Author Name: Liz
Email: [email protected]
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Summary: Future fic. The aliens never came to Roswell, and Liz
was never shot.
Category: M/L
Wrong Turns (Chapter 6)
A beep sounded distantly from somewhere in the house, perhaps
the drier or the alarm on the oven. She jumped a little at the
noise, the hot curler bumping against the creamy flesh of her
neck.
Yanking it away, she pulled the strand of silky dark hair free of
the stick, laughing uneasily.
It had been quite awhile since she'd done this.
Maria stood behind her, her mirror image standing tall before Liz, smiling back at her. Calming her fluttering stomach. Easing her nerves. Her rock, her pillar of strength, just like she had always been. Even in the hard times.
She tossed her best friend a bright smile, and attempted another curl. Her eyes drifted back to girl standing behind her, and the iron drooped down to her bare shoulder. "Damn!"
Pain seared through her skin. The offending curling iron clattered down upon the vanity's top, knocking off a tube of lipstick. She turned her head to inspect her shoulder, wincing when she saw the small red welt that was already beginning to form. She looked back up and found Maria gone. "Maria?"
And then she was back again, smiling reassuringly and clutching a little green leaf in her hand. Leaning down over Liz protectively, she broke open the leaf and squeezed out some gel onto her finger, massaging it lightly over the burn. Liz smiled in thanks, reluctantly returning to the task of her hair. Her hand curled around the iron, and she heard Maria's soft laugh behind her. "Let me." And then she had taken over, grabbing the tool from her hand, busying herself around her head.
Liz just watched her lovingly, and wondered how she'd managed
to get so very lucky.
The car idled for a moment before she turned the key, shifting her gaze over to her passenger as she did. "So?"
Liz glanced over at her, eyes darting wildly around the small car. "So…what?"
She placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Liz felt the surge of calm flow through her. She'd certainly missed Maria's healing touch. "Nervous?"
Liz placed a featherlight kiss on Maria's finger, reaching up
to grasp her hand within her own.
"Not anymore."
Maria looked down, and then back up at her. Her eyes shone in the darkness of the car. "I've missed you, Lizzie."
She could hear the tears in her voice. "Me too." Squeezing her hand, she reached for the door handle.
"Lizzie?"
Looked back at Maria, who still looked like she would cry. "Hmm?"
"It's just coffee."
She smiled softly at her, then nudged her out of the door. Liz
stepped out, her gaze lingering on the little red car as it drove
away into the night.
A pleasant hum filled the air of the small coffee shop, the voices of the evening regulars all buzzing simultaneously. She inhaled deeply, smiling at the rich sent of coffee. Her eyes scanned the room and she instantly spotted him, sitting in the corner back booth where somehow she'd known he'd be.
He hadn't seen her yet and she paused a moment, looking down again to assess her clothing. Tight black pants, fuzzy red sweater. Perfect. She looked up again then, head held high with confidence, and walked back to where he sat. "Hi."
He looked up at her, those beautiful eyes piercing her momentarily, burning her as they scanned her body. She grinned.
"Hi," he repeated. He sounded a little bit surprised.
She slid easily into the seat across from him, dropping her purse from her shoulder and crossing her legs under the table. He was staring at the table, at his hands. She was staring at him. "Dr. Evans?"
And then he looked up at her again, straight into her eyes. "Max."
She smiled at him, the smile she'd used at college when she met guys in bars. "Okay."
The silence stretched between them again. She was beginning to wonder what had been there before that wasn't now. "Max?"
He was still staring at her, into her almost. "Yeah?"
"Why did you agree to come here?"
Another pause, and he averted his eyes, looking back down at his hands. She did the same. He had wonderful hands. Looked back up at her. She didn't have to be looking at him to know. "I'm not sure. Why did you ask me here?"
Raised her eyes to meet his again. Found herself imagining things about those hands… "There was just something about you."
He looked intrigued. Scary. "What do you mean?"
"Like….the way you looked at me. The way you said my name. The way you helped us. Maria…"
Now he looked almost afraid. "I'm a doctor. I'm supposed to help people."
She shook her head lightly, slowly. "No. Not like that. She was in a coma, Max. She was going to die. I saw her get run over. I was there. Dammit, I was the one who sent her out on the road. But you….you fixed her, somehow. When there was no chance, you made one."
He just continued to stare at her, his expression now unreadable.
"I wanted to thank you."
She could finally see his smile. "You're welcome."
A waiter came by their table, asked them what they'd like. He
ordered a cappucino and she ordered a Caramel Frappucino. Max
laughed as she did, saying when the waiter left that only girls
drank frozen coffee.
"I'm a girl."
He smirked. "I noticed."
She laughed quietly, placing her hands on the table. Glanced at his again.
"Eliz.."
"Liz."
She earned another smile. "Liz. I'm glad you asked me here."
"I'm glad you came."
He placed one of his hands over hers.
"I like your hands."
"I like your sweater."
She laughed. "Thanks."
"I'd like to take it off."