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Chapter 53

Max finished work early on Thursdays and that gave him the opportunity to cook dinner for Liz. She was home most of the days, but she usually spent Thursdays with Maria and didn't return home until dinner time. It was Maria's day off work so Liz and Maria were always up to something to celebrate their "femalehood" as Maria liked to call it. Something Max had yet to completely figure out, but the giddy happy state Liz was in when she came home was enough to convince him that this femalehood was a good thing. There was something different about this Thursday though. Just like on all other Thursdays, Max collected the mail from the mailbox, sifting through the different sized and colored envelopes while simultaneously trying to balance the grocery bags on the crooks of his arms. His walk slowed some as his eyes landed on a dark brown C5 envelope and he read the sender stamp in the top corner. Feeling his heart picking up in speed, a smile teased the corners of his mouth and the dinner that same night took on a higher level of importance.

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As Maria opened the door to her apartment, yelling in a general direction that she was home, Liz had never anticipated the little furry animal that came running towards them. Laughing, Maria kneeled down to embrace the small over-excited creature.
"Who's this?" Liz asked, wondering how long this small addition to Maria and Michael's home had been around.
Maria scooped the small Labrador puppy into her arms and stood up.
"Elizabeth Parker, meet Dog. Dog, this is my best friend in the whole wide world."
"His name is Dog?" Liz asked incredulously, grabbing the small paw that Maria offered.
Maria rolled her eyes, remembering her own reaction when Michael had informed her of the dog's name. "The workers at the shelter called it Dog and while Michael kept him hidden from me he kept calling it Dog and now I can't rename it. It kinda stuck." Maria had been away for business for a week and this was obviously when Michael had decided to get this little cutie for Maria.
"Michael got you a dog?" Liz knew that her mouth was hanging open, but she couldn't help it.
"Yes, can you believe it?" Maria said with a bright smile.

Liz stared at the pup, thinking that she really couldn't believe it. For as long as she had known Michael, he had gone to great measures to inform everyone of how annoying he considered dogs to be. Liz had heard numerous times, from Maria, how Michael would sigh and fuss every time he saw a dog out on the street. She watched with a mixture of amusement and disgust as Dog licked Maria's face ferociously. It was one of those moments when time seemed to slow down around her and she found herself watching her best friend with new eyes. She saw the happiness on Maria's face, heard the tinkle of her laughter while the black energy fur ball attempted to lick Maria to death.
"Why?" Liz wondered.
"Sorry?" Maria giggled and Liz had difficulty seeing her friend through the fur.
"Why did Michael get you a puppy?"

"I thought it was appropriate since all of the girls around her kept getting knocked up and Maria was kinda left out," Michael's voice announced behind them. Liz turned around and smiled at Michael's blunt statement, reading between the lines of what he was saying. He was afraid that Maria would ask him for a baby and he had thought that the easiest way to get out of that possibly happening was to get Maria a substitute.
"Hi Liz," Michael said, awkwardly giving Liz a hug.
"Hey Michael," Liz answered, trying to maneuver her stomach out of the way the best she could. When had such a simple thing as greetings become an act of acrobatics?
"Speaking of which," Michael looked pointedly at Liz's stomach, "when are you scheduled to pop?"
Maria might still be getting attacked by the pup, but she was not too immobilized to smack Michael on the arm for his choice of words.

Liz smiled. She liked Michael, she really did. His honesty was really refreshing at times. But she would always be impressed with how Maria put up with it 24/7. Considering that thought, Liz realized that most of the time Maria didn't put up with it.
"The caesarean is scheduled for the 2nd of March," Liz said.
"Ohh," was Maria's excited input, "Only another month to go."
Michael frowned in confusion. "C-section?"
Liz nodded. "Yeah, they don't want me to do it the natural way, you know, because of my heart."
Michael's face brightened with understanding. "Ahh."
Shuffling Dog into Michael's arms, Maria flung an arm around Liz's shoulders, pulling her into a sisterly embrace. "Who would want to do it naturally anyway, right Liz?"
Liz smiled weakly, letting herself be lead into the living room. She might be crazy, but she was probably the only one that actually wanted to give birth to her child the normal way. Shaking her head clear of the thoughts, she smiled to herself thinking that you always wanted what you couldn't have. The human being was truly never satisfied.

"How's the moving going? Have you unpacked everything yet?"
Liz sighed tiredly at Maria's question.
"I take that as a 'no'", Maria smiled, helping Liz to sit down despite Liz's protests in a futile attempt at trying to preserve some of her dignity and independence.
Shuffling around, trying to make herself comfortable, Liz spoke, "It's taking forever. We still have so many boxes that are waiting to be unpacked."
"How is that possible? You must've been there for…what? Like almost two months now?"
Liz brushed some hair away from her face, thinking that she was in a desperate need for a hair cut. "Well, since Max is refusing to let me help out-"
Maria frowned. "I get that you shouldn't be lifting stuff, but you can at least unpack small things, right?"
Liz smiled humorlessly. "Try telling Max that. I unpacked all my clothes and the other day he noticed that I had started to unpack some of the china and cutlery while he had been away at work and… Well, he wasn't very happy."
Maria snickered. "Are you fighting over china?"
Liz rolled her eyes. "We're not fighting." She sighed, to Maria embodying the perfect replica of the three-year-old Michelle. "It's more like Max scolding me and I'm trying to argue my point. We won't agree and then we won't say anything to each other for like ten minutes. Then he will kiss me and we're back to normal."

Maria shook her head. God, her friends were really a cheesy couple. "You guys are unbelievable. If Michael were to forbid me from doing anything – anything at all - I would kick his sorry ass out of here."
Liz smirked. "I know you would. Have you seen me lately, Ria? And have you ever taken a good look at Max?" Maria raised her eyebrows silently communicating that of course she had checked Max out. Ignoring her, Liz continued, "It would be extremely difficult for me to kick him out, even if I weren't the size of a whale."
"Oh come on! You're not a whale!"
"You don't have to be nice, Maria. I might not be a whale, but I'm getting there."
"So, do you want ice cream?"
Liz stared at her friend incredulously. "Did you just hear what I said?"
"I heard you," Maria said matter-of-factly. "We have Rocky Road, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Delight-"
"How many people are you feeding?"
"Michael has a big appetite," Maria answered and smoothly pecked Michael on the cheek as passed him on her way to the freezer.
"Right, it's me who eats all the ice cream," Michael said to Liz. Wiping his hands on a towel, he sat down opposite Liz. Puzzled, looked at him.

"So, I couldn't help but overhear, but do you need some help with those boxes?"
With surprise and disbelief coursing through her system, Liz was momentarily speechless. Michael never ceased to surprise her. "No… Michael, thanks, but you don't-"
"Liz," Michael said, "You don't want all those boxes hanging around when that little offspring of yours comes into the world, do you?" Liz laughed insecurely, not sure what to believe. "Besides, Max might need my help to move some of the furniture. I've been meaning to talk to Max about it, but he's been kinda busy."
Liz nodded. "Yeah, school's ending soon, so he has a lot of assignments to grade and exams to prepare."
"Which is why you need my help," Michael emphasized.
"Are you sure?"
"Liz, I'm just glad I can help."
Liz looked at him and said warmly, "Thank you, Michael."
"Don't sweat it," Michael said casually, quickly standing up as he saw Maria approaching from the kitchen, two tubs of ice cream in her hands. "Is tomorrow okay?"
Liz nodded, still slightly flabbergasted by what Michael had just proposed.
Maria plopped down on the couch next to Liz and looked at Michael's retreating back curiously. "What was that about?"
"I don't think I've told you this before, Ria, but Michael is a really good guy. Hold on to him."
Maria looked at Liz suspiciously and then shrugged offhandedly. "Yeah, he's alright."
But there was bright happiness in her eyes as she handed one of the tubs to Liz.

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Liz sat down on one of the boxes in the hallway, letting the tempting smells from whatever Max was cooking fill her senses. If she had known what a good cook he was, she would've searched him out sooner. She flexed her neck to the side in an attempt to remove some of the tension. She was exhausted and her lower back was killing her. Her feet probably needed a good massage as well. Another one of Max's hidden qualities was his expertise in massaging. Looking up at him as he approached, she was once again reminded about how lucky she was to have him in her life. He leaned down to gently kiss her lips and his fingers lightly caressed hers as he transferred the wine glass from his hand to hers.
"Thank you," she said, their faces still close together as she looked into his eyes.
"My pleasure," Max winked and stole another kiss before he straightened. Liz put the glass to her lips and tasted the cool apple juice, her eyes trained on the dark-haired man in front of her.
"How's your back?"
"It's okay," Liz said, not wanting to interrupt his cooking with complaints about back pain.

Max grimaced in dislike as his eyes swept over her homemade chair. "Honey, why don't you sit on the couch? It's going to be at least ten more minutes."
"I can't see you from the couch," Liz said, feeling as if she was stating the obvious.
Max smiled, taking her free hand and gently placing a kiss on its back. "I can assure you, I'm not doing anything overly exciting. Later, you can watch me as much as you want to."
"I haven't seen you all day," Liz said, ignoring the tingle running down her arm from his gentle grip on her hand.
"I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.
"Just humor me, okay?" Liz tried, knowing that when it came to her health and her comfort, Max was unyielding.
Max sighed, looking at the stubborn woman in front of him. Today, he was willing to compromise. Without a word, he disappeared into the living room to return, much to Liz's dismay, dragging one of the armchairs. It was amazing to her how he could lift that huge armchair on his own and she immediately stood up, unable to passively watch him struggle without her helping.

"Max, what are you doing?" she admonished, taking a hold of the free end of the armchair.
Echoing her question, Max looked up at Liz. "Liz, what do you think you're doing?"
"Helping you out, what does it look like I'm doing?"
"Liz," Max warned. "Sit down."
She seriously considered objecting, but the look in his eyes firmly told her to not continue helping him out. She sat down on the box again, watching guiltily as Max pulled the armchair up against the wall in a spot where she would have a clear vision of the kitchen.
"Max…"
His breathing slightly labored, he walked over to her, offered his hand, while placing the other hand around her waist and pulled her to her feet. Unconsciously caressing the small of her back, knowing that she was in pain even though she wouldn't admit it, he guided her over to the armchair and helped her to sit down.
"I'm not handicapped, Max," Liz protested weakly.
"Let me know if you enjoyed the show," Max teased, ignoring her statement, and placed a kiss on her forehead. Whoever did she have to thank to have this man in her life?

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"Mmmm," Liz sighed, licking the dessert fork. "Will you marry me?"
Max's fork stopped mid-air and he looked at Liz. From her semi-closed eyes and the expression of utter contentment on her face as she enjoyed every gram of the mud cake, he quickly came to the conclusion that her statement hadn't been a serious one.
"I thought that was my question to ask," Max said lightly.
"I'm just making sure that you will never get away from me," Liz said, looking at him intently. Max's mind was working hard trying to decide if she was still playing with him or if the message he got from her eyes was telling him something. Of course he was planning on marrying her, but up until today he hadn't been sure how to pop the question, how to make it special. Because she deserved nothing less than perfect. Today, another event that had transpired had presented him with an idea. But if he were to use that idea, his proposal to Liz would be far in the future. Besides, he was worried that an engagement on top of the pregnancy and the move they were still in the middle of might be a little bit too much for Liz and he didn't want to place unnecessary stress on her.
When Max didn't respond, Liz continued, "Because, you know, I'm sure a lot of women are just waiting to take my place."
He grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together. "No one is taking your place, not if I can help it."

She smiled at him, but her smile faltered as a dark thought entered her mind; a thought concerning what he would do when she wasn't around anymore. She would most likely die before him, due to the transplant. Feeling nauseous, she pulled her hand away from him, mustering up a smile as she reached for the juice container.
"Really, Max. This was gorgeous. Thank you."
Somewhat taken aback by the change in her behavior, Max couldn't help but scrutinize her. "I'm glad you liked it."
"You're spoiling me," Liz said.
"Try to stop me," Max challenged, still keeping an eye on her through the fluttering of the warm hue from the candles.
"Now, why would I?" Taking another scoop of the homemade cake, Liz train of thought changed direction. "Oh, by the way, Michael offered to help with the unpacking."
"Really?" Max looked as surprised as she had felt when Michael had offered.
"Yeah, we could use the help."
Max nodded, gratefully. "Definitely." He sliced another piece of the cake and balanced it on the knife to carry it to his plate.
"Impressive," Liz said.
"I am a man of many talents," Max said.
"That you are," Liz agreed. When the words had left her mouth, Max dropped the fork on the floor.
Liz laughed as he ducked under the table to retrieve it. "Obviously, handling cutlery is not one of them."

Looking up from under the table, Max was not only carrying the dropped fork but also a brown envelope. "What's this?"
Liz frowned, taking the envelope that Max held out for her. "I don't know. You found it on the floor?"
"Yeah," Max said, concealing the fact that he had placed that envelope on the floor earlier that same night. "Maybe one of the moving guys left it."
"Maybe," Liz murmured, but she was speaking without realizing what she was saying, because she had spotted the sender on the envelope and had seen that it was addressed to her. She didn't even notice how Max was watching her intently, as her trembling fingers severed the top of the envelope. Her heart was hammering away in her chest, the sound of blood loud in her ears as it rushed to fuel her cheeks, draping an anticipated and nervous flush over her face.
"What is it?" Max wondered, unable to contain himself any longer.
"It's…" Liz tried to work her jaw, tried to get her tongue to cooperate to form words but for some reason she had forgotten how to speak.
Slightly worried that it might be a rejection letter, Max rose from his chair and went to stand behind Liz, his arms enveloping her across the shoulders and collarbone as he read the letter over her shoulder.
"Ms. Elizabeth Parker. We are pleased to inform you that we want to publish Heartbeat. We will contact you on a later date with more information. Congratulations."

"It's my book," Liz whispered. "They're going to publish my book."
Max smiled broadly and tightened his arms around her as he kissed her cheek. "I knew they would."
"Max," Liz said, shocked. "They are going to publish my book."
Max chuckled. "Uh-huh."
"Oh my God," Liz said, emitting a trembling exhale.
"It's an extraordinary book, Liz," Max said.
"Oh my God," Liz repeated, still staring at the piece of paper in her shaking hands.
Max released his grip on Liz and walked around her, kneeling in front of her. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and his smile broadened. It was happy tears. She looked from the paper to him, back to the paper, to return to him.
"I don't understand."
Max caressed her thigh, anxiously waiting for the news to really sink in. "They liked your book, Liz. Soon everyone will be able to read it. Soon everyone will know what an incredible writer you are."

She thought about the pile of rejection slips that she had saved, still packed away in one of the numerous moving boxes. She had never stopped writing. She had never given up. But she had gotten so used to getting rejection notices that she had forgotten how it felt like to anticipate an acceptance letter. After she had submitted her latest novel, after Max had read through it, her busy every day life had taken over and she had almost forgotten about the reply she was awaiting. She had been accepted? They were going to publish her book?
A smile spread over her face, which was quickly covered behind her hand as if it was too big to be let out. "They are going to publish my novel."
"Yes," Max said.
Barely containing the squeal of joy, Liz flung herself into Max's arms, her stomach pushing Max off balance so that they ended up flat on the floor.
"They want my book!" Liz exclaimed, her excited hands taking a firm grip on his cheeks and kissing him elatedly.
"Yes, they do," Max laughed.
Liz sat back, her thighs straddling his waist and looked off into the air, a big smile on her lips. "I can't believe it." Looking down at him, the intensity of the bliss in her eyes, almost took his breath away. "Can you believe it, Max?"

Before he had a chance to respond, she was kissing him again. At first she was raining small kisses all over his face, but as his hands moved into her hair, she felt the change in the air and her lips automatically sought his out. Later, thinking back on the whole incident, she couldn't remember how they maneuvered around her stomach, but neither of them was aware of the third person between them at that point. A need strong enough to ignite a fire was boiling between them, their kisses growing increasingly demanding. As her mouth tasted him, felt him, was adored by his mouth, her hands were on a mission of their own, unbuttoning his shirt. She moaned into his mouth as her hands came into contact with his taut, hairless skin. Assaulted by the sudden need to taste his skin, she slid her lips down his throat, leaving a wet trail of kisses in her wake. His hands adored the few inches of naked skin he could find, until that wasn't enough and he took a hold of her sweater and tugged on it. Sliding over the bulge of her stomach, his actions separated her from her exploration of his skin as he pulled it over her head. Not bothering to remove her bra, he pushed the material upwards to capture one of her dark nipples in his mouth. Liz inhaled sharply at the touch. She couldn't remember ever being this sensitive. She could feel his loving radiate out from her breast as tingles throughout her entire body.
"Max…" she moaned, her head rolling backwards as she arched her back.
Finding it too much of a hassle to navigate around her bra, Max reached behind her to unclasp it.

"God, Liz," he sighed as she sat naked across his chest, merely clad in denim jeans. The reason why they should not continue this was staring him straight in the face and he halted. Liz, noticing his lack of response, met his eyes.
"What's wrong?" she panted.
"We can't do this," Max said, regretting every word.
"What? Why?" Her mind was dazed, but the cold air of the living room made her acutely aware of her unclothed state. Following Max's eyes to her stomach, she sighed, cursing her own stupidity for almost letting things get out of hand. "Oh…"
Leaning forward, Max pressed a kiss against the stomach, simultaneously taking the moment to will himself to calm down.
Feeling the goosebumps form on her skin under his lips, he pulled back and collected her sweater from the floor next to them. Giving her a loving half-smile, he helped her pull the sweater back on. He gently stroked her hair back from her face, reveling in the feeling of her soft skin against his thumb. He could never get enough of her. Liz reciprocated a more radiant smile as her thoughts returned to the cause of them almost losing their control.
"They're going to publish my book!"
Her giddy giggles were partially drowned out by his kisses and their laughter filled the house as Liz lost her balance and fell off of Max's lap.

TBC...