Title:First Love, Last Love
Category: AU no aliens. This story is primarily M/L, but also Michael and Maria with a hint of Isabel and Alex. Cameo appearances by Tess, Kyle, and Sheriff Valenti.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters from Roswell. Merely borrowing them.
Summary:What if an unfortunate tragedy gave you a chance with the only man you ever loved? Would you dare to cross that line? Or, would you settle for being just his friend? That same little nerd you were in high school.
"Liz…Liz…Liz…"
Elizabeth Parker fought through the fog of unconsciousness as she heard her name being urgently called. The voice sounded vaguely familiar. She might even recognize it, if not for the little men with hammers banging inside her head. Opening her eyes slowly, she gasped with pain. Her lungs felt like they were on fire and it was hard to breathe. It felt like a thousand pound elephant was taking a nap on her chest.
She whimpered in confusion while blinking back tears of fright and pain.
"Liz can you hear me?" The voice continued to call her.
"Maxwell this isn't the time or place," Michael shook his head sadly. "Maybe another day…"
"…No!" Max said in a strangled whisper. "I need to know now.
"Max," Liz's voice was husky as she raised her hand to get the attention of the two men arguing at the foot of her bed. That's when she noticed the weight of the cast from the wrist of her right arm to her elbow.
And that's when it all came flooding back to her.
"Oh God," she moaned, "Oh God."
"Liz!" Max moved quickly to crouch at the head of her bed. He stared bleakly at her bruised and swollen face. The grief shinning from her dark brown eyes was a mere reflection of the grief shinning in his.
"What happened Lizzie?" He asked brokenly, unknowingly slipping into his childhood nick name for her.
Liz blinked several times before answering him. Tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. "We…we… were driving along Crawford road when it started to rain," she stopped, sniffed and began again. "This truck, this truck…it just came from out of nowhere. It hit us head on. I didn't even have time to swerve." Liz stared blankly ahead with haunted eyes and the forgotten Michael shivered.
"What was she doing right before the truck hit?"
"For gods sake Maxwell don't!" Michael shuddered at the morbidly of his brother's question.
"She was laughing," Liz whispered brokenly. "She was laughing."
Several Hours Earlier:
"Ms. Parker your four o'clock is here," Gloria blared over the intercom.
"Give me five minutes and then send them in," Liz said biting back a frustrated sigh. It had been a long day and she was dead tired. She'd planned on knocking off early, only Gloria had added a last minute addition to her client list without asking. Her office in Carlsbad had been open little more than a month. If Liz wanted to be successful, she would just have to suck it up and deal.
Brushing imaginary specks of lint from her slightly wilted navy pant suit, Liz flipped open her compact and quickly refreshed her lip gloss. Assuming a position of confidence behind her desk, she buzzed the outer office.
"You can send 'em in Gloria."
"Right away Ms. Parker."
A few seconds later there was a brief tap on the door.
"Please come in," Liz called and watched the door swing inward. With a practiced smile on her face, she waited for her clients to be revealed.
Her gasp of shock however, was one hundred percent real.
"Max!" Liz exclaimed with genuine pleasure. Before she could stop herself, her feet had carried her around the desk and into his arms.
"It's good to see you too Lizzie," he said sincerely while returning her hug.
"Max, I'm sure she doesn't like to be called Lizzie anymore," said a very pregnant Tess Evans as she stepped from behind him.
"Umm, wow." Liz stared at Tess's stomach in fascinated horror. She'd heard through the grapevine that the two of them had gotten married after high school. However, no one had told her about this.
"I know," Tess giggled, her blue eyes shinning with happiness. "And I'm only four months. We thinks its twins."
"That's great." Liz hoped she sounded sincere.
On some level she was. Deep inside, where she'd accepted a long time ago that Max would never be hers.
"Please have a seat," she offered, before reseating herself behind her desk. As soon as Max and Tess were comfortable she got straight down to business.
"So what are you guys looking for?"
Tess crinkled her nose before speaking. "Something…not too big. But not too small at the same time. I want something unique, but still family oriented. If that makes any sense." She shrugged.
"Hmm, let's see," Liz opened a folder and began flipping through listings. She handed several to Tess.
Max was silent as he studied Liz in quiet bemusement. The years had been kind to her. More than kind if he were being honest. She was no longer that same little nerd who had tutored him in high school.
Back then, she'd been reed thin. Now, she had curves all in the right places. He'd noticed this during their brief hug. She'd also gotten rid of her glasses. Her eyes used to look so tiny and insignificant behind those large coke bottle frames. Now, they looked large, luminous, intriguing. A man could get lost in them.
Where in the hell did that come from, Max wondered confusedly.
"Max, honey. Do you like any of these?" Tess frowned at his inattention.
"Oh, umm, let me take a closer look," he said leaning forward.
Liz eyed him strangely before mentally shrugging. She'd felt the weight of his gaze for several moments. She could guess why too. Like milk, getting rid of her glasses and braces did the body good. Or so she'd been told by one of her former classmates when she first moved back to Roswell.
Of course he'd been trying to ask her out at the time.
"I really don't like any of these," Max shook his head. "Too much like Mom's." He was referring to the ranch style house he'd grown up in and currently resided.
"If you don't mind me asking, why the sudden move?" Liz asked curiously.
"Oh, that's right you wouldn't know. Michael got married last year. With the baby or babies arriving soon," Max smiled and reached over to gently rub Tess's extended belly, "Rancho Evans is getting a little crowded."
"Who in the hell married Michael?" Liz sputtered.
No sooner had the words passed her lips than she wanted to kick herself for being so tactless. Still, she remembered Michael from high school. He was no prince charming.
Max and Tess laughed uproariously over Liz exclamation and her face flamed heatedly.
"What I meant was—"
"—it's ok." Max smiled charmingly putting her at ease. "He eloped with a Journalist who was doing yet another story on the infamous Roswell Crash. Her name is Maria DeLuca. You two should meet. I think you'd really hit it off."
"I'd like that," Liz said smiling at his thoughtfulness. Since returning to Roswell she hadn't had a chance to make many friends.
"That's my hubby, so thoughtful and kind," Tess jested, then gave Max a quick peck on the lips. The two of them shared a loving look while holding hands.
Liz watched this with a sad heart and an outward smile. She'd known since high school she'd never have a chance with Max. Only now, that fact had been truly cemented.
Liz was woman enough to be happy for him.
"You know what? I might have just the house for you guys. It's halfway between Roswell and Carlsbad. I was saving it for another client but hell, what are friends for? I don't have a picture with me, but if you'd follow me out to the address I'm almost positive you'll love it."
Max and Tess looked at each other before nodding in agreement. They rose to follow Liz from the office when Max's cell rang.
"Slow down Michael," he said into the phone. Then, "Shit. I'm leaving right now."
"Sorry baby," Max said to a worried Tess. There's an emergency out at the ranch. Don't worry nobody's dead, yet." When he got there that was different story. "But we have to go."
"Sorry Liz," he turned to apologize. Maybe we can do this another day."
"I don't know Max. The other buyer was going to put in a bid tomorrow morning."
"Fuck!" He ran his hand over the back of his neck in frustration.
"How about you go home and I ride out with Liz to see the house?" Tess suggested. "I'm sure she won't mind giving me a ride back. That way she can meet Maria."
"This ok with you Liz?" Max asked.
"No problem." Liz shrugged. There's no place in the world I'd rather be than riding in the car with the love of your life.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind Liz felt ashamed. Reigning in her inner bitch, she said more sincerely, "its fine Max."
"You sure it's not an imposition?"
"Max please. I said its fine."
"Thanks Lizzie," he said giving her a quick hug. He then turned to his wife and gave her a lingering kiss on the lips.
"See you later," Tess promised, and Max exited the office.
Neither of them knew that Tess's promise would never be kept.
The Present: Roswell Memorial Hospital
Max closed his eyes tightly at Liz's words. Still, tears made their way steadily down his cheeks. His beautiful wife had been laughing when she died. She had been happy.
"Max," Liz reached out to gently touch his hand. When he opened grief stricken amber eyes she whispered, "Do you blame me?"
Because she sure as hell blamed herself.
"No," he said hoarsely. "I don't blame you Liz. I blame the drunk driver. I blame God."
Michael had heard enough. More than enough. "Come on Maxwell, it's time to go," he grabbed his brother by the shoulders and lifted him to his feet.
Liz watched with sad eyes as they slowly made their way to the door. Before they could reach it, Max turned to ask, "Why was she laughing?"
"Max…" Michael tried to intercede.
"She was laughing because she was happy," Liz said sadly. "She couldn't believe her good luck. To fall in love with the first house she ever viewed. She was planning colors for the nursery when the truck hit us."
The pain Max felt at her words nearly brought him to his knees. If it wasn't for Michaels's tight grip…
"First thing tomorrow morning I want you to buy that house for me," Max said to his brother.
"Max…"
"No. I mean it. Buy it!" Max said harshly before stumbling from the room.
Michael and Liz stared at each other helplessly, and then made plans to buy a house. A house for a dead woman and child who would never get to live in it.
A/N: I know, I know. Not another story when my other two aren't finished yet. I promise they will be. It's just that readership in the Roswell fandom is beginning to wane. That said, I want all my story ideas out there before it does. I promise this is my last Roswell fic and the others will get finished. Please review and let me know what you guys think.
