Pt 5

An hour after David left, Liz peered back into her bedroom. Max was lying on the bed with his eyes shut. Even from this distance away she could hear that his breathing was getting raspy. The broken ribs were beginning to affect his lungs. It didn’t look as though he had healed at all. Liz supposed that made sense. His body’s natural reaction to this kind of a beating would be to automatically heal himself. But Max couldn’t heal himself, so he just wasn’t getting any better. In fact, it looked as though he was getting worse. Liz hoped that he would last long enough for the serum to wear off.

She chastised herself for that last thought. This was Max. Max was the strongest person she knew, both physically and emotionally. If anyone could pull through, it was him. Liz didn’t know what she would do if he didn’t make it. Now that she had him, she didn’t think she could deal with loosing him again. Just his presence, regardless of how weak it was, made her feel better, safer.

Liz couldn’t keep the concern out of her eyes, as she moved across the room, and sat beside him on his bed, taking his good hand into hers, and clasping it tightly. His eyes flipped open, and he gave her a little half smile.

If Liz had any doubts about why Max came back to Roswell for her, they left immediately with one look at that smile of his. It was for her, and her alone. She knew that from the first time she saw it. No one else in her entire life had ever given her a look like that one, a look which held more love and adoration than most people found in their entire lives. But Liz had managed to find it, in this visitor from another planet, who seemed to have been put on earth just for her.

"Hi." Max greeted her.

Liz smiled back at him. Once again, she was amazed that he was back with her. What had she done to deserve a gift as great as Max Evans?

"Hey Max. I take it your powers still aren’t working."

Max laughed weakly. Even his laugh sounded painful. She could tell that he was trying so hard to be strong for her. "No, they aren’t."

"Um, I talked to David about the serum. He said that it should wear off by this time tomorrow night. Of course, we don’t know for sure about that. Your body could react differently to it, and reject it sooner…"

Liz’s voice drifted off, and he understood what she wasn’t saying. It could take longer too.

"Well, let’s hope for sooner then." Liz nodded in response.

They sat there in an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds, both of them needing to talk, but not knowing where to start. Seconds began to stretch into minutes. Max knew if one of them didn’t speak up soon, then they would never get out what needed to be said.

"Liz?"

"Yeah?"

"I’m sorry." Oh God. He was apologizing for coming back! Liz didn’t want him to regret coming back!

"Max, this isn’t your fault. It’s more my fault then yours. I was the one who asked you to come back to Roswell. I knew how dangerous it would be for you, and I still asked. I got you into this. It was the least I can do to get you out of it."

"I wasn’t talking about this. I was talking about everything. I’ve done nothing but cause you pain in the tenure of our…friendship. First I played games with your heart. Kissing you, and taking you out, but then pulling back at the first sign of trouble. Then I dumped you for another girl. To this day I don’t know what possessed me to do that. And then I ran out on you, left your life without a word said between us for ten years, before showing up on your wedding day, and messing with you some more. You never deserved any of this, Liz. I’ve caused you outrageous amounts of pain."

"Yes, you did. But I loved you all the same." Max stared at her with his mouth hanging open. She loved him? She had never told him that before. Max felt like singing! If Liz Parker loved him, he could do anything. But how could she love him after all that had happened?

"Why? How could you love someone who’s caused you so much harm."

Liz grimaced. How could she explain it to him? Liz loving Max was as natural to her as birds flying or fish swimming. You can’t explain something that just comes naturally to you.

"Because you’re Max Evans. Because I knew the moment that you first touched me that I would love you forever, and that nothing could ever change that feeling. Because someone once told me that no matter what we’d go through, it would all be worthwhile because we’d be together, and I knew the truth in that statement in my heart from day one. Because we’ve managed to make it through every door that’s blocked our way. I love you, Max Evans. And nothing will ever change that."

Liz sighed. It didn’t sound right. There was no good way to put her love into words. But she supposed that explanation would have to do.

Max’s heart pounded at her words. He didn’t know her feelings were that strong, still, after all these years. Ironic, that she quoted him in her explanation. He smiled. He meant those words then, and he still did now. It had been tough, everything they had been through since then, but it was okay, because they were together now.

"I love you too, Liz. I’ve always loved you. I never stopped loving you."

Their eyes burned into one another as they watched each other with a fiery passion that neither knew they had in them. Liz leaned over and kissed Max lightly on the forehead, and he squeezed her hand in recognition. They knew in that moment without a doubt that their love was going to last, that they would make it through this obstacle, and whatever other ones came up in the future.

"We should be able to leave tomorrow, Max. Get as much rest as possible tonight." Max nodded, silently accepting that she was coming with him. They’d never be apart again.

It took every effort in Liz, to unlock their hands and pull away from Max. She didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to stay there by his side all night, but she knew that it would help them both in the long run if she slept on the couch in the front room. They both needed a full night’s rest if they were going to be traveling through the next night.