The next week was relaxing for everyone except Isabel and Liz. Isabel was worried about her brother, while Liz knew he wouldn't be gone for too long and she didn't know how Max would do when he'd come back.

Isabel had gone to his apartment the day after the dinner at Olive Garden, to find him gone. She'd called his cell phone and had left a million messages. She was a little angry nobody else seemed worried.

The only one who kept her hopes up and knew she was worried was Scott. He had come around the house a couple of times, hanging out with Michael and had stayed for dinner. Kyle had taken to Scott too, as well as Ava. Isabel's emotions were whirl wing when he was around. He was the only one who she looked to to make her feel better. She smiled thinking and how their first date would be like. He'd come by early that morning to play basketball with the guys and had come into the house to finally ask her out. They were going to dinner and then going to see a comedy show.

Liz declared herself a genius. She didn't want to scare Isabel or Scott by telling them that they were to be together from now on, and more than likely get married. She was dying to tell someone, Michael, although happy Isabel finally had someone, wasn't as excited as her. She knew she had to show Ava and Kyle but knew it wasn't the time. Who am I kidding? I'm going to end up telling them before dinner.

She was in her little house getting popcorn and drinks ready. Her and Michael were watching a movie. When everyone asked why they were watching at her house, she had answered it was a lot quieter and they wouldn't have to stop the movie every ten minutes when someone walked into the room to ask a random question. Nobody could deny their actions during her movies so thought nothing of it.

"Baby? Are you almost done?" Michael called from her living room. He was looking through her movies in her room.

"Yeah. How about you?" She called grabbing the popcorn and taking it to the coffee table and then went back to get the drinks.

Michael emerged from her room. "Ok, I have two options."

Liz groaned. She knew the options and as much as she loved them, she wanted to brake them.

"The Matrix?" Michael showed her the box. "Or Four brothers?" He showed her that box too.

"Michael can't we watch something else?"

"You don't have a big collection."

She groaned again to show her frustration. "Four Brothers I guess."

"The story's great isn't it?"

"No, the brothers are hot." She smiled and fell back onto the couch.

Michael put the movie in the DVD player and then came to sit next to her. She snuggled up against him and breathed him in. She loved the smell of Michael.

Michael put his arm around Liz and kissed the top of her head. This is what he wanted the rest of his life to be like. All he needed was Liz by his side to be happy, to live happy and grow old with.

Not even halfway through the movie, Michael's hands were already roaming Liz's body which she could not resist and return the favor.

They kissed and pulled back only to stand and make their way into her bedroom. They both feasted in each others bodies on the way to the bed and finally fell against it.

They shed their clothes and Michael bent over her entrance and kissed and licked at her clit. "Michael!" Liz moaned when she came into Michael's mouth minutes later.

She waited until the pleasure subsided to roll him over and lick him clean.

They tickled each other and cuddled for a while. They talked about everything and nothing at all. They loved just being in each other's arms.

"I think I'm ready to come out." Liz looked at Michael.

He smiled. "Didn't know I was so bad at sex that you'd have to turn to women to feel any pleasure." He joked but he understood what she meant.

"I'm serious, Michael."

"I know. I'm sorry. Liz, nothing would make me happier than to let everyone know what's been going on between us but I want to make sure you're ready. I don't want you to feel like you're being pressured to do it."

"I'm not. I love you, Michael. I want to be able to hug you, kiss you, hold you and be able to say I love you without turning to see who's standing behind me. I'm sorry it took me this long. I was scared but I've thought about it. I don't think they'll ever understand us and why we're together but we are and they'll have to accept that and if they don't then we can move out. I love them, they're my family but I can't go on lying to them. I have to be honest to them and I want to be honest to us."

Michael pulled her in for a kiss. He loved Liz at the moment more than possible. He'd wished for this day for a long time. He'd be able to be with her and not behind everyone's backs but in front of everyone.

Their bodies needed each other at the moment and they listened. Michael's hand went down to her folds and smiled when he found she was ready for him.

"I love you, Michael."

"I've always loved you, Liz."

And they're lovemaking began.

Before they both reached their climax, a yell scared them and all of a sudden Michael was on the floor.

"You stupid BITCH!" Max had Liz by the throat. She tired pulling his arm away but he was too strong. She needed to breathe. She panicked and struggled with him to let her go.

And then he was off her.

She grabbed for her throat and breathed to calm herself. When she turned, she found Max and Michael fighting.

"STOP!" She came between them. She pushed Max. "I said STOP!" Her hand came up automatically and Max flew against the wall.

When she saw Max's arm go up, so did hers. She put a protective shield to protect herself and Michael.

"Stupid bitch!" Max yelled again.

Liz had never seen Max so angry. He looked like a mad dog, going at the shield, trying to get through.

"You asshole!" Max turned to Michael. "How long has this been going on?! Now I see why you weren't heart broken when I left you, you were sleeping with him the whole time! Or is this recent because Scott preferred Isabel than you! You fuckin tramp!"

"Max shut the hell up! I get you're pissed! But I swear to God if you try anything on Liz again I'll fucking kill you." Michael threatened.

"Max, calm down." Liz said fearful of what he might try next.

"Fuck you!" And with that, he turned and left.

Michael and Liz quickly changed and went after Max.

They found his standing in the kitchen with everyone else. Both of them slowed their walk and halted.

"Max, what's wrong?" Isabel could see how awful Max looked. She feared him. She'd never seen him this angry in his life.

"Why don't you ask them?!" He roared.

Liz swallowed. Oh God, please not like this. Please, not like this.

"Maxwell, calm down. Let's talk about this." Michael slowly walked towards Max. He couldn't let this happen. He wouldn't let Liz feel ashamed like this in front of everyone. There was a way for the group to find out but this way would break Liz.

"What's going on guys?" Kyle looked from Max to Michael and then to Liz, whose eyes were closed and looked like she wanted to disappear.

"The reason Liz is over me is because her and Michael have been fucking! I found them just now in her room. Go ahead Liz. Michael. Why don't you tell them how loose Liz's been since I left to find my son."

Michael moved so fast nobody could stop him. He punched Max onto the floor and jumped on him. "I told you to shut the fuck up!" Michael repeatedly punched Max. "You tried to fuckin choke her. I hope you like the feeling." Michael put his hands around Max's throat and tightened them.

"Michael!" Ava, Isabel and Liz screamed at the same time.

Kyle was finally able to pry Michael off Max and pushed him away.

"He almost chocked Liz!" Michael roared. He went and held Liz who was now crying. Her dreams of having them understand their relationship was dead now. She'd never be looked at again and it was all because of Max.

"I hate you." Liz said through tears. She couldn't believe Max.

"Oh that's original. You hate me?! I'm the one who caught you fucking my brother!" Max stood but was held by Kyle.

"Max I'm sure you saw wrong." Isabel's mind was going a million miles a second. It couldn't be possible. Liz and Michael were close like brother and sister. Max had have to seen what he looked like them together.

"We weren't fucking!" Michael yelled over everyone's questions of what was going on.

"You fucking liar!" Max made a move to try to get away from Kyle which set Michael off against.

"Stop it!" Liz didn't know how she did it but she'd blasted Michael, Kyle and Max onto the floor. She rushed to Michael to see if he was ok. "I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"

She groaned. She had no other choice but to explain. "Michael and I love each other."

She could almost feel the air being sucked out of the room as everyone gasped.

"Max found me and Michael making love. When Max left, I felt more betrayed than I was heart broken. Max's love for me had died a long time ago and vice versa. This past year, Michael and I have become best friends."

As Liz spoke, Michael could hear the honesty, and the rawness of her love for him. He just hoped everyone else could hear it too.

"Nothing happened between us when Maria was alive. I didn't know they were even having problems with their marriage until about 2 months ago, when I realized I was in love with him. He told me that he and Maria were getting a divorce but she died the day before they were to tell us. We had a long talk and we knew we wanted to be together. It was the day Max and Serena moved out that we got to talking. We were headed to the zoo and something he said to me finally opened my eyes and I knew he was the one I wanted to grow old with. Michael wanted to let you all know. He said you'd all understand. But I didn't want any of you to see me as you saw Max. I knew you wouldn't understand our relationship. I knew you'd question it, question our love. I didn't want any of you to think it'd happened before Max and I had broken up or before Maria had died. I was scared, so I told Michael I didn't want you guys to know. He respected my wishes but he didn't like it. We sneak around. When Michael and I first kissed, we somehow made a connection. We can't turn it off. We can read each other's minds; feel what each other is feeling. We can't lie to each other, not that we would." Liz took a breath; she'd just given her friends a lot of information in a short amount of time, could they understand? "Please understand? Please say you'll have an open mind. We know how unconventional this is. But you can't choose who you fall in love with. And we fell in love, no matter how weird it might be for all of you, we fell in love."

Nobody spoke.

Isabel was looking at the floor. Max was looking up at the ceiling laughing to himself. It was hard for Liz to see any expression between Kyle and Ava because they were looking at each other.

"I know this is hard to understand but you have to know this isn't a fling or sex for us. We really do love each other. I haven't been this happy—well ever. I started painting again because of Liz. She brought that passion back out of me. With her with me, I can see my purpose." Michael squeezed Liz. "We'll go get cleaned up while you think about this. We'll meet you in the living room in an hour."

Isabel was the one who nodded. "Yeah, I think that's best."

"What?!" Max roared and Liz actually flinched. "That's all you have to say?! After all their bullshit that's all you have to say?! After what they just admitted?!"

"Max, I think you should leave." Ava said firmly.

"What?!"

"Max, I know you're pissed but you really have no reason to be. You left Liz! It isn't her fault you left her behind and she fell for your best friend! Now you probably wouldn't care as much about it if Serena hadn't left your sorry ass! So, if you're not going to have an open mind about this then you need to leave!"

Max pushed by Kyle and stood in front of Isabel. "If you agree with this, with them, then you're never seeing me again." With that, he left.

"Isabel—" Michael tried.

"Just go Michael. Get showered. We'll meet you in an hour." Isabel looked lost as she walked out of the kitchen.

For the first time in her life, Liz felt defeated. She was going to walk out of the house into the backyard knowing full well that when she came back, she might not be looked at the same or even accepted. It was a sad truth for her but she swallowed and knew even at its worst, she'd still have Michael.

Knowing what she was thinking and feeling, Michael squeezed her hand and led her to her home in the back.

Michael healed the bruises on her neck and they both took their time getting cleaned up.

An hour later, walking in the back yard, Michael squeezed her hand once again and said, "No matter what happens in there, it's you and me."

Liz nodded. "I love you."

"I love you."

They both said a small prayer before entering the house. The house was quiet, as if nobody was at home but when they entered the living room, they found their 3 friends waiting.

Liz and Michael were hand in hand and their hands did not separate. They sat together and did not say a word.

Should we say something?

I think they want to talk, babe. Michael turned to her to answer.

Maybe your right. Liz nodded.

It'll be ok.

"I hope so." She answered out loud.

"Excuse me?" Isabel frowned at them.

"Sorry I was commenting on what Michael said."

"Michael didn't say anything." Isabel looked annoyed.

"We were talking to each other in our heads." Liz answered a little weary.

Isabel nodded. "I've thought about nothing but the both of you for the past hour and I still can't wrap my head around the whole thing. I mean, first we find out you guys are sleeping together, then your together and in love and to top it off you claim you can hear each other. I don't know if it's because I just found out or because I won't ever be able to understand."

Liz nodded, not sure of what to say or do.

"Ava and I are angry. We trusted you over anybody else we know, not including Isabel and you guys lied to us. We chose you as Godparents to our child and it pisses me off that you've been lying for almost 2 months." Kyle shook his head.

"There is another part though, that we understand. Looking back and putting ourselves in your shoes, we understand why you did it. We understand why you didn't feel like you could come to us. When you mentioned you guys shared a connection, it seemed like you guys were truly amazed by the idea. Had you never had that with Maria or Max?" Ava asked.

Michael and Liz both shook their heads. "No, never."

"Not at all."

Ava and Kyle looked at each other. "We believe you're in love."

"Wait? What? That fast? You're able to believe them after everything that's happened?" Isabel couldn't believe it.

"Isabel would you agree that both Liz and Michael looked surprised that they had a connection?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, so. What does that have to do with anything?"

"It means Isabel that they have found who they have to be with for the rest of their lives." Ava answered.

Michael, Liz and Isabel waited for more information on Ava's part.

"In Antar, that is how we know we've found the love of our lives, our soul mate. The first time love is shared and is shared by a kiss, a connection is made. If Liz didn't have it with Max and Michael didn't have it for Maria then they weren't meant to be. If Liz and Michael have it, then there's nothing either can do. Destiny has chosen for them. We can't do anything about it. They're in love and one way or another we're going to have to accept it or we'll lose them."

"How do you know all this?' Isabel still wasn't convinced.

"Zan, Lonnie and Rath showed me how to meditate and look at my past life. That's the one thing we all remembered. When Kyle and I first kissed and I knew I loved him, out connection opened. We've been able to talk to each other through our minds. The times that you've seen us doing what the other wants done, it's not because we know each other perfectly, it's because we're talking. We didn't mention it because we thought they all had that connection and it was something we didn't talk about. It's something special we have."

Liz and Michael turned to look at each other and smiled. I told you it'd be us from now on. Michael leaned in and kissed Liz lightly on the lips.

"Seeing you guys like this makes me feel stupid. I can't believe I didn't see how you felt about each other." Kyle shook his head. "Thinking back now, I see the looks, the times you were both gone. I should have known there was something going on."

Liz smiled. "I think you and Ava were a little distracted with the news about the baby."

"Look, it's going to be weird for us for a while. It doesn't mean we don't believe in your relationship. What you guys want to do is your business. Kyle and I believe you're made for each other but we need time to get used to the both of you. Can you give us time?" Ava asked.

"Of course." Liz nodded.

"We knew this wouldn't be easy for you." Michael added.

"Isabel?" Liz brought the attention to her since she'd said nothing.

Isabel shook her head. "I don't know. I don't know if I can understand it. I don't know if I believe it. This is too much."

Liz felt her insides tighten. "Isabel can I make a connection with you. I'm not going to show you much, what Michael and I have is too special to share with someone else. But I do want you to see how I feel and a glimpse of my future."

Isabel was still shaking her head. "I don't think I can do this Liz."

"Isabel, for all the times Liz has been there for you, please think about it." Michael begged.

Isabel looked at Liz for what seemed like hours before she nodded. "Ok. But I don't see how that's going to work." As she said it, Liz stood and went to her.

They held hands, closed their eyes and concentrated.

FLASH
Michael when he realized he loved Liz.

Liz when she realized she loved Michael.

Liz and Michael declaring their love.

Both of them laughing at the movies, in the park, at the zoo.

Liz in the future driving her car about 5 months pregnant. There was a boy and a girl in the back seat arguing. Liz was telling them to calm down or she'd turn the car around and telling them their daddy would be mad to hear they'd bee fighting.

Liz arriving at the destination with the kids. She'd parked at an art gallery that was named Ulysses. Michael stepping outside as soon as she parked. The little girl ran toward him and called him daddy and he spun her around, holding her tight. Michael set his daughter down and kissed his son and finally takes Liz into his arms and kisses her.
END FLASH

Liz opened her eyes to find Isabel's eyes fool of tears.

"You have gorgeous kids." Isabel sniffed, trying to get rid of the tears.

Liz let her tears fall and laughed. "I know." And then she hugged Isabel. "Thank you. I hadn't seen where I was going and I should have. In the pit of my stomach I knew who the father of my kids was but with your added power, I got to see how much I was loved and how happy we were."

Isabel hugged back and shook her head. "I'm sorry to both of you. I know to trust you guys but I wanted to fight it. It's going to be hard for me knowing that everyone I know is in love and I've yet to find a man I like let alone marry."

"Oh, but—"

"Liz!" Michael warned.

"What? What's wrong?" Isabel asked.

It was Liz's turn to shake her head. "Nothing." She said getting up headed back over to Michael.

The five friends were quiet for a long time, just soaking everything in when Isabel spoke sadly, "What am I going to tell Max??

It wasn't until then that everyone noticed she'd been crying.

"I love you guys and I know, I felt how deep in love you both are but I don't know what to do. I know Max. He wants to own you Liz. And if he can't, he won't let anyone else have you. This thing with Michael is going to drive him insane. And if I were to side with you, I'll never see my brother again, because I know that's one promise he'd keep. He'll see it as the ultimate betrayal."