1 MAX POV

After I recovered a bit from Allie's departure, Liz helped me gather Riley's things and strap him into his car seat in the back of my BMW.

"This is a really nice car, Max," Liz said in awe.

"Thanks. It was Allie's birthday gift to me," I replied.

Liz raised an eyebrow as she climbed into the passenger seat. "How can she afford it?"

"Allie could not work ever and still be able to live a ritzy and glamorous lifestyle. Believe me, she can afford it."

"Wait-are you saying that's its all her money and not yours?" Liz questioned with confusion all over her beautiful face.

I grinned. "Yeah. We don't even have a joint checking account as most people seem to think we do."

"Why not?"

I tried to guess what her reaction to my next words would be. "Because it will be easier and less messy when we get divorced."

Her reaction was more than I could have ever hoped for: her jaw dropped open in shock and several emotions danced across her face. Surprise and hope were the most dominate.

"Where to?" I asked, pretending as if nothing had happened.

She stared at me and rattled off the directions to some place call the Crash Down Café. "So.you and Allie are getting a divorce?" she asked quietly.

I nodded. "Probably, now that poor Cedric can't throw a fit."

"It seemed to me that you two had a great relationship."

"No, we have a great friendship. When we found out that Allie was pregnant with Riley, we had broken up and I was preparing to move here with my family. I knew that I couldn't abandon Allie or Riley so I stayed in Roswell and married Allie because she was freaked about having a kid out of wedlock. We're just friends. Shot, we don't even sleep in the same room."

"So you don't love her?"

"Of course I love her!" I exclaimed.

Liz just said, "Oh," and looked away.

What's her problem? Oh.I get it. "No, Liz, I don't love her-not like that anyway. She's my best friend and I love her in a non-romantic kind of way, like I'm sure you love Maria."

She turned around and smiled shyly at me. "You really mean it?"

I could only nod. God, she's so beautiful.

"How does Allie feel about it?"

"She feels the same way as I do. Hell, she probably wants a divorce more than I do considering how much she flirts."

Liz giggled-I love the sound of that. "Well, she did seem pretty friendly with Kyle that night at your parents'."

"Oh yeah. She likes him a lot."

Liz studied me for a moment. "Does it bother you?"

"What? That she likes Kyle?"

Liz nodded. "Kyle or any other guy."

"No, not at all. Like I said, we're just friends. Besides, I would be a hypocrite if I got mad at her for liking someone else." Did I really just say that? Crap, I did.

Liz blushed-how cute is that?-and timidly asked, "Really?"

I nodded and reached over to squeeze her hand. "Really really."

She laughed. "Are you a Shrek fan?"

"Yeah, Alex got me hooked on it. I think I've seen it a total of seven times."

"That's cute."

"What? The movie?"

Liz shook her head. "No, the fact that a big tough guy like yourself has seen Shrek seven times."

"What gave you the impression that I was 'a big tough guy'?" I asked playfully.

She blushed slightly. "From what I saw this morning, you're pretty strong, plus you wear clothes that accentuate that. What else am I supposed to think?"

"That Allie the fashion freak buys my clothes."

"She does?"

"Hell yeah. That woman doesn't trust me or Alex to buy our own clothes. She insists on doing all of the shopping," I said as we pulled up in front of a cheesy looking restaurant. "So, what exactly is this place?"

"This is my place of employment. Maria and Kyle's mother owns it."

"They're brother and sister?" I asked in confusion as I got Riley out of his car seat.

"Kinda-they're step-siblings. Maria's mother and Kyle's father have been married since Maria and Kyle were nine so we don't think about the fact that they're not biologically related. Kyle thinks of Amy as his second mother since he lost his several years ago."

"What happened?"

Liz sighed. "Someone broke into her house while she and Kyle were home and she was killed protecting Kyle. I think he was twelve at the time."

"That's terrible."

Liz just nodded and we made our way inside. Maria greeted us instantly.

"Hey guys! Come by for a late breakfast or an early lunch?" she asked cheerily.

"Early lunch," Liz replied and led me over to a booth in the back.

We gave Maria our orders and sat in a moment of comfortable silence. That moment was broken when Alex came bounding up to us and slid into the booth beside Liz.

"Top of the morning!" he exclaimed with a grin.

My face fell immediately. Alex didn't know about Cedric yet.

"Er, hey, Alex. Where have you been?" I asked.

"Just got me self a job at the UFO museum across the street. Very strange place with an even stranger owner: guy by the name of Brody Davis. Nice English chap, but a bit crazy. So, where's me little sister?"

Liz and I exchanged a look. She had apparently realized as well that Alex wasn't aware of his brother's death.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to take Riley with me to the bathroom and change his diaper," Liz said as she stood up.

I smiled at her gratefully and passed over Riley and his diaper bag. She squeezed my hand and made her way over to the bathroom.

"That's odd. How did she know Riley needed his diaper changed?" Alex wondered.

I turned to look at him with a serious expression on my face. He noticed it and grew silent.

"Alex, there's something you need to you, but you're not going to like it. I hate to be the one to tell you-"

"Out with it!"

"Finnegan had Cedric killed early this morning which leaves Allie in charge. She left the house when she found out and is on her way to New York," I spat out.

Alex didn't say anything; he just sat there and stared at me with a look of utter disbelief on his face. After what seemed like hours, he finally stammered, "W-what? You're kidding, r-right? Cedric cannot be dead and me lil' sister cannot be the boss of a violent crime family. Max, tell me you're just playin' a cruel joke," he pleaded with tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

I hung my head. "I wish I could. Alex, I'm so sorry."

"I'm gonna kill 'em," Alex growled.

My head shot up at that. "Excuse me?"

He looked at me with a crazed look in his eyes. "That bastard has killed four of my family members and I'll be damned if I'm just gonna stand around while he does it. I know I vowed never to get involved, but this is the last bloody straw. Finnegan is going down and you're going to help me."

"I-I am?"

"You, me, and Allie are going to take out that son-of-a-bitch once and for all. Sure, Allie's the only experienced killer in the group, but I reckon that you and I will catch on quickly. Ya know how to fire a gun, right?"

I nodded, too stunned to speak.

"That settles it, then. You and I are going to the airport right now and we're gonna fly to New York and kill that fucker. You can leave Riley with Liz or your parents or whatever if you're worried about him."

Liz? She should have been back by now.

I looked up and found myself staring into Liz's horrified eyes.

"Max, who are you people?" she asked.

Shit. It was time for the truth to come out. I could only hope that she wouldn't reject me after it.

TBC