36. Christmas Presents

Christmas Eve
Max and Liz's home
(2017) Max is 32, Liz is 31

She could hear the giggles from outside the house, the sound spreading love throughout her body. Wiping her hands on the kitchen towel, she began loading the plastic container with freshly baked cookies, a small smile dancing across her lips as she listened in on the voices that had increased marginally in intensity as the front door had opened.

"But it was different than before!" Liz heard the young clear voice protest.

"Different, huh?" the warm dark timbre of her husband's voice asked.

A small girl, measuring only about 2 feet, walked around the corner with her honey-colored eyes brightening at the sight of Liz.

Liz's answering smile, however, froze on her face at the sight of her four-year-old daughter.

"Hi mommy," the girl announced, plopping her small pink bag on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Hey sweetie," Liz said calmly, before throwing an annoyed look at Max as he appeared around the corner. She looked back at her daughter before she could see the answering grin on Max's face. "Did you have fun?"

"I got a present," the girl announced.

Liz narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, a smile lingering at the edges of her mouth. "You got a present?" Then she looked up at Max that was leaning against the wall, looking very casual.

Liz's heart missed a beat and she quickly swallowed the desire that rushed through her. They had been married for almost ten years and he still had the ability to make her knees go weak. Especially when he knew he was in trouble. There was a certain glint in his eyes that reminded her of their turbulent relationship as teenagers, which always enticed her in the most tempting of ways.

He raised an eyebrow as he noticed the blush coloring her cheeks and a knowing smile spread across his lips.

Zoe's fervent nodding had Liz focusing onto her daughter once again. "A present for Christmas!"

"Really?" Liz mused. "I thought Santa brought all the presents."

"Daddy wanted to give me one," the four-year-old announced with glittering eyes.

Liz held back a snort and shook her head in disbelief at her husband as his eyes just grew lighter with amusement. "What did daddy give you?"

Zoe shrugged. "I dunno. It's a present."

"Did you point it out for him?" Liz asked.

Zoe bit her lower lip and shook her head. "Nope. He thought of it aaaall by himself."

Max chuckled at the hint of awed surprise in Zoe's voice. That her father could actually come up with a present all on his own was a very big thing in her world.

"Well, isn't he a good daddy," Liz said, happy that her daughter was too young to understand sarcasm. "Did he give you ice-cream too?"

Zoe's eyes grew into the size of saucers and her mouth fell open in wonder. She spun around and addressed her father, "Daddy, did you tell her?"

Max looked puzzled when he answered, "No, baby. I don't know how she knows these things. Your mom sees everything."

Zoe looked back at her mom and nodded slowly, her little mind perplexed with the idea of an all-seeing mother. Did every kid have a mother like her? A mother who knew everything that happened?

"You've got ice-cream all over your face," Liz said softly, bending down to tickle her stomach.

Zoe erupted in delighted laughter as she shied away from her mother's tickling hands and ran over to her father, hiding behind him. Looking up at him, she announced happily – and slightly relieved, "Dad, she knew because of the ice-cream on my face."

Max gasped, his eyes wide with astonishment as if she had cracked the largest mystery on the planet. "Yes! You're right. That must be it."

Liz rose from her seated position, her eyes momentarily glancing at the kitchen clock before landing on Max. "It's minus four outside and you two are eating ice-cream."

"It was a comp-compee…" Zoe looked up at her father in question and he smiled at her.

"Competition?"

Zoe nodded. "Uh-huh. We had one. And I won!"

"You had an ice-cream competition?"

Zoe nodded again. "Daddy didn't eat all of his because he put it in my hair instead."

Liz rolled her eyes and sighed. "Well then. That would make him lose, wouldn't it?"

"He's a loser," Zoe announced proudly.

Max's mouth twitched in a restrained smile, while Liz fully gave into her smile her eyes making easy contact with Max. "He sure is."

Liz fell to her knees and gestured with her hands towards herself. "Come here, Miss Evans."

Zoe walked over, prepared to give her mother a hug, but Liz stopped her in time, taking a hold of her daughter's small shoulders. "Hugs later, okay?" Taking a closer look at her daughter, Liz noticed the ice-cream sticking her daughter's dark brown hair together into unkempt curls. "You, missy, need a bath."

Zoe's face fell and she stuck her bottom lip out far enough to be considered the biggest pout in existence. With a whine, she protested, "But I just had one."

"Zoe Evans," Liz said seriously, looking into her daughter's dark eyes, "Do you want to celebrate Christmas with sticky hair?"

She sighed. "It's daddy's fault."

Liz nodded. "I'm sure he did his part. Come on, babe. Let's go and run the water, okay?"

Zoe's shoulders sloped as she agreed with a silent 'okay' and then she was off, bouncing towards the bathroom as if the prospect of taking a bath didn't bother her too much any longer.

Liz threw her husband a glance and said as she turned towards the bathroom, "I'll be right back."

"I can't wait," he answered with a grin.

Having turned on the water, adjusted the temperature and instructed her daughter to choose which scent she wanted for her bubbles, Liz returned to the kitchen to turn off the oven.

Max was still there, looking through the box of cookies.

"Hey!" she said sternly and smacked the back of his hand. "Those are not to be eaten yet."

Max sighed disappointed and watched her as she walked past him.

She couldn't help but smile as his strong arms encircled her waist from behind.

"You got her a present?" Liz asked as his lips nuzzled the side of her throat, picking up at where they left their previous conversation.

"Mhmm," he answered, his fingers drifting underneath her thick sweater, only to find another layer of clothing.

"You're making me into the mean one," Liz said softly. To her chagrin, her voice sounded more like a dreamy sigh than an abolishment.

"How's that?" he murmured, his fingers fumbling underneath the top to find yet another piece of clothing.

"Because I didn't give her a present," Liz answered, pressing her back against the warmness of his body.

"Of course you did," he answered.

"No," Liz lowered her voice, "They're all supposedly from Santa."

She gasped as he spun her around, pressing the small of her back into the edge of the kitchen counter. He was not meeting her eyes; his gaze locked on her abdomen. The line of puzzlement across his forehead had her asking, "What's wrong?"

"Why are you wearing so many layers?"

She laughed and he looked up at her with a small boyish smile that had her practically melting in his arms.

"Because it's cold," she answered.

He cocked his head to the side and grinned. "I'm here to warm you up now."

His fingers were trailing along the sides of her abdomen, underneath her last layer of clothing, skin against skin.

"Zoe is very close," Liz warned.

"You say that like you think I'm going to get us into trouble," Max said and hoisted her up against his front, getting her to put her legs around his hips.

"You always get us into trouble," she whispered as he pressed her body into the counter to hold her up so that his hands were free to roam her body. A breath caught in her throat as his right hand inched underneath her panties, brushing innocently the upper border of her curls.

"Maax," she partly warned, partly moaned. "She can come out any second."

"I'm not doing anything," he laughed softly, capturing her lips with his.

Her arms drifted around his neck and she pulled him even closer as his tongue entered her mouth. "Mmmm," she murmured.

His right hand moved across her hips, stretching the material of the panties across the back of his hand as he moved underneath it before he reached around her and his fingers slid down her pliant ass. He used the same hand to push her closer up against his throbbing desire as his lips devoured her mouth.

"Mooom! Daaad!"

They broke apart with the speed of lightning, Max quickly removing his hand from Liz's panties and looking into the direction of the exasperated voice.

Their four-year-old was looking at them with an impatient expression across her dark features, her hands firmly on her hips.

"Stop smooching," she complained and Liz had to bit her swollen lower lip to not laugh as she against her better judgment glanced up at Max and saw him struggling not to laugh.

Only their daughter could make them feel like teenagers again.

Zoe put her head to the side and regarded her mother curiously, "Did you forget about my bath?"

"Uhm…" Liz licked her lips, "Mommy got a bit distracted."

Max chuckled and Liz smacked him over the chest, hissing, "Quiet you."

"Mom, why are you hitting dad?" Zoe asked.

Max put his hand against his mouth and had to look away to stop him from erupting in laughter from the annoyed look Liz gave him. How did Max always get away from answering this type of questions? Why was Liz always the one accused?

"Because he's being naughty," Liz answered.

"Very naughty," Max mumbled under his breath and Liz raised her hand to smack him again, but stopped herself at the last second.

Zoe frowned, but quickly decided that this was a confusing and boring discussion. "Mommy, my bath is ready."

"That's good, honey," Liz answered, "Go and take your clothes off. I'll be right there."

"Okay," Zoe said and disappeared.

The second she was out of earshot, Max started laughing and Liz boxed him on the arm. "You…you…"

"What?" he asked and before she could answer he grabbed her face between his hands and silenced her words with a heated kiss.

Her hands threaded through his hair, taking a firm grip on his head as he grabbed her ass and spun them around, plopping her down very unceremoniously on the kitchen table.

"How long before she comes out again?" Max asked breathlessly between kisses.

"About 30 seconds," Liz answered, her hands moving restlessly across the defined muscles of his back underneath his shirt.

"Okay," Max murmured, sucking on her neck, while his hands moved upwards underneath her three layers of clothing and encased her breasts. "Whoa, you are cold."

"I'm getting warmer by the second," Liz gasped as his thumbs rolled over her nipples. "Max, what if she-"

"I know," he interrupted, directing her lips back to his.

"Mooooom!"

They broke apart panting, the look of wild abandoned passion in both sets of dark eyes as they first stared at each other before looking in the direction of the bathroom.

"We're gonna be late," Liz whispered, her chest heaving with labored breathing which wasn't made easier by the fact that Max's fingers were still running along the sides of her breasts.

"Maria's gonna kill us," Max nodded.

"We need to pick up your father," Liz added and watched Max's face sigh with remembrance while he pulled his hands out from underneath her shirt.

"Right, dad."

"Mom! Stop kissing dad!" Zoe yelled from the bathroom and Liz looked up at Max's laughing eyes while she shook her head in amazement.

"You know why it's always me that's the bad parent? Because I don't suck up to her like you do."

"You're not the bad parent," he protested with a smile, knowing that she was only joking. "And I don't suck up to her."

"Right, she's just daddy's girl," Liz shrugged, smoothening her top, her second top and her sweater down and jumped off the table.

His hand on her arm stopped her and she stopped for a second to look up into his eyes. A soft, loving smile had replaced the grin and he reached out to her face to gently stroke her cheek. "She adores you."

She smiled softly at his effort and nodded. "Yeah."

"You do believe that, don't you?" he asked.

Her smile warmed and she placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Of course I do." Turning serious she looked towards the bathroom, "How long do you think she will ground us for?"

Max seemed to consider this for a second before answering, "For that? About two days."

"Damn," Liz said and put on a disappointed expression. "I guess we have to scratch that secret trip to the cinema to make out."

He leaned down and kissed the side of her mouth, making her lean into his touch and almost have her mouth chase after his. He winked at her when he pulled back which made her blush. "There's always the backseat."

She nodded contemplatively. "True. Very true."

"Moooommy," Zoe yelled again and Liz rolled her eyes.

"Duty's calling."

"I'll go and get ready," Max said and pulled her in for a last peck on the lips before he let her go with a smile.

"Maybe you should go and get Philip first while I bathe Zoe and get myself ready."

"Okay," he agreed. "Love you."

"Yes, horny boy, you've shown that plenty already," Liz sighed in mock exasperation which earned her a grin from her husband before he disappeared past her into the master bedroom to change clothes.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Three hours later
Maria and Michael's home

He looked down as he felt her cool hand grab his, only to a second later be pulled towards the front door.

"Kitten?" he wondered as she pulled him outside into the chilling winter and closed the front door behind them. "What's up?"

Before he fully got a chance to finish that sentence, her lips were on his, her fingers demanding as they tugged at his hair. His surprise wore off quickly as he instinctively responded to her kiss.

She pressed herself up against him with such force that he felt himself being pushed up against the hard wall, her warm body pressed intimately against his front.

"Parker?" he wondered as she pulled away and looked up at him with swollen lips and insecure eyes.

Max frowned at the latter and his hand whisked through her hair, his thumb brushing across the edge of her cheek to cradle her ear.

"I need you," she whimpered, wrapping her arms around him.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, suspecting that the miniscule tremors shaking her body was more due to nervousness than the cold wind.

"I wanted to talk to you earlier, but I couldn't tell you," Liz mumbled against his chest.

His arms around her tightened and he pressed his cheek against the top of her head, trying to encase her in warmth and protection. "Just tell me."

"I know we haven't really discussed it, but…" her voice trailed off and he frowned.

"Just tell me, kitten," he said impatiently, which caused her to smile and press a kiss against his shirt.

"How do you feel about more children in the house?" she said.

Max sighed. "Do we have to babysit Michael's kids again?"

She shook her head and pulled away from him to look up at him with shiny eyes. Smiling tentatively, she said softly, "I'm pregnant."

He stared at her, his mouth going dry as it went slack in his face. "Huh?"

She arched an eyebrow with an amused smile. "I'm knocked up. I've got a bun in the oven. I'm expecting. I'm pregge-"

He put up his hands to stop her onslaught of words. "Uhm…yes, thank you. I get the message."

Insecurity flooded her facial expression and she bit her bottom lip doubtfully as she looked up at him through dark lashes.

His eyes were fixed at something on the ground and she didn't realize it was her stomach until he raised his hand and gently laid it against her abdomen. Looking up with glistening eyes, he took a deep breath, tried to speak but ended up smiling instead as the words failed him.

His smile warmed her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes and her responding smile was just as radiant.

His hand came up to cradle her cheek and he looked deep into her eyes, his eyes sparkling with emotion. "I love you."

"So you're happy?" she asked slowly.

"We make the best babies," Max said with a crooked smile that shot straight through her heart, "Of course I'm happy, Parker."

He took another look at her and mused, "That explains why you've been so horny."

Her mouth fell open in indignation and her fingers suddenly itched to hurt him. "Hey! Who was the one that attacked me before?"

"I saw the look on your face," Max said. "You started it. I just responded to what you wanted. You women always go on and on about how men can't read your minds and when we do we get punished for it?"

He looked at her questioningly, humor tainting his golden eyes.

"You're just as horny as me – if not hornier!!" Liz erupted just as the front door opened.

"Uhm…okay," Philip murmured and Max looked ready to explode with laughter as Liz's face turned tomato red before she slowly turned around to face her father-in-law.

"Eh…it's not what it sounded like," she said.

Philip looked almost as amused as his son, but a calmness brought on by age was making it easier for him to restrain himself. "Of course not, honey."

"Did you want…" Max cleared his throat, scratching his ear, "…something, dad?"

"We're ready to eat."

"Good," Liz sighed and threw a glare in Max's direction before she excused herself and walked back into the house.

Max saw the questioning smile on his father's face and shook his head, "Don't ask."

"Oh believe me, I would rather not know," Philip answered.

"Let's go back in," Max said and reached beside his father to grab the door handle.

"Max," Philip's voice stopped him and Max turned to face his father.

"Yes?"

"She makes you happy, doesn't she?"

Max smiled softly, something of a far-away look in his eyes. "She's amazing."

Philip nodded softly, a bittersweet smile on his lips. Max was struck with the insight that his father was at that exact moment thinking about Max's mother and an odd feeling struck him. Having found his own soulmate and having started a family with that same person, he suddenly understood on another level the vast darkness his father must have been drowning in when Diane died. She had been the love of his life, just like Liz was to Max. If something ever happened to Liz, Max wasn't sure he would be able to go on living.

"I'm so happy for you, son," Philip said, squeezing Max's shoulder, his voice pulling Max out of his gloomy thoughts. "I really am."

Max smiled weakly, "Thank you, dad."

--------------------------------------------------------

One hour later

"No, sweetheart," Maria scolded lightly, pulling the chubby hand containing the flower soil away from her two-year-old son's mouth.

Lucas looked up at her with large green eyes, the black dirt staining his pink bottom lip. His eyes followed his mother's movement as she grabbed a hold of his small hand and brushed the soil off his warm palm.

Zoe came up behind Maria and said, "Lucas, come."

Lucas chubby face lit up and he stretched his arms out for his cousin. Zoe smiled with the air of a big sister and put her arms under Lucas' armpits and pulled him upwards. She was breathing heavily just getting him to his feet. It was with her tongue half-way out her mouth and a frown of fierce concentration on her forehead that she partly dragged, partly lifted the toddler across the floor.

"He's a real charmer," Liz said softly behind Maria and Maria nodded with a smile.

"He's so quiet I don't really believe he's ours."

Liz put her arms around her friend's waist and rested her chin on Maria's shoulder. "You've been saying that since he was born."

"I still can't believe it," Maria said. "He hardly cried when he was a newborn. He rarely fussed when he was growing older. And now he just sits and looks at everything. Without a word."

"Well, at least you have Alba," Liz said, a smile coloring her voice.

"True," Maria nodded. Alba made enough noise for five toddlers. She was definitely a child of Maria and Michael Parker.

"How are you doing, girlfriend?" Maria asked, craning her neck slightly to appraise Liz's face. There was a fresh blush coloring Liz's cheeks and her eyes were shining bright with contentment and happiness. "From the look of your face I presume you and Max are doing well."

"I've got news," Liz said with a secret smile.

Maria's eyes brighten with curiosity and she twirled out of Liz's arms to be able to take a good look at her friend's face. "What is it?"

Liz dropped her eyes, a small smile gracing her lips as her hands moved inconspicuously across her abdomen. But nothing got past Maria.

Maria's eyes widened as she gasped, "You're pregnant!"

Liz looked up in surprise, the question clear in her eyes. Before she had time to even think about how to formulate that question, Maria squealed and threw crushing arms around Liz.

Liz found herself bouncing along with an exuberant Maria, still trying to figure out if Maria really was a mind-reader like Max had suspected for several years.

"It's about time," Maria sighed and released Liz from her iron-grip. "I thought you had decided on only having one kid or something. Because obviously you don't have problems performing the act-"

Liz rolled her eyes, "Maria…"

Maria waved her words away and stilled, a slow smile filling her lips and twinkling her eyes. "Congratulations, Lizzie."

Liz pulled Maria into another hug and whispered, "Thank you" into Maria's ear.

"Should I be jealous?" a voice murmured behind them and the women pulled apart to find Max watching them with a smile.

"Max, my man," Maria said in a deep masculine voice, stepping up to the dark-haired man, "Good work."

"Thanks," Max answered, without any doubt to what he was being complimented for.

"It's about time," Maria added pointedly.

Max shrugged. "Well, you can't rush perfection." He found Liz's hand and pulled her into his side. "I think Alba needs your attention."

Maria's face immediately fell and she sighed wearily, "What did she do now?"

"Let's just say that she might need another set of clothes," Max offered calmly.

Maria sighed again before she took off in a stride towards the living room. "Alba Jessica Parker. You are in big trouble, missy!"

Liz pulled out of Max's warm arms reluctantly and murmured, "Let's go see where our daughter is."

Max nodded and kissed the tip of her nose. "Let's hope she's dry."

Liz narrowed her eyes, but decided it was better not to ask. For not the first time, she was hit with the understanding of how Gabriela must've felt when her, Max and Michael would run around and make a mess when they were little.

It was their children's turn now.

Max's hand brushed across her flat abdomen and a wondrous smile caressed his lips as he looked at her abdomen. Looking up, the hand that was still holding onto hers tightened and he whispered, "Is there any way we can get away later?"

Smiling, she shook her head slowly, "See? Who's the horny one?"

He winked at her and pulled her close for a kiss. "What can I say? You make me crazy, Mrs. Evans."

"Hmm," she murmured against the warmth of his lips. "They have a guest room…"

He pulled away, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Really?"

She slowly licked her lips and nodded.

In his best Mr. Burns from The Simpsons impersonation, Max whispered, "Excellent."

TBC...