Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Roswellian characters. My plot springs from the original plot of Roswell, which I also do not own.
Rating: ADULT
Pairings: Zan/Liz. Ava/?. Michael/Maria. Alex/Isabelle. Max/Tess.
Summary: Liz gets away from it all. Leaving Roswell and its inhabitants behind when Max and Tess hook up. This is after prom, before grad, and Alex does go away to Sweden, the real Sweden. Liz is looking to change who she is, adapting to her new, yet unrealized abilities, and reaquainting herself with an old friend, and new attraction; all while staying in New York with her Aunt Amada.
Author's Note: I have over 100 handwritten pages of this story done, but I will be posting it in increments at my leisure. I love to write and though my other story was discontinued it was due to a sudden death in the family, and several bad reviews. I hope this one is received better. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
Thanks a million to RMB for this beautiful banner.
Chapter One
It had to be the smell; it was the singularly most disquieting thing that Liz was aware of as she walked down the narrow dank alleyway leading to Amada’s lower east side apartment complex. Since her arrival in New York a few short weeks before, Liz had come to the conclusion that her life would be irrevocably altered from her experiences in Roswell, New Mexico.
When she had seen Tess and Max kissing at Prom, she hadn’t
been sure how she had felt, she hadn’t been positive she could breathe through the hysteria her views and feelings had compressed inside her. Sean, Maria’s cousin, had suggested she take a break from her life, disappear for a while and let her heart and mind fall back into sync before they start a relationship, something she had almost jumped into with the desperation of needing normalcy back in her life.
That same week, three days later, Liz had faced her father and asked him if she could go visit her godmother in New York, where she was currently residing. Jeff had agreed readily, despite the meager protests of his wife, Nancy. It had been hard to tell Maria and Alex she was leaving, even harder to actually do it, but the moment she stepped out of the terminal and into New York, she had felt freed from all the alien ruckus that had ruled her life for so long.
Max had found out she had left last week, only two weeks into her stay, and called her at Amada’s place, begging her to come back, explaining to her how vulnerable he had been and that he and Tess weren’t together, that he wanted to start over with Liz. It had been hard, but Liz had gulped down a few well placed breaths of air and told him to let her go, to move on because it was quite apparent to her that they could no longer be together; she had spoken clearly and decisively, hoping that the tears leaking from her eyes would not be heard in her voice, and obviously they hadn’t because Max’s tone became harsh and commanding, ordering her to return or forever be outcast among them; and she had said goodbye with a finality that rang across the blue paisley walls of her godmother’s guest room long after the conversation had ended.
Sean had been right, getting away was liberating, freeing, and for the first time since that fateful day back in the Crashdown when Max had healed her, Liz felt like Liz once more.
A loud clatter could be heard several floors up from Liz’s spot at the end of the alley as she waited to cross the street, and an arguing couple stood shouting on the corner not far from Liz. She shook her head as the scent of New York filled her up and an odd sensation pulled at her causing her to peer more closely at her surroundings, at the two Puerto Rican girls making their way down the city block, arms looped, walk in sync, at the vendor selling some shaved ice to a little girl and her mother, both of whom stood under the large colorful umbrella that was keeping the already sinking sun off them, at the group of young kids playing around with a basketball in the middle of the street, and finally she saw what had been pulling at her; Ava.
Tess’s dupe stood in her gutter rat clothes, the same Liz remembered seeing back when she and the other set of royals came to Roswell on alien business. The purple, blonde, and black hair was longer, pulled back into a ponytail at the top of her head, the lip piercing was gone, and thought the clothes screamed hoodlum, Liz knew she was the same girl who had laughed when they hugged goodbye, the same girl who’d called her cornball.
In addition to the shock coursing through her veins, Liz was surprisingly excited at seeing Ava again. Even though the petite young woman shared the same face as Tess, Liz’s least favorite person in the world; she was nothing like her and Liz found herself endeared toward the tiny alien.
Ava snapped out her reverie first and crossed the distance between them, stunning Liz as she pulled her into a full clenching hug. “How you doing, Cornball?” Liz pulled away glancing over the girl again, noticing the subtle changes in her outward demeanor.
“I’m good, shocked, but good. What are you doing here? I thought you were headed to California?”
“I could ask you the same. Small town girl in the city? Nah, I’m just as shocked as you are. You here with somebody? Max up to some shit in this place? Can’t imagine him letting you come here by yourself.”
“Me and Max aren’t together, actually. I’m here visiting my godmother, Amada Jones, she lives across the street. Why don’t you come up and we can talk?” Liz started walking without waiting for a reply, assuming Ava would follow, and she wasn’t disappointed when she opened the door to the building with a key and Ava sauntered in behind her.
“I went to Cali for a while, but that shit gets old quick. New York will always be my home. Some stuff happen though, I think maybe you should know.” Liz nodded, she led the way to the third floor and turned left toward the next flight of stairs where she opened the closest door.
Inside wood floors shined, red walls set warmth to the place, and a long partisan runner led toward the living room, but on the way Liz stopped at an open archway leading into a small 8’ by 9’ kitchen; Liz opened a medium sized white fridge that was inset to line up with a long counter that wrapped in an L shape around the right side of the room to the front, and grabbed two bottle of water and a bowl of Puerto Rican rice. She moved to a draw on the left of the fridge and drew out two silver forks.
“We can have something to eat and chat in the living room, my godmother doesn’t get off until nine so we have a few hours.”
“Cool. I’m hungry, too. This city leaves you with little energy by the end of the day you know?” Again Liz nodded, then stepped back onto the runner and led the way into the homey furnished living room. A large soft black couch sat on the far right wall, a vinyl overstuffed armchair next to it, and a polished oak end table sat to the left of the opposite side. A glass and mahogany coffee table was sitting on another rug, similar to that of the runner. A flower-filled vase sat in the center of the table and an array of housekeeping and cosmopolitan magazines lay across the top.
Ava noticed a massive entertainment system up against the wall to the left as they walked in to the room, it sat opposite the couch. TV, satellite, play station, X-box 360, a VCR/DVD player, and stereo were all tastefully spread out in various places in the entertainment system. Ava whistled softly, awed by the finery around her, “Damn, Liz why’s your godmother living in this neighborhood when she can afford all this?”
“She grew up on the lower east side, her and her mom and three sisters were raised here, and even though she graduated at Berkley with my mom, she says that you can’t forget your roots, that sometimes even when you leave home you have to go back, that’s how you know where you belong, where you decide to live for the rest of your life tells you if home was where you started out, or if home is something bigger; that if you live somewhere other than where you were born for the rest of your life, then you were meant for bigger and better things. I don’t know where she picked that up, but I think it’s nice.” Liz shrugged then collapsed gracefully onto the black couch, popping off the lid of the water bottle, sticking a fork in the bowl of rice and commencing to snack.
“I like it, too. I can relate ya know? I mean, Cali wasn’t for me. New York is the place to be.” Liz giggled a little at the unconscious rhyme and nodded in comprehension of what the girl was saying.
“I guess you’re probably wondering why I’m here, huh?” Ava grabbed a fork and mumbled a ‘yeah’ through a mouthful of rich Puerto Rican flavors and spice. Liz began telling her about everything that happened after Ava left, and without any real prompting from the small punk, Liz told her about Max, the future one, about everything crazy that had taken place, about the painful scene set up for the real Max, about the regret Liz felt, the guilt, about the end of the world, and then she reiterated about Max and Tess and prom and finally snapping.
“So when he told me on the phone that if I didn’t come back I was out, I guess I couldn’t to it anymore, you know? I couldn’t make myself got through that pain again, not after everything I did for them, not after I broke my own heart for him. So I don’t think I’m going back. I graduated already; I took some online courses just so I could have the extra humph for when I would graduate with my class, but when I was leaving I guess part of me knew it was for good, so I cashed in on my credits and without telling my parents I got my diploma and here I am. Harvard isn’t my dream anymore, I don’t know what I want to do. Even though the pain is ebbed a little, I can’t make myself go back, not when I have nothing to go back to.” Liz was whispering now, her voice was low and soft, and her doe brown eyes glistened with unshed tears, her hands, now neatly folded in her lap were shaking minutely and a quiver was running up and down her body, racking her with silent sobs.
“You are a strong person, Liz. I don’t think I could do the shit you did, not even for a whole planet. I know one thing though, you’s can’t go right now, maybe in the future, but you can’t do that to yourself again, it’ll break you, Liz.” Ava hugged her and Liz gasped a little as she choked down sobs, not making any sound even when Ava told her she could cry, to let it out. Not one tear left her and slowly Liz extracted herself, composed and calm once more, as she set herself to the task of cleaning up after them.
“I have got something else I need to tell you, Liz. Remember how I told you and the others Zan died?” Confusion started to mar Liz’s face as she wondered where she was going with this line of conversation.
“Yes, Lonnie and Rath killed him with a truck, pushed him in the street and held him there.”
“I thought that too, but Zan ain’t dead. He came to me, when I came back, he was hurt real bad, but somehow he survived. Rath and Lonnie, they didn’t stay around long enough to make sure he was dead, and they pulled me along so I thought he was done too, but he survived. Some alien, Larek or some shit, saved him, and healed him up enough to survive, apparently healing isn’t his strong suit, so Zan was hauled up in bed in some hole in the wall apartment for months, till I got here.”
“My God.” Liz gasped softly, and then she remembered something, a feeling she had had a few weeks ago when she had come here, as if Max was with her, but he couldn’t be. The feeling only lasted a couple blocks away from Amada’s workplace one afternoon when Liz was driving to see her godmother for a lunch date.
“Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. I felt the same way when I saw him. I don’t heal so I couldn’t do him any good, and he’s still too weak to do a damn thing about his wounds. But I got him back.” Ava smiled at that and her posture relaxed a little with the thought.
“He’s your family. I hope he’ll be alright. But what about Lonnie and Rath, do you know what happened to them?” Ava shook her head.
“I ain’t worried about them. They don’t have a reason to come back, the summit is over, and the granilith is with your Zan.” Liz nodded her head and jumped a little when the miniature grandfather clock in the next room chimed nine times. “Maybe I best get going? Your godmother will be home soon, I need to go take care of Zan.” Ava got up to leave and Liz followed her to the door. “Bye Cornball.” They hugged and laughed a little.
“Come back tomorrow, Ava. I need a friend in this city. We’ll hang out, do something.” Ava nodded and held her fist out to Liz, who with a small shy smile, bumped her fist and chuckled when Ava made a face at her lack of knowledge on how to do it.
“Night Liz.”
“Night.”
Liz closed the door behind Ava and headed toward the living room. She passed by the end table and down the hall beside it. Two doors to her left, Liz stopped and entered the guest room, which had become her second home. The blue paisley walls were now familiar and homey and her faint vanilla body spray permeated the air. A small oak wood vanity sat against the wall near the door, an array of lipsticks, shadows, foundations, body sprays, make up brushes, glitters, and body lotions covered the gleaming surface and a large matching wood framed mirror backed it. The bed lay against the corner of the far wall and a window was positioned next to the queen-sized structure, the window seat full of lacey white and pale blue throw pillows.
Liz made her way to her laptop, seated on a rickety old stained wood table that had numerous gouges in the top and sat in the contrasting new gray cushioned-backed chair. She started to type an email to Maria, then one to Alex, and then decided to call her dad to see how he and her mom were doing.
Ring. Ring. Ring. “Hello, Parker residence.” It was her mom’s soft lilting voice that sounded clearly through the phone.
“Hi mom. How are you?”
“Oh Liz, dear, hello. I’m fine, so is your father. How are you, Honey? Are you enjoying your stay with your godmother? Is Amada around?”
“No she’s at work. I’m fine. Amada’s fine. And yes I am enjoying my stay.”
“Well that’s good. We miss you so much dear, and so do your friends. Maria is so lost without you, and Alex, well Alex is in Sweden, but I assume he misses you, too. We’ll be so glad to have you back next week.” Liz sighed, then sucked in a breath as she prepared to tell her mother she wasn’t going to be home next week.
“About that mom. I’m not coming home next week. I’ve decided to stay with Amada a little longer. She told me when I got here that I could stay as long as I like, and even though we said I’d come back in a month, I don’t think I’m quite ready to be back.” Liz held her breath as she heard her father in the background getting on the extension.
“What do you mean you’re not coming back. Graduation is next weekend and you and your friends will be going to a camp out in Frasier woods. It’s all planned.” Her father said it without a temper but Liz sensed it was near the surface.
Liz sucked in another deep breath, let it out, and then continued, “I just don’t think I’m ready to be back, and I wouldn’t be attending graduation anyway. I’ve already gotten my diploma.”
“WHAT?” Liz could hear her mother jump at the sound of her father’s yell.
“I got it from Mr. Hooper before I left for New York and I still made valedictorian so I have the prestige of the title and all the credits, but I won’t be attending graduation.” Liz tried to say this calmly and rationally hoping against hope her father would see reason.
“YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO US ELIZABETH! EVERY PARENT DESERVES TO SEE THEIR CHILD GRADUATE! YOU ARE NOT STAYING THERE ANY LONGER THAN YOU PLANNED. YOU WILL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEK!” Liz felt rage building in her. How dare they assume that they have any rights to her life at all. She turned eighteen two months ago, and there was no way in hell anyone else was going to screw with her life. She had let the pod squad do that for far too long, and she was not going to let it happen again.
“I am not coming home, DAD. I am not ready to come home, DAD! I will do what I think is really best for ME, DAD! So stop bossing me around. I have a diploma, I am valedictorian of my class, and I am eighteen years old, DAD! So I’m staying here for as long as I need, DAD. Goodnight.” Liz slammed down the phone and the lights in her room blew out with a loud smashing sound and Liz felt an explosion inside of her.
The sound of keys jingled in the front door lock and Liz bolted out of her bed, stepping on a piece of shattered glass. “SHIT!” Liz covered her mouth with her hand and sat back down on the chair, removing the chuck of glass and hissing as it slid out, red blood already dotting the floor.
“I’m home. Are you here, Liz?” Amada’s voice filtered through the apartment and into Liz’s room.
“I’m home. Could you come here, please?” Liz called back.
Footsteps were heard and then Amada stepped into the room, gasping at the sight of Liz’s bleeding foot as the hall light flooded the room. “Liz what happened? Are you alright?” Amada’s expensive black pumps crunched across the floor as she walked toward Liz.
“I’m fine. The lights did some weird power thing and then the bulbs shattered; I just stepped on some glass.” Amada nodded her head, not saying anything about how strange it was for the bulbs to burst into pieces.
“With the night light, desk lamp, vanity mirror light bulbs lining the top, ceiling fan light, and bedside lamp, it’s safe to say your room would be dangerous with all the shattering bulbs. I’ll get the first aid kit, then the broom and dust pan. I have a 24 pack of light bulbs in the linen closet.” Amada rushed out of the room, her tall figure and long hair zipping past the glass shards, stepping on a hand full as she left.
“What a day.” Liz mumbled to herself and held the bottom of her gray NYU sweatshirt to the sole of her foot, it was one of the many New York paraphernalia she had collected in the past three weeks. Blood soaked through the cottony material and Liz sighed deeply once more.
Amada returned a few moments later, first aid kit, broom and dust pan in hand. Clicking open the box Amada poured a small amount of peroxide on Liz’s foot and bandaged it, then the two set about cleaning the mess, once Liz had put on some footwear. Half hour later the room was clean and the light bulbs were all replaced.
“Well I’m tired, long day butting heads with Dave and George over the Marlette girl’s court case. I think I’m going to have some tea and go to bed. Night.” Amada was a high priced attorney at the law office of Chaplin and Chaplin and had been for a long time. Liz whispered goodnight and smiled as her brown eyes were reflected in the deep green pools gazing back at her. Amada kissed her on the cheek and smiled as she walked away, undoing the buttons of her white work blouse and pulling off the clip that held some of her waist length hair back.
Climbing into bed Liz decided to tell her godmother tomorrow that she’d be staying longer than expected, and then lay puzzling over what had happened earlier with the lights. She’d felt a surge of anger, then she’d had this painful feeling that felt too strong, and when she’d hung up the phone it had seemed to be sapped from her and the lights blew. God even when things were normal they were weird.
The following morning, Liz woke to the sound of buzzing. Someone was buzzing the apartment to get into the building. Ambling out into the living room, Liz pressed the button on the wall near the hallway leading out, and asked who it was.
“It’s Ava. Going to let me up?” Liz buzzed her in and grabbed the note posted to the fridge reading the neat scrawled writing of her godmother,
‘Liz, had to go to work early. Dick called with an emergency. See you this
Afternoon. Love, Amada.”
A knock at the door had Liz turning to open it, and Ava walked in wearing a different, yet equally street urchin look. Black cargo pants with lots of pockets and small tears hung loose on her hips and a black long sleeve shirt that reached just below her breasts clung tightly to her, leaving little to the imagination. A swirling whirlwind tattoo surrounded her belly button, it was pierced and the silver bar stuck through it off set the piercing in the eyebrow.
“You ready yet?”
“No, I just woke up. I’ll go get changed.” Liz ambled into her room, leaving Ava to sit on the couch and flip through the channels. A quick shower later, Liz was sorting through her drawers. She pulled out some red lace underwear set, pulled on a pair of black silk short shorts and green tube top made of a soft material. She pulled on a miniature matching green sweater, it covered most of Liz’s arms but barely stretched across her shoulder blades and around her breasts.
Ava shouted if she was ready yet, and Liz called back in a minute as she applied a light coding of deep green shadow, soft brown liner, golden foundation, and a touch of gloss. Pulling on a pair of green pumps to match, Liz grabbed her black handbag and headed out. She liked to get dressed up before hitting the streets during the day, it made her feel more confident among people who were harsh and critical.
“Wow, you look great, Cornball. Don’t get to wear that all that often in Roswell, huh?” Ava whistled and laughed when Liz blushed, and then they headed out. On the busy streets it was easy to get pushed about and turned around, but Ava went with it and Liz stuck close. They visited the sights, the Empire state building, Time Square, Wall Street, even caught a glimpse of the statue of Liberty as they took a ferry ride. At around two they stopped at vendor near the subway and ate some hot dogs.
“I love it here. It so full of life and freedom. I’m glad I came.” Liz smiled broadly, lifting her face to the muggy air and hot sun, breathing in the scent of New York, and when she looked back at Ava the girl was looking down the block at something. “Are you okay, Ava?” Ava snapped back to the present and nodded.
“Yeah, I was just thinking about Zan. I should go check on him. Would you come with?” Liz hesitated, she had come to New York to get away from alienness, not embrace it, but Ava was her friend and if she was worried then she was going to be there for her, besides if she was hurt she’d want someone there for her.
“Sure.” So the two took the subway and ended up near Amada’s workplace, Chaplin and Chaplin. They wended their way three blocks over and Liz followed Ava to a tall dilapidated apartment complex that didn’t look fit to live in.
“It ain’t much, but it’s home.” Ava unlocked the door and they walked down two halls before stopping at a ground level apartment, which she let them into. “Zan? You alright?”
They heard a grunt and Liz followed Ava as they passed through the cracked walled hallway and into a small living room with ripped up furniture and one low glass coffee table. Zan lay sprawled out on the couch, bandages around his waist and lower legs. He didn’t acknowledge them, but Ava knew he was aware that they were there.
“Zan? You alright? This is Liz. I mentioned her.” Zan grunted again, then rolled over, which seemed to take quite a bit out of him. He looked her up and down and Liz noticed the remarkable likeness he had to Max. His hair was longish and slightly curled, brown, he had an eyebrow pierced, and a V shaped tattoo on his chest. His ears were pierced several times, and he looked more built than Max was.
“What she doing here, Aves?” Ava said she had been worried and that Liz had been with her so they had both come.
“I can feel her power, Aves. She’s dangerous.” It was a statement that had Liz reeling, and she stepped back, not willing to examine that statement.
“She ain’t a threat. She’s my friend. Your dupe changed her.”
Liz cleared her suddenly dry throat and shook her head in disbelief. “I’m not changed, Ava. That thing was a fluke, it had to be. I haven’t seen anything since then, and I think it might have been Isabel, she has powers, not me.” Zan gave Liz a lancing look, and Ava shook her head incredulously.
“Isabel is only 50/50 powerful. She couldn’t have projected herself that far, or been able to warn Max. You did that.” Liz continued to shake her head in denial and stepped back again.
“No. Besides I’m human, born and raised.”
“When he healed you he changed that.”
“I’m human, even if he changed me wouldn’t I just be 50/50 too?”
“No, because he used his powers, something only his alien half can tap into, and because it was that half that touched you, it brought you back to life, and made you just like it, but full, got me?” This time it was Zan that spoke and his voice was stronger, more in charge.
“I’m human.” Liz spoke again in denial, then as if her body was being pulled forward, Liz slid through the room and landed at Zan’s side, she put her hands out in front of her, bracing them on his chest to halt the movement, and then she felt it. That odd out of place surge of emotion, it pulled forward like the night before, but this time her hands started to glow, and the bandages on Zan’s body did also. Liz stared incredulously as they disintegrated and the ugly gashes and wounds started to heal.
Ava watched on in disbelief and Liz’s eyes turned large as saucers as flashes assaulted her in rapid succession.
Zan breaking out of the pods*
Zan helping Lonnie, Rath, and Ava from their pods*
Killing a stranger who had cut Rath in an alley as a seven year old*
Running from the cops as they chased him and Ava*
Zan healing Ava when she fell from a stairwell breaking her arm*
Zan being pushed in front of the truck and it hitting him*
Larek pulling him back from death and putting him in the apartment*
Zan seeing Liz for the first time*
The visions stopped and Liz pulled back gasping and tired. Ava pulled her up and held her as Liz sucked in air, coughing and sputtering as she tried to contain her shaking. When she was steadier, Liz pulled back and realized that Zan was standing, pulling on a t-shirt, his wounds completely healed.
“What the fuck was that?” Liz didn’t flinch when she heard herself curse, but tasted the oddity of how it felt on her tongue.
“I needed help healing and you could help.” Zan shrugged indifferently and that only caused Liz to get more upset, and angry, without thinking she pulled back her hand and SMACK! She hit him across the face, shaking with the visible effort of holding off.
Zan reached out grabbed her hand gave her a hard look then kissed her palm. “That hurt.” Liz was shocked and she could feel Ava tense beside her. “Don’t do that again, angel.” He let go of her hand and walked out, heading for the apartment door, ready to leave. Ava didn’t try to stop him, and Liz was still stupefied by his actions, so the two stood there for several moments, then turned to leave, she couldn’t be there right now. She had to get away. Ava stayed her with a gentle hand on her shoulder and after a mental debate on how safe it was to go out on her own, Liz sighed and took a seat on the now vacant couch.
Author's Note: What'd you think? Let me know! Continue? Yes? No?