The memories began surging through Liz’s mind so suddenly, they consumed her whole being. It almost seemed out of nowhere, completely out of context with their present moment. The pain filled her heart so completely, sharp and agonizing, that she didn’t even notice the sting as Max took her virginity. All she heard were the words in her mind…all she felt was the stinging blow to her heart, as it all came flooding back to her in that single instant.
“Liz, there's something I need to tell you. It's about Tess and me...”
“You're together now, I know.”
“It's more than that. Our relationship is…uh, we spent the night together. Liz...Tess is pregnant.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“It can't survive here, he's dying... We're leaving.”
“Where?”
“We're going back.”
“Back? When is this happening?”
“Tomorrow, just after dawn.”
“You can't leave before this is resolved.”
“The way the granolith works...”
“I don't really want to hear about how the damn…”
“I know you don't…”
“You can't just leave us with a killer out there.”
“I don't have a choice!”
“Not anymore, but you did and then you got Tess pregnant!”
“I know you're upset.”
“I…I trusted you, I gave you everything. I jumped off bridges for you, I broke laws for you, I risked getting shot for you, I trusted you! And you go off…God, with Tess? God, I saved myself for you!”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Max stop! It was Tess. Tess killed Alex.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“I've been really wrong about a lot. But I was right about one thing: To get you into my life, to be around you, to love you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
"We let her beat us. I mean, look at us. We're not even living. It didn't have to be this way. She took so much from us when she left…but she hadn't won yet. We were still here…we were still living. We had a chance then to take our lives back…but we've let that chance slip away, Liz, and now look at us. We're just…empty."
~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’m nothing without you…”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oh God, Liz…” Max cried out as he found himself returning to the present, the memories fading from his mind. His hips were slowly, gently rocking against hers in a steady rhythm, causing a surge of pleasure to overtake him. Closing his eyes, Max abandoned himself to the sensations coursing through him, his dream coming true before him, the one thing he had ever wanted…Liz…finally back in his arms. And now he could also remember just how miraculous this moment truly was for him. He was making love to the only girl he had ever wanted.
Liz…
Max’s eyes suddenly flew open, as he gazed down at Liz, concern flooding him as he stilled his motions, and with one glance his worst fear was confirmed.
He wasn’t the only one to regain his memories.
Beneath him, Liz’s eyes were closed, her face contorted in pain, as tears streaked down her cheeks.
A cold fear clenched Max’s heart…this wasn’t how he would have wanted it to happen. The most special moment in their newly budding relationship was now mixed thoroughly with the painful knowledge of his past mistakes. For Liz in particular it must be devastating. He needed to do something, anything to make it better for her.
“Liz…” Max murmured gently, shamefully, as he slowly brought a hand to her face, caressing her cheek with a feather-light brush, before cupping her face in his hands and gently wiping away her tears. “God, Liz…I’m so sorry.” Max cried, gently stroking her cheeks, praying that she would just open her eyes and look at him.
His wish was answered as her eyes opened, meeting his own, a distant look in her eyes, like she wasn’t even there…completely emotionally removed from Max.
“I can’t believe you slept with her.” Liz mumbled, her voice steady, distant. Her words tore at Max’s heart, filling him with all the guilt that had been buried within him for the past six months.
“It was the biggest mistake of my life.” Max admitted, his own tears beginning to fill his eyes. He glanced down shamefully, unable to hold her gaze any longer, and stiffened, when he found himself focused on miles of Liz’s bare skin. He had forgotten where they were, what they were doing. Stiffening, Max realized that he probably wasn’t helping Liz out, filling her the way he was at that moment. It was the last thing he wanted to do at that moment, but slowly he began to pull away.
“Max…no.” Liz suddenly cried, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him back down against her. Max found himself staring at her in disbelief, as she leaned up and hungrily attacked his lips. He was still frozen in shock as she began moving her hips against his again, which slowly pulled him back to life, as her actions initiated a surge of desire rushing through his whole being.
Max couldn’t resist joining her in the dance of their bodies, thrusting against her as he pulled his lips back, gazing into her eyes as he gently asked, “Liz…are you sure?”
“We can’t let her beat us.” Liz replied firmly, leaning up and pressing her lips against him once again.
“Oh God I love you!” Max moaned against her lips, abandoning himself to the sensations flowing through him as their bodies began moving more insistently in rhythm with each other. The tension and desire began to quickly build, and Max lost himself in the new feelings coursing through him, the love in his heart aching powerfully for her, as he lost himself in the pleasure of their lovemaking. Their bodies tuned in to each other’s needs almost naturally, as they reached their peaks in unison, clinging desperately to each other as they plunged over the edge of oblivion.
