I don't own "Roswell". I just like to play there.

Max smiled into Liz's eyes as they danced. It seemed like forever since they
had been this close to one another.

Liz could not believe what he had seen... a vision of the life Future Max had
told her about. She sighed and laid her cheek against his chest.

If only some sorcerer could wave a wand and make all the negative
consequences of having Max love her disappear! It had never seemed fair that to save the planet she and Max had to live under the perpetual punishment of separation. Tears flowed silently from her closed eyes.

"Liz?" Max's voice was soft. "Liz, what is it?" He was concerned. Liz never
wept for frivolous reasons. Even when they were children she quietly picked
herself up from her hurts and went on her way. This quiet weeping was utterly unlike her.

"Oh, Max, I have missed you so much!"

She did not say anything else, but he relaxed. Whatever was wrong, she loved him. He knew that. Nothing else was as important.

When they returned to the suite, Jim Valenti was waiting for them. Even his
anger, obviously fuelled by his earlier fear for them, passed Max by, leaving
him unconcerned. Liz loved him. The world was right again.

He took some time to have coffee with Michael and make sure that their recent quarrel was behind them. Then they joined the others.

In the car, Max made sure he was seated next to Liz. They had some catching up to do.

He took her hand and Liz smiled. "I'm glad you didn't leave. This is so much better than the ride without you would have been."

Max smiled slightly. "The last few months have seemed like being without you a lot of the time even when you were right there."

She sighed and looked away. "I know. I'm sorry, Max."

He took her chin in his hand and directed her gaze back to his. "Liz, talk to
me. Why were you in bed with Kyle? I know you aren't with him because nothing seems different in your relationship than it did before. You would never just casually have sex with anyone...," he smiled ruefully, "even me."

Her smile seemed to start in the depths of her dark eyes and travel to
include her lips. "Max! You knew? You weren't deceived and hurt?"

He was bewildered. "At first I was. For a little while I believed my eyes.
Then I knew it was not true and that nothing supported it. For some reason
you wanted me to think it happened though. WHY did you want me to feel hurt?"

Liz looked down, and then made a resolution. "Because I was told by an alien I
trusted that our love would doom the future... that you have to love Tess."

"Tess?" His eyes found the curly blonde head nestled against Kyle's shoulder. "Why?"

"Because if you don't love her she will leave and you need ALL of you to
defeat the alien invaders..."

Max's eyes again brushed Tess and Kyle. "I don't see her leaving any time
soon. Kyle loves her and it looks mutual to me." He looked back at Liz. "Who was this alien you trusted?"

She met his gaze squarely. "You, Max. You came from the future to break us up."

Max put his arm around her. "Forget that. Obviously other relationships can
affect that. Anyway... let the future take care of itself. MY future is you..." His lips met hers.

After a long ride in Max's arms, Liz stepped forth in Roswell without a care
in the world. She didn't mind the boring time playing video games. She didn't care if her parents grounded her for going.

Max loved her. He knew she loved him. The evil enchantment that shackled them since future Max came into her life was over. The future was what they would make it together.

END