Part Thirty-Four

Thursday August 2nd 2007 – London

Liz let out a small sigh, leaning forward on the bench, propping her elbows on her knees and supporting her chin on her hands as she watched Max and Nathan playing a friendly singles game on the local courts. Something had been bothering her over the last couple of weeks, and she didn't quite know how to deal with it, or how to approach it with Max.

"Yes! That's it! You're arse is mine, Thomas!"

The sound of Max's joyous exclamation rang out across the court and caused her to let out a soft chuckle, her worries temporarily forgotten.

"Hey, give me a break, man," retorted Nathan. "I'm not exactly used to playing against Wimbledon champions, here."

Max shot him a grin, "You're right. I guess I'd better go easy on you then."

"Don't you dare," Nathan contradicted himself with a grin. "I intend to win this fair and square."

"Whatever you say, mate."

Liz tried to stay upbeat for the remainder of their game, but it was hard to watch Max play, obviously in his element out there on the court, and not think about the things that had been bothering her lately. She did smile and cheer when Max won the game, although she had to give Nathan credit – he'd played really well this afternoon and as a result, Max had only won by a small margin.

Max and Nathan shook hands across the net, giving each other a friendly pat on the back, before coming off the court and Liz couldn't help but smile as Max swept her up in a sweaty hug and pressed an enthusiastic kiss to her lips.

"What was that for?" she smiled.

He shrugged, "What, I need an excuse to kiss you now?"

"No," she shook her head, still smiling as she tried not to let her troubled thoughts show on her face.

"That's good to know," he grinned, moving his hands to her waist and pulling back so he could gaze down at her. "Come on, let's go home and get changed – I'm taking you out to dinner tonight."

"Oh, you are, are you?" teased Liz, as she looked up into his soft, inviting gaze. "And you just assume that I don't have plans?"

His face fell for a moment, concern crossing his features, "You don't, do you?"

She chuckled, shaking her head, "No, I don't. Don't worry."

"Whew," he let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.

"So, where are you taking me?"

Max shook his head, "Nuh uh, it's a surprise."

She gave him an annoyed glare, but he only smirked and shook his head again, before letting go of her to return his racket to his tennis bag on the bench and gather his things.

"Aww, come on, Max."

"No," he chuckled, hoisting his bag onto one shoulder and taking her hand in his. "I'm not telling you."

They said a quick goodbye to Nathan, who was busy checking in with Sarah on his mobile as he packed up his gear, and headed for Max's flat so they could shower and change for the evening.

Two hours later, Max held out his hand for Liz to take as she got out of the taxi they'd taken from the flat to… somewhere in Covent Garden.

"So, are you finally going to tell me where we're going tonight?" she asked as she allowed Max to help her out of the car.

"Nope," he grinned. She opened her mouth to protest, but he continued before she could, "I thought I'd just show you instead."

He paid the taxi driver and then turned her around so she was directly facing their destination.

Liz let out a gasp, her eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and happiness as she turned to him, "Mon Plaisir?"

He grinned, "Yep."

"You're taking me to Mon Plaisir, Max?" she couldn't keep the wide smile off her face. "I haven't been here in forever."

"I know," he said softly, letting go of her hand and instead slipping it around her waist as he began to guide her towards the quaint French restaurant.

Liz felt her heart tug with emotion as Max led her inside the restaurant foyer, his hand resting on her lower back now, and spoke to the waiter in the entrance. Mon Plaisir had been one of their favourite restaurants to visit when they'd been a couple and it was strangely nostalgic to be here again, after all this time. As the waiter showed them to their table, Max's hand remained in place just above the curve of her bottom until the very last moment, only moving away when she sat down.

Liz watched Max with a small smile as he took his seat also and then smoothly picked up the wine list, only scanning it for a second before turning to the waiter and ordering a bottle of champagne. As the waiter nodded and scurried off to fetch the wine, Liz couldn't help but shake her head at Max.

"Max …"

"What?" he raised an eyebrow, his expression playful.

"What's all this in aid of?"

"Does it have to be in aid of anything?" he wondered.

"But, all this…" she gestured around them. "The fancy restaurant, expensive champagne… is it really necessary?"

He looked at her thoughtfully for a short moment, before leaning forward in his seat, "Liz, I just earned nearly three-quarters of a million pounds from Wimbledon and with the money from the other Grand Slams, it's not like I can't afford it. Besides, it's all worth it just to see you happy again."

Liz shifted slightly uncomfortably at his admission, "Max, you know I don't need any of this to make me happy. Just having my life back again is enough for me."

Max frowned then and Liz saw him open his mouth to say something, but then the waiter reappeared with their champagne and proceeded to pour them each a glass. He then took their food orders and left them alone once more. There was a moment of awkward silence between them until they both spoke simultaneously.

"Liz, what's going on –?"

"Max, there's something I –"

They both stopped, staring at the other for a second, before Liz gestured towards Max.

"Sorry, you go first."

Max nodded and then sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Liz, I can tell that something's been bothering you lately. You've been really distracted; what's going on?"

Liz sighed, looking down at the table for a moment before returning her gaze to his.

"You're right, there is something bothering me… What you said the other week, about wanting to have a baby…?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, that's what been bothering me," she admitted, biting her lip softly when Max frowned. "I guess what I want to know is why you said it."

"What do you mean?" he sounded miffed and Liz resisted the urge to wince. "I thought that's what you wanted."

"Exactly," she pointed out. "Is that the only reason you suggested it… to give me what I've been wanting for the last two years before it's too late? Like you're doing me a favour or something – because if that's why, then I don't think I want to have a baby with you."

She watched in anticipation of his answer as he sucked in a breath and then let it out slowly, his eyes narrowed.

"Is that what you think? That I just want to do you a favour? God, Liz…" he trailed off, his head shaking from side to side.

"Well, what else am I supposed to think?" burst out Liz then, unable to take the tension that had settled between them suddenly. "Two months ago you never wanted to see me again, then a month ago we're just starting to get close again and suddenly two weeks later you want a baby with me! Oh, and of course there's also the fact that the longer I wait to have children, the less easily I'll be able to cope with them so it would be best to have them right away. It just all seems a bit too … I don't know –"

"Liz," Max cut her off with a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry."

She looked down at his hand for a second before raising her eyes to his, to find his expression soft and tender.

He shook his head, "Lizzie, I love you. I know I probably shouldn't after everything that's happened, after what you did to me, but I can't help it. You're the love of my life; I don't think I could stop loving you even if I tried… and believe me I've been trying so hard to not love you for the past two years."

"Max…" Liz murmured, feeling tears spring to her eyes.

"Elizabeth Parker, I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms, to marry you, to have beautiful children with you, to grow old with you," he paused for a moment, reaching across the table so he could take both of her hands in both of his. "But I also know that this is moving very fast. What I said that day… I meant it with all my heart. I want to have a baby with you, so much… because I love you and because we both deserve to have a family and to be happy."

She shook her head, willing the tears not to fall as her heart constricted at Max's tender words.

"Liz, I was so close to asking you to marry me again the other week –" She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips as his admission. "– But I knew it was too soon for that; we'd only been back together for a couple of weeks. The thing is, I wish we could do all of this traditionally; you know, get married, spend a few months of quality time together, maybe try for a baby after a year or two… but the truth is that we don't have that luxury. We both know that the safest thing for you is to have children when you're young and still healthy enough to take care of them. That's why I want to give you a baby now, as soon as you feel you're ready – because I want to do everything I can to make sure your life is a healthy and happy and risk-free as possible."

By now, the tears were falling fast down Liz's cheeks and her heart swelled with love for the man sitting across from her. With everything she was, she wished desperately that she could turn back the clock and prevent herself from ever hurting him so long ago.

"Max, I–" her voice caught in her throat. "I don't know what to say. I love you so much too. And I'm sorry… I'm sorry for assuming, and for doubting you. I would love to do all those things too, but you're right." She sighed, "The truth is, I don't have time to do this properly, or to take my time over these decisions."

Max smiled softly across the table at her, his fingers tightening around hers briefly.

She took a deep breath, "And I know it wasn't a proposal or anything just now, but I just want you to know that I want to marry you too – not just yet, but definitely sometime in the future, when the time is right."

Max just nodded, swallowing sharply and Liz could see that he was almost as overwhelmed with emotion as she was. Gently, one of his hands drifted up to cup her jaw and he leaned across the small table to capture her lips with his in a sweet kiss, full of love and promise.

Just as they parted, the waiter returned with their food and the rest of the meal was spent in comfortable silence, the air between them filled with love and hope. This was the first day of the rest of their lives and Liz made a silent promise to herself that she would never be so stupid as to allow anything to come between them ever again.

TBC…