Roswell Fanatics

Title: Deceptions of the Heart and Soul
Author: LysCat
Category: Alternate Universe
Couple(s): M/L, Mi/M, Mi/I, T/K and references to I/A.
Summery: Max and Liz were once ‘the’ couple of the group, but that changed when Max ended their relationship and began dating someone else, causing the rest of the group to be put in the middle, but they survived. Only now, Michael and Isabel are realizing their attraction and they just don’t know if the group could survive if they went along with their feelings.
Disclaimer: I don’t own the Roswell characters. They were invented by Melinda Metz, then brought to life and ruined by Jason Katims.
Author's Note: Yeah, I know...I'm pretty bad with stories and not completing them. I've been working on this idea for a few months, and since I'm only two chapters short of completing it, I figured I'd post it. I hope you guys enjoy it! Also, a big thanks to Eden for letting me bounce my ideas off you.






Chapter 1

“What are we doing?” Isabel Whitman inquired breathlessly as her companion began assaulting her neck with his tongue.

“Mmmm,” he chuckled huskily against her neck. “I <kiss> must <kiss> not be <kiss> doing a <kiss> good <kiss> job <kiss> if you have to ask.”

Isabel felt her heart melt at his words and smiled. Gently taking his face in her hands, she met his brown eyes with her own hazel orbs. “You’re doing a wonderful job,” she confessed. Seeing as he had her pinned against the wall, she pushed him away slightly. “It’s just this. What are we doing?”

Raising his eyebrows, her smirked. “I thought we were making out.”

Isabel rolled her eyes. What a way to state the obvious. “No Michael, this,” Isabel reiterated, gesturing between herself and him. “Us.”

Michael pulled away, ignoring the cold air as it seemingly engulfed him. Why did they have to talk about reality? Michael wanted nothing more then to embrace Isabel and stay wrapped in her arms forever. He ran his hand through his unruly hair. “I don’t know.”

Looking down, Isabel walked dejectedly to her couch and plopped down in one fluid motion. “What were we thinking? We can’t do this.”

Michael turned around and followed her to the couch. “I know,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “I shouldn’t be doing this…Max…Maria.”

Isabel bit her lip. “How do you think I feel? I’m supposed to be her friend!” Isabel cried desperately. How did she let it get this far? Maria was her friend, a close one at that…. And Michael was Maria’s long time boyfriend! She should have stopped this when Michael first kissed her.

Michael Guerin looked over at Isabel, wanting nothing more then to spare her the inner turmoil she seemed to be warring with. He didn’t even know what he was thinking in the first place by going over to her apartment. All he knew was that during the past few weeks, his feelings for Isabel had evolved from sisterly adoration.

He couldn’t understand why he was feeling like that in the first place. Isabel had been nothing more then a friend. In the beginning, she had been nothing more then Max’s pesky sister who followed them around. She ended up growing on him and soon her had come to look at Isabel as a sister of his own. Looking back, he wasn’t even sure how his feelings had become more.

“I’m sorry Isabel,” he told Isabel. “I never wanted…I’m sorry.”

Defeated. Isabel looked at him. “Go home Michael, to Maria.” The two stood up, their eyes locked on each other. They never even noticed when Max walked inside.

Max Evans stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted the intense stare that Michael and Isabel were involved in. “Uh, did I miss something?”

Isabel snapped her gaze to Max, she was both sad and grateful for his interference. “No.” She looked to Michael once again, “Michael was just leaving.”

“Yeah…” Michael headed to the door. “Later Maxwell.”

Once Michael shut the door, Max turned to his twin sister. “Everything okay?”

Isabel nodded. “Everything’s fine,” she denied. “I’m just in for the night, what about you? You going out with Serena tonight?”

Max smiled briefly. “Yeah, I’m taking her out for a romantic evening.”

“Good for you,” Isabel replied with a thin smile. She never did like Serena Hotchkiss. Of course, she never did get a good first impression. When her brother ended things with Liz Parker, the closest thing she had to a best friend, for Serena, Isabel’s dislike for Serena was born. Serena was a co-worker of Max’s, one that had chased him for ages. As much as she loathed the girl though, she was always polite for Max’s sake. “So, I guess you two are really getting along huh?” Max only nodded. “Is it serious?”

“Not so much. We just have fun together.” To be truthful, he was glad. Serious was the last thing he wanted in his life, especially after his last relationship.

Isabel inwardly groaned. That was Max. The only thing he ever took seriously was his work. When it came to his love life, he went for things in the simplest form. That was why it was a shock that he even entered a relationship with Liz Parker.

Growing up, she and Max kept a close knit group of friends. Michael, of course, then there was Tess Harding…her first ‘girl friend’. Her dearly departed husband, Alex Whitman and his two best friends Maria DeLuca and Liz Parker. The seven of them went through school together and even college. During all that time, Liz had a major crush on Max. It wasn’t until the end of their last year in school that Max began returning interest in Liz. They began dating, and they stayed together for two years before Max broke up with her.

“I know that this is your place and all, but I was going to have Liz over for some much needed girl time.” After Alex’s sudden death, Max moved Isabel in with him.

Max nodded.

Whenever the group got together for any occasion, things were tense. While Max had moved on after his relationship with Liz, she had taken their break up a bit harder. After harboring feelings for Max for so many years, she was on cloud nine when he asked her out on their first date. It had been close to six months since then, and she was just now going out on dates.

He knew all too well how Liz felt about him when he ended things. He knew through everyone else just how heart broken she had been and the last thing he wanted was to add to her pain. “Yeah, so if things go good tonight we’ll go back to her place.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Michael got home, he was pleasantly surprised to find Maria dancing around in their home. He smiled lovingly as she swayed her hips to the rhythm. She had always been so out going and open, and she was never afraid to be exactly who she wanted to be. It was the thing that attracted him most to it. He turned down the stereo to announce his presence.

“Michael!” She exclaimed as she ran over and hugged him.

“You’re home early,” he replied breathlessly at her tight hold on him.

Maria pulled away to look in his eyes and smiled brightly. “I missed you. I’m sorry that I’ve been so caught up in my work, I never should have neglected you.”

Things had been strained between them for a while, how come she hadn’t realized this sooner? As if knowing what Michael was thinking, Maria spoke up. “I love you Michael. We’ve been together since we were sixteen. I know that things should…lull over a little, but they should never have to be as bad as they have been.” She lead him over to their love seat and curled into him. “When I was in New York, I’d went to a bar one night. I was feeling pretty good and chatty. One of the guys I was talking with leaned over to kiss me…and I didn’t pull away.” Quickly, Maria looked into Michael’s eyes. “It never went further then that!” Maria hurried to explain. “I realized what was happening and I stopped it from going further…I swear!”

Michael looked down at Maria and nodded absently. He knew that Maria was in earnest when she narrated the story. As much as it pained him to hear about her kissing another guy, he knew that getting upset would be one huge contradiction seeing as he was a little bit further along with Isabel only an hour earlier.

“I am sorry Michael.”

“I know,” he voiced calmly.

Maria’s brows furrowed together in confusion. He was awfully calm. “Are…are you sure?”

Michael smiled sadly. “It hurts to hear, but I’m glad you told me.” He took a deep breath. Since Maria was so open with him, he decided that she deserved the same respect. He pulled away a bit and look at her. “Since we’re being truthful…I think it’s only fair that I tell you this.”

“Tell me what?”

Michael took a deep breath, “Isabel and I kissed earlier.” As much as it hurt to hear Maria’s confession, he knew that his was much worse. Isabel was a close friend of hers.

Maria leaned back even more so and looked closer at Michael. “What?” She shook her head in confusion. “When…no, how did this happen?”

“I don’t know!” Michael replied in a hard voice. “We were just…talking and…we stopped before…”

“You and Isabel? How could you do that? I’m your girl friend and what about Alex?” Maria stood up and paced the living room. She never expected for Michael to kiss another person…especially not Isabel.

“You know what the worst part is?” Michael asked after watching his girlfriend for a moment. “I wanted to continue,” he confessed. “Isabel was the one to stop,” he added on wistfully.

From her position, Maria looked at Michael. He seemed so confused and heartfelt. Maria bit her lip as tears flooded her eyes. She was glad that Michael had told her as much as it hurt her heart to hear. She had been with Michael for ten years, she wasn’t about to lose him over a kiss. Walking forward, she kneeled down in front of him. “Michael.”

Michael looked up into Maria’s eyes. “Yeah?”

Maria braced his face in her hands. “I love you…and, we’ll just move past this.”

Michael closed his eyes in relief. “I love you too, really I do.” He decided not to mention the changing feelings he felt for Isabel. He and Maria had both grown apart for the past months, maybe if he concentrated on Maria and getting their relationship back on track then his feelings for Isabel would disappear.

Maria smiled then, “I have a wonderful idea. Let’s go away together.”

Going on a romantic getaway with Maria sounded like heaven. “Sounds great.” He pulled her hands in his own and kissed them. “Uh, what about Isabel?”

That was a good question. She and Isabel definitely needed to sit down and talk. “I’ll deal with Isabel later. Right now, I am more interested in ‘we’ time.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Max and Serena left the restaurant wrapped in each other’s arms. He whispered enticing little nothings as she giggled and pawed at his chest. As they reached his SUV, Serena leaned against the passenger door and pulled him to her. “How about we go back to your place and make it an all ‘nighter’?”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

Serena sighed. After six months of dating, she’d never stayed the night at his place. She’d been over there, but never had they stayed the night together in his bed, they always went to her place. “Why?” She understood that he didn’t feel comfortable having sex in the house when there was a possibility of his sister hearing, but surely Isabel would understand. “I’m sure that Isabel understands,” Serena said.

“You’re probably right,” Max admitted. “It’s just, she invited Liz over.”

Serena rolled her eyes. “What does that matter?”

“I just don’t want to make things more uncomfortable for Liz.”

“So then tell her to leave! It’s your house! You should be able to bring over whoever you want and not have to worry about making sure it’s safe.”

Max nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

The fact that Max stopped there was insult enough. Serena huffed. “I don’t know why you feel the need to tip toe around your ex-girlfriend! You’ve been broken up with her for how long and yet, you let her run your life."

“She does not!” Max sighed, he hated arguing. “Look, Liz is one of my oldest friends. I don’t invite you over because I don’t want to make things even more complicated between the two of us. I respect her and her feelings and I don’t want to hurt her even more then I already have.”

Serena nodded, sometimes Max was too nice. It was still a nice gesture though. “So, I guess it’s my place tonight huh?”

Since you've put M/L in your title is there hope for a dreamer reunion? And why did Max break up with Liz in the first place, wasn't he as in love with her as she was with him, was it just casual for him?

That should be explained in this chapter and in later ones.

I know you have UC in your title but i'm hoping since its in the AA that there is a chance of a dreamer reuinion.

Don't worry, this will be mostly M/L

And what about Isabel MIchael and Maria? Are MIchael and Isabel really in love?

All should be explained soon...if I wrote it well enough.

Anyway, thanks for the wonderful FB guys!


Chapter 2
(Two days later)

Maria knocked on Max’s front door. All morning she had been anxious about meeting with Isabel. Ever since Michael told her about the kiss he shared with her, Maria had been going over all the things she wanted to say to her friend. She was still so confused. If this were any other girl, she would have no problem hashing it out…but it was Isabel.

She had grown up with Isabel, when Maria had her first period, aside from her mother, Isabel was the only other girl who knew what she was going through. Isabel was the person she went to for advice on guys, Isabel was the one who hooked her up with Michael in the first place.

“Maria. This is a surprise, I wasn’t expecting to see you so early in the morning.” She opened the door for invitation. After shutting the door, she turned to Maria. “What can I do for you?”

Skipping the pleasantries, Maria decided to go straight to the point. “Michael told me what happened.”

Isabel tensed slightly. Isabel thought of nothing other then her make-out session with Michael. Aside from the awesome feel of his magical lips, Maria had also been on her mind. She loved Michael, he was her best friend, but Maria was her friend and she refused to be the reason why Michael and Maria broke up. She had seen first hand what Liz went through when Max started dating Serena…and Isabel refused to be the Serena in Michael and Maria’s relationship.

“That was a low thing to do. Michael is one thing, but you?” Maria continued, “you are supposed to be my friend! How could you kiss him back?”

“Maria, let me explain,” Isabel pleaded.

“I think you’ve done enough!” Maria bit out. “What were you thinking? Do you really care so little of our friendship and what about Alex? He’s barely cold and here you are kissing my boyfriend!”

“Don’t you dare bring Alex in this! I love…. loved Alex. I always will! You don’t know what it’s like to lose someone that you love so much that you don’t think you will be able to survive without them!”

“Well, I don’t really want to experience it because of you and Michael going off together!” Maria retorted.

Isabel looked down guiltily. “It was really nice having some kind of contact. I’ve been so lonely.”

“Did it have to be with my boyfriend?” the anger in Maria’s voice had drained.

Isabel couldn’t answer. She knew she couldn’t say anything that would sound right. “I am sorry Maria.”

Maria offered a tentative smile. She could forgive Michael and Isabel, after all, they weren't completely to blame in all of it. Maybe if she was more involved with Michael then it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. “I better go.”

Isabel watched as Maria turned to leave. “Wait! Are…we okay?”

Maria turned to Isabel and nodded. “We will be.” As Maria reached the door and opened it, she turned back to Isabel. “Oh, and Isabel? Thanks for pulling away.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Isabel pulled into the parking lot, she turned off her car, but she didn’t get out. Looking out the window, she spotted Maria’s car and she sighed. That morning, Maria had gotten everything off her chest and she had been right in saying that things would eventually be alright between them. Isabel still couldn’t help feel guilty whenever she thought of the vivacious blonde.

Since they returned home from college, the girls made a plan to meet up every Saturday and have lunch together. It had been a tradition they had kept growing strong for almost two years, sans the few months following Alex’s death.

Isabel just didn’t know if she should even go. She was the one in the wrong at the situation dealing with Maria and she knew that she would be stepping on egg-shells around the girl for a while yet. She was so confused. She wanted nothing more then to talk to someone about it, preferably Liz, but she was afraid that it would bring back unpleasant memories of Max and Serena. Aside from that, she didn’t think that anyone else needed to know about it. Not only was it embarrassing on her part for the fact that she would kiss her friend’s boyfriend, it was embarrassing for Maria, but then she also felt guilty. Maria’s words that morning, about Alex, were right on target.

When she and Alex were married, it never crossed her mind that their happiness would be cut short, of course nobody thinks of something so depressing. Before she and Alex began dating, she had heard from Maria and Liz that Alex had harbored a crush on her since they were still playing on the playground. Isabel had always felt unworthy of Alex’s devotion, not that she hadn’t appreciated it. When Alex died in a car accident, she thought her world would end, she hoped it would. She always thought it was unfair that he was happy wherever he was and she was forced to live on Earth in pain and suffering. One morning on the darkest day before dawn, she had chalked it up to the fact that it was penance for not loving Alex as much as he deserved to be loved. After a few months, she had wondered what it would be like to move on…find someone different. That in itself was enough to guilt her into a full day of tears.

So focused was she on her thoughts that she didn’t notice the person approaching her car or knocking on the window. Isabel looked up startled to find Maria. Isabel opened her door.

“Are you coming inside?” Maria asked.

“I don’t think I should be here. After Thursday and this morning…”

Maria nodded, imagining how Isabel felt. “I meant what I said earlier. We’re going to be okay. As for Michael…I think we’re going to make it.”

Isabel was surprised at the sharp pain in her stomach at hearing Maria’s words, but she forced a smile on her face. “Are you sure?”

Maria nodded. “If I wasn’t, I would have said otherwise. Come on. Tess and Liz are starting to wonder about you.”

When she and Maria reached the table, Isabel smiled brightly. “Sorry I’m late.” She sat down next to Liz as Tess moved to let Maria in her seat. “So, what were we talking about?

Liz shrugged, “nothing major. I’m just listening to Tess brag about her latest boyfriend.”

Tess huffed goodheartedly and mocked glared at Liz. “I was not bragging.”

“Boyfriend? When did this happen?”

Tess smiled and let out a dreamy sigh. “Kyle Valenti. He is like this amazing guy. We’ve been dating for a few weeks, but I didn’t want to tell you guys and jinx it.”

“Well, why don’t you tell us now…” Maria urged.

“He’s the newest deputy of RPD,” Liz replied. “He, like many other men, love war movies as well as comedies. He’s not a fan of ethnic food, per his first date with Tess when he wound up sick as a dog. He has wavy brown hair and ‘murky’ blue eyes. He’s very nice and friendly and has beautiful, washboard abbs,” Liz finished. She looked to Tess. “Did I get everything?”

Isabel and Maria laughed at Liz’s brief summary as well as Tess’ red face.

“No you did not,” Tess denied. “You forgot the part where he treats me like a queen and that I can’t remember the last time I was this happy with a guy….thank you very much.”

“He sounds like a standup guy,” Maria assessed.

“He is.” Tess placed her head in her hand as it was perched up on the tabletop. “We have the greatest time together.”

“I’m so happy for you Tess,” Isabel remarked, and she really meant it. In all the years that she had been friends with Tess, her friend had dated off and on. Tess never had the best luck with guys though. She seemed to pick the worse ones out of the bunch. The men she chose tended to treat her horribly. They were either married and using Tess in the place of their mistress, there were guys that seemingly used her for their sexual pleasure, ones that pushed her around either physically or emotionally. Poor Tess was cursed in love, or at least that’s what everyone else thought. Although from what the girls heard, it sounded like Tess hit pay dirt with her latest boyfriend.

“I really want you guys to meet him.”

Liz laughed. “You just want to shove his wonderfulness in our faces.”

Tess balled up the wrapper from her straw and threw it at Liz. “I do not.” She smiled triumphantly when her throw hit Liz right in the middle of her forehead. “I just…I really want to see what you think of him.”

“You don’t need our permission Tess,” Liz replied seriously.

Tess nodded. “I know that, but he means a lot to me. I think we have a chance of lasting a while and you three…well five, are like the most important people in my life and I really want you to get along.” Even though they had never really approved of her last boyfriends, they were still cordial to them….only voicing their dislike of them to her privately.

Maria covered Tess’ hand with her own and squeezed it affectionately. “I’m sure we’ll love him.”

“Thanks,” Tess murmured to Maria. “That brings me to my next piece of news…. I know it’s short notice and all, but I’m going to have a small get together tonight, grill a few hot dogs and hamburgers…Kyle’s going to be there….”

“Of course we’ll be there,” Isabel acknowledged. She wasn’t sure about Max though, even though he’d gone out with Serena the past two nights, he had have plans to see her again that night.

“And I know there is no way that Michael would give up at having a chance at meeting this guy who has you so twisted,” Maria added.

Their food was delivered and the girls quieted down to eat, sharing details of the past week. When it was Liz’s turn, she held off saying anything. She knew that her piece of news was something that would both shock and delight her friends, which would eventually lead to future good-natured ribbing.

“What about you Ms. Parker?” Maria asked jovially.

Liz put down her half-eaten Clubhouse Grill and looked up. “Well, it was pretty good.” She ended the last part with a smile.

“Pretty good?” Isabel asked with a raised brow. Her friend was grinning like a cat that caught the canary.

“There’s this guy at my work.”

“A guy huh?” Tess asked. She shared a pointed look with Maria as Liz continued on pretending to ignore them. The news of Liz finding interest with someone was big news. It had been the first time she had expressed any liking to the opposite sex in close to six months.

“His names James Bennett, I call him Jay. You know, he’s always been there since I started working, but we just finished a special project and a group of us went out Wednesday night for drinks. When everyone left, Jay and I stayed and we just…talked, like really talked. It’s a shame that I hadn’t noticed him earlier.”

“Any chance of romance in the future?”

Liz let out a cynical laugh. “I highly doubt it, and if there was, it wouldn’t be with him.”

“Why not?”

That was a fair question. What should she say? Admit that she’s still a loser in the fact that even if it has been close to six months that she still loved Max as much as she always did? Admit that she had turned down plenty of suitable, potential date offers because she, in all her naivete, still held out that hope that one day Max would realize what a treasure she was? Of course these were her closest friends, and while they really ‘knew’ how she felt, Liz wasn’t in the mood to really admit it. Besides, Jay had rambled on most of the night about this girl, his dream girl.

“You know I’m still not ready,” Liz denied. “Plus, Jay is already taken…. or well, his heart is devoted to someone.”

“I don’t know how you do it girl,” Isabel. “It’s been how long since you’ve had sex?”

“You do it!” Tess cried out shocked. What a way to put Liz on the spot! She knew Liz felt horrible enough in the first place, no one needed to point it out.

“Yes I do it, but I’m still in mourning. She needs to move on with her life and have as much fun as she can while she’s still young.” Isabel looked back at Liz. “Seriously Liz, how long has it been since you rode the hobby horse?”

Maria and Tess snorted at Isabel’s un-ladylike description.

Having had enough to goading, Liz met Isabel’s eyes in defiance. “Three days.”

“What?” Isabel asked as Maria and Tess turned to their tiny brunette friend in interest.

Maria calculated the time span in her head. “Three days? That would mean…you slept with James?”

Liz looked around in embarrassment when after Maria’s declaration. Her voice had risen so they now had that attention of the tables surrounding them. “Could you be any louder Maria?”

Maria waved away Liz’s question. “Screw the octave in my voice, you had sex? What was it like? Was it good? Did you orgasm? Did you scream?”

“You’re acting as though I’ve never been intimate with a guy before,” Liz protested weakly.

Isabel shot Maria a furious glare for upsetting Liz. “Maria didn’t mean anything by it,” Isabel excused. “It’s just…this is a big step for you. You’ve only been with one guy before, that being Max, even then you waited so long before you finally took that step. The fact that you would casually sleep with someone who you aren’t in love with is a big deal Liz. How did it even happen?”

Liz shrugged. “I don’t know. That night we were just so down. He told me about Anjelica and in turn I told him about Max…and we went through a lot of drinks. It was just…casual sex.” She neglected to add that it would be her first and last time of casual sex. “I only mentioned this because I was thinking about inviting him tonight…can I trust you three not to treat him weird or give him any suspicious looks?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Liz! You’re here a little early,” Tess said as she opened her front door to find Liz standing next to a rather well built handsome man. She ushered them inside and then turned to greet James properly. “You must be James, hi. I’m Tess.”

“It’s nice to meet you. Liz has mentioned you many times.”

They were interrupted when someone else in the room made his presence known. Liz looked up to find whom she could only assume was Kyle.

“Kyle,” Tess said as brought him closer to them. “I’d like you to meet Liz Parker and her friend James…” Tess trailed off not remembering the last name that Liz had given them.

“Bennett,” James supplied.

Once the introductions were over, Tess sent the boys out back to start the grill and ‘do their male bonding’ thing. Inside the kitchen, Liz assisted Tess in preparing the food.

“I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by early,” Liz remarked as she concentrated on dicing up lettuce. “I just know all the looks he’s going to get and I figured it would easier for him if I brought him by earlier.”

“Oh, not at all. I was just surprised to see you. You are usually fashionably late.” Tess looked out the kitchen window to see James and Kyle sitting opposite each other drinking beer, James animatedly talking away. “I’m actually glad you did. I know that Max and Michael will be playing their ‘protective brother’ card, it’s nice to have someone around that isn’t biased.”

Liz looked up and watched the guys as well. “Yeah. James usually isn’t so open,” she replied, almost amazed at the way he was talking with Kyle.

“So, what did you guys settle about the other night? Any possible repeat performances?”

Liz giggled and shook her head negatively. “No. We both realized that is was just something we did in a drunken stupor. Before that night, Jay was never one for casual sex and he apologized a million times over. He thinks he took advantage of me.” Liz smiled again at the sweetness of her newest friend. “I think we understand one another better then anyone else can….” ‘seeing as we’re both in love with other people.’

“What about the girl he’s in love with? I have to say, Jay is one fine looking specimen of the male sex and he seems really kind. That girl must be crazy not to return his feelings.”

Liz nodded. Even though she had no inkling start a new relationship with anyone, she wasn’t blind. Jay was definitely one of the most handsome men she had ever met, and she wholeheartedly agreed with Tess about Anjelica not returning the feelings. “She’s from his hometown. I guess they have been friends for a while, she’s even come out to visit him a few times since he’s moved here. “

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel looked at wrist-watch and sighed. There was a difference between fashionably late and just late. “Come on Max!” She called through his bedroom door as she banged against it with her fist.

“Relax Iz,” Max replied as he opened the door. “You’re the one who always likes to ‘make an entrance’, he said holding his hands up as he quoted the last three words in his statement. “Besides, it’s not like we have to impress someone by our punctuality.”

Isabel rolled her eyes. “Tess has a new friend that’s going to be there and I want to meet him.”

This was the first time he’d heard of Tess’ new friend. “Oh. Friend…or friend-friend?”

“The latter, but I want you to be on your best behavior today. Tess really likes him and he sounds like an okay guy.”

“What’s his name?”

“Kyle…he’s the new deputy in town.”

Max nodded as he pursed his lips. “Wow, that’s a change from the last guy she was with. She went from dating a criminal to dating someone on the opposite side of the law.”

Isabel smiled cattily. “Wow, powerful skill of deduction there Max.” Was it her or did it seem like that Max was taking an awfully long time in tying his shoes? “Are you ready now?”

Brother and sister made their way out to Max’s vehicle. Isabel paused mid-step when she noticed Serena’s small Civic approaching their house.

“What is she doing here?” Isabel asked curiously. Max had been dating Serena long enough that Serena would know he usually got together with his friends once a week.

“I invited her to come along with us.”

Isabel inwardly groaned. Wasn’t it enough that she had to put up with seeing Serena whenever she came over, but now she would be hanging out with her friends? “Why?” As far as Isabel was concerned, Serena was nothing. No one in the group liked her after helping to split Max and Liz up.

“I think it’s about time,” Max replied with a simple shrug of his shoulders.

“Did you even bother to ask Tess if it was all right with her?”

“Unlike a certain sister who shall remain nameless, Tess is very supportive of me when it comes to my personal life.”

Isabel raised her eyebrows. “You mean because she never mentions her dislike of the girl?”

“Just leave it alone Iz.” Max got in the driver seat and shut the door, ending their short argument.

Pausing before opening her door, Isabel sent a silent prayer to the heaven above that the night wouldn’t be full of too much drama. When she opened her eyes, she saw Serena standing next to her. “Hi Isabel. I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to sit up front with Max.” Isabel opened her mouth to dispute the fact, but her brother’s girlfriend ignored her. “Thanks!” Serena slithered into the front seat and shut the door, completely disregarding Isabel.

Glaring at the passenger window, Isabel huffed. “No problem.”

Just as Isabel suspected the night was more then a little awkward and tense. Tess had thrown a fit when she learned that Max had invited Serena to her dinner, Liz went out of her way to stay away from Max and Serena, while Michael continued throwing glances her way…. Kyle and James were even dragged in by Michael’s threatening glare with Kyle and Max’s stern glances directed at James.

“Would you look at her?” Tess asked.

Maria nodded. “Does she have to stay plastered to his side the entire night?”

“And the gull of your brother!” Tess huffed as she spun around and glared at Isabel. “He must have balls of steel to bring that home-wrecking hussy into my home!”

Isabel held her hands up in surrender. “Woah, why are you looking at me like that? I’m not the one that brought her here. I was the one that tried to talk him out of it.” What was Tess hoping to accomplish by taking her anger out on her? Just because she and Max shared the same blood didn’t mean that he would feel the disdain through it.

“And did you see the way she’s extra touchy-feely with him right in front of Liz! The nerve!” Maria continued. “If I were Liz…”

“If you were Liz what?” Liz asked stepping into the kitchen.

The three blondes spun around guiltily. Isabel was the first to recover. “Liz! We didn’t hear you.”

Liz raised her brows. “You don’t say? So…if you were Liz what?”

“I would have kept going on strong with James,” Maria finished lamely.

Liz laughed. “You’re full of shit. I know exactly who you were talking about.”

Tess nodded. “I’m sorry that he even brought her over.”

“Look, it’s been long enough. Max shouldn’t have to walk on egg shells around me. Serena is a part of his life and it’s something I need to accept.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel leaned over and examined her appearance in the bathroom mirror. She brought her hands up to fix her hair before wiping under her eyes. As she opened the door, she was shocked to find Michael standing outside it. Since Thursday, she had been wondering how she should act around him. If she thought she was uncomfortable with Maria, it was ten times worth when she was alone with Michael.

“Hey Iz,” Michael greeted softly.

Isabel nodded at him. “Michael.” Neither spoke another word. Their eyes locked, unknown to the other, Thursday afternoon repeating in their minds wreaking havoc on them. Slowly, they took tentative steps toward the other, never even realizing it. Their lust-induced haze was broken when they heard Maria calling for Michael. “I better get back.”

“Yeah…I have to…” he trailed off and motioned to the bathroom.

Okay, just a warning...it seems bad now, but it will get better I promise! This will be M/L...just remember that!

Chapter 3
(A month later)

“Hey?” Tess asked as she walked over to Isabel. All night her friend seemed to be off in her own little world. “You okay?”

Absent mindedly, Isabel signaled that she wasn’t. “How long do you think it will be before it’s appropriate that I move on?”

Tess narrowed her eyes at Isabel. “Is there someone to move on with?”

Frustrated, Isabel threw her head back. “I don’t know,” she answered, skirting around the truth. “It’s just lately I’ve been having these feelings, but it’s complicated. I mean not only is there that, but I’m supposed to be grieving still…shouldn’t I? It just doesn’t seem right for me to have feelings for someone else. It’s only been a year…it doesn’t seem long enough. I feel like I’m a bad wife.”

“Isabel, you aren’t a bad wife.”

“How long was Alex in love with me before I gave him the time of day…in a romantic sense? I was horrible then, but it’s worse now. I want to be true to his memory, I really do.” Truth was, ever since Maria confronted her about Michael, Isabel had been thinking a lot about Alex. Having Alex’s death thrown in her face was like a slap in the face.

“Sweetie,” Tess began as pulled Isabel into a comforting embace, “no one expects you to live the rest of your life by yourself. We all lost Alex, but no one more so then you. You’ve been so strong through everything. Alex loved you Isabel, and maybe you didn’t acknowledge it until a later time, but the point is…you did. And when you did, you loved him with your whole heart, that’s what’s important.”

Tess’ words brought a bittersweet smile to Isabel’s face. “I really did, but I just feel so guilty. I know our vows said ‘death do you part’, but I was so much more committed to him then that.”

“It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks Iz. No one knows better then you if it’s time to move on.” Tess cleared her throat knowing that Isabel was already feeling better. “Can I uh….can I ask who it is that’s grabbed your attention.”

Isabel looked at Tess in silence. She wasn’t sure if she should say anything. Isabel wanted more then anything for someone to talk to, but it wasn’t just her involved. Could she afford to say anything in the chance that Maria might find out about her feelings. “I think I’m going to keep this to myself for a bit longer,” Isabel answered in a small voice. “I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to the others about what we talked about.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

James opened his front door to find Liz shifting one foot from the other un-easily. “Afternoon Liz, what can I do for you today?”

“Can I come in?” Liz asked after a pregnant pause. “I really need to talk to you.”

Jay opened the door wider and let her in. “What’s up?”

Liz’s hands were clasped together. “Uh…” her hands separated and she wrung them nervously. “I’ve been waiting to tell you….I didn’t want to say anything until I knew….I don’t want you to think that I was deliberately keeping anything from you…it’s just, this is really….”

Jay smiled at the way that Liz rambled on. “Liz, what is it?”

“I think I’m pregnant.”

Jay momentarily stopped breathing. He froze up, not even blinking or swallowing. A light breeze could have come through the window and blew up over easily. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly. I thought you just said that you think you’re pregnant.”

If it wasn’t such a serious, Liz would have laughed at the look on Jay’s face. “I did.”

The smile slowly faded as Jay cleared his throat. “And…and what…would make you think that?”

Why is it that when men learned something they didn’t like or want, their brain went out the window? “Gee, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve missed my period.”

…“And….there isn’t a chance…”

“A chance what?”

Jay rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. He suddenly felt so much more tired then he did five minutes earlier. “You couldn’t like just had it an not known?”

Liz crossed her arms over her chest tossed him a stupid look. “How old are you? At this time in your life do you seriously not know how mother nature works?”

Jay glared back. “I’m trying to grasp for straws here!”

“Well, grasp harder!” Both exhaled matching sighs of grief. “Look, I didn’t mean to snap at you,” she apologized.

Jay smiled and opened his arms. Liz took the necessary steps into them wanting to find as much comfort and solice as she could get. “I’m sorry too.”

Liz closed her eyes against his chest. “What are we going to do?”

“Well, why don’t we find out for sure before we begin worrying,” Jay offered helpfully. “We need to go get a test.”

“We?” Liz pulled away and looked at Jay in question. Had she actually heard him correctly?

Jay nodded as though it was the simplest answer in the world. “Of course we. I mean you didn’t get yourself pregnant…or kind of…or…you know what I mean.” His mother was a single parent, he had seen first hand how she struggled to meet ends meet. He always promised himself that if he ever got anyone pregnant that he would never abandon her as though his father had done to his mother. Then again, when he thought about getting anyone pregnant that though usually entailed a marriage and a house and white picket fence…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Are you sure we should be here this early?” Tess asked as she pulled her car into park at Jay’s apartment complex.

“I told him I’d be here early”, Kyle replied. Obviously Kyle didn’t think it was a big deal, but as charming as her boyfriend could be, he also had a habit of being inconsiderate sometimes.

Tess looked at her boyfriend and nodded. She looked over to discover Liz’s car parked a few spots over. “What’s Liz doing here?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, what does it say?” James asked anxiously as Liz walked out of his bathroom. Both had been so preoccupied with the matter at hand, neither had bothered to shut the front door all the way.

Liz shrugged nervously and approached him. “It takes two minutes to find out.” Liz blew out an uneasy breath. “ What are we going to do? I just…I know I’m pregnant. My body feels different,” Liz confessed. “I’m not ready for this, we’re not ready for this. I never anticipated being a mom like this.”

“Liz, we’re going to be all right.”

Liz nodded. “You’re right…”

“Should we go look?” Ever so slowly the two walked into the bathroom.

“It’s so odd,” Liz remarked as she stared down at the stick. “It seems so silly that such a small device like this holds the key to our future.”

Jay smiled ironically. “Well, if I wasn’t nervous before, I am now.” As they leaned over to look at the offending object, Jay looked to Liz. What did the symbols mean? “So….”

Liz looked down at the directions, to the stick and back down to the instructions. “I’m pregnant.”

It was a surreal moment for James. They weren’t in the easiest position at the moment and as such, he knew there would be hardships, ever so much more then a couple that was prepared. Knowing that though, he couldn’t deny the happiness that suddenly welled up inside. Liz was pregnant, pregnant with his child. He was going to be a daddy!

Liz, on the other hand, couldn’t find a silver lining to the dark cloud. All she knew was that life as she knew it was going to end. Gone were her late nights, no more would she able to go for drinks with the girls. She lived in a one-bedroom apartment, it had always been big enough for her, but she knew there would be no way she could raise a child in such a confined space.

Sure, she had always wanted a family, but she always planned to be set in her job. She’d always thought that she would be married and living in a house…to be truthful, she had always thought that Max would be the father of her children.

“What are we going to do Jay? I can’t take care of a child in my small apartment. There’s barely any room for my clothes and to make room for a baby…I’d need a crib and tons of clothes, diapers, wipes…you name it and we don’t have it.”

James ignored the sting in his heart that Liz wasn’t as excited as he. Instead of looking at the bright side of things, she was focusing on the bad. “Liz, I meant what I said earlier. You aren’t going to have to go through this alone. I plan on being there with you every step of the way.”

“I never planned to have a child out of wedlock,” Liz added. “It just wasn’t in my plan. I was supposed to be married to Max and he was supposed to be the father of my children.”

“And you think this is how I wanted my life to turn out?” Jay asked softly. “Just think…in a few short months we are going to be parents of a beautiful baby girl or boy. Just think, we both participated in making this little miracle.”

Suddenly, Liz was happy with Jay’s optimistic belief. While she didn’t quite feel the same way, maybe she would eventually…and as long as she had him by her side, Liz knew she would be all right. What are my parents going to think? They are going to gave a conniption. They are going to freak out and probably lie to their friends about their un-wed pregnant daughter.

“You know…” Jay cleared his throat. “You don’t have to be un-wed…”

That comment came out of left field. Liz did a double take as she cared at her companion incredulously. “I beg your pardon?”

“Marry me,” he implored.

Liz didn’t have a chance to respond though before someone else did it for her. “Holy shit,” Tess murmured as she stared at her Liz and James.

Loved your FB guys! When I originally wrote this I had planned on it being pretty short and not angst ridden...well, I got the shortness factor in. I personally don't think this is angsty, but I'm probably not the best judge of that. Uh, this next chapter was written, I was trying to make things a little lighter and funnier, but I'm not usually a funny person, so I'll let you guys decide on the that.

Definitely was not expecting that Liz would end up pregnant. But now that she is, I hope nothing bad happens to Liz and baby.

Nothing will happen during the pregnancy.

I have mixed feelings about Isabel having strong feelings for Michael. I just don't like when close friends fall out over a guy. Her relationship with Maria will never be the same again if she and Michael were to pursue a relationship, and the others may be forced to take sides. Things may get real ugly very fast with that triangle.

I thought about that all. Thanks for the words of encouragement. This is the first triangle that I feel I wrote realistically.

Ditto. Lys it's not a surprise but like always I have a strong dislike for Max in this fic, you really know how to write him as an asshole

You never are far from my thoughts when I write my stories. You know the funny thing is, I don't even plan things to happen that way. Anyway, I hope that you won't feel that way about Max towards the end.

Jay sounds like an upstanding guy, much better than Max.

I actually came up with him when watching my soap opera. The character I wrote to resemble someone from and NBC soap.

He's going to freak when he finds out Liz is pregnant to someone else, and most likely planning on marrying him. Serves himself right.

Just wait and see!

Thanks again for your FB guys!


Chapter 4

“You can’t really be serious about accepting his proposal,” Tess stated matter of factly. In all the years of knowing Liz, her friend had never been known to do doing anything on a whim…Liz liked to be ‘safe’, she liked to know what to expect. Aside from that, Liz had never been one for a casual relationship. She had been in love only once in her entire life, it was something that Liz invested her whole being in. If Liz didn’t involve her entire self, it wasn’t something she would do. For that reason, it blew Tess’ mind at hearing her friend’s acceptance.

From her position in the passenger seat, Liz shook her head and looked away. It had been a week since Liz accepted Jay’s proposal, a week in which Liz had kept the news to herself…except for Tess. With every day that passed, Tess’ declarations became louder.

“Yes, I am,” Liz replied. “Tess, you know how my parents are….you know exactly what they are going to say when they find out about this child…”

Tess sighed, she’d heard Liz’s reasoning behind it all since the day of James’ proposal. She felt bad about the situation that Liz was in, really she did, but Tess was a firm believer in the saying that ‘two wrongs didn’t make a right’, which is what she felt this engagement was. “Screw your parents! They aren’t even involved in your life. What right would they have to be mad at you?”

“I know what you’re saying Tess, it just doesn’t work that way. I’ve never done this before….none of us have and I don’t know what to expect. I just…what if I need my parents’ backing in this?”

“Then you have all of us,” Tess replied. “There’s no way we’d let anything bad happen to you.”

Deciding to change the subject, Liz asked the one question that had been floating around in her mind. “I wonder how everyone will react?” Silently, she questioned Max’s reaction. She hadn’t been lying when she said that she always thought that Max would be the father of her children and that they would be married when it happened. It was that subject that caused tension in their relationship. Since breaking up, her feelings for Max hadn’t lessened, and as juvenile as it was, his reaction was still the first thing in her mind.

Tess scoffed. “Please, you know that Maria and Isabel are going to freak when they find out! Between the two of them, I predict that they will get you everything you need.”

Liz allowed a brief smile to touch her face. “Yeah, you’re probably right about that.” She sobered up a bit and then looked at Tess. “James is a good man Tess. I will be bearing his child and my life as I know it I going to change. Sure, it’s not the most ideal way to get engaged, but I could do worse.”

“You could do better,” Tess retorted. “You don’t love James…what about Max?”

Liz couldn’t fight the mocking laugh that bubbled forth. “I think it’s safe to assume that this child will definitely be the final nail in the coffin that is mine and Max’s relationship.” Looking down to her lap, she began picking at her nails. “Max never wanted any children of his own, he certainly wouldn’t want any fathered by someone else.”

“Max is still immature Liz, he doesn’t know what he wants.”

“Which is exactly why Jay is good. He’s ready and he’s willing. We get along great, and we can raise our child together in a good environment.”

“I just think you’re making a mistake,” Tess said gently.

Liz raised her brow. “Uh, hello? This,” she pointed to her stomach, “whole thing is a mistake.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Mmmmm,” Maria rolled off of Michael. “That was incredible.” She kissed her lover’s cheek. “You are so amazing in bed.”

Michael smirked at the sated look on Maria’s face. “So, you enjoyed that huh?”

“I’m glad we went away,” she confessed, curled up in his embrace. “We really needed this time to reconnect.”

Michael smiled and pulled Maria closer to his body. He was glad too. The fact that they were together again, things were getting better as the days passed by. “Me too. So, I was thinking that we could get ready to go to dinner and then afterwards, I have a surprise for you.”

Maria smiled brightly. “I love surprises.”

“I know.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m going out tonight with Serena,” Max told his sister as he walked into the living room.

Isabel nodded. “Should I be expecting you home tonight?”

Max nodded. “Probably. I don’t think I’ll be out too late.” Max leaned down and kissed his sister on her cheek before turning to leave.

The moment the front door closed, Isabel resumed watching her movie.

“Wow, did you see Isabel today?” Michael asked, not even realizing that there was a video camera near him. “She looks beautiful. If she were my…” zooming out a bit, Liz was seen elbowing him. “What?” Michael looked to see the camera focused right on him. “It’s the alcohol talking…I swear.” He stood up and addressed the camera. “Seriously though you guys, it’s been an honor being involved in your wedding. I’ve known you guys since we were in school…I’ve seen first hand the way that Alex pined for you Izzy. Thanks for finally putting me out of my misery,” he joked. “All kidding aside, I’m happy for the both of you. I used to be worried that Isabel’s boyfriends wouldn’t take care of her, but I know you Alex. You’d walk through fire for her, and I’m pretty sure she’d do the same for you, she’d just have to remove anything she didn’t want getting burned. I love you both and no deserves this day more then the two of you.”

Never taking her eyes off the screen, Isabel reached for a tissue from the end table next to her.

“Hi Isabel…Alex!” Maria, Tess and Liz appeared on the screen together. "We are so happy for the two of you,” Maria continued on. “If you would have asked me in eighth grade if I ever pictured this day, Alex, I’d tell you to dream on!” The three laughed, even Isabel cracked a smile at that. “You two are just…perfect for each other, and I know you’ll be happy.”

Tess took the opportunity speak then. “It’s been such a beautiful day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride and a happier groom. I love you both and I hope that your newly wedded bliss never ends.”

“Max,” Liz spoke then. “Look to the dance floor.” The camera-man followed directions and zoomed on to the couple in question. Areosmith’s ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ was playing. Isabel and Alex were wrapped in each other’s arms, speaking softly and sharing kisses. It was as though no one else existed. “That’s what we’re here to celebrate,” Liz began speaking. “Your union. Alex, I’m glad that you finally married your dream girl…you deserve nothing but the best. Isabel, I’m glad that you decided to give Alex a chance when you did. You couldn’t find someone who treats you better or loves you more. Embrace every moment that you can, you’ve both earned it.”

Max walked around the rest of the reception, well wishes were said by various guests.

Isabel missed it all. She was lost in her tears. “I miss you Alex…so much,” she confessed. “Why did you leave me? It wasn’t supposed to happen this way! We were supposed to grow old together!”

Alex’s handsome face came onto the screen next. “I hope you had the day you always dreamed of Iz. I know we waited a little longer then you wanted, to be married, I just wanted to make sure you had the day you deserved. You looked like an absolute dream today walking up to me. I felt as though I had to pinch myself for this was all a dream…but it wasn’t. I have you now Isabel, and I’m never letting you go. I love you so much sweetheart.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So…I was thinking,” James said as he sat down with Liz. “We should probably start looking for a house…a quaint, little three bedroom house.”

Liz nodded. So, they were really doing it? They were actually getting married and moving into their own house. Things just seemed so unbelievable for her. She felt as though she was just playing house.

“Here…I uh, had this so…” Jay reached into his pocket and pulled out a rather fancy pouch. Pulling open the threaded tie, he tilted it so it’s content spilled out into his open palm.

Liz looked down at the ring he was now holding and gasped. The ring itself was a one and a half karat, the gold….it was old gold. She knew that they stopped making that kind of gold in the late seventies. “It’s beautiful.”

“It was my grandmother’s. Since I was an only child, she gave it to me when she passed to give to the woman I was going to marry.”

“Jay…” she breathed out. She didn’t deserve such a gift. She and Jay were going to have a marriage of convenience, it didn’t seem an important enough reason to give her such a special family heirloom.

Taking her left hand in his own, he slipped the ring on her finger easily enough. “See. It decorates you hand.”

Looking down through her teary eyes, Liz nodded, incapable of speech. “Thank you,” she sniffled back her tears. “It’s…really beautiful,” she finished off nodding her head. “So, we’re really going to do this?”

With furrowed brows, Jay paused not sure what he should say. He’d known that pregnant women could be very emotional, but he was confused on how to proceed with the situation. At first he thought it was just Liz’s hormones, but the last question set off alarms in his head. “Liz, do you not want…to get…married?”

Liz shook her head and sniffled. “I’m just really….hhaaappyy,” she finished. “You are a really great guy….and this is just…so overwhelming. I really don’t deserve this ring.”

Jay scooted over and placed an arm around her. “Hey, it’s going to be okay Liz. We’re in this together, and we’ll be fine.”

Liz nodded, her tears disappearing. “You really are a wonderful guy Jay, some day you’re going to make some woman really…” Liz trailed off dumbly.

Uncomfortably, Jay scratched his temple. “Yeah…not very appropriate for this conversation,” he replied, knowing exactly why Liz trailed off and where her thoughts were going. He nudged her with his shoulder. “Hey, it’s all right. It’s just going to take some time to adjust.”

Scrounging up a smile, Liz offered him her best one. “Yeah,” she agreed halfheartedly. Truth be told, she didn’t feel like things would ever get better. Tess’ words were ringing through her head. While she knew her reasons for marrying James weren’t of the best intention, she knew that Tess was right.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Okay,” Isabel said as she looked around Liz’s apartment. She, Tess, Maria, Michael and Max had gathered at Liz’s apartment for dinner. The last thing any of them, aside from Tess, expected to find was most of Liz’s things packed up. “So, now I know why we haven’t seen much of you these past few weeks,” she gestured to the various boxes that littered the living room.

Liz smiled sheepishly and shrugged. Her appearance may have seemed calm on the outside, but on the inside, she was a nervous wreck. If Liz had her way, she wouldn’t have said anything to anyone until after she’d already left, but she knew that she couldn’t do that.

Taking the next step, Michael began talking. “So, are you going to tell us what’s going on or are we going to wait until you call us to help you move?”

Taking a deep breath, Liz smiled and tried to gather as much courage as she could.

“DinnershouldbeheresoonJayandIaregetting marriedwe’rehavingpizza.”

Fom her position in the corner of the room, Tess bit her lip to keep from smiling. She knew it wasn’t a funny situation, but she couldn’t help it. She herself had known about Liz’s secret since the day Liz herself had learned about it. It wasn’t a complete shock like she was sure it was for everyone else in the room. Liz had asked her how she should break the news, and neither had been able to come up with something. The fact that Liz had chosen something so…it was hilarious.

Chapter 5

For a moment, no one said a word, all too shocked after they let Liz’s information filter through their brains. Then, all at once Isabel, Michael, Max and Maria began tossing out questions and exclamations.

“What do you mean you’re getting married?”
“To who?”
“How could you?”
“Liz! You can’t be serious!”

“Whoa, why don’t you guys calm down?” Tess suggested. Even she had a hard time deciphering all the statements.

“Yeah,” Max agreed quickly. “Because we have no right to be upset about this,” spouted in a pout.

Tess glared at him. “I’m sorry, you lost that right when you ditched her to boff Serena.”

Deciding that they needed to focus on the situation at hand, Maria interrupted Tess and Max’s conversation before Max had a chance to reply. “You’re awfully calm about all this Tess,” Maria remarked as she narrowed her eyebrows. “How come you aren’t right up there with the rest of us?”

“I’ve known about it since James proposed,” Tess replied.

The minute Max heard James’ name and the fact that he was the one to propose, he spun around to Liz in expectation. “You’re marrying him?”

Liz raised her eyebrows at the tone that Max used with the word ‘him’. “You actually have the audacity to be upset?” Liz asked with as much shock as she could muster. Who did Max think he was to react like that? “You were the one to end things between us,” Liz pointed out, taking no mind that they were surrounded by their closest friends. “You were the one that moved on first,” she added. It was something that she had wanted to get out for the longest time.

“I went out and got a girlfriend, you went out and got a husband,” Max replied. “I think there’s a big difference!”

Liz shook her head, at her ex boyfriend’s audacity. “You have no right to even say anything! How dare you?”

“No! How dare you!” Max countered. “You have no right marrying someone you don’t love!”

Liz shook her head in a confused manner. “Excuse me?” Liz asked after a scoff. “How would you know if I loved him or not?” She and Max had scarcely said two words to each other since their breakup. Sure they were polite to each other whenever the group got together, but even then, they still didn’t share conversations with each other.

Max laughed sarcastically. “Because I know everything about you. I know that you love romantic movies and often dream of something so romantic from a movie coming true in your life. I know that you never once did anything that involved a risk.”

Liz shook her head. “No, I did take a risk,” she corrected. “I dated you, and we both see how well that turned out.”

Pretending that he didn’t hear her, Max continued. “I know that you have only ever been in love once,” he smiled gently, moving closer to Liz, “and that certainly isn’t with James.” He stepped closer to her. “You love me, I know you do. You love me the same way that I love you,” he announced. “How could you offer yourself as a wife to someone you just don’t love?”

For one glorious moment, Liz allowed herself relish in Max’s sweet words. How long had she dreamt of hearing something similar to those words since their break up? If only he’d said something sooner. Liz felt her stomach twist in knots at what his words actually meant. Then it was as if everything became clear. Her stomach, her baby. A baby by someone else. It would be great if things were as easy as they seemed in that moment, but they weren’t. Liz knew it was time for her to grow up. It wasn’t just her that was going to be effected, but her baby, as well as James.

“It’s not that simple Max,” Liz denied.

“Of course it can be,” Max replied.

Taking a deep breath as so to brace herself, Liz paused. This was it, it was now or never. “I’m pregnant,” she breathed out.

Widening his eyes in disbelief, Max smiled humorously. “I’m sorry, I thought you just said you were pregnant.”

Liz raised her eyebrows at the tone that Max had used. Was it so out of character for her? Okay, so stupid question, she knew exactly why he’d said something like that… “I did…I am,” her declaration came out in a stronger voice, she made sure to be extra loud so the others in the room heard as well.

When Max didn’t say anything, she turned around to look at the other members of their group.

“Excuse me, your pregnant?” Maria asked audaciously.

Liz bit her lip and smiled sheepishly. She looked away from Maria to both Michael and Isabel, the two had yet to say anything. She had to look at someone other then Max, who by the way, hadn’t uttered another word.

“Isabel?” She questioned curiously.

Shaking her head to clear the fog of unclarity, she focused on the small brunette in front of her. “How…when…how?”

From behind her, she heard Max’s voice. “Three excellent questions.”

Isabel sighed before turning to Tess with an accusing look. “And you knew about this? How could you not tell us sooner?”

Tess held her hands up defensively. “Uh, it wasn’t my secret.”

“You still should have told us!” Isabel cried out. She hated being the last to know about things.

“Hey!” Liz said cutting in. “She wouldn’t have known about it either had she not walked in during the proposal.” She looked to Michael expectantly. So far no one had received the news in a positive manner, why not just add more salt to the wound?

Michael offered a small smile and gathered Liz into his arms. “Congratulations Lizbit.” Moisture misted over her eyes at the endearment, it was a pet name that she hadn’t heard in ages.

“Oh, Michael,” she replied as she hugged back her dearest friend. “Thank you.”

When Liz pulled away, she moved to Tess. The moment she pulled away, Maria elbowed Michael in his ribs while Max freely offered his dirtiest look.

Confused at the reactions he was receiving Michael held his hands up. “What did I do?” He had just recently gotten things better with Maria, he wasn’t looking forward to having to get back in her good graces. “Hey! I’m not the one that’s pregnant!”

Maria rolled her eyes and flexed her fingers at him as she opened her eyes widely in anger before she slapped him across the back of his head.

“Look you guys,” Tess started. “This isn’t about the rest of us…and Liz is going through some really hard things. She’s pregnant, and it’s something that none of us have ever been through. She needs us right now.”

Max looked around at Michael, his sister and Maria before shaking his head in annoyance. Personally, he liked it better when Liz was receiving beef from everyone else in the room. He watched in amazement as everyone seemed to crowd around Liz in awe, taking turns touching her stomach, everyone just smiling. And Liz? She was glowing. He couldn’t remember the last time he saw her smile so brightly, even when they were together. “I’m sorry guys, I just….I can’t pretend,” he apologized. Max made his way to the door, he paused half way before looking at Liz. “Congratulations Liz,” he added. “Seriously,” he enforced, meaning it, because in all sincerity, he meant it. Sure, it hurt that she was moving on, but he did mean it.

When Max closed the door, Liz smiled at her friends. It was a happy occasion, really, it was. Just….why did it feel as though her smile was forced?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

An hour later, Liz was left at her apartment with Maria, Tess and Isabel. Michael had left an hour earlier, emotional and doting women hadn’t been on his planner for the day…or so was his excuse. With one last congratulation and happy smile, he left Liz with Isabel and Maria. She had to admit that honestly it wasn’t that bad, once Isabel and Maria got over their anger about the situation, they were slipping into their ‘aunt roles’ the way that Tess promised they would.

“I still…I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” Maria admitted.

“Yeah,” Tess agreed. “I never thought that you would be the first to be pregnant out of the four of us.”

“So…James is really happy?”

Liz smiled guilty, she felt bad that he was more excited then she was. “Yeah, he’s thrilled.”

“What about the whole proposing thing?” Maria asked. “I think I can speak for everyone here that your engagement is just…shocking.”

“Seriously Liz, I understand that you’re pregnant and such,” Isabel said adding on her two cents. “But getting married? You can’t do that.”

Liz let out an exasperated sigh. “I was wondering how long it would it would take before the two of you got into that,” she stated.

“Can you blame us?” Maria asked. “Like Isabel said…you have gone through something that none of us can understand, but you shouldn’t have to marry him because he got you pregnant.”

Liz nodded. “I understand that, trust me guys, I’ve thought about this through and through.”

“Then how could you still agree to marry him?” Isabel asked. “Yeah, he got you pregnant…but even so, that doesn’t mean you should commit yourself to another life altering thing. He can still be a part of your child’s life.”

Liz nodded. “I just…this is such a big deal…and he’s…”

When Liz trailed off with difficulty, Tess took over. “I think that Liz is afraid of the way things will turn out later down the road.”

“Like what?”

“I’m going to give up my life for this child. I don’t know when or if dating will even be a possibility in my life late on down the road. James is here now and he is going through this with me. He understands how this is…he won’t let us down and I won’t be lonely.”

“You wouldn’t be lonely the other way either,” Isabel replied, trying to make Liz understand her point of view. “Just think about this Liz. Do you really want to marry James?”

“It’s not about what I want. It’s about what my child needs,” Liz replied in hard voice.

“You can decide not to marry James, and still move in with him. That way the two of you can raise this child together, but not get married…that way he can still be involved in your life.”

Liz shook her head in denial. “I already accepted it.”

Isabel smiled at Liz’s weak reply. “Uh, last I heard, he was in love with someone else…”

“Hmmm, that’s odd, because you are too,” Maria added as she looked at Liz.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She nibbled on his neck before trailing open-mouthed kisses to his bare chest. “I can’t wait to feel you inside me,” Serena moaned into Max’s ear. She pulled away, when she felt Max stiffen beneath her. “Okay, what is up with you?”

Max shook his head. “What do you mean?”

“Every time I touch you, you pull away…like emotionally. It’s been like this all night. What happened?”

“It just isn’t really working for me.”

“Really? Because I thought we were working just fine. I haven’t asked for much, I’m not one of those controlling girl friends, I give you sex whenever you want it. How could it not work for you?” Serena paused. “We’ve had fun these past few months.”

Max nodded. “Yeah, but that’s all it’s been…fun,” he acknowledged. “Look, when I started this, I never wanted it to be anything serious. I had that with Liz.”

Serena furrowed her brow. “Uh, what’s that supposed to mean? How were we possibly going to get more intimate?”

“The point is Serena, we weren’t. Did you honestly think I would fall madly in love with you and sweep you off your feet? I’m sorry if I’m being rude, but it’s the truth. I never once led you on Ser, you knew what was going on from the first day…”

“Are you telling me what I think you’re saying? You only entered this because you planned for it not to go anywhere?” She glared at him. “You introduced me to your friends.”

“You kept harping me to.”

“We went to dinner with your parents various times.”

“No, I went and you invited yourself along,” he corrected.

How could he excuse things so easily. She honestly had no idea what they were doing when they started everything. All she knew was that she liked Max and she was thrilled when he started to look back at her. “You broke it off with your girlfriend for me. You were with her for two years, of course you wanted something more with me.”

Max took Serena’s hands in his own. “Serena, I never ended things with Liz for you. I ended things with her because they were getting too serious. I wasn’t ready for marriage and you and I seemed to want the same things…I really am sorry Ser that you thought it was more then that. Maybe I should have made myself more clear.”

Serena held up her hand. “No more.” She signaled him to stop talking and stared hard at the man before her. She thought that she knew who he was. “You are a dog! I can’t believe the way you are treating me! You really are a selfish prick.”

“I totally agree with you,” he replied earnestly. He had completely screwed everything up. His relationship with Liz had been perfect, they were really happy and he messed it all up. He had taken her for granted. “I really am sorry Serena. Regardless what you might think now, I never meant to hurt you.”

“Maybe you didn’t mean to, but you sure as hell succeeded in doing so.”

Chapter 6


“Morning Isabel,” Max greeted dully when he walked into the house.

Isabel looked at the defeated look of her brother. “Where were you?”

“Just walking around.”

Isabel raised one perfectly arched brow. “All night?” At his nod, she narrowed her eyes. Max was never one to walk around. After he graduated from school, he preferred for the less exercise the better routine. Something must be really bugging him, and she was sure she knew what it was. “What is it?”

“I just realized how much I screwed up,” he replied as she sat down next to his sister. “I mean I have the perfect relationship with a person who is as close to perfection as I am ever going to get…and what do I do? I break up with her.” Ever since hearing about Liz and that guy, he had been kicking himself over and over. “I took Liz for granted. I mean ever since we dated, I knew that she was going to be one I married, I never doubted that.”

“Then why…?”

“I wasn’t ready to settle down. Do you know how long Liz was in love with me before we got together?” It was flattering that she had held feelings for him through so many years. The pride and even cocky side that no matter what he’d done, Liz was always there, caring for him.

Isabel looked at her brother in disgust, knowing exactly where he was going with his statement. “So you ended things when they got too serious and decided to date around some more because you thought that she would wait around for you again? I can’t believe what a pig you are! How could you even fathom something like that…to a woman you were considering marrying?”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

Isabel laughed mirthlessly. “Seriously Max, I know you think a lot about yourself…but this is by far the worst thing you have ever done.”

“As if I haven’t been beating myself up enough,” Max retorted. “How could she have sex with him?”

“But it was okay for you to go off and screw Serena three ways to Sunday?” Isabel snorted at her brother’s line of thinking. “You screwed things up. Liz is pregnant and getting married.”

“No! She doesn’t love him. She can’t marry him!” He cried out indignantly.

Isabel shook her head in confusion. “Even if she doesn’t love him, she’s still having his baby. It’s over between the two of you.” Her smile twisted from disbelief to sympathy. “You gambled Max, and you lost.”

“Why did she have to go out and get drunk?” Max blamed. In all honesty, he knew he was being irrational, but it was how he felt. Sure, he went off and had sex with someone else, but he didn’t get her pregnant! Why couldn’t Liz at least return him the same favor?

“You are so selfish!” Isabel cried out. “Liz’s life is about to change and all you can think about is how this is affecting you. Seriously Max, get over yourself!”

“What do you expect? At least when I slept with Serena I was responsible enough not to get her pregnant.”

“You’re a jerk.” Isabel stood up, more then nauseated by her brother’s line of thinking. “I refuse to listen to anymore of this.” She was so upset with his thoughts. She knew that her brother was no where near perfect, but this…his line of thought, it was annoying and pitiful.

“Where are you going?” Max asked as he watched his sister gather her things. “You’re supposed to stay with me and nurse me through this broken heart. How could you leave me?”

“Because you disgust me,” Isabel replied matter factly. “I can’t believe I’ve never noticed how selfish you are! You disgust me! And the fact that you can actually get mad at the situation when you were the one to cause it annoys me beyond all words. Since you love Liz so much, why not help her by supporting her through this.”

When she walked to the front door, Max shot up out of his seat on the couch. “What…where are you going?”

“Away!”

He narrowed his eyes, had his sister not even noticed that she was still wearing her pajamas. “You aren’t even dressed!”

Isabel looked down as to check her brother’s assessment and paused. She never had left a house in such attire before. She knew she needed to get out of there though. She met her brother’s eyes defiantly. “Yeah? Well, that’s how mad I am at you!”

“Where are you going?”

“To Maria’s!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey…” Michael trailed off as he answered the knock at his front door.

Isabel smiled thinly and pulled her hair away from her face. She knew she should have dressed before leaving the house. “Hey, is Maria here?”

“She’s out of town,” he answered dully. He was less then thrilled when she told him that she had to leave again. Things between them were still a little rocky and her decision to travel again for work was not the wisest one.

“Again?” Maria hadn’t even mentioned it. “When did she leave?”

“This morning. Her boss called and talked her into going,” Michael replied. He opened the front door wider to invite her in. “I’m glad you came by. I wanted to talk to you.” They both walked to the living room and sat down in an uncomfortable silence. “Did you want something to drink?”

Smiling graciously at the interruption, Isabel shook her head negatively. “No thanks.” She clapped her hands together and laid them in her lap. “So, you wanted to speak to me?”

“I just wanted to apologize for that day,” Michael said after bated breath. “I wanted to sooner, but there was never a chance. I…shouldn’t have done that, propositioned you in that way. You are my oldest friend, well, next to Max…and Alex, he was my friend and I love Maria.”

Isabel smiled forcefully. She didn’t have the chance to over analyze things the way she wanted. All she knew for certain was that when she heard his apology she felt her mood deflate. She couldn’t deny the feelings that were conjured when she was in Michael’s arms that day. Having him mention Alex and Maria was an eye opener and she felt as though ice cold water had been dumped all over her.

“Michael, if you remember correctly, you weren’t the only one kissing someone that day. I’m just as guilty, if not more, then you. I could have stopped it,” she reminded him.

Michael looked up into Isabel’s eyes. “Yeah, I guess so” his answer was more of a concession. Taking in her disheveled look, he felt his emotions flare.

When Isabel met her companion’s eyes, she couldn’t help but notice that they held a smoldering tone. Was it just her imagination? “So, this news about Liz is pretty big huh?”

Michael allowed himself to smile as he thought of Liz as a mother. “You know, I never imagined that she would be the first one of us to have a child,” he confessed. Liz just seemed very work oriented. It had never occurred to him that she would want a family until she was older and more set in her job.

“Yeah, I know what you mean, but I think she is going to make the cutest pregnant woman.” Isabel could totally picture her friend in at eight months pregnant. She couldn’t wait until Liz was in maternity clothes.

“How is Max doing this morning?” Michael knew that this was not an easy thing. He couldn’t imagine how he would feel if his ex-girlfriend ended up pregnant with someone else’s child.

Isabel let out a sigh. “Why do you think I’m here? He was out all night, breaking up with Serena and throwing himself a pity party,” she smiled gently. “He deserves it for the way he played around with things. I can’t help but feel for him though. I mean he even admitted to me that he planned on marrying her.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Jeez Max, you look like shit,” Liz said as she opened her front door.

Max rolled his eyes and gestured past her door as though to ask if he could enter. “Nice.”

Liz widened the door and let him pass. “What can I do for you?” She folded her arms across her stomach.

“Don’t marry him.” The last night he had thought of nothing other then Liz. He knew that he wanted to speak to her, but he had no idea what he would say. How long had he spent preparing for this conversation? Now many times had he played it out? No matter how many times he had gone through it, he had planned to start off more eloquently.

A feeling of resentment came full force and Liz cried out indignantly. “Tell me Max, since when are you in the position to tell me what to do?”

“You don’t love him,” he challenged. “And I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that he doesn’t love you either. A marriage between the two of you would be nothing more then a mistake.”

“Excuse me? Just because you didn’t love me enough to stick around, it means that no one else does?”

Meeting her eyes defiantly, Max shook his head. “You know exactly what I mean.” Well, he couldn’t deny the fact that she was a stubborn person, he knew exactly what he was getting into when he planned to talk to her. “Neither of you are in love with the other. A marriage between the two of you would bring nothing but pain and misery later in life.”

“Oh really? And you know this how…?” Liz replied. Where did he get off telling what to do and how she felt?

“Because he isn’t me!”

Max’s previous statement brought forth a defeaning silence. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had completely ruined things by mentioning himself? He hadn’t mean to, but he just couldn’t help it. He knew with every fiber of his being that he belonged with Liz. Whether she realized sooner or later, she would come around to his thinking. He just hoped that she wouldn’t do anything that either of them would regret until then.

“So…what? I’m supposed to marry you?” She let out a mirthless laugh. “Seriously Max! Do you realize that I’m carrying James’ child? Even if I was crazy enough to accept this, you’d end up resenting me and this child.”

“I’m not proposing marriage Liz,” he replied. “I know that things aren’t ideal, but I could never resent you…or this child.” He took the opportunity to step closer to her. “I love you. I know I’m saying this too late, but I do. I have to tell you, try to stop you. If I don’t, I’ll always wonder if things could have been differently.” He gently laid his hand against her cheek. “I know that there is a lot to work through, but we will. You and I…we’re soul mates.” He paused when he saw her face stiffen at the words. She had mentioned in the past that she always felt they were soul mates, at the time, he just laughed off the idea. Never before had he believed so, but he did now. “We can do this…and no matter what you decide, I’ll stand by your side and help you through this.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So…you’re really getting married huh?” Anjelica asked over the telephone line. She honestly had to say that she couldn’t imagine him married, especially to someone she had never met. She knew her thoughts sounded more then snobby, but she couldn’t help it. She had been a part of Jay’s life for years and he had always considered her his best friend. She had met every one of his girlfriends. It was as though he was seeking her approval.

Jay smiled heart brokenly over the phone. “Hard to believe huh?”

“Yeah,” she admitted.

“Liz is great though Anjie,” James added. “I know you’d like her. I don’t think I’d find a better wife.” ‘If I couldn’t have you,’ he added silently. Clearing his mind, he concentrated on Liz. He couldn’t do that to Liz. He was about to be a father and a husband.

“So, when’s the wedding?” Anjelica asked after a moment.

That was his girl, always knowing when to say the right things. “Uh, we haven’t set one yet.”

“I just can’t imagine you a father.”

“I know, it’s unreal. Everything is just moving so quickly.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Max was by today…” Liz confessed as she and Tess sat around her kitchen table.

“And…?” Tess prodded.

Liz shrugged. “He wants another chance,” her emotion had gotten the better of her, and her words wavered at the end. “I know he’s serious, but so much has happened. He said that he would stand by me no matter what, but this is just…I’m carrying another man’s baby.” She smiled sadly. “What if he ends up resenting me later on?”

Tess took Liz’s hand in her own. “I don’t know what I could say that would help you. You need to do what’s right for you and your baby. Just…follow your heart. It hasn’t let you down yet.”

“Max did make a good point today though. I mean James and I aren’t in love and what if we do get married and later on down the road we are both miserable? This child would be the one to suffer most.”

“On the other hand…?” Tess continued, knowing that her friend was no where near done thinking.

“Having this child is going to completely change my life. If I don’t marry James and things go sour for Max and me I will be a single mother. I mean James will always be there, I know that much…but I’m talking about the romance department. I don’t want to be alone Tess. I know it’s selfish with everything that’s going on, but I know for a fact that Jay and I will always love and provide for this child, but I wish I could be so certain about myself.”

“No one will blame you for whatever choice you make,” Tess reminded Liz.

Liz smiled mockingly. “Yeah, no one but my parents.”

“Have you told them?”

“Yeah, to say they are less then pleased, would be an understatement.” The conversation with her parents was not something she wanted to think about.

“What have they said?”

“They’re pushing for James and I to get married.” Liz shook her head. “Apparently, it’s some kind of sin to have a child out of wedlock,” she replied with smirk. Religion wasn’t something to mock, but she could mock her parents. They were supposed to be very involved in their religion, yet they never used it. The only time they exercised it was when it suited their purpose…or guilt trip.

Okay first off, thank you all for your FB...highly entertaining. Eden, I just can't believe you missed this story. Shame on you! LOL. As for Max getting a brain in ATWTHB, if it doesn't happen in that one, it will happen in the sequel I have planned for it.

Secondly, let me apologize for absence. I was deciding whether or not I was going to head to California to see the in-laws for the Holidays, when they decided for me at the last minute. Sorry I didn't get a chance to leave a note, but I'm back. Although, I can't say this will be finished within the week, only because the Holidays and such.




Chapter 7

“Stop it Liz,” Max ordered gently as he laid a calming hand on her thigh. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

Liz forced herself to smile. “I know, but I’m in my third month now and everything is just so…”

Max smiled lovingly at Liz. She had been so freaked about everything since the beginning, it was kind of adorable to see her so concerned about this baby. Everyday was a new adventure for him. Just the night before, she had called him on the phone announcing that she felt the baby move…well, it was more like a flutter she exchanged after her initial announcement.

“Thanks for coming with me,” she thanked after a pause.

Max smiled at her. “I told you I would be here to support you,” he replied. Neither bothered to add the fact that none of their other friends were there with them. “I want to be a part of this.”

“Liz Parker…” a nurse announced as she walked into the waiting room. Liz took a deep breath before standing up, casting a quick glance around the waiting room.

Laying her hand on Max’s arm, she stopped him from standing. “James isn’t here yet…”

Max nodded softly, knowing that she wanted him to wait behind for the man. He’d do anything he could for her Liz. “I’ll wait for him,” he replied without question.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“How are you doing Ms. Parker?”

Liz smiled at her doctor. “I think I felt my baby move last night. It was such a wonderful feeling.”

“It’s still a little too early to feel the baby,” Doctor Barnes replied sympathetically. It wasn’t the first time one of her patients had felt something, she hated to be the one to break the news.

“Are you sure?”

“That flutter you felt was something you’ve probably felt before, but since you know you’re pregnant you were just placing your hopes on that. Trust me Liz, it will happen soon enough, you have another six months of feeling this child."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Max shook his head as he thought about the past few months. He never imagined himself being a father, let alone fall in love with someone who was pregnant, but he was. With every day that passed, he found himself falling more in love with Liz then he ever thought possible. Of course, things weren’t ideal between them, but Max was thankful for what he could get, which was a few special moments.

Liz and James had decided to forgo marriage. Instead, they were looking to buy a house together, something that they could share so that both would be around if anything happened. With most of her things packed away in storage, Liz was testy most days when she couldn’t find anything. Between that and her hormones on rampage, she made for a rather interesting person to be around.

“Hey!” James ran over to Max. “Am I too late?”

Max stood up. “No.” They turned to the receptionist, asking which room Liz was in. At hearing the response, Max opened the door, ready to step through it, but stopping at the sudden intrusion of a body.

“Sorry,” James said as he stepped back, gestuering for Max to step through.

“Sorry,” Max returned, shaking his head in denial.

“Sorry,” James added again. When he saw Max step away, he took the chance to step inside the hall.

Liz looked expectantly at the door when she heard a knock.“You made it,” she smiled. Her smile brightened when she spotted Max behind him.

“Hey, have we missed anything?” James asked.

Liz shook her head. “Nothing important. Just wait until you hear the heart beat. It’s amazing.” She looked to Max. “It wasn’t the baby I felt last night, just indigestion.”

Max smiled sadly at Liz. He had seen first hand how excited she was. He knew it would come, but to see how excited he had been, he felt bad for her. “That’s okay. You’ll get to feel it soon.”

James looked back and forth between the two. “You felt the baby? How come you didn’t tell me?” Why hadn’t they told him? He was the father! He deserved to know when things happened.

Liz bit her lip, all of a sudden she felt bad for excluding him. It’s not like she meant. She had tried to call him, but he didn’t answer the phone. “It was a false alarm, probably just indigestion. I’m sorry Jay. I tried to call last night, but you never answered.” She felt sympathy for James. He was the father of her child, and he deserved to know things before anyone else.

James stopped when she saw how guilty Liz looked. He smiled apologetically, the last thing he wanted was to upset her, but he made a silent memo to talk to her later about exclusion.

“Are we ready to begin?” Doctor Barnes interrupted. She smiled at the way that the men surrounded Liz on each side of her. Silently, she wondered who was the father. She usually had just the mother and father in the room with her, but there were the occasional multi-person visits. Of course, when that happened, she was usually able to distinguish one person from the other. This one however, was something completely different.

Liz smiled when she listened to the heartbeat. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the heart beat of her child, but every single time was like the first. What an amazing thing, to be able to hear her unborn child’s heart beat. What an acceleration of science and technology! Her smile faded when she noticed the look on her doctor’s face. “What? What’s wrong?” Her heart dropped into her stomach. Nothing could happen to this child! She didn’t know how she would feel if anything happened to this baby! She didn’t even notice when she garnered the attention from the main men in her life.

Inwardly cursing herself for worrying Liz, she laid a gentle hand on Liz’s leg as her face contorted into a smile. “Nothing sweetie.” She cleared her throat. “Have we discussed the possibility of a multiple birth?”

All at once, she gathered the attention of the other occupants of the room. Liz smiled cynically, “Okay, no. I haven’t thought about a multiple birth. I was just focusing on this one.”

Max smiled at Liz’s words and leaned down to kiss her forehead. At that same time, James smiled. “Do you mean…there’s more then one baby?” At the same time, he squeezed Liz’s hand in an anxious manner.

Doctor Barnes smiled at the young man. “I’m getting two heart beats.”

Everyone in the room beamed at once. Liz laughed out loud. “I’m having two babies…” looking to her side, she look at James and smiled. "We’re having two babies?”

“That’s right. Congratulations.”

“Do you know the sex?” Max asked when neither Liz nor James spoke up.

“It’s still too soon to tell.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What ever happened to that guy you were interested in?” Tess asked as she and Isabel met for lunch. They were still waiting for Maria and Liz. Tess figured that since they were alone, that it was the perfect chance to mention Isabel’s confidentiality.

Isabel smiled sadly at her friend. “It didn’t work out.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s for the best I guess.”

She guessed? “You don’t seem too happy about that,” Tess pointed out.

Isabel forced another smile. “It’s okay. I mean it was a bad idea to begin with.” A picture of Alex entered her mind. She berated herself for even thinking about the prospect of dating someone.

“Am I interrupting something?” Maria asked as she approached the table cautiously. She took a seat next to Tess. “What’s going on?”

Tess smiled easily at Maria. “Hey, nothing. I was just rambling about Kyle, and Isabel was making her usual remarks.”

Maria smiled playfully. “So, how goes it with Kyle?”

“It goes…good.”

Thinking about Kyle and how sweet…not to mention handsome made Maria smile again. “You are so lucky.”

Meeting her friend’s mischievous smile Tess offered her own. “I know.” Before she could say anything else, she was interrupted by Liz’s presence. “Hey Liz, so how did the doctor’s appointment go?”

Liz nodded and pulled out her menu. “I’m starving! You didn’t order yet…did you?”

“No, we were waiting for you,” Isabel replied. She was surprised when the waiter came to the table to grab their orders. Usually, Liz was one for waiting until everyone was ready, but not this time. She was eager to eat and didn’t even bother to check if the rest of them were ready to eat.

“I’ll have the large club sandwich…with fries…ooh and an order of mozerella sticks to start off. For desert I’ll take a piece of the double fudge, chocolate cake. And to drink, I’ll have a strawberry lemonade.”

Maria, Isabel and Tess all glanced at each other. They had no idea that Liz could eat so much. They ordered their meals before making prominent eye contact to signal that Maria would broach the subject. “Wow Liz, that was a lot of food that you ordered…since when did you eat so much?”

Liz shrugged, “I am eating for three now,” she hinted quietly.

Isabel clapped her hands against her mouth as Maria let out a little shriek and Tess’ eyes widened. “Oh my god, twins? Really?”

Finally letting out the smile that she had been forcing back, Liz’s countenance brightened. “Yeah.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So...do we like this house?” Liz asked James as the two walked around the spacious living room, having asked the realtor for a few minutes alone to discuss things. She had fallen in love with the house the moment she walked inside, the fact only hardened when they wandered upstairs.

James shrugged and bit back a smile. He had seen the way Liz’s eyes danced as they took in their surrounding. The house was a decent size, four bed rooms, two and a half baths, a kitchen, dining room, office. The yard wasn’t overly large, but it would be enough for two young kids. “What do you think about the place?”

“I can’t believe you even have to ask! It’s in our price range and it’s large enough for us!” She closed her eyes, laying her hand across the slight swell of her stomach. “Can’t you just imagine it? The kids around four, running around the house...”

“Well...if you really want this place, I guess we can do it,” James teased in a drawn out tone.

Liz jumped from her thoughts and looked at the father of her children. “Really?”

James smiled down on her shorter frame. “Yeah.”

With her laughter full of delight, Liz threw herself in his arms and hugged him for all she was worth. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is going to be so perfect!”

James laughed at her reaction. “All right, well, let’s go pay for Martha’s bills.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey Michael, what are you doing here?” Isabel asked softly as she opened the front door to her brother’s apartment.

Michael shrugged walking inside. “Nothin’ really. Max mentioned that you were thinking of moving out...”

Isabel smiled weakly and shrugged. “I think I’ve imposed on my brother long enough. Besides, with Liz finding a house, she’ll be moving out of her apartment soon...”

“You know that Max isn’t in any hurry to get you to move out,” Michael pointed out, not really wanting his friend to live by herself yet.

Isabel nodded. “I know, he’s said the same thing...”

“Then why-”

Again, Isabel offered a shrug. “Everything else is changing, I feel like I need hurry up and change with it.” She offered him a drink before fetching one for herself. “Have you seen Liz’s new house?” She asked, fairly effectively cutting off their previous topic of conversation.

Going along with the change, Michael shook his head. “No, she hasn’t showed it to me yet. I thought they just picked it out like yesterday...”

Isabel smiled at his point. “They did. She was just so excited. It’s really nice, and it’s large enough for them. Jay is giving her the master bedroom, and then he’ll take one of the other ones...it all seems to be falling into place for them.”

“How’s Max with that news?” Michael asked. He couldn’t imagine that his friend was thrilled with the fact that Liz and James wouldn’t be moving in together.

Isabel smiled as she thought about the change in her brother over the past few months. “Of course he’s not thrilled with the prospect, a little worried that she and James might end up...deciding to get married after all, but he wouldn’t dream of stand in the way of things. He just wants to make sure that Liz is taken care of and happy, and this makes her happy.”

Michael nodded. “Is he here now?”

“My brother’s hardly ever home anymore. If he’s not working then he’s with Liz. Why? What’s up?”

Michael ran a hand through his hair and smiled quickly. “I was just wondering...do you think of us? I mean with what happened to us a few months ago?” Michael asked. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to lay it all right out on the table, but for the last few weeks, Isabel had been haunting his thoughts.

Think about them? Only all the time! Isabel laid hand over Michael’s. “To be honest, I try not to,” she confessed, instantly regretting it when she saw a flash of pain on his face. “Everything’s just so complicated Michael. I mean with Maria...and ...”

“Alex,” Michael surmised in a glum voice.

Isabel shook her head in denial. “I was going to say our past,” she clarified. “You are one of my closest friends, as well as being my oldest one. I mean if there was no Maria, I just don’t think that I would act on this...attraction.”

Michael smirked at her. “So you admit that you’re attracted to me?”

Isabel rolled her eyes, “yes, just like the way you are to me,” she pointed out sternly. “I don’t want our friendship, or our friends to suffer because of what we did. Things between Maria and I are only now starting to go back to the way things were...”

“So I’m not worth the risk?” Michael demanded after a few moments. “Is that what you’re saying?”

Isabel stood up, ready to defend his accusations. “Michael-no.” She framed his face in her hands. “We just can’t be so callous about this. We have more to consider then just ourselves,” Isabel explained. “I’m just not ready to...accept this.”

Michael gently grasped her hands before pulling them away from his face and letting go of them swiftly. “I wish I could be like you Isabel...and not feel anything, but I just can’t.”

Without saying anything else, Isabel watched him leave, all the while, her heart was breaking.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You should have heard him Liz!” Isabel forced out between her sobs. “I was just so...and he was...hurt and I...just let him walk out of here.”

Liz had been out with Max looking at furniture with Max, when her friend had called in hysterics. She had rushed over to be with Isabel. Half an hour later, she was curled on Max’s couch with his sister, trying to console her friend. She didn’t even say anything, she would just kiss Isabel’s head every so often and tighten her grasp around the woman.

“God! What’s wrong with me? How could I have fallen for my best friend’s boyfriend? Argh!”

Liz furrowed her brows and pulled away slightly. “Isabel?” She interrupted. “Who are we talking about here?”

Isabel coughed back a sob. “Michael.”

Liz’s eyes widened. Michael? No way! Aside from their common friendship, Michael and Isabel were so completely different from one another. How could they have fallen for each other? And what about Maria?

“Maybe it’s just some silly crush,” Isabel pointed out hopefully. “I mean he was the first person to make me feel desirable since Alex died...maybe what I’m feeling towards him is some twisted kind of relief...” She dried her tears. “I mean how do I even know if I’m ready?”

Liz paused before answering. She knew that she was stuck in between a rock and a hard place. She felt awful for the pain that Isabel was going through, but Maria was still in her mind as well. “I don’t know...I guess when you fall in love.” Liz cleared her throat. “Now, I know that Maria knows about...whatever happened between you guys before, but doesn’t she know that the two of you are still feeling something?”

Isabel shook her head. “I thought it would go away...I wish it had. As for whatever Michael’s feeling, I didn’t even know he was still thinking about things until he told me today.”

“You really should let Maria know what’s going on,” Liz pointed out. She smiled when Isabel pulled away, a little more together then how she was at Liz’s arrival. “I mean here’s a rock, here’s a hard place...and here’s me.” She demonstrated her words by holding up her hands on each side of her head, nudging her shoulder at Isabel’s sheepish smile.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel like that,” Isabel denied.

“I know,” Liz smiled sympathetically. “Just...make sure you talk to her. This really isn’t my place, but don’t think that I won’t say anything to her if you don’t.” Liz paused and looked skeptically at her friend. “Ewww, so Michael huh?”

Isabel let out a laugh and tossed a couch pillow at Liz, laughing when she hit her friend right in the head. “Brat!”