Part 29

Max stared at Liz in surprise for a long moment, his mind desperately trying to process the words she had spoken. She sat beside him, staring up into his eyes, patiently awaiting his response, as he silently opened and shut his mouth a few times, trying to find the words to say to express all of the awe within him at her words.

Pregnant…pregnant…pregnant. Liz was pregnant. Liz was going to have a baby. Liz was going to have his baby. He was going to be a father. Oh God…he and Liz were having a child.

"You’re…" Max stammered, his eyes widening in amazement. You’re…we’re…wow… WOW! You’re sure?"

"I’m sure." Liz nodded.

Max’s eyes studied the woman he loved more than he could have ever possibly imagined, his gaze raking down from the crown of her head, to her tear filled eyes, to her tiny, flat stomach. Gently, Max placed his hand on her belly, staring at in wonder.

"You’re pregnant." He whispered passionately. "We’re pregnant."

Tightening his embrace around Liz protectively, Max’s gaze fell to her lips, and instantly he brushed his lips softly against her own, once…twice…three times, before he took her mouth possessively, shivering as a shock wave of excitement rushed through his body.

"We’re having a baby." Max sighed against her lips with a smile, before pulling away and studying her face. "When…" Max trailed off, knowing she would tell him everything if he gave her the chance.

"I found out this morning, right after you left…I’m just a little over a month along, so I’m guessing it probably was from our first time…if not one of our first times. I’ve been thinking about it all day, Max."

Liz met his eyes and shined up at him, her eyes glazed from unshed tears.

"I’m so happy, Max. So happy. This is what I want. To marry you, to have your children…to have a normal life with you. I never thought it would be possible, but it is. It’s like my dream has been handed to me on a silver platter, and I’m just amazed…absolutely amazed."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"I made a decision this afternoon, Max. I’m not going to teach next semester. It just doesn’t seem right. I want to be able to focus on the baby, on the wedding…on you. And I can’t do all of that when I have classes every day. I already called the dean and let him know. Once finals are over, I’m all yours."

"Are you sure?" Max asked in shock, unable to believe that all of this was happening.

"Yes…I’m sure." Liz finalized. "This is what I need…what we need, Max."

Max nodded in agreement, pressing his lips against her forehead lovingly, as he breathed lightly into her hair.

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Struggling through midterms absorbed both Max and Liz’s time for the next few weeks. Max was studying like crazy, trying to make sure he passed everything with flying colors, while from a teacher’s perspective, Liz drafted up her finals, prepared class review sections, and worked one on one with struggling students, leaving very little time for the two of them to focus on one another.

Even when they were busy, though, Max and Liz still found some time to remind each other how much they cared. Some nights they sat together at the dining room table, their papers spread across the table before them, just lightly touching one another as they poured over their work silently, their hands still locked, as their heads nodded, and they fell asleep right on top of their work during the late night sessions.

Midterms turned into finals as they hurried through the last days of the semester, at the same time as they packed their bags, preparing for their trip home.

They were leaving the day the semester ended. Initially Max and Liz had planned it that way, trying to get as much time as possible in Roswell. But in the end Max had come to the decision that he too would not return to school for the spring semester. It wouldn’t be a permanent end to his schooling…Max wanted to have a full education, so that he could live a normal life, with a normal job, and a normal family. But for now, he decided that he wanted to concentrate on building his life with Liz.

By the time Christmas Break rolled around, Liz was three months pregnant. She still wasn’t showing yet…at least not obviously showing. Liz herself could feel the differences in her body, both inside and out. She could feel the presence of her child growing within her, and she could feel the almost ignorable roundness that was growing into her tummy.

And then there was the new craving for tobasco sauce. That was Max’s favorite part about the changes with her…the fact that for the first time in their lives, they liked the same kinds of foods, and could share and eat off of each other. It was a tiny, insignificant change…but one that Max was thoroughly enjoying. It made him feel that much closer to Liz.

It was the night before they were to leave, when Max found himself lying awake, watching Liz as she slept peacefully beside him, thoroughly amazed by the way she had so completely changed his life…again.