Roswell Fanatics

Part 23

Max raised his head slightly and looked ahead. He could see the Jetta was less than a block away from him. He knew his younger self was close to where Tess and Liz sat in wait and he calmly exited the car, standing several yards away from it but in the direct path of the Jetta. Raising his hand toward the stolen car that had brought him thus far in his journey, he effortlessly pushed it toward the old barn. As the car skidded toward the barn, Max concentrated on the gas tank, mentally conjuring a picture of fire in his mind. He glanced to his left and right, he being the only obstacle standing in the way of the two Lizs meeting. With one final tweak with his powers, he caused the gas tank in the car, now fully imbedded in the barn, to explode. Only seconds before the explosion reached a pinnacle, he began to run toward the Jetta, and toward Liz.

* * *

I love you, Liz. And I love our son.

Max, she almost mumbled aloud but caught herself before she had said his name. Turning toward the backseat, she noticed that Colby was awake but hadn’t stirred. She smiled slightly at her son before glancing at Tess out of the corner of her eye. Colby’s eyes opened wider and he presented his mother with the widest smile she had ever seen. He pulled his hands underneath his chin and Liz knew that Colby had heard his father’s words too.

I’m here in Copper Summit.

Her entire body warmed and she again glanced at Tess in the driver’s seat, wondering if Tess had any idea what was going on in her presence, if Tess had ever been aware of the powerful connection she and Max shared. Not even the end of the world, which was surely upon them now, could stop their connection or their love and Liz silently rejoiced that Max did, in fact, love her with his entire soul.

Run away from the barn, Liz. There’s going to be an explosion. Take our son and run.

No sooner had she heard and processed Max’s warning did the barn where the skins’ harvest was held explode into a ball of flames. Tess immediately straightened her posture, as if that was the sign she had been waiting for to begin her diabolical plan. Colby clutched his blanket tightly under his neck and sat up in the backseat, his amber eyes wide as the flames soared toward the sky. Liz reached for him around her seat and calmed instantly when she felt his tiny hand rest in hers.

Tess turned toward her, a sadistic grin crossing her lips, her mouth pursing as she tried to think of the perfect thing to say about Liz’s now-certain demise when Liz did something she had wanted to do for so long: she punched Tess in the face. The force with which Liz hit Tess’ face caused the blonde’s head to crash backwards through the windshield, shattering glass onto the road and across Tess’ shoulders and chest. Liz’s eyes widened in horror and she felt Colby squeeze her hand tighter as Tess’ head ricocheted and slumped forward, her chin resting on her chest.

Liz quickly scrambled out of the car amidst flying debris from the barn and gathered Colby tightly against her chest. Colby buried his head against her neck, sheltering his face from debris, his tiny arms and legs clinging to her body as she ran toward the most welcome sight Liz had ever seen: the jeep.

* * *

Max drove the jeep to a halt in the middle of the road as an explosion vibrated the ground and flames crested over the top of the other buildings. They quickly abandoned the jeep and ran for cover in the vacant-looking buildings lining the street. Tess and Kyle broke apart from Max, Michael and Isabel and ran to the opposite side of the street as the others. Tess buried her face against Kyle’s shoulder while they ran and they crouched in the doorway of what was had once been a department store.

Michael grabbed Isabel’s arm, dragging her toward the doorway of another former department store. Shielding her head, he turned and saw Max standing dumbstruck in the middle of the street several steps away from the jeep. Standing upright while trying to moderately shield Isabel, Michael’s eyes widened as he saw precisely what had rendered Max almost useless: Liz, running toward them, a small child clutched tightly to her body.

* * *

I love you, Liz. And I love our son.

Liz’s eyes widened as Max’s voice echoed through her mind. She jerked her head toward Maria and then toward Alex, wondering if she had simply imagined the entire thing. She looked out the passenger side window again, trying to refocus her attention to finding a way out of Copper Summit.

I’m here in Copper Summit.

“My God,” Liz gasp, covering her mouth with her hand as she reached out for Maria’s closest arm.

“Lizzie?”

“What’s wrong, Liz,” Alex echoed from the backseat, leaning forward to grab Liz’s arm.

Run away from the barn, Liz. There’s going to be an explosion. Take our son and run.

“St...stop the car, Maria,” Liz whispered. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks again and she ran her shaky hands down her face in a vain attempt to calm herself.

“Liz,” Maria began, slowing the car slightly, “you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“Max....Max is he...here....”

“What,” Maria screeched, slamming her foot on the break pedal, almost catapulting Alex and Courtney into the front seat with Maria and Liz. “What are you talking about? How do you know that?”

Before Liz could respond to Maria’s semi-freak-out, one of the buildings several yards in front of them erupted in flames, causing the Jetta to shake violently. Fearing for their safety, the four occupants awkwardly stumbled from the Jetta and watched in horror as the remnants of the building rained down upon their heads. Through the dust, Liz held her breath as she saw a shadowy figure running toward them. She clung to Maria and Alex, who was desperate to protect his two friends and tried to shove them behind the open car door of the Jetta. Once the dust settled, a lop-sided smile appeared on Liz’s face and she ran toward the shadowy figure which Maria recognized instantly as Max, Liz’s future Max.

Part 24


“Max,” Liz screamed as she ran toward him, clutching Colby against her chest. “Run, Max.” She swept past him in the direction she saw Michael pull Isabel and felt Colby shift his head, looking backwards. She spun around quickly and after realizing Max was still standing in the middle of the road - an open target - she ran back for him.

He willingly took her extended hand and wordlessly followed as she pulled him out of the street toward Michael and Isabel’s hiding place. “Liz,” he questioned, his eyes drawn to Colby’s small form. He stumbled slightly, almost pulling Liz down to the ground with him but quickly regained his footing when he saw fear flash through Colby’s eyes - eyes identical to his own. “Liz, what’s going on?”

“Not now, Max. We have to get out of sight. Where’s Tess?”

“Tess,” Max questioned, almost stopping again to scan the street for any signs of Tess. Liz’s fierce tug on his hand quashed any thoughts of stopping and he was once again drawn to Colby, a sweet smile spread across the child’s mouth. “What about Tess?”

“Tess and Kyle aren’t with us, Maxwell,” Michael offered, opening the door of the abandoned department store, welcoming Max, Liz and the child into their hiding place. “Something must have happened after the explosion.”

“I bet they’re just across the street,” Liz said, dropping Colby to his feet as she carefully walked in front of the large window. She glanced toward the Universal Friendship League headquarters up the street, knowing this was not the best hiding place for them but she couldn’t risk exposing Colby to any skins. All of their lives were in danger now, especially since it was now confirmed that everyone important to her was in Copper Summit. She ran her hands through her hair, slowly backing away from the window and turning her attention to the younger versions of Max, Michael and Isabel, who were watching she and Colby like they had the plague.

Colby tentatively stepped toward Max, dragging his trusted blanket behind him. He reached for Max, the same sweet smile crossing his lips again. Max stooped to his level, Michael and Isabel flanking him, and motioned for the child to come to him. Smiling widely, yet showing none of his teeth, Colby quickly teetered into Max’s open arms. Liz turned just in time to watch as Max carefully scooped Colby into his arms, a smile identical to Colby’s reflected on his face. “Daddy,” Colby sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around Max’s neck, squeezing with all his might.

“Daddy,” Michael questioned, the grimace on his face instantly changed to a look of confusion.

“Liz? How is this...”

“I am Liz, Max, just not your Liz.” Liz stepped closer to Max and Colby, amazed at how quickly her child accepted Max and how Max had not instantly objected to being called ‘Daddy.’

“You’re his Liz, aren’t you,” Michael asked, realization dawning on him as he stepped forward toward Liz. “The other Max...from the future. The Max that came to get Liz to change the future again.”

“That’s right, Michael. The other Max and I were...together.”

“But I thought he and Tess had a son.”

“What,” Max asked, glancing quickly between Colby and Liz. “This...this is Tess’ son?” He held Colby at arm’s length, examining the small boy. How could this be Tess’ child? He didn’t love Tess. He didn’t want to be with Tess, especially in ways that could result in children. This small boy looked nothing like Tess...and everything like Liz.

“No, Max,” Liz responded, tenderly brushing hair away from Colby’s forehead. “This is our son, yours and mine. His name is Colby.”

* * *

His name is Colby.

“Colby,” Max whispered as he slumped against Liz in the warehouse Alex had chosen for them to hide in.

“What,” Maria snapped. “Who’s Colby? What’s going on, Max? Why are you here? Did you blow up that building? Why did you blow up that building?”

“What the fuck happened to your face?”

“Alex,” Maria and Liz corrected at the same time, both of their faces displaying shock and disapproval of Alex’s choice of words.

“I mean, Max, man, great to see ya. How’s it hangin?”

“Colby is our son,” Liz offered simply, ignoring Alex’s nervous outburst and focusing her attention back to Max. “Right, Max? That’s his name?”

Max nodded slowly and leaned against the wooden railing, trying to regain control of his emotions. He knew that his Liz and Colby were now safe with his younger self but that the younger version of Tess was missing. He wished he could find out how Liz had managed to allude Tess in order to get to the other Max. What he had to concentrate on now was somehow managing to get all versions of himself and Liz out of Copper Summit and back to Roswell. That had to be his first priority and he knew his younger self would not let anything happen to Liz and Colby while he charged himself with getting Liz, Maria and Alex the hell out of Copper Summit in one piece.

* * *

“So Maxwell knocked you up after he didn’t find his son with Tess?”

Liz laughed slightly as she watched Max cradle Colby in his arms. Michael had immediately shared with her, Max and Isabel exactly what he knew about Tess from both future timelines. Isabel, after hearing about Alex’s death, excused herself to the back of the room. Michael had offered support to her which she quickly refused. Max had clung to Colby after Isabel fled the room, suddenly understanding the implications of just how special Colby was. “That’s not exactly how it happened, Michael. There was no son, no baby. It had all been a mindwarp by Tess to get Max to return to Antar.”

“What’s Antar?”

“It’s your home planet,” Liz replied softly. “It’s a really long story, Michael, and one that I’d rather not relive. What we need to concentrate on right now is finding Tess.”

“Why,” Max asked as Colby stirred slightly in his lap. “Why not just let her go? It’s obvious things were better after she left.”

“Things were better, Max, but that’s not the point. Tess has a plan. Both versions of Tess have plans, and I refuse to let her win again.”

“She won’t win, Liz, I swear it.” Max stepped toward her, gently slinging a sleeping Colby over his shoulder. “I’ve always known it was you that I belong with, not Tess. I love you. I want to be with you.”

“It’s not that simple, Max,” she said. “Things between us have never been that simple.” She sighed slightly, amazed by how quickly Max caused her to lose control. She raked her hands through her hair again, her frustration level almost to a boiling point. “I pretended to sleep with Kyle because I thought it was the right thing to do. Even if I had it to do over again, I’d still do the same thing. The good of the whole, Max. That’s what I believe in.”

“Well, if Tess is gonna become a psycho hose beast, the good of the whole will most certainly be better without her.”

“Michael,” Liz sighed, reluctant to laugh at Michael but somehow unable to hold a slight chuckle back. “I...I don’t think -”

“Do you think Tess can be rehabilitated, Liz,” Max asked. “Do you think she’s trustworthy? That she can accept you and I being together and forget about our destiny?”

“I don’t know,” she responded with a shrug while she began to pace. “Sometimes I wonder, you know. There were times when I didn’t hate Tess but after Alex died...everything changed. I...I’m not willing to cause that kind of pain, Max. I’m not willing sacrifice Alex.”

“Neither am I,” Isabel said as she stepped out from the shadows. “Tess killed Alex, plain and simple. She lied to all of us and abused our trust. She knew exactly what she was doing from the moment she came to Roswell and she felt no remorse for her actions. I can’t just stand by and watch her destroy us because that sounds exactly like what she’s planning to do.” Isabel stepped toward Max and lovingly ran her fingers across Colby’s face. “You have a son, Max and a future, hopefully with Liz, that you have to think about. I...I can’t trust Tess. I won’t trust her, not if it means losing Alex.”

“Are you suggesting we kill her, Iz?” Max unconsciously tightened his grip on Colby and ran his hand lightly across his son’s back.

“We don’t have to kill her.”

Max, Michael and Isabel quickly focused their attention on Liz and her statement. “What are you talking about, Liz,” Max quietly asked as he adjusted his hold on Colby once again.

“Quantum mechanics,” Liz said, a booming silence filling the room. “Right now, there are two versions of Tess, Max and I in Copper Summit. If one version meets the other, both versions will disappear.”

“So, if Tess #1 and Tess #2 meet, they’ll cancel each other out,” Michael questioned, looking to Liz for confirmation. When she nodded, Michael threw his hands into the air in frustration. “Then our problems are solved,” he offered with a shrug, turning on his heels away from Max, Liz and Isabel.

“I thought you killed Tess, your Tess, I mean.”

“I punched her, Max, and while that’s been building for a long time, I know she’s not dead. But if this works, then the Tess problem will be solved. That’s why she brought Colby and I to Copper Summit in the first place. Because the three of us exist, we have new memories from the things that have happened. She knew the other me, Alex and Maria were coming here because the younger Tess knew. If they meet and disappear, the only problem we’ll have to deal with will be the skins.”

“Skins are easily dusted away,” Michael said, stepping past Liz and Max, closely followed by Isabel. “Let’s get rid of Tess.”

“Michael, wait,” Liz called before Michael and Isabel had reached the door of the department store. “You can’t just barge out there guns blazing and expect everything to work out. We are in a town fully inhabited by skins, skins that want to four of you dead.”

“What are you saying, Liz,” Michael yelled, causing Colby to stir in Max’s arms. “I’m not going to just stand by as my life falls into the crapper.”

“You don’t understand what’s going on here, Michael,” Liz screamed, her face turning several intense shades of red. Michael quickly backed down from his own tirade, almost shrinking from Liz’s unknown rage. “I could disappear at any time. We have to think this through before you run out there with half-baked scheme. I know you, Michael, and I know your plans. They don’t work!” Her body shook as she felt Max place his hand in the small of her back. Colby, now semi-awake, reached for her and Liz gladly pulled her son into her arms, lightly kissing his cheek.

“Tell us what to do, Liz,” Max said, rubbing his hand across her back in small circles, trying to bring about some kind of comfort and peace to her. “Tell us how to win.”

Part 25

“I don’t like this, Maxwell. I really don’t like it.”

“I know, Michael, but I’m not leaving Liz...or Colby. She’s right. He is my son and we’re in a town full of...aliens that want us dead. This is the only solution.”

“Whatever,” Michael muttered, grabbing Isabel’s arm as he lead her out the door and onto the street. “But I still don’t like it,” he yelled at Max through the large-pane window, causing Isabel to slap him on the back to quiet down.

Turning back to Liz and Colby, Max couldn’t help but laugh. “Does he get any better...in the future?”

“I don’t know,” Liz quietly responded, gently laying Colby on a old blanket. He clutched at her hair in his sleep as she pulled away from him before pulling his blanket underneath his chin and sighing. Liz smoothed his hair away from his face, a smile cresting in the corners of her mouth. She stood slowly and turned to find Max standing almost directly behind her, his amber eyes wide in wonder as he watched their sleeping son.

“He’s perfect,” Max whispered. “Absolutely perfect.”

“That he is,” Liz agreed, pulling Max away from Colby so they could talk more freely without threatening to wake the sleeping child. “There are some things I...I need to say to you, Max.” She paused and linked her fingers together underneath her chin in a mannerism identical to the one Colby had made several minutes ago. Max smiled, exhaling a loud stream of air through his nose, startling Liz. “What,” she questioned, her bottom lip automatically tucking between her teeth. Max quickly shook his head and shoved his hands into his pants pockets, simply content to watch this Liz. Some qualities were the same: her facial expressions, the tiny mannerisms that most people would overlook but this Liz had a different air about her, an air that lead him to believe her life had not been easy.

“Oh,” Liz quietly responded, folding her arms across her chest. “Colby is a lot like me, but that’s not what we need to talk about. He’s here, Max, the other you, my you, and the only way I’m going to get to talk to him is through you so...just bear with me on this.” Max nodded and stepped away from Liz, sensing that she needed some space for what she was about to say. “I...I loved you, I love...you and being away from you was absolute torture. After Khivar took me -”

“Who’s Khivar?”

“He’s the current ruler of your planet, the...being that killed all of you in your past lives.”

“Why did he take you?”

“That’s what I’m trying to explain,” Liz pointedly answered, her eyes locking with Max’s. Again, Max nodded and Liz sighed slowly before she continued. “Khivar wanted your heir so that he could rule through the child, using it as his puppet. He wanted the four of you dead, obviously, but Nasedo made a deal with him that Tess could produce, that she would produce, your heir.”

“That’s why she killed Alex.”

Liz nodded. “Alex decoded the destiny book for her. Tess claimed she didn’t mean to kill him, but...I don’t know.” Liz swallowed hard and wiped at her eyes. Thinking or talking about Alex always made her emotional. “She mindwarped you into thinking you had slept with her and fathered her child, and that the baby couldn’t survive on Earth so you’d have to go...”

“Back.”

“Right,” Liz said, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as she continued with her explanation. “Anyway, she failed and when Khivar found out I was pregnant, or that I could be pregnant, he took me to Carlsbad.”

“Why didn’t he kill you after you had Colby?”

“I think...I think he was in love with me. I’m not sure really. I...I don’t even know why I think that.” Liz laughed nervously, glancing over her shoulder at Colby. “He never threatened Colby, Max, ever, and by the time Colby was born, he had realized that Tess was not the most trust-worthy person. He kept me safe from her. He protected me...and our son, and while I hated him for taking us away from you, he started a war because of us, because of Colby, to protect us. All of this doesn’t really matter...it’s just that I want you to know I never stopped loving you and just because Khivar...had feelings...for me, I would have never ever betrayed you to him.”

“I know that, Liz,” Max said with a smile as he placed his hands on her upper arms. “I know you’d never betray me.”

“No, you don’t. You think....he thinks...he saw me with Khivar, the night Michael died -”

“Michael died?”

“But what you don’t know, what he doesn’t know, is that Tess was in Carlsbad the night Michael died. Because, Max, the night Michael died was the night Khivar died.”

Max stumbled backwards from Liz. Had she really lead such a life, a life filled with war and terror and danger? Had they all lead such lives? He opened his mouth to respond to her, to question how they’d been the ones to survive when he heard a familiar voice cut through the momentary silence.

“I could never say you weren’t smart, Parker. I hate your guts but I have to give you credit for your smarts.”

“Tess,” Liz seethed over Max’s shoulder, causing him to whip around suddenly toward the door. Inside the room stood the woman who had been his bride in a past life and a woman who was now threatening the lives of everyone he cherished. He grabbed Liz’s arm as she stepped past him, intent on making a wall of their bodies to separate Tess from Colby.

“Tess?” Her face and shirt were stained with blood and a large bruise had formed on her face, which Max knew was the result of Liz’s punch, but despite her appearance, he saw the woman who had haunted him for almost a year reflected in her blue eyes.

“Hi, Max,” she replied, her voice syrupy sweet as she slowly stepped toward them. “So, you know it was me that killed Michael and that I killed Khivar. But did you know it was me that gave you that wonderful scar down the side of your face?” She slowly traced the length of her face from her hairline down her jaw and Max felt his cheek twitch in response. He glanced at Liz for some sort of explanation but Liz’s eyes were keenly trained on Tess. “All this time you thought it was Parker: that Parker hated you; that Parker betrayed you; that Parker got Michael killed. Nope,” she replied, tugging gently on her blonde curls. “All me. Mindwarp is such an amazing gift. And now I have the utmost pleasure of finally killing the things you hold nearest and dearest to your stupid, little human heart. All you had to do was love me, Max. Is that really too much to ask?”

* * *

“You selfish wanker bastard! My skin was in there.” Courtney stepped toward Max and poked her finger into his chest several times. “Did you know that all hope of my survival is now destroyed because of you? Michael would have saved my skin. Michael would have thought of others first. You don’t change. Michael would be such a better king.”

“That’s it,” Maria screamed, stomping her feet and flailing her fists toward the ground. Alex stepped away from her as Liz quickly restrained Max. “Listen up, you floozy. I’m sick and tired of you thinking you are the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to female life forms. I have you know Michael is completely satisfied with what this 100% human specimen offers him, so just shove off.” Maria shoved Courtney with all her might toward the corner of the warehouse. What Maria did not know was that she had shoved Courtney directly into a metal rod which was masked by the shadows of the warehouse. Courtney fell backwards against the rod, striking herself in the middle of her back. Maria, Liz and Alex could only watch in surprise as Courtney disintegrated before their very eyes.

“Oh,” Liz offered, her hand covering her mouth.

“Where’d she go,” Maria questioned, turning back to Max. “Was that some new kind of power I don’t know about?”

“No,” Max said, shaking his hand. “All skins are made with a button on their backs. If it’s hit -”

“They turn to dust? That’s just a little too ‘Buffy’ for me,” Alex responded only seconds before he sneezed. “Where’s a dustbuster when you need one?”

“Alex!”

“Come on, Liz. The world is better off without Courtney. I know I sure as hell am glad she’s dust.”

“Wait a sec, Maria,” Alex said, stepping toward her with his brows furrowed in thought. “You got a piece of Courtney in your hair.” He dug his fingers into her hair, succeeding in nothing other than mussing it, and pulled his pinched fingers to his face for closer examination. “No, wait, just dandriff.”

“Tess is here,” Max grunted, breaking up the playful moment between Maria and Alex. His heart beat with the force of a thundering herd in his chest, his eyes momentarily glazing over as new memories settled into his consciousness.

And now I have the utmost pleasure of finally killing the things you hold nearest and dearest to your stupid, little human heart.

“We have to go.” He grabbed Liz’s hand and pulled her out of the door of the warehouse onto the street.

“Leaving so soon?” Their pursuit was quickly stopped by group of skins, their faces peeling, their skin-like substance dripping off their husks. An older man stepped forward toward Max as Max pushed Liz behind him, his arm semi-outstretched, prepared for battle. “We haven’t even gotten reacquainted yet.”

Part 26


“Max,” Liz whispered as she glanced at the mob over Max’s shoulder. She placed her hands on Max’s back and felt the tension ripple through his back. She swallowed hard, slowly exhaling the breath she had not realized she was holding. “Who is that?”

“They’re skins,” Max responded calmly, turning his head so that Liz could hear him but never taking his eyes off the mob forming in front of him.

“So you do remember us,” the older man in front of the group replied. "And we thought you were just a bunch of stupid teenagers.” The entire mass laughed as Max cautiously moved his arm around to grab Liz’s wrist.

She gasp at the contact, so intimate in such a perilous situation. His fingers caressed the interior of her wrist and Liz bowed her head as several flashes penetrated her mind. Max had faced these skins twice before; once at Whitaker’s funeral with Tess supporting him while she had watched, the second in the halls of West Roswell when Tess had proceeded to annihilate the entire flock. She placed her hand firmly in the middle of his back, understanding that he had every intention of fighting them again.

“Run,” Max shouted, flinging Liz out of the doorway of the warehouse just before the skins advanced on him. She fell to the ground, rolling over and over several times until Alex and Maria stopped her forward progress. She raised her head and looked at the warehouse, her heart in her throat as she watched Max project a green energy shield between he and the skins.

“Come on, Liz,” Maria said as she and Alex pulled Liz up from the ground and began to pull her away from the warehouse.

“No! Max!” Liz struggled against Alex’s grip, beating him with her fists as she tried in vain to escape him. “Max!” She felt Alex grab her around her waist and for a split second, her feet were no longer touching the ground. “No! No!” Turning toward Alex with tears streaming down her face, she buried her head against his chest, knowing with all certainty that Max was going to die in that warehouse.

“Get them out of here,” Michael yelled to Alex as he and Isabel ran toward the warehouse in pursuit of the skins that had cornered Max.

“Michael,” Maria questioned, taking several steps toward him before Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace as well.

“Let’s get out of here,” Alex said, his grip firm on both of his friends as he pulled them away from the warehouse.

* * *

Before Tess had any time to react, Liz threw her hand outward in defense and shot Tess through the air, almost through the large-pane window. Max released her and curiously surveyed the hand that had held her arm, wondering silently if he had used Liz’s body as a vessel for his power.

“I did that,” Liz answered aloud, gathering Colby into her arms and placing him off to the side of the department store behind a grouping of old clothes racks. The small boy was wide awake now and Max watched as Liz whispered to their child. He was surprised to see a tiny green light emit from Colby’s cupped hands and quickly envelop the child into a protective bubble. “I taught him how to do that,” Liz said in response to the look of shock and wonder etched on Max’s face as she stepped away from Colby and back into the open area.

“H...how,” Max asked, his voice cracking as he tried to form words.

“When you healed me, Max, you changed me. And now I’m different,” Liz responded, glancing rapidly between the spots where Max stood shell-shocked and where Tess was slowly rising to her feet.

“I never -” Max’s eyes widened in horror, his true emotions rising viciously to the surface. He had never wanted to endanger Liz’s life; he had only been trying to save her and now she was changed forever.

“I know,” Liz quietly reassured him. “You didn’t hurt me, Max, and I don’t have any regrets. You just left some part of yourself in me after the healing. I studied at using the gifts you gave me and taught Colby everything I knew about them. I’m glad, Max,” Liz said softly, brushing her hand lightly against his face. “I would never change what you gave me. Never.”

“Ain’t that sweet,” Tess replied bitterly. Both Max and Liz snapped their heads toward her, just in time to see Tess brush her curly locks out of her face. “‘Oh, I love you Max, even though you turned me into a hybrid freak.’ Bitch!” Tess ran towards Liz at full speed, but Liz was completely prepared for the blow, side-stepping Tess’ attempt with ease. “You’re gonna pay now, Parker,” she seethed. “I’m going to enjoy making you suffer.” Tess lunged at Liz again, this time succeeding in knocking Liz to the ground. Max joined the fracas, grabbing Tess by the hair and pulling her off Liz. He was seemingly unscathed in his attempt to protect Liz until Tess raked her nails down the side of Max’s face, cutting him deeply. “Seems some things never change,” Tess mused as she threw her hand at Max, knocking him against the back wall.

Liz was on her feet when Tess turned back around and Tess stepped toward her slowly. “Let’s play nice, okay, Parker? All you have to do is give up Max and Colby.”

“Never,” Liz growled as she thrust her hand defensively in front of her, managing to knock Tess off her feet once again. She glanced up at Max, who was on his feet and healing himself, and quickly scanned the room for Colby, still enveloped by his protective cocoon in the corner. “Just face it, Tess. I win. I’m always going to win.”

“Liz?”

Liz spun toward the door, her face showing her surprise to see Kyle standing in the door. She softened her stance a little, turning to fully face the friend she had not seen in almost two years and had feared dead. “Kyle,” she whispered, amazed by how young he looked and silently wondered if she looked older than her twenty years. With her back to Tess, she could not see Tess’ outstretched hand aimed directly at her back.

“Liz! Liz!”

She turned in response to Max’s screams and felt Tess hit her directly in the stomach, sending her flying backwards through the large-pane window. Her body crashed onto the sidewalk in front of the exterior of the department store, pain ripping through her lower back. Exhaling loudly, she stood as quickly as she could and dusted the glass and dirt from her clothes. Several of her ribs were broken, she knew, and she could feel blood oozing down the side of her face. Staggering back to the doorway, willing to battle Tess until one of them died, she stopped abruptly when she saw her emancipation standing beside Kyle.

Part 27


Liz stalked toward the younger Tess and forcefully grabbed her arm, jerking her away from Kyle and toward the door of the old department store. Kyle reached for her but Liz shrugged him off with ease, considering the condition of her body, and hurled the younger Tess onto the floor. “What the hell has gotten into you, Liz,” Kyle questioned, following Liz into the department store, stopping abruptly behind her when he saw the older, bloodied version of Tess struggling to her feet. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”

“The joke’s on Tess,” Liz harshly replied, her eyes never leaving the elder blonde, her enemy, who was now almost to her feet.

* * *

Liz, Maria and Alex ran away from the barn where Max, Michael and Isabel were now fighting against the skins. They had abandoned the Jetta and just began running after Alex had said they were unarmed humans in an alien’s town. Liz had no idea where she was headed as she continued to run; she just felt she should keep running her current path. She had quickly distanced herself from Maria and Alex and slowed only when she saw the jeep parked in the middle of the street.

Cautiously walking toward the jeep, she surveyed her surroundings, knowing that Max, her Max, was here somewhere. She stopped several steps away from the jeep’s driver’s side and was suddenly bombarded by a flash that drove her to the ground.

“Max,” Liz screamed as she ran toward him, clutching Colby against her chest. “Run, Max.”

“Colby,” Liz whispered as she felt Alex’s hands underneath her armpits, hoisting her back to her feet. He released her slightly and her knees buckled but Alex managed to catch her before she fell. In that instant, she had felt her son, felt his tiny arms hugging her neck, his fear radiating through her own body and she felt the joy that beat through his little heart when he saw his father. “Colby,” she whispered again, looking at Alex for understanding, tears threatening at any moment to spill down her cheeks. “Max.”

“I...I don’t understand, Liz,” Alex said, leading her away from the jeep toward the old department store across the street. “We have to get out of here.”

“No,” Liz screamed, jerking away from Alex’s grasp and almost knocking Maria down in the process. “I...I can’t go in there.”

“Liz, what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m in there,” she cried, pointing at the building where Alex had wanted to lead them only a few yards from their current position. “I’ll die if I go in there.”

* * *

“I’ll die if I go in there.”

“No,” Max screamed, his shield rippling for a split second as his energy was focused elsewhere. “Liz!” Michael and Isabel ran to his side, somehow hearing his cries over the volume of the attack and watched in shock as Max screamed again, his shield transforming into a cone-like structure hurling toward the unsuspecting skins. They glanced quickly at each other, curious as to when Max had become so powerful and how he had learned to manipulate his protective devices into a weapon. Upon contact with Max’s shield, the skins were instantly vaporized, scattering dust throughout the warehouse.

Isabel’s eyes misted, her mind recalling the patches of floating dust when she had killed Congresswoman Whitaker. She covered her face with her hands and felt Michael wrap his arms around her. “He did the right thing, Iz. There was no other choice.”

“I..I know,” she meekly responded, wiping the dust from her face as she scanned the area for any signs of Max. She inhaled sharply when she could not find him, grabbing Michael’s arm in response. “Max? Max!”

From the shadows of the warehouse, Max calmly appeared, his face stoic with a clear purpose on his mind. “We have to get to Liz,” he said, brushing past Isabel and Michael, exiting the warehouse.

* * *

Tess hardened her face and glanced at Liz. She was confronting her worst nightmare - her younger self - and knew that she would have very little time left before both of them were completely gone. She squared her shoulders and tilted her head toward the ceiling, content to wait patiently for her demise as the regal queen she once was.

“You brought this on yourself,” Liz quietly said, limping past the two Tesses toward the back of the room. “It didn’t have to end this way but you chose a different plan for yourself. You chose this way, Tess.”

Tess opened her mouth to respond and she clutched her throat when she realized she could not speak. Her eyes locked with the younger version of herself then hesitantly turned back toward Liz and Max.

Max stepped toward her, mesmerized by the fact that Tess was disappearing before his very eyes. It was all he had ever dreamed of since she had integrated herself into his life, bringing their destiny along with her and hindering any forward progression he could have had with Liz. “Tess?” He watched as the older Tess bowed her head, her shoulders slumping in defeat as both Tesses dissipated from their sight.

“You killed her,” Kyle cried at Liz just as Michael, Isabel, Maria and Alex entered the warehouse. “You killed her. You killed Tess. What the hell is the matter with you, Liz?” He stepped forward, his anger and confusion about what he had just witnessed propelling him. His foot fell in the exact spot where the younger version of Tess had stood and after realizing this, he quickly retracted his step.

“Oh my God,” Maria sighed, surprised when Michael pulled her into his arms. Isabel threw herself at Alex, almost knocking him off balance. He recovered quickly and pulled Isabel into his arms, burying his face against her neck trying to sort out the myriad of emotions inside his head for the woman who had caused his death in the future.

“She would have killed us, Kyle. She already killed Alex and had no qualms about hurting each and every one of us to get what she wanted. We are at war and war is never easy.” Liz pulled Colby into her arms, repeatedly kissing his forehead as she made certain he had not been hurt. He clung to her neck tightly, his eyes never leaving Max. “I had to think about all of you...and my son.”

“Your son? What,” Kyle cried in frustration, turning toward Michael, Maria, Isabel and Alex. “What in the name of Buddha is going on here? Would someone please explain it? What son? Liz?” Kyle turned back to where Liz and Max stood and gasp as he realized Liz was no longer in the room. “Where is she? Where’d she go?”

“She disappeared,” Max offered quietly, bowing his head. “She changed the future and she disappeared.”

* * *

“Liz!”

“Max,” Liz called, turning to face Max as he ran towards her. Upon reaching her, he pulled her into his arms, crushing her slender frame against his chest. “I thought you’d -”

“I thought something happened to you, Liz.” He pressed his lips firmly to her forehead and tightened his hold on her. “I was so...scared.”

“What do we do now, Max?” Liz clung desperately to him, the horrible feeling of deja vu flickering through her brain. She pressed her head against his chest, his heart beat echoing in her ears, and she willed its sound into her memory, fearing she would never hold him like this again.

“I don’t know,” he quietly said, releasing her so that he could place his hands on her tear-stained face and look into her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“What? Why?”

“I’ve hurt you so badly, Liz. I...I never wanted to do that, never. All I ever wanted to do was love you but because of who I am...”

“Max,” Liz interrupted, placing her fingers lightly over his lips. “Don’t say that. You can’t help who you are...what you are. You have a destiny and that is so much bigger than the two of us.”

“My destiny is you,” he whispered against her face, his lips burning her cheek. “We create our own destiny, Liz. You know that. Our future is to be determined.”

“I love you, Max.”

“I love you, Liz. Thank you for loving me.”

She raised her hands upward in a desperate attempt to keep his mouth on her skin a little longer, to not break their contact, to feel him envelope her in love for a few seconds longer. She gasp and pulled her lower lip into her mouth as her hands floated through the air in front of her, the air that now filled the space where he had been. Clutching her hands to her chest, she fell to her knees on the ground beside the jeep, her hot tears falling onto the dirt beneath her.

Part 28


Liz awoke with her head buried in Maria’s lap, her legs tucked against her chest in the back seat of the Jetta. She blinked sharply, willing her eyes to dilate, as she slowly sat up. Alex sat in the passenger seat and Michael drove the Jetta, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. Turning to her right, she saw that Maria was asleep, her head thrown backwards onto the top of the back seat.

She ran her fingers through her hair, feeling dust and dirt dance underneath them as she scraped her scalp. Just ahead on the right, she saw the ‘Welcome to Roswell’ sign illuminating the night sky. She sighed loudly, startling Alex and Michael in the front seat. Alex turned and reached for her, smiling warmly. Liz gratefully accepted his comfort, her own slight smile appearing on her face. She glanced at Michael, who hesitantly met her reflection in the rear view mirror. She released Alex’s hand and fell back against Maria, her head resting on Maria’s shoulder. Maria wrapped her arm around Liz’s face, gently patting her cheek, as tears began to stream down Liz’s face.

Michael parked the Jetta in the alleyway behind the Crash Down and rushed to help Liz exit the vehicle. She smiled at him and was pleasantly surprised when Michael pulled her tightly against his chest, resting his chin on her head. “Thank you doesn’t cover it, Liz.”

“I’m glad you were there, Michael, for Max -”

“I’m not just here for Max,” Michael answered pointedly, releasing Liz from his embrace. “What you did...was...”

“You’re welcome,” Liz said softly, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks. “I’ll see you later.”

Michael waved to her as she entered her apartment through the back entrance. Luckily, her parents had decided to take a trip to a restaurant convention in Santa Fe and had left the management of the Crash Down to her. But she couldn’t focus on opening the cafe in a few short hours for breakfast. All she could concentrate on was that the Max that had loved her had disappeared, leaving her to deal with a Max that despised her, and had broken her heart all over again.

* * *

Max collapsed onto his bed fully clothed, his alarm clock flashing 2:09 a. m. He had somehow driven the entire way back to Roswell from Copper Summit on sheer adrenaline. His entire body ached but more that his bodily aches, his heart ached to see Liz. He had to see Liz, he needed to see her.

After the future Liz and Colby had disappeared, Max had found Liz in a crumpled heap beside the jeep. He had tried to talk to her, to tell her how sorry he was, but he had not been able to get through to her. She was in a semi-catatonic state and had not moved, even when Michael had placed her in the back seat of the Jetta. Max had reluctantly left her to Maria’s care and the seven teens sped away from Copper Summit and toward home.

He closed his eyes momentarily, a mental image of Tess disappearing flashing through his brain. His eyes flew open and he sat up on the bed. He had had no way of knowing how he would have felt after the fact as they had plotted Tess’ demise. The mental picture of Tess slowly fading from their view, her blue eyes widened in horror, would surely haunt him until the day he died. On the other side of the coin, however, he knew that had Tess remained in Roswell, the deaths of everyone he loved would have been imminent. Wiping his face, he stood and walked to his closed, no longer able to deny just how badly he needed to see Liz. Rapidly changing his dust-ridden clothes, he quietly crept out of his bedroom window and began the walk to Liz’s house.

Part 29


Liz tightened the terry cloth robe around her waist and slumped against her bed, fingering the pair of Gomez tickets Max had dropped on her balcony after his hasty retreat. Carefully placing the tickets back onto her night stand, she exhaled loudly as she ran her fingers through her damp hair. It had been less than a week since she had been visited by the first Future Max, and a little over six hours since Tess had been wiped from their lives forever. Thank you for loving me. Max’s final words again brought tears to her eyes and she flung herself backwards on the bed, silently wondering if she would ever be happy again and if she and Max could ever repair what had been damaged between them.

The tears had just begun to run into her ears when she heard a slight rapping against her window pane. She wiped her face as she sat up and padded the short distance from her bed to her window. She unintentionally gasp as she realized that Max was in fact staring back at her and that he was not a figment of her imagination. “Max,” she sighed as she opened her window.

“Liz. Can I...come it?”

Liz nodded slightly and stepped away from her window, allowing Max full access into her room. He took a small step toward her but retracted it when he realized that he had not been in Liz’s room since before he saw her in bed with Kyle. He knew now that it had all been a lie but that did nothing to diminish the hint of betrayal that rose from a small corner of his mind. Promptly dispelling those untrue thoughts, he followed Liz and sat down beside her on her bed.

“I...I,” Liz began, her lower lip trembling as she tried to speak. She lowered her head and covered her face with her hands.

“Please don’t cry, Liz, please. I...I’m not here to make you cry.”

“I know that, Max,” she said, her voice muffled by her hands. She sniffed hard and wiped her face, trying very hard to gain her composure. “I...this changes everything.”

“I think that was the point, wasn’t it?”

“No,” Liz said, standing up and moving away from him. “The point was not to kill anyone. Tess is dead, Max, or as good as dead.”

“You just did what had to be done, Liz,” Max responded, standing up beside her. “I’m glad you were...she was there. I’m glad I know exactly what Tess was like.”

“But it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way,” Liz cried, burying her face into her hands once again. “There wasn’t supposed to be any war. The world wasn’t supposed to end again. I changed all that the first time.”

“And you changed it for the better. If you hadn’t sacrificed so much the first time, I would have never met Colby. He wouldn’t have even been a possibility. I...I’ve been wrong about a lot, Liz, especially where our relationship is concerned. I am so sorry for the way I’ve treated you.”

“Max -”

“Let me finish, Liz. You deserve an apology, a complete apology.” He stepped toward her and gently took her hands into his. “I’ve hurt you so much and I’ve hurt our relationship. I...I never wanted to do that. All I’ve ever wanted to do was love you but because of who I am...”

“I don’t care about that,” Liz interrupted. “It’s never been about who you were, Max. I love you, regardless of whatever past life experiences you’ve had. I love you because you’re Max Evans and because you love me. I saw into your soul a long time ago,” Liz paused, pulling her bottom lip into her mouth. “I...I’m so scared something’s going to happen to you.”

“I’m just as scared something will happen to you,” Max said, pulling her into his arms. “When Michael told me you, Maria and Alex were missing, I...I couldn’t focus. I would die if anything ever happened to you, Liz. You have to believe that. You have to understand that I want to spend the rest of my life making good on all the mistakes I’ve made recently.” He grabbed Liz by her shoulders and pushed her out of his arms so he could see her face. “I was so wrong not to trust you and I was wrong not to let you explain what happened that night with Kyle. You’ve never done anything to deserve that kind of treatment. You were just asking that I listen to what my heart was telling me, the same thing I asked you to do when you saw me kiss Tess. I...I was an ass, Liz, a selfish bastard. I...I couldn’t see past my own hurt to see that you were hurting too. Please say you can forgive me. I...I don’t want to live without you in my life any more.”

“I’ll forgive you if you forgive me.”

Max wrinkled his brow in response to Liz’s statement. “What do you need forgiveness for? You haven’t done anything wrong. You’re the victim in all this.”

“Max -”

“Please, Liz, just say you can forgive me. If you can’t, then I...I’ll walk right out that window into this brave new world alone and I’ll never bother you again.” Max ran his fingers delicately through Liz’s hair, pushing back the stray strands from her face and tucking them behind her ears as he had seen her do so many times. “I love you, Liz, with all my heart and I...I just want to be good enough for you.”

“You are, Max.”

“Then forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forgive me and tell me everything’s going to be alright between us. Let me make it right, Liz. Let me make it up to you. Let me love you -”

“Shut up, Max,” Liz said as she brushed her mouth over his, silencing him. She stood on her tip-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, crushing their bodies together. Her robe fell partially open as their kiss continued but neither seemed to notice. Max regained his senses first and gently disentangled himself from Liz.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m stepping into the brave new world with you, Max. I love you. I want to be with you, no matter what happens. We create our own destiny, remember?”

“I remember,” Max said, hugging her against him once again. "So, tell me, Liz Parker. What’s your destiny?”

Liz smiled and weaved her fingers through his hair as he placed several kisses down her neck and exposed collarbone. “I only know the part I’m hoping for,” she replied softly as she captured his mouth with hers and they collapsed onto her bed.

Part 30


“Are you sure about this, Liz,” Max whispered against her neck, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Their legs were intertwined as they hungrily ate at each other and Max felt a friction building as Liz’s naked legs rubbed against and in between his. He buried his face in her hair, surprised by how quickly his desire had changed from simply needing to see Liz to needing her. “There’s not reason to rush.”

“Are we rushing,” Liz softly replied, her hands inching upward underneath the back of his shirt. Her robe had fallen more open in the moments since their tumble onto her bed, beginning to reveal the swell of her breasts for Max’s perusal. “I thought this was long overdue, that you were going to make it up to me.” A playful grin lined her mouth seconds before she shyly lowered her head.

“Oh, I see,” Max replied, pulling himself away from her. “Paying my penance with kisses.” As distance was added between their bodies, his eyes were instantly drawn to Liz’s exposed neck. He swallowed hard, his mind reeling with the possibilities of what he could do to her neck and the throaty sounds she would make in response. He cleared his throat quickly and sought out her eyes, hoping they would take his mind off of the fact that the only thing protecting Liz’s naked flesh from his greedy hands was a worn terry cloth robe. “What were we talking about?”

“Rushing into things.”

“Oh right,” Max said, rolling onto his back and lacing his fingers behind his head. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re in Santa Fe for the next three days. Restauranteur’s convention,” Liz said as she stood up from the bed and cinched her robe tightly around her waist. Max exhaled as he sat up, the inner workings of his mind filled with thoughts of making love to Liz, finally uniting them in ways he had only dreamed about. “Does that matter,” she asked, stepping toward him and almost in between his spread legs.

“I’m just thinking about interruptions. Where’s Maria?”

Liz laughed and rolled her eyes, playfully swatting his shoulder as she sat down on his right thigh. “Hopefully Maria is asleep. We do have school tomorrow.”

“And will the lovely Liz Parker be attending West Roswell High tomorrow,” he asked as he settled his arms around her waist just before nibbling on her earlobe.

“I think that’s still up in the air right now.” She promptly ensnared his mouth, her tongue dipping between their joined mouths in a teasing manner. She wrapped her arms around Max’s broad shoulders and felt his arms tighten around her waist. Liz swivelled on his thigh so that she was partially facing him, their upper bodies almost flush with one another. Placing her leg across Max’s left thigh, she gently lowered their bodies onto her bed again, she on top of him.

“Aren’t you scared,” Max sighed against her neck once their bodies were fully elongated and completely aligned. One hand held Liz around her waist, his other hand tightly fisted in her hair. Liz’s face was resting underneath his chin, her breath tickling his neck.

“Scared of what?”

“This is a big step, Liz, a huge step. I...we don’t even know if this will be possible -”

Liz pushed away from him, sitting up on his stomach. “It’s obviously possible, Max, because Colby existed. We created a life together. You and I.” Liz’s eyes narrowed and she slouched forwards, slowly sliding off Max and back onto her bed. “You don’t want to do this, do you? You...you’re having doubts.”

“No, Liz, I -”

“Yes, Max, you are. You’re scared about this because you’re having doubts about us.”

“Liz,” Max began as he reached for her. “I’m sorry. I’m not doubting how I feel about you. I love you. I know I love you. I’m just scared about the actual...act. I...I’ve never...and I just don’t want to leave you...wanting...”

“Oh God,” Liz whispered, covering her face with her hands. “Max, I...this is embarrassing.” She glanced at him through her fingers and was relieved to see a smile on his face. “I...I...oh God.”

“Nothing has to be done...today, you know.”

“I know,”Liz responded, shaking her head. She turned toward Max and took his hand into hers. “But if we agreed -”

“You want to,” Max asked, squeezing Liz’s hand tightly while cupping her cheek with his free hand. “I mean, because I want to but...we...don’t -”

“I’m just gonna put myself into your hands.” She closed the distance between their faces slowly, licking her lips at the last possible moment before Max’s mouth crashed onto hers. Their tongues cautiously dueled as they pulled up onto their knees in the middle of Liz’s bed.

Max rested his forehead against Liz’s and placed his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs brushing the skin around her collarbones. Liz smiled slightly, her skin becoming warm beneath Max’s touch and she placed her hands underneath Max’s shirt, resting them on his waist. Max slowly pushed the robe off her shoulders, his eyes never leaving Liz’s face. The robe refused to fall completely open and Max lowered his hands to her waist, gently untiing the knot that had remained steadfast in maintaining Liz’s decency. He felt the robe sag somewhat and noticed that Liz’s shoulders were now fully exposed. He dropped his mouth onto her neck, caressing her skin with his lips as his hands made their way through the tunnels created by Liz’s robe until they met at the small of her back.

Liz gasp as Max’s hands lightly danced around her waist, his palms settling finally in the small of her back. Her hand unconsciously grabbed onto the waistband of Max’s khakis and she felt his body jolt in response to her hand placement. She met his eyes when he raised his head from her neck, biting her bottom lip when she saw the unmasked desire engulfing his amber eyes. Grabbing the corners of his shirt, she methodically pulled it off his body, revealing his sculpted chest to her own hungry eyes. She had seen his chest only a week earlier. It had distracted her so much from her planned speech, she had asked him to put on a shirt but that had not meant she hadn’t burned its appearance into her memory. She had memorized every tones muscle, every sinuous curve, everything about his body that night so she could picture it again at will. She tossed the shirt to the floor behind him, her hands reverently tracing his skin from his shoulders to his stomach.

He gently took her arm into his hand, pushing the sleeves of her robe down one arm and then the other. Liz’s robe fell softly onto her calves, the fact that she was now naked seemingly lost of the two almost-lovers. Max framed her face with his hands, pulling her toward him as his lips sought out her mouth. Liz moved toward him, wrapping her arms around him and snaking them up his back. Their bodies pressed together, the first such contact with no barrier separating them. Passion ignited between them like wildfire, their desire for each other sparking a mutual eruption of delirium. Max reluctantly broke their embrace in order to removed the final pieces of clothing preventing them from completing this rite of passage. Once his lower body was devoid of clothing, he joined Liz on her bed.

Inhaling sharply, Max rested his entire weight on Liz, her thighs surrounding his hips and they connected instantly, joining like two puzzle pieces interlocking to create a perfect picture. Liz gasp as the heat from Max’s body penetrated her insides and Max quickly stopped his forward progressions for fear he had hurt her. She smiled sweetly as she kissed him. “I’m okay. I love you, Max.”

“I love you, Liz,” he echoed, hesitantly continuing the friction between their bodies, wanting to use caution so that this perfect moment would last forever but knowing it could not. He kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her back and pulling her body as close to him as possible. He felt her wrap her legs around his hips while the friction continued to grow and multiply. He knew this first encounter would be over quickly and he shuddered involuntarily as he felt Liz’s breast graze his arm. A coolness washed over him and he heard Liz sigh, her body shuddering in response. In the back of his brain, before he really had time to process what was happening, he felt a tidal wave of sensations crash against him and his precious control spilled violently from his grasp.

He collapsed onto Liz, lying there for several seconds before he realized he was probably crushing her. He rolled partially away from her when Liz’s firm hand on his backside stopped him. Max adjusted himself, cuddling closer to her and smiled against her cheek, feeling her smile in response. At that moment, with Liz tucked closely against him, her breath lightly caressing his neck, he felt at peace, like he had finally come home. Knowing Liz would be by his side for the remainder of their lives, the brave new world they had created didn’t seem so dreadful any longer because he knew whatever they did, wherever they went from this point forward - they would be together, creating their own destiny.

Epilogue


Max pursed his lips, preparing to peck Liz lightly on her forehead, when his attempt was met by nothingness. He closed his lips and slowly opened his eyes, his body on full alert. His eyes dilated quickly to the dusky sunlight and Max realized he was no longer in Copper Summit. He spun around, the dust beneath his feet agitated by his boots, creating tiny cyclones around his lower body before they vanished, blending back into the earth. Glancing toward the horizon in the western sky, he winced as he surveyed the war-torn desert surrounding him. No sign of life existed and for a moment, Max wondered if he had imagined the entire thing. If he were in fact just lost in the desert outside Roswell and that his entire interaction with Liz had been a trick of the light, the enigma of a dying man, desperate to right his mistakes. His knees buckled and he gave way to the gravity pulling him onto the ground. He raised his head to the heavens, Venus already visible in the shadowy almost-night sky.

“Daddy!”

He pulled his haggard body to his knees, scanning the interior for signs of life, for signs to prove he wasn’t alone or crazy. Several seconds passed and silence was all that remained, aside from the thundering of his heart in his ears. He allowed his head to fall forward and thought of everything he had lost. His parents. Michael. Isabel. Maria. Liz. Colby. Colby. The mental image hung in his mind of a toddler with Liz’s hair and his eyes. He could feel the tiny arms around his neck and an overwhelming sense of love burned in his heart for a child he had never known existed. But did he ever really exist, his mind wondered, and he buried his face in his dirty hands as excruciating pain of loss swept through his psyche.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

“I’m not crazy,” Max muttered aloud, trying to quell the voice inside his head that told him it was all a fragment of his deranged and cloudy mind. “I’m not -”

“Max!”

“Liz,” he questioned, knowing the voice of his soul mate anywhere. It had haunted his dreams and driven him to madness during his waking hours. “Liz,” he screamed, tears streaming down his face and his voice quaking with emotion.

“Daddy!”

“Max!”

He turned slowly toward the horizon, shielding his eyes from the reflection off of the desert floor as he unsteadily stood to his feet. There, in the distance, running toward him was Liz, carrying Colby on her back. He could see his son’s head bobbing up and down in rhythm to Liz’s gait, his tiny hands reaching outward as he struggled to hold on to his mother’s neck.

Max felt his heart swell and stumbled toward them, intent on meeting them halfway. Losing control of his footing, he fell to the ground, rolling several yards from his starting point, but quickly regained his composure and ran at them full steam. He crashed into them headlong and with such force that all three of them almost tumbled to the ground. His mouth instantly sought out Liz’s and he wrapped his arms around her quaking body, pulling her tightly against his. Their tongues dueled hungrily and Max rapidly moved his hands all over her body, unsure where exactly to caress first but knowing he just had to keep touching her. If he stopped touching her, he was certain she’d disappear. “Liz,” he whispered as they broke apart and he rested his head against her forehead as he had done some many times before. He felt tiny hands nipping at his arm and leg and lowering his head from Liz’s face, he saw Colby had attached himself to his leg, hugging it ferociously. “Colby,” he said with a laugh, loosening his son’s tiny arms and pulling him against his chest. “I thought I’d never see you again, either of you.”

“Why Max?”

“I...Liz, I really thought I’d imagined it all. I mean, I destroyed all the skins, an entire race, because I thought you were in danger. I...it’s -”

“You’ve always been very powerful, Max.”

“But I,” he began, pausing to cuddle Colby against him. “Where are we?”

“Where do you think,” Liz asked, fanning her arms out across the desert. “Doesn’t this look familiar?”

“This is our place,” he responded quietly, his eyes scanning their surroundings, knowing he was in the desert off Highway 285 that had always been so mystical and magical for them. “It’s only fitting, I guess.”

“Right,” Liz said, smiling widely as she nuzzled against Colby’s neck with her nose, causing the child to erupt into a fit of laughter.

“I almost lost you,” Max said, a sobering fact to his heart. “Both of you.” He pulled Liz close to him again, breathing in her scent as he rested his chin on top of her head. “I won’t lose you again.”

“You can’t lose us, Max. We’re here and we’re never going to be apart ever again. There’s nothing preventing us from finally living our happily ever after.”

“So Tess is -”

“Gone,” Liz quietly replied, wrapping her arm around Max’s waist. “I didn’t want that, Max. You have to understand it was the last possible option. I..I -”

“I trust you, Liz. I believe in you, and if you thought there was no other alternative...I believe in you.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, bringing her hand up to lovingly stroke his scarred cheek. “You should heal that, Max. There’s no reason to keep that reminder now.”

“I want to leave it.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to be reminded of how much I almost lost because I believed lies.” He pulled Liz’s palm to his mouth, tenderly kissing its heel. “I know the truth, Liz. About all of it.”

“I know,” she replied, running her hand through his hair, allowing her hand to drop to his arm. She smiled slightly and glanced around the desert at their surroundings. “So this is what the brave new world looks like?”

“Does it matter,” Max questioned, lowering his head until his eyes were flush with hers. The deep chocolate pools danced in the near-moonlight and he saw a blush creep into her jawline underneath his intense scrutiny. “We’re together. That’s all that matters.”

“Absolutely,” she replied, a wide smile cresting across her face as she gently pressed her mouth against Max’s. “Our future is what we make of it. To be determined.”

“I think I know our future, Liz Parker,” Max offered, kissing Colby loudly on the cheek, prompting the child to giggle and throw his tiny arms around his father’s neck. Max shifted Colby to his left side, wrapping his arm around Liz’s waist and pulled her tightly against his right side. “We live happily ever after.” They slowly began walking in the direction Liz and Colby had appeared, Max and Liz perfectly in step with each other. Liz smiled brightly at Max and rested her head against his shoulder and the small family faded into the desert, scattering their image as if they had been a mirage - a trick of the light.