Chapter Twenty-Five: Hello
Chapter Twenty-Five: Hello

            Liz shuffled through the living room and straight into the kitchen, not noticing Max sitting on the couch.  He was a little amused, but overcome with emotion just from his brief glimpse of her as she walked by.  Smoothing a nervous hand down the front of his shirt, he stood.  "Alex?" Liz called from the kitchen, "is that you?  They were out of Fruity Pebbles, so I got you Cocoa Puffs instead!"  Max smiled.  Her voice was the most beautiful sound in the world.  "Alex?" Liz called again, poking her head into the living room.  "Hi," Max whispered.  Liz shook her head slowly, her mouth open.  "No," she murmured softly, "no, no you're not real.  You're not real."  She ran down the hallway, slamming a door behind her.

            Max squeezed his eyes shut briefly, then followed her route down the hallway.  "Liz?" he knocked, "Liz, it's me.  I am real."  He turned the knob slowly, finding her lying across her bed, her face buried in her pillow.  "Liz," he said again.  "Go away!" came her muffled voice.  He sank onto the mattress, cautiously reaching out to touch her hair.  "You've cut it," he whispered, "Liz, if I weren't really here, I wouldn't be able to touch you, to feel you.  Your hair is still so soft."  She lifted her head, sniffing loudly, tears streaking her cheeks.  "But you can't be real," she whimpered, "I've seen you so many times and you were never real."  He wiped her tears away, not giving mind to his own that steadily fell from his eyes.  "I'm really here, Liz.  We're all here.  I remembered you.  I could never really forget you."  He watched as her face crumbled and she choked back a cry.  "Max?" she whispered.  Her hand shook as she reached out to touch his face.  Her eyes closed.  "Oh god, I can feel you."  He touched the hand that touched his face.  She lowered her head and sobbed. 

            "Liz."  He lifted her head with his finger.  They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.  Then, without a thought, they leaned in simultaneously and latched their lips together.  Both released a moan at the contact.  Without removing his lips from hers, Max pushed Liz back onto the bed.  Her fingers struggled with the end of his t-shirt, catching it around his armpits.  He laughed, leaving her for a moment, so he could pull it over his head.  Liz moved her hands through his hair and Max felt her hips rise to meet his.  "Wait, wait," he breathed.  She licked her lips, her chest heaving, and wiped the hair from her eyes.  "What?" she asked, confused.  Max smiled at her, tenderly stroking her cheek with his thumb.  "Because if we make love now, it would be a goodbye.  Think of how much better it will be as a hello."  He kissed the tip of her nose.  "I just wanted to say … hello."  Liz beamed, new tears forming in her eyes.  "I love you Liz," Max said, "and I'll never leave you again."  "Never," she repeated, pulling his mouth to hers.

**

            Liz felt the warm California sun on her face and stretched, sighing happily.  She rolled onto her side, fear clutching at her throat.  "Max!" she screamed, sitting up in the bed.  He came running from the bathroom, coming to sit by her side.  "Don't ever do that again!" she scolded, throwing her arms around him, "you promised you'd never leave."  "Shhh," he soothed, "I had to pee.  I'm sorry."  She pulled away, giggling softly.  "I'm sorry," she said, "I just, for a minute, thought that I'd imagined it all.  I thought it was all just a wonderful dream."  Max leaned his forehead against hers.  "This is no dream."  He leaned in to kiss her and she pulled him down atop her when somebody knocked on the door.  Max groaned.  "That's probably the rest of them.  They were gonna come back this morning."  He stood, grabbing his boxers.  Liz reached for a robe, tying it around her waist.  "Why wouldn't Alex just use his key?" she wondered.  Max shrugged, grabbing her hand, as they walked to the living room.  "Sit," she demanded, pushing him back onto the sofa, and dropping a kiss to his lips.  The doorbell rang this time.  "Alex, use your key!" she called, walking to the door and pulling it open.

            "Tom!"  She staggered a little.  The tall blonde before her grinned.  "Sorry to interrupt your friends visit," he said, "but I got your mail by mistake."  He deposited a stack of envelopes in her hand.  She licked her lips, smiling gratefully.  "Uh, thanks Tom, but you could have just put them in the mailbox.  He shrugged.  "Yeah, well …"  "Liz?!" Max called from the living room.  Tom looked at her confused.  "Kyle or Alex?  Cause that didn't sound like either of them."  Suddenly, Max appeared behind Liz, in all his bare-chested glory.  "Oops," he said.

            Tom gaped at him.  "You're Max, right?  The dead boyfriend?"  Max glanced at the top of Liz's head, then looked back at Tom, shrugging sheepishly.  "Not so dead," he said, holding out his hand, "Max Evans, recently deceased.  And you are?"  Tom's eyes darted to Liz.  "Max," she explained calmly, "this is Tom Hayes.  My friend and neighbour."  Max dropped his hand, pleased by Tom's state of shock.  He wrapped possessive arms around Liz's waist, effectively pulling her closer to him and further from Tom.  "Point taken," Tom muttered, backing away.  He looked at Liz.  "It, uh, looks like you have a lot going on," he said, "so I'll just see you later."  "Nice meeting you!" Max called.  Liz shut the door, throwing Max a look.  "I see you've been talking to Maria."  Max pouted, causing Liz to laugh.  "You have nothing to worry about," Liz explained, taking him into her arms, "I've never loved anyone but you and I never will."  Max grinned.  "Good answer."  Liz rose on her tiptoes and kissed him long and deep.