Roswell Fanatics

Stronger Together
Part 29

Liz, Isabel, Kyle and Max rushed around the house trying to get it ready for Maria’s homecoming. There were streamers; balloons and a large welcome home sign. Everyone was very excited and relieved that she was finally coming home.

It had been a very hectic month, starting with Maria’s illness and culminating with the return of Maria’s father and Kyle’s mother. Under normal circumstances this would be a lot for a person to bear but in the life of aliens things were always more complicated. The complication this time was the fact that it appeared some how that the new parents were connected to the aliens. How? No one knew and they had agreed not to pursue it until after Maria had made a full recovery.

Maria sat quietly in the back of the car on her way home from the hospital lost in her own thoughts.

She had been told very little about the situation. They had not wanted to burden her while she was still in the hospital. All she knew was that her father and Kyle’s mother had shown up together and that her father had been the one who donated the blood that saved her life. Somewhere she had known that. She had felt him. She remembered always having a connection with her parents, a feeling of warmth when they were near. It had taken her a while to get used to the loss of part of that warmth after her father had left and then in the hospital the day Michael proposed it was back. She had tried to tell herself that Michael was now causing that feeling but she never truly believed it. Michael being near had always made her fell alive, almost like an electric current running through her but this was something different and deep down somewhere inside she had known that he was there.

She knew that her father had been to see her while she was sedated and that words had been exchanged between her Mother and father. That much she had learned from Liz, but that was all she knew. Her Mother had decided that it was best if she just pretended that the whole thing never happened. Any time Maria brought the subject up her mother would make a face and quickly change the subject.

After numerous tries with her mother she had tried Kyle. She had noticed that he was tired and his eyes were red and puffy. It was obvious he had not been getting much sleep. She wondered whether or not that was because of KJ or because of something else? She asked him right out to tell her what was going on. He had turned a deathly pale shade of white and told her he just couldn’t talk about it. She saw the pain on his face and the tears form in his eyes and decided that she wouldn’t push him. Any time Kyle came to visit her after that he made sure that he wasn’t alone.

She had decided then that she would focus on getting better so that she could get home and find out what the hell was going on. She hated being out of the loop and having things kept from her even if they did think it was in her best interest. It had taken her less than 3 weeks to recover and today was the day her questions would be answered.

Michael pulled the car into the driveway of their home. “Here we are, home sweet home.” He said as he jumped out and ran to open Maria’s door. It had been an awfully quiet car ride. Maria had barely spoken 2 words the whole ride and Michael knew that meant only one thing, she was thinking. He knew she was thinking about her father and what they had been keeping from her. He also knew that once she was home it would only be a matter of time before she demanded to know what was going on.

They walked to the front door and Maria smiled when Michael opened it and she saw the house decorated and the big welcome home banner that was displayed in the living room.

“Welcome home!!” They all shouted.

Maria walked in and hugged each of her friends. Then she got a hold of the babies. She couldn’t believe how big they had gotten. No longer were they just bundles who slept and cried. Now they gurgled, smiled cooed and had their own personalities.

Maria held KJ in her arms and rocked him.

“I know I haven’t been around but I promise that all will change now.” She said and then placed a kiss on his forehead.

She had come to really love KJ and she swore that she would keep her promise to Tess.
She reluctantly handed the baby back to Kyle because it was time for him to be fed.

“Well he has got the right Idea. I’m starved.” Maria said eyeing the table in the dining room that had quite a spread laid out on it.

Maria piled her plate high with all her favorite foods. All the others watched stunned as she shoveled the food in her mouth.

Maria saw them watching her intently and stopped.

“What?” She said when she had swallowed what was in her mouth.

“Maria I have known you for a long time and I have never seen you eat like that.” Liz said.

“You would eat like this too if all you had for the last 4 weeks was hospital food.” She said and then took another bite of potato salad.

“Hey what happened to all the junk food I snuck into you?” Kyle said.

“Well after the garbage disposal over there found my stash I got like one cupcake.” She said waving her hand at her fiancé.

“Michael!!” They all said in unison.

“What? I was hungry and Maria never eats that kind of stuff.” He said trying to defend himself.

They all laughed at his guilty expression and then they all joined Maria in eating.

***************************************************
After they had finished eating Maria decided that enough time had passed and that she wanted to know what was going on with her father. They were all seated in the living room talking and laughing and she knew she better get it done before her mother got there or she wouldn’t learn anything.

“Thank You so much for all of this.” Maria said sincerely

“We love you and are just glad that you are better.” Liz said and gave her best friend a hug.

“I know that and I know that is why you have been keeping what ever is going on from me but I’m better now and I want to know.” She said.

Michael rubbed his hands over his face. This was it the moment that he had been anticipating, the moment where they would have to tell her about her father and his seeming connection to the royal four. Would she blame them for her father leaving all those years ago? That is what scared him the most, the thought that the reason her father was gone was because of him but he knew that she had the right to know. He also knew that he would do what ever he had too to help her get through this.

“Maria we only kept it from you because you were recovering.” Max said.

“I know.” Maria said “But now I need to know.” She added.

“You know that you needed blood and that you and this rare blood type. The best chance you had was to get the blood from your father, so the sheriff and Mr. Evans started a search for him.” Michael said.

“So where did they find him?” Maria asked getting a little impatient.

“That’s just it Maria, they didn’t find him.” Liz said.

“But he gave blood.” Maria said confused.

“Liz and I went through tons of paperwork searching for any sign of where your father was but all we hit were dead ends.” Max added.

“But he showed up at the hospital. I know that he was there I could feel it.” She said.

“Your right he was there but we didn’t find him. He found us.” Isabel said.

Maria was confused now she had no idea what was going on. She was about to let off a barrage of questions when Isabel began to speak.

“The day that you and Michael got engaged a man and a woman showed up at the house. They were looking for Max. They claimed that they were his college advisors or something like that.”

“What does this have to do with anything?” Maria said completely lost.

“Those two people were your father and Kyle’s mother.” She blurted out.

“What? Why would my father be looking for Max?” Maria said starting to get agitated.

She stood up and began to pace and ramble at the same time.

“I don’t understand. What is going on? My father never knew Max. Why would he be looking for him?”

“Maria calm down.” Michael said stopping her pacing and pulling her into a hug.

“What is going on?” She whispered into his chest.

“When I think back now I must have tipped them off to the fact that you were in the hospital when I was talking to Kyle when they were hear.” She said.

“That’s why he showed up at the hospital to find out why you were there.” Liz said.

“After he gave blood and had a confrontation with your mom he went to see you.” Liz added.

“That’s when I found him.” Michael said.

“I didn’t know who he was but I didn’t want any strange man touching you.” Michael said grinding his teeth after the words came out.

“He knew my name. Told me to calm down. I yelled at him to move away.”

“That’s when Liz and I showed up.” Max said.


Kyle sat and watched the scene unfold in front of him. He did not want to be here right now. He wanted to be anywhere but here rehashing how his mother and Maria’s father had left them for what appeared like some alien cause. The slow pace they were going at was not helping. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Listen Maria, to make a long story short your father and my mother claim they have a message from Isabel and Max’s Mommy dearest.” Kyle spat out.

“That’s not possible.” Maria said stunned.

“How could my father have any contact with their mother? She is on Antar.”

“I don’t know and frankly I don’t care. My mother left me a long time ago. I have done just fine without her. If all of you want to find out why they are here by all means go ahead but keep me out of it.” He let it all come rushing out. He didn’t want to think about his mother. He didn’t want to think about her connection to the aliens. He didn’t want to think that since he was 6 years old aliens from another planet had been ruining his life. No it hurt too much and he was tired of being hurt. It was time he moved on and took his life back.

“If you’ll excuse me, I need to get some rest I have practice in the morning.” Before anyone had a chance to respond he was out of the room and at the stairs.

Isabel knew how hard this had been on him and knew he shouldn’t be alone.

“Kyle, wait.” She yelled as she ran for the stairs.

Maria watched as Isabel went to the stairs and then turned back to the remaining members of the group.

“I want to see my father.” She said with resolve.

“I don’t know if that is such a good idea. We don’t know anything about his connection to Antar.” Max said.

“He could have been sent by our enemies.” He added almost in a whisper.

“All the more reason I should go see him. He already proved that he wouldn’t hurt me. He risked being exposed by giving blood at the hospital. I’m the best person to find out why he’s her.” She said.

“I think Maria has a point. She is his daughter and no matter who he might be it was obvious in that hospital room that he cared about her.” Liz said and then smiled at Maria.

Maria smiled back. She really did need Liz’s support right now. She had so much emotion running through her right now, Love for the father she had loved as a child, anger at the man who had left her and her mother alone, worry at how her father’s connection to the aliens would impact her relationship with Michael and all the others.

“Fine. You can go see him.” Max said reluctantly.

“But Michael and I go with you, for protection.” He added.

“I’m going also, for support.” Liz said and stood next to her friend.

“So when do we do this?” Michael said.

“We all have to start school this week so why don’t we plan on doing this on Saturday.” Liz said.

“Saturday it is.” Maria said and clasped her hands together. It would be a long week.
*******************************************************

Isabel awoke with a start. She looked around the room disoriented as to where she actually was. As the room came into focus she remembered where she was, Kyle’s room.
She had a strange dream. Her and Kyle had taken the kids to a lake and Tess and Alex were there but they were on the opposite side of the lake. The kids were toddlers and were walking across the lake between the four adults. They were having so much fun splashing and playing in the water. Isabel saw Alex and smiled and went to walk across to get to him but no matter how hard she tried or how far into the lake she walked she couldn’t get to them. It was that frustration that had woken her from such a sound sleep. She blew a breath fron her mouth trying to shake the strange feeling that the dream gave her.

She looked around and smiled at the site before her. Kyle was asleep on the glider she had purchased for him after KJ was born, a burp cloth still draped over his shoulder and a bottle in his lap. She looked at the clock, 6AM and then realized whom he must have been feeding, Lexie and a smile of thanks spread across her face.

Kyle began to stir and the bottle fell from his lap. He woke with a start when he heard the bottle hit the floor and immediately jumped up checking on both KJ and then Lexie. He didn’t notice Isabel staring at him an amused look one her face.

When he was satisfied that both babies were ok he again sat down in the glider.

“Hey did anyone ever tell you that you snore?.” He said when he saw that Isabel was awake.

“I do not.” She protested.

“Yes you do. It sounds like a freight train.” He said watching her squirm.

“Well I was going to thank you for feeding Lexie but if your going to insult me.” She said crossing her arms across her chest.

“Don’t mention it. It is the least I can do considering that you have been watching KJ while I am at practice.” He said with a shrug.

“They say these middle of the night feedings usually stop around now.” Isabel commented as she walked over to check on her sleeping daughter.

“I can’t say that I will miss them. I could really use a full nights sleep. Between practice, taking care of KJ and now classes starting it is going to be rough.” Kyle said as he ran his hands through his hair in a frustrated gesture.

“You’ll be ok and remember that I don’t have classes this year so I am around to help when you need me.” Isabel said sincerely.

“Thanks but I can’t depend on you all the time. You have your own life.” He said shaking his head.

“Don’t be silly, I love KJ and so does Lexie. I swear she recognizes him.”

“I know what you mean. I think he recognizes her also.”

“How are you doing?” She asked. They had spent most of the night talking about the situation with his mother.

“Ok. I have just decided that Maria can do what she wants to do. What she has to do for herself. Me I need to focus on my life now. I can’t really be dealing with the past.”

”Are you sure you don’t want to talk to her?” Isabel asked.

“Maybe at some point but right now I need to focus on my and KJ’s future.”

“Speaking of future, what time is your first class?” She asked looking at the clock that now read 6:30.

Kyle glanced at the clock and noticing the time quickly got up.

“I have to be on campus at 8:30 for practice. I better get a move on. I have to shower and then KJ has to get baby cereal.” He said rushing around the room looking for his clothes.

“Calm down. Lexie will be sleeping for another 2 hours. I will feed him.” She said as she got up walked over to his closet and grabbed him a pair of jeans and a shirt and handed them to him.

“Thanks.” He said with gratitude as he walked out the door and headed toward the shower.

***********************************************************

“Hey Max.” Liz said as she passed him in the hallway. He was in a t-shirt and boxers and she mentally took note of how good he looked.

“Hi Liz.” He said with a smile. She looked beautiful in a pair of beige Capri pants and a white tank top.

“Shouldn’t you be dressed by now? We leave in about 20 minutes.” She said with a slight frown.

“I haven’t gotten into the bathroom yet. First it was Kyle then Maria and I think Michael.” He said with a roll of his eyes.

Liz blushed a little at the thought of Maria and Michael in the shower together because it brought back her favorite fantasy of her and Max.

“Yeah well that’s why I worked out an arrangement with Isabel. She lets me use her bathroom.” Liz said with a satisfied smile.

“So that’s who was in there.” He said as realization hit him.

“When I heard the water running I assumed it was her and I knew I would never get in there.” He said with a chuckle.

“I better get a move on. I don’t want to be late our first day.” He said.

Max moved on into the bathroom and Liz headed on downstairs. Maria and Michael were sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast.

“Good Morning.” Liz said in a cheerful voice.

“What’s she so happy about?” Michael mumbled to himself.

Maria looked at him and smiled.

“She’s always like this on the first day of school.” Maria said shaking her head and laughing.

“Like what?” Liz said defensively.

“All happy and giddy on the first day of school.” Maria said.

“I am not all happy and giddy.” Liz protested.

“Come on Chica you have been like this since elementary school. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“It just means you’re a geek.” Maria said jokingly.

“Can I help it if I am excited about my first day of college.” She said smiling at Maria.

“Technically it’s not your first day.” Michael said as he took another bite of his cereal.

“You can’t tell me that the 2 of you aren’t the least bit excited.” Liz said staring at her 2 friends.

Michael was excited. He hadn’t even known if he would go to college. He had never planned on staying on this planet so he always ignored his schoolwork. When he decided he was going to stick around for Maria he started to focus on them a little more but even that didn’t guarantee him a spot in the college all the others were going to. It was Maria who had encouraged him to send in samples of his art work with his application and sure enough that had done the trick.

“Yeah I’m excited but it doesn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.” Michael said with a laugh.

“Good because that’s my job.” Maria said as she leaned over and kissed him.

Liz laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Kyle said.

“Nothing just the lovebirds are at it again.” Liz said rolling her eyes.

“Is Max almost ready?” Liz asked.

No sooner had she asked the question than Max came rushing in the room.

“I’m ready.” He said as he picked his books up off the table.

“Here’s another one.” Michael said shaking his head.

“What?” Max said confused.

“Ignore him Max.” Liz said.

Max wasn’t sure what was going on and at that moment he didn’t care. All he cared about was getting to school on time.

“Let’s go.” He said to Liz.

“Yeah you wouldn’t want to be late for your first day.” Michael said with a sarcastic laugh.

“Maybe we’ll see you guys at school.” Max said as they headed toward the door ignoring Michael’s comment.

“I doubt it. You two will be in the geeky science buildings, while Maria and I will be in the cool arts buildings.” Michael said jokingly.

“Ha, ha Michael.” Liz yelled back as she closed the door.

Hey guys. Thanks so much for all thw feed back.
RoswellNMROX and roswellian504-Welcome. I try to post once a week usually on the weekends. I know what it's like to wait around for a part in anticipation.

Gerry thanks for the bump. I think you'll like this part.


Stronger Together
PArt 30
Max walked into his class looked around and took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe he had made it. With everything that had taken place over the last couple of years he had always considered going to college as being unrealistic and yet here he was.

He grabbed a handful of papers that were at the front of the room for the students and than took a seat. He checked his class schedule one more time. He had decided that if he was going to be able to go to college he was going to make the most of it. He had already declared himself pre-med and therefore had loaded up on the science courses along with other core classes. He was really looking forward to the science classes but it was English literature that he really couldn’t wait for. Not because he loved English Literature but because like some gift from the scheduling gods Liz was in that class also.

“Max. Right?” A voice said breaking him from his thoughts.

Max looked up to find the speaker of the voice sitting next to him. He recognized him immediately. It was the guy Liz had been hanging out with at the hospital, Sam. Max swallowed the bile that still formed in his throat every time he thought about that day and plastered a fake smile on his face.

“You probably don’t remember me but I’m a friend of Elizabeth’s.” Sam said as he took his notebook out and placed it on his desk.

Oh god he isn’t going to sit next to me, is he? Max thought to himself.

“So I guess you’re like Elizabeth starting off with the hard courses.” He said trying to make small talk.

Every time he said Elizabeth it made Max’s skin crawl. No one called her that. The fact that he did made Max feel like she was somehow a different person with him.

“Yeah, LIZ and I tend to dive right in.” He said.

“Liz? That’s right she said that everyone from back home called her that. I guess it’s odd hearing it because she has always been Elizabeth to me.” Sam said.

She’s always been Elizabeth to me. Max mimicked in his head. He could feel the blood pumping in his body.

“Well she’s always been Liz to me.” Max said trying not to show he was jealous.

“Yeah I guess so.” Sam said sensing the tension that was coming off Max.

Guess Elizabeth isn’t such a good topic for us. He thought.

“We really lucked out with this class. Professor Leon is one of the best organic chemistry teachers. He’s not boring like some of the others.” Sam said trying to change the subject.

“That’s good. I would hate to have to sit through some boring lectures.”

And sit next to you while I’m doing it. He added to himself silently.

Sam began to say some thing but just in time for Max the professor walked in and he was saved from tedious small talk with the man he saw as being a threat to his being with Liz.

*_***********************************************************

Max shouted a see ya at Sam when class ended and then made a speedy exit. The last thing he wanted was for Sam to talk his ear off as he walked to the Quad where he was going to meet Liz.

Max took out the map he had gotten at student orientation located the quad and headed off in that direction. It took him about 5 minutes to find it. He looked around and spotted Liz sitting on a bench at the far end of the quad. He took a moment to just admire her. It was something he used to do before she knew his secret. Admire her from afar. Back then he believed she was unattainable. Somehow this was worse. Back then he didn’t know what it was like to be with Liz. In a sense he didn’t know what he was missing but now he knew what it was like to be with her and to be with out her and he hated being with out her.

He took a deep breath and headed toward her.

“Hey, sorry I am late.” He said as he reached her and sat down.

“Your not late I’m early. The professor let us out early.’ She said squinting because the sun was in her eyes.

“How was your first class?” She asked as she reached in her bag and pulled out 2 granola bars offering him one.

“It was very interesting.” He said as he took a bite out of the granola bar.

“Your friend Sam is in the class.” He added.

Liz did not miss how the name Sam sounded when it came from Max’s mouth.

“Really, I didn’t know he was taking that class. Did he recognize you?” She asked.

“Oh he recognized me all right. He sat next to me the whole class.” He said trying not to show his jealousy.

Liz knew it must have been hard for Max but she also knew that Sam was probably just trying to be friendly.

“Yeah he can really talk your ear off.’ She said with an uncomfortable laugh.

“So are you ready for English Lit?” She asked trying to change the subject.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He said.

“I know what you mean I much prefer math and science classes but we have to take these.” She said shrugging her shoulders.

“Who are you kidding you know you will get an A.” He said as he gave her a playful nudge.

The minute they touched Liz felt as if a bolt of electricity had been sent through her body. It was so powerful that she had to quickly catch her breath.

What was that? She thought to herself.
“Yeah I guess I will. We better get going I don’t want to be late.” She said and hurried to pick up her books.

Max looked at her confused. Maybe he shouldn’t have made physical contact. Why was he so stupid? He mentally reprimanded himself. Had she gotten a flash of him and Tess?

They walked toward the building where their class was and Liz rapidly talked about their surroundings.

Liz thought that if she kept talking about school and normal things she could avoid what she felt a few moments ago. She had touched Max many times but never had she felt anything like this. It was as if she felt a power building within her and that scared her.

“Here we are.” She said when she found their classroom.

They walked in and took 2 seats near the middle of the classroom.

They sat down and a strange silence settled between them. Suddenly that silence was broken.

“Liz.”

Liz knew that voice and she felt a knot form in her stomach. This wasn’t happening.

“Hey Liz. Max.’ Sam said as he slid into their row and sat next to Liz.

Max rolled his eyes as he passed. Great he had just made a mistake with Liz and who had to be in their class but Mr. Normal, great, just great.

“Hi Sam.” Liz said with a smile as he sat down next to her.

“I didn’t know that you were in this class. I thought I wouldn’t see you till Friday night.”
He said as he opened his books.

Could this get any worse now Max knew she planned on seeing him Friday night?

“Yeah it was a last minute change on my schedule.” She said.

“Well that’s lucky for Max and I.” Sam said and smiled toward Max.

“Yeah Lucky for us.” Max mumbled under his breath.

“Did you say something Max?” Liz said hoping he was going to change the subject.

“Just wondering when the teacher would get here.” He lied.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them for the rest of the class. Liz tried to focus straight ahead at the teacher and not look at either of the men next to her. The class ended and the students began to file out.

Max got up first.

“I’ve got to find my way to my next class. I’ll meet you in the quad at 3:15.” He said and then left.

“I don’t think he likes me very much.” Sam said.

Liz cringed at his comment. How was she going to explain this?

“He’s just nervous about starting College and all.”

“So are we still on for Friday?” He asked skeptically. Something was definitely going on between these 2.

Liz had been looking forward to her night out with Sam and after what had just happened with Max in the Quad she could really use it.

“Sure, you promised to take me to the best Italian restaurant in Las Cruces.” She said with a smile.

“Your wish is my command. I’ll pick you up at 7:30.” He said.

“Sounds good.” She said and watched him leave the room.

She gathered her books and started to head to her next class. This was going to be a long semester.

*_***********************************************************

The rest of the week went by with out incident and before the gang knew it the weekend was here and it was a big weekend. On Saturday Kyle had his first college game and he Isabel and the kids left for Texas early Friday morning and wouldn’t be back until Sunday. Kyle had decided there was no way that he was spending time away from his son and so Isabel had agreed to accompany him to away games.

With Isabel and Kyle out of the house the rest of them were free to talk about the other big event of the weekend meeting with Maria’s father. They had decided that they would just show up at the hotel they were staying at so as not to give them any advance warning of their arrival. Even though this was Maria’s father they still needed to be careful and cover all their bases.

Maria, Max and Michael were sitting in the living room discussing the next days events.
“So we’ll go early. We all go in together and no one is left alone with either of them.” Michael said for the third time looking at Maria.

“I got it Michael, I don’t get to be alone with my father. No matter what.” She said imitating him.

“Maria. I know this is hard for you but we have to be careful.” Max said sympathetically.

“It’s just really hard tothink that my father might want to hurt you or any of us. You don’t know him like I do. The type of person he was.” She said.

“Yeah great guy walks out on his wife and kid.” Michael mumbled.

Maria took a deep breath and let it out. She really did understand where Michael was coming from but he didn’t know her father.

“You know why my mother took his leaving so hard?” She said running her hands through her hair.

“Because it was so unexpected. My father doted on us. Bought us presents, spent time with us and was just the most lovable person. He would come in every night and kiss me
on the forehead and say sleep sweet angel daddy’s always here. When they thought I was asleep they would turn the music on and I would go to the top of the steps and watch them for hours. They would drink wine, dance and laugh. I prayed that one day that I would have that. Then it all was shattered. He left not a word to anyone. My Mother was devastated for months. She tried to be strong for me but at night I could hear her crying.”

“All the more reason we should keep our guard up around him. No one knows who he is.” Michael said interrupting her reminiscing.

“It is obvious I am not going to convince you Michael but I know my father had to have a good reason for leaving.” She said and got up and headed to the kitchen.

Michael followed her and put his arms around her.

“I’m sorry I am just trying to protect you.” He said.

“I know but he’s still my father.” She said.

“I promise I’ll protect you.” He said.

“Speaking of protecting, I think you should try and get Max upstairs.” She said.

“Why?” Michael asked confused.
“Liz has a date.” She said.

“Oh shit.” He said.

“You said it.” Maria said shaking her head.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Hey Max can I interest you in a little Madden on the playstation?” Michael said.

“I don’t know you get way to into it.” Max said remembering the last time they had played and Michael had broken the TV.

“Come on I promise not to break the TV. I’ll even let you pick your team first.” He said.

“Alright, it’s not like I have anything else to do.” He said.

The two guys headed up the stairs toward Michael’s room. As they passed Liz’s room the door swung open and Liz walked out yelling for Maria.

Max’s breath caught in his throat when he saw her. She looked beautiful. Her hair was pinned up at the sides and the rest was flowing down her back. She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt that scooped at the neck and a fitted black skirt that came just above her knee.

“Damn.” Michael mumbled under his breath when he saw the way Max was looking at her.

Max didn’t pay any attention to his comment still focused on the vision of beauty before him. Then he remembered why she was dressed up. She had a date with sam. He felt the bile rise up in his throat and though he never had been sick a day in his life he thought at that moment he would throw up.

Liz felt Max’s gaze on her and blushed. She had hoped to sneak out of the house without seeing him but obviously that was not in the cards.

“Sorry, I was looking for Maria.” She said and then averted her eyes from Max’s.

As if on cue Maria appeared at the top of the steps watching the tense scene before her. In typical Maria fashion she began to babble.

“Liz there you are. I have been looking for you. I found those shoes you were looking for. They are under my bed.” She said as she guided Liz towards her room.

“You know all the primping girls do. Bye boys.” She said and closed the door behind her.
“That was uncomfortable.” Maria said as she let out a breath.

“I was really hoping that I could avoid him.” She said picking up the sandals from Maria’s bed and putting them on.

“That’s kind of hard when you live in the same house.” Maria said sitting down on the bed.

“Listen, if your going to try this normal guy dating than you have to think about yourself. You can’t worry about Max. He is a big boy. He will get over it. Somehow.” She said.

“You have to give it your best shot or you’ll always wonder.”

“Your right Maria. As usual.” Liz said hugging her friend.

“Don’t worry my bills in the mail.” She said with a wink and a smile.

*************************************************************

Liz waited outside for Sam. She knew Maria was right and she had to live her life but she didn’t think there was any need to rub Max’s nose in it. Sam arrived right on time. When he saw her sitting on the front porch his heart caught in his throat. He had never seen her look more radiant. Quickly he jumped out of the car and walked to meet her.

“You look beautiful.” He said as he held out his hand for her.

Liz blushed.

“Thank you.” She said with a smile.

“So are you ready to go to the best little Italian Restaurant in Las Cruces?”

“I can’t wait.” She said as he opened the car door for her and she got in.

She took a deep breath. She had to do this. She had to see what else was out there. Then, just maybe, she would be able to move on with her life.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back with this next part. RL has been tough and to top it all off I have this other fic floating around in my head interfering with this one. Thanks for all the feedback and Gerrry thanks for the bump. I hope that you guys like this next part.

Stronger Together
Part 31

Liz placed her fork next to her plate and took a sip of her soda. They had arrived at the restaurant an hour earlier and had been having a very good time. They talked about school and their families and carefully avoided the subject of Max.

“Didn’t I tell you that this was the best Italian restaurant?” Sam said as he finished his Lasagna.

“My food was great. It’s hard to find good Italian.” She said.

“You’re telling me. I come from an Italian family and we used to have these huge family meals on Sunday’s. It was great. When I moved out here to go to school I really missed that. I searched and searched for a good Italian food place and that’s how I found Mario’s.” He said with a laugh.

Liz smiled back at him. He was very easy to talk to and a lot of fun to be with. Any girl would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend. She could see him having a big family dinner with a wife and two kids and a dog.

“Your check sir.” The waiter said and handed him the bill.

“Thank You, Antonio.” Sam said.

“So where are we off to after this?” Liz asked.

She didn’t know much about the date only that they were going to dinner and then he wanted to show her one of his favorite places.

“I thought we could leave the car here and take a walk over to the park.” He said as he paid the bill.

“It’s a beautiful night. That sounds like a great idea.”

Sam said his goodbyes to his friends at the restaurant and they headed outside.

“I just wanted to grab a blanket out of the car. There is supposed to be an Orchestra playing in the park tonight.”

Once Sam had gotten the blanket from the car they proceeded to the park. As they got closer they could here the music being played by the orchestra. They walked passed people who had already set up blankets and were silently listening to the music. The sound was beautiful. Liz found herself getting lost in the melody.

“This is it.” He said breaking her from her melodic trance.

Sam had taken them to the top of a hill in the park. The view was beautiful. You could see everything. The concert goers and orchestra, the gazebo with it’s twinkling lights, the large floral gardens and the fountains that sprayed water that appeared to be all the colors of the rainbow, all laid out before them.

“This is beautiful.” She said admiring her surroundings.

“I found it one day after I ate at Mario’s. I was feeling really home sick. I just missed my family. I would lay here and look up at the sky. When I saw a plane I would imagine I was on it heading home to see my Mom and brothers and sisters. This place really helped me. It was truly my escape. After a while I started feeling better about New Mexico and got a little less home sick but I still come here. When I need to get away from the pressure of my future I come here and imagine I’m on one of those planes going somewhere only I know about. Have you ever wanted to escape Elizabeth, just get away?”

Liz sat down next to him on the blanket he had laid out on the ground a far off look in her eyes.

“Don’t we all wish for a little escape?” She whispered as she lay down and looked up at the stars, the V constellation staring back at her.

“I actually did it once.” She said.

“What?” He asked.

“Escaped. Summer of sophomore year I just couldn’t deal with some things that were going on around me and when you live in a small town there is no getting away from it. One day I went home and packed my bags and left for Florida. I stayed with my aunt and cousins. It felt so good to be away from all my problems but the thing about escapes is they don’t last forever. At some point you have to come back and your problems are there waiting for you.” She said and looked him in the eyes.

Sam looked at her and saw the sadness in her eyes. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that what ever had happened to her had hurt her deeply and that somehow it was connected to Max. She looked so beautiful sitting there in the moonlight. He reached his hand out and softly touched her face. They held each other’s gaze and then slowly he placed his lips on hers.

As they separated a smile crossed both of their lips. The kiss was sweet soft and tender. So why was she thinking of what was missing, where was the electricity, the connection that always seemed to flare to life when she was with Max. It just wasn’t there.

“That was nice.” He said.

“Yes it was.” She agreed.

“That’s why this is going to be so hard.” He said.

Liz looked at him confused, had she missed something?

“Liz you are so beautiful and any guy would be lucky to have you but they never will.” He said.

“I don’t understand.” She began to protest.

“They won’t have you because your heart already belongs to someone else.” He said with a smiling.

“It’s not true Max and I…” She began to protest.

“How did you know I was talking about Max?” He interrupted her protest with a smile.

Liz laid back down in defeat. An uneasy silence fell on them until Sam broke it.

“Can I ask you a question? Why aren’t the two of you together?” He asked Matter-of-factly.

“It’s complicated.” She said.

“How complicated could it be? It’s obvious to anyone within a 10 mile radius of the two of you that you love each other. I mean God only knows if looks could kill I would be dead right now from the looks I’ve been getting from Max.”

“Things happened that came between us. In away they were out of our control but it’s hard to get past them.” She said with a sigh.

Sam could see the emotions play across her face as she vaguely talked about what went wrong. He could see that even with what ever she had gone through she still was totally devoted and in love with Max.

“Liz if it was easy it wouldn’t be true love.” He said.

Liz looked at him in shock. Remembering the last time she had heard words similar to that.

“If it’s not complicated he’s not your soulmate.”

“My Grandmother told me almost the same thing once.” She said.

“Listen, I’m not trying to be noisy or butt in where I don’t belong but Liz if you think there is anyway that you could work it out with him I think you should try.”

“I just don’t want to risk getting hurt again.” She said almost in a whisper.

“Sure closing yourself off and not taking risks may protect your heart but it will also prevent it from ever truly feeling anything ever again. You won’t really be living. You will just be going through the motions.”

Liz knew that everything he was saying was true. After all hadn’t that been what she was doing. Hiding, closing herself off from the one thing she knew she truly wanted and needed. Was she ready to take that chance again and risk her heart?

“You are a really good friend you know that. Any other guy might have just taken advantage of me but some how you see the real me.” She said.

“I care about you Elizabeth. I want you to be happy. Sure part of me wishes that it could be with me but the other part of me wants someone to one-day look at me the way you look at Max. I want that kind of love.” He said.

“You’ll find it. Any girl would be lucky to have you.” She said.

“I hope so.” He said.

“Are you ready to go?” He asked.

“I would like to stay and listen to the rest of the concert. Is that ok?” She responded.

“Sure. Good music and friends who could ask for more.” He said with a smile.

As the orchestra played on they lay there in silence each lost in the rhythmic melody and their own thoughts.

*************************************************************
Liz took off her shoes as she entered the house, not wanting to wake anyone with the sound of her heels on the hardwood floors.
She had a wonderful time with Sam even though he made her think about things she didn’t want to deal with. Maybe he was right maybe it was time to take down the wall that she had built around her heart.

She tiptoed up the stairs and stopped in front of Max’s room. She bit her lower lip and traced the grain of the wood with her finger as she contemplated her next move. Hesitantly she let her hand fall on the cold metal doorknob. She took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob. Silently she entered the room and shut the door behind her.

She stood there silent and motionless not knowing what her next move should be. Her body tensed as a sleeping Max tossed in his bed revealing his bare chest. Slowly she tiptoed toward him until she was standing over his bed.

Now what? She thought as her eyes memorized every inch of his body that was visible to the naked eye.

What am I doing she thought to herself, this is ridiculous. Slowly she turned and began to leave the room.
She stopped dead in her tracks when she suddenly heard her name.

“Liz.”

She was caught. How was she going to explain this?

Slowly she turned around to face Max, only when she did he was still fast asleep.

“Liz.” He said again and began to toss and turn.

Slowly she walked back over to the bed. He was dreaming about her. She couldn’t leave something deep inside told her she needed to stay.

Hesitantly she climbed on the bed and curled into a ball. As if he knew she was there he reached out and placed his arms around her. The connection was immediate and intense. It felt like it had at school only this time not only did she feel the electricity but she felt the emotion as well. Quickly the burst of electricity she felt settled to a low hum vibrating through her body. She let the feelings of love course through her body and slowly drifted off to sleep. She knew in that instant this was where she was meant to be. Max was her home.

So here it is finally Part 32. I have been fiddling with it for a long time and can fiddle no more.lol. I'm still not happy with it but I am an amateur so please forgive me if it is long winded. For those of you waiting for a Max and Liz reunion it's not in this part but it is coming soon. What you do get in this part is alot of information on why the Royal four have been sent to earth. Please feel free to ask any questions and I will further explain anything. I know what I am trying to get across but don't neccesairly know if this part does that. This is a long part so it will be in 2 posts.
Here it is.

Stronger Together
Part 32

***********************H*************************************

Max sat up in bed and looked around his room. He felt different this morning. His body was energized and a warm tingling sensation was running through him. He hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Not since the last time he had held Liz.

He ran his hand along the bed sheets next to him. His dream last night had felt so real. He could actually feel her in his arms, her sweet breath on his neck. He had actually believed that when he opened his eyes she would be there lying next to him, but all that was there when he opened his eyes was the empty spot in his bed where he knew she was supposed to be.

He had never expected to get such a restful night sleep. It had taken him hours to fall asleep and when he finally did he was plagued with the same dreams of her leading a normal life without him. Somewhere in the night that all changed. He felt the connection come alive and his dreams changed to visions of a future with Liz. He saw their wedding day and the birth of their first child. It had been so wonderful that he hadn’t wanted to wake up but then the connection was gone and his body instinctively awoke, leaving him where he was now.

He climbed out of bed and pulled out his robe. As much as he wanted to stay in bed and dream of Liz he knew he had a big day ahead of him. They all did. Today was the day they went to see Maria’s father and God only knew what they would find out and how it would impact there lives.

**************************************************^**********
Liz took the box of cereal down from the cabinet and poured herself a bowl. She had been up for hours and was showered and ready for the day ahead of them. She poured the milk and then opened the newspaper trying to clear her mind of everything that had happened the night before.

“Hey Chica.” Maria brought her attention away from the paper.

“Hey Maria your up early.” Liz said with a smile.

“Don’t you “your up early me.” Spill.” She said with a straight face.

“What are you talking about?” Liz asked confused.

“Don’t play the innocent game with me missy. I know you didn’t sleep in your bed last night so spill.”

Liz couldn’t help but smile. She should have known Maria would be waiting for her to come home and get all the details of the date.

“There is nothing to tell.” She said as she spooned another mouth full of cereal into her mouth.

“Nothing to tell? Nothing to tell? You spent last night with this Sam guy and there is nothing to tell. I mean come on you were with Max forever and you…”

“I didn’t spend the night with Sam.” Liz interrupted.

“You didn’t!! Then where did you sleep?” She said as she took a gasp of breath.

“I slept with Max.” Liz said waiting for her friend’s reaction.

“What?!” She yelled.

“Maria, be quiet. You’ll wake everyone up.”

”Be quiet? You want me to be quiet. You finally slept with Max and you expect me to remain calm. Are you ok? …” She rambled.

“Maria. I didn’t sleep with him sleep with him.” She interrupted her rant again.

“Liz stop talking in riddles and give me the full story.”

“Last night Sam made me realize a few things.” Liz said.

“And they would be…” Maria prodded.

“That I still love Max.” She said.

A sense of relief washed over her. She knew that she had accepted it but now that the words had been said it was even more real.

“Did he do something? I’ll kill him.” Maria said.

“No, Sam was a perfect gentlemen. It was a wonderful date. Any girl would be lucky to have him. He just made me see what everyone else sees, that I love Max. He told me if he had that kind of love he would do anything to keep it.”

“ I knew I liked that guy.” Maria said with a smile.

“If Sam could see it and he hardly even knows us then how could I ignore it?”

“So how did Max take the news? I’m sure he’s on cloud 9. I’m surprised that he isn’t attached to you like white on rice.” Maria said with a laugh.

“He doesn’t actually know.” Liz said and then cringed waiting for the rant to begin.

“What do you mean he doesn’t know? You said you slept in his bed last night.”

“I did. He just doesn’t know I was there.”

“How is that possible?” She said.

“After I got home last night I passed his room and I just couldn’t help but go in. I stayed and just watched him sleep. I was going to leave, chicken out and then he said my name.”

“So he did know you were there.” She said confused.

“No he was dreaming about me.”

“Ok so he was dreaming about you. How did you end up in his bed?”

“I climbed on the bed and just lay there. He wrapped his arms around me.” She took a deep breath.

“Maria it was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I could feel all of his emotions. I could see how he saw me and it felt so right. It felt like home.”

“That’s how it is with me and Michael. It’s like we fit together perfectly. So what happened? Why didn’t you wait till he woke up?” She said.

“ How was I going to explain me being there?” She said tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

“Trust me I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded.” She said with a smirk.

Besides, you could have told him the truth that you love him.” Maria said with a frustrated sigh.

“Max has enough to deal with today. He doesn’t need anything on top of that.” She said.

“Liz, I am sure he wouldn’t mind having you on top of him.” She said with another smirk.

“Maria!!” Liz said and blushed.

“You know I’m right.” She said with a smile.

“So do you plan on telling him or are you going to build up your wall again?”

“I’m going to tell him. Later.” She said.

“Later when? Later tonight, later tomorrow, later next year.”

“Later, when he doesn’t have so much on his mind.” Liz added.

“Liz, Max is the King of a far away planet. I don’t think he is ever not going to have a lot on his mind. You’re stalling.”

Liz knew Maria was right she was stalling. Part of that wall still remained around her heart and she was going to have to break it down.

“Tonight. I’ll tell him tonight.” She said with determination.

Maria gave her a satisfied smile.

“How are you doing?” Liz asked changing the topic. She knew that this day was going to be hard for Maria. She had lived through Maria’s father leaving and she knew how much it had hurt her. She hoped that she would be ok.

“I don’t know. I’m nervous, excited, scared. I haven’t seen my father in so long, that alone could send me over the edge but the fact that he has some link to an alien planet, I just don’t know how to feel.”

“Maybe there is a reason for him leaving that you don’t know about?”

“What possible reason would be good enough for him to have left with out even saying goodbye?” Maria said as tears welled in her eyes.

Liz hugged her friend.

“We’ll get through this together, like we have gotten through everything.”

I just hope we can handle what’s coming our way. She thought to herself as she hugged her friend tighter.

*************************************************************

Max and Michael had joined Liz and Maria in the kitchen for breakfast and Maria instinctively linked her hands with Michael. She needed all the strength he could give her to make it through this day.

Max spotted Liz and watched as she blushed under his gaze. It was something that hadn’t happened in a long time and made his insides tingle with excitement. He had noticed that since last night there was a change in how Liz was responding to him and he only hoped that it wouldn’t end but he knew that they had to make it through this day before anything could happen between them.

They sat quietly in the car and followed the directions the sheriff had given them. They had not wanted to involve the sheriff seeing as Kristianna was his ex-wife but they wanted to surprise Rian and they could only do that if they knew where they were staying. It hadn’t surprised Max that the sheriff already knew where they were staying. He knew that Jim feared for Kyle and how he was reacting and would want to try and protect him. He told Max that they were renting a small cottage outside town and had reluctantly given him the address.

Slowly Max pulled the car in front of the cottage. The car slowed to a stop and Maria squeezed Michael’s hand for comfort. She felt the warmth that had been absent for so many years slowly fill her body and she didn’t know if it made her want to smile or cry.

Max watched Maria’s face through the rear view mirror. He turned toward the back seat and faced her.

“You don’t have to do this. Michael and I can go in and get the information. You don’t have to face him if you don’t want to.”

“Thanks but I need to do this. He is my father. Sure, he disappeared from my life without so much as a goodbye but he did save my life. I think I owe him a chance to explain.”

“You don’t owe him anything.” Michael said through gritted teeth.

“I need to see him. I want to.” She said.

“Then there is no time like the present.” Liz said opening the Car door and getting out.

Part 32 Continued************
They all filed down stone walkway and waited for Max to ring the bell.
After a few moments the door opened to reveal Maria’s father.

Tears filled Maria’s eyes as she laid eyes on her father for the first time in over 10 years. All the good memories of her childhood with him ran through her mind followed quickly by the pain and hurt she felt when he was gone.

“Maria, I knew you would come.” Rian said locking eyes with his daughter. These last few weeks had been awful not being able to see her. He didn’t understand how he had been able to leave all those years ago.

“Well I had to see the absentee father return. Everyone else had.” She said bitterness clearly evident in her tone. She wasn’t going to just let him waltz right back into her life.

The words sliced through Rian like a knife.

“We have a lot to talk about. Please come in.” He said moving out of their way and allowing them entry into the house.

It was a small cozy space with a living area and an eat in kitchen and what appeared to be two bedrooms in the back.

“So where’s Kyle’s mom?” Max asked breaking the awkward silence that had fallen over the room.

“Christine has gone to the store to pick up some things we need to get settled in the house.” Kristianna had decided that now that they were on Earth she wanted to be called by her earth name. She thought it would be easier for Kyle when he was ready.

“Planning to stay for a while. Not just going to up and leave without a word to anyone? I’ll warn Christine you have a habit of doing that.” Maria said starting to feel the anger rise within her.

“Maria you have every right to be angry with me but you have to know it wasn’t an easy decision for me.” Rian explained.

“Wasn’t easy for you? Do you have any idea what it was like for us? I adored you. You were my world and then one day you were gone. Do you know that I was convinced for over 2 years that you were coming back? That there is no way my Daddy would leave me.” Maria said and held back the tears that threatened to fall.

“I don’t think this was such a good idea.” Michael said standing up and taking Maria’s hand.

“Please give me a chance to explain. I never wanted to leave you.”

“Michael, I’m ok. I want to hear what he has to say.” She said calming herself down.
Reluctantly Michael sat down next to her.

“Start explaining.” Michael said.

“My family is of Antarian decent.” He started.

“My grandfather came to earth with a group of scientists from Antar.”

“What were they here to study?” Liz asked the scientist in her becoming intrigued.

“For generations Antarian women had been podding their children. At first it was out of necessity. There was a great war and unlike here on earth women fought in combat. To ensure the survival of Antar the scientists created a method so that after the baby was conceived they would be removed from their mothers womb and placed in an artificial womb.”

“The Pod.” Liz said to no one in particular.

“So big deal. They podded their kids. Why did the scientists need to come to Earth for?” Michael said.

“After the Great War, women decided that they liked not having to deliver. So the podding continued.” Rian continued.

“I still don’t see a problem.” Michael said sarcastically.

“It wasn’t a problem right away. A woman would get pregnant and her child would be podded a few months after conception. Everyone thought it was a wonderful thing and then the problems started.”

“They couldn’t conceive.” Liz said in amazement.

“That’s right. Because there bodies weren’t using the reproductive organs they began to stop working.” Rian said.

“So you came here to impregnate earth women?” Maria said a disgusted look on her face.

“I didn’t come here. I wasn’t even born yet and no they didn’t come here to impregnate earth women.” Rian said. He did not want Maria to believe she was the result of some alien experiment.

“So what did they come here for?” Max asked.

“Human DNA and Antarian DNA are very closely linked and the scientists were hoping that they would be able to find a cure for the fertility problems through genetic reconstruction. The scientists didn’t even know that human’s and Antarians could have children.”

“But they can right?” Max asked.

“Yes. My father is living proof of that. Many of the scientists like my father fell in love with human men and women and through the process of nature you could say they found out it was possible. Even the Antarian women were able to conceive and carry their children to term.”

”Did they find out why that was?” Liz asked intrigued by the whole story.

“When an Antarian women and a human Male mated the Antarian woman’s pregnancy lasted for 12 months a full 3 months longer than on Antar. During this time the body created a complex circulatory system that helped nurture the baby and that helped the child survive. The scientists were able to isolate what caused this and adapt it so that Antarian women could again conceive and carry children. Once their mission was done many of the Antarians returned to Antar but many remained here on earth.” He explained.

“So your Grandfather chose to stay, unlike you.” Maria said.

Rian sighed and shook his head. He hated the way Maria looked at him. She really believed he wanted to leave her.

“No. My Grandfather was a Defender of Antar and even though he wanted to stay he had to return home.”

”I don’t understand you said that he lived here, your father lives here, and you lived here before you left. What happened?” Michael asked.

“You guys happened.” He said with staring straight at Michael.

“You were all killed and the technology that was being developed by the scientists on Earth was used to bring you back. They were kept behind just in case there was an invasion of Earth to find you.”

Rian saw their faces and understood how they felt. He had felt the same way when he had learned about it as a young boy and at the time he wasn’t even directly impacted by it.

“I know it’s a lot of information. If you want to stop, we could continue another time.”
He said.

They all looked at each other. No one wanted to leave. For so long they had known nothing about their origins and now in a matter of moments they knew so much but there were still many unanswered questions.

Max could see they all wanted to stay and find out what ever more they could. Maria hadn’t even gotten any of her questions answered yet.

“No we are fine.” Max said.

Rian didn’t know where to continue. There was so much they needed to know.

“So my family stayed behind because we could help defend earth and there were plenty of defenders of Antar on Antar.”

“Was it your job to protect the pods?” Max asked.

“It was the alliances job to make sure that the pods went untouched.” Rian answered.

“The Alliance? I feel like I am trapped in some freaky star trek film and I can’t get out.” Maria said taking out a bottle of cedar oil and sniffing.

“I’m sorry Maria. I really wanted to keep you out of this. I wanted you to live your life as if you had no connection to Antar.”

“Well it seems you are lousy at everything you try to do. Is that an Antarian trait? You were supposed to protect the pod squad here and Michael ended up with that miserable SOB Hank and as for keeping me out of it and living a “normal” life the possibility for that left the day you did.” Maria said her tone laced with anger.

“Everything I did I did for my family, my father, my brother and you. As for keeping Michael out of Hank’s hands there was nothing we could do.”

Maria could feel the heat rising up in her cheeks. The anger was burning within her. Was he actually going to sit there and tell her that he had left for her? That he had destroyed part of her childhood and he was going to take no blame for it?

“You have got to be kidding me. Are you saying that you’re not to blame? You left didn’t say a word. You should have told us, at least mom. You shouldn’t just have gotten up and left.”

“I didn’t want to burden your mother. I wanted her to move on with her life. I didn’t want her to sit around and hope that one day I would come back because honestly I didn’t know if I ever would.”

”You said there were plenty of defenders of Antar. Why you?” Maria said the tears now flowing freely from her eyes.

Rian sighed. She needed to understand. He hated seeing her this way and he couldn’t bare the thought that she would hate him forever.

“It was never supposed to be me. I wasn’t trained to go. If I were I never would have started a family. My older brother was the next in line. He never made any attachments but he got into an accident and ended up in a Coma. A few months later the Antarian Royal council came to see my father. There had been a major battle on Antar with Kivar’s forces and almost half of the defenders were wiped out. They were calling all defenders from Earth back to Antar. My brother couldn’t go and my younger brother refused to go. That left my father or me. My father was sick. He never would have survived the trip back. So I had to make the toughest decision of my life.”

“You chose your loyalty to a planet you had never been to over us.” Maria spat.

“No I chose to go to Antar so that you would never have to choose.” He said looking her straight in the eye.

“What do you mean? What would Maria have to choose about Antar.” Michael said with concern.

“Maria is my daughter. She would be a Defender of Antar as well.”

“Like hell she will.” Michael said standing up.

“Michael sit down. Let him Finish.” Max said trying to calm his best friend.

“Believe me Michael I felt the same way and that is why I agreed to go to Antar only if Maria was relieved of any obligation to be defender of Antar. I didn’t want her life ripped apart like mine had been. I’m sorry princess if there had been any way that I could have gotten out of it I would have but at least I could free you from what I had to endure. Do you think that you could ever forgive me?”

Maria didn’t know what to think so much was running through her mind. She was part alien, defender of Antar, her father had left to protect her from ever having to fulfill that obligation.

“I don’t know.” Was all she managed to say before she stood up and ran for the bathroom she seen when she had first arrived.

Michael went to go after her but Liz stopped him.

“I’ll go.” She said placing her hand on top of his and then getting up and walking towards the bathroom. No matter how many questions she had her friend needed her and that was more important then anything she might learn from Rian.

*************************************************************
The three men sat in an awkward silence as they waited for Maria and Liz in the Living Room. Finally Max broke the silence.

“Why couldn’t the alliance help Michael?” Max asked.

“Excuse me?” Rian said, as he was jolted from his thoughts about his daughter.

“You said the alliance couldn’t get Michael away from Hank. Why? Wasn’t part of their job to protect us?”

”Yes, but they were forbidden to interfere with the events in your lives.”

”I don’t understand that.” Max said getting angry.

“There was a prophecy on Antar. It said Four who will be reborn will create eight and together united in love they will save 2 worlds. Your mother forbade anyone from interfering with you in this world because she believed it would prevent the prophecy from being filled”

“It sounds like a load of crap to me.” Michael said turning away from the bathroom door and looking at Rian.

“The people of Antar believe that you are the Royal four and that you will fulfill this prophecy. They believe that your children will be the ones that harness the power of the granolith.”

None of the men had seen Liz and Maria return from the bathroom till they heard the shriek from Maria that made them all jump to their feet.

“ENOUGH WITH THIS DESTINY CRAP! MICHAEL LOVES ME NOT ISABEL!!! AND THESE 2 CAN DENY IT ALL THEY WANT BUT THEY LOVE EACH OTHER TOO. GO BACK TO YOUR PLANET AND TELL ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO TAKE DESTINY AND SHOVE IT!! BESIDES TESS IS DEAD THERE IS NO MORE ROYAL FOUR.”

Maria had had it. She had been willing to give her father another chance but all he really wanted was to come back here and get them to fulfill their so-called destinies. Even if it meant the man his daughter loved had to sleep with someone else.

Maria grabbed her jacket.

“Lets go I have heard enough of this.”

“Maria wait! I never said that Michael had to be with Isabel or that Max had to be with Tess. That was never how it was supposed to be. No one knew what was or is supposed to happen when the royal four were reborn. You were supposed to come here and live your lives free from the influence of Antarians and whatever path you chose they believed would fulfill the prophecy. That’s why we weren’t able to have contact with you. It was why my family or any of the other alliance members couldn’t help Michael with Hank.”

“So basically what your saying is they cloned us because some prophecy says we or our children will save 2 worlds. Yet no one knows how will save 2 worlds or what the 2 worlds are and rather then help us figure it out they left us on our own. We were 6 for Christ sake, we could have died.” Max said saying what was on everyone’s mind.

“I felt the same way you did in the beginning but when you go to the planet and see how they are living you can understand why they grasped on to something like this. Your mother had just lost both her children and all she really wanted was for you to get another chance at life. She knew you would be safest here so she allowed them to take you and give you that second chance.” Rian tried to explain. He truly felt bad for them. It wasn’t enough that they had lived through the deaths of 2 of their friends but now they were finding out they might be the salvation for 2 worlds.

“So what are we supposed to do walk around and look under rocks and say are you the way we save 2 worlds?” Michael said sarcastically.

“No, after you were sent here members of the alliance found some ancient writings in a reservation near Roswell. It was the same language as the prophecy and it foretold your arrival and again stated that the 4 would become eight but this time it added that united in love they would create what was needed to save both worlds. From this the religious clerics determined that they must be talking about your children. They believe that any children produced by the royal four will be able to activate and control the power of the granolith.”

“What exactly would that accomplish. What the hell is the granolith?” Michael said starting to get frustrated.

“The Granolith was found thousands of years ago on Antar. It was used for centuries as a means to heal and as a means to judge but it was always believed that the Antarians had only tapped the surface of its powers.” Rian said.

“How can it save Antar?” Liz asked.

“Antar and the other 5 planets rely on a fuel known as Arborore. It is basically the barks of trees which are then converted to an energy form that is extremely powerful. It is used to light homes, propel vehicles and even in weaponry. The Antarians were always very carefully about not destroying the trees when getting the bark. This meant they had an abundance of the resource. Kivars planet was not as careful and they had destroyed much of their supply. If they destroyed anymore of the trees their planet would not survive. Therefore they were dependent on Antar for this resource. Kivar hated that and that is why he attacked and killed you to take control of the Arborore.” Rian explained.

“While this little Antarian history lesson is real interesting, what the hell does it have to do with the granolith? Michael said starting to loose his patience.

“Kivar has destroyed Antar. He didn’t use the proper methods to get the Arborore and Antar is dying. The scientists believe that the Granolith can save Antar by fixing the ecosystem but only if it can be activated.”

“And that’s where we come in.” Max said.

“Yes and that’s all I really know. Kristianna and I were sent here to help you. After what happened with Alex and Tess everyone agreed that it was time for you to know what was going on.”


“Yeah well it seems like it’s a little to late.” Michael said.

Just then the door opened and Kristianna walked in holding some groceries.

Her heart leapt when she saw them and just as quickly fell when she realized Kyle wasn’t with them.

“You came. I’m glad. We have a lot that we have to tell you.”

“I filled them in on most of it.” Rian said taking the bags from her and bringing them to the kitchen.

“Yeah I don’t think we can handle anymore melodrama today.” Maria added.

“I want to hear what she has to say.” Michael said. He had been watching her since she had gotten there and something inside of him was telling him that he wanted to hear her story.

“Michael, Maria is right. We have had a lot of information thrown at us today we need time to process it all before we get anymore. We also need to let Iz and Kyle in on what happened after all they are the ones who have the kids and Kyle should be here when she tells her story.”

“Fine then lets get out of here.” He said.

“If you need anymore information or have any questions please call. And Maria I hope that we can start fresh.” Rian said with a pleading smile.

“I don’t know. Will see.” Was all she said and headed out the door followed by Max and Liz.

Michael turned around and shot Kristianna a strange look. Something was telling him he needed to talk to her and he knew he would be back. For some reason he gave her a half smile and followed the others out the door.

They had come knowing nothing and now they knew so much.

“Do you think they’ll be ok?” Kristianna asked.

“I hope so.” He said and started to unpack the groceries.

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this next part up. Damn Flu.
Thanks for all the feedback. Let me now what you think.

Stronger Together
Part 33

Michael, Maria, Liz and Max sat silently in the living room of their home.
Each of them lost in their own thoughts. It had been over 2 hours since they had gotten back from Rian and Kristianna’s and they hadn’t spoken of any of what they had been told.

Liz sat twirling her long brown hair with her fingers. “Four who will be reborn will create eight and together united in love they will save 2 worlds.” The prophecy kept running through her head. What did it all mean? Max, Isabel, Tess and Michael were obviously the four but what of the eight. Were they truly supposed to be together and have children to create eight or did eight imply four different people? Could it mean her Maria, Alex and Kyle? Did she dare let herself hope? Everything had seemed so clear this morning. She loved Max and she was going to tell him but that was before all this had happened, now she was in turmoil again. Turmoil caused yet again by the unknown.

Max sat on the same couch as Liz, as was often the case his thoughts were torn. Today he had felt something different from Liz and he had felt a shift, a positive one. That feeling had given him hope. He wanted to take her upstairs and talk about it get it out in the open. He wanted to finally take a positive step in their relationship and then bam just like that his past life interferes. Why did things have to be so complicated? Why couldn’t he just be Max, instead of being part of some damn prophecy he didn’t even understand? At the thought of the prophecy his thoughts fell on his sister. Hadn’t she been through enough she lost her first love and now has a child she must raise alone. How was she going to react to the news that according to their home world it was her and Kyle’s child that would save Antar?

Michael saw the agitated look cross Max’s face. For once in his life he thanked God that he wasn’t the leader. He had enough to think about. It had come as a shock to him to find out that Maria was part alien. All those times he pushed her away because they were “different”. Ha what a joke that was. Now more then ever he had to protect her. He wasn’t going to let her be forced to go to another planet because she was “defender” of Antar, screw some, prophecy, screw Antar. Sure her father had said that she never had to fulfill that obligation but he hadn’t met an Antarian yet that he felt he could trust, except maybe…
Michael shook his head, Kristianna, for some reason he felt he could trust her and he had no clue as to why.

Maria sat watching Michael. She knew that he was worried about her but something else was bothering him. She reached out and placed her fingers in his. He looked down and smiled at her. A perfect fit, no prophecy or distant planet was going to change that. Her mind was on her father and all that he had been through and put them through. Part of her was angry that he didn’t tell her mother but part of her understood why he hadn’t. Amy Deluca was not the calmest person in Roswell. She probably would have been freaked. Hadn’t Maria run down the street screaming when she found out? She smiled at the memory. If only she had known she was part alien too. Her mother would have gotten over it but her father didn’t have the time for her to get over it and he thought that it would be better for her to go on with her life free of aliens. Could she really fault him for that? Maria had a feeling they were going to need him. She was going to need him. Was she going to take the risk and give him another chance?

The four looked at each other as they saw the headlights shine through the front bay window.

“They’re home.” Maria said breaking the silence that had engulfed them for the last few hours.

“This isn’t going to be pretty.” Michael said referring to Kyle and Isabel’s reaction to what they had learned.

They each gave each other knowing glances.

“Kyle, you should have told me sooner they had baby stuff that had the University football logo on it.” They heard Isabel say as she approached the door carrying Lexie in her arms.

“I didn’t realize it was important.” Kyle said holding KJ on his hip as he placed the key in the door and opened it for them.

“It’s very important. KJ is your son he should be all decked out in sports stuff at the games.” She said following him into the house.

“Max, Michael help me out her. Please tell your sister that there is more to football then clothing.” He said spotting the four sitting on the couch.

“It is when you’re the son of the star player.” Isabel said walking over to the pack and play that was set up in the living room and placing her sleeping daughter down.

“I’m not the star player.” Kyle said as he put KJ in the exersaucer to play.

“You got four homerun thingies and won the game.” Isabel said plopping down on the oversized chair.

“They’re touchdowns and I had some help.” Kyle said sitting down on the ottoman pushing off Isabel’s feet.

“Way to go Kyle.” Maria said trying to be cheerful.

“What’s wrong?” Isabel and Kyle said simultaneously finally taking note of the mood in the room.

“Nothings wrong.” Liz said.

“Not exactly wrong…” Maria started to ramble.

“Will someone please just tell us what the hell is going on?” Kyle demanded. They had such a nice normal weekend did they really need to be slammed back into reality this quickly?

“We went to see Maria’s father.” Max said answering Kyle’s question.

“What did he say?” Isabel said getting the sinking feeling she wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear.

Max, Michael Maria and Liz relayed to Isabel and Kyle all that they had learned. Why Maria’s father had left, how the aliens had been living among them and the natural resource problems on Antar and the other planets.

“So this all has to do with a natural resource? Like oil?” Kyle said.

“Haven’t people in this world been fighting over it?” Liz said.

“Yeah but we don’t bring people back from the dead for it. No offense.”

“So what do they expect us to do about it? We can’t just fix their problem. I don’t know anything about science. Maybe they should have cloned more people like Liz.” Isabel said shaking her head not believing what she was hearing.

“They don’t expect us to fix the problem through science. They need us for the granolith.” Max said.

“I don’t understand. I thought the granolith was just a way for us to get home. What does it have to do with anything?” Isabel asked really confused now.

“Four who will be reborn will create eight and together united in love they will save 2 worlds.” Liz said.

“What the hell does that mean?” Kyle said staring at Liz as if she were losing it.

“It’s a prophecy. We weren’t reborn to solve the natural resource problem through science we were reborn so that we could fulfill this prophecy.”

“Listen Max no offense but I don’t know what kind of weird voodoo people you’ve got on your home planet but that thing makes no sense. This is what they’re hinging their hopes on?” Kyle said half laughing.

“It’s not just Antar it’s earth as well. They found some ancient writings on the reservations in Roswell and that is where the united in love part came from.” Liz explained.

“So what the hell does that mean?” Kyle asked.

Max braced himself. Kyle was not going to like this.

“They believe that the prophecy is referring to children, our children.” Max said.

Isabel gasped placing her hands over her mouth.

Kyle stunned by Max’s words shook his head in denial. What the hell was he talking about, our children. He looked at his son playing peacefully in the exersaucer. He felt the blood rush through his veins, the anger build with in his stomach. He clenched his fist and tightened the muscles in his jaws as the veins began to bulge in his neck..

“My son is not part of any damn alien prophecy!!” He said through clenched teeth.

“Hasn’t he lost enough already from this alien crap. He lost his mother for God sake. I will in no way have him involved in this. HE is going to grow up normal. He’ll play little league, climb trees and scrape his knees. He’ll go to dances and have his first kiss. He’ll fall in love. He is not going to have to look over his shoulder and wonder if humans or aliens are following him. I swear I’ll protect him from this and if that means that I have to take him as far away from here as I can then I will. I won’t let him grow up with fear. I won’t.” Kyle said exploding.

“No one wants that Kyle.” Liz said placing her hand on his trying to calm him.

“Maybe you should talk to your mother,” Maria said.

“No, I won’t I want nothing to do with this. I want nothing to do with her. She made her choice. She chose some foreign world. I choose my son.” He said as he picked up KJ.

“Kyle…” Liz said.

“No. I don’t know about you Isabel but my decision is final.” Kyle said and headed toward the stairs.

They all watched as he marched up the stairs and heard the door slam after he entered his room.

Isabel walked over to the pack and play where Lexie slept peacefully. All she had ever wanted was to be normal. Have a normal life, date boys, and have friends but she had been denied that. She had been denied that because of who she was. She didn’t want that for her daughter.

“Kyle’s right. Haven’t enough childhoods been ruined by this? Haven’t these two children barely on this earth a year been through enough because of some world they have never even seen? I don’t want that life for Lexie either.” She said assertively.

“I won’t let her hide who she is because of fear.” She added.

“Isabel, they are your children. We will abide by your wishes.” Max said as the rest nodded in agreement.

“Thank you.” She said looking at her family.

“I’m going to take her upstairs it’s been a long day.” She said.

Lexie cooed and gurgled as her mother lifted her and placed her head on her shoulder oblivious to all that had taken place around her.

“I’ll never let anything happen to you.” Isabel whispered to her daughter as she carried her up the stairs.

“What now?” Michael asked when they heard Isabel’s door close.

“We abide by their wishes.” Max said.

“If it was our child I would feel the same way.” Maria said.

“I know, I would also but what do we do next.” Liz said asking Michael’s question before he could.

“We enjoy the holidays.” Max said.

“Huh?” Michael said.

“Christmas is coming and it will be the kids first. There is no alien invasion knocking at our door right now. Most of the skins were killed in cooper summit. For now we are human and we act it. When or if there is a threat will deal with it but we have to take our lives back.” Max said.

“For once I agree with you Maxwell.” Micahel said squeezing Maria’s hand.

“I just hope it’s the right thing.” He added to himself silently.

Hey everyone i'm back with part 34. Finally. This pregnancy has really been wiping me out. Thanks for all your congratulations and feedback. The next part is very long so I will post it in 2 parts. We take a journey into the past. Just a disclaimer I do not own the song i will survive that belongs to Gloria Ganyor and her writers. i'm just borrowing the lyrics for dramatic purposes, Same goes for three's company. RIP John Ritter. So witout further adieu:

Stronger Together
Part 34 A
Michael felt the cool breeze on his face as he rode his bike through the busy intersection. After the tense meeting at the house earlier he had needed to do something to clear his mind. It was Maria who had suggested he go for a ride on his bike. It was amazing how she knew him so well and how far they had come.

In the past Maria would have taken his quiet sullen mood to mean that there was something wrong between the two of them but now she knew that sometimes he just needed to be alone and think. It wasn’t anything that she had done it was just who he was and he loved her even more for understanding that. If you had told him in High School that he would ever find someone who completely understood and accepted him for who he was he never would have believed you. Things like that didn’t happen to lone foster kids from other planets. No he had truly believed that things like that only happened to the lucky, like Max and Isabel. After all they were the ones who had the courage to go out to the Evans that day in the desert and find themselves a family. As much as Michael might have wanted to go with them he was scared and he never had told this to anyone else but he felt like he was waiting for someone else.

Michael slowed his bike to a stop as he reached his destination. When he left the house he had no conscious idea of where he was going. The plan had been just to ride but subconsciously he knew exactly where he was going and as he stared at the house the four of them had been in earlier he didn’t know why.

Well I’m here I might as well take the next step and find out why the hell I’m here.
If something alien had brought him here he needed to know why. He needed to know what it was about Kyle’s mother that made him want… No need to speak with her.
As he turned off the ignition and removed his helmet he noticed the porch light go on. He watched as Kristiana opened the door and walked down the path toward him tugging her sweater tightly trying to keep warm from the cool night breeze.

“I had a feeling you would be back.” She said with a smile as she reached him.

Michael stared at her. She was very beautiful and when she smiled something inside Michael recognized her. How were they connected? Had he known her in his past? No, that wasn’t possible. Yet there was something that told him he did know her and that he could trust her.

“Why would that be?” Michael said without betraying his thoughts or emotions, stonewall Guerin.

Kristiana smiled at him again. She couldn’t believe what a handsome strong man he had become. It wasn’t obvious to most who looked at him but she could tell he had been through a lot in his life. She could see it in his eyes because the eyes hadn’t changed.

“Why don’t you come inside? Rian is out so we have the place to ourselves. We have a lot to talk about.” She said.

“How do I know I can trust you?” He said again trying to hide himself behind the stonewall.

“Michael, we both know that you wouldn’t be here if something inside you wasn’t telling you that you could trust me.” She said and began walking towards the house. She didn’t even look back she knew that he was behind her and that one of the days she had been waiting for in the last 20 years was now here.

*************************************************************
Michael sat down on the same couch he had sat on hours earlier when he had learned about how he came to be on this planet.

I wonder what other secrets I’ll find out within these walls.

He watched as Kristiana came out of the kitchen with 2 mugs of coffee.
Again at the back of his mind he felt that tingle of recognition.

“Do I know you from my previous life?” Michael asked finally getting the question out in the open. He didn’t see how it was possible but he had to know.

She smiled at him as she sat down across from him and handed him his coffee mug.

“I know I’ve aged since I left earth but I didn’t think I looked old enough that some one would think I was alive since before 1947.” She said with a laugh.
Michael shifted uncomfortable in his seat. He hadn’t meant to insult her but he didn’t see any other reason for the recognition he continually felt when he saw her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to insult you. You don’t look that old but I really don’ know anything about you. Nacedo had been around that long and he could look any age he wanted.” He said.

“I’m not a shape shifter. This is my body. I am who I am.”

“So who are you? If I didn’t know you in my last life then why do I feel this constant sense of recognition every time I see you?” He said.

“You’ve known me in this life.” She said and took a gulp of her coffee.

“That’s not possible. I didn’t even really get to know Kyle till I was in High School and you were gone by then.” He said shaking his head.

“That is my fault. It never should have been that way. You did know me.” She said.

“Can we please stop talking in riddles? I have had enough of that to last me a lifetime. I want straight answers.” He said not trying to let too much emotion in his voice.

“That is exactly what you deserved. I would have liked for Kyle and even Jim to be here for this explanation but it doesn’t look as if that is going to happen.” She said sadly.

“I guess first I should give you some background on my Antarian ancestry.” She said.

“That might be a good place to start.” He said placing the coffee mug on the table in front of him.

“My grandfather was one of the first anatarian scientists to come to earth to help find a solution to the “Pod Problem” as they called it. While he was here he met and fell in love with my Grandmother. She was a local nurse and he was working at the hospital as a Doctor. For a long time he didn’t tell her about who he was or where he was from. When she became pregnant with my father he had no choice. I remember him saying how he had expected her to run away but all she did was kiss him and say no matter who he was she still loved him.” She said remembering how her grandfather used to talk about her grandmother when she was a child.

“So your father was a hybrid.” Michael said.

“Yes one of the first. It was through these types of relationships that the scientists learned that humans and antarians were genetically compatible.” She said.

“My father grew up as a normal human child yet he was extremely intelligent. He could read and write at 3 and do algebra at 7. He met my mother while at Harvard University. They married and had my brother and I. My father became a doctor and joined the alliance.” She explained.

“Did you always know that you were part alien?” Michael asked.


“Yes I always knew. It was never kept a secret from us. After all we did have different powers then the average kids. Nothing major but molecular manipulation and protection powers. It wasn’t that we were part alien it was that we were part Antarian. I never even really thought about it until my Junior year of High School.”

“What happened then?” Michael asked.

“My father got word from the alliance that the pods containing you four needed to be looked after. Since my Father was a world renowned Obstetrician they requested that he move to Roswell to oversee the pods development.” She explained.

“So why didn’t he go?” Michael said.

“He did go. Why did you think he didn’t?” She said.

”Well we came out of our pods and no one seemed to know about it or care.” He said.

“There is a reason why that happened but you’ll have to hear the whole story to understand it.”

Michael nodded at her to continue.

“Needless to say I was not a happy camper. My father was uprooting us and moving us from Massachusetts to some God forsaken place in New Mexico.” She said.

Massachusetts 1979

“I hate this I don’t want to go. How can you do this to me? I have a life here! My friends are here!” Kristiana yelled at her father.

“I’m sorry Chrissy but it is what I have to do.” Her father said.

“It’s not fair Paul doesn’t have to go because he is in college but I have to leave and go to the God forsaken desert. It’s my senior year I’ll never forgive you.” She cried as she ran up the stairs and slammed her door shut.”

Roswell New Mexico Summer 1979

Kristiana surveyed the little town as they drove through toward their new house.

“You have got to be kidding me.” She mumbled under her breath as she noted all the alien themed stores and businesses.

“I think it’s quaint.” Her mother said noticing her daughter’s expression.

“Quaint isn’t the word that comes to my mind Mother.” She said as they pulled into their new home.

It was a nice sized house with white siding and blue shutters and a large oak tree in the front yard. She walked up the gray stone pathway and turned around. Holding up her hand to shield her eyes from the sun she surveyed her surroundings.

“This is a long way from Boston.” She thought.

“Chrissy, I need you in here.” Her mother yelled from inside the house.

The movers had done much of the unpacking for them but there were still boxes and kitchen supplies that needed to be unpacked.

Oh joy just how I wanted to spend my afternoon. What else is there to do she thought. I didn’t notice any malls or even a movie house as we came through town.

She flipped on the Radio and got to the task of emptying the boxes and placing the contents in the pantry and cabinets. After a while she lost herself in the musical rhythm of the music. Then her new personal anthem came on Gloria Gaynors I will Survive. She turned up the volume and began singing and dancing around the kitchen.

“First I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to get along
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye…”

Kristiana stopped mid-verse when she suddenly realized she wasn’t alone and had an audience. Quickly she put down the slotted spoon she had been using as a microphone and turned the radio down.
“Don’t stop on my account. That’s one of my personal favorites and you sing it pretty well.” A young man said from the doorway.

He was about her age with brown hair that was sun-kissed with streaks of blonde and crystal blue eyes.

“I didn’t know anyone was here.” She said moving items around on the table in the hopes that he wouldn’t notice she was blushing.

“Your mom told me I should come on in. My name is Jim. I live just up the road.” He said with a grin.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Christine though a lot of people call me Chrissy.” She said.

“Like on Threes Company.” He said with a smirk.

“Great now he thinks I’m a ditz.” She thought to herself.

“Yeah sort of.” She said and turned so he wouldn’t see her blush again.

“So are you excited about going to Roswell High?” He asked.

“I guess. It’s kind of hard to go to a new school in your senior year. Have you lived here all your life?” She asked as she moved around the kitchen.

Damn he was cute. He was making her so nervous she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Yeah, my dad’s the sheriff. This must be a big difference from Boston.” He said with a smile that made her stomach do flip-flops.

“You could say that. It’s definitely a lot smaller. I bet everyone knows everyone.”

“Yeah pretty much. The same kids you go to elementary school with are the ones you go to high school with. I hope to get out of here for college though. Major in Criminal Justice and maybe even join the CIA or FBI.” He said with pride.

“Don’t want to be stuck in a small town?” She asked.

“Yeah well like you said everyone knows you and judges. You can’t escape that.” He said as he got a far off look in his eyes.

The look surprised her. Jim was good looking and obviously very athletic. He was probably even a star quarterback or something. Why was he in such a rush to get out of here?

“I think it’s great that you’re thinking about your future. I myself plan to go back to Boston for school. I think maybe I’ll become a teacher, even though my dad wants me to go into medicine. I don’t know I guess I have the whole year to think about it.” She said with a shrug.

They stood there in silence for a few minutes and then they both started to talk at the same time. Stopping they both started to laugh.

“Sorry Jim. You go first.” It sounded so natural as she said it.

“Some of my friends and I are going to go hang out tonight. I was wondering if maybe you might want to come. Meet some of the people you’ll be going to school with?” He asked.

“I would really like that.” She said with a smile.

“Great!” He said as he smacked his hands together.

“I’ll pick you up around seven.” He said as he turned to leave.

“Ok thanks. See you at seven.”

She walked him to the front door and when she saw he was half way down the street she started yelling for her mother.

“Mom. Mom. Where are the boxes with all my clothes?” She yelled.

Her new biggest concern was what she was going to wear.

Stronger Together Part 34 B

Kristiana pulled her long Brown hair in to a high ponytail. It was a warm night and she knew she would want to feel the cool breeze on her neck. She looked at herself in the mirror and applied some blush to the apples of her checks and put a pale pink lipstick on her lips.

She glanced at the clock in her room and noticed the time was 6:50. Jim would be here any minute to pick her up. She had sifted through boxes for hours and had finally decided to wear a pair of black shorts with a white eyelet halter-top. It was simple and not too trendy. The last thing she wanted to do was stick out like a sore thumb.

“Chrissy, Jim’s here to pick you up.” Her mom said through the door.

“Ok mom.” She said as she threw her lipstick and blush in her bag.

She took a deep breath and headed to the stairs. Her father had warned her to make sure that she was very careful about the whole alien part of her background around Jim. She found this to be quite odd since it had never been an issue in Boston. Not that she would have said anything anyway. She hardly even thought about it, truth be told.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs she saw Jim waiting talking to her father. He looked fabulous. He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and dungarees that hugged him in all the right places.

“Hi.” She said as she entered the living room and both men stood up to greet her.

“You look lovely.” Her dad said kissing her on the cheek.

Jim said nothing for a moment. He was about to say something when Kristiana’s father interrupted.

“Have her home by 11.” He said.

“I will.” He said as they walked to the door.

“You look beautiful.” He said when they were alone outside.

Kristiana blushed as she said” Thank You.”

“Are you ready?” He said as he opened the car door open for her.

She nodded and got in the car and reached over to unlock his door.

They made small talk on the ride out to the desert. Jim told her about the town and the school and Kristiana told him about her life back in Boston. She found herself very comfortable and was quite surprised when he pulled next to a bunch of cars and announced, “We are here.”

Kristiana got out of the car when Jim opened it and surveyed her surroundings. It was very dark that night but the barn fire and the stars in the sky illuminated the whole area. There were about 25 other people there. Some were sitting around the fire. Others were sitting on the hoods of their cars and some were dancing to music coming from one of the nearby cars.

“Hey Jim.” A deep voice said breaking her from her thoughts.

Before them was a boy about her age with dark black hair and brown eyes.

“Who’s this?” He asked.

“This is Chrissy and she just moved into the old Sampson house.” Jim said.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Mike Troy.”
“So your new here? What brings you to Roswell?” He asked.

“My dads opening up a doctors office. He’s originally from this area.” She said with a smile.

“MIKE!” A shrill voice yelled from behind her.

“Mike, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I go off for one little second and I come back and you’re gone.” The girl with long blonde hair and green eyes said as she brushed passed Kristiana.

“Yeah well I saw Jim and thought I would come over and see what was up.”

”Oh Jim. How are you? I haven’t seen you all summer. What have you been up to?” She drooled placing her hand on his chest.

“Not much just working really.” He said as he moved to remove her hand from his body.

“Emily Masters. This is Chrissy. She just moved here from Boston.” He said.

Kristiana was about to say hello but was beat to the punch by Emily.

“A big city girl huh. What you doing in our little ole town?” She said as she eyed Kristiana up and down.

“My father is the new doctor.” Was all she said.

“Oh really how nice for you and you snag our star quarterback on your first few days here.” She said.

Kristiana was about to let her have it when she heard a voice come from behind her.

“Emily didn’t you wear that same shirt last Tuesday when I saw you at the soda shop?” A pretty girl with auburn hair said.

“Why Nancy you must have been way to busy waiting tables to have noticed what I was wearing.” She said.

“No I distinctly remember you getting mustard on that shirt and look there is still a stain.” She said pointing right under her rather large chest.

Emily gave her a death glare.

“You must be mistaken I’m not the one who works at a diner.” She said and turned away.

“Let’s go Mike. See you around Chrissy.” She said in an icy tone.

“God that girl just makes my blood boil. Who does she think she is?” The girl Emily had called Nancy said.

“Please ignore her. If you haven’t already guessed she’s the school tramp but she’s also head cheerleader so people put up with her.” Nancy said.

Jim laughed. “You always have hated her Nancy.”

“Well she is mean and have you seen the way she hangs all over Jeff?”

“Nancy this is Chrissy Kingston.” Jim said introducing them.

“Nice to meet you. Are you going to Roswell High?” She asked.

“That’s a silly question. Where else would she go?” The tall dark haired young man that had walked over with Nancy said.

“Hi, I’m Jeff Parker.” He said.

“Well maybe she’s in college like you.” Nancy said rolling her eyes.

“No I’m not in college yet. I’ll be at Roswell High for my senior year.”

“That must stink having to do your senior year in a new High School. Maybe will have some classes together. I’m going to need someone to keep me company considering this one over here is going away to college.”

“That would be nice.” Kristiana said. She liked Nancy. She was friendly and seemed fun. Maybe things weren’t going to be so bad in Roswell after all.

She had a wonderful time the rest of the night. Jim introduced her to all his friends and Nancy to hers. She found that even though they all had grown up together they were really friendly and aside from the icy stares she got from Emily and what Nancy called her gang she felt really welcome.

“Are you ready to go it’s almost 10:30?” Jim whispered to her.

“Ok let me just say goodbye to Nancy.” She said.

She didn’t even notice the sheriff’s car pull up until someone in the crowd yelled sheriff.

She spotted Jim in the crowd and noticed he had a nervous look on his face.

“Oh no.” Nancy mumbled under her breath.
“Why’s everyone worried? We aren’t doing anything wrong. Are we?” She said starting to get nervous. That was all she needed was to get brought home by the police on her first night out.

“No, we are fine.” Nancy said as she exchanged glances with Jeff.

She watched as Jim walked over to her hurriedly.

“We should go.” He said as he took her hand and led her to the car.

“Is everything ok?” She asked with concern. This was very weird. Wasn’t the sheriff his father?

“Fine I just don’t want to have you home late on the first night that I take you out.” He said with a nervous smile.

“Jim! Jim!” The sheriff yelled.

Jim’s face turned white as he turned towards his father.

“Did you see anything?” He said in a hush tone.

“No dad. We are just hanging out.” He said.

“I heard there were flashes of light. You must have seen something.” The older man said.
“No, Dad, nothing, false alarm. Go home.” He said and tried to turn away.

“Is everything ok?” She asked.

“Who are you?” He said suspiciously.

“This is Christine Kingston.” He said.

“I’ve never seen you before.” He said again in a suspicious tone.

“I just moved here.” She said feeling a little nervous.

“Really and where would that be from?”

“Boston.” She replied.

“Hmm..” He said and grabbed his son’s arm and dragged him to the side.

“She may be one of them.” He said.

”She’s not Pop. Please just go home.”

“Is it a coincidence that she moves here and we have reports of lights in the sky.” He said getting agitated.

“We always have reports of lights in the sky. It’s Roswell for Christ sake. Her fathers the new doctor.” He said getting agitated.

“Fine but I’ll be watching them.” He said under his breath and got back into his car.

“Hey Valenti, your father still hunting for little green men.” A voice yelled from the crowd. Followed by some giggles and what could only have been Nancy: “Shut up you jerk.”

Kristiana watched the whole exchange. Now she knew why her father had cautioned her about Jim. Jim’s father was an alien hunter. She had always heard about them but to actually come in contact with one sent shivers down her spine.

“I’m sorry are you ready to go?” Jim said sadly.

“Yeah.” She said with a forced smile.

They drove home in silence. Each lost in their own thoughts. He pulled the car up in front of her house and turned off the ignition.

Again after a moment of silence they both started talking at once. They both stopped and smiled.

“You go first.” Jim said.

“I had a really nice time tonight.” She said.

“Until my father ruined everything.” He said.

“He didn’t ruin anything.” She said.

“I understand if you don’t want to see me anymore.” He said and looked down at his hands.

“Why wouldn’t I want to see you again?” She said.

“Because my Dads the town nut case. I should have told you sooner but I was hoping you could get to know me for me.”

A sense of relief swept over her. His dad wasn’t a true alien hunter.
“He’s been obsessed with aliens since the supposed 1947 crash. In the beginning people would actually listen to him but then he started saying there were aliens living among us. He even believed this poor woman’s death was caused by aliens. That’s when people really thought he was nuts. My Mom and me have had to live in that shadow for a long time now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“That’s why you want to leave Roswell.” She said.

“It’s hard being the nutcases kid.” He said.

“Jim, your father has nothing to do with you. I don’t care about him, I care about you.” She said waiting for his reaction.

He reached over and took her hand.

“You do?” He said.

She lifted her head and her eyes met his.

“Yes.” She said softly.

“He lifted her chin with his finger and lowered his lips on to her. It was sweet, tender and the most romantic kiss she had ever experienced.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” He asked

“I would like that.” She said. He placed a gentle kiss on her hand and she got out of the car.

“We were inseparable after that. We spent all our time together. We fell in love.” Kristiana told Michael.

“Why didn’t he ever leave Roswell? You both sounded like you wanted to.” Michael asked.

“We did leave. We went to college in Boston for almost 3 years. We loved it. It was just the two of us and we were so much in love. It was one of the best times of our loves. It’s where he proposed to me and where we started to plan our lives together.” She said getting a far off look in her eyes.

“So what happened why did you come back to Roswell?” Michael asked with interest.

“We wanted to stay but one day Jim got a call from his mother. His father had had a nervous breakdown and she needed him. Jim’s father had wasted all of their money in his alien hunt and now with the hospital bills his mother couldn’t make ends meet. We talked it over and decided that we should go back to Roswell and help his mom get back on her feet. We got married and Jim joined the sheriffs department. They were happy to have someone who had actually studied the law and Jim thought it would be good experience.”

“So what happened? How did you end up on Antar and the sheriff stuck in Roswell.” Michael said.

“Jim’s mother died a year later but by then I was already pregnant with Kyle and we knew we would need to save more money if we were going to go back east. Never in a million years did I think I would end up on another planet. It was that choice to stay that changed all our lives forever.” She said locking eyes with him.


PLease Post Feedback and let me know what you think.

Hey everyone thanks for all the feedback. Sorry this has taken so long but it is a very important part and I wanted to make sure that it was just right. IT is very long so I am posting it in 2 parts. Please leave feedback and let me know what you think.

Stronger Together

Part 35 A

Roswell 1982

Kristiana walked from the laundry room holding a basket filled with laundry.

“Hey, hey, you shouldn’t be carrying that.” Jim said as he rushed over and took it from her.

“Jim, I’m pregnant, not sick. I can carry a basket of laundry.” She said with a laugh.

“Not while your carrying my little quarterback you won’t.” He said and brought the basket into their bedroom.

“How are you so sure it’s a boy.” She yelled into the bedroom.

“Maybe it’s a little ballerina.” She said.

“It’s just a hunch I have but if it is a little ballerina I’ll buy all the tutu fru fru stuff they have.” He said returning from the bedroom and pulling her into his arms.

“What time do you have to work tonight?” She asked.

“The night shift. I’m putting in as much time as possible so that when the baby comes I can be home with you.” He said placing a kiss on her lips and placing his hand on her belly.

“What are your plans?” He asked.

“I was thinking about going to see Nancy. She doesn’t know I’m pregnant yet, so I thought I would tell her.” Kristiana said

“And maybe you would get an alien blast.” He said with a smirk.

“That too.” She said smiling back at him.

“How is she feeling?” Jim inquired.

“Good she’s really starting to look pregnant. I can’t believe we are both going to have kids the same age.” She said.

“I know. It seems like only yesterday we were hanging out in the desert. No we are all going to be parents. God help our children.” He said with a laugh.

Kristiana laughed along with him.

“I better get ready for work.” He said.

“I’m going to get going myself. Be careful.” She said.

“I always am. I have you to come home to.” He said and gave her another kiss.
*************************************************************
Crashdown Café, Same day.

Kristiana walked in and took a booth while she waited for Nancy.

Jeff and Nancy had recently purchased the old town soda shop that Nancy had worked at when she was in High School. There had been a lot of tension in town over the spot because developers wanted to come in and knock the old place down and replace it with an office building. Most people felt that just didn’t fit into what the town was and debates on the issue had the whole town divided.

Jeff and Nancy had come back for a visit from Albuquerque and had gotten involved in trying to get the place declared a landmark. They hadn’t realized how much the place meant to them or how much they missed Roswell until then. After much discussion they decided that using the money that Jeff had inherited from his father they would move back to Roswell and start their own business.

Kristiana for one was happy they did. She and Nancy had become very close their senior year of High School and she was so excited that her friend would be close by and now they both would be having babies. It was perfect.

“Thanks Amy. We’ll see you in two weeks with the shipment and thanks for the Lavendar it really does wonders for my morning sickness.” Nancy said with a smile as she walked a young woman to the door.

Nancy smiled when she turned around and saw Kristiana in a booth.

“Sorry it took me so long but our new waitress Agnes was late and I had to pick up the slack. It’s a good thing that I have experience with this kind of business.” She said with a laugh.

“The place looks great. The alien theme really suits it.” Kristiana said looking around the quaint diner. They had just completed an alien theme mural behind the booths and it really added character.

“Well we figured living in the alien capital of the world it might just get a little bit of attention. It was a struggle in the beginning but everything’s really coming together.” She said with a laugh.

“I’m so glad you decided to stay.” Kristiana said.

“You want to know the best part about being in the center of town. You get all the Juicy gossip.” Nancy said with a smile.

“Spill.” Kristiana said her interest peaked.

“Well Mike Troy’s mother was in here today and she was absolutely beside herself. It seems that Emily has finally gotten Mike to ask her to marry her because she got herself pregnant.” She said in a gleeful town

“I always knew she would have to trap someone into marrying her. No one with half a brain would voluntarily do it. What a little tramp.” Kristiana said.

“His mother was beside herself because he is going to have to leave Law school and come back to Roswell. He’ll be working with his father in the hotel.” Nancy said.

“Ugh they’re going to live here. I thought I was done with that Emily.” She said with disgust.

“Don’t worry we have each other. Besides we can always throw it up in her face that we didn’t need to get pregnant to catch our husbands.”

“Speaking of being pregnant, how are you feeling?” Kristiana said.

Nancy’s pregnancy had been a true surprise. She hadn’t thought that she could get pregnant because of an illness she had when she was a child. The doctors had told her mother that the high fever she ran had damaged her reproductive organs and that she would most likely never have children. The doctors were wrong. 2 months after the café had opened Nancy finally realized that she hadn’t had her period in over 3 months. She went to the doctor and he confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. The couple couldn’t have been happier.

“I feel ok. I still have this damn morning sickness. It was supposed to go away at 3 months but mine has just stuck around. The only thing that seems to help is the smell of Lavendar.” She said, as she held up a small vile with liquid in it.

“Where did you get that?” Kristiana said wrinkling her nose.

“I don’t know if you remember her but her names Amy. She was a year younger than we were. Her and her husband just opened this little novelty shop over on Sycamore. It has herbal remedies healing stones and aromatherapy along with the alien themed merchandise. It’s very new age hippieish. We buy some of our alien paraphernalia from her and she recommended the lavender and it worked.”

“Let me see that.” Kristiana said taking the vile from Nancy, opening it and sniffing it.

“It doesn’t do anything for me.” She said as she placed the cap back on the vile.

“I guess you have to be pregnant to receive its benefits.” Nancy shrugged.

“I am pregnant.” Kristiana said with a satisfied smile.

Nancy’s eyes got wide as saucers.

“What? When? Oh my god I can’t believe this.” She said jumping up and hugging her friend.

“How far along are you?” She asked releasing her.

“ About two months. I go for my first appointment tomorrow at my Dad’s office. Thank God he took on that new doctor.”

“This is so exciting. Can you believe that we are going to have babies?” Nancy said shaking her head.

“I know. They are going to be best friends just like we are.” Kristiana added.

“Or boyfriend and girlfriend if they are the opposite sex.” Nancy said.

“Then will be in-laws.” Kristiana said trying to control her laughter.

“This calls for a celebration.” Nancy said.

“Agnes! Agnes!” She called.

“What? I’m on a break.” A middle-aged woman said holding a cigarette.

“Breaks over. Please get my friend and I 2 slices of Apple saucer pie with vanilla Ice cream and 2 alien blasts.”

“Yeah fine.” The waitress said ducking out her cigarette in an ashtray and walking away mumbling to herself.

“I swear I don’t think that woman is going to last here.” Nancy said shaking her head as Kristiana laughed.
***********************************************************

Jim and Kristiana entered the building that housed her father’s office on Main Street. Her father Philip Kingston had done quite well in his practice over the past few years. People in town thought they were truly lucky that they had such a world-renowned doctor right in their town. His practice had become so successful that he had to hire a new doctor to help with the caseloads.

That is whom Kristiana was going to see today. As much as she loved her father she just didn’t feel comfortable with him delivering her child. It was just too weird. The new Doctor had been her father’s old nurse and had known Kristiana since she was a little girl. It also helped that she was part antarian.

The nurse showed Kristiana and Jim to the exam room.

Dr. Sarah Brightman entered a few moments later. She hadn’t changed much since she had seen her last. She was in her early forties with jet-black hair and dark brown eyes. Kristiana remembered that as a child she reminded her of a porcelain doll. Kristiana had often wondered why she wasn’t married. Then one day she had come to visit her father at the office and had found Sarah in one of the back rooms crying holding a picture of a man and a small child. She knew from the emotions playing across her face that this must have been Sarah’s true love and that something tragic must have happened. She never approached her just slipped out quietly so that she never knew she had been there.

“Chrissy, it’s so good to see you.” Sarah said.

“Deputy, nice to see you as well.” She added.

“Morning.” Jim said lifting his hat.

“It’s nice to see you also Sarah.” Kristiana replied.

“So I hear that congratulations are in order. When are we expecting our little one.’ She said with a huge smile.


“My last cycle was in July so I suspect that I am due sometime in April. We are so excited.” Kristiana said with a giddy smile.

“So is your father. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since he found out.” She said.

“Lie down and will check everything out.” She said.

Sarah examined Kristiana and then had her get dressed. She then had her and Jim wait in her office while she went down the hall. She knocked once on the lab door and then entered.

Seated behind a microscope was Kristiana’s father Philip.

“It’s as we thought. She would be the perfect candidate.” Sarah said with a sigh.

Philip looked up from his microscope.

“These are the latest samples. They are not good. If we don’t do something soon…” He said trailing off.

“She may be the only hope.” Sarah said.

“Have her come back in tomorrow and will discuss it with her.” Her father said.

“I just hope we are doing the right thing.” He added and then went back to his work.

Sarah walked back down the hall to her office where the Valentie’s were waiting.

“Sorry about that I went to see if the lab technician was in to take your blood samples but apparently she has called out sick again.” Sarah said shaking her head.

“Why do you need to draw blood?” Kristiana asked. She had always hated needles.

“Don’t worry. The tests are to check for immunity, blood type and hormone levels. All pregnant women have them done. Unfortunately, I am going to have to ask you to come back tomorrow.” She said.

“That’s ok. I don’t go back to teach at the school for another few weeks so my time is my own until September anyway.” She said with a laugh.

“I’m afraid I have to work.” Jim said.

“That’s ok. You won’t be missing anything important.” Sarah said with a relieved smile. The last thing she needed was for him to show up and start asking questions.

“Yeah only your wife being used as a pin cushion.” Kristiana said flatly and they all laughed.

“Ok. I have some other patients to see. So if you don’t have any questions I will see you tomorrow.” Sarah said and exited the room.

“See you tomorrow.” Kristiana said with a smile.
Little did she know what tomorrow would bring.
*************************************************************

Kristiana arrived at her father’s office bright and early the next morning. The last thing she wanted to do was spend her day waiting to be called into the lab. When she arrived she found it very strange that no one seemed to be around.

She walked into the office and found that the reception area was empty.

“Hello.” She said.

“Hello.” She said raising her voice a little higher.

When she still received no answer she moved behind the reception desk and started heading for the lab. As she approached the Lab she heard the voices of Sarah and her father.

“ It needs to be repaired and filled with more Benzyne fluid.” Kristiana could hear her father say through the door.

“We don’t have much fluid left. Another shipment is being manufactured in Boston but it won’t be here for at least another few weeks.” Sarah said.

“Well if everything goes as planned today we will have 8 months for repair and to refill it with fluid.” He said.

“She should be here any minute.” Sarah said.

“Are they talking about me?” Kristiana thought to herself.

“What the hell is going on? Is there something wrong with my baby.” She thought starting to get panicked.

Slowly she turned the knob to the lab door. She was surprised to find it locked and used her powers to open it. Her father and Sarah were obviously hiding something and she was going to find out what it was.

What she saw when the door swung open was not what she expected.

There on the table was a large pod. It was clearly damaged and had a tube circulating fluid out of it and new fluid into it. She knew it must be one of the pods her father had come to look after but what was it doing here? She stood there in silence for a few moments before the two others noticed her.

“Chrissy! What are you doing in here?” He father asked.

“I…I…” She tried to speak but her eyes were fixated on the pod was that an embryo she saw in there.

“Is that one of them?” She managed to finally say.

“Yes.” Lets go to my office we need to talk.

Kristiana followed her father down the hall towards his office followed closely by Sarah.

When they arrived they all sat around the round conference table.

“Yes, Chrissy that is one of the pods. It was damaged in the crash in 47. Up until now we have been able to sustain the life in side it because the being was going through cell division. Now that it is growing as a human baby it is putting a lot of pressure on the sac. That is why it is leaking all of that fluid.” He explained.

“Can you fix it?” She asked her heart in her throat. She had heard stories about the royal four and how they would save Antar. It would be a major blow to the planet if they lost one of them but that wasn’t why she was upset. No when she looked at that pod she saw an embryo. A human embryo and the thought that it might be lost made her heartache.

“We can fix the pod but we have to remove the sac from the pod to do it.” Her father explained a hint of sadness in his voice.

“So do it.” She said.

“The embryo will not survive for long without the insulation of the pod.” He explained.

“That’s where you can help.” Sarah spoke for the first time.

“Me? How can I help?” She asked surprised.

“The embryo is at the same stage of development as your child. If we removed the sac we could implant it in your uterus next to your child where it would get the nutrients it needs to survive. By the time you are ready to give birth the sack will rupture and the pod will be ready for the child to be placed in.” Sarah explained.

Kristiana sat in stunned silence. Were they really asking her to do this? She didn’t want anything to happen to the royal four but could she do this?

“Would it be safe for my child?” She asked.

“Oh Chrissy yes. It would be as if you were carrying fraternal twins. 2 babies in separate sacs. I wouldn’t even consider this if I thought something could happen to my first grandchild.” He father said placing his hand on hers.

Kristiana knew what she was going to do. If her child was assured to be ok she would help save the life of this other child. It was what she knew she had to do.

“I’ll do it.” She said.

“You will? Thank you.” Her father said with a smile.

“Antar is forever in your debt.” Sarah added.

Stronger together Part 35 B

After her father and Sarah had further explained the procedure to her they had brought her to one of the sterile exam rooms they used for in office surgical procedures. They had her put on a hospital gown and gave her some anesthesia that knocked her out. When she awoke an hour later she felt fine and was told to go home and rest for the next few days.

Her Pregnancy progressed normally from that point. Had she not known what they had done to her she would have noticed no difference. That is she would have noticed no difference until the babies started moving.

Kristiana would never forget the first day she felt the baby from the pod move. Her father had told her that they had placed the embryo on the right side of her uterus and that her baby was secure on the left side. At about the point she was 4 months she began to feel her baby move. It felt like little butterflies or a constant twitch and it always was on her left side. It was comforting and she smiled every time she felt it but it also made her worry because she never felt anything like that on her right side.

That all changed one day late in her fifth month. She was lying down watching TV and eating a bowl of Ice Cream. She placed the bowl on her belly and suddenly she felt a tremendous thump on the right side of her belly. It was so hard it knocked the Ice cream right off of her belly.

“Wow there little one. You pack quite a punch.” She said through her laughter.

From that point on the baby never stopped moving. When she thought about the babies she thought of her baby as a swimmer because the movements were soft and gentle and the other baby as a fighter because the movements were fast and hard. The further along she got in her pregnancy the more she bonded with both babies and soon there was no more hers and theirs soon they were both hers.
*************************************************************
Telling Michael this story was taking a lot out of Kristiana and she need a chance to pull herself together before she continued with the rest. When she came back she found Michael deep in thought.

“Are you ok?” She asked when she got back.

“I’m fine. You?” He asked.

“It’s difficult to talk about. That baby had a personality of it’s own as it got closer to the end of my pregnancy I began to panic, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to let the baby go.

“ I can see how that might have been hard for you. Wow Kyle and Tess were like twins. I guess they must have recognized each other or something because they were the first to bond with each other when she showed up. Even the Sheriff connected with her.”

Kristiana took a long sip of her coffee and then a deep breath.

“I think you need to hear the rest of the story.” She said.

March 1983

Kristiana looked at the clock near her bedside 4 Am. She couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was that in a few hours her father and Sarah were going to take her baby and put it in some cold pod. The thoughts sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t let that happen to her little fighter.

She made her decision she was leaving. She was going to Massachusetts. She could hide out there till her babies were born. Once she had both of them she would come back. Then people would think she had twins and her father would have to let her keep them. She would leave Jim a note saying she wanted to go visit some friends before the baby came. After she got there she would call and tell him she had an episode and the doctor had advised he not to travel. He would understand.

She wrote the note and placed it on the nightstand and headed for the door suitcase in hand.

When she opened it she found her father standing there.

“I had a feeling you might try something like this.” He said as he took the suitcase from her hand.

“I am not giving up my baby.” She said.

“Your right. You aren’t giving up your baby. Your baby will be safe in your womb for another month but the royal baby must go back with the other royals.” He said.

“No. This baby is as much mine as the other one. I won’t let you take it.” She yelled as she cried.

“You have no choice honey. This child has a destiny to be with the other three. We can not interfere.” He said.

“No!! We have already interfered. This child is different it knows a mothers love and warmth, you can not take it from such a place and put it in that damn cold pod!”

“I have to. You’re hysterical. You can’t make these decisions. It’s not up to you.” He said as he reached over and placed his hand on her forehead.”

“What are you do…” she began to say and then everything went black.

“The next thing I knew I was waking up in my fathers office. I knew immediately that my little fighter had been taken from me. I could still feel Kyle fluttering around but I felt so empty. That’s when I heard it.” She said tears welling in her eyes as the memories washed over her.

“What did you hear?” Michael asked.

“My baby’s cry.”

“ I started screaming. Give me my baby. I want my baby. I tried to get up but I couldn’t move my lower body. I became hysterical. My baby was in the next room and I couldn’t get there.” She said the tears now streaming down her face.

Michael sat there as he felt himself becoming angry. How could her father do this to her? What kind of people were Antarians? Did he even want to know?

“Did you ever get to see her?” Michael managed to say.

“Sarah came in a few moments later. She heard me scream. She had tears rolling down her face.”

“I am so sorry Chrissy but we have to do this. We have no choice.” Sarah said tears in her eyes.

“I want my baby.” Kristiana sobbed.

Sarah stared at her she could bare it no more. She had lost a child and knew what she was going through. No matter what she felt about Antar she knew Chrissy believed that this was her child and she wasn’t going to deny her the chance to hold her bay at least once.

“Give me a second, to make sure your father is not back yet.” She whispered.

A few moments later she came back in the room with a small bundle and handed the baby to Kristiana. A burst of love unlike she had ever felt coursed through her veins.

“Your perfect.” She whispered as she kissed the top of the baby’s head that was covered with a little hat.

“Perfect. The baby was perfect. I took off the hat to reveal a mop of dark brown hair. I undid the blanket and counted 5 fingers and toes. I memorized everything. I had never seen such a beautiful baby boy.” She said looking up to meet his eyes.

“Boy.” Michael said stunned. What was she saying? Hadn’t she been carrying Tess?

“You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.” She said never breaking his gaze.

“You’re my mother.” Michael said in a soft whisper as tears filled his eyes. His stonewall slowly coming down.

“Yes, I am.”