Chapter 3

Tess was in the hall watching Max and Liz heading to biology when Isabel walked passed. Tess fell in step beside her.

"So what's the deal with Max and Liz all of a sudden? I've seen them together a lot the last couple of weeks." Tess motioned down the hall at the pair and continued to eye them suspiciously.

"They have some big biology project and you know Liz is a science fanatic, so they are spending a ton of time on it." Isabel said dismissively.

"He seems to be spending all of his time with her and hasn't met with me in forever to train or work on our memories." Tess whined.

"The presentation is due in like a week so he will have time for you when it's done." Isabel said slightly annoyed at Tess's unnecessary neediness.

"What's the deal with Liz anyway? She's just a human girl, but everyone seems to fall all over themselves to keep her around."

"Liz has done a lot for us. She's risked her life for us more than once. I don't like that she hurt Max with the whole Kyle thing, but she saved Max when you guys were in New York. They're friends, like I said. He will have more time once this project is done."

"I hope so" Tess said simply. Max is mine, Tess thought. I won't lose him again to Liz Parker. I'll make sure of it, Tess reassured herself. "He just seems distracted, not making time to train or focus on our past life. We pissed off a lot of people at that New York summit. We don't know what's coming, we need to stay vigilant and focused."

"I've tried telling him that. But you know Max, it's always about trying to act normal." Isabel rolled her eyes.

After biology, Liz was walking down the hall with Maria when she started to feel dizzy. She reached out and grabbed Maria's arm and a sharp pain exploded in her head. The pain was so intense that it was making her nauseous. She let go of Maria and ran for the nearest bathroom, Maria following close behind. Luckily the bathroom was empty except for Isabel when Liz ran into a stall. She started to throw up and Maria came up behind her holding her hair back.

"Is she okay?" Isabel called.

"She hasn't been feeling well lately" Maria admitted.

"Maria it hurts. My head it really hurts" Liz said before throwing up again.

Maria got up and walked to the towel dispenser and grabbed some paper towels, running them under cold water.

"She's not, ya know, pregnant?" Isabel whispered to Maria as they both stood at the sink glancing at Liz on the floor.

"Of course not. This is Liz, she's never even" Maria eyes grew wide and she clamped her mouth shut.

"She never what?" Isabel asked suspiciously.

"She, um, never, uh, she would never not use protection. You know Liz 'gotta have a plan' Parker and all." Maria laughed looking at Isabel with a guilty face.

"Didn't Liz sleep with Kyle?" Isabel asked, her suspicion growing as Maria looked more and more flustered.

"I need to go help Liz." Maria rushed back to Liz's side.

Everyone was too preoccupied to notice the bathroom door had been ajar and slowly closed as a blonde head of hair headed down the hall with a smile on her face.

By lunch, the rumor was all over school that Liz was pregnant. Liz ran into Kyle in the hall. "I'm sorry" Liz said fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. "I wasn't feeling well this morning and someone must have jumped to the conclusion of me being pregnant since everyone thinks we slept together. I never meant for things to get this out of hand." Liz hung her head.

"Its okay, Liz. This will blow over. Do I at least get the full story now that I am an expectant father and all" Kyle joked.

Liz slapped his arm playfully. "Someday your fake baby will tell you the whole story." Liz looked up and saw Max staring at her and Kyle, his eyes full of hurt and sorrow.

A single tear fell down Liz's cheek. Kyle saw the tear and turned around to see Max staring at them. "Shit" Kyle muttered. Kyle turned back around to say something to Liz but she was already sprinting down the hall.

The pain in Liz's head was coming back and she could hear the voices of everyone around her as if through a megaphone. The comments about her being pregnant forcing tears to well up in her eyes.

"What a tramp"

"She's ruined her life"

"Mousy Liz Parker pregnant"

Liz found an empty classroom and closed the door behind her. She sank to the floor and she let the tears fall down her cheeks. She took ragged breathes as the pain and voices become overwhelming and Liz fell into dream filled blackness.

Liz walked down a beach in a flowing strapless white gown, her hair falling down her back in soft curls. She walked towards Max who was dressed in a loose button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and khaki pants. He looked relaxed and happy as Liz approached stopping in front of him. They stood hand in hand facing the water as the sun started to set. They turned to face each other staring into each other's eyes. Liz could see love and desire in Max's eyes and he gave her a wide smile. Max reached up and cupped her face with both hands.

"I pledge my life and love to you" he leaned forward so their foreheads touched. Liz could see a soft glow over Max's heart beneath his shirt. Max placed his hand on Liz's heart. She looked down and saw a V pattern glowing beneath his hand and then it faded away. Max pulled his hand away and stepped back fading into the distance.

"We're not complete, Liz. We need to be united, one in life and love." Max faded away.

"Liz, Liz." The voice sounded far away and she felt movement. "Liz, wake up."

Liz opened one eye, then the other and saw Maria and Alex staring at her. Maria was shaking her by the shoulder. Liz looked at them in confusion and then looked around realizing she was on the floor.

"What's going on?" Liz asked in confusion.

"That's what we want to know. Kyle said you ran off. We've been looking for you for an hour." Alex's eyes showed concern and relief mixed together.

"My head was hurting again, I just needed some peace from all the noise and everyone thinking I'm pregnant." Liz tried to stand up.

"You need to go see a doctor about these migraines." Maria's face was etched with concern.

Liz remembered the stares and whispers and Max's hurt expression from earlier. She had caused him more pain as he was forced to remember her being with Kyle. She never meant for this to happen and to hurt him over and over again. "I'm not sure I can go out and face everyone. They were saying horrible things about me. Max wouldn't even look me in the eye."

"Alex, you're on look out duty" Maria motioned to the door. Alex nodded in understanding and heading for the door.

"You need to tell Max about this stupid Future Max stuff. You should not have to go through all of this." Maria scolded her.

"No Maria. He has to be with Tess. If he needs to hate me for that to happen then so be it." Liz said standing up straight and pulling her backpack on to show her resolve at the situation.

"The coast is clear" Alex said popping his head back in.

"Let's get you home" Maria said giving Liz a hug.

Max was lying on his bed staring at the ceiling later that night. Liz pregnant. There goes my hope of ever getting her back, Max thought. She broke my heart, do I even want her back Max asked himself. Its Liz, he would always love her no matter what. Everyone wants me to give Tess a chance. To do that, I need to get over Liz, but how? Max mused to himself

Isabel walked by Max's room and saw him staring at nothing with a dejected look on his face. "I don't think the rumor is true" Isabel said leaning against the door frame, arms crossed in front of her.

"What rumor?" Max asked his eyes never leaving the ceiling.

"Don't play dumb Max. The rumor about Liz being pregnant is all over school. I was in the bathroom today when she was sick. That was more than morning sickness and Maria was weird when I asked her if there was a chance that Liz was pregnant."

"Weird how?" Max asked sitting up to face Isabel.

"It almost sounded like she was trying to say Liz didn't sleep with Kyle, but then changed her story. It's Maria, there was a crisis, so who knows." Isabel shook her head remembering how agitated and tongue tied Maria had become when pressed for more information. "I still don't support the idea of you and Liz together especially after hurting you with Kyle. You said you were going to give the Tess thing a chance and that is probably for the best. But Liz has definitely come through for us when needed and she's kinda a friend now. Just don't automatically think the worst of her."

"The ice princess is letting another friend into her inner circle." Max laughed.

"Even princesses need royal subjects." Isabel said with a wink getting up and walking out of the room. "Night Max."

"Night." Max laid back down. He knew Isabel was right. He shouldn't jump to conclusions before knowing the truth. If he and Liz were really friends then he had to be there for her no matter what. But Max still felt conflicted. He wanted to hate Liz for sleeping with Kyle and the rumor that she was pregnant had his head spinning, but his heart still ached for her. He fell asleep thinking of Liz.

Max saw Liz standing in her bedroom looking very pregnant.

"Trust your heart, not your eyes Max. You are my heart, my soul, my love now and forever."

Liz lifted her shirt and a silver hand print glowed across her stretched abdomen. "My body and soul are yours Max. Always remember that."

A man emerged from the shadows. A man with his face placed a hand on Liz's stomach over the silver handprint.

"She sacrificed everything because we asked, Max. She gave up us, her happiness, her future life and family. Her faith in her love of us never wavered but ours did." He faded back into the shadows.

Liz moved out to the balcony and climbed on to the ledge. "Be a great King, Max. Save your people." Liz said as she stepped off the edge.

"Liz" Max screamed.

Max and Liz both bolted upright in their own beds.

I hate these dreams Liz thought fighting back tears. She curled into the fetal position under her comforter.

What is going on with these dreams? Max thought. Max laid back down and looked at this clock, 3:46. Max tossed and turned but the dreams he had been having of Liz kept his brain on over drive and he couldn't fall back asleep.

Max was sitting at the counter of the Crashdown the next morning. Maria walked over to him and saw the depressed look on his face.

"What can I get for you, oh kingly one?" Maria smiled.

"The usual" Max grumbled. Maria wrote down his order and headed to the kitchen.

"This is for your supreme leader who is all rainbows and sunshine this morning by the way." Maria said as she put the order on the turnstile for Michael.

Michael poked his head out and saw the depressed expression on Max's face. "Who pissed in his cornflakes this morning?"

"I don't know, but Maria Deluca is on the case." Maria sing-songed as she walked back to Max. She leaned on the counter head in her palm looking at him.

"What's got you looking so glum, your majesty?" Maria joked.

"Nothing." Max said quietly rubbing at a small in perfection in the counter.

"That nothing wouldn't have long brown hair and big doe eyes, would it?" Maria asked with a smile.

Max looked up eyes full of sorrow.

Maria could tell he was upset. They had spent the previous summer bonding over lost loves and it allowed her to get to know Max pretty well. The pitiful look on his face was reserved for him being upset about Liz and then it donned on her. "Don't tell me you believe that stupid rumor about Liz being pregnant" Maria hissed lowering her voice standing upright with her hands on her hips.

"I don't want to, but I saw her with Kyle" Max mumbled.

"Max Evans, this is Liz. Do you think she would ever do something so stupid?"

Max opened his mouth to answer, but Maria kept up her rant. "Why are men so thick, why do we have to make all the sacrifices in relationships?" Maria heard the bell indicating an order was ready. She stomped over to the kitchen window, grabbed the plate Michael had placed there and walked back slamming it in front of Max making him jump in surprise.

"If you are mean to Liz or Kyle about what you think you saw, or this stupid rumor, which I know you know is not true by the way, powers or not you will deal with me, her best friend." Maria stormed off into the backroom the door swinging back forth violently in her wake.

Max just stared at her in shock. Michael poked his head out of the kitchen window. "Thanks a lot Maxwell. Now I get to deal with Maria on the warpath" he said sarcastically.

"Sorry" Max mumbled pushing the plate aside and burying his head in hands. He took a deep breath, dropped some money on the counter, leaving a huge tip for Maria and left for work. A thought occurred to him as he walked out. What did Maria mean by 'what you think you saw' with Liz and Kyle? Max just shook his head in confusion.

Tess was in front of the Crashdown as Max exited the restaurant.

"On your way to work?" Tess asked bouncing on her toes a bit.

"Yeah, I have to run or I'll be late. I'll see you later" Max said running past her and across the street to the UFO center.

Tess entered the Crashdown and watched over her shoulder at Max as he ran to work. She walked to the end of the counter nearest the kitchen where Michael was leaning on the window still staring at Max.

"Hey Michael."

"Tess" he said curtly.

"What's up with Max this morning?" Tess asked.

"His majesty is in his usual broody, do nothing state" Michael said with exasperation. "We have aliens and the FBI after us and he pretends like everything is normal."

"Is it Liz that's causing him to act this way?" Tess asked slyly.

"Yes, no, I don't know." Michael ran his hand through his hair in confusion. "But if he is supposed to be some great leader, why doesn't he fucking lead instead of pushing us to do business as usual making us sitting ducks" Michael said angrily.

"Maybe if he didn't spend so much time with Liz he could focus more on the priority of training and preparing for what is coming. I need more time with him to uncover what happened to us so we can be ready to go home." Tess looked at him with a pleading look. "Maybe you should talk to him."

"Maybe" Michael said turning away from Tess and going back to work. Tess just smiled.

A couple of days later Liz and Max were sitting in a booth at the Crashdown surrounded by papers.

"The paper is done. Here's a copy if you want to do one last proofread on it." Liz handed Max a folder.

"Thanks, I'll take a look at it tonight."

"As for the presentation, the slides are done. We just need to divide up the speaking parts."

"It's probably easier if we just split the presentation in half so we don't have to keep going back and forth. Do you want to go first or last?" Max asked.

"First, if you don't mind. I hate being the center of attention and just want to get it over with." Liz admitted.

"That works, I'll wrap things up" Max grinned at Liz. "I'm not a big fan of presenting either. You work at blending in your entire life and these moments are a nightmare."

"Just imagine everyone in their underwear. You could actually make everyone be there in their underwear with a wave of your hand, so I think you'll be fine." Liz joked.

Max laughed and looked up seeing Maria smile and nod at him before heading into the backroom. "So, how are things going? I know things have been a little rough at school for you lately."

Liz looked down at the table embarrassed. "Yeah, the rumor mill has churned me up and spit me out."

"You know I'm your friend, Liz. I'll be here if you ever want to talk. About anything."

"Thanks Max. I really appreciate that. That goes both ways" Liz smiled at him.

Michael came from the backroom having changed when he finished his shift. He walked over to the booth Max and Liz were occupying and sat down next to Liz forcing her to scoot over so as not to be squished by Michael. Without even looking at Liz, he faced Max, his face hard.

"When are we getting back to training Maxwell? There is some war brewing out there somewhere that involves us. We need to be prepared" he clipped.

"Hello to you to Michael" Liz said softly.

"Yeah, whatever Liz" Michael said his eyes never leaving Max's.

"First off, you don't need to be rude. Second, we decided to go back to normal routines for now. If we start disappearing into the desert or people catch wind of strange explosions it's going to draw attention and lead our enemies right to us. Liz and I have this biology project due and you should be going to class instead of skipping every other day." Max said staring down Michael. "School will be out soon, maybe we can find some time then that won't be so conspicuous."

"Biology and spending time with Liz aren't going to save us when the war breaks out. You're the fucking leader, so lead or abdicate so someone else can do it." Michael got up angrily.

Max grabbed Michael by the arm. "Don't do anything stupid, Michael" Max ordered.

Michael pulled his arm away roughly and stormed into the backroom.

Max's body tensed and he gathered his things. "I'll see you at school tomorrow, Liz." Max got up and stormed out to his jeep.

Liz just stared dumbfounded at the war that seemed to be brewing between the two of them all of a sudden. She gathered her things and headed to the back. Michael was still there pacing. Liz quickly walked past him to the stairs to head up to her room.

"Stay away from him. He's supposed to be with Tess and your distracting him" Michael said his back to Liz.

Liz stopped on the stairs. "I know he belongs with Tess, Michael. We broke up because of his destiny and I won't stand in the way of that. But he has the weight of an entire world and alien race on his shoulders and he needs people to support him. I just want to be his friend. I hope you still do to." Liz ran up to her room.

A/N: Please review!