'Sometimes things happen that you can't explain

(Flashes of Future Max)

And they turn your life upside down,

You start about picking up the pieces

And something happens that changes everything,

And you're not even the person you thought you were…'

Liz Parker sighed and put down her pen and raised her hand to wipe away the tears that stood on her cheeks. She closed her eyes and remembered all the times she had laughed with Max, their first kiss, all the times he had told her he loved her. She remembered his face at the Crashdown the day she was shot. His concern, fear and anguish. She felt her heart throb inside her.

She got to her feet and climbed into the window of her bedroom, she walked over to her bed and began to get undressed. Just as she pulled her night dress over her head she heard a tap on the window.

Max swallowed as her stood at the bottom of the ladder leading to Liz' balcony. He closed his eyes then began to climb. At the top he leaned over to tap Liz's window, he saw her just pulling on her night dress and hesitated. He breathed deeply to try and steady his feelings.

Liz swung round and stopped dead a small cry escaping from her lips.

'Max…'

'We've really gotta talk Liz.' Said Max turning his deep amber eyes on her.

Liz felt all the old emotions surge up inside of her.

'Why won't you tell me the truth? You couldn't have slept with Kyle, I would feel it.'

Damn this alien side, Liz thought, why couldn't she keep anything from him?

'Liz tell me!' Max grabbed her arm.

She felt the emotions and memories flow through her. He was going to see, he would find out.. No!

'Let go Max! Let go!' Liz struggled but Max just tightened his grip his face going a stony grey. 'No!' Tears rolled down Liz' face as she sat on the edge of her bed.

***

Max stood aghast, what had he just seen? He'd seen himself only older, he'd felt Liz'

guilt, grief and despair and he'd felt her love.

'You never… You never slept with Kyle.' Max said looking down at her streaming face. 'You did it for me? For all of us?'

Liz didn't reply she just kept on crying, she'd failed, Max knew and now she'd never be able to stop him. She'd betrayed future Max, he had come in vain! Max had seen everything, her inner soul.

Max dropped to his knees in front of Liz and cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. She melted into his arms reluctantly for a second and then wrenched herself away.

'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I couldn't Max!' Liz cried, the events of that evening came back to her, the hurt, the pain and the feeling of having a part of her ripped away. 'You saw it, all of it.. We can't be together we just can't!'

'I don't care! I'm not gonna let Tess keep us apart! We'll make her stay! I love you!'

Liz shook her head, Max said nothing he just pulled her close and kissed her again.

Max felt Liz' warm body close to him again, and he knew that this was where it belonged!

Liz felt her knees go weak, just like they had always used to, she relaxed and just melted into him. Her mind went fuzzy…

***

'Welcome Leandre, I trust you slept well.'

The glaring of the white walls shone in her eyes, she tried to move her arms to shade her eyes but found that she was tied to a table…

Searing pain shot through her body men in white coats stood over her with sharp instruments…

'Max!' she screamed.

***

Liz collapsed onto the floor, blinded with pain. Max was on his knees next to her.

'Liz, Liz!' Max cried, there were tears running down his face. At the sound of a small whimper from Liz, he lifted her up in his arm and cradled her against his chest. Max felt her small body taught in pain and fear. Small shivers began to shoot through her body so he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He pulled the covers over her and stared anxiously down at her strained face.

'Liz, what was that? What were they doing to you?'

Liz stared up at him in the realisation that he too had seen her vision. 'I- I..' she tried to speak but her voice broke as she became over come with tears. Max sat down next to her and held her close. The harder she sobbed the tighter he held her.