begonia -- Eve, thank you for being the only one to read this fic =P. I could tell you what happens since you're the only one here, haha, but I think I'd rather have you find out gradually. All in good time.
A few quick notes: I'll say it again -- I'd really love it if I could get a bit of feedback on this, haha! But whatever, I'll keep writing, even if I don't
. I also decided to change the title slightly from 'Wish You Were Here' to 'I Wish You Were Here' because I discovered there is another fic on the board with the same name -- guess that happens when you use the identically named songs as title inspiration! All the same disclaimers apply. Sorry for any spelling or grammar errors!
Here's chapter 1, and I've made a banner for this fic. Enjoy.
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Chapter 1
I lay my head onto the sand
The sky resembles a backlit canopy
With holes punched in it
I'm counting UFOs
I signal them with my lighter
And in this moment I am happy...happy
. . . . .
January 1st, 2009
The snow was falling softly outside the window of the small apartment, the kind of snow that covers the ground like a warm blanket. Inside, there was comfort and silence. Metallic streamers hung from the walls, and a cutout sign reading ‘Happy New Year 2009!’ hung crookedly from the doorframe. Empty cups were scattered across the countertops, remnants from the celebration the night before.
Liz awoke slowly, blinking away the fuzzy edges of sleep as her eyes adjusted to the dark. She glanced at the wall clock.
4:03 AM. Inwardly, she groaned.
Still so early. But now that she was roused, she found it hard to slip back into the peaceful sleep that she’d enjoyed only moments before.
Carefully and quietly, Liz extracted herself from Max’s embrace. She smiled when she saw her husband still sleeping, small snores escaping from time to time. They had fallen asleep on the couch pretty soon after their New Year’s party. Even though they’d been on the move for the past six years, they still made it a point to have some normalcy in their lives. That meant making the effort to enjoy each birthday, holiday, or special occasion that came their way. It helped to keep things sane.
They had left Roswell quickly after their wedding, setting out on the road with Michael, Maria, Isabel and Kyle. After their close call with the FBI, they were determined to stay out of Roswell to keep both themselves and their families safe. That meant traveling from city to city, never staying in one place more for 6 months. The aliens’ powers came in handy for their journey. With practice, Max, Michael, and Isabel were able to effortlessly transform their looks in public, morph fake identification cards and papers, change the form and color of their rusty old van, and keep their heads above water with some alien created cash. Only within the privacy of wherever they were staying would they reassume their own looks and act naturally in the company of their small, eclectic family.
After a lot of complicated planning, they were also able to devise a way to communicate with their loved ones back at home through coded snippets in the ads section of the Roswell Gazette. It had been particularly difficult the first couple of years, not being able to talk to their parents. Max and Michael would pore over the online websites of the Roswell newspapers every day – as long as familiar names didn’t come up, they could assume that they were safe. It was a particularly joyous day, however, when they stumbled upon a small wedding announcement for Amy DeLuca and Jim Valenti. Maria and Kyle had spent the entire week alternating between pure happiness and good-natured ribbing because of their newfound sibling status.
Those first few years were also particularly difficult for Isabel. She was the only one out of their group who had to leave behind a significant other; it was a fact that had honestly racked the other two couples with unspoken guilt. Kyle tried to be as loyal and constant a companion, but it was obvious Isabel couldn’t stop thinking about her husband. Jesse had stayed in Roswell for a year after their departure before moving out to Boston to work. Isabel never really knew the reason, whether he just decided not to wait, or if it was just a change of scenery. They made a stop in the Boston area during their endless travels in 2005. Isabel spent that entire trip out in the city, secretly watching Jesse. When she returned to the group, she seemed changed – calmer, stronger. She never did say what happened or what she saw, and the others knew better than to pry. As long as she was all right, then that was all that mattered to them.
It was a strangely fulfilling experience, being on the road with each other. All of them had been trapped within their tiny bubble of existence in Roswell and suddenly a whole new world was laid out in front of them, affording them experiences they never thought possible. Everywhere they stayed, the girls made it a point to take a part of it with them. Usually it was a postcard or some kitschy knick-knack from the local gift shop. They had filled a small suitcase full of pieces of their journey and their goal was to collect something from every state and major city. Liz smiled internally when she remembered Michael’s chagrin and successive outburst over the ludicrous idea. It was one of those normal things. Ironic that they found it easier to be normal on the run than they’d ever felt at home in Roswell.
Liz slipped on a sweatshirt and quietly padded over to the kitchen. Grabbing a mug and a tea bag, she filled the cup three-fourths full with hot water from the electric kettle. A soft snort grabbed her attention. Chuckling, Liz shook her head as she watched Michael quickly shift on the armchair he lay asleep in, his arms wrapped tightly around Maria, who was curled in his lap deeply asleep. She wrapped her hands around the mug firmly, soaking in its warmth, and tiptoed over to the frosty window overlooking the street.
Liz sighed. It was another year, another beginning. This was their 3rd month in New York, holed up in a small apartment in the heart of Brooklyn. The good thing about New York was that it was easy to lose yourself, and become just another nameless face in the crowd. Whenever they passed through, Ava made it a point to drop by wherever they were to say hello. They never quite knew how she knew they were there…it was probably an alien thing. She never stayed too long – Ava knew that her presence would inevitably remind them of Tess – but she was always kind and helpful, not saying too much, but giving them tips on where to stay next before she disappeared into the fog. Liz was always grateful for those visits. She sipped a bit of her cooling tea as she lost herself in thought.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?”
Liz nodded. She wasn’t surprised by the new voice. Isabel had joined her by the window without a sound.
“Can you believe it’s a new year?” she continued, wistfully. Isabel sat down on the sill, running her hands through her blonde hair.
“I know what you mean.” Liz sat down on the opposite edge, her response soft and thoughtful. “Sometimes I forget we’ve been on the road for so long…it’s easy to lose track of time.”
“Yeah.” Isabel looked down at her hands and shivered. She tightened the wool blanket she had bought with her around her shoulders. “Liz?”
The brunette cocked her head and looked at her sister-in-law. “Yes?”
“Do you…” she bit her lip, trying not to let her nervousness show. “Do you think we’re safe now?”
Liz was silent. The same train of thought had gone through her head plenty of times before. It
had been almost six years. There hadn’t been any reports of the FBI in Roswell for four years. Jim Valenti, using his resources at the police department, had been able to follow the going-ons within the FBI through a few sources he had in higher places. There had been a few attempts to recreate the Special Unit, but they were never able to get the same following they had in the days of Agent Pierce. Stricter governmental policy had passed because of the public drama caused by this extra, covert branch of intelligence, and a even stricter bureau chief put into power, one who did not approve of the wasting of the people’s tax dollars on “hunting little green men.”
On top of that, they haven’t had a single alien connection in years. There were a few straggling skins who managed to cross paths with them, but it was nothing the aliens couldn’t handle. Her and Max had always talked about the possibility of the group splitting up if they could be sure there were no more threats of danger looming over their heads. As much as they loved being with their friends, their family, it was also unfair to ask them to spend their whole lives tied to this endless journey. It was unfair to Kyle. It was unfair to Isabel.
“Oh Izzie,” sighed Liz. “I really really hope we are.” She reached out and held Isabel’s hand, looking straight into the other girl’s eyes. “I know how you must feel.”
Isabel shrugged, breaking off the stare and looking out the window. “You know I love you Liz. I love all of you. I just…” Her shoulders sagged a little. “I just can’t help but wonder what else there is out there for me, you know? I love being here with you guys, and with you all, I
know I’m safe. But I’m stuck too. Kyle and I both feel the same way.” Her cheeks flushed. She hadn’t meant to bring Kyle into it.
Liz smiled knowingly. “Oh Iz, I know. I know you’re also nervous about bringing it up to Max, but if you can believe it, we have talked about the possibility. It’s been six years. We haven’t had any signs of danger, no suits around the corner, no aliens coming for war.” Her smile grew more encouraging. “It might be time for us to move on with our lives. And if it’s true, I can’t wait for you and Kyle to go out and experience what you deserve to experience.”
A soft sigh escaped Isabel’s lips and she moved forward, embracing her sister and friend in a tight hug. “Thanks for saying that.” Liz returned her hug with the same fierce emotion.
“I’m not just saying it. I mean it.” Liz pulled back a bit. “We can talk about with the others in the morning. Well, in the
real morning.” She giggled.
Isabel shared in Liz’s chuckle. “Yeah, I think it’s about time we had this conversation with everyone.” The two of them smiled and resumed their silent thinking, gazing out the window into the winter sky. The stars twinkled back into their eyes.
. . . . .
“There’s something I’d like to talk about today…” Liz started from her perch on a kitchen stool. The rest of the room quieted immediately, only the clanks of forks on plates and chewing sounds reaching her ears. She glanced at Max, who gave her an encouraging smile. They had discussed the topic before breakfast started and he agreed with her plans, letting her take control of the discussion. He may be the genetic leader, but as his Queen, Liz commanded the same kind of attention and respect he did.
“I know this is something that we’ve mentioned in passing in the past, but I thought we should take the time to discuss it seriously.”
“Just spit it out, Liz,” Michael drawled from his corner, pausing from shoveling another forkful of pancakes into his mouth. Maria slapped his arm, and he smiled at her slight scowl.
Liz grinned at his antics with Maria. She loved that they had barely changed from the couple she knew and loved in high school. They had only grown closer and funnier with time. She cleared her throat. “Thanks Michael. Anyway, we’ve been on the road for almost six years now. We’ve taken every possible precaution with our travels and lives and goodness knows I couldn’t have survived this all without you all beside me.” She saw similar sentiments reflected in the eyes of her friends. “Max and I have talked about it, and I was able to speak to Isabel about it tonight, and we’ve decided that if we agree the danger has passed, we could think about the option of splitting the group up.”
Max stood up next to his wife, wanting to give some more clarification. “We’ve had numerous confirmations from Jim that we’re not being hunted anymore. We haven’t encountered an alien in the same amount of time. If the world is safe enough for us to live in, then Liz and I want you all to be able to have your lives back. Go out and live the world. Settle down and live in a little house with a white picket fence. Have children. Find love.” He glanced at his sister when he uttered those words. Her eyes shone with a hint of tears.
Michael was the first one to speak up again. His voice was tentative, but there was no anger. “I know you guys mean well, but…can we really be sure there’s no danger waiting out there for us?” Maria stroked his arm softly as he spoke. “Sure, it’d be great to actually go out there and…not have this living out of a suitcase existence, but I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you guys while we’re separated.”
“I’ve committed myself to this life, we all did the moment we stepped into that van together,” said Maria. “I wouldn’t want to be separated unless we needed to be.”
“We don’t need to be. But at the same time, if the option arose that we didn’t have to be together like this…wouldn’t you want to take it?” questioned Liz.
Isabel and Kyle exchanged a meaningful look. Liz knew what they were thinking. She continued. “It’s a new year. A new beginning for opportunities. We can put it to a vote…and don’t take it like I’m sick of you guys or anything,” Liz laughed. “but I want us to make the best decision for where we are right now. Not where we were six years ago.”
“So,” she said briskly. “Who’s in favor of going our separate ways?”
Liz and Max had their hands up, steady and unmoving. After a beat, Isabel and Kyle both rose their arms high into the air. Michael and Maria looked at each other and whatever objections they had blew out of their bodies with one shared sigh. They looked back at their group and nodded their agreement.
Each person in the group looked at each other in silence, trying to soak in what this meant. Isabel was the first one to break the silence with a happy sob and ran to her brother, arms stretched open for a hug. Max returned the affectionate move, and soon the others crowded around, tightly embracing one another in a goofy group hug. It was a new beginning, with new opportunities just like Liz said. But it didn’t change the fact that it would be painful being apart from one another. They all wanted to soak up the feeling of closeness and family for as long as possible.
And in this moment I am happy – happy
. . . . .
Evening had fallen upon New York, and another blustery wind blew through the street, rattling the apartment’s windows. After the morning talk, they had each descended into a mad bout of planning, mapping out logistics for communication after separation and making plans for final destinations, later reunions, the works.
The stars shone a bit brighter, as if able to sense the emotions that emanated from the little Brooklyn apartment. Imperceptible to the naked eye, the constellations began to shift and rotate in the sky. Venus and its blinding light moved lower, settling when in line with Aries.
If the group had been looking out the window, they may have seen the V-constellation, the mark of Antar glittering outside their window. If they had been looking out at that moment, they made have noticed how everything flickered for a split second, as if the V had sent out a pulsing signal into the night sky, hurtling towards the unknown depths of space. If only they’d known.
. . . . .
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
TBC...
. I feel a bit rusty, but I guess that's why this is only going to be a few parts. I'm aiming to get the next part out for sure by next week, maybe earlier. Thanks again for reading!
BUT i wanted to post it anyway just to get it out of my hair and keep the story going. 
! but i come bearing a part!! it's way too short, and not beta-ed, but gets me past the hump of this story. i'm in the middle of cramming for a big midterm for a class i have not paid attention in for about a month now so pardon the rushed feeling of this post. i know i'm crazy behind on feedback too. *bangs head*