Liz Parker lay back and gazed into the cerulean sky. Directly above her were the branches of a big oak tree on the edge of the forest where they were camping. In front of her was a huge open meadow. It must be miles across that thing! She closed her eyes for a moment. At least no one could approach without their knowing well in advance. She hoped.
After a moment, she opened her eyes. There was no way she would sleep before nightfall... She was just too tense. It seemed as though every day was a challenge. They never knew who would be after them, what shape they would take, where they would come from, how great the danger they posed. So far they had received a warning well in advance of all enemy approaches... but for how long?
It seemed as though the sand flowed through an hourglass of pre-determined time. Time they all had together. What would happen when the sand ran out? When would that be?
Liz sighed and rolled over in the grass. Her hand flattened a patch and she watched as it sprang back. It seemed so resilient and it was, after all, only grass.
A shadow fell across her, then Max squatted beside her. "Hi."
He always brought a smile to her face. "Hello."
Max lay facing her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You always were a lousy liar."
"It's silly."
"So... tell me."
Liz laughed nervously. "It just seems that we are always under a dark cloud and I feel stressed out ALL the time. I guess I thought every one of us felt that way... but then I saw that some things just go on... like this grass." She showed him how it sprang back when she released it. "You are like that, aren't you, Max?"
He shrugged. "Maybe. I suppose I've had to be. How secure would everyone else feel if I fell apart?" He cupped her face with his hand. "Liz, I don't know how much time we will have... but whatever time I have is YOU. You are my world and are all I am living for... just as you were always meant to be. Your love is my security and my home. As long as we have that, anywhere is OK with me. Without that, they can take me whenever..."
Liz pulled him close to her and their lips met. It was funny, but she sensed things all the time when they kissed. She was sure that any danger would be revealed if it was around the corner. For now her stress level fell as his serenity filled her. "Oh, Max, I love you!"
He looked into her eyes for a moment longer, then sprang up. He reached his hand down to help Liz up. "Let's go!"
"Where?"
"Let's get married! Right now! Let's not wait a moment longer! There is a town a few miles back... Did you see the little church there?"
Liz laughed. "Max! I don't even have time to plan..."
He sobered a bit and looked into her eyes. "Do you really need much time to get a dress and some flowers?"
"Well, no... but we don't even have a ring..."
"Sure I do. Had it for a while now. Since before graduation. Anything else?"
She met his gaze, with its characteristic uplifted eyebrow, and then smilingly shook her head.
"OK then!" He took her hand and began to pull her toward their camp. As he saw the others, he called out, "Hey! We are going into town to get married!"
END