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Faith
in the Future PART 10
“Wow …………….. that’s, erm, quite a story you’ve got there Max.” Philip said, breaking the silence that had descended around them. “It’s ……… it’s not a story.” Max stumbled, afraid they hadn’t believed him. “I meant that as a figure of speech, nothing more. I ……….. I do believe you Max, I believe you’d never tell us something like that if it wasn’t true.” Philip said before pausing. “I can’t say it makes total sense, or that it’s sunk in properly yet, but I do believe you son.” Philip replied, as a small smile crept over Max’s face. “Mum?” Isabelle probed, needing to know her reaction. For Isabelle her mother’s reaction was of paramount importance to her. “Thank you.” Diane said simply. “For
what?” Max asked slightly
confused. “Oh mum!” Isabelle cried, getting up and hugging the only woman she knew as mother.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased you’re all so happy, but you’ve taken this all too well. I know you’re liberal minded, but you’re way too calm.” Michael said. “Shut up Spaceboy!” Maria replied, swatting him gently on the arm. She didn’t want her husband to upset the balance of the family, cause waves when the tides were calm. “Ok ………. well your father and I have always known you were different.” Diane said, relinquishing her grip on her daughter. “Isabelle, Max, you were two six year olds walking naked in the desert when we found you. We adopted you, but nobody could trace where you had come from or who you were. You’ve never been sick once in your lives, you’re more reserve, and you were far too responsible for teenagers. Max, that fire a few years ago confirmed my suspicions that you weren’t a ‘normal’ teenager. I wanted you to open up to me then. I tried to convince you that it didn’t matter what it was, but you wouldn’t. I wanted to come out and ask you then if you weren’t from here, but I didn’t want to confront you for fear that you might close up from me altogether.”
“Sure, ask away mum.” Max replied, relieved at his parents reaction. They’d been so calm, and reacted in a way he’d only dreamed about. “Well, actually it’s a question for Liz really. I just wanted to know how you found out about Max’s heritage, did he just tell you?” She asked curiously. “Well, no, actually Max showed me.” Liz replied, throwing a shy smile her husband’s way. “Showed you? How?” “Do you remember the shooting at the Crashdown?” “Vaguely, the Sheriff mentioned something about it that time after the fire. What about it?” Diane replied. “Well
the reports state no one was injured during the shooting, but that isn’t
exactly true. You see someone did
get shot ……….. I did.” “But ………. it was Max who risked his life to save me. He healed the damage the bullet had created, and brought me back to life. Without Max I have no doubts that I wouldn’t be here right now.” She said squeezing his hand gently. “So Max just told you?” Diane queried. She was struggling with the fact Max had told his then ‘girlfriend’ about how different he was, before his own mother. Inside Diane couldn’t help but feel a little hurt, Max had hardly known Liz back then after all. “No, I guess I put my studies to good use. I got a sample of Max’s saliva and looked at it under a microscope. Then I confronted him when I knew it was different, and eventually he told me.” She replied. “So ……….. so you can …….. heal people Max?” Philip interjected. “Erm, yeah I can. I don’t mean I can heal everyone, I’m not god, but I can heal injuries like bullet wounds.” He replied slightly coy about his gift. “So …….. is that what you did to Christian?” Diane asked. “Sort of. It’s kind of complicated to explain it, but when I healed Liz it changed her slightly. If we’d of left Christian to nature he would have been brain damaged, so we had to mend the burst blood vessel. Liz was the only one who could do that, something to do with a mother/son bond. Had I of tried to do it, Christian would have died.” Max explained. “Does that mean Christian is different now too because Liz healed him?” Philip asked, still struggling to comprehend his son being able to heal people. “Well, I believe Christian was different before Liz healed him, he is half alien after all.” Max replied logically. “And Ellie?” Diane added “Ellie is different too.” Max replied. “How is she different? Do you have other powers?” Philip asked. “Yes …….. you know I can heal, I can also connect with people in order to exchange memories. Isabelle can dreamwalk, and Michael has premonitions. We all have other powers, but they’re the most adapted ones.” “Dreamwalking?” Diane queried. “I’ll explain it later.” Isabelle assured her. “What power does Ellie have?” Philip asked. “She can sense things and see things into the future. Her skills aren’t homed as well as they should be, she’s still young, but they are very strong.” Max replied. “Well ……….. I have to admit this is a lot to take in.” Philip told everyone. “I don’t expect you to understand or accept it all at once. You’ll have many more questions, and we’ll answer as many as we can. But I think we’re all tired now and you should let what we’ve told you sink in before we bombard you with anything more.” Max said. “That’s a good idea, it’s been a long day.” Philip replied. Many hugs later, Max and Liz finally crawled into the room he used to call home. After the emotionally tiring events of the day, everyone had agreed to stay at the Evans’ house. They all wanted and needed to be close to the others. The sleeping form of their little girl was curled up in his bed, her soft sighs indicating she was in a deep sleep. Pulling the cover, that had slipped down up over Ellie’s shoulder, Liz turned to her husband. He was tired, that much was very evident in his face, but he was also more relaxed than he had been earlier. She sensed he was relieved, no longer did they have to hide the truth from his parents, a secret he’d carried round from the beginning. Covering the distance between them, Liz stepped in and put her arms around Max’s neck, bringing his lips within kissing distance. “You, are the most amazing man I know Max Evans.” She stated. “Is that so? Well I’d have to agree, you are the most amazing woman I know Liz Evans.” He replied, before gently kissing her soft lips. Melting into his embrace, Liz allowed the oh so familiar feelings to flood her body and drown her in ecstasy. Feeling his hands start to roam, Max moved his hands from her hips so one rested on her lower back, the other caressing her bottom. Instantly the kiss was deepened, becoming more passionate, more open and filled with the desire that fuelled their bodies at their very moment. Slipping his hand under her top, Max found the silky flesh of her back that he desired so much. He loved touching her, the feel of her soft velvety skin sending his senses into orbit, her smell so intoxicating and her eyes so mesmerising. Devouring her mouth, his fingers roamed over her stomach that was swelled slightly due to only just having had their son. Her quiet cries brought him out of his ‘Liz’ educed haze, she was in pain. “Liz?”
He queried in the darkness. “Are
you ok?” Taking her hand, he gently pulled her to the floor, where a makeshift airbed had been made for them. Instructing her to lay out, he pulled up her top to expose her bare stomach. Gently placing his hand on her skin, Max closed his eyes and easily made the connection with his wife. It was a connection they’d never had problems creating. Right from that day at the Crashdown they were so tuned in that their minds could connect at the merest of touches. Their flashes had intensified over the few years, along with the feelings that went hand in hand with the images. It was something that made their relationship even stronger. Liz could always tell when something was worrying Max, and that was quiet often. He had a habit of always worrying, thinking something was going to go wrong with their ‘perfect’ life. But with their connection, Liz could often quell those fears before they had a chance to multiply. A soft orange glow lit up the whole room as Max’s hand displayed the signs of him healing the ‘damage’ inside his wife. The warmth from his healing spread through Liz’s body at lightening speed, her whole skin humming. A connection was formed with perfect easy, both sharing feelings and images to the other. Max found himself bombarded with Liz’s fear while healing Christian, wishing he was there with her so she didn’t have to be alone. Liz had images of Max trying to persuade their son to come to him, she could feel his sense of despair as he worried he couldn’t do it. When Max had finally completed his healing ritual, they both had tears in their eyes, their faces masking the same thing, despair for the other. “Oh
god Liz, I’m so sorry you were scared, I’m so sorry I couldn’t be with you
to give you the strength you needed.” Max
said, pulling her close to him. The two of them stayed in their clinch for what seemed like an age, both fighting the personal demons they were carrying around inside them. Many tears were shed as they both finally realised how close they came to loosing their son, how he could have been damaged for the rest of his life. For the first time in a long time, both Max and Liz were silently grateful for Max’s ‘specialness’. Once they managed to regain control of their emotions, Max placed his hands on Liz’s damp cheeks and lifted her eyes level with his. “I love you Liz; from the moment I saw you, you captured my heart and you’ve held it hostage ever since. You never have to feel alone ever again. If I’m not by your side physically, just close your eyes and search your heart. I’ll always be there.” He said softly. “I love you too Max.” Liz started, “Promise me you won’t worry about our children ever rejecting you though. Ellie dotes over you, and I know Christian will be just as bowled over by his father once he’s older. You are a very special person Max, and your gift saved our son, and me. If you were completely human Christian most certainly be brain damaged, if not worse ……….. you’ll always be their daddy.” Liz replied, softly kissing his lips. Although her ‘injuries’ had been healed, Max was content to just hold his wife all night. They had both been through so much, drained both physically and emotionally. The night long embrace signified their strong love and need to be close to one another. Opening her eyes, Ellie scooted down to the foot of the bed. It was still dark outside, and Ellie wasn’t sure about the strange room she was in. She was silently pleased and comforted to find her parents sleeping soundly on the airbed. Getting up, Ellie pattered to the airbed and gently knelt down beside her father. Liz was sound asleep, but Max always had a sixth sense when it came to feeling someone around him. Opening his eyes, he saw is daughter looking back at him. “You ok Ellie?” He whispered, not wanting to wake Liz. “Strange room …………. I’m scared.” She replied quietly. Her silent pleas tugged at his heart, how could he ignore her? “Come here baby.” He said, pulling back the covers so Ellie could climb between her parents. Wrapping his arms around the two raven-haired beauties, Max fell back into a peaceful sleep. As she snuggled up to her parents, Ellie fell into a deep sleep, content the latest crisis in the Evans family was over. Everything was going to be ok once more.
PART 11
Pulling into the driveway, Max placed the car in ‘park’ before jumping out. Hurrying round to the passenger side, he opened the door and held his hand out to assist Liz. Opening the back door beside him, Max undid the seatbelt and lifted out the car seat, trying hard not to wake the sleeping form inside. It was a little over a month since Christian’s early arrival into the world, and finally Max and Liz were able to bring him home. To Liz, it felt like an age before the doctor’s ok, but they’d finally got it that morning. It was hard for them, Max and Liz both knew their baby was only being kept in due to the potential brain damage the doctor thought he had. Yet they couldn’t tell Doctor Jones their son was perfectly healthy now, and in the end they just had to wait. But today was that day, and it was no ordinary day either, it was also Christmas Eve. Having their baby home for Christmas was very special for Max and Liz, their family was finally together at last. “Mummy!”
The little girl yelled, running full pelt towards the older woman.
“Hello Ellie baby.” Liz
replied, hugging her daughter. “He’s sleeping right now sweetie. But when he needs feeding next you can help me.” Liz replied, watching her daughter’s face light up even more. After taking the car seat from Max, Liz carried her sleeping son up to his room. Carefully picking him up, Liz held him for a few minutes before lying Christian down in his new cot for the first time. Looking at him sleeping peacefully once more, Liz finally went down stairs. She wanted to spend some time with Ellie before Christian woke for his next feed. Liz didn’t want her daughter to feel left out, or think Christian was more special or important than Ellie. Spending quality time was Ellie was important too. “Ok, so what are we doing?” Liz enquired, walking into the kitchen. “We’re making cookies for Santa!” Ellie beamed, her face dusted with flour and smeared with chocolate. “I hope you don’t mind Liz.” Diane replied, looking slightly embarrassed at the state of her daughter-in-law’s kitchen. “It’s fine, really.” Liz replied, grabbing a tea towel and wiping off a flour covered counter top. “How’s Christian?” Diane asked, placing another tray of biscuits into the oven. “Sleeping soundly right now. I still can’t believe he’s finally home.” Liz admitted. “I’ll
bet. It’s been a rough few weeks
for you and Max.” Around 8.00pm that evening, Liz tried to ‘pack’ Ellie off to bed. “No! I want to stay up!” Ellie cried. “You have to go to bed now sweetie.” Liz replied, not really in the mood to argue with a six year old. “But I want to stay up and meet Santa!” Ellie replied. “You can’t Ellie, you have to go to bed.” Liz tried to reason with her, but feeling very tired. Normally she was very patient with her six year old daughter, but not that night, Liz just felt too wiped out to be reasonable. “Ok
Muchkin, time for bed.” Max
announced, seeing how tired Liz was and deciding to take over. “Nooooooo!”
Ellie wailed. “If you don’t go to bed, Father
Christmas won’t be able to visit, and that means no presents for Ellie.
Now you don’t want that do you?”
Max replied, using just a little blackmail. “No.”
She replied quietly. The
little girl desperately wanted to see Santa Claus, but not at the expense of her
presents. “Ok then, why don’t you put out
the cookies and then I’ll take you up and tuck you into bed?”
Max offered, more as a statement rather than a question. Once a glass of milk, plate of cookies
and some carrots had been laid out, Max carried his daughter up to her room.
Settling her wasn’t easy that night, she was very excited, but twenty
minutes later he was satisfied she was asleep. “Wow she’s hyper tonight.”
Max commented as he returned to the living room where Liz was. “That’s what Santa Claus does to a
six year old!” Liz replied,
“Sorry I wasn’t any help, I’m just so tired right now.”
She admitted. “Hey don’t worry, I can handle
Ellie, you don’t have to do everything on your own you know.”
He replied, sitting down next to his wife and gently massaging her tense
shoulders. “Thanks Max, but you shouldn’t
have to handle Ellie, I’m her mother, I should be able to cope that’s my
job.” She replied.
Liz was finding it hard, having Ellie
had been tough and made her adjust her lifestyle, but having two children, well
that just made double the workload. She
wasn’t use to not being able to cope, hell she’d outwitted the FBI and Alien
hunters with her friends, surely she could cope with two young children? “Give yourself a break Liz.
You can’t do everything on your own, and you don’t need to.
I’m part of this family too, and that means I take half the
responsibility and workload. Don’t
put so much pressure on yourself.” He replied, tilting her head so he could gently kiss her
lips. They’d barely started their clinch
when the familiar sound of a hungry baby gently reverberated around the house. “No rest for the wicked!”
Liz remarked and she got up. “Has he been yet?”
Another familiar voice shouted out. “Ok, you go for Christian, and
I’ll sort out Ellie.” Max
replied, following his wife upstairs. As he tucked his little daughter back
into bed, Max had a feeling it was going to be a very long night for their
family. Not only was there Christian’s feeding to cope with, but he
had a feeling Ellie wasn’t going to sleep too well either! When he’d eventually got Ellie back
to sleep, Max headed into the hallway to find Liz.
Standing in the doorway, he watched Liz sitting in the large pine rocking
chair, feeding their baby son while she cooed to him gently.
Max couldn’t help but allow a smile to creep across his face.
Watching Liz with their son was so magical, she was so great with him,
and Max knew he could stay there all day and just stare at his beautiful wife.
He still enjoyed watching her from afar, like he’d done so many times
when they used to be teenagers. He
still remembered the feelings that flooded his body when he used to watch her
working at the Crashdown, those feelings were still very present. “You don’t have to linger in the
doorway, you can come in.” Liz
said softly, not lifting her eyes from her baby. “How did you know I was here?”
He enquired. “Call it a hunch.”
She replied, as Max knelt down beside the chair.
“I can’t believe he’s finally home Max.”
Liz said, as tears pricked her eyes. “I know babe, but he is here now.
Our family is together again, just like it should be.”
Max replied, gently placing a finger on his son’s head and stroking his
soft hair. “He looks like you Max.”
Liz announced. “Yeah, he’s got your eyes, and
ears.” She replied. “Ooh, poor lad.”
He joked, as Liz got up and placed Christian back in his cot. Pulling the blanket over his tiny body, Liz felt Max come to
stand beside her. “He really is perfect.”
Liz whispered. “Of course he is, he’s got a
perfect mum who he’s inherited from.” Max
replied smoothly. Opening
her eyes, Ellie couldn’t hide her excitement.
It had been a long night; to Ellie it seemed like forever since she’d
gone to bed. Each time she’d
woken up in the night it had been dark outside, morning seeming an age away to
the little girl. Scooting to the bottom of her bed, a huge grin spread over her face as she saw the pillowcase she’d left out crammed full of presents. Slipping her feet into her slippers and grabbing her pink dressing gown, Ellie quietly opened the door to her room and pattered down the hall to her parents room. Gently pushing open the door, Ellie was most upset to find both Max and Liz fast asleep. “Humph!” Ellie grumbled as she allowed the door to close quietly behind her. As she headed back to her room, she heard quiet whimpering noises from Christian’s room. Going inside, she pulled a chair close to his cot and stood on it. Leaning over, Ellie could just reach her baby brother, and gently rubbed his tummy to try and soothe him. She’d seen Liz do the same the day before, and hoped she could help her brother by doing that too. Upon feeling her touch, Christian’s eyes opened and stared up at her, before wrinkling his nose and sneezing. Big tears filled in his eyes as the sneeze shook his body, and once more Ellie tried to pacify him. Standing in the doorway, Liz watched her daughter in awe. She’d heard Ellie closing the door, and knowing it was nearly 8.00 am, she’d decided to get up and check on Christian. Watching Ellie stroking his tummy, Liz was filled with immense pride. Her daughter looked so cute as she gave her brother affection. Encircling his arms around her waist, Max whispered something in Liz’s ear. Motioning him to be quiet and watch Ellie, Max too was transfixed by their daughter. They both knew Ellie had many presents to open, yet she was tending to her baby brother instead. It was a perfect moment that Liz wished she could bottle up and freeze so that she could remember it in years to come. Christian’s disgruntlement and cries soon broke the perfect moment, and signalled to Liz it was time to help her daughter out. While Liz tried to comfort her son, Max helped Ellie to bring her sack full of presents into her parents room. Once settled on their large bed, Ellie began the mammoth task of opening all that Santa had brought her. With each present she opened, Ellie eagerly showed them to her parents. From the beautiful china tea set, to the clothes for her doll to more beanies for her collection. As dutiful parents, Max and Liz did an excellent job of looking surprised, and telling Ellie that Santa did a good job, despite the fact they knew what each present was. Once Ellie had scampered away to play with her new toys, Max and Liz were able to catch their breath and survey the wreckage of wrapping paper covering their bed. “Ok, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that before. Watching Ellie opening all those presents, seeing the look of joy in her face. That was amazing.” Max admitted. “Yeah it was. I’ve been through it before, but it still blows me away.” Liz replied. “I’ve missed out on so much of Ellie’s life haven’t I?” Max said sadly. “But
you’re here now to share those experiences, that’s the main thing.
Plus there’s where this little fella gets older, and maybe even another
if we have more children?” “That’s ok then.” He replied, breathing a sigh of relief. Two hours later, Max was securing his children into the back of the car. They were all off to his parents house for Christmas lunch. It was to be a full house at Philip and Diane’s with everyone invited. Alex and Isabelle, Michael and Maria plus the twins, Nancy and Jeff and Alex’s parents. Amy DeLuca had also been invited, but had chosen to join Jim Valenti on a trip to Europe. The trip to his parents house was filled with good cheer, Ellie keeping them entertained with Christmas Carols and songs. When they finally arrived, Ellie was first out the car and up the pathway to the front door. Stepping on her tiptoes, she was just tall enough to press the large brass button to activate the doorbell. “Well hello angel!” Diane greeted her eldest granddaughter as Liz and Max collected the things from the car. “Well come on in then.” Diane added, as her son joined them. Stepping into the lounge, Liz found it to be a hive of activity already. Ellie was busy taking out her toys and showing them one by one to Isabelle, while Alex ‘tested’ each toy, Michael was bouncing two-month-old Charlotte on his knee and Maria had Emileigh laying peacefully in her arms. “Hi guys.” Liz said softly. “Liz! How are you?” Isabelle asked, getting up and hugging her sister in law. “I’m ok thanks, and you?” Liz enquired, looking at the heavily pregnant woman. “Tired and fat, but apart from that I’m fine.” Isabelle replied. “Hi Liz.” Maria called out. “I would get up, but I’ve only just got her to sleep.” Maria added. “Hey stay where you are, I know exactly what you mean!” Liz replied, taking a seat next to her friend and placing Christian’s car seat down on the floor. The sudden loss of movement caused the young lad to open his eyes, and stare around the room inquisitively. Gently stroking his cheek, Liz continued to talk to her friend. “So how are the twins? Are they sleeping better through the night now?” Liz asked. “A bit better I guess, they’re still waking up two to three times though. Sometimes it feels like I’ve barely got back to sleep before one of them wakes up again!” Maria replied. “Ah but you love it ‘Ria!” Liz bantered back. “Alex, what are you doing?” Max enquired, as he stepped into the room. His sister’s husband was sitting on the floor with Ellie’s doll turned upside down, struggling to put a pair of trousers on the doll. “Just testing the merchandise Santa left Ellie.” He replied grinning at his friend. “Ok …….. Isabelle, a piece of advice, I wouldn’t let Alex near the baby where clothes are concerned!” Max mentioned to his sister. Looking up from the pretend ‘tea party’ she and Ellie were having, Isabelle couldn’t help but smile at Alex’s antics. It was his antics that had made Isabelle fall in love with him. She loved the way he could make her smile no matter what the circumstances. Be it when they were running from the FBI, or his infamous strip tease at her 17th birthday party, he always knew how to make her laugh. It was his special gift in life and Isabelle was grateful for it. Alex wasn’t an alien, he couldn’t dream-walk or heal people, but his ability to make light of a situation was priceless. A
little while later, Nancy and Jeff joined the party along with Alex’s parents. The house was packed full, and as she watched everyone take
their seats at the dinner table, Diane panicked for a moment, wondering if
everyone would fit. Fit they did, and an amazing meal was set before them. Every kind of vegetable, various types of potatoes and plenty of turkey ladened the table. As everyone tucked in, plenty of chatter reverberated around the walls of the Evans’ dining room. Helping to clear away the plates after the meal, Isabelle stood up and rubbed her lower back. “You ok Is?” Diane enquired, seeing her daughter was in some pain. “Yeah, just back ache, nothing more.” Isabelle replied, brushing off her mother’s concerns. “Why don’t you go and sit down for a while? We can handle this.” Liz suggested. She was well aware how uncomfortable backache was in the later stages of pregnancy. “Yeah, I think I might if that’s ok.” Isabelle replied, handing Liz the plate she had before leaving the room. “Is she ok?” Maria enquired. “Yeah, I don’t think she’s got too much longer, backache is normally a sign of imminent labour.” Liz replied wisely. “I don’t remember getting backache.” Maria replied, trying to think back. “Not everyone does dear, but Liz is right.” Diane replied. She could sense a change in her daughter, nothing obvious, she just seemed a little more restless than normal, perhaps slightly pale in the face. A few minutes later, Isabelle returned from the lounge. Alex had tried to massage her back, but it was doing no good and for some reason Isabelle just couldn’t sit still. She felt restless, sitting down hurt her back, but then so did standing up, walking around seemed to be the only cure for some mild relief. “Isabelle? I thought you were going to sit down?” Liz queried, as her friend returned to the kitchen. “It hurts to sit down.” Isabelle replied, picking up some glasses from the dining room and carrying them into the kitchen. As she stepped inside, a sharp pain shot through her body, she felt like someone had pushed a red hot poker into her stomach. The two glasses she’d been holding in her hand slipped to the floor and shattered with a loud noise. Putting one hand on the doorframe to brace herself, Isabelle instinctively wrapped her free arm around her bulging stomach. “Is?” Liz called out turning and looking at her friend doubled over in agony. “Oh god ……… that hurts.” Isabelle breathed rapidly, as the pain slowly subsided. “Ok, why don’t you come and sit down.” Liz suggested, guiding her friend to a nearby chair. “Just take a deep breath sweetie.” Diane encouraged her daughter. The sound of smashing glass brought Max and Alex running from the lounge. “Is everything ok?” Max asked, looking towards Liz. “Isabelle:” Alex added, going to his wife. “I’m ok Alex, it’s just a twinge, nothing more.” Isabelle assured him. “I can take you home if you need to lie down?” He offered. “That’s very sweet, but really, I’m ok.” She insisted, standing up. “Ok,
well how about you come next door with me?” As she followed Alex out to the lounge, Isabelle was once again taken over by pain. Doubling over as before, she tried to ride out the pain. “Isabelle?” Alex cried as he watch the pain etched over her face. “Just ………… give me …………. a sec.” She said breathlessly. Once the pain had passed, Max and Alex helped Isabelle back to the seat in the kitchen. “Ok, that’s it! You can’t fob me off this time Isabelle. It’s obvious you’re in pain.” Alex said forcefully. “I think you should lie down and rest Isabelle, I don’t want you distressing the baby.” He added softly. “That’s
really sweet Alex, but I really don’t think a lie down will help this pain.”
Isabelle replied.
PART 10
“Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!” Alex cried, getting progressively louder with each word. “Calm down Alex.” Isabelle instructed. “We’ve got to get you to a hospital!” He suddenly blurted out, switching to ‘panic’ mode. “Alex, we’ve got a while yet. First babies are notoriously slow. Please ………… just relax will you.” Isabelle replied, easily the calmer of the two. “How about we move you somewhere a bit more comfortable Isabelle?” Diane suggested, knowing the dining room chair wouldn’t do her back much good. With the help of her friends, Isabelle headed to the lounge and sat down on the sofa, in time for another contraction to hit hard. By the time Isabelle was helped into the Evans’s car, Alex was a gibbering wreck. He couldn’t stop worrying about his wife, the pain she was enduring seemed so strong, like it was ripping her in half. He desperately wished there was something he could do to help her, but he was completely powerless. It was a familiar sight for the families, all congregated in the waiting room of the maternity ward, waiting. They’d done it twice before in recent months, with Maria and Liz, and now it was Isabelle’s turn. As her son laid cradled peacefully in her arms, Liz thought back to his birth and that of Ellie’s. It still amazed her how a body could inflict so much pain, as in childbirth, yet the mind always managed to blank it out for the most part after the event. “Oh god that hurts!” Isabelle cried out, riding another contraction. “Can’t they give me something stronger to help with the pain?” She grumbled. “No sweetie, much more and you’ll be knocked out. You need to be coherent enough to push. It won’t be much longer.” Diane said, trying to calm her daughter. Pain wasn’t something Isabelle was used to handling. Her threshold had always been low, even as a child, and this level of pain was a lot higher than she was used to. Diane was proud of her daughter though, she was handling it very well considering. They were entering their fourth hour at the hospital and things were moving along very slowly. Frustrating as it was for everyone to just sit and wait, no one wanted to go home. Somehow it had become quite a ritual to sit outside the maternity room waiting for news on the newest arrival to the ever-growing family of hybrids. Watching
Alex pace up and down outside Isabelle’s room, Michael couldn’t help but
remember back to when Maria had been in labour.
He remembered how nervous he’d been, how worried things would go wrong,
or afraid there would be something wrong with the baby.
But it had turned out perfectly for him, better than he dreamed; he’d
got two beautiful daughters for the price of one. “Hey relax mate,
you’ll wear a hole in the carpet if you keep that up!”
Michael joked, resting his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Relax?
How do you expect me to relax! Isabelle
is in labour in there!” Alex
panicked. “But it’s going fine,
there’s no need to worry.” Michael
tried to calm him. “How can I not worry!
What if something goes wrong, what if the baby isn’t normal, what if
Isabelle never wants to speak to me again after all the pain she’s going
through.” Alex flustered. “Nothing will go wrong,
the baby will be perfectly normal, and I am certain Isabelle will speak to you
again once the baby is born.” “Because you’re going
through exactly what I went through only a few months ago.
Now get back in there and support her.”
Michael instructed. “Is that such a good
idea? What if she doesn’t want me
in there?” “Just go Alex!” Michael insisted. “Do you think she’s ok in there?” Max asked his wife, as he shifted Ellie to his other knee. “Yeah, she’ll be ok. Not sure if she’s handling the pain too well though.” Liz replied. “That’s because she’s not used to pain, I always had to take it away if she fell over at school or something. Isabelle’s pain threshold is pretty much non existent.” Max said, looking down at their sleeping son in Liz’s arms. Pulling Ellie close, Max hugged her tightly, grateful for the beautiful and perfect family he had with Liz. “Ahhhhhh!” Isabelle cried out, as another contraction ripped through her body. “I don’t …….. think I can take …….. much more of this.” She announced, trying to catch her breath. “It’s nearly over sweetie, just think of that beautiful baby at the end of it.” Diane encouraged. “You can do it Is.” Alex added. “If I ever tell you I want another child again, just remind me of the pain this one has caused.” Isabelle informed him, taking a breath before another contraction hit. “Sure, no problem.” Alex replied knowing he’d agree to pretty much anything at that moment. In truth, as he watched her writhe around the bed in agony, Alex wasn’t sure if he’d be able to cope with them having another child. It was like physical torture watching Isabelle trying to cope with so much pain. He knew it was all in a good cause, their child would be worth it, but it was still very hard. He struggled with the fact that Isabelle had to go through so much alone, yet there was nothing he could do. Alex couldn’t help take away the pain, or make things better, all he could do was hold her hand and keep encouraging her. All of which did little to help his wife in her present state. Holding Charlotte in his arms, Michael was somewhat grateful it wasn’t Maria going through the pain of childbirth again. He still bore the mental scars of the twins births, only 2 months previously, and they were scars he knew would take a while to heal. Maria on the other hand seemed to have forgotten completely about the pain she had endured, and Michael found that strange. Watching the little girl smile up at her father, Michael suddenly realised why Maria’s memories of the births had faded. The joy his two girls had brought him in their short lives was immense, they had brought out a side in Michael that he hadn’t known existed. A kinder, more caring and softer side, and a fiery protectiveness, knowing that no one would ever hurt his girls. The lustful cries of a new baby filling the waiting room brought everyone out of their daydreams. Jumping to their feet, they headed quickly over to the window that shone into Isabelle’s room. A huge grin beamed back at them, as Alex held his thumbs up to indicate all was well. Once the baby had been cleaned up, the eager gang were allowed to stream into the room. “It’s a girl!” Alex beamed, totally floored by the experience he had just been a part of. Never in his dreams had he thought that childbirth could be a magical and wonderful experience. To him it had previously been pain and gore, but he knew a different side of it now. “Oh Isabelle, she’s perfect.” Liz and Maria chimed together. “Yeah, she is.” Isabelle replied, staring up at Alex and gratefully receiving the soft kiss he planted on her lips. “So Is, have you thought of a name yet?” Max asked, placing Ellie on the edge of the bed so she could get a better view of her new baby cousin. “Well, yeah, we’re gonna call her Ashley Elizabeth Maria Whitman.” Isabelle replied, unable to take her eyes off her new baby daughter cradled in her arms. “I think we’ll give you a few minutes to yourselves now though. Congratulations honey.” Diane said, kissing her daughter’s forehead. Once everyone had vacated the room, Isabelle and Alex were able to take in the enormity of what had just happened to them. Tears gently tricked down Isabelle’s cheeks, her attempts to control her emotions to no avail. “Hey, don’t cry, this is a happy moment.” Alex told her. “I am happy Alex, that’s why I’m crying. I’m so happy I could burst.” She told him. “I …….. I never thought I’d ever experience anything like this. You make me so happy Alex ……. thank you.” She added softly. “Thank you too Is. For being such a wonderful wife, for accepting me including my flaws, and for giving me the most precious gift …… our baby girl.” He replied, wiping away her tears and gently kissing her forehead. And so the next chapter in their eventful lives closed ………… but another chapter had been swiftly opened. They had succeeded in outrunning the Sheriff, FBI and Alien Hunters, but Max and Liz, Isabelle and Alex, Michael and Maria knew their greatest challenge still lied ahead of them. Their growing family of hybrid children consisted of four beautiful girls and one little boy, all of which would grow into strong, healthy children. Then their troubles would start all over again, they all knew it. A time would come to tell Ellie, Christian, Charlotte, Emileigh and Ashley who they really were, along with the specialness of their parents, and gifts they would inherited. Coupled with that came the normal obstacles, ones which came hand in hand with raising small children into energetic teenagers. It would be a difficult time for all, but somehow each knew it was just another hurdle in their complicated, but immensely happy and joyous lives. The bond of love and strength of family would succeed in helping them through all of life’s complications, problems and hurdles; each knowing without a doubt that the happiness they felt was worth it.
THE END!
Author: Kazza – 16th March 2001
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