Part 40
A ringing cell phone was what it finally took for Liz to snap out of the lust-induced haze in which she currently found herself. Max's lips were on her neck, doing things to her body that she had forgotten were possible. After his first tentativeness, his uncertainty clear because of her abrupt change of mood, he had more than made up for it. His kisses were those of a man who had been crawling through the desert for weeks in search of a little bit of relief, when he suddenly stumbled across an oasis beyond his wildest dreams.
It was enough to make her dizzy in anticipation for what actually making love would be like.
She was no innocent - she had been living with Dan for almost a year after all - but, even in their most intimate moments, her former fiancé had never made her feel the way Max did with a simple brush of his hand against her skin. She had never forgotten the exhilarating experience of literally falling apart in someone's arm but was only admitting to herself now that she had never had that with Dan. She had done her best to downplay the memory over the years of the rush that accompanied physical closeness with the person you felt most connected to in the world, but it was certainly all coming back to her now.
When it had came to their bodies, Max and Liz had always been on the same wavelength, the chemistry between them more than enough to help them to ignore some of their bigger issues. It had been one of the reasons she had found it so difficult to say no to him when he had originally wanted to get back together after Tess had left in the granolith. Deep inside she had known that something was still wrong - that this boy who told her that he had had to explore his attraction to Tess was not her Max - but the way he was able to make her feel when he touched her had almost convinced her otherwise. The physical connection they shared was almost enough to sometimes overshadow the spiritual bond.
But not quite. She had known on some deeper level that, in the end, the physical would not have been enough. Now, it was almost a relief to know that what had been blocking the spiritual connection for so long - the seal - was finally gone. If he had not left her, he could not have come back to her wholly hers again. And it seemed fully fitting that the true healing of his soul had only taken place after he had returned to her - after they had defeated Khivar together.
Because they were fully open to each other again, the physical was even more amazing - on a whole different level. All they had done was kiss after all and she felt more exposed and, yet more, satisfied than after any of her times with Dan.
It was almost frightening - the intensity of it, especially after so long. It was enough that she was relieved when that cell phone rang, allowing her to pull away slightly, wrench around in Max's arms to reach for her bag, which had fallen to the floor. Since they had also ended up on their knees somehow - she wasn't sure when - it was not far away.
"Liz!" Max was moaning in frustration, but then he started to laugh, his happiness utterly contagious, making her giggle despite herself.
"What's so funny?" Liz demanded, turning her head to smile at him. She had answered the phone, told whoever was on the other end to hang on a minute.
"Look where we are!" He shook his head, his expression still amused, but his eyes…They were shining with some emotion she didn't immediately recognize.
It was in that instant that she realized that they had been about to make love on the floor of the Crashdown in the exact same spot where he had saved her life ten years before. She smiled at him again, gently pressed a kiss to his lips. "We may be able to start over Max, but there are some parts of our past that I don't ever want to forget," she whispered lovingly.
When he gazed down at her, his eyes still dark with desire, she realized what it was that she had seen in them moments before. It had been joy. She had never seen it there before, and it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
She did that to him. Simple small-town girl Liz Parker, who had become a world-class biologist at Harvard, who had become the fiancée of a brilliant man because she had never felt like enough for the person she truly wanted, especially after they knew who he really was, was the only one who made him truly happy. And she knew, once and for all, that he would never take her for granted again. He knew what he had in her, had always known it, even through the dark days when he couldn't show it because of what they had done to him.
And, finally, just being Liz Parker was enough.
She let herself remain pressed against Max as she smiled apologetically at him and spoke into the phone. She realized again that she was glad that they had been interrupted - and not only because the intensity of her feeling for him was somewhat scary. While making love for the first time on the exact same spot they had first connected would have been romantic, the thought that her parents or her former fiancé with whom she was still on good terms, but who was still upstairs packing, might have walked in…It was enough to seriously dampen the moment.
"Hello?" She realized that she still sounded breathless, swatted at Max playfully as he rained gentle kisses down the back of her neck.
"Liz? Are you okay?" It was Maria and she sounded concerned. "What the heck's going on over there? Ben is awake and he's asking for you and Max. You told me that you were coming right over!"
"Er…" Liz felt a pang of guilt. Poor Ben! He had to be pretty terrified by now. He hadn't physically laid eyes on Max since the day before after all - not since Dan had first arrived at the dome actually. "We're on our way."
"We?" And suddenly Maria seemed to understand. "Is Max there?"
"Yes."
"Liz," Maria sighed in exasperation. "I hope you're just talking - but from the sound of your voice I can tell you're not. What did I say about taking things slowly?"
"You're one to talk Maria, especially after the hare-brained idea you came up with an hour ago!" Liz exclaimed. "And don't worry about it. I am perfectly in control here." Of course the way Max's hands were sending shivers down her spine said otherwise, but she chose to ignore that for the moment.
"Sure Liz," Maria was snorting. "I know how easy it is to maintain control in the presence of a horny Czechoslovakian. Anyway, get over here. We have planning to do. You and Max can play kissy-face later. Besides, your dad is going to have a coronary if he catches you and I don't personally plan on spending my wedding night in a hospital waiting room."
Liz felt another pang at the mention of her father. Her parents still had absolutely no idea about Max's return. She and Dan had simply told them that their break-up was mutual and for the best. Eight years had passed since the whole hold-up in Utah fiasco, yes, but Liz's dad had a long memory and very little tolerance when the subject of Max Evans came up, even now. In a twist on what had always been the case where her parents were concerned, her mother was the one who would be willing to let her make her own decisions now, if only about Max.
Her mother had told her once, about three years after Max had disappeared, when Liz had been on the verge of going out with Dan, that she hated to admit it, but that Liz had never been happy since Max had gone. She had told Liz that she liked Dan and that she hoped he would be able to make Liz smile again. But Liz knew, deep down, even after all this time, that Nancy Parker had never been convinced.
Yes, her mother would not be difficult about it. But her father…Her easy- going, laid-back father….Well, it wasn't going to be pretty. But, he would get over it - eventually. And it wasn't like he could send her to boarding school anymore. Liz snorted at the thought.
"Okay, okay! We're coming," Liz laughed into the phone. "Tell Ben we're on our way."
Max's hands had stilled on her body as soon as his son's name had passed her lips. As she turned of her phone, he asked. "Is Ben all right?" His voice reflected his concern, reminding Liz that one of the reasons that she and Max had to rebuild their relationship from the ground up was because it wasn't just the two of them anymore.
They were a trio now, she, Max and Ben. It would take some time to figure out exactly what that meant, to figure out exactly how this was going to come together, but she knew that they could work it out.
They loved each other. It was enough.
"He's awake," Liz replied, climbing unsteadily to her feet. "We'd better get over there. I think he needs to know exactly what's going on Max. Kids feel better when they don't feel like adults are hiding things from them." She grabbed him by the hand, pulling him up after her, although he did most of the work.
"I agree." Max continued to hold her hand, clearly unwilling to forgo all physical contact now that he was allowed to touch her again. Even now the air between them was charged by something unfinished, something intoxicating in it's intensity. "But, the question is Liz, what exactly is going on." He smiled at her wryly. "Because, despite our failed attempt at it several minutes ago, we still need to talk and decide how this is going to work."
"Well…" Liz trailed off as she climbed into the passenger seat of the Cherokee, waited for him to walk around the car and join her inside. "I guess we're going to have to figure that out Max," she continued quietly. "This isn't ever going to be normal. We both know that. We make our own rules."
"We start slowly?" Max sounded unsure as he said it. He wasn't looking at her, shoulder-checking as he backed out of the parking spot in front of the Crashdown.
Liz smiled slightly. "Well, we found out how hard that's going to be today." She shook her head. "I don't think slow has to mean the same thing for us that it means for other people. I mean, obviously we shouldn't run off and get married tomorrow, but I don't think I can pretend that we're just friends Max. It's never worked for us before and we know it's not going to be that way forever anyway, so what's the point?"
"Okay…" She glanced at him, could see that he was even more confused. "Liz, I have to admit, I don't exactly know what that means," he finally admitted, laughing slightly. He didn't sound upset though, just curious, and certainly willing to go along with whatever she decided.
"I know that I want to play a big role in Ben's life Max," Liz elaborated. "Right away. But we don't want to confuse him either." She had thought about this long and hard, knew there was only one answer. "We can't dance around this. I think we either need to commit big right away or not do it at all. It's the only thing that's fair to him."
"And that means what?" Max asked. He sounded tentative, like he couldn't quite believe he was hearing the words coming from her mouth.
"I think we should live together."
He almost swerved off the road. "What?" He managed to choke out after he had himself under control again.
Liz eyed him guiltily. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out. I didn't just mean us. I meant all of us. Me, you, Ben, Isabel and Lexi. She's going to need someone after all." She grinned at him, knew that she was teasing him now, but couldn't help it. "And separate bedrooms - for now."
There was a long pause. "Liz, I never got a chance to tell you what happened with Isabel…" He trailed off, sighing heavily. Liz frowned. This did not sound good at all. She waited for him to continue. "She and Jesse are staying together."
It was enough of a shock that she felt it physically. She could not speak for several moments, her fear for her friend running through her, her fear for Ben even greater. But she knew inherently that Max would never allow something that he felt was dangerous to either his son or his sister. "Max, is this a good idea?" She asked anyway, needing to know his reasoning.
"I don't know." She could hear the frustration in his voice. "All I know is that I believed him when he told me that he loves her Liz. And I also believed him when he told me that he had nothing to do with trying to kill Ben - that Khivar was in control then."
Liz didn't speak for several more seconds as she processed this. "But you're not completely sure, are you?" She guessed.
"No." He shook his dark head. "And I can't figure out if my sister's happiness outweighs my concerns about him. I want to let her make her own decisions, even told her I would, but I still can't decide if I can actually do it."
"Well, then why don't we ask Isabel if she wants to live with us on a trial basis?" Liz asked. "Because I'm guessing that if you're having these doubts, she's having them too. Max, I know how she feels. It's what I've been going through over the past week after all. I knew I loved you still, but wasn't sure if I could trust you. We decided that the only way for this to work between us was to start over - to a certain degree anyway. I think maybe Isabel and Jesse might find that they can rebuild on a firmer foundation if they spend some time apart too."
Max was quiet for a while as he processed this. "Well, it's an idea anyway. What if she says no?"
"Then we'll figure something else out." Liz leaned her head against the window. "It will always be complicated, won't it?" She sighed, a little sadly.
"I'm sorry Liz." He reached over, gently squeezed her hand where it lay in her lap.
Liz laughed quietly. "I'm not upset Max." She sat up, squeezed back. "I was just remembering what my grandma once told me. If it's not complicated, he's probably not a soulmate. I am only now beginning to realize that she's right. You're worth any trouble Max, and I'm betting that Isabel and Jesse will decide the same. And we'll figure things out too. I know we will."
They were just pulling into the Evans' driveway.
He looked at her one last time, as though to say something else, but his attention was caught by something just beyond her. He smiled.
She turned her heads as the front door of his parents' house burst open. Ben came running out, still in his pajamas, Maria on his heels.
Max and Liz both started to laugh.
"Dad! Liz!" He was practically jumping up and down in his excitement as he came to a screeching halt beside Liz's door. She quickly rolled down the window, kissing him lightly as his face thrust in towards them. "Michael and Maria are getting married today and I get to be in the wedding! Isn't that great?"
Liz smiled at Maria, who was hovering behind the little boy. "It certainly is," she agreed, although Ben wasn't listening to her but was telling Max that Michael and Maria were getting married today.
"Does Michael know about this?" Max was asking as he climbed out of the Jeep. Ben careened around the car and Max swung him up, carrying him upside down over his shoulder into the house, making him scream with laughter. Whatever demons Ben was still running from, they were obviously far from his mind when his father was around. Liz felt tears welling in her eyes again as she linked arms with Maria and followed them.
"Oh, he won't mind," Maria called after him. "It just seemed like such a stupid idea to waste a perfectly well-planned wedding. Plus, we get the added bonus of it being such a surprise, the tabloids will have absolutely no way of knowing about it!"
Max turned his head, his eyes meeting Liz's. He appeared to be extremely amused. "Was this your idea?"
"Well…not exactly." Liz shrugged. "But everything is ready…" She smiled. "Plus, what a beautiful new beginning for us all." This made Max's eyes soften immediately. She grinned more fully. "Plus, a party seemed like a great way to celebrate that new beginning."
"Just remind me to be elsewhere when Michael is told." Max shook his head. He set Ben on his feet, ran an affectionate hand over his blond head. "How're you feeling kiddo?"
But Maria was not to be so easily swayed. "Max, you need to get him to the church!"
"What?" Liz struggled to hide her grin at Max's sudden outrage. "You expect me to be a party to this?"
"Max!" Maria advanced on him. "Please! I have to go to the hairdresser and I promised Vick an exclusive interview before and after. I don't have time to tell him."
Max held up his hands. "Fine. I'll tell him. But Maria, I refuse to be held responsible if he doesn't show."
"Oh, he'll show," Maria replied smugly. "He's got me exactly where he wants me now. He won't screw things up again."
Max and Liz exchanged amused glances. "Well, I guess that sounds about right," Max finally admitted. "Fine, I'll go get him. He's still at Kyle's with Iz and Jesse." He glanced down at Ben. "Go get changed Benny. You can come with me."
"Isabel and Jesse?" Maria watched Ben shoot off towards Max's former bedroom. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'll tell you the way to the hairdresser," Liz replied. "I assume you want me to come with you?" She looked at Max, who still looked perplexed by the utter haste with which this whole operation was being carried out. "We'll see you at the church."
"Er - okay." His brows were knit together in consternation. She just knew he was contemplating Michael's reaction to the wedding. But Liz knew it wouldn't be a problem.
Michael loved Maria. He would do this if it made her happy. And it was a typical Maria reaction that as soon as she figured out in which direction she wanted her life to go, she wanted it to go there at one hundred miles an hour, rather than at the speed limit.
It was one of the things Liz admired about her best friend, one of her qualities that Liz wished she could call her own. She went after what she wanted - and that's what Liz was finally trying to do by taking her destiny into her own hands and admitting that she wanted to be with Max, the past be damned.
"Liz?" Maria had already gone through the door when Max called after her. "Do you want me to talk to Isabel? See about getting things rolling?" His eyes were bright, as though he still couldn't quite believe that she actually wanted to be with him, that they were making plans to move forward with their lives - plans to move forward together. And, if those plans, were tentative and on a trial-basis, he didn't care. Because at least they knew it was what they both wanted. Half the battle was already won.
But there was still one other person they had to make sure was going to be okay with all of this. Ben.
"Talk to Ben Max, and then talk to Isabel," Liz suggested. She smiled at him again, saw his eyes darken as they lingered on her lips. "I love you." She couldn't help herself. Now that she had said it once, she constantly wanted to say it.
And not just because of the way it made his entire face light up - although it did. Every single time. "I love you too."
With that, she turned and followed her best friend out the door.
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Max was still smiling to himself as he followed the familiar hallway to his boyhood bedroom, knowing that Liz was right about talking to Ben. It made more sense for him to broach the subject of the role Liz was going to play in their lives alone.
It had been just he and Ben for so long. Just the two of them. He knew that his son loved Liz, was likely going to be thrilled about the idea of living with her, but he still needed to ask him about it.
Because he knew that neither he nor Liz would ever want to do something that made Ben uneasy. He had had enough of that in his short life. And, so, if he didn't like it, they would slow the whole thing down, figure something else out. Max still had every intention of being with Liz, but not at the expense of his son's happiness. He knew that Liz felt exactly the same way.
He knocked lightly on the door to the room he had first moved into when he had been just a bit younger than Ben. "How's it going in there?"
"I can't find my other sock." The complaint was so normal, it was a relief. His son had been through a lot of scary stuff over the past few days - new people thrust into his life, old enemies returning to try and kill him. That he accepted it all and still managed to somehow stay a kid - it was a blessing Max could not ever stop giving thanks for.
Max pushed the door open and laughed at the sight of his son sitting on the bed, his back to Max, a sock stuck to the back of his shirt.
"What's so funny?" Ben demanded, turning his head.
"Did Grandma wash your clothes?" Max asked innocently, sitting down on the bed beside the little boy, peeling the sock off his back and passing it to him. Ben stared at it, then shrugged, putting it on.
"I guess so. I was really tired. I don't even remember putting my pajamas on."
"I can understand why," Max replied, knowing his voice was breaking slightly with emotion. "You were really brave last night Benny."
"Liz was with me." Ben looked at him in surprise. "And Lexi. I didn't need to be brave. I wasn't scared." He looked away slightly, his blue eyes shadowing. "I was scared at first though Dad. Before Liz found me."
"That's okay. I was scared too," Max told him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"You were?" Ben stared at him. "Really?"
"Really. Because the two people I love the most were in danger."
Ben didn't speak for a moment. "Me and Liz?" He finally asked, sounding pleased.
"You and Liz. And Lexi and Auntie Isabel and Michael and everyone," Max continued. "But mostly you and Liz." He paused, searching for words. "Things have been really weird the last few days, huh?"
"Yeah." Ben stood up, went towards his sneakers, which were sitting on the desk, Max's mother's obsession with neatness obviously still one of her personality quirks. "But it's been my best week too."
"It has?" Max watched him carefully.
Ben looked up. "Yeah Dad! I mean, I got to meet Liz and Maria promised to teach me to play the guitar…Oh! And Michael gave me those hockey cards. I still have to take that one to school to trade with Hunter."
Max stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?"
"You know Dad!" Ben exclaimed, sounding irritated. "I told you that I was going to trade a card with that kid I met at school."
"Er - okay." He narrowed his eyes. His son was resilient Max knew, but this seemed a bit ridiculous. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"
Ben stopped tying his shoelace and looked up at him. "Like what?"
"I don't know. About being scared and stuff?"
"I told you I was scared Dad, but I was with Liz. I knew that nothing would happen to me when I was with her. I had to look after her. Just like you do. Because you look after people you love. Don't your remember telling me that on Antar?" Ben asked, perplexed.
"Okay…" Max trailed off, uncertain how to proceed. "So, what do you want to happen now?"
Ben cocked his head, interested. "I want to get a penguin suit to wear to Maria and Michael's wedding." He stood up. "Come on Dad! That's what Maria told me I'd get to wear!" He started out the door.
"Ben!" Max called after him.
"What?" He shifted impatiently from foot to foot.
"Do you think it would be okay if we lived with Liz now?" Max asked in a rush, grimacing, knew that it was not the way he wanted this conversation to go, but knowing that he was losing his son's interest quickly.
Ben's face lit up. "Live with Liz? Awesome!" He frowned slightly. "Does this mean we won't get to live with Michael anymore?" His disappointment was so complete, it was almost comical.
"Well…" Max struggled to hide his grin. "Michael's going to live with Maria now."
"Why can't we all live together?" Ben demanded, crossing his arms in consternation. "Maria can teach me to play the guitar like my other dad. She promised!"
"She'll still teach you Benno. I don't think Michael and Maria will be going far." Max stood, so relieved that Ben had no problem with living with Liz, it almost made him weak in the knees. He hadn't imagined that there really would be, but knowing their long run of bad luck until fairly recently, having Ben become an obstacle rather than a unifier had become a very real, if brief, fear.
But, in the end, his son's only issue was that he wasn't going to get to hang out with Michael as much anymore. As long as he knew that Michael wasn't going to disappear from his life, he would likely be okay with everything.
"Well, I guess that's okay." Ben still sounded slightly put out. "Now, let's go get my penguin suit!" He turned and marched out of the room.
Max sighed. "Ben, I hate to be the one who has to break the news to you about the penguin suit…" He began as he followed his son.
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"I hate these damn monkey suits," Michael groaned. He stuck a finger into his collar and pulled. "I'm choking to death here."
Ben, who was sitting on the counter in his own little tuxedo, grimaced in agreement. "I saw a picture of a penguin in Aunt Isabel's classroom," he told Michael confidentially. "And a monkey. They don't look like these stupid things at all."
"Okay!" Max held up his hands in frustration. "Enough with the complaints. It'll all be over soon enough and then you can run around in your underwear for all I care. But I have a job here - which is to get you to the altar decently attired - and I am going to do it if it kills me because you didn't hear Maria on the phone Michael. She was scary."
Max had been surprised by how easy it had been to convince Michael that his wedding day was today. In fact, it hadn't taken any convincing at all. He had just rolled his eyes. "Whatever she wants."
However, Max had not been pleased by his new assignment after he had called Liz to tell her what had transpired. "Take them both to the tuxedo shop." She had sounded distracted. "Yes Maria! I'm telling him!"
"What's wrong?" Max demanded, could tell by her voice that she was just about at the end of her rope.
"Maria is having one of her diva days I'm afraid," Liz replied, sounding aggrieved and, yet, affectionate.
And suddenly he was listening to Maria's voice, as she had clearly wrenched the phone out of Liz's hands. "I deserve it. I made five million dollars last year Max. I think at least on my wedding day I can forgo my eternal good nature and demand a little action from you people. I refuse to have my husband look like a shlub in the wedding pictures. They'll be published you know!"
"Maria…"
"Get him to the church Max and I want him in a tux. You have an hour. The end." She had hung up on him.
So he had complied, shaking his head in disbelief that twenty-four hours ago they had all been running for their lives and now their biggest concern was whether Michael looked like a shlub or not in the wedding photos.
He had never been more happy.
"Really?" Ben sounded interested. "I can wear my underwear later?"
"No, you may not," Max replied sternly. "I was joking."
Michael grinned at Max in the mirror. "But I can."
Max rolled his eyes. The only thing that was getting him through this was the fact that he would get to share a dance with Liz at the reception later - that and the fact that his son was practically jumping up and down on the counter he was so excited and so happy.
He knew that Ben felt completely secure for the first time in his young life and it was because of the people currently in this building. The people Max loved more than any others in the world - in the universe. He would not trade an instant of the craziness.
Meanwhile, across the church in the bride's room, Maria was hugging Liz, who was trying desperately to hold back tears of love for her best friend. Because, even on her wedding day, Maria was more concerned about her best friend than herself.
Some things would never change. Liz was overcome again by how lucky she was. If this kept up, she was going to be a weeping mess long before the day was over.
"I mean it Chica. I want you to be happy. And if that means that I have to whip Max into shape for you, I will."
"I think he's managed to do a pretty nice job of that himself," Liz replied wryly, wiping at her eyes. Isabel, who was standing nearby, gently pulled her towards the mirror, ran her hand across Liz's face, fixing the damage to her make-up. Max's sister had joined them, unwilling to miss her almost- brother's wedding. She had told Liz upon arriving that she thought she liked the idea of living with she and Max for a while - at least until she and Jesse worked out exactly how they were going to move forward.
She had confided to Liz that the conversation had been difficult, especially with Michael hovering as he had been, but that she was still sure that she had made the right decision. "I love him," she finally told Liz. "And because I do, I can forgive him."
And Liz had understood perfectly.
"He has," Isabel agreed now. Her face was still lined with sadness and fear, but she was doing her best to get into the spirit of the event. "He's really grown up. And it's because he loves you Liz. I think he wants to be worthy of you more than he's ever wanted anything."
"He's always been worthy," Liz argued. "He's only finally accepted it, which means that I can trust him again. It was his self-hatred that made him do all of those horrible things you know. He won't sabotage himself again. And now that the seal is broken - now that Khivar is really gone - they won't make him sabotage himself either."
"Now you just have to worry about general male stupidity," Maria agreed, laughing. "Not that they aren't darn cute in spite of it."
Maria's mother poked her head through the door. "It's almost time Honey." She sighed heavily. "I still can't believe that this is happening today! You can't give a mother the time to get used to the idea that Michael Guerin is really going to become part of her family?" Liz and Isabel laughed. They knew that Amy was joking, that Michael had won her over long ago, way back in high school even. The fact that her husband of several years now, Jim Valenti, liked Michael so much too had finally convinced her.
"Sorry Mom," Maria grinned. "It's the price you pay for having a superstar daughter."
Amy grinned back. "Smartass. I'll see you in a minute Sweetie." She reappeared a moment later. "Oh Vick is here. She wants some last minute quotes."
"Let her in," Maria grinned wider, her eyes twinkling wickedly. "I have some great stuff for her…including the little story about how Michael and I first fell in lust."
Liz exchanged a look with Isabel. They both burst out laughing. Maria was having too much fun with being in complete control of the media coverage of her wedding. It was a nice change to see her enjoying her celebrity rather than being oppressed by it.
The head-line in the Boston Globe the next day read Pop Star Weds Man who Abducted her Heart Twelve Years Ago.
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"What's wrong Liz?" Max asked as he pulled Liz into his arms on the dance floor at the reception several hours later. He had not failed to notice the tears that had been threatening from her all evening. The first time had been when their eyes had met across Michael and Maria at the altar. She had smiled at him, but then had turned away, her eyes gleaming strangely.
The moment had been broken when they had all realized that Michael's vows had included the vow to obey Maria. He had scowled at her but had very deliberately enunciated the words. She had beamed back at him. Max and Liz had both burst out laughing.
"I would have added 'and not lock her in closets,' but I was a little worried how that might have sounded, especially with a reporter present," Maria later told both Max and Liz, making them laugh again.
It was a day for laughter, not tears, and yet, Liz seemed constantly on the verge of them. He was not stupid enough anymore to think that she was having second thoughts about him - he knew she wasn't - but he was still concerned about her.
And now it was happening again as they danced surrounded by all the people they most loved in the world, including Liz's parents, who had been surprisingly civil to Max. But if they saw their daughter burst into tears right in front of them while she was dancing with him… It did not bode well for the future.
She met his gaze, her dark eyes brimming, but he could see that she wasn't really upset. "Do you hear the song?" Liz asked quietly.
Max listened. "It's nice. What is it?"
"It's called I Shall Believe," Liz replied. "It's our wedding song."
Max frowned slightly, stared down at her. "What do you mean?"
"We danced to it in the desert when we were nineteen on the night we were married," Liz elaborated. "When you came back from the future, you told me that."
Max closed his eyes briefly, bringing his hand up to cradle her head against his chest. Liz had told him long ago about the visit she had received from that future version of himself. It had been her explanation for why she had pretended to sleep with Kyle. But, until this moment, he had not truly understood that he had had a whole life with her in that other time. He had understood the other life they had shared as Zan and Kadi, but not the way that whole timelines could be changed by just one action.
He was being given a second chance with the love of his life. He would never take that for granted. Not like that other Max had seemed to. "We'll dance to it at our wedding someday Liz," he finally whispered against her hair. "I promise."
"I know. In some ways, I can't wait. We've waited so long. But then, I know there's no rush." She pulled back, smiling up at him. "We'll just take this one day at a time Max, loving each other and making each moment better than the last."
He swallowed, suddenly very close to losing it himself. Would he ever get used to the way he felt about her? Would it ever be less intense, less magical? He certainly hoped not.
He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her palm. "I love you." He felt a shiver descend his spine, a flash of Zan doing the same to Kadiya as he lay dying momentarily making him flinch. He felt her tremble against him, knew that she had shared the flash.
But while that kiss had been about breaking apart, about despair and loss, this kiss was one of hope, about bringing what was lost back together with a strong promise for the future.
He knew that as long as they shared that promise, nothing would tear them apart again.
Her smile told him that she felt exactly the same way. She brought her hand up, wrapped it around his neck and kissed him gently.
"Welcome home Max."
The End
A ringing cell phone was what it finally took for Liz to snap out of the lust-induced haze in which she currently found herself. Max's lips were on her neck, doing things to her body that she had forgotten were possible. After his first tentativeness, his uncertainty clear because of her abrupt change of mood, he had more than made up for it. His kisses were those of a man who had been crawling through the desert for weeks in search of a little bit of relief, when he suddenly stumbled across an oasis beyond his wildest dreams.
It was enough to make her dizzy in anticipation for what actually making love would be like.
She was no innocent - she had been living with Dan for almost a year after all - but, even in their most intimate moments, her former fiancé had never made her feel the way Max did with a simple brush of his hand against her skin. She had never forgotten the exhilarating experience of literally falling apart in someone's arm but was only admitting to herself now that she had never had that with Dan. She had done her best to downplay the memory over the years of the rush that accompanied physical closeness with the person you felt most connected to in the world, but it was certainly all coming back to her now.
When it had came to their bodies, Max and Liz had always been on the same wavelength, the chemistry between them more than enough to help them to ignore some of their bigger issues. It had been one of the reasons she had found it so difficult to say no to him when he had originally wanted to get back together after Tess had left in the granolith. Deep inside she had known that something was still wrong - that this boy who told her that he had had to explore his attraction to Tess was not her Max - but the way he was able to make her feel when he touched her had almost convinced her otherwise. The physical connection they shared was almost enough to sometimes overshadow the spiritual bond.
But not quite. She had known on some deeper level that, in the end, the physical would not have been enough. Now, it was almost a relief to know that what had been blocking the spiritual connection for so long - the seal - was finally gone. If he had not left her, he could not have come back to her wholly hers again. And it seemed fully fitting that the true healing of his soul had only taken place after he had returned to her - after they had defeated Khivar together.
Because they were fully open to each other again, the physical was even more amazing - on a whole different level. All they had done was kiss after all and she felt more exposed and, yet more, satisfied than after any of her times with Dan.
It was almost frightening - the intensity of it, especially after so long. It was enough that she was relieved when that cell phone rang, allowing her to pull away slightly, wrench around in Max's arms to reach for her bag, which had fallen to the floor. Since they had also ended up on their knees somehow - she wasn't sure when - it was not far away.
"Liz!" Max was moaning in frustration, but then he started to laugh, his happiness utterly contagious, making her giggle despite herself.
"What's so funny?" Liz demanded, turning her head to smile at him. She had answered the phone, told whoever was on the other end to hang on a minute.
"Look where we are!" He shook his head, his expression still amused, but his eyes…They were shining with some emotion she didn't immediately recognize.
It was in that instant that she realized that they had been about to make love on the floor of the Crashdown in the exact same spot where he had saved her life ten years before. She smiled at him again, gently pressed a kiss to his lips. "We may be able to start over Max, but there are some parts of our past that I don't ever want to forget," she whispered lovingly.
When he gazed down at her, his eyes still dark with desire, she realized what it was that she had seen in them moments before. It had been joy. She had never seen it there before, and it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
She did that to him. Simple small-town girl Liz Parker, who had become a world-class biologist at Harvard, who had become the fiancée of a brilliant man because she had never felt like enough for the person she truly wanted, especially after they knew who he really was, was the only one who made him truly happy. And she knew, once and for all, that he would never take her for granted again. He knew what he had in her, had always known it, even through the dark days when he couldn't show it because of what they had done to him.
And, finally, just being Liz Parker was enough.
She let herself remain pressed against Max as she smiled apologetically at him and spoke into the phone. She realized again that she was glad that they had been interrupted - and not only because the intensity of her feeling for him was somewhat scary. While making love for the first time on the exact same spot they had first connected would have been romantic, the thought that her parents or her former fiancé with whom she was still on good terms, but who was still upstairs packing, might have walked in…It was enough to seriously dampen the moment.
"Hello?" She realized that she still sounded breathless, swatted at Max playfully as he rained gentle kisses down the back of her neck.
"Liz? Are you okay?" It was Maria and she sounded concerned. "What the heck's going on over there? Ben is awake and he's asking for you and Max. You told me that you were coming right over!"
"Er…" Liz felt a pang of guilt. Poor Ben! He had to be pretty terrified by now. He hadn't physically laid eyes on Max since the day before after all - not since Dan had first arrived at the dome actually. "We're on our way."
"We?" And suddenly Maria seemed to understand. "Is Max there?"
"Yes."
"Liz," Maria sighed in exasperation. "I hope you're just talking - but from the sound of your voice I can tell you're not. What did I say about taking things slowly?"
"You're one to talk Maria, especially after the hare-brained idea you came up with an hour ago!" Liz exclaimed. "And don't worry about it. I am perfectly in control here." Of course the way Max's hands were sending shivers down her spine said otherwise, but she chose to ignore that for the moment.
"Sure Liz," Maria was snorting. "I know how easy it is to maintain control in the presence of a horny Czechoslovakian. Anyway, get over here. We have planning to do. You and Max can play kissy-face later. Besides, your dad is going to have a coronary if he catches you and I don't personally plan on spending my wedding night in a hospital waiting room."
Liz felt another pang at the mention of her father. Her parents still had absolutely no idea about Max's return. She and Dan had simply told them that their break-up was mutual and for the best. Eight years had passed since the whole hold-up in Utah fiasco, yes, but Liz's dad had a long memory and very little tolerance when the subject of Max Evans came up, even now. In a twist on what had always been the case where her parents were concerned, her mother was the one who would be willing to let her make her own decisions now, if only about Max.
Her mother had told her once, about three years after Max had disappeared, when Liz had been on the verge of going out with Dan, that she hated to admit it, but that Liz had never been happy since Max had gone. She had told Liz that she liked Dan and that she hoped he would be able to make Liz smile again. But Liz knew, deep down, even after all this time, that Nancy Parker had never been convinced.
Yes, her mother would not be difficult about it. But her father…Her easy- going, laid-back father….Well, it wasn't going to be pretty. But, he would get over it - eventually. And it wasn't like he could send her to boarding school anymore. Liz snorted at the thought.
"Okay, okay! We're coming," Liz laughed into the phone. "Tell Ben we're on our way."
Max's hands had stilled on her body as soon as his son's name had passed her lips. As she turned of her phone, he asked. "Is Ben all right?" His voice reflected his concern, reminding Liz that one of the reasons that she and Max had to rebuild their relationship from the ground up was because it wasn't just the two of them anymore.
They were a trio now, she, Max and Ben. It would take some time to figure out exactly what that meant, to figure out exactly how this was going to come together, but she knew that they could work it out.
They loved each other. It was enough.
"He's awake," Liz replied, climbing unsteadily to her feet. "We'd better get over there. I think he needs to know exactly what's going on Max. Kids feel better when they don't feel like adults are hiding things from them." She grabbed him by the hand, pulling him up after her, although he did most of the work.
"I agree." Max continued to hold her hand, clearly unwilling to forgo all physical contact now that he was allowed to touch her again. Even now the air between them was charged by something unfinished, something intoxicating in it's intensity. "But, the question is Liz, what exactly is going on." He smiled at her wryly. "Because, despite our failed attempt at it several minutes ago, we still need to talk and decide how this is going to work."
"Well…" Liz trailed off as she climbed into the passenger seat of the Cherokee, waited for him to walk around the car and join her inside. "I guess we're going to have to figure that out Max," she continued quietly. "This isn't ever going to be normal. We both know that. We make our own rules."
"We start slowly?" Max sounded unsure as he said it. He wasn't looking at her, shoulder-checking as he backed out of the parking spot in front of the Crashdown.
Liz smiled slightly. "Well, we found out how hard that's going to be today." She shook her head. "I don't think slow has to mean the same thing for us that it means for other people. I mean, obviously we shouldn't run off and get married tomorrow, but I don't think I can pretend that we're just friends Max. It's never worked for us before and we know it's not going to be that way forever anyway, so what's the point?"
"Okay…" She glanced at him, could see that he was even more confused. "Liz, I have to admit, I don't exactly know what that means," he finally admitted, laughing slightly. He didn't sound upset though, just curious, and certainly willing to go along with whatever she decided.
"I know that I want to play a big role in Ben's life Max," Liz elaborated. "Right away. But we don't want to confuse him either." She had thought about this long and hard, knew there was only one answer. "We can't dance around this. I think we either need to commit big right away or not do it at all. It's the only thing that's fair to him."
"And that means what?" Max asked. He sounded tentative, like he couldn't quite believe he was hearing the words coming from her mouth.
"I think we should live together."
He almost swerved off the road. "What?" He managed to choke out after he had himself under control again.
Liz eyed him guiltily. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out. I didn't just mean us. I meant all of us. Me, you, Ben, Isabel and Lexi. She's going to need someone after all." She grinned at him, knew that she was teasing him now, but couldn't help it. "And separate bedrooms - for now."
There was a long pause. "Liz, I never got a chance to tell you what happened with Isabel…" He trailed off, sighing heavily. Liz frowned. This did not sound good at all. She waited for him to continue. "She and Jesse are staying together."
It was enough of a shock that she felt it physically. She could not speak for several moments, her fear for her friend running through her, her fear for Ben even greater. But she knew inherently that Max would never allow something that he felt was dangerous to either his son or his sister. "Max, is this a good idea?" She asked anyway, needing to know his reasoning.
"I don't know." She could hear the frustration in his voice. "All I know is that I believed him when he told me that he loves her Liz. And I also believed him when he told me that he had nothing to do with trying to kill Ben - that Khivar was in control then."
Liz didn't speak for several more seconds as she processed this. "But you're not completely sure, are you?" She guessed.
"No." He shook his dark head. "And I can't figure out if my sister's happiness outweighs my concerns about him. I want to let her make her own decisions, even told her I would, but I still can't decide if I can actually do it."
"Well, then why don't we ask Isabel if she wants to live with us on a trial basis?" Liz asked. "Because I'm guessing that if you're having these doubts, she's having them too. Max, I know how she feels. It's what I've been going through over the past week after all. I knew I loved you still, but wasn't sure if I could trust you. We decided that the only way for this to work between us was to start over - to a certain degree anyway. I think maybe Isabel and Jesse might find that they can rebuild on a firmer foundation if they spend some time apart too."
Max was quiet for a while as he processed this. "Well, it's an idea anyway. What if she says no?"
"Then we'll figure something else out." Liz leaned her head against the window. "It will always be complicated, won't it?" She sighed, a little sadly.
"I'm sorry Liz." He reached over, gently squeezed her hand where it lay in her lap.
Liz laughed quietly. "I'm not upset Max." She sat up, squeezed back. "I was just remembering what my grandma once told me. If it's not complicated, he's probably not a soulmate. I am only now beginning to realize that she's right. You're worth any trouble Max, and I'm betting that Isabel and Jesse will decide the same. And we'll figure things out too. I know we will."
They were just pulling into the Evans' driveway.
He looked at her one last time, as though to say something else, but his attention was caught by something just beyond her. He smiled.
She turned her heads as the front door of his parents' house burst open. Ben came running out, still in his pajamas, Maria on his heels.
Max and Liz both started to laugh.
"Dad! Liz!" He was practically jumping up and down in his excitement as he came to a screeching halt beside Liz's door. She quickly rolled down the window, kissing him lightly as his face thrust in towards them. "Michael and Maria are getting married today and I get to be in the wedding! Isn't that great?"
Liz smiled at Maria, who was hovering behind the little boy. "It certainly is," she agreed, although Ben wasn't listening to her but was telling Max that Michael and Maria were getting married today.
"Does Michael know about this?" Max was asking as he climbed out of the Jeep. Ben careened around the car and Max swung him up, carrying him upside down over his shoulder into the house, making him scream with laughter. Whatever demons Ben was still running from, they were obviously far from his mind when his father was around. Liz felt tears welling in her eyes again as she linked arms with Maria and followed them.
"Oh, he won't mind," Maria called after him. "It just seemed like such a stupid idea to waste a perfectly well-planned wedding. Plus, we get the added bonus of it being such a surprise, the tabloids will have absolutely no way of knowing about it!"
Max turned his head, his eyes meeting Liz's. He appeared to be extremely amused. "Was this your idea?"
"Well…not exactly." Liz shrugged. "But everything is ready…" She smiled. "Plus, what a beautiful new beginning for us all." This made Max's eyes soften immediately. She grinned more fully. "Plus, a party seemed like a great way to celebrate that new beginning."
"Just remind me to be elsewhere when Michael is told." Max shook his head. He set Ben on his feet, ran an affectionate hand over his blond head. "How're you feeling kiddo?"
But Maria was not to be so easily swayed. "Max, you need to get him to the church!"
"What?" Liz struggled to hide her grin at Max's sudden outrage. "You expect me to be a party to this?"
"Max!" Maria advanced on him. "Please! I have to go to the hairdresser and I promised Vick an exclusive interview before and after. I don't have time to tell him."
Max held up his hands. "Fine. I'll tell him. But Maria, I refuse to be held responsible if he doesn't show."
"Oh, he'll show," Maria replied smugly. "He's got me exactly where he wants me now. He won't screw things up again."
Max and Liz exchanged amused glances. "Well, I guess that sounds about right," Max finally admitted. "Fine, I'll go get him. He's still at Kyle's with Iz and Jesse." He glanced down at Ben. "Go get changed Benny. You can come with me."
"Isabel and Jesse?" Maria watched Ben shoot off towards Max's former bedroom. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'll tell you the way to the hairdresser," Liz replied. "I assume you want me to come with you?" She looked at Max, who still looked perplexed by the utter haste with which this whole operation was being carried out. "We'll see you at the church."
"Er - okay." His brows were knit together in consternation. She just knew he was contemplating Michael's reaction to the wedding. But Liz knew it wouldn't be a problem.
Michael loved Maria. He would do this if it made her happy. And it was a typical Maria reaction that as soon as she figured out in which direction she wanted her life to go, she wanted it to go there at one hundred miles an hour, rather than at the speed limit.
It was one of the things Liz admired about her best friend, one of her qualities that Liz wished she could call her own. She went after what she wanted - and that's what Liz was finally trying to do by taking her destiny into her own hands and admitting that she wanted to be with Max, the past be damned.
"Liz?" Maria had already gone through the door when Max called after her. "Do you want me to talk to Isabel? See about getting things rolling?" His eyes were bright, as though he still couldn't quite believe that she actually wanted to be with him, that they were making plans to move forward with their lives - plans to move forward together. And, if those plans, were tentative and on a trial-basis, he didn't care. Because at least they knew it was what they both wanted. Half the battle was already won.
But there was still one other person they had to make sure was going to be okay with all of this. Ben.
"Talk to Ben Max, and then talk to Isabel," Liz suggested. She smiled at him again, saw his eyes darken as they lingered on her lips. "I love you." She couldn't help herself. Now that she had said it once, she constantly wanted to say it.
And not just because of the way it made his entire face light up - although it did. Every single time. "I love you too."
With that, she turned and followed her best friend out the door.
****************************************************************
Max was still smiling to himself as he followed the familiar hallway to his boyhood bedroom, knowing that Liz was right about talking to Ben. It made more sense for him to broach the subject of the role Liz was going to play in their lives alone.
It had been just he and Ben for so long. Just the two of them. He knew that his son loved Liz, was likely going to be thrilled about the idea of living with her, but he still needed to ask him about it.
Because he knew that neither he nor Liz would ever want to do something that made Ben uneasy. He had had enough of that in his short life. And, so, if he didn't like it, they would slow the whole thing down, figure something else out. Max still had every intention of being with Liz, but not at the expense of his son's happiness. He knew that Liz felt exactly the same way.
He knocked lightly on the door to the room he had first moved into when he had been just a bit younger than Ben. "How's it going in there?"
"I can't find my other sock." The complaint was so normal, it was a relief. His son had been through a lot of scary stuff over the past few days - new people thrust into his life, old enemies returning to try and kill him. That he accepted it all and still managed to somehow stay a kid - it was a blessing Max could not ever stop giving thanks for.
Max pushed the door open and laughed at the sight of his son sitting on the bed, his back to Max, a sock stuck to the back of his shirt.
"What's so funny?" Ben demanded, turning his head.
"Did Grandma wash your clothes?" Max asked innocently, sitting down on the bed beside the little boy, peeling the sock off his back and passing it to him. Ben stared at it, then shrugged, putting it on.
"I guess so. I was really tired. I don't even remember putting my pajamas on."
"I can understand why," Max replied, knowing his voice was breaking slightly with emotion. "You were really brave last night Benny."
"Liz was with me." Ben looked at him in surprise. "And Lexi. I didn't need to be brave. I wasn't scared." He looked away slightly, his blue eyes shadowing. "I was scared at first though Dad. Before Liz found me."
"That's okay. I was scared too," Max told him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"You were?" Ben stared at him. "Really?"
"Really. Because the two people I love the most were in danger."
Ben didn't speak for a moment. "Me and Liz?" He finally asked, sounding pleased.
"You and Liz. And Lexi and Auntie Isabel and Michael and everyone," Max continued. "But mostly you and Liz." He paused, searching for words. "Things have been really weird the last few days, huh?"
"Yeah." Ben stood up, went towards his sneakers, which were sitting on the desk, Max's mother's obsession with neatness obviously still one of her personality quirks. "But it's been my best week too."
"It has?" Max watched him carefully.
Ben looked up. "Yeah Dad! I mean, I got to meet Liz and Maria promised to teach me to play the guitar…Oh! And Michael gave me those hockey cards. I still have to take that one to school to trade with Hunter."
Max stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?"
"You know Dad!" Ben exclaimed, sounding irritated. "I told you that I was going to trade a card with that kid I met at school."
"Er - okay." He narrowed his eyes. His son was resilient Max knew, but this seemed a bit ridiculous. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"
Ben stopped tying his shoelace and looked up at him. "Like what?"
"I don't know. About being scared and stuff?"
"I told you I was scared Dad, but I was with Liz. I knew that nothing would happen to me when I was with her. I had to look after her. Just like you do. Because you look after people you love. Don't your remember telling me that on Antar?" Ben asked, perplexed.
"Okay…" Max trailed off, uncertain how to proceed. "So, what do you want to happen now?"
Ben cocked his head, interested. "I want to get a penguin suit to wear to Maria and Michael's wedding." He stood up. "Come on Dad! That's what Maria told me I'd get to wear!" He started out the door.
"Ben!" Max called after him.
"What?" He shifted impatiently from foot to foot.
"Do you think it would be okay if we lived with Liz now?" Max asked in a rush, grimacing, knew that it was not the way he wanted this conversation to go, but knowing that he was losing his son's interest quickly.
Ben's face lit up. "Live with Liz? Awesome!" He frowned slightly. "Does this mean we won't get to live with Michael anymore?" His disappointment was so complete, it was almost comical.
"Well…" Max struggled to hide his grin. "Michael's going to live with Maria now."
"Why can't we all live together?" Ben demanded, crossing his arms in consternation. "Maria can teach me to play the guitar like my other dad. She promised!"
"She'll still teach you Benno. I don't think Michael and Maria will be going far." Max stood, so relieved that Ben had no problem with living with Liz, it almost made him weak in the knees. He hadn't imagined that there really would be, but knowing their long run of bad luck until fairly recently, having Ben become an obstacle rather than a unifier had become a very real, if brief, fear.
But, in the end, his son's only issue was that he wasn't going to get to hang out with Michael as much anymore. As long as he knew that Michael wasn't going to disappear from his life, he would likely be okay with everything.
"Well, I guess that's okay." Ben still sounded slightly put out. "Now, let's go get my penguin suit!" He turned and marched out of the room.
Max sighed. "Ben, I hate to be the one who has to break the news to you about the penguin suit…" He began as he followed his son.
**********************************************
"I hate these damn monkey suits," Michael groaned. He stuck a finger into his collar and pulled. "I'm choking to death here."
Ben, who was sitting on the counter in his own little tuxedo, grimaced in agreement. "I saw a picture of a penguin in Aunt Isabel's classroom," he told Michael confidentially. "And a monkey. They don't look like these stupid things at all."
"Okay!" Max held up his hands in frustration. "Enough with the complaints. It'll all be over soon enough and then you can run around in your underwear for all I care. But I have a job here - which is to get you to the altar decently attired - and I am going to do it if it kills me because you didn't hear Maria on the phone Michael. She was scary."
Max had been surprised by how easy it had been to convince Michael that his wedding day was today. In fact, it hadn't taken any convincing at all. He had just rolled his eyes. "Whatever she wants."
However, Max had not been pleased by his new assignment after he had called Liz to tell her what had transpired. "Take them both to the tuxedo shop." She had sounded distracted. "Yes Maria! I'm telling him!"
"What's wrong?" Max demanded, could tell by her voice that she was just about at the end of her rope.
"Maria is having one of her diva days I'm afraid," Liz replied, sounding aggrieved and, yet, affectionate.
And suddenly he was listening to Maria's voice, as she had clearly wrenched the phone out of Liz's hands. "I deserve it. I made five million dollars last year Max. I think at least on my wedding day I can forgo my eternal good nature and demand a little action from you people. I refuse to have my husband look like a shlub in the wedding pictures. They'll be published you know!"
"Maria…"
"Get him to the church Max and I want him in a tux. You have an hour. The end." She had hung up on him.
So he had complied, shaking his head in disbelief that twenty-four hours ago they had all been running for their lives and now their biggest concern was whether Michael looked like a shlub or not in the wedding photos.
He had never been more happy.
"Really?" Ben sounded interested. "I can wear my underwear later?"
"No, you may not," Max replied sternly. "I was joking."
Michael grinned at Max in the mirror. "But I can."
Max rolled his eyes. The only thing that was getting him through this was the fact that he would get to share a dance with Liz at the reception later - that and the fact that his son was practically jumping up and down on the counter he was so excited and so happy.
He knew that Ben felt completely secure for the first time in his young life and it was because of the people currently in this building. The people Max loved more than any others in the world - in the universe. He would not trade an instant of the craziness.
Meanwhile, across the church in the bride's room, Maria was hugging Liz, who was trying desperately to hold back tears of love for her best friend. Because, even on her wedding day, Maria was more concerned about her best friend than herself.
Some things would never change. Liz was overcome again by how lucky she was. If this kept up, she was going to be a weeping mess long before the day was over.
"I mean it Chica. I want you to be happy. And if that means that I have to whip Max into shape for you, I will."
"I think he's managed to do a pretty nice job of that himself," Liz replied wryly, wiping at her eyes. Isabel, who was standing nearby, gently pulled her towards the mirror, ran her hand across Liz's face, fixing the damage to her make-up. Max's sister had joined them, unwilling to miss her almost- brother's wedding. She had told Liz upon arriving that she thought she liked the idea of living with she and Max for a while - at least until she and Jesse worked out exactly how they were going to move forward.
She had confided to Liz that the conversation had been difficult, especially with Michael hovering as he had been, but that she was still sure that she had made the right decision. "I love him," she finally told Liz. "And because I do, I can forgive him."
And Liz had understood perfectly.
"He has," Isabel agreed now. Her face was still lined with sadness and fear, but she was doing her best to get into the spirit of the event. "He's really grown up. And it's because he loves you Liz. I think he wants to be worthy of you more than he's ever wanted anything."
"He's always been worthy," Liz argued. "He's only finally accepted it, which means that I can trust him again. It was his self-hatred that made him do all of those horrible things you know. He won't sabotage himself again. And now that the seal is broken - now that Khivar is really gone - they won't make him sabotage himself either."
"Now you just have to worry about general male stupidity," Maria agreed, laughing. "Not that they aren't darn cute in spite of it."
Maria's mother poked her head through the door. "It's almost time Honey." She sighed heavily. "I still can't believe that this is happening today! You can't give a mother the time to get used to the idea that Michael Guerin is really going to become part of her family?" Liz and Isabel laughed. They knew that Amy was joking, that Michael had won her over long ago, way back in high school even. The fact that her husband of several years now, Jim Valenti, liked Michael so much too had finally convinced her.
"Sorry Mom," Maria grinned. "It's the price you pay for having a superstar daughter."
Amy grinned back. "Smartass. I'll see you in a minute Sweetie." She reappeared a moment later. "Oh Vick is here. She wants some last minute quotes."
"Let her in," Maria grinned wider, her eyes twinkling wickedly. "I have some great stuff for her…including the little story about how Michael and I first fell in lust."
Liz exchanged a look with Isabel. They both burst out laughing. Maria was having too much fun with being in complete control of the media coverage of her wedding. It was a nice change to see her enjoying her celebrity rather than being oppressed by it.
The head-line in the Boston Globe the next day read Pop Star Weds Man who Abducted her Heart Twelve Years Ago.
****************************************
"What's wrong Liz?" Max asked as he pulled Liz into his arms on the dance floor at the reception several hours later. He had not failed to notice the tears that had been threatening from her all evening. The first time had been when their eyes had met across Michael and Maria at the altar. She had smiled at him, but then had turned away, her eyes gleaming strangely.
The moment had been broken when they had all realized that Michael's vows had included the vow to obey Maria. He had scowled at her but had very deliberately enunciated the words. She had beamed back at him. Max and Liz had both burst out laughing.
"I would have added 'and not lock her in closets,' but I was a little worried how that might have sounded, especially with a reporter present," Maria later told both Max and Liz, making them laugh again.
It was a day for laughter, not tears, and yet, Liz seemed constantly on the verge of them. He was not stupid enough anymore to think that she was having second thoughts about him - he knew she wasn't - but he was still concerned about her.
And now it was happening again as they danced surrounded by all the people they most loved in the world, including Liz's parents, who had been surprisingly civil to Max. But if they saw their daughter burst into tears right in front of them while she was dancing with him… It did not bode well for the future.
She met his gaze, her dark eyes brimming, but he could see that she wasn't really upset. "Do you hear the song?" Liz asked quietly.
Max listened. "It's nice. What is it?"
"It's called I Shall Believe," Liz replied. "It's our wedding song."
Max frowned slightly, stared down at her. "What do you mean?"
"We danced to it in the desert when we were nineteen on the night we were married," Liz elaborated. "When you came back from the future, you told me that."
Max closed his eyes briefly, bringing his hand up to cradle her head against his chest. Liz had told him long ago about the visit she had received from that future version of himself. It had been her explanation for why she had pretended to sleep with Kyle. But, until this moment, he had not truly understood that he had had a whole life with her in that other time. He had understood the other life they had shared as Zan and Kadi, but not the way that whole timelines could be changed by just one action.
He was being given a second chance with the love of his life. He would never take that for granted. Not like that other Max had seemed to. "We'll dance to it at our wedding someday Liz," he finally whispered against her hair. "I promise."
"I know. In some ways, I can't wait. We've waited so long. But then, I know there's no rush." She pulled back, smiling up at him. "We'll just take this one day at a time Max, loving each other and making each moment better than the last."
He swallowed, suddenly very close to losing it himself. Would he ever get used to the way he felt about her? Would it ever be less intense, less magical? He certainly hoped not.
He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her palm. "I love you." He felt a shiver descend his spine, a flash of Zan doing the same to Kadiya as he lay dying momentarily making him flinch. He felt her tremble against him, knew that she had shared the flash.
But while that kiss had been about breaking apart, about despair and loss, this kiss was one of hope, about bringing what was lost back together with a strong promise for the future.
He knew that as long as they shared that promise, nothing would tear them apart again.
Her smile told him that she felt exactly the same way. She brought her hand up, wrapped it around his neck and kissed him gently.
"Welcome home Max."
The End