~ chapter 12 ~

The plan. Max let out a sigh as his logical mind began to whirl with ideas and possible outcomes. Maybe he could just get in bed and wait for her. Maybe even pretend to be asleep… Nah, she was too angry for that bold of a move. The way she'd been acting earlier tonight, she'd probably just kick him out onto the floor. Literally. And he simply wouldn't give Kyle Valenti the satisfaction of seeing that if his life depended on it.

For if there was one thing Max Evans was completely certain of…it was that the 'upstanding' Sheriff of Roswell was responsible for the intrusion into his and Liz's privacy. And it literally made his blood boil. Not for himself as much as for Liz. It wasn't bad enough that Kyle had hurt her so badly in the past, he was still trying to get to her now. Without remorse. Without shame.

Well, Max simply wouldn't let him. He'd do whatever it took to protect Liz from Kyle's advances. That was…unless Liz still wanted Kyle. Max's hands bunched into tight fists as the very thought crushed the heart in his chest in its jealous vice-like grip. The image of Kyle's lips caressing Liz, his arms around her petite waist… Max shut his eyes tight against the sight and willed himself to breathe.

No. He wouldn't do this to himself. Not when his complete focus was required to get through this night without losing all control. Pushing the disturbing visions to the back of his mind, Max turned his thoughts once more to his most immediate crisis...getting Liz Parker to sleep with him.

Max ran a shaky hand through his hair. God, when was the last time you've ever been this nervous, Evans? Get a grip… Max swallowed hard and focused. Ok. So, the bold and assuming move was out. He could set a romantic mood. Candles maybe. Soft music… Nope. That wouldn’t work either. She'd probably freak out with confusion and unknowingly give away their secret. Not that he could blame her. The mixed signals he'd been sending were even beginning to confuse him.

Max stared through the widow back up at the tiny points of light that blanketed the sky as if searching for the answer to his dilemma in the vast inky blackness beyond. All he received was the overwhelming sense that the stars were laughing at him as their twinkle brightened noticeably. "You think this is funny, don’t you? Yeah. Go ahead. Laugh. It's not like you could drop me a hint on what to do or anything…"

It hadn't been the first time Max Evans had spoken to the stars. He often consulted them on the meaning of life…of his life. Why they'd sent him to a planet where love turned a cold back to him while loneliness embraced him with open arms. Asking the question, 'Who am I really?' and finding the answers deep in the recesses of his heart. He was…an alien. He was…Max. Max, the alien, with only one dream in his life…to hold Liz Parker in his arms--and have her hold him back. With no fear. No disgust. Only…admiration. Only…love.

Max closed his eyes as a slight smile danced on his lips. He'd had that. For just a brief moment in time, Liz had held him in her warm embrace like she never wanted to let go. Her eloquent eyes confessed to him that he was the only man in the world she'd been waiting for. And her kiss had given him a glimpse into the depths of her priceless heart. It was more exquisite than even he had ever dreamed. Maybe the reason she'd given it to him was because he'd asked for it.

Well, there was his answer. To get Liz Parker to sleep with him…he was just going to have to ask.

Wheeling away from the window with determination flashing in his amber eyes, Max headed straight for the bathroom door. One clammy hand grasped the doorknob while the other ran lightly over the lock breaking the only barrier between him and his dream…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can't do this." Liz Parker whispered the words over to herself as she let the hot water pound out the tense muscles in her shoulders. Tilting her head back, Liz let the water run over her thick hair and spill down her face washing away the tears she'd been crying since stepping into the shower. Since having read her instructions completely…

It was bad enough to have to be back in the same town with Kyle, but at least she knew she had Max as back up and support. Someone she trusted to lean on. But now…now, she was being torn from the one who seemed to give her so much strength in his silence and thrown to the wolves instead. Or wolf in Kyle’s case. It was too much. The emotions hitting her from every side. The disgust at what she was being called on to do. The close proximity she’d have to be in to Kyle on this assignment…

Close proximity. With a mixture of emotions, Liz’s thoughts shifted to her current sleeping arrangements.

The shock of being put in the same room with Max wore off the moment her mother closed the door behind them. Now the nervousness was setting in. Max wasn't affected. Or if he was, he didn't let on. Not that he should be…this was all just in the line of duty to him. Or so he said. Why then did his words sound so hollow in light of the way his eyes begged her to read his heart and know differently?

Liz lathered her hair and slowly ran her fingers through it as her mind continued to whirl. Regardless of how Max felt, she couldn’t deny that this situation for her…for her it was a dream come true. All of the little fantasies she’d made up in her mind about Max Evans from her sophomore year in high school till now came rushing back to her. Larger than life and completely unattainable. For so many reasons, but three that stood out most in her mind.

Her past. With Kyle Valenti. With all of its ghosts and pain. Failures and guilt. Long lasting effects. As things stood, Max was ignorant of the details. He was free and clear of the weight she was forced to live with every day. He didn’t have to know the shame or feel the ache that her actions had caused. She could see in his eyes that Max still saw her as beautiful. The thing was, Max didn’t know the real her. And if he ever did, that beauty he saw in her would prove to be only an illusion that would disappear the moment he heard and saw the truth.

Her present. It was full of loneliness. Days filled with endless paperwork and training. Nights spent doing whatever it took to forget the empty apartment she would return home to. Going to the park to hear the laughter of children as they chased each other in innocence. She envied them that. She envied the clean slates of their lives…the possibilities they still had to do things right. Unlike her, they had something to give. They had…futures.

Which was her third reason. Her future…and how she really didn't have one. Not a good one anyway. She had no close family. Her friends were few and far between. An incredibly boring personal life. Granted, that was her choice, but it still didn't keep her warm in the cold D.C. winters. Sure, she had a good position with the Bureau. A good position that would get even better at the end of this assignment if she played her cards right. But suddenly, she didn't want to play at all. Not if it meant reporting on Max's activities. And that's precisely what she was being called on to do.

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. If she didn't spy on Max's every move, she'd never get the answers she'd come home looking for about Alex's death. If she did, she may never get Max. Not that there was a chance of that anyway. Or was there?

As the soothing water pulsated over her slim shoulders, Liz closed her eyes and absently ran a finger over the spot where Max's lips had placed a healing kiss over her wound. The way his lips burned into her skin when they brushed against her hand had shocked Liz. She had no idea something so simple could be so…sensual. As silly as it sounded in the echo of Liz's mind, that's precisely what'd she'd felt. Max's sincere touch created more sensations in her body than the seductive looks and roaming hands of all her attempted and failed dates over the years. In simple terms, Max Evans’ caress made her feel…desirable.

That was a powerful feeling to a woman who had stopped thinking of herself as desirable a long time ago. Not that Liz didn’t know her own power over men. How could she not when she was could easily name at least a dozen who would jump at the chance to be with her? All she would have to do is crook her finger at them and they would come running. Which is precisely why she never did. Because a one night stand or meaningless fling wasn’t what she wanted. Those men…weren’t the same. They weren’t…Max. Or even close.

Standing in her shower, allowing the water to wash away her doubts, Liz realized just how much Kyle had damaged her. With his hands, yes, but most of those physical scars had healed a long time ago. Through his anger and spiteful words, Kyle’s greatest damage had been to her spirit. To her belief that she was really worthy of being someone special. Someone cherished.

Which made it all that more amazing that suddenly, that’s exactly how she felt. Treasured. Despite Max’s ‘in the line of duty’ line, his eyes silently screamed a different message. In fact, the majority of his looks and actions negated his words. But then why would he…

Liz’s eyes popped open as a knowing smile skipped across her lips. Maybe Max was just like her. Maybe Max was…afraid. Hope sprang to Liz’s eyes as her mind seized the thought. Maybe…just maybe there was a chance after all.

Ok, Parker. You need to go about this the right way. The smart way. Liz almost squealed with delight when a plan to win Max Evans' heart began to form in her mind…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle Valenti leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk with a satisfied smile. He let that satisfaction drift out of his lungs as he exhaled loudly. Liz Parker was back in town and the ‘boyfriend’ was none other than her perfect, little dreamguy, Max Evans. This was going to be easier than he thought…

Kyle leaned forward and dragged the phone on his desk closer to him then picked the receiver dialing a familiar number. Leaning back, he waited for the ringing to be answered and smiled widely when he heard the voice on the other end of the line. "Hey. It’s me."

"So, how did it go?"

Kyle chuckled. "Perfect. You were right. She’s just as beautiful as ever and oh, so ready to be mine."

"And you gave her the instructions?"

"Oh, yeah. You should have seen her face." Kyle laughed again. "I honestly can’t thank you enough for this. All it’ll take is working with me for a few days and Max Evans will be history."

"I hope so." The voice spoke low as it delivered its menacing promise. "Just in case it doesn’t work out as you planned…let me know. I’ll be more than happy to help you rewrite history myself…by eliminating one of the major players..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another number was being dialed across town. "Hey, Iz. It’s me."

"Oh, no." Isabel’s voice registered concern. Michael never called unless it was important. "What’s wrong?"

Michael let out a sigh. "Nothing’s wrong, Iz. At least…not yet." He tossed Maria and Cole a worried look. "Hey, the reason I’m calling is because…well, Maria ran into your brother tonight."

"Max? But how did…"

"He’s in Roswell, Iz."

"Oh, no. This is not good." Isabel’s voice raised a notch in intensity.

"Iz…that’s not all." Michael closed his eyes and plunged into his next statement without waiting for her question. "He’s not alone."

"He’s…he’s not? Well, who is he with?"

"Liz Parker. She’s…"

"Oh, my God."

Over the phone, Michael could literally hear Isabel plop down on her chair. "Ok. So, I guess you get the significance of this news." Silence greeted his statement. "Isabel?"

An urgency laced her voice and echoed to him through the phone lines. "Michael. Listen to me. You have to get him out of Roswell. Get him out of Roswell…and away from Liz Parker…"