Parenthood part 3

Michael lunged forward to punch Kyle but was grabbed by Alex and Max.

"You son of a bitch!!!!!" Michael yelled at Kyle who had taken a step back.

"Hey Michael don't blow a fuse I was worried about Liz when Max came in with the twins and I just wanted to see if she was ok."

Max pulled Kyle into the room by the collar, and shut the door. "Whoa Max take it easy, I was just concerned ok."

Max relaxed and let go of Kyle's shirt. "Kyle, Liz is fine she went back to Idaho to help her aunt sell her house." Max sat down on her bed and tried not to cry.

Maria saw his predicament and rescued him. "Kyle we would all really appreciate it if you could leave Liz alone for a while. She has been kinda overwhelmed lately what with giving birth to twins and all. We'll let you know when you guys can talk again but right now she just needs to be with the twins and Max. You know do that whole bonding family thing."

Kyle nodded his head and looked at his feet. "Yeah ok just let me know if she ever needs anything. I'll be there if you guys ever need anything." He turned and walked out of the room and Max collapsed from the pain of not knowing if she was ok or not. Than and Iris started crying and the room was quiet except for the quiet sobbing of a man who had lost control and the sound of two babies who knew where there mother was, but were being ignored.

Eventually Max fell asleep and everyone left him and the twins to rest.

Iris looked around and then punched her brother. //Hey Than Wake up he's asleep.// Iris thought to her brother.

He rubbed his arm and scowled at her. //Did you have to punch me?// Iris smiled sweetly at her brother and nodded yes. Iris crawled out of the crib that had been set up in there mommy's room.

//Mommy sure does smell good. We have to go into his dream and tell him what we are and where mommy is.// Than nodded in agreement and tottered over to the bed. He tried to get up on the bed but found that climbing it wasn't very effective. He sighed and scrunched up his tiny little face and within seconds was floating above his father.

//The beauty of floating. Now daddy open up, and let us in// They softly crawled onto Max's chest and fell asleep.

~Dream Sequence~

Max was walking through a tunnel, a very dark and dreary tunnel. "LIZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His yells echoed through the tunnel, bouncing off the walls and following him.

"Daddy be quiet that hurts my ears!" Max turned around and saw a little girl of four standing behind him.

"Iris?" Max asked surprised.

She nodded and smiled. "Yep daddy, Ethan and I decided to do some dream walking." She pointed to a figure he hadn't noticed and he smiled. Than was quiet like himself, and he looked just like he had at the age of four.

"How are you guys here? Your only babies outside of the dream realm how can you be here?"

Iris smiled and tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder. She looked just like Liz but she acted like Isabelle. "Daddy don't be silly, of course we can dreamwalk. Were special babies in case you haven't noticed. We know lots of stuff you don't know. We know why were all here and we know what happened to grandma and grandpa. But most importantly we know where mommy is."

Max eyes widened and he ran to his little girl. He scooped her and her brother up in his arms and twirled them around in circles. The tunnel suddenly felt less dreary when filled with the sound of two four year olds giggling. Max set them down and smiled at them.

"Well are you gonna tell me what you know?" Iris nodded and yawned. "Mommy and us we have this connection. Those mean men work for a lady with a weird name, I can't say it very well but mommy said that she worked for the FBI and she used to be your goodness counselor or something like that." Max's eyes narrowed as he realized where Liz was.

" Iris, Ethan I'm very proud of you. You probably saved your moms life." He hugged them and noticed how drained they looked. Iris yawned and smiled sleepily at her father.

"We can't tell you any more tonight. But tomorrow night we can tell you more." Iris said trying to keep her eyes open. Max nodded and they disappeared. "Im coming Lizzie." he whispered to no one and then left the tunnel.

The sunlight filtered in and hit his face. He slowly opened his eyes and felt something squirming around on his chest. Iris was sitting up on his chest chewing on her little hand and smiling. Ethan still slept beside his father. Max smiled at her and pulled her up and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hey Iris how is daddy's little princess?" He asked tickling her nose. She gurgled and spit happily as if to say "Perfect as always." Ethan began to move around and Max scooped him up into his unoccupied arms.

"Well you guys I think we need to do a few things before we start the day." Max smelled an odd smell and realized with a laugh what it was. "You two aren't gonna make this easy on me are you? Lets see if we can get your Grandma Parker to help us with your diapers." He said walking downstairs to the Crashdown.

Nancy Parker grinned at Max when she saw him. He was still wearing his clothes from the night before, and the twins were gurgling and pulling on his hair. He grimaced as Iris grabbed a large clump of his hair and pulled on it with all her might. Nancy walked over and unclenched Iris' hand from his head and walked over to a booth. Max smiled at her and sheepishly said

"Umm Nancy would you help me change there diapers, what with Liz in Idaho for the week I kinda don't know how to go about this."

Nancy laughed and smiled a smile so similar to Liz's it made his heart ache. "Its not that hard after the first few times come on I'll show you." She pulled him to the back and within minutes he was a pro. She patted him on the back and said something about needing to pick up an order of alien toothpicks from Amy Deluca.

He dressed the twins as quickly as possible, and an hour later was headed towards his house. He pulled up into the drive way and unloaded the high chairs that he had gotten from Nancy and Amy who had used them for Liz and Maria when they were little. He brought the high chairs and the twins into his kitchen and pulled out the little rubber tipped spoons that Liz had for them and two jars of plum baby food. "Ok kids, this is daddy's first time so try to get most of it in your mouths." He asked them knowing that they understood his every word. Iris shot Ethan a look and Max smiled. They weren't gonna make this easy for him.

Two hours later Michael and Isabelle walked in the backdoor and into the kitchen. Michael started laughing and Isabelle tried to look sympathetic. Max was sitting in front of two high chairs with plum baby food all over himself. "C'mon Iris its plum flavored, I even added some Tabasco sauce so its sweet and spicy. Please sweety just one bite." Max begged the baby sitting in front of him. Isabelle walked over and waved her hand over Max and the plum baby food disappeared from his hair and clothes.

"Max you can't possibly do this alone. You don't have any idea what your doing. You've never even babysat, how do you expect to be able to do this without some experience?" Isabelle asked.

"Yeah Maximilian, she's right maybe Maria could come over and they could help out, you know give you and me some tips on how to take care of them, seeing how when you and Liz go out on dates your gonna need an educated baby sitter." Michael said smiling.

Max smiled at his sis ter and best friend. They were being so supportive of him and Liz. He could remember a time when they didn't want a thing to do with the three humans but now they were both dating them.

Max remembered the dream the night before and snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah right we'll do that later but right now I need you, Isabelle to call Alex and Michael you call Maria. It appears that not only do I need help with these two space aliens but something happened last night that will help us find Liz." Isabelle's eyes widened and Michael grabbed the phone and walked into the other room.

Isabelle watched her brother with his babies and her eyes narrowed. What would happen if they never found Liz? Michael had said when he connected with them that the twins wouldn't survive without there mom. God what would Max do if he lost Liz and the babies? Isabelle watched him trying desperately to convince Ethan that the plums were very tasty, and she smiled sadly, knowing very well that Max wouldn't be able to survive without Liz and the babies. They had to find her no matter what, or else she would lose her almost-sister, her niece and nephew and her brother. Michael interrupted her thoughts just then to tell them that Alex and Maria were on there way. she sighed and walked over to her brother.

"Max do you know about the choo choo train?" Max shook his head and Isabelle smiled. "Here give me the spoon. Now watch carefully, you only take a little bit of baby food and make sure when you put it in his mouth that you don't scrape the roof of her mouth because babies are very sensitive to those things." Isabelle said showing him the right amount of food to feed them at one time. Isabelle smiled at the look of concentration on his and Michael's faces.

"Come on Iris, Here comes the choo choo train, chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo. Open up here it comes." Iris giggled and opened her mouth wide. Isabelle smiled and watched the surprised look on her brothers face when Iris swallowed it and opened her mouth for more. "Here Max you try it and then Michael."

Max took the spoon and put the right amount of baby food on the spoon. He moved the spoon in the up and down motion that Isabelle had done and said "Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo." He smiled triumphantly when Ethan excepted the food without fussing.

"Hey Michael, Its your turn." Max said handing the spoon to his friend who took it apprehensively. "Chugga chugga chugga chugga, Chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo." he said sarcastically positive that they would refuse it from him. Iris opened her mouth and the baby food dissapeared. Michael tried to hide his delight at being able to feed the twins and spooned another mouthful for Ethan.

Maria opened the door to the house and let herself in, she headed towards the kitchen and stopped when she saw Michael. He had removed his leather jacket and his favorite t-shirt and was feeding the twins.

"Ok who wants this next bite? Don't worry Iris, Uncle Michael has enough to go around." Maria giggled and he looked up. "Hey you, how was your day?" Michael said smiling at her.

"My day was hard. Everyone is asking about Liz."

Michael listened to his girlfriend with concern. She would never admit it but she was scared, he could feel the fear radiating off of her and it made his heart wrench. She was scared for Liz, scared for Michael, Isabelle and Max. Scared for the twins. Michael picked up the twins and walked with them into the living room where they had set up a playpen for them. After the twins were safely in the playpen he sat down with Maria on the couch.

"Michael I know its not my fault but I just wish they had taken me. Liz has a family they need her. My mom has Valenti, its not like she would miss me." Maria said not fighting to hide the tears.

` Michael pulled her into his arms and kissed her nose. "Maria your mom would miss you so much. And even if she didn't I couldn't live without you. Its not your fault at all. They took Liz because they suspected Max the most. We need to be strong, Max needs us so much. He probably feels like if he had never dated her she would be at home doing biology homework, like a normal teenager. Besides what will the twins do without there Aunt Maria?" Michael said standing her up in front of the playpen.

Than stood and looked up at Maria, he giggled. Maria smiled and kissed his fuzzy little head.

"You guys we need to talk." Max said who had come in behind them along with Alex and Isabelle Maria frowned at the look on Max's face and sat down next to Michael on the couch. Max cleared his throat and walked over to the playpen. He gently lifted the twins out of the playpen and sat them on the floor. "Yesterday night Iris and Than came into my dreams. They aren't like normal babies there even more talented then we thought they would be. They know where Liz is, they know who took her. And tonight there gonna tell me where she is." Max stopped and looked at his son and daughter who were making fireworks on the rug.

Isabelle stared at him incredulously and looked at the twins in awe. "They look perfectly normal." Max smiled at his sister.

Maria cleared her throat , "Umm so what did they say in the dream? Did they tell you who took her?" I mean did they say if she was ok or if she was hurt?" Maria's bottom lip quivered at her last words and a tear slid down her cheek. Michael hugged her and Isabel looked away her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Max swallowed hard and looked at the ground. "They didn't tell me anything about her except who took her." Max looked down at his babies and smiled sadly. "Max, who took her?" Michael asked quietly. Max squeezed his eyes shut trying to stay in control, when he thought about Liz all alone with Topolsky....Max clenched his hands together.

"Max?" Isabel said stepping closer to him. "Topolsky." he said in a whisper. Michael stood up quickly and started pacing. Maria slumped onto the couch a defeated expression on her face. Max rubbed his hands on his head and sighed in exhaustion.

"Ok so what's the plan?" Michael asked sitting down and leaning forward. Max looked up at his friend and raised his eyebrow.

"The Plan?" Max asked.

"Yeah the plan of action." Michael said rubbing his hands together. Maria looked at him and frowned.

"Michael sweetie were talking about the FBI here. What are five teenagers and two infants compared to the FBI?" Max stared at his girlfriends best friend incredulously. He opened his mouth to say something but he was interrupted.

"Maria we can't just leave her there who knows what they will do to her! I won't let one of my best friends be held captive!" Everyone looked over at Alex who had been standing quietly by Isabel up until then. His face was red and he was shaking with anger. "Who gives a fuck if they're the FBI! That still gives them no right to abduct teenage girls in order to trap someone! Who the hell do they think they are to take a kind caring person with a family just so they can prove that aliens exist! Max, Michael and Isabel are aliens! But that means nothing, they aren't here to take over or to suck out our brains. Why do they have to hurt innocent people to get to innocent aliens?" Isabel wrapped her arms around him and he hugged her tightly, not want anyone to see his tears.

Maria's bottom lip quivered and she quickly ran out of the room, with Michael two steps behind her.

Max ran his fingers through his hair and laid his head back and closed his eyes. He couldn't handle this, he needed to sleep.

~Dream Sequence~

Max opened his eyes and looked into the face of dream Iris who was bending over

him. He sat up and looked around. This time he was in a large field of daisies, rather than the dark tunnel. Iris smiled, "This time we got to pick the setting." Max looked over at his son and smiled. Ethan looked like he wasn't happy with the daisies but like he had been wrestled into it by Iris. Max smiled and thought of all the times Izzy had persuaded him to do things her way.

Max shook his head and scolded himself, he needed to find out about Liz. There would be tons of time to wonder at the similarities between his children and him and his sister after Liz was safe at home with him. Iris smiled at him "Don't worry daddy we'll find her." Max looked up at his daughter and smiled, "Do you know where she is? Is she alright?" Iris looked uncomfortable, "We don't know where she is but she is ok." Max tried not to look let down but Ethan and Iris noticed and looked upset.

"Did we mess up daddy?" Ethan asked his lip quivering.

Max pulled his children into his lap and held them. "No you helped so much. You both did something that none of the adults could do, and I love you very much." Max hugged the small bodies to him.

Iris pulled back suddenly and grabbed Ethan "I can feel her, do you feel her?"

Ethan nodded and looked at his father. Iris gave Ethan a look and they both reached out and touched Max's shoulder. A wave of images rushed through his mind and he cried out. *Flash* Liz being poked and prodded by scientists,*Flash* Liz being interrogated endlessly by a crazed Topolsky. *Flash* Liz bravely enduring the torture, feeling in her heart that he would rescue her. *Flash* Liz refusing to tell Topolsky anything about Isabel, Michael and him.

Max pulled back, breaking the connection and curled himself into a ball. Iris and Ethan frowned and looked at their father. Iris patted him on the shoulder before grabbing Ethan's hand and walking away, out of the dream realm.

Max heard the twins leaving but he couldn't bring himself to look at them. Everything was a reminder of Liz and right now he couldn't be distracted. Not when the woman he loved was in danger.

"Max????????"

Max sat up and looked around. That was Liz's voice, but how?

"Liz? Lizzie? Is that you???" he called frantically.

A figure emerged from the dream mist and Max ran towards her. He pulled Liz's worn body to his and he held her, kissing every inch of her.

"Oh god Lizzie. Baby I missed you so much." Max whispered kissing her ear.

Liz laughed tiredly and tried to look as happy as she felt.

Max pulled back and looked her up and down. She was wearing a green hospital gown made of paper and she had paper slippers on. There were bruises on her arms and legs and she had several cuts on her face. Max clenched his fist when he saw the trail of dried blood trailing from under the gown to her knee.

"Why did she take you? How are you here? Do you know where you are?" Max asked each question gently as if he was speaking to Iris or Ethan .

Liz looked down at her slippered feet and tried to control her voice, "I'm in an abandoned army base, some near Marathon, Texas."

Max watched her shoulders shake and he pulled her to him, "Shhhh....It's gonna be alright, we're gonna get you out of this."

Liz shook uncontrollably and started to cry, "Oh god Max what if...what if you can't find me. I'm so scared Max and I miss you and the babies more than anything. I want to go home...I just want to go home."

Max swallowed and kissed her forehead. "We will find you and the babies are fine. Isabel and Maria are taking care of them and Alex and Michael are learning to feed them and change their diapers so that once we get you out of the base, we can go out without worrying about them. We're gonna get you home, I promise."

Liz's sobs quieted and she smiled weakly at Max. She snuggled into his chest and he rocked her back and forth. Max closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. Nothing calmed him more than the scent of her hair and her skin.

Liz jerked back suddenly and Max's eyes snapped open. Liz began to sob hysterically, "Max help she's coming! Please help! You can't let her take me!!!!" Liz screamed frantically. Max wrapped his arms around her tightly and held her as she whimpered. Max's hold on her lessened as she slowly disappeared back to the real world.

Max opened his eyes and found Isabelle and Maria shaking him.  Max looked at the tears tracks on Maria and Isabelle's faces and knew something was wrong. "What? What's wrong?"

Isabelle choked on a sob and looked away. "Ethan's sick."

Max swallowed hard and tried to stay calm. "How sick?"

Isabelle pointed to the other couch and Max saw his son withering around in spasms, and Iris sat next to him crying hysterically.

"Oh my god!!!!!!!! Ethan!!!!!!!" Max screamed.

To Be Continued.......