4:25am Saturday November 15th 5 hours 25 minutes after curfew.
Sam rolls to her side as her vision begins.
She's Macaria and it looks like they're in the middle of a bunker on the brink of war. Outside battle is being waged. Macaria is yelling at Rath as he paces the room putting together a small overnight bag.
"Macaria I have my duties to my wife."
Macaria nods.
"Right, right I know that but does it look like this is going to let up? Honestly Rath did you look outside, and see something I haven't and decide now would make an excellent time for a conjugal visit with your wife?"
Macaria cornered Rath as he was throwing some last minute things in his bag. He couldn't stand her attitude not now.
"LOOK!"
He dropped his bag and grabbed Macaria's shoulders pushing her roughly to the wall.
"I have to do this, I'm her husband this is my duty. She wants a child, this is her right."
Macaria nodded and turned her face away looking at the door.
"Then just go."
She kept her eyes away from Rath as he leaned in to kiss her neck. Macaria stood as a stone.
"Save it for your wife."
With that Rath let her go and grabbed his bag before he excited the bunker he stopped.
"We've declared a cease fire for the day, considering."
Macaria nodded and paid too close attention to the maps at her desk.
"Great, convenient."
Rath with one final look nodded and left the bunker defeated.
Macaria threw the maps to the ground and kicked the table over. Just as one of her patrol men announced that she had a visitor.
"Who is it?"
"I thought all things considering I'd ask you before allowing him within the walls, it's Kivar Ma'am."
Macaria nodded it was starting to make sense to her. Kivar allowing a cease fire Rath leaving for the night.
"Let him in."
A part of her didn't want him anywhere near her but she was still fuming about Rath.
Back in the abandoned building Liz awoke with a jolt of nausea careful not to wake anyone up she stood and made her way swiftly to the bathroom before she got sick. Zan who noticed immediately that she had awoken rushed to his feet to see that she was okay.
Zan stood by the sink holding a wet paper towel as Liz emerged embarrassed.
"I'm just not used to Chinese food."
Zan nodded and handed her the towel.
"Does Max know?'
Liz stopped halfway down her face and stared at Zan. She shook her head as she wiped her lips.
"No, not yet."
Zan nodded he touched Liz's hand slightly and got a flash he could see Liz with Future Max and then some things were coming into place.
"It's hard to tell someone your pregnant especially when it's not his."
Liz stared at Zan and shook her head.
"You don't understand, it's…"
"Complicated, I get it."
Liz nodded and half laughed to herself as she threw the paper towel away.
Meanwhile Sam shook herself awake before her vision went any farther. Breathing heavily she immediately looked to Liz who was no longer next to Max. The light moving in the bathroom answered her question as she sneaked passed her sleeping friends and to the bathroom.
Zan was just staring at Liz and Sam broke some sort of silent conversation as Zan excused himself while Sam washed her face that was too red and hot from her dream.
"He knows."
Sam stopped splashing water took a paper towel that Liz handed her.
"How?"
Liz shrugged, as Sam nodded.
"Well you're going to have to tell Max."
Liz nodded, "I know, but how?"
Sam looked to Liz's blouse and pulled out the amber stone.
After you tell him, give him this. He'll understand.
Liz laughed and nodded unbelievingly.
"You sure about that?'
Sam smiled and nodded to herself.
"Yeah well everything happens for a reason crazy fate."
Liz nodded holding her stomach lightly.
"I don't think fate had time travel in mind."
Sam's smile faded quickly, something that had been plaguing her mind since she found out Liz was pregnant and Future Max had given her the pendant finally all came flooding to her. Liz seeing the sudden change in Sam's demeanor shook her head confused.
"What's wrong?"
Sam nodded realizing she may be on to something.
"Just a theory on time travel."
Liz half nodded urging her cousin to go on.
"You remember that Simpson's episode where Homer traveled to the past and was told not to touch anything otherwise it would alter time."
Liz nodded remembering how many Simpson episodes she had spent watching with Max.
"Right so if we completely changed the course of history then Future Max would have, could have never come here to change the course. Theoretically all that should be left is our memories."
Liz shook her head, "But I have this pendent and…"
Sam nodded, ".. and the baby."
"Future Max told us that he couldn't be seen by anyone else especially his younger self. So he used us to change the path, but what if there was something he wanted Max to know now that would also alter his future."
Liz held up the pendent.
"You mean like something's hidden in here that is meant to be given to Max?"
Sam nodded, "I think our job isn't done here that's why you're still pregnant."
"Or that's why I was pregnant to begin with."
Sam shrugged and apologetically smiled.
"It makes sense."
Liz held her stomach and then looked at Sam saddened for a moment.
"So this was all a plan to get Max the information he needed."
Sam grabbed Liz's hand.
"More like insurance. I'm sorry."
Liz shrugged, "Well at least we know that we can have children of our own, now's just not his time."
Sam hugged Liz and they walked out of the bathroom into the silent room. Rath awoken by Sam's voice turned over to watch her walk Liz smiled and walked over to talk to Zan.
"I'm going to talk with him for a bit and then try to sleep."
Sam nodded as Liz walked over to a chair near Zan, she heard Rath clear his throat lightly and when she turned he was sitting up straight with no ropes on. Sam rushed over as Rath put his hands up in surrender.
In a tight whisper Sam knelt down beside him.
"What are you doing?"
Rath shrugged and smiled slyly.
"Jus wanted to show ya I could be trusted, plus I've had to take a leak for the past twenty minutes that you gals been gabbing in there."
Sam smiled and stood up.
"So go."
Rath stood up.
"I thought I'd wait for you, that's how you build trust right?"
Sam nodded and led the way to the bathroom. She stayed outside making faces in the mirror as Rath went to the bathroom. When he finally emerged Sam was wide-awake and leaned on the wall to let him wash his hands. When he was ready to leave Rath pinned Sam against the wall with one hand and leaned in towards her.
"So having dreams lately?"
Sam smiled coolly and tried to stay calm.
"Sure why do you care?"
Rath laughed and rolled the wet paper towel in a ball and threw it out as Sam moved toward the door.
"I just wanted to compare memories that's all."
Sam shrugged, "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
Rath stopped Sam from turning her back on him and tilted her chin up and looked her in the eyes. For a moment she couldn't breathe, vivid flashes of Rath and Macaria together passed through her mind she closed her eyes and shook her head.
Rath just nodded and laughed.
"You rememba me."
Sam spun on her heel.
"Rath, we are not who we were and I'm with Michael."
Rath nodded.
"Yeah, your with the guy who has the royal seal. But ya neva know right?"
Sam shook her head as Rath laid back down watching Sam make her way to Michael and lay down near him.
Earlier Liz sat down next to Zan and smiled shyly.
"Hey"
Zan nodded his head.
"Look I just wanted to say I'm sorry about Lonnie."
Zan shrugged and on his arm removed his tattoos one by one with his powers.
"You know, she was still your sister and I'm sure the betrayal aside it wasn't easy seeing her get taken away like that."
Zan stifled a laugh as he began tattooing something new on his arm she couldn't understand what the symbols meant that were on his arm but she watched intently. Soon he was done and she just stared in awe.
"What is that?"
Zan looked up his eyes were glassy he'd been getting memory flashes all his life but this was different this was more like being at peace.
"It's from somethin I wrote to someone a long time ago."
Liz nodded and smiled, "Oh."
Zan smiled with her and pointed to the symbols that were his language in another lifetime.
"This means, 'You are the sun, you are the music, you are the dance.' kinda cornball but it means something to me."
Liz wiped a small tear from her eye she wasn't sure why it came but she didn't care either.
"And those other symbols?"
Zan shook his head and lowered his voice.
"Those are in the past."
Liz nodded and breathed in heavily. Zan followed her gaze she was staring at Max who was sleeping softly.
"So are ya gonna tell him or what?"
Liz nodded slowly.
"If he's you're sun then he'll understand."
Liz's eyes widened as she smiled and looked at Zan. Her heart fluttered she took another look at Max and wondered for a moment why Zan's words struck as hard as Max's did.
"Well you two both have a gift for the English language."
Zan nodded and leaned back.
"Yeah well I'm gonna hit the hay catch some more dark hours before the sun comes up and we have to be outa here."
Liz nodded and went to lay down next to Max.
6:37am
Max awoke first it was as if he could hear the sun hitting the building he rolled over and peaked at Liz who was smiling in her sleep. He stared at her for a few moments until Liz awoke slowly still smiling and opened her eyes to Max.
"Hi."
Max smiled and leaned in to kiss Liz on the forehead.
"Hi back."
Liz sat up and looked around people were starting to move around a bit and wake up. She smiled and looked to the door.
"Wanna go for a walk and talk for a bit?"
Max nodded and stood up giving his hand for Liz to use and prop herself up as well.
As they got outside the morning was wet and it looked like it was going to rain any minute.
"Looks like rain."
Liz nodded and walked forward bringing Max closer to a fence that separated the two buildings. She leaned on the fence and turned around.
"Max I've been trying to get up enough courage to tell you something pretty big for a while now."
Max sensing the seriousness in Liz's voice stopped walking and moved the dirt around with his shoes.
"Okay."
Liz nodded.
"And there's no easy way to just say this so I'm just going to say it."
"Liz I… understand go-ahead."
Liz smiled nervously and tucked some loose strands of her hair behind her ears and swallowed nodding.
"Okay, well.. Max.." She paused and looked into Max's eyes tilting her head she let it out. "I'm pregnant."
She held her breath as Max's eyes stayed open and just stared at her in disbelief. She nodded and took the amber pendent off.
"I know none of this makes any sense but I am and."
"Who??"
Liz stopped and looked into Max's eyes she shook her head and tried to hand him the pendent.
"You need to take this Max."
Max shook his head and began making his way back toward the warehouse as the sky opened up and rain began to soak them both head to foot.
Crying Liz followed Max outside. Inside Maria and Sam noticed Liz and Max were missing they opened the doors and followed by Isabel and Michael witnessed Max in a furry heading towards them with Liz on his heels crying.
"Oh no Liz!"
Sam looked to Maria and shook her head, Maria stayed put as Max turned around and listened to Liz again.
"You won't tell me who he is? Don't you think you owe me that much Liz?"
A sharp pain hit Liz's side Max wanting to come to her side stopped himself the rain was covering his eyes mixing with his tears. Maria and Sam rushed to Liz's side as she dropped the pendent on the ground.
Liz in a hushed whisper spoke to Max but really to herself.
"You are my Sun, my Music, my dance."
Maria picked Liz up and Sam grabbed the pendent and Liz's other arm helping her back inside the warehouse.
Michael watched them past him and Max by. Isabel went in to follow them as Michael putting his hand on Max's shoulder awoke him from his thoughts. Max just turned around and followed them into the warehouse.
"So what did you think?!"
Liz sobbing turned to Max her friends trying to support her couldn't match her dragging sobs Liz fell to the floor on her knees and cried. She couldn't control herself.
"I didn't think Max, I felt."
The chair on the far wall slid all the way past Liz and crashed into the other wall violently. Everyone looked on in amazement as Liz's hands glowed a light green.
Max now sobbing through his angry went to help Liz.
Sam rushed to Liz aid dropping the pendent in front of her.
"No Max don't touch her it'll be painful."
Confused Max nodded and fell to his knees he watched all the girls helped carry Liz into the bathroom as Max staid there frozen looking down at the pendent.
Zan walked over to Max and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Take the pendent Max touch it and see for yourself who he was."
Max confused picked up the leather cord that the pendent dangled from. He leaned against the wall as all the guys stayed near him watching as he grasped the pendent in his hands a flooding of images came rushing to him.
First he saw that night it was him with Liz making love to her. He couldn't believe it. Then he saw himself leaving his memories in the pendent. Before Max could open his eyes another rush of images came to him this time strong and they knocked him to the ground and came at him fast. It was his own voice telling him things he didn't quite understand. When the flashes were over, he opened his eyes to Michael standing over him. All the guys were sitting there hoping Max would regain consciousness.
"So what did you see man?"
Michael asked quietly.
Max shook off the question and got to his feet.
"Liz!"
Michael held Max back as Sam came out of the bathroom looking disheveled. She walked up to Max and shook her head.
"Liz's going to be fine she just got her period."
Max looking confused opened his hand to reveal the pendent had disappeared and
just the leather rope remained.
Sam looked at Max's hand and nodded.
"I thought that may happen."
Max cleared his throat.
"And uh the baby?"
Sam shrugged.
"He was meant to make sure you got whatever information that pendent held."
Max swallowed hard.
"He?"
Sam nodded, "He was a boy Max."
Max nodded with her and wiped his eyes.
"Oh wow, how is she?"
"Shaken up, she went from being pregnant to having her period."
Sam looked around at all the guys obviously she wasn't going to find any understanding here.
"Look I'd just give her time, we're leaving this afternoon anyways she needs to be home."
Max nodded and looked up at everyone. His heart was saddened by everything he had just learned and also for the way he had treated Liz. A part of him should have figured Liz couldn't ever be with another guy other than him. He just snapped.
It's Saturday November 15th 10:50pm. To say the day went well, well I'd be a huge liar. Then again it could have gone much worse. Things tend to come out at high-pressure times. Like Liz telling Max finally that she was pregnant, then not being pregnant anymore because she had completed what Future Max had wanted her to do. Before we went home we left Zan, Ava and Rath our numbers. Just in case we ever needed each other we'd be there. Rath and Zan had some things to work out but I'm sure they'll figure it out in the end. Meanwhile Zan can always give Rath's powers back slowly.
All of us girls sat together on the plane ride back. We huddled with Liz and talked about things while the boys tried to get Max to turn off his Counting crows and get some sleep. He just kept looking back at Liz, whom Maria and I continued to preach about destiny and fate. I don't know what it must feel like to be pregnant one minute and then poof baby's gone. I just keep telling myself what I told Liz, 'He'll be back when it's his time.'
I think Max's pendent gave him more information then just what happened between him and Liz. His eyes, which always look heavy with burden, grew darker with this new knowledge. I know Liz will forgive him for acting so crazy and he'll forgive her for keeping the secret for so long. That relationship will last it has to. In the mean time we'll all keep living and fighting. Ironically I'm back at work for the breakfast shift tomorrow. So ya see things of course are different and complicated as hell now, but still normality has its way of encompassing you and bringing you back to reality.
