A/N: Buckle up guys we're nearing the finish line.

Disclaimer: Same.

ACT: 19

MAY 22, 2005: One day later.

Max was sitting on the side of his bed staring off into space when he noticed Jessie standing in the doorway of his bedroom. Waving her in distractedly, he continued to brood.

"Daddy what's wrong?" she asked, her amber colored eyes dark with concern as she stood beside him.

Max almost smiled as he noted the casual blue jeans and pink Power Puff Girls tee-shirt she was wearing. Liz's influence no doubt. Under Isabel's fashion plated tutelage poor Jessie had been stuck wearing suitable dresses and skirts. Max found it amazing the changes Liz had wrought in both their lives in such a short time. Liz, the reason for his current uneasiness.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?" Max forced himself to focus on his daughter. She stood before him with her hands perched on her tiny hips. A frown marred her normally pretty face.

"Whatcha need jelly belly," he tried to tease. Normally this made Jessie laugh.

Not today.

The expression on her face remained dead serious. Too serious for a six year old. That's when it hit Max.

She knew.

Maybe not the particulars, but she definitely knew something was wrong. For a child, Jessie could be amazingly perceptive sometimes. Scratch that, she could be amazingly perceptive most of the time.

"Liz has not been over for days and days. Doesn't she love us anymore daddy."

Yup, the cat was definitely out of the bag. Sometimes being right could be so wrong! The hurt and confusion in his daughter's little voice was enough to break Max's heart.

All over again.

"Of course she still loves us Jessie. She's just been really busy at work this week," he lied. Great father he was, Max silently berated himself. He had just lied to his own child.

Of course Jessie being Jessie saw straight through it.

"That doesn't sound right daddy." She wrinkled her nose. "Even when Liz can't come over she calls me before I go to bed at night."

She had him there.

Shit! Max silently swore. This was why adults should never lie to kids. It counted for less than zero that he had never meant to lie. Or, that Jessie had put him on the spot. What did matter was the fact that he had even considered how all this would affect Jessie. He'd only been thinking of himself.

Not exactly father of the year, he thought self deprecatingly.

But how was a six year old supposed to understand something he didn't understand himself, at twenty-eight? How did he explain to Jessie that Liz wasn't going to be part of their lives anymore?

"Jessie, baby," he began with slow deliberation, "There's something I have to tell you. Liz is," he stopped, shook his head and sighed. Then, "Liz is—"

"Right here," the woman he in question said from the doorway of the room. "I hope you don't mind. Jonesy let me in," Liz said to Max. She was referring to Mrs. Jones the Evans' resident housekeeper/babysitter.

"Liz, Liz," Jessie yelled happily, tackling her in a hug that rocked slight brunet on her feet. "Where have you been?" Jessie asked pulling away. "Daddy and I have really missed you." Her words were a balm to Liz's soul.

"Jessie," Max called, rising to his feet. When he had his daughter's attention he said, "Daddy needs to talk to Liz. Why don't you run downstairs and get a snack from Jonesy."

"But daddy—"

"—now Jessica Anne Evans," Max said quietly though sternly.

With a dramatic sigh, followed by a pout, Jessie flounced from the room.

Liz stifled an involuntary laugh before saying, "With an attitude like that, and the city we live in, you do know she's going to be an actress right?" Max smiled and Liz's eyes ran hungrily over his face.

She felt like she hadn't seen him for weeks rather than days.

"You think it's to late to un-introduce her to Maria?" Max teased in return.

"I'm afraid that ship has already sailed. Aunt Maria was talking about taking Jessie shopping on Rodeo Drive just last week," Liz said, her humor vanishing by the end of her sentence. Because just last week everything was perfect in her little world. Ok, not exactly perfect, but life was good, bordering on great. If you didn't look too deep.

Unfortunately, Liz was never in to shallow.

"Liz…"

"…Max"

"You go first," they said in unison and then laughed, releasing pent-up nervous tension.

Max smiled wryly. "How about we both sit down and take a deep breath? From there we can play it by ear."

Liz nodded, fully entered the room, and then took a seat in a comfortable chair across from Max's bed. She attempted to do as he suggested by breathing in and out slowly. To her amazement, the technique actually eased some of the adrenaline coursing through her body.

"Better?" Max asked from his seat on the bed.

"Much."

"So, you wanna go first?"

"Don't you think I should," Liz smiled sadly before continuing. "I owe you an apology Max. It was wrong of me to tell you what I told you and then ask you to leave. I never gave you a chance to express how you felt about…well, anything. I was afraid of appearing less in your eyes. So I pushed you away. It was easier than waiting for you to push me away."

Max shook his head. "Did you really believe that? Did you really think I would see you as less because you can't have children?"

Liz shrugged. "Why not? It's how I see myself."

"If I ask you a question will you answer me truthfully, Liz?" When she simply nodded Max continued. "When we ran into each other at hotel, I asked you to give us a second chance. If never truly meant to follow through, then why say yes?"

Liz glanced away saying nothing. Her face burned with shame and guilt.

Max's anger grew at her continued silence. "Were you just stringing me along? Cause even back then you had to know I was playing for keeps. And what about Jessie, dammit? You allowed her to become attached to you, knowing the whole time that this," Max waved an agitated hand between the two of them, "wasn't permanent. Why would you do something like that?" he asked unaware of the anguish in his eyes. "Do you hate me that much? Was this some form of revenge? I know you said you don't blame me for the baby, but maybe they were just words."

Liz bit her bottom lip in an attempt to stay the sobs that were forcing their way from the back of her throat. "Of course I don't hate you! Nor do I blame you for what happened to the baby. But I was being selfish Max. I thought I could have you. You and Jessie both. Just for a little while, and then walk away. Not because I wanted to, but because I knew it wasn't meant to be. That something would have eventually gone wrong. If not our past, then something else would have gotten in the way. Stories that end in happily ever after are just stories that haven't finished."

Max stared at her with sad eyes. How could he have not known she felt this way? "Who said life was only about happily ever after? We make our own happiness Liz, just like we cause our own pain." She shuddered at the accuracy of his words. "The past will always be with us. But it doesn't have to consume us. And if Jessie is the only child we are destined to have, then so be it. I love you Liz, and I know you love me. The rest…well, we'll figure it out along the way."

Liz was in his arms before he could finish speaking. The two of them held on tightly silently vowing to never let each other go. Lifting their heads they stared at each other with tear filled eyes. A second later they were kissing greedily, literally devouring one another.

When their lips finally parted Max asked breathlessly, "Liz Parker will you marry me?"

And this time she said, "Yes Max I'll marry you. Forever and always."

-&-

Things moved quickly after that. Jessie was informed of the coming nuptials and was naturally ecstatic about Liz becoming her mother. Plans were set in motion for the wedding to take place within the next month. Liz doubted it could be done, but with Isabel and Maria at the helm anything was possible.

The only glitch in Liz's happiness was when she decided to inform her family.

"Hey mom," she'd said when Nancy Parker had answered the phone.

"Liz," the joy in Nancy's voice could not be mistaken. "How have you been dear?"

"Pretty good actually. That's why I'm calling."

"Oh?" Nancy said somewhat confused.

"Mom…umm, Max and I are getting married in a few weeks. Your invitation is in the mail."

Nancy went silent.

"Mom?"

"Are you happy Liz?"

"Yeah mom, I really am."

"Then I'm happy too."

"Does that mean you'll come to my wedding?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"I know Tyler's pretty much a lost cause, but what about dad?"

"I can't make any promises but I'll try Liz."

"Thanks Mom. That's all I ask." She paused then said, "I love you, you know."

"You too baby girl."

Later that week, Nancy informed Liz that she would be flying solo at the wedding. That Tyler had gone ballistic at the news. Liz was saddened though not surprised. She was surprised however; by the way Max's parent's handled the news.

"Welcome to the family Liz," Max's mother had said, hugging her warmly. "You are without a doubt the best thing to happen to this family in a long time." Liz doubted that but she kept it to herself.

Phillip's reception wasn't as warm, but he had toasted them at the engagement party two weeks later. "To Max and Liz," he'd said, "may life bring you everything you deserve and more." This was said with such an absence of malice Liz had no choice but to believe he meant it. Maybe things were finally changing for the better.

-&-

JUNE 22, 2005: 4:06 pm

The weeks leading up to the wedding raced by. With just a week left before the ceremony Max and Liz exited City Hall smiling, their marriage license in hand. Things had been hectic but they'd somehow gotten through it. Even when Isabel and Maria nearly came to blows over the brides maids dresses.

Maria wanted to go bold, aka Stella McCarthy, while Isabel wanted understated elegance aka, Dior. They'd fallen somewhere in between and gone with Prada. They did agree on one thing, Liz's dress. A strapless, cream colored, flowing, frothy, Vera Wang with a waist tie.

At ten-thousand dollars it was way too expensive in Liz's opinion. However, Maria claimed she looked like and angel in it. And as Isabel pointed out, Max could afford it. So Liz reluctantly agreed. Ok so she pretended reluctance, the dress was to die for. And Max was going to loss it when he saw her in it.

"So this is really it, huh," Liz said as they paused on the steps of City Hall to look at the license. The hall of records had been dark and dank, but the sun shinning outside shone down perfectly on the paper in her hand.

"Having second thoughts?" Max asked needing reassurance.

"As if. Do you know how hot I look in Vera Wang?" Liz teased.

"No. But I can't wait to find out." Max grinned as they walked down the steps hand and hand.

It wasn't until they reached Max's black SUV that he realized he'd left his car keys back inside the building. He vaguely remembered resting them on the counter when the clerk had gone to get their license.

"Damn," he cursed patting his jean pockets.

"What's wrong?" Liz looked worried.

"I left my keys inside," Max nodded towards the building.

"Senility setting in early, huh? Oh well, at least you're rich."

"And you're a—"

"Don't say it," Liz swatted Max on the ass teasingly. "Just go get your keys granddad."

Max shot her a mock glare. "I'll show you who's your DADDY later."

"Promises, promises," Liz chirped as he walked away. She was smiling as she watched how his jeans rode low on his hips encasing his perfect butt. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a familiar looking black mini-van inching through the parking lot, but paid it no attention.

Until it sped up. Heading straight for Max.

"MAX!"

Max who'd spun around at the sound of Liz's frightened scream felt a horrible jolt. And then he was flying, soaring trough the air. He landed with jarring impact, confused, hurt and barely conscious. He vaguely recognized the sounds of people screaming around him. Liz's voice led the pact.

"Max, oh my god Max," She cried as she ran to crouch beside him.

He opened his mouth in an effort to comfort her, but all he could do was cough up blood. The last thing he heard was the sound of Liz screaming his name as everything faded into oblivion.

-&-

JUNE 22, 2005: Los Angeles Police Department: 7:32 pm

"Ms. Parker? Liz? Do you need to stop? How about a drink of water?" Detective Morgan asked concernedly.

"No. I'm fine." Liz blinked as her eyes regained focus. "But I really need to get back to the hospital." She couldn't seem to erase the vision of Max lying bleeding and broken on the ground. The scene kept reverberating through her head.

Like a bad dream.

Only this was real. And reliving it for Detective Morgan hadn't helped.

"Just a few more questions," he said, his gaze filled with pity. "There were several witnesses to the accident, but none of them got a good look at the van or driver as he sped away. Did you Ms. Parker?"

"I sure did," Liz answered. Her voice harsh with suppressed anger and grief. "And it was no accident. It was deliberate. The driver was my brother Tyler. It was my brother Tyler," she lowered her head as her shoulders began to shake. Tears too long suppressed finally broke free.

-&-

Less than an hour after completing her statement, Liz returned to the hospital. Max was still in surgery. As she sat in the surgical waiting room surrounded by the Evans', Alex, and even Michael and Maria she felt alone. Jessie was at home with Jonesy. They'd decided not to tell her anything until they knew something definite.

Poor Jessie. If Max didn't make it…no, she wouldn't even go there. Liz began to pray silently when a doctor in sweat soaked green scrubs exited the O.R. doors. Everyone jumped to their feet.

"You listen here Doc. If my son doesn't make it I'll sue this hospital for all it's worth," Phillip Evans blustered.

The doctor ignored him completely. Instead he focused his attention on the rest of the group. "It was touch and go there for a while but we finally got him stable. He had internal bleeding do to a broken rib which punctured his left lung. His right leg was shattered in two places and required several pins and he has a mild concussion. It will be a long recovery, but he should be just fine."

Diane Evans wept at his last words and she and her husband hugged each other in comfort. Alex hugged a teary eyed Isabel, and Michael and Maria both hugged a shaking Liz.

-&-

The next day Max was transferred to the MICU or Medical Intensive Care Unit and Liz sat beside his bed waiting for him to wake up. Only one person was allowed to visit at a time and everyone decided Liz should go first. It had been almost twenty-four hours and Max was still uncurious. The doctor's were beginning to worry.

Liz too.

"Hey," Max whispered groggily causing Liz to lift her head. She had been staring blankly at the floor counting the square tiles.

"Hey," Liz whispered back with tears in her eyes. She lovingly held Max's I.V. inserted hand.

"What happened?" Max mumbled weakly.

"Tyler tried to kill you," Liz said, to upset to be anything but blunt.

"Well that sucks."

"This is serious Max."

"Especially from my point of view," he smiled hazily. They must have him on some good stuff. He was feeling no pain.

"I am so sorry Max. Knowing me has brought you nothing but pain. I want you to know I'm going to testify against Tyler in court. Then I'm going to do what I should have done form the start. Get out of your life."

Max sighed. "Liz, please don't start that again. You are not responsible for the actions of others. Not even family. When you agreed to marry me you promised me forever and always. Did you mean it?"

"Yes" she gave him a watery smile. "You know I did."

"Good. Now let me get some sleep. The sooner I get out of here the sooner we can get married."

Liz gave a hiccupped chuckle. Even at one of the lowest points in her life Max found a way to uplift her. God she loved this man.

Standing up to place a gentle kiss on his bruised forehead she whispered:

"I love you Max Evans."

"And I love you Liz Parker. Forever and always."

A/N: Yah! It's finally over. Well, almost. With all the leaping back and forth in time this fic was a real bitch to write. That said, I'd like to thank all the readers who hung in there no matter how erratic my updates were. You guys are the ones who pushed me to finish this. There will be a short epilogue of the wedding. Thanks again to all the people who read and reviewed this.