Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 11

Zan pulled his hand through his hair as he paced through the training room. So many thoughts were rushing through his head about what had just happened on Liz's balcony, and he was trying to make sense of them.

What he'd heard Max and Liz discussing had really confused him. Max and Liz used to be together, but they weren't any more and it seemed to be because of Tess.

It was clear that Max still wanted Liz, but Liz kept denying him and telling him he had to be with Tess. She had sounded almost panicked that Tess would leave town if Max wasn't with her.

He just didn't understand. Why would Liz care if Tess left? Why would she be pushing Max to be with another woman?

He'd never really paid attention to Tess. Of the Roswell hybrids she was the least important to him, but maybe he'd discounted her too soon. She seemed to have power over both Max and Liz. Maybe she was threatening them.

Tomorrow he would definitely ask Liz what was going on.

He felt a jolt in his gut. Liz.

The kiss they'd shared had been so sweet that it would have been worth Max punching him in the face.

Zan sighed. It seemed that Liz was still in love with Max, but there was no doubt in his mind that she was interested in him too. He'd felt the struggle inside her, and she'd finally given in to her desire and kissed him. It was burned into his mind.

He'd never forget the way her lips had felt against his, the weight of her hands as they rested on his chest, or the way her body had pressed into him.

But he'd told Max the truth. He'd had no idea that Max loved Liz, and he would never come between them. Not only did he need their help, but he wanted their friendship, and it just wasn't honorable.

Plus, he knew exactly how Max felt. They both loved Liz, and she wasn't with either of them. And if Max shared one tenth of the connection with Liz that he did, Max was in a lot of pain.

Zan imagined it was a lot worse for Max. After all Max had been in a relationship with Liz. Max had known the happiness of being with her, of having her love, and it had all been taken away.

With a wave of his hand, Zan turned a folding chair into a padded armchair and threw himself into it.

The connection, he thought. How could he possibly have a connection with her?

It didn't make any sense.

He'd never met her, never connected with her, but he'd felt it the first time he'd seen her, and even stranger, Liz had felt it too.

It was impossible, but that was why he was still convinced they were meant to be together.

He had never expected to find someone he would love instantly, much less someone he could share a connection with.

It was also why he had to be careful around Liz. After their kiss, he wanted her more than ever, and now he had to fight every instinct he had not to give into temptation.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After Max left her balcony, Liz cried quietly for a while, finally giving into the overwhelming feelings surging through her. She felt broken inside, guilty, empty, hopeless.

There was no solution. She could see that now. Max would never be with Tess, but he couldn't be with her either. She couldn't allow anything to develop between them again and risk Tess leaving.

Somewhere inside, she realized she'd held onto some hope that someday she and Max could be together again, but now she had to let it go. She had to accept that she'd never be with him and never be happy.