“Dad,” Max was saying as he watched his father approach as Serena was trying to comfort an emotional Molly back in California. The realization that he was back in Roswell showed up again. “Were you here to visit Liz?” he asked as they stood across from each other.
Phillip nodded. “When did you get back?” he asked. “Your sister didn’t tell us you were coming back.”
“She doesn’t know,” Max acknowledged. “It was very quick my decision to come back.”
“How long do you think you’re going to be back?” Phillip asked as he wished he and Diane were closer to their son. Things had gotten tense before he left town all those years and he and his wife regretted their actions although a lot of it was brought on but their children’s need to be secretive but when they were let in on the secret they became a lot more appreciative of the lengths the kids had to go to keep their lives as normal as possible. It only made sense and for he and his wife, it made them wish they could see their son and now they had their chance if only Max stayed…
“I am sure I am here until the weekend,” Max murmured. “But a lot of it does depend on how things go with Liz.”
Phillip nodded and inner prayed for it to work out. “If you do need a place to stay, you can stay with us, and stay in your old room?” Phillip asked as they started to walk towards the hospital.
Knowing he had to make peace with that part of his past as much as anything else and he didn’t want to put the pressure on his sister and Kyle to have him to stay there he nodded. “I appreciate that Dad,” Max sighed. “I think I would enjoy that.”
“How is Liz,” Phillip smiled at the step forward his son was taking towards their family.
“She’s stronger and trying to keep a positive mood” Max sighed. “Dad, did you and Mom know about Isabella?
“About what?” Phillip asked confused for a minute before it hit him of what his son could be referring to. “So, what, you know?”
“Yes,” Max said. “Did you and Mom
know?”
“Not because Liz told us or anyone really. We figured it by simply looking at the child, she had too much resemblance to you and Liz and especially as Isabella grew up.”
“I now know why your pictures were in Bella’s room at Liz’s place.”
“She was our granddaughter without it being officially told. She was always in our lives even though Liz tried to keep it at times more of a distant relationship, but we tried to be there for her…”
“I appreciate it,” Max said. “I wish I could have been here…”
“Would you have been here son?” Phillip asked.
“Yes Dad, if I knew I would have been here…” Max said although he didn’t know exactly how it would have worked during his darker phases and whether he would have been able to put Liz and Bella through that, but then he might have gone as deep if he had something to fight for, for his sanity to fight for…
Phillip nodded as he knew that while he hoped his son would have been able to be around, well, they would truly never know as they approached their desired hospital room.
“I am out of here,” Liz announced as she saw Max and Phillip walk into the room.
“Really?” Max asked unsure what comes next.
“The doctors will spring me tomorrow,” Liz smiled. “I guess my labs are all positive and they feel confident I can do better at home than he in the hospital.”
“I am glad,” Max said.
“Phillip it’s nice to see you,” Liz said as she saw that Max with his father, “I hope you’re able to have a nice reunion with Max.”
“We’re just glad he’s back,” Phillip said as he looked at his son and knew from the looks of Max and Liz that their bond was just as intense as it was back in high school.
“I am glad he’s back too…” Liz said.
Max smiled as the whole room lit up and Phillip couldn’t help but hope it continued for the sake of both his son and Liz.
*
Serena didn’t how to explain it to the child. She was so small there sitting on her bed confused about the life she was trying to lead. Molly looked at Serena like she had the answers. “Please tell me.”
“All I know is we’re trying to figure out some oddities to your case,” Serena said as the little girl eyes shot up. “I know this sounds confusing to you and it is. It’s confusing to us adults, so I can’t imagine how it feels for you to live it”
“What does that mean?” Molly said as she pulled herself together and faced the detective. “Do you guys know who I am?”
“We have an idea,” Serena admitted because she sensed that despite her age Molly could deal with it and understand what was going on with the whole complicated situation. “We’re waiting until we can get it confirmed.”
“But you think you know?” Molly asked.
“We think you were kidnapped…” Serena said quietly.
“I was taken?” Molly eyes opened wide as her brain tried to figure out if that was true from her memory. “From where...”
“We think you might be from a town in New Mexico, called Roswell. Do you recognize the name Roswell?”
Molly’s eyes went wide as the name hit her as she felt it was right. She didn’t know if she was from that town, but she felt like it was right. “I think so… my memory is still funny.”
“I realize that, and I don’t want to push you,” Serena said as she sat by the girl.
“I need to know. I am not a baby,” Molly said quietly.
“We know you’re not, but we also know this is pretty complicated for someone your age or anyone to deal with and so we’re trying to make sure it done in its own speed.”
“So, you think I belong somewhere else… Which means I am not a Davidson? Molly asked.
“No,” Serena shook her head. “We think you were taken from your real home about a year ago… Do you remember anything from about a year ago…”?
Molly shook her head, but it was slow, and Serena suspected that it wasn’t wholly the truth as she knew the little girl was struggling with the information she was being told. “Molly, do you remember anything?”
“I remember men. I remember being carried somewhere… It’s dark, and I don’t know what happened then…”
“Do you recognize them…” Serena asked.
“Molly shook her head. “Only they didn’t like me. I remember leaving a bedroom.”
“Anything about that room?” Serena asked.
“Just that there were big letters on the wall…” Molly said quietly. “Do I have parents where you think I am from… This Roswell…”
“Yes,” Serena smiled. “You have a Mom and a stepfather…”
and I have identified your biological father she thought but didn’t because it would confuse the girl.
“If I am this person…” Molly asked.
“Yes, if you’re this person…” Serena smiled as she got a ping from her phone to see CJ right away. “Why don’t I leave you here with this and you can figure out if anything comes from your memory?” Serena asked.
Molly nodded as she watched the detective get ready to leave. “If I am this person, is my name
Isabella?” she asked, and Serena turned around. “I am right, aren’t I?”
“We think so,” Molly nodded.
“I guess that is why I have so many memories with that name in them?” Molly asked as she watched Serena leave as the young girl was left wondering about finding her true home. She picked up her pad and started drawing.
*
Back in Roswell Max looked in front of him as he saw the Crashdown. He hadn’t been here yet since he came to town. Liz was relaxing back at the hospital and he figured it was time to figure out what he was going to do it. He had only been taking a walk when he found himself near the Crashdown and he couldn’t help but bring back memories as watched the bustling restaurant. “Max…” came a voice. He turned and saw Kyle.
“Hello Kyle,” Max sighed as it was reminder that he hadn’t seen Kyle since he returned to town.
“When did you get back?” Kyle asked.
“Late last night,” Max said. “Are you headed into the Crashdown?”
“Yeah meeting Dad for lunch,” Kyle nodded. “Have you told your sister that you’re back?”
“I plan to,” Max said as he knew he had to reach out to Isabel to tell her that he was fine. “I understand I put some concern into people around here, and I am sorry for worrying everyone.”
“Did you have to do it?” Kyle asked as he referred to someone they both knew.
“I didn’t expect it,” Max acknowledged. “But he was speaking trash and he pushed one button too many and I suspect you would have been pushed into it too if you had been there.”
“Look Max…” Kyle said as he knew that Max was probably right about if he had been in the room with Sean.
“Kyle, I know you’re worried about both your wife and Liz. I promise I am not here to hurt them. I want to make up for the past, and I plan to. I appreciate all you did for them, and for Liz and Isabella.” Max sighed and instantly Kyle knew that Max knew the truth.
“So, you know?” Kyle asked as they walked into the Crashdown.
“Yes, I know,” Max acknowledged. “Again, I appreciate all you did while I was gone. I don’t want to hurt Liz and I plan to help find Bella and when she does come home then Liz and I can make some decisions about what the future holds but know regardless of what happens with the future I am not trying to replace you. Even if I wanted to, I know I can’t. You were here, and I wasn’t…”
Kyle nodded.
“Bella considered you her Dad, and no matter what does happen with the future. I want to know her, and I don’t plan to misuse this opportunity.”
“Max, I don’t want either of them hurt.” Kyle muttered.
“I realize that Kyle, and while I am back now. I can’t say what the future holds. No one can, but I am not about to abandon them again.” Max said with passion. “I have a chance to make up for the past, and I plan to use it and any decisions will be mutually agreed upon…”
“But it doesn’t erase the past,” Kyle muttered.
“No, it doesn’t,” Max nodded. “I wish it could, but I know we all have to live with what choices we made and pray the future is easier on us.”
“I wish that too,” Kyle said as Jim walked in and sighed when he saw his son and Max. “Dad…”
“I hope I am not interrupting anything…”
“No, I’m grabbing something to eat and heading back to the hospital to see Liz. She’s being released from the hospital tomorrow, so I promised to bring her a burger if I made it this far.”
As they watched Max walk in the direction of the order counter, Kyle turned to Jim and he saw a worried expression on his father’s face. “Dad, you can say it.”
“I guess a new chapter has begun…”
“I guess so,” Kyle said as he and Jim went to a booth while Max picked up a takeout order for himself and one for Liz and then left the restaurant to head back to the hospital.
*
“Max is back?” Isabel asked as she arrived at the hospital only to learn her brother was back in town. “He didn’t call?” she muttered as she thought of her brother and his inability to let her know what he was doing.
“He didn’t call anyone,” Liz commented as he thought of Max and she hadn’t been able to think about much else except maybe her daughter since she first saw Max again and now that Max knew the truth, well, it brought off a ton of weight of her shoulders and now she just wished they could find a clue to where Bella may be.
“Naturally,” Isabel grumbled.
“He’s sorry…” Liz thought.
“He always says that then he does something that ends us make us mad at him,” she thought as she looked at Liz. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be. Max is here, and I don’t think he’s going to be leaving anytime soon.”
“Why do you say that…” Isabel asked softly.
“Because he now knows the truth about Bella,” Liz said quietly. “I didn’t have to tell him as he found out his own way.”
“Please don’t tell me Sean told him…” Isabel asked dismayed at the mere idea of Sean telling Max before he managed to die on them.
“Apparently Max figured it out by looking at Bella’s birth certificates. The dates match didn’t match up precisely…” Liz said softly. “I always knew it, but I wanted to believe people could believe it.”
“Unfortunately, we knew how intense things you and Max were before he left town, so it was easy to connect the dots.”
“I know,” Liz sighed.
“Liz we never were angry…” Isabel said although she knew her parents were a little hurt that Liz wouldn’t tell them the truth and they had to be a little more on the sidelines than she knew they would want to be with their first grandchild.
“If I could go back, I would change a whole lot of my life.”
“We all would….” Isabel nodded.
“You have Kyle and the baby on the way,” Liz reminded Isabel with a warm smile. “You are so lucky.”
“I am, but I we all have choices we wish we could have done better…” Isabel smiled. “So, if my brother is back, how is having him around again”
“It’s definitely weird and yet it feels normal because it feels like nothing has changed and yet we’re very different. We’re not who we once were but when I look at him…”
“You see the memories…” Isabel asked
Liz nodded as a flood of the intensity of her Max rushed through her, and she saw the good and the bad of their short relationship and yet life changing years for her. “If we could find Bella…”
“We will Liz, we will…” Isabel said.
“I hope so…”
*
Serena made it back to the station and down to the forensics lab and saw CJ by the computer. She prayed she got the answer and still she knew she had to figure out how to tell Max but that would come at another time. “So, do we have a winner?” she asked.
“Good, you are here…” CJ asked as she checked and saw Serena coming towards you. “Where were you?”
“Visiting Molly.”
“Well Detective, you don’t have to call her that anymore…” CJ Baker confirmed. “She has a different name.”
“So, she’s
Isabella Maria Valenti,” Serena asked.
“Yup.” CJ confirmed. “So, have you told Max that we found his daughter?”