Chapter 7- Sean.

After freshening up, Liz went back downstairs, business as usual. She'd changed her outfit a bit now. Gone was simple, in was sexy and dangerous. She wanted to take her chance with Sean and NOT give him a chance to turn her down. Walking into the cafe, she smiled as she heard a dish clatter. Turning to give the full effect, she was facing a speechless Michael, who was stunned. ''That good huh?'' with his nod, she grinned and unlocked the door. There to her surprise was Sean. ''What are you doing here? I was going to call you?'' she asked in complete surprise.

Sean laughed. ''Nice to see you too Parker, Maria told me you were ill, so I decided to check up on you. It's not contagious is it?- she shook her head- By the way, nice outfit'', holding his hand out to twirl her around- she turned willingly Michael noted- he whistled in appreciation. His eyes dancing flirtatiously at her, he asked innocently ''So what is the occasion?'' Rolling her eyes, she hugged him. He got the message. So did Michael. He really didn't like it.' He coughed. Sean noticed. ''Hi Michael.''

Sean pulled back, she'd gone pale. ''You're not over this bug. Back to bed, come on.'' He swept Liz over his shoulder with a cry of outrage from her. Rolling his eyes, he shushed her with a hit on her bottom. ''Hey!''''Oh shut it Parker, Michael, I'll be back in a second once this one stops wriggling.'' ''Ouch De Luca, that one hurt.'' ''It was meant to, now stop or I'll drop you on the stairs. We both know that this is the only way you will stay in bed. I know you too well, remember?'' ''Fine!'' she said in a huff, ''Glad you could see it my way Parker, who knows you play this right, you might even get that date with me you're after now that you had finally dumped Evans.'' Liz shut up and Sean smirked, carrying her out to leave a stunned Michael in their wake.

'Seriously, Liz and Sean?! Apparently so it seemed.' That was his only thought as he opened up the cafe. Upstairs, Sean had Liz on her bed. ''Tell me Parker, how badly do you want this date?'' he asked sensuously leaning over her to kiss her, their lips meeting in a brief but passion filled kiss. ''Badly'' she whispered to him, ''Get better and I will ask you myself.'' ''Promise?'' ''Promise'' he answered with another kiss on the lips, ''Sleep well Parker and I approve of the outfit'' he said with a wink and left the room. Liz got changed and slept with a grin on her face.

Michael's head was spinning with Liz's unguarded thoughts. 'She liked Sean a lot. More than he had guessed. Her outfit had been sexy and dangerous. Who knew she owned both a black leather jacket with boots. She had been perfect for him. From what he'd heard of her thoughts, it seemed Sean agreed.' Sean walked in and faced Michael.

''Do we have a problem?'' Michael turned to face him in a stand off. ''About?'' ''Parker. Do you like her or not? Are you interested in her or not?'' Michael honestly answered ''Maybe.'', scratching his eyebrow. Sean drew in a breath at that. ''Does she know?'' ''No.'' ''Will you get in my way if she chooses me?'' he asked, prepared to fight for her. He was stunned when Michael answered ''She won't.'' ''I wouldn't be so sure about that, at his look of disbelief, Sean shrugged, I know her better than most.''''She saw you first before Evans, only you never made a move and when she DID have a chance, Evans had got to her first and you'd seen Maria. So she didn't do anything out of loyalty to Maria, that and Evans had her caught up in this fucking fairytale, which always seemed a bit twisted to me.'' Sean laughed at his shock. ''Seriously, you've never seen it?!'' As the other man shook his head, Sean sighed,''Parker always was good at hiding things well'', at Michael's questioning look, he explained.

''She and I have history, tons of history. I was almost her first'' he quietly admitted ''but you ever tell her I told you that and she will kill me.'' He nodded at Sean. ''Evans only saw one side of her, I've seen every side, it was me she went to at the end of Prom after Max Evans broke her heart and me who comforted her by Alex's grave when she'd drunk too much. She was a mess that night. She scared me. Not many people know that, not even Maria does.''

As Sean paced, Michael questioned him. ''Why are you telling me this Sean? You can have a chance now.'' Sean laughed, shaking his head. He faced him. ''You don't get it. She likes you. She's just put you in the friend zone out of fucking loyalty and she will never fucking admit to herself, never mind me or even you. She's living in self denial over something big and won't tell me. I'm telling you all this, so maybe you can help her instead.''

''So, I'll ask you again, his eyes hard, will you get in my way if I decide to date her?'' Michael thought about what Sean had told him and scratched his eyebrow, thinking 'would he knowing what he knew now? Sean wasn't lying to him' his gut knew that. At his next question, he knew he would if Sean answered right. Sean saw the thoughts cross his companions mind and knew he had been right to question him.

''What about Maria? She is your cousin and my ex girlfriend, her best friend, aren't there rules about that?'' Sean had seen THAT question coming. ''What about her? Where is she now? She's in New York! Max is gone! As for the rules, screw the rules!''

At Michael's look of confusion, Sean groaned. ''I know the group of friends you share is high in the loyalty stakes but not this high! I saw your face when Parker was declaring her intentions towards me. You really didn't like it, yet you won't do a thing about it?!'' Michael had been on the verge of acting on his feelings and Sean's reminder of loyalty had put it back again to that friendship zone again.

At the stubborn look on Michael's face when making his decision to not act, Sean sighed. ''Fine. At least now I know, Michael looked at him and Sean shrugged, you won't make a move on her. I don't know what I said but anyway, thanks man! Now all I need to do is wait for her to get better and I'm taking her up on that long awaited rain check at long last.'' He grinned. Patting his shoulder, he grinned, whistling happily before going back up the stairs.

Michael felt like banging his head on the brick wall. He had just given his rival permission he had denied himself out of loyalty to Max and Maria. Sighing at his nature, he opened up the cafe completely. He knew Sean was upstairs with his girl and he'd let him. He was as stupid as Maxwell to have let that happen. And he had to keep her safe. Her life was on he line here, not his.

He knew his life wasn't in danger, there had been a feeling with him something would have happened but didn't know what. All he knew was he wouldn't die but she still could. He had promised Maria he would keep Liz safe 2 years ago and had kept his promise ever since. He wasn't going to stop now, even if it meant hiding his true feelings to do it.

Sean knocked on Liz's door and peeked in. She was asleep and dreaming. He went in and sat on the bed, putting a hand on her shoulder.

''Liz, wake up, you're dreaming.'' Liz stirred, ''the Granolith'', hearing Sean ask her what she meant, she woke up and realised she could never give him a true answer. 'She would always be hiding a part of herself. Sure she could be herself otherwise but would that be enough? If she wanted a normal relationship, it would have to be. But did she want normal now?'

Answering with a sigh, she answered as truthfully as she could. Running her hand through her hair, she simply said ''It was just a weird dream I had. What is it?'' Sean grinned, ''What flowers do you like now? You know for our date...'' He smirked as her eyes lit up and she smiled back at him. ''Yellow sunflowers. I'm kinda fed up of getting white roses. Max used them to the point they covered everything from apologies to romance. I need a change.'' She smirked,''I need a change on quite a few things actually.'' Her tone had turned sensuous on him halfway through, her thoughts guarded.

Sean smirked back at her. ''I'll see you later Parker.'' Giving her a kiss goodbye, he winked at her as he left. Liz was humming happily. Sean was whistling happily as he walked down to the cafe, throwing a ''Bye Guerin'' in his direction. Sean stopped by the door, catching Michael's attention. ''Liz is fine, sleeping this bug off now. I'm just going to get something to cheer her up now, I'll be back later.'' He noticed a quiet movement on the stairs, phone in hand. He grinned. Looking at Michael, he motioned towards the stairs. ''It looks like sleeping beauty is up.'' He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Michael turned to see Liz walk in, a huge grin on her face. She smiled at him, phone in hand. He was puzzled. Liz was still stonewalling him to a certain extent. She hung back away from him, her expression guarded. He was about to say something when she put her hand up, stopping him. 'Don't say a word', she sent him a mental warning, her tone hurt. He nodded. She was still pissed at him. She took a moment to speak. ''Look, school is about to start. It is important. Jose can cover for you until school ends today. Don't worry about my dad. I've got it covered. Jose covers for me too a lot. You can go now, ok. He'll be here in a minute and you can just tell my dad you delegated when you needed to. He'll understand.'' Her voice was curt and clipped, this was all business.

He nodded, ''I'll just go then. Ok.'' He got his stuff and left, looking back to see Liz sorting things out with the cafe. ''I am sorry for hurting you'' he said to her back before leaving for his own place. Liz stiffened as the door closed behind him. She knew he was hurt but still, he had hurt her first. Shaking her head at her thoughts, she let Jose in and went back upstairs to get some more sleep to get as much information as she could, so she could start planning things properly.

Michael got to school. He knew she'd heard him. He hoped it was enough. Just in case it wasn't, he'd got her an initial charm of a 'P' on the way to school and engraved the back himself with 'Parker'. She was worth it. He really was an idiot. Kyle walked up as he was shaking his head. ''Hey Goliath, what have I missed? Where is everyone?'' He saw Kyle and scratching his eyebrow, answered. ''Hey short stack, let's see. Is and Jesse have Maxwell with them in Boston, Maria is in New York with her demo and Liz is off sick with a bug.''

Kyle looked up at that. ''As in the flu bug she had before?'' He was worried. Michael looked around. ''Meet me at the usual table and I'll catch up with you then, ok.'' ''Fine, just one thing. Is Liz ok? She was bad that night.'' Michael nodded, sighing. ''She's better.'' Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. ''That's a relief. Max could have almost killed her from how far he pushed things from the look of it. I'm glad she's ok.'' Shaking his head, he walkedto class, saying over his shoulder to a pale Michael ''I'll see you later.'' Michael swore in shock. ''Shit.'' 'Now he got why she was pissed at everything, Maxwell had almost killed her through healing her?! That was twisted.' Hearing the bell, he went to class.

Meanwhile, Liz was sorting something out when Sean swept into the cafe. He had a bunch of flowers with a card and a jewellery box in his pocket. At his ''Ahem'', she turned and smiled. He approached her, stopping to stand in front of her. Much like Michael had when returning her diary. 'It was time to stop comparisons. She had chosen Sean and had to live with that.' Her head shaking at her thoughts, she smiled at Sean. Her arms crossed, she looked at him. ''What?'' ''Why aren't you resting?'', her hand drifted to the seat she'd been sitting in, ''see?''

His eyes rolling at her, he made her sit down and handed her the flowers with a kiss on the cheek, ''these are for you, read the card.'' She did, it read ''Liz Parker, I love you and I want to be with you. I will ask you to be mine. I promise. I hope you like my gift.'' She looked back at Sean. ''What gift?'' His heart in his eyes, he opened his hand to reveal the box and put it in her hand. Kneeling next to her, he whispered to her to open the box.

Gasping as she did so, her finger tracing the 'L' silver initial lying on a chain in the box. Smiling, she looked at Sean in wonder when he took the box from her, removed the chain and put it around her neck, brushing her hair out of the way. He smiled at her, watching her fingers brush the back of it. Engraved on the back of it was their initials. She smiled at him. Leaning forward, she said quietly in his ear ''You keep this up and I will be asking you myself early.'' With a kiss on his cheek, she stood up and put the flowers in water, Sean going with her.

It was lunchtime. Kyle was already sat waiting for him when Michael walked up to the table. He looked like he needed to talk and needed to know what what happened exactly that night. He had his stonewall up. Sitting down, he looked at Kyle. ''Start talking.'' His tone was stern. Kyle sighed, putting his head on his hands. ''What do you want to know?'' ''Everything'' his tone told Kyle to tell him everything.

''Fine, where do you want me to start?'' ''Meaning?'' ''Do you want to know what happened that night or when her powers first kicked in?'' At his surprised look, Kyle shook his head. ''Of course she never told you how her powers first started, she never told Max either or Maria or Is. The only reason I know is because Liz came to me that day at the garage and told me about her seeing her face disappearing in the mirror during AP science. Then she turned on the radio with her hand. It freaked us both out. She knew something was wrong with her and wanted to know what before telling Max.'' Michael didn't know what to say. His face reflected his feelings.

Kyle guessed his next question. ''Why didn't she tell you, huh?'' At his nod, Kyle continued, ''well there is the fact you two are known for not being the best of friends. You both clash a lot and as much as it appears you are both opposites, in most ways, you really aren't. Just have different approaches instead.'' He shrugged. At his friends surprised look, he said ''What? It's true.'' Michael groaned. ''I think I'm falling for her.'' Kyle looked at him in surprise, ''what, since when?'' ''I don't know.'' Kyle whistled and shook his head.

''Wow. I knew she liked you, even if she never admitted it, she's always cared about you, just never said or did anything about it out of loyalty to Maria and Max and you'', ''ME?!'' his voice was full of disbelief. Kyle scoffed. ''Yes, YOU!'' He pointed at him. ''She saw you and Maria together during that heatwave. Once she saw that, she pushed her feelings for you aside out of loyalty to you and Maria, knowing you were with Maria. She couldn't ruin that for either of you. So she kept quiet. She's always cared about you. Even as a friend. She's gone out of her way to protect you. She always has done, always will do.

Michael was stunned, he groaned. ''This morning, I just gave Sean De Luca permission to date Liz.'' Kyle threw his hands into the air at that, declaring him an idiot. Michael glared at him with a look of 'I KNOW!' Kyle sighed, ''If anyone will work, it'll be you and Liz. I just hope your reasons are good enough. Sean can see part of her, you can see ALL of her. She has to hide with Sean, with you she can be herself. Sure Isabel is happy with Jesse but that is a ticking time bomb. Are you really sure she'll be happier with Sean than with you?'' Michael groaned at that, his head in his hands. 'Damn! He could keep her safer than Sean could. She was worth the risk.' '' Am I too late?'' he quietly asked his friend, looking up at him. The question was written on his face. Kyle gave him an answer to it.

''Has Sean asked her yet?'' Michael shook his head. ''No, he's waiting for Liz to get better first.'' Kyle grinned then, shrugging at him, ''It's not too late then. It's not official yet. You still have a chance. I suggest you take it'' He nodded.

He now needed to know what happened that night. ''That night in the desert, what happened?'' Kyle winced. ''It was horrible. Max tried to help her and in the end she rejected him completely, she lost it and yelled at him. He tried again after that and she screamed. I had to pull him away. She was scared. I have never seen her that scared before like that. I drove her home and told her to focus on herself for once.''

Kyle shook his head, still unable to believe what he'd seen. ''How are Liz and Max?'' he asked, thinking Liz needed to be single first before anything could happen with anyone else.

Michael answered. ''Liz broke up with him that night. They had a fight with powers. He waved his hand to show what he meant. Kyle's eyes widened at that. ''They blasted each other?'' Michael nodded. ''Both had shields up too. Liz won her freedom from him that night.'' His voice was full of disbelief at that fight. Both friends shook their heads at that, then finished their lunches and left for class.

After the end of the school day had finished, together they into the Crash Down. Immediately they heard Liz's giggle. She was sat with Sean, talking and playing with a pendant around her neck. Kyle patted his shoulder at the look on Michael's face. He looked at Kyle as if to say 'see.' ''I do see man but he hasn't asked her officially yet, has he?'' Michael shook his head, his eyes questioning. Kyle grinned. ''You have a chance then. Come on.''

Waving in Liz's direction, he called out hello. Liz heard Kyle's voice and smiling, got up to meet him, pausing when she saw Michael. Kyle noticed her look. Quietly to him, Kyle noted ''You're in the dog house. I really hope you have something to make it up to her.'' He nodded. ''I do.'' Kyle patted his back.''Good luck.'' Liz had approached them now and Kyle hugged Liz tightly. Pulling back, he looked at her,''are you ok?'' Tucking her hair behind her ear, she nodded. ''My powers are settling down now, sleep has helped, well that and Michael balanced things out for me.'' ''And Max?'' his voice was tentative. ''Kyle!'' her voice told his to back off. ''Sorry.''

Liz hugged him. ''I'm sorry.'' They shared a smile. Then Liz turned to Michael, who had just decided to declare his intentions by using his powers to engrave the back of the pendant he had for her with the Antarian symbol meaning his name. He only hoped she knew what it meant. He looked at Liz saying his name, answering ''What?'' She kept her tone light. ''Michael, can I talk to you in the back please, then you can take over from Jose?'' He nodded ok. It was then Kyle commented on the flowers. Liz answered they were a get well soon present from Sean. Kyle winced at the look on Michael's face and knew he'd done the right thing telling him about Liz's true feelings.

Once they were back in her home and had looked the door, Liz was about to speak when Michael stopped her. He handed her a box. Running his hand through his hair, he started to speak. ''I am sorry for hurting you. I didn't mean to. I hope what is in there will help to make up for it. And also show how much I care.'' Liz opened the box and saw a 'P' initial. She turned it over and saw Parker engraved on the back, next to an Antarian symbol. She had a strong feeling it linked to him and was his symbol. 'That meant Michael liked her. As much as Sean. Could she? What about Maria?'

Her hand suddenly trembled as the implication of the gift hit her. 'Damn, Michael liked her. And she liked him.' Hands shaking at her own realisation, she carefully sat down. Putting the box down, she carefully took the pendant and chain out of the card it was on and turned to Michael, who had been watching her silently, gauging her reaction. He breathed a sigh of relief as she asked him to put it on her. Kneeling down next to her to do just that, their eyes meet and caught. Putting his heart in his hands, he opened their connection and with his hand on her hair to pull her closer, he kissed her, letting their connection speak for him.

Liz melted, feeling everything he wasn't saying and caught up in the moment, she kissed him back. Her own power and emotion answered his in kind, almost screaming her hidden love for him. With a groan, Michael pulled her closer, deepening the kiss until it was all they knew. Needing air, Michael pulled back slightly, their foreheads touching. Realising he still held her necklace in his hand, he brushed her hair aside and put it on her before bringing her into a sweeping, all consuming kiss again, connecting his power to hers and bringing it to connect with the symbol on the 'P' pendant. Gasping for air, Liz pulled back, doubts beginning to fill her mind before Michael could stop them.

Liz tried to get her thoughts into order. Her head was spinning, that kiss had blown her away. The one thing wrong was her. ''WHAT!'' She sighed, ''Let me explain that. Michael'', she pulled him back to her and kissed him, letting their connection speak for her, knowing she didn't know the right words to say. Looking him in the eyes afterwards, she asked him ''Did you get that?'' He nodded, unsure, he got up and turned to her, scratching his eyebrow, ''so what you're saying is you do care for me and you do love me, you just need to get yourself sorted out first, battle with your own demons and grief for Alex, while letting your heart heal first from Maxwell before you can be completely open to being with me? Otherwise you think it wouldn't be fair on me to be potentially a rebound?''

Liz nodded. ''Yes. Do you get why?'' ''Yes, he groaned, I get why.'' Liz sighed in relief. ''Just one thing, he asked her, what about Sean?'' ''Sean hasn't asked me yet and I've realised he could end up being another Max, which I don't want and he would have been a rebound, had I let him. He even engraved the back of the 'L' with both our initials.'' Liz sighed in frustration. ''I'll talk to him and let him know I can't be anyone yet, at least until I'm ready. Does that help? When the time comes to, I'll let him down gently.''

Michael sat down next to her in relief. Holding her hand and she held it back, he calmly told her in a voice full of relief, ''For a while there, I'd thought I had potentially lost any chance with you. So what now?'' ''Now, you start your shift, I'll talk to Sean and tonight, we work on our plan to keep me alive and change history for our group where we need to. Bring Kyle along too, we'll need him and Jim. Jim, we will need later.'' ''Later?'' he asked, puzzled. ''I've been dreaming a lot. So yeah, later.''

He got up. Liz was putting the box in her pocket, he noticed, smiling. Putting his hand out to her, he pulled her up to her feet. Raising an eyebrow at the 'L' hanging around her neck, he just looked at her. Liz sighed in exasperation. ''Fine'' and with that she melted the engraving to leave her initials. ''See?'' Running his finger over the back of it, he nodded, ''You're already mine, so that is much better.'' Cupping her elbow, he unlocked the door and lead out the room, herding her in Sean's direction, as he headed for Jose and told him to go home. Kyle joined Michael. ''Well?'', ''Well what?'' he asked, looking in Liz's direction while she let Sean know she needed time to heal her broken heart first, then decide what she needed. Kyle sighed. ''Did you talk to her or what?'' Michael smiled as he watched Sean walk away and leave the cafe, looking back at Michael to say with a look 'well played'.

''Oh, we talked alright, we've sorted things out. Sean doesn't stand a chance now, I've made sure of it. Liz agrees with me too. Right Parker?'' he asked her, knowing she had walked up behind them and turned to face her. ''Is it done?'' ''It's done.'' ''Good.'' With that statement, he swept her into his lap to Kyle's surprise. Rolling her eyes at Michael's possessive streak, she settled into his lap, sensing she wasn't going anywhere and addressed Kyle.

''Kyle, meet Michael and I here tonight after closing time, we have something big to discuss with you and it concerns me and your dad. Ok?'' Nodding, Kyle agreed ''Ok.'' Feeling a wave of tiredness hit her, she leaned on Michael's shoulder and yawned softly. It was enough for Michael to act. Gently putting her back on her feet, he got up and put his arm around her waist. ''Let's get you back to bed.''

Then Liz remembered something- ''Kyle, did you get my..'' ''homework'' he finished for her, waving his bag. ''Thanks'' she did before leaning on Michael. He'd seen enough and walked her through the door, up the steps and to her room, laying her on the bed, where she promptly passed out. Kyle, who had been following behind, walked in to see her lying asleep on the bed. ''What happened?'', he had dropped his bag and sat down next to her, holding her hand while he asked.

''She passed out. She's been doing that a lot lately, her powers are taking her energy out of her, especially with her dreams possibly being visions of the future. So even in her sleep, her power is draining her. No wonder she's shattered.'' Michael was worried. Sitting down, he held her hand, surprised when she drew on his power and concentrated in her sleep.

Holding fast to his hand, she brought herself to her dream plain and focused on bringing her powers into it around her. Shaking her head, she brought them finally under complete control, her own way. Sorting the powers out into categories, then sub topics, she checked over what powers were what.

There was healing, defensive, protective of course, mind control, mind warp and prophecy. Taking a deep breathe, she went over each one, seeing how to control them and how they worked. Finally focusing on her own power, she brought that under her own control, bringing everything together in one place, feeling it settle once more into her body, fully under her complete control. Letting go of Michael's power, she drifted for a while before waking up.

Michael knew she had let go of his power. He also knew she had stabilised her own powers using them. Smirking, he waited for her to wake up.

Liz woke up, feeling refreshed. She had a plan and now could do it.