29
“Something old?”
“Check.”
“Something new?”
“Check.”
“Something borrowed?”
“Check.”
“Something blue?”
“Check.”
“Wait, wait.” Isabel gave Liz the once-over. “I don’t see anything blue,” she said suspiciously.
Liz and Maria exchanged giddy grins. “We bought blue thongs,” Liz confided.
“They match the bridesmaids dresses, actually,” Maria noted, adjusting the veil that sat atop Liz’s upswept hair.
Isabel let out a mock sigh, patting her round belly. “No thongs for us.”
“One more month,” Maria reminded comfortingly. “I can’t believe this. Iz, you’re having a baby, Liz, you’re getting married. Like, now,” she added with a wide-eyed giggle. “We’re growing up, girls.”
“You sure are,” Nancy agreed wistfully as she opened the door and stepped into Isabel’s old bedroom. “How are you doing in here? Everyone’s just about seated.”
Liz’s eyes widened and she reached for Nancy’s hand. “Mom…”
Nancy squeezed her daughter’s hand and stood her in front of the full-length mirror. “Look at you,” she murmured, her eyes misting over. “My baby girl is getting married.”
Smiling at their reflection, Liz smoothed the silky gown and asked, “Have you seen Max?”
“He’s ready for you,” Nancy said with a smile. “He’s doing a good job convincing us he’s calm and collected, but I think he’s going to lose his composure when he sees you, Lizzie. You’re breathtaking.”
“Thanks, Mom,” she whispered. “Is Daddy ready?”
“As ready as he’ll ever be,” Nancy said with a chuckle. “How about you? Are you ready?”
“Completely,” Liz asserted, the smile spreading over her glowing face. “Let’s have a wedding.”
After exchanging hugs with her mother and bridesmaids and watching as they left to take their places, Liz gazed once more into the mirror. She touched the veil that framed her face and whispered, “I, Liz Parker, take thee, Max Evans…” Smiling to herself, Liz knew that nothing could ever come between her and Max again. Today they would seal their bond in marriage, but it had been forged long before. Her heart had always belonged to Max Evans.
Carefully gathering the full skirt of her gown, Liz made her way down to the Evans' dining room. The violin quartet had already started out in the yard by the time she stepped up beside her father. “Hi Daddy,” she whispered, linking her arm with his.
Jeff Parker turned to his daughter and was rendered momentarily speechless. Wasn’t it just yesterday that his little girl had worn her mother’s slip on her head, pretending to be a bride? And yet here she was, a grown woman on her wedding day.
“Daddy?” Liz asked gently, gazing up into her father’s face.
With his free hand, he squeezed hers. “Oh Lizzie,” he sighed, “You are a vision.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she smiled, glancing at the back door as Maria and Isabel prepared to make their entrance. Maria turned around and flashed Liz a giddy thumbs up, and then started down the aisle.
“I’m proud of you, Lizzie,” Jeff said suddenly, leaning closer to Liz. “I’m proud to be your father. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Oh Daddy,” Liz sighed, seeing the tears in his eyes. “Don’t cry. I’ll always be your daughter. You know that.”
Jeff took a deep breath and then smiled at her. “I know. And I’m holding you to that.”
“Well I hope so,” Liz giggled, her grip on his arm tightening as the music swelled.
“That’s us,” Jeff murmured, leading her out into the yard as the Wedding March began. Father and daughter turned onto the satiny white aisle.
Max stood at the end of the aisle with Michael, Jesse, and the minister. He watched as Maria and his sister came down the aisle one after the other. Maria led the way, a giant grin on her face as she held her head high, her hair pulled up in an elegant twist. The sleeveless, pale ice blue bridesmaid dress was set off perfectly by her glowing green eyes, and Michael watched proudly as his girlfriend took her place beside him. Isabel followed just behind, graceful despite the slight waddle she was adopting in the last month of her pregnancy. She exchanged a smile and a wink with her brother as she took her place beside Jesse.
Max’s heart leapt as the violins shifted into the Wedding March. Every ounce of his being focused on the end of the aisle, awaiting the moment his Liz, his bride, would appear.
It seemed to happen in slow motion, every detail being committed to the very depths of his memory. Their eyes locked the moment she appeared at the end of the aisle. She fairly floated toward him on her father’s arm, her silky ivory gown flowing behind her. The pearl lined bodice hugged her curves, with thin straps that faded into the veil that rested over her shoulders. But it was the smile that graced Liz’s perfect face that really took Max’s breath away.
Liz saw only Max as she moved down the aisle, clutching her bouquet of white roses. She wasn’t even aware of the friends and family the looked on with smiles and soft murmurs as she passed, or of her mother and Max’s parents seated in the front row, watching with proud tears in their eyes, or even of Maria, Michael, Isabel and Jesse as they beamed at her from just beyond Max.
No, her entire world was one man. The man who stood proudly in his black tuxedo, a white rosebud nestled in his lapel. The man whose eyes danced with happiness and awe at the sight of her. The man whose mouth curved up into a glowing smile, the same mouth she had kissed thousands of times, the mouth that had whispered the tender words of his love more times than she could count. The man whose hands had given her life, and then given her a reason to live. The man whose heart and soul was one with hers.
And then Liz was standing before him. Max tore his eyes from her long enough to acknowledge Jeff as he kissed his daughter’s cheek and then carefully transferred her arm from his to Max’s.
Their bodies came into contact, and the rush of images was instantaneous.
The reverse connection in the Crashdown, nearly four years before, when Liz first saw herself as Max saw her.
Their very first kiss on Liz’s balcony that balmy December night.
Max professing his love to her in the abandoned van.
“Flying” over the water, free and laughing and in love.
The snow peppering their hair and lashes and noses as they kissed and kissed and kissed on the ice skating pond.
The first time they made love, trembling and wrapped up in one another on Liz’s balcony.
Dancing in one another’s arms at senior prom, basking in the glow of their love and the promise of their future.
Making love under the fireworks at the Grand Canyon…the night their son was conceived.
Liz finding the ring in their new apartment, laughing and crying as Max slid it onto her finger.
Max caressed her left ring finger, grinning at her as he led her to stand face to face before the minister.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two souls,” the minister began. He continued to speak, but Max and Liz were fairly oblivious to it, as lost in one another’s eyes as they were. But after a time, Max heard his name and knew it was time for the vows.
“I, Maxwell Phillip Evans, do take thee, Elizabeth Marie Parker, to be my wife,” Max began, staring into Liz’s loving eyes. “I will love, honor, and cherish you until the end of time. Only you,” he added meaningfully. “It was you who made my life worth living. It was you who gave me more love, comfort, and peace than I ever dreamed possible. It was you. It will always be you. I devote my life to showing you that you make me the luckiest man on this world or any other.”
Liz swallowed hard as Max’s words echoed through her heart. “I, Elizabeth Marie Parker, do take thee, Maxwell Phillip Evans, to be my husband,” she said, her voice trembling just slightly. “I will love, honor, and cherish you through this world and the next. You are the love of my life. It was you who gave me life,” she murmured, blinking back tears as she gazed into his perfect face. She felt his loving energy surge through her and then continued. “I now devote my life to cherishing you, your heart and your soul, which have become a part of me. “
Max and Liz shared a beaming smile as the minister said, “You may exchange the rings.” He took them from Michael, handing a small gold band to Max as Liz passed her bouquet over to Maria.
Caressing her hand in his, Max carefully slid the ring onto her left finger and then raised it to his lips in a soft kiss. “Always,” he whispered.
Feeling a thrill run through her, Liz took the larger band from the minister and placed it on his finger. She held it for a moment, marveling at the matching gold that now adorned their fingers. “Always.”
I love you , Liz said through their connection.
Max slowly leaned closer, their connection almost chemical. I love you. And then he descended on her, framing her face in his hands and simply gazing at her for a moment before their lips met.
“…You may kiss the bride,” the minister offered, chuckling along with the rest of the guests.
Liz thought she might lose herself in her husband…her husband. It was perfect. You’re my husband now, Max.
And you’re Mrs. Evans.
We should probably…
I know…
Slowly, the bride and groom broke apart, their eyes shining with joy and love. Their smiles grew larger as the minister said, “I’d like to present for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Max and Liz Evans.”
The guests burst into applause as the violin quartet started up a lively number and, laughing, the newlyweds floated up the aisle hand in hand.
*****
Clink-clink-clink!
Michael stood, tapping his fork against the side of his glass. “Ah, if I could have everyone’s attention,” he began over the din of talking and laughing in the large white tent that had been set up in the Evans’ backyard. “As the Best Man, it’s my job to give a speech about the newlyweds. So I’d like to propose a toast to the newest Mr. and Mrs. Evans.” He paused, glancing at Max and Liz seated to his left. “Um, I’m not always the best with words, so I wrote out this whole speech about weddings and stuff.” Maria nodded encouragingly from his right side. “Only, I decided it sounded kinda cheesy, so I’m just going to talk if that’s okay with-“
“Go for it already, Guerin,” Max teased.
Michael grinned. “Yeah, so there’s this guy over here. Max Evans, husband. Kinda crazy, isn’t it?”
Max squeezed Liz’s hand and leaned over to kiss her cheek as the guests chuckled.
“He’s, ah, he’s always been like a brother to me. And brothers, they tend to give each other a lot of grief about things. I know we’ve done our share of that. But when it really comes down to it…Max knows what he’s doing. He’s had a lot of different roles in his life, and he’s filled each one admirably. Even though the role of husband is a new one for him, there’s no doubt in my mind that this will be his best yet. Especially because, I mean, this is Liz Parker.” The guests chuckled gently again as Liz blushed. “She’s beautiful, smart, loving, giving, and the one person Max has had his eye on since…well, since he laid eyes on her. Now, I may not be Mr. Sensitivity-Romantic Guy,” he continued, ignoring Maria’s stifled guffaw, “but it’s clear that this was meant to be. Liz and Max bring out the best in one another, and I’d like to thank them for that and wish them every happiness.” He raised his glass. “To Max and Liz.” The other guests followed suit, toasting the bride and groom.
“And I believe,” Jim spoke up from a small platform on the other side of the tent, “that it’s time for the bride and groom’s first dance as a married couple.” He gestured to Maria as she made her way up to the small stage and took her place behind the microphone.
Max took Liz’s hand as the music began and led her out into the large open area for dancing. “I didn’t know the Kit Shickers had it in em,” he mused into her ear with a smile.
“At last,” Maria crooned. “My love has come along…My lonely days are over…And life is like a song…”
Liz sighed happily and beamed up at her husband as they swayed back and forth.
“At last the stars above are blue…My heart was wrapped up in clovers…The night I looked at you…”
For the umpteenth time that day, the newlyweds were aware only of one another, eyes and hearts locked. Neither noticed as other couples trickled onto the dance floor – at that moment they were the only two people in the universe.
“I found a dream that I could speak to…A dream that I can call my own…I found a thrill to press my cheek to…A thrill that I have never known…”
“You smile, you smile, oh and then the spell is cast…And here we are in heaven…Oh you are mine at last…”
As the last note of Maria’s beautiful voice faded into the sound of applause from the guests, Liz finally took her gaze from Max and turned to the stage. She flashed Maria a smile and blew her a kiss as the Kit Shickers launched into another song.
Nearly two hours passed, complete with the obligatory Macarena and Chicken Dance – and even to Max’s dismay, line-dancing. He decided to sit that one out, watching as his bride tush-pushed around Kyle.
“You gonna go kick his ass?” Isabel teased, lowering herself into a chair beside her brother.
Max grinned. “Nah. I’ve learned not to be the jealous type.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Isabel agreed, leaning back and resting her hands on her belly. “It’s clear your wife is totally smitten.”
“So am I,” Max beamed as Liz caught his eye, winking and sending him one of her special smiles.
“You know, I think I’ve seen just about everything today,” Isabel noted as they watched their friends and family dancing.
“What, Kyle pimping it with all the women in the crowd?” Max chuckled.
Isabel burst out laughing. “Yeah, that too. He and Mom looked like they were having a good time. But Michael and Amy, Maria and Jesse, Liz and Dad…it’s been fun to watch.”
“You danced with Jeff,” Max pointed out, still getting used to calling Liz’s dad by his first name…he didn’t dare think about the prospect of calling him “Dad.”
“He’s a good dancer,” Isabel commented. “And, you know, he really is a good guy too.”
Max nodded. “He’s been a really big help with the wedding and stuff. Hasn’t been giving Liz a hard time or anything.”
“I think he finally came to terms with his daughter growing up,” Isabel said gently. “You’ll understand when you have yourself a little girl,” she added, patting Max’s knee.
“I hope so,” Max said wistfully. Now wasn’t the time, of course, but seeing how well Isabel’s pregnancy was going…Max wanted to try having another baby with Liz someday. He couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than the pitter-patter of little feet, three or four miniature Max-and-Liz’s jumping into their bed in the morning with the bright sunshine spilling over all of them…
“Look at that dopey grin on your face,” Isabel interrupted with a smile. “That’s what the honeymoon’s for, buddy.”
The music faded into something softer, slower, and Jesse appeared before his wife. “Well, you’ve danced with the father of the bride. Now how about the father of your child?” he teased, helping Isabel to her feet.
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly and smiled at Max. “Go find your bride.”
Max obliged easily, searching the dance floor for his wife. There she was…dancing with her father. No, definitely not one to interrupt. He turned when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“May I have this dance?” Nancy asked with a smile.
“Of course,” Max replied. As they swayed around the floor, Max asked, “Did you like the ceremony?”
“It was beautiful,” Nancy confirmed, her eyes shining. “Exactly what I wanted for my Lizzie.” She paused. “You know, Max, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy.”
They both glanced over to Liz, whose laughter rang out as Jeff dipped her. “It’s because of you,” she continued. “And that’s all Jeff and I could ever want for our daughter, Max. That she’s happy and respected.”
“She will be, Mrs. Parker,” he vowed seriously. “She’s the most important thing in the world to me.”
“Good,” Nancy nodded. “Now about this ‘Mrs. Parker,’ stuff. I would really like it if you called me Nancy,” she said with a smile. “And my husband Jeff.”
Max blushed slightly. “Okay. I wasn’t sure how you wanted to do that…”
“We’re family now, Max,” Nancy said kindly. They both turned at the sound of a clearing throat.
“May I cut in?” Liz asked with a wink.
Nancy smiled at her daughter. “I suppose. Now if only I can catch your dad before someone else snatches him up,” she mused.
Max grinned down at Liz as she settled into his arms with a contented sigh. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Mrs. Evans.”
Liz tilted her face up toward his and kissed him tenderly. “My pleasure, Mr. Evans.”
“Mmm…have I told you that you absolutely take my breath away?” he breathed, leaning closer to her.
“Only a few times today,” Liz confirmed with a smile.
Max captured her lips in his again. “I hope you get used to it,” he murmured against her lips. “Because you’ll be hearing it over and over again tonight.”
A delicious shiver went down Liz’s spine. “Why Mr. Evans, are you propositioning me?”
He grinned, kissing her soundly. “Always.”
*****
“Welcome home, Mrs. Evans.”
Liz giggled as Max dutifully carried out the tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold. “Does it count if you already did this once?” she teased, smoothing her silky wedding gown.
“Does it count. She asks if it counts,” he muttered, kissing her soundly. He tipped his head and gazed at her. “Close your eyes.”
Liz made a face but closed her eyes. “I’ve already seen the apartment, baby. No surprises there,” she reminded.
“Keep em closed anyway.” Max stepped around the luggage that had collected in the kitchen for their honeymoon, which they would embark on the next morning, and made his way down the hall to their bedroom. “Are you peeking?” he demanded suddenly.
“No!” Liz insisted, leaning up to kiss his jaw.
Max snapped his fingers as they entered the bedroom. “You can look now,” he whispered in her ear, his breath trailing down her neck as she slowly opened her eyes.
Liz gasped as her eyes wandered around their bedroom, taking in the white rose petals carpeting the bed, the dozens of white candles scattered throughout the room, and the bouquet of white roses and sparkling apple juice on the bedside table.
“Good lord, Max Evans, it’s like something out of a movie,” she murmured, cupping his face between her hands and kissing him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said seriously, his eyes focusing on her equally dark ones. “Anything for you, babe. I would do anything.”
“I love you.” Liz parted his lips with a deep kiss and then rested her forehead against his. “Today was perfect. Our wedding was amazing, this room is amazing…you are amazing.”
Max’s heart swelled, and a wave of joy and peacefulness settled over him. He was married to Liz Parker. Well, Liz Evans now. He couldn’t keep the giddy grin from crossing his face. Though he hadn’t enjoyed it much last night, Liz staying over at Maria’s for one last sleepover to prepare for the wedding, he’d decided that rather than pacing around the apartment he would prepare the bedroom for their wedding night. And it appeared his bride approved.
He made his way blindly across the room, Liz still cradled in his arms. Pushing her back onto the bed among the scattered rose petals, he gazed down at her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Her eyes stared deeply into his, reflecting off the dim candlelight and twinkling off her lashes. “You are so beautiful,” Max murmured, running his hand down the side of her face and along her jawbone. He traced his thumb along her bottom lip, and she pressed her lips against it in a soft kiss. He sighed, replacing his thumb with his lips, and kissed her almost feverishly.
Liz sighed softly against his mouth, and he felt a familiar chill run down his spine. Shifting slightly, Max maneuvered himself on top of her and ran his other hand down her side, over the dainty pearls that adorned her gown. Liz responded by sliding her hand from his shoulder down his back, gently lifting his crisp white shirt from his waistband and rotating so that he was beneath her.
Her fingers began working at the buttons on the front of Max’s tuxedo shirt, undoing one and then leaving a smattering of kisses across each newly exposed area. He shuddered at the scorching heat of her lips as they ran down his chest and then back up to his neck, where she began sucking gently on his adam’s apple.
Max couldn’t help the soft grown from escaping his mouth Liz’s tongue swirled in the hollow of his throat. His hands ran up and down her sides, and he traced his tongue down her neck, kissing her shoulder and eliciting a breathy moan. He gazed up at her, tenderly touching her cheek before speaking.
“As beautiful as you look in your wedding gown, I think you’ll be even more beautiful without it,” he whispered.
Liz smiled, lifting herself off of Max and to her feet. She stood before him, reaching behind to undo the zipper, but Max placed his hands on her hips and stopped her. “Let me,” he asked.
Standing behind her, Max rubbed his hands down her bare arms once before making his way to the back zipper of her gown. He wanted to do this; he’d imagined undressing her on their wedding night longer than he was willing to admit. His Liz was everything he’d dreamed of, and he wanted to do this right.
Slowly, carefully, he slid the zipper down to the base of her spine, following after it with a trail of soft kisses. Liz shivered as Max spun her around to face him, sliding the thin straps over her shoulders. He kissed and suckled along her collarbone to the dip of her throat, and Liz rolled her head back in delight at the sensation.
Max reached up and released her hair from its fastening, allowing it to spill over her shoulders in a waterfall. He then eased the straps down her arms, pulling the top half of the gown to her waist and exposing her lacy, pale blue bra. It was strapless, and allowed plenty of room for his tongue to explore the swell of her breasts. Liz gasped as his tongue dipped into her cleavage, and she tightened her grip on his shoulders, pushing the cotton fabric away from his skin.
Max pulled away then, gazing into her eyes as he worked the silky material down her waist. “You are stunning,” he murmured as the gown pooled around her feet. His eyes swept over her body, from her face down her torso to the barely-there thong that teased him.
Liz smiled as her husband gaped at her, tossing his shirt aside and then going to work on the fastening of his black slacks. She slid them down his hips until he stood before her in nothing but silky black boxers, and she couldn’t help the growl that bubbled up from her throat. He was truly a gorgeous man, his muscular chest rising and falling with each labored breath, the muscles in his arms prominent as he ran his hands over her arms. But it was his face, his beautiful face, that took Liz’s breath away. Max’s lips curved up into a sexy smile as they gazed at one another, a smile that was reserved only for her. His eyes burned with desire, a wanton desire only for her.
The look from Liz was all Max could take. He lifted her up into his arms again, placing her gently on the bed before lowering himself onto her. “God, I want you,” he gasped, running the back of his hand over her cheek.
“Then take me,” Liz whispered, nipping at his bottom lip. “We have a marriage to consummate,” she giggled.
“Mmm…” Max groaned as she began to swish her hips beneath his, and even through the material that separated them, he could feel the heat radiating from her. Liz’s delicate fingers reached around his body to the waistband of his boxers, sliding them over his backside and giving him a little tweak.
Max jumped from the sensation, and then felt himself grow even more overcome with desire. He rolled them onto their sides as he freed himself from his boxers, his fingers tracing over her bare stomach and then lower.
Liz gasped as she felt him reach beneath the flimsy fabric of her panties, one nimble finger trailing through her curls before dipping inside. “Ah, God,” she gasped, arching into his touch.
“You’re so ready for me, baby,” he breathed, sucking on the delicate skin below her ear.
She closed her eyes and nodded, swallowing hard as he slid his hand from her panties and eased them down her thighs. Liz kicked them free as Max reached for the hook of her bra. He fumbled for a moment and she arched an eyebrow, just daring him to use his powers for assistance.
“Got it,” he boasted proudly, snapping the bra from her body and tossing it to the floor. Max’s hands caressed her, urging her nipples into hard peaks before leaning down to taste one and then the other. Liz sighed under his ministrations, bringing her hands to his waist and pulling him closer to her center.
Max moaned softly as the tip of his pulsing manhood came into contact with her. “I love you, Liz,” he whispered, positioning himself at her entrance.
“I love you…” Liz gasped as she felt him slide into her waiting body, filling her with his familiar size and conforming her in a way that was sure to leave them both crying out with pleasure.
Their eyes met as they began their familiar rhythm, accented with gasps and growls of satisfaction as they worked their way into a crest of perfection. Their bodies moved languidly, complimenting each other in a way no one else ever could, pushing them to the brink as a final wave of ecstasy washed over them.
“Liiiiiz!” Max cried out her name as he spilled into her waiting body, the delicious release completing her as well. She chanted his name as her body convulsed over him, the tremors finally slowing as they came down together.
“Oh God…” Liz groaned as he collapsed beside her, peppering her damp forehead with kisses. “That was…wow.”
Max grinned weakly. “I know,” he breathed, smoothing her hair back. His heart swelled with joy once more as he realized that this was just the first of many, many nights to come, loving his wife with all of his being.
Never Let You Down M/L *complete*
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Forum Moderators
30
“It’s so pretty here,” Liz murmured from where she sat wrapped in Max’s arms on the porch swing of their cabin. It was only the first night of their honeymoon, but already Liz had fallen in love with their surroundings.
Max and Liz had decided to take the simple route for their honeymoon, renting a cabin at Sumner Lake a few hours north of Roswell. It would give them a week of peace and quiet away from civilization without busting their carefully planned budget.
“I’m just surrounded by beauty,” Max said with a chuckle, kissing his wife’s jaw.
“You’re too good to me,” Liz sighed, reveling in his loving touches.
“Uh-uh,” Max corrected. “You deserve nothing but the best.”
Liz grinned up at him. “Will you listen to us? You’d think we were a couple of newlyweds or something.”
“I don’t know, would newlyweds do…this?” Max’s fingers attacked before Liz had a chance to escape, tickling her mercilessly. She shrieked with laughter, sliding off the swing to the porch floor to try and free herself.
Max maneuvered himself so that was straddling her hips, trapping her beneath him. His fingers slowed as he gazed down at Liz, her chest heaving, and then grinned. “Yeah, I think they probably would.”
“Kiss me,” Liz requested breathlessly, her pulse quickening as his lips descended on hers. They kissed feverishly, and Max quickly reached down to loosen the buckle of his belt.
Liz understood immediately what his intentions were, and she moaned faintly as she felt him against her. She was about to work at the button of her shorts when Max’s fingers covered hers, undoing them roughly and sliding her panties down her legs. Realizing that he had gone commando, she gasped as his rigid erection thrust into her body.
Max drove into her hungrily, grasping her hips with one hand as they bucked together wildly on the wooden porch floor. There were no words exchanged during their lovemaking, only deep growls and keening moans as they raced to the edge. Gripping his shoulders, Liz screamed out Max’s name as she lost herself in one mind-blowing orgasm after another.
The excitement that he could make her come so quickly launched Max’s release, and he continued to pound into Liz as he unloaded his seed into her depths. She encouraged him on, digging her nails into his t-shirt covered back.
After a few moments Max grunted and released his tight hold on her body. He rolled off of her and lay flat on his back, gasping for breath as he gazed up at the darkening sky.
Liz stared at him, slowly pulling her panties back up and resting her hand on his heaving chest. “Are you okay?”
He turned to her in a daze, nodding slightly. “Are you?”
She nodded, covering her mouth and giggling. “That was incredible, Max.”
“Did I hurt you?” he asked in concern, reaching up to touch her cheek. He couldn’t believe he’d lost control like that, taking her on the hard floor of the porch, for god’s sake.
Liz shook her head now, the smile still gracing her face. “Of course not.” She paused when he sighed in relief, sliding her hand up to push the damp hair from his forehead. “I’m not going to break, you know,” she said gently.
Max nodded, closing his eyes for a moment before sitting up and gazing at her seriously. “It’s…it’s not just this. I know I’ve hurt you before, Liz. But you keep taking me back, forgiving me…loving me. I want to deserve you. I don’t ever want to hurt you again.”
Taking his hand in hers, Liz lightly touched the wedding band that adorned his finger. “I know that, Max. That’s what we promised one another when we said our vows.” She paused, tilting his chin up to look at her. “It doesn’t mean we’ll never have struggles, Max. Nothing is perfect. But we will get past whatever trials life might hand us together. Okay? Always together.”
He nodded again, looking into her loving eyes. “Always.” Max hastily slid his shorts back up and then pulled Liz into his arms. They sat in peaceful silence, staring up into the sky as the twinkling stars began to appear.
*****
Max stalked his prey carefully, silently. There she was on a plastic raft, floating unassumingly in the sun. The past few days on the lake had glazed her skin a golden brown, and in her blue and white polka dot bikini, she looked like a water goddess.
He rubbed his palms together as he slipped into the water, careful not to cause any splashes or ripples on the lake’s surface as he quietly made his way over to her. She was going to kill him, but what a way to go.
Max grinned to himself, preparing to attack. Just as he was about to launch himself onto her, Liz suddenly slid her sunglasses down her nose. “Don’t even think about it.”
Jumping back, Max raised his hands innocently. “Who, me? I was just going for a little swim,” he said sweetly.
“Hmm.” Liz arched an eyebrow skeptically and carefully sat up on the raft. She inspected herself and then said, “Baby, do the tops of my legs look burnt?”
Max waggled his brows at her mischievously and said, “Let me take a look.” He dipped his head down to her feet, kissing his way up over her ankle, calf, knee, and across her thighs. “Mm-mm, looks good to me. But maybe you should get into the water to prevent any burning.”
Liz shivered as his tongue crept into the juncture between the top of her thigh and her torso. “Prevent burning, huh?” she teased, sliding off the raft and into his arms. “We’ll see about that.” She wound her legs around his waist and kissed him breathless.
“Mmm…Liz.” His eyes flew open as she abruptly pulled away from him. “Where are you going?” he pouted.
Liz merely grinned in the shoulder-deep water, suddenly dangling her bikini top in front of him.
“Liz!” he admonished, his grin widening as she tossed it onto the raft behind her.
“How about it, Evans?” she asked. “You up for some skinnydipping?”
“It’s the middle of the afternoon!” he hissed, swallowing hard when she dangled her bikini bottoms from her fingertip.
Liz glanced around the empty lake innocently. “Come on, Max, it’s something we can tell our grandchildren about,” she teased pointedly. She could see him considering it, and giggled in triumph when his trunks appeared, floating on the surface of the water. A playful glint appeared in her eye then. “But you’ll have to catch me first!” she crowed, skirting away from him and splashing out toward the center of the lake.
“You little…” Max muttered, watching as his wife left him in the frothy water. “Come here, you!”
“Nuh-uh.” Liz shook her head. “Come get me.”
Max broke into a swim, racing toward her. Liz shrieked, and she too began swimming back toward the shore.
“Hey!” Max paused, watching as Liz grabbed their suits from the raft and scurried toward the sand, not bothering to put her bikini back on. His jaw fell open as she tossed them toward the cabin and then settled onto the small beach in nothing but her birthday suit. “That’s…that’s not fair!” he sputtered.
“Why not?” she called, leaning back and propping herself up on her elbows.
“Because – because I don’t want my ass to get sunburned,” he answered indignantly.
Liz cocked her finger toward Max, urging him to join her. “I’m sure we’ve got lotion around here somewhere.”
“Dammit,” Max muttered, slowly making his way toward the shore. “Just remember, Liz, cold water causes shrinkage.”
*****
Max reached out for Liz in his sleep. When his arms felt only the empty space beside him in bed, he was awakened and looked around the room in sleepy confusion.
Morning was just beginning to break, and the faint glow from the rising sun crept in through the open curtains. Liz stood in the doorway of the small balcony, gazing out over the still water.
Climbing silently out of bed, Max moved toward his wife until he was standing just behind her. “Liz?” he murmured, touching her shoulder.
Liz jumped slightly, but relaxed as Max wrapped his arms around her. “You’re up early, baby,” he noted, rather surprised considering they’d been making love until just a few hours ago.
“It’s a beautiful sunrise,” Liz said quietly, transfixed by the glittering path the sliver of sun skidded across the water’s glassy surface.
Max nodded, resting his chin on her shoulder as one hand settled near her stomach. “What’re you thinking about?”
Liz sighed. “It’s just…” She paused, but when Max squeezed her encouragingly, she continued. “It’s July fourth.”
“It is,” Max agreed, swallowing hard. A year. It had been a whole year since it had all began.
“I can’t believe it,” Liz whispered, her hand coming to rest over Max’s. “Gabriel has been a part of our lives for a year now.” She glanced up at Max, her big brown eyes shining with tears. “We never even got to meet him, but it seems like he’s always been a part of us.”
Max nodded, nuzzling her neck tenderly. “Maybe he has,” he murmured.
Turning then, Liz buried herself in the familiar warmth of her husband’s arms. Max held her silently, and after a time he leaned back to look at her. “Liz?” he began. “I…we really haven’t talked about this much, and I…I think we should.”
Liz nodded encouragingly. “You can ask me anything, Max,” she reminded gently.
Max clasped her hands in his and gazed down at her. “How do you feel about having other children? I…I don’t mean now, of course. But…someday?”
She was silent for a few moments, and then brought their joined hands up to kiss his palm. “I would like that,” she said honestly, a tiny smile curving her lips. “I want to have a part of you inside me again. I want to give birth to our child and raise him or her with you…to know what a combination of you and me would be like.” She took a deep breath, blinking back tears. “Not to replace Gabriel, of course. But to try again.”
Max framed her face in his hands. “I love you, Liz Evans.” She watched in wonder at what her husband did next. He blew a kiss up into the sky and whispered, “I love you, Gabriel.”
*****
“Welcome home!” Maria crowed, flinging her arms around her best friend in a huge hug. “Well, sort of,” she amended, glancing around the Crashdown.
“Maxwell,” Michael greeted, holding out his hand through the kitchen window.
“Hey, man,” Max said with a grin, shaking his best friend’s hand. “Hey, could you cook up a couple burgers for Liz and I?” he asked. “It’s been a long trip, and we only stopped home to drop off our bags.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Michael shrugged. “I get off in five minutes, so that’ll be up to Jose.” He grinned and returned to the grill.
“So tell me everything,” Maria was gushing. “Well, not everything, you know, but-“
“Maria, slow down,” Liz chuckled, straightening Maria’s disheveled antennae. “It was great…relaxing-“
“But not too relaxing, right?” Maria cut in, wiggling her eyebrows. “Please tell me you got more action than I did!”
“Maria!” Liz hissed. “My dad’s around here somewhere, and-“
“Lizzie!”
Liz looked pointedly at Maria and then turned to her father, who appeared from the back room. “Hi Dad, we’re home!”
“Oh sweetie, welcome home,” he said, giving his daughter a big hug before turning to his son-in-law and shaking his hand warmly.
“Did I hear Lizzie?” Nancy exclaimed, hurrying in behind her husband. “Honey, you look beautiful,” she said, framing her daughter’s face in her hands. She leaned a little closer and said with a wink, “A honeymoon’ll do that to a girl.”
Liz blushed. “Mom.”
“Sorry, sorry,” she said with a smile before giving Max a hug as well. “Well, you kids had better grab a table before the Fourth of July rush hits us for supper. The fireworks are in two hours.”
Liz looked at her husband. “Isn’t Isabel-“
“I’m here, I’m here,” Isabel said, waddling into the café with Jesse. “Come here, you two, give me hugs.” She parked herself in a booth and let out a deep sigh.
“Hey guys,” Jesse greeted with a smile as Liz and Max joined them. “Welcome home.”
“How’re you feeling, Iz?” Liz asked gently, leaning over to give her sister-in-law a hug.
“I’ve been more comfortable,” she said honestly as Max hugged her. “Not too tight, Max, I already feel like I’m gonna explode,” she continued, irritated.
Max backed away apologetically. “Sorry,” he offered, sitting down across from them with Liz.
A smile crossed Isabel’s face then. “Oh, don’t be. I’ve been snapping all week, it’s this damn heat.” She paused, and her grin widened. “Enough about me, how was the honeymoon?”
“Ah, ah, no details until I get done with my shift,” Maria called from the counter, checking the clock on the wall. “Which is in…two minutes and thirty-five seconds.”
“Oh Maria, go,” Jeff said in mock exasperation. “Cassie’s here already, I wouldn’t want you to spill any Alien Blasts in excitement.”
Maria squealed and gave Jeff a hug. “Thanks Mr. P.!”
Michael rolled his eyes, but then grinned when Jeff motioned for him to clock out as well. “Sweet.”
*****
Max settled onto a blanket with Liz in the park, awaiting the start of the fireworks. He tried to stifle his sympathetic chuckle as Jesse assured Isabel that yes, she would be able to get to her feet again once she sat down, and as, much to Maria’s irritation, Michael blew loudly on a blade of grass.
He gazed down at his wife, and all the sounds around him disappeared. “You okay?” he asked quietly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to him.
Liz nodded bravely, even managing a smile for him. “Yeah, I’ll be okay,” she assured, pausing for a moment. “It’ll all be okay,” she continued, her smile broadening so that even her eyes were smiling.
Max grinned at the sparkle in her eyes, kissing the top of her head as the first burst of color exploded into the sky. “It’ll be beautiful.”
“It’s so pretty here,” Liz murmured from where she sat wrapped in Max’s arms on the porch swing of their cabin. It was only the first night of their honeymoon, but already Liz had fallen in love with their surroundings.
Max and Liz had decided to take the simple route for their honeymoon, renting a cabin at Sumner Lake a few hours north of Roswell. It would give them a week of peace and quiet away from civilization without busting their carefully planned budget.
“I’m just surrounded by beauty,” Max said with a chuckle, kissing his wife’s jaw.
“You’re too good to me,” Liz sighed, reveling in his loving touches.
“Uh-uh,” Max corrected. “You deserve nothing but the best.”
Liz grinned up at him. “Will you listen to us? You’d think we were a couple of newlyweds or something.”
“I don’t know, would newlyweds do…this?” Max’s fingers attacked before Liz had a chance to escape, tickling her mercilessly. She shrieked with laughter, sliding off the swing to the porch floor to try and free herself.
Max maneuvered himself so that was straddling her hips, trapping her beneath him. His fingers slowed as he gazed down at Liz, her chest heaving, and then grinned. “Yeah, I think they probably would.”
“Kiss me,” Liz requested breathlessly, her pulse quickening as his lips descended on hers. They kissed feverishly, and Max quickly reached down to loosen the buckle of his belt.
Liz understood immediately what his intentions were, and she moaned faintly as she felt him against her. She was about to work at the button of her shorts when Max’s fingers covered hers, undoing them roughly and sliding her panties down her legs. Realizing that he had gone commando, she gasped as his rigid erection thrust into her body.
Max drove into her hungrily, grasping her hips with one hand as they bucked together wildly on the wooden porch floor. There were no words exchanged during their lovemaking, only deep growls and keening moans as they raced to the edge. Gripping his shoulders, Liz screamed out Max’s name as she lost herself in one mind-blowing orgasm after another.
The excitement that he could make her come so quickly launched Max’s release, and he continued to pound into Liz as he unloaded his seed into her depths. She encouraged him on, digging her nails into his t-shirt covered back.
After a few moments Max grunted and released his tight hold on her body. He rolled off of her and lay flat on his back, gasping for breath as he gazed up at the darkening sky.
Liz stared at him, slowly pulling her panties back up and resting her hand on his heaving chest. “Are you okay?”
He turned to her in a daze, nodding slightly. “Are you?”
She nodded, covering her mouth and giggling. “That was incredible, Max.”
“Did I hurt you?” he asked in concern, reaching up to touch her cheek. He couldn’t believe he’d lost control like that, taking her on the hard floor of the porch, for god’s sake.
Liz shook her head now, the smile still gracing her face. “Of course not.” She paused when he sighed in relief, sliding her hand up to push the damp hair from his forehead. “I’m not going to break, you know,” she said gently.
Max nodded, closing his eyes for a moment before sitting up and gazing at her seriously. “It’s…it’s not just this. I know I’ve hurt you before, Liz. But you keep taking me back, forgiving me…loving me. I want to deserve you. I don’t ever want to hurt you again.”
Taking his hand in hers, Liz lightly touched the wedding band that adorned his finger. “I know that, Max. That’s what we promised one another when we said our vows.” She paused, tilting his chin up to look at her. “It doesn’t mean we’ll never have struggles, Max. Nothing is perfect. But we will get past whatever trials life might hand us together. Okay? Always together.”
He nodded again, looking into her loving eyes. “Always.” Max hastily slid his shorts back up and then pulled Liz into his arms. They sat in peaceful silence, staring up into the sky as the twinkling stars began to appear.
*****
Max stalked his prey carefully, silently. There she was on a plastic raft, floating unassumingly in the sun. The past few days on the lake had glazed her skin a golden brown, and in her blue and white polka dot bikini, she looked like a water goddess.
He rubbed his palms together as he slipped into the water, careful not to cause any splashes or ripples on the lake’s surface as he quietly made his way over to her. She was going to kill him, but what a way to go.
Max grinned to himself, preparing to attack. Just as he was about to launch himself onto her, Liz suddenly slid her sunglasses down her nose. “Don’t even think about it.”
Jumping back, Max raised his hands innocently. “Who, me? I was just going for a little swim,” he said sweetly.
“Hmm.” Liz arched an eyebrow skeptically and carefully sat up on the raft. She inspected herself and then said, “Baby, do the tops of my legs look burnt?”
Max waggled his brows at her mischievously and said, “Let me take a look.” He dipped his head down to her feet, kissing his way up over her ankle, calf, knee, and across her thighs. “Mm-mm, looks good to me. But maybe you should get into the water to prevent any burning.”
Liz shivered as his tongue crept into the juncture between the top of her thigh and her torso. “Prevent burning, huh?” she teased, sliding off the raft and into his arms. “We’ll see about that.” She wound her legs around his waist and kissed him breathless.
“Mmm…Liz.” His eyes flew open as she abruptly pulled away from him. “Where are you going?” he pouted.
Liz merely grinned in the shoulder-deep water, suddenly dangling her bikini top in front of him.
“Liz!” he admonished, his grin widening as she tossed it onto the raft behind her.
“How about it, Evans?” she asked. “You up for some skinnydipping?”
“It’s the middle of the afternoon!” he hissed, swallowing hard when she dangled her bikini bottoms from her fingertip.
Liz glanced around the empty lake innocently. “Come on, Max, it’s something we can tell our grandchildren about,” she teased pointedly. She could see him considering it, and giggled in triumph when his trunks appeared, floating on the surface of the water. A playful glint appeared in her eye then. “But you’ll have to catch me first!” she crowed, skirting away from him and splashing out toward the center of the lake.
“You little…” Max muttered, watching as his wife left him in the frothy water. “Come here, you!”
“Nuh-uh.” Liz shook her head. “Come get me.”
Max broke into a swim, racing toward her. Liz shrieked, and she too began swimming back toward the shore.
“Hey!” Max paused, watching as Liz grabbed their suits from the raft and scurried toward the sand, not bothering to put her bikini back on. His jaw fell open as she tossed them toward the cabin and then settled onto the small beach in nothing but her birthday suit. “That’s…that’s not fair!” he sputtered.
“Why not?” she called, leaning back and propping herself up on her elbows.
“Because – because I don’t want my ass to get sunburned,” he answered indignantly.
Liz cocked her finger toward Max, urging him to join her. “I’m sure we’ve got lotion around here somewhere.”
“Dammit,” Max muttered, slowly making his way toward the shore. “Just remember, Liz, cold water causes shrinkage.”
*****
Max reached out for Liz in his sleep. When his arms felt only the empty space beside him in bed, he was awakened and looked around the room in sleepy confusion.
Morning was just beginning to break, and the faint glow from the rising sun crept in through the open curtains. Liz stood in the doorway of the small balcony, gazing out over the still water.
Climbing silently out of bed, Max moved toward his wife until he was standing just behind her. “Liz?” he murmured, touching her shoulder.
Liz jumped slightly, but relaxed as Max wrapped his arms around her. “You’re up early, baby,” he noted, rather surprised considering they’d been making love until just a few hours ago.
“It’s a beautiful sunrise,” Liz said quietly, transfixed by the glittering path the sliver of sun skidded across the water’s glassy surface.
Max nodded, resting his chin on her shoulder as one hand settled near her stomach. “What’re you thinking about?”
Liz sighed. “It’s just…” She paused, but when Max squeezed her encouragingly, she continued. “It’s July fourth.”
“It is,” Max agreed, swallowing hard. A year. It had been a whole year since it had all began.
“I can’t believe it,” Liz whispered, her hand coming to rest over Max’s. “Gabriel has been a part of our lives for a year now.” She glanced up at Max, her big brown eyes shining with tears. “We never even got to meet him, but it seems like he’s always been a part of us.”
Max nodded, nuzzling her neck tenderly. “Maybe he has,” he murmured.
Turning then, Liz buried herself in the familiar warmth of her husband’s arms. Max held her silently, and after a time he leaned back to look at her. “Liz?” he began. “I…we really haven’t talked about this much, and I…I think we should.”
Liz nodded encouragingly. “You can ask me anything, Max,” she reminded gently.
Max clasped her hands in his and gazed down at her. “How do you feel about having other children? I…I don’t mean now, of course. But…someday?”
She was silent for a few moments, and then brought their joined hands up to kiss his palm. “I would like that,” she said honestly, a tiny smile curving her lips. “I want to have a part of you inside me again. I want to give birth to our child and raise him or her with you…to know what a combination of you and me would be like.” She took a deep breath, blinking back tears. “Not to replace Gabriel, of course. But to try again.”
Max framed her face in his hands. “I love you, Liz Evans.” She watched in wonder at what her husband did next. He blew a kiss up into the sky and whispered, “I love you, Gabriel.”
*****
“Welcome home!” Maria crowed, flinging her arms around her best friend in a huge hug. “Well, sort of,” she amended, glancing around the Crashdown.
“Maxwell,” Michael greeted, holding out his hand through the kitchen window.
“Hey, man,” Max said with a grin, shaking his best friend’s hand. “Hey, could you cook up a couple burgers for Liz and I?” he asked. “It’s been a long trip, and we only stopped home to drop off our bags.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Michael shrugged. “I get off in five minutes, so that’ll be up to Jose.” He grinned and returned to the grill.
“So tell me everything,” Maria was gushing. “Well, not everything, you know, but-“
“Maria, slow down,” Liz chuckled, straightening Maria’s disheveled antennae. “It was great…relaxing-“
“But not too relaxing, right?” Maria cut in, wiggling her eyebrows. “Please tell me you got more action than I did!”
“Maria!” Liz hissed. “My dad’s around here somewhere, and-“
“Lizzie!”
Liz looked pointedly at Maria and then turned to her father, who appeared from the back room. “Hi Dad, we’re home!”
“Oh sweetie, welcome home,” he said, giving his daughter a big hug before turning to his son-in-law and shaking his hand warmly.
“Did I hear Lizzie?” Nancy exclaimed, hurrying in behind her husband. “Honey, you look beautiful,” she said, framing her daughter’s face in her hands. She leaned a little closer and said with a wink, “A honeymoon’ll do that to a girl.”
Liz blushed. “Mom.”
“Sorry, sorry,” she said with a smile before giving Max a hug as well. “Well, you kids had better grab a table before the Fourth of July rush hits us for supper. The fireworks are in two hours.”
Liz looked at her husband. “Isn’t Isabel-“
“I’m here, I’m here,” Isabel said, waddling into the café with Jesse. “Come here, you two, give me hugs.” She parked herself in a booth and let out a deep sigh.
“Hey guys,” Jesse greeted with a smile as Liz and Max joined them. “Welcome home.”
“How’re you feeling, Iz?” Liz asked gently, leaning over to give her sister-in-law a hug.
“I’ve been more comfortable,” she said honestly as Max hugged her. “Not too tight, Max, I already feel like I’m gonna explode,” she continued, irritated.
Max backed away apologetically. “Sorry,” he offered, sitting down across from them with Liz.
A smile crossed Isabel’s face then. “Oh, don’t be. I’ve been snapping all week, it’s this damn heat.” She paused, and her grin widened. “Enough about me, how was the honeymoon?”
“Ah, ah, no details until I get done with my shift,” Maria called from the counter, checking the clock on the wall. “Which is in…two minutes and thirty-five seconds.”
“Oh Maria, go,” Jeff said in mock exasperation. “Cassie’s here already, I wouldn’t want you to spill any Alien Blasts in excitement.”
Maria squealed and gave Jeff a hug. “Thanks Mr. P.!”
Michael rolled his eyes, but then grinned when Jeff motioned for him to clock out as well. “Sweet.”
*****
Max settled onto a blanket with Liz in the park, awaiting the start of the fireworks. He tried to stifle his sympathetic chuckle as Jesse assured Isabel that yes, she would be able to get to her feet again once she sat down, and as, much to Maria’s irritation, Michael blew loudly on a blade of grass.
He gazed down at his wife, and all the sounds around him disappeared. “You okay?” he asked quietly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer to him.
Liz nodded bravely, even managing a smile for him. “Yeah, I’ll be okay,” she assured, pausing for a moment. “It’ll all be okay,” she continued, her smile broadening so that even her eyes were smiling.
Max grinned at the sparkle in her eyes, kissing the top of her head as the first burst of color exploded into the sky. “It’ll be beautiful.”
31
“I’m so uncomfortable.”
Michael exchanged a look with Max and they both glanced at Isabel, slumped back in a lawn chair with a paper fan in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other. “When’s the kid supposed to come again?” Michael hissed.
“Ten days,” Max muttered under his breath, getting to his feet to check the progress of the grill. Ten more days of Isabel complaining about the heat, the size of her middle, the fact that Edy’s had discontinued its cappuccino flavored ice cream, and anything else under the sun that happened to get under her skin. Though the Nazi in Isabel had been in full force for most of her pregnancy, in the last few weeks she’d decided it unnecessary to lift a finger. Max loved his sister to bits, but it didn’t change the fact that his sister in her nine-months-pregnant state was driving him bonkers. He couldn’t help feeling a bit of resentment toward Jesse, who’d been called to testify for a co-worker in a messy case in Denver and had been out of town for several days. As Michael had so reasonably put it, “It’s his fault, he should have to deal with it.”
Max chuckled to himself as he flipped the burgers over. Jesse felt horrible about leaving Isabel alone, and had asked Max to check up on her at least once a day. It seemed almost unnecessary, what with Jesse calling home every few hours, but Max could understand. He watched as his beautiful wife appeared from Isabel’s kitchen with a stack of paper plates. He knew for a fact that he would be just as protective of Liz.
“Hey, you.” Liz playfully slapped her husband’s behind and set the plates beside the grill before settling her arms around his waist.
“Burgers are almost done,” he said, grinning as Liz ran her hands over his tight abs.
“Mmm,” she breathed into his ears. “Yummy.”
Max tapped her arm with the turner. “Tease,” he muttered.
Liz smirked, her fingers trailing to his waistband for just an instant. “I have to help Maria with the fruit salad,” she announced, traipsing back into the house.
Tease indeed. Max shook his head, still grinning from ear to ear as he arranged the burgers on a paper plate. “Food’s on!” he called.
Isabel smiled sweetly at Kyle. “Would you be the greatest friend in the world and get a burger for me?”
Kyle sighed, pushing himself out of his chair. “You’re the mommy.”
“Thank you!” she chirped. “And remember, plenty of Tabasco on both sides of the bun, and cheese, but don’t let it get all melty. The texture grosses me out.”
“I got it, Iz,” Kyle assured dryly, glancing at Max and rolling his eyes. “Ten days.”
*****
Later that evening, after the coals in the grill had cooled and the last burger had been devoured, the six friends sat laughing in the mid-July night. Maria was recounting an incident from Isabel’s baby shower several weeks earlier when Liz noticed a strange look cross Isabel’s face.
“Isabel, are you okay?”
Glancing up in surprise, Isabel ran her hand over her belly and nodded. “Oh, yeah. It’s this indigestion. Nothing seems to help.”
Maria continued her story, and Liz’s eyes drifted to her husband sitting across the table from her. She kicked off her sandals and slowly touched one foot to Max’s calve. He jumped slightly, clearing his throat as his wife’s bare foot slid up and down his leg.
Liz slid her eyes up to his innocently, her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as her foot moved higher.
Max swallowed hard at how aroused this was making him. If Liz didn’t cut it out, he was going to have to be forced to drag her around front and take her in the backseat of the Chevelle.
“Hey Maria,” Liz spoke up suddenly, her foot just inches from Max’s crotch. “Tell your mom that we’ve still got one of her dishes at our place. I washed it out after the party…”
Max fought back his gasp as Liz’s foot came into contact with his manhood despite the conversation she was carrying on with Maria. He gripped the arms of his lawn chair as her toes curled around him.
“You alright, Max?” Michael spoke up, eyeing his best friend suspiciously.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Max managed, blushing slightly.
Liz smirked, moving her foot over him again. “Must be indigestion.”
At that, Max grabbed her foot under the table and began to tickle it. Liz jerked awkwardly in her chair, trying unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter.
The other four stared at the couple knowingly. “Get a room,” Kyle demanded. “You’ve got plenty of those at your apartment.”
Max and Liz exchanged guilty grins. After a moment they both pushed their chairs back and at the same time said, “Well, it’s been fun.”
“We’ll just bring some of this in on our way out.”
After a quick round of goodbyes and dumping the plates into the trash, Max and Liz dashed to the car and sped toward home.
*****
“So…what are you doing after this?”
Maria slid her glance to Michael as they stood side by side at Isabel’s kitchen sink. She lowered her hands into the soapy water. “I don’t know…probably just go to bed. My mom’s out with Valenti, and there’s not much to do, so…”
“Do you wanna…y’know, do something?” Michael ventured, taking the dish from Maria and drying it haphazardly.
Pursing her lips, Maria pretended to ponder this. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Michael repeated, casually moving behind her and then pressing himself against her backside.
Maria jumped in surprise, a grin spreading over her face. “I guess I could come over for a while.”
“Good.” Michael smiled in satisfaction, returning to the dishes that Maria was hurriedly passing to him.
Kyle returned from replacing the lawn chairs and leaned against the counter. “You guys heading out?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Yeah.”
“Ookay.” Kyle backed off at their eagerness and sauntered into the living room where Isabel sat with her feet up on the coffee table, talking on the phone with Jesse.
“Yes, honey, I feel fine. Really. Yes, I’m sitting with my feet up, just like you told me to. Okay. Okay. Get some sleep, you’ve got a big day tomorrow. I love you too, honey. Bye.” She punched the phone off and turned to Kyle. “Kyle, could you get the remote?” she asked, pointing to the recliner a few feet away.
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Kyle complied and flopped onto the couch beside her. “Would you like me to press the buttons for you, too?”
Isabel shot him a dirty look, flipping on the television. “You try having a person take up the entire midsection of your body and then tell me how easy it is to maneuver.”
“Hey, wait.” Kyle grabbed her arm as she flipped to Comedy Central. “This is a great movie.”
“Kyle, it’s Porky’s Two.”
“I know!” He clapped his hands happily and settled back onto the couch.
“This is my payback for Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, isn’t it?”
Kyle only grinned smugly.
Isabel sighed in defeat and rested the remote on her stomach.
“Hey, cool trick,” Kyle complimented, glancing at her round belly.
“Shut up, Valenti.”
“We’re leaving now,” Maria announced from the doorway, slinging her purse over her shoulder.
Isabel craned her neck to smile at Maria and Michael. “Bye, guys. Thanks again for doing the dishes.”
“Later.” Kyle waved, not taking his eyes from the screen.
“Later.” Michael propelled Maria to the door, and then they were gone.
Kyle couldn’t help feeling sorry for himself. Everyone else was off having sex, and here he was, hanging out with his married, very pregnant friend. He sighed. Even the losers on TV were getting more action than he was.
*****
“I’m pretty sure it’s your fault,” Liz insisted as she and Max burst into their apartment, already unbuttoning shirts and unfastening belt buckles and bras. “If you hadn’t started tickling me-“
Max’s lips swooped down on hers, cutting off any further argument. He grinned against her mouth as they made their way blindly to their bedroom. Feeling giddy all over, Max couldn’t believe he’d actually been forced to pull into a deserted parking lot because Liz decided to go down on him. He’d then floored it all the way to their apartment, eager to return the favor.
Liz collapsed onto their bed, gazing up at him, and at that moment Max wanted her in the worst way. Wanted to touch her, taste her, smell her, hear her cry out as he made her come.
He dropped to his knees before her, kneeling between her legs as he worked at the fastening of her skirt. But instead of pulling it over her hips, Max placed a hand on each of her knees. Liz watched intently as his hands slid to her inner thighs, slowly disappearing under her skirt. She gasped as he came into contact with her damp panties and leaned back on her elbows, panting.
Max pushed the silky material aside, and she groaned as he ran one finger down her lips before sliding his hands back to her knees. “Max,” she moaned in protest.
“You’re so wet,” he murmured, silencing her. She watched from under heavy lids as he brought his finger to his mouth and tasted her. “And you taste so good,” he sighed. “So good…I want more, Liz.” He gazed at her hungrily. “Can I have more?”
“Mm-hmm.” Liz’s heart roared in her ears as he reached for her skirt, lifting her hips so he could pull the garments down her body.
Max breathed deeply, taking in the sweetness of her essence as he settled back between her legs. Her knees fell further apart as he traced his tongue up her inner thigh, pausing to suck on the sensitive skin at the juncture of her hip.
“Max…” His name escaped between her parted lips, urging him to her core. His tongue swept over her deftly, capturing her honey and then searching for more.
Liz’s cries filled his ears as his tongue moved in and out, in and out, nearly bringing her to the edge. She writhed beneath his mouth, her hips thrusting involuntarily closer, urging him deeper as she fisted her hands in his hair. “Max…oh god,” she gasped, feeling his warm breath against her sensitized flesh as he brought her closer and closer. The scream ripped from her throat as he finally captured her aching clit between his lips and sucked, hard.
Max continued to nibble gently as her body convulsed in pleasure, finally sitting back on his heels and resting his cheek against her thigh. He waited patiently for her to come down, placing gentle kisses on her soft skin.
“Mmm,” Liz sighed finally, reaching for her husband and scooting back on the bed until he was nestled between her legs. She could feel his very prominent arousal through his boxers, and she shivered with excitement as he pressed firmly against her naked hip before rolling them over. Grinning cheekily at Max, she removed the last remaining article of clothing and wrapped her hand around his erection. “Good to see you again,” she commented, stroking him firmly.
“Liz,” Max groaned from beneath her, rubbing his hands along her backside and causing her to squeal in surprise. She released him then and lifted her hips, grinding against him until they were both breathless with desire.
His name tumbled from her lips as he entered her, filling her to the hilt in one fluid motion. Max held her firmly against him as he thrust into her depths, Liz’s hands braced on his shoulders.
Max groaned deep in his throat, his head lolling back against the blanket as he felt the familiar tightening in his groin. “Liiiz…I’m coming,” he hissed through gritted teeth. Her walls clenched around him, urging his release, and he held Liz close as he spilled into her.
Liz placed feathery kisses on Max’s chest as he softened inside of her and rolled them onto their sides. Propping herself up on one elbow, Liz simply gazed at her amazing husband as he caught his breath.
A dazzling smile spread over Max’s face as he reached up to touch her cheek. “God, I love you.”
Liz grinned wickedly then, running her foot deliberately up his leg. “I know.”
*****
It was very late – or very early, judging by the infomercials now on the TV screen – when Kyle’s eyes fluttered open.
“Kyle.”
“Huh?” he mumbled, scratching his head tiredly. Isabel stood before him, her hands spread over her swollen abdomen. The look on her face jerked him wide awake.
“I think the baby’s coming.”
“The baby’s coming?”
Isabel nodded quickly, rubbing her hand over her belly as the strange sensation rippled through her.
Kyle jumped to his feet, his eyes wide. “Are you sure?”
She braced one hand on the small of her back and bit her lip. “Pretty sure,” she confirmed. “We have to call Jesse.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Wait.” Kyle paused. “Oh my god. You’re not due for ten days!” he said accusingly.
“I don’t think the baby cares.”
“Oh my god. We’ve got to get you to a doctor! To the hospital!” Kyle began searching wildly for his car keys.
Isabel grabbed his arm. “Kyle, slow down. We’ve got some time. Look, we’ve got to get some things together first. Jesse made a list for this, and it’s on his dresser…what?”
Kyle was gaping at her. “What have you done to him?”
She smacked his arm away. “Just go get it, okay?” she said, easing into the recliner.
“What are you doing? Why are you sitting down?” he demanded
Isabel arched an eyebrow. “I’m not panicking,” she informed him calmly, shooing him away.
Kyle rushed to the bedroom and retrieved this list, having a quick talk with Buddha on the way. “When I said I wanted some action, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”
*****
Riiing!
“Mmm.” Liz’s eyes flickered open as the phone rang on her bedside table. She sighed, wondering why someone would call at this hour, and reluctantly pulled away from Max’s nude body spooned behind her. Lifting the receiver with a yawn, Liz mumbled, “Hello?” She paused. “Kyle? Where are – oh. Oh my god. Yeah…yeah, we’ll be there as soon as we can. Bye.”
Liz hung up, rolling over to her husband. “Max,” she murmured. “Wake up, babe.”
He groaned, pulling her closer and burying his hand in her hair.
“Max.” She leaned over him, placing soft kisses on his eyelids until they fluttered open. “We have to go.”
“Where?” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. Max groaned again, squinting at the sudden flood of light as Liz flipped on the lamp and crawled out of bed. He watched the delicate muscles in her back ripple as she pulled on her panties and jeans, and then turned to face him again. “To the hospital. Isabel is having the baby.”
“Now?” Max shot out of bed like a rocket, fumbling around for a pair of boxers.
“Not this second,” Liz assured, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. “But Kyle’s alone at the hospital, and Isabel could probably use the extra support until Jesse gets there.”
“I have a feeling Kyle needs it more than she does,” Max said knowingly as hopped into a pair of jeans. “I need to call Michael,” he decided. “We should both be there in case something happens…”
Liz squeezed Max’s hand comfortingly, knowing there wasn’t much she could say to reassure him until his sister and her baby were both safe and healthy – and thought to be completely human.
Max smiled, grateful once again for Liz’s calming presence, and kissed her sweetly before reaching for the phone.
Across town, Michael and Maria slept soundly, arms and legs tangled together in the sheets. Maria was snuggled comfortably against Michael’s bare chest when she was jolted awake by the phone.
“Shit!” she hissed, sitting up and realizing where she was. It was probably her mother calling, demanding to know why in the hell she hadn’t come home. She sighed heavily as she groped for Michael’s phone, finding it on the floor beside the bed. "Hello?”
“Uh…Maria?”
“Max?”
Max glanced at Liz and arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, is Michael there?”
“Is something wrong? It’s like three in the morning.” She peered over her shoulder at Michael, who was now awake and rubbing his hands over his face.
“Nothing’s wrong, exactly, but…Isabel’s in labor.”
“What?” Maria squawked, causing Michael to jump to attention.
“Give me the phone, Blondie,” he muttered, pulling the receiver from her grasp. “Maxwell? What’s going on?”
“Isabel’s in labor.”
“But Jesse’s not home.”
Max rolled his eyes at Michael’s reasoning. “I know that, but I don’t think it changes things. We have to go to the hospital.”
Michael sighed and flopped back against the pillows. “What, are we going to deliver the kid ourselves? It was Isabel’s decision to have the baby at a hospital.”
“Yeah, I know.” He glanced at Liz to keep from getting frustrated. “Look, Michael, we need to be there if something weird happens. You know that.”
Michael sighed grudgingly, knowing that Max was right, and jumped when Maria grabbed the phone from him.
“Don’t be an asshole, Spaceboy,” she scolded before speaking into the receiver. “Max? We’ll be there in a little while.”
******
“Isabel Evans?” Max watched the nurse expectantly as she checked the database.
“I’m sorry, sir, there’s no Isabel Evans registered here.”
Liz could feel Max tense beside her and suggested quietly, “Try Isabel Ramirez.”
The nurse typed in the change and smiled. “Here we go. Room 317.”
Max sighed. “Thank you.” He squeezed Liz’s hand as they made their way down the hall. “Thank you, Liz. I still do that sometimes.”
“It happens, Ma- Kyle!” Liz spotted him at the end of the hallway, his head resting against the wall. “Is everything okay?”
Kyle looked up to see Max and Liz hurrying toward him. He swallowed hard, running his hand anxiously through his hair. “Thank god you’re here.”
“Oh my god.” Something had happened to his sister. Max burst into the room in a panic.
“Hi Max.”
He froze at the sound of Isabel’s voice. She sat calmly in the bed, smoothing a sheet over her legs as a nurse pulled off a pair of latex gloves. “You can come back in, Kyle,” she called.
Kyle peered around the doorway with Liz beside him. “Isabel, are you okay?” she asked in concern.
“I’m in labor,” Isabel said with a shrug. “And I’m dilated. Three centimeters.” She glanced at the nurse, who nodded in confirmation, wrote something on a chart, and left the room.
Max sat down in one of the hard chairs with a sigh of relief. “So everything’s fine, then?” he confirmed.
“So far,” Isabel nodded, leaning back against the pillows. “Jesse’s catching the next flight to Albuquerque. I’m glad you’re here, though.”
“Me too,” Kyle chimed in quickly, sinking down into the chair beside the bed.
Isabel winced suddenly, sucking in a deep breath as a contraction hit. She reached for the closest thing, which happened to be Kyle’s hand, and squeezed.
Liz turned her head away slightly as the reality of the situation hit her. Here she was, just down the hall from the room she stayed in after losing her baby. They were all here again, but this time it wasn’t because of a death. It was because of a new life.
Max watched the solemn expression on his wife’s face and felt his heart sink. He knew it; he could feel what she was thinking about, because he was feeling it too. He got to his feet and crossed the room, resting his hands on Liz’s shoulders and gazing at her seriously. “Liz…you don’t have to stay,” he murmured. “Michael and Maria will be here soon, and I can take you home-“
“No, Max.” She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. When she looked at him again, they were shining. “I want to be here for something happy this time.”
“Are you sure?” His amber eyes searched hers for any hesitation.
Liz leaned her forehead against his and kissed him gently. “I’m positive.”
*****
“This whole having a baby thing sure takes long enough.”
Maria rolled her eyes, popping a handful of Skittles into her mouth. “Michael, we’ve barely been here three hours.”
He sighed, leaning back in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. “Why go through all this? Babies are little. They ought to be able to just pop right out.”
A pregnant woman shuffling down the hall shot him a dirty look and Maria shook her head, not even bothering to reply. “Here.” She handed him the bag of candy. “Eat these, maybe it’ll shut you up.”
Down the hall, Isabel was panting through another strong contraction. When it passed, she fell back against the pillows, not even noticing Kyle wincing as he flexed his battered fingers. How did he end up with this job, anyway?
“Isabel?”
They all glanced toward the door as a smiling Serena entered the room. “I just came on duty and saw that you’re here. Congratulations.” She chuckled lightly at the tired looks all around. “Really.”
Kyle watched, transfixed, as the young blond nurse flipped through Isabel’s chart and checked the fetal monitor. She really was beautiful, even in her blue and green patterned scrubs.
“Everything’s looking great,” Serena was assuring. “When you were checked a little while ago you were almost at a six, so we could administer an epidural now.”
“No!” Max spoke up quickly, then blushed as Serena looked at him strangely. “I just…uh…Izzy’s afraid of needles. Right, Iz?”
Isabel’s brow furrowed slightly at the pointed look from her brother, but she knew he was right. The use of a needle, not to mention the effect the epidural could have on her system, was a risk she couldn’t afford to take. Lucky humans and their damn drugs. “He’s right,” she affirmed. “I really want to do this naturally, with the Lamaze and all.”
Serena nodded knowingly and glanced at Kyle. “I’m sure Kyle here is a real pro with that,” she smiled. “I heard your husband is on his way?”
Isabel nodded, shifting uncomfortably as another contraction began to take hold. “He’s flying into Albuquerque and then driving here…oh god.”
Kyle gladly let her grip his sore hand this time, knowing he had an audience. “That’s it, Iz,” he said soothingly. “Deep, cleansing breaths.”
Max and Liz exchanged a bemused look. Kyle sure had done a 180 just now.
When it was over, Isabel sat back again and rubbed her hands over her belly. “God, I hope Jesse gets here in time.”
Consulting her chart again, Serena said, “First babies tend to take a while. I think we’ve got plenty of time.”
Kyle patted Isabel’s hand and took this opportunity to shoot a look in Serena’s direction and then announce, “I’ll be here as long as you need me, Iz.”
Another glance between Liz and Max. Yes indeed, Kyle Valenti was on the prowl.
“I’m so uncomfortable.”
Michael exchanged a look with Max and they both glanced at Isabel, slumped back in a lawn chair with a paper fan in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other. “When’s the kid supposed to come again?” Michael hissed.
“Ten days,” Max muttered under his breath, getting to his feet to check the progress of the grill. Ten more days of Isabel complaining about the heat, the size of her middle, the fact that Edy’s had discontinued its cappuccino flavored ice cream, and anything else under the sun that happened to get under her skin. Though the Nazi in Isabel had been in full force for most of her pregnancy, in the last few weeks she’d decided it unnecessary to lift a finger. Max loved his sister to bits, but it didn’t change the fact that his sister in her nine-months-pregnant state was driving him bonkers. He couldn’t help feeling a bit of resentment toward Jesse, who’d been called to testify for a co-worker in a messy case in Denver and had been out of town for several days. As Michael had so reasonably put it, “It’s his fault, he should have to deal with it.”
Max chuckled to himself as he flipped the burgers over. Jesse felt horrible about leaving Isabel alone, and had asked Max to check up on her at least once a day. It seemed almost unnecessary, what with Jesse calling home every few hours, but Max could understand. He watched as his beautiful wife appeared from Isabel’s kitchen with a stack of paper plates. He knew for a fact that he would be just as protective of Liz.
“Hey, you.” Liz playfully slapped her husband’s behind and set the plates beside the grill before settling her arms around his waist.
“Burgers are almost done,” he said, grinning as Liz ran her hands over his tight abs.
“Mmm,” she breathed into his ears. “Yummy.”
Max tapped her arm with the turner. “Tease,” he muttered.
Liz smirked, her fingers trailing to his waistband for just an instant. “I have to help Maria with the fruit salad,” she announced, traipsing back into the house.
Tease indeed. Max shook his head, still grinning from ear to ear as he arranged the burgers on a paper plate. “Food’s on!” he called.
Isabel smiled sweetly at Kyle. “Would you be the greatest friend in the world and get a burger for me?”
Kyle sighed, pushing himself out of his chair. “You’re the mommy.”
“Thank you!” she chirped. “And remember, plenty of Tabasco on both sides of the bun, and cheese, but don’t let it get all melty. The texture grosses me out.”
“I got it, Iz,” Kyle assured dryly, glancing at Max and rolling his eyes. “Ten days.”
*****
Later that evening, after the coals in the grill had cooled and the last burger had been devoured, the six friends sat laughing in the mid-July night. Maria was recounting an incident from Isabel’s baby shower several weeks earlier when Liz noticed a strange look cross Isabel’s face.
“Isabel, are you okay?”
Glancing up in surprise, Isabel ran her hand over her belly and nodded. “Oh, yeah. It’s this indigestion. Nothing seems to help.”
Maria continued her story, and Liz’s eyes drifted to her husband sitting across the table from her. She kicked off her sandals and slowly touched one foot to Max’s calve. He jumped slightly, clearing his throat as his wife’s bare foot slid up and down his leg.
Liz slid her eyes up to his innocently, her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth as her foot moved higher.
Max swallowed hard at how aroused this was making him. If Liz didn’t cut it out, he was going to have to be forced to drag her around front and take her in the backseat of the Chevelle.
“Hey Maria,” Liz spoke up suddenly, her foot just inches from Max’s crotch. “Tell your mom that we’ve still got one of her dishes at our place. I washed it out after the party…”
Max fought back his gasp as Liz’s foot came into contact with his manhood despite the conversation she was carrying on with Maria. He gripped the arms of his lawn chair as her toes curled around him.
“You alright, Max?” Michael spoke up, eyeing his best friend suspiciously.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Max managed, blushing slightly.
Liz smirked, moving her foot over him again. “Must be indigestion.”
At that, Max grabbed her foot under the table and began to tickle it. Liz jerked awkwardly in her chair, trying unsuccessfully to stifle her laughter.
The other four stared at the couple knowingly. “Get a room,” Kyle demanded. “You’ve got plenty of those at your apartment.”
Max and Liz exchanged guilty grins. After a moment they both pushed their chairs back and at the same time said, “Well, it’s been fun.”
“We’ll just bring some of this in on our way out.”
After a quick round of goodbyes and dumping the plates into the trash, Max and Liz dashed to the car and sped toward home.
*****
“So…what are you doing after this?”
Maria slid her glance to Michael as they stood side by side at Isabel’s kitchen sink. She lowered her hands into the soapy water. “I don’t know…probably just go to bed. My mom’s out with Valenti, and there’s not much to do, so…”
“Do you wanna…y’know, do something?” Michael ventured, taking the dish from Maria and drying it haphazardly.
Pursing her lips, Maria pretended to ponder this. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Michael repeated, casually moving behind her and then pressing himself against her backside.
Maria jumped in surprise, a grin spreading over her face. “I guess I could come over for a while.”
“Good.” Michael smiled in satisfaction, returning to the dishes that Maria was hurriedly passing to him.
Kyle returned from replacing the lawn chairs and leaned against the counter. “You guys heading out?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Yeah.”
“Ookay.” Kyle backed off at their eagerness and sauntered into the living room where Isabel sat with her feet up on the coffee table, talking on the phone with Jesse.
“Yes, honey, I feel fine. Really. Yes, I’m sitting with my feet up, just like you told me to. Okay. Okay. Get some sleep, you’ve got a big day tomorrow. I love you too, honey. Bye.” She punched the phone off and turned to Kyle. “Kyle, could you get the remote?” she asked, pointing to the recliner a few feet away.
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Kyle complied and flopped onto the couch beside her. “Would you like me to press the buttons for you, too?”
Isabel shot him a dirty look, flipping on the television. “You try having a person take up the entire midsection of your body and then tell me how easy it is to maneuver.”
“Hey, wait.” Kyle grabbed her arm as she flipped to Comedy Central. “This is a great movie.”
“Kyle, it’s Porky’s Two.”
“I know!” He clapped his hands happily and settled back onto the couch.
“This is my payback for Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, isn’t it?”
Kyle only grinned smugly.
Isabel sighed in defeat and rested the remote on her stomach.
“Hey, cool trick,” Kyle complimented, glancing at her round belly.
“Shut up, Valenti.”
“We’re leaving now,” Maria announced from the doorway, slinging her purse over her shoulder.
Isabel craned her neck to smile at Maria and Michael. “Bye, guys. Thanks again for doing the dishes.”
“Later.” Kyle waved, not taking his eyes from the screen.
“Later.” Michael propelled Maria to the door, and then they were gone.
Kyle couldn’t help feeling sorry for himself. Everyone else was off having sex, and here he was, hanging out with his married, very pregnant friend. He sighed. Even the losers on TV were getting more action than he was.
*****
“I’m pretty sure it’s your fault,” Liz insisted as she and Max burst into their apartment, already unbuttoning shirts and unfastening belt buckles and bras. “If you hadn’t started tickling me-“
Max’s lips swooped down on hers, cutting off any further argument. He grinned against her mouth as they made their way blindly to their bedroom. Feeling giddy all over, Max couldn’t believe he’d actually been forced to pull into a deserted parking lot because Liz decided to go down on him. He’d then floored it all the way to their apartment, eager to return the favor.
Liz collapsed onto their bed, gazing up at him, and at that moment Max wanted her in the worst way. Wanted to touch her, taste her, smell her, hear her cry out as he made her come.
He dropped to his knees before her, kneeling between her legs as he worked at the fastening of her skirt. But instead of pulling it over her hips, Max placed a hand on each of her knees. Liz watched intently as his hands slid to her inner thighs, slowly disappearing under her skirt. She gasped as he came into contact with her damp panties and leaned back on her elbows, panting.
Max pushed the silky material aside, and she groaned as he ran one finger down her lips before sliding his hands back to her knees. “Max,” she moaned in protest.
“You’re so wet,” he murmured, silencing her. She watched from under heavy lids as he brought his finger to his mouth and tasted her. “And you taste so good,” he sighed. “So good…I want more, Liz.” He gazed at her hungrily. “Can I have more?”
“Mm-hmm.” Liz’s heart roared in her ears as he reached for her skirt, lifting her hips so he could pull the garments down her body.
Max breathed deeply, taking in the sweetness of her essence as he settled back between her legs. Her knees fell further apart as he traced his tongue up her inner thigh, pausing to suck on the sensitive skin at the juncture of her hip.
“Max…” His name escaped between her parted lips, urging him to her core. His tongue swept over her deftly, capturing her honey and then searching for more.
Liz’s cries filled his ears as his tongue moved in and out, in and out, nearly bringing her to the edge. She writhed beneath his mouth, her hips thrusting involuntarily closer, urging him deeper as she fisted her hands in his hair. “Max…oh god,” she gasped, feeling his warm breath against her sensitized flesh as he brought her closer and closer. The scream ripped from her throat as he finally captured her aching clit between his lips and sucked, hard.
Max continued to nibble gently as her body convulsed in pleasure, finally sitting back on his heels and resting his cheek against her thigh. He waited patiently for her to come down, placing gentle kisses on her soft skin.
“Mmm,” Liz sighed finally, reaching for her husband and scooting back on the bed until he was nestled between her legs. She could feel his very prominent arousal through his boxers, and she shivered with excitement as he pressed firmly against her naked hip before rolling them over. Grinning cheekily at Max, she removed the last remaining article of clothing and wrapped her hand around his erection. “Good to see you again,” she commented, stroking him firmly.
“Liz,” Max groaned from beneath her, rubbing his hands along her backside and causing her to squeal in surprise. She released him then and lifted her hips, grinding against him until they were both breathless with desire.
His name tumbled from her lips as he entered her, filling her to the hilt in one fluid motion. Max held her firmly against him as he thrust into her depths, Liz’s hands braced on his shoulders.
Max groaned deep in his throat, his head lolling back against the blanket as he felt the familiar tightening in his groin. “Liiiz…I’m coming,” he hissed through gritted teeth. Her walls clenched around him, urging his release, and he held Liz close as he spilled into her.
Liz placed feathery kisses on Max’s chest as he softened inside of her and rolled them onto their sides. Propping herself up on one elbow, Liz simply gazed at her amazing husband as he caught his breath.
A dazzling smile spread over Max’s face as he reached up to touch her cheek. “God, I love you.”
Liz grinned wickedly then, running her foot deliberately up his leg. “I know.”
*****
It was very late – or very early, judging by the infomercials now on the TV screen – when Kyle’s eyes fluttered open.
“Kyle.”
“Huh?” he mumbled, scratching his head tiredly. Isabel stood before him, her hands spread over her swollen abdomen. The look on her face jerked him wide awake.
“I think the baby’s coming.”
“The baby’s coming?”
Isabel nodded quickly, rubbing her hand over her belly as the strange sensation rippled through her.
Kyle jumped to his feet, his eyes wide. “Are you sure?”
She braced one hand on the small of her back and bit her lip. “Pretty sure,” she confirmed. “We have to call Jesse.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Wait.” Kyle paused. “Oh my god. You’re not due for ten days!” he said accusingly.
“I don’t think the baby cares.”
“Oh my god. We’ve got to get you to a doctor! To the hospital!” Kyle began searching wildly for his car keys.
Isabel grabbed his arm. “Kyle, slow down. We’ve got some time. Look, we’ve got to get some things together first. Jesse made a list for this, and it’s on his dresser…what?”
Kyle was gaping at her. “What have you done to him?”
She smacked his arm away. “Just go get it, okay?” she said, easing into the recliner.
“What are you doing? Why are you sitting down?” he demanded
Isabel arched an eyebrow. “I’m not panicking,” she informed him calmly, shooing him away.
Kyle rushed to the bedroom and retrieved this list, having a quick talk with Buddha on the way. “When I said I wanted some action, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”
*****
Riiing!
“Mmm.” Liz’s eyes flickered open as the phone rang on her bedside table. She sighed, wondering why someone would call at this hour, and reluctantly pulled away from Max’s nude body spooned behind her. Lifting the receiver with a yawn, Liz mumbled, “Hello?” She paused. “Kyle? Where are – oh. Oh my god. Yeah…yeah, we’ll be there as soon as we can. Bye.”
Liz hung up, rolling over to her husband. “Max,” she murmured. “Wake up, babe.”
He groaned, pulling her closer and burying his hand in her hair.
“Max.” She leaned over him, placing soft kisses on his eyelids until they fluttered open. “We have to go.”
“Where?” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. Max groaned again, squinting at the sudden flood of light as Liz flipped on the lamp and crawled out of bed. He watched the delicate muscles in her back ripple as she pulled on her panties and jeans, and then turned to face him again. “To the hospital. Isabel is having the baby.”
“Now?” Max shot out of bed like a rocket, fumbling around for a pair of boxers.
“Not this second,” Liz assured, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. “But Kyle’s alone at the hospital, and Isabel could probably use the extra support until Jesse gets there.”
“I have a feeling Kyle needs it more than she does,” Max said knowingly as hopped into a pair of jeans. “I need to call Michael,” he decided. “We should both be there in case something happens…”
Liz squeezed Max’s hand comfortingly, knowing there wasn’t much she could say to reassure him until his sister and her baby were both safe and healthy – and thought to be completely human.
Max smiled, grateful once again for Liz’s calming presence, and kissed her sweetly before reaching for the phone.
Across town, Michael and Maria slept soundly, arms and legs tangled together in the sheets. Maria was snuggled comfortably against Michael’s bare chest when she was jolted awake by the phone.
“Shit!” she hissed, sitting up and realizing where she was. It was probably her mother calling, demanding to know why in the hell she hadn’t come home. She sighed heavily as she groped for Michael’s phone, finding it on the floor beside the bed. "Hello?”
“Uh…Maria?”
“Max?”
Max glanced at Liz and arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, is Michael there?”
“Is something wrong? It’s like three in the morning.” She peered over her shoulder at Michael, who was now awake and rubbing his hands over his face.
“Nothing’s wrong, exactly, but…Isabel’s in labor.”
“What?” Maria squawked, causing Michael to jump to attention.
“Give me the phone, Blondie,” he muttered, pulling the receiver from her grasp. “Maxwell? What’s going on?”
“Isabel’s in labor.”
“But Jesse’s not home.”
Max rolled his eyes at Michael’s reasoning. “I know that, but I don’t think it changes things. We have to go to the hospital.”
Michael sighed and flopped back against the pillows. “What, are we going to deliver the kid ourselves? It was Isabel’s decision to have the baby at a hospital.”
“Yeah, I know.” He glanced at Liz to keep from getting frustrated. “Look, Michael, we need to be there if something weird happens. You know that.”
Michael sighed grudgingly, knowing that Max was right, and jumped when Maria grabbed the phone from him.
“Don’t be an asshole, Spaceboy,” she scolded before speaking into the receiver. “Max? We’ll be there in a little while.”
******
“Isabel Evans?” Max watched the nurse expectantly as she checked the database.
“I’m sorry, sir, there’s no Isabel Evans registered here.”
Liz could feel Max tense beside her and suggested quietly, “Try Isabel Ramirez.”
The nurse typed in the change and smiled. “Here we go. Room 317.”
Max sighed. “Thank you.” He squeezed Liz’s hand as they made their way down the hall. “Thank you, Liz. I still do that sometimes.”
“It happens, Ma- Kyle!” Liz spotted him at the end of the hallway, his head resting against the wall. “Is everything okay?”
Kyle looked up to see Max and Liz hurrying toward him. He swallowed hard, running his hand anxiously through his hair. “Thank god you’re here.”
“Oh my god.” Something had happened to his sister. Max burst into the room in a panic.
“Hi Max.”
He froze at the sound of Isabel’s voice. She sat calmly in the bed, smoothing a sheet over her legs as a nurse pulled off a pair of latex gloves. “You can come back in, Kyle,” she called.
Kyle peered around the doorway with Liz beside him. “Isabel, are you okay?” she asked in concern.
“I’m in labor,” Isabel said with a shrug. “And I’m dilated. Three centimeters.” She glanced at the nurse, who nodded in confirmation, wrote something on a chart, and left the room.
Max sat down in one of the hard chairs with a sigh of relief. “So everything’s fine, then?” he confirmed.
“So far,” Isabel nodded, leaning back against the pillows. “Jesse’s catching the next flight to Albuquerque. I’m glad you’re here, though.”
“Me too,” Kyle chimed in quickly, sinking down into the chair beside the bed.
Isabel winced suddenly, sucking in a deep breath as a contraction hit. She reached for the closest thing, which happened to be Kyle’s hand, and squeezed.
Liz turned her head away slightly as the reality of the situation hit her. Here she was, just down the hall from the room she stayed in after losing her baby. They were all here again, but this time it wasn’t because of a death. It was because of a new life.
Max watched the solemn expression on his wife’s face and felt his heart sink. He knew it; he could feel what she was thinking about, because he was feeling it too. He got to his feet and crossed the room, resting his hands on Liz’s shoulders and gazing at her seriously. “Liz…you don’t have to stay,” he murmured. “Michael and Maria will be here soon, and I can take you home-“
“No, Max.” She shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment. When she looked at him again, they were shining. “I want to be here for something happy this time.”
“Are you sure?” His amber eyes searched hers for any hesitation.
Liz leaned her forehead against his and kissed him gently. “I’m positive.”
*****
“This whole having a baby thing sure takes long enough.”
Maria rolled her eyes, popping a handful of Skittles into her mouth. “Michael, we’ve barely been here three hours.”
He sighed, leaning back in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs. “Why go through all this? Babies are little. They ought to be able to just pop right out.”
A pregnant woman shuffling down the hall shot him a dirty look and Maria shook her head, not even bothering to reply. “Here.” She handed him the bag of candy. “Eat these, maybe it’ll shut you up.”
Down the hall, Isabel was panting through another strong contraction. When it passed, she fell back against the pillows, not even noticing Kyle wincing as he flexed his battered fingers. How did he end up with this job, anyway?
“Isabel?”
They all glanced toward the door as a smiling Serena entered the room. “I just came on duty and saw that you’re here. Congratulations.” She chuckled lightly at the tired looks all around. “Really.”
Kyle watched, transfixed, as the young blond nurse flipped through Isabel’s chart and checked the fetal monitor. She really was beautiful, even in her blue and green patterned scrubs.
“Everything’s looking great,” Serena was assuring. “When you were checked a little while ago you were almost at a six, so we could administer an epidural now.”
“No!” Max spoke up quickly, then blushed as Serena looked at him strangely. “I just…uh…Izzy’s afraid of needles. Right, Iz?”
Isabel’s brow furrowed slightly at the pointed look from her brother, but she knew he was right. The use of a needle, not to mention the effect the epidural could have on her system, was a risk she couldn’t afford to take. Lucky humans and their damn drugs. “He’s right,” she affirmed. “I really want to do this naturally, with the Lamaze and all.”
Serena nodded knowingly and glanced at Kyle. “I’m sure Kyle here is a real pro with that,” she smiled. “I heard your husband is on his way?”
Isabel nodded, shifting uncomfortably as another contraction began to take hold. “He’s flying into Albuquerque and then driving here…oh god.”
Kyle gladly let her grip his sore hand this time, knowing he had an audience. “That’s it, Iz,” he said soothingly. “Deep, cleansing breaths.”
Max and Liz exchanged a bemused look. Kyle sure had done a 180 just now.
When it was over, Isabel sat back again and rubbed her hands over her belly. “God, I hope Jesse gets here in time.”
Consulting her chart again, Serena said, “First babies tend to take a while. I think we’ve got plenty of time.”
Kyle patted Isabel’s hand and took this opportunity to shoot a look in Serena’s direction and then announce, “I’ll be here as long as you need me, Iz.”
Another glance between Liz and Max. Yes indeed, Kyle Valenti was on the prowl.
32
“Mom, I know. I’m sorry, I should have called earlier. No, Mom, she’s fine. I told you, she’s not even pushing yet. We figured you and Dad ought to be able to get a good night’s sleep. Yes, Mom, I know that just because you’re going to be grandparents it doesn’t make you ancient. Okay. She’s on the third floor. Sorry, sorry, of course you remember. Okay. Bye, Mom.”
Max hit the end button on his cell phone, shaking his head as he turned to Liz. “My parents are on their way.”
“So I heard,” Liz giggled.
“Is it so bad to have waited until seven to call?” Max asked, accepting a cup of coffee from the cardboard holder in Liz’s hands. “They’ll be here for the birth. Which is more than we can say for Jesse right now.”
Liz sighed as they walked down the hall toward Isabel’s room. “At least he’s finally on the plane. The delay only set him back about an hour. Kyle, what are you doing?” she asked then, noticing him pacing back and forth outside Isabel’s door.
“They’re doing something to her water. Isabel told me to get out,” Kyle explained, taking a cup from Liz and downing a good swig.
Serena appeared in the doorway then, her brow furrowed as she flipped through Isabel’s chart.
Max noticed this. “Is something wrong?”
Startled, Serena looked up quickly. “Wrong? No, no. Ah, I just broke her water, so things should pick up pretty quickly from here. She’s almost at an eight, so she’s going to try getting some rest before she transitions and starts to push.”
“I’m not pushing until Jesse’s here,” Isabel warned from inside the room.
“Okay, Iz,” Serena called back before winking at the other three, the smile returned to her face. “I have a feeling she’ll change her mind if it comes down to that.”
“Where are you going?” Kyle asked anxiously as Serena started down the hall.
“To check on a few other patients and do some paper work in the nurses’ station. Isabel’s fine,” she assured. “Besides, Kyle, I bet you’ve got it all under control. Just remind her of her breathing.”
Kyle watched as Serena retreated down the hall; her dazzling smile, the swing of her hair, the sway of her hips, all emblazoned in his mind. Thank you, Buddha.
“Kyle?” Max peered at his friend. “Kyle?”
“Huh?”
“I said, where are Michael and Maria?”
Kyle looked at Max and Liz blankly. “I thought they were with you.”
*****
“Michael…mmm…I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“What, having sex in a hospital bathroom?”
“That too…it’s completely unsanitary,” Maria breathed as Michael suckled on her throat. “But I just meant…doing this…while Isabel’s giving birth…she’d kill us.”
Michael grabbed Maria around the waist and lifted her onto the sink. “Not like she’s never done this before,” he mumbled, settling between her legs.
Maria moaned appreciatively as the lump in Michael’s jeans ground against her. “We don’t have much time,” she managed as she began working on his zipper.
“The door’s locked,” he reminded her, his tongue tracing the shell of Maria’s ear. Just to be safe, he extended his hand and sealed the door with a blast of alien magic. “No one will get in, trust me.”
Maria nodded, burying her face in Michael’s neck as both of his hands returned to her body. “Oh god, Michael, hurry.”
Michael’s breath was labored as he reached around and worked Maria’s shorts and panties down her hips, letting them dangle at her ankles. He choked out a muffled groan as Maria’s slender fingers reached into his boxers and retrieved his throbbing erection. “Maria,” he ground out. “Are you ready for me?”
The moan that escaped from between her lips as he pressed against her heat was all the encouragement Michael needed before he plunged into her. He braced his hands on her waist as his rhythmic thrusts increased, prompting her to lock her ankles behind him.
“Deeper…deeper, Michael, please,” she gasped, arching her back as he pumped in and out. “Yes…ohhh…oh god.”
“You’re so tight, Maria,” he breathed. “I’m close…oh god…so close…”
Maria cried out as Michael suddenly reached behind and grabbed her, lifting her up off the counter as their bodies crashed together. He threw his head back and let go, chanting Maria’s name as she shuddered over him.
“We’ll…mmm…we’ll have to do this more often,” Maria sighed, pressing her damp forehead against his.
“In a hospital bathroom?” Michael teased, rubbing his hands up and down her bare thighs.
Maria wrinkled her nose, squirming on the countertop. “Don’t remind me.”
*****
“That’s it, Isabel. This one’s almost over…that’s it.”
“Shut up!” Isabel fell back against the pillows, tossing Kyle’s hand away. “Do you want to do this?”
Kyle’s eyes widened and he raised his hands innocently. “Hell no, it’s all you.”
“Then don’t open your mouth!” she growled, licking her parched lips.
“Um…do you want an ice chip?” Kyle asked timidly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had ice chips?” Isabel demanded, her eyes flashing. “Goddammit, Kyle, what else are you hiding from me? Drugs?”
“Uh…no…just ice chips,” he answered, quickly handing her the cup. He didn’t want her to lunge. “Serena just brought them in.”
Isabel sighed, sucking appreciatively on a cube of ice. “Thank you, Serena.”
Kyle rolled his eyes in exasperation. Sure, now she was pleasant as punch. This whole childbirth thing wasn’t even his fault, and yet here he was, taking the brunt of Isabel’s abuse while Jesse was sitting pretty on an airplane. Buddha must be having a field day with this.
Serena smiled in understanding as she glanced up from the fetal monitor. “The baby’s heartbeat is still nice and strong during the contractions, and it looks like they’re getting more intense.”
“You could say that,” Isabel confirmed dryly, rubbing her hands over her belly.
“Let’s check you real quick and see what kind of progress you’re making before the next one hits.” She glanced at Kyle. “It’ll only be a minute or so, why don’t you stay so you can coach her through it?”
“Sure.” Whatever Serena wanted. He flinched slightly as she snapped on a pair of latex gloves and lifted the sheet that was draped over Isabel’s knees. Quickly turning his head away, Kyle began to tap on the frame of her bed with his fingers.
“Kyle, what are you doing?” Isabel demanded in irritation.
“I’m just trying to distract myself,” he mumbled.
“Could you be any more annoy- oh god…oh…” Isabel sucked in a deep breath and grabbed for Kyle’s tapping hand, clenching it in hers as another contraction shot through her.
Serena smiled sympathetically, slipping the sheet back over Isabel’s legs. “Just breathe through this one, sweetie, we’ll check when it’s over.”
“Great, fantastic,” Kyle muttered through gritted teeth. Buddha was never going to hear the end of this one.
*****
Meanwhile, Phillip and Diane were conferencing quietly with Max and Liz in the waiting room.
“So everything still appears to be normal?” Phillip asked, his normally steady voice tinged with apprehension.
Max nodded firmly. “Serena hasn’t mentioned anything out of the ordinary, and one of us has been in the room almost the entire time.”
“Isabel seemed pretty confident about this,” Diane added, keeping her voice low. “She wouldn’t have opted for a hospital birth if it didn’t seem safe.”
“There’s no reason it shouldn’t be,” Liz spoke up. “She’s made it clear she wants no blood drawn from herself or the baby. It’s a little suspicious, I guess, but people do it. Serena didn’t seem very surprised.”
“Is Dr. Sinclair on call?” Diane asked.
“Since six,” Max confirmed.
“Good. I like him.” Diane nodded and got to her feet. “We’re going to head back in there, then.”
“See if Kyle needs anything,” Phillip added with a wink.
Max watched as his parents disappeared around the corner just as Michael and Maria traipsed in.
Liz arched her eyebrow. “Where have you two been?”
“Cafeteria,” Maria said quickly, smoothing her hair.
Michael cleared his throat. “Yeah, we were, ah, hungry.”
Max shook his head. “Right. I’m going to get something to drink. Liz, do you want anything?”
“Nah, I’ll just have a sip of yours,” Liz grinned, handing him some change.
Wandering down the hall in search of a soda machine, Max found himself in rather familiar territory. He took a deep breath and paused before the big glass windows of the nursery. There was a couple peering inside, exclaiming over a tiny bundle donning a blue cap. A faint smile flickered over Max’s face as he listened to them marvel over their new baby.
The father glanced over and noticed the serious young man a few feet away. Despite his gentle smile as he watched the row of newborns, his eyes held an air of anguish. He was clearly wise beyond his years.
“Which one is yours?” the wife spoke up kindly as she, too, noticed the dark haired young man.
Max looked up, startled. “Oh…none of them. My sister’s having a baby, so my wife and I are here with her.”
His wife? The kid couldn’t be much more than nineteen or twenty. “Actually most of the family is here, so…” he was saying.
The woman nodded in understanding. “It’s an exciting event.”
Max was silent for a moment, gazing in at the couple’s son. “Is this your first baby?”
The father nodded proudly. “Christopher.”
“We’re so blessed to have him,” his wife continued, beaming at her son. “After three miscarriages we’d almost given up hope…”
Kissing his wife’s forehead, the man smiled. “But Christopher here is proof. Never give up hope.”
Max swallowed hard, touching his fingers to the cool glass. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The man turned to shake Max’s hand. “Tobin and Laine Somers, by the way.”
“Max Evans,” he said, returning the warm handshake.
Laine smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Max. We were just on our way to get some breakfast, but maybe we’ll see you later? With your niece or nephew, even.”
Max nodded. “Definitely.” He watched the elated couple say goodbye to their son and then continue down the hall. Peering in the window, watched as the baby stretched his tiny arms and yawned. “Hi Christopher,” he murmured. “My niece or nephew is going to have the same birthday as you.” Max paused. “And my little boy would about your age, too. He…he’s an angel now, just like your brothers and sisters.”
Max felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind then, and Liz’s soft voice asked, “Who’s your friend?”
Turning to his wife, he smiled. “This is Christopher. I just met his parents a few minutes ago.”
Liz nodded, slipping under Max’s arm and settling against his side. “I thought I might find you here.”
“I was just thinking.” Max pressed his lips to the crown of Liz’s head. “Gabriel would be almost four months old.” He felt Liz nod against his chest. “Do babies start sitting up then? Or teething?”
“I don’t think so,” Liz said with a slight smile. “I’m pretty sure they don’t do much except spit up and smile.”
“Oh.” Max paused thoughtfully. “He’d have your smile, you know. It would be beautiful.”
Liz was silent, squeezing his hand as they gazed in at the newborns. After a few minutes, the silence was broken as Maria came careening down the hall.
“She’s having the baby!”
“Right now?” Liz asked.
“She’s starting to push,” Maria explained.
Max sighed. “Jesse’s still a good hour away.” He turned back to the window. “Goodbye, Christopher,” he murmured before Maria yanked them down the hall.
*****
“…nine…ten,” Kyle counted beside Isabel.
Isabel grunted and fell back against the pillows. “I really don’t want to do this,” she moaned.
Serena glanced up from the end of the bed. “I know, sweetie, but this baby doesn’t want to wait.”
Sighing, Isabel cupped her hands over her round belly. “Daddy’s not here yet,” she reminded. “As soon as he gets here, come on out, but…” She groaned as another contraction took hold.
“You’re doing great, Izzy,” Diane murmured from her daughter’s other side.
“Mom,” she panted, “I have to wait…until…Jesse…”
“No talking during contractions,” Serena scolded gently. “Focus on bringing the baby down.” She pushed the stool back and stood. “I’m going to get Dr. Sinclair.”
“Is something wrong?” Max asked anxiously.
Serena patted his arm as she passed. “Nope. You’re about to become an uncle.”
As soon as the family was alone, Isabel reached for her brother. “Max, you’ve got to do something! You and Michael, you’ve got to stop the contractions so-“
“Isabel.” Max took his sister’s hand and squeezed it firmly. “You know we can’t do that. We’re not intervening at all unless something goes wrong, and even that would just be an attempt at some kind of mindwarp.”
Isabel sighed again, blowing her damp hair off her forehead. “I know, I know, but…oh god, here comes another one.” She scrunched her eyes shut as the urge to push took over her body again. “Dammit, Kyle, can’t Buddha do something about this?” she demanded.
“Sorry, Iz.” Kyle handed over his fingers to be squeezed for the umpteenth time.
“How are we doing in here?” Dr. Sinclair smiled as he walked briskly inside.
Isabel groaned in response and the rest of the family only flashed weak smiles. Her shrill cry surprised them all as she hunched forward.
“Shit,” Kyle muttered under his breath as the doctor inspected her. What was happening?
“Okay, Isabel, it’s okay,” the doctor encouraged. “The baby’s head is starting to crown. You’ll be feeling a lot of pressure now.”
Isabel nodded fiercely and she gritted her teeth until it passed. “I need Jesse,” she moaned, slumping back.
Max and Liz watched helplessly as Kyle, Serena, and Diane coached her through the next contraction. “Max, there’s got to be something you can do,” Liz whispered, her eyes filled with concern.
“Childbirth is childbirth, Liz,” he said with a sigh. “It’s a natural thing, and I can’t do anything about-“
“I mean about Jesse,” she interrupted. “Can’t you, I don’t know, figure out where he is?”
Max sighed, flinching slightly as his sister’s shrill cry pierced the air. He closed his eyes, concentrating hard.
The minutes passed. “Just a few more good, hard pushes and the head will be out,” Dr. Sinclair encouraged. “You’re doing great.”
“Oh my god, Isabel?”
All eyes turned toward the door as Jesse skidded into the room. “Iz…oh god, honey, I thought I was too late.”
“Jesse!” Isabel’s face lit up despite the fading contraction and she reached for her husband. “No, you’re just in time.”
Hurrying to her side, Jesse took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. “I’m so sorry, Isabel.”
Isabel shook her head, grimacing as the urge to push took over. “No, no, you’re here…oh god…oh god…”
Jesse’s brows knitted in concern at his wife’s pain. “Just remind her to breath,” Kyle informed him, patting Jesse on the shoulder. “Good luck, man.”
“Okay, anyone who’s not a Ramirez needs to step out into the waiting room,” Serena spoke up, slipping on a paper gown and handing one to Dr. Sinclair. “Mom and Dad have to concentrate.”
“Thank you so much,” Isabel breathed as her family regretfully headed toward the door.
“Did Jesse find you?” Maria asked as they spilled into the waiting room.
Max nodded, exchanging a smile with Liz. “Just in time.”
“I’m so glad he made it,” Diane said happily, squeezing Phillip’s hand. “Oh god, our little girl is about to become a mother.”
Phillip smiled, guiding his wife to a chair.
Smiling as he watched his parents, Max pulled Liz close. “How’s that for timing?” he chuckled.
Liz shook her head in amazement. “You’re incredible.” She turned as Kyle sat down beside them with a heavy sigh. “Kyle? Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? Of course I’m okay,” Kyle shrugged. “This probably sounds ridiculous, but after everything we went through…I don’t know, I was kind of hoping I’d get to be there when the kid is born.”
“Oh Kyle.” Liz grinned and threw her arms around him. “You’re going to be a great dad someday.”
“Yeah, a great dad with no use of his hands,” Kyle shot back. “So much for teaching my kids to play catch.”
Liz just rolled her eyes and laughed.
The minutes ticked by, punctuating with Michael’s insistent foot tapping. “This kid is taking forever,” he said in exasperation, silenced quickly when the rest of the room shot him a glare.
Weaving her fingers through his, Liz glanced at Max as he stared at the floor. “Do you think everything’s okay in there?” she asked quietly.
Max shrugged. “I hope so. I really hope so-“ He trailed off as Serena appeared in the waiting room doorway. The group held their breaths until her face broke into a smile. “Congratulations,” she said with a grin. “Your family has a new baby boy.”
“Mom, I know. I’m sorry, I should have called earlier. No, Mom, she’s fine. I told you, she’s not even pushing yet. We figured you and Dad ought to be able to get a good night’s sleep. Yes, Mom, I know that just because you’re going to be grandparents it doesn’t make you ancient. Okay. She’s on the third floor. Sorry, sorry, of course you remember. Okay. Bye, Mom.”
Max hit the end button on his cell phone, shaking his head as he turned to Liz. “My parents are on their way.”
“So I heard,” Liz giggled.
“Is it so bad to have waited until seven to call?” Max asked, accepting a cup of coffee from the cardboard holder in Liz’s hands. “They’ll be here for the birth. Which is more than we can say for Jesse right now.”
Liz sighed as they walked down the hall toward Isabel’s room. “At least he’s finally on the plane. The delay only set him back about an hour. Kyle, what are you doing?” she asked then, noticing him pacing back and forth outside Isabel’s door.
“They’re doing something to her water. Isabel told me to get out,” Kyle explained, taking a cup from Liz and downing a good swig.
Serena appeared in the doorway then, her brow furrowed as she flipped through Isabel’s chart.
Max noticed this. “Is something wrong?”
Startled, Serena looked up quickly. “Wrong? No, no. Ah, I just broke her water, so things should pick up pretty quickly from here. She’s almost at an eight, so she’s going to try getting some rest before she transitions and starts to push.”
“I’m not pushing until Jesse’s here,” Isabel warned from inside the room.
“Okay, Iz,” Serena called back before winking at the other three, the smile returned to her face. “I have a feeling she’ll change her mind if it comes down to that.”
“Where are you going?” Kyle asked anxiously as Serena started down the hall.
“To check on a few other patients and do some paper work in the nurses’ station. Isabel’s fine,” she assured. “Besides, Kyle, I bet you’ve got it all under control. Just remind her of her breathing.”
Kyle watched as Serena retreated down the hall; her dazzling smile, the swing of her hair, the sway of her hips, all emblazoned in his mind. Thank you, Buddha.
“Kyle?” Max peered at his friend. “Kyle?”
“Huh?”
“I said, where are Michael and Maria?”
Kyle looked at Max and Liz blankly. “I thought they were with you.”
*****
“Michael…mmm…I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“What, having sex in a hospital bathroom?”
“That too…it’s completely unsanitary,” Maria breathed as Michael suckled on her throat. “But I just meant…doing this…while Isabel’s giving birth…she’d kill us.”
Michael grabbed Maria around the waist and lifted her onto the sink. “Not like she’s never done this before,” he mumbled, settling between her legs.
Maria moaned appreciatively as the lump in Michael’s jeans ground against her. “We don’t have much time,” she managed as she began working on his zipper.
“The door’s locked,” he reminded her, his tongue tracing the shell of Maria’s ear. Just to be safe, he extended his hand and sealed the door with a blast of alien magic. “No one will get in, trust me.”
Maria nodded, burying her face in Michael’s neck as both of his hands returned to her body. “Oh god, Michael, hurry.”
Michael’s breath was labored as he reached around and worked Maria’s shorts and panties down her hips, letting them dangle at her ankles. He choked out a muffled groan as Maria’s slender fingers reached into his boxers and retrieved his throbbing erection. “Maria,” he ground out. “Are you ready for me?”
The moan that escaped from between her lips as he pressed against her heat was all the encouragement Michael needed before he plunged into her. He braced his hands on her waist as his rhythmic thrusts increased, prompting her to lock her ankles behind him.
“Deeper…deeper, Michael, please,” she gasped, arching her back as he pumped in and out. “Yes…ohhh…oh god.”
“You’re so tight, Maria,” he breathed. “I’m close…oh god…so close…”
Maria cried out as Michael suddenly reached behind and grabbed her, lifting her up off the counter as their bodies crashed together. He threw his head back and let go, chanting Maria’s name as she shuddered over him.
“We’ll…mmm…we’ll have to do this more often,” Maria sighed, pressing her damp forehead against his.
“In a hospital bathroom?” Michael teased, rubbing his hands up and down her bare thighs.
Maria wrinkled her nose, squirming on the countertop. “Don’t remind me.”
*****
“That’s it, Isabel. This one’s almost over…that’s it.”
“Shut up!” Isabel fell back against the pillows, tossing Kyle’s hand away. “Do you want to do this?”
Kyle’s eyes widened and he raised his hands innocently. “Hell no, it’s all you.”
“Then don’t open your mouth!” she growled, licking her parched lips.
“Um…do you want an ice chip?” Kyle asked timidly.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had ice chips?” Isabel demanded, her eyes flashing. “Goddammit, Kyle, what else are you hiding from me? Drugs?”
“Uh…no…just ice chips,” he answered, quickly handing her the cup. He didn’t want her to lunge. “Serena just brought them in.”
Isabel sighed, sucking appreciatively on a cube of ice. “Thank you, Serena.”
Kyle rolled his eyes in exasperation. Sure, now she was pleasant as punch. This whole childbirth thing wasn’t even his fault, and yet here he was, taking the brunt of Isabel’s abuse while Jesse was sitting pretty on an airplane. Buddha must be having a field day with this.
Serena smiled in understanding as she glanced up from the fetal monitor. “The baby’s heartbeat is still nice and strong during the contractions, and it looks like they’re getting more intense.”
“You could say that,” Isabel confirmed dryly, rubbing her hands over her belly.
“Let’s check you real quick and see what kind of progress you’re making before the next one hits.” She glanced at Kyle. “It’ll only be a minute or so, why don’t you stay so you can coach her through it?”
“Sure.” Whatever Serena wanted. He flinched slightly as she snapped on a pair of latex gloves and lifted the sheet that was draped over Isabel’s knees. Quickly turning his head away, Kyle began to tap on the frame of her bed with his fingers.
“Kyle, what are you doing?” Isabel demanded in irritation.
“I’m just trying to distract myself,” he mumbled.
“Could you be any more annoy- oh god…oh…” Isabel sucked in a deep breath and grabbed for Kyle’s tapping hand, clenching it in hers as another contraction shot through her.
Serena smiled sympathetically, slipping the sheet back over Isabel’s legs. “Just breathe through this one, sweetie, we’ll check when it’s over.”
“Great, fantastic,” Kyle muttered through gritted teeth. Buddha was never going to hear the end of this one.
*****
Meanwhile, Phillip and Diane were conferencing quietly with Max and Liz in the waiting room.
“So everything still appears to be normal?” Phillip asked, his normally steady voice tinged with apprehension.
Max nodded firmly. “Serena hasn’t mentioned anything out of the ordinary, and one of us has been in the room almost the entire time.”
“Isabel seemed pretty confident about this,” Diane added, keeping her voice low. “She wouldn’t have opted for a hospital birth if it didn’t seem safe.”
“There’s no reason it shouldn’t be,” Liz spoke up. “She’s made it clear she wants no blood drawn from herself or the baby. It’s a little suspicious, I guess, but people do it. Serena didn’t seem very surprised.”
“Is Dr. Sinclair on call?” Diane asked.
“Since six,” Max confirmed.
“Good. I like him.” Diane nodded and got to her feet. “We’re going to head back in there, then.”
“See if Kyle needs anything,” Phillip added with a wink.
Max watched as his parents disappeared around the corner just as Michael and Maria traipsed in.
Liz arched her eyebrow. “Where have you two been?”
“Cafeteria,” Maria said quickly, smoothing her hair.
Michael cleared his throat. “Yeah, we were, ah, hungry.”
Max shook his head. “Right. I’m going to get something to drink. Liz, do you want anything?”
“Nah, I’ll just have a sip of yours,” Liz grinned, handing him some change.
Wandering down the hall in search of a soda machine, Max found himself in rather familiar territory. He took a deep breath and paused before the big glass windows of the nursery. There was a couple peering inside, exclaiming over a tiny bundle donning a blue cap. A faint smile flickered over Max’s face as he listened to them marvel over their new baby.
The father glanced over and noticed the serious young man a few feet away. Despite his gentle smile as he watched the row of newborns, his eyes held an air of anguish. He was clearly wise beyond his years.
“Which one is yours?” the wife spoke up kindly as she, too, noticed the dark haired young man.
Max looked up, startled. “Oh…none of them. My sister’s having a baby, so my wife and I are here with her.”
His wife? The kid couldn’t be much more than nineteen or twenty. “Actually most of the family is here, so…” he was saying.
The woman nodded in understanding. “It’s an exciting event.”
Max was silent for a moment, gazing in at the couple’s son. “Is this your first baby?”
The father nodded proudly. “Christopher.”
“We’re so blessed to have him,” his wife continued, beaming at her son. “After three miscarriages we’d almost given up hope…”
Kissing his wife’s forehead, the man smiled. “But Christopher here is proof. Never give up hope.”
Max swallowed hard, touching his fingers to the cool glass. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The man turned to shake Max’s hand. “Tobin and Laine Somers, by the way.”
“Max Evans,” he said, returning the warm handshake.
Laine smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Max. We were just on our way to get some breakfast, but maybe we’ll see you later? With your niece or nephew, even.”
Max nodded. “Definitely.” He watched the elated couple say goodbye to their son and then continue down the hall. Peering in the window, watched as the baby stretched his tiny arms and yawned. “Hi Christopher,” he murmured. “My niece or nephew is going to have the same birthday as you.” Max paused. “And my little boy would about your age, too. He…he’s an angel now, just like your brothers and sisters.”
Max felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind then, and Liz’s soft voice asked, “Who’s your friend?”
Turning to his wife, he smiled. “This is Christopher. I just met his parents a few minutes ago.”
Liz nodded, slipping under Max’s arm and settling against his side. “I thought I might find you here.”
“I was just thinking.” Max pressed his lips to the crown of Liz’s head. “Gabriel would be almost four months old.” He felt Liz nod against his chest. “Do babies start sitting up then? Or teething?”
“I don’t think so,” Liz said with a slight smile. “I’m pretty sure they don’t do much except spit up and smile.”
“Oh.” Max paused thoughtfully. “He’d have your smile, you know. It would be beautiful.”
Liz was silent, squeezing his hand as they gazed in at the newborns. After a few minutes, the silence was broken as Maria came careening down the hall.
“She’s having the baby!”
“Right now?” Liz asked.
“She’s starting to push,” Maria explained.
Max sighed. “Jesse’s still a good hour away.” He turned back to the window. “Goodbye, Christopher,” he murmured before Maria yanked them down the hall.
*****
“…nine…ten,” Kyle counted beside Isabel.
Isabel grunted and fell back against the pillows. “I really don’t want to do this,” she moaned.
Serena glanced up from the end of the bed. “I know, sweetie, but this baby doesn’t want to wait.”
Sighing, Isabel cupped her hands over her round belly. “Daddy’s not here yet,” she reminded. “As soon as he gets here, come on out, but…” She groaned as another contraction took hold.
“You’re doing great, Izzy,” Diane murmured from her daughter’s other side.
“Mom,” she panted, “I have to wait…until…Jesse…”
“No talking during contractions,” Serena scolded gently. “Focus on bringing the baby down.” She pushed the stool back and stood. “I’m going to get Dr. Sinclair.”
“Is something wrong?” Max asked anxiously.
Serena patted his arm as she passed. “Nope. You’re about to become an uncle.”
As soon as the family was alone, Isabel reached for her brother. “Max, you’ve got to do something! You and Michael, you’ve got to stop the contractions so-“
“Isabel.” Max took his sister’s hand and squeezed it firmly. “You know we can’t do that. We’re not intervening at all unless something goes wrong, and even that would just be an attempt at some kind of mindwarp.”
Isabel sighed again, blowing her damp hair off her forehead. “I know, I know, but…oh god, here comes another one.” She scrunched her eyes shut as the urge to push took over her body again. “Dammit, Kyle, can’t Buddha do something about this?” she demanded.
“Sorry, Iz.” Kyle handed over his fingers to be squeezed for the umpteenth time.
“How are we doing in here?” Dr. Sinclair smiled as he walked briskly inside.
Isabel groaned in response and the rest of the family only flashed weak smiles. Her shrill cry surprised them all as she hunched forward.
“Shit,” Kyle muttered under his breath as the doctor inspected her. What was happening?
“Okay, Isabel, it’s okay,” the doctor encouraged. “The baby’s head is starting to crown. You’ll be feeling a lot of pressure now.”
Isabel nodded fiercely and she gritted her teeth until it passed. “I need Jesse,” she moaned, slumping back.
Max and Liz watched helplessly as Kyle, Serena, and Diane coached her through the next contraction. “Max, there’s got to be something you can do,” Liz whispered, her eyes filled with concern.
“Childbirth is childbirth, Liz,” he said with a sigh. “It’s a natural thing, and I can’t do anything about-“
“I mean about Jesse,” she interrupted. “Can’t you, I don’t know, figure out where he is?”
Max sighed, flinching slightly as his sister’s shrill cry pierced the air. He closed his eyes, concentrating hard.
The minutes passed. “Just a few more good, hard pushes and the head will be out,” Dr. Sinclair encouraged. “You’re doing great.”
“Oh my god, Isabel?”
All eyes turned toward the door as Jesse skidded into the room. “Iz…oh god, honey, I thought I was too late.”
“Jesse!” Isabel’s face lit up despite the fading contraction and she reached for her husband. “No, you’re just in time.”
Hurrying to her side, Jesse took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm. “I’m so sorry, Isabel.”
Isabel shook her head, grimacing as the urge to push took over. “No, no, you’re here…oh god…oh god…”
Jesse’s brows knitted in concern at his wife’s pain. “Just remind her to breath,” Kyle informed him, patting Jesse on the shoulder. “Good luck, man.”
“Okay, anyone who’s not a Ramirez needs to step out into the waiting room,” Serena spoke up, slipping on a paper gown and handing one to Dr. Sinclair. “Mom and Dad have to concentrate.”
“Thank you so much,” Isabel breathed as her family regretfully headed toward the door.
“Did Jesse find you?” Maria asked as they spilled into the waiting room.
Max nodded, exchanging a smile with Liz. “Just in time.”
“I’m so glad he made it,” Diane said happily, squeezing Phillip’s hand. “Oh god, our little girl is about to become a mother.”
Phillip smiled, guiding his wife to a chair.
Smiling as he watched his parents, Max pulled Liz close. “How’s that for timing?” he chuckled.
Liz shook her head in amazement. “You’re incredible.” She turned as Kyle sat down beside them with a heavy sigh. “Kyle? Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? Of course I’m okay,” Kyle shrugged. “This probably sounds ridiculous, but after everything we went through…I don’t know, I was kind of hoping I’d get to be there when the kid is born.”
“Oh Kyle.” Liz grinned and threw her arms around him. “You’re going to be a great dad someday.”
“Yeah, a great dad with no use of his hands,” Kyle shot back. “So much for teaching my kids to play catch.”
Liz just rolled her eyes and laughed.
The minutes ticked by, punctuating with Michael’s insistent foot tapping. “This kid is taking forever,” he said in exasperation, silenced quickly when the rest of the room shot him a glare.
Weaving her fingers through his, Liz glanced at Max as he stared at the floor. “Do you think everything’s okay in there?” she asked quietly.
Max shrugged. “I hope so. I really hope so-“ He trailed off as Serena appeared in the waiting room doorway. The group held their breaths until her face broke into a smile. “Congratulations,” she said with a grin. “Your family has a new baby boy.”
33
“Isabel and the baby are both doing fine,” Serena announced with a smile.
“Oh, thank god,” Diane gasped, hugging Phillip tightly.
Max and Liz shared sighs of relief and a long embrace, while Michael whooped out loud as Maria threw her arms around him excitedly.
Kyle glanced around at the commotion, and before he could stop himself, he gave Serena a big hug.
Laughing in surprise, Serena patted his back. “Um…Kyle?” she ventured after a few moments. “I have to go back in…”
“Oh. Oh right.” Kyle cleared his throat and reluctantly pulled away. For a second there he’d forgotten why he got to touch her in the first place.
“Can we go in?” Phillip asked, anxious to see his daughter and new grandson.
“Of course,” Serena assured. “Just give us a few minutes to get Isabel settled.”
The group exchanged hugs again. “I wonder what his name is,” Maria spoke up.
“And if he has hair,” Diane mused. “I bet he’s got lots of Jesse’s dark hair.”
Liz reached over and squeezed her husband’s hand. “We have a nephew.”
Max nodded wordlessly, kissing Liz’s forehead. Isabel and the baby were safe.
As promised, Serena soon returned and ushered the family down the hall. Knocking on the partially closed door, she said, “You have some visitors, Isabel.”
“Come on in.” Isabel’s soft voice floated over from the bed as they trickled inside. Smiling as her family murmured over the tiny bundle in her arms, she slid aside the edge of the soft blanket.
Jesse grinned from where he sat on the bed beside Isabel as Diane and Phillip crowded on Isabel’s other side. “Meet your grandson.”
“Oh Izzy, Jesse,” Diane sighed, catching her first glimpse of the newborn. “He’s beautiful.”
Maria leaned over for a better look. “He looks like you, Iz.”
“He’s got Jesse’s hair,” Diane pointed out. “What’s there of it, anyway.”
Clenching hands, Max and Liz slowly approached the bed. Isabel glanced up and caught her brother’s eyes. “What do you think of your nephew?” she asked softly.
Max swallowed hard, managing only a nod as he gazed at the baby stirring in his sister’s arms. He was normal and healthy and safe…and real. Feeling Liz’s grip on his hand tighten, he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
“What’s his name?” Michael asked then, peering over Maria.
Jesse and Isabel exchanged a smile. Reaching into the blanket to touch his son’s tiny hand, Jesse turned to the family. “This is Evan Alexander Ramirez.”
Phillip and Diane’s eyes widened with pride, and Liz put a hand to her mouth.
“It’s perfect,” Maria stated, squeezing Liz’s arm. They should have known.
“It really is,” Diane beamed. She looked down at her daughter eagerly. “Can I hold him?”
Isabel laughed. “Of course.” She carefully passed the baby to her mother, and watched as Diane and Phillip exclaimed over their grandson.
“Evan Alexander,” Diane murmured, touching the newborn’s soft cheek. “What a wonderful name.”
Kyle squeezed his way in. “You did it,” he said with a smile, leaning over to kiss Isabel’s cheek.
“Oh Kyle,” she sighed. “Thank you so much for everything.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you being there for my wife,” Jesse added, shaking Kyle’s hand warmly.
Isabel glanced from Evan to Kyle. “Kyle, how would you like to hold your godson?”
“My…?” Kyle trailed off, his eyes wide. Buddha could make an exception this once. “Uh…yeah. Yeah, I’d love to.” He carefully accepted the baby from Diane. “Hi Evan,” he said, grinning as the baby’s arm stretched from inside the blanket. “Check out that pitching arm,” he chuckled. “Maybe I can teach you how to play catch if your mom hasn’t permanently damaged my hand.” He paused, not noticing the dirty look from Isabel, as he inspected Evan’s arm a little closer. His otherwise flawless baby skin had a pink mark near the crook of his arm. Kyle narrowed his eyes. It looked like a tiny puncture…from a needle.
“Kyle? Kyle, it’s my turn.”
He glanced up in surprise, noticing Maria eagerly holding her arms out for the baby. He tucked Evan’s arm back into the blanket and carefully shifted him into her waiting arms.
Isabel watched in confusion as Kyle’s eyes darted around the hospital room, but was distracted by Michael as he peered at the newborn in his girlfriend’s arms.
“You know, his initials are EAR.”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Michael.”
“Where’s Serena?” Kyle broke in suddenly. She’d know what was going on. No use in panicking the others.
“Probably at the nurses’ station,” Isabel suggested, exchanging a look with the others.
“Right. Okay. I’ll be back.” Kyle hurried from the room before anyone could respond.
“He really has it bad for her,” Isabel marveled.
“I sure thought so,” Phillip chuckled. “You should have seen him hug her in the waiting room.”
They all laughed, and Jesse took a moment to study his brother and sister-in-law. “Max? Would you like to hold him?”
Max’s eyes widened. “I…yeah, I would,” he managed, stepping closer to Maria. He held his arms out awkwardly to accept the baby, but with Liz’s help Evan was quickly cradled comfortably in his arms.
“Hi Evan,” he began, inspecting the baby’s soft skin and tiny features. “I’m your Uncle Max, and this is your Aunt Liz.”
Liz leaned close to her husband to get a better look. “Hi there, sweetie,” she murmured. “Welcome to the family.”
The other exchanged a long look. These two were naturals.
Down the hall, Kyle pounded on the counter of the nurses’ station. “I need some service, please!”
An older nurse peered up from behind a desk. “Can I help you?”
“I need to see the files for the Ramirez baby,” he answered anxiously.
The nurse cocked an eyebrow. “We’re not authorized to give that information, sir.”
Dammit. Of course not. He was a cop’s son, for pete’s sake. There had to be a better – “Serena!”
“Hi Kyle,” Serena smiled, appearing around the corner. “Did you visit Isabel and the baby?”
Kyle swallowed hard. “Uh…yeah. Yeah, I did.”
Serena studied him curiously, her smile fading. “Is something wrong?”
“Someone took the baby’s blood.”
“What? Kyle, no, we had specific orders-“
“I’m positive,” he continued, jamming his hands in his pockets. “He has a mark on his arm, and – and isn’t it possible that another nurse did it?”
“There was only one other nurse assisting with the delivery, and I was in the room the entire…” Serena trailed off. “You know what, let me check his chart. Any procedures will be recorded there.”
Kyle drummed on the counter anxiously as Serena flipped through several charts before finding the one she was looking for. “Here we go, Evan Ramirez.” She paused for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. “Oh my god.”
“What’s going on?” Kyle asked, trying to fight back the panic that was threatening to take over him.
Serena bit her lip as she studied the chart, finally glancing up to meet Kyle’s eyes. “He did have some blood drawn,” she confirmed quietly. She watched as Kyle closed his eyes and braced his hands on the counter. “I – I’m so sorry. It should have been written in the chart by the first nurse and it wasn’t…Rita must have done it while I was in the waiting room with you all…it’s just – it’s procedure, Kyle, it wasn’t-“
“I know.” Kyle took a deep breath and looked up at Serena, who was still chewing anxiously on her lip. “It’s not your fault, it’s just…this is really bad, Serena.”
“I know, Kyle, when a patient makes a request like this we have to grant it or we could get a suit-“
“You have to get the blood,” Kyle broke in suddenly.
“Excuse me?”
“It can’t get to the lab,” he continued, forcing his voice to stay calm.
“Kyle, the blood was already taken, it’s already-“
“You don’t understand. The blood can’t be tested.” He looked into Serena’s green eyes, pleading with her. “Serena, please.”
Serena’s eyes filled with confusion. “Kyle, it’s probably already been…” She trailed off, seeing the dead seriousness in Kyle’s face. “I…okay. I’ll go down to the lab and see what I can do. But…Kyle, why? Why can’t it be tested?”
“I can’t explain right now,” Kyle said hastily. “Thank you, Serena. Do whatever you can.” And with that, he turned and hurried down the hall, leaving a bewildered Serena staring after him.
*****
“So you want one someday?”
Maria arched an eyebrow at her boyfriend. “Michael. We’re not talking about a puppy.”
Michael looked up from the sleeping baby in his arms. “Who said I was offering a kid either?” he defended. “I’m just saying, you’ve been oohing and aahing over him like there’s no tomorrow.” Michael paused, cocking his head. “What’s that? Your biological clock about to go off?”
“My biological clock hasn’t even started ticking yet, buddy,” Maria shot back, kicking his ankle.
Across the room, Liz exchanged a look with Max before resting her head on his shoulder and stifling a yawn.
“You’re tired,” Max observed, slipping his arms around her.
Liz nodded apologetically. “It’s been a long night.”
“I know.” Max kissed her forehead and then turned to his sister. “Hey Iz? I think Liz and I are gonna take off pretty quick.”
Isabel nodded, she herself yawning. “Go for it. I think we all need to catch up on our sleep.”
Diane smiled brightly. “Not us! We’ve got plenty of grandparent duties to attend to, don’t we Phillip?”
“Uh, we sure do,” Phillip agreed, slightly bewildered. He had a feeling these “duties” included spending lots of money.
Diane turned to the bassinet, where Michael had placed Evan with a little help from Maria. “Goodbye, precious,” she cooed. “Grandma and Grandpa love you and we’re just going to spoil you rotten!”
Nodding knowingly, Phillip kissed his daughter’s cheek and shook Jesse’s hand. By the time he’d finally led his wife through the door, Isabel was nearly asleep.
A nurse poked her head in the room then. “I’ve come to take the baby back to the nursery, if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine, Rita,” Jesse said, smiling at the other nurse who had assisted in Evan’s delivery.
“I’ll bring him back in a couple hours for his feeding,” she said, wheeling the sleeping baby out of the room.
“Kyle’s still not back yet?” Isabel asked through another yawn.
“Maybe he’s having his way with Serena in the bathroom,” Max suggested, glancing over at Michael and Maria.
Maria cleared her throat. “Well, I think that’s our cue,” she said, leaning over to give Isabel a hug.
Suddenly Kyle burst into the room without preamble. “There’s a problem.”
“What’s going on?” Max asked anxiously, his hold on Liz’s arm tightening.
“Iz, Jesse, I don’t want to panic you, but I think you should know-“
“Kyle, tell us,” Jesse demanded, gripping Isabel’s hand.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle studied the anxious parents. “They took Evan’s blood.”
“What?” Isabel nearly shot out of the bed. “But Serena knew not to-“
“It wasn’t Serena,” Kyle said quickly. “It was the other nurse, Rosa or Reba or something.”
“Rita,” Jesse supplied. “She assisted with the delivery. But how is that possible, we were here the whole-“
“It must have been right after he was born, when the doctor was finishing with Isabel and Serena came out to tell us,” Kyle explained.
Jesse cursed, clenching Isabel’s hand. “I should have been watching him the whole time-“
“Don’t do that to yourself, Jesse,” Isabel whispered, her frightened eyes filling with tears. “Oh my god, what do we do now? My baby-“
“We have to get to the blood before it gets to the lab,” Max ordered.
“That’s what Serena’s trying to do right now,” Kyle broke in, glancing around the room. “Where’s Evan?”
“He’s in the nursery,” Isabel answered, the fear again registering on her face. “Oh my god!”
Max and Michael exchanged a look. Neither spoke what they were both thinking.
Jesse, however, seemed to understand. “I’m going to get my son.”
“Take Michael with you,” Max added quickly. “Kyle and I will find Serena.”
Isabel glanced around at them, panicked. “But my baby-“
“I’m bringing him back,” Jesse soothed, swallowing thickly as he got to his feet.
“Stay with her. Don’t let her leave, just try to keep her calm,” Max murmured in Liz’s ear.
Liz nodded wordlessly, her eyes filled with fear as she watched the four men rush from the room and then turned back to Isabel, who had dissolved into tears in Maria’s arms.
*****
“I want my son.”
Michael stood beside Jesse at the nursery door, their broad shoulders creating a barrier out into the hallway, as Jesse made his demand to the surprised nurse.
“Mr…?”
“Ramirez. Jesse Ramirez. My son is Evan, and I want him in my wife’s room.” He flashed his identification bracelet, the one that matched Isabel’s and Evan’s, and prepared to retrieve his son himself if this nurse didn’t get moving.
Michael’s hand rested on his arm, reminding him to keep cool as the nurse studied the plastic bracelet. The baby was fine, they’d seen him through the glass window, but he couldn’t let Jesse’s behavior become too suspicious.
“Um…alright, Mr. Ramirez, that’s fine,” the nurse replied hesitantly, eyeing the two men as she began to close the door. “Wait right here and I’ll bring him out to you.”
Turning, Jesse braced his hands against the wall and dropped his head. “Do you think she already knows something?”
Unsure of how to reply, Michael merely reached out and awkwardly patted Jesse’s shoulder.
After a moment, the nurse wheeled the bassinet through the door to Jesse. “Here he is.” She paused. “Sir, he’s perfectly fine in the nursery. If your wife needs time to recuperate-“
“She’s fine,” Jesse barked, inspecting his son before wheeling him down the hall. He and Michael entered Isabel’s room to find her sobbing in Maria’s arms.
Her head shot up at the sound of her baby fussing. “Oh my god…Jesse, is he okay?”
Jesse scooped the bundle into his arms. “He’s fine, sweetheart. He’s fine,” he assured, sitting beside his wife and allowing her to take the baby.
“Shhh…I’m here, Evan. No one will take you away from me, I promise,” Isabel whispered, holding her son close.
Liz stepped back a little, watching the scene with tears in her eyes. She knew Isabel’s panic all too well…she only hoped their fear would be short lived, that they could stop disaster before it struck again.
*****
Max and Kyle got off the elevator and strode down the hall, their hurried pace startling the physicians they sidestepped as they made their way toward the lab.
“She said it’s down this way,” Kyle said, ducking into a small corridor as Max looked over their surroundings.
“We’re too obvious,” Max mused. He cast another glance around and then waved his hand over himself.
Kyle watched as scrubs and a doctor’s coat appeared on his friend’s body and then glanced down at his own street clothes. “A little help here?”
Max waved his hand over Kyle and produced a matching set of scrubs before he peered out into the hall again. “Let’s go.”
Pushing through a set of double doors into the dimly lit room, Max waited as his eyes adjusted. “Over here,” he said, spying another set of doors that led into the lab.
“Serena’s in there, she’ll-“
“We can’t wait for Serena,” Max reminded harshly. “If she finds anything out of the ordinary we’re as good as-“
“Kyle!”
Serena’s eyes shot toward the door in surprise, taking in Kyle and Max’s new attire. “What are you-“
“Where’s the blood?” Max demanded.
She sighed. “Max, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how this happened, I assumed it was written on the chart-“
“Where is it?” he repeated, stepping closer to the bewildered nurse.
“Max.” Kyle placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Serena, is it here?”
“Kyle, you shouldn’t be here,” Serena reminded. “I told you I’d take care of it. If we get caught-“
“Serena,” Max began through clenched teeth. “What we’re looking at here is more than just a lawsuit. Evan’s life is at stake, and if-“
“It’s not here,” Serena interrupted. “They already filed it, and…what do you mean, his life is at stake?” she demanded, the confusion etched across her pretty features.
“Dammit,” Kyle hissed under his breath. “Serena, who filed it?”
She shrugged. “Kyle, I don’t know. The lab technician, I’d assume, who luckily for all of us isn’t here right now-“
“Is his chart upstairs already?” Max asked, cursing when Serena nodded. He’d have to change the results before anyone else saw them. “We have to get that file.”
The three made their way back to the maternity ward quickly, with Serena leading the way to the nurse’s station.
“Rita, where’s the file for the Ramirez baby?” she asked, leaning over the counter toward the older nurse.
Rita looked up, eyeing Max and Kyle in their scrubs. “Who are you?” she asked skeptically.
“They’re with me,” Serena said hastily. “Med students. Where’s the file?”
“I didn’t hear anything about med students,” Rita mused thoughtfully. “Look, I haven’t seen the file. It got sent straight to the nursery. Why?”
Serena glanced at Max for help, and he shook his head slightly. “Um…thank you,” she said hastily as Max and Kyle were already on their way down the hall. Hurrying to catch up, she said, “You two can’t go in there! I don’t know where you got the scrubs, but you’re not authorized, and-“
“Please, just find the file,” Max said, his eyes pleading with her.
“We’ll wait here,” Kyle added as they halted before the nursery.
Serena nodded slowly, eyeing them both. “What are you looking for?” she asked finally. “I’m just…I’m trying to understand why this is so urgent.”
“I’ll explain,” Kyle said quickly. Anything, if she would just get that file. “Please.”
She studied him for a moment and then nodded again. “I’ll be right back,” she said finally, ducking into the nursery.
Kyle glanced at Max. “I didn’t know what else to say, I just-“
Max closed his eyes and nodded. “I know. We’ll…we’ll think of something.”
They both jumped to attention when Serena reappeared, paging through the chart. “Evan’s completely fine,” she said, studying the results. “I don’t know what you were so concerned about-“
Max grabbed the file from her, his eyes scanning it in disbelief. “Red and white count normal, type O positive…” He trailed off, trying to hide his shock as it registered. Evan’s blood was completely human.
“I don’t believe it,” Kyle muttered, studying the baby’s chart. How was that possible?
“You don’t believe what?" Serena asked in frustration. A sudden beeping sounded, and she reached for her pager. “Delivery. I have to go.” She studied both young men evenly. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but I would suggest you stop sneaking around. You’re going to get all of us in trouble, and I can’t afford to lose my job.” She snatched the file from Max and headed down the hall.
Max grabbed Kyle’s arm before he could start after her. “Kyle. Let it go, okay? We have to tell the others.”
Kyle nodded grudgingly, knowing Max was right, and trudged down the hall after him. All five looked up as they stepped inside, closing the door behind them.
“Max?” Isabel watched her brother anxiously, holding Evan close.
“We’re okay,” Max announced quietly.
Michael narrowed his eyes. “’Okay’?” he repeated.
Sliding his arm around his wife, Max nodded. “His blood is normal.”
“Normal as in human?” Jesse asked, glancing down at his son.
“But that’s not…it’s not possible…is it?” Isabel stared at Max in disbelief.
Kyle shrugged. “We saw the results with our own eyes.”
Isabel’s shoulders slumped in relief, and she leaned against her husband for support. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Thank you, Liz repeated, closing her eyes in a silent prayer. She looked up at her husband, who offered her a tight-lipped smile, and then arched an eyebrow as she realized he and Kyle were both decked out in scrubs. “So is it Dr. Max now?”
*****
Liz wrapped herself in her robe, grateful for a shower after their nearly twelve hour stint at the hospital, and padded down the hall to the bedroom. She was surprised to see Max pacing, thinking he had fallen asleep when he failed to join her in the shower. One look at his face, though, and Liz’s disappointment turned to concern.
“Max.” Liz rested a hand on his shoulder and gently turned him to face her as he began another round toward the window. She studied the dark circles under his eyes and the lines creasing his brow and reached up to touch his cheek. “Hey. You’re exhausted.”
Max swallowed, closing his eyes at his wife’s touch. “I just…I can’t stop thinking.”
“He’s fine, Max,” Liz reminded softly. “Evan, Isabel…everyone’s fine.”
Shaking his head slightly, Max suddenly crushed Liz’s body to his. “I’m sorry,” he breathed, tangling his fingers in the damp hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“Max, what…” Pulling away slightly, Liz gazed up into his face. Her heart nearly broke at the sight of her husband, head bowed, tears dancing on the fringe of his lashes. “Max,” she sighed, resting her hands on both sides of his face. “Talk to me. Please?
Max looked down at her, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Why couldn’t I have protected him, Liz?” His eyes adopted a haunted glaze. “I should have paid more attention…I shouldn’t have left you that morning.” Liz tried to interrupt, but Max pressed on. “What kind of man am I if I can’t save my own child?”
Taking his trembling hands in hers, Liz kissed his palms. “You saved me, Max,” she reminded, her voice so soothing and full of love that it floored him. “And our future children.”
Max’s hands tightened around hers. “Our…?”
“You know that, Max. If you hadn’t done what you did, we might not even have another chance.”
Max nodded faintly, and Liz continued. “You are an amazing man, Max Evans. You will be an amazing father someday.” She paused, tilting her face up to his with a shy smile. “You’re already an amazing husband.” Leaning forward, she kissed him tenderly and then led him to their bed.
They curled up together atop the rumpled sheets, Liz folded tightly in Max’s embrace. “Naptime, Uncle Max,” she yawned, tapping his chest just as she drifted off.
Max smiled slightly into her hair. Leave it to Liz – Aunt Liz – to calm him into sleep.
“Isabel and the baby are both doing fine,” Serena announced with a smile.
“Oh, thank god,” Diane gasped, hugging Phillip tightly.
Max and Liz shared sighs of relief and a long embrace, while Michael whooped out loud as Maria threw her arms around him excitedly.
Kyle glanced around at the commotion, and before he could stop himself, he gave Serena a big hug.
Laughing in surprise, Serena patted his back. “Um…Kyle?” she ventured after a few moments. “I have to go back in…”
“Oh. Oh right.” Kyle cleared his throat and reluctantly pulled away. For a second there he’d forgotten why he got to touch her in the first place.
“Can we go in?” Phillip asked, anxious to see his daughter and new grandson.
“Of course,” Serena assured. “Just give us a few minutes to get Isabel settled.”
The group exchanged hugs again. “I wonder what his name is,” Maria spoke up.
“And if he has hair,” Diane mused. “I bet he’s got lots of Jesse’s dark hair.”
Liz reached over and squeezed her husband’s hand. “We have a nephew.”
Max nodded wordlessly, kissing Liz’s forehead. Isabel and the baby were safe.
As promised, Serena soon returned and ushered the family down the hall. Knocking on the partially closed door, she said, “You have some visitors, Isabel.”
“Come on in.” Isabel’s soft voice floated over from the bed as they trickled inside. Smiling as her family murmured over the tiny bundle in her arms, she slid aside the edge of the soft blanket.
Jesse grinned from where he sat on the bed beside Isabel as Diane and Phillip crowded on Isabel’s other side. “Meet your grandson.”
“Oh Izzy, Jesse,” Diane sighed, catching her first glimpse of the newborn. “He’s beautiful.”
Maria leaned over for a better look. “He looks like you, Iz.”
“He’s got Jesse’s hair,” Diane pointed out. “What’s there of it, anyway.”
Clenching hands, Max and Liz slowly approached the bed. Isabel glanced up and caught her brother’s eyes. “What do you think of your nephew?” she asked softly.
Max swallowed hard, managing only a nod as he gazed at the baby stirring in his sister’s arms. He was normal and healthy and safe…and real. Feeling Liz’s grip on his hand tighten, he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
“What’s his name?” Michael asked then, peering over Maria.
Jesse and Isabel exchanged a smile. Reaching into the blanket to touch his son’s tiny hand, Jesse turned to the family. “This is Evan Alexander Ramirez.”
Phillip and Diane’s eyes widened with pride, and Liz put a hand to her mouth.
“It’s perfect,” Maria stated, squeezing Liz’s arm. They should have known.
“It really is,” Diane beamed. She looked down at her daughter eagerly. “Can I hold him?”
Isabel laughed. “Of course.” She carefully passed the baby to her mother, and watched as Diane and Phillip exclaimed over their grandson.
“Evan Alexander,” Diane murmured, touching the newborn’s soft cheek. “What a wonderful name.”
Kyle squeezed his way in. “You did it,” he said with a smile, leaning over to kiss Isabel’s cheek.
“Oh Kyle,” she sighed. “Thank you so much for everything.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you being there for my wife,” Jesse added, shaking Kyle’s hand warmly.
Isabel glanced from Evan to Kyle. “Kyle, how would you like to hold your godson?”
“My…?” Kyle trailed off, his eyes wide. Buddha could make an exception this once. “Uh…yeah. Yeah, I’d love to.” He carefully accepted the baby from Diane. “Hi Evan,” he said, grinning as the baby’s arm stretched from inside the blanket. “Check out that pitching arm,” he chuckled. “Maybe I can teach you how to play catch if your mom hasn’t permanently damaged my hand.” He paused, not noticing the dirty look from Isabel, as he inspected Evan’s arm a little closer. His otherwise flawless baby skin had a pink mark near the crook of his arm. Kyle narrowed his eyes. It looked like a tiny puncture…from a needle.
“Kyle? Kyle, it’s my turn.”
He glanced up in surprise, noticing Maria eagerly holding her arms out for the baby. He tucked Evan’s arm back into the blanket and carefully shifted him into her waiting arms.
Isabel watched in confusion as Kyle’s eyes darted around the hospital room, but was distracted by Michael as he peered at the newborn in his girlfriend’s arms.
“You know, his initials are EAR.”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Michael.”
“Where’s Serena?” Kyle broke in suddenly. She’d know what was going on. No use in panicking the others.
“Probably at the nurses’ station,” Isabel suggested, exchanging a look with the others.
“Right. Okay. I’ll be back.” Kyle hurried from the room before anyone could respond.
“He really has it bad for her,” Isabel marveled.
“I sure thought so,” Phillip chuckled. “You should have seen him hug her in the waiting room.”
They all laughed, and Jesse took a moment to study his brother and sister-in-law. “Max? Would you like to hold him?”
Max’s eyes widened. “I…yeah, I would,” he managed, stepping closer to Maria. He held his arms out awkwardly to accept the baby, but with Liz’s help Evan was quickly cradled comfortably in his arms.
“Hi Evan,” he began, inspecting the baby’s soft skin and tiny features. “I’m your Uncle Max, and this is your Aunt Liz.”
Liz leaned close to her husband to get a better look. “Hi there, sweetie,” she murmured. “Welcome to the family.”
The other exchanged a long look. These two were naturals.
Down the hall, Kyle pounded on the counter of the nurses’ station. “I need some service, please!”
An older nurse peered up from behind a desk. “Can I help you?”
“I need to see the files for the Ramirez baby,” he answered anxiously.
The nurse cocked an eyebrow. “We’re not authorized to give that information, sir.”
Dammit. Of course not. He was a cop’s son, for pete’s sake. There had to be a better – “Serena!”
“Hi Kyle,” Serena smiled, appearing around the corner. “Did you visit Isabel and the baby?”
Kyle swallowed hard. “Uh…yeah. Yeah, I did.”
Serena studied him curiously, her smile fading. “Is something wrong?”
“Someone took the baby’s blood.”
“What? Kyle, no, we had specific orders-“
“I’m positive,” he continued, jamming his hands in his pockets. “He has a mark on his arm, and – and isn’t it possible that another nurse did it?”
“There was only one other nurse assisting with the delivery, and I was in the room the entire…” Serena trailed off. “You know what, let me check his chart. Any procedures will be recorded there.”
Kyle drummed on the counter anxiously as Serena flipped through several charts before finding the one she was looking for. “Here we go, Evan Ramirez.” She paused for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip. “Oh my god.”
“What’s going on?” Kyle asked, trying to fight back the panic that was threatening to take over him.
Serena bit her lip as she studied the chart, finally glancing up to meet Kyle’s eyes. “He did have some blood drawn,” she confirmed quietly. She watched as Kyle closed his eyes and braced his hands on the counter. “I – I’m so sorry. It should have been written in the chart by the first nurse and it wasn’t…Rita must have done it while I was in the waiting room with you all…it’s just – it’s procedure, Kyle, it wasn’t-“
“I know.” Kyle took a deep breath and looked up at Serena, who was still chewing anxiously on her lip. “It’s not your fault, it’s just…this is really bad, Serena.”
“I know, Kyle, when a patient makes a request like this we have to grant it or we could get a suit-“
“You have to get the blood,” Kyle broke in suddenly.
“Excuse me?”
“It can’t get to the lab,” he continued, forcing his voice to stay calm.
“Kyle, the blood was already taken, it’s already-“
“You don’t understand. The blood can’t be tested.” He looked into Serena’s green eyes, pleading with her. “Serena, please.”
Serena’s eyes filled with confusion. “Kyle, it’s probably already been…” She trailed off, seeing the dead seriousness in Kyle’s face. “I…okay. I’ll go down to the lab and see what I can do. But…Kyle, why? Why can’t it be tested?”
“I can’t explain right now,” Kyle said hastily. “Thank you, Serena. Do whatever you can.” And with that, he turned and hurried down the hall, leaving a bewildered Serena staring after him.
*****
“So you want one someday?”
Maria arched an eyebrow at her boyfriend. “Michael. We’re not talking about a puppy.”
Michael looked up from the sleeping baby in his arms. “Who said I was offering a kid either?” he defended. “I’m just saying, you’ve been oohing and aahing over him like there’s no tomorrow.” Michael paused, cocking his head. “What’s that? Your biological clock about to go off?”
“My biological clock hasn’t even started ticking yet, buddy,” Maria shot back, kicking his ankle.
Across the room, Liz exchanged a look with Max before resting her head on his shoulder and stifling a yawn.
“You’re tired,” Max observed, slipping his arms around her.
Liz nodded apologetically. “It’s been a long night.”
“I know.” Max kissed her forehead and then turned to his sister. “Hey Iz? I think Liz and I are gonna take off pretty quick.”
Isabel nodded, she herself yawning. “Go for it. I think we all need to catch up on our sleep.”
Diane smiled brightly. “Not us! We’ve got plenty of grandparent duties to attend to, don’t we Phillip?”
“Uh, we sure do,” Phillip agreed, slightly bewildered. He had a feeling these “duties” included spending lots of money.
Diane turned to the bassinet, where Michael had placed Evan with a little help from Maria. “Goodbye, precious,” she cooed. “Grandma and Grandpa love you and we’re just going to spoil you rotten!”
Nodding knowingly, Phillip kissed his daughter’s cheek and shook Jesse’s hand. By the time he’d finally led his wife through the door, Isabel was nearly asleep.
A nurse poked her head in the room then. “I’ve come to take the baby back to the nursery, if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine, Rita,” Jesse said, smiling at the other nurse who had assisted in Evan’s delivery.
“I’ll bring him back in a couple hours for his feeding,” she said, wheeling the sleeping baby out of the room.
“Kyle’s still not back yet?” Isabel asked through another yawn.
“Maybe he’s having his way with Serena in the bathroom,” Max suggested, glancing over at Michael and Maria.
Maria cleared her throat. “Well, I think that’s our cue,” she said, leaning over to give Isabel a hug.
Suddenly Kyle burst into the room without preamble. “There’s a problem.”
“What’s going on?” Max asked anxiously, his hold on Liz’s arm tightening.
“Iz, Jesse, I don’t want to panic you, but I think you should know-“
“Kyle, tell us,” Jesse demanded, gripping Isabel’s hand.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle studied the anxious parents. “They took Evan’s blood.”
“What?” Isabel nearly shot out of the bed. “But Serena knew not to-“
“It wasn’t Serena,” Kyle said quickly. “It was the other nurse, Rosa or Reba or something.”
“Rita,” Jesse supplied. “She assisted with the delivery. But how is that possible, we were here the whole-“
“It must have been right after he was born, when the doctor was finishing with Isabel and Serena came out to tell us,” Kyle explained.
Jesse cursed, clenching Isabel’s hand. “I should have been watching him the whole time-“
“Don’t do that to yourself, Jesse,” Isabel whispered, her frightened eyes filling with tears. “Oh my god, what do we do now? My baby-“
“We have to get to the blood before it gets to the lab,” Max ordered.
“That’s what Serena’s trying to do right now,” Kyle broke in, glancing around the room. “Where’s Evan?”
“He’s in the nursery,” Isabel answered, the fear again registering on her face. “Oh my god!”
Max and Michael exchanged a look. Neither spoke what they were both thinking.
Jesse, however, seemed to understand. “I’m going to get my son.”
“Take Michael with you,” Max added quickly. “Kyle and I will find Serena.”
Isabel glanced around at them, panicked. “But my baby-“
“I’m bringing him back,” Jesse soothed, swallowing thickly as he got to his feet.
“Stay with her. Don’t let her leave, just try to keep her calm,” Max murmured in Liz’s ear.
Liz nodded wordlessly, her eyes filled with fear as she watched the four men rush from the room and then turned back to Isabel, who had dissolved into tears in Maria’s arms.
*****
“I want my son.”
Michael stood beside Jesse at the nursery door, their broad shoulders creating a barrier out into the hallway, as Jesse made his demand to the surprised nurse.
“Mr…?”
“Ramirez. Jesse Ramirez. My son is Evan, and I want him in my wife’s room.” He flashed his identification bracelet, the one that matched Isabel’s and Evan’s, and prepared to retrieve his son himself if this nurse didn’t get moving.
Michael’s hand rested on his arm, reminding him to keep cool as the nurse studied the plastic bracelet. The baby was fine, they’d seen him through the glass window, but he couldn’t let Jesse’s behavior become too suspicious.
“Um…alright, Mr. Ramirez, that’s fine,” the nurse replied hesitantly, eyeing the two men as she began to close the door. “Wait right here and I’ll bring him out to you.”
Turning, Jesse braced his hands against the wall and dropped his head. “Do you think she already knows something?”
Unsure of how to reply, Michael merely reached out and awkwardly patted Jesse’s shoulder.
After a moment, the nurse wheeled the bassinet through the door to Jesse. “Here he is.” She paused. “Sir, he’s perfectly fine in the nursery. If your wife needs time to recuperate-“
“She’s fine,” Jesse barked, inspecting his son before wheeling him down the hall. He and Michael entered Isabel’s room to find her sobbing in Maria’s arms.
Her head shot up at the sound of her baby fussing. “Oh my god…Jesse, is he okay?”
Jesse scooped the bundle into his arms. “He’s fine, sweetheart. He’s fine,” he assured, sitting beside his wife and allowing her to take the baby.
“Shhh…I’m here, Evan. No one will take you away from me, I promise,” Isabel whispered, holding her son close.
Liz stepped back a little, watching the scene with tears in her eyes. She knew Isabel’s panic all too well…she only hoped their fear would be short lived, that they could stop disaster before it struck again.
*****
Max and Kyle got off the elevator and strode down the hall, their hurried pace startling the physicians they sidestepped as they made their way toward the lab.
“She said it’s down this way,” Kyle said, ducking into a small corridor as Max looked over their surroundings.
“We’re too obvious,” Max mused. He cast another glance around and then waved his hand over himself.
Kyle watched as scrubs and a doctor’s coat appeared on his friend’s body and then glanced down at his own street clothes. “A little help here?”
Max waved his hand over Kyle and produced a matching set of scrubs before he peered out into the hall again. “Let’s go.”
Pushing through a set of double doors into the dimly lit room, Max waited as his eyes adjusted. “Over here,” he said, spying another set of doors that led into the lab.
“Serena’s in there, she’ll-“
“We can’t wait for Serena,” Max reminded harshly. “If she finds anything out of the ordinary we’re as good as-“
“Kyle!”
Serena’s eyes shot toward the door in surprise, taking in Kyle and Max’s new attire. “What are you-“
“Where’s the blood?” Max demanded.
She sighed. “Max, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how this happened, I assumed it was written on the chart-“
“Where is it?” he repeated, stepping closer to the bewildered nurse.
“Max.” Kyle placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. “Serena, is it here?”
“Kyle, you shouldn’t be here,” Serena reminded. “I told you I’d take care of it. If we get caught-“
“Serena,” Max began through clenched teeth. “What we’re looking at here is more than just a lawsuit. Evan’s life is at stake, and if-“
“It’s not here,” Serena interrupted. “They already filed it, and…what do you mean, his life is at stake?” she demanded, the confusion etched across her pretty features.
“Dammit,” Kyle hissed under his breath. “Serena, who filed it?”
She shrugged. “Kyle, I don’t know. The lab technician, I’d assume, who luckily for all of us isn’t here right now-“
“Is his chart upstairs already?” Max asked, cursing when Serena nodded. He’d have to change the results before anyone else saw them. “We have to get that file.”
The three made their way back to the maternity ward quickly, with Serena leading the way to the nurse’s station.
“Rita, where’s the file for the Ramirez baby?” she asked, leaning over the counter toward the older nurse.
Rita looked up, eyeing Max and Kyle in their scrubs. “Who are you?” she asked skeptically.
“They’re with me,” Serena said hastily. “Med students. Where’s the file?”
“I didn’t hear anything about med students,” Rita mused thoughtfully. “Look, I haven’t seen the file. It got sent straight to the nursery. Why?”
Serena glanced at Max for help, and he shook his head slightly. “Um…thank you,” she said hastily as Max and Kyle were already on their way down the hall. Hurrying to catch up, she said, “You two can’t go in there! I don’t know where you got the scrubs, but you’re not authorized, and-“
“Please, just find the file,” Max said, his eyes pleading with her.
“We’ll wait here,” Kyle added as they halted before the nursery.
Serena nodded slowly, eyeing them both. “What are you looking for?” she asked finally. “I’m just…I’m trying to understand why this is so urgent.”
“I’ll explain,” Kyle said quickly. Anything, if she would just get that file. “Please.”
She studied him for a moment and then nodded again. “I’ll be right back,” she said finally, ducking into the nursery.
Kyle glanced at Max. “I didn’t know what else to say, I just-“
Max closed his eyes and nodded. “I know. We’ll…we’ll think of something.”
They both jumped to attention when Serena reappeared, paging through the chart. “Evan’s completely fine,” she said, studying the results. “I don’t know what you were so concerned about-“
Max grabbed the file from her, his eyes scanning it in disbelief. “Red and white count normal, type O positive…” He trailed off, trying to hide his shock as it registered. Evan’s blood was completely human.
“I don’t believe it,” Kyle muttered, studying the baby’s chart. How was that possible?
“You don’t believe what?" Serena asked in frustration. A sudden beeping sounded, and she reached for her pager. “Delivery. I have to go.” She studied both young men evenly. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but I would suggest you stop sneaking around. You’re going to get all of us in trouble, and I can’t afford to lose my job.” She snatched the file from Max and headed down the hall.
Max grabbed Kyle’s arm before he could start after her. “Kyle. Let it go, okay? We have to tell the others.”
Kyle nodded grudgingly, knowing Max was right, and trudged down the hall after him. All five looked up as they stepped inside, closing the door behind them.
“Max?” Isabel watched her brother anxiously, holding Evan close.
“We’re okay,” Max announced quietly.
Michael narrowed his eyes. “’Okay’?” he repeated.
Sliding his arm around his wife, Max nodded. “His blood is normal.”
“Normal as in human?” Jesse asked, glancing down at his son.
“But that’s not…it’s not possible…is it?” Isabel stared at Max in disbelief.
Kyle shrugged. “We saw the results with our own eyes.”
Isabel’s shoulders slumped in relief, and she leaned against her husband for support. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Thank you, Liz repeated, closing her eyes in a silent prayer. She looked up at her husband, who offered her a tight-lipped smile, and then arched an eyebrow as she realized he and Kyle were both decked out in scrubs. “So is it Dr. Max now?”
*****
Liz wrapped herself in her robe, grateful for a shower after their nearly twelve hour stint at the hospital, and padded down the hall to the bedroom. She was surprised to see Max pacing, thinking he had fallen asleep when he failed to join her in the shower. One look at his face, though, and Liz’s disappointment turned to concern.
“Max.” Liz rested a hand on his shoulder and gently turned him to face her as he began another round toward the window. She studied the dark circles under his eyes and the lines creasing his brow and reached up to touch his cheek. “Hey. You’re exhausted.”
Max swallowed, closing his eyes at his wife’s touch. “I just…I can’t stop thinking.”
“He’s fine, Max,” Liz reminded softly. “Evan, Isabel…everyone’s fine.”
Shaking his head slightly, Max suddenly crushed Liz’s body to his. “I’m sorry,” he breathed, tangling his fingers in the damp hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“Max, what…” Pulling away slightly, Liz gazed up into his face. Her heart nearly broke at the sight of her husband, head bowed, tears dancing on the fringe of his lashes. “Max,” she sighed, resting her hands on both sides of his face. “Talk to me. Please?
Max looked down at her, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Why couldn’t I have protected him, Liz?” His eyes adopted a haunted glaze. “I should have paid more attention…I shouldn’t have left you that morning.” Liz tried to interrupt, but Max pressed on. “What kind of man am I if I can’t save my own child?”
Taking his trembling hands in hers, Liz kissed his palms. “You saved me, Max,” she reminded, her voice so soothing and full of love that it floored him. “And our future children.”
Max’s hands tightened around hers. “Our…?”
“You know that, Max. If you hadn’t done what you did, we might not even have another chance.”
Max nodded faintly, and Liz continued. “You are an amazing man, Max Evans. You will be an amazing father someday.” She paused, tilting her face up to his with a shy smile. “You’re already an amazing husband.” Leaning forward, she kissed him tenderly and then led him to their bed.
They curled up together atop the rumpled sheets, Liz folded tightly in Max’s embrace. “Naptime, Uncle Max,” she yawned, tapping his chest just as she drifted off.
Max smiled slightly into her hair. Leave it to Liz – Aunt Liz – to calm him into sleep.
-
Deejonaise
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2002 12:48 am
- Location: On my rusty dusty...
34
“No…it needs to be higher. Michael, move your side up a little.” Liz studied the banner Max and Michael were hanging across the Ramirez living room.
Michael raised his arm a bit more, focusing the blast of energy as Liz stood back behind them, inspecting their work. “Is that better?”
“Perfect.” Liz nodded in satisfaction as the front door opened.
“Hello hello!” Diane chirped, holding out a casserole dish. Phillip was right behind her, loaded down with more baby goodies. “They’re not here yet, are they? I didn’t see Jesse’s car.”
“Nope, Kyle just left,” Max said, helping with some of the bags. Kyle was driving Jesse’s car home and letting them drive his because Isabel’s car was getting a quick tune-up and, well, Jesse’s tiny convertible wasn’t very conducive to a new baby.
Liz eased the casserole from her mother-in-law. “This smells great. Maria and Jesse’s mom are in the kitchen cooking up a storm, so they should be set for days.”
“Well, I made enough that it should last,” Diane assured. “I know how you all love my fritatta.” Smiling brightly, Diane followed Liz into the kitchen.
“There should be plenty left over,” Max muttered under his breath, exchanging a look with his father.
*****
“All checked out,” Jesse announced.
Isabel looked up from where she was dressing Evan on the bed and smiled. “Did you hear that, sweetie?” she cooed. “It’s time to go home.”
Kyle smiled at the new family and slung Isabel’s bag over his shoulder. “I’ll start bringing this stuff out to your car, Jesse.” He headed down the hall, swinging the bag at his side, and proceeded to collide with the woman coming around the corner.
Serena gasped as her coffee splashed over the front of her scrubs. “Kyle!”
“I’m so sorry,” Kyle apologized, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a worn bandana.
She grabbed his hand as he reached out to dab at her. “I’ve got it,” she said pointedly. “I’ve had worse on me before. And anyway, I just finished my shift.”
“Look, can I buy you another cup of coffee or something?” Kyle offered.
Serena glanced at her watch. “I really should get going-“ She paused for a moment, eyeing Kyle. “You know what, that would be fine.”
They made their way down to the cafeteria in silence. After paying for their drinks, Kyle led Serena to a small booth and cleared his throat. “So…”
“So why don’t you explain to me what happened the other day.” Serena looked up at Kyle, swirling cream into her coffee.
Kyle took up a sudden interest in his soda straw. “What about it.”
“What’s wrong with Isabel?” Serena asked bluntly.
“Isabel?” Kyle’s head shot up. “Nothing’s wrong with Isabel.”
“Then explain the glowing amniotic fluid,” Serena shot back, her voice low.
“The glowing – Serena, I thought this was about the blood,” Kyle managed, nearly sloshing his soda out of the cup in agitation. What was she talking about?
Serena caught his eye, holding his gaze evenly. “Kyle, I had the day off yesterday, and this is all I’ve been able to think about. I know I wasn’t imagining it. When I broke her water, the fluid had this…this sheen to it. It was glowing, there’s no other way to describe it. And so…so I figured there had to be some medical reason for it. Right? I mean, I’ve only been out of school for sixteen months, maybe I haven’t seen everything yet-“
“Who did you talk to about it?” Kyle interrupted, his heart pounding.
“No one,” Serena admitted. “I figured I’d sound ridiculous, so I…I spent all day researching it.”
“What did you find?” Kyle asked quietly.
“What do you think.” Serena stirred her coffee distractedly. “Nothing. And it just makes me more confused.” She paused for a moment. “So help me out here, Kyle.”
Kyle cleared his throat. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for,” he answered carefully.
“But I think you do. That’s why you were so concerned about the blood. I’m not stupid, Kyle, I-“
“I know you’re not stupid,” Kyle interrupted. “It’s just…it’s complicated, Serena. And it’s really not my place to-“
“Not your place?” Serena looked at him incredulously. “Kyle, you’re the one who was prowling this hospital in scrubs trying to hunt down a newborn’s blood. It may be complicated, but it’s sure as hell your place to tell me what it’s all about when my job could have been on the line!” She paused, lowering her voice. “Look, I know taking the baby’s blood in the first place was against their wishes, but…I broke hospital policy for you. And I want an explanation.”
“Serena, I know. I know you did, and I wish I could tell you more, but…there’s really nothing more to say,” he replied helplessly.
After studying him for a long moment, Serena cleared her throat and got to her feet. “Fine,” she clipped, snatching her coffee from the table. “Thank you for the coffee.” And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Kyle stared after her, cursing under his breath. He slowly pushed back the chair and got to his feet. Well, at least his godfather record was still clean.
*****
Little Evan Ramirez was welcomed home by a houseful of family – and two baby-hogging grandmas. It was only when the food was on that Diane relinquished him to his bassinet. While he slept, the rest of the group took advantage of the warm late afternoon sun on the back deck.
“Look, Iz, Mom made her fritatta,” Max informed his sister as they loaded their plates.
Hiding her grimace with a bright smile, Isabel chirped, “Oh Mom, you shouldn’t have.”
“That’s what I said,” Phillip muttered.
Diane smiled, oblivious. “Well, I know how you kids love your spicy food.” She glanced over as Jesse’s mother took a helping of the concoction. “Be careful, it’s really hot.”
Mrs. Ramirez nodded knowingly. “Ah, my grandmother was one of northern Mexico’s greatest cooks. I’m sure I’ve had hotter.”
As they settled into lawnchairs, Isabel glanced over at Kyle. “Hey, will Toby be done with my car by tomorrow afternoon, Kyle?”
Kyle looked up from his plate, startled. “Huh?”
“Oh Iz, honey, I can pick up anything you need,” Diane spoke up. “You just got home, don’t worry about running errands. I can go to Albertson’s for diapers, or-“
“Mom, it’s fine, okay? I don’t mind,” Isabel insisted. “So what do you think, Kyle?”
“Uh…actually, you could probably find cheaper diapers at Shop-and-Save.”
“Kyle. I was talking about my car.”
“Right, I know,” Kyle muttered, ignoring the looks from the others. “I could probably bring it over by two.”
“That would be great.” Isabel paused as the sound of Evan fussing could be heard over the baby monitor perched on the table, and started to ease out of her chair.
“I’ll get him,” Kyle spoke up, eager for a, well, a distraction from his distraction. With that, he was inside and on his way to Evan’s nursery. It was clearly the work of Isabel, meticulously organized and decorated in soft shades of yellow – appropriate for whatever gender the baby decided to be, Isabel had explained. He scooped the whimpering newborn up, holding him against his broad chest as he’d been learning to do over the past couple of days.
“I bet you were lonely, huh,” he said, walking in slow circles as the baby’s cries subsided. “Your Uncle Kyle knows what that’s like.” He paused, easing into the rocking chair. “Yeah. And there’s this pretty lady, Serena – you’ve met her – and she’s really hot. Don’t you think? The blonde hair, and the way she flips it back over her shoulder…and those green eyes…I was really hoping to get to know her better. But then a lot of stuff happened, and now it’s not looking so good.”
He smiled down at Evan, whose sleepy eyes were struggling to focus. “But stuff happens, you know? And…and hey, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that counts. Means I’ve done my job.” Kyle was quiet for a moment, the only sounds the creak of the rocking chair and Evan’s soft breathing. “I was worried I might slip today, though. She knows something’s not right, and part of me really wanted to tell her the truth. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t put your family – you – in danger.” Evan yawned, and Kyle chuckled. “You’ll understand before too long.”
“Ahem.” Isabel peeked inside, clearing her throat. “Hi there,” she smiled, holding up the monitor.
“Oh, you’re kidding,” Kyle groaned, realizing that his heart-to-heart with Evan had been broadcast to the whole patio. “You knew, didn’t you,” he grumbled to the baby.
Stifling her laughter, Isabel crossed the room and took her son from Kyle. “Time to eat,” she cooed, switching off the monitor. “Kyle, will you hand me that blanket?”
“Uh, sure,” he said, averting his eyes from Isabel as she settled into the rocker and began to unbutton her nursing top. “I’ll just, uh, go back outside.”
“Stay here for a minute?” Isabel draped the blanket over her shoulder and chest. “Is that better?” she asked with an amused smile.
“Yeah,” he answered quickly. “I mean…breast-feeding is the most natural thing in the world, and I’m glad you’re embracing it.”
Isabel arched an eyebrow. “Thanks for your support, Buddha.” She paused, flinching a little as Evan tugged. “So. Care to share with me what you were sharing with my son?”
Kyle folded his arms, frowning at the monitor. Sneak. “Did you see Serena at all?”
“No, not really. She’s more labor and delivery than postnatal care. What did you tell her?”
“Nothing,” Kyle admitted. “I tried to convince her it was nothing, but…I’m pretty sure she didn’t buy it.”
Isabel nodded thoughtfully as she rocked back and forth. “Should we be concerned?”
Kyle shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure. I don’t really think so.”
“Well, Evan’s blood is normal, thank god, and nobody got any needles near me, so it’s not as if she can prove anything,” Isabel said decidedly. “I think we need to just keep our cool and consider ourselves lucky things turned out the way they did.”
“You’re keeping awfully calm about this,” Kyle observed.
“I’m probably on my last full night of sleep for months,” Isabel said with a wry smile. “Ask me again in a few days.”
*****
“My mom is crazy.”
Liz smiled, pulling her nightshirt over her head. “Why’s that?”
Max unbuckled his belt, his shorts pooling around his ankles. “The whole grandma thing. She’s going to drive Isabel nuts in no time,” he replied, stepping out of his shorts and tossing them into the hamper.
“Probably,” Liz giggled. “I think it’s just how grandma’s are, though. My mom said Grandma Claudia stayed for almost four months when I was born. She and my dad thought my first word would be ‘anthropology.’ Anyway, I think Isabel will hold her own. And she won’t let on even if she isn’t.”
Max chuckled, lying back on their bed. “Not a chance. But it probably won’t hurt that Jesse’s mom is staying for a few days.”
“I know,” Liz agreed, climbing onto the bed and leaning against the pillows before she burst out laughing. “Oh my god, did you see the look on that poor woman’s face when she got a taste of the fritatta?”
“She chugged her glass of water in one gulp,” Max guffawed. “Poor Mom…she really tries, but she’s just not Martha Stewart.”
Liz curled up closer to Max. “Do you think Kyle’s okay?”
“Kyle? Yeah, why?” Max asked, lacing his fingers through hers.
“He was so quiet today…”
“I think Isabel talked to him. If something was wrong, they’d tell us.” He kissed the top of her head. “Okay?”
Nodding, Liz snuggled against her husband’s chest. “He’s cute, huh?”
“Who, Kyle?”
Liz shoved him playfully. “Evan.”
Max grinned, ruffling Liz’s hair. “Yeah. He’s so little.”
“He looks so much like Isabel,” Liz mused, shifting so that her head was resting in Max’s lap. To her surprise, Max was silent for a minute. “Max?”
“He’s a direct part of her,” he said finally. “I mean, technically…being hybrids, we don’t have any direct relatives.” Max paused, threading his fingers through the hair at Liz’s temple. “Iz and I were lucky…we always knew what it was like to have a family, so it wasn’t such an issue. But Michael…”
“He never had that,” Liz finished quietly.
Max nodded. “He’s never really talked about it, but I think having children is really important to him.”
Liz giggled. “Hopefully Maria’s pain threshold will surprise us, then.” Her smile faded after a moment and she reached up to touch Max’s cheek. “It’s important to you, too, isn’t it?”
Max sighed. “I just…I never thought about it much until Gabriel. It was so different with…with Tess and my son. It was nothing like the connection we had with our son.”
Sitting up, Liz wrapped her arms around Max and kissed him tenderly. “I love you.” She paused, her dark eyes searching his. “Someday, Max, we’ll have that again.”
“No…it needs to be higher. Michael, move your side up a little.” Liz studied the banner Max and Michael were hanging across the Ramirez living room.
Michael raised his arm a bit more, focusing the blast of energy as Liz stood back behind them, inspecting their work. “Is that better?”
“Perfect.” Liz nodded in satisfaction as the front door opened.
“Hello hello!” Diane chirped, holding out a casserole dish. Phillip was right behind her, loaded down with more baby goodies. “They’re not here yet, are they? I didn’t see Jesse’s car.”
“Nope, Kyle just left,” Max said, helping with some of the bags. Kyle was driving Jesse’s car home and letting them drive his because Isabel’s car was getting a quick tune-up and, well, Jesse’s tiny convertible wasn’t very conducive to a new baby.
Liz eased the casserole from her mother-in-law. “This smells great. Maria and Jesse’s mom are in the kitchen cooking up a storm, so they should be set for days.”
“Well, I made enough that it should last,” Diane assured. “I know how you all love my fritatta.” Smiling brightly, Diane followed Liz into the kitchen.
“There should be plenty left over,” Max muttered under his breath, exchanging a look with his father.
*****
“All checked out,” Jesse announced.
Isabel looked up from where she was dressing Evan on the bed and smiled. “Did you hear that, sweetie?” she cooed. “It’s time to go home.”
Kyle smiled at the new family and slung Isabel’s bag over his shoulder. “I’ll start bringing this stuff out to your car, Jesse.” He headed down the hall, swinging the bag at his side, and proceeded to collide with the woman coming around the corner.
Serena gasped as her coffee splashed over the front of her scrubs. “Kyle!”
“I’m so sorry,” Kyle apologized, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a worn bandana.
She grabbed his hand as he reached out to dab at her. “I’ve got it,” she said pointedly. “I’ve had worse on me before. And anyway, I just finished my shift.”
“Look, can I buy you another cup of coffee or something?” Kyle offered.
Serena glanced at her watch. “I really should get going-“ She paused for a moment, eyeing Kyle. “You know what, that would be fine.”
They made their way down to the cafeteria in silence. After paying for their drinks, Kyle led Serena to a small booth and cleared his throat. “So…”
“So why don’t you explain to me what happened the other day.” Serena looked up at Kyle, swirling cream into her coffee.
Kyle took up a sudden interest in his soda straw. “What about it.”
“What’s wrong with Isabel?” Serena asked bluntly.
“Isabel?” Kyle’s head shot up. “Nothing’s wrong with Isabel.”
“Then explain the glowing amniotic fluid,” Serena shot back, her voice low.
“The glowing – Serena, I thought this was about the blood,” Kyle managed, nearly sloshing his soda out of the cup in agitation. What was she talking about?
Serena caught his eye, holding his gaze evenly. “Kyle, I had the day off yesterday, and this is all I’ve been able to think about. I know I wasn’t imagining it. When I broke her water, the fluid had this…this sheen to it. It was glowing, there’s no other way to describe it. And so…so I figured there had to be some medical reason for it. Right? I mean, I’ve only been out of school for sixteen months, maybe I haven’t seen everything yet-“
“Who did you talk to about it?” Kyle interrupted, his heart pounding.
“No one,” Serena admitted. “I figured I’d sound ridiculous, so I…I spent all day researching it.”
“What did you find?” Kyle asked quietly.
“What do you think.” Serena stirred her coffee distractedly. “Nothing. And it just makes me more confused.” She paused for a moment. “So help me out here, Kyle.”
Kyle cleared his throat. “I’m not sure what you’re looking for,” he answered carefully.
“But I think you do. That’s why you were so concerned about the blood. I’m not stupid, Kyle, I-“
“I know you’re not stupid,” Kyle interrupted. “It’s just…it’s complicated, Serena. And it’s really not my place to-“
“Not your place?” Serena looked at him incredulously. “Kyle, you’re the one who was prowling this hospital in scrubs trying to hunt down a newborn’s blood. It may be complicated, but it’s sure as hell your place to tell me what it’s all about when my job could have been on the line!” She paused, lowering her voice. “Look, I know taking the baby’s blood in the first place was against their wishes, but…I broke hospital policy for you. And I want an explanation.”
“Serena, I know. I know you did, and I wish I could tell you more, but…there’s really nothing more to say,” he replied helplessly.
After studying him for a long moment, Serena cleared her throat and got to her feet. “Fine,” she clipped, snatching her coffee from the table. “Thank you for the coffee.” And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Kyle stared after her, cursing under his breath. He slowly pushed back the chair and got to his feet. Well, at least his godfather record was still clean.
*****
Little Evan Ramirez was welcomed home by a houseful of family – and two baby-hogging grandmas. It was only when the food was on that Diane relinquished him to his bassinet. While he slept, the rest of the group took advantage of the warm late afternoon sun on the back deck.
“Look, Iz, Mom made her fritatta,” Max informed his sister as they loaded their plates.
Hiding her grimace with a bright smile, Isabel chirped, “Oh Mom, you shouldn’t have.”
“That’s what I said,” Phillip muttered.
Diane smiled, oblivious. “Well, I know how you kids love your spicy food.” She glanced over as Jesse’s mother took a helping of the concoction. “Be careful, it’s really hot.”
Mrs. Ramirez nodded knowingly. “Ah, my grandmother was one of northern Mexico’s greatest cooks. I’m sure I’ve had hotter.”
As they settled into lawnchairs, Isabel glanced over at Kyle. “Hey, will Toby be done with my car by tomorrow afternoon, Kyle?”
Kyle looked up from his plate, startled. “Huh?”
“Oh Iz, honey, I can pick up anything you need,” Diane spoke up. “You just got home, don’t worry about running errands. I can go to Albertson’s for diapers, or-“
“Mom, it’s fine, okay? I don’t mind,” Isabel insisted. “So what do you think, Kyle?”
“Uh…actually, you could probably find cheaper diapers at Shop-and-Save.”
“Kyle. I was talking about my car.”
“Right, I know,” Kyle muttered, ignoring the looks from the others. “I could probably bring it over by two.”
“That would be great.” Isabel paused as the sound of Evan fussing could be heard over the baby monitor perched on the table, and started to ease out of her chair.
“I’ll get him,” Kyle spoke up, eager for a, well, a distraction from his distraction. With that, he was inside and on his way to Evan’s nursery. It was clearly the work of Isabel, meticulously organized and decorated in soft shades of yellow – appropriate for whatever gender the baby decided to be, Isabel had explained. He scooped the whimpering newborn up, holding him against his broad chest as he’d been learning to do over the past couple of days.
“I bet you were lonely, huh,” he said, walking in slow circles as the baby’s cries subsided. “Your Uncle Kyle knows what that’s like.” He paused, easing into the rocking chair. “Yeah. And there’s this pretty lady, Serena – you’ve met her – and she’s really hot. Don’t you think? The blonde hair, and the way she flips it back over her shoulder…and those green eyes…I was really hoping to get to know her better. But then a lot of stuff happened, and now it’s not looking so good.”
He smiled down at Evan, whose sleepy eyes were struggling to focus. “But stuff happens, you know? And…and hey, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that counts. Means I’ve done my job.” Kyle was quiet for a moment, the only sounds the creak of the rocking chair and Evan’s soft breathing. “I was worried I might slip today, though. She knows something’s not right, and part of me really wanted to tell her the truth. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t put your family – you – in danger.” Evan yawned, and Kyle chuckled. “You’ll understand before too long.”
“Ahem.” Isabel peeked inside, clearing her throat. “Hi there,” she smiled, holding up the monitor.
“Oh, you’re kidding,” Kyle groaned, realizing that his heart-to-heart with Evan had been broadcast to the whole patio. “You knew, didn’t you,” he grumbled to the baby.
Stifling her laughter, Isabel crossed the room and took her son from Kyle. “Time to eat,” she cooed, switching off the monitor. “Kyle, will you hand me that blanket?”
“Uh, sure,” he said, averting his eyes from Isabel as she settled into the rocker and began to unbutton her nursing top. “I’ll just, uh, go back outside.”
“Stay here for a minute?” Isabel draped the blanket over her shoulder and chest. “Is that better?” she asked with an amused smile.
“Yeah,” he answered quickly. “I mean…breast-feeding is the most natural thing in the world, and I’m glad you’re embracing it.”
Isabel arched an eyebrow. “Thanks for your support, Buddha.” She paused, flinching a little as Evan tugged. “So. Care to share with me what you were sharing with my son?”
Kyle folded his arms, frowning at the monitor. Sneak. “Did you see Serena at all?”
“No, not really. She’s more labor and delivery than postnatal care. What did you tell her?”
“Nothing,” Kyle admitted. “I tried to convince her it was nothing, but…I’m pretty sure she didn’t buy it.”
Isabel nodded thoughtfully as she rocked back and forth. “Should we be concerned?”
Kyle shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure. I don’t really think so.”
“Well, Evan’s blood is normal, thank god, and nobody got any needles near me, so it’s not as if she can prove anything,” Isabel said decidedly. “I think we need to just keep our cool and consider ourselves lucky things turned out the way they did.”
“You’re keeping awfully calm about this,” Kyle observed.
“I’m probably on my last full night of sleep for months,” Isabel said with a wry smile. “Ask me again in a few days.”
*****
“My mom is crazy.”
Liz smiled, pulling her nightshirt over her head. “Why’s that?”
Max unbuckled his belt, his shorts pooling around his ankles. “The whole grandma thing. She’s going to drive Isabel nuts in no time,” he replied, stepping out of his shorts and tossing them into the hamper.
“Probably,” Liz giggled. “I think it’s just how grandma’s are, though. My mom said Grandma Claudia stayed for almost four months when I was born. She and my dad thought my first word would be ‘anthropology.’ Anyway, I think Isabel will hold her own. And she won’t let on even if she isn’t.”
Max chuckled, lying back on their bed. “Not a chance. But it probably won’t hurt that Jesse’s mom is staying for a few days.”
“I know,” Liz agreed, climbing onto the bed and leaning against the pillows before she burst out laughing. “Oh my god, did you see the look on that poor woman’s face when she got a taste of the fritatta?”
“She chugged her glass of water in one gulp,” Max guffawed. “Poor Mom…she really tries, but she’s just not Martha Stewart.”
Liz curled up closer to Max. “Do you think Kyle’s okay?”
“Kyle? Yeah, why?” Max asked, lacing his fingers through hers.
“He was so quiet today…”
“I think Isabel talked to him. If something was wrong, they’d tell us.” He kissed the top of her head. “Okay?”
Nodding, Liz snuggled against her husband’s chest. “He’s cute, huh?”
“Who, Kyle?”
Liz shoved him playfully. “Evan.”
Max grinned, ruffling Liz’s hair. “Yeah. He’s so little.”
“He looks so much like Isabel,” Liz mused, shifting so that her head was resting in Max’s lap. To her surprise, Max was silent for a minute. “Max?”
“He’s a direct part of her,” he said finally. “I mean, technically…being hybrids, we don’t have any direct relatives.” Max paused, threading his fingers through the hair at Liz’s temple. “Iz and I were lucky…we always knew what it was like to have a family, so it wasn’t such an issue. But Michael…”
“He never had that,” Liz finished quietly.
Max nodded. “He’s never really talked about it, but I think having children is really important to him.”
Liz giggled. “Hopefully Maria’s pain threshold will surprise us, then.” Her smile faded after a moment and she reached up to touch Max’s cheek. “It’s important to you, too, isn’t it?”
Max sighed. “I just…I never thought about it much until Gabriel. It was so different with…with Tess and my son. It was nothing like the connection we had with our son.”
Sitting up, Liz wrapped her arms around Max and kissed him tenderly. “I love you.” She paused, her dark eyes searching his. “Someday, Max, we’ll have that again.”
35
Summer quickly faded into fall, and with it brought plenty of changes; new classes, Michael’s start at the community college, and – much to his parents’ delight – Evan sleeping through the night.
Max and Liz were adjusting to their new schedules as well, between work and classes. Max was promoted to assistant manager at the UFO Center in mid-September. Brody’s ex-wife had recently moved to Artesia, and he wanted to make the most of his joint-custody time with Sydney. Despite a more hurried pace compared to the summer, all was well in Roswell – except for the one day that loomed ahead.
Max knew it even before he opened his eyes that morning. Today was the day. He reached over to touch Liz and found the bed beside him empty. And then he heard her.
“God dammit!” Liz hopped into the bedroom, pulling on a pair of jeans. She rifled through the closet, cursing under her breath.
Watching his wife quietly for a moment, Max finally sat up. “Liz?” he ventured.
She jumped in surprise. “Max, I think somebody stole my blue shirt from the dryer downstairs,” she informed him. “That’s the last time we leave a load in overnight.”
Max rubbed his eyes, slowly getting to his feet. “Which blue shirt?” he asked calmly. “The one that buttons up the front and has that pocket –“
“Yes, and if I ever catch someone else in this building wearing it-“
“Didn’t you lend it to Maria last week?”
Liz paused. “Oh. I guess I did.” She sighed, returning to the closet and retrieving a black sweater. Pulling it over her head, she said, “I didn’t mean to wake you. I couldn’t sleep and I was finishing up a paper –“
“It’s okay,” Max interrupted gently. He pulled his wife into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll make some coffee.”
He was just pouring two fresh mugs when he heard Liz again. “God dammit ," came her voice, followed by a loud thumping.
“Liz?” Max followed her voice to the living room, where she was pounding furiously on the printer. “Jammed again?”
“Of course.” Liz moved aside as Max set the mugs down and held his hand up to the printer. There was a moment of glowing, and then the paper began to feed through.
“Thanks.” She reached for a mug and took a sip, closing her eyes for a moment.
Max studied his wife in concern. “Liz, maybe you should stay home from class this morning-“
“No.” Liz’s eyes flew open. “That’s the last thing I should do. I need to stay busy.” She set her mug down, and before she or Max could react, it tipped and sloshed the dark liquid all over the printed paper.
That did it. Liz burst into tears, bracing her hands on the edge of the desk as her body shuddered with sobs. “I’m sorry,” she managed. “It’s just…It’s today, and…it’s still so hard sometimes.”
Max pulled her into his arms, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back. “I know, love,” he whispered. He held her close and stroked her hair as her tears soaked into his t-shirt.
Liz’s tears eventually subsided into sniffles, and she slowly pulled away. Surveying the mess on the desk, she mumbled, “I’ll get some paper towels.”
But Max held her tight, directing his hand toward the spilled coffee. Liz watched as it disappeared. “Thanks,” she whispered. “Hey, don’t you have to open at the center today?”
“Brody told me to take the day off,” Max explained, framing her face in his hands. “I wanted to be with you this morning.”
Liz nodded, swallowing hard. “I’m glad.”
Smiling faintly, Max touched the tip of her nose. “Does that mean you’ll stay and join me for breakfast?”
“Does that mean you’re cooking?” Liz shot back.
“Blueberry pancakes?”
“You’re on.” Sharing a quick kiss, Liz and Max joined hands and headed for the kitchen.
*****
“I didn’t realize how difficult this would be until Mom had to go into the office at the last minute,” Isabel said, juggling a backpack, diaper bag, baby carrier, and Evan as she struggled to unlock her car.
Max set his books on the roof of the car and took the gurgling baby from his sister. “He was great.”
“Thanks. Yeah, but I still don’t think the professor appreciated it.” Isabel blew a strand of hair off her forehead and began tossing her things into the car. “So Liz went to her classes this afternoon?”
“Yeah. I didn’t want her to, she’s been so stressed out,” Max said, lifting his nephew against his shoulder.
“Well of course she’s going to be stressed, it was a year ago today,” Isabel pointed out as she struggled with Evan’s car seat.
“Hey kids,” came Maria’s voice. She jogged across the parking lot, bag slung over her shoulder. “Max, how’re you doing?” she asked, poised to hug him until she saw the baby. “Oh hello, mi bebe precioso,” she cooed, kissing the top of Evan’s now nearly hairless head.
“Maria, have you see Liz yet?” Max asked, passing the baby to her.
“We just met for lunch. She’s on her way to class,” Maria informed him, tickling Evan’s tummy. “She’s okay, Max, I promise.”
Isabel smiled in triumph as she snapped Evan’s car seat into place. She ducked out, cursing as she hit her head on the door frame. “Maria, can you load him in? We both need to go home and take a nap,” she sighed.
“You know what ya’ll need?” Maria bent to fasten Evan inside. “Max, reach into my bag.”
Max did as he was told, retrieving a bright green flyer. “This?”
“Yes.” Straightening, Maria pointed out the bold headline. “Zero Gravity. It’s a new eighteen-and-over club on the north side. Dancing, karaoke bar, virgin cocktails,” she added, arching an eyebrow. “Yours truly is singing there on Friday night, and you’re all coming with.”
Max and Isabel exchanged looks. “Liz and I aren’t really into that kind of thing,” Max replied.
Maria rolled her eyes. “Calm down, you sound like I’m suggesting a menage a trois. And Isabel, you used to do clubs sometimes.”
“I have a baby now,” she reminded.
“So let Grandma and Grandpa babysit for the night.” She sighed. “Come on, guys, it’ll be fun. And it’s the only way I’ll be able to talk Michael into going.”
Max hesitated. “Liz has to work Friday night.”
“Not anymore,” Maria announced smugly. “Mr. P. is giving her the night off. He thinks she needs some fun, too.”
Isabel was still considering this. “I’ll have to talk to Jesse…”
“Remind him that there will be plenty of designated drivers,” Maria said wisely.
“And I’d have to check with Mom and Dad…”
“Iz, you know Mom would love to take Evan for the night,” Max reminded.
“Alright, then what’s your excuse?” Isabel demanded.
Maria waved her hand. “He doesn’t have one. And Liz already agreed for the both of them, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”
Max sighed. He hated when those two conspired against him. “Well, I guess if Liz wants to go…”
“Yay!” Maria clapped her hands together. “We’re going shopping tonight after dinner. Isabel, do you want me to pick you up?”
Isabel considered this. “Jesse’ll be home early, so…sure, why not?”
Max shook his head. Whatever made Liz happy.
*****
"Liz, we're supposed to meet them there in twenty minutes and we still have to pick up Iz and Jesse."
"I'm almost ready," Liz called, leaning toward the vanity mirror as she applied her lipstick. Max appeared in the doorway, his image reflected in the mirror.
"You're awfully eager for someone who didn't want to go in the first place," she teased, eyeing her husband. He looked incredibly sexy in all black, from his black slacks to the short sleeve, button-up black shirt that clung to his shapely arms and chest.
Max leaned against the doorframe and smirked at his wife. "The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back and..."
Liz arched a suggestive brow at him in the mirror. "Hmmm." She got to her feet and spun around once. "What do you think?"
"I think..." Max's eyes traveled up and down the length of her body, taking in the black pants that clung to each sexy curve, and the tiny...very tight...backless crimson top that appeared to be held in place only by a string. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, just as it had at their junior prom, and she was...stunning. "I think maybe we should just skip the club," he said finally, his mouth dry.
"Slick," Liz giggled, brushing past him and leaving him with a slight whiff of her perfume. God, she was sexy. He glanced down at his suddenly constrictive pants and hoped he'd be able to keep his cool tonight.
*****
Maria took a deep bow, then grin plastered across her glistening face, before scurrying down the stairs and into the crowd.
"Maria, you were fantastic!" Liz exclaimed, pulling her best friend into a hug. And it was true, Maria had been a hit; singing a few old Cher and Blondie covers for the bustling crowd of young adults.
"That's my girl," Michael said proudly, wrapping his arm around Maria's waist. He knew he was being possessive, but he didn't care. After that performance, and in that tiny green top to boot, he knew plenty of guys had their eye on her. Mine, mine, mine.
Jesse grinned as an old Enrique Iglesias tune started. "Looks like no one was brave enough to follow that up."
"That's because no one can match his sexy voice," Isabel shot back, grabbing her husband's hands. "Come on, we're dancing."
Maria nodded smugly. Just as she'd expected, they were all having a great time. Even Kyle, who had come solo but had already scored several dances.
Liz and Max, of course, saw only each other. Their hips swayed together, and as the chorus started, Liz began grinding against him in time with the beat. Max responded in kind, his hands roaming eagerly over her hips.
If you feel like leaving, I'm not gonna make you stay
But soon you'll be finding
You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape my love
Smiling up at him, Liz's own roving hands came to rest on his butt. She squeezed through the fabric of his slacks, making Max's heart accelerate.
He licked his lips, sliding his hands from Liz's hips. He drew her sharply against him, rubbing her over his growing arousal. Liz gasped at the feel of him through the material of their pants, but never stopped her gyrations against him. It was a rare occasion when Max Evans could be found grinding on a dance floor, but Liz was going to take full advantage.
Max's breath hissed out between his lips as the feel of Liz's body against him shrouded him in desire. Her hair bounced over her glistening shoulders and the column of her neck, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the bodies on the floor around them, and from...from Max himself. He gazed down at Liz, utterly captivated by her sensuality.
Liz's eyes scanned Max's face. She watched as a trickle of sweat ran down from his temple and balanced precariously at the edge of his strong jaw. Leaning forward, she captured it with her tongue.
Max let out a low growl, his groin tightening as Liz lapped at his sweaty jaw and lower, suckling on his damp neck.
"Liz," he ground out, pulling her up against his body.
Though she could barely hear him over the pounding bass, she felt the vibration from his throat against her mouth and trailed her lips up his jaw. "What is it, baby?" she purred into his ear.
"You...I'm getting so hot," he breathed, rubbing her more insistently over his hard body.
"Me too." The evidence was already pooling in her panties. "I wish you could feel how hot I am for you," she cooed.
Baby you can run, baby you can hide, but you can't escape my love
The rhythm of their hips was now their own as they ground against one another. Max abruptly spun her around, his hardness pressing into the small of her back. Liz's hands ran over her body once before she grabbed Max's hands in her own and guided them from her hips. They slid dangerously close to her breasts, teasing her, before moving back.
Liz's hips were gyrating at a furious pace, reveling in the feeling of Max pressing against her. Her mouth opened in a breathy gasp as his hands began to move again.
His palms rubbed slow circles over the tops of her thighs before one slid between her legs. Her back arched, urging him to cup her in his hand. Lolling her head back against his shoulder, she panted, "Oh god, Max, touch me."
Max hesitated only for a moment before he grabbed Liz's hand and led her through the crowd. They hurried right past Isabel, who was making her way up to the dj table. She made her request, and the dj grinned and nodded.
Isabel headed back to Jesse, who was at the bar sipping a Corona. Kyle spotted them and slid down a few stools, tossing a dollar onto the bar table. Isabel arched an eyebrow at him.
"Coke, please," Kyle told the bartender before returning Isabel's pointed look.
Jesse toasted him with his bottle. "So, Valenti, how are the ladies tonight?"
Kyle smirked, nodding out toward the dance floor. "See the brunette in the little black number? Twenty-five year old pharmacist. She and a bunch of her hospital buddies are here tonight, and she totally wants me."
Jesse nodded his approval, and Isabel bit back the urge to tell Kyle that she was too old for him. She knew it was hypocritical, but...it was different somehow. Oh well. She waited patiently for the song to end, a slow smile crossing her face as the dj took the microphone.
"We have a request from one of the lovely ladies in the crowd tonight. Jesse, this is for you."
Jesse looked up at his wife questioningly, his smile matching hers as he recognized what she'd requested.
Kyle resisted the urge to gag as Jesse led Isabel out onto the floor, taking her into his arms. He turned back to the counter, trying to block out Shakira with the sounds of the bar.
“Hi.”
Startled, Kyle turned as Serena sat down at the stool beside him. “Uh…hi.”
“You’re a little young to be drinking, aren’t you?” she asked, taking a sip of her martini.
“Oh. It’s Coke,” Kyle explained, wincing at the blow to his ego.
“So you met Adrian, huh?” Serena continued, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder and giving Kyle a view of her long, graceful neck…that he could just imagine tasting…
“Huh? Oh. Yeah, yeah, I did,” Kyle stammered. “So…out with the girls tonight?”
“You got it. It’s been one of those days.” Serena placed the toothpick from her glass between her teeth and slid off the olive. “The guy I’ve been seeing for the past month dumped me this morning. Called me at work, the bastard.”
“That hurts,” Kyle sympathized.
“Eh. Guys and baggage.” Serena shrugged and waved the bartender over. “Another martini, please. And could I get two olives?” she asked, flashing a bright smile. “Kyle, you want anything?”
“Uh…no thanks,” Kyle answered. It appeared she’d been drinking enough for the both of them.
Underneath your clothes there's an endless story
There's the man I chose, there's my territory
Max strode purposefully down a less crowded hallway as Liz gripped his hand in eager pursuit. He glanced around quickly before pushing open the door to the ladies room and pulling Liz inside.
Scanning the room and under the three empty stalls, Max nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the door. Liz watched as he ran his hand over the door, sealing it shut. "Max..."
"It's okay. There's another one upstairs." And with that, he backed her against the door and fused his lips to hers.
Their tongues explored eagerly, stifled moans escaping from smothering lips. Hands explored and caressed, stroked and rubbed.
“Max…what are we…” Liz’s breathing was choppy as Max’s mouth moved over her neck, his hands sliding under her top and touching her soft skin.
“I don’t know,” he panted, but the way he was pressing into her and cupping her breasts, it was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.
And all the things I deserve for being such a good girl
Liz gasped as he sucked on the sensitive skin below her ear and pinched her nipple simultaneously. “Max…mmm…”
The sudden vibration of a knock against the door barely registered in their frenzy. The knocking became more insistent, and Max paused, resting his forehead against Liz’s as he struggled to catch his breath. He looked down, watching as Liz’s fingers began to toy with the buttons on his shirt.
“There’s another bathroom upstairs, right?” she asked coyly, unbuttoning one button and tracing the newly exposed flesh.
Max nodded, swallowing hard as she leaned closer.
“Good.” With that, Liz lifted herself up and wrapped her legs around Max’s waist, kissing him senseless. He blindly sidestepped to the row of sinks, leaning against the edge of the counter as Liz continued to grind against him.
“Mmm, Liz…god…” he managed, his hands cupping her butt and pressing her into him, hard.
Liz moaned at the feeling of his hardness grinding into her damp center. Neither heard the click of bathroom lock popping open, and it was only when Liz felt someone tap her shoulder that she broke away from Max, mortified.
“Excuse me, but these bathrooms are not to be used for this kind of activity,” the club manager said stiffly, eyeing the flushed couple who were clearly very embarrassed at being caught in such a compromising state.
Liz slid to the floor and cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry, sir-“
“I’ll have to ask you two to leave the club immediately.”
Max ducked his head and nodded, taking Liz’s hand and leading her to the door. They tried not to look at the women who had been waiting in line until someone gasped, “Oh my god, it was you two?”
Maria stared at them, her hands on her hips, and clucked her tongue. “I’m shocked.” A smirk appeared on her face. “But definitely proud.”
Liz flushed again. “Um, we’re going to get going. Could one of you give Isabel and Jesse a ride home?”
“Sure. You two ‘get going.’” Maria shooed them off toward the exit. When she made it back to the dance floor, wincing at the pair of drunk girls attempting to karaoke to Loveshack, Michael was nowhere to be found.
Cursing under her breath, she spotted Isabel and Jesse. “Have you seen Spaceboy?”
“No, but did you see Kyle and Serena?” Isabel raised her eyebrows. “She’s looking a little tipsy tonight.”
Maria’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her eyes traveled in the direction Isabel was indicating, and sure enough, there were Kyle and Serena. They both appeared to be having a good time, but Maria was willing to bet Serena wasn’t feeling much of anything at that point.
“Uh…I found Michael,” Jesse spoke up, biting his lip.
“Huh? Where-“ Maria trailed off as she turned to the stage. There was Michael, alright, wiping the palms of his hands on his pants as he studied the karaoke screen. “Oh my god,” she muttered. “What is he doing?” She clapped her hand to her mouth as she recognized the opening notes of the song.
“She moves like she don’t care, smooth as silk, cool as air, ooh it makes you wanna cry,” Michael’s tentative tenor voice rang out. He wasn’t quite singing, but not quite talking either. “She doesn’t know your name, and your heart beats like a subway train, ooh it makes you wanna die.”
Maria slowly moved her hand away from her mouth as Michael scanned the crowd. She shook her head, grinning, as he caught her eye and winked.
“Ooh, don’t you wanna take her, wanna make her all your own.” His eyebrows crinkled as the music sped up, and he croaked out, “Mariiiia, you’ve gotta see her, go insane and out of your mind.” He cleared his throat slightly, his voice lowering an octave, and Maria sighed in relief.
“Maria, Ave Maria, a million and one candlelights…”
*****
Max and Liz had barely gotten through their front door before they began tossing clothes onto the floor. Once they were down to their underwear, Max hoisted Liz into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Bed?” he breathed.
“Mm-hm.” She giggled as Max ran into several walls and pieces of furniture before finally placing her on their bed. She stretched up to meet his lips and kissed him hungrily. After their fun at the club, Liz was fairly starving for him.
Max gently lay her back before settling down with her. His hands caressed her shoulders and then moved lower, cupping and kneading her breasts. The little noises of pleasure coming from Liz continued to stoke the fire that had been burning inside of him all night.
Liz’s fingers dragged down his back, slipping into his boxers and squeezing him before working them over his butt. He shifted, helping her pull them off, before returning to their searching kisses. Their senses were heightened, each touch sending lightning bolts through their veins as they caressed.
“Mmm…Liz,” Max groaned as she rolled them over and began stroking his erection. Her hot little hand moved up and down, working him into a frenzy of desire. His control almost destroyed, he flipped her onto her back and began caressing her inner thighs.
“Max…god…I can’t take much more,” she gasped, rotating her hips as his fingers crept closer to the place she needed him the most. She cried out in delight when his searching fingers finally slid under the elastic of her panties and sought out her wetness.
He worked two fingers into her, kissing and suckling a scorching trail along her jaw and throat. She began thrusting against his hand, trying desperately to take him deeper, trying to quench the fire that was burning inside of her. “I need more…please,” she moaned.
Max nodded, his face buried in her neck as he slowly withdrew his fingers. She lifted her hips as he slid her panties down her body, and gazed up at him. The beautiful man that was balanced over her body, his chest heaving, his eyes dark with desire, filled Liz’s heart with so much love that she thought she might burst right there. Lifting her hips again, she sought out his throbbing arousal.
Feathering tiny kisses against Liz’s brow, Max gazed down at her in awe. There were times, even now, that he still couldn’t quite believe that the breathtaking woman in his arms was his. How had he gotten so lucky? Max watched as her tongue peeked out and wet her swollen lips, and then all conscious thought flew from his head.
Liz sighed in relief when she felt Max parting her folds, testing her. “I’m so ready,” she breathed, lifting her hips to meet his and thrusting him into her body. Max emitted a sound somewhere between a growl and a moan as her tight passage sheathed him in heat.
“Ah, god, Liz,” he managed, their hips beginning to rock together. His heart was pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear, and his breath was panting almost as fast.
Breathing his name, Liz locked her ankles in the small of his back and urged him deeper. Harder. Faster. She needed him everywhere, needed him inside of her as deep as she could take him.
Max cried out in pleasure as he felt her walls squeezing him, taking him in to the hilt, and then releasing him to start again. “God, Liz…Liz…” She felt so good it was sending chills down his spine, sending a white hot fire through his veins.
Liz felt it too, felt it bubbling up inside of her, a desire so raw that it clouded every other thought from her mind. She was close…so very close…racing closer as Max continued to pound into her wanting body.
And then he was coming, exploding as her walls contracted around him, filling her with his love in long, hot spurts that left him gasping her name.
His name fell from her lips only once as he coated her, his essence burning up into her body. It was happening, she could feel it…it settled over her before their pulsing bodies ebbed into stillness.
Max took in sharp breath, the realization hitting him in the instant before the spark erupted between them. He collapsed against her, panting into her shoulder and pulling her limp form into his arms. “Liz,” he gasped, his eyes wide.
“I…oh my god…” Her head was spinning, her body humming as it slowly settled over her. “Max…”
He nodded slowly, kissing her forehead, before one hand ran down the side of their joined bodies to her abdomen. “We’re having a baby.”
Summer quickly faded into fall, and with it brought plenty of changes; new classes, Michael’s start at the community college, and – much to his parents’ delight – Evan sleeping through the night.
Max and Liz were adjusting to their new schedules as well, between work and classes. Max was promoted to assistant manager at the UFO Center in mid-September. Brody’s ex-wife had recently moved to Artesia, and he wanted to make the most of his joint-custody time with Sydney. Despite a more hurried pace compared to the summer, all was well in Roswell – except for the one day that loomed ahead.
Max knew it even before he opened his eyes that morning. Today was the day. He reached over to touch Liz and found the bed beside him empty. And then he heard her.
“God dammit!” Liz hopped into the bedroom, pulling on a pair of jeans. She rifled through the closet, cursing under her breath.
Watching his wife quietly for a moment, Max finally sat up. “Liz?” he ventured.
She jumped in surprise. “Max, I think somebody stole my blue shirt from the dryer downstairs,” she informed him. “That’s the last time we leave a load in overnight.”
Max rubbed his eyes, slowly getting to his feet. “Which blue shirt?” he asked calmly. “The one that buttons up the front and has that pocket –“
“Yes, and if I ever catch someone else in this building wearing it-“
“Didn’t you lend it to Maria last week?”
Liz paused. “Oh. I guess I did.” She sighed, returning to the closet and retrieving a black sweater. Pulling it over her head, she said, “I didn’t mean to wake you. I couldn’t sleep and I was finishing up a paper –“
“It’s okay,” Max interrupted gently. He pulled his wife into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll make some coffee.”
He was just pouring two fresh mugs when he heard Liz again. “God dammit ," came her voice, followed by a loud thumping.
“Liz?” Max followed her voice to the living room, where she was pounding furiously on the printer. “Jammed again?”
“Of course.” Liz moved aside as Max set the mugs down and held his hand up to the printer. There was a moment of glowing, and then the paper began to feed through.
“Thanks.” She reached for a mug and took a sip, closing her eyes for a moment.
Max studied his wife in concern. “Liz, maybe you should stay home from class this morning-“
“No.” Liz’s eyes flew open. “That’s the last thing I should do. I need to stay busy.” She set her mug down, and before she or Max could react, it tipped and sloshed the dark liquid all over the printed paper.
That did it. Liz burst into tears, bracing her hands on the edge of the desk as her body shuddered with sobs. “I’m sorry,” she managed. “It’s just…It’s today, and…it’s still so hard sometimes.”
Max pulled her into his arms, rubbing a soothing hand up and down her back. “I know, love,” he whispered. He held her close and stroked her hair as her tears soaked into his t-shirt.
Liz’s tears eventually subsided into sniffles, and she slowly pulled away. Surveying the mess on the desk, she mumbled, “I’ll get some paper towels.”
But Max held her tight, directing his hand toward the spilled coffee. Liz watched as it disappeared. “Thanks,” she whispered. “Hey, don’t you have to open at the center today?”
“Brody told me to take the day off,” Max explained, framing her face in his hands. “I wanted to be with you this morning.”
Liz nodded, swallowing hard. “I’m glad.”
Smiling faintly, Max touched the tip of her nose. “Does that mean you’ll stay and join me for breakfast?”
“Does that mean you’re cooking?” Liz shot back.
“Blueberry pancakes?”
“You’re on.” Sharing a quick kiss, Liz and Max joined hands and headed for the kitchen.
*****
“I didn’t realize how difficult this would be until Mom had to go into the office at the last minute,” Isabel said, juggling a backpack, diaper bag, baby carrier, and Evan as she struggled to unlock her car.
Max set his books on the roof of the car and took the gurgling baby from his sister. “He was great.”
“Thanks. Yeah, but I still don’t think the professor appreciated it.” Isabel blew a strand of hair off her forehead and began tossing her things into the car. “So Liz went to her classes this afternoon?”
“Yeah. I didn’t want her to, she’s been so stressed out,” Max said, lifting his nephew against his shoulder.
“Well of course she’s going to be stressed, it was a year ago today,” Isabel pointed out as she struggled with Evan’s car seat.
“Hey kids,” came Maria’s voice. She jogged across the parking lot, bag slung over her shoulder. “Max, how’re you doing?” she asked, poised to hug him until she saw the baby. “Oh hello, mi bebe precioso,” she cooed, kissing the top of Evan’s now nearly hairless head.
“Maria, have you see Liz yet?” Max asked, passing the baby to her.
“We just met for lunch. She’s on her way to class,” Maria informed him, tickling Evan’s tummy. “She’s okay, Max, I promise.”
Isabel smiled in triumph as she snapped Evan’s car seat into place. She ducked out, cursing as she hit her head on the door frame. “Maria, can you load him in? We both need to go home and take a nap,” she sighed.
“You know what ya’ll need?” Maria bent to fasten Evan inside. “Max, reach into my bag.”
Max did as he was told, retrieving a bright green flyer. “This?”
“Yes.” Straightening, Maria pointed out the bold headline. “Zero Gravity. It’s a new eighteen-and-over club on the north side. Dancing, karaoke bar, virgin cocktails,” she added, arching an eyebrow. “Yours truly is singing there on Friday night, and you’re all coming with.”
Max and Isabel exchanged looks. “Liz and I aren’t really into that kind of thing,” Max replied.
Maria rolled her eyes. “Calm down, you sound like I’m suggesting a menage a trois. And Isabel, you used to do clubs sometimes.”
“I have a baby now,” she reminded.
“So let Grandma and Grandpa babysit for the night.” She sighed. “Come on, guys, it’ll be fun. And it’s the only way I’ll be able to talk Michael into going.”
Max hesitated. “Liz has to work Friday night.”
“Not anymore,” Maria announced smugly. “Mr. P. is giving her the night off. He thinks she needs some fun, too.”
Isabel was still considering this. “I’ll have to talk to Jesse…”
“Remind him that there will be plenty of designated drivers,” Maria said wisely.
“And I’d have to check with Mom and Dad…”
“Iz, you know Mom would love to take Evan for the night,” Max reminded.
“Alright, then what’s your excuse?” Isabel demanded.
Maria waved her hand. “He doesn’t have one. And Liz already agreed for the both of them, so it doesn’t matter anyway.”
Max sighed. He hated when those two conspired against him. “Well, I guess if Liz wants to go…”
“Yay!” Maria clapped her hands together. “We’re going shopping tonight after dinner. Isabel, do you want me to pick you up?”
Isabel considered this. “Jesse’ll be home early, so…sure, why not?”
Max shook his head. Whatever made Liz happy.
*****
"Liz, we're supposed to meet them there in twenty minutes and we still have to pick up Iz and Jesse."
"I'm almost ready," Liz called, leaning toward the vanity mirror as she applied her lipstick. Max appeared in the doorway, his image reflected in the mirror.
"You're awfully eager for someone who didn't want to go in the first place," she teased, eyeing her husband. He looked incredibly sexy in all black, from his black slacks to the short sleeve, button-up black shirt that clung to his shapely arms and chest.
Max leaned against the doorframe and smirked at his wife. "The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back and..."
Liz arched a suggestive brow at him in the mirror. "Hmmm." She got to her feet and spun around once. "What do you think?"
"I think..." Max's eyes traveled up and down the length of her body, taking in the black pants that clung to each sexy curve, and the tiny...very tight...backless crimson top that appeared to be held in place only by a string. Her hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, just as it had at their junior prom, and she was...stunning. "I think maybe we should just skip the club," he said finally, his mouth dry.
"Slick," Liz giggled, brushing past him and leaving him with a slight whiff of her perfume. God, she was sexy. He glanced down at his suddenly constrictive pants and hoped he'd be able to keep his cool tonight.
*****
Maria took a deep bow, then grin plastered across her glistening face, before scurrying down the stairs and into the crowd.
"Maria, you were fantastic!" Liz exclaimed, pulling her best friend into a hug. And it was true, Maria had been a hit; singing a few old Cher and Blondie covers for the bustling crowd of young adults.
"That's my girl," Michael said proudly, wrapping his arm around Maria's waist. He knew he was being possessive, but he didn't care. After that performance, and in that tiny green top to boot, he knew plenty of guys had their eye on her. Mine, mine, mine.
Jesse grinned as an old Enrique Iglesias tune started. "Looks like no one was brave enough to follow that up."
"That's because no one can match his sexy voice," Isabel shot back, grabbing her husband's hands. "Come on, we're dancing."
Maria nodded smugly. Just as she'd expected, they were all having a great time. Even Kyle, who had come solo but had already scored several dances.
Liz and Max, of course, saw only each other. Their hips swayed together, and as the chorus started, Liz began grinding against him in time with the beat. Max responded in kind, his hands roaming eagerly over her hips.
If you feel like leaving, I'm not gonna make you stay
But soon you'll be finding
You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape my love
Smiling up at him, Liz's own roving hands came to rest on his butt. She squeezed through the fabric of his slacks, making Max's heart accelerate.
He licked his lips, sliding his hands from Liz's hips. He drew her sharply against him, rubbing her over his growing arousal. Liz gasped at the feel of him through the material of their pants, but never stopped her gyrations against him. It was a rare occasion when Max Evans could be found grinding on a dance floor, but Liz was going to take full advantage.
Max's breath hissed out between his lips as the feel of Liz's body against him shrouded him in desire. Her hair bounced over her glistening shoulders and the column of her neck, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the bodies on the floor around them, and from...from Max himself. He gazed down at Liz, utterly captivated by her sensuality.
Liz's eyes scanned Max's face. She watched as a trickle of sweat ran down from his temple and balanced precariously at the edge of his strong jaw. Leaning forward, she captured it with her tongue.
Max let out a low growl, his groin tightening as Liz lapped at his sweaty jaw and lower, suckling on his damp neck.
"Liz," he ground out, pulling her up against his body.
Though she could barely hear him over the pounding bass, she felt the vibration from his throat against her mouth and trailed her lips up his jaw. "What is it, baby?" she purred into his ear.
"You...I'm getting so hot," he breathed, rubbing her more insistently over his hard body.
"Me too." The evidence was already pooling in her panties. "I wish you could feel how hot I am for you," she cooed.
Baby you can run, baby you can hide, but you can't escape my love
The rhythm of their hips was now their own as they ground against one another. Max abruptly spun her around, his hardness pressing into the small of her back. Liz's hands ran over her body once before she grabbed Max's hands in her own and guided them from her hips. They slid dangerously close to her breasts, teasing her, before moving back.
Liz's hips were gyrating at a furious pace, reveling in the feeling of Max pressing against her. Her mouth opened in a breathy gasp as his hands began to move again.
His palms rubbed slow circles over the tops of her thighs before one slid between her legs. Her back arched, urging him to cup her in his hand. Lolling her head back against his shoulder, she panted, "Oh god, Max, touch me."
Max hesitated only for a moment before he grabbed Liz's hand and led her through the crowd. They hurried right past Isabel, who was making her way up to the dj table. She made her request, and the dj grinned and nodded.
Isabel headed back to Jesse, who was at the bar sipping a Corona. Kyle spotted them and slid down a few stools, tossing a dollar onto the bar table. Isabel arched an eyebrow at him.
"Coke, please," Kyle told the bartender before returning Isabel's pointed look.
Jesse toasted him with his bottle. "So, Valenti, how are the ladies tonight?"
Kyle smirked, nodding out toward the dance floor. "See the brunette in the little black number? Twenty-five year old pharmacist. She and a bunch of her hospital buddies are here tonight, and she totally wants me."
Jesse nodded his approval, and Isabel bit back the urge to tell Kyle that she was too old for him. She knew it was hypocritical, but...it was different somehow. Oh well. She waited patiently for the song to end, a slow smile crossing her face as the dj took the microphone.
"We have a request from one of the lovely ladies in the crowd tonight. Jesse, this is for you."
Jesse looked up at his wife questioningly, his smile matching hers as he recognized what she'd requested.
Kyle resisted the urge to gag as Jesse led Isabel out onto the floor, taking her into his arms. He turned back to the counter, trying to block out Shakira with the sounds of the bar.
“Hi.”
Startled, Kyle turned as Serena sat down at the stool beside him. “Uh…hi.”
“You’re a little young to be drinking, aren’t you?” she asked, taking a sip of her martini.
“Oh. It’s Coke,” Kyle explained, wincing at the blow to his ego.
“So you met Adrian, huh?” Serena continued, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder and giving Kyle a view of her long, graceful neck…that he could just imagine tasting…
“Huh? Oh. Yeah, yeah, I did,” Kyle stammered. “So…out with the girls tonight?”
“You got it. It’s been one of those days.” Serena placed the toothpick from her glass between her teeth and slid off the olive. “The guy I’ve been seeing for the past month dumped me this morning. Called me at work, the bastard.”
“That hurts,” Kyle sympathized.
“Eh. Guys and baggage.” Serena shrugged and waved the bartender over. “Another martini, please. And could I get two olives?” she asked, flashing a bright smile. “Kyle, you want anything?”
“Uh…no thanks,” Kyle answered. It appeared she’d been drinking enough for the both of them.
Underneath your clothes there's an endless story
There's the man I chose, there's my territory
Max strode purposefully down a less crowded hallway as Liz gripped his hand in eager pursuit. He glanced around quickly before pushing open the door to the ladies room and pulling Liz inside.
Scanning the room and under the three empty stalls, Max nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the door. Liz watched as he ran his hand over the door, sealing it shut. "Max..."
"It's okay. There's another one upstairs." And with that, he backed her against the door and fused his lips to hers.
Their tongues explored eagerly, stifled moans escaping from smothering lips. Hands explored and caressed, stroked and rubbed.
“Max…what are we…” Liz’s breathing was choppy as Max’s mouth moved over her neck, his hands sliding under her top and touching her soft skin.
“I don’t know,” he panted, but the way he was pressing into her and cupping her breasts, it was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.
And all the things I deserve for being such a good girl
Liz gasped as he sucked on the sensitive skin below her ear and pinched her nipple simultaneously. “Max…mmm…”
The sudden vibration of a knock against the door barely registered in their frenzy. The knocking became more insistent, and Max paused, resting his forehead against Liz’s as he struggled to catch his breath. He looked down, watching as Liz’s fingers began to toy with the buttons on his shirt.
“There’s another bathroom upstairs, right?” she asked coyly, unbuttoning one button and tracing the newly exposed flesh.
Max nodded, swallowing hard as she leaned closer.
“Good.” With that, Liz lifted herself up and wrapped her legs around Max’s waist, kissing him senseless. He blindly sidestepped to the row of sinks, leaning against the edge of the counter as Liz continued to grind against him.
“Mmm, Liz…god…” he managed, his hands cupping her butt and pressing her into him, hard.
Liz moaned at the feeling of his hardness grinding into her damp center. Neither heard the click of bathroom lock popping open, and it was only when Liz felt someone tap her shoulder that she broke away from Max, mortified.
“Excuse me, but these bathrooms are not to be used for this kind of activity,” the club manager said stiffly, eyeing the flushed couple who were clearly very embarrassed at being caught in such a compromising state.
Liz slid to the floor and cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry, sir-“
“I’ll have to ask you two to leave the club immediately.”
Max ducked his head and nodded, taking Liz’s hand and leading her to the door. They tried not to look at the women who had been waiting in line until someone gasped, “Oh my god, it was you two?”
Maria stared at them, her hands on her hips, and clucked her tongue. “I’m shocked.” A smirk appeared on her face. “But definitely proud.”
Liz flushed again. “Um, we’re going to get going. Could one of you give Isabel and Jesse a ride home?”
“Sure. You two ‘get going.’” Maria shooed them off toward the exit. When she made it back to the dance floor, wincing at the pair of drunk girls attempting to karaoke to Loveshack, Michael was nowhere to be found.
Cursing under her breath, she spotted Isabel and Jesse. “Have you seen Spaceboy?”
“No, but did you see Kyle and Serena?” Isabel raised her eyebrows. “She’s looking a little tipsy tonight.”
Maria’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her eyes traveled in the direction Isabel was indicating, and sure enough, there were Kyle and Serena. They both appeared to be having a good time, but Maria was willing to bet Serena wasn’t feeling much of anything at that point.
“Uh…I found Michael,” Jesse spoke up, biting his lip.
“Huh? Where-“ Maria trailed off as she turned to the stage. There was Michael, alright, wiping the palms of his hands on his pants as he studied the karaoke screen. “Oh my god,” she muttered. “What is he doing?” She clapped her hand to her mouth as she recognized the opening notes of the song.
“She moves like she don’t care, smooth as silk, cool as air, ooh it makes you wanna cry,” Michael’s tentative tenor voice rang out. He wasn’t quite singing, but not quite talking either. “She doesn’t know your name, and your heart beats like a subway train, ooh it makes you wanna die.”
Maria slowly moved her hand away from her mouth as Michael scanned the crowd. She shook her head, grinning, as he caught her eye and winked.
“Ooh, don’t you wanna take her, wanna make her all your own.” His eyebrows crinkled as the music sped up, and he croaked out, “Mariiiia, you’ve gotta see her, go insane and out of your mind.” He cleared his throat slightly, his voice lowering an octave, and Maria sighed in relief.
“Maria, Ave Maria, a million and one candlelights…”
*****
Max and Liz had barely gotten through their front door before they began tossing clothes onto the floor. Once they were down to their underwear, Max hoisted Liz into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Bed?” he breathed.
“Mm-hm.” She giggled as Max ran into several walls and pieces of furniture before finally placing her on their bed. She stretched up to meet his lips and kissed him hungrily. After their fun at the club, Liz was fairly starving for him.
Max gently lay her back before settling down with her. His hands caressed her shoulders and then moved lower, cupping and kneading her breasts. The little noises of pleasure coming from Liz continued to stoke the fire that had been burning inside of him all night.
Liz’s fingers dragged down his back, slipping into his boxers and squeezing him before working them over his butt. He shifted, helping her pull them off, before returning to their searching kisses. Their senses were heightened, each touch sending lightning bolts through their veins as they caressed.
“Mmm…Liz,” Max groaned as she rolled them over and began stroking his erection. Her hot little hand moved up and down, working him into a frenzy of desire. His control almost destroyed, he flipped her onto her back and began caressing her inner thighs.
“Max…god…I can’t take much more,” she gasped, rotating her hips as his fingers crept closer to the place she needed him the most. She cried out in delight when his searching fingers finally slid under the elastic of her panties and sought out her wetness.
He worked two fingers into her, kissing and suckling a scorching trail along her jaw and throat. She began thrusting against his hand, trying desperately to take him deeper, trying to quench the fire that was burning inside of her. “I need more…please,” she moaned.
Max nodded, his face buried in her neck as he slowly withdrew his fingers. She lifted her hips as he slid her panties down her body, and gazed up at him. The beautiful man that was balanced over her body, his chest heaving, his eyes dark with desire, filled Liz’s heart with so much love that she thought she might burst right there. Lifting her hips again, she sought out his throbbing arousal.
Feathering tiny kisses against Liz’s brow, Max gazed down at her in awe. There were times, even now, that he still couldn’t quite believe that the breathtaking woman in his arms was his. How had he gotten so lucky? Max watched as her tongue peeked out and wet her swollen lips, and then all conscious thought flew from his head.
Liz sighed in relief when she felt Max parting her folds, testing her. “I’m so ready,” she breathed, lifting her hips to meet his and thrusting him into her body. Max emitted a sound somewhere between a growl and a moan as her tight passage sheathed him in heat.
“Ah, god, Liz,” he managed, their hips beginning to rock together. His heart was pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear, and his breath was panting almost as fast.
Breathing his name, Liz locked her ankles in the small of his back and urged him deeper. Harder. Faster. She needed him everywhere, needed him inside of her as deep as she could take him.
Max cried out in pleasure as he felt her walls squeezing him, taking him in to the hilt, and then releasing him to start again. “God, Liz…Liz…” She felt so good it was sending chills down his spine, sending a white hot fire through his veins.
Liz felt it too, felt it bubbling up inside of her, a desire so raw that it clouded every other thought from her mind. She was close…so very close…racing closer as Max continued to pound into her wanting body.
And then he was coming, exploding as her walls contracted around him, filling her with his love in long, hot spurts that left him gasping her name.
His name fell from her lips only once as he coated her, his essence burning up into her body. It was happening, she could feel it…it settled over her before their pulsing bodies ebbed into stillness.
Max took in sharp breath, the realization hitting him in the instant before the spark erupted between them. He collapsed against her, panting into her shoulder and pulling her limp form into his arms. “Liz,” he gasped, his eyes wide.
“I…oh my god…” Her head was spinning, her body humming as it slowly settled over her. “Max…”
He nodded slowly, kissing her forehead, before one hand ran down the side of their joined bodies to her abdomen. “We’re having a baby.”
36
“Don’t drop her.”
Kyle gave Isabel a look as he stepped through the doorway of her apartment. “I used to bench a 190, I think I can handle this without any of your alien magic.” He glanced down at Serena, whose dead weight was balanced in his arms. “I don’t think she’d even feel it if I dropped her.”
“We don’t need a lawsuit,” Jesse spoke up, flipping on the hall light. “It’s going to be bad enough when she comes to.”
“I think she’ll understand,” Kyle muttered, gently placing Serena on the couch. It wasn’t his fault her friends had ditched her and taken cabs home. She was in no condition to find her own way home, so when Kyle, who was giving Isabel and Jesse a ride home, offered to give Serena a lift as well, she agreed. Unfortunately, she passed out in the car before she’d managed to finish giving them directions to her house.
“Kyle, why don’t you just stay here too,” Isabel suggested, yawning deeply. She was too tired to care that she and Jesse weren’t getting then entire night to themselves.
Kyle, too, was too tired to argue as he flopped down in the recliner. “I’ll take care of any damage control when she wakes up,” he said, wishing he was only joking.
*****
The sun was barely awakening in the morning sky as Max lay on his side next to a sleeping Liz. They’d finally fallen asleep curled up together, Max’s hand resting on her abdomen. Sometime during the night, a faint glow began to shine beneath his hand. He was drawn to it, his eyes studying the soft skin of Liz’s flat stomach and the warmth that radiated into his palm. It blew his mind to know that a tiny spark of life only a few hours old was making its presence known. A life that he and Liz had created; that would be their son or daughter.
We're going to have a baby. Max repeated those words over and over again in his mind, the reality of it not quite anchoring into his head. His eyes traveled up Liz’s nude form to her face, peaceful as she slept. He recalled the way she looked at him when he’d spoken those words aloud, vocalizing what they both knew was true. He’d never seen so many emotions cross her face at one time, not even the first time he’d done a reverse connection when they were sixteen.
Her eyes first reflected their mutual shock before fading into a coy smile. She looked thrilled for a split second before the fear crept into her eyes, and then she was sobbing in Max’s arms.
All he could do was hold her, at a loss for words. He was feeling each and every emotion she was experiencing; disbelief, joy, excitement, fear… “I love you,” he’d whispered finally, stroking her hair as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Liz’s tears were beginning to subside as she murmured, “I love you too.” She didn’t leave the safety of his arms, curling closer to him as his fingers threaded through her long hair. Just before he’d fallen asleep, his hand slipped from her side and came to rest on her abdomen. It was how Max had awakened in the morning, his wife and child protected in his embrace.
He heard Liz beginning to stir then, the soft sigh of her breath as she began to awaken. After a few moments he felt her fingers brush against his jaw, and he raised his eyes to meet hers. “Hey,” he whispered.
Liz’s breath caught in her throat as she followed Max’s hand to her belly. The sight of a faint glow peeking through Max’s spread fingers brought the emotions from the last night – from the last year – bubbling to the surface, and she felt the tears prick her eyes.
Silently, Max reached for her trembling hand and guided it to her glowing skin, covering it with his own. “I can’t believe he’s already…” Liz trailed off, a tear spilling over onto her cheek.
But Max knew. His other hand reached up and swiped the tear from her jaw before cradling her face in his palm. “It started during the night,” he told her. “I woke up and…there he was.”
Liz sniffled and nodded. “I wish I’d been awake to see…”
“You need your sleep,” Max reminded, smoothing his hand over her damp cheek.
“Are you starting that already?” Liz wrinkled her nose, her voice managing a teasing lilt.
“I love you,” Max answered, effectively dodging her question, as he lowered his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.
*****
Serena’s eyes fluttered open. Oh god, her head was killing her. It was as if someone had clamped a vice around her skull and was – wait. She blinked once. Her walls were blue, not reddish orange. She struggled to sit up. Her bed wasn’t this firm…and it sure as hell wasn’t a couch. The room spun around her, a room she didn’t recognize.
“Good morning.”
Startled, Serena turned toward the male voice. There, in the recliner, sat Kyle, complete with bedhead and a rumpled UNM t-shirt and shorts. “How’d you sleep?” he asked.
“Where the hell am I?” she demanded. He’d been watching her, she could feel it. Where had he taken her?
“Calm down, you’re at Jesse and Isabel’s place,” he replied, running his fingers through his hair.
She certainly didn’t remember going there, and she told him so.
“I figured,” Kyle answered knowingly. “Do you remember anything about last night?”
Serena thought for a minute. “Zero Gravity. We kept ordering martinis, and then…” She paused. “Oh my god. I didn’t…did I pass out?”
Kyle nodded, and Serena wanted to slap that smug smile right off his adorable face. “Shit,” she burst out suddenly. “Oh, shit, I have to call my mom.”
Her mom? “Your mom?” Kyle repeated, watching as Serena struggled from the couch. He got to his feet, offering her a steadying arm to guide her to the phone in the kitchen. Did she still live with her mother? Well hey, who was he to judge.
Serena punched in a phone number, sinking onto the table bench as she waited for an answer. “Mom? It’s me…I’m so sorry…no, I’m fine. I went home with a, ah, friend…” She glanced quickly at Kyle and then away. “How’s everything there? Did she…okay, good. No, she can until I get there, that’s fine. Okay. Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hung up the phone and turned to Kyle again. “So…”
“Everything okay?” Kyle asked, leaning against the counter.
Serena jumped to her feet. “I have to get home, I…oh my god, I am so hung-over,” she muttered, swaying as she grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.
Kyle took her arm and helped her straighten. “Why don’t you get cleaned up while I make some coffee and then I’ll take you home,” he suggested. Nodding, Serena allowed him to lead her down the hall. “It’s the first door on the right.”
Just then, the bedroom door swung open. “Serena, hi,” Isabel greeted, tying her robe around her waist. “How are you feeling?”
“Shitty,” Serena admitted. “I haven’t had that much to drink since the beginning of college.”
Isabel nodded sympathetically, and as Serena turned to head into the bathroom, she reached out and carefully directed her fingers toward the back of the young woman’s head.
“Do you mind if I-“ Serena turned suddenly, pausing when she noticed Isabel’s hand. “What are you-“
“Oh, you had fuzz or something in your hair. I’m such a perfectionist about that kind of thing, even with other people,” Isabel said, thinking quickly and fully aware of what a moron she must look like.
Serena nodded, slightly baffled, and headed into the bathroom. The door clicked shut, and Kyle eyed Isabel suspiciously. “What exactly were you doing?”
“Curing her hangover,” Isabel said with a shrug, turning and padding down the hall. “God, will you look at what a softie I’ve become? I guess motherhood will do that to you.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Kyle muttered. “Speaking of, where’s Evan?”
“Still with my mom. She’s milking this for all it’s worth,” Isabel replied, folding the afghan and tossing it over the back of the couch. “So are you taking Serena home?”
Kyle nodded, reaching for his clothing from the night before. “Do you mind if I just wear this home?” he asked, indicating the borrowed clothes he’d slept in.
“Sure, Jesse won’t even know they’re gone.”
“Sweet. I’ll wash em and bring em back.”
“You mean the Valenti men do their own laundry?” Isabel’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “You’ll have to teach my son that real men do laundry. I don’t think he’ll learn that from his own father.”
“I heard that,” came Jesse’s groggy voice. “Your mom just pulled up, so be nice,” he added, heading into the front hall to open the door.
Isabel followed Jesse to assist with the baby, leaving Kyle to pull his black slacks over the shorts he was wearing. He wrinkled his nose, realizing they were still damp with sweat from the night before. “That’s attractive,” he muttered. Oh well. It wasn’t as if he had anyone to impress. Sure, Serena had seemed interested last night, dancing close and giggling in his ear, but then he recalled the overwhelming smell of alcohol and doubted if she even remembered. His former high-school self probably wouldn’t have minded; in fact he probably would have taken full advantage. But not these days. These days, he was Kyle Valenti, Man of Buddha.
Out in the front hall, Isabel was collecting little Evan from Diane. “Were you good for Grandma and Grandpa, sweetie?” she asked the wide-eyed infant.
“Of course,” Diane smiled. “It looks like your dad has found the perfect football partner. They both fell asleep in front of the television last night.”
“That’s because the Packers were playing,” Jesse teased, taking the baby carrier and various diaper bags from Diane’s loaded arms.
Diane winked. “Don’t let Phillip hear you say that,” she said before turning to her daughter. “Honey, I couldn’t get him to take his bottle this morning. That’s why I brought him back a little early.”
“He probably needs to nurse.” Isabel glanced down at her son, who was beginning to whimper and chew hungrily on his hand. “It’s the special nutrients, somehow he just knows.”
“That makes sense, I guess. But honey, if he’s completely human, then why-“ Diane paused suddenly as she caught sight of Serena, who had appeared in the hallway.
“Hi there, Mrs. Evans.”
*****
“Eighty-two…eighty-three…eighty-four…” Max grunted out the numbers softly as he raised and then lowered himself to the bedroom floor.
Liz paused in the doorway, rubbing a towel through her damp hair as she watched her husband’s morning ritual. One hundred push-ups, no more, no less. She stood silently, studying the muscles in his back as they rippled beneath his tanned skin. His arms bulged with the weight of his body as he moved up and down, and Liz felt a flush spread through her as she recalled the way those strong arms held him above her body the night before, the way they wrapped around her and made her feel so safe. She lowered her hand to her stomach, smooth and flat beneath the terrycloth material wrapped around her body.
“Ninety-five…ninety-six…” Max continued, not noticing his wife as she crept up behind him. “Ninety-oomph ,” he grunted, startled by the sudden weight on his back as Liz straddled him. He continued with ease, finishing and flipping over onto his back.
Liz squealed in surprise, and then leaned forward to brush his sweaty hair out of his eyes. “Shower’s yours.”
“Are you implying that I need one?” he teased, grabbing her hands in his and kissing them.
“Maybe.” Liz wrinkled her nose and then grinned at the look of mock hurt on her husband’s face. She turned serious as his hands trailed lower and rested on her abdomen.
“How are you feeling?”
“Max, I’m fine,” Liz assured. “I’m not even twelve hours pregnant yet.”
“I know, I just…” He trailed off, rolling onto his side as Liz settled next to him on the floor. “How do you feel about all of this?”
Liz bit her lower lip. “I guess…I’m not really sure,” she admitted. “I’m pretty sure it hasn’t hit me yet.”
Max nodded his understanding. “Are you scared?” he asked quietly.
After a long pause Liz nodded, her eyes wide with emotion.
“Me too.” Max’s hand slipped around his wife, pulling her close to him. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but it was the truth. He’d been through many terrifying experiences in his young life, this was true; but nothing was quite so scary as the fear of not being able to protect his child. He’d already been through that twice, and it had taken its toll. And Liz; his amazing Liz…he couldn’t bear to see her hurting again.
Resting his hand over Liz’s womb, he made a silent promise to his unborn child. I will never let you down.
*****
“Thanks again for everything, Kyle.”
Kyle peered through his sunglasses at Serena, sitting in the passenger seat with the breeze sifting through her shiny hair. “Just call me Buddha in shining armor,” he said, knowing his attempt at a joke fell flat on its face. He just wasn’t in the mood, especially since he wasn’t sure how much she had overheard between Isabel and Diane. They had finally calmed down after the scare at the hospital several months before, and now something had slipped in front of her again.
But Serena only smiled to herself as she gazed out the window. “Take a left here,” she directed. “I’m at the end of the block.”
He did as he was told, cruising through the streets of simple homes near the hospital. “Feeling better?” he asked, noticing that her color had returned and she wasn’t rubbing her temples as much as she was when she first woke up.
“Tons,” she answered, “I guess I just needed to walk around a little, drink some coffee.”
“Good.” They faded back into silence, with Kyle grateful they were almost to her house. “Is it the gray one?” he spoke up finally.
“Beige, actually.” Serena flashed him one of her beautiful smiles, and had he not been in such a rotten mood, Kyle would have been overjoyed.
“My mistake.” Kyle pulled into the driveway of a small but well kept home with an impressive garden lining the front walk. “Here we are.”
Serena opened the car door, but then paused and turned to him again. “Really, Kyle. Thank you.” And then, before Kyle even realized it was happening, Serena leaned over and gave him a quick peck. “I’ll see you around.”
Kyle sat, stunned. Serena had already shut the car door and was fumbling for her keys when he finally mumbled, “Right. See you.”
“Don’t drop her.”
Kyle gave Isabel a look as he stepped through the doorway of her apartment. “I used to bench a 190, I think I can handle this without any of your alien magic.” He glanced down at Serena, whose dead weight was balanced in his arms. “I don’t think she’d even feel it if I dropped her.”
“We don’t need a lawsuit,” Jesse spoke up, flipping on the hall light. “It’s going to be bad enough when she comes to.”
“I think she’ll understand,” Kyle muttered, gently placing Serena on the couch. It wasn’t his fault her friends had ditched her and taken cabs home. She was in no condition to find her own way home, so when Kyle, who was giving Isabel and Jesse a ride home, offered to give Serena a lift as well, she agreed. Unfortunately, she passed out in the car before she’d managed to finish giving them directions to her house.
“Kyle, why don’t you just stay here too,” Isabel suggested, yawning deeply. She was too tired to care that she and Jesse weren’t getting then entire night to themselves.
Kyle, too, was too tired to argue as he flopped down in the recliner. “I’ll take care of any damage control when she wakes up,” he said, wishing he was only joking.
*****
The sun was barely awakening in the morning sky as Max lay on his side next to a sleeping Liz. They’d finally fallen asleep curled up together, Max’s hand resting on her abdomen. Sometime during the night, a faint glow began to shine beneath his hand. He was drawn to it, his eyes studying the soft skin of Liz’s flat stomach and the warmth that radiated into his palm. It blew his mind to know that a tiny spark of life only a few hours old was making its presence known. A life that he and Liz had created; that would be their son or daughter.
We're going to have a baby. Max repeated those words over and over again in his mind, the reality of it not quite anchoring into his head. His eyes traveled up Liz’s nude form to her face, peaceful as she slept. He recalled the way she looked at him when he’d spoken those words aloud, vocalizing what they both knew was true. He’d never seen so many emotions cross her face at one time, not even the first time he’d done a reverse connection when they were sixteen.
Her eyes first reflected their mutual shock before fading into a coy smile. She looked thrilled for a split second before the fear crept into her eyes, and then she was sobbing in Max’s arms.
All he could do was hold her, at a loss for words. He was feeling each and every emotion she was experiencing; disbelief, joy, excitement, fear… “I love you,” he’d whispered finally, stroking her hair as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Liz’s tears were beginning to subside as she murmured, “I love you too.” She didn’t leave the safety of his arms, curling closer to him as his fingers threaded through her long hair. Just before he’d fallen asleep, his hand slipped from her side and came to rest on her abdomen. It was how Max had awakened in the morning, his wife and child protected in his embrace.
He heard Liz beginning to stir then, the soft sigh of her breath as she began to awaken. After a few moments he felt her fingers brush against his jaw, and he raised his eyes to meet hers. “Hey,” he whispered.
Liz’s breath caught in her throat as she followed Max’s hand to her belly. The sight of a faint glow peeking through Max’s spread fingers brought the emotions from the last night – from the last year – bubbling to the surface, and she felt the tears prick her eyes.
Silently, Max reached for her trembling hand and guided it to her glowing skin, covering it with his own. “I can’t believe he’s already…” Liz trailed off, a tear spilling over onto her cheek.
But Max knew. His other hand reached up and swiped the tear from her jaw before cradling her face in his palm. “It started during the night,” he told her. “I woke up and…there he was.”
Liz sniffled and nodded. “I wish I’d been awake to see…”
“You need your sleep,” Max reminded, smoothing his hand over her damp cheek.
“Are you starting that already?” Liz wrinkled her nose, her voice managing a teasing lilt.
“I love you,” Max answered, effectively dodging her question, as he lowered his lips to hers in a sweet kiss.
*****
Serena’s eyes fluttered open. Oh god, her head was killing her. It was as if someone had clamped a vice around her skull and was – wait. She blinked once. Her walls were blue, not reddish orange. She struggled to sit up. Her bed wasn’t this firm…and it sure as hell wasn’t a couch. The room spun around her, a room she didn’t recognize.
“Good morning.”
Startled, Serena turned toward the male voice. There, in the recliner, sat Kyle, complete with bedhead and a rumpled UNM t-shirt and shorts. “How’d you sleep?” he asked.
“Where the hell am I?” she demanded. He’d been watching her, she could feel it. Where had he taken her?
“Calm down, you’re at Jesse and Isabel’s place,” he replied, running his fingers through his hair.
She certainly didn’t remember going there, and she told him so.
“I figured,” Kyle answered knowingly. “Do you remember anything about last night?”
Serena thought for a minute. “Zero Gravity. We kept ordering martinis, and then…” She paused. “Oh my god. I didn’t…did I pass out?”
Kyle nodded, and Serena wanted to slap that smug smile right off his adorable face. “Shit,” she burst out suddenly. “Oh, shit, I have to call my mom.”
Her mom? “Your mom?” Kyle repeated, watching as Serena struggled from the couch. He got to his feet, offering her a steadying arm to guide her to the phone in the kitchen. Did she still live with her mother? Well hey, who was he to judge.
Serena punched in a phone number, sinking onto the table bench as she waited for an answer. “Mom? It’s me…I’m so sorry…no, I’m fine. I went home with a, ah, friend…” She glanced quickly at Kyle and then away. “How’s everything there? Did she…okay, good. No, she can until I get there, that’s fine. Okay. Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hung up the phone and turned to Kyle again. “So…”
“Everything okay?” Kyle asked, leaning against the counter.
Serena jumped to her feet. “I have to get home, I…oh my god, I am so hung-over,” she muttered, swaying as she grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself.
Kyle took her arm and helped her straighten. “Why don’t you get cleaned up while I make some coffee and then I’ll take you home,” he suggested. Nodding, Serena allowed him to lead her down the hall. “It’s the first door on the right.”
Just then, the bedroom door swung open. “Serena, hi,” Isabel greeted, tying her robe around her waist. “How are you feeling?”
“Shitty,” Serena admitted. “I haven’t had that much to drink since the beginning of college.”
Isabel nodded sympathetically, and as Serena turned to head into the bathroom, she reached out and carefully directed her fingers toward the back of the young woman’s head.
“Do you mind if I-“ Serena turned suddenly, pausing when she noticed Isabel’s hand. “What are you-“
“Oh, you had fuzz or something in your hair. I’m such a perfectionist about that kind of thing, even with other people,” Isabel said, thinking quickly and fully aware of what a moron she must look like.
Serena nodded, slightly baffled, and headed into the bathroom. The door clicked shut, and Kyle eyed Isabel suspiciously. “What exactly were you doing?”
“Curing her hangover,” Isabel said with a shrug, turning and padding down the hall. “God, will you look at what a softie I’ve become? I guess motherhood will do that to you.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Kyle muttered. “Speaking of, where’s Evan?”
“Still with my mom. She’s milking this for all it’s worth,” Isabel replied, folding the afghan and tossing it over the back of the couch. “So are you taking Serena home?”
Kyle nodded, reaching for his clothing from the night before. “Do you mind if I just wear this home?” he asked, indicating the borrowed clothes he’d slept in.
“Sure, Jesse won’t even know they’re gone.”
“Sweet. I’ll wash em and bring em back.”
“You mean the Valenti men do their own laundry?” Isabel’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “You’ll have to teach my son that real men do laundry. I don’t think he’ll learn that from his own father.”
“I heard that,” came Jesse’s groggy voice. “Your mom just pulled up, so be nice,” he added, heading into the front hall to open the door.
Isabel followed Jesse to assist with the baby, leaving Kyle to pull his black slacks over the shorts he was wearing. He wrinkled his nose, realizing they were still damp with sweat from the night before. “That’s attractive,” he muttered. Oh well. It wasn’t as if he had anyone to impress. Sure, Serena had seemed interested last night, dancing close and giggling in his ear, but then he recalled the overwhelming smell of alcohol and doubted if she even remembered. His former high-school self probably wouldn’t have minded; in fact he probably would have taken full advantage. But not these days. These days, he was Kyle Valenti, Man of Buddha.
Out in the front hall, Isabel was collecting little Evan from Diane. “Were you good for Grandma and Grandpa, sweetie?” she asked the wide-eyed infant.
“Of course,” Diane smiled. “It looks like your dad has found the perfect football partner. They both fell asleep in front of the television last night.”
“That’s because the Packers were playing,” Jesse teased, taking the baby carrier and various diaper bags from Diane’s loaded arms.
Diane winked. “Don’t let Phillip hear you say that,” she said before turning to her daughter. “Honey, I couldn’t get him to take his bottle this morning. That’s why I brought him back a little early.”
“He probably needs to nurse.” Isabel glanced down at her son, who was beginning to whimper and chew hungrily on his hand. “It’s the special nutrients, somehow he just knows.”
“That makes sense, I guess. But honey, if he’s completely human, then why-“ Diane paused suddenly as she caught sight of Serena, who had appeared in the hallway.
“Hi there, Mrs. Evans.”
*****
“Eighty-two…eighty-three…eighty-four…” Max grunted out the numbers softly as he raised and then lowered himself to the bedroom floor.
Liz paused in the doorway, rubbing a towel through her damp hair as she watched her husband’s morning ritual. One hundred push-ups, no more, no less. She stood silently, studying the muscles in his back as they rippled beneath his tanned skin. His arms bulged with the weight of his body as he moved up and down, and Liz felt a flush spread through her as she recalled the way those strong arms held him above her body the night before, the way they wrapped around her and made her feel so safe. She lowered her hand to her stomach, smooth and flat beneath the terrycloth material wrapped around her body.
“Ninety-five…ninety-six…” Max continued, not noticing his wife as she crept up behind him. “Ninety-oomph ,” he grunted, startled by the sudden weight on his back as Liz straddled him. He continued with ease, finishing and flipping over onto his back.
Liz squealed in surprise, and then leaned forward to brush his sweaty hair out of his eyes. “Shower’s yours.”
“Are you implying that I need one?” he teased, grabbing her hands in his and kissing them.
“Maybe.” Liz wrinkled her nose and then grinned at the look of mock hurt on her husband’s face. She turned serious as his hands trailed lower and rested on her abdomen.
“How are you feeling?”
“Max, I’m fine,” Liz assured. “I’m not even twelve hours pregnant yet.”
“I know, I just…” He trailed off, rolling onto his side as Liz settled next to him on the floor. “How do you feel about all of this?”
Liz bit her lower lip. “I guess…I’m not really sure,” she admitted. “I’m pretty sure it hasn’t hit me yet.”
Max nodded his understanding. “Are you scared?” he asked quietly.
After a long pause Liz nodded, her eyes wide with emotion.
“Me too.” Max’s hand slipped around his wife, pulling her close to him. He hadn’t wanted to admit it, but it was the truth. He’d been through many terrifying experiences in his young life, this was true; but nothing was quite so scary as the fear of not being able to protect his child. He’d already been through that twice, and it had taken its toll. And Liz; his amazing Liz…he couldn’t bear to see her hurting again.
Resting his hand over Liz’s womb, he made a silent promise to his unborn child. I will never let you down.
*****
“Thanks again for everything, Kyle.”
Kyle peered through his sunglasses at Serena, sitting in the passenger seat with the breeze sifting through her shiny hair. “Just call me Buddha in shining armor,” he said, knowing his attempt at a joke fell flat on its face. He just wasn’t in the mood, especially since he wasn’t sure how much she had overheard between Isabel and Diane. They had finally calmed down after the scare at the hospital several months before, and now something had slipped in front of her again.
But Serena only smiled to herself as she gazed out the window. “Take a left here,” she directed. “I’m at the end of the block.”
He did as he was told, cruising through the streets of simple homes near the hospital. “Feeling better?” he asked, noticing that her color had returned and she wasn’t rubbing her temples as much as she was when she first woke up.
“Tons,” she answered, “I guess I just needed to walk around a little, drink some coffee.”
“Good.” They faded back into silence, with Kyle grateful they were almost to her house. “Is it the gray one?” he spoke up finally.
“Beige, actually.” Serena flashed him one of her beautiful smiles, and had he not been in such a rotten mood, Kyle would have been overjoyed.
“My mistake.” Kyle pulled into the driveway of a small but well kept home with an impressive garden lining the front walk. “Here we are.”
Serena opened the car door, but then paused and turned to him again. “Really, Kyle. Thank you.” And then, before Kyle even realized it was happening, Serena leaned over and gave him a quick peck. “I’ll see you around.”
Kyle sat, stunned. Serena had already shut the car door and was fumbling for her keys when he finally mumbled, “Right. See you.”
37
“Liz, please tell me these are yours.”
Studying the pair of sleek black sunglasses Kyle had shoved in her face, Liz slowly shook her head. “I could, but I’d be lying.”
“Dammit.” Kyle dropped his head down onto the desk and let out a loud sigh.
“I didn’t realize you’d be so disappointed,” Liz said, puzzled, as she plucked the sunglasses from Kyle’s fingertips and slipped them on. “Hey, I bet I look pretty hot.”
Kyle only groaned again, lifting his head. “I found them in my car. And there have only been four women in my car in the last few weeks,” he explained, ignoring Liz’s amused look. “And so far you, Isabel, and the girl from my history class have failed to claim them, which means-“
“The fourth person is…?”
“Serena,” Kyle sighed.
“So?”
"So..."
“So give them back to her,” Liz suggested.
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?” Liz pressed.
“It’s already been two weeks, maybe she won’t even notice they’re gone-“
“Kyle.” She hadn’t had an exceptional amount of patience lately, and Kyle had just about used up his designated amount.
“Whidrpdherofshkisme,” he muttered.
“Huh?”
“When I dropped her off, she kissed me,” he repeated slowly.
Liz’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Thanks a lot,” Kyle mumbled, the blow to his pride all too clear in his sudden pout.
“Oh Kyle, stop. It just seems kind of random, I guess,” Liz continued, doodling absently on her notebook cover.
“Yeah, well, you didn’t see her at the club,” Kyle reminded darkly.
“But I heard about it. So she kissed you while she was sober?” Liz was quite intrigued by this latest development, though it did spark a bit of suspicion in the back of her mind.
“It’s not like we made out or anything. It was more like a peck, you know?” Kyle sighed. “Anyway, I know seeing her would be weird, so-“
“You could mail them to her,” Liz suggested. “It’s a little extreme, but-“
“That’s why I was wondering if you could take them to her,” Kyle interrupted hopefully.
“Kyle…”
“Please, Liz? I’ll give you her address, she’s really easy to find and-“
“Max is going to be waiting for me after my shift, and if I’m not home in time for dinner-“
“Max the cook,” Kyle chuckled, forgetting the sunglasses for a moment. “Man, is he whipped.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it that,” Liz said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. It was more of an over-protection thing if you asked her. It had been only two weeks, and she was already thisclose to calling him Sahib. Max, of course, didn’t find this amusing at all. He only wanted to make sure Liz was healthy and safe and comfortable and eating properly and dressing warm enough…
“I’m sorry, Kyle. But you’re a big boy, and I’m sure you can be brave and do this,” Liz encouraged, patting Kyle’s shoulder.
Kyle rolled his eyes. She was right, of course, but did she have to rub it in? “Thanks, mommy.”
*****
“How long has it been?”
“Two minutes since you last asked.”
“Oh. Because the box said-“
“Max?”
“Yeah?”
“Do I have to ask you to leave the room?”
Max looked up at Liz, hurt. “Why would you make me leave?”
“What if I said I had a craving for honeydew melon.”
He eyed his wife skeptically. “Do you?”
“No. I still hate it, actually.”
“That wasn’t very nice, Liz,” Max muttered.
Liz merely patted Max’s knee and smiled sweetly. “I was just trying to distract you.”
Max sighed. “I know. I’m trying to be patient, but I’m so anxious-“
"You're anxious?” Liz repeated. “I had to pee on a stick.”
“I think that’s pretty hard to screw up, though,” he offered reassuringly. Unless they’d read the directions wrong. Maybe he ought to check-
“Sit.” Liz tightened her hand over knee, forcing him back onto the bed. “I’m pretty sure we already know the results.”
Max grinned as he slipped his hand under her sweater to capture their baby’s glow. “It’s exciting. I guess it just feels like the go-ahead to tell other people about him.”
“Or her,” Liz added. Out of habit they’d found themselves referring to the baby as “him,” though they had yet to achieve any flashes to prove one way or the other. Liz figured it was probably too soon to know for sure. However, she was definitely looking forward to researching…
“Time’s up,” Max announced, pulling Liz to her feet and leading her to the bathroom. He reached for the plastic stick on the counter, but Liz snatched his hand away. “Cover your eyes,” she instructed.
“Cover my-“
“Please? I will, too.” With a grin, she held her hand up over her eyes.
Max sighed, but did as he was told.
Liz squeezed his free hand. “Ready? One, two-“
Max cocked his head when Liz trailed off. “Liz? You didn’t-“
But Liz had already peeked through her fingers, inspecting the stick. “What does a green circle mean?”
His eyes flew open. A green circle? “A green circle?” But it was supposed to be a pink plus or a blue line! He’d read the back of the box three times, and nowhere did it say-
And suddenly Liz was grinning at him. The gleam shone in her eyes as she presented him with the stick, complete with a bright pink plus.
Max’s eyes narrowed when he realized he’d been had, but then he too grinned as it began to sink in again. He was going to be a daddy, and that stick proved it in the most normal of ways. His fingers sought out the soft skin beneath her sweater again before he captured her lips in a long, deep kiss.
*****
Liz looked up from sweeping beneath the Crashdown counter at the sound of knocking. Leaning the broom against a stool, she smiled brightly and fairly scampered over to unlock the café’s doors.
Jeff Parker watched his daughter greet her husband, finished with his closing shift at the UFO Center across the street. It no longer made him feel uncomfortable to witness the loving gestures between Liz and Max; as a matter of fact, it reminded him very much of when he and Nancy were newlyweds. He smiled to himself, turning back to the register when Liz lifted her face to meet Max’s lips in a deep kiss. “Hello, Max,” he offered.
Max pulled away from Liz and licked his lips with a sheepish grin. “Hey Jeff,” he greeted, looping his arm around Liz’s waist as they sauntered back toward the counter. “How did the special sell tonight?”
“Great, except for the Saturn Rings Jose extra deep-fried. We had to toss a whole batch.” He shrugged. “What can you do.”
Nancy appeared through the swinging back room door. “Max, hi,” she smiled. “Lizzie, honey, the floor looks fine. Why don’t you two head on home, you already stayed late as it is.”
Liz pecked her mother on the cheek and grabbed the broom. “I don’t mind,” she assured.
Max didn’t seem particularly pleased by this, but after a full day of classes and then the closing shift at the museum, it was understandable that he would be tired. Jeff and Nancy glanced at each other and then at their daughter. She certainly was a bundle of energy tonight.
“Liz, have you been taking some of those pills of Maria’s? You know, those…I don’t know, St. John’s Wart or something?” Jeff ventured.
Liz glanced up in surprise. “What? No, why?”
“No reason,” he chuckled. “You look wonderful, sweetheart.”
“I feel wonderful,” Liz replied, casting a smile in Max’s direction. “Dad, I’ve been meaning to ask if you kept the new uniform you ordered for me last fall,” she continued, leaning against the broom.
“Oh…I - I did, actually,” Jeff answered, taken quite by surprise. “It’s in storage for new employees or-“
“Do you think you could let me borrow it?” Liz asked casually. “I’m going to need it in a few months.”
“Sure, sweethear-“ Jeff paused. He opened his mouth, then closed it, as he watched Liz continue sweeping the floor. “Do you mean-“
“Liz, are you pregnant?” Nancy asked in a hushed voice.
Glancing at Max, Liz bit her lip and nodded. “As a matter of fact.”
“What?” Maria suddenly popped her head out through the kitchen window.
Liz jumped in surprise. “Maria, I thought you went home.”
“I forgot my watch in my locker,” she called, hurrying around through the swinging door. “Oh my god, Lizzie! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she continued, throwing her arms around her best friend.
“We were going to,” Liz explained as her friend pulled away and then moved on to Max. “We just found out,” she added pointedly.
Maria nodded knowingly, and then clapped her hands together in excitement.
Jeff and Nancy both stood silent, simply staring at the young couple. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Liz asked with a coy smile, tightening her arm around Max’s waist.
“I…honey, congratulations,” Nancy said finally. “Both of you. It’s…it’s definitely a surprise, but…”
“We were surprised, too,” Max said, somewhat shyly. He was thrilled, of course, but it still felt a little strange to be discussing their “surprise” with his in-laws. It was then that he noticed Jeff had yet to respond. He pulled Liz a little closer, waiting for the explosion. A wave of anger rolled through him. What more did the man want? Sure, they were a still quite young, and money might be a little tight, but they were in love. Heck, they were married, and -
“Oh Daddy,” he heard Liz whisper as she stepped away from him and into her father’s arms. Max watched as Liz embraced him, and then he saw it. Jeff’s eyes were filled with tears as he hugged his daughter.
Later, as the three headed out to their cars, Maria was still a bundle of excitement. “So you guys knew, like, right away again?” she asked.
Max glanced down at Liz. “Yeah. And this time we knew what it was.”
Maria nodded thoughtfully. “That didn’t happen to Isabel and Jesse. I wonder why.”
“I’m not sure,” Liz admitted. “Part of me worries that because it happened with Gabriel too, it means something’s wrong.” She knew she was being paranoid, but it was so hard to shake the fear…
Max squeezed her shoulder, and she realized again just why he was being as protective as he was. “We don’t know that,” he reminded gently.
“Right, but then there’s…” Liz trailed off as they reached the Chevelle.
“What?” Maria practically pounced on her. “That’s what?”
“I was on the pill. Both times,” she added, pulling her sweater tighter in the chilly October air. “It just seems kind of strange.”
Maria cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Max. “Must be super-swimmers.”
“That must be it,” Liz said, managing a giggle.
Max cracked a smile, but then shifted uncomfortably. “Can we maybe not talk about my sperm?”
Liz merely laughed again and stretched up to kiss her husband’s cheek. “Anyway, Maria, we decided to tell my parents first since they don’t know about any of the, uh, special circumstances. We’re telling everyone else at Isabel’s birthday dinner tomorrow night, so if you could maybe not say-“
“I won’t say a word,” Maria vowed, jumping to attention. “Cross my heart.”
*****
“Way to go Maxwell!” Michael clapped Max warmly on the back as he and Liz stepped into his parents’ house.
Max gave his friend a strange look. That was an interesting reception, what was he – Maria. He exchanged a look with Liz. Definitely Maria.
Sure enough, Maria peeked around the corner with a sheepish grin. “I kind of let it slip-“ she began, just as the rest of the family rushed into the front hall.
“Oh Liz, honey, congratulations!” Diane hugged her daughter-in-law before turning to her son and exclaiming with excitement. It was certainly a different reception this time around.
“Did you hear that, Evan? You’re going to have a little cousin to play with,” Kyle informed the baby cuddled against his chest.
“Any time you want to practice…” Isabel offered, grinning at her brother as she squeezed in for a hug.
Later that evening, as they finished cake and ice cream, Liz leaned over to Kyle. “Did you do it yet?”
“Give me some time,” he grumbled.
“Kyle. It was a week ago.”
Kyle threw up his hands in exasperation. “Fine. I’ll do it tonight.”
“Really?” Liz eyed him skeptically.
“Maybe.”
Four days later, Kyle found himself standing on Serena’s front porch. Why the hell was he so nervous? It was a pair of sunglasses, for pete’s sake. Maybe it was because it had been almost a month that he’d had them. Whose fault is that, he reminded himself. As tempting as it was to blame Liz…Kyle cleared his throat and reached for the doorbell.
After a few moments, a face peered through the lace curtains beside the door. It swung open, and there stood Serena. “Kyle?”
“Uh…hi.” He tried not to stare, though his eyes were drawn to how beautiful she looked. Sure, she was just wearing an old tank top and a pair of cut-offs, and her blonde hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail, but… Cut it out, Valenti. He was here for a reason.
He was just about to open his mouth again when Serena suddenly stepped out onto the porch and quietly shut the door behind her. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, that’s okay. I, uh, I was cleaning out my car the other day and I found these.” He awkwardly presented her with the sunglasses.
“So that’s where they were,” Serena laughed. “And all this time I thought they were playing hide-and-seek.”
God, her smile was beautiful. And that laugh… Suddenly Kyle realized that she was reaching for the sunglasses. And then her fingers brushed against his and he thought he might die right there on her porch.
She was looking at him funny. No wonder, he was standing there gaping at her like an idiot. “Uh…well, that was all. I just wanted to, y’know, give them back, so…”
“Thank you,” Serena said with a smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I have an apology to make.”
“Huh?” An apology?
“Oh. Never mind, it’s nothing,” Serena replied quickly. “I was just thinking out loud again. I’ll see you later, Kyle.”
Kyle headed back to his car, a cocky grin on his face. Serena said she’d see him later.
*****
Liz’s eyes slid over from her government book to Max, who was in bed beside her, busily highlighting in his textbook. She didn’t feel like studying proportional representation, despite the big midterm she had coming up in a few days. She knew what she wanted to do, and she was quite sure Max wouldn’t object.
Feeling her eyes on him, Max glanced up questioningly. Liz offered him a coy smile, and he felt his heart jump. His wife always took his breath away, but now, after nearly a month of pregnancy, she was radiant. And yet, while they’d been intimate, he’d done his best to control himself around her. He didn’t want to rush things, even though Liz promised she was feeling great.
Well, Liz had had just about enough. She wasn’t going to break, and she intended to prove it to her overly cautious husband. Besides, she had a feeling. They hadn’t had any flashes yet, but somehow…she knew. Tonight was it. Stretching luxuriously, she tossed her book aside and crawled closer to Max. She smirked when he looked up, following her every move, and shifted one knee over his thigh so she was straddling his lap.
“Hi,” Max managed, clearing his throat as she pressed up against him.
Liz cocked her head to the side, noticing that he was already growing hard. “Hi there.”
“What can I do for you?” he continued, the smile on his face broadening.
“Now there’s a loaded question,” Liz muttered, wriggling on his lap. “Plenty, I’m sure.”
Max chuckled, running his hands up and down her back. “Liz Evans, are you propositioning me?”
“Yes,” Liz answered without skipping a beat. She leaned closer, running her fingers in circles over his broad chest. After suckling on his jaw, she slowly slid her lips to his ear. “I want to see our baby.”
“You…okay…” he stammered as she nibbled on his sensitive skin. “I do, too.”
“Good,” Liz smiled, her breath quickening as Max’s hands slid down her torso to her thighs. He rubbed over the thin material of her nightgown, pushing it up until it bunched at her waist.
“Oh Max,” she sighed, her head lolling back as his fingers wandered between her legs and began probing her damp panties.
Max sucked in a deep breath as his fingers encountered her slick wetness, and he knew he had to taste her. “Liz,” he murmured, guiding her onto her back before him. He helped slide off her panties before settling between her legs.
A wave of desire coursed through Liz as she felt his warm breath against her core, and it bubbled over when she heard him inhale deeply. He made her feel worshipped, wanted…and completely at his mercy as his tongue flicked out and began exploring her.
Max rested one hand on Liz’s hip as she began bucking against his mouth. He knew how sensitive her body was now, and he wanted this to be special. He flattened his tongue, sweeping back and forth, capturing her essence as she writhed beneath him. “Max…Max, please,” she begged.
Encouraged by Liz’s breathless moans and her fingers fisting in his hair, Max’s tongue snaked out and began circling her clit.
“Yes…” she hissed, her hips lifting up off the mattress as he suddenly plunged his tongue into her depths. She thrust in time with his mouth, building up an unbearable pressure in the pit of her belly. Sensing she was close, Max flicked his tongue back up to her clit and sucked the tiny nub into his mouth. Liz fell apart, gasping his name as he suckled at her until her orgasm ebbed.
As she lay panting, Max slowly began kissing his way up her body. He paid special attention to her flat belly, placing sweet, soft kisses around her navel.
Liz shivered despite the sheen of sweat covering her flushed body. It filled her heart to bursting whenever she witnessed the depth of love Max had for their unborn son or daughter – whose identity, she hoped, would very soon be known.
“We won’t be needing this,” Max mumbled, guiding the nightshirt up over Liz’s head and tossing it aside. She shivered again at the feel of his warm bare chest against hers, prompting her nipples into hard little peaks.
“Or these,” Liz added as her hands worked Max’s flannel pajama pants over his hips. His erection sprung from its confines, pressing against her stomach as Max wriggled closer. He cupped her flushed face in his hands, smoothing her hair back, and Liz gazed at him lovingly. “Are you ready?” she murmured.
Max smiled, grinding his hard body against hers to prove that yes, he was indeed ready, and then captured her lips in a slow, sensuous kiss. There was no reason to rush such a beautiful, intimate joining; he intended to worship the mother of his child in every way possible.
“Oh Max…” Liz sighed as his lips crept down her jaw line, savoring, just as he was between her legs. He brushed over her folds, seeking her wetness and then spreading it over the tip of his erection. Max groaned as her essence clung to him, pulling him to her center, begging him to fill her. “Please, Max…”
The vibrations against his mouth as he suckled at her throat nearly set him on fire. Their lips sought out one another as he began to slide into her heat, tongues matching the pace as he moved in, then out, and finally deep into the warmth of her body.
“You’re so perfect, Liz,” he breathed against her cheek. “So perfect.” His hands slid from her hips, up her sides, to the curve of her breasts. His thumbs worked between their bodies where her erect nipples were drilling into his chest, circling around and over them as Liz gasped beneath him. The sounds of pleasure that filled his ears threatened to send him sailing over the edge, but he knew he had to hold on.
Much to Liz’s disappointment, his hands retreated from her breasts. When she realized their next destination, she eagerly thrust her hips up to meet his. “Mmm…yes…” she breathed, the desire boiling through her veins as his fingers sought out her aching clit. She locked her ankles behind him as he pinched and pulled at the sensitive bundle of nerves, her internal muscles clenching his manhood with each thrust.
“I’m almost…” Max ground out, a white-hot fire shooting through his body as he felt the beginning of their orgasms.
“Yes!” Liz cried, clamping around him as she felt him jerk inside her. The explosion washed over them in wave after wave of flashes, offering them a first glimpse of their child.
Warm, bright eyes framed by long lashes; round cheeks and a sweet smile reminiscent of Liz’s. Max choked back a sob, burying his face in the crook of Liz’s neck. So much like Gabriel, and yet…very much her own person.
Their daughter was beautiful.
“Liz, please tell me these are yours.”
Studying the pair of sleek black sunglasses Kyle had shoved in her face, Liz slowly shook her head. “I could, but I’d be lying.”
“Dammit.” Kyle dropped his head down onto the desk and let out a loud sigh.
“I didn’t realize you’d be so disappointed,” Liz said, puzzled, as she plucked the sunglasses from Kyle’s fingertips and slipped them on. “Hey, I bet I look pretty hot.”
Kyle only groaned again, lifting his head. “I found them in my car. And there have only been four women in my car in the last few weeks,” he explained, ignoring Liz’s amused look. “And so far you, Isabel, and the girl from my history class have failed to claim them, which means-“
“The fourth person is…?”
“Serena,” Kyle sighed.
“So?”
"So..."
“So give them back to her,” Liz suggested.
“I can’t.”
“What do you mean, you can’t?” Liz pressed.
“It’s already been two weeks, maybe she won’t even notice they’re gone-“
“Kyle.” She hadn’t had an exceptional amount of patience lately, and Kyle had just about used up his designated amount.
“Whidrpdherofshkisme,” he muttered.
“Huh?”
“When I dropped her off, she kissed me,” he repeated slowly.
Liz’s eyes widened. “Why?”
“Thanks a lot,” Kyle mumbled, the blow to his pride all too clear in his sudden pout.
“Oh Kyle, stop. It just seems kind of random, I guess,” Liz continued, doodling absently on her notebook cover.
“Yeah, well, you didn’t see her at the club,” Kyle reminded darkly.
“But I heard about it. So she kissed you while she was sober?” Liz was quite intrigued by this latest development, though it did spark a bit of suspicion in the back of her mind.
“It’s not like we made out or anything. It was more like a peck, you know?” Kyle sighed. “Anyway, I know seeing her would be weird, so-“
“You could mail them to her,” Liz suggested. “It’s a little extreme, but-“
“That’s why I was wondering if you could take them to her,” Kyle interrupted hopefully.
“Kyle…”
“Please, Liz? I’ll give you her address, she’s really easy to find and-“
“Max is going to be waiting for me after my shift, and if I’m not home in time for dinner-“
“Max the cook,” Kyle chuckled, forgetting the sunglasses for a moment. “Man, is he whipped.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it that,” Liz said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. It was more of an over-protection thing if you asked her. It had been only two weeks, and she was already thisclose to calling him Sahib. Max, of course, didn’t find this amusing at all. He only wanted to make sure Liz was healthy and safe and comfortable and eating properly and dressing warm enough…
“I’m sorry, Kyle. But you’re a big boy, and I’m sure you can be brave and do this,” Liz encouraged, patting Kyle’s shoulder.
Kyle rolled his eyes. She was right, of course, but did she have to rub it in? “Thanks, mommy.”
*****
“How long has it been?”
“Two minutes since you last asked.”
“Oh. Because the box said-“
“Max?”
“Yeah?”
“Do I have to ask you to leave the room?”
Max looked up at Liz, hurt. “Why would you make me leave?”
“What if I said I had a craving for honeydew melon.”
He eyed his wife skeptically. “Do you?”
“No. I still hate it, actually.”
“That wasn’t very nice, Liz,” Max muttered.
Liz merely patted Max’s knee and smiled sweetly. “I was just trying to distract you.”
Max sighed. “I know. I’m trying to be patient, but I’m so anxious-“
"You're anxious?” Liz repeated. “I had to pee on a stick.”
“I think that’s pretty hard to screw up, though,” he offered reassuringly. Unless they’d read the directions wrong. Maybe he ought to check-
“Sit.” Liz tightened her hand over knee, forcing him back onto the bed. “I’m pretty sure we already know the results.”
Max grinned as he slipped his hand under her sweater to capture their baby’s glow. “It’s exciting. I guess it just feels like the go-ahead to tell other people about him.”
“Or her,” Liz added. Out of habit they’d found themselves referring to the baby as “him,” though they had yet to achieve any flashes to prove one way or the other. Liz figured it was probably too soon to know for sure. However, she was definitely looking forward to researching…
“Time’s up,” Max announced, pulling Liz to her feet and leading her to the bathroom. He reached for the plastic stick on the counter, but Liz snatched his hand away. “Cover your eyes,” she instructed.
“Cover my-“
“Please? I will, too.” With a grin, she held her hand up over her eyes.
Max sighed, but did as he was told.
Liz squeezed his free hand. “Ready? One, two-“
Max cocked his head when Liz trailed off. “Liz? You didn’t-“
But Liz had already peeked through her fingers, inspecting the stick. “What does a green circle mean?”
His eyes flew open. A green circle? “A green circle?” But it was supposed to be a pink plus or a blue line! He’d read the back of the box three times, and nowhere did it say-
And suddenly Liz was grinning at him. The gleam shone in her eyes as she presented him with the stick, complete with a bright pink plus.
Max’s eyes narrowed when he realized he’d been had, but then he too grinned as it began to sink in again. He was going to be a daddy, and that stick proved it in the most normal of ways. His fingers sought out the soft skin beneath her sweater again before he captured her lips in a long, deep kiss.
*****
Liz looked up from sweeping beneath the Crashdown counter at the sound of knocking. Leaning the broom against a stool, she smiled brightly and fairly scampered over to unlock the café’s doors.
Jeff Parker watched his daughter greet her husband, finished with his closing shift at the UFO Center across the street. It no longer made him feel uncomfortable to witness the loving gestures between Liz and Max; as a matter of fact, it reminded him very much of when he and Nancy were newlyweds. He smiled to himself, turning back to the register when Liz lifted her face to meet Max’s lips in a deep kiss. “Hello, Max,” he offered.
Max pulled away from Liz and licked his lips with a sheepish grin. “Hey Jeff,” he greeted, looping his arm around Liz’s waist as they sauntered back toward the counter. “How did the special sell tonight?”
“Great, except for the Saturn Rings Jose extra deep-fried. We had to toss a whole batch.” He shrugged. “What can you do.”
Nancy appeared through the swinging back room door. “Max, hi,” she smiled. “Lizzie, honey, the floor looks fine. Why don’t you two head on home, you already stayed late as it is.”
Liz pecked her mother on the cheek and grabbed the broom. “I don’t mind,” she assured.
Max didn’t seem particularly pleased by this, but after a full day of classes and then the closing shift at the museum, it was understandable that he would be tired. Jeff and Nancy glanced at each other and then at their daughter. She certainly was a bundle of energy tonight.
“Liz, have you been taking some of those pills of Maria’s? You know, those…I don’t know, St. John’s Wart or something?” Jeff ventured.
Liz glanced up in surprise. “What? No, why?”
“No reason,” he chuckled. “You look wonderful, sweetheart.”
“I feel wonderful,” Liz replied, casting a smile in Max’s direction. “Dad, I’ve been meaning to ask if you kept the new uniform you ordered for me last fall,” she continued, leaning against the broom.
“Oh…I - I did, actually,” Jeff answered, taken quite by surprise. “It’s in storage for new employees or-“
“Do you think you could let me borrow it?” Liz asked casually. “I’m going to need it in a few months.”
“Sure, sweethear-“ Jeff paused. He opened his mouth, then closed it, as he watched Liz continue sweeping the floor. “Do you mean-“
“Liz, are you pregnant?” Nancy asked in a hushed voice.
Glancing at Max, Liz bit her lip and nodded. “As a matter of fact.”
“What?” Maria suddenly popped her head out through the kitchen window.
Liz jumped in surprise. “Maria, I thought you went home.”
“I forgot my watch in my locker,” she called, hurrying around through the swinging door. “Oh my god, Lizzie! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!” she continued, throwing her arms around her best friend.
“We were going to,” Liz explained as her friend pulled away and then moved on to Max. “We just found out,” she added pointedly.
Maria nodded knowingly, and then clapped her hands together in excitement.
Jeff and Nancy both stood silent, simply staring at the young couple. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Liz asked with a coy smile, tightening her arm around Max’s waist.
“I…honey, congratulations,” Nancy said finally. “Both of you. It’s…it’s definitely a surprise, but…”
“We were surprised, too,” Max said, somewhat shyly. He was thrilled, of course, but it still felt a little strange to be discussing their “surprise” with his in-laws. It was then that he noticed Jeff had yet to respond. He pulled Liz a little closer, waiting for the explosion. A wave of anger rolled through him. What more did the man want? Sure, they were a still quite young, and money might be a little tight, but they were in love. Heck, they were married, and -
“Oh Daddy,” he heard Liz whisper as she stepped away from him and into her father’s arms. Max watched as Liz embraced him, and then he saw it. Jeff’s eyes were filled with tears as he hugged his daughter.
Later, as the three headed out to their cars, Maria was still a bundle of excitement. “So you guys knew, like, right away again?” she asked.
Max glanced down at Liz. “Yeah. And this time we knew what it was.”
Maria nodded thoughtfully. “That didn’t happen to Isabel and Jesse. I wonder why.”
“I’m not sure,” Liz admitted. “Part of me worries that because it happened with Gabriel too, it means something’s wrong.” She knew she was being paranoid, but it was so hard to shake the fear…
Max squeezed her shoulder, and she realized again just why he was being as protective as he was. “We don’t know that,” he reminded gently.
“Right, but then there’s…” Liz trailed off as they reached the Chevelle.
“What?” Maria practically pounced on her. “That’s what?”
“I was on the pill. Both times,” she added, pulling her sweater tighter in the chilly October air. “It just seems kind of strange.”
Maria cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Max. “Must be super-swimmers.”
“That must be it,” Liz said, managing a giggle.
Max cracked a smile, but then shifted uncomfortably. “Can we maybe not talk about my sperm?”
Liz merely laughed again and stretched up to kiss her husband’s cheek. “Anyway, Maria, we decided to tell my parents first since they don’t know about any of the, uh, special circumstances. We’re telling everyone else at Isabel’s birthday dinner tomorrow night, so if you could maybe not say-“
“I won’t say a word,” Maria vowed, jumping to attention. “Cross my heart.”
*****
“Way to go Maxwell!” Michael clapped Max warmly on the back as he and Liz stepped into his parents’ house.
Max gave his friend a strange look. That was an interesting reception, what was he – Maria. He exchanged a look with Liz. Definitely Maria.
Sure enough, Maria peeked around the corner with a sheepish grin. “I kind of let it slip-“ she began, just as the rest of the family rushed into the front hall.
“Oh Liz, honey, congratulations!” Diane hugged her daughter-in-law before turning to her son and exclaiming with excitement. It was certainly a different reception this time around.
“Did you hear that, Evan? You’re going to have a little cousin to play with,” Kyle informed the baby cuddled against his chest.
“Any time you want to practice…” Isabel offered, grinning at her brother as she squeezed in for a hug.
Later that evening, as they finished cake and ice cream, Liz leaned over to Kyle. “Did you do it yet?”
“Give me some time,” he grumbled.
“Kyle. It was a week ago.”
Kyle threw up his hands in exasperation. “Fine. I’ll do it tonight.”
“Really?” Liz eyed him skeptically.
“Maybe.”
Four days later, Kyle found himself standing on Serena’s front porch. Why the hell was he so nervous? It was a pair of sunglasses, for pete’s sake. Maybe it was because it had been almost a month that he’d had them. Whose fault is that, he reminded himself. As tempting as it was to blame Liz…Kyle cleared his throat and reached for the doorbell.
After a few moments, a face peered through the lace curtains beside the door. It swung open, and there stood Serena. “Kyle?”
“Uh…hi.” He tried not to stare, though his eyes were drawn to how beautiful she looked. Sure, she was just wearing an old tank top and a pair of cut-offs, and her blonde hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail, but… Cut it out, Valenti. He was here for a reason.
He was just about to open his mouth again when Serena suddenly stepped out onto the porch and quietly shut the door behind her. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, that’s okay. I, uh, I was cleaning out my car the other day and I found these.” He awkwardly presented her with the sunglasses.
“So that’s where they were,” Serena laughed. “And all this time I thought they were playing hide-and-seek.”
God, her smile was beautiful. And that laugh… Suddenly Kyle realized that she was reaching for the sunglasses. And then her fingers brushed against his and he thought he might die right there on her porch.
She was looking at him funny. No wonder, he was standing there gaping at her like an idiot. “Uh…well, that was all. I just wanted to, y’know, give them back, so…”
“Thank you,” Serena said with a smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I have an apology to make.”
“Huh?” An apology?
“Oh. Never mind, it’s nothing,” Serena replied quickly. “I was just thinking out loud again. I’ll see you later, Kyle.”
Kyle headed back to his car, a cocky grin on his face. Serena said she’d see him later.
*****
Liz’s eyes slid over from her government book to Max, who was in bed beside her, busily highlighting in his textbook. She didn’t feel like studying proportional representation, despite the big midterm she had coming up in a few days. She knew what she wanted to do, and she was quite sure Max wouldn’t object.
Feeling her eyes on him, Max glanced up questioningly. Liz offered him a coy smile, and he felt his heart jump. His wife always took his breath away, but now, after nearly a month of pregnancy, she was radiant. And yet, while they’d been intimate, he’d done his best to control himself around her. He didn’t want to rush things, even though Liz promised she was feeling great.
Well, Liz had had just about enough. She wasn’t going to break, and she intended to prove it to her overly cautious husband. Besides, she had a feeling. They hadn’t had any flashes yet, but somehow…she knew. Tonight was it. Stretching luxuriously, she tossed her book aside and crawled closer to Max. She smirked when he looked up, following her every move, and shifted one knee over his thigh so she was straddling his lap.
“Hi,” Max managed, clearing his throat as she pressed up against him.
Liz cocked her head to the side, noticing that he was already growing hard. “Hi there.”
“What can I do for you?” he continued, the smile on his face broadening.
“Now there’s a loaded question,” Liz muttered, wriggling on his lap. “Plenty, I’m sure.”
Max chuckled, running his hands up and down her back. “Liz Evans, are you propositioning me?”
“Yes,” Liz answered without skipping a beat. She leaned closer, running her fingers in circles over his broad chest. After suckling on his jaw, she slowly slid her lips to his ear. “I want to see our baby.”
“You…okay…” he stammered as she nibbled on his sensitive skin. “I do, too.”
“Good,” Liz smiled, her breath quickening as Max’s hands slid down her torso to her thighs. He rubbed over the thin material of her nightgown, pushing it up until it bunched at her waist.
“Oh Max,” she sighed, her head lolling back as his fingers wandered between her legs and began probing her damp panties.
Max sucked in a deep breath as his fingers encountered her slick wetness, and he knew he had to taste her. “Liz,” he murmured, guiding her onto her back before him. He helped slide off her panties before settling between her legs.
A wave of desire coursed through Liz as she felt his warm breath against her core, and it bubbled over when she heard him inhale deeply. He made her feel worshipped, wanted…and completely at his mercy as his tongue flicked out and began exploring her.
Max rested one hand on Liz’s hip as she began bucking against his mouth. He knew how sensitive her body was now, and he wanted this to be special. He flattened his tongue, sweeping back and forth, capturing her essence as she writhed beneath him. “Max…Max, please,” she begged.
Encouraged by Liz’s breathless moans and her fingers fisting in his hair, Max’s tongue snaked out and began circling her clit.
“Yes…” she hissed, her hips lifting up off the mattress as he suddenly plunged his tongue into her depths. She thrust in time with his mouth, building up an unbearable pressure in the pit of her belly. Sensing she was close, Max flicked his tongue back up to her clit and sucked the tiny nub into his mouth. Liz fell apart, gasping his name as he suckled at her until her orgasm ebbed.
As she lay panting, Max slowly began kissing his way up her body. He paid special attention to her flat belly, placing sweet, soft kisses around her navel.
Liz shivered despite the sheen of sweat covering her flushed body. It filled her heart to bursting whenever she witnessed the depth of love Max had for their unborn son or daughter – whose identity, she hoped, would very soon be known.
“We won’t be needing this,” Max mumbled, guiding the nightshirt up over Liz’s head and tossing it aside. She shivered again at the feel of his warm bare chest against hers, prompting her nipples into hard little peaks.
“Or these,” Liz added as her hands worked Max’s flannel pajama pants over his hips. His erection sprung from its confines, pressing against her stomach as Max wriggled closer. He cupped her flushed face in his hands, smoothing her hair back, and Liz gazed at him lovingly. “Are you ready?” she murmured.
Max smiled, grinding his hard body against hers to prove that yes, he was indeed ready, and then captured her lips in a slow, sensuous kiss. There was no reason to rush such a beautiful, intimate joining; he intended to worship the mother of his child in every way possible.
“Oh Max…” Liz sighed as his lips crept down her jaw line, savoring, just as he was between her legs. He brushed over her folds, seeking her wetness and then spreading it over the tip of his erection. Max groaned as her essence clung to him, pulling him to her center, begging him to fill her. “Please, Max…”
The vibrations against his mouth as he suckled at her throat nearly set him on fire. Their lips sought out one another as he began to slide into her heat, tongues matching the pace as he moved in, then out, and finally deep into the warmth of her body.
“You’re so perfect, Liz,” he breathed against her cheek. “So perfect.” His hands slid from her hips, up her sides, to the curve of her breasts. His thumbs worked between their bodies where her erect nipples were drilling into his chest, circling around and over them as Liz gasped beneath him. The sounds of pleasure that filled his ears threatened to send him sailing over the edge, but he knew he had to hold on.
Much to Liz’s disappointment, his hands retreated from her breasts. When she realized their next destination, she eagerly thrust her hips up to meet his. “Mmm…yes…” she breathed, the desire boiling through her veins as his fingers sought out her aching clit. She locked her ankles behind him as he pinched and pulled at the sensitive bundle of nerves, her internal muscles clenching his manhood with each thrust.
“I’m almost…” Max ground out, a white-hot fire shooting through his body as he felt the beginning of their orgasms.
“Yes!” Liz cried, clamping around him as she felt him jerk inside her. The explosion washed over them in wave after wave of flashes, offering them a first glimpse of their child.
Warm, bright eyes framed by long lashes; round cheeks and a sweet smile reminiscent of Liz’s. Max choked back a sob, burying his face in the crook of Liz’s neck. So much like Gabriel, and yet…very much her own person.
Their daughter was beautiful.