Where We Were Before Parts 1-11

By Ashton

Rating: PG...the most it'll probably get is PG-13...I think.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell, etc.

Summary: It's been 5 years since graduation...7 years since Tess Harding entered their lives and changed everything. With a little match-making

scheme, Maria and Michael try to see if they can get Max and Liz back 'where they were before'. :)

Category: Max/Liz, although all Roswell couples will be/are involved

(Blessid Union of Souls excerpt)
"Where We Were Before"

And you're just what I've been waiting for
To come and take me in
To grab ahold and take control and make me whole again
And if you need my everything you can take it all and more
Just help me to get back where we were before

~~~~~~~~~~
"Michael?" Maria's soft voice split the stilness of the night.

"Hmmm?" An equally soft answer prompted Maria DeLuca to voice her silent thoughts.

Maria turned her eyes from the brilliant night sky to the man lying by her side. Her high school sweetheart lost for what seemed like eternity now suddenly back in her life. Her tough, but gentle, untamable but suddenly captured Michael. Maria's eyes softened with unspoken love as she reached out and began to caress his hand. "Don't you think it's a shame?"

Michael's eyebrow raised in silent answer to Maria's question as he glanced over at her then back up at the stars, his eyes beginning to dance with amusement. "Maria, baby, I know you and I never did do well at saying exactly what we meant in high school, but can you at least try? Just this once? Call it…I don't know…part of this new deal we have going…"

Maria chuckled and slapped Michael playfully on the chest before raising herself up on her elbow to look at him. "Hey! I hope you realize the majority of our communication problems in high school were yours."

"Mine?"

"Yes, yours, Mr.-I-have-to-be-a-stone-wall-Guerin. You didn't give me many breaks back then, you know."

Michael shook his head with a chuckle as he reached over and ran his hand down Maria's arm. "No, I guess I didn't. But we've gotten past all that now. So…" Taking her hand in his, he raised it to his lips and kissed it gently before looking back up into her eyes. "…tell me what's on your mind."

Maria smiled as she gazed out into the distance relishing this new relationship of theirs. This openness to each other she'd always seen in Max and Liz's relationship and desperately hoped for in hers and Michael's. Amazing how things had changed in the last 5 years…for all of them. "Well, I was just thinking. Here we are…finally together and happier than ever…" Maria paused and looked over at Michael her eyebrows furrowing in sudden uncertainty. "You are, aren't you? I mean, happier then ever…right?"

Seeing the irrational worry in Maria's eyes, Michael leaned up and captured her lips with his before running his fingers through her thick blonde hair. When he pulled back to look into her eyes he grinned with satisfaction at the sudden desire he saw burning there. "Answer your question?" He asked huskily with a glimmer of cockiness in his voice.

"Mmmm-hummm." Maria sighed contentedly before leaning in once more for a quick kiss. "Completely."

"Good." Michael responded while continuing to smooth back Maria's hair. "So, if we're both happier than ever...what's the problem?"

Maria contemplated his question for a second before answering. "Well, I just wish our friends could find the same happiness, you know?"

"Our friends." Michael repeated as his lips began to twitch with a smile. "Maria, we don't have any friends. Unless...wait. You don't mean..."

Maria nodded her silent agreement to Michael's dangled sentence and bit her lip in nervousness. She'd been forming a plan for a while now. She just didn't know how much of it Michael was going to go along with. "You're right. I'm talking about Max and Liz."

"Maria…" Michael began in a warning voice when he saw the scheming light in her eyes and guessed where this line of thinking was going.

Maria sat up and turned toward him her excitement getting the better of her. "No, no, Michael. Just listen, ok? I know it's been so long since they've actually seen each other…"

Michael linked his fingers together and propped them behind his head. "Yeah. Like light years ago."

"And there was some tension when they split…"

"You call what happened 'tension'? Good God, Maria, it was like WWI, II and Independence Day all put together."

"And I know that they have their own separate lives now…" Maria continued as if Michael hadn't spoken a word.

"Oh, I'd say separate is the word. Especially since Liz is planning a wedding to that human…what's his name? Ben, right?" Michael nodded knowing he'd remembered the right name then rolled his eyes. "I'd say that's definitely in the separate lives stage…"

"But…"

"It's not going to work…" Michael predicted without hesitation.

"It could." Maria countered tilting her head to the side in that way she knew drove Michael wild.

Michael noted the tilt of Maria's head and the way her soft eyes were gazing at him with so much feeling and hope. When he spoke, the uncertainty in his voice contradicted the firmness of his words. "It won't."

"Let's try anyway. Come on, Michael. I know Liz just like you know Max. Neither of them are really living, you know? They're only existing right now without each other. I think we both know how much they still absolutely adore each other yet they aren't…you know, together. That's got to be the saddest thing in the world, Michael. To love someone so much and not be able to be together."

"Maria, baby, it was their choice…"

"That's a load of bull! They were together Michael. Loving and happy and ready to take on the world until that meddler, Tess Harding, dropped into our lives and started causing problems for everyone. Until she started messing with Max's head. It was never the same after that." Maria shook her head in disgust and pulled her hand away from Michael's. "And now, of all things, you tell me that it was all staged all of that time. That Max and Tess never…"

Sensing the explosion that was about to erupt, Michael sat up and attempted to put his arm around Maria. "You know what? Maybe I shouldn't have told you. You know…about Max and Tess."

Maria shot Michael a hurt look as she crossed her arms in front of her and shrugged out of his loose embrace. "Why not? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you, Maria." Michael stated emphatically before he shrugged and looked down at the ground, pulling a blade of grass from its home. "It's just...well, maybe I shouldn't have told you because it only makes you mad. And I never wanted to…well, I never wanted to make you feel anything bad…ever again."

Maria's anger melted away at Michael's gently spoken words. Reaching up she took his face in her hands and kissed him light on the lips. "You, Michael Guerin, don't. It's everyone else in this twisted human/alien connection we've all made. Max for hiding behind a fake relationship with that...person. Liz for believing everything he said too easily and not fighting harder for him. Isabel for backing Max up and covering for him. And Alex…"

Maria paused and looked away for a moment as she searched for a reason to be angry with Alex. Not finding one, she shrugged sheepishly. "Ok. So, maybe Alex hasn't done anything, but I'm sure if I think long enough I can come up with something."

Michael started to chuckle at Maria's comment before he ran his fingers through her hair. "I love you." Sobering suddenly, Michael ran his finger along Maria's face. "And you're right. Max still loves Liz. But in all honesty...Maria, with everything going on...with emotions running as high as they were, everyone going crazy like we did...someone would've gotten killed. Max had no choice but to walk away."

Maria swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat when she realized how right Michael was. Suddenly her eyes lit up with inextinguishable hope. "But things are different now, Michael. None of us are the same. There's no more danger. No more fear. I really think it could work this time. At least..." Maria wrapped her arms around Michael's neck and gazed lovingly into his eyes. "...come on, baby. Say we can at least try..."

"I have such a hard time saying no to you when you look at me like that, you know it?" Michael sighed as he tried to pull back before Maria attempted to capture his lips in a kiss that would seal his decision.

A wide grin spread over Maria's face. "So…does this mean you'll help me?"

"Do I really have a choice?"

"Not if you want to sleep in the bedroom tonight."

Letting out another sigh, Michael Guerin did what he never thought he'd do in his life. He agreed to become a matchmaker...

(Blessid Union of Souls excerpt)
"Where We Were Before"

And you're just what I've been waiting for
To come and take me in
To grab ahold and take control and make me whole again
And if you need my everything you can take it all and more
Just help me to get back where we were before
~~~~~~~~~~
~Chapter 2~

Twenty-three year old Max Evans silently cursed his sister, Isabel, for dragging him here. Then he cursed himself for allowing her to. As he watched several fashion-clad women running and bumping into each other while they scurried down the hall to make it to their next showing, Max shook his head slightly. What had Iz been thinking anyway?

Max's thoughts paused long enough for him to notice the curious, interested gazes of more than just a few of Isabel's fabulous friends and fellow models as they flitted here and there preparing for their big moment in the spotlight. Max sighed and forced himself not to roll his eyes at their obvious ogling and cast his eyes upward when he leaned his head back against the couch he'd been sitting on for the last forty five minutes. Who was he kidding? He knew exactly what Isabel had been thinking. Drag my lonely, sad, unfortunate brother to a fashion show with me and maybe he'll hook up with one of my gorgeous model friends and forget all about the love of his life…

Max smiled wryly as a white-gowned model accidentally tripped while she struggled with the heavily beaded, filmy veil that kept flying into her face obstructing her view. An instant image of his beautiful dreamgirl, Liz Parker, covered from head to toe in while tulle and beads flashed into Max's mind. "Wrong fashion show, Izzy." Max said aloud as he once more glanced around the room full of wedding dresses and bouquets. "Definitely the wrong show…"

"Did you say something?" Isabel asked as she sauntered up to Max and nudged him slightly so that he'd move and give her room to sit.

Max obliged her silent request before cocking an eyebrow at her. "Yeah, I did. I said I know what you're up to."

Isabel's beautiful face pinched slightly in mock confusion. "What ever could you be talking about?"

Max shook his head in annoyance as he hand waved over the room. "This. All of this. It's not going to change anything…"

Isabel let out a loud sigh, knowing her not-so-hidden plan had been discovered. "Max, come on. Just give it a try. You need some close encounters--of the human kind--no, make that the female human kind…in your life, Max."

Max rolled his eyes at Isabel's joke. "That was almost as lame as what you're trying to pull here."

"What?" Isabel asked with an offended air as she glanced around her. "I thought you'd enjoy getting away from New York for a while. Take in the sights of Boston. Get away from that daily grind you subject yourself to. You know…expand your horizons a little."

Max shook his head. "You mean expand my dating prospects, don't you?"

"Would that be so bad?" Isabel sighed again as she straightened the skirt of her evening dress and began to preen herself by checking her lipstick in a hand-held compact. "I mean, is it really such a crime to help my dodo-brained brother finally move on with his life? What's so awful about that? It's been over 6 years since you've dated anyone seriously, Max. Or even anyone at all. Mom and Dad are starting to worry about you. And frankly, so am I…"

"Isabel…" Max began in a warning voice.

Isabel slapped her compact closed and turned toward Max. "No, Max, listen to me. I know that this…" she waved her hand over the crowd of beautiful women in front of them. "…may not be the best place to find…"

"What?" Max's voice took on an edge as his eyes suddenly flashed with anger. "To find what, Iz? The love of my life?"

Isabel swallowed and looked down taken back by the sudden irritation and pain in his voice. "Of course not, Max. I know you'll never…I know you'll never love anyone the way you love Liz."

Looking back into his eyes, Isabel steeled herself for a possible confrontation. Since this subject had been canvassed before, she had plenty of practice at handling confrontations with Max. So she continued. "But you made the decision a long time ago to let her go. Isn't it time you start acting like it? Live a little, Max. Have some fun. Find whatever happiness you can without her. That's really all I want for you." Shrugging her shoulders she glanced up and caught the eye of a friend of hers. She smiled and nodded in her friend's direction causing Max's eyes to follow the path of her nod. "Who knows? Maybe this weekend can be the start…"

Max swallowed hard when he saw the beautiful brunette make eye contact with him and smile. For the first time in a long time, Max allowed Isabel's words to sink in…and smiled tentatively in return.

"Bella? Where is she? Has anyone seen Bella?" A frantic dresser scurried through the chaos stretching out Isabel's professional name. "BEEELLLLAAAA!"

"Hey." Michael greeted Max and Isabel before nodding in the direction of the dresser. "Looks like your public is waiting, Iz."

"Great. And just when I was getting a chance to talk some sense into my lunatic brother." Having seen the exchange between Max and her friend, Isabel sighed as she stood up and waved to her dresser letting her know her location. Casting a glance in Michael's direction, her gaze turned critical. "You know the idea of you being a model at this show wasn't for you to model your own personal style, Michael."

"BELLA!" Isabel's dresser yelled to the top of her lungs as she rushed up to her and grabbed her arm. "You're on in 3 minutes and we still have so much to do!"

Michael stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and shrugged with a smirk. "Yeah? Well, too bad you don't have the time to coach me on the ills of actually having a style."

Isabel had the chance to sigh and roll her eyes before being drug away by her ever-anxious, overly-careful assistant. "Catch you guys back here after the show. Oh, and Michael…please go change before you walk out on stage…" Waving her hand quickly to Max and Michael, Isabel called back over her shoulder before disappearing into the wall of white that had begun to form in the hallway.

"Into the Miami Vice look, are we?" Max asked with a slight grin as he gazed up at Michael to take in his full appearance after a moment of silence.

Michael looked down at his attire and shrugged. "Hey. It worked for Crockett and Tubbs."

"Yeah, but they didn't wear green camouflaged t-shirts with gray tuxedo jackets and faded blue jeans." Max answered back with a chuckle.

Michael opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the shrill ring of a phone. Max's eyebrows raised in surprise when Michael dug into his jean pocket to retrieve a small black cell phone. "Yeah?"

"Hi there, sexy." Maria's breathy voice came to him and was rewarded with a flicker of a smile she couldn't see.

"Hey." Aware that Max was watching him intently, Michael quickly masked the expression on his face and responded shortly trying to rein in his enthusiasm at just hearing her voice. Since they'd found each other again three months before, Michael had learned no matter what the problems or how bad of a day he was having, just hearing that voice always seemed to make things better for him.

Maria fiened hurt when she heard the curtness of Michael's tone. "'Hey?' After what I wore for you last night all you have to say to me is 'hey'?"

Michael's face began to turn slightly red as he glanced down at Max then turned and took a few steps away so he could speak a little more freely without Max overhearing every word. "You know that's not it. Things are a bit…"

"…crowded?" Maria finished for him knowing Max must be within earshot. Without waiting for his affirmation, Maria clued him in on her situation. "Here too. Look, I'm just calling to let you know we're set. You can start things on your end."

Michael took a deep breath before asking in a somewhat shaky voice. "Are you sure about this? I mean, we do have time to back out."

He could almost see the emphatic shake of her blonde head as she reaffirmed her decision to continue with the plan. "Uh-huh. For better or worse, Max Evans and Liz Parker are going to finally face what they've been running from for so long. Each other. And they're going to do it today…"

tbc

~ Chapter 3~

"Michael?" Max inquired as soon as Michael flipped the phone off and turned back around. "What's going on with you?"

Michael shrugged his shoulders and shoved the phone back in his pocket. "What do you mean, Maxwell?"

Max leaned back and eyed Michael carefully. "I mean…for the past three months you've been…" Max looked away trying to find the right word. "…distracted. You're constantly flying back and forth between here and New York. You disappear at the oddest times…" Suddenly he looked back up at Michael and jumped up from his seat to stand face to face with Michael.

Eyes flashing with sudden worry, Max's voice took on an edge of warning. "Michael. This had better not have anything to do with…" Max glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to hear, then lowered his voice as an extra precaution. "…Nassedo."

Michael shook his head and rolled his eyes "I know I’m the reckless one of the group, Max, but I don't have a death wish." Seeing Max visibly relax in front of him, Michael added a thought he hoped would make Maria's plan a little easier to pull off by gearing Max's thoughts to what he'd been missing for so long. "Besides…you gave up way too much. You gave up Liz, the love of your life…your own happiness…your future with her. And you did it just to keep all of us safe. I'm not going to jeopardize that for anything."

Seeing Max's eyes cloud with pain at the mention of Liz, Michael patted him on the shoulder and smiled slightly to lighten the mood. "Believe me, Maxillian, Nassedo's the last person on my mind right now."

As Michael walked past him and slid onto the sofa, Max turned to scrutinize his friend. His eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms in front of him. Michael was acting way too casual for something to *not* be going on. "So, then who is?"

Knowing how surprised Max would be if he knew the answer to that question, a small smile danced on Michael's lips as he stared straight ahead of him.

Max's eyebrow raised. "Michael?"

Michael's brown eyes turned to Max as he quickly dismissed the subject with a wave of his hand. He'd know everything in a few minutes anyway. "Look, I've just had a lot going on with the art galleries here in town that's all. It's nothing, man." Standing up he held his arms out and glanced down at his clothes. "You know, Iz was right. I really do need to get a clearer vision of the more common, boring tuxedo-wearing practices. Think you might be able to help me out?"

Still not completely convinced Michael wasn't up to something, but knowing he wasn't getting any more information out of him than he already had, Max shook his head with a chuckle. "Yeah. I might be able to help."

"Good." Michael stated with a nod. "Tell you what. Why don't you head to the dressing room and start picking things out. I'll be there in a minute. I need to make a few phone calls."

"Ok." Max's shrug told Michael that Max's suspicions had once more been quelled. "Where is it?"

With a straight face, Michael lied. "Take the elevator to the second floor, turn left and then right. There's a door at the end of the hall. I'll be there in a few."

"Alright." Max agreed simply, completely unaware of what waited for him behind that door.

Michael waited till Max was out of earshot then quickly dialed a number on his phone. When he heard her voice, he grinned. "Get ready, babe. He's on his way…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz Parker stood staring at herself in the mirror. A shaky breath escaped her lungs as her hands slowly ran down the lightly beaded bodice of the latest beautiful white gown she'd decided to try on. This particular one had a rounded neckline with scalloped lace and simple cap sleeves. The skirt swished in just the right way when she moved. It reminded her very much of a bell.

Max would have liked this dress. The unexpected thought sprung to Liz's mind before she had a chance to squelch it. Once it was there, the thought decided to take up residence for a while in the form of memories past. Memories Liz thought she'd buried long ago…

"Mrs. Evans. Mrs. Maxwell Evans. Mrs. Elizabeth Anne Evans."

"Max? What are you doing?" Liz asked with a chuckle as she came up behind him and wrapped one arm around his neck. Running her other hand down his back then back up to play with the hair at the base of his neck, she leaned over his shoulder and gazed down at the paper he was reading from.

Max glanced up at her then back at the paper in his hands raising it so she could see. Scribbled all over the paper were different combinations of his and her name. "I'm testing out your name. You know, trying to figure out which one will sound better."

Liz's eyebrows furrowed in mock confusion as she began to tease him. "But…those aren't my names."

A small smile touched Max's lips and he looked down at the table in front of him, a shy embarrassment suddenly taking over his emotions. With a whisper, Max asked the question he'd always dreamed of asking but never really thought he could. "Would you…would you ever want them to be?"

Glancing up at her quickly he saw the smile slide from her lips when her eyes met his and he felt as if his heart had just broken in two. Swallowing hard, Max took a breath and waited for the inevitable 'no'. What had he been thinking? Of course she wouldn't want to marry him. He was an alien for goodness sake! There was so much they still didn't know. So many dangers they still hadn't discovered yet. They didn't even know if they were physically compatible yet.

And they were still so young. Way too young to be making plans for forever. Anyway, she'd be crazy to want to spend the rest of her life in such an abnormal relationship with the most abnormal person in the world. Liz was such a beautiful, loving girl. She deserved much more than the chaos he could bring her.

Instead of answering with words, Liz moved silently in front of him and slipped into his lap wrapping her arms around his neck. Had he been looking in her eyes he would have known he had nothing to fear from her answer. An adoring smile touched Liz's lips before she reached up and touched the side of his face with a gentle caress. "Max. Look at me."

When Max finally raised his eyes to meet hers, the sight that greeted him took his breath away. Her eyes sparkled with tears and the smile that made her face glow told him all he needed to know. Still, he wanted to hear her say it. And apparently she wanted to.

Liz took a deep breath and let it out slowly as one hand unconsciously moved to trace the contours of his handsome face, her eyes roaming every inch as if she were trying to memorize every feature. When she finally spoke, her answer was so full of love Max thought he'd died and gone to heaven…or this was a cruel joke and he was only dreaming. Her next words confirmed that Heaven really did exist.

"I love you, Max Evans. So much that I ache for you when you're not with me. I want to be with you always because when I'm not, I'm only half of who I was meant to be. Loving you and laughing with you…even crying with you. Whatever journey you take…wherever it leads you…whether to the stars or the house next door, I want to go there too. So, if you're asking me which name I prefer to be called once we're married…" Liz closed her eyes briefly and smiled before looking back into his eyes again. "…it doesn't matter. I'll take any one of them that means you're mine and I'm yours...forever..."

Liz looked back at herself in the mirror and tilted her head to the side as a tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and made a path down her cheek. Mrs. Liz Evans. It had been the name they decided would best describe her in their newly formed dreams. Would the name even fit her any more? Probably not. Especially since the most important half of the name had been missing from her life for so long.

Her eyes widened suddenly as the amber stone hanging from the long chain around her delicate neck began to dance from the light up above then glow with an intensity she hadn't seen in years. Or rather…hadn't allowed herself to see in years. Her breath caught instantly when her eyes focused on the gold ring the stone was set in. It wasn't that she'd forgotten she was wearing it. Or the many times it had glowed in the past. Or what it meant when it did glow. No. She could never forget that.

It was just that she had worn it for so long, it had become a part of her. Like the boy who had given it to her. The boy who was now a man living and breathing somewhere without her. Still. It hadn't glowed with such heat since…a lifetime ago. She reached up and fingered the ring gingerly, her mind taking a trip into the past when things were more complicated...when things were exactly the way she wanted them to be…

"Max, come on. Give me a hint as to what the surprise is." Liz giggled and tried to pull his hands from behind his back but to no avail.

Max shook his head and backed away from Liz, his face growing suddenly serious. "You know I *could* tell you…but then I'd have to kill you."

Tilting her head to the side, Liz smiled cockily before shrugging. "Go ahead. Kill me. I'm not afraid."

"You aren't." Max stated though his eyebrows rose to take the place of the question mark his voice should have held.

Liz shook her head as she took a slight step forward. "Nope. Not in the least."

"Why not? I mean, there are a lot of people that would tell you to never trust an alien. After all, we are known for using humans for sexual experimentation." Max fought the urge to grin at her as he watched her inch her way towards him. He knew his Liz so well. She was up to something. And it was going to be fun to watch her try to get it.

Standing face to face with Max, Liz raised her dark eyes to meet his velvety brown ones. She paused a moment to make that emotional connection the two of them had always shared, before slowly running her hands up his chest and smiling at the reaction her touch had elicited from him. Cocking an eyebrow at the sudden desire she saw dancing in his eyes, she ran her hands back down his chest and wrapped her arms languidly around his waist. "Who says I'd mind?"

"Besides…there's another reason I'm not afraid." Liz smiled up at him as her eyes danced with love. "I'm not afraid because I know you'll heal me. You'll always heal me. Just like you healed my body that day at the Crashdown. Just like you've healed my heart ever since."

Liz smiled when Max's arms came from behind his back to wrap around her waist and pull her closer. She could feel the object he'd been hiding from her against her back as she continued. "I know you. I know what happens to you when I'm not with you."

Max eyes drank in the sight of the beautiful girl in his arms. He'd loved her from a distance for so long that there were moments like now that he still couldn't believe she was his. His mouth had gone dry with the way she was looking at him and his voice crackled with emotion when he finally spoke. "You do, huh? And what…what happens when I'm not with you?"

Liz leaned up and breathed her answer lightly against his lips. "You go crazy."

Max's eyes closed and the explosion caused when their lips met rocked the ground they were standing on. At least it felt that way. Maybe it was just the sudden tremor in his knees and the dizziness that swept over him as her body flushed against his till it felt like they were one body. No. Till they felt like they were one soul.

Forgetting the game they had begun, Max lost himself in her as he brought his hands up to cup Liz's face when her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer to her. Just as he was about to be lost forever, Liz pulled back suddenly and giggled breathlessly with glee. "I got it!" She announced with pride before she held something up to his eyes.

It was then he realized somewhere in that kiss, she'd managed to gain possession of the black velvet box he'd been hiding from her earlier. Max began to chuckle at her enthusiasm and gazed at her with complete adoration. God how he loved her. Letting out a sigh of defeat, Max reached over and ran his fingers through her long silky hair. "Yeah, you did, you little sneak. But…since I enjoyed the technique you used so much…why don't you go ahead and open it."

Looking up at him with an expectant grin, Liz asked almost shyly. "Can I really?"

"Of course you can." Max responded with a smile, his voice lowering tenderly. "It was made especially for you."

Liz plopped down on her lounge chair and pulled Max down next to her then took a deep breath before turning her full attention to the box she held in her hands. She could feel Max's anticipation as he sat next to her and knew instantly whatever was hidden in this box was going to be big. She swallowed then slowly opened the box.

Her eyes widened when she saw the exquisite ring inside. The main stone was amber with two tiny diamonds on either side set in gold. "Is this…" Liz's voice trailed off as she suddenly became choked with tears. Looking up into Max's deep brown eyes with awe and disbelief, Liz began to slowly smile.

Max's grin widened and he began to nod his confirmation that the thoughts running through her head were indeed true. She didn’t need to voice them. He could read her like a book. "It's what you think it is, Liz. It's a piece of my past…of my planet. I had it made out of one of the stones. The ones River Dog gave us in the cave."

He took the ring from her hand and slowly slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand. "See, the amber stone is from my world…the gold and diamond setting is from yours. I…I wanted to give you something…you know, something that would always connect us. That would remind us how perfectly we fit together."

Liz gasped as the ring on her finger suddenly began to glow. "Max…it's…"

Max nodded and his quiet smile deepened. "Glowing. I know." His chest expanded and contracted with the deep breath that he took and released before he cupped Liz's face in his hands. "And it always will…every time we think of each other and feel the love we have for each other in our hearts."

Liz started to giggle with happiness as she looked back down at the ring. "In that case, I may never be able to wear this in public…"

Max laughed too and rolled his eyes. "That's why this isn't your real engagement ring. We can't have you walking around for the rest of your life with a glowing hand can we?"

Max's smile faded from his lips only to increase in his dark brown eyes. "I just wanted…I wanted to give you something as special as you are. Something that shows you how you make me feel. I glow deep inside…every second that you love me. This is something that's…a part of me. I always want you to have a part of me, Liz."

"Oh, Max…" Liz's eyes stung with tears and it wasn't until Max reached up and lightly brushed her cheek with his thumb that she realized those tears had really fallen. "Max, I'll always have a part of you…" She took his hand in hers and laid it over her heart then continued in a whisper. "…in here. Forever, in here…"

There it was. The reason her heart stopped beating in her chest the moment she paused long enough to realize she was getting married…to someone other than Max Evans. It was the magnitude of the act she was committing against the giver of the ring she held in her hands that suddenly made it difficult for her to take her next breath. As if it were a betrayal to their promises. A betrayal of their love. But what should it matter? He was the first one to break them…the first to betray their sacred trust in each other…

"No. You…you can't possibly mean it." Liz's voice wavered with tears she fought valiantly to hold in check. "You don't…you don't love her. I know you don't. Max, tell me don’t right now and we'll just…we'll just pretend this conversation never happened."

"I can't, Liz." Max swallowed hard and looked away unable to meet the sight of her tears without breaking his own resolve. "I can't tell you what you want because it wouldn't be true."

Liz took a step toward him and made a simple demand. "Touch me."

"What?" Shocked eyes raised to meet hers.

"Do it, Max." She grabbed his hands in hers and began to plead with him. "Please, Max. Connect with me…the way you've done before. Let me see into your soul. You can't hide from me in there…"

Max shook his head emphatically and turned away, his chest aching with every beat of his breaking heart. "No."

"Then I won't believe you." A disbelieving laugh escaped her lips as tears began to run down her cheeks. She shook her head resolutely trying so hard to fight for the love she knew they had. "I'll never believe you. Look at you. You can't even look me in the eyes. You can't even say it…"

Max whipped around and threw his arms out in anger, frustration and pain knowing now was the moment to carry through with his plan or abandon it forever. "Fine! You want me to hurt you like that? Ok. Ok. I'll say it! I'm in love with Tess, Liz. Not you. She and I will go places together you and I could never possibly go. She's my soulmate. My destiny."

"NO! She isn't, Max! Don't say…" Liz's sentence hung in the air and her eyes closed suddenly as if she were in pain. Max took an unconscious step toward her, his own confusion and sudden fear going unnoticed as Liz doubled over in front of him. He reached for her and when he touched her skin she was cold and clammy. Feeling his touch, Liz jerked back from him her eyes popping open to reveal a vacant darkness. "Don't touch me! Don't you ever touch me again!"

Max backed off not sure what had come over her and terrified out of his mind. "Liz…Liz, what's going on? What happened?"

"How could you?" Her voice was low and tense with pain. But there was something else there he'd never expected to hear…complete calm in the midst of utter hatred. "Leave. I never want to see your face again."

"Liz, babe! You ever gonna come out and show me that dress?" Maria's impatient voice called Liz out of the past and into her future.

Liz quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and pushed back the feeling of nausea that had washed over her as the image that had haunted her dreams over the past seven years came and went. It was that image that finally convinced her what she and Max once had was gone forever. It was the image of her boyfriend, Max Evans, and Tess making love.

"Yeah, I'm coming…" Liz called back to Maria in a shaky voice. Looking once more in the mirror, she checked her make up to make sure it hadn't run then took a deep breath and forced all thoughts of Max Evans out of her mind and a smile on her face. It was the only way she'd be even remotely convincing as the happy bride-to-be. The only way she'd make it through this day of making wedding plans. The only way she'd make it through the rest of her life without Max.

Stepping out from behind the door, Liz consciously widened her smile then held out her arms and looked at Maria expectantly. What she heard threw her for a loop. Maria sucked her breath in as her eyes swept over her lifelong best friend. "My God, Liz. You look beautiful. Max would absolutely die if he saw you…"

Liz's eyes flashed with pain and her arms dropped heavily to her side. "M…Max? Maria…" She took a deep breath and blinked back the sudden tears that formed in her eyes. "…what does any of this have to do with Max?"

Maria's eyes widened when she realized her slip of the tongue. Seeing the intense pain in Liz's eyes, she suddenly wondered if her plan was such a great idea after all. "Oh, God, Liz. I didn't mean…it just…"

With shaking voice, Liz swallowed hard then made a declaration in a no uncertain terms. "I am marrying Ben, Maria. Ben. Not Max. Ben is the man I was meant to be with. Max was a mistake. A mistake I've tried for seven years to forget."

"But Liz, I…" Maria began to explain but Liz cut her off.

"No. We've been over this before, Maria." Liz began a list Maria had heard before. And each time it was the same…the words were real but the conviction of her voice was flat. "Ben is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm lucky he's in my life. This day…these plans that we're making…they're for him. My future…is with him. The last person I want to think about is…"

Just then the door to the room flew open and in walked the object of their conversation. Both of them.

"Ben!" Maria exclaimed completely surprised by his presence before she noted the figure behind Ben.

He was standing like a statue. His dark velvet brown eyes sparked to life and a slight smile touched his lips as he stared straight ahead of him to the vision of his dreams.

"Max…"

tbc…

~ Chapter 4 ~

"Max..."  Liz unconsciously, reverently whispered his name.

It was as if a magic spell floated through the open door and settled on the four occupants in the room evidenced by an electrically charged silence that suddenly filled the air.

Maria's thoughts tumbled through her head as quickly as the words would have fallen from her mouth had she found the ability to speak.  She couldn't believe their luck.  The very day Michael and she plan for Max and Liz to meet, Ben shows up.  And why was he here anyway?  Men don't really get into making wedding plans.  Especially when it comes to picking the wedding dress.  Do they?  Michael certainly hadn’t. 

Oh, God.  Michael.  He needed to get up here…and quick.  With Liz's reaction to Maria just *saying* Max's name, Maria had no idea how her best friend would handle actually *seeing* Max now.  Liz by herself would have been one thing, but with Ben by her side who knew what her reaction would be.  Especially since she didn't know the truth yet.  She might actually try to deny what her heart felt when she faced the only real love of her life.      

Maria's gaze moved from the two men in Liz Parker's life to Liz herself.  An involuntary smile curved Maria's lips when she saw the besotted look on her friend's face as Liz gazed past her intended to the one who she had always been intended for. 

Maria felt her heart jumping up and down inside with silent victory.  She knew it!  She knew her best friend was still head over heels in love with Max Evans.  All she needed was a chance to face him to realize it.  Too bad for Ben.  Maria really did like the guy...

Ben didn't even know anyone else was in the room except the woman in front of him.  Even if he had known, he couldn't have cared less.  In his year and a half of knowing Liz Parker, he'd never seen her more stunning than she was right this moment.  He'd always heard that every bride was beautiful, but Liz went beyond that.  She was...radiant, shimmering, luminous. 

Maybe it was the flush of her cheeks or the light in her eyes.  A light Ben could swear was the result of every star in the sky taking up residence in her eyes.  Or maybe it was the smile on her lips.  That slight, dazed, out-of-this-world smile he'd never had the priviledge to see till now.  The smile he promised himself he'd spend the rest of his life trying to recreate. 

When he finally found the breath to speak, his voice was soft with emotion.  "God, Liz.  You look..."

Liz barely heard him speak.  She felt like she was in a time warp and Max had captured her once again with those deep soulful eyes of his.  The eyes that made her feel as if no one and nothing else existed in the world but the two of them.  She could feel the gentle, warm caress his eyes made as they roamed every inch of her face even from half a room away.

It was as if nothing had changed.  Time stood still and all those years faded away to nothing.  All that stood between them was that intensely energetic feeling of once again being alive. 

And he felt it too.  She could see that as plainly as the adoration she saw dancing in his eyes.  The only words that made it through her consciousness were his when he spoke and the softness of his voice reminded her of so many whispered promises shared between the two of them another lifetime ago. 

"...words fail."  Max breathed in whispered awe finishing Ben's thought when Ben's words wouldn't come. 

And it was true.  Nothing Max was feeling at seeing Liz again, dressed as she was, smiling at him as if she'd been waiting that way for him all of her life, could be described in tangible words from Webster's dictionary.  There was wonder and awe in his velvet brown eyes.  Overflowing love in his heart. And breathless anticipation swelling in his chest.  

She was his dream come true.  If, in fact, this was real.  He'd dreamed of this scenerio so many times in the past seven years that he didn't know for sure if this moment *was* reality or a dream.  <I>Please, God. If it's a dream, don't ever wake me up.</I>   

The thing about spells, though...they usually get broken.  And dreams?  Somehow there always comes a time to wake up.

That time came for all of them when loud voices were heard from the hallway.  "No!  You can't!  I mean it...this is no place for you right now!"

"Oh, please, Michael.  Stop being so dramatic. If I remember, that's usually your little wife's department isn't it?"  Her bored voice floated from the hall into the room and Max looked away from Liz uncomfortably when he saw the flicker of pain in her eyes and the smile fade from her lips. 

In the next moment, the room was crowded with two extra people and what seemed like a suffocating lack of air.  She stopped short and took in the scene before her with an upraised eyebrow before turning her attention back to Michael, who had practicaly slammed into the back of her in his haste to stop her from entering the room.  "Well, well, well.  I see the urgency now."

Turning back to the room, a smug grin spread over her face as she sashayed her way to Max and wrapped her arm through his.  "There you are, darling."  She leaned up and pecked him on the cheek then swept her gaze to the onlookers of the little scene she'd begun to play out.  "Well, what do you know?  Here I was all set to congratulate my new sister-in-law and find my Max conducting a high school reunion instead." 

"Tess..."  The warning in Max's voice caused Liz's eyes to flicker back to his reddening face.  For the life of her she couldn't be sure if the faint blush creeping up his cheeks was from embarrassment...or anger.  Maybe both.

Max's warning look seemed to only fuel Tess.  Locking eyes with Liz, her eyes twinkled with arrogance and her voice resonated with long-held triumph.  "Oh, hello, Liz.  I didn't see you there.  What a sweet little dress.  I wonder if it comes in my size..."

tbc...

~ Chapter 5 ~

Max's warning look seemed to only fuel Tess more. Locking eyes with Liz, her eyes twinkled with arrogance and her voice resonated with long-held triumph. "Oh, hello, Liz. I didn't see you there. What a sweet little dress. I wonder if it comes in my size..."

Liz's face turned a slight shade of red as her eyes flashed with fire from Tess' face to Max's. She caught a glimmer of anger sparking in his dark eyes and felt a sudden rush of satisfaction. Then came the familiar thud of disappointment as Max's eyes lowered uncomfortably and he bit his bottom lip before tightening it into a thin line.

He was retreating again. Retreating into his shell and letting Tess have complete control. Damn him for being so passive! Damn him for letting Tess walk all over her...again!

Time certainly hadn't changed him. Or their situation. What a fool to think for a split second that it might have. That by some miracle or twist of fate he'd come looking for her to steal her away to that happily ever after they had dreamed about together. The chance that their love could have survived all of this time disappeared when she heard that syrupy sweet voice floating in from the hallway. Now, standing in the same room with the two of them, it was apparent by Tess' possessive demeanor that Max was living their dreams with someone else.

Turning her thoughts once more to Tess, Liz summoned her will to form a retort that would show Tess Harding once and for all that Max Evans may be the same, but she, Liz Parker, was not. Before she had a chance to respond though, Maria took up the fight for her. "Being the witch you are why don't you do your Samantha-twitch-your-nose thingy, duplicate a dress and find out? On second thought, why choose white…isn't black the color of choice for those from the Dark Side?"

"Honey…" Michael took a step forward and began to address Maria.

Tess tossed an irritated look in Maria's direction. "Yes, Michael. Do reign your little wifey in. This really isn't the way to make a good impression on the family. Not that she'll ever be one of us anyway..."

Maria took a step forward, her hands clutched by her side. "Why you little…"

"Oh, God. Please tell me I didn't just hear what I think I just heard. Michael actually called someone 'honey'…and meant it." Isabel's voice startled the group as she stood in the doorway. Her eyes moved from Tess to Michael to Maria back to Michael. "It's a joke, right? She didn't really just say the two of you are…" Isabel swallowed hard. "…married."

Wrapped in his own world of misery, Max was lost to the conversation around him. She still believed it. She still believed he loved Tess. He saw that as plainly in her eyes as he'd seen love shining only a split second before. Or maybe it was just shock he'd seen. Maybe he'd dreamed of the moment their eyes would meet so many times that he saw what he wanted to.

That's what it was. He'd only dreamed it. That look she had always reserved for him and him alone. That look that spoke so much without uttering a word. The one that said he owned the world and everything beyond it...because her heart was his.

Max silently chided himself. How foolish to believe she'd still love him after all this time. After all the pain he'd caused. The tears he knew she had cried. No. Unlike him, it was obvious she had moved on. That's why she was here. Why she was trying on wedding dresses. Why she was wearing a diamond on her left hand. Liz Parker was in love...with someone other than him. She was getting married...to him...

Words finally made their way to Max's brain. His head snapped up at Isabel's question and all eyes turned to Michael and Maria as they unconsciously closed the gap between them and wrapped their arms around each other. "Nope. You didn't hear wrong." Michael paused to look down at Maria with a smile then turned back to the people their marriage would effect the most. "Maria and I were married two and a half months ago."

"WHAT???" For the first time since their eyes met, Max and Liz spoke…at the same time.

Their previous attention having been concentrated on making sense of the feelings racing through them at seeing each other again, they'd barely heard anything in the past several minutes but the beating of their own hearts. With Tess' entrance their focus had shifted to the others' reactions to her presence. Non-verbal reactions that only caused confusion about what they were feeling. In short, neither Max nor Liz had really heard anything any one had been saying.

But now they *were* paying attention and the immediate implications of this latest news was enormous. Their eyes met briefly in acknowledgment of that fact, then turned to their respective friends. "Maria…is this true?" Liz whispered.

Maria's face broke into a wide grin as she nodded her head quickly as she threw her left hand out to show the gold band she'd pulled from her pocket to put on her third finger. "Sure is, babe!"

"But…but how could you…"

"…not tell us?" Max finished for Liz without thinking.

Michael shrugged. "Why would we want to? We knew you'd freak out like this."

"No one's freaking out, Michael." Max began but was silenced by a disbelieving look from Michael and a confession from Isabel.

"I am." Isabel stated before she crossed her arms in front of her.

"I felt the same way when I first found out." Tess tossed in her opinion before smoothing her hair away from her face. "It'll pass."

"How? I mean..." Liz took a deep breath and tried to make sense of what she was hearing. "When did all of this happen?"

Maria's face became animated with pure happiness as she briefly filled the group in on the events leading up to the present situation. "A little over three months ago. My band was doing background music for this fancy-shmancy art gig and Michael happened to be one of the featured artists. We saw each other at the showing and..." Maria looked up into Michael's eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"...and we started talking." Michael continued for her as he looked down at her with a smile and pulled her closer to him. "Really talking. We realized how much had changed in the last five years and..."

Maria turned back to the listening crowd. "...and just how much hadn't. Like how much we still love each other." Maria looked pointedly at Max then at Liz. "How we never stopped loving each other."

Max and Liz exchanged looks that held each other captive for a moment. So much was spoken in that look, but neither dared to claim the truth of it. The heartbreak should they be wrong would be too much to bear.

The moment was broken by Isabel's sudden outburst. "This is unbelievable! Have you two gone completely insane?" Isabel practically shouted. Then she turned to Max. "Well? Say something!"

"What do you want me to say, Iz?" Max asked feeling a sudden wave of jealousy sweep over him. Once again, he wish he could be like Michael. Daring to take the risks. Grabbing ahold of what he really wanted and never letting go. Maybe then his heart wouldn't be breaking right now.

"I don't know!" Isabel threw her hands up in the air. "Just...something! He'll listen to you..."

"They're married, Iz. There's nothing we can say that's going to change that. Besides, what I have to say to Michael, I'll say in private." Max replied evenly as his eyes shot to Ben then back to Isabel.

For the first time since her entrance Isabel noticed Ben's presence in the room. Stiffening suddenly her chin raised in arrogant defiance. "Who are you?"

Ben had been silently watching the scene unfold in front of him. His natural skills of observation that he'd developed in his law practice told him many things. There were so many dynamics to the group in front of him it would probably take years to decipher them all.

Then there were the dynamics that were all too easy to figure out. The ones he wasn't sure he wanted to admit to himself. And things he'd rather forget he saw. Like the shared looks between Liz and the dark-haired man referred to as 'Max'. Yes, he definitely wanted to forget those. And he knew just how to do it...

"Funny you should ask. I was just thinking the same thing…" Ben moved a pointed finger around the semi-circle in front of him. "…about all of you. And since I believe Maria and Liz are the only people who really have any kind of right to this room and I *am* Liz's fiance', then I should have the honor of hearing your names first."

Until Isabel addressed Ben, Liz had completely forgotten he was still standing there. His reference to their current status of engagement made her flush with guilt at having forgotten him so quickly in the midst of so many overwhelming emotions. Feeling a little more steady on her feet than she had since first seeing Max, she quickly made a move to stand by Ben and begin introductions when his next words stopped her from taking another step.

Ben smiled as he glanced around the group. "After that, I suggest we all go out to dinner together." Ben turned and stepped toward Liz wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close to him. Noting the dazed look on her face at his suggestion, Ben added his voice warm and deep. "What do you say, dear? How about a night on the town with all of your friends celebrating the one thing we all seem to have in common?"

Tess chuckled with disbelief at Ben's assumption that they all had something in common. Where had he been the last few minutes? Liz must have completely gone off the deep end to want to claim this idiot for life. "You're joking, right? What on this earth could we all possibly have in common?"

Ben leveled Tess with his gaze and spoke his one word answer with conviction. "Love..."

tbc...

~ Chapter 6 ~

"So?  How was it?  Was he hard on you?"  Maria asked as glanced at Michael in the mirror before she ran a brush through her hair and applied hair spray. 

Michael sat on the bed and shrugged as he watched his wife primp for this disastrous dinner celebration they had all agreed to.  "The usual Max stuff.  You know…there could be danger.  What about kids?  Illnesses.  Nasedo…"

Maria set her brush down and checked her make-up one last time.  "And what did you say?"

"That we talked it all through before we decided anything and it all came down to one very important thing…"  Michael paused and raised his eyes to Maria.

Hearing the tone in his voice, Maria turned around and leaned back against the dresser crossing her arms in front of her.  "And that was?"

"That we love each other.  That life is too short to not spend it living each day with the person you were hatched to be with."  Michael grinned when he saw the smile beginning on Maria's lips.  "And that he's an idiot for not taking Liz Parker in his arms the next time he sees her and just abducting her for the rest of her life."

Maria smiled at the thought of serious, responsible Max doing something so rash and unexpected.  "Now there would be a real photo opportunity."  Maria quipped as she walked to Michael and slid onto his lap wrapping her arms around his neck.   "But, you know, that just might work.  After all, that's how we began and look at how perfect we are together."

Michael nodded and pulled her closer to him as he slipped his arms around her tiny waist.  "I agree.  Perfect."  He leaned forward and captured Maria's lips with his.  Smiling contentedly when he pulled away, he ran his fingers lightly over her shoulder.  "So.  What about Liz?"

Maria sighed and shrugged her shoulders.  "I'm not sure.  She barely spoke a word to me after everyone left and when she did, it was about our marriage.  Not a word about Max no matter how many openings I gave her."  Maria began playing with the hair at the base of Michael's neck.  "I think she's scared.  You know, to say anything.  I think she knows if she does the gig is up and I'll know she's never gotten over him and…"

"Even she won't be able to deny it then."  Michael finished for her.  "I know that routine well."

"You do?"

"Yeah.  I used to use it all the time when I was trying to deny how I felt about you."  Michael looked down and took Maria's hand in his.  "I talked to Tess.  She's still on our side."

Maria nodded as she smirked.  "Who would have thought Tess and I would actually be on the same side for once?  You know, it was actually kinda fun getting in her face knowing we were working together.  Do you think Max knows?  You know, that we planned all of this?"

Michael shook his head.  "Nah.  Tess told him she came when she found out Izzie had drug him to the fashion show.  She said she figured he'd need help getting out of some tight places with the girls Iz had lined up for him.  She did a great job pretending to not know Liz was here."

"What did Max say about the way she treated Liz?"

"He was pissed, of course.  In fact, I've not seen him that angry in years."  Michael answered as he nuzzled Maria's neck for a moment.  "If you ask me, I think he was more upset with himself for not doing more to stop her though.  Then again, what could he have done without blowing his whole 'Tess is my destiny' cover?"

Maria nodded with a sigh.  "Yeah, that would have been interesting.  To see Max defend Liz to Tess after all these years.  Especially with Ben there."

"Hey.  How did that happen anyway?"  Michael asked as he pulled back and looked into Maria's eyes.

Maria shrugged.  "Beats me.  I was going on the assumption that guys don't get into making wedding plans.  You certainly didn't."

"Maria.  We barely made any plans.  We just…"

"…did it."  Maria finished for him as she leaned forward for a kiss.  "And it was the best nearly spontaneous thing I've ever done in my life."

"Mine too."  Michael looked out the window, thinking.  "You know, maybe when this all blows over we should do it for real.  You know, so everyone can be there.  Liz.  Max.  Izzie.  Alex. Tess.  What do you think?"

A slow smile captured Maria's lips.  "Really?  You'd do that for me?  Tuxes and flowers and bridesmaids.  The whole nine yards?"

"Sure would.  If that's what you wanted."

"Well…it might be nice."  Maria grinned as she thought about it.  Then a new thought struck her and she rolled her eyes.  "But about Tess.  I know we're trying this new level of relationship with her, but do I really have to be like really, really nice to her?  Or like ask her to actually *be* in the wedding, would I?"

"Babe.  She's my sister.  Besides, she's really trying to help.  In fact, she's probably working on Max right now."  Michael reminded Maria gently then amended his statement when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes.  "But you know, I won't make you if you really don't want to.  Until you decide, maybe you should go see Liz before dinner.  You know…get her used to the idea Max isn't over her yet especially after seeing Tess with him today."

Maria's face brightened into a wide smile.  "How did you know that's exactly what I was thinking of doing?"

"Oh, baby.  Don't you know by now…we're connected."  Michael shrugged at Maria's raised eyebrow.  "Ok.  So maybe we don't get the flashes Max and Liz do, but who needs 'em when we've got this?"  Michael pulled Maria's lips to his and flipped her over on the bed unexpectedly tickling her and causing the room to suddenly fill with giggles and squeals of pure happiness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz groaned and removed her clothes for the tenth time since she'd begun getting ready for this sure to be nightmare of a dinner.  Walking to the closet she ran her hand along the clothes hung neatly on the hangers then pulled out the floral tank dress that Ben loved to see her in so much.

Nodding with satisfaction, Liz began to dress.  This is perfect.  She'll wear Ben's favorite outfit, the perfume that drives Ben wild--or as wild as she wants Ben to be--and she'll even wear her hair down, curled, the way Ben likes.  In fact, the way she can get through this night is to make it all about Ben.  That should show everyone just how important he is to her.  Just how right they are for one another.  How happy she is that he is in her life.

Pulling the zipper up on the side of the dress and tossing a flimsy shawl around her shoulders, Liz moved to stand in front of the mirror with a feeling of triumph.  Her eyes swept from head to toe then back again as tears suddenly began to puddle in the corner of her eyes.  Max.  He probably wouldn't even recognize her.  "No, no, no!  Dammit!  This is all wrong!"  Liz exclaimed to herself as she stomped her foot.  She began to angrily unzip the dress and threw the shawl on the floor. 

Passing her hand over her eyes she let out a strangled, frustrated yell.  "Aaaarrrggghhh!  Damn you, Max Evans, for what you do to me!"  She added under her breath. 

Why?  Why had she agreed to this?  Why couldn't she have just told Ben she had plans or that she didn't think it was a good idea.  Anything but 'yes, I think it'd be a great idea' should have popped out of her mouth.  But it didn't.  And now, she was stuck.  Having dinner.  Making polite conversation.  Pretending to not hate the woman who was in her place by Max's side.

No.  She had to stop this.  That was no longer her place.  It hadn't been for years.  Tess had made sure of that.  And Max had let her.  Fighting tears back, she was startled to hear a voice at her door.  "Whoa!  What happened here?  An earthquake?  Hurricane?  Tornado?  Combination of the three?"  Maria stepped into the room and gestured toward the clothes laying all over the bed, floor and dresser. 

"I…can't find anything to wear."  Liz admitted lamely trying to mask the real reason she was having such a hard time getting ready.

"Can't find anything?"  Maria queried.  "Liz, you look like you've got a whole boutique laying on your bedroom floor here!"

Liz kicked a pair of wayward shoes in the direction of the closet.  "Yeah, well, for some reason nothing's working for me tonight!"

"You know what?  Why don't we just call the whole thing off?  I could call everyone…"  Maria moved toward the desk with the phone deciding to try a new tactic.

"NO!"  Liz grabbed Maria's arm and practically shouted when the thought of not seeing Max again flashed through her mind.

Maria's eyebrow raised and she fought to hold back a knowing smile as she watched her friend stumble over her own words trying to explain her sudden aversion to missing this evening's festivities.  "I…I mean, no.  It's…"  Liz glanced at the clock.  "…you know, it's like too late now to cancel anyway.  Besides, it would look strange for Ma…"  Liz caught herself from finishing Max's name and tried to cover quickly.  "…for everyone to show up and me not be there.  After all…it is your marriage we're celebrating."

A dismissing wave of Maria's hand was accompanied by a half-smile.  "Please, Liz.  The only member of the pod squad I'm interested in is my Michael.  And we celebrate our love all the time.  I don't want you to do anything that's gonna hurt you this much."

Liz straightened her back and raised her chin in defiance.  "Hurt me?  Come on, Maria.  I'm not hurting.  I just can't find anything to wear."  Blinking her eyes a few times she turned toward the dresser.  "Why…why do you think this dinner would…you know, hurt me?"

Maria crossed her arms in front of her.  "Oh, I don't know, Liz.  Watching Tess climb all over Max could be a bit disgusting to say the least."

Liz picked up a brush then dropped it with a loud thud before turning around and heading for the closet determination flashing in her eyes.  "I couldn't care less what Max does with that hag.  And if you think I’m having second thoughts about this dinner because of Max you are dead wrong."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes.  Really." Liz stated as she began to once again look through her closet. 

Maria studied Liz's back for a moment trying to decide which tactic to use next.  She'd already tried to call the dinner off but Liz proved her desire to see Max again was larger than her fear.  She mentioned Tess and received the proper jealous-I-couldn't-care-less attitude. Now for the sympathy route.  "Well, that's good.  Cuz I wouldn't want you to start feeling bad for him."

"Feeling bad?  For Max Evans?"  Liz almost laughed as she turned to face Maria.  "You're kidding right?  After what he did to me?  How he…cheated on me with that…that…"  Liz's lips formed a tight line as if trying to keep a torrent of descriptive words from flying her mind out her mouth. 

Forcing a mature outlook on the situation, Liz folded her hands in front of her and lied...to herself.  "Look, Maria.  I've grown up a lot since high school.  Now that I've found someone that makes me deliriously happy, I wish the same for Max.  And if that witch makes him happy…which he seems to be…then what possible reason would there be to feel bad for him?"

"No reason.  I'm just thinking that not everything *is* as it seems."  Maria stated as she began picking up clothes and laying them neatly on the bed inspecting each outfit in an effort to help Liz find something to wear.

"W…what do you mean by that, Maria?  Do you think he's not happy?"

Maria shrugged her shoulders and held up a flowing white blouse with a printed skirt.  "How about this?"

Liz stepped forward and grabbed the blouse and skirt from Maria's hand.  Tossing it on the bed, she put her hands on her hips and glared at Maria.  "Maria.  Talk to me.  Do you know something about Max and Tess that isn't…"

"I don't know anything, Liz."  Maria lied as she held her hands up, palms outward as if to defend herself.  Strange how interested Liz was in Max and Tess' relationship after declaring she couldn't care less.  Maria bit back a smile.  Oh, this was definitely going to work. 

"It just seemed…"  She took a deep breath.  "Max just seemed…he was really, really happy to see you today, Liz.  Like the way it used to be, you know.  When the two of you were dating and he'd walk into the Crashdown.  The moment your eyes met, everything else was forgotten.  No one else existed but the two of you.  It was the same today.  There was that same feeling in the room…that magic, you know.  You could tell he felt it too by the way his eyes just lit up.  And he seemed just as uncomfortable to see Tess as he was happy to see you.  So, maybe he's not as happy as he pretends to be.  That's all, I'm saying."

"Oh."  Liz's eyes dropped as she considered Maria's words.  Was it possible Liz hadn't been imagining things?  That the same look she was so used to seeing in his eyes was still there?  And it was still reserved for her?  No.  She couldn't start thinking this way.  She couldn't bear to have her heart broken again.  Besides, she was with a wonderful man that treated her like a queen.  They had a normal relationship.  One without flashes of stars and FBI agents and shape-shifting killers.  With Ben she had a solid foundation of friendship.  A steady, secure love.  What more could she possibly want?

Flipping her hair behind her shoulders she once more headed to the closet.  "You're just imaging things, Maria.  I'm sure he was just shocked to see me…us...after all this time.  It's no big deal."

"Ok.  Right.  No big deal."  Maria agreed.  "So, this dinner. You sure Ben's going to be ok with it?  I mean, I know he suggested it and all, but really…having dinner with your alien ex and your fiance'…it's gotta get a bit awkward for him."

Liz swallowed hard and kept her attention focused on the closet even though her eyes saw nothing but Max's face the way he'd looked at her earlier.  "Maria.  Ben…doesn't know."

Maria scooped up some clothes and pushed them to the edge of the bed.  "What do you mean Ben doesn't know?"

"About Max."

Maria chuckled.  "I didn't think you'd told him about the alien part, Liz.  That would weird out anybody..."

Liz turned around her eyes cast downward and her hands rubbing together nervously.  "No, Maria.  He doesn't know about Max...period.  I've never told him."

Maria's mouth dropped open.  "He doesn't even know the two of you dated?  Liz…how could you not…"

"It was too painful, ok?"  Liz took a deep breath and tucked her hair behind her ears.  "When I left Roswell after high school I just wanted to forget.  Everything.  Max.  Tess.  The FBI…Nasedo.  You're the only one I've ever spoken to it about…and you know how little that's been."

"Yeah.  Like maybe twice a year."  Maria stated before letting out a low whistle.  "Wow.  No wonder you're nervous."

"What do you mean by that?"  Liz asked defensively.

"Just that I know I'd be nervous too if I was having dinner with my overly-perceptive lawyer finace' and the alien I've never been able to hide my feelings for.  God, Liz.  You and Max have one of your famous staring contests just once and the gig is up.  Ben'll know everything."  Shaking her head slightly she got up from the bed and headed toward the closet.  "If fact, he probably already does…"

Reaching into the back of the closet she pulled out a cranberry colored slip dress with spaghetti straps.  She eyed it carefully remembering when Liz wore it years ago.  She was surprised Liz still had it.  Then again, maybe not.  After all, it had definitely gotten Max's motor running.  That was a night Liz had never wanted to forget...

A devious smile played on her lips before she turned and handed the dress to Liz.  "Here.  Wear this."

Liz looked at the dress in Maria's hands and paled visibly.  "Oh, Maria.  I can't.  That's the dress..."

Maria stepped up to Liz and pushed the dress into her hands.  "Wear it.  Oh and ah…put your hair up.  You know, in a french twist like you wore that one time.  I have a feeling this is going to be one helluva night." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love.  What on earth had possessed him to use that word?  It had been obvious by the tension in the air that love was definitely not a common bond between the six other people standing in the room.  Or if it had been once, it certainly wasn't any more.  At least not the kind that was obvious to the casual observer.  Friendship.  Secrets.  Surprise.  Marriage.  Anything else would have been a better choice of words. 

So…why 'love'?  Maybe it was to shut that irritating Tess up.  Put her in her place for the way she'd treated Liz earlier.  Maybe it was to let Maria and her new husband know they had his support in the midst of so much shock and rudeness.  Maybe it had been the look Ben had seen on that Max guy's face as he gazed longingly at Liz.  Or maybe…and this is probably the real reason…he wanted to let everyone in that room know exactly where he and Liz stood.  How they felt about each other.  How in love they were.  Especially Max.  Maybe even to remind Liz…

Ben sighed as he picked up his watch from his dresser and began to put it around his wrist trying to push away any unsettling thoughts that were plaguing his mind, but they wouldn't go.  Thoughts of the past year and a half with Liz kept ruling his mind.  How difficult it had been for him to reach through to her in the first place.  Times along the way that she'd shut down emotionally as if there were places in her heart she wasn't willing to visit let alone give to him.  The way her eyes would cloud over with indescribably pain at times when she was looking at the stars or a young couple so completely in love. They way they sparked to life earlier today in a way they never had before…when she saw Max Evans.

Up until this moment, in Ben's mind, this dinner had been a brilliant idea.  He just knew one night together and it would be plain to everyone around just who Liz Parker's heart really belonged to.  He just hoped the loser would have the strength to walk away gracefully in the end. Ben swallowed hard.  On second thought, maybe he hadn't been so brilliant after all…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, Max, how are we going to play this?"  Tess asked as she checked her lipstick in her compact mirror.  Hearing no response, she glanced at Max out of the corner of her eye.  He was sitting in the driver's seat staring ahead of him his hands holding onto the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. 

"Max?  Hey."  Tess reached over and touched his arm gently until his eyes turned to focus on her.

"What?"  He shook his head slightly and stared at Tess absently.  "I'm sorry were you saying something?"

Sending him a sympathetic smile, Tess turned to face him.  "Look, are you sure you want to do this?"

Max swallowed hard and turned his attention back to the door of the restaurant they would be entering in a matter of minutes.  "Do I really have a choice?"

"We all have a choice, Max."

Max tossed her an annoyed look.  "My choices were taken away from me years ago."

Tess looked away shot by the arrow Max had sent her with his words.  "Yeah, well, you're not the only one who lost out on that deal, you know."

Max turned to face Tess, his eyes softening in response to her statement.  "I'm sorry, Tess.  I know this has been hard on you too." 

Tess shrugged away her sadness and rolled her blue eyes.  "Yeah, it's sooo hard pretending to be in love with such a hottie like you.  Telling every Sally, Harriet and Diane to keep their hands off is a real chore.  Oh, and the kissing part…"  A smile began to tug at the corner of her lips as her eyebrows shot up in mock disgust.  "…don't even get me started on that!"

Max started to chuckle as Tess made light of the 'deal' they'd shared for the last five years. That deal being she would pretend to be his girlfriend whenever Isabel got into one of her 'matchmaker' modes and tried to throw girls at him from every direction.  It was easier that way.  Less messy.  She'd swoop in and claim him when one got too aggressive or forward and they'd leave hand in hand till they were out of sight.  Then they'd go their separate ways.  

It was the reason she'd showed up unexpectedly in Boston.  Well, one of the reasons.  When she got the message from Isabel telling her where she'd be this weekend and that she was taking Max with her, Tess could easily see the handwriting on the wall.  Isabel was in 'matchmaker' mode and Max would need all the help he could get.  Then there was Michael.  She called him to let him know where she'd be.  Just so he wouldn't worry, which since learning of their relationship he'd been prone to do.  It was then that Michael informed her of his and Maria's plan to get Max and Liz face to face once more.  Tess immediately jumped at the chance to join forces and see if there was any way of salvaging the last parts of Max's heart.

In turn, Max took care of Tess over the years.  Looked out for her and helped her with her goal to become a research chemist.  A goal that was becoming increasingly important since her time on earth was running out.  Through the years they had learned to lean on each other…to become friends.  Just friends.  Reaching out his hand, Max covered hers with his and gave it a light squeeze.  "Just so you know, there's no one else I'd rather be *not* doing anything with."   

They shared a warm smile and a companionable silence for a moment before Tess spoke again.  "Max, I need to say something to you and I need to you not interrupt.  Even more than that, I really need you to listen and think about what I'm saying."

Max turned his attention once more to the outside world and let out a sigh knowing what she wanted to say and not being sure he was ready to hear it.  "Alright.  Go ahead."

"I know we've done this before.  Lots of times.  And I've never minded being a witch to all those girls because…well, because I never really thought any of them deserved you."  Tess turned to look at Max once more.  "But this is different.  This is Liz.  Not only does she deserve you, she's the reason you've needed my help all of these years.  The reason you won't let anyone close to your heart."

Max opened his mouth to speak but Tess hurried on keeping him from voicing any protests.  "You know it's true, Max.  You've never stopped loving her.  She's the reason…"  Tess paused and took a shaky breath.  "…that you and I never fulfilled the destiny we were put here for.  The reason…I'm…" Tess paused when she felt Max's eyes on her.  Tucking her wavy blonde hair behind her ear she continued allowing the unspoken word to hang in the air between them.  It didn't need to be said.  He knew what his love for Liz had cost them both.  "Look, I know there was a reason for what we did in high school.  For the lies we told and the parts we played, but this…"

Tess glanced out at the parking lot and made a gesture with her hand toward the restaurant.  "This is a second chance, Max.  A chance to make it all right again.  To make things the way they were really meant to be.  For you and Liz…"

"Nothing has changed, Tess.  The same reasons still exist…"

"No, Max.  You're wrong.  Everything has changed."  Tess responded back as her voice began to plead with him gently.  "Don't you see that?  Nasedo hasn't shown his face in years.  I've made it much longer than we ever expected.  Michael and Maria…Max, did you see how happy they were?  How in love?  Don't you see?  Everything you've ever wanted will be waiting for you inside that door.  All you have to do is let her know."

Trying to keep his voice level, Max kept his eyes straight ahead refusing to look at Tess.  "You're wrong, Tess.  Too much has happened.  Too much time has passed."  His eyes full of sadness and pain turned to Tess.  "She's in love with him...getting married.  She's moved on..."

"If you really believe that you're a fool."  Tess interrupted hotly.  "She's as much in love with you now as she was before.  Hurt.  Afraid.  Even angry.  But still in love.  Eyes don't lie, Max.  The way she looked at you…that kind of raw emotion can't be manufactured.  And you're crazy to try to deny that it still exists between the two of you."

Max looked down at his hands and bit his lower lip.  He knew exactly what Tess was talking about.  He'd seen it too.  The way her eyes danced when she looked at him.  The ecstatic look on her face.  But there was something deep within him that was afraid to reach out and grasp the possibilities of it all.  A part of him that, after all he'd seen in his life, still couldn't believe in miracles.  "Look, Tess.  As much as I want to believe I could have it all back again, I know it's not possible.  Not now.  Even if it were, I'm not sure I could do it to her.  That I could rip her from the happiness she's managed to find and throw her back into our world of fear and looking over our shoulders every second.  Love doesn't do that.  I…will not do that to her." 

Seeing that Max's mind at least was made up, Tess gave in…for the moment.  "Ok.  I'll play it your way.  But know that I won't like it."  Tess stated letting out a sigh.  "So, what are the ground rules?"

"Just…don't hurt her."  Max stated simply.  "I don't want a repeat of what happened in high school when I broke up with her.  That was…too much.  I couldn't stand to see her…"  Max paused and closed his eyes at the memory.  "Just don't hurt her."

"Alright.  No visions." Tess nodded in understanding when she remembered that night on Liz's roof.  "Anything else?"

"Yeah.  No kissing. No close dancing.  No excessive body contact."  Max chewed on his bottom lip for a moment as he was lost in thought.  "In fact, I think we should keep it to hand holding or the occasional arm around the shoulder."

Tess chuckled.  "God, Max.  How do you expect me to make them believe we've been doing it all this time if I can barely touch you?"

Max let out a sigh.  "We can 'be' a couple without getting graphic, Tess.  I don't want her to be uncomfortable."

"Well, that's going to be pretty hard to stop since she'll be at dinner with her alien ex-boyfriend, the girl she thinks stole him from her and her fiance'."

"You know what I...mean..."  Max swallowed hard as his eyes locked on a car that had pulled up and parked not too far from the door of the restaurant.  His eyes followed the tall blonde man as he walked around the front of the car to open the door on the passenger side. 

Max's heart stopped beating and he felt his lungs tighten while the blood in his veins ran cold then hot when he saw her place her hand in his and get out of the car.  "Oh, God."

"What?"  Tess asked with concern as her eyes moved from Max to the object he was focused on.

Not really hearing her, he answered her question absently speaking more to himself than anyone else.  "She's wearing the cranberry dress…"

A knowing smile curved Tess' lips upward as her eyes flicked back to Max's face.  He was positively entranced by the picture Liz made as she walked toward the door of the restaurant arm in arm with her fiance'.  His eyes followed every move she made brightening in a way Tess hadn't seen in years.  There were so many unspoken emotions and intense passion dancing in his eyes, Tess suddenly wondered how he'd been able to hold them back for so long. 

There was no way he was going to make it through the night.  She silently applauded Liz for her choice of clothes.  "Uh…Max.  You know, if you change your mind…let me know and I'm outta here."

"I won't change my mind."  Max stated with determination as his jaw clenched resolutely and he pulled his eyes from Liz's figure as she disappeared behind the door. 

"Max, are you sure I should even…?"

"Yes.  I need you there."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know if I can make it through a night of watching her love someone else without either punching his lights out or declaring my undying love."  Max's mouth twitched in a wry smile.  "Someone's gotta stop me from making a fool of myself and ruining all of our lives."

Tess smiled as a hint of mischief lit her eyes.  "Oh, don't worry about that.  That's precisely what I'm here for..."

Tbc…

Part 7-11