Changes (UC/CC,YTEEN/ADULT) Pt 16, 7 April[WIP]

[willowbv]

Hey guys, here's Chapter 12b.

Dedicated to:
Sternbetrachter, Shama, BelevnDreamsToo, cameramandc, MZRUTHIEY, roswellluver, Earth2Mama. Thanks for the detailed feedback guys

cameramandc -

So what lengths will Liz being going through to avoid falling for Max?.

I'm not going to address that yet in Chapter 12 but I can say that tonight, she's going to have real trouble keeping her flashes from affecting her behaviour...

roswellluver -

"Thanks," she said accepting them, " I wasn't expecting this um, I didn't get you anything…but not like I should really."

Wow, that statement has caused some discussion, it is pretty mean and it's open to interpretation but I basically wanted Maria to say what she thought and blunt because though she's trying to give them a chance, she's still hurt and it's hard tackling the two and making them balance. I guess she's not being too nice right now, but you could hardly blame her.

BelevnDreamsToo -

Hope Max is watching her very closely so he can see what she's really like

He is watching her closely and he is seeing what she's really like, but not the way you think *wink*...

Shama -

People say how bad Max sleeping with Tess was and that he shouldn't be forgiven, but to me what Liz and Michael did was far worse. They knew what the consequences for their actions would be and they didn't care. The only thing they cared about then was themselves and didn't give Maria's feelings a second thought.

I completely agree, I can't answer any of your questions because all will be revealed soon.

MZRUTHIEY -

OK FIRST OFF YAY YOUR BACK OK I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESITONS, WELL MORE LIKE I DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU SIAD (This fic focuses on Ma/Ma at this point, I'm much of a Mi/L as you can probably tell but I will say that they will be happy in the end.) SO DOSE THAT MEAN MA/MA WANT STAY TOGETHER AND IF NOT WHY. IT'S NOT LIKE MAX CAN DO BETTER. MARIA IS GOOD FOR HIM. LIZ IS NOTHING BUT A SLUT/ HOE/ BITCH THAT HAS TO HAVE ALL THE ATTENTION AND IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE IT SHE WILL TAKE IT. :mad: ( LIZ ISSUES :bad-words: )LOL.

Liz issues indeed, lol. I can't answer your question either because I'm not sure yet. I seriously still don't know how this fic is going to end because I'm so involved in the "right now" situations of the characters which then dictate where I go.

BUT WHAT I CAN'T OVER LOOK IS WHY HE HAD TO LEAVE HER AND GO FOR THE BEST FRIEND.

Maybe Michael was afraid Maria would get hurt for knowing what he was.Maybe deep down Michael felt that if anything bad were to ever happen, better it happen to Liz than Maria.

Lol, not a Liz fan right now either huh?

There's a lot of Liz and Maria animosity going on here, which is good because, they're not done developing yet.


Chapter 12 b (part 1)

"Alex, pass me the potatoes please?" asked Isabel. While her hands reached out for the plate, her eyes coolly focused on the brunette sat opposite her, who would meet her eyes and then avert her gaze.

This was a bad idea, she thought, what was Maria thinking inviting her ex's along for Christmas?!. I am all for good will towards men but this is just plain naivety.

It's quite humorous actually, she mused as her eyes drifted from Liz to Max, who sat next to her, to Maria who sat next to him and finally to Michael, who sat next to her.

With a rueful smile she shook her head and decided to focus on the positive aspects of the situation: it was Christmas and she was here with her family and friends. She had a loving boyfriend and a human who despite knowing their secret, still wanted nothing more than to be friends with her. Her gaze remained fixed on Michael who was literally shoveling his food down.

He really must be hungry.

The jury on Michael was still out. He was the scum bag ex who had cheated on her friend and yet he was also the guy who had agreed to be Santa, which showed that he still cared for Maria. There was also something about him, something familiar which didn't redeem his actions but which was coaxing Isabel to give him a second chance. Liz on the other hand, from translating Maria's words into what they really meant in her opinion, was a jealous and selfish friend who wanted what she couldn't have. The argument for temporary insanity was out because her and Michael had been together more than once, for more than three months in fact and now when she realised what a mistake she had made, she was crawling back begging for forgiveness?. The nerve!

Tired with confining her tirade to a mental one, Isabel decided to express her animosity. She had promised Maria that she would be civil, but she wasn't just going to sit there and smile in silence! She wasn't going to lie and pretend everything was fine with her.

"So Liz," she began with a sarcastically bright smile,"how's life?"

"Um, good," she replied guardedly.

"Yeah, I'll bet," she nodded, "it's Christmas, you're at a dinner with your ex-best friend. You seem to be in her good books now...bet you're feeling really great right about now aren't you?".

A warm hand gently but firmly squeezed hers. Alex's gentle chiding was coming through loud and clear and to her surprise, it began to disperse the anger she had built up inside.

"I'm not here to create arguments Isabel," replied Liz levelly.

Isabel stared at her hard and found her eyes to be brimming with honesty and determination. There was a retort ready on the tip of her tongue to be lashed out but somehow, she found that Alex's touch subdued her.

How does he do that? She wondered in awe.

Alex's touch had momentarily subdued her venom and admitting defeat from forces more powerful than her, Isabel relented her attack. "No, I guess you're not," she replied finally.

****
Alex inwardly sighed with relief. That had been another of the many close calls of the night. Their hostility, no matter how much Kyle, Isabel and Tess tried to control it, was in full force. The worst remark of the evening had been Kyle's opening question to Michael:

"So Michael, brutally crushed any hearts today?" he'd asked.
Tess had then proceeded to give him a not so discreet high five.

Liz and Michael are pretty strong to stand this abuse, he thought to himself. I guess that must mean that they'll do or allow themselves to be subjected to anything to get Maria back.

The whole arrangement had been, along with the others, a surprise to him. He was surprised that Liz hadn't told him. Maybe she thought that he had known, but surely then if he had known then he would have warned her.

And Maria? He had no idea what she was doing. Inviting Liz and Michael to dinner was a peaceoffering, yet though she tried to hide it, he could see that she was enjoying the insulting remarks from the others.

Was this just a revenge dinner or did she actually want to make up with them?
That was the second most important question he needed an answer to. The most important question, however, was how was he going to keep up damage control for the rest of the night?

****

Kyle surveyed the table. He was glad that their dinning room wasn't large enough to house a table that would fit all the guests. Instead, they had arranged for two tables, one for the parents and another one for the children, with sufficient distance between the two of course. This was an excellent arrangement because it allowed him to say things which he otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Things were going smoothly, he figured that Alex had somehow managed to deter Isabel's attack on Liz.

I'm just gonna have to set one up and take a shot, tag team style.

"Did anyone watch America's Most Wanted last night?" he asked innocently.

"Not exactly Christmas t.v.," said Isabel.

"I'll have you know that America's Most Wanted is the show to watch, it should be mandatory viewing, it keeps you touch with current affairs," he argued.

"Yeah, of criminals," retorted Tess.

"Exactly," he agreed, "You gotta know the freaks and weirdos out there. Anyway, there was this guy who has held up like thirty banks. There's a reward out for him and they had this sketch and I gotta say, it kinda looked like Mi-oww!".

He broke off as someone opposite him stomped on his foot. He looked across the table and met Maria's warning look.

Point taken, he frowned in return.

"He looked a lot like Milo, the hardware guy," he finished lamely.

"So you were thinking, give a quick call and claim the reward?". Alex swooped in, picked up the banter and saved the ex's from the awkward silence guaranteed to ensue.

Foiled, thought Kyle disappointed.

"Easy money," he shrugged.

A warm consoling hand gently squeezed his thigh.

"You need to stop watching that," smiled Tess.

Kyle grinned. Just because he was out of the game for this round, it didn't mean that all was lost.

****

"Oh and what were you watching?" Kyle challenged.

He had given her a perfect set up, he was such a good boyfriend and accomplice.

"Cheaters actually," she answered casually.

Almost everyone on the table stiffened. Tess pretended to ignore the tense atmosphere caused by her remark.

"Ahh," nodded Kyle, and that's better than mine because..."

"Total justice," she answered.

"Which episode was it?" asked Isabel.

Tess grinned with glee. The three amigos were back in the game.

"The one where, that really pretty red head finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her friend," she replied staring at Michael opposite her, who was now staring at his plate.

"And then they catch them and she almost runs him over?" asked Maria.

"Yeah," she replied surprised. Does Maria know where this was going or is she genuinely asking the question? wondered Tess. Either way, it doesn't matter, the more the merrier.

"I love that episode! ," said Isabel.

"I know!" agreed Maria, " I was totally with her there, talk about a woman scorned," she added.

"Did you see him freeze as she drove towards him?" laughed Isabel.

"I know, word to the wise, if you get caught cheating, don't stand in front of the scorned when they're behind the wheel," laughed Maria.

The table was filled with laughter save for Michael, Max, Liz and Alex. Slowly the laughter died down and turned into suppressed smirks and awkward clearing of throats.

Tess congratulated herself on a job well done.

Game set and match.

****

[willowbv]

OMG!

that was hilarious! okay, maybe not for Mi/L but for me it was!

I had fun writing it and I believe me, I was writing from experience, I have a couple of extremely blunt friends, there was a dinner...and that's all I'm gonna say, but it was soo funny.

I keep thinking about Kyle, Isabel and Tess's behaviour. What beef have they got with Michael and Liz. Sure they hurt Maria, but if they never knew Mi or L before then how can they pass judgement on them. It's one thing to stick-up and defend your friends, but it's quite another to go out an attack someone.

Their motivation will be explained in the next couple of parts, the night is still young...



CHAPTER 12 b (part 2)

Burdened with guilt and shame, Liz found it difficult to raise her head, so with a her head down, she nodded slightly in abashed agreement.

Okay, we deserved that, it's the truth and they're just her friends, looking out for her.

She tried to lift up her head and meet people's eyes but found herself confined to staring at her plate, till a comforting hand squeezed hers.

Max.

Even the thought of his name made her smile and gave her strength. Alex and Max had been the friendly faces in the hostile and guarded group. Their presence made the dinner more bearable for her. Although, even without their support, she was determined to stay, but having their support made the situation a whole lot more comforting. To her surprise and joy, she found that Max wasn't ashamed to show his support, he was squeezing her hand on top of the table, in front of everyone else. He held it until she found the strength to look up and around her. After that, to her disappointment, he let go, leaving her longing for his touch.

"Um, could you please pass me the casserole?" she asked him shyly.

"Sure."

She reached out to receive the dish. Their fingers brushed and the familiar force took her breath away.

She was in the game room, with her head rested on his lap.

They were watching E.T.

It was Christmas.

An uncontrollable smile swept her face as Max's fingers trailed leisurely through her hair. She closed her eyes, content, enjoying his touch.

I could stay like this forever, she thought happily.

"Liz".

She blinked and she was back at the table holding the casserole dish.

"Liz?".

His voice drew her to his concerned eyes.

I love your eyes, she thought dazed.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

They're amazing.

"Huh?" she asked aloud.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

"Um, yeah, I'm fine, great, peachy," she babbled.

Oh great, now you're blushing. Look away, she coached herself, Look away.

Dishing out the casserole, she placed the dish to her left, away from Max's area and concentrated on eating.

How am I going to do this? What is this?!. It's not like I can control it, it just happens and Max doesn't seem to be affected. Does that mean that something's wrong with me? No, not wrong, it doesn't feel wrong. It feels right like nothing has in my life before, but he's Maria's boyfriend and has no romantic interest in me whatsoever, she thought dejectedly. I just have to ignore the flashes, have them, enjoy them and keep them from influencing my behaviour around Max...as long as they don't get too intense, I should be able to manage.

****

Max studied her a moment longer to confirm her response. She seemed flustered and a small secret smile crept across her lips every once in a while. That surprised him as there was nothing at the present time that she could smile about. Being the target of either Isabel and or Tess was something he wouldn't wish on anyone. Although he had to admitt, that he didn't sympathise with Michael as much as he did with Liz. Thankfully, throughout the whole ordeal so far, his sisters hadn't been as brutal as he knew they could be in respect to Maria's wishes.

A fond smile swept his face as he ate his meal topped off with Maria's tabasco Christmas sauce. She had made it especially for him, Isabel and Tess.

"I know your dietry quirk," she had told them, "so i wouldn't want Christmas dinner to be bland for you."

All the parents were at the dinner and to have the table littered with tabasco sauce, being that obvious, would have raised questions and questions, no matter how initially innocent, became dangerous when it involved them. Her consideration touched him deeply and not that they needed anymore proof, but after that, he was sure Maria could be trusted to keep them and their secret safe.

Maria took the Christmas tabasco sauce bowl and placed it next to her.

That action wasn't out of the ordinary. What was out of the ordinary, was what happened next.

She leaned over to Michael and in a hushed tone, said something to him. He nodded and smiled gratefully, she flashed him a smile.

Max caught the exchange and felt insecurity, stemming from mild paranoia and jealousy arise.

****

Maria felt his eyes on her as she talked with Tess. Ending their conversation, she caught his gaze and mystified by the unreadable expression on his face, she tentatively smiled at him and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

He smiled back while his eyes swept over her and then returned back to settle on her. Turning, Maria followed the direction of his gaze and found herself looking at Michael who seemed to be taking more pleasure in his meal, and the light bulb went off.

Ah, a little ex boyfriend insecurity, he's jealous, she realised.

She smiled to herself amused by the idea that she would be interested romantically in Michael again over Max. Doesn't he know that he is it?, he is who I want to be with?

Maria rolled her eyes with a smile before leaning over and kissing him reassuringly on the cheek.

He was so sweet.

****

Michael sighed happily as he took a break from the food. It had been tame, bland, nothing to leave his taste buds salivating for more, but after Maria had told him about her Christmas tabasco sauce, it had gotten a whole lot better. The fact that she could have left him tabasco sauceless the whole night, did not go unoticed by Michael. To him, that meant progress. Her one action had made the whole night of insults well worth it.

When Liz had told him that they weren't as of yet expected for dinner, it had been obvious to him that it was some sort of revenge dinner, not that he could blame her really. He had decided not to go, but Liz had convinced him to come, that if they wanted to be in Maria's life, they had to let her get mad and even and get to know and live through the animosity from her friends. They were fiercely protective of her, he assumed they probably thought that she was too soft on them and making up for it, but so would he in their position. It was like almost a test, to see if they were comitted to doing whatever it took, to see if they deserved a second chance. He knew for a fact that he would even go as far as threatening physical harm to the ex if he ever hurt Maria again, so while he didn't appreciate the insults, he knew exactly what motivated them and he admired that.

He saw Maria lean over and kiss Max on the cheek, his gaze tinged with envy and sadness lingered briefly on the happy couple. He was happy that she was happy, but he wished that he was the one making her happy instead of Max.

He had to credit her on the dinner seating though, she sat inbetween him and Max, which Michael figured was a good thing. A current boyfriend and ex-boyfriend who still had feelings for her, sitting next to each other, was a recipe for disaster.

At least I'm not sat opposite them, he thought gratefully.

"So Isabel, I heard that your Santa pulled out at the grotto, did you manage to get a last minute replacement?" he heard Liz ask.

The table sat in silence as they anticipated a scathing reply.

"How did you know?" she asked instead guardedly.

"The woman who served me at the store was talking about it," replied Liz.

Michael had to hand to her, she was determined to not let the insults prevent her accomplishing what she wanted to. Make more progress with Maria.

"Oh yeah, we found a replacement," she replied.

"At that short notice?" asked Alex, " who?".

Michael immediately met Isabel's eyes.

Would she dismiss him as a nobody, refer to him vaguely without mentioning his name, or would she actually acknowledge him and credit him for doing something good?

A second chance or a hell no?

The jury was about to declare their verdict.

"Michael actually," she replied.

Michael didn't even know that he had been holding his breath.

"You, as Santa?" asked Alex in disbelief.

"I could be Santa," he replied defensive.

"Jolly? Saying ho, ho, ho with the little kids?" added an incredulous Kyle.

"He was actually very good, a natural, " added Maria.

The compliment brought a smile to his face.

"Does anyone have pictures?" asked Kyle.

"Nope, was too busy trying to restrain the kids," replied Maria.

"Luckily, I have some," said Isabel.

"You didn't !" said Michael. Volunteering was one thing, but pictures as proof to no doubt be used for ridiculing purposes? That wasn't part of the deal.

"Oh yeah, behind the scenes footage too," she grinned.

"Pictures of Michael as Santa? Priceless," laughed Alex.

"Speaking of priceless," began Maria, " did anyone catch It's A Wonderful Life yesterday?".

The chorus consisting of Kyle, Michael and Alex, responded with a resounding, heartfelt, "No!".

Liz and Maria were fans of the movie and had subjected the boys to hours of torture, watching and rewinding the movie over and over again every Christmas.

"What's wrong with it?" asked Isabel.

"Nothing, the first time they forced us to watch it" answered Alex," and now..."

"Painful hours of black and white? No thanks," finished Michael.

"I'll have you know that it is a classic," argued Liz.

"You two don't know the meaning of classic," he retorted.

"Yeah, Chainsaw Massacre, now there's a classic," said Kyle.

"Blood guts and gore," said Tess with distaste.

"That's all you need," he retorted.

"Pretty Woman, now that's a classic," said Tess.

"Um, no," replied Kyle bluntly.

"The Godfather trilogy," suggested Michael.

"Now we're talking," agreed Alex.

"Leave the gun. Take the cannollis," quoted Kyle.

"It's not personal, it's only business" quoted Alex.

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in," quoted Michael.

"Times change. These days, we learn from the philanthropists like the Rockefellers. First you rob everybody, then you give to the poor." added Max.

Michael was surprised to see Max join in.

I never pegged him as a Godfather type of guy, wonders never cease.

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.," they said in unison.

"Is that like a pre-requiste, for all guys to watch and then memorize the quotes?" asked Isabel.

"They are applicable to real life," argued Max goodnaturedly.

Michael took a moment from the discussion as it suddenly struck him, that at some point, the mood had changed. It was friendly, relaxed, smiles were actually genuine, there seemed to be no hinden motive behind conversation.

Wow!, he thought in awe. How did that happen?

****

[willowbv]

AN: Hey all, :waves: I finally got around to an update. As usual bumpage has been happily and thankfully received, lol. No seriously, it has, especially at uni when everything is new and stuff, I am having a blast,lol, but to come on this thread and read your comments, it’s comforting in a way I can’t really explain in words. Anyway enough on my soppy stuff and onto stuff about the fic . So far most of this fic has been getting to know the characters, relationships etc but from this part onwards, little breadcrumbs of something more will start springing up. Just a little heads up to get your minds working.

is Godfather really that great? I've never seen it.

I haven’t seen it either, I’m gonna rent it out this weekend because my friend’s boyfriend came over and stayed with us for the weekend and all we talked about was movies. And guess what was in his top five movies of all time? The Godfather, lol

Oh and can we have a little more GZ lovin PLEASE.

Um…yeah, I’m not gonna say anything there except, I felt a little dreamer this week, I just rewatched Roswell S3 from Changes onwards. Loves, watching them now, those episodes rocked!. I cried, as usual, during Graduation.

I hate to admit it.....but I am starting to like UC....

Welcome to the dark side, lol

What a beautiful story. If I could nominate it, I would for the Best UC fic (WIP)

Wow, I am so flattered, I don’t know what to say except thank you so much for your words. I love writing this, but the fact that you like reading it too, makes me smile even more.

Okay people, we'll start off with a little stargazer action, move onto lamptrimming and take a stroll down groundzero, candy and dreamer alley. Let’s enjoy Christmas…or not


Changes – Chapter 12c

“Let’s open up the presents!” sang Isabel eagerly.

After dinner and dessert, the group had offered to clear the Christmas dishes, but their offers had been refused and they were sent to enjoy the rest of the night. Isabel had no objections against their orders, using their powers would have cleared up the mess quicker but it seemed that their parents really wanted to do it. She attributed it to some bonding experience, which suited her fine because, her main goal now was to tear off the gold wrapping paper and enjoy the presents inside.

“Here, here,” agreed Maria wholeheartedly.

They were all gathered in the game room, except this time, the atmosphere ,with the exes included, was far more relaxed than previously. During the night, Michael and Liz had shown themselves to be the good friends Maria had described them to be. Their betrayal was therefore a mystery to Isabel, as good friends didn’t delve into that territory. They were smart, good people, but their virtue didn’t redeem them at all, it just confused the whole issue.

“Um, we want to go first if you don’t mind,” said Alex.

She watched puzzled as Alex, Maria and Kyle crossed the room and picked up gold, silver and glittering blue wrapped presents, all identical in shape.

“This year has, for obvious reasons, been hell for me,” began Maria, “ then you guys enter the scene and I get great friends and,” she cast a loving glance in Max’s direction, “a great boyfriend. So…”

They each presented the gifts to their significant others.

Alex sat down beside her and handed her the gift, wrapped in gold ribbons- it fit her wrapping criteria. She stared at the object in her hands, stunned by their thoughtfulness.

“I know the wrapping is impeccable,” he joked, “but, are you gonna open it?”.

Isabel laughed softly and happily obliged. The gold wrapping fell away to reveal a long rectangular photo frame, decorated with Christmas angels and separated into three sections, capturing three pictures in black and white.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Isabel sat open-mouthed and speechless.

The first picture was of her, Max and Tess in one of the Crashdown booths, Maria had taken. The one on the other end was a group picture taken by her mother with her camera when Kyle had suggested that they all try to fit on the new sofa. That was when her mother had come in and taken the picture.

It turned out, like she had said, that only five people could fit comfortably, but it had been fun trying it out.

Her throat tightened and the heavy weight of suppressed emotion struggled to escape as her eyes lingered a while longer on the center piece picture. A picture of her and Alex: she was trying to play his guitar, while he sat behind her, arms around her, trying to teach her about where to her fingers. This was yet another picture courtesy of Maria’s passion for capturing natural moments.

“Well, do you like it?” he asked.

She met his eyes, “I love it.”

She glanced at Max and Tess and found that their reactions were much the same as hers, of utter surprise and appreciation.

“It doesn’t stop there,” said Kyle in a classic game show host tone.

“Yeah, uh, you guys are probably too much in a state of shock to click, but we got each of you to write a message on the group pictures,” said Maria.

Isabel watched as Alex opened the back and sure enough, messages from each of them except hers were written on the back of the photograph. Her gaze drifted to the back of her and Alex’s picture.

His warm breath tickled her ears, “And, I wrote something on our picture,” he added softly.

Isabel,
I know you want the perfect Christmas and this year, I hope you got it. I just want you to know that even though your enthusiasm might not always be appreciated, I like the “passion” you get during this time of year because, I got to see your strength, love and kindness.

The angels on the photo frame are our message to you, Max and Tess. You guys mean a lot to us and you, Isabel, are my angel and my friend.

Love always,
Alex

“Wow,” she breathed. Not only had he managed to avoid blatantly calling her the Christmas Nazis, which would have led to a major loss of points for him, but he managed to see past her neurotic behaviour and discover the real point behind it. “ this is…” she squeezed his hand and smiled, “…this is the best Christmas ever.”

Alex sighed with relief, he had known that she would love it, but no matter how perfect a gift was, the process of waiting for a reaction was very stressful, especially when it came to someone he cared about as much as he did for Isabel.

“You like it?” he asked.

“I love it.”

“Me too,” he heard Tess say. He glanced over at Tess who was at the moment hugging Kyle, he watched as awestruck, Max tried to formulate something to say to Maria and finally came out with, “I love you” and Alex agreed that that pretty much encapsulated everything. He beamed as Isabel planted several kisses down his neck and finally a quick enthusiastic one on his lips. He grinned knowingly as he spotted that searching look in her eyes. Like a child in Santa’s grotto, her cheeks were alive with colour and she exuded an energy, which left him captivated by her. She hadn’t failed to spot the two other presents he had bought for her.

“I know you love my sentimental gift,” he told her in mock seriousness, “ but there are two others on the more material side, which I hope you like as much.” He crossed the room and presented her with the gifts.

“I think I can manage that,” she laughed.

****

An absent smile swept across her face as her eyes drifted back to the photograph of her and Kyle sharing a milkshake at the Crashdown.

Tess,
I can’t tell you how much having you in my life means to me. You’re not like any other girl I’ve ever met and that suits me fine because you’ve been the girl I’ve been waiting to meet.

Kyle

The words played in her mind as she watched Maria unwrap Liz’s present : a videotape of Life Or Something Like It and a gorgeous fitted jean jacket embroidered with a fairy on each side pocket.

Tess had to give her credit, if Maria had been up for being bought off, this certainly would have helped in the healing process.

****

“How did you know what to get me?” asked Maria in surprise. She was puzzled by the fact that hadn’t spent any time with Liz for months yet she knew exactly what was on her “to-get” list.

Liz smiled shyly and glanced over at Max, her co-conspirator. “I had a little help.

“ Thank you both,” she beamed.

“You’re welcome,” smiled Liz.

Maria put her presents aside and began to wrap Michael’s. The presents from the pair, were uncalled for, but she was grateful for them, especially for the sentiments behind them.

I wonder what this is, she mused.

The wrapping revealed a small green rectangular gift box. She took the lid off slightly and peered at it.

What is…

She lifted the lid off and placed it aside.

…a key ring.

Surprised by the random and yet charming gift, Maria held it up to the light for inspection. The decorative item on the key ring was a cubic crystal and on closer inspection, she discovered that, like ships in a bottle, there was a delicately placed crystal bird in the middle.

“I don’t have anything like this,” she told him in amazement, “ this is such an un-Michael gift, but thank you.”

“Well,” he shrugged, “ I saw it and it reminded me of you.”

Her eyes filled with tears as like sound waves emanating from a single point, the wave of emotion Michael had in his eyes, washed over and through her.

She cleared her throat, blinked back the tears and overwhelmed and confused, she averted her gaze.

“I love it, I like it a lot,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” came the response.

****

Michael watched as she put his gift aside and opened Max’s. Max was her boyfriend he probably got her a gift she would love and she’d probably forget about his.

Not that it’s a competition or anything, he added silently.

Maria had seemed genuinely touched and pleasantly surprised by his gift. He cherished the way her eyes had lit up when she discovered the bird in the middle of the crystal; the childlike wonder in her eyes had been breath taking. She had been right, it wasn’t his usual style of gift and that he been his intention. He had wanted something special, something simple that wasn’t too expensive as to suggest anything but friendship, and the key ring had been it.

He watched her take out her present.

“Red sneakers?” he said aloud. He watched mystified as Maria covered her mouth with her hands in pleasant shock.

“Oh my gosh!, how did you get these? And in my size?!” she asked Max excited.

“Isabel and Tess helped,” he replied beaming.

What’s so special about the sneakers? He wondered.

“Wait, aren’t those like the red sneakers you had when we were kids?” asked Liz.

“Yep,” answered Maria.

Oh.

His mouth twisted in a pained smile as he watched the couple share a long lingering kiss.

He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. “They’re cool,” he added nonchalantly.

****

“So what are we watching?” asked Maria.

“Well, E.T. is a given,” said Kyle.

“Yeah…,” she answered slowly. E.T. had been their standard Christmas movie every year, it was tradition.

Only this year, we actually have real aliens and among them my boyfriend, who might not be jazzed about watching it.

“Do you guys mind watching it?” she asked, “ ‘cause if you find it like…” she paused, knowing that her silent meaning had been understood, “…you know…”

They nodded.

“Then we can-“

“Maria, it’s okay, we love E.T., it’s fine,” said Max.

“Oh, okay, good,” she sighed with relief, “ E.T. it is then. What else?” she asked.

Alex joined them on the game room floor, to rifle through the dvd collection they had spread out, “ something fun.”

“We need something action packed as well, “ said Michael, “ high body count.”

“Not Braveheart,” she said in unison with Liz.

They shared a knowing smile. When given the chance, Michael always voted for Braveheart. She had been subjected to it once, they all had, on movie night and that had been enough, for both her and Liz.

He held up his hands in defeat. “Fine,”.

****

After much debate, they settled on E.T., Rush Hour and Speed.

“We’ve got Speed and Rush Hour but no E.T.,” said Alex.

“It’s in my room,” said Maria, “ I’ll go get it.”

“I’ll come with you,” offered Liz.

She hesitated for second, before getting past her reluctance. “Sure.”

The night was about giving chances and even though she sometimes felt hostile and hesitant towards Liz and Michael, she knew that she wanted to give them a chance, despite her feelings.

At the bottom of the stairs, an idea struck her. Ignoring the nagging voice at the back of her mind, she eagerly pursued her idea.

“You know what? Why don’t you go up to get the video and I’ll go grab some pop-corn and stuff?”.

I’m not avoiding having a one-to-one with Liz, she argued with herself, I’m just being efficient, killing two birds with one stone.

“Um okay, sure,” she replied.

“It’s on my video selves.”

Liz gave her a humouring smile. “I remember.”

****

[willowbv]

****

Liz was once again overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia when she entered Maria’s room.

Tonight, it was standard getting-dressed-Maria-mess. Clothes were everywhere, her dressing table was a mess. Liz deftly stepped over shoes and magazines but stumbled over a round marble. She knelt down and picked it up only to find several others on the floor.

“I wonder how these got here?” she wondered aloud. Deciding that they were a serious safety issue and she opted to pick them up.

****

“It’s taking Liz a while to find one tape,” complained Michael.

“Yeah, well, Maria’s room is a mine field right now,” said Kyle, “ with the dinner party and general Christmas business, she hasn’t had much time to clear it up.”

The others were getting food for the video and while Max didn’t mind spending time with Kyle or Michael for that fact, he took the break as an opportunity to talk to Liz about the night so far.

“I’ll go see if she needs any help,” he offered.

****

Liz sighed as she recovered from another fruitless search. The video shelves were also in a state of disarray. A fact Maria had forgotten to mention. Videos were strewn on the bed, hiding under clothes and other places. She guessed that Maria had been trying to find videos they could watch before they had arrived. She considered calling her up but then noticed a couple of videos on top of the wardrobe. Standing up on tiptoes, she found that she couldn’t reach them.

“The perks of being short,” she muttered sarcastically. She crossed the room and used Maria’s desk chair for added height. Liz was so engrossed in rifling through the tapes in her hands that she didn’t hear Max enter the room.

“Love story, nope. Save the Last Dance, nope…”

E.T. was the seventh tape in the bundle.

“Hey.”

His voice startled her, any voice would have, but that fact that it was his, doubled her shock.

And she was way too close to the edge of the chair.

The videos fell through the air, as she lost her balance and fell to the ground. The videos landed with no problems, while she was caught in midair by a pair of strong arms.

That’s when her problems began.

The instant their gazes locked, Liz felt her whole body light up. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart thudded against her chest as energy, sparked from his touch, surged through her.

“Max” she breathed.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She realised that her hands had automatically gone around him and that he was still holding her, that she as still on fire and didn’t think that she would cool down anytime soon.

“Liz?” he asked.

“Um yeah,” she nodded, “I’m fine,” she replied.

You smell so good, she thought absently.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he said.

“You more than made up for it.”

Realisation hit.

I did not just say that!

“By catching me before I fell,” she quickly added.

“Always a pleasure…” he smiled.

How can a smile be that perfect? She thought amazed.

She watched his lips move but no sound registered with her till he shifted his feet.

“….we were wondering what was taking you so long,” he said.

“Oh…I had a little trouble finding the tape in this…”

He turned, taking her along as he surveyed the room.

“…Christmas induced mess?” he supplied.

“Yes,” she laughed.

She was hit by a painful wave of disappointment when he gently placed her on her feet by Maria’s bed. Energy was still crackling through her, she could almost hear it. Reeling from the intensity of emotions, Liz felt weak. She felt like swooning onto the bed, but more dangerous was the desire, that resounded deep within her, the desire of wanting more.

This is bad, this is so bad, she thought fearfully. Her self-control was rapidly diminishing. Turning abruptly, she went in search of the misplaced video. “I um better find, the um….”

“Video?” he supplied.

“Yeah.”

“The rest of the gang are getting the food,” he said.

“I am so stuffed, I don’t think I could eat anything else.”

Does my voice sound that loud and strained all the time? She wondered.

“There’s always room for popcorn,” said Max.

Liz picked up the tape, planned to stay a safe distance away from him and head back downstairs. Instead she paused, closed her eyes for a brief moment before turning around and walking towards him.

Over the sound of her rapidly beating heart, she heard herself say. “Found it.”

Turn away, head towards the door, she ordered her feet, but they wouldn’t oblige. Neither did the few marbles she had missed when cleaning up.

Liz stumbled over them and managed to keep from falling yet somehow, her legs mixed up the signals and she tripped over herself, fell straight into Max and found herself lying onto top of him, both supported by Maria's bed.

She felt his body heat and just wanted to lie there, run her fingers through his hair and have her way with him.

This, this is definitely not good.

****

“Where are Liz and Max?” asked Maria.

“They went to get E.T. from your room. Liz was taking forever so Max went up to help her look,” answered Kyle, “ Does everyone see a pattern here? One by one we’re all going to disappear, classic horror movie stuff.”

Maria rolled her eyes, “ Psychos don’t kill at Christmas, Kyle.” She headed towards the door, “I’ll get the tape and bring them back, my room is a bit of a mess.”

“You think?” he quipped.

“Shut up,” she retorted with a smile.

****

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Liz nodded against his chest.

I kind of dizzy, light headed, but I’m fine, she responded silently.

“Yeah.”

Placing her arms on either side of him, she lifted herself up and found herself staring into sparkling, laughing pools of chocolate.

“Liz, are you falling for me?” he asked in a serious tone.

Her heart stopped.

“No!,” she exclaimed.

Am I that obvious?! I could really see myself dying in this spot, right here, right now.

Now straddling him, she ran her nervous fingers through her hair. “Of course not. Why would you-”

“Liz. It was a joke,” he grinned, “ or rather an attempt at a joke,” he added.

“Oh right, I knew that,” she laughed relieved. The rational part of her told her to get herself off Max and go downstairs, but she wasn’t really in the mood to be rational.

She fixed him with a mock withering glance. “Don’t flatter yourself Max,”

****

Maria heard laughter but thought nothing of it, till she was standing in the doorway of her room.

****

“Not that I would blame you of course,” said Max.

“Oh yeah, that was exactly my plan…,” laughed Liz.

“Hey guys…” her words trailed off as she assessed the scene in front of her.

“…to lure you to Maria’s bedroom and have my way with you.”

Liz’s words fitted perfectly with the scene before her. A scene so familiar, she felt as sense of déjà vu.

Her best friend, straddling her boyfriend, but this time it was on her bed.

****

Liz stared from her friend standing in her doorway to Max underneath her. She saw the pain cross her face, she had the same expression she’d had when she had seen her and Michael together.

This cannot be happening, again.

****

Max met her eyes and felt her pain. It was raw, stark and heart-wrenching.

He shared a look with Liz and realised that they were both thinking the same thing.

They had to explain the situation.

Liz quickly climbed off him.

“ It’s not-“

“What I think?” she supplied.

“Yes!”, he replied emphatically. He rose off the bed, took a few steps towards her but stopped when she raised her hand to prevent his approach.

“Maria, we can-“

“Explain?” she finished. “Been there, done that Max. So let me just skip ahead to the ending okay?,” she waved her hands in the air as if washing her hands of the situation, “We’re done.”

Max stood momentarily stunned as he watched her walk out of his line of vision.

“I’ll go,” offered Liz.

“No, I’ll do it,” he said.

Panic had been replaced by determination. He wasn’t going to lose Maria over this.

He followed her down the hallway way, down the stairs, out of the house and into the quiet streets of Roswell.

Both were oblivious to the car that had pulled up next to the house.

****

Liz entered the game room, drained of all enthusiasm for a Merry Christmas.

“Where are the others?” asked Isabel.

She had contemplated waiting in Maria’s room till Max had explained to her that nothing was going on, at least on his part, but she didn’t come all this way with Maria and her new friends just to run away because of one misunderstanding.

“There was, a misunderstanding,” she began.

Immediately, the carefree mood of the room changed.

“What sort of misunderstanding?” asked Kyle.

Liz sighed and standing in front of the door apprehensively explained. “I tripped over some of Maria’s stuff,” she looked at the ground, at the roof, anywhere but at Kyle, Tess or Isabel, “ Max tried to catch me and we ended up on the bed, Maria came in and thought Max and I were-“

“Like me and you,” finished Michael.

“Yep,” she nodded.

The silence was deafening, Liz was sure that verbal insults were sure to follow and decided that maybe staying was not the best strategy. She was already mad at herself, she didn’t need the extra abuse. “I think I should go.”

“Oh no,” said Tess, “ They’re going to sort it out and you’re going to stay here until they get back.”

“Both of you,” added Kyle.

Liz nodded and sat down next to Michael who gave her a comforting smile.

If she left, against their wishes, that would be a show of attitude and general disrespect. Also the fact that they didn’t tell her and Michael to leave, was a positive sign but even so, it’s still us versus them again, she thought sadly.

****

[willowbv]

AN: Okay guys, this fic has finally reached the stage where more alien chaos can now enter so, just a warning here but I’m back to my old cliff-hanger ways for this next part.

Enjoy

NicciStar – You wanted alien discoveries? I live to serve

I knew we would be going back to dreamer and candy ratings,

Ahh, but are we really?…

Alex sat down beside her and handed her the gift, wrapped in
gold ribbons- it fit her wrapping criteria.

why am I not surprised that Isabel has a "wrapping criteria" going on?

wow! I love Alex's gift for Isabel ...so sweet and romantic ... uh, you wouldn't know any free Alex running around, would you? no? thought so!
Isabel is one lucky girl!

Tell me about it, I want an Alex, lol

[
I'm impressed that noone said something bad to Liz!

The reasons for that will be revealed, as always, in later parts

1. is liz going to talk to max about the visions? yes or no?

2. if so, in light of what's happened between liz/max/maria, how will he react to the news?

3. michael seems to want to work things out between himself and maria. will she give him a chance to mend fences as she did with liz? especially with the misunderstanding with max and liz?

Question 1. will not be answered in the next part, but I can tell you that there will be some Max and Liz revelations in later parts

As for Question 2 and 3. you will get the answer to that in the next part

Chapter 12 d

“Maria!”. His voice rang clear through the empty quiet streets.

“Go away Max, there’s nothing left to say!,” she shouted back.

“I beg to differ,” he argued.

This was not how he had envisioned Christmas dinner, chasing after Maria through her neighbourhood at night.

Max contemplated breaking into a run. He would get to her quicker and be able to look her in the eye while he explained. He wanted her to see the truth in his eyes because he knew that was the only way she would believe him. However, breaking into a run would probably fuel her anger to the stage where she would be dumb to his words.

She moved from walking along the sidewalk to the middle of the road.

“That’s not safe,” he said following her.

“I do not care!” she retorted.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I’m walking off my emotions!”.

“Maria, nothing happened with Liz.”

“If by nothing you mean, you two didn’t get physical when I came in, then good for me!.” Her sarcasm was thick and unrelenting.

“Nothing happened because there’s nothing there with Liz,” he explained pleadingly.

“Oh and the part about luring you to my room-“

“Was a joke.”

“ And I guess her being on top of you was what? To add realism to the situation?!”

With every word, she was stopping further and further away from him.

“Maria will you stop!” he asked desperately.

“No!”.

Frustrated, Max resorted to the only thing that he knew would get her attention. He came to an abrupt halt and waved his hand in the air.

The light white snowflakes floated to the ground initially unnoticed. It was only when Maria angrily wiped the cold objects which had landed on her face, that their presence was acknowledged.

What the…

She came to a halt in the middle of the road and looked around her. Yes, she wasn’t being delusion, Max had not driven her crazy, snow indeed was falling.

Snow on Christmas day, she thought in wonderment. That’s a first in a long time.

Her relationship problems momentarily forgotten, Maria lifted her hand in the air and smiled as the snowflakes landed and melted on her palm. Wanting to share the joy of snow with someone, she turned and was hit by reality in the form of Max. Realisation dawned on her and the magic of snow disappeared.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” she said, “ it’s not safe.”

“I had to do something to get your attention,” he responded.

“So you made it snow,” she stated, desperately trying to shut his loving eyes out, “Max, seriously-“

“I am serious Maria, the only way I’ll stop is if you stop running.”

They stood metres apart, at a silent stalemate until, her shoulders dropped in a sign of resignation and agreement.

He took a few careful steps towards her. “I know what you’re doing Maria.”

“Oh really Max,” she folded her arms across her chest defensively,” explain to me please, what am I doing?”

Max ignored her sarcasm and bitterness and continued. “You’re trying to push me away-“

“of course, right into Liz’s lap because I’m a sucker for punishment right?”

“No, because of what Michael did to you.”

His open earnest expression clashed with her guarded one in momentary silence.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself Max.” She turned and started walking away.

With his body pumping with desperate adrenaline, Max rushed ahead of her, stood in front of her and blocked her way.

“This isn’t about me and Liz,” he began passionately, “ you know that there’s nothing going on there. Maybe not when you saw us together because I know what it looked like, but definitely not now.”

Her blazing eyes locked with his. “Since you know everything, what is this about Max?” she challenged.

“You’re scared that I’m going to hurt you, so you’re still trying to give me a reason to leave you.”

She hesitated and as her gaze faltered, added quietly in denial, “That’s so not it.”

“That’s exactly it, Maria…”

She tried to take a step back, but he deftly stepped in and gently grasped her arm, stopping her departure.

“…That’s why you didn’t tell me about Michael being here tonight till the last minute…”

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, instead, she fixed her gaze on his feet, willing herself to be strong.

“…that’s why you were so abrupt with me on the phone today,” his soft and gentle voice harboured no bitterness or anger, “and that’s why you just told me it was over up there.”

Maria looked up in surprise when she felt his hand drop away from hers. She watched stunned as he took a step back away from her.

“ You can throw anything you want at me Maria,” his heart threatened to escape from his chest but Max continued, “ but I’ll still be standing in front of you like I am now. I’m not going anywhere, as long as you want me.”

****

The silence was excruciating. He had done all he could, said everything that he needed her to know and understand. Her facial expression gave nothing away, her expressive eyes, were fixed on an invisible spot in front of her. In essence, Max knew nothing, all he had was hope.

Which was dashed the moment she turned away from him and was replaced by the burn of rejection.

Before he could even think, his body had reacted. He had rushed to cut off her escape and was once again standing in front of her, blocking her exit. The amazing thing, Max realised, was that he was still hopeful and that he would continue to be till there was no breath left in him.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he heard himself say in a slow low determined voice.

Silence descended on the pair once more, until finally, her voice pierced through the quiet air.

“You have quite a way with one-liners,” she said.

“I try,” he quipped.

“You’re right Max,” she sighed and with wet shimmering eyes, met his, “everything you said was right. I guess, I thought the after effects were gone,” and with a dry small smile added, “ I guess it’s easier said than done.”

He nodded wordlessly due to relief and because the next step was up to her.

“I do want you Max and in a twisted way, that’s why I was trying so hard to push you away…I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” he said softly.

She nodded, her gaze drifted back to his feet and then back to his eyes. “So what happens now?”, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“Now, we formally make up,” he smiled.

“Okay.”

A shy grin spread across her face. She took a small tentative step towards him, closing the gap that had previously separated them, and stood there.

Max was both humbled and honoured by that simple act, the unspoken message was clear; Maria was offering herself to him, vulnerable in all her eccentricities and faults.

With only millimetres separating them, Max felt her breathing, which mirrored his own, shallow and strained. Slowly, as if not wanting to disturb the awesome power of the moment, he softly stroked her cheek inviting her to once again meet his gaze.

Eyes locked.

Hearts forgave and loved.

Lips met in celebration and the world around them disappeared.

****

“I was serious when I said, I’m not going anywhere, Maria,” said Max.

“I know you did,” she smiled, “ and so am I.”

Standing on the porch in Max’s arms was all the Christmas she needed.

Walking back through the quiet Roswell streets, they had talked about their relationship, how she felt about him, how he felt about her, their worries and anxieties and she could honestly say that while she wasn’t cured of her emotional scars, she was well on her way towards recovery.

What had amazed and touched her the most, was Max’s faithfulness, the idea that she was worthy of that kind of dedication was a humbling experience for her.

“I guess we should go in,” he said.

“I guess we should,” she sighed reluctantly.

She moved to open the door but found that it was already being opened.

“Kyle,” she said surprised.

He was probably going to try and find me, she thought fondly.

His facial expression however, sobered up her thoughts.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Guess who’s coming to dinner,” he said in a dry tone.

Her quizzical expression was replaced with one of realisation when he moved away from the door allowing them not only entrance, but presented them with someone Maria had stopped thinking about years ago.

He looked the same, tall, blond hair, green eyes, handsome, only aged and this time, not in hippie gear but in an expensive looking suit.

In her dazed state, she registered who was around her. He stood alone. Her mother, the sheriff and Kyle stood together and she spotted the others standing in the doorway leading to the game room.

Her eyes returned to him to find him looking back at her in wonderment.

“Maria.”

A million thoughts and memories passed through her mind both painful and hopeful. The overall resultant emotions were hurt and anger.

He took a step towards her.
She took a step back.

“It’s me…your father.”

A raised eyebrow was her initial response, then with folded arms in a cold controlled tone, she responded. “I’m sorry, I already have a father, Jim Valenti and a mother and a brother, a boyfriend and my friends. You’re just a sperm donor.”

“Look I know you’re upset bu-“

“You don’t know anything about me!,” her control had been replaced by the anger underneath, “You weren’t here!”.

“And for that I am truly sorry, but I’m here now.”

“I guess you are and let me take a little guess as to why,” she began cynically, “you turn yourself into a smart business man, probably have a wife and kid somewhere and then you come here, to face your past and make yourself feel better. Am I close?”

He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it. Maria took it as a sign of admission.

“I think you should go,” said Amy.

He stayed there for a moment before taking something out of his pocket and placing it on the table. As he walked past her, he paused, “It’s my card, with all the ways to get in touch with me. I don’t have a wife or another child. I only have one and that’s you. I know I have no right to ask you this-“

“You’re right you don’t”.

“But, please.”

She refused to look at him, to look at anyone until she hurt the door shut quietly. Max’s supporting arms were immediately around her. He wordlessly held her and for a few minutes took the pain and shock away.

Michael silently watched the interaction between mother and daughter.

“Are you okay honey?” asked her mother.

“No, not really,” she shrugged helplessly, “but what can you do?”.

“I was as shocked as you are. No call or anything, he just showed up at the door.”

“Whatever, it doesn’t even matter now,” she said.

The minute she said the words, he knew that it was a bold faced lie, because however old you were, it always mattered.

“I’m not letting him ruin my Christmas,” she finished.

“We can go, if you like,” said Liz.

“No, we’re going to watch our movies and we’re going to have fun. So everyone back to the game room” she insisted.

Michael looked around the room and knew what everyone was thinking. It wouldn’t be long before she broke down, but for now, she was trying to stay strong.

The all shuffled out of the hallway and back into the game room. Michael cast one final look at the scene in the hallway before entering; Maria and her mother talking quietly while Max, Kyle and the sheriff stood a few feet away from them. It was touching scene, the whole family coming together in silent comfort during a time of need. He had once been a part of that, he would have been in Max’s place, instead of where he was now.

At least it’s better than nothing.

****

It was an hour into E.T., after the Liz/Max/Maria triangle had been sorted out with apologies and hugs, when Maria finally broke.

She didn’t cause a commotion, she just got up from her place on the sofa, said a quiet “excuse me” and left.

Stunned faces looked at each other in the backdrop of the movie dialogue till Max turned off the t.v. and allowed the silence to descend on them.

“What should we do?” asked Isabel.

“I think we should leave her alone for a while,” said Max.

Michael rose from his seat and headed towards the door.

“Where are you going?” asked Kyle.

“To Maria,” he answered.

“Didn’t you hear what Max said?” asked Liz.

“I did.” He turned around and met Max’s eye. His statement wasn’t filled with anger or resentment, it was what he believed to be the truth. “You’re wrong Maxwell.”

He turned the knob and walked out of the room.

****

[willowbv]

****

Maria didn’t even bother to wipe the tears away anymore, they were the only thing that confirmed to her that it wasn’t really a dream. He father had come back for her.

She felt his presence before he uttered a word and for some reason she had known that only he would come.

“Sorry about just up and leaving like that,” she said.

He came from behind her and stood in front of her. She looked up at him, met his eyes and smiled. He was just so…Michael, without touching her, he was holding her and somehow she felt better.

He sat down on the outdoor chair beside her. “Your M.I.A dad shows up at Christmas out of the blue, I’d say you’ve handled it in an un-Maria like manner.”

“Oh and what manner would that be?” she asked.

“No screaming, massive freak outs, that kind of thing.”

“Yeah, well, I guess the shock has toned me down,” she said, enjoying their banter.

“How did you know it was me?” he asked.

“Well, it couldn’t have been the others because they would have gone with Max’s decision to give me some time alone, which is true…I do and I don’t.”

He fixed her with a quizzical look.

“Strangely, despite previous events, you’re the only one I want to talk to right now,” she said, “I guess it’s because of our history and all.”

“Except, I still don’t know anything about my parents, the limo hasn’t come for me Maria, but it’s come for you,” he said softly.

She heaved a tortured sigh as they sat in comfortable silence.

“Are you gonna see him again?” asked Michael.

“I don’t want to, right now, I’d rather stay mad at him. My life is perfect right now, I don’t need any other complications. This whole thing is just so soap like,” she said in frustration, “just when my life is back on track, something happens. I mean even down to his first words to me,” she adopted a deep melodramatic voice, “Maria, it’s me your father,” she laughed,” it’s just so surreal.”

“Except it is real,” he said gently.

“In colour and everything,” she quipped.

He bit back a smile. “I know you have questions, don’t you want answers?”

“I guess,” she sighed and turned to face him, “but does it really matter?.”

He gave her a sceptical look.

“I know, I know, it always matters,” she said, answering her own question.

He nodded.

They sat in silence until Michael released that time hadn’t stopped for them, there were people anxiously awaiting their return.

“I think we better get back, they’ll be wondering what’s going on.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

He held out his hand and helped her up.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

****

Max’s eyes were already glued to the door the moment it opened.

He couldn’t prevent the jealously arising in him as the two shared a look he couldn’t quiet understand. The thing that really affected him was the fact that Michael had obviously known Maria better than he did, which even though it made sense because they had practically grown up together, lived in the same town and dated for longer, didn’t lessen his envy.

Michael had known what she needed and from the peaceful look on her face, he had provided it.

He was insecure, he admitted that.

Michael was her ex boyfriend and tonight he had seen something in his expression when looking at Maria that had told him that he still cared about her…a lot. He also liked Michael and so had difficulty balancing his insecurities and their growing friendship.

He met Michael’s eyes and a silent understanding was exchanged; He thanked Michael for whatever he had done for Maria and Michael accepted the thanks with the full awareness that she was his and that him and Maria were just platonic.

“Welcome back,” said Isabel.

“Thanks.” Maria crossed the room and settled back on the sofa next to him.

They shared a look in which he asked her if everything alright, with a small smile, she answered that it was and snuggled into his welcoming arms.

“How are you holding up?” asked Alex.

“I’m holding,” she replied, “ but for now I am really ready to continue with the night.”

Her sparkling green eyes met his as she looked up at him. “Are we still with E.T.?”

He nodded and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Uh huh.”

“Good, then let’s get this show back on the road.”

“You heard the woman,” said Kyle, “let’s get it on.!”

Eyes rolled in amusement, snorts and laughs filled the room as once more the screen came to life.

Max adjusted his position on the sofa to make sure that they were both comfortable. Every now and then, he would glance down at the beauty with her head resting comfortably on his chest and marvelled at the fact that she was still his.

****

Chapter 13

Three months later

Liz hurriedly opened the door to the changing rooms and stepped in. “ Maria, we need you out there, it’s a madhouse”, she said.

Saturday night was always a busy night but it got even worse if a big party was on. Pam Troy, was throwing a big party while her parents were away. Her group was going to give it a miss.

Liz smiled happily at the thought of their group. After the Christmas dinner, things had only improved. Maria had called her father after two weeks of thought and their relationship however fragile, was progressing. Her and Maria had spent more and more time together, in fact, the whole group had. Isabel and Tess were less weary of her and Michael and their friendships were also progressing.

They were all meeting up after closing for a weekend hangout session along with free food at the Crashdown. It was a reward from her parents for her, Maria and Michael, because they were covering the busy night while him and her mother went of a weekend retreat.

“On my way,” she said brightly.

Maria had jumped slightly startled, a reaction which Liz thought was pretty natural until her gaze settled on the necklace she was hurriedly stuffing inside of her uniform. She had only glimpsed the pendant for a few seconds but that was all her memory needed to remember and for her mind to register the significance of the object.

“Cool necklace, where did you get it?” she asked casually.

Her mind was working furiously as she studied Maria’s behaviour. The shooting and tomato ketchup/blood incident was the foremost thing in her mind. The pieces were there but what they added up to couldn’t be true.

“Um, it’s…homemade, one of a kind, a friend gave it to me,” she replied.

She’s lying, Liz concluded. Maria always fidgeted, babbled and never met anyone’s eyes when she was lying.

“Oh, it’s really nice,” she said innocently.

“Thanks,” she said brightly,” um we should get to feeding the masses.”

Liz held open the door for her. “After you,” she beamed.

Maria entered the war zone while Liz took a quick detour to the kitchen.

****

Michael was just about to flip over a couple of burgers when Liz came up from behind him and dragged him into the corner room.

“Hey, I was cooking, do you want me fired?!”.

“This is more important. Remember that symbol you drew for me once?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded slowly. Her eyes were bright and her tone urgent and excited.

What did an alien symbol have to do with her current excitement?, he wondered.

He watched mystified as she took out her order book and pen and presented them to him.

“Draw it,” she demanded.

“What is this about?” he asked.

“Humour me, just draw it.”

He reluctantly obliged and watched in puzzlement as a triumphant smile swept Liz’s face.

“Care to let me in on the news?” he asked dryly.

“I just went to get Maria, she was changing and she had this necklace. I recognised the necklace, she always wears it, but I’ve never seen the pendant till today...”

Michael had to concentrate in order to make sense of her words.

“... Michael,” she pointed at the drawing on her order book, “ it had that symbol drawn on it. It looked like something from the native American reservations.”

He met her shining eyes. “So what are you saying, that Maria knows something?” he asked slowly.

“I’m saying that she was pretty guarded and jumpy when I asked her about it,” she replied.

He took a moment for the information to settle in. The whole idea that Maria knew something or someone who knew about his alien origins sounded ridiculous, but Liz was convinced and that was enough for him.

Michael headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To ask her about it,” he replied.

She rushed from behind him and blocked his way. “Not now, let’s do it after closing, when we can deal with any revelations.”

“Liz, this is could be a clue to who I am,” he said passionately.

“I know, that’s why we need to make sure you can get all the information she can give.”

****

When Michael and Liz finally cornered her, Maria was not surprised. Both of them but especially Michael had been looking at her strangely throughout the night, so she had been expecting a confrontation.

“Maria,” began Liz.

She stopped sweeping the floor and watched them approach. “Yeah?” she asked innocently.

“Would you mind showing us your necklace?” asked Liz.

Okay, that’s not what I was expecting.

“Why?” she asked.

“I just thought it was really cool and wanted Michael to see it,” replied Liz.

Maria gulped. She had two choices: a] to object to showing them her necklace but then that would lead to raising their suspicions or b] just act natural.

She opted for option b].

“Uh okay.” She slowly and carefully lifted it from beneath her uniform and held it for them to see. She was taken aback when Michael grabbed it, pulling her along with it.

“Hey!”.

“Where did you get this” he demanded.

She pushed him away and took the necklace with her. “A friend,” she answered guardedly.

“Who?” he asked.

“None of your business,” she replied offended by his attitude and behaviour.

What am I a criminal?, she thought angrily.

“Maria, this is really important. Who gave you that necklace?” asked Liz.

Her gaze drifted from Liz to Michael. They were both tense and anxious and it had something to do with the necklace.

Overwhelmed by a feeling of dread, she countered, “Why is it important?”.

“We’ll tell you after you tell us,” said Michael.

“That’s not how it’s going to work sparky,” she retorted.

The best defence is offence, she decided.

“Maria please,” pleaded Liz.

“Why is it important to you?” she asked.

“Because it is! now tell us who gave it to you,” shouted Michael.

“Michael-“ began Liz.

“No, you first!” argued Maria. His attitude annoyed her, he right to speak to her like that.

Liz tried again. “Uh guys-“.

“It’s a simple question,” spat Michael.

“Ditto,” she retorted.

Liz, mid-way into her attempt to calm things down closed her mouth as the inevitable happened.

Half the sugar shakers on the table cracked and released their contents.

A stunned silence descended upon the trio.

Maria’s eyes drifted from the broken sugar shakers to Liz and Michael. “Who did that?” she asked.

She watched stunned as Liz and Michael had some kind of silent debate till Michael finally looked at her.

“Me,” he answered in defeat.

“Do it again,” she said.

“What?!” he exclaimed.

Her reaction confused him. Maria seemed calmed, a little tense and scared but she wasn’t running off screaming somewhere, as expected.

“Do it again,” she demanded.

“Why?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes in irritation. “I just want to make sure that I saw what I just saw, so do it again!”, she said.

“No!”, he shouted.

Her reaction to his obvious otherworldly background was irrelevant now. Now she was just annoying him as usual.

“Why not?!” she asked exasperated.

The anger he had tried to control broke loose, “Because I’m not that good at controlling my powers okay?!”

Maria rolled her eyes.

The salt shakers smashed.

The silence was broken by Maria’s soft gasp.

Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Oh my gosh…”

Michael was stunned by her next words. They were clear concise, certain and to the point.

“…you’re an alien.”

****

[willowbv]

AN Note : I finally have an update for this fic, a big thank you to PuReDrEaMeR05 for getting back to me so soon. And also a big thank you to everyone who has bumped this fic for an update:
especially to Earth2Mama, magikhands and NicciStar, you guys have been the urging force for me to get an update out, so thanks.

Anyway, enough about me, here's the next part:


****
Michael found that he couldn't breathe, shock at her precise definition of what he was, had left his mouth partly open and his brain working very slowly. The only thing that he could think of at that moment to say was, "Yeah."

Her next reaction at the same time, was and wasn't what he expected. She was predictably backing away from them both in fear holding the broom defensively as a potential weapon, but what he didn't see was disgust. She wasn't running away screaming in the streets, she was staring, examining him and the intense scrutiny made him very uncomfortable.

"What kind of alien are you?" she demanded.

"What do you mean?" he asked and at the same time, he took a cautionary step forward. She positioned the broom ready to attack, he took a step back and held his hands up as if in surrender.

"I mean, are you a skin?"

"A what?” The situation was already out of control, he had no idea what she was talking about, all he knew was that she now knew the secret that only one other person knew and he wanted to know what she was going to do with that information.

"A skin," she stated it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Do you shed like a snake? Do you have a button behind your back that makes you dust? Are you from Antar? Where are you from? Are you with Khivar?"

She was scared, he knew that but it was fear mixed with an air of defiance and...strength. He couldn't comprehend it, the situation was making him crazy.

"What are you talking about!" he shouted in frustration.

"Just answer the questions!" she retorted.

He clenched his jaw in an effort to control his temper.

"Michael, just do it," said Liz.

It was that calm, collected tone that brought him back from the brink of frustrated hysteria.

Taking a deep breath, he proceeded to answer her questions. "Okay. No, I don’t have a button behind my back that makes me dust, I don't know what Antar is, where I'm from or who the hell Khivar is. I'm just you're average run of the mill alien," he shrugged.

The broom slowly lowered to the ground and heaved a sigh of relief.

She aimed a cautionary look in Liz's direction. "Are you one too?" she asked.

"No, I'm just his..."

"earthly accomplice," he finished.

When took a step forward, she put up her hand to stop him. "The space between us is fine how it is, for now."

"Fine."

He watched as she sighed and started pacing across the room, talking to herself. That was Maria in semi-freak out mode. He decided to let her get it out, from experience, he certainly did not want to get caught in the cross-fire.

"Okay. Yeah, this is just...fine, I can handle this," she told herself. She stopped suddenly and turned to face him. "So, Michael," she began in a conversational tone, "you're an alien, with no idea where you're from, is that right?"

Michael resisted the urge to comment on her bi-polar behavior, realizing that the situation called for an organized, calm response. "I know that our spaceship crashed in 1947, guess the rumors are true, aliens did land in Roswell and I was one of them. We were in these pods and then we hatched-"

"We?"

’This is not the way I dreamed of telling you,’ he said to himself, ‘but apparently, this is the way it has to be.’

"There were four of us, but after we came out of our pods, we got separated somehow...a car picked up two of them, I don't know what happened to the other one and I just wandered around the desert until Hank found me."

Her expression was very guarded, he couldn't decipher what she thought of all he was telling her but she wasn't running, which was good because he had a feeling that she had a secret of her own.

"So you got the short straw," he heard her say.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, " she waved her hand dismissively, "continue."

"I um, grew up with Hank, as you know, our relationship didn't develop well and neither did my powers which you just saw."

"Is that all you can do, blow up stuff?" she asked curiously.

She felt sick, the whole thing was emotionally draining and she felt completely stupid.
There were sooo many clues, especially now that I'm dating an alien and are best friends with two others. How could I not know?

"I can float things, alter the molecular structure of things but, I'm not very good...are you?"

She caught the hope in his tone and it hurt her to have to momentarily crush it. "Sorry to disappoint but I'm a 100% human."

’I think,’ she said to herself. Who knew the side effects of being healed from a fatal wound by an alien?

"Then how come-"

"We'll get to that later," she ran her fingers through her hair with false composure when inside, she was experiencing an array of emotions.

"I've been searching for information on who I am, where I come from and trying to find that place, but without much luck."

"Until today," added Liz," when I saw the symbol on your necklace."

Maria glanced down at the object that had initiated Michael's revelation. "What about it?" she asked. She already knew the answer, the pieces to the puzzle were all there, but she had to hear everything from him because what she was about to do, would change lives.

"It means something to me," he said, "I recognize it, I've always drawn it, like a doodle...but I know it's something more, it's within my grasp but I can't reach it...So," his voice was pleading, gentle and earnest, "I need you to help me Maria."

She couldn't stop the single tear running down her cheek, her voice was thick and heavy with emotion that for a moment she couldn't speak.

"You're Rath," she said finally.

Her words rang through is ears, like a giant church bell signaling daybreak.

He was Rath. He wasn't Michael, he was Rath. She knew who he was, but he had no idea, all he had to go one was a name, but that name now meant everything to him. It was his connection to the past.

"Who?" he asked, but she was already in action dialing numbers on her cell.

"Hey, it's me, are you with the other Czechoslovakians?"

Michael stared in bewilderment as he tried to make sense of the conversation she was having on the phone.

"-Good, I need all of you to come to the Crashdown now...change them, this is really important...See you soon."

"Maria, what's going on?" he asked.

"Trust me," she said with surprising passion, "it'll make much more sense once they get here."

"Once who gets here-" began Liz.

"-you didn't call the police did you?" he asked suddenly fearful.

The withering look she gave him, made him ashamed to have doubted her, which was ludicrous, but that was what Maria did to him.

"I called you Rath. I didn't run out the door calling you a freak and you still think I would call the police?" she rolled her eyes and with a rueful smile added, "You're all the same."

"Who's all the same?!" he practically yelled in frustration. She knew the answers or knew the people who would give him answers and she was playing coy.

"Michael, I know this is hard for you and everything but calm down, I promise, it'll all be worth it in the end."

The sudden change in her behavior was, for lack of a better word, freakish. Her eyes glittered with excitement and anticipation and she was...happy...for him.

Why?

He excitement was contagious…he didn't know what was coming but he knew that it was going to be big.

"Promise?" he asked in almost a childlike manner.

"Totally," she replied confidently.

****

When Max, Isabel and Tess were ushered into the back room of the Crashdown by Maria with zero explanation, of all their ideas, finding Liz and Michael standing there was not one of them.

"Maria what's going on?" Max asked.

"Same thing I'd like to know," said Michael.

She stood in between them and took a deep breath. "I feel like Oprah doing one of those reunion shows, but...Max, Isabel and Tess," she introduced Michael with a flourish of her hands," this is Michael, otherwise known as Rath."

An unearthly silence filled the room. Maria thought that she'd pass when from holding her breath.

"What?" asked Max in confused astonishment.

Finally!

She exhaled and inhaled deeply before proceeding. "Michael, Max is Zan, your King and first in command. Isabel is Vilandra, your betrothed, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, and Tess is Ava, Zan’s wife but now Max’s adopted sister. You guys are the Royal Four."

****

[willowbv]

* starts sending creative vibes down the modem*

Creativity vibes received,

SORRY 4 THE LACK OF FEED-BACK ( I KNOW I WANT PEOPLE TO TELL ME ABOUT MY STORIES TO) BUT I HAVE BEEN A LIL BUSY.

I totally understand, RL is what it is, writing fic is a good break from it sometimes and I'm glad you're enjoying this fic.

Earth2Mama, thanks for the bumpage and here's the next part, enjoy.

****

Michael stared in shock at the faces opposite him. They were faces he had come across for months, people he had talked to and not even once had it crossed his mind that maybe...these people were his family...his people.

"That's how you survived the gun shot wasn't it?" asked Liz suddenly. "You were shot and Max somehow healed you didn't he?’

"Pretty much," nodded Maria.

"Woah, Woah! Can we rewind to the beginning please!" said Isabel.

The revelation was overwhelming to say the least. Michael, the Michael who had cheated on Maria, Michael who had made a mistake and was slowly making up for it, was an alien... not even that, he was one of them. Not that she was interested in pursuing her destiny with him, especially now that she had found out that it was Michael, but, she had often wondered what he looked like, what he'd be like in this life.

’And now I'm looking straight at him.’

"Michael here," continued Maria," hatched out of the same pods you did and before you ask, no I didn't tell him anything, I just listened to what he had to say, so I didn't give him any clues. Anyway, you all hatched and roamed the desert, Nasedo found Tess, the Evans's found Max and Isabel and Hank unfortunately found Michael."

She paused to take a breath, summarizing their alien separation was hard work. "You all got adopted and would probably have all gone to the same school kindergarten or high school but Max, Tess and Isabel moved away before you guys could connect again."

"He's been trying to find out where he comes from ever since and then Liz saw this," she showed them the necklace Max had given her, "and took it to Michael, apparently, it means something to him," she shrugged, "probably an alien thing and that's about it. Oh and I checked, he's not a skin, doesn't know what Antar is or who Khivar is," she finished proudly.

"He could be pretending," said Tess, suspiciously.

Maria sighed, she knew that they had every right to be cautious and that it was a lot to take in but it was true, she knew it was. "But he's not a skin either," she said defensively. "I've grown up with Michael practically all my life and if there's one thing I do know it's that, even if he is an alien, no way could he be an evil psychotic one. Look, I know you guys are probably freaking, 'cause this is so totally out of left field but it doesn't stop it from being true."

Max who had been silent throughout the whole revelation suddenly spoke up, "We can prove it for sure," he said.

"How?" asked Tess.

"He should have his seal," he replied.

"A what?" asked Michael. His head felt like it was going to explode from information overload.

"As my second in command, you have a seal I crowned you with," he explained.

He nodded his head wordlessly.

’A seal...okay.’

"How do we see this seal, I don't have any tattoos or weird birthmarks," he said.

"It's hard to explain...I have to call it out-it's like an imprint on your mind and then it'll project outside of you," he explained.

Michael stared at him with a look of uncertainty and apprehension.

"It won't hurt, you just feel a lot of energy," he added.

Michael sighed and ran his fingers nervously through his short hair. Overwhelmed, was not even close to describing how he felt. First he found out that the guy he had been envying for the past few months was his…king, that they were all aliens was enough but now there was talk of a seal he didn’t even know he had?!

He dropped his shoulders in resignation, thinking was too hard, he was just going to go with the flow.

He sat down on a chair decisively. "Let's do it."

Max stood behind him and placed his fingers on his temples. Michael felt energy fill his head, a warmth of enormous power surged through and then out of him into a blinding green light, leaving him breathless. It collected together in front of his stunned eyes, and formed a bright green staff with a circle of brilliant white light in its center. Its brightness stung his eyes but he couldn't look away till it spontaneously combusted into nothingness.

He waited till the room was back to its natural state before uttering a word.

"Wow," he breathed.

The other three stood in front of him in awe.

"You're him, you're Rath," said Tess.

He unconsciously cringed at the sound of his name. He was Rath, whoever Rath was, but that was him then, he knew himself now and wasn’t about to give it up.

"I guess," he stood up, "but I'm also Michael."

"Yeah," smiled Max and in a movement that initially shocked Michael, he pulled him into a quick hug. "It's good to have you back."

Michael found his reluctance relenting and he returned the sentiments. For a moment, it had felt like he was hugging the brother he had longed for all his life.

Isabel stood in front of him next, "So you're my betrothed, how do you feel about that?"

"Not much," he replied honestly. His heart belonged to someone else, whether she wanted it or not.

"Me either," she said.

"That's good then," he said.

Michael was once again taken aback when she hugged him suddenly, "that's great,” she said.

Next in line was Tess in which they exchanged a ‘Hey’ and a hug.

Michael was struck by their affection, he had a family, and their warm welcome was enough to blur his vision.

He looked at the faces around him, his new family, then to Liz and finally Maria. He owed her a lot, he owed both of them a lot, his human family.

"This is a little overwhelming," he said, "so I'm gonna get some air."

"You can go up to the balcony through my room," offered Liz.

"Thanks, I will."

****

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she watched Michael make his way up the stairs, her attention then turned to the three aliens who were all seated on the sofa. The word shell-shocked came to mind when she looked at their expressions.

"I guess it's just you and me right now," said Liz beside her.

"Yeah. I feel like Oprah on one of those reuniting-long-lost-family episodes," she said.

"It's such a relief that you finally know about Michael, it was torture keeping it from you," said Liz.
When she and Michael had confronted Maria, the events the next unfolded were not what she had expected, they were incredibly more. Maria now knew the truth, Michael had his family and would find out where he was from. There would be no more secrets between them now.

Except the fact that you have feelings for her boyfriend, she added silently.

Her eyes automatically fixed on him. Her heart slammed against her chest.

Max. That’s another problem, she thought to herself.

She needed a night to process everything that had happened and how it related to Max and the flashes she was having of them together.

"Well that's good to know," Maria smiled, "so that's how you go together isn't it".

It wasn't a question, it was a statement and she wasn't about to lie.

"Remember when you were supposed to have dinner at Michael's and he forgot?"

"Yeahhh,” she said slowly, “there were a lot of those, be a bit more descriptive."

"You were wearing that v-neck deep brown dress with the slit up one thigh."

A look of recognition swept her face. "I remember that night, I was so mad at him."

"Yeah, well when you left, he lost it, kinda like he did today and I walked in on him floating some stuff."

Maria nodded. "That explains the silences when I entered the room when you two were together, the shift...so you two got close“.

Liz could detect the hurt and slight anger in her voice. She adopted a serious melodramatic tone, “...your relationship held together by a secret you both shared.”

Liz flinched. "When you say it like that, you make it sound like-"

"the truth?” she supplied.

Liz opened her mouth to deny it but she found herself sighing in regret. "I am truly sorry."

Her pleading eyes met Maria‘s softening ones.

"I know you are,” she said. “I'll go check on Max and the others.”

Liz looked on after her, "I'll go check on Michael,” she called.

****

She found Michael standing in her balcony looking up at the stars.

She came up beside him and stood in silence for a little while. "How are you holding up?" she asked.

"I feel like I'm really seeing the world for the first time," he replied.

She nodded, surprised by his choice of words. Usually with Michael, he got straight to the point in a very blunt way. This time, his response accomplished the former but the way he said it carried with it uncertainty, fragility, awe and sadness.

"Is that good?" she asked.

"It's a lot to take in,” he glanced at her, “but yeah, it's good. It's just a kick in the gut you know?”

"What that Maria's boyfriend and new friends are aliens and we've spent time with them and not noticed?" she asked.

"Well there's that,“ he replied, “but also the fact that I finally find out who I am and from the least likely person."

"Maria,” she said nodding in understanding. If she and Michael hadn’t done what they had done to Maria, then they would have still been together and maybe her and Max would have had a chance.

’But that’s not the way things turned out,’ she thought with deep regret.

"She knew he was an alien and she dated him anyway," he said.

Liz squeezed his hand gently, her heart went out to him it really did because if it had been the other way round, if she had lost someone she loved to someone else because of a secret, only to discover that they accepted that secret, she didn‘t know what she would do.

"How are they down stairs?" he asked.

"Same as you,” she replied.

He nodded. "Liz, don't take this the wrong way but-"

"You want some more time alone don't you?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"I'll be in my room if you need me,” she said and made her way back.

"Thanks,” he called, she turned to face him “...for everything."

"You're welcome,” she smiled.

****

"Are you guys up for some company?" asked Maria, nervously.

She had no regrets over what she had done but she wasn’t sure how they felt about her actions.

"Of course," said Isabel.

Maria sighed with relief and sat beside Max. Their fingers automatically found each other and intertwined.

"How are you handling this?" she asked. Her eyes drifted from Isabel, to Tess and finally on Max.

He exhaled heavily, "It's big news and the fact that it's Michael, that makes it easier because we know him. He felt familiar to each of us but we didn't really pay much attention to that feeling because well-"

"What were the odds the your ex was our long-lost alien family," finished Tess.

"Apparently pretty good 'cause I seem to be an alien boyfriend magnet," she replied.

“First Michael and then Max, that‘s a huge coincidence” agreed Isabel.

Max turned to her with a serious expression on her face. “How many boyfriends exactly have you had?” he asked suspiciously and then broke into a grin, “Kidding.”

“Good to know,” she replied, shaking her head in bemusement.

****

[willowbv]

AN: Hey guys, an update finally, lol.

Earth2Mama, Destiny22, BelevnDreamsToo, NicciStar, magikhands, Sternbetrachter, Lilmisspolarwhore, jendansuer, tallguy171

Thanks for all your feedback and I know most of you are wondering about Liz and her visions, well the truth is, I am too, lol, it is going somewhere but where will be a surprise to all of us.

This fic is seriously writing itself, so all I can say on the Liz flashes department is what I’m working on right now which is that, when they all connect with each other, Liz is going to get a slightly different connection

BTW, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO ALL THOSE IN A COUPLE OUT THERE AND TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE SINGLE AND CELEBRATING LOVE ANYWAY :B-fly:

Oh and if you’re wondering about Kyle and Alex…

****

Chapter 13 b

The noise which signalled footsteps descending drew the attention of the group settled downstairs.

Maria took a deep apprehensive breath as she watched Liz descend, followed by Michael. She wondered what would happen now, now that all the secrets were out.

Where would they go from here? Everything depended on what Michael’s first words would be, would he embrace the news, hate it, want to forget it? She knew how much it meant to Max, Tess and Isabel and to same extent to him, but nothing was definite until he said something.

“Maria, can I talk to you, in private?” he asked.

“Sure,” she replied, slightly taken aback by his request.

She had no idea why at that moment in time, knowing everything that he did, why he would want to talk to her and not his newly found family.

Casting a reassuring glance at Max, Isabel and Tess, she followed him into the room between the back room and the front of the cafe.

She stood looking at him expectantly yet uncertain of what he was going to say. She hoped to gain same clue from his body language but all she got was that he was tense and nervous - but that was all easily explained in relation to the previous revelation.

She gathered by his silence that he was struggling to find the words to say what he wanted to say, but her patience was quickly running out. His nervousness was rubbing off on her and she wanted to deal with whatever he wanted to say - plus she had to admit, her curiosity had definitely peaked.

“Um Michael,” she began, “like I said earlier,” she pointed to herself, “me, one hundred percent human therefore, I can’t read your mind so…can you say what you’re thinking out loud?”.

“Umm, yeah sure, sorry,” he mumbled.

“Not a problem,” she assured him. She watched him shift his feet from side to side.

“Michael!” she stated, reminding him that she was still waiting.

“Right, um…” he scratched his eyebrow in the way she loved so much.

That fleeting mental observation struck a familiar chord within her and for an instant, she felt her heart beat a little faster.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” he said, “for telling me about them, for helping me when you could have easily said screw you and not told me…you know, after the way things ended between us.”

His words warmed her heart and under his steady gaze, she gave him a soft smile. “Even if we weren’t friends, I still would have told you. I’m not like that,” she finished.

“I know,” he smiled.

Maria found it puzzling as to why, held by his softening brown eyes, she suddenly couldn’t breathe. Feelings she had thought that she would never feel for him, washed over her like light rain. Panicked at the sudden upsurge of emotions, Maria silently cried for a way out and to her absolute relief, reality kicked in.

This was Michael. He knew he was an alien and even when Liz had found out, he didn’t tell her. She didn’t have warm and fuzzy feelings for him, she was hurt and angry.

Her action was sudden and unexpected to Michael but to Maria, it had been a long time coming as she proceeded to slap him upside his head.

“Ow!” he yelped, rubbing the back of his head, “what was that for?!”

“The cheating on me thing? I’m past that Michael, but the not telling me you’re an alien after Liz found out, that I have a problem with,” she replied in a heated tone. “I wanna know, why after you told Liz or Liz found out - whatever- why you didn’t tell me,” she demanded.

She watched as he once again struggled to find an answer.

“Because,” he replied feebly.

“Because?! That’s all?!” she asked exasperated.

Unbeknownst to her, two pairs of eyes filled with curiosity, watched through he window on the door leading to the front of house.

“Bad move Michael,” whispered Alex as he watched Maria rant at him while he stood there in silence. Finally, she shook her head in angered disbelief before turning and heading into the back room.

“Come on, follow her,” whispered Kyle beside him.

To both their relief, after a moment of hesitation, Michael followed her.

****

Alex turned to Kyle. “Should we go in?” he asked.

“We’ve heard this much, we might as well hear the whole thing,” he replied.

Alex nodded in agreement and feeling very much like he was in some sort of spy film, he proceed to, as quietly as possible push open the door, closely followed by Kyle.

They stood in tense silence until they heard Michael and Maria’s heated voices. They then progressed to the door leading to the back room where the group had convened.

Alex and Kyle found that eavesdropping was easy as voice levels were, typical Michael and Maria, very high. With their hearts beating wildly against their chests, they attentively listened in on the group.

****

“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid that you would freak out, that you’d hate me, that you’d leave me!” he shouted.

There, he had said it, in front of everyone. It wasn’t his usual style but when Maria had walked away from him, he had realised that he had no choice but to tell her part of the truth, after-all, it seemed to be the theme of the day.

“Which shows just how well you know me!” she retorted.

“Ahem!”. Isabel coughed slightly in the background. “Actually Maria…”

Maria rolled her eyes in defeat. “Fine, so I majorly freaked out when I found out about the others,” she admitted, “but the point is, I got over it and I’ve only known them for a couple of months. I’ve known you for years Michael, and instead of telling me the truth after Liz took it so well, you got it on with her behind my back ,“ her voice was barely audible, “and hurt me,” she whispered.

Looking into her watering pain filled eyes, Michael wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

“I’m sorry.”

That was all he could offer instead, he wished he could take it back or at least take her pain away, but he couldn’t do that.

He had to live knowing that he had lost the only girl he had ever loved.

“Yeah,” she said pursing her lips tightly, “well, so am I. It’s a bit of a shock finding out exactly how you two got together,” she continued, “but I’ll deal and as for your excuse for not telling me? It’s not good enough buddy, not from you…“ she smiled sadly, “but we can’t do anything about that. All we have is the past, the present and the future….so what do you want to do?” she asked.

It took Michael a few seconds to register her question. She was one of the most amazing people he had ever had the honour of knowing. He knew the excuse he had given her wasn’t good enough, but he couldn’t tell her the main reason he had failed to tell her the truth. Not now, when she was happy…with Max. Given everything that had happened, she was till there, helping him, she was still his friend.

He sighed and glanced at the expectant faces around him. His gaze settled on his extra-terrestrial family. “I wanna know everything,” he said finally.

“Everything?” asked Max.

“From the start to now,” he confirmed.

Max nodded. “We’re gonna have to form a connection with you,” he glanced at Liz who sat next to him, “even you Liz, since you’re involved now.”

Liz nodded apprehensively. “Okay.”

Max flashed her a comforting smile and then fixed his attention back on Michael. “If we sit in a circle on the floor and hold hands…”

The others did as they were told but Michael remained standing. “You’re kidding, meditation?” he asked incredulous.

“Just do it Michael,” ordered Maria.

Sighing, he sat down and then looked up at her expectantly. “Aren’t you joining us?” he asked.

“No way,” she replied shaking her head, “I’ve done the mind trip thing, not looking to do it again.”

The door swung open, all heads snapped in the direction of the disturbance.

“Since Maria is out, we’d like to give it a shot,” said Kyle.

****

Oh. My. God!

Isabel stopped breathing as she finally let herself believe that what, no, that who she was seeing was really there.

Kyle and Alex stood in the doorway.

This is not happening, she thought as a feeling of absolute dread washed over her. She glanced over at Tess whose fear filled horrified expression matched hers.

One of their worst nightmares was about to unfold.

[willowbv]

AN: hey guys, here's a new part up for you all. Thanks to my beta's Puredreamer05 and Rain for checking it over even with their busy week. You guys rock!

DISCLAIMER: some dialogue used is taken from the eppy Blind Date

****

Chapter 13 c

Everyone quickly rose from their positions on the floor.

“Alex!” the tightness and panic in Isabel’s voice couldn’t be concealed.

“Kyle!” neither could the absolute fear in Tess’ voice.

Tension descended on the room like a sudden storm and made it very hard to breathe.

“What are you doing here?” they asked in unison.

“You told us to meet you here two hours ago,” replied Kyle slowly.

“We got here a little early,” added Alex.

The unexpected visitors were eyed with suspicion, panic and extreme caution.

“How did you get in?” asked Max. His eyes were trained on them, watching their every movement, analyzing their every comment.

“The door was unlocked,” replied Alex.

Maria turned to look at the aliens. “Did you guys not lock it when you got here?” she asked.

“Well from your tone on the phone, it kinda slipped our minds!” replied Isabel, in a tone rising to the point of hysteria.

“How much did you hear?” asked Michael.

The tension was electric, sparks of fear and uncertainty ran wild.

“I think it’s what we heard that’s more important,” said Kyle as they advanced further into the room, “aliens, Roswell crash, Maria getting shot…”

This was not the way Tess had planned on Kyle finding out. ‘Would he give her a chance to explain? Would that look of confusion, of looking at her as if she was a different person, someone he had never kissed or had feelings for - would it ever go away?’ she wondered.

“I feel sick,” she muttered aloud.

“Well, I feel like I just stepped into the twilight zone,” countered Kyle. The hurt, anger and confusion was evident in his tone and it made Tess cringe because she- what she was- was the reason for it.

Maria stepped into the middle of the room, commanding all eyes on her, bringing them all together. “Can we just stop and get a grip?!“ she shouted. Her tone was collected and determined. “We just need to calm down“.

“Calm down? Is your life in danger?!” yelled Isabel.

“Max brought me back from the brink of death!” she countered, “That makes me involved and added onto the ever growing list of people in danger and guess what?” she turned and pointed an outstretched hand to Kyle and Alex, “so are they. I mean, take a moment here, do you see them running out into the streets shouting aliens are among us?”

The silence was answer enough as tempers and panic began to subside.

“No, didn’t think so,” she added.

“So everything is true? You guys are aliens from the crash?” asked Alex. His question was for the aliens but his eyes were fixed on the blonde goddess who held his heart.

For Isabel, the confession, the actual audible confession was what she had been dreading ever since she and Alex had become serious. After she said it, she couldn’t take it back and he meant more to her than she had ever realized till that moment. She didn’t want to lose Alex, but the truth was out, it was who she was and she wasn’t ashamed.

The question was, would he be ashamed of and disgusted by her?

Her gaze wavered from his but she forced herself to look at him. She nodded before she answered him. “Yes.”

She couldn’t hear her voice over the blood rushing in her ears, so she said it again, louder so that she could hear. “Yes Alex, I’m an alien.”

His response was a heavy sigh and a slow nod. He didn’t look away in disgust, he didn’t run, he just stood there and she had no idea what that meant.

Did he want her? Did he not? Was he okay with her alien status or wasn’t he?

Those questions for Isabel, went unanswered but for Tess, they were answered in a simple, “Okay,” by Kyle.

****

“Okay, as in okay what?” asked Tess.

Their silence and one word answers were on the verge of driving her insane.

Kyle and Alex shared a look, and she wanted to tear her hair out.

“Okay as in, I personally am feeling overwhelmed,” he began slowly.

’Overwhelmed? That’s expected, that’s good,’ she told herself nervously.

“…but somehow I find that it explains a lot,” he turned to Alex and gave him the floor, “Alex?”

He looked at the faces around the room. These people were his friends. Some of whom, including his girlfriend were aliens. He had to be honest about his feelings. “I-I-I’m a little freaked,” he replied.

“As can be expected,” added Kyle.

“Right,” he glanced at him and nodded a silent thank you, “but um…I’m still here so I figure that’s a good sign,” he finished.

“You mean you’re okay with this?” asked Max, surprised.

“Getting there, baby steps, baby steps,” said Kyle. He locked eyes with Tess. “I mean, it explains you” he said.

“Me? How?” she asked.

“Well, it explains why we’re together,“ he flashed her a wry smile, “I always knew that it wouldn’t take an ordinary girl to win me over,” he shrugged, “It figures that I’d fall for someone not of this earth“.

Tess grinned, a sudden wave of relief overcame her and she couldn‘t help but smile.

’It was going be alright! Everything was going to be fine!’ she thought joyously.

Alex flashed Isabel an amused smile, “Basically what he said.“

A spirit of giddiness replaced the tension that had previously filled the room. The other occupants of the room couldn’t help but smile as the couples, still in their respective positions, stared at each other with sparkling eyes and beaming smiles.

“Yeah…,“ began Michael, interrupting the moment. While he was happy for his friends, he was eager to find out about his past. “Are we gonna do this or what?” he asked.

Max hesitated. Maria followed his gaze to Alex and Kyle and then to Liz. They were her friends, she had known them almost all her life and if she of all people could accept the aliens, so could they. Liz had already done it, but she knew how much of an issue it was to them, to him. It was their lives, but she knew that if any two other people could keep their lives and their secret safe, it would be Alex and Kyle,

She crossed the room, closed the space between them and entwined her fingers with his. She stared into the amber eyes she loved so much. “Max, do you trust me?” she asked.

He nodded without hesitation.

She smiled softly. That simple gesture warmed her heart and almost brought her to tears. He trusted her without hesitation, he trusted her with his life and she was honored to possess that kind of trust with someone. She wanted to kiss him, but knowing that it was inappropriate, she nodded her head instead, a silent ditto, before looking over her shoulder to glance at her two friends and then back at him.

“Then trust them too. It could be a delayed reaction but they haven’t turned away in disgust. I know it’s hard, but no one who has found out so far has run away never to return,” she said.

She could see the caution and conflict in his eyes. The battle was decided when she felt him squeeze her hands. “Alright, let’s do it,” he agreed.

She flashed him a joyous smile and turned back to face the others.

Michael clapped his hands before assuming his position on the floor. “Everyone who’s in, sit down” he ordered.

Everyone except Maria sat down. Kyle beside Tess, Tess beside Isabel, who sat beside Alex, who sat beside Michael, who sat beside Liz, who sat beside Max. They all held hands.

****

Isabel turned to Alex. “Are you sure about this?” she asked.

Her heart wanted to believe it but the fear that he would change his mind, was still the prominent thing in hers.

“I’m scared but I’m sure,” he replied.

“Okay,” said Max and with that, he drew all attention back on him, “Relax and breathe. We’ll do the rest,” he finished.

“Um, what exactly are you going to do?” asked Kyle, suddenly anxious.

“We’re going to connect to your minds,” explained Tess. His eyes grew wide into a shocked and very uncertain ‘Oh.’

“It’s not dangerous,” she added hurriedly, “all we’re going to do is show you who we are, where we’ve come from“.

“Basically, play a movie of their lives in your heads,” quipped Maria.

“Pretty much,” agreed Isabel.

Kyle nodded his head and took a deep decided breath. “Let’s do it,” he said.

Maria watched as all eyes closed and the aliens concentrated. A crooked, bemused smile crossed her lips.

’Boy, are they in for a mind trip.’

****