~chapter 13~

Liz tilted her head to the side as she contemplated the man standing in front of her. "What’s the matter, Max? Can’t think of anything to say?" Her voice softened as her eyes shimmered with unsummoned tears. "You know there was a time you had so much to say to me…"

"Do you remember that, Max? That night? That one perfect night when you…" Liz paused to fight back tears that were fearlessly unconquerable. "…Max…you made all of my dreams come true." Her voice dropped to a faint whisper. "Do you even remember that? Our dance? Our seasons?"

"Every star. Every rainbow." Max swallowed hard, his eyes intently locked with hers. "Every falling leaf and every fresh snowflake." He took a ragged breath, his eyes beginning to shine with unshed tears. "Liz Parker, I remember everything…"


She heard a click then tiny points of light began to twinkle overhead. Stars. Another click and a spotlight illuminated the space before her. Liz let out a gasp. "Oh wow! Oh my God. Max…" Liz took a few slow steps forward and gazed around, her eyes growing wide with delight. "This is…"

Liz couldn’t find the words. The scene that greeted her was just that. A scene. In a theater. Standing in the center of a circular stage, Liz glanced around her taking in her surroundings. Above her she saw stage lights and catwalks. Heavy maroon-colored curtains created a semi-circle behind her blocking out her view of three fourths of the theater’s seating on her sides and to the back. The floor was painted black, the shape of the stage--curved and jutting out toward an empty auditorium while the smell of fresh paint mixed with the musty odor of costumes hanging on racks somewhere nearby.

As if that perception alone triggered some action, a sudden fresh scent of flowers floated around her, overshadowing all of her other senses. Her eyes drifted closed and a delighted smile hovered over her lips as she allowed herself to just feel. And, suddenly, what she felt was that she had been placed into the Garden of Eden.

And that feeling wasn’t wrong. Especially since Max had somehow transformed a fourth of the auditorium seating that she was facing into a virtual garden scene. A sturdy platform extended out from the circle stage Liz was standing on, over folded chairs to the back exit row. Like an arched rainbow, a cobblestone bridge connected the stage to the platform with such grace that Liz felt she could literally dance over it to reach the world Max had created beyond.

On that platform, was a set with painted scenery so beautiful that Liz’s eyes stung with tears. Trees and flowers of every kind. A bubbling fountain in the center. Bright blue skies and birds taking flight into a bright unknown. And intimate little benches scattered here and there for lovers to sit, hold hands and whisper dreams of their future together.

But if it was only a set, then why did Liz feel like she could take a step forward and be part of the action depicted? If it was only painted, then how was it possible to smell each flower and feel the soft spring breeze blowing through her hair? It all seemed so familiar…but so surreal…

"Max…." Liz's eyes, dancing with curiosity, squinted into the darkness beyond the bright spotlight shining down on her as she swept her hand gracefully around her. "This is amazing. How did you do all of this?"

"Magic." Max’s voice steadily came toward her from the shadows.

Liz’s smile brightened and her eyes began to shine with unabashed love. "With you around, I can believe it." She glanced back out at the garden waiting to be experienced. "But…certainly you had some help. As much as I love you, your artistic abilities leave a lot to be desired…"

With a mock gasp, Max came closer to his dreamgirl. "I'm telling you, no faith at all…"

"Max…"

Max chuckled and owned up to his 'magic'. "Alright. They owed Milton a favor for using some of the props from the UFO Center for a play. And Milton owed me, so I worked out a little deal. Plus Michael helped with the painting…"

"You got Michael to help you?" Incredulity laced Liz’s words as her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"For a price."

"Oh, no. What are you going to have to do?" Liz asked curiously with a near groan.

"It’s a secret." He paused. "Don’t worry. Maria’s going to love me for it."

"Ahh, something romantic, huh?" Liz chuckled. "Michael and romance…that would really interesting to watch. Think maybe I could…"

"Uh…no. The conditions included complete secrecy." Max informed her before a light note of teasing entered his voice. "Maybe if you're really good for me tonight, I might accidentally let it slip though…"

"Making deals left and right, aren'tcha?" Liz wagged her finger in the direction of his voice before turning toward the steps he was approaching. "You are such a schemer, Mr. Evans."

"Anything for you…" Max bounded up the stage steps with a grin and a question. "So, I take it you know where you are now."

Liz nodded with a giggle as she reached out her hands to him. "Yes, of course I do. We’re at the Roswell Flying Theatre. Maria and I came her last summer to see 'Our Planet'. You know, Roswell’s take on ‘Our Town’."

Chuckling Max made it to her side and took her hands in his. "Yeah, the plays about aliens here usually suck. No accuracy at all. I mean, they actually portray us as having these grand other-world destinies, you know? Like…one play, they had the main alien who was totally in love with this human, right. He had to leave her, his soulmate, because some blonde-haired former bride of his traveled to earth to take him back to his planet for some grand intergalactic war or something."

Liz laughed at the look of disgust that traveled over Max's face. "You're kidding."

Max raised his hand in a Boy Scout salute. "I swear on my honor as a Boy Scout. Oh, and get this…the blonde that played the part of his 'bride'…no chemistry with the alien. Zilch. Nada. None."

Liz scrunched up her nose. "Really? Ugh. If the plots are going to be so twisted, couldn't they at least get actors that are more…"

"Believable?" Max supplied for her with a grin and a shrug. " I guess not. I'm telling you, Liz, even I could have more chemistry acting opposite a coat rack..."

"Yeah?" Liz's voice lowered seductively as she coyly peered up at him under her long thick lashes. "Well, I wouldn't care as long as you…" She wrapped one arm around his neck. "…have chemistry…" The other arm followed suit. "…with me."

Max grinned as his eyes began to dance with desire. He moved forward a few steps and leisurely wrapped his arms around Liz's waist then in a swift, bold move pulled her tight against him. Wiggling his eyebrows at her when he heard her sharp intake of breath as their lower bodies melded against each other, Max leaned down to nuzzle her nose with his. "Oh, baby. Don't you know? You and I have enough chemistry to light up the world."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes dancing with desire and love. "Not to mention, if they really knew anything about aliens, they would know that we don't let go of real love…"

Liz shook her head slightly as her smile brightened her eyes. "No?"

"No." Max winked at her devilishly. "At least this alien doesn't." Max's head lowered and Liz's lips were captured in a sweet, gentle kiss full of all the promises his heart ached to make. Promises his heart would make before the night was over. Pulling away slowly, he reluctantly released her lips just as Liz let out a sigh of contentment. Inability to stop the grin from appearing on his face at the knowledge he'd been the one to give her that sigh wrapped itself around Max as he stared at her.

She was so beautiful. And smart. Not to mention sweet. His Liz. Forever.

At least she’d be his forever if all went well tonight. His eyes began to twinkle as he gazed down at her still closed eyes and the way a dreamy smile danced across her red lips. When he spoke his voice was low and husky with suggestive desire. "You know the other thing they say about us?"

Dark eyes slowly opened and Liz shook her head slowly. The moment her eyes met his, she was plunged into a sea of tender passion. And she was filled with such an amazing sense of wonder. That she, small town girl Liz Parker could be loved so much…wanted to much…it was…amazing.

Max's thumb lightly caressed her lips as his eyes slowly roamed the planes of her beautiful face. In that moment, Max Evans felt that somehow on his way to this planet, he'd managed to reach out and grab the brightest most vibrant, shimmering star in the sky. And now, she was wrapped in his arms. "They say we aliens have these amazing sexual powers."

"Really?" A slender eyebrow raised as Liz’s eyes darkened with desire. Her gaze moved from Max’s eyes to his slightly parted lips. "What…uh…kind of powers is it rumored that you have?"

Max licked his lips unconsciously and let out a light sigh as he watched the focus of her eyes drift to his lips. "Well…we have these heightened senses, you see. Something about being able to sense and anticipate our lover’s every desire before they even desire it. Seeing into their souls and all that…"

"Well, I’d say we definitely have the seeing into each others souls thing down pat." Liz commented before nuzzling her nose lightly against his, her soft warm mouth just whispering against his. "I think we’ll have to test out that theory about anticipating a mate’s desire though. In fact, right not would be a really good time to experiment…" She leaned in to claim his lips…

Max pulled back and put a restraining finger against Liz’s lips. Smiling down at her playfully crestfallen expression, Max's eyes twinkled. "Not yet. An experiment of that magnitude needs proper preparation."

A slow, knowing smile hovered over Liz's lips. "Really? And what kind of preparation are we talking about here?"

And there was his opening.

Max casually snapped his fingers.

From somewhere up above the soft strains of a love song began to play causing Liz to pull back from Max's arms and look around her in awed surprise. "Max…how did you…" When she turned back to him, his hand was held out to her. "Dance a rainbow with me?" Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes stung with sudden tears when her gaze met his so full of love and adoration.

Slipping her hand into his, Liz gazed up into his eyes intently and waited breathlessly for him to continue this magic show he had planned. It didn't take him long to comply with that silent request as he pulled her closer and whispered in her ear…

"Do you know that every color of the rainbow can be associated with certain concepts or emotions?" One finger lazily played with the chocolate strands of hair falling loosely around Liz's face as Max anchored Liz's petite body to his with an arm wrapped firmly around her waist. "There's red for passion. Yellow for joy." His fingers lightly grazed the exposed skin of her neck. " Green for jealousy. Blue for peace. And violet for royalty."

"Which makes perfect sense to me…now that you're in my life." Max turned them slowly, dancing them right toward the arched bridge as he continued to speak in soft, tender tones as his eyes blazed with love when he pulled back slightly to look down at her. "See, you're the queen of my heart, Liz. There has never been anyone like you. Not on this planet. Not on mine. Never…anywhere…could there ever be someone that brings me the complete peace that I feel when I'm with you."

"The world could be crumbling at my feet, Liz, and I'd still be able to stand through it all as long as you were standing with me." Max's gaze dropped as a sheepish smile ghosted his lips. The pressure of his arm around Liz's waist increased possessively. "Which is all the more reason why I can never let you go." Max's eyes slowly raised to meet hers head on as a promise formed between them as they continued to sway to the music. "You're mine, Liz. Now and forever. I'll never let anyone hold you like this…" Max's hand cupped the side of Liz's face, his thumb slowly caressing her rosy cheeks. "…or feel the touch of your bare skin…or look into the depths of your eyes and see all the love that I'm seeing right now staring back at me…."

"I own your heart, Liz." Emotion poured through Max's words as his fingers traced the fullness of her lips before dropping to lightly lay over her heart. "Just like you own mine." He gathered one of her tiny hands in his and laid it carefully over his heart. "No one will ever be able to claim either. Not like this. Not after tonight…"

A slow, brilliant smile began at the corner of his mouth and made its way straight into his eyes as his hand came up to arrest the tears that were beginning to fall down Liz's cheeks. "You make me so happy. I never knew…before you, Liz, I never knew what it would be like to laugh without reservation. Where in the past, I had to muster up the strength to force a smile, I can't stop the smiles now. I can't stop the joy. It's because of you."

Their feet were now gliding over cobblestone as they topped the stone bridge. The air around them was swirling and soft. Faint sounds of birds chirping began to mix with the strains of music somewhere overhead. Liz wanted to look around her. To see where they were going. To know what she was hearing. And feel where the sudden hum of life that was strumming through her body was coming from.

But she couldn't look away from Max's darkening amber eyes.

Blazing with desire. Light with adoration. Dancing with love.

They captivated her. Pulled her into his silver web of magic. Taking her into the center of the fire.

"Passion." The one word fell from Max's lips in a heated whisper as his eyes drifted closed and he nuzzled his nose against hers. "It rules my actions. Wraps itself around my mind. Simmers in my blood." Max rested his forehead against hers and cupped her face with his hands, his glittering eyes opening to meet hers, dark with unadulterated desire. "I want you, Liz. I want all of you. Your heart, soul, mind…body."

Liz felt tongues of fire licking her feet as heat swept upward through her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. Her heart began pounding with an irregular beat as the blood in her veins began to boil with hunger. The faint hum that had begun pulsating through her earlier was now strumming away with a fierceness that startled her. She gripped Max's waist for support.

The air around her seemed to breathe. The ground under her feet began to awaken. With each word Max spoke, the world around her literally felt…alive.

"But I also want your dreams. I want to make them real. That's my only passion now. To live for you. To dream your dreams. To make you smile. Hear you laugh." One tiny tear slipped from the corner of Liz's eye and Max leaned forward, kissing it away with a whisper. "Banish your tears..."

Max brought their dance to a gentle close as he pulled back from Liz's embrace and locked an intense, penetrating gaze on her face. "Let me dance a rainbow with you, Liz. Not just tonight…but through every season of our lives…"

Liz's voice was frozen. Her heart was shouting a resounding 'yes' but she couldn't say a word. She knew he was waiting. She could see it in his eyes. Somehow she knew this moment would change everything for them. It would seal whatever fate may have planned…

A slight nod of her head and Liz's voice was suddenly freed. "Yes, Max. Every season…every dance…"

With her words, a bright light flashed around them and Liz gasped when she saw a faint, multi-colored glow coming from the ground under their feet. Her breathing uneven, Liz struggled to make sense of what had just happened. "Oh, my God. Max…you've…you've created a rainbow…out of the bridge…"

Her tear-filled eyes snapped up to meet his an instant smile spreading over her lips. Max beamed at her in response. "No. We did it. And that's not all." He took one hand in his and wrapped an arm around her waist turning her toward the scene that had been painted on the platform waiting for them. Her hands flew to her mouth as she let out another gasp as memory crashed down on her. "Oh God. It's…alive. It's…it's…"

The air stirred with sweet sounds of the bubbling fountain and softly rustling leaves. The birds' songs combined and became louder till it seemed that they were now chirping out a new love song composed just for Max and Liz. Brilliant, vibrant colors blossomed right before Liz's eyes as flowers opened their fragile petals and released the sweet fragrances of the season.

"Spring." Max whispered in her ear with a smile. "The first of our seasons, Liz. Straight from…"

"My dreams." Liz finished in awe. She spun around in Max's arms. "Max, how did you…" A grin split her face. "You saw my dreams, didn't you? Dreams that I didn't even remember till now. Till this very moment…"

Max nodded and looked down shyly. Raising his eyes back to hers there was a hint of uncertainty. "It's ok, isn't it? That I saw them and…"

"Oh, Max." She barely breathed his name. "This is the most...amazing thing anyone's ever done for me." She reached her arms out to him and he walked into them with ease, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body close to his.

"So, you like it?" His voice was soft. Vulnerable. Unsure.

Liz's smile widened as she nodded her dark head, her eyes beginning to shine with tears. "I love it." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face toward hers with her hand, nuzzling nose against nose, whispering against his lips. "I love you."

As their lips melded together, Liz left no room for doubt that her words were true as their love seeped into the Spring air and whispered its way through the trees...