Part 3

"Thank you for coming Max," Beth whispered, looking up at Max as he leaned over her. Her face felt warm where he’d touched his lips to her forehead and she struggled not to sigh out loud as she caught the faint scent of his cologne. Taking a deep breath, she let the smell fill her senses and remind her of the first time she’d woken up next to Max when she was seventeen and had pulled on one of his shirts and smelled his scent all around her.

She was jolted out of her daydream by Max’s hands on her injured leg. His fingers were gentle and only slightly intrusive as he tried to feel for her injury. She could feel the goosebumps rising on her skin at his touch. His hands moved expertly and even though she knew he was a doctor, she was impressed every time by what he was able to do. Out of all four of them Max had put his powers to the most use. Max closed his eyes and concentrated, his brow furrowing until he opened his eyes and looked directly at her.

"Beth, the tendon is completely torn," he said softly.

"I thought I heard something pop," Charlie murmured from behind Max. Beth met the eyes of her dance partner and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Can you fix it?" Beth asked.

"Of course I can, I just want to make sure it’s what you want," Max said carefully. Beth nodded and he turned back to her leg. She watched as her skin began to glow under his hands and she felt the pain literally disappearing. She knew Max was worried about her, this was the second time he’d healed a torn tendon in less than six months. And a voice in the back of her mind kept saying that she was past her prime as a ballerina. She shook her head, Max could heal her injuries as good as new. She was fine.

"Ok, all done," Max said quietly, releasing her leg gently. Beth nodded and stood up, testing her leg gently. Charlie came over and ran a hand down her leg, testing the muscles for tension. Max felt a slight tinge of jealously but quickly stuffed it down. Charlie wasn’t interested in Beth in any way more than a friend and his dance partner. And he knew that they shared a close relationship. Charlie looked up at Max and grinned.

"Guess those alien healing powers can really come in handy," he commented. Max gave a wry smile, but kept silent. He hadn’t been sure that telling Charlie and Jody about their true heritage had been a good idea, but Beth had convinced him, saying that since they were their friends there couldn’t be that secret. And she’d pointed out how things had turned out because their fathers and Isabel had shared their secret with Liz, Maria and Alex. He knew now that telling them hadn’t been a mistake. Charlie and Jody accepted them for who they were.

At that moment there was a quick knock on the closed door and Beth affirmed an entry as Jody swung the door open, her eyes round with worry. Her frown quickly turned to a bright smile when she saw that Beth was fine, practicing some easy warm ups with Charlie. She traded glances with Max, squeezing his arm gently as she walked over to Charlie and Beth.

"Beth, what did I tell you about trying to steal my boyfriend?" she said, her voice trying to sound serious. Max grinned, Jody was the last person in the world who could pull off a joke. She always erupted into laughter before the punchline came. Charlie quickly grabbed his girlfriend and dipped her low as she giggled.

"It’s only a weekend fling," he said, keeping his voice low. Beth laughed softly as Charlie kissed Jody and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Beth looked up at Max, meeting his eyes and willing herself not to wish he would kiss her like that. It had been too long and things had changed too much, she reminded herself. He didn’t want the same things anymore.

"Are you sure you’re ok?" Jody asked, slightly breathless as Charlie released her. Beth nodded.

"Perfect. Max healed me and my leg’s as good as new," she said brightly.

"For now."

Beth looked up at Max curiously, hearing the slight warning in his tone. She knew when he’d asked her if she wanted him to heal it that something was on his mind. She caught his brown eyes with her own eyes and realized what he was trying to say to her. Be careful. He wanted her to be careful. Well, she was Michael and Maria Guerin’s daughter for a reason. Careful was not in her vocabulary.

"Just try, ok?" he pleaded with her, seeing the defiance in her expression before she uttered a word. She softened and nodded.

"So, why can’t you do that healing thing that Max does?" Jody asked Beth. Beth shrugged.

"We don’t really know. Max heals and I can move things with my mind. I can heal, but I’m not very good at it and wouldn’t want to try it on someone else. But, if you need a big rock moved a couple feet or something, I’m your girl," Beth replied with a smile.

"So, why can’t you apply those telekinetic powers to cleaning the apartment?" Jody asked, teasing Beth gently.

As the girls jokingly argued, Charlie came over to Max and pulled him outside the hall. Max looked at him, wondering what had to be said away from Beth and Jody.

"She’s working too hard Max. That’s how she hurt herself. It’s not that she can’t dance, she’s still the best classical ballerina out there, but she’s got to stop pushing herself so hard. And she’s had an amazing career, I just hate to see her in all this pain," Charlie said, his blue eyes flashing with worry.

"Are you saying she should retire? Because she never will. She won’t give this up for anything," Max said, his words leaving no room for argument. Beth had opted for this dream instead of what she had with him, and even though he didn’t blame her for it, he knew what that decision had meant.

"I’m not sure what I’m saying. I just think her body’s going to give out some time," Charlie said, running a hand through his hair. That got Max to smile.

"Are you saying she’s getting too old?" he joked. Charlie laughed.

"Maybe. Maybe that is what I’m saying," he admitted.

"Because I think you should be reminded that you are only two years younger than Beth, my friend," Max replied.

"I realize that, but it’s also a well known fact that usually male dancers have longer careers than female dancers," Charlie said. He sobered and then continued. "Just see if you can get her out of here, ok? She needs a break."

Max nodded and followed Charlie back into the room where the girls were still talking. Beth and Jody looked up as they entered and Max quickly caught Beth’s eyes.

"Beth, how about lunch in the park? Honey roasted peanuts and mustard? Pretzels and Tabasco sauce?" he asked, ignoring the slight gagging sounds Jody was making.

"How can you guys eat that?" Jody asked, her nose wrinkling at the combinations. Beth smiled and poked Charlie in the side.

"Hey, I’ve seen Charlie dipping his fries in my Tabasco sauce when he thinks I’m not looking," she teased.

"Yeah, but I don’t douse all my food in it. I just put it on some things, like normal people," Charlie pointed out. Beth fixed him with an exasperated look.

"We’re not normal, remember?" she whispered. Charlie rolled his eyes and handed Beth her coat, pushing her towards Max.

"Just go! Have lunch with Max and don’t think about the play. We’ve done The Nutcracker every year for six years, we don’t need to practice anymore," Charlie reminded her. Beth waved to Charlie and Jody before following Max out onto the street. He led her down the street and they walked several blocks up to 81^st Street, passing the Museum of Natural History before they entered the park.

Beth smiled as she walked next to Max, enjoying the fact that even though they weren’t as close as they had been back in high school they both still thought of the same place when they went to Central Park. As they walked along the terrace of Belvedere Castle, Beth took a seat on the cold stone ledge and looked out at the small lake and snow covered field. Even the city looked cold, she noted.

Max turned in circles in front of her and she knew he was thinking of the day, over sixteen years ago, that they’d stood in the same spot and brought his parents back together. She still remembered standing next to Max and watching his father’s face as he’d first caught a glimpse of Liz. And the way Liz had called out his name sent shivers down her spine because she could feel the longing in the word, the hope and desperation that her eyes weren’t deceiving her. And Beth remembered watching Max’s parents meet in a crushing hug, and how Max had held Liz tightly against him. Just like her Max had held her years ago at the prom, before they’d parted ways.

Beth blinked back her tears and tried to will herself not to think of that day. One of the hardest decisions she’s ever made. Maybe the hardest. Choosing between two loves. She had one of those loves, and as she watched Max pace in front of her, she still wondered, as she did at least once every day of her life, if she’s made the right choice.

"Have you heard from your parents lately?" Max asked her. Beth cleared her throat and concentrated on his words.

"I talked to my Mom yesterday. She’s very excited about the upcoming Christmas Trip to Snowmass. And I spoke to Jack too, Dad was at the museum," Beth said. Max nodded, then he smiled.

"So, your Dad’s still running the UFO Museum, huh? That’s a piece of irony, especially coming from him. How was your brother?" he asked.

"Jack’s fine. He’s sixteen and I’m just going to keep telling him not to get in trouble. Mom said he keeps on using his powers as practical jokes on people at the Crashdown when he’s there, watching Jules and Kat work. Mom suggested he get a job and he didn’t like that idea. She and your mom are worried about him and Cam," Beth replied. Max’s head shot up and he walked closer to her.

"Why? Did they do something?" he asked.

"Not yet, but Mom says it’s like having a younger version of Dad and Uncle Kyle around at all times. And since Campbell is Kyle’s son, it only makes sense, and it worries them. With you and Mike it was always a balance. You leveled out his deviant tendencies, but Jack and Cam don’t have that. They do hang out with Jules and Kat a lot, so I’m hoping the girls with straighten them out," Beth replied. She caught Max’s raised eyebrow and smirked.

"Wait, they hang out with my sisters? Am I going to need to have a talk with those two?" he wondered. Beth smiled, enjoying the protective older brother streak that Max displayed towards his sisters.

"Well, you can find out for yourself in just a few days. Then we’ll be back in Roswell for Christmas," Beth said happily. When she didn’t heard Max’s positive response, she looked up at him and caught the guilty look on his face.

"I don’t think I’m going to be able to go home this year," he said softly. Beth felt her heart plummet.

"What? No, Max!"

"I don’t think I can take the time away from the hospital," he admitted. Beth tamped down her disappointment.

"I can’t believe you won’t be there! Your sisters will be crushed! And Aunt Liz! Max, are you sure you can’t go?" she asked.

"I’ve tried Beth, but unless the entire city of New York just screeches to a halt, I won’t be able to make it," he replied. He thought he saw tears on her eyelashes and he sat down next to her, brushing her cheek gently.

"Hey, I’m sorry. But you’ll all still have fun without me," he said, trying to convince her. She fixed him with her eyes, glistening with tears.

"It won’t be the same without you there Max!" she took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks. "I’m sorry, I know you hate it when I cry."

Max felt as though something had tightened in his chest. He did hate to see her cry, but he hated it even more that he was the cause of it. He put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her close.

"It’s ok," he murmured into her hair as she turned to him and slipped her arms around his shoulders. He closed his eyes and forgot for a second, finding himself back eight years, holding his girlfriend tightly in his arms. And he forgot that they weren’t in a ballroom in Roswell, New Mexico, he forgot that they were sitting in Central Park in the middle of December with the cold wind blowing around them.

And he forgot, just for a few seconds, that she wasn’t his.