Roswell Fanatics

~Liz~

"I think I understand..." Max actually looks up at me, and I feel as though suddenly, that heavy weight on my shoulders has just decreased slightly... Finally there are no more secrets or lies between us, Max knows all about my visitor from the future, and he knows what I did...

It doesn't make it easy though, I don't think anything could do that right now... I don't think I'll ever really stop paying for what I did that day, and I don't suppose I will ever really forgive myself for what I did to Max thanks to that little show with Kyle... I broke his heart, I can see that, and not only did I do it once, but I did it again...

Our relationship seems to have been just full of one thing after another, obsticals which maybe should have told me it was doomed from the start... I didn't think like that at first though, I was the one who was trying to convince Max otherwise then...

But when the going got tough, I was the one that left... I'm not proud of it, but I guess it was a perfectly human response - I was scared...

"I'm sorry Max..." I whisper, knowing that the apology is pointless really, I'm just repeating myself, and there's no reason whatsoever that Max should believe me, but I just need to say it...

As Max goes on to talk about Tess though, reaffirming the fact that he doesn't want to be with her, I bite down on my lip, not really knowing what to say. I'd love to say that I've changed my mind, to ask him if he'll take me back - even if I don't deserve it - but his feelings don't change what FutureMax told me do they...? There's still this question of what he said would happen...

And yet, another voice reminds me that FutureMax never told me about the fact I was part of this... From what Zan has said, I have to wonder about that, because if what he is saying is true, if I really am Max's 'second', surely my presence is important too - not as much so as Tess' perhaps, but still, didn't he think that I might just up and leave...

I've been tempted more than once to do that, while just going through the motions of living, I've often thought about what it would be like to have a new start... What would have happened, I guess I'll never know now...

As Max insists that he'll never be anything more than a friend to Tess, there's a tiny spark of hope ignites in my heart...could there be, is there...any possible way for us to be together...? I don't have the right to ask, or even hope really, and yet... "Just don't let her leave okay... Don't make her feel like an outsider...she's a part of the group..."

*Max*

"No, I won't," I promise Liz, sincerely, looking directly at her. Tess is one of us and I know we need to be together. "Even without your warning, I wouldn't have let that happen if I could help it," I say. I can imagine myself going after her if she had left the group and I had any clue about where she'd gone. And I'm sure Liz would have completely mis-interpreted it, too...

"I just wish you could have come to me and told me about that without ... everything," I say, not wanting to put into words all the hurt she caused by play-acting with Kyle. Even knowing that it wasn't real doesn't change the pain of that memory. I understand that she thought she couldn't, but I can't help but think it would have been a lot easier if she'd told me directly. Sure, I would have wanted proof, and she'd have had to convince me not to see the guy, but we'd have been in it together, and that would have made it possible, no matter how difficult it would be. I'd always trusted Liz, at least until that night and now I know that night was a lie. If she'd come to me before that, I'm sure I would have believed her...

"But you're part of this, too. It looks like you can't walk away any more than I can. Somehow, you're my second-in-command. I need you." I can't help but allow a small smile at that. If Liz is there, then I can do this... Or at least, I think I can. How hard will it be to have her nearby and not be able to be with her? Or is it really necessary that we stay apart, as long as Tess is still there? Couldn't there be some way?

Strange that the time-traveller never mentioned that part. Maybe he assumed Liz would never leave, even if I were with Tess. I don't know if that would have been true, if she didn't know she was my second, but she does now. And I know about the warning she got. And if we find a way to stay together, the five of us, even without me and Tess being married, would that mean there could be a way for Liz and me together, afterall? I promised I wouldn't ask Liz to change her mind, but I can't help thinking about it.

It does seem strange that nothing was said about the second set of us. Maybe we weren't ever supposed to find out about them...

"Maybe we can skip the whole destiny thing and let Zan do it. He seems to know more about what's going on, anyway. You and I can sit it out," I suggest, only half jesting. Even with Zan here, I know it's still my job, too. Afterall, the Granilith is here, with me. Maybe there's a reason for that.

.

OOC Thanks!

*Maria*

Michael and I are getting a little up close and personal when the phone rings. Groaning I start looking for the convinetely misplaced communication devise.

"Aren't you gonna help me look?" I bark clearly frustarted at the situation. No one calls here unless there's trouble and I haven't seen my friends since the Dupes' arrival. This can't be good.

Michael just smirks at me with this kid with his hand stuck in the cookie jar expression and I can't help ,but laugh.

Of course he finds this hilarious. Here I am standing in the middle of his bedroom wearing nothing but a pair red panties while he chuckles on the bed clad in only a pair of black silk boxers. We had just about took a major step in human/ alien relations. In fact we probably would have if we hadn't been interupted.

I find the object of my exhasperating quest ,but I tell him before I mumble.

"Just for that you are on probation buddy."

I answer the phone a little more harshly than I'd planned. Kyle starts yammering and I find out it's worse then I could have ever imagined.

Sorry did I interrupt something? Listen guy’s get over to the school ok? Yeah it’s about those...those dupes. Long story short Liz is a broken mirror and Max is gonna fix her. And I’m not talking about the fact that Serena went a little crazy and stab Liz forcing Max to heal her. Meet you guys at the school I’ll fill you in there.”

The line goes dead and I stand there for a brief moment in complete shock. Composing mysely, I begin scanning th floor for our disguarded apparel.

" We have to go." I tell him as I throw one of his old Metallica t- shirts on.

*Tess*

I arrive at the school and use my powers to unlock one of the doors and slip inside, in case anyone should happen by that shouldn't know about what's going on.

I walk down the empty halls and think about what we've learned so far and wonder what it all means. 'Did Nasedo really lie to me? To all of us?' I wonder to myself.

OOC: sorry this isn't up to the normal standard

~Liz~

I nod as Max says that he wouldn't have let it happen, but I can't help thinking that obviously he did in that other timeline... Maybe not intentionally, but Tess left, and Max obviously didn't stop her...

As he goes on to say how he wishes I had come to him instead of going the route I chose, I bite my lip, closing my eyes a moment. I wish that too, I really do... Over and over, I keep wondering what might have happened had I done that, but at the time, 'he' was telling me that I couldn't, and I guess I believed him, because I trust Max entirely... He told me that it was too risky, that it was dangerous, and I believed him, because I trusted him as a version of Max...

Had I gone to Max though, how would I have stopped him finding FutureMax, would we have lost both of them because of that...? I hate trying to second guess myself, but this is one situation where I can't help keep questioning myself over and over... I did what I thought I had to, but in the end, did it do any good...

"But you're part of this too."

And that just causes more questions... I go over and over what we've been told tonight, and I can't come up with any other explanation, and yet if it's true, why didn't FutureMax say anything... Was he so certain I would never leave? Was he so certain that seeing he and Tess together wouldn't drive me away much in the same way as Max and I did Tess in his reality... I'm not so certain at all, and what would have happened had I left...? "Yeah, I guess so..."


"It looks like you can't walk awat any more than I can...Somehow you're my second-in-command. I need you..."

Second-in-command... I'm not that, whatever people say, Michael's Max's second and always will be, we all know that... Max is right about one thing though, I can't leave...not now...

At his statement of need, I look down, fiddling with my fingers as I try not to think about the 'need' I feel...

"Maybe we can skip the whole destiny thing and let Zan do it. He seems to know more about what's going on, anyway. You and I can sit it out,"

I look up at Max as he says this, my eyes betraying something of suprise I'm sure although I quickly try to hide it. I know he's joking, or trying to anyway... This all has at least as much to do with Max and the others as it does with Zan and his group... He's just trying to lighten the atmosphere though, and that I am grateful for I cannot deny... I just wish he were right... "Sounds like a nice idea, but then normal would be pretty boring and life likes to make it interesting doesn't it... Has to make for a good story..." I swallow pause, trying to smile. "Like the one where the supposed second and the real second almost come to blows - somehow I don't imagine that Michael going to like being replaced, even if it is only in name..."

I shake my head, not really too sure what to make of any of this before reaching tentatively for his hand. "I know that he'll always be the one you look to like that, and I'd never try and take his place - this is crazy enough for me anyway - but I want you to know, I'm not going anywhere...if you need me, I'll be here..." I give a wry smile before adding. "Although of course not literally, considering this is your vehicle..." I joke weakly, winking at him.

Michael

Maria searches for the phone that interrupted us so very meanly, and I just smirk at her, trying not to show how frustrated I am. I keep calm as she searches frantically for my cell phone, and lay on the bed.

She finally gets ahold of it, and I recognize Kyle's voice speaking frantically. Once she hangs up, a hard to read expression on her face, I get up from the bed.

" We have to go." She says, throwing on one of my shirts as I do the same.

"Why?" I ask, getting dressed quickly, hilarity forgotten. "What's going on?"

*Maria*

Straightening the Black Metallica shirt I grab my denim skirt from the floor and hastely slip it on.

"Apparently Liz is a broken mirror and Max is gonna fix her. Serena went bonkers and stabbed Liz forcing Max to heal her. We have to meet them at the school."

I look for a mirror but there is none to be found. Ugh, who cares if I look a little disheveled.

"Get a move on. We'll continue this later." I state regretfully.

Michael

I continue to dress as Maria explains. "Apparently Liz is a broken mirror and Max is gonna fix her. Serena went bonkers and stabbed Liz forcing Max to heal her. We have to meet them at the school." She says, pulling her skirt on before continuing.


"Get a move on. We'll continue this later." She adds, looking for a mirror.

"I'm so confused, but okay," I say, grabbing the keys to my bike off the dresser. I walk up to her, and grin. "You look real cute in that shirt," I whisper in her ear, before walking past her to leave the room.

*Maria*

"I'm so confused, but okay," he admits grabbing the keys to his bike off the dresser next to the door. He strolls up to me with a mischevious smile and whispers softly in my ear.

"You look real cute in that shirt," With that he abruptly leaves the room. I swear that boys going to be the end of me.

I grab my flip flops that totally crash with the ensemble and sprint after him.

Reaching him just as he hops on his bike I place on hand on his shoulder to steady myself as I swing one leg over placing myslef behind him. I wrap my arms securely around his waist.

"I can't believe that on one of the ones days we don't have to be a school that's where we all meet." I mutter unhappily.

If I wasn't so upset about Liz I wouldn't have went at all. Aren't we all allowed just one day without the intergalatic crisis. Besides Michael and I had made soem real progress and I hate to have that interuppted.

"All I gotta say is that after all this is over we are getting a little quiet time Mr. Guerin." I demand pulling him closer.

Michael

Maria follows me outside and hops on the bike, wrapping her arms tightly around me. I swear, it's times like these that I wish we didn't have all that alien crap to do.

"I can't believe that on one of the ones days we don't have to be a school that's where we all meet." She mutters as I fiddle with the engine, starting the bike.

"I agree," I say, frowing. This had better be one important alien crisis, and that Rath guy better not be there.

"All I gotta say is that after all this is over we are getting a little quiet time Mr. Guerin." Maria adds, and I grin. "Of course. But I would have to say A LOT of quiet time," I joke, smiling as she tightens her grip more.

We drive to school in silence, and I stop the bike at the front entrance. "So, where are we meeting them?"