Chapter 15

Max found himself in a tree lot; he circled as tree while he looked at a piece of paper that was in his hand.

"Come on, Max. Just pick a tree. It's freezing out here," Alex told him and Max scoffed.

"It's not so simple. This tree's got to fall within certain parameters," Max explained and Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Parameters?" Alex asked and Max nodded.

"Height, circumference, colour, density of foliage. Look at this diagram. You know how Isabel gets this time of year," Max told him as he thrusted the piece of paper into Alex's face and Alex looked at it; he saw the diagram of the Christmas tree that Isabel wanted.

"The Christmas Nazi, driving everyone insane while trying to have the perfect Christmas. The worst thing you can do is play into it, Max. You've got to fight her. You've got to fight the Christmas Nazi," Michael voice informed and they turned to see Michael standing there.

"Michael," Max greeted before he turned back to the tree.

"Max, we need to hurry, I gotta go and get Sarah a present," he told him and Max winced.

"First present as a couple," Max remembered and Alex nodded.

"What did you get Liz?" Alex asked.

"A rose necklace," Max told him and Alex looked at him.

"Jesus Max, I need something within my limit!" he told him and Max laughed.

"Sorry, I kinda went overboard last Christmas, I wanted to show Liz how much I cared about her even though we weren't together at the time," he admitted and Alex nodded.

"What did she get you?" Alex asked and Max slipped his hand into his back pocket and pulled out his Swiss army knife and lifted it to show Alex, Alex took it and smile when he saw 'Max and Liz 4 Ever' printed on it and handed it back to Max with a nod. "Nice," he told Max and Max grinned as he slipped the pocketknife back into his pocket.

There was a screech and a child crying, Max and Alex spun around to see a man lying on the ground and a little girl crying. Max inhaled sharply as he watched the situation when Alex places his hand on Max's shoulder.

"Max, you can't," he whispered. "There's too many witnesses around," he explained before Max took a step back and walked off. Alex took a deep breath before looking at the father then looking up into the night sky, hoping that Liz was going to be able to help Max through this hurdle.

The Evans family found themselves sitting around the kitchen, minus Isabel, reading the paper.

"Oh, this poor, poor family," Diane stated.

"Tragic," Phillip agreed.

"I mean; this man gave his life to save his daughter. Now, that's a true hero," Diane told them as she rubbed her hand up and down Max's back.

"Where's the Christmas Nazi?" Phillip asked as he looked at his son, who looked at him.

"Last I saw, she was examining our outdoor lights for errant bulbs," he explained and Phillip nodded as Isabel came into the house, dragging the poor tree that Max had bought.

"Max. This is, by far, the most pathetic Christmas tree I have ever seen. Did you even refer to my diagram?" she demanded, Phillip turned back to his paper while Diane looked at her papers.

"I had to run out this morning. There were only a few left," Max explained.

"You know, I give you one tiny, little assignment, and you can't even handle that?" Isabel muttered and Max looked at her.

"Something came up!" Max exclaimed and Isabel huffed as she pulled out her book.

"Well, if you had told me you couldn't go, I would have squeezed in time to get it myself between the hunger drive and Christmas dinner at the nursing home," she informed him and Diane spoke up, trying to divert her daughter's anger.

"Isabel, did you know that this family lived only 4 blocks from here?" Diane asked and Isabel nodded as her tune changed.

"It's so terrible. A few of us are talking about organizing a vigil for his family," Isabel told her and Phillip nodded.

"Beautiful. A vigil? You know, that's nice. Candles. Yeah," Phillip stated.

"You know, I think I saw at least 17 burnouts on 2 and 5. Oh, what do you want to bet there are some flickering ones on 3 and 4, because they always seem to have problems, so check those, too, you know? You should never be careful because once 2 and 3 are gone and…" Isabel's voice muted as Max saw the man who died, sitting on the washing machine. He moved over to washing machine and stood in front of the man. "Max. Great. He's doing laundry now. Dad, is there a reason you haven't finished hanging the rest of the outdoor Christmas lights?" Isabel demanded, causing her parents to turn straight back to their papers.

"I'm sorry," Max, whispered and the ghost glared at him.

"How could you let me die?" the ghost demanded.

Michael found himself walking through the mall with Isabel pointing out different things for him to buy Tess for her Christmas but was getting frustrated with the lack of enthusiasm she was getting from Michael.

"Ok, Michael. This is what I'm gonna do. I am going to take the Christmas dog show off my calendar and take you shopping and rectify this situation," Isabel told him.

"No. I'm not gonna get obsessed over this present. I'm not gonna make everyone else around me miserable," he informed her and Isabel stopped in the middle of the mall, causing Michael to bump into her.

"What are you saying? That I get obsessed and make everyone around me miserable?" she demanded.

"I didn't say that," he told her.

"You know, is it too much to ask that one day a year, I can be like a normal human being with a normal life and have a merry Christmas?" she demanded and Michael shook his head.

"No, mein fuhrer," he told her and she turned around to face him with a glare.

"What was that?" she demanded and Michael shrugged.

"What was what?" he asked and she nodded.

"Fine, if you want to mess up the presents, be my guess, I have other things I have to be doing," she informed him and he saluted.

"Hail the Christmas Nazi," he muttered only for her to stop and turn around.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Merry Christmas," he repeated and she nodded.

"Okay, bye, bye," she told him before leaving him alone. Michael just leaned his back against the wall and sighed in relief.

Max found himself standing outside the house, Maria was among the choir that was singing a song for them, Max could see the mother was barely holding back her tears as she held her baby close to her while the young girl and boy stood near their mother.

"What are you doing out here?" the ghost demanded.

"I just want to make sure they're all right," Max explained.

"They're not all right," the ghost, informed him.

"If I had exposed myself last night, there are people I would have put at risk," Max explained and the ghost looked at him.

"But it was ok for you to heal Liz Parker?" he demanded.

"How do you know about that?" he asked.

"Because I know everything in your mind, heart, and soul, Max. I know it all," he told Max.

"I will look after your children. I swear I will," Max promised.

"For how long, Max?" he asked.

"Until they're ok," Max told him and the ghost shook his head.

"They'll never be ok, Max. Don't you understand that? They lost their father last night!" he snapped before disappearing. Max looked around the street before shoving his hands into his pocket and moved on.

He came to a stop and found himself outside the Crashdown; he moved over to the window and saw Liz sitting in the booth near the window, wrapping up presents. She stopped what she was doing and looked up to see Max standing there. She walked over to the door and opened it.

"Max?" she asked and Max smiled slightly.

"I need someone to talk to," he whispered and she nodded as she pushed the door further and let him through, wondering what was upsetting her boyfriend. She locked the door once more before grabbing her stuff and led the way up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Wait out on the balcony, I'll be a minute," she told him and he nodded as he climbed through the window while Liz placed the stuff into the wardrobe before climbing through herself. She moved over to where Max was pacing and found herself understanding what he went through the night before.

"There was a crowd, a huge crowd, and everyone was watching and I...I...I could have healed him, but I didn't," Max told her and Liz moved closer to Max and cupped his face.

"Max, listen to me. Listen. You can't hold yourself responsible for that man's life," Liz told him and he looked at her.

"He gave his life for his daughter, and I let him die," Max told her and Liz sighed.

"If you healed him, you would have exposed Michael, Isabel, and Tess," Liz pointed out and Max looked off to the side as the ghost appeared.

"Well, that was the sugar-coated version, Max," The ghost stated to Max before glaring at him. "Now tell her what you were really thinking," he ordered Max and Max looked at Liz.

"I wasn't thinking about Michael and Isabel and Tess," Max admitted and Liz looked at him. "I was thinking about myself in the white room and being tortured," he told her and Liz felt her blood drain from her face and her heart hurt. "I didn't heal that man, because I was protecting myself. Why couldn't I trade my life for his?" Max asked and Liz shook her head as she moved closer to Max.

"No, Max, look. You can't do that to yourself," she told him before forcing his face to look at her in the eyes. "Max, you went through a terrible ordeal at Pierce's hands. I understand why you found it hard to heal him but you can't do this yourself," she pleaded.

"I'm being haunted Liz," Max whispered and Liz looked at him. "He's always there."

"You mean he right here, right now?" Liz asked as she looked around.

"I have to do something," Max whispered and Liz looked at him. Max looked at the ghost, who is now standing on Liz's balcony edge before he jumped off, causing Max to run over to try and grab him.

"Max! Max. Max, what are you talking about?" Liz asked as she turned his body to face her and Max shook his head.

"I don't know," Max, admitted.

"Can't get rid of me that easily," The ghost stated as he reappeared and Max looked at him. "I got no place to go. You need to restore the balance, Max."

"Max?" Liz asked as she looked at her boyfriend, trying to get him to look at her when he turned to face her.

"I have to restore the balance," Max told her and Liz looked at him, wondering how to help him.

Everyone arrived at the Christmas pageant. Isabel was dressed up while all the kids were in the back.

"You all look great kids, now go out there and remember what you to do. Remember to smile though?" she reminded them and they nodded.

"Oh, my God," Liz whispered as she looked at her best friend in a shock. Maria had just finished telling her about Brody and his daughter Sydney, who had bone marrow cancer.

"I've been crying all day," Maria admitted and Liz reached over and hugged her best friend.

"Oh, Maria," Liz whispered.

"Liz, we gotta do something," she told Liz and Liz nodded.

"Yes, definitely. You know, we could go put together a care package from the Crashdown. So they don't have to worry about making food," Liz told her and Maria shook her head.

"It's so wrong. It's Christmas. Christmas is supposed to have happy endings and miracles," Maria told her and Liz nodded as she moved in closer and hugged her best friend with a one arm before she looked up and her eyes landed on her boyfriend, who was standing near the stage, looking lost and an idea came to her mind. Alex walked over to them and handed them hot chocolate, which they took and separated so he could sit in the middle and wrap his arms around his best friends and they watched as Isabel came on stage.

"Hi, everyone. Welcome to this year's holiday pageant. I'm Isabel Evans. Some of you know me as the director of this pageant, others may know me as the president of the hunger drive, and still others might know me from the many holiday events at the nursing home. And some of you know me as…the Christmas Nazi," Isabel stated as she looked at her parents, Diane and Phillip looked at each other as Isabel shifted her glare to her brother, who shifted and looked away then shifted her glare on to Michael, who winced.

"Busted," Alex stated; causing Liz and Maria to laugh before Isabel rolled her eyes.

"But enough about me. Let's feast our eyes on the cutest darn kids in America. Welcome to Roswell's 23rd annual holiday pageant," Isabel exclaimed and everyone cheered as the children came out from the back and made their way to the front.

Liz hurried over to Max and tugged on his jacket, causing him to bend his head down.

"The little girl in the pink costume," Liz pointed out and Max looked at the small brunette. "She has Cancer, Max, she's Brody's daughter." Max looked at Brody before looking at Liz, she sent him a knowing look and he looked back at Sydney, who was know smiling as the Ghost appeared behind Max with a smile.

"Look like we have a plan," the ghost stated and Max just stared at the young girl.

Max found himself in Michael's apartment, trying to explain his situation to the other three aliens, not that it was being well received.

"You heal her, and you leave behind a silver handprint, a nice, big fat clue saying there's aliens in Roswell," Michael stated, angrily and Max sighed.

"Look. Naseco destroyed all the records from the special unit. It's possible no one even knows who we are or what the silver handprint is," Max explained. "Look, I know what I'm asking here is big. There are a million reasons not to do this and only one reason to do it. I need to. I don't know what else to say," Max admitted.

"What we've been through this past year, it's taken a lot away from us. I think maybe that sort of thing starts to take its toll, you know, on our human side...so if you feel you need to do this, then I'm behind you, Max," Isabel told her brother and he nodded.

"Thank you," Max told her and Tess shrugged.

"Look. If this means so much to you, I'm sure there's a good reason for it, so I'm with you, too," Tess told him and Max nodded.

"I guess that makes me the odd man out," Michael stated and Max looked at him.

"Michael," Max started but Michael shook his head.

"Hey, we're here for a reason, Max. So call me a selfish jerk, but I don't think we should risk everything just so you can feel a little bit better about yourself at Christmas. It's 3 against 1. I'm voted down anyway," Michael informed and Max sighed.

"Michael."

"You made your decision before you walked through that door. I know you did. I could hear it in your voice, so why don't you just go do what you're gonna do...and make sure you don't screw up," Michael stated before turning his back on Max.

Max just stared at Michael's back in silence before shaking his head and walked out of the apartment. Isabel and Tess turned to Michael.

"God, could you be any more of a bastard?" Tess snapped as she hopped off her stool and looked at her boyfriend, Michael looked at her. Tess was certainly having seconds thoughts about going through the deal that Naesco made to sleep with Michael and get pregnant by him.

"I'm just saying what we were all thinking," Michael stated and Isabel shook her head.

"Not what I was thinking," Isabel shot at him. "God, Max came here looking for our approval so he can do this and if he can pull this off and create a miracle, then, these people own their lives to him. God, Max only wants to make a kid feel better, it's not like he's going round healing the world!" Isabel snapped out before leaving the apartment and Tess sighed.

"I'm with her," Tess admitted before leaving the apartment and shutting the door behind her, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts.

Max used his powers to unlock the door, he crept in and shut the door behind him before moving his way into the living room only to stop short when he saw the ghost sitting on the chair; he looked up when he saw Max.

"It's too late, Max. They rushed her to the hospital. Boy, do you have a dilemma?" he asked and Max looked out of the window.

Max found himself in Michael's apartment.

"She had a relapse. She's in the hospital in Phoenix," Max informed him.

"And?" Michael asked and Max sighed.

"I'm going. It may be a little more dangerous now. I just thought you should know," Max explained and Michael grabbed his jacket.

"I'm going with you. I just want to keep you from getting us all killed," Michael informed him before leading the way out of the apartment.

Max and Michael made their way through the hospital, both of them were dressed up in male nurses' outfit, they moved closer near the children's room where Sydney was being held. "One knock means be on your guard, 2 means the coast is clear...and 3 will mean we're screwed," Michael informed him.

"Right," Max told him before slipping between the door and moved cover to the children while Michael stood guard outside, looking around. Max looked around at the children before spying Sydney and he moved closer to her.

He knelt down beside her and waved his hands over her body, trying to see where the cancer was when Sydney woke up and look at Max.

"Shh. its ok," Max soothed.

"Who are you?" Sydney whispered and Max shook his head.

"I'm just a dream. Go back to sleep," he whispered to her and she closed her eyes. He placed his hands over the cancer, grunted softly before a bright light started and he healed her. He stood up only for his eyes to travel over the rest of the children before looking at the ghost. He nodded and Max moved toward the children and healed them.

Michael noticed a nurse is looking in his direction and knocked on the door once; Max looked up at the knock only to turn back to the boy and healed him. The nurse picked up the clipboard and walked over to Michael.

"Excuse me? I'm supposed to check this ward," she told Michael, who shook his head.

"I'll save you the trouble. Someone just checked it," he told her. Inside, Max move over to a small girl and she looked at him.

"Are you an angel?" she whispered and Max shook his head.

"Go back to sleep," he whispered before hearing her. He stood up and struggled to move over to another bed and heal them. The nurse returned, but this time with a group of security guard, causing Michael to knock on the door three times. He knocked again only to open the door, step in, lock the door and cover the small window. He looked over at Max only to see Max stumble and fall to the floor.

"Max!" Michael gasped as he hurried over to Max and knelt down beside him.

"Open this door! Now!" one of the guards shouted, Michael raised his eyes to the ceiling.

"If there's a God, please help us now," Michael whispered only for feel a whisper of wind against his cheek and he turned his head to see a window. He hurried over to it and opened it before grabbing Max and hauled him through the window. He shut the window and locked it before carrying Max over to the jeep where he placed Max in the back and hopped into the front. "Thank you," he whispered.

"You're welcome," a female voice whispered. "Trust in her," it whispered again before disappearing and Michael looked around, wondering what the hell just happened before setting the jeep into motion.

The guard managed to open the door, using a chair to knock it open. All of them rushed in with the nurses and they stopped when they saw the children all over the room, singing and playing while they looked around, wondering how the hell the intruders disappeared.

Liz met up with Michael at Max's home; she was pacing the bedroom when a tap knocked on it. She hurried over to the window and opened it, revealing Michael standing there.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded and Liz shot him a glare.

"I felt Max disappear from my link," she told him before helping Max climb through the window and helped him over to his bed.

"Liz…" Max mumbled.

"It's okay, I'm here," she whispered as she kissed his forehead before turning to Michael. "You can go now," she informed him before heading into the bathroom. Michael just watched, he wanted to protest but the voice came back.

"Trust her," it whispered once more, he looked at the bathroom door before looking at Max and left through the window.

Liz came out, carrying a small basin and a cloth. She stripped Max down to his boxers and hid the clothes in the bottom of his wardrobe before dipping the cloth into the basin and wiped his sweat and cooled him down.

"Everything is gonna be okay," Liz promised as she ran her hand through Max's hair, watching over him.

Max, Isabel, Diane and Phillip were in the kitchen of their house the next morning; they were watching the small TV that showed the news.

"Our baby is ok. The cancer is gone. It's a miracle. We prayed everyday and...And God...God spoke," the lady stated as she hugged her boy to her as she spoke to the reporter, Diane shook her head.

"Now that...that is a miracle," Diane whispered and Phillip shook his head.

"That might be overstating it a little. They did say they were all undergoing experimental treatment," Phillip rationalised.

"Philip, put your finger here," Diane told him and he placed his finger in the middle of the bow. "I mean, one day those children were at death's door, and the next day they were completely healed. That wasn't medicine, honey. And the part about the imprint of the hand on each of the children. I mean, if that isn't enough to get you to believe in God, then I don't know what is," she told them; Isabel reached over and placed a hand on Max's shoulder and squeezed it slightly. "Can you put your finger there?" Diane ordered and Phillip moved his finger while Diane continued working. "And, I mean, maybe it's even enough to, uh...get Max to join us at midnight services tonight," Diane suggested as she looked at Max. "What do you say, Max?" she asked, Max just stared at the TV, not saying anything.

Liz was pulling on her cardigan when she heard a tap at the window; she turned and saw Max kneeling there. She smiled as she moved closer and opened the window. Max sat down near the ledge and looked at his girlfriend.

"So I hear you went to Phoenix," she told him and Max smiled slightly.

"Yeah. Thank you...for telling me about Sydney," he told her and she smiled before looking around before looking at Max.

"Are you still haunted?" she asked and Max smiled as amusement shone in his eyes.

"I don't think so," he told her and she nodded before she climbed out of her room and sat next to Max, her back resting against his legs.

"Healing all of those kids...why did you do it?" Liz asked, curiously to why her boyfriend would risk it all.

"After I healed Sydney, I...I looked at the face of the boy lying next to her, and I just thought...how can I not...how can I not use my gift?" Max admitted and Liz smiled softly before kissing him gently on the lips. She pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"As beautiful as that is, Max...you can't keep doing it. I know it seems like there's no reason for those kids to have cancer or for a father to get killed saving his child or for any of it...but maybe there is," she told him. "Maybe there is someone or something out there that's planning all of this, and maybe you have to respect it. You're not God, Max," Liz reminded. "You're the one that told me that. Will you come to midnight service?" Liz asked and Max sighed.

"I'd like to...but I don't believe in God," Max admitted and Liz nodded. "Merry Christmas, Liz," he whispered and she smiled.

"Merry Christmas, Max," she told him before he leaned in and kissed her once more before getting up and walked off the balcony. Liz climbed back into her room and shut the door before looking back at her mirror. She was startled when she saw a picture of her grandma Claudia on the mirror, curious, she moved over and picked it up and turned it around.

"Trust in your love Honeybear, it will never steer you wrong," Liz smiled before looking around before looking at her grandma once more, maybe miracles do happen.

Max found himself at the house where the man used to live.

"They'll be ok. My wife? She's, uh...she's pretty remarkable. If anybody can get through this..." he trailed off.

"I want you to know that if they ever need me...I will be there for them," he told him and the ghost smiled.

"I know you will, Max," he told Max before shaking his head. "Go home Max, you belong with Liz," he told her and Max looked at him and smiled.

"Rest in peace," Max whispered as the ghost walked over to his house and melted into the background as Max walked off.

Max arrived at his house and saw Maria standing in the doorway. "Maria?" he asked and she threw herself at him and hugged him.

"Thank you for making me believe in miracles once more," she whispered before kissing his cheek and she pulled away. "And thank you for bringing a Christmas miracle to the world once more," she told him before smiling and walking off, she met up with James and linked hands with him, she turned to face Max once more and waved before walking off.

Max just entered the house, shaking his head when he saw Michael, Alex, Tess and Kyle standing in the kitchen. Max arched an eyebrow at Michael's outfit.

"You're going to midnight service? You don't believe in anything," Max told him and Michael shook his head.

"Gotta hedge your bets, Maxwell. I've had my prayers answered twice in the past 2 days. Don't ask. You ok?" he asked and Max nodded.

"Better. Thanks," Max told him and Michael nodded.

"Your powers?" Tess asked and Max raised his hand to the lights on the wall and used his powers, they flickered slightly and he nodded.

"Yeah, they're starting to come back to me," Max told her and she nodded.

"Good. I just wanted to say that I'm really pissed about what happened last night," Michael stated and Max shook his head.

"Michael...I couldn't stop myself," Max told him and Michael shook his head.

"No, no, no. I'm pissed that I don't have the ability to help the kids in the hospital that you couldn't get to," Michael explained.

"Yeah, you did a good job Max," Alex told him. "Man, all I heard from Sarah was this amazing miracle that happened, on Christmas day. Max, you restored her faith in the world, before that, she was cynical. Thank you," Alex told him and Max nodded.

"Hey, I gotta agree with them, you restored my faith and my joy in Christmas, I mean, before Tess came here and before you did that miracle, Christmas was just another day for my father and I, but you doing that miracle and Tess making our lives better, I can't thank you," Kyle explained and Max nodded.

"So, to thank you, we thought we give you a present we know you will cherish," Tess told him and Max looked at them curiously.

They arrived at Brody's house, Max moved closer to the window and saw Brody talking to his daughter, who was sleeping in his arms, the delight and love was obvious on Brody's face and Max felt his heart tighten. Alex patted Max's shoulder.

Max found himself wandering about before he came to a stop and found himself at the midnight service, he looked over at his friends, Tess and Michael were cuddled up together while Amy and was sitting next to Jim, both of them sharing smiles. Kyle was sitting next to Isabel, Isabel smiling at something he was telling her. Alex and Sarah were cuddled up together.

His heart slowed when he saw Liz, she was sitting one seat down from his parents; she was looking at the choir with a soft sad look on her face.

"Go to her, trust in your love," a female voice whispered, Max looked around only to see that he was alone and he looked back at Liz once more before making his way over to his parents and Liz. Diane turned to face Phillip, to tell him something when she saw Max standing there.

Max smiled as he moved closer and kissed his mother cheek.

"Merry Christmas, mom," he whispered, she touched his cheek before letting him go past her. He walked past Liz, causing her to look up at him and smile as he sat down next to her. They both sat there in silence for a few seconds before Liz leaned in.

"I thought you didn't believe in god," Liz told him and Max grinned as he linked their fingers together.

"I believe in you," he told her before leaning over to kiss her slightly on the lips before they pulled away and looked back at the carols.

Soon Liz felt something wet and cold land on her nose, she and Max looked up to see the snow falling and she turned to face Max with a smile. "I love you," he told her.

"I love you too," she whispered before she leaned in a kissed him before pulling away and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I have your present," he told her and she looked at him.

"Really?" she asked and he nodded.

"I'll give it to you when we're alone," he told her and she smiled as they turned back to the choir.

Max and Liz found themselves walking along the street, the snow was steadily piling up, they came to a stop near the foundation, they both sat down and they both pulled out their presents and handed it to the other before laughing. "You go first," Max told her and Liz smiled, shyly, before unwrapping her present to see it was a jewellery box; she arched her eyes when she realised what kind of jewellery and looked at Max.

"I think I can guess what kind of jewellery is can be, it's either a ring or earrings," she told him and Max just laughed.

"Just open it," he told her and she opened the box only to gasp when she saw the ring. It was white gold and it shone in the moonlight, there was a sapphire crystal in the middle with small crystals circling the larger diamond and she looked up at him, causing him to hold his hands up. "Whoa, before you go off, this is actually a promise ring," he admitted and she smiled as tears filmed her eyes, he took it out and lifted her left hand. "It's a promise that we will get married one day and I will make sure that promise will come true," he explained as he slipped the ring on and she kissed him.

"I love you so much," she whispered and he grinned as he kissed her back before pulling away. "Now, open your present," she told him and he laughed as he grabbed his present opened it.

"More than one?" he asked and she pushed at his shoulder.

"Max, quit teasing me," she scolded him and he laughed as he opened the larger packet and stared at the book, she smiled. "You told me how much you loved the book and were upset when you lost it. I was looking through the book shop and there it was, the shop keeper told me that it had came in that day," she explained and Max ran his fingers over the cover of the book.

"Of Mice and Men," he whispered and she smiled.

"Now, open the other one," she told him and he placed the book to the side and picked up the slightly smaller but thicker box, he unwrapped it and saw that it was a watch, the same watch he had been admiring.

"Liz…" he trailed off and she held up a hand.

"Before you saying anything about it being expensive, I have the money," she told him and he nodded before smiling sheepish.

"Then I shouldn't feel too bad about getting you another present," he told and she looked at him, shocked as he pulled out another present and handed it to Liz.

Liz took it and opened it only to see was another jewellery box, but longer this time. She opened it and revealed a white gold necklace with a sapphire crystal adoring the middle with smaller white and pink crystals.

"Max," she breathed out.

"Look on the back," he told and she laughed as she looked at him.

"Look the back of your watch," she told him, he arched an eyebrow and they both looked at each other.

"Max and Liz, 29/09/99" they both stated and looked at each other. "The day of the shooting," Max stated and Liz smiled.

"The day you changed my life," she whispered. Max smiled as he strapped on the watch before taking the necklace and Liz turned around, she lifted her hair up and Max clipped it on before they both stood up with their packages and Max's book before wrapping arms around each other waists and headed off for another walk when Liz looked up at Max. "By the way Max," she told him and he looked down at her. "You're my angel," she told him and he smiled as he kissed her forehead.

"And you're mine," he told her and they both continued their walk. Up above them, the planets that formed the V shaped were shining brightly.

TBC