Finding Ulysses Chapter 16, a roswell fanfic

Title: Finding Ulysses

Author: Peachykin

Rating: Adult Themes

Pairing: Mi/L

Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell. Unfortunately Katims did and now we're all just cleaning up his mess.

Chapter 16

Max lay in his bed, staring up, wide-eyed, at the Johnston's textured ceiling. His eyes were dry and painful, having drained himself of any remaining tears upon reaching the solace Sweet and Miriam's guestroom offered. It was over. His marriage to Liz was really over. How the hell does the pain of that stop? Wasn't realization and acceptance supposed to bring comfort? Max felt none of it.

When they'd stepped inside the Johnston home, Max headed straight for his room, stopping momentarily when he felt a gentle, familiar hand on his shoulder. He sighed looking back at Sweet with tears welling in his eyes, pleading with the old sage for some kind of balm to place over his heart. Some words of reassurance that would help him through this wretched night.

"No anesthetic for this, Max." Sweet told him reading Max's silent pleas, "I said you had to let go, never said it wouldn't hurt like hell. No comfort in defeat. But tomorrow will be better than today. And so on..."

"Yeah." Max smiled through his tears, having it fall just as quickly, "Tell that to my shattered heart, old man."

"Get some rest, Boy." Sweet said patting his arm, "Tomorrow's Christmas. All sorts of healin' happens on that day."

Max nodded, despite his disagreement with Sweet. His wound was still fresh, still being inflicted. The chasm that was his heart growing deeper and deeper with every moment with every thought about his wife...ex-wife... making a life that didn't include him, creating a child that wasn't his. He pushed his door open shutting it softly before falling to the bed and burying his head in a pillow to muffle the screaming sobs that tore through his throat.

Now, hours later, he lay, so very tired, his body exhausted with grief, and yet he couldn't bring himself to sleep. He was restless and his foot tapped in a steady rhythm against the bedpost as if the motion were the only thing keeping his heart from stopping completely. He turned his head glancing at the clock. Two a.m. Welcome the tortured soul hour.

Max returned his gaze to the ceiling, hoping that the blank white expanse would clear his mind of the thoughts, images and words that screamed through his head, but instead in merely provided a convenient screen for such self-inflicted tortures.

Michael was so happy. Max had never seen him smile as much in the whole time he'd known him, both lifetimes, as he did here in New Orleans. That damaged teenage boy Max had always seen, was still there in some way, always would be, but the man he saw over the past few days was in a state of peace. The life he should have had, without violence and conditional love, was unfolding for him and he was so damn happy. Sweet and Miriam did that. Liz did that. Their baby did that. Max had never seen his brother so centered, despite the internal battle that laid tremendous siege to Michael's heart in the form of self doubt.

Earlier Max had been content to believe that Liz was being Liz, trying to heal Michael with her gentle soul. Max knew Liz's love could move mountains, so a stone wall like Michael's, while incredibly fortified, was not impossible. Liz always loved a challenge, but he'd been so arrogant to believe that something as special as what he'd had with her, couldn't be born in Michael's heart. It had and it flourished, not only in him, but her. Max saw that the healing love had gone both ways, as he sat on that stage watching the two of them quietly discuss their child's existence. Michael was not only capable of tremendous love, but his did what Max's couldn't. Heal Liz's heart. When she looked up at Michael there was never one ounce of regret. He made all the sacrifices she'd made up then, worth it. Max found himself thrown again, realizing he was no longer Liz's world. Michael was right. He hadn't made her sacrifices worth the price and now he was alone.

In those initial moments at the bar that afternoon she had never even once looked at him, acknowledged his presence or the pain her pregnancy with Michael might cause him. She simply caressed the hand that Michael held on her tummy, over their baby, and gazed up at him with a love so powerful Max thought Michael's heart might explode. With a few simple words and touches Liz was able to dampen the fears Max knew Michael had been torturing himself. His heart was open. He trusted Liz implicitly. What shook Max even further, was the unnerving rightness that only Liz would have been able to bring that out of Michael. Only those eyes, that smile and her love.

Michael and the baby, that was Liz's world now. Max knew she'd deny that her world consisted of only that, but he knew at the core, nothing else mattered. In turn, no matter how adamant Michael had been that he merely wanted Liz, Max saw the need, and it wasn't possessive and consuming as he admitted his own need was. Michael's need for Liz came from the healing she provided. She along with their child gave Michael a reason to be a better man. Be the lover to Liz, he could never have been to Maria and the father to his child, that Hank had never been to him. Max couldn't deny Michael that any longer.

Sweet had been right after all. His story of love and loss, of wandering Earth chasing the dead spirits of a wife and child long gone, wasn't so far from Max's own. The Liz he'd loved, married, shared his bed with, she was truly...dead. The child residing within her should have been his, but it wasn't. It was Michael's. And she was Michael's Liz. He was chasing a dream that had died along with the spirit of his wife. It was time to...

"Just. Let. Go." Max whispered into the night, fresh tears filling his eyes as a great heaving breath of air escaped his lungs with the vocalization of what he'd known to be true the moment Liz had left him, "Jesus..."

Max sat up, the tears that had pooled in his eyes spilling onto his cheeks, falling further down, dampening his faded jeans. He knew there was much more to letting go than just saying it, but it was start. If he was really going to let go, he couldn't stay. He had a lot of healing and discovering to do... on his own. It was time for his journey. Time for him to grow up. And while he'd just found Liz again, he knew the only way he could truly move on, have her stop being his world, he had to put some distance between them.

Max knew if he stayed in New Orleans trying to find his place in the new dynamics of the family, no growth would ever take place for him. He would only watch from a distance as Michael and Liz's family grew, the binding of their hearts together tightening with every kick of their baby, its birth, its first breath. Max knew the bitterness and resentment would grow in his own heart and he couldn't let that happen. Like Liz said, better to leave and not hate someone, or in this case, two people, who still meant so much to him.

Quietly Max stood taking his suitcase from out of the closet and began packing. Once finished, he used the phone on the bedside table to call himself a cab unsure of his destination, but finding the uncertainty exciting. Freeing.

Max stared down at the divorce papers also residing on the beside table. The last thread that tied him to Liz, at least legally. He knew he'd lost her long ago, and then completely the moment she'd let Michael into heart. With a remarkably steady hand Max picked up a pen and signed his name in the designated places, once again letting out a sobbing breath at the finality of his action.

Max placed the papers in a box, scribbling out a brief, but heartfelt note to his ex-wife, only love, smiling through the tears. He placed the note in an envelope and wrapped the papers up in a box placing the not atop it. After jotting down another brief note to his hosts, Sweet and Miriam, thanking them for their hospitality and wisdom, and instructions to make sure Liz got his gift, Max exited his room, placing Liz's, and his own, freedom on the kitchen counter where Sweet would find it.

The cab arrived minutes later and with one last look Max climbed in, "Where to?" the cabbie asked.

"Home." Max said wistfully, "Wherever that is."

The cabbie furrowed his brow at his fare, "Goin' need ya ta be more specific, friend."

Max snapped to attention, with a slight smile, "Sorry. Um, the airport."

"You got it." the cabbie replied taking his foot off the brake, unwittingly becoming the chariot in which a wandering boy king began a new search for life as a common man.

~*~

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Merry Christmas, Grumpy."

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

"Grumpy..." Tap. Tap. Tap. "Grumpy! You wake up! Christmas!"

Michael groaned as his eyes slid open slightly. He'd been experiencing some of the deepest sleep he'd ever allowed himself, and now it was being interrupting by a gentle, but insistent tapping of tiny fingers on his cheek.

The emotional drain of the previous day's events having rendered his soul ragged, Michael had fallen asleep on Liz's stomach after finally letting go of the tremendous fears he held in his heart about being a father. Liz had started talking about school, when it occurred to him that Liz had actually spent time thinking about how to make things work with this new baby. She'd never entertained the idea of Michael not being anything less than a good daddy.

Michael could hear it in her voice. There were no fears about what Hank's influence did to him, or his sometimes uncontrollable powers. If anything it was as she knew this child was Michael's chance to experience innocence. That this baby would find a part of him he'd believed he'd never possessed. What that was he could only guess, but he found himself excited by how this little life could change him. Just knowing it existed had done that. Happier tears had never left Michael's eyes.

But currently, he was being tapped on the cheek by something...or someone. He vaguely recognized his niece's annoyed voice and he grinned grumbling something about going back to sleep, knowing full well this would only fuel Lexi's indignance.

Michael was rewarded by the loud stomping of tiny foot on his hardwood floor, his name growled, and the gentle chuckle of Liz beside him. Finally he sat up rubbing the sleep from his eyes and holding his hands up in surrender.

"I'm up, Elf. I'm up." he grumbled, and then glared down at his niece, "You know Santa still checks if you've been good after he delivers presents. There's no window for bad behavior."

Lexi furrowed her already crinkled brow, "Santa come fru chimney, Grumpy. Not window." she said haughtily before exiting the room to fetch her still groggy parents.

"That one went right over her head didn't it?" Michael asked a giggling Liz.

He glanced over at her, watching her nod and clutch the sheet to her chest to protect her modesty despite Lexi having already left the room. Michael felt a surge of lust rush through him as the reality of their new development settled once again into his sleep fogged brain, reminding him that because of his bout with tears they'd yet to celebrate properly and preferably with a repeat performance of how the little blessing occurred. He smirked dangerously at Liz, tugging insistently at the sheet covering her, needing to bare his new favorite part of her body, her stomach.

Liz's eyes widened, seeing his intent, and quickly escaped out of bed before Michael could further his own foray into bad behavior, distracting his carnal thoughts with a gentle slam to his warrior ego "Oh the boys back on Antar would be having a fit. Their great general, completely ruled by a little girl."

"Yeah and Lexi too." Michael chuckled as Liz glared at him, throwing on her jersey and a pair of cotton shorts.

He swung his legs over the bed when Liz approached him, his sweats and t-shirt in hand. He took them setting them aside, before grabbing her gently by the waist and smirked at her belly, "You better be a boy. We need to balance out the testosterone in this family."

"What?" Liz crossed her arms in mild indignance, forcing Michael to look up at her, "Scared of girls?"

Michael arched an eyebrow at her as he pulled on his sweats and t-shirt, "Now if I were afraid of girls, would you be knocked up right now?"

"Knocked up? Oh, I love it when you get all sappy." she teased, kissing his forehead, then patted her belly singing to their baby as the left the room, "Daddy's afraid of girls."

"I am not, Liz" he called out behind her, and stepped into the living room where Lexi, Isabel and now Liz were taking down the toddler's stocking for inspection, "I just have enough girls that own me as it is."

"Amen, brother." Kyle answered with a yawn from his place on the couch.

Michael poured coffee for all the adults and made a special peppermint cocoa for Lexi, extra marshmallows. He'd discovered, after giving Lexi Tabasco enhanced apple juice, that the aliens penchant for things sweet and spicy, was strictly a hybrid trait. The sputtering child making it quite clear that it was not passed onto the next generation.

Lexi eyed the cocoa suspiciously and Michael grinned, "Don't worry Lex, it's only temperature hot." When she still seemed tentative, he imitated her pout, "I promise, no fire juice." He watched her take a cautious sip and then smile brightly up in thanks at him.

Isabel and Liz exchanged a worried glance when Michael handed Liz a steaming mug of coffee and Isabel decided to further Liz's coffee ruse.

"Uh, Michael, Liz shouldn't have that. Caffeine isn't good for the baby." she said sweetly, Liz nodding along with her.

Michael arched an amused eyebrow at the two women, "Good thing Liz switched us to decaf."

Liz's jaw dropped, "You knew?"

Michael laughed shaking his head at her, "Liz, honey, you can't replace a man's coffee and not expect him to notice." he shrugged his shoulders, "I figured it was like the vitamin thing. Besides you seemed to be enjoying the illusion that you'd pulled one over on me. Who am I to take away your little victories?"

Liz narrowed her eyes at Michael and growled, as Kyle fell over on the couch in laughter, "Oh my friend, you are lucky you got her pregnant, because I think you just kissed your sex..." he stopped abruptly when Isabel smacked his shoulder, nodding her head towards their listening toddler, "That is uh...say bye-bye to the old slap and tickle."

"Swap and tickle?" Lexi scrunched up her face at Michael, "You pway weird games, Grumpy."

"Not anymore." Liz teased, watching Michael's eyes turn from mischievous to puppy dog upon revocation of his carnal rights with her.

"Babe," he whined, "Its Christmas."

Liz sighed dramatically, "Fine. Who am I to deny you you're little victories?"

Michael rolled his eyes, muttering, "Little... didn't get you in the family way, dear. And I do recall warning you about our potency."

"Do you hear me complaining?" Liz asked in defense.

"Wait til the morning sickness Liz." Isabel giggled, "Then you'll be complaining."

Liz shook her head, "I can handle the nausea..."

"That's because you went years eating Isabel's cooking." Michael teased, earning a candy cane to the noggin from his less than amused sister.

"Mommy!" Lexi scolded, taking a moment away from her stocking to defend her uncle, "You no frow candy. Dat wasteful."

"Well Is's cooking helped, that's true." Liz laughed, holding her hands up to avoid Michael's similar fate, "No. It's the actual labor that has me worried, Is. You were screaming like a banshee."

Michael stopped laughing immediately, "You mean...its painful?"

"Most births are dumbass." Kyle chimed in.

"Daddy..." Lexi growled at hear father's cussing. Kyle threw a hand over his mouth dramatically and let his daughter swat his hand in lightly in punishment.

Isabel let out an amused chuckle at Michael's sunken expression, upon the revelation that Liz would be in any kind of pain because of him, "Painful doesn't begin to describe it, Michael. Excruciating. Agonizing. Harrowing..."

"You mean there aren't any alien perks to uh...take..away...?" Michael trailed off, seeing the shaking heads of Kyle, Isabel and Liz. "Damn."

"What are worried about? You aren't the one who has to push out something the size of watermelon out of a hole the size of lemon." Isabel said in mock haughtiness, trying to ease the worry with humor, for she knew Michael was about to put himself through about Liz and her safety.

Michael let out a laugh, but stopped looking over at Liz, making sure she was laughing as well. When he saw the bright smile on her face he pulled her to him seating her in his arms on the floor against the couch.

"She's kidding...Right?" he whispered still chuckling.

"Nope." Liz shook her head, and felt Michael's arms tighten around her protectively.

She leaned back kissing his clenched jaw, "I'll be fine. Might break a few of your fingers, but..."

"I suggest you wear a titanium cup come the blessed day." Kyle warned his friend, "I don't think her powers can get through that."

Michael laughed nervously, and saw Kyle's face hadn't changed, "Dude..."

"What do you think Santa put in your stocking this morning, Little Boy." Kyle answered slapping his friend on the back with a wink.

Michael growled, "Again with the 'little'...?"

~*~

A half hour later there was a knock at the Jeffries-Joyce's door that sent Lexi scrambling to answer it. Sweet and Miriam stood on the other side of the door loaded down with presents.

"Bout time." the little girl tapped her foot as the entered, "Mommy said I had to wait to open pwesents til you get here."

"I see lack of patience is an alien thing." Sweet chuckled, earning a half-hearted glare from Isabel and Michael and a hearty laugh from Kyle and Liz.

Lexi held the door open and peeked her head outside, furrowing her brow, "Where Unca Max?"

Sweet and Miriam's smiles disappeared as Lexi's question became everyone's. Max's absence was conspicuous at best and by the shared look between The Johnston's, it didn't look to get much better.

"Um..." Miriam stammered, "Max won't be comin'. It seems, he uh... left sometime late last night... or this morning...We aren't sure."

"What?!" Isabel nearly screamed. Kyle rubbed her back trying to get her to calm down.

"He left us a note saying he appreciated out hospitality and to give this, "Sweet continued, handing a neatly wrapped rectangular box to Liz, " to you, Darlin'."

Liz accepted the gift, staring down at it for a moment. Had she heard Sweet and Mir right? Max left? She shook the box slightly and heard papers tapping the cardboard with her movement. Her eyes widened. She didn't need to open the gift to know what was inside.

The room had fallen silent, even Lexi, sensing something important was happening. If Max left that must have meant he...

"This was on top of the box." Miriam said quietly handing Liz the envelope with her name on it in Max's handwriting.

Isabel watched Liz staring down at the box and the letter in her hands, seemingly caught in a moment of indecision and knew no matter how curious she was as to what her brother had left behind for Liz, it wasn't hers or anyone else's time to know yet. If it was what they all suspected, this was a moment Liz needed alone.

"Um, Sweet? Mir? Have you had coffee yet? How about croissant? Kyle, Lexi, lets be good hosts and help our guests." Isabel nodded towards the kitchen.

"We'd love some coffee." Sweet said removing his hat and winking at Isabel's quick thinking. Kyle nodded, nudging his daughter towards the kitchen, while Michael remained still, unsure if Liz needed him to stay.

"It take all us to do dat, Mommy?" Lexi asked, having not grasped her mother's ruse to empty the room for Liz. "And I tot we guests too. Dat what you say, Mommy. Why we have to be good..."

"No Lexi." Liz finally spoke with a slight smile, "It doesn't take all of you to get coffee. If you all can just give me a minute, I'll go in the kitchen."

"Of course Sug." Miriam said softly, handing Sweet her coat.

"Thanks." Liz nearly whispered and she moved towards the kitchen, Michael broke his stance slowly making his way behind Liz to follow her. Liz turned around when she felt his presence and placed a hand on his chest.

"I need to do this alone. If its what I think it is..." she tried to explain.

"But what if its not, Liz?" Michael asked her, his voice filled with the same hope and sorrow over Max's departure, that had touched her own voice.

Liz rubbed her hand gently over Michael's heart, "Does it matter?"

"I just don't want you to be disappointed if..." Michael rationalized, unconsciously placing his hand on Liz's belly, alerting her that it was not only her he was worried about. The baby felt everything she did and if she got upset...

Liz placed a gentle hand over Michael's on her belly, "I just need to do this alone, Michael. I need to see it through...finish it."

Michael's resolve crumbled at the sincerity in her eyes. He knew what was in the box too, or at the very least he'd hoped... But it was the note that worried him. Had Max signed the papers in anger or was he truly growing up, moving on and letting go? Most everything Michael had seen from Max to that point told him to be skeptical, protect Liz. But if Max's motives behind signing the papers had been good, then Liz was right, she needed to do this by herself. She'd share it with him later when they were alone.

He nodded slowly and reluctantly, letting out a deep sigh and dropping a light kiss on Liz's lips, "If you need me..."

"I'll breathe funny and a you'll come running." Liz teased her protector/lover.

"Liz..." Michael grumbled, through a crooked smile knowing she was all too right in her characterization of him.

"Let's give Max the benefit of the doubt." she said straightening her face, "It is Christmas."

Michael agreed and the two parted, he, heading back into the living room to help Sweet and Mir with the presents they'd brought, and Liz into the kitchen to receive her last gift from Max.

Liz set the gift down on the counter, tearing away the paper carefully and quietly. She already knew what the contents were, she just needed visual confirmation. She could also hear her mother in the back of her mind scolding her for opening a present before the card, but she told herself, the note held far more meaning than the contents of the box.

She lifted the familiar papers out of the box, flipping through them to see that indeed Max had signed in all the designated areas. It was over. She was divorced. At twenty-four. So young, too young to fail, but there it was in black white and red ink. Proof that fairy tales are only the stuff of myth and that happily ever after is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Liz thought she'd be more relieved, having already made her peace with marriage's demise, but a tear splashed onto the top page at the finality of it. The man who's name she thought she was going to share and love forever, was next to her own in the dissolution of a dream.

Wiping her eyes, Liz placed the papers back on the box and picked up the envelope, her hands shaking slightly. Hadn't she been confident only moments earlier when she'd convinced Michael she needed to be alone? But staring down at the unopened note, she knew the words on the paper inside would hold the measure of exactly how broken Max's act of letting go had left him. Would he blame her? Lash out with angry words? Lay one last guilt trip on her for not trying harder?

A small warmth began in her tummy and her fears were distracted by the little life inside her, feeling their mommy's anxiety, reminding Liz hat she was worrying for two now. She placed a hand on her belly rubbing in soft circles soothing her baby with the gentle movement and relaxing herself in the process.

With a deep breath she opened the envelope pulling out the letter and unfolding it. She was more than little surprised by what she saw. Max, a man known for long speeches, and equally long love letters, had merely jotted down a few words, but they held so much meaning in their brevity:

Liz,

I know you must be surprised that I would just leave like this, but it seemed like the thing to do. I need to find a new world and the best way to do that is... let go. It hurts and I still love you, but I have to let you go if I'm ever going to find out who I am without you.

Both you and Michael made your journey's in the dead of night, so I figured if it worked for you two... Although I realize I'm breaking tradition leaving behind a note, but I think we both know if I didn't Isabel would be freaking out right now.

Take care of yourself, and the baby. I know you'll be safe with Michael. He really loves you two.

Merry Christmas, Liz. My gift to you is a new start. Yours and mine. A new start at an old game should you choose that path with Michael. I hope you'll be happy letting him be your golden ring. I don't think I have to tell you that you're his.

Love... Max

Max

Liz let out the same sobbing breath she didn't know Max had, with the final nail being pounded into the coffin of their life together. It was a breath of relief, loss and even hope. She truly hoped that wherever Max's journey took them, he'd come back to his family. Find his place among them and be happy, but she suspected Max's journey might take longer than any of them, since he had the furthest to go to find happiness.

She once again wiped her eyes, smiling as she felt a familiar presence, behind her, "Did I breath funny" she asked folding up the note.

"Uh... yeah..." Michael said sheepishly, knowing he'd been caught.

After he'd helped Sweet and Miriam with the gifts, Michael staked out a place just outside the kitchen, on the weak premise of getting Sweet and Miriam some coffee, listening for any sign of distress from Liz. He'd heard her let out a strangled sob and gave away his position by making his presence known. Now he approached her unsure of her mood, not knowing if Max had been a small man, leaving her with words of bile and venom or the bigger man and left her with words of kindness and forgiveness.

He scratched his eyebrow as he stood behind her turning her around in his arms so he could read her eyes, finding them glistening with tears, "So..."

Liz smiled. For as much of wall that Michael liked to put up, sometimes he could be positively transparent with his fears and curiosities, "So..." she repeated, bringing a hand up to trace his clenched jaw, "He let go."

Michael let out his own held breath, but quickly took one back in, not having all his fears laid to rest, "And the note...you're crying..."

"Happy tears, Michael." Liz explained, still smiling, "Max finally got it. He's moving on."

Michael caught the sad lilt in her voice in the last sentence. He knew she didn't regret where she was, who she was with, but... "That's a good thing right?"

Liz nodded, "Of course, but you can't share what Max and I had and not be a little sad to see it fade away. You know that."

Michael nodded, knowing all to well the feeling of finality that had come when he had watched Maria leave. Happy sad, and hopeful that the person you shared so much of your life and heart with, would find solace for their restless souls. As he gazed down at Liz, he realized he was staring at his solace.

"So..." he said again, this time more playfully, his hands resting on her hips, "This means you're single again?"

Liz smirked hearing the teasing tone in his voice, "Yep. I'm a free woman."

Michael sighed, in mock disappointment, "Geez, your divorce sorta sucks out an element of sin doesn't it. I mean it was kinda exciting bedding a married woman nightly."

Liz rolled her eyes, "Bedding? Oh you are just full of charm this morning." She let out a chuckle, "But if its not exciting anymore, I'm sure I could find someone willing to commit various acts of sin with me. New Orleans is a big town."

Michael pulled Liz against his body possessively, "You didn't let me finish, Liz. I find it even more exciting 'committing various acts of sin' with a pregnant chicks...Not many guys can promise you that."

"Lets see, you have a thing for elves, married women and pregnant chicks? You are a truly twisted individual." Liz laughed.

"I'm a freak." Michael said, feeling Liz stiffen in his arms at the characterization of himself. He smiled, "But I've made my peace with it."

Liz smiled, "Well, then I'm not taking you into any baby stores. You might just run off with some other round little woman."

"Unless she's short, with dark hair and carrying a half alien child... highly doubtful." he countered.

"And here I thought you weren't picky." Liz teased.

"Selective." Michael corrected, brushing his lips over hers, "Very selective."

They deepened the kiss, basking in its true freedom, Liz no longer legally tied to Max. They momentarily forgot their company in the other room, until a highly annoyed little voice interrupted their reverie.

"Dat not how you get coffee, Grumpy." Lexi grumbled.

Michael glanced back at the irritated toddler raising an eyebrow and then turned back to Liz peppering her with exaggerated kisses, making loud smacking sounds with his lips. Lexi growled again and stomped over to Michael slapping his thigh getting him to stop.

"You so gross, Grumpy." she rolled her eyes.

Liz scrunched up her nose at Lexi. "He is, isn't he? Totally disgusting."

"Hey..." Michael warned Liz, but was soothed by her impish grin and the way she played with the hair that hung on the back of his neck.

"But I already have his cooties, so I don't mind so much." Liz shrugged her shoulders at Lexi.

Lexi giggled despite her annoyance at her present opening time being delayed, "Too late be a nun Auntie?"

Michael let out a loud laugh, "Way too late for that, sprite. Auntie is infested with cooties." He punctuated his point with more exaggerated kisses, sending Lexi and Liz into peals of laughter.

"Geez Sir Gropes-A-Lot, you've already got Liz bearing your spawn." Kyle said dryly entering the kitchen to retrieve his own, "No need to drive the point home."

"But I like driving." Michael returned without skipping a beat.

"You two are such children." Isabel said, in mild disgust and her brother and husband's banter.

Sweet and Miriam followed, once they were sure that it was safe to enter, all relieved to see that while had tear tracks on her cheeks, she was smiling brightly. Liz wiggled out of Michael's embrace and set about pouring coffee for their new guests, Lexi and Isabel helping by taking the cream out of the refrigerator.

Kyle stood next to Michael watching their respective mates and muttered low, "Just wait until the fourth month, after the morning sickness goes away, you'll be driving non-stop."

Michael looked down at his friend with wild, excited eyes and Kyle chuckled, "Serious hormone overdrive."

Michael settled his eyes on his love, "Liz?" his voice cracking as he called out to her, "Are you absolutely sure about how far along you are?"

~*~

Forty minutes later the group sat around the living room amidst piles of wrapping paper. Liz padded around the room with a trash bag cleaning up.

"Is this nesting?" Michael asked Kyle from his armchair, as they watched Liz tidying the room.

Kyle shook his head, "That comes later. Closer to when the kid is actually born. This, " he gestured at the frenetic brunette before them, "is because I think we lost Lexi somewhere in the piles of paper."

Michael laughed as Liz picked up a rather large amount of paper revealing Lexi curled up on the floor with one of her new coloring books.

Isabel groaned from her place on the couch next to Kyle, as she surveyed the mountain of presents Lexi had received from Michael, Liz Sweet and Miriam, "How we're going to get this back to Colorado is beyond me. Even with our handy dandy powers."

Kyle exchanged a cryptic glance with Liz and Michael, nodding, "Uh...You might not have to, Is."

Isabel studied Kyle's face in confusion, "What are you talking about, Kyle? There's no way Lexi's going to leave any of her presents behind."

Kyle didn't answer merely pushing himself up off the couch to retrieve a thick envelope from atop the mantle bearing his wife's name. He sat back down handing her the envelope, chuckling at her confusion, "All I'm saying is she might be able to leave them behind if she knows she coming back."

"What? Kyle you're not making any sen..." Isabel countered.

"Just open the envelope, Wife." Kyle interrupted, feigned annoyance in his voice.

Isabel did as she was told, getting more excited as the possibility that Kyle had bought them a series of round trip tickets from Boulder to New Orleans, popped into her head. She furrowed her brow when she took out the neatly folded papers, not finding a single plane ticket among them.

She unfolded the papers and surveyed their contents, her eyes widening slightly, but still vastly confused as too the meaning behind them, "Kyle this is bill of sale for ownership of the auto shop...I don't understand...What did you do?"

"I sold the shop to Derek." Kyle told her plainly.

"Why would you? I thought owning your own business was what you wanted?" She stammered.

"It was. I did own a shop of my own. Now its time for something different. Something for you." He answered.

"For me?"

Kyle rolled his eyes, " And you call me dense?" He took the papers out of her hands and set them on the side table, turning back to face his baffled wife, "I want to you to take the money from the sale and open up a design shop of your own, Is."

Isabel's jaw dropped as it finally hit her, "But Kyle..."

"Don't argue. You're really good at it, Is. Better than just doing it part time. You need to be in charge, not have someone telling you what to do and you know it." He told her soberly, gripping her hands in his own.

Isabel smiled, realizing she'd done a shoddy job of hiding her aspirations from her husband but far from disappointed that he'd seen through her. Her brow furrowed once again as some confusion still lingered, "I still don't understand how Lexi can leave stuff here. I mean if I set up shop back home we won't have any time to come here..."

"Why not we move here. Mommy?" Lexi provided simply.

Isabel's face was struck dumb once again with realization and she turned to Kyle, then Michael and then Liz who were all sharing the same conspiratorial grins.

"You're serious?" Isabel asked Kyle, unsure if it was some sort of elaborate joke.

Kyle nodded, "Look Is, with Max gone we don't have anything else holding us to Boulder. Here we have family." He glanced over at Liz who'd taken to sitting on Michael's lap, "And a growing one at that. Obviously I did this before I knew about Michael and Liz's baby, but now more than ever I know you want to be closer to them. I knew when we came here it was going to be difficult to tear you and Lexi away from these two. I figured why should you have to be?

So, you're going to set up shop here while I get the house in Boulder sold. And you know there's no way Lexi is gonna want to leave so..."

"Dats right Daddy." Lexi agreed, crawling into her mother's lap, "I no leave Da Lady."

Sweet chuckled from his place on the other end of the couch at Lexi calling New Orleans "The Lady." Little imp picked up on everything.

Tears ran down Isabel's cheeks at Kyle's generous gift and she hugged him fiercely. Seems he's been inspired by Michael's gift to Liz of her education. He was handing her a dream.

"But what about you?" she asked her husband, wiping away her tears, "I can't see you manning the front desk at a 'girly' shop."

"He can come work for me." Michael snickered, patting Liz's knee "After all, I'll be losing a waitress here pretty soon."

Kyle groaned as he nodded, "The ultimate sacrifice: Working for Senor Shaggy."

"Aw." Liz teased Kyle, "Don't worry. Working for Michael has definite perks."

Kyle glared at Liz comically, watching Michael drop a light kiss on her neck and rubbing his hand absently over her still flat tummy, "Gee Liz, somehow getting knocked up by an large alien, doesn't hold as much appeal for me. You might enjoy a good probing, but..."

"At least you finally admitted I'm large." Michael smirked at his friend.

"All the same, Fee Fi Fo Fum, there will be no closet time spent with this employee or you'll be in for a huge sexual harassment lawsuit, pal." Kyle returned waving his hand at Michael.

"Fine," Michael said in over-dramatic disappointment, "But you'll have to wear Liz's sign around your neck, No Probing During Business Hours. I need constant reminders."

Isabel and Liz both groaned at their mates banter, "Are you sure you want us to move here, Liz?" Isabel asked woefully, "Michael and Kyle in the same space... we're in for an endless supply of inappropriate jokes and noise not found in nature. You remember what that first year on the run was like?"

Liz sighed remembering all to well the infamous antics and comedy stylings of the team of Guerin and Valenti. "I know. New Orleans will never be the same again."

"Hey," Kyle said feigning hurt, "We can be civilized." He glanced over at Michael, "Okay I can be. I can't help it if Mowgli over here was raised by wolves."

"That's it." Michael growled, "You're wearing the uniform, Lollipop Guild."

Sweet wiped his eyes from the tears of laughter, "Wait a minute now Bossman, I don't recall us ever havin' uniforms and if they're anything like the one's Liz was talkin' bout when she came here... well I just as soon not see Kyle here in that particular get up. Might give me 'nother heart attack and I won't let ya bring me back that time." He turned to Kyle, "No offense."

Kyle held his hands up, "And here I thought I had a fine as..." his eyes fell on his snickering daughter, "Posterior."

Isabel patted her husband's shoulder, "You do, Dear. I just happen to be a minority in that opinion."

"Oh I don't know Is, I did have first touch on that 'fine posterior'." Liz teased, watching Michael's brow furrow immediately.

"In high school. Through jeans. Not sure if that counts, Liz." Kyle mused, but quickly shrugged his shoulders, "Oh who am I kidding? I had Liz Parker's hands on my a...backside. The hormones were a ragin'."

"Could we change the subject please?" Michael groaned, knowing he had no reason to be jealous, and looking over at Isabel who was beside herself in laughter.

"Michael," Isabel laughed, "You can hardly blame her. Kyle wore those tight Wranglers back then...and the letterman's jacket..." she fanned herself dramatically.

"Its true, Michael." Liz continued teasing, "You always...still do actually wear baggy jeans. Not exactly conducive to the checking out of a guy's package."

"We are not having this conversation." Michael shook his head in disgust and then smirked up at his girlfriend, "Besides, Wranglers never could accommodate me. I think you know that. Meant for less 'gifted' boys."

"Ha. Ha. Stumpy." Kyle said dryly, "Still doesn't take away the fact that your girlfriend still likes my butt. How's that for a little victory?"

Michael narrowed his eyes at Kyle, frustrated by the inability to come back with anything. Isabel rescued her flustered brother with a much needed subject change letting out a small laugh. "Well... since we're moving here and I'm becoming something of a budding entrepreneur, I insist on you two being my first clients."

Liz smiled brightly back at her friend, "Of course, Is!"

Now thoroughly distracted, Michael looked between his girlfriend and his sister, "Uh...I kinda like the place the away it is. No offense, Is."

Isabel rolled her eyes, "Hello Moron! You have a baby on the way."

Michael returned his sister's gesture, "The fact has not escaped my notice, Pissy."

Isabel grumbled, much to the amusement of Kyle and Liz at the sibling banter, "Well, unless you plan on putting him or her in dresser drawer of your room...You're in desperate need of a nursery."

Michael smirked, enjoying the riling of his sister, "So...the drawer isn't the best place to put a newborn?"

"Michael!" Isabel growled, "I realize that we were hatched, but even you have to know that a baby needs a crib, changing table, rocking chair, mobile's...a theme!"

Michael held his hands up in surrender, "Fine Nursery Nazi. You win. Just don't go too crazy okay?"

Kyle laughed heartily, "Oh my naive extra-terrestrial, you do realize what my wife decorating your child's room means don't you?"

Michael's chuckled died into a whimper, "Yeah. I'm gonna have to sell a lot more paintings."

When it looked as though Michael mouth was about to render him dead with Isabel's heated glare, Liz graciously interrupted, "Well... with Kyle's sale of the shop and my divorce papers...Jesse sure has been busy over the holidays."

Michael took the hint and squeezed Liz, "Very busy."

Met with more bewildered glances, Michael looked over at Sweet, studying his father for a moment. He glanced up at Liz and she smiled nodding. She hopped off Michael's lap so he could retrieve Sweet's gift, sitting in a branch in the Christmas tree.

"I told you to stop calling me Bossman, Sweet." Michael said handing the old man the green envelope. "Now you have to stop."

Sweet quirked a grey eyebrow up at his son and Michael waved at him to open the gift. His weathered hands tore open the envelope and pulled out the papers. Miriam peered over her husband's shoulders barely able to contain the grin on her face, knowing in advance what Michael's gift to his father would be.

Sweet read over the paperwork, barely able to believe what he was reading, "Michael...Son... this is too much." he rasped. "Half ownership of Ulysses?"

Michael shook his head, "Not to me. Its not nearly enough. When I bought my bar, you told me that you could call me three things. Michael, because that's the name God gave me. Son, because your older. Although technically given the time I crashed its only by a couple years…"

Sweet chuckled, Michael was right. Sweet only been about five or six when the ship carrying Michael and the other's had crashed. But Sweet also knew that "Son" had come to mean so much more between he and Michael than simple age difference.

"And the third name was Bossman," Michael continued, kneeling in front of the old man to meet his eyes, " Because that's what I was. Your boss. You said unless something changed, that's what you were gonna keep calling me. Well, something changed, Partner."

Sweet was beside himself with emotion at Michael's gift. He did feel it too generous, but he knew Michael was giving it to him with all his heart. He pulled Michael into a hug, gripping him fiercely, "Thank you, Son."

"No problem, Pop." Michael said trying to push back his own tears as he stared back into the watery depths of his father's. He swallowed down the lump in his throat and waved his hands at the paper, "Had to do something to quit calling me that ridiculous name."

"Never let it be said that you aren't extreme." Miriam teased her son.

Michael rose from his knees and resumed his place in the armchair bringing Liz back into his lap, gripping her tightly to keep his overwhelmed emotions from spilling over, at Sweet's reaction to his gift. Liz kissed his temple, and rubbed the hand he'd placed over her belly.

"I won't have to call you Bossman. Right?" Kyle asked, chuckling.

Michael smirked, "No. You can call me Master. And I will call you My Bitch."

"Grumpy!" "Michael!" Isabel and Lexi yelled at the same time.

Michael held his hands up, "Hey, give me time. I'm not used to having to watch my language."

"Baby hear, Grumpy. You be better." Lexi scolded folding her arms, having no idea what Michael's new pet name for her daddy meant, only that it was on Mommy's No-list.

"Okay Lex." Michael surrendered, "I'll be more careful. But if the little guy...girl.. whatever swears, I want it to at least be in context."

"Don't you worry, Baby girl," Miriam patted Lexi's leg, seeing the tot's confusion over Michael's last statement, "I'll put soap in his mouth every time I hear him cuss. I'll break him." She looked up at Michael, "Do you prefer bar or liquid soap, Sug."

Michael didn't skip a beat, his smirk growing dangerous, "Liquid. Vanilla. Tastes like Li..."

Liz's cheeks grew bright red and she clamped her hand over Michael's mouth before he could finish his sentence, everyone in the room already beside themselves with laughter except for Lexi, mercifully.

"Lexi!" Liz said quickly, "Why don't you go get Grumpy's last present from under the tree."

Michael watched as Lexi jumped up excitedly and ran to the tree disappearing into the back of it where the final present of the day was hidden. He looked up at Liz, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"I thought we were done with presents, Liz. I mean..." he ran his thumb over her tummy to accentuate his point. The baby had been more than enough for him.

"I know." Liz smoothed out his furrowed brow, "Its small. Don't worry."

Michael nodded and accepted the gift from Lexi, setting the small box on Liz's lap. Lexi scrambled back between her parents, and the room grew quiet with anticipation. The gift had been a surprise to everyone.

Michael tore away the delicate wrapping and took the lid away from the brown box, dipping his hand into the tissue paper to retrieve the item. He pulled the gift out by a strings holding it in front of his face to inspect.

Tiny, black, leather, rubber soles, oddly familiar. He turned the small shoes over and read the sole chuckling as he looked up at Liz still a bit bewildered, "Doc Martens?"

Liz shook her head, "Correction. Baby Docs." still seeing confusion etched on Michael's face, "It was how I originally planned on telling you about the baby, but Lexi beat me to it."

Lexi blushed and hid her face in her dad's chest. Michael stared at the tiny shoes, "I get it, but I already know about the baby, so why still give these to me? Its not exactly a surprise."

Liz smirked, "Isn't it?"

"Chicks are so cryptic." Michael muttered turning back to the miniature clones of his preferred brand of shoe, "I already know about the baby, Liz. And unless this is your way of telling me what we're..."

He paused, his eyes widening a bit. He watched Liz raise and eyebrow as her smirk turned into full fledged smile. Michael licked his suddenly dry lips, trying to find his voice, "You can tell? Already?"

Liz nodded. Lexi, far from understanding what was going on between her aunt and uncle, spoke up, "Tell what?" she asked, demanding answers.

Michael kept his eyes on Liz as he answered his nieces query, "We're having a boy..." his voice caught with emotion, "A s-son."

Miriam couldn't contain her emotions and burst into tears of happiness. Sweet wrapped his arms around her, shedding his own tears at watching his son, find out about his own child. His own son.

"Sure Michael," Kyle quipped, swallowing the lump in his throat to cover his own pride in his friend, "You get a boy on the first shot."

He felt a slap on his knee and looked down to the cross face of Lexi, "You stop Daddy. I adoable."

Kyle gathered his daughter in his arms and kissed her forehead, "That you are. Good thing too. I mean its not like I could throw you back or anything..."

"Daddy..." Lexi growled, but she could feel the tightening of her father's arms around her that belied his teasing. She knew he was happy with her, felt blessed. And Isabel had told her a million times about how he'd wept joyfully when she'd told him they were expecting a daughter.

Too entranced in each other to notice the celebration going on around them, Michael held Liz close in his lap, his head buried in her neck so his face could be shielded from view by her hair. His eyes closed tightly against the tears he knew would spill if he opened them. Liz heard him whispering, "A son...A son...A son..." over and over again against her ear.

Liz gently brought Michael's face away from her neck and he finally opened his eyes, letting the tears dammed behind them slip down his cheeks. "Guess you get that balance after all."she whispered to him.

Michael smiled, "I didn't care what we had, Liz...really..."

"I know." Liz grinned, "But you have to admit a little victory at me having to deal with not one, but two, Joyce men."

Michael nodded, wiping away his tears, "I'll admit victory, but I refuse to dance."

Liz chuckled, "Lets hope our son doesn't inherit your two left feet."

Michael's smile softened, hearing Liz say those words, "Yeah... our son..."

Tears welled again in his eyes and he wrapped a hand around the back of Liz's neck pulling her down for a kiss before the salty evidence of his vulnerability could spill out again.

Kyle glanced over at Isabel who'd been unable to fight back her own tears. It was beyond fitting that Michael have a son. A chance to get right what Hank had done wrong so many years earlier. Kyle felt his own tears welling in his eyes and cleared his throat looking over at Michael and Liz, still fervently locked in their celebratory kiss.

He grinned nudging a bright faced Lexi, "Hey. Aren't you gonna break that up?" he gestured to Michael and Liz, knowing the high "gross" factor for Lexi when any kind of adult affection was displayed.

Lexi shook her head, smiling up at her father before returning her fascinated gaze to her aunt and uncle, her voice soft and sweet, wise beyond her two years, "Free pass, Daddy. Free pass."

The End

~*~

Don't worry...there is an Epilogue in the works. :)