Enduring love. M/T Teen Friendship. Maybe more.

[Ti88]

Tracie Step out of your comfort zone challenge.

Author: Roselle

Email: roswellgoddess2001@yahoo.com

Title: Enduring love.

Rating: Teen

Spoiler: Up to EOTW

Summary: Tess and Max on that bench in EOTW. What was going through their minds? This is an epi tag.

Paring: M/T

Disclaimer: Roswell does not belong to me.

Tess sat on the bench next to Max. She did not know what happened, but she knew it had something to do with Liz. It always had something to do with Liz. She sighed and thought back to a different time.

“Good morning Ava. You look lovely this morning.” Ava turned and looked at her husband. She knew what people said. But it didn’t matter to her. She didn’t know for sure if Zan was madly in love with her. She did know that she was madly in love him. More importantly she knew he saw her as a friend and cared deeply for her. If he didn’t he never would have agreed to the marriage. She knew he would honor her, stand by her, and protect her. In many ways that was more love that she had ever known. Vilandra had asked how that could be enough? Lonnie wanted that big love and felt Ava should want it too. Ava remembered laughing at Lonnie.

Max felt the warm hand in his. It was strong and sure. He glanced at Tess. She looked to be somewhere else. No matter what had happened in the past since she had shown up, he knew at this exact moment she was genuine. For a moment he though he had gotten a flash from her of their past life, but it went. A shutter went down. The day had been too weird for him. Seeing Kyle and Liz in bed together. Max glanced at the hand in his. He did not how he knew, but he knew Tess if given a chance would never do that to him. Their life back on their planet must have been special. Tess had some of those memories and wanted that life back.

Tess felt Max’s eyes on hers and she wandered what he was thinking. She wanted to share that memory with him. It was the last time she saw her husband alive. But she did not want to answer the questions. This Zan was a lot like Lonnie, with the questions. She loved him through time, space, and rebirth. She would not tell him of Khivar or Lonnie. Max may not love or even like her very much but she loved him. She had no intention of hurting him ever.

He could not believe it. He thought he only shared a connection with Michael and Isabel, and now Liz. But he could feel Tess trying to soothe him. It was a gentle reassurance. No demands. No nothing. Just a reassurance. He did not know what happened in that room. Or why it happened. Maybe it was time he listened to someone other than him self and took a step back. “Tess.”

“Yes Max?”

“Um, I just wanted to say thanks. And I was wandering if you wanted to grab some dinner tomorrow. Nothing fancy. Just two friends hanging out. I need…I need a friend. I can’t take any judgments, questions, anything. Are you interested?”

Tess looked at him. Could she do it? Be his friend truly? “Yes Max. I have nothing to do after school tomorrow. Pick a place. We’ll eat and talk and be high school students.” Yes she could. Like she told Lonnie, Sometimes the big love comes in a quiet package. It doesn’t need fanfare to make it special. It grows with us. It stays with us. It transcends all things. And Lonnie had laughed at her then.

Max released the breath he was holding. “Good Tess. Come on I’ll walk you home.” Max released Tess’ hand. He did not know what next week would bring for him and Liz. If there would ever be a him and Liz again. And he knew after tomorrow him and Tess would be official friends. That would bring problems of its own. It doesn’t matter. I will not be mean to her anymore. I may not be her husband in this life, but I don’t see her putting up with someone who has been treating her the way I’ve and everyone else has been doing since she got here.

Max and Tess walked away from the bench. Neither knew where the steps they were embarking on would take them.

[majiklmoon]

now Roselle, don't you DARE go making me like Tess - great job sweetie

[Island Breeze]

Nice story, Roselle! If Max had gone with Tess, I think it might have started kind of like this!

[Pooh]

Great job, nice take on what could happened

[LMiC2001]

Great Job at writing a missing scene that really could have been enough to launch at least just a friendship and make FM disappear *sob*.

[roswellkitkat]

Yes...this was the missing scene we all needed!!!! To think what could have been!!

[Duchess67]

That's not an insight I would have expected, seeing into their past lives for that little snippet. Looking at it that way, how HARD this world must have been for Tess! Now I feel sorry for her and to do that to me you have to be good. Excellent little ep filler! *vbg*

[Ti88]

thanks for the compliments. does my little fic heart good to hear. i see i have some converts to the merry land of tessdom...welcome.