Chapter 35

Having decided that they wanted to get married sooner rather than later, Max and Liz were married November 21. Liz sat at the table designated for them, resting her feet. Hannah was on the dance floor with Max, dancing to 'Butterfly Kisses.' Hannah's pink dress went to her ankles and the five year old's hair was adorned with small white roses from Liz's bridal bouquet.

Her parents weren't there. She had invited them, but they hadn't shown. She wasn't too upset. She could get through life without them. She had survived her first twenty-three years without them anyhow. It just hurt a little. She knew Diane would have told her parents. Liz hadn't even gotten a reply from them. To her parents, neither she nor their grandchild existed.

Max's parents had indeed shown. Hannah had been hesitantly introduced to her paternal grandparents. She had taken to Mrs. Evans easily. She was still hesitant with the more formidable Mr. Evans, but Liz knew she would eventually warm up to him.

She smiled at Hannah's apparent happiness. Natalie and her family were there, Natalie in a dress matching Hannah's as an accompanying flower girl. Natalie was also dancing with her father on the dance floor. Hannah was glowing and her cheeks were flushed from excitement. They had gone the day to the courthouse to change Hannah's name from Parker to Evans. She had beamed when the judge had asked her if she was ok with the name change. Today Liz's name had changed from Parker to Evans as well. There had been questions of custody. And Max had asked why there were no records of single parent's custody at the courthouse. Liz had explained that they were at her apartment. Max hadn't replied but a smile tugged at his lips.

Alex and Isabel had plans to be married in two weeks. They were also on the floor Alex holding Isabel lovingly against him, Isabel's head resting on his shoulder. Liz had missed Isabel so much in the years she had been away. It had been hard to keep her so distanced from her life. Liz was looking forward to getting to know her inside and out once more.

Michael had recently proposed to Maria, but they were moving a little slower on their wedding and were looking towards May. Liz suspected Michael had felt pressed since everyone around him was getting married and suspected May was Maria's compromise.

Kyle and Serena were already married. It had been two weeks previous. Serena had been a glowing bride. Liz couldn't have been happier for her two friends. After living with Serena she had gotten to know her pretty well and she had dated Kyle for three years she felt she had a bond with both people, as did Hannah. Their wedding had been beautiful, and they had just returned from their honeymoon.

Max and Liz chose not to go on a honeymoon. They didn't feel it was right to leave Hannah. Hannah was going to be off-track in December and they would take a short trip to San Diego.

"May I have this dance?" It was Jim Valenti. "I don't believe I've had a chance to dance with the beautiful bride."

"Thank you." Liz slipped her hand in his and they joined Hannah and Max on the dance floor.

"You're stunning today, Liz. You're glowing."

"Thank you." She said. "For everything, Jim. I wouldn't be where I am today without yours and Amy's help. Hannah wouldn't be who she is."

"It was our pleasure, honey." He kissed the top of her head.

"My turn, Dad." Kyle bumped him out of the way.

"Sure son, be my guest." Jim walked back to find his wife.

"You're beautiful, Liz." He told her.

"Thank you, Kyle." Liz blushed. "Thank you, Kyle, for being here for me. You made these years so much more fun. You were never a replacement for him, Kyle." Liz said looking earnestly at him. "I just kind of went back to Max when he showed up. I wasn't using you."

"I know. If I remember right I pursued you." Kyle said. "You would never use anybody, Liz. I understand you love Max as I love Serena. There was never anyone else for either of us."

"Thank you for understanding." She placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Can I cut in here?" Max asked.

"I can't exactly deny you your wife could I?" Kyle handed Liz over and she glided naturally into his arms and rested her head on his chest.

The song switched to Nat King Cole's L-O-V-E. Max grinned. "Love this song, love you."

"Me too." She floated around the dance floor on cloud nine.

Max had taken her home that night to a house full of roses. They had chosen the house together but hadn't expected to be moved in yet. Max had surprised her and had everything ready.

While Liz readied Hannah for bed, Max set about getting everything ready. Max had gone in to kiss her goodnight. Then lead Liz downstairs for one more dance.

The white rose petals had started from the living room, up the stairs, and into their bedroom, ending on their bed.

"Max." She sighed as the scent of roses filled her nose. "It's beautiful." She was still in her wedding dress, Max in his tuxedo.

"I wanted you to know how much I loved you." He said quietly. There was a glass of champagne and he opened it. "You've probably had all the champagne you could want but would you like another glass?" He asked.

"Sure." She stepped into the room, her dress swishing.

'I Shall Believe' by Sheryl Crow came over from the CD player. Liz smiled and remembered they had chosen it as their song way back in high school.

She slid into his arms easily. "I love you so much, Max." She rested her head against his chest and listened to his steady heart beat.

"I love you too." She felt the rumble of his voice against her cheek. "So much." He pressed a kiss to her head, and then led her to the bed.

They lay awake a few hours later. They had climbed into night clothes anticipating a nightly visit from Hannah. Max's chest was bear and Liz rested her head against him. It was her favorite spot to lay. To feel the steady beat, the warmth from his heart.

They heard a steady pitter-patter of feet. "She's coming."

"I know." Liz said through a yawn. Her eyes were drifting closed and her body was completely relaxed.

"Mommy, Daddy?" She pushed the door open. "I'm scared."

"Come in." Max called. He suspected Liz was already asleep, her breathing was completely even.

She crawled in and Max winced at her cold feet. She laid on his other side and threw her arm around him. He pulled her closer and she curled into him. "Night, Daddy."

"Goodnight." The identical heads were asleep on his chest, and he was completely happy.

December 15 "You ready to go to the play?" Liz slipped an earring in her ear and looked up the stairs. "Max come on."

"I'm coming, I just have to get the video camera."

Rolling her eyes, she looked at him. "Alex will have one."

"I want to have ours, Liz." He came down the stairs. She automatically reached to fix his tie and he waited for her to finish. When she turned back around he loosened it a little.

"Leave it alone, Max." She told him while digging through her purse.

"Yes, Mom." He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. "I love you." He whispered in her ear.

She leaned against him for a moment and then returned the sentiment. It felt good to be able to do so. To express their feelings whenever it suited them to do so.

"Ok, let's go."

There were about fifteen elves on stage but it was easy to pick out which one was Hannah. She was the shortest. Max squirmed in his seat.

"Here's her part, are you ready?" Liz asked poking him.

"Yes." He assured her and held the camera a little higher to see her.

"I am one of Santa's helpers and my job is to sort the toys for the boys and girls." She said perfectly. She beamed and went back to her spot on stage.

"That was our baby." Max said.

"Yes." Liz smiled, proud of her daughter.

They went out for ice cream afterwards with everyone.

"I can walk now, Uncle Alex." Hannah giggled.

"I know, I prefer to hold you." He hugged her close before letting him go. She slipped her hand into Max's hand. It had been so long since she had been a tiny baby. He remembered holding her and when...he was getting too sentimental. "Our baby's all grown up, Liz." Alex swung an arm around his best friend.

"She's five, Alex." She laughed. "Hardly all grown up."

"Don't you miss when she was tiny?"

"Sometimes." Was her answer then looked up at Max. "But maybe there will be more."

"You're not...?" He asked suspiciously looking at Max.

"No!" She gasped. "Not right now, we're going to wait till we're more settled."

"Oh." He nodded. "You better not be yet."

"Don't worry, Hannah would be in seventh heaven though." Liz smiled. "She already is."

"How about you and Max?" Alex asked.

"We're getting along. Settling in, getting used to being married. The house is wonderful, Hannah has her own room that she actually sleeps in once and a while."

"She still shares a bed with you."

"We try not to let her, but it's so hard. We usually end up putting her back but she always ends up in our bed each morning."

"How do you...um...?" He asked.

"Didn't you hear that you don't when you have kids?" Liz said straight-faced.

Alex paled, "Maybe I can talk Isabel into waiting a little longer."

"Just kidding, Alex." She laughed at his distress. "We have our ways."

"Good." He swallowed. "That's good, I'm going to go find my wife now."

He wandered off.

A year later "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, I want you to look at this." The doctor threw the file down on the desk.

"What is this?" Max asked. Hannah picked up the pictures and looked at them from her perch on Max's lap. She squirmed uncomfortably as she hit the bruise on her leg. She winced and lost her balance. Max steadied her and held her while she got comfortable. He understood the heart catheter she had been in two weeks earlier had left its mark heavily on her.

"What is this, Doctor?" She asked.

"That, my dear Evans family, is the picture of as near to a perfect human heart as you could get from being born with a heart defect. That is your heart, Hannah." He smiled then.

"My heart?"

"Even more perfect than any of our predictions at her birth." The doctor said proudly.

"I'm all better?"

"Yes." He answered. "I'll see you in five years, Hannah."

TBC