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CHAPTER SEVEN

"What do you mean you quit?" Liz asked Maria, shocked. "You can't quit!"

"I already did, Chica." Maria shrugged. "That's why I wanted you to come over so I could tell you in person."

"I can't believe it! Can you afford to quit?"

"You know how much I make, do you really think it made that much of a difference?" She glanced over at Leia in her playpen as a bottle zoomed across the room. "Besides, I want to be home with Leia."

"Aren't you going to get lonely? You're like a little social butterfly and at least at work you could talk to people."

"I have Leia here, we'll keep each other company."

"Wow." Liz shook her head. "I can't believe it. We've worked together for years, it's going to be so sad without you there."

"At least you have Morgan, right?"

"Yeah, but it won't be the same." She sighed. "I don't want to grow up anymore."

Maria rubbed her friend's shoulder. "Sorry kiddo, we all have to do it. Just think, it's almost the start of a new year and you and Max are going to be getting married hopefully sometime within it. You're in school, Max is in school and you'll both be these successful people with happy lives and picket fences." Maria swallowed. "You're going to be great!"

"Max dropped out of school last semester and we have to move because we can't afford the apartment," Liz blurted out, her eyes closing. "Shit. I didn't really want all that to come out."

"What're you talking about? Max? Straight laced Maxie dropped out of school?"

Liz took a deep breath. "He dropped out after a couple of weeks and started working full time because we couldn't afford the aparment otherwise."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me! Or Michael didn't tell me! Everyone knows what happens with secrets..."

"Michael doesn't know. I didn't know until right before Christmas. He didn't tell anyone! He faked going to school everyday and went to work instead. He got a letter from school, asking him to give it another try, that's how I found out."

"So he just wasn't going to tell you, like, ever?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. He feels really bad right now. He feels like he failed. So, he is going back to school in a few weeks and he's only going to work part time, thus the needing to break the lease and move somewhere cheaper."

"Wow." Maria shook her head. "Max is like the last person I would think that would have dropped out of school. Well, after you, of course."

"Maybe after Isabel, too?" Liz's eyes sparkled. "Don't tell anyone, but she's not going back either. She's staying home."

"Oh shit!" Maria laughed. "I guess it's not funny."

"No, she's really bummed. She hasn't gotten over the thing with Bret. She's not herself, I mean she's actually talking to me. Like, really talking to me."

"You're going to be sisters soon, that's a good."

"Yeah, but it's not an Isabel."

* * *

Max lay on the plush carpet of the apartment, a newspaper and apartment guide in front of him. He looked around at his surroundings and sighed. He loved this place, Liz loved it too; he didn't want to leave. He knew they had to, but it was still depressing. It was his fault and he was feeling the weight of it on his shoulders. Shaking his head, he wondered why he did these things to himself. He always got so excited and acted on something and never thought about repercussions afterwards. Story of his life. It was too dangerous for him to do that anymore, he had other people to consider. There had always been Isabel and Michael, but now there was Liz, Maria and Leia and the Valentis. They all shared a secret and Max hoped someday that he didn't get them all killed by acting without thinking. He sighed again, he knew this was about a stupid apartment and not a life or death situation; either way Max knew he had to learn to think first, act later.

Shaking his head he went back to research for new digs. Circling a dozen in their price range he set off to check them out. The first three were horrible. They were dirty, no security, no amenities. The fourth and fifth places were better, but not good enough for Liz. Was anything good enough for her?

The seventh place was the best. It was closer to Michael's and had around the clock security. On site amentities and the rooms weren't horrible. They weren't as nice as where they were now, but he thought they could make this place nice. He almost signed the lease then stopped. What have you been telling yourself, Max? he asked himself. Think then act. He promised the manager that he would bring his fiancée by that nighit to look at it before he signed. Proud of himself, he got back in the jeep and headed towards home. Switching stations on the radio, he tuned in the 80s channel and bobbed his head with Duran Duran. The next song made him sit up straighter. It was Scandal, The Warrior. He had almost forgotten.

The whole episode with Max zoning out and coming back with that word in his head seemed blurry. Although it had only been less than a week, it seemed like years. He reminded himself to ask Liz about it again. He remembered her face when he said "warrior"; it had meant something to her, she just didn't feel like sharing.

He saw the curtains parted in his apartment windows when he pulled into his spot in the parking lot. Liz was back home, good. He had missed her. He let himself in and winced when he saw all the empty boxes in the middle of the living room. He heard the radio in the bedroom playing and followed the noise. He stood int he doorway and watched Liz; her back turned towards him. She was in front of the closet draping clothes over her arm, swaying to the music. He smiled. God, he loved her. She turned and jumped when she saw him, clothes falling to the floor.

"Quit sneaking up on me!" she yelled and picked up the clothes from the floor. "How can you always be so quiet?"

"Sorry," he strode to her and took the clothing from her arms and laid it on the bed. "What are you doing?"

"Uh...packing?" She nodded towards the half-filled boxes on the floor.

"Already?" he asked while sliding his arm around her waist. "Why so soon?"

"Because school starts in a couple of weeks and we should be all moved into somewhere new by then," she said matter-of-factly. "That's still the plan, right?"

"I guess." He kissed her neck. "You smell good."

"I smell like sweat," she grinned. "This is hard work."

"Your sweat smells good." He inhaled the skin on the tender stretch between her neck and shoulder, nudging the shirt collar away. "So good."

"Thank you," she whispered and wrapped her arm around him, pulling him into her. She ran her other hand through his hair, pausing at the stubble on his neck. "I guess it's time for another hair cut."

"I don't care." He looked to the bed behind him and with one hand shoved the clothes off and onto the floor. Before Liz could protest he covered her mouth with his.

Liz felt his strapping arms holding her tigth as he lowered her on to the mattress. Her hands made contact with his arms causing her to smile at his sculpted muscles. She reached down and pulled the shirt over his head and flung it to the floor. He licked his lips and brought them down on hers again. One hand fumbling with the buttons on her shirt. Buttons flew off as his patience wore thin. She frowned at him; he winked in return. He slid his hands underneath her and unhooked her bra. He pulled it off by the tiny white bow in front with his teeth. He grasped the drawstring of her pants and pulled out the knot, they slid down so easily. Hooking his thumbs in her panties, they too wound up on the floor.

Liz felt around for the zipper to his khakis and found his rock hard masculinity instead. She felt herself blush as she found the zipper. He lifted his body off hers so she could pulls the pants and boxers off together. He moaned, pressing his body against her. He looked in her eyes; everything in her was so pure. As jaded as she should be, she was still so pure and bright. That's why he loved Liz Parker.

He smiled and kissed down her neck, feeling her hands on his cheeks. Travelling along her sternum to her breastbone, leaving a wet trail, he felt her shudder as he covered one breast with his mouth. Taking the entire breast in his mouth, rolling the nipple with his tongue. One hand stayed on her other breast toying with her nipple while he moved his head down further, kissing her navel and going down. He parted her legs by bumping them apart with his chin. He felt her hands on his head pushing him down. He sank his mouth into her, licking, biting, and probing with his tongue. Her back arched involuntarily, her hands slapped the mattress on either side of her. She clenched the comforter until her knuckles turned white.

"Okay," she whispered and reached down, tapping his head. "Okay."

He looked up to her, mouth glistening and made his way back up to her. She turned her head before his mouth was able to meet hers. She just couldn't do that. He submerged himself inside her and felt nerves he never knew existed vibrate. She tightened her PC muscles around him. He tried to pull back, but it was too late. He came inside of her and collapsed. His head rested on her saliva sticky breast. She kissed the top of his now sweaty head and smiled.

"You are amazing," he panted.

"I didn't do anything."

"Oh, yeah, you did." He nodded, looking up at her. "You had a grip on me that...that was amazing."

"You liked?" she teased.

"I liked. Big time."

Liz smiled to herself. Reading that article in Cosmo about Kegel exercises seemed to be a good.

* * *

Rath looked at his new surroundings, the hotel was a dive, but he didn't care. He was actually surprised he was staying in a hotel at all. He knew he might be in town for a while and thought it best he have a home base. Or at least somewhere he could bring chicks back to. He thought briefly of Lonnie. What a bitch. He hoped she was wondering where he was, she was such a control freak. And that stupid lap dog, Ava, God, she made him sick!

He flopped on the bed and it creaked. He crossed his legs at the ankles and put his hands behind his head.

"Watch out, Ros-Hell. Rath's back and he's so in the mood to play with the hunnies and kick a little ass!" he laughed.

* * *

"Is everything okay?" Maria asked as Kyle picked up the phone.

"Oh my God! How many times are you going to call? Aren't you supposed to be at a movie?" Kyle rolled his eyes in Morgan's direction.

"We are. I just stepped out to call and check on Leia."

"She's fine. She's just as fine as she was an hour ago. I'm beginning to think that you don't trust us very much."

"It's not that, moron," she laughed. "I just get worried and want to make sure everything's okay."

"It's fine Maria. She's with Morgan right now playing peek-a-boo or some shit."

"Ahem?"

"Excuse me, or some shoot," Kyle exhaled loudly. "I really doubt her first word will be S-H-I-T."

"Well, if it is Mister, you are in for a serious ass whooping! Oh shit. Yeah, I know honey. I'm sorry, I'll be right there."

"I guess you're no longer talking to me?" Kyle asked.

"Damn. Michael just busted me. I gotta go. We're getting something to eat after the movie and we'll be home about twelve thirty."

"I know Maria, it's all on the list. We'll see you then and try to relax."

"Sure." She disconnected.

"She's nuts." Kyle set the phone down. "I don't know if she trusts us or not."

"I'm sure she trusts you, but she doesn't know me all that well yet." Morgan pulled Leia's shirt over her eyes and then back down. Leia laughed. "It's probably my fault."

"I doubt that," he shook his head. "She's neurotic. It's the way she is."

Morgan nodded although not entirely convinced. "Can you go in the baby's room and find me a clean pacifier? I dropped the green one on the floor."

"Can't you just brush it off?"

"Oh, God. Just go find a new one."

"I'm kidding." Kyle held up his hands in defence and walked into the yellow-light green nursery. He opened drawers at random until he found a basket of pacifiers and latex nipples. "Score." He dug though it and picked out one with a sad Eeyore - like there's any other kind - on it. He turned away from the dresser and knocked something with his elbow. He hunched his shoulders up as he heard the crash. "Shoot!" he yelled.

"What'd you break?" Morgan called from the other room.

"A lamp, damn it!" He walked back in the living room and handed the pacifier to Morgan. She took the pacifier and slid it in Leia's mouth. Leia looked curiously at her and then rested her head on Morgan's chest.

"She is so sweet! Doesn't it make you want to have one?" She looked at Kyle and grinned at his newly developed eye twitch.

"You are so stupid, I'm kidding!"

"Okay. In the last ten minutes I've been called a moron and now stupid. If I wasn't perfectly balanced, that might upset me." Kyle motioned to Leia. "She's asleep. Don't you wish you could fall asleep that fast?"

"Yeah," she handed the baby to Kyle and he laid her down on her stomach in the playpen. He covered her up and went back to Morgan, flopping down next to her.

"So, what do you want to do now?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Not what you're thinking, perv. Not here." She waved her hand around the room.

"I let Maria and Michael, you know, at my house."

"Nah-uh. When?"

"When her mom wouldn't let her see him, when she was pregnant." Kyle nodded proudly. "Maria and I were slick."

"You and her are pretty tight, aren't you? I'm not jealous, that's not why I'm asking. I'm just still new. All you guys have this past and I'm trying to play catch up."

"We didn't used to be." Kyle smiled, thinking back to the way they used to bicker. "When I used to date Liz, seems like a hundred years ago now, Maria and I didn't always see eye-to-eye on, I guess, everything."

"You dated Liz?" Morgan furrowed her brow. "I didn't know that."

"Yeah, you did. I told you." Kyle nodded, trying to think if it had really ever come up or not. "I'm sure I did. Or maybe Isabel told you."

"No, I think I would have remembered that." She smiled. "I don't care, I just didn't know. See this is what I'm talking about. I feel left out sometimes when you all start talking about something that happened two years ago and all I can do is sit there and smile. I hate that, you know I like to talk."

"And talk and talk and talk-" Kyle stopped right before her hand made contact with his chest.

"Anything else I should know about?"

"Nothing of importance. Max and Liz are like destined to be together forever. Maria and Michael, you see how they are. Isabel's true love was killed in a car accident, I told you about Alex." Kyle paused as thoughts of him helping Tess drag his friend into the car came flooding back into his mind. He shuddered. "Me, I just hang out."

"Okay." She looked over at the sleeping baby. She scooted towards the end of the couch and stretched out, patting the space next to her. "C'mon, do you want to lay down with me?" Kyle nodded and lay down next to her. He cradled her in his arms and watched as she fell asleep. His mind was too full of vivid, horrible memories of Alex. Sleep would be something that evaded him tonight as it had many others.

Kyle looked to the front door as it opened and Maria bounded in with Michael at her heels. He glanced at the clock; it was twelve-twenty. He got his arm out from underneath Morgan and stood up. Maria had already checked on Leia and was holding her.

"You even put her jammies on her?" Maria whispered. "That was so nice."

"Morgan did." Kyle motioned over his shoulder to his sleeping girlfriend. "She's good like that."

"I guess everything went okay?" Maria asked when she had returned from putting Leia to bed in the bassinet still in their bedroom.

"Peachy," Kyle bit his lip and looked at Michael. "But I broke the lamp in the nursery. I left it there so you could," Kyle waved his hands in circles n the air.

"So I could wax on, wax off?" Michael asked.

"You know what I mean." Kyle went to the kitchen with Maria to get something to drink and Michael went into the nursery.

Morgan woke up and looked for Kyle; he was gone. She looked quickly at the playpen and found it empty. Her heart raced as she jumped up and looked around. She didn't see or hear anything. She walked down the hall and peeked in the bathroom. Nothing. She tiptoed to the nursery, maybe Kyle had decided to put Leia to bed. She stood in the doorway and saw a profile of Michael standing at the dresser. As she opened her mouth to speak, she stopped. Michael raised his hand over the broken lamp. Within seconds, swirling ceramic and dust became the full lamp. Morgan gasped and Michael looked at her. She backed out of the room and went towards the front door.

"Morgan! Wait!" Michael yelled to her and reached for her hand, which she snatched away from him.

"What's going on?" Kyle and Maria rushed in from the kitchen. They had been outside on the porch when they heard Michael yelling. Kyle intercepted Morgan at the door.

"Him..." Morgan pointed at Michael, her hand was shaking.

"What'd you do now, Guerin?" Maria asked, walking closer to Morgan and Kyle. "What's wrong Morgan?"

"He did something to the lamp and put it back together," she had tears in her eyes, a quiver in her voice. She reached for Kyle and he drew her close to him. "I want to go home."

Michael shook her head and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry. I thought she was asleep."

"How'd he do that?" Morgan asked in Kyle's direction.

"I can answer that," Maria said, the voice of reason. "You see, he's Czechoslovakian, they can do that."

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STORY OF LINES:
4 - DOORWAYS

CHAPTER SEVEN

WRITTEN BY BECKY W


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