* * 5 * *


{That night was the start of something wonderful and amazing between Max and I. However, we knew that a relationship between us could hurt two people who we called our best friends. We didn't let thoughts of them intrude though. We also didn't plan on hiding our relationship either but events following that day changed my opinion drastically. You see a secret was revealed and that secret made me re-evaluate a whole lot of things. I came to hate that secret and all that it signified. Hell I even hated the person who told me the secret, wishing that they would just die and leave me in peace. Damn secrets. They're the cause of so much pain.}

The next morning the two newly lovers woke up to a beautiful sunrise. They smiled in unison as their minds traveled back to the lovely night that they shared. Maria looked up into Max deep brown eyes shyly and then leaned towards him for a kiss.

"Good morning Mr. Evans." She said sweetly. "Did you have a good sleep?"

"Hmm yes very much Ms. Deluca. It was made even better due to the fact that you were next to me. All my dreams were about you." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on the top of her head.

They went back to kissing for a few more minutes. Then Maria pulled away and said, "We really need to get dressed. The others will be here after while and it's bad enough that we'll be seen in clothes we had on last night."

"I can take care of that." He said. "My alien powers are pretty useful at times.

The stood up and managed to get dressed. Then Max ran his hands down the front of Maria's clothes changing them into a completely different outfit. He then did the same for himself. "Thanks Max. You're so thoughtful."

"No problem my sweet." They both walked hand in hand back to the center of the maze to start cleaning up while they waited on the others.

Tess and Kyle were the first to arrive. Tess walked over to where Maria was packing the candles into a box and started to help. "So Maria how does it feel to be close to legal?"

"Ahh, well it feels great. And you guys really made it special for me yesterday. Thanks." She smiled at Tess and then they went back to work.

All throughout the day no one noticed the change in Maria and Max's relationship, except Isabel. She knew that Max didn't come home last night and after a short hint around conversation with Amy she knew that Maria didn't either. She also noticed the shy but sweet glances they shared every now and then and also the times they took to sneak off together.

She decided to follow them just to see what was up. She was shocked when she saw Max take Maria into his arms and proceeding to kiss her madly.

"Oh Max." Maria was saying, "I can't believe we actually went all the way last night. It was so wonderful and glorious."

He was smiling goofily. "I know it was awesome for me too. Gosh I'm glad I never went all the way with Liz. I'm actually glad that we were each others first."

"Me too." She replied.

Isabel was shocked she didn't know whether to be angry at Max for doing something that they all promised not to do or to be happy for him that he actually found true love instead of that puppy love mess he shared with Liz. She settled on being happy for him. Max had experienced a lot of heartache at the hands of Liz Parker and he deserved every bit of happiness he could get.

Isabel turned and was about to walk away when realized that she wasn't the only one following people today.

"Liz!" Isabel spoke a little nervously wondering at what all Liz had seen and heard.

"Isabel, Alex was looking for you. So I saw you come this way so I came to get you. What are you doing back here?" She asked.

Isabel figured she didn't see anything so she steered her back to the park. "I just wanted to see where this path would lead me."

"Oh well ok."

Later that day Liz showed up at Maria's house. Maria invited Liz in a little hesitantly, wondering why she was coming to see her now after all this time she avoided her. "Maria I need to talk to you about something really important. It's about Max and I."

"Oh what is it?" She asked not really wanting to know. She felt that what Liz had to say was something bad that was going to ruin her new relationship with Max.

"Maria, I'm pretty sure that Max has told you that he caught me sleeping with Kyle. Am I right?" She looked into Maria's eyes already knowing the answer. Maria hesitated then said, "Yeah he told me. How could you do it Liz?"

Liz sighed in frustration. She wasn't planning on telling anyone about her visit from future Max, but she saw Maria and Max in the garden and she heard their conversation. She was still in love with Max and as soon as Tess staying in Roswell was secure she planned on getting Max back. She was not about to let Maria stand in her way. She knew that once she told Maria about her visit from Future Max she'd back away from Max. So she decided to spill.

"I didn't really sleep with Kyle, Maria. I just made Max think I did."

"What? I don't believe you. Why would you do that Liz?"

Liz went into the explanation about her visit from FM and how he said she had to get his present self to fall out of love with her. Through her whole explanation Maria was silent and on the verge of tears. When Liz finished Maria couldn't look at her in the face. She was ashamed. She had slept with Max knowing that he was once in love with Liz. Now she finds out that Liz was still in love with him and that she didn't sleep with Kyle. Damn, her life was such a mess now.

"So why are you telling me this now?" She quietly asked. "Why now?"

"Well I overheard Tess telling Kyle that she really loved him. That she was no longer in love with Max. She never was." Liz was lying she didn't know for sure whether or not Tess was in love with Kyle, nor did she care. "I knew that this was my chance to finally get Max back."

"So why tell me? Why not just tell Max about FM and go after him yourself?"

"I can't do it on my own. He wouldn't believe me. Besides FM said that I couldn't tell him anything. I need your help getting Max back." She smiled secretly at the dejected look on Maria's face. She decided to rub it in some more. "So will you help me? Help me get back my soul mate?"

Maria was slowly breaking inside. She felt so torn. She knew she had to help Liz get Max back even though she was in love with him. She knew that Max had once loved Liz and he never professed his love for her. So as far as she knew he was still probably in love with Liz and just using her as a rebound. She knew that she couldn't continue to be with Max knowing Liz was still in love with him and that he might still be in love with her.

"Yeah I'll help you." She stood up signaling that she was ready for Liz to leave. "I don't mean to rush you or anything but I really have to get some chores done for my mom. I'll talk to you later. Bye"

"Kay bye. Call me." Maria shut the door silently behind Liz. She stood at the door until she was sure that she was gone. Then she turned and ran upstairs to her room breaking down in tears. `Oh God,' she thought, `why was this happening to her?' She didn't know what to do next. She was so in love with Max but then Liz was in love with him also and he was Liz's first. She knew one thing, she couldn't stay and watch Liz going after Max. She couldn't watch Max slowly fall back into Liz's clutches. She knew that at that moment she hated Liz with a passion. She's never hated Liz before. Even when she first heard that Liz slept with Kyle she didn't hate her. She was angry with her but she didn't hater. Now, Maria knew that she truly, madly, crazily hated Liz Parker.