Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 13

(Sunday, October 5)

Liz had barely slept. After she'd left Zan's place she'd driven around for a while but it hadn't made things any better. She had too much stuff rushing around in her head.

Pacing around her balcony, she tried to alleviate some of her excess energy.

She couldn't believe she'd kissed Zan again. And she hadn't just kissed him, she wanted him. The sensation had practically been overwhelming. She wanted Zan the same way she wanted Max.

Something was definitely wrong with her. She couldn't seem to control herself and she didn't know what she was going to do. She was supposed to see Zan later for her training session and she was scared to go.

But that was only part of what was bothering her.

Max was demanding answers and he'd said he was coming to get them today. He might show up at any moment and she still didn't know what to tell him.

She'd been thinking about it for hours and she kept coming to the same conclusion. But was it right?

Future Max had said Max must never know and she'd been holding on to that. But had he really thought it through. Had he considered that his younger self wouldn't give her up no matter what?

She was sure he had. So what did he intend to accomplish with his plan? Their feelings for each other hadn't changed, Max hadn't turned to Tess. All that had really happened was that she and Max had been apart longer.

But maybe, somehow that was Future Max's plan had been all along. Maybe something had changed because she and Max hadn't slept together months ago. But there was no way of knowing for sure.

Suddenly a familiar sensation rushed through her and she knew without looking that Max was coming. She turned toward the ladder and waited for him.

"Hey Max," she greeted softly.

He smiled when he saw her. "Hey Liz."

She crossed to him and took his hands leading him to the lawn chair. "Can we sit down and talk?"

Max nodded, looking a bit confused, and Liz wondered if he'd been expecting another argument.

"Max," she started as they sat, "I've been thinking all night and I've come to a decision. I just hope I'm doing the right thing."

"Okay," he said, nodding encouragingly.

Her hands fidgeted in her lap and tears pricked her eyes.

Max could tell something inside her had changed. She was still scared, but she'd decided to share her burden with him. He reached out taking her hand and squeezed gently. "It'll be okay, Liz," he assured her.

She met his eyes. "I hope so."

Taking a deep breath she told him the whole story. Starting with the night Future Max arrived, she told him everything his other self had said and everything they had done to fulfill his plan.

When she was finished Max was shaking his head. "I'd say I don't believe it, but with who we are and all the crazy stuff that's happened..." He trailed off, meeting her eyes. "I'm really sorry, Liz that he did this to you, to us."

Tears spilled from her eyes. "They all died, Max. He came back to try and save us all."

They were both silent for a moment.

Liz wiped at her cheeks. "Did I do the right thing telling you? I couldn't think of what else to do. You kept asking questions and I didn't know what to tell you. I didn't want to lie to you anymore, but what if I've condemned the world again?"