Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 26

Michael, Maria, Isabel and Alex followed Max into the back of the Crashdown, still not really sure what happened, but they all skidded to a stop, shocked at what they saw.

None of them were capable of moving for a handful of seconds as they watched Zan, Liz and Max caressing and kissing each other, and then Maria gasped, breaking the spell.

Michael was the first to speak. "What the hell is going on?" He said incredulously.

Max, Liz and Zan had forgotten the others were there. For a moment they didn't move, the three of them still locked in an embrace.

Liz spoke silently to her lovers, "I guess we're outed."

"Baby," Zan answered her the same way, "we don't know what they saw. We could tell them you are with one of us, or..."

Liz cut him off. "It's okay. I love you both, and I'm proud to be with both of you. I'm tired of hiding."

"Are you sure?" Max asked. "We don't mind. We can tell them whatever you..."

"It's time for the truth," Liz told them.

Alex spoke up, trying to make sense of what they were seeing. "Umm, I'm sure that Max was just glad to see Zan and Liz were safe."

"Yeah, sure," Isabel said in a deadpan tone, "so they're both kissing her and have their hands on her."

Max, Liz and Zan turned towards the others at the same time, their arms still around each other.

"Well," Zan started, 'it's kind of a long story."

"You're with Liz," Maria blurted out, to Zan.

He nodded, "Yes, but..."

"Wait a minute," Michael said to Max, "I thought you were with Liz."

Max nodded. "I am."

"You're both with Liz?" Isabel asked incredulously.

"Yes," Max and Zan said in unison.

"You mean you're going out with them both," Maria said, "trying to choose between them?"

Liz was tired of the misunderstandings. "Look," she said addressing her friends, "I'm not trying to choose between them, the three of us are in a relationship together. I love both of them, and they love me, and we believe the three of us are supposed to be together. It feels right, and there are other..."

Michael shifted uneasily as she spoke and finally blurted out at Max. "What? So you and Zan..." He trailed off, raising an eyebrow.

Max smiled. "No, Zan and I aren't together. We're not gay, we're just both with Liz."

"Oh," Michael said, looking relieved, and then confused. "So how does that work?" He asked, motioning with one finger back and forth from Liz to Zan. "You don't get jealous when..."

Maria elbowed him in the stomach. "That's kind of personal, Michael," she said.

"I know this is kind of weird," Liz said. "It certainly wasn't something we planned. We all fought against our feelings because it isn't . . . well, normal. But it turned out to be the best way for us. And we didn't say anything because," she looked down shyly and back up, meeting each of their eyes, "because we didn't know if you'd understand."

Isabel straightened up, putting the best face on an awkward situation. She wasn't sure what to think, but she was concerned for her brother. How could he accept sharing Liz, when he used to have her all to himself? She met Max's eyes. "If you're happy..." She said hesitatingly.