Hey Everyone. Sorry it took so long. Just know that I haven't given up on this story. With real life though, sometimes I don't get a chance to write much.
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. Let me know what you think of this new part. I'm not happy will it all, but I thought others might enjoy it.
Part 5
The next day, everyone met at the Crashdown again. The plan was to meet at the restaurant and then ride out to the reservoir for the day. As everyone showed up, the girls fixed a basket of food as Michael and the guys huddled around Jeffery. As soon as they were finished, the group piled into their cars and headed out for a day of fun and relaxation.
Liz and Isabel laid out a blanket and began unpacking dinner. Michael and Kyle had begun tossing the football around already. Maria and Alex were pulled down to the water to make sand castles with Jeffery earlier. The usually shy boy had taken an immediate liking to his honorary aunts and uncles. For the first time, Liz contemplated staying in Roswell. She loved seeing her family and friends again. It was obvious that Michael was happy here and Jeffery was loving the attention. Maybe it was time.
Two strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled Liz from her thoughts. "Liz, we're on vacation. Give that beautiful head of yours a rest."
She smiled and leaned back into Michael's embrace. "I am. Anyway, who's hungry? The food is ready."
Michael sensed her change in mood, but let it slide for now. He would question her later, after they had some fun. The group spent the rest of the day swimming and having fun. Michael gave Jeffery his first swimming lesson against Liz's better judgement. As the sky began to darken, Jeffery fell asleep on Michael's lap. "Uh guys, he's out cold. I think it's time to get him home." Michael gently picked him up and carried him to the car while the others cleaned up their things. Instead of placing Jeffery in his car seat in the back, Michael buckled him up between himself and Liz. Something was coming. He didn't know what, but he suddenly had the need to keep them both by his side to protect them.
Driving slowly and extremely cautiously back to town, Michael felt the feeling of uneasiness growing stronger. He didn't understand it, but he did trust it. He watched Jeffery begin to fidget in his seat and try to climb into his mother's lap. It had been obvious after his birth that Jeffery could sense both Liz and Michael's feelings. Pulling into the parking lot of the Crashdown, Michael could see that whatever the feeling was, Liz had also sensed it. She hesitated when climbing out of the car and was apprehensive about going inside. Michael called out to her to reassure her and himself that everything was all right. "Liz!"
"I know Michael. Why don't you take Jeffery upstairs and put him to bed. I'm going to put this stuff away. I'll be right up." Liz picked up their picnic basket and dishes from earlier. As she slowly approached the door, she motioned for Michael to leave. "Go on. He needs to get to bed. I'll be fine. As soon as this stuff is taken care of, I'll be up."
Reluctantly, he grabbed Jeffery and climbed the stairs to the apartment. When he entered, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Parker having a late dinner in the kitchen. Nodding briefly, he walked into Liz's old room. He changed Jeffery into his favorite Blue's Clues pajamas, handed him his teddy bear, and said good night.
"Hey Mrs. and Mr. P. How are you doing?"
Pointing to the chair next to him, Mr. Parker shook his hand and invited him to sit down. "Michael, we told you, it's Jeff and Nancy."
"Okay, did you have a good day?"
"Yeah, what about you kids? Did you have fun? I know Liz has been nervous about seeing your friends again."
Mrs. Parker chimed in and offered Michael a plate of food. "How about something to eat Michael?"
"No thank you. Liz made this great spread for us all at the reservoir. I couldn't eat a thing. We had a pretty good time. It's nice to see her carefree and laughing with Alex and Maria again."
Mrs. Parker knew Liz wasn't the only one to miss the gang. "I'm sure Isabel was thrilled to see you. She stops by often to chat and see if we had heard from you." Isabel's visits had become frequent and Nancy found herself enjoying their conversations together. She also found it a wealth of knowledge on Michael.
"Yeah, until Liz and Jeffery, she was the only family I had besides Max." Michael hid his face, slightly embarrassed to be talking about his emotions to anyone but Liz. It had taken Liz a while to break his stonewall, but she had. However, Liz and Jeffery were the only ones who were given the opportunity to see past the wall.
Jeff decided to give the boy a break and change the subject. "So, where is Liz anyway? Don't tell me you left her out there? Or did she go out with Maria?"
Michael chuckled and shook his head. "No, she's downstairs taking care of the dishes from today. She told me to put Jeffery to bed and she would be right up. She should be up here by now." Michael grew concerned. Where was Liz? What was taking so long? Michael knew Jeff was talking to him, but his mind was solely focused on Liz and his earlier feelings of anxiety and dread. "I'm going to go look for her. I'll be back." Michael barely glanced at the Parkers before leaving the apartment in search of Liz.
Liz headed into the restaurant, relieved that only for a few local towns people were there. Jose stood behind the grill and a few waitresses were filling drinks. Everything appeared to be normal. She dismissed her anxiety as Michael's suspicious nature and went about cleaning the dishes. Halfway though, Liz felt a chill go up her spine. Something was going to happen. Quickly she wiped off her hands and walked out from the back of the restaurant. Her heart stopped for a moment as she realized who it was.
"Max."
Max didn't understand women. Tess had insisted on going away for a while, claiming it would be good for their relationship. As they approached the state border, Max changed his mind. Tess fought with him, repeatedly saying they couldn't go back home. He knew something was up and he intended to find out what.
When he arrived back at his house, he found Isabel had gone out with Kyle and his parents were away for the weekend. He decided to go to the Crashdown for some dinner before crashing in front of the TV for the night. As he walked in, he never would have guessed as the surprise that waited for him.
Standing across from him, frozen to her spot, stood Liz. She looked even more beautiful and stunning to Max than ever. He watched as she remained shocked and took the initiative of taking her into his arms.
One moment she was standing there starring at Max. The next thing she knew, Liz was being pulled into his arms. He began moving his hands around her back. He touched her face to ensure that she was real before kissing her passionately. The shock of the kiss knocked Liz from her trance. She struggled to break free, but Max's hold on her was too tight.
"Oh god, Liz. I knew you would come back. Everything will be fine now. I forgive you." Max kept her body pressed against his as his hands wandered her backside. She was finally here and in his arms. He pulled her face back to his and allowed his hands to find the hem of her shirt.
Liz began to panic. The harder she pushed, the tighter Max's grip became preventing her from pulling away. She jumped slightly as Max's hands found her bare skin beneath her shirt. "Max, please stop! Let me go!" Liz tried to plead, but his lips claimed hers again. Suddenly she felt Max release her and pull away. Thrown off balance, she fell to the floor. Looking up, she found Max on the floor about 10 feet away with Michael standing in between them.
"Don't you dare touch her ever Maxwell. I'm warning you."
Max became infuriated. How dare Michael interfere between himself and Liz. Where the hell had he come from anyway? "Mind your own business Michael. This is between Liz and me. I didn't hear her complaining."
Michael bent down to help Liz up. He could already see bruises forming on her upper arms where Max had held her. He pulled her into a protective embrace before turning to confront Max again. "If it concerns Liz, then it's my business. You have no right to touch her. Besides, if you paid a little closer attention, you would know she was trying to get you to let go of her. Just walk out of here and leave us alone."
Max was stunned. "Us, what do you mean us? You can't possibly be serious? You expect me to believe that you and Liz are together?" Seeing the dark expression cloud Michael's face, he knew it was true. "Well, when Liz couldn't get the original, she took the runner up. How considerate of her. But, it doesn't matter anymore. She's back and I'm here."
Michael wanted to knock that smug look off Max's face. Feeling Liz grip his arm, he knew it wouldn't solve anything. He tried to remain in control of his feelings before his powers could be released unintentionally. "Think whatever you want Max, but I've been the one living with her for the past year while you've been fucking Tess. How is she anyway?" Michael knew he had crossed the line with his comment and prepared to be hit by Max's fist. Surprisingly, the punch never landed. Michael realized Liz was standing in front of him and holding the left side of her face. "Liz, oh god."
Liz brushed Michael aside temporarily and focused on Max. "Go home Max. You are no longer welcomed here. You're not apart of my life and I want you to leave Michael and I alone."
Another voice came from behind Michael. The three turned their attention to the new comer. Jeff Parker stood there, barely able to control his anger as he watched Max Evans hit his daughter and challenge Michael. "Max, you better leave now or I will call the sheriff and press charges for assault. Go and don't bother coming back." He turned his back on Max and focused his attentions on Liz. "Michael, take her upstairs and get some ice. Maybe it won't bruise." Liz allowed Michael to guide her upstairs and waited on the couch as he retrieved some ice from the kitchen.
"Liz, I don't know what's wrong. Jeffery started crying and screaming a little while ago. I can't get him to calm down. I don't understand what's wrong." Nancy saw the bruise beginning to form on her daughter's cheek. "Liz, what happened?"
Liz momentarily ignored her mother and reached for her son. She held him tight and sent him reassuring thoughts and emotions. "It's okay. Don't cry. Everything is alright." Jeffery immediately began to calm down and his sobs died to an occasional hiccup. Liz was fascinated as he reached up and touched her injured cheek. She felt a slight tingle before she heard Michael drop the already melting ice on the floor. Turning to face him, she looked inquisitively to his reaction.
Michael couldn't believe his eyes. Jeffery had healed Liz. It was a skill that Michael could barely do, yet this 12-month-old baby did it without a sound. Michael walked over to his son and took Jeffery from Liz. "That's my guy. I knew you would look out for your mom. We just didn't know how powerful you would be." Michael gazed at him, his face beaming with pride and joy. Jeffery giggled and began babbling some baby talk as his father lavished him with attention.
"Michael, what are you talking about?"
"Liz, honey." Mrs. Parker stood beside her daughter and touched the previously bruised cheek. "Did you know Jeffery could do that?"
Liz was confused. She didn't understand what made Michael a proud papa and caused her mother such shock at the same time. She placed her hand over her mother's on her cheek. Applying a small amount of pressure, she finally noticed it. The bruise was non-existent. "Michael?"
"He'll be fine Liz. We just have to be more careful until he can understand not to do that in front of other people. It's amazing. He has such control over some of his powers already. He's going to extraordinary by the time he reaches his teens." Michael stood in awe. His son had managed to control a power that he still hadn't master. Hell, sometimes Michael couldn't master any of his powers.
Liz looked into the little boy's eyes, hoping to form a connection to express her thoughts. "Jeffery, thank you very much. You are such a good boy. Promise me you won't use your powers unless Mommy or Daddy say its okay."
The dark haired child stared trustingly at his mother. He took a quick glance at his father before looking back at Liz. "I 'romise."
Liz knew he had only done it to help her. She smiled and gave him another hug. "Okay, little guy. You need to be in bed. We had a long day and tomorrow your Aunt Isabel and Aunt Maria want to take us out shopping. So you need to sleep." With another kiss, she placed the child back into Michael's arms and watched as he was tucked in again. So much for the quiet, she thought. Her earlier feelings of dread were gone. It must have been a warning about Max. Hopefully, the worst was over, but Liz doubted it. Once he found out that Jeffery existed and Michael was the father, she was afraid how he would react. If he ever found out the truth, it would be a disaster.
TBC....
Anyone want to see some dupes make an apperance?
:)
