Here with Me

by Cynthia

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and I have no affiliation with Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, the WB, etc. The song “Here with Me” is by Dido – I’m just borrowing the lyrics.
Summary: If Max knew the secret Liz had been keeping for five years, would he leave her?
Category: Max/Liz – future fic
Author’s Note: This is based on the novel Just One of Those Things, by Leigh Riker.

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

Liz Parker tucked the covers around her daughter and kissed her affectionately on the head. “Good night, sweetie. I love you.”

Isabel yawned and smiled sleepily. “I love you too, Mommy.” Putting her small hands on her mother’s face, she kissed Liz was a loud smack. Liz grinned as Isabel pulled the cow-spotted sheets to her chin and rolled to her side.

Gently closing the door behind her, Liz left it slightly ajar so that light from the hallway could stream into Isabel’s room. After turning five, Isabel had adamantly refused using a night-light, claiming “It was for babies.” Liz smiled.

*Well, no matter how old you are, Isabel, you’ll always be my baby.*

She walked to her room and flipped on the light to the bathroom. Liz turned on the radio, and humming to herself, lit the candles that surrounded the room. She breathed in deeply, letting the scent of vanilla and lilacs fill her head. It was Saturday night, and every Saturday she took a bubble bath just to indulge herself. Liz slipped into her cotton robe and closed the bathroom door. She dropped in a few bath beads into the tub and watched as millions of bubbles foamed to the surface.

When the water rose a few inches from the top, Liz shut off the water. She let the robe drop to the tiled floor and stepped into the warm, bubbly water.

Letting her head drop on the rim of the bathtub, Liz closed her eyes and thought about the week that she had had. Liz was a high school biology teacher. She couldn’t give just one reason why she decided to become a teacher, much less a biology teacher. Because she always loved biology. Because she loved watching her student’s faces light up with understanding. Because she had taken biology in 10th grade and sat next to Max Evans. Even though being a teacher meant a so-so pay, Liz still made enough to live comfortably in a small house with Isabel.

Liz sat in the tub for a long time, until the water was beginning to cool to a lukewarm. Sighing, she stepped out, wrapping a towel around herself. Liz pulled out the plug and let the water funnel down the drain.

She slipped into a pair of cream colored silk pajamas and climbed into bed. It was almost a daily routine for her; brushing her teeth with Isabel, helping her daughter to bed, taking a shower, changing into her pajamas, and then going to bed. And Liz wouldn’t want it any other way. Liz turned on the TV and glanced at the clock. 9:00. Still early. She flipped through the channels. Sitcom, sitcom, a biography on Julia Roberts, re-runs of a canceled sitcom, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Liz’s hand hovered on the remote, but then she fell back into the sea of pillows on her bed.

As the theme of Close Encounters filled the room, a small smile formed on Liz’s face. The song brought back so many memories. Of the Crashdown, of West Roswell High, of Michael, Isabel, Max, Maria, Alex. And the secret that would bind them forever.

*Flash*

Max saving Liz at the Crashdown.

*Flash*

Driving to Atherton’s dome in Texas.

*Flash*

Telling Alex about Michael, Isabel, and Max.

*Flash*

Max and Liz’s first kiss.

*Flash*

Stargazing with Max.

*Flash*

Senior Prom.

*Flash*

Graduation.

Liz felt tears sting her eyes, and she turned her head to the nightstand beside her bed. There were three pictures. One of the six friends. One of Max and Liz on prom night. And a picture of the two the last day they were together before going off to college. Unconsciously, Liz lifted her hand to her throat and wrapped her fingers around her locket.

Max gave her the necklace the night before graduation. The front was engraved “Max and Liz”. Inside were two tiny pictures of him and Liz. And on the back was the engravement “I love you.”

And even to this day, nine years later, Liz still thought it was the best night of her life. Max had taken her to a fantastic restaurant, then driven to all their favorite places. They had spent a few hours lying in the desert, watching the dark, endless sky. Knowing it would be their last night together.

And that night, they had made love under the stars. Liz could still remember each place Max had touched her, everything he had whispered into her ear, everything. And she would never forget. Two days later, Liz flew to Boston and Max left for San Francisco.

It would be five years until Liz saw Max again. Winter Break, in Roswell, New Mexico. The night before graduation Liz and Max had made love for the first time. Five years later, on Christmas Eve, they made a baby.

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

One week later, the beginning of Spring Break:

Maria DeLuca looked around her and gave an admiring nod. “This is an awesome house.”

“Thanks. I am so lucky that the landlady decided to let me have a $100 reduction since she didn’t know when the owners were going to be back.”

“Huh?”

“Well, she said that the owners hadn’t lived in this house for over three years, but technically they still owned it and was renting it out.”

“Right. Okay.”

Liz scooped out a spoonful of mint-Oreo ice cream and handed the carton to Maria. “So you can baby-sit for Isabel, right?”

Maria nodded. “Yeah. Where’s Mr. Millionaire taking you out tonight?”

“You could just say his name,” Liz laughed. “In case you’ve forgotten, it’s Justin.”

“I know. Justin the millionaire.”

Liz rolled her eyes. “He’s taking me to see Madame Butterfly.”

Maria grimaced. “Ick. I thought you hated opera.”

“I do. And even though I’ve let him in on that fact about a million times, I think Justin’s taken me to every opera that comes here.” She shuddered.

“Then why are you still going out with him if he can’t even get that little bit of info into his head?” Maria asked, her gaze questioning.

Liz shrugged and swallowed another bite of ice cream. “Because he’s sweet. And smart. And…” She discovered she couldn’t find any more adjectives to describe him in a positive way. “And…rich.”

“Oooh, the all-time fantasy man,” Maria said sarcastically. She turned serious. “What about Max?”

“What about him?”

“Have you talked to him lately?”

Liz shook her head dejectedly. “No. Not in five years. Besides, what could I say to him?”

Maria coughed. “You could tell him that he has a daughter.”

“And then what? I can’t spend one night with him without worrying that the next day he won’t be there. And that’s just in this situation. If I told him that he’s Isabel’s father, then he will never come back to see me.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because he’s so caught up in the ‘It’s too dangerous’ thing!” Liz closed her eyes and sighed. “And I haven’t talked to him in five years. I’ll probably never see him again.”

****

“Mommy, I don’t want you to go out!” Isabel pouted, her lower lip sticking out.

“Well, it’ll only be until ten, sweetie.”

“But you won’t read me my bed-time story tonight.” She looked at her mom with sad puppy dog eyes and sniffed.

Liz sighed. This was a ritual whenever she went on a date. Every single time Liz went out, Isabel would throw a temper tantrum. Liz prayed that one day she would find someone Isabel liked. So far her wish hadn’t been granted.

Maria DeLuca walked in through the front door and sat down on the couch beside Isabel. “Hi, Izzy! How’s my favorite god-daughter?” Maria tickled Isabel in the stomach, causing the girl to fall into a fit of giggles.

Liz paced around the room. “Okay, the milk is in the fridge. Give her a bath at 7:30, and make sure she’s in bed by 8:30, at the latest. Her favorite book is on the shelf above her bed…”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Liz, babe, I know. I’ve done this before, remember.”

“Right.”

*ding-dong*

Isabel and Maria looked at the door at the same time. Liz stood up and smoothed down her red dress, blowing out a breath nervously. “Okay. Relax.”

She threw open the door and smiled. “Hi, Justin.”

Justin McKinley grinned and handed Liz a single long-stemmed rose. “Hello, Elizabeth.”

Maria cringed. She whispered into Isabel’s ear, “Elizabeth? No one calls your mommy Elizabeth. And who now-a-days says ‘hello’ when they see someone?”

“I dunno, Aunt Maria.”

Liz knelt down beside the couch. “Isabel, sweetie, say hi to Justin. You remember him, don’t you?”

Isabel narrowed her eyes and turned her head away. She crossed her arms with a loud huff and pinched her lips together.

Liz and Maria shared a look. “Okay. Well, I’ll see you tonight, okay? I love you.” She kissed Isabel on her forehead and gently flicked the tip of her nose.

Coming out of her silence, Isabel threw her arms around her mother. “I love you, Mommy.”

Liz felt her heart fill with love. She gazed into Isabel’s wide hazel-brown eyes, eyes that perfectly matched her father’s. “Love you too.”

****

Liz mustered a yawn and blinked rapidly so that she wouldn’t fall asleep. Justin had taken her to dinner, then to the Opera House to see Madame Butterfly, and now they were being driven home in his private limo. Frankly, Liz hadn’t been more bored in her life.

“And so the price for BioMed.com went up twenty dollars yesterday, because one of the branches announced they would be upgrading one of their programs. Twenty dollars! Can you believe it? And I bought the stock only last week…” Justin droned on and on about, well, Liz was already lost. Something about stock portfolios.

Justin McKinley was 35 years old and a successful stockbroker. He was average in height, but a bit overweight, and he wore large rectangular glasses that had to be a centimeter thick. He wasn’t a millionaire, as Maria liked to call him, but he was extremely wealthy for someone his age. And Liz wasn’t lying when she said he was sweet and smart, but she also didn’t include that Justin was one of the dullest people she had ever met.

The limo stopped in front of Liz’s house. She smiled sincerely at Justin. “Thanks. I had a good time.”

“I’ll walk you to the door,” he offered.

Liz shook her head. “No, it’s okay.”

“But it might not be safe.”

She resisted the urge to smack him. “The door is right there,” Liz said sweetly, pointing out the tinted windows. “You can see me walk through it, okay?”

With that she turned and got out of the limo. Liz walked to the front door and unlocked it, closing it behind her with a happy sigh. Maria flipped on the light. “Hey, Liz. How was your date?”

“As exciting as watching paint dry.” Liz groaned and dropped her purse on the kitchen counter. “Boring. Terrible.”

Maria grinned. “Well, it’s late. I have to go. See you tomorrow, okay?”

Liz hugged her best friend. “Okay. Bye.”

****

Max Evans drove down the small street in Bellevue, Washington, trying to see over his spread-out map.

*What am I doing?*

In truth, he had no idea. Max hadn’t been here in Washington in over three years, and all of a sudden he had an urge to drive up here from Los Angeles. Since the law firm where he worked, McBride & Anderson, was remodeling and everything was in chaos, he wouldn’t be missed. Plus he had just won a major case, and he was regarded in a pretty good light right now.

So here he was, trying to make his way to his house. It was a three hour drive to Mount Olympus, a place where his parents had taken him and Isabel hiking when they were younger. Diane and Phillip Evans had wanted a cabin closer to the mountains, but one look at the malls in Bellevue, and Isabel had fallen in love with the city.

But Max had no idea what was here in Washington for him now.

****

Liz turned over on the bed and buried her face in the pillow. She couldn’t sleep, and didn’t feel like taking a sleeping pill. Lifting her head, she groaned when she saw the glowing numbers on her clock, 3:44. Another one of her sleepless nights.

I need something to eat. I wonder what’s in the fridge.

Liz padded down the stairs and into the kitchen, pulling open the refrigerator. No leftovers, but all the ingredients to make a sandwich. She pulled out two slices of bread, a jar of mayonnaise and mustard, some lettuce, tomatoes, a chunk of Swiss cheese, and some ham.

Humming to herself, Liz began stacking everything onto the bread. She would probably gain a pound from this, but she didn’t care. She was 28 years old, she had a five-going-on-six year old daughter, she was a teacher to noisy and energetic high-schoolers that were actually only half her age, and she was still expected to be the calm, perfect Liz everyone knew. And Liz realized she didn’t want it any other way. Just one look at Isabel told her just how wonderful her life was.

*Would it be better if Max was here?*

Liz pushed the name from her mind. If she thought about Max, then she’d think about Isabel, and then that would lead to thinking about how she could tell him about his daughter. And that would complicate things even more.

But God, she missed Max. She missed his wonderful smile, his sexy body, his deep, rich voice, his beautiful hands, his eyes. Liz always that his eyes could see into her soul.

Isabel was blessed with Max’s eyes. She had her mother’s soft brown hair and delicate bones. And her ears were adorable. A mix between Liz and Max’s. Not pointy, but not exactly, well, human.

Liz felt her eyes mist. She blew out a breath and slathered some more mayonnaise onto the sandwich.

****

Max stepped out of his Jaguar and walked to the front door, sweeping his gaze across the house. It hadn’t changed much, but had a newer coat of paint. He drew a key out of his pocket and stuck it into the doorknob. It wouldn’t fit. He juggled around and it still wouldn’t budge.

*I wonder who changed the locks.*

Shooting cursory looks around him, Max placed his hand over the doorknob. A small glow came surrounded his hand, and the lock clicked open.

****

Liz was in mid-bite when she heard the front door creak.

*Someone’s breaking in!*

She looked around for a baseball bat, and automatically cursed under her breath. She hadn’t played baseball in forever. The moonlight caught on the blade of one of her knifes. Liz quietly slunk over to the sink and clenched the knife in her hand.

Tip-toeing into the hallway, Liz hoped the wooden floors wouldn’t creak. She saw the faint silhouette of a person, and lifted her hand to strike…

****

Max turned just in time to see someone charging towards him. He jumped aside and grabbed at their passing form, slamming them onto the ground.

****

Liz landed with a thud, a solid body pinning her to the floor. She struggled. “Get off me!” she shrieked.

The man froze. “Liz?” he whispered incredulously.

That voice. Liz felt her heart stop beating. “Max?” she managed to gasp.

He rolled off her, and flipped on the light.

“Oh my god,” they said together.

****

Liz felt a million emotions in one. Happiness, shock, worry, joy, excitement, disbelief, and most of all, love.

She couldn’t believe Max was standing right there in front of her. And he looked so handsome. He was wearing khakis and a long-sleeved dark green button-up shirt. Khakis? When had Max started wearing khakis? Although she had no problem with that.

*What am I doing? I’m thinking about his clothes when I should be worried about Isabel.*

As if on cue, a small voice came from the stairs. “Mommy?”

Isabel was dressed in a lavender-colored nightgown and was clutching a teddy bear in her arms.

Liz’s face softened into a smile and she gathered Isabel into her arms. “Yes sweetie?”

“What’s that man doing here?”

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

Max just stared at the little girl, emotions churning in him. She was beautiful, just like her mother. Mother. And that’s what Liz was. He felt a pang. Was it jealousy? Probably. To whoever her father was. For having made a girl with an angel face.

His eyes shot to Liz’s left hand. No ring.

****

Liz leaned against the banister, afraid that she would faint. She couldn’t believe this. Max was here. Her greatest prayer had been answered. But how was she going to tell him? Tell him that this little girl was his daughter? What would he feel? Happiness? Anger? Regret? Love?

She couldn’t let him see her nervousness. So Liz just asked coolly, “I was wondering the same thing, baby.” She turned her gaze to Max. “What are you doing here?”

****

Max shot out of his trance. “This is my house.”

Liz stifled a groan.

*Perfect. Of all the cities and all the houses there are in the United States, I pick the one that the Evans’ own.*

“Well, I’m renting it. The landlady said that she didn’t know if the owners, you I guess, were going to be back since you hadn’t been here in years,” Liz knew she was blabbering but she didn’t care, “so she rented it to me.”

Max nodded. “Okay. So I guess this house is yours.” He backed away towards the door. “Bye, Liz.” He glanced at the girl and gave a little wave.

“Oh. Sorry.” Liz blew out a breath.

*Telling Max her name wouldn’t hurt.*

“This is Isabel. Say hi to Mr. Evans.”

Isabel stared at Max with wide, curious eyes. “Hello, Mr. Evans.”

Max didn’t say anything. Isabel. Could it be that Liz named her after his sister? No. It was probably just a coincidence.

Isabel looked just like her mother, he thought. The dark, wispy hair that would grow out to be soft and silky. The fine, small bones. The radiant smile.

Liz cleared her throat. “Wait! Are you leaving?”

“Yeah. Probably going to stay at a hotel.”

She automatically felt guilty. “But this is your house. And I can’t just kick you out because, well, that wouldn’t be right.” Liz turned her head towards the stairs. “There’s an extra room upstairs.” She laughed nervously. “I guess you already knew that. And there’s a bed, and no one’s living there, so you can stay here tonight if you want.”

Max shook his head. If he stayed under the same roof as Liz, then he knew what would happen. And it definitely shouldn’t happen.

“It’s okay.”

“Stay!” Isabel piped up. She smiled sweetly and wrapped her arms around Liz’s neck.

Liz’s throat tightened. “See, Isabel wants you to stay too.”

“Well, I guess that decides it.” Max motioned to the front door. “I’ll just go get my stuff.”

****

After Liz tucked Isabel back into bed, she went downstairs again. She found Max in the backyard, sitting on porch swing.

“Hi, Max.” Liz sat next to him, but didn’t get too close.

He turned and smiled. The light hit across his face, and Liz felt her breath catch in her throat. God, he looked wonderful.

“Hey Liz. Is Isabel asleep?”

Liz nodded. “Yeah.”

“How old is she?”

“Five. Born on October 14.”

Max nodded. “So how have you been?”

“Good. I’m a teacher.”

“Biology?”

Grinning, Liz replied, “Yeah. What about you?”

“I’m a lawyer.”

“Really? I’d never expect you to be a lawyer. I always thought you’d be a doctor.”

“I thought about it. But then I decided that it would be…strange, you know, with my powers.”

They fell into silence, thinking about the day in the Crashdown when he had saved Liz. She could still remember the pain, and then seeing Max’s face above hers. Saying those quietly soothing words. “You’re all right now.”

“So how are Michael and Isabel?”

“Great. Isabel and Alex are really close, you know. She’s an actress. Michael’s the same as always.”

“The rebel,” Liz murmured.

“The rebel. I think he’s planning to come up here soon. To see Maria.”

Liz smiled into the darkness. “She’d love that.”

Moonlight streamed to the ground, glinting off Liz’s throat. Max slowly reached out and his eyes grew wide. “The locket.” His voice cracked. “You kept it.”

Not meeting his gaze, Liz’s eyes watered. “Of course I kept it. It’s the only thing of yours that I had.” She stood up and began pacing across the yard.

*But then you gave me Isabel.*

Max gently grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. He stood up and their faces were inches from each other. “You’ve always had my heart Liz. Always.”

All she had to do was lean forward. She could even feel his breath on her. Liz pursed her lips together to keep them from trembling. “I have to go. Good night.” She turned and walked back into the house, the door sliding closed behind her.

****

Max lay on his bed, hands clasped under his head, staring at the ceiling. He wondered why Liz wasn’t married. The last time he saw her, she had been engaged to some businessman, Andrew somebody. At least that’s what everyone had told him. He guessed Isabel was Andrew’s daughter.

*How could anyone not want her?*

*She was born on October 14.*

He was surprised at his disappointment. Max had been with Liz on Christmas.

****

Liz knew that she definitely couldn’t sleep now. Not when Max was sleeping in the room across from hers. And across from Isabel’s. She wanted him to stay. Forever and always. Just her, Max, and Isabel.

But would he? The last time they made love, five years ago, Liz had fallen asleep in his arms. When she woke up, he was gone. And after that, she’d never seen for heard of him again.

Granted, he had a reason for leaving. She was dating Andrew Littleton. Rich, handsome, smart. Everyone thought they were going to get married. But after that night with Max, she couldn’t marry him. Because she felt disloyal. Because she knew she could never love anyone as much as Max.

*You’ve always had my heart, Liz.*

But when he said that, it gave her hope. Maybe he did love her. And maybe he would love Isabel.

****

Max opened his eyes to slits and promptly shut them again as the sunlight hit his eyes. Morning. He didn’t remember falling asleep. He was surprised that he had.

He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and yawned. Blinking, his mouth fell open when a face came into vision.

“Hello, Mr. Evans!” Isabel yelled cheerfully, her little face shining with happiness. “It’s morning!”

*How can anyone be so bouncy in the morning?*

Nevertheless, Max had to smile. “Hi Isabel. Is your mom up?”

Isabel shook her head rapidly, brown hair flying. “Uh-uh. Not yet.”

He glanced at his watch, which was lying on the nightstand. 8:15.

*Guess I won’t be going back asleep.*

Max sat up, suddenly glad that he had decided to sleep with a t-shirt on instead of bare-shirted like he usually did. “So have you brushed your teeth?”

Isabel grinned, revealing two rows of perfect little teeth. “Yep! Mommy says I have to brush my teeth every morning when I get up and every night before I go to sleep.”

“That’s very good advice. How about you go downstairs while I brush my teeth?”

Isabel flew off towards the door, but then she stopped. “Hey, Mr. Evans?”

Max turned, unable to conceal a grin. “Max. Call me Max.”

“Mr. Max. Can you make pancakes?”

****

Liz yawned and raked her fingers absently through her hair. She was still dressed in her pajamas. She padded down the stairs and to the kitchen. Outside the room, she stopped at the door.

Isabel was standing on top of a kitchen chair, mixing a batch of pancake batter. She was stirring furiously, her face scrunched in concentration.

“So do you like syrup?” Max asked while flipping a few pancakes on the grill.

Isabel nodded. “I love syrup. It’s my favorite. But Mommy says it’ll rot my teeth.”

Max laughed. “It probably will.”

Liz felt as if her throat was being squeezed. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak.

How could this be? She had gone out with a few guys in the past years, but Isabel had never paid attention to them. But now, Isabel was talking to Max as if he was her…

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

“As if he was her father,” Maria finished.

“That’s not the point!” Liz argued.

She had just finished telling Maria about what she saw in the kitchen that morning. The two were in a Starbucks Café, drinking coffee.

“Then what is the point?”

Liz sighed. “Isabel never talks to any guys that I know. At least those that are my age.”

Maria shrugged. “Well, Liz, I hate to break it to you, but Max is not just,” with quoting motions, “any guy. He’s Isabel’s father.”

“But she doesn’t know that!”

“How do you know? Maybe she has this connection.” Maria leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Take it from me. I never knew my father, and maybe one day I’ll be walking down the street, and I’ll just know who he is. It’s probably an inborn thing.”

Liz didn’t say anything and took a sip of her café mocha.

“You have to tell him, Liz.”

“I can’t,” she said quietly.

“He deserves to know,” Maria persisted.

“And Isabel doesn’t deserve to get her life ruined. Max would never stay.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Look, I know that Isabel is probably going to fall in love with Max. And he is going to be the closest father figure that she’s ever had so far. If I tell her that Max is her father, and then Max leaves, then she’ll think for the rest of her life that her dad didn’t want her. If right now all Isabel knows is that Max is a family friend, if he leaves, then he’ll leave as a friend. Nothing more.”

“And you know that Max would never leave. He would never abandon you and Isabel.”

Liz covered her face with her hands. “Okay, so this is purely selfish. Maybe I just want Max to marry me because he loves me and Isabel, not because he thinks it’s his duty to take care of us.”

“Liz, Max loves you. He has since the third grade. And he will fall in love with Isabel. Who wouldn’t? He’d fall in love with her without knowing that she’s his daughter. And if he did ask you to marry him, then it’d be out of love.”

“But what if Max is right? What if we’re not meant to be?”

Maria gave an exasperated sigh. “Do you know how many different houses in different cities there are in this country? And you just happen to rent the one that Max owns. What do you call that?”

“Coincidence?” Liz suggested.

“You don’t believe in coincidences,” Maria said, rolling her eyes. “And then there’s the Crashdown. Max could’ve been in a million places that day. But he was eating in the café, and that is why you are here right now. I could name a million other little things that show you’re meant to be together.”

“So what would you call that?”

“Fate. Destiny. Thus leading to the word soulmates.” Maria shot Liz a pointed stare.

Liz groaned. “Why does that have to sound so logical?”

Maria and Liz stood up and walked out of the cafe. “Because, we’re in this weird alternate universe right now. Max is here. And you, the usually logical one, are in a frenzy, so I’m the calm, composed one.”

“Well, the situation would be reserved if Michael was here,” Liz teased.

“Oh, just do a complete subject change, why don’t you. But yeah, that’s true.”

“Have you heard from him in a while?”

Maria shook her head. “No. I think I’m going to call him soon. Dig his number out of Max.” She paused, thinking about what she would say to Michael if she ever got in touch with him. “So what are you doing today?”

“Well, since it’s Spring Break I don’t have class. So I’m taking Isabel to the zoo.” She waited for a beat. “With Max.”

****

Isabel ran up ahead, the balloon she was holding flying behind her.

“Is she always this energetic?” Max asked, an amused smile on his face.

Liz shook her head. “No. Not usually.”

*Just when you came.*

They were walking side-by-side, close enough to be touching. Max resisted the temptation to slip his arm around Liz’s waist and pull her to him.

Isabel scampered back to them and grabbed Max’s hand. She pointed to an exhibit ahead. “Look! Sheeps!”

“A petting zoo?” Max laughed.

“Yeah! I wanna go see!”

Dragging him to the huge fenced area, Isabel stopped in silent awe as she watched the sheep bend down to the grass and chomp off a few blades, it’s mouth moving in a circular motion. A baby lamb trotted over to the fence and paused in front of Isabel, staring at her with large, soft eyes.

“Cute,” she whispered. Even though it was a small lamb, Isabel was still too short to reach it. Max grinned and picked her up, one arm wrapped around his neck.

She reached out and gently petted the lamb, which bleated softly. “Wow.”

****

Liz watched from a few feet away, her heart breaking a little.

*He has no idea how much they look alike.*

Isabel bent her head so that her forehead was touching Max’s temple. She whispered something in his ear, and a smile formed on his lips. After that he swung Isabel, to her great delight, onto his shoulders. She gave a shriek of joy and fell into a heap of giggles.

****

“And there’s a boy in my class named Jacob, and he’s having a party in two days.” Isabel pronounced the last two words slowly, with great articulation, as if it were the most wonderful thing in the world.

“Really? What kind of party?”

“A birthday party. He’s turning six.”

Max nodded. “Wow, that’s really old.”

“Uh-huh. And you know what? I’m five.”

He laughed. Oh, the wonders you experienced when you were a child. “So do you like Jacob?”

Isabel scrunched her face in disgust, shaking her head. “Eeew. He’s icky.”

With a wry smile, Max asked, “Any boys you do like?”

“Yuck. All boys are yucky and ugly.”

“Probably too ugly for a pretty girl like you.”

Isabel beamed. “Mommy says I have eyes like my daddy, and that’s why I’m so pretty.”

“And your mom’s probably right. Where is your mom anyway?” Max turned around, and caught Liz staring at them.

Her face with perfectly blank, but her eyes held something, although he couldn’t say what. Was it…wistfulness?

****

That night:

A CD was in the player, Dido’s No Angel. Liz scooped out a spoonful of mint-Oreo ice cream, trying to get her mind off Max.

Smart, Liz. You’re eating mint-Oreo ice cream, Max’s favorite. That’ll really get your mind off him.

But how could she? Liz thought about Max every single day when they were apart, and now he was sleeping right above her head.

“Liz?” She heard a low voice come from the doorway.

*Perfect. He’s even closer. He’s standing right there…*

Without a shirt. She felt her face flush, dropping her gaze to the ice cream. But she still remembered what she saw. The perfectly tanned chest, the six-pack abs that could’ve been sculpted.

Max coughed. “I was just, uh, going to get some…”

“Ice cream?” Liz said, a smile in her voice. She held up the carton.

“Yeah.”

Liz walked over, and immediately regretted it. Almost.

“Here with Me” came on. It was their song, the song Max had dedicated to her at senior prom. It sent back a rush of memories.

*Oh I am what I am, I’ll do what I want, but I can’t hide.*

“I should probably get upstairs. Here, have the rest.” She shoved the carton in his hand.

“Stay with me.”

*I won’t go, I won’t sleep, I can’t breathe.*

“No, it’s too cold.”

Max sent her a hot look that could melt the carton. “Then I’ll just keep you warm.”

Warm? It was way past warm in the room.

He took a step towards her, and she took a step back. Without realizing it Liz had backed up to the counter, it’s cold edge on her back. One hand undid the buttons on her blouse. The other ran up her back, sending shock waves through her body.

“What about Isabel?” she whispered.

“She’s asleep. Don’t worry.”

*Until you’re resting here with me.*

Liz dropped her head back, a low moan coming from deep within her as she felt his breath on her skin, soft and hot. “Oh god.”

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

Maria flopped on the couch and rolled her eyes. “I tried calling Michael about ten times yesterday at the number you gave me, and no one picked up. Just the answering machine. ‘This is Michael. You know the drill. Bye.’ Something you’d totally expect from him.”

Liz shot a look to Max, whose eyes were dancing. She wondered what he was up to.

“He’s probably out,” he answered easily.

“For the entire night? Right.” Maria sighed dejectedly. “So where’s Isabel tonight?”

Liz knew the question has underlying meanings. “She’s taking a nap.”

Before Maria could open her mouth to reply, the doorbell rang. Liz jumped up and walked around the hallway to the door. She opened it and her eyes grew wide when she saw the familiar person. “What are you doing here?” Liz hissed.

“Looking for Maria.” He put a finger to his lips. “I want to surprise her. Don’t tell her I’m here, okay?”

Liz nodded. “Go into the kitchen. I’ll tell her to go there in a sec.”

Biting off a laugh, Liz walked back into the living room.

“Who was that?” Maria asked.

“Umm…a friend.” Liz paused. “Oh, I got this great aroma candles yesterday. You’d love them.”

“Really? Where are they?”

“In the kitchen.”

Maria ran off in search of the candles. Liz and Max shared a look, and then grinned as a loud shriek came from the kitchen.

****

Maria threw her arms around Michael’s neck, laughing and crying at the same time. “Oh my god! Michael! I can’t believe you’re here!”

Michael buried his face in her hair, enjoying the fresh scent.

“You know, I called you so much times yesterday,” Maria said accusingly. “And you weren’t there.”

“Of course not. I was driving to Washington.”

“Well, how did you know I was here?”

Michael smiled. “Max told me that Liz told him that you told her that you wanted to see me. And that completely surprised me, so I decided to drive up here and visit you.” He shrugged. “I was beginning to miss my blond.”

Maria narrowed her eyes. “Your blond? Hon, I hate to tell you this, but I’m not *your* blond.”

****

Michael and Maria were wedged together on the recliner so that she was almost sitting on his lap. Max and Liz were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, careful to avoid any contact.

Isabel hopped down the stairs and ended on the floor was a loud *thump*. “Hi Mommy!” She walked into the living room, mildly surprised to see so many people in the house. “Who’s he?” she asked, pointing to Michael.

Avoiding Michael’s surprised stare and Maria’s narrowed eyes, Liz settled her daughter on the space between her and Max. “That’s Michael. He’s a good friend.”

“Really? Like Uncle Alex.”

Liz nodded.

“Hi, Michael! Can I call you Uncle Michael? This is Aunt Maria, and,” she hugged Max, “This is Max.”

Michael’s eyebrows shot up.

*Interesting how she didn’t call Max ‘uncle’.*

“So what’s your name?”

“Isabel.” She gave a toothy grin.

Liz coughed. “So,” she said brightly, “anybody want something to eat?”

“Do you have any ice cream?” Maria asked. “The mint-Oreo kind?”

Max and Liz’s gazes met. “No,” she stammered.

“You don’t? I always thought you had cartons of it.”

“No. I finished the container yesterday.”

An odd look came over Michael’s face. “Mint-Oreo?” He looked at Max. “Isn’t that the kind you always…” He trailed off. He glanced at Max, then Liz, and finally at Isabel. “Looks like you won’t be an only child for long, Izzy.”

Isabel smiled. “I want a baby brother,” she pronounced loudly.

Liz sprang up. “I’ll go see what I have to eat.” She bolted for the kitchen, with Maria right behind her.

****

Maria turned to Liz, who was rummaging through the cabinets. “Okay, what the hell is going on between you and Max?”

*Oh, nothing. Except for the fact that yesterday night I got ravished on the kitchen counter.*

Liz straightened. “Nothing.”

“Nothing? Then what’s with the whole blushing thing, the ice cream?”

“We just got hungry yesterday night.”

*For each other.*

****

“Oh, you know what? I can’t go with you just yet. I have to send Isabel to Jacob’s birthday party.” Liz smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”

They had decided to spend the day together in downtown Seattle – visit Pike’s Place Market, go shopping at Westlake, catch up on the last few years.

Max stood up. “It’s okay. I’ll send her there.”

“Yeah, but you should probably go sightseeing around Seattle.”

“But I lived here for a while, remember? Besides, I’m supposed to get a fax from my boss. I’ll send Isabel, and then catch up with you guys later.”

Liz frowned. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Go.”

“We’ll meet you at the R.E.I. Center at four, okay?” With a little wave, Liz, Michael, and Maria headed out the door.

****

Max turned to Isabel. “Guess it’s just you and me. So when does the party start?”

“At one o’clock.”

“Well, it’s noon. So we have about have an hour.”

Isabel gave him a mischievous smile. “You have put my hair up.”

Max suppressed a groan, and he scooped Isabel into his arms. They ran upstairs, where he plopped her in front of the bathroom mirror.

Isabel slid open the top drawer and pulled out a comb. “This is mine.”

Max began running the comb through Isabel’s fine, silky hair, trying to remember how his sister put her hair up. “Hey, Izzy?”

“Yes, Max?”

“Would it be okay with you if I asked your mom to marry me?”

Isabel cocked her head. “You mean, so then you’d be my daddy?”

Max nodded. “Yeah.”

Her face bloomed into a smile. “I like that.” After a few minutes Max had put her hair up into a relatively good ponytail, considering it was the first time he’d tried it.

Max knelt down next to Isabel, both of them admiring his work. Isabel grinned, and Max’s heart stopped.

*Mommy says my eyes are like my daddy’s.*

Hazel-brown eyes with flecks of gold. His eyes.

*Jesus.*

It didn’t seem possible, but it had to be.

*She’s mine.*

Isabel turned and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, Max.”

Max hugged her tightly to him. “I love you, too.”

*Isabel’s my daughter.*

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

The next few days were probably the best in all of Liz’s life. Possibly in Liz’s too. Max took them all around Washington – to the aquarium, hiking, boating in Lake Washington, and skiing.

It was Saturday, and Max was set to leave early the next morning. They were at Snoqualmie Falls, enjoying the *rare* cloudless day.

“Oooh,” Isabel gasped, “that’s pretty.” Her mouth formed a little “O” as the pointed to the waterfall.

Max was holding Isabel in his arms so that she could see over the railing dividing the sidewalk from the edge.

An elderly couple walked over to them. “Aren’t you an adorable little girl,” the woman cooed.

Isabel’s eyes grew wide, but sweet as always, she grinned and wrapped her arms tighter around Max’s neck. The woman turned to Liz and Max. “You have a precious daughter.”

The sentence warmed and froze Liz’s heart. If only you knew, she thought silently. She wondered what Max was thinking.

He kept his face perfectly blank.

*Liz, why didn’t you ever tell me?*

A small smile formed on his lips. “Thank you,” Max said calmly.

Surprise flickered over Liz’s face.

“Would you mind taking a picture for us?”

He handed the camera to the elderly man and slipped his arm around Liz’s waist, pulling her to him.

“Say cheese!” The woman sang.

****

Liz sat beside Max on the couch, eating ice cream. She had bought another carton that afternoon.

It was nine o’clock at night, and Isabel was already in bed. They were watching Philadelphia Story, which was airing on the Classics channel.

Max stared at the ice scream. “Does Isabel like mint-Oreo?”

“Yeah. It’s her favorite.”

They fell into silence again. Then Max cleared his throat. “Did Isabel have fun at Jacob’s party?”

Liz grinned. “She had a blast. Got a stomachache from eating too much cake.”

“I put her hair up for the party.”

“Thanks,” she laughed. “I’m surprised Isabel let you. She usually hates wearing her hair up.”

“Afterwards, we were looking in the mirror, admiring my work.”

Liz nodded, unsure of where this was going. Truthfully, she was scared to find out. “I’m sure it was beautiful.”

“We smiled in the mirror at the same time,” Max continued. “And when our eyes met, it was like looking into my own eyes.”

*Oh no.*

“Isabel’s my daughter, isn’t she?”

Liz couldn’t breathe. Max knew. He knew this morning, at the waterfall. That was why he said thanks. Oh god. She couldn’t say anything, so Liz just nodded.

“I first heard that you were pregnant from Alex, when I went to visit him and my sister. The thought occurred to me, that it might be mine, but then Isabel was born in October.”

“She was a few weeks late,” Liz said softly.

“And I figured that since I was with you on Christmas Eve, then she couldn’t be my daughter.”

Liz gave a quiet laugh. “I don’t know if you believe me, but I honestly didn’t know. My period has always been irregular.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“How could I? I wanted to, so much. You have no idea what it meant to me to see you. But you had never gotten married, and I was afraid that…that you’d leave.” Her voice shook. “The day after we made love, Christmas, you weren’t there. I figured it was because you were with your family. And then you left, and I never heard from you again. How did I know you wouldn’t leave me when I told you?”

Max gave a bitter laugh. “I left because you were engaged to Andrew.”

Liz’s head shot up. “Andrew? What?”

“You were engaged to him.”

She shook her head, confused. “No I wasn’t. I was never engaged to Andrew. Where’d you hear that?”

“From Kyle. From your parents. From Maria.”

“Everyone thought we were going to get engaged,” she said slowly. “We were going out when I saw you on Christmas. And later he proposed, but I didn’t accept. I couldn’t. Not after that night.” Liz paused. “And I didn’t know I was pregnant then.”

Max gave her a side-way glance. “Would you? If you had known?”

Liz shook her head. “No. I didn’t love him. And I couldn’t marry anyone I didn’t love.”

“So then why aren’t you married?”

Their gazes met. “Maybe because the only person I’ve ever loved hasn’t proposed to me yet,” Liz whispered.

Max turned away. “Look, I have to leave for Los Angeles tomorrow. I have to think.” He pushed himself off the seat. “Good night, Liz.”

****

Isabel stared at Max with watering eyes. “I don’t want you to leave.”

Max took a deep breath. He didn’t want to leave either, but if he didn’t go right now, seeing Isabel’s sad face, then he wouldn’t be able to think. “I have to, Isabel. But I’ll come visit. And I’ll call.”

Isabel stuck out her lower lip. “But I thought you were going to be my daddy.”

“I will.” Jesus, he couldn’t do this. Max stood up. “I promise. I love you.”

“I love you too, Max.”

Liz walked outside and picked Isabel up. She swallowed a sob as she watched Max climb inside his car. He was leaving. Really leaving. And she couldn’t stop him. All Liz could do was watch the love of her life drive out of her life. Possibly forever.

****

One month later:

Liz sat on the toilet, inside the locked bathroom. Her eyes were locked on the box on the counter. Not that she actually needed to look. She knew. Just like she did five and a half years ago.

“Mommy!” Isabel’s voice came from outside the door.

“What honey?”

“Mail!”

“Put it on the kitchen table, okay? I’ll be right down.”

Liz squeezed her eyes shut, taking deep breaths. Please please please. She opened her eyes to slits.

A plus sign.

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

Liz suppressed a groan and rested her head in her hands. She was thrilled of course, but…

*But how am I going to tell Max?*

She knew she had to tell him. All she had to do was find the right moment, and then find the courage.

Liz dropped the box into the trash can and opened the door, flipping off the light behind her.

“We got mail from Max!” Isabel sang, dancing around the kitchen.

Liz slit open the thick envelope and pulled out a piece of paper wrapped around something. She unfolded it and tears came to her eyes.

Dear Liz and Isabel,

Pictures from Snoqualmie Falls. Hope you like them.

Love,

Max

She handed the pictures to Isabel, who eagerly flipped through them. About halfway through, Isabel pulled on her mother’s sleeve. “Mommy! Look at this picture!”

Liz took the photo and smiled. It was one that the elderly couple had taken of them. Max, Liz, and Isabel. Like a family. But that was just a fantasy.

Liz rummaged through the rest of the mail, and her hand stopped on a cream-colored envelope with elegant calligraphy. “Elizabeth Parker,” she read. Curious, she turned it to the back and gently peeled back the gold sticker.

You are cordially invited
to the wedding of
Isabel Evans
and
Alexander Whitman
on the twentieth day of June,
two thousand eleven

St. Anne Cathedral
1349 Franklin Street
San Francisco, CA 94106

Gasping, a huge smile formed on her face. “Guess what?” she told Isabel, “Alex is getting married!”

“Uncle Alex? To who?”

“Isabel Evans.”

Isabel’s eyes grew wide. “Hey, she has the same name as me!”

Liz laughed. One day she’d have to tell Isabel about her aunt and honorary uncle. But not today. Today she’s have to worry about what would be happening in a month.

*Tell him then.*

****

During the next few weeks, Michael moved in with Maria. They were deleriously happy, and Liz was thrilled for them. She knew Maria wanted to get married, but Michael was still a bit commitment-phobic. At least now they knew where they stood with each other and Liz was sure Michael was come around soon.

Liz also dumped Justin. She tried to do it the best she could, trying not to say out loud that he was one of the most boring people she had ever met. Isabel seemed to be less cheerful after Max left. Maybe Maria was right – knowing your father was an inborn thing. Her daughter stubbornly declared that Max promised he would be back.

Every time Liz saw Michael and Maria together, she felt a twinge of envy. Everyone had thought she and Max would be the first to move in together, first to get married, first to have kids. And they did have Isabel. But only Maria knew that. Liz had sworn her best friend to secrecy, which made her feel like she was back in elementary school with a crush on a boy. But this wasn’t just any crush. And it wasn’t just any boy. This was love.

Not even Maria knew that Liz was pregnant again. She decided she would tell Maria after Max knew.

****

One week later:

It was eight o’clock, Saturday night. Liz closed her eyes gave a sigh as steam and the fragrance of lavender swirled around her. It had been a hectic week. Almost June, which meant finals and grading papers and planning the ceremony for the graduating class.

*ding-dong*

Surprised by the sound of the doorbell, Liz sat up, sloshing water everywhere. She stood up and pulled on her both, irritated that she had been interrupted. She padded down the stairs, her feet making wet footprints on the carpeted steps.

Liz smoothed down her hair and pulled open the door. And then she gasped. “Max!”

Max swept his gaze over Liz, who knew she was blushing furiously. Her hair was a mess and she was wearing a robe. Just a robe.

*Uh-oh.*

He cleared his throat. “Where’s Izzy?”

“At a friend’s sleepover.”

“Did you hear that Isabel and Alex are getting married?”

“Yeah. I got the invitation last week.”

“That’s good.” An awkward silence fell between them. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. You?”

“I’m good.”

Max jammed his hands in his pockets.

*Looks like he still has that habit.*

“Well, Isabel wanted me to ask you if you would be her maid of honor.”

Liz grinned. “I’d love to.”

Max nodded while Liz raised an eyebrow. “You came all the way up here to Washington to ask me that?” she asked, amused.

He looked uncomfortable, as if he wanted to say something. *Tell him, Liz!* her brain screamed at her. *It’s a perfect time.*

Puffing out her cheeks, Liz grabbed Max’s arm and pulled him into the kitchen.

“I have to tell you something,” she said at the same time when Max blurted, “I have to give you something,” shoving a bag into her hand.

Curious, Liz turned the bag over in her hands. Max certainly looked nervous. With a small smile she reached inside the bag and pulled out a beautiful ice sculpture.

The sculpture was made into the shape of a heart, which something inside. She gave a strange look to Max. “What’s in the middle?”

“Ummm… It’s a surprise.”

Liz stood up and walked to the stove, turning on the burner. She placed the sculpture over the fire, and after a few seconds, it began to melt, trickles of water running over the sides. Liz put her hand under the heart, and something dropped into her palm.

Liz slowly opened her fingers and gasped, meeting Max’s gaze. He had moved next to her, and tears sprang into her eyes. “Max.”

It was a gorgeous ring, at least three carats. A marquis-cut diamond was fit into a snug platinum setting. Even in the dark kitchen, the ring was dazzling, catching the moonlight.

Max took the ring and slowly slid it onto Liz’s left hand. It was a perfect fit. She didn’t even try to step the tears that were streaming down her face.

“Now that you’ve melted my heart,” Max said huskily, “Please say you’ll marry me.”

Liz threw her arms around his neck, practically throwing him against the wall. “Oh my god! Yes!” But then she remembered. “Max? I have to tell you something.”

He stared at her with dark eyes. “What?”

“Umm…you know Christmas Eve, we made Isabel.” She gave a nervous laugh. “You never regret that, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“Would you regret it this time?”

“What do you mean?”

Liz took Max’s hand and slid it down to her stomach. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

Max stared at her, stunned. “You’re kidding.”

Liz shook her head.

“Jesus. When?”

“That night in the kitchen.”

“The *ice cream*?”

Liz nodded. “Yeah.”

Max crushed her to him. “God, I love you. So much. For you. For Isabel. For this baby. For everything else you’ve given me.”

“I love you too, Max.”

He gave her a lop-sided grin. “Wanna show me?”

Liz rolled her eyes, wiping them at the same time. “Not in the kitchen. It’s freezing down here.”

With a laugh, Max slid his arms underneath her and swung her into his arms.

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

Epilogue:

It was Valentine’s Day. Max had taken Liz to a wonderful restaurant in Los Angeles, where they had moved a few months before. He surprised her with a brilliant emerald and diamond necklace, one that brought out the warmth and glow of Liz’s eyes.

Max and Liz were married last July in Hawaii, a wedding by the beach. It had been a perfect, cloudless day. A light breeze and the soft crashing of the tide. Isabel had been the flower girl, thrilled that Max had kept his promise and now she had a Daddy.

After a two week honeymoon in Paris – Liz was four months pregnant and her and Max’s parents were taking care of their daughter - they were back in their spacious four room house.

Isabel Claudia Evans was curled in bed, six and still rambunctious as ever. She was a lot like her namesake, but she also was a mixture of Liz and Maria. Isabel was a true Daddy’s girl, and no wonder – he spoiled her rotten.

Jeffrey Ryan Evans was curled up in his crib, sleeping pleasantly. He was an adorable baby, almost exactly like Max. His dark hair, amazing eyes, and charming grin. Liz wondered whom he’d be most like as he grew older. Max, Michael, or Alex.

Max and Liz were dancing on the back balcony, millions of stars glittering above. They hadn’t changed from coming back from the restaurant. Liz was wearing a short, crimson red dress that fit each of her curves perfectly. Max was dressed in a tailored suit. Liz’s mouth watered just looking at him.

“I love you, Max,” she whispered softly.

“I love you, Liz Parker.”

****

Look into my eyes
You will see
What you mean to me.
Search your heart,
Search your soul
And when you find me there,
You’ll search no more.

Don’t tell me it’s not worth trying for.
You can’t tell me it’s not worth dying for.
You know it’s true
Everything I do, I do it for you.

Look into my heart, you will find
There’s nothing left to hide.
So take me as I am,
Take my life.
I would give it all,
I would sacrifice.

Don’t tell me it’s not worth fighting for.
I can’t help it, there’s nothing I want more.
You know it’s true
Everything I do, I do it for you.

There’s no love like your love
And no other could give more love.
There’s nowhere unless you’re there
All the time, all the way.

Don’t tell me it’s not worth trying for.
I can’t help it, there’s nothing I want more.
I would fight for you,
I would life for you,
Walk the wire for you, yeah,
I’d die for you.

You know it’s true
Everything I do, I do it for you.
- Bryan Adams
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You