Title: I Believe in You

Author: Gillian Silverlight

Distribution: My site at www.homestead.com/giliansspikelair/ those that

previously have permission to post my fic, all others please ask first.

Disclaimer: The characters are borrowed from Jason Katims. I thank you Jason

for the wonderful world you have introduced us to in Roswell.

Know that we write these our of our love for the characters and

Our desire to have things the way we wish them, in our hearts.

Time: Sometime after “The Miracle”

Rating: NC-17

I Believe in You

Liz was looking for Maria. She wondered if Maria had gone over to the UFO center to talk to Brody. She’d start there first.

***********************************************************************

‘I know it’s true,

No one heals me like you do…’

‘It seems like every time I try to make it right

it all comes down on me

Please say honestly you won’t give up on me’

Max was at the UFO center just getting in a bit of quiet and thinking about the last few days and weeks. He didn’t understand what had happened with Liz, with the dups., the summit meeting… It was all so much and he was trying to take it in and make sense of it.

Then there was Tess. Yes, he’d been spending time with her. Yes, he was being protective of her. Yes, he’d been trying to follow this so-called Destiny they’d all heard so much about…but he was sick of it. Michael and Isabel did not love each other and were NOT planning to be together at all. He had to face the facts that he LOVED Liz Parker. He would always love her, even though right now his heart was so torn and wounded he didn’t think he could stand it any longer. He believed in Liz. He KNEW Liz, he didn’t care what he saw or what she said; he did not think she had had sex with Kyle. But he didn’t understand why she’d tell him she had or why she’d been in bed with him. The sight and thoughts kept going round and round in his head until he was dizzy with it.

He also had to face the fact that he didn’t love Tess. He was never going to love Tess. Even if he never saw Liz again in his life, he would never love Tess. His heart would always belong to Liz. He had made up his mind to tell her. To tell Tess that he didn’t love her and couldn’t but wanted her to be his friend. And to tell Liz that he’d always love her, even if she refused him for the rest of his life.

And with those thoughts echoing in his head, Max headed for the door.

************************************************************************

Liz slipped inside the door of the UFO center and heard someone inside.

*Good,* She thought. * This MUST be where Maria went.*

Liz started down the stairs in a headlong rush, but lost her balance and started to fall. Frightened, she made a sound somewhere between a scream and a squeak.

Max heard the sound and rushed up the stairs faster, taking them two at a time.

His brain registered that it was Liz who had made that noise and that she was falling!

He reached out and grabbed her, keeping her from hitting the steps face first, but her momentum slammed both of them back into the wall curving up the steps.

As Max held her in his arms and they both struggled to catch their breaths, they looked at each other. They were falling, they were drowning in each other’s eyes, the connections that had been so submerged that it felt lost, came rising up and overwhelmed both of them.

Max didn’t think for once, he just acted. He turned around pressing Liz’s back into the wall. She was caught between his hard body and the wall behind her. He leaned down and took her lips under his own, plundering the sweetness of them.

Scenes, visions flashed through his head like lightening, filling his mind, overwhelming his senses and he KNEW! He knew everything that had happened!

His Liz, always his Liz. He knew what she had done for him, for the world they both shared. He knew that Kyle had done to help her, and in that moment all the old and new animosity against Kyle fell away as if it had never been.

Max swept Liz, his Liz, up in his arms as she clung to him. She had also been overwhelmed by the events and visions tumbling in her mind. The sense of lost that had been killing her day by day; the loss of Max’s touch, the devastation of future Max’s disappearance as they had danced on her balcony. She couldn’t move, couldn’t struggle. She just couldn’t fight the feelings assailing her or the fact that Max had her in his arms and was taking her somewhere.

*********************************************************************

Just how he had managed to get up the fire escape with Liz in his arms, Max didn’t know and didn’t care. He’d done it. That was all that mattered. He was going to resolve this once and for all. He’d seen the over-powering love for him in Liz’s heart through their connection. He wasn’t going to lose her again. And he’d seen the way to do that from what his future self had told Liz. He still had the protection in his wallet from that horrible night when he’d seen her with Kyle and his world had come crashing down around him.

Liz had not uttered a word since he had caught her, stopping her fall. She just looked at his with those soft eyes as she clung to him.

*I’m in Max’s arms! I can’t stay here, but I can’t bear to leave. We can’t do this.* She thought. *But how can I let him go again? This has been killing me. What do I do? I love him. I’ll never love anyone but him. Future Max disappeared, so maybe everything will be ok. We changed the future already. Just one last time to be with Max………*

Max laid Liz on her bed. He had to fight to keep the sight of her there with Kyle out of his head, even thought he knew now it had all been a lie; and his future self had been there. Probably hurting as much as Max was now in the present, even knowing that it was all a lie. His Liz would never turn to anyone else.

Max knew he had to be quick before Liz protested. He hit the button on her radio next to the bed. Out flowed the strains of ‘I Shall Believe’, and he knew, just knew this was right. That was the song his future self had told Liz had been their song. And oh, how it fit!

Max resumed kissing her lips, assaulting them with his own, plundering the sweetness of her mouth with his tongue and she responded in kind with a whimper deep in her throat that matched his own. His hands were busy as he passed it down the front of her shirt using his power to open it faster. And across the zipper of her jeans, leaving them open as well. Back up he reached to do the same with his own clothing.

Her hands were on him under his open shirt feeling the tight muscles of his back. She instinctively clutched his back as she felt his hands on her breasts, the place she’d wanted to feel them for so very long. Suddenly the front clasp of her bra was undone and it was Max’s hands on her skin, cupping her breasts with one hand while he supported most of his weight off her with the other arm. Yet where their lower bodies touched, she felt his arousal against her, even as she felt the warm wetness in her own center.

Max ran his hands over Liz, his Liz, always to be his Liz. She was soft and silky and he felt her response to him as well as his response to her hardening in his jeans, straining at the material seeking release, seeking her.

The connection was so strong between them, the emotions whirling around and through them and he knew this would happen, this would be and she would be his forever afterwards. He also knew that she thought it was just this once. That a final chance to be with him before a life of being alone.

He’d not tell her now, not let her know all he had seen, all he knew now. Or that this would be forever for them as it should be. He’d tell her all of that afterwards!

As they touched and caressed each other, shedding clothing quickly, they never broke the kiss. Each felt as if their skin was on fire, as the waves of emotion crashed over them again and again, knowing what was to happen.

Max raised up a bit to make sure his Liz was protected, yet still continued to kiss her. Holding his entire weight off of her for the few seconds it took to be sure she would be safe, with the strong muscles of his back only. Her hands roamed over the planes of his chest and stomach and then around him to draw him back to her. He went eagerly.

His hardness touched the wet center of her and he slid himself inside of her as gently as possible, not wanting to hurt her. She gasped at his touch and the incredible fullness as he entered her. Her Max! Her very forbidden Max. She didn’t want to think past this moment, knowing she’d never have this again. But this very first time belonged to Max, belonged to them together and she was going to take it, sure in her mind that it would be all she’d every have of him.

He was right! The visions were right! His Liz was a virgin, and he pressed as gently as possible through the restricting membrane. She gave a small cry of pain, which Max kissed away. He hated hurting her, even this little bit, but he knew that she’d forgive him; knew that the end results would be them together forever. For that, he could handle this small pain he inflicted on her. He passed his hand quickly between their bodies, with a light touch only, taking away the pain from her.

Max was encased in the center of her warmth, could feel her all around him, her inner muscles gripping him so tightly. He had to hold on long enough to please her too.

Max was inside of her! He filled her completely and had realized the small pain as he’d passed through the membrane in her and had taken away that pain.

* Oh, no! He’ll know that it was a lie about Kyle! * But she couldn’t say anything. His mouth was taking her breath away. She panted into his plundering mouth and he moaned in return.

Max was moving slowly inside of her, not wanting to hurt her, when he felt her nails lightly on his bare buttocks urging him faster, harder. He was more than happy to give her all she wanted.

As they moved against each other, there was a rising tide of fire, emotion, dizziness, sweetness, that rose up to consume them both. They cried out together, finally breaking the kiss.

As they rested against each other, sated in such a short time, they heard the song still coming from the radio. * It must have been a CD.* Max thought, but so perfect, so perfect for them both.

‘Open the door

and show me your face tonight

I know its true

No one heals me like you

And you hold the key

Never again

Would I turn away from you

I’m so heavy tonight

But your love is alright…’

Liz had forgotten she’d left that CD in the small radio/stereo. Max must had turned it on. She’d left it on repeat. That song, their song, the song future Max had told her about, had been playing the whole time. And the words were perfect…..if only they could be true. She sighed.

Max heard that sigh and looked at her. “ Liz. I love you, Liz. Only you, always only you.”

“I saw Liz, in your mind. I saw it all. I know. I know it was a lie about Kyle. And I know why you did what you did. Still for me, for the world we share. I know what you tried to give up, and how much you love me. I’ll never leave you again, Liz. Never!”

He clasped her to him tightly, as if she was his whole world.

Because she was.

“Max, we can’t! You have your Destiny, and Tess has to be here.” Liz told him, tears catching in her voice.

“ Yes, Tess has to be here. But she doesn’t have to be with me. I don’t love her. I can’t love her. I love you. I’ve always loved you and will always love you.

I’ve been thinking about this. A lot! I think I have some answers, especially with what I know now. Why didn’t you tell me, Liz?”

“You told me not to. The future you.”

“ And you trusted me, just like you’ve always trusted me…” Max sighed again.

“ The other you, told me that watching that.. me with Kyle, was the hardest thing he had every done, even knowing it wasn’t true. How can you ever forgive me Max? You can’t. and that was the idea. He..you… said I had to do something you couldn’t forgive. It killed me inside, Max. If the future you was hurting so badly about it, knowing it wasn’t real…I knew it had to be tearing you up inside just like it was doing to me to have to do that. But it was for our world, Max. We can’t be together for the good of billions of innocent people in the future.”

“Liz, Liz! If I’m not with you, the end result might be the same. I’m not whole without you, Liz. I can only imagine that the thought of never having you kept the future me from thinking clearly about what you needed to do now. We can do this another way and you and still be together. Let me tell you my ideas and if you agree, we’ll get all the others together and explain it all to them. I’ll need your help thought. I’ll always need your help, Liz.”

“This is our wedding day, Liz. That song is OUR song. At least I got that right in the future. I’m sorry this time was so fast. I want to make love to you as you deserve. I want to spend all night making love to you, making you happy. And then spend the rest of our lives doing the same.”

“So do I, Max. I want that more than anything. But I also need for you and Michael and Isabel, and even Tess, to be safe. I need my friends to be safe. I need our world to be safe.

I can’t regret this, what we have done, being together. It was only right that my first time, and most likely my only time if you are not with me, be with you. I love you with all my heart, Max. The thought of being married to you….. Tell me how you think we can keep this.”

So as they lay together as one, Max told her his plan, his ideas; begging her in his mind to agree, feeling in his heart that it would work, that together they could keep the future his other self had seen, from happening. Liz agreed with him.

“ As much as I want to make love to you properly, Liz. We need to call the others together. We need to tell them about this. Then… I can love you the rest of our life. Our life together.”

Liz nodded her head, never taking her eyes from Max’s face. She leaned in toward him and brushed her lips against his. A promise, a hope, a seal between them in that touch.

* A kiss to my husband.* she thought to herself.

***********************************************************************

Brody was out of town. He’d taken his now well daughter back to her mother, out of town, so the UFO center was empty. They arranged to meet there.

Two hours later, everyone was there. Max and Liz, Michael and Maria, Isabel and Alex, and Kyle and Tess.

“ I’ve been thinking about everything that has been happening.” Max started. “I just got more information from Liz a few hours ago.”

They all turned to stare at her in amazement, Kyle in fear.

“It’s ok. Liz didn’t tell me because I had told her not to… A future me that came back to our time through the granolith.”

“Tess,” Max singled her out with his eyes and comments. “I need you to just bear with me for the moment and not freak out. I need you to hear this through with an open mind. Not your emotions, but your mind. Then I promise we’ll talk privately about this.”

“Kyle, I need to apologize to you. We’ll also talk later in private. Right now, stay with Tess. Keep her here. This is important to all of us. Not only do our lives depend on this, but the lives of billions of people here on earth.”

And with that cryptic statement, Max started telling them everything.

“ Liz had a visit from a future me.” Max stared his story. There were gasps from most in the room. Max went on to tell them what his future self had told Liz, gotten her to do and why. “I know it’s the truth, because I saw it all when I kissed her a few hours ago.”

Michael and Isabel walked over to Liz. “ May we?” Isabel asked her.

“Yeah.” Liz said as she looked at them. They reached out and laid a hand on her head, all three of them closing their eyes.

Tess also started toward Liz, only to find Kyle gripping one arm and Max gripping the other. “No, Tess. Get it from Michael or Isabel afterwards. You’re upset right now and I’m sorry, but I can’t trust you not to hurt Liz.” He pushed her gently back into Kyle’s arms. “Take care of her, Kyle.” Kyle nodded his agreement to Max as he looked at him in amazement. Kyle pulled the crying Tess into his arms and led her a bit away from the rest of the group.

“It’s all the truth!” Michael said to all of them. Isabel, looking very solemn agreed with Michael. She reached out and put her hand on Michael’s arm and spoke where only he could hear her. “Keep the rest of it to yourself, Michael. Let Max do this.”

Michael looked at her and said nothing by way of acquiescence.

Isabel walked over to where Tess was huddled in Kyle’s arms. “Tess, it’s true. I know you are upset right now, but let Max finish. He seems to have thought of a way out of this for all of us.”

“But he won’t be with me!” Tess cried.

“Tess, you’ve always known that Max loves Liz. He’s never stopped loving Liz. Even though he’s been spending time with you; you know he doesn’t love you. Be honest with yourself. And be honest that you only feel that you love him and think you should love him because of this ‘Destiny’ that none of us asked for. You may remember love from a different lifetime. But this is not that lifetime and it’s not going to be. None of us can go back to that lifetime. We’re different now. To keep trying to have Max, will only make everyone unhappy; you and Max and Liz most of all.” Isobel explained to her.

She understood that Tess was hurting, but she understood a few things more about Tess that Tess didn’t want to admit to herself.

Things Isabel had gotten from her mind by accident when Tess was so injured and frightened by Congresswoman Whitaker.

“It will make me unhappy too.” Kyle said, still holding Tess and looking at Isabel.

“ Ok.” Max started again. “We all saw this ‘Destiny” in the cavern. BUT….. we were created from our old selves and mixed with human DNA. We are NOT the same people we were in our previous lives. We have some of the memories from then. But we are not totally of our previous alien blood. We’re human too. We’ve been raised as humans, lived with humans for this entire lifetime. I went to the summit and refused to go back to our ‘home planet’. But THIS is our home planet. This is were we were born, raised and live. This is where we have loved ones.”

At his words, he looked at Liz, then at Isabel and Michael and then the rest of the group. He saw that they were each looking at their human partners first too. Except Tess. But Kyle was looking down at Tess.

“There are four of us. Each of us a hybrid. We’re not completely human, but we’re also not completely alien either. If we went to that other planet….Have you thought about that? We’re more human than alien. There we’d be almost completely alien except for our engineered DNA. We know nothing about the language, the customs, we’d look different, think different. We know nothing about the political situation, or of fighting a planet wide war.”

“There, we’d be more outsiders than we ever were here. But here, we’ve made a place for ourselves. We have parents, friends, people who care about us, love us, who have put their lives on the line for us.”

“ As to our ‘Destiny’…. Isabel, you and Michael don’t love each other like a husband and wife, but like brother and sister. You have no plans to follow this ‘destiny’ that was laid out for us! We are not the same people. Isabel, you love Alex.” Isabel started to open her mouth to say something to Max, as the blush started up her cheeks.

“No, don’t argue with me, any of you. We can see the truth in each other. Hell, even the completely human ones of us can see the truth that some of us don’t want to face.”

He ran his hands through his hair, as he paced a step or two…

“It’s obvious that Alex, you love Isabel. Michael, if you and Maria ever stop fighting, I think we should worry, because that’s one way the two of you show your love to each other and are just too stubborn to admit it!” Max smiled to let them know he was not upset at them.

“And all of you know how Liz and I feel about each other. I won’t let her leave me ever again.” Max looked at Tess and continued to explain.

“ Tess, I know what you were told and what you think you feel, but there is a man right there with you, with his arms around you, that cares for you. Even as Liz was changed when I healed her, Kyle was changed when I healed him.”

“Each of us has a human counterpart. A completely human person who is willing to love us, accept us as we are even knowing what we are. So this is my suggestion.”

They all looked at each other in the room, each couple reached out for their chosen partner, except Tess, who was still clasped in Kyle’s arms. Kyle had just not turned her loose since he put his arms around her. He cared about her. He wasn’t sure if he loved her or not, but he knew he cared about her and he thought that if she’d ever stop mooning over Max Evans and give him a little encouragement, he might actually come to love this strange girl. He knew he wanted her physically. And she’d gone all out for him and his dad at Christmas. She’d made his favorite dish, made the entire dinner in fact! She’d gotten Maria’s mom over for dinner because she had noticed that his dad liked Ms. Deluca. Kyle had been amazed by it all and had had to admit that he didn’t think of Tess like a sister at all.

Liz could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel Max’s heart too! She hoped this worked. Oh, how she hoped this worked, for all of them, but especially for her and Max.

Max resumed speaking, “My suggestion is that we ignore our so-called Destiny. We know we all four have to be together, as a group; but we don’t have to be together as mates. This is a new life for all of us. We have people who love us. We’ve decided to not go back to the planet of our other lives. This is our home. We know we have enemies here and they will come after us and those we love, as well as the rest of the people on this world. Ok, we’re the ‘Royal four’. We can’t stop what is happening on the planet where half of our makeup came from. We know that the people of this planet will be killed without us. So.. I feel we should explain as much of this to our parents as we can. They have the right to know. We accept who and what we are, and that we are different. We accept those who love us regardless of our differences and we go one and make our lives here and be happy. We still continue to try and learn as much about out other halves as we can and learn how to use our powers. Separately and together. We know the time will come when we will need them. I know all of us need to think about this for a bit and talk to each other about it. But realize what I did today. We’re no longer just four. We’re eight now. And Kyle’s dad, makes us nine. Our parents will make us even more, and will make it easier for us to do what we need to do. We are strong, but all of us together are stronger.”

Max walked over to Liz and leaned his forehead against hers, their arms around each other.

“Honey, we’re on now. Let me talk to Tess first while you talk to Kyle as we agreed. Then I’ll talk to Kyle and you talk to Tess. I imagine the others will want to talk to us after that. Are you ready?”

“I’m always ready to be your partner, Max. You know I want to have this happen and not what your future self told me. Remember..’I shall believe’.”

“Me too, Liz darling, me too.”

They walked over to Tess and Kyle. The others were all in separate couples talking.

Max took Tess’s hand and gently took her from Kyle’s arms to walk over to the side of the room. He saw Liz take Kyle by the arm and walk over to a separate area to talk.

“Tess.” Max spoke to her very gently, “You have always known I was in love with Liz and not with you. I don’t want to hurt you. I know what I am saying does hurt you, but it would hurt you much more for me to be with you and still be in love with Liz. You know that’s the truth. Sooner or later, I’d resent that I’d been forced by this ‘ Destiny’ to be with you instead of the woman who has my heart.”

“ But I love YOU, Max!” Tess cried.

“No Tess, I think if you look hard in your heart, there is someone else you are finding feelings for. You think you love me because that’s what Nesado told you all your life. Do you really want me with you, knowing I’d be unhappy regardless of how hard I pretended, that I’d always be in love with someone else?”

“N-n-no. I want you to love me!”

“I’m sorry, it was already too late when we met. I’m not the person from that previous life, and neither are you. But there is a good man over there that cares about you and I think if you give him a chance, he’ll make you happier than I ever could. I know you care about him. After all, “ Max smiled at her. “You did order him around over Christmas, and made his favorite dish. You look happy when you are with Kyle, even if you can’t or won’t let yourself see it.”

Tess leaned into Max and cried. He held her, feeling badly that he’d had to tell her truths that hurt her.

She raised her tear stained face to his. “Ok, Max. I’ll try. And you’re right, I wouldn’t want you to be with me and always be in love with her. I’d hate her and you after a while. I do like Kyle. I care about him. I don’t love him, but I do care about him. Maybe if I can let you go; I can try and see if I can love him.”

“I’m glad, Tess. I do care about you too, but only as a friend.” Max said to her very gently. “I always want to be your friend. I want you to be happy, and I know it can’t be with me, but I think you can be with Kyle.”

He gave her a very sisterly hug and took her hand and started walking toward Kyle and Liz.

***********************************************************************

“Kyle….I can’t thank you enough for trying to help me with Max. I’m sorry if I hurt you in the past, but I’ve loved Max since we first saw each other in third grade. It just took us a while to find that out. You’ve always been my friend and I don’t want to lose that friendship.”

“I think you care about Tess and I think she’d be a lucky girl to have you in her life. I think that if you will give her a chance, she’ll be willing to give you a chance now. I want you to be as happy as I am Kyle.”

“Yeah, I know you love him, Liz. I’ve been so very jealous in the past, but I finally accepted that I’d never be with you. I was pleased to help you with Max, pleased that you trusted me enough to ask me.”
”I do care about Tess. I just didn’t want to have to fight Max Evans again for another girl.”

Liz gave a little laugh. “I know you won’t have to fight Max for Tess. She cares about you. Just give it a chance.”

“Liz, Max said we were changed when he healed us, you and I. How were we changed?”

“I don’t know Kyle. And neither does Max. I guess we’ll just have to find out as we go along. Me with Max and you with Tess. Oh, and don’t be surprised when you finally kiss her, if you have flashes of visions. I think that may be one of the changes.” She smiled at Kyle as she saw Max approaching her with Tess in tow.

************************************************************************

“So, Isabel.” Alex said to her as he took her hand. “Was what Max said true? Do you love me?”

“Why should I tell you that, Alex? You’ve never said you loved me.”

“Then I’ll tell you now. I, Alex Whitman, love you with all my heart, Isabel Evans.”

Isabel looked startled, emotions played across her face, fear, amazement, reflection, tenderness and finally love.

“Yes, Alex. I do love you. I couldn’t tell you, knowing what I was suppose to do, who I was suppose to be with according to our ‘Destiny’, not knowing who I am or even what…”

Alex placed his finger over Isabel’s lips, quieting her. “I know who you are. You’re Isabel Evans. And I know what you are. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life; you are the woman I love and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t care what we have to fight in the future as long as I don’t have to fight not being with you.”

Isabel looked at Alex with wide eyes, searching his face. What she saw there convinced her and tears started out of her eyes. She leaned against Alex and wrapped her arms around him. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you too, Alex. I couldn’t imagine that you’d love me or want me. I love you.”

Alex pushed Isabel back from him so he could look down into her tear-filled eyes. “I have loved you for a while now, Issy. I’ve thought about this a lot and I’m sure. Whatever we have to face in the future, we’ll face it together.” Aleex leaned down and kissed her beautiful lips until both of them had trouble breathing.

“Let’s go back and finish this talk with Max and tell him our decision. Then I think we should go talk some more very privately, Alex Whitman.”

Alex grinned at Isabel. “I do believe you are right, Isabel Evans.”

They walked back toward the center of the room arm in arm.

********************************************************************

Maria and Michael had walked over to a corner on their own. She turned to face him. “So what now? Michael, do we just start arguing or shall we skip that and go right to yelling at each other?”

“I think I have a much better idea.” Michael said as he pulled Maria to him and kissed her.

Minutes later as they came up for air, Maria looked at Michael in disbelief.

“I love you, Maria. I’ve loved you for a long time. You annoy the hell out of me, but if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be you. It’s part of what I love about you.”

“Max is right. We all have to solve this now. We don’t know what will happen in the future, what the Skins or whoever else may throw at us. I need to be at Max’s back and not worried about what is happening with you and I. I need you at my side, Maria. I want to know you are there for me at the end of the day; each morning when I wake up and for the rest of my life, whatever happens in it.”

“And don’t plan on getting this speech from me again. But if you’ll have me, you can plan on me loving you and being there. I’ll even try to remember to tell you how much I love you occasionally.”

Maria stared open mouthed at Michael. She’d never expected this from him. “M-Michael?” She looked into his face, touched his cheek with her hand and he covered her hand with his own. “Michael, I love you. You make me so crazy, you irritate me constantly, but I love you. Of course I’ll have you, you idiot! But if you EVER try to find out more about the enemy again by kissing them…I’ll, I’ll, kick your ass so hard!”

She threw herself into Michael’s arms and they started kissing each other again until they pulled back shaking. Michael had that smug look on his face as he took Maria by the hand. “Let’s go tell Max we’ll be backing him up.”

************************************************************************

Liz walked off with Tess and Max walked the other way with Kyle. None of them were looking forward to THIS talk.

“Tess..”

“Liz…”

They both laughed, each trying to start the conversation first.

“Tess.” Liz began again. “I want you to know I DO understand how you feel. While I’m sorry for you that it couldn’t work with Max and you, I can’t be sorry about being with Max.”

“I think that Kyle cares a lot about you and can make you happy Tess, if you’ll let him have a chance. He needs you. I think you need him. And all of us need you here with us.

I’d like to- to try and see if we can be friends too, Tess. If you’ll let me?”

Tess looked very surprised at Liz. This was not what she’d ever expected from her, not after the way she’d treated Liz Parker. Tess finally realized that Liz truly was a match for Max. Tears welled up in her eyes and she looked at Liz.

“Thank you, Liz. I know that you will love Max and make him happy. I’m sorry it can’t be me….. but, yes; I’d like to start over and try to be friends, Liz. We’ll have to be spending a lot of time together in the future, saving the world and all.”

She grinned slightly lop-sided at Liz. Liz shyly grinned back. They reached out and took each other’s hand in future friendship.

“I think Kyle will take care of me, too. I’m going to try really hard to give him a chance to do so. I promise you that I’ll try to make him happy and be happy with him.”

“Thank you, Tess. Thank you.”

To both their surprise as well as those who saw from across the room, Liz and Tess hugged each other before they started back to the center of the room. Tess going to stand by Kyle and Liz next to Max.

***********************************************************************

Max looked at Kyle very nervously. “Kyle.. I-I-I have to apologize for all I said and the way I treated you when I thought that you and Liz,,,,,”

“It’s ok, Max. You were jealous like I was when she wanted you and not me. But she does belong with you and I can see that. I was upset with you as well when I thought I would never have a chance with Tess because of you. Losing one woman to you is enough, Max.” Kyle smiled tenitively at Max.

“I can see your point, Kyle. Take care of Tess, and welcome to the “family”?”

“It *IS* a family, Max. An unusual one, but it is one. I’m proud to be a part of it…. If Tess will let me.”

“There is no apology necessary.. after all, you did give me back my life. I need to thank you for that.”

“Kyle.” Max blushed. “I don’t need any thanks for that..”

“You have it anyway. Make Liz happy, brother. Friends?”

“Yeah Kyle, friends. And thank you for you blessings, brother.”

They turned and walked back to the center of the room with the rest as Liz and Tess approached them.

************************************************************************

“Ok. What have each of you decided?’ Max asked all of them.

Each couple stood together as one, arms around each other; although Kyle and Tess were a bit self-conscious with each other.

Michael took a step toward Max, with Maria in tow. “Maria and I will be with you. I’ll be at your back whatever comes, Max.”

“Thank you Michael, Maria” as Max grinned at them, knowing they would certainly liven up the entire group with their legendary fights. Even as a couple, Max didn’t think that form of affection between Michael and Maria would change.

Liz smiled at the person who was her best friend until a few hours ago. That was now Max, although Maria would always be her best human friend.

Isabel and Alex stayed where there were, leaning on each other. “We’re with you too, Max. As well as together…” Isabel said, smiling shyly at Alex, who was looking very happy but dazed.

“Glad you’re here too..brother AND sister..” Isabel reached out her hand to Michael

and Maria.

Tess looked at Max and Liz together, at Michael and Maria, at Alex and Isabel, and finally at Kyle; who was watching her closely with an odd expression. She’d have to ask him about that later.

“I’m with you all…” Said Tess, and looked again at Kyle.

“I’m with you too, brother.” Kyle replied, although he was looking at Tess.

At his expression, she reached one finger up to touch his cheek in wonder.

“Let’s leave as soon as we can and talk a bit.” Kyle whispered to Tess. She just nodded in amazement at what she was feeling from him.

“Ok, that’s it then. We’re all in this together. Next step is to tell our parents. All of them..” Max said gazing over all his friends and extended family, knowing the world was about to be a lot happier for everyone regardless of what the enemy threw at them. They’d all take it in stride, each protecting the others.

“Tess, you and Kyle have some talking to do. I imagine, and your dad already knows. But I suspect once you and Tess come to some kind of agreement, you might want to talk to him about that. So if you two want to go on ahead.. it’s ok.” Max smiled knowingly at them.

Tess and Kyle were still looking at each other and just nodded at Max. “See ya later, Guy.”

Kyle told Max as he led Tess out of the room, up those faithful stairs and out of the building.

Max looked at Liz with a question in his eyes. She looked back understanding and gave a tiny nod in agreement. They looked back at the others to find themselves the object of perplexed scrutiny.

“ We wanted to wait until those two were gone to tell you something else. We didn’t want to upset the fragile connection between Tess and Kyle right now”

They all looked in agreement as Maria burst out. “Oh, no! Tell me you’re NOT pregnant, Liz!”

Max and Liz both laughed and Liz looked at Maria. “No Maria, I’m not” and left it at that comment, knowing what Max was about to say to them all.. They’d discussed it and agreed to tell the rest.

“Liz and I were together earlier, Maria.” He held up a hand to forestall her outburst again.

“We were safe. But we wanted to tell our closest friends that in all ways except the legal paperwork and the ring, Liz and I are married. It’s sealed in our hearts right now, but as soon as we can do so, we’ll have the rest of the wedding.”

He smiled tenderly at Liz. She glanced at Max with eyes full of love and then turned to an open mouthed Maria and a shocked group of friends.

“No children anytime soon, Maria. Not to worry.” Liz told her friend, reassuring her.

“Let’s all go tell our parents about our mixed background and our chosen relationships.” Max said to the rest. They all smiled and agreed, conversation breaking out as they headed up the steps out the building.

************************************************************************

Later, very tired but satisfied. Max looked at Liz and said to her.” Well, that didn’t go too badly. They all seemed to take it well. A bit shocked, but happy to know finally what was going on.”

“Yeah, and none of them were too shocked at our pairing as couples. Even though they had all those cautions for us about sex and stuff.” Liz said as she blushed.

“We’ll be very careful, my darling wife. We need to get both of us out of high school first and see what our enemies have planned first. But for right now, I believe I promised you to make love to you as you deserved…..”

Max took Liz in his arms, kissing her as he pressed he back into the pile of pillows behind them intending to do just that….

In the background the radio played softly:

‘Come to me now

And lay your hands over me

Even if it's a lie

Say it will be alright

And I shall believe

I'm broken in two

And I know you're on to me

That I only come home

When I'm so all alone

But I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way

You think it ought to be

It seems like every time I try to make it right

It all comes down on me

Please say honestly you won't give up on me

And I shall believe

And I shall believe

Open the door

And show me your face tonight

I know it's true

No one heals me like you

And you hold the key

Never again

would I turn away from you

I'm so heavy tonight

But your love is alright

And I do believe

That not everything is gonna be the way

You think it ought to be

It seems like every time I try to make it right

It all comes down on me

Please say honestly

You won't give up on me

And I shall believe

I shall believe

And I shall believe’

The future of the world could wait just for tonight…

The beginning….

Gillian Silverlight 1/15/01