Category: AU M/L
Summary: AU story based on a song I have liked for a long time, but with a different twist. Liz didn't grow up in Roswell and has been living in foster homes as long as she can remember.
Disclaimer: Jason Katims owns everything Roswell…come on now if I owned it would I be writing fanfic??? Also I don't own the song either, it's "Two beds and a coffee machine" by Savage Garden. I'm just borrowing this stuff and I'll put it back when I'm done I promise. Oh and I created the characters of Abby, Charlotte, and Frank who are loosely based on characters in the song and people I know.
Thanks: To my beta Elise-who has been with me on this story from the beginning, and to Jen who has helped out recently. I couldn't do it without you guys. To everyone who left reviews, I appreciate it so much.
Feedback: Okay I said I wouldn't beg—but I lied…Please Please Please leave feedback!
Distribution: I would be flattered if anyone wants to post this story somewhere else, just let me know first okay?
A/N: the italics indicate thought, also song lyrics. I'm really beginning to see that this is going to be one long twisted story. For everyone who has been asking questions, they only hint I will give is – some things are meant to happen. Think about it.
Liz awoke early and was momentarily surprised to feel an arm resting along her back. She looked up to see Max, his eyes closed and his head resting against the back of the couch. She let herself just lie there for a moment, soaking in the feeling of peace she got from being this close to him. She could almost pretend for a minute that she wasn't a runaway responsible for two small children; that she didn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders, that she was just a normal teenage girl who had the luxury of being able to date boys.
It was then that she heard the alarm she had set the night before start to go off. Nine-thirty already?
Max's eyes fluttered for a second or two as he tightened his hold on the girl in his arms, not wanting to wake from what just had to be a dream. He opened his eyes finally and looked down to see the most beautiful girl, with her head in his lap and fingers entwined with his own, smiling up at him.
"Good morning sleepyhead," she said, "I bet your parents are going to kill you for not coming home last night."
He laughed a little. "You're probably right. I'll just tell them I fell asleep on Michael's couch and wasn't able to call. It'll be fine. The one I really have to worry about is Izzy."
"Izzy?" Liz asked curiously, wondering if this was his girlfriend.
"My sister Isabel. I'm sure to get a lecture from her."
"You better get going then," she said, sitting up and smoothing her hair back behind her ears. "I start work today anyway. I wanna be there on time. Don't want to make a bad first impression or anything."
"Yeah, I have to work too. Maybe I'll stop by on my lunch break," Max said, stretching his arms above his head.
Liz stood up and walked him to the door. "That would be nice Max."
"Well I guess I'll see you then…" he said, looking uncertain for half a second, then pulling her to him for a quick hug. "Bye Liz."
"Bye Max," she said as he released her and then walked out the door. She closed it behind him and leaned back against it, sighing.
Just then, Liz heard a doorknob turn and looked to see Charlotte peeking out from the bedroom. The little girl pulled the door shut behind her and tiptoed over to Liz.
"Is everything okay Lizzie?" she asked.
"Yeah sweetie, I think it's gonna be alright now."
"Is Max gonna take care of you?" Charlotte continued, causing a look of surprise from Liz. "Cause you're always taking care of us, but you don't have anyone to take care of you…"
"I think he would like to…" Liz said, more to herself than to Charlotte.
"Good. I like him, he's nice—not mean like Frank at all."
"You know what? I have to work today," Liz said, suddenly changing the subject, "and you and your sister get to come with me. So you better go wake Abby and get dressed."
"Okay," Charlotte said, as she scampered off to the bedroom.
Liz took advantage of the moment alone by quickly hopping in the shower and getting dressed.
Before she knew it, they were parking in a small lot behind the Crashdown and Liz was giving the girls a last minute warning. "Now Mr. Parker was very nice to let you girls hang out here while I'm working so please don't make him regret it," she said, running her hands down over the front of her uniform, trying to smooth out invisible wrinkles. They entered through the employee entrance, the back door, and saw Mr. Parker emerge from the main dining room.
"Ah…Liz, right on time. Glad to see it. I assume these are your sisters?" he asked, smiling as he looked over at the girls, who were currently hiding behind Liz's legs.
"Yes sir. Charlotte and Abby," she said, pulling the girls out from behind her. "Girls, this is my boss, Mr. Parker. Say hi."
"Hi," they said in unison.
"Well girls, as long as we aren't too busy, you can sit out in the dining room—just no running around, okay? But if we get very crowded, you need to come hang out back here," he said, and then turned to Liz. "They can have some soft drinks while they're here, if they want Liz. I have to get back to my paperwork, so if you have any questions—just ask Maria."
"Okay, thank you sir," Liz said as she ushered the girls into the dining room.
Upon entering, Liz's eyes immediately fell on Maria. She was leaning on the counter talking to a teenage boy who was sitting at the counter with a laptop open. Maria's face lit up when she saw Liz and she ran over, grabbed her hand, and dragged her towards the boy.
"Liz, this is one of my best friends and probably the biggest computer geek you will ever meet, Alex Whitman," Maria said, turning to Alex, "and Alex, this is the girl I was talking about, Liz Campbell, my newest best friend, and her sisters Charlotte and Abby."
"Nice to meet you Liz," Alex said, standing up from his seat and extending his hand to her. "Any friend of Maria's is a friend of mine. Which makes my life easier, 'cause if you didn't notice—Maria doesn't make friends easily. And I'm not the biggest computer geek you will ever meet, but I'm certainly up there," he said laughing.
"It's nice to meet you too," Liz said, shaking his hand.
"And you two must be Charlotte and Abby," he said, looking over at the girls.
"Do you have games on your computer?" Charlotte asked, her eyes wide and obviously excited.
"Oh yeah, the best."
"Do you think we could play them with you?" she asked, showing more boldness than Liz had expected of her.
"Of course. I'd love to have someone to play with besides the computer. It always beats me," he said, putting on this fake puppy-dog face and earning a few giggles from the girls.
"We better get to work Liz," Maria said, seeing that the girls were in good hands with Alex. "Let me show you the way we run things here at the good ole' Crashdown Café…"
TBC…
And she takes another step
Slowly she opens the door
Check that he is sleeping
Pick up all the broken glass
And furniture on the floor
Been up half the night screaming
Now it's time to get away
Pack up the kids in the car
Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write
Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
and the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through
And there are children to think of
Baby's asleep in the back seat
Wonder how they'll ever make it through this living nightmare
But the mind is an amazing thing
Full of candy dreams and new toys and another cheap hotel
Two beds and a coffee machine
But there are groceries to buy
And she knows she'll have to go home
Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through
Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write
Another lonely highway in the black of the night
But there's hope in the darkness
You know you're going to make it
Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Silent fortress built to last
Wonder how I ever made it through
