Title: Where Is Your Heart?
Author: Emma (aka Emz80m)
Rating: ADULT
Disclaimer: I don’t own Roswell or any of its characters.
Category: M/L AU
Summery: Can a one-night stand really have the potential to alter the course of your entire life? Liz Parker was the most popular girl in school and the reason she got there was because she didn’t care who she stepped on or slept with along the way. Max Evans is the not so popular ‘cute’ guy who has always had a thing for Liz.
Part 1
Max POV
I don’t know why I expected Roswell to look any different since it hadn’t changed that much in the 18 years I lived here, why did I expect it to change in the three I had been gone?
I saw the Crashdown as I drove through town and I smiled. One thing I was glad hadn’t changed was the Crash. The whole way through high school it had been where everyone from school would come to hang out. It was where I would hang out everyday as I stared at my favourite waitress. That thankfully had changed.
I left three years ago after graduation to attend college in New York. It was a new experience and one that couldn’t come soon enough for me. Roswell did not hold a lot of happy memories for me and I had always looked forward to leaving. This was the first time I had come home to Roswell since I had left. School was always busier than expected and there were always other things to do during breaks that beat coming home to a small town like Roswell. A town where people loved to gossip about everyone and everything around them. I didn’t need that.
I pulled up at the Crashdown and walked towards the doors slowly unable to deny my craving for a Crashdown burger and space fries any longer. Unlike every other time I had approached the glass doors I didn’t feel the butterflies in my stomach as I wondered whether I would see her today or if I would be lucky enough to get a booth in her section because I knew she wouldn’t be here.
Everyone has one of those people. You know what I’m talking about. A girl who would give you a reason to get up every morning just to so you could see her, or for some of you a guy that made your heart slam in your chest every time he walked past. Liz Parker was that girl for me.
Her parents owned the Crashdown, probably still did and Liz was a waitress there most afternoons and weekends. We also went to school together. I wont lie and tell you that we were friends; frankly I always thought she never knew I existed but that never mattered to me.
I heard the familiar bells ring above the door as I entered. It was still the middle of the day and there weren’t too many other people in the place so I took a seat in the nearest booth to the door and picked up the menu. I smiled when I realised it also hadn’t changed.
“Welcome to the Crashdown. I’m Liz and I’ll be your waitress today. Can I start by getting you a drink?” I stopped the minute I heard her voice. It was impossible I told myself, I was imagining it because why the hell would Liz Parker still be here? It had been her dream to get out of Roswell. I raised my eyes slowly and when I finally met her eyes I could see the shock in her own and before I knew what was happening she gasped.
“Hi Liz,” I finally said after pulling myself together. It had been almost three years to the day since I had last seen her.
“Max,” she nodded. “What are you doing here?” she asked me.
Typical Liz, getting straight to the point. “I’m home for the holidays,” I answered
“So what can I get you?” she asked.
“Um yeah sure I’ll have two cherry cokes, a will smith burger, some space fries, and do you still have that salad thing?” I asked picking the menu back up.
“Yeah,” she answered.
“Cool it’s Tess’s favourite so I’ll grab one of those too,” I said.
I watched her stiffen at the mention of Tess’s name and was a little surprised. It was obvious that she was uncomfortable with exchanging pleasantries with me, I couldn’t blame her it was kind of awkward after three years.
She walked off to get the drinks and brought them to me right away in take away cups “So are you home for the holidays too?” I asked her curious about why she was waitressing in the Crashdown.
Liz opened her mouth to answer me but stopped abruptly when the bells above the front door chimed. “Mummy,” the little boy yelled out pushing away from the man he was with and rushing over to Liz.
Liz’s face immediately paled and she stepped back from the booth and bent down to pick the little boy up.
“I’m sorry sweetie,” the man laughed and I finally realised that it was Jeff Parker.
“Hi,” Liz said, “did you have fun at the park?” she asked the little boy.
I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I know I’m staring; in fact I’m positive my mouth has probably fallen open.
“Yep, poppy got me ice cream,” he grinned.
I watched as Liz’s face lit up unlike I had ever seen before as she stared at the little boy.
“Order up,” the cook calls out then indicating my order is ready and I watch as Liz realises that I am still sitting here.
“Um, I’ll just get that for you Max,” she says.
“Oh honey don’t worry about it I’ll get it. You can finish up,” Jeff told her before he walks off to grab my order.
“Is he yours?” I whisper as I look at the little boy. There is something about him and I can’t shake the feeling that is building in my gut. Liz obviously senses this. “Yeah,” she says as she looks down at the little boy who is drifting off against her shoulder.
“Um how old is he?” I ask her.
Liz meets my eyes. “He was two in March,” she says.
I don’t need to do the math to know what that means. I look at the small boy whose hair is a shade darker that his mothers, whose small ears poke out from under his hair.
“Here you go,” Jeff Parker smiles at me as he hands me the take away bag and the bill. “I can ring that out for you if you like,” he smiles oblivious to the conversation that was taking place between Liz and I.
“T-Thanks,” I say and stand up but my eyes never leave Liz or the little boy in her arms.
“I’ll see you later Liz,” I whisper. I wait for her to say something but she doesn’t and I’m not sure if I’m relieved or angry.
I pay my bill and turn back to Liz contemplating just coming out and asking her but when I look around all I see is the back of her head as she disappears behind the break room door.
“You went to school with Liz right?” Jeff Parker asks me.
“Um yes Sir,” I answer.
“You’re Phillip and Dianne’s son right?”
“Yeah Max,” I tell him.
“Well it’s good to see you Max and I hope we see you here again,” he smiles.
I nod at him and smile as best I can considering how I feel right now, and with one last look at the door Liz disappeared behind with her son I walk out of the Crashdown.
***
It doesn’t take me long before I’m climbing out of my jeep and carrying the take out food into Tess’s parents place.
“What took you so long?” she asks as I sit down beside her.
“Um they were busy,” I lie my thought are still occupied by Liz and her son.
“Oh,” she smiles. “Wow I can’t believe they still have this,” she laughs. “I used to eat this everyday when you would drag me to that place,” she says still completely oblivious after all these years to the real reason I wanted to go there everyday and for that small favour I’m eternally grateful.
“Do the Parkers still own it?” she asks then.
“Um yeah,” I nod.
“You ok?” I look over at her and notice that she’s staring at me with concern. I can hardly blame her I’ve been giving her one worded answers since I sat down.
I put on a fake smile for her benefit. “Fine,” I tell her.
“So when are we going to tell everyone?” she asks me then and I remember the reason we are actually home.
“Well we could all go to dinner tomorrow night!” I suggest with a smile.
I met Tess in my senior year of high school. I was mostly a loner except for my best friend Michael. Tess was quiet and smart and we got paired together on an assignment. Soon after I asked her out and we’ve been happy together ever since which is why I finally popped the question a week ago. Now we’re home in Roswell to tell our families our happy news.
I finish my burger then, practically shoving in my mouth as I think about what I need to do.
“Um I gotta go,” I tell her.
She frowns at me. “What? Where are you going?” she asks.
“There is someone I want to see,” I inform her.
I can tell she’s confused. I don’t blame her. Apart from her and my sister I don’t keep in touch with anyone in Roswell but I know Michael still lives here and I would bet my last dollar that he still lives in the same apartment.
I kiss her soundly on the lips and smile. “I’ll see you later babe,” I tell her. I’m lucky that I have Tess not only is she beautiful but she’s solid, loyal and she loves me. I really am a lucky guy.
“Bye,” she says.
***
I only knock on the door a couple of times before it’s pulled open. Maria Deluca stands on the other side and is looking at me confused.
“Hi Maria,” I say “Is Michael here?” I ask her.
“Wow look what the cat dragged in,” she says and its clear by the look on her face what she thinks of me. I can hardly blame her either.
“Michael you’ve got a visitor I’ll be home later,” she yells before pushing past me and walking off.
“Max?” Michael says confused when he comes to the door.
“Hey man,” I smile. Despite the fact I haven’t talked to my once best friend in nearly a year its great to see him.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Um back for the holidays and wanted to come by and say hi,” I tell him and follow him inside.
He seems to be waiting for me to say something else like he doesn’t quite believe my story. “So you’re still with Maria?” I smile. I’m happy for him.
“Yep,” he nods.
We grow silent for a while then and its obvious he has no intention of adding to the conversation. “Why didn’t you say something Mike?” I ask him then.
He raises an eyebrow at me, “about what?”
“Liz Parker having a son,” I snap.
“Oh,” he smiles. “Back in Roswell and already stalking your old haunts,” he chuckles.
“Hardly, I dropped in to get some food for Tess and imagine my surprise to find Liz working, and then her son appears” I say angrily. “A son who looks an awful lot like me Mike and considering his birthday could be my son,”
He looks at me then. “It wasn’t my place,” he shrugs.
“Of course it was, you’re my fucking best friend,” I yell.
“Some best friend. I haven’t heard from you in a year,” he scoffs.
“I’m sorry that I stopped calling,” I sigh. “There was just less and less to say but God Michael is he mine?” I finally ask.
Michael sighs. “Maria would kill me if she found out I was even talking to you about her nephew,” he tells me. “The truth is I don’t know like you said he does look like you so I guess its possible.”
“She doesn’t know?” I ask shocked.
“Not for sure. At first he had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes like most newborns and everyone was convinced he was Kyle’s. Kyle got tested and he wasn’t a match. No one even suspected you until a year ago when his looks started changing”
I sighed, “Who else was there?”
Michael shrugged. “No idea man guess you’ll just have to get tested and find out,” he said.
I shook my head. “No. No,” I tell him before standing up. There is no way I’m going to let a mistake I made three years ago ruin my life.
“I’ve gotta go man but I’ll catch up with you soon ok,” I said.
TBC.......
At this stage I'll be updating this story once a week on a Friday. Hope you guys like it
Thank you to Kristen for being my beta and to Amara for the wonderful banner.
