Chapter 8
Author's Note: Okay guys… here's the final chapter! It wasn't originally intended as being the last chapter, but while writing it, I realized this would be a good place to end it. (Hopefully.) I really really really hope you guys like it. Hopefully now that this fic is finished, I can focus on my new Dreamer fic I've been working on for a while now (takes place mid season 3). I have not yet come up with a title for it yet on an account of I'm horrible with coming up with them, but hopefully I'll be starting to post chapter soon!
December 23rd
I'm Liz Parker and I'm happy to report things are back to normal. Well… as normal as things can get around here. With the holiday spirit in the air, it seems everyone around me is feeling this way. Kyle and Tess are still going strong; Maria and Michael seem, for the time being, back together; Isabel seems to be giving Alex a break, letting him in a little more, which is nice. I hope those two get together in the end. As for Max and I… let's just say after the night he showed up after hours in the CrashDown and kissed me, things have been nothing short of amazing.
I think I'm finally able to get past the night Future Max came to me. It's like.. The threat of the world ending is no longer hovering above me. There's no way Tess is going to leave Roswell, not when she and Kyle are together. I'm not even sure 'together' is a strong enough word. To be honest, I haven't seek Kyle this happy in a long time, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen Tess as happy as she's been. I'm happy for them.
Liz smiled as she scanned over what she had written in her journal. It was the first time in a while that she had written such a happy entry. It's been a while since things have been happy around here, she said to herself. Having nothing else to write down, Liz closed her journal, feeling content with what she had written. She smiled as the faint sound of Christmas music drifted from the living room. She suddenly found herself wondering what Max was up to. She had talked to him on the phone a few hours beforehand and he had warned her his sister was in full 'Christmas Nazi' mode and had taken Alex hostage, dragging him along with her Christmas shopping.
That reminded her. She still had to do last minute Christmas shopping. She had been bad this year, waiting 'till the last minute to do her shopping. She still had to shop for Kyle, Tess, Michael, Max. Max… she didn't even wanna think about shopping for Max. She still had no idea what to get him. The year before, she had given him a pocket knife with 'Max and Liz 4Ever' inscribed in it. But with all they had been through since then… it seemed like this years present should be bigger. Mean more. She sighed, feeling stressed just thinking about Christmas shopping. Thankfully she and Maria had a date to go Christmas shopping together later that day. Just then there was a knock at her bedroom door and her mother appeared.
"Liz honey, uh, your father wants your help down in the diner. Guess he's putting up some more decorations," Nancy Parker explained. Liz rolled her eyes and smiled.
"I'll be right down,' she told her mother. "Just as long as this doesn't take the entire rest of the day. Maria and I are going Christmas shopping later on."
"I can't promise anything. You know your father." Yes, she did, she though to herself as she headed out of her room.
"Ah, I heard you were roped into helping your dad out decoration the café," Maria teased, entering the CrashDown a little while later. "Hey Mr. P." She waved at Jeff.
"Okay Dad. I gotta go," Liz said, stepping down from the stepping stool.
Jeff smiled at the two girls as he put down the tiny plastic alien ornaments. "Where you girls headed?" he asked curiously.
"Braving the storefront in search of last minute gifts," Liz explained, tugging her coat on.
"Sounds like fun. Let me know how it goes," Jeff said.
"We will. Bye!" Maria said, linking her arm with Liz's and headed out the door.
"So….girlfriend, who we shopping for anyways?" Maria asked, walking beside Liz in the crowded store. They hadn't been there for more than a half an hour and already she was getting a headache.
"Well…" Liz began," I have to get something for Kyle and Tess and Max."
"Still haven't decided what to get Max?"
Liz shook her head. "I mean, what do you get a guy like him?"
Maria shrugged. "A gray sweater from the GAP?"
"I mean, last year I got him that pocket knife but with all we've been through since then… I mean, don't you think I should get him something more meaningful?" Liz rambled, ignoring Maria's joke.
"What about me? What the heck am I supposed to get Michael?" Maria asked as the two entered one of the clothes isles.
"Games for his play station," Liz said, looking at sox.
Maria thought about her suggestion for a moment. "You know, that could work."
"Maria! What am I going to get Max? I'm totally drawing a black here," she said as the two girls continued walking through the store.
"Maybe your having a hard time finding something for him because your hung up on this whole 'meaningful gift' idea," she suggested. Liz gave Maria a look.
"Look, I know you want to get him something that is meaningful, but what's wrong with just getting him something nice?"
"Like what?" Liz asked, thinking about what her friend was saying. Maybe this year, her present for him didn't have to be meaningful like she had in mind. All that was important was that they were back together, it was Christmas time and they had one another.
"How about a leather jacket?" Maria said as she held on up, showing it off to Liz. "C'mon, he'll look like a total babe in a leather jacket. It'll go with his tall dark and brooding thing he has going on." Liz couldn't help but laugh.
"He does not have a 'tall, dark and brooding thing' going on."
"Of coarse he doesn't," Maria said. "Ya know Liz, I think it'd be the perfect thing to get him. I'm sure he could use a warm jacket driving the jeep around in December." Liz gazed at the dark leather jacket, trying to picture how it'd look on Max. She had to admit, she wasn't hating the image that came to mind. Finally a grin crept across her face.
"Alright, fine. Put it in the cart," she said, smiling. Grinning, Maria put the jacket in the cart and moved back to the side of Liz as the two continued looking around.
"What should we get for Kyle and Tess?" Liz asked a few minutes later. "I'm getting Tess this cute little outfit I saw at the store outlet, and I'm just going to get Kyle a gift card."
"I'm going to get them a bag of chocolates and a box of rubbers," Maria said.
"Maria!" Liz said caught off guard. She hadn't expected Maria to come out and say that.
"Liz, c'mon, you honestly think those two are still on first base? I mean, Kyle wasn't a virgin when the two of you started dating and, don't get me wrong, I like the girl, but I sure as hell know Tess isn't one." Liz had to stop herself from laughing.
"Well… that answers that question…" Liz said, trying to change the subject. Liz was about to ask Maria what she wanted for Christmas when suddenly her gaze locked with an all too familiar pair of dark chocolate eyes. She stopped suddenly.
"What?" Maria said just as she spotted Max. She watched as he smiled and headed over towards the two girls.
"Crap! Quick, hide the jacket!" Liz said, trying quickly to hide his present. She grabbed her own coat she had taken off a few minutes earlier and put it over Max's jacket, sitting in the cart.
"Hey Max. Fancy seeing you here," Maria said. Liz walked out from behind the cart to give her boyfriend a hug. Ah, she had no idea how she had lived so long without the safety of his strong arms around her the past few months they had been apart. She looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back, placing a sweet kiss on the top of her head.
Maria smiled at the two of them, happy to see them back together. If Max hadn't made that first move a few weeks back, she was going to make an intervention; she was thinking along the lines of locking them in a room together, throw away the key and check on them in a few days.
"So any idea where my dysfunctional boyfriend may be this evening?" Maria asked.
Max smiled. "His apartment last I knew. I tried to get him to come with me, but.." he trailed off. Max's attention went from the girls to the commotion around them in the store. "Seems were no the only ones who still have some shopping to do two days before Christmas," he observed.
"I'm surprised we haven't bumped into Isabel," Liz said.
"Na, she's already gone shopping for the day. Poor Alex, she dragged him with her -not that he minded…" The three laughed.
After a few minutes of chatting, Maria looked down at her watch, realizing they still had more shopping to do before the store closed.
"Alright girlfriend, Liz and I will see you later," Maria said. "We still got some things to pick up before the store closes; as I'm sure you do too."
"Yeah," Max agreed. He bent down and gave Liz one last kiss before saying their goodbyes and going their separate ways. Liz sighed as she watched Max walk away, in the opposite direction as they were going. Maria smiled, rolling her eyes.
"What?" Liz said, catching the eye roll.
"Nothing," Maria chuckled. "Let's just finish shopping, shall we?"
The following evening, after putting in an afternoon shift in at the CrashDown, Liz decided to get busy wrapping presents. She couldn't wait to give Max his present, wondering what he'd think of it. She had doubts herself as to if he'd even like it. Maybe she should have put more thought into it, made it more meaningful.
"Too late now," she sighed to herself as she put the jacket into a box and began wrapping it. As she wrapped Max's present, her mind drifted to last Christmas and the steamy make out session they had had before exchanging their gifts Christmas eve. Her cheeks grew warm thinking of the many different times they had come close to 'cementing things' as Future Max had put it. Her thoughts stopped suddenly. She hadn't though of Future Max in a while. She wondered what he was doing right now in his time, wondered how he was doing. Then she remembered… they had altered that future; the man who came to her that night no longer existed, at least that version of him. The thought saddened her a little, but she reminded herself everything worked out for the best in the end.
Bringing her thoughts back to the present time, Liz looked over at the clock, realizing she had to get going if she was going to meet the gang on time. They had all decided to exchange gifts together Christmas eve, as a group. They had decided on all meeting at Michael's house to exchange gifts. She was putting the brightly wrapped presents in a bag when her father called to her from the living room.
"Lizzie! You have company!" She smiled and headed out into the living room where sure enough, Max was sitting on the couch, talking with her parents. As soon as she entered the living room, Max stood up, a bright warm smile on his face.
"You kids going somewhere?" Jeff asked curiously.
"Yeah, um, were all going to meet at Michaels to exchange gifts," Liz explained. She looked over at Max, unable to hold back a smile. "Come with me, I just gotta go get the bag of presents and we can get going." Max flashed her parents a quick smile before Liz took his hand and tugged him out of the room. As soon as her bedroom door was shut, she jumped into his arms and attacked his mouth with hers. Instinctively, his hand went o the back of her head, his fingers through her hair. Finally Max pulled back and gazed at Liz, who was sml;ing back at him.
"What was that for; not that I'm complaining."
Liz smiled. "Just cause." She then leaned in for another kiss.
"Liz, if we don't go now… were going to… be late," Max said in between kisses. That and if they continued, he couldn't promise either of them would make it out of her room.
"Fine," Liz said, pulling back from him and reaching past him for the bag of presents on her bed. She pretended to be mad at him as she walked past him, towards her door. He reached out softly to stop her as he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "We can continue this later." That brought a grin to both their faces. A grin they had to wipe off their faces before leaving her room. It was no wonder they made it to Michael's house on time….
By the time the two of them arrived at Michael's apartment, everyone else had just gotten there and were just hanging out in the living room, waiting for them to get there.
"Liz! Max! Your here!" Maria said, getting up from the couch and hugging them both. The group of friends all greeted one another before seating themselves in the living room, each having a bag beside them.
"Okay," Michael said, clapping his hands together, unable to wait any longer, "present time!" They all laughed as they began exchanging gifts around the room.
A half hour or so later, the living room floor was covered with several kinds of wrapping paper. Liz sat beside Max, leaning against him, smiling as everyone thanked one another for their gifts. Liz looked down at the beautiful yet simple necklace Max had given her. It was the best gift she had ever gotten and would never take it off.
"I saw that and it reminded me of something you'd wear, so I picked it up. I-I hope you like it," Max said. Liz looked up at him, feeling as if she was about to cry.
"Max it's beautiful," she said. "Thank you." He smiled as she leaned up and kissed him.
"Look at what Michael got for me!" Maria said happily, showing off her Scooby-Doo nightgown. Liz smiled, knowing how much Maria liked Scooby-Doo. Looks like Michael got it right, Liz said to herself, smiling at her best friend as she grabbed Michael and kissed him. Kyle and Tess sat near Michael and Maria, both seeming to enjoy their presents as well as everyone else. Liz looked back and fourth between Alex and Isabel, everyone once in a while catching the looks exchanged between the two of them. Yup, any day now Isabel'll cave, Liz thought to herself.
"Can I just say the irony of this?" Kyle said a few moments. Everyone looked at him. "I mean really if you think about it; I used to hate Max, Liz used to dislike Tess, we all knew each other but never really hung out. Now look at us," Kyle pointed out. Everyone seemed to pause, considering what Kyle said. It was all true. If someone had told Liz last year that they'd all be sitting in Michael's living room Christmas eve, all friends with one another and exchanging gifts, she would have thought they had gone mad. But here they were, all together. All friends.
She sat there, safe in Max's arms as she gazed at the people around the room that had started out separate and had ended up all friends. Liz looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back at her lovingly. For the first time in their lives, everything was perfect.
A little while later, they decided it was getting late and should probably head back home. While everyone got their things together, getting ready to leave, Maria explained she was going to stay for a little while longer. Liz said goodbye to her friends, and hugging then before she and Max left. She was glad Max had put the top of the jeep on the week before, for by the time they had left Michael's the temperature had dropped.
"What are you smiling about?" Max asked curiously from the drivers seat. Liz looked over at him, still wearing a smile.
"You," she said simply. With his free hand, Max reached over, taking her hand in his as he continued towards the CrashDown Café.
It was almost eleven by the time they arrived at the café. The two stood near the front door, still holding one another's hand.
"Did you see the look on Maria's face when she opened the present Michael got for her?" Liz asked, grinning.
"I never thought s simple gift like that could excite someone so much," Max admitted.
"Oh no. Maria has had this obsession for Scooby-Doo since kindergarten," Liz explained. "She had the Scooby lunch box, coloring books…you name it, she most likely had it." The two chuckled, then went silent after a few moments. Liz looked at Max, noticing his expression had changed. it was like he was nervous or something; she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She snuggled into his chest, her arms around his stomach.
"So did you like your present?" she asked.
"I loved it," he told her. Liz smiled, resting her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating, the sound alone was comforting.
"Liz?" Max said a few moments later.
"Yeah?" she said, looking up at him. Again she sensed his hesitancy. Or was it just her imagination?
"I, uh, the necklace…. That's not the only thing I got for you," he told her. She looked at him, unsure of what he was talking about. Why hadn't he given it to her at Michael's? "I didn't want to give it to you with everyone there, so.." he trailed off as he reached into his pocket and produced a small box. Liz studied the beautifully wrapped gift in her hand. She looked back up at Max.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Open it," he urged softly. Looking back down at the gift, Liz began to carefully unwrap the present, taking the little green bow of the top first. Her heart nearly stalled as she now looked down at a beautiful ring with three white stones in the middle. She quickly looked back up at him, unsure of what to say or do.
"I-I know we just got back together a few months ago, but…" he trailed off. "And I know we're only seventeen. The man at the shop said it'd be a perfect engagement ring, but it doesn't have to be..." Studying his expression as he spoke, she could tell he was more nervous than she had ever seen him before. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that more than anything, I want you to be my wife. But that doesn't have to be right now. Or, or even a year or two from now." His gaze dropped to the ring, which still sat in the box. "But I want you to know that I'm never leaving you. I love you Liz."
A single tear rolled down her cheek. Her heart felt like it was literally swelling with the love she had in her heart for him.
"So uh, this, for now, is just a promise ring." He took the ring out of the box and carefully slipped it on her ring finger as he continued. "I don't want you to think we have to do this tomorrow or anything…" He took another step closer to her, softly brushing the tear away as he looked into her eyes.
"Max…" she began in a shaky voice. "I love you." He leaned down and kissed her sweetly, his heart beating a mile a minute. The entire night he had watched her, and waited for this moment; when he'd give her the promise ring. As he has said, they had only gotten back together a few months before, but he had never been more certain of anything in his entire life as he had been the day he had picked that ring up.
"Liz Parker, will you do me the honor of one day being my wife?" he asked, whispering into he ear. She pulled back slowly.
Her voice still shaky, filled with emotion she answered. "Yes." She felt another tear come down the side of her face as he stood there, holding her in his arms. She could feel his ring on her finger as her own arms held him in return. She had always dreamed that one day she and Max would get married, even have children together some day. She hadn't known he had dreamed the same thing. She looked up at the stars, which were shining bright in the dark blue sky, and thanked the heavens for sending him to her. She couldn't picture her life without him; her life truly had begun that afternoon in the Crashdown when he patched a bullet hole two inches below her ribs.
She thought of Future Max once more. If only he could see how everything had turned out. How perfect things were. They had rewritten their destinies, all of them. Someday she'd tell him about Future Max's visit. But tonight wasn't the night. Liz couldn't see the future, but she knew whatever it had in store for them all, they'd be able to face it, and do great things.