A big thanks for all the feedback:) And now here’s Ch.30, which btw, is like the longest Chapter I’ve ever written in my whole entire life, lol.
Enjoy the next Part:)
Steph
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Free
Ch.Thirty
“Brendan?” Liz stepped inside the hotel room, dropping the car key’s and her purse on the table. “Bren-”
Before she had a chance to finish, Brendan stepped out of the bathroom shirtless, a single white towel was thrown carelessly across his shoulder.
“Liz,” He said as their eye’s met from across the room. “God, Liz, I’ve been so worried! Where have you been!?”
“Brendan, I’m so sorry,” Liz said, taking a few steps towards him. “I thought you would need a little space so I to the car and came back here. I...went to put Xander to bed and I sort of fell asleep there with him.”
“Oh,” Brendan said, a small frown coming over his feature’s. “Right, Xander. That would be the kid you never said anything to me about, right?”
“Brendan,” Liz started. “I’m so sorry. I should of told you before.” Well it’s not like she could tell him the truth! She couldn’t tell him all about Tess and her mindwarping abilities. She had to lie to him. “I got pregnant back in Roswell when I was only seventeen. When he was born...I got scared and I took off. I never told anybody that I had had a child, I never even told Rachel and Serena. I just...I couldn’t.”
“But you still should of told me about him!” Brendan said. “Liz, if we’re going to be getting married, I need to know <i>everything</I> about you.” He walked to across the room, stopping in front of her. “I don’t want you keeping anything from me, baby.” He reached out, cupping the sides of her face. “We are still getting married, right? I mean, you don’t have...feeling’s for that Max guy, do you?”
“I-” Liz started. She couldn’t lie to him about this. She had to tell him the truth. “Thing’s are just really complicated right now, Brendan. Back in Roswell, I was really in love with him. And now he’s back in my life with Xander and I...just sort of feel as though I should be getting to know my son and I should be getting to know Max, again.”
Brendan let go of her face, taking a small step back. “So you’re still in love with him?” He said in barely more than a whisper.
“It’s...complicated.” She answered. “I don’t know what I feel right now, Brendan. I just- maybe you and I need a small break, you know? To let thing’s calm down a little.”
“So you don’t want to get married?” He asked. Liz could see the hurt in his eye’s and she hated it. She hated seeing him like this, it was killing her inside. But it would hurt even more if she didn’t let Xander and Max back into her life.
“I just think that maybe it would be best for you and me to take thing’s really slow.” Liz said. “Like putting the wedding on hold for awhile.”
Brendan let out a small sigh, running his hand through his hair before sitting on the edge of the bed. “I...I understand. I think.”
Liz went to sit down on the bed next to him, placing her arm around his shoulder’s and placing a small kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.” She said, giving him a small smile. “You have no idea how much this mean’s to me.”
“I just want you to be happy.” Brendan said, turning to look at her.”That’s all that matters to me.”
“You are the most amazing guy I’ve ever met,” Liz said, smiling up at him. “You really are.”
“So...you are coming back to San Francisco with me, right?” Brendan asked her. “I mean you have you’re job and Rachel and Serena.”
“Of course,” Liz said. “I’m coming back to San Francisco. But, I thought that maybe I could bring Xander back with me for a couple of week’s. So that I can get to know him better.”
“Oh,” Brendan said. “I- I guess that’s a good idea.”
“But the thing is,” Liz said. “I don’t think Xander wants to come to San Francisco without his father being there with him. So I-”
“You’re bringing Max back to San Francisco with you!?” Brendan asked, his eye’s flashing with anger as he quickly got up from the bed. “Your kidding me, right?”
“I knew you wouldn’t like the idea,” Liz said, swallowing hard. “I just thought-”
“No!” Brendan said, glaring down at her. “For God’s sakes Liz I just found out that you have a kid, that you’ve been lying to me for the past two year’s and now you’re telling me that you want Max Evans to move in with you!?”
“It’s just for a couple of week’s!” Liz said, trying desperately trying to reassure him. “It’s either that or I go back to Roswell and I can’t do that because of my job!”
“I can’t believe this!” Brendan exploded, causing Liz flinch. She rarely ever saw Brendan all worked up like this. Heck, she had <i>never</I> seen him like this before. “Liz, you simply cannot bring him back to San Francisco with you!”
“Why are you acting like this?” Liz said, standing up from the bed. She hated being sat down with him glaring down at her like that. “This isn’t like you, Brendan. You’re usually all calm when I tell you life-altering news.”
“You’re talking about having you’re ex-boyfriend move back in with you in you’re apartment with <i>your</i> son!” Brendan said. “So excuse me if that makes me a little uneasy.”
“There will be a <i>child</i> living with me in the same apartment.” Liz answered. “Nothing’s going to be happening between me and Max!”
“Right,” Brendan sneered. “For God’s sake’s, Liz, he’s you’re ex-boyfriend and the father of your child! Of course something will happen between the two of you!”
“No, you’re wrong.” Liz said. “Nothing’s going to happen between us.”
There was a small moment of silence as the two remained standing, looking at each other. Finally Brendan let out a small sigh and ran a free hand through his hair.
“Well, I can’t do anything to stop you now can I?” He said in a small voice. “It’s you’re decision and I have to go along with it even though I don’t like it one bit.”
“I’m sorry,” Liz said, swallowing hard. “I know how hard this must me for you. I’m so sorry for everything that I’m putting you through right now. I’ve been a real idiot keeping all this stuff from you for the past couple of year’s. I should of just told you everything.”
“Yeah,” Brendan said. “Kind of. But I...I understand, you know, why you didn’t tell me before. I just wish...I wish that I hadn’t found out the way I did tonight at the restaurant. I wish you could of just sat me down and told me.”
“Yeah, I understand,” Liz said. <i>Damn you Max Evans!</I> She thought angrily. Why did he have to choose to show up at the restaurant like that!? “It was wrong. And it shouldn’t of happened that way.”
“Yeah,” Brendan said, managing a small sad smile. “Anyway’s, can’t go back and fix it can we? All we can do now is move forward.”
“I guess,” Liz said, mustering a feeble smile. She looked down at the engagement ring on her index finger and slowly slid it off of her finger. “Here,” She said, looking up into Brendan’s eye’s. “You should take this back. Just for a little while anyway’s.”
“God, no.” He said quickly, shaking his head. “Liz, I want you to keep it. I know thing’s might get a little rough right now, but I love you and I still plan on marrying you some day. I don’t care if it’s in 2 months from now or three year’s from now, but I really want you to keep this ring.”
“I-” Liz said. “God, I don’t know what to say, Brendan.”
“Say you’ll keep this ring.” Brendan said, sliding the ring back on her finger.
“I-” Liz started. What was she supposed to say? He was such a sweet guy and he seemed to be really in love with her. She just couldn’t break his heart. “Of course I’ll keep it.”
He smiled, leaning in to give her a kiss on the lips. “Thank you.” He said, slipping his arm’s around her, pulling her into a hug. Liz was slightly taken aback. He was taking this way better than she had expected. How could he be so calm about all of this? Sure he had blown up for a couple of minutes there, but now he seemed so calm about everything.
“When are we leaving then?” Brendan asked. “I’m guessing that you’ll be taking them back to San Francisco with us?”
“Well, yeah.” Liz said. “Only...I’ve been thinking a little and I think I’d really like to head back to Roswell to see my parent’s for a couple of day’s. I don’t know if Lois will be okay with it though. I have so much work to catch up on right now. Although I could just head back to San Francisco and get my parent’s to fly to San Francisco to come and visit me.”
“Whatever you want to do Liz.” Brendan said. “It’s all up to you. If you want to head to Roswell I can just lend you the jet and I’ll just fly home with my parent’s or something.”
“Oh, Brendan, you don’t have to do that,” Liz said. “Why don’t you just come to Roswell with us? You’ll get to see my parent’s face when they see me for the first time in seven year’s when they go off on me.”
“It sounds tempting,” Brendan said with a small smirk. “But, I really need to get back to San Francisco. I just have so much work to get back to.”
“Yeah.” Liz said with a small sigh. “I know exactly what you mean.”
“So,” Brendan said, walking over to the phone and taking it in his hand’s. “I’m gonna give my father a call, they should be heading back home in about an hour or so, it’ll give me just enough time to pack and to meet them at the airport. I’ll take a cab to the airport, I’ll leave you the key’s to the car and my jet will be at you’re disposition for as long as you need it. It should be waiting for you at the airport by now so whenever you want to leave for Roswell, you’re free to head on and use it.”
Liz could feel tear’s slowly forming in his eye’s and Brendan’s face immediately turned to worry. “Oh, God.” He said. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” Liz said with a smile. “It’s just- you’re being so nice and I don’t deserve that from you. I mean, you’re so amazing.”
“Hey,” Brendan said, quickly walking over to her and wrapping his arm’s around her. “You didn’t do anything wrong okay? You just...kept a little something from me. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to start acting like an idiot towards you. I love you and nothing’s going to change that. Ever.”
“Ugh,” Liz said, wiping away a tear. “I have to stop getting all emotional on people. It’s just not very pretty.”
Brendan let out a small laugh before placing a small kiss on her forehead. “Come on, you better start packing now or you’ll never make it back to Roswell.”
“Your right,” Liz said as she headed towards the closet where her duffel bag was in. She quickly took it out of the closet and started throwing in clothes from the dressers.
“Do you want me to drop by you’re office and tell Lois where you’ll be staying for the next couple of day’s?” Brendan asked from across the room as he started packing his own bag’s.
“Um, no.” Liz said. “I’ll give Lois a couple from the plane. I just hope she won’t bite my ass off, my next column has to be in by this Friday. I’ll probably just type it up and e-mail it to her or something.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Brendan said, grabbing the phone once more. “I’m gonna give my parent’s a call. Let them know that I’ll be heading back home with them.” He quickly dialed the number and started talking on the phone to, who Liz thought was his father.
Liz threw in another shirt inside the duffel bag. She was nervous at the thought of returning home to Roswell. Hell, she hadn’t been back to Roswell in the past seven year’s. She was really scared of her parent’s reaction. Would they be mad? Would they even want to speak to her? She didn’t know how long she would be able to in Roswell. Three day’s would probably be the max. She knew she would have to get back home as soon as she could, her career was definitely one of the most important thing’s in her life for her right now and she wasn’t about to let it slide, especially now that she had just signed her contract.
“My parent’s decided to pick me up,” Brendan said once he had gotten off the phone. “They’re picking me up in five minute’s so I really have to hurry up and get downstair’s.” He zipped the duffel bag shut, looking around to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. “How long do you think you’ll be staying in Roswell, anyway’s?”
“Three day’s tops.” Liz answered. “But I’d definitely like to be back to San Francisco after tommorow,”
“Alright then,” He said, picking up the duffel bag in one hand. He walked over to her, placing a small kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you back home in a couple of day’s. And I’m expecting a phone call from you at least two time’s a day to let me know how thing’s are going, okay?”
Liz nodded, “Of course,”
“Alright, baby.” He said, flashing her a smile as he opened the door to the room. “I’ll see you in a couple of day’s, okay? I love you, don’t you forget that.”
Liz smiled. “I won’t.” She said. “Bye, Brendan.”
“Bye,” He answered as he stepped outside of the room, closing the door behind him.
Once he was gone, Liz let out a small sigh as she turned to stare out the window of the hotel room. It was time for her to head back to Roswell and face her parent’s.
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“Grandpa!” Xander said excitedly as he quickly spotted his grandfather sitting across the café at one of the table’s.
“Hey, there, little guy” Philip said as he saw his grandchild running across the café towards him. He quickly put down the newspaper he had been reading. Xander jumped into his arm’s and gave him a hug.
“I haven’t seen you in a while!” Xander said. “Where have you been hiding, grandpa?”
Philip laughed loudly just as Max took a seat in the empty chair in front of him.
“I haven’t been hiding,” Philip explained to his grandchild. “I’ve just been kind of busy with work and meeting’s. But all that’s over with now. Now we can finally go back to Roswell.”
“Oh, but daddy and me aren’t going back to Roswell.” Xander said, grinning widely at Philip. Philip quickly shot Max a confused look. “We’re going back to San Francisco with-”
“Liz,” Max said quickly, cutting his son off. “She offered to show us around San Francisco for a couple of day’s and I thought it would be a good idea for me and Xander to head over there and check the city out.”
Xander immediately started pouting as he looked up at his father. Max hated having to lie to his father like that but he didn’t really have a choice for now. He couldn’t tell his father that Liz was Xander’s biological mother. Because if he did, then he would have to tell his father about him being an alien. And he just didn’t want to drag his father and mother into this whole alien abyss. It was just to dangerous for now.
“Well, I think that’s a great idea.” Philip said. “So you and Liz have started speaking to one another, huh?” He asked Max.
“Well, yeah.” Max answered.
“There’s...nothing going on between the two of you though is there?” Philip asked his son curiously. “Because she does have a boyfriend you know.”
“I know,” Max said. “And, no, dad, nothing’s going on between Liz and I.” <i>Even though I sure as hell wish there was,</I> Max thought to himself.
“Hey, there she is now.” Philip said, looking up past Max’s shoulder. Max quickly turned around in his seat and sure enough, Liz was heading straight for their table.
“MO-” Xander started but Max quickly cut him off before he had a chance to finish what he was about to say.
“Liz!” Max quickly exclaimed out loud. He had shouted out the name so loud that people all around him we’re turning in their seat’s to take a good look at him.
“Uh, hi.” Liz said, a small confused look on her face as she looked down at Max. She then smiled widely at Xander. “Hey, Xander. Hi, Mr. Evans.”
“Oh, please call me Philip.” Philip said, shaking her hand. “Please have a seat with us.”
Liz nodded as she took a seat next to Max at the table.
“So, Liz, I heard you we’re taking my son and grandchild with you back to San Francisco.”
“Um,” Liz said, glancing at Max, unsure of what to answer him. What exactly did Mr. Evans know? Did he know about her being Xander’s real mother? Did he know about Max, Isabel, and Michael’s secret? “Yeah,” She answered him finally. “Although I actually decided to drop by Roswell for a couple of day’s to see my parent’s.”
“Good idea.” Philip said, agreeing. “I’m sure they’ll be extremely happy to see you.”
“Well, I hope so.” Liz said with a small sad smile. Just then Xander decided to hop off of his grandfather’s lap’s and onto Liz’s. Once he was seated comfortably on her lap he rested his head on her shoulder.
“So you’ll be taking the plane back to Roswell with us then?” Philip asked, watching Xander and Liz closely. Noting how they seemed so comfortable with each other even though they’d only met a few day’s ago.
“Well, actually.” Liz said. “Brendan sort of decided to lend me his jet for the week.” She exclaimed. “So I’ll be flying back to Roswell with it and then back to San Francisco in a few day’s.”
“Daddy, we’re going to be flying a jet plane back to Roswell!” Xander burst out excitedly, looking at his father with wide eye’s.
Liz let out a small laugh as both Max and Philip smiled at Xander’s reaction.
“So, is Brendan heading back to Roswell with you?” Philip asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
“No, actually.” Liz said. “He decided to head back to San Francisco. He’s got a lot of work waiting for him so he had to head back today.”
She could feel Max’ eye’s boring into her as she looked at Philip. She knew what he was thinking. How had Brendan reacted to everything he had learned about her?
“And that’s why I won’t be staying in Roswell very long either,” Liz continued. “Even though I wish I could stay a little longer to see my family. But I just can’t. I have so much work to get back to.”
“Wait,” Philip said. “You’re not a lawyer, too, are you?” He asked curiously.
“Oh, no.” Liz said, smiling. “I’m actually an advice columnist.”
“Wow,” Philip said, visibly impressed. “That’s- amazing.”
Liz grinned. “Yeah, I love my job.”
“An advice columnist?” Max said, “Liz, that really is amazing.”
“What’s an advice columnist?” Xander asked, looking up at Liz with a grin.
“It’s a person who works for a newspaper and who gives advice to people who need it.” Liz explained, looking down at her son.
“Oh!” Xander said. “Wow. That really does sounds amazing!”
Liz laughed. “Yeah, it really is.” She answered.
“Will I get to see where you work when I go to San Francisco?” Xander asked.
“Sure, of course.” Liz said with a smile. “I’ll take you to work with me one day if you want. Although I’m pretty sure you’re going to find it extremely boring.”
“No!” Xander said, making a face. “Of course I won’t find it boring!<i>You’ll</I> be there!”
“It’ll still be very boring,” Liz said with a smile.
“Well, then, Max I think you should better go and get packing.” Philip said to his son.
“Oh, by the way, Mr.- Philip.” Liz said. “Would you like to use my Jet? I mean, you’re more than welcome to since we’re pretty much heading in the same direction.”
“Thank you for the proposal.” Philip said with a smile. “But I’m going to have to pass. My flight leaves tonight at 4 and I sort of intend on doing a little shopping before heading back home. I sort of promised my wife I’d bring her back a little something and I haven’t had the chance to do so since I’ve been so busy this weekend.”
Max turned to Liz. “So, when are we heading back to Roswell?” He asked her.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Liz answered as Xander remained in her arm’s. “The jet’s waiting at the airport and Brendan let me keep the car.”
“Then I better get going.” Max said. “I have some packing to do.” He turned towards his son, taking the little boy’s hand in his. “Come on, Xan.”
“I don’t want to go!” Xander said, turning and burying his face in Liz’s shoulder. “I wanna stay with Liz!”
“Well, Liz can come with us.” Max said, looking at Liz. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Of course,” Liz answered. “I don’t mind at all. My stuff’s already all packed, I’m pretty much all ready to go.”
“Oh, hey, there’s your sister.” Philip said, looking up. Isabel, followed closely by Kyle, Maria, and Michael.
“Liz!” Maria said as she spotted her. Liz couldn’t help but smile as Maria quickly pulled her into a warm hug.
“Hey,” Liz said, smiling.
“Hey, Liz!” Kyle said, as Maria let go of her. This time it was Kyle’s turn to pull her into a hug. Liz couldn’t help but notice the small look of...what seemed to be...jealousy on Max. And that’s when it hit her, he still didn’t know anything about Future Max. He still thought that she and Kyle had actually had sex!
“Hey, Liz.” Michael said from his spot next to Maria. “It’s been awhile, huh?”
“Yeah,” Liz said, mustering a feeble smile. “It has.”
Isabel smiled at her. “Liz, hey.” She said. “Do you think- do you think we could go somewhere for a minute and talk?”
Liz nodded slowly. “Sure, of course.” She answered, slightly unsure of what it is that she wanted to talk about. Hopefully it wouldn’t involve any yelling.
“No!” Xander pouted from his seat next to Max. “Liz is supposed to come upstairs with me and daddy because we’re packing!”
“Honey, I’ll only be a few seconds.” Liz said, smiling at her son. “Okay? I’ll meet you upstairs as soon as I’m done talking with your Aunt Isabel.”
“But- but,” Xander said, looking up at his father for what seemed to be backup.
Max laughed, “Come on, sweety,” He said standing up and picking up his son into his arm’s. ‘Let’s go upstairs. Liz will meet us there after, okay?”
“I promise.” Liz told him, placing a small kiss on his small cheek in reassurance.
“Okay,” Xander said finally. “Meet us up there in five minutes!”
“Okay,” Liz said. “I’ll be there.” She watched as Max and Xander walked off, Xander continued to look at her over Max’s shoulder.
“Come on,” Isabel said, “Let’s go sit over there.” She pointed towards one of the empty table’s and Liz followed Isabel, sitting down opposite from Max’s sister.
“So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about?” Liz asking, fearing the worst. She wasn’t going to get yelled at, was she?
“I wanted to apologize.” Isabel said. “I’ve been acting like the biggest bitch ever and I’m so sorry. I just got really, really pissed off when I first saw you again because I know how much my brother’s been going through since you left Roswell. He’s been in hell ever since you left, and for some stupid reason I’ve been blaming you for all the hell he’s been through in the past couple of year’s.”
“It’s okay.” Liz said. “You don’t have to apologize, Isabel. Really, I deserved it all. I shouldn’t of left Roswell like that. I should of..stayed and tried to fix thing’s. But instead of facing everything I ran away. It wasn’t right.”
“Hey, you know what?” Isabel said. “I understand what you we’re going through. You had just lost you’re best friend and all of us had turned against you because we thought you we’re wrong about Alex having been murdered by an alien. And to top it off for you, Max and Tess had gotten closer together. Sure you put a lot of people through hell, you’re parent’s, Maria, and, well, Max. But I can sort of understand <i>why</I> you ran away, you know, what with all the crap that was going on in you’re life.”
“Well I’m glad someone understands.” Liz said with a small sigh. “I just hope my parent’s will be able to understand.”
“I’m sure they will,” Isabel said, trying to reassure the petite brunette who sat in front of her.
“Isabel,” Liz asked after a small pause. She didn’t know if she wanted to know the answer to this question, but she knew she had to ask. “How did my parent’s take it when I left Roswell? I mean, how did they react to the new’s?”
Isabel let out a small sigh. “Well, obviously the Parker’s we’re the first to find out. Something about a letter that you had left them... Maria was next and then it was everybody else...”
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Roswell, New Mexico- 2000
“So,” Tess said, leaning against Max’s locker. “What do you say we go see a movie tonight at the Revival theater or something?”
Max was too lost in his thought’s to answer. For some reason all he could think about was Liz. God, how much he missed her and for some reason he missed her now more than he had ever missed her before even though he knew he had treated her like crap the night before. He had been way out of line talking to her the way he had over at the Valenti’s and he knew it.
“Max!” Tess said, a little more loudly this time. He blinked, seeing Tess standing there, he hand over her stomach.
“Oh,” Max said quickly. “Um, what did you say?”
“I asked if you wanted to go see a movie tonight at the Revival theater.” Tess repeated.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Max answered. “I’m just- with everything that’s going on in our lives right now, don’t you think going to see a movie should be the last thing to do on our list?”
“Look,” Tess said with a small sigh. “I know what’s happening to me- to us- is really big.” She said. “And I know that you’re really busy right now and extremely preoccupied. But don’t you think you could pencil in a date with you girlfriend sometime soon?”
<i>Girlfriend?</I> Max thought with disgust. Is that what she thought she was to him now? His girlfriend? Because to him she was just some girl whom he had absolutely no connection with. A girl with who he had made the big mistake of sleeping with and getting her pregnant. He <i>still</I> couldn’t believe that Tess was pregnant. None of it seemed real. It just seemed like one big nightmare that he wasn’t waking up to. And, God, how could she be acting so calm about this? She had <i>just</I> found out that she was pregnant and all she was worried about was going out to see a movie with him?
“Um, Tess.” Max said with a small sigh. “Listen, a movie right now just doesn’t sound very appealing to me, okay? Maybe another day.” He quickly pulled out his History notebook from his locker.
“Max,” Tess said in a sort of warning tone. “You’re not- as I said the other night- you’re not pulling away from me, are you? Because, you can’t do that to me. I’m <i>pregnant</I> Max and I’m really scared about everything that’s happening to right now.”
“I’m not pulling away Tess.” Max said, swallowing hard. “It’s just that this is really hard for me right now, okay? And I’m trying to deal with it the best way I can but this is extremely hard on me.”
“God, Max,” Tess snapped angrily. “Don’t you think this is hard on my too!? And <i>I’m</I> the one who’s pregnant here, not you.”
“I know,” Max said, unsure of what to do or say. “I’m sorry,” He said, deciding to take her small hand in his and giving it a little squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
“I know,” Tess said, wrapping her small arm’s around him and pulling him into a hug. “But it’ll be okay. I know it will. As long as we stick together everything will be fine. I love you, Max.”
Max froze. Had she just said what he thought she had just said? She <i>loved</I> him?
Although before Max had a chance to reply to that, someone came rushing at him from the other side of the hallway.
Maria, Max thought as she hurried towards him. As she got closer and closer, Max could see that she was crying. Actually sobbing was more like it.
“Maria, what’s wrong?” Max asked as he quickly pulled away from Tess, who stood beside him looking more annoyed than ever as Maria started crying even harder. She stood in front of Max as angry tear’s rolled down her cheek’s.
“I hate you, Max!” She exploded angrily. “I fuckin’ hate you!”
Max felt like he had been slapped in the face. What the hell was going on?
“Maria, calm down!” Michael said as he gently grabbed her arm, pulling her back only she wouldn’t budge.
“It’s all you’re fault!” She continued as the halls suddenly became very quiet. Everybody had stopped in their tracks looking at Maria and Max to see what would happen next. “You’re the reason she’s gone! You’re the reason my best friend left town!”
“Maria, what are you-” Max started, but stopped dead in his tracks. He felt as though someone had punched him in the stomach. He suddenly felt as though he couldn’t breathe. “Liz.” He managed to choke out. “What happened?”
“She’s gone!” Maria cried out. “She left Roswell! She left some stupid note telling her parent’s that she had to leave town. She didn’t say why but I know that you’re the fuckin’ reason why she left! WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER TO MAKE HER LEAVE LIKE THAT!?!”
“Maria,” Michael said her name. “Come on, people are staring. Come on, I’ll take you home, okay?”
“NO!” Maria said, pulling away from Michael’s grip.
“I didn’t-” Max said. “I didn’t say anything. I just sort of- I-”
“Just stay away from me,” Maria said angrily, taking a step back. “The two of you,” She said, looking from Max to Tess. “Just stay the fuck away.”
And with that she turned on her heels, rushing down the hall towards the exit.
“I’m gonna-” Michael started. “I’m gonna go after her, Maxwell. As you can see she’s not doing to good.”
Max watched as Michael quickly went after her.
“Max, are you okay?” Tess asked, placing a small hand on his forearm. Max quickly pulled away from her touch, immediately feeling dirty.
“Don’t.” He said, taking a step away from her. “I- I have to go.” He turned around, heading for the exit. He had to get out of here. He had to find Liz. She couldn’t be gone. She just couldn’t be. He needed her, he couldn’t live without her. How could she do this to him? Didn’t she know that doing this would kill him?
“Max!” He heard Tess yelling after him. “Max, don’t you walk away from me! Come back! MAX!”
He didn’t stop. He didn’t even look back. He pushed the door’s open and stepped outside, quickly heading for the Jeep. Once inside, he quickly started the engine and peeled out of the parking lot, racing through the streets of Roswell, and going <i>way</I> over the speed limit. But he didn’t care. He had to get to Liz. This had to be one very sick joke. Liz couldn’t be gone. She just <i>couldn’t</I> be.
He quickly stopped the jeep in front of the Crashdown, only instead of heading inside he quickly ran towards the alley, climbing the latter up that led to Liz’s room. God, he hadn’t been up here in ages.
“Liz!?” He called out like an idiot once he had finally climbed onto her balcony. He rushed to her windows, using his power’s to unlock it. He quickly opened in and stepped inside. He was immediately hit by something strange. He didn’t know <i>what</I> it was only that something wasn’t right.
He looked around the empty room. He quickly opened her closets and drawer’s. Everything was empty.
His eye’s widened in horror. This wasn’t a nightmare. This was <i>real</i>. Liz was gone. His angel was gone.
He collapsed on the bed, sobs racking his body as he curled up on her bed. How could she have done this to him? How could she have left him!? He needed her!
He continued to cry, he cried everything he had until he slowly began drifting off to sleep.
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“My brother literally shut himself off from everybody for an entire two week’s,” Isabel explained, her eye’s sad with emotion. “He wouldn’t come out of his room. And Maria was still pissed off at him, thinking that it was all his fault. She didn’t talk to him for a good two month’s during which she and Michael decided to finish that investigation you had started on Alex’s killer.” She paused. “And as for you’re parent’s, well, I have no idea how they made it through this. You’re mom cried a lot the first couple of months. Actually more like for the first couple of year’s. It was so hard for all of us, me, Max, Maria, Kyle, and Michael to even go inside the Crashdown because it was always such a painful reminder that both and you and Alex we’re gone.”
“I never meant to hurt any of you even though I know I did,” Liz said. “I just- I <i>had</I> to get away. I just couldn’t take it anymore, Isabel, I was suffocating in Roswell.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling,” Isabel said. “I couldn’t take it anymore either and I had just gotten the new’s that I was graduating early. So I was planning on going to San Francisco to study but my brother threatened me. He told me he’s tell my parent’s that I was into drug’s and that he would tell my teacher’s that I had cheated one very single test for the passed three year’s if I went along and didn’t listen to him. He was a real jerk then. But he’s different now.”
“So you didn’t get to go to San Francisco, did you?” Liz asked.
“No,” Isabel said. “I wish I had. But I didn’t go. I landed up going to UNM so that I could be close to home incase anything alien related ever popped up again.”
“That must of sucked on some level,” Liz said. “You never really got to do what you really wanted to do.”
“It’s okay,” Isabel said with a little shrug. “I turned out okay, didn’t I?”
Liz smiled. “Yeah, you did. All of you did.”
“And so did you,” Isabel said. “Maria told me about you’re career as an Advice columnist. I gotta say I’m pretty damn impressed. Although I always sort of thought that you’d become like a scientist or something like that.”
“Actually, so did I.” Liz said with a small laugh. “It’s just, this amazing opportunity sort of came up and I took it and landed up working as an Advice Columnist. And now I really do love my job and I don’t think I’d trade it for anything else in the world.”
“Well, I’m glad.” Isabel said, smiling, pausing a little. “And, I wanted to tell you, about Xander and about you being his real mom and all..”
“Yeah,” Liz said. “Came out as a big shock to me too.”
“How are you doing about that?” Isabel asked. “It must be hell for you. I just can’t believe that bitch would screw us over so much like that.”
Liz let out a small sigh. “Yeah, I know.” She said. “She’s definitely twisted and she’s a very sick person. And I swear if I ever see that bitch, there’s going to be hell to pay for everything she did.”
“And I’ll be right there backing you up,” Isabel said. “I won’t be letting her get away this time, trust me.”
“Do you think she’ll come back?” Liz asked.
“I have a bad feeling that she will,” Isabel said. “I mean, Michael said he spotted her a couple of day’s ago back in Roswell. That’s basically the reason why I dragged Max and Xander here with me to New York.”
“You don’t think she’s after Xander, do you?” Liz asked worriedly.
“I don’t know,” Isabel answered truthfully. “I really don’t. She could be, I guess. But she could also be after Max, Michael and I or even after Maria and Kyle. I don’t know yet what her twisted plan is, but If Michael said he spotted her in town, then my guess is that we’ll be finding out pretty soon.”
“Well, I don’t know if Max told you, but Max I sort of invited Max and Xander to come back to San Francisco,” Liz said. “Or at least for a couple of day’s so that I can get to know Xander a little better, you know? But before I do, I’m going to head back to Roswell to see my parent’s.”
“I’m glad you’re doing that,” Isabel said with a smile. “They’ll be really happy, trust me. And I think that taking Xan and Max with you to San Francisco isn’t a bad idea either. It’s actually a very good idea.”
Liz smiled. “I’m glad you think so. And speaking of which, I better get back upstair’s to check up on Xander.”
“You really love that little guy, don’t you?” Isabel asked, grinning.
“Yeah,” Liz admitted. “He’s so cute, and yeah, I really do love him.”
“Well, then you better get out of here before Xander come’s running down here looking for his mother.” Isabel said.
“I will do that,” Liz said, getting up from her seat. "And thanks, for apologizing to me. Even though you didn't have to do it."
"Oh, I think I did." Isabel answered with a small smile. "And, by the way, I just wanted to let you know that I'd like for you and I to maybe start being friend's again. I know that we weren't really that close in the past and I'm sorry that I didn't get to know you more. So what do you say to a fresh start between you and me?"
"I like the idea." Liz said, smiling.
"Alright, then," Isabel said. "I'll see you later, right?"
"Yeah," Liz answered. "Later." Before turning around. She waved at Maria and the rest of the group before making her way past them and towards the elevator. She was glad that she had gotten the chance to settle thing's between her and Isabel. She hadn't been sure at first what it was that Isabel had wanted to to discuss with her, she had been a little scared of Isabel yelling at her some more for some reason. She was happy that they had worked thing's and out and, maybe now, the two of them could become really good friends together.
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TBC
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