Merry Christmas Max
Genre: AU: M/L
Rating: Adult/lang.
Summary: Max is having a very tough time getting used to married life and sharing.
Disclaimer: I have absolutely nothing to do with the show "Roswell" nor any of it's affiliates. I have borrowed the names of the characters because I like them.
*~*~*
Chapter:1
Liz:
I was in the bathroom off the reception hall of our home putting the final touches on the little Christmas tree that I had purchased at the drug store earlier this evening while picking up a pregnancy test and I was getting more excited by the minute. I wanted our first Christmas in our new home to be extra enjoyable for everyone and the little tree was so cute and just the right size for the guest bathroom… I tried showing it to Max but he chose to ignore me… again. I wonder what his problem is this time?
We are having everyone over for a dinner party the week-end before Christmas and I am so excited. This will be our first Christmas together as a married couple and sharing our home with family and friends seems almost magical to me, I only wish that I could get Scrooge in the spirit. He has been in the worst mood I have ever seen him in for the past week and I haven't been able to figure him out.
This is the third time in the eight months of our marriage that he has acted like a real jerk… I just can't figure him out right now and I couldn't figure him out then either.
I suddenly hear the sound of the closet door slamming and think to myself "not again!!!" I walk slowly into the bedroom and ask very calmly…I think, anyway it's calm in my mind…
"Max, what do you think you're doing? It's after 9:00 o'clock and we have to go to work in the morning."
Max ignores me completely, packs his overnight bag and heads to the front door. I grab my jacket out of the closet, pick my purse up that is on the hallway table and follow right behind him.
I just wish I could figure out what his problem is. He got into his car and started the engine and instead of getting into my own car like I usually do I jump into the passenger seat of Max's car and decided to try and find out what in the name of God is bothering him.
He's headed to his parents home as he usually does when having one of these fits, and me, well I just roll my eyes in disbelief. Calm down, that's what I need to do…stay calm I keep telling myself.
"Max, talk to me." He just keeps on driving so I look out the window at the pretty Christmas decorations…this is getting to be too much and my nerves are really wearing very thin with his antics, he is acting like a two year old spoiled brat.
I didn't take the pregnancy test yet…I was going to wait until we were ready for bed and include Max…I am two weeks late and I am never late but I wanted to make sure before I said anything. If Max continues to act like this I'm not so sure I'll be able to handle a pregnancy and him.
He needs to talk to me and talk to me soon because I am ready to pack a bag too and I certainly won't be going home to my parents…I will be out of town and gone. The longer Max drives the madder I get and I don't even know why I am angry. Jeeeeze, what a nightmare! Yes, I do know why I'm angry…he's being an impossible jerk! Ewww!!!
Soon we arrive at my in-laws, Philip and Diane's, and I get out of the car first and head straight for the front door…I ring the door bell and Michael, my brother-in-law, answers it…
"Hey Lizzie…what's up?" He asks me in a very surprised but pleasant voice.
Michael is Max's adopted brother, he's been with the Evans' since he was 15 and left orphaned when his parents were both killed by a drunk driver. Very sad, but we all survived the impact of that catastrophe and came out on top. All of our families have been friends for years.
"Ask your brother Michael, I'd like the answer to that question myself!" I all but yell out…poor Michael.
Philip and Diane are in the living room decorating their Christmas tree and I can see Diane look over at Philip and I can hear them from my stance in the hallway…
Philip looks over at Diane and I hear him say.
"Not again…what is wrong with that man? Maybe Michael can find out. He's not aware that this happens on a regular basis but maybe he can get it out of Max this time."
"Philip, I know Liz, she won't put up with these actions too much longer. I know they've been in love with each other for a lifetime but she won't tolerate this behavior from anyone and that includes Max."
"I know Diane, but unless he tells us what's bothering him we can't help him."
"I know Philip, but something needs to be done and done quickly…look at her. She doesn't look confused this time….she looks… really… angry. Do you think they had a fight?"
Diane looks really worried from where I'm standing and I feel so sorry for bringing this into her home but I won't take all of the blame. It's that spoiled brat who's to blame, that's who!
"Well, I can tell by looking at her that if they haven't had a fight they certainly are going to." Philip replied, looking over at me with concern on his face.
"Oh God Philip, what can we do?"
Diane sat the Christmas decorations down and started wringing her hands,
"We can mind our own business and see how this plays out Diane…Until we are asked we stay out of it. You know for a fact that Michael won't stay out of it though. Maybe he'll get it fixed up."
Philip sounds a little hopeful if nothing else.
*~*~*
Max walks up to the door just as Michael was about to close it, now Michael has no idea that Max is with me and as he looks at Max holding a suitcase, you can just tell that he wanted to slam the door in Max's face. Actually it's kind of comical to watch.
Michael knows Max and me well enough to know that whatever the problem is it is Max's fault. Him and his damned closed mouth. He never talks about anything; he just sits around and works himself into a fit of anger and walks away. Michael closes the door behind Max and walks into the reception hall and gets a good look at me…I can tell by the look on his face what was running through his mind. Then I hear him mumble,
"Oh this isn't good…Max has done it this time." And I want to laugh…
*~*~*
I turn around and look at Max as he tries to brush past me and head to his old bedroom and I grab the sleeve of his coat and stop him dead in his tracks. Max takes a good look at me and I can tell by the look on his face that he knows he is in big trouble…Then I start in on him, I can't hold my tongue any longer,
"Just what is wrong with you Max Evans? One minute you're watching television, just like you do every night, and the next thing I know you're packing a bag and leaving. No I, yes, kiss my ass, go to hell or anything else.
Max, I'm through with these games of yours. This is insane, either you open your mouth and tell me what in the hell is wrong with you or you stay here this time. Philip, can you take me home? I need to get away from this immature idiot before I hit him with that suitcase of his."
I was livid…
"Of course Liz. Just let me get my jacket…Diane would you like to take a ride?" Philip asks Diane with a hint of humor in his voice…We all see the look on Max's face and we can tell that he realizes he did a bad thing this time. If I wasn't so mad at him I would laugh at his expression.
"Yes Philip, I'll be right with you." Diane grabs Michael, who is a very good psychiatrist by the way, and asks…
"Michael, talk to your brother please?" she was begging…
"I'd rather punch some sense into him Mom." Michael answers. "But yes, I'll talk to him."
"Good." Says Diane as she heads out the front door behind Philip and me.
*~*~*
Michael
"Okay Max, what's going on and what did Liz mean when she said 'this time'?"
"I don't know Michael…she has been coming home from work every night this week and decorating the house from one end to the other. I just sit there alone watching television all by myself and tonight I'd had enough of it and had to get away from it all."
"Wait a minute Max. You're telling me that Liz has been working all day at the hospital, coming home and fixing your dinner then decorating the house for a party that is coming up shortly while you sit on your ass and watch TV?"
Max looked at me with this startled look on his face and I just glared at him…
"Well Max, is that what's happening every night? It's not a hard question really…a simple yes or no will suffice." I really do want to punch him a good one…
Max didn't want to answer my question…he knew he was being a jerk when I put it that way so he just sat there and looked at the tree his mother AND his dad were trimming together and wondered why he hadn't been helping Liz. Only he knew the answer to that one. Max looked over at me and said nothing.
"Maxwell, what is going through your head right now…you must have some kind of an answer…after all you do know everything, right? You have an answer and a solution to everything that goes on. Don't you have an answer to this…yes or no Max?"
"NO." Max answered
"Well, tell me Max…Liz hinted that this has happened before, how many times Max?"
Max just looked at me again and said nothing but I could see that his mind was churning, looking for answers.
*~*~*
Max's POV
When we planned a family bar-b-que for the fourth of July and Liz was busy for a week before, getting ready, I got pissed and left…Then there was the labor day celebration, same thing. Now she's been busy getting ready for Christmas…'What in the hell was wrong with me?' He asked himself. She's trying to make things nice for everyone and I'm acting like a jealous fool…jealous of my own family and a celebration. 'My God, how stupid can I get?' I kept on thinking to myself then I looked at my brother and he didn't look too happy with me, I could tell.
Michael could see the wheels turning and the expressions on my face change as recognition set in. I could tell that Michael only wanted me to share what I was thinking…I knew he thought I was having a one sided conversation with myself and he was right as usual.
My mind continued to work on me…"This is the first time she ever left, she usually follows me to my room, she crawls in bed with me and the next day we just go back to our own home. She left! Oh God, I think I blew it this time." I looked over at Michael and wondered what I was doing here? Then I wondered what my brother was doing at our parents home.
"Michael, where's Maria?"
"She had to go to Santa Fe with her mom. Her grandfather is in the hospital and she didn't want her mother driving alone because she's so upset, but don't think you are going to turn this around on me Max…We're talking about your little escapade here and you're not going to get off that easily. What have you done that would make Liz that angry. I have seen her upset many many times Maxwell but tonight she was livid, so you better get busy and tell me what's going on."
"God Michael, I think I really blew it. You're right, she's been working all day, fixing dinner, cleaning it up afterwards and then decorating the house…alone. I do just sit on my ass and watch TV. But Michael, she sits and watches TV with me every night and we cuddle and talk and I look forward to that time we have together. I want her beside me, I want to hold her and talk to her and I love her so much Michael…I can't stand not being with her."
"God Max, will you listen to yourself!?! You sound like a spoiled buffoon! You can have her next to you, you can talk to her and you can grab a kiss or two while you're helping her decorate, or help her with dinner and dishes afterward…you don't have to sit on the damned couch every night in order to be together. Put on some music and talk while you do other things. Don't make her do all of the work, help her and then maybe she'll have time to sit and watch TV too. Hell, I even bake cookies and although I wouldn't admit it to everyone I must say that I enjoy it. Maria makes it fun Max and I am sure that you would have just as much fun…look at Dad and Mom…do you think Dad's first choice is to decorate the tree? Hell no! His first choice, and it always has been, is to be with Mom. So he'll decorate a Christmas tree or even dry the silver and crystal while Mom polishes and washes it. It's called being together Max and it doesn't have to be the same thing everyday."
I looked at Michael and found a new respect for my brother. He and Maria argue constantly but now I understand that it's a form of communicating their love for each other and mom and dad have this quiet kind of love. It's just sort of there…you can feel it when you see them together and it's comforting. Liz and I have a demonstrative love but it runs deep and I know it does but I feel that I might have blown it tonight.
*~*~*
Liz:
Philip is driving along the highway to Max's and my house when, for some reason, he decides to get off the main road and drive up and down the side streets. It's about 10:00 p.m. and a lot of the homes already have their lights off but it gives me a chance to cool off and he knows how much I enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations…maybe I should say something to give them an idea of what is going on. It isn't like me to share troubles with anyone…I am a lot like Max when it comes to keeping personal things personal but it's worth a try. Philip looks in the rearview mirror and sees me looking out the window.
I never questioned Philip about the little side trip, I sat watching the various themes on all of the lawns and kept thinking. 'What in the hell is wrong with him? This is the third time he's pulled this on me and I just want to strangle him. The first time was the 4th of July bar-b-que. He took off after dinner and went to his parents and I followed him, crawled in bed with him and just held him. We got up in the morning, he took his suitcase and we headed out the door and went back to our own home. He never said another word about it…never explained why he had done what he did or anything else. Just went home like nothing had happened. I don't think I have ever been so confused in my life. It was like he missed his old bed or something. Then another time was labor day…he did the same thing and things played out the same way. No explanation, just slept in his old bed and then went home with me the next day'. My mind continued to wonder. Maybe we need to bring his bed to our house for him. My God, that's insane; that can't possibly be his problem.
Philip looked in the rear view mirror and saw the confused look on my face and he just had to ask…at least the anger was gone.
"Liz honey, what's got you so confused?"
Liz giggled…"You know me too well Philip…I was just thinking how insane all of this is. Maybe we need to move Max's old bed to the house for him. It seems that when he gets in one of these moods he goes home, sleeps in his room and comes home the next day. Philip…I am so confused. I know Max isn't nuts, but something is definitely out of whack here and I can't figure it out. Do you think it's possible that he misses his old room?"
Philip and Diane both started laughing and then Diane turned around in her seat and asked me what made me think of that.
"I don't know Diane…this is the third time he's done this and every time I have followed him home…crawled into bed with him and the next day he picks up his suitcase and comes back to our home. He has never said why he does this…not even hinted at a reason. I am so confused that I don't know what to do. I do know that he is going to talk about this or we're through because I am not going to be running off to your home every three months or so to spend the night without a damned good reason. I have to be on my toes in the morning and be prepared to perform an awfully lot of important tests and I can't be running around all night wondering what in the hell is wrong with a perfectly healthy man."
Diane and Philip both laughed at me again…they knew this was serious and they also knew that I meant what I said, but God this was funny…then I started to giggle with them. Whatever was bothering Max had to be brought out into the open, they all knew this but my analogy was truly funny.
Then Diane thought to herself…what if it's true? Oh, he couldn't possibly be missing his old bedroom…that is just too far fetched for anyone to even consider. Oh. My. God!!! She needed to talk Michael and quickly.
*~*~*
Michael
"Max, you need to get your ass back to your house and take care of this. This is the most childish behavior I have ever seen you pull and I have seen you do some pretty dumb ass shit."
"I don't think I can do that Michael…you saw how angry she was when she left. She needs time to calm down before I confess to her how stupid I am."
"Yes Maxwell, you are stupid, I am so glad you recognize it but you have to do it now. The longer you wait the more angry she's going to get because she doesn't have a clue as to what your problem is and she is probably manufacturing all kinds of things in that pretty little head of hers. Now, get out of here and go home."
"I don't think I can do that Michael…Why don't you come with me?"
"Max, you have asked me to do some pretty dumb things in our lifetime but this is , without a doubt, the dumbest. Now go home."
"Maybe I'll take her to lunch tomorrow and we can talk then; in a very public place where she won't throw something at me."
I started laughing at him…"Max, I can't believe you are afraid of that little 5'2" brunette."
"It's not the physical Liz that I fear it's the mental Liz. She will chew me up and spit me out without even saying a word. Michael, this is not going to be pretty."
"No Max, it isn't, and anything she throws at you, you take because you deserve it. Now go home, PLEASE…"
So Max reluctantly picked up his bag and headed out the door looking like Linus dragging his blanket behind him…oh was he in trouble!
*~*~*
LIZ
I finally convinced Philip that I was calm enough to go home now…I needed to get ready for work tomorrow and I know I will be fine. Philip told me that if I needed anything at all to be sure and call them and I said I would so Philip got back on the main highway and continued to our home.
"Would you like to come in for some coffee or something. I baked an apple cobbler for dinner and there's still a lot of it left."
Philip looked at Diane and she nodded yes…Diane loves my desserts. She said I just have a knack for cooking. Must have been all of that exact measuring in those labs.
So the three of us went into the house and lo and behold there was Max sitting in the living room with a very sheepish look on his face. All Diane and Philip could think was thank God …Michael must have worked some magic on him. I looked at him and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I definitely intended to get to the bottom of this tonight or he could just go back to his old bedroom and rot.
I took Diane and Philip's coats and hung them in the closet off the hallway and headed to the kitchen to warm up the cobbler in the microwave. I asked my guests if they would like tea or coffee with their cobbler and they both said tea. I didn't have to ask Max…I knew he wanted milk.
I set the table with dessert plates, napkins, forks and spoons and put the teapot in the middle of the table with an assortment of teas to choose from. I put a large glass of milk at Max's place and put a glass of water at my place. Dessert was all ready for everyone and when I went into the living room there was Philip and Diane sitting quietly on the couch watching TV with Max. He wasn't even talking to his parents, what in the hell was going on with him?
"Come on everyone the cobbler's ready."
Max looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and I just shrugged…"Are you going to join us?" I asked him very frostily.
Max never said a word, he got up from the couch and took off his jacket that he was still wearing and followed me to the kitchen.
Philip, Diane and I talked non stop throughout the entire dessert and Max never said a word. It was a silent agreement to just ignore him. We didn't need to be playing any games with him and if he couldn't conduct himself as an adult then we didn't need to acknowledge his presence.
Max wasn't really sure about all of this new treatment, he remembered what Michael had said and he knew he deserved it but it sure wasn't easy.
*~*~*
It was about 11:45 when Philip and Diane said good night and nodded to Max who was on the couch again watching the news. I gave them both a hug and told them good night and to drive safely. They smiled at me and then Diane said…"We can have Michael bring the bed over tomorrow if you think you need it." We all started to laugh and Max looked over at the three of us and he looked like he wanted to cry. What in the hell got into him anyway. He was even jealous of his parents. When did he become so damned possessive? He was acting like a two year old and he knew it…this was awful.
*~*~*
I hope this is ripped enough for you,
I'm still laughing.
