| Part 59 ******** Liz stood on the Valenti�s front porch, staring at where her parent�s car had been parked. They had left a little over half an hour ago, but she had yet to leave the spot that she waved goodbye to them from. Amy opened the front door, walking up to Liz. She put her arm around the petite girl�s shoulder, letting her head lean on her shoulder. "Why don�t you come on inside, honey. It�s starting to get chilly out here." Liz wrapped her sweater around her body tighter, shaking her head slowly. "If it�s alright with you, Mrs. Valenti, I feel like going for a little walk." Amy pulled back slightly, giving Liz a mock frown. "Now, enough of that Mrs. Valenti stuff. You make sound like I�m Jim�s mother or something. It�s just Amy, Liz." She gave Liz an encouraging smile, hoping to get Liz out of her gloomy mood. Liz gave her a small smile. "Ok, Amy." Liz turned so that they were looking at each other. "Is it ok if I went for a walk? I just...I kinda..." Amy nodded, placing her hand on Liz�s shoulder. "Sure honey. Just don�t take too long, ok? Dinner�s going to be ready soon, and your parents said they would call as soon as they get to your gramma�s house." Liz threw her arms around Amy, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Amy." Her voice was muffled in Amy�s coat, but Amy could hear her clear as day. "And not just for this...." She pulled back, eyeing the Valenti house, her shoulders sagging when she took a deep breath. "For everything." Amy brushed back the tears that were threatening to fall down Liz�s cheek. "You�re welcome, honey. You�re always welcome in our home. You�ve always been like a daughter to me." They shared another embrace before Liz went for her walk. ********* Liz walked aimlessly down the lonely streets of Roswell. The sun had started to set, the street lights starting to glow. She shivered slightly, the cool night air breezing softly around her. She had no idea where she was headed, but she just kept on going. Saying goodbye to her parents had been one of the toughest things she had ever done. Sure, they were only moving to Albuquerque, but the thought of not seeing her parents faces everyday, the small talks, the little I Love You�s...... She never thought that it would be this hard. She had always known that she would leave them one day to go off to college, but this was entirely different. The three of them had lost something, and in order for them to get it back, they would have to be separated. She had spent the last week debating whether she would stay in Roswell, or go with her parents. It had seemed like a no win situation. Moving to Albuquerque allowed her the precious time with her parents that was now becoming a thing of the past. Staying in Roswell meant that she could be with Max, Noah, and all of her friends. How was she supposed to make a decision like that? She was thisclose to going with her parents, but they had refused. They had reassured her that they were only a phone call away, and that the situation was only temporary. Her father even went so far as to joke with her about most teenagers being happy at the thought that their parents were a five hour drive away, to which Liz responded, "But I�m not most teenagers". Liz wiped at the tears that had begun clouding her vision. She looked up at the street sign, a small smile playing at her lips. Mulberry Lane. Of all the places that she could have unconsciously walked to, she walked to the street that Max lived on. Seeing as she was already here, she walked to the Evans� house. She poised herself, knocking on the door. Max opened the door, a telephone in his right hand. He breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes glowing with a softness that wasn�t there before. "Thank you anyway, Mrs. Valenti, but I have a pretty good idea where Liz is." He chuckled into the phone, his lips curling into a smile. "Sure will. I�ll have her home before curfew." He hung up the phone, tossing it to the table that was off to his right. Before Liz could get out a word, he placed a kiss on her lips. His lips pulled away slowly, his forehead leaning against hers. "You had me worried." Liz had yet to open her eyes, her senses taking over as she felt the vibration of Max�s lips against hers when he spoke. "Worried?" He nodded, his long eyelashes tickling her cheeks as he opened his eyes. "I�ve been calling the Valenti�s for the last half hour, looking for you." Liz gave him a smile. "Well, you�ve found me." Max chuckled, his laugh shaking his whole body. "You�re right about that." He placed another kiss on her lips, his hand coming up to cup her face. His tongue teased her lips open, his tongue eager to reacquaint itself with hers. "Max, who�s at the door?" Diane held Noah�s hand, her head tilted curiously to the side. Max jumped back, the sound of his mother�s voice startling him. When he moved out of the way, Noah brought his hands up to his lips, a smile tinting his face. With slightly wobbly legs, he ran to Liz as fast as his little legs could carry him. "Lizzie!" Liz leaned down on her knees, her arms open wide, ready to accept Noah as he ran to her, full force. She stumbled back a little when Noah threw himself in her embrace. "Lizzie!" He placed an open mouthed kiss on her cheek, his pouty lips making a smacking noise. "Hiya, precious." She returned the favor, giving him a similar kiss, leaving a red lipstick stain on his cheek. "I missed you." Noah leaned his head on her shoulder, his arms wrapping tightly around her, wanting to be held. "Mish you.." Diane walked to the three of them at the door, ushering Liz inside. "Liz, come in, come in. It�s freezing outside." She gave Max a pointed look as she closed the door. "Max, you should know better, letting Liz stand outside in this weather. I wouldn�t be surprised if she caught a cold." Diane wrapped her arm around Liz, her hands running down Liz�s arms in an effort to warm her. Max felt the tips of his ears burn when he realized that he was too busy trying to kiss Liz, forgetting to let her into the house first. "Let�s go into the kitchen. I�ll make us all some hot cocoa." Diane led Liz into the kitchen, her motherly instincts kicking in. Liz threw a helpless smile towards Max, watching as he stood at the front door. She couldn�t help but be happy with the way Max�s mother treated her. She treated her as if she was part of the family, almost like she were her daughter. Her nostrils were filled with the scent of chocolate. She smiled, taking in her surroundings. Maybe things were going to be ok. ********* Amy watched Maria throw her coat over her shoulders, her car keys in hand. "I won�t be home too late mom. I just want to go and check on Michael, you know, make sure he�s ok." Amy poked her head out of the kitchen. "Sure, sweetie. Just be home before curfew." Maria walked into the kitchen, placing a kiss on her mother�s cheek. "Ok, bye mom. I won�t be long." Before she could leave, the sound of Amy�s high-pitched voice stop her. "Wait!" She held up plastic bags full of tupperware. "I made some extra food. I want you to bring it to Michael�s. Make sure he eats this instead of just cereal, ok?" Maria gave her mother a smile, taking the food in her hands. "Will do. Thanks, mom." Amy waved goodbye, watching from the window as Maria drove out of the driveway. She turned around looking at the disarray of their living room. Huffing a breath, Amy went about picking things up, to tidy the place a little. Jim was sitting in his favorite chair, reading that morning�s newspaper. He peered over the side of the paper, watching as Amy fluffed the couch cushions. "What are you doing?" Amy gave Jim a look that said he should know exactly what she was doing. Jim just gave her a blank look. She picked up a pillow from the couch, throwing it in his direction. It missed hitting him in the head by about an inch. "For your information, I�m cleaning up. I know that concept may be foreign to you- Jim cut her of, a sarcastic smile on his face. "Ha ha ha. That�s real funny, sweetie." Amy raised an eyebrow at him, another pillow in her hands. "Well, are you just going to sit there or are you going to help me?" Jim held his hands up in defense. "Ok, ok." He put the recliner back in it�s upright position, folding his paper up. "I�m gonna help. Let me just go and get Kyle." He stood up walking towards the bedrooms, but before he could get there, he tripped and fell, landing spread-eagle on the carpeted floor. Amy hid her laughter behind her hand, watching as her husband struggled to get up. Jim lifted his head up, leaning on his elbows. "Well, are you just going to stand there and laugh, or are you going to help me?" Amy walked towards him, kneeling down beside his prone form. After much effort, she helped him into a sitting position. She gave his back a soft rub. "What happened anyway? How�d you fall?" Jim was scowling. "I tripped on the stupid phone cord." He lifted up the cord with his foot, showing the proof to Amy. Amy�s eyebrows knotted in confusion, her eyes following the trail of the cord. "I don�t get it. Why is the cord running towards the closet?" Her eyes flicked to the table in which the phone usually sat, but was now missing. She stood up, holding the line in her hands. She followed it all the way until it disappeared under the hall closet door. She gave the line a little tug, hearing a soft "Ouch!" come from behind the closed door. Placing her hand on the silver knob, she twisted it, opening the door to reveal Kyle sitting cross-legged on the floor, the phone in his lap, rubbing the side of his head. Amy didn�t bother to hide the laughter from her voice. "Kyle. Why are you sitting inside the closet?" Kyle gave her an embarrassed look. He waved the phone at her before whispering into it. "Courtney, I�m gonna have to call you back- Amy waved her hand in the air, trying to get Kyle�s attention. "Don�t hang up!" Kyle�s head shot up. "What?" "I said don�t hang up yet." Kyle�s eyes grew wide, his attention returning to the phone in his hand. "Oh, no, not you, Courtney. I was talking to Amy." He gave Amy a look as he attempted to stand up. "Do you think you could hold on for just a second?" He smiled, but it didn�t reach his eyes. He continued to eye Amy warily, noticing the excited gleam in her eyes. He knew that look. Maria had the same exact look, and that look usually resulted in him getting embarrassed. He knew that Maria and Amy didn�t embarrass him on purpose, but their sometimes wacky ideas did nothing but lead to just that. He held his hand over the mouthpiece, his voice turning it a hushed whisper. "Why don�t you want me to hang up?" Amy�s smiled like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. "Is that Courtney on the phone?" Kyle nodded slowly, his face turning into one of shock, when Amy snatched the phone from his hands. "Hello, Courtney?.....Hi, this is Amy Valenti......Oh, thank you. It�s good to hear from you too....Actually, I just wanted to know if you�d like to join, Jim, Kyle, and I for dinner tonight.." Amy jumped out of the way when Kyle launched forward, trying to get the phone away from her. "No, no, it�s trouble at all. It�d be a pleasure to have you over...Dinner is almost ready, so you can stop by whenever you�re ready....." She gave Kyle a little smile. "And you don�t need directions, right?.....Good, I�ll see you in a little bit, then." Amy hung up the phone, handing it back to Kyle. "I�m going to set the table." Kyle stood there, his jaw still hanging open. What the heck just happened? Jim finally pulled himself into a standing position, walking towards his son. He placed his arm around Kyle�s shoulders, a smile curling his lips. "Cheer up, son. It could be worse. Maria could�ve been home and then you�d have the two of them working together." Kyle just gave his dad a look, resulting in laughter from Jim. Jim clapped him on the shoulder before heading into the kitchen. "You might want to change your shirt, put a clean one on." Kyle buried his face in his hands, muttering to himself. This dinner was certainly going to be interesting. Part 60 ********* For the second time that night, the doorbell at the Evans� house rang, alerting them to their guest. As he had done before, Noah wobbled to the door with Max and Liz running after him. Max picked up Noah, placing him on his shoulders, while Liz opened the door. "Awex!" Noah waved to Alex, his legs kicking against Max�s chest. "Hey, little buddy!" Alex reached his hand up, tugging on Noah�s little hand. Max held onto Noah�s legs, trying to keep them from kicking. "Hey Alex, come on in." He and Liz stepped aside, letting Alex walk inside. When Alex caught sight of Liz, he placed his arm around her, pulling her into his side. "Hey, Parker." He kissed the top of her head, his voice turning into a whisper. "How you holding up?" Liz shrugged her shoulders, the smile on her lips lighting up her whole face. "Ok." She looked around the Evans� home, her eyes landing on Max who had run into the living room. He dropped Noah onto the couch, tickling the little boy mercilessly. "No, you know what? I�m better than ok. In fact, I�m doing great." Alex followed her gaze. He couldn�t help the smile that formed on his lips. Max and Noah were good for Liz. They brought out this whole other side of her that made her glow, that made her happy. Not that she was never happy before, but it just seemed as if something was missing. It was as if Max and Noah were that missing part, completing her, making her into the beautiful woman that she was now. "Alex." The soft voice from the stairs averted Alex�s gaze his eyes landing on his own happiness. Isabel looked absolutely beautiful, even if she was just wearing an old pair of jeans and an oversized shirt. That�s one of the things he loved about her. Most other girls would probably spend hours putting on make-up, trying to find the right outfit to wear. With Isabel, it was different. There were times when she knew exactly the right thing to wear, accenting her full figure, but she also knew that she didn�t always have to dress that way. She was comfortable enough with herself that she didn�t feel like she had to put make-up on all the time, or wear an outfit too binding. Alex was finally pulled out of his thoughts when Isabel reached for his hand. He hadn�t even realized that she had made it down the stairs. He gave her a smile, bringing their linked hands up to his lips, giving her hand a kiss. Phillip�s friendly voice echoed from the kitchen as he stuck his head out. "Well, it looks like everyone�s here. It�s time for dinner." ********* Maria opened the door to Michael�s apartment, finding Michael trying to hobble to his small kitchen. "What do you think you�re doing?" She closed the door behind her, placing the grocery bags on the kitchen counter. Michael looked at her like she had grown two heads. He pulled the refrigerator door open, taking out a soda. "I�m getting myself something to drink." Maria marched towards him, pulling him towards the couch. "Not on my time you�re not." As Michael fell back against the cushions, he gave Maria a questioning look. "Excuse me? But what do you mean, not on your time?" Maria pulled a pillow from the couch, placing it on the coffee table. She grabbed Michael�s twisted ankle, gingerly laying it on the pillow. "You�re not supposed to be walking on your ankle, remember?" Michael rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. So, I twisted my ankle. I�m not an invalid." Maria turned her watery green eyes on him. "Just humor me, will you? At least while I�m here?" Michael looked up to see the tears forming in Maria�s eyes. He reached his arm out to her, moving to the side to let her sit down next to him. "Come here." Maria snuggled into his side, burying her face in his neck. Michael felt her warm tears slide across the skin on his neck, eventually landing on his shirt collar. He cupped her face, turning it so that he was looking into her face. His thumb brushed back the tears that fell down her cheeks. "Hey. What�s with the tears?" Maria choked on her own words as she attempted to speak. "It�s just, every time I see you hurt, I keep thinking about the fire, and how it could have been- Michael silenced her with his finger against her quivering lips. "Hey, don�t think like that, alright? I�m ok. I may not be in the best shape right now, but I�m still here." He gave her a crooked grin, his eyebrow twitching slightly. "Besides, it�s gonna take a lot more than a fire, to get rid of me, blondie. I ain�t going away that easy." Maria opened her mouth to speak again, but Michael hushed her. "Not now, ok? We�ll talk about it later." His eyes flew to the grocery bags on the counter. "Is that food?" Maria slapped him on the shoulder. She wiped away at her own tears. "Typical guy, always changing the subject when the conversation gets too serious." Michael stopped his attempt at changing the subject, letting out a deep breath. He put his fingers under Maria�s chin, tilting it so that they were looking at each other. "Look, you know I�m not real good about sharing my feelings and all that, but.......I just.....I want you to know........that, that.......I love, you, Maria." Maria shook her head trying to make sure she heard him right. Did he actually say that he loved her? Michael sat back, waiting for Maria to say something, but she just sat there. He felt weird saying that out loud. He knew that he had felt that way about Maria for a long time now, but somehow, he was just scared to voice those feelings. Afraid that he would be rejected, that she wouldn�t feel the same way. He didn�t like feeling vulnerable, he didn�t like putting himself out there. Without his barriers, without his stone wall, he felt naked. He was scared. Just then, Maria threw herself into his lap, her lips attaching itself to his. "I love you too, Michael." ********* Courtney stepped onto the Valenti�s front porch, her nervousness eating her up. She could do this. She could definitely do this. Heck, she had kissed Kyle already hadn�t she? Just as she was about to knock on the door, it flew open. "Hey." Part 61 ********** Jim stepped aside, pulling the door open. He held his hand out, a grin lighting his face. �It�s Courtney, right?� Courtney smiled, tucking her hair behind her ears. She smiled, giving Jim a firm handshake. �Yes, it is. It�s nice to meet you, Sheriff Valenti.� Jim gave her a warm smile, pulling her into the house. �Oh, it�s just Jim tonight. I�m only the boss when I�m at work.� He gave her a wink, causing a little giggle to escape from Courtney. Amy peered out from behind the kitchen wall, her eyes taking on a teasing glint. �I heard that!� She waved a wooden spoon at her husband before turning her attention to Courtney. �I�ll be right there, Courtney. Just make yourself at home.� �Thank you.� Courtney allowed Jim to lead her into the living room, where the two of them sat down. ******* Inside his room, Kyle stood in front of his mirror that hung on the inside of the closet. In all honesty, he never even remembered a time when he had actually looked into the mirror and looked at himself, worrying about what he looked like. He tugged on the collar of the shirt he was wearing, making a gagging face. �Geez, if I had known that this shirt looked that hideous, I would have stopped wearing it a long time ago.� He pulled the shirt over his head, throwing it onto his bed. He stuck his head inside the closet, digging for another shirt to wear. He pulled out a black shirt that Maria had given him for his birthday. She had said something about, spicing up his wardrobe, whatever the hell that meant. He pulled the shirt on, smoothing it over his torso. He turned to the mirror, looking at his refection. Kyle bit his fingernails, unsure if he liked the shirt. It seemed, what was the word? Tight? Like really tight. He turned to the side, doing that thing that all women did when they looked into the mirror. He checked out his butt, standing on his tip toes. �Hmm....� Amy�s voice called out to him from outside. �Kyle!� Kyle turned his head towards the door, yelling. �I�m coming! Just give me a second.� Kyle turned to the mirror again, checking out his reflection. As if realizing for the first time what he was doing, Kyle shivered, pulling the shirt over his head. �I really need to stop hanging out with Maria and Liz so much.� ********** Amy sat on the arm rest of Jim�s recliner, her attention focused on Courtney. �Why don�t you go and get Kyle? He�s in his room, first door on the right.� Courtney shook her head, her blond hair fanning around her face. �I, I- Amy gave her an encouraging smile. �Go on. He�s probably playing video games or something. Meanwhile, Jim and I will finish setting the table.� Jim looked at his wife�s face. �We will? But I thought- Amy just raised her eyebrow at him, giving his forearm a slight pinch. Being completely oblivious, Jim yanked his hand out of the way, trying to rub away the pain. He gave Amy a glare. �Ow! What�d you do that for?� Amy rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to smack her husband upside the head. Men could be so dense sometimes, she thought. Instead, she pulled him up by his shirt sleeve, leading him towards the kitchen. �We�ll be in the kitchen, so you go ahead and call Kyle, tell him that dinner�s ready.� Courtney watched Amy disappear into the kitchen with Jim. She couldn�t help but laugh a little. Well, at least they seemed to like her, she thought. Taking a few deep breaths, Courtney stood up walking towards Kyle�s room. As she reached the door, she gave herself a little pep talk before knocking on the door. ********** Kyle grabbed one of his white t-shirts from his dresser drawers. There was no use in trying to change who he was. If he was going to get through this dinner, he might as well be comfortable. While struggling to pull the shirt over his head, he opened the door. He didn�t even realize that it was Courtney until he heard the sharp intake of breath. When he did, he yanked his t-shirt all the way down, his eyes landing on a very stunned Courtney. Her cheeks were flushed and she kept opening her mouth as if she was going to say something, but no sound came out. �Courtney.� When Kyle had said her name, Courtney finally seemed to find her voice. �Uh, yeah....um, Amy and your dad told me to call you. They said that dinner was ready.� Kyle smiled when he saw Courtney slightly embarrassed in his presence. It wasn�t that he enjoyed other people�s discomfort, but at least he knew that they were on the same boat. Maybe dinner wasn�t going to be so bad after all. ********* The Evans� dinner table was stretched to it�s full capacity. Diane looked towards her husband, giving him a slight smile. The two of them watched in amusement as Alex sat next to Isabel, with Alex talking animatedly about some sort of new computer software that he had just got. They knew for a fact that Isabel could care less about computers, but it was nice to see her seem so genuinely interested by what Alex was saying. It was if, by Alex relaying the information to her, it made it seem like it was the most interesting thing to her. Diane�s gaze flocked to the other side of the table where Max sat beside Liz. Diane noticed how they would look at each other and smile after every other bite. She also noticed how their hands seemed to be linked under the table, almost as if they were afraid to lose contact with each other. Had it been another time, Diane would have been worried about the closeness of Max and Liz, but she had become a firm believer of the love that they shared. The kind of love that they had only comes once in a lifetime, and she was glad that the two of them found each other. Before they moved to Roswell, Max was in a dark place. Liz and all of their friends had been the ones to take him out of his slump. They were the ones to breathe new life into her twins, and she couldn�t be more thankful. Now, it was Liz who was in a bit of a slump. She knew how hard it must be for Liz to lose her home, and in a way, lose her parents too. She couldn�t even imagine how terrible Liz was feeling. But Diane had a feeling, that just as Liz had healed Max, Max and Noah would be the ones that would help heal Liz. Almost as if he knew that he was being thought of, Noah�s little voice piped up, grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. His childish gibberish was music to everyone�s ears. Noah started getting a little hyper, seeing so many people at one time caused his excitement level to rise. His little plastic bowl flew across the room as he shifted in his high chair. Max stood up, hesitant to let go of Liz�s hand. He went to the other side of the room, cleaning up the mess. �Ok, little man, I think that�s enough excitement for tonight.� Max pulled Noah into his arms, pushing the chair out of the way. Noah banged his fists against Max�s shoulders, his head shaking from side to side. �No! No!� His eyes flew to everyone�s faces in the dining room, ultimately landing on Liz. He turned watery eyes at her, with a slight tremble in his lip. �Lizzie.� Liz shook her head, placing her napkin on the table. It was funny to think how easily he could break her. Like father, like son, she thought ruefully. She knew that when Max gave her that look, she could refuse him nothing, and the same went for his son too. Liz reached for Noah, allowing him the comfort of her arms. She placed a soft kiss on the top of his head, whispering softly to him. �I�m right here, sweetheart.� She turned to face Diane asking for permission to leave the table. �Would it be alright- Diane smiled warmly at her, not letting her finish. �Sure thing. Just don�t take too long, you don�t want your dinner getting cold.� Liz returned her smile, thankful that Mrs. Evans was so understanding. �Thank you, and we�ll be right down.� Liz led the three of them up the stairs with Max trailing behind. *********** Maria walked into the living room, carrying plates of food. �So, what are we watching tonight?� Michael sat up, inhaling the smell of a home cooked meal. �Uh, whatever. Max dropped of some tapes from Spacey�s this morning.� Maria handed him a plate smiling at the thought that Max went out of his way to drop off some videos for Michael. �That was nice of him. Do you know what he rented?� Michael scratched the side of his eyebrow. �Uh....let me see....Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and I think the other one was Traffic.� Maria had made it over to the tv, waving the videos at Michael. �Which one?� �How about Crouching Tiger? Max says it was really good.� Maria popped the tape into the vcr, plopping herself next to Michael. �Crouching Tiger, it is, then.� Michael put a forkful of food into his mouth, his eyes closing in utter delight as he chewed. �Mmm, remind me to thank your mother the next time I see her.� He continued to chew, savoring the taste of the hot meal that he was eating. Maria smiled. �Well, you know my mom. Always aiming to please.� Michael wiped his mouth with a napkin, placing a sound kiss on Maria�s lips. �Well thank you. I�ll have to thank your mom when I see her.� �You�re welcome.� ********* �So Courtney, where are you going to college?� �I�ve decided to go UNM. It�s far enough away from home that I�ll be actually moving out, but it�s close enough to home that I could come back and visit my parents whenever I wanted.� Amy smiled. �Well, it�s good to know that not all teenagers all ready to up and leave their parents. I honestly don�t know what Jim and I are going to do when Kyle and Maria leave. The house is going to feel so empty.� She finished with a sigh, looking around the house, remembering all of the good times that they had shared. �Anyways, enough of that. Why don�t you tell us a little more about yourself, you know, what you like to do for fun, your interests. That kind of stuff.� Courtney swallowed her food before speaking. �Well, there really isn�t much to say. Um, I�m so busy with school that I usually keep myself occupied with that.� Amy didn�t want the conversation to come to a dead end, so she kept on asking questions. �Well, that�s good to know. It�s nice to know that you�ve got your priorities straight. Speaking of, do you have any idea what you�d like to major in?� �I�m not exactly sure, but I do know that I want to be a nurse eventually.� �Isn�t that nice. Right, Kyle?� Amy turned her attention to Kyle, hoping that he would join in the conversation. She could only do so much to keep the conversation going, and if Kyle wasn�t going to speak up, then they were definitely in a bind. Kyle looked up from where he had been pushing the food around on his plate. It wasn�t that he was trying to act disinterested, but somehow trying to get to know the girl of his dreams in front of his parents was just not his idea of a good time. He and Courtney were still in that awkward stage of getting to know each other. Sure, for a brief second, they had shared the most incredible kiss that he had ever had, but that was in the heat of the moment. Having an audience as you tried to work up enough courage to ask out a girl was definitely not a picnic. �Yeah, that�s nice.� Kyle resisted the urge to gag at the words that were coming from his mouth. When did he become such a dork? Deciding to be a man, Kyle took the napkin from his lap, placing it onto the table. He reached for Courtney�s hand, helping her to stand up. �May we be excused?� �But you guys aren�t even done eating yet.� Jim looked at his son, a grin playing on his lips. He placed a hand on his wife�s arm, preventing her from standing up. �No, honey. I think they�re just about done. Right kids?� All eyes turned to Courtney, waiting for her response. She was so nervous she didn�t think she could eat the rest of her food anyway, and she was curious about why Kyle was insisting that the two of them be excused. �Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Mrs. Valenti, but I honestly don�t think I could eat another bite.� Amy seemed a little discouraged, but she smiled anyway. �Well ok.� Kyle smiled his gratitude to his father then to Amy. As he walked himself and Courtney towards the back yard, Kyle stopped to give Amy a peck on the cheek. �Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it.� He whispered, leading the way outside. Amy could barely keep the grin from her lips as she watched the two of them go outside. She felt Jim come up beside her, squeezing her shoulders. �Well, I think your work here is done, sweetie.� He kissed her cheek, his smile mirroring hers. �You�ve done a good job.� *********** Liz had calmly and swiftly put Noah to sleep. Max leaned against his closed door, watching as Liz tucked Noah under the covers. �You know, he has you totally wrapped around his little finger.� Liz gave Max a smirk as she walked towards him. �Oh please, you�re one to talk, daddy.� She poked his chest with her finger, laughing when he jerked away. He laughed with her, his hands coming to rest on her hips. �Ok, so my son has both of us wrapped around his little finger.� Liz placed her head against Max�s chest, just enjoying the way his heart beat against his chest. She inhaled Max�s scent, her body moving closer to his, seeking warmth in his arms. �And I wouldn�t have it any other way.� Max nuzzled Liz�s hair, his hands running through it�s silkiness. �Me either.� His hands stilled when Liz moved, planting a kiss on his lips. Her lips nibbled, suckled, and caressed his. She urged him to open his mouth to allow her tongue to mingle with his, to make love to his, and he did so willingly. All of a sudden her hands were everywhere. In his hair, on his shoulders, on his chest, then almost teasingly, her finger hooked onto one of the belt hoops on his jeans, giving it a soft tug. Max abruptly pulled back, his lungs burning from lack of oxygen. �Wow!� His eyes were dazed as he looked into Liz�s chocolate brown eyes, that had turned into a shade of midnight. �What was that?� Liz�s fingers danced around his collar, her finger�s slipping beneath the cotton to touch his warm skin. �I�ve been dying to do that all night.� She admitted. Max smiled a broad smile, liking the fact that Liz seemed to crave him as much as he seemed to crave her. �You and I both.� Liz had begun sucking the skin on his neck, her hands roaming the expanse of his muscular chest. �I�m glad you liked.� Max brought Liz�s face up to his, stealing another kiss. �Oh, I definitely liked.� He leaned in for another kiss, his hands running down her back, stopping to cup her tush in his hands. Liz gave a soft squeak, her hands gripping Max�s shoulders tighter. When he stopped kissing her, she wagged her finger in his face, a teasing glint in her eyes. �Why, Mr. Evans. You�re being very naughty tonight!� Max�s jovial laugh started from the pit of his stomach, rumbling all the way to his lips. �I�m the one being naughty? If I recall, you�re the one who started this.� �Ok, so sue me. It�s not my fault that my boyfriend is just so darned handsome.� Liz started giggling when Max blushed from his neck, all the way to the tips of his ears. Max just shook his head, taking Liz�s hand in his. �Come on. We should go before we start something we can�t finish.� Liz placed her hand on the door to keep Max from opening it. �You�re not mad at me are you?� Max cupped her face with his free hand, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. �Mad at you? I could never be mad at you.� He kissed their linked hands, giving her a small smile. �I�m just saying, I don�t want us to work ourselves up for nothing.� He leaned in so that he was whispering in her ear. �Besides, I want more than just a few minutes to ravish you.� He nipped her earlobe, placing a lingering kiss on the base of her neck. He opened the door, leading them down the stairs. Liz could barely make her legs move after that little stunt. �Tease!� Part 62 Rated: Heavy R bordering NC-17 *********** Kyle helped Courtney sit on the swing that hung on the tree in their yard. �Sorry about that whole thing in there.� Courtney turned her head, pushing her hair behind her ears as the wind caused it to flutter about her face. �What are you talking about? Your dad and Amy are really cool. They�re so nice, and funny. I mean I could only wish that my parents were like that.� Courtney pumped her legs as Kyle continued to push her. �What do you mean?� �I don�t know. I mean my parents are always busy. I don�t even remember a time when we all sat down to eat dinner together.� �Oh.� Kyle stood there for a second, trying to imagine what his life would have been like if Amy and Maria hadn�t walked into it. He didn�t have to think too hard, for an image of him and his father sitting in front of the tv with matching tv dinners flashed into his mind. Courtney let the swing run out of steam, with Kyle holding onto the rope. �Don�t get me wrong, it�s not that my parents don�t care, it�s just with my older sister going to school in Texas, and me going off to school next year, well they�re just working really hard to help us achieve our dreams.� Her foot traced an invisible pattern in the grass. �I mean we all have to make some sacrifices.� Kyle twisted the rope so that Courtney was facing him. �Well, if you don�t already know, Amy and my dad really like you. They don�t invite just anybody to dinner.� He finished with a grin. Looking up to meet his gaze, she smiled. �Well, I�m touched. I don�t even know how I�m going to thank them for tonight.� Kyle let the rope go, letting it twist into it�s original position. He reached for Courtney�s hand, leading them to the back porch steps. �Shall we?� She took his hand gladly, liking the fact that he so willingly reached for her hand all the time. They sat in companionable silence for a while until Courtney turned to look at Kyle. She noticed that he was deep in thought, his handsome face fixed into a frown. Gently nudging his side, she offered him a smile. �Hey, you ok?� Kyle wiped his sweaty palms nervously across his jeans. As soon as she had sat down next to him, he was overcome with her smell. She smelled just like coconuts, he thought dreamily. For the past few minutes, he had been thinking up a way to ask her out. It was now or never. �Yea, I�m fine. You know, just thinking.� When he didn�t offer anymore than that, Courtney felt compelled to push him just a little bit. They had shared so many emotions, so many experiences, this past week, that it seemed like the natural thing to do. �You know, Kyle. These past few weeks have been the most trying experience of my life. I feel terrible for saying this, but I�m a little torn about what�s happened.� Kyle looked into her eyes, intent on listening to every word that she was saying. �Why would you feel terrible?� �I feel terrible that Liz and her family had to go through that, that all of your family and friends had to go through that too. But what makes me feel really terrible is, that I can�t help but feel a little glad that it�s brought us closer together.� She let her eyes fall to the floor, afraid to look into Kyle�s eyes. �I can�t help but think, that if any of this hadn�t had happened, I wouldn�t even be here with you.� �Go out on a date with me?� Courtney looked up into his face. �What?� �I said, would you please go out on a date with me? Let me prove to you that the fire isn�t the reason why we�re closer.� His eyes gave her all the answers that she needed to know that everything that he was saying was true. She gave him that smile that always made him weak in the knees. He was glad that he was sitting down, because had he been standing, his knees would have buckled beneath him already. �Yes.� �Yes?� He couldn�t help but repeat what she had said, somehow afraid that he was hearing only what he wanted to hear. �Yes, I�d love to go out on a date with you.� She reached for his hand that was resting on his thigh. She ran her fingers lightly over his, trying to soothe his trembling hands. �Your hand�s shaking. Are you ok?� Kyle nodded, still trying to find his voice. �I�m fine, I�m just...� He chuckled at himself. �I just can�t believe you said yes. I was so scared you were going to say no.� He gave her a goofy grin, one that expressed his happiness. �Thank you.� ************* Liz grabbed a few plates from the table, getting ready to take them into the kitchen, when Max took them out of her hands. �Come on, let�s go.� She tried to reach for the plates again, only to have Max pull her towards the front door, his car keys in hand. �Max! We can�t just leave.� She hissed. He winked at her, leading her towards the jeep. �Yes we can. I already talked to my mom, and she said it was ok.� As he put his key in the ignition, he glanced at the clock on the console. He tapped it with his finger, his smile lighting up his whole face. �And besides, you�ve got another two hours before curfew.� He put the jeep in reverse, heading out to the road. �I think we should make the most of it, don�t you?� ************* Maria put Crouching Tiger back into it�s case, and put Traffic into the tape player. �So, what�d you think of Crouching Tiger?� Michael merely shrugged his shoulders. �I don�t know, it seemed like it was just a chick flick with kung fu.� Maria rolled her eyes, positioning herself next to Michael. �Well, I thought it was good.� Michael tried to hide his smile. �Well, that�s because you�re a chick.� Maria tickled his side until he begged for mercy. �Well, what about Max? You said, that he said, that it was good.� Michael wrapped his arm around Maria, his hand playing in her golden locks. �That�s because Max has that whole sensitive guy thing, going for him. Not that that�s a bad thing. I�m just more into guts and gore type of thing.� Maria made a face at him, before she turned her attention to tv. �Shh! The previews are starting.� ********** Max put the jeep in park. He walked to the back, grabbing a sleeping bag and a blanket. As he walked past Liz, she raised an eyebrow at him. �What?� She pointed to what he was carrying, but Max still didn�t get it. �Huh?� Liz shook her head, linking her arm with his. �If I didn�t know any better, I�d have to say that you drove all the way out into the desert, just to ravish me.� She gave him a wicked grin, her hand creeping behind him, giving his butt a little pinch. Max jumped, his eyes returning her teasing. �Why, Ms. Parker. You really need to get your mind out of the gutter.� As soon as he saw her jaw fall, he ran forward, hearing her soft footsteps behind him. He chanced a look behind him, but the blanket and sleeping bag had come apart in his arms, causing him to trip. He landed with a thud, and a little oompf. He had yet to open his eyes, but he knew that she was there. �Poor baby.� She smoothed back his hair, her voice laced with a little laughter. �You should know by now, that you can�t run away from me.� Max sat up, a full blown smile on his lips. �True.� He wiped the dust from his clothes, handing Liz the blanket. �Help me set this up?� Together they lay the sleeping bag on the floor, the blanket placed at the top. They had decided to use it as a pillow because it was a little warmer out than they had originally thought. Liz snuggled closer to Max�s side, her nose nuzzling his neck. �Max?� �Yeah?� His hands alternated running through her hair, and down her arms. Her voice sounded small, even to her own ears. Max had to strain his ears just to hear her, and she was just a breath away from him. �You remember on your birthday.....when we, you know....could you, um.......can you make feel that way again?� Max could barely believe what he was hearing. Just a little while ago, she had been teasing and taunting him, and the day of the fire, she was the one who instigated the whole thing in the bathroom. And now, she almost seemed, timid, afraid to ask him...... Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. In every situation that she was the aggressor, it was only because she sought to give him pleasure. The difference this time, was she was asking him to pleasure her. He couldn�t believe that she was so unsure of herself, so unsure that he would want to bring her to that place. Well, he�d have to change that real, quick. He leaned on his side so that Liz was on her back, his body hovering over hers. His lips sought hers in an open mouthed kiss, his tongue reaching the darkest recesses of her mouth. The moan that escaped her lips, fueled the fire burning in his veins. He let his tongue dance with hers for a few moments, before his lips made a descent down her chin and around her neck. Her neck arched, allowing him to go anywhere he pleased. And he did. His tongue traced a wet path down her neck, his mouth following it�s trail back up. She could feel his lips branding her, his teeth nipping at her delicate skin. The ache began in the pit of her stomach, an ache wanting to be filled. She shifted her hips, trying to get into contact with his, but she felt his large hands on her hips, stopping their movement. His usually amber eyes were now black, the moonlight glistening in his eyes. �Patience, my dear.� His breath was on her ear, causing her to shiver. �When I said I wanted more than just a few minutes to ravish you, I meant it.� When her hips stilled, his hands ran up her sides, his fingers teasing the sides of her breasts. She threw her head to the side, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. He was barely touching her, and her body was already on fire. She thought she would burst into flames when he finally did touch her. One by one, she felt the buttons on her top come undone. She looked up to Max�s face, but his eyes were trained on every piece of skin that was revealed to him. He was mesmerized by her beauty. If a bomb were to go off right now, he probably wouldn�t have noticed, or cared for that matter. He pushed the shirt over her shoulders. �Sit up for a second.� She did as she was told. He pulled the top away from her, throwing it to the side. She was going to lay down again, but Max caught her. �Not yet, baby.� His fingers traced the indentation of her spine, then came back up. When his fingers reached her bra, he stopped. With a flick of his wrist, the snap came undone. He let her lie back down, but he had yet to pull off her bra. Max watched as her chest heaved, her breasts rising and falling with them. His hand reached forward, touching the satin material of her bra strap. He marveled at it�s softness as he pulled one bra strap down, after another. Just as he had done the night of his birthday, he took a sharp intake of breath, seeing her beauty displayed to him. He had already burned into his memory what she looked like, but seeing her in the flesh, was nothing compared to an image in his mind. His fingers danced across her skin, making her feel light headed. He leaned down to capture her lips in another soul searing kiss, his lips trailing down her chin, between her breasts, and finally down to her belly button. His tongue traced a circle around her belly button, making a quick sweep inside. Liz threw her head back, her hands bunched into the sleeping bag. Who knew that your belly button could be such a hot spot? �Maaax.....� He looked up from where he was planting kisses on her stomach, his hands dancing around the edge of her skirt. �Yeah?� �I need.....please.....Max....please....� His voice was husky, his breathing out of control. His fingers weaved into her hair. �What is it, Liz? Tell me what you need.� Liz was frustrated beyond belief. The ache between her legs was getting stronger, begging for release. �I need you...� He gave her a brief smile, his love for her shining through. �Anything, you want, baby.� His hands cupped her breasts, her nipples immediately hardening at his touch. She arched her back, trying to get closer to him. His fingers tweaked her nipples softly, before running a path to the underside of her breast. His tongue peeked out from behind his lips, the tip touching her nipple lightly. When he heard Liz moan, he opened his mouth over her breast, trying to take in as much as he could. He suckled her breast gently, his lips releasing her breast, but keeping her nipple between his lips. Her hands dug through his hair, his name becoming a mantra on her lips. He treated her other breast to the same pleasure, his skilled hands working to ease her skirt off of her slender hips. When he got them out of the way, he sat up a little, his fingers dancing at the edge of her panties, occasionally letting the tips of his fingers dip inside. Liz writhed beneath him, her body set aflame by his touch. Just when she thought her senses were on overload, Max slid her panties from her hips, leisurely pulling them down her trim legs. Her thighs quivered as his fingers walked back up her naked legs, finally playing at the dark patch of curls between her legs. �God. You�re even more beautiful than I could have imagined.� His voice was filled with love, and awe, as he seeked for her hidden treasure. With gentle pressure, his hands parted her legs, opening her up to him. His breath caught in his throat, as he sat witness to the beauty of Liz�s body. His eyes flew to her face that was burning with embarrassment. He let his hand cup her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheek. �Don�t be embarrassed. You�re the epitome of beauty.� Not able to contain himself, he reached his finger to touch her folds, delighting when a soft whimper escaped from her lips. Coating his finger in her essence, he slowly slid his finger inside her, wanting nothing more than to taste her, to bury himself in her. But that would have to wait. One step at a time, and this step was going to bring her so much ecstasy, she was bound to see stars. Her hips moved in time to his thrusts, her voice catching in her throat. He could feel her walls clamping down on his finger. Knowing that it wouldn�t take much longer before she reached her peak, he thrust his finger inside her one last time. She cried out at the loss, but her cry turned into a cry of pleasure when his finger traced tight circles on her nub. Her hips bucked, her back arching, her cries making her voice hoarse. �Maaaax.....Oh God...Max....� As the tremors in her body decreased, Max moved to lie down next to her. He grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around her naked body. He let her lay her head on his chest, his lips peppering her skin with his kisses. When she finally came back to earth, she leaned her hand on his chest, her face looking into his. �Max.....thank you....that was.....that was absolutely incredible....� He pushed the wet tendrils of hair away from her face. �I should be the one thanking you. You trusted me enough to do what I wanted, and- She placed a finger to his lips. �Why don�t I just return the favor?� She gave him a devilish grin, her hand creeping down to the front of his pants. He tried to stop her, but she was too quick. Her face was one of confusion when her hand came into contact with the wetness on his pants. �Max?� His eyes fell, the embarrassment evident in his face. �I...when you....I�m sorry, I couldn�t wait.....� His voice sounded so guilty, almost as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. �When you let go....I just....� Liz stopped his bumbling words with a kiss. She couldn�t believe that she could do that Max, to make him lose so much control.... A smile formed on her lips, as she lay her head back on his chest. �I love you so much, Max.� �I love you too....� They lay together, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, stroking, and gently petting each other. �Liz?� �Yea?� The pads of his fingers flittered across her back. �I know that we haven�t really talked much about what happened after the fire. And I know how hard it is for you talk about it. I just wanted to say, that if you ever need to talk, I�m always here.� Liz felt the tears sting her eyes. �Thank you for understanding.� He placed a kiss on her temple, his voice growing to a whisper. �And....I just....I want you to know, that you�ll always have a home with my family and I.� This time, the tears ran freely down Liz�s cheeks, seeping through Max�s shirt. She was the luckiest girl on earth. Back Next |
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