Roswell Fanatics

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU
Rating: MATURE (for language) - Mild ADULT
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?

Prologue

The breeze blows through my window as I look out into a clear starry night. A shooting star shoots by and I close my eyes to make a wish, something that I had done about a hundred times before now, except this time, it’s different.

No, this time, my one wish that I wished about a million times before has come true and a smile creeps across my face.

“Liz?” I hear him say my name in his groggy state, and I still get that distinct rumbling in my stomach every single time he speaks.

“Mmmm?” I say, looking back at his bed. I have to sigh as I take in the appearance of the moonlight casting a glow on his god of a chest, which is partly covered by the sheets.

Damn. Those sheets even seem to take on a glow itself just because of their occupant.

“Come to bed.” It’s not a question, not a plea, but more like a fact. No, more like a promise for more blissful encounters with this man that lies before me, if I just walk that way and do what was said.

“Always,” I say simply and immediately am wrapped back in his strong arms from behind. This is my favorite place to be as I feel warmth, protected, but most of all… loved.

“What are you thinking?” He asks, nuzzling the side of my face and pulling me even closer if that’s even possible. I kiss his arm and turn my head back to look at him.

“Ohh, just my favorite subject.” I tell him with a glint in my eye.

“You were thinking about biology?” He smiles knowingly.

“Noo… you silly.” I tell him happily and turn around so I can now take in his full appearance once again.

“And what could possibly be so interesting about that subject?” He asks me, playfully smiling.

“Ohh well.” I look up as I pretend to be in deep thought. “There’s a lot to study on this certain subject.” I say this as I look up and down as if he is my next meal.

And he will be.

I get an idea in my head as I move my finger up his chest, and around his neck as I pull on it to ask for a kiss without words. Our lips linger in bliss for a few seconds before I pull back.

“I think the lips are my favorite part about it.” I say, smiling and humming.

“You’re favorite part you say?” Max asks, playfully raising his eyebrows.

I nod and get a little bolder, as I move my hand from the resting place on his beautiful chest down and even further down until I reach my destination.

“Although sometimes…” I start, stroking my hand up and down, getting the desired effect of him moaning and moving underneath me.

“Sometimes some parts outweigh the others very heavily.” I go in for the kill and squeeze a little bit and this is when he loses control and flips us over.

“Lizzz…” He growls. Literally growls my name, as he nuzzles my ear.

I giggle at the dazed look in his eyes. This is heaven. My heaven.

“Do you have any idea of the things that you do to me? All the ways that you make me feel inside?” He asks me this with so much seriousness in his eyes and his voice and I know it’s a rhetorical question.

Then he adds, “How beautiful you are?”

I sigh because I’m just a big pile of naked goo right now. Well, that didn’t sound right, but you get the point.

“Show me.” I say it simply. I’ll never get tired of this. Never.

No words are said as he moves over me kissing everywhere from my collarbone to my breasts, from my naval and around my stomach. I bring him up as I wiggle underneath him, as his kisses are lethal and can make you get out of control. Though sometimes that is a good thing.

A really really good thing.

Our lips touch and our tongues dance as if they have tangoed like this for lifetimes. It’s pure magic the way our bodies respond to each other.

“Max, I can’t take it anymore, make …ahhhh” I don’t even get the final words out love, because I am silenced with his mouth covering mine and in one swift movement I get my wish.

I’m now complete once again.

I feel the now familiar ache in my body being slowly washed away and the sensations replacing it are exhilarating. I feel myself start to climb and scream out in ecstasy as my orgasm washes over me.

I look up into his eyes when I start to fall and I can see that he’s about to fall over with me.

“Let go for me Max.” I say in one breath and this is all it takes.

“Lizzz…” He says my name on the edges of passion and I feel a tear escape from my eye. This is beautiful. He is beautiful. My life is now beautiful all because of this glorious and yes, beautiful man on top of me.

I sigh in bliss as he collapses on me and nuzzles his head my breast again.

“That was so amazing…” He tells me and gives me a kiss. He sees my tear though, and his expression turns to worry as he wipes it away.

“Hey, you okay?” and with that he kisses my forehead.

“Yeah I am more than okay. I just think this is so beautiful and about how much I was missing out on before now. Before you.” Max tears up with me as he kisses my lips once again to show me his love.

“I love you, Liz. So much.” His eyes are so serious as he says this and filled with such emotion that I gasp.

“I love you too, Max, with all my heart.” I press his hand to the left side of my chest where my heart beats for him. Only him.

“Liz?”

”Mmmm?”

“Marry Me?”

………………..

Part 1 (Seven Months Earlier)

“Liz! Come on! We are gonna be late!”

Liz Parker dashed down the steps of her apartment in Roswell, New Mexico. She was always late and knew how much her fiancé hated it. But she was an early baby; by one whole month, and people always laughed telling her that that was the reason that she was late all of the time. It just didn’t make sense to her, and she didn’t give it much more thought.

All she knew was that she had to hurry her ass up or she would have one pissed future husband on her hands.

He told her that always being late was her only flaw. To him and everyone else she was perfect.

She was the perfect student in high school and in college, she had a perfect family, she had a perfect boyfriend now fiancé, and everything about her life was so predictable. She always did what was expected of her, always had to be in control and lately, that had got to be so... so...

Boring.

But she didn’t have much more time to think on that subject as she raced out to the black Ashton Martin Vanquish that he had just bought with his father’s money.

“Lizzie you gotta start being on time. You know how traffic gets...” He said to her in a tone that she hated. She would rather him just yell at her, than use that tone as if he were speaking to a twelve year old.

“Sorry, I had to call Maria again to remind her to feed Gatsby twice a day, not three.” Liz said, referring to her overweight orange tabby cat.

Maria Deluca and Liz Parker had been best friends since the second grade and shared an apartment above the Crashdown café where she had lived her whole life with her parents until now, and she worked there part-time when she wasn’t teaching the second grade.

Her parents decided to move into a new little house in a new subdivision that had been built and it was time that Liz, now 21, decided that she needed to live on her own. So she and Maria decided to move in the cozy apartment and Liz got to keep the balcony that she loved so much.

Now everything was changing in her life, though. She was marrying this man sitting next to her and soon they were going to be moving to Santa Fe, where his parents, Diane and Phillip, lived. She was a little nervous to meet the Evans’s, after all she and their son had been dating for only six months now and she had never even met them.

And now they were engaged.

He spoke of his parents often as well as his little sister, Cassie, who sounded completely adorable. Liz was looking forward to meeting little Cassie Isabella Evans most of all because she was also the reason that they were finally making this trip.

It was her fifth birthday party.

“This is gonna be great Liz, they are gonna love you!” He said to her as he put his hand over her knee. She just smiled and looked out the window as the scenery flew by in a blur.

A blur.

That is what her life has been all along. Here she was, 21 years old, had a great job teaching second graders, had great friends, and had a great boyf…fiancé, and she still wasn’t happy. Liz Parker was soon to become Liz Evans and she was afraid that since Liz Parker had never really lived, took chances, then she would surely lose herself somewhere in all of this.

She loved him. She really did, but was love really enough?

Their relationship just had a certain predictability and a totally non-passionate sorta tone to it that she mainly she saw the relationship as a companionship.

That is why when he proposed last week she took a day or two to think about it first. She finally figured that he was a great guy, he did love her, and any kind of love in the town of Roswell didn’t come around too often so she said yes.

That is what brought them to this moment now, driving down the highway as she drifted off to sleep silently dreaming about something, anything in her life happening to just break the cycle.

…………………..

“Liz…Liz!” He said softly shaking her awake.

“Huuhh?” Liz slowly opened her eyes and cringed as she saw a little drool on her arm that she had been leaning on against the window.

“We’re here.” He told her smiling.

“All ready?? I thought it took like four hours or something?” Liz asked, still trying to wake up from her deep sleep and the hott dream she was having.

“It did.”

“What!? You let me sleep for four hours?? God that must have been so boring for you! I’m so sorry…” She apologized, genuinely feeling bad for making the trip no more exciting than a block of wood.

He laughed. “It’s okay, it gave me a chance to listen to some classical music along the way. I know how much you don’t care for it even though I can’t understand why, Liz.” He complained to her, getting out of the car.

Liz just kind of frowned, knowing that he didn’t particularly care for her type of music either. That damn alternater rock or something he called it. Made him sound like her father in a way...

She just sighed though as she took his hand, leading up to the huge fancy house that the description her fiancé gave her did no justice to.

“Wow... this place is amazing,” Liz said, obviously admiring such a big beautiful place.

“Well what can I say? It’s home.” He said, just smiling and kissing her cheek as they rung the doorbell and waited to be greeted.

“Ah Lorenzo!!” He shouted as a man who was dressed in a suit opened the door. He was tall with dark hair, and he looked about in his forties.

The man smiled as he looked at Liz and than back to his boss’s son.

“Mr. and Mrs. Evans! Your son and his beautiful mistress are here!” He said in a loud voice as Liz blushed.

Right then another tall sophisticated looking man approached with a shorter blonde woman who looked beautiful in a blue dress with pearls around her neck and her hair up in a bun.

The woman was the first to extend her hand to Liz as she started, “Oh look at you two! You must be Liz Parker. I’m Diane Evans and this is Phillip.” She introduced them as they both shook her hand and Liz smiled.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Evans. Mrs. Evans” Liz said nervously.

“Oh, please, call me Diane.” She said as she winked.

“Diane.” Liz repeated. Diane Evans welcomed them in and turned back to Liz as the men went on into the dining room.

“Kyle has told us so much about you.”

TBC???.......

Let me know what you think and I think in the prolouge i've already offered you dreamer insurance for those who need it Oh and i got the title from the Goo Goo Dolls song Here is Gone if anyone is interested.

Muah Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17 (last time I change the rating, I swear )
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..

Authors Notes: This lovely new art for my fic was made by the ever talented Mandy a.k.a Flycat64 Thank you sweetie for all your help and input on this story! As well as you, Carrie BlackKnight also known as Destiny_Sucks on FF. Muah! Props to you guys.



And thank you to everyone who posted feedback! It was a lot more than I expected and I love you all for it! Keep it up and It truly does inspire me to write faster and more lol. I would tackle each and every one of you if I could!

This part is kinda transitional I guess. It introduces Cassie Isabella Evans and Diane Evans a lot because this is very important for the story, as well as the meeting.

And onto the story…

Part 2

“He has?” Liz asked Mrs. Evans, blushing and biting her lip from embarrassment.

“Well I hope it was nothing too bad,” she giggled. Diane just shook her head and smiled.

Who was this wonderful girl that had stolen her son’s heart? She was so delightful and beautiful, but she had a hard time wondering about her and Kyle’s relationship because Kyle usually went for ditzy blondes, as much as she hated to admit it.

But this young woman was different and Diane wanted to get to know her better.

“No no, nothing too bad,” Diane played along as they continued to chat out in the hallway. “Actually all wonderful things and now I see that every single one of them are true,” She complimented.

Liz just smiled as her cheeks remained pink and thanked her.

Wow. Kyle described his mom as a really nice woman but there is so much more than that to her. She was genuinely kind and her eyes let you know that she really meant everything that she said. Like when someone asks how you are its usually just small talk, something to filll space, but when this woman standing in front of Liz Parker asked that same question, she really wanted to know how you were.

Liz also saw some sadness though behind them and wondered what that was all about.

“Well, shall we?” Diane asked, holding out her arm for Liz to take as they walked into the living room with their men.

“Ah, there they are,” Mr. Evans, Phillip, announced to Kyle as filled his glass with some brandy. Lorenzo returned in the house with their bags as he went upstairs to the guest rooms.

“Here we are, but where is Cassandra?” Diane asked looking around for her daughter.

Soon as the name was said, little feet were heard pattering through the hallway until they reached the living room. “Here I am mommy!!” a little girl emerged still running until she reached her mother who held out her arms.

“Cassie what have I told you about running in the house sweetie?” Diane scolded, but her voice was still filled with love.

“I could hurt myswelf and I should run?” Cassie asked, squinting. Diane just nodded and hugged her. That is when she broke free when she saw Kyle.

“Kyle!” She run up to her brother and gave him a big hug. Kyle kissed her cheek and straightened back up, fixing his tie and smoothed down his white shirt. Liz walked up next to him to look down at this gorgeous child with warm eyes.

She had long blonde hair that was kind of curled at the bottom and had beautiful hazel eyes. Cassie Isabella Evans wore a little pink sundress with a white shirt underneath and Liz had never seen a child so beautiful before.

“Hey Cassie! Happy birthday!” Kyle said smiling at her. “I want you to meet somebody, this is Liz.” Cassie looked up at the woman and immediately liked her, she had niceness about her like her mommy and she knew she wanted this Liz person to be her friend.

“Hi!” The friendly little girl stuck out her hand because this is what her daddy told her to do when she met new people.

Liz bent down and shook her hand. “Well hello there! Nice to meet you sweetie, and Kyle didn’t tell me how pretty you were!” She said laughing and this made the now five year old like the chocolate eyed woman even more.

“Well he should have! Kyle!” Cassie exclaimed with her hands on her hips and smiled. Everyone in the room laughed because this was such a special little girl.

Her parents were so proud of their little girl because unlike most five year olds, Cassie could already read on a first grade level, talked like she was at least a six year old, and had such manners that she charmed just about everyone that she met.

Liz was already in love with her because she was only five yet so polite and lively.

“Did you bring me presents from Boswell Kyle?” Cassie switched subjects as she asked her brother that.

Kyle laughed. “Roswell. Well you will have to wait at your party at three, now won’t you?” he said and pinched her cheeks. Cassie just smiled and rolled her eyes at her brother for teasing her.

Liz looked down at Kyle’s little sister and continued to smile. There was just something about her that when you looked at her, you just had to smile, like it was contagious or something like that.

“Akhem,” Mr. Evans cleared his throat in the room for everyone to look at him as he smiled.

“Sorry,” He apologized, “Please, you two, have a seat. I would love for us all to get to know each other a little better,” He said. Cassie jumped in Diane’s lap as she sat on the couch next to her husband and watched Liz and Kyle awkwardly take a seat across from them.

She observed the way they sat, the way they looked at each other. They didn’t seem like a couple, and even as Kyle took her hand, they didn’t seem to fit right. They didn’t’ seem to feel at ease with each other like her and Phillip were either, and that was always an important factor with this mom.

No, she seemed more of another one that she knows type, but she couldn’t let her mind be carried away because she didn’t even hardly see him anymore.

Even though she loved Liz already, she wasn’t sure she was right for Kyle. But as soon as that thought entered, it left her as she saw the huge rock on Liz’s finger. Her eyes grew wide as she looked up at her son who had a huge grin on his face.

“Kyle?” Diane choked out.

“Mother, Father, Liz and I are getting married.” He said holding their joined hands up which made Liz feel a little awkward. She knew that Diane and she had hit it off extremely well, but she still had the sense that Kyle’s mother was evaluating their relationship.

“Oh wow congratulations Son! Liz!” Phillip jumped up along with Kyle and shook his hand. He extended his hand like he did when they met, once again to shake hands this time with his future daughter in law.

He was pleased! At 25, his son finally decided to ditch all those ditzy blondes he had dated in his past, and finally finally was settling down.

Diane just sat on the couch as she watched the whole scene with a worried look on her face. She had to admit she was glad that Kyle seemed to have changed his ways, but she was still worried about these two wonderful young people in front of her. She didn’t think they knew what they were getting into.

Marriage was not something to be entered into lightly.

She nodded though and had made a decision to support them nonetheless and got up to hug her future daughter in law. Liz was a beautiful person and she was happy to have her around in any situation.

“Congratulations dear,” Diane hugged Liz with a tear in her eye.

“Thank you,” Liz just managed to get out, she still had her doubts but here she was hugging his mother who was one of the nicest people she had ever met!

--------

After Mrs. Evans hugged her son and some more was said about the wedding, which the date was still undecided, Diane linked her arm through Liz’s once again.

“Why don’t Cassie and I show you the gardens, Liz? I’m sure Phillip and Kyle have a lot of manly business things to discuss,” she winked as Liz laughed. The two were in the corner arguing over some basketball player’s decision to leave the team he was on.

Cassie followed the two women with deep concentration, and finally she let it get the best of her as she tugged on Liz’s light see through jacket.

“Yes sweetie?” Liz asked as she turned around through the hallway, bending down.

“Umm does this mean you my new big sister?” Cassie asked, still thinking.

Liz gave a genuine smile. “If you want it to mean that then yes,” She already was head over heels for this little one in front of her and if she wanted a big sister then that was what she was going to be!

“I bewieve I do.” Cassie grinned and jumped into Liz’s arms. She twirled her around as Diane wiped another tear from her eye. She had been doing that a lot today.

They continued on to the garden where it was so beautiful.

Liz saw many different kinds of flowers planted there around the stone walkway, concrete benches, a small pond, and a huge fountain in the middle. It looked like something out of a movie or a music video, she thought.

“Cassie, honey, why don’t you go see if there are any new baby fish in the pond, okay?” Mrs. Evans said to her daughter and this made her eyes sparkle as she jumped down from Liz and ran over there, leaving the two women laughing.

“She’s such a beautiful child, Diane, inside and out. She’s just like her mother” Liz complimented her.

“Yes she is…” Diane said looking down at the ground. She knew that Kyle had not told Liz anything about the past, but the comment still made Diane grow a little sad, thinking about the little girl that was happily playing in the pond now.

It made her think of another little girl playing in the same spot about 16 years ago. So much had happened in the last few years, but Cassie seemed unharmed by all of it and Diane wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. She had lost too much to lose Cassandra as well.

She watched Liz and smiled. Now was not the time to relive sad memories, as she was going to have a lot of new ones with this lovely young woman in front of her. She had a protectiveness over her already and wanted to know some things that wondered through her mind.

“Liz”

”Yes?”

“Are you sure?” Diane asked, referring to the marriage that would soon take place between her and her son.

Liz looked like a deer caught in headlights. This was the third time she had been asked this question, but this one caught her off guard. She knew that Maria and Michael had their reasons for asking that question because they knew her inside and out and knew something wasn’t right, but to be asked this by Kyle’s mother? Who she had just met not even an hour ago?

This woman seemed to see right through Liz and she could tell she was worried.

“Sure about what?” She decided to play it cool. Then maybe then she would never know.

“About you and Kyle, Liz. Are you sure about getting married? I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t concerned about both of you and your happiness.” Diane continued, holding on to Liz’s hand. She could still see the doubt in the young woman’s eyes.

Her head was spinning. She didn’t expect this, not at all. Liz thought about it for a moment. She couldn’t tell Kyle’s mother about her fears, could she? What would she think of her? But for some reason she thought she could trust her advice and help.

All of a sudden, Lorenzo come out of the back door, running towards the ladies.

“Mrs. Evans! Mrs. Evans! I apologize for interrupting but Alice is having another one of her breakdowns in the kitchen. She’s trying to decide over duck or lamb and you know how she gets during special occasions.” Lorenzo said, rolling his eyes. Diane just sighed and smiled.

“I’m sorry Liz, Do you mind? Alice is our cook and she takes her job way too seriously sometimes, she’s been this way for twenty years, but I wouldn’t change a thing.” Diane said, apologizing.

“I would, a lot of things actually.” Lorenzo nodded his hand and grabbed Mrs. Evan’s hand to head back into the house.

“Cassie! Stay with Liz and show her around the garden some more!” She yelled back at her daughter who nodded. “And Liz, we will continue our discussion later okay?”

Liz smiled and waved as Lorenzo and her future mother in-law disappeared inside of the house. She had to figure something out before ‘later.’

“Liz! Liz!” Cassie came over to her and held something out in her hand.

“Whatcha got there darlin’?” Liz laughed, bending down, looking at the butterfly in the little girl’s hands.

Cassie just giggled. “My brother calls me that!”

Liz nodded. “Well I guess that’s something Kyle and I have in common then!”

Cassie just looked confused and shook her head. “Not Kyle,”

Liz just smiled. “No?”

“Nope. My other brother!” Cassie just laughed and let the butterfly go. Looks like she had a lot to teach her new big sister!

‘Kyle didn’t’ mention any other brothers’ Liz thought to herself. Maybe Cassie was just confused.

“Sweetie who are you talking about?” She asked her, now curious.

-------------

Max Evans entered with his backpack through the back gate, just like he always did when he visited. He usually saw little Cassie playing in the garden and loved to surprise her. Sure enough he heard her familiar giggle as he continued up the back lawn.

That’s when he stopped when he saw her. Not the little girl he had intended on seeing, but the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

She was a chocolate brunette, whose hair shown in the sunlight giving off a glare that he was hypnotized by. He could see her big doe eyes from here as well as her body from heaven. She was laughing, which was music to his ears and Cassie who was in front of her, seemed to love the woman. He had to find out who she was.

Just a few steps more and she spotted him. Again, not the little girl who now was running towards him, but the most glorious man she had ever seen!

He had black hair with bangs that just seemed like a whisper on his forehead. She noticed his eyes, deep pools of dark auburn which she could tell she could probably get lost in forever. She also noticed that he had a body of a Greek God and arms that could hold a girl forever. She mentally smacked herself though for thinking these thoughts. Her fiancé was just inside!

“Max! Max! Maaaxxxx!” Cassie excited giggles broke her train of thought as she now had a name to that handsome face.

Max.

The man held the five year old tightly and was swinging her in the air.

“Liz! Liz! Come on!” She waved for Liz to come over and meet this man who she seemed to adore and Liz Parker was not about to protest!

Liz.

The goddess now had a name, he thought.

They kept their eyes on each other as she approached them. Who was he? Was a friend of the family? The gardener?

Who was she? Was she one of his dad’s clients? The new nanny to Cassie perhaps? That must be it. Maybe he would stick around longer this time.

“Hi.” She managed to get out. real smooth Liz thought, mentally rolling her eyes.

“Hello.” He choked a little. nice going Max was kicking himself inside his head.

He put Cassie down and she run over to Liz, pulling her hand.

“Max! This is Liz! She’s really really nice and pretty, izzent she?” Cassie looked between the two. They were her favorite people in the entire world now. Other than her parents, of course.

“Yeah. She is,” Max said nodding, still transfixed by her beauty.

She blushed furiously. Was he just going along with what Cassie said or was he really complementing her?

“I’m Max, by the way.” Was all he could think of after he coughed.

She smiled. “Yeah, I caught that.” Liz giggled.

He laughed with her. She had a contagious one and he couldn’t help himself.

He was about to ask her what she was doing here and possibly where she had been all his life when he saw his mother come out the back door, talking to Lorenzo behind her.

“Max…” She said when she saw him. She looked like she was stunned.

Liz was still confused, why was Mrs. Evans looking like she was about to cry? Then she heard him.

“Hi mom.”


TBC…..?

Let me know what you think!

This is a little banner Mandy made for me for this fic. I’m still trying to add it to my sig but for some reason I can’t update my profile... hmm...

Anyways –

Oh and to those of you who are reading Cherish Your Name, I haven’t forgotten that fic and will update when I get the chance which will be soon! But since I started this one I haven’t had time between that and not being at home but don’t abandon it! I’m not 

See all you lovely people soon!

Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..


Part 3

“Hi Mom” Max put Cassie down on the ground in front of him and touched the tip of his nose with his finger like he always used to do.

“Why don’t you go play over in the pond, darlin’?” His eyes were tender as he said this, showing the little girl love without words. He didn’t want her to hear any harsh words that may be said when he talked to his mother.

Liz was still shocked and couldn’t really speak as she heard the word ‘darlin’ slip out of Max’s mouth. This was the brother Cassie had been referring to just moments before?

Kyle’s brother?

She needed to sit down.

Kyle never mentioned he had a brother and why hadn’t he?

That was a big thing. When he and she discussed siblings he just talked about Cassie like she was the only one so Liz assumed she was. A brother was never in their discussions. And now Liz was attracted to him… Kyle’s brother!

“I’ll go with you dar-sweetie,” Liz caught herself before she used his nickname. She cast one more look at Max who seemed to see straight into her, and she took his little sister over to the pond.

Diane just stood there, still shocked, in front of Lorenzo who was now retreating back into the house.

He thought that he was intruding in on a private moment, even though that moment would probably end up in someone yelling or raising their voice within the next five minutes. He was fond of 22 year old Maxwell but he was as stubborn as they come. Just like someone else that lived here years ago.

Max continued to watch this dark-haired woman by the name of Liz play with Cassie.

The two were laughing and now sitting by the water of the pond watching a butterfly fly around.

His mother’s voice broke the trance he was put in, though.

“What’s it been this time Max? Four or five, months?” Diane asked in a cold tone although you could hear her obvious hurt in that tone.

“It’s been three and a half.” Max put his backpack down on the ground as he stared into his mother’s eyes.

Could he ever forgive her? He wondered.

“My mistake. Honey whatever issues and grudges you may have between your father and I, do not take it out on Cassandra. She cried for weeks after you left the last time.” Diane had tears shining in her eyes.

She remembered having shed tears herself when his visit was so short a few months ago.
Every time that he came to visit for a while and then packed up and left again, each time, nothing being resolved.

“Issues!? Mom? Issues? They aren’t just issues. You made my whole life into a lie. You ma—you know what? I can’t get into this right now.” Max clenched one fist trying to keep his emotions under control.

Liz looked over at the mother and son more confused than ever as she heard bits and pieces of the conversation.

What had happened between this family? There seemed to be so much pain.

There was so much that she was unaware of. She saw their sad expressions and wanted to help them both with whatever their trouble was. She had to find some way to figure out what was going on.

“Not today…” Max said lowering his head trying to block out the memories of rain, of blood, and of flashing lights on that night that seemed just yesterday.

Diane just turned around, blinking tears because she knew what he was reliving right now. She relived it everyday.

A small excited voice though made them both snap out of though and smile, just for Cassie’s sake.

“Look Max! Look!” Cassie hopped over to her brother to show him the butterfly that had landed into her hands for the second time that day!

Maybe if she gave him a present then he wouldn’t decide to leave so soon.

Liz just smiled, watching Max bend down and react with the child this way. He looked up at her and smiled back.

“What’s this darlin’?” He asked, taking the yellow and black spotted butterfly from her hands. She had once told him that this was her favorite animal even though he told her it was an insect, not an animal.

”The anminal the butterfly.” Cassie said, scientifically as she held her head up.

He smiled. She was as stubborn as her mother though, he thought. But he shook that thought away. Not right now.

“Liz helped me catch it again!” Cassie giggled.

“Oh she did, did she?” Max looked up at Liz and winked. It was clear they both just glowed in the presence of this little girl.

“Yeah she was quite the scientist over there, exploring everything.” Liz added, still blushing from that one wink.

Diane finally had herself under control and stepped closer to the group. “Where on earth are my manners?” She turned to Liz.

“Liz this is Max Evans, my other son.”

Max broke in, “Is that what you’re calling me these days?” He retorted, and regretted it once he saw Liz’s confused expression. He figured she didn’t know the story and he didn’t want to come off as rude.

Diane just shook her head. “Max, this is Liz Parker.”

Max held his hand out and Liz shook it firmly just to have more direct contact with him. She felt guilty, but he was still the most handsome man she had ever seen...

He let his hand in hers a little while longer than necessary and Diane noticed this.

“Liz is Kyle’s fiancée.” Diane stated and as soon as she did that Max pulled his hand back abruptly.

She was Kyle’s fiancée!? No no no. He had a hard time believing that this brunette goddess was his so-called brother’s soon to be wife. Kyle usually went for ditzy blondes and Liz... Liz was so not either of the two.

Liz noticed the way Max pulled his hand back and scolded herself for wanting Max not to know yet about her and Kyle. Would he ever want to get to know her now?

She at least wanted to be friends with him, since she would be his... his sister in law. That didn’t sound right at all though and she cringed.

“You and Kyle?” Max asked the question, because surely his mother was wrong he figured. She was wrong on a lot of things.

“Yes.” Was all that she managed to get out as Max looked her with such intensity that it made her gasp.

“Um congratulations,” was all Max could say. What do you say to something like this? To someone who you obviously had a connection with just moments before?

Was this hell? Or was it heaven since he had met his angel?

“Thank you.” Liz nodded. He didn’t sound at all enthused when he heard the news just now. Had he felt something too when they met? She wondered.

“Well well well, look what the cat drug in.” A voice came from inside the doorway and everyone turned.

Kyle just walked towards everyone with a smirk on his face.

“I knew you couldn’t stay away long, no matter how many times that you swear you’d never come back.” Kyle shook his head at his brother and put an arm around Liz.

He unconsciously wanted his brother to know that she was his.

Max just stiffened.

He knew that he would have a lot of problems showing up here but not in the first fifteen minutes!

“I came back to see Cassie. Do you have a problem with me seeing my …sister?” Max stated, picking her up.

He knew Kyle knew better than to start an argument with her around. She didn’t need tension surrounding her especially on her birthday and he didn’t need it on this day either.

“No but I do have a problem with you in general.” Kyle stated with a smirk on his face.

Cassie just looked around at the angry expressions. Why did her two brothers always fight when they saw each other? It made her sad.

Liz coughed, seeing that their sister didn’t like seeing her two big brothers’s fighting.

“Kyle? Maybe I should take her inside if you’re going to start something.” Liz pointed to Cassie in Max’s arms as she raised her eyebrow at her fiancé. Kyle just stood there with his mouth hanging open, a little embarrassed.

He knew she must be upset with him for withholding information or some shit like that.

Chicks always wanted to know every important detail of your life. Like who your family is and all that crap.

He rolled his eyes, knowing he was in trouble at the look she gave him. “We will talk later.” She said and he sighed.

Yep. He was in for it.

“You’re right, Liz.” Max nodded, handing her over to her. He was touched that she broke in to do what was right for the little girl in between them all. It made him feel a connection with her even further and more attracted to her all at the same time.

Diane was still speechless, not wanting to get in-between her sons’ little quarrel this time and admired Liz for taking a stand for her daughter. She followed her in with Cassie.

“Diane? What is going on?” Liz asked, still feeling a bit awkward calling Kyle’s mother by her first name.

“Did Kyle tell you he had a brother?” She just asked back and Liz shook her head.

“I didn’t think so. Kyle and Max don’t get along very well. They haven’t for a long time now. But I don’t think it is my place to tell everything so can we just leave it at that for now?” Diane turned around as if that was that and there was no more discussing it.

“Okay, I didn’t mean to pry.” Liz blushed, slightly embarrassed. She could be pushy when she wanted something and she didn’t mean to take it out on Mrs. Evans.

“Oh sweetie, don’t worry about it. I’m just stressed because I have a million things to do today.” She smiled and gave Liz a reassuring look.

“Oh and Liz? I didn’t know that Max was going to be here but his room shares a bathroom with the room that we have set up for you. I hope that’s not a problem…he probably won’t be here for long anyway. He never stays.” Diane said, with a sad tone.

She wished she could mend her family. She didn’t want Liz to be surprised though if Max was in her bathroom.

“Oh that’s alright. It might give me a chance to know him, since I didn’t even know Kyle had a brother to begin with.” Liz reassured her. “Maybe I can even get them to have a decent conversation why they are both here.”

Diane just nodded, not having the heart to tell Liz that this was such a lost cause. That there was no hope for the Evan’s family ever reuniting fully.

No, that chance was lost five years ago.

“Well, I better go upstairs; I have some things to do before the birthday party.” And with that she was gone.

Liz just stood there for a few minutes before calling Cassie back over to take her upstairs. She had gone over to Lorenzo in the living room and was telling him about the butterfly she caught with Liz’s help.

She was so damn frustrated. No one wanted to talk in this family! She would find out later what was going on from Kyle. Or maybe even Max... it would give her an excuse to see him again, but she shook those thoughts, feeling guilty.

This was the most interesting thing that had happened in a while to her and she felt the cycle of the norm already breaking. She was determined to help with this situation one way or another.

First, by asking Kyle why the hell he never told her about his brother. Maybe she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did.

Cassie was in her arms with her nose crinkled as they walked up the stairs, like she was thinking.

“What are you thinking about huh?” Liz asked smiling now, her mind now focused on little Miss Evans.

“Is it three o’cwok yet!?” She wanted her cake! And the presents were a plus too.

Liz gave a hearty laugh. “Almost. Come on.” And with that she continued up the stairs to try to figure out where the rooms where in this huge house.

------

“I don’t want to get into this right now, Kyle.” Max kept his eyes on Liz’s retreating form until she disappeared.

Kyle saw this and turned back to him with a raised eyebrow. “She is some piece of work, isn’t she?” he said, wanting to change the subject to more interesting matters.

Max’s jaw clenched. Here he was talking about his fiancé as if she was an object. The sad thing is, to him she probably just was that. A trophy to add to the ones that adorned his room of various sports.

“She actually has an IQ higher than a grapefruit, Kyle, I’m impressed. What happened to all the whores you dated? Get boring?” He retorted, walking back into the house. Kyle followed.

“Oh there will still be plenty of those, Liz Parker is special though, and I had to settle down sometime.”

“And what the fuck is that supposed to mean, big brother?” Max was now pissed and he didn’t even know why. Why should he care who his brother dates? Especially if he was cheating on her.

It was his damn love life.

But Liz was different.

“You think about that why I go talk to my father.” He emphasized the word ‘father’ as he left, and cut Max deep. What a fucking dick.

He just went upstairs to his room to sulk for a while but not before passing Cassie’s room. He still got chills every time he entered her room because it brought back both good and bad memories. But seeing Liz here with Cassie just made his heart swell for some reason.

She was Kyle’s fiancée though and he saw Kyle as an enemy even though he was his brother. Did that mean that she was the enemy too? He couldn’t get to close to her because he wanted to stay in control.

----------

Liz hadn’t played dolls in years but suddenly was helping Cassie put on Kens tux for his wedding to Barbie. She loved children and that is why she was already missing the second grade students she taught because they were out already for summer vacation.

“You see Liz, Ken loves Barbie. They met in Malibu.” Cassie explained vividly as she placed the other dolls against her bed frame, so they would stand up.

“Oh they did?” Liz chuckled. “Why Malibu?” She wondered if she had ever been there before.

Cassie sighed and laughed. “Liz, keep up. She’s a Malibu Barbie!”

Liz started laughing with her and she heard a male laugh too and instantly knew who it was. This scared her because she had just met him not even half an hour ago.

“Parker.” Max leaned against the doorframe as she looked up. He thought maybe if he just called her by her last name then he would lose that fluttering feeling in his stomach.

No, he couldn’t let these thoughts get to him. He just met her half an hour ago!

“Hello.” Liz looked up at him and dropped the Ken doll, somewhat embarrassed. She walked over to him so his little sister could continue playing wedding without being interrupted.

“I just wanted to say sorry about earlier. You know with my brother and all.” Max apologized. It wasn’t the real reason why he had stopped to talk to her.

He just had to look around this room, on this day, it seemed as if it hadn’t been touched since its previous occupant lived here, except for the toys and other five year old stuff scattered around.

“It’s okay. Kyle can just be… well, Kyle. I just didn’t want Cassie to get upset. I had no idea that you two were brothers because he never…”

Max interrupted her, noting that she was cute when she rambled. “Kyle and I don’t really claim each other. Call it sibling rivalry extended into hatred.” He half smiled.

Liz just frowned. “It doesn’t have to be that way, Max. What happened between you two?”

Max could see the sincere look in her eyes and wanted to tell her everything. All the pain he was feeling, all the loss.

But he couldn’t. He had to deal with this all on his own.

“It’s a long story. I better go.” His explanation was simple and he walked backwards a few steps.

“Oh... okay.” Liz could practically feel his pain. She wanted Max to be the one to tell her but she guessed she would have to get it out of Kyle.

“I’ll see you later Parker.” Max just said and turned around.

“Hey Max?”

“Yeah?”

”It’s Liz.” She smiled. His heart fluttered.

”I know.” And with that, he gave her a smile and went into his room next to hers.

TBC…

Thanks for all the feedback! I love the take you have on all of this and some of you are very perceptive! I think this may be the longest part to a fic i've ever written but I could be wrong.

Anyways, kisses to you all, well those of you who want them anyways, and much love and all that good stuff. Let me know what you think and you'll get more of em That is if you arent completely disturbed and if you are then sheesh its just online ones! lol

Jen

Hey Everyone! Wow thanks so much for all of your feedback, comments, and predictions and I have loved reading them. I will try to give some shout outs and some comments to some of them in a later post but right now Im so tired and had a little bit of insomnia before I hit the hay, so I thought i would get this next part out.

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..

Part 4

Three o’clock came and went fast for the birthday girl as she played with the other children whose parents worked at Mr. Evan’s firm.

Max was there, sitting at a bench outside just watching her play as well as watching Liz, laughing, out of the corner of his eye. She was talking with his parents along with Kyle, and he remembered once being carefree like that with them once.

But those days were gone and he just had to accept that.

He wondered if he could ever be like that again, with anyone, and wondered why this petite woman had him so intrigued as he asked himself these questions. Before, none of this was even open to discussion.

Liz finished laughing at something that Mrs. Evans had said about Mr. Evan’s spoiling Cassie with a pony that she wanted.

“I don’t spoil her, Diane…I simply indulge her,” Phillip commented, pretending to be hurt by his wife’s accusations.

“Well, just don’t indulge her too much, Dad. We don’t want her becoming like me.” Kyle winked as his cell phone went off.

“It’s work. I gotta take this.” He kissed Liz’s cheek and went inside the house and Liz just nodded. She knew that she couldn’t stand in the way of work with him.

Liz smiled at the two parents who would become her in-laws. Something else caught her eye though as she noticed him.

She sighed now her attention focused on the dark-haired mystery guy and was surprised when she saw him staring right back at her. They stayed like that for a moment, a silent conversation appearing between the two.

Diane caught the look between them as Phillip excused himself to talk to a colleague. “Is your room and everything okay Liz?” She asked, but wasn’t surprised when Liz didn’t answer.

Liz heard a mumble in the background and turned, blushing, to Mrs. Evans. She completely missed what she said because she was gawking at her other son!

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

Diane just smirked. “I just asked if your room and everything was okay so far?”

Liz just nodded. “Oh yes, it’s fine and a lovely room. I love the balcony outside overlooking the creek. It’s truly beautiful, Diane.” She had sat out there for an hour earlier after playing with Cassie.

It sort of reminded of her balcony at her apartment which she loved. She used to sit out there, writing in her journal just wishing on the stars that something good would happen to her one day. Success, excitement, happiness.

But most importantly, Love.

Mrs. Evans broke her train of thought though. “Thank you. Max over there used to spend a lot of time out there, just thinking. That balcony joins with his room too. I can still put you in the room across from Kyle’s if you’d like, that ones just a little more masculine though.” Diane laughed.

When they bought that house many years ago, she and Phillip both designed one of the guestrooms the way they wanted.

“Oh no, that’s not necessary, I haven’t really run into Max that much, and even if I do on occasion, I’d still like to get to know him better.” Liz smiled faintly.

She knew that she wanted her and Max to be friends and to help out with whatever was keeping this family from getting to where they once were. She could sense a love that once was, a strong bond, but now that was gone.

And she intended to help get it back

Diane just nodded and smiled, still not knowing where to place the thoughts she was having about an obvious connection being between Kyle’s fiancé and her other, distant son.

“Would you excuse me for a moment? I have to go thank some of the parents for bringing their children over.”

Liz didn’t even know that she had left because she had turned her attention back over to Max, who now was laughing with Cassie in his lap. Something about him drew her to him, and she loved the way he looked at his little sister who adored him. She kept walking.

“Liz!” Cassie said running over to her and pulling her hand toward the table where she and her brother had been playing.

“Hey sweetpea, have you been having fun?” Liz bent down and pretended to get the little girls nose.

“Uh huh! I love birt-days!” She had had so much fun today with her new little friends and Liz smiled as she ran off with a little girl who had grabbed her hand.

“She is something, isn’t she?” Liz walked over to where Max was sitting and he looked down with a faint smile.

“Yeah she is.”

“She’s real delighted to see you Max. Her eyes just light up when you are around her.” She told him truthfully, and blushed a little because she was partly speaking about herself too.

“You think so? I mean you’ve known me less than a day.” He plainly said, curious about how this young woman next to him was so perceptive. And Beautiful, no, he couldn’t forget that.

“Oh I know so. I have very good intuition about these things.” Liz smiled. It was true, her radar was usually right on the money, as Maria said. She had had Liz evaluate just about every guy she dated back in high school because of this.

“We’ll see about that.” He smirked. If her radar was so good then why was she with someone like Kyle? It was simply none of his business to interfere in their relationship but should he warn her about his wandering ways?

He wondered about their engagement some more.

“You’re wondering about my relationship with your brother.” Liz caught that look in his eye after he said ‘we’ll see about that.’ He had looked over at Kyle talking on the cell phone still, now sitting on the steps.

Max was stunned. Was she psychic too? “Well I…”

She shook her head. “I know he’s not perfect. No one is, and I still intend to talk to him about why he didn’t tell me more about his family, but he’s just…Kyle. I don’t know why I love him but I..” She stopped there in thought and frowned.

Did she love him?

Or was it some way that she had just misguided herself because she wanted to believe in love itself?

Max caught this, and intended to use it.

“You’re not in love with him.” He said simply, as it was a fact.

She just stared at him wide-eyed. No, he was wrong.

“I beg your pardon??” She blinked.

“You are not in love with your fiancé. You think you are, you want to be, but it’s just not there.” Oh yeah, he could be very perceptive of people too.

She continued, now growing furious. “We have known each other not even half the day like you said, and you know nothing about my relationship with…with..

“Kyle” Max said. Wow she was cute when she was mad. He made a note of that.

“I know his name!” She was so frustrated and flustered all at the same time and didn’t even know why. How dare he?!

“Okay.” Max said, nodding and tightening his lips. Jackpot.

“Okay?” Liz asked. Did he really mean he believed her?

“Yeah. Okay.”

”And so that means that you believe me, your brother and I are in love”

”I believe that you believe that.” He smiled genuinely.

He had definitely hit a nerve and definitely wanted to explore this further with her.

Maybe if she ended it then it would hurt less than if she found out too late on what a prick her husband was.

”What? Oh we are so not having this conversation, Max. Lorenzo warned me you were difficult to talk to at times.” Liz told him, getting up to storm off.

Well, no one could deny that there was passion in their arguments, that’s for sure.

He had brought up feelings and thoughts she didn’t want to get into right now. She was marrying this man that they were discussing and doubts, she thought, only make you weaker.

“Well Parker, I have radar too. Radar of when people are “it” for each other.” He said to her retreating form and shaking his head.

She turned around and no catchy comeback came, no words of anger, just a stare between two people. When he said “it” then why did she think of him?

He stared back. His radar was going off the charts right now.

…………………

It was late morning and Liz Parker was happily dreaming of a road trip that she and Maria had taken three years ago right after graduation, and all the chaos that had ensued in that one trip.

That summer was one of the best of her life because it was so spontaneous, so unlike anything she had done in her entire life and she longed for that feeling once more.

Yes this was dreaming, and this involved one of her most favorite things.

Sleep. In addition to being late, she adored her time dreaming of other things and just being lazy every once in a while.

She wasn’t about to waste it until the image of this cute skateboarder guy named Jason she had met on her trip slowly turned into a five year old jumping up and down.

“Liz! Liz! Liiiiizzzzz!” Cassie jumped up and down on the bottom of the bed that Liz was sleeping on and demanded that she wake up. She had already been up for hours but her mommy told her not to disturb the late sleepers.

“Unnnnn…” Liz just threw her arm across her eyes and prayed for the bouncing to stop.

Who was doing that at this early hour?

“Liz! Wake up! It’s almost noon!” The little girl stopped her jumping and put her hands on her hips, giggling.

She thought wasting life just sleeping and taking naps (which she hated) was stupid and she couldn’t understand why her brother Max and her new best friend Liz enjoyed it so much.

She had first thought of Liz as a new big sister but now she wanted her to be her very best friend. She didn’t have any other friends around during the summer. She was so looking forward to school the following year. Her parents had her a tutor for this year, Mrs. Mulls, but Cassie couldn’t wait to learn with other children her own age.

Liz continued to stir and she opened one eye, as she heard Cassie say that it was noon.

Wow, she only had five more hours to go until her record.

She still wasn’t moving so Cassie started jumping on the bed again.

“Alice…made…brwunch…Liz…Liz…wake…up!” She said loudly in between jumps.

“Unnnn…Cass…Cassie okay I’m up!” Liz opened her eyes wide and smiled at the little girl. She was one persuasive child.

Lorenzo watched in the doorway as this little spitfire of a child performed her duty as an alarm clock to those who enjoyed sleep. He had just seen her do this to Max a few minutes ago.

He smiled at Liz’s less than amused expression but could see the laughter at the little girl’s antics in her eyes.

“Cassie dear, your mother requests your presence in the dining room. She says you need to finish your milk.” He knew that she liked it when he talked all sophisticated to her.

It made her feel more like a grown-up, she told him.

“Okay Zoe.” She hopped off the bed and grabbed his hands so they could go downstairs. Her mission was accomplished.

“Brunch is at 12:30, Miss.” He announced and then he was gone.

Liz moaned again, not wanting those damn curtains to be open but they were and she was at someone else’s house so she had to go by their ways.

She thought briefly about her last conversation with Max and it worried her that she had thought more about him than her own fiancé who had barely even spoken to her since the party.

She guessed that he was avoiding the confrontation that he was going to get when she got a hold of him. She wasn’t going to yell at him or anything, just talk about being more open and honest with each other.

That’s what real couple’s did, right?

Deciding to take a shower, she stumbled out of bed to the door across the room, grabbing her brush along the way. She opened the door with sleep still in her drooping eyes until she widened them to see the sight before her.

Max Evans getting out of the shower.

TBC…

I know, a little shorter than planned but eh, you take what goes through your head at the time.

Take Care and until next time!

Muah! Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..


Part 5

Silence.

It was complete and utter silence except for Liz Parker’s gasp that filled the room for the 5.7 seconds that the door was open to that bathroom. But in those five seconds, she saw fully the most beautiful man she had ever seen, not that she had seen many in her 21 years.

The body of a God.

He was turned somewhat so she couldn’t see everything, but enough. He had water dripping from his luscious black bangs onto his forehead, water droplets ran down his neck and from his shoulders onto his firm chest.

She couldn’t keep her eyes from lowering in those few precious seconds, not even thinking about the violations that her mind was playing out right now as he took the towel and ran it over his lower self and then back up to dry the rest of him.

She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Literally, it was like her eyes were glued to this man’s body for as long as she could take it in without him noticing yet.

Oh she was so going to hell for this, longingly staring at a man that was not hers.

She got weak in the knees for these seconds that seemed like eternity, yet not long enough before everything registered.

“Oh My God!”

Her cheeks were flushed and she closed that door quickly, causing a loud slam, but that noise didn’t even compare to the pounding of her heart that was thudding in her ears.

What was happening to her?

What did this man who she barely knew do to her?

She knew exactly what he did to her, and her body’s reaction proved it.

She was getting married soon for God sakes! She would have never thought she would be standing there gawking at a naked man like that without his knowledge.

This was so not her yet why did it feel so right?

Just then, the door that she was holding herself upright on flew open and she screamed slightly, falling for a moment.

“Aaaaaaah!!” Closing her eyes for a moment to prepare for the hard fall to the tile floor, she was caught in a pair of strong arms. It of course, took her a moment to realize whose arms she was protected in.

“Liz?” He looked completely adorable, staring down at her with his dark amber eyes and damp hair, and waist noticeably just wrapped in a white towel.

“Wow.” She said, blinking.

The wow was taken for being so close to hitting the floor, but really meant Liz’s breath being taken away by being in his arms, and the beautiful way he looked down at her.

After she composed herself, she stood upright again and just tried to find words. He had caught her staring at him in the nude! What was someone supposed to say to that??

“Are you alright?” He looked genuinely concerned as he touched her arm.

She nodded. “Yeah, I am so so sorry for walking in on you like that, I keep forgetting this is a shared bathroom and—“She babbled on, as she did when she was nervous, and he smirked at her. Just like when she was angry, she looked cute when she rambled on too.

Another mental note.

“Parker! It’s okay, don’t apologize. I forgot too so I forgot to lock your side of the door. Not that you saw much though.” He explained, thinking she probably had just opened the door when he was drying off.

He wasn’t embarrassed and didn’t really want her to be either, but he could just imagine if he had walked in on her getting out of the shower, he’d be embarrassed too.

And so incredibly aroused.

The towel wrapped around his waist seemed to be getting smaller and smaller by the second as he thought of this, and he grew scared to death of what it was going to reveal.

“I better finish drying off.” He excused himself and just left Liz there, speechless as everything was still being processed.

Naked Max.

She wasn’t acting like herself.

Naked Max.

She almost hit the floor hard.

Naked Max.

She apologized but only to have him blame himself just as much. And she did see something too!

Naked Max

She should apologize too for her behavior yesterday.

Naked Max

She shook her head, seeing him returning to the bathroom and she called out his name.

“Max!” She couldn’t let things fester like this.

“Yeah?” He partially turned around, still wanting to hide the towel rack that was still there.

“I’m sorry.” She said once again, meaning it for yesterday.

“It’s not your fault. We’ll just have to remember to lock the doors.” He winked at her. She melted as she remembered what she made him turn around for. Did she even have a reason? Oh yeah…

“Oh! Yeah, about that, and yesterday. I’m sorry for my outburst at you about Kyle, things have just been hectic here lately. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, Max, and I apologize. You were just stating an opinion.” Liz had to admit, his comments made her think of things she was in denial about, and she wasn’t even about ready to deal with them yet.

She shouldn’t have yelled like that at her fiancé’s brother and a man she was developing feelings for though. Feelings!?Already!?

“No, I should be the one to apologize for that, Liz.” He said her first name tenderer than she had ever heard anyone say it, as he walked back towards her. In all the time that she and Kyle had been together, he had never said her name like that.

She shivered.

“I knew it was none of my business, but I made those comments anyway.” He continued. He felt bad for playing around with her like that yesterday, but he knew he sparked something inside of her that made her think, so he knew he had been on to something.

He never intended to upset her like that though.

He knew that he never wanted to make her cry, to be the one to even bring an ounce of pain into that heart of hers. No, he was the one who wanted to protect her from all of that. Of course, he shook those thoughts though.

That was Kyle’s job, although he was pretty shitty at it.

Liz stared at him as he turned this whole thing around and was apologizing to her. She was about to reply when she saw this look that came across his face, some people would have thought by his expression, he was suddenly a million miles a way but she had a feeling that he was right here.

Right here with her.

She shivered again.

“Are you cold?” Max asked her, this was the third time that he saw her kind of tremble, and he wondered if there was a drift in here until he finally registered what she was wearing.

She shook her head. It wasn’t the draft in there that was making her shiver like that.

His eyes caste down lower as he took in her lightly drowsy appearance. He stared at the little white tank top she was wearing, with little blue stars over it. It was practically transparent as he could make out the hard peaks in the center of her chest but didn’t dwell on that too long because the towel he was wearing around his waste seemed even more transparent right now than that thin material she was wearing.

Lower he continued to look, as his eyes reached the little draw string grey shorts with navy blue stars matching the shirt above. This outfit so incredibly cute and innocent yet devastatingly sexy as it was affecting him in ways that he didn’t think he had ever felt before until now. He was usually so in control.

Was she cold?! No she definitely was not cold as she watched his eyes travel down her body. She was burning up inside! It was getting hotter in this room and inside her body as they seemed to gravitate towards each other more and more.

“Liz??” Kyle’s voice echoed down the hallway and Liz jumped, looking towards the open door.

Max’s gaze down at her stopped as soon as he heard his brother’s voice coming down the hallways. This was wrong, and he knew it.

Liz looked back at him and smiled. “Let’s just put yesterday’s conversation behind us okay?” He nodded and smiled back at her, putting out his hand. She took it and they shook hands for the second time, both secretly knowing it was not for the agreement that had been made, but for the simple contact.

The electricity was there again, jolting through them as their hands lingered together.

Kyle reached the door just as they dropped their hands, both reluctant.

“Hey, thought you were coming down for…” He stopped as he saw his brother and his fiancé standing awfully close together for his comfort.

“Liz, is this guy bothering you?” Kyle said coming over and putting his arm around her, showing Max who she belonged to.

Liz halfway rolled her eyes. “Kyle.” She looked at him shaking her head. “This guy is your brother. I was just getting to know Max, since you didn’t even tell me about him.” He knew that his comment would have made her say something like that.

When women had their mind up to bitch about something, there was no changing their course, he thought.

“It’s okay Liz, I’m just gonna go change, it was nice talking to you this morning.” Max said politely and smiled at her, remembering the heat between them earlier and totally ignoring Kyle and his ignorant comments to try to hurt him.

His day had already started great by catching a beautiful brunette in his arms and mending any conflict that may had stirred between them because of their conversation the previous day. Though she was engaged to his brother, he still felt something there, like she was feeling what he was feeling though he knew he couldn’t be alone with her often.

If he was alone with her he might have to touch her hair, because it was so soft.

If he was alone with her he might have to breathe her scent in a little more and he would be gone even more.

If he was alone with her he might have to caress her lips with his to see how she tastes, although he knew it had to be delicious.

And if he was alone with her he didn’t know if he could stop his heart from beating 100 miles an hour and that might lead to him opening up to her like he hadn’t been able to with anyone else. He already felt a pull towards her like she was someone he could talk to about all the chaos that was his life. He didn’t want to pull her into that though.

He put those thoughts away as he changed into his white shirt and nice khaki pants. He wanted to look good for who he was going to see, it had been a while now since he had been to see her and he wanted to look nice.

He smirked, she always used to be on him about dressing more nicely in public, and he wanted to show her that he was doing that now.

…………….

“So that’s the reason you didn’t tell me that you had a brother? Just because you two don’t get along?” Liz asked, putting her shirt on after she made Kyle turn his back. He hated when she made him do that, you’d think after the months they had known each other, and now engaged, she’d let him see some skin.

“Yep, pretty much sums it up.” He told her. He knew she would drag the truth of his whole family’s history one day, but he didn’t want to get into it right now with her so he did what he always did, just gave short answers.

“Hmmph.” She made the sound she always did when she was thinking things over but didn’t want to say anything else. She wished that he would open up to her more but she wasn’t going to force him to do so.

After she was finished changing, he came over to her as he always did to kiss her good morning and try to cop a feel which she always blocked.

It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy physical contact, she did, she just was reserved when it came to her relationship with Kyle, and told him that she wanted to wait until they were married to be together in any way like that.

This, of course, was frustrating for Kyle, being that he had a penis and all, but he still got what he needed elsewhere and was going to marry her soon anyways.

She had made this decision after being with her ex boyfriend all through high school and them after making love with him a few times, they broke up. It was devastating with her, as she thought anyone she gave her heart to like that would have it forever, only to have it thrown back in her face so she wanted things to be different this time… or next time maybe, she thought.

But no, he was the one she was giving her hand to; she needed to think positive like that.

Was that really so positive though? She needed Maria here with some cedar oil!

“Come on, my parents are waiting for us.” Kyle winked at her and she smiled. He did have his good qualities, after all.

They went downstairs out on the patio to join in for the brunch and the tea that Lorenzo was serving along with Alice and Cassie, who wanted to help bring the croissants out.

Much to Liz’s disappointment, Max did not join the rest of the Evans’s at the table, not that she expected him to though. She had barely seen him talk to anyone there but her and Cassie since they all arrived yesterday.

Kyle had told her that his brother was the stray of the family, coming only ever so often, and that they both didn’t really get along, although that much she knew.

Diane caught Liz’s look as she glanced around and she had a pretty idea who she was looking for. But her searching was a lost cause since she knew that Max would definitely not be showing up around there this early afternoon, he hadn’t done that in years.

Brunch went on though, as did life at the Evans’s table along with Liz Parker as one seat remained empty, all quietly knowing that it wouldn’t be occupied any time soon.

……………….

The sky was vibrant with the sun and the clouds were scarce as it was a nice day just as the weatherman reported this morning. A cloud did hang over one man’s head as he came to see the one that he had to always come back for.

“I know I haven’t been here in a while. It’s been longer than I thought this time, but you know I come back every time this year for you. Max looked down at the red carnations he had brought her.

She was silent, as usual.

He was feeling guilty because didn’t come visit her last time he was here so it had been a while since he had been to see her. Tears pricked his eyes.

“I’m sorry, I really am. I’m trying to do things right, but every time I start to, it’s like the feelings that I am feeling get in the way and I fail you every time. I’m so sorry. This time it’s different though. I feel maybe there might be a change in the situation this time and maybe I can open up more. Will you help me?”

She remained silent, still, as his words were quiet and soft in the light breeze; this conversation was just for the two of them…

He started crying and reached out like he always did, just to touch the cold and grey stone that was before him on the ground. He said a quiet promise that he would be back sooner this time, and touched the engraved lettering just like he always did as he left the flowers.

ISABEL CASSANDRA EVANS
1980-1998
Beloved Daughter & Sister

TBC…


Okay I knoww i was kinda late in getting this out but i had like the worst week in the history of my worst weeks so I am cutting myself some slack lol.

Some of you guys need to work for Psychic Network. Hey, I'd call, and maybe you can give me a free session or something since I need a little guidance in what the hell im doing right now lol.

Let me know what you think and i will get to that shouout thing soon!

You guys are lovely feedbackers, and Im amazed at the response and that ya'll are even reading this crap lol. but thank you! so much..

until next time, Jen.

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..


Part 6

Max walked his usual route from the cemetery back to the house he had once called home. He didn’t really have a home now.

Home was just a temporary word, used for when he put a return address on an envelope of some motel he was staying at for the month, or one of the cabins he rented for a little longer than that sometimes.

He enjoyed the lake. For some reason he felt freer there and for a little while he could forget about all the guilt.

But he was so alone.

He had been afraid to let anyone in for the past five years because of all the pain and guilt he had been feeling. That was all he had come accustomed too and changing that now had become useless.

At least that is what he thought until yesterday.

Seeing that beautiful brunette playing with Cassie was like a door being busted open inside of him. He hadn’t had such strong feelings like that ever just by first sight. Love at first sight seemed so.. cliché.

Whatever the hell it was he felt, it felt damn good and damn confusing all at the same time. He was already infatuated with this woman even before he found out that she was his brother’s fiancée, and had already stayed a day longer than planned just to be around her. But no, this was way over his head.

Isabel would have smirked at this, telling him to get the stick out of his ass and go for what he wanted even though Liz was Kyle’s fiancée because she despised how he treated women, though she loved him.

God, he wished that his twin sister was here. She would’ve known exactly what to do. Max smiled at the memory of her wanting to have her own advice column in Cosmo one day. She could have done it to. But those dreams were all shattered the night she died and left him… and her daughter.

And it was all because of him.

………………

Music drifted softly from the hallway as Liz unpacked some of her stuff. She always had to have a cd in or something playing in the background when she did tasks by herself. It was her personal time and music seemed to make the energy flow around her better, making her get things done faster.

This was an explanation Maria came up with after Liz had basically worn her Sheryl crow cd out just getting ready for work every morning.

She didn’t know how long that they were staying with the Evans.’ Supposedly for the week since Kyle was supposed to be on vacation and Liz was off for the summer from her students.

And I wanna believe you,
When you tell me that it'll be ok,
Ya I try to believe you,
But I don't

When you say that it's gonna be,
It always turns out to be a different way,
I try to believe you,
Not today, today, today, today, today...

She just let the words move her as she hung up some skirts she had bought. The part of everyone saying it was going to be okay stuck in her head and she stopped in mid air while hanging up one of her red sweaters. That was true in her life, she didn’t know how this was going to be okay, the things she was feeling. Everything in her life had been so certain and now that she wasn’t certain on something, her whole world was shifting.

Max Evans had started to put a force on her. An undeniable force. She was marrying his brother though… how was this going to be okay?

I don't know how to feel,
Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I don't know what to say,
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Is a different day

It's always been up to you,
It's turning around,
It's up to me,
I'm gonna do what I have to do,
Just do

Kyle used to be a safe place for her. In Roswell, when he had come there last year to assist a new lawyer in town by the name of Jesse Ramirez, she started seeing him casually and then over the several months they had seen each other it just started picking up the pace.

She didn’t want to fall in love and didn’t expect anything to come out of their relationship, just fun times, but he did fall in love with her and everything changed. She felt obligated and that safe place was gone, making her vulnerable, asking herself questions about what love really was to her.

That love she thought she had was just comfortableness that landed her in an
engagement that she had never planned on. She did love Kyle, but not the soul-mate type that her Grandma Claudia always told her about. She made up her mind though, she was going to marry him because she thought maybe that comfortableness could grow into love and it wasn’t like anyone else was interested in her. Right?


Gimme a lil time,
Leave me alone a little while,
Maybe it's not too late,
Not today, today, today, today, today...

I don't know how to feel,
Tomorrow, tomorrow,
I don't know what to say,
Tomorrow, tomorrow
Is a different day

And I know I'm not ready,
Maybe tomorrow


She shook her head. She was doing the right thing no matter what her friends said, she was just feeling this way now because of her nerves. This..this infatuation with Max was just because of her nerves. She would feel differently tomorrow… wouldn’t she? She knew she wasn’t ready today to face her life and marriage.

Maybe tomorrow.


And I wanna believe you,
When you tell me that it'll be ok,
Ya I try to believe you,
Not today, today, today, to….
click

The sound of the cd player turning off made Liz turn around and drop the red sweater that was still in her hand.

”Kyle! Hey… You startled me.” She nervously laughed. Thank God she didn’t say her thoughts out loud like Maria did at times.

Kyle had turned that retched music off. He planned on one day breaking her habit of listening to music when she was doing anything. She even had that stuff playing when she went to sleep. He was more a classical and rap kind of guy, even though those two genders of music were completely different.

There was no in between.

“Well you would have heard me if the music wasn’t so loud,” He laughed, going over to her.

She shook her head, dismissing his attempt at humor when she knew in fact he probably really thought that but she smiled. That was just the way he was.

“Why are in you in a suite?” Liz asked, coming up as he put his arm around her waste.

“Business.”

That one word said it all as he already had his briefcase in his hand. She frowned.

“Kyle…” She gave him the look when she was disappointed but it never really worked on him because he was a man that had everything his way.

“You are on vacation for Christ sakes! Oh I am so going to talk to Jesse about constantly dragging you in the office like this!” She wanted this time for them really to decide if getting married to him was the right thing or not, and she couldn’t really do that if he was away now could she? But maybe that was her sign right there.

As she went for the phone, he grabbed her. “Liz! Calm down, okay?”

She sighed. “I’m sorry, it’s just that ever since we got here you’ve either had phone calls or had to go take care of something else.” She stopped herself from going any further though, she didn’t want to sound like she was whining.

”I know and I’ll make it up to you. My parents are away for the day because of some golf thing with the Petersons but I have a surprise for you.” Kyle turned around to go out in the hallway. He knew she’d be pissed at him for having to leave so he brought in reinforcements.

No matter if they liked him or not.

“Yeah, Yeah, you gonna make me stand in the hallway all day Buddha ass?” Maria stepped in with a huge smile on her face holding her arms out to her best friend. She was speaking of when Kyle looked into Buddhism for a while but then decided if he did that then he couldn’t be the person he was inside, an ass, in her opinion.

“Ha Ha, bite me pixie.” Kyle retorted, rolling his eyes. Liz was so very smart and he loved her for that, but so stupid when it came to choosing friends.

“Maria! What are you doing here?” Liz pulled back from giving her best friend a hug and smiled. She was glad she would now have someone to talk to about all her confused thoughts now. She had planned on calling her later that day.

“Well Kyle called earlier and said of course he was too busy for you as usual…”

“Maria…” Liz gave her a playful stern look. She knew how she disliked Kyle for not paying attention to her as much as he should.

She smiled, continuing, “So he asked if me and Michael would come and keep you company for a while since he won’t be back till tomorrow. And unlike him, we are never too busy for you.”

”You won’t be back until tomorrow?” This was new information to her as she looked disappointedly at her fiancé.

“No sweetie, that’s what I was about to tell you.” He glared at Maria as she smiled and went over to Liz.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that some things needed to be taken care of and I couldn’t exactly do that here. But I promise when I get back tomorrow, we will spend the day together and I have another surprise for you. Okay?” He kissed her nose and she scrunched it.

“Well I suppose, but I swear we are going to spend some more time together before this wedding or…” Liz started but stopped herself. It was off? She was going to say that the wedding would be off..

Maria caught this and just looked at her best friend with question in her eyes. They definitely had to talk later. Was Liz finally opening her eyes?

“What?” Kyle waited for her to finish that sentence but knew she wouldn’t.

“Nothing. Have a safe trip.” Liz just said, and kissed him on his cheek.

He smiled and waved goodbye as he walked out the door as Liz sighed, frustrated.

“Where’s Michael?” She asked.

“Downstairs looking at some painting with that Luis guy. And that’s where he’s gonna stay for now because it’s me and you talking now chica.”

“Ria…” She knew when her best friend wanted to have a talk then that meant business. Maria just smiled and winked at her best friend.

“So they got any ice cream around this place?”

……………………

“So Luis,” Michael stated, looking around the Evan’s home. Boy, Kyle’s parents sure had it nice.

“Sir, it’s Lorenzo.”

“Right. Lorenzo, who painted these kick ass paintings?” Michael looked around in the living room to these huge portraits painted of he was guessing the whole Evan’s family. The only one he recognized was Kyle, right after he assumed was his parents, then a dark-haired guy he didn’t know was after him, then a beautiful girl who looked in her late teens with long blonde hair. After that was a little girl, in the picture she looked around three or so who looked strikingly like the blonde in the previous picture.

They were awesomely painted he thought.

Lorenzo smirked. Even though this boy looked like a rebel without a cause to him, he liked him. Besides the fact he had gotten his name wrong three times already.

“Well sir, the family has a cousin who does magnificent drawings and he, named Richard Evans, painted these portraits throughout the years.”

“Ah, well tell him what’s up for me.” Michael smiled.

“Um I shall do that.” Lorezenzo nodded. What’s up. He had heard young Miss Isabel say that to her friends years ago and she had explained to him that that was just another phrased used for “How are you?” “What are you doing.” He smiled. He missed her too, she was like a niece to him in ways. Just like Maxwell he saw as a nephew. He never was too close to Kyle so he was more like a distant relative even though he came around more than Max did now.

Just then they heard the front door close and footsteps until one of the guys in the portraits, the one with the dark hair, approached.

“Oh hey Lorenzo, is Cassie here?” Max asked, he really wanted to see his niece right now. She had so much of his sister in her.

“Yes but she’s currently taking her nap,” Max heard Lorenzo say and he nodded. Then he noticed the young man about his age next to him.

“Oh hello.” Max said, extending his hand.

“How ya doin. I’m Michael Guerin.” Michael just nodded his head. They seemed all so formal here. He didn’t want to look stupid but he was just being himself. This guy seemed nice though.

“Fine. You? I’m Max Evans.” Max said smiling, putting his hand down. This guy seemed familiar, like an old friend although he knew that he had never seen him before.

“You Kyle’s brother? I hope you’re not anything like him.” Michael joked, but in a serious way. They didn’t need too many Kyle Evans in this world.

“No, sorry to disappoint you Michael, but Max here can never be anything like me. I have class.” Kyle passed by the room with his briefcase in hand, waving goodbye quickly.

“I’m not anything like him Michael, don’t worry. I have a heart.” Max said ignoring his older brother and knowing he was leaving. Wait… did that mean Liz was leaving too?

“Kyle!” Max ran out in the hallway before he could leave.

“What? I have to go.”

”Where?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but some of us actually work. I asked Liz’s friends to keep her company while I am gone so don’t be a nuisance to them if you stay. Although I hope you’re gone by the time I get back.” The words stung as Kyle left the house but Max was at least glad that Liz was still staying.

Michael went out in the hallway to see the scene. Kyle was such an asshole to his brother and he wondered why, Max seemed like a cool guy. Maybe he would ask him what was up later.

“Asshole.” Max mumbled as he rolled his eyes.

“I think we are going to get along just fine, Max.” Michael smirked as Max turned back to him.

Max smiled back.

……………………..

“Okay, so tell me chica. What is going on with you? I know you’re not happy.” Maria looked around the guest room she and Liz were setting up for her and Michael to stay in. Mrs. Evans had called a few minutes ago to ask if they arrived alright because Kyle had told her they would be having more guests. She seemed real nice on the phone.

Liz sighed, almost in tears sitting on the bed next to her best friend.

“So many things are wrong Maria. I’m so confused.” She hugged her best friend and Maria knew not to push things too far, and that Liz would tell her in time.

………………………

“Hey baby.” Kyle cooed into the cell phone as he left the driveway.

“Hey baby yourself. Didja miss me?” Tess Harding cooed back into the phone. She had asked Kyle yesterday on the phone if he could come back for uh...business. With her

“So did my pathetic cousin believe your business story?” She asked referring to Liz Parker, who she didn’t know how in the hell she landed a guy like Kyle. Guys like Kyle needed girls like her, not mousy little shy chicks.

“Tess..She’s not pathetic and yeah she believed it. I called in Maria and Michael to keep her occupied so she wouldn’t suspect a thing.

“Well good, hurry okay?” She licked her lips, anticipating his arrival.

“I am, It’s a long drive so you better make it worth my while.” He smiled. He had the life.

A wonderful fiancé and a good fuck on the side.

TBC….

This was one of those transitional parts where more characters are introduced and all that.. and emotions were heard. Stuff like that, Let me know what you think.

Oh and the song that Liz was listening to was "Tomorrow" by Avril Lavigne.

You all are wonderful, and catch ya later.

Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..


Part 7

“Maria do you ever think about love?” Liz asked Maria, as they sat on the guest bed, eating through a quart of double fudge chocolate ice cream.

“Of course I do, I mean Michael and I have it. Don't you and Kyle?” Maria asked, knowing where her best friend was going with this.

“Well I think there are different variations of love. There’s the kind you have for your family you know, then there’s the kind you have for your friends along with respect. There’s the kind you have with your significant other that’s just great.. but...” Liz stopped, trying to collect her thoughts.

“But what Liz?” Maria asked.

Her best friend could tell her anything and she was determine to help her through this and in the process, maybe help her see what a mistake she was making in marrying Kyle. But, it was her life so she had to make up her own mind about it.

“The soul-mate kind, Maria. The kind where you don’t know where you begin and the other person ends and you don’t want to know a day without that person in your life. And you don’t have to say anything when it gets silent sometimes because you know exactly what the other person is feeling and that it-self just fills that space more than any simple words could. "

She continued, overcome with her imagination of a love that could be while Maria just listened closely to what love was really like for Liz.

"It's Where you look in their eyes and for that moment, the world just kinda stops and you’re just left within the moment and that’s all you want because you already know you’re future is in that person. The kind of love that is complete…forever.” Liz went on, not even knowing she had some sad tears in her eyes.

Maria just sat there, astounded at everything that her best friend was saying with such passion.

“Wow...” She told Liz, having a few fresh tears, herself.

“Liz. that was… I always thought you would find that kind of love, you know? Michael and I have our own definition of love and I guess it’s kinda like that but you… you know exactly what you should feel with someone and I remember how Grandma C. used to tell you that you would have that someday and I still believe it.”

Liz looked up at her, knowing what she was saying. That Liz hadn’t found that love and she knew it.

“I always thought I would too...” She admitted to herself as she sighed.

“Lizzie, sweetie you still can.” Maria continued and hugged her still teary-eyed friend. “I don’t see that light in your eyes I always expected to see when you’re in love when you’re with Kyle. So I’m asking you why I guess...” She asked Liz this in a quiet voice because she knew how sensitive she was on this subject.

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know Maria. Kyle is a decent guy, and someone I can have fun with. So when we are married we will have some good times. I know that.” Liz said plainly, without emotion.

“Chica maybe what you are looking for isn’t just fun. It’s that whole look into my eyes soul-mate thing that you just described. You can’t give up on that.” Maria squeezed her shoulder and Liz smiled.

“Maybe I’m not. Maybe Kyle and I can grow into that with time. I’m afraid if I drop him just because of some silly fantasy you only see on soaps and in movies, then it wouldn’t have been worth it when I don’t find it, and I would have ended up losing that companionship that I have with him.”

“But if you did find it then it would have been worth it, Liz. It would have been soo worth it to drop this guy that you are describing like a poodle.”

“But I guess I’ll never know that, will I?” Liz looked down and Maria knew that there was no sense in convincing her friend otherwise tonight. But she would keep working on her.

“Lizzz!” The two friends looked toward the doorway when a little adorable blonde girl jumped on the bed between the two and laughed.

“Hey Cassie! You all done with your nap?” Liz asked brushing her fingers through her hair. She really was getting attached to this little girl who she had only just met and Maria smiled at the interaction.

She just nodded. “Zoe told me I had guests.”

“Well, that’s right in some ways. Darlin’ I’d like you to meet Maria Deluca. She’s my best friend.” Liz introduced her and Cassie turned around and smiled big.

“Hi Ria!” Maria laughed, this little spitfire reminded her of herself when she was younger and she even used the nickname Liz sometimes used.

“Well hello there. It’s nice to meet you Miss Cassie. I hear you just had a birthday!” Cassie smiled. She liked this lady already and was excited to meet new people.

“Yep! I’m a big girl now.” She said proudly, and the two women laughed.

“Yes you are. And no big girl is complete without her own purse.” Maria winked at her and went to retrieve something out of her suitcase. She hadn’t come empty handed when she found out there was a birthday girl around.

The five year old's eyes grew big and bigger when she saw the little pink purse with rhinestones with a cat stitched into it that Maria handed to her.

“Mine?!” She exclaimed as a question as she held it to her chest.

“Yours.” Maria replied. She was so cute!

“Thanks! I’m gonna show Zoe!” She hugged Maria and then hopped off the bed to speed down the hallway, almost knocking her brother down. “Hey! Where’s the fire!” Max laughed watching her run down the stairs, making sure she didn’t’ fall.

Maria just grinned. “She is so adorable! How on earth is she related to Kyle?” Liz just gave her a mock glare and smiled.

She laughed and shook her head. “I can’t believe you, you always are prepared and it’s always something related to cats.” Liz commented. “Speaking of which, what about mine?”

“Ah, Gatsby’s at Mrs. Landings. You know how she always wants him to come over to play with her granddaughter so she was delighted to keep him for a few days. That’s not a problem is it?”

”No that’s fine. Gatsby loves Mrs. Landings because she always feeds him tuna.” Liz laughed.

“Akhem.” Michael coughed, entering the room breaking up the private party and Max followed.

“Hey guys, I see you two have met.” Liz commented and Michael nodded.

“Yeah Maxwell and I are old friends now right?” Michael winked, joking and Max smiled. They had talked some downstairs and found out they shared some interests in sports and movies, although they did have their own opinions about movies with martial arts in them.

“That’s great! But who is this old friend?” Maria smiled, getting up to hold her hand out to this devastatingly handsome man, who she caught staring at her best friend.

“Hey it’s nice to meet you, I’m Max Evans. You must be Maria.” They shook hands and she gave a confused look.

“You Kyle’s brother?”

He nodded.

“Well I hope you aren’t anything like him.”

Max started laughing because he now knew that Maria and Michael were definitely made for each other, especially after he talked about her downstairs just now.

Liz just rolled her eyes at Maria’s comments, she meant it good naturedly but it still kind of made her uncomfortable how no one seemed to like her fiancé but her.

But she was used to it, and that was the sad thing.

“Don’t worry babe, he’s nothing at all like him.” Michael stated, slapping Max on the back.

Maria nodded in understanding. “Well you’re sister is a doll and isn’t like him either. You sure Kyle isn’t adopted?” She laughed but stopped when she saw Max’s face fall.

What? Did she say something?

Liz had kept an eye on Max and saw the sad yet terrified expression on Max’s face when Maria had just said that.

“Max?” She wanted to ask if he was alright. It was weird how she could sense what he was feeling…

“Oh yeah, right.” Max faked a laugh. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some... stuff to do.” He hurried out of the room, worried about sounding rude but he had to just go see Cassie.

Now.

Liz just looked around, torn between going after Max and staying with her friends.

“Wonder what that was all about.” Maria shrugged. “Liz I did not know Kyle had a brother! And a hott one at that!”

“Hey…” Michael interrupted.

Maria just kissed the air at him and he smiled. He had no reason to be jealous although he still got that way, and she found it sweet.

“Yeah, I didn’t know it either until yesterday. Max and Kyle really don’t get along…” Liz explained, looking towards the door.

The couple both caught her being distracted and shared a look.

After a minute or so, Michael spoke up again. “Listen baby, we gotta go see my aunt since we are in town and all. She says we never come see her.

“Oh I love your Aunt Sophia! She always makes the best cakes when we’re there.” Maria clapped her hands and looked to Liz. “Come with us??”

Liz wanted to go see Michael’s aunt again but she was actually wanting some alone time with Max, to find out if he was okay and possibly get him to open up to her so she could finally found out what was going on in this family.

“Oh I’d love to, but I think I am just gonna hang around here today and relax. Tell her I said hello though?” She smiled and looked towards the door again and Maria gave her a knowing look. ‘

So Liz wanted to stay here to stay here with Kyle’s brother huh? This could be interesting. No one could deny the spark in the room when they were standing in front of each other.

“Oh. Okay we will girl.” Maria replied as they were walking out of the bedroom. “Say hello to Max again for me.” She winked and left Liz standing there wide-eyed.

She couldn’t get anything past her best friend.

…………..…

“And it has a secret partment too!” Cassie exclaimed as she showed her big brother the present that that nice lady Ria gave her. She was sitting in his lap on the floor as he had his arms around her.

“That’s cool sweetie. Maria was nice to give that to you. Did you thank her?” He asked, always wanting to make sure she turned out right.

She nodded. “She’s a nice lady. Liz is too. I like Liz.” Cassie said smiling, still playing with the zippers and things in her new purse.

“Me too darlin.’ Me too.” Max whispered, smiling.

He loved talking with his niece like this and she reminded him so much of Isabel it was uncanny. He just wished that he could tell her that he was her big uncle instead of big brother but it was confuse her right now in her life. He wasn’t going to let his parents keep this secret on who she really was from her.

No that wasn’t going to happen again. He wouldn’t let it.

“Max?” He was shocked out of his thoughts by another voice that he could listen to all day.

Liz stood in the doorway just in awe watching him with Cassie. He was so gentle with her and loving and she was wondering why he wasn’t like that all the time. Times like these she already had observed how he was so open and real but then he could also be closed off and secretive.

She didn’t know which Max was real but she found herself infatuated with both of them.

“Hey.” He nodded looking back down, turning Cassie around facing her other toys.

“Everything okay?” Liz asked, bending down and sitting next to them looking down at Cassie playing.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” Max knew why she was asking seeing as he practically bolted out of there when Maria mentioned one of the words that plagued him. He really needed to get a grip but was touched that Liz cared.

Liz saw he was stalling. “Oh I was just making sure. You seemed to hurry out of there earlier.”

“Oh that... Please apologize to Maria and Michael; I just had to come see this little princess right here.” He covered his lie with a smile as he tickled his niece in front of him as she giggled.

She smiled with him although she knew that was just a cover. She decided not to push it though and joined Max in tickling Cassie until they were all three on the floor laughing. After she was in tears from laughing so much she decided to turn the tables and start tickling Liz in which then Max joined in until Liz was the one rolling around in laughter begging.

She felt giddy when Max had his hands on her. Granted, she was the most ticklish person in the world and he figured that out, but she felt that giddiness from something deep inside her. Kinda like everything was fitting into place.

She got up with thought of Kyle though, feeling guilty. Cassie interrupted her thoughts though asking to go outside.

“Sure darlin’. Come with us, Liz?” Max asked sincerely. He had already started forgetting the thoughts that clouded his mind a little while ago and was actually having a good time with these two ladies.

Liz nodded, smiling and they headed out the door to spend the day together with a special little girl holding both of their hands.

…………………

Tess giggled as Kyle smoked a cigarette while they were still in bed.

“Baby, why do you always smoke after we get done?” She asked, twirling her curly blonde hair with dark roots around her finger.

“Why do you always ask so many questions?” He asked back, cocking his eyebrow.

She just huffed. “Questions are a way of finding out stuff I want to know. Like when are you going to dump my plain cousin to be with a real woman?” She slid her hand down his stomach, knowing he would reply to this one after that.

“Tess, get off me for a second would you? I have something to tell you.” He sat up looking at her, knowing she would be pissed at him for what he was about to tell her.

“What?”

“I’m going to ask Liz to marry me.” He declared looking down at his hands.

Tess just burst out laughing. “Oh my god Kyle, those cigarettes have gone to your head making you crazy! You’ve already done that as I recall.”

But she stopped laughing at his next words.

“I know but I’m going to ask her to marry me within the next month….”

TBC….

As promised, it got here a little bit sooner than later lol. Let me know what you think as always and you guys are beautiful for leaving FB.

until next time

Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..


Part 8

“So you are the vanilla type too, huh?” Max was sitting with Liz on a bench in the garden as they had been for about two hours now, while Cassie played around in the flowers.

That girl never ran out of energy.

“Yeah, ever since I was a little girl, Maria always used to tease me about it.” Liz laughed.

“Well, its nothing to be embarrassed about Liz, vanilla ice cream is a classic.”

“THANK YOU. See? I knew I’d find someone one day who would see it like me.” She playfully smacked his leg, with her heart racing as they both blushed at the contact.

Liz was enjoying this time just talking with Max, getting to know him and falling even deeper now that she knew a little more on what was behind that strong exterior and the walls he seemed to have up. She saw the way his eyes lit up when he was talking about nothing like riding a motorcycle on the open road, or watching the sunset over the hills in the middle of nowhere. Whatever his problems were, she was glad she could get him to tell her things that made him smile because they made her smile too.

Max just was thankful that he was able to breathe right now as this beautiful creature in front of him looked up at him. In the past couple of hours he had learned that she was a sap for romantic films, that she loved teaching children and seeing the excitement in their eyes at learning something new and incredible, and that she too loved vanilla ice cream. For this one moment he had forgot everything that was rolling around in his head and just enjoyed existing. It was the first time in ages that he forgot about feeling guilty for living.

Just for this moment though.

“Max?” Liz bit her lip.

“Yeah?” He looked over at her, sensing that she was unsure of what she wanted to say and he had a pretty good idea what it was.

“You don’t have to answer this, seeing how you just met me but…” She hesitated; she didn’t want him to think that she was prying.

”It’s okay, I feel like I’ve known you for a long time now already.” Max was surprised at his own revelation as he saw her shocked face.

“Sorry.. I…”

”No, I know exactly what you mean.” She did.

He felt so familiar to her, like they just were meant to be comfortable around each other like that and it made her giddy that he shared in that connection, scary as it was.

“What were you going to say?” He put his hand on hers, overstepping his boundaries he knew, but he just couldn’t help himself. She was just too beautiful.

“Oh...” Trying to focus after feeling his hand on hers, Liz got the nerve. “What happened? I mean, in your family... between you and your parents. Kyle. I just sense a lot of pain there.” She stopped short when she saw him look away.

Was he ready to tell her about his demons and why he couldn’t be close to his parents anymore?

Was she ready to hear what a monster he was?

“There are a lot of bad things that have happened, Liz. Things that I haven’t been able to talk about with anyone for a really long time.” He kept his eyes downcast as she placed a hand on his shoulder, giving some of her strength to him, without even knowing about the situation. He just covered her hand with his as he looked back at her.

“I understand. I just want to help and be there for you if you need me.” Liz looked into his eyes not just seeing that pain that was there but looking past that and seeing hope.

“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.” He gave her hand a squeeze. He wanted to tell her, get it off his chest. But was it time?

He looked back at her at a moment of decision. A decision where if he went one way, he would never speak of what happened in his life and what he was feeling…he would live the rest of his life bearing an unbearable burden. Alone.

If he went the other way then he could get everything out in the open, confessing his fears and his doubts to someone he thought that would be so understanding. He would have someone to confide in, maybe even help him overcome all the guilt and pain. Did he really deserve that though?

He looked back up at her and saw understanding in her eyes and the small smile she gave him.

He made his decision.

“Liz…”

“Nahhhhhhh! Maaaaaaaaaxxxxxxx!”

The two jumped up when they heard Cassie screaming, crying from the other side of the garden. She was on the ground, holding her foot in extreme pain.

Max was there in two seconds picking her up off of the ground as she clanged to his neck.

“Oh my God.” Liz took off Cassie’s sock immediately when she saw all the blood that had soaked through the thing.

“What’s wrong with her?!” Max was in panic as he held her tighter, rocking her as she kept crying and clutching at his shirt.

“It’s a pretty deep cut. It looks really bad; she must have stepped on something around here…”

Looking around, Liz saw a very sharp rock with a little bit of blood on it and knew that Cassie must have stepped on it with just her sock-feet since her shoes were in a pile next to the steps nearby.

“Here.” Liz wrapped the soaked sock around Cassie’s foot to try stopping the bleeding for a moment. It looked like might have to have stitches because she had seen some pretty bad cuts from her students in the past.

Max just looked down at the white that was quickly turning red with blood as the color drained from his face. He hadn’t been watching her too closely and she got hurt.

Because of him.

Liz looked at Max’s drained face but refrained from asking him what was wrong because they needed to get her inside.

“Max.”

His face still looked blank as Cassie continued to cry. Liz stroked her hand through Cassie’s hair. “Shhh…sweetie, its okay. It’s okay.”

“Max!” He finally looked up at her, as if he was shocked to see her there. He had been in another time and place that was filled with red blood.

“What do we need to do?”

“We need to get her inside and to the hospital; she needs to have a doctor to take a look at that.” Max just nodded at her, doing what she said as he started trying to calm Cassie down.

……………….

“Baby!” Kyle ducked as another object went flying at his head.

“Don’t you baby ME Kyle! I can’t believe you!”

Tess Harding was furious. She thought that by the time her lover and that pathetic Liz Parker tied the knot, she would have had him convinced not to go through with it.

But within a month!? No way. Those kinds of schemes took longer than that.

Kyle made his way over to where she was, next to her dresser and grabbed her hand before the next picture frame could be thrown towards his head.

“Calm down okay?” He held her hands to his chest and hugged her, kissing her neck.

“I love you. And that incredible body. Now let me explain to the both of you.” Kyle smirked, looking over her and Tess smiled. He did have a way with words. She sighed and nodded, both of them sitting on his bed.

“Do you remember Jonathan Brooks? Of Brooks and Kates law firm?”

She nodded, with her eyebrows crinkled. “He was the guy you had an interview with a couple of weeks ago, right?”

”Yeah. Well word is that Kates wants out and Brooks wants a new partner. Kenneth Landers told me that he told him that he was interested in me, but that I wasn’t grounded enough. Landers thinks that being a husband and all that would make him respect me more. I mean can you imagine how much I would be making as a partner of a firm instead of being Jesse’s fucking gofer all the time?? I’d be on some major cases, baby.”

Tess just looked blank, trying to take in all that information and names.

“Well if that’s why you’re doing it then I don’t see why you can’t just marry me.” She was already seeing dollar signs. If they were married then she would share in Kyle’s newfound wealth.

“Heh. Tess, I love you and you know that but you are just too good and delicious to be a wife. I thought you liked being a mistress? The thrill of getting caught just adds to our hotness together.” Kyle smirked, already starting to persuade her again.

She just gave in to his kisses, not wanting to argue with him about little Miss Prissy. She only had one more day with him before he had to go back to her and she was going to take full advantage of it.

All while coming up with another scheme of her own to get his last name.

……………….

“How would you like a sucker little lady? You’ve been an excellent patient.” Dr. Meadows smiled down at the brave little girl sitting down in front of her. She had been trying to fight tears as she had stitched her foot up while holding the pretty young woman’s hand next to her.

Cassie nodded, sniffling and looked at Liz who smiled at her. She was so proud of her and she deserved a lot of suckers. She let her go with the Doctor to go get that treat and looked through the door to the chair in the hallway which Max was sitting in with his head in his hand.

“Cassie’s going to be just fine, Max. What’s wrong?” Liz asked, bending down next to him.

It literally scared her to see his pale face after he had seen Cassie bleeding, when she had started to clean her up, and on the drive to the hospital. At first she thought that maybe Max was just faint at seeing blood, or seeing his little sister hurt, but she began to think differently as his silence continued and his facial expressions turned to a look of terror and sadness.

“I should have watched her better, this is all my fault.” Max said, running his hand over his face.

“Max, how is this your fault?” Liz didn’t want him blaming himself for this and she shook her head. They were both outside to look out for her.

“It is. If I had been keeping a better eye on her instead of making goo goo eyes at my brother’s fiancé then this wouldn’t’ have happened...” Max rambled off realizing what he had just said. He was really losing it and looked away, embarrassed.

Liz just sat on her knees stunned. Had he just said what she thought he did?? She wanted to make sure she heard right.

“You were…”

“Max! Liz!” A voice of a concerned father was heard from down the hallway and the two raised up to go meet them. They had Lorenzo call them to tell them what happened earlier.

“Where is she?” Diane swallowed and held onto her husbands arm. Lorenzo told her that everything was going to be okay, that it was just a cut that needed more tending too but she couldn’t help being worried her baby was in pain.

“How did this happen? Who was watching her!?” Mr. Evans raised his voice and looked directly at Max.

”Phillip.. not now.” Mrs. Evans was more concerned about her daughter right now than what had happened.

Max spoke up, dejected. “I’m sorry it was me…”

“Sir, it was the both of us who were watching her at the time that it happened. I’m so sorry, we just looked away for a few seconds and…”

“Liz, it’s alright. These things happen, you just have to learn that you have to keep at least one eye on someone so full of energy.” Diane smiled. She wasn’t blaming anyone because children got scrapes through life, she just was about to cringe though that Cassie could be in pain from stitches. “Now where is she?”

“Mommy!” Sucker in hand; Cassie waved at her mother from Dr. Meadows arms. She had charmed the nurses in the break room when getting her suckers, so they had stayed a few minutes more as Cassie told them how she got hurt when she was trying to be a ballerina, dancing in just her socks.

Max kept his gaze on Liz who was blushing from telling his mother that he wasn’t the one to take the blame but both of them. His heart was so touched that she would do that for him even though she didn’t have to.

Liz finally looked back up at him and smiled nodding, showing him that his little sister was okay and in the arms of her parents now. She was also what he said about making goo goo eyes at her, but had also noted that he said ‘his brother’s fiancé.’ She started feeling guilty.

“You can go now if you’d like, we just have to stick around and fill out a little paperwork.” Diane said and Phillip just looked down. He hadn’t meant to look at Max that way as if he were accusing him of something, but he had just been upset at the time. He started to apologize, but as always, pride got in the way.

“Yeah. We can take it from here. Thank you for bringing her here.” Mr. Evans said, looking at Liz.

“Well, she’s one tough cookie.” Liz said, pulling at Cassie’s nose and grinning as she continued to lick the sucker.

“Yeah… Very brave,” was all Max said as he winked at her. He sighed, finally accepting she was okay.

………….…

A few minutes later, in a car ride of silence, Liz noticed that Max wasn’t driving in the direction of the Evan’s home.

“Max? Where are we going?” She asked, finally. They hadn’t spoke a word since they left the hospital.

He thought about it for a minute. After what happened with Cassie, he knew he needed to get better for her sake, to heal. He thought he might have found a way to do that.

“I want you to meet somebody.”

TBC…..

Thought I would update this earlier than planned because I was in a more creative mood than usual heh.

Sherry! - Tackles.. welcome! how are you doing??

And thanks to everone who has continued leaving feedback and bumps and of course the lurkers! You all are wonderful and come back soon for the next update. As always, let me know what you think and all that stuff.

Until next time
Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I'm currently using. That's all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. 'sigh' need I say more?..


Part 9

Flashback

"Max, I don't care where we go, let's just get out of here!" Isabel was still crying and trying to control herself for the baby's sake.

"Isabel... Calm down okay? Tell me what happened." Max was frantically trying to get out of her what happened between her and her parents inside their house as he pulled up the driveway. She had got in the car hysterical and it wasn't good for his sister to be upset; she was due any minute.

"NO! I can't…not now. Let's just get out of here, okay?! And if you don't start the car right now then I will." She gave him a look of determination and he caved.

"Just calm down. You're nine months pregnant. You are not driving."

"Then just drive. Please?" She whispered with a sob.

He just sat there in the car with the rain pouring down and the thunder rolling and nodded. It was really bad out there tonight and the roads were flooded but he couldn't risk his sister driving herself in this weather. She was almost a week late and could go into labor any minute. And she was pleading with him.

"Okay."

……………….

Max gripped the steering wheel as his knuckles turned white. He hadn't talked about it with anyone else for so long that he was used to shutting down when he even thought about it.

But not this time.

He had to get past being so alone in his own life and not letting anyone it. It was going to end up hurting the one little girl he never in a million years wanted to hurt.

They were at the cemetery. Liz's eyebrows furrowed as she looked over at Max, who was still so very pale. She didn't know why he had brought her here, or who was buried here that was important to him, but she wanted to be there for him.

She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Max?"

He took a shaky breath as he got out of the car. "Come on."

She followed silently behind him as he went down a long concrete path that led to a small headstone. She stayed there, waiting for him to make the first move. After a few moments passed, she grabbed his right hand.

"Liz., this is my sister." He stepped aside with his head dropped so she could see the engraved stone more clearly.

She gasped.

ISABEL CASSANDRA EVANS
1980-1998
Beloved Daughter & Sister

"Oh my God. Max, I'm so sorry." Liz felt tears prick at the back of her eyelids. Was this another sister? She had never thought that this was what was plaguing Max all this time. How could she have known?

Max just kept his head down and shook his head. "Don't be."

"Max? What happened to her?" Liz walked closer to him and squeezed the hand she was still holding a little tighter.

He just nodded, as if he was giving himself permission to go ahead and reveal all his pain to move on. He pulled her over to a bench nearby, still holding her hand and kept his eyes on a daisy on the ground.

Her favorite flowers were daisies, he remembered.

"Isabel and I were twins. She always told me to never keep anything in because whatever it was would keep building until I eventually lost myself somewhere. That's what happened after she... after she passed away."

Liz nodded, encouraging him to go on as she gave him a sad smile.

He went on. "Five years ago everything was normal. I had everything I wanted at the time. A wonderful family, a full scholarship to the college I wanted to go to, and a new baby niece on the way…"

Liz put her hand up to her mouth. "Cassie? She's Isabel's daughter?" It all dawned on her.

Max just nodded, still keeping his eye on that daisy.

"One night it was storming really bad and I hurried home to bring some groceries I picked up for my mom. As I drove up the driveway I saw my sister, nine months pregnant, running out of the house crying with my mom trying to go after her with the same expression. I panicked, thinking the worst, but when just Isabel got in the car crying I didn't know what to think. She wouldn't tell me right then. She just told me to drive."

Liz listened to the story and she could tell that the whole scene was playing out in Max's head right now. She could see how much pain it was causing him to remember.

"Max you don't have to te..."

"She told me to drive so I did. I couldn't let her drive, her being almost due and it pouring down rain. So I did. I was going to go wherever she wanted me to as long as she would calm down. While we were going down the road she told me what happened, the whole story. I tried to get her to calm down still but she could barely even speak she was so upset and that's when the contractions started…"

"Oh my..." A tear fell down Liz's cheek. She didn't know what exactly happened yet but she had an idea in which direction it was headed.

Flashback

Max could barely think with what she had just told him, let alone drive in this hard rain but he kept on. He couldn't believe it. They were…? No. Maybe she was just overreacting to something that she only thought was true. He had heard that pregnancy hormones could make women over-emotional at times.

"Isabel. Are you sure??"

She just nodded. "God! Yes Max! I saw the proof with my own two…Ahhhhh!"

"What!? Are you okay???" Max had a hard time focusing on what was wrong with his sister and the baby and his eyes on the road as the rain kept pouring.

"Max... I think my water just broke."

"As soon as she said those words I turned the car around and was heading for the hospital. She said there was something, something wrong, that the contractions were already coming too fast."

Max shut his eyes, trying to remember what was to happen next. He would have never been prepared for the turn of events that would change his world forever. Liz just continued to squeeze his hand, trying to give him some support.

"The hospital was about half an hour away but Isabel's contractions just kept coming and I had to take a detour because some roads were blocked. I knew a shortcut off the main road that not many people took at night because it was so curvy but I thought it would help if we got to the hospital quicker..."

……………..

"Max this isn't the way to the hospital is it?" Isabel kept up her breathing and she held on to the sides of the seat. She was scared and excited at the same time. She had had some horrible news tonight but her baby girl was on the way!

"It's a shortcut. It will get us there quicker."

"I can't see anything! The rains too hard… maybe we should pull over!" Isabel cried through another contraction.

"Isabel you need a doctor! I don't know how to deliver a baby!" Just then she screamed from the intensity of the contraction and Max looked over for a split second to make sure she was okay.

He didn't see the telephone fall right in front of him until it was too late.

"MAX! WATCH OUT!"

……………….

"Oh my God. Max…" Liz gasped again as she let a tear fall as Max told her about the car crashing over the telephone pole and flipping in the air over and over until the small Taurus landed upside down.

Liz stared at the ground trying to control herself for Max's sake. What were you supposed to say to someone telling you something like this? What were you supposed to do? He was next to her just trying not to break down and she felt helpless as he continued.

"I must have been knocked out for at least an hour or so and I was on the ground. It had stopped raining a little bit. I looked over and Isabel was on the ground next to me, still breathing through contractions and I crawled over to her. She grabbed onto my hand and I was amazed that she was the one to get us both out of the car because she seemed to be in and out of consciousness. There was so much blood, Liz. So much blood."

He knew that he was telling this story longer than usual, with more detail on what happened that night. If someone asked what had happened before he never said a word or just would say a few sentences. But the girl holding his hand tightly deserved to know the whole truth.

"I couldn't leave to call for help and the road was blocked. No one was around for miles so I had to deliver Cassie. I put her in Isabel's arms and she smiled at her. Through all the pain she was in, she smiled. And then she died right after that."

Max started crying silently and Liz sat on her knees on the ground in front of him to hug him. She was crying too. She couldn't believe all he had been through and now understood why he was the way he was.

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
oh and weightless then maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

So tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe
in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you feel
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here

"Max…"

She still didn't know what to say but she hugged him tighter than she had anyone before, determined to somehow, someway help him to heal.

……………

Diane Evans stood behind a tree holding a bouquet of daisies that she wanted to bring to her daughter. She was walking that way when she was surprised to see her son crying in the arms of her other son's bride-to-be. She noticed at the hospital that they had become like friends.

Tears fell down her cheeks as she saw how torn he looked clutching on to her and how pale.

She knew that he blamed himself for what happened but she knew it was all her fault, really. She even tried to tell him that after it happened but he kept blaming himself and didn't want to talk to any of them after he knew the truth. He had dealt with this all alone and she always worried that he would keep it inside, not confiding in anyone.

He was confiding now as the small but beautiful Liz Parker was trying to soothe him.

She felt a small pang of jealousy that he was hugging a person he had just met but hadn't touched or hugged his own mother in years. If she still was allowed to even be called that.

"I'm so sorry Isabel." She whispered and quietly walked away; leaving the young man she still considered her son, to grieve and another to help him since that's what he needed.

…………….…

"How come you never talk about your family baby?" Tess asked, getting Kyle a beer.

He just stared at the game on TV and shrugged. "Nothing to talk about."

"Oh..." She just looked at the screen and then back to him.

"Kyle... I know about what happened to your sister." She had asked around and had his background checked into by one of her ex-boyfriends who was a private detective.

"What the fuck, Tess!? You've been checking up on me now?!" Kyle threw the remote down on the floor and parts went everywhere. She flinched and covered her face.

"I HAD TO! You never tell me anything and you're always so closed off! I feel like all I am is a fuck to you!" She stood up to him with her mascara running down her face. He had to know the truth about how she was feeling. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Well maybe you are!" The words were out of his mouth before he knew it and a red mark in the shape of a handprint was already showing up on his face. She had smacked him. Hard.

"Ah damnit, Tess! Tess wait!" He grabbed her before she could go out the door and pulled her back to the couch. "Look, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"That's not good enough!" Before she knew it, as always after a heated argument his lips were crashing down on hers and their clothes were half-way off.

They stopped before it went all the way as usual because she was still crying. He sighed.

"Look baby, my family is hard for me to talk about okay? Isabel. Isabel and I were close at one time and it was hard for me when what happened... happened. It's just shit I don't like to talk about okay?"

She nodded. "What about your brother?"

His face got hard as he stared off into the distance. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a brother. Come on"

Tess sighed because knew that that was all she was going to get out of him tonight as he led her into the bedroom.

……………….

"Hey, thanks for… you know. I'm sorry for breaking down like that; I didn't intend to go that far." Max gave a small frown and Liz shook her head.

"Max, I told you. Don't apologize okay? I'm glad you told me and I want to be here for you. I'm just so sorry that you had to go through that."

Max couldn't believe he had just fallen apart like that on her but she had held him. No one had ever done that before, mostly because he hadn't let them.

"Does Cassie know..?" Liz asked as they walked to the car.

He just silently shook his head. "My parents got custody after Isabel died and they adopted her. She will know one day though; She can't not know about her real mother. I owe that to Isabel to make sure she knows." Max said the last sentence quietly as he shut the car door.

Liz just nodded her head and placed her hand on Max's on the gear shift.

He half-smiled and that grumbling in his stomach started again. He had felt like a weight had been lifted and that this amazing young woman next to him had lifted it.

TBC….

Meant to update this earlier today but I havnen't had much of a chance to get online but better late then never right? heh. Anyways, let me know what you think as usual and all the feedback and bumps you have been giving me is wonderfully appreciated. See post above from the other day

until next time,
Jen

Author: Liz Evans a.k.a Jen
Title: Here is Gone
Category: Max and Liz AU (no aliens)
Rating: PG-13 - mild NC-17
Disclaimer: I own not a thing. Well, maybe except for this computer, this keyboard, and this mouse that I’m currently using. That’s all a gal needs anyways right?
Email: DreamgirlJen@hotmail.com
Feedback: Very very very appreciated and the inspiration needed to write this story
Summary: Max and Liz in my own crazy world that I have created. ‘sigh’ need I say more?..

Part 10

“Onee…. Twooo…. Freee…Fooour…” Cassie counted behind the bed as she peeked through two fingers on her little hands. She and her other best friend now, Maria, were playing hide and go seek upstairs while Michael was downstairs with Lorenzo eating the rest of his Aunt’s pie.

Maria hid in the closet peeking through the slits and smiled as she watched the little girl count. She loved children and wanted some of her own one day... with Michael. The thought entered her mind and she was blown away.

With Michael?

She had never really thought about marriage until him. She was always the wild one between her and Liz, always just having fun with the guys and never getting that serious. She hadn't planned on settling down.

It was Michael though. He was like her other half she had been looking for while she was having all that ‘fun.’

She heard the counting still going from across the room as she squinted to see what time it was.

7:30 p.m.

Where was Liz? Or maybe she should be asking where Max was as well.

“Ha Ha! I found you again Ria!” The five year old excitedly clapped her hands as she crawled around on the floor even with her bandaged foot. Maria shook her head laughing. This little girl was good at this game.

She reminded her lots of herself when she was little, because she had a lot of spunk and didn’t let a little foot injury get her down.

“That you did sweetie! That’s three in a role. You’re good even if you have to crawl.” Maria laughed as she got up out of the closet floor and brushed her pants off a little. Cassie just smiled big and sat in the floor smiling as she claimed her victory against the much older woman.

She liked winning but just loved the game itself and whoever she got to play with her.

“Play again?” The little girl asked with wide eyes, and before Maria could answer Michael walked in the room and interrupted them.

“Having fun ladies?” He and Maria kissed lightly and Cassie smiled. She knew that most kids her age thought that boys had cooties and kissing was gross but her mommy explained that it was a way that expressed love between older boys and girls.

She thought Mike must really love Ria as they kissed again.

Maria went back to her thoughts earlier of Michael possibly being ‘the one’.

Then remembered they were in a presence of a child as she pushed him away somewhat.

“Akhem. Yes, we ladies were having a great time weren’t we?” Maria looked down at Cassie and winked and she nodded.”

“Yes Mike! I beat Ria three times!” She exclaimed and held up three fingers. This little girl was the only one ever allowed to call him Mike besides a few of his buddies from college and Maria if she wanted to but she preferred the terms spaceboy, Mikey, and Jackass on occasion. He smirked.

“Cassie! It’s time for your bath sweetie, I want to do it early since It will take longer because we can’t get your foot wet,” Diane came in and said as she picked up the little girl in her arms.

“Thank you Maria for playing with her, she really likes you.” She said making Maria smile.

“It’s no problem Mrs. Evans. We had fun didn’t we chica?” Cassie just nodded excitedly.

“Oh, please call me Diane.” Mrs. Evans insisted to the young couple. “Have either of you seen Liz or Max? Kyle just arrived back and was looking for Liz, and I want to apologize to my son for earlier. We were just all a little shook up and Phillip… well he can sometimes be…” She started to explain for her husband’s behavior as she looked down.

“It’s okay Diane. There’s no need to explain.” Maria interrupted.

It was their business the way they acted towards each other although she knew that her best friend wouldn’t accept that. She was one of a kind, always wanting to get involved to resolve things between people.

“Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse us.” Diane nodded toward the young lady and Cassie, who had fell asleep, to the bathroom to at least get washed up.

Maria sighed against Michael who moved his arms around her waist. “She’s a nice lady. Are you tired from playing?” he asked as he moved his hands a little around her stomach.

She just turned around and smiled.

“Not really. Just thought I’d wait for Liz, but its obvious she will be busy with both the Evans boys whenever she gets here.” She guessed and tilted her head back to kiss her boyfriend on the cheek.

“Well what ever is there to do then?” He asked coyly as he looked around the room he was staying in and if he has his way, that Maria would be staying in too.

She giggled and crossed the room to lock the door.

“Wanna play a little hide and seek of our own spaceboy?”

He was such a lucky guy.

“Later baby. Definitely Later.” He kissed her lips and he sighed as she asked what was up besides the obvious and he groaned as he let her finish giggling.

He should kill Kyle for this. “You’ll never guess what’s going on.”

………………..

“I’m sorry again uh… about…well back…” Max stumbled to find the words as he parked the car in the Evans’ driveway.

He had to apologize again for letting his emotions run wild like that. He had never broken down in front of anyone before, let alone to a beautiful angel who he had just met.

“Max.” She interrupted him and he looked up. “I’m so touched that you would share that with me because I can’t imagine how difficult it is for you to open up about it and you just met me. It must be really hard.”

“Well yeah it’s just I usually don’t really talk about it much.” He looked her right in the eyes for her to understand this would be better kept quiet around his family. He told her he didn’t talk about it much but he felt like that was the only thing he did talk about and think about ever since he got back in town.

She nodded. “You should though, I mean it’s not healthy to hold things in like that all the time and if you ever need to talk about this or anything else Max, like I told you, I’m here.”

He was overwhelmed by her kindness as he smiled at her.

“Thank you Liz. I can’t tell you how much that means to me and I want you to know that I’m not usually like this either. I mean, I don’t think about what happened, all the time. It’s just being back here, and around this time that gets to me.” He explained as he placed his hand on hers unconsciously.

He wanted her to know that this wasn’t the only side of him.

Liz just smiled and raised her eyebrow, trying to forget how his hand on hers was affecting her. Here he was talking to her as a friend and she could think of nothing other than how he looked getting out of the shower.

“Oh I know there’s a lot more to you than other people see Max Evans. I hope that I can figure all your sides out.” She blushed with the half-hidden meaning there.

Max couldn’t do anything but stare at her incredibly soft lips. Well, they looked soft anyways. God he wished he knew if they felt the same way.

Liz bit her lip as she stared into his eyes. What the hell was happening to her?

He couldn’t help but say her name as she bit her lip. “Liz…”

“Liz!” She almost shrieked as the car door opened and startled her.

“Kyle! Oh you startled me!” She said as he helped her get out of the car.

“No hi honey welcome home?” He kissed her cheek.

Liz just faked a little laugh. “Hi honey, welcome home.”

“Where were you? My mom said her and dad got home from the hospital a couple hours ago and that you left before they did.” He asked, looking his brother straight in the eye as he got out of the car.

“Well um... I was starving for some Italian food so Max here was kind enough to take me. Thank you.” She just looked him in the eye and nodded. She knew he probably wouldn’t want to discuss where they had really been and could see she was right by the appreciation showed in his face.

“Oh really? Where did you go?” Liz looked around trying to think of something to say as Kyle’s eyes stared her down with a smile plastered on his face.

“We went to Rosaline’s. That new place on Chestnut street.” Max put his hands in his pockets and went around the car to go in the house.

“Okay. Well see ya Max, we have more important stuff to attend to than talking to you.” Kyle said, giving him a look that could kill as he walked his fiancé inside.

Liz was his.

He had no reason to be jealous of his brother who was of no competition when it came to ladies. He thought he was a god when it came to women. So let them hang out all they want, he knew who Liz would come to later.

“Kyle...” She said a little stern after Kyle’s comment.

“What?

“Would it have killed you to have said goodbye in a nicer way?” They stopped walking in the long hallway and she turned to him.

“Yep. And I’m too young to die.” He said and playfully, and tried to nibble on her ear as she laughed.

“I’m serious Kyle,” she smiled. “I consider Max a friend now and you want to be nice to my friends right? RIGHT?” She playfully punched his arm, emphasizing she would have her way.

He sighed. “Right. Who you choose as friends is up to you even if I don’t approve.” He rolled his eyes as she gave him another look that told him she was going to do what chicks do and get upset over every little thing. “All right. I’ll be nice to him.”

He was rewarded with a small kiss. Liz was still kinda ticked though, she cared for him but he could make her extremely angry with just a few words sometimes. She was just glad though he was going to try to get along with Max.

Maybe this was the first step to repairing whatever damage was done to their family.

She wondered if Kyle and Max got along before Isabel’s accident or if they had just always been this way. She was assuming for now that that was why Max stayed so distant from them but she needed to find out more before she came to a conclusion. She felt guilty for even wondering what Isabel was upset about that night before the crash though.

“Earth to Liz.” He waved his hand in front of her as she spaced out.

“Oh, I’m sorry?” Had he been talking to her this whole time?

“I said, DON’T YOU THINK WE SHOULD GO IN THE LIVING ROOM?” he said rather loudly as she jumped.

“Kyle, I just spaced for a second, I didn’t turn deaf.”

It was then he led her into the living room where there was a banner hanging that said ‘Congratulations’ and everyone was in there.

“Suuprise!” Cassie giggled in her pajamas in her mothers arms, as everyone turned around to see the couple coming through the entry way.

They had been chatting and didn’t hear them come in.

“Geez you guys are horrible at these types of things.” Kyle said, and looked at Liz who was smiling now.

Ohh yeah. Getting laid could be in tonight’s forecast for him as long as the first part of his plan went well.

He didn’t want to waste time so he got down on his knee and took Liz’s ring finger in his hand, rubbing his finger over their promise of engagement.

“Liz Anna Parker…” Kyle started…

“Her middle name is H-a-n-n-a-h.” Maria said loudly as Michael nudged her on the arm to be quiet.

“What? Getting the girls name right is 99% of successful proposals.” She whispered. She hoped her best friend said no to the upcoming question.

Liz looked down at Kyle rolling his eyes at Maria’s statement. She was sure Kyle knew her real middle name right? He just forgot to put an H… And what in Gods name was he doing?

Hadn’t they already been through this?

…………….

Max closed the door behind him as he entered the Evan’s house. He had spent a few minutes outside getting himself together after being with Liz this afternoon. He was almost shaking inside at how scared he was because he wanted her so much. He had never really opened up to anyone as much as he just did with her and he felt like he could tell her anything.

He just met her.

She was Kyle’s fiancée.

He sighed.

Well a lot could happen within the next few months; maybe she would see how much he didn’t deserve her.

She deserved someone who wouldn’t ever even look at another woman because quite frankly, other women he thought paled in comparison to Liz Parker. She deserved someone who would hold her all night and be happy to just listen to her breathe. Someone who

Words stopped him as he stopped in the entry way to the living room and Kyle was on his knees.

“Liz HANNAH Parker. Would you be my wife... in three weeks?”

Terror shook Liz as she looked down at the man who was asking to marry her as soon as possible. His eyes were sincere as were… well, part of his words, but THREE WEEKS??

She looked to her left to see Max leaning against the door frame and looking at her as if his life depended on her next words.

Looking back down at Kyle, she said the first words that came to her mind, listening to her head instead of her heart.

“Yes.”

TBC….

Don’t kill me… please lol. Sorry for the delay and sorta shortness of this part but I will be updating again more regularly. Just decided to go ahead and get this one out. As always, any feedback is always appreciated and I’m amazed that you guys have kept this thread going in my absence. Thank you so much and…

Until next time,
Jen