//Tess had leaned over and kissed him, and, surprisingly, he had found himself kissing back. But when he raised his head, he had seen Liz just behind Tess, an expression of betrayal on her face. Then the tears came. "Liz," he breathed. Tess turned around. Liz shook her head, the word "No" forming on her lips. Then she turned and ran. "Liz, wait!" he called, starting to run after her. He caught up to her in the bio lab. "Liz, let me explain."

"There’s nothing to explain," her voice was cold, unfamiliar. She turned, a set expression on her face. "I understand."

"No, you don’t."

"Yes I do." The façade broke and tears started forming. "I do," her voice was breaking, "She’s smart, pretty, practically the perfect human being, except for the fact that she’s not human, well, perfect match. I’ll back off."

"What? No, Liz, I love you! She looked at him.

"Maybe you do, or maybe you were right the first time. Maybe we don’t belong together. But, it’s up to you Max. Take time off, from me. Spend it with Tess. See where your heart leads you. I’ll wait, for forever if I have to, but I’ll always be here for you if you need me."

"Wait," he said, confused, "What’s going on?" She looked at him sadly and kissed his cheek.

"Good-bye Max."//

He got up to take a shower, and when he came back, Tess was gone. Max sat to think, repeating the question to himself. What’s going on?

Liz Parker was still sad, even after two months. She ignored Max and Tess, and had totally separated herself from the group. So she was incredibly surprised when Max caught her by the arm and dragged her to his Jeep. They pulled out onto the old highway. "You know we’re missing Biology, right?"

"I realize that."

"Okay, just so you know." They drove in silence, Liz wondering what was going on. Max looked confused and determined at the same time. Something must have happened. A little later Max pulled over, by the group’s meeting place. He got out quickly, going to the edge of one of the small lakes. Liz followed more slowly. "What’s the matter?" He didn’t answer immediately. He picked up some stones and started skipping them over the water’s smooth surface. This was hard for him, she could tell. "Max?"

"Tess and I had sex last night."

"WHAT?!" He wouldn’t look at her.

"We slept together." Liz felt as if her heart had been torn out of her body. He mind was screaming. NONONononononono! Why had he told her this? They only thing that had kept her sane was the knowledge that Max would come back to her. Realize that he loved her, but now… It was impossible. She felt empty, alone. For the first time since the shooting she wished she were dead.

"And you felt I had to know this why?" she asked, all emotion had been leached from her voice. She sounded dead, hollow. Max turned to her then, he hadn’t been able to face her when he told he, but now… He couldn’t bear the expression on her face now. Her dark eyes had lost all their light, her face was frozen, the mouth hardened. Oh God Liz, what have I done to you? But Max couldn’t stop now. He had to tell the rest, had to tell her everything.

"Wait. I’m not done."

"There’s more?" She sounded angry. At least that was something, some emotion.

"When I woke up and felt another body, my first thought was of you. And when I went over what had happened, I wasn’t thinking of Tess. I needed to figure out what was going on. I needed someone to talk to, and you’re the only one I’ve ever been able to open up to." Now her eyes were snapping, practically on fire.

"I’m sure you could have talked to Tess. She is your girlfriend after all."

"No. I can’t talk to her the way I talk to you."

"Oh, gee, thanks," she said sarcastically.

"Liz don’t!" he cried.

"Don’t what?" Fury was whipping through her body as she rounded on him, but her next words were stilled as she got a good look into his eyes. They were haunted and confused and terrified.

"Don’t be mad," he said in a small voice. "Please."

"What do you want from me Max?"

"I want your help, to figure this out."

"Figure what out?"

"Figure out who I should be with." This stopped Liz cold. The only emotion filling her now was a blinding hope.

"What?" she whispered. Max turned to her, his face showing confusion, his inner turmoil.

"I don’t know," his voice broke, as if the words had been ripped out of him. "I don’t know. It didn’t feel completely right, having sex with Tess. I felt like something was missing, something that should have been there and it wasn’t. And then… I was thinking about you, and I just didn’t know. Should I be having sex with Tess or should I be making love to you? I just, I don’t know." He turned back to her, eyes pleading.

"Take me back to school."

"What!"

"School. Take me back." She headed to the Jeep, Max trailing along behind.

What was up? Max looked over at Liz again, he was confused. She hadn’t said anything since she’d asked him to drive her back to school. But she didn’t look angry. If anything she looked thoughtful. He pulled into the parking lot at school. She looked at him. "I think what I thought before. Take time off, but from Tess this time too. Take days, weeks, whatever, just have some time to yourself. Somewhere quiet, away from everything, and think. Listen to yourself. Follow your heart wherever it leads you, because it knows what’s right." She climbed out of the Jeep, then turned towards him. "Having sex is a lot different than making love," she said as she left. Max watched her go. She was right, as usual. He went home and packed a duffel, then he wrote a note to his parents and left.

Where was Max? Isabel stared out across the parking lot. The Jeep was gone. God, her brother was such an idiot. He wasn’t with Tess either because here she came. "Hey Isabel."

"Hi."

"Have you seen Max? He wasn’t in any of his classes."

"What?! No. The Jeep isn’t here. Do you think something might have happened?" Isabel was worried, she glanced around again. Michael was getting a ride with Maria and Liz, no room for her and Tess. Plus there wouldn’t be a warm welcome. Isabel was going to kill Max. Then Alex pulled up.

"Need a ride?"

"Sure." Izzy got in the passenger side and Tess hopped in the back. Alex frowned. He didn’t like Tess, but she was Isabel’s friend, so he wouldn’t be mad or rude.

Isabel went into the house, the Jeep wasn’t here either. Now she was really worried. Was Max in trouble? She dropped her stuff on the kitchen table. Noticing a note, she picked it up. MOM and DAD was written in Max’s neat script.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Don’t worry, I’m fine. I won’t be home for a couple of days, maybe longer, I’m not really sure. A lot of stuff has been happening and I’m just confused. I need some time to think, so I took off. Please don’t worry. I have food, clothes, everything I need. I’ll be home as soon as I figure everything out. I love you all.

Max

God, what was Max thinking?

Max had gotten his camp set up. He hoped his parents wouldn’t be too angry. Max sighed, it was night, the stars were shining down. He looked up, "What am I going to do?" He thought about Tess. The way her curly blonde hair bounced when she giggled, the way he felt when she kissed him, and the way her eyes lit up when she was excited. He thought about the way her eyes flashed with some deep-seated emotion when Liz walked into a room.

Liz, Max’s breath caught in his throat. She had been conjured up before him. Confidant pose, her straight dark hair shining, and brown eyes sparkling. She stared at him with so much love in those bright eyes… And then the vision disappeared. Max sighed again and lay down. He needed to sleep on it. And when he dreamed, his dreams were not of Tess.

Max took a deep breath, hiking took his mind off all the problems. Problems were for the night, that’s when he dealt with them. The majority of his time was spent hiking or doing homework he knew would be due when he returned, otherwise his mind drifted back to the Liz/Tess issue and he couldn’t make up his mind. Max sighed as he headed back to camp, he had been gone nearly two weeks and he knew his parents would be worrying frantically. He hoped Michael hadn’t gotten into any trouble. Max shook his head, he had to go back soon, before something happened. He raised his head, drinking in the night sky. He had to make a decision now. Tonight.

He sat now, thinking about the only two girls he had ever seriously dated. Tess was smart, pretty, and one of them besides, but something was off when he was with her. Like I was never supposed to be with her, he realized. Max straightened, why hadn’t he thought about this before? He had never been able to talk to Tess, really talk to her, and he should have been able to. He should have been able to tell her anything. He should have been able to talk to her like he talked to Liz.

Liz… Max could tell Liz anything. She listened with an intense concentration to whatever he had to say. Max laughed at himself, he should have known. He should have realized it that day at the movies when Liz had walked in with Kyle Valenti. Then he had attributed the sickening feeling to the elbow Tess had jammed into his ribs to get him to pay attention, but now… Now he knew that feeling had been his heart breaking, acknowledging the fact that he should have been the one to walk in smiling with a goddess on his arm. But no, he being the idiot he was had turned away, pretending he hadn’t noticed them at all.

He sighed, imagining Liz’s smile, he dimple appearing as she laughed. He imagined the way her eyes looked at him adoringly when he walked into a room. Then he remembered. Remembered every conversation and every kiss they ever shared. Remembered the taste of her lips, the scent of jasmine from her hair, the soft, silky texture of her skin as he held her. He was such an idiot. How could he possibly have thought he was in love with Tess? What had possessed him to even consider the thought? He loved Liz, and she loved him. He could see it in her eyes, whether she angry or not. She belonged with him. They belonged together. Max smiled and began packing, with any luck he’d be back in time for school.

Max woke up the next morning in his own bed. Smiling as he got dressed he wondered what Liz would say when he told her. Max froze, smile fading. What if she didn’t want to be with him anymore? He banished the thought immediately. Liz still loved him, she had as much as told him the last he had seen her. She probably all ready knew who he would pick when she had left the Jeep that day. Max shook his head, that girl knew him too well.

Downstairs, Max put a plate of apple-cinnamon muffins on the table. His parents and Isabel came in. He registered the shock on their faces. "Good morning."

"Morning," his dad said gruffly. Izzy took the keys.

"I’m driving." He grinned, they were going to pretend nothing had happened. His mom wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you honey."

"I love you too, Mom," he whispered, gently returning her hug. She smiled at him, turned, and sat down at the table. Buttering a muffin she looked at him curiously.

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yeah," Max said, thinking of Liz. "Yeah I did."

Liz had been in turmoil for the last week and five days. When was Max coming back? The only thing that kept her from leaving to look for him was the sick pleasure she derived from watching Tess suffer. Obviously no one had seen fit to tell her what was going on. Liz smiled, when Max got back everything would be all right.

She stopped, standing in front of the open Eraser Room door. Her eyes scanned the hallway. He was here, she could sense him. However that fact did not prevent her tiny cry of surprise as strong hands grabbed her and pulled her into the Eraser Room. The door closed behind her, she could hear it lock. He was holding her hard against him, her whole body was tingling. "Miss me?" he asked, voice husky. Shivers of happiness went down her spine.

"I didn’t even notice you were gone," she said tartly, breaking away. "Welcome back." She turned to face him and felt her insides melt. He was wearing that tiny half smile. That shy, hesitant, private smile he reserved only for her. Only for her.

"You knew," he accused gently.

"Knew what?" she inquired innocently. His grin broadened.

"That my heart would lead me to you." A simple statement, but one that took all the breath out of her lungs, sent her stomach to her knees, and liquidated all her internal organs. "Oh Lizzy, I missed you." He slowly gathered her into his arms.

"Max," she whimpered. He was trembling. They both were.

Max tilted Liz’s chin up, making her face him. He could feel her heart beating crazily, he could feel the warmth of her skin. Max leaned in, but Liz pulled away. "No." She looked at him pleadingly. "I don’t want Tess to find out the same way I did." He nodded. He understood.

He reached out, gently touching her cheek. Liz breathed deeply, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his arms and stay there for all eternity. A rush of giddy excitement filled her. Max still loved her. He had come back to her, he had chosen her. "We should get to Biology."

Tess was in a big group talking excitedly. She was incredibly annoyed at the tap on her shoulder. Death was guaranteed the tapper as she turned around. Then her expression softened, a smiling forming on her lips. Max.

Max saw the annoyed expression on her face dissolve into sweetness and light. Tess hadn’t known it was him. Max sighed, Liz was able to sense him the moment he stepped into a room, could pick his voice out in a crowd. "Max!" Tess threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He gently disengaged himself from her embrace, expression serious. "Max?" He glanced at the group, took her hand and led her away. "Max what’s wrong? Where have you been?" Tess asked again. Why wasn’t he answering?

"I needed time to think. Alone. And I figured something out."

"What?" she asked. He took a deep breath, a looked her straight in the eye.

"I don’t think we should see each other anymore." Tess felt all the blood run out of her face. "I’m sorry, it’s just… I still love Liz." Tess blinked and looked up at him. He wasn’t joking, he still cared about that worthless little human, that insect.

Isabel looked over at Tess. Something was up, she seemed way too self-controlled. And where was Max? With him just back she figured he would want time alone with Tess, but he had said that he was going to walk home. "Here’s good," Tess spoke up.

"Okay," Isabel said as she pulled off road and onto the desert. Tess was going to teach her some new ways to use her powers.

They had been working awhile with telekinesis, and now they were trying to burn a rock. Isabel focussed hard, imagining the rock smoking. And then it was. She smiled, Yes! Izzy glanced at Tess, she was smiling too. Iz heard a little shriek, she glanced away. Oh! A little bunny-rabbit. It was smoking. Iz looked back at Tess, horrified. "Tess, stop." Nothing happened. "Tess, stop! STOP!" she yelled. The bunny exploded.

"Oh, God!" Tess cried, looking at the bunny guts in shock. "Oh, oh, oh. I’m sorry…I didn’t mean." She looked at Isabel, blue eyes wide.

"It’s okay. We should probably go home now." Tess nodded. She seemed genuinely sorry, but Isabel thought she saw an inkling of a smile as Tess turned and headed to the Jeep.

Max sat on his bed, smiling, thinking of the extreme make-up make-out session with Liz. How could he have forgotten how much he needed her? Isabel came into the room, interrupting his flashback. He was going to give her a dressing down until he saw her face, something had happened. "What’s up?" Isabel asked.

"Liz and I got back together."

"Oh." She sat down.

"Izzy, what’s wrong?"

"Um, Tess and I went out into the desert to try out our powers."

"How’d it go?"

"Um, yeah, good. Up until the point when Tess blew up a bunny."

"What!" Max straightened.

"She blew up a rabbit." Max frowned.

"We’ll figure something out."

"Yeah," she paused, her eyes widened, "Max?"

"Huh?"

"If Tess could do this to a poor, defenseless little bunny, what do you think she’s going to do to Liz?" Max felt all the blood drain out of his face. He picked up the phone and dialed the Crashdown. Come on, come on, he thought. The line went dead.

"I’m sorry, this line has been disconnected," the operator’s voice said. Max hung up, totally numb. Then a blinding pain seared through his heart, Liz. Someone was hurting Liz. No, not someone, Tess. Oh, God.

Liz wiped the counter slowly, she was daydreaming. Her mind kept drifting back to the extreme apology kisses Max had been giving her. The "Close Encounters" theme rang throughout the café. "I’m sorry," she said, turning. "We’re closed for the… Tess."

"Hi Liz." Tess came forward slowly, locking up the door behind her.

"Hi Tess." Tess smiled, a slightly malicious smile. Liz began to feel frightened.

"Parents home?"

"No, it’s just me."

"Good." The phone rang. Liz reached for it, but suddenly it flew across the room. Liz looked at Tess, now seriously afraid.

"Good?" she squeaked. Tess’ smile widened.

"No one around to her you scream." Liz ran for the door, but it was sealed shut. She turned, trapped. "You see, I’ve decided something Lizzy."

"Really?" she asked, trying to be brave, but she could feel her bottom lip trembling.

"Oh yes." She lost her smile. "See, I love Max. I belong with Max. I want Max. Unfortunately, he thinks he still loves you, and we can’t have that now can we?" Her eyes narrowed. "You know what you are Lizzy?" Liz shook her head. "A pest, Lizzy, an insect. Well, someone finally called the exterminators." Liz felt tears burning her eyes.

"No."

"Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes. And, when you’re gone, Max will be mine." She advanced on Liz. "Like it should be." Liz closed her eyes. Max, she thought.

"Max, where are we going?" Isabel asked again. And yet again, Max didn’t answer. "Max!"

"Valenti’s," he said.

"What? Max, no, we can’t." He looked at her, she could see the pain in his face.

"Liz is dying Izzy, we need Valenti." Isabel groaned and sat back in the Jeep, he was right. They couldn’t let Liz die. She looked at her brother, spasms racked his body at irregular intervals, and he was speeding. Mr. Responsibility was speeding through the streets of Roswell like a madman.

Max pulled up into Sheriff Valenti’s driveway, jumping out as soon as the engine turned off, and ran up to the door. He rang continuously. "I’m coming," Kyle said. He opened the door. "Evans."

"I need to talk to your dad."

"Why?" Max sighed, exasperated, and started forward. Kyle’s hand shot out and blocked the door. "Watch it Evans." Max glared at him. He was going to lose it and Kyle was going to end up through a wall. Kyle stepped back a bit, nervousness appeared in his face. Max started forward again, but Kyle wouldn’t give anymore ground.

"Mr. Evans," Valenti’s calm voice said. "Can I ask what the matter is?"

"You have to come to the Crashdown. NOW!"

"The Crashdown," Kyle asked.

"Why?" Valenti said.

"It’s Liz."

"Liz?" Now Kyle’s voice held a touch of worry in it.

"And what’s wrong with Miss Parker, Mr. Evans?" Max could feel her pain and fear. He looked Valenti in the eye.

"She’s dying."

What!! Kyle thought, he’s got to be kidding. But, as Kyle looked at Max, he could see the pain whipping through his body.

"Why do you think Miss Parker is dying?" his dad asked. Kyle looked at his father, he was talking calmly, as if to a wild animal that might run away at any sudden movement. But his face showed concern. Max gave a cry and collapsed against the wall. He looked at Kyle’s father, eyes haunted.

"I can feel it. She’s terrified and hurt. I can feel the life slipping out of her." Now Kyle was beginning to think Max was seriously insane, but his eyes said otherwise. Dad obviously believed him.

"Kyle, stay here," Dad said. He walked out the door to the cruiser. Max pushed himself away from the wall.

"Like hell," Kyle said as he followed Max.

The Crashdown was dark. Max pounded on the door, it was welded shut. "Liz!" he cried.

"Max," Izzy said. He looked at her.

"I can’t feel her Iz, I can’t feel her!" Max felt like dying. If they couldn’t save her he’d probably kill himself. All of a sudden he was angry. Deathly angry, Tess was going to pay. A bright blue light formed around his hand. He didn’t care if Kyle or Valenti was there. He had to save Liz.

The door flew off its hinges on to the floor. Max immediately sent an electric shock into the air. The lights came on, illuminating the restaurant. Or, what was left of the restaurant. It was a mess. Table and chairs were overturned, glass broken, blood. Oh no, Max thought, glancing around frantically. He ran forward, heedless of the broken glass littering the floor.

Liz was lying behind the counter. Bloodied, bruised, mangled, and not looking like Liz. Max felt his heart break as he knelt beside her. Sheriff Valenti, Isabel, and Kyle all gathered round. "What…?" Kyle began.

"Ssh!" Isabel hissed. Max reached for Liz, cradling her broken body against his chest. She was breathing, barely, but she was unconscious. She would die if he couldn’t do anything. A tear ran down his cheek, he brushed it away. No time for that now, he had to concentrate. Max pushed the blood-matted hair away from Liz’s face. Liz’s face, it was bruised and cut, with blood trickling down. No, he though. How could anyone do this to her?

Max reached within himself for the power. Then he focused it on Liz, on healing her. The connection was made and a flash of images came. Max and Liz. Always Max and Liz. Every kiss, every touch, every conversation. Liz was breathing evenly now, he could feel it. Now he put new images into her mind. Images of them at the dances, at graduation, at college, at home. A family. That’s what he wanted her to see, to know. He and she would be together forever. He would always be there. And then Liz was whole. Perfectly, wonderfully whole. Max disconnected reluctantly, he didn’t want to be alone again. He opened his eyes, staring down at the girl he loved, and he smiled. He’d never be alone.

Liz felt herself swimming in a pool of darkness. She was lost, drowning, but then… A light appeared, bright white and warm. It enveloped her, healing her, making her safe. Max, she though calmly.

She opened her eyes, staring straight into Max’s soulful, goldenlit, brown ones, and smiled. Max caught his breath. "Liz," he said. He kissed her gently, as if afraid to break her. Liz snuggled closer, she felt warm and safe now, and she just wanted to fall asleep in Max’s arms. "Liz," he whispered again. She looked up, he was crying. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

"Don’t," she cried, putting her fingers to his lips. She smoothed away his tears. "Don’t." Liz realized something and oh no! "Max!" she said urgently. He looked at her questioningly. "The man, when we found the orb, the man. He was here, he knew Tess. He told her to hurry, they had two more to get rid of. I don’t remember anything else, but Max… Maria and Alex."

Isabel paled. Alex! Sheriff Valenti took off. "Wait!" He turned around. "Alex first, Maria will be with Michael." He nodded and left. "Max?"

"Yeah." He helped Liz up, obviously afraid to leave her.

"I’ll stay," Kyle offered. Liz looked surprised, then frowned, puzzled.

"Okay," Max said, looking at Liz. He released her and then kissed her. "I’ll be back, promise, as soon as we deal with Tess." Liz nodded and Max kissed her again.

"Come on!" He followed her, taking one look back, then climbed into the Jeep.

Kyle was trying to wrap his mind around what was happening. Max Evans had slammed open a door, lit up a room, and healed a half-dead girl. And he was the only one surprised. He looked at Liz, sitting quietly in a booth. Her mangled body had been healed, she was sitting there, perfect as ever, glancing occasionally at him or the clock. "What’s going on?" Liz looked at him, took a deep breath, and exhaled loudly.

"It all started the day I got shot…"

Liz watched Kyle as he shredded a napkin. He was having trouble with this new idea she had given him, the one in which aliens really existed and that he’d known three of them for half his life. They’d been waiting for awhile, Liz was worried about her friends. Tess was dangerous, she knew that first hand. Liz shivered, Max…

An hour passed and the door opened. Liz spun and Kyle jumped in front of her, ready to defend against an attack. Then they both relaxed. Valenti was there. "Dad?" Kyle asked. He smiled, nodding, and walked forward. Behind him came Alex and Isabel, holding hands! Then Michael and Maria, and finally Max. Her heart leapt with joy and she raced to him. His tired face filled with love as he gazed down upon her. He hugged her tight.

"It’s okay," he whispered in her ear. She smiled.

"I know." Liz twisted in Max’s arms so that she was facing the Sheriff. "Tess?"

"Miss Harding is dead."

"So is Nasedo," Michael said. Liz looked surprised. "He attacked Maria," Michael clarified, "I got mad."

"Oh." It was quiet.

"We should talk in the morning," Valenti said. Everyone agreed. Kyle and his dad left. Then Maria and Michael, who took Alex with them. Isabel looked at her brother. Liz tightened her grip on his arms.

"Stay with me." He nodded and looked at Izzy. She nodded and left after Max tossed her the keys to the Jeep.

Max looked at the girl who had stolen his heart. She was wearing a white satin nightgown, he was wearing his black boxers. She lay wrapped in his arms, digesting all the information he had given her. "So, what do you think?" he asked. She sat up and faced him. He had to struggle to breathe, she was so beautiful. The movement had caused the satin to brush against his bare skin, the white made her skin glow. He was sure her skin felt like satin too.

"I think I love you." Max smiled and pulled her against him.

"Good." He kissed her then, long and full, and pulled away. He looked down upon her, taking in the whole scene, just staring down at the petite figure cuddled trustingly in his lap. Max met her eyes and waited. Liz’s expressive dark eyes were a turmoil of emotion. Want and need and longing and uncertainty all flickered, but then the doubt was gone. The only thing in those eyes now was love. For him. He drew in a breath sharply. Liz was so amazing.

Max woke up slowly, feeling like he never had before in his life. He opened his eyes reluctantly. He wanted the night to go on, and on and on, until past forever. The sound of sheets rustling brought him fully awake. He leaned over Liz, waiting for her to open her eyes. She did, and Max smiled, savoring the look of delight on her face when she realized he was still there. "Morning," he whispered.

"Morning," she said back, her tone as low as his. She smiled shyly as she reached up and brushed the hair off his forehead. Max felt his heart speed up when she touched him. He needed to touch her back. He caught her hand and kissed it in a courtly fashion. Liz smiled, the dimple formed in her left cheek. He kissed his way up her arm until he came to her shoulder, by then he was fully stretched out beside her. She turned over, so that she was facing him. They lay nose to nose, staring into each other’s eyes, seeing each other’s souls. Liz giggled and leaned closer, using her long lashes to give him a butterfly kiss. He grinned and tickled her lightly. The giggling increased.

Liz stopped laughing and just lay there, looking up at him. She could feel him now, inside her, it was like they were one person. Now she knew what Max meant when he talked about his connection to her. She sighed, content, and wondered if she should tell him. "Hey! Babe, we have a restaurant to run!" Maria called from outside the door.

"Coming! Gimme a minute. Geesh, you think being half-killed would give me a time off excuse, but no," she yelled back.