Challenge by Deejonaise

This challenge is based loosely on the movie Return to Me with Minnie Driver and David Duchovny. I won't give a detailed synopsis of this challenge because it's important to me that the author make the story his/her own.

The gist is this: Max and Tess have a wonderful relationship, strong marriage and delightful two-year old son. All their happiness is destroyed in an instant by a drunk driver. Max's wife and son are killed.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Parker is on her deathbed and desperately in need of a heart transplant. She has a rare blood type which has made selection difficult. However, Liz is given a second chance at life when a perfect donor match is found. (The heart is Tess', of course.)

Now fast forward 2 years into the future. Max and Liz meet by coincidence and are instantly attracted. They try to fight their feelings. Max is still grieving for his wife and Liz is afraid of getting close because she doesn't want to explain her heart condition. It's inevitable that the two fall in love.

However, how will Max react when he discovers that his new love is the recipient of his dead wife's heart?

This is an AU fic with no aliens. Toss in the other characters at your own discretion. Any rating is accepted but the ending must be happy.

Final Words

I can't believe I finally reached the end of this story. It's sad to see it go, but at the same time I have this great feeling of contentment. I'm glad that I was able to tell this story and hopefully everyone that has read this story (or some of it) thought that I was doing the characters justice. To you, all my beautiful readers, I want to thank you for your support, your words and your encouragement. But most of all, for your patience. It became a long story and it stretched over a longer time span than I had intended, but I loved every second of it.

I wish there was something else that I could say to show my appreciation for your comments, but all I can say is THANK YOU!

Chapter 62

"Oh Liz," Maria sighed with a dreamy expression. "It's beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous."

Liz smiled, looking at her own reflection in the full-body mirror. The upper part of the white dress was hugging her subtle curves intimately, letting it billow out just below her waist.

"Do you think he will like it?" Liz asked, biting her lip.

Liz saw Maria's nod in the mirror. "Uh-huh. If he doesn't – if every single guy out there doesn't take a second look at you – something is seriously wrong with the male population."

Liz's smile grew wider.

"Now, let's fix that make up of yours," Maria announced.

Liz frowned. "Shouldn't we have done that before I put on the dress?"

Maria shrugged. "Before. After. Does it matter?"

Liz looked at her strangely, but then shrugged as well. "I guess not."

Liz looked towards the door as a loud banging filled the air. "What's that?"

"Oh, the construction workers," Maria answered simply.

"In a church? On my wedding day?" Liz asked.

"Don't worry, Lizzie. They'll take a break soon."

"Uhm…okay."

"Sit down so I can put make up on you."

Liz took a seat in front of Maria and Maria bent down, red lipstick in her hand. Liz scrunched her nose in disapproval.

"Uhm… I never wear lipstick, Maria. I look weird in lipstick, remember?"

"You need some color," Maria stated.

Liz looked up at her and then weakly agreed.

But as Maria put the wine red lipstick against Liz lips, she pressed the material very hard into Liz's soft flesh and the stick broke, falling onto Liz's white dress. In horror, Liz watched the stick roll across the white material, leaving a dark red trail.

"Oh no!" Maria gasped and whipped around to grab tissues. "I'm soo sorry!" She started to move the tissues over the red color, only serving to further smoother it into the material, increasing the affected area.

"Maria, no!" Liz cried out, but Maria wasn't stopping.

Maria merely took a new tissue, spat on it – as if saliva would magically be able to remove the make up – and pressed it hard against Liz's dress. All the time the banging continued around them, wearing on Liz's rapidly deteriorating good mood.

"Maria, you're making it worse," Liz tried and then Maria started to cry.

Liz stared at her in confusion. Why did Maria sound like a baby?

"It's okay," Liz tried, desperately wanting Maria to stop wailing. "I'll just…uhm…wear something else."

But Maria didn't stop. Her cries grew louder, more insistent.

Liz felt something touch her stomach and looked down, jumping in surprise as she saw a tanned, muscled arm around her waist.

Her eyes sprung open and she stared into the darkness.

Just a dream, she thought tiredly.

She looked to her side as she heard Max moan with fatigue. The crying was still there, and in the darkness of the night Liz realized that Miranda was once again awake. Hadn't she just put her to bed?

Liz snaked out from underneath Max's arm, which proved to be more difficult than she had anticipated because he kept tightening his hold on her every time she moved. Using some of that last ounce of willpower, she pulled away and stumbled to her feet. Grabbing the robe on the chair next to the wardrobe to shield her naked body, she walked towards the nursery, breaking out into a large yawn. Automatically, she turned on a small bedside lamp, creating a soft light in the bedroom.

Liz smiled down at Miranda in the crib as she grew quiet at the sight of her mother's face. "You are enjoying this, aren't you?"

Miranda suckled happily on her fist in reply and Liz shook her head in amusement. It didn't matter how many times her daughter woke her up. She would always be just as tired, but she loved these moments in the middle of the night when she would have her quiet times with her daughter.

As she picked Miranda up from the crib, she realized that Miranda's sleeping habits hadn't been the reason to Miranda waking up this time, because she realized that the construction workers from her dream were back. She protectively pressed Miranda close to her body and walked out into the hallway, looking up at the clock when she passed it. Who was knocking at their door at 3.20 a.m.?

Deciding that it wasn't really safe to open the door in the middle of the night, with a baby in her arms nonetheless, she went into the master bedroom and leaned over Max.

"Max? Max, wake up."

He muttered something and turned his head in the other direction. Liz grabbed a hold of the sheet and pulled it off him.

"Max!" she said in a loud whisper, the knocks on the front door sounding once again. "Someone's at the door."

"What?" Max murmured, his eyes beginning to blink towards wakefulness.

"There's someone at the door."

Max opened his eyes and looked up at Liz, seeing how she was pressing Miranda closely to her breast and her words sunk in.

He sat up, suddenly wide awake and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

"After three," Liz answered.

He rose from the bed, grabbing his robe and looked her straight in the eye. "Stay here."

She nodded, watching him disappear. Gently rocking Miranda in her arms she walked out into the hallway, positioning herself at the top of the stairs, where she could see the front door. She watched Max walk up to the door and look through the peeking hole and then quickly remove the safety chain and unlock the door.

"Max, thank God. You sleep like the dead! I've been standing out here for almost five minutes-"

"Alex, what…?"

Max eyes skimmed over the slumbering blonde girl in Alex's arms.

"Isabel's…she's-"

Max felt the fear pierce his heart. "What's wrong? Did something happen to Isabel? Is the baby okay?"

Alex nodded profusely. "Yes, yes. She's in labor. She's out in the car – probably ready to bite my head off for the delay. Could you watch Michelle? I know that you are probably busy with Miranda and all, but Isabel insisted that she didn't want anyone else to watch Michelle. Just you."

Max nodded, already having taken a hold of Michelle. "Of course."

Alex helped Max in the transfer of the child and smiled at Max gratefully. "Thanks Max."

"Don't mention it," Max answered. "Tell Isabel I love her."

"I will," Alex said, the trembling in his voice revealing his nervousness.

"You'll be alright," Max smiled at him.

Alex nodded distractedly, looking over his shoulder at the car with the engine still running behind him. "Yeah, yeah, of course."

And then, without a single word of departure, Alex turned around and ran towards the car.

"Uncle Max?" Michelle murmured against Max's ear and Max quietly shut the door.

"Yes, baby. It's me. Go back to sleep."

He felt it the second she gave into sleep, as her body slumped in his arms, her arms and legs dangling along his sides as he supported body with his arms and hands.

He walked up the stairs, leaned in and kissed Liz gently on the lips when he reached the top stairs.

"Isabel?" Liz asked, although she had more or less already figured out why they had suddenly gotten a second child to look after.

"She's having her baby," Max smiled.

-----------------------------------------------

The early morning sun had barely managed to search its way through the windows, the majority of the birds still slumbering, as Liz opened her eyes. She frowned wearily and rolled over. Why was she awake? Her hand moved to the side, where she expected to find Max, but the spot where her fiancé normally slept was empty and cold. Max hadn't been in bed for a long time. She strained her hearing, searching for sounds and heard some noise that seemed to be coming from downstairs.

Refusing the impulse to close her eyes and go back to sleep, she rolled out of bed and pulled a thick sweater over her nightgown to fight off the chill of the early morning air.

She had a perfect view of the living room as she descended the stairs. Max was sitting on the couch, one arm around Michelle who was curled up against his side and wrapped in a blue and green wool blanket. Miranda was sleeping in the crook of the other arm. As Liz reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw that they were watching 'The Lion King'.

Max looked up at her and silently met her eyes as she walked closer to the couch. She sat down next Miranda, pulling her legs underneath her, and kissed the top of Miranda's head. Max smiled at his future wife and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. Liz snuggled closer to Max, needing his warmth and love. Needing to be enveloped in the scent that was just him.

"Miranda woke Michelle up," Max whispered and Liz nodded.

Michelle giggled, pointing at the TV screen, unaware of Liz's arrival. "Look at his hair! It's standing all out!"

They all looked at the screen, where a grown-up Simba shook his body fervently to get rid of the water after his swim in the lagoon, spreading water everywhere and making him look like a hedgehog.

"Silly," Michelle added, curling closer to Max.

Liz gently grabbed Miranda's small hand, straightening the miniscule fingers to look at them individually. Max looked down at what Liz was doing, observing the expression of awe and love on Liz's face. She lightly moved her finger up the length of Miranda's arm, reveling in the feel of her baby-soft skin, while Max continued to watch her.

"I love you," he whispered when her finger reached Miranda's rosy cheek.

Liz looked up at him in surprise, a smile spreading over her face. "I love you."

As Simba was reunited with Nala and the soft tunes of 'Can you feel the love tonight' filled the living room, Liz's eyes drifted closed, her hand enclosing Miranda's and her head resting heavily against Max's bare bicep. Careful not to jostle her, Max reached over Liz and pulled at the blanket that was folded at the end of the couch and pulled it up over Liz's curled up body. His eyes were on his family as the voices from the movie circled around him.

"Simba, wait up. It's awful, isn't it?"

"I didn't want to believe you."

"What made you come back?"

"I finally got some sense knocked into me. And I've got the bump to prove it. Besides, this is my kingdom. If I don't fight for it, who will?"

"I will."

-----------------------------------------------

"Come here," Alex said, lifting Michelle up into the hospital bed in the empty space next to her mother. "This is your little brother."

Michelle's eyes were wide as she looked at the bundle in Isabel's arms. After a moment of silence, she said, matter-of-factly. "He look exacky the same as Mianda."

Isabel looked up at her husband and laughed softly before lovingly pushing back the blonde curls from her daughter's face. "Yeah, most babies look the same."

Michelle looked at the baby, slightly disappointed that he was so small.

She knew from having been around Miranda that her brother wouldn't be that much fun right now. He would just be sleeping, crying, eating and pooping. Still, she had hope that maybe her brother would be different. Maybe he would be big, ready with white sneakers and a ball to play with her.

"When can he play?" she wondered.

Isabel and Alex looked at each other in amusement. Alex put his arms around his daughter and pressed a kiss against her temple. "He has to get a little bit bigger first, honey. But you know what? As his cool older sister, you will be able to teach him all the cool games."

Michelle's face brightened. "I's can learn him how to put make up on my make up doll!!"

Alex held back a snicker. "Yes, you can teach him all the neat tricks."

Max and Liz visited thirty minutes later, exclaiming with oohs and aahs over the handsome newbie in this world. Liz hugged Isabel warmly and kissed her on the cheek.

"He's beautiful, Isabel."

Isabel smiled, glowing. "Thank you, Liz."

The two women had come a long way since they were fighting about what was best for Max. It seemed like such a long time ago already. Looking over at Max, looking so natural standing next to Liz, Isabel was glad that she had pushed her pride to the side and accepted Liz as a constant in her brother's life.

"I'll wait outside," Liz told Max softly. Isabel's smile grew wider as she watched how Max's gaze would follow Liz until she was completely out of his sight.

"What?" he smiled as he saw the big grin on his sister's face.

She shook her head. "You. All happy. In love."

A blush spread up his neck, sidestepped his cheeks and instead aimed straight for reddening his ears.

"Yeah, about that… I wanted to talk to you about something."

Isabel patted the free space next to her on the bed. "What's up?"

"Uhm… I asked Liz to marry me," Max said.

Isabel's smile widened until it barely fit on her face, her eyes glowing. "And…?"

Max's eyes returned her glow, nodding. "She said 'yes'."

Isabel laughed, pulling him into a hug. "Of course she did. It was about time you asked."

"You're okay with this?" he asked haltingly against her ear.

She let go off him so that she could look him straight in the eyes. "Why wouldn't I be, Max? You're happy. And I'm pretty sure Liz is what is making you happy. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy."

He couldn't help but hug her again. "Thanks, sis."

She wiped some tears off her cheeks and hitched her chin into the direction of the book lying next to Max.

"What's that?"

Max picked up the book and handed it over. "Liz wanted you to have it."

Isabel looked down at the cover and asked in surprise, "Is this…?"

Max nodded. "It's her book."

"Wow," Isabel breathed. "She did it. She really did it."

Max beamed proudly. "Yes, she did."

Isabel looked up from the book at her brother. "Tell her 'thank you'."

"I will," Max promised and leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek. "You look tired. You should get some rest. I'll be back later."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Do you want me to help you put him back in the crib?"

"Please."

Max felt his chest swell with warm fuzzy feelings as he picked up the small baby. It struck him then how quickly babies grow. Miranda was already big in comparison with his nephew. His nephew. Max smiled and gently placed the baby in the crib, pulling it up to the bed so that Isabel would have close access.

"Catch you later, sis," he said softly.

"Love you," Isabel answered.

"Love you too," Max responded.

When Max had left the room, Isabel looked down at the cover of the book and absent-mindedly stroked the indented letters of the title.

Heartbeat

Elizabeth Parker

Her son graced the silence with a gurgle and she smiled, looking over at the baby. The one-day old was happily suckling the side of his fist and Isabel stared at him in wonder a long time before turning her eyes back to the book in her hands and opened it to the first page.

In Memory of Tess Evans, the woman who gave me life in more ways than one.

Isabel's hands were trembling, tears running down her cheeks at the act of Liz dedicating her book to her best friend and with a sobbing smile she turned to the first page and started to read.

I must have been six years old. The memory is as clear as the morning dew sliding off a green leaf in the early morning sun, but there is fog blurring the edges.

I remember sitting in a corner of the small kitchen. I remember the full smell of chocolate muffins heavily surrounding me. A smell that normally would have left me itching with anticipation but which that afternoon only left me with the suffocating longing for air.

I remember his large hands, the skin that was worn by thousands of small lines of age and sun, reaching down and lifting me up. I remember having difficulties to breathe but the calm I felt to be held close against his shirt. His familiar grandpa smell enveloped me and while my heart was barely keeping up, I could feel – and hear – his heart beat against my ear. Calm and steady.

"Have I ever told you about my talent?" he asked me as he sat me down on the majestic wooden kitchen table. I think he stroked my hair back from my face, but my memory of that detail remains hazy. At the shake of my head he tells me.

He tells me of his talent of being able to see wings on people. How some people are so beautiful on the inside that they have wings. I can still to this day remember the confusion and hunger I felt to understand what he meant.

"Sometimes I have to squint my eyes to see them, but some people…some people are glowing."

My childish imagination produced an amazing radiant white angel and I laughed with the same type of giddiness you feel when your father comes home from a long trip and brings you a present.

He smiled and said, "I see them on you, Lizzie. I see them on you."

I didn't understand it then and not for many years to follow. But I do now.

Because I see them now.

I see them now.

THE END