Glad you guys are liking this. I had the entire thing posted before the huge hack at the ezboards, but apparently they lost everything.
Here's the next part.
Liz’s brown eyes were glassy, she bit her lower lip. Max gazed at her, his face a mass of emotion.
“Liz, what’s wrong?” Maria moved to her friends’ side.
“It’s me…” She whispered.
“What about you?” Maria put her arm around Liz’s shoulders.
“The girl…the girl Kivar kept asking you about. Max, he was talking about me!” Liz struggled to keep her tears at bay.
Max shook his head vehemently. “No! There is no way he was talking about you, Liz. He doesn’t even know who you are.”
“No, he does. Max…he must. Tess …she must have told him.”
“Liz, listen to me. Even if Kivar does know about you, you’re just a human to him. He was only ever interested in me and the rest of the Royal four. As far as humans were concerned, I don’t think he could have cared less.” Max looked for any explanation that would calm her fear. Liz still looked stricken.
“Max is right. If humans mattered anything to Kivar, he would have asked about Maria and Kyle too, especially since you and Kyle have developed powers. It really makes no sense that he would torture Max for information about you. It’s like Max said, we’re just trophies of war to him, nothing more.” Micheal’s words seemed to hit home a little, Liz wiped her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been so scared…for you. I was terrified I’d never see you again. And when I found out about the baby, I’ve been scared about that too, that someone would find out and come after us.” She paused and tried to manage a weak smile. “Being emotional comes with the pregnancy territory you know.”
Max smiled then, moving closer to Liz. She managed a laugh as she looked from the face of Maria on her left and Max on her right. “I’m being ridiculous, here I am getting upset and being comforted, when you’re the one who’s been missing for months.”
“Liz, we understand.” Maria grinned. “How about some hot chocolate, would that cheer you up?”
The baby kicked, and Liz had to laugh, hot chocolate had been a big pregnancy craving of hers, and everyone knew it. Even Micheal kept some in his cupboard for when she came over.
“Yeah,” Liz rubbed the spot where the baby had kicked. “I think he wants it more than me.”
Max looked intently at Liz for a moment. “He?”
“Umm, well I think it’s a he. I get the feeling.” She looked sheepish. “I didn’t’ want to say anything about it in case I was wrong.”
Maria got up and went into Micheal’s kitchen. The atmosphere lightened for a few moments, as Kyle made a few jokes about Liz’s silly cravings over the last few months, and Isabel filled Max in on the situation with their parents.
“You’ll have to come over in the morning. I managed to convince Mom that you were okay. But she’s been pretty upset, and Dad started clipping out any weird articles in the newspaper and examining them, to see if there was any significance between your disappearance and any of the other weird things that happen in Roswell. They’ll both be so happy to see you home and safe.”
“I’m anxious to see them too.” Max paused. “Do they know about Liz?”
Isabel nodded. “We had to tell them when Liz started showing. They were shocked at first. But Liz came over and had a talk with Mom, assuring her that she wouldn’t miss out on being a grandmother to this baby.” Isabel chucked a little. “Mom even redecorated the guest room so the baby will have a place to sleep when it comes over. I think she’s been using the baby as an excuse to be happy about something, since you’ve been gone.”
Liz smiled. She remembered the look on Dianne Evans face when she had spoken to her about the baby. Diane had smiled for what had looked like the first time in weeks. Phillip had been more concerned, and she didn’t blame him after what had happened with Tess and Zan.
Isabel yawned. “Are you staying here with Micheal tonight?”
Max nodded. “I’ll come over in the morning, better than waking Mom and Dad up now. Plus getting a few hours of sleep doesn’t sound like a bad idea right now.” Max suddenly realized how tired he was. It had been days since he had gotten any good sleep, and months since he had slept in a bed.
Jim and Kyle seemed to take that as a hint. Jim stood. “Well, we should head home then. No sense on making this an all nighter. You need your rest Max.” Jim strode forward to pat Max’s shoulder in a fatherly gesture. “We’ll see you soon.”
Kyle followed suit. “It’s good to have you back, fearless leader.” He grinned and reached out to shake Max’s hand.
“Thanks again Kyle.”
Kyle nodded, knowing what Max meant. “We’ll let you sleep. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
“Count on it.” Max smiled, seeing finally what looked like a good friend in Kyle Valenti.
Isabel stood also. “I guess I’ll go home too, I mean I don’t want to leave. But I don’t really feel like sleeping on the floor either.” She looked at Max, as if asking permission to go. Max smiled at his sister.
“No worries, Iz.”
She came forward to embrace him again. “Bye Max.”
“Not bye this time, see you tomorrow.”
Isabel gave him a genuine smile that warmed Max’s heart, then followed Jim and Kyle out the door.
Micheal, who had mostly been quiet since Max’s speech, spoke up again. “Liz, do you want to stay the night?”
She nodded, there was no way she wanted Max out of her sight just yet.
Micheal smiled knowingly, and cast a glance into the kitchen. He understood how she felt, as he watched Maria re enter the room, balancing mugs of hot chocolate. For a long time he had envied Liz and Max, envied the connection they shared. But this past year he had rediscovered his love for Maria, he had become more of the person he wanted to be, and that had only been possible with Maria in his life. He had kicked himself for not realizing it sooner, and vowed to spend the rest of his life making it up to her.
“You gonna stay too?” He asked Maria, who had handed him a steaming mug. She grinned at him. “You want me to, Space boy?”
Micheal didn’t answer, instead giving her a tender look that said it all.
“Okay, I’ll stay.”
“You two can have the sofa bed, I’ll get the extra blankets.”
Max looked amused. “Since when do you have a hidabed? And keep extra blankets on hand?”
Micheal looked embarrassed, and jerked thumb at Maria.
“Mom bought a new couch and I convinced her to donate the old one to Micheal.” Maria laughed.
Micheal left the room to get the blankets.
Maria leaned over toward Max. “I’m determined to turn him into a normal guy, instead of the crazy loner checoslavakian we used to know.” Maria paused. “Plus it was invaluable when Liz had morning sickness and slept here a lot to avoid her parents seeing her.”
“Maria!” Liz blushed. “I didn’t’ think the right way to break it to my parents was for them to see me throwing up.”
“Do they know now?” Max asked.
Liz smiled. “Yes, they’ve known for awhile, it’s hard to miss now. I broke the news when I started showing.”
Maria rose, and walked down the hall to find Micheal.
“I’m glad you had them to help you.” Max said.
“They’ve been great, everyone has been wonderful. Micheal is a bit paranoid but I’ve managed to ignore that for the most part. Paranoia just seems to be a prominent element of his personality.”
Max laughed. “More than you know.”
Liz sipped her hot chocolate, pondering everything she had heard. Images from her dreams swam through her brain. She wondered if any of them were tied to what Max had been going through on Antar. She’d had a vision of a tall man with graying dark hair and kind eyes, could this have been Larek? She’d also had visions of a great fire burning down a city the likes of which she’d never seen. She wondered if these images were her imagination or a vision of Antar’s past or future. Liz shook her head, they couldn’t be true. If they were that would mean that some of the people she’d seen in her dreams were alive, and these were people that she had seen die.
“What are you thinking about?” Max asked.
“Just a dream I had.” Liz tried to shake the worry from her mind. But she couldn’t fully put away the feeling that they were all sitting in the calm eye of a great storm.
“You’re a bad liar.” Max said softly, taking the mug away from her and setting it on the coffee table.
“I’ll tell you later, it’s nothing important at the moment.” Liz touched his arm, feeling his warm skin. She wanted more than anything to touch him all over, to hold him against her and never let go.
“I want that too.” Max murmured, as if he’d heard her thoughts. He leaned toward Liz and kissed her gently. His hands came up to twine in her hair. Liz let out a small moan. She’d had missed this so much.
She whispered his name against his lips. Max pulled back to gaze into her eyes, there was so much he wanted to tell her, things that couldn’t be expressed in words. He put a hand on her protruding abdomen, rubbing gently.
“A baby…” He said softly, his eyes a mass of emotion. “I dreamt of this, I never knew it would come true so soon.”
“I know, me neither.”
“I would have liked to have married you first.” Max said, his smile fading a little.
“Oh well, we can do that later on after he’s born. I don’t care about the order anymore Max, as long as you’re safe.”
“Liz, you know I love you.”
“Yes.”
“I want you to know something.”
Liz gazed at him expectantly.
“This child will be in danger from the moment he or she is born.” Liz’s eyes fell, but Max continued “But nothing is taking this child away from us, nothing. I swear to you. I’m never letting anything come between us again.”
Liz felt her tears welling up for what seemed like the umpteenth time that evening. She brushed them away quickly. “Max, please I’ve got enough trouble with these pregnancy hormones without you making me cry.” She laughed.
Micheal and Maria re-entered the room, carrying blankets, and a pillow. Liz rose so Max could help Micheal pull out the bed. Maria looked questioningly at Liz’s watery eyes.
“Max, please don’t tell me you’re tormenting the woman carrying your child.” She teased, tossing her blond curls over her shoulder.
“No, they’re happy tears, I swear.” Liz laughed.
******************************************************************
Liz awoke the next morning to the most content feeling she’d had in a long time. Max was still asleep beside her, looking like an angel. Liz stared at the sunlight dancing over his handsome face, and was overcome with a rush of feeling. She loved him, completely. Not wanting to wake him, she slipped out of bed quietly and into the kitchen. Maria was already seated at the table sipping her coffee. Liz chuckled at her pajamas, which were printed all over with tap dancing elephants.
“Nice threads.” She giggled, retrieving a carton of orange juice from the fridgerator.
“Hey, these are comfy okay? Isn’t that the only requirement for PJs?” Maria laughed, but quickly stifled it. “Is Max still sleeping?”
Liz nodded, pouring herself a glass and sitting beside Maria.
“Have you told him yet?’ Maria asked quietly, her eyes serious.
“No.”
“You are going to tell him, right?” Maria set down her mug.
“Yes, but not until he’s been home for a little while. He’s been through so much, Maria. I can’t burden him with all this stuff in my head, we don’t even know if the dreams mean anything.”
“We don’t know that they don’t mean anything either, Liz. And if you want to know my opinion, your visions haven’t been wrong yet.” Maria leaned over and squeezed Liz’s hand.
“I know. Maybe I’m being silly, trying to ignore all those dreams. But I can’t dump this on Max, not just yet. When he was his strength back, and has settled back into being home.”
“Maybe after the baby is born?” Maria finished, catching what Liz didn’t say.
“Yes. I have had a theory that I may just be paranoid because of all the hormones jumping around in my system. Maybe they’ll stop after he’s born.”
Maria’s eyes lit up again. “You’re sure it’s a boy now aren’t you?”
“Not positive, but that’s the feeling I’m getting. It’s gets stronger all the time.” Liz sipped her juice again.
“You’re due soon, right? In three weeks?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a good thing Max came home, isn’t it? We wouldn’t want him to miss out.”
Maria smiled.
“Miss out on what?” Max’s voice came from the doorway. Both girls turned to look at him, Liz blushed.
“On becoming a Daddy.” Maria said, playfully.
“No, I wouldn’t want to miss that.” Max grinned.
An hour or so later Max, Liz, Maria, and Micheal all walked through the doors of the Crashdown Café. Some of the morning customers watched them as they chose a table and sat down. Liz excused herself and walked into the back to find her parents. A few moments later, Kyle and Isabel joined them.
Max looked around at the restaurant. Even though little had changed, Max felt as though he’d been away for years. The sheer normalcy of the place comforted him greatly.
The smell of pancakes and bacon made him realize just how hungry he was. He chatted with Isabel for a few moments, his eyes flicking now and then towards the door Liz had gone through.
“Mom, Dad?” Liz called up the stairs. Her parents’ faces appeared instantly.
“Lizzie?” Her dad looked concerned, as always.
“Could you come down here a moment? I have something to tell you.”
Jeff and Nancy walked down the stairs, Jeff watching his daughters face for any sign of pain or panic. “You’re not…”
“No, I’m not in labor.” Liz rolled her eyes, with a smile.
“Then what is it?” Nancy asked.
“Max is home.”
Both Jeff and Nancy’s eyes widened. Jeff looked as if he didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved.
“Where has he been? I hope there is a good explanation for him disappearing and leaving you to deal with all of this on your own.” Jeff put his hands on his hips.
“Dad, he’s been through a lot of bad things. And I’ve told you, I didn’t even find out about the baby until he was already gone. Don’t you remember?”
“Yes, but still…”
Liz interrupted him. “No, Dad. I don’t want you out there interrogating him. He’s been through enough. He knows about the baby now and he wants to do everything he can to help. It’s good that he’s home. ”
“But Liz, I still think I should,”
“Jeff. I think Liz is right. I trust her.” Nancy smiled at her daughter, almost as if to say that she need not worry about Jeff misbehaving.
“Thanks Mom.”
“Lizzie, you know that we both are proud of you for taking care of all this on your own. I just….I just don’t want to see you hurt, if he goes away again.” Jeff’s eyes were soft as he looked at her. Liz knew he was remembering the nights she’d cried after Max’s initial disappearance, before she knew that he’d been taken against his will.
“I’m okay Dad. He’s not going anywhere. He promised.”
“And you believe him?”
“Yes, Dad. I do.”
Jeff paused. “All right then, I’ll be civil. But if he even looks like he’s skipping town again, I want full permission to tie him to a chair. Agreed?”
Liz had to laugh. “Agreed.”
Liz walked back out front, and sat down in the empty chair beside Max, who looked at her curiously.
“Just had to warn my parents about you.”
Max looked worried, and glanced toward the back door as if he expected Jeff Parker to come out with a shotgun.
Liz placed her hand over his. “They’re fine about it, don’t worry.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive. Dad said his only condition, is that you not leave town again.”
Max relaxed a little. “I think I can deal with that.”
“If you two are done whispering, can we order please?” Kyle interrupted.
********************************
Most of that first day passed in a blur. Max spent most of the afternoon with his parents, Isabel, and Liz. It had taken Diane Evans, a full five minutes of hugs and crying before she calmed down enough to sit and hear Max’s story told. Phillip Evans waffled between worry and happiness, listening intently as Max talked about the time he’d spent in an Antarian prison.
Diane showed Max the room she had decorated for when Liz brought the baby over. She had repainted the guest room a soft blue and bought a small crib which now sat in one corner, opposite the guest bed. There were also some stuffed animals and toys scattered about the room, as well as some shopping bags from Baby Gap. Max had to laugh, if there was one thing that Isabel and Diane Evans had in common, it was shopping and planning, and this room was clearly the end result of both obsessions.
No sooner had those words come out of his mouth than Diane insisted that Max let her and Isabel go buy him some new clothes.
“We can’t have you borrowing Michael’s clothes forever.” Diane teased.
Isabel looked excited at the prospect of a shopping trip, but she hesitated.
“Mom, it’ll have to be semi-quick this time, I’m meeting someone this afternoon.”
All eyes, except Liz’s, turned to Isabel, who squirmed under the scrutiny.
“Who are you meeting dear?” Phillip asked.
“Just a friend.” But Isabel’s small smile said that she hoped whoever it was would be more than that.
Max tried to resist the urge to be overprotective of his sister, like he used to. He remembered the days when he felt he had to scrutinize everyone he, Isabel, and Michael interacted with. But at the moment, he didn’t feel like picking a fight with Isabel on his first day back. He also suspected, from her calm exterior, that he would be able to ask Liz what this was all about.
“All right, have your little secret, honey. Just don’t be out to late, okay?” Diane smiled at her daughter, happy to finally have both her children home again.
Back at the Crashdown, Michael and Maria reluctantly worked their midday shift. Maria had thought to ask Jeff for the day off, due to Max’s homecoming. But the rush of the lunch crowd was unreasonably large and she knew that Jeff needed them both to stay. Michael had since taken his job back at the Crashdown, as a cook, and had almost started to like the position. Maria had laughed over the day when he had talked Jeff into a new entre he’d created; the Zarthon Burger. Michael had found that he almost enjoyed cooking, once he had gotten the hang of it. But he refused to admit it in the presence of anyone but Maria.
Maria lounged in the kitchen, fixing her ponytail, and taking a small break from her waitress duties.
“So talk Space boy.”
“About what?” Michael glanced at her as he flipped the burgers on the grill.
‘About the fact that Max is home, and I know you’re in turmoil about it.” Maria crouched to re-tie the laces of her sneakers.
“I’m happy Max is home.”
“But?”
“I can’t help wondering,”
Maria moved closer to his side. “Wondering what?”
“If this means things are going to get bad now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. Max said Kivar was holding him prisoner? It seems to me, that it will only be a matter of time before Kivar realizes Max wasn’t really dead. Then what if he comes here hunting him again? Or looking for Tess, or whoever that ‘girl’ he kept asking Max about is.” Michael chewed his lip, trying not to look too worried.
“Michael,” Maria said gently, reaching her hand up to touch the back of his neck. “It’s Liz, isn’t it? You think Kivar was talking about Liz?”
“Yeah, All right that is what I think.. She is carrying Max’s baby, the heir to this throne or whatever. And last night she said she thinks the baby is a boy, that’s even worse. Kivar might see it as a threat or something. It makes sense, despite what we told Liz last night”
“Liz knows Michael, she’s suspected that too.”
Michael looked surprised.
“How?”
“She said she’s been having weird dreams about things like that. You’d have to ask her for the details, I don’t think she understands it herself yet.”
“Has she told Max about this yet?”
“No, and do you blame her?”
“Why?”
“Same reason you and I used to fight so much.”
“She’s scared, scared of losing him again.”
“You were scared?”
“Scared of loving you as much as I did.” Maria gave him a flirtacious smile.
“Did?” Michael grinned.
“Do! Yes, I love you Michael Guerin! You know that.” Maria giggled as Michael grabbed her around her waist, pulling her close for a scorching kiss.
“Hey! Guerin, Deluca! We do have customers you know!” Jeff Parker stood in the doorway of the kitchen, hands on his hips.
“Sorry, later Space Boy.” Maria disentangled herself from Michael’s embrace and scurried back out onto the floor.
Jeff gave Michael a stern look before exiting the kitchen, but Michael could hear him laughing as he walked back up the stairs.
Max did not get a chance to be alone with Liz again until Isabel and Diane left to go to the mall. Phillip decided that he needed to make a brief appearance at work before his office closed for the day. Max smiled as he watched his dad drive away, glad to be home, but also glad to be left alone with Liz.
Max sat beside Liz on the couch and let her lean her head on his shoulder. This felt so right, more right than anything ever had. She was all he needed.
“So, tell me about all this.” Max touched her tummy with a smile.
“I found out about two weeks after you disappeared.” Liz began, “you can imagine how freaked I was. You had been missing for days and almost all of our time had been spent looking for you. Max we combed the desert, the ruins of the pod chamber, we even tried to contact Langley, but he had changed addresses and aliases again. Everything kept leading to dead ends, I figured the fatigue and other symptoms were because I was so stressed out.”
Liz paused a moment, watching his dark eyes. “I stressed out for days about it, I used to sit out on my balcony and try to think this message to you. Try to tell you somehow about it, I didn't feel right about telling everybody else before you knew, but finally I had to. I told Maria first, then Michael, because I needed someplace to stay in the mornings when I started getting sick. Eventually I told my parents and yours, and Isabel. When I started showing, it was too late to try and lie about it. Anyway everybody would have known the truth anyway, there was never anyone for me but you."
"And you know it's a boy?" Max asked, smiling.
"I’ve definitely had that feeling, I don't know for sure."
"Well, allow me to solidify it for you."
"What do you mean?"
"When you were healing me...you and Kyle...I got flashes one of them was of the baby."
Liz's eyes brightened. "You saw the baby? Is it okay?"
"He's fine, and you're right, he is a boy." Max's eyes watered. "He's perfect Liz, absolutely perfect." The tears spilled over his cheeks, and Max found himself crying into Liz's shoulder. All the pain, hurt, misery he'd kept bottled up over the months finally poured out of him. Liz held him gently, stroking his hair and murmuring comforting words.
"It's okay, I love you. Max, everything will be fine as long as we're together."
Max straightened up after a few moments and ground the tears from his eyes. He stared into her face, memorizing her features, tracing them by heart. He knew what he needed to.
Liz watched as Max moved to kneel in front of her. Her breath caught in her throat.
"Liz Parker, there is something I've wanted to ask you for a long time. You know I love you, I've loved you since we were children, and the day I healed you I knew. I knew that I would never love anyone else but you. I never did, I know I hurt you when I tried to follow my destiny with Tess, but there is a reason that didn't work. I never could feel anything for her, my heart has always belonged to you. And coming home, finding you pregnant with my child...I've never been more sure of anything than what I'm about to say."
Max paused. "Liz Parker, be my wife. Let me love you for the rest of our lives and me be a father to my child."
Liz was crying too now. "Max, yes! Of course yes! Yes! Yes!" She laughed through her tears, leaning forward to hug him. Max stood and hugged her gently, his sorrow leaving him completely.
"I don't have a ring to give you yet, but I'll get one."
"I don't care about that, I'd marry you in city hall if you wanted." She laughed.
"No, I want a real wedding for us. One where I can watch you walk down the aisle in a beautiful dress, where I can have Michael as my best man, and Maria as your maid of honor. I want everyone to see how much I love you, if they can't already."
"Of course! Of course! I love you Max!" Liz laughed, but it was replaced with gasp. Max released her and looked alarmed. Liz looked down at her feet, her expression one of shock.
"Liz! What is it?!"
"My water just broke!"
Interesting that Max was able to convince them that only he had any real powers... and then that he was dead. 8) And I really liked the passage where Liz finds Max...
:D
And he proposed! :D That was very sweet. And this was, too:
Poor Tess! I hope she gets away! Knowing Tess, she will. 
Good idea. Great part! 
the idea of Tess being in the white room. It's a great twist that I've never seen before
So did these images come from the baby somehow? I'm assuming they did, because Max is unaware still of what Tess really did. 