Roswell Fanatics

****

Michael rushed out of his office building with such haste that he nearly bumped into someone.

A long legged someone to be exact. "Cassandra!" he exclaimed surprised.

That was what he had forgotten to do, call Cassandra and tell her that whatever they had was over, he was now officially taken.

"Michael," she smiled sexily. Michael glanced at his watch, it was rush hour and he needed to get home and change before he took out Maria.

"I have something for you," she said.

Michael finally focused on her, "Oh yeah, what?"

Before he could move back, her arms were around his neck and her lips were coming towards his.

****

Maria practically jumped out of the car as Ray parked across the street from Hartley&Co's offices.

"Careful!" shouted Ray as she crossed over.

"Relax," she called over her shoulder, "traffic is practically at a standstill"

Ray laughed after her. It was good to see her smile, a real smile. These days they were coming every day and Ray had to admit that the reason was Michael. He had tried to hate him, find something to dislike about him but all in all, he was a good guy. It wasn't like he didn't date other women, it was just that none were Maria, Ray had just thought that after a while there might be a chance with Maria, but he had to let that go because her heart belonged to someone else. And he loved her enough to be happy for her.

****

Maria stopped dead as she approached the entrance. Every emotion of joy of anticipation evaporated from her, the only thing left was ice shattered by the scene before her. Michael his lips kissing not hers but some long-legged, from the box blondie.

Michael managed to disentangle himself away from Cassandra and froze.

No.
No way.
It couldn't be.

Maria was standing a few feet from them, mouth open, her eyes registering anger, shock and most of all hurt. No, not again, Michael had promised himself that he would never cause that look to cross her face again, that look of pain, betrayal.

Pushing past Cassandra he ran towards her, "Maria," he had to make her understand, but she was already backing off.

"Wait, I can explain"

Maria didn't want him to explain, a picture said a thousand words. Blinded by tears she raced across the road ignoring his calls.

****

Ray was surprised to see Maria practically running across the road with Michael after her. Something was wrong. Maria wasn't even looking where she was going.
"Maria!" he shouted.

"Maria!". That last call sounded like surround sound. Maria stopped, heard the screeching tires and something hit into her.

Michael's eyes grew wide as the car failed to stop. He watched as if in slow motion, Maria fall to the ground, her head smacking against the concrete. Forgetting everything he rushed towards her.

Ray heard the scream, it wasn't Maria's he realised as he reached her it belonged to a bystander. No Maria wasn't moving. Michael reached her at the same time he did.

****

Michael smoothed back her hair from her forehead, "Maria"

She looked at him. Good she was alive. She had to stop doing this to him or him to her.

"Is she okay?" he heard a concerned voice ask. Ray.

Michael looked back at her, "Michael," she said weakly.

Ray felt for her pulse and looked up at him, "we need an ambulance".

Michael nodded as he removed his cell phone from his pocket. The whispers on the streets and the fact that there was a crowd gathering pierced through his Maria centred bubble and brought him back to reality. Maria was hit, it was rush hour, she wasn't doing too good, her eyes, that light was fading.

****

"Hey!" Ray exclaimed as Michael grabbed the phone from him and ended the call.

"Forget the ambulance," he replied, "they won't get here in time."

"So what do we do?" he asked. They couldn't let Maria die.

Michael paused, the sands in the hour glass emptying, the invisible clock counted down.

What the heck!

Ray looked up surprised as he began lifting Maria to carry her, grabbing Michael's shoulder as he advanced to their car, he said "What do you think you're doing, you're not supposed to move her."

"Open the car door," Michael ordered instead, Ray stood still.

"Look, I'll explain on the way just help me get her into the car".

Ray relented and opened the back door as Michael placed Maria gently on the back seat.

"Now what?" he asked as Michael opened the driver's seat.

"Get in" he ordered. Ray got into the passenger side and fastened his seatbelt as Michael revved up the car.

"Are driving her to the hospital?" he asked as they rounded a corner into an alleyway.

"In this traffic, no"

"Then what?" he asked.

****

"Press two on your car phone speed dial," he replied as he parked and surveyed the alley.

Good, it was empty.

"Hello"

"Max, it's Michael"

"Mich-"

"where are you?"

"At home,"

"Alone?"

"no liz and Jacob are here, why?"

"you're garage empty?"

"yes, Michael what is it?"

"Maria's hurt, we'll be there in a second" he replied and hung up.

****

Has this guy lost it? thought Ray

"Michael, Max lives in Boston, we're in L.A." he said.

"I know," he replied, "we're going to teleport"

"teleport", he said slowly. If it had been anyone else he would have laughed in his face, but Michael was an alien and had a completely serious expression on his face.

"yeah"

"okay" Ray nodded.

Michael took a deep breath and glanced at Maria, her eyes were closed, her hair was matted with dark blood. It was risky he knew and had only ever done it once but this was Maria's only chance. Closing his eyes he concentrated, concentrated on the car. Imagined it's basic parts, then pictured their bodies at the molecular level disappearing and reappearing in Max's garage.

****

Ray's eyes widened as the car began to disappear and his hands...
"What the-"

"-heck" his hand was back.

So was the car.

Except they weren't in the quiet alley anymore but in what looked like a garage.

"Michael" he said, turning to him.

Michael opened his eyes and smiled.

Yes, he thought triumphantly. I did it, I really did it !

The garage door opened.

"Michael!"

"Max" he said as he got out.

"Wh-"

"Maria's hurt," he said as he carried her out. He could leave it till later to get a lecture on his irresponsibility, right now Maria's life was at stake. Max glanced at Maria and sprung into action.

"Bring her through to the living room," he said as he led Michael through the kitchen.

"Maria" cried Liz as they placed her on the couch, "what happened?"

"We went to see Michael," said Ray, " and she got hit by a car."

" Max,"

"She'll be fine," he reassured her as he knelt down beside her to heal her.

****

Ray watched as Max placed his hand on her forehead and chest and closed his eyes. He'd never seen him actually heal someone before, he'd heard the stories but had never seen it. Maria looked pale and weak. Her light, that vibrant nature was fading and it all had something to do with Michael.

"If she dies," he said to Michael, "regardless of your alien origin, I'll kill you."

Michael looked at him in surprise then understanding, "you're in love with her."

He shrugged, " so are you" he replied.

His attention was drawn back to Maria when he heard her gasp.

****

Maria eye's focused on Max, "Welcome back," he smiled, "again"

"Thanks," she said as she sat up on the couch.

Wait a minute if the photos around the living room were right, then she was in Max's house in Boston.

"What am I doing here?" she asked as the memories organised themselves in her mind.

"You got hit by a car and Michael, risked his life and Ray's to…basically teleport you here", said Max.

Teleport? That's new.

"Okay, thanks," she nodded to Michael.

"So how did you get hit by a car?" asked Liz

The question reminded Maria, of why she had had tears in her eyes.
"Well Liz, when a girl catches her so-called boyfriend in a lip lock with a leggy blonde, traffic just doesn't seem to register."

"You're two-timing Maria," said Ray, "after everything she's been through?!"

"I can explain," he said.

"Fine." Said Maria, "Which day of the week was she, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday?"

"Cassandra"

Maria didn't care.

"At the time did she know that you were taken?"

"No"

"Did you tell her?"

"No bu-"

Michael didn't get to finish his sentence because Ray's fist finished it for him.

"You scum!"

"Ray, stop it," she said as Max held him back.

"It's okay," said Michael, "I deserve it,"

"We'll get to you later," said Maria. She turned to Ray, "While I thank you and love you for looking out for me, this isn't Jerry Springer okay?"

"Sorry," he replied eyeing Michael.

"It's fine."

"Okkkay," said Liz, "Maria, why don't we go wash that blood out of your hair while these boys cool down," she suggested.

Maria thankful for the attempt to disperse the hostility, nodded as Liz led her up the stairs.

****

"So what happened?" asked Liz after the blood had been washed out of Maria's hair.

"Exactly that, I caught him cheating on me", replied Maria. She sighed as she sat on the edge of the tube as all those images of her and Michael laughing together and raising Michael together were contaminated with those words.

"Are you sure?" asked Liz.

Was she serious?

"Liz, her lips were on his," Maria tried to shake off the image, but it was still there dangling in front of her eyes, taunting her for her optimism. " I can't believe I let him in with his you-are-my-home-garbage"

"Maria calm down" said Liz.

"Let's examine the kiss, was it passionate?" she asked.

"Looked like from where I was "

"who was kissing who?"

"I don't know."

"Well were his arms around her?"

"For a second or so"

Detective Liz nodded, "uh huh and how long was the kiss?"

"I came right at the end but who knows two hours" she replied frustrated.

"Come on" said Liz.

"Okay," Maria relented, " I'm not sure."

Liz smiled, a knowing look travelled across her face, "So don't you think you should talk to him and be sure?"

Maria sighed, when Liz got like this, there was no turning her down.

"Fine, but if you hear glass shattering, that's that pretty vase on the table"

"I don't live here yet so, it'll be Max's" she replied laughing.

****

Michael got up as Maria came in.

"Guess it's our cue to leave," said Ray as they headed out the door.

Michael was alone, with a very angry, hurt Maria.
Not good.

****

"It didn't mean anything", the words rushed out. He was going to make Maria believe him even if it meant collecting CCTV footage of the event.

"Good to know" she replied her steely demeanour masking her pain.

"And Cassandra, she didn't know that we were together because I forgot " he explained.

"You forgot to tell her that you were attached" she said incredulous.

"Well I've been busy with you for the past two weeks and me and Cassandra aren't together, we just go out, so it slipped my mind to tell her."

She nodded as if maybe she believed him.

"The kiss, how long was it?"

What was I supposed to time it?

The words went unspoken however because he was in the dog house, any attempts made to further anger Maria would lead to her harming him.
Instead he shrugged and guessed, "I don't know a couple of seconds?"

She wasn't biting.

Arms crossed, she demanded, "Be more specific".

"Okay, maybe two seconds, she practically ambushed me I was trying to get her off me"

"Two seconds?"

"Tops"

Michael held his breath as she strode up to him and looked into his eyes as if trying to extricate the truth from them. He looked back into her, mentally trying to communicate that what he was saying was the truth. If the eyes were the window to the soul, then she should be able to tell right?

"okay"

The word didn't register at first.

Did she just say…

"okay?" he asked for confirmation.

She nodded, "I forgive you… but Michael if you ever kiss anyone for two seconds again I'll kill you"

He smiled relieved, "I could live with that"

Wrapping her arms around his waist she continued, "and after we leave, you will call every white collar long nailed hoochie in your black book and tell her you're taken"

"After today, I don't think I'll need to" he said.

Removing her head resting on his chest she looked up at his suspiciously, "why?"

That question again. Only this time despite the blood rushing in his ears and sound of his heart pounding fiercely against his chest, not to mention the fact that he felt like he was one step from either dropping off the edge of a cliff or crossing over to the other-side.

"Well, I was going to be early or on time tonight. You wanna know why?"

"To avoid a lecture?" she supplied.

"Well yeah, that and…this," he said presenting her with the velvet box which he'd carried in his pocket for the past week.

****

Maria froze mid-smile, her eyes fixed on the small velvet box in Michael's hand, "Oh my gosh Michael, is that what I think it is?"

Maria watched stunned, as Michael, the stubborn Michael Guerin, get down on his knees.

"Maria, I love you. This past week, I've had fun, you’ve given me my life back and I know it's sudden but I love you and I'm ready, I've been ready and if you're not, that's fine we could have a long engagement but please… say you will be my wife"

Was he kidding? How could she not be.

"yes!" she shouted.

Stunned, he asked doubtful, "yes?"

"Yes, Michael Guerin, I will marry you"

****

The screaming brought the others rushing into the room.
"What's going on?" asked Liz

"This, is what" said Maria as she presented Liz with the delicate but highly expensive diamond engagement ring on her finger. The room was filled with more squeals and screams.

Ray walked up to him a blank expression on his face.

This is not the time for a throw down, thought Michael tensely. His muscles relaxed when Ray presented him instead with his hand, "congratulations" he said.

Michael shook it, "thank you"

"She's a great girl, treat her the way she deserves."

"I will" he replied.

Max hugged him, "you proposed"

"yeah" he replied not quite believing it himself.

"I'm proud of you" he said.

"thanks" he replied.

Only now they had one problem left.

"Which one of us is going to phone Izzy?" asked Michael

Max raised his hands as if protesting his innocence, "You are the groom, you do it"

"So she can scream down my ear and bombard me with fifty questions a minute?" said Michael

"Better you than me" shrugged Max.

Michael smiled at the scene around him, at his soon to be wife radiated beauty and light from across the room. This was life.

She, he decided as Maria caught his gaze, is life.

He was finally home.

A/N: okay at first I was very stuck, Khivar came back, m/l are together and so are m/m what can possibly come next? so when the wedding idea came up I hit a wall…but it opened a door instead. So if you think Khivar coming back was interesting, the following parts get a little more….

A/N and DESCRIPTION: M/L and M/M have merged, so this fic is going to be about them both and their wedding preparations. It's two weeks till the wedding…the question is, is there going to be one because as both couples grow to find, their past isn't ready to let them move on yet.

The warm sunrays against her cheek roused Liz out of her peaceful Max filled slumber. She stretched and yawned, a smile appearing on her mouth as she remembered why everyday the sun seemed to shine brighter, the sky bluer and the world more beautiful. All because of Max Evans. She lay in bed, her favourite Saturday morning activity picturing his smile, his eyes, and his lips-
The shrill of the phone broke Liz away from her facial sketch; she lazily picked up her cordless.
"Hello?"

"Morning sleeping beauty."

Max.

Her smile grew wider, "Hey," she breathed.

"What are you doing right now?" he asked.

Liz glanced at her clock; "It's nine am on a Saturday morning Max I'm lying in bed," then she added suspiciously, "why?"

"I was wondering if you could do me a favour," he said seriously.

Sitting up in her bed she replied, "Sure, what?".

"Well you see those reds rose petals just entering your bedroom door?"

"Noo," puzzled by his question Liz got out of bed, walked towards the door and stopped. A small gasp escaped her lips.

"Do you see them now?" he asked.

Liz nodded as she opened the door further, her eyes grew wide when she realised it was a trail of red rose petals, "Uh huh," she whispered.

"Follow the trail," he said. As she took a step outside her door and followed the petals Liz watched in amazement as the red pigment disappeared replacing the red petals with white rose petals.

"Max" she said her voice adopting that what-are-you-up-to tone.

"Just follow the trail," he insisted.

The trail led out her bedroom, down the hallway and stopped just outside her living room, "I hope this trail isn't going outside because all I'm wearing are my pyjama shorts and a tee-shirt and my hair's a mess."

"I like you natural," he laughed playfully.

Liz laughed and then gasped when she entered her living room. No not her living room but-

"Max," she began as he stood at her window. Her bedroom window back in Roswell. "Why does my living room," she continued as she stared around her, "look like my bedroom balcony in Roswell?"

And it did, in every detail, the red brick walls, the chair where she sat to stare at the stars or write in her journal…everything.

Instead of replying, Max closed the gap between them silencing her questioning gaze with his warm electrifying lips.

Breathless and flushed, Liz looked at her balcony and then at Max completely puzzled, "Max what is this?"

"This," he replied waving his hand at the room, "is where I followed my heart".

What? she thought mystified.

Cupping her face between his palms he explained, "remember the Roswell heatwave?"

Right, She nodded and smiled,"Of course I do, it's when we had-"

"our first kiss," he finished as his lips met hers once more.

The kiss made her knees weak and Max holding her up by supporting her waist only made her feel exhilaratingly weaker.
"Max" she said breathless. His scent, the taste of his lips was intoxicating. Their foreheads pressed together, Liz opened her eyes and instantly connected with the brown chocolate pools looking back at her. They didn't talk, talking took too much energy when it could be spent on more important things like Max's hands stroking her hair, her back and his lips and tongue dancing with hers.

"Liz", he breathed when they finally broke apart for air.

"Umm," she replied.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too Max."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and she did the same. His intense gaze told Liz there was more much more to his statement.
"Being away from you," he continued, "not touching you, holding you, kissing you is something I don't want to ever happen."

Liz's pulse started racing as he continued, this was, this was different…there was something in Max's eyes something she'd previously only seen for a second before it disappeared but now, now it was there and wasn't disappearing. She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

"This thing with Khivar last week and Michael and Maria made me realise something."

"What?" she asked.

"That I love you Liz Parker," Max replied, "and I don't just want to say I love you.."-Liz's heart was racing, her heart was telling her something that her mind couldn't quite process as Max bent down on one knee- "...I want to show you that I love you," - he held up a small white velvet box to her and opened it-"...for the rest of my life."

Liz's mouth closed as he rose up, "Liz Parker, will you do me the great honour of being my wife?"

A single tear ran down her cheeks as her fingers brushed the delicate pearl set in the centre of the ring. Now she knew she knew what that look in his eyes and the feeling in her heart was; it was love. Not that first level romance I love you but the I love you. The love that would be patient and kind and forgiving.

Liz felt a warm hand stroke her cheek, "Liz?"

"Yes," she replied looking up at him.

"Yes?" he asked anxiously.

She nodded, "Yes," she replied as she hugged him.

****

Maria awoke with a start, gasping for breath she looked wildly around her, her pulse not settling until the cave around her morphed back into her bedroom, in her home.

It's okay Deluca calm down, she told herself as she rested her head on the headboard. He's dead, dust, he can't hurt you anymore.

Great, she groaned angrily as she pulled off the terror-soaked pyjama top. Once again she was going to have to change into a new pair of sweat-free pyjamas just because of some nightmares caused by another alien psycho who just couldn't let it go. Sighing, Maria turned on her bedside lamp, this was the sixth time in two weeks that she'd had the nightmare, the same nightmare. Of Khivar. Of the kidnapping. Of the pain and tortur-

Enough!

She shut her eyes trying to wipe away the memories, the thoughts. Satisfied, she opened them, took her shaking hand and held it up to the light and smiled as the diamond sparkled.

Michael. The thought of his name washed warmth and safety over her. In just two weeks, she was going to be Mrs Maria Deluca Guerin. Maria Guerin. She liked that. She had decided that she was going to keep her maiden name for her album but everywhere and to everyone else she was Maria Guerin.

"Maria Guerin," she whispered, liking how it sounded, she repeated it again and again and again and kicked her feet out of the covers with excitement.
Drained of the sudden burst of energy but wide-awake, Maria decided to go downstairs for some milk.

They had a fitting tomorrow; milk was the only thing that got her to sleep. They. Her and Liz.
Not only was this going to be one of the best days of her life because she was going to be marrying the man she loved but also because her best friend would too. Max had finally proposed to Liz a week after Michael. Maria smiled as she remembered how nervous he was about planning how he was going to propose, but all had gone well, Liz had obviously said yes and after some fast talking from Isabel, she had convinced them all that a double wedding was perfect and Maria had to agree. This would be a day that would go down in history…well their family history anyways.

****

In that state where she was half awake and half-asleep, Isabel whispered his name.

"Alex".

The deciding vote over the state of her consciousness was given when she heard his reply, "Isabel". Her name resonated within her mind within her eardrums as if he was talking right into her ear. Isabel's eyes flew open; the call of her name fading as her surroundings became clearer.

"Alex?" she called looking around the room.

This was getting weirder and weirder by the day. She hadn't had Alex dreams for six years and now all of a sudden he was making an appearance in almost every dream. Almost every night Isabel had been reliving her best and worst moments with Alex, this one had been about the prom her last night with him. They had been dancing and talking and laughing and then all of a sudden something happened. Some force was pulling him away from her and she couldn't do anything to help him. Not one her best dreams. Isabel sighed, now she was awake and really didn't want to go to sleep just yet. Maybe she'd go downstairs and grab some warm milk, that always helped her get to sleep.

****

Isabel was surprised to find the kitchen lights on and Maria peering in the fridge.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Maria replied as her withdrawn hand revealed a half-full milk container.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked. She noted that Maria had changed from her pink shorts and top, which they had been playing twister in, to a blue pair.

"Uh huh," she nodded as she poured herself a glass of milk. "Want some?" she asked.

Isabel nodded.

"Warm?" she asked.

"Yes please," she replied as she slid into the stool around the kitchen counter.

"Another nightmare?" she asked as Maria slid in opposite her.

"Yeah", she nodded, "You'd think I'd be over it by now."

Isabel smiled sympathetically, "You need to talk to someone," she said.

Maria snorted, "Yeah what would I tell them that I was kidnapped by a dethroned alien looking for revenge? Besides our cover story makes no room for some chair time."

Isabel laughed, "You don't need chair time particularly, you keep having these nightmares because you haven't dealt with it, you keep pushing it down…and besides," she added smiling, "if you did need chair time, you have you own in-house therapist."

Maria smiled, "True, true. Okay, Dr Evans, what is your professional opinion on my nightmares?"

"Well, nightmares are normal. The problem with yours is the fact that they come wayy to frequent and often which is because-"

"I know I haven't dealt with the horrors of my kidnapping yet. But I will"

"When?" she asked.

"Well, after the whole busyness of the wedding is over."

"Maria, you need to cry, to shout, to scream, to deal. Now."

"Later," she replied as she swung off the stool and picked up the two warm mugs from the microwave.

Isabel sighed, she had seen quite a few people who had had traumatic experiences they never quite dealt with and for some it ruined their lives because they wouldn't let themselves process it, and instead they just wanted to forget it and move on. She didn't want that to happen to Maria.

"Let's drop me," she said as she handed her her mug, "Why are you up?"

Isabel wasn't ready yet to tell anyone about her Alex dreams. She hadn't told anyone, not Kyle, not Max or Michael.

It was probably because of the wedding that she was getting the dreams, she rationalised, the group was reunited but without Alex…it was empty without him.

"Just couldn't sleep, too busy thinking about our schedule for tomorrow," she lied.

Maria smiled, "thanks so much by the way for helping out with this. I don't know what we would have done without you."

"My pleasure," she replied as she finished the last drop of milk. It worked like magic, she was already yawning and her eyelids felt tired, that and talking to Maria had worn her out.

"I think I'm gonna head back to bed," she said.

"I'll come up with you," said Maria.

They dragged their feet upstairs, when they reached the top, Isabel was surprised to see Maria heading left instead of right where her bedroom was.
"Um Maria?"

Maria stopped and turned, "What?"

"You're bedroom's that way," she pointed right.

"Oh, I know," she replied, "I'll sleep with Ray. I don't have nightmares when I'm with him."

"Oh," replied Isabel, "good night".

"'Night," she replied as she turned the knob to his room and entered.

****

Ray felt something warm snuggle in beside him, the cedar oil and strawberry scent told him it was Maria.

"Hey," he replied as he wrapped his arm around her, "another nightmare?"

"Yeah," she replied, "mind if I sleep here for a while?"

The question was unnecessary because the answer would always be the same but she always asked it anyway and he always answered.
"Sure," he replied as he felt his pulse start to race.

Get over it Ray, he told himself, she's in love with someone else, she's going to marry Michael. So get over it!

No matter how many times he told himself that, his heart still wouldn't adjust to this new information. Did she know what torture it was to him to have her lying there beside him and knowing that he couldn't kiss her or caress her cheek or-

Ray sighed, he would settle for watching her sleep, feeling her chest rhythmically rise up and fall and waking up next to her in the morning.

****

****
Liz met Maria infront of Caroline Castirol's. The good thing about having a famous friend was that when planning your wedding, you got the best of everything. Like for example Caroline Castirol one of the top wedding designers providing you with your wedding dress. Her wedding. Liz was still in a daze, she was really getting married and to Max Evans. Something that she'd been dreaming about and planning since the first time they'd kissed…and now it was really happening.

"Liz," called Maria as she approached her.

"Hey," she replied as they hugged.

"You are glowing," replied Maria.

Liz blushed, everyone kept saying that, "So are you," she replied. She didn't know what it was but it was like their happiness had flowed out and everyone could see it. Liz didn’t mind she wanted everyone to know that she was happy and in love and about to marry Max Evans.

"Isabel checked with the caterers and everything is on schedule," said Maria as they waved hello to the Kelly the secretary and made their way to the Mens department where Max, Michael, Kyle and Ray were trying on their suits.

"That's great," she replied. Maria had wanted a fruit cake extravagantly decorated; Liz had wanted a simple white frosted vanilla cake so they'd had to compromise since they didn't want two wedding cakes. Half the tier would comprise of Maria's cake and the other half would comprise of Liz's cake. That had sent the caterers into a tailspin as they had already planned on making two but thanks to Isabel, all was in order. Michael and Max called her obsessive but for once Liz was thankful for her Christmas Nazi attitude towards their wedding.

****

The girls pushed through the doors of the Men's department and froze.
"Oh my…" they said in unison.

Liz was speechless. Standing and modelling infront of the mirror were Michael, Max, Kyle and Ray dressed in a white ruffled shirts, top hats complete with a penguin jacket…Michael even had the cane!
The only difference was that Max's jacket was a deep blue, Michael's brown, Kyle and Ray's were green.

"What do think?" asked Michael smiling.

"What are you wearing?" asked Maria slowly.

"Ditto" replied Liz at Max.

"Our wedding suits" said Michael as if it was obvious.

Liz and Maria turned to each other, their NO-WAY expressions mirroring each other they turned to the brightly dressed men before them.

"Max," said Liz fixing him with a don't-even-suggest-wearing-that-outfit-to-the happiest-day-of-my-life-look. Eyes twinkling with amusement, Max shrugged off his jacket.

Michael rolled his eyes at his whipped friend. Just because Liz had Max wrapped around her finger didn't mean he had to follow suit.

"Michael," began Maria.

"Look, just because Max folded at the sight of the Mrs-to-be over there doesn't mean I will. I like this," he said pulling at his lapels.

"So wear it for Halloween or something not my wedding !" shouted Maria.

Just then, the door swung open. Isabel froze at the sight before her. She had to close her eyes and open them again to make sure what she was seeing was what she was seeing because it looked like Max, Michael, Kyle and Ray were all going to take part in some period costume drama. Maria looked like she was about to attack someone while Liz was trying to calm her down.
"Here we go," muttered Kyle.

"What are you guys wearing?" she asked.

"Our wedding suits," replied Michael defiantly.

Isabel smiled, turning to Liz and Maria she asked, "This is a joke right?"

Maria replied with an I-wish-laugh.

"You guys aren't seriously wearing those are you?" she asked.

"Why not, they get to choose their dresses," retorted Michael.

Isabel smiled tightly. You wish, thought Isabel

"Here's what we're going to do," she began curtly, " Max, Michael, Kyle and Ray, you're going to change out of those and put on the normal black suits the groom and best men wear at weddings. You are going to do this because this is a special day for Liz and Maria and it will be perfect. Do we understand each other?"

They nodded.

"Good," she smiled. One problem taken care of.

Turning to Liz and Maria she said, "the seamstress is here make adjustments to your dresses upstairs I was just coming to get you."

"Thanks," said Maria as they exited the room.

Leading them out of the room Isabel smiled and replied, "You're welcome". As she closed the door she shot a stern look at the penguin boys as a warning.

****

"Wow," said Ray, "Guess the fun's over."

"My point still stands," said Michael, "they get to choose what to wear and seeing as it's my wedding too, I should get to choose what to wear. This is discrimination."

"No," said Kyle as he shrugged his jacket off. He'd caught Isabel's parting look, they all had and he knew she meant business. "It's a wedding," he continued, "You guys may be the ones walking down the aisle but make no mistake this" his voice adopted a secretive tone, " is their wedding. You just wear what they tell you to wear. I'm serious, girls plan for these things from like the fourth grade and no one not even you Michael can mess with the master plan. Plus with the Christmas Nazi now turned Wedding Nazi, you have no hope."

"He's right Michael," smiled Max, "they've got Isabel on their side…besides you aren't seriously going to wear that anyway are you?"

Michael shrugged off his jacket defeated, "Fine. Bring on the black suits," he added making a mental note to buy the suit for a fancy dress or Halloween like Maria suggested because he really liked it, especially the cane.

****

"You two look beautiful," said Isabel. They were on the second floor of Castirol's making adjustments to their wedding dresses. Liz had wanted the whole Cinderella dress, it was simple yet elegant, it was Liz. Maria had gone for the sleek look and had chosen an ivory coloured dress fitted with intricate beading which settled to floor and spread out into a short train; she didn't want a long one as she probably trip over it with her heels.

"We could be saying the same to you and a year or so," said Liz.

"Yeah, you and Kyle" marvelled Maria, " who would have thunk it, but you're good together,"

"Thanks," she replied with mock-offence.

"Come on," laughed Maria, "you know what I mean."

"Yeah," laughed Isabel. She did. Kyle wasn't exactly what she would have called her type…come to think of it Alex hadn't either- They'd met through her boyfriend at the time. He'd wanted to have dinner with a friend and her boyfriend who turned out to be Kyle. After that, Isabel couldn't remember why she was seeing David and Kyle broke up with Sandra, they just started hanging out and then bamm! It happened. That was two years ago and sure they'd gone through some issues but Isabel could say that she loved him.

"Kyle's a good guy," said Liz, "and he really loves you you know,"

"Yeah, I know," she replied.

"Good, it's set then," said Maria with a decisiveness, which surprised her.

Did I miss something?

"What's set?" she asked.

"You catching the bouquet," she replied as if it was obvious, "with your alien powers and two chances you can't miss."

Isabel laughed, "Okay, I'll catch the bouquet."

Maria's cell rang.

"Hi Mum," she said.

Isabel moved to help Liz with her veil.

"What time are you coming in?" she heard Maria ask

"Saturday at 9 okay, love you too," she replied and hung up.

"The calvary, comes Saturday," she announced.

"Is everyone coming?" asked Isabel.

"Yeah, your parents, mine, Liz's and Sheriff Valenti," she replied.

"This is really going happen," said Liz anxiously.

"Yep," she replied, "you're getting marri-"

Isabel gasped.

It couldn't be!

The reflection in the mirror. Liz, her and…Alex. She held his gaze for what seemed like an hour just to make sure he was there. She turned to see him behind her but all she saw were the empty chaise lounges in the room. She turned back to the mirror. He was gone.

"Isabel".

Isabel looked down; it was Liz asking if she was okay.
"I'm fine," she lied.

Liz wasn't buying it.

"I was just thinking about Alex," she amended, "that scene in there with the guys, he would have loved it."

Liz stared at her as if searching for more but finally gave up and smiled sadly, "yeah. He would have probably gone for a purple jacket for royalty, much classier."

"Yeah and carried it on for a whole lot longer than those guys did," said Maria.

"He would have loved to see this," said Isabel sadly.

"Yep," said Maria then added brightly, "So let's make him proud."

Isabel laughed; she liked it when they remembered Alex because no matter how long he was gone, she couldn't help feeling that he was right by her side.

Not to mention seeing his reflection in the mirror. What was that about?

She could put it down to hallucinations but she knew it wasn't. She had stared hard at his reflection for a while and he looked back and smiled.

Only no one else saw him and he wasn't in the room.

Isabel knew she wasn't crazy, it had to be something else. "I'm just going to go take a walk," she said, "while you guys finish up."

"Okay," said Liz

"See you in a few," replied Maria.

****

Isabel made a pit stop in the girl's bathroom. Okay so something was definitely going on, first the dreams, hearing Alex's voice and now seeing him. Opening the cold tap she let it run over her fingers and then splashed some on her face.

"There has to be an explanation for this," she told her reflection.

"If there is" - Isabel jumped and spun around to face the speaker-, "please fill me in."

NO WAY. It couldn't be. It wasn't possible.

"Alex?" she asked stunned.

"Hey," he replied.

Isabel turned to the mirror and sure enough there was his reflection. Turning back to him. Her voice shaking she stated, "You're dead."

"I thought so too," he replied. He shrugged, "but I'm here."

"No you're not," replied Isabel as she edged towards the door, "you are some figment of my imagination like the last time."

"If I am," he said, "then you should be able to tell me why you conjured me up."

Isabel stopped, "Good point."

She stood there staring at him and he stared at her.

Isabel took a deep breath. Okay, so she'd been dreaming about Alex and had seen him in the mirror and now he was here talking to her. If this was not in her mind then it had to be somehow alien related considering his alien-caused death.

"So, how long are going to stand there?" he asked, "cause I could start a pool."

Isabel smiled as she cautiously circled him, "You talk like Alex and look like Alex,"- she pocked him in the ribs and he yelped-," and you feel real. So you must be Alex," she concluded.

"Give the girl a bear," he joked.

"Shut up," she replied smiling.

Then she hugged him. The warmth of his arms around her brought tears of joy to her eyes. It was Alex, it was really him. Isabel didn't know what this was, but it was definitely goo-

She jumped away from Alex as a woman came into the door. Isabel was all prepared to explain why a man was in the ladies bathroom when the woman just looked at her strangely and smiled, walked past Alex and into a cubicle.

Isabel looked from Alex to the cubicle.

She motioned him outside, "That woman didn't see you."

"Nope. Seems like you are the only one who can," he replied, "believe me, I've tried dancing in front of people, eating, shouting, no one can see me…apart from you."

"Why are you here?" she asked him.

"I don't know. Maybe the big guy upstairs thinks I have something else to do and since you're the only one who can see me…you'll probably be along for the ride."

"Great," said Isabel, "if planning a wedding isn't enough, I have to help my best friend's ghost or whatever."

"Good job by the way," he replied as they made their way back to Liz and Maria, " and Maria was right," he added as the paused by the door, "purple was definitely my colour choice."

Isabel laughed as she entered the room.

"Where's the fun?" asked Maria.

Isabel glanced back but Alex had disappeared. She stepped back into the corridor and he wasn't there, at least physically.

"Isabel?" called Maria.

"Nothing," she replied, "I was just… laughing to myself."

Maria shrugged and went back to adjusting her veil. Isabel sat in the sofa conversation washing over her. Years ago she would have probably freaked out over something like her dead friend appearing before her, but now she had seen too much, experienced so many perceived impossibilities that the only thing she felt was joy. Joy at seeing and talking to one of the people she cared most about.

Alex is back, she mused, at least for a little while and I'm the only one who can see him.

Isabel didn't consider the whys and the hows, the only thing that mattered was that Alex was back.

****

An hour later, the alterations had been done, the men had fled to a basketball game Kyle had tickets to while Isabel, Maria and Liz were attending to one final wedding issue for the day.

"So what's wrong with the flowers again?" asked Maria, this wedding had been riddled with so many problems that she couldn't keep track.

"They're out of stock," replied Liz as they entered the parking lot," all they had were red roses, so that's what they sent and the final flower arrangements and layout need our approval."

"So are we going to re-order the white roses from somewhere else?" asked Maria as she slipped into the seat of her car.

"That's a problem aliens can fix," replied Liz as she slipped into her car seat.

"That's the bonus of having other-worldy relatives," said Isabel as she slipped into hers.

"Amen to that," replied Liz.

"Hey."

Startled by the male voice Isabel turned to the now occupied passenger seat. Alex . He trailed his fingers over the dashboard and glanced over at the two cars on either side of her. He let out an appreciative whistle, "the things you miss out on when you're dead," he said, "if I was alive, I'd have specially requested a black viper," he added.

Isabel shook her head a smile spreading across her lips. Since everyone needed a car to get around, Maria had taken it upon herself to rent cars for each of them. Isabel had a red Mercedes convertible; Liz had a sleek black one while Maria drove her own yellow one.

"I need you to drive me somewhere," he said suddenly.

Isabel nodded and whispered "okay."

The engines on either side of her started up, "See you guys there," she shouted, "I have something to take care of first!"

"Okay," said Liz.

"Ciao," replied Maria as they drove out of the parking lot.

The two of them alone, Isabel turned to Alex," next time, could you give me a little warning before you decide to appear like that?"

"Sorry," he shrugged, "next time I'll try not to creep up on you."

"thanks," she smiled, starting the engine she said, "so where do you want to go?"

"A cabin up in the hills," he replied.

"What's there?"

"I don't know," he replied, his brown eyes turned to her "I just have this feeling that there's something I need to do there."

"Okay," she replied, "do you know the way?"

"Yep"

"Then let's go."

****

During the drive, Isabel kept glancing over at Alex, as if afraid that he would disappear.

He turned to look at her, as if reading her mind he said, "I'm not going anywhere Iz," he squeezed her hand gently," at least not anytime soon."

Isabel felt burst of pure joy shoot through her body, tears streamed down her face, "I missed you," she said.

"Me too," he replied, "but I've been dropping by, watching out for you guys."

Isabel's heart stopped, her eyes fixed on the road she said, "So you know about me and Kyle."

"Yep," he replied. Isabel knew that tone, it was the same tone she'd heard when she'd first told him that she just wanted to be friends…a lie she'd always regretted because of the wasted time, time she could have spent laughing and dancing with Alex.

"I'm sorry," she managed.

"Don't be," he replied, "Isabel I died seven years ago, you let me go, I wanted you to. And you're happy, that's all that matters."

"Kyle's a great guy," she said.

"I know and I guess of all people, I'm glad it's him instead of Grant Sorenson."

Isabel laughed, "you really didn't like him did you?"

"Well for one thing I was jealous that you liked him so much and another because…well just for that reason," he replied.

"So I have your blessing?" she asked.

"What?! Wow okay, I'm fine with you dating the guy but talk of marriage is getting me a little jealous here."

Isabel laughed, opened her mouth to say something but just shook her head in amusement instead. I've really missed this

"Speaking of weddings are you going to be at the wedding?" she asked.

"My two best friends getting married to the aliens who swept them off their feet, broke their hearts and then came back again? I wouldn't miss it for the world, it's been a long time coming."

"I know," she replied.

"Save me a dance?" he asked.

"Always," she replied as memories of their last dance together in the cemetery filled her mind.

"Okay," he said as they rounded a corner, "up that road," he pointed, "and turn left."

Isabel followed his directions and pulled up next to what looked like a small get-away cottage.
"Alex, what are we doing here?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," he replied as he got out of the car. Isabel followed him. She watched as standing at attention he looked up at the sky.

"Alex wha-" Isabel's eyes grew wide as a blue beam shot through the sky and surrounded him.

Isabel recognised it instantly, the ATL, advanced travel laser. What is going on?

She watched shocked as something jerked and pulled out of him. A cry escaped her as his limp body fell to the ground. She rushed down to him and turned him over to face her, "Alex!".

His eyes opened a little, "Isabel?" he asked his voice faint.

Isabel sighed with relief, "Yes, it's me Iz-ahhh!" pain ripped through her as something, no someone, forced their way inside her. In a second the pain and the blue light was gone.

****

Isabel opened her eyes and instinctively glanced around her. A smile spread across her face as she exhaled with satisfaction. Dusting herself off as she got up, she looked down at the body on the ground. By now, Alex had recovered and was struggling to get up.

"You're not getting away with this," he said through gritted teeth.

"Aww, how sweet, you still have hope," she said. With a flick of her hand he fell back down unconscious," I gotta hand it you," she said as she dragged him into the cottage, "you did get a little sneaky with your dream walking, but," she clasped manacles around his hands and feet and gagged him, "not sneaky enough."

The job done, she slid into her car and dialled her cell phone.
"Hello?"

"Cassandra. It's me. Go ahead with phase three."

"I understand."

"And make it good." Ending the call adrenaline coursing through her veins, she started the engine, "Now the fun really starts."

WEDDING COUNTDOWN:
DATE: FRIDAY
EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING

"Sweetie, what do you think of this arrangement?" asked Vincenzo.

Maria's eyes lit up at the breathtaking sight flower arrangement Vicenzo was modelling for her. Excited she turned to Liz, whose expression mirrored her own.

This was it.

The one they had been waiting for.

She knew Liz's decision but asked the question for the sake of it, "What do you think Lizzie?"

"It's perfect," she replied.

"Yes?" asked Vincenzo for confirmation.

"Yes," verified Maria.

"Great! Although…" he continued," I don't know how you're going to get the white roses in on time".

Maria waved a careless hand, "Don't worry about it, I've got a friend who can get them in on time."

Thank you Isabel and your alien powers.

Maria looked around her at the hotel ballroom, which was going to house their reception, it was bustling with activity, chairs being brought and in out, adjustments being made to practically everything. She looked gratefully at her friend and wedding planner, "Thanks soo much Vince, if it wasn't for you and Isabel I don't know where we'd be."

"No prob sweetie, giving brides their perfect wedding, especially one of my friends is an honour," he replied before strutting of to tell yell at one of the helpers about the set up of the entrance in the foyer.

"Speaking of Isabel," said Liz, "where is she?"

Maria looked at her watch, Isabel was pretty late, they were done and ready to. She shrugged, "Whatever it was she had to do must have taken longer than she expected." She took out her cell to ring her.

"Don't bother," said Liz, pointing behind her, "she's here."

Maria turned to see Isabel hurrying towards them, "Sorry I'm late," she said breathlessly.

The moment she reached them Maria was struck by something, odd in her manner, she couldn't quite put her finger on it but…she shook it off, it was probably nothing, "Not a problem," she smiled, "we're pretty much finished up here anyway."

"Did you get the problems sorted?" she asked.

"Yep," replied Liz as they made their way towards the exit," hopefully these are the last bugs in the system."

"You don't have to tell me twice," she agreed Beside her she felt Liz sway and stumble slightly. She glanced at her, her skin was suddenly very pale and she looked like she was about to throw up or faint. "Honey are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

Liz glanced at her and smiled weakly, "Yeah I'm fin…".

She would have hit the floor if Maria and Isabel on either side of her hadn't caught her. They quickly sat her on a chair, "Liz what's wrong?".

Colour was returning to her cheeks and she seemed fine again.

"I'm going to get her some water," said Isabel.

Maria nodded and turned her attention back to her best friend.

"I'm fine," she replied.

Maria gave her an incredulous look.

"Really. it's just I've been feeling kind of out of it, hot and cold, lack of appetite, dizzy….I think I might be coming down with something."

She remembered that she'd looked a bit pale this morning and now that she thought about it on other days as well. Maria looked at her critically, she did look better now, but…dizzy, loss of appetite. It could mean several things… but given the circumstances….

Maria's eyes grew wide, her jaw dropped at the realisation, "You're pregnant!" she gasped, "aren't you? You slept with Max!"

Behind her she heard a glass shatter. She turned to see a paled Isabel, staring at Liz with…it looked like hate but that couldn't be right, concluded Maria, she was just probably shocked.
"You what?" she exclaimed.

Maria turned back to Liz, "You're pregnant and you didn't tell me! Your best friend in the whole world Liz, I can't-"

Maria felt hands on either side of her shake her, "Maria!" shouted Liz.

"What?".

Liz bent down so they were eye to eye, "I'm-not-pregnant okay? I haven't slept with Max…yet and its probably just a flu or because I've been stressed about the wedding."

Maria stared into the eyes and found the truth. Calmly she asked, "So you're not pregnant?"

"No" replied Liz.

Maria heard a sigh of relief from behind her. She turned to Isabel about to ask what the look of evil at Liz was about when she spotted her picking up the shards of glass.
"Just leave it Iz, someone will clean it up."

"Okay, do you still need a glass of water Liz?"

"No I'm fine," she replied, "I just want to get home and rest."

"Okay," said Maria, "let's get you home."

They left the hotel, but Maria insisted that Liz leave her car and ride with her instead to keep an eye on her. Liz as usual protested, but Maria was not backing down on this one.

"I'll ask Vincenzo, to have someone drive it back," she told her as they got into her car.

****

In the car, Maria repeatedly peeked at Liz to make sure she was okay.
" 'Ria will that stop that," she said, "I'm fine."

Maria smiled, "I just don't want you to get really sick so close to your wedding. On second thoughts it doesn't really matter cause Max can heal you anyways."

"Another bonus of having an alien husband."

"Yeah, that and the sex" she added.

She laughed at the sight of Liz turning red, "Oh" she teased, "don't tell me Liz Parker, Dr Liz Parker who has investigated the human anatomy is blushing at the word sex".

"It's not that, it's just, I'm a little nervous. I mean it'll be my first time and well it won't be Max's, I mean what if I'm not…good?"

Maria listened as her friend struggled for words, "What you really mean is that you think he'll compare you to Tess," she translated.

"That too," she said shyly.

"Okay a] I don't think it'll even cross his mind and b] you will be totally fine. There's a difference between you and Tess, Liz. Max loves you, he may have had feelings for Tess when she worked her mojo on him but he still and will always love you. So I'm pretty sure he'll be as nervous as you will."

"You think?"

"Definitely. And if you won't take my word for it, you could always ask him."

Liz laughed, "I think I'll pass, I believe you."

****

They arrived home to find Jena in the kitchen rifling through the fridge.
"Hey," she said.

"Hey," said Liz surprised, "weren't you supposed to get here later tonight?"

"Yep, but we got the early flight, there was an opening."

"Where's Joshua?" she asked.

"Playing float the objects with Michelle in the playroom," replied Jena.

At both their looks she added, "it's nothing sharp or breakable."

Liz sat on the stool and immediately felt the world around her spinning. It was happening again. She held onto the cold marble to steady herself until the wave passed.

I'll definitely make an appointment for tomorrow.

"Are you okay Liz?" asked Jena.

"Just tired," she replied.

"Where's everyone?" she asked.

"Isabel should be in in a minute, Max, Kyle and Ray are somewhere bonding and-"

"Michael should be meeting me at his place in about half an hour if he isn't late," finished Maria, "I'll go say hi to Michelle and then go."

"I'll join you," said Liz. She hadn't seen Joshua in weeks and had missed him.

****

Liz and Maria pushed open the playroom door and smiled those smiles that parents have when watching their children, of pride and love.

They were floating things around the room, Michelle in a clockwise motion and Joshua in an anti-clockwise motion. To Liz it looked really cool and pretty. Joshua's head turned and caught them watching.

His eyes lit up dropping the objects to the ground, "Liz!" he said as he ran to her.

She bent down and hugged him tightly, "Hey you," she said rubbing his hair. They hadn't got to the stage where he called her mum yet. And was okay with that, "so what have you been up to all day huh?"

"I was on the plane and then I played with Michelle. Auntie Maria has a really big house!" he exclaimed.

"Yes she does," she replied as she glanced up at Maria talking to Michelle.

"How do you like hanging out with your cousin?"

"It's cool to play with someone who has powers, except she's really bossy stubborn and a drama queen."

Liz smiled, just like her mother.

****

After spending time with the kids, Liz and Maria left them in the playroom.
"I'm glad they hit it off so well," she commented.

"Me too," said Maria, "can you imagine the damage if they didn't? I mean with those powers, I know Michelle can get a little naughty sometimes."

Liz laughed, "shouldn't you be going?"

Maria looked at her watch, "Oh yeah, okay I'll see you later."

Liz waved goodbye and joined Jena in the kitchen.

****

"Are you nervous?"

"Nervous, excited," Liz sighed as she tried to find the words to express what she felt knowing that in a week she would be Mrs Liz Parker Evans," it's like this thing which for three years I dreamt about and thought I'd lost I get back. I'm ready, I've been ready."

"It must be nice," said Jena wistfully.

Liz looked at her questioningly.

"To have someone like that",

"You'll find someone", she said.

"Yeah." She responded in a disbelieving tone.

"Really, I mean when Max left for Antar, it completely paralysed me. He was the only person I'd ever loved and didn't think I could love again…but I did, he still wasn't and couldn't compare to Max but I was happy and I probably would have been happy with him but not the way I would have been with Max. If there's anything my whole life has taught me is that love never fails, or fades out and even if you give up on it, it finds you".

Jena smiled softly and nodded," Anyway forget about me, when's Nina coming?"

Liz's eyes lit up at the mention of her friend who had spent an hour screaming over the phone after Liz had told her she was getting married, "She should be here next Thursday, just in time for our hen night."

They sat talking about Nina and life and her wedding until Liz felt really tired.
She yawned, "I'm gonna go up to my room to take a nap", she said.

As Liz trudged up the stairs holding onto the banister, she felt her hands grow really warm. She let go of the banister not noticing the darkened patches where her palms had been and the smoke rising from them.

****

Kyle pulled up into the drive and once again had to stand back and admire Maria's mansion. She had really made it.

"What time are Jena and Joshua supposed to be coming in?" he asked as he and Max pressed the door-bell and Bridget the maid let them in.

Kyle and Max greeted her and made their way to the living room, "about six," he replied, " I should-Jena!" he exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"

Jena rose from the leather sofa and gave him a hug, "we got in early," she replied. Kyle inspected her as they hugged.

She was a total hottie.

Tall, long legs, jet black hair, smouldering brown eyes, if he wasn't with Isabel…

The smouldering brown eyes turned to him.

"Oh, Jena this is Kyle, Isabel's boyfriend," said Max.

Kyle held out his hand and she shook it, "Hi," she said," finally we meet, Isabel's told me a lot about you."

Kyle ignored the shook that ran through him and gave her a warm smile, "I hope it's all been good".

"Don't worry it has," she replied smiling. They sat on the couch and Kyle tuned out as Max and Jena caught up, every now and then his eyes would be drawn to Jena and he would stare at her until she looked at him and smiled politely. He tuned back in in time to hear her tell Max that Joshua was in the playroom with Michelle.
"I'll go say hi," he said and left the room, leaving Kyle with Jena.

Great after the staring, she probably thinks I'm a weirdo.

"So," he began, "I hear you were a alien warrior back on Antar".

Oh great way to start a conversation Valenti, talk about war on Antar.

"Yep," she replied.

"Must have been…interesting," he finished.

She laughed at his attempt to make conversation, he relaxed, "you could say that. I mean it was a war so it was pretty gruesome…"

****

Kyle hadn't realised how much time had passed until half an hour later Max came back.

Wow, were we really talking for that long without a long awkward pause in conversation? He looked back at Jena who seemed as surprised as he was. He'd listened to her stories about Antar and he'd talked about his life in the alien club and other stuff he couldn't remember. As he smiled at her, he wondered why he felt incredibly guilty as if he'd somehow cheated on Isabel.
He looked up as Isabel walked in.

There's my girl, he thought as he pulled her into his arms. He looked into her surprised eyes and felt her tense.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

The surprise faded from her eyes and she relaxed, "No, no," she replied as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I was just somewhere else, you know wedding plans,"

"Right," he replied as he gave her a slow deep kiss.

"Does that bring you back?".

"Definitely"

"Um hi, Iz," called Max.

Kyle smiled as they disentangled themselves from each other, "Hi Max," she said. Her eyes settled on Jena and for a second Kyle caught a look of despise and then it left, "Hi, Jena."

"Hi Iz.".

"I'm gonna go up and say to Liz," said Max," See you guys later," he waved. Jena made some excuse to leave.

Turning to her he said, "So, I know it's a little early so I was thinking that we can go out driving before we go dinner."

"That's great," she said.

"Great," echoed Kyle as the picture of Jena leaving the room ran across his mind.

****

Liz was officially going mad. She'd woken up from her nap and had been fixing her hair in the mirror when her face…disappeared. The reflection in the mirror was of a blank face, with no eyes, no nose and then just as suddenly as she'd seen it, it had returned to normal. She accounted that to drowsiness until she started hearing a conversation between Kyle and Jena and then Isabel and Max as loudly and clearly as if they were speaking in the room.

I'm delusional, hallucinating, she thought, her eyes grew wide however as the footsteps she'd heard climbing up the stairs came closer and closer until they were by her door.
I really am going crazy. She held her breath expecting the door not to open, but it did and Max was standing there.

What is happening to me?

Max opened his mouth, it was moving but now she couldn't hear him.
"What?" she asked.

His mouth moved again, this time she could hear him but his mouth and therefore the words he was saying were in slow motion.
"What?" she asked again.

His forehead creased with concern as he moved towards her. Scared she backed away from him.

What is going on?

Now he was going really fuzzy, she couldn't see or hear him.

"Max?!" she called out. Could he hear her? or was her mouth just moving too?

She felt him kneeling in-front of her, his warm hand over hers and his other cupping her chin, she looked down at him. Her vision slowly started returning and so did the sound.

His eyes anxiously searched her face for recognition, "Liz?"

"Max?"

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay," she replied. She jumped up as the book her hand was placed on burst into flames.

"Wow!" she yelped and watched dazed as with a wave of his hand Max quenched it.

He looked back at her, "I didn't do that," he said slowly.

She looked at him, reality slammed into her, "No. I did," she breathed.

Confusion and fear overwhelmed her, "Max, what's happening to me?"

****

Maria glanced at the watch on Michael's wall and sighed with exasperation.

He's late…again

"Well buddy," she said aloud, "you better make it up to me."

In the meantime she walked around his apartment opening his drawers to see what if there had been any new additions to his household. The first time Maria had visited his apartment she'd been, well shocked. For one it was clean, another aspect of Michael's house-keeping which had changed. The other thing that hit her was the minimalist emptiness that emanated from it. Now, no longer were the pictures of her or them together as a couple hidden away, they'd joined the pictures of Max, Isabel, Alex and Kyle around the walls of his apartment. The apartment now felt…well human.

The door bell rang just as she was about to pick up the phone and call him.
"What's the excuse thi-" the words died in her throat as her mind analysed the sight before her.
A tall blonde, acrylic nailed woman wearing nothing but a coat with red sexy lingerie under it.

What the heck?

The blonde's seductive smile faded and she looked at Maria with distaste, "Oh" she said coldly.

Those nails...Maria remembered her now. Cassandra.

The same Cassandra who used to be one of Michael's playgirl bunnies and who had been kissing him the day she got run over by that car.

Her cold blue eyes stared down at her, "I thought Michael was home".

I bet you did.

"He'll be late" she replied shortly.

"Just tell him I came by".

She turned to go but was held back by Maria's grasp, "Not so fast," she said pulling her back, "why don't you come in for a second." Pulling her in, she slammed the door behind them.

****

Maria studied the hussie as she walked into the apartment in her stilettos.
Her arms folded she said, "You're Cassandra right?"

The blonde turned to her, eyebrows arched in rehearsed mild surprise "Michael's told you about me?"

"We don't have any secrets", she replied.

Her face shaped in a sympathetic expression. "I'm sorry," her blue eyes danced with glee, "this must be very uncomfortable for you. It's just I thought I'd surprised him."

Maria eyed her sceptically, "Yeah um, let's get one thing straight," she held out her hand showing off her ring, " see this, Michael gave it to me. Which means he's taken. And in case you haven't seen the pictures or articles in the showbiz gossip mags, which I hardly doubt, I'm Maria, his fiancee and you will not be visiting Michael in your skimpy lingerie with your home-wrecker plots…ever. Just so we're clear."

The mask exposed, Cassandra glared at her, "Crystal."

"Good-What are you doing?"

She watched as Cassandra reached behind his couch and pulled out a dark blue bra, modelling it in front of her as she walked past her to the door, "Just picking up something I left."

Anger coursed through her as she imagined grabbing that blonde hair and acrylics and pulling them out.

"By the way, congratulations," without waiting for a reply she slammed the door.

"You better be glad I don't have any alien powers" she fumed.

Maria paced around the apartment adrenaline still gushing through her, "Okay, breathe."

The nerve of that silicone, fake blonde haired, home wrecking skank!. "She obviously planted the underwear which means she's seen Michael in the past two weeks, which means-I'm not even going down that road."

She glanced around the apartment with new eyes. She wondered how many other playgirls had come in here, how many had walked around in their thin stilettos, how many had shared his bed and his couch. Insecurity wracked her whole being, Michael was the only person she'd ever slept with, but just how many women had he slept with during the seven years of her absence? And did he love them?

****

Michael took a deep breath as he turned the knob to his apartment, steeling himself for the lecture Maria was going to give him about being late.

Instead he let himself into an apartment blaring with Metallica. All the lights were off and the curtains weren't drawn.

"Maria!" he shouted, she couldn't be playing Metallica, she wasn't exactly a fan. His surprise grew when in the middle of the living room stood Maria shaking her head and jumping around to…yes, Metallica.

"Maria!" he shouted again but she was too far gone into the music. Lifting his hand he focused on the volume button and his ears grateful for the low volume. Maria looked up with surprise and something which wasn't happiness.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he began, "I got held up at work."

He held his breathe again waiting for the fire but instead received a very calm, "It's okay."

He looked at her with surprise, where was the temper? the lecture about keeping dates, that this was the fourth time he'd done this to her. Michael's brow creased with concern as he took in her fidgety behaviour, she kept walking around cleaning up everything.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Oh nothing," she replied, "just that I thought you'd told everyone in your black book that you were taken."

"I did," he said, "you sat there and watched while I rang every single girl in my book and told her I was getting married."

Michael flinched as she roughly shoved a pillow onto the seat, "Really, then explain why just fifteen minutes ago Cassandra was standing at your door dressed in a flasher/stripper coat and red sexy lingerie."

"She what?!"

Of every scenario which had ran through his mind, Michael hadn't thought about this one.

"Yep."

"Maria you don't think that-"

"that there's anything going on between you two? No. Although she did seem to know where to her find her bra under the sofa."

"I-"

"Don't worry, I know girls like her, I don't think you did anything."

He sighed with relief.
"So-"

"But it got me wondering…"

Oh oh, it's not over, thought Michael as she folded her arms and confronted him.

"… while I was raising our child just how many girls have graced your apartment huh?"

The question took Michael by surprise, his jaw opened and closed back again, finally he managed to find something to say that he hoped told her everything, "They meant nothing."

Her eyes flashed.

Wrong move Guerin.

"Let me rephrase that, how many people apart from me have you slept with Michael?"

This was a conversation he hadn't envisioned in having. "What does that have to do with anything?" he asked desperately trying to stop it from going on any further.

"Just for my own purposes", she replied determinded.

I don't want to hurt her, I don't want to hurt her…

Michael sighed, "I thought you had shacked up with Ray" he said apologetically.

"How many Michael?"

I don't want to hurt her…

"Six" he replied quietly.

"Six?" she echoed.

…too late

"Six. Wow. That really makes a girl feel special"

He reached for her "Maria-"

She backed away, "No, I asked the question"

Michael sighed, he had to make it right, had to explain. "When I thought you'd betrayed me, I was angry and bitter and I tried to find someone else like you had." He gave her a dry sad smile, "Didn't work…they meant nothing, it wasn't like it was with you. I didn't feel anything, it left me…empty." The hurt was still in her eyes, "I don't know what else to say to make it better," he said earnestly.

She stood in front of him and took his hand in hers, the action surprising him he looked into her eyes with confusion.

"Okay," she said in a small voice.

"Okay?" he asked uncertain.

"Okay," she confirmed.

He sighed with relief, "Good, because, I love you Maria and nobody else."

"I love you too space boy." She said, "Now feed me."

Michael laughed as she pulled him into the kitchen. They were going to prepare a meal together. Well he was the chef and Maria was his assistant. Another thing being a bachelor had taught him was how to cook. After living a year off microwave dishes, he'd enrolled himself into cooking classes.

That was an idea of pure genius, he thought to himself because now he could cook for Maria.

****

Intense loving brown eyes held her gaze, "Are you ready?" asked Max.

Liz nodded, "yes," she replied in a small voice. Keeping her eyes fixed on Max she felt his warm hands on top of her stomach, felt the warm energy surge through her…until something went wrong.

The inside of her constricted, she felt like she was having a severe paralysing cramp which affected all her nerves, she grimaced in pain "Max! it's hurts stop."

He removed his hands just as she rose to push him away but before her hands could make contact with his shoulders, green light pulsated from her fingers, crackling and dancing like electricity sending Max flying across the room.

Oh God, I've killed Max!

Liz hovered around him keeping a safe distance between them, "Max" she called hesitantly ,"are you okay?".

She sighed with relief as he stumbling, he rose up, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm fine," he replied.

Fear and confusion enveloping her, Liz stepped back as he took a step towards her. She looked at her palms in bewilderment. Her voice quivering she asked, "Max, what's happening to me?". She stumbled back avoiding him till her feet hit the bed, she sank onto it.

"I'm not sure," he replied, "you seem to be developing powers, how, why, I don't know..." he knelt down in-front of her and squeezed her hands, "but we're going to find out together", he lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, the action calming her, "okay?"

"Okay."

"I'm going downstairs to get Jena, she'll know more about it. Will you be okay?"

She nodded, "I'll be fine."

Liz waited until his footsteps had faded until she let out a astonished breath.
"Okay," she told herself and her shaking hands, "we're going to figure this out," her eyes grew wide with alarm as her the green light pulsated from her palms and then faded, " everything is going to be okay. Just breathe."

****

When Jena walked into the room, she was at a loss. From Max's urgent and intense "there's something wrong with Liz, I need your help," she'd expected something more than Liz sitting on the edge of the bed staring in wonderment at her palms.

Max closed the door behind her, "Liz," he said gently.

Her head jerked in their direction, she and Max shared some sort of intense gaze before Liz's eyes landed on her, "Hey," she smiled weakly.

"Hi," she replied, "So what's going on?".

She looked at Liz, who looked at Max.
"Max?"

"Well, it looks like somehow Liz has powers, alien powers"

"That's not possible," she replied.

Liz lifted a burnt book off the bed, "tell that to this incinerated book," she said dryly.

Max sat down beside her and their hands automatically clasped. Fingers entwined he continued, "I tried to heal her but she reacted and this green energy pulsated from her palms and threw me across the room."

This makes no sense.

Jena dragged a chair and sat opposite the couple. "I'm going to need more background, like when and how"

"Um…for the past few weeks I've been feeling kind of out of it, loss of appetite, dizziness, feeling like throwing up"

If I didn't know any better I'd say you were pregnant.

"I'm not pregnant. I haven't-well anyway then today I fainted around Maria, I just accounted it to the stress of planning the wedding. But then when I looked in the mirror, my face disappeared. I could touch it but my eyes, my nose weren't there, then I heard what I thought were voices but I was hearing the conversation downstairs. It was as if my hearing had been heightened and then Max came up and I…um burnt the book"

"and when I tried to heal her..."

"...I threw him across the room with this green energy from my palms" she finished.

Jena was confused, she was more than confused, "That can't be, but obviously it is." She shook her head in bewilderment, "I have no idea" she mused aloud.

A thought was floating in her mind yet still out of reach as she continued "I mean there's nothing special about you, except-". The thought surfaced. Her eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped,"he brought you back," she whispered. Stunned at the revelation she cupped her hands around her face, "Oh my..."

"What was is it?" asked Max.

She leaned back examining Liz, trying to find something new, something different," he brought you back, you made the connection-"

"What connection, what are you talking about?" Liz asked, she was getting anxious, Jena's shocked expression was not helping.

"Jena" said Max, "what about me bringing Liz back"

Jena's attention finally focused, her dark eyes were shining with excitement. "Okay, I'm going to try and explain this as simply as I can. Max is the King, he bears the royal seal and traditionally on Antar when the King and his bride cement their relationship, they make this…connection."

"Connection" she repeated.

What did that have to do with anything?

"Uh huh, he…" Liz leaned forward waiting as Jena struggled to explain," when they form the connection he gives part of him to her and she to him, it makes the bond stronger. They strengthen each other, if that makes sense, and it was supposed to insure the strength, union of Antar"

"So what are you saying?" asked Liz.

What did Max forming a connection with his bride and Antar have to do with her?

"Basically when Max healed you, he didn't just heal you, he chose you".

"Chose me?"

"As his mate, his bride, his queen and you must have made the connection when you got shot. I mean I thought it was only when, you know, but I guess you experienced some deep, profound intense emotion that connected you so"

"So you're saying that Max gave me some of his power" she stated.

"and you gave him some of yourself. You chose him and he chose you" Jena finished.

"Oh". So it was as simple as that, Max chose her and she chose him and now she had alien powers.

So that's what Ava meant when she said I was different and that's how I could reach him when he went to New York with Tess.

"Okay um..." she turned over to see Max looking at her intently.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Um yeah," she replied, turning to Jena, she asked, "but that doesn't make sense, Max brought me back almost nine years ago shouldn't I have manifested the powers then, I mean why here, why now?"

"I have no clue. I mean I'm not well versed in the ins and outs of it".

"If I got this through the connection", she glanced at Max who had an expression she couldn't quite read," couldn't we connect again and he could take it back?" she asked.

"I guess you could, although I don't why you would want to"

"Its just I want to know my options".

"Well, you can. Although I'm not sure how, you'd have to connect and somehow find what you left in him and what he left in you."

"How would we do that?," he asked.

"Yours is a strange case but I'm guessing you'd do it the usual way."

"which is?" she asked.

"Well, you'd have to become one"

Liz looked at her puzzled, what did that mean?

"I'm not sure what you mean," she said.

Beside her Max coughed awkwardly, "I um think she means, we'd have to cement, consummate our relationship," he blushed.

"Oh," replied Liz as her cheeks began to mirror his.

Consummate their relationship. Have sex. To fix this she would have to have sex with Max. Something she'd nearly hyperventilated in Maria's car about.

Noticing that she was no longer needed, Jena rose, "I'll leave you two alone."

****

Max closed the door behind her, leaning against it for support he turned to look at his beautiful dazed fiancee. She was looking anywhere else but at him.

Well can you blame her? Saving her life is one thing but giving her something she didn't ask for or doesn't seem to want, that's another.

He had been hurt when the first thing that came out of her mouth was wanting to change her back, granted she had every right to ask that question but he felt that somehow she was rejecting him, his alien half was also a part of himself and she didn't want it.
"I'm sorry," he said.

"For what?"

"For giving you something you didn't want"

She rose from the bed and crossed the space between them, "Max, it's not that. I mean you risked everything for me and it's not like I don't want it, I'm just…in shock."

She walked towards him and opened the door.

He raised his hand and caressed her cheek. She covered her hand over his keeping it there, "Liz"

"Max", her brown eyes looked up at him confusion swirling within them," I just need some time to think". She let go of his hand and left the room, leaving him alone in the empty room.

****

Liz opened the door and silently tip-toed into the house. It was late, everyone was asleep, she hadn't spotted Maria's car in the driveway so she'd probably stayed over at Michael's which meant that Max was still here. Liz sighed, she knew that she'd hurt him by reacting the way she had but it was a shock. After driving around, trying to clear her head she was more stable.

Making a pit stop by the kitchen she froze when she saw Max with his head on the table sleeping. She stood and lovingly watched him, he must have stayed up for me.
"I love you," she whispered.

Suddenly his eyelids opened and she was staring into his eyes.

****

Max held her gaze as she stood in the kitchen.
"Hi", he said as he looked at the time, how long had he been asleep?

"Hi" she smiled softly. His eyes followed her as she made her way towards him, "So to recap, and to keep from blacking out, when you connected with me, you gave me a part of you" she sat down on the stool and faced him,".. and I did the same to you".

Max felt a sense of déjà vu. Time took him back to the time Liz had first found out about him, she'd done the same thing she was doing now, going over the facts to keep from blacking out.

"…to fix that, an option would be to" she avoided his eyes until she finally had to look at,"…have sex." She finished.

"Yes," he replied.

They held each other with their eyes, each reading into each other's soul.

"Max," she said in a low voice.

"Liz" he said.

"I don't want to."

"To have sex?".

"Yes-I-I mean, I want to, but I've been saving myself for you, for our wedding night and I just don't want us to do this just to get rid of powers, I want it to mean something."

"Me too," he replied. Being with Liz was something he'd dreamt about since he was sixteen and he wanted it to be special.

She nodded her head decisively, "So we'll wait".

He smiled, "Okay. And in the meantime?"

"In the mean time," she smiled," you'll just have to teach me how to control my new alien powers."

****

Kyle stripped tiredly down to his boxers and crawled into bed. It had been a long day and an even stranger night. Dinner with Isabel had been, weird. She had acted as if they were friends not a couple. It had seemed to Kyle that she would only kiss him when he initiated it and followed his lead everywhere. That wasn't like Isabel.

And what was even stranger was the fact that the image of Jena kept flashing in his mind which was a puzzle to him because why would he want anyone else when he had Isabel? They had been together for two years and he could say that he loved her so why was he thinking about Jena?

****

Kyle was dreaming.

He was whisked from Sportsnight, to a football match, to a dinner with Isabel to now a massage table with Jena rubbing his back…and she was good.

"Lower," he moaned as her hands did wonderful things to his back.

Suddenly around him the world started to fade away, he felt himself whisked to somewhere else.

Only this place isn't fun, he thought as turbulent clouds of reds oranges and red lightening crackled around and within it, he saw images he couldn't quite make out. Suddenly from the mist emerged Isabel. She was shouting something to him but he couldn't hear her, all he could make out was the desperation in her expression.
"Isabel, I can't hear you!"

"Help me Kyle!"

She went mute again, he strained to hear here. She mouthed something he couldn't make out be he he caught the end, "Help me" but before he could reach her the mist reclaimed her, sucked her in with such force that it pulled him out of sleep.

His eyes flew open. It was just a dream, he told himself, a very weird one and Isabel, she looked so panicked and desperate...heart pounding in his chest, he left his room and tip-toed down the hole to check on her.

He knocked lightly there was no reply. Holding his breath he turned the knob and pushed. It was quiet, his eyes landed on Isabel who was peacefully asleep.

He visibly relaxed. She's fine, it was just a nightmare, he told himself as he closed the door.

As he crawled back into bed, another thought attacked him, why was I dreaming about Jena?

****

WEDDING COUNTDOWN
DAY: SATURDAY
7 DAYS TILL THE WEDDING

"Jena, they're here, they're here!" shouted Michelle.

Jena rushed into the hallway to find Michelle and Joshua in their pajamas jumping around excitedly.

They should have been in bed but they had been left to stay up for a little while to say hello to their grandparents. Jena laughed as she playfully held them back from rushing to the door. Outside she could hear Maria's loud voice and laughter, as soon as shadows fell upon the door's window, the door itself swung open. Jena shook her head supressing a smile.

Talk about impatience.

She cringed as the hallway was filled with screams of joy and delight as Michelle and Joshua led their grandparents to the living room. She followed behind, the couples who stood in the doorway watching the scene before them.

"Well sis, going to go in?" asked Kyle.

Jena looked at Maria quizzically," Since when did they become siblings".

"Since my mother and the good old Sheriff decided to elope to Vegas and get married, yesterday!" said Maria.

"Vegas?" she asked surprised, now this was a shock.

Kyle shrugged, "apparently it was all on the spur of the moment, we knew they'd been seeing each other, but well it's about time."

Maria agreed, "True, but i'm glad we never dated,"

"Back attcha," smiled Kyle.

"So are they staying here?" she asked.

Maria, Isabel and Liz looked at her as if she was insane.

"What?"

"Having my mum staying with me, would be too much to handle right now and all the mothers combined?" she shook her head, "not a stress free environment, so we put them up in a hotel for the week"

Jena laughed, "Okay,"

"So are we just going to stand here or go join the party," said Michael.

"Come on Space boy," said Maria as she tagged him along. The rest of the group followed and as she sat down next to Kyle, Jena was thankful that she had been adopted into the alien, human family.

****

"I'm sorry but could we just rewind, as in wayy way back," said Maria. When Liz had suggested going up to her room to talk, she had been expecting well wedding talk or Max and sex but not "Maria I have alien powers now".

"Okay," she said, "When Max healed me, i gave him part of me and he gave me part of him. As king-"

"yeah yeah yeah," said Maria waving her hand, "so what you're saying is King Max chose you, you chose him, he gave you some of his alien powers, right?"

"That's basically it," said Liz.

Maria sank onto the bed and Liz sat down beside her.

Wow, this is big, this huge.

"Liz, you have alien powers,"

"Yes,"

"I am so jealous right now,"

They got up and jumped around excitedly before they remembered that the children were asleep.
"Liz, Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"It means you have what Tess had and then sooo much more," she enthused

"Maria, that thing with Tess is way over," she said.

"Oh, of course," she confirmed. But inside she was jumping with joy because she knew that Tess having alien powers, being able to connect with Max on that level had always made her feel inadequate.

Well, no more, cause my Chica has the power. Speaking of which...

"What kind of alien powers have you got?"

"Well, i have this green energy that threw Max across the room."

"Nice,"

"and I um set a book on fire"

"Handy,"

"Maria"

"Liz"

"This is-"

"awesome, I am so jealous of you right now"

"It is awesome but scary too....it's reversible."

"Really? i mean that's great but i don't know why you'd want to"

"Yeah, I don't know if i want to be an alien you know."

"Yeah, i know. So have you told the others?"

"Nope, you're the first to know, we'll tell them after the parents have left. We'll tell them, after I decide if I want to keep them."

"Okay."

There was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's us, can we come in?"

Liz looked at Maria confused, "um sure."

The door opened and in swept, Nancy Parker, Diane Evans and of course her mother.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing, we just wanted to talk to you girls for a minute,"

Liz and Maria shared a look, they knew what that meant.
They weren't wasting time, it was the Wedding talk.
Expected questions were: are you sure this what you want to do? what you're plans were, followed swiftly by wedding plans and marriage advice.

Liz and Maria sank onto the bed.
"Um sure," they said in unison.

****

Down stairs, the Wedding talk was in the game room.

"So Michael, what are the living arrangements with Maria?" asked Valenti

"I'm going tomove in here with her permenantly, my apartment is already up for sale and I'm practically all packed."

Valenti nodded.

"Look Jim, I care about Maria, no i love her and have no intention of moving away from her or anything like that. I want her to be me my wife, I want a family."

"I know you do, i was just making sure," he shrugged, "being her father and all"

"Yeah, how's that going?"

"It's going great"

****
On the basket ball game, Phillip Evans had Max in the same situation.
"So it's finally happening"

"Yes,"

"Are you nervous?"

"Very, but I'm excited, nothing in my life can compare to this feeling of of"

"Wholeness?"

"Yeah"

"That's exactly how i felt and still do about your mother."

Max nodded.

"Is Liz okay about Josh?"

"She had some issues but she's fine now, now she loves him as if he were hers."

"And living arrangements?"

"Liz is going to move in with me because I have a bigger house and Jena will stay with us for as long as we need her and until she finds something she wants to do."

"Sounds like you have a plan, but i just want you to know that your mother and i are always here if u need us"

"I know dad."

****

This is very awkward, thought Kyle. The parental assault had began but he couldn't decide which was worse, facing a parental inquisition or where he was right now. Sitting the middle of Isabel and Jena. He couldn't quite fathom why he felt awkward, he just knew that he did. On his right was his girlfriend and on his left was a girl he had met in a week and was becoming good friends with.

Why would that make him feel awakward? Oh yeah, the somewhat uncomfortable silence. That was it.

Isabel got up, Kyle relaxed.

"I'm going to grab a drink, anyone want anything?"

"No thanks," he replied.

"Ditto," replied Jena.

"Okay," she smiled and left the room.

"Is everything okay with her?" asked Jena.

"Um yeah, why?"

"It's just she's just a bit, i don't know, missing something"

" i think , it's just the whole wedding. She's been working none stop, i think she just needs some sleep."

"Oh okay."

Silence descended on them once again.

"So," they began in unison.

"No, you go first," he smiled.

And that's how it began, the atmosphere relaxed and once again he was lost in conversation until all the wedding players came back into the room.

Why does that keep happening? he wondered. It's like when I'm with her, chunks of time just disappear.

****

The couples waved to their parents and guardians as the limo pulled out of the drive.
They had wanted to drive back to the hotel but after mild instance from Maria, they had agreed to be driven.

Maria exhaled as she closed the door. She smiled as warm arms setttled around her waist.

"So how went the inquisiton?" she asked Michael

"Good," he replied.

"By the way, what did my mother say to you when she was getting into the car?"

Michael froze, he could either tell her the truth. That Amy had so nicely said that if he ever hurt Maria again, alien or not, she would hunt him down like the dog he was and make him pay. He pondered this for a nano second and passed.
"Just that she was happy to have me as a son-in-law"

"Oh," she replied.

He looked over at Max and Liz who were giving each other butterfly kisses. It would have sickened him, if he didn't want to do the same to Maria.

"So, it's late, should we hit the sack?" asked Kyle

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm a bit too amped up to sleep" he replied.

"Same here," agreed Maria.

"Us too," said Liz.

"So what do you suggest?" asked Jena

"Late night movie?" suggested Kyle, "I'm game"

"Sure," replied Michael.

****

The others agreed and soon they found themselves on the sofa watching Life Force, chosen by the boys and Miss Congeniality, in-waiting, as chosen by the girls.

Kyle found himself sitting next to Jena, her fingers clamped firmly on his arm. Isabel had gone to bed early and Ray was MIA doing something or other. He figured the wedding and Maria and Michael were getting to him.

He felt strangley elated as her face hid in his shoulders, "Is it over?" she asked into his chest.

He smiled,"Yep," he replied. Slowly she removed her face from his chest and settled back to watching the moving.

"You know, for an alien warrior, you're pretty squeamish," he teased.

"Real life I can handle, but a guy totally sucked of his life force screaming disturbingly around a room and then exploding is somehow a little more ick"

Maria agreed, "seriously how can you guys watch this?"

"With interest, now shush," said Michael.

Kyle smiled, this felt good and comfortable.

"Well, as long as you guys watch Miss Congenitality then I'm fine with the exchange," said Liz.

Oh right, it all came at a painful price of a chick flick.

****

Kyle yawned as half an hour into Miss Congenitality, it wasn't a bad movie, he was just tired. But having Jena next to him, resting on his chest, he didn't want to move. Neither it seemed did Max or Michael and that's how Isabel found them the next morning. Nestled in each others arms, sleeping.

****

WEDDING COUNTDOWN
DAY: THURSDAY
TWO DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING

RULES FOR MICHAEL AND MAX'S BACHELOR NIGHT
as agreed to by their future wives, Liz and Maria
witnessed by Isabel, Kyle and Ray.

These rules are to be held WITHOUT EXCUSES
1. (It goes without saying but,) Absoluntely no drinking
2. Under no circumstances are there to be any strippers. NO SURPRISE DANCERS from friends (all have been duly warned)

Adhere to these rules in order that you may survive till your wedding days.
Your loving fiancees.

"Are you serious?" asked an incredulous Tim, "no drinking and no strippers? what kind of bachelor party is that? what other way are we going to celebrate your last days as a free man?"

"We'll have a guys night in at mine. The no drinking rule is specific to me and Max, we...don't mix with well with alcohol, so you guys can chug as much as you want"

"and the stripper?"

"No deal, Maria warned you guys and i'm fine with it. To be honest, no stripper can compare to Maria, I'm not interested plus if i don't have a stripper then she doesn't which is fine with me."

Jason, his other friend, shook his head, "You are soo whipped."

"Glad to be," smiled Michael.

"I have to be in a meeting, see you guys later?"

"7 O'clock sans stripper, we'll be there".

****

Female laughter rang throughout the mansion accompanied with music. The hen night was well under way.

Liz was tired but having fun. The celebration had began with a wedding shower in the afternoon with Nina, their mothers, Jena, Isabel, Vincenzo and a few of Maria's other music biz friends. It had been filled with laugther, lingerie and advice. Now the night was time for the girls sans parents to have fun and laugh and celebrate.

They were all sat in the living room in their pajyamas, playing silly games, watching all kinds of movies, dancing, like a slumber party...with tequila.
"Who's up for another round?" asked Nina as she danced into the kitchen.

"One last one for me," shouted Liz. She wasn't a big drinker, so three shots were fine with her.

"Me too," shouted Maria.

"You're all a bunch of babies," laughed Nina.

"Hey, I just want to get up without a hangover or alchol poisoning, that would just be the thing to ruin the wedding," Maria retorted.

This is really happening, thought Liz.

She'd dreamed about this, all of this and it was happening, she was determined to soak in everything,every last detail.

Her focus settled on Isabel, who seemed less happy. Liz had got the feeling all the way through that there was something wrong, she was enthusiatic about everything but it all seemed to be masking something else. She couldn't figure it out.

Isabel caught her gaze and smiled.

"Thanks so much for this, Iz"

"No problem, it's the least i can do for my sister in law,"

"Hmm" she replied flinching at her tight grip.

Nina came in with the next round of drinks and with another topic for discussion: Honeymoon, where? and what we're they going to wear for the all important night?

Liz laughed, it was great to have her friend here. True she couldn't share everything with her, she was happy that could at least share this with her.

Just as they were getting onto the topic of what to wear, at two o clock in the moring, the front door opened and a drunken Ray stumbled to say a quick goodnight.

"Goodnight," replied Jena.

Poor guy, she knew exactly what he felt, being in love with someone who was already taken.

He probably didn't feel like hanging around and celebrating, she thought.

Kyle, a guy she hadn't factored on meeting, a guy who was taken by one of her good friends. It figured that something like this would happen to her, wanting a guy she definitely couldn't have.

"I'm going up to get a drink anyone want anything?" asked Isabel.

"Just a coke for me," said Maria, "I've crossed over to non alcholic"

Her answer was affirmed by everyone else.

"I guess softiess all the way round," she said as she made her way to the kitchen.

Jena looked after her as she went, there was something strange about her, but couldn't quite pin point it and it was probably because she was well jealous.

****

"Okay people, it's like four o clock, I'm call it a night," said Maria getting up.

All at once the world around her spun.

Whoa I guess my tequila tolerance is two shots, she thought hazily.

"I'll come too," said Isabel, "here," said holding her steady, "I'll take you up"

"Nite," called Liz.

"Nite," she waved as they walked up the stairs.

Ten minutes later, Jena went to sleep leaving Liz and Nina to talk the morning away.

****

Michael yawned as he glanced at his watch, it was five am, his apartment was trashed. In celebration of his last days as a bachelor, the guys had decided to be guys which meant empty pizza boxes left around, beer cans everywhere, soft drink bottles, the t.v. switched on to the sports channel. He looked over at max who was up.

"You tired?" he asked.

Michael caught his tone,"what do you want to do?"

"Crash the hen morning, if they're up great if they're asleep we'll surprise them."

"I'm in," he replied.

Ever since Ray left he had been itching to go over there and just see how everything was. He wasn't worried, he knew whose heart Maria belonged to be but having a guy who was in love with his fiancee in the same house was still unsettling.

****

Liz looked up as the front door opened.

"Who could that be?" she asked Nina.

"Whoever it is has keys," she shrugged.

A smile spread across her face as the face of her soon to be husband appeared.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Hi," she said.

"We came to crash the party," he said as Michael appeared behind him.

"She's upstairs," she signalled, he nodded and left.

Leaving her, max and Nina.

"Speaking of upstairs, i better get some sleep, good morning max," she said as she left and winked at Liz.

"So" he said as he walked towards her, "how was the hen night?"

"Good," she replied, "You?"

"The same," he replied as he let her pull him down.

He flicked her hair back, "but somehow it doesn't compare with being here with you."

"Oh really," she said as he leaned in.

"Really,"he said before he kissed her sweetly.

****

Michael was cold. In a second his warm heart had frozen over at the sight of Maria with Ray. Maria in bed, having sex with Ray. He stood there, the door wide open, they didn't seem to notice and turned and walked down the stairs like robot.

"Hi," said Liz and Max as they met him at the foot of the stairs.

"Hi," he replied.

"What's wrong?" asked Max.

"Nothing, the wedding, it's off," he replied and with that opened the door, ignoring the sound of shattering glass he got into his car and screeched out of the mansion.

****

"Something's wrong" said Max.

Why would Michael cancel the wedding and the look in his eyes and tone it was cold, empty, dangerous.

"You go up and talk to Maria, I'll go after Michael" he replied as he dashed out and into his car.

He had been driving pretty fast, so he had to catch up.

*****

Maria was awoken by a loud voice and probing.
"What?!"

"What happened?"

"What are you talking about?"

"and why am I in Ray's bed and where is my top?" she asked.

"Maria focus!"

"What?"

"What happened?"

"When i don't know what you're talking about?"

"What's going on?" asked Ray.

"Michael came up here to say hi and came downstairs, said the wedding was off and left. Maria what happened?"

"Michael was here, when?"

"he came up about fifteen minutes ago" she said.

The memories came back, last night, stumbling into Ray's room somehow thinking he was Michael, kissing him.

But that's all that happened, we kissed and went to bed. Maybe Micheal thought that, Oh no
Jumping out of bed, she pulled on her top.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know he drove off, he looked really angry, Max went to find him."

"Maria what happened?"

"I think he came up and saw me and Ray and thought that we slept togther or something. Crap!"

"Okay calm down," said Ray.

"All we have to do is explain. Okay?"

"Okay," she replied.

"Okay," said Liz, "lets all get dressed and wait for Max to bring him back."

****

Maria ran anxiously to the door when it opened. In stepped Max looking very sober and Michael. That look, it was the same one he'd had when he'd thought Michelle was Ray's.
"Mi-"

"Don't" he said.

"Look I can explain, we just slept, I should have told you when I get nightmares I usually sleep in Rays' room."

"Don't lie to me, i saw it, i saw everything"

"Saw what, what are you talking about?"

"You and him having sex"

"What?! we didn't"

"I saw you Maria. I came up you weren't in your room and then I hear noises and saw you and him together."

The world was spinning.

"I couldn't have," she muttered.

Then again last night she'd nearly when she thought he was michael but that was the drink. So what maybe later on she'd woken up and thought that he was Michael? They had both been drunk, she couldn't remember.

"But you did," said Michael

"We-we were drunk" she stammered.

"I don't care. I never want to see you again" and with that he left.

She moved to call him but Liz held her back.

"Let him go, he needs time."

"But..."

"I know...I know"

****

Ray moved to go after him but Max held him back.
"I have to go and explain!."

"I know but don't. In the state he's in, Michael will kill you"

"I have to fix this"

"You can't. It's not something you can fix with a wave of the hand, trust me."

****

Michael burst through his apartment to find his friends settling down for breakfast.

"He-"

"Out"

"what?"

"Get out all of you"

"But"

"I'm not in the mood, I don't wanna talk, get out!"

Without another word they left. Leaving him to stew in his anger.

The door bell rang.

Ready to explode he swung it open to find Cassandra standing there.

"Hi, I just came to see if you needed anything from me...last chance"

"Come in" he said.

****

Liz hugged her best friend, her pain was seeping through every pore.

"Honey, it'll be fine"

"No it won't...That look Liz, he won't forgive me, he hates me. Me and Ray? how could that happen?! How could one stupid drunken night! my life is ruined, without Michael, to have him back and then to lose him because of me, it hurts so much i can't breathe."

"Sshhh honey"

There was a knock at the door.

It was Ray.

"Can I come in?"

"Ray I really don't wanna talk to you right now" she replied weakly.

"Okay."

"I'm sorry it's just-"

"I know...later" he finished softly.

When the door closed, Maria turned to her best friend. "Liz what am I going to do?"

"I don't know. Look give him time okay?...believe me I know, he needs time."

"But if he never forgives me..."

"I forgave Max" she stated simply.

"Liz, it's you and Max, Michael is a whole different thing".

"True, but love is still the same" she countered softly.

"Could I be alone?".

"Sure".

"See you later?".

"I'm not going anywhere, at least not to a wedding" replied Liz with a sad smile.

****

"How's Michael?" asked Liz.

"Not picking up. Kyle said he was furious when he got home, looked like he was about to kill someone" replied Max.

"What time is it?"

"It's five o'clock, why?"

"Just wondering how much time he's had"

"Can it ever be enough?".

Liz met his eyes and nodded with a knowing smile. "Yeah it can."

"I can imagine what he's going through".

"Me too".

"I guess we both can" he said, "I wish we could fix this."

Silence descended as both sat in thought.

"Maybe we can," she said, getting up, "stay with Maria."

"Where are you going? " asked a surprised Max.

"To fix this" she replied.

****

Liz knocked on the door, still no answer. She could hear loud Metallica music blaring.

"Okay, time to put these new powers into action," she muttered as she placed her hand over the door lock.

She felt the energy leave her, tentatively she turned the knob. A wide smile spread across her face as it swung open.

Cool.

Her smile vanished as she took in her surroundings. The room had been...trashed. The cushions blown open, pictures of maria cracked, glass everywhere. His pain was visual and dangerous.

Steeling herself, Liz climbed up the stairs towards the music.

"Michael" she called as she walked towards his room.

No answer.

"Michael" she called again.

Stopping at the partially open door, she took and deep breath and walked in.

She didn't know what she'd been expecting but it definitely wasn't this. As opposed to the downstairs, his room was neat.

He just lay there on his bed staring at the ceiling.

"Michael!" she shouted.

He just stared at the ceiling.

She lifted her hand and turned down the volume.

He turned his head acknowledging her presence.

"You're getting pretty good."

"Michael-"

"I don't want to hear explanations Liz or your soothing words," he began coldly, "I want your absence."

"Well that's not going to happen" she retorted defiantly. "Look I know what you're going through-"

He snorted.

"Hey! Look at me. I'm the girl whose fiancee slept with his ex-wife and got her pregnant, so don't give me that".

He stared at the ceiling.

She settled beside him.

"Did you hate him?" he asked.

"Hated him, hated them, a lot hate...and pain."

"How did you get past it?"

"It wasn't easy. I kept picturing them...you know and this hate this pain it just wouldn't go away and i hated myself because inspite of everything i still wanted to be with him or to hurt him...but i still wanted and loved him. So i decided that i had either stay and work it out or just leave it. I decided regardless of how i felt, because i loved him, to forgive"

"That easy huh?"

"It's not easy, making the decision is the easy part but once you do, you have a place to start."

"I don't know if i'm like you Liz, to forgive just like that"

"You love her" she stated simply.

"Sometimes love isn't enough".

"Love is more than enough Michael. People you love hurt you sometimes but forgiveness?, that's part of love too"

"I want to, but i'm not that strong"

She wiped a tear from his cheek.

"I think you are."

At his door, she stopped and turned, " She made a mistake. a stupid mistake which she regrets and hates herself for and right now she's holed up in her bedroom crying. In pain. And that's not me telling you this to feel sorry for her, this is me telling you that she loves you and made a mistake. You can't go back and change anything, it's happened, what matters now is what you are going to do. You have two choices Micheal, you can walk away from the second chance you have been given or inspite of everything walk down that aisle tomorrow."

Closing the door behind her she exhaled.

I hope that did something.

****

"Wow, now I know how you felt when you thought after Tess," said Maria.

"Sucks doesn't it?".

"Yeah," she nodded, "I hate me right now".

"I know you do".

"Does it pass?"

"If you want it to...or sometimes," he began softly, " it can destroy you."

"Yeah well I don't really care about the long term effects right now. Crap, I guess I should start making cancellation calls"

"No, not yet".

"Why?".

"Liz went to see Michael".

"and you think she can fix this?! Max-"

"I have faith in Liz and in the love Michael has for you, so I do".

"I-"

"Maria do you trust me?"

"Yes"

"Don't cancel the wedding yet. Not until we're sure."

****

"Are things going to be awkward with us now?" asked Ray.

"I don't know, we've done more than most friends do," said Maria.

He smiled, "I'm serious. I love you Maria, you know that, but I know you love Michael and I'm fine with that. I value our frienship, I love talking to you and seeing you, I don't want that to stop"

"Me either."

"So we're okay?"

"yeah," she said and hugged him.

"Have you heard anything from him?"

"No. I don't blame him, if it were me in his shoes, I'd never want to see me again."

"Well you're not me".
The voice behind her startled her.

"Michael" she breathed.

"I'll go," said Ray.

As Ray disappeared back into the house, Michael launched into his speech. "I was mad, when I saw you two together there was this anger and emptiness and hate. I hated you and I wanted to hurt you-"

"I'm soo sorry, I don't blame you for hating me..." she said.

"When I got home-"

"...or anything- "

"after everyone left,-"

"...It's all my fault-"

"Cassandra came over".

Suddenly anything else she had to say was forgotten."Oh."

It was all over then, so why was he here? to gloat?

"I don't understand, why are you here?" she asked.

"I wanted to hurt you, as much as you'd hurt me" he explained.

To keep herself from falling apart she folded her arms across her chest. "Done...You satisfied?"

"But I couldn't go through with it because even after this... I still love you Maria".

"You do?," she asked dumbstruck, " but-"

"I have been given this chance this second chance at happiness and i'm not going to run away just because it's difficult. The things worth fighting for always are. I spent seven years without you and i am not giving you up. I'm hurt, but I don't hate you, I didn't deserve that-"

"I know you didn't and I won't ever do it again".

"I know you won't. The thing is, if you'll have me Maria, i would really love to marrry you tomorrow" he said softly.

"You would?" she asked as waves of tears filled her eyes.

"Uh huh" he nodded.

Torn between joy and disbelief she asked, "Michael can you really get past this, what happened?"

"I...we'll need to talk but I know I can...because love is more than enough".


"Then yes, I will marry you tomorrow" she smiled as he pulled her into a hug.

****