1Part 3

New Year's Eve Day 7:09am

Liz woke up in her childhood bed to the smell of bacon and eggs. She pulled on her sweats and found her way down to the café where her father stood behind the counter waiting for the morning rush. "Morning."

Jeff Parker looked up at his daughter and smiled. The last few days had been tense but at least they hadn't gotten into a full-fledged battle. He got a cup off the shelf, filled it with coffee and placed it in front of her. "Good morning."

Liz smiled her gratitude as she took a sip of the hot liquid. "So it's kind of dead here."

"Yeah – well everyone sleeps late today since they plan on being up half the night."

Liz nodded. "Will you be having your annual New Years Eve party tonight for the seniors?"

"Of course." Jeff looked at his daughter hesitantly. "Would you like to help?"

"I would really like that."

Jeff grinned. "Great! It will be like old times."

Liz looked down into her coffee. "Dad . . . " She started.

Jeff looked over at her.

"I'm sorry dad. I know that you did what you thought was right. I know you were trying to protect me, to keep me safe, from others," Liz stared into her coffee cup, ashamed," from myself. I just didn't understand it before." Liz wiped a tear from her eye with her sleeve and looked up into her father's eyes. "Please forgive me."

Jeff walked around the counter to his daughter and picked her up into his arms, holding her tight as the years of hurt melted away. "Liz, I always thought you were a child that got mixed up with the wrong crowd, that you needed a firm hand. I thought Max Evans was a crush, nothing more. I didn't believe that someone who was only a teenager could love with the completeness that you loved." He let go of her so he could look into her eyes. "I was wrong."

Liz looked up into her father's eyes. "It was probably for the best."

"I don't think so, not anymore. Max was a good kid, a little misguided at times, but good just the same. I don't know why you and he felt you needed to do the things you did, but now, knowing the woman you are and the man I believe he became, there had to be a good reason."

Liz nodded a bit, confused by the complete understanding that her father now seemed to give. "It doesn't matter, you should have seen him dad. After he found me, at least at first, I thought there was a chance, but then he became so distant."

Jeff understood the young man must have felt when Liz left him. "I might be old honey, but I know how much a woman can hurt a man. I know how a man will guard his heart to keep that pain from recurring. It seems to me that the two of you were never completely honest with each other, maybe it's time, maybe it's worth the risk."

"Maybe." Liz answered still not completely convinced.

Jeff knew his daughter, knew she needed time to think, to process everything that was said, he just hoped that she wouldn't wait too long. He wrapped his arms once again around this woman, his little girl. "I love you Lizzy."

Liz reached up, wrapping her arms around her father. "I love you to daddy."

11:23am

Max reached for the phone for, what must have been, the hundredth time over the past few days, thinking that he should just call Liz. Lay it on the line. So what if he got his heart shattered once again. But that was the thought that always made him hang up. She had made it clear how she felt so why would he want to put himself through the misery of the rejection once again. He called Terry instead.

"Hello." Terry answered.

"So what are the plans for tonight? Big party?"

Terry laughed into the phone. "You know it! We're meeting at the club at 10 tonight. You gonna be there?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Max answered, trying to sound enthused.

Terry was about to hang up when he stopped himself. He had been riddled with guilt the last few days, knowing he should have told Liz more. "Max – I need to tell you something."

Max noticed the change in his voice and concern swept over him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just . . . you know the other day, when you didn't want to see Liz again, when I went to the shelter to pick her up and take her to her car?"

Max tried to sound nonchalant. "Uh – huh?"

"I should have told you this before . . ."

Terry took a deep breath. "She was disappointed that I wasn't you."

Max shrugged into the phone. "I'm sure your reading more into this then was there."

"Max, listen to me. She's in love with you."

Max felt his heart jump. "Did she tell you that?"

"She didn't have to – any moron can see it – it's written all over her face." Terry sighed knowing that he probably was just wasting his time. "I really believe that she would have told you she was if you would have gone back to see her."

Max knew that Terry thought he was helping but he just wanted to end the conversation. "I'm sure you just read her wrong."

"I don't think so. I really believe . . . "

"I'll see you at 10, Terry." Max cut in before he hung up the phone abruptly.

9:17pm

The party was in full swing as Liz danced with her father, laughing at the 'new moves' he had developed. It was wonderful to be at ease at home again. Yet Max still plagued her thoughts. She had left because she had been scared to tell him how she felt after he had pulled away.

She knew she had been the one to push him away but she had just wanted to tell him how she felt. Then she had chickened out, scared that he would confirm her fears. That she was too late. Once again – instead of following her heart, she had taken the easy way out.

Jeff noticed the look on his daughter's face. She did her best to hide her mood but her face told it all. She looked so sad, so unsure, he wanted to scoop her into his arms and make it all better like he had when she was a small child, but he knew – he couldn't. That was no longer his job.

As he was about to approach Liz one of the cooks came looking for him. "Mr. Parker, there's a problem in the kitchen."

He would have to talk to his daughter after the party, he thought as he followed the chef to the back.

She walked over to Jane Covendall. Hi Mrs. Covendall," she said, giving the older woman a hug.

"Liz! It's so nice to see you here, dancing with your father again. We've missed you these last few years."

"Well, I've been busy." Liz answered. "So how is that boyfriend of yours?"

"He's great. We have a date tonight, you know?" Jane told her while giving Liz a little wink.

Laughing, Liz shook her head. "That's just great."

Jeff stood on the stage. "Well folks it's almost time to bring in the New Year. Everyone gather around the cactus."

A few minutes later the countdown was in full swing. "10 – 9 – 8"

Liz watched Mr. and Mrs. Gasson. After sixty years of marriage, they were still looking at each other like they had just fallen in love.

"7 – 6."

She looked over at Jane Covendall who had found love again in her later years. She was so excited to get back so she could be with the man she loved.

"5 – 4."

Finally understanding the love the two of them shared, Liz watched as her mother made her way toward her father, making sure that they would be together when the countdown was over.

"3 – 2 – 1.

She knew what she had to do.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The chorus of voices rang out.

Seconds later Liz found herself in her father's embrace. "Happy New Year, daddy."

As Jeff pulled his baby girl into his arms, he knew the visit was over. "Happy New Year, Lizzy." He held her just a bit longer savoring the moment. He was so proud of her. They had their rough patches but he knew in his heart that she would be fine. "Go!" He ordered, "follow your heart."

Liz smiled through fresh tears and hugged her father once again. "I love you daddy – I'll call you when I get back to Cambridge."

"You better!" He said, shaking a finger at her. "Now get."

Jeff put his arm around his wife and watched with a touch of melancholy as his daughter ran off to the man she loved. Without any doubt in his mind he spoke. "He'll be good to her."

9:57pm

Max drove toward the nightclub knowing that he should be more excited about the coming New Year. But instead Liz kept going through his mind. Had Terry been right? Had he shut Liz down just as she was about to tell him that she had always loved him?

If Max had gone back and talked to her would they be at a New Year's party together tonight, celebrating a renewed love? His doubts came back as he remembered her pushing him away. Would she have just told him thank you but she had to get back to her life.

Max went back and forth as he headed for the club, until he pulled into the parking lot. That was when he decided. He whipped his car around, and after he almost hit a few excited party goers, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed towards Roswell.

11:48pm

Liz sped down the deserted highway, looking out at the breathtaking view. Although the roads were clear, the blanket of snow from Christmas Eve, for the most part, remained untouched. The moon hit it just right, so it glistened like some magical fairy dust. It was truly beautiful.

A car sped by hers going in the opposite direction. She looked back in her rearview mirror to see the car slam on its brakes and make a 180-degree turn. "Crazy ass driver." She whispered under her breath. The car started to gain on her causing her to shudder with fear for a moment before it got close enough for her to feel it. The first inkling of a connection she long thought was dead and buried. She put on her brakes and pulled over to the side of the road, watching behind her as the other car did the same.

She got out slowly, going over in her mind what she would say. She would not make the same mistake; she would not lose this chance. She turned to find him walking toward her. She started to run but lost her footing on the icy shoulder. Before she hit the pavement, she felt his arms wrap around her, saving her from an embarrassing fall. She held on to his arms as she regained her balance, then looked into his eyes.

Max caught his breath first. "Liz, I'm glad I found you. I was worried that . . ."

Liz put her hand up to his lips to silence him. She was going to follow her heart – and she was going to prove to herself, if not him, that she didn't need any coaxing to do it. "I love you Max Evans. I never stopped loving you. I was stupid and scared and thought I couldn't forgive you but then I realized it wasn't you who needed forgiveness, it was me. I needed forgiveness for the deceptions, for pushing you away, for letting you go. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." She looked up, mesmerized by his eyes as she whispered into the wind. "Please still love me."

His heart elated, Max smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her pulling him to his warmth. "Never again." He choked out and she magically understood. Never again would they allow misunderstanding or fear to stand in their way. Never again would they deny their heart or each other. Never again would they be without each other's love.

She reached around his neck, pulling him down to her as his hands moved up her back. She shivered at the sensation, a sensation she had been without for too long. Softly at first their kiss quickly deepened as the connection became apparent to both. They grasped for each other, deepening the kiss that erased the past and began to build a future. "I love you." He breathed into her hair.

She jumped in his arms as the first pop thundered in her ears. Realizing what it was, she giggled, as they looked up to see the light flickering in the night sky.

Max squeezed her tighter. "Happy New Year, Liz."

"Happy New Year, Max."

And it was a happy new year and the beginning of a happy new life.

The End