Part 25

"Megan?" Liz squealed in surprise as she stopped dead in her tracks in the doorway, before leaping at her friend, gathering her up into a huge hug. "Oh my god, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Megan asked in amazement. "Liz…it’s the first Saturday of the month…you know…our day together? When you didn’t show up at my place this morning I decided to come over here and see what was up." Megan glanced sideways at Max, before adding quickly. "And it seems you have a lot of explaining to do, girl!"

"Oh my God." The smile slipped from Liz’s face. "I am so sorry Megan…the last few weeks have been completely insane. I totally lost track of the date."

"Don’t worry about it…I can see you’ve been busy."

Liz blushed furiously at her friend’s implication…Megan had no idea how "busy" she actually had been…but she had a feeling she was about to find out.

Silently, Max scooted in from where he had been observing a few feet away, handing Liz a cup of coffee. Smiling up at him, Liz pressed her lips quickly against his. She meant for it to be just a quick peck to say thank you, but their lips were magnetic. Once they were connected, it was nearly impossible to break them apart…so she lingered against him a little longer than necessary, until Max found the strength to pull away.

Glancing awkwardly at Megan, who was staring openly at them in fascination, Max cleared his throat.

"Um…I’m going to go take a shower…leave you two alone." He murmured, as he slowly retreated into the back, Liz’s wistful gaze following his departure.

The moment the bedroom door closed behind Max, Megan instantly attacked Liz.

"Okay, spill! I want details!" Megan cried in excitement. "Who is he? Where did he come from? What’s going on between you two…although I think that’s pretty obvious, but the details, about how it happened, okay?" Megan suddenly stopped and chuckled under her breath. "I almost had a heart attack when he opened the door. That guy is a whole lot of man, Liz…and he makes a good cup of coffee too!"

The two friends erupted into giggles, as Liz pulled Megan out of the kitchen to the living room, where they collapsed together on the couch.

"So spill!" Megan pushed again. "How did you, Liz Parker, finally land the perfect man? I mean, last I heard you weren’t even looking!"

"Oh my God…Megan…you have no idea. This has all been so unbelievable…like something out of my dreams. There’s so much you don’t know."

"Well…come on! Tell me before you kill me with anticipation!"

"Okay, okay…" And Liz let the whole story pour out, as she told her friend everything she had been keeping hidden deep inside of herself all of these years, about how she and Max fell in love in high school, and the horrors of their separation, and how Max found his way back to her…strategically leaving out any mention of aliens.

"Wow." Megan marveled as Liz sat silent, waiting for her friend’s response. "Liz…I can’t believe this…you went through all of that alone…with no one to talk to about it?"

"Yeah." Liz quietly affirmed. "I’m so sorry, Megan…for not being totally honest with you. It was just really, really hard for me to talk about it. I didn’t think I was ever going to see Max again…and that was the most painful thought in the world to me. But at the same time I was still completely devoted to him."

"But look, you waited for him, and now he’s here…in your apartment. It was worth it, Liz."

"In our apartment, actually." Liz corrected, her cheeks pinking. "Um, he moved in last week."

Megan shook her head in amusement. "Boy, you two move fast."

Liz paused, studying her friend intently before she continued.

"And that’s not all, Megan."

"What more can there be?" Megan laughed.

"He proposed." Liz breathed, so softly that Megan almost didn’t hear her.

"What?" Megan asked, all amusement sliding right out of her eyes. "When?"

"Last night." Liz replied, a dreamy look entering her eyes as she remembered back to the restaurant. "It was quite possibly the most romantic night of my life."

Silently, Liz extended her hand, so that Megan could see the ring for the first time. When Megan’s eyes returned to Liz’s there were tears standing openly in them.

"Liz…it’s a beautiful ring…really, really unique. I’ve never seen a stone quite like that."

Liz nodded silently. "It’s one of a kind. Max had it made just for me."

"Wow…" Megan breathed. Her face read mixed emotions though, and Liz braced herself, wondering what was coming. "Liz…are you sure about all of this? I mean, it’s happened so fast. When I saw you a month ago, you hadn’t seen this guy in ten years, and now suddenly not only is he back in your life, but living with you and engaged to you? How can you be sure that this is what you both want? I mean, by the sound of it neither of you has been with anyone else since you were kids… Are you sure this is the real thing?"

"Megan…I know this is all really strange to you, but yes. I’m sure. I’ve known that Max was the one for me since the first time he touched me…there’s never been a doubt in my mind…and I never intend to ever be with anyone other than him. Our hearts are long since married, Megan. This is just saying the words…making it legal."

Megan nodded slowly, not really understanding as much as accepting Liz’s explanation. "If this is what’s going to make you happy Liz, than I’ll be by your side every step of the way."

Liz broke out into a huge grin, as she flung her arms around her friend’s neck, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you so much. I’m so glad. It wouldn’t be the same without you there as one of my bridesmaids."

"That’s right!" Megan laughed in agreement. "You can’t live without me…" She paused. "So last night, huh?"

"Yeah."

"So I take it today was celebration day…" Megan realized softly.

"Yeah…that was the plan."

"I’m sorry…I probably interrupted…"

"No! It’s okay, Megan. It’s my fault for not telling you what was going on with me. Anyway, I’m glad you stopped by. I wanted to do something special for Max today, and I was thinking about taking down the coast…do you think you can arrange it so that we can stop at your old work?"

"Sure…I’ll arrange it." Megan agreed.

"Thank you so much!"

"No problem…but, Liz. Don’t think that just because I’m letting you bail on me this month that I’ll let you get away with it next month. The first Saturday in November, you’re ditching Max, and we’re having a girl’s only day, okay?"

"Okay." Liz smiled.