Liz danced from foot to foot nervously and glanced at her watch for the millionth time that morning. Maria was late. Three minutes late to be exact. Crossing her arms, Liz struggled not to sigh.

“Liz, relax. Maria will be here any second. Come have some more juice. And something to eat if you think you can stomach it.”

Truthfully, Liz didn’t think she could handle more than the plain toast she’d eaten earlier. She tried a smile for her mother though, not wanting to be mistaken for sick again. “I think I’ll build up an appetite for lunch.” Though she really wasn’t sure she’d survive that long if Maria didn’t get there to pick her up in the next ten seconds.

Nancy frowned at Liz and set down the plate of cinnamon buns. She crossed the kitchen and laid a hand on Liz’s forehead. “Are you sure you should be going to school today? You were pretty sick.”

Realizing it must have been her wobbly smile that gave her away, Liz tried to brighten it. Her stomach was doing acrobatic moves that didn’t have names but it had nothing to do with the cold she’d developed and everything to do with seeing Max. “Really. I’m feeling much better. No fever and the doctor says there’s no chance it’ll turn into pneumonia. Plus, I have my voice back.”

It had been an interesting week. The four days spent trying to accommodate Max’s fever had given her a nasty cold that had almost hospitalized her. She supposed all the time on the concrete warehouse floor hadn’t helped and it had been disappointing to discover that she hadn’t inherited an alien immune system in the deal. Liz had even lost her voice for a day and a half and the irony hadn’t been lost on her.

Bottom line, she hadn’t seen or heard from Max in a week, not since his parents had dragged him from Michael’s. If Maria didn’t get there soon, they wouldn’t be early enough to meet Max before class. And there was no way she would be able to make it another hour without seeing him for herself.

It had been a testament to the Evans’ anger that Max hadn’t shown up on her balcony yet. She could only imagine the lengths they’d had to go to in order to keep Max away. And if Maria would just show up already, Liz wouldn’t have to imagine. She could ask. And Max could answer. Conversation had never been so compelling.

The sharp knock on the door preceded Maria popping her head into the kitchen. “Good morning. Sorry I’m running-“

“Let’s go, Maria.” Liz already had her book bag in her hand and was gripping Maria’s elbow to lead her out the door.

“I’ll see you at four fifteen on the dot, Liz.”

Liz paused for a fraction of a second in the doorway. Her parents hadn’t forgotten about their promised punishment just because Liz had been sick. “Mom, what if I have to talk to a teacher about an assignment?” Or spend five minutes alone with Max?

Nancy smiled sweetly at her daughter and handed Maria a cinnamon roll. “I guess you’ll have to do it at lunch.”

“And if it’s an afternoon class?” Liz knew she was wasting time, but she didn’t think she’d be able to let Max out of her sight at four o’ clock.

“Remember that little thing your father and I bought you? Use it. And make sure your teacher is there for us to talk to.”

Liz groaned at the thought of having a teacher call her parents to tell them where she was. It just wasn’t going to happen no matter what she had to do. “Bye, Mom.”

Maria munched happily on the roll as they rushed through the diner and slid into the Jetta. “You’re the only person I know that gets a cell phone as a present for being grounded.”

“It’s more like a leash. They want to know where I am at all times.”

“You did disappear for two days.”

Liz glared at her. “You couldn’t be on my side here? Besides, I have to pay for the stupid thing. I think it’s supposed to teach me a lesson in responsibility.”

Maria started the car and pulled out into the streets, laughing. “Yeah, you’re in desperate need of a lesson there.”

Liz grinned, settling back in the seat. A part of her wanted to ask Maria to go faster, to push the car to the limits of speed to get to school, but she had a feeling Maria would only glare at her. Her next thought was of Max, but it made her feel guilty. She hadn’t spoken to her best friend in a week and the last thing Maria would want to talk about was Max, so she pushed the billion questions aside. “How did your mom take the whole thing?”

Maria waved a hand in the air. “You know her. She lectured both Michael and I on responsibility, and then we got the sex talk. Which by the way was mortifying, and I owe Michael probably the largest favor in the world for enduring that with me. Basically, it’s not like she was incredibly surprised. I’ve fallen asleep at Michael’s before. At least we were wearing clothes when Mr. and Mrs. Evans showed up.”

Grimacing, Liz chuckled. “I’m sure everyone else in the living room appreciated it as well.”

Maria cheerfully ignored the jab. “All in all, I’m grounded for another week. How about you?”

Liz groaned. “Grounded for two weeks starting today, which is unfair since I didn’t see anyone this whole last week. Plus, I’m not allowed to talk to anyone while I’m working unless it involves the words ‘Would you like a refill’ or ‘What can I get for you?’.”

Maria grinned wickedly at her. “Then I guess it’s a good thing you and Max don’t need words anymore.”

Surprised, Liz turned to look at Maria. “What--“ Liz forced herself to bite down on the words. This was Maria time now.

Shaking her head, Maria sighed. “I’m impressed by your resolve, but you can ask you know. About Max.”

Liz gripped Maria’s arm and let loose with the questions. “Thank god. How is he? Is he really okay? No side effects or trouble?”

“He’s really okay. No trouble, and the side effects…maybe you two should talk about that one yourselves.”

“Maria,” Liz warned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong…exactly.”

“Don’t make me torture it out of you.”

“Oh look. The school.” Maria ignored any further questions until she had safely pulled into a parking space.

Liz stared at the school and felt the acrobatics begin again. She wasn’t so sure that coming back to school so soon was a good plan after all. It had occurred to her in the last few days that maybe Max had changed his mind about them. A lot had happened over the course of the long weekend and it was possible that he maybe didn’t want her now.

Maria decided to take pity on her friend and shoved the heavy book bag onto her lap. “He’s waiting for you in the band room. He said something about beginnings, but I didn’t follow him.”

Liz’s eyes sought out the band room automatically, and a grin curved her lips in memory. It might not have been the spot on the Crashdown floor where she’d been shot, but it was the site of a completely different set of beginnings. “Yeah, it’s a good place to start things.”

“Well? What are you waiting for? Go. He’s been waiting for you, Liz.”

Liz tried to still her quivering stomach and stalled for one last second by pulling Maria into a hug. “Thanks.”

“What are best friends for, chica? Now get out of here. You have no idea how crazy Max has made my life this week. If only to save my sanity, go talk to him.”

Pulling herself out of the Jetta, Liz slung her book bag over her shoulder and forced herself into the school building. Around her, the halls bustled with activity as students clamored in their lockers and joked with friends. She received the occasional wave or greeting, but she pushed onward.

Turning a corner, Liz caught sight of Alex leaning against Isabel’s locker. He grinned when he saw her and gave her a thumbs up with the hand that wasn’t attached to Isabel’s. Liz found herself grinning back at him, not sure if he was giving her the gesture for good luck with Max, or to show her that his own luck with Isabel was phenomenally better. She supposed she would have to ask later.

With the band room in sight, Liz took a deep breath. The door was open and she found her confidence wavering as she stepped through the doorway. Max was already there, pacing the room. His back was to her and she took advantage of it momentarily to soak him in.

He was hunched over a bit, weighed down by the line of tension in his spine. She could see it in the jerky movements as he roamed the band room floor. He was every bit as nervous as she was. And it suddenly felt silly. They had been through more than this, had survived impossible situations and come out on top. Only, Liz knew that these next few minutes were going to determine the future of her relationship with Max.

She’d thought about it a thousand times this past week, judging each side carefully. It had been impossible to discount the things she’d heard from the other Max, but at the same time, she wasn’t as positive as she’d once been that his way was the only way to fix things. It was impossible to believe that there would be untold of deaths just because a boy loved a girl. There had to be a middle ground. She just wasn’t sure what it was yet.

Stepping into the room a bit further, she caught Max’s eye. He spun on his heels, wild eyes raking over her body to take it all in. She could feel the weight of those eyes, mentally checking her skin color for paleness or possibly for silver bruises. And it warmed her heart.

For a long minute, they were content to simply look at each other. Silence settled around them and the distance that stood between them was no longer as lengthy as it once seemed.

A playful scream from the hallway snapped Liz out of her trance and reminded her that there was less than fifteen minutes until the first bell rang. Liz let her mouth curve upwards in a shy grin. “Hey. You look good. Okay, I mean.” And he did. Other than the lines of tension creasing his forehead, he looked a far cry better than the man who had lain at deaths’ door and risen to tell the tale.

“You too.” He was powerless to do anything but stare at her. Her voice was hypnotic, mesmerizing in a way there weren’t words to describe. Had it always been so shy and husky at the same time? His heart beat wildly in his chest until he was afraid it would crack through his ribcage from the intensity. He knew there was more he should be saying, but every so often he had trouble finding the exact words he was looking for. He’d told Maria the other day when she’d caught him struggling for a word, but since it had been getting better every day, he didn’t expect it to last much longer.

Liz let her book bag drop to the floor next to where Max’s own books lay discarded and she took a step towards him. “I can’t believe I’m standing here. It seems like it was so long ago I saw you last.”

Max frowned. He’d wanted to see her every second since he’d left her at Michael’s. But his parents had been beyond angry, they had been worried. And they hadn’t let him out of their sight since then. “I tried to come see you, but my parents…” He shook his head with a soft laugh. “You have no idea how crazy they were about keeping Isabel and I at home.” Max took a hesitant step towards her and then stopped. “How are you feeling? You were sick?”

Liz didn’t even want to ask how he’d known that since she hadn’t been able to speak with anyone outside of her family. “I’m fine. Better. Just a little cold and don’t even think about apologizing for it.” She caught his grin and knew it had been on the tip of his tongue. “I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”

Max dropped the grin and raised his hand toward her in a helpless gesture before letting it drop back to his side. “Liz, there’s so much I wanted to talk to you about. So many things I didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to tell you.” The words were coming faster and easier than they had all week and it made Max question how he could be better in everything he did whenever she was around.

“I know.” And she did. All too familiar in her mind were those horrible nights when he’d laid in her arms, struggling for every breath and fighting off a fever that wanted to destroy him. It had put things into startling perspective. “There are things I need to tell you. Things I should have told you weeks ago. But I don’t know how.”

Max glanced away from her, his eyelashes resting on his cheeks as he hesitated. It felt like the largest invasion of privacy ever, but she deserved to know what he knew and how. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tape recorder. He let the weight of it settle in his hand and kept his eyes away from her face.

“The second night I stayed with you, you were with your parents and I wanted to see what was on the slides you kept looking at with worried eyes. I knew I was dying from the minute I saw the slides and I…” There weren’t words to describe what he’d felt, the utter hopelessness and despair of knowing he wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to Liz.

“I was frustrated.” It was as good a word as any. He glanced up quickly and saw that she understood what he was trying to say. She always did somehow and it comforted him. “I wanted to tell you a thousand things and I’d just realized it was likely I never would.” He let out a bitter laugh. “I even tried to write you a letter, but I couldn’t even get your name right.”

Liz remembered the crumpled sheets of paper she’d found near her trash can and hearing the story behind what had pushed the creation of it was amazing. But she was still confused as to why Max was holding what looked like her tape recorder in his hand.

“I picked this up because I needed to hear your voice. I was feeling sick again and I just thought that if I…” He shook his head. “I think that was when I passed out. The next thing I remembered was you.” Unbuttoning his shirt. But there was no reason to bring that up at the moment.

“Max, I don’t understand.”

“I think I accidentally hit the record button. I found the recorder in my pocket and I…I listened to it…after, when I understood again.”

Puzzled, Liz tried to think back to that night. She remembered her fear at finding Max passed out on her bed. She’d tried to bring his fever down and then…

I never slept with Kyle. How could I when you’ve always been the only person I’ve ever dreamed of making love to? That shower fantasy you saw? It wasn’t a new one, Max. I’ve always wanted you.

Liz stared at the small device in Max’s hand that played back her own words. She remembered it now, remembered the fear and the guilt. She’d regretted everything she’d ever done to hurt Max in that moment. And though she knew what was coming next, she raised her eyes to meet Max’s.

But we just weren’t meant to be. I wish I could explain it all to you, that I could make you understand that I would never hurt you unless I had to. But if I told you about Future Max, about why I did everything, you wouldn’t let me go and nothing would change. You’ll always be the one great love of my life, and no matter what I do, my heart is yours. It’s easy to tell you that now when you can’t understand me because I can’t ever tell you again. Not if I want to keep everyone alive.

Max turned the recorder off and held Liz’s gaze. “I didn’t mean to, but--“

“I meant it.” Liz took another step forward. It seemed silly to keep so much distance between them. It wasn’t necessary. Not anymore. Lifting her hand, she placed it over the device, covering Max’s outstretched palm and tightening her grip. “That night, I promised myself I’d let you go in the morning, that I would make you stay with Kyle and Tess. I thought I could let you go.”

“And now?” Max could hear the beginnings of tears in her voice. He wanted to pull her close, hold her and tell her she didn’t have to tell him anything that would upset her. But they had to learn how to stop lying and protecting each other.

“Now I’m not so sure I can do that.” Liz tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You know I didn’t sleep with Kyle.”

“I saw things that didn’t make sense, and then I really looked at you.” Max reached out now, running his hand down the side of her face. Skin so soft it was always surprising, and yet there was steel beneath it. Liz was more than anyone ever gave her credit for. “You thought you had to push me away to keep everyone safe.”

Liz nodded. She wanted to tell him all about her visitor from the future, but her throat was closing.

Max saw her distress and knew that she wasn’t holding things back from him. Not anymore. There were simply too many larger things to talk about first. And the most important of them all was where they went from here. “That night crushed me, Liz. I thought that everything we had was a lie. But it wasn’t. It doesn’t matter why you did what you did. We can figure it out together. Later. I don’t care if it’s tomorrow or a year from now. Tell me when you’re ready to tell me. Just…” There were a million things he wanted to tell her, that he needed her, that he would protect her with his dying breath, that he loved her. But if there was one thing he’d learned in the last few days, it was that actions held more importance than words ever could.

In a swift move, Max closed the last of the distance between them and crushed Liz against his chest. Their lips met, almost a soft caress if not for the pent up urgency and desire. Max tried to keep the pressure light, but it was impossible when Liz wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him. He let her take control of the kiss, desire winning out as the kiss became more heated. And it said a hundred things Max couldn’t with words.

The first bell rang through the school, cutting through the laughter from the halls.

“Max.” Liz eased away from the kiss slowly, drawing in ragged breaths. She wanted to ignore the bell, ignore the classes and the teachers. But there would be students piling into the classroom any minute and she doubted they would appreciate Max’s kisses as much as she would.

“I know.” He touched his forehead to hers and tried to concentrate on not dragging her into the nearest closet.

Liz licked her lips, able to taste him still. She let out a breathless laugh. “We really do need to talk sometime.”

Max grinned with her. “Ever get the feeling life would be easier if we didn’t ever have to?” Liz was still in his arms and it was a good sign. A fantastic sign. A sign that meant she wasn’t planning on going anywhere anytime soon.

“There are things I want to tell you too. But…later.” There would be a lifetime for it. Years and years to say all the things that needed to be said. But the most important of them all still hung in the air between them.

“I love you. Nothing ever could change that. And I want to be with you, Max. Always.” There would be a way to fix everything, to ensure that the future of death and destruction would never have a chance to happen. Because when she and Max were together, the impossible seemed almost easy and effortless.

Max closed his eyes and let the words ease into his memory. They were words he thought he’d never hear again. And yet, he really hadn’t needed them. They had been in every gesture, every glance in the last few days. “I’m glad because I’m never letting you go again. I love you, Liz.” It was enough. It had to be. They’d tried life without each other and every time, it was disaster.

The first of the voices carried down the hall and Liz knew the class would be filling any second. Reluctantly, she eased out of Max’s embrace and grinned when he caught her hand in his.

“I’d sneak you into the eraser room if I didn’t think our parents had the teachers watching out for us.”

Liz laughed and leaned down to pick up her book bag. She couldn’t even manage a glare when Max took it from her and hefted it onto his own shoulder. Her heart was too light for things like that. “We still have every minute between classes and all of lunch.”

“How long are you grounded for?”

“Two very long weeks. What about you?”

“Three. I think Mom suspects I wasn’t home all weekend. If she could prove it, I’d be retired before I saw you in public again.” But he could wait. Forever if he needed to. “You’ll wait for me, won’t you?”

Liz flashed him a wide smile as they left the band room for the hall, brushing past students on their way to class. “You sound like it’s a jail sentence.”

“I’m helping my mother organize her closet tonight. That doesn’t sound like a jail sentence to you?”

Just outside the band room door, Liz stopped walking. Max stopped with her and tilted his head in question. “What?”

“I really do love you. This just seems…easy, but it’s not. Why is this so easy?” Could it really be so easy that all it took was a kiss and they were back to the days of hand holding and stolen glances?

Understanding her concern, Max closed the space between them again and met her eyes. “It’s easy because we’re letting it be. All the trouble we’ve had, it’s been because we haven’t trusted that it really could be like this all the time.”

Liz had a sudden vision of the last time they had both been in the band room together. Max had confessed to her his darkest secret, exposed himself and his family. Because he had loved her. And she had been terrified of the trust being placed in her hands, certain that she hadn’t deserved it.

The trust Max was placing in her now was no less frightening, but this time it didn’t seem as all consuming. And maybe it could be this easy. Maybe it was time they both let it be.

Liz smiled at Max, not caring if the entire world saw her grinning like a loon in the middle of the hallway. Max’s hand rubbed small circles on the back of her hand, and she couldn’t escape the feeling that maybe this time they had all the pieces to make a relationship work.

She loved Max. Max loved her. What more was there?

With an answering grin of his own, Max tugged on her hand and led her down the hall. It didn’t matter where they were going. Liz knew she would follow. And with the second bell ringing overhead, silence settled around them once more. Only this time, there weren’t any words that needed to be said that couldn’t be found in the gentle clasp of hands between them. Sometimes, words were simply unnecessary.

The End