Ok don’t panic. No there is not something wrong with your calendar…
It has been one week….and here I am!
Your reviews really inspire me SO much, in fact this week I did this in the 24 hours following posting the last chapter! So thanks again. I cant promise this every week. I was very nervous about writing this chapter, but your reviews sorted that out
Thanks to Sternbetracter for the load of beta-ing she did for me last weekend for this and the last chapter … you’re a star hun
Now before I thank my reviewers as usual, almost all have discussed the topic of Michael and his…neglecting to tell Maria of his non human status. I have promised the issue would be addressed soon, so do not fret. Things will hopefully now begin to make more sense as this chapter progresses and you see more of the thoughts of some people
Now I’ve done that…. Big thankies to my reviewers:
Sternbetrachter - *Sighs* I’ll admit… I was a stargazer before writing this fic but I’ve become rather addicted to it from the pressure of my beta and some of rpging chums, so I blame you guys (Particularly Sternbetrachter and KarenEvans) entirely for scene 2

Stargazer’s Delight – Now now… who said I meant… *Gasps* Oh look! A Bunny! *Gasps loudly!!!*
Xmag – Ah yes… one of many who called Liz a bad friend… Well the last few chapters have been setting the scene in Roswell…now lets see what she’s really thinking/doing
Tequathisy -
tequathisy wrote:They obviously do love their children but show it in a warped way. (have I hit on something there?)
Interesting theory… I do love theories…
Nibbles2 - *Sighs* More Michael bashing…. *tuts*…. And to think you guys liked him….(some of the time) in LLL
Rie482 – Wow… and anti-parents…everyone’s so anti-characters…
Somewhere87 - *Sighs louder* More Michael and parents bashing…can’t we all just get along

LairaBehr4 -
LairaBehr4 wrote:That's kind of a messed-up way for the parents to look at it - I mean, they think that aaaaallllllll the English people ganged up together and thought, 'how can we get Max and Isabel far, far away from their parents?' Pshaw.

:lol::lol:
RhondaAnn – And the award for the most Michael hating right now goes to… RhondaAnn *Hands bad looking trophy* Sorry… this story isn’t paying you know! And this chapter cost me 8 hours of my time! :O
Roswell3053 - *Starts singing* Thiiiiings…..can only get betttterrrrr… *Coughs*
Ashleyt – One can hope… and maybe if you wish on a star…
IzzyEvans2201_PuertoRico – Wow…one minute she’s talking about the R.I.P. of Alex, and now she wants AI babies… …….
There’s just no pleasing people

Imnotlc – Ok…with me…Breathe….breathe….
Tequathisy – Now there’s an idea…
KarenEvans – LOL! Wizard of Oz…. you are a strange one Karen! Lol!
Dreamer_Dreaming – Thankies!
Ooooh keep forgetting to say this…
Concerning the English bashing – Just to remind you all I am from England, and therefore its allll in good spirited, mad parenting fun! Please don’t take offence English people! We rock! *Dances*
Okay I’ve ranted for a whole page in word so…how about a chapter now eh?
Can’t wait to read some reviews on this chapter…. *Evil smile*
Chapter 5
6:30 am, 502 Roswell Avenue
Liz and Max had more things in common than Diane realised. A good example of this would be the way that Liz was staring at the ceiling, thinking. The row in the room next to hers had quietened down about midnight, shortly followed by a lot of groaning. Liz sighed as she thought of Michael. He had been avoiding her. Sure, in public with others there he was a total peach to her… but whenever she tried to get him on his own… he would find a way to get out of it.
Liz was also thinking about Isabel and Alex. Why didn’t they see that they were perfect for each other? They had the whole…star-crossed lovers’ thing going on.
You would have thought that Liz had enough thoughts as it was… but Liz was also thinking about Max. Was he ok? Deciding she couldn’t take thinking and worrying about everyone else at once, she picked up her mobile and quickly texted Max a message.
‘Hey sweetie, are u ok? Sorry if ur asleep… worried about u. Thinking of u always. Liz’
Liz sighed to herself as she pressed the send button. Slowly she manoeuvred herself out of bed and into her chair. Maybe a glass of warm milk would help her sleep some more. She was almost at the door when she heard her phone vibrate.
That was quick… Liz couldn’t help think. She quickly opened her phone and read the message.
I’m fine…wishing I could be with u though. They want me to stay here today. They want a family talk, with Isabel too. See u this evening hopefully. Love u. Max. X (PS stop worrying about me)
Liz couldn’t help but smile. He knew her too well. She sighed as she turned off her phone and going into the living room…
…To see Michael sitting up straight, staring at a commercial. Clearly staring was a popular pass time.
“Trouble in paradise?” Liz asked, raising an eyebrow as she gave him a very discontented look.
Michael looked at her slowly. He clearly hadn’t slept. He watched Liz for a moment before staring back at the T.V.
Liz was not happy with this response and moved nearer towards him.
“Michael…”
“Liz don’t ok.” Michael quickly interrupted her, not looking at her. “Later…somewhere not here.”
“Michael that’s not good enough anymore. I’m sick of lying to her,” Liz replied firmly.
“Liz stop…”
“We need to talk Michael… you’re not getting out of this.”
“Later” Michael said louder than before, getting pissed off.
Liz looks at him and says, “Fine Michael… you are taking me out for lunch… and you’re paying and we are going to talk about this. Because otherwise I’m telling Maria the truth right now.”
Michael looked at her sharply. “You wouldn’t.”
Liz looked back at him coldly. “I would Michael. She deserves to know,” she said quietly in a determined voice.
Michael threw his hands back in the air and slumped back on the couch.
“Fine whatever!”
Liz gave a little nod and went into the kitchen to get her warm milk. She was going to make Michael tell Maria the truth today. Liz had tried to get Michael to tell her ever since she had found out that this baby might not be...normal. But so far nothing she had done had made Michael tell her. So today Maria was going to learn the truth… and she would do whatever she had to, to make sure that happened. Even if it meant she did it.
Isabel’s eyes drifted open, and for a moment she didn’t know where she was. It was only when she saw Alex’s arm, lying protectively over her stomach that she remembered. She smiled quietly to herself, thinking about how yesterday was a great day… and a terrible day all at once. Isabel slowly moved her head to see if Alex was awake. But his eyes were closed. She watched him sleep for a moment, looking as his chest raised and fell. She didn’t want to move from this position ever.
Isabel studied Alex’s face, wondering how she could ever have gone out with Jesse when she had had this… funny feeling that Alex was the one for her. And he was. She drew a mental picture of him, wanting to savour this moment forever. She looked at his somewhat messed up hair, to his beautiful lips. Those very kissable lips…
Isabel found herself slowly drift towards him, wanting to feel those lips once more. She closed the gap slowly, thinking about their first and only kiss…
…When Alex’s eyes opened.
Isabel moved back slightly in surprise. “Uh…hey…” she murmured softly, biting her lip in embarrassment.
Alex looked at her and gave her a sleepy smile. “Hey…”
Isabel smiled back for a moment before forcing herself to sit up. Alex’s arm quickly moved to let her, although the movement was also made with a wish that she would just stay there with him.
“I’m just gonna…check my messages…” Isabel said quietly as she reached for her phone by the bed.
Alex sighed to himself as he sat up too, rubbing his eyes to try and wake himself up. Isabel meanwhile flipped open her phone and rang her voicemail.
You have…one new messages.
As the message started to play, Alex couldn’t help but notice her body stiffen. He watched her closely as she blinked, and closed the phone. She swallowed hard, and Alex immediately thought that it was going to be something that was going to mean less time with her.
“My parents…they want a family discussion,” Isabel told him quietly.
Alex tried not to look disappointed as Isabel stood up from the bed. “I better go…”
“Wait,” Alex quickly told her as he got up from the bed and moved round in front of her.
He looked into her eyes for a quick moment before Alex leaned in and gently gave her a sweet, perfect kiss. Isabel kissed back, her feelings of disappointment towards her family disappearing instantly.
And then it was over. Alex pulled away slowly, and Isabel couldn’t help but beam at him. Alex’s stomach flipped at that beautiful smile.
“I’ll be here when you get back… and I’ll miss you.”
Isabel gave a small sigh of happiness before wrapping her arms around him, bringing him into a hug.
“I’ll miss you too Alex. Thank you…”
They hugged for a few minutes, not ever wanting to let go. But eventually Isabel pulled back and gave him another smile. “I’ll be back as soon as I can…bye.”
Alex nodded slowly before saying, “Bye…”
Isabel swallowed again before slowly leaving the room. As she got to the door she turned around and looked at Alex and beamed at him once more. Her eyes never left Alex’s wide grin as she closed the door behind her.
Alex sighed happily before throwing himself back on his bed, replaying the kiss over and over in his mind.
Max was lying down on the couch when he heard the knock on the door. He quickly stood up and opened it, happy that anyone was here so he felt less alone. As he opened it however, he partly wished that he was still alone.
Isabel had this…look. A look that said she was SOOO not happy about being here. But she also had this…warm glow about her.
“Hey…” Max said as he stood to one side to let her in.
Isabel didn’t reply as she walked straight past him and into the living room where she quickly put herself on the couch that Max had been laying on a minute before. Wordless, Max followed her and sat on a chair, looking at her… waiting for her to say something.
Isabel just looked back for several minutes before saying, “Are they up yet?”
Max swallowed painfully and murmured, “They haven’t come down yet… but they’re awake.”
“You’ve spoken to them then?” Isabel asked crossing her arms.
“Not exactly…” Max muttered, replaying in his mind the haunting crying he had heard from his mother throughout the night.
“Did you talk to them at all after I left?” Isabel asked, clearly already knowing the answer.
“Is…”
“Max, I can’t believe you didn’t call. No wonder she’s upset!” Isabel said as she pushed her hair back and ran her fingers through her hair, angrily. “No wonder she decorated the house with Max and Isabel memorabilia! You know how much her family means to her!”
Max looked down at the floor and murmured, “I know Is…”
“Then why did you do it Max?”
Max sat up and looked towards the door to see his adoptive mother standing there, with her husband just behind her.
Max swallowed again before saying evenly, “Mom…I could give you some bad explanation about how I was busy. I could try and use the excuse that I thought you would want a life now that you’d finally got rid of us. But the fact is… I don’t have an excuse.”
Diane looked at her son as she clasped Philips hand.
“I’m sorry Mom…”
Diane looked at her son before moving further into the room. “I need a proper explanation Max.”
“Mom I told you…”
“No Max. Not about that.” Philip stated for his wife.
Isabel and Max looked at each other for a moment before looking at them. “About what?”
“About why you left Roswell,” Philip stated, moving to just behind his wife once more.
Max looked over at Isabel, but this time Isabel was too busy watching her adopted parents.
“About why you changed your dreams of a good American college to go to an average one in the UK…” Philip continued. “About why you took Michael and Tess with you, changing their plans too…”
Isabel looked at the floor nervously, knowing that this was not going well at all. She just wanted to be back in Alex’s arms, being told it was all going to be ok…
“…about why you’ve been so secretive for years… and about why we can’t be let in on your secret.”
Max moved his head sharply back towards his parents at Philips words. “We’re not secretive.”
“Max…honey…” Diane said calmly, gesturing with her hands, “we understand that you want secrets…you have your own lives now… but we just want to know you… we want to know about you.”
“About us Mom….you do know us…” Isabel murmured
“No Isabel…we don’t know our children anymore. You left us and your dreams in Roswell and you never looked back.” Philip stated, hurt showing through in his voice.
“I called…”
“But you were never really there Isabel…you never opened up to us. We thought… we hoped that being away from us would...” A tear escaped from Diane’s cheeks as she spoke. “…that you would be open to us. That we would be able to be an actual family. That you would actually need us.”
Max stood silently and looked at his adopted parents. “Mom we do need you. And I’m sorry… I’m sorry if you ever thought that we didn’t. But we live our own lives now.” He looked over at his Dad. “We live grown up lives away from our parents’ shadows. But it doesn’t mean we don’t need you.”
Max took a deep breath before continuing, “But what we do need…is space. You can’t give us presents so you can attach tracking devices. You can’t investigate us.” Max looked back towards his mother, “You can’t expect us not to…to grow up.”
Isabel looked towards her brother, thinking that even if he made stupid decisions… he sure knew how to try and apologise and still get his own way.
“We can’t tell you everything that you want to know… and I hope that you can try and understand that.”
Diane sighed quietly before going towards her son and placing an arm on his shoulder. “Of course we can understand that…you’re our children…” She looked over towards Isabel and gave her a watery smile. “And if you say you can’t tell us… then I guess that’s something we’ll have to learn to…to accept.”
Max gave a small smile. “Thank you Mom… and I’m sorry, I should have called…”
But Max was cut off by his mother who quickly pulled him into a hug. Max looked over his mother’s shoulder to see Isabel. She glanced up at the ceiling in a look that clearly said
Thank God… before looking back at Max and giving a faint smile. But it was still painfully obvious to Max that she wasn’t happy with him. And Max had a nagging feeling that the reason why she wasn’t happy was another secret that Max was keeping from a loved one.
Philip moved towards Isabel and sat beside her. He gave her a friendly smile as he put his arm around her. “How about a family game of monopoly?”
“Dibbs the hat!” Isabel quickly said with a slightly forced grin, wishing she was back in Alex’s arms.
“Dang…” Philip said with a laugh as he indicated for them all to head to the dining table. Diane slowly released her son, and Max gave a friendly smile to her before walking towards the table with Isabel.
If either of them had looked back, they would have seen the look that passed between Diane and Philip as they walked away.
When Maria came out of her room at around midday, it was her surprise to find it empty of all but Alex, who seemed to be engrossed with watching Jerry Springer, who was talking about, “My son would rather look for aliens than talk to his family!!!”
But once Alex saw Maria come towards him, he quickly moved down the couch and patted the seat beside him.
“I’m not that big you know…” Maria huffed as she moved slowly towards the couch and sat down beside him. She turned her attention to the screen as the woman on screen started crying saying,
“Jerry…my son, Milton… he’s been looking for aliens since he was six… and he’s now so consumed with finding them that…that… that I haven’t seen him in ten years!”
As the woman dissolved into noisy sobs on national television Alex couldn’t help but roll his eyes and look towards Maria. “So… you gonna tell me what the argument was about last night?”
Maria sighed and quickly went to grab the remote to change the channel. She switched over to a program about the mating habits of different species.
“Not gonna happen…”
Alex swiftly took the remote off her and turned the TV off.
“Hey! Pregnant woman here who can’t fight back…but she can get VERY angry!” Maria said, narrowing her eyes at Alex.
“I’ll take my chances,” Alex stated as he put the remote far away from Maria. “Come on… what’s going on with you and Michael. You two should be so happy…”
“Well maybe we would be if Michael opened up.” Maria said huffily, placing her hand gently on her stomach.
“What do you mean?” Alex asked raising an eyebrow at her. “I thought you knew that Michael isn’t the type to do that…”
“No this is something else.” Maria interrupted. “He’s keeping something from me. He’s avoiding me, and I… I…”
Maria dissolved into tears much like the woman had on screen a few minutes before. Alex sighed and put his arm protectively around her. “Maria…what is it…”
“At first….at first I thought it was because he just…isn’t attracted to me like this…” she said waving her hands towards her swelling stomach. “But…but its something else. And I’m…I’m sick of him not telling me what when it clearly has something to do with me!”
Maria leans into Alex’s shoulder and soon Alex’s shirt was very wet from her tears.
“I’m…I’m sorry…” Maria whimpered as she cried. “I just… I don’t think that I can… I can stay with him any longer Alex…”
“Oh Maria…” Alex murmured as he stroked her hair. “Please… please don’t rush to that conclusion… you guys can work it out…”
“No Alex… we can’t unless he tells me…” Maria interrupted. “He’s been like this for months now…”
“Maria… Michael is a good guy. I’m sure whatever it is… he will tell you…” Alex stood up. “I’m gonna go find him and have words….”
“No!” Maria said quickly, grabbing on to whatever she can of Alex, which turned out to be his trouser leg. “Alex don’t… I will… I’m going to talk to him tonight… and if he doesn’t tell me…” She swallowed painfully before saying, “If he doesn’t tell me then I’m going back to England. I can’t stay here Alex.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” Alex immediately told her, sitting down again.
“I can’t ask you do that…” Maria said shaking her head slowly.
“You’re not asking.”
Maria looked at him, tears still streaming down her face. Alex gave her a small smile before Maria launched herself at him, and pulled him into a big hug.
“Thank you Alex… I don’t know what I’d…d… do without you…” Maria said through her sobs.
Alex bit his lip as he murmured, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily DeLuca…where ever you go…. I go,” Alex told her before silently adding in his head,
Even if that means having to leave Isabel…
Alex closed his eyes, praying a different solution would present its self.
“So why here?” Liz asked as Michael pushed her inside the Crashdown Café and towards an available table in the corner.
“Because there’s never many people here and if it hasn’t changed since I came here last it serves a great burger…”
“Michael!”
Michael looked up to see an old friend walking towards him. Michael smiled as his old workmate Monk came towards him. “Hey man! No long time no see!!” Monk said as he grinned and hit Michael on the back.
“Yeah…” Michael said, not really sure what to say.
“So what you been up to man?” Monk asked, still grinning. “How’s England?”
“Uh… England’s kinda dull… but I did meet the girl of my dreams so…”
“Whooaa…what? What happened to Michael, the guy who wasn’t interested in that romantic crap…” Monk said, looking stunned.
“He grew up and met the love of his life.”
It was this moment that Liz decided to cough and give Michael a stern look.
“Monk…this is Liz…”
“So you’re the un-lucky lady that’s with my man Michael huh…” Monk interrupted with a cheeky grin, holding out his hand to her.
“No, Liz is her best friend.”
Monk looked at him very confused. “Heh? How’s that work…”
Liz coughed again, louder this time.
“Look, Monk… I will give you a call sometime but I really need to talk to Liz right now ok….”
Monk shook his head sadly, “Man you really have changed…” Monk sighed before heading out the door of the Crash.
“The love of your life that you won’t even tell the truth to huh?” Liz stated crossing her arms, annoyed.
Michael sighed as he sat down and picked up the menu. “I think I’ll have…”
Liz snatched the menu away from him, really pissed off. “No more avoiding this Michael. Why the hell haven’t you told her yet?”
Michael sighed and looked at the table. “Liz… it’s hard…”
“Michael, it will be harder for her to…” Liz argued before being cut off by a loud…
“Hi there!”
Liz sighed as she looked up at the waiter. “Welcome to the crashdown, can I get you guys anything?”
“I’ll have fries please…” Liz stated, before giving his name tag a glance… “Kyle.”
Kyle smiled at her, “No problem…and for you?” he said looking at Michael, with a slight jealous look.
“Onion rings and Cherry Coke.” Michael said gruffly looking down once more.
“Coming right up!” Kyle said cheerfully as he moved away to put there order in. But he still glanced up and at Liz twice before getting there.
“So what’s this great excuse of yours Michael that means you can’t tell her? Its going to be harder for her to hear than you to tell!”
“Yeah but I’m the one who’s going to end up loosing her!” Michael said looking up at her, his face a mix of emotions. He looked…tortured. “I’m so damn scared I’m going to lose her… she means the world to me. That’s why I haven’t told her yet. Because I want to spend as much time with her before she dumps my ass!”
Michael had been tortured by the image of Maria leaving him ever since he found out that she was pregnant. He barely slept, and had convinced himself that if he didn’t think about it… that he would never need to explain. Sure he knew that wasn’t going to work, but he was so desperate to keep her, that he would try anything. In the past few months it had got even harder. He would constantly fret about it at night, and so tried his best to push all thoughts of her during the day out of his head. He knew it was making him appear cold and he knew that she wouldn’t put up with it much longer… but he loved her. And he didn’t want her to leave him.
Liz sighed and said, “But Michael that’s not your call. She’s carrying your child. You can’t just put this off forever.”
“I know that!” Michael replied, scratching his eyebrow. “But I just wanted to… to have as much time with her before she leaves me.”
“Michael you don’t know she’s going to do that… but the longer you put it off the more likely it is she will! Plus, can you honestly tell me you are enjoying the way things stand right now?” Liz said trying to convince him.
“No…” Michael sighed. “No I can’t. And I know Liz… I know I’m being a selfish git. But having her even slightly like this is better than not at all. Max…he got lucky that you understood. What if Maria doesn’t?”
“She won’t unless you tell her soon…and by soon…I mean…”
“Here we are!”
Liz tried to refrain from growling as Kyle put down their orders infront of them.
“Will there be anything else?”
“No, thanks” Liz replied, still looking at Michael.
Kyle nodded. “Enjoy your meals then!”
And with that Kyle headed out back as there was hardly anyone here.
“Michael, by soon I mean today.”
Michael looked up at her, “Liz…”
“Michael, you said it yourself that this isn’t how it should be. So make it. Tell her the truth. Today. Get it done Michael. Then, and at least then, you guys have a slight chance of getting through this.”
Michael looked down at the table and closed his eyes as he bit into one of his onion rings. When he had swallowed, he murmured, “I know you’re right Liz… and I will. I’ll tell her. I’m just so damn scared that the one good thing in my life will leave me.”
Liz sighs and murmured, “Michael… I’m not gonna deny that that’s a big possibility now you’ve procrastinated this long… but if you tell her now, you may have a chance.”
Michael looked up at her slowly. “You’re right….” He swallowed, looking more determined. “You’re right… I need to tell her… I need to tell her right now damn it… I’m not pulling a Max!”
Liz looked at him confused. “Huh?”
Michael ignored her as he stood up and grabbed her wheelchair handles. “I’m telling her right now.”
And with that Michael pushed Liz out of the door and down the street.
“Michael!!” Liz said loudly as he pushed her as fast as he could.
“It’s a short cut…” he puffed as he turned the corner down into a side alley.
“Michael you didn’t pay!”
Michael screeched the wheelchair to a halt.
“DAMN!” Michael cursed. “I’ll be back!” He promised before taking off the way he came.
Liz rolled her eyes as she watched Michael run down the alley and out of sight.
“I can’t do it Tess…” the girl murmured.
“Yes you can damnit! Do it now whilst we have the chance! Don’t delay!” Tess told her angrily from their hiding place.
“I can’t do it!!!” she cried out again.
Tess angrily snatched the gun off her comrade, not about to waste a good opportunity. The two pieces were set and so close…she may not get this moment again.
And with that Tess fired.
The bullet flew through the air... and hit its target stomach.
Liz’s wheelchair tipped backwards as the bullet hit her. Her scream was even louder than the large smash when her chair fell to the floor, the wheels braking off again. Liz’s world dimmed as blood seeped through her shirt. She could feel the life draining out of her.
“Max….” she murmured as she closed her eyes.
“You need to look at me.”
Liz heard the words, but they seemed so far away….
“Look at me…”
Liz’s eyes drifted open, but her vision was blurred, so she couldn’t make out the male before her.
And then she felt a warm hand touch her stomach. Liz gasped as she felt her body changing…healing.
Seconds later the guy before her moved his hand away. Her vision was still swimming… but it slowly came into focus as the guy stood up and ran for it…
But Liz had managed to see his facial features.
A minute later Michael ran back down the alley…and immediately saw the wheelchair on the ground.
“LIZ!”
He ran as fast as he could down the alley…until he saw Liz...
…stand up.
His eyes widened as he saw Liz turn towards him, her whole body shaking.
Michael quickly started running again.
“Liz! What happened?” He said as he put an arm round her to steady herself.
Liz looked at Michael slowly, her eyes filling with tears.
“Liz…Liz tell me….” Michael said again, urgently.
“He healed me… and took off…”
“Who…who Liz?!” Michael said swallowing hard.
“Max.”