Disclaimer: i do not own any of the character although the plot is mine.

Summary: Future Max turned to himself to help instead of Liz to tell the future. Max had broken up with Liz and spending more time with Tess so Liz would hate him. Max had told Tess that he couldn't be with Liz because if he did it'll be the end of the world but that's all. Tess is trying to work out how he knows this and why it'll be the end of the world. Michael lives by himself in an apartment since Hank is dead. Alex is also still alive.

Author's Note: this is the final chapter:'( if you have read up to here plz review, this is my first fan fic i finished and i want 2 c how i went. and for those that read up to the end, yes i kno it's a dorky way to end them all the same way! i cudn't cum up with something better. and yes, michael and maria are my fav couple!

Feedback To Reviews: thanx 2 TotallyRoswell02 for reviewing! Okay, jst 4 u i may make a sequel. but i'm not sure if i should put the return of tess? wudn't i ruin the story for everyone else?

if i do make a sequel it'll be called 'The Perfect Life, Interrupted'

if anyone reviews do u think in my sequel i should make tess alive again?

Chapter Thirteen

"It is impossible to move this thing!" Isabel growled as she tried lifting the Granilith.

"Couldn't you guys, uh, use your bewitch magic?" Alex nervously asked.

"It's not magic!" Michael snapped. "And we can't just levitate this thing!"

"Maybe we should keep watch instead?" Liz suggested. "Michael, maybe you could blast them when they come?"

Michael nodded.

"It's the only thing we can do," he said regrettably.

"Shh!" Maria said widening her eyes. She mouthed, "Someone's coming."

There was silence except for the heavy footsteps that were approaching.

Michael clenched his teeth and flexed his fingers. He was ready.

And then Max appeared.

"Hold!" Liz said grabbing Michael's arm. "It's Max! Oh, Max!"

Liz ran up to Max and held onto him sighing with relief.

"What if it's Zan impersonating?" Michael asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's me," Max said. "Zan wouldn't have a clue where the Granilith was."

"What if Tess and the rest are outside?" Michael continued pressing. He'd rather be safe than sorry.

"Tess is dead," Max said swallowing. "I killed her."

"No way," Michael said. He didn't know if it was Max or Zan but he was going to listen.

"I knocked Tess out and Rath and Lonnie was about to attack. But then Zan came with Ava, Tess's dupe. And that's when I realised I had to kill Tess. She was unconscious but when she was coherent again she would tell. I knew that without her then they wouldn't know where the Granilith was. And plus, I would never tell them. So I killed her…" Max trailed off squeezing his eyes. "And then Zan asked Ava if she could erase Rath and Lonnie's memories and she did."

"Oh, Max," Liz said softly running a hand down his cheek.

"Rath and Lonnie are going to tell the summit that Ava and Zan are dead as well as they don't know where the Granilith is. It's…over," Max said pulling Liz close.

Michael decided that had to be Max. Zan wouldn't know where the Granilith was and the others would come in rather than wait outside.

Michael looked around him. Max and Liz were holding each other tightly, gazing soulfully into each other's eyes. Alex was grinning down at Isabel saying, "I'm so proud of you!"

Michael glanced at Maria. His arms felt empty without her. And he couldn't remember the last time he told her he loved her. Was it that day he killed Pierce?

Just as he was about to reach for Maria, she spoke up.

"So we can go home now?" Maria asked.

There were silence then uneasy laughs.

"Yep!" Liz said cheerfully.

"My poor Jetta," Maria said shaking her head as they made their way outside. Everyone laughed.

……………………Max and Liz, outside Liz's room………………………

"God, I love you," Liz murmured into his chest, her arms tight around him.

Max squeezed her.

"I love you too," Max said. "And I always will."

"This was the weirdest day of my life," Liz commented. "Being kidnapped, meeting the dupes…"

"Liz," Max said pulling slightly away so he could look at her. "Did you know this is the second time you've died?"

Liz smiled and nodded.

"And thanks to you, I'm still here!" she said with a little laugh.

Max shook his head, his face sunken.

"No, I couldn't save you, Zan and I did," Max said.

"Max," Liz said placing her hand on his cheek. "Don't beat yourself over that. When I got shot that day, you were by my side in an instant. This time, I might've died a few minutes before."

"My life felt over," Max said and Liz knew he was telling the truth. "I could never ever live without you."

"Then promise me one thing," Liz sighed into his chest.

"Anything."

"If something bizarre like the future version of yourself coming here, you have to tell me. From now on, we have no secrets between us. Unless it's necessary," Liz said.

"I promise," Max said. She felt him frown into her hair. "What do you mean by 'necessary'?"

"Like, you know…the fantasies…" Liz said blushing.

Max gave one of his rare laughs.

"Okay, I promise," Max said squeezing her.

Liz raised her head up to look at him.

"I love you," she said.

Max whispered the words back before crushing his lips to hers. Nothing had ever felt so good in her life. Then he pulled back and Liz felt lost without his touch.

"What is it?" she asked. Maybe he remembered something…bad.

"You know how you said that we have no secrets?" Max asked.

Liz nodded fearing his next response. It had to be something bad.

"Well, I forgot to mention something Future Me said," Max said with a little smile. A playful one.

Liz felt herself relax. Max was smiling so it had to be good.

"Yes?" she asked.

"He said that we got married at the Elvis Chapel," he said looking away embarrassed.

"No way!" Liz said hitting his chest in disbelief. "The Elvis Chapel?"

Max nodded slightly laughing.

"How old were we? Only little kids would get married there," Liz said.

"Nineteen," Max said.

"Whoa! That's young," Liz said widening her eyes.

"That's what I said to Future Me. But he said the Future You said Juliet and Romeo were even younger," Max said.

Liz sighed and rested her head on his chest.

"I may not have alien genes but somehow I think I can see the future too. That one day we'll be married," Liz said.

"Really?" Max asked in mock-shock. "I see that too."

Liz smiled and raised her head so his lips could meet hers.

…………………Alex and Isabel, outside the Evans'…………………

"Are you sure you don't want to come inside?" Isabel asked looking worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Alex said with a smile.

"How are you getting home?" Isabel asked. Maria had dropped them both off here. Well technically, she had dropped off Isabel but Alex wanted his stop here too so he could have alone time.

"The usual way, walking," Alex shrugged.

"Are you sure? It's dark," Isabel said.

"Stop fussing," Alex said shaking his head. He grinned at her.

But Isabel didn't seem to be listening to him.

"Max is at Liz's so he'll pick us the Jeep there. You can take the Jeep when he comes back," Isabel offered.

"Iz," Alex said placing his hands on her shoulders. "You don't have to worry about me."

"It's just…" Isabel said her eyes looking huge. "Today made me realised a lot of things."

"Uh huh," Alex said not sure if he was going to like this or not.

"It made me realise I shouldn't take things for granted," she continued. "Like you."

Alex's heart had stopped beating.

"I love you Alex, I always had. I just didn't want to let someone in but look at the rest!" Isabel said with an uneasy laugh.

Alex opened his mouth to return the words but Isabel raised a hand to stop him.

"I understand if you don't want to have anything to do with me. I've been pretty horrible to you. I hate myself for it," Isabel said tears filling her eyes.

"Isabel," Alex said. "Would you shut up for a second? Then maybe I'll get a chance to tell you I love you too."

Isabel's tears evaporated.

"Are…are you serious?" she asked.

"I always love you," Alex said.

Isabel let out a cry of happiness then started to rain his face with kisses. And Alex had never been so happy in his life.

………………Michael and Maria in the Jetta, outside Michael's apartment…………

"I'll see you later, Space Boy," Maria said with a smile.

Michael didn't move from his seat.

"Is something wrong?" Maria asked.

Michael shook his head.

"Everything's perfect," he whispered. "I realised that I only said a certain three words to you once in my whole life. But I'm going to say it again and every day that follows. I love you. God, I love you Maria."

Tears filled her eyes and she cupped his face.

"I love you too, Michael," she said and she reached up and kissed him

And for once, Maria had flashes.

Michael, aged seven, getting hit by Hank.

Maria lying to the cop, saying she had to pee.

Their first kiss as Michael tried to 'calm' her.

The heat wave, when they couldn't get enough of each other.

Michael making her the napkin holder.

Michael crying in Maria's arms, after another hit by Hank.

Michael telling Maria he loved her too much to see her hurt.

Michael painfully watching Maria dance, realising he couldn't touch her.

Maria hitting Michael on the head after Courtney said he was a good kisser.

And finally, Maria, with stars shooting around her as if she was the best thing in the world. And she was in Michael's mind.

"Michael," Maria breathed pulling back. She gaped at him not knowing if he knew she saw those flashes.

"Like them?" Michael asked a blush colouring his upper cheeks.

"Yes," Maria said nodding tears filling her eyes even more.

"Today changed my life and I want you to know that I love you and had never stopped," Michael said.

Maria smiled but she remembered being told he kissed Isabel. What was that about? She wanted to ask him but it would ruin the moment.

But Michael must've sensed it because he answered her question.

"Me and Isabel. How do I explain this? I was upset Maria, you had walked off on me. And it hurt. Isabel was there and we seemed to be caught up in the moment," Michael said. "Please forgive me. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life but that has to be my worst. I know I don't deserve you and that's—."

Maria cut him off by placing her fingers on his soft lips.

"Stop saying that," she growled. "You are a good person. And I do deserve you. And I do forgive you. Look at how ditzy I am!"

Tears were shining in Michael's eyes.

"I love you Michael," Maria said offering a wobbly smile. "And that's all that matters."

Michael gave a (his only and first?) smile and then kissed her.