Roswell Fanatics

A/N: Hi everyone, thank you for the feedback I hope you enjoy the next part too.


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Part 21

Liz POV

The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is that I’m not in my room and then I remember why, and where I am.

I turn on my side and find Max sleeping next to me peacefully and I smile. Last night was the most amazing night of my life. Max Evans and I made love again and it was everything I dreamed it would be.

Sometimes I thought that I had spent so much time reminiscing over our night together that I had built it into something that it wasn’t. That the next man I slept with afterwards would never be able to compare but I was wrong. Because the second time around with Max was better than any memory I had, or anything that I could conjure up in my mind.

I feel Max stir beside me and I wait in trepidation for how he’ll react. Deep down I’m scared that he’ll tell me that last night was a mistake and the truth is I don’t know how I’ll handle it if he does. It’s taken a lot to get past the mistakes of the past and be able to feel like I can possibly move forward with Max. It’s helped that he’s been the one making all the moves.

I’m startled out of my thoughts when I feel Max’s hand reach out for me. “There you are,” he says pulling me back to his side and I sigh in relief.

“How long have you been awake?” he asks me.

“Not long,” I reply.

“Come here,” he whispers and pulls me so I’m lying on top of him with my head on his chest. I feel his hand run through my hair and I sigh and close my eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks.

I open my eyes and turn my head slightly so I can see him. “Nothing,” I lie.

“You sure?” he asks. “You seemed like you were a million miles away before.”

‘I was’ I think silently. “You’re not having second thoughts about last night are you?” he whispers then.

“What? No!” I quickly assure him. “It was absolutely amazing,” I admit. “I guess I was a little worried that you might be having second thoughts.”

I see him nod his head in understanding.

“I’m not,” he finally whispers.

His hand reaches up and buries itself in my hair then and he brings my mouth down to meet his. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth and quickly seeks out mine. I instantly respond and feel myself becoming immediately aroused.

“Let me show you exactly where my second thoughts are,” Max whispers huskily when he pulls back.

His hands go to my hips and he encourages me to sit up and when I do he immediately begins to stroke me.

“God Max,” I moan.

“Raise up baby,” he whispers and I immediately do as he asks.

I feel the tip of his cock rub against me teasingly and I moan out in delight before I begin to lower myself onto him.

“Yes!” Max hisses.

“Ahh,” I cry out. I feel so full with him inside of me.

“God you’re so tight Liz,” he groans to my surprise. “You feel so good,” he adds as he rocks his hips against me.

“Oh Max,” I moan out as I begin to pump up and down on him faster.

A few minutes later I feel my release upon me, and Max obviously realises this also because his hands go to my hips and he helps me sink down on him over and over again.

“Oh Max…. ahh YES!” I cry out as my walls clamp around him and I fall over the edge.

“God Liz,” Max cries out as he continues to pump in and out of me. “Yes… ahh yes, LIZ!”

I fall against Max’s chest completely exhausted. Being with Max is so amazing and I don’t have words to express how he makes me feel. I know I’m in love with Max and I want to tell him but I also realise that Max isn’t ready for me to confess my love for him quite yet.

I feel his lips on the top of my head and I smile. “Hmm that was amazing,” I tell him.

“It sure was,” he agrees, “and I hope it put all those thoughts you had about me regretting what happened between us to rest,” he adds.

I smile against his chest. “I guess I just found it hard to believe that we’re really here like this,” I tell him.

“Why?” he asks and I can hear the surprise in his voice by my comment. I would have thought it would be obvious why I thought that though.

“Well because of everything that has happened, I didn’t think you would ever be able to move past it,” I tell him.

He stays quiet after that and I take the opportunity to continue. I want to explain my comment to him.

“I guess I see myself as the very reason why you lost everything that you wanted for your life,” I whisper. “And now because of me you’re settling for second best,” I add.

“Liz,” I hear Max whisper before his hands lift us both up until he’s sitting and I’m straddling his lap. We’re face to face and I can no longer hide from him. Normally our position would seem completely sexual but right now it’s anything but, its intimate.

“Look at me please?” he asks me and reaches to bring my face in line with his.

“I’ll admit that this isn’t where I planned to be 12 months ago but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be here, Liz,” he says. “Today, in this very moment, with you and Ethan I am happier than I ever remember being,” he tells me and I can see the corner of his mouth lifting up in a small smile.

“Really?” I ask, chewing on my lower lip.

“Liz, if I could go back and change what happened between us I would,” he tells me and as soon as the words leave his mouth I drop my head wanting to hide the tears I know will fall from him.

“Hey look me?” he says again raising my chin.

“I would change the situation, not the night. I wouldn’t give back Ethan in a million years. He has changed me and my life so profoundly.”

“What would you change?” Liz asked.

“Well firstly I would find the guts to tell you how I really felt about you back then, that being with you was a dream come true for me and once I had you I probably wouldn’t have ever wanted to let you go,” he smiles at me.

“But you were with Tess,” I point out.

“I was,” he nods.

“That’s why you think the night was a mistake,” I sigh. It still hurts to think back on when he called the night we conceived our son a mistake.

“Liz, it was a mistake because what I did to Tess was wrong,” he says. “But I wouldn’t take it back,” he adds then.

“Good because that night meant a lot to me,” I whisper truthfully.

I watch as smile graces Max’s beautiful face and I smile back.

“Liz can I ask you something?”

I nod.

“Feel free to call me an asshole but I guess its something I’ve always wondered,” he tells me.

“Ok.”

“Did you like me back then?” he asks nervously.

“Yeah I did. I liked you a lot I just didn’t think I stood a chance with you,” I admit. “When I saw you at the party that night without Tess I couldn’t believe it. I’d already had a couple of drinks and Kyle was trying to get back together with me but when I saw you I knew.”

“Knew what?” he asked.

“Knew that it was probably my last chance to show you how I felt. I guess I stuffed it up pretty badly hey?” I laugh bitterly.

Max shakes his head at me. “God Liz, that night was amazing. I mean I’d liked you for such a long time but you never ever looked twice at me if I’d known…”

“Would it have changed anything, Max?” I ask sadly. “I’m not stupid I know what people used to say about me, would you really have been interested in slutty Liz Parker?”

“Don’t call yourself that,” he says sternly.

“I’m not you know,” I tell him then.

“Of course you’re not,” he smiles.

“No,” I shake me head. “I mean it was all lies all those things they all used to say about me. I’ve only ever slept with two people Max.”

“What?” he says shocked.

I feel completely ashamed when I realise that Max Evans thought the same thing about me that everyone else did in school.

“Wow mud sticks doesn’t it,” I cry.

“Oh god, Liz I had no idea,” he tells me. “But it didn’t matter for me,” he tells me. “I still thought you were beautiful and I still spent every penny I earned eating at the Crashdown so I could see you, talk to you,” he smiles at me.

I find myself smiling back at his sweet words and for a second I allow myself to wonder how differently things might have turned out if Max or I had worked up the guts to talk to each other and tell the other about how we felt.

“Really?”

“Yes and you’re just as beautiful if not more so today,” he tells me.

“Thank you,” I blush.

“Liz, how would something like that start? And worse yet why didn’t you say something to stop it?” he wonders.

“It just got terribly out of hand,” I sigh. I hate the fact that I can still remember how the entire thing started like it was only yesterday, it hurt that people thought so little about me but I had to grow thick skin. There was no way I would have survived high school or Roswell if I didn’t.

“Junior year one of the guys on the football teams tried to crack onto me at a party,” I start to tell him. “I was with Kyle at the time but Jake didn’t seem to care. Anyway I had a few drinks, which was really stupid of me, and next thing I know I find myself making out with Jake in a bedroom. He’s trying to take things further and I’m saying no when his girlfriend Vanessa barges in.”

That girl was a piece of work. I can say without a doubt that I hate Vanessa Carlson with passion. She made my life hell.

“I don’t think the captain of the cheerleading squad liked the fact her boyfriend was cheating on her with a junior so Monday morning she started spreading rumours about seeing me fucking two different football players that night at the party. Of course the guys didn’t deny it, they just smiled proudly when someone congratulated them or something.”

“God Liz, I’m so sorry. That was so cruel,” he tells me.

“You didn’t do it and besides it’s history now,” I try to assure him. One thing I can say about Max Evans is that he never treated me like most of the guys at school did; he never looked at me like I was a slut.

“After that I guess I didn’t try to stop the rumours anymore. When some guys would start bragging about me in the locker room I’d just ignore them.” I shrug.

“But what about Kyle? Weren’t the two of you dating through this?” I ask.

“Yeah we were. Kyle is this extraordinary guy Max and he knew that none of it was true. Kyle took my virginity our senior year, I guess we both just ignored all the shit people said because we both knew better, we stopped caring.”

“No you didn’t,” he whispers.

I laugh bitterly. “Ok you’re right. No I didn’t but it became easier to ignore.”

Max pulls me tighter against him then and I close my eyes enjoy the feel of being held so gently.

“I’m so honoured,” Max finally whispers breaking the silence between us.

I pull back and look at him with confusion in my eyes because I’m not quite sure what he’s talking about.

“That you chose me to be your second,” he smiles.

I smile back at him and then I remember something. “Not as honoured as I was to be your first,” I whisper.

A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you so much for the feedback, I'm glad that you're enjoying my fic. Posting and running tonight, I didn't realise how late it had got. Enjoy!

Part 22

1 month later

Max POV

I’m Max Evans and everything is right with the world. I walk into the kitchen and I find the very reason for my happiness sitting at the table eating breakfast together.

“Mornin Daddy” Ethan smiles when he sees me. Liz turns to look at me then and rewards me with a brilliant smile too.

I don’t even hesitate as I walk straight towards her and kiss her good morning on the lips, which causes Ethan to giggle at us. It’s been like this between us for the past month and it’s been the happiest month I can remember in a long time. I think Ethan was a little confused by it at first, but now he laughs at us when we’re affectionate.

“Morning,” Liz smiles at me.
“Hey” I grin.

I turn to my son then and kiss the top of his head before ruffling his hair. “Morning little man”

I take a seat across from Liz and we smile at each other again over the table as I pour some cereal into my bowl, followed by some milk. This morning is one of the first mornings that Liz isn’t blushing.

Since we got together and made love we’ve been spending nights here and there together. At first it was hard because Ethan had started to make his way into Liz’s bed of a night, and we didn’t really want him walking in on an awkward moment, but we’ve been working hard at getting Ethan to stay in his own room which is working better for everyone.

Last night was one of the nights we succeeded and I know my grin widens as I remember the night of loving making with Liz.

“So what have you and grandma got planned today?” I ask Ethan.

Another thing Liz and I have done is kept the change in our relationship a secret. I guess its because regardless of the fact that we share an apartment and a son we haven’t actually sat down and had an adult conversation about what’s happening between us yet. By some unspoken agreement we’ve fallen into couple mode but so far we’re undefined.

So naturally, neither of us has said anything to our parents either, but I suspect that my mum is suspicious. Its very hard to keep romance a secret when you work with your family. My dad is normally too busy to notice the amount of time Liz and I spend together at work, or the passing touches and smiles, but my mum isn’t.

Ethan shrugs. “I don’t know,” he tells me.

Ethan has settled into his new schedule fairly well too. He goes to the Crashdown to Nancy on Monday through to Wednesday and then my mum takes him on Thursday and Friday, and if we’re lucky either Maria or Isabel take him on the weekend at some time so Liz and I can enjoy some alone time.

Keeping our relationship a secret from my sister and Maria hasn’t been that easy and I know for a fact that they’re drilling Liz. She’s having lunch with them today so last night we decided that she should tell them the truth.

“So lunch is today right?” I ask Liz.

“Yep” she smiles “hopefully I make it back to work alive” she laughs.

“Well if you’re not back at your desk by one I’ll come looking for you” I assure her.

“Good to know” she smiles back.

***

I’m sitting in my office looking over a document when Liz knocks on the door. I smile when I look up.

“Hey beautiful”

“Hey yourself” she replies walking in and taking a seat.

“What’s up?” I ask. We only talked about a half an hour ago when she brought me a coffee.

“Well I wanted to ask you something,” she tells me biting on her lower lip. Liz has no idea how sexy she looks when she does that or how many times a day I wish that I was the one biting down on her lip instead.

“Ok” I smile.

“Well you know about lunch with Maria and Isabel?” she says and I nod. “And we agreed that I should just tell them about us, right?”

“Sure” I smile.

“What am I telling them exactly?” she finally blurts out.

“Um” wow I never expected her to ask me that “what do you want to tell them?” I ask.

Liz giggles at me then “Max, I don’t want to tell them anything but you know what Maria’s like, she’ll drag it out of me”

I smile knowingly “Yeah I know and if she doesn’t Isabel will”

“Exactly” she agrees.

“So…”

“So…” she grins.

I laugh then because I don’t know what else to do “I’m sorry, Liz” I tell her. “We should have had this conversation a while ago”

“Yeah I guess we should have but it just didn’t seem urgent”

“I know” I agree. That’s exactly how I feel too; we were just enjoying getting to know each other on a different level and enjoying being together.

“So do you want to talk about it now?” I ask her. I don’t want to have this conversation with her here but if Liz wants to I will.

“No, lets get someone to baby-sit Ethan and we can do it over dinner tomorrow night?” she suggests with a smile.

“I like the way you think,” I grin “But what about lunch with the girls?” I wonder.

“Well I’ll just tell them the truth, that right now we’re undefined” she sums it up perfectly.

***

Liz POV

I’ve barely placed my bottom in the seat before Maria starts firing questions at me. I don’t why I’m so surprised I knew what to expect when I got invited to this girls only lunch.

“Ok chica, spill” Maria demands.

“Spill what?” I feign ignorance “I don’t even have a drink yet” I throw in a joke for good measure.

“Nice try but its not going to fly with us” she tells me “right, Isabel?”

Oh nice move bringing Isabel in early, making it clear that I’m out numbered.

“Right” she tells me.

“Look guys do we really have to do this? I mean don’t you guys have your own love lives?” I ask.

“Michael? Love life? Please,” Maria scoffs.

“Um no” Isabel shakes her head.

“Great” I grumble under my breath. “Look, I know you guys are looking for a juicy story but I’m afraid I just don't have one for you. Yes, Max and I are moving out of friends zone but at the moment we’re undefined”

I decide to just come out with it and hope that we can just get on with lunch.

“Undefined? What the hell does that mean?” Maria cries. I should have known it wasn’t going to be that easy.

“We haven’t talked about what we are yet,” I tell her.

“Well are the two of you, you know?” she asks.

I blush bright red “Maria!” I cry. God Max’s sister is sitting at the table with us.

“Oh god you are,” she cries and points, drawing even more unwanted attention towards me.

“Maria’ Isabel scolds and pulls her arm down while I bury my face in my arms. “ You are so not my best friend anymore” I mumble.

“Nah you love me chica” she smiles “and for the record I’m really happy for you Liz, I know how long you’ve been in love with Max”

“Thank you” I mumble and blush. Trust Maria to bring up the L word in front of Isabel.

“I knew something was going on” Isabel tells me ten. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him as happy as he has been in the past month. Everyone has noticed”

I appreciate what Isabel has said but then I realise that Isabel probably never saw Max with Tess,

“Thank you” I say.

“Just do me one favour?” she asks me then.

I nod.

“Don’t hurt him, Liz?” she pleads with me and I’m moved by the concern in her eyes. Max and Isabel have always been close.

“I won’t Isabel,” I say. “I don’t think I could, I love him,” I admit.

It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, confessed it. I Liz Parker am in love with Max Evans, the truth is I think I have been most of my life. It feels good to say it out loud too.

When I look up Isabel is smiling brightly at me and I sigh in relief. I didn’t think Isabel would ever think I was good enough for her brother and am happy and surprised that she’s happy for me.

“So” I turn to the girls then “what’s knew with you guys?” I ask.

***

I have an extra bounce in my step as I walk up the footpath towards the Evans’s front door. I’m really looking forward to going to dinner with Max tomorrow night so that we can talk and make a mental note to ask Dianne if she would keep Ethan for a few extra hours.

I place my hand on the handle for the front door and am just about to push my way into the house when the door is pulled open from the other side. Surprised I jump back.

“Liz!” Dianne cries, just as surprised to find me on the other side.

“Hi Dianne” I smile, but my smile is short lived when I see someone step our from behind her.

“It was so great seeing you again Dianne” she says in a sugary sweet voice. “I’ve really missed you,” she adds before reaching up to hug her.

I feel the keys in my hand shaking and when I look down I realise that my entire body is shaking.

“You too, dear” Dianne smiles genuinely at her.

Without a word she pushes out the door purposely giving me a shove for good measure. “Excuse Me,” she snarls.

I’m speechless. I watch her walk into the driveway and hop into a shiny new car, which looks like a rental and I feel dread take over. What the hell is Tess Harding doing back in Roswell?

Part 23

Liz POV

I’m in a daze as I pick up Ethan. Dianne doesn’t offer any information about Tess’s visit but I can see something in her eyes that I don’t like.

Pity.

I put Ethan in the car and I drive back towards our apartment slowly. The whole way up the street I’m scanning the area for the silver rental I saw Tess driving. I expect her to jump out at any moment.

Once I reach the apartment, I park my car in the garage and the first thing I notice is the absence of Max’s black jeep. I have never wanted to see that car more than I do right this second and for a moment I wonder if he already knows she’s in town and is with her, but then I remind myself that Max is with me now and actually in classes today.

It’s almost three hours later when Max walks through the apartment door. Three hours of pacing and crying. I know that Ethan was confused, the poor kid was happy to go to bed when I took him to get away from me.

“Hi” Max says quietly as he places his keys down in his usual spot on the kitchen bench.

“Hi” I reply smiling as best as I can. “You’re late tonight” I comment.

“Yeah sorry about that” he apologises “I should have called.” He doesn’t offer an explanation as to why he’s late and I want to scream at him and beg him to tell me where he was.

“Did you eat?” I ask instead. “I saved dinner for you, it’s in the oven” I inform him before I make a beeline for the kitchen and get ready to prepare it for him.

“Hey” he laughs and grabs my hand as I walk past. “What’s gotten into you?” he asks as he pulls me against his chest. As soon as his arms come around me I close my eyes and smile in relief. I doubted that I would ever be in these arms again after I saw Tess Harding this afternoon.

I don’t answer his question I just enjoy the feel of being in his arms.

After a few minutes I step back and smile “You hungry?” I ask him.

“Yeah” she smiles and nods.

***

Max POV

The minute I step foot through the door I know that something is wrong. Liz is pacing the unusually messy apartment and almost jumped in fright when I entered. I don’t push her to talk to me about what every it is that’s worrying her, I know she’ll come to me eventually. Liz isn’t used to having someone to lean on.

I’m on the verge of sleep when I hear the sound of bare feet coming toward me. I sit up just in time to see Liz enter the room, and lift the sheet for her to crawl in.

“Hey” I smile. This is a nice surprise, also unexpected.

Her small hands immediately frame my face and her lips come crashing down against mine almost urgently. I feel her need and I do my best to give her everything she needs.

I roll us over until she is underneath me, my knee pushing in between her legs.

“Hmm that was nice” I smile down at her when I pull back.

“Uh huh” she replies before leaning up and capturing my mouth again.

I’m engulfed by her passion after that and I soon find myself on my back while Liz’s rides me slowly.

“God Liz” I cry.

There is something different about the way we’re making love tonight. It almost feels desperate and I once again wonder what happened to upset Liz today. I remember the lunch she had with Isabel and Maria and wonder if something happened at that.

“Max, Max, Max” she chants.

“You feel so good Liz, so good”

“You too”

We’re both oblivious to our cries when our orgasm washes over us; it’s so powerful that I don’t care that if it wakes our son or not.

“Wow” I mumble when Liz collapses against my chest.

Liz doesn’t speak though; her hand just idly strokes my chest and its there, in that exact position that I feel her fall to sleep moments later. It doesn’t take me long to follow and it is almost the best nights sleep I’ve ever had.

***

I’m up early the next morning, I feel refreshed and decide to go for a run. I carefully climb out from under Liz and I smile when she moans and her hand reaches out to search for me.

I feel my heart thump loudly in my chest. The feelings that wash over me as I stand there don’t surprise me. I’ve felt them for quite a while, but now that I can admit them and give in to them I’m surprised by how strong they really are.

I throw on a pair of sweatpants and a wife beater, tie up my laces, and am soon pounding the pavement.

Forty-five minutes later, still wondering what possessed me to leave Liz’s arms I jog slowly back towards our apartment. It takes me a few minutes to realise that there is an unfamiliar car parked in the driveway, or that as I approach the driver’s side door is opening and someone is emerging.

It’s the sound of her voice that causes me to stop.

“Hi Max” she smiles.

I come to a stop suddenly; my eyes narrow as I take in the sight of her, wondering if she truly is in fact standing in front of me.

“You look good,” she tells me when I don’t respond.

I feel my mouth trying to work but right now it’s failing me.

“Say something” she says then. “Please?”

“Hi” I finally whisper out.

“You seem surprised to see me,” she teases and I wonder what she means by that. Of course I’m surprised to see her. She took off nearly 12 months ago and I haven’t heard a word from her since.

“I had hoped you might have come looking for me last night,” she admits.

“Why would I do that?” I find myself asking, my voice laced with the confusion I’m feeling.

“I stopped by your parents place yesterday and your mum informed me that you moved, I assumed you would have heard” she says surprised.

No, I hadn’t heard but I’m suddenly wondering if Tess is the reason that Liz was acting so strange the night before. Maybe my mother mentioned something to Liz when she picked up Ethan?

“I wanted to come by and see you last night but your mum said you had classes” she continues, “I waited as long as I could before coming by”

I nod. Tess sighs.

“I didn’t realise there was an apartment upstairs”

“It only got used for storage,” I inform her.

“Could I come up?” she suggests then.

I stand and stare at her for a few minutes trying to process what she asked, “Why?” I find myself asking. It’s a word that serves a thousand purposes, asks a million questions. Why did you leave? Why did you shut me out the way you did? Why are you here now?

Tess sighs again. “I really want to talk to you Max, and I really don’t want to do it here on the street”

I can see the plea in her eyes and I watch as a small smile appears on the corner of her mouth. I remember that look and how she could wrap me around her finger with it whenever she wanted to. Isn’t it how funny how much time changes things?

“We can talk,” I tell her. “But not upstairs.” I don’t know if Tess knows that I live with Liz and Ethan now but I’m not going to giver her that information, I also know it would be a big mistake to bring Tess into our home.

“Ok” she nods “How about breakfast?”

“Ok” I agree. “I need to grab a shower and change for work so how about I meet you in a half an hour” I suggest.

“Great” she smiles “I’ll see you at the Crashdown”

“NO!” I say immediately. There is no way I am going to be seen with Tess at the Crashdown where Liz’s parents work and her best friend.

Tess stops and looks at me strangely “Ok then where?” she asks and I can see the annoyance in her eyes. I have no doubt she suspects the reason I don’t want to go to the Crashdown involves Liz and I’m glad. I think it’s best for everyone if Tess understands from the word go that I won’t tolerate her messing with Liz or Ethan.

“There is a café on Walker Street” I tell her. “I’ll see you there” I turn then and head towards the apartment without another word. I don’t look back to make sure she’s left but I know she does when I here the car drive away.

I collapse onto the stairs shaking as soon as I reach them. You think you prepare yourself for seeing your ex but I don’t think anything you do can really prepare you for it. I wonder again what she’s doing here? Is she here to just talk? Is she here to tell me that she’s now completely over me and to rub it in my face? Or my worst possible fear is she here to get back together?

I pull myself together and head up the stairs. Liz is up when I reach the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee whilst reading the morning paper, she turns when I enter.

“Hey where did you go?” she asks. Like the night before I notice something in her eyes, it’s questioning, not untrusting but worry maybe.

“For a run” I smile at her. She’s sitting at the table wearing only one of my long t-shirts and she looks incredibly sexy. I consider standing Tess up and taking her back to bed but curiosity wins me over.

“I’m going to grab a shower” I tell her as I make my way past her, stopping to kiss her. The kiss is gentle and loving, everything I’ve come to expect from Liz and when I pull back I realise something very important. I trust Liz, I trust her completely with my heart.

I make the shower quick, and dress for work in my usual attire. I’m not sure what to tell Liz as I make my way into the kitchen but I’m already running late to meet Tess.

“I have to go,” I say.

She looks at me surprised “I have a breakfast meeting” I tell her. It’s the closest thing to the truth I can tell her. I know that if tell her that I’m meeting Tess like I know I should that it will put her on edge, maybe even upset her. Its selfish but I can’t deal with it right now.

“Oh ok” she says. I see right away that’s she seems a little surprised but she doesn’t question me.

“I’ll see you at work” she adds then.

“You will” I assure her leaning in and kissing her goodbye. “Give Ethe a kiss for me” I grin then.

“I will” she assures me.

I head down to the jeep then and in five minutes I’m pulling up to the café. I can see Tess already seated and I take a deep breath to compose myself before getting out of the jeep.

“Here goes everything,” I mumble to myself because I have no idea what’s about to happen.

A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you so much for your feedback. I would like to thank all the new readers too, especially those who left feedback. So good news guys i've finished writing this Yay for me so full steam ahead for posting.

I hope you all like the next part.... and have faith!

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Part 24

Max POV

I’m quiet as I take the seat across from Tess. The café is practically empty which isn’t surprising considering it’s still not eight o’clock.

“Hi” she smiles happily, confusing me even more. “I was starting to wonder if you were going to come or not” she tells me. I look at my watch and realise that I’m nearly fifteen minutes late.

“I’m here” I shrug.

Her eyes narrow then “Why are you being like this?” she asks.

“Being like what?” I wonder.

“Like this” she gestures “cold, distant”

I find myself smiling and laughing, “How did you expect me to be? It’s been nearly a year,” I remind her.

“Believe me I know,” she whispers.

I don’t say anything in response.

We place our orders then, I don’t get any coffee though, I have coffee with Liz.

“So how have you been?” she finally asks me.

I sit straighter. “I’ve been good,” I tell her honestly. I could go into detail and tell her how shit my life was for a few months after she left but I don’t see the point. The point is that I’m happy now, happier that I can ever remember being truthfully.

“You?” I ask.

She looks up at me and is about to say something but seems to change her mind “Not so good” she admits.

I’m surprised by her answer. Its truthful but by all accounts Tess seemed to be doing fine in New York.

“What are you doing here, Tess?” I finally ask.

“I thought that would be obvious by now” she smiles sadly at me.

Apparently I’m missing something because nothing has been obvious or straightforward by Tess’s visit.

My expression obviously tells her this. The waiter brings our food then but I don’t touch it, I wait for Tess to answer my unspoken question.

“I miss you,” she whispers. “God, I miss you.” A sob escapes her throat for a second before she quickly composes herself.

I sit there staring. I wasn’t prepared for that answer, I never saw it coming.

“It’s almost been a year,” I point out.

“I know” she nods “and it’s been the worst year of my life”

I nod in understanding. I can’t agree because even though there have been some terrible moments for me during the past 12 months, most of the things have been wonderful. Ethan and Liz both came into my life and I will always be thankful for that, and for them no matter that it cost me my relationship with Tess.

I pick up my knife then and begin cutting up the pancakes I ordered. I fill a fork up and place it into my mouth and after my first taste all I can think is that these pancakes aren’t as good as Liz’s.

Tess studies me as I clean my plate. “Hungry?” she smirks.

“Must have been the run” I shrug. She seems to have no problem slipping back into familiar intimacy I’m not finding it as easy.

The waiter comes over then and removes our plates, one finished, and one almost untouched, before asking if we would like anything else.

“No” I inform him. “Can we get the bill?” I ask.

Tess looks at me surprised “Anyone would think I was the one who screwed you over” she mumbles.

“What?” I ask shocked.

She sighs “You’re acting as though I’m the one who cheated and lied to you” she tells me.

“No” I shake me head “I’m acting as though you are my ex-fiancée who broke up with me, and dumped the four thousand dollar engagement ring I gave you under my door without so much as a word.” I snap sarcastically.

Tess gasps at my bluntness. “You’re forgetting the circumstances surrounding why I did that,” she cries.

“No. NO I am not,” I say in a lowered voice since there are now other people around us.

I glance at the clock then and realise I need to get to work. I have a sudden urge for normalcy and to see Liz. I want to have my usual morning coffee with her where we don’t talk about all the bullshit from the past. A past I thought I had put behind me.

I stand up and Tess looks at me confused “Where are you going?” she asks.

“I have a job and I’m supposed to be there in 20 minutes,” I tell her.

“But we’re talking” she says.

“No” I shake my head “you’re sitting here and making excuses for what you did. If you came to apologise you did a shit job” I tell her.

“When did you turn into such an asshole?” she cries.

I laugh bitterly then “it was around the same time you became a heartless bitch” I tell her remembering the way she treated me all those months ago when I was apologising my heart out to her.

“I came here to talk, to apologise,” she tells me. “Not to fight” she adds.

“I don’t want to fight either but you can’t blame everything you did on what I did. Eventually you’re going to have to take responsibility for your part in our break-up and how you treated me. I have to go”

“Ok” she sighs.

“Bye Tess, and for what its worth it was nice seeing you” I tell her with a small smile. If I had known the trouble that my words would bring when I said them I would take them back in a second. But I cant.

***

Liz is at her desk when I walk in and I make a beeline straight too her.

“Hi” she smiles at me. “How was your meeting?”

I shrug “boring. I would have preferred to be eating cereal with you and Ethan” I smile at her.

“Good” she grins back at me and my heart thumps at the sight of her.

“Come to me office?” I plead. I have to kiss her so badly right now.

“Ok” she quickly agrees and is soon following me into my office. As soon as I close the door I’m pressing her against it and taking her mouth.

“I missed you this morning,” she moans against my mouth.

I sigh against her “Me too” I tell her and I mean it with all my heart.

“We’re still going out tonight?” she asks me then.

“Oh course,” I agree. “Did you ask mum to keep Ethan?” I ask her then.

“Um no” she admits and I see a guilty look in her eyes “I’ll call her later”

“Ok” I reply before kissing her again.

We pull apart after a few minutes reluctantly. “Coffee?” she asks me.

“Yes please” I grin.

“I’ll go,” she informs before walking to the desk and picking up my cup. I watch as she stops and looks at the new edition to the table, a photo my mum gave me earlier in the week. It’s her and Ethan and they’re both grinning at the camera.

“This is nice” she smiles.

“I know. Its my new favourite” I tell her.

She heads out then to get our coffee and I sit down staring at the photo in front of me. Liz and Ethan are my life and tonight I intend to make sure Liz understands that.

Liz POV

I don’t why but I am completely nervous about tonight. I’m still wondering why Tess hasn’t tried to get in contact with Max yet and at the same time feel relieved. Maybe she wasn’t back to get back together with him after all.

“You almost ready?” Max calls out.

After dropping off some overnight gear and spending some time with Ethan, Max and I came home to get ready for dinner. I’m getting dolled up since Max is taking me to
Chez Pierre.

“Yep” I call out.

I put the finishing touches to my make up when I hear the knock on the door and I walk out into the living room wondering who it could be.

Max pulls the door open and soon all my fears are realised.

“Tess” he says. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought we could talk” I hear her reply. “Can I come in?”

“I was on my way out actually,” Max informs her. I stand surprised at the conversation. This doesn’t sound like a conversation that two people who were once engaged to be married would have after seeing each other for the first time in nearly a year. I feel my stomach drop when I realise that Max already knew Tess was back and hadn’t said a word.

I turn and walk back into my bedroom and close the door before Max realises that I was there.

Max POV

I can’t believe her timing or her nerve. “Please Max” she says.

I turn and look towards Liz’s door and see that its still shut so I take a step back and let her in. “Five minutes” I tell her.

“You look nice” she smiles looking at my suit.

“Thank you” I say, “I have a date and I have reservations for eight o’clock” I inform her.

“You’re dating?” she says surprised.

“Yes” I inform her. There is no point lying to her or giving her false hope.

“Who? I mean do I know her?” she immediately asks.

I open my mouth to answer her but she quickly stops me “you know what, on second thoughts I don’t want to know. Its not important, she’s not important,” she says.

“Tess…” I object.

“Please let me finish,” she asks and I nod and take a seat.

“I miss you Max, I miss you so much and I came here to fix things between us,” she informs me. “I love you and I know you still love me, please tell me that we can work this out” she pleads.

Liz POV

“I miss you Max, I miss you so much and I came here to fix things between us,” she informs me. “I love you and I know you still love me, please tell me that we can work this out” she pleads.

I hear her words and I have to shove my hand into my mouth to stop myself from yelling out. I’m pressed against the door listening and waiting with bated breath for Max’s answer.

Max POV

I stand in what can only be describes as shocked as Tess pleads for me to give her a second chance.

“We were so good together,” she continues when I don’t speak. “And I was stupid not to realise how special you were, and how much you meant to me. I know that I can’t blame you for the way I left or the way I dealt with it but you really hurt me Max”

“What’s changed?” I find myself asking.

“I have” she admits, “it took me a while to work through the hurt but I have. I’m ready to accept the new part of your life that involves Ethan, and I’m ready to trust you. I know that what happened with you and Liz was a mistake and that you would never do that to me again”

I instantly feel guilty at her words. I know that I shouldn’t but it’s like being with Liz now proved that Tess was right all along not to trust me around her.

“I hate my life and who I am without you, Max,” she’s openly crying now “It took me way to long to realise that there will never be anyone for me but you. I made us both miserable for so long but I want to make it up to you” she moves closer then and before I know what’s happening she wraps her arms around my neck and presses her lips against mine.

So wow See the nearest tree? I'm hiding behind it
Seriously, thank you so much everyone for your feedback, and a big welcome to the new readers. It means so much to me that so many of you replied to the last part, looks like i'm doing my job huh

Anyway on with the story. We're on the home stretch now but i wont promise that there wont be anymore cliffhangers, gotta keep you reading somehow don't I?

Thanks again, and also thank you for all those who have nominated my stories, or me. Its an honour, you guys blow me away.

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Part 25

Liz POV

I continue to listen but when the room goes quiet I can’t help myself from opening the door and peaking out. I feel my world fall out from under me when I’m greeted by the sight of the man I love locked in an embrace with his ex.

I close the door before the sobs escape and I look around my room lost. I have to think before I completely loose it and when I spot the bag in the corner of my room. I throw in on my bed and start throwing some things into it. I have to get out of here.

Max POV

When I finally come to my senses and realise that I’m kissing Tess back I quickly place my hands on her shoulders and gently push her away.

“What’s wrong?” she asks breathlessly.

My eyes immediately go to Liz’s door and I curse when I see it open.

“I can’t to this,” I tell her quickly.

“Max…” she doesn’t get a chance to finish her sentence before Liz’s door opens loudly and she comes storming out of her room.

“Liz…” I call out. She’s dressed in a beautiful red slinky dress; her hair is curled and falling over her face. My gaze falls to the bag in her hands then and I feel panic rise.

“Liz?” I call out again and start moving towards her. She’s at the door to the apartment and almost through it before I catch her.

“What?” I ask her.

“Don’t” she snaps and wrenches her arm free from my grasp. Its then that I finally get a good look at her face and I can tell immediately that’s she been crying. I curse Tess Harding and my stupidity then because I have no doubt now that Liz heard and saw everything that happened.

“Let me explain?” I beg.

“Just leave me alone” she whispers out defeated and before I can blink she’s rushed down the stairs and jumped in her car.

“Liz!” I cry out as I rush after her.

“Where are you going?” I ask her now concerned about where she would be rushing off to and why she packed a bag.

Liz doesn’t answer me though; instead she pulls out of the garage in a screech and speeds away.

***

I stand downstairs just waiting and hoping Liz will come back but after fifteen minutes of staring at an empty street I head back upstairs to ring around to find out where she is.

When I enter the apartment Tess is walking around looking at things. I had hoped she would be gone by the time I got back but that was too good to be true. She turns and looks at me when I close the door.

“Max what’s going on?” she asks me.

“Not now Tess” I say heading towards the phone.

“Do Liz and Ethan live here?” she demands.

Why is she all of a sudden acting like the jealous girlfriend, and worse yet was she always this annoying? Was I too blind to see the real Tess when I thought I was in love with her?

“Yes” I answer her.

I pick up the phone and prepare to dial Maria but Tess’s voice interrupts me again “What are you doing? What just happened here?” she asks.

“Will you quit it?” I yell finally loosing my temper. I know its wrong to blame Tess for what just happened. I let her kiss me, I didn’t stop her.

I hear her gasp in shock and I turn my back on her and dial Maria.

Liz POV

I have no idea where I’m going when I pull out of the garage I just know that I have to get away from Max as quickly as possible. The pleas in his voice are almost enough to make me stop but in the end I know I cant. I know I’m not ready for him to tell me what we had was nothing, that he’s getting back with Tess.

I’m driving and sobbing at the same time and its not until I’m on the highway that I realise where I intend on going. I could have gone to Maria but I wasn’t prepared to hear I told you so from her, and being that Isabel is Max’s sister, she wasn’t the best person to go to either.

I pick up my cell and dial Dianne Evans. I try to compose my voice to talk to her.

“Hello” she greets.

“Hi Dianne it’s Liz” I tell her.

“Hi sweetie” she replies.

“Listen Dianne something has come up and I need to go out of town for a few days. I’m not sure if Max will be picking up Ethan so do you mind keeping him a little later tomorrow?” I ask.

“Um sure sweetie, is everything alright?” she asks, concern in her voice.

“Yeah something just came up” I say again lamely.

“Ok well look after yourself” she says.

“I will and tell Ethe I said goodnight,” I add.

“Ok”

I dial a second number then and he picks up after the fifth ring.

“K-Kyle?”

“Liz?” he asks.

“Yeah” I sob.

“Liz, what’s wrong?” he asks.

“Um can I come stay for a couple of days?” I ask.

“Of course” he offers without hesitation. “You’re binging Ethan?”

I smile despite my mood “No its just me”

Kyle and I don’t talk as much as we used to but I make a point of staying in touch with him. He knows that Max is on the scene now and is being a father to Ethan and has respected that. He’s put some distance between us in an effort to deal with it on a personal level and to give Ethan time to adjust, without added confusion. I don’t realise till I hear his voice how much I’ve missed him though.

“Ok when will you be here?” he asks.

“I’m on my way so less than an hour” I tell him.

“I’ll see you then” he says.

When I hang up I turn my phone off. I can’t deal with all the calls I know will be coming and trust that Ethan is in good hands with Dianne.

Max POV

“I’m sorry Max I haven’t heard or seen her,” Jeff Parker told me; it’s the same thing I got from Maria and Isabel.

“Thanks Jeff” I say and hang up.

“Where the hell could she be?” I curse.

I dial her cell again and this time instead of a busy signal it goes straight to her voice mail and I realise that I missed my chance, she’s already turned her phone off. One thing I know about Liz is that if she doesn’t want to be found she wont be.

“Ok I’ve had enough of this Max” Tess stands and yells then. “What the hell is going on, why did Liz go barrelling out of here upset and dressed like she was meeting the queen?”

I sigh in annoyance. I had just about all I can take of her but I know I won’t be getting rid of her until I tell her the truth.

“Why are you still here?” I ask angrily.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she demands. “A half an hour ago we were kissing and getting back together now your acting like a crazed man!”

“Crazed? This is calm considering the women I love just ran out on me” I yell.

“What?” she asks shocked.

“ You kissed me actually, and we are definitely not getting back together” I finish all of a sudden the wind has gone out of my sail and I sink down on the couch. Realisation hits me then. Liz is gone, most likely thinking that I was getting back with Tess instead of taking her dinner and telling her how much I loved her, like I planned too.

“Did you just say you loved her?” Tess whispers out hurt. I look up and I see the tears in her eyes and I feel bad. This was not the way I planned on telling her.

“Yes” I tell her honestly. “I love her and I’m going to do what ever I can to get her back here”

“Why?” she cries.

“Why what?” I ask.

“What is it about her that you can’t let go?” she asks me hurt.

“Its simple, I don’t want to. She’s the most amazing women, mother, and friend that I’ve ever met. I love everything about her, the truth is Tess I think I’ve always loved her”

“What about me, us?” she asks then.

“I did love you Tess but it was different. We were never passionate about each other we were just comfortable. If you think about it we actually have nothing in common, you were always trying to change me and in some ways I was always trying to be the person you wanted me to be. Liz wants me for who I am and I love her for who she was and is”

“But she’s a slut” Tess cries in outrage “she’s slept with half of Roswell, Max”

My eyes narrow angrily “don’t you dare ever say that about her again. You know as well as I do that its bullshit and I wont tolerate you talking about her like that Tess. Liz is the sweetest, most genuine person I know, certainly more than you and for the record people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” I add cryptically.

“What!”

“You think I left New York and disappeared Tess?” I ask then. “I had friends remember, friends that I keep in touch with.”

I watch as the colour drains from her face at my confession.

I had never told a soul, not even Liz when the news had reached me. I think it was the eye opener that I needed to help me realise that Tess Harding was never the woman I thought she was. On her return to New York Tess lived it up. Drinking and partying every night to the point she had almost flunked out of school, and sleeping with every male that moved, including one of her friends that she had spent a considerable amount of time with when we lived together. I had my doubts after that about how faithful she was to me when we were together.

“W-What?” she stutters.

“I know what you’ve been doing, I know about school” I tell her. I don’t need to add the rest; it’s enough for her to understand I know what she’s been doing.

“That’s the way you like your women isn’t it?” she snaps.

“You should leave,” I say calmly.

“So that’s it?” she stands up and asks me.

“You’re choosing her?” she spits.

“A thousand times” I whisper passionately.

I realise that there was never a question or a doubt that I would. Sure my path got altered slightly when Tess took me by surprise with the kiss but it wont change the outcome.

I love Liz Parker and I never intend on letting her go.

A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you so much for your feedback i really love hearing from you guys. Yes, my Max is a little slow on the uptake i know!. Anyway here is the next part, I hope you enjoy it

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Part 26

Liz POV

“God Liz, what’s going on?” is the first thing Kyle says to me as I emerge sobbing from my car, and fall into his arms.

I finally can't control them any longer and I loose any shred of control I had held onto on the drive over here. My world is falling apart from underneath me and instead of fighting to hold it together I’ve fled and allowed Tess to walk in and steel my family.

“It hurts Kyle it hurts so much” I cry.

Kyle leads me into his apartment and pulls me into his arms. “Its ok Liz, everything is going to be ok” he tries to assure me.

It’s almost a half an hour later before I’ve clamed down enough to talk.

“I’m sorry” I apologise. I just barged into his life and broke down on him.

He smiles his typical Kyle smile at me, I’m sure it has every girl it comes into contact with swooning but Kyle’s charms wore away a long time ago for me.

“It’s fine. But do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” he asks.

“Tess is back,” I answer simply.

Kyle knows the story, so my words are enough for him to understand.

“Oh” he says. “It was bound to happen eventually right?” he says.

“I guess”

“But Tess returning can’t be the only thing that’s upset you” he points out.

“He was kissing her,” I cry then.

“I’ll kill him” Kyle grinds out. He stands up and paces for a few minutes before turning and looking at me.

“Is he getting back together with her?”

“I don’t know” I admit, “I didn’t stick around to find out”

“What?” he asks confused.

“I-I heard her tell him she wanted him back, he didn’t say no and then the room went quiet and I opened the door they were kissing”

“Liz…” he starts. I’m not stupid and I know exactly what Kyle is going to say.

“I know” I close my eyes. “I shouldn’t have left like that. I should have given him the chance to explain.”

“Yeah you should have” he nods.

He looks at my outfit then “You look nice” he says.

I laugh bitterly. “We were supposed to be going out, he was taking me to Chez Pierre, we were going to talk about our relationship”

“Oh Liz” he sighs coming and taking a seat beside me. “You need to go back and talk to him”

“I know” I cry, “Not tonight though, I just want to go to sleep, and pretend like this was all a bad dream”

“Ok” he whispers.

***

When I wake up the next morning I feel like shit. I have a headache and I know when I look in the mirror my eyes will be black from the sleepless night I had. On top of that, I turn on my phone and have almost 20 messages from Max, Maria, Isabel, and my parents.

I pick up the phone beside Kyle’s bed and dial Dianne Evans. I need to hear my sons voice right now.

“Hello”

“Hi Dianne” I reply.

“Hey Liz”

“Is Ethan there?” I ask. I don’t except for Max to have picked him up, he was probably too busy re-uniting with Tess.

“Yeah he is”

“Can I talk to him for a few minutes?” I ask.

“Sure sweetie, just hold on and I’ll put him on” a couple of minutes later.

A coupe of minutes later I hear my sons angelic voice and I smile for the first time since last night.

“Mama”

“Hi baby” I say. “How are you?” I ask

“I good” he says. “Where are ya mama?”

“Oh not far, I’ll see you later ok” I promise him.

“And Dada?” he asks.

I swallow the lump in my throat at his words. Max has become such a big part of both out of our lives and I don’t know how either of us will deal with the changes that I am sure will soon be coming. Especially the fact that Tess Harding will be in contact with my son, I hate the thought and I wonder if there is something I can do to prevent it.

“Yeah dada too” I say. Max is a father first and I know despite what is going on he’ll make time to see Ethan.

“I’ll see you later honey. I love you”

“I luv you to mama” he giggles and then he’s gone.

Kyle pokes his head in after knocking then “Hey you want some breakfast?” he asks.

“Thanks” I nod.

I help myself to a shower and throw some clothes on just as Kyle is serving up breakfast, and plomp myself down on at the table.

“How’s Ethan?” he asks.

“Good” I reply. “And it reminded me that I can’t run away from things. I have a son and I need to go back home to him,” I tell him.

He nods “How about I drive you?” he suggests.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say shaking my head.

“Yes I do,” he says. “It’s about time I came home to visit Dad and I have nothing on this weekend. I can catch the bus back on Sunday”

“Are you sure?” I ask. The truth is I love the idea of Kyle coming with me. I’m not looking forward to the drive home and it would be nice to have his support.

“Yeah. When do you want to get going?”

“As soon as possible” I reply. “I need to go by the house and talk to Max before picking up Ethan” I sigh.

“How about we pick up Ethan and I take him for a few hours so you and Max can talk?” He suggests.

“You wouldn’t mind?” I ask. I don’t know if Dianne Evans knows that something is going on, and truthfully I would rather her not knowing.

“I’d love to, I haven’t seen the squirt in a while” he smiles.

Kyle heads to get ready and pack a few things, and an hour later we’re on the road. The car is silent for most of the way. I’m secretly dreading returning to my home, having no idea what to expect. I think about what I’m going to do when I get there.

Before I know it Kyle is pulling into Roswell and heading towards the Evans’s. He waits in the car whilst I go in.

“Liz” Phillip says surprised when he opens the door and finds me.

“Hi Phillip” I smile, I know he can see how fake it is but he doesn’t say anything.

“I’m just here to pick up Ethan,” I tell him.

“Oh” he says surprised. “Max called earlier and asked if we could keep him,” he informs me with confusion.

“Oh did he?” I say “I’ve been out of town and just got back, I can take him now though” I explain.

“Ok then, he just finished a late breakfast,” he explains.

The minute Ethan sees me his little face lights up and he comes rushing into my arms. I hold him to me tight wondering if I refuse to ever let him go if maybe he’ll just stay my little baby forever.

“You ready to go?” I ask him.

“Uh huh” he agrees.

We gather his stuff together and after saying goodbye and thank you to Dianne and Phillip, Ethan and I head to the car.

We’re almost there when his little eyes catch sight of Kyle in the car.

“Dada?” he asks hopefully.

“No sweetie” I reply sadly. “But you’ll see him later” I promise.

“Hey squirt” Kyle grins when I open the back door and place Ethan in his car seat.

“Hiya Lye” he cries in excitement at seeing Kyle.

I chuckle as I strap him in. “How would you like to spend some time with Kyle today?” I ask Ethan at the same time praying that he’ll be okay with it.

His little eyes go wide and he nods with excitement whilst I sigh in relief. I don’t know what I would have done if he had said no.

Max POV

Panic is starting to set in when I still have no idea where Liz is the next morning. Is she safe? Is she ever coming back? Of course she is, I tell myself. Ethan is here and Liz would never go far without her son.

I haven’t got a wink of sleep. After finally getting rid of Tess I jumped in my jeep and drove around Roswell hoping that I would find her somewhere. When I couldn’t find her in any of the places I expected her to I drove past the motels in Roswell hoping to spot her car.

I gave up around midnight and rushed home hoping she would call. I found Michael on my doorstep when I got there. He didn’t ask questions he just came inside and sat with me while I waited, where I’m waiting now.

When I hear the sound of a car down stairs followed by the garage door opening I’m on my feet in a second. I reach the door to our apartment just as Liz reaches the top of the stairs. My hand goes to my chest as I see her, even in sweat pants and one of my shirts she is the still the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen and when she looks at me I know without a doubt that I’m going to love her for the rest of my life. She raises her eyes to mine then.

“Liz…” I breathe out.

A/N: Hey guys. Thanks heaps for the feedback, and welcome to all the new readers, i really appreciate you stopping by . I'm know i'm cruel leaving you like that but i've gotta keep you coming back for more.

I hope you enjoy this next part

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Part 27

Max POV

I don't believe
in the smile that you leave
when you walk away
and say goodbye

“Liz….” I breathe out.

“Max” she whispers in reply.

I step back and let her into the apartment. I notice immediately that she hasn’t brought the bag back that she left with last night and I wonder where it is.

My mother called minutes ago to inform me that Liz had come and picked up Ethan and I wonder where he is now. I was so relieved when my mum informed me she was ok that I didn’t even think about where she was taking him, or asking my mum if she knew where she had been.

I watch her look around the apartment, as though she’s trying to find something and I wonder what it is. It doesn’t occur to me that she expects Tess to be here.

Well I don't expect
the world to move underneath me
but for God's sake
could you try?

“God, I was so worried about you” I sigh in relief.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken off like that” she replies.

“Where’s Ethan?” I ask then.

She seems to hesitate answering me for a second “With Kyle”

“W-What?” why on earth is my son with Kyle Valenti?

“Kyle offered to take him for a little while” she repeats.

“When did Kyle get into town?” I ask. Since Liz and I have been living together I haven’t once seen Kyle Valenti. I know that him and Liz talk, but he’s been noticeably absent from hers and Ethan’s life and I assumed it was because he was a little upset about having his position up surped.

Don’t get me wrong I don’t have a problem with Kyle. In High school I envied the guy, but as far as I know he’s a pretty nice guy and by all accounts he was wonderful to Liz when she found out she was pregnant and played the role as father to Ethan when I couldn’t.

I watch as Liz pushes a strand of hair behind her ear “he drove me home this morning” she answers.

I know that you're true to me
you're always there
you say you care
I know that you want to be mine

I grit my teeth at her answer, all of a sudden angry as all hell. “You went to Kyle?” I ask. Why does this feel like high school all over again? Where Mr Popular, Kyle Valenti, always gets the girl.

“Yes” she whispers out.

“Right” I scoff and turn my back so she can’t see how much the knowledge that she fled to Kyle is hurting me.

Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard

I just stand looking out the window for a few minutes and when I turn back I find Liz is still staring at me. She’s biting down on her bottom lip, hard, and looking at me like she’s waiting for something. Is she waiting for me to question her about Kyle? Is she waiting to find out about Tess?

“Ok” she finally nods “I guess I’ll just grab some more things for me and Ethan then” she whispers out then.

Its not until she’s disappeared from in front of me that I get over my shock and realise what she said. I find her in Ethan’s room, pulling some clothes out of his drawers.

To give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?

“What are you doing?” I cry.

I watch her fumble with the clothes, her hands shaking. “Packing” she replied.

“Why?” I ask the panic I felt before returning.

“I can’t do this, Max,” she whispers out.

“Do what?” I ask.

I don't understand
your love is so cold
it's always me that's reaching out
for your hand

“I can’t live here and watch you rebuild your life with her” she cries.

Her words hit me like a tonne of bricks.

“Is that what you think is going to happen?” I ask as I walk closer to her. I’m standing right behind her now, but I don’t touch her yet.

And I've always dreamed
that love would be effortless
like a petal fallin' to the ground
a dreamer followin' his dream

I turn her body around so she’s facing me and cup her face in my hands. “I love you,” I tell her. It’s the most simple but profound thing I can say to her.

I watch as she raises her eyes to look at me, filled with shock and surprise.

Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
to give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
And that's all I'm asking for
Oh, where is your heart?

“What about Tess?” she asks.

“What about her?” I smile.

“I thought you were getting back together,” she tells me pushing out of my embrace.

“You were kissing her” she says then a sob escaping her.

I lower my head in shame for a minute as I prepare to answer Liz. I’ve been thinking about what to tell her all night. “I’m so sorry you saw that” I tell her. “She took me by surprise Liz, one minute she’s talking the next she’s kissing me. As soon as I realised what she was doing I pushed her away, I promise”

It seems so much is left unsaid
So much is left unsaid
But you can say anything
Oh, anytime you need
Baby, it's just you and me
Oh yeah

“Really?” she asks hopefully, and it’s the hope I hear in her voice that makes me feel relieved. Does that mean that she didn’t go to Kyle to be with him?

“Yes. As soon as you left I told Tess that I loved you and that I was going to do everything I could to bring you back to me” I tell her.

Another sobs escapes her.

I know that you're true to me
you're always there
you say you care
I know that you want to be mine

Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
to give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
That's all I'm asking for
Oh yeah

“You chose me?” she asks and she seems to be finding it hard to believe.

“A thousand times over” I whisper out.

“Oh god” she cries. But she doesn’t move, I want her in my arms desperately but I’ll wait for her to come.

“Please tell me I’m not too late?” I plead then.

“Too late?” she asks confused.

“Kyle…”

“God no” she cries. “I just needed someone who wouldn’t judge,” she tells me. “The minute I got there I knew how stupid I was for running, I should have stayed to fight for you,” she admits.

I smile then. “I would have loved to see that”

I watch her laugh a little then. “So she’s gone? For good?”

“I guess. I made it clear there was no chance between us”

A smile lights up her face then.

Where is your heart?
'Cause I don't really feel you
Where is your heart?
What I really want is to believe you
Is it so hard
to give me what I need?
I want your heart to bleed
and that's all I'm asking for
Where is your heart?

“Will you please come here now?” I beg, my eyes pleading with her.

Liz is in my arms in a second and I lift her until her mouth it in line with mine before I kiss her. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” I whisper as I pepper her face with kisses.

Where is your heart?

Her feet slide to the floor when I let her go and her small hands cup my face as she stares in my eyes. “Do you have any idea how long and how much I love you Max Evans?” she asks me.

Where is your heart?

I can see it all in that very second. I see every ounce of love she feels for me in her eyes and wonder why I haven’t seen it before.

“I hope as much as I love you,” I breathe out before I close the final distance and seal out mouths together.

Where is your heart?

Kelly Clarkson – Where is your heart? (Album Breakaway)

***

Liz POV

“I love you,” he whispers as he kisses his way down my body. I smile again at his words, my heart lifting, expanding to fit the love I feel in my heart. This morning when I woke up, I never imagined for a second that this was how my day would go. That the man I love, and have loved for so long would tell me he loves me back, that I would be in his arms right now while he took my body to the highest heavens.

“I love you too,” I moan out.

Max settles in between my naked thighs, his fingers opening my wet lips to allow the thrust of his tongue.

“Oh god” I cry out.

He thrusts his tongue in and out of me until he replaces it with a finger and begins swirling his tongue around my clitoris.

“Oh Max…. ahh MAX!” I cry out as my orgasm washes over me.

Seconds later when I open my eyes Max is gazing over me with a grin on his face and I am unable to fight the grin that forms on my own lips.

“You’re amazing,” I tell him.

“No you are,” he whispers, his hand framing my face and caressing it gently.

I reach a hand between us then and caress his stomach before allowing my hand to grasp his hard cock.

I stroke it a few times, enjoying the look of delight on Max’s face. “Please Liz” he whispers out.

“Please what?” I tease, remembering that I went through a similar type of torture earlier.

“I need to be inside of you, I want to be inside of you so much” he tells me. “I want to show you how much I love you, my heart”

“Oh Max” I gasp at his words and the use of the sweet endearment.

I lead him to my opening, and in one smooth thrust he makes us one.

“Yes!” I hiss at the feel of him filling me up.

“Oh god Liz” he moans. “You feel so good, so good” he whispers out.

I wrap my legs around his waist and allow him to sink deep inside of me. He continues to thrust in and out of me, our bodies writhing together.

“I’m so close” he whispers. “You feel so good”

“Me too” I pant.

“OH god Liz…. Ahh” he groans out as he spills his seed deep inside of me. I don’t once think about the fact that we didn’t use a condom; like we have every other time we’ve been together. I just want to enjoy the feel of him inside me like this forever.

“Yes Max, Max, Max” I chant as my own orgasm is triggered.

Max collapses on top of me, panting and I run my hand through his wet hair, soaked from our activities.

“That was amazing,” I tell him.

He looks up from his spot against my breasts and smiles “It sure was. I love you so much” he tells me again.

“I will never tire of hearing you say that” I blush.

“I will never tire of saying it,” he promises.

I pull him down to me for a kiss, our mouths working furiously together whilst out tongues languidly caress each other.

“What time is Kyle dropping Ethan back?” Max asks then. I chance a look at the clock and realise it’s been close to two hours already.

“We didn’t decide but I promised Ethan he would get to spend some time with us this afternoon” I tell him.

“You did?” he asks happily.

“Of course” I tell him. “Max, no matter what happened here today I would never have kept Ethan from you. You are and will always be his father.” I tell him.

“Thank you Liz,” he whispers. “You saved my life”

“What?” I ask shocked.

“What I had before you and Ethan it wasn’t a life Liz. It was an existence, it didn’t challenge me, it wasn’t passionate. But this, what we share, our family it all of that”

“Oh Max” I cry at his beautiful words “I feel exactly the same way. Having you in my life completes it. I love you so much”

“I love you too,” he whispers again.

A/N: Well everyone this is it, the final part of Where is Your Heart. I'm sad to see this fic over, but at the same time i'm very proud of what i've accomplished with it. Thank you so much for reading, and leaving feedback. Hearing from you guys after every update made the whole thing worthwhile.

I hope you enjoy this final part too

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Epilogue

Max POV

The house is empty and quiet when I get home and I call out to Liz and Ethan. Normally this time of the afternoon our four year old son is running a muck.

We moved into our own home three months ago and we couldn’t be happier. After graduating I started work full time with my father, and I’m loving it more everyday. Liz finally went back to school and is now halfway through her own degree. I’m so proud of her, everything that she has accomplished just speaks of the amazing person that she is.

“Liz?” I call out as I place my briefcase down and flick through the pile of mail on the breakfast nook.

“You’re home” I hear her small voice ask and I turn and smile when I notice her standing in the doorway.

My gaze flicks down to her hand then, where her engagement ring is safely placed.

“Its still there” she smiles knowingly. I’ve done the same thing everyday for the past three months since I’ve put it there. I guess I just like to reassure myself that its real and that she stills wants me, despite all my faults.

“Good, I want it there forever” I smile back.

I proposed three months ago. It took a lot of willpower to wait that long but I knew I needed to. Even though Liz and I were desperately in love we still needed time to have a normal relationship and build it on solid foundations. I didn’t want to rush into things, and I wanted Liz to have do doubts when I asked her to marry me that it was because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and Ethan, not because I just wanted to be married or was settling.

It might have taken me a while but I think we’ve finally worked through all of our insecurities. Liz now accepts that I chose her, because I love her, for who she is and will always be and that Tess Harding is no longer in my heart. I had to work through my own insecurities that I don’t deserve her and forgive myself for the mistakes I made. But most importantly I had to forgive Liz and myself for not being there for Ethan’s first few years.

“It will be” she assures me finally closing the distance between us and kissing me hello.

Our families were a little concerned when we decided to buy our first house together when we had no plans for marriage anytime soon. Truth was I had Liz’s engagement ring for months, I was just waiting for the perfect time to ask her. Coincidentally it was the night we moved into our house. We were sitting in the living room, no electricity, just candles everywhere as we unpacked and I looked over at her and I couldn’t wait a second longer. It was also the night that we christened every room in our house.

“What are you smiling about?” she asks.

“Just remembering the night you agreed to marry me,” I tell her.

“That was a great night” she blushes obviously remembering the same thing I was.

“Where’s Ethan?” I ask then.

“He’s staying the night with my parents” she replied.

“Why?” I wonder.

Liz ducks her head slightly. “I thought we could have some time to ourselves” she replies.

I grin, “I like the sound of that” I tell her.

Ethan now goes to preschool three days a week, which means he only spends one day with the Parkers and one with my mother. It was another adjustment periods for our family, but this time the people that had the hardest time adjusting were Nancy and my mum.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask Liz then, nuzzling her neck. I have a few ideas of my own about how we can spend our time.

“Oh I think we’re on the same wave length,” she breaths out obviously enjoying my work.

“Hmm good” I smile before swooping her into my arms and carrying her into our bedroom.

***

“I’m exhausted” I yawn a few hours later and Liz laughs at me.

Our sex life is as amazing as the first night we were together. I’ll never get sick of how expressive Liz is when I make love to her. She gives you everything that she has to give and it’s absolutely breathtaking.

I rub circles on her naked stomach as I smile down at the angel in my arms, I thank god everyday for bringing her into my life. “Do we really have to wait another three months to get married?” I ask her with a cheesy grin. I honestly can’t wait until she’s my wife.

Liz looks up and smiles back at me. “Your sister would kill us if we changed the plans now” she tells me.

I nod; I know she’s right.

After telling our friends and family the news, Isabel, my mum, Liz and Nancy began organising the wedding. They’ve put a lot of work into it, which I’m grateful for.

Liz only wanted something small and we both wanted to be married in the spring, which meant that even though I didn’t want to wait to marry Liz, we had to.

“But we could move it up a little” she suggests then.

I look down surprised. Liz loved the idea of a May wedding because it wouldn’t be too hot but at the same time it wouldn’t be too cold.

“We could?” I ask.

“Yeah, what do you think of a late March wedding?” she asks biting down on her lower lip.

“Can we do that? And would you want to?” I ask. In truth it sounds great to me but only if its what Liz wants. I’d wait a lifetime to marry her.

“I don’t see why not, we’d just have to check that the reception venue and church are available,” she tells me. “And I think it might be a good idea, especially if I want to fit into the beautiful and expensive dress I already bought” she adds with a chuckle.

It takes me a few minutes to process what she says, “What do you mean?” I ask stupidly.

I’m still rubbing circles on her stomach when Liz’s hand covers mine and presses it flat against her abdomen. It’s then that I notice the slight bump that I’ve never noticed before.

“Liz?” I ask with wide eyes.

“I know we didn’t plan this,” she breathes out. “But we didn’t plan Ethan either and I think that’s turned out pretty well” she tells me.

I’m speechless. There are no words to express what I’m feeling.

“You’re pregnant?” I finally ask.

Liz smiles shyly “Yeah about three months apparently” she says.

“Three months?” I ask with wide eyes. That would coincide perfectly with the night I propose.

“The odds were stacked against us,” she laughs. She’s right, we made love over and over again, and in every room of our house without using protection once, but neither one of us had cared. I think without words we both knew what we wanted. I had seen the signs for a while that Liz wanted another baby, and I longed to be there whilst Liz was pregnant and my child was a baby. I wanted to do all the things I didn’t get to do when Ethan was born.

It’s just that neither of us had verbalised it.

“Wow” I say.

“Is that all you’ve got to say Max Evans?” she asks. I look down and she’s smiling but I can also see the vulnerability if her eyes. She’s worried that I might not be happy about this.

“I’m speechless, it’s just fucking fantastic,” I cry then.

Liz giggles. “We’re going to have a baby, Max”

I turn serious eyes to her then “Yeah we are” I smile. “I can’t wait”

“Me either” she says. “I know it will be hard for a little while. I’ll have to give up working at the firm, but I can pick up some hours on weekends and at night in the Crashdown” she says.

“Baby don’t be silly, we don’t need the money” I assure her. I get paid a fairly good wage at the firm and I’m sure if I needed a pay rise my father would give it to me.

“But what about school?” I ask worried. Liz has put off her dreams for so long and I don’t want her to do it any longer.

To my surprise she smiles “Max, I like school but I love the idea of our baby” she tells me.

“Me too” I agree.

It might not be the perfect plan, two children before 25 but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I’ll keep going for as long as I can and then I’ll do what I can by correspondence when the baby is born” she assures me.

“When did you find out?” I ask then.

“This morning” she replies happily. “I don’t know why it took me so long to work it out” she blushes then.

“I’m booked in for the first scan tomorrow” she tells me then. “Can you come?”

My face lights up “Of course I can” I assure her. Like I said I plan on being there every step of the way.

We lay in silence then, both lost in our own thoughts about the future.

What I do know is that I’ve never been happier in my life than I am today with Liz and my family. I know that whatever happens we can work through it together because I know without doubt, or question that my heart will always be with Liz Parker.

The End