"Maria, I need to tell you something?"
As Liz said this, a look of concern crossed Maria's face. They were outside the Crashdown having coffee, remembering their past lives in Roswell when Liz decided that now was the time to tell her. With a nervous look, Maria sat upright intent to listen.
"Sure, shoot!"
"Max asked me something the other day and I don't know how to feel about it. I told him I would think about it but I cant make up my mind, and if I don't give him an answer soon, I'm afraid of how he'll take it. I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I don't truly know how I feel about it. I need your help Maria, please? I just want to get it off my mind, but I don't know how since I cant make a decision and…"
"Hey, hold on a minute! A decision about what? Sweetie what in the hell are you talking about?"
"Max wants, he…he wants to have a baby!"
"What? He wants to have a baby? Wow!"
"I'm not sure Maria. What about the alien factor?"
"What about it? Zan turned out to be human, and both his parents were half-and-half. Your fully human Liz!"
"But I have these powers Maria! What if there's something about me, something that could affect my child if I say yes? Maria, I'm afraid that something could happen to me, or the child, and the Max would feel responsible."
"Liz, you don't have to say yes. Max loves you, he'll understand! If all else fails, tell him your broken!"
"Broken?"
"Believe me, if Michael ever wanted kids, that's what I would say!"
"But what if he doesn't Maria? We all expect Max to be the one who understands all the time. The one who, no matter what, always wants what's best for us. He gives up so much to make me happy, now it's his turn to be happy, and I'm afraid of it! Am I a bad person?"
"Liz…honey…you could never be a bad person! No one is forcing you to do this. If you have a child, it has to be something you both want. But believe me, if you did have a kid, he would be the sweetest, kindest, eccentric and probably the most broodish person in the world."
A smile crept upon Liz's face but was wiped away by more thoughts of worry.
"Imagine how our kid would be if Michael and I had one? That would be terror! One immature, temperamental alien is enough! So what time is Max coming to sweep you off your feet to a place of mystery, whilst you leave your best friend, practically sister, sitting here in the stuff old desert town that was once home?"
"Pretty much now!"
Max walked up behind Maria and kissed Liz before taking a seat. He watched the way the light hit her, she seemed to gleam. After all the years of never settling down, never being in one place long enough to gather anyone's name, never being able to promise her that they'll see the same place in a week, never having a real life, she still loved him, and that meant more to him than anything!
"Ready to go?"
"Where are you taking her? Just in case we need to call the police at some stage?"
"Sorry, not going to work."
"You can't say I didn't try! Is Michael at the motel?"
"Yeah I think. I haven't seen him all morning!"
"Thanks. I'll see you tonight! And I'm expecting details!"
"Bye!"
Max lent over and kissed Liz's lips again. It took her by surprise, but as soon as she realised what was happening, she kissed back.
"What was that for?"
"It's a secret!"
"Your going to do this all afternoon aren't you?"
"You'll just have to wait and see!"
With this Max grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the chair and over to his car. She looked at him and knew that she couldn't stand breaking his heart, but they just didn't want the same things.
Charlie couldn't stop staring at him. Even the wonderfully dense desert surrounding didn't fascinate her the way he did. In her eyes he was the perfect specimen, disregarding his unspeakable powers of course. He had this amazing way of making her feel like she was the only one alive, and everyone else was waiting to be pulled out from the depths below. It may be because he saved her life, or maybe they were just meant to be together, but when she was with Zan, her sense seemed so alive, she could almost hear what he was thinking, feel what he was feeling. Only he wouldn't let himself been seen. He hid behind his diverse secret, the only thing that made him unique from the drones of sheep in the world and he had to hide, using it as a shield from what he really wanted. She hated him for this, but still loved him just as much.
They drove for what seemed such a short period of time, when in fact it was over two hours. They pulled up at a large rock formation, with the vast desert intruding all around them. They walked down into the nadir of shadow that surrounded the huge moulds, and Zan reached out and grasped her hand. They walked, not saying a word, but enjoying the desert sun, and feeling the sand between their toes.
Zan didn't care about his parents or where he came from, he was just enjoying the moment, not realising that he was inching closer and closer to Charlie. Without thinking, his lips touched hers, his arms wrapped around her body and time was still.
When he realised what he had done, he broke the connection and took a step backwards. Stunned he stared at her then ran. She wanted to chase after him, but her legs wouldn't work. Charlie was still caught up in the perfect moment that ended so suddenly. When she finally could move, she looked up to find that Zan was nowhere to be seen.
"Okay, a little bit further…"
"Where are we?"
"Okay, and, open your eyes!"
Liz opened her eyes to find they were on top of a hill, surrounded by a field full of wild flowers, with a distant sunset gazing through the clouds. The sight took her breath away. She turned around to face Max, and kissed his cheek.
"I was going to take you here after graduation, but I never got the chance!"
"It's so beautiful! You're so beautiful!"
She kissed his lips, embracing their every touch, not wanting to let go. Max led her down the hill into the distance where a blanket and picnic basket were assembled.
Charlie walked around the rocks, weaving in and out of the crevices, until she came to a clear path leading through them. As she walked, she noticed a shadow next to a large rock. It was Zan, sitting, leaning against his legs and staring out into the view of the desert sunset. She stood less than two meters away, trying to decide whether to to talk to him or to leave. As she turned to walk away, he stoped her.
"Please don't go?"
She turned to see him looking at her with wide eyes. Curse that damn look!
"Please Charlie? Will you just stay here with me?"
She walked over and sat beside him, unsure of what was happening, of what she did wrong. Moments passed before anyone spoke. Zan was the first.
"I'm sorry!"
It spoke without looking at her; instead he continued gazing at the sunset.
"I know."
"I didn't mean to do that"
"Kiss me or run away after you kissed me?"
She spoke with anger in her voice, he sensed it but replied anyway.
"Both…"
Charlie turned her head away from Zan's view. Fighting back a tear she sighed to herself, hating him for being so honest.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I don't even know what happened. One minute we were walking, the next I was kissing you and I…I'm sorry."
"Can we go now?"
"Sure"
"Hmm…this is fun!"
Max laid on his stomach, leaning over Liz who was on her back, the basket now empty sat beside them. He leaned in and kissed her lips. She kissed back and before they knew it they were entangled in each other. Nothing could disturb them until the ringing of a phone brought them back to reality. Max reached over and took his phone out of his jacket pocket.
"Hello?"
"Hey Max!"
"Hey Is."
"Just wanted to let you know that Kyle and I are at home now."
"Okay, thanks. When did you get in?"
"About an hour ago. Listen, I have to go. Mum wants to know what time you'll be back for dinner?"
"Tell her probably not before two hours."
"Okay, bye!"
"Yeah, bye!"
He rolled onto his back and reached for Liz's hand. He looked at her and sighed.
"Time to go right?"
"Sorry! Isabel and Kyle are at Mum and Dads, so we should probably leave!"
"Yeah, sure…"
Liz stood up and started packing up the picnic. Max grabbed her and pulled her down back on top of him.
"They can always wait!"
"Can I ask you two something?"
"Um, sure! What's up?"
Jeff Parker stood at the end of a booth at the Crash Down, talking to Maria and Michael. He pulled over a chair and sat down, a look of concern crossed his face.
"It's about Max and Liz."
"Maybe you should talk to them about this!"
"No, I, I can't! Please, I need your help with this whole 'alien' thing?"
"Maybe I should go!"
"No Michael, sorry, I didn't mean to…please stay? I just, I need to know something!"
Guilt crossed Maria's face. She knew what he was going to ask, yet wished she was wrong.
"Did Max really bring Liz back to life? Did he really save her, or was that something he just said?" She looked down, not wanting to say anything but she couldn't control herself.
"Yes. And heaps of times since he's healed her. Didn't you read the diary?"
"Yes but, I, I thought she was exaggerating! All of that stuff was real?"
He looked at Michael. Nervously looking around for something to save him, his pocket started to vibrate. After a few "yeah's" and "okay's", he stood up and got his jacket.
"We have to go!"
"What's happened?"
"I'll explain later, but we have to go, now!"
Maria grabbed her coat and rushed outside with Michael. After they reached the corner he pulled on her arm to slow her down. She turned around at looked at him, confused as to what they were doing.
"Why are we stopping? What about the emergency?"
"Yeah, that was just Isabel ringing to say she's at the Evans's now. I just wanted to get out of there! It was starting to become awkward!"
"You aliens are the strangest people!"
Liz was stretched across the passenger seat next to Max. She was staring into the distance, when she saw a couple, walking towards a car. It was the same couple from the Crash Down. She quickly jolted upright and startled Max.
"What's wrong?"
"Its them!"
"Them who?"
"The couple I told you about, the boy who looks like you! Its them!"
"Where?"
Liz pointed to the two standing next to a car in the distance, but Max had other things on his mind.
"Is it just me, or is that car following us?"
"What?"
"The black one behind us, its been stalking us for at least and hour!"
"That's an FBI car! Look at the number plate and the tinted windows! It's the same as the one from Michigan. Go, quick, try and loose them! Max?"
"It's okay, it's okay! Stay calm, and hold on!"
He turned the steering wheel and the car did a 180-degree turn onto the side of the road, he sped up trying to loose them in the dust from the wheels, but they kept coming. The chase went on for over ten minutes, before Max swerved off the road to avoid a parked red Holden, but the stalking car was not so lucky. It smashed into the back of the Holden with massive force and was propelled into the sky, before landing upside down. Glass was smashed everywhere, and there was no way the passengers could have survived.
Liz hid behind Max, watching and waiting for something more to happen. He held her in his arms, shielding her from the sight of defeated enemies. Her breathing was heavy and she was shaking. Max held her out so he could look at her. Her hair was blowing into her face, but he could tell the expression in her eyes. She was frail and in shock. The sound of sirens in the distance were becoming louder and louder. He knew they couldn't be around when the police came, but he didn't want to move Liz in case she broke. He held her again, but tighter this time.
"Lets go home!"