Liz stood near the entrance to the local hang out. Saturn was packed even on a Saturday afternoon. Her eyes scanned the crowd in search of the beacon, the matching red rose. She reached up to adjust the one attached to her right shoulder strap for the millionth time since pinning it on.
She couldn't believe how nervous she was, all for nothing. 'It's not nothing!' she argued with herself. His opinion meant everything to her, and she didn't know why. The only one she had really cared about was Max's. There she went again. No matter how many times she had told herself not to, her thoughts always strayed towards him.
She shifted on her feet, finally giving into the urge to flee. She realized she couldn't meet him face to face. She turned to leave, bumping into someone entering. Hands reached out to steady her. Familiar hands…
Her eyes raised slowly to take in a white, crew-necked T-shirt with a black dress shirt over top. A rose was pinned to the left, breast pocket. A rose!
Her gaze finally landed on his face- Max's beloved face. Her eyes searched his face, confused and not daring to believe that he was the one she had been talking to all these months online.
His own eyes revealed the same confusion and disbelief, as he took in the flower on her shoulder.
"You're AlienLuvR!" It wasn't a question so much as voicing his bewilderment. Liz silently nodded, not being able to voice it verbally. Her close, online friend was non-other than her love, her greatest heartbreak.
He began to chuckle, surprising Liz further. She couldn't understand what he found so amusing…
Max couldn't believe it. Here he was, standing in the entranceway of Saturn's with Liz between his grasp. He unconsciously began massaging her arms as he chuckled.
Fat! This was his fate! Not Tess and all that she represented. Liz - his beloved and logical Liz - who gave up everything for him. Even with their strained relationship, they had unknowingly come together to help each other get through the rough times.
"What's so funny?" Liz asked, more confused than ever.
"Me… You and me. This whole thing." His cryptic answer still didn't wipe the look of bewilderment. "Liz, I love you."
"W-what… did you say?"
"I've been ten kinds of fools. I've wanted to say that to you since the night you told me why you did what you did. It took this whole situation to get me to admit that. To get past the awkwardness."
"You didn't have to tell me, Max." Her answer took him by surprise. "You've told me so, even as I lied to your face. I've never doubted your love."
"I did… for awhile. I was hurt and angry at what I thought I saw. I thought I was wrong about you - that you weren't the person I thought you were. But after realizing you are the person I knew you to be, I'm ashamed for not believing. I need your forgiveness, Liz…"
"My forgiveness? I never blamed you, Max. What you felt and what you thought was understandable. I'm the one that needs forgiveness. I should have told you."
" Don't beat yourself up, Liz. You did what you thought was right – to protect the world, your friends… me. The whole thought just makes me love you all the more."
"I love you, too… Where do we go from here?"
"We go forwards… together. We're soul mates. We found each other, even when things between us looked grim. If this can't break us apart, then nothing will."
Liz's eyes watered at his heart-felt words. The only response she could give was to wrap her arms around him, and bury her face in his neck. She smiled against his skin as his arms slid around her. Together they could do anything. They were connected, no matter what happened.