Author: Mel

E-mail: [email protected]

Disclaimer: I don't own them. Don't sue me.

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Everything!

Category: Max and Liz (because they're my favorite couple) and other couples eventually.

Distribution: If you actually want to post this on your webpage I'll probably be so surprised that I'll let you. Just ask!

Author's Note: Ok, this is my first time actually sharing a fanfic with a lot of people, so I'd like feed back, but no flames please. Give me feedback? I'll write more! I like happy endings and this is just a pure, fun, holiday story. This is going to be a loonng story, I can already tell. Also, this story is dedicated to Linda, she is the one who encouraged me to share and continue writing! She is currently the only member of my fan club, but I'm still taking applications. (kidding!) Thanks Linda for all your help and feedback! Now, on with the show . . .

Snowmass Part 1

"Bye! Thanks for coming in, please come back soon!" Liz Parker called from the front doorway of the Crashdown Cafe. Grinning to herself, she shut the door quickly, flipped the lock over and turned the "Yes, We're Open!" sign to the "Sorry, We're Closed. Please Come Again." sign.

She quickly checked her watch and breathed a sigh of relief. It was only six thirty. She still had an hour. It was a Friday night and somehow Liz had managed to convince her parents to allow her to close the Crashdown for a surprise birthday party for her best friend Maria. She'd already sent everyone home, now she was just facing the daunting task of cleaning and decorating for the party.

Liz looked around at the dishes still on the tables, the filthy floor, the coffee still brewing and the soda machine that was sticky with Coke and Pepsi and she sighed. It was a lot of work, but she was determined to make the cafe look fantastic. First she moved over to the jukebox and selected one of her favorite CDs. As the music of Save Ferris filled the cafe, she moved to collect the dishes and wipe down the tables. Immediately her body went on autopilot and her mind began to wander to more interesting subjects. Like Max Evans and his soft brown eyes.

She smiled as she thought of Max. He'd saved her life from a bullet, touched her soul and revealed that he was alien. And that was all in two days. Logically, Liz felt like she should freak out over the fact that Max was from another world. She was human and he was not. That was just the problem for her. Max was more human than a lot of people she knew. He was constantly putting other people before himself. He'd done that when he'd saved her life, when her grandmother died and when her journal was missing.

When he touched her, she had an undescribable need to wrap herself up in his arms and never let go. He made her feel safe and accepted, even in the times that their hands just brushed during a biology midterm or when he touched her arm to lead her somewhere. Max had kept a respectable distance from her since the night her grandmother died and he'd comforted her, stroked her hair and pulled her so close so that there wasn't a breath of air between them. She wanted to be held by him like that again. Her mind was still dwelling on Max as she cleaned when he walked up to the Crashdown.

He hesitated outside and just watched her for a minute. Earlier that day during biology, Liz had told him about the surprise party. She said that he should stop by. He did like Maria and birthdays were always good for a celebration, but Max could at least admit to himself the real reason he was coming and the real reason he was early was because he knew Liz would be there. He was completely enchanted by her. By her smile, her easy acceptance and the utter trust he saw in her eyes the night after she'd been shot, when he'd connected with her to show her he was still the Max she knew.

Even if he resisted her in every other way Max still could be satisfied with watching her. He'd let his guard down when her grandmother had died because she needed him like no one had before. When she clung to him, fitting her head perfectly next to his and he found his hand automatically stroking her hair, he didn't really care that he was supposed to stay away. Staying away was becoming too difficult. Not to mention over-rated.

Liz suddenly straightened up and looked back where he stood. He watched as a smile spread across her face and he found one mirrored on his own face. She walked over and unlocked the door, holding it open for him. He walked in and she shut the door behind him. "Max, what are you doing here?" Liz asked, pleased to see him, but also a little puzzled. "The party doesn't start for another hour."

"You said I should come by," Max replied, suddenly unsure if he should be there. Maybe he should have just stayed home and tried out the new Play Station game his cousin had loaned him.

"Well, of course, but I didn't mean you should come before the party," Liz said.

"I can leave," Max replied quietly, reaching for the door.

Liz hurried to stop him, grabbing onto his coat sleeve. She realized that of all the times she initiated talking to Max and tried to get him closer to her, he was making the attempt this time. She didn't want to turn him down. "No! No, Max," Liz said, a little too quickly. She cleared her throat and continued. "I just didn't want you to have to wait around. I 'm still cleaning up and decorating. I didn't want to bore you."

"Liz, you could never bore me," Max said, looking directly into her eyes. He looked around. "Besides, I can help you. As long as you don't mind me being here."

"No, I never mind," Liz replied, softened by his words. He gave her a rare half-smile and shed his black leather jacket, hanging it next to the door. Liz smiled back and handed him some Christmas lights to drape around the room. Christmas was only a month away and the lights were festive for the upcoming holiday and Maria's birthday. They worked silently for awhile, decorating the cafe into a birthday celebration. Liz enjoyed knowing Max was just across the room and she watched as he hung lights, banners and balloons. Just as they were finishing, Liz checked her watch.

She only had fifteen minutes until Alex was supposed to arrive with Maria and she still had to change out of her waitress uniform. "Max, I'll be right back, I'm going to change in the back," she called. Max nodded and stepped back to examine the decorations.

Not bad, he thought. The diner already had a retro-look to it with the silver counters and fifties style jukebox, and the lights and balloons added a nice touch. He took a step back and frowned as his foot stuck a little to the floor. He looked at the tile and decided it really needed to be mopped; the remnants of the day's traffic were still littered everywhere. He spotted the bucket and mop next to the counter and headed towards it.

In the back room of the Crashdown, Liz heard the sound of running water and paused as she pulled on her pale blue jeans. She peeked out through the round window separating the kitchen and the diner and her eyes widened in surprise. Max was mopping the floors. She'd completely forgotten and he was doing it for her. Her amazement turned to fascination as she watched him work, as he leaned over with his arms working to clean the floor.

She admired how he wasn't thin and scrawny, but he wasn't over-developed like most of the jocks at school, either. When he'd held her in his arms, she had burrowed into his strong chest and enjoyed the feeling of his arms wrapped protectively around her. Blushing a little, Liz turned away from the window and looked for her sweater. If she wasn't careful Max might catch her looking at him.

Max finished draining the water from the mop and moved it back where he'd found it. The floors were clean and they would dry quickly. He hopped onto the counter to avoid walking in the water and after a few minutes listening to the music from the jukebox, he glanced back at the doors where Liz had disappeared. His eyes immediately locked on Liz, pulling her waitress uniform off.

His breath caught and all movement ceased as he looked at her. He couldn't see much, just her shoulders and head, but it was more than enough. His eyes followed her every move as she picked up a light pink sweater and deftly pulled it over her shoulders and arms, and then buttoned it in the front. He knew that sweater.

She'd worn it earlier on the day she'd been shot. He remembered because that day during their lab he'd dropped the rubber stopper for a vial they were using and he'd leaned over to pick it up. As he'd straightened up, Liz had been reaching for something across the table and the sweater had been raised above her waist. Max had been speechless at t he sight of the smooth, bare skin on her stomach. At the time he had no idea that his hands would be touching her stomach later that day, but it had still affected him.

Liz finished buttoning her sweater and she pulled off the clip that had been holding her hair and began to brush it. Max remembered with aching clarity the way her hair had felt between his fingers. Soft and straight, almost like running your fingers through water. Max quickly turned his head away, cursing his promise to stay away from Liz. He didn't want to, and he knew Liz didn't want him to. He wasn't that dense, he'd seen how she looked at him and how she responded when he'd touched her.

Max cast another look back at Liz and did the most irrational thing he'd ever done in his life. Suddenly it just didn't matter that he should stay away from Liz. He jumped off the counter and pushed the kitchen doors open. Liz looked back at him, surprise written on her face as she put her brush down. His eyes swept over her, taking in her worn jeans, the soft fabric of her sweater that he'd wanted to touch since he'd seen her in it and her hair framing her beautiful face.

"Max? Are you ok?" Liz asked, concerned. He looked so intense, staring at her and then she saw him hesitate. Before she could say anything else, he was standing close to her, his hands reaching around her. She could feel the warmth radiating off of him as he pulled her against him and her arms automatically went over his shoulders. Her heart began to beat wildly as his left hand moved up her waist to the middle of her back, pulling her closer. His right hand slid up to her face and cradled it close to his. Shedidn't know where Max's sudden forcefulness was coming from, but she wasn't going to object.

His hand on her back moved slowly around, causing her to shiver. His other hand stroked her face as she looked up at him. Max was a little taller than she was, but not by much. His eyes memorized her face and she looked at him and just as she was starting to wonder if he was going to do anything, Max leaned closer. No words were spoken between them; they moved together.

He moved lower and she tilted her head up to meet him. Her eyes fluttered shut as his face moved closer and he pressed his lips to hers. Liz hadn't known what to expect, but for a second she was shocked. She'd been wondering for a long time what it would be like to kiss Max, but in her wildest imaginations she had never thought it would be so gentle. The pressure had been light and the touch brief as she parted her lips and Max kissed her.

After the little bit of shock she'd felt and after the hammering of her heart sped up, Max leaned in again and their kiss deepened. Her hands moved to the back of his neck and she pulled him closer, her fingers threading through his dark hair. She angled her head so that he could move even closer. She couldn't have him close enough.

Max thought a million things as Liz responded to him. He couldn't believe he was kissing her. Hecouldn't believe when her mouth opened and her tongue slipped into his mouth. He almost felt dizzy, like he needed to sit down. Her hand behind his head pulled him closer and he felt the length of her body pressed against his. His arm on her back was wrapped all the way around her slender waist. Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to go on without a breath, although if it meant dying kissing Liz he wouldn't mind, they both pulled apart.

She didn't move away and he held her just as close. Her forehead leaned against his and for a few seconds they breathed heavily, trying to regain some composure. Her hands were moving over his face, tracing his cheekbones, his closed eyes, his lips, his chin and jawline. It was like she was blind and she wanted to feel what he looked like.

Feeling bold, Max moved his hand from next to her face, down her neck and around her neck until his palm was spread over her chest, above her sweater neckline, where her neck and body met. He could feel the gentle outline of her collarbone and the quick pulse of her heart. He finally looked up to meet her eyes and she gazed up at him, licking her lips. A smile just touched her lips and Max couldn't hold back the grin that spread across his face.

Liz saw his smile and her own smile widened. Still smiling, their lips met again in a kiss full of happiness. Liz knew that no one would ever touch her in the same way ever again and Max knew that he's found the one person he truly belonged with. He loved Liz and she was his soulmate. She didn't want him to ever stop kissing her. A knock on the glass front door interrupted them and Liz reluctantly pulled away, looking through the round windows.

"I think some of the guests are arriving," she said, trying to straighten her hair where Max had woven his hands through it. As much as she loved his touch, she didn't think it would be a good idea if she looked as if she'd been passionately making out with Max Evans in the back room of the Crashdown. Which she had. Liz quickly moved to the front of the cafe as Max struggled to contain himself.

Now that he'd kissed her he knew he couldn't stay away. A small part of him had thought maybe kissing Liz would get it out of his system. That small part had been dead wrong. He ran a hand through his hair and licked his lips. With surprise he realized some of Liz's lip-gloss had gotten onto his lips. He tasted the watermelon flavor and closed his eyes, remembered what it felt like to have her lips sliding over his. Shaking his head, he pushed through the swinging doors out into the cafe9 where Liz glanced back at him with a smile as she helped people get settled. Max shook his head. Their kiss had been incredible, but he didn't have the slightest idea what to do next.

Snowmass Part 2

Max pushed through the swinging doors of the kitchen in the Crashdown Cafe . He looked over where Liz stood, helping some of the kids from their school hang up their coats. He watched her every move, the way she reached to hang a scarf on the top hook of the coat hanger and how her hair swung as she turned around. Already he wanted to kiss her again. Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his dark hair.

It wasn't a good idea. He could practically see Isabel staring at him with disapproval in her eyes. And Michael. Michael would react much stronger if he told them what had happened. Not that he could hide it. Not that he wanted to. Already he was resisting the urge to walk over to Liz and wrap an arm around her slender waist. She was so tiny. He remembered thinking how perfectly she had fit in his arms when he'd comforted her after her grandmother's death. Like she was meant to be there.

As if sensing he was thinking about her, Liz turned back to look at him. He caught his breath at how her eyes lit up as she smiled at him. It was a happy smile, one he hadn't seen often enough since their lives had become so complicated that afternoon when he'd healed her. The thought that he'd put that smile on her face warmed him. He gave her a slight smile back, one that no one else would have noticed except Liz.

Liz saw Max smile back at her and her heart sped up. His face was sometimes so expressionless that it was hard to tell what he was thinking. The past few months she had made quite a study of learning Max Evans' facial features. The barest hint of a smile started in his eyes first and sometimes his mouth even turned up a little. She'd seen the full-fledged version just minutes before when they'd kissed and she recalled how happy he looked. As she looked at Max she saw that happiness fade slightly and his features clouded over a little. Concerned, she was about to walk back over to him, but her friend Kate stopped her.

Appraising Max, Kate turned to Liz with a curious look on her face. "Wow Liz, how did you get Max Evans to attend a social event?" Kate asked, trying to sound casually curious.

Liz tried to resist the urge not to roll her eyes. Kate had made no secret of how hot she thought Max was. The three of them had Geometry together and Kate had been trying to get inside information on Max from Liz ever since Max had been partnered with her in biology. "I asked him to come," Liz said simply.

Kate regarded her closely. "You're not trying to steal my guy, are you?" she asked suspiciously. Liz thought she was serious for a minute until Kate's face broke out in a grin. "I'm kidding!! Geez, Parker, you are so gullible! Like I could possibly miss Max's eyes drilling two neat little holes in the back of your head every day in class! It's about time! " Kate laughed and pushed Liz over in Max's direction as more people poured into the Crashdown. Someone pushed a quarter into the jukebox and music filled the cafe. The noises of people talking and laughing filled the air.

Liz ignored the sounds and headed straight for Max. As she approached, he lifted his face to meet hers. Her stomach dropped a little. He'd been in typical Max stance. Head and eyes downcast, hands in pockets and shoulders slumped. She had to resist the urge not to push back the hair on his forehead that constantly fell forward. She could tell by the wary look in his eyes that everything was not ok. "Max-"

"Listen Liz, I'm sorry," he said in a hurry.

Her heart fell. "Why?" she asked softly. He couldn't think it was a mistake. Nothing that felt that perfect could possibly be a mistake.

"I shouldn't have kissed you like that. We said we'd keep our distance and I messed up," Max said with a sigh.

Liz took a deep breath. "You didn't Max. How can you say that? Don't you get tired of keeping our distance? Is it really worth it?" she asked, hoping to convince him.

Max held her eyes with his. He reached up and cradled her face, his thumb gently touching her earlobe. "It is if it keeps you safe," Max replied softly. With regret that she could see on his face his hand dropped from her face.

She nearly shivered at the sudden loss of warmth. His hands were always so warm. She clearly remembered the warmth she'd felt as his hands had slid up her body from her back to hold her face as he'd kissed her not even ten minutes ago. She was about to reply to Max's argument when his eyes looked past her to the door.

She turned to look and saw Michael and Isabel enter. Both tried to look nonchalant, but Liz could tell Michael was trying to look too casual and Isabel immediately searched the room for Max. Their eyes met and it was as if there was an unspoken conversation between them. Max gave Liz a quick look before crossing the cafe to join his sister and friend.

Liz watched helplessly, immediately jealous of the connection Max shared with Isabel and Michael. She could never really be a part of that, no matter how much she wanted to. Liz thought about the turn her life had taken in the span of a few minutes. Max had literally kissed her breathless and told her they couldn' t be together. He'd changed her world and shattered it practically all in the same breath. For just a second she thought about crying, leaving the party to proceed on its own.

Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. Maria was her best friend, there was no way she wasn't going to have the best seventeenth birthday possible. Liz put her feelings about the whole Max situation aside for the time being and moved to put the food out on the counters.

"So what's going on?" Michael asked, immediately fishing for details.

Isabel studied him closely. "You said you had somewhere else to come before the party," Isabel said, not a question but a statement.

Max nodded, knowing he couldn't keep a secret from either of them. "I came here to help Liz," Max said. Isabel nodded, urging him on.

Michael was not nearly as patient. "And?"

"And we-we, yeah," Max stopped, stumbling over his words. He looked up and realized that they understood what he was trying to say. "Don't worry. I told her there's no way we can be together," Max said, somewhat dejectedly.

Isabel rolled her eyes. "Max, sometimes you are so thick-headed," Isabel said, using her usual tact.

Max's head shot up quickly, that was not the reaction he'd expected from his sister of all people.

"Look, whether you date Liz Parker or not is no longer front page news. We aren't ever going to be completely safe from all the unimaginable evils of the world. I never thought I'd say this, but Liz is good for you," Isabel said. She saw she had her brother's attention and continued. "She knows all about you, Max. She knows the deepest, darkest secret that the three of us will ever have and she still wants to be with you. Please redeem the males of all species and make the attempt to apologize," Isabel said.

Max had to blink; he was staring at Isabel so hard. She was the one who had cautioned him. But she was also the one to tell him to go to Liz when she was hurting before. He looked over where Liz was chatting with classmates. He saw the tension in her shoulders and the false smile on her face. She was hurting again and this time he'd been the one to put it there. Suddenly his stomach felt heavy. He'd never wanted to hurt Liz, of all people.

"She's right, Maxwell," Michael said simply.

Max raised his eyebrows and patted his friend o n the shoulder. "Thanks for the insightful advice Michael," Max said. He shared a quick look with Isabel and started to walk across the floor to Liz. She turned as he came closer and he saw her eyes wander to his. She looked so sad as he approached her and yet, he saw a glimmer of hope in her brown eyes. He was suddenly gripped by fear. There wasn't anything to stop him now. He had Isabel and Michael's blessing. Liz knew all about him. The constant feeling of danger was muted. Ever since he'd seen her that first day in third grade he'd always had an excuse to stay away. He didn't have any reason to keep his distance. He wasn't sure what that meant.

Liz saw his hesitancy and her face fell. He felt horrible for what he was putting her through, but Max didn't know what to do. Just as he started to reach for her hand to pull her away someone yelled out to the crowd, flipping off the lights. "They're here! Everyone be quiet! " The cafe fell to complete silence as the headlights of Alex's car sliced through the dark cafe windows. Max reached out and found Liz's hand in the dark.

He walked up to stand behind her, close enough so that she could sense him behind her but far enough away so that he was only touching her hand. Liz heard the calm sound of his breathing and she felt the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, standing so close behind her. If she just swayed back a little she would be leaning against him. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his hand in hers as he moved his fingers to intertwine with hers.

She sighed at the feeling; just that simple touch calmed her. The way his hand bent to fit hers and how he angled her hand close to him and how his fingers rubbed the back of her hand gently. She pulled his hand up so that his arm was wrapped around her waist in the front and so that he bumped into her back. She heard his breathing stop for a minute and smiled to herself.

Max was surprised when Liz pulled him closer to her. Suddenly he could feel her back against him, her legs next to him and her head tucked next to his. Her feet shifted between his so that she could stand closer to him. Her hair was close enough that he could feel the softness of it on his chin. His arm around her waist was held firmly by Liz's hand against her side. He opened his hand and he felt the softness of the pink sweater she wore and as she moved slightly his hand grazed her bare skin. He was no longer looking out the window as he looked down at Liz in the dark. Only seconds had passed and nobody was paying any attention to him or her, but his entire world was centered on the soft feel of Liz's skin under his fingers.

Before he had a chance to consider where they were going the doors to the Crashdown opened and Alex and Maria entered. "Alex, what is going on here? I don't get why the Crashdown isn't open; it's Friday night! Where is every-"

"SURPRISE!!!! " everyone yelled at once, the lights flashing on quickly to reveal all the guests.

Maria shrieked in surprise and then her face widened into a smile, one hand on her forehead and the other over her heart. She laughed and searched the crowd. Her eyes caught Liz and Max, standing close and she walked over quickly. Liz stepped away from Max and hugged her friend. "You!!! "Maria said, hugging Liz tightly. They pulled apart and both broke into a fit of laughter.

Max found the smiles contagious and he grinned. Maria observed how Liz stepped back and automatically found Max's hand in hers. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Ok, you and me, we're going to talk later. But for now, it looks like I have guests to attend to," Maria said arching an eyebrow.

Liz smiled and Maria grinned, immediately enveloped by a throng of well wishers. Liz and Max were left relatively alone and Liz turned to Max. "So, what happens now?" Liz asked quietly.

Max held his breath for a minute. "I don't know," he said simply. "I know that I want to keep you safe and I want you to be happy."

"Max, I'm safe and happy when I'm with you," Liz said, stoking his face with her hand.

"I knew kissing you would only complicate things, " Max said, his eyes playful.

"Really? Well, I'm glad you did," Liz said, inching closer to him.

He lowered his head close to her and felt the pull of her, barely a breath away. "Me too," he replied. Just as he leaned close enough to touch his lips with hers someone yelled her name from across the room. Liz shut her eyes in frustration and reluctantly pulled away from Max. He watched her go until his eyes met Isabel's across the room. She gave him a slight satisfied smile and nodded just a little.

He joined his sister and Michael over at the booth they sat at, giving them a sheepish smile. The evening passed quickly. After a few hours the food and punch disappeared, along with the birthday cake. The crowd started to thin out until only Liz, Max, Maria, Isabel, Michael and Alex remained. Maria held up a paper cup of punch to Liz, who stood leaning against the counter.

"Here's to Liz and a great party. Thanks for making this birthday memorable, Lizzie," Maria said quietly. Liz smiled softly at the name that only Maria was still allowed to call her. Maria downed her cup of fruit punch and looked around. "Well, looks like we have a bit of a mess to clean up. Since Liz and Max put it together, who wants to help me clean up?" Maria asked.

When Isabel and Michael were not as quick to respond, Maria nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen as a hint. Finally she managed to get the rest of the group to follow her into the kitchen, leaving Max alone with Liz. He stood up from the booth and walked over to her. He tentatively reached forward for her hand and she easily walked into his arms.

The slow music coming from the jukebox filled the room with warmth. Liz cuddled up against him like a kitten, her arms wrapping around his neck. His hands rested on her hips then encircled her waist, bringing her closer. He was amazed at how she responded like everything she did was natural. It was like she knew how he felt without saying a word. He felt a little clumsy, not really sure where to move his hands. Liz seemed to know exactly what she was doing and Max had no idea what to do. The protective bubble he'd kept around himself had managed to exclude nearly all social functions where he might have needed to dance or interact with any girls. Not to mention the hand-holding and kissing.

Liz's finger's played with the hair at the back of his neck and she looked up at him." Don't worry, this is all new for me too," Liz whispered. He was puzzled, he knew Liz had had boyfriends before. He'd watched everyone and had been equally envious at what they could have but he couldn't. He found it hard to believe she had never danced with any of those boyfriends.

Liz smiled to herself, remembering the confused look on Max's face at her words. What she hadn't said was that she'd never danced with or kissed someone who meant as much to her as Max did. He'd saved her life in more than one way the day she'd been shot. And she intended to prove it to him. She could hear the steady beat of his heart against her ear as the song wound down and the jukebox switched to the next selection with a mechanical click.

What neither one of them heard was the doors to the Crashdown swishing open. The voices of the small group that entered quickly hushed at the sight of Liz and Max dancing slowly and for a minute everything was silent. A polite cough quickly got Liz's attention and she looked up. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't move away from Max. "Mom! Dad! What are you guys doing back so quickly?" Liz asked a little nervously. She tried to remind herself that it wasn't as if her parents had caught her making out with Max.

Her parents, Maria's mom and Max's parents were standing there. Max followed her eyes and she could tell he was as shocked as she was. "Well, we were down the road at Rachel's with Amy when we ran into the Evans' and decided to all have dinner together," Liz's dad replied, looking at his daughter with an amused smile. Liz nodded and pulled Max over.

"So, what's going on? How did the party go?" Liz's mom asked, eyeing Max a little suspiciously.

"It went great. Maria was really surprised. Max and I, we were just dancing," Liz started to stutter, then she reminded herself that Max was still standing next to her, his hand in hers. "Mom and Dad, you remember Max. Max, this is Amy DeLuca, Maria's mom ," Liz introduced.

Max smiled at Liz's parents and shook Amy's hand. Max cleared his throat and motioned to his parents. "Liz, these are my parents, Phillip and Diane. Mom and Dad, this is Liz," Max said. Liz shook their hands and she found that Max's mother stared at her a little longer with an interested look on her face. Liz smiled warmly at them and watched as Max's parents shared a quick look. She looked back at Max, but he'd missed it while he'd been staring at her.

"Liz, I'm so glad that Max found such a nice girl like you. Why, your mother and I were just talking at dinner about how you two would be perfect-" Diane started to say.

"Mom! Liz and I-" Max quickly tried to stop his mother, not wanting to make Liz even more nervous then before. He saw how his mother was looking at them and that she was practically already picking out matching place settings. He sighed. There were worse things than people thinking he and Liz were a serious couple. Which, maybe there were. Max didn't know, things were still a little confusing and up in the air.

From the kitchen came the clattering sounds of pots and silverware and suddenly the doors fell open and Maria, Michael, Isabel and Alex came out quickly. The remnants of a water fight were obvious on Maria's shirt and in Michael and Alex's hair. Isabel tried to look bored by the whole affair but Max could see a smile tugging at her mouth. Max's mom saw the group and smiled.

"Good! I'm glad you're all here. While we were all at dinner we made a decision," Diane said, then looking at Liz's father to continue. "Well, the Evans' were talking about their annual Christmas vacation trip up to Snowmass, Colorado, and asked if we, along with Maria and Amy, would be interested in joining them," Jeffrey said, looking at his daughter.

Liz was shocked for a minute and then her eyes flew to Max. Two weeks with Max in the mountains during Christmas. She couldn't imagine anything that sounded better. His hand tightened on hers, signaling that he knew what she was thinking.

"Your parents are still going to Europe for the holidays, aren't they Alex?" Jeff asked.

"Yeah, my grandparents really wanted them to come. I'm supposed to go to my aunt's," Alex said, none too thrilled with the idea.

"We thought we would see if you'd like to join us this year," Nanc y asked Alex.

Alex's eyes brightened and he nodded. "That would be great, I'll just have to ask my parents," Alex said.

Liz couldn't believe how everything was working out so perfectly, how everyone was going to be together for the holidays. Except Michael. She looked over at him and noticed the sadness in his eyes as he quietly tried to back away. She glanced at Max, who frowned when he saw the same thing. Before he could open his mouth, his mother spoke up. "And Michael, if you'd like to come we'd love to have you. You should probably ask your father though," Diane said, knowing full well that Hank wouldn't care where Michael was and that the Evans were once again his only link to a real family.

Michael gave her a rare smile and nodded. With the plan ahead of them the adults of the group made a few plans before the Evans' left, indicating to Max and Isabel that they should come home soon. Liz's parents went upstairs and Maria was leaving with her mom when she gave Liz another big hug. "Thank you for the perfect birthday," Maria said.

Liz smiled and waved as Maria left with her mother. Alex left soon after and Isabel and Michael went outside to wait for Max by the jeep. Liz smiled at Max wordlessly, both her hands interlaced with his. "Isn't this great?" she asked excitedly. "The entire Christmas break in the mountains. I can't wait."

Max nodded and looked at Liz thoughtfully. "It'll be good to get away from here. Spend some time together away from Roswell," Max replied.

"You know, I've never been skiing before, " Liz said.

Max looked surprised. "You haven't? I'll just have to teach you," he replied.

Liz smiled and leaned forward. "I can't wait to learn," she whispered before he touched his lips to hers. Max slid his lips over hers gently at first. When she responded, her lips parting, he heard a sigh escape and her response, to pull him closer, nearly made his legs buckle. He kissed a trail from her lips to her earlobe and down her neck to her collarbone.

He stopped there and returned to her mouth, tracing her lips with his finger. She gazed at him through half lids and when he gave her one last kiss, gently kissing her bottom lip, he then stepped away reluctantly. Liz almost stumbled after him; she'd been depending on his arms around her to keep her steady.

Without a word he exited the cafe, leaving Liz to stand there and wish he were still with her. She turned out all the lights and started to climb the stairs up to her room. She stopped halfway and looked down at her stomach, where Max had healed her three months earlier. Then she remembered how his hands had felt on her stomach that night, how his hand had pressed on the small of her back as they danced, pulling her closer.

She'd never known anyone to be gentler. She smiled to herself, practically skipping up the stairs.

She couldn't wait to see what Snowmass, Colorado, would bring.

Snowmass Part 3

Isabel heaved her duffel bag onto the floor from he r bed with an added shove. The bag hit the floor with a heavy thud that seemed to vibrate through the floor. She listened for a moment for any accusations from her mother at the sudden noise and breathed a sigh of relief when none came.

She stood up and brushed her hair back from her shoulder absent-mindedly. In Max's room next to hers, she heard Max walking back and forth as he travelled from his closet to his bed. They were both packing for the trip to Snowmass tomorrow which was scheduled to hit the road bright and early. Everyone was meeting at the Evans' at seven in the morning for the trip north.

Isabel was actually done packing and the night was still pretty young. She heard the phone ring twice before her mother picked it up and Isabel waited expectantly, hoping maybe it was one of the girls from school.

"Max! Liz is on the phone for you! " Diane called from the kitchen.

Isabel sighed with disappointment as she heard her brother quickly open his door and practically run to get the phone. Isabel would never admit itto anyone, but she wished that she had someone other than Max or Michael that cared for her as much as Liz and Maria cared for them. Sure, she had lots of friends, she was one of the most popular, most envied girls at school.

Sure, she went out every Friday and Saturday night with a group of the jocksand cheerleaders from school and she laughed and danced and talked just like one of them. But she wasn't really one of them. She didn't really want to be one of them.

Where Max had tried to blend into the background and Michael had tried to fade from anyone's attention, through the years she had managed to blend into the crowd of "normal" people. The three of them had learned long ago that their secret had to be kept at all costs. As three different people they had all approached keeping the secret in different ways. Max kept to himself; hoping people wouldn't notice him because he was quiet and calm.

Isabel picked up a picture on her dresser of Max and her in Snowmass last year. He had his arm slung around her shoulder at the top of the ski slope, the picture taken just before they had raced down the hill. They were both grinning at the camera and Isabel smiled at the memory. Max was always more open when they weren't around crowds or strangers, because that was when he felt like he could be himself. Except Isabel had noticed that he opened up more when he was around those who knew his secret, like Liz, Maria and Alex. She'd also noticed that Michael reacted in a similar way.

Ever since elementary school when Michael was labeled as a "problem" child, he had lived up to that reputation. Isabel thought that it was because people gave up on him quicker, assuming he was beyond help. He acted sullen and difficult because it kept people away. Max's attitude was similar,and both made it hard to approach them.

Isabel's tactics had always been to be accepted, to be normal so that no one would question her presence at dances, parties, and football games and at the popular table in the quad at school during lunch. Problem was, she didn't like where she was. She never got close to any of the girls at school because they weren't interesting or even sincere. Max wasn't the only one watching Liz at the Crashdown.

Isabel had watched Liz and Maria interact and found herself longing for a friendship as close as theirs. She'd seen them laugh together, commiserate together and even help each other. The only people she could count on to help her were Max and Michael.

Isabel thought back to when she had covered for Liz at the Crashdown a few months back. Maybe that was why she'd helped out, because she thought it was something Liz would have done for a friend. And Isabel did want friends. Especially friends like Liz and Maria who knew all about her and would still laugh and talk with her.

Isabel put the picture of her and Max back on the dresser and turned away, her elbow hitting the stack of books on the dresser, causing them to fall to the floor. Leaning over, Isabel picked up two of the books and put them back. She reached for the third book and as she pulled it towards her from where it had fallen open, partially hidden under her bed, and she kneeled to the floor.

Her eyes softened at what the book had flipped to. The book was hard bound, large in size and worn around the edges. It was her freshmen yearbook from the last school year. She knew that it was filled with signatures and phone numbers that she'd never called, but what had caught Isabel's eye was the page the book had fallen to. She also knew that it was no coincidence that the pages had fallen where they had. Back in May she'd opened the yearbook to page 145 many times, pushing the bind down so that it would stay open. Sometimes she would lay it open on her desk for days, until someone walked in and she would quickly shut the book. It was a page she had stared at many times.

Isabel ran her finger over the glossy pictures of student life from the school year. Her fingers came to rest under a picture of students in the quad, though the photo was centered on one figure, a guy strumming a guitar. It was Alex, taken some time in spring when eating lunch outside was still a possibility before it got too hot. He had his hand wrapped around the guitar and he looked at the instrument as if he were listening to it talk to him. Alex was sitting on a picnic table; his feet propped up on the bench. He was alone, though students surrounded him in groups; no one had joined him at the table.

Isabel kept coming back to the photo because it seemed to speak to her. Alex was alone, but in that picture he was content to be alone. He didn't know that his picture was being taken and he was completely comfortable sitting in the sun with a slight smile on his face. Isabel sat back on the floor, pulling her knees under her chin so that she could still look at the picture. She thought back to when she'd walked into Alex's dream and had caught a glimpse of more than she could have imagined.

What she'd seen had more than amazed her. Not only did Alex actually see her as a real person; he seemed to understand that she had something to hide and that her fear was a very real thing for her. What had left her speechless was that Alex actually had wanted to know what she feared so that he could know her better. The real her, not the her that everyone saw at school.

Isabel closed her eyes, uncertainty flowing through her mind . Alex had been naturally curious after Liz had told him the truth, but she still remembered the way he'd looked at her at the Crashdown. She knew he'd had a crush on her before, and she'd fully expected that to vanish once he knew the truth. What had unnerved her was the way he continued tostare at her with the same intensity.

Nothing had changed in the way he'd looked at her, and that scared her more than she'd thought. Isabel wondered if Max had the same experience with Liz.

Liz had been shocked at first, but she hadn't shied away from Max as though he was a monster. Isabel tried to understand what Max and Liz shared, but she wasn't sure if she did. Max had chosen one person to tell their secret to, and he'd chosen the one person that he'd been in love with since that first day they'd come to school in the third grade.

Isabel didn't have to be told what an extraordinary person her brother was, she already knew. And she was just starting to understand how special Liz was, too. She cared about Max not because of what he was, but who he was. Isabel hoped that maybe Alex was the same kind of friend. Suddenly, she couldn't wait to find out.

She stood, leaving her room and shutting the door behind her as she bounded through the house, grabbing her coat from the closet. "Mom! I 'm going out, I'll be back soon! " Isabel called back to her mother in the kitchen.

"Ok, but honey, you need to be back soon, we have an early start inthe morning," Diane reminded her daughter.

Isabel nodded and swung openthe door just in time to see Liz standing on the doorstep, her hand poised to knock on the wood surface. She looked stunned, but quickly recovered, smiling at Isabel. "What? Are you guys psychic too?" Liz said, getting a slight grin from Isabel.

"He's upstairs, in his room," Isabel commented, knowing exactly who Liz had come to see.

"Where are you going?" Liz asked curiously.

Isabel hesitated and considered giving Liz a flippant and vague answer. Then she remembered how she wanted Liz to be someone she could confide in and trust. "I'm going to see Alex. I have to-I have to ask him, umm tell him something-" Isabel managed to say. She wasn't entirely sure what she wanted to say to Alex, only that she needed to talk with him.

Liz merely nodded and watched Isabel leave, backing the jeep out of the driveway. She shut the door behind her and looked up as footsteps approached from the kitchen. Diane Evans entered and smiled as she saw Liz. Liz nervously took off her coat as Diane took it and hung it up. She knew that Max's mother liked the idea of her son and Liz as a couple. Liz liked the idea of Max and her as a couple too, that's why she'd called Max to see if he was busy. She wanted their relationship clarified at least a little before they spent the next two weeks in each other's company.

"Max said you were coming over. Can I get you anything?" Diane asked.

Liz shook her head. "No thanks Mrs. Evans," she replied.

"Ok, just yell if you need anything," Diane said, returning to the kitchen.

Liz took a deep breath and walked towards the back of the house, walking so lightly that she couldn't even hear her own footsteps. She remembered where Max's room was from when she'd come to his window months ago. It was a little different taking the internal route.

She pausedas she walked down the hallway, looking at the pictures that hung on the walls. Max and Isabel as kids playing on the beach. Max and Isabel hiking in Bryce Canyon. Max and Isabel ice skating in Colorado. Nearly every picture was of them together, smiling, goofing off and playing. Liz was reminded onceagain of the bond that Max shared with his sister, one she would never be truly a part of.

She was an only child so she didn't know what it was like to have a sibling, but more importantly, she wasn't an alien. Max, Isabel and Michael were unique. But then, what she and Max had was unique, too, she thought.

She approached Max's door and held up her hand to knock. She brought her knuckles against the wood door lightly. "Come in," Max's voice carried through the door and over the music playing.

She grasped for the handle of the door and opened it, coming into Max's room. His back was to her as he looked through the closet, tossing a few sweaters on the bed and completely missing the bag open there. She looked around at the room and smiled. It was surprisingly neat for a guy. The computer in the corner was stacked neatly with CDs and discs and she noticed the globe to the right of the desk, near his school books and papers. His bed was made and other than the mess of his packing, Max was beginning to look a little like a neat freak.

She knew he liked to be in control, just as she did, so seeing his room made her smile. The stereo near the window played music softly and Liz tried not to stare at the aquarium off to the side which seemed to have some kind of lizard basking under the heat-lamp. Max was still rifling through his closet when his head looked up. "Is, have you seen my ski-Liz! I didn't know you were here," Max said as he turned to look at her.

He stood up quickly, shutting the closet door. He came over to her and tried to clear some room on his bed. She smiled at him softly, loving how he tried to take care of her. "I thought I heard Isabel leaving her room, I didn't even hear you come in," Max said as he sat across from her in his desk chair.

"Isabel was just leaving as I got here. Your mom was in the kitchen, she said to yell if we needed anything," Liz replied, trying to decide how to say what she wanted to. Max merely nodded, which was almost as responsive as his one word answers. She took a deep breath and continued. "You know, your mom is pretty convinced that you and I are acouple," she started.

Max smiled, his eyes taking in her nervousness. "She's probably equally surprised that Michael and I aren't a couple," Max said off-handedly.

Liz stared at him for a second before she laughed. "Max! What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well, Mom and Dad were starting to wonder why I never go out and spend all my time with my sister and friend. I couldn't exactly tell them the truth," Max replied.

Liz nodded, understanding what he meant. "They weren't the only ones who wondered," Liz replied with a smile.

Max raised an eyebrow at her comment. "What?" he asked.

Liz cleared her throat. "You should know that there are a lot of theories about why Max Evans never dates," Liz said.

Max looked surprised. "I never thought anybody noticed. I've always tried to fade-"

"Into the background. Max, even with how hard you tried, it was impossible not to notice you," Liz said softly.

Max held her gaze for a few minutes before he stood and moved to sit next to her. He reached a hand over and took her hand in his. Liz moved a fraction closer so that all he saw was her face in his vision. "Max, what happens now?" Liz asked, trying to sound confident. She was trying so hard not to fear what Max might say to her. How it wasn'tsafe, how they were too different, how he didn't care about her. She knew she would be heartbroken if he rejected her, but she didn't think she could wait any longer to know how he felt.

"I don't know," he said simply. He sighed and looked down at her hands. He picked one up and held it open against his own hand, palm to palm. Her hand tingled at the connection; her fingers were so much smaller than his and his hand nearly enveloped hers. She looked at Max, her eyes questioning. "See, we look the same. We feel the same things. But we are different. I just don't know if any of this will work out," Max admitted.

Liz moved her fingers to interlace with his. "But isn't it worth it to find out?" Liz replied softly.

Max looked into Liz's eyes and saw the hope there, hope he'd never expected to see looking back at him. He'd never dared to hope that Liz would feel the same way about him that he did about her. She made him believe that he could be normal, she made him forget that he wasn't. "Yeah. Yeah, it's worth it," Max finally said , reaching up with his hand to brush back Liz's hair.

She closed her eyes in relief for a second as Max leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She leaned into him and breathed in the scent of his cologne, sharp and masculine. She buried her nose into his shoulder, feeling the softness of the sweater he wore next to the warmth of the skin of his neck. He moved to hold her closer and she complied easily, her legs moved until she was sitting in his lap. Her arms went around his shoulders as his encircled her waist and she felt his chest against her.

They stopped moving and Liz closed her eyes. She could feel him breath. He could hear her heartbeat. Calm and steady like a grandfather clock. Max leaned against the wall with Liz tucked in his arms and he couldn't stop the grin that spread over his face. He'd never felt as happy or satisfied with his life ever before. Liz moved with him until they were safely enclosed in each other's arms, quietly listening to the music.

Isabel pulled the jeep into the Whitman's driveway and cut the engine. She licked her lips nervously and ran a hand through her hair, which was a little wind-blown from the trip over.

She saw the living room lights on and she got out of the jeep and walked to the front door. She chided herself for how she was acting. Isabel Evans was not fearful or hesitant.

Isabel Evans was never apprehensive about approaching a guy.

But even Isabel wasn't really like the Isabel Evans that people thought she was. She reached the front door and paused. Alex might be the one to save her from her own image and that scared her more than she could have imagined. She knew his parents had already left for Europe and he was by himself that night. She wondered if she had the courage to find out if Alex was who she hoped.

Slowly,she raised her hand to knock at the door. She tapped it three times, the noise sounding hollow. She waited and froze when she heard footsteps approaching. She took a deep breath as the lock was pulled open and the door began to open with a soft creak.

Snowmass Part 4

Alex zipped his duffel bag shut with a feeling of accomplishment. His packing was finally done for the trip the next day. He hated packing because he didn't like doing it and got easily distracted, so it took forever. All he had to do now was bring his cross-country skies in from the garage. He'd been to Aspen several times with his parents and had decided that hel iked cross-country skiing much more than downhill skiing. The endurance and energy he got from trekking through the snow was like a natural high and he thought maybe he'd have the opportunity to take a few trips while in Snowmass. He wondered if Max or Michael would be interested in going with him.

Alex still didn't feel entirely at ease with the entire group of people who knew the massive secret that had originally saved Liz's life and started everything that had happened in the last few months. Maria and Liz were two of his best friends and he'd known them for years. He'd known Max, Isabel and Michael for years too, he'd just never really held a conversation with any of them.

It was hard not to notice Isabel. She was beautiful, popular and completely out of his reach. He'd dreamed of her long blond hair, her smile and her eyes for years. She really was a mystery though. Even before he'd found out about her he'd thought something was different about her. He would pass her in the hallway, surrounded by a group of friends and sometimes her face would be staring out the nearest window as though she wished she were anywhere else. Alex knew everyone had something to hide, but he'd never imagined that anyone could have such a secret like Max, Isabel and Michael did.

He also knew what it had taken for Liz to reveal the truth to him. He realized that they were still worried that the wrong people would find out their secret. But that hadn't stopped Isabel from trying to explain and trying to make him understand that day in the Crashdown. They'd spent an entire afternoon together, sitting, eating and talking. Alex had never had a better day. Isabel had actually talked to him with such truth on her face. The way she looked at her brother and Michael. Like she accepted him as a part of her life.

And he did want to be a part of her life. In fact, although this secret made his life more complicated, he wouldn't trade ignorance for what he'd gained. The secret bound the six of them together, making their only true allies each other. Alex really felt that they would be able to help each other and even though the secret grouped them together, he could see the potential that they could be friends as well.

Max and Liz were so much alike that it was startling. They finished each other's sentences and came to the same conclusions. Maria and Michael were equal in their hostility towards one another, but it gave them something in common. And Isabel. Isabel seemed to be more than he had thought, he just didn't entirely know how.

A knock at the front door broke his thoughts and Alex walked to the door, picking up his cat as he went. Sam had a tendency to dart out the door given any opportunity. He scratched behind the cat's ears and listened to her purr as he struggled with the deadbolt on the door. He finally flipped it over and swung open the door.

He almost dropped Sam when his eyes fell on Isabel, standing on the porch with tangled hair and nervously chewing her bottom lip. "Isabel? What are you doing here?" he asked, trying not to gape at her.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Well, I needed to talk to you. Umm, can I come in?" she asked hesitantly.

Alex almost slapped himself, he hadn't even invited her inside and it was getting pretty cold out. He opened the door wide and moved to the side. Isabel gave him a tiny smile and entered the house. "Can I get you anything? Here, let me get your coat," Alex said, dropping Sam to the floor as Isabel shook her head and turned to shed her jacket.

Sam immediately rubbed up against Isabel's legs, weaving her way around Isabel's ankles. Isabel smiled and leaned over, cradling the calico in her arms. The purr the cat emitted practically filled the house, sounding like an old car engine.

Alex led Isabel into the family room and they sat on the couch. Alex tried to get comfortable; he sat facing Isabel as she leaned back against the cushions. He could tell she was nervous by the stiffness of her back, but she seemed to take that nervousness out on Sam as she petted the cat. Not that Sam minded, she arched her head to get the full pressure of Isabel's hand.

"So, what brings you here tonight?" Alex asked curiously watching Isabel's reactions. He saw her eyes dart around the room, taking in the fireplace, the family photos and his Dad's collection of model airplanes.

"None of this looks like you," Isabel whispered, almost soft enough so that he couldn't hear.

He leaned forward. "What?" he asked.

Isabel turned her eyes to his. "I was just looking around and thinking that I never would have guessed you lived here," Isabel replied.

Alex grinned, because the thought that Isabel had considered what he was like thrilled him. "You're right, this is the Martha Stewart section of the house, my room is the exact opposite of Mom's style. She calls it a mess, I call it organized clutter. Dad likes collecting airplanes, I like collecting guitars," he said.

Isabel nodded her head once. "I know," she said without thinking.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You do? How?" he asked.

Isabel froze and for a second he thought she was going to back off and not answer his question. "I've seen you playing in the quad during lunch. I always wondered what inspired you," Isabel said.

Alex had to fight not to blurt out that she was what inspired him. "I don't know, probably a lot of musicians have inspired me. Why do I get the feeling you didn't come over to discuss my taste in music? Isabel, what's bothering you? You can trust me," he said.

Isabel's eyes met his and he saw the uncertainty there. He saw the fear that he'd never really noticed until the day of the car accident and he'd given his blood as a substitute for Max's. For someone who seemed so strong on the outside, Alex was just beginning to realize the things that Isabel feared when she thought no one was looking.

"I need you to tell me everything's going to be ok," she blurted out. Alex relaxed, he knew he could reassure her that he wasn't going to tell anyone. He wasn't insulted that she didn't fully trust him, he knew that if his life were in someone else's hands he would feel the same.

He reached for her free hand and took it in his own. "Isabel, I promise that I won't tell anyone about you and Max and Michael. I don't want to see anything happen-"

"No, it's not that Alex. I just want to know if I can count on you as a, as a-"

"Friend?" Alex finished, finally starting to realize what Isabel was asking for. He thought back to when Isabel had asked him if he ever felt like he didn't belong, like if people knew who he was that they wouldn't accept him. She had said that was what they felt like all their lives, that if people knew the truth they wouldn't be accepted. He hadn't had the nerve to tell her at the time that the truth didn't change how he felt.

He never would have guessed that Isabel was an insecure person, but he was beginning to see that she was vulnerable to the same feelings as anyone else. "Yeah, I guess that's it. I'd like for us to be friends," Isabel said, releasing the breath she'd been holding.

Alex smiled at her and she felt the tension leaving her body. She had been right; Alex didn't look at her any different. And she needed that. Before Max had revealed their secret to Liz, Isabel had never been close to Maria or Liz. They'd only just started to find a tentative friendship. Alex was the only person who had an existing view of her before and after he'd found out their secret. He was the only person she could come to and be accepted as the same person. Isabel Evans, high school sophomore or Isabel Evans extraterrestrial, she finally knew that it didn't matter to him.

"Well, that's an easy one to answer. Of course we can be friends, I'd like for us to be friends," Alex emphasized, repeating her words. Isabel's face eased into a smile, a sight that almost took Alex's breath away. He'd had female friends before, in fact, Liz and Maria were his best insight into the opposite sex. He'd just never had female friends that he felt more than friendship for.

Although he might have given anything to be more than just Isabel's friend, he realized that what she really needed were people she could count on, not necessarily more than that. At least for now, he thought, returning Isabel's smile.

She started to look around the room again and Alex quickly realized she was getting uncomfortable by the silence. "So, what is there to do in Snowmass, Colorado?" Alex asked.

Isabel turned her eyes back to him, grateful for the question. "The big thing is skiing, of course. Max and I both downhill ski; though he likes cross-country too. There's also ice skating. It's a pretty small town compared to Aspen. That's why we like it, it's far away from the regular skiers and it is so pretty there. The snow on the mountains and trees always takes my breath away," Isabel said.

"I'm glad Max skies cross-country, that'll give me someone to go with," Alex replied.

"What about Liz and Maria?" Isabel asked.

Alex laughed out loud. "I don't know that they've ever even seen snow before! " Alex replied.

Isabel had to smile as Alex laughed. It was a contagious sound, full or warmth and humor. "Well, if they've never skied before they might want to stick to the bunny slopes, the downhill skiing isn't dangerous, but it would be pretty overwhelming to beginners. I'm sure Max will follow behind Liz, making sure she doesn't fall," Isabel commented, unable to keep the slight tone of jealousy out of her voice.

Alex studied her carefully, wondering if he'd heard what he thought in Isabel's voice. He had wondered lately if Isabel approved of Max and Liz's relationship. "Is that a bad thing?" he asked her.

Isabel looked back at him, a little startled at the question. She resumed her nervous petting of Sam and tried to remind herself that talking with people other than Max and Michael about real things in her life was not a bad idea. She wasn't used todiscussing things that really mattered with kids her own age. She took a deep breath; she was trying to change all that. "If you mean Max and Liz together, no, it's not a bad thing. It's just that we've tried so hard to stay apart from other people. It looks so easy for Max to be with Liz when it shouldn't be," Isabel said.

Alex cocked his head to the side. "Why should it be hard? Is that the solution you guys came up with? Stay separate from everyone else to protect yourselves? That's not fair to anyone," Alex replied.

Isabel inched closer, curious what he meant. "How is that not fair?" she asked.

"Ok, granted, you three are aliens. Does that mean that you can never find other people to trust besides each other? If that does, you three are in for a long lifetime of loneliness," Alex replied.

Isabel looked sad for a moment. "Maybe that's what we have to deal with. Loneliness," she replied.

"No, that's not! Isabel, you don't have to be lonely. Max and Michael are your entire world. They should be a part, a very important part, of your world, but not your whole world. There's room for other people, other things. I know it must be hard for you, but you can trust other people, you can let other people in," Alex insisted.

Isabel's eyes began to fill with tears and Alex realized what a difficult idea that was for her. It had to be hard to change the way she'd lived her life for the past ten years. "And there's nothing saying you have to do it all at once," Alex said softly.

Isabel nodded and wiped the tears away from her face. Alex wanted to be the one to touch her face, but he didn't think she was ready for that, so he merely held her hand. She finally looked at him and smiled. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall and she stood quickly. "Oh my gosh, I need to get home. My mom is going to wonder what happened to me," Isabel said.

Alex stood with her and followed her to the door. He helped her with her coat and opened the door for her after making sure Sam was no where near. Isabel hesitated as she turned to leave. He was about to ask her what was wrong when she quickly turned and threw her arms around him, pulling him close to her.

He froze for a second before his arms went around her waist and he hugged her back. She let go and stood back, her hands still on his shoulders. "Thank you Alex," she said warmly.

"For what?" he asked, clearly confused.

"For being my friend. For proving to me that I do need friends," Isabel replied. He nodded once and watched her as she walked to the jeep. He raised his arm as she pulled out of the driveway and he somehow managed to shut the door behind him. Alex shut off the lights downstairs before walking upstairs to go to bed. He had to be up early tomorrow for the start of the trip. He ran a hand through his hair, wondering how he would handle just being Isabel's friend over the next few weeks.

But that was what she needed, so that was what she would get, even if it was the hardest thing he would ever do

Snowmass Part 5

Without opening her eyes, Liz slowly woke up. Her senses came back to her in pieces, first she felt the warmth all around her body from her head to her feet, which were carefully tucked under a fleece blanket. Next, she felt the soft feel of the cotton flannel shirt Max had been wearing under her face.

The warm pressure of him against her side and his arm wrapped around her shoulders reminded Liz of her visit to see Max and what he'd finally said to her. They could be together. They were finally together. She curled up closer to Max, as if that was even possible, and listened to the sound of him breathing and felt the gentle rise and fall of his chest where her head rested against him.

His hand was loosely holding hers, exactly as it had when they'd fallen asleep. Liz realized she should wake up and go home, she had to get some sleep before their trip tomorrow. She slowly opened her eyes, not really wanting to leave Max. All she wanted was to sleep in his arms all night.

As her eyes came into focus, Liz saw the sunlight pouring in through the blinds of Max's window and she nearly shot straight up on the bed. She *had* slept in his arms all night. Liz sat up quickly and looked around the room, completely panicked. Her parents would be furious. She shivered at the loss of Max's warmth around her as she swung her feet around to hit the floor, which barely touched it from the height of the bed.

She looked back at Max where he continued to sleep, his face peaceful and calm. Her anxieties faded for just a moment as she leaned over and touched his face, smoothing back some of his ruffled hair. She had to hurry home and try to do some damage control. Liz heard the door to Max's room begin to open and the panic arose again. She'd been worried about her own parents, but now she was about to be discovered in Max's room, in his bed, by his parents. She looked around frantically and even considered hiding under the bed, but all her thoughts vanished quickly as Isabel stuck her head through the door.

"Liz! Come on, before Mom sees you in Max's room," Isabel exclaimed, motioning to her. Liz quickly got up, turning to give Max a quick kiss before leaving. He barely stirred as she left, joining Isabel in the hall.

"What-"

"Shh! I got home last night and when I came to knock on Max's door I saw you guys sleeping and I knew it was already really late. I told Mom you were staying overnight, though I did say in my room, not Max's, and I got your stuff from your house. Your parents think you spent the night over here last night," Isabel explained.

Liz breathed a sight of relief and grinned at Isabel gratefully. "Thank you so much," Liz said.

Isabel gave her a bright smile. "Well, what are friends for?" she replied.

Liz was surprised at first but finally nodded. If Isabel was willing to be friends with her, she was not going to object. Max's sister was one of the people Liz most wanted to count as a friend.

"Come on, you'd better get ready in my bathroom. Mom might be surprised if she saw you come out of Max's bathroom," Isabel said wryly, leading Liz down the hall. Liz blushed a little but followed Isabel after casting a glance at Max's door. She knew she would see him soon, but she already missed the feeling of him next to her.

Less than an hour later Liz was getting dressed after her shower in Isabel's bathroom. Her hair was still wet and she wrapped it up in a towel before she opened the door, letting the steam and heat from the bathroom billow out. She collided against Max as he was walking down the hall and his arms quickly went around her waist, catching her and pulling her against him at the same time.

She looked up at Max and was pleased to see the playful smile that spread across his mouth as he looked at her. She took in his tousled hair and his eyes, still a little sleepy, with a smile of her own.
He gently touched her face and leaned closer, breathing in the scent of the soap she'd used.

"I wish I could have woken up with you next to me," he whispered, his face lowered close to hers.

Liz's heart skipped a beat as she listened to his voice. It sounded low and rumbled a little like thunder. His voice deepened when it seemed that he only wanted her to hear what he was saying.

She finally regained her thoughts and cleared her throat. "Maybe another time," she answered playfully, purposefully teasing him as she leaned in closer, her mouth an inch away.

"I hope so," Max replied, his eyes turning serious as he gazed at Liz. He was about to lean in close enough to kiss her when his sister's voice cut in from just down the hall.

"Ok, are you two trying to get caught? I went to a lot of trouble so that no one would find you in Max's room, so the least you could do is to stay away from him for like two seconds! " Isabel hissed from her doorway, trying to sound just a little threatening.

She wasn't really mad, even Liz could tell, but she was busy trying to protect them. Liz stepped reluctantly away from Max and he watched her go longingly. Even her bare feet vaguely reminded him of how her feet had been sold against him last night, how their legs had become tangled and he'd had no idea where he stopped and she began.

Max ran a hand through his dark hair. He'd never slept better or felt more content in his entire life. He wondered how he would ever sleep again without Liz right beside him.

After showering quickly Max exited the bathroom and turned his head quickly at the sound of laughter coming from Isabel's room. It was the very feminine sound of teenage girls laughing, a sound that he hadn't heard often enough from his sister. Or from Liz, for that matter. He used to see Liz and Maria laughing in the hallways at school all the time, but since their lives had complicated greatly, that sight had been noticeably absent.

He couldn't help but smile at the sound, easily making out the velvety sound of Liz's laughter and Isabel's deeper laugh. The giggling that followed confused him until he realized that Maria must have arrived while he was in the bathroom. Shaking his head, he returned to his room, not really
surprised when he saw Michael sitting at the computer, beating the computer at yet another game of solitaire.

Michael looked up as Max entered and gave a nod as a greeting. "Hey, you ready?" Max asked his friend.

Michael nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be to spend an entire day in Maria's car,"Michael commented.

Max tried to hide a smile, but found he couldn't. "Does that mean you guys are on again or off again?" he asked.

"As of five minutes ago we are on again, but that could literally change at any moment. What about you and Liz? Are you still in that Mulder and Scully-esque state of will they or won't they?" Michael asked, fishing for details.

"No, we're actually firm on that point for the first time. We are definitely together," Max stated firmly, thrilled at the sound of those words and the thought of Liz and him together as a couple. He no longer had to worry about other guys looking at her and wondering if they would walk up and
start talking to her.

They would know by the way he stood near her, by the way his hand rested on her back that she was his, and that he was hers. Her eyes looking up at him would discourage anyone from approaching them and he didn't have to worry about what was appropriate and what wasn't. Hecould touch her if he felt like it. He could kiss her if he felt like it. And he could love her just as he felt and no longer had to hide.

"Hey Maxwell, you still there?" Michael asked, waving a hand infront of his eyes.

Max blinked and nodded, turning his attention back to Michael. "Yeah, what?"

"Your mom's calling from the kitchen, it's time to pack up and hit the road," Michael replied, grabbing his bag from the floor.

Max nodded and grabbed his own bag, and followed Michael out into the hallway. He shut his door and looked down to Isabel's door where Isabel and Liz were struggling with their own large and heavy bags. He walked down and leaned over to pickup Liz's bag. "Need some help with that?" he asked her.

She looked up at him and nodded slowly. Normally she would have refused, determined to take care of herself, but something made Liz stop. Partly she knew that she let him carry her bag because she knew how happy Max would be that he was able to help her. She didn't think it would matter if she told him he helped her everyday. And partly she had to admit that she just wanted to see the muscles in his arms and his broad shoulders work as he lifted her luggage.

Lizwatched Max walk away with her luggage and her eyes continued to stare at the direction he'd gone until Isabel's ranting under her breath caught her attention.

"You know, Max used to carry my luggage for me," she pointed out.

Liz smiled, knowing she was just getting some good-natured teasing. She'd come to be able to read the sarcasm that Isabel used as much more playful and much less insulting as they'd laughed while they'd been getting ready for the day in Isabel's room. Liz leaned over and took the handles of one of Isabel's bags, shouldering it with more than a little effort. "Geez, Isabel, what did you pack? A set of encyclopedias?" Liz asked as she stumbled slowly down the hall, followed by Isabel.

"Nope, this one has the encyclopedias, that one has the bricks,"Isabel quipped from behind her.

Liz's laughter filled the hallway as the two girls made their way outside where the group of travellers was forming and loading up the cars. Alex and Michael saw them coming and quickly came to their aid, taking the bags and handing them to Max and his father where they were loading up the Evans' van. After the van was full of duffel bags and the skies were secure on the rack on top of the roof, the group stood in a circle in the driveway to finalize the traveling arrangements.

Since Phillip and Diane knew the exact route they were taking, they decided to take the lead. All the parents were riding in the van, with Maria following in her car with Michael and Max driving the jeep with Liz, Isabel and Alex.

"Ok, we'll take a couple of breaks along the way, but we want to try and get there by dark. We've got an early start but a lot of road to cover, so we better get started," Phillip commented. Everyone nodded and started to load up into their respective cars.

Liz's mother came over to herdaughter and put an arm around her shoulders. "How did you sleep last night honey?" Nancy asked.

Liz smiledbroadly, thinking of how well she'd slept with Max holding her all night. "Really good Mom, thanks. I guess we'll see you guys at the first rest stop," Liz said, hugging her mother quickly and waving to her father as they got in the van. She felt Max next to her and turned to look at him. Without a word he led her over to the van and gave her a hand up. She climbed into the passenger seat and turned to look at Isabel and Alex in the backseat.

Alex was telling Isabel a story from one of his past skiing trips. All she caught was something about a snowman and how Alex had lost a ski and Liz smiled. Not because she knew what story he was talking about, but because Isabel was laughing at the memory Alex was sharing.

Max climbed into the jeep and put the key in the ignition, and started the engine. He waited until
the van pulled out, then Maria followed and he backed out of the driveway, forming the end of their caravan. Liz shivered a little even though she wasn't really cold. Max noticed and quickly turned on the heater,directing the vents to her.

"Are you cold?" he asked, concerned.

"Not really, I just got a chill," she replied, touched by how he worried about her.

"Just wait until we get to Snowmass. It's pretty cold there," he said.

"You know, I've never even seen real snow before," she replied.

"Well, there's a first time for everything," Max replied.

Liz smiled and settled down in her seat. It was about 400 miles to Snowmass and about two
hours until they had planned to stop. That made for a pretty long trip and lots of car games. An hour and a half later they were running out of games to play, but Liz didn't think she had ever laughed so much. Her stomach ached as she sat sideways to keep Isabel and Alex in sight.

They'd been playing a game where one of them listed a category and everyone had to list
something related to that item until they couldn't think of anything else. Alex had been their main source of entertainment, wowing them with his knowledge of completely unrelated topics like state capitals and varieties of cheese.

"Ok, I've got a new one," Max said, which caught Alex's attention.

"Just as long as it's not anything like elements of the periodic table or something. I'm on to you and Liz, Evans. Some of us aren't science geeks," Alex said.

"No, some of you are just computer geeks," Liz replied.

Alex pretended to be wounded as Isabel let loose a peal of laughter. "Liz, how could you? You've crossed over to the other side. I see how it is. Well, I've still got Isabel on my side," Alex said, putting his arm around Isabel's shoulders.

Liz watched as Isabel didn't move for a second, her smile frozen and then she seemed to relax against Alex, her smile turned on him. His arm stayed around her shoulders and they waited expectantly for Max's choice of topics.

"Arnold Schwarzenagger movies," Max suggested.

Liz and Isabel rolled their eyes as Alex patted Max on the back. "All right, that's more like it! Predator."

"Predator 2," Max said.

"Predator 3."

"Liz, there was no Predator 3," Max said gently as Alex snickered in the
back seat.

"Oh. Umm, True Lies! "

"Twins," Isabel said.

Liz turned to look at her. "Really? Isn't Danny Devito in that? How are we supposed to believe
they are twins?" she questioned.

Isabel nodded. "I know, it's totally not possible. I mean they don't look anything alike-"

"Ladies, I think we're getting a little side-tracked," Alex said teasingly. "Back to Arnold. Conan the Barbarian. Max, you're up! "

"Terminator."

"Terminator 2! " Liz smiled, glad to finally have an easy answer.

"Terminator 3."

"Isabel, you're suffering from the Liz Parker Syndrome. There wasn't any Terminator 3," Alex said.

Isabel looked at him, smiling sheepishly. "Oh, well, I knew that. Umm, well-" Isabel thought and tried tocome up with an answer. Finally, she sighed. "I don't know! I give up."

"Thank you, Max for coming up with a topic I can tackle," Alex said.

"Yeah, well, I say we should do Meg Ryan movies next," Isabel said.

Alex began to look panicked until Max saved him. "We'll have to hold that thought. Our first stop is coming up," Max said, guiding the jeep off the freeway, following Maria and the van.

After everyone stretched their legs and walked around a bit they piled back into the cars again to continue heading north. Two rest stops and three hours later they stumbled out of the cars, Max looking a little weary from watching the road. Liz stood next to him, her eyes concerned.
"Are you ok? I wish I could drive for you, but I don't know how to drive a stick shift," Liz said.

Max squeezed her hand gratefully. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'll see if Isabel can take us the
rest of the way," Max replied, motioning his sister over.

She agreed to drive the rest of the way and she took the driver's seat, with Alex in the passenger's seat and Liz and Max in the back.

Max stretched out his legs as Liz tucked hers underneath her and tried to sit as close to Max as their seat belts would allow. He laid his head back against the seat and his arm along the back.

Liz listened as Alex and Isabel discussed music over the low volume of the radio and she looked back at Max, who almost looked like he was sleeping. "Max?" she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, I thought maybe you were asleep," she replied.

He smiled,turning his head to her. "Not unless I can hear your heartbeat next to me," Max replied.

Liz eagerly moved against him, laying her head next to his and feeling the heavy warmth of his arm around her. He stroked her hair gently and she laid her hand on his chest. They stayed that way, listening to the soothing sounds of their breathing as they both fell asleep.

A few more hours later, just after darkness fell, Isabel finally stopped the jeep at their resort in Snowmass. The sound of the cut engine was enough to rouse Max and Liz from their sleep
and they woke up. The first thing Max saw was Liz's face staring at him, and her eyes looking at him.

Liz looked excitedly around and Max got out of the jeep, holding out his hand to help Liz out. She followed him and immediately felt the chill of a climate that was doused in snow. The air that she
breathed in felt like it was pure ice in her lungs. The air was the coldest she'd ever felt and her arms went around her body, trying to hug any warmth close. She sighed as Max came up behind her and put his arms around her, pulling her back up against him.

She started to feel some warmth return to her body as she looked around, trying to see what she could in the dark. Unfortunately it wasn't too much, just the mountains, covered in snow that almost glowed blue in the darkness by the light of the small slice of moon in the sky. She could make out some of the trees and the buildings lit up near downtown. By how clearly she could see the stars above she knew that there weren't too many competing lights on the ground.

The resort they were staying at was designed like a ski chalet; it looked like pictures she'd seen of houses in Switzerland. Liz wanted to see more of everything, but she knew that would have to wait until daylight.

The parents returned from the front desk with keys and directions to their rooms. Liz held her breath, wondering what had been decided. This was the only part of the trip that hadn't been discussed, where everyone was sleeping. "Ok, we've decided that you kids will have a much better time if you stay together, but if there's a hint of any trouble, the room arrangements
can and will quickly change," Jeffrey warned.

He looked at Diane, who handed Max three keys and Liz three keys. "Max, you, Michael and Alex have room 218 that has a door connected with the room next door, number 219. Liz, Maria and Isabel will have that room and the rest of us will be in room 220. Each room has two bedrooms and a pull-out couch, so you kids can decide on sleeping arrangements amongst
yourselves. Since it's only a little after five we might as well un-pack and try to take in some of Snowmass this evening," Diane said.

Everyone in the group nodded and started to unload the cars. It took several trips, but finally everyone got their things into their respective rooms. Liz watched Max enter the guys' room and she entered the girls' room, quickly walking to the adjoining door between the rooms. She unlocked their side and swung open the door to reveal Max doing the exact same thing on his side.

She was immediately distracted by Maria, who was attempting to carry one of Isabel's bags further into the room. "Liz, could you give me a hand with this please?" Maria asked.

Liz turned back to Max and he just smiled, understanding that they would be together soon enough. They both turned to leave, keeping the door wide open so that each person could hear the sounds of the other five moving around, arguing over who slept where, flipping on the TV and commenting on the interesting décor of the rooms. Liz smiled to herself as she un-packed her
bags. The sounds reminded her of a busy house, full of family.

And as odd as it was, the six of them had become a family of sorts.

 Go to Parts 5-10