Roswell Fanatics

I know there will be a lot of questions with this next part....I have answered a lot, this is the longest part I have written but there is still so much I have to explain, like how do the evenst of season 2 ie. Nicholas, the skins, the dupes play into this, who is peter. etc. etc. This will all come out in future parts of this story. Also, it may be a long road but this fic is dreamer assurred.

Thank you so much for the feedback and the bumps, your support keeps me writing.I really hope you enjoy this part!

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End of Part 10

“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, and 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.”



Part 11

Silence. I am still engulfed in silence. Paralyzed by it, the ramifications of Serena’s statement still hazy, existing only on the outside of my mind. I don’t take a step, but my eyes do, surveying the room, searching the faces of my best friends, my family. They are also starring open mouthed at Serena in shock. She is their family now, they are seeing her differently.

I look at Max and like last night when I saw him at the Crashdown, waves of love crash into me. I open myself up to him and the haze surrounding my mind starts to fade, and I realize exactly what this means.

Tears stream down my face, tears start to stream down his mimicking mine, a physical sign that our connection is starting to form again.

“So you and Serena aren’t?” I choke, barely able to get the words out.

“We are not together.” He is still standing a few feet away but his eyes never leave my face.

“So that means that you didn’t…”

“No.” He says.

“You waited for me?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“For the last 4 years?”

“I waited for you for the last 4 years.” He repeats knowing that I need to hear him say every single word. Tears stream down my face at his confession.

I forget everyone else is in the room. In this moment we are back at that day at the Crashown. Max Evans has just brought me back from the brink of death, to a new life, full of possibilities. I have seen into his soul and he into mine, we will never be the same again and neither of us wants to be.

He takes a step towards me, I take a step forward, and we continue this process of baby steps until the toes of my sneakers are touching the toes of his hiking boots. He reaches for me and I immediately melt into his arms. He wraps his arms around me, my head rests against his chest, and I can hear his heart beat, so strong and powerful. There is so much I want to say, but it can wait, for now I just want to be in the arms of Max Evans, allowing the hopes and dreams I let go of 6 weeks ago back into every cell of my body, back to where they belong.

After a few moments I slowly pull away, giving him a smile. I turn to look at the brunette standing quietly behind me.

“Serena. You’re my daughter?” I ask her. I know Max believes it and I know Serena believes it too, but I am not sure I do. It just doesn’t make any sense.

She nod and I pull her into a hug.

“How?” I ask. “I mean you look to be about my age. How is this possible?” I have so many questions.

“Yes. How exactly are you Max and Liz’s daughter?” Michael asks skeptically, he and the others have moved forward towards the middle of the room where Max, Serena and I are standing.

“I didn’t think that you and Liz had ever done it?” He raises his eyebrows at Max.

Max sighs and it is only now I realize how exhausted he looks. I wonder how much he has slept since he has been back in Roswell. My guess is very minimally, Max was never one to sleep when he had a lot on his mind.

“We weren’t together that way, well at least not in this life.” He shifts uncomfortably and then looks at me and I blush. His brief explanation is met with puzzled faces.

“Why don’t we all sit down?” Serena suggests. “And we can start at the beginning.”

Every one nods. I sit with Max on the couch, Kyle on my other side. Serena takes the ottoman across from us.

Isabelle sits in the chair across from us and Maria and Michael sit on the floor by the fireplace.

Serena notices Valenti is still standing. “I’ll get you a chair from the kitchen.” She says.

“Liz” Kyle whispers to me when Serena comes back with the chair. “She does sort of look like you.”

Now I find myself looking at Serena, really looking at her, studying the curve of her chin, it’s exactly like mine. She has long tapered fingers like me too. We have the same hair, eyebrows. Her eyes are hazel, like Max’s and her neck is long like his too. Her ears are middle of the road, not as small as mine but not as big as Max’s. Why didn’t I notice this before?

Max smiles at me and then looks at Michael and Isabelle. He clears his throat and begins the tale of his former life. “In our other life, Zan was, I was never married to Ava as she and Nasedo had led us to believe.”

“I was married to Theea. “Max squeezes my hand. “Theea was you Liz.”

“Max.” I protest. “I was born here in Roswell New Mexico. I am not an alien.” I so wish it were true. I have often dreamed that Max and I were together before, in that other life but I know it is physically impossible.

“Liz, you were Theea. Just bear with me while I explain,ok?” He asks me.

I just nod.

“Theea and I had a daughter named Serena. She was the greatest joy in our life our only heir. Serena was four years old when the war broke out and we along with most of our people were destroyed. Serena was killed first. Kivar slayed her himself while Liz and I tied and bound in metal chains were forced to watch our beloved daughter die.” He chokes.

“You remember it don’t you.” Isabelle says softly.

Max nods. “The longer I was on Antar, the more I remembered. I have all of my memories now.”

“Wow.” Kyle says and I squeeze Max’s hand. I can’t even imagine how awful it would be to watch our daughter slain right before our eyes.

“A few months before the final attack Mother knew that things were not going our way and that we would most likely be killed in the war and Antar would fall. With the help of our key scientist Varad, she had Isabelle, Michael and I were cloned and sent to earth to keep the royal line intact with the intent that we would come back to save Antar. However, a few weeks later Varad approached her shamefully. He had made an error in his calculations, the formula wasn’t right. We would be defective.”

“The New York pods.” I say.

“Mother begged Varad to try again. She knew there wasn’t much time left. She also realized she had made a mistake as well. I was a good King but I was family man first and foremost and she realized that without my wife and child I would not be able to carry out my mission, so this time she asked Varad to clone Theea and Serena as well.”

“The day we were killed my mother and Varad ran into the lab and worked to quickly move the pods onto the spacecraft. While they were doing this, Kivar and his men intercepted them. My mother did everything she could and lost her life trying to protect us. All of the pods made it on board with Varad, who was to be our protector. All except for Serena who was kidnapped by Kivar’s men.”

“God Max” Isabelle sobs turning to look at her niece.

We are all horrified.

“Kivar’s plan was to kill Serena’s pod before anyone knew of her existence. The throne was now her birthright, with me, the King in Roswell, Once Serena hatched from the pod she would be the Queen of Antar and Kivars biggest threat.

Again all of our eyes drift to Serena whose eyes are focused intently on Max begging him to continue.

“Three days later word came that Serena’s pod had been stolen, someone on our side had been aware of her existence and was tasked with one job, to hide Serena from Kivar and keep her safe.”

“When the space ship landed, Vared, our protector and shape shifter’s job was to secure us in the pod chamber in the dessert and keep us safe until we hatched. Unfortunately something went very wrong. There was a tear in Theea’s pod. As a result she hatched early, as a 1 week old baby. Vared didn’t know what to do. We were all supposed to hatch as teenage humans. He didn’t know if she would age normally but he couldn’t raise a baby for 16 years in a pod chamber. Knowing she was half human he decided to take a risk. He went to the maternity ward of the Roswell hospital and found a baby in the ICU that had just been born with an undiagnosable but deemed fatal condition. After scanning the baby, and confirming it wouldn’t live he made the switch. Theea was now Liz Parker, daughter of Nancy and Jeff Parker.”

I don’t know what to think. I trust Max but this story is so unbelievable, can it really be true?

Everyone looks at me, most likely aware of what I am thinking.

“I know it’s hard to believe but so was the fact aliens were among us remember?” Kyle whispers to me and I nod. He is right. Since that day at the Crashdown I have learned that anything is possible.

“Varad changed your test results gradually, to show an improvement in your health over a period of 1 week so that no one was the wiser and the hospital considered you to be a miracle child.”

“Max, my parents didn’t say I was born sick.”

“By the time you left the hospital there were no traces of it, so they probably didn’t see the need to ever tell you.”

“So the fourth pod was actually Liz’s?” Michael asked.

“Yes. Varad knew he was taking a risk separating us but he believed our love was strong that we would find each other again and we did.” Max is smiling and I know he is remembering the day he first saw me while getting off the school bus.

“But Max, my blood is human.” I say.

“I know. I wondered about that to. One of the scientists I talked to on Antar said that because you weren’t in the pods for as long as us and were in a human form for 16 years longer you are not as alien as we are. You are about 70% human, 30% Antarian. There are some differences between your blood and human blood but it is only detectable if you know what tests to do.”

“But why didn’t I have powers then?” I ask him. I know everyone else is wondering the same thing.

“You do.” Max explains.

“Yes, but I developed those after you healed me.” I say.

“Remember that our powers are human. We are tapping into an unused portion of our brain. When I healed you and we connected again it must of reawakened you, allowed you to tap into that part of yourself.”

“Ok Senior Presidente. Please don’t tell me this means I am an alien?” Kyle asks a look of fear on his face.

“Don’t worry Kyle. You are 100% human.”

“But my powers.” He protests.

“Like I said, humans do have the same abilities as we do if they choose to use them.”

Kyle lets out a sigh. He looks relived, so does Valenti.

‘So what happened with Serena then?” This is the first question Valenti has asked since Max started speaking.

“Kivar searched for Serena for years as he tried to rebuild Antar according to his deluded vision. After 10 years, he became scared; once Serena’s pod hatched she would become a bigger threat, something he could not allow so he decided to change his tact. He sent Ava, one of the palace’s maids and his mistress along with his right hand man Nasedo to earth. “

“I don’t get it.” Maria says. “Did Tess and Nasedo come in pods too?”

“No, they were both shape shifters. They could take any form they wanted to.”

“You said earlier that she was never pregnant, that she mind warped you.”

Max nodded.

“She was sent to rape my mind, not my body. Once she had the information she was to use the granolith to deliver it to Kivar. And I played right into her hands, gave her exactly what she wanted without a fight.” He said quietly looking away, a look of failure on her face.

“She played on my insecurities, my feelings for Liz, my fear that I would never be enough because I wasn’t normal.”

“Max, she played us all.” Isabelle reassures him. “We were looking for answers as to where we came from and she gave it to us. She had memories of Antar, the book, used words like destiny to rope us in.”

“None of it was true.” He says shaking his head.

“Dad. You can’t do anything about that now. Stay in the moment.” She says and recognition flashes in his eyes as if she has reminded him of something they had talked about before. He smiles up at her gratefully love shining in his eyes.

Max is a father, that thought still takes some getting used to. I smile. He really is a good father to.

“That Bitch!” Maria screams.

“I thought so to at first but she was just as much a pawn in Kivar’s game as we are.”

“What did he promise her upon her return, money, fame?” Maria rolls her eyes.

“No. Nothing like that. He promised her family life. If she did not return with the information by my 18th birthday on earth, he would kill her family.”

“So what information was she looking for?” I ask him.

“The information that would lead him to finding Serena. He needed to find our daughter Liz and he did.” He said squeezing my hand.

“But what information on Serena did you have? You didn’t remember her as Max Evans did you?”

“I didn’t remember her but the information was there. The image of what each of us would look like here on earth when we hatched at 16 was imprinted in our DNA so that we could find each other. It wasn’t really necessary as we have always been able to feel each other. Kivar needed to know what Serena would look like when she hatched so that he could find her.”

“As you now Tess went back To Antar a number of months before I did. Using the information Kivar gave her, he was able to find Serena, at that time an 18 year old woman living in an area called Youville. He couldn’t kill her now, he had spent the last 50 years convincing people that he had changed and was a fair ruler, so many people knew she was alive. He decided the next best thing was to force her to marry him and bear his children.”

“Kivar always had this inferiority complex, because he was not of a royal bloodline, he knew if he wed me that our children would have royal blood. It would also secure his spot on the throne, as he was married to me, the true Queen of Antar.” Serena explains.

“When I arrived on Antar I was too late, Serena was married to Kivar and pregnant with Zan. Tess had also told Kivar our whereabouts and he threatened to kill us all if she didn’t obey him” He sighs looking at his daughter, regret in his eyes.

She just smiles back.

“Dad.” She groans. “You didn’t let me down.” She sighs and it is obvious to all of us she had tried to convince him of this on many occasions.

“He spent the last 4 years trying to free me and bring me home to my family, to you mom.” She says looking at me.

I look at her again, my daughter and am overwhelmed with emotion. My daughter has been through so much, more pain than I could ever imagine and I wasn’t even there for her. I start to feel the room spinning around me and I feel sick to my stomach again. I run to the bathroom and am sick again, but I haven’t eaten all day and this time no food is left, just bile, followed by dry heaving and it hurts.

I feel strong hands pull my hair out of my face and I look up to see Max hovering over me. “You ok?” He asks his amber eyes staring right through me.

I just nod.

“Why don’t you rest for a while?” He says.

“Max, there is still so much we have to discuss. I get the feeling the war isn’t over is it?”

He shakes his head.

“The others will want to hear and I won’t miss it.” I say walking towards the living room.

“Liz” he says taking my hand and pulling me towards his bedroom. “Well I’ve had enough for today. I’ve barely slept since we got back to Antar. You lie down for a while. I’ll go tell the others that we will finish this tomorrow and then I’ll come check on you.” He says in a very serious tone, I know if I fight him on it I won’t win, so I retreat into his room.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


I lie on Max’s bed and bury my head in his pillow, enveloping myself in his scent. I am so exhausted, but unable to sleep as my mind refuses to slow down in pace with my body. I was Theaa in that life, I am an alien hybrid. This is something that is going to take a while to sink in.

The door opens “Hi.” Max says shyly and comes and lays beside me on the bed keeping a safe distance from me..

“Everything ok?” I ask him.

“Yes. It’s great. Isabelle took Beth and Zan for the night.” He says with a sigh.

“My grandkids. Max I haven’t even met them.” I say jolting upright.

“Liz. Don’t worry. There is lots of time for that.” His voice is soothing, reassuring.

“Do they know about me?”’ I ask lying back down on the bed trying to relax again.

“Yes. They can’t wait to meet their grandma.”

Even though it’s been a highly emotional night I can’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of the statement, a grandma at 22. This should be in the Guinness Book of World Records . Max must sense my thoughts because he laughs too and then starts looking through my hair..

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Looking for grey hairs.”

“I don’t have grey hair’s” I say pretending to be insulted.

“Well you’re a grandma aren’t you? Isn’t it an unwritten rule that grandmas’ have at least a few grey hair’s?” He asks and I laugh so grateful that he has lightened the mood.

“Everyone has left except for Kyle. He’s helping Serena clean up and I think he senses this has been an emotional day and she needs someone to talk to.”

“Oh Max. Serena needs you; you should go be with her.”

“I can feel her and she is fine.”

“What do you mean.”

“We have a connection. We can feel each others thoughts. It’s one of the ways I was able to find her on Antar.”

“Wow.” I say feeling a slight twinge of jealousy.

“Liz, you can have that with her too and with me.” He smiles at me shyly as if sensing my feelings “If you want, that is.”

“Really?”

“We had it before, when we were married in that other life. We could all communicate telepathically, our bond was so strong.”

Tears stream down my face.

“What is it?”

“Max, I feel horrible. I wasn’t there to help my daughter when she needed me.”

“Liz, that wasn’t her fault. You didn’t even know about her. You were in another world.”

“I’m supposed to have premonitions, great sight and yet that day you came back from Antar I didn’t even feel her Max. Shouldn’t I have known she was my daughter?” I lower my face in shame.

“Instead I just ran away, like a coward.”

“And when I came back to Roswell yesterday or here today, I didn’t recognize her either.” I condemn myself.

“Liz, you were probably just overwhelmed with emotion. I am sure that once you calm down you will be able to feel her, form a connection.” He reassures me.

But I couldn’t do it when it mattered I think to myself and that is what bothers me.

“Max, why didn’t you come after me?” I ask him.

“You needed space.”

“Max, you knew I thought you were with her.” I glare at him. I know Maria told him. “Didn’t you?”

He nods.

“Why didn’t you chase after me and force me to come home.”

“Liz, I would never force you to do anything. I came into your life 7 years ago and caused so much havoc and pain, you were stuck in all this chaos whether you wanted it or not. I wanted you to have a choice.”

“But Max, if what you told me was true, I am an alien, I am part of this and I’m your wife.”

“You were my wife in that other life. Not in this one. In this one you are Liz Parker”

“Oh ‘ I say and it hurts. “Why didn’t you just say you didn’t want to be with me.?’

“I do want to be with you. I have already made my choice. I want to be with you in this life and the next and the next.”

“But you said.”

“I’m waiting for you to make your choice Liz.’ He say running his hands through my hair exactly the way he used to.

I melt at his words but I don’t say anything. This morning I thought my life with Max Evans was completely over and I ma not ready to make that kind of decision yet.

Ten minutes later we are very close to sleep, lying facing each other with only our foreheads touching. I suddenly remember something.

“Max?” I whisper

“Hmmm.”

“Were you outside my bedroom last night?” I ask him.

“Yes.” He says without opening his eyes, his voice laced with fatigue. I smile at his answer, having caught him in that moment between the waking state and sleep. I kiss the tip of his nose and watch him fall into a well deserved sleep.

I close my eyes and a few minutes later I hear the bedroom door open and then immediately close.

“There asleep Kyle.” I hear Serena say and I hear the sound of her footsteps fade as she walks down the hall.

Silence. I find myself engulfed in silence again, but it is different know, my mind has stopped racing and it is somehow peaceful. I snug closer to Max. Silence is beautiful.

Happy Holidays! Thank you for the feedback. I truly appreciate it.

I know some of you feel there is more to the reason Max didn't tell Liz the truth about he and Serena. I have 3 comments about that. 1) There is something he isn't telling her 2) Remember this story is written in Liz's POV (other than 2 brief parts in Max's POV at the beginning-I needed to put these in to show a little of what was happening in roswell)so we only experience things through her. We don't know exactly what Max did to find her or what was said in her absense. 3) You know how Max can be when it comes to Liz. He often thinks about her first, not making the greatest of decisions.

Hope you like this part.

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Part 12

At 2 am I find myself wide awake, staring up at the ceiling. Max is asleep next to me but still keeping his distance. A few hours ago everything felt so right with the world. The fact that Max wasn’t with Serena is exactly what I wanted to find out, and I would have believed any reason he gave me that would make that fact true.

The silence within me is once again gone as so many questions pass through my mind. Could I really be an alien? Did I really take the place of the real Liz Parker at birth? I need to get back to my parents, there are things I need to look into I think to myself as I quietly get off of the bed and make my way out to the hallway.

As I pass the living room on my way to the front door I see Serena and Kyle passed out together on the couch. It makes me smile. I stare at Serena for a few minutes, she looks so peaceful. Is she really my daughter?

I turn towards the door. “Liz” I hear her call out. “I mean mom.” I turn around to face her.

“Sorry, it will take me a while to get used to calling you mom.”

“It will take a while for me to get used to hearing it.” I say as she gets up and stands in front of me. This is awkward.

“Does dad know your leaving?” She asks me.

“No.” I say.

“Oh.”

“Oh No.” I say knowing what she’s thinking. “I’m just going back to my parents for the night. I’ll come back.” I say knowing she probably thinks I’m just going to run again. I can’t blame her; after all it is what I do best these days, right?

“You need to find out for yourself, if this is all true, don’t you?” She asks me. Maybe Max described me too well or maybe she understands because she’s a scientist just like me.

I just nod. I don’t k now what else to say.

“I understand.” She says with a smile.

Kyle stirs on the couch. “Liz.” He says groggily as he wipes his eyes. “Your leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll drive you.”

“I have my car.” I protest.

“It’s late Liz. I’ll drive you and you can pick up your car tomorrow.”

“Ok.” I say as I put my shoes on and Kyle does the same.

“Can you let your dad know?” I ask Serena.

“I will. I’m sure he will freak out when he sees you’re gone.”

“Look I…” I trail off. Why do I keep feeling like I have to defend my actions. This is a lot to take in.

“I understand.“ She says.

I smile back. She is so understanding that it makes me feel I like she’s the mother and I’m the child. I don’t like that feeling at all.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


“So, what’s going on in that complicated brain of yours?” Kyle asks me after a few minutes of silence in the car. “I can just see the wheels turning.”

“God Kyle, where do I even begin?” I sigh. I am exhausted but my mind won’t turn off.

“So that really did happen?” I look to him for confirmation.

“If you mean that tonight you found out that you are really an alien hybrid names Theea, mother of Serena, then yes that didn’t happen.”

“Well I thought I was certifiably insane but since you heard the same thing I did I can cross that theory off the list.”

“What if we are both certifiably insane?” He suggests

“There is probably a greater probability of that then of what we heard tonight being true.”

“Liz, you don’t honestly think that do you? I mean, Max Evans has broken your heart on more than one occasion, and for that I would love nothing more than to break his arms, but he loves you Liz and he’s never lied to you.”

“Your right Kyle. He’s always been honest with me, even when it’s not what I want to hear. It’s just…”

“It’s a lot to take in right now. I know.” He says as he pulls over in front of the Crashdown.

“How is it even possible that I have a daughter who is 22 years old just like me?”

“Kinda hard to explain that one to your own parents eh?” He asks and I just groan. I don’t even want to think about my parents now.

“Well they put you all in the pods at the same time, must be why you’re the same age.”

I nod.

“Technically she’s not your daughter. She’s a clone of Zan and Theea’s daughter. On one hand your all related on the other hands your all clones.”

I put my head in my hands. “I think my head is going to explode.”

“Take some aspirin and go to sleep.” He suggests. “Turn off your brain, just for tonight.”

I only wish I could.

“Once again thanks.” Kyle is a trooper, that’s for sure.

“It’s what I am here for.” He says as I get out of the car and watch Kyle drive off.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_


“Mom, can I ask you something?” I ask her as I help her refill the sugar shakers in the back of the Crashdown. I decided last night as I tossed and turned waiting to be claimed by sleep that I would just ask her, straight out. My pulse is racing and I am trying to keep my self from looking as nervous as I seem.

“Sure sweetie, what is it?” She asks me.

“Was I born sick?” As soon as the word leave my mouth, my mother drops one of the sugar shakers startled, it splatters into a million fragments as it hits the floor.

“I’ll get a broom.” She says and immediately rushes from the room leaving me to assume it must be true. I thought it was a pretty innocent question. Why the alarm?

She comes back a minute later without the broom, with my father in tow, both looking nervous.

“What’s this about you asking if you were sick at birth. Who told you that?” My father asks in a very serious tone.

“This nurse at the hospital. I was there with a friend and she recognized my name.” I lie. Something I have become an expert at over the years.

“Well is it true?” I ask again.

“Yes sweetheart. You were born with some kind of virus. They told us you were deteriorating rapidly and wouldn’t make it.” My father explains.

“But I didn’t give up. I went to the ICU everyday and sang to you. A few days later they said your tests had shown a slight improvement, the day after that the same thing. By the end of the week there was no trace of any virus at all.” Mom has tears streaming down her face.

“I like to think it was your mother’s singing that brought you back.” Jeff says taking my hand.

“I’m sure it was.” I say as tears stream down my own face. If they only knew.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.

“You were fine. We just wanted to forget about it and focus on the future.” I smile and take a step forward allowing myself to be sandwiched between them in a hug.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-



“So. How does it feel?” Isabelle has been gushing over me non-stop since she arrived for lunch at the Crashdown. I guess the fact that she no longer has to choose a side has made her very happy.

“He tried to tell me. This one day when Michael and I confronted him at the garage.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he and Serena weren’t together but that was it. He wouldn’t offer anything further and the way he was with her we just didn’t believe him. How were we to know she was his daughter? I mean she’s the same age as you both are.” Isabelle looks at me apprehensively. “Anyways sorry. I should have dream walked you or something.”

“Not your fault. I bet he begged you not to.” I sigh.

“Yup. You definitely know my brother. When it comes to you, nothing he does seems to make sense. Puts us in danger time and time again.” She is rolling her eyes know.

“He said he wanted me to decide on my own but ….”

“You think there’s something more?” She asks me.

“I don’t k now.” That’s the truth. I really don’t know anything anymore.

“He wants us to meet over there again this afternoon to get the rest of the story. It sounds like we could be in a lot of trouble.”

I just nodd. “Well at least we are all together.” I reach across the table and squeeze Isabelle’s hand.

My cell phone rings and I let go of Isabelle’s hand to reach into my jean pocket and answer it.

“Hello.”

“Hi.” It’s Max. His voice is quiet, almost shy.

“Hello yourself.”

“So I um….” He hesitates. “Woke up and you weren’t there. Everything ok?” I can picture him shoving his hands in his pocket like he always does when he is nervous.

I swallow. “Ya it’s ok. I just needed to think and to…”

“Do some of your own research, find out if what I told you was true?” He offers finishing my sentence.

“Yes, it’s not that I don’t believe you….” I let my voice trail off.

“It’s fine Liz. Research away. Just keep me involved every step ok.”

“I will. I don’t think we should keep any more secrets especially if things are so dangerous.”

“Hey did Isabelle tell you about the meeting this afternoon?” He asks.

“Yes. She’s actually here right now so I should go.”

“Wait.” He says and then there is an awkward silence.

“Would you like to get together sometime this week. Just the two of us. We could have dinner or go for a walk or something.” He suggests.

“Is Max Evans asking me on a date? “ I ask with a grin.

“It doesn’t have to…..umm…be a date.”

“Oh that’s too bad.” I tease.

“I mean it can be if that’s what you want it to be.” He stutters.

“Sounds good Max. There are a lot of things I want to ask you about us, I mean Zan and Theea.”

“Sure.” He adds but sounds a little disappointed. I get the feeling he would rather talk about Max and Liz but I am just not there yet I think as I say goodbye and hang up the phone.

“Liz Parker.” Isabelle smiles. “For a brief minute it sounded like you were flirting with my brother.”

I blush feeling like a 16 year old school girl. “Isabelle.” I warn but she chooses to ignore the warning.

“A few weeks from now you will be moving in with Max and Serena. I just know it.” She is getting way to carried away.

“Isabelle, I’nm not ready for…..” I start to tell her that it is all too fast. Everyone is so happy that Max isn’t with Serena they just assume we will take off where we left off 4 years ago. I would love nothing more but don’t they understand the world as I know it has been altered permanently. I don’t even know who I am anymore.

Just as I am about to explain this I notice Isabelle has her head turned a strange look on her face. I follow her gaze to find myself staring into eyes I prayed I would never see again.

“Hello Elizabeth.” He says with a smile.

“Peter.” I say trying to breathe evenly but fear consumes my very breathe.



Surviving Scerets on the CC thread was updated today and Behind Bars on the AU NA thread.

Hi Everyone. Sorry for the delay but I've had a lot going on. I'm not as happy with this next part as previous ones but it is the bridge to the next part and I don't want to keep you waiting forever so here it is. Let me know what you think.

A small part of this is in Max's POV as I wanted to show what was happening with the others.

Thank you so much for your loevely feedback.


Maxsgurl - Thank you.

Buffsteraddict - Yes Peter is back and not planning to go anywhere soon!

suicide_eagle_rath - Thank you very much.

ISLANDGIRL5 - I think a lot of people were skeptical in the beginning and weren't sure how to feel about Serena. Thanks for sticking the story out.

spacecowboy - You will see the strong King that Max has become as the story progresses. We will learn a lot more about Antar and so will the rest of the group.

orphyfets- Thank you.

vampyrax - Thank you.

g7silvers - You will see what happens with Peter. Yes Liz loves Max but there is a lot they still have to work out.

BehrObssesion - you are right Liz is overanalyzing things too much-sometimes I want to give her a swift kick but she will eventually wake up.

Timelord- You will see.

begonia9508-you are right it's stange having a daughter the same age.

dmcb_love_jason - thank you so much. You will find out how "Peter" is still alive in this next part.

Erina - Liz did kill him but the bad guys always come back.

Part 13

Liz POV

My mind must be deceiving me. I watched Peter die, killed him with my very hands, put his body in a dumpster, I even have samples I collected from him sitting in a mini-fridge upstairs in my room and yet he is standing right in front of me without so much as a scratch. Does he have some sort of regeneration capacities? I wish I had taken a look at those samples.

“And who is this?” Peter asks looking at Isabelle, his tone is casual as if him being here is an ordinary occurrence. Isabelle is smiling at him. It is obvious she doesn’t know who he is.

“I’m” She says extending her hand ready to introduce herself. I can tell she is under his spell.

‘This is my friend, Jennifer.” I say cutting her off. I don’t know how much Peter knows about the royal four, if the name Isabelle would even mean anything to him, but I can’t take that chance. I mean if the files I saw at work were any indication, he knows everything about them, right down to the amino acid sequence of their DNA.

Isabelle may not have a clue why I have just lied about her but her face doesn’t give her away, she’s a pro, after taking Peters hand, she flashes me a smile and I know that she’s on board with me and will follow my lead.

I have to find a subtle way to get her out of here so she can warn the others, but how do I explain what the dangers are to her? Kyle is the only one who knows who Peter is. We didn’t have a chance to explain the alien attack to the others yet. Wait. We are all supposed to meet at Max and Serena’s in 20 minutes to continue our group meeting. Kyle will be there. I will have to give Isabelle a sign.

“I’m Liz’s boyfriend.” He says with a smile and I watch as Isabelle's jaw drops in schock.

“Peter, what are you doing here?” I ask trying to buy some time.

“Why I came to meet my girlfriend’s parents. You were gone so long I missed you.” He takes my hand and I immediately pull it away from him in disgust.

My parents. I really don’t want them dragged into this but I need to get Isabelle out of here and somehow get her to bring re-enforcements.

“Well my dad is on the grill right now. Why don’t we go meet him?” I say as I slide out of the booth.

I look back at Isabelle “I don’t want to keep you Jennifer. I know you and Kyle have a date.” I say to her, hoping she takes the hint and will talk to Kyle. He will know who Peter is. “Aren’t your meeting him at your brothers. I’m so glad he’s been helping Kyle with that project. Maybe we should all be involved.”

Isabelle just nods “Right.’ She says as she gets up from the booth and garbs her purse.

“Nice meeting you Jennifer.” Peter smiles. Isabelle smiles back but her uncomfortableness is starting to show. I hope that means she comprehends how much trouble I am in.

Once I see her open the door and leave the crash, I pull Peter into the back room.

“Well it’s a shame that your friend Jennifer couldn’t join us, I mean Isabelle.” My eyes widen in surprise and he smiles enjoying my reaction, than adds “Or should I say Vilandra?”

So much for me thinking I had pulled the wool over his eyes. I swallow, feeling a lump in my throat. I’m in even more trouble than I had originally thought.

“Oh you thought I didn’t know?” He begins to laugh. “I know everything Elizabeth.”

“I don’t get it. I killed you.” I spit at him.

“Yes you did and yet here I am standing right before you, isn’t it great!” He puts his arms out proudly and then bellows again.

I lift my hand up to give him a blast but he’s too quick for me. “Don’t even think about using your powers on me.” He says as he grabs my hands, twisting them behind my back and pushes me against the wall. “So how long do you think until Isabelle comes back with her reinforcements?” He whispers into my ear, his hot breathe causing my stomach to churn in repulsion.

I should never have come back. I have put them all in danger, the people I love, my parents, Max, my daughter.

Suddenly I feel Peter’s grip on me loosen and he places a soft yet slimy kiss on my cheek.”I missed you Elizabeth.” He says catching me off guard.

What? I turn around in confusion at the 360 his behavior has just pulled, to see my father coming out from the kitchen. Dad, I beg silently in my head, stay away, but he can’t hear my warning, he continues to walk towards us.

“Liz, who is this?” He says pointing towards Peter who has pulled me into a deceivingly loving embrace.

“I’m Peter, your daughter’s boyfriend.” He says extending his hand.

“Liz, you didn’t tell me you were dating someone.” He looks towards the stairs and yells. “Nancy, come down here and meet someone.”

“This is Lizzie’s boyfriend.” He says once she comes down stairs and joins us.

“Nice to meet you.” Mom smiles taking his hand and shaking it. She then bends forward and whispers “He’s a looker Liz.” Into my ear and I feel sick. All I want to do is keep Peter away from my parents.

“So where did you and Liz meet?” My father asks him.

“We worked together at K laboratories.” He replies and my father nods his head in approval. “Lizzie was such a great employee, so you can imagine my surprise when she just up and quit. I had to come track her down, I missed her so much.”

My father just nods, adding another person to the list of those that have been charmed by Peter. I’d like to say they are gullible but I sadly, was the first fall for his charms.

“How long are you staying?” My mother asks him.

“As long as it takes.” He looks to me with a smile. As long as what takes? “This one is stubborn.” He adds. Again my father nods.

“Well, where are you staying?” My mother asks. Oh no, I know where this is going.

“I just arrived, haven’t found a hotel yet.”

“A hotel.” Nonsense, you will stay with us.” She says with a smile. There is no way Peter is going to stay under the same roof as my parents!

“That is so kind of you and yet so unnecessary.” He says “But how can I say no?” He accepts their offer.

“So.” My father says looking at both of us “Would you like to join us for lunch?”

Thankfully Peter declines the offer. “Oh thank you but Liz has already offered to show me around the town.” He explains.

“Ok well you two have fun.’ My mother says with a smile as she and my father head upstairs hand and hand leaving me alone with Peter once again.

I turn to face him. “I don’t get it. Why didn’t you just kill them?”

“Elizabeth, there is a point in every battle where it comes time to give up ones cover. Now is not that time but don’t worry in the end I will make sure your father gets what’s coming to him, they all will, all of the people you love.”

Damn him and damn me. If I hadn’t run away to New York none of this would be happening. Everyone is in danger because of me.

“Well.” He grabs me tightly by the neck and pulls me out into the alley in the crashdown and pushes me into his car. “We have to hurry and get to our destination before the rest of the Antarian’s come looking for you.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


After a short drive we arrived at an old abandoned warehouse . He pushes me inside the building and ties my feet and hands together and carries me over to the corner. He then disappears into another room.

I have to find a way to warn Max and the others. I don’t want them to come after me, fall into his trap. Maybe I can escape. I wiggle my hands that behind my back, trying to loosen the ropes.

He comes back into the room and walks over towards me. I give him a sour expression.

“Still don’t get it, oh poor Lizzie. Ok I’ll give you a little hint.”

“You did kill peter. He’s dead.”

“So who the hell are you then?” I ask him.

“Peter.” He laughs.

I just shake my head. What the hell is he talking about? “Look your mind games or other military tactics don’t work with me.”

“I’m sorry Elizabeth. You’re the scientist. You figure it out.”

“You regenerated somehow.” I say. It’s the only explanation. I realize that he’s enjoying trying to keep me guessing. This could work to my advantage. I’m going to keep him talking, it will give me more time to loosen these ropes.

“Nope but your getting warmer.”

Something suddenly occurs to me and I decide to test it out. “Peter, how did you get out of the closet I locked you in?’ I ask him.

“It was a piece of cake.”

He was never in a closet. It was a dumpster.

“I can’t believe I ever slept with you. Your sick.” I spit at him again.

“Well, I certainly enjoyed it.” He smirks.

We never slept together.

Suddenly it all makes sense to me. I applied to K laboratories because they are the leader on genetic research in the United States, specializing in genetic engineering. The files I saw in that boardroom, the reason he doesn’t remember the things that happened between us. Peter is not really Peter. Peter is a clone.

“You’re a clone?” I ask almost in disbelief.

“I knew you’d figure it out eventually. Surprised it took you this long.” Another smirk passes his face. Does he know any other expressions?

“Are you the only one?’ I mutter. The room around me is spinning, do I even want to know the answer?
“Oh Many, many, many more.” He replies just as I free my hands from the ropes that have bound them.

“Don’t even think about Elizabeth.” He cautions me as he bends down and grabs my arms again. “Do you really think that some residual powers you have from when Max healed you are any match for those of an alien?” He questions.

It is then that I realize that he doesn’t know I am Theea. How is that possible…if he is from Antar why wouldn’t he know? To him I am just plain old Liz parker, local waitress healed by Max Evans. Maybe I can use this to my advantage.

I begin to chastise myself again for not trusting Max earlier. If I hadn’t run Peter wouldn’t be here. Then it hits me, maybe I was meant to go to New York, maybe everything that has happened up until now has happened for a reason. Max said that there enemies were after them but they didn’t know where they were. If I hadn’t gone to New York we wouldn’t know where Peter was.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here. I should have explained it to Max sooner, but I didn’t and instead I got kidnapped and set Peter’s plan in motion. .I won’t give up. I am Theea queen of Antar and I can sense things and I can communicate with max and my daughter telepathically, so I’ve been told. I need to do that now. I will do that now.

I’ve read a few mediation books that say you need to focus on where you want to be, in order to leave your body. What have I got to loose? They should all be at Max’s know so I close my eyes and picture myself standing in the middle of Max’s living room. I picture the white leather couches. I reach out and touch them, they are soft and my hand glides along them. I picture the red walls. There was a picture of Beth and Zan. I walk over and take a closer look at it. Beth is on one of the baby swings and Zan is standing beside her with an ice cream cone.

I turn around and look behind me. Things have changed, the room is no longer empty. Maria and Michael are sitting together on the couch. Serena, Max and Kyle are all standing talking in front of the fireplace. Max fidgets, worriedly and keeps glancing at his watch. The door opens and Isabelle runs in. “Max, max she screams as she runs into the center of the living room.”

“What is it?” He asks running towards her and I realize that I am no longer in my imagination. I am really in this room now but no one else can see me. I am an observer.

“Something is wrong. Liz is in danger.”

Kyle and Michael immediately rush to her side as well.

‘Isabelle calm down. What happened?”

“Some guy showed up and said he was Peter, her boyfriend.”

Max looks to Maria questionly. “No Max she doesn’t have a boyfriend.” Maria rolls her eyes.

‘I got the feeling she was in danger. She kept calling me Jennifer and was trying to get me out of there. She wanted me to come tell all of you where she was.

Why isn’t Kyle telling them anything? Shit maybe I didn’t tell him Peter’s name.

“Who is this Peter?” Max asks.

“I think Liz thought Kyle would know.”

“The uglarian?” Kyle asks with a shrug.

“The what?” Isabelle asks.

“Remember I said Liz was attacked in New York? We called him an uglarian but it can’t be him. He is dead.”

“Are you sure?” Max asks.

“I’m sure.” Kyle shudders at the thought.

I have to let Max know Peter is still alive.

I close my eyes and focus only on Max trying to send my thought to him. Max it is him. He’s a clone.

Max smiles a little and I wonder if he heard me.

“Dammit” He looks to Serena. “The Rawden’s have found us.”

I knew you could do it Liz. Is the thought he sends back to me.

“The uglarian’s are Rawden’s?” Kyle asks.

Max nods and then focuses on me once more.

Liz where are you?

It’s a trap Max. He wants all of you to come here. You can’t . But we one advantage he doesn’t know about Theea.

He doesn’t care about the trap. He only wants to find me. Where are you? he asks me again.

In an abandoned warehouse on 52nd street.

Max. Don’t come here. I’m scared I can’t hold this much longer.

Liz. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Were leaving now. Rest now. You will need your strength for when I will contact you later.

I love you Liz. I won’t let anything happen to you.

After all that has happened I find it so hard to say the words back. I feel them but it’s so hard. With this new form of communication I only have to think them and he hears them just the same. I love you to, Max.

I can’t hold on any longer. It’s all so new and I am tired. I find myself back in the warehouse, Peter’s eyes still on me.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Max POV

“Max.” Isabelle snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Why the lazy grin? What is going on”

“And how did you know about the Uglarians. Did you talk to Liz?” Kyle asks in a panic.

I’m walking on the clouds right now. I can’t help it. I know so much is at stake but she connected with me and she told me she loved me. She still loves me.

“Yes I just talked to her. She connected with me. Peter has her in some abandoned warehouse.”

“Kyle. Tell me everything you know about this guy.”

“Liz zapped him and we put him in a dumpster. She then collected all of these samples. That’s all I really know. He worked at K laboratories with her and he knew she was your ex-girlfriend”

“What did he look like?” I ask him.

“I think he was like a regular guy when he was alive. When he was dead he looked like one of those aliens in a movie, all scaly and gross.” He shivers in disgust when he says it. Sounds exactly like a Rawdon to me.

“Max.” Michael takes a step forward and folds his arms in his chest. “What are Rawdon’s?”

I sigh. We have to get to Liz now, but before we do I must quickly fill everyone in.
“There are three races on Antar, the Antarinas, the Rawden’s and the Shapeshifters. Peter must be a Rawden. “

“Is that bad?” Isabelle asks me.

“Kivar is a Rawden.” I explain.

“Oh.” He answers and that pretty much says it all.

“But he’s dead. Peter can’t be the same guy.” Kyle adds.

“Oh he is.” I say looking once again at my daughter, knowing she of all people understands.

“I don’t get it Maxwell. Liz killed him. What do they come back from the dead?” Michael questions again.

“The Antarians were the first to clone, with us, but of course we were dead. The Rawdens started cloning people that were alive so that if something happened to one of them there would be a back up. Kivar’s army was made up of 5 of his strongest men that were each cloned hundreds of thousands of times. My guess is that Peter is one of them. When Liz killed him and he couldn’t complete his mission some sort of device went of and poof another Peter swoops in and takes his place.”

“Creepy.” Maria adds with a shudder and Michael reaches out and gives her a squeeze.

“Man he’s like the energizer bunny. Just keeps going and going and going.” Kyle says in disbelief.

“Kyle, this isn’t the time for jokes. Michael, Isabelle , Serena we need you.

“What about us?” Maria ask, referring to herself nad Kyle.

“Protect Zan and Beth until we get back. We have to go after Liz.”

Thank you for being patient with this story! Thank you so much for the feedback! Let me know what you think of this part.

mlover25 - thanks for the bump

dmcb_love_jason - this is a dreamer fic but there is a lot more to the story before the happy ending you are hoping for. Thanks for the bump.

Antarian- here is is

confusedfool - Thank you. Hope you enjoy this part.

vampyrax - thanks.

BehrObsession - They will continue to connect to each other and their daughter as the story progresses.

begonia9508 - thanks

ERina - I loved Max's lazy grin as well.

Timelord - We will see Peter again in Part 15.

FSU/MSW-94 - So glad that you found this Fic.Kivar will make an appearance but I won't say where.

lazza - thanks. their connection sure does come in handy.

g7silvers - There is always hope. Max has a plan.


Part 14

“So, you’re a clone.” I say trying to keep Peter distracted knowing that Max is on his way. I know it’s a trap, he knows I know but we are still playing this silly little game of 20 questions.

“Yes.” He says and I roll my eyes. He knows I am looking for more information than that.

“The first Rawden’s to be cloned were for Kivar’s army. He chose his strongest men.”

“And you?” I say. Peter’s fairly built but definitely not soldier material.

“After that he started cloning based on skills. The original peter was the mad scientist of Antar, the one who developed the cloning. I am one of his clones.”

“How many Kivars are there running around on Antar?” I ask him.

“Kivar would never condone himself to be a clone. There is only one king of Antar.” Peter appears mortified at my suggestion. If I weren’t tied up in a warehouse with him I would actually laugh. I should have guessed Kivar would be too egotistical to have a clone.

“Well he cloned himself once but he’s more of a double. He sends him out in his place when there is unrest. “

“Hasn’t he worried that this guy might try to pass himself off as the real Kivar and take over?”

“No. He carved the words traitor into his double’s left butt cheek so that no one could ever mix the two up.”

“But Antarian’s can change molecular structure?” I say thinking about Max’s powers. Wouldn’t it be easy for them to remove the marking?

“Any change made by the king of Antar cannot be altered with no matter how strong the powers are.” It is things like this that really make me wonder who designed the universe?

Isn’t Max the true king of Antar, couldn’t he undo the markings? The thought goes through my mind but I don’t mention it to Peter.

“Well as fun as this has been, Elizabeth.” Did I mention he sneers a lot? “I have to go prepare for your lover and his friends arrival.”

He gets up, puts his chair against the wall and disappears into the back room.

I take full advantage of his disappearance and am able to finally break free of the ropes binding my hands. I have no idea when he will reappear so I sit and wait biding my time. My eyes scan the room for something sharp to use as a weapon but I have no such luck. This is the first time in my life that I wish I had Tess’s mind warping abilities.

10 minutes pass, 15, 20. Where is Peter and why has he left me here unattended? I can only pray he’s had an aneurism in that back room, but I highly doubt Antarians even have aneurisms.

I decide to try to get out. What do I have to loose? I make my way to the door we entered through and find it unlocked.

I open the door and walk out into the parking lot. Peter’s truck is no where in sight. Something is clearly wrong, this is just too easy.

Oh my god, this was his plan all along. He didn’t want them, he’s after Beth and Zan.

Max. Max. I scream silently. Please let him be able to hear me.

Liz?

Thank God. Go back to the house Max. It was a set up, he’s after the kids. I hope it’s not too late.

The kids are safe. Now we just have to get you to safety too.

What you knew? I ask him. Last I talked to him, the aliens were on their way here leaving only Kyle and Maria at the house with Beth and Zan.

Yes. You have to keep moving Liz. Once he realizes the kids are gone he’ll come back for you. Can you make it to the highway? Kyle will pick you up in Maria’s Jetta.

Yes.

I love you Liz. His words warm the cockles of my heart.

I love you.

30 minutes later Kyle and Maria pick me up. After we reunite with hugs and tears and get into the Jetta, I ask what happened. How they realized Peter’s plan.

“I mean last I heard you two were staying behind with the kids.”

“That was the plan. We can’t take the credit for anyone of it. It was Zan.” Kyle explains.

“Just as Max was leaving Zan ran out the front door after him and said “Grandpa, I’m going to see my father soon.”

“Your kidding.”

“No. It was classic. Like a scene from a movie. Max and Serena took it very seriously. Apparently Zan has your powers magnified by 10. Very clairvoyant.”

“Wow.”

“We all got in the cars and took off right away, knowing Peter would be on his way.”

It feels like I’ve been holding my breathe for days. “I’m so glad everyone is safe.”

“Were not safe Chica.” Maria says from the backseat, reaching forward to give my shoulder a squeeze.

“She’s right. We dodged a bullet. Delayed the inevitable War. Kivar wants his kids back and he wants the aliens dead. Peter is still out there.”

“And who knows how many more Peter’s.” Maria adds with a shiver.

Dread waves over me. Do you blame me for being over enthusiastic? “ So what’s the plan?”

“Were meeting Max and the gang at the pod chamber. We should be safe there for a while.”

The conversation ends and the rest of the drive is spent in silence, each of us absorbed in our own fears, in the middle alien chaos once again. Did it ever really end?

When we arrive at the pod chamber I open the car door and run towards the chamber entrance as fast as I can, I hurl by Michael when he lets me in without so much as a hello.

Max is talking to Isabelle about something, animatedly and as if sensing my presence mid sentence he turns around, our eyes meet and a look of relief passes his face followed by a small grin. I throw myself into his waiting arms.

His lips are warm , soft, familiar, safe. I groan as his tongue brushes my lips, he sweeps it into my mouth and I taste him again, it’s been so long. I grip at his chest, his t shirt in my hands, to pull myself closer. I want to melt into Max Evans.

“Hello.” He says with a pant when we come up for air. He looks at me shyly.

“Hello yourself.” I smile and then turn to see many eyes upon us. Am I blushing?

Isabelle looks pleased, so does Serena.

Michael is trying to feign annoyance but I can see he is hiding a grin.

Maria has her arms folded across her chest, no doubt wondering why she wasn’t informed in the fast development in our relationship. How could I tell Maria when I didn’t even know myself?

Kyle is laughing. When isn’t he? I look at Max, he looks back at me and we start to laugh again. It feels good to laugh, lighter, it just doesn’t happen often enough.

“I’m glad you two have kissed and made up but we don’t have much time. We have to hear the rest of what’s been going on and make a plan.” Michael has gone into his role of the protector that he always plays so well.

“Right.” Max says. His arms are still around me. He bends down and places a soft kiss on my forehead, takes my hand and pulls me over to the back of the pod chamber where Isabelle and Serena have laid out some blankets for us all to sit on.

The kids are already sitting down. “Gramma, Gramma.” They yell in unison as they come running towards me. ‘Do you remember us now?” Zan asks with wide eyes.

“Of course I do sweethearts.” I say as I embrace them in a warm hug. In a short period of time I found out that Max is still mine and we have a daughter and grandchildren. I only hope we can keep them safe.

“Dad, I think I’ll..” Serena motions towards the entrance. She probably doesn’t want the kids to hear what will be said and get upset.

“Good idea.” He says as she scoops Beth out of my hands and asks Zan to follow her outside.

“Max I’m scared.” Isabelle says as Kyle reaches out a hand to comfort her.

“I know Izzy but it will be ok.”

“We need to know everything.” Maria says sternly taking Michael’s hand.

Max sighs and leans back against the blanket. “Where do I start?”

“You told us who we were in the past. Now tell us what happened on Antar.” Michael’s voice is demanding.

“When I arrived and I found out that Tess was lying, I killed her, it was only my fourth day there and I killed her. All I could think about was how she had lied to me, made me think I had betrayed Liz, all of you. That I had left earth and may never find my way home to you again.”

“Right and now your going to tell us how innocent she was. You said Kivar used her, threatened to kill her family.”

“He did. She was a faithful palace maid. He threatened to kill not only her but her entire family. But it was worse than that. She was a shape shifter who could take on any form. He made her take the form of Ava.”

“Who was Ava?” I ask. “Wasn’t that the name of Tess’s dupe?”

Max nods. “Ava was Thea’s younger cousin and best friend. She was raised by Theea’s family because her own parents died in an accident when she was only four years old. A few years after we were married Theea’s family fell on some hard times when her father died. Ava came and lived with us at the palace. It was a great comfort to Theea to have her cousin nearby, especially when she was pregnant with Serena.”

I smile imagining what it must have felt like to carry Serena in my womb.

“I think he wanted her to look like Ava because she was someone we all knew, that even though we didn’t have all of our past memories she would be familiar to us and we would trust her.”

“What happened to the real Ava?” Maria asks.

“The night we were all killed she went missing. I can only assume that she was killed as well.” Max shrugs. “There was no sign of her on Antar.”

“But what about Ava from the New York pods, how did she and Tess both look alike? I thought your mother sent 3 pods and since Tess and Nasedo came much later it doesn’t make sense.” I ask him.

“She did send three pods. I don’t know for sure but since we all know Lonnie and Rath were working for Kivar, my guess is that when the dupes showed up, Tess had another shape shifter take on Ava’s identity and they went along with it.”

“Ava seemed so different though. I liked her. She felt like family.” I explain.

“I don’t know.” Max shakes his head. “Her form was familiar to you, since she did look like your cousin and the shifter’s personality was much nicer than Tess’s. It was probably why you felt that connection.”

“Ok so after you killed Tess what happened?” Michael asks clearly feeling this history lesson is taking far too long.

“I was taken by the truth seekers, to an isolate place in the mountains.”

“Who are the truth seekers?” Kyle asks.

“They are the Antarians that are still loyal to me, to us. Many of the other Antarians have sided with Kivar for their own survival but this group had joined forces and were training in the mountains. Thousands of them had also infiltrated Antar, even in Kivar’s government, pretending to have converted, when in reality acting as spies, waiting for my return so that we could restore the balance once again.”

Max pauses. I rub the back of his neck, trying to release some of the tension. He smiles at me, gives my hand a squeeze and continues the story.

“It was in the mountains that I learned that I had a daughter Serena, the true heir to the throne in my absence and that she had been forced to marry Kivar and had already given birth to Zan.” I feel Max’s grip on my hand tighten. “I became angry. I had a daughter I knew nothing about, who had been forced into the cruelest of fates and I was powerless to help her. I had no memories of Antar, my powers were barely developed.”

I give Max a smile. “You didn’t know about her. Once you did you saved her. Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“Liz is right.” Isabelle comes and sits with us on the blanket, on the other side of Max and gives him a hug.

“So what did you do. How did you get her back?”

“It took years of planning. I studied hard. I worked for hours a day on memory retrieval, then took history lessons from one of the sorcerer’s on Antarian history and spent another 4-5 hours a night working on my powers. Michael, Isabelle, there are so many things that we can do, you just wouldn’t believe it.”

“Are you going to teach us?” Michael asks.

“Definitely. We need to be the strongest we can be if were going to…..” He doesn’t continue but I know he’s thinking, live, survive.

“Kivar knew I was on Antar and was looking for me. I was safest with the truth seekers in the mountains until my training had been completed. By the time I was ready to go after Serena it had already been announced she was pregnant once again, with Beth. I felt my heart break into a thousand pieces but the pain only increased my discipline in preparing. Six months after Beth’s birth our infiltration of the palace was complete. I had already started communicating with my daughter telepathically for over 6 months by this time so she knew I was coming. I was able to disguise myself as a priest come to give a baptism using my new powers. There is a 15 minute part of the Antarian baptism that involves only the mother, child and priest. We used that time to get Serena and the kids out of the palace.”

“Ok, so that was about a year and a half ago right, because Beth is now two? Why didn’t you come home then?” Maria asks.

“Kivar was looking for us. He stopped all air traffic out of the planet. We had to go back to the mountains in hiding and wait for our chance to escape.”

“Wow.” Isabelle says tears in her eyes. We are now finally grasping the enormity of what Max has gone through for the last 4 years.

“I wish I could have been with you.” I say.

“Me too Maxwell.” Michael replies and Isabelle nods.

“I’m glad you didn’t. It was horrible. But that last 18 months after the escape I was able to get to know my daughter and my grandkids. That part was wonderful.”

“So did you go to war? Take back the throne?” Michael asks.

Max shakes his head. “Serena being gone, and the rumors of my help in her escape made the throne much more unstable. People were starting to question Kivar’s authority; unfortunately he is still protected by the seal. Our armies aren’t strong enough in force or numbers. We began recruiting. Many more Antarians came back to join us and we began to train hard.”

“I came back to keep Serena, Zan and Beth safe and to see Liz and all of you but I planned to go back as I promised them I would.”

“Your going back?” I choke. No he can’t, I just got him back.

“That was the plan. Just long enough to organize the war and take back the throne. Then I can appoint someone else as King. It is my duty Liz.” He squeezes my hand and guilt washes over his face. All I can do is nod, I know that if I try to speak no words will come out.

“I didn’t know that they would follow us here. I figured that we wouldn’t be a threat anymore but Kivar want’s his wife and kids back. None of us are safe here.”

“I don’t think they followed you.” I say as some pieces come together for me

Max looks at me questionably. “What do you mean?”

“I think they’ve been here for years just in case you came back. Those files at K laboratories were at least 3 years old. They were studying you long before you came back.”

“That reminds me Maxwell. What are we going to do about Peter? He’s still in Roswell.” Michael asks.

“We have to get rid of him without his sensor going off, if not another Peter will just appear again in a few days that we will have to deal with.”

“How do we do that?” Isabelle asks.

“I have an idea.” Max says but before he can explain I cut him off.

“Oh my god Max. My parents. When peter can’t find me he’ll go after my parents.” I scream out.

“Liz they are fine. We came with 20 men from the truth seekers. As of this afternoon they are stationed outside of the Delucas, Parkers, Valentis and at mom and dad’s.”

I sigh with relief.

“Were going to have to tell them all something soon. It won’t take them long to notice the body guards.” Kyle points out.

“I know.” Max says. “Kyle, you can tell your dad today. As for the others, let’s give it some more time.”

Max looks at Michael and Isabelle. “I wanted to keep you out of this and just go back on my own…but now things have changed. None of you are safe.”

“What are you saying Max?” Isabelle asks.

“We all have to go back to Antar.”

“What about us?” Maria asks as she pulls Michael into an embrace.

“Only the three of us are in danger. Even Liz is safe. Peter didn’t even know about Theea which makes sense. Kivar doesn’t know about Theea’s pod. He thinks she is dead.”

“So your saying we can’t go?” Maria asks and turns to Michael with a scowl on her face. “Your going to leave me after all this shit I’ve gone through to be with you?”

“It’s not safe on Antar. I don’t even know if the three of us will succeed.” Max points out.
I turn to look at Max tears brimming in my eyes. “So your saying we can’t go? God why even come back and try to rekindle something if your just going to leave again?” I can’t believe he didn’t tell me he was leaving. Is this why he has kept his distance?

I promised you I’d come back and I did.

But your leaving again.

I promised them. I’ll come back again Liz.

I know you have to go. That’s not the issue. The issue is that you won’t take me with you. I want to be with you, with my daughter. It shouldn’t be your decision to make.

“No.” Max yells and gets up off of the blanket. Everyone stops talking and turns to look at him. “I am not saying you can’t go. I will not use my king card to make this decision. I am going to allow each of you to decide whether you want to go or stay. Whatever your decision, it will not be questioned by any of us but I need to know in three days because whoever is going will have to start training right away.”

Thank you Max.

I love you, Liz.

He reaches out his arms for me but instead of walking towards him, I make my way over to where Maria and Kyle are standing, Maria sobbing in Kyle’s arms. I quickly join their embrace. It’s going to be a long three days.

Thanks for your feedback. Please keep it coming...it keeps me writing!!!

KatnotKath - So glad you found this story and are enjoying it.

Erina - You will have to wait and see.

BehrObsession - your right this will be hard on Beth and Zan.

mlover25 - thank you.

Buffsteraddict - thank you.

dmcb_love_jason - there are some dreamer parts in this part. Hope enjoy. let me know what you think.

BTW, I am now posting the dates each new part of my fic's will be posted on my author's poge.



Chapter 15



The last 24 hours have gone by as slow as molasses while we all wrestle with the decision of whether to stay or go. There are now two days left to decide.

Yesterday, after Max’s declaration, Isabelle went home to Jesse. He hadn’t been involved in all the happenings of the last few days, he has come to accept her secret over the last 4 years but had chosen to keep the alien dramas at a distance, telling Isabelle to only include him if their lives were at risk. Our lives are at risk, there is no doubt about that, so she had a lot to catch him up on. The question, we all know, isn’t whether Isabelle will stay, she and Michael will both go back with Max, Kivar and Peter know who they are, the question, is will their significant others go, will Isabelle be forced to say good bye to her husband?

Maria went to spend some time with her mom and do some thinking. I wouldn’t be surprised if some new song lyrics come out of all of this. I can’t imagine her letting Michael go without her but Maria has sent a few surprises my way over the years, so it really is hard to guess what she will decide.

Kyle. Poor Kyle, doesn’t know whether he is coming or going. He’s the only one of our group that’s significant other isn’t an alien. There really is no reason for him to go except that we are his family now and he has powers of his own. Staying here, knowing what he knows, one of the few to carry around a secret of another world would be very lonely. I know Kyle, he wants to find love so bad he can taste it, he longs for it every second of every day but there is little he can do about it. Realistically, his only really choices to settle down are with an alien or someone who knows about the aliens. So, his options are pretty small. And unless my mother’s intuition is totally off base, I think he is interested in my daughter and she may even return his feelings. I have to say Kyle is a stand up guy, I wouldn’t have made it through that last four years without him. I would love to see him with Serena…maybe if he comes with us something will develop between them He’d be a great father to her kids but he’d have to compete with Kivar for that. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. My guess is that right now Kyle is deep in meditation, asking Buddha for direction.

That leaves me. I’m going and Max can’t change my mind. Sometimes, I think he forgets who I really am and just keeps thinking of me as Liz Parker, the girl he doesn’t want dragged into anything because of who he is. Although it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around the idea, I am an alien, just like him and the true Queen of Antar. I am a part of all of this now.

Even more than my destiny in all of this ,I want be with my daughter and my grandkids in whatever capacity they will accept me. I spent yesterday afternoon with Serena, taking Beth and Zan to the park and then out for dinner at Chucky Cheese. She didn’t want to talk about her life with Kivar for the last four years. Instead, we decided to just keep things light and get to know each other; favorite color, hobbies, hopes and dreams, that sort of thing.

For now we are safe from Peter, well at least from the Peter that has been chasing on earth. Max figured that if they killed him, his sensor would go off and like before, he would be replaced by another Peter. To get around this, he, Michael and Kyle came up with a plan. They set a trap for him, using the kids as bait. I was surprised Serena agreed to it but she trusts her father implicitly. Once they trapped Peter, Max was able to manipulate Peter’s brain and induce a permanent coma that only Max himself can undo. Peter is now hidden in the pod chamber. Serena told me all of the details when we spent the afternoon together. I have to hand it to Max, it was a brilliant plan.

I have been walking all morning and now find myself at Alex’s grave. There is a bouquet of white flowers, his birthday is tomorrow. I know they are from Isabelle; she hasn’t missed his birthday yet.

“God Alex. I just found out I’m this Queen of another planet. I’m going back to help free my people. God, I feel like were 8 years old again playing make believe except this is real.” Alex and I used to play these games together as kids where he was the King and I was the Queen. Now I wonder if maybe as a child I had some of Theea’s memories and was acting them out. I wish I remembered them now.

“I don’t have any of my memories. Max has all of his, Isabelle and Michael have some of theirs but I have nothing. What if I never remember and I can’t help my people?”

“It doesn’t matter if you remember Liz. You’re the strongest person I know. We can’t defeat them with out you.” I turn around to see Isabelle standing behind me.

“Thank you,” I say as I give her a hug.

“I guess great minds think alike,” she says pointing towards Alex’s grave.

“My mind is always clearer when I come here,” I explain.

She nods and we sit down on the grass in front of the grave together.

She looks sad. I feel like she has something to say but maybe she would rather talk to Alex than to me. “Jesse isn’t coming with me.” She says bluntly, her eyes never leaving Alex’s grave.

I wasn’t expecting that. “Oh.” She stares at her wedding ring. “I’m sorry Isabelle.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not what you think. He said he’d come with me. Give up everything and I was so happy, but something didn’t feel right so I came here last night and sat with Alex. I remembered that he’s here in this grave because of me, I brought him into all of this.”

“Isabelle. He loved you, he wanted to be a part of all of this.” Why is Isabelle still blaming herself after all these years?

“I know that but Liz, we didn’t see the danger then, if we had known what Tess was up to we could have saved him. Now we do know what we are up against and it’s bad. If Jesse comes back with me, who knows what Kivar will do. So I went back and told him I changed my mind, that I wouldn’t let him come. We argued and I basically forbid him to come. If I leave him here, he can go on with his life, his family, the law practice, be safe.”

I can’t talk her out of it because I k now she is right. If Jesse comes with us he will most likely be killed. “Your very brave.” I squeeze her hand.

Tears are falling down her face now. “I’m lucky Liz, I’m an alien living on earth and yet I’ve had two humans love me in this life.”

She is right. We’ve gone through hell and back these last few years but at least we’ve had love.

“So I guess we just wait to hear from Maria and Kyle then,” she says as we stare at Alex’s grave.

“Speaking of love, my brother says he hasn’t talked to you since the pod chamber yesterday?” she questions me.

“I just. I can’t believe he didn’t want me to go,” I tell her honestly.

“I talked to him about that. You and Maria had it wrong. He never actually said that. He just wanted you all to know you had options, that you would be safe here.”

“I don’t have an option Isabelle,” I protest. ‘I’m the queen. I would be a coward not to go. Besides I can’t leave my daughter after I’ve only just found her.”

“I know,” she squeezes my hand. “He just loves you Liz. That’s the only he’s ever been guilt of is loving you.” I nod. “Besides, I’m glad you’re coming. You’re like a sister to me. I’d go stir crazy with with only Max and Michael.”

We both laugh and I wonder how many more chances we will get to laugh together, once we are back on Antar, if we even make it that far.

“Speaking of Max. In two days we start intensive training, then we have to decide what to tell our parents. We have to say goodbye to earth knowing we are never coming back,” Isabelle says.

“What are you saying?” I ask her.

“Things are going to get emotional. All I’m saying is that Max loves you. You need each other now more than ever. Don’t shut him out.”

I know she is right. This is not the time for me to be pulling away from Max. We stare at each other in understanding for a moment and then my cell phone rings. I answer it. It’s Max.

“Just wondering how you are doing with everything?”

“OK,” I say.

“Good.” He sounds relieved.

“I heard you’ve got Peter.”

“Yes.”

“Good plan.”

“Thanks.”

He clears his throat nervously. “Listen. I was wondering if we could go on that date we talked about the other day before you were abducted by Peter?” He sounds so hopeful. I feel 16 again.

I look at Isabelle and raise my eyebrows.

“Sure Max. I would like that. Where should I meet you?”

“Let’s make this an official date. I’ll pick you up. Wear something nice.”

“Where are we going?” I ask him.

“It’s a surprise.”

I hang up the phone and smile. “Isabelle were you involved in this?” I question her.

“What do you mean?” she smiles mischievously.

“I don’t know. You convince me to not shut Max out and a minute later he’s calling me to ask me out. Are you able to talk to him telepathically now? Did you tell him to call?”

“No. I can’t talk to him telepathically,” she laughs and shakes her head. “But I did tell him this morning to give you a call and not take no for an answer.

I sigh. I don’t want her playing match maker.

“I know so much has happened between you but Liz, your good for each other.”

“I just need to take things slow. My daughter and getting ready for Antar are my priority,” I explain.

She nods.

I do want to take things slow but I can’t help but think of our kiss in the pod chamber yesterday. I wonder if we’ll have a repeat performance tonight? The idea causes a flip flop in my belly. I’ll know soon enough.



-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



Max should be here any minute. I am wearing a short red dress; I know Max likes that color on me, a simple gold chain and a pair of small gold hoop earrings. As I apply a little makeup in the mirror I find myself in the midst of a mental battle with myself. My mind is screaming, don’t get involved, too much has happened; do you really want your heart broken again? The other part of me, most likely my heart is screaming, but you love Max. It’s really that simple. I wish it was.

There is a knock at my door. “Come in,” I say as I rustle through my closet trying to find my shoes.

I look up to see both of my parents standing in my door way wearing that look I have really come to hate, parental concern.

“Lizzie. Max is downstairs. He says he is picking you up for a date.”

“That’s right.” I am trying to pretend I don’t know where this conversation is going.
My parents look at each other. “Honey, it’s just that we thought you were dating Peter.”

“I’m not.”

“Well what happened? Yesterday he was introduced as your boyfriend.”

I shake my head. “He was never my boyfriend.”

My parents look at me with confusion.

“You better sit down.” I motion towards my bed.

“I lied to you about why I came home. I’m sorry but I was embarrassed about it.”

“Honey, you know you can tell us anything,” my father says and I nod. If they only knew.

I take a deep breathe. “I was being stalked at work and I was scared for my life.”

My mother gasps.

“It was Peter, I went out with him once and when I wouldn’t go out with him again things got ugly,” I continue.

“A few days ago, he tracked me down here. I didn’t want to put you in danger so I played along.” I hate lying to them. I do it all the time but it never gets easier.

“Where is he now?” my mother asks.

“He won’t be causing me any more problems. The Sherrif talked to him and he left town.”

“Are you sure?” my father asks.

I nod.

“Thank god. Valenti is a good man.”

“That he is.” I wonder how much of all of this Kyle has told him.

“Are you sure your ready to date again so soon, and Max of all people?”

“Yes dad. It’s just a date.” As if anything with Max could be just a date.

“A date with the boy who took off years ago and broke your heart,” he exclaims.

“It’s not the simple dad.”

“Nothing with you ever is.”

I walk down the stairs and my heart catches in my throat. Max is standing by the door, a bouquet of white roses in his hand. He looks so gorgeous, in an olive shirt that brings out his amber eyes and a pair of dark pants.

“You look so beautiful Liz,” he says as he hands me the roses. When I take them from him, our fingers brush against each other and a surge of electricity goes through me, I get a flash.

Theea was 19 years old. She and Zan were dancing very closely, “You look so beautiful tonight Theea,.” he whispered in her ear sending goose bumps down her spine.

“You always says that,” she punched his arm playfully.

“It will always be true.”

“Even when were old and grey and useless?” she challenged him.

“Even then but you could never be useless.”

She blushed at his statement. They way he had said it made her think he wanted to be with her forever.

“Is your father coming tonight?” he asked her.

Why was he bringing up her father now? “Yes. He had a meeting but he and mother should be by later”

“Good. I need to talk to him about something, something very important.” Zan scanned the room. “Oh he just came in. You don’t mind do you?” he asked her.

“No go ahead,” she laughed as she watched him almost run over to her father.

After a few words were exchanged, she saw the two men leave the ballroom headed towards another room in the palace.

“How are you tonight cousin?” Ava asked her.

“Very well and yourself?”

“Look who I am here with.” Ava pointed to one of the militaries commanders. A very tall and extremely well built man. “So you can see I am doing very well.”

Theea had to laugh. Her cousin was not the one man type. Her conquests were more numerous than one could count on one hand and she like Theea was only 19.

“I saw Zan go off with your father. What was that about?”

“I don’t know. Business maybe?” she guessed.

Ava shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think he’s asking for your hand in marriage.”

“What. Really?” Was he really going to ask his father if he could marry her?

“I don’t know for sure but Alec was telling me that he overheard a conversation between Zan and the king. The words married were uttered from Zan’s lips more than once.”

“Oh Ava, that would be so wonderful.” Then she paused not wanting to get carried away.

“What if the king doesn’t think me suitable to be his wife?”

“Oh stop your worrying. You know that both the King and Queen adore you.”

“I hope so. I hope they don’t have someone else lined up.”

“Zan wouldn’t stand for it. Oh look there back.” She pointed to the doorway though which Zan and her father had entered. She watched Zan shake her fathers hand before his eyes scanned the room, once he spotted her he walked over immediately.

He took her hand immediately. “Sorry for the delay. I hope you weren’t waiting long?” His eyes never left her face.

“No.” Theea shook her head. “Ava kept me busy.”

“Speaking of which, I have a date.” She said waving as she made her way through the crowd.

The moment Ava left Zan bent down and fiercely brushed her lips with his. “Zan. What are you doing?” She laughed. She and Zan had been dating for a year and had not been intimate yet. Sex before marriage was frowned upon in Antar, some people like Ava got away with it behind closed doors but a prince could not. He and his bride had to save themselves for each other. The way he was kissing her now was the way they kissed in private. That was pretty much as far as they had gone.

“Showing you how much I love you. We are allowed to kiss you know.”

“I know but not like that. Everyone is staring.”

“I don’t care, let them stare. I want everyone to know how much I love you”

“What’s going on?” she giggled. Why was he acting so strange? Could Ava be right?

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” he wrapped his arms around her and they began to dance again.

Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming.

BehrObsession
FSU/MSW-94
rie482
dmcb_love_jason


Chapter 16

“Liz.” My mothers voice, instantly breaks me out of the flash.

I quickly turn around to face her. “What?”

“I said, do you want me to put those lovely flowers in water for you?” She looks at me and then at Max and then laughs.

“Oh yes, please. “ I hand them to her and then look at Max “Thank you. They are absolutely beautiful.” I’m blushing. It’s been a long time since we shared a flash.

Max brushes his hand across my arm gently and leans in to whisper in my ear. “You already said that. Is everything alright?”

“Everything is fine,” I assure him and then whisper. “I had a flash. I will tell you about it later.”

He nods and then chivalrously put his arm out for me to take. I laugh and link my arm through his as we head out to the parking lot.

Sitting in front of us is the old Jeep. The jeep we went for our first date it, found the orb in. The same jeep that went flying over a cliff 5 years ago. “My god. How is this possible?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “It isn’t. It’s the same make and model, different jeep. It’s one of the Jeeps Kyle and I have been working on in the shop. Thought we could borrow it for the night.”

“Max, you’ll get in trouble.” We are already over our heads in alien drama, we don’t need human problems thrown into the mix.

He shrugs. “I changed the license plate.” He says it like it’s something he does every day. “I wanted to remind you of what we had before.” He takes my hand in his and then shifts awkwardly on his feet.

My heart melts. After everything we’ve been through, with all that is at stake he still makes me feel like I am the most important thing to him in the world. “Max, I don’t need a jeep to remind me. I could never forget.” It’s true.

“Good.” Max smiles and we stand there awkwardly for a minute, before he finally opens the door for me and I take my seat in the jeep.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-



Dinner is great. Max fills my head with stories of Antar, nothing tragic, tonight we are taking a break from all of that. He explains some of the customs and describes the scenery. He tells me about the red water, it’s so still at night that you can see your reflection in it. He does tell me a few things that are almost impossible to believe. I say almost impossible because 6 years ago I didn’t believe in aliens and well now there is nothing I don’t believe.

“Unicorns?” I raise my eyebrows and cross my arms in front of my chest. ‘Your just playing with me aren’t you?”

He gives me a coy smile as he plays with the ends of his napkin. “Maybe. Maybe not. I guess you’ll have to come to Antar to find out for yourself.”

He knows I can’t stand him knowing something that I don’t and I think he’s enjoying this a little too much. Two can play at this game. “Is that a dare Evans?” I ask him.

He laughs. “That depends on whether it will work or not.”

I give him a serious look. “Max, you know I’m going. There was no other decision for me to make. I’m the Queen for God’s sake.” Did he really think I would irk on my responsibility?

He reaches for my hand across the table. “I know Liz. I know….but I didn’t want you to feel that you had to come, that it was an obligation. I wanted you to come because you choose to.”

“Max, it is an obligation. That comes with the whole royalty thing. Remember before you left you always said you didn’t want to be king but when it came right down to it you always did what you had to.” He nods in understanding. “Well I’m doing what I have to know too…but…” Now I’m the one playing with the end of my napkin. “but I want to go too…your there…Serena’s there…it’s my home.”

Our mood has gotten serious again, too serious. I raise my eyebrows suggestively trying to lighten the mood. “So if I get there and there are no unicorns, what do I get, you know for taking the dare.”

“Whatever you want Liz.” He laughs but then he takes on a serious tone. “I really mean it Liz, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_



Now we are taking a walk at the park hand in hand. I take a deep breathe and realize that this is the first time in weeks that I have actually felt relaxed. It’s a great feeling.

“So you said you had a flash earlier?” He asks me.

I nod and then blush. How many times can a person blush in one night? I feel so strange about it, I know that technically I am Theea but I can’t help but feel like I was spying on an intimate moment between Theea and Zan. “It was of Zan and Theea.” As soon as I say it I feel his hand stiffen.

“What?” I ask him.

“Just wondering, what did you remember?”

“We were dancing and you went to talk to my father and Ava was there.” His hand relaxes again quickly but I wonder why the change at the mention of Theea and Zan.

“Oh yes, the harvest ball.” Recognition flashes across his eyes “That was a very important night.”

Did he really ask me to marry him that night? “Really, why?” I press him for an answer.

“I asked your father for permission to marry you.” He smiles.

I knew it. I knew it!

“Ava told me that night that she suspected those were your plans. I wasn’t quite convinced. I wasn’t sure your father would think I was good enough for the prince of Antar.”

Max looks surprised at my statement. “Of course you were. Father loved you. So did Mother and Vilandra.”

“So when did you ask me, after the ball?” Ok I admit it, I’m really curious. The previous life has become a soap opera for me, I am hanging on every detail I can get.

“I didn’t actually ask you that night, it was a few days later, I had to make sure that everything was perfect.”

I’m sure it was perfect. Everything with Max is.

“So speaking of Theea and Zan. How did we meet?” I wonder if it was a kismet sort of thing.

“We met in high school,” he answers quickly.

“The prince went to regular school?”

“Yes. Father thought it was important that I associate myself with the common folk.” His answer is quick and abrupt. His upper body is extremely tense. Why is this conversation so unpleasant for him?

“So that’s all I get we met in school? What was it like, was it love at first sight?” I want all the romantic details.

We stop walking. Max turns to look at me, the carefree version of him that his been here most of the night is gone. “Max what is going on. As soon as I mentioned Theea and Zan back there you tensed up on me. Why is it so wrong for me to want to know who I am?” I mean it’s natural isn’t it, to want to know where you’ve come from?

He sighs and let’s go of my hand. “Liz, I don’t want to talk about Theea and Zan. I want to talk about us.” The way he says it is almost painful. This is really bothering him and I don’t know why.

“But that’s who we are right?”

He sighs. “We are clones of them, but we don’t have to be them.”

I’m trying to understand this, I really am, but what is so wrong with being Theea and Zan? “It’s just hard, not having any of these memories.” I try to explain my frustration to him.

“Sometimes it’s hard having these memories.” What does he mean by that? I feel like that day in the eraser room when I wished I was invisible, and Max wished he didn’t have to be so invisible.

In my hurt I lash out at him. “I’m sorry my questions are such a burden to you.”

“Liz. It’s not that….I…”

“Max?” He doesn’t finish his sentence..

“One night as Max and Liz, that’s all I’m asking you for. Please. Don’t push me on this.” He looks tired, sad and alone. This is the man that fought for our daughter for 4 years, and he’s asking me for one angst free night. I should be able to give that to him. I nod and he visibly relaxes and grabs my hand and we continue our stroll through the park.

We spend the rest of the evening, talking and laughing about everything. I tell Max about all of the good movies he’s missed over the last 4 years. “You would have loved napoleon dynamite.” As well as all of the new bands he’s missed. He tells me about the food on Antar, so much more exotic than the bland food we serve in the Crashdown that’s for sure.

We finally arrive back at the Crashdown, time to say goodnight.

“I push my hair behind my ear nervously. “I had a great time tonight.”

He smiles. “Me too.”

“Liz I…..I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

I look at him quizzically.

“I’m sorry about earlier. It wasn’t fair of me. I’ll tell you anything you want to know about Theea and Zan. I know it’s important to you. It’s just in a few days we start training and then we fight the biggest battle of our lives. I just want to have a few days with you where we are just us, not trying to save the world or hide a secret.”

“I understand Max. I’m sorry for all these questions but we had this life together and I feel like I’m missing out on it because I can’t remember.”

“I know. Liz being with you in that life and this life, it reminds me of what were fighting for because for me it all comes back to you, the reason I can face every day, it’s always been you.”

With that he cups my chin in his hand and bends in and softly brushes his lips against mine. Within seconds the kiss heats up, becoming hungrier by the minute. He slips his tongue into my mouth and I groan at the contact. He places his hands on my hips and pushes me against the door.

“Max.” I whimper. I want him to keep going but I also know it’s too soon.

“I know.” His voice is choppy as he catches his breathe and rests his forehead against mine. “Liz I really want us to try again.” His eyes are pleading with me.

“So do I Max, I just need to take things slow.” That won’t be easy though.

He nods in understanding. “I can do slow.”

“Thank you.” I kiss him again softly.

“Breakfast tomorrow?” He asks

I laugh. It’s only 8 hours away.

“What? I have 4 years to make up for.” He smirks.

“Good night Liz,” he says and then places his hand on my forehead and I feel a light Zap.

“What was that?” I ask as he is walking a way.

“A memory. One of my favorites.”

Just like a flash the memory starts.

Thanks for the feedback, please keep it coming.
Timelord31 -hope you like the memory
roswell3053 - so glad you found the story again. I hope you keep reading.
BehrObsession - yes the date was a start. They still have a lot of wounds to heal. There is another reason Max doesn't want to focus on his previous life but I can't give that away just yet.
rie482 - thanks. hope you enjoy the memory
KatnotKath - glad you liked the flashback. Hope yoiu like this one as well. Liz and Serena are still a long way away from forming a
relationship but they are trying.Yes a friendship is where they really need to start.
Erina - there is more of a reason than Max is letting on and that is all I can say for now. Glad you liked their date together.

Part 17

Zan walked down the school hall as quickly as he could, desperately searching for a place to hide. One week ago his father had forced him to switch from home schooling to the final grade of the private school system. He had just turned 18 and his father felt that it would be good for him to be with others his own age, that he would benefit by learning about the issues that plagued the youth of his generation. This would help to make him a great King someday.

So far the only issues he had identified at this school was that every female student was interested in snagging a prince for a groom. The ones that flirted subtly he could handle but some had thrown themselves at him, chased after him like he was a celebrity and the worst one Pamela Moten had actually kissed him on the lips. He had heard some of the boys in the locker room talking about her and how well endowed she was but he found her utterly repulsive.

Just as he was leaving English class a few moments ago he had waved at him from the back of the room. “Zander, wait for me.” He had immediately bolted out the door and now was looking for a place to hide.

“Zan.” He heard Pam’s shrill voice and cringed, thankful that she hadn’t seen him yet. He did a 360 in the hall looking for anywhere he could hide when he spotted a door, the janitor’s closet. He opened it and stepped quickly inside, closing the door quickly behind him and turned to face it, his ear to the door, hopefully listening for the sound of Pam passing by.

He sighed. The saddest part of all of this was how lonely he felt. All the girls were so interested in trying to ‘snag’ the prince that not one person had taken the time to get to know him. The guys were even worse, so jealous of the attention he had taken away from them that they didn’t want to befriend him either. Not one person saw him, at all, they only saw him for what he would bring or would take from their life.

By the time he turned 20 he was obligated to have chosen a bride that would rein with him once he was King. If he didn’t his parents would choose for him. He wanted to choose for himself but who would he meet at this school? He didn’t want to end up with any of the girls he had met here, or at the palace or at the club. He wanted someone he could talk to, relate to, someone he would want to get up for every morning, someone he would want to be a great King for, someone he could love. A Soul mate. He wanted to find his soul mate. When he mentioned it to his father onc,e he had laughed and said “Kings don’t have time for soul mates.” Well if that was the case he didn’t want to be a King. What worth did life have if there wasn’t someone for you to share it with?

Suddenly Max heard a voice clear behind him and he turned around quickly to see a girl sitting on the floor, back against the wall with a textbook in her lap. They looked at each other for a few moments.

She had the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes he had ever seen and long silky tresses to match. She wore no make up and was dressed quite simply. All of the other girls in the school had worn low cut tops and lots of makeup but this girl looked like she had just stepped out of the shower, dried her hair, thrown on a red turtleneck and pair of chords and headed for school. There was something very refreshing and sexy about it. “Oh uh,” He stuttered realizing he had been staring at her for far to long and had offered no explanation for why he was in the janitor’s closet. Prince Zan never stuttered or felt the need to explain himself. What was wrong with him?

“I was just looking for a place to hide,” he explained.

“From Pamela Moten, I know,” she wanted to laugh but maintained a straight face. Was one supposed to laugh in front of a prince? She had no idea.

He looked at her in confusion. “How did you…..”

“I heard her calling you from in here,” she laughed. “Her voice is so loud it sort of travels.” She tried not to but couldn’t stop herself.

How embarrassing. All he could mutter was an “Oh.”

“What are you doing in here?” he asked turning the conversation back to her.

“I’m studying for Biology.”

“In the janitor’s closet? What about the library?”

She shrugged. “It’s actually quieter in here. You’d be surprised. Most people use the library to gossip, not study.”

Zan shook his head. That seemed so strange. A library was supposed to be quiet. He had a feeling he had a lot to learn about high school.

“Have a seat. You probably won’t be safe until the bell rings for next class. Pam is known for her persistence.”

Zan threw his book bag on the ground and took a seat beside her. He held out his hand. “I’m Zan.”
She took his hand. “Theea.”

He peered over her shoulder at what she was reading, a chapter in her biology textbook on genetic markers. “I just finished that chapter last night.”

She smiled at him. “It’s fascinating isn’t it. I mean this research opens us up to so much potential. One day we’ll be able to change these markers, to prevent and cure genetic diseases.”

Zan smiled back. This was the first normal conversation he had had with a girl since he had started at the school last week. “It is incredible.”

“I can’t wait to study this in college. What about you? ”

He sighed with sad eyes. “I’m in training to be a King, there really are no other options for me.”

“Oh sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I forgot for a second that you…” She felt like an idiot.

“No, it’s great. Everyone just looks at me as the future king and never takes the time to get to know me. Thanks for doing that. Truthfully if I could be anything I would probably be a doctor. Biology is my favorite subject.”

She looked at him sympathetically. “Just think how many people you will be able to help as a king. You can pass new legislation for scientific research and medicine. Open new clinics. You will be able to help far more people than I ever will.”

Somehow he doubted that. He didn’t know how but had a feeling that Theea would be a greater asset than even he could be.

The bell rang. “Well I have to get to Biology,” she said, getting up and picking up her books.

“So do I, why haven’t I seen you in class?” Had he really missed this raven beauty?

“Oh my family and I just got back from Vacation. This is my first day back in two weeks….that’s why I have been trying to catch up.”

His face lit up. They shared a class. He would get to spend another hour in close proximity to her.

“Can I carry your books?” he offered.

“Oh no.” She was horrified. “A prince couldn’t carry her books. What would people think.

I don’t care what people think. She heard him say but his lips weren’t moving. It was as if she was hearing his personal thoughts but that wasn’t possible. Only royalty on Antar could posses the gift of telepathic communication and it was rare even among them. She must be more tired than she thought.

After more debate she finally gave in and allowed him to carry her books, fearful if they didn’t hurry, they would be late for class. When she passed them to him and their fingers brushed she felt a large volt. When their eyes met she realized that he had seen it to.

As Zan walked into the classroom with her, he resolved to get to know Theea. Every molecule in his body was telling him that she was the one, she was already in his blood.

Max stirred some milk and tobasco into his coffee. “So what did you think of the memory?” he asks me with a grin.

We are eating breakfast together at the Crasdown. He showed up on time just like he said he would.

“I loved it but why that memory Max?”

“I told you it was my favorite.”

I’m really confused. “Yesterday when I asked about how we met you made it sound like no big deal and you changed the subject.”

He grabs my hand across the table. “It was a big deal. It was the best day of my life, of Zan’s life I mean but I just don’t….”

“You don’t want to talk about Theea and Zan, you want to talk about us,” I finish for him.

He sighs and leans back against the booth looking relieved. “You wanted to know how Zan and Theea met, it was important to you.”

I nod. “Thanks for showing me, Max. It means a lot.”

“So.” he leans forward and pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. ‘Did you sleep well?”

I nod. I actually slept better than I have in years.

“Me too. Knowing that you wanted to try again took so much worry off of me. I just can’t imagine a life without you Liz.”

I smile. He looks like a hopeful little boy and I can’t deny that I am happy to but he’s getting so intense. When isn’t Max intense? Like I told him last night, I really need to take things slow. Focus on the lives that are at stake and preparing to go home to Antar. Wow, this is the first time I have referred to Antar as my home.

We are interrupted when Maria enters. “Look, I’m sorry to break up your romantic breakfast rendezvous or whatever but I really need Liz for some serious girl talk. So girlfriend could you give us a few?” She looks at Max and he nods sadly. Poor guy. I know he feels like we are finally starting to make some headway and he wants us to spend as much time together as we can.

“Max, I’ll walk you out,” I say and I take his hand and we walk out front.

We walk around the side of the building, near the dumpster, not the most romantic place I know but at least we can be alone. “Are you ok with this? Maria, she’s trying to decide whether to stay or go and she’s confused,” I explain.

He nods. “I understand. I just want you all to myself right now. Selfish. I know.”

I laugh. “It’s not selfish at all. There’s just a lot going on.”

“I’m going to head home and spend time with Serena and the kids. Can you come by later for dinner maybe? Serna is making pot pie.”

“Sounds good.” Before I know it he’s leant in and captured my lips in his. His kisses are slow and soft at first. He deepens the kiss, a bit hesitantly at first but when I kiss him back just as eagerly his hesitation disappears and his tongue begins to explore every inch of my mouth. He tastes like a mix of maple syrup and Max and I love it.

He runs his fingers through my hair, over my shoulders, and finally rests his hands on my waist pulling my body closer to him as he plunges his tongue deeper into my mouth. When we come up for air his eyes search my face, fearful he has pushed me to far to soon. “Is this ok.?”

I nod and take his lips once again letting my hands run over the hard muscles in his shoulders and back. When we stop again he kisses the top of my head. “I know you have to go but we can finish this later on tonight.”

We hold hands as we walk around the corner. “I love you.” He says as I open the door to the Crashdown and he heads for his car. “I love you too.’ I open the door to the Crashdown with a smile on my face.

“So, what’s the deal with you and loverboy?” Maria asks me when I sit down in the booth across from her.

“I thought you had some sort of crisis to discuss or something?”

“I do but it can wait. This is good gossip.”

“It cannot wait. I just walked out on a perfectly good make out session for this,” I say grabbing her arm and pulling her up to my room.

“What’s up?” I ask her once we are sitting on my bed.

“We have to tell Max our decisions tomorrow Liz and I don’t know what to do. I love Michael and all of you but I don’t know if I can…” she starts to sob.

“Maria, no one will blame you if you don’t come. It’s dangerous, you’ll be safer here.”

“It’s not that Liz. I’d die for any of you. It’s my mom. She’s started drinking again and I’m scared to leave her.”

I look at her with confusion. “What do you mean by again? When did Amy have a drinking problem?”

“Two years ago. I didn’t say anything. She didn’t want anyone to know. Remember that beauty school she went away to for 8 weeks?”

I nod.

“That was actually our code word for rehab.”

I don’t know what to say.

“I thought she had kicked it, I really had but it’s bad again and Liz I feel like it’s my fault. All these years, with all my lying, all my worrying her due to all this alien stuff.”

“Maria, it’s not your fault. You didn’t drive your mother to drink. Besides you’re a grown woman living with Michael now. Your life is your own.”

“I know that I do but she’s so alone.” Maria looks so sad that I pull her into a giant hug.

Maria and I talk for over 2 hours and I do the only thing a good friend can, I listen. In the end I tell her that only she can make that decision and that whatever she decides we will all support.

I wonder how things are going with Kyle’s decision. Is he in as much anguish as Maria? I guess I will find out tomorrow morning when the others do.

Thank you so much for your feedback! It means so much to me. Please let me know what you think of this part. Also, I have 2 new stories coming soon. Please check out my author's page if you want to see the summaries.They are near the end of the 2nd page.

roswell3053
kiwigirl
behrluv32
FSU/MSW-94
begonia9508
Timelord31
BehrObsession
Erina
L-J-L-76
rie482


Part 18

“Kyle, what is it?” I ask him. His back is to me and he is staring out over the cliffs in front of us. Although I can’t see his face, I can feel his sadness in my very core and it causes me to shiver.

I’m not really sure why we are here. Not long after Maria left my room, I received a cryptic call from him, asking me to meet him here at the pod chamber. I sensed something in his voice, a seriousness that has never been there before. I don’t know if it was my abilities or just the fact that I have known Kyle for so long that caused me to borrow mom’s car and rush out to met him.

“This is hard, Liz,” he says, his back still to me. I have to say that I am surprised he wanted to meet me here of all places. If Max had asked me to meet him here it would make sense, we have a history here, he has a history here but Kyle?

“Kyle, your scaring me.” I walk behind him and put my hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn around and face me. Kyle’s the guy that always has a joke to tell, that’s always there for me no questions asked. I’m not used to him having problems.

He fiddles with the ring on his right index finger nervously. “I’ve spent the last few days agonizing over whether to go to Antar or not.” I nod, not wanting to interrupt him. He obviously has something really important to say.

“I’ve decided to go Liz but I need you to know why.” He takes a deep breath and then blurts out, “I’m in love with you, Liz. In fact I never stopped.”

“Kyle…I…” I don’t know what to say. This is coming at me completely out of left field. What good is seeing the future when I can’t even detect that one of my best friends has been harboring feelings for me for 7 years. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.

“Your shocked, I know,” he chuckles but it is only momentary and is once again replaced with a serious face. “I was never going to tell you but we might die out there and I just felt I had to. I’m sorry. I know this just makes things even harder for you.”

Shocked doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction. “Kyle, maybe your just confused. I mean we shared this power thing after both being healed by Max and we’ve spent a lot of time together.” I mean, this is a reasonable explanation for his declaration isn’t it?

“That’s not it Liz. I know how I feel.” I look down in shame. I don’t want him to think I am trying to belittle his feelings. It just hurts when the one person who would do anything for you in the whole world wants something from you, something that you can’t give.

“Kyle. I’m glad you told me but I just had no idea. I mean I knew you weren’t with anyone and I knew you were lonely but I just figured it was because of the whole alien thing.” I rack my brain trying to remember who he has dated the last few years. There was Cindy which lasted only a few weeks and some other girl Diane, again that didn’t last long. It’s all starting to make sense.

He nods and begins to explain. “When you dumped me for Max I was hurt, I hated him and I was angry as hell with you but after Max saved me, I learned the truth, that he had saved you to and I will be forever grateful to him for that.” I nod again waiting for him to continue.

“Can we sit down?” he asks pointing towards a flat rock in front of us.

:Sure.”

After we take a seat he continues.” I became friends with him, with all of them. I wasn’t exactly thrilled that they were always bringing my dad in on these dangerous things but I eventually came to understand the importance of it, the difficult choices they made every day and became friends with them.” I smile remembering the change in Kyle. He progressed from Jock to a helpful Buddhist and one of my best friends in a very short period of time. It wasn’t easy. Like all of us, he had a lot of adjustments to make.

“I watched you after that. You were so strong, the way you helped them, all of us, the way you held onto your convictions when Alex was killed. You were so strong. I only loved you more but I knew it was hopeless, that even though you were angry with him, you would never let him go. I accepted that and told myself that I would always be there for you, that that would be enough but I secretly hoped that one day you’d really see me and want to be with me. Then he comes back and we find you’re an alien queen, you were his wife, that whole destiny thing again…but despite that I still can’t not be there for you Liz. That’s why I have to go. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

God. This is so hard. He’s been one of my best friends. The guy I call to dig me out of all of my messes. He’s been here for me more than Max, even thought that’s not Max’s fault. I don’t want to hurt him but I can’t lie. I need to tell him the truth. “Kyle, we can’t. There can never be anything between us, if that’s why your going because your hoping that there will be then don’t. Things might be strained between Max and I right now but I do love him and I am trying with everything in me to work things out.” The truth is that I wish I loved Kyle, things would be so much easier but I can’t change my heart.

The expression on Kyle’s face shows me he was expecting me to say exactly what I did. “Liz. I’m not blind. I can see that you love him. You too are meant to be together and Max is a stand up guy, he really is. I would never stand in the way of what you two have. That’s not what this is about, I’m not trying to make a play for you. I’m just saying that I can’t stop the way I feel and I needed you to know.”

I nod. “Kyle, I don’t want you to risk your life because of these feelings you have for me.” If something happened to him because of me, I could never forgive myself.

“That’s not your decision to make.”

How can I argue with him? He is right. Didn’t I say that very thing to Max once?

We start to head back to where our cars are parked and Kyle stops and takes my hand. “Are you ok with this? I don’t want things to be weird between us; I just had to tell you Liz.”

I nod. “Thank you Kyle. Your friendship means everything to me.” I give him a big bear hug. Things will be weird for a while but I can come to terms with it, after all I have come to terms with much worse.

“As long as this won’t affect your friendship with Max. He is the king and he calls the shots and if you can’t follow that…” I trail off knowing that Kyle can decipher the meaning without me having to finish the sentence.

“It won’t be a problem. Like I said, I like Max.” We share a look of understanding. Then he smirks. “But Parker, my eyes and ears are open. If Evans does anything, he’s toast.”

I laugh. How can I not. It’s nice to hear Kyle laughing again.

Just as I am about to get into the car he hollers over to me. “You don’t have to tell him do you?”

I nod. “Sorry Kyle, but we promised each other no more secrets.”

He nods sadly and gets in his car.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


I knock at Max and Serena’s, already late for dinner.

Serena comes to the door. “You don’t have to knock,” she laughs when she opens the door and sees me on the doorstep.

“I don’t want to overstep.”

She rolls here eyes. “You’re my mother. Your supposed to overstep.” I’m still not too good at the whole mother thing.

“Gramma,” Beth and Zan yell as they run towards me and I bend down and pick them both up, twirling them around as I head into the kitchen with them. Max is sitting at the table and gets up and gives me a warm hug after I put the kids down. My pulse races thinking about the kiss we shared behind the Crashdown earlier.

I see three plates with pot pie and salad set at the table which are still steaming hot. “A few minutes ago, dad sensed you were getting close and told me to put these out,” she explains. “The kids ate earlier, they were pretty hungry.”

I look at my watch guiltily. “Sorry I’m late. Something came up that I had to deal with,” I explain.

“Anything you want to talk about?” Max asks, his voice laced with concern.

Serena gives him a look. “Dad, let her at least eat first,” she groans. She knows how relentless Max can be when it comes to solving other issues.

Max just shrugs, a slight blush forming across his cheeks as we sit down and begin to eat.

After dinner during which time I catch up with Serena’s last two days she leaves to give the kids their bath and get them ready for bed. “I’m pretty tired,” she fakes a yawn. “I’ll turn in myself after I get them to sleep.” I give her a hug.

Max and I lie down on the couch together and he puts his arms around me. “She’s doing that on purpose to give us some alone time isn’t she. Poor girl,” I laugh.

“Don’t feel sorry for her. This is exactly what she wants…her parents back together.”

I just nod. Max pushes my hair out of my face and kisses my forehead softly. “How are you with things?”

“Good. I still need to take things slow Max, but I am glad that were together.”

He sighs and relief washes over his face as he gives me a squeeze.

“So I guess tomorrow morning we hear there decisions. Then we have to start training and if your up for it work on some memory retrieval exercises. Any idea what they will say?”

“I know Jesse isn’t coming and well Maria has some stuff going on. I don’t want to betray her confidence.”

Max nods in understanding. “And Kyle….” I guess I should tell him. “He said he’s coming and he also admitted that he’s in love with me.” I look at him timidly after that last comment carefully gauging his reaction.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. I mean I guess it makes sense, you’ve spent a lot of time together over the last few years.” He pushes his bangs back, he always does when he is nervous. “What about you? Do you share his feelings?” He asks worriedly and I can feel his heart beat quicken.

I turn over to face him. “No Max. I mean I feel badly that I can’t return them he’s been so good to me.”

“Because I would understand if you did Liz. Especially after everything that happened,” he stammers.

I shake my head. “No Max. I love you. I want to be with you.”

He lets out another sigh, relaxing once again.

I begin to trace circles on the front of his shirt with my index finger. “So, earlier you said we’d finish something tonight,” I say suggestively.

He raises his eyebrows and grins. “Well yes I did.”

“I think your all talk,” I challenge him.

He leans in and takes my lips, not softly, not delicately, but passionately right from the first touch and I find myself completely and utterly consumed in the taste and feel of Max. He runs his hands through my hair, down my back until they rest on my waist and then he pulls me even closer to him. I let my hands run over his shoulders and down his back. He feels so strong. We fit perfectly together.

After a minute we take a breather for air. “Are you ok with this?” he asks me. I nod. I am definitely ok. It was cute the first time but is he going to ask me that every time we make out now? I hope not. After seeing me nod he begins to nibble on my bottom lip and I open my mouth once again in laughter. His tongue immediately enters and he begins to make love to my mouth. I begin to grind my lower half against him and feel his arousal pushing against my thigh. Then I get another flash.


It was a few days after the harvest ball. Zan arrived to pick Theea up on a white horse.

“Very cute Zan.” She smirked when she saw him. “Where’s the car?”

“Not here.” He shook his head.

“So how are we getting to dinner then?”

“Your riding with me, of course,” he said like it was an every day occurrence.

He was serious? She looked down at the beautiful green dress she was wearing. “Zan. In this are you serious?”

He let out a laugh. “Very.” With that he pulled her up onto the horse so that she was sitting in front of him.

He then pulled out a blindfold and covered her eyes with it.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked. Didn’t he know she hated suprises?

He kissed the side of her ear, tracing a path of kisses down to the bottom of her neck while they rode. “Patience love, Patience,” he whipered in her ear, only adding to the suspense.

After 30 minutes, they stopped and she felt him lift her down from the horse, only he didn’t put her down, she remained in his arms and he began to walk. “Zan,” she jestfuly protested.

“Let me carry you Theea, please,” he begged.

Of course she relented. She would never pass up the chance to be in Zan’s arms.

When he finally put her down and removed the blindfold she was mesmerized by beauty. They were standing in front of a waterfall, a beautiful table set up with a white table cloth, fine china and wine goblets.

“What is all of this?” she asked in awe.

“Your fairytale,” he exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. When they were first dating she always teased him that he was like a regular guy, I thought a prince was supposed to pick the princes up on a white horse she would joke, where is the waterfall, the wine goblets. They had laughed together and she admitted that was the fairytale that she had always dreamed about. Months later she admitted that being with Zan was a million times better than any fairytale but Zan wanted to make it come true for her especially tonight, what he hoped would be the most important night of both their lives.

She looked down at her dress the bottom of which was now ripped and covered in mud. Zan ran his hand across it and it was as good as new. They then sat down and enjoyed the most heavenly meal Theea had ever had.

After dinner, Zan bent down on one knee and produced that most beautiful sapphire ring she had ever seen. “Theea, you are my soulmate, my whole world. You make me want to be a beter man, a great king. I want to be with you forever, have children with you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife.”

Tears were streaming down Theea’s face as she jumped out of the chair, throwing herself in his arms, bowling him over and began to kiss him senseless. “Yes,” she screamed.

“I thought you were concerned about your dress,” he joked as he rolled on top of her on the cool grass.

“Not when I have a prince who can fix it with the simple wave of his hand.” she laughed.

As I come out of the flash, I found myself in a sitting position on the couch, Max beside me.

“What did you see?” Max asks.

“Your proposal. I mean Zan’s proposal.”

Max smiles. “That was a great night.

Something comes over me and I cup Max’s face in my hand and began to kiss him again, even more forcefully than before. I push him down on the couch and began to unbutton his shirt. Everything just feels right.

“Liz?” he asks between kisses.

“I’m ready Max. I want to make love to you.”

“Liz, this is happening to fast. Your caught up in Zan and Theeas memory. That’s all.” He knows were are still virgins and he doesn’t want us to take things to fast.

“We’ve waited four years Max. That’s long enough,” I protest but I know my argument is lost as I see him sit up and begin to rebutton his shirt.

“You don’t want to?” I ask is disbelief. Shouldn’t I be the one stopping things, not him?

He doesn’t answer the question and says instead,” We have a busy day tomorrow. I’ll take you home so you can get some sleep.”

I get up and grab my purse off the floor. “I have my car. I’ll drive myself,” I say as I head towards the door.

“Liz.” He knows I’m hurt but doesn’t offer any explanation. “Come here.” He pulls me into a hug and then kisses me softly. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

A/N: I know you were all suprised by that last part, both by Kyle's admission and Max's reaction to Liz. All I can say is just bear with the story. There are still a lot of gaps to be filled in and quite a few more twists to. Everything will make sense eventually, I promise.An old character will be coming back soon who will give us some insight into their life on Antar.

Thanks for your lovely feedback:

confusedfool
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behrluv32


Part 19

“Thanks for picking me up.” I say as I get into the backseat of Maria and Michael’s car, and we speed off towards the highway. It’s decision day and we all agreed to meet at the pod chamber for 9 am.

“No problem,” she says and then turns around and gives me a quizzical look, “but I was sort of surprised. I thought you would be getting a drive with Max and Serena.”

I just shake my head.

She and Michael exchange a nervous glance in the front seat.

“Did you and Max have a fight?” she asks trying to figure out why.

“Not exactly, things were going well, I had this flash of Zan and Theea the night they got engaged.” I explain.

“Sounds hot. What’s the problem?” she asks with a laugh.

I sigh ready to tell her what happened last night when I realize that I don’t want Michael to know about my sex life, I mean it’s a little embarrassing when your boyfriend turns you down for sex.

The truth is I am sick of being upset with max, sick of our misunderstandings. I shouldn’t have pushed him last night. He probably wants to wait until we’ve been together for a while, doesn’t want to rush me. That’s all it is. Here he is trying to prepare us for the war back home and I just had to go and start being difficult. I’m not being fair.

I think the reason that I was trying to rush things between us last night is that I love him so much, and I just want us to be over all this crap but healing is something that requires time. I’ve waited for him for four years, I can surely wait a little more. “You know what Maria. I was sort of upset with him but I’m not anymore.”

She turns around. “Really? Your over whatever it was just like that?” she cocks an eyebrow at me in disbelief. This is probably the first time I haven’t overanalyzed things to death. I barely believe it myself.

I think for a moment before responding and realize that I really am over it. Those weren’t just words. “I’m not going to jump to the wrong conclusions anymore. We all know I’ve so over done that. I trust Max and for once I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Maria smiles. “I’m glad. You and moon doggie so belong together.”

I smile. “So what have you decided?” I ask her changing the subject. “Are you going to Antar? Or do I have to wait and find out with everyone else?”

Michael turns around and scowls at me “Of course. She’s going!” The he turns back to Maria, “You are, aren’t you?”

Maria looks flustered and I realize that she hasn’t told him about her mom yet. .

We pull up to the pod chamber. “Sorry Maria,” I say sheepishly as I get out of the car and head up onto the cliffs leaving those two in the car to sort things out. I hope I haven’t unleashed world war 3.

When I enter the chamber, Max and Isabelle are busy talking in the corner. Serena has obviously stayed at home with the kids. Kyle is on the other side of the room talking into his cell phone. When I say hi to him he just and then continues to talk into his phone.

A few minutes later Maria and Michael enter and by the look Maria sends me I would guess that the crisis has been adverted for now. Whether it stays that way will depend on what decision she makes.

Max and Michael check on Peter to make sure he is still out cold. Once we have congregated in the chamber we sit on the ground in a circle. There is no point in small talk. We all know why we are here.

Isabelle decides to start first. “Jesse isn’t going.”

Max gives her a sympathetic look.

“I am going,” I say and everyone nods. There was never any doubt.

“Kyle?” Max asks.

“I’m not going.” Kyle says and my jaw drops. What about all that stuff he said yesterday? I try to make eye contact with him but he looks down at his shoes and then plays with his shoe laces. We are all quiet for a moment. I think everyone thought that he would go.

When Kyle finally looks up it is Max that he makes eye contact with. “If it’s ok with you I would still like to train with everyone. I mean after you leave I’ll still have these powers and I’d like to know what to do with them. Plus, I’d like to help you all out as much as I can while you prepare, if that’s ok?”

Max nods. “Thanks for the offer. We could use your help.”

The only answer left is Maria’s so naturally all our eyes fall on her.

“Maria?” I ask softly.

She just shakes her head.

Michael looks very surprised and I wonder if she told him anything at all in the car after I left. “Maria, why?” he asks, only he’s not angry like I had predicted. He just looks sad. “Don’t you love me; don’t you want to be together?”

“We said everyone was free to make their own choice.” Max interjects.

“Stay out of this Maxwell. Maria?” he asks again.

“I can’t,” she says and immediately runs out of the pod chamber.

Michael starts to get up. “No, let me,” I say as I go after her.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


After Maria and I have talked we re enter the pod chamber to find everyone involved in their own private conversations.

“Can we have your attention please,” I say and everyone congregates in the middle of the chamber once more.

“We need to tell the parents the truth before we leave.”

Michael, Isabelle and Max exchange nervous glances. “We owe it to them and if we do this I think Maria will be able to go.”

“What?” Michael asks. ‘What does this have to do with Maria going to Antar?”

I have to agree with Michael Liz. Max says to me telepathically.

Just trust me.

You know I do.

I look at Maria to make sure she is still ok with me telling them. “Maria’s mother is an alcoholic. She was better but has started drinking again. Maria feels partly to blame.” I go on to explain how the alien chaos and Maria’s lies have affected her mother and that maybe, just maybe if she understand the reason behind them she will find it easier to cope.

Afterwards I can tell the group is stunned. Max looks to Isabelle asking silent permission and she nods in agreement and then to Michael who does the same.

“Ok. We will tell all of the parents. Hopefully it will give them some peace of mind. If they don’t make it back then at least…” he hesitates for a minute then continues “they will know why. We need to wait though, until right before we leave. If one of them doesn’t handle it well and goes to the FBI, we will have no chance of finishing this training in time.”

We all nod in understanding.

Now that all the decisions have been made we are all free to go. Max asks everyone to be back at the chamber tomorrow morning to begin basic training.

Michael immediately rushes to Maria’s side and hugs her warmly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I hear him ask her as they head out of the chamber.

My eyes search the room for Kyle who has obviously already left. Why is he avoiding me?

Max comes over to me “Hi.,” he says shyly shoving his hands into his pockets. Hard to believe this is the same guy that just led the meeting.

“Hey,” I say back.

“Did you sleep ok?”

I nod.

“Do you want to come back to the house with me, see Serena and the kids?” he asks hopefully.

“I’ll come by later. I sort of wanted to run some tests on those samples we took from Peter. Find out if there is some sort of substance that will cause them to deteriorate, something that we can take to Antar with us. I was going to ask Kyle to help me. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but I was sort of hoping that he would talk to me about it. I mean yesterday he says he’s going and today he isn’t and he hasn’t said two words to me since I arrived today.”

“It’s probably awkward for him,” Max replies but I can see something else is on his mind. “Max?” I ask.

“Look, Liz, about last night.”

“It’s ok,” I say. There is no need for him to explain. “I understand.”

“Really?” he asks with surprise.

“Ya, I know you’ve had a lot on your mind last night.”

He sighs and scratches the back of his head. “Still I was rude. It’s just I don’t feel that I deserve for you to give that sacred part of yourself to me.”

I look at him oddly. What does he mean? “Max, don’t be silly. I mean I gave it to you before. We were married.” If it was ok then why would it be any different now?

“I know but after everything I put you through.”

Oh so this is what it’s all about. Max is guilt tripping himself yet again. “That wasn’t your fault.” After all he didn’t really sleep with Tess. He only left me for 4 years so he could save our planet, our daughter, or grandchildren. Why would I hold any of that against him?

“Max.” I take his hands in mine. “Get this through your head. I love you. You deserve me. I deserve you and I am not going anywhere. Do you get that?”

He nods, a small smile creeping up on the corner of his lips.

“And Max, I still meant what I said. I want to make love to you.

“So do I Liz. More than you ever know.”

“But you still want to wait?” I ask.

He nods.

“I think your right. We should wait, until we are both ready.”

He doesn’t say anything. Just bends down and takes my lips softly before heading over to catch his sister before she leaves. For a second I wonder why he doesn’t say anything. I mean there isn’t another reason he doesn’t want to make love to me is there? Oh shit, I’m doing it again, analyzing him to death, creating chaos where there isn’t any. I guess old habits die hard but I will not let them get the better of me.

As he walks towards Isabelle I am distracted by his ass in those jeans. I make a silent promise to myself. We won’t be waiting long.

Thanks for the feedback. Please keep it coming!

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KatnotKath


Part 20

“Just let it go Liz,” he sighs in frustration while I continue to question him as I smear Peter’s blood on a slide and place it under the microscope. I can’t believe it has lasted this long, thanks to the mini fridge in my room.

I convinced Kyle, well actually begged Kyle to come over under the false pretense of helping me analyze these samples. I could have done it myself; we all know that but I wanted the chance to drill him about why he changed his mind. So far he has evaded my questions, which is why I am asking again.

“Kyle, I can’t. I need to know. Why?” I ask him again. Let it go? When have I ever been able to let something go?

He shifts uncomfortably and avoids my gaze. “I can’t go because…the truth is, I’m not sure I could follow Max’s orders or yours if they meant that you would be in danger. That’s not what you would want I know, but that’s what I would do.”

I nod in understanding. He couldn’t give me up to save the world. He loves me too much. I walk over and give him a hug. “Oh Kyle.” This is one of those moments in life where you ask yourself how things have gotten to this place, so far from where you want them to be and come up empty.

When I pull out of the hug a few minutes later we both have tears on our faces.

He shifts uncomfortably. “I’d like to say we’ll keep in touch but I don’t think they have other world telephone lines or internet on Antar,” he chuckles trying to keep things light.

My face falls. “Hey,” he pushes my chin up and gives me a playful pout. “Don’t look so grim, we still have a few weeks left Parker. That gives me plenty of time to bug you.”

Four hours later we have tested all the blood, hair and tissue. I will analyze the results tonight when I get back from visiting Max, Serena and the kids.

Kyle grabs his jacket and heads for the door. I’m just about to say goodbye when something occurs to me. “Kyle?” I ask.

He is part way out the door when he turns back to look at me. “Ya?”

“That phone call in the pod chamber. Who was it?”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-



Today was our first day of practice. Isabelle, Michael, Kyle and I are working on our powers with Serena as our tutor. Max is teaching Maria a type of Antarian martial arts that she can use to defend herself.

“Ok, now focus all of your attention on the boulder,” Serena guides me to harness all of my energy and direct it at one thing. We have been working at this for a few hours and I am really starting to improve.

I collect my energy, focus and zap disintegrating the boulder into dust.

“Good for you,” Serena envelopes me in a hug. “I think you’ve found your motivation,” she says referring to her earlier advice to find a memory or image that makes me angry and then direct that anger outwards.

Finding what makes me angry was easy. You guessed it. “Tess.” I say aloud.

“Now why didn’t I think of that,” Isabelle says and lifts her hand up to try again, “Take that, bitch,” she yells as a green light emanates from her hand knocking a row of cola cans over with one zap. “Yes,” she yells giving Serena a high five.

Michael, Serena and I can’t help but laugh.

Hours later after a full afternoon of practice we all congregate at Max and Serena’s for a bite to eat.

Isabelle’s shoes are off and Kyle is massaging her feet. “I’ve never been so tired and in so much pain in my whole life.”

Max comes down the hall after tucking Zan and Beth in for the night and bends down in front of Isabelle. “Let me take care of that,” he says as he passes his hand over her foot eliminating the pain.

“Oh, thank you Max. You could make a fortune with this healing power of yours.”

He takes a seat beside her and grabs a plate of food. I watch them laugh together while they finish their dinners. Maria and Michael are on the couch in the living room in the midst of their usual banter. Kyle is now helping Serena, make pie dough, of all things. How she can bake at a time like this is beyond me. Apparently baking is one of her hobbies, something she definitely didn’t inherit from me. I watch them all, my family and smile. It’s nice to see everyone together and happy. If only Alex were still here.

I decide to give them all some space and go stand outside on the veranda, taking in the beauty of Roswell, New Mexico, the place I have considered home all these years and would surely miss.

A few minutes later Max sneaks up behind me, wrapping his arms around me, nuzzling his nose against my neck. “I wondered where you’d gone. Everything ok?” he asks softly.

I turn my head, not wanting to leave his embrace and give him a soft kiss. “Ya, it is.

“I hope I haven’t been neglecting you. I just want to make sure Isabelle is ok and everyone is trained and that Serena and the kids have what they need,” he explains.

“Max, I don’t feel neglected at all and I want to help you however I can. It’s just been one of those days, Kyle won’t tell me who was on the phone the other day, I can’t find anything that will destroy Peter’s tissue and well I …I was just thinking about Alex. Wishing he was here,” I complain to Max. It’s nice to have someone I can complain to.

He just nods. “If we had known about Tess…..” he trails off and I turn around and give him a stern look.

“You didn’t know Max. It wasn’t your fault. Stop taking the world on your shoulders. Your not alone anymore. We are all here to take some of the burden.”

He smiles at me, with one hand he pushes my hair behind my shoulders, with the other he cups my face. He leans closer to me, so close I can feel his hot breathe on my face. My heart picks up in anticipation. I am completely addicted to his kisses. “Your so amazing. You know that,” he says and then his lips sweep against mine. He traces my top lip with the tip of his tongue, then gives it a nip with his teeth. He then mirrors these actions with the bottom lip and I groan, wanting to feel more of him. He complies, his tongue making it’s way deeper into my mouth as his arms make their way around me, settling on the small of my back as he pulls me closer.

Every time we kiss now, I feel our connection deepen. There are still things I feel he is keeping from me, but with each kiss he lets me in just a bit more, lets me see him more, and myself a little more to.

When we stop for air both panting rapidly, his hands travel up my body. I’m on fire and his touch feels like an electric current. His hands softly caress my breast. I moan in pleasure and throw my head back as I receive the flash, only this time I feel the memory we share is coming from inside of me.


“Are you nervous?” Ava asks as she helps Theea out of her wedding dress and into her night attire.

Theea shakes her head. “This is Zan. Everything just feels right.”

She looks at her reflection in the mirror once again. Red is Zan’s favorite color and she hopes he will like it. “Does it hurt?” she asks Ava.

“A little, the first time but the second time it’s incredible,” Ava explains. “Just relax and you’ll be fine.

“Relax,” Theea repeats out loud as she starts to feel a little nervous.

“Oh hurry, I can feel him, he’s almost here.” Theea quickly ushers Ava out the servants entrance to her room, grabs her robe and puts it on, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to look casual.

There is a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she croaks. The door opens to reveal Zan standing in a black robe, his bangs wet from a shower.

She stands up and makes her way across the room to meet him. “Hi,” she says softly. Why is she so nervous?

“Hi yourself,” he replies with a huge grin. “Wife.”

She likes the sound of it. “I can’t believe were married now.”

“Happy?” he asks.

“Very.”

He gives her a coy smile and picks her up carrying her to the door at the back of her room where there is a door that adjoins to his room. He opens it and walks through, closing it behind him and placing her in the middle of his bed.

“I guess your more comfortable in your room?” she asks.

He shakes his head. “Our room,” he clarifiess as he crawls up the bed and hovers over her.

She looks at him confused. She moved into the palace a week before the wedding to finish preparations and Queen Diane had told her that the room would be hers permanently after the wedding. That Zan would come to her when he wanted to and they would have adjoining rooms so that it would be convenient for him.

“I want you here with me all the time Theea, you’re my everything.” he explains when he sees her confusion. “There will be no other woman.” Theea knows he is referring to his father, the King, well known for his wandering. “That room can be the babies’ room when we have one.”

“I love you Zan,” she says.

“And I you,” he says as he tugs on the belt of her robe, pulling it open to reveal the red negligee she has on underneath.

He then reaches up and undoes his robe and Theea finds herself staring at him in only a pair of silk boxers.

This is the first time they have seen each other in such little clothing. Zan’s eyes darken with lust. “I have waited for this for a long time,” he says as he runs is hand through her hair delicately and then bends in and takes her lips fiercely. She wraps her arms around him and pulls him down against her, feeling his arousal against her thigh. She immediately groans, feeling wetness poll between her legs in want.

I come out of the flash and blush as I feel the wetness between my own legs. I look up to see Max blush as well. The memory was so real its’ like we were both there. Max shifts uncomfortably, trying to hide the tent in his pants. I pretend not to notice; thank god the proof of my arousal is easier to hide.

“Well, it’s kind of weird to see that….when we haven’t even done that yet..I mean,” I say with an akward laugh.

“Ya.” Max tugs at his collar. ‘I know what you mean. I’m glad it ended before…”

I just nod. “It’s nice to know they were so happy though.”

Max drives me home, walks me to the door and kisses me goodnight. The kiss is more passionate and longer than usual. I think we are both still turned on by the memory we shared. All we need is a few more flashes like that and I am sure Max will be ready to take the next step with me.

After saying goodnight I enter the Crashdown, closing the door behind me and lean against it with a happy sigh, wrapping my arms around my chest. I feel like I am in heaven, being loved by Max Evans.

I am knocked out of my fantasy by the sound of a clearing throat. The crash is closed and I look around it in the dark trying to determine who it is. “Who’s there?” I ask ready to use my powers if need be.

“It’s your dear old dad,” comes the reply in an almost sarcastic tone.

I look over and sure enough, he’s sitting at a table not far from the counter.

“Dad?” I ask as I walk over to the door and turn on the light. “Why were you sitting down here in the dark?”

He folds his arms across his chest. “This brings back memories of high school only their not fond ones.” His voice is cross.

“Excuse me?” I say boldly.

“You sneaking around with that Max Evans. Ring a bell.” I don’t like his tone at all.

“I hardly call it sneaking around Dad, we were out and…” I start to explain but before I can he cuts me off.

“You said you were over him and now your spending all your free time with him and then I see you two out front with his tongue half way down your throat.”

“I’m sorry your not happy about it but I won’t apologize for my actions. Max and I are back together now. I’m a grown woman, you can’t stop me.”

Dad gets up and I can see clearly that he is in a rage. “He mysteriously disappears for four years and you get your life together, then he comes back and your under his spell again. What is it Liz…”he swallows hard before continuing. “Is it drugs?”

I can’t help but laugh. Drugs and straight laced Max Evans don’t exactly go together. But when he grabs my purse and starts going through it I get angry. I’ve never seen this side of him before.

“Happy?” I say when he’s dumped the contents on the table and found nothing.

“Well what is it Liz? “ he asks me so desperately I feel sorry for him as he sits back down at the table. We certainly have put the parents through a lot these last few years. I can’t wait until we can come clean with them.

“It’s complicated dad,” I say sitting down across from him at the table.

He takes my hands in his. “You know you can tell me anything.”

“I know that Dad. I do and we will.”

“We as in you and Max?” he asks.

“And Isabelle, Michael, Maria.”

“Why can’t you tell me now? What is this big secret?”

“I just can’t dad,” I say and we just sit there for a few minutes staring at each other.

He gives me a look of what appears to be sympathy but when he opens his mouth I realize that I have read him wrong. “Liz, when you first came home, said you needed a break from work, I was ok with it, happy even that you were home but now…now I realize you made a mistake. You gave up your career to hang around with Max Evans all day and your not leading a productive life. That’s about to change. As long as your here under this roof you will work for us at the Crash, a 40 hour work week. You start tomorrow.”

“Dad, I don’t have time for this, I have training and…”

“Training for what?” he asks.

God, I wish he understood. I have another destiny and it does not involve the Crashdown. He leaves me no other choice. “I’ll be gone by tomorrow. I just need to pack my stuff.”

He looks at me in shock. Didn’t he think that given that ultimatum I would move out?

“Liz,” he says reaching for me and for a moment I think he will concede, but instead he drops his arm, and walks quickly past me and up the stairs.

Looks like Isabelle was right. I will be moving in with Max and Serena much sooner than I thought.