The Missing Piece (CC, MATURE/ADULT accepted)

[KatnotKath]

~Alex~

"We can eat and then set up a temporary residence or something…Should we do some apartment hunting?"

I smile knowing how much Isabel enjoys decorating the apartments we rent. Of course I have to admit, it’s pretty fun watching her instructing Max and Michael too. I have to help with the actual movement of furniture, but they have to ‘paint’ the walls and such, and almost every time, she changes her mind half way through… I shake my head and nod, looking over at Max. “Yeah, we can do that if you like…?” I offer.

Max nods in agreement. “An apartment would be a good idea. This will take a long time, I’m sure. Probably several weeks or even months…”

I can’t say I didn’t expect it to, but I have no doubt this isn’t going to go down well with Michael. Personally I think the way Max is going about it is right… This is all going to be hard enough as it is…the least they can do is get to know each other a little first… Of course then there’s the question of what happens if they don’t like each other, but I guess we just hope it doesn’t come to that.

“We’re going to have to find some jobs too…”

Jobs…now there’s a slightly more complicated prospect… It’s not like I can see Isabel, Michael or Max working in one of these alien themed places, and I don’t really know that there are that many other places to look around here… I mean I still have the computer stuff…the company’s not really bothered as to where I’m working from, just that I continue to turn in the stuff they want. I sigh. I guess I should get something done this evening too…all the travelling the last few days means I’m a bit behind my usual schedule and I could do with making up the time…

It’s not desperate though, and although it might be preferable, I get the feeling that Isabel needs me more right at this moment in time… Work will wait until tomorrow…for tonight, I intend to be there for her…

“Are you sure it’s the right girl…?” Maria asks. It’s not a silly question. I mean sure we’ve done lots of checking before deciding she was the person we were looking for, but given the situation, without a doubt it’s better to be over certain than to make a mistake given the enormity of what we’re talking about.

“It’s the right girl alright…” Max confirms. “She used her powers in front of me, and wasn’t the least bit freaked about mine.”

I guess that is pretty good proof…unless there are more of them out here, and somehow I very much doubt it… From everything that Isabel has said, Nacedo – who I of course knew of as their guardian, was pretty clear… The four of them are it…the ‘royal four’ of their planet…classed as such even before they were born…

“The other good news is that later, when she was leaving, I got some flashes from her, and she got some too.” Max continues but there’s something in his expression seems to suggest that there’s something more.

I hesitate a moment before asking the question which I guess has to come next. “How did she react…?”

[isabelle]

*Max*

How did she react? Alex asks.

I look down at my hands but I quickly alter my gaze and end up focusing on the plate of onion rings. I pick one up and take another bite, chewing up a little time. Swallowing, I finally answer. "It wasn't good. She was rather freaked and she almost ran out of there. I mean, she'd already told me she had to leave for work and she tried to say she was just late - that her friend Kyle was there to give her a ride, but I think she saw something that really unnerved her."

I shake my head, taking another bite. I still don't know what she saw, but whatever it was, it was me, and it scared her. I scared her. We'd been doing so well, and then she freaked. "She went straight for her boyfriend's arms..."

[isabelle]

*Kyle* (Temping for FallenMagic)

Statis pods, she says. Strange. Well, I guess in theory suspended animation would explain it, at least in a science fiction kind of way, but is such a thing real? Liz seems to believe it and well, I almost want to. It could be really exciting to know that aliens are real, but I also know that the FBI and others may not be so glad about it. It could be really dangerous, if it's true, but honestly, I don't think that's likely. Liz obviously believes it. She covers her face with her hands, obviously getting more upset, not less.

“Look at me, I’m a complete wreck…I-I just don’t know what to think Kyle… He’s telling me I have family, that I wasn’t abandoned…that I wasn’t left for dead… He’s telling me I’m wanted… He’s offering me the things I have dreamt of my whole life…” she says.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and slide over so I'm sitting more closely to her, holding her tightly. "It's okay, Liz," I tell her gently. "No matter what he says, or what the reason for your powers, I hope you know that you are wanted. I want you. I always will. And blood or no blood, alien or not, you'll always be family to me."

Liz looks up at me, tears glistening in the cormers of her eyes. I reach over to wipe her cheeks with my fingers. This could be really bad. If this Max gets her hopes up with crazy stories, promising her everything she's ever wanted, and then he turns out to be some sort of con-man, it'll destroy her. What is it they say? Those who the gods would destroy, they first answer their prayers? I don't know. I'm probably getting it wrong but the sentiment makes sense to me. Give someone what they want and then take it away. Steal their hopes. It's the worst way to hurt someone.

"I hope he is your family. I hope he can give you the answers you want. You deserve that. And I'll be here for you every step of the way. You know that, don't you?" I ask, trying to assure her. I do hope it's true, that she's found a family that wants her. I rather suspect it's not, but she's been through so much, she really does deserve some happiness. I just don't want it to be based on a lie.

I look at her closely, giving her a small smile as my hand lifts her chin. "You really are a bit of a wreck. Maybe I should take you back home. I'll tell our boss that you're sick, and then I'll come back and we can talk, okay?"

.

[KatnotKath]

~Alex~

As soon as Max looks down, I can see this isn’t going to be good… He said that she didn’t freak when he used his powers…that she even used her own in front of him freely, but although he mentioned the flashes, he didn’t say how she had reacted… I’m guessing she didn’t take them too well…

“It wasn’t good. She was rather freaked and she almost ran out of there.” Max’s response confirms my fears. “I mean she’d already told me she had to leave for work and she tired to say she was just late – that her friend Kyle was there to give her a ride, but I think she saw something that really unnerved her.”

As he continues, I can see that Max seems pretty worried about all this. There’s something more I’m sure…he’s just not volunteering it at the moment. I can think of a lot of things one might see when they got flashes from Max or Isabel that might freak you if you didn’t know what to expect, or you hadn’t been warned, but there’s just something in the way that he’s acting. I’ve never seen Max like this before…

“She went straight for her boyfriend’s arms…”

Oh boy, and there it is… I guess we have an explanation now… Of all the things we really didn’t want, it was for her to be already involved with someone… Michael is probably going to say that it doesn’t matter, that it’s unimportant whether or not she’s with anyone, because her duty says she has to be with Max, but I get the feeling that Max won’t have such simple views…

I think that he recognises his duty, but I know that he wanted all this to be voluntary…on both parts… This complicates things more than could ever have been thought… Michael and Isabel might think they don’t have a choice…although Isabel I’m actually not so sure about…but this isn’t about them, and if Max or Liz, or even both of them, refuse to play ball as such, the basic fact is, it’s not going to happen…

I nod silently, pulling Isabel into my arms as I acknowledge what Max has said… I’m not going to say anything…I’m pretty sure that Michael will have plenty to say…

[KatnotKath]

~Liz~

Kyle unbuckles his seat and slides over, pulling me into his arms. “It’s okay, Liz.” He tells me in the calm, gentle, warm voice of his. I bite my lip and allow myself to slip back, leaning against him. Many people might suggest that such a position isn’t the type you have between friends, but we’re more than just friends… Not romantically involved no, but Kyle’s like the brother I never had…or I thought I never had anyway… I shake my head, this could get really weird…

“No Matter what he says, or what the reason for your powers, I hope you know that you are wanted. I want you. I always will. And blood or no blood, alien or not, you’ll always be family to me.”

I swallow as I hear his words and look up at him, tears beginning to creep from the corner of my eyes once more. He reaches over, brushing them away with his fingers and I give him a weak smile. “Thanks Kyle…” I tell him softly.

"I hope he is your family. I hope he can give you the answers you want. You deserve that. and I'll be here for you every step of the way. You know that, don't you?"

Kyle says all this, but I can see in his eyes he’s doubtful… He’s trying to believe, for my sake I know, but he’s not convinced… I look up and nod though, more grateful than I can say for his support… Even if he doesn’t really believe me, he’s going to be there, and that’s important…that shows what a good friend he is…

He looks at me strangely before offering me a small smile, his hand reaching out to make me look up and meet his eyes. “You really are a bit of a wreck.”

I swallow and try to laugh it off. “Thank…you always know what to say to make me feel better you know…” I joke weakly.

“Maybe I should take you back home. I’ll tell our boss that you’re sick and then I’ll come back and we can talk, okay?” He continues and looks at me hopefully.

More than anything I want to agree, but I can’t… I can’t let this take over my life… Mr Brook said he was going to be short staffed already today, I can’t just let him down like that… I shake my head firmly, taking a few more deep breaths and reaching up to wipe the tears from my eyes. “No, I’ll be ok…” I insist softly, taking a quick look round before sticking my hand in my bag and pulling out a small compact and opening it. If anyone was right in the car, as Kyle is, they’d know I don’t use it, but it’s not bad cover from a distance…just in case… Carefully I pick up the pad from the compact, moving it as though to draw it over the surface of my skin although in fact it never contacts. I use my powers to clear away the red streaks on my face and the mascara that had begun to run a little. All this is done in a matter of moments, and a few movements of my hands before I look back at Kyle, repeating. “I’ll be ok…”

[isabelle]

*Kyle* (Temping for FallenMagic)

Liz insists she'll be okay, pulling out some make-up thing from her bag. I slide back into my seat as she pretends to be fixing her make-up, although I can see that she's not touching her face at all. She's using her powers. Real convienent. I bet half the girls in school would kill to be able to do that.

She turns to me, looking great again. Her eyes aren't even puffy anymore. "I'll be okay," she says.

"If you say so," I nod, starting up the car. "But I'll be right there if you need to talk, or if you change your mind and need to go home, okay? After work, you can tell me the whole story."

[StormWolfstone]

Okay

~Michael~


Damn! Damn! Damn! Why the hell does this seem to get worse and worse. I can't believe that Max is going to simply let things linger like this. Okay, so the girl was the right one. So what? We wouldn't have made it this far if we weren't certain she was. So she didn't know anything, big deal. I could give her a quick crash course. I know Max is having issues with this thing being forced on him and all, but damn it I want to get this over with!

Isabel mentions looking for an apartment and I groan at the idea even as Maxwell responds, "An apartment would be a good idea. This will take a long time, I'm sure. Probably several weeks or even months." Months! Has he lost his mind?! "We're going to have to find some jobs, too." He adds and I have to force myself not to punch the table in anger.

Even still, I end up flinging my hand slightly and without realizing it a small bit of my power is expelled causing a table across the room to shatter. Clamping my jaw I try not to say anything. I am too angry right now. I hate having things put on hold like this. Maria is still in my arms and I carefully move away from her and draw a few breaths before saying, "Maria, let's go." I didn't want to be around Max at the moment. I was too tempted to knocking his soft head around to try and give him some sense.

Looking at Isabel I said, "Let me know where to find you later." With that, I stood and walked out of the diner and onto the sidewalk. Even still, telepathically I sent to Max, ~You're a fool, Maxwell. Letting things get in the way like this. I'm going to go calm down and then we'll talk about this.~

Waiting for Maria to join me I glanced around this stupid town and hoped that something good would come of it.



~Isabel~

After Michael's outburst of power and his angry stride away from the table and outside, I sighed and reached out a hand to rest it on my brother's arm even as I remained in the loving embrace that Alex was holding me in. "Max, take all the time you need. Do you want Alex and I to take care of the apartment hunting? Or would you like to be a part of it?"

I wasn't quite certain how I felt about the idea of finding a job in this town, but there wasn't much of a choice available if we were going to be stuck here for a time. "At the same time, I'll start looking for a job." I spoke quietly, it wouldn't be the first time I'd worked and it definitely wouldn't have been the last time if we hadn't found Liz when we did. I reached for an onion ring dipped in hot sauce and ate it slowly while I was thinking. The fact Liz had a boyfriend meant things were going to be much more difficult. Of course, I had mentioned several times while we were searching for her that there was always that chance.

"We'll just take things as they come for now. Michael will calm down eventually and either way whether he likes it or not, he'll let you do things your way." I wasn't really hungry now, but still I munched on the O rings while waiting for my brother's input or the man I love to give me his input.

[KatnotKath]

OOC: hope this is ok for everyone. I did use Kyle a little but hope you don't mind.

**THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON**

~Liz~

Five more minutes until the end of the lesson...five more minutes until I go home and meet these people who claim I'm an alien... Am I completely mad? This guy turns up out of the blue last night and I invited him into my apartment... Not only that, but when he began to talk about aliens and stasis pods, I actually began to believe him..

I talked this over with Kyle to some extent last night... He hung around during my shift, probably to keep an eye on me. Mr Brook joked that if he was that eager to be there, he'd welcome a bit of extra help for the night... Kyle shrugged and agreed, saying that he didn't have anything better to do. I told him I didn't need him to stay...that he could just go home and I'd walk back to my apartment after my shift, but he wouldn't hear of it... It guess he could see that I was still upset...I'm not too good at hiding it from him...

Anyway, in the end we both worked the evening shift and then after closing, Kyle took me home. I didn't say much in the car, I knew that Kyle wanted to ask, but to give him credit he left it. It wasn't until I was opening the door to my apartment that I invited him to come in for a little while though. It was late, but he called his dad to tell him where he was and there was no problem.

I explained to him the little Max had told me, going through it little by little. There wasn't much to tell really, I don't think that Max got very far, but in my head it seemed like a huge amount. I think that was partly because of the implications of it... I mean everything that Max was saying would completely wipe everything that I had believed for my whole life - or as long as I can remember anyway...

I'm not stupid...I know that Kyle was skeptical... It didn't take much to see that from the look on his face, but despite that, he showed me what a good friend he was, telling me that whatever the truth was, I still had him, and that he'd help me try to find out more.

What he didn't like was when I told him about the intended meeting this afternoon though. He told me he wanted to be there but I refused saying I wasn't sure that was a good idea. He asked why, saying that he didn't think I should meet with them alone and I just didn't have an answer... I thought about it again for a few minutes, considering the fact that Max had mentioned friends of his own who were going to be there and who were 'normal'. I wondered if it really would be so bad to have Kyle there...I knew it would help me, but somehow I got the feeling it would be a bad idea.

I told him I'd be careful, but this was something that I needed to do alone but Kyle obviously still wasn't happy. He's been trying to persuade me to change my mind all day, providing arguments as to why I shoudn't be alone in a room with four strangers. The arguments get a little tiring, frustrating even, but I can't be angry at him, I know all he wants is what's best for me...

After Kyle finally left last night, I intended to go to bed straight away. It was late, and I was tired... When I tried, I couldn't though... I think I probably sat up half the night thinking over that conversation I had with Max...considering the flashes I had recieved... The more I thought about it, the more I knew, however amazing or unelievable it might seem, that I couldn't come up with any explanation other than the one he had offered.

It was probably somewhere around two in the morning when I began to focus on the figure inside the cocoon... I felt my heart begin to race as I began to pick out certain features and it suddenly dawned on me exactly what I was seeing... That was me... I shook my head and refused to believe it, but every time I came back to the same conclusion...Max could well be for real...

"Miss Parker, would you like to tell me exactly where your mind is...because it's obviously not in class with us, that's for sure!"

I look up startled by the sharp voice and groan inwardly as I realise that Miss Lewis has realised I'm not really paying attention to the lesson. I guess it could be worse...she could have realised at the beginning...but the last thing I need is to get my first individual detention... She can't keep me back, not today... I get an image of Max and his friends, although I don't know what they look like of course, waiting outside my apartment impatiently. I can't let that happen... However hard it might be, I have to concentrate for this last five minutes and then I can get out of here...
With this in mind, I do my best to look apologietic. "I'm sorry Miss Lewis..."

"Would you like to tell me what was so interesting...?" She looks at me expectantly.

I close my eyes momentarily. 'h please let her let this go... I plead in silence and for once it seems my prayers are answered. As she stands waiting for me to answer, the warning bell rings and she gives a sharp nod. "Alright, never mind, just see that it doesn't happen again!"

I nod. "No Miss Lewis...I can assure you it won't..." I respond quickly.

She accepts my reply and then returns to the front of the room where she finished writing up the homework assignment.

The final bell goes while she's still writing, and I hear a number of chairs scrape back. Apparently Miss Lewis hears them too, for she turns around quickly. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" She demands angrily, glaring at the small group who have already packed up. One of them has the cheek to say going home, and her response makes me extremely glad I had the sense to stay where I was. The four who were about to leave all get a half hours detention, while those of us who remained where we were have to wait just a few more minutes to take down the assignment before the teacher dismisses us.

As soon as she says we can go, I practically fly out into the corridor and Kyle isn't far behind me. I smile at him as he catches up, falling into step with me easily. "Hey, what took you so long...?" I ask him laughing softly. He shakes his head and points out that I can't get out of here any sooner than him given that he's the one with the car. I sigh and nod, having to accept this is true. "I just don't want to leave them waiting outside..." I explain softly. I know Kyle might not believe they're for real, but he does accept that I want to meet them, albeit that he doesn't think I should be doing so alone.

I shrug as we stop in front of my locker, removing the padlock and grabbing a few boks before locking it back up. "Do you need to stop at yours too...?" I ask Kyle quickly as we continue on along the corridor.

Soon, we're walking down the steps out the front of the school, heading towards the gates since Kyle parked on the road outside today. We're talking and chattering, just as normal. Nothing major, nothing intense, just normal teenage talk. Kyle tells me about Zack Martin, a new guy on the team. Apparently he just moved here and is a pretty nice guy. I shake my head and laugh, certain that I know where this is going. "Look, I've told you before Kyle, not that I don't appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm, f-" I stop midsentence, my eyes fixing on a familiar figure who's standing just outisde the gate. Max...but what's he doing here...this wasn't the plan...

[isabelle]

*Max*

I park the jeep and head over to the gate at the school just before the bell rings. It’s been a busy day. Isabel and Alex found three furnished places right away and easily charmed her way into the nicest one, although we can’t move in until Saturday. She really does have a way with people, especially men.

Still not sure what I’m going to do about a job. I applied at three places that didn't have anything 'alien' about them, but it may be a couple days before they get back to me. Guess I'll try a few more tomorrow. Thank goodness for Alex and his steady income no matter where we are.

I’m still a bit worried about how my meeting with Liz will go today. There’s so much more to tell her. I’m not looking forward to her response when she finds out that she and I are already engaged to be married without either one of our consent. Especially since she already has a boyfriend. Isabel and I have talked about the fact that most 16-year-olds don’t stay with the one they’re dating forever, even if they think they will. They drift apart, break-up and/or move on. But I also know it can seem like the real thing, even if it isn’t.

Isabel offered to dreamwalk Liz for me to find out what she really feels for Kyle, but I don’t want to start our relationship by spying on her thoughts and feelings. Michael says Liz would be thrilled to find out she’s a princess – it’s every girl’s dream – and she’ll dump Earth boy in a minute. I’m not so sure. And I can’t help but think there’s a big difference between playing pretend and real life. Heck, most kids would love to play at being a king, too, but I know it’s not going to be fun and games at all.

I straighten up as I see the kids heading in this direction and I watch for Liz. It seems to take forever as dozens of kids are streaming out of the place. One of the jocks notices the jeep and starts talking to his friends about how much he wants one like it, but I’m really not listening. I’m still watching for Liz.

Then, at last, I see her, and my heart sinks when I realize she’s walking with Kyle. Not arm-in-arm exactly, but somehow it feels that way to me. Suddenly, I wish I had let Isabel do the dreamwalk but I push that thought aside. I’m going to deal with this and we’ll figure it out.

“Hello, Liz,” I tell her with a friendly smile as she reaches the fence. “And Kyle.”

Liz looks shocked, confused and a bit annoyed. “What are you doing here?” she asks.

I shrug. “You said we could talk after school. This is after school,” I tell her. She hadn't given an actual time or place, so it seemed that the best way to meet with her would be to wait here. “I thought I’d give you a lift.”

“Wait. Wait a minute,” Kyle interrupts, his eyes narrowing. “How did you know what school she goes to? We have two High Schools in Roswell.”

I look at Kyle, not sure what he knows or what I can say. How much did Liz tell him about me? I'm sure she wouldn't tell anyone about being an alien, she'd know how dangerous that is. Did she tell him that I'm family?

“It wasn’t too hard,” I smile, casually. “You do have copies of the yearbook at the local library.” That wasn’t actually how we figured it out but it will do as an explanation. We did a lot of checking on Liz before we were sure she was the one. Unfortunately, none of that included data about Kyle... Turning to Liz, I gesture at the jeep. “My car’s right here.”

[isabelle]

*KYLE*

Here he is again. Max Evans. The guy who thinks he’s an actual alien and who is trying to convince Liz that she is, too. I suppose it could even be true. Liz did say he used powers like hers and had the same weird preference for Tabasco sauce in tea. Truthfully, I’m less worried about the existence of real aliens than I am about someone taking advantage of Liz by pretending to be the family she’s always wanted and then breaking her heart.

I definitely don’t like the look of this. What’s he doing hanging around the school? Weren’t they supposed to meet at her house? He claims he found her by using the public library. I guess that’s plausible, but somehow, I get the feeling he’s not being completely honest. Or maybe I’m just being overly suspicious because I’m not yet ready to trust him…

“That’s okay. I usually give Liz a ride home. Why don’t we just meet you there?” I ask, taking Liz’s elbow.

Max pinches his lips together and shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he says, calmly. “We have some things to discuss that are private. Maybe we could meet with you another day.”

I look back at Liz for a moment to see what she thinks of this, but in truth, I already know. She’s been telling me since last night that she’d rather meet with these five strangers alone. She says she has her powers to protect her, but if these guys have powers, too, how can that help? They might be even better at it than she is since they know more about it. But I know Liz won't listen to that. She hasn't listened so far. So, instead, I turn back to Max. “Anything you can tell her, you can tell me. Liz and I don’t have secrets between us.”