A/N: Yeah two months is a LONG time to not post. Sorry about that. It seems every time I'd sit down to write or edit, something would happen that needed my IMMEDIATE attention and this had to be set aside. I'm close to finishing the actual writing though, which means that it'll be faster updates as editing isn't nearly as time consuming as writing is. At least not for me.

Thanks to Jessica and iugome for recent reveiws that kinda kicked my butt back into gear. Kudos to Radiogirl who's read this already and gave it a go ahead...

Hope you guys enjoy this. Reveiw, even if it's to toss rotten tomatoes at me! ;-)

Chapter 37

Liz arrived home at dinnertime. After arguing and debating options for the rest of the day without coming up with a clear plan, she felt discouraged. She meandered through the busy café and headed upstairs. She unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped inside. "I'm home," she called to the house. Jeff Parker quickly entered the living room.

"Where've you been?" His voice was tight with concern.

Liz set down her purse and gave him a quick hug. "I was with Isabel and Maria," she grimaced. "I had to tell them the wedding was off."

Jeff held his daughter a bit tighter as he said, "did you hear about the disturbance today?"

"With Max?" she asked as she pulled away and studied at his concerned face as he nodded. "Yeah, I was with Isabel when she got the call."

Jeff frowned. "I heard Jeremy was involved."

Liz bit her lip. "I really don't know all the details, but yeah, I heard the same thing."

Jeff leaned against the back of the couch. "I'm sorry that he wasn't who you thought he was Lizzie."

Liz nodded and said, "me too."

Liz finally managed to escape to her room after a torturous dinner with her parents. The conversation was stilted, and she had spent much of her time trying to evade their looks of concern by eating quickly. She shut the door firmly behind her with a sigh. She felt like she was 16 years old again, sneaking around behind her parents back. She rolled her eyes as she headed for the bathroom.

Her stomach clenched as she turned on the light. For some perverse reason, the memory of her argument with Jeremy flashed through her mind. She gently rubbed her cheek as she fought back tears. As much as she wished she didn't have to, she knew she had to face it. She sat on the floor and savagely pushed her hair away from her face. Once the tears started falling, they refused to stop. She took a heaving breath, and shut her eyes tight as the tears continued to fall. She didn't want to feel this way about Jeremy. She hadn't even really loved him. Not that feelings were ever rational, she reasoned as she wiped away a tear.

More than anything, she hated the pity. It was in everyone's eyes. If it wasn't pity, it was fury. She'd spent almost the entire day reassuring both Max and Michael that she was fine, and trying to keep them from simply killing Jeremy the next time they saw him.

She let out a ragged laugh. The truth was she was far from fine. She felt like she was slowly destructing. As insane as it was, she missed Jeremy. The thought sent tears coursing down her face as she admitted to herself that she missed the familiar feeling of him snuggling next to her as she fell asleep. She didn't want to miss him but she did, and she hated herself for it. She hated the feeling that made her want to connect with him again, even though what she saw almost always hurt. It was like an addiction. The thought made her eyes prick with new tears. She bit her lip and shook her head in frustration. Her watery eyes caught a glint of something behind the toilet. She blinked. It was her engagement ring. She reached around the bowl and grabbed it. The stone glistened in the light as she rolled the band back and forth with her fingers.

The flash was over so fast, she wasn't sure she'd really seen anything. It seemed like she was looking through binoculars at a house... She frowned and looked at the ring again, trying to focus on it. Liz huffed in frustration when nothing happened. Flashes aren't something you can control, she reminded herself. She stood and set the ring on the counter. She stared at herself in the mirror for several minutes, taking in the angry redness in her eyes and moist cheeks. She scrubbed her face with a cool washcloth. She picked up the ring again. It was cool against her fingers. Nothing happened. She rolled her eyes as she set it down again before she turned off the light and stalked out of the bathroom.

Liz jumped when she saw a shadow pass her window. A moment later, Max's face came into view as he knelt in front of the closed pane. Liz self consciously smoothed her hair as she went to the window and opened it. The desert air was still warm from the heat of the day; it wafted across her face. "What are you doing here Max?"

"I…I felt something," he stuttered. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"What did you feel?" She asked, feeling worried and perplexed.

"Just you… Just that you needed a friend," he finished as his amber eyes met hers.

The tiredness and emptiness that Liz had been feeling melted away at his look. She placed her hand on his knee. "Thanks Max," she smiled.

He bit his lip shyly as they stared intently at each other. Liz smiled broadly as his hands covered hers. Their fingers intertwined as Max gently pulled her out onto the balcony. "I know my timing sucks, but I needed to tell you this," Max finally said.

"Tell me what?" Liz queried.

"I've made some terrible mistakes in my life, but not one comes close to the mistake I made when I let you walk away that first time." He took a deep breath as he looked at their intertwined hands. "I need you to know that whatever the past, and whatever the future, I'll love you."

As his words wound their way to Liz's heart, it danced with joy. "I'll love you more," she whispered.

Max grinned broadly, and Liz's heart quivered. His smile lit up the night. Slowly, he released her hand, and brought both hands to her face. His thumbs tenderly caressed her cheek. Liz brought her hands up to his, and marveled at their size and strength. She leaned forward in anticipation. His warm breath tickled her face as his forehead rested against hers. They were silent for a moment as they simply looked in each others eyes. Then Max slowly moved his lips toward hers and she felt them caress hers lightly. She slid her hands down his arms then back up to circle his neck. She smiled slightly as she closed her eyes and met his lips firmly.

Max's hands slid behind her neck and pressed her closely to him as he took her lips in between his and pulled gently. Liz could feel her heart falter. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She grinned, realizing that he had a five o'clock shadow. Max was no longer a boy, he was a man she marveled, as she gently ran her hand over his rough cheek. Max's eyebrows shot upwards momentarily before he closed the distance between them again. "You are my reason for living," he murmured as he buried he lips into hers in a breath taking kiss. He slowly began to nuzzle and kiss her jaw line and down her neck to her collarbone.

Liz shivered as his rough face made its way down her neck and back up to her ears. She clung to him, feeling that there was nowhere more safe or blissful than in his arms. The thought made her breath catch. When he found a ticklish section near her collar bone, she squirmed and rasped, "Max."

Max looked up. "Hmmm?"

"Nothing," she said as she planted kisses on his forehead and cheeks and anywhere else that her lips could touch.

Max smiled briefly before he attacked Liz's mouth again, pulling away only when his heavy breathing made it impossible to continue. He rested his forehead against Liz's again as he took a few deep breaths. Liz kissed his nose softly, sending sparks throughout his whole body. He could feel Liz's deep happiness and contentment even though they weren't connected; so when the flash of Liz sobbing hit him, it stopped him cold.

Liz felt Max's whole body stiffen as he pulled away. She frowned as she looked up. "What?" she asked quietly.

Max sighed as he pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "Nothing," he said as he cradled her head against his heart.

Liz twined her hands into the nape of his neck and pulled his face to hers. "Then why did you stop?" She began placing kisses on his lips and cheeks. She licked his lips when he didn't kiss back, and he growled low in his throat.

As Max opened his mouth and pressed his tongue against hers, their connection flared to life, Liz gasped at the feelings that flooded through her. She'd never imagined that someone could want her as badly as Max did at that moment, and yet struggle not to go too far because of his deep love and respect for her. She broke the kiss and placed both hands on his cheeks. She looked deeply at him, her eyes taking in every contour of his face.

Why were you crying, babe? Max asked silently. Liz saw a shadow of worry and pain pass through his eyes.

"I…I…" she stumbled as her thoughts raced ahead, showing Max how she had been sobbing earlier for the loss of what she thought she had found, and the fear of what the future would hold. He caressed face, slowly and gently kissing where her tears had run down her face. He kissed her eyelids, and then finally he let the connection flare completely out of control as he pressed her to him, wishing they were simply one, as it felt they were when they were like this.

Liz clung to him, trying to convey the depth of her feeling. It felt like the all encompassing love that she possessed for him was a mere shadow of what Max held in his soul. The term Love didn't even begin to describe the depth of his devotion.

Max tenderly kissed the top of Liz's head. I never believed anyone could love me like that, he confessed to her. I'm so sorry that all my love has done was hurt you.

No, Max, your love has made my life special. It made it worth living. She held on tighter to him, wishing that she could stay molded against his strong, firm body forever. She was safe here. She belonged here.

I'm never leaving. You are my destiny, Liz Parker. I was meant only for you. Max looked down at her, and their eyes met.

Liz couldn't help but smile. She mused that this was quite possibly the most intimate moment of her life. Then she heard a knock on her door, and just about yelled in frustration.

Max chuckled softly as he heard her unkind thoughts at whoever was intruding. It's okay. I'll just stay out here, he reassured her. He gave her a quick squeeze and released her.

Liz reluctantly ducked back into her room and swung the door open. Kyle stood awkwardly before her.

"Hey. I know it's late, but we need to talk," he said as he quickly entered the room.

Liz took a deep breath and leaned against the door as she closed it. "Kyle, what's wrong?"

"I've been thinking about this all day…"

Liz could hear Max's mildly sarcastic thoughts and she struggled not to smile. "What have you been thinking," she asked seriously.

Kyle ran his hand through his hair and sat on the bed. "You kept saying that it seems that Jeremy thinks Max is an alien, right?"

Liz's stomach flipped as she remembered Jeremy's feelings when she connected with him. "Yeah…"

"I was talking with my dad. I asked him how he could possibly know, and we could only think of one way…"

Liz frowned. "What was that?"

"Where's the only place that they would use their powers freely?"

Liz's eyes widened and she heard Max say in her mind, he actually might be on the right track…

"Hang on a second Kyle," Liz interrupted as she headed to the window and stuck her head out. She motioned for Max to join them inside.

Kyle smirked when he saw Max climb through the window. "I should have known you'd be here," he raised his eyebrows at Liz.

Liz knew what Kyle was implying, and felt herself blush a little. After all, he was right. She looked at the floor, as she felt Max's arm go around her waist. "Liz and I needed to talk," Max explained.

Kyle snorted. "Well I guess at least you're talking now…" He shook his head. "Anyways, I was telling Liz that my dad and I think maybe Jeremy has been spying on you for longer than we thought. The only way someone would suspect you is if they saw you using your powers."

Liz saw the scared look that flashed through Max's eyes. She immediately placed a hand on his chest, in an attempt to comfort him. "How could he have been spying on him for so long without us knowing?"

Kyle looked at her disbelievingly. "The FBI spied on Michael how many months before you discovered the feed?"

Max grimaced and Liz felt him tense beneath her touch. "How would we even know?" Liz asked as she fearfully looked around the room, suddenly feeling naked and exposed.

Kyle began to pace around the room. "Dad had this thing that measures electrical impulses; we could borrow it and sweep everyone's houses to make sure there are no cameras or bugs to start."

"That's a good idea," Max said as he stepped away from Liz. He could feel her confusion at the loss of contact. Jeremy might be watching, he cautioned. He thinks I'm trying to seduce you. Let's not give him the ammunition he needs.

Liz nodded. I'm so sorry, Max.

Don't be, Max reassured her. It'll be fine.

Kyle cleared his throat uncomfortably. It was obvious that Max and Liz were having some kind of private conversation. "Anyways, I just wanted to run it by Liz to see what she thought… I'll be going now," he said as he stumbled towards the door.

"Kyle, hang on a second," Max said.

Kyle waited obediently, but averted his eyes. It just felt wrong to be in the same room knowing that Liz and Max were having a private conversation, even if he couldn't hear it. "I could meet you downstairs," Kyle offered after a moment of awkward silence.

Liz finally broke her gaze from Max. "That's okay, Kyle. Do you think you could get the machine from your dad tonight?"

Kyle frowned. "I think it's at work."

"We need to check this out tonight. Let's go get it." Max said.

"They're not gonna let us waltz into the station and grab it out of dad's office."

Max smiled. "I have my ways." Kyle frowned as Max headed out the window. "Meet me downstairs," Max commanded.

Kyle saw the determined look in Max's eyes and sighed loudly. "I don't suppose I'm going to like this," he plaintively asked Liz.

She shrugged and smiled. "You'll be fine," she said as she opened the door for him. "Thanks Kyle." She gave him a quick hug as he passed her.

"I guess I'll call you from Jail," he said jokingly as he left.

Liz smiled and closed the door. You'll come back later? Liz silently asked Max.

As soon as we have it, I'll come back, he replied as he peered at her from outside the window. Liz followed him out and grabbed his hand before he headed over the fire escape.

Be careful. I love you. She squeezed his hand.

Max grinned. I love you too. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, then quickly headed down the fire escape.