*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I’m sitting in a chair at our favorite restaurant, Café Lorraine. Twiddling my thumbs and tapping my foot don’t seem to be passing the time as fast as I would like.

Of course, when you’ve lived a life like mine, you can’t help but despise surprises.

Which is the main reason I am sitting in this chair, fidgeting impatiently. My wife of five years, Liz, told me earlier today that she had a big surprise for me and to meet her at Café Lorraine at 7:45 sharp.

It is now 8 o’clock. Making a guy like me wait 15 alone is not a very good idea. Sitting here is allowing me to think of all sorts of different scenarios, the majority of them ugly, and horrible, and the types of things people only have nightmares about. But I have lived most of those nightmares, which concludes as to why I am thinking this way.

What can you expect from a guy like me? A guy who has basically spent his entire life running from enemies. Enemies of all sorts. Whether it be the local Sheriff, a member of the FBI, or some god-awful alien hunter, I have always been running. Of course, I have conquered over all of them, but still, each one has had its lasting effects.

Which is why the thoughts running through my mind like an old motion picture are those of Liz on a lab table; me having to watch and being totally incapable to do anything to help her. And then me watching as a doctor with no conscience what so ever blocks out her screams of protest makes a perfect incision on the perfect skin that belongs to the perfect woman I love. The woman who is my heart, my soul, my desire, and so much more.

Of course, I never said the thoughts had to be plausible.

But what can you expect from a guy like me?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I’m sitting in my car, contemplating whether or not I should just head in and tell him the news. Because honestly, I don’t think I have ever been happier in my life. Well, except for mine and Max’s wedding day. But right now, I feel as if that day can’t even compare to today. Of course, I’m happy, but I can just imagine max. His first initial reaction will be of my safety. He will complain that it isn’t safe, and I, like usual, will tell him otherwise. I love Max with all my heart. Sometimes, though, I feel as if he is way too careful.

But can I blame him? Do I have the right to accuse a man who has lived through more fears than the average American of being too cautious and careful?

No, way.

I look at my watch and see that it’s 7:45. I already know Max is in there. Not only because I saw his car in the parking lot on my way in, but also because Max is always on time. And since I told him about my surprise, I don’t think a nuclear explosion could have kept him away from this restaurant. I can imagine him now, sitting in the chair at a table for two. He is probably tapping his foot or twiddling his thumbs. Or both. I can’t help but smile. I know when I told him first about the surprise; his mind had already raced to horrible things. I felt bad for making him think that way, but I wanted to surprise him.

Believe me, this will probably shock the death out of him. I look at my watch and see that the time has already flown to 7:59. I know I should get in there before my loving husband runs to the local police and tells them to put out an APB for me. I can’t help but smile.

I feel as if I have tortured him enough, so I take in a lung-full of air, and let it out slowly. I open my car door and step out.

After I hear the resounding slam of the car door, my thoughts suddenly turn horrible. Not of lab tables or scalpels or anything of that nature. My thoughts are running through my head like a gerbil on a treadmill, thoughts that have to do with Max hating me forever, or Max not wanting me after I tell him my surprise.

But then I put myself in check. Max loves me; he would never reject me like that.

So I muster up the little courage I have left, and walk towards the green doors of Café Lorraine.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My horrid, insanely ridiculous thoughts are interrupted when the embodiment of an angel walks up to me. My angel. She looks positively radiant, glowing even. She me a light kiss on the cheek, and then sits down in the chair across from mine.

“Sorry I kept you waiting,” she says, her angelic voice immediately lessening the tremors coursing through my body. That voice makes me feel like everything will be OK.

It’s amazing how she does that, really.

“Its all right,” I reply.

I don’t think she realizes how she is killing me, here. I personally think she’s doing it to make me squirm. My sneaky little Liz.

But enough is enough.

“OK, so tell me.” I ask her

“Tell you what?”

“Tell me everything. Isn’t that what you said you were going to tell me?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I can’t help but smile. As soon as I walked in the door, the little courage I had left started building up again. Partly because I saw Max sitting there fidgeting like a 3 year old, but also because when I saw him, I knew everything was going to be OK.

His last words sent that smile right across my face. I know he doesn’t remember, but I remember as if it were yesterday. That was the exact conversation Nasedo and I had had in the rental car. Of course, that was before I basically jumped him. But I didn’t know it was he. I cant even imagine what would have happened if it really was him.

I smile in spite of Max’s confusion and wave him off. I really want to tell him, but for some reason, I get this pleasure out of seeing him squirm. Maybe its because this is basically one of the few times I will see him in this state of panic.

I figure I will keep him hanging just a little bit longer.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A faint smile of recognition crosses over her face. I catch it immediately and raise a questioning eyebrow.

She puts off my gesture with a laugh and a wave of her hand.

“So, do you want to get some champagne or something?” she asks me. My mouth can’t do anything but drop open. Does she actually think I could ingest anything into my body at this point in time?

“Liz, stop beating around the bush. Please. You’re killing me.”

She laughs again, looks me square in the face.

“Well, you know, I had a really hectic day of work, so let me just get a chance to settle in. I would really like some champagne, maybe some lobster rolls or…”

I cut her off. I can’t help it. She is absolutely killing me.

“Liz.”

I notice that my voice sounds a little more desperate than I intend. Good, maybe it will make her get to the point.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

OK, enough is enough. I heard the desperation in his voice, I heard it loud and clear.

It was fun, though; suggesting food and seeing his mouth drop open like that. I had to stifle a laugh, because I knew he would have basically shook my surprise out of me. I figure its time.

I lean in close, ready to whisper my surprise.

This is it. The moment of truth.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She sighs, leans in closer to me, which makes me do the same. I’m so close I can smell her perfume. Roses. She’s always smelled like roses. And he skin is like silk and…

“Max?”

She naps me out of my dream reverie. Its still amazing to me how I will lose train of thought while she’s trying to tell me something important. Its even more amazing that my thoughts will turn to her while she is sitting in front of me.

She tries to look annoyed, but she knows I was thinking about her. Which just makes her smile more.

I lean closer again; all attention focused on her. Not like it ever left her or anything.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ok, so maybe not the moment of truth. I was shot right back into reality when max started day dreaming. I realized just then that he really is a male. Whether its extraterrestrial or not, he really is part of the male gender.

I try to look annoyed, but I know his thoughts were turned to me. It makes me smile, but then it makes me impatient. I feel as if my insides will blow from the inside out if he doesn’t pay attention within the next 4 seconds.

I’ve been keeping this secret for way too long.

This is definitely the moment of all truth.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I see the faint edges of a smile curving her lips. Her eyes start sparkling, the deep brown turning to a caramel color, and getting brighter. That radiant glow returns; it doesn’t just stop at her face, it seems as though her whole body is glowing.

“I’m 10 days late. Max, I’m pregnant.”

Back to Area 51 (Section II)