“You knew you had a half brother out there,” Liz reasoned to her daughter as she got the stubborn face she knew so well from her own personality and that of her biological father. “Emma, don’t look at me like that.”
“Mom,” Emma pleaded. “Please tell us the truth,” she asked as Emma and Parker had tried to find a compelling reason for why their mother hadn’t talked to about this when Evan had come to live with us. “We did know, but it is one thing to understand the concept of having a half brother out there in the world and having him living in the same home as us, and we have no idea.”
“You have got to stop studying the dictionary,” Liz smiled and yet she sighed at the same time. “Okay you two, sit down,” she asked of her twins who instantly took a seat in front of their mother’s office desk. Liz was an accountant but working from the home instead of going into a formal office each day. It was much better to be closer to her kids than having to commute and work odd hours. “Yes, Evan is your half-brother. His father is your father, Max Evans and his mother was a former flame so to speak, Tess Harding,” she said with gritted teeth at the mere mention of Tess’s name. “Evan is staying with us because we don’t know where his father is, and because we have received word his mother recently passed away.”
“Wow,” Parker said. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I am dealing with a lot right now and I am still trying to piece together some of the details of the story and I figured that you guys were fine. Evan was adjusting, and I would have told you the truth. But when I felt the time was right,” Liz said as she spoke frankly to her kids. “You two didn’t need to know. Yes, it would be nice to know, but you two are eight years old.”
“I can buy that, so fine,” Emma said. “What happens now” she asked.
“That is still open for debate,” Liz said. “I really don’t know. We’re going to take it one step at a time okay,” she asked the twins. “I want you to be welcoming to Evan,” Liz asked her daughter and son. “I don’t want the fact you now know he’s your brother change the way you two interact with him. He’s dealing with a lot. You two have me, he doesn’t have anyone,” she said quietly. “Which is why I am letting him stay here for the time being as he needs a friendly atmosphere, as I figure his life with his mother wasn’t always so pleasant.”
“I get that,” Emma said. “He’s made some remarks too about it,” she said. “Sorry if we were hard on you.”
“I know, and I love you both,” Liz smiled. “Why don’t you go see what is up in the kitchen,” she asked. “I should be finished with my paperwork shortly.”
“Okay.” Emma and Parker nodded and left in search of the Guerin kids and Evan, Liz sighed and looked at the picture on her desk of her kids, and one next of it of her and Max.
I am a masochist aren’t I she asked. I wonder what Max would think of having three kids, all raised by me. I am gunning for trouble, aren’t I? she asked herself again. “Maybe Dr. Santos is right,” she asked the picture.
“The kids know?” Maria asked as she walked into the office with a glass of wine for both. “I figured you would need this about now,” she said as she handed the glass to her friend.
“Thank you, Maria,” Liz said as she took the glass and sipped from it. “Why do I do this to myself?”
“You’re a compassionate and trusting soul Liz Parker,” Maria Deluca Guerin smiled. “If it was me, I am not sure if I would be so kind hearted if Michael was in the same situation as Max is in now and I was facing what you are facing.”
“You love Michael, you would have done it,” Liz said pointed. “You would have made his life a living nightmare in the short-term, but you would have done the same thing I have done with Evan. Evan hasn’t asked for all this nasty business, and he doesn’t deserve it. And yes, the twins know.”
“How did they take it?” Maria asked.
“They are confused,” Liz said truthfully. “Heck I am confused, and even I don’t know how to handle it all,” she sighed. “But they took it in easily enough. Emma’s a little pissed I wasn’t more honest when Evan first showed up and that it had to be them just asking a question that made them find out the truth,” she said. “But they will go with it, as Parker will probably be happy to have an older brother to play with,” Liz said.
“I wonder how Max will handle all this?” Maria asked as she thought back to her long-lost friend as they all had dealt with the knowledge that he had been out there with Isabel in diverse ways as being separated had affected Michael and it had taken him a long time to deal with the cord being snapped between the three originals hybrids. Since they couldn’t communicate and because Michael wanted Maria. Max wanted someone alien as backup for Liz, Maria and Kyle if they were going to be on their own. Yet the finality of it had upset Michael in those first months to be separated, and even now to some degree and so to know that they were coming back in some fashion into their lives was a relief purely for the sake of her husband although she still felt mixed feelings regarding all that went down for Max and Liz because Michael’s happiness will bring uncertainty into the life of her best friend, and she hated that for Liz.
“You got me,” Liz said honestly as she surveyed the accounts she had to work on. “Hell, I am not going to get this finished tonight, so I’ll finish it in the morning before my meeting with the client,” she said as she saved the document on the computer and locked the computer before shutting it down, and walking out to the kitchen with Maria. “I really don’t know Maria.”
“I know,” Maria sighed.
********
Max and Isabel had pulled off the highway near Harrisburg. Driving straight from their home in White Plains, New York Isabel and Max decided they needed a breather. Texas could wait. They needed a good night sleep, so they got a joint room and stopped driving for the night.
“Let’s get some sleep,” Max said quietly as they picked up their bad and walked to their room.
*****
Roswell
The Valenti home
“I will be there on Saturday,” Jim was saying into the phone. “Yes, I know you want the body handled before then, but I can’t get away from my own life here in Roswell until then, and there are numerous cases on the go and being away is distracting to my town. She is dead right, she’s not going anywhere. Yes, I might be callous about it, but if you knew the victim like I did. You wouldn’t be that sympathetic over the decease as I had personal interaction with the young woman,” Jim muttered at the home he shared with Amy. “It’s better for everyone that she can’t harm anyone anymore.”
Amy sighed as she watched her husband struggle with his emotions over the death of Tess. Too much of their life had been defined by Tess Harding. They lost their only children because of her; although Amy hoped one day that they would get them back.
There was a knock on the door, and Amy went to open it as Jim scheduled a time to meet on Saturday morning, “Jeff, why hello. What are you doing here?”
“I was hoping to talk to your husband. We had to postpone our talk because the station called Jim, and I was hoping to continue it now.”
“Sure, come in. Jim is on the phone as he’s scheduling a time to go and deal with Tess Harding’ body.”
“Are you going with him?” Jeff asked as a lot of emotion went through at the mention of Tess. He missed his daughter. And wanted her back in his life and it all led back to Tess, and all the mayhem that occurred that led to his daughter being forced from town.
“Yes. We’re leaving Friday,” Amy nodded.
“How are you and Jim handling not having Maria and Kyle in your lives?” Jeff asked.
“It hasn’t been easy, not by a long shot” Amy sighed. “Our wedding had a crucial element missing – our children. They are out there, and I just wish we knew how they are and what they are doing.”
“I miss Liz. It isn’t the same without her in our lives. I know she eventually would have gone off on her own, but the brutal cut in ties is a lot to deal with…”
“It’s for everyone,” Jim said as he came into the conversation. “I am sorry Jeff. I know you and Nancy are dealing with this as much as the rest of us are, and the same with Phillip and Diane.”
“Do you know anything, anything at all about our kids?”
“No,” Jim said. “I just know they are okay. I got a code message about three years ago, and I know that some of them are settled down somewhere, but I don’t know where…”
“I asked earlier, why keep the charade that Max and Liz ran up together.”
“I know they would have wanted to. Or were planning to,” Jim said. “I know that hurts you and Nancy. But the mayhem on graduation night stopped their plans, and something unforeseen came up that separated them. It was better excuse to explain how Liz suddenly would disappear once she was out of FBI custody.”
“And she and Max aren’t together?” Jeff asked.
“Whether they met up on the road, I don’t know. But as of three years ago, when things died down, no. Max was off, separate from Liz.”
“That’s too bad because they were so in love,” Amy sighed, and Jeff also sighed because as much grief as Max and Liz had given him that final year in Roswell, he did know how much his daughter did love Max and, in some ways, sacrificed a tremendous amount in that love story. “I want my daughter happy.”
“There is no reason not to think she’s not happy, wherever they were able to make a life for themselves.”
“If you ever can connect with Liz, will you please tell with me, or Nancy know please” Jeff pleaded.
“I will Jeff. I am sure Liz misses you every bit as much you and Nancy miss your daughter. She did love you guys, I know that for a fact.”
“It’s not fair,” Jeff muttered. “Thank you for talking to me. If you find out anything, let me know…okay?”
“I will,” Jim nodded as she walked Jeff to the door and turned and smiled at his wife, with tint of sadness as how much they had lost as well. “I am sorry honey.”
“I need to know my daughter is okay.”
“They are,” Jim said quietly. “And we have to believe in that okay. I am sure we would have heard if something had drastically gone down on the road.”
“I know,” Amy said and knew her husband was correct, they would have heard in some manner. “Jeff’s right, it’s not fair” she said as turned and headed for their bedroom, while Jim sat down at his desk and did some paperwork for their weekend adventure.
*****
“Wake up,” came the faint voice as Liz tried desperately to sleep and yet was only succeeding in tossing and turning, and so with the sound in her room, she was awakened completely, and she saw a faint glow in her room. “Whose is there?”
“It’s me,” came a sarcastic voice.
“Tess,” Liz asked shocked to the core as stood before in red and white was her former nemesis. “You’re dead.”
“You were always a bright one Parker,” Tess muttered. “Yes, I am dead, and now haunting you. Not my choice by the way. But you need to do what they say to get through the next barrier and they have quite the doozy set up to make sure I don’t achieve it, but I might as well try. They have Alex Whitman prosecuting my case. I thought I would do an end run around him, and see if doing something nice would help my case.”
“Alex,” Liz said softly. “Shouldn’t you be in hell.”
“Nice,” Tess smirked. “They say I don’t completely qualify. But if I meet some qualifications, I might upgrade myself from that special evil place. They haven’t made up their minds. So, I might make your day by ending up there in the end.”
“Why are you here?” Liz asked through gritted teeth because this was the last thing she wanted to experience.
“I gave you the ticket to Max’s heart, like you really needed it” Tess murmured. “You always had it whether I liked it or not.”
“You left your son with me, why?”
“He deserved to know his father. Back in Roswell, I was telling you the truth. He’s human. He might be gifted with his intelligence although I never did anything to encourage it by the way, and he might learn a talent or two if exposed to enough talent. But he’s human. He’s not Max’s rightful heir. They made sure I knew I blew it.”
“Why isn’t he?” Liz asked confused. “He’s Max’s first born, and a son.”
“Because he didn’t love me,” Tess said. “I basically forced myself on him. Of course, you helped it along with Future Max’s help and don’t think I didn’t know about that little moment of yours. I used a weak moment and pushed myself on him, and they don’t take too kindly to that in this world or our Antar world. They say Max has to love the woman to bring the rightful heir into this world.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Plenty of royals show that isn’t necessarily the case.”
“And because Zan is human, he didn’t qualify but your children are the rightful heirs as I have seen them in action.”
“You were watching us?” Liz asked horrified.
“Of course, Parker, why would I leave my son with you if I didn’t do the ground work and make sure you were right place to leave my son.”
“Didn’t you love your son at all?” Liz asked as she felt for the boy.
“In my way. I did take him after all from that family Max sent him too…” Tess said. “He’s a good boy. He’s like his father and it’s hard not to love Max. I wish things could have been different. But having been raised by Nascedo, one can say I was not meant to be a parent. Max is. You are. So, I know he is in the right place.”
“Why not take him to Max?” Liz asked. “You have to know where he is.”
“He needs to be where he is meant to be. And that little red hair bitch wasn’t the one for him, so I had to make sure that he could be there for our son.”
“Oh my god,” Liz asked horrified. “You killed Max’s wife?”
“It was the only way,” Tess said. “Which is why they are assessing my fitness. I figure if I can do something good than the will let me in.”
“You killed someone.”
“I killed many people Liz as it’s not for the faint of heart being who I am. I can blame Nascedo for raising me all I want. Or maybe I am defective because I hatched well after the others, but I am who I am.”
“Oh god,” Liz muttered. “That is crazy.”
“Try telling your shrink that one day. Anyways, I must go. You have a way of getting Max back in your life. Use it.”
“I am not you Tess,” Liz sighed.
“No, you are not. You were always better than me. So be who you are,” she said before vanishing…
“God, I don’t know if I like having Tess Harding’s personal seal of approval or not,” she muttered to herself as she was unable to sleep so she went for some milk.
****
“Go be with Liz,” came the words in Max’s head as he slept in Harrisburg, at the motel he and Isabel stopped on.
“You are crazy if you mourn that bitch one more minute. You didn’t love her. You love Liz. Go be with her.”
“Tess,” he whispered.
“Yes,” came the reply. “Parker is the one for you, and yes I am sounding like a hypocrite. Blame the overloads up here for making that possible.”
“Why would you come to me,” Max asked. “How are you coming to me?”
“I am dead Max, and you have
three reasons for why you need to find Liz, so get to it, otherwise you will always regret it and nothing you will ever do right will be enough to compensate for that guilt.”
“Why would tell me to be with Liz?” Max asked.
“Go with it okay, and don’t ask too many questions,” came Tess’s reply as she started to fade. “And oh Max, I am sorry.”
“Sorry?” Max asked.
“For Pam,” Tess said as she disappeared while saying “Go…. be with Liz…” she said so faintly that Max could barely hear it, but it was still washed over him as he tried to comprehend exactly what it all meant.
There was a knock on the door, as he was staring into space as he got up and went to open the door, “Yes Isabel.”
“Did I hear voices?” Isabel asked quietly.
“Tess killed Pam,” Max said quietly.
“I know,” Isabel muttered and sighed as she looked at her emotional brother. “I am sorry Max!”