Alienation (FF,ADULT, CC & UC)**Recasting**

[KatnotKath]

OOC: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know this sounds like a broken record, but seriously, my life is crazy right now. I'm doing very very little outside work, last weekend I was home for a couple of days, but then I was seeing my parents of course, and prior and since that I'm still doing lots of overtime at work. I'm just sooooo tired at the moment, and I'm really sorry for not posting. This doesn't actually do anything, except catch up again for Anya and Liz. I know I'm not pulling my weight on here, and I'm so sorry, I thought I had things under control, but then I found out otherwise :-S.

~Liz~

I know how hard this has to be for Max, and I only wish there was more that I could do. It's hard on everyone I guess - the kids because they're finding out something huge, and the rest of us because it brings back so many memories... I can't even imagine how we're going to begin to explain it all as Nate says that they want the whole story soon, but I know it's something that we need to do. We've left it far too long as it is, and the time to put off doing it is fast disappearing...

Swallowing, I look up at Max, feeling his hand on my shoulder, feeling his inner turmoil and knowing it only mirrors my own. It'll be okay...I'm here...I try to convey my thoughts through my eyes, but I only wish at this moment in time that he could hear me...

Then, before we have chance to say anything more, Ava interrupts with the new that Zan has been...arrested...? A part of me wonders if I've misunderstood, but I don't think so, especially not from Max's reponse as his focus immediately shifts to this new development.

"Sure..." I respond with a swift nod as he asks me to unseal the door, watching as he heads out through the door, Nate following him quickly without a word as Ava steps forward and hands me a business card. Her comment about the partying causes me to chuckle, before nodding as she tells me which rooms they're staying in. "Okay, I'll tell him..." I smile softly and reach to hug her again. "It's good to see you again, even under the circumstances Ava...I'm sorry I didn't write more often..."

Stepping back, I now move towards the door Max sealed earlier, pressing my hand against the lock and concentrating for a moment, before the pushing it slightly, allowing it to swing back and forth just to demonstrate it's been sorted, before then turning back to the remainder of the group.

Before I can say anything, Micah and Natalie are heading out too, I'm not sure where too, although I'm guessing maybe they're following Max. I think for the moment there's going to be enough people there, and really I can't leave the diner compeltely without explaining rather more than I really want to. Besides, what good am I really going to do right now. To say nothing of how am I going to get there... No, it seems I'm stuck here until later... With a sigh, I slide down into one of the chairs, shaking my head slowly.

"Aunt Liz..."

I look up, not having realised that Anya was still there, which could be because it's so unusual, sitting around, staying quiet isn't her usual style, but I think this has taken everyone by surprise, and I guess that makes different people act in different ways... Forcing a smile, I stand and walk over to her. "I thought you'd have gone with Natalie and Micah..." I comment softly.

She shakes her head, for once it seems at a loss for words. "How come you and Uncle Max never tried to find Zan...?"

The way she asks it is so simple, and yet the answer is anything but... I swallow and shake my head. "Zan's mother told us he was normal sweetheart...and if he had been with us he would have been in danger... Your Uncle wanted him to be safe...and he thought that giving him away was the best way to do that... He wanted him to have a normal life...something that we couldn't have given him..."

"Do you think it was the right decision...?"

"Do you know how much like your mother you sound right now...?" I respond, putting off answering for just a moment. So blunt and to the point... Maria's not always like that I know, but there have been times and sometimes it's very much like mother like daughter..." I see her continuing to look at me, and I know she's not giving up - another trait she gets from her mother. "I don't know honey...we did what we thought was right at the time... And from the way it turned out, maybe the answer is no, it wasn't the right decision, but we can't change that now, only move forward..."

She seems to think a moment and then nods. "So...I'd really like to get to know Zan more...and I'm sure Nat would too...maybe you could ask Ava about some tickets for the concert...?"

I raise an eyebrow as I realise what she's doing, apparently over the whole drama for the moment, and back to the subject that she and Natalie have been begging Maria, Michael, Max and I about for well over a month. "This would be the concert that you'd have to miss school for...I thought your mom had already answered that one, and your dad for that matter..."

Anya gives a wry smile. "Just thought it was worth a try..."



OOC (again): Assume that Liz would send Max a text, maybe with the numbers of the rooms in the Tumbleweed (which I know he doesn't need thanks to Micah) after this, which is way before what the others are currently doing now anyway. Sorry, I just waited too long to involve them with the rest I though, so I'm doing what I can...

[Loxyanissa14]

~Dom~

I lounge in my car. Shivering a little. When had the sun gone down? I frown when I hear my mother's voice. I catch something about going to bed but I know the threat isn't serious, so I stay where I am.

The vodka is still heavy in my system but I want to make sure Zan is ok. I don't trust this Roswell cult. Mark passes me another shot of vodka. My heads is already spinning but I take it any way.

I wrap my towel around my still damp bathing suit. Some one has placed a blanket over me and I gratful for the extra warmth. I listen to the music as I wait.

[Athenea]

OOC: Who are we waiting on to post in this? Zan is still passed out int the backseat so I wasn't planning on posting for him.

[isabelle]

Sorry -- I know you're waiting on me. Just been a bit pre-occupied. Hope to get something out tonight or tomorrow.

[StormWolfstone]

~Drake~

“Alright, I think we’ll regroup in the morning.” Ava says and I shrug, I could care less how things go. “You take this room and me and Dom will be next door if you need me…I’m glad you made it here okay.” She steps out and even after the door has closed, I can hear her yelling.

“Band Members!!! You guys have a morning photo shoot so I’d suggest you get some sleep because either way your getting up bright and early in the morning!”

“Dominique that wasn’t a suggestion for you!!! Get your ass to bed.” I shake my head and settle in on the bed, leaning against the wall. I’m not really much for sleeping, never have been. I’m always good to go with two to three hours worth of sleep.

I figure that if Ava and her daughter are taking the room next door, then more then likely Zan will be making his way into this room and I’m not worried about locking the door.

[isabelle]

*Max*

I drive off towards the motel, noticing that Micah is following. No worries there. I'm sure he has as many questions as my kids do -- including Zan. I notice that it's starting to get dark, too. We were in the sheriff's station a lot longer than I'd thought. It means that Liz will be getting off of work soon, which is good. But then I think of all the homework I have yet to grade and the homework that Nathaniel and Natalie should have been doing. I'm sure they'll both be up late tonight but I'm guessing it won't be because they're working on their homework.

"Everything okay back there?" I ask, looking in my rear-view mirror. Zan's very human reaction to the alcohol makes me a bit worried about other human reactions that could be a threat to the car's interior, but as I look back, it seems like he's unconcious. It's probably good for him to be sleeping it off as long as he doesn't start to vomit and choke. Natalie's there so I know she'll be looking out for him. I open the center console and feel around there for a moment to find a plastic bag. I dump the candies and the bottle of Tobasco that had been inside and hand the bag back to Natalie. "Just take that in case Zan needs it, okay?"

I turn my attention back to the road. Micah and I seem to have evaded the people with the cameras so that's one thing to be glad of.

"So," Nat says, as if we're just sitting around chatting in the livingroom. He settles back in his seat, relaxing as I tense up. "Why were you and Uncle Michael looking for this spaceship? What did it have to do with Zan?"

I nod to myself; I thought he was going to ask something like that. I chose my words carefully, not sure if Zan is still listening or not. My feelings for Tess are mostly negative -- she was a murderer and she did try to kill us -- but not everything she did was bad. "Zan's mother was still pregnant when she stole the Granolith. I knew Zan was in trouble and I wanted to see if I could use the ship to get to Antar and help him."

"Wait. WHAT?" Nat says spinning towards me. "Tess stole the Granolith. What does she have to do wi --" Nat stops in mid-sentance as he seems to understand.

"Tess was Zan's mother," I explain as levelly as I can. "He was born on Antar. Your mom was the one helping me find the ship. Your Uncle Michael and Aunt Isabel wanted nothing to do with it."

Nathaniel turns and stares at Zan in the back seat. As I glance over, I can almost see the wheels turning in his head. The expression on is face is one of amazement and awe. "Geez," he says, his expression turning darker as he turns towards me. I'm guessing he's thinking about his mom. Or maybe he's thinking about Antar. I hope so. I really don't want to talk about how Zan was concieved. Not yet. Not with him here.

I turn the corner and I see the Tumbleweed ahead. I also see the dark cars parked along the way and a dozen people waiting with cameras outside the entrance. "This we don't need," I say under my breath, but I know Nat and Natalie can hear me.

I keep on driving past the entrance as I pull out my cell phone. Flipping it open, I see I have a text message waiting. Well, I'll check that in a minute. I'd lent Dominque my phone earlier, so I have a record of the number she called. Going through my recent calls, I find it and hit the button to dial. Ava answers, sounding annoyed.

"It's Max," I tell her, wondering if she expected it to be Zan's girlfriend. "There are people staking out the motel with cameras and Zan's passed out in my car. I don't think I want to take him through that. Maybe I should take him to my place?" I ask. Only after the words are out of my mouth do I remember that Ava can mind-warp, too. She could probably be able to get us in without the photogs seeing us.

.

[Athenea]

AVA


"It's Max, There are people staking out the motel with cameras and Zan's passed out in my car. I don't think I want to take him through that. Maybe I should take him to my place?"

I glance out the window to see just what Max is talking about. I wonder how they found us so quickly? I could mind warp them but if I did the reporters I'd have to do the crew to and then have to explain how Zan just appeared in his hotel room. And that's alot of mind warping anyway, at least 40 people all together.

"Just take him to your place and I'll come and get him in the morning." I say and then I remember the last time Zan passed out. "Max if he passed out its probally the only sleep he's had in days and last time he did that he woke up...disoriented. Just be careful okay?" I tell him remembering how it took me, Dom, Sam, and Danny to get him to calm down last time and he still ended up giving Danny a black eye and Sam a bloody nose. Luckily everyone was so caught up in calming him down they didn't notice the random exploding objects.

"Jayden and Brigette should be here in the morning as well." I tell him. I'm not really sure when but she said a few hours.

[isabelle]

*Max*


Ava agrees to letting me take Zan to my house and I’m momentarily confused. Why wouldn’t she just help us sneak him in? But I’m also secretly glad. As much as I know that he doesn’t seem to be excited about knowing me and his siblings, I am very excited about getting to know him. I want to be able to take care of him and give him a safe place – even if it’s only for a day or two before the band moves on. Actually, I’m not so sure how safe it will be with ‘Duke’ and his friends after us, but it’ll be safer than Zan facing them on his own, I’m sure.

"Max if he passed out its probably the only sleep he's had in days and last time he did that he woke up...disoriented. Just be careful okay?" Ava says. Her voice carries far more concern than the simple words would seem to require. ‘Disorientated’ is probably a gross understatement, especially if he’s not with anyone he knows. If he’s as tired as Ava suggests, maybe we’ll be lucky and he’ll sleep through until Ava and Dominque get to the house.

“Okay. Thanks for the warning. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell her before hanging up the phone. Ava mentioned Bridgette and Jayden, too. Soon I’ll be meeting my grandchild. How amazingly strange is that?

“Looks like Zan’s spending the night with us,” I tell the kids. I thumb through the menu to get the text message I’d noticed before. It’s from Liz, giving the same information that Micah gave us already about Ava’s room. From the time-stamp, I can see that she’d sent it before I’d even gotten to the sheriff’s station. The power’s low and I guess I didn’t hear the tone. I use my powers to quickly recharge the phone before putting it back in my pocket.

[isabelle]

*Nathaniel*

Wow. Zander Grey is staying at our house! Wait until I tell all my friends. They'll be so jealous. I wonder if I can tell them that he's actually my brother -- Would they believe me? I'd offer to let him sleep in my room if I didn't think he was going to puke over everything.

Oh wait, he's a half-brother. How could Dad have done that? With Tess! I know she was Dad's former queen, but she's also a traitor. She tried to kill everyone. Besides, I always thought that he and mom were in love since they'd met. How could he and Tess have ... I don't get it. And Antar! I didn't think he'd been there since he'd been murdered. And mom -- mom was part of the robbery? Does she have a record, too?

So many questions, I don't even know where to start.

"How did you get to Antar?" I manage.

"I didn't," Dad says simply. His mouth is a thin straight line and his attention is focused only on the road like he's afraid to look at me. "Tess brought him back. She managed to crash her ship and got the FBI and the Air Force on her trail again, leading them straight to us. It was a very scary time."

I nod, trying to understand. "But you got out okay." I know this because we're all still living in Roswell and not in some government laboratory.

"Yeah, but it wasn't easy. Tess died to protect Zan ... or we think she did. But Zan was still in danger. Not just from the FBI or the Air Force, but from Khivar, too," Dad says.

[isabelle]

*Max*

We finally come to our house and I pull the car into the driveway and Micah comes up right behind. Zan is still dead to the world in the back seat. I hope he’s okay. I wonder if I should try to do anything to get the poisons out of his system. That hasn’t worked real well in the past but Zan seems to be a bit different than me and Michael.

“Everybody out,” I say, shutting down the engine. I move to the back and get my arm around Zan. “Let’s go, sleepy-head,” I tell him softly, not wanting to wake him after Ava’s comment. With a little help from my telekinetic powers, I’m able to lift him out of the seat without bothering him and then I start walking up towards the house. He’s heavier than he looks but do a fair bit of the lifting with my mind.

“Where are you taking him?” Nathaniel asks, looking at me with suspicious eyes.

“I’ll put him on the futon in the den. Ava says he hasn’t slept in several days so we need to let him rest,” I say. Maybe I’ll sleep down there, too, just in case he wakes up in the middle of the night and doesn’t know where he is. I can use the recliner. “Go get the door for me.”

Nathaniel runs to take care of that for me and in a few minutes more, I’m laying the rock star down and taking off his shoes. I pull an old comfy afgan down and tuck it up around his shoulders. Straightening up, I take a look at him again. He looks like a girl lying there, his soft face relaxed and his dark hair splayed across the pillow. He looks so much like Tess, it's amazing. I have no idea what Ava saw of me in him beyond his dark hair. Well, at least he’s safe for now, I think.

That thought brings to mind others who haven’t been warned. Isabel is alone in Boston and her daughter is at my father’s house. I pull out my cell phone again and step away from Zan a bit so my voice won’t disturb him.

“When he wakes up in the morning, he might be a bit freaked out, so be careful,” I tell the kids as I call up my sister’s number. Not surprisingly, the phone rings a few times and then I get her voice mail. “Isabel? It’s Max. We have some trouble here that might affect you, too,” I say, thinking of Duke. Actually, since it’s apparent he’s attacking those on the fringes first, it’s possible he’s already gone after Isabel. No. She or Jesse would have called, wouldn’t they? Unless they’ve already been --

No. I shut that thought from my mind. Glancing at Zan, my voice softens a bit. “We also have friendly visitors. Ava’s here and you won’t believe who she brought with her. Give me a visit tonight and we can talk. Say, four or five A.M. your time?,” I say. A dreamwalk is probably the safest way to discuss this. “Talk to you then.”