The Ties That Bind
Max/Liz & the others
Rating: P/G-NC17
Setting: San Diego, California
Disclaimer: I only own the story, not the characters or anything they do.

Part One

Liz Parker-Evans sighed as she put her pen down. Finally getting two minutes to start a new journal was rewarding after the 6am-2pm shift she had pulled at Denny’s, where she and Maria worked.
She was so excited about tonight. For their anniversary, Max was taking her out to a nice French restaurant. Then they were staying the night in a romantic little inn by the ocean. She was pulled by the water. All her life, she had lived surrounded by desert in Roswell. Her and Max had spent many a night walking along the beach to the sound of the roaring surf.
“Liz!” Maria whispered excitedly beside her, pulling her out of her reverie. Liz smiled over at her best friend. “We have to go out and get you a new dress and some sexy lingerie for tonight!”
“Maria, I told you, I have something I can wear,” Liz said patiently, smiled at Maria’s overly dramatic exclamation.
“Not something new, and definitely not from downtown San Diego! I mean, Liz, we finally live in a big city, so we have to take serious advantage of the shopping!”
“I don’t know, Maria…”
“Please?” Maria begged, her eyes sparkling. “I can get something to wear for Spaceboy tonight, too,” she added.
“Alright,” Liz relented, as Maria leapt up and then grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet.
“Let’s go!” Maria said quickly, grabbing her purse and Liz’s from the hall table, then pulling a still stunned Liz out of the apartment.

********************
45 minutes later, the girls arrived at Cityscape Mall, a new shopping center that had just opened last fall. Maria made a beeline for Victoria’s Secret, dragging Liz with her.
“Oh my god,” Maria breathed in awe, staring at all the colors and styles of bras, panties, teddies, baby dolls; you name it. She dragged Liz to a display of teddies that were just Liz’s style. Simple, sweet, yet sexy and alluring.
Liz thumbed through the racks, smiling to her herself, as she thought of how Max would love to see her in a sheer white teddy that had a lacy built-in bra, and the sides opened in the middle. The outfit had a matching lace thong. Liz pulled out the Extra Small size and held it up to her petite frame. “How about this?” Liz said to Maria excitedly.
Maria glanced at her friend’s outfit. “Oh, Liz, that’s perfect!” She breathed. “In fact, I think I’ll get one in red. Michael LOVES me in red,” she said in a husky, sensual voice. The girls giggled as Maria grabbed the red in her size. “Liz, your reservation’s at eight, and we got to get you home and ready by then,” Maria said, rushing to the cash desk.
“Maria, it’s only 4:30,” Liz reminded her.
“I know, but we got to get your dress and your shoes,” Maria replied. The two girls paid for their purchases and left the store. “Now, we could go to Carol’s, that evening dress boutique,” she said. “Or…”
“Let’s go to Carol’s,” Liz said. “I saw an advertisement in the paper about them.”
Maria nodded and the two girls walked off in that direction.

***************
An hour later, the two girls arrived back at the gang’s three bedroom apartment.
"Oh my God, Liz, that dress is so perfect, " Maria gushed. "Max is so gonna, like, die," she added.
"Let me see," Isabel Evans Ramirez said, coming into the room.
Liz led the way to her bedroom and then pulled the dress and its matching sandels out of a garment bag.
Isabel whistled appreciatively. "That's fabulous," she said. Maria bounced up and down excitedly at Isabel's pronouncement.
The dress was spaghetti strap, red satin with a full skirt and a tight bodice. The hem ended just above the knee. Liz pulled the teddy out of another bag and showed Isabel.
Isabel blinked. "Well, there's a surprise," she said. "Okay, now go get in the shower, Liz," she ordered.
"Now," she said briskly, "Makeup to go with this gorgeous dress..."

**************

Two hours later, Max waited in the living room for Liz. He was wearing a stylish black suit and a crisp white shirt. He held a bouquet of white roses behind his back.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Liz was examining herself. her makeup was light, yet flawless. Her lipstick, finger and toenail polish all matched her dress. Her hair was pulled into a sexy French Twist, with soft tendrils framing her face. She twirled around, and Maria and Isabel high-fived each other. They had done a perfect job. Liz had folded the teddy neatly in a bag in Isabel's black purse.
Maria clapped her hands. "Ok, let's go, girlfriend," she said, steering Liz toward the bedroom door.
They all entered the room. Michael and Kyle whistled in appreciation at Liz, while Max and Liz just devoured each other with their eyes. Max approached her, holding out the bouquet. "You are simply breathtaking," Max told his young wife.
"So are you," Liz breathed, letting Maria take the bouquet from her. Max held out his arm for her
"Shall we?" he asked.
Liz laughed lightly as she threaded her arm through his. "We shall," she said, and the two left the apartment.
It was going to be a perfec night.

Next part: Monday, January 27

*happy**angel*