Chapter Two

"What happens now Max?" asked Vilandra after they had just watched Ava and the ship go off into the sky and disappear.

"I have to save my son "he answered with Liz at his side.

"And how do you expect to do that without any means of getting home?" It said, finally speaking to them.

All six members looked at each other in horror.

"I wasn't the only one that heard that was I? "asked Kyle.

They all shook their heads.

"Who's there?" demanded Zan.

They perked up their ears to try and listen.

"Show us who you are!" yelled Zan

"No need to shout my king. I am not a mile away "It said appearing a few feet away from Max. Finally it materialized into a human form.

"Who are you?" asked Michael.

The figure was tall and muscular. The total opposite of what Nascedo looked like. He looked strong and alert, like a soldier. He looked nothing like Nascedo, who looked almost sickly and thin. This guy was built and tough. He looked at them with dark distant eyes, almost ageless and deep.

"Royal bodyguard to the Royal Four sent to earth on the behalf of their people in Antar"

"What do you take us for, fools?" yelled Michael. "How do we know you won't just kill us?"

"Killing you in your present state would be too easy for me." It responded.

"What did you say?" yelled Michael. He placed his hand out and out of no where a ball of light formed and Michael threw it right at the figure's face. This surprised even Michael who stood there with his mouth open as this fireball flew at the figure.

The figure held out his hand and stopped the ball right in front of his face effortlessly. He smirked at Michael.

"Oh Rath, do you think you could kill me by throwing a sparkle at me?" he said looking at him a little disappointed. "Give me something of a challenge would you?"

Everyone else stood there stunned. "Here " he said to Max as he threw it in Max's direction.

Max immediately put his hand up and shielded all six of them as everyone else ducked. The ball dissolved into the shield sparkling like a firecracker.

"Oh my God. You're probably some advanced skin or something that has been sent to kill us " cried Maria hysterically.

"If I wanted you dead you would not have made it out of the pods in the first place " he said to them with a strange expression." Advanced skin? "He laughed "Oh no, no skin can become invisible unless they are dead " he said blowing into his hand causing dust to fly out from it. " You are getting stronger my Lord, you managed to shield them all this time. "He looked Max right in the eyes." But you need to improve much more if you are to survive. Healing people and shielding them will not protect them forever. You only prolong the inevitable. I see you can only hold it up for a little while. If I had continued to shoot at you, your shield would have been useless. "He looked at Michael again." And you Rath, only in times of stress do your powers seem to come out. Why do you not concentrate a little more rather than acting out on emotions? And blowing up rocks will not work in battle. Your enemies are not made of rocks. They are made of flesh and bones. Unless you are planning to just blow up rock in battle I suggest you practice on other things " he looked at Isabel. " And Vilandra, you have not used your powers as much or practiced at all. You seem content on just walking through dreams and grooming yourself. The only time you have been productive was when you killed Whittaker"

"You must be the other bodyguard that Hal told me about"

Max looked at Michael.

"I am"

"You speak as if you've been watching us a long time. How long have you been watching us? "asked Max.

"Long enough"

"You wait until now to show yourself?" asked Max. "Why didn't you show yourself before so that we could go home?"

"Why didn't you ever help us when we needed you?" said Michael.

"You are still alive are you not? You have gotten along fine without me. And who says I have not helped you?"

They all looked at each other.

"You are not ready to face Kivar. Thus you will not be returning home yet"

"But the Granolith was the only way home"

"The person who needed to go home has gone home"

" Tess? "

" Yes. I could not let myself be known to her. She was going to go see Kivar and needed to not know that I am on earth with you "

" She killed Alex. She killed him and didn't have any… " said Isabel with tears in her eyes.

" I would not give her credit for that "

" What are you talking about? " asked Liz. She had been scared this alien was going to kill them all. She finally had managed to get her voice and ask a question, one of many that were running through her head.

When he looked at her his face softened. But he didn't answer her. He looked back at Max.

"It really disappointed me that you did not think to use the healing stones "

"The healing stones cannot be used on humans, " said Max.

"Who told you that? "

"Nascedo " he responded

"He had no knowledge in his brain. He was of no real help to any of you. That is why he was stupid enough to trust Kivar and his skins and get himself killed. I watched his death with great enjoyment. You did not need a traitor amongst yourself. Especially when he made a deal to kill you once you were delivered by Ava "

"Why would he want to do that? " asked Max

" He did not want you to rule anymore than Ava or Tess or any of our enemies. He wanted Tess to get pregnant so that your child would rule in your place under Kivar direction. Having your son and marrying Ava gives him legitimacy to your throne.

" So you knew that Whittaker was a skin? " asked Kyle

" Of course "

" What about Alex? " said Liz

" What about Alex? " he answered

" How come Max couldn't heal him but then the healing stones may have had a chance? It's too late to be telling us about their power to heal humans. Why do you tell us this now? " asked Liz

" Yes it is now. But I would not worry about it "

" Don't worry about it? Alex was my friend and I could've prevented his death if you would have told us how to save him "

" I said not to worry. I have taken care of it "

" How? "

" You will find out soon "

" You knew all about Tess from the beginning didn't you? " asked Max. " Yet you allowed me to… " Max stopped in mid sentence. He was too embarrassed at the ears that were listening.

" The only way that she would have left was if she was having your baby. So she is having a baby. I need her gone or else we will never accomplish anything for your return to Antar "

" But I thought this whole thing was for us to return as soon as possible " said Isabel

" You are not ready. What did you think? The people would just welcome you back with open arms. Do you not think that Kivar has his eye out for you for your return? He plans a quick and public execution for you. If you planned on going back now you might as well have killed yourself. "

" What about the end of the world? " asked Liz. " Kivar will be here then "

Max looks at Liz questioningly. He gently touches her face. " Liz how do you know that? "She looked up at Max; her present day Max who knew nothing of the destruction that was to befall them all in 14 years. She asked the question without realizing that nobody else knew what she would be talking about?

" What the future version of Max told you does not apply here, " said the bodyguard.

" What? " they all asked at the same time.

" Ok, I think I'm more than a little lost here guys, " said Kyle putting his hands up. " Too alien for my blood. "

" Kyle you are a part of this whether you like it or not, " said the bodyguard. " You all are essential now to the survival of both Earth and Antar. "

" How do you know about Future Max? " asked Liz, she somehow felt at ease with this alien that she didn't even know. Her heart telling her that he was ok.

" I have been watching you for a long time. You all but especially you Liz "

Everyone looked at Liz.

" Why Liz? " asked Max.

" Everyone has had a long last couple of days. I think it would be better to wait until you have all rested a bit before we go into a question and answer conversation " turning around.

" But I need you to answer my question first " said Liz softly.

He walked right up to her. She stepped back as he did this and hid behind Max. This intimidating figure seemed to know her very well. She looked timidly up at his dark eyes. He seemed emotionless, but warm also." I will answer your questions later " he said gently.

" So what's your name? " asked Kyle

" I am Thaman "

Thaman looked at Max. " Your majesty, you must be exhausted. Please come and get some rest " he said giving Max a small bow. He looked at Isabel. " Your highness " he said offering her his hand. She instinctively gave him her hand.

" Um, excuse me, " said Maria, Thaman stopped to look at her." My Jetta only seats five "

" Then we must get the King's Jeep back from the ditch "

" But we burned it " said Michael.

" What does that solve? We still need to all get into the car. I'm not going to wait here in the middle of the desert for a ride " said Kyle.

" Look and learn little man " said Thaman sighing. He reached out towards the car with a fist. Slowing opening his hand the car seemed to expand slightly.

" You're screwing with my Jetta " shrieked Maria.

" Now we can all fit temporarily, " said Thaman getting into the driver's seat.

Everyone got into the car.

" You will need the keys, " said Maria waving them in front of Thaman.

He made no attempt to grab them. He only rolled his eyes and made the motion of turning a key and the engine started.

" I gotta get me some alien powers " Kyle whispered to Max who was sitting next to him.

" You already have them, " said Thaman without looking at Kyle's reaction.

He sped on the highway towards the ditch that Max and Michael had burned the jeep. When he got there, Thaman got out of the car. Max held Liz has he followed Thaman towards the ditch. Michael and Isabel also followed.

" Oh wait me too. I wanna watch " said Kyle running after them.

" Bring the jeep back to us " said Thaman to Max and Michael and Isabel.

" We can't "

" Just do it " said Thaman

The three of them looked at each other. They both took deep breaths and stretched out their hands. A red glow came from their hands and the jeep only made a small move towards them.

" More " said Thaman

The three of them closed their eyes in pain as they tried with all their strength to bring the jeep towards them. Instinctively the three of them pulled their hands back at the same time with the jeep moving with their hands. It rolled easily towards them and came to a stop right in front of them.

" Now was that too hard? " asked Thaman. " Now fix the jeep, " he said looking at the burned interior and the scorched engine.

Michael drove the jeep back to Roswell. Thaman, Kyle and Isabel rode in the Jetta. Max and Liz were seated in the back seat of the jeep. This awkward feeling was between them. It seemed like another life when they thought about the time when they were a couple. Max pulled her close to him so that her face would rest on his chest. He kissed her forehead as he held her head gently. She looked out into the scenery.

Maria was holding Michael's hand. This person, as stupid as he could be at times, sacrificed getting home for her. All her time with him, he's been obsessed with going home. He had just given up his chance to go home to stay with her. To forget about his destiny and responsibility so that he could be with her. What more could she ask of him? She sighed as she put her head on his shoulder.

Michael put his hand on her and kissed her hair. He was looking at Thaman behind him in the Jetta. He was the second bodyguard. He had hardly given him another thought. He had wanted to stay on earth because he felt like he was at home. He didn't care anymore about his mission or his destiny, but now his destiny was calling for him again. Thaman smiled at him from driver's seat. He had trusted Nascedo and had looked to him as a would be father, but was disappointed at how inhuman he was. Would this bodyguard show the same signs of carelessness towards life? Could he trust him?

Liz sat there in Max's arms. This weird uneasy feeling at being so close to him but there was also this feeling of relief and safety in his arms. She didn't know how to feel. Ten minutes earlier he was going to leave her on earth while he went to his home planet with Tess. Now he told her that the only thing he was right about was to love her. He now knew that she didn't sleep with Kyle and he now knew about Future Max. She had a lot of explaining to do. She didn't know where she could possibly start. It would seem so strange to explain the painful experiences she felt with Future Max's presence. How could she just explain all that without seeming unrealistic? It felt so relieving to have it all out finally, but not relieving enough. She had felt this load on her back for so long. But another thought entered into her mind. The past few months seemed horrific and terrifying. Quick flashes of the past few months popped into her head and she sat there with her eyes wide open in a daze.

Max sat with no expression on his tired face. He almost looked sleepy, which belied what was happening inside his head. Nascedo a traitor, his beloved Liz was not, Tess on her way to Kivar to deliver his son. Tess, the no good tramp, who only seemed loyal and submissive. Always being there without an explanation as to how she knew he was there at that moment. No way to save his son from his enemy. Liz sitting his arms, she would never betray him, she would never do that to him. What was it about this Future version of himself telling her to do that to him? Why? How? Was he why Liz seemed to know things about the Granolith that he himself didn't even know? How could his mother and those who were supposed to love him, send along two traitors with him to earth? How could they think of bringing them along, a potential danger to the entire mission? How could he ever trust them? This new bodyguard, was he really what he seemed or was he just as dangerous as Nascedo? And Liz…

Isabel wept softly in the front seat of the Jetta as she watched the scenery pass by her. She was stuck in Roswell again but for once she didn't resent it. Relief was running down her face. Tess killed Alex. Tess killed Alex. Liz was right all along about an alien killing him. But how could they have known that it was someone from their very own group? What kind of heartless skank had been in their presence for so long and Isabel brought her in with open arms. This bodyguard, next to her driving, seemed to know her. His presence seemed familiar, like she had always trusted him. She couldn't quite put her finger on her feelings when she saw him appear. She wasn't scared of him. He didn't speak to her in any cold way. She just felt this warm feeling at knowing he was there. That was ludicrous. Why would she get such strong, strange feelings for him at just seeing him? He probably hated her and was only hiding it from the others. She betrayed her family and was the reason they were killed in the first place. She put her hand on her forehead and sighed.

They pulled up in front of the Crashdown.

" Valenti should meet us here soon " he said " For now I think it would be best if we all stayed together here "

Everyone grumbled as they got out of the cars; tired, exhausted looks on their faces.

" My car " said Maria.

" O ye of little faith " said Thaman as he closed his hand and the Jetta responded by going down to its natural size. He looked at Maria. " Happy now? " he said making his tone sound exactly like Michael. Michael held Maria as they walked past through the door.

" My parents " started Liz

" They have gone star gazing "

" Did you like mind warp them? " asked Liz with anger in her voice.

" You mind warp when it is an emergency or you have not thought ahead. " he said opening the front door to the Crashdown and let everyone inside.

" It's almost opening time, " said Maria

" Do not worry the other workers will take care of your shift " he said pointing to the other people that worked in the Crashdown. They waved at Liz as she entered.

" This guys is freaking me out, " said Kyle

" Everyone rest up a bit in the back room, " said Thaman, as they all piled into the room. " I've got to take care of a couple of things "

" What are you…? " said Maria but he had already dissolved in front of them.

" I will be back, do not go too far " said a voice in the distance.

" Actually you guys I think it would be better if we went to Liz's living room upstairs. " said Maria

" That's ok right Liz? "

Liz made a small nod with her head. Max was holding her close to him and she seemed to hide under his arm. She looked like a lost child who was too scared to look at any strangers.

" Liz… "

" I'm fine Maria, " said Liz without any emotion.

They all made their way up the stairs to Liz's living room. Maria and Michael huddled on the couch. Kyle turned on the TV and sat in one of the chairs.

" At a time like this, you can watch TV, " said Maria mockingly

" So? "

" Don't you think you should just reflect on what just happened? " cried Maria.

" That's what meditation is for. I was doing that on the way over here "

" Give me a break, " said Maria she went on.

Isabel sat on the top of the stairway, shaken and crying silently. She voice shaky as she sighed, putting her chin on her knees. Watching his sister, Max reluctantly left Liz standing next to Maria and walked over to her.

" You ok? " he asked sitting next to her.

" I just need… I just need to be alone right now Max. Please " she said putting her head in her knees hiding her face from him. He gently rubbed her back trying to calm her.

Liz carelessly walked to her room and closed the door behind her. She walked to the middle of her room and sat at the edge of her bed. Since she was alone she could let her mind wander. Too many things, she thought. Too many things. I didn't have to do what I did. Tess left anyway. 14 years from now that same thing will happen. I wasted those months of time that I could've spent with Max and didn't Future Max say that Alex was at their wedding? So Alex didn't die in that other reality. Was this all Liz's fault? Maybe Alex would've still been alive if she hadn't done what she did. All those romantic moments that she denied herself for WHAT! To watch Max withdraw from me when he's the one I needed the most? To watch him get closer to Tess! To hear that she's having his CHILD! The find that they did something only Max and herself should have DONE! Too many things, Too many things. Alex, Tess, MAX! She grabbed something heavy and hurled it at the window causing it to shatter upon impact.

CRASH!

Everyone jumped up in surprise.

" Liz! " cried Max as he ran towards her room followed by everyone. He shoved the door open. He found Liz pacing her room looking like she didn't know what she had just done. She looked hysterical and mad. She was crying and her eyes were strained from the thoughts running through her head.

" Liz? " He said looking at the broken window. He ran over to the window while everyone else just stood at the door with their mouths open. They couldn't believe that Liz; the calm, collected and mild one was losing her mind right in front of their eyes.

" Oh my God " said Maria putting her head on Michael's chest. Michael put his arms around her as they continued to watch Liz and Max.

Max looked out the window and saw what Liz had thrown. It was the Swiss army knife that she had given to him as a Christmas present. It had an inscription on the side saying Max and Liz together forever Love Liz. Max squeezed his eyes shut trying to block out the memory of him returning it to her and telling her that he can't hold on any longer.

Liz was pacing the room with her hands in the air, tears unconsciously falling from her face. She didn't seem to notice all of them in the doorway staring at her. Max walks over to her.

" Liz? " he said, fear marked across his entire face. " Liz what's wrong " he said grabbing her arm. She jumped at his touch.

" Max? " she said in a distant voice, almost like she was only imagining him standing there.

" I'm here Liz, " he said trying to sound calm.

She was sobbing hysterically throwing her arms around as if she were hitting something or someone that no else saw but her.

" I, I tried to be reasonable " she said finally not looking Max in the eye. " I tried to, to save you. I tried to save you and Michael and Isabel and everyone. I did it to save you and LOOK! " She screamed waving her arms again as if literally showing him something.

" Did what Liz? " he asked gently trying to approach her.

She immediately backed off from him. She still didn't realize everyone else in the room. It was just her and her imaginary Max. " I made you think, I made you think I could do " she screamed and her voice cracked " Could do something so unthinkable " she put her hand on her head as if fighting her insanity " Something as unthinkable as sleep with Kyle. "

Everyone looked at Kyle, who turned red and shook his head.

" I made you think I could do something so horrible. Make you think I could even go there. And then… and then lying to you all those months to keep you believing all for what?! Only to have that stupid B#$*& kill Alex and seduce you! Touch you! "

Max grabbed her face and kissed her.

The others stood there for a few awkward minutes, watching Max and Liz make out in front of them.

" Ok this is our cue to leave, " said Maria slamming the door on them. " They need a moment "

The four of them just stood there silent.

" We should go watch the TV now, " said Kyle rushing over to the living room.

" I'll join you, " said Michael. Maria was about to follow him when Isabel grabbed her arm.

" What is Liz talking about? "

" Liz and you? " said Michael amused. " That's laughable "

" Why do you find that amusing? " asked Kyle offended

" Max must be the stupidest guy ever "

" You weren't there. Besides, you're no genius yourself " snapped Kyle

" Hey don't snap at me if I think Liz would never sleep with you, " said Michael changing the channel. He wanted to think about something else right now.

~~~~~~~~~~

As if traveling through a black hole Max flew through Liz's thoughts. Through the whirling Max seemed to crash through an invisible wall. Before he realized where he was he heard Liz's screaming voice.

" There's no such thing as time travel! " she yelled, " It's against every law of physics and reality… " She continues to scream " You're like a shape shifter with the ability to look like Max with that beard and those Grey hairs "

Max smiled when he heard this. He looked at the image she was screaming at. It looked like him yet different. His hair was long, he was wearing some futuristic clothes and yeah he had Grey hair. The scenery changes and he sees this future version of himself with Liz. They're peeping through the blinds of Whittaker's office watching him and Tess talking across the street.

" So " said Liz putting down her binoculars. She was almost smiling " Did we get married? "

" Liz you know I can't " he said

" No I know you can't talk about it I'm sorry " she said looking through the binoculars again. He looked at this future version look at her.

" We eloped " he answered " We were 19 "

" We were 19? " she said in disbelief sighing.

Max listened to him tell her about their wedding, their song, where they got married? Elvis Chapel in Vegas? Of course, that explains why Liz pointed it out mysteriously when they were in Vegas. That's why he got a memory flash of them getting out of a cab like they had just been married. Another flash. This future version was telling Liz that she has to try harder to get him to stop loving her. Telling her that Isabel had died two weeks before he arrived and Michael died just twenty minutes earlier. Oh God Liz I'm so sorry. Isabel and Michael were both dead and this Max telling her it's on her shoulders. Another flash. Liz and Kyle in her room. Liz with a towel around her.

" Kyle I just want you to know that we're not "

" Going to consummate I know "

" And when we kiss "

" No tongue, I'm on board Liz "

Oh Kyle, who knew you would be such a good friend. I'm sorry I hated you for so long. Another flash.

" Maybe it's better for you " he heard Future Max say " I saw you with Kyle "

He saw Liz lean in closer to him. " What are you talking about? " she said " Don't you know who you are to me? What you'll always be? You're the love of my life. Everyone else is going to be second best " she said somehow smiling " They'll never be another you " He watched her sit closely next to Future Max. " Would you dance with me? " she asks shyly.

" What? "

" I wanna have my wedding dance "

He watches with cloudy vision as they both stand up and start dancing very slowly. He watches this bittersweet dance shared by Liz and what he, the person he would be when he grew older. He saw her face look up at his face as if he were him and no matter what form he had or no matter how old he looked or how scarred, she would always love him. She smiled up at him almost forgetting that at any moment he would disappear. He seemed lost in the moment of our, their perfect dance, meaning so much yet ending too soon. He sees this future of himself look back down at her looking at him, smiling at her, worried about how she would survive on her own without him and how he wouldn't be there to protect her. He watches this version twirl Liz around and disappear. He sees the agony of Liz' face as she realizes that he's gone and with him all the memories that they would have had. He can feel her pain, her sadness, and her helplessness as she tries to keep from passing out.

A rush of flashes of the times she had to lie to him believing each time that she's saving him with each lie. How he didn't believe in her when nobody would? How could he have not trusted Liz? Why couldn't he just open his mind and realize that Liz was not blaming him for Alex's death, she was just trying to prove he didn't kill himself. Here he saw how she felt when he yelled at her about Tess and how he threatened to end their friendship if she pursued her search. He kissed her more deeply, more desperately; pulling her closer to him.

Liz crashed through space and saw Max's home planet. He saw his vague memories of this past life vividly. She saw silvery figures but knew them from Max's perspective. She saw Isabel or what? Vilandra? She saw Michael's figure in front of her and then he disappeared. She looked up at the sky and saw it was purple. She could see the dying star they had been studying about in class. She saw how different their planet was from earth. The people, more advanced yet acting the same. She felt his feelings for Tess. His feelings were true and real. She started to cry as she felt this. He did love Tess. But wait something was nagging at her. Then suddenly it was like the whole scene changed around her, shattering like a mirror. Oh goodness Max she gasped. Tess had mind warped Max. This first vision wasn't real, it was something that Tess wanted Max to see. She truly was evil. She saw everything again but the feelings she felt were different. Not different by much, she felt Max's warmth toward Isabel and Michael but something was drastically different about the way he saw Tess.

" You tricked me you witch, " cried Max shaking her " It was you all along wasn't it? " Then Liz and himself let out a loud scream in pain. Liz was taken aback as she saw a hole in Max's chest. Max! she screamed.

" Kivar " he said faintly clutching his chest heaving and blood gushing out of his mouth with every breath. But the blood wasn't red, it was green, like a neon green.

" You can't blame her for doing it. Now you can join Rath and Vilandra. " said the figure standing above Max. She couldn't really see him but she could see his shadow on top of Max.

" You Bastard " said Max with his last bit of energy he thrust his open palm at his enemy causing Kivar to fly across the room. Kivar lay motionless on the other side of the room. She saw him collapse in front of Tess. She ran over to him and turned him over to see his face. His lifeless eyes looked beyond her. Even in this alien form she could see the Max, the human Max in his eyes.

She whirls around with Max's images and feels herself flying. The flash changes. She saw him with Tess. She felt the regret he had and the anxiety he felt at knowing that he got Tess pregnant. The embarrassment he faced when telling Michael and Isabel. How he resented telling Liz about it but was forced to. She saw him start kicking and throwing the trashcans around with his frustration. She saw his fear in believing that aliens had killed Alex. Why he was so scared to believe her and why he opposed her so much.

She felt his disappointment at feeling that he could care about Tess even though his feelings could never be more than his feelings for Liz. He didn't want to go to his planet. He didn't want to leave her. She was the one thing on earth that held him back. But he was going to leave for his son, only his son. Then another flash rushed by her. So many images came at once that she felt her head spin trying to catch at least one image long enough to see it. She saw their first kiss, images of her, only her. Every moment he saw her she felt his spirit rise at the sight of her. That no matter what he was feeling at the present moment, when he saw her all that just disappeared. She felt his pain when he saw her with Kyle in bed and his torn feelings for wanting to hate her but love her no matter what at the same time. His contentment at just being her friend because he was at least part of her life; always wanting to be more but the thought of her and Kyle separating him. Now his relief at knowing that he was right all along, that she didn't do that to him and his happiness, just happiness.

Liz stepped back from him, breaking their kiss, breaking their connection.

" Liz? " he said reach out to her, almost beckoning her to come to him.

She looked at him; her eyes searching for something. She touched the side of her face and felt herself blushing. She stepped back a little bit when he tried to step towards her. She looked up at his face and saw the hurt and longing in it. Those soulful eyes that she loved so much were looking into hers, trying to read her feelings. She had hid herself from him for so long, it was right that she showed herself again. She had forgotten just how deep their connection had been. Not having a flash in so long and not feeling him around her in so long, she had forgotten. It was this new experience all over again.

" Max " she said. " Max " she sat down on the edge of her bed and looked down. " I'm tired "

" I know you are, " he said sitting beside her on the bed.

" I'm tired of hiding from you. I'm tired of being strong " her tears started coming out her eyes again. He bent down in front of her, putting his face parallel to hers. His hands lay on each side of her.

" You don't have to anymore, " he said taking his right hand & wiping her tears away with his thumb.

She took his hand away from her face and held it in her hands. Then she looked up at him.

" I love you, " she said

Max sighed. He took up both their hands and put his forehead on them. " I love you, " he said

" Then you have to promise me something, " she said

" Anything " he said as she got up and walked outside the window. He followed her.

Liz bent down and picked up the pocketknife. She looked at it for a minute and looked at him. She held it out to him.

" That no matter what happens, you'll never let go… " she said handing it to him " … of us "

He looked at the inscription. It was something he had kept so close to him until that day he gave it back to her. He had read the inscription countless times. " Max & Liz together forever " he read aloud. " I'll never let go " he said pulling her into a hug.

" That's all I want from you Max, no matter what happens. I want there always to be an 'us' and not a 'you and me'. Don't worry about our son. We're going to save him "

" I know we will, " he said kissing her hair. " Cause we'll be together "

He heard her sniffle loudly, almost uncontrollably. Not the sound of happiness.

" Liz what is it? " picking up her chin and seeing her face sad and scared.

" I saw him Max, I saw him kill you "

" You saw who kill me? " he grabbed her gently by the shoulders.

" Kivar "