~ chapter 6 ~

"So? How was it? Was he hard on you?" Maria asked as glanced at Michael in the mirror before she ran a brush through her hair and applied hair spray.

Michael sat on the bed and shrugged as he watched his wife primp for this disastrous dinner celebration they had all agreed to. "The usual Max stuff. You know…there could be danger. What about kids? Illnesses. Nasedo…"

Maria set her brush down and checked her make-up one last time. "And what did you say?"

"That we talked it all through before we decided anything and it all came down to one very important thing…" Michael paused and raised his eyes to Maria.

Hearing the tone in his voice, Maria turned around and leaned back against the dresser crossing her arms in front of her. "And that was?"

"That we love each other. That life is too short to not spend it living each day with the person you were hatched to be with." Michael grinned when he saw the smile beginning on Maria's lips. "And that he's an idiot for not taking Liz Parker in his arms the next time he sees her and just abducting her for the rest of her life."

Maria smiled at the thought of serious, responsible Max doing something so rash and unexpected. "Now there would be a real photo opportunity." Maria quipped as she walked to Michael and slid onto his lap wrapping her arms around his neck. "But, you know, that just might work. After all, that's how we began and look at how perfect we are together."

Michael nodded and pulled her closer to him as he slipped his arms around her tiny waist. "I agree. Perfect." He leaned forward and captured Maria's lips with his. Smiling contentedly when he pulled away, he ran his fingers lightly over her shoulder. "So. What about Liz?"

Maria sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure. She barely spoke a word to me after everyone left and when she did, it was about our marriage. Not a word about Max no matter how many openings I gave her." Maria began playing with the hair at the base of Michael's neck. "I think she's scared. You know, to say anything. I think she knows if she does the gig is up and I'll know she's never gotten over him and…"

"Even she won't be able to deny it then." Michael finished for her. "I know that routine well."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I used to use it all the time when I was trying to deny how I felt about you." Michael looked down and took Maria's hand in his. "I talked to Tess. She's still on our side."

Maria nodded as she smirked. "Who would have thought Tess and I would actually be on the same side for once? You know, it was actually kinda fun getting in her face knowing we were working together. Do you think Max knows? You know, that we planned all of this?"

Michael shook his head. "Nah. Tess told him she came when she found out Izzie had drug him to the fashion show. She said she figured he'd need help getting out of some tight places with the girls Iz had lined up for him. She did a great job pretending to not know Liz was here."

"What did Max say about the way she treated Liz?"

"He was pissed, of course. In fact, I've not seen him that angry in years." Michael answered as he nuzzled Maria's neck for a moment. "If you ask me, I think he was more upset with himself for not doing more to stop her though. Then again, what could he have done without blowing his whole 'Tess is my destiny' cover?"

Maria nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, that would have been interesting. To see Max defend Liz to Tess after all these years. Especially with Ben there."

"Hey. How did that happen anyway?" Michael asked as he pulled back and looked into Maria's eyes.

Maria shrugged. "Beats me. I was going on the assumption that guys don't get into making wedding plans. You certainly didn't."

"Maria. We barely made any plans. We just…"

"…did it." Maria finished for him as she leaned forward for a kiss. "And it was the best nearly spontaneous thing I've ever done in my life."

"Mine too." Michael looked out the window, thinking. "You know, maybe when this all blows over we should do it for real. You know, so everyone can be there. Liz. Max. Izzie. Alex. Tess. What do you think?"

A slow smile captured Maria's lips. "Really? You'd do that for me? Tuxes and flowers and bridesmaids. The whole nine yards?"

"Sure would. If that's what you wanted."

"Well…it might be nice." Maria grinned as she thought about it. Then a new thought struck her and she rolled her eyes. "But about Tess. I know we're trying this new level of relationship with her, but do I really have to be like really, really nice to her? Or like ask her to actually *be* in the wedding, would I?"

"Babe. She's my sister. Besides, she's really trying to help. In fact, she's probably working on Max right now." Michael reminded Maria gently then amended his statement when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "But you know, I won't make you if you really don't want to. Until you decide, maybe you should go see Liz before dinner. You know…get her used to the idea Max isn't over her yet especially after seeing Tess with him today."

Maria's face brightened into a wide smile. "How did you know that's exactly what I was thinking of doing?"

"Oh, baby. Don't you know by now…we're connected." Michael shrugged at Maria's raised eyebrow. "Ok. So maybe we don't get the flashes Max and Liz do, but who needs 'em when we've got this?" Michael pulled Maria's lips to his and flipped her over on the bed unexpectedly tickling her and causing the room to suddenly fill with giggles and squeals of pure happiness.

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

Liz groaned and removed her clothes for the tenth time since she'd begun getting ready for this sure to be nightmare of a dinner. Walking to the closet she ran her hand along the clothes hung neatly on the hangers then pulled out the floral tank dress that Ben loved to see her in so much.

Nodding with satisfaction, Liz began to dress. This is perfect. She'll wear Ben's favorite outfit, the perfume that drives Ben wild--or as wild as she wants Ben to be--and she'll even wear her hair down, curled, the way Ben likes. In fact, the way she can get through this night is to make it all about Ben. That should show everyone just how important he is to her. Just how right they are for one another. How happy she is that he is in her life.

Pulling the zipper up on the side of the dress and tossing a flimsy shawl around her shoulders, Liz moved to stand in front of the mirror with a feeling of triumph. Her eyes swept from head to toe then back again as tears suddenly began to puddle in the corner of her eyes. Max. He probably wouldn't even recognize her. "No, no, no! Dammit! This is all wrong!" Liz exclaimed to herself as she stomped her foot. She began to angrily unzip the dress and threw the shawl on the floor.

Passing her hand over her eyes she let out a strangled, frustrated yell. "Aaaarrrggghhh! Damn you, Max Evans, for what you do to me!" She added under her breath.

Why? Why had she agreed to this? Why couldn't she have just told Ben she had plans or that she didn't think it was a good idea. Anything but 'yes, I think it'd be a great idea' should have popped out of her mouth. But it didn't. And now, she was stuck. Having dinner. Making polite conversation. Pretending to not hate the woman who was in her place by Max's side.

No. She had to stop this. That was no longer her place. It hadn't been for years. Tess had made sure of that. And Max had let her. Fighting tears back, she was startled to hear a voice at her door. "Whoa! What happened here? An earthquake? Hurricane? Tornado? Combination of the three?" Maria stepped into the room and gestured toward the clothes laying all over the bed, floor and dresser.

"I…can't find anything to wear." Liz admitted lamely trying to mask the real reason she was having such a hard time getting ready.

"Can't find anything?" Maria queried. "Liz, you look like you've got a whole boutique laying on your bedroom floor here!"

Liz kicked a pair of wayward shoes in the direction of the closet. "Yeah, well, for some reason nothing's working for me tonight!"

"You know what? Why don't we just call the whole thing off? I could call everyone…" Maria moved toward the desk with the phone deciding to try a new tactic.

"NO!" Liz grabbed Maria's arm and practically shouted when the thought of not seeing Max again flashed through her mind.

Maria's eyebrow raised and she fought to hold back a knowing smile as she watched her friend stumble over her own words trying to explain her sudden aversion to missing this evening's festivities. "I…I mean, no. It's…" Liz glanced at the clock. "…you know, it's like too late now to cancel anyway. Besides, it would look strange for Ma…" Liz caught herself from finishing Max's name and tried to cover quickly. "…for everyone to show up and me not be there. After all…it is your marriage we're celebrating."

A dismissing wave of Maria's hand was accompanied by a half-smile. "Please, Liz. The only member of the pod squad I'm interested in is my Michael. And we celebrate our love all the time. I don't want you to do anything that's gonna hurt you this much."

Liz straightened her back and raised her chin in defiance. "Hurt me? Come on, Maria. I'm not hurting. I just can't find anything to wear." Blinking her eyes a few times she turned toward the dresser. "Why…why do you think this dinner would…you know, hurt me?"

Maria crossed her arms in front of her. "Oh, I don't know, Liz. Watching Tess climb all over Max could be a bit disgusting to say the least."

Liz picked up a brush then dropped it with a loud thud before turning around and heading for the closet determination flashing in her eyes. "I couldn't care less what Max does with that hag. And if you think I’m having second thoughts about this dinner because of Max you are dead wrong."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Really." Liz stated as she began to once again look through her closet.

Maria studied Liz's back for a moment trying to decide which tactic to use next. She'd already tried to call the dinner off but Liz proved her desire to see Max again was larger than her fear. She mentioned Tess and received the proper jealous-I-couldn't-care-less attitude. Now for the sympathy route. "Well, that's good. Cuz I wouldn't want you to start feeling bad for him."

"Feeling bad? For Max Evans?" Liz almost laughed as she turned to face Maria. "You're kidding right? After what he did to me? How he…cheated on me with that…that…" Liz's lips formed a tight line as if trying to keep a torrent of descriptive words from flying her mind out her mouth.

Forcing a mature outlook on the situation, Liz folded her hands in front of her and lied...to herself. "Look, Maria. I've grown up a lot since high school. Now that I've found someone that makes me deliriously happy, I wish the same for Max. And if that witch makes him happy…which he seems to be…then what possible reason would there be to feel bad for him?"

"No reason. I'm just thinking that not everything *is* as it seems." Maria stated as she began picking up clothes and laying them neatly on the bed inspecting each outfit in an effort to help Liz find something to wear.

"W…what do you mean by that, Maria? Do you think he's not happy?"

Maria shrugged her shoulders and held up a flowing white blouse with a printed skirt. "How about this?"

Liz stepped forward and grabbed the blouse and skirt from Maria's hand. Tossing it on the bed, she put her hands on her hips and glared at Maria. "Maria. Talk to me. Do you know something about Max and Tess that isn't…"

"I don't know anything, Liz." Maria lied as she held her hands up, palms outward as if to defend herself. Strange how interested Liz was in Max and Tess' relationship after declaring she couldn't care less. Maria bit back a smile. Oh, this was definitely going to work.

"It just seemed…" She took a deep breath. "Max just seemed…he was really, really happy to see you today, Liz. Like the way it used to be, you know. When the two of you were dating and he'd walk into the Crashdown. The moment your eyes met, everything else was forgotten. No one else existed but the two of you. It was the same today. There was that same feeling in the room…that magic, you know. You could tell he felt it too by the way his eyes just lit up. And he seemed just as uncomfortable to see Tess as he was happy to see you. So, maybe he's not as happy as he pretends to be. That's all, I'm saying."

"Oh." Liz's eyes dropped as she considered Maria's words. Was it possible Liz hadn't been imagining things? That the same look she was so used to seeing in his eyes was still there? And it was still reserved for her? No. She couldn't start thinking this way. She couldn't bear to have her heart broken again. Besides, she was with a wonderful man that treated her like a queen. They had a normal relationship. One without flashes of stars and FBI agents and shape-shifting killers. With Ben she had a solid foundation of friendship. A steady, secure love. What more could she possibly want?

Flipping her hair behind her shoulders she once more headed to the closet. "You're just imaging things, Maria. I'm sure he was just shocked to see me…us...after all this time. It's no big deal."

"Ok. Right. No big deal." Maria agreed. "So, this dinner. You sure Ben's going to be ok with it? I mean, I know he suggested it and all, but really…having dinner with your alien ex and your fiance'…it's gotta get a bit awkward for him."

Liz swallowed hard and kept her attention focused on the closet even though her eyes saw nothing but Max's face the way he'd looked at her earlier. "Maria. Ben…doesn't know."

Maria scooped up some clothes and pushed them to the edge of the bed. "What do you mean Ben doesn't know?"

"About Max."

Maria chuckled. "I didn't think you'd told him about the alien part, Liz. That would weird out anybody..."

Liz turned around her eyes cast downward and her hands rubbing together nervously. "No, Maria. He doesn't know about Max...period. I've never told him."

Maria's mouth dropped open. "He doesn't even know the two of you dated? Liz…how could you not…"

"It was too painful, ok?" Liz took a deep breath and tucked her hair behind her ears. "When I left Roswell after high school I just wanted to forget. Everything. Max. Tess. The FBI…Nasedo. You're the only one I've ever spoken to it about…and you know how little that's been."

"Yeah. Like maybe twice a year." Maria stated before letting out a low whistle. "Wow. No wonder you're nervous."

"What do you mean by that?" Liz asked defensively.

"Just that I know I'd be nervous too if I was having dinner with my overly-perceptive lawyer finace' and the alien I've never been able to hide my feelings for. God, Liz. You and Max have one of your famous staring contests just once and the gig is up. Ben'll know everything." Shaking her head slightly she got up from the bed and headed toward the closet. "If fact, he probably already does…"

Reaching into the back of the closet she pulled out a cranberry colored slip dress with spaghetti straps. She eyed it carefully remembering when Liz wore it years ago. She was surprised Liz still had it. Then again, maybe not. After all, it had definitely gotten Max's motor running. That was a night Liz had never wanted to forget...

A devious smile played on her lips before she turned and handed the dress to Liz. "Here. Wear this."

Liz looked at the dress in Maria's hands and paled visibly. "Oh, Maria. I can't. That's the dress..."

Maria stepped up to Liz and pushed the dress into her hands. "Wear it. Oh and ah…put your hair up. You know, in a french twist like you wore that one time. I have a feeling this is going to be one helluva night."

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

Love. What on earth had possessed him to use that word? It had been obvious by the tension in the air that love was definitely not a common bond between the six other people standing in the room. Or if it had been once, it certainly wasn't any more. At least not the kind that was obvious to the casual observer. Friendship. Secrets. Surprise. Marriage. Anything else would have been a better choice of words.

So…why 'love'? Maybe it was to shut that irritating Tess up. Put her in her place for the way she'd treated Liz earlier. Maybe it was to let Maria and her new husband know they had his support in the midst of so much shock and rudeness. Maybe it had been the look Ben had seen on that Max guy's face as he gazed longingly at Liz. Or maybe…and this is probably the real reason…he wanted to let everyone in that room know exactly where he and Liz stood. How they felt about each other. How in love they were. Especially Max. Maybe even to remind Liz…

Ben sighed as he picked up his watch from his dresser and began to put it around his wrist trying to push away any unsettling thoughts that were plaguing his mind, but they wouldn't go. Thoughts of the past year and a half with Liz kept ruling his mind. How difficult it had been for him to reach through to her in the first place. Times along the way that she'd shut down emotionally as if there were places in her heart she wasn't willing to visit let alone give to him. The way her eyes would cloud over with indescribably pain at times when she was looking at the stars or a young couple so completely in love. They way they sparked to life earlier today in a way they never had before…when she saw Max Evans.

Up until this moment, in Ben's mind, this dinner had been a brilliant idea. He just knew one night together and it would be plain to everyone around just who Liz Parker's heart really belonged to. He just hoped the loser would have the strength to walk away gracefully in the end. Ben swallowed hard. On second thought, maybe he hadn't been so brilliant after all…

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

"So, Max, how are we going to play this?" Tess asked as she checked her lipstick in her compact mirror. Hearing no response, she glanced at Max out of the corner of her eye. He was sitting in the driver's seat staring ahead of him his hands holding onto the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.

"Max? Hey." Tess reached over and touched his arm gently until his eyes turned to focus on her.

"What?" He shook his head slightly and stared at Tess absently. "I'm sorry were you saying something?"

Sending him a sympathetic smile, Tess turned to face him. "Look, are you sure you want to do this?"

Max swallowed hard and turned his attention back to the door of the restaurant they would be entering in a matter of minutes. "Do I really have a choice?"

"We all have a choice, Max."

Max tossed her an annoyed look. "My choices were taken away from me years ago."

Tess looked away shot by the arrow Max had sent her with his words. "Yeah, well, you're not the only one who lost out on that deal, you know."

Max turned to face Tess, his eyes softening in response to her statement. "I'm sorry, Tess. I know this has been hard on you too."

Tess shrugged away her sadness and rolled her blue eyes. "Yeah, it's sooo hard pretending to be in love with such a hottie like you. Telling every Sally, Harriet and Diane to keep their hands off is a real chore. Oh, and the kissing part…" A smile began to tug at the corner of her lips as her eyebrows shot up in mock disgust. "…don't even get me started on that!"

Max started to chuckle as Tess made light of the 'deal' they'd shared for the last five years. That deal being she would pretend to be his girlfriend whenever Isabel got into one of her 'matchmaker' modes and tried to throw girls at him from every direction. It was easier that way. Less messy. She'd swoop in and claim him when one got too aggressive or forward and they'd leave hand in hand till they were out of sight. Then they'd go their separate ways.

It was the reason she'd showed up unexpectedly in Boston. Well, one of the reasons. When she got the message from Isabel telling her where she'd be this weekend and that she was taking Max with her, Tess could easily see the handwriting on the wall. Isabel was in 'matchmaker' mode and Max would need all the help he could get. Then there was Michael. She called him to let him know where she'd be. Just so he wouldn't worry, which since learning of their relationship he'd been prone to do. It was then that Michael informed her of his and Maria's plan to get Max and Liz face to face once more. Tess immediately jumped at the chance to join forces and see if there was any way of salvaging the last parts of Max's heart.

In turn, Max took care of Tess over the years. Looked out for her and helped her with her goal to become a research chemist. A goal that was becoming increasingly important since her time on earth was running out. Through the years they had learned to lean on each other…to become friends. Just friends. Reaching out his hand, Max covered hers with his and gave it a light squeeze. "Just so you know, there's no one else I'd rather be *not* doing anything with."

They shared a warm smile and a companionable silence for a moment before Tess spoke again. "Max, I need to say something to you and I need to you not interrupt. Even more than that, I really need you to listen and think about what I'm saying."

Max turned his attention once more to the outside world and let out a sigh knowing what she wanted to say and not being sure he was ready to hear it. "Alright. Go ahead."

"I know we've done this before. Lots of times. And I've never minded being a witch to all those girls because…well, because I never really thought any of them deserved you." Tess turned to look at Max once more. "But this is different. This is Liz. Not only does she deserve you, she's the reason you've needed my help all of these years. The reason you won't let anyone close to your heart."

Max opened his mouth to speak but Tess hurried on keeping him from voicing any protests. "You know it's true, Max. You've never stopped loving her. She's the reason…" Tess paused and took a shaky breath. "…that you and I never fulfilled the destiny we were put here for. The reason…I'm…" Tess paused when she felt Max's eyes on her. Tucking her wavy blonde hair behind her ear she continued allowing the unspoken word to hang in the air between them. It didn't need to be said. He knew what his love for Liz had cost them both. "Look, I know there was a reason for what we did in high school. For the lies we told and the parts we played, but this…"

Tess glanced out at the parking lot and made a gesture with her hand toward the restaurant. "This is a second chance, Max. A chance to make it all right again. To make things the way they were really meant to be. For you and Liz…"

"Nothing has changed, Tess. The same reasons still exist…"

"No, Max. You're wrong. Everything has changed." Tess responded back as her voice began to plead with him gently. "Don't you see that? Nasedo hasn't shown his face in years. I've made it much longer than we ever expected. Michael and Maria…Max, did you see how happy they were? How in love? Don't you see? Everything you've ever wanted will be waiting for you inside that door. All you have to do is let her know."

Trying to keep his voice level, Max kept his eyes straight ahead refusing to look at Tess. "You're wrong, Tess. Too much has happened. Too much time has passed." His eyes full of sadness and pain turned to Tess. "She's in love with him...getting married. She's moved on..."

"If you really believe that you're a fool." Tess interrupted hotly. "She's as much in love with you now as she was before. Hurt. Afraid. Even angry. But still in love. Eyes don't lie, Max. The way she looked at you…that kind of raw emotion can't be manufactured. And you're crazy to try to deny that it still exists between the two of you."

Max looked down at his hands and bit his lower lip. He knew exactly what Tess was talking about. He'd seen it too. The way her eyes danced when she looked at him. The ecstatic look on her face. But there was something deep within him that was afraid to reach out and grasp the possibilities of it all. A part of him that, after all he'd seen in his life, still couldn't believe in miracles. "Look, Tess. As much as I want to believe I could have it all back again, I know it's not possible. Not now. Even if it were, I'm not sure I could do it to her. That I could rip her from the happiness she's managed to find and throw her back into our world of fear and looking over our shoulders every second. Love doesn't do that. I…will not do that to her."

Seeing that Max's mind at least was made up, Tess gave in…for the moment. "Ok. I'll play it your way. But know that I won't like it." Tess stated letting out a sigh. "So, what are the ground rules?"

"Just…don't hurt her." Max stated simply. "I don't want a repeat of what happened in high school when I broke up with her. That was…too much. I couldn't stand to see her…" Max paused and closed his eyes at the memory. "Just don't hurt her."

"Alright. No visions." Tess nodded in understanding when she remembered that night on Liz's roof. "Anything else?"

"Yeah. No kissing. No close dancing. No excessive body contact." Max chewed on his bottom lip for a moment as he was lost in thought. "In fact, I think we should keep it to hand holding or the occasional arm around the shoulder."

Tess chuckled. "God, Max. How do you expect me to make them believe we've been doing it all this time if I can barely touch you?"

Max let out a sigh. "We can 'be' a couple without getting graphic, Tess. I don't want her to be uncomfortable."

"Well, that's going to be pretty hard to stop since she'll be at dinner with her alien ex-boyfriend, the girl she thinks stole him from her and her fiance'."

"You know what I...mean..." Max swallowed hard as his eyes locked on a car that had pulled up and parked not too far from the door of the restaurant. His eyes followed the tall blonde man as he walked around the front of the car to open the door on the passenger side.

Max's heart stopped beating and he felt his lungs tighten while the blood in his veins ran cold then hot when he saw her place her hand in his and get out of the car. "Oh, God."

"What?" Tess asked with concern as her eyes moved from Max to the object he was focused on.

Not really hearing her, he answered her question absently speaking more to himself than anyone else. "She's wearing the cranberry dress…"

A knowing smile curved Tess' lips upward as her eyes flicked back to Max's face. He was positively entranced by the picture Liz made as she walked toward the door of the restaurant arm in arm with her fiance'. His eyes followed every move she made brightening in a way Tess hadn't seen in years. There were so many unspoken emotions and intense passion dancing in his eyes, Tess suddenly wondered how he'd been able to hold them back for so long.

There was no way he was going to make it through the night. She silently applauded Liz for her choice of clothes. "Uh…Max. You know, if you change your mind…let me know and I'm outta here."

"I won't change my mind." Max stated with determination as his jaw clenched resolutely and he pulled his eyes from Liz's figure as she disappeared behind the door.

"Max, are you sure I should even…?"

"Yes. I need you there."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know if I can make it through a night of watching her love someone else without either punching his lights out or declaring my undying love." Max's mouth twitched in a wry smile. "Someone's gotta stop me from making a fool of myself and ruining all of our lives."

Tess smiled as a hint of mischief lit her eyes. "Oh, don't worry about that. That's precisely what I'm here for..."