I own neither the story nor the characters of Roswell.


1:45 PM - Tonopah, Nevada

As the small child knocked his toy from the highchair, Liz quickly knelt to pick it up and hand it back to him. As she stood up she remembered immediately why kneeling was a bad idea, wincing slightly. The problem was really twofold.

The first was the damn thong. She'd gotten the thong at the same time she'd gotten the negligee... the one she'd taken back unworn. A pity she didn't do it with the thong as well. It was the most uncomfortable damn underwear Liz had ever worn in her life.

She'd gotten it because she thought that Max might like her in it and of course... it was just the opposite. It wasn't that Max liked her bikini briefs better than the thong, necessarily, just that when they got to that particular point in their flirting and foreplay... well, he'd just as soon she wasn't wearing anything.

But since she'd bought it, she had to try to wear it, and it felt terrible, like being high-centered on a strand of dental floss.

And even that wouldn't have been bad, if she hadn't already been kind of sore. And it wasn't like Max hadn't warned her. 'Look,' he'd said, 'we're still kind of new at this and... not that I'm complaining, but if we keep this up you are going to be kind of... sore.'

He'd warned her of this last night, warned her twice... or was it three times? He'd warned her THREE times... and once this morning as well, but she hadn't listened. And now she was being rasped even more raw by the damn thong.

Liz had just ordered her own lunch, and one for him. It had been nice of Betty Ann to make their lunches coincide. That had let them send the email yesterday, and they'd be able to sit and eat together today. That is, if she could sit down, as chafed as she was.

Liz looked out at Max, behind the registration desk. She still could barely believe it. He was so caring, so considerate, such a kind and thoughtful lover. And if they hadn't simply fallen asleep on that blanket, how long would it have been before she would have known such happiness.

As she turned back toward the order window, the thong rode up painfully once again. 'Damn, maybe I'll have time after Max and I have lunch to go up to the room and trade this stupid thong for regular underwear. This is getting nothing but worse.'

She took two steps more toward the order window and froze. 'How stupid are you, Liz?" she asked herself. "If he can fix a gunshot wound...surely he can fix a few abrasions."

Liz walked back to the order window. "Hey Arnie, that last order for the two burgers and fries... make that a to-go, OK?"

"Sure thing, Beth."

Liz smiled as she looked back toward Max. 'Maybe if we eat fast, he can heal me... and we'll still have time for a quickie.'