Author's Note: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! Please keep them up!

"This can't be happening. No, not now! He's not really here. I'm just hallucinating," were some of the thoughts running through Liz's head at the moment. After all this time, he couldn't possibly be here now, a few days before her wedding to Andrew. "Oh God, Andrew! What is he thinking right now," she thought.

"What the hell!" was all that was running through Andrew's head. He couldn't process one coherent thought but this. As he saw Claudia reach up to him, he felt his heart stop cold. The past two years, he had felt like he finally belonged somewhere: with Liz and Claudia. They were his family, his salvation. Now, with Max back, where did he fit in? Would Liz still want to marry him, now, with the father of her child back on Earth? Andrew didn't think he could stand to hear the answer to that question.

As Max leaned down to pick up his daughter for the first time Liz aroused from her shock first.

"Max," she replied shakily.

However, Max couldn't move. He was too taken with the little bundle of energy in his arms. Claudia was busy giggling and playing with her father's ears. Liz watched this in awe of how natural this scene looked. She had envisioned this scene a zillion times in her thoughts but never thought it would be a reality.

Right then, Andrew chose to speak up for the first time.

"Max, what the hell are you doing here?" he asked.

All Liz could do was continue to breathe and stare.

The only response Max had was to look at Liz, waiting for her to speak.

She walked up to him slowly, never taking her eyes off of him. He looked exactly as he had before he left, except a few wrinkles around his eyes. He looked exhausted, restless, but content with his new discovery of his family.

As she approached him, he was captivated by her. She still had that graceful walk that made her look as though she glided across the floor. Her hair was shoulder length now, a little shorter than he remembered, but it still floated around her creating a warm brown aura around her face. She literally glowed. To him, she would always be the most beautiful woman in the world, and now more than ever he knew that he could never leave her again. So as she approached, this single thought was the only thing he could process.

As she reached Max, Claudia reached out to her, begging to be held by her mother.

"Mommy," she squealed with delight.

Liz grabbed her slowly, inhaling sharply when her arm grazed Max's. A flash sparked between both of them, filled with intense pain and longing. She placed Claudia down on the ground beside her and looked back into Max's eyes. His warm amber eyes were filled with immense love as he looked down at her. God, she could get lost in his eyes forever. But forever was not an option anymore. No, he took that away from her. Everything that she had ever wanted: a wedding, a family, a father for Claudia, a future filled with happiness, and a lifetime full of love, would be fulfilled with someone else all because he left her. Anger consumed her at that very instant and before she knew it, her hand flew up and slapped Max across the face.

Max was so shocked by her action he just stood there taking it all in. This was not what he expected. For years, he had dreamed of a different reunion with Liz involving her running into his arms and him kissing her breathless. However, he knew he was being delusional. Here she was, alone, with his daughter (a little detail he was still trying to comprehend), so why would he expect her to welcome him with open arms?

Andrew just stood there smiling. He knew it was hard for Liz to see Max again. God, it had been all she talked about right after Max had disappeared. She knew he would come back for her. However, as time progressed and after Claudia was born, reality began to set in, and Liz was left devastated and heartbroken. It was, after all, Andrew who helped to pick up the pieces. So he was proud of Liz at that moment.

Andrew approached the solemn and silent Max. Max was just standing there staring off at Liz as she and Claudia went back to the swings. Andrew came to stand beside Max, a small smile appearing on his face as he patted Max on the back and simply stated, "Welcome home"!

Don't worry! The rest of the gang will be making an appearance shortly. As for those die hard dreamers, you'll have to keep reading to see what happens!