'Max,' Liz held onto his arm as the others filed out of the room. Locking their gaze, it communicated so much.

Nodding he knew what she wanted. When Isabel glanced back, Max answered the unasked question. 'I'll get a lift back with Liz.'

'I'll let Mom know you're staying overnight with Michael,' she said, her eyes darting between the two. With a sigh, Isabel hurried to join the others and tell them. She'd always considered Max and Liz soulmates and envied the relationship they shared.

'There's more I have to show you,' Liz confessed, 'but I'm not sure you're going to like it. It doesn't concern the others, at least not yet. I need to share this with you first.'

He stood silently, watching her. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a plastic looking pen. Handing it to Max, Liz waited for his reaction. After glancing down at it, he looked up. Hurt and abandonment shone in his eyes.

'Is this how you tried to get me to fall out of love with you,' Max asked in a defeated voice.

Shaking her head, Liz gave her attention to the Granolith once again. Placing her hands on the cool, crystalline surface, she let the memories flow. Taking up where they'd left off, Max saw the pain flash across her face in the purple light of the inverted cone as she made contact with it for the first time.

'What did you see?' Future Max demanded, hurrying over to Liz's position. Taking a shoulder in each hand, he shook Liz. 'I know you. I've lived with you for years. Liz, you have to tell me what you're seeing. I can tell it's bad from the expression on your face.'

'Everything,' Liz couldn't find the words or the courage to look into his amazing eyes. If she did, he'd see the terror. 'Tess will betray you, no matter what we do today or how we change the future. It doesn't matter if we stay together or chose to love other people. The future is always the same. Tess leaves and you are weakened.'

'Why?' Max commanded. 'I can see it in the way you don't look at me, Liz. You've seen something that's frightened you. What is it?'

'Tess never came out of the pod with the rest of you,' Liz stopped, swallowing hard before raising her head to finally meet Max's eyes, 'because Nasedo is Kavir. He planned to have her under his control here on Earth. Tess betrayed you in the last life by telling Kavir about the reincarnations. She's going to betray you in this one too. Tess has always been the enemy.'

'There has to be a way,' Max declared, 'to stop her.'

'There is,' Liz once again turned her eyes to the floor. 'There needs to be four of you when the time comes.'

Future Max understood. 'You're sure, Liz.'

Instead of answering, she tilted her head. Reaching behind his neck, Liz locked her fingers in his long hair. 'It's the only way,' she stated before forcing his head down to hers.

Max, Now Max, watched in awe and horror at the scene unfolding before him. The love of his life began to kiss an older version and he returned the caress with practiced ease. It didn't take long for them to become intimate. At the same time, he felt every touch, every taste, every movement as though he'd made love to Liz a thousand times before. As they climaxed together, he felt the wave of passion encompass his body. Now Max had to hold onto the wall or fall down with the emotions churning though his body.

'Thank you,' Future Max offered, not quite sure what to say.

'I have to hold my legs up,' Liz sounded stoic while she died a little inside.

'Liz,' Max didn't move off her. Placing a hand on either side of her head, he forced her gaze to his. 'I'll understand. You have to believe me. My younger self will come to terms with what we've done. In time I'll be able to laugh with you about this. You'd be amazed at what we'll find funny someday. If this experience has taught me anything, it's to treasure the little things. I love you, I always have.'

'I feel like I betrayed my Max,' Liz cried.

'Liz,' Now Max forced her hands away from the crystal.

'What am I going to do,' the look of utter desperation and despair coloured her eyes.

'What are we going to do,' Max corrected. 'This baby might have been conceived by my future self, but it's part of me.'

'We can't tell anyone else about this yet,' Liz tired for normal. 'I've thought about nothing else the last two weeks. I couldn't face you and Maria would have gotten the truth out of me. I've been so frightened but I had to know before I could tell you. It's the only way I could change the future.'

'Liz,' his emotions in turmoil, Max reached out for her. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to take her in his arms. Logically, kissing her would make both of them feel better and close the distance between them.

'Max, we can't,' Liz protested weakly as her top hit the floor.

'You don't want too,' he asked, not pulling away. Instead, Max let his lips cover one breast. Rewarded with a soft coo from Liz, he continued his assault on her body. 'Say so now because I don't think I can stop. That image of you and my future self has me so hot, I want to feel what it was like in reality.'

'I,' panting, Liz gave in to his marauding lips and fingers. 'Please don't stop. I want you, Max. I only ever wanted you. I need you to believe that.'

'I do,' he murmured against her heated skin.