Roswell Fanatics

Title: What Was Left Behind
Couples: M/L primarily
Rating: Teen
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Roswellian. The Roswell characters are the property of Melinda Metz, brought to our viewing pleasure by Jason Katims. Also, I would like to mention the book "The Time Travellor's Wife" for giving me the idea.
Summary: Future Max may no longer exist but he left something behind after he and Liz shared a memorable evening together.

Chapter 1:

I’ve read the note through five times and I still can’t believe it. How could he do this to me? First he took away any chance of me ever being truly happy, and now he’s left me with this responsibility. I knew I shouldn’t have given into my passion, but he had taken my hand, asked to be with me just one last time, and I had given in. The idea of never being able to be with my Max had been too much, and he had taken advantage of that. I wished that he was here, that I could yell at him and rant. Tell him exactly how I felt, but mostly, just so I’d still have someone, instead of just this note.

Dear Liz,
I know what you’ve given up for me, and you did it readily. You’ve always been so brave, you have to understand, I would not have done this if I didn’t know you could handle it. I love you so much, and the idea of never being with you kills me. But when I bid my daughter goodbye, I knew that I could not be responsible for her never being born. Her name was Clara, and nine months from now you will give birth to her. She’s a talented girl, and I know it will be hard for you dealing with your own new found abilities which will soon start to emerge, as well as hers. I know you can’t go to me, but I beg you to go to Michael, tell him what has happened and he will help you. Isabel would be too likely to tell me the truth, but Michael, he’d never risk our lives. He’ll keep your secret. I’m sorry love, but there’s only so much a man can lose.
Love you forever,
Max

But maybe I’m worried for nothing. How could he be 100% sure that I’m pregnant? But then again, how could he save me from a bullet wound. And besides, I somehow know it’s the truth. I can feel it. It’s like I’m not alone. And although right now, it’s not what I want, it’s somehow comforting, knowing that I still have a part of him with me.

The Michael Encounter….
“Liz?” asked Michael as he opened the door. I didn’t blame him for being surprised; I was probably the last person he expected to see. “What are you doing here?” he said in a voice even less welcoming than usual. So Max had told him. Well, at least this way he would be more inclined to believe at least part of my story.

“I need to talk to you about something.” He looked at me oddly and then replied, “Liz, Max isn’t going to forgive you. You’ve betrayed him, people don’t get over that so easily. So if you’ve come her for sympathy or help fixing things with Max, you’re not going to get either.”

“I have come for help, but not to get back together with Max, I wish that was the least of my problems. And Michael, I wouldn’t have come to you but he told me I should.”
“He told you? Who’s exactly is he Liz, Max or Kyle? Or are you a little confused about who is who these days.”
“Max. He’s the one who told me to come to you. Trust me, I wouldn’t have otherwise. But so much has happened and I can’t deal with it by myself, and”
“Maybe you should talk this over with Maria” Michael blurted out, obviously getting uncomfortable with where he thought the conversation was going.
“I can’t Michael, I need, I need an alien to help me with this.”
“Well, contrary to popular belief I’m not the only alien in Roswell.”

We were both silent for a moment as I tried to think of what I was going to say next. Michael seemed more at ease now that it was an alien problem we were dealing with. I drew in my breath and just began my story.

“They were all going to die, you, Isabel, all of you. And he told me that it was my fault. They needed all four of you together, to defeat them and my being with Max, it pushed Tess away until she left Roswell. That’s why I pretended to sleep with Kyle, so it would be over. So I wouldn’t be responsible.” I almost lost it there, the tears I had barely been able to keep in spilt down my cheeks but I continued on. “Max, from the future he used the crystals to come here. To warn me of what would happen. And he told me to come to you, so that you could help me. Max can’t know the truth.”

Michael looked at me with a stunned face but I could tell he believed me. We may have had our disagreements but we were both on the same side. “Liz, I, I’m so sorry. But, thanks. It must have been hard but, and Max… just know that I appreciate it. But why did he want me to know? Is there something I need to do to prevent this from happening?”

“No, that’s not the reason. He, he left me, well, we were married in the future, and the idea of never being with Max. Well, I was with him. And now, I’m..”

“What? Is something wrong with you?” I could tell ideas of time worms and mix ups were running through his head. So what I said really shocked him.

“I’m pregnant.”

Michael looked at me, completely stunned.

“And Max can’t know, but future Max, he wanted his, our daughter to be born. And she’ll have powers, and I’ll get powers, and he said, that you could help with that. That you wouldn’t tell Max, because of what could happen.”

Michael recovered from his shock. “So it’s really some future version of Max’s kid? And you’re sure it was really Max?”

“Yes, I’m sure it was Max. That’s not something you, get mistaken about.”

“I’m sorry.” said Michael. “This is just so, sudden, all of this.”

“No kidding,” I added, barely before being totally overcome by my tears.

“It’s okay Liz.” Michael mumbled, but we both knew that it wasn’t. Michael patted me on the back in a feeble attempt to make me feel better and I soon found myself crying my heart out on his shoulder. That was when Max walked into the apartment.

End Chapter 1

What Was Left Behind
Hey, thanks everyone for your comments. Just want to make a quick note, I had planned to stay with Liz’s POV throughout the story but I just had too many good ideas for scenes between other characters so I will be switching between POV’s throughout the story. Whenever I do this within a chapter I will mark the switch by a row of stars (*) just to keep it from getting too confusing. I don’t think I write the other characters as well as Liz, so any comments (or criticisms) you have about that would be great.

Chapter 2:

I had been sitting in my apartment, working on my hook shot throwing crumbled papers into the garbage can when I heard a knock on the door. Before I was even able to think about walking towards the door, in stormed Liz. She was the absolute last person I expected to see, and one of the last people I wanted to see. She had a lot of gall coming here after what she had done to Max.

I tried to get rid of her at first, it was bad enough having to hear about the problems of people I actually care about. Then she explained, and I began wishing that the only problem was her sleeping with Kyle. I mean, Max may never get over that but he’d get around it eventually.

But no, that wasn’t the problem, Liz was pregnant with Max’s baby, a Max who didn’t exist anymore and who foretold of the deaths of everyone I actually cared about. It seems a little far-fetched, but then again, so was the idea of Liz sleeping with Kyle. I mean, she put Max through a lot, “I want to be more than friends, no I think we should be just friends, I want you, no we can’t, etc. etc.” but still she was loyal to him through everything.

Well, I was trying to comfort her, with little success, when I finally channeled my inner Maria and gave her a good pat on the back. The next thing I now she is all over me balling her eyes out. Okay, maybe I was crying a little too, but no one can prove that.

Of course at that exact moment in walks none other than Max himself. I can only imagine what was going through his mind, as he looked first at me and than at Liz. I could practically read the “Et tu Brutus?” in his eyes before he turned around and walked out the door.

“Go after him.” Liz said quietly to me, and I knew it was killing her that she couldn’t be the one to track him down. “Yeah.” I mumbled, and quickly left the apartment to find Max. It wasn’t very hard to track him, I could practically feel the air crackling with alien energy as I jumped on my motorcycle and drove out to the caves. Sure enough, Max’s jeep was there. I walked into one of the caves and found Max sitting down on the cold sand just staring at a ball of green light he had conjured.

“Max?” I asked, worried for a second that he was in some kind of trance.
“Michael, go away.” he said, as his ball of green light grew larger.

****************************************************
I had spent all morning sitting in my room, pretending to be sick so that I wouldn’t have to go to school. I didn’t want to take the chance of seeing her there. Or him. The thought of them together, it, wasn’t right. That was supposed to be me with Liz, not Kyle. It didn’t make sense, I thought I knew her, but maybe the girl I loved was never there at all. Maybe it had all been in my head. Maybe she only pretended to be in love with me because she had some weird alien fantasy that she wanted to play out. Like some weird school girl crush. Finally, after a morning that seemed to span an eternity I managed to pull myself up and head to Michael’s. I had visited him last night, after the incident and it made me remember what a good friend he was. We hadn’t hung out as much, as Maria and Liz became our worlds. Now mine was shattered, but I still had my friend.

I walked into Michael’s apartment and for a moment I thought he was there with Maria. Imagine my horror when I realized the girl in his arms was not Maria, but Liz. My Liz, apparently everyone’s Liz. They both turned to look at me, and I glimpsed at her long enough to see the tears running down her face. For a moment I just wanted to run to her and comfort her, but soon that impulse was squished with a bitter delight that she was in so much pain.

I needed to get out of there, fast, before I freaked on both of them. I turned around, headed to my jeep and sped out to the caves. When I arrived I just collapsed on the floor of the cave and began to release some of my feelings by concentrating them into an energy ball. Maybe it would consume me and all of this would be over.

Then Michael arrived. And I just wanted to attack him, in some kind of cheesy alien showdown. “Max, I’m sorry man, I know she hurt you, but she was upset, and, well, she’s Maria’s friend, so I can’t be totally heartless, I have to...”
“Take her in your arms and tell her everything will be okay? I’m sure Maria would be thrilled at that.” I replied, letting every once of bitterness that I was feeling sink into my words. The energy ball I was spinning had grown suddenly larger and unexpectedly cracked open, pieces of green energy flying all over the cave. Michael just barely missed being smoked in the face. I felt bad for a moment, he could have been hurt, killed even, but then, no one else seemed to be considering the consequences of their actions lately so why should I?

“Feeling better now that you almost killed me? Or maybe you’re disappointed you didn’t finish me off.”

Neither of us said anything for a long time. Finally Michael broke the silence.

“Max, you and Liz weren’t even dating. You had to expect that she would move on eventually. Knowing everyday that you were supposed to be with Tess, she just, had to get free of you somehow. I admit, this is pretty much the stupidest way she could have picked but we’ve all done stupid things Max.”

“Move on Michael? You don’t move on from your soulmate, I thought I was hers. But maybe none of that was true, maybe it was just the way I felt, maybe she didn’t share my feelings at all. She’s my soulmate and I’m just some guy she has to get over? It’s like finding out everything we had was false. I haven’t just lost her, but everything, the last year, it’s gone, might as well not have happened.”

I looked away from Michael, I had broken down last night, and I had sworn to myself it would be the last time I would ever shed a tear over Liz Parker.

“And sleeping with someone to get over me? She couldn’t have just bought a pint of Ben & Jerry’s? That’s the lamest excuse I have heard Michael, and I can’t believe you’re defending her.”

Michael looked at the ground, looking as if he was trying to find a way, any way, to defend himself. Instead he surprised me and simply asked, “So what now Max?”

“I don’t know Michael. I don’t want to see you for awhile."

END CHAPTER TWO

Chapter 3:

It’s been four months since Max walked in on Kyle and I. It seems more like it’s been years, so much has changed since that night. For the last four months I’ve been living, well, a normal life, free of alien chaos. In fact, I rarely ever see Max, Michael, Isabel or Tess, it’s as if I have ceased to exist to them. Michael and I agreed that it would be best for us to lose contact until I needed his help to prevent jeopardizing his relationship with Max. I know they have to remain a group, but it hurt losing my only confident.

Then there’s Maria, she used to keep bothering me about Max, and why we were so distant, and then one day she stopped. I know that someone had told her about me and Kyle, and the two weeks she spent ignoring me were the hardest weeks of my life. Finally, one night after having an argument with Michael one, she came bursting into the Crashdown and we shared a whole 2L container of ice cream. It was hard lying to Maria, telling her that I had slept with Kyle. It made me feel so dirty, admitting to that act, and lying to my best friend. But after that night things slowly got back to normal between us. Only Alex has remained my friend throughout the whole ordeal, I don’t know if anyone told him about the Kyle incident, but he’s just kept on being his Alex self towards me and I’m grateful to him for that.

I’m beginning to feel more pregnant each day. The connection I had felt the first night is continually growing. Fortunately I haven’t begun to show as of yet, though I know it won’t be very long until I do. So far only I have noticed the changes taking place in my body.

I don’t know what I am going to do, but today I told my parents. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My Dad wants to send me to live with my aunt for the next 6 months, but Mom just kept crying and whispering that she wants to keep me here, that I’m still her daughter and she wants to take care of me.

Neither of them asked me what I wanted. No one ever does, I’m Liz, they know I’ll simply do or take care of whatever is handed to me. I’m getting sick of that. I wish I could just leave Roswell, and go somewhere to be by myself. Raise Clara away from the people who won’t understand that she’s not some teenage mistake, but a beautiful last grasp at love.

“Liz honey are you in here?”
“Yes Mom.” I replied quietly as she walked into the room.
“Liz, your father and I have been discussing what we should do about your situation and I remembered, there’s a nice school, for girls in your situation, where you can finish your year without feeling like such an outsider.”

It took me a moment to process what my mother was saying, she wanted to send me to a school with a bunch of other pregnant girls for the next three months so I could finish my junior year with others in my ‘situation’. Others in my situation? I highly doubted that.

“Okay Mom, that sounds good.” I agreed. I was too worn out to argue with her about it, and I just wanted to be alone. I love my mother, but the disappointment in her eyes, and the tiptoeing around my ‘situation’ was too much for me to bear. And this way I would at least finish my school year, without having to answer everyone’s questions.

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

“Maria, calm down. It’s no big deal.”

I can’t believe he has the gall to say that to me. He doesn’t even know why I’m angry with him. “Michael, this isn’t about me being upset that I was left out. I know that I’m only human. This is about you not being able to trust me. If our relationship is going to work you need to learn to trust me.”

“Secrets bond people together Maria. That’s why we kept this a secret, just the four of us. We need to be close, learn to function as a group. And the meetings at the cave were helping us. I know you’re upset that you didn’t get invited Maria, but did you ever stop to think that maybe these meetings, working on our abilities, learning to protect ourselves is just a little more important than you not getting your feelings hurt?”

“You four are the Roswell aliens, isn’t that big enough of a secret for you? And secrets don’t always bring people together Michael, sometimes they rip them apart. I mean, what are these meetings for anyway?”

“So we don’t all end up dead.” he snapped back, obviously agitated. “And maybe sometimes people need to be ripped apart.” he added, though more to himself than me.

“Michael, I know you haven’t had the easiest life, so maybe you don’t understand this, but people are always stronger when their united. I even think what you’re doing, protecting yourselves, is a good idea. I mean, we’ve already been through so much. But that’s just it, we. So don’t shut me out now.”

“Fine, you can come to the next meeting.” he relented, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced it was a good idea. I wasn’t going to press him though, with Michael I’ve learned to accept that I need to take babysteps in getting him to let me in.

I looked out the window Michael had just climbout out of and listened as he reved up his motorcycle and took off. For winning the argument I didn't feel too victorious sitting there alone. I still have the feeling that there’s so much he’s not sharing with me. He’s been so preoccupied and stressed lately that whenever I try to talk to him I get the idea he’s not totally there. Even more so than usual.

I looked around my room, feeling lonely and depressed. Just then I heard a knock at the window, I thought it was Michael returning but it was Liz standing there looking lost.
“Liz? What’s up?”

“Hey, I just needed to get out, and talk to someone.”
“I’m glad you did, I just had a fight with Michael and can use the company myself.”

We both sat there in my room for awhile, neither of us talking.
“How is everyone?” asked Liz all of a sudden, and I knew exactly who she meant by everyone. I still didn't understand why she and Max weren't together, how she could have slept with Kyle when she was in love with Max, it just wasn't Liz.

“They're all still alive. Despite the secret alien bonding.”
“What?” asked Liz, looking at me questioningly.
“I found out the four of them have been meeting secretly in the caves, to work on their abilities. Michael didn’t even bother to tell me. The worst thing was, I found out from Tess of all people.”

“From Tess? How?” asked Liz.
“I was talking to her yesterday about how I wanted Isabel to change my hair colour for me again and she said that she could do it. That Isabel had taught her how at the caves. I asked her what she meant. She looks at me and says, “Michael didn’t tell you about the meetings?” It was so humiliating, to have her look at me questioning my relationship with Michael. How dare she, it’s not exactly like she’s got a healthy relationship either.”

“Tess is with Max then?” Liz asked, looking at me and I wished anything that I could lie to her, tell her that he wasn’t.
“Yes. They’ve been dating for a couple weeks now.” I added quietly.

I expected Liz would be upset, but after all that had happened I didn’t expect her to break into tears when she found out.
“Liz, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be Maria. This is exactly what’s supposed to happen, everyone moves on and ends up with the ones they’re meant to be with.” She was silent for a few moments and then added, “I need to get away though Maria, I’m going to finish the school year at a boarding school.”

END CHAPTER THREE

I'm not really happy with this part, I couldn't get it to come out as good as it did in my head. But I want to get on with the story, so here it is, hope you enjoy and all comments are great... even the criticisms. :>

Chapter 4:

“So, how was your big date?” greeted Kyle, opening the front door for me before I had time to find my key.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting up for me?” I asked, intending it in a reproving tone, but instead my question came out slightly playful. I mentally chided myself for flirting with Kyle.

“It wasn’t a big date Kyle. We were just playing pool with Michael and Maria.” I added quickly, before he could respond to my teasing.
“You have fun?” he asked, trying to act casual, his hand fidgeting.
“I had a great time.” I answered. I knew from the hurt look in his eyes that he thought that meant I was falling madly in love with Max. In all truth, the best part of the night was just being a normal girl, playing pool and doubling dating with my friends. I couldn’t help smiling at that thought. Even Maria had been friendly tonight, despite the fact that she seemed troubled about something.

“Max isn’t the only person who could love you Tess.” Kyle said all of a sudden. I knew that this was coming, but I kept hoping we wouldn’t have to have this conversation. I looked at his reflection in the mirror. “Kyle, please. You know I have feelings for you, so don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“If you have feelings for me why are you going out with Max?” he demanded. Great, he couldn’t just take my advice and let it drop, letting us both take the easy way out.

“Because, he’s Zan, or the closest thing to him. The guy I spent my whole life being told that I would meet, and then things would finally get better. I would have someone who would love me and make me feel like I belong."

“But Tess, can’t you see that you belong here with me, and that I love you, right now in the present. If that’s all you truly want, why isn’t this good enough?”

We were both silent and I wished that I could make Kyle truly understand. That I do care for him, but I need time to explore my relationship with Max. I had spent my life waiting to find him, to fall madly in love and live happily ever after. It wasn’t a dream that you walked away from when you actually have the chance of making it come true. I had to know for sure if we were meant to be.

“Some day you’re going to realize that the complete love and belonging you were told about is just a fairy tale, Tess. I just wish you would realize that now.”
“Maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t but it’s something I have to find out. Something that’s not worth just throwing away on a crush.” I said emphasizing the last word. I felt bad dismissing him so easily, but if I wasn’t a little bit cruel he would persist and I know I would give in. I finally was getting somewhere with Max though, and I know I’ll only get the one chance. We had actually talked and laughed together, and if I left him for Kyle it would ruin all the ground I had made. Max had already been betrayed too many times, and I would be loyal to him if nothing else.

“I’ll tell him I didn’t sleep with Liz and then we’ll see how long you have your precious Max.” Kyle blurted out, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“What?” I asked, twirling around to face Kyle.
“You heard me. Liz and I never slept together, so the only reason they aren’t together now is because of a lie. I could have easily told him the truth. But when I saw how happy you were, that he was finally letting you in, even though it killed me that I was losing you to him, I let it happen. So you can dismiss me all you like Tess, but I’d do anything for you.”

“Why would you fake something like that?”
“I have no idea. Liz was mad about Max for something. She seemed pretty upset so I just went along with it. I learned long ago it’s a dangerous game questioning a woman with a mission.”
************************************************

I sat in the jeep slowly turning the key in the ignition, still holding Tess’ purse in my hands. She had forgotten it in the jeep and I was just running in to give it back to her. But she had been talking to Kyle, so I just stood in the entryway, waiting for him to go away. A few minutes ago I had wanted to kill him when I realized that he was hitting on my girlfriend, but for some reason I had stayed there, eavesdropping. Then he had said it, those beautiful words that keep repeating in my head. “I didn’t sleep with Liz.”

Before I had time to process what I was doing I realized I was at the Crashdown. I looked in the window and saw Mr. Parker shutting down the restaurant for the night. I knocked on the door.

“Max.” Mr. Parker said sternly, but I ignored that, I needed to see Liz, no matter what. I wanted to force her to tell me the truth about that night.
“Mr. Parker, I know it’s late, but I need to see Liz.”
“She’s not here Max.”
“Where is she? Please, I need to talk to her.” I realized I sounded desperate but I couldn’t help it. All those feelings I had buried were tearing at me now. How could I ever have been so stupid to believe Liz would betray me like that?

“You really want to talk to my daughter Max?” asked Mr. Parker, still standing in front of the door, blocking my entrance.
“Yes.” I replied.
“Well, she’s gone, so how about we have a little chat instead.” he answered gravely, moving away from the door and I walked in behind him. I took a seat at the counter, and Mr. Parker pulled out a chair and sat down next to me.

END OF CHAPTER FOUR

Chapter 5:

“Kyle, we can’t.” Tess wriggled herself out of my embrace and I had to try hard to resist pulling her back to me. A few seconds later she looked at me again, “Well? You’re not going to even try to pull me back?”

“What about your destiny you were babbling on about a few minutes ago?” I asked her. I needed to know that she was really going to let us be together, I couldn’t stand any more waiting, and false victories.

“That was before you kissed me Kyle.” she said, her whole face blushing and I thought she never looked more beautiful. “I didn’t know it was supposed to be like that.”

She recovered herself and then looked at me more seriously. “Kyle, the truth is, I don’t know what love or anything is really like. I didn’t have crushes like other girls, there was always just Zan. So I made him into my everything, my own personal hero. And Max is really, only human at heart. I think I understand a lot more about, how he could have fallen in love with Liz. I didn’t understand that at first, I thought he would be just like me, waiting his whole life for us to find each other. I was devastated to see he really didn’t feel the same at all. That he had people who loved him, and a girlfriend.” Tears were rolling down Tess’ cheek and I reached out and brushed them away. “I was so jealous, and hurt. I hated Liz.”

I took Tess in my arms and held her.
“Kyle, it’s so easy and natural being in your arms. Everything with Max, is formal and stiff.”
“Like some old married couple?” I teased and she hit me playfully, but I could see she was smiling.

“Tess, what I have to know is, will you give up those dreams for me?”
“I will Kyle.” she said, smiling through her tears, and I decided this was really her most beautiful moment. “I feel so free now, like the whole world is open to me.” she added giggling.

“So you’re mine?” I asked, making sure it was really true.
“Yes. Besides, if you get a second chance at life, it’s probably not a good idea just to make the same old decisions.”

I took her in my arms and slowly leaned down to kiss her, but instead of the sweet kiss I was expecting, I was grabbed by the back of my shirt and shoved up against the wall.

“Max, I'm sorry, but please put him down.” begged Tess. But he ignored her, his eyes drilling into me.

“Tess, he’s a lying pathetic rat, and I’m doing you a favour.” replied Max, not taking his eyes off of me. “I overheard what you said earlier about Liz, so I went to see her to make her tell me the truth, and I had an interesting conversation with Mr. Parker, and apparently Liz is pregnant. Now explain how that happened if you never slept with her.”

I looked at Max dumbfounded. Liz was pregnant? That made absolutely no sense.
“Max, I..”

“How could you Kyle?” said Tess her eyes flaring at me as she starred at me intently just as Max was. “You’re just one more person manipulating me into doing what you want.”

Just great, do a friend a favour and end up with too slightly homicidal aliens on your back. “Max, I swear, I never slept with Liz."
"And why should I believe you? I saw you two together. This is just another one of your lies."
"You can mind warp me, do whatever you want, but it’s the truth.” I asserted.

Max put me back on the ground roughly and grabbed my hand, forming a connection. The legendary mind connection that had seemed to make Liz all gooey eyed made me feel like vomiting as Max rushed through my mind. Finally he broke the connection.

“He’s telling the truth.” said Max, sounding disappointed that he didn’t get to punish someone tonight. Finally, he seemed to refocus on the room, and registered what was going on between Tess and I. “Tess, if you love him, be with him.” Max said to her, turning to leave.
"I didn't need your permission Max." she said, looking at him angrily. "Especially since you just saw Kyle and I together and all you cared about was Liz. But thanks anyway Max." she added at the end, and I could tell she was truly letting him go.

“Yeah, you might as well be happy.” he mumbled. "But you won’t be thanking me when you get your heart ripped out.” with that he turned around and left.

**********************************8

I looked at my clock, it was 2 a.m. in the morning and someone was knocking on my window. Michael, I thought to myself. I was supposed to join them at their cave session tomorrow, and he probably wanted to try to convince me out of it by acting sweet. I pulled up the window and was shocked to see Max standing there.

“Max” but before I could say anything else he blurted out.
“Who’s the father Maria?”
“The father, what are you talking about?”
“Don’t act stupid with me Maria, who’s the father of Liz’s baby?”

It took a few moments for the words to sink in, but they finally did. Liz is pregnant, my best friend is pregnant and gone away somewhere, without even telling me where.

“You didn’t know did you?” asked Max, finally clueing in by the shocked look on my face.
“No I didn’t, I mean. Wait a minute, who’s the father?!?! Did you sleep with Liz too?” I blurted out without thinking.
“No.” he answered, giving me an annoyed look.
“Then it must be Kyle’s. I mean, he’s the only person Liz has slept with.”
“He didn’t sleep with Liz.” asserted Max. “I checked.”
“You checked? Ohh.. mind thingies, okay, never mind what I was thinking.”
“So you really don’t know?” asked Max, obviously not in the mood to joke.
“No, I don’t.”

We both stood there, looking at each other, both feeling betrayed all over again. I could understand why she wouldn’t tell Max, or anyone for that matter. But I’m her best friend, and I had thought we told each other everything.

END CHAPTER FIVE

Hi, thanks everyone so much for the great comments. I loved writing this part so I hope you all enjoy it. :>

Chapter 6

I’ve only been away from home for a week but already I miss it more than I thought possible. Why did I let myself get convinced into doing this? At the time I thought it would be an escape from my life, a way to avoid the hard questions I just wasn’t up to answering. Instead of it being a refuge it’s turned out to be just another prison, with stricter rules and inflexible schedules.

I just got back from practical studies, an hour and a half long course that everyone is required to attend that runs from 7 to 8:30 each evening. Tonight’s lesson was on car maintenance. These lessons have been from everything from self defense to solitary Lamaze, and seem to be more focused on teaching us how to live without a man than how to take care of our new babies.

I want so badly to pick up the phone and call someone, and complain but I don’t know who. Even if I did call I couldn’t say what I really want to. That I’m homesick and scared and just want to spill my guts and cry my eyes out.

“You’re Liz right?” asked one of the girls that looked vaguely familiar from class, as she walked into my room unannounced.
“Uh yeah.” I answered, desperately trying to dry my eyes and pretend I hadn’t just been crying.
“Hey, it’s okay. Everyone’s emotional here.” she said, smiling awkwardly.

I looked at her waiting for her to say something. “I’m sorry, you are?” I finally asked after she had stood in the doorway for awhile not saying anything, just starring at me oddly.
“Oh, I’m Serena.” she finally introduced herself.
“Hi.” I said, thinking that her name sounded awfully familiar.
“Sound familiar?” she asked, as if she was reading my mind.
“Yeah.” I answered, looking at her as she smiled oddly. “Should it?” I inquired, not quite knowing what else to say.

“Is Max Evans the father?” she asked all of a sudden, and I just looked at her shocked.
“Um… I …”
“Sorry Liz, I just, have to make sure it’s you.” she apologized. “I can see, from your response, that you are 100% you.”
“So why are you here?” I asked, looking at her in wonder.
“Because you told me to be.” she answered.
“Huh?”
“Liz, the night Max visited you, you visited me.”
“I visited you? You mean, not me, but....”

“Yes. When Max from the future was visiting you, future Liz was visiting me. They came back together. She was just going to die there otherwise and Max didn’t want that to happen. Since you couldn’t see yourself, Max went to you and she came to see me.”
“She, I mean I did?”
“Yeah. I thought she was crazy, blabbing about the horrible future and children and that I needed to be there for you. But she knew so much about me, about my heritage. I’ve always been different and everything she told me made sense. I’m a human alien hybrid, by the way. But I didn’t hatch from a pod like the others. My mother was human and gave birth to me the old fashioned way; I never knew my father, or what he was.”

“Wow.”
“Yeah, you can say that again.” said Serena, smiling. “It’s really nice saying that to someone, once I found out I didn’t freak, it just made my life make so much more sense. But still, I didn’t have anyone to share it with.”
“I know that feeling.” I responded and we both smiled wistfully.

“I have a letter for you, from her.” she said, and she took out a piece of paper and handed it to me.

Dear Liz,
I guess it’s a good thing I spent years writing in my diary, makes writing to you a little bit easier. Still, this is pretty different, and believe me, I know different. First of all, I want you to know, that I needed Clara to be born just as badly as Max. In fact, it was my idea. He was hesitant at first, but I won him over. I always do. I know you must be so scared right now, that’s why we brought Serena to you. You two can help each other. We’ve been really good friends for years now. Clara is a special child Liz, and she can be very powerful. It’s a power you will need to develop in her, and if you can’t go to Max about her, rely on Michael and Serena to help. I wish we had of taught her to protect herself. She.. Liz, make sure she can defend herself. Max and I taught her to hide her powers, and never use them. That was a mistake. Liz, I want you to be there for Max, for all of them. I know you must be hurt now, or mad, or who knows what else at him, but however things are between you two, he needs you there as a friend. You all need to be united, and prepared. ~Liz

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

Just great, I invited Maria to join me at the cave and she’s late. I looked around and noticed that Isabel was there, and she had brought along Alex. “You brought Alex?” I asked, pretending to be annoyed with her.
“Yeah, well, I know it’s supposed to just be the four of us but…”
I started laughing before Isabel could finish and she shot me one of her patented Isabel looks. “It’s okay Izzy, I invited Maria.”
“Awesome, so we’ll be one happy family.” interjected Alex. “Just the way it’s supposed to be.”

“I wouldn’t count on that.” came another voice as Tess, Kyle and Maria entered the cave.
“Why not?” asked Isabel, giving Tess and Kyle a funny look, as I gave one to Maria. Tess and Kyle weren’t exactly her favourite people, so why was she with them now?
“Well, see, first of all, I’m dating the King’s wife, I don’t think he’s gonna like that.” Kyle began, obviously trying to soften whatever blow was coming with a joke.
“What? You’re dating Kyle?” Isabel demanded of Tess, giving her a questioning look.
“Max is still in love with Liz.” replied Tess, defending herself. “As soon as he found out that Kyle didn’t sleep with her he went running to her.”

“And you’re okay with that?” I asked Tess.
“Yeah, I’m okay with it now.” she said, surprised at my question and concern.
“And you’re not going off now that Max is with Liz?”
“No, my home is here now. Why would I leave?”

I smiled to myself, maybe everything would be okay for everyone, Max would go to Liz, she would tell him the truth and everything would work out okay. In fact that’s probably where he was right now, with Liz.

“Then maybe everything will work out.” I couldn’t help saying out loud.
“Work out?!? No, not quite, Liz is pregnant Michael, with some guys baby who we don’t even know and she didn’t even tell me. I’m supposed to be her best friend! And I don’t even know where Max went to. I had to go to visit Kyle this morning to find out what he could tell me. Liz is in boarding school, and no one knows where she is, so I can't even go find out from her.”

Oh crap.

“Liz is pregnant and didn’t sleep with Kyle?” piped up Alex all of a sudden. “What the hell? Have I been dead the last five months? Or did you all just decide not to tell me? Was this a collective agreement? Well, no one got aids and needs a blood transfusion, so no need to tell Alex.”

“If it makes you feel any better I didn’t know about the pregnant and not sleeping with Kyle part.” Isabel finally replied.
“No one knew about the pregnant part.” replied Maria, as Max walked into the cave and everyone looked at him.

“I had to find out from Mr. Parker.” replied Max, “He thought I was the father.” his ears turning slightly red.
“Wow, so no one here knew this was going on with Liz?” asked Isabel.
“I wouldn’t say no one.” replied Max, looking intently at me.

Shit.

End Chapter Six

Chapter 7

“Michael did you know Liz was pregnant?”
Michael looked from me to Max and I could tell from the look on his face that he had known. “You knew my best friend was pregnant and you didn’t tell me? So it’s not just Liz who kept this from me, but my own boyfriend as well.” I felt so angry I wanted to scream and shout and throw something at him. “How could you do this? I mean, if Max was pregnant I would have told you!”

Kyle snorted at that comment and received four angry glares. “What? It was funny.” he mumbled under his breath and Tess gave him a good nudge. I’m beginning to think that maybe there’s hope for a friendship between us afterall.

“Are you going to explain Michael?” asked Isabel, realizing that Max and I were only able to glare or yell incoherently at Michael.

“What’s there to explain? Liz’s pregnant. That’s pretty much the whole story.” Michael said. “And if you’re all standing here, waiting for me to tell all of you the intimate details of Liz’s life I’m not going to do it.”

“But why would she go to you?” I demanded of Michael.

And then it hit me, like a load of bricks. Why would Liz not tell me she was pregnant? Why would she go to such elaborate methods to make everyone believe it was Kyle she'd slept with? Why would Max and Michael have fallen out, and why did Max suspect Michael now? It was so very obvious; I had been so blind.

“There are reasons that you don’t understand..” began Michael, but I cut him off before he could go any further.
“I understand perfectly.” tears were running down my face now and I felt like someone had kicked me in the heart. “I just can’t believe it.”
“Maria?” Michael asked, looking horror stricken.
“Get away from me.” I yelled, I couldn’t stand for him to touch me. “How could you do it Michael? Did you not even think about me? Or Max? He’s practically family. You don’t do that to family.”

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

I don’t know how Liz did it, how she let Max walk away that night believing that she had slept with Kyle. How she could have witnessed the torn up look on his face and just let him walk away. I looked at Maria’s face and I knew that I wouldn’t have been able to do it.

“Maria, I didn’t sleep with Liz, I swear. I could never do that to you, or to Max.”
She looked up at me, tears running down her face, but she was at least considering my words. “Don’t even think it for a second Maria, you’re the only one for me.”

“I don’t know what to believe Michael. Everywhere I look there are secrets and lies, and how do I know I can trust what you say now?”
“Because, when Liz gets back, she’ll tell you the truth.”
“Why now? Why couldn’t she tell me before?”
“There were reasons, but Maria, I think she can tell you now. But Liz has to be the one to tell you, it’s not my place.”

With that I got up and left the cave. I’m a woman with a mission.

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

“Michael?” I said as we left the cave later that evening, after a very awkward training that Michael insisted we go through with as if everything was normal.
“Max, I can’t tell you either.” he said, obviously not wanting to get into it with me. He still seemed pretty upset that Maria had accused him of being the father.
“I know you’d never do anything like that.” I finally said. “And Maria knows that too, it’s just, when you’re betrayed you’re not always at your smartest.”

“Thanks Max.” Michael finally responded, “But I’m still not telling you.”
“I respect that. I mean, I have to move on anyway. Tess is with Kyle, you have Maria, Isabel and Alex seem to be getting closer. I should have someone. I just thought Liz would be the one.”
“And we could all live happily ever after?”
“Yeah, maybe.” responded Max, trying not to blush. “Stupid idea of mine.”
I turned to him and looked him in the eye. “Max, if you could change it all so it would work out, would you?”
“I guess, I mean who wouldn’t want to make everything work out okay.”
“Well, do me a favour and just be content with the world not coming to an end.”

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

I sat in my room laughing for the first time in ages. Serena was proceeding to give me the, “why you don’t want to grow up to be that Liz anyway” speech. I could tell she was just doing it to make me feel better about what I missed out on, but to her credit, it was working, at least for the moment. “I mean, she was so whipped, she came to visit me, while her husband was out having a little booty tang. I mean, come on, I’m sure she would have enjoyed a little teenage stamina as well.”

When I finally stopped laughing, she was already on another rant. “And what she was wearing! It was some kind of leather get-up, I wish I had of taken a picture.”
“Ha, Max was wearing the same kind of thing.” I blurted out, laughing at the memory.

Serena sat down beside me and we both couldn’t help giggling. It felt so good to have someone to confide in. “Seriously though Liz, she was a pretty cool chick.”
“I can see why we would have been friends then.”

“So, how did you get accepted here when you’re not pregnant?” I asked.
Serena smiled, “To all of them, I look 8 months pregnant.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I am a master of illusion. But I can select who I want to deceive. It comes in handy. So be glad I’m on your side.”

We both just sat there for a second. Then Serena got up suddenly, “Well, Liz, I’m going to use my powers for the greater good and go see if I can score us some brownies from the kitchen. Any special requests?”
“Hot sauce?” I asked, I had been craving it for the last week.
Serena just smiled and replied, “Sure thing, but I think you’re beginning to get a little green around the gills.”

“Who’s was she? Your new best friend?” asked Maria, storming into my room suddenly.
“Maria? What are you doing here?”
“I know about everything Liz, and I went to your parents and demanded they tell me where you were. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me yourself."
“Michael told you?” I gasped, I can’t believe Michael had told Maria. I thought for sure I was able to trust him to keep his mouth shut. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“I can’t believe you kept this from me.”

“I’m sorry Maria, it’s just, I didn’t know what I could do without screwing things up. Who else knows?”
“Everyone.”
“Max?” I asked apprehensively.
Maria nodded to my dismay.
“Does he know he’s the father?”

End Chapter 7

Chapter 8. . .

“There’s something over here.” said Alex.

Tess, Kyle, and I had stayed behind in the caves to try and make Alex feel better about being left out of the loop. He had been upset and was ranting about elitism, feminism and alienism when all of a sudden he had stopped to pick up something that was lying amid the rubble in the corner of the cave. Max had blasted that spot earlier that day, being in a particularly good mood to do some blasting with Michael.

“What is it?” I asked Alex, walking over to get a look at what he was holding.
“It looks like a book to me.” piped up Kyle, obviously wondering why Alex was so amazed by it.
“I don’t think it’s a book. It looks more like a journal.” replied Alex. He opened the front cover and read aloud, “August 20th, 2012”.
“Well, that’s odd.” he said, as we all crowded together to inspect Alex’s finding more thoroughly.

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

“I got the goods.” I said, smiling as I walked into Liz’s room with a whole pan of brownies covered in hot sauce. But Liz wasn’t there alone, another girl was sitting on Liz’s bed, starring at Liz as if she’d grown two heads. “Err.. Hi, I’m Serena.” I introduced myself, trying to hide the brownies from the girl’s view, I didn’t think even the cravings of a pregnant woman could explain Tabasco and chocolate.

“Max is the father?!” the other girl hissed at Liz, ignoring my presence for the moment.
Liz just smiled awkwardly at the girl.

“Maria, this is Serena.” Liz finally said, obviously not ready to deal with this Maria’s questions. This time Maria actually registered I was in the room. But she just nodded at me and turned her eyes back to Liz.

“I guess you didn’t know everything then.” said Liz, looking at her hands and trying to come up with an explanation for Maria.
“Then the babies a Czech?” Maria asked, lowering her voice on the last word.

I closed the door then and set the brownies down. Obviously Maria already knew about Max, because I highly doubted he was part Czechslovakian. Maria gave me an angry look when I came over to sit beside then on the bed.

“Do you mind letting us talk for a few minutes?” she asked me, obviously dying to question Liz in private. I could tell Maria definitely didn’t want me around, but Liz didn’t seem ready for it so I stayed where I was.

“Okay, then don’t.” Maria grumbled, obviously annoyed I wasn’t giving her the chance to satisfy her curiosity right away.

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

“Um.. guys, maybe we shouldn’t read this.” Alex said all of a sudden, closing the journal before we could get a closer look.
“Why not?” asked Tess, giving Alex a questioning glance.

Alex looked really upset holding the journal and I gave him a questioning glance. “You don’t actually think it’s from the future do you?”
“I hope not anyway.” said Alex, looking down at the journal.

“What did it say?” asked Kyle, voicing what all of us were thinking.
“If you insist.” Alex finally conceded, clearing his throat to read it aloud to all of us. “But don’t say I didn’t warn all of you.”

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

“Izzy? You home?” Hmm.. that’s odd I thought. We had been out at the caves late, so I expected she would have headed right back afterwards. Oh well, she probably was out with Alex or something. I looked at the clock, 1 a.m.

I got ready for bed reluctantly, I know there’s no way I’m going to get any sleep any time soon. It’s been over four months since she ripped my heart out, and I’m still not over her. I had even tried moving on, I mean, I had even been dating Tess but the moment I thought maybe she hadn’t betrayed me I went running to her.

I sat in my bed and just let my mind wander over our relationship, but tonight, for some reason all the hurt she had caused me seemed to be overshadowed by happy memories. The way she had accepted me for who I really was, the first person who I trusted, the first person I loved. She was always going to be important to me. Besides the passion, we had been friends, the kind that put there lives on the line for each other. When I had needed her most, she had been there. And when she got home, I was going to try to put my feelings behind me and be a friend to her. She was probably terrified, and could use a friend. I know I could.

End Chapter Eight

Chapter 9:

Alex cleared his throat and began reading the journal entry.

August 20th, 2012
When I found out that Tess had joined sides with Kivar after leaving Roswell I felt somewhat vindicated. She proved to me that she was the conniving bitch I took her to be when we first met. But today she proved me wrong, she was never the enemy, just a lost puppy looking for someone to cling on to. Max and I have to find the crystals soon, Kivar is searching for Tess and Clara, and there’s no doubt of what he’ll do when he finds them. He won’t take betrayal from Tess, and Clara will most likely.. but no, I won’t think about that. Serena and Michael have gone after them to find Clara and try to buy some time for Max and I, but, I wish Clara was here with us. I know if Tess hadn’t intervened that Clara would probably be dead with the rest now, but I can’t help feeling that there was some kind of revenge in that too.

“That’s the last entry in the journal.” said Alex, and we all looked at him, expecting him to read the previous ones. “Well?” Kyle asked expectantly, “You going to share the rest of it?” Alex glared at Kyle, “There is no rest, the other pages are all ripped out. This page at the back must have been missed.”

“I would never betray you guys.” I blurted out, I couldn’t stand to let them think I would betray them like that, and if this was someone’s idea of a joke I didn’t like it. “And if you’re just making this up..” I didn’t want to think that someone here could do that, after I was finally fitting in. “I don’t think this is just made up.” said Alex, as he looked over the journal in his hand. “Hey, there’s something else in here.” We all watched as he pulled open the flap on the outer cover and pulled out a small card. His eyes seemed to bulge out of his head and we all gathered around to see what it was.

“It’s a baby announcement.” Isabel said, taking the card from Alex. “Announcing the birth of Clara Galaxy Evans, on August 16th, 2007 to happy parents Max and Liz Evans.”
We all just stood in silence, as each one of us took our turns looking at the baby announcement, trying to figure it all out.

“Well, if someone didn’t make this up, how can this be true?” asked Kyle, looking at Alex expectantly. “Maybe that’s what the crystals were for, to make sure it doesn’t come true.” he guessed. “But how would that work?” Isabel asked, obviously not expecting anyone to answer.

“So you’re saying it’s true? That I betrayed all of you for Kivar?” I asked, trying not to get hysterical. “Tess, calm down, we don’t know if it’s true or not, and even if at sometime or some future it was supposed to be true, I doubt it is anymore.” Isabel said, obviously trying to reassure me. “I mean, there are so many little choices that can change who we are. That’s why we aren’t the same people we were on Antar. You don't have to be trapped by any destiny you don't want.”

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

“But Max told me you too didn’t sleep together.” hissed Maria. Serena’s presence was obviously not stopping her from questioning me at least a little about Max. And in all truth, I don’t blame her for being curious, I would be if the situations were reversed. “Why would he lie about that?”

“He wasn’t lying.” I responded, not able to keep myself from playing with Maria just a little bit. She was so hungry for answers, and a little messing with her suddenly seemed like a lot of fun. Just as I expected Maria gave me the oddest look, “But, Liz?”

I could tell from the look on her face she was postulating a million different answers, and that none of them was the correct one. No doubt she was thinking of some kind of alien finger touch or messy make out session.

“I think aliens just get pregnant the normal way from what I can tell.” interjected Serena, somehow picking up on my mess with Maria mood. It had the desired affect, Maria looked at Serena incredulously and then at me more so. “You told her?” she hissed at me. “Liz, you don’t tell me about being pregnant, but you tell her that the father is an alien? I mean, did I miss getting the ex-best friend memo?”
“I already knew if that makes you feel better.” added Serena. “In fact I was sent looking for Liz to make sure she was okay.”

“Why would you be sent to help Liz?” asked Maria, totally confused by now. “Because we’re friends in the future.” Serena answered, “And I’m the only natural born human alien hybrid that I know of.”

“That’s for clearing that up.” mumbled Maria.

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

I slipped into the house quietly. Tess, Kyle, Alex and I had stayed in the cave for a long time talking about the journal and what it could mean. In the end, we decided it meant nothing, Tess wasn't going to leave us for Kivar and Max and Liz certainly weren't going to get married and have a baby anytime soon. We ended up burning the journal so that no one else would find it. No sense in letting the others worry about what it meant. It was in the past, or the future, either way, it wasn't relevant.

For some reason, when the journal was burned I had taken Clara's birth accouncement out of it and put it in my pocket. The rest assumed it was burnt with the journal. I pulled it out now and read it over.
"“Announcing the birth of Clara Galaxy Evans, on August 16th, 2007 to happy parents Max and Liz Evans. Clara is the grandaughter of Jeff and Nancy Parker, and Phillip and Diane Evans, niece of Isabel and Jesse Ramirez."

I wonder who he is? I thought to myself, reading his name over again. Jesse Ramirez. I had told Alex that it meant nothing, I would no more end up with this Jesse guy than Tess would end up with Kivar. But there's something about this, that makes me wonder.

"What's that?" asked Max. I had been lost in thought I hadn't noticed him wander into the kitchen.

End Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Isabel was hiding whatever was in her hand as if her life depended on it. “Don’t tell me it’s some sappy love not from Alex?” I asked her as I poured myself a glass of water. Isabel didn’t blush or even respond to that comment; she only looked slightly frightened that I would find what was in her hand. But what could it be that she would be so entranced by? “Isabel, what is it?” I asked again, hoping she would at least give me some kind of passing explanation. “Um.. it’s nothing, just a flyer.” she said, slipping the flyer into her pocket, “A clothes flyer.” she added, “I saw a dress I wanted to buy, and I want to make sure I don’t forget where it is.”

That didn’t sound right at all. “Isabel, what are you hiding?” I asked her, it hurt me that she wasn’t being open with me, and I hate to admit this, but the idea of Vilandra’s betrayal was in the back of my mind. “I’m not hiding anything.” she replied. “Well, if you aren’t hiding anything why don’t you show me the dress you want to buy.” She finally looked straight at me and said, “Because, the dress will make you think of a dance, and that will make you think of a date, which will lead to Liz, which will only bring you pain. So I don’t think you should see the flyer, really Max, I’m doing this for your own good.” I looked at Isabel, she may be trying to protect me, but her words just made me more curious. “Isabel, just show me, I can handle it.”

Isabel reluctantly pulled the piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to me. I read the announcement quickly barely taking in the words, so that what it was didn’t sink in until I had finished reading the entire birth announcement. “Clara Galaxy Evans.” I said aloud, and Isabel was searching me with her eyes to see if I was okay. “Max, we found that in a journal that looked like it was from the future.” she explained. “But, it had things in it that will never happen, so it must have just been an alternate reality or something. Really, what you’re holding is meaningless.”

“Meaningless?” I said, not realizing I had almost yelled it until Isabel flinched. “If it’s so meaningless why were you hiding it?” Isabel looked at me, “I didn’t want you to see it. I knew it would upset you and I was obviously right about that.”

“Why do you think it has to be an alternative reality?” I asked. “Max, don’t fool yourself into thinking that you and Liz will end up together. This picture was in a journal that also said Tess would betray us to Kivar. But she’s my friend, and I know she would never do that. Maybe there was a time, but it’s in the past now, or the future. I don’t know. This may just be something made by our enemies to rip us apart.” Isabel took the birth announcement from me and ripped it into tiny shards. Not that it mattered, the picture was etched into my brain forever.

“Where’s the journal?” I asked, I wanted to read it. “We burned it.” Isabel admitted sheepishly. “You burned it? Isabel, how could you do that without even letting me look at it?” Isabel’s eye flashed. “Because Max, it was horrible, it talked about a place where we’re all fighting for our lives or dead, but despite all that, you would see that you and Liz ended up together and somehow hope for that ending. I’ve watched you mope over her for months, and when you finally seem to be geting over her, you’re crushed by a false hope. I don’t want to be giving you anymore false hope. She’s pregnant with someone else’s baby Max, it’s time to accept that and move on.”

“I’m still going to be there for her.” I said, defying Isabel. “Max, do you really think you can handle that? Being around her and her child? Wishing it was yours?” replied Isabel. She was trying to protect me, but she just didn’t understand that I couldn’t just walk away from Liz. I had spent the last four months ignoring her existence, trying to get over her, but it hadn’t worked. I could no more leave Liz out of my life than cut off my right arm. “Isabel, I still love her.

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

“Liz? What’s going on?” Maria demanded, obviously sick of being messed with. “Maria, sit back down.” I said, “I’ll tell you everything. You have to believe me that I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time, but its just been so confusing, and Max told me not to tell anyone.” I looked at Maria, hoping that she understood how hard it had been for me not to go running to her and spilling my guts. “Why would Max not want anyone to know? I mean, he doesn’t seem like the sort of guy that would brag, but I figured we would have seen some sort of big dopey grin on his face. And him not ‘fessing up to being the father seems wrong. I don’t peg him as the shirk responsibility kind of guy.”

I looked at Maria, she seemed decidedly angry with Max Evans. “Maria, don’t be hard on him, he’s technically not the father. Serena told you that we’re friends in the future? Well, I told her to come find me, but not me, a future version of myself. When future me was telling Serena to come find me, it was because a future version of Max was, well” I didn’t have to finish my sentence, Maria blurted out, “You slept with a future version of Max?” She jumped back up on her feet and paced back and forth along the room. “But why? I mean, surely he just didn’t come back to impregnate you? Unless, ha! Was it like, you weren’t biologically compatible, but future science fixed that? So he was coming back to give you and Max the baby you could never have? Ugh, was he old Liz? And wrinkled, ack, that would be such a let down.”

Serena couldn’t help snickering at Maria. “What?” Maria asked, glaring at her. “I think I’m living proof that Antarians and humans are genetically compatible. I mean, why else would they pick Earth as a planet to send us? What’s the good of another planet if you can’t get it on with the locals?”

“Well, then why Liz?” Maria asked me, putting aside her theory. “Because, he wanted me to break up with Max.” I answered, “Our being together drove Tess out of Roswell, and they needed her on their side. He told me you and the others had died, and I needed to prevent that from happening.” Maria looked at me sadly. “Oh Liz, that must have been so hard for you.” she came over and gave me a big Maria bear hug. It felt nice having her back on my side. “But Liz, Tess is with Kyle now, so I don’t think she would leave Roswell anyway. And that still doesn’t explain why you’re pregnant?” I was about to answer but Serena stepped in, obviously sensing this would be hard for me to explain.

“Max and Liz were married with a daughter in the other future.” Serena began, “When they came back to change things, future Max went to Liz, and future Liz came to me. She told me that she couldn’t give up her daughter, and so they kind of hatched a plan to knock Liz up. That’s where I came in, they both felt bad about doing that to present Liz and they wanted her to have someone helping her. Since I’m an alien, and a woman I guess they figure I would be the best person. She couldn’t exactly go to Tess or Isabel with her problems.” Maria looked at Serena and what she did next surprised us all. She gave Serena a hug, “Thanks for watching out for Liz.” she said simply.

“So I’ve been accepted?” joked Serena. “Don’t take it lightly, we’re a close nit bunch.” Maria joked back. “Or at least we were before everything. But from what Liz has said, I think that’s the best thing we could be.” Maria smiled at us both for a second and then seemed to think of something, “Well, this at least explains Michael’s zeal for those stupid alien street fighter meetings.”

“Well, if this Tess person isn’t going to leave, maybe the best thing is for us all to be in Roswell together.” replied Serena. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking up some alien street fighting. I think I’m sorely out of practice.” Maria smiled at the plan, obviously dying to drag me back to Roswell. “I don’t know, I don’t know if I’m ready to face everyone.” I stammered. “I mean, what if Max… I couldn’t handle it if he didn’t understand. Or if he did, and all he felt for me was pity. I mean, it’s been four months.” Maria gave me a look, “And maybe he’ll take you in his arms and tell you it will all be okay.”

“Okay, I’m going.”

End Chapter 10