Chapter 4: To have and to hold
"More pie?" Liz asked, Liz, Maria and Isabel were in the Crashdown and it was after closing time, it was obvious that Isabel had spend the entire day there.
"No. Liz, thank you. I'm sorry for being such a bitch today." Isabel admitted and Liz smiled.
"No, just don't even worry about it. I don't even know what I would be like 3 days before my wedding. Beside, you were totally the same in your past life." Liz teased with a wink, causing Isabel to chuckle.
"How 'bout me? Imagine the stress involved getting married to Michael?" Maria demanded and Liz laughed at the thought before turning to Isabel,
"Well, I mean, are you? Are you nervous at all? Not about the wedding, but about, you know, getting married. It's for the rest of your life." Liz asked and Isabel shrugged.
"Honestly, no." Isabel stated.
"You're that sure." Maria asked and Isabel smiled.
"I guess I am." Isabel stated and Maria smirked.
"Hmm. I really respect that." Maria stated, causing Isabel to chuckle.
"Thanks." Isabel stated before closing her eyes for a while as the girls cleared up.
Isabel sees herself standing near giant windows with curtains billowing in the wind. A man walks up to her; they talk for a little while before kissing, causing Isabel to wake up with a gasp.
"Are you ok?" Liz asked with concerned and Isabel nodded,
"Yeah, I'M...Fine. I'm fine." Isabel blurted out, not wanting to tell Liz what happened, Liz nodded before turning back to do her work, leaving Isabel confused and worried, Khivar had entered her mind.
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Phillip and Diane were walking down the street when they saw Isabel.
"Isabel." Diane greeted.
"Hi." Isabel replied, shortly.
"Howahem. How are you?" Phillip asked.
"Fine." Isabel replied in the same tone and Diane sighed.
"Honey, wait. I know that you're hurt and you're angry, and we understand, but…" she trailed off and Phillip took over.
"But you need to understand the reason we're not coming isn't because we don't love you." Phillip explained.
"Of course not..." Diane backed him up. "But we can't support this. It's…" Diane started but Isabel had turned her back on her parents and spoke into the phone once more.
Isabel turns her back on her parents and walks off.
"You listen to me. This is my wedding and no one will screw it up! No one!" Isabel stated, raising her voice so that her parents could hear her too.
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Isabel walked over to the park where she saw Max sitting at the table with his foot resting on Zan's buggy, rocking it back and forth while reading his biology book. She walked over to him and sat down next to her, Max looked up at his sister.
"Hey." Max greeted.
"Hey." Isabel greeted back and Max looked at her in concern.
"How are you?"
"Under a lot of pressure. 2 days and counting, you know." Isabel stated with forced cheerfulness.
"Yeah." Max stated, not believing her.
"Just say it, Max. You don't want me to marry Jesse. It's ok. Believe me, people aren't exactly jumping for joy when they hear the news." Isabel replied bitterly and Max sighed.
"Everyone's just a little concerned. It's not that we don't like Jesse." Max explained.
"It's that you don't know Jesse, it's how sudden this is, it's that you don't want me to make a mistake I will regret for the rest of my life. I know. I have heard it all." Isabel replied, sadly.
"Don't you think there's a reason that everyone keeps telling you the same thing? Like maybe we're right." Max asked.
"Or maybe you could trust me. I would like to believe that my family would a find a way to be there for me." Isabel demanded.
"You know we will." Max replied as he leaned over and picked up Zan, who started to cry.
"No, I don't. Mom and dad aren't coming to my wedding. My parents aren't coming to my wedding. I can say it, but I can't quite make myself believe it." Isabel replied.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Max stated as he pulled out a bottle from his bag and heated it up before testing it on his skin and feeding it to Zan.
"It doesn't matter, ok. All that matters is that I know that Jesse is the one." Isabel stated and Max nodded then Isabel turned to Max.
"Erm, Jesse wanted me to ask you, he wanted to ask you but ever since he can't find you, he wanted me to ask you if you would be his Best Man?" Isabel asked and Max looked at her, stunned.
"...Best man?" Max stuttered and Isabel nodded with a huge smile.
"Yeah, well, what do you say, Max?" Isabel asked and Max smiled.
"Ok. Yeah, yeah, I'dI'd be honoured." Max replied and Isabel beamed.
"That's great, you can walk with Liz ever since she's my bridesmaid and Maria can walk with Jesse's brother." Isabel started rifling off her list, leaving Max rolling his eyes, wondering what he had gotten himself into.
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Max and Liz walked through the Evan's house. Liz was holding Zan close to her chest as he sucked on his thumb, looking about the house.
"Brings back a lot of memories doesn't it?" Max asked as he clutched his shoes in one hand and Liz's hand in another.
"Yeah it does. Just wish things weren't so strained with your parents and us." Liz stated and Max tightened his grip on his hand.
"I know sweetie but they couldn't accept that we love each other and we were having a child." Max whispered and Liz sighed sadly as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Phillip and Diane entered the kitchen with the shopping bags and stopped when they saw Max and Liz standing there, with Liz holding Zan.
"Max, Liz!" Diane gasped when she saw them.
"Hi mom, dad." Max greeted, Liz just stayed quiet. "I just needed to get my shoes for the wedding." Max explained, holding up his shoes.
"Really? I thought you didn't approve." Diane stated as she put down the shopping bags.
"It's kinda complicated, Max's the best man and I'm the bridesmaid." Liz explained and Diane nodded.
"So...How is your sister? I mean; she must be getting nervous." Diane stated and Phillip snickered.
"Knowing Isabel, I'm sure she's got everything completely wired right down to the number of petals on the roses." Phillip stated, confidently and Liz shook her head.
"Well, actually, she's been having kind of a tough time." Max stated.
"Oh?" Diane asked and they nodded.
"The dressmakers have lost her dress." Liz explained and they looked at her stunned.
"We have to go now, Liz and I will be late for the rehearsal if we don't get moving." Max explained as they started to head for the door.
"I guess you are not coming to the wedding." Liz asked and Diane shook her head.
"She is making the biggest mistake of her life, I can't just stand by and paste on a fake smile and pretend to be happy for her." Diane protested and Liz closed her eyes as she nodded, she opened them once more and looked at the adults.
"Listen, I know that us four have problems and I really hope that we will be able to work them out, we just don't know how to deal with the problems yet. But if you miss your daughter's wedding, you will never work that out." Liz stated as she looked at them with pleading eyes. "Isabel's lucky, she has you two to be there and watch her get married to the man she loves, I'm going to get married to Max one day but my parents won't be there. Just don't burn a bridge that you won't be able to mend it." Liz whispered as Max kissed her forehead and gently led her out of the Evan's house toward the Jeep, leaving Diane and Phillip to think about what they are doing.
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Liz was laughing at something Maria said to her as she passed Jim, Isabel came rushing into the Crashdown and hurried over to Jim.
"I need to talk to you. Um, I want you to do something for me at the wedding, during the ceremony actually." Isabel stated and Jim looked at her with a wary look on his face.
"It's not an usher, is it? I look so bad in those monkey suits. I mean, I'm touched and all but…" Jim stated and Isabel shook her head.
"No, II want you to give me away." Isabel stated and Jim looked at her, stunned.
"You mean..." Jim asked and Isabel nodded.
"Walk me down the aisle. My, um, my parents aren't going, and since I sort of think of you as a father figure I thought... What do you say?" Isabel asked and Jim smiled.
"Yes. Yes, it would be an honour." Jim stated and Isabel squealed as she hugged him.
"Thank you."
Kyle was sitting at the booth when Karter, the director came over and sat down across from Kyle.
"Have a seat." Kyle remarked, sarcastically.
"I get it." Karter stated and Kyle looked at him, confused.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Kyle admitted.
"I get it, ok? The whole stuck in Mayberry until we're nice to Gomer routine. Sorry I hurt your poor little feelings. Now how much will it take to get you to fix the bus so the band can get back on the road and make the air dates I keep booking…" Karter stated, getting annoyed.
"Wait a minute, you manage a band?" Liz asked as she walked past the booth.
"No, Alice, I'm the program director of 7, count them, 7 radio stations spread across the south-western United States." Karter stated, sarcastically.
"What band?" Liz asked, not listening to him.
"Ivy." Krater sighed and Liz raised an eyebrow.
"Ivy? Here?" Liz asked and Karter sighed.
"Unfortunately." He muttered and Liz sat down.
"Let's talk." Liz stated, causing Karter to perk up.
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Maria and Liz are helping Isabel get ready, Liz had gotten Zan to settle down on the bed and told him not to move or do any powers.
"I know it's not exactly what you wanted, but..." Maria started and Liz shrugged.
"We searched every store in Roswell, really." Liz explained.
"No, it's fine, and thank you. Thank you both so much for everything you've already done, and it'll be really... Really fine." Isabel stated, trying not to cry. The door opened and everyone turned to face it, Diane stepped through.
"It's lovely. I mean, really, it is, but I just thought that maybe as an option. This was my wedding dress, girls, and my mother wore it before I did, and I'd be honoured…" Diane started but was cut off when Isabel hugged her, Maria and Liz smiled at each other as Liz turned around to pick up Zan.
"I love you, mom." Isabel whispered.
"I mean, I don't know if we could possibly get it altered in time." Diane admitted and Isabel shook her head.
"Oh, no, I will find a way." Isabel promised and Diane smiled in relief.
"Good." Diane stated before leaving the room.
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Jim is holding Isabel's arm getting ready to walk her down the aisle, Isabel straightened her dress and smiled up at Jim.
"This is it. Are you ready?" Isabel asked, Jim looked up and smiled.
"I don't think so." Jim stated as Isabel looked up, saw Phillip making his way over to Isabel, and held out his arm.
"May I?" Phillip asked, Isabel smiled as tears filmed her eyes and placed her arm through the arm held out.
Liz walked down the aisle, holding the white roses and Zan. She wore a floor length red dress and red heels; her hair was curled and pinned up on top of her head. Max smiled as he watched her make her way down the aisle and Zan gurgled, waving his hand at his father, causing people to aw and coo at how sweet Zan was. Max let out a small laugh as he curled and uncurled his fingers in a 'hi' greeting to his son, causing Liz to laugh slightly and kiss the top of her son's head.
Maria followed Liz holding a bunch of red roses and a black floor length dress; her blonde hair was curled around her face, she smiled as she stood next to Liz and handed her finger to Zan to play with.
Tess followed Maria with a bunch of purple roses and a light blue floor length dress, her hair was curled up and pinned on her head, she stopped next to Maria and all three girls smiled at each other as the 'here come the bride' music started up and everyone stood up, facing the doors.
Isabel stepped through; she smiled at her father before they made their way down the aisle, Jesse smiled when he caught Isabel's eyes and they both smiled brightly as she made her way down toward him. She reached him and the Minster started the vows.
"I, Isabel Sarah, take thee, Jesse Esteban, to be my wedded husband."
"I, Jesse Esteban, take thee, Isabel Sarah, to be my wedded wife."
"In sickness and in health..." Isabel vowed.
"In plenty and in want..." Jesse vowed. Max and Liz smiled at each other as Zan played with her necklace.
"Through joy and through sorrow..." Isabel vowed.
"So long as we both shall live." Jesse vowed.
"By the authority committed unto me, as a minister of the church of Jesus Christ, I now proclaim that Jesse and Isabel are husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The Minster stated; Isabel and Jesse smiled before leaning in and taking their first kiss as wife and husband.
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Everyone was in the reception; Max laughed as he held Liz's hand and made their way through the crowd. He walked up to someone and tapped him or her on the shoulder, he or she turned around and Liz let out a squeal.
"Grandma!" Liz squealed.
"Hi Honey bear." Claudia stated as she hugged her granddaughter.
"What are you doing here?" Liz asked.
"This is to make up for not being here over the summer, I'm sorry but my dig took longer than expected. So, let's me see my Great Grandson!" Claudia stated and Liz laughed as she turned Zan around and handed him over to Claudia. "Oh, he's so adorable, he looks like Max." Claudia stated, both, Max and Liz smiled with delight when there was a tapping sound. Everyone quietened down and turned.
"If the best man would like to make a speech?" the man asked and Max nodded as he walked over.
"Hi. I'm Max Evans. The best man. Ahem. Isabel and I, uh... Well, I'm sure you all know the story, how they found us... Little kids wandering in the desert. No one knew where we came from or where we belonged. We didn't know anything either, who our parents were, how we got there. All we had was each other. Two people took us in, gave us names, made us part of their family, something I'll alwayswe'll always be grateful for. Growing up, I was always... I always felt very protective of my big sister, always tried to look out for her. I guess... What I've come to realize is that she doesn't need me anymore to protect her. She's too strong for that. So, uh... To Jesse... Welcome to the family. I think you'll find it's going to be an interesting experience." Max stated with a smirk and everyone laughed as Isabel rolled her eyes at the double meaning. "And to Isabel... I love you. I trust you. And I wish you all the happiness in the world. We all do. To Jesse and Isabel." Max stated as he lifted his glass and everyone cheered.
"Isabel and Jesse."
Liz stood at the microphone and smiled nervously as she tucked back a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Hi, I was asked by Jesse to sing this song for Isabel." Liz stated with a smile at Isabel, Isabel gasped as she looked at Jesse. "So, if the bride and groom would like to take the dance floor for their first dance?" Liz asked. Isabel and Jesse got up and made their way to the floor as the band behind Liz struck up the tune.
Max, gently, bounced Zan while pointing at Liz.
"There's mommy." Max whispered, watching his son clap his hand with delight once more at seeing his mother.
Oh, Why You Look So Sad/Tears are in your eyesCome on and come to me now/Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through/'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you/You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess/Could make me love you less Liz sang, she smiled at Max before looking back at the couple on the dance floor once more. Maria and Michael had gotten up to dance while Diane and Phillip stepped in between Jesse and Isabel, dancing with the couple.
I'll stand by you/I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you/I'll stand by you
So, if you're mad, get mad/Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now/Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too/Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads/And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along/'cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you/I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you/I'll stand by you
Take me in; into your darkest hour/And, I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you/And when...
When the night falls on you, baby/You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own/I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you/Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you/Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you/I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you/Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you/Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you. Liz finished and everyone cheered and applauded. Liz let out a laugh as she nod her head once more walking off the stage and clapping the director on his shoulder. "It's time." Liz stated and he nodded.
Liz walked off as the director twirled his hand toward the bang.
"Hit it!" he called out. The tune to the song started up once more.
There's a place I dream about/Where the sun never goes out
And the sky is deep and blue/Won't you take me there with you
Ohhh, we can begin again/Shed our skin, let the sun shine in
At the edge of the ocean/We can start over again Everyone started dancing once more, Max and Liz laughed as Zan clapped his hand in delight as the music started up while Isabel and Jesse danced, Max kissed Liz's forehead.
"I love you." He whispered and she smiled up at him.
"I love you too." She whispered back, Zan turned to face his parents and gurgled. "And I loved you too." Liz teased as she kissed Zan on the forehead.
Liz handed Zan over to Grandma Claudia then stood up, she took Max's hand and pulled him to the dance floor, both of them smiling, love shining in their eyes.
"Max and Liz really love each other don't they?" Diane asked Michael and Michael smiled.
"They are soul mates." Michael stated before turning to Maria and laughing at something, she said, leaving Diane to her thoughts.
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah Diane walked over to the table and sat down, Claudia got up and moved over next to Diane.
"I know you are scared of losing Max, but you are pushing him away by hurting Liz." Claudia stated as she let Zan play with her finger.
Diane looked over at Claudia and looked at Zan.
"I can't help it, he's too young to be a father." Diane explained.
"He's eighteen years old and from what I seen of him last year, he had grown up." Claudia explained and sighed. "I'm not going to lecture you, he is your son but you will lose him by hurting Liz and Zan, they are his world." Claudia stated thoughtfully, smiling down at Zan. Diane looked at Zan once more and was struck by how much he looked like Max with a hint of Liz in him.
There's a world I've always known/Somewhere far away from home
When I close my eyes I see/All the space and mystery
Ohhh, we can begin again/Shed our skin, let the sun shine in
At the edge of the ocean/We can start over again
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah
Ohhh, we can begin again/Shed our skin, let the sun shine in
At the edge of the ocean/We can start over again
At the edge of the ocean/We can start over again
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah
Shaa lah lah lah lah lah lah
Sha lah lah/Sha lah lah The song ended, Max and Liz walked over to Diane and Claudia.
"Hey Grandma, Mrs. Evans." Liz stated before looking at her son. "Hi sweetie." Liz smiled as Zan held out his arms, wanting to be held by her. Liz took him into her arms and kissed his forehead.
Max smiled down at his son, running his hand up and down his back.
"Are you having fun buddy?" Max asked; Zan watched with wide eyes when he saw the large cake going by the group causing Max and Liz to laugh.
Isabel was dancing with Michael when a man comes up and cut in, Isabel started dancing with him when she pulled away so she could look at him in the face, only to freeze. It was Khivar.
"Stay calm and keep smiling, Isabel." He stated and Isabel shook her head.
"You're not here. You're not really here." Isabel muttered.
"Oh, I am here. I've come for you." Khivar stated.
"No. I'm dreaming or sleeping or something." Isabel muttered.
"May I?" Khivar asked the waiter and took the glass. "To your happy day. And, uh... Many more happy days still to come. I'll see you soon." Khivar stated before walking off and Kyle walked up.
"Can I, uh, dance with the bride?" Kyle asked.
"Kyle, did you see that guy who was here?" Isabel demanded and Kyle nodded.
"The guy you were talking to and dancing with?" Kyle asked.
"You saw him? You really saw him?" Isabel demanded and Kyle nodded once more, confused.
"Sure. Why? Who was he?" Kyle asked.
"Someone who can't be here." Isabel whispered as she searched the crowd once more.
Okay, honeymoon next chapter, thanks for the reviews on last chapter and I hope you'll leave some for this chapter, later.