21 Liz meets Max's parents

In the hospital…

An ambulance van took Max (and Liz) to the nearest hospital, Seattle General Hospital.

Liz identified herself as a neurosurgeon from Franciscan Medical Center, and the doctor in charge didn't mind discussing the results of the exam with her after Max's approval.

"Your results are OK. I can sign the paperwork to get you discharged.", Liz said when she entered the room where Max is.

"I called someone to pick me up. Do you mind staying here longer?"

While Liz was out to see the results of exam for Max's back, nurse told Max that he can leave with Liz, as long as she agrees to sign the paperwork. Max realized that means how they will leave after the checkup, and he wanted to spend more time with her. Just the two of them, in the room… he didn't know what to talk about, but he knew that he wanted to have Liz and her attention to himself. And if they head back together, they will each go to their apartment. What can he say to spend more time with her? So, he filled in the contact sheet… Hunter and Rina are out of town, Quentin is with that girl, his father is out of the question and that left his mother.

"Oh, OK." Liz doesn't mind staying. She has nothing better to do.

She left Dr. Kaviraj and her family at the riding club and based on the puzzled expression on Dr. Kaviraj's face, Liz can guess that she will need to answer few questions on Monday.

The situation would not be so awkward if Max was not holding her hand through the whole thing. And that Claudia looked like she is about to explode, and Quentin… Liz is not sure what to think about Quentin's unreadable expression. But he should know that Max is using her only for show, right?

Liz knows that Max used her to get Claudia off his case. Max maybe broke Claudia's heart, but it's for the better. Liz appreciates his decisiveness. Her talk about staying true to his heart made an impact. She likes that.

"Thank you for staying with me through all this.", Max said.

He is frustrated at himself, he is always full of stories, ready to charm and entertain the ladies and now… there is nothing.

"It's not a problem.", Liz responded.

"Are you sure? I had a feeling that you are avoiding me.", he had to get this off his chest.

Liz was not avoiding him, she just didn't try to get close to him, and to Max that is about the same.

Liz was puzzled. Why would he say that? "No. I'm not avoiding you. I don't mind spending time with you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Actually… Last Saturday was fun.", Liz admitted.

"Same here. How about we do a repeat?"

Liz narrowed her eyes at Max. "You want us to pretend to be a couple in front of your sister again?"

He chuckled. "No. Just the lunch part. No pretending."

"Sure. We can do lunch, anytime."

Voices could be heard from outside the room…

"…I want to give him a piece of my mind. Riding club? Since when is he a member? What was he doing? Chasing skirts? Or was it Quentin again?"

Max grimaced when he recognized the voice. It's his father. Didn't he give his mother's number to the nurse? Why are they here so soon?

The door opened and Max's father and mother entered the room.

"Max, honey, are you OK?", Madeline asked from the door and paused when her eyes landed on the girl (Liz) next to Max's bed.

"Is he OK?", Nathaniel grumbled mockingly. "He has a girl by his side. Of course, he is OK."

Nathaniel frowned while looking at Liz. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Max was close to panic. Why is his father here? And why is he showing his bad temper in front of Liz? "Dad. This is Elizabeth."

Nathaniel snorted and was about to say something, when Madeline held his forearm.

"Elizabeth?" Madeline's eyes lit up.

Sabrina told them about Max's girlfriend. They had lunch together, and Sabrina confirmed that Max's girlfriend is real. She also said that her name is Elizabeth and that they are super-romantic and that she is smart and classy and great.

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Liz heard that Max addressed the man as 'dad', so this must be mom?

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.", Liz showed a small smile while nervously glancing at Max's father who technically yelled at her from the door. What an unpleasant man.

Nathaniel scrutinized Liz. "Elizabeth? Max's girlfriend?", he had to confirm.

Liz held her breath at Nathaniel's words. He reminded her that she is the fake-girlfriend and that these are Max's parents and it appears that they still didn't break up.

Liz glanced at Max and met his pleading eyes.

She exhaled, looked at Nathaniel and gave a small nod.

Nathaniel cleared his throat awkwardly. "Sorry about my abrupt entrance. I maybe sound harsh, but that is not my intention. I am Maximilian's father, Nathaniel… You can call me Nate.", he added in an attempt to appear friendly.

Liz shook his hand reluctantly. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson."

Madeline smiled. "She does not want to call you by your name, she is well mannered." She turned to Liz. "But don't call me Mrs. Anderson. That is too distant. I hope that you can call me Maddy, that is how everyone calls me." She wanted to say that Liz can call her 'mom', but she didn't want to push it. Based on Liz's behavior, she can see that Liz is shy… and that Nate scared the poor girl. She will give him a piece of her mind, in private.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson didn't stay long.

"We already signed all the paperwork for you to be discharged.", Nathaniel said.

"Please come to dinner to our home next week. Whenever you have time. One day in advance is enough for us to prepare…" Madeline pulled her husband out to give privacy to the 'loving couple'. Ah! She can tell that Liz is a good girl.

"Why do you have to yell right from the door? Can't you control your temper?", Maddy's voice was heard from the hallway. "You scared her! …"

"I don't know how to thank you for this.", Max told Liz when the furious voice of his mother died away down the hallway, probably when the elevator's door closed.

Liz decided not to give him a hard time. "After five minutes with your father, I understand why you need a fake girlfriend. Feel free to call Quentin."

Max was confused. "Why would I call Quentin?"

Liz's eyes shifted while she tried to find any reason other than the 'he is your partner'.

"Didn't you leave him at the club?"

"I'm confident he does not mind that I left."

Liz can see that Max is not upset by all this. His father scolding him… he leaving Quentin behind… It seems that this is a routine for him. "Do you guys do this often?"

"What?"

"Take out girls together and then split up?"

Max thought how to answer this. "You can say that I don't pick up a girl if Quentin is not around. But… I have a feeling that might change." Of course, if he needs to win Liz's heart he needs to show her that she is special.

Liz understood that Max will stop picking up girls to cover up his relationship with Quentin. She should praise him. "Good for you."

Max was happy with Liz's reaction, and decided to see how far his luck stretches today. If he does not push the bar higher, they will separate soon. "Do you have dinner plans?"

Liz confirmed. "Nothing fancy… A delivery from that Asian restaurant. On Saturdays I usually do a game show marathon."

Max understood that she will probably not go out with him for dinner, but… "Can I join you?"

Liz shrugged. "Sure."

Max perked up. He does not know what happened, but he noticed that Liz treats him differently. Even in the restaurant she greeted him cheerfully, and she is not rejecting him either. Well, she does not look love-smitten, but he can tell that he is making a progress. Max wished to know what caused this change in her behavior, but on the second thought… it does not matter.

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