con angel
Jason's Lover
VeronicB
RASaero611
Behrsgirl77
Smac
roswellian504
hazz
BehrObsession
CherryFlavouredChica
linliz68
g7silvers
Natz
SmilleUk
Believer
OmegaRam1
roswellluver
Part 21
12 Months Later
Max fidgeted nervously as him and Liz made their way into the restaurant where they were meeting the gang. Something felt wrong but he just couldn’t put his finger on it.
After dealing with the aftermath of Rath’s betrayal and attempt on Max’s life the gang had to regroup in order to pull their lives back together. Zan was welcomed with open arms into the group now and was even trusted and close to Michael. He had found it hard at first to hang out with them whilst they were all coupled up but Isabel and Maria made it their first task to find suitable ‘chicks’ to set Zan up with. He was now seeing a girl named Serena that Max went to school with. She had initially been interested in Max so he had informed her that he had a twin brother and introduced her to Zan. It had worked out perfectly and even Serena now laughed when someone reminded her that it had been Max she had immediately had the hots for.
‘Now that I know Max it would have been like dating myself to a degree. All we ever would have talked about was school’ she had laughed. Serena was exciting and fun and basically everything that Zan had been looking for in a girl. Sure he still had a soft spot for Liz but the more time that went on the more he was able to see her and love her in more of a sister type of way.
Michael and Maria had also settled into the city life. They had stayed with Max and Liz for the first three months until they both found jobs that paid enough for them to be able to secure there own apartment. In the end they had found a smaller one-bedroom apartment around the corner from Max and Liz, which worked out perfectly. It wasn’t far from the subway and a small commute to where they both worked and when Maria sang at a club during the night’s Michael was able to borrow Max’s car to pick her up.
Max and Liz finally decided on an SUV after a lot of car shopping. In the end they had both agreed that practical was the way to go. An SUV would fit eight of them when required, wouldn’t kill them on gas since they drove it minimally and would be safe in the situation that they would need to run. Unfortunately they always had to be prepared for any situation.
Michael was doing extremely well in art school as well. He had a small gallery offer to show his work and so far a few of his pieces that were inspired by Roswell had sold and for a nice profit as well.
Maria was juggling school, work and her singing and it appeared it might have been just about to pay off for her as well. A small independent label was very interested in her work and Maria was excited because they liked her and her music and weren’t looking to turn her into a Brittany want to be.
Isabel was also enjoying New York life. She loved the shopping and the university life. There was plenty of activity to keep her busy whilst living on campus and the extra activities helped to entertain her and stop her from missing Alex so much who was in Boston. Luckily they were able to visit often though because Alex’s schedule allowed for him to spend long weekends in New York because his classes ran from Tuesday through to Friday.
Lonnie though had not become an active member of they’re group. She had been understandably devastated when Zan had informed her of Rath’s death and for a while even angry, refusing to speak to Zan or Liz when she found out that he had died by their hands. With time she had come around, it had helped that Max had had a chat with her in hopes of helping her understand their reasoning.
But even with the skins out of the way the threat was not considered finished until Khivar was found. It had taken almost three months for Nascedo to pin down a location that Khivar and his men were working from and when they had stormed it they had found only skins. Khivar had died days earlier his body proof of his demise. His men had been rounded up and questioned by Michael and Zan. They found out that most of them had been on earth since the crash, searching for them and most of them wished to return to their planet even though it was dying.
With great difficulty it was arranged and they were sent home with a message that anyone wishing to come to earth to start a life was welcome and that the King and Queen would do everything they could to help them.
So far there had been no response.
‘Hey’ Liz greeted the gang as they joined them at their usual table for their usual weekly dinner. They all liked to get together every Sunday night when work and school allowed, which for most them was every week. So that they could keep up with each other life’s and talk about anything important.
‘Hi’ everyone else greeted.
‘Any word from Nascedo?’ Michael asked immediately. It concerned Michael the most that no one from their planet had replied to their message and he was beginning to wonder if the skins had delivered it at all.
‘Not on the message, no’ Max replied.
‘Sorry I’m late’ Zan apologised as he came in late sliding in next to Isabel.
‘We just got here too’ Liz assured him.
After ordering they all busied themselves with catching up on each other’s lives.
‘Um well I guess it’s getting late so before we go does anyone have anything they want to talk about?’ Max asked the group.
There was silence for a while and Max was about to stand up to leave when Zan spoke up. ‘Um actually yeah I have something I wanted to ask you all’ he replied.
‘Ok’ Max smiled suspecting what it was he might have wanted to ask.
‘Well you guys all know Serena and well you know that we’ve been kind of seeing each other for a while’ he started. All the girls were smiling loving the way Zan was getting embarrassed talking about his relationship.
‘Yeah’ Liz said.
‘Well I guess it’s got a little more serious lately and I, well I guess what I’m asking is what you guys think about me maybe telling her’ he mumbled.
‘What do you mean by serious?’ Michael asked concerned. He personally didn’t like the idea of letting anyone else in on his secret but he also recognised that that was hardly fair for Zan or even Lonnie.
‘Well we’re talking about moving in together. Right now she’s living on campus but she finding the situation difficult and well it’s getting harder to lie to her’ he explained.
‘Zan it’s okay we understand’ Isabel assured him. They knew better than anyone how hard it was to keep secrets from the people you love.
‘It’s just that I never had a problem sleeping with girls before without them knowing but it’s different with Serena’ he said.
‘Well how do you think she would take the news?’ Max asked him.
‘I’m not sure. I mean she’s a doctor so I guess the scientist in her would be curious but I think she would be okay’ he assured them.
‘Well I think we can trust her so I have no problem with it’ Liz told him.
‘Me either’ Maria told him.
‘Go for it’ Alex gave him the thumbs up.
‘Yep, but as long as she understand that being part of the ‘I know an alien club’ means mandatory dinners on Sunday nights’ Isabel joked.
Max and Michael shared a meaningful look. On one had Max was worried. Serena was a practical person, being a Doctor was a way for her to control the things around her, she was a lot like Max in that sense. But he didn’t know how she would handle being put in a situation she couldn’t control. On the other hand he understood Zan's need to share this with her. It had in fact been the way he felt about Tess at one time.
‘If she freaks Liz can take care of the situation right?’ Michael asked, reminding them all of how Liz took care of the Tess situation.
Max sighed in relief he hadn’t even thought about that and it had made his decision so much easier.
‘Um yeah but I don’t think it will come to that’ Liz frowned.
‘I think you should go ahead’ Max said then with a small smile ‘Just let us know how it goes and maybe it would help her to talk to either Maria or Alex. I mean Maria totally freaked so talking it over with her might help her put it all into perspective’ Max suggested.
Zan smiled in thanks ‘Michael?’ the decision had already been made regardless of what Michael said but Zan wanted everyone to agree.
‘Go for it, but make sure Liz is close by just in case’ he replied.
‘Thanks’ he grinned.
‘Okay that’s it see you guys later’ Max said standing up.
After their good byes were exchanged the group parted ways. Alex and Isabel headed for the subway, Zan for his bike and Max, Liz, Michael and Maria headed for Max’s SUV.
Max’s apprehension only grew during dinner and on the way home reached it’s peak ‘Max, what’s wrong?’ Liz finally asked him as they pulled into the garage of their apartment complex.
‘I don’t know, I just have this feeling that something is wrong’ he told her.
Max let them into the apartment and immediately went on alert when he felt someone’s presence there. He pushed Liz behind him before bringing up his shield.
‘I’m sorry to startle you Your Highness’ the voice spoke. Max dropped his shield and reached for the light.
‘Cal?’ he questioned.
‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have let myself in but I must speak to you’ he told him. Max nodded but before anything could be said there was an urgent knock on the door. Liz stood up and opened the door surprised to see Nascedo on the other side.
‘Liz’ he greeted.
‘Come in’ she smiled.
‘I come with news’ he advised.
‘Okay come in and sit down Nascedo’ Max spoke up.
Nascedo didn’t seem surprised to see the other protector there too.
‘Max I believe we come with the same news’ Cal sighed.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘Antar is gone’ Cal advised.
‘What do you mean gone?’ Liz asked.
‘My sources from Kathana advise it exploded in the early house of this morning’ he explained.
Nascedo nodded in agreement ‘Larek has advised the same information’ he told him.
Max and Liz both closed there eyes and sunk back on the couch wrapped in each other’s arms.
‘Were there any survivors?’ Liz asked.
‘Larek advised that they have had a steady stream of ships with refugees flowing in for the past 12 months so yes’ Nascedo advised.
‘Kathana have also received quite a lot of ships’ Cal added.
Max sighed in relief ‘Did any ships come to Earth?’ he asked.
‘Um not that we know of’ they answered.
‘I guess that’s it then’ Liz sighed
‘Essentially so’ Cal agreed.
‘No yet’ Nascedo interrupted ‘Larek wishes to speak to you, I believe he wants to have a summit to discuss things’
‘I don’t see what there is to discuss’ Max replied ‘Antar is gone and those that got off have moved to either Kathana or Teo unfortunately I don’t have any resources to offer financial or otherwise’
‘Well there is the matter of the granolith’ Nascedo explained ‘ and I believe your position as head of the council of the five planets as well’
‘Well obviously the council will need to be restructured now that there is no longer five planets, and any position I have will be null now’ Max said.
‘I don’t think it’s that easy, Max’ Cal explained.
‘Why?’ Liz asked.
‘Your people will still need to be represented’ he answered.
‘No’ Max objected ‘When our people went to Kathana and Teo they essentially went as refugees, they will now need to live under their laws. I offered them Earth and if they had come here I would have continued to be their King and rule for them as best I could. But since they did not accept that offer there is nothing I can do in my position for them any longer’ Max argued.
Nascedo and Cal nodded in understanding.
‘I agree there are matters the Council and I need to discuss, and I will step down from any position I have if that’s required so please set it up Nascedo’ Max advised then.
‘There is still the matter of the granolith’ Cal said then.
‘What about it?’ Liz asked instantly on guard.
‘Well Queen Irralia is requesting that it be returned’ he answered.
‘The granolith belongs to Antar and will only respond to the seal. It is of no use to Kathana or Teo and I don’t see the relevance of their request’ Liz answered.
‘With all due respect, Liz’ Cal argued ‘the granolith is a religious icon and means a great deal to the people of Antar and the five planets. It is also of no use to you and the rest of the royals either’
‘That maybe so, but that granolith is very powerful and much more than a religious icon. The people of Antar have been without if for 50 years and I have no intention of allowing it to be returned now and into the hands of someone who stood by and allowed Khivar to rule in tyranny without so much as batting an eyelash’ Liz fired back angrily.
‘Okay I think this is a matter that should be discussed with the Council but I agree with Liz. The granolith is useless without the seal and I have no intention of handing it over. I also don’t want to place anyone in a position where they would be in danger because they carried that seal and that would obviously be the case if it was returned’ he advised.
Cal and Nascedo nodded.
‘I will speak to Larek and set it up and will let you know as soon as possible’ Nascedo advised standing up.
‘Thank you’ Max told him ‘But I would like to make it clear that nothing we have talked about other than the Council meeting is to leave this room’ he told them both ‘Consider that an order’ he finished.
With a curt nod they both departed quickly leaving Max and Liz to share the sadness over a planet they never new in each other’s arms.
TBC... Two parts in a month that's pretty impressive if you ask me
especially with my history with this fic.
