Part 35 ******************** After hours of crying and holding one another, both Max and Liz fell into an exhausted sleep. Sleep would’ve have been difficult had they been on their own, but being in each other’s arms held a healing quality that only they could provide each other. Max had been the first to wake up, finding it a little more difficult to find solace in a dream world, when his current one was a mass of misunderstandings and heartache. How he wished to fall asleep and forget, but his conscious wouldn’t let him. Deep in his heart, he felt a gnawing guilt that was eating at him alive. He had failed the one person he had promised to keep safe above all else. His hand drifted to Liz’s back, watching as her body hummed in sleep, her back rising and falling to the beat of her breaths as she slept on her stomach. In the dim moonlight, she looked angelic as ever. But even so, he could still see the faint tear tracks on her cheeks, the slight flush creeping all the way down to her chest. He hated her tears. He hated seeing the moisture build up in her eyes, the way her nose would crinkle slightly, the way her bottom lip would tremble, her teeth eventually biting down to keep herself from crying. He had always thought that typical of her, not wanting anyone to see her cry. That’s why it was even more gut wrenching for him. He knew that she always tried to put on a brave front, especially for him. So when her tears finally fall, it wasn’t only her that was crying. He was crying too. All the pain she felt, he felt ten-fold. Tonight was no different. He knew that he had hurt her. The words that had flown out of his mouth, the questions he knew were unfounded had all but sliced through her heart. He knew that it was ridiculous for him to think that Liz felt any differently than how she acted, but Josh had known his sore spot. He knew he wasn’t perfect. Heck, he was far from it. He was a mere mortal that had been blessed more times than he could count. But sometimes he had to wonder why. He always wondered how much Liz could love him. He knew he wasn’t worthy, but someone blatantly pointing out the obvious only served to ignite his insecurities to a new level. Liz was his life, and regardless of how unworthy he felt, he knew that he couldn’t live without her either. Without her, he would be nothing. Everything he did, he did for her. He had been on a murderous rage, wanting to make Josh pay. Liz had been defenseless against him, so Max was going to treat him to someone his own size. The anger that he felt, left him teetering on the edge. There was no question about what he had planned on doing. If Noah hadn’t had called him when he did, Max was pretty sure that he would have killed Josh. And that scared him. He was so blind when it came to everything else. He had come home only because Liz needed him. That was the only thing that had saved Josh Harper’s life. He had called the sheriff, telling him of Josh’s whereabouts, watching from his car as they took the bastard away. Liz shifted, snuggling closer to Max’s body. She sought his warmth, his comfort, his strength, and most of all, the safety that his arms provided. Her lips let out an audible sigh, finally curling into a content smile as nuzzled her nose against his neck, her face fitting against the crook of his neck as if it were made just for her. Max’s heart constricted in his chest, his fingers tangling in her hair as he breathed her in. “I love you so much, Liz.” His face buried in her hair, his body wracked with sobs as he heard her sleep filled voice float into his ears. “Love you....” Even in sleep, it was without a doubt that she loved him just as much as he loved her. **************** Michael held Maria’s hand tightly, basking in all of the support she provided. He looked down into her adoring eyes, breathing deeply. He turned to Joey, his mouth finding it difficult to make words. But he persisted, not wanting to waste another minute. “I know I’m probably the last person you want to see. I was the biggest jerk, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I was an ass when all you did was tell me the truth, and for that, I’m truly sorry.” Joey wrung her hands, the tears already pooling. She opened her mouth to stop him from going on, but he stopped her with his hand in the air. “Just let me finish, and afterwards, you can feel free to throw me out on my ass.” He watched her bob her head uncertainly. “I can’t take back the way I reacted, but I can make a difference now....that is, if you’ll let me. I want to be a part of your life....and Jamie’s.” Unable to let her guard down just yet, Joey let her skepticism bubble forth. “Why now?” Michael shook his head, stepping a foot away from her. “I know what it’s like not knowing who your family is, and watching everyone else with theirs. As much as people take you into their homes, and love you as their own, it’s never quite the same. In the time that you and Jamie have stepped into our lives, I’ve been a whole new person. I’ve always wanted to have a family of my own, and now that it’s here I don’t want to lose it. I was so stupid before; self-centered. I forgot that I wasn’t the only one who had to deal with all of this pain. You’ve been dealing with this your whole life, and I can’t imagine how you’ve gone on without completely losing it.” He pointed to himself. “Me? I know for a few days and I completely flip out.” “It was a lot to take in, and I’m afraid I just dropped it on you like a bomb. That wasn‘t fair of me.” He stepped even closer. “We both could’ve handled this another way, but we can’t change the past. We can only change how our future is going to turn out.” His eyebrow twitched as he offered her his hand. “Do you think you can give me a second chance, and let me be your son? Be Jamie’s brother?” Instead of taking his hand, Joey pulled Michael into her arms, letting her tears spill forth as she let her love for him pour through their embrace. “I’m so sorry, Michael.” His arms came around her, his voice softening to a whisper as he choked on his tears. “No more apologies.” She pulled back, smiling despite the tears trailing down her face. “No more apologies.” Maria watched silently in the background, her heart bursting at the sight in front of her. Michael had finally found his family, and she couldn’t be more happy for him. There was no one more deserving than him.