Finding My Way Home CC ML/Adult A/N Mar 18[WIP]

[maya]

Title: Finding My Way Home





Disclaimer: "The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended."

Pairings/Couples/Category: M/L and other CC
Rating: Adult
Summary: Liz POV. This story takes place 4 years after control. Max did go to Antar with Cal to find his son. This story begins with him coming home to Roswell. Liz has waited 4 years to be reuinted with him, but when he arrives he is not alone.
Banner: by To_Kiss_A_Frog
Authors Note: There will be angst but not to worry this is a Max/Lix story. It is a little U/C in the beginning but that is all I can say without giving to much away.



Round 10 nominated for Fav potrayl of Serena
and Fav post episode Fic



Part One

Part One

I have waited four years for this day and I feel like a little kid at Christmas time as I open the door to the Crashdown. I just drove in from Santa Fe and the gang is expecting me. I’ve been away for the last 3 months, but it looks exactly the way I left it. It never changes.

“Hey Liz,” Kyle hollers and I look over to see that he is sitting in Max’s old booth. I go over and join him, relishing in the fact that by tomorrow at this time Max will be sitting in it once again.

“Hi Kyle,” I respond giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before sitting down across from him.

“So Max Evans, Alien King returns to earth today. Excited much?” he asks with a laugh.

I just smile in return. I am so excited that I can’t even think of anything to say. I was awake all night. In a few hours I will be in the arms of my soul mate again, it is the thought of this that has kept me going these last four years.

Six months before graduation, Max went to LA to find Cal Langley. They found the spaceship that the military was hiding and were able to fix it. He called me from LA and told me he was going to Antar to find his son. I begged him to take me with him but of course he refused as he didn’t want to put me in danger. Max was always worried about putting me in danger but he just didn’t understand that just one moment with him was worth any danger life could throw at us. He made me a promise on that phone call, that he would come back and I have been waiting ever since. I mean, I’ve gone on with my life, we all have but I’ve never looked at anyone else. What was the point, no one would ever complete me the way that Max Evans does.

After graduation, I was the only one that left Rowell. I went to Santa Fe to study Molecular Biology. I wanted to be close to Roswell for when Max returned, even though I didn’t know if it would be in a few weeks, months or many years. Isabelle married Jesse and got a job teaching and Michael and Maria are still working here at the Crashdown, hard to believe.

Kyle, has become a good friend. He doesn’t date much, and sometimes I worry, what being part of the ‘I know an alien club’ has really done to his life. He doesn’t complain, still works at the garage but I know deep down inside he is lonely, but he knows it’s impossible to have a relationship without bringing them into all of this. Even if they don’t know our secret they are still always at risk.

“Liz,” Isabelle says with a smile as she and Jesse sit down beside us.
“I have a list of everything we have to do to get Max set up again. I’ve bought him some clothes, Jesse and I are going to give him our old Jeep so that he has transportation.” Kyle and I look at each other and smile, knowing that Isabelle is in full Nazi mode.

“Now Liz, about accommodations, I assume that you’ll be living together?” she asks me.

“I umm,” I start but then realize I don’t know the answer. I don’t know anything after not seeing Max for four years.

“Isabelle, don’t ask her that, how could she possibly know?” Jesse says to his wife nudging her under the table.

“Oh Jesse, this is Max and Liz were talking about. Four years doesn’t change anything. They will be staring into each other eyes with the lost look 2 minutes after the space craft lands,” she says rolling her eyes.

“Isabelle,” I ask her nervously, “When Max sent the message to Michael saying he was coming home, did he say anything about his son?” I ask her. “I can only assume that he found him and what about Tess?”

Before she can respond, Maria strolls out of the back room and pipes up, “ Tess better not be coming back with him. If I see that Bitch, I will not be responsible for what I do,” she says her cheeks reddening in anger.

Isabelle explains that Max only said he was coming home, no other details. I hope he found his son, even though I hate Tess, I know I will love his son because he is part of him.

Maria goes into the kitchen to get Michael who is just finishing up his shift. When they don’t hurry out I decide to go and see what is taking them so long. As I start to open the door I over hear their conversation.

“Maria, what’s the rush? It’s not like Max is on a flight with an arrival time. He could arrive anytime today, maybe tomorrow,” Michael says

“Michael, Liz is the rush, you know this day is about her, not the rest of us.”

“What?” he replies. “We all lost Max 4 years ago, not just liz!”

“God Michael sometimes you can be so dense,’ she replies and I know what she means, This day is about me. Isabelle and Jesse are together, Maria and Michael have each other but I’ve been working without a part of myself for the last four years. They will all be glad to see him, but this is about so much more for me.

We arrive in the dessert an hour later and just sit and wait. Michael is in his protector mode and is not permitting us within 25 feet of the anticipated landing site. He doesn’t want any of us to get hurt.

It’s now 4 hours later and we hear it, the sound is not as strong as an airplane but similar. Michael points to the sky and we all see it, getting up off of the rocks we are sitting on to stare up at the sky in awe. The spacecraft is a lot smaller than I thought it would be.

A few minutes later it lands. My heart starts to race and the worry begins. I have been so focused on reuniting with Max that my brain reminds me there are things I have not thought of, what if Tess is with him, what if his son doesn’t like me. What if, well there is no more time for what ifs as the door of the space craft opens. Isabelle takes my hand excitedly; Maria turns to me and gives me a hug.

I see him, I see Max, he is 25 feet away from us but none of us make a move to walk closer as we are all frozen in shock. He is not alone. Standing in front of him is a little boy who looks to be about 4 years old. My heart sores, he has found his son. But that is not all. He is also holding hands with a woman about my age, with long dark hair. She is holding a little girl in her arms, who can’t be more than 2. I wonder who these people can be?

Max looks around as if trying to get his bearings and then smiles at the brunette beside him, running his hand through her hair soothingly and then pulls her towards him gently kissing her forehead. He then leans in and kisses the little girls forehead exactly the same way. I feel my chest tighten.

“Max,” Isabelle yells running towards him and I see him smile and wave back.

My mind races to what this could mean. I have waited four years for this moment, four years for a moment that will never be. Hi actions speak for themselves, he kissed her the way he used to kiss me, he looks at her like he used to look at me. She is his wife or girlfriend, and they have a daughter. A daughter that is two years old which means he has been her for at least 3 years. He didn’t keep his promise, he didn’t wait for me.

I watch Max hug Isabelle and I see her shake his new wife or girlfriends hand. Isabelle points over in our direction and I see Max wave towards us, heading in our direction. I start to slowly back up, knowing I just can’t face this.

Maria looks back at me her brow wrinkling in concern. “Chica, I’m sure there’s an explanation. Let’s just see what Max says about it ok?” she says to me but I have already stopped listening.

I cannot stand here and watch this any longer. I reach into my pocket and pull out my keys, turning to walk in the direction of my SUV. I feel the four years of hope I have been clinging to leave my body as I choke back the sob that is taking shape in my lungs. I feel my heart break and I almost want to laugh because after all I have endured since that day I was shot at the Crashdown I didn’t think there was any part of it left to break.

As I drive away I see Isabelle running towards the vehicle her arms flailing but I ignore her. Don’t they get it? Don’t any of them get it at all? Sure we all suffered when Max left, we all lost him, but Maria still had Michael, Isabelle married Jesse. I lost the love of my life

I take one more look in the rear view mirror and I see Max, he’s only standing about 10 feet away but I feel we are the farthest apart we have ever been. There is a look on his face that I can’t read, and I realize I don’t even know him anymore There will be no fairy tale wedding, no children together, he will never touch me the way he used to. I have to accept my life with Max Evans is over, I must mourn and somehow pick up the pieces of my life and move on. My first instinct is to drive back to the Crashown and sob in my fathers arms but I can’t risk running into Max and his new family. I bravely wipe the tears from my face and keep my eyes firmly on the road. I’ll soon be back in Santa Fe.

[maya]

TI just got back from my vacation and am posting a small part. This will answer one of your questions, the other questions will be answered as the story progresses. Thanks so much for the feedback:

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Part 2

Liz POV 2 weeks later

When I got back to my apartment in Santa Fe I knew that I couldn’t stay long, it was too close to Roswell and I knew that it would be just a matter of time before Max or Maria or Isabelle drove out here to see me and I was just not ready for that. I am still not ready for that. Besides the school year was over and I had graduated, it was time to move on.

I was offered an internship at a research laboratory in New York City which I accepted. It was the perfect opportunity to escape the pain in my heart for a while. I am not naive, I know I will have to go back to Roswell at some point, will have to face Max eventually, I just can’t right now.

So here I am in my new apartment in New York City unpacking boxes, trying to get settled in. No one knows I am in New York except for Maria and she has been sworn to secrecy. I didn’t even plan on telling her but she called my cell phone everyday and said she wouldn’t stop harassing me until I told her where I was.

My phone rings and I look at the caller ID and see that not surprisingly it’s Maria. I consider not answering, I know that as always she will do her best to convince me to come back to Roswell, and I am not in the mood for that, but I still don’t know that many people here and it is comforting to talk to my best friend.

“Hi Maria,” I say with a laugh.

“Hi Chica. When are you coming home?” she asks.

“Maria, I thought we agreed that you would stop asking me that,” I say with a sigh.

“Well, if you would agree I wouldn’t have to ask you,” she replies. I have to commend her for her persistence.

She fills me in on her latest fight with Michael. They have just moved in together and are still adjusting. Michael keeps using her toothbrush which she thinks is disgusting. He doesn’t see sharing a toothbrush as any different than kissing. Says it’s the same germs being exchanged. Maria is exasperated that he is so clueless. I actually think Michael has a point but I don’t say that to Maria.

“He misses you Liz,” she says and I roll my eyes. Somehow Max Evans always makes his way into our phone conversations and although I continually ask her not to mention him I have to admit I am curious. Part of me wants to forget him, part of me wants to know what is going on with him every second.

“Liz, remember that summer you went to Florida and Max followed me around like a lost puppy?” she asks

“Yes.”

“That is how he looks now. Like a lost puppy. He keeps asking me where you are living or if I can have your home number or your cell number. He says he really needs to talk to you.”

“Is he still with her?” I ask her

“Yes, they moved into the house that Isabelle rented for them, all 4 of them.” I let out a defeated sigh when I hear this. Why am I surprised? Did I think he would send her back to Antar? Why do I keep doing this to myself. I must be a masochist.

“Liz, we don’t even know that they are involved. He won’t tell any of us what is going on. He says he has to talk to you first Liz. I think there is a reason for this. He says he still loves you,” she says. “You should at least here him out,” She continues.

I am not interested in hearing anymore of Max Evan’s reasons and I tell Maria this. There is always an excuse. Make me fall out of love wit you Liz or the world will end. I slept with Tess because I needed to see what it was like to be with my own kind. He always has a reason for breaking my heart. I thought I was past all of this but I guess seeing him his new family was the last straw for me, it was just too much for me to bear.

“Maria I have to go, I have a lot to do here.” I keep my voice steady so she won’t know I am fighting back tears.

“Chica, there is something else you need to know. Her name.”

“I don’t want to know her name. Maria, what is wrong with you?” Is she trying to kill me here?

“Serena. Her name is Serena,” she says and I almost drop the phone. She is the only one who knows that that name means something to me, the only one who knows about the night Future Max came to me.

The image of Max kissing Serena 2 weeks ago when he arrived flashes through my mind and I feel the twist of a knife in the pit of my stomach. The image of the two children standing beside him twists the knife harder. Future Max had said Tess was crucial to their survival and she ended up being a killer. He said Serena was supposed to my friend, but from what I have seen that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“So, I take it after what I have told you that your going to come home?” she asks hopefully.

“No Maria, nothing has changed,” I say as I hang up the phone. But I wonder if it has changed. Was I to quick to judge? Could she be my friend? I run every possible scenario through my mind and I only arrive at my original conclusion. Max and Serena are together and have 2 children together.

I need to move on, work hard and hopefully meet someone normal that I can fall in love with. I repeat this over and over like a mantra. How many times do I have to say it in order to believe it myself?

[maya]

Thanks for the feedback.

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I know it seems strange that Liz left but remember she waited 4 years to be with him and gave him everything. Now her heart is broken and she is broken too.

This part is Max's POV. Tomorrow I will post Part 4 Liz's POV.

Thanks for reading and please keep the feedback coming, I really appreciate it.

Part 3

Max POV

I wipe my sweaty hands on the side of my jeans as I open the door to the Crashdown. I really don’t want to be here but I see no other alternative. I started working part time at the garage with Kyle last week but it is just not enough to pay the bills, especially to feed two kids so Serena has to work. I feel the Crashdown is the best place for an Alien to work since Michael and Maria are already there and can keep an eye on her. I am just not comfortable with her working anywhere else, and my first priority is to keep her safe.

“Mr. Parker,” I say and he turns around to look at me, a glare on his face.

“Max, I heard you were back,” he says and folds his arms across his chest. He isn’t going to make this easy for me but I can’t say I am surprised. This is after all the man who only a few months before I left for Antar ordered me to stay away from his daughter, threatening to send her to boarding school.

I take a deep breathe and ask Mr. Parker if he would consider giving Serena a waitressing job. He looks taken a back and laughs.

“Max,’ he says. ‘After you left, my daughter went to school and made something of herself. She got a degree in molecular biology. She was doing really well. Now suddenly your back and she takes off and won’t even tell her own parents where she is. Somehow I don’t think this is a coincidence.”

I frown, knowing he is right but I can’t get into this now. How do I explain to him that I am in love with his daughter, that I am an alien and because if this I have broken her heart not just once or twice but at least three times that I know of. I can’t tell him without putting more people at risk so I ignore the comment and go back to my original question.

“Sir, I know your short staffed and Serena is a really hard worker,” I say almost begging him.

“So you think that because we are short staffed I will just hire your girlfriend, there are plenty of other people who are interested in this job,” he replies.

“All I am asking is that you talk to her. Give her a real interview.” I say turning around and pointing to the back of the restaurant where Serena is standing. I know it’s a lost cause but I hope if he meets her and sees how great she is he will give her a chance.

A look of pure resentment crosses his face but as his gaze shifts to the brunette standing at the back of the Crashown he breaks into a smile. I am sure he is thinking the same thing I did when I first met her, that she reminds me of Liz and I watch as he goes over to her and offers her the job. She looks at me and smiles and I smile back. This is so not the life I promised her, the life I want to give her but at least we are alive.

While Serena works her first training shift I take the time to talk to Maria in the back.

“Have you talked to Liz lately?” I ask her. “Is she coming back?”

“Max, yes I have talked to her and nothing is changed and she is staring to get really annoyed with me. This is going to ruin our friendship,” she says shaking her head.

I know I have been bugging her a lot but she is the only one who knows where Liz is.

“Is she happy?” I ask.

“She isn’t with you Max? How could she be happy?” Maria says and I smile, Liz must still love me.

“Don’t you dare smile Max Evans,” she says in an outburst and I know she is angry.

“She waited for you for 4 years, 4 whole years and you show up with a new girl and 2 kids. She was expecting a son and maybe having to deal with Tess, but this. How could you Max?” she is screaming right now

“It’s not like that Maria.”

“Well what is it like then?” she asks and I know she expects and answer, but I can’t give it to her.

“I have been pleading your case to her for 3 weeks but you know what I think she should forget you and move on. I think she should never come back. You just don’t deserve her.”

“I know,” I say as I shove my hands back in my pockets and head home. I don’t deserve her and I would love for her to move on but there are things she needs to know.

I arrive home and play with Zan and Beth for awhile, reminding myself of why I can’t let the fact I miss Liz so much get me down. I have a responsibility to give them a wonderful life and keep them safe. I know that Isabelle and Michael have been safe in my absence but there are people who will now that I am back and will come after us all. A lot happened while I was on Antar.

After dinner Serena finds me sulking on the front porch and gently puts her hand on my shoulder. She knows I am thinking about Liz, that I am always thinking about Liz.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have come back with you,” she says sitting next to me and I hate that she thinks this is her fault.

“I could dream walk her and find out where she is,” she suggests but I shake my head No.

“She obviously needs space and I have to give her that. She has done so much for me, the least I can do for her is honor her request,” I explain.

I can only pray that as time goes by she will get curious and come back and talk to me. There is so much that she needs to know. This is between Liz and I. I just can’t tell the others until she knows.

“She will come around Max but this is going to be a lot for her to take in. I have to say I am surprised that she ran though, the way you described her she always sounded so strong.”

“Serena she is strong but she has suffered so much because of me that I think seeing you and the kids just drove her over the edge,” I say and immediately want to take it back.

“I don’t mean it like that it’s just…,”I stumble looking for the right words.

“It’s ok, I understand,” she says and I know she does. Through all of this she always has, that’s just one of the reasons she is so amazing.

“Serena, I don’t want you to ever regret coming back with me,” I say to her staring into her beautiful eyes and I mean it. Finding her was one of the most important moments of my life and I will never let her go. I hug her tightly.

“Let’s go get the kids ready for bed,” she says as she reaches for my hand and we go inside the house.

[maya]

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A lot of your questions will not be asnwered for a while but it will all come together.

Part 4


Liz POV

1 week later

I am standing in the elevator at work right now, absolutely exhausted. I don’t know how I dragged myself here this morning after the night I had. It was another wonderful conversation with Maria that put me in this foul mood and when I say wonderful I am being sarcastic.

“Serena is working with me at the Crashdown and Liz she is really nice,” she says to me, That comment really cuts me like a knife. Not only does Serena have the love of my life but she has taken over my life, working for my father and with my best friend.

“Are you spending time with her?” I ask betrayal in my voice

“A well Liz, I,” she replies nervously stumbling over her words. “She doesn’t really know anyone so yes I have but she doesn’t tell me much.” God I feel so alone.

After that conversation my powers went into overdrive and I felt so much pain. A few months after Max left I developed them, so did Kyle and it took us quite a while to learn to control them we finally did. Or so I thought… but last night, everything I touched I set on fire and my hands hurt so much all I could do was lie in the fetal position and cry. I eventually fell asleep for maybe 2 hours before my alarm went off.

I don’t blame Maria, none of this is her fault. She is just the messenger but all of this is tearing me apart. I know how bad it must look to everyone that I just ran away and didn’t even let Max explain but I was just so unprepared for what I saw. I expected a four year old boy and maybe even Tess, but Serena and another little girl. The thought of Max being with another woman once was painful enough, but twice. I can’t even stomach it.

I am hoping work today will give me a distraction.

“Hi Liz.” I look up to see Peter standing beside me in the elevator, he is the head of the lab here at K laboratories. He is only a few years older than me and is one of those geniuses who had a masters degree in science by the age of 20, and now at age 24 is the head of research.
.

“Hi Peter,” I reply smiling, trying not to show my whole mind is a mess of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

“Rough night?” he asks me with a smile.

“Yes, there was a movie marathon on TV” I say to which he laughs. I don’t think mentioning I was up all night setting my apartment on fire would go over well.

“Parker, would you consider going to lunch with me today?” he asks me and when I look up at him I see he is blushing. I have been working here for 3 weeks, how could I not have noticed that he was interested in me.

“I would love to” I am not sure if I am all that interested in Peter but a distraction is exactly what I need. How will I ever get over Max Evans if I don’t meet someone else?

“Really?” he asks surprised as though he thought I would turn him down. He is actually fairly good looking. Sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, 6 feet tall. The complete opposite of Max. I am surprised he doesn’t have a girlfriend but I guess fitting 6 years of study into 2 doesn’t leave much time to date.

“It’s just lunch, “ I say

“Just lunch,” he replies. The elevator stops at my floor and I walk out towards the lab to start my day.




He takes me to an Italian Bistro a few blocks from work, we order pasta bolognaise and get to know each other talking mostly about work.

He tells me about studying at Harvard and outlines some of the different research projects they are working on in the lab. His life sounds so fascinating, the research, the travel and I think I could have had his life but instead I have been drowning in alien drama for the last 6 years of my life.

I tell him I grew up in Roswell New Mexico to which he of course asks if I have seen any aliens. I just laugh and change the subject. The joke is really starting to get old.

“So what are you working on now?” I ask him and he frowns.

“Actually Liz, its classified,” he says and an awkward silence falls between us.

“Oh, well I just thought that since I am working for the laboratory,” I say but he cuts me off.

“You have to have special security to have access to this information, but if your work over the last 3 weeks is any indication, by the end of the year you should have it and then I just might hire you to work for me.” I smile at this. A top secret assignment, that sounds way to interesting to pass up.

After lunch, we ride back up in the elevator together standing side by side, just before the elevator reaches my floor he reaches out and presses the emergency stop button. Before I know what’s happening he bends down, cupping my face with his hands and gently brushes a kiss across my lips.

“So Liz,” he says as he lifts his head up. “I would like to do this again, how about dinner tomorrow night?”

“Sure,” I say as I walk out of the elevator and look back at him. He has a big smile plastered on his face and I smile back.

I wasn’t expecting the kiss and it wasn’t anything like kissing Max Evans, but it was nice. Nice may not be extraordinary, but just maybe it can be the normal I am looking for.

[maya]

Thanks for the great feedback!
I know there are a lot of unanswered questions lbut they will be revealed in time. Keep reading!

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Part 5

Liz POV

“Hey you,” I say when Peter enters my office at the end of another work day.

We have been dating for a week now, it seems like longer because we have developed a routine with each other. After work we usually go out to dinner or we go back to either his apartment or mine. We order some kind of take out as we both hate to cook. We usually end up watching a movie or talking about science. It is nice to officially know another science geek.

‘So what will it be tonight?’ he asks me.

“Hmm,” I say scrunching up my nose. “How about Chinese?”

After we have eaten so much we can barely walk we slowly make our way over to the couch in my apartment. We have rented two movies tonight.

Normally we sit together with me leaning back against him. We have kissed a few times, but it hasn’t gone much further than that. So you can understand my surprise that when half way through the Bourne Identity he starts to trail kisses down my neck. His hand undoes the top button on my blouse and he trails kisses over my collarbone, down to my cleavage. His right hand gently brushes my breast as he looks at me for a reaction. When he sees I don’t protest he cups my breast outside of my shirt and I moan.

He pushes me down on the couch and unbuttons the rest of my shirt. I’m getting nervous. I’m just not ready for a sexual relationship, in fact I’ve never even had a sexual relationship. I had been saving myself for Max Evans.
“Peter,” I say suddenly pushing his hand away and sitting up. I’m not even sure why I let it get this far. I guess I am just trying to give him a chance but pictures of Max Evans keep fluttering through my mind and something just doesn’t feel right. I can’t really put my finger on it, it’s not that I think it is anything alien related or anything like that, more that my heart and my mind just aren’t in the same place right now so this is just to soon.

I think he knows he’s gone too far as a look of guilt flashes through his eyes.

“Are you ok with this?” he asks sitting up and pushing a stray piece of my hair behind my my ear.

“Yes, I am. I mean…..” I stammer “it felt good but it just can’t go any further,” I explain to him and he nods.

I tell him that I am a virgin and he is very accepting of that. He tells me that we will go slow, that he would never pressure me but that he hopes that we will get there eventually.

I look him in the eyes and feel mixed emotions. He is being so sweet and caring. We have so much in common, but I don’t think I will ever be there. Max and I were never together that way before he left and the whole 4 years he was gone I was saving myself for him. The truth is that a part of me is still saving myself for him. How could I ever make love with anyone else? Poor guy, how could anyone even hope to compete with an alien king

After our discussion, I see that he’s moved so that he is still sitting beside me but there is now a space between us. Things are awkward, and I can tell he’s worried that he’ll push us to far.

“We can still do this I say,” moving closer and taking his lips in mine. I don’t really feel like kissing him, even now as his lips press softly against mine I still feel something is off but I know I can’t compare him to Max, it’s just not fair. Peter is good for me, exactly what I need and I have to give him a chance. If I keep kissing him, in time I will get used to it. My love for Max Evans may be flashing through my mind right now but so are the flashes of all of the pain and I am reminded of how much he hurt me.

I see confusion in his eyes but I continue kissing him and as he sees I am enjoying it he deepens the kiss. Then it happens, the images come. They are stronger and darker than anything I have ever seen before. I pull away quickly. I don’t like what I see.

“What?” he asks confused.

I am panting now, not from lust but from pure fear. Resisting the urge to zap him, all I can think about is that I have to get him out of here.

“Peter, I just, would you mind if we ended our evening know?” I ask him trying to even out my breathing and remain calm.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asks perplexed.

“No, I just. I’m sorry I know I am sending you mixed signals.”

“That’s for sure Liz. One minute your hot, the next your cold.”

“I know I just don’t know what I want and that’s why I just really need to you to leave.” Based on my behavior this evening I am hoping this is a plausible excuse.

“Is this goodbye?” he asks me.

“Of course not peter. I will see you tomorrow,” I say with a forced chuckle handing him his coat and leaning in to give him a quick kiss before sending him out the door.

I need time to think, to process the images I have seen. I need to keep up pretenses so I can find out exactly what it is he knows. So much for normalcy, for a new romance. I swallow the lump that is in my throat. If I am right my new boyfriend just might be an alien, just not the good kind.

[maya]

Thanks for the feedback. My next part was ready early so here it is.
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Part 6

Liz POV

I didn’t sleep at all last night. Instead I stayed up fretting and coming up with a plan to find out exactly who Peter is, what he knows and what he is after. I have a funny feeling my job here, my relationship with him both have to do with my connection to the Royal Four.

The flashes, they started out like the ones I got from Nasedo, dark and black, I felt like if I didn’t let go I would be consumed into a deep black whole. Then the pictures started, I saw a research team torturing others, blood and gore. I saw a pod, it was different than Max, Isabelle or Michaels but it was definitely a pod. The weird thing though was that inside of it was not a person but a creature that was black and grey, and somehow I knew it was Peter. He is not like the others, a mix of human and alien DNA. He is not human at all.

I work until my break finding it impossible to concentrate. If Max, Isabelle and Michael are in danger I will do everything I can to save them.

It’s finally 10:15, break time as I make my way to the elevator. Peter works on the 11th floor, I have never been up there as it a classified area. I take a deep breathe as I push the button for 11 and the elevator door closes.

When the door opens I am met with a locked door. All of the other floors have an open corridor that lead to cubicles. This is going to be harder than I thought.

I push the buzzer on the wall. When security answers I explain that I am here to meet with Peter.

I wait for what seems like an eternity until Peter finally comes out a surprised look on his face that is laced with what looks like anger and I hope this wasn’t a mistake.

“Liz, you are not supposed to be up here,” He says in an exasperated tone.

“I know. I just felt so bad about yesterday that I couldn’t sleep. I really wanted to talk with you, make sure we are still on the same page,” I say with a smile.

He suggests we go to lunch and I sigh. What I really need is to get behind those closed doors to see what I can find.

“Couldn’t you spare some time for me now?” I ask him not sure how this will all play out.

“Ok, look, I am just finishing up a meeting. You can come wait for me in an empty boardroom. I will meet you back there in about 15 minutes.”

He opens the door and lets me fully onto the floor. We walk down a small corridor and he opens a boardroom door. I see him glance around making sure there isn’t any classified information I can see. His eyes stop on large file cabinet in the corner, he walks over, tugs on it and after confirming that is locked closes the door behind him as he leaves.

I immediately make my way to the filing cabinet and with a jolt of electricity it open easily. There are a lot of files to cover and very little time.

Everything in here is alien related; there are all kinds of abnormal blood results so I can only assume they are studying alien blood. There are also reactions of it to various drugs.

I quickly sort through each file, looking for something on Max or Isabelle or Michael or even Peter himself. I still haven’t stumbled on anything that will explain what exactly they are doing here and how much of a threat they are.

I look at my watch. I have only 2 or 3 minutes left. I reach for the last file in the first row entitled Subject AB1. I flip the file open revealing a large photo.

I immediately recognize the face and gasp. I may have been 25 feet away the only time I have ever seen her, but her face haunts me daily. The picture that stares up at me is of Serena.

Serena is in trouble. I have to warn her I have to get to Max.

Before I know what is happening Peter comes back and sees what I am doing quickly grabbing the file from my hand.

“So, I guess the cat is out of the bag,” he says angrily slapping me hard against the face.

“That’s too bad. I thought it was a rather smart plan, me dating Max Evans ex girlfriend. The perfect way to get to him now that he is back,” he chuckles.

“I never really understood what he saw in a human,” he continues laughing and I realize he doesn’t know about my powers. There may be a chance if I can just act fast.

“Unfortunately, you won’t live long enough to be able to tell anyone about it,” he continues as he walks closer and raises his hand.

Things happen so quickly, I must have blasted him because I am now staring at Peter’s charred body on the ground. I may have taken care of him, but the danger has only just begun.

I pull my cell phone out of my purse and dial a number I haven’t called in a long time.

He picks up on the second ring.

“Kyle, I need your help,” I say. It is time to go home.

The photo of Serena flashes through my mind. No matter how hard I have tried to not think about her I am now forced to ask myself a question. Who is Serna and what is her role in all of this?

[maya]

Thanks for the feedback:

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Part 7

Max POV

“Maxwell we need to talk,” I hear Michael say as he and Isabelle head over in my direction. It’s Saturday and Kyle and I are working at the garage trying to get caught up on all of the repair work that seems to have piled up this week.

I look at Kyle and he just shrugs. Why are they here? My place of employment was the one place I felt I was safe from all of their questions. Don’t get me wrong. I love my sister and Michael is like a brother to me. They have done so much to help me get my life back here the last 3 weeks but I am trying to kindly keep my distance until I can sort things out with Liz. Although the possibility that she will ever come back or ever hear me out are becoming dimmer by the day and I know that I will have to tell them something.

“Look Maxwell, this has to stop. We need answers from you and all you care about is shacking up with Serena.’ Michael always had a way with words.

“For the last time, I am not shacking up with Serena,” I say. I have told them this so many times before.

“You know Max, I love you. You’re my brother I missed you but I don’t even feel that I know you any more. You turn down all my dinner invitations and you always seem so distant, so cold,” Isabelle says.

“Why won’t you let me into your life? Let me get to know Zan and Beth,” She continues and I know what she means. I have been keeping to myself, working and spending time with Serena and the kids. Part of it was knowing Isabelle and Michael wanted answers I couldn’t give and the other part is that I have changed. From the moment I got to Antar, it was pure hell. I endured four years of that and have been forever changed.

“I am sorry Isabelle. So much happened there, it wasn’t a beautiful place.”

“Well tell us about it Max. Let us help you.”

“No,” I say turning away ‘I don’t want either of you to ever go through anything like that.’ I say but then I remember that it isn’t over. They are coming back and might already be here. I have to be ready. I have to protect all of us.

“Well too bad,” Michael says grabbing my arm “Your going to tell us everything.”

“Let’s start at the beginning. You went to Antar to find Tess and your son. Obviously you found Zan. What happened to Tess?” Michael wanted answers.

I look up. Maybe if I give him this it will appease them, halting the questions for another day.

“Zan is not Tess’s son,’ I explain watching Michael, Isabelle and Kyle’s jaws fall and I continue my tale.

“Tess was never pregnant. It was a mind warp, she concocted to get us to use the granolith to come home. She didn’t really care if we went with her or not. She just needed me to make the granolith work, once we had set it to go off, she was home free that was why she admitted to killing Alex so quickly.”

“Well if she wasn’t pregnant, why did she need to get to back to Antar?” Kyle asked the question they were all probably wondering. The question that I had asked myself when I first found her upon my return to Antar.

“Tess was never one of us. The destiny book was yet another mind warp. She was only sent to earth to find me and to get information. When we slept together she saw what was in my head. She had what she needed, and she had to go back to act on that information.”

“Where is she now?” Isabelle asks and I see sympathy flash across her face.

“I killed her,” I tell them.

“Good. She killed Alex. She used mine and my father’s generosity. She deserved to die,” Kyle spat out just as his cell phone rang and he immediately picked up

“She turned out to be the weakest of my opponents,” I say continuing the conversation with Michael and Isabelle.

“Maxwell, what exactly did she find and who is Zan then if Tess isn’t the mother than, she’s Serena’s? Wow you work fast Maxwell,” Michael says patting me on the arm.

“I keep telling you Serena and I are not together that way?” I say exasperated pushing his arm away.

“Max, you honestly expect us to believe that. You may be keeping us in the dark about what happened in Antar but any fool can see how cozy you two are,” Isabelle retorts.

“Come on Max, the first thing you said to me when you arrived was to protect Serena with my life. Who is she? What part does she play in all of this?” said Michael pushing for more answers.

I can’t have this conversation with them now. “Look I have to talk to Liz first. Once we do we can all meet.”

“No Max, we need to know now. You said Tess was the weakest of our opponents, is someone else after us?”

I nod weekly “Isabelle, what was started on Antar, it’s only just begun,” I say sadly wishing I could have been the king that they deserved.

“If we are in danger Maxwell, we can’t wait for Liz.”

“Actually, we can Senior Presidente. Is tomorrow soon enough”’ Kyle says to me and I look at him perplexed.

“I just got off the phone with Liz. She wants me to fly out to New York and meet her and bring her home,” He says. I breathe a sigh of relief. Liz is coming home, she’ll be somewhere I can keep an eye on her, somewhere I can keep her safe.

“Max, you have hurt her so much. She waited for you for four years,” Isabelle says pulling my aside. Why is she telling me something I don’t already know?

“Just don’t get your hopes up,” she warns but of course I do.

[maya]

Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming! I know you all have questions about who Serena and the children are. Please bear with me, there are still a few more parts before that will be revealed.

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vampyrax




Part 8

Liv POV

Liv POV

“Kyle, thank you so much for coming,” I say as we walk down the street to wards our destination. “You’re the only one who could possibly understand this,” I say and it is true. He is the only other human who developed powers after being healed by an alien. .

“So you actually killed him?” he asks ‘How?’

‘”I don’t know. It’s all sort of a blur. I think I just zapped him,” I explain.

“Wow, I’ve used my power to break a few lamps, used it to fix my broken radio but I just never thought I would be able to…..” he trails off not wanting to even say it.

“I know Kyle. You don’t have to say it.” These thoughts have been going through my head all day.

After killing Peter earlier I hid the body. I had no idea what was going on and I can’t say I am any closer now. He could be the only alien working there using his access to the alien research to find the royal four and Serena. Alternatively, the entire place could be crawling with aliens.

When I killed Peter, Kyle was the first name that came into my mind. I knew he would fly to New York and help me, no questions asked. How many friends would come with you to look at a dead body? I need him to see it, to see that it is real and I am not going crazy. Klye truly is one of a kind.

We arrive at the dumpster and I open the lid.

“Liz, how did a 100 lb girl carry a body to a dumpster 2 blocks from work and how did she do it without being caught?” Kyle asks me an amused look on his face.

“Trust me Kyle, when I say you do not want to know,” I say, the last 24 hours I have forever blocked from my mind.

“So what exactly are we doing again?” he asks.

“We will collect a few samples,” I say taking out my vile, specimen jars, tweezers and scissors. “You know, blood, skin, bone if possible. That way we can study it when we get back to Roswell.”

He chuckles as he watches me take out all of my supplies and get organized. I expect him to make some kind of crack about me always being the little scientist but he doesn’t..

Instead he peeks in the dumpster and we look in at the scrawny black and grey creature with alligator like skin and webbed fingers. Klye makes a rowlfing sound and his skin takes on a green tint.

I really hope he can handle this because it is not the time for him to flake out on me. He steps back for a few moments collecting his thoughts and then steps forward to help me. I smile knowing Kyle wouldn’t let me down. He opens one of the specimen jars for me so I can put the skin sample I just took in.

“What type of alien do you think he is?” Kyle asks me. Now that he has gotten over his initial disgust he can’t help but be curious. Of course neither can I, it’s the scientist in me.

“I have no idea,” I reply.

“Well I think we should have a name for him. We definitely shouldn’t group him in with the other Czechoslovakian’s. I think we should make one up.”

“Go ahead Kyle,” I laugh.

“An uglarian,” he says “you know because they are so ugly.”

“You always make me laugh,” I say and I laugh until my stomach hurts, once again thankful I have brought him along.


********************************

We are on the plane headed back to Roswell when the reality of it all hits me. Soon I will be staring into the eyes of my one true love, the man who broke my heart. I have to just forget about him, change my feelings for him. I am here to help and nothing else. I am such a scream though, kidding myself like this.

“I told him you were coming back,” Kyle says and he looks afraid. “I had to. Michael and Isabelle were grilling him with questions and he wanted to wait until you got back to tell them,” he explains.

“It’s ok Kyle,” I say and I wonder why Max feels I have to be included. Things can go on without me, can’t they? He obviously did.

“He did tell us a few things. Do you want a recap?” he asks

“Not really,” I say dryly but then I realize I am coming home to help them all including Serena, and in order to do that I will have to know exactly what is going on.

“Ok Kyle, in a few hours I will be back in the alien chaos anyway, so I might as well jump in feet first right now.”

“Ok.” He leans closer to me so he can whisper so the other passengers can’t hear. He has a huge grin on his face. Kyle has always loved good gossip, sometimes he is such a girl.

“Tess was never pregnant, she lied about it to get the granolith and go home. This was after she got the information she needed from Max’s brain.”

“Turns out Tess isn’t even the same race as them,” he says and we both look at each other, the light bulb going off in our minds at the same time. We simultaneously say the words “Peter”. Could there be a connection?

“Wait though, if that 4 year old boy isn’t from Tess than…” I just look at Kyle who gives me a sympathetic smile. I thought it would make me feel better that he’s not Tess’s son but the alternative, that he is Serena son, is just so much worse.

“Kyle,” I say squeezing his arm. “In case I forget to say it once we get back and get involved in all this madness again, Thanks for coming to get me, for helping me out, for always being there.”

He smiles. I know it’s hard for him, being a part of all of this but he just smiles.

“Anytime, Liz. Anytime.”




Kyle opens the door to the Crashdown for me and we step inside.

I always say it never changes, looks exactly the same but today I can’t say that. Today it is changed. It’s not the floor, uniforms, dishes or any other décor they are all still the same. It’s the whole feel of the place, the magic for me that has changed.

I turn my head to the right and I see that Max is sitting in his old booth, with his two children sitting beside him coloring. Isabelle and Michael sitting across from him, deep in conversation. None of them see me yet.

Just as I am about to go over to them the door to the back opens and Serena walks out. She is holding her coat and purse. Her shift must be over.

“Mommy,” the children yell getting up from the booth, running over to her as she engulfs them in a hug. They called her mommy. There was no mistaking it.

I watch the way the three of them interact and when I feel the tears starting to form in my eyes I will them back. I promised myself I wouldn’t do this.

When Serena lets them out of her embrace she stands up and her eyes meet mine.

“Liz?” she asks shocked. Of course she would be thee first to see me.

No sooner than the words leave her mouth, the conversation between Max, Isabelle and Michael abruptly stops. Max looks up, his amber eyes meet mine and I feel an instant volt of power flow between us. I let out an involuntary gasp as our connection opens and I feel all of his love for me crashing into me in waves. It is so intense I can’t move and I can barely breathe.

“Lizzie?” my father yells running out of the back, squeezing me in a bear hug, and the connection closes just as quickly as it opened.

[maya]

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback! You will find out more about Serena in Part 10.

Erina258
Timelord
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dmcb_love_jason



Part 9


I have never been so happy to see my father in my entire life. I return his bear hug and close my eyes willing him to never let me go, allowing myself to escape Max Evans and Serena for a moment in time. Eventually his grip softens and he pulls back to look at me, pride in his eyes.

“I am so glad your home Lizzie. We have missed you.” He takes my bags and heads towards the back. “Let’s get you settled in your old room. Your mother will be so happy.” He smiles and I smile back wishing I was 5 years old again, back when one word from my father could make this horrible mess go away.

The café is still filled with silence and I feel Max, Isabelle and Michael’s eyes upon me as I follow my father to the back. Out of the corner of my eye I see Max make a move to follow me but Kyle reaches out and stops him.

“Max, give her time.” I hear him say. Thank you Kyle.

“I really need to talk to her. There are some things we have to clear up.” Max sounds agitated.

“I know senior presidente, but right now she needs some space. An alien tried to kill her yesterday and now she comes home to face you and Serena. She knows about the meeting tomorrow and she will be there.” Kyle’s tone is serious, one Max won’t want to mess with.

Is it my imagination or does Max’s face change when Kyle mentions the attack? It’s not just concern I see etched on his face, it is so much more but we have been apart for so long that I don’t know how to read him anymore.

“She was attacked by an alien?” It’s Serena that asks this question and I have to say I am surprised. She looks concerned but I shrug it off. They have a file on her remember? Her concern is probably for herself.

The door swings closed and I make my way upstairs leaving Kyle to fill them in on the attack.

I really am planning to be grown up about this. No matter what is going on with Serena and Max, I will find a way to deal with it. Max is still family, so are the other aliens and of course Maria and Kyle. That is why I am here, for all of them.

I just need a little breathing room before tomorrows meeting, this is going to be so much harder than I thought, my 1st encounter with Serena has proved as much. Seeing her has brought every minute of pain I have ever suffered with Max Evans to the surface, and also every moment of joy. Ironically it is the more joyful ones that hurt me now, they fill me with a wanting for something I can never have.



I spend the rest of the evening curled up on my bed with a familiar friend, my journal. It has been a long time since I have written in it, too long.

There is a light knocking at the door. “Come in,” I call and my Dad walks in.

“Can we talk?” he asks and I motion for him to sit down on the edge of the bed. I close my journal and pull my knees up wrapping my arms around them. I’ve been expecting this conversation.

“Your mother and I were worried. You’ve been gone over a month and you wouldn’t tell us where you were.”

“I know dad, I am sorry.”

“This has something to do with that Evans boy doesn’t it?”

“I was so glad when he left. You went away to school and started to follow your dreams. Then he come s back and you just take off.”

“Dad,” I groan rolling my eyes. “It wasn’t like that,” I try to explain.

“Well, what was it like then. Did he hurt you?” Max did hurt me but not the way dad thinks.

“Dad no” Don’t you just hate how no matter how old you are when your talking to your parents you feel like a little kid again.

“Dad, I got a job at a great research lab, that is why I left,” I explain but the look on his face tells me he is not buying it.

“Liz, do you think I am stupid. It’s great that you got a job, but why would that mean you had to avoid everyone? I think you were trying to avoid Max and you just thought that if one of us knew where you were he would find you.” Well I can’t argue with that, after all that was pretty much my logic.

“Dad, can we just forget about it?” I ask him as charmingly as I can.

He sighs and shakes his head. “Of course Lizzie. Your mother and I are just happy to have you home.” He hugs me.

“I’m going to tell Max he’s not welcome here anymore and I will fire Serena, that girlfriend of his. I’m sorry Lizzie, I just hired her to help her out, she has two kids to support and I..”

“Dad, No.” I cut him off. “Don’t fire Serena and please don’t ban Max from the Crash. Your right, I do still have feelings for him but he and I split up over four years ago and you were right, when he left I did start to follow my dreams. I need to get over him and get used to the fact that I am not with him anymore. I need to focus on my own life.” I seem to have said the right thing because he nods and lets out a breathe. He looks more relaxed. But why do I feel exactly the opposite? I know why. I may have convinced my father I am over Max Evans but I haven’t even begun to convince myself.

He gets up and walks towards the door.

“Dad?”

“Yes?”

“What’s she like, Serena I mean?” I blurt out. Why am I torturing myself this way?

“She’s a sweet girl Liz. Good with the customers. She had two beautiful kids.”

“Are they Max’s?” I ask even though I know the answer is yes. I guess I keep hoping if I ask it enough times someone will say No.

“I don’t know Lizzie, but they do seem awfully close,” he sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “I though you said you and Max were over?”

“We are,” I say.

“Are you sure?”

I just nod my head.

“Good.”

After he leaves I pick my old stuffed animal off the bed, Max won it for me at the carnival one summer and I hug it to my chest. My thoughts drift back to what he told Kyle earlier this afternoon. He said needed to talk to me, clear up a misunderstanding.

What could Max possibly have to tell me and if it was so important why didn’t he try to find me? He could have had Isabelle dream walk me or used some other power. But why would he? He’s with someone else now.

I get under the covers and close my eyes remembering a time when Max said he didn’t even care about his destiny he only cared about me.

[maya]

Hi Everyone. Well this is the part where you will start to get some of the answers to your questions . I really hope that you enjoy it! There are still sooo many unanswered questions though, that will come out in future parts. Let me know what you think.

I will only be updating once a week now because I have 3 other fic's on the go. I know it's probably too much but I had all of these ideas in my head that I had to post. I will try to make this fic my prioirity though.


Thanks for the feedback. It means so much to me:

BehrObsession -one of the answers is in this post but there is also more to come in future parts
Buffsteraddict - this part will give you part of the answer
To_Kiss_A-frog - thanks for the feedback and for making me this wonderful banner
orphyfets - you will find out who Serena is in this part.
Timelord - thanks
LovinGuerin2Much - Thank you. I'm glad your enjoying the story.
Kzinti_Killer - thanks
Antarian - thanks
begonia9508 - you don't have to wait any longer for the meeting - read on
Erina258 - they are talking today
vampyrax - she is torturing herself, she has a lot of trust issues with Max that go way back to Tess.
exitingman- Thanks. Why Max and Serena have been so quiet will be revealed soon, but not in this part. Your balcony scene is in this part so I hope you enjoy.

A special thanks To_Kiss_A-Frog made me a wonderful banner:





Part 10

I’m in New York. I am running. Something or someone is chasing me. I think it’s a man but I am not sure, as I quickly glance over my shoulder, I see he’s dressed in black with an oversize hood that hides his face. He’s gaining on me. I’m running so fast it hurts and I don’t know how much longer I can keep going. I can’t get enough air, my breathing is choppy. There’s an alley coming up, and I quickly turn down it using my last bit of adrenaline to pick up even more speed, maybe this is my chance to loose him. I keep running wondering where this leads and then I see it and I stop running. I have to. In front of me is a concrete wall, a dead end. I chastise myself, how could I be so stupid?

My eyes quickly survey the 360 degrees around me looking for some way out. A ladder, a door, a ridge in the concrete I could brace my feet on and start to climb. I see none of those things. How about a place to hide? Again nothing.

I’m facing the wall but I know he’s here, behind me. He’s found me, I can hear him pant, I can feel him.

“Hello Liz.” He knows my name.

I turn around to face him. I still have my powers. The battle has not been lost yet.

He slowly pushes the hood back off of his face and I gasp.

“Peter?” It can’t be possible. “But your dead.” I sputter, it’s both a statement and a question.

“Oh Lizzie dear, you didn’t really think you killed me did you? You don’t think I was prepared for you. Come on. I have waited oh so long to carry out my mission, way to long for you stop me now.”

I put my hand up and concentrate my energy. I will use every last ounce of it if I have to. I won’t let him touch me. But nothing happens, why can’t I do anything? Why am I powerless?

“A little impotent are we?” He asks with a chuckle and then he steps closer and wraps his arms around my neck.

I scream. Then I scream, again and again and again.


I bolt upright in bed, drenched with sweat, my heart beating in my chest, still screaming. I clutch my sheets around me trying to take deep breathes and convince myself I am safe.

My eyes survey my surroundings, out of instinct and I start to relax a little seeing I am in my old room, but my eyes stop their survey when they reach the window and I see Max Evans face, he is leaning on the outside of my window staring at me with compassion in his beautiful amber eyes.

“Lizzie, What is it?” my father yells as he pushes the door to my room open, turning on the light, my mother fast on his heels. He’s got his old baseball bat, the one he keeps in his room for protection that he has never had to use yet and he’s looking around the room frantically, not knowing quite what to do.

“Sweetie, your soaked.” My mother says sitting down on the side of my bed, putting the palm of her hand to my forehead.

“I’m sorry, I had a nightmare.” I explain.

“You were screaming so loudly. We thought someone was here.” Dad says dropping the bat and sitting down on the other side of the bed and pulling me into a hug.

“It was so real.” I croak feeling slightly embarrassed. I am supposed to be an adult after all.

“They always do.” My mother replies with a smile. I’m still holding onto my father and I glance out the window over his shoulder, but there is no one there.

I could swear that a few minutes ago Max Evans was outside my window watching over me. I was so sure but now I’m not so sure anymore. What did Tess once say, that it’s easier to see something that’s not there than what’s really there? In my heart I needed him to be there, that’s why I saw him, I will always need him to be, in my mind I know that’s not possible anymore but my heart still hasn’t received the message.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I ring the doorbell to Max and Serena’s house. Why did the meeting have to be held here of all places?

Serena answers. “Hi Liz.” She smiles and she looks genuinely happy to see me

‘Hi” I reply.

Could this be any more awkward? I should have taken Kyle up on his offer to arrive at the meeting together, but you know me, always stubborn, always out to prove I can handle things on my own.

“Come on in.” She says opening the door wider and stepping back so that I can walk inside.

She really is nice, and beautiful. No wonder Max loves her.

She is wearing a low cut olive shirt and beige capris pants. I look down at my own jean skirt, red tank top, and sneakers. I should have worn something different, but after last nights dream I was too tired to put much effort into my appearance this morning.

Anyways, I’m not trying to get Max’s attention I remind myself. He’s already taken, his actions have made that very clear. I am here as a friend, as part of the I know an alien club, nothing more and nothing less.

Serena leads me down the hall to the edge of the family room where everyone is congregated. Michael, Kyle and Valenti are absorbed in a card game. Isabelle and Maria are deeply absorbed in some sort of gossip. I smile. It’s nice to be with my friends again. I glance around admiring the white leather couches, the red walls and the stone fireplace. The place is nice.

“Go ahead, go in.” She ushers me into the family room with yet another smile.

“Were just waiting on Max. He’s getting the kids set up with some crayons and stuff in their rooms so that they won’t disturb us.” She explains.

I just look at her. The kids. Will I ever get used to hearing that?

“Oh.” Is all I say in response. I mean what else am I supposed to say to that?

“Liz. Oh my god Liz!” Maria yells and runs towards me wrapping her arms around me. She wasn’t at the café yesterday when I first arrived home so this is the first I have seen her.

“Hi Liz. It’s great to have you back.” Isabelle says and gives me a hug. It’s not quite as warm as Maria, a little reserved.

I can’t say I’m surprised given the awkwardness of the situation. Isabel and I had grown extremely close while Max was away. I was the maid of honor at her wedding. She was the one who was always talking about how Max and I belonged together and she was always saying “When Max gets back you’ll move in together.’ “When Max gets back he’ll propose to you.” I think when she rented this house for him, it was supposed to be for me to. That thought makes me feel, oh god, I clutch my stomach. I think I’m going to be sick.

Michael has stopped playing card. “I guess it’s my turn” He says putting out his arms to hug me.

I back away covering my mouth with my hand. “Where’s the “

“Down the hall on your right.” Maria says looking panicky.

Everyone is staring at me wondering what is going on. I run to the bathroom and make it just in time, spilling the contents on my stomach in the toilet.

I close the bathroom door and lean against the sink steadying myself with my arms. I’m feeling weak but I have to pull myself together. I splash cold water on my face. I look so white. I pull my lipstick out of my bag, applying it my lips. I pinch my cheeks a few times to give myself some color. I then take a deep breath and open the door heading for what to me is the lions den.

When I make it back into the room everyone stops talking and looks at me converned.

“Gee Liz, if you really didn’t want to hug me you could have just said so.” Michael jokes trying to lighten the mood.

I give him a light jab on the shoulder. “Come here, I still need that hug.”

“Liz, can I talk to you for a minute?” Isabel asks tugging me on the arm, pulling me out of Michael’s embrace towards the bay window.

“Look” she says nervously. “This is really hard. I consider you to be a really goods friend but I also love my brother and with him being back and things not exactly turning out the way we all thought it would….” She doesn’t really know how to continue. Isabelle isn’t usually one at a loss for words.

“You feel like your loyalties are being pulled in two different directions?” I finish for her and I see her nod.

“Isabelle, I would never put you in a position of having to choose between Max and I. Your right things haven’ turned out the way we hoped but Max is still my friend.” I say and I see Isabelle relax. I mean it too, it may not be easy right now, but I do think once it all sinks in that Max and I will be friends again..
“I’m glad.” She says. “You and Maria are the only two real female friends I have ever had and I wouldn’t want to loose that.” She says giving me a hug that is a lot less reserved than before.

Serena comes in from the kitchen holding a tray of egg rolls and sandwiches and other finger foods.

“I thought you might be hungry” She said looking at all of us as she sits the food down on the table. “It’s probably going to be a long meeting.”

None of us make a move towards the food. We are all too nervous about what’s going to happen at the meeting today to eat. We will after all be finding out what happened in Antar the last 4 years, most of which we have been led to believe was not good..

Serena’s face falls. I can tell she has tried really hard and I feel bad but after just getting sick I can’t eat.

Always a good sport, Kyle takes a step forward, grabbing an egg roll off of the tray and taking a bite.

“Umm, this is good.” He says, his mouth still full as he pushes the other half of it in his mouth.

“Thank you Kyle” Serena smiles and goes to sit on the side of the fireplace beside Maria.

Max enters the room. Everyone stops talking and looks in his direction knowing that the long awaited moment has arrived, the answers to the questions we have been asking will be revealed.

He looks fantastic. He always does, I stare at him, unable to look away. It’s as if it’s only he and I in the room as his gaze meets mine and I feel electricity pulsing through every inch of me.

“Liz” Max says to me in a whisper as he walks over to stand beside me.

“Hi Max” I say pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. Am I blushing? This isn’t good.

“Look before the meeting we need to talk” He whispers. “There are some things you need to hear first, before everyone else.”

He’s talking to only me but everyone is listening to us.

“Can you all give us about 20 minutes?” He asks the group.

We all nod except for Michael who doesn’t; look too happy but when Isabelle sends him an icy glare he lets out an exasperated sigh and nods too.

Max starts to walk out of the room motioning for me to follow but I just stand here frozen. “Max, I know we need to talk. I have to admit it’s hard for me but I promise you we will, but not know. We need to talk about the danger we face, what you learned on Antar, Kyle and I have to talk about the alien attack.” I’m rambling now. I am just so nervous. Part of me wants to hear what Max has to say to me, but another part of me, an equal part of me is scared of what Max has to say to me.

Max hesitates for a moment and then nods. “Ok” He smiles at me softly and comes back into the room taking a seat on one of the leather chairs.

“No it’s not ok.” Serena yells getting up and standing to face Max.

“Serena’ he says calmly

“No, on Antar, you were a great king. You were strong , spoke your mind, took action. Ever since you’ve been back you’ve been so passive and meek. Is this what Liz brings out in you?” She demands and I have to say I am completely shocked at her change in her demeanor.

“Serena, be quiet. This is not the time or the place” He says his voice a little louder, but still patient.

“No. You talked about how wonderful Liz is the whole time we were on Antar. Your wonderful soul mate and how you had to get back to her and what happens after we arrive? She takes off, doesn’t even talk to you, the love of her life?”

Max scratches his head nervously and gets up from the chair giving Serena a look that clearly shows he is not happy with her.

She sees the look but continues anyway. “And your just as bad. You know you have to tell her. She has a right to know , they all need to know but you want to wait until she’s ready. What if she’s never ready Max?.”

I’ve had about enough of this. Not only is she treating Max horribly but now she’s attacking me and I feel I have to defend myself.

“Serena, this is between Max and I. Stay out of it.” I say looking around the room hoping someone else will intervene. They don’t. Just like me they really don’t know what to say.

“No, this is about so much more than that, can’t you understand that? “ She looks extremely frantic.

She looks at me with pleading eyes and I actually feel sorry for, she seems so scared. “Mother, please.” She begs.

I take a step back in surprise. Mother, did she just call me mother? I look at Max and his face has gone white. What is she talking about?

Serena lifts her hand up to cover her mouth, realizing what she has just said and she turns to Max guilt consuming every inch of her face.

“Oh dad, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I just…” She is crying now.

“It’s ok’ He says pulling her to him, stroking her hair as she cries into his chest.

Serena can’t be my daughter, she just can’t be, can she? I look at Max for confirmation as feelings of confusion, doubt, shock are all running through me.

He just stands there staring at me. I need him to say something, anything. My eyes are pleading with him, silence permeating the entire world around me.

“This just isn’t how I wanted you to find out Liz. This is just not how I wanted it at all.”