Collision 5

"Look at me," he searched her face. He tilted his head, as she refused to meet his eyes.

"Why must you go as well?" she said without looking up

"Liz," he whispered.

"What am I supposed to think while you're gone," she continued. "You could get hurt."

His face softened as he watched her bottom lip tremble. He tucked a few errant strands of her brown locks behind her ear. "look at me," he pushed softly.

"What if something happens to you," her tearful eyes stared into his.

Max stared into her eyes. "Come here," he pulled her forward. "I will be fine," he whispered trailing kisses across her face. "The end of the world couldn't keep me from you and our babies," he exaggerated.

She uncurled herself from him, shoving him away playfully. "You're insane," she laughed.

"Can I kiss my wife?" he asked teasingly.

"When have you ever asked for permission," she said dodging his lips.

Max pulled her back towards him, a playful glint in his eyes. "You are absolutely right," he smiled. His large hands gripped her bottom, forcing her against him. He breathed in the fresh scent of vanilla in her hair.

The feel of him amplified her need for him. She waited almost desperately for his lips to touch hers.

Her eyes fluttered closed as he brushed his lips against her eager ones.
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"Are you two a couple?"

"A couple of what?" Tess eluded the question.

"Are you with him," she inquired.

"Am I with who?" Tess evaded.

Liz stared at the blonde across from her. "You share a baby," the brunette added.

"It worked for awhile," Tess replied.

Liz looked at the infant. "How old is Liam?" she wondered.

"Almost six months," Tess smiled down at her baby. Her smile dissolved into a frown as she looked Elizabeth over. She loved her baby. She only wished this little guy had been a product of her and his love. Seeing him share that with Elizabeth made her heart ache.

She had been so sure when he ran away that he would tire of the brunette and come for her. He never did.

She was not innocent. It was not as if she waited, untouched for him. She merely never gave another her heart. He did.

Tess watched the girl before her. She wanted to believe he promised himself to her out of duty. That he tied himself to the brunette unwillingly. Perhaps he bed her and she became with child...

"How old is Chloe-Beth and Ella?" She wanted to know.

"Four," Liz supplied.

Tess's mind turned as she did the math in her head. "Are you newlyweds," she asked with false interest.

Liz scrutinized the figure before her. Her cool facade was beginning to Irritate her. Her smiles were obviously forced. Her interest false.

"I became Elizabeth Evans the moment I could, legally that is."
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Isabel stared at her brother as he watched the road ahead. More than anything she wanted him to tell her what happened, why he left without a word.

"How have you been," she said instead.

Max glanced at her for a moment. "Occupied," he replied. "The hospital..."

"What happened that day," she couldn't help but whisper.

"Isabel..." Max warned.

"Max I just... I don't understand what happened. You were there and than without warning you were gone. I know they tortured you. I know what you went through. I wanted to be there for you."

Max looked at the red light up ahead. "It wasn't that," he interrupted.

Isabel pondered the issue for a moment.

"It was that message," He filled in softly. "Liz heard it and she freaked out. She wanted to leave me," he remembered.

Michael watched Maxwell as he whispered the last part.

"She wrote me a letter. I couldn't let her leave." His grip tightened on the steering wheel. Even after years of reassuring kisses. Even though she was more than his girlfriend now. His mind seemed trapped in the past.

"She told me she was going away for the summer. That she did not want me to wait for her."

"Max..." Isabel whispered worriedly.

"I was upset. We argued. She said I had a destiny that she would never be a part of. That she wouldn't stand in the way of that."

He parked the car and looked over at her. Isabel watched the silent tears fall down his face.

He wiped them away roughly. "I couldn't let her leave," he tried to make her understand.

"I went to the Airport. I looked all around for her. I thought I'd lost her. I don't know how long I searched. When I finally went back to my jeep, there she was."

He smiled suddenly. "She was leaning against the hood of that dirty old jeep. She had tears falling down her face. She was... beautiful."

Isabel smiled at the happiness on her brothers face. He seemed to glow when he remembered that moment. The moment he chose to follow his heart.

"I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her. She said she couldn't leave me. That she'd always be around, as long as I never forgot how much I loved her in that moment. That's when I knew I had to take her away from Roswell. That being there would destroy anything good between us."