"Of course. I feel fine. Better than fine actually."

"That's great."

"Max, I wanted to thank you for everything you did. I mean, I know the past couple of days have been... strange."

"Liz, don't. Don't worry about it. And I want you to know that whatever's going to happen to you in the future, I'm gonna be right there with you."

In her bedroom, Liz gripped the phone harder and smiled gently at the picture of Max she was holding in her other hand. "Yeah. Together," she said softly into the receiver.

Max felt a wave of heat rush over him at her soft words. He'd meant that he would stand by her in her illness, but he couldn't disagree with her interpretation. He was determined to make some kind of a future with her. They would face whatever was coming side-by-side. The good with the bad. In sickness and in health... Married. That one word whispered softly through his head. One day he would find a way to marry his dream girl, and then there would be no stopping them.

He cleared his throat. "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Yeah, ok. Tomorrow. I'll, um, tell the others."

Neither one of them wanted to hang up the phone. Sharing this temporary connection, knowing that the past was finally uncovered and they were free from the pain and confusion that had marked all of their conversations to this point for months, it was a heady feeling. Neither one wanted to let it go.

On the other hand, they couldn't have the kind of conversation they needed to have over the phone.

Finally, Liz was the one who said, "So, goodbye, Max."

"Good night, Liz."

Tomorrow seemed like a long time away, she thought as she replaced the phone on her nightstand.

"Hey, chica, how are you feeling?" Maria asked, sticking her head inside the door.

With a happy smile, Liz bounced up to embrace her friend. Alex stepped into the room behind Maria and he was treated to a big hug, too.

"Look, we promised your mom we wouldn't stay and wear you out. We just wanted to make sure that you're ok, you know, after everything that happened." Alex said, peering into her face. He could tell without her having to say anything that she was feeling much better.

For the first time in days (weeks?), she had some color in her cheeks, and her eyes were sparkling with life. She looked... healthy. "Yeah. I'm totally fine. My mom is just freaking out, but I can't blame her. The whole disappearance thing really got to her. I'm lucky I'm not grounded."

"Yeah, I bet," Maria said in sympathy. "So, can we have a get together tomorrow?"

"Yeah. That's right. We are all going over to Max's to talk about what happened."

"Ok," Maria said as she gave her friend another hug. "So I guess we'll see you other there, then. Take care tonight, 'k?"

"I will."

"See you tomorrow," Alex said as he pulled open the door.

"Bye," Liz said as they went through it and she was left alone.

Left with nothing better to do and pretty much restricted to her room (her parents wanted her to 'rest'), Liz laid down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling, to think about Max and everything she wanted to say to him tomorrow.

* * * * * * * * *

The clock on his nightstand read 2:00 a.m. when Max was awakened by a sound out his window. Getting up and rubbing his eyes, he complained, "This is getting to be an annoying habit, Michael," as he ambled over to the window.

Pulling back the curtains, he was surprised to see Liz standing there. Surprised enough to stand there staring at her for a couple of seconds.

She smiled shyly and put her fingers to the glass. Unthinkingly, he raised his hand and pressed his fingers to hers. The glass was cold against his fingertips, but he didn't really notice. Time seemed to stand still as he gazed at her through the frosted pane. He noted how the moonlight shone off her glossy dark hair. How the starlight softened her features until she looked like something out of a dream.

Surreal. Untouchable. He watched as her pink lips formed a word. His name.

"Max."

He wanted to touch her so badly. Could think of nothing but the feel of her skin against his. But instead, they stood, separated by nothing more than his own foolishness. The realization dawned that maybe he should open the window so she could come inside out of the cold.

Feeling a little self-conscious, he unlatched the window and threw up the sash. Taking Liz's small hand in his, he helped her to climb over the sill. When her feet were firmly planted on the carpet, and the window was once again closed, he turned to her.

She looked a little shy and embarrassed as she stood before him. An awkward silence, full of their rampaging emotions, fell. It was as if neither one knew what to say, or where to start.

Finally, he asked, "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. When I got home things were a little tense but that was expected."

"That's good." Max cast his mind out for something else to say. He couldn't bring himself to ask what he really wanted, which was why was she here, in his bedroom in the middle of the night, so he settled for small talk, hoping she would just come out and tell him. "How... how are you feeling? You know after this morning?"

She smiled at him for his thoughtfulness and answered, "I feel great. It had been a long night, and I was just so exhausted this morning..." She stopped to bite her lip. "I am so sorry for everything."

"Shh." He stepped forward to press a finger to her lips to stop her words. "There's nothing for you to be sorry for. Ever." With a will of its own, his finger began to caress the smooth contours of her mouth. His eyes dropped to focus on the task and heat ignited in his body.

Entranced by the intensity of his gaze, she stepped forward. She ran one hand down the side of his face causing his eyes to return to hers. She softly said, "I've missed this. I... I tried to stay away. Tried to keep myself from returning to you, but I couldn't. Stop myself, that is." Then, with a small tug, she pulled his head down to hers.

Their initial kiss was tender, poignant. Full of restraint. When she allowed him to pull back, Max's heavy eyelids lifted for the barest second, before closing again in blissful anticipation. He pulled her body tightly to his and wrapped his arms completely around her small body.

This time as their lips touched, it was like a homecoming for Max. He let his feelings for her take over, and he simply fell into a living dream. Her small hands gripped his biceps as she pulled him closer to her. Then she threaded one hand in his hair. And the kiss went on and on.

After a while, she began to get restless in his arms. She was rubbing against him with her body and her hands, in an effort to entice him into madness. Max had to admit that it was working. He separated his mouth from hers to nip at the soft skin on her neck, leaving her panting, "I need... I... Please." The incoherent pleading made perfect sense to Max, because he needed, too.

Her hands shifted so that they could skim down his sides, over his hips and back up again. He didn't realize at first that she had the bottom of his T-shirt clenched tightly in her small fists until he felt the first contact of her skin against him. He let go of her long enough to help her pull the fabric away, then she was back in his arms, reveling in all of the bare skin she'd exposed.

He gasped aloud when her soft lips skimmed across his chest. They settled against a flat male nipple, and he was amazed when her soft tongue darted out to taste him. Her hands were moving up his arms, down his chest, around his waist to his back and up again. Her fingernails were lightly grazing against him, which caused goosebumps to follow in her wake.

Max had lost all ability to think. His instincts had taken over and they were telling him that he had to be closer to Liz. They had to be as close as possible... if not closer. Her blouse was becoming an issue.

In all the times Max and Liz made out before, their petting had always been through their clothes. They were always aware that there could be danger for them if they got too intimate. But having removed his shirt, he wanted nothing more at this moment than to remove hers, too. To feel her skin against his. Her softness against his hardness.

Touching the bottom of Liz's blouse lightly, he was barely able to gasp out, "Can I...?"

The smile she shot him was at once full of passion, amusement and tenderness. Stepping back slightly, she pulled her shirt off in one smooth motion. His eyes were trained on her bosom, clad now only in a light pink bra. It was lace. *Oh god.* It barely covered her.

He raised one hand tentatively to touch her softness and was startled at how hot her skin was. The passionate sound she made encouraged him, and he boldly ran his fingers over the soft mound. At his first touch, she inhaled sharply, which in turn lifted her skin into a fuller contact with his. He cupped her breast in his hand and felt the tight nipple pressing against his palm.

She again pulled his head down to hers, and was kissing him passionately, erotically. Her tongue dueled with his aggressively, as she pressed her body closer.

Max gently guided her over to the side of his bed. In seconds she was stretched out full length and was pulling him down on to her. He was experiencing no doubts as he lay down next to her. Looking into Liz's doe eyes, he petted her hair gently. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her. How much she meant to him. How they were never going to be apart ever again. He just couldn't seem to get the words out. There would be plenty of time to declare his undying devotion, he promised himself. Only it would have to be later. Much later.

He tenderly, slowly, kissed a trail down her neck and over her collarbone. His final destination was apparent and he felt her tense in anticipation. He made a note of that for later, but continued onward, unwavering in his task. He needed to feel the changing textures of her nipples against his lips as much as she did. His hands again lovingly cupped her softness, and his thumbs whisked lightly over the raised peaks.

With a gasp, her back arched off the mattress. Then she was clutching at his hair, trying to speed up his slow ascent. He resisted her unspoken pleas, not wanting to rush this. He was planning a very through loving, and hurrying to get to the end was no part of his plan.

After what seemed like an eternity, his mouth was finally grazing the scalloped edge of her bra. A small frown marred his forehead. As sexy as the beautiful garment was, it was currently in his way. Running his finger along the valley between her breasts, he caused the fabric to separate. Gently and oh so slowly, he peeled back the edges of the lacy cloth.

The sight that met his lust filled gaze was breath taking. He had pictured her undressed a hundred times, helped by the fantasy he'd unwittingly seen last year, but the reality far, far surpassed anything he'd come up with. "Love, you have no idea how beautiful you are to me. You're perfect."

Her response, whatever it was to have been, was lost in the soft cry she made when he finally brought his mouth down to the pink skin that was waiting for him. Her fingers speared through his hair to hold his head in place. As if he had any immediate plans of leaving her scented skin.

While he loved one breast with his lips and tongue, he stroked the other with his hand. Max licked over her nipple, enjoying its hard texture before sucking it into his mouth. "Oh!" Her back again arched off the bed in response to the pleasure he was giving her. Her breathy moans were getting louder, and some part of his brain that was still functioning became worried that they would alert his parents or Isabel to what they were doing. Mostly, he relished each passionate sound she made.

They were egging him on. The louder she got, the louder he wanted her to be, and he increased his efforts to please her.

"I need... I... Oh... Yes," she was panting beneath him as he switched from one breast to the other. Her legs were shifting restlessly against his sheets from the ache he was causing inside her.

Needing to feel her whole body against him, he reluctantly released her soft, womanly flesh and slid up her body. Eagerly, his mouth sought out hers.

She met him aggressively kiss for kiss as their tongues danced. Clutching his shoulders, she shifted so that he was lying full length between her legs. Bringing her knees up, she allowed him fuller access to her burning core. Seductively, she rocked her hips forward and back, rubbing against the hard part of his body that was crying out to be inside of her. Their remaining clothing only slightly diminished the exquisite sensations coursing through them.

As their bodies heated up another notch, Max became aware for the first time of a niggling sensation in the back of his mind. There was something wrong with what was happening but he was at a loss to figure out what it was.

He ruled out the fact that they probably shouldn't be doing this. They were both aware of the consequences of getting completely wrapped up in one another again. He'd already vowed that that wouldn't happen. He and Liz would have to find a way to balance out the group, and he knew that they could rely on Michael and Isabel for help in that department.

Also, he decided it wasn't the fact that it was probably too soon to be taking this step in their relationship. Especially in light of everything he'd learned last night. He knew that they should be going nice and slow right now to rebuild their relationship. But he didn't want to wait that long. And apparently, neither did she.

So what was wrong? His mind puzzled over it as he continued to kiss Liz. Her slim body was thrashing against him. Her slender legs were clenching his hips with a surprising strength as she continued to grind herself against him. She was making helpless sounds in the back of her throat. Her hands were holding tight to his waist in an effort to control their motion.

When he released her lips to kiss his way to her ear, she threw back her head, panting, gasping, sighing. "Oh, love... I can't... this feels... What are...? I need..."

She sounded like she was getting close to something. He wondered if it were possible to send her over the brink of pleasure like this: still dressed with just his lips and hands and his body over hers. He was looking forward to finding out.

Wanting to share in her passion, he brought his lips to hers, once again spearing his tongue deep into her mouth. Suddenly, in the back of his mind, he dimly heard Liz's voice. She sounded upset... angry. He couldn't quite make out what she was telling him. He realized that what he was getting was a flash, but it was so distant. Usually, their flashes exploded across his consciousness in hi-fi Technicolor with surround sound. But this one didn't.

It was so subtle, he almost didn't even notice it in the haze he was in. Unconsciously, he focused on it, trying to make the connection a little stronger, until he felt something give. All at once, the flash railroaded across his brain, and he heard Liz telling him, "I am not making love to you or anyone else until I am ready and I am just not ready." The feelings he got from her in that instant shocked him into immobility. There was shame, fear. Anguish.

He pulled back and stared at her. What was that? Had he been pushing her too far, too fast? He'd thought she'd been right with him every step of the way, but now he wasn't so sure.

In a glance, he took in the kiss swollen lips, the love-glazed look in her eyes. Her flushed cheeks. She was the embodiment of desire. No woman had ever looked more ready to make love to their man.

So he couldn't understand where the flash was coming from. He opened his mouth to ask her if everything was ok, but she beat him to it.