Diane: "I'm sorry, Liz. You have about a week before your condition will require you to leave."

Liz's gasp came as much from shock as from Max's overwhelming feelings of guilt.

Isabel looked at the only mother she had ever known and knew the answer before asking the question.

Isabel: "Will we ever see you again?"

Max searched the faces of his parents and hoped for an answer that didn't agree with what he was feeling inside.

Phillip and Diane struggled to answer, but in the end, there was nothing left to do but shake their heads in the negative. Diane's expression struggled between the smile she was trying to keep in place and the tears that fell freely down her face.

Isabel's hand rushed to cover her mouth just before her eyes closed against the rush of grief. A moment later, she rushed forward and collapsed in sobs at her parents' feet. Phillip and Diane quickly gathered her into their warm embrace and Alex sat forward watching the exchange and fought the urge to weep himself. His breath traveled in and out the way it was supposed to, . . . so why did he feel like he couldn't breathe?

Max stood up and looked back at Liz's face and then at their joined hands. Their combined suffering was almost crippling. He hated to leave her side right now, but knew he had to. He waited until he sensed the moment when she was able to let go of his hand. Her eyes, always so expressive, revealed little now except her pain . . . and his. Their time would be later, but right now, he had to be a part of the family that had cared for and raised him. He turned and went quickly to his sister and mother and held them both, while they each dealt with their loss.

Max wanted to cry. Or maybe just rage. Anything would be better than being trapped inside the hell of his own expectations. He wished for the release but it wouldn't come. Phillip's arms easily included his son and completed the family circle. No words could express the depth of emotion that they felt for each other or how much letting go would cost each one.

Maria stood up and looked between Michael and Liz, knowing that he needed her, but so did Liz and she needed them both. No one could have known what they would face tonight. His eyes met hers in understanding and she made her way quickly to her friend and hugged her tight wishing that blank stare off her face. She preferred any amount of screaming and crying over that cold, unseeing set to her eyes. Maria: (sitting down beside Liz and whispering) "Liz. You're going to be okay. We're all going to be okay. That's good news, right?"

No response.

Maria: (trying again) "Your baby is going to be fine. You're going to be with Max forever. I know that's what you want more than anything! . . . C'mon, Lizzie."

As Maria rocked her unresponsive friend from side to side, Liz's hand finally gripped her arm. Maria's eyes almost slid shut in relief until, Liz's thoughts found a voice.

Liz: (no inflection) "What about *our* parents, Maria?"

Maria: (shaking her head slowly from side to side) "I don't know, babe. . . . Oh God, Liz. I don't know."

The two girls held each other and cried until there were no tears left, just the numbness that comes in the face of the unacceptable.

Michael and Alex exchanged glances as Alex made his way to his two bestfriends in the hope that he could somehow comfort them or be comforted himself.

Michael sat alone and stared around the room feeling more alone than he ever had in his life. And, then, quite clearly, he heard Maria's voice in his own mind, saying that he was only alone as long as he wanted to be. He got up and quietly made his way to her and the others to offer whatever strength he could. ------------------------------------------

Liz and Maria and Alex called their parents to say they were spending the night elsewhere. Liz was supposedly with Maria and vice versa. Alex was at Max's and that was basically true, but not entirely. What was left of the night found each couple sharing it in blessed seclusion. Diane and Phillip considered Max and Liz a "joined" couple at this point. There hadn't even been a moment's question or hesitation. Everyone retired with the knowledge that tomorrow would bring a whole new set of problems to their small group.

Isabel and Alex ended up sharing her room, while Michael and Maria bedded down in the living room. Not the most ideal situation, but no one felt like complaining tonight.

Isabel and Max had stumbled, dry-eyed, away from their parents and into the waiting arms of their mates, unable to form a thought around the pain of their loss. Isabel's tears had subsided and Max's had not even begun . . .

Diane and Phillip had held to each other from the sofa, all the way down the hall and into their bedroom, quietly closing their door after retreating inside.

Max let go of Liz just long enough to direct her to his room while he locked up.

Their lives had changed forever in the space of an evening. Maybe for the best. But, the best felt like hell tonight. --------------------------------------------------------

Liz sat on the edge of Max's bed and tried to calm the whirlwind of thoughts that wouldn't be quiet. She wondered how in the world she had come to be spending the night here. *Max* It was so surreal. *Max is real.* And if this felt strange, how in the world would she feel a week from now on a spaceship hurtling through the universe toward . . . well, that was the problem, she had no idea. *I know Max.* And, how was she supposed to say goodbye to her parents forever? . . .

Her eyes stared at the door with an unwavering focus and waited for Max to open it. ----------------------------------------------

Maria and Michael held each other as they finally drifted off to sleep, knowing that their choices were gone now. And, the truly amazing thing was that they wouldn't have chosen any other future than the one that awaited them. ---------------------------------------------------

Isabel sat in front of her mirror brushing her hair with mechanical, even strokes. Her dry eyes stared into the mirror without so much as blinking. Alex wondered how she could even put on the pretense of normalcy, but then again, he understood. What else could she do? -----------------------------------------------------

Max approached his bedroom door and wondered what he would find on the other side. His heart knew the answer but his head wouldn't listen. Would she hate him now? It had been miraculous to him that she hadn't before today. But, now . . .

The door swung quietly open, and Max stared into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. They were filled with grief, but underneath there was the steady thread of adoration . . . for him. He quickly made his way to her and pulled her up into his arms.

Max: "God, Liz. I'm so sorry." Liz: (barely above a whisper) "I'm not."

Max closed his eyes and swallowed hard against the tears that still hadn't been released. Liz felt the grief well up inside her soul to the breaking point. Her knees gave up and she began to sink to the floor, just as Max securely picked her up and placed her in the middle of his bed. He laid down beside her and held her while she cried for the parents that she would never see again. ----------------------------------------------------

Michael watched Maria trying to pretend that she was asleep and wondered anew at her strength. He couldn't have possibly fallen in love with anyone else. She was so . . . Maria. There was no other way to describe her. He dreaded tomorrow. He loved Amy DeLuca almost as much as he loved her daughter.

He privately wondered if Maria would really go . . . ------------------------------------------------

Liz awoke after a fitful nap and stared at the face of her future, bathed in moonlight and streaked with dried tears. Tears that were for her. Her fingers lightly traced the tracks. She could feel in her soul that his own grief was still safely tucked away. She quietly slid out of the bed and undressed in front of the window as the light streaming in illuminated her skin and renewed her spirit. She silently slipped into the bathroom and turned on the shower, setting the water temperature to nearly scalding. Pinning up her hair, she stepped inside and let the water wash away more than the dust of the day. Her eyes stung from the fresh tears that she couldn't hold back, but her hands smoothed the taut skin of her abdomen in a loving caress as she contemplated the new life that awaited all of them. ------------------------------------------------

Alex had pulled Isabel from her stillness in front of the mirror and into the bed where he could at least hold her. She hadn't said a word. And she hadn't cried. Alex wasn't sure which worried him more. She seemed to be sleeping now, and he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling wondering why it was so bright in the room this late at night. His wandering eyes strayed to the window and discovered the most beautiful full moon he had ever seen in his life. He couldn't help but get out of the bed and walk to the window. To his surprise, Isabel wasn't far behind him. He felt her hand rest tentatively on his shoulder.

Isabel: (quietly) "Alex, will you ever forgive me?" Alex: (still staring outside) "For what?" Isabel: "For taking you away from everything that you know. The people that love you. The planet that you call home."

Silence greeted her words for the space of several heartbeats.

Finally, Alex turned from the window to face her.

Alex: (more serious than she'd ever heard him) "Isabel Evans, I love you, and if you'll have me, I would be the happiest man on this or any other planet to be by your side." Isabel: (eyes filling with tears again) "Oh God! Alex! I love you so much!" And, they held each other in the light of that moon and knew their future would be no less beautiful. ------------------------------------------

Liz stepped out of the shower and searched blindly for a towel through the tears that wouldn't stop flowing despite her best efforts to get control. Rubbing her eyes and focusing, she stilled as she saw Max standing there, towel in hand.

Her arms fell to her sides as her eyes squeezed shut in an effort to block any more tears from falling. Max waited while she tried to hold back the flood of emotions, but he didn't know how long he could stand there and watch without doing something to help.

She finally opened her eyes and to his relief they were no longer filled with tears. In fact, the look on her face was intensely sexual, as her gazed raked him from head to toe.

Liz: (on a groan) "Max . . . " *God, you are so beautiful.* Max: (huskily) "I was about to say the same thing about you."

She blushed as she realized he had heard her thoughts as if she'd said them aloud. As the towel surrounded her, his arms gently lifted her feet from the damp bathroom floor, and carried her back to the bed without benefit of clothing. Neither seemed to mind. -------------------------------------------------------

Maria opened her eyes just a fraction. She had to be sure. Yep. He was awake. The rat! Why had he been faking? Nevermind that she had been doing exactly the same thing for the past 3 hours.

Maria: "Michael?" Michael: "Yes?" (not even bothering to pretend) Maria: "What's on your mind?" Michael: (seeking refuge in sarcasm) "Can't imagine." Maria: (rising up on one elbow and staring down menacingly) "Michael. Do you want me to go with you or not?" Michael: (clearly unprepared for the question) "What?!?!" Maria: (quietly) "You heard me." Michael: (flustered) "Of course, I want you to go, Maria!" . . . (eyes resting heavily on her face) "Do you want to go?" Maria: (smiling and lying back down) "You're such an idiot." Michael: (exhaling noisily) "I really don't like you sometimes." Maria: (settling comfortably against him once more) "I know. The feeling is entirely mutual."

As they lay awake wrestling with way too much information for any sane person to deal with, there was just one thing that Michael couldn't stop coming back to.

Michael: (wishing he could just avoid the question) "What about your mom, Maria?"

For the first time since they'd been left alone tonight, he felt her bravado weaken. The fissure turned into a ravine with every passing moment. Her arms slipped around his neck pulling his head down close to hers, as they lie on their sides facing each other. While her tears soaked the fabric of the t-shirt covering his chest, his hand stroked down the back of her head in a motion that felt . . . timeless. ---------------------------------------------------

Max crept from his own shower a few hours later and knelt beside his bed, staring at the face of the angel who occupied it. He still couldn't believe how readily she accepted him in every way. Their joining had been no less intense for all their sorrow and uncertainty. In fact, maybe it was more so. And, there was one thing they were both very sure of. They would be together no matter what else the future might bring. He continued to watch her until her eyes opened and beckoned him into the bed. Letting the soggy towel fall to the floor, he climbed into the bed and burrowed under the covers with her. They lay facing each other saying nothing but communicating volumes nonetheless. Finally, Liz's hand reached up to cradle his face, and she began to loose the wave of grief in his soul.

Liz: (spoken softly while her fingers traced the bones of his face) "My love, you know that you're my best friend. You know I'd do anything for you."

Max closed his eyes as her words mimicked the Sara McLachlan song that they both loved so much.

Liz: (her love and passion pouring out over him with each word) "My love, let nothing come between us. My love for you is tried and true."

Max felt his heart break into the pieces that were already fractured hours ago, and the first of many tears began to fall.

Liz: "Am I in heaven here, or am I in hell? At the crossroads, I'm standing."

Max dragged her body close to his and held her so tightly that she could barely breathe.

Max: (croaking through a throat that was all but closed off with unshed tears) "Liz . . . " Liz:: (eyes unwavering as they stared into his) "Let me help."

He nodded once as his eyes closed and his hands held fast to her as if she might actually be able to save him from drowning. The fears and insecurities of a lifetime threatened, but stood no chance against the insurmountable wall of love that surrounded him. His hands shifted restlessly over her body, almost as if he was assuring himself that she was real. Her heart ached for the pain he had held inside for much too long. She was humbled to see that she had made the difference in his life. The colors and textures of his emotions ebbed and flowed until the point in time when he'd healed her. Then, in a blur, everything in his life had changed. Because, she loved him, too.

Liz: (holding him and whispering) "I'm here, Max. I'll always be here." ---------------------------------------------------------

Liz stood in the darkened doorway of her parents' room and refused to dwell on the past week. She couldn't without completely breaking down. She wasn't sure how long she had been standing there watching them, but it hadn't been long enough. She wanted more time; to think; to remember; to just stare at them; to say goodbye. The faces of her sleeping parents made her heart constrict violently at the thought of leaving them and the pain she was going to cause.

Before her thoughts could spiral any further out of control, warm fingers intertwined with hers and the vice around her chest loosened. Her whole body relaxed just to know he was near. But, if Max was here, then that meant it was time to go.

His eyes didn't leave her face as he silently carried her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers, knowing this was the moment they had dreaded all week. Her eyes remained on her parents as she struggled to let go.

Memories flooded her mind without permission, tearing her heart between the joy of having been loved so well and the agony of having to grow up and make new memories. In that moment, she vowed to be as good a parent to her child as hers had been for her.

She could feel the time slipping away and knew they had to go. Max held her hand but didn't push her to hurry. A fact she wouldn't fully appreciate until later, when she had more time to think about it.

Liz inhaled quietly and blew a kiss to her dad, while silently telling him how much she loved him, even if Max was the only one who could hear her. Her eyes rested on her mom and her mind was flooded with all the love and security she had grown up with. She quickly blew one more kiss and waved sadly as if they could see, before silently turning away.

She and Max left the house she had lived in all of her life a few moments later. --------------------------------------------------------------- The early morning dawn was dark and cold as the six travelers stood awkwardly awaiting their passage. Liz had felt the subtle changes in her body this past week as her baby began to grow very quickly. Whenever Max had been near her this week, his hands had sought out the changes and delighted in every single one. His fascination charmed her out of her anxious thoughts every time they were together. She was desperately grateful for the avenue that had been provided for her to deliver this child safely. She couldn't pretend to be excited about facing life on a new planet and wondered what in the world awaited them there, but if it meant being with Max and saving their baby, then she'd have no other alternative.

Alex had concurred with Maria and Liz that the kindest thing to do for their parents was to feign their deaths. It was just impossible to believe that they could accept in one short week what had taken the rest of them almost a year to work through.

Liz vaguely recalled the previous evening's events. The smell of the popcorn and the old movie on t.v., snuggled up between the people who raised her into the person she was today. She also remembered the painful constriction in her throat as she had said goodnight to them for the last time. They seemed to know that something was wrong but didn't press her.

The accident had been very well planned. Wee hours of the morning. The jeep and the Jetta. An oncoming collision with a semi that would only exist for as long as was necessary to bury the case. The fire had destroyed every scrap of evidence. And, should any be necessary, Phillip and Diane were on hand to provide it.

The morning sky lit with an unearthly glow as the six of them stared in wonder. The sun couldn't be far behind now. They were alone here in this isolated place awaiting their transport to a new life, a new planet. Each and every one wished for someone to be there to send them off. But that was impossible. They clung to each other as the wind gently stirred the trees in the wake of the vessel that was landing in front of them.

Maria wondered how she could so callously leave her mother behind, but as she stared at Michael's profile it was easy to receive her calling and know that she was doing the only thing she could do.

There was a faint thump as the ship landed and an instant of complete darkness before a narrow opening appeared in the night.

Liz stared at the light from that opening, but instead of a doorway, her vision shifted along with her sense of perception. Suddenly, she was standing in the middle of a brightly sunlit yard on a clear cool day. The same yard that belonged to the cabin they had stayed at this summer. The same vision she had when they were still there, only this time, she was inside of it. She turned as if in slow motion and once again saw the six of them . . . together . . . and here . . . on Earth. She saw their children and their joy and knew that someday they would be back. The fog rolled away from the doorway in waves and suddenly Liz was in the woods, in the dark, and leaving this planet, but she would go with a newfound peace. A peace that she would share with the others as soon as they were aboard.

Max turned to Liz, still gripping her hand, not so much in question as in wonder that she would really do this. He'd seen her vision, but knew that she would have gone without it. She smiled at him and chased away the remnants of grief and uncertainty as they stepped up to that light and disappeared inside it. The others followed quickly and soon the light disappeared again leaving the clearing bathed in darkness once more. The trees bent as the wind gently stirred their branches for a few moments before the sun broke open the clouds and pronounced its blessing on a new day.

And, so it was . . .
later . . .
As, the mirror told it's tale . . .
that her face at first just ghostly
turned a whiter shade of pale . . .