Title: Revelations (part 4)

Author: Angela Rae

Category: Max/Liz, Michael/Maria, Isabel/Alex, Kyle/Tess (M) (AR)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these fabulous characters, more's the pity. They are the exclusive property of 20th Century Fox Television, Regency Television, Jason Katims, Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns. To quote some of my favorite fan fiction authors, I'm just borrowing – I'll return them as I found them. Cross my heart!

A/N: Rated M for safety reasons… this fic is set at the end of "Destiny", ep 1:22.

Okay, so this is where elements start to diverge from the original story I wrote back in the day, since any 'after S1' was totally my imagination back then. I'm adding a bit of cannon from Season 2 because I want this story to feel as genuine to the spirit of the show as possible. More S2/S3 cannon is a-comin' in future Chps too. Hopefully, I can edit the original plot of this story to incorporate some of the S2/S3 characters in a good way. More work, but 'hey' it's fun! And two chapters are going up today (4 & 5) because 4 got delayed and I wanted to give a 'thanks for hanging in there' bonus!

a HUGE "Thank You So Much!" to Tay for being the most awesome beta in any universe. You're taking time out to help and I don't have the words to tell you how AMAZING you are!

Okay… enough blabbing! Hope you like this installment…

Liz Parker sat in a chair on the balcony outside her window and prepared to write in her journal for the first time in days.

She took a deep breath and opened the pages, careful not to read any of the entries of the last months, those memories were still too painful. Instead she flipped straight to the first blank page and set her pen to the paper.

Raw emotions welled up inside, burning with fierce intensity. But this time, instead of pushing them back, Liz let them flow through her and onto the page in front of her.

June 6th, Journal Entry 202, I'm Liz Parker. Three days ago I gave up the only person I will ever love for the greater good of a people that I don't even know… and I don't think I'll ever be okay again. Losing him hurts so much I can't even breathe sometimes. I dream about him. Sometimes it's even like I can still feel him next to me, then I wake up and I remember…

It was Tuesday night, three more days and then school would be out for the summer. She hadn't seen Max in class for two days now, but Liz knew that he would be back, she could feel it. And she didn't know how she was going to make it through seeing him with Tess in the halls.

It was going to take everything she had to hold it together when even thinking about them as a couple made her stomach pitch and roll painfully. She had an aunt in Florida, maybe she could stay with her for the summer. Just to get away. Maybe some distance would make things easier…

Liz's head came up as Sarah McLaughlan's 'Hold On' came wafting through the window. She realized she had left the CD changer on random, thinking the music might ease some of the hurt. Tears slipped unnoticed onto the paper, smudging the ink, as the lyrics washed over her.

The memory of the look on Max's face as she'd said goodbye for the last time flashed before her eyes.

He'd had that expression of confusion and disbelief, like he couldn't understand what she was saying to him. Just when she thought she couldn't bear to witness anything more, the understanding had dawned in his eyes. She'd seen an agony there that she now observed every time she looked into a mirror. That was when she'd turned and ran.

"Liz?"

For a moment, she thought his voice was a part of the memories.

Until she looked up into the darkness and saw him standing on her balcony in front of the ladder that led down onto the street below.

Her eyes widened when she realized this Max Evans wasn't one of her nightly fantasies; then her lips parted on a broken sob as she mouthed the word "No", her throat closing up around the words that were impossible for her to say again. But her eyes betrayed her; they roamed over his body hungrily, starved for the sight of him.

Max had been standing in the shadows, watching her write, feeling unsure of himself, of her; but when he'd seen the tears he'd become aware of a heartache that mirrored his own, but wasn't his. He felt her pain wash over him and became conscious of only one thing. Liz Parker shouldn't hurt like that. Ever.

He took a step forward, wanting nothing more than to soothe the hurt away.

Liz sat frozen as she watched the man of her dreams walk towards her. His eyes were full of all the intense emotion that was constantly between them. Her heart threatened to break repeatedly, though she'd thought it already shattered.

I can't say goodbye again. I just can't! she thought as panic threatened to engulf her.

It was a struggle to breathe. Everything she had always wanted stood before her and it was all she could do not to reach out and, this time, never let go. But she couldn't, she just couldn't.

Max felt as if his heart was being squeezed by a giant fist. Each breath began to hurt as he watched the tears continue to slide, silently, down Liz's face. The hurt in her brown eyes sliced him to the core. He couldn't stand it anymore.

"Liz," he said softly as he reached out and gently traced his fingertips down her cheek.

The connection was immediate and violent. Memories of the day she'd run from him flooded into his mind. The feelings, Liz's feelings, slammed through him so hard he had to fight to hold on to himself. Hurt, her hurt, raged through his soul. Oh God, Liz! His thoughts were a pained whisper. What did I do to you?

What did I do to you? The thought echoed through Liz's mind. She leaned forward as she felt the connection that linked their souls pulse with grief and shared pain.

She knew what he was seeing, what he was feeling. She felt the remorse that flowed through him as her eyes remained locked with his.

"Max," she said, "It isn't your fault. It's no one's fault."

His eyes flared with emotion as he cupped her face in his hands. She felt a surge of love pulse through the link between them and she closed her eyes tightly against the tears. She didn't think she could take much more of this.

"Why are you here, Max?" To be this close to him and know he wasn't hers anymore was killing her.

"Liz, no!" Max's eyes widened as her thoughts became plain to him. Her eyes flew open as she heard him say, "I'm yours. I'm here and I'm yours."

"What?" Her voice wavered, afraid to hope. "I don't understand."

"I'm saying that from this point forward, no matter what happens, we are together." Max's expression was open and sincere. "I will never let you go again, Liz."

Her lips trembled as the realization of his words hit her. "Max, you're sure? What about Tess? What about your people, your destiny?"

"You are my destiny, you're part of me." The look in his eyes said it was that simple.

Max reached down and took Liz's hands in his, carefully keeping the connection wide open. He began to trace her slim fingers with the tips of his own. "Let me worry about Tess and the others. There has to be another way and, besides, you said yourself that we can make our own destiny. I believe that. I believe in us. As long as you still love me?"

The question was so unexpected; Liz was speechless for a moment. "Of course I love you! I have always loved you, Max."

Max ruthlessly suppressed the feeling of triumph that welled up at her words. He took a deep breath, knowing that what he was about to say could ruin everything. But he realized Liz needed to consider it all; all the risks that came along with the decision to be with him. This had to be her decision.

"Liz," he said quietly, "we have a lot of enemies right now and they're not all human. It's a lot to ask but you have to decide now, Liz. And if you still want to be with me, chances are life will never be normal for you."

He knew it wasn't fair to ask this of her. If he was a stronger man, he would walk away for her own safety. But he couldn't help but hope she would chose him, in spite of the dangers, because, as selfish as it was, he didn't think he could live without her. So, Max caught and held his breath when she looked down at their hands, still linked, with their fingers intertwined.

Liz raised her head to face him again and his breath expelled in a rush as he saw her answer in her eyes, also feeling it through the connection between them. Her expression was serious, but her gaze was filled with love.

"I choose you, Max." She smiled, "Besides, what's so great about normal anyway? At least with you I'll never be bored, right?"

Max felt a surge of overwhelming joy sweep through him and he caught her up in a hard embrace.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Liz pressed her face into the hollow of his neck, where she fit so perfectly, as she inhaled his scent.

Max, was all she could think. She sighed, squeezing him tighter. She tried to put as much of herself in contact with as much of him as she could.

Liz felt the emptiness of the last days without him vanish as though it had never been as her body absorbed his presence. Something that her scientific mind recognized as a sense of correctness swept through her and she thought, This is where I belong. This is what feels right.

"I love you so much, Liz," Max said into her hair. His eyes were closed as he adjusted to the fact that she was in his arms again. Feelings of contentment and relief blanketed his soul while he held her close, concentrating on her heartbeat as he felt his own alter its rhythm to match hers. It was so natural to him that their hearts beat at the same pace, their breaths coming at the same time. In and out.

After a moment, they reluctantly separated; but as their bodies moved apart, their eyes clung to each other.

Max was serious when he laid his hands on Liz's shoulders. "You have to promise me that you'll never do anything like what you did on the hill again. Especially when you think it's for my own good." His voice broke a little, "I don't think I could survive losing you again, Liz."

"I know," Liz said softly, "I promise, Max. I will never leave you again… from now on, you're stuck with me." Her smile was bright enough to put the stars to shame.

Max grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

They stood for a moment, just gazing into each other's eyes, until Max came back to himself with a shake of his head.

"Um, it's getting late. You probably want some sleep so maybe I should head back home," he offered reluctantly.

Liz's response was completely unexpected.

"Stay," she whispered. Her eyes were wide, reflecting in their depths her love and genuine need. "I need you with me tonight, Max."

She took him by the hand and led him through the window into her room.

"Liz?" In his voice was the question of what she wanted him to do and the assurance that whatever it was, he would do it. Liz pulled him toward the bed, pausing only to remove their shoes, and pushed down the covers. Then she turned to him.

"Just hold me, Max." Her voice became raw with remembered pain. "These past few days… I just need to feel you with me." Her eyes met his, asking for understanding.

Max understood completely. Moving under the blankets, he held up the corner for her to get into the bed. Liz smiled as she slid between the sheets and into his arms. He pulled her into a close embrace, tucking her head under his chin. Max sighed when he felt Liz relax into his body, the tension melting from her form until she was completely settled.

He shifted her more firmly against him and then closed his eyes to better concentrate on the feeling of her breath as it lightly caressed his throat.

Liz curled her fingers against Max's nape, sliding his hair between them in little, soft stroking motions. She couldn't quite credit the feeling, but she felt almost compelled by some internal instinct to talk to Max about the night that followed their separation on the hill.

Something pushed her to say quietly, "The night after you and the others activated the orbs I had strange dreams. Tell me what happened to you after I left, Max. Tell me everything..."

TBC…

A/N: R&R is always appreciated. So, press the little blue button… : )