awe. She stood frozen in place, shocked at hearing the voice she hadn't heard in so long. However muffled and quiet it was, she didn't care. Her granddaughter was speaking. The next thing Claudia knew, Liz was hugging her tightly and repeating the words, "I'm sorry" over and over again. Each time coming out a little stronger than the previous time, but soon sobbing overtook Liz's small frame, and she started breathing hard again.

Claudia guided Liz to the kitchen and grabbed a brown paper bag for her to breathe in. She sat down with Liz next to her, soothingly smoothing down her hair in an effort to help calm Liz as she breathed steadily into the bag. Claudia cleared her throat and began humming a melody from long ago.

Liz's ragged breathing soon settled back to normality when she heard the soft humming her mother used to sing when playing guitar. Liz looked to her grandmother, and soon became completely relaxed in the memory of her mom.
~*~

Max stepped outside with his camera and two rolls of film in harsh need of being developed. He looked across the street and smiled at the house with the white picket fence that held Elizabeth Parker. His mother and Alex were right, he had it bad for her. Never before had someone affected him so much, so deeply.

He glanced around at the beautiful red and brown leaves falling from the trees that cluttered their suburban home. He inhaled deeply, taking in the crisp sent of fall. Fall was one of his favorite seasons. The season where beautiful colors masked the neighborhood, and he could hear the leaves crunching beneath his feet as he walked. Being a photographer, he'd grown to admire seasons, and the changing of seasons. Fall was exceptional for landscapes, as colors miraculously changed from green to brown to red before fading. Winter was wonderful for the glistening freshly fallen snow that covered the houses and sparkled when the streaks of the sun's rays seeped onto the white blanket. Spring was wonderful for all the blooming flowers, and various birds he could capture during their favorite season. And then summer was the season for fun, the season best in capturing people.

As Max developed the pictures from his film he couldn't help but feel love in his heart and complete happiness for all those pictures of him and Liz. They looked so natural together. As an observer, he could read expressions well, and what he saw in those pictures was love. Liz's eyes sparkled and a shy smile would grace her beautiful lips. His eyes focused on her in glowing adoration, and in others her head would be resting on his shoulder and he'd have his arm wrapped casually around her waist.

The pictures of the night he serenaded her were his favorite. Michael certainly snapped the pictures at the right moment. Max saw his and Liz's first kiss, his hands were running through her hair that was blowing in the wind along with her white nightgown. He saw the tears in Liz's eyes, tears of happiness and joy, and an overwhelming sense of gratefulness consumed his heart.

The pictures of the group were fun. He couldn't help but laugh at some of the pictures, and admire the friendship he saw in them. Liz's smile was broad and genuine; her face glowed with laughter as she stood by Maria who was sticking her tongue out at the camera. In another, Maria had hopped onto Michael's back and the surprise was evident on Michael's face while Liz stood in the middle of a starry eyed Alex and Isabel gazing at one another.

The pictures of Liz alone were beautiful. She had a natural gracefulness and it was obvious that the camera loved her. Her simplicity and innocence was captured so eloquently that he'd find himself needing sharp intakes of breath to calm himself from the beauty that was captured in the pictures.

As he came across one picture though, his smile faded. Liz had a slight smile on her face, but the smile looked forced, and her eyes held a deep sadness in them. Max wondered how he hadn't noticed that expression on her face before. Clearly, she still had moments of the past that plagued her mind.

Max realized then that he couldn't just make everything go away for her. It was she who had to cope with the loss of her family, the loss of her twin brother and the loss of her mother. And even the loss of her father. Max hated thinking about Liz's horrible past. It was up to Liz to open up to him about it though; and the scary thing was, when she did, he wouldn't know what to do. He was never good with words, and he wasn't in the same kind of situation that Liz was in. Of course he knew about what she went through, but he didn't know what was going on in her mind about everything. She had blocked it all out by retreating into herself, and yes, she was opening up at an astonishing rate, but what would happen if some freak thing were to set her off. Something worse than Sean and Tess?
~*~

First of all, I apologize profusely for not posting sooner. As I said, I have the first 20 chapters written out already, but I've been slacking on editing them... especially since all my classes this semester are English courses, thus requiring a lot of reading and writing and leaving me very little time to work on this. In any case...

Thank you sprayadhesive- for the bumps too!, candycane14, LairaBehr4- I hope this chapter makes up for the lack of Max and Liz in the last chapter, and thanks for the bumps ^_^, youre my dreamgirl, Augustus Snodgrass- Thanks so much for that compliment, it means a whole lot to me. And I absolutely love your your display name, begonia9508, Dreamer Max Behrian- I'm glad you liked that Liz spoke to Claudia first, I thought it was very fitting myself. And thanks for enjoying my choice of music to include in this fic- I thought Ode to My Family was very fitting as well. And as far as the photos go, Max will show them to Liz... eventually. Think birthday. , and aussietrueblue- thanks for the bump, too!

Part 14

Max was growing nervous just waiting for the digital clock in his room to say 6:00. It was only 5:30, and he had just come to the realization that Liz had never even been inside his house before. They were usually either out in the park or at Liz's. He was worried about his parents meeting her. His mom knew that Liz had gone through some bad times and wouldn't talk, but she didn't know the specifics and he hoped she wouldn't try and get any information out of Liz, considering her tendency to want to help people. His dad didn't know anything about Liz, just that she was the woman in Max’s life. His thoughts were consumed with the worst of possibilities. He had this knawing feeling that something bad was going to happen. Things were going too well, and nothing good could last forever.

Max clenched his jaw and tried to rid his mind of his pessimistic thoughts as he glanced at the clock. 5:38. He sighed, running his hand through his short brown hair. He stood up, walking towards his dresser, and bent down to his bottom drawer to retrieve all the pictures he took. He separated them into different piles. Family, friends, Liz, scenery, people, and emotions. The procedure helped to cease his horrible thoughts as he sorted through the pictures, remembering the moment he took each and every one of them. Looking at pictures was always soothing for Max, especially with the knowledge that he was able to capture these moments how they were in actuality. Not in one single picture did someone look like they had posed for a shot, they all looked completely natural. His favorite pictures, other than all of Liz's, were the emotional ones. He felt enthralled when looking at the sincerity, love, hate, anger, sadness, happiness and beauty in all the pictures.

"Maxwell!" Diane's voice echoed through his room. Max glanced at the clock. 5:55. He hurriedly shoved all the pictures in their appropriate categories and put them back in his drawer.

Max ran downstairs, almost tripping on the way, only to find that Liz wasn't there. When his mother noticed the questioning look on his face she laughed. "Calm down, honey. I just wanted to ask you something."

"Oh," Max said, releasing a breath.

"Has Elizabeth made any... progress?"

"Mom... please, don't do this." Max pleaded.

"Do what?"

"Try and drill information out of her. She's... I just don't want this to turn into a 'try and help Liz Parker' intervention. I don't want her to think that I'm pushing her to do anything-"

As Max continued to ramble on, he stopped once he felt his mother's hand on his wrist.

"Okay, Max. I won't. I'll treat her like a normal girlfriend." Diane smirked.

"Thanks mom."

"Well, they should be here any minute now," Diane said while wiping her hands on her apron.

"Yeah." Max replied, pacing around the kitchen.

Michael came into the room.

"Maxwell, a little fidgety much?" He asked mockingly. Max rolled his eyes but continued to pace. "Diane, what are we having for dinner?"

"Chicken Cacciatore.”

"Sounds good," Michael said, reaching in the fridge and pulling out a can of coke. As he was leaving the kitchen he slapped Max playfully on the back and said, "Max. Be a man, toughen up."

"At least I don't plan an evening of cooking for Liz."

Michael blushed slightly before appearing unfazed. "Maybe not, but you're still whipped." He smirked, and left the room.

Max shouted back, "I'm not the only one, Mikey G."

Diane rolled her eyes. "Boys will be boys."

Just then, the doorbell rang and Max rushed to open it, but Diane beat him to it. "Nuh-uh, I'm the hostess." She smiled. Max just laughed, and stood by his mother as she opened it and welcomed Claudia and Liz inside.

Max was awestruck when he saw Liz in a pale pink sweater with navy blue hip-hugger jeans on. She looked so cute and innocent, and as she shyly smiled, he exhaled a breath before taking her hand in his and leaning forward to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

"Hey,” He smiled, pulling her gently over by his side. "Mom, this is Liz, Liz, this is my mother, Diane."

Diane smiled, extending a hand for Liz to shake. Liz's smile lit up the room and entered the heart of Diane Evans.

"You've made Max so happy, Elizabeth." Diane said with sincerity in her voice, she could tell just from looking into Liz's deep brown eyes that she was a wonderful girl.

"Come on in." Diane said, as she ushered Claudia and Liz over to the living room. "It's nice to see you again, Claudia."

"Thank you for having us." Claudia smiled, allowing Diane to see the resemblance between grandmother and granddaughter. Claudia took a seat on the black leather couch in the living room.

"Oh my..." She stated, glancing at the wall. "Lovely pictures."

"Yes, all of which were taken by Max." Diane smiled, proud of her son.

"Your house is very modern." Claudia noted and Diane laughed.

"Max, honey, why don't you show Liz around the house." Diane suggested.

Max looked into Liz's face and her expression lit up.

"Come on." He said, reaching out for her hand.
~*~

When Liz saw the dining room, she released her hold of Max's hand and ran over to the old grand piano. A gasp of awe was emitted from her lips and Max smiled. Approaching her from behind, he brushed his right arm lightly around her waist as his fingers touched the keys, making a loud, prominent sound echo throughout the room. Liz looked up to his face, smiling with glee, and he reached his other arm around her waist and placed his hands on the keys, playing Scarborough Fair. Liz immediately recognized the song, only wishing she could hear him sing it. And as if he could read her mind, his voice sprang to life,

"Are you going to Scarborough Fair
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Remember me to the one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine."

"Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Without no seam or needlework
Then she'll be a true love of mine."

"Tell her to find me an acre of land
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Between the sea and over the sand
Then she'll be a true love of mine..."

Once Max finished the song, Liz looked at him with adoration in her sparkling brown eyes. She turned around in his arms and hugged him tightly, kissing him lightly on the lips. He smiled against her lips, and once she pulled away she looked into his eyes.

"I used to take piano lessons. I was a little rusty, haven't played in a long time." He chuckled. Liz just continued to look at him in awe before grabbing his hand from around her waist, and intertwining their fingers.
~*~

The last room Max showed her was his. Liz walked in timidly, and the first thing she noticed was the smell. His smell. She looked around the room and focused her eyes on the framed pictures on his dresser. She walked to his dresser and picked one up, examining it.

"That was me when I was a kid." He blushed. "There's my mom and my dad." A look of sadness showed on Liz's features, before being taken over with happiness. For the millionth time Max wished he could hear her voice, ask her about everything, but there was nothing he could do.

"Liz..." He started.

Liz's face turned towards the door, and when Max followed her gaze he saw Michael waiting there patiently.

"Max, time for dinner." Michael smirked.

Max could have killed him.
~*~

They all went to their respective seats, with Philip at the head of the table, Diane opposite of Philip, Michael next to Claudia and Liz next to Max.

"Liz, you're a beautiful young lady." Philip said politely. Her response was a shy smile and Max reached for her hand underneath the table. She squeezed his hand, and he gave her a reassuring smile. Liz had to hold herself back from kissing him, from letting him know just how much she cared. She listened as Diane gushed about Max when he was younger.

"He was such a smart-ass. He always knew how to get on the teachers nerves." Diane laughed.

"Mom," Max blushed. Liz looked at his face, smiling, and she curled one leg underneath her, feeling more comfortable and getting more into the stories that Diane shared.

"Well, Liz was a big dreamer when she was younger. At one point she wanted to be a singer, at one time an astronaut, at one time a ballerina. She used to dress up in her pink tutu prancing around the house attempting plies." Claudia smiled at the memory, and when Max glanced to Liz he found her blushing. He chuckled lightly and couldn't resist kissing her on the cheek.

The laughter from the table was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. "Excuse me." Philip said, wiping his mouth with his napkin and getting up from the table. He reached into his pocket for his cell phone and went into the other room. Seconds later he came back into the kitchen apologizing. "I'm sorry to have to leave so soon but a client called and I need to meet him."

"It's okay honey." Diane said, skillfully pasting on her fake smile. "We understand."

"I'll be home as soon as I can," Philip said, kissing Diane on the cheek and grabbing his coat.

"It was wonderful to meet you Claudia and Liz." He smiled before walking out the door.

After dinner, Michael left to go to Maria's, and Max and Liz huddled together on the love seat, while Diane and Claudia told more stories.

"Oh!" Diane shot up from her seat, "I'll be right back." Max had a bad feeling, and was right when he saw his mom return with a big photo album. She smiled slyly at Max, knowing how embarrassed he'd be by this. Diane handed the photo album to Liz, pointing to the pictures of a naked Max as a baby. He was crawling around with a blanket in his hand looking around curiously. "He was always very inquisitive. Liked to study and observe everything." Diane smiled, and Max turned beet red. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly embarrassed, trying to hide his face; but when he heard Liz's soft, breathy laugh, his heart nearly melted.
~*~

Max didn't want Liz to leave when he saw she and Claudia getting up from their seats.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?" He asked anxiously, "We can make coffee or something."

Diane laughed, "Max, since when have you become the perfect host?"

"Well, Max. I'm tired and should really be getting home, but I'm sure Liz would like to stay." Claudia said.

Liz nodded happily, before reaching forward and hugging her grandmother gratefully.

"Come over anytime, Claudia." Diane smiled.

"Like-wise." Claudia replied.
~*~

Max sat up on his bed, with his back to the headboard and Liz curled up on his lap, resting her
head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her luxuriant mane, reveling in its silky softness.

"I love your hair." Max whispered, inhaling her scent and kissing the crown of her head. They sat there content in the silence, just holding one another. Max couldn't seem to shake the image he saw of Liz in that picture. The sadness hidden behind her faint smile. "Liz..." She turned her head up to look into his eyes and he continued. "You mean so much to me. And you've done so much for me that I don't think you even realize." He sighed, "But I can't do anything for you. I just, I want to be there for you, to be your shoulder to cry on when you need it, to be the person you can confide in. I want you to trust me, Liz." Max took a breath. "I just... I wish I could, I wish I could hear your voice." Liz looked at his amber eyes flecked with gold that held a look of helplessness. She swallowed, placing her hand on his chin to turn his head so he could look into her eyes. Her eyes were dark and deep, and they seemed to be glowing, but Max realized the glow in her eyes were slight, misty tears.

She placed her tender hand on his cheek before moving it behind his neck and leaning forward to kiss him. Her lips brushed against his softly, and when he thought she was going to pull away, he felt her deepen the kiss. Her other arm locked around his back, pulling him closer to her, and her kiss was full of need; a need that showed him how much she desired him. Her kiss was full of gratefulness; a gratefulness that showed him she appreciated having him in her life. But mostly, her kiss was full of promise; a promise he returned as he opened his mouth and gently sucked on her lower lip. When they finally broke apart, he peppered her face with soft butterfly kisses on her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks and lastly returning to her lips.

"Thank you." He said, pulling her into his warm embrace. "I know you love me, it's just so hard sometimes not knowing what you're thinking." Liz rested her head against his chest, hearing the pounding of his heart, and she spotted paper and a pen on his desk. She gently pulled away from his touch, and his heart sank. "Liz?" He questioned.

She went to his desk, grabbed the pen and wrote something down. When she returned to him, she handed him the folded piece of paper. He slowly unfolded it, never leaving the softness of her doe eyes until she nodded in reassurance for him to read it.

Max,
Right now I'm thinking about how much I love you. How you make me feel. How you've changed me. Max, I don't think you realize what you are to me. I'm sorry I can't tell you all this, it's just so hard to say it. And sometimes I do want to confide in you so bad that it hurts, but I can't… So, from now on I'll write it down. I want you in my life, I want you to be everything you said you'd be. You're right, I don't realize what I am to you, but when you tell me all these things and I hear the love in your voice I feel ashamed that I can't return those words with words of my own. I'm sorry, Max.

Max returned his gaze to her. She was looking down at the ground, biting her lip, with her hands clasped nervously together.

"Liz..." He began, getting up from the bed. "Oh God, Liz." He wrapped his arms around her and rested his forehead against hers. "Don't be ashamed." He grabbed her hand, kissing her lightly on the palm before placing it on his heart. "I love you so much that it hurts. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found you. You're... you're so sweet and caring, and as much as I want to hear your beautiful voice, I can wait. I can read your thoughts now, Liz. We think the same thing." He ended his words with a long, lingering kiss.
~*~