Chapter Twenty-Eight

Fifteen minutes later after taking a shawor and getting ready for work, Liz made her way down stairs. It was already too late for her to go to Michael's to see Max and that witch, however if she missed another day of work she might just get fired no matter who her daddy was. Liz couldn't remember when she didn't have to put her working duties aside to help Max with his alien problems. Infact, Liz had been a rather wonderful girlfriend these past few years and for Max to just throw her aside... Thats how she felt, like she had been dropped like last months shoes.

Liz shook her head as she pushed throught the door and entered the front, she shouldn't think about things like that. Liz didn't want to much think of anything but her job but that changed as she went around the counter and saw who her next customer was and the whole day came rushing back in her mind.

"You" Liz exclaimed with as much distaste that she felt.

Eric resisted the urge to smile as he looked at the beautiful face staring hatefully at him, "Well, hello to you to gorgeous"

"What are you still doing here?" Liz asked hands going to her hips and wasn't that a picture perfect moment, well at least Eric thought so.

"I was going to leave, but then..." Eric put his elbows on the table and looked at her smiling toothly, "I realized that one of the two girls I so graciously helped hadn't bothered to show me any gratitude"

"Gratitude" Liz echoes the word looking at Eric incredulously, knowing he was right but somehow thought she didn't know why, she didn't want to give him satisfication, "For what?"

"For what?" Eric's face seemed to quized surprise, was the girl on something or what, "Well, for saving your lives"

"Saving our lives?" Liz was lost and totally unaware of the other customers in need of her attention, "How did you save our lives?"

Eric gave another smile, shaking his head, now she wanted him to explain how he had saved their lives, as if it wasn't already obvious and if it wasn't, it should have been, "For one, sweet thing..."

"Excuse you" Liz snapped, interupting him and the shock was apparent on her face as she asked, "Did you just call me 'sweet thing'?"

"Yeah" If it was possible, the smile on Eric's face grew two times larger as he raised his eyesbrows at her, "You like that"

Liz was caught between a cough and a laugh as she struggled to say her next words. What was up with this guy, he acted as if flirting was a way of life. What, now that Maria wasn't around, did he have to turn his attention to her, wait a moment, where was Maria anyway.

Liz took a breath, and calmed herself down a little bit, "Do you maybe know where Maria went?...I mean I don't know why I am asking, you probably don't..."

"She went to check on her car" Eric aswered before Liz could finish talking, while at the same moment, settling himself down and getting comfortable and watched Liz. After taking his answer at face value, she began making her rounds, finally getting to doing her job. Eric didn't know what was it about this girl, no that wasn't true, Liz reminded him of someone that was very special to him. That's why he enjoyed messing with her, it was a joyious active that could possible make his mission a little more fun.

"You know, sweetheart" Eric called out while Liz was still with another customer, a middle aged man, he knew he shouldn't say the next words but somehow he couldn't block them, "You didn't service me yet and I can't wait any longer hunny bun."

Liz froze at those words as she met the eyes of the man before her. She could the air rushing from her body and a cold fury run through her viens and she turned from her customer and met Eric's laughing eyes. Her eyes wild, she struggled to kept herself cool and collected as she made her way over to him. Liz didn't care how cut the guy looked sitting there with that wide smile and beautiful eyes. How dare he, embarrass her in public in such a manner?

"What Is Your Problem?" Liz straised the words out slowly against her better judgement considering that the problem was clear. In front of her was the most infuriating, igotistcal...jerk that she had ever met. Infact, there weren't words that could discribe him correctly but boy did she want to wipe that smirk from his lips. His beautiful lips, girl stay angry here.

Eric hanged forward near enough for Liz to see the deep rich chocalate color of his eyes, "You haven't said those two little words that I want to hear"

"Bite me" Liz snapped once again stepping back and going around the counter, fueled on by the anger she felt at that moment.
"Love too" Eric said softly as she stopped infront of him, placing his hands on the counter once again, "However, those weren't the words I meant"

Liz sighed in faustration, wasn't she ever going to get rid of him, "What's your deal?"

"My deal is that if I hadn't stopped my car, you, Ms. Attitude would have been there for a long time...I mean the world isn't as nice as me you know, and most people are scared to stop on the road to help..."

"Except you" Liz pointed out whilst interupting at the same time.

Eric rolled his eyes, afterall Liz had said the obvious, "Well I am sweet, besides...two hot girl stranded in the middle of norway, waiting for some guy to save them is every guy's fantasy"

"Is that right?" Liz asked, boy hadn't she known that and another thing she couldn't figure out was that while Eric was talking, Liz was finding all that fury from before draining away. She didn't want that but she couldn't seem to help it, "Look, what's your point?"

Eric looked at her for a while then shook his head, as if whatever point he was trying to make should be quiet obvious to her, "My point sweetling is that some of those guys are perverted middle-aged men named Bob with an appetite for teenage girls, why if I hadn't stopped...that would be the guy that could have offered you a ride"

Liz hadn't wanted to but she could help the laugh that excaped from her lips while she took examined his explaintion. Perverted middle-aged men named Bob with an appetite for teenage girls! Boy, did this newly found friend of hers have a wild imagination. That though, that word errased the feeling she had moments before. Friend.

No, she shouldn't consider him a friend, she had just met him, right?

Liz finally shook her head, and offered a small detarched smile, "Thank you sir for your chivarious behavior"

"You are welcome, glad you could see my point" Eric said, glad that finally he had made her smile or laugh. Glad she was smiling and he couldn't help but want to push, "Does this mean I get free lunch?"

Liz stared at him for a moment a more relaxed smile at this point, "A free lunch?"

"Well, it would be a better way of saying thanks" Eric pointed out flashing another incrediable smile, his eyes shining through, "Actions speak louder than words, Right?"

"Right" Liz agreed after a moment of studing Eric, "Fine, what do you want?"

"I can have anything?" Eric asked, raising his eyebrows once again.

Liz gave a nod, "Whatever, just look over the menu while I pay attention to my other customers"

Eric realized that he had kept her long enough and grabbed the menu, he had no need for the menu though, he already knew what he wanted for lunch. He was in deep trouble, Eric was now sure of that than ever, he had just met this girl but something was whispering at the back of his mind. This girl would change his life, maybe she would help him look at what he came to this mysterious land for. Yeah, right...He really was going to tell this gorgeous girl that he came to Roswell in search of Aliens. If loser hadn't registared already.

"So, ready for the order?" Liz was once again standing infront of him and now she was all business like.

"Yeah, but it's not on the menu" Eric explained, giving her a once over.

"Well, what?" Liz asked, wearing another smile althought while hoping otherwise knew that Eric was about to say something idiotic that would make her angry or something. She just had to wait and find out.

Eric leaned forward, his attitude still playfull mind you, "You"

That one word had Liz blushing like crazy, boy, was she starting to act like Maria. She knew that she was starting to act like Maria. Was this guy doing something to her too, Liz blocked those thoughts from her head, she had to stop analyzing everything around her. Boys will be boys after all.

"Sorry" Liz said, the smile still in place as she forced herself to calm down, "You can't have me, I am taken"

Like that was going to stop him coming on to her, had she already forgotten his earlier actions with Maria already. This guy was still a pig, or had that thought with the rest of her sanity leave her mind. Liz was going crazy at this point, it wasn't as if she really was taken after all now was it? Her boyfriend had a wife from a pastlife whom he now realizes is the love of his life. He has a baby with the girl and here Liz was making references to him like he still belonged to her and vice versa.

"Max, right?" Eric asked, still wearing the playfull smile.

Liz tensed and studied Eric like one would study a insect under a microscope, how the hell did he know that? Maybe she was right to raise the red flag on this guy, what if he was a government agent? Well he was too young, but you never know with the government, they would do anything to get what they wanted. But whatif he wasn't, what if he was so much worse. Another Alien perhaps, a skin...

"Maria told me" Eric said unaware that Liz was already becoming suspecious of him though he had answered her unasked question.

"Really" Liz said, the smile slipping off her lips. She wasn't likely to trust him until she knew more about him, even then...Max's life was on the line here, "What did she tell you?"

Eric opened his mouth to speak but he didn't get the chance because Liz's eyes seems to be somewhere else. Eric turned around and found a boy with semi-shoulder length hair walk in the diner, looked around a bit before making his way to where he and Liz are. The guy didn't seem to notice him, or maybe he had and had chosen to ignore him turning his attention straight at Liz.

"Hey, so you guys are here?"
"As you can see, Michael" Liz answered with a small smile, "What are you doing here, should you be at home taking care of the..situation"

Michael sat down and shrugged his shoulder in a who cares way before looking up at Liz, "Problem solved, Max's idea and let's just say that it's unbelievable"

"What do you mean?" Liz asked, she really wanted to know what Max had decided about Tess and what was going to happen. Liz put out hope that maybe Max had decided to listen to her and give that slut what she deserved.

"Lets just say that knowing your past can really help" Michael choice his words carefully afterall the two where in public. Eric sitting beside Michael raised his eyebrows once again, these two where speaking in code. Why?

"Anyway, Max and our two guest will be joining us soon" Michael said slowly looking at the counter as if it was the most amazarzing thing that had ever been built. Eric didn't need to understand why because the look on Liz's face was enough to scare him. She looked angry, having been successfull at totally getting to her, this was still scare. She was pale and cluntching her fist while giving Michael a hard stare.

"Is that wise?" When LIz asked her voice was calm and collected.

"Yeah" Michael said then raised his head to look at Liz, before realizing that someone was watching him. "What?"

Eric smiled at the guy sitting beside him, who had taken LIz's attention, brightly, "Hi, I am Eric, thanks for stealing my thunder"

Michael was silent for a moment looking between Eric and Liz and again at Eric, "You are welcome" Then turned to Liz, "Can I get the usual?"

"So you are Maria's boyfriend?" Eric asked trying to connect all the dotes.

Michael was silent for a moment as he accepted a drink from Liz then turned to Eric once more "And you are?"

"I gave Liz here and your girlfriend a ride after their car broke down" Eric informed Michael still wearing his charming smile Liz noted, he really needed to realize that Michael wasn't a blushing girl and wouldn't be easly won over the way Maria had.

"And saved us from Perverted middle-aged men named Bob with an appetite for teenage girls" Liz offered with a teasing tone.

Michael raised his eyebrows at the two of them, aware that this was aome kind of private joke that he didn't understand. And Liz, what was up with the smile and teasing nature, that didn't come natural. Did it? Not for as long as he had known her but granted the danger lurked around the corner left no time for much fun.

Michael's thoughts flew out of his head as he felt arms wrape around him tightly, he smiled as he smelled Maria's scent and as she whispered in his eye, "Hey babe."

Michael turned around to look at Maria, she looked beautiful as she usually did. Her long lond hair riding down in waves engulfing her small attractive face. She was wearing the regular uniform and thought she had come through the back door. And she was wearing a smile just for him. And now that he was aware of his feelings for Ava, lets just say he wanted things to get back to normal which wasn't going to happen anytime soon, Michael thought as he glanced out and saw Max holding bundle of joy.

"Max is here" Michael said gaining everyone's attention.

Liz lifted her head to the door and took a deep breath, Maxwell Evans in all his glory was coming through the door, holdin a baby protectively and smiling rather brightly. She smiled, thinking about what a wonderful father he already was and thought of the future she had always imagined with him. Boy, was that future going up in smoke.

"Whos that with him?" Eric asked watching the redhaired girl come to stand beside him and place a hand on the baby's head.

Michael was silent for a moment turning to Eric, who was this guy, but that was a good question and knowing Maria and Liz. They were probably wondering the same thing, "That is Ava" Michael said with a smile coming on his lips.

Maria and Liz glanced at each other before looking at the girl with Max once again. Ava aka Tess and Max walked over to them. Liz couldn't help but notice the smirk that was formed on the former Queen's lips. She was probably enjoying every moment of that minute and who could blame her. Max hadn't taken Liz's advice now, had he? No, he had changed Tess's form, how had he done that anyhow. Was it some rather complicated Alien power that Liz had no idea about now. No, she suddenly remembered a conversation when she first found out about Max, he said that they could change the molecular structure of object, was this the same thing.

"Liz, Maria" Tess spoked softly looking between the two friends, in total awareness of the shock that was probably jolting down their spine, "I bet you guys are surprised."

Liz turned her gaze to Max who was looking at her with apprehensive eyes, a pleading showing through but Liz just shook her head. And boy did she want to tear that face of Tess. Eric hadn't said anything and continued to stare at the red-haired girl, something was nagging him about her. He was taken aback as she finally turned to him.

Tess felt her smile widen as she realized who was sittin next to Michael, "Eric" She breathed his name and could see him raise his eyebrows in surprise, it took her a while to realize that she had changed her form. She was also aware that now everyone's attention was on her and Eric at that point and they probably had question. Tess didn't think about it, but through her arms around him and huged him tightly.

Eric looked down and suddenly the red-haired girl didn't have red hair anymore, she now had blond hair and looked very much like the girl he had known since ever. Ava, and how familiar she had seemed, "Tessa" Eric whispered the name and down he went.