Roswell Fanatics

Generation Next

Category: M/L and the rest of the gang
Rating: MATURE-ADULT

Disclaimer: I once again, own nothing. Roswell belongs to whoever thought of it, and the major UPN folks. Any parts of this story that resembles anyone else’s story is clearly a coincidence, and I mean no harm. I’m just a lonely Dreamer, who misses Roswell.

Summary: This is the last installment of the Trilogy to my stories Forever Mine and Love, Life and Danger, if you haven’t read them yet, I strongly suggest you read it first, so you don’t get lost. It takes place 10 years later. Little Bel and Xan are going thru the trials and tribulations of being teenage hybrids. While their family and friends try to guide them down the right paths in life. New relations are formed, and old ones grow stronger. Decisions are made, some good, some bad.

Feedback? Always Appreciated



Prologue

The night air whipped thru the thin curtains, making them sway thru the air like a piece of paper caught in a whirlwind, and the moon basked the room with it ethereal light. Together, they created a illusion of dancing ballerinas across the wall, as the wind whistled a melodious for their audience.

Liz laid awake, watching the calming scene before her. As much as she tried, she couldn’t turn her eyes away from the hypnotizing scene. It was late, and she knew she had to be up in a couple of hours, in yet her mind refused to settle down long enough for her to get a decent night sleep.

She knew why she couldn’t sleep, it’s the same reason she hadn’t slept for the last two days.....Max. She missed him sometime terrible, and she would always missed him more at night. During the day she had work and the kids to occupy her mind, but at night, when she had exhausted everything to keep her mind busy, from talking endlessly to Maria, Tess and Isabel, to writing in her journal until her hand cramped, he mind would drift once again back to Max.

She missed his smile, his touch, his taste. She would bury her head in his pillow, and she swore she could smell him. Wrapping her arms around it tightly, she inhaled his scent, as she imaged his large arms encircling her body, and pulling her tightly against his chest, as he threw his large leg across her thighs, preventing her from moving. She didn’t want to, she was content, right there trapped in his warm embrace as he whispered softly against her ear, while he ran a soothing hand thru her hair. Liz’s eyes drifted shut, and before she realized it, sleep had claimed her as she clung to his pillow.

~~~~~~~~

Liz bolted straight up. She was a little disorientate, as she was pulled out of her sleep. She looked around the room, and realized that it was still night out side. A quick glance at the clock told her she had been asleep for at least an hour. She hadn’t even realized she’d falling asleep. She tried to focus, and wonder what had startled her out of her slumber, when she hear her.

“Nooooooo!” Liz thru the covers off her, and cursed them as they tangled at her feet. She was out of her room, and running down the hall towards her daughters room as fast as her legs would carry her. Swinging open the door, Bel stared wide eyed at her mother. Liz made her way to her bed and gathered her in her arms.

“Shh, it’s ok. Mommy’s here” she cooed to her, as she ran her hand threw her long brown locks. She held her close as another bout of tremors claimed her body. Her tiny cries echoed throughout the room, as she clung desperately to her mother. Liz looked to the doorway, and wasn’t surprised to see Xan standing there nervously. He was clad in only a pair of boxers, and at first glance, it was like looking staring at Max.

She reached out her hand, and he eagerly accepted it as he came and sat next to her. Bel naturally sought out his hand, seeking his closeness. Xan gently placed his hand in hers, while he ran his free hand up and down Liz’s back. Together, they sat there, until sleep claimed them all once again, cuddled closely together, with Liz resting in the middle.

Michael stood protectively at the doorway. Seeing that everything was fine, he quietly slipped out the door, and made his way back across the street.




So what do you think, should I continue?........................LS[/b]

Hey everyone, I would like to thank everyone for the f/b and bumps for this sequel. i just wanted to add a some things to clear up any confusion or anything.

Things that are in italic are silence communications or dreams.
*** means past thoughts (replaying a memory)

Harrison and Johnson are also in this story, and Johnsons (earth name) is Brian. There will be other names mentioned in the story, but they will be explained. So now that, that's all clear.................................





Chapter 1

Liz burrowed deeper under the covers, as the sunlight crept thru the window, dancing across her closed lids. She was too comfortable to move, and just wanted to lounge around in bed all day and sleep. Bright light invaded her senses as the covers were pulled haphazardly from her form. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who the culprit was that caused a halt to her plans.

“Michael!” she moaned, as she blindly tried to reach for her comforter.

“It’s time to get up Liz” he walked over and pulled open the drapes, engulfing the room with the early morning sun. Turning, he noticed that Liz had succeeded in retrieving the covers, and cocooning herself in them. Shaking his head at her tactics, he reached for the covers once again, only to have her clutch them tightly against her.

“Liz!”

“Michael.....go away” she groaned as they fought for dominance of the covers. Having enough of her childishness, Michael waved his over the covers, and they vanished from her body.

“Maaariiiia!” she whined as she curled into a big ball, leaving her rump extended in the air. Chuckling at the position, he swatted her....hard.

“Aaaggghhh!”

“She’s not here, so get up and let’s get a move on it” with a frustrated groan, Liz flopped onto her back, and snapped her angry eyes towards him.

“I hate you” she yelled as she ran into her bathroom and slammed the door shut.

“Ditto” he yelled back. Michael listened for the sound of running water before he left in search of food.

Thirty minutes later, Liz found him sitting at the kitchen counter, with milk dribbled down his chin as he laughed at the cartoons on the television.

“You want a bib, I’m pretty sure Celeste has one around here” she asked as she made her way to the fridge. His only responses was a loud grunt. Liz grabbed a bottle of orange juice, and closed the door. She noticed the letter tacked up on the refrigerator, she read it as she took a sip of her juice.

Mom,

Left early to drop Bel off at work, before heading to practice. Don’t worry about picking up Claudia and Adam, I’ll pick them up on my way home. Have a good day, and don’t work to hard.

Love,
X


Liz smiled at the little note, Xan was always looking out for her, making sure she got enough rest, or had eaten enough, or not over working herself. He was so responsible, him and Bel both. She never had to ask them twice to clean their rooms, or wash the dishes, mainly because they would already have everything done by the time she came home.

Bel would have dinner already prepared, while Xan helped Clare, Adam and Claudia with their homework. All she had to do was come home and relax. Yes, she was truly blessed to have such wonderful kids. She ran her hand absent-mindedly over the tiny bump that was her stomach, and hoped that this next one was just as much of a blessing as her other children.

So caught up in her thoughts was she, she didn’t hear the back door open. Arms wrapped themselves around her waist, and covered her hand that rested protectively over her belly.

“Morning beautiful” Brian said as he kissed her lightly on the cheek. A bright smile lit her face, as she leaned more into him.

“Morning”

“How’s my little one doing” he asked, grabbing an apple from the bowl. He got down so he was level with her stomach.

“Hey little one, you be good to your mommy now ok” Liz smiled down at him, while Michael simply rolled his eyes in disgust.

“Can we get this show on the road” he bit out.

“Morning to you to bro” Brian playfully shoved him, in which Michael returned with a slap up side his head. Soon, they were engrossed in an all out slap boxing match. Clapping her hands.

“Now, now children” she scolded them, and they immediately stopped, but not before Michael gave Brian one last lick to the head.

“What are you doing here anyways Brian, I thought you were meeting us up there” she asked him.

“What, I can’t come and see the most beautiful woman, and might I add..my favorite, in the world” Liz watched him closely, and narrowed her eyes at him. Brian shifted under her gazes.

“Sucking up will get you no where buddy, now spill” Michael leaned against the counter, and crossed his arms.

“I can’t make it” he mumbled under his breath.

“Dude, you are not leaving me to do this by myself’ Michael huffed. Liz just stared at him, and Brian grew more and more nervous under her penetrating glare.

“Why?”

“I-I just have something I need to do”

“I bet”

“Michael!” she said warning. Brian stood up and walked towards her. Wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, he leaned in and kissed her pouty lips, before pulling back and looking over her face.

“Listen, I’m sorry ok, but it’s something that just came up. I promise I’ll make it up to you” he watched her slowly nod, and relief flooded his face when she flashed him a big smile, and which he returned happily.

“Man, you are so whipped” Michael snorted, and with one last punch to his shoulder, Brian was out the door.

“Just great, what are we suppose to do now”

“Calm down Michael, we’ll just call Chris or Alex and see if they can help” she assured him.

“They can’t, they’re both working!”

“Then I’ll help you” she sighed in frustration “don’t get so bent out of shape.”

“You’re pregnant Liz” he pointed out smartly.

“Oh my god I am. How did that happen” looking down at her stomach in mock shock.

“Very funny” he said, pulling on her ponytail. She giggled, and slapped his arm.

“Look Michael, I’m pregnant, not disabled, and I’m capable of moving a little furniture”

“You do know that I would like to see my kids grow up, maybe see them graduate from high school and college, possible get married.....”

“Shut up Michael, and get a move on it” she pushed him out the door, with him still cursing under his breath.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Order up Bel” Bel rushed around the crowded restaurant, barely missing a collision with Sonya.

“Thanks Ricky” she gave him a warm smile, before dashing off to feed the natives. Ricky watched her as she seemed to float on air from table to table. She was beautiful, and he could stare at her all day. Actually, he had been staring at her all day. The only reason he came to work daily, was so he could get a glimpse of her.

They’ve known each other since the first grade, and he had been fascinated by her every since. They had shared the same class every since then, but now that they were in high school, they only shared three classes together, and he made an effort to never miss a day. Outside of class and work, they barely held a conversation that lasted longer then five minutes. Any longer then that, and he would get all nervous, and lost his train of thought, as she looked at him.

“Fries are burning” Sonya smirked, as she watched his eyes follow Bel around the café.

“Uh-what” Ricky jumped as her voice finally penetrated his mind.

“I said that your fries are burning” Ricky turned towards the fryers, and saw the smoke raising.

“Shit!” he yanked the basket out of the grease, and stared at the charred fries. Frowning, he dumped them in the wastebasket.

“You know, that’s the third basket today” Sonya giggled at her brother.

“Shut up”

“I’m just saying” she gloated. Grabbing her order, she skidded off to deliver it to her customers. Ricky sighed and shook his head as he looked at the destroyed food. She was right, he had been so focused on Bel today, that he had neglected to pay attention to what he was doing.

“Hey, you ok” Bel asked him. She was leaning against the window.

“Um y-yeah” he cursed himself at his stumble “I mean yeah, I’m fine” Bel watched him fidget, and adverted her eyes as he continued to stand there and stare at her. The bell over the door jiggled, and Bel turned to see who it was. A smile broke out on her face and she waved at the new arrival.

Finally able to pull his eyes away from her, Ricky moved them towards the café and he stiffened. Xan Evans, Bel’s overprotective twin brother. He had known Xan also since the first grade, since Bel and he always shared the same classes. They never talked, and he was certain that Xan had caught him on several occasions staring at his sister. Once he had even sent him a warning glare, that scared the shit out of him. Every guy at WRH knew that Bel was off limits, and would have to deal with one Xan Evans if she was hurt in any way.

It wasn't like he walked around the school like Mr. Toughguy. On the contrary, he was just the opposite. He was sweet, sensible and caring, at least that’s what Sonya’s always buzzed in his ear. Just like all the girls at WRH, Sonya was heads over heels for him, and he was known for wooing the ladies. Xan walked over to Bel, and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Hey”

“Hey”

“What time do you get off” he asked her as he sat down at the counter. Sonya handed him his favorite, orange soda, and he politely thanked her. Looking at the clock.

“In about thirty minutes. I have practice at one, so Papa is having Amber come in and cover the rest of my shift”

“Need a lift” he asked her.

“That’s ok, Kevin’s picking me up” she didn’t miss the frown that crossed his face, or the small flint of anger that ran though their connection.

“Xan...” but before she could finish, a group of girls from their school entered, and sat down in her section. She rolled her eyes and straighten her antennas, before plastering on a fake smile, and made her way over to them.

“Welcome to the Crashdown, I’m Bel and I’ll be your waitress today. What can I get for you” she recited. One of the girls, Laura Paterson, peered behind her.

“How about that sexy brother of yours, and a large coke to wash him down with” the others at the table laughed while she fanned herself with the menu. Bel rolled her eyes, and gave her a pointed look.

“Sorry, but he’s not on the menu” she sent her a look that clearly said back off, but Laura simply ignored her, and continued to stare at Xan.

“I’d like to serve him” she breathed out, which only made Bel fume on the inside. Laura and her crew have been trying to get their claws in Xan since the sixth grade, and it only got worse as they got older. They were all man eating whores, and she wasn’t going to let them anywhere near him.

“Are you ready to order” she asked, trying to clench down her anger. She watched Laura casually scan the menu, she didn’t know why she did that. It’s been the same menu she’d seen everyday for the last six years. Tapping her foot impatiently, she waited on them to make up the minds. After what seemed to take forever, they finally ordered, and Bel handed it over to Ricky.

“What’s wrong” Xan asked her when she sat down heavily on the stool beside him.

“Nothing, ‘cept your little fan club over there are requesting that we add you to the menu” moaning, she rested her head on the counter. Xan turned in their direction, and cringed when Laura winked at him, and ran her tongue seductively over her lips. Sonya sent her a evil glare, and she immediately turned back to the occupants at her table. Smiling, Sonya handed Xan a refill.

“Don’t worry about them they’re just..um..”

“Horny” Sonya laughed at the way his ears turned red.

“Lonely, I was going to say lonely” he corrected. Sonya raised her eyebrow at him.

“Oh yeah they’re lonely alright, and they want you to fill that empty void in the hearts” she bit out and rolled her eyes, before she went to assist a customer that was motioning for her. Xan watched her walk away in confusion at her mood.

“What’s with her” Bel watched the way Sonya hastily wiped down the table, sending short glares at Laura.

“You have no clue do you” was all she said to her brother. Amber strolled in, and waved to Sonya, before heading to the counter.

“Hey Bel...Xan” she smiled sweetly at him, and he grinned goofily at her.

“Hey Amber” he gave her one of his half smirks at her, and she sat down next to him. She reached for his drink, purposely brushing her breast against his arm, and slowly wrapped her lips around the straw.

“You busy tonight” she asked him huskily, as she took a drink.

“N-no” he stutter as he watched the way the straw slid between her lips.

“Good, how about we get into something” she told him as she stood closely beside him. Xan swallowed hard.

“Yeah, th-that would be good”

“Great, my shifts over at 7" she kissed his cheek, and sauntered thru the backdoor to get ready for her shift. Xan stared after her long after she disappeared thru the door. Missing the angry glares from Laura, and the sad expression on Sonya’s face. The door chimed once again, and Xan turned to the sound. A angry frown masked his face as Kevin made his way over to his sister.

“Hey beautiful” he kissed her gently on the lips, before pulling back.

“What’s up Xan” he nodded his head. Xan just stared at him.

“Xan!” Bel warned him. “Be nice”

“Hey” he replied.

“You ready”

“Just let me take this over there, and then change and I’ll be” she rushed over and retrieved Laura’s them order, and delivered it to them. Kevin sat down next to Xan. He cleared his throat, to get his attention. Xan glanced sideways at him.

“Can I ask you a question”

“I’m listening”

“Why do you hate me so much” he asked him seriously. Xan turned to face him fully.

“Because I know your representation, and I don’t trust you” he told him flatly, before standing. He laid a ten on the counter and walked thru the employee door. He sat on the couch and waited on Bel to exited the bathroom. He heard the door open, and stood up.

“Bel, what do you see in that ass” he asked her.

“Xan please, why can’t you stay out of it” she was really getting tried of his attitude towards her boyfriend.

“Because I don’t want to see you get hurt” Bel’s face soften, and she cupped his cheek.

“Thank you Xan, but you don’t have to worry. He a great guy, and once you get to know him you’ll see so for yourself” she grabbed her duffel bag, and kissed him on the cheek before running out into the café. Xan stared thru the door’s window, and watched them as they jumped into Kevin’s car. He hated that guy, and the sooner Bel realized what a jerk he was, the sooner she be better off without him. He turned and headed up the back stairs.

Ricky stared longingly at her retrieving form, and his heart sink at the way she looked at Kevin with such love. Wishing it was him that held her heart



What do you think?..................LS

Chapter 2

Xan made his way into the apartment, and he could hear laughter coming from the kitchen, and made his way in there. He found his Nana and Papa, along with Adam and Claudia covered in flour.

“What’s going on in here” he laughed, as flour turned his little sisters raven hair ghostly white.

“Xan, hey sweetie” Nancy pecked him on the cheek “we’re just showing the kids how to bake cookies, but it seemed that we got a little side tracked” she smiled, trying to dust the flour of her pants and shirt.

“I see” he waved his hand over her, and cleaned away the flour.

“Hey, no fair” Jeff exclaimed as he continued to shake flour from his hair.

“It’s ok Papa” Claudia smiled at him. She waved her hand over him, clearing every trace of flour. She then did the same to herself and the kitchen counter.

“Thanks squirt” Jeff ruffled her hair, and tickled her side. She let out a wail of laughter.

“No Papa stop” she pleaded as she tried to escape his tortuous fingers. Adam laughed as his sister and grandpa. He waved his hand over his body, and went and gave his brother a high five.

“What’s up Xan” Jeff asked him as he finally released Claudia.

“Nothing, I told mom I’d pick them up on my way from practice” he sat down at the table.

“How was practice dear” Nancy asked him as she brushed his bangs out of his eyes. It still amazed her how much he looked like Max. It had been plenty of times she had walked into the café, and saw him sitting at his fathers old booth, and she had to refrain from calling Max. Bel was no different, she was an exact copy of Liz with the long brown hair, and big doe eyes. The only difference was that were Liz stood and a petite 5'1, Bel towered over her at 5'10, definitely taking her height from her father and Aunt Isabel.

“It was ok, coach had us run an extra five miles, because some of the guys were slacking off. Besides from that, it was fine” he shrugged his shoulders, and tweaked Claudia’s nose.

“Do you think you guys are going to make it to State again this year” Jeff asked, sitting down across from him. A smug looked came over Xan as he looked at his grandpa.
“Of course. We you as their captain, WRH will surely make it again” they continued to talk about school and sports, while Nancy helped Claudia and Adam gather their things.

~~~~~~~~~

Brian tapped nervously on the display case. Their were so many to chose from, and he didn’t want to just pick anything. It had to be special. Maria watched him refuse another selection the jeweler showed him, and he sighed in frustration. He was nervous, and she didn’t blame him. Marriage was a huge step for them, and she knew he was scared to ask her.

“What about that one” she point out a simple white platinum band with an oval shape diamond, that had tiny diamonds clustered around it. It wasn’t to big or flashy, something Maria knew wasn’t her style. The jeweler handed it to Brian, and he studied it carefully. He had to admit that it was beautiful, not as beautiful as her, but it ran a close second.

“You think she’d like it” he asked hopefully.

“Trust me, she’ll love it. It’s elegant, but not to showy.

“I don’t know Maria...” he said uncertain.

“Trust me, it’s perfect”

“But what if she says no” his voice was almost panic, and his eyes held a hint of fear. Maria placed her hand on his shoulder, and stared him straight in the eyes.

“She won’t” she spoke with such confidence, that he had no choice but to believe her, any if he wasn’t so sure.

“Listen, thanks again for taking time out to come here and help me”

“Nah, it was no problem. I’m just happy you’ve finally decided to take the plunge and ask her” she smiled at him “lord knows it took you long enough, why was that anyway” Brian pinned her with a look.

“You know why Maria” she noticed the sad look in his eye.

“Right, but you all have a family together, and another one on the way, you still can’t be doubting her love for you” she reasoned with him.

“No...no, I just, I just scared”

“But now you’re not”

“Nope” he smiled at her, and handed the saleswoman the ring, and his credit card.

“I’ll take it” she smiled at him and went to wrap it up for him.

“So when are you going to ask her” Maria inquired. He let out a long breathe.

“Tonight” Maria squealed, and hugged him tight.

“I’m so happy for you guys”

“She hasn’t said yes yet Maria” he pointed out.

“She will” with that, he retrieved the velvet box from the jeweler, and they left the store.

“Call me later hon.” Maria him on the cheek, and made her way to her car. Brian watched her get in and she waved as she drove off. He placed the box that possible held his future in his pocket, and headed to his own car.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A little to the right, no...back to the left........maybe it would look better over in the corner” Liz instructed. Michael let go of the dresser, and it landed with a loud crash, and he stared angrily at her.

“Look, it’s fine right were it is” he grounded out.

“But Michael....” she started, only to be cut off by his finger in her face.

“No Liz, I’ve been pulling and pushing that dresser around for the last hour, and you’ve yet to make up your mind. IT’S STAYING THERE!” Tears welled in her eyes, and slid down her face. Michael cursed himself, for making her cry. He pulled her into his arms, and rubbed her back. Had almost forgot what being around a pregnant woman was like, very hormonal.
“I’m sorry Lizzy” her cries only grew louder “hey, I’ll move it to the corner, anywhere you want, just please stop crying” he begged.

“No, you don’t have to” Xan walked in to the sight of his crying mother. He immediately rushed to her side.

“What’s wrong” he asked as he pulled her against him. He threw Michael a evil glare, and he threw up his hands in surrender.

“I’m fine Xan, just a little emotional” she assured him. She could feel his anger towards his uncle, and she wanted to calm him down.

“Xan..” he pulled his eyes from Michael, and glanced down at her. His anger quickly vanished when gave him a big smile.

“Were’s Claud and Adam” she asked him.

“Their putting away their things”

“Did they behave themselves” she asked as she sat the remaining baby blankets on the changing table.

“Yeah, Nana and Papa said they were the perfect little Angels”

“Hey” they turned to the door, and found Clare standing there.

“Well look who found her way home” Xan teased, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders when she came and stood next to him.

“Shut up” she poked him in the side, and went and gave Liz a hug.

“Hey mommy”

“How’s my dumpling doing” she asked her, running her hand thru her long mane. She noticed the colorful pants she sported, and knew Amaris had worked her wonders once again.

“Good, I had fun” Clare tried to snuff a yawn.

“That’s nice sweetie. Why don’t you go take a little nap before dinner”

“Ok” she said thru another yawn. She gave Liz one more kiss, she hugged Michael and gave Xan a playful shove.

“Hey Clare, where’s Am” Michael asked her, when she bent over her duffel bag she had dropped at the door.

“She’s across the street” she disappeared down the hall.

“Well I guess that means I better go see how she enjoyed camp” he looked at Liz uncertainly “we good?”

“Yeah” he gave her a quick hug, before head out the door.

“Tell Ria to call me” she yelled after him.

“‘K” Xan stared at his mother, trying to make sure she was truly ok.

“Stop staring at me, I’m fine” she smiled lovingly.

“I’m just making sure” he smiled. Liz watched her son as he moved around the nursery. There was something she wanted to talk to him about.

“Xan” Xan turned to his mother, and he saw the look of concern on her face “can we talk?”

“Sure mom, what’s up” he sat down next to her against the wall. Liz turned so she could face him. She placed his hand in hers.

“I wanted to talk to you about Bel, actually more about her relationship with Kevin” his face instantly harden, and Liz watched as his energy build within him.

“There’s nothing to talk about mom, the guys an ass, and I won’t let him hurt her” he spoke thru gritted teeth.

“Watch your language” she warned him.

“Sorry”

“Xan, I know you love your sister, and you want to protect her from the hurts of life, but you can’t dictate her life. She’d really getting upset” she rubbed his hand soothingly.

“But mom...” he whined. If there was a way for him to save his sister from heartache, he was going to do it.

“No Xan, you have to let up some. Who knows, maybe if you get to know Kevin, you’ll like him”

“I doubt it”

“Xan”

“Fine, I’ll ease off’

“Thank you” she brushed his hair off his forehead “how about helping me with dinner” she held out her hand to him, and he stood up.

“Why don’t you go see how Claud and Adam are doing, and I’ll take care of dinner” he told her.
Liz smiled at him, and agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kevin unbutton her blouse, and slid his hand across her smooth skin. He kissed her hard, before making his way down her neck, until his head rested between her breast. Bel laced her hand thru his hair, and moaned softly. She had gotten out of practice almost two hours ago, and they had drove up to Buckley Point, and had been talking for the last hour, but soon things started getting heated. Kevin sucked hard on her collarbone, marking her as his, matching the ones he left on her neck.

“Bel” he moaned, and she felt his hand cup her breast, and massage her gently.

“Kevin” she called out to him, but he wasn’t paying attention.

“Kevin” things were moving a little to fast, and she wanted to slow down. They had only been dating for four months, and she wasn’t ready for a sexual relationship. She stiffened when she felt him reach behind her, and fiddle with the clasp of her bra. Having enough, she pushed him off of her.

“What’s wrong” he asked her, licking her taste from his lips. Bel began to button her blouse.

“I think we should slow down” she looked at him, and tried to read his expression.

“It’s ok” he clasped her hand in his, and she sighed in relief. “You want me to take you home” he asked her. She looked at her watch, and noticed that it was a quarter to seven, and she cursed silently. Xan was going to blow a gasket. She was suppose to be home at six.

“Yeah, Xan’s going to have a cow” Kevin positioned himself behind the wheel, and turned the ignition. He pulled out onto the highway, heading back into town.

“Why are you always so worried about what Xan thinks. You act like he’s your father”

“It’s just.....Xan’s my brother, and he worries about me”

“Yeah that’s normal, but what’s not normal is the way you always seek his approval on everything”

“You just don’t understand” she wanted to drop the subject.

“I guess” They drove the rest of the way in silence. He pulled into their driveway, and cut the engine. He turned to look at her, and she gave him a shaky smile.

“Look, I’m sorry if I upset you ok. I was just trying to understand the bond you two have” he cupped her cheek and kiss her lightly.

“It’s ok” turning towards the house, she could felt Xan’s anger, “I better get inside.”

“Yeah, I’ll call you” he kissed her again.

“Night”

“Night” Bel waved as he pulled out the drive, and made her way towards the house. Before she could open the door, it swung open, revealing a very pissed off Xan.

TBC?..................LS

I really don't know if I'm going to continued this story. It seems like I've lost alot of readers with the beginning of this story, and I hate that, but what can I say. Anyways, I had this part already written, so I decided to post it.

Thanks to all of you that left f/b and bumps.

LS



Chapter 3

“Were the hell have you been!”
“Xan” Liz warned him as she came into the kitchen. Xan completely ignored her, instead laid it into Bel.

“You were suppose to be home an hour ago” he fumed as her towered over her. Bel looked at him as if he was crazy.

“What is your problem” she tried to push past him, only to have him grab her arm.

“Let go of me”

“Xan!” Liz came to stand between them. Realizing what he was doing, Xan released her arm.

“Sorry” he ducked his head, and shoved his hands in his pocket. Liz turned to her daughter.

“Why don’t you go to your room, and I’ll be up in a sec, ok” Bel nodded, but kept her eyes trained on Xan. Once she was finally out of the room, Liz turned worried eyes to her son.

“Sit with me” she motioned towards the table, and Xan mutely followed her. Liz watched him as his jaws flexed in angry “talk to me Xan.” Xan shifted in his seat, and adverted her eyes. Liz sat back, and waited on him to talk.

“What do you want me to say” he sighed.

“How about why you’re being so hard on your sister” he wrung his hands in front of him, and Liz cupped them.

“I’m not being hard on her, I’m trying to protect her”

“From what Xan” the was a reason he truly felt his sister needed protection, and she needed to know why.

“I-I just don’t want to see her hurt anymore, I’m just trying to be a good brother”

“And that’s just it Xan, you’re her brother, not her father” she saw the longing look on his face, and her heart went out to him.

“I know you miss him, we all do, but no one will fault you if you decided to be the sixteen year old young man that you are” she stood up, and kiss him on the cheek, before turning to go talk to Bel.

“Hey mom” Liz turned to him “thanks.”

“No problem sweetie”

“Is it ok if I go out for a while” he asked her.

“Sure, just be home by eleven” she warned him, before disappearing down the hall.

Xan took a look at his watch, and noticed that he had less then five minutes to be at the Crash and pick up Amber. He grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bel stared in the mirror at the large purple hickey that masked her neck. Her fingers skimmed over it sightly, before trailing down to touch it’s twin, that rested over her left collarbone. She didn’t know why she had let things progress so far with Kevin. She wasn’t ready for sex, and she wasn’t even sure that she would ever be.

She had to much going right now, and the luggage that a sexual relationship brought, she wasn’t sure if she could handle it right now. Her mind drifted to Xan. He has been a real ass for the last month, and she wasn’t sure what his problem was. All they ever seemed to do lately was argue, and it was always over the same thing, or person........Kevin.

When she had first started dating Kevin, Xan had been adamant about her not seeing him. Kevin had a rep of ‘love’em and leave’em’ and Xan was worried about her getting hurt. But he didn’t know the Kevin that she knew. He was a very sweet guy, with a loving heart. He showed her nothing but complete respect. She ran her fingers over the puckered skin once again.

“Staring at it, won’t make it go away” Liz smiled, leaning against the door. Bel jumped in surprise.

“Mom!” she reached for her robe, trying to conceal the incriminating evidence. She wrapped it around herself, and tighten the belt securely. Liz watched her as she tucked her hair behind her ear, and moved around her room nervously.

“What’s up mom?”

“Nothing, I just thought that we could talk. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a real heart to heart” Liz sat down on her bed, and patted the spot next to her. Bel sat down, and fiddled with her hands. Liz could feel how nervous she was, and she didn’t want to make her uncomfortable.

“Anything you want to talk about? How was practice”

“It was good, coach wants me to knock off two seconds on my time, but otherwise it was ok” Liz nodded in understanding.

“How’s Kevin”

“He’s good” she pushed away from the bed and sat at her vanity. She began to brush her hair. Liz walked up behind her, retrieving the brush and ran it thru her silky mane.

“Bel?”

“Humm” she closed her eyes as the brush massaged her scalp. They had always been open with each other, and Liz wanted to keep things that way.

“Have you and Kevin made love” Bel’s eyes flew open in shock.

“Oh god mom...no” she turned to look her mom in the eye. Liz let out a relieved breath.

“Don’t worry mom, I’m not ready for that yet” she assured her.

“Ok sweetie” she ran her hand over her head “but promise me that if you ever feel ready, you’ll come to me first” she pleaded with her.

“Ok mom” there was something else she wanted to approach.

“About your brother”

“I really don’t want to talk about him right now, he’s being a real jerk”

“Bel”

“No mom, he walks around here like he’s my father, but he’s not. I have one already, and just because he’s not here doesn’t make Xan his replacement” she huffed, flopping back on her bed.

“Bel, I know that Xan could be overprotective sometimes....”

“A little” Bel snorted.

“Ok a lot, but he can’t help it. It’s a trait he received from your father, and it’s a hard one to let go of. He’s only trying to lookout for you, and it would really help if you came home when you’re suppose to, and not covered in hickeys” she pointed out. Bel could hear the teasing in her voice, and she smiled.

“Promise you’ll try”

“That’s about all I will promise”

“That’s all I’m asking” Liz kissed her fore head.

“I’m going to check on Clare”

“Clare’s back” Bel asked happily.

“Yeah, and if you would have made it home for dinner, you would’ve known” Liz tossed a pillow at her.

“When did she get back”

“This afternoon, she missed you”

“Me too....tell her I’ll be there after my shower”

“Sure.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

“What’s wrong Xan” he had been in a foul mood every since he picked her up. They were out in the desert, and instead of the usual heavy make out section. He hardly said more then a sentence to her. Xan turned to her, and entwined their fingers.

“I’m sorry Amber. It’s just...I have a lot of things on my mind”

“Like what” she slid across the seat, and straddled his lap.

“Bel....Kevin.......my dad take your pick” she leaned in and kissed his earlobe.

“What about them” her tongue snaked out and rimmed his ear. She slowly began to unbutton his shirt. Any other time, Xan would have welcomed her advances, but right now, he really needed to talk.

“Amber”

“Humm” she ran her hand over his chest, and slowly downwards. She dipped her hand in his jeans and cupped him.

“Amber please” he pulled her hand out of his pants, and redid his shirt.

“What Xan” she sighed in frustration, “if you don’t want to make out, what do you want from me” she bit out angrily. Xan stared at her, and wondered if he really, truly knew her. Turning the ignition, he floored the gas.

“Nothing, I don’t want anything from you” he retorted.

“You want to talk, fine I’m listening”

“Forget it” Xan drove towards town.

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Liz sighed as she sunk into the comfort of her bed. Her body was begging for rest, and she was eager to apply. She had made her rounds, checking on the kids, and making sure the windows and doors were locked. Xan had made it home an hour ago, and the look on his face, told her something had happened, but he didn’t want to talk about it. He stated he just wanted to go to his room and go to bed.

When she had looked in on him, he was sprawled across the bed with his headphones on, and she could hear the old sounds of ‘The Counting Crows’ strumming thru the headphones. He had found some of Max’s old Cd’s, and would listen to them when he was upset. She closed his door, figuring he would come to her sooner or later.

Bel and Clare were hold up in Bel’s room. They had sat and talked about Clare’s time at camp over several bowls of ice cream, before falling asleep on the floor. Adam and Claudia had crashed out as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Liz was sure they hadn’t sleep a wink at her mom and dads. Whenever they would spent the night over their, they would come home extremely exhausted. Now that the house was quiet down, she welcomed the arms of sleep.

A smile graced her lips as her dream evaded her mind. He stared at her, and how lovely she looked. The moon shone thru the window, enhancing her beauty. She had long kicked the covers away sometime during the night. She was dressed in a tank top and a pair of his boxers, that were way to big for her, even with the way she had rolled them over several times.

He could see the swell of her stomach, and his pride grew. Knowing that once again his child rested in her womb. He skin was glowing, and he had to touch her. Quietly, he made his way over to the bed. Careful not to wake her, he ran his finger over her bare shoulder, and her skin tingled under his touch. She moaned softly in her sleep, and he became bolder in his ministrations.

He eased down beside her, and spooned her. He ran his large hand over her hip, and walked his fingers up her side. His hand brushed the side of her breast, and another moan erupted from her lips.

“Yes” she sighed. He wasn’t sure if it was from his actions, or the dream she was having, all he knew was that he was growing painfully hard, and wanted to be buried deep within her. He buried his nose in her hair, and inhaled her scent. His hand made its way between her thighs, and he slowly massaged her thigh.

Liz was having the most wonderful dream. It felt so real. He was sitting her senses on fire. She opened her legs to give him more room. He saw her legs spread, and he cupped her heat.

“Please, don’t stop” she moaned, and bucked her hips against his hand. He placed peppered kisses over her face. She was still asleep, but she was still very responsive.

“Liz” he moaned against her ear. Liz could practically hear him moan her name. “Oh god Liz”
Ok, that sound too real. Actually everything about this dream felt too real. She could actually feel his hands on her body, smell his scent, his taste? He kissed her lips, and let his tongue dart out and taste her.

“Liz” her eyes drifted open slowly, and she gasped in shock.

“Max!”

Chapter 4

Max smiled down at her, and watched the shock and confusion that transcended across her face. She had to still be dreaming. Liz blinked several times to clear her sleep hazed mind.

“Ma-Max” she whispered, afraid that if she spoke any louder, he would disappear. If this still was a dream, she never wanted to wake up. Max ran a finger down the side of her face, and slowly brought his lips over hers. She sighed heavily against his lips, and clutch her hands tightly in his shirt, too afraid that if she let go, she would lose her anchor and wake up.

She was trembling with desire. Max ran his tongue across her lips, and she eagerly opened to him. She missed his taste, and welcome his tongue as it invaded her moist cavern, probing and caress her own tongue. A deep moan elicited from her throat, and she ran her hands over him. She had to touch him, feel his skin. Reaching for the tails of his shirt, she pulled it from the confines of his pants. Sensing her need, Max pulled up long enough for she could remove his shirt. Apprehensively, and with shaky hands, she brought her fingers to touch his hard chest.

“Liz” his moan was laced with great plead. He needed her to touch him, his body....his mind.....his soul. It had been to long since he had felt her touch, and his body ached with need for her. Hearing his gentle plea, Liz ran her hands over the expanse of his chest and stomach. She had stop wondering if she was still dreaming, she wanted to enjoy the moment. She wanted to feel his skin next to hers, she needed to touch him, and him to touch her. She needed to taste him, and him her. She needed to feel him as he buried his shaft into her awaiting walls, as he drove deeper and deeper into her. She’d missed him, and it had been to long since she’d truly felt alive. So with that, she sat aside all her worries, and decided right here, right now in this moment all she was going to do was feel.

Pushing him so that he laid on his back, she straddled his legs, and brought her lips to his. Max wrapped his arms around her, and brought her flush against him. He could feel her nipples as they tighten, and rubbed against his broad chest. His hands snaked under the thin material of her shirt, and caressed her skin. She felt so warm, and yet he could feel the tremors that coursed thru her body.

She kissed every inch of his face. From his strong jaws, to his lovely chin. She placed tender kisses on his nose, his cheeks, his forehead, and finally his eyes. When she pulled back, she found him staring intently at her. His eyes were dark with passion, and she could feel the longing and desire for her, it brought tears to her eyes. She shook her head to clear them away. Max gave her one of his half smiles, and she returned it with one of her own, but it was more sexier and hungry.

Liz felt his erection pulsating against her core, and she slowly rotated her hips over it. Max dug his fingers into her hips, and pumped his hips against her, his eyes trained on her face. She threw her head back, exposing the creamy skin of her neck. Sitting up, Max attached his lips to her throat and kissed her smooth skin. He brought his hand up and cupped her breast, and squeezed it gently. His thumb ran over the erect nipple, and he pinched it between his fingers.

“Max.....please” she cried. Hearing her husky cry, he quickly removed the offensive article from her form, and replaced it with his mouth.

“Yeesss” he twirled the stiff nipple around in his mouth, while his hands caressed it’s twin. Max pulled the sensitive breast into his mouth, and sucked vigorously, causing Liz’s hands that were fisted in his hair, to push his head hard against her. Max wrapped his arm around her, pulling her against his dick. He knew she was extremely wet. Even with the clothes obstructing the intimate parts, he knew. He didn’t need to feel her to know this, because her smell was strong, as it invaded his senses.

Trailing his hand over the swell of her stomach, he cupped her heat. She pleaded against his ear, and he slipped it into his boxers, and brushed his fingers lightly against her silky curls. Moving further down, he came in contact with her swelling clitoris.

“Maaaxx!” she rested her head against his shoulder, and gripped him tightly as he slid a finger into her sleek core. She rode his hand, letting out moans and cries of ecstasy. Max added another finger, and her walls accepted him with ease. Her juices drenched his hand, as she rocked against him. He knew she was close from the intense way her walls clutched his fingers, and the increase rhythm of her hips. His thumb drew tiny circles over her nub, and she bit his shoulder in desperation. He turned and kissed the side of her neck, before resting his lips against her ear.

“Cum for me Liz.....cum!” he added pressure to her clit, and pushed his fingers hard into her. The combination of his deep, husky voice in her ear, and the feel of his hands on her, sent Liz over the edge, fulfilling his request she came....hard.

“Oh god Maaxx! Max, Max...oh god Max!” Her body pulsated above him as she fell apart in his arms. Watching her as she rode out her orgasm, Max felt his own body begging for release. He flipped them over so that he rested snug between her legs.

“I need you Liz” rocking his rock hard erection against her core to prove his point. Liz nodded her head in understanding. Even though she had just had an amazing release, she needed to feel him inside her. Max lifted up over her, dragging the boxers with him. He stood there at the foot of the bed and stared at her. She was beautiful. Her hair was sprawled out across the pillows, and her skin seemed to radiate with an heavenly glow. He let his eyes drift down her body and they came to rest on the swell of her breast. They were so full and round, just the right size for his palms. Their nipples stood proud, and constricted under his heated glare.

Further his eyes traveled, and they landed on the roundness of her belly. His heart leapt at the knowledge that once again, she carried his child protectively in her womb. They had been surprised when they found out she was pregnant again with their daughter. Even though she wasn’t planned, they still loved her regardless. Subconsciously, Max hand cupped his member, and he rubbed it thru the his khaki pants, as he remembered the night she was conceived.

It had been his birthday, and Liz had arranged a romantic evening for the two of them. She had planned a elegant dinner for them, and the house was laced with roses and candles. She had made him sit at the dinner table and close his eyes. When he was allowed to open them, his jaw had dropped to the floor. She was dressed in a French Maids costume, that left little to the imagination. It rode low under her cleavage, and he could see the swell of her breasts as they peeked out from under the exotic costume. Long black stockings covered her legs, and three inch black stilettoes graced her feet. Her hair had flowed down her back and across her shoulders in gentle waves, and she looked like a very sexy temptress. Her plans of serving him dinner and pampering him all night had been cut short when he practically mauled her and took her hard against the kitchen counter. Max groaned as the memory flooded his mind.

“Max?” Liz had been watching him as he stared down at her. His face show many emotions, from awe, to pride and lastly.......desire. Her insides boiled when he cupped himself and started a slowly rhythm as he rubbed his erection. She wanted to see him, touch him. Her throatily moan brought him out of his reverie. She stared up at him with anticipation and desire. Her legs were slightly parted, and he could see aftermath of her orgasm as her juices glistened in the moonlight, and clung to her dark curls.

Liz noticed were his eyes were transfixed, and she spread her legs wider in invitation. Max growled at her actions, and with great haste, he undid his pants, and push them along with his boxers over his muscular hips, letting them drop in a pool around his feet. He quickly kicked them across the room, were they landed across the desk chair. He slowly climbed on top of her. Liz giggled at his hasty movements. Max settled on his elbows and looked at her, the head of his penis resting against her hot pussy.

“God your beautiful” he ducked his head and kissed her “Liz, I-I don’t think I can last” which was true. He had been so long without her, he was sure that he would cum as soon as his shaft was buried deep within her. But he didn’t want to go over without her. Her pleasure was always his first priority, and he had prided himself at always pleasing her until she was completely sated.
Liz cupped his cheek, and looked adoringly in his eyes as she spoke.

“It’s ok Max” she kissed him in understanding, and she did understand. She knew exactly what he was trying to say. He wanted her to be with him as he tumbled over the edge of the lovemaking. They had been separated for so long, it was only natural for him to lose it quickly. Hell, she herself had extremely fast earlier within seconds of his fingers caressing her wet walls. So she definitely understood. She pulled away from the kiss and her eyes penetrated his.

“I love you.....take me Max.....come home” she wrapped her legs around his waist, opening herself fully to him. Max swallowed hard as his head began to disappear between her folds.

“Liz...oh god...Liz” he hissed. He called up all his control, refraining from slamming into her. Inch by inch his dick slid deep between her folds, until he was finally buried into her fully. This is were he belong. He had missed her to the point that he cried every night that he was away from her. She was his strength, his anchor.......his home.

“Liiizzz” he pulled back, before thrusting back into her. Liz held on to him as he slammed into her. She met powerful thrust, with one of her own. She could feel his body shaking in need of release. She knew he was trying to control himself and not cum without her, but she wanted him to, he needed a release just as bad as she had earlier. She didn’t care if he went over without her, he needed to lose control. Max was sweating above her as he clutched his jaws tightly together in an effort to hold off until she was with him.

“Max..” she brushed the matted hair from his forehead, and he slowed his strokes in question. His eyes gazed deep into hers, and he watched as her lips moved towards his. Using his words from earlier, she squeezed her inner walls, hugging his member.

“Cum for me Max.....just....let go” Max’s eyes closed as her sexy voice penetrated his mind, and surrounded every nerve in his body. He opened his eyes and stared down at her. His hips increased in movement, and he slammed into her over and over again. He felt his balls began to tingle in that familiar sensation, and with one final, long stroke, he bathed her moist cavern with his seed.

“Liz, oh god Liz” he chanted over and over again. Liz held him as he continued to thrust into her, emptying his essence into her. She could feel each pulse as his warm liquid seeped into her. She reflexed her own cavern walls, milking him to the fullest. Soon his movements slowed until they slowly came to a stop. Max collapsed exhausted over her, resting his weight on his elbows, not wanting to crush her.

“I love you” he told her as he rolled them so that she rested comfortable on top of him.

“Me too” she was already closing her eyes. Max listened to her breathing as it slowly began to even out, and he felt her heartbeat as it slowly returned to its normal rhythm against his chest, beating to the tune of his own heart. Her tiny snore vibrated around the room, and still buried deep within her, he wrapped his arm over her securely, before closing his own eyes and letting sleep take him under.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Liz woke as the sun fluttered across her lids. A bright smile grace her lips as she thought about her night with Max. She rolled over, expecting to find his warm body, but instead her hands came in contact with empty space. It was cold as if no one had ever laid there. Panicking, her eyes shot opened. She stared at his side of the bed, and her heart sunk. His pillow laid untouched. Her eyes frantically searched the rooms for any evidence that last night hadn’t been nothing more then a dream.

His clothes were not resting over the chair were he had hastily kicked them the night before. Tears sprung to her eyes as she noticed that her own clothes were upon her body. It couldn’t have been a dream, it was so real. Her throat constricted as the reality of the situation began to sink in, and her tears began to make their way down her face. She clutched the blankets around her tightly. Feelings of shame and despair washed over her, as she realized it was all a dream.

She heard banging coming from the nursery, and her heart fluttered in hope. She quickly threw the covers from her body, swinging the door open, she made her way towards the nursery, her bare feet padding across the wooden planks. Her heart was beating rapidly against her chest, as a smile touched her lips once again in the hopes of finding him behind the door. She pushed the door to the nursery open with extreme haste, and her heart fell as she let out a strangled cry.

“No...” her hands clasped over her mouth as she shook her head from side to side in denial. Tears flood her hands as she became sick to her stomach.

“Liz, what’s wrong?” Brian asked her. He was putting together the crib when he hear her gasp behind him. He wasn’t expecting to see her standing there with tears in her eyes and a look of devastation on her face. He took a step towards her, and noticed how she took a step back.

“No....NO!” she screamed at him and ran out the room. Running as fast as her legs would carry her, Liz ran out the house.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Aggh....Michael, someone’s at the door” Maria grumbled as she rolled off him so he could go see who it was. Michael grunted as he climbed out of the bed. He yanked on a pair of sweats, and took a glance at the clock.

“Six o’clock” who the hell would be bamming on their door that early in the morning. He sleepily made his way to the door, intending on giving whoever it was a piece of his mind.

“Whoever you are, you better be ready to die” he growled as he yanked opened the door “what the....” his sentence was cut short as Liz’s tiny form slammed into his.


So tell me what you think....good or bad................LS

Chapter 5

“Liz, what’s wrong” she was crying hysterically, and he pulled her into the house, closing the door behind him. She was trying to talk, but her words were muffled by her cries.

“Maria!” Michael shouted. He led her over to the couch and sat down next to her “Maria!” he called again. He stroked Liz’s head as she buried her face in his chest.

“Michael what are you.....Liz, what happened” Maria rushed to her friends side. Maria looked to Michael for some clarity, only to have him shrug his shoulders. He was in the dark, she as she was. Maria sat down beside her and stroked her head.

“Liz, sweetie what’s wrong” Liz’s cries lonely seemed to grow louder as they questioned her. She felt so stupid coming over here and crying like a baby over a dream, but it had felt so real, he felt so real. She could still fill him as thrust into her. She didn’t want to let go of it.

“Mommy” a sleepy eyed three year old Michaela yawned at the doorway.

“It’s ok honey, go back to bed” Michaela took a good look at her mommy and daddy and then to the sobbing form of her aunt. Completely ignoring her mommies orders, she padded across the floor, her dingy blue blanket trailing faithfully behind her. She made room on her daddies lap, and placed her tiny hand against Liz’s wet cheek.

“Don’t cry My Lizzie” she tried to soothe her. Every since she had learned to talk, Liz had always been ‘My Lizzie’. They had tried to teach her how to say Aunt Liz, but she refused, and said that Liz was hers, and would punch all the other kids when they came near her. She would scream ‘my Lizzie, my Lizzie.’ Liz’s own kids had to refrain from touching Liz in her presence from the fear of little Michaela’s wrath. They were all worried how she was going to act when the new baby arrived.

Even feeling the way she did, Liz couldn’t help to smile at her niece. She was a Michael trapped in a little girls body. She had his sandy brown hair that at the moment stuck up every which way on her head. Her eyes were deep green like Maria’s, that made her father drop everything he was doing for her with a just a single bat. She had Michael’s attitude, his temper and his love of sports. She was the son they never had.

“I’m ok Slugger” using the name that she had honestly earned. She sat up and tried to wipe the tears from her face. Michaela instantly crawled out of her daddies lap, and settled comfortable in Liz’s. She ran a chubby finger over her tear stained face, hating to see her Lizzie cry.

“Why you crying My Lizzie” she asked as she played with a strand of Liz’s hair. Liz took a deep breath, trying to control the tears that were threatening to fall any moment.

“I just had a bad dream sweetie” it was somewhat true. The dream still lingered in her mind, and it definitely wasn’t bad memories that it left, just a lonely soul.

“Want me to fix it for you” Michaela had inherited Isabel’s ability to dreamwalk, and wasn’t uncommon to find her wondering on your dream plane. She was still learning how to control her powers, and like Michaela, she was having a difficult time with them. The other children had mastered their powers before they were able to walk, but Michaela was slower in that department. Maria says that she will come into her own one of these days.

“That’s ok love, I can take care of it” Liz assured her. Michaela rested her tiny head against Liz’s breast.

“I don’t like to see you cry My Lizzie” Liz kissed the top of her head, and a silent tear escaped into her brown her. Michael and Maria had sat and watched the interaction between the two with silent regards. They were never jealous of the way Michaela clung to Liz as if she was her mother, in fact, if it hadn’t have been for Liz, Michaela wouldn’t even be with them.

****
3 years earlier

“It’s to early Michael, something’s wrong” Maria cried as another contraction slammed into her. She was only a month and a half along, and the baby was already coming. They had come to realized that a normal alien pregnancy lasted a three to four months at the most, and this was too soon.

Maria had been woken by a sharp pain that stabbed into her stomach, and travel to every nerve in her body. Michael had connected with her, and found her in deep stress. She couldn’t breath, her umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around her throat, slowly choking the life out of her. Using what very little powers she had, the baby had triggered Maria’s labor, in hopes of survival.

“Where’s Liz....I need Liz” maria cried as Isabel and Tess tried to soothe her. Their own fears increasing with every minute that went by.

“She’s coming baby.....she’s coming” Michael prayed that she wasn’t to late. Liz had stayed overnight at the lap, waiting on results from one of her researches, and was hopefully making her way home.

“Michael, I have to push” she cried. Michael’s eyes frantically looked from hers to the door, praying that Liz would walk in any moment. Sure they could deliver the baby, but none of them had the power to heal.

“Michael, she can’t wait. We have to let her do this” Diane whispered as she stood next to her weary son. Tears sprung to his eyes as he realized that Liz wasn’t going to make it, and he was going to lose his daughter. He nodded his head in sorrow, and made his way to Maria’s side. Isabel made her way down the bed, and positioned herself so she could help Maria.

“Arrggghhh!” Maria pushed and strained as she aided her daughter into life. Maria’s screams could be heard around the house, and Amaris and Katie clung desperately to their Nana and Papa. Isabel prepared herself as the babies head crowned, she had watched Liz do this plenty of times, she could do this. She coached herself. After several hard pushes and many tears, Maria pushed the extremely small body of her daughter into Isabel’s arms.

Michael knew right away that she was gone. Her small body barely covered Isabel’s forearm, and she was transparent. He could see her tiny veins that once carried oxygenated blood thru her body. Her chest barely moved as Tess preformed CPR, hoping to supply the air she needed to hold her until Liz got there.

Liz parked her car haphazardly across the yard, not caring that she had knock over their mailbox in her haste. When Michael had called her at work, he was an emotional wreck, and the only thing she was able to make out was Maria..baby and too earlier. The only other thing that came thru loud and clear, were his pleas for her to save his daughter. She had immediately rushed out the door, leaving a very confused assistant behind.

She ran thru the door, and stopped in her tracks as all the tear stained faces met her. She pushed thru maria and Michael’s bedroom door, and she nearly crumbled as Maria held her daughter against her chest, and she gentle rocked her as fought to live. Tess and Isabel were trying to hold each other up as their own tears came over her.

Michael sat on the floor against the bed. His arms rested across his knees, and she could her his quite sniffling, as his head hung low against his chest. He raised his bloodshot eyes to Liz’s when he heard the door open. The room was draped in sorrow, and Liz wasn’t going to let it stay that way if she could help it. They had been thru enough pain and suffering to last two life times, it was time they were given something for all their efforts, and that something was little Michaela.

Without a word, she extracted the baby from Maria’s clutches, and immediately started shouting out orders.

“Isabel get me some more blankets....Tess I’m going to need your help here” after all she was the Pediatrician. Tess arranged the blankets over the changing table, and Liz laid her down.

“Ok little one, it looks like you’re an impatient one. Let’s see what your aunts can do for you” Liz closed her eyes and ran her hand over her tiny body. She searched for something to hold on to so she could form a connection. Finally, and flutter brushed against her mind, and she latched onto it. She was weak, too weak to even hold the connection, but Liz willed her to fight. She sent her images of Michael and Maria, and let her feel their love for her. She showed her images of her two big sisters that were waiting for her arrival.

Image after image of her family who loved her, and wanted her with them. Liz could feel her strength increase as she worked to mature her organs. Finally, Liz had did all she could, and the connection was broken. Michaela let out a tiny cry, and it was like music to there ears. She was still extremely small, and needed assistance with her breathing, and for three weeks, she stayed in a incubation bed to help her as her body matured and got strong. Liz never left her side, only long enough to take a shower and make sure her own kids were doing ok. ******

Considering what the two of them had gone thru together, it was only natural for Michaela to be so attached to Liz.

“Come on Slugger, why don’t we go start breakfast” Michael told her, hoping to give Maria and Liz time to talk.

“Ok.....come on My Lizzie” she climbed off Liz’s lap, and slipped her tiny hand in hers.

“Why don’t you let mommy and Lizzie talk for a minute” michael reached for her hand, and she shoved him away.

“No! My Lizzie come” she pouted as she clutched her blanket in one hand, and Liz’s hand in the other. Liz knew what he was trying to do, and she was grateful, but honestly she felt a lot better, and she didn’t want to think about the dream at the moment.

“It’s ok Michael, I’m fine” she assured him and gave him a big smile when he stared at her uncertainly.

“See! My Lizzie I want cereal” she pulled Liz along into the kitchen, with michael and Maria close behind.

Michael was grabbing bowls and skillets as he prepared to make breakfast. Maria handed Liz the milk for Michaela’s cereal. She was headed out the kitchen, intent on waking her other two sleeping beauties, when loud banging sound on their door.

“Who the fuck is that” Michael growled.

“Oooh daddy said a potty word” Michaela chimed, around a mouth full of cereal.

“Yeah, daddy has a real bad potty mouth” Liz teased as she raised an eyebrow at him. Michael only rolled his eyes, there goes another five dollars for the swear jar. Maria had started a swear jar when Amaris was one, and she started walking around the house saying ‘Shit this, and Shit that’ something she picked up from her father. So now whenever one of them cursed in front of the kids, they had to add five dollars to the jar. The jar had been a good idea, so now all their houses had one, but only the Guerin household was the fullest. In the first year that they started, there had been five hundred dollars in the swear jar.

The banging on the door became insistent, and michael stormed towards it.

“Whoa, whoa. Slow down Spaceboy, I’ll handle this. Why don’t you go wake up Am and Katie” Maria pushed him towards the girls room, and she made her way to the door.

“What? Does anyone sleep late on Saturdays” Maria mumbled as she pulled open the door. Liz wiped Michaela’s face as milk dribbled down her chin.

“I swear if you’re not your father’s child” Liz laughed at the mess she was making “what am I going to do.....” her sentence was cut short, by the high pitched squeal that pierce the air.



CONTINUE?........................LS

WOW! Thank you guys so much for the wishes, f/b and bumps. Just thougt I would drop by and let you all know everything seems to be looking up for the family, and with the Lords help and alot of hard work, we'll make it.................Thanks.





And oh yeah. I thought I'd drop off a new chapter if you don't mind.

Just to clear up some of the confusion, the next few chapters are going to be Liz's journal entries, explaining everything that happened in the last ten years.....

Let me know what you think.........LS.


Chapter 7

November 15, 2007

I’m Liz Evans.........and he’s home! The other half of my soul has returned, and I am able to breathe once again. I never realized I’ve been living the past year on autopilot. Doing what needed to be done of me, and being there for my children. Never once enjoying life from feelings of betrayal and loneliness. Scared that if I let myself enjoy life, I would be betraying Max. I know it sounds stupid, but that was how I felt. Max and I were two souls in one, and I couldn’t see myself enjoying the wonders of life without him by my side. He was suppose to always be there with me when we discovered the world together, and without him, it wasn’t so appealing. Makes sense? Well I guess it really doesn’t have to make sense to you, because these are my thoughts, and that’s how I felt.

Anyways, I guess you’re wondering what all the excitement is about. Like I said earlier.....he’s home. Max is home were he belongs with his family and friends. It was a long and crucial effort, but we got him back. Maybe I should start from the beginning so that I won’t lose you. So, sit back and get comfortable because this one will require your undivided attention........

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

One year earlier

Liz laid perfectly still as Michael made a connection with her daughter. She had awoken the moment he laid her down, unable to sleep. Her daughter probing at the back of her mind, begging for her to open up to her. But she couldn’t, Liz was an emotional wreck, and there was no way she could offer the love and comfort that her children needed from her, so instead she had shut off her connection, trying to spare them the turmoil of her devastation.

“I know little one........I know” she heard Michael’s whisper as he readjusted her shirt, and pulled the covers securely around her. She closed her eyes tightly, fending off the tears that rested just below the surface, in danger of spilling over. She listened as his footsteps grew heavy across the floor. There was a pause, and she knew he hadn’t left.

“Please Liz” he sighed pleadingly, and then she heard the click of the door. Only then did Liz let the tears fall again. Her heart hurt, and she couldn’t stand to go on. How was she suppose to live without her other half, the half that held her happiness, her contentment, her soul. The tears rolled from her eyes, and collect in a pool on her pillow. Her body shook as the sobs quaked thru her, and she couldn’t do anything about them .

She could hear the laughter and talking on the other side of the door coming from her family, and more tears came. She knew they were all worried about her, and try to help her as best as they could, but the thing was, no one could help her but herself. She was drowning in a sea of sorrow, and the only way to save herself, was to face the pain head on. Max was gone, and as much as it hurt, she had to keep living for her kids. Michael was right that day of his funeral, Max wouldn’t want to see her like this. As much as she missed him, her own sorrow had to be put on the back burner, and she had to focus on what was important, and to her, that was Bel and Xan, and the tiny person inside her. Sighing, Liz rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling.

“God Max, I miss you....how am I suppose to go on without you” she choked out around the huge lump that had found a permanent home in her throat. A gentle breeze caressed her face, and she could feel his presence all around her, and in that moment, she knew that he would always be there for her. Maybe not in the physically sense, but in her heart, were he will always live.

The laughter and talking died down, and she could faintly hear the closing of the front door, as everyone began to leave. The was a hesitant knock at her door, before Isabel’s head appeared.

“Liz?” she whispered, not wanting to disturb her. Using the edge of her covers Liz wiped the tears from her face.

“I’m awake” she told her and sat up. Isabel slowly pushed the door opened and cautiously walked in. She stopped beside the bed, and stood the nervously. She wasn’t sure how to address her. Every since Max had died Isabel felt that Liz and her had drifted apart. Before today, they hadn’t spoke more then three words to each other. They were both hurting, but instead of being there for the other like they should have been, they had resided into themselves, too afraid to face reality that Max was gone.

Isabel missed Liz. Sure she had Tess and Maria, but Liz was the first girl that she ever allowed herself to be close to because they had a mutual bond.......Max. She knew that their friendship went beyond their shared love for Max, and she wanted that back, she wanted that close bond they once shared. Liz watched her wring her hands, and shared the same nervousness that she had.

“Can...can I sit down” Liz stared up at her and nodded her head. Isabel lowered herself down on the bed, and let out a cleansing breath.

“How are you feeling” she asked her knowing it was a lame start.

“I’m good.....you?” it was awkward. They’ve been friends for over six years now, but couldn’t find the right words to express themselves.

“Better” a pregnant silence filled the air, as they each fought the internal emotions.

“Liz..”

“Isabel..”

They both giggled breaking the tension in the air. Soon the giggles turned to a deep sob for Isabel, and she buried her face in her hands and cried. Sobering immediately, Liz scooted closer to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.

“I miss him so much Liz” she cried, and Liz’s own tears flow freely.

“I know, I miss him to Izzy, but we have to be strong” not too sure she could follow her own advise, but knowing she had no choice. Isabel rested her head on the shorter girls shoulder, and sighed heavily.

“I miss you Liz” Liz rested head on top of hers, and ran her hand up and down Isabel’s back. She knew she had been keeping everyone at arms length, but she never really realized how her actions were effecting them, she had failed to realize that she wasn’t the only one that lost Max, they all did.

“I miss you too, and I’m sorry” Isabel sat up so she could look into her sister-in-laws eyes. They were red and puffy, no doubt reflecting her own. A low chuckle erupted from her, and the confused look that passed across Liz’s face, only seemed to cause her to break out into a loud laughter.

“What?” Isabel calmed down long enough to look at her.

“I was just wondering, what Max would say if he was to see his sister and wife crying like babies” she smiled. Liz thought about it for a moment, and she too began to giggle.

“He’d probably order us to stop. You know how he hates to see one of us cry” Liz rolled her eyes playfully, and they shared a few more giggles. Liz rested her head on Isabel’s shoulder.

“Will it ever stop hurting” she asked as she played with the tip of Isabel’s fingers. Isabel gripped her hand tightly in hers, and squeezed it.

“I don’t know......eventually, maybe........we’ll get thru this....together” she felt Liz nod her head against her.

“Together” she whispered. They sat there each in their own thoughts, when a knock at the door broke their content moment.

“Uh...um, the twins wanted to say goodnight before we left” Alex said uncertainly. Liz had been so withdrawn from Xan and Bel lately, and they knew Michael was going to have his hands full with Maria and Amaris, so Isabel and him were going to keep them for a couple of days. It was getting late, and they wanted to say goodnight to their mommy before they left.

Liz watched her two babies as they stuck their little brown heads in the room. She felt terrible for not being there for them, and she could feel how much they yearn for her affection. She had to pick herself up, and make things right. Bel grabbed Xan’s hand, and they slowly made their way to the bed. Isabel and Alex watched as the trio stared at each other, before Liz wrapped them both in her arms and began to cry and apologize over and over again. Knowing this was something that Liz needed to handle alone, Alex and Isabel made their way to the door.

She didn’t know how long they sat there, but some how they had made their way to the large rocking chair. She rocked them gently, while her hands ran thru their hair. No words were spoken, their connection was wide open. Liz could feel their sadness over their fathers death, over the lost of their connection.......everything. The twins felt their mothers need for their father, and how lost she was without him, and they could understand.

Liz hummed softly as she rocked them. Their eyes closed as the love and security flooded thru their connection. A tiny glow appeared on her stomach, and Liz felt her daughter tugging at the back of her mind. She shifted, and lifted the edge of her shirt over her stomach. The twins smiled as their sisters energy grew stronger for their attention, and they eagerly placed their tiny hands over hers. Liz felt their energies combine, and grow stronger. She placed her hand over those of her children, and the connection erupted with great fierce, that if she hadn’t been sitting, it would have definitely knocked her off her feet.

That night the pain lessen, and Liz slowly began to heal. She began to open more to her family, and let them help her thru losing Max. Her main focus was her children, and two weeks later Clare Dianna Evans was born. She was a healthy 7lbs 6oz baby, with her mothers big doe eyes, and God bless her soul, her fathers distinctive ears. With two new additions to the family, the aunts and Nana’s went wild, and Xan and Bel were ecstatic to have other kids around that were special like them.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Things after that seem to only pick up. Liz had returned back to her home, and was slowly adjusting to Max not being there. The family had fallen back into the routine of having their weekly get together. They would laugh and talk into the night. There were even times when Max’s name would come up, and they would all reflect on his life with them. The first couple of times it happened, Liz had broken down in tears, causing everyone else too also, but after while, the tears turned to laughter as she remembered her husband. His smile, his laughter, the way he was with the children......everything.

She had started writing in her journal again, documenting every moment of Clare, Xan and Bel’s life. She didn’t know why, but something in her heart told her that it was important that she did so. Clare and Amaris were growing like weeds, and even though they were only six months old, they shared a bond that noone would understand. Every time they were together, they would lay on their stomachs facing each other, and proceeded to talk gibberish none stop. Michael says that they reminded him of Liz and Maria when they were teenagers, always running their mouths. Of course it earned him a slap or two up side the head.

“I think it’s cute” Maria said as she placed Amaris in the playpen with Clare.

“Yeah it’s cute alright, and when they get older, we’re going to have to listen to their high pitched squeals and girly laughter” Alex imitated Liz and Maria, causing Michael to join the act as he let out a girly giggle and him and Alex mocked Maria and Liz.


“Ow” Alex rubbed his side, were Liz had elbowed him.

“If I’m not mistaking, you had some girly moments yourself” she teased, and she watched his eyes grow wide and he quickly clamped his mouth shut, not wanting to expose his secret to everyone else.

“That’s what I thought” Maria gloated as she sat down next to Liz and the two of them giggled at the way he had turned beet red.

“What?” Michael asked, clearly wanting to be let in on the inside joke.

“Nothing” Alex quickly added.

“Nah uh....it’s only fair” Liz choked out between laughter.

“Yeah....wh-when we were fourteen” Alex buried his head in his hands and groaned loudly, knowing the was no way he was going to live this one down, “Liz and I had just bought our first training bras. We were so excited, that we went home to try them on” Alex’s moans grew louder as he banged his head on the table “anyways, we were showing them to Alex when my mom called us into the kitchen. Liz and I had went to see what she wanted, and Alex said he’d be right out” Maria began to laugh so hard her sides began to hurt, so Liz had to continue.

“We were going back to Maria’s room, when we hear music coming thru the door, and when...when we opened the door, there was Alex standing in the mirror in my new lace training bra, singing ‘I’m To Sexy‘ while he modeled it, catwalk and all. He was so into it that he hadn’t notice us, and when he finally did, you- you should have seen the look on his face” Liz fell over onto Maria and wiped at the tears that fell from her eyes. Alex could feel Michael’s eyes on him, and he dared a glance.

“You do know that you’ve just lost major cool points” Michael couldn’t take it any longer as the image of Alex in a bra flashed in his head, and he too broke out in a uncontrollable laughter.

“God take me now” Alex mumbled as they continued to laugh at his expense.

~~~~~~

It was around this time that Bel started having nightmares. At first they dismissed them as normal nightmares because she could never remember anything about them once she woke up. Soon, they became worse, and she would wake up in the middle of the night screaming for Max.

“Daddy.....daddy.........nooooo!” Xan shoot straight up in the bed when he heard her tormented scream. Liz rushed thru the door, Bel was standing defensively on her bed, arm stretched out, and her hand began to glow, she threw her shield, throwing Xan back against her, as she pulled her energy........she was still asleep. Michael, Tess and Isabel had felt the enormous amounts of energy being used, and had made their way immediately across the street.

“What’s going on” Isabel asked as she slammed into Liz’s frozen body. She watched Bel as her lips were moving, as if shouting at someone but no words came out. Her face was frowned up in anger, and every now and then she would throw her hand behind her as if protecting something.

“I don’t know” Liz cried frantically, she looked down at Xan, and saw him staring intently at his sister. She got down on her knees in front of him. “Xan, sweetie what’s going on” she pleaded with him, hoping he could shed some light on the situation. He blinked several times, before he focused on his mommy.

“I can’t get in” he had been trying to connect with Bel, but whatever was going on, had caused her to block out their connection.

“What to you mean, what’s happening” Liz asked him, shaking him. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and Xan eyes widen in fright.

“Liz! You’re scaring him” Tess grabbed Xan out of her grip. Liz realized what she was doing, and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“I’m so sorry sweetie” she rubbed the back of his head as she held him close to her. She hated being so helpless. As long as Bel had her shield up, they couldn’t get to her. They sat there for what seemed like forever, when finally Bel’s shield dropped, and she slumped back onto the bed. Xan rushed to her side, with Liz and the others behind him. She was still in a deep sleep, and seemed to be fine. They had all stayed up the rest of the night to keep an eye on her. The next morning, just like the other ones, she couldn’t remember what happened.

“We have to figure out what’s going on” Tess didn’t like the whole ordeal. It had freaked her out to watch Bel last night. They had called a meeting while the kids were all at the Evans.

“I don’t know, but we have to do something, they’re getting worse” Liz accepted the cup of coffee michael handed her, as they tried to come up with something to figure out what was happening.

“Can’t we just dreamwalk her”

“We’ve tried that, and it seems like she subconsciously puts up this mental block and all we run into is this big stone wall” Isabel said “she’s like ten times strong then I was at her age, and with me and Liz both, we couldn’t get thru”

“What about Xan, I mean aren’t they connected.....doesn’t he get the same dreams from her” this coming from Maria, who didn’t witness what happened, but from what everyone else described, it wasn’t a pretty sight. A look of guilt flashed across Liz’s face as she remembered how she had frighten Xan last night. She was just so worried about Bel that she expected him to know what was going on, but he was just a little boy who was just as scared as she was for his sister.

“No..no, he doesn’t know. Even though they’re connected, there’s something blocking their connection” she sighed defeated.

“Hey, we’ll figure something out” Michael said as he rubbed her shoulder.

“Yeah.”

But unfortunately they came up with nothing. They had spent the majority of the day wacking the brains only to come up empty handed. That night they were all gathered at the Crashdown, and it was just like any other time they got together. The grandparents were gushing over the kids, and everyone was talking and having a good time.

Nasedo, Harrison and Johnson were even there, and they seemed to be more relaxed then any of them had seen them in months. They were preparing to return to Antar, and as soon as they received word from Antar. They had been trying to contact them for them since the night Max died, but they had yet to receive any contact.

“Mommy, can I have some more ice cream” bel asked, running up to the booth.

“That’s your third bowl of ice cream munch’kin. If you don’t slow down you’re going to explode” Maria laughed at the wide eyed expression that passed across her face.

“Maria!” Liz turned to her daughter “she’s just joking sweetie, come on just a little bit ok”

“Ok”

“Anyone else want anything while I’m up” Liz asked. After gathered all their orders, she slipped her hand into Bel’s, and they headed to the backroom.

“Don’t forget the Tabasco sauce honey” Liz reminded her while she arranged the items on the tray.

“Ok mommy” her little feet padded into the storage room, looking for the sauce that was a very important ingredient to her ice cream. She saw the box that was sitting up high on the shelf, and using her powers, she guided it down to the floor. Liz was putting the ice cream back in the fridge when she heard the sound of glass hitting the ground. She made her way into the break room, and saw Bel standing over the scattered bottle of Tabasco sauce, staring at the liquid red mess. Tears were in her eyes and she was shaking uncontrollably.

“It’s ok sweetie, it’s just a broken bottle” she said, thinking she was upset from dropping the bottle. Liz kneeled down and began to pick up the shards of glass. Bel stared blankly at her mother, and when she saw the droplets of blood that rained from her mommy’s hand as a sliver of glass embedded itself in her palm.

“Dammit” Liz cursed as she removed the menacing piece of glass. Without thinking Bel reached out and clamped her mothers hand in hers. Liz was taken by surprise, but before she could react, she was assaulted with flashes.

~~~Flash~~~

Running.....someone was running. She could feel the burn of their lungs as the smoke overpowered them

~~~Flash~~~

The large cone shaped object from the mountains

~~~Flash~~~

Hot, blinding pain as it vibrated at the back of her head and spread thru out every nerve ending in her body


As much as Liz wanted to pull away, something was making her stay and witness what was happening.

~~~Flash~~~

Grogginess....as she tried to focus her surroundings

Liz tried to separate herself from the images so she could figure out were she was

~~~Flash~~~

A figure standing cloaked in the shadows, as more pain ripped thru her while two other large figures sent striking blows to her body. Blow after blow, until she passed out


~~~Flash~~~

Bright light invaded her senses, before a dark figure blocked it’s light

“So what do you say Zan...ready to give in”

She knew that voice, but it couldn’t be. Liz gasped loudly as a face appeared before her

~~~Flash~~~

His face hovering above hers

“Let’s just see what’s going on in that head of yours shall we” his hand lifted to her head. Red hot pain flashed behind her lids, as her head felt like it was going to explode


“Aaaagggghhhhh!!!!” Liz crumpled to the floor, her hands fisted tightly in her hair, trying to fight off the pain. The others had rushed in the moment they heard her scream. Bel stood shell shocked over her mothers shaking form, and there was blood and Tabasco sauce everywhere.

“Liz! The pain had stopped the moment the flashes ended, but the impression they left were still utterly disturbing, but also bittersweet. Tears rolled down her face, as she realized exactly what it all meant......Max was alive.

“Liz!” michael picked her trembling body from the ground, while Isabel cradled a sobbing Bel in her arms. Michael laid Liz down on the couch that rested in the break room.

“Liz what happened” he demanded. Her eyes were squeezed tight, and the tears were running in a nonstop stream down her face. Michael could feel the many different emotions coming off her, and the one that struck him as odd was the extreme amounts of happiness that flooded their connection. She opened her eyes, and stared into the concerned ones of Michael’s. A huge smile danced across her face, which only seemed to cause more confusion.

“Liz, what’s going on” michael asked her, and before he knew what was happening, she had threw herself in his arms and was hugging him tightly. Liz pulled back, and cupped his hands in hers.

“He’s alive.......Max is alive” she announced happily, as she pulled him into another embrace, causing everyone in the room to gasp in shock and fall silent.


TBC..................LS

SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THESE EXPLANATIONS ARE GETTING QUITE LONG, AND I HATE TO KEEP YOU WAITING FOR NEW PARTS, SO I BROKE THEM UP.

ANYWAYS I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND BUMPS AND F/B

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT THE NEXT COUPLE OF CHAPTERS ARE LIZ'S JOURNAL ENTRIES, AS SHE EXPLAINED THEIR LIVES IN THE LAST TEN YEARS........................THANKS LS



Chapter 8

It had taken me the rest of the night to go thru and figure out the images I had received, and then to try to put them in words to explain to the others........

********
“But I don’t understand” Isabel was still having trouble wrapping her mind around everything. She had been a ball of emotions every since Liz had begin telling them what happened. It wasn’t as if she didn’t believe her, it was just the thought that if Max was alive, that they had fail him. Failed to realize he was out there somewhere, needing their help.

Michael was feeling pretty much the same way, and the guilt that had started to subside, came back like a vengeance. He should have never let him go off by himself, and now look what he had let happen, Max was in the hands of their enemy, and they had no clue as to were he was.

“I don’t understand everything either, but I do know that my husband is out there somewhere, and he needs me” Liz stated firmly. All eyes followed her as she paced the café floor.

“Veser!” She turned to him. Veser stood immediately, and made his way to her side.

“Yes Your Majesty” no matter how many times she has told him not to, Liz couldn’t get him to stop calling her that. She rolled her eyes annoyingly, before addressing him.

“I need to know everything there is about this...this....” not sure of what it was called.

“The Granolith” he supplied for her.

“Right........the Granolith” she stared expectantly at him, and Veser gathered what little information he had on the Granolith, before beginning.

“I can only go by what the elders had spoken on the Granolith. It was said to be the most powerful being on our planet, and whoever possessed it would rule all.......” he started.

“Wait a minute, if it was so powerful, and Kivar had it in his possession why does he want to kill Max and the others” Maria asked. She was seated next to Michael, as she tried to calm his conflicting thoughts.

“See that’s the thing. The Granolith can only be operated by someone with the Royal Seal” he watched all the confused and shocked faces around the room.

“Then how did Kivar get a hold of it” Nancy asked, clearly confused over this new development.

“When King Zan ordered the doctors to collect the Royal Fours essence, he didn’t know a thing about the Granolith. He thought that it was a story, heck we all did. We thought it was something the Elders made up, a bedtime story of power and greed. But the Elders had called upon the good doctors, and informed them that they were to send the Granolith with the Royal Four for safe keeping, knowing that King Zan would someday use it and come home to rescue us. So with that, they sent two ships, one carrying the Royal Four and their protectors, and another carrying the Granolith. When Kivar and his men stormed the labs and ceased everything, he sent his men after the ships. Of course you know what happened to the ship carrying the Royal Four, but we never knew what happened to the other ship, we assumed it had crashed also” he paused, and found them all hanging on his every word.

“So if it’s so powerful, what about the prophecy about the King’s heir being the one so powerful, and the one to reunite and become sole ruler of all five planets” Alex asked.

“It is still true, and the main reason Kivar wants the Royal family dead. Kivar is of royal blood also, but only he who possesses the Royal seal can control the Granolith. Zan’s seal is powerful, but that of the Heir’s holds a power so grand, that no man could stand up to. Together, with the Granolith’s power the House of Antar will rule forever. Something Kivar doesn’t want to happen....” a thought passed over him, and he grew extremely pale, something that didn’t pass Liz.

“What?” he began to pace, tuning everyone out.

“How could I’ve been so stupid.........dammit, I should have known” he spoke berated himself as he continued to wear a hole in the carpet.

“Veser!” Liz shouted as she stood in his path.

“I’m sorry Your Highness” he mumbled.

“What’s wrong....what are you talking about” the vibes she was receiving from him were making her nauseous. He took a deep breath, and ran a hand thru his slightly graying head, before he stared directly at her. The concerned look she was giving him, didn’t do anything to eliminate the guilt rolling thru him. Sighing, he adverted his eyes from her, and moved them around the room, glancing at all the expectant faces looking back at him, knowing there wasn’t a easy way out of this one.

“Kivar’s main reason to want the Royal family dead, is because of the seal. If the entire Royal line of Antar were dead, the seal will automatically transfer to the next house to rule, and that house is the House of Que’sar” that little bit of news didn’t seemed to bother Liz, what bothered her was the extremes amount of guilt that was pulsating off him.

“Why do you feel so guilty” she cornered. It was starting to worry her. Veser looked at her, and realized that he couldn’t hide his feelings from her.

“The seal can only be passed on by the King” they all nodded their heads, already knowing that “anyways, if something was to ever happen to the King, the Queen naturally takes his place. She will rule over the planets, and she would also gain all his powers and strengths” he took a deep breath “she would go thru this period immediately after his death were her body would completely shut down, while it generates and prepares itself for the enormous amounts of energy that it would take to transfer his seal to combined with hers, and his powers......I should have known” he lowered his head in shame.

“It never happened” Tess shouted angrily at him “it never happened, because he wasn’t dead. All this time he has been alive and needed us, how could you have not realized.......he’s out there alone without us.....it never happened” she launched at him, but before she could make contact, Chris refrained her. By this time the others had all realized exactly what Veser was saying. Liz never received Max’s powers or his seal because he had never died. Everyone was laying it into him for his incompetence, everyone but Liz that was. She still had questions that needed to be answered.

“Everyone SHUT UP!” the room fell silent, as they all stared at her. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Liz focused once again on Veser.

“What about his pod. When I was there, it’s light was gone while the others still shined brightly, and when I touched it, it was lifeless.....cold” she really needed an explaination for all this.

“Um.....I think I can answer that” Johnson stood nervously at the doorway. He had been sitting back, merely a spectator as his CO went about explaining things. They all turned their eyes to him.

“I mean if I may Your Highness” he addressed her with a bow.

“Someone better explain, and quickly” Michael added. Liz looked at the soldier before her, and nodded her head for him to go ahead.

“The pods are designed to be mentally linked to their resident. When their resident uses their power, the pod glows brightly and pulsates with energy. It recognizes him or her whenever they’re near, the connection is strong. I mean what I’m trying to say is....as long as their resident is alive, they’re alive” he finished.

“Oook, but that still doesn’t explain why Max’s pod isn’t alive, if clearly he is still alive” Isabel pointed out.

“The connection like I said is mental, and if King Zan is back on Antar, like we believe, there’s no way of knowing how far that connection can reach. I mean we don’t know what happened in that warehouse, Kivar could have done something to him, causing a severance of the connection” he turned to Liz, his mind working overtime.

“If I’m not mistaking Queen Liz, you and the King are connected.....right” Liz nodded her head “but you’re not feeling him now, when we know for sure that he’s alive” he asked her.

“No...I can’t” she replied sadly.

“Has anyone been back out to the pod chamber” he asked suddenly. All heads shook in the negative. Liz watched him closely.

“Why” she couldn’t help asking. Johnson looked at her, and noticed how her eyes danced wildly across his face.

“I don’t know, it’s just a feeling, but what if Kivar did do something to King Zan, causing the connection between the pod and himself to be broken, and since no one has been back up there.....” he trailed off, but they all knew exactly what he was saying.

“Michael” Liz turned to him with a look of determination. Micheal stood, and was at her side instantly “I want you to gather up the remaining soldiers, and have them ready for battle.........Alex, I want you and Isabel to go over everyone of those files you downloaded, I want to know everything....leave nothing unturned” she went about tossing out orders, and they all didn’t hesitate to fill them.

“You...” she pointed at Johnson “you’re coming with me” she grabbed his hand and start pulling him towards the door.

“Were are you going” Jeff asked her. With a face stamped in determination Liz turned to them.

“To get my husband back!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Liz stared at the four pods that rested neatly against the cave wall. Just like Johnson had predicted, Max’s pod had a dim glow to it, and it’s hum wasn’t as strong as the others, but it was pulsating with life just the same. She ran her hand tenderly across it, and it’s light grew a little at her touch. Tears sprung to her eyes as reality that she had failed to realize that he was still alive out there, needing her.

Johnson watched her carefully. He felt like he was intruding on a private moment, and didn’t want to interrupt. He wasn’t exactly sure what they were doing here, but he knew better then to question her. Instead, he just sat back and waited on her to finish.

Liz closed her eyes, as she felt his energy pulsate thru her. It was only a tiny shimmer, but it was enough. Flashes of the night he had gained his memories of Antar danced across her mind. The way they made love against the cave wall, the vulnerable look that crossed face as he remembered his past life and all that happened to him and the others. Images and feelings from that night wrapped around her, and it took a moment for her to regain her senses. She stepped back from the pod, and wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. She turned and found Johnson watching her intently.

“Sorry about that..” she smiled shyly.

“It’s ok” he paused “I know it must be hard.....I mean...” he stumbled, not really knowing what to say “.....you seemed to love him a great deal” he pointed out.

“I do, he’s my soulmate” she answered.

“I can respect that”and he could. All this time, he had been watching her these last couple of months, he realized that his feelings had changed dramatically for her. No longer was he completely in love with her, he realized that what he felt from her was something he had only longed to have. Someone to love him as much as she loved King Zan, and when he had first set eyes on her, he was attracted by her beauty. He had the ability to read people energies so easily, that when she had stepped out of the café that night, she was surrounded with so much love and kindness, that he wanted to be apart of that.........wanted to be loved, and he had thought she was meant to be the one to offer it, but as he got to know her more and more, his feelings quickly changed to one of friendship.

“Tell me about him.....I mean how the two of you met....if you don’t mind me asking” Liz got a far away look in her eyes, and a smile played on her lips.

“No....I don’t mind” she sat down on the cave floor, her back rested against Max’s pod. She crossed her legs in front of her, and gestured for him to sit down across from her. Johnson made himself comfortable, and watched her as she gathered her thoughts.

“It all started at the Crashdown.........,,” Liz began. She told him about the first time Max had healed her, to their first real date. She couldn’t help herself. It felt good to talk about it, felt good to remember. By the time she was finish, both she and Johnson had tears in their eyes.

“Um...yeah...something’s in my eye” Johnson ducked his head, trying to hide the tears. Liz smiled at his attempt. She realized that she had know him close to a year now, and she really didn’t know a thing about him.

“What about you.....what’s your story......your first name, and how come you know so much about the pods” she watch him as he shifted nervously in his spot.

“I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to”

“No...no it’s ok, I want to, it’s just weird talking about my life, especially to you, I mean you’re my Queen” he laughed nervously. Liz smiled gently at him, and placed comforting hand on his knee.

“Don’t think of me as your Queen, think of me as your friend, and as your friend, I insist you call me Liz” she directed him. He smiled back and nodded his head in agreement.

“Only if you call me Brian” he told her.

“Agreed”

“Ok.......where to began. Um, I was born of course on Antar, It was just me and my mom. I never met my dad, but my mom spoke of him often” he sat back against the wall and picked at the rocks surrounding his feet “when I was born their was a friction brewing between Antar and a neighboring planet Omni. Even though my father wasn’t in love with my mother, he did care a about her safety and mine. He had come to her the night I was born, and together they agreed to place me in a pod until things settled down. She would visit me daily and talked to me, sometimes he would join her, but mainly it was her. He was to important to the King to be there daily. She would tell me how she had met him” Liz watched him as a sad look past his face “she had met him one night when he came into the tavern that she worked at. She was barely sixteen, but had a hard life, leaving her to fend for herself at a young age. She said she could tell he was so lost. His eyes were hollow and uncaring, and his soul was wondering aimlessly around him He had ordered several drinks, and by the end of her shift, he was completely plastered. She had offered to help him home, when he just broke down in tears and started spilling his guts out to her” he took a deep breath before continuing “his wife had just died, and he was so lost without her. He had a son that he didn’t know how to face him. They had talked into the night, and became good friends after that. My mother knew he would never be able to give his heart to her, so instead she settled for his occasional visits, an the little time they had spent together. It when on for almost
ten years, and on one of those scares visits, I was conceived” he ran his hand thru his hair.

“Anyways, Sim only visited me sometimes. One day he had came to see me, and he talked about his son, and how much he wish I could meet him, but it wasn’t safe for me. His other son.....my brother was training to become his replacement in the Royal Army, and he couldn’t come. Shortly after that visit, my mother had come to me in tears, he had been killed in an ambush on Omni. My mom never recovered, and war was declared. She didn’t want me in the middle, so she left me in the pod. Things only seemed to get worse, and then the word came that Kivar had killed the Royal Four, and all hell broke lose. I stayed in that pod close to fifty years. My mother long past. One day, I don’t know why, but I emerged, and Veser had found me wandering the streets, he took me to a local family who raised me until I was eighteen, and that was when I joined the underground Royal Army...that’s about it” he shrugged his shoulders and looked at her. He wasn’t expecting the look that greeted him.

Liz had been listening to him intently as he retold his story. Things had started to tickle the back of her mind as she listened. When he had said the name Sim, something inside her clicked. She knew that name, but couldn’t place were she had heard it before. Her jaw almost hit the floor when it finally register were she had heard that name before.......Rath. That was his fathers name, and then it all came to her. His eyes, that’s why his eyes seemed so familiar........those were Michael’s eyes.....this was Michael’s brother.

“What?” Brian asked her. Shaking her head, she had to be sure.

“What was your fathers name”

“Sim” he answered simply

“No, I mean his full name” he looked at her funny.

“I don’t know. My mother would always just refer to him as Sim, and he never offered anything else” he shrugged his shoulder.

“What did he do” she asked urgently.

“I don’t know.......Liz what is this all about” she was sending weird vibes, and frankly it was scaring him the way she was acting. She stood, and began pacing the dirt floor. Her mind working overtime. Brian watched her closely.

“Do you have any idea what this means” she asked him excitingly. She squatted down in front off him, upon seeing his confused face.

“What?” She smiled at him, and sat down across from him. She began to tell him everything she knew about his father and Rath/Michael. When she was finished, his face was in complete shock and his mouth moved, but no words came out. Finally after a long silence, he said the only thing that came to his mind.

“Wow!”

After they left the pod chamber, they headed back to see what the others had accomplished. Liz had pulled Michael aside, and filled him in on what she discovered. To say he was shocked was an understatement, more like astonished.....flabbergasted.....floored, all seemed like suitable words to describe his reaction. But once the shocked factor wore off, he was completely open to the new development, actually he felt there was always something about Johnson that seemed familiar.

“My brother.........wow” Liz gave him a warm smile and hugged him, happy for him.

“Come on” he reached for her hand “let’s go get that husband of yours, so our family can be complete.

*********

It had taken us all night and the next day to go over everything about the Granolith, and the information that Alex had downloaded. We had finally come up with a plan, decided on who was going and who was staying, and we were ready. Little did we know that it would take another three months before we could go after him.

*********

“Why the hell hasn’t anyone got back to us” Liz demanded. She was frustrated and angry. It had been three months since they sent the signal to the remaining underground Royal army on Antar, and they hadn’t responded with the go ahead. Liz was beyond pissed, she just wanted to go and get Max and bring him home to his family were he belonged.

“Your Highness...” Veser started.

“No! Dammit I’m sick of waiting. Max is out there, and he needs us, and were sitting here waiting on some damn signal........well guess what......I’m going signal or not” she turned to Michael and the rest of her family, who were all in total agreement with her.

“We leave tonight!” with that said, she turned and walked out the room, leaving the air crackling with her energy.

~~~~~~~~

“Liz, please be careful” Nancy pleaded with her. They were all standing at the cave that held the Granolith, that would transport them into the unknown. They didn’t know where the Granolith would transport them, as far as they knew, they could be walking into an ambush. But Liz was willing to take the risk, they all were, Max needed them.

“I will mom” Liz retrieved her nine month old daughter from her mothers embrace, and placed bountiful kisses atop her head. Michael was doing the same to Amaris and Maria. It was decided that Liz, Michael, Tess and Isabel along with Nasedo and the rest of the remaining Royal army would go. They weren’t sure if the humans would be able to survive the trip, and they didn’t want to risk it.

Isabel and Alex were hugged up in a dark corner a little away from them, and Tess and Chris weren’t that far from them. It was very emotional, none of them knew what to expect, all they know was that they had to at least try.

“You come back Spaceboy” maria cried against his chest.

“Always” he assured her.

“Please be careful Izzybit” Alex swooped in and gave her a lingering kiss “come back to me” he squeezed her tight and felt her body shake with her sobs.

“God Alex, I’m so scared” she confided.

“It’ll be ok” he ran his hand up her arm, and she drew him in closer.

“What to you think about the colors Lavender and Grey” Tess asked Chris. Chris looked at her in confusion “for the wedding” she asked him, as she nervously pulled at the tail of his shirt, and held her head low. Chris knew this was her way of dealing with everything that was going on. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against him, kiss her blond curls.

“I think that they’re lovely colors, and would be perfect” Tess smiled against his chest, and pulled back.

“Good, because when I come back mister.....you, me, wedding......no more waiting” Chris kissed her and wiped the single tear that trailed down her face.

“I’ll be waiting with the preacher” he teased her.

“You all be careful, and please...bring him home” Diane cried as she hugged them all. They went around giving hugs and kisses to their family. Liz walked over to the Granolith, and found the twins waiting patiently for her.

“Hey sweeties” she kneeled down in front of them. Bel clutched Xan’s hand in hers, as she tried to fight off the tears.

“We want to go with you mommy........we want to help bring daddy home” she cried, as Xan nodded his head in agreement.

“I know you do love, but you can’t, but I promise I will bring daddy home to you.....were he belongs” she wrapped them in her arms, and desperately tried to control the tears that were itching to be release. This could be the last possible time that she held them in her arms, and she wanted to savior the moment.

“Liz” Liz looked to see Brian standing near them. It was time, they had to go. Standing, she walked the twins over to her parents, were they clung to each other.

“I love you”

“We love you too mommy” Liz walked backwards towards the Granolith and watched her family as they all sought out comfort from each other. She stood in front of the massive device, and stared at it for a moment. She looked around the small group that was her army, and sent a pray to the heavens above. Feeling Michael’s hand slip into hers, she turned and saw him watching her carefully.

“You ok” he asked her.

“No....but I will be once we have him” she stated firmly “ready?” Liz looked him in the eyes, and saw his face set in determination.

“Ready” his eyes moved to Isabel. Isabel squared her shoulders, and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes.

“Ready” she turned to Tess

“Let’s do this” Liz took one more glance at her family, before placing her right hand against the smooth surface of the Granolith. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The air around her began to sizzle, and the Granolith low hum, became a loud roar. The others stepped back, unsure of what to expect. A swirl of bright colors began to circle around the group, and then there was a bright flash of intense light, that caused the others to cover their eyes against its brightness. When the light subsided, all that was left was the Granolith.........Liz and the others were gone.

TBC

Ok, so I couldn't wait....................


Chapter 9

I can’t explain all the thoughts that went thru my head as I placed my hand against the Granolith. I was scared....more like petrified. I didn’t know what to expect, didn’t know what I was leading my family into. I kept thinking....why didn’t I wait for the signal. But then the answer always was the same....if I wait any longer, Max could died. The dreams that Bel were having had started coming more frequently, and not only when she was asleep. There were times I thought that my baby was going to died from the intense amounts of pain that accompanied the dreams. We couldn’t figure out how she was able to receive things from Max, when none of the rest of us couldn’t even feel him. I knew that we had to go rescue him, because if I didn’t, it could cause me both my husband, and possibly my babygirl.

Now, were was I. Oh yeah, I remember placing my hand on the Granolith, and instantly I could feel the air around me spark with electricity, and my entire body began to vibrate to my very bones. It felt weird, yet completely arousing. When I say arousing, I mean there was this jolt of electricity that shot thru me, simulating every nerve ending in my body, right down to the sole of my feet. I mean it felt like my body it was this one big sensitive nerve, and I was having one, everlasting orgasm. I remember my body convulsing with energy, and I never wanted to come down, but of course that all ended once my body was jerked forward unexpectedly.........

********
Liz landed hard against the ground. She felt someone land next to her and a heavy heap.

“Liz?”

“I’m here Isabel” Liz began to slowly climb to her feet, and shake off the feelings that the Granolith had caused “Michael.....Tess” she called out. A faint moan came somewhere behind her.

“Right here” Tess stumbled out, she was also trying to get to her feet “Michael?” Michael rolled over onto his back, and let out a low groan.

“Shit” he moaned as his body protested as he climbed to his feet. They all made their way to Liz’s side, and she did a quick scan of their surroundings, making sure everyone had made it thru safely. They could hear footsteps fast approaching. Quickly, they stood in a defensive stance, ready to take out their enemies.

Shouting could be heard, as the pounding of many feet grew closer. There were a couple of explosions that echoed against the walls. Shadows fell across the wall, and Liz stretched out her hand, intending on inflicting some sever pain. The men stood before them, the faces marred in shock and awe. Instantly they dropped to their knees before them.

“Your Highness” Liz looked to Veser, who confirmed with a nod that they were indeed on their side. Liz cautiously let down her shield, and let it shadow around them just in case.

“You may rise” she directed, and the soldiers quickly rose to their feet. Another soldier came running up behind them, and skidded to a stop before them.

“Forgive me Your Highness” he bowed in respect. He nervously looked behind him, before addressing them “we must hurry. Kivar’s men are sure to be here within minutes” he looked back towards the entrance, before turning back to Liz.

“Please Your Highness.....we must hurry” he motioned towards the shield she had thought was invisible to them.

“Liz, it’s ok.....they’re with us” Brian assured her “show your emblems” he ordered, and they all lifted the cuff of their sleeves, revealing the V formation set in the double circle, and the soldiers individual House symbol underneath it. Convince that they were indeed on their side, Liz let down the shield, and the soldier immediately rushed to her side, he ran his hand over her, changing her clothes into a pair of dusty pants, and a tattered shirt that she was for sure would come apart if she was to pull on the lose string hanging on the edge. He turned and did the same to Tess, Michael and Isabel.

“Hurry....” he nodded to the other soldiers with him, and they all formed a box around Liz, Michael and Tess. They moved quickly to the entrance, pausing long enough to make sure it was clear. They stepped out, and it was dark out. Liz heard Isabel and Tess gasp behind her, and she turned to see what was wrong. Tears were swimming in Isabel’s eyes as they stared ahead. Liz followed her line of view, and she too couldn’t help the sudden gasp that escaped her lips.

A little girl about eight, was shifting thru the trash can, no doubt searching for food. She was dressed in the same rags as them, but for her it wasn’t to protect her like them, it was what she was use to. Even in the faint lighting that the two moons offered, they could still see the devastation of a once lovely and beautiful Antar.

People were walking around the streets begging and fighting for food and clothing. They were rundown and their spirts broken. A lady held her crying child, as she went from tavern to tavern seeking food and shelter. They watched as one of Kivars men kicked and beat a men in the middle of the street, all because he accidently bumped into him. Everywhere they turned, there was ruins and poverty. What happened to the flourished planet they remembered?

“We have to keep moving” the soldier pulled their thoughts away from the disturbing scene. They continued to walk in silence, ducking between buildings every now and then when some of Kivar’s soldiers patrolled the streets. Soon they arrived in a woodsy area, and stopped.

“We’re here”

“Were exactly is here” Michael questions as he looked around. There was nothing there but trees upon trees. The soldier walked to a huge tree, and ran his hand over it. A panel appeared on its trunk, and he placed his hand over it. It beep several times, before a brief flash of light went off, and then out of nowhere, a small building that looked like a old bomb shelter appeared before them.

“This way” he motioned them to a side door, and they cautiously stepped thru, Michael taking the lead. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he wasn’t about to let Liz and the others walk into an ambush. When they were all situated into the cramped space, the soldier walked to one of the small corners of the room, and waved his hand over the ground. The floor slowly began to separate, revealing a set of stairs. He began to descend them, fully expecting the others to follow.

The stairway was dark, and seemed to go on forever. Finally, they stopped in front of a large door, appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Bright light invaded their senses, and they had to blink several times to remove the black dotes from their vision , that being in the dark for so long had caused. The room was lively with activity, as people bustled about. As soon as the door slid open, and the group stepped in, all activity ceased.

Michael stood protectively in front of the girls. Their was approximately fifteen to twenty people in the room, and they were all buzzing around the room, that was until they stepped into the room. Upon seeing their Queen, they all immediately dropped to the knees. Rolling her eyes, Liz addressed them, and they rose to their feet. The soldier from earlier, moved to a table in the far corner of the room and sunk down in the chair with a heavy thud.

“You shouldn’t have come here Your Highness” he sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, he turned his black eyes to her. Liz looked at him in shock. Her patients gone with his words, she went off.

“I shouldn’t have come! How dare you sit there and tell me I shouldn’t have come when my husband, your King is being held by a mad man..........if I had waited on you all and your damn signal, he would no doubt be killed” she shouted at him, as she stood angrily in front of him.

“We had a reason for not sending that signal” he shouted just as angrily, he knew he was threading on thin ice by shouting at her like this, but didn’t she know what kind of danger she just put herself and the King in.

“Stand down soldier!” Michael order as he stood between him and Liz, his eyes black as coal. The soldier immediately backed down upon seeing the deadly stare that Commander Rath was giving him.

“You are never to speak to her in that manner again do I make myself clear!” his voice was dangerously calm, but he spoke thru clutched jaws.

“Yes sir” he saluted, before turning to Liz “forgive me Your Highness” he kneeled before her, but Liz was to furious to address him, instead she simply walked away.

“I suggest you get up and start explaining things.........and I mean quickly” Rath seethe above him. His arms were crossed defensively across his chest, as he watched the soldier rise to his feet. Veser stood back and watched. He was no longer the Commander in charge. Michael had long accepted his role, and now he was just a soldier willing to fight at his side.

“Yes sir” a girl about fifteen, came and bowed in front of Liz, Tess and Isabel.

“Please Your Highness......Princess’ if you follow me, I will assist you into something more comfortable”before Liz could protest, she placed her tiny hand in Liz’s and pulled her towards a long corridor.

“My name’s Deja....and that big lung that disrespected you back there was my brother Lex....” she continued to talk animatedly as they walked down the long hall “.....I can’t tell you what an honor it is to meet you” she stared up at Liz with the biggest smile, before turning to Tess and Isabel “......and you Princess Vilandra and Ava.” They stopped in front of a small door. She waved her hand over the wall next to it, and another panel materialized. Placing her small hand over it, the door slid open, and she stepped thru. Turning when she realized that they weren’t following her.

“Well come on” she instructed. Tess, Liz and Isabel stepped thru the down, and gasped in awe.

“You like it.......I did it myself” Deja beamed with pride.

“You did all this” Tess asked as she walked around the enormous room. The room had a sunk in floor, and when you stepped down, your feet were welcomed by the soft plush ivory carpet. There were candles lit throughout the room, that gave it an enchanting glow. There was a tiny fountain in the corner that was formed like a waterfall, and as the water hit the surface, it triggered a melodious tune that vibrated around the room. Several silk cloaks draped the wall, some blazed with the Royal Seal. Against another wall three gowns draped it. One was royal blue, it was sleeveless with a V shaped neckline, that was held together by a single line of diamonds. The waistline seemed fitting, and the bottom flared out like a bell. Tiny diamonds were woven neatly all over the bodice, that descended downwards in swirls onto the skirt of the dress. A shawl draped over a hook next to it of the same color, and on it was the Royal Seal of Antar.

There was a burgundy dress that hung next to it, and they exactly identical. The other dress was completely different in style and color. It was ivory in color. It had tiny straps made of pearls that would hold it against the wearers frame. The bodice connected to a skirt that flowed straight down, and flared slightly at the bottom. The entire dress was made of silk, pearls danced upwards from the bottom of it. A ivory colored sheer cloak with small fur was fasten around it, held together by a gold broach with the V formation embossed in it. Although the dress was simple, it screamed out elegance of a Queen. They were all simply breathtaking. Deja smiled at their awed expressions, and shrugged her shoulders.

“I had to do something while the men were off doing who knows what” she began to busy around the room as their eyes followed her “.....being the only girl here sometimes has its advantages. Lex usually lets me wander around down here by myself, so one day I decided to have your rooms prepared” she stood in front of them with three large plush towels in her hands.

“How did you know that we we’re coming” Isabel asked her.

“Why wouldn’t you.....I mean the King is here, why wouldn’t his Queen follow” she turned and headed thru another door. Curiosity getting the best of them, they followed.

“Wow” Liz’s mouth formed into an O, as she looked around the lovely room. It was also covered in candles, and music played above them. Small rippling sounds, turned their attention back to the young girl.

“Your bath awaits Princess Vilandra” she motioned to the small pond that sunk into the ground. Isabel stared at the inviting scene, and before she knew it she was shedding the old clothes that clad her body. Moving towards a door, Deja opened it.

“Princess Ava” she motioned, and Tess stepped thru the door. Just like Isabel’s there was a small pond waiting with steaming water. Just as anxious as her sister, Tess began to strip down to bareness. As she sunk into the warm water, she noticed a door to her left, most likely leading into an adjoining room.

“I’ll be back shortly...” Deja sat a towel on the edge of the pond, and closed the door behind her. She turned Isabel.

“Here you are Princess” she placed her towel down, and turned to Liz “Your Highness if you would follow me” they walked back thru the common area, and stopped at a wall. Liz raised an eyebrow at her, and she softly giggled. Waving her hand over the wall, it slid aside, revealing a massive room. There was a huge four post bed with a deep red canopy hanging from it. The bed was adorned in a red silk comforter and several huge pillows rested upon it, looking like red clouds. Everywhere she turned, Liz’s eyes were met by red and ivory candles in different shapes and sizes. An oak dresser sat in a corner with a large mirror perched on it. Liz took a look at herself in it, and couldn’t help but want to discard the rags that covered her body.

“Your Highness” Deja stood by a door waiting patiently. Liz trekked over to her, and she ushered Liz inside.

“Oh my....” Liz held her hand to her mouth as she took in the beauty of the room. Just like Isabel and Tess’ there was a pond that sat in one of the corners of the room, but it was two times bigger, and it had a water fall that flowed into it. Huge vines crawled up the walls and ceiling, and several exotic looking flowers bloomed from them. It looked like a small enchanted forest.

“Your Highness....” Deja stood watching her with a small smile on her lips. Liz smiled back, before a question popped in her head.

“Can I ask you a question” she asked, as she began to remove her clothing.

“Yes ma’am” Deja answered, rushing to Liz’s side to assist her.

“Why do you automatically assume I was the Queen, your brother.....Lex he too addressed me first as the Queen, when there were three of us standing there” she slowly sunk into the warm water, and sighed “.....I mean, Tess was the Queen in their past life why not assume she was in this one” she pondered.

“Tess?” Deja looked at her in confusion as she piled her long mane on top of her head.

“Ava” Liz corrected. A big smile played on the girls lips, and she grabbed a sponge from behind her.

“Oh that’s easy......we read your aura” she stated as if that answered everything. She saw the confused look on her Highness face, and went on to elaborate.

“Antarians are all born with powers. Everyone can change things around them, but everyone also has their own unique powers, some other Antarians have the same unique powers, but they’re usually from the same House. Lex and I can read peoples aura”

“My aura huh.......so what did my aura say that lead you to know I was the Queen” Liz quizzed her.

“Oh Your Highness, your aura is strong, it reeks of power. Not just power, but authority and grace. It’s has a purple hue color.......the color the Seal designates to the Queen. No one else can possess that color aura.........it is given to the Queen once the Seal is passed to her.....and you Your Highness is pulsating with the Seals light” she grinned down at her. She washed Liz’s back before handing her the sponge.

“I will go and check on the Princess’, there is a robe just to your right, and I will be back shortly to assist you into your gown. She breezed out the door, leaving Liz to stare after her.

An hour and a half after their departure from Michael and the other soldiers. Liz, Tess and Isabel were being lead by Deja down another hallway. To say they felt weird wasn’t saying enough. They were decked out in the gowns that had hung against the wall. They had tried to refuse, but one look at the sad expression that came across Deja’s face, had them relenting, and they reluctantly put on the gowns. She had taken great pride in getting them ready. She did their hair and makeup, and they could tell she missed the company of women. When she was finished, she completed their outfits with their chosen crowns.

They fidgeted as the walked down the hall. Their heels clanging as they hit the ground. They felt overdressed, and didn’t know what was expected. Finally they stopped at a set of double doors, and Deja gently pushed them open. All talking came to a halt as they stood in the doorway.

“My I present the Queen of Antar, and Princess’ Vilandra and Ava” Deja announced. All the soldiers stood at the large oval table they were sitting at, and bowed respectively.

“You look nice” Michael whispered in Liz’s ear, as he wrapped her arm around his, and began a slow walk down the aisle. Liz couldn’t help the shocked expression that ran over her face. She wasn’t sure it he was michael or not. His hair was slicked back into a clean ponytail, and he was dressed in a royal blue suit, much like the ones the Royal army wore, but his was more powerful looking. On his right bicep, there were five gold strips and one small silver one. Over his left breast rested the Royal Seal of Antar. The suit reminded Liz of Xan’s karate uniform. Around his waist was a silver belt, that also had the Royal seal in diamonds embedded in it.

“I must say, so do you” she giggled as he rolled his eyes in detest.

“Well.......yeah, they were kind of insistent” he playfully nudged her with his hip.

“You know you like it” Liz teased.

“Well it is kind of freeing” he wiggled his eyebrows at her, and knew exactly when she got his meaning.

“Eww....Michael!” she slapped his arm, and he threw his hand up on surrender. Deja escorted them to the head of the round table, and motioned for them to take a seat.

“Would you like something to eat or drink” she asked them. They kindly refused.

“I just want to get started so I can go get my husband” now that she was refreshed, Liz was ready to get down to the business of saving Max. Deja bowed before going over to stand by the door, not to far away incase the Queen needed her. Clearing his throat, Michael addressed the soldier.......Lex.

“Ok, lets cut right to the chase..........why didn’t you answer our signal” Lex stood before them, as they watched him intensely.

“Forgive me Commander, but it was not safe. When word had came to us that Kivar had arrive back on Antar via the Granolith, we were devastated, we were for sure that the Royal family was dead, and that Kivar had gained possession of the Seal. One of our men that was working undercover at the palace had informed me that Kivar had indeed returned, but he wasn’t alone. He had a man with him, someone that he didn’t recognize. I immediately had him sneak me into the palace so I could get a read of this mans aura, but I wasn’t expecting to be reading the aura of the King, but low and behold he was there......... the King of Antar. With great haste, I rounded up what little army we had left, and began forming a plan to rescue him. Things were going smoothly, the plan was set, and we were about to move in, that was until your signal came.....” he stopped his pacing, and gave them a pointed look, before shaking his head in defeat.

“That signal was received not only by us, but some of Kivar’s men also. Things became a uproar at the palace, and my man on the inside was killed. Kivar’s men began to kill any Antarian that walked the streets that. Questioning them of our whereabouts. When it was apparent that he wouldn’t be receiving any answers, there was a lot of activity at the palace the week following the signal, and before we could move in...he was gone” he finished.

“Gone...what do you mean gone” Liz cried, standing to her feet. Michael wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to offer her support.

“Kivar fled the palace, taking the king with him.......we have no idea were he is....and now with you here, Kivar is surely going to find a way to get to you. You should’ve came here Your Highness” he admitted as he stared at Liz. Liz sunk down helplessly in her chair. They were so close, and because of her sending that stupid signal.......Max had slipped through their fingers.
She buried her head in her hands, and cried.



TBC..................LS