Part 33

The next day was hectic, crazy between getting rushed around between time with their families and friends, and preparing for the big announcement dinner that night. To make matters even worse, Max and Liz were stuck apart all day, leaving them frustrated and restless.

Max took off first thing in the morning to spend some much needed time with his own parents, while Liz headed back to the Crashdown, surprised to find not only her parents there, but her aunt and uncle who apparently had moved back to Roswell from Florida sometime over the past ten years, and were eager to see their missing niece again. Liz also had new cousins that she wasn’t expecting to see.

It was overwhelming as much as excited, exhausting as much as exhilarating, and by the time Max and Liz were able to meet back at the Tumbleweed Inn late that afternoon, they were both completely wiped, collapsing onto the bed together, and napping in each other’s arms for an hour, before they were rushing each other to get dressed up for the dinner.

When they arrived at the Crashdown at six that evening, Max and Liz were touched to see a sign on the door.

The interior was set up beautifully with a long table complete with labeled seats for all their family and friends. The lights were dimmed and candlelight danced across the room, setting a soft, formal atmosphere.

Maria grinned at the couple as the entered the room, the last to arrive. The dinner may have been Max and Liz's idea, but everyone else had quickly taken it over the preparations, setting up a beautiful welcome home celebration for them. They sat down to a delicious dinner of pasta, the whole group talking and laughing, reminiscing about older, better times, when they were all together, without their missing companions.

As their plates cleared, and the candles grew smaller, the wax long since dripping down the sides and falling into puddles onto the table, Max and Liz finally exchanged nervous glances, before Max took Liz’s hand, and stood, pulling her up beside him.

"Everyone, can I have your attention please?" Max called out. "Liz and I have an announcement to make."

"Oh my God!" Maria screamed out at the sight of the serious, dreamy glances passing between Max and Liz. "You’re pregnant, aren’t you?"

The room fell dead silent, as Max stood there, staring at Maria, completely speechless from her outburst. Max and Liz shared shocked glances, and Max couldn’t help it, his eyes immediately fell to her stomach to see if Liz was showing, and was relieved to see her stomach as flat as always.

Max’s gaze nervously flicked to Jeff Parker, who’s eyes had widened in shock, jaw dropped as he stared at Max and Liz, more specifically at the protective way Max clutched his little girl’s hand within his own.

"Oh my God…you are…" Maria realized softly, breaking the awkward silence as she stared at them in surprise.

"Yes." Max confirmed steadily. "Liz and I are having a baby…although that wasn’t what I was about to say. I was going to try to break it to you one surprise at a time, to try to lessen the shock a bit. What I was going to say is that we’re getting married…we’re getting married and we want all of you to be a part of it."

Maria squealed loudly and leapt to her feet, rushing around the table to attack her friends with hugs.

"You guys have been engaged since you got here and you didn’t tell me? What kinds of friends are you!"

"Well…we wanted to tell everyone at once…" Liz explained, but Maria quickly cut her off.

"Oh, but that doesn’t matter. I’ll forgive you as long as you promise to let me help you plan it! Oh my gosh, this is going to be so much fun! How exciting!"

Soon, everyone was on their feet, surrounding Liz and Max with hugs and congratulations, all the while Maria rambled on, already making plans about exactly how the wedding was going to be in her eyes.

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Max whistled happily to himself, as he stepped from the dining room, back into the kitchen to get some more ice for Liz’s water. He could hear the slight traces of the happy voices in the room behind him, his heart racing in blissful contentment at how well the announcement had gone in the end. He thought it was ruined when Maria burst into it the way she did, but still, everyone seemed to handle the news fairly well.

Max whirled around at the sound of the door shutting behind him, his heart pounding as he stared at Jeff Parker, who approached him, his eyes masked from any emotion.

"Mr. Parker." Max greeted with a nod. "I was just, uh, getting some ice…I should get back to Liz."

"It’s okay, Maria has her busy with plans. It’ll give us a few minutes to talk."

Max nodded quickly, setting the glass in his hand down on the counter, giving Jeff his full attention.

"I’m just going to get straight to the point here, Max. Are you only marrying Liz because of the baby?"

Max’s jaw dropped in surprise at Jeff’s insinuation. "No! Not at all!" He cried in protest. "I actually asked Liz a few weeks before we even found out about the baby." Max explained.

"You did." Jeff stated dubiously.

"Yes." Max paused, gathering his courage as he met Liz’s father’s eyes confidently.

"Mr. Parker…you may not like this, or even understand it, but I’m in love with your daughter. I’ve loved Liz since the first time I ever saw her, and I have always known that she was the only woman for me…that she was the girl I would someday marry. That day is finally coming, and I want nothing more than to dedicate my heart to Liz for the rest of my life, and I know she feels the same."

Max paused, his eyes searching Jeff’s for some sort of reaction.

"I’m marrying your daughter because I love her. Liz and I are having this baby because we love each other, and we want to be have a family. We’re both nearly thirty years old, and have been on our own for a decade…we’re ready to take on this responsibility. Please…just have faith in us. I assure you that we’re making the right choices here."

There was a long moment while Max waited for Jeff’s response.

"I know." Jeff sighed softly. "I know she’s not my little girl anymore. It’s just…I just got her back and I feel like I’m loosing her again already…only this time it’s right in front of my eyes."

"Mr. Parker." Max protested. "I swear…I’m not going to take her away from you again. It was my idea for us to come back here in the first place. I want you to be a part of our lives…of our child’s life."

"I would love that." Jeff replied simply. "Thank you. You both have my support and my blessing. I’m looking forward to getting to know you in the future, Max."

"Same here." Max grinned. "Thank you, Mr. Parker."