Liz: she just can't get her head on straight, she's messed up the last two orders: she's been alternating between euphoria about last night and horror at the thought of tonight's dinner with everyone; plus being concerned about not be able to get a hold of Max yet: she is so antsy about all of this, that it seems her body is actually starting to hum: as she serves her last customer, this hum grows almost into a roar: as she goes through the motions of closing out her shift, she swears she is going to jump out of her skin if it doesn't stop soon: looking up as the bell jingles announcing the arrival of a new patron, what she has been craving just walks in the door:

Max: he is surprised that he doesn't get a ticket on the way over as he blows thru a stop sign and does 40 in a 25: he can't wait to get there, the closer he gets the faster he has to go: good thing it isn't a long drive: the jeep finally pulls up in front of the Crashdown: he jumps out almost before the tires stop rolling: rushing in the front door, he immediately spies her at the same time she does him: the whole room seems to be spinning but it doesn't matter, she is anchored with him, at the center of it, as they stare at one another:

Jeff: coming out of the back to help with the shift change, notices this unspoken exchange between his daughter and the young man {what exactly is going on with his little girl and the Evans boy?}: they need a reality check here: clearing his throat loudly… "AHEM…Liz, are you done closing out?"

Liz: as her brain registers her father's question, she forces herself to turn away from their staring contest so she can answer her him… "Yah, just finished…uh…would it be alright if Max comes up for a bit? We are supposed to do some studying for a physics test tomorrow."

Jeff: he would really like to say no, but can't think of a reason to: so instead, with a heavy sigh he replies… "Sure honey, go ahead." He watches the two young people run upstairs hand-in-hand {this is getting serious. I had better start keeping a closer eye on those two. He seems like a nice enough boy with a good head on his shoulders, well most of the time. Philip and Diane are good people and have done a good job raising him. I remember the first time they brought Max and his sister to the Crashdown, such cute kids. How in the world anyone could have abandoned those little kids in the dessert like that is beyond me. I guess they were just meant to be Philip and Diane's. Still, I don't really know him too well. Tonight is a good first step to start fixing that. If things keep progressing, I maybe ought to sit down with him for a chat, find out what his intentions are towards my little girl.}

Max and Liz head upstairs, thru Liz's bedroom and straight out onto Liz's balcony, for a quiet place to go over their situation.

Liz: trying to remain strong and not get caught up in how incredibly intoxicating he is, she takes a couple of steps backwards to allow for a little *breathing * room… "I've been trying to reach you all morning. Do you know that your Mom called and invited us over to dinner tonight?"

Max: he so desperately wants to take her in his arms, but if he starts, he's not going to stop and having already been busted by his Dad was bad enough, but hers: with a sigh… "Yah, but that's not the half of it. My Dad kinda figured out what was going on last night… and…well, I kinda got the * be careful you're both too young * speech this morning."

Liz: a look of horror overtakes her… "Oh My GOD! Who else knows? Your Mom, Isabel?"

Max: "No, just my Dad. He was OK with it…well, not really. It was weird. He almost looked relieved. I don't know."

Liz: slightly p*ssed at the double standard implication… "Wait a minute? He looked relieved that his son was having sex?"

Max: blushing at the memory of what his Dad had hinted at in his lecture this morning: Liz looks so cute when she's mad… "Uh…he sorta mentioned something about being concerned about me not being too interested in… ah…girls until last year. He wasn't exactly happy about last night, but I guess he was trying to be… understanding? At least he covered for me with Mom, that's something anyways. He also made it very clear not to get busted like that again there or over here, either."

Liz: she doesn't want to laugh: but she just can't resist a little teasing… "So… um… your Dad was wondering about you, huh? Hmmm, I wonder what he thought about Michael sneaking into your bedroom in the middle of the night all those times? Ya know, you and Michael kinda make a cute couple. Opposites attracting and all!" As his cheeks turn very red, she bursts out laughing at his shocked look.

Max: not really amused, but he can't get too mad: she just looks too adorable standing there laughing: he starts to chuckle as well: "Yah, well. I guess last night cleared that up. But seriously, we need to be careful, about everything. I mean, somehow I don't think your Dad would be so…relieved." Remembering he invited some guest for tonight… "Oh, I thought we could use some moral support tonight, so I sort of invited Michael and Maria to join us for dinner. They might be…ah… a distraction. I hope."

Liz: still chuckling… "Ok, that sounds great. Something tells me we're going to need all the help we can get tonight." Her thoughts turn to last night: in a sexy voice… "Max, last night…I…no words can describe how you made me feel. I love you with all my heart and soul."

Max: watching her mouth move, he longs to explore it with his own: glancing thru the window into her bedroom brings him back to that night and Kyle: no matter how distracting she can be, he is determined to finally get some answers… "Liz, last night was incredible. I always knew it would be. I love you, I always have and I always will, but… um… I need to know what the deal is with Kyle. Why'd you lie to me? Why would you want me to believe something like that anyway? Whatever your reasons, we'll work through them together. Please, tell me the truth. I have the right to know."

Liz: she knew this was coming: she has wanted to tell him for so long: she's still scared about what might happen, but it is just too exhausting and painful to keep all these secrets from him: staring at nothing really: unable to look at him: silently tears start forming as she begins… "Max, please don't say anything until I'm done. I won't be able to finish if you do." With a heavy sigh… "The night you serenaded me, a future you used the Granolith to come back in time fourteen years. You/he needed my help. Your enemies had come to Earth and they… they were winning. You… future you told me that because you and I had gotten together Tess had finally left Roswell…and…the three of you weren't strong enough to defeat them without her…the four of you make a complete unit and are at your strongest together… you/he wanted me to help you/you fall out of love with me. Don't you see…I had to or it would mean the end of the world. That's why I came to your room that night and said those awful, hurtful things, why I tried to set you up with Tess…and…why…I faked sleeping with Kyle. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. The look on your face…I had to though…you/he told me before he came back that he held Michael dead in his arms…Isabel died two weeks before that… I…just… couldn't let that happen." Max takes her in his arms and just holds her as his tears mix with hers: he never says a word as she continues thru the sobbing… "He said that once the timeline changed, he would just disappear. Another future version of him would be created in this new timeline. Before he vanished, I asked him for our wedding dance…we were dancing when he just vanished."

They just sat there, huddled in the corner on her balcony, holding each other and crying.

Max: a thousand things are running through his mind but only one coherent thought finally hits him {how could I have done this? been so cruel?}: he needs time to sort this all out: time to think it through: he needs to sort out the questions before they can even begin to look for the answers: and time for them to heal: very gently taking her head in his hands and gazing into her eyes… "I love you, now and forever. I don't know what to say or even think about all of this. But I do know it's not just the four of us that makes us the strongest; it's the eight of us. Whatever the future holds, it's going to take all of us together to get through it. Please believe me." He gently starts giving her soothing kisses on her forehead, tear stained cheeks, swollen eyes, and finally her trembling lips: her lips grab his and hold on for dear life: as they continue to sit there, holding each other, gently kissing and touching, their hearts and souls begin to heal, strengthening each other: they rest for awhile letting their hearts talk for a change, no words are necessary they already know what they need, they knew it all along…each other.