Roswell Fanatics

OOC: Thanks for pointing out what I missed.... I was so out of it lol


~Isabel~

Alex reaches out for my hand and I smile. I love him and having him at my side simply makes things all the better. Having him with me, makes me think that this rule sucks. Max should have the right to have the woman he loves at his side instead of someone he doesn't know.

Maria mentions waiting until after we eat before giving a call to Max, of course that means through telepathy. I sigh, thinking that Max was going to need more time then what the others seemed to want to give him. Still, I look over at Alex as he answers in a tone that sounds very familiar as being his way of agreeing when he didn't agree. “Sure, I guess a quick call in wouldn’t be that much of a problem…”

"If anyone does the calling though, it will be me. I don't want you causing him to feel more stressed, Michael. I don't see why you can't just relax and go to a movie or something." I say as I glance over at him and then I look back at Alex and lean over to whisper in his ear, "So, what do we want to do tonight?" I needed to do something to keep my mind off of everything that had been happening.

I leaned back only slightly as I told Alex, "I love you."

His prior words, “Whatever happens, wherever you are, I want to be with you Isabel…I followed you this far…I’ll follow you to the end of the earth…and beyond…” Kept replaying over and over again in my mind. I can tell that even though he hasn't said it, he worries that I'll change my mind but his words and his love are what keeps me going.

Kissing him softly, I simply block out Michael and Maria for the moment, wanting nothing more then to be with Alex. In private so that we can talk and I can simply enjoy the time with him.

Suddenly, I hear Max speaking to me telepathically. *Guys, This is going to take a bit longer than I thought. Nacedo never told Liz anything. She didn’t even know that she wasn’t from Earth!*

Take all the time you need, Max. We'll get to know the town more. I send back and then smile as I look at Alex.

"Looks like we are going to be here longer or at least without Max longer. Nacedo never told Liz anything so it's going to take him longer." I made sure I spoke loud enough for everyone at our table to hear.



~Michael~


I groan as I listen to them and shake my head. I can't handle this. I can't do this anymore. I shrug and look over at Maria, speaking a bit more gruffly then I meant to. "What would you like to do tonight, Maria?" I ask her, then simply wait for her answer. I know the other two are probably not even paying any attention to me now.

I just don't understand how they can simply be so calm and relaxed when this was our entire future in the balance because Max wanted to be fair. It just wasn't right.

*Guys, This is going to take a bit longer than I thought. Nacedo never told Liz anything. She didn’t even know that she wasn’t from Earth!* I hear Max say and have to force myself not to hit the table angrily.

~Maria~

"What would you like to do tonight, Maria?"

Michael actually asked me what I wanted to do tonight?! Does that mean that he won't kick and scream if I suggest something he usually isn't into? I decided not to think too much on it. This girl isn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"We could explore this little town," I suggested,"See if there might be anywhere fun to go out." I wasn't going to give him the pout or the puppy dog eyes...yet. But I was sure I knew his answer. He would suggest we stay in...again.

Not that I minded spending nights with Michael. But he never does anything for me...ever, anymore. But I can't help but feel a little used. Like maybe he's trying to turn me into a one night stand so that he won't feel bad when he rockets back to his home planet....without me.

I raise an eyebrow at him as I wait for his answer.

~Michael~


I am trying to contain my frustration when I hear Maria's answer and though staying in was usually something I preffered to do, I simply nodded. I didn't want to be stuck somewhere that I couldn't think and I needed something to take my mind off of everything else that was running through it. "Alright. Let's eat and then we'll go for a drive around town." I answer, making certain my voice doesn't contain the usual gruffness.

Then, deciding that it couldn't hurt to really surprise her, I leaned over quickly and kissed Maria's lips. I couldn't deny that I had wanted to do that for some time but I was not one for the whole public display, not like Alex and Isabel who were kind of lost in each other.

*Max*

I smile inwardly at Isabel’s silent message of support. I’m sure Michael’s silence means he’s not feeling the same way. He’s probably fuming at the delay but this definitely isn’t something I can rush. *Thanks.* I tell her quickly, turning my attention back to Liz.

While I was still talking, Liz had said something I didn’t quite get about not being able to go back to our other home. I’m not quite sure how to answer that one yet – I don’t want to overwhelm her although I know it’s information that she needs to have. I’m rather glad when she follows with a different question about the rest of the group. The answer to that one is far simpler.

“You can meet them any time you like,” I promise Liz, giving her a smile with my invitation. “We didn’t want to descend on your doorstep all at once. They’re waiting in a diner near here with a couple of our friends.” I see her eyes widen and I can guess what she’s thinking. “No, they’re not at the Crashdown. We found that place to be kinda creepy, if you want to know the truth. I didn’t really understand how you could even stand to work there yourself, but guessed that after living in Roswell for ten years you were desensitized to things like that. Of course, if you didn’t even know, that explains it, too.”

Liz smiles, her voice teasing. "What, with the flying sauceer mural and green me..." She starts of lightly, almost joking but then goes a bit pale as she seems to realize exactly why Michael, Isabel and I found the place to be so un-nerving.

"Yeah," I say softly. I turn down my face slightly and look up at Liz, almost apologetically. “There’s so much we need to tell you, and that’s not even counting all this that we assumed you already knew. I don't want to keep anything from you, I just don’t know how much I should share at one time. I want you to know everything, but I don’t want to give you more than you’re ready to hear. I can only imagine what a shock all this must be for you…”

I am very concerned about that, about Liz and how she’s going to take it all. Truly, I am. It’s a lot to expect of anyone. But if I’m honest with myself, I know that part of the reason I’m delaying is just because I just don’t want to say it aloud. To make it real. To see her reaction. What is she going to think of me when I tell her what’s expected of us? We’re still strangers. It’s positively barbaric.

~Liz~

For a moment, I’m not sure if he’s even listening to me, he seems almost distracted and there’s something in his eyes that I don’t understand.

Soon though, he turns back to me, smiling. “You can meet them any time you like.” He responds in answer to my question. I know that I should be happy to hear that…I mean I do want to meet them…but I’m scared…

This whole day has basically turned my life upside down… The things I used to think I know, well apparently they’re complete rubbish… Aliens are real – can I really be thinking that…? And after so long dreaming about it, I finally find I do have a family… I’ve dreamt about this for so long… A family, a home… So why do I feel so scared…?

Perhaps it’s because I’m worried that by accepting this, I’ll lose what I already have… I chew my lip nervously. Maybe I don’t have any family, but I do have a great friend, who would do pretty much anything for me… We’ll never be anymore to each other than friends of course, but I know that he’ll always be there for me…

My eyes scan the room which makes up the main part of my apartment. It may not be large, or impressive, but it’s mine… It’s a home that I’ve made myself… I don’t want to give that up…

But I do want to get to know them… I tell myself firmly, trying to swallow my fears and listen to Max as he continues. “We didn’t want to decent on your doorstep all at once. They’re waiting in a diner near here with a couple of our friends…”

When he mentions a diner, my first reaction is that it’s the Crashdown. My expression must give my thoughts away though, and Max quickly corrects me. “No, they’re not at the Crashdown. We found that place to be kinda creepy, if you want to know the truth. I didn’t really understand how you could even stand to work there yourself, but guessed that after living in Roswell for ten years you were desensitised to things like that. Of course if you didn’t even know, that explains it all.”

Creepy, I don’t know about that, I’d have thought more tacky… I laugh softly shaking my head. “What with the flying saucer mural and green me..." I trail off feeling a lump in my throat as it suddenly dawns on me exactly what Max means. I lift my hand to my mouth and try to breath normally.

If what Max is saying is true…that mural, however much it might have been popularised, is showing us…

“Yeah…” I think he realises what I’m thinking… Probably something like he and his friends did if they saw it earlier…

I shake my head, trying to get over how crazy this all sounds. I try and tell Kyle this, and he is going to say I’ve been drinking loony juice… Or alcohol anyway – it seems to have as much effect on me as anything. That was another thing it took only once to learn…I can’t handle my drink…

Yet, I know that Max truly believes it…and as much as I want to rubbish it, I’m finding it hard not to myself…

Max looks down slightly, and then back up at me. The look in his eyes is amost apologetic, or guilty… I don’t see what he has to be sorry about though…

“There’s so much we needed to tell you, and that’s not even counting all this that we assumed you already knew. I’m not trying to keep anything from you, I just don’t know how much I should share at one time. I want you to know everything, but I don’t want to give you more than you’re ready to hear…”

Is he sure he hasn’t already…? I almost feel like joking about it, and yet the tone in his voice is anything but light, he’s deadly serious. I don’t see what else he could have to tell me that would top what I’ve already heard, but he obviously thinks he has something…

I nod my head slowly but am unable to keep myself from chewing the inside of my lower lip. I’m nervous, I can’t change that, and this is what I do when I’m nervous… “I-I’m not suggesting that you are trying to hide anything…” I tell him softly. “And thank you for everything you have told me so far…” I shake my head. “It just sounds so unbelievable…as you say, I’ve grown up in Roswell…yet I never thought…” I trail off awkwardly and look at him swallowing nervously. “I would like to meet Isabel and Michael…and your friends too…” From the way that he’s separating them in mention, I’m presuming that they must be human, like Kyle… I wonder if they know the truth…? I guess that’s a question that will be answered soon enough…

Suddenly, I spot the clock on wall out of the corner of my eye. OMG…well I guess time really does fly sometime…although I’m not sure whether that’s because I was having fun… I sigh and look up at Max. “I really want to invite them to join us now…but I can’t…” I fiddle with a strand of hair. “It uh…really is nearly time for my shift…Kyle will be here anytime to pick me up…” I look at him apologetically. “I’m sorry…maybe you guys could come over tomorrow afternoon…? I have school during the day obviously, but then I’m not working at the Crashdown at all so we’d have the whole evening to…catch up…”

*Max*

Liz is looking nervous again and I wish I could do more to help her, but I fear the things I haven’t told her will only make it worse. She started off a bit nervous when I arrived, which makes sense to me. A stranger is always a danger when you have secrets to hide. And then, as we talked it turned to curiosity, then dis-belief and now, as she starts to accept it, she’s anxious again. I surely do sympathize with her. This can’t be an easy thing to accept. She’d grown up thinking she was merely different. This is so much more than that. I’m turning her whole world inside-out, I’m sure.

I’m glad to hear she’s accepting the fact that I haven’t yet told her everything although I’m trying. I feel like I’m being deceitful in holding back such important parts of the story, and I’d promised myself that we’d be perfectly straight and honest with her. I’m afraid if she hears too much too soon she’s stop believing it and I don’t know her well enough to even guess what she might do then. She might run.

“I would like to meet Isabel and Michael…and your friends too. I really want to invite them to join us now…but I can’t…” she says. I can see she’s sincere, despite her anxiety. She plays with a strand of hair and my heart melts at the sight. She looks so innocent and young. How can I do this to her? How can I even ask?
“It uh…really is nearly time for my shift…Kyle will be here anytime to pick me up…I’m sorry…maybe you guys could come over tomorrow afternoon…? I have school during the day obviously, but then I’m not working at the Crashdown at all so we’d have the whole evening to…catch up…”

No, I think desperately, she can’t go yet. I need to tell her more. I want for her to at least know as much as we assumed she knew before we got here. She needs to know who she is. I need more time. She says we’ll have plenty of time tomorrow, but I don’t want to leave her yet. We only just found her.

“Now?” I ask, getting to my feet as she stands up. “I have so much more to tell you…” I suddenly wonder if I could ask her to call in sick or something when another part of what she said leaps to my mind.

Kyle? I wonder, my heart sinking. Is he the one she was wearing that dress for? The one she’s going to the school dance with next week? It probably is. She’s involved and why wouldn’t she be? She’s sweet and pretty and polite. I’m not jealous, ‘though. I can’t be. I don’t love Liz; I don’t know her that well yet. But she is one of us and I care about her and I like her, already. I would hate to ruin anything that’s making her happy… Then again – maybe Kyle is just a friend from work. Still, she’s probably dating somebody.

I shake myself out of those thoughts and look at Liz. “Do you have to go? Could you call and tell them you can’t make it? A… a family emergency?” I suggest with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

~Liz~

I got to stand up, intending to finish tidying things away and begin to get my stuff ready. It’s not that I want to go, but now that I realise the time, I have less than ten minutes to get ready before Kyle is due to pick me up…

After wondering how I was ever going to fill two hours, I can’t believe how quickly it has actually gone by…

Of course a good part of that has been spent talking to Max, and I can’t say that has exactly been boring…

To be quite honest, I feel almost as though my head is exploding. All these things just sound so crazy…I want to tell Max to stop playing me for a fool, but every time I think about saying something like that, I begin to think about all the things that have never made sense… My powers…the fact I was ‘abandoned’… I’ve never had an explanation…until now…

What Max is offering, is to give me those answers…and much as I feel like I should be saying that this is all rubbish, the more I listen, the more I come to believe…

I shake my head, deciding that for now this internal debate is going to have to be put on one side. There’s a café full of hungry people waiting…

As I begin to rise however, Max does too. “Now…?” He asks.

I look into his eyes and to my surprise see something that I can only think is desperation. But it can’t be…don’t be so silly… Inwardly I brush it off but then Max speaks again, drawing my attention back to him.

“I have so much more to tell you…”

There’s something in his voice that makes me feel a little guilty… Why I would feel guilty in actual fact I don’t know…because all I’m doing is going about my normal life, but the way his speaks, I can tell that he really wants to talk longer, and I’m sorry to disappoint him. I nod slightly. “I’m sorry…my shift starts in less than half an hour, and even with driving, it’s still going to take about fifteen minutes to get there…” I shrug awkwardly, chewing my lip just a little. “I’m sorry…”

As I say this, I notice a strange look on Max’s face… Regret…? Disappointment…? I guess I don’t know him well enough to judge his emotions really, but whatever he was thinking, he seems to shake it off as he looks back up at me. “Do you have to go? Could you call and tell them you can’t make it? A…a family emergency…?”

I can’t help laughing a little at the way he raises his eyebrow when he makes this suggestion. “Oh yeah, and that wouldn’t seem at all strange would it, coming from a girl who to all intense and purposes is thought of as an orphan…” I trail off slightly, remembering what Max said about our parents… So I guess that isn’t supposed anymore…it’s official… I bite down on the inside of my lip, blinking back the tears whch are beginning to form. I might never have met them, but I have dreamt of doing so… They were my parents, and even if I never knew them, I can’t help feeling a loss from this…

Shaking my head, I try and keep away from such thoughts and get back to my original train of thought. “They don’t think I even have any family…” I point out softly, shaking my head. “I’m sorry Max, I want to talk more yes, but I really can’t risk crying off work like that…” I move to take the cup he appears to have finished with, carrying it round to the far side of the counter which divides my living room area from the kitchenette.

I indicate the room we’re both stood in. “My job pays for all this… It wasn’t easy to get – there’s not that many around for kids, it’s not a large town you know…” I set the mug down in the sink and look back at him. “I’d be lucky to find another that payed so well…given the tips I get…” I shrug. “I can’t afford to risk losing that…”

Of course it’s not going to be as simple as it used to be… After what Max just told me, I’m wondering how on earth – pardon the pun – I’m going to manage to work in that place. If everything he says is true, how do I manage to face the UFO murals and the space waitress uniform…? I swallow hard. The fact is, I don’t know, but I’m going to have to…

Kat, let me know if you want me to change anything...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Max*

I’m not too surprised when Liz rejects my suggestion. In truth, I’m more surprised at myself for making it. How many times have I told Michael that I didn’t want to pressure her and then I go and put her on the spot like that? “They don’t even think I have a family,” she says, sadly. There are tears in the corner of her eyes and I realize that she’s probably thinking about how alone she’s been all this time. All those foster families and nobody who really wanted her the way we do. It’s probably not going to be easy for her to see that this is real.

I nod, sobering my expression. “Yeah, I guess that wouldn’t be the best of excuses would it? Your long lost 'cousins' suddenly arriving out of nowhere?” I shake my head, a wry smile slowly returning to my face as she takes my teacup.

She goes on to explain the obvious, that she needs the job and the tips to pay for the life that she’s fought so hard to create for herself. I move around the counter and stand beside her as she sets things right before leaving.

“I understand,” I tell her gently. “You’ll probably need some time to sleep on this anyway. I’m sure it’s a lot to get used to and, as you say, we can talk more tomorrow. That will be fine.” I want to reach out for her, touch her cheek and wipe away her unshed tears, but I hold myself back. I think it might be too soon for me to be taking such liberties, no matter how much we’ve been telling ourselves about how she’s one of us.

“I’m sorry to have arrived so unexpectedly like this and complicating your life. We’ve been looking for you for so long. I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that we’ve found you at last. We might not really know each other yet, but you do have a family and we're here for you, now.” I tell her.

I tilt my head slightly giving her a crooked smile and she looks up at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "You don't have to be alone any more," I say, opening my arms and enveloping her in a hug just as I hear the sound of a car pulling up outside.

I'd planned the hug to be brief, but she actually leans into it and I hold her a moment longer. Then suddenly, I see flashes - just like I sometimes see with Isabel or Michael. This time, I see Liz, a beautiful brown-haired girl of six waking up in the desert and then standing by the side of the road as a car approaches, then she's a bit older with other children and yet always feeling alone - different - scared - then just a couple flashes of happiness, both with a dark-haired male teen-ager.

I pull back, looking into her confused face, wondering if she saw it too, and how I'm going to explain it, if she did.

~Liz~

I’m relieved to see that Max doesn’t seem too put out. He looks at me as I explain about how much I need the job. However much I might like to skip tonight, I just can’t…maybe it wouldn’t result in me getting into trouble, maybe no one would even know, but that’s not a risk I can take…

“I understand…You’ll probably need some time to sleep on this anyway…”

Sleep… Does he honestly believe I’m going to be able to do that after everything he’s just told me…? Everything I thought I knew, thought I believed, has just been turned upside down… I just don’t know what to think…

“I’m sure it’s a lot to get used to, and, ”

I laugh softly, nodding. “Just a little…” I murmur softly as he continues.

“…as you say, we can talk more tomorrow...that will be fine…”

“Thanks…” I notice there’s a strange look in his eyes, but I can’t quite read it… I guess I don’t really know him well enough for that at the moment…

Of course whether I ever will, well I guess I don’t know that either…he’s turned up, and the others are here, but then what do they want…? Maybe all they’re here to do is pop their head round, say ‘we’re here’ and then go off again… It’s not like a sixteen year old is going to seem like much fun to them… A little sister, just what they want – yeah right…

I sigh and run some water quickly, rinsing the cups and putting them on the rack to dry. I could use my powers of course, clean them in an instant, but I’m used to acting normal, and washing up – with water – is all part of that… I’ve used my powers for all sorts of things, but stuff like this…I guess I’ve always been over careful…

“I’m sorry to have arrived so unexpectedly like this and complicating your life. We’ve been looking for you for so long. I can’t even begin to tell you how glad I am that we’ve found you at last. We might not really know each other yet, but you do have a family and we're here for you, now.”

I look up at him, still not really sure what to say. This is all so much… What’s he going to tell me tomorrow…what else can there be…?

Max gives me a smile. “You don’t have to be alone any more…” He tells me softly. Before I realise what he’s doing, I suddenly find myself wrapped in his arms, and perhaps to my surprise, I have to say it’s a rather comfortable place to be…

I scold myself mentally for being silly. I know I should pull away, but somehow, instead, I find myself doing the complete opposite and leaning closer…

Suddenly, I’m hit by a number of images. A dark haired little boy…with a beautiful with a little girl and another little boy. A man... Some cocoon type object… The little girl walks up, wiping the surface slightly and I see that there’s something inside – or rather someone…

I think about what Max said about not being alone, and I can’t honestly remember a time when I didn’t feel that way… Even my first memories, that day… Nothing around me except rocks and sand. I remember that day…the day I woke up…the first memory I have, of being alone and scared.

I remember hearing the car even before I saw the headlights… Considering for one moment hiding behind a nearby rock, but in the end feeling too tired to run… The vehicle stopped, and someone got out. They were talking, but I didn’t understand what they were saying…

That was the beginning of it all…being passed from one home to another, never really belonging. As my abilities began to surface, I felt more alone than ever… Until I met Kyle…

He made me feel so safe when he was around… The safest I had ever felt… Except…no… My train of thought lapses as suddenly I get another flash…or maybe more of an impression… No sights, just a feeling, of safety, and peace… It’s almost as though I’m floating… It’s broken and shattered, rather like something that you can’t quite remember…something there at the back of your mind…

It seems like a memory, from far in the past…before everything else…

Max pulls back and I look up at him, trying to understand what I saw, and felt… I bite my lip nervously and shaking my head. I need some air…I can’t do this right now…I can’t deal with this right now…

Everything seems to be moving in slow motion, but then I hear the sound of a car horn and things return to normal. I look up at the clock and my eyes widen. I really have to go…

I look up at Max, pulling away out of his arms and grabbing my bag. I…uh, really have to go, I’m sorry…”

*Max*

I feel Liz stiffen in my arms and then relax, leaning against me. I'm pretty sure she saw something too. As I pull back to look at her, she seems confused and stunned. I'm not sure what to make of it. I'd have thought she might be scared, but there was a moment when she seemed to be actually comfortable.

"Liz," I say gently, wondering what's on her mind. A car horn sounds before she can respond, breaking the fragile link we had shared. She pulls away, grabbing her bag.

"I…uh, really have to go, I’m sorry…” she says. Now I can hear the hint of fear in her voice.

"Liz, it's okay. You saw some flashes, didn't you? Whatever you saw, it's just me. Who I am." I try to tell her, but she's already opening the door.

"Kyle's waiting. I have to get to work," she says again, sounding flustered. What could she have seen that's left her so distressed? Something I hadn't had a chance to tell her about?

I step outside with her, closing the door behind me. Then I see him. A teenager standing by an older car, obviously waiting for someone. He looks like he's only barely got his license. He must be nearly the same age as Liz. So much for the hope that 'Kyle' was just some co-worker. A middle-aged cook or bookkeeper or something.

The worst part is, I think I recognise him. I'm almost certain this is the boy I saw in the flashes. The one that actually made Liz feel safe and happy...

Kyle's eyes lighten in recognition as he sees Liz, narrowing slightly as he notices me. "Hey, Liz," he says.