Roswell Fanatics

Title: All the Winters That Have Been
Author: Lys
Category: Semi AU, FF. M/OC, Mi/M, I/A, M/L, T/K, Mi/I, strong friendship between Mi /L
Summery: After Liz’s stunts during EOTW her life, and the lives of those around her are changed forever.
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything that looks familiar. I have thrown in some quotes from the show. They may be a little different, I'm adding them through memory so they might be a little off. I apologize in advance for that, but I'm just too lazy to them up through transcripts.
Author’s Note: I just wanted to tell you that I have never written anything other than CC so this is just a little new, bare with me. Also, I guarantee happy dreamer insurance, it just starts off another way. Also, this may look familiar to some of you. I re-edited the parts and am going to post it again.






Chapter 1

“Hey Max, thanks for coming over and helping me,” Giavonna Martin purred as she allowed Max inside her house. Allowing his eyes to linger her very low cut, very tight shirt, Max swallowed hard. Had he made a mistake by coming over?

“Uh, it’s not a problem,” he replied softly. As she started to walk further into the house, Max followed behind. His eyes were trained on her back side, watching as her hips swayed from one side to the other. He’d never been around someone so sexually charged. He’d been in love with Liz all his life, but never once had she acted like Giavonna. As for Tess, she had always been too blatant about it.

Tossing a glance over her shoulder she smirked seeing where her companion’s eyes lingered. “Did you want something to drink?”

Max’s ears reddened when ne noticed that Giavonna had caught him ogling her, clearing his throat uncomfortably he answered. “Uh, coke’s fine.”

“Okay,” she replied. She walked him into the living room and invited him to make himself comfortable as she left to get the drinks. “All right I will be right back.”

Once again, Max eyes were drawn to her. Shaking his head, he didn’t know what was wrong with himself, it was like he couldn’t control his actions or thoughts around her. She was so beautiful and exotic, Her glossy black hair curled around her face. Her ice blue eyes and ruby red lips stood out to him. Her clothes were tight and didn’t hide any curves. She was by far one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.

“Here you go.”

“Uh thanks.”

Max forced himself to get straight to business. He opened up his math book and began explaining the equations before Gia even had a chance to ask him anything more. He made sure to keep his eyes away from her. When he heard her giggle the sound called for him to move his eyes to hers.

“What’s so funny.”

Gia’s smile warmed as she looked at Max. He was so handsome, and so much different from all the other guys she’d met at school. It had been endearing to watch him though as he stumbled over himself while reading. “Max, I think we both know that I have no problems with my school work.”

“What?” Max’s eyes went to Gia immediately, swallowing with difficulty once again he prodded further. “Then why did you ask me over?

“To get to know you better silly,” she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “See, ever since I arrived in Roswell all I have heard about was the mysterious Max Evans and I made it my personal goal to see what was so mysterious about you. I find you incredibly attractive, and I know you find me very beautiful. Most guys do.” She started kissing on his neck, nipping and tonguing it.

Closing his eyes at the sensations she was envoking, he tried to come to his senses. This was wrong. He never would have gone over there had she not needed help. Besides that, things were still too fresh for him. Liz and Kyle had been at the front of his mind. He’d been heart broken by her betrayal. Never had he thought she would do something so special with someone that she wasn’t in love with. He gently pushed Gia away, hold ing her in his arms he looked into her eyes. “We need to stop.”

“Do you really want to?” She asked as she brought a hand to the obvious bulge in his pants. She squeezed it and smiled when she heard him hiss. “I guarantee you will enjoy this Max.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Looking down at his school books, nothing seemed to register. Ever since Gia’s visit the night before, he had walked around in a daze. Discovering she was pregnant was an unexpected event. All his life he’d wanted a family, a family with Liz. After finding her in bed with Kyle, his dreams had deflated, he didn’t think that he would ever get over it. The Gia came along. “Liz, there’s something I need to tell you,” Max Evans said as he pulled Liz Parker aside at school.

Liz was quiet, not exactly sure how she should act. He had completely ignored her since the end of October. Since their last alien trouble, Max had gone as far out of his way as possible to avoid her. She’d seen him with the new girl Gia a few times, both seemed to be very intimate by the way they touched each other. It had been a concern of everyone in the group. When Michael and Isabel finally cornered him about it, he broke. It was then that Liz learned exactly why Max seemed so intimate with the girl. “What’s wrong?” Liz asked. “Are Michael and Isabel all right?” Since the end of October things within the group had been strained. Not only did Max ignore her, but it seemed as though Isabel Evans and Michael Guerin had shunned not only her, but Maria Deluca and Alex Whitman as well. Whenever the aliens saw their human friends in the hall, all that had been exchanged were soft looks...nothing more. Liz wasn’t quite sure what had happened between the couples. She pressed the issues with her best friends, but they never really opened up.

“They are fine. I just had to talk to you.”

Knowing that there was no immediate danger, she pulled away from him. “Oh, so it’s okay for you to pull me aside and talk when it’s convenient for you, but when I want to you don’t even bother listening to me? Is that how it works between us now?” Her past aggressions coming to light. She couldn’t help it though. She was hurt. He would always ignore her, sometimes just to spite her. Learning that he had given his first time to someone else hurt like hell. Her breath seized in her chest and her heart would hurt whenever she thought about it. No, she held a few grudges against him. She knew it was ridiculous to do so seeing as how she set everything in motion, but she wouldn’t allow herself to rationalize it. Part of her always wished that he would have seen through the facade and come after her, but he didn’t, and she supposed he never would.

Closing his eyes in pain, this was a hard enough subject, he didn’t need Liz to make it anymore difficult. “Please Liz, I don’t want to fight with you. I just, I have something important to tell you.”

Liz crossed her arms over her chest waiting for him to explain. “Fine.”

Hedging forth uncomfortably, he mentioned Gia in a casual manner. “You know that new girl?”

Again, a pain tore through her soul at the thought of Max’s lover. “Giavonna, yeah I know...you’re together now.”

His eyes widened. He hadn’t been expecting Liz to act so nonchalant about it. “No, it’s...it’s more than that. Liz, we spent the night together,” he confessed softly, keeping the how many times to himself. The look in her eyes made his heart break knowing he was the on to put it there.

Liz felt the air leave her body in that instant. She had heard about from Isabel through a quick conversation, but just hearing Max admit it...Max slept with her, with the new girl. He had been in love with her since he was ten, but it took him six years to even kiss her. He knew Giavonna what, two and a half months and he already slept with her? She looked into his eyes and she wanted nothing more than to insult him, but the look of defeat on his face stopped her. She had nothing to say. What could she say? “Oh...”

“Liz, Gia’s pregnant.”

“What?” If Liz thought her heart was breaking before from his previous statement, she was certainly sure of it now. It felt as if someone was stabbing her heart, there was a sharp pain and she wanted to cry out because of it. What had she done to deserve this? All she ever wanted to be was happy. Happy with a life that included Max. He had come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time. She couldn’t imagine not seeing him everyday.

“Since Christmas break is here, we’ll be getting married and then we’ll be moving to Hondo to live with her grandparents.” Having to either laugh or cry, she chose the former, she’d shed enough tears over Max to last a life time. Not only was she being stabbed, but he might as well have been twisting the knife.

“That’s it? You’re just going leave? What about Michael and Isabel?” What about me? Her mind cried out silently. Just as soon as that thought entered her mind another one did as well. “What if that child is part alien? What are you going to do then?”

He’d already thought of the possible complication, but his mind still blanked on how to deal with it. “I’ll deal with that if the time comes.”

“Max, you can’t just leave. You have a responsibility to Isabel, Michael and Tess.”

“You think I want to leave? Huh? Yes, I have a responsibility to them, but they are old enough to take care of themselves. Now I have a responsibility to the child living inside Gia. I don’t have a choice.”

“You did, and then you got Gia pregnant! God, I trusted you. I gave you everything. I jumped off brides for you, I broke laws for you, I risked getting shot for you. You go off, god with...with Giavonni! God, I saved myself for you!”

“Saved yourself? You slept with Kyle!”

“I’m getting out of here.” Without so much as a backwards glance Liz made her way into the hall, going in the opposite direction of where her class was. There was no way she would be going to school now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Bad night?” Michael Guerin asked as he and Max walked out of their first period.

“Bad week.”

Michael and Isabel had been the first people that Max turned to when he found out Giavonna was pregnant. As expected they were angry, especially Michael, but after they calmed down they realized they were just going to have to work through it. Max hadn’t cried since, he hadn’t worried about telling his parents. As hard as that had been, it killed him to tell Liz.

“I talked to Liz this morning.”

“Oh, about anything in particular?” Michael looked around them.

“Everything. We still aren’t finished, but she ran out of the room before I could even say another word. You have no idea how much of a prick I felt like as I told her that another girl was carrying my baby,” Max confessed. Despite having been heart broken by her, he still felt as though he owed her something, like he had cheated on her and what they once stood for.

Michael shook his head, having to point out the obvious. He was still mad that Max had acted so carelessly, but they were stuck with the consequences. “But wasn’t she the first person to sleep with someone else...what was that whole thing with Valenti a few months ago?”

“That’s the thing Michael, I don’t believe anything happened between them.” He kept replaying Liz’s outburst in his head.

“But you saw them together.”

Max only nodded. “I know, but Liz said some stuff and they made me think.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Maria was sitting in her third period before the bell rang. She looked around the room and saw Isabel and Tess walk in. It had been ages since the two of them had talked to her. Maria still had no idea what was going between them. One day they just stopped talking to her, Liz and Alex. It had hurt quite a lot. They were almost like a family and for the aliens to just give that up as quickly as they did. It was like they turned off their emotions from them. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone vibrating. She answered it and was surprised when she saw her house number on it.

“Hello?...Chica, what’s wrong?...I can’t understand you...Liz, sweetie...Liz...LIZ!...Sweetie, you need to take a couple breaths and explain to me what’s going on.” As she listened to Liz she looked up and saw Isabel and Tess looking away. Maria narrowed her eyes. Their behavior only showed that Tess and Isabel were aware of what was wrong. Her attention was brought back to her friend on the phone when she heard what had happened. “He what?!” Max slept with someone and get her pregnant? “I’ll be right there.” Maria threw all of her things together and rushed out of the room ignoring her teacher when he called after her.

frenchkiss70- Yes, no matter what I wrote I seem to remember (for a while there) that you were on 'hate Max' kick, I assume partly from me. I've tweaked the parts and explained myself further then what I did the previous time (wow, talk about writers evolving, I was sort embarrassed that I'd posted this in the first place). It explains his actions better, you might still hate him for saying the things he does, but at least there's a chance you might understand him better.

begonia9508- Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it the first round. I wonder if I'll still be able to inspire your less then nice reply, mostly on Max and such. After re-editing it, I'm hoping it is a little smoother.

ccrswll- When I originally started this story, I had somehwat of an outline. The more that I wrote, the further that it got away from me. I tried to write some more chapters yesterday and funny thing, I was assailed with the same feeling I was when I stopped writing (due to my muse missing/on an extended vacation). But never worry, I do plan on completing this one.

Emz80m- I'm glad that you're enjoying this so far. I'm sure I'll have you hating Max before too long.


Thanks guys for the encouraging FB! I don't want to let you down by not completing it this time around so I'm going to try and get my brain to work a little harder after I post this next part.




Chapter 2

That night Maria offered to cover Liz’s shift. After spending most of the morning and part of the afternoon she knew that Liz was in no way ready to deal with anything else other than Max and the fact that he was moving away with the girl that would become his wife in just a few short days. The shock of it all was beginning to set in for herself. She couldn’t picture everyday life with the aliens, and Max not be there.

“Welcome to the Crashdown, I’‘ll be your waitress this evening. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Hi Maria,” Giavonna greeted with a small smile. Maria looked up from her order pad and looked the girl over. She had long, shiny black hair and beautiful blue eyes. Maria had seen her in the halls a couple times at school, but since they didn’t have any classes together Maria had never seen her close up.

She narrowed her eyes, what would she be doing here? “Hi.”

“I don’t know if you know who I am, um I’m Gia...”

“I know.”

Wow, this blonde sure was making theis difficult. “Max told me that he talked to Liz...about what’s going on. I was wondering if I could talk to her?”

What could Gia possibly have to say to Liz? “You know, I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Will you do something for me then? Will you tell her that I’m really sorry for the way things worked out. I care about Max, maybe not the same way she does...but it’s still there. I’ll take care of him.” Maria could do nothing but nod her head. What was she supposed to say? Here was the girl who took the love of her best friend’s life. Maria wanted to be a good friend and hate this girl, but she was just too nice about it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hi Mrs. Parker,” Michael greeted as he walked in the back room. The red head looked like she was getting ready to leave.

“Oh, hello Michael.”

“I thought Liz was working tonight?”

Never pausing, Nancy nodded. “She was, but she was feeling sick so Maria offered to take the shift.”

“So, she’s upstairs?”

“Yeah, just go up to her room. Don’t stay long though. She looks exhausted.”

Michael walked upstairs and walked through the Parker’s apartment. He heard the sound of voices. When he got to Liz’s room the door was open far enough for him to notice Max in the room. He froze and strained to hear what was going on.

“You know, I always thought that when we graduated I would give you my ring. Looks like I don’t get to do that...at least not here, so this is something from me to you.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz was laying in bed staring up at her ceiling. She hadn’t been able to do anything since Max pulled her aside. His girlfriend was pregnant. A girl that he hadn’t even known with three months was pregnant with his baby! Liz had often imagined what it would be like for her to be pregnant with his child, years in the future of course. Ever since saving her life, whenever Liz imagined her future Max was always there. They would both have great paying jobs and a two story house with children to fill it. Another girl was going to be living her dream with her only love. How unfair was life? In the future that she had changed she and Max would have been married. By this date in that time line she and Max would be sleeping together on a regular basis with only a year and a half before they ran off to Vegas and eloped.

She was shaken out of her thoughts when she heard her window from the balcony being opened. She opened her eyes and sat up and saw Max coming through. She sighed. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with. She didn’t need him to make her cry, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Max, what are you doing here?” She asked in a defeated voice.

“We never finished our talk earlier.” He noticed that she was looking away from him and he made his way inside further. He looked up on her dresser and noticed the strip of pictures of them that they had taken the previous spring, when everything was simple...or simpler. Just seeing the pictures out caused intrigue to rise in him. If she had moved on, why keep pictures of them out?

“I know.”

“You know, when I graduated I was going to give you my ring,” he looks down with a wistful smile before looking back at her. Their eyes met and he let out a deep breath. “Looks like I won’t get to do that...here, so here is something from me for you.”

Liz let out her breath when she saw the pendant with the swirls carved in it that they had found at Atherton’s dome only a year earlier. She held it in her hand and fingered it. “I can’t believe that after everything we’ve gone through this is all I have.” It didn’t seem like it was enough. They were officially ending, there would be no other chance for them and all she got was apendant?

“Liz, you never slept with Kyle did you?” She thought about lying, but would be the point? Max had still had sex with another girl, a girl who had gotten pregnant. Even if he knew the truth there was nothing he could do. She slowly and tentatively shook her head. His eyes closed in anguish. “I wish this all could have been different, I wish that so much,” he confessed. He’d give up all his time with Gia if he could only hold Liz in his arms once again.

“So, this is it?” Liz asked. “This is really goodbye?”

“I leave the day after tomorrow.” He walked over to her and kneeled in front of her. “I’ve made some mistakes, but there is one thing I was right about. To get you in my life, to be around you, to love you.”

She smiled sadly, not able to hold back any comments. “But it doesn’t matter does it? You shared yourself with someone else and got her pregnant. We were supposed to get married damn it! If anyone was supposed to be carrying your children it was supposed to be me! Why? Why did you do it?” She asked as she started pounding her fists against his chest. “You couldn’t even kiss me for months, yet you knew me your entire life. You knew her for about a month and got her pregnant! How could you do that?!”

He forcefully grabbed her fists. Every word she was saying was slowly killing him, he had to say something to her. “Liz, I made a mistake, something I will have to live with for the rest of my life. How do you think I feel? I am being forced to marry someone I don’t love.”

“No, but you will learn to love her. There is no way you can be married to someone and not love them in some way or another.” There it was, her true fear. Since speaking with Max earlier, it had sprung up and teased her mercifully.

He didn’t bother to reply to her confessed fear, he wasn’t sure what the future would hold for him and Gia and he didn’t want to make any promises that he would regret. “Please don’t be mad at me. I know I deserve it, but I don’t want my last memories of us to be fighting.”

“I don’t want to lose you,” she confessed in a small voice.

“Don’t you know that will never happen?” He asked as he tilted her head so her eyes would meet his. “Never,” he denied desperately. “You have a piece of me that no one else does.”

“I have one last request,” Liz said as she laid down on her bed.

“Anything,” his answer was quick and truthful.

Liz bit her lip, afraid to ask him. “Would you...uh stay with me until I fall asleep?”

He smiled tenderly at Liz. “Of course,” he conceded, and he did just that. He laid down right next to her and gathered Liz in his arms. When he felt her breath even out, he pulled away from her and sat in silence, watching her for a few minutes, filing everything about her in his memory. Slowly standing up as not to deserve her, he pulled the blankets from the edge of her bed over her and kissed her temple before placing a letter on the pillow next to her.

“I love you Liz Parker,” he vowed as he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Always,” he vowed.

“Mmm, I love you too,” she replied. Max smiled at the automatic response, knowing she was fully asleep. He watched her a moment longer before leaving her room, leaving the only girl that he had ever loved.

I am sooooo sorry you guys! I kind of even forgot that I reposted this story! So, I went back and changed the story around, a bit and added some dialogue. It's going to be a little bit different then the original version. I am going to say that, I didn't change Max very much so...if you hated him first time around you probably will this time too. Hopefully I'll be able to redeem him by the end of the story. Okay, enough babbling.

Here is 3-5. Hope you enjoy them!


Chapter 3
(after the wedding)

Max walked into the guest house that the and Gia now called a home. It wasn’t a very large house, but there was enough room for them and the baby. There was a kitchen, a living room, heating, it was set with everything they needed. He knew that he was very lucky, they could have been stuck in a worse situation. Besides that, he and Gia were living some what happily.

No matter how comfortable it was though, Max was finding it tough to adjust. Ever since he was old enough, he always imagined a life with Liz. He had thought about their wedding, their honeymoon...everything. He’d gone through so many changes in the last few months, he was movingon, and he was experiencing everything he wanted to, only Liz was not part of it. Gia was a wonderful person. They had passion, which was already shared more then a few times, they got along great and he found himself genuinely enjoying their time together, but he still couldn’t deny the fact that he felt like he was cheating on Liz for living his life.

“Why aren’t you out there with everyone else?” Terrie Martin asked as she walked inside the house. She had noticed that after the cake had been cut, that her new grandson in law had wandered off.

“I don’t feel much in the mood for celebration Nana,” he answered truthfully. Terrie was Gia’s grand mother and one of the nicest people that he had ever met. She insisted everyone call her ‘Nana’ and Max didn’t mind at all.

Terrie looked down at the boy in front of her. He was much to old for his years. Her heart broke for him. It was no secret in the family as to why the two were getting married. Gia was happy, she had nothing to be upset about, but Terrie suspected that there was something that Max wasn’t saying to anyone. The old lady sat down next to him and grabbed his hand in hers.

“You know, when I was young I was in a similar situation. I had been in love with this guy named Bradley. He was a little older than me and he was from the ‘wrong side of the tracks’, was the term my parents used. That didn’t stop me from falling in love with him. We met one night at a restaurant and then we spent most of our free time after that together. It was during WWII and Bradley enlisted. He had been stationed over in France. During that time we had lost a way to communicate and I waited anxiously for him to return home. When he did it was a bittersweet moment for me. He had come home with a wife. He had gotten her pregnant and married her. I was heart broken for a while, but the pain subsides. Eventually I met my future husband." She looked at him softly.

"That's just like what I've done," he replied.

"The point is Max, you never forget the ones you love. What’s her name?”

“Liz Parker. I have known her since I was nine. I saw her my very first day of school in Roswell and I was smitten. Last year I saved her life and we started dating after that." Max looked to Nana. "I really wish I could be as happy as Gia," he confessed. "Liz and I hadn't been together since last spring, but I still loved her. We were going through some heard tomes when I....turned to Gia. I feel torn. On one hand, part of me feels as though I'm betraying Liz by moving on, on the other, Gia is now my wife and I know that I have a right to be with her and be happy." Max paused. "Did you ever wonder about the what ifs?"

Nana nodded. "Of course I did. I was very happy with my husband up until his death, but I won't deny the fact that I sometimes questioned what would have happened had Bradley and I ever gotten together. We all know this isn't the most ideal way for a young couple to marry, and I know that you shared a love in the past. All I ask is that you give Gia a chance. She was very happy up there today Max, and I am sure that if you let it, you could grow to love her."

“I’m afraid, because part of myself wants to,” he said confessed. “When I’m by myself though, I start to feel guilty for being so happy. She isn’t Liz.”

“And no one ever could be dear," Nana smiled at him and laid her hand against his face. "So handsome. Have I mentioned how much I will enjoy having you around?" She got up to leave him then. "Come back soon sweetie."

“Max! Guess what?” Gia exclaimed as she ran into the house and jumped on the bed right in front of him. He smiled at her excitement, glad that she was enjoying the day.

“What?”

“Guess where we’re going on our honeymoon?” Her face lit up in delight, further increasing her already gorgeous features.

“Where?”

“Jamaica! Can you believe it?!” She threw her arms around him and laughed a whimsical sound.

She pulled away and looked at him to judge his face. “No,” Max smiled weakly and tried to be as happy as her, but he couldn’t. Thoughts of Liz ran through his head. Jamaica had been a place that he had always wanted to take Liz to see.

NO! No, Nana was right. He could move on. Liz was his past, a great part of it, but still....his past.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, how was the wedding?” Maria asked when she saw Isabel walk in the Crashdown the next day. It was such a bad day. Liz had been an absolute wreck. She kept insisting that she could work, but already, she had messed up four orders. Maria had to go back and do whatever Liz had just finished doing.

“It was all right,”Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “Max looked very handsome standing up there. Gia’s dress was so beautiful and it was made perfectly to hide her slightly round stomach. She was absolutely gorgeous,” Isabel replied telling Maria first about the lighter side of things. She looked around for Liz before saying what had been on her mind since she and her parents had returned home. “I think that if this wasn’t such a weird situation Max would actually have been happy to have her as a bride.”

Right after she finished her comment she heard a loud crash come from behind her. She turned around and saw Liz with tears in her eyes. Isabel and Maria rushed to Liz’s side and started helping her pick up the broken dishes. “Liz, why don’t you go upstairs and rest,” Maria suggested as she and Isabel kneeled to the ground and help the petite brunette pick up the spilled tray.

“Liz, I’m sorry. I had no idea you were there,” Isabel apologized truthfully. In the beginning she was afraid that Liz would take her brother away from her, she’d been as rude as possible to her and in the end, Liz had turned out to be one of the truest friends.

“Obviously,” Maria muttered, low enough so Liz wouldn’t hear.

“I think I’m just gonna go upstairs,” Liz announced softly. She couldn’t handle this. It was too soon, hearing about Max and Gia and their wedding...she needed to get away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz walked the cold streets. Isabel’s words were ringing through her head. ‘I think that if it wasn’t such a weird situation that Max would actually have been happy to have her as a bride’. Would Max and Gia be having a honeymoon? If so, what would they be doing?

“Liz?” A voice asked. “Liz Parker?” Liz turned around and smiled when she saw Sean Deluca standing in front of her. She remembered Maria saying something about Sean being released from juvie.

“Hey Sean,” she greeted in the nicest tone she could muster.

“Wow, you’ve grown up a lot,” he mentioned as he looked her up and down. She was very beautiful, not the same mousy girl he had once known.

“Yeah,” she replied awkwardly, not really sure what she should say after his obvious once over.

“So, what’s been going on since I left?”

Liz had to keep her mouth closed before a bitter laugh erupted from her. What was going on? Everything that had to do with her dreams slowly diminishing. “Uh, not much that would effect you,” she replied after a minute. “Listen Sean, it’s nice seeing you again, but I’m not the mood to play catch up right now.”

“Sure, no problem Parker. I’ll see you around.”

‘Hopefully not much,’ her mind answered as she smiled thinly at him. Liz walked towards the park, not sure what she wanted to do, she just needed to get away from her house, from the Crashdown. Images haunted her imagination, it seemed as every place she looked a memory would take over, a memory of Max. She didn’t want to think about him anymore. It was just too heartbreaking.

So lost in her thoughts, she failed to miss the short blonde sitting at a nearby bench. “Hey Liz.”

Liz looked up from her feet and to the direction of the voice. “Tess,” she acknowledged. “What are you doing?”

“Just getting away,” Tess answered, not looking at her companion. “You?”

“Same here.” Liz looked to the various bags surrounding Tess. “Are you going somewhere?”

Tess smiled guiltily. “I was...am...I don’t know. I called a cab to pick me up at seven and on the way to bus station...I just couldn’t do it. I had him drop me off here. Ever since then I’ve been sitting here playing pros and cons trying to decide what I should do.”

Thinking back to her mysterious visitor and the things that he’d told her, more specifically when he mentioned Tess left. Although, she had assumed that Max and Tess would end up together. She hadn’t anticipated Max falling for someone else. “Why would you leave?” Liz asked. As far as she knew, things were going well for Tess and she was starting to fit in.

“Why should I stay?” Tess countered in an equally defeated voice. “Max is gone and let’s face it. The only reason why any of you were nice to me was for his sake.”

Liz stayed quiet, not bothering to argue with her point. “You have more going for you here then you’d have out there. You and Isabel are becoming close...and I’ve seen the way that the sheriff and Kyle dote over you.”

“Are you saying you want me to stay?”

Liz just looked over at the blonde, hoping that her raised eyebrows would give Tess the answers. A smile broke out on Tess' face. “All I’m saying is, give it a chance. People may surprise you.”


Again, both quieted down, each staring into the distance before them. “What a pair we are,” Tess announced. “Here we are, both pining away for the man of our dreams and he’s married to another, equally as beautiful to us woman.”













Chapter 4
(3 and ½ months later)

“Guys, I’m really worried about Liz,” Alex Whitman brought up as he, Tess, Isabel, Kyle, Michael and Maria sat at their regular booth inside the Crashdown café. “She is barely eating. I have overheard Nancy and Jeff begging her on more than one occasion to eat.”

The night that she and Liz met on the bench had still be something that they kept to themselves. Tess wasn’t sure why she never shared with Kyle, all she knew was though, that night was the beginning of a special kinship. They never really talked much whenever they were surrounded by the others, but alone, both girls shared equally intimate moments. “The guy that she was in love with just married someone else. If that happened to me I would be a picky eater too,” Tess retorted. One thing that she had discovered about herself while her many talks with Liz, was that she was never in love with Max. She was in love with the idea of Max. “You guys just need to give her a break.”

“Tess is right,” Michael conceded. “We all know the connection that Max and Liz used to share. It’s something that none of us have been able to reach, so none of us will never understand how she feels. Besides, it hasn’t even been four months.”

Michael knew something was up with Liz, he just didn’t want to share it with anyone else in the group. He had always been an observant person, he, Isabel and Max had. It was a trait they developed when they grew up in constant fear of being discovered. Even so, he and Max had always been the ones to notice more. He had watched Liz the last few weeks and didn’t like what he saw.

The once happy doe eyed girl was sinking fast. Her normal shiny, healthy, brown hair seemed stringy and she never bothered with it anymore. Her tan skin was now pasty and dry. Liz had always been one to stay in shape, but that was taken to a new level. The more days that passed the more her clothes only got baggier. It wasn’t completely noticeable for the normal eye, but Michael had lived his life by watching closely. He knew something was terribly wrong.

It didn’t seem like something Liz would do. She was normally the strong one in the group. Liz was always the one to keep things together, she was the voice of reason. How could that ‘voice’ be deteriorating the way that she was? How could she let herself get so bad? Michael had read her journal that one time the previous year and he knew how much she cared for Max. It was something that he had be unable to understand. Just the thought of revolving around someone so completely scared him. He cared about Maria, but to feel like Liz did for Max?

As it seemed, Michael was the only person to notice those qualities about Liz. Michael knew that Isabel had so much on her plate already. She loved Max so much and ever since they had come out of the pods the longest they had ever been apart was when Max had been captured by the FBI. Alex was right by her side comforting her and keeping her sane. However, it boggled Michael’s mind how the other others hadn’t noticed. Tess was excused because when was she ever a really good friend of Liz’s? Kyle and Maria though...they were another story. Maria was her best friend and Kyle was an exboyfriend. They should have noticed something earlier. It angered Michael to see their nonchalant attitude about it.

Michael hadn’t seen Liz in a few hours. He excused himself and went out of the front doors before he made his way through the alley, up the ladder to Liz’s room. He stood at her window on the balcony and watched as she changed her changed into her night clothes. He would have felt bad or perverted any other time, but he had to check and make sure she was all right.

Liz stood in front of her mirror shirtless and stared at her small stomach. She had lost so much weight, more than she ever wanted to or needed to. She ran her hands down the expanse of her skin and could feel the lightest brush of her ribs. Her hands went lower to the front of her jeans and she pulled the front out to see exactly what she looked like in clothes that used to fit perfectly on her. She briefly wondered what Max would think if he saw her. Oh, that’s right, he won’t see her. He, his wife and unborn child didn’t live in Roswell.

“Just imagine how beautiful you would look if you were anything other than bones,” Michael said making his presence known. Liz jumped and threw her shirt back on.

“What the hell were you doing on my balcony, watching me?”

“I had to make sure you were all right.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked innocently, she tossed him a quick glance a she started brushing her hair.

“Ever since Max left you have been like the walking dead. You barely hang out with us anymore. Look at yourself Liz, you look like death warmed over.”

“What I do and look like is none of your business. Get out of my room and leave me the hell alone.”

“Liz”-

“GET OUT!” She screamed and threw a book in his general direction.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hello?” Isabel greeted carelessly into the phone as she answered it.

“Hey Iz,” Max addressed somewhat uneasily. “I miss you guys.”

Isabel smiled into the phone. “We miss you too.” She hadn’t anticipated on hearing from her brother so soon. “Not that I’m unhappy to hear from you,” she started, “I can’t help but wonder exactly why you would be calling.”

“I needed someone to talk to,” he confessed.

“What’s up?”

“I’m a dog. What is wrong with me? I mean all my life I’ve been in love with Liz...at least I swore I was.”

“Max, what is this about?” Isabel asked, genuinely concerned.

“I slept with Gia and all she had to do was...”

Isabel cut him off quickly, she was pretty sure where he was leading and she didn’t want any disturbing visuals to enter her brain. “Yeah, I don’t need any visuals.”

“Tess did the same thing and I never...went to her. Why did I go to Gia? And ever since then I’ve been attracted to her. Not only did I tarnish my relationship with Liz by sleeping with Gia...repeatedly, but even now I talk about loving one woman while feeling urges towards another. What is wrong with me?”

Isabel shook her head. “What do you want me to say Max? You messed up bad. To be truthful, yeah, you are a dog. You swore you loved Liz and you slept with someone else.”

Max snorted on his end. So much for Isabel making him feel better. “Thanks for giving it to me straight.”

Isabel sighed. "I'm sorry Max. I just see the way this is effecting Liz."

"What should I do?"

"Be happy," she advised.

His previous conversation with Isabel ran through his mind while Max stared at his wife as she got ready for bed. He laid in bed while she brushed her hair at the vanity table in the corner of their room. She was so beautiful. Since it was so warm in the house she was wearing a small night dress and a light pink silky robe that was hanging off her shoulders. He didn’t often watch her get ready for bed. He was afraid that if he did he would fall.

The past few months were more then awkward for him. He was now a married man, he was married to an incredibly beautiful woman. If he was being unfaithful, it was towards Gia for not feeling anything for her.

“What?” Gia asked as she met his eyes in the mirror. She had seen him watching her and it made her stomach flip flop. She knew that if she had never gotten pregnant that there was a good possibility that they wouldn’t even be together. She was thankful for the opportunity that god had given her. In the short time they had been together Gia had gotten to know a side of Max Evans that not that many people knew.

Their situation wasn’t ideal, but it could be worse. Both she and Max were doing home school. Her grand parents hadn’t wanted her to be pregnant and at school, knowing the ridicule she would endure. Gia understood and knew they were right, but she had been surprised when Max offered to do home schooling with her. In that time she had Max had gotten to know each other and the more time they spent together Gia could feel herself falling in love with him.

Love was a complicated matter in their relationship. Gia knew that she loved him. At first it was just attraction. That attraction had grown into friendship, which then turned to trust and adoration, finally developing into love. At least that was what it was for her. She had no idea what her husband felt.

All her life Gia had been strong willed and went after what she wanted. Max had been her first thing to conquer when she moved to Roswell, not caring what happened in the process. It wasn’t until after she and Max had been together when she learned about the things in his life. He knew there was a girl that he had been head over heels for. After finding out that she was pregnant Gia felt horrible. Max would be tied to her for the rest of his life, the girl he was interested in was ruined, or so she heard. She had never met her though.

“Nothing,” Max replied. He looked down at the book on his lap and tried to concentrate on it. It seemed that he did that often whenever he was around her. Gia was such a distraction to his everyday life. He had no problem in telling her about Liz and how he felt about her. From the moment they finished making love those first few days, he opened up right away full of guilt.

Since their marriage though, his feelings had changed. The more time he spent with her the feelings he felt for her evolved into something more. How could it not? She was the only other person in this situation. She was a great listener and had been there for him when he had to get things off his chest. His feelings for Liz hadn’t diminished, he just started feeling things for this other girl. This terrific, understanding, wonderful person. A person carrying his child.

He couldn’t believe that he was a married man and that his wife was pregnant. At night he and Gia would lay in bed with their hands on her slightly rounded stomach hoping to feel the slightest movements from their son or daughter. It was the most magical moment and Max supposed that he and Gia had bonded over it.

He felt the bed shift from the other side and he put the book down before looking at Gia. They smiled at each other and he put the book away before turning towards her. His hand found it’s way to her stomach and he scooted over, pulling the comforter from her belly. He leaned down and kissed her belly.

“Hi baby, it’s daddy here. I just wanted to let you know that mommy and daddy love you very much. This situation is awkward, but we are going to give you more love than a lot of kids can even dream about. Be good to mommy.” He kissed her stomach again and looked at Gia and smiled at her. He kissed her stomach again. A second later his head dipped down and his kissed her again accept this time it was a little higher. He kept repeating the movement and every time he kissed her it would be a little higher.

His head was swimming and before he knew it he was kissing his way up her neck, slightly moving over her for better access to her body. He moved his mouth to her ear and nibbled on her earlobe before blowing in it gently. He felt her shudder and heard her moan and it only drove him further.

“Max, what are you doing?”

“Well, if you have to ask I must not be doing a very good job.”

“I just meant...are you sure?”

“I know what I’m doing,” he clarified. “ Is it okay with you?” His voice had gotten huskier and waited for her reply. She nodded her head and pulled him down to her lips.

An hour later Max laid in bed with his arms around Gia. The lights were turned out and he could see that she was asleep. It wasn’t odd for them to cuddle in bed, but this time they were both naked. Their sex had been great, much better than their previous times together, he assumed it was pent up frustration. His arm unconsciously tightened around her and he stroked her stomach. Just as sleep was about to claim him Liz’s words from their last conversation were brought to mind. ‘You will learn to love her’. Was that true? Was he actually falling in love with Gia?



























Chapter 5
(A month later)

“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen,” Max confessed as he watched the monitor in front of him and his wife. It was the first time he had ever seen his child and it was a magnificent sight. He’d promised Isabel before she left that he woiuld refrain from using his powers as much as possible.

“I know,” Gia agreed.

“Would you like to know the sex of the baby?” The doctor asked.

Max and Gia looked at each other. When they talked about it Gia said she wanted it to be a surprise. Max, on the other hand wanted to know more than ever, at night he would be so tempted to hold his hand over the stomach and start a connection with his child, but he didn’t want to know before she did. His eyes pleaded with hers. Gia closed her eyes and looked over at the doctor before nodding her head.

The doctor smiled, “it’s a girl.”

Max jumped out of his seat next to his wife and whooped. He looked down at Gia with tears in his eyes. They were having a little girl. Max leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I love you,” he confessed softly.

In the past month things between himself and Gia had escalated. After that night together things were a little awkward and Max felt guilty, but he realized that there wasn’t anything he could do change the situation. He still loved Liz, but Gia was his wife, he owed it to her to try to make things work. He needed to do that for himself, for Gia and for their child.

He had wanted to confess his love to Gia for the last week, but the thought of Liz had held him back. He never thought he would love anyone other than her. It was a little scary for him because he had always been so sure of himself, so sure of his decisions. Liz had been the one thing in his life that was a constant. Up until October she had always been there, even when she didn’t know about him. He often wondered what Liz would do if she was in his situation, and knew she would try to do what was best all around. He wanted to fall in the steps he was sure she would take, but in the end someone would end up getting hurt.

This moment in time was the deciding factor. He knew he would always love Liz, there was no doubt about that. That was the one thing he knew would always stay with him, but he was going to be a father. He needed to grow up and take care of his family. He couldn’t afford to be scared, he and Gia were heading into something important and he needed her to know how he felt. It was time to let go of his past. Gia was his present, and now, his daughter was the future.

Gia looked at Max with tears gathered in her eyes. She had hoped that he would return her feelings and hearing him say those words were like heaven. “I love you too.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it before bringing it to his lips and kissing it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Tess practically danced around the kitchen while she made dinner. She couldn’t explain why she was so happy. Maybe it was because for the first time she was able to do what she wanted, not what someone else wanted or told her what to do.

She was pretty sure that it started happening when Max left. At first she had been sad because she was losing the one person she had considered her closest friend. All her life Nesado had taught her that humans were below her...them. She had believed it, and as a result she lived a lonely life.

When she and Nesado moved to Roswell Tess never expected to become such good friends with humans. All she wanted was Max, Isabel and Michael. In the beginning she wasn’t happy that so many people knew about her, but the more time she spent with them the more she understood exactly why it was that Max, MIchael and Isabel held such high respect for their humans friends.

She used to look at Liz was her enemy because this petite human was a threat to everything she grew up into believing was hers. If she had only taken the time she would have realized that Liz wasn’t. When Tess thought about her all she could feel was pity. Liz seemed to be going down hill. She wanted to say something, but they were still new in their tentative friendship. She didn’t feel it was her place to say anything.

Maria was still as brisk as she had always been. Tess wasn’t sure if they would ever become friends. They hung out together...because they shared a secret. Tess was sure if it wasn’t for that little fact that she and Maria would never bother speaking to one another. Too much had gone on and Maria was too stubborn.

Isabel was...Isabel. She was still a little stand offish and superficial. In a way Tess understood. She too, had spent her time hiding herself from others. It just hurt when Isabel would confide in Alex and not her. One of the things she had looked forward to growing up was a best friend, someone so close she could have considered them a brother or sister. When she learned of the other three had pictured Max as her love and Isabel as her best friend. The time she spent with the group and Isabel it just served to remind her that they didn’t trust her as much as they did each other.

Alex was as friendly. When things were still new for her and she had been rude to Liz, Alex was the one to stand by Liz’s side. Even though there was some not so pleasant history between them he still tried to be nice to her. During her new transformation into becoming a girl she never thought she would become it was nice to have Alex around. The littlest things he said could make her feel better, almost like he knew she was trying.

Michael was pretty much as gruff as he had always been. Now that she had spent more time around him she could see the little things about him that most people over looked. Of course there was still the brisk, untrusting, battered boy, but she could see that underneath all that he was trying. She could read the sorrow and helplessness when he looked at Liz, or the over protectiveness when he looked at Isabel and the love whenever he talked with Maria.

Kyle and Jim...what could she say about them? They had become the family she had longed for. Growing up with an alien, while it had it’s perks there was also a downside. When she was a little girl she would dream about returning home one day and being welcomed by a family, her family. In a way it was like when she moved to Roswell she had finally started to live.

Kyle was the first human she had bothered really talking with. When she moved in with Kyle and the sheriff she and Kyle had become much closer. He was her ‘favorite human’, and she was glad that he was there. Since Max’s absence her thoughts towards Kyle had changed in a direction she wasn’t so comfortable. She and Kyle had always played around and flirted, but it seemed that it had become so much more than that. She was now looking forward to seeing him and talking with him about little things that happened in everyday life.

Jim was one of the most caring souls she had ever known. Kyle had confessed to her that after his mother left that he and father had quit being a family. He had told her that since she had come to live with them that it seemed like they had become the family they had let go. Tess noticed the easy nature between them in the house and she was humbled by Kyle’s words.

Earlier that day the sheriff had come home and told both her and Kyle that Amy Deluca, Maria and Sean were coming to dinner. Kyle rolled his eyes remembering the previous year when his dad and Maria’s mom had started to spend more time together. Tess was happy for the sheriff. She looked forward to the night and even offered to cook dinner.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel lay in bed holding a pillow to her front for her only comfort. She never imagined how lonely she would get without Max around. She and Max were always together and even though they had gotten on each other’s nerves, especially most recently, she still missed him more than ever.

It was lonely at the dinner table with just her parents. She missed the broodiness that Max would bring and she missed the silent communication they would make over the table at dinner when their parents would say something. She hated the way that her mother seemed so sad because he was gone.

Not only was her home life changed, but everything else seemed to change as well. Max wasn’t there, it was hard dealing alien matters without him. Grant was dead, Michael was on the verge of finding out about his human host, Liz was still not talking to anyone. It seemed like the only person she had there was Alex, and even then she felt guilty about spending time with him because of the way she had treated him since the summer.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A few miles away Liz lay in bed staring at pictures of herself and Max. They looked so happy and young and care free. Of course they did, it was before destiny arrived in Roswell. It seemed that once that came slowly everything around them went bad. Then there was her guest...she didn’t even want to think about that.

She lovingly caressed the picture over Max’s face. She closed her eyes and could feel his arms wrapped around her, she could smell him and he fit so well against her body. Liz opened her eyes and a lone tear traveled down her cheek. She would never get this again. She was never going to be wrapped in his arms ever again.

She made her way to her closet and grabbed an empty box off the shelf that her mother had brought up a few weeks ago. Liz knew what it was the moment she saw it...her mother wanted her to put her memories of Max in that box. Liz hadn’t had enough courage and that thought made her mad. She still didn’t want to put it away, but she knew she needed to. As much as she loved Max she hoped that she would be able to move on. She’d overheard Isabel talking to others, she heard Isabel mention that Max was moving on with Gia and that he was happy. The news broke Liz once again. She had stayed faithful to him and his memory while he had moved on with Gia, the rational part of her brain would repeatedly kick in and she would substitute ‘wife’ for Gia. Max was married now and he had all the reason in the world to move on. With that thought she knew she couldn’t pine for him for the rest of her life. Life was so short, and she wanted to move on. She wanted to live again. She refused to let the memory of him rule her life.

With every picture, every letter it was as though a chunk of her heart had been taken away from her as well. When she finished she took a deep breath and with a shaky hand she read for the tape and sealed the top. “I love you Max,” Liz whispered. She knew it would be the last time she uttered those words either alone or in front of anyone else. On the top she wrote his name before she put the box away.

When she finished she felt a little lighter, even though her heart felt nonexistent, she knew she would heal in time. She couldn’t live her life pining away for something she wasn’t able to have. She had friends, she had a family...she needed to concentrate on that and fix what relationships she messed up.

Where should she start though? She had been a complete bitch to everyone. She never really even spoke to her parents, when she did it was usually to make a nasty or sarcastic remark. She knew she hurt her mother, but at the time she didn’t care. Maria and Alex had tried to get her to talk to them, but she insulted everything about her friendship with them that she once held so dear. At school she left her friends and started spending time alone. She couldn’t handle hanging out with the other with Max not there. Whenever any of them asked about it she would just ignore them. It seemed that she had taken on Isabel’s personality in public, on when she used it, she treated everyone like dirt. She didn’t care what she said or did she just wanted someone to hurt as badly as her.

As she thought about who the easiest person it would be to make amends with she found that it was a virtually impossible task. She had isolated herself from everyone. Then Michael popped in her head. He always was prickly by nature, so her brush offs and rude comments seemed to have the least effect. He kept coming back for her. At the time she didn’t care, but as she thought about how he was trying to help her more than Maria and Alex. Was there something wrong with that?

Without a thought to her current attire and the temperature outside Liz jumped through her window and climbed down the ladder before she ran off into the night. When she arrived to her destination she started pounding on the front door. A second later a grumpy Michael answered the door and she threw herself into his arms, tears already starting to cascade down her cheeks.

“Max Evans broke my heart and I don’t want to be like this anymore,” she sobbed out. Michael had been shocked to see Liz on his doorstep, even more flabbergasted when she threw herself in his arms. At her confession he brought his arms around Liz’s frail body and tried to give her as much comfort as possible.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m sorry I just showed up like I did,” Liz apologized with a little sniffle. Michael walked in the living room with a cup of warm tea for her.

“It’s all right.”

“No it’s not. I have been so cruel to everyone around me Michael. I don’t know how I could possibly ask for Maria and Alex to forgive me.”

“They know you were going through a tough time,” he informed her.

“That may be, but it’s no excuse for my behavior. It’s scary how much Max was a part of my life. I went from hardly speaking to him to revolving around him. The past months have been a trial for me...well, all of us really. I always prided myself on being strong, but I was probably more scared than any of you. That day in May when I walked away from him, it may have seemed like it was because I wanted him to follow his destiny. Who knows? Maybe that was a part of it.” She took a sip of the drink that Michael brought her. “The real reason I was walked away was because I was scared. I was afraid that one day I would wake up and Max would leave me to follow his destiny. I knew that if that happened I would break down. The fear of that alone caused me to end our relationship. I was horrible all summer without him.”

Michael didn’t say anything as he let her open the floodgate. When she paused, he finally asked the one question that had been burning in his mind since overhearing the truth, “Liz I have a question, you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to though. Why did you pretend to sleep with Kyle?”

“What?” Liz asked. She hadn’t expected him to ask what he did. How did he even know? She hadn’t told anyone other than Max and even then, Liz was sure he never mentioned it to Michael.

“When you and Max were saying goodbye I kind of over heard you confess to Max that you hadn’t. It’s all right, you don’t have to answer.”

“I did it because Max asked me,” she replied softly. The pain of the entire situation was too much. She had wanted to tell someone what was going on, but she hadn’t had the courage. In a way, Liz was relieved that Michael had asked her.

“What? Max would never do that.”

“Michael, what I am about to tell you is far more inconceivable than anything else we have ever dealt with. I need you to do me a favor if you want to hear this.”

“What’s that?”

“I need you to step outside yourself and just listen.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked with a frown.

“You are the most untrustworthy being on the planet and I need you to have faith in this.”

Michael was about to tell Liz where to shove her faith when he took note of how important this all seemed to Liz. He slowly shook his head remembering that this was supposed to be helping Liz. “Sure, whatever you say, but I don’t think anything else could ever measure up to the year we had.”

“Back in October Maria had taken Alex and myself to see Madam Vivian. She was this estranged fortune teller that her mom went to. She suggested that we needed to get some clarification on you guys, or more precisely our love lives with you. When it was my turn she used her terra cards and summed up that Max would chose love over destiny. That night when I got home there was a bif flash of light and the next thing I know Max comes into my room. Only he looked different.” Michael felt himself stiffen when she said that, he could feel dread seeping in between the lines that Liz was telling him. “He had long hair and was wearing all leather. He told me that he was from the year 2014.”

“What?” Michael burst out.

“I thought you said you would step outside yourself!” Liz accused.

“Well, it just stepped back in! Do you know how crazy you sound right now? There is no such thing as time travel.”

“Yeah well, there are no such things as aliens either,” Liz returned dryly, “but that idea flew out the window when one saved my life. As for the time travel thing...when aliens are involved I think the rules change. Your species is much more advanced, who’s to say what kind of technology your race has.”

“How did he get here?”

“Through the Granolithe.”

“Are you telling me that the Granolithe is a time machine?”

“The Granolithe is a machine that has a great deal of power. They were able to modify it to tear a whole through space.”

“Liz, do you know what you’re saying?”

“Michael, can I finish?”

“Yeah, go right ahead,” he told her with an eyebrow raised. He couldn’t wait to see how the rest of the story sounded.

“He said that in his time line Tess left because Max and I got back together and he was mean to her. I guess the four of you are a unit. Your powers balance out. When your enemies came to Earth years later you were unable to defeat them because Tess was gone. Everyone was dead, you, Isabel and I am assuming everyone else in the group. It was just us left and he was sent back here. He asked me to make his present self fall out of love with me. I gave Tess tips on how to land Max, I said cruel things to Max, but the final blow was when I staged it to look like I slept with Kyle.”

“Okay, assuming I believe you, why come back at that point?”

“The night of the Gomez concert was the night that Max and I got back together. We would have made love that night, which in turn would create a bond that nothing or no one could break until the end of the world. The future version of Max knew what time present day Max would be coming. I just did what I needed to.”

“Liz,” Michael felt torn. He didn’t know if he should believe her or not. It sounded very much like she believed the story, but time travel? It all sounded far fetched. “Are you sure it was Max and not a shape shifter or anything?”

“Michael, I would know Max anywhere. It was him!” She exclaimed.

Michael detected a desperateness in Liz's voice. Holding up his hands in surrender her accepted. “Okay, I believe you.”

Shaking her head, Liz opened up a little bit more. “I was so busy worrying about the possibility of Max and Tess, trying to prepare myself for their...whatever could have been. I never expected Max to go out and get someone pregnant. It was like a slap in the face, I felt so hurt and betrayed! I was the one that forced him away in the first place. If I hadn’t Max and I would be together today. Maybe I would be the one having his children!”

“You can’t change the past Liz, no matter how much you want to.”

“We were supposed to elope,” Liz continued as though she hadn’t heard him. “We were only nineteen when it happened. Elvis married us. I’ll never have that now. For the past weeks I have been living the life that I would have had. I don’t know how to stop Michael, it’s the one thing in my life that isn’t screwed up.”

“Even then it’s not real,” Michael put together with her last statement. “You can’t live your life for what should have been. Max isn’t here anymore, even if he was, you still wouldn’t be together. It’s time for you to start living in this life.”

“I know, my head keeps telling me that I need to get over him, over what we had, but my heart is holding me back. How do I just get over someone that was like a part of me?”

“I wish I could tell you.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that night Maria walked into Michael’s apartment with the hopes of spending some alone time with him. Things between them had gotten better and they were well on their way to a reconciliation. At least that was before she stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her. Michael and Liz were cuddled up on the couch fast asleep in each other’s arms. It was something that rarely happened between herself and Michael. Even then, it was after months of forming emotional ties, ties that at most times were not so emotional.

What was the deal with these two? Since when have Michael and Liz ever been close? They hadn’t been as far as she knew. Maria thought they only reason they spent time together was because each was dating the other’s best friend. Maria could help the jealous streak through her. Here Michael was cuddled up with another girl...not just another girl, but her best friend.

At a closer inspection Maria could see the puffiness under Liz’s eyes. Had she been crying? Maria narrowed her eyes as her brows knit together. It wasn’t hard to see that Max’s marriage to another girl upset Liz. She had gone from crying at the drop of a hat to dropping all her friends. Liz had said some things to her and Alex that in Maria’s eyes were deemed unforgivable. Liz hadn’t only been rude to them she had been down right nasty to everyone in the group, as well as her parents. What was Michael doing with Liz in his arms?

Maria cleared her throat rather loudly. The noise in the silent apartment brought the sleeping duet fully awake. Michael and Liz looked at each other with confusion wondering what that noise was. Maria cleared her throat again even more upset that they had yet to notice her. Michael was the first to react and he jumped up from his position, practically tossing Liz on the floor.

“Maria!” He said with a large smile. Maria placed her hands on her hips. Michael never smiled like that. He knew he was in trouble.

“Michael,” she returned in a calm tone. She was already thinking about the things she would say.

“What are you doing here?” Michael asked again at the glint in Maria’s eyes.

“I came by to see you. Imagine my surprise when I find you asleep with Liz in your arms. What’s going on?”

Liz had watched the scene from her position on the floor. She knew when Maria was mad, and she was way beyond mad. She stood up and looked at the silent battle going between the two. “I’m just going to go,” Liz said softly.

Maria and Michael broke eye contact. “You do that,” Maria replied icily. Liz walked to the door slowly, as though she was a dog with her tail in between her legs.

When Liz opened the door she turned back to Michael. “Um, thanks for listening.”

“No problem,” he shrugged off.

When Liz closed the door behind her she heard Maria explode. “What the hell was going on here!?” Liz shook her head hoping that her friend didn’t lay into Michael too badly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Forty minutes had passed since Maria had come over and stared yelling. She rarely stopped for breath, let alone letting him have a chance to defend himself. She had just stopped her rant and Michael was beyond pissed. Who was Maria to come over and start yelling at him for something that was in all aspects innocent. He could understand she was upset, but throw accusations out at him and not giving him a chance to say anything in return was unfair. She was sitting on the couch dejectedly thinking it was over. Michael inwardly shook his head.

“Who do you think you are?” Michael asked.

Maria’s head raised up. “Excuse me?”

“I said, who do you think you are? You walk into my apartment...unannounced no less and start yelling at me.”

“Michael, I was just–”

“No you had your chance to talk without any interruptions and now it’s my turn. Liz showed up on my doorstep in tears because of Max. She needed someone to talk to. She was so exhausted she cried herself to sleep and I followed shortly later. I’m sorry you walked in on it and thought something completely different, but nothing happened. With that aside Maria, you are not my girlfriend, you don’t have any say over what I do and who I do it with. If you were my girlfriend you still wouldn’t have a right to do that.”

Maria sat in shock at the things Michael was saying.

“Liz is a friend, she was upset and I tried to comfort her.”

“Michael, she has gone around treating everyone like shit! How could you just put that aside and let her in here?”

“Because she needed someone. What she said and acted like to everyone was out of line. I will admit that, but she was in pain Maria. Liz knows what she did was wrong.”

“I don’t care!” Maria returned. “She hurt me, she said things to me and Alex that were uncalled for. I don’t forgive her, even if her soul mate left she had no right to act like that.”

“Than don’t forgive her! I don’t care! You are the one who’s willing to give up years of friendship over this, but don’t you dare come into my house and attempt to tell me what to do.”

Chapter 6

“I am so excited!” Tess said as she, Liz and Alex walked down the hall at school together. “I already know what dress I want, it’s just a matter of going and buying it. Maybe we can find you a date and then go shopping together.” Alex shook his head, he didn’t understand why girls were so excited about dances, and having grown up around Liz and Maria, he felt as though he had more insight into the female then most men around the world.

“I don’t think so,” Liz passed. It had taken weeks of apologizing and groveling for her to get back in her friends good graces. She started eating more and she began catching up on her school work, but she still wasn’t where she knew she needed to be.

“Why not.” Tess looked at Liz, her eyes moved to all the available guys in the hall. “Come on you don’t have to marry him, just dance a little. What about Donald Upton? I happen to know he doesn’t have a date yet.”

“I can see why,” Liz muttered.

“Ah come on Liz, why not? Let’s boogy,” Alex said in his best impression of Donald. Donald Upton was a senior at their school. He was a very nice person, but a bit on the dorky side. Besides that there was a slight speech impediment. He sounded very much like Donald Duck.

Liz and Tess laughed at Alex’s impression. As they stopped at her locker, Liz couldn’t deny the fact that it felt good to be with her friends again. Tess, Isabel and Kyle had been the first ones to accept her apologies. Alex was a bigger problem though. It had taken Liz a little longer to get back into his good graces. He was very hurt by her, which Liz understood, and she acknowledged it to him. Alex had come to her one night and they both sorted through everything. Tears were definitely shed that night, but they had decided to start over. Liz was certain that Alex knew she was punishing herself over her actions far better than he ever could.

Maria and Michael had made up from their blow out. Liz and Maria had also made amends. Their friendship wasn’t the same that it had been before. Things were stressed between them and as a result neither she nor Maria were as close as they had once been. Liz could also feel the underlying resentment that Maria seemed to have formed for her. As happy as Michael and Maria were their last blow out seemed to put a damper on things. Liz knew it wasn’t her fault, but she was positive that Maria thought it was. For that reason, Liz often refrained from spending too much time with Maria and Michael.

Aside from that, a new friendship had been formed between herself and Tess. It was a little odd at first. Even though they did spend time sharing stories with each other, each denied that it was an actual friendship. As they started to open up around the rest of the group, each felt as though they were on the spot with everyone watching. Instead of looking for the bad parts of Tess, she had seen the vulnerable side of her once enemy, and Liz was finding an irreplaceable friend in Tess.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey Isabel, why the sad face?” Alex asked as he walked over to her at lunch. He had tried to be a good friend to her, but it was hard when he harbored so many feelings for her. Since the school year started it seemed as though she had taken him for granted. First, they were together, and then she ended things, started dating other guys. It was an old, never ending circle with the same outcome. When things never worked out with them she would get depressed and Alex, being the good friend he was put his feelings aside and listened to her problems.

“Oh, nothing really. I’m just trying decide who I want to go to prom with.”

“Ah. Decisions, decisions, decisions,” he said playfully.

“Hey Alex, would you like to go to prom with me?” She asked after a second of thinking about it. It would be easier to go with him. He had always been a great friend and actually treated her respect, no other guy had ever really done that. Not to mention, it would be much less complicated than going with someone else and giving them false hope.

“You want me to escort you?” He asked making sure he heard it correctly. It had been a dream of his to walk on her arm at prom. Back then he was just a nerd, he never thought he and Isabel would share one conversation.

It was weird how things worked out. Who would have guessed that Max, Michael and Isabel were aliens and that they would all be thrust together when Max saved Liz’s life? Not only that, but seemed as though once they all shared this secret they had broken off into pairs. It was something natural. Max and Liz had become closer, Michael and Maria were each other’s vibrators and then there was him and Isabel. Time had brought each pair closer in one way or another. Alex knew his relationship with Isabel wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but he had seen a side of her that he knew she never showed people.

“Why not?” Isabel asked. She couldn’t believe how surprised he was. “Besides, why not spend an unforgettable night with an unforgettable friend?” Alex’s good mood simmered down a little bit, but he couldn’t find it in himself to argue. It wasn’t such a bad idea and the fact that she was the one to come up with it was a good sign.

“Okay, it’s a date then,” he agreed. “I mean it’s not a date, it’s just two unforgettable friends spending time together at a dance on an unforgettable night.”


Isabel smiled brightly. “Great.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Listen Tess, I was wondering if you wanted to go to prom with me?” Kyle asked uncertainly.

He had thought about who he wanted to take and no matter what girls he thought of Tess were always there. In the past few months he and Tess had spent a good amount of time together. He had enjoyed all the time they shared and his friendly feelings had shifted into something more. Whenever she would excuse herself to take a shower he never cared before, now he often found his mind wandering. What did she look like under the spray of the water, was her body as magnificent as he imagined. He thoughts often left him breathless and uncomfortable to say the least.

“Kyle? Are you okay?” Tess asked as she looked closely at him.

“Yeah, why do ask?”

“You look flushed.” She placed her hand to his forehead. “Are you okay?”

Kyle moved her hand away from his head and inwardly groaned at the way he must of looked to her. He closed his eyes briefly before looking into her blue ones. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’re positive?”

“Yes Tess. Now, will you answer my question?”

“I would love to go with you,” she said as she smiled.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Are you going to ask her to prom?” Liz asked that night as she and Michael were closing the Crashdown.

Michael thought about it for a second before shrugging his shoulders. “Probably not.”

Liz looked at him as though he was crazy. “Why not? You do realize that Maria wants to go right? I mean this is something she has been dreaming about for years.” She heard Michael mumble something and strained to hear it. “What did you say?”

“I don’t know how to dance all right?” He bit out, embarrassed that he had admitted it to anyone.

“Oh.” They both went back to their previous tasks before Liz spoke again. “It isn’t that hard. I can teach you how to dance if you want?” She offered.

“No, that’s okay. Dancing really isn’t my thing.”

“But it’s important to Maria,” she reminded him.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, how are things in Roswell?” Max asked his sister over the phone. Gia was out with her grandparents shopping for the baby and he was feeling homesick. He had been disappointed when Isabel said their parents were out, but he had spent ten minutes telling her about his life and all that she was missing out on.

“It’s okay, no situations have arisen if that’s what you were wondering.” Isabel figured she might as well bring up something that would cause a conversation. When Max hadn’t been talking about his life there was a pregnant pause between two people who were closer than any two siblings.

“That’s good. So, how is...everyone?” He wanted to ask about Liz, but at the last minute decided against it.

“Good. Prom is in a few weeks. Alex and I are going together. We’re going to meet Kyle and Tess and Michael and Maria at the Crashdown Saturday night. Michael and Maria decided to try it out again. They seem okay so far. They got back together but Michael hadn’t asked her to prom. He didn’t know how to dance and I guess he had Liz offered to teach him. Maria was so upset, but he left a rose in her locker the other day with a card asking her if she would be his date. She of course flipped out and jumped up and down squealing.” Max chuckled over the line as he envisioned it in his head. “Kyle and Tess seemed to have grown closer.”

“How close?”

“If I didn’t know any better I would say that Kyle had a crush on our once Tess ‘destiny driven’ Harding,” Isabel informed her brother happily.

“You think?” Max asked. “Does Tess like him?”

“I think there’s a possibility, I don’t know for sure though.” Max was quiet on his end. It was hard to picture Tess with Kyle. When he was in Roswell she was so gung-ho about destiny. Why couldn’t she have been like that when he and Liz were still together?

“What about Liz? Is she okay?” He asked. Even though he had decided to move forward with Gia, he would often lay in bed at nights and wonder what it would be like if it was Liz he was with. Then there was also the guilt factor. He had moved on and part of him hoped she had to, but the other part...thinking about her with anyone else made him feel sick.

“Liz is...okay. She was pretty down for a while. She lost a lot of weight and I could tell she wasn’t sleeping that well. She’s better now though. Her and Michael have been spending a lot more time together. It’s driving Maria crazy.” Max listened to his sister and couldn’t help but agree to Maria’s thoughts. He knew if he were in Roswell he wouldn’t be happy about it either.

“Maria’s jealous?” Max asked, trying not to let Isabel in on his thought. Isabel heard the touch of humor to his voice. It was odd, but other than Isabel, Maria was the confident person. She never let herself be vulnerable.

“I know. Michael and Liz? That would be an odd couple,” Isabel surmised. She couldn’t forget the fact that Michael and Liz had been spending a large amount of time together. She could understand where Maria was coming from on the subject. Liz and Michael had never been ones to hang out together. In the beginning they only hung out because they were brought together by a secret that they shared. No one in the group understood what brought the two closer together, but they were glad that Liz was better now.

“Yeah,” he agreed dejectedly, listening to Isabel talk about their friends made Max feel more home sick than before. He loved his wife and unborn child, but they couldn’t take the place of his friends.

“Max? Are you sure you are fine? You sound a little...I don’t know...down?” She asked after hearing the tone in his voice.

“I guess I’m just a little homesick,” he admitted. He really had no friends around him. The closest he had were Gia’s cousins. Even then, they weren’t very close.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better we all miss you just as much,” she brought up, sighing when she heard the honk coming from the front of her yard. “Maria is here, we made plans to go out so...”

“Tell her I said hi. I have to go. I love you Isabel.”

“Love you too.”






Chapter 7
(A month later)

Liz closed her locker and turned around to meet Tess at her locker when she ran into a strong body. A pair of arms reached out to steady her. The moment they touched Liz was shocked by the things she felt. It was something so familiar, something she had only ever felt from Max. She looked up and gasped at what she saw.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hi Alex,” Alicia Redmond greeted as she approached him at his locker. Alex turned around and smiled when he saw her.

“Hey Alicia.” Alicia had transferred to Roswell earlier that year. He had just been so busy he hadn’t had a chance to talk to her too much. They were in the same pre-cal class, both tied for the highest grade. She was very smart and beautiful. The only time they ever talked was in class, even then it was usually about math.

“So, I was wondering...” She cleared her throat. “I’ve been here since the beginning of the year and you have yet to notice me.”

Alex blushed and looked away shortly before turning back to Alicia. “I noticed you.”

“You did? Because it didn’t seem like it,” her voice lightened the closer she got to Alex. Alex swallowed hard when Alicia brought her hand to his chest. “I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out with me this weekend?”

“You...want to go out with...me?” He asked disbelievingly. Alicia giggled.

“Of course I do silly. I think you are one of the most adorably, handsome guys I have ever met. You’re charming and funny and smart. Brains really turn me on,” she whispered the last part in his ear. Alex closed his eyes when a shot of pure lust shot through him. He opened them to see Alicia smirking at him.

“Really?”

“Yes.” Alicia looked behind him and then quickly turned back. “What do you think? You interested?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Great, we’ll talk more in class.” She kissed his cheek and walked away. Alex turned to watch her with a small smile. He didn’t even notice Isabel standing next to him until she yelled his name.

“What?!” He exclaimed angrily. “Oh, hey Isabel.”

“Hi,” Isabel replied feeling weird. Alex had never spoken to her like that.

Isabel had seen Alicia Redmond talking to Alex. She didn’t think anything of it until she saw Alicia lean in and kiss Alex on his cheek. When Isabel noticed the expression on his face as he walked the girl walk away she had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was a new, unexplored feeling. One that she was not used to feeling.

“So, what’s going on?” He asked.

“Nothing. You?”

“I have a date,” he replied with a small smile.

“I can see that,” she smiled.

“I never thought that Alicia even liked me like that. I didn’t even know she noticed me outside the classroom.”

“You’re a great guy Alex. Why wouldn’t she?” Isabel was still smiling, but why did she feel like it was a forced action?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, how about we go to the movies on Friday?” Maria asked Michael.

“Can’t.” He didn’t bother giving her a reason and he was thankful she didn’t ask. Liz was a touchy subject between them and if she knew that he was going over to Liz’s every night she would be pissed.

“Oh, okay,” Maria said awkwardly after a silence.

“How about we do it another time?” Michael offered when he saw the sad look on Maria’s face. Maria brightened and kissed him quickly.

“I would love that.” Michael gave her a smile before placing an arm around her shoulders.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Tess asked as she and Kyle joined the two. Michael removed his arm from Maria. He had a hard time expressing himself, even more so when other people were around.

“Nothing much. Just making plans for the weekend,” Michael shrugged.

“So, I was wondering...are the six of us going to go to prom together or what?” Tess asked. Maria and Michael looked at each other. No one had made any plans yet. Usually Isabel would be the one to take charge, but she hadn’t said anything to anyone.

“Sure,” Maria answered unsurely. She and Tess had never been friends. Maria had always gone against the girl for hurting her best friend and bringing misery to the group. Slowly everyone had been working to unify the group, but Maria was still worried about trusting Tess. She had gone so long with her suspicions it was weird to change her direction.

“Great! The three of us can go shopping for dresses.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Max?” Liz asked unsurely. Her heart was pounding and she could feel her hands sweating. It was something that happened when things between her and Max were new. Just the thought of him standing in front of her made her want to shout in delight. The guy standing in front of her looked like him only with unruly, blue tipped hair, peircings and tattoos galore. It was a strange sight to see.

“Yo cherry, da name’s Zan.”

“Zan? Okay? Who are you and what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to find my dupe.”

“And what’s a...dupe?”

“A duplicate. When my peeps made us dey’ decided to make two sets.”

“Wow, we knew there were eight pods, but we never imagined...” Liz looked around and noticed stares in their direction. She grabbed his arm and started pulling him down the hall.

“Where we goin?”

“You have to hide, everyone here knows Max. I’m taking you to the eraser room.”

“What’s dat?”

“It’s a place where people...clean erasers...and stuff.”

“You can take me anywhere cherry,” he responded lewdly. When Liz got to the room she opened the door and shoved him inside and left to find the others. She needed to find Michael, he would know what to do.

“Hey Liz, where’s the fire?” Alex asked when he saw Liz walking quickly through the hall glancing everywhere, she ran over to them and grabbed Isabel’s hand.

“Isabel!” Liz exclaimed.

“What’s wrong?”

“We have a situation!”

“What kind of situation?”

“A Czech one,” Liz replied in a fierce whisper.

Alex shook his head shamefully he had enjoyed the calm life.

“A what?” Isabel asked completely confused.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So let me get this straight. They sent down identical sets of us?” Michael asked as he paced around his apartment. After Liz had told Isabel and Alex what was going on Alex ran and told the others. Everyone, plus Zan headed over to Michael’s apartment.

“It would make sense Michael, to insure that there were survivors,” Liz reminded him. “Did someone call Max? He is probably going to need to know about this.”

“Let’s find out some more before we call him,” Michael suggested back knowing that Max would most likely flip.

“So...why are you here?” Maria asked Zan. It was uncanny to look at this person and see and alternate person from Max.

“Dey’ tried to kill me.”

“What do you mean?” Isabel asked fearing the worse.

“Dere’s dis ting’ called a Summit. It’s when all the planets from our solar system get together and try to talk peace. It may sound good but it’s whacked. Da’ skins work for Khivar and they are very sneaky. My peeps wanted to me to go. See, dey’s want to get off dis rock. I din’t wanna go and they tried to kill me.”

“When you say your people you mean....” Alex left unsurely.

“Da’ clones of dem’ two,” Zan replied easily as he pointed to Isabel and Michael.

“Why would they do that?” Liz asked. “I mean I guess it’s easy to point out the differences between you guys, but there’s just...something...more there.”

“Yeah, I tought’ about dat’ too. I tink’ dat’ when dey’ made us dey’ made us too alien and made you four more human.”

“Without human emotions they wouldn’t care what they did,” Tess surmised.

“Xactly’. I jus’ tought’ I’d tell ya. Lonnie n’ Rath got no problem in tying up loose ends. I suspect dat’ since dey’ tink’ I’m dead dey would come here after your Zan. Where is he anyway?”

“He and his very pregnant wife are at home...out of Roswell,” Maria replied.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Liz asked as she stared at Zan. The resemblance between Zan and Max was unbelievable, but that was where the similarities ended. The more time she spent talking to Zan the more she realized that he was nothing like Max. Where Max had grown up in a sheltered home with parents and a family that loved him, Zan grew up on the streets. No one was there and he had to learn to fend for himself. The only family he had tried to kill him. Liz wasn’t sure how she would be if the only people she depended on tried to kill her.

Zan shrugged. “I don’ know, maybe I will go to Cali. I ain’t tought’ about it yet.”

“You can stay here,” Liz offered. At Michael’s incredulous look Liz immediately opened her mouth to amend her statement. “I mean in Roswell.”

“And what would you tell everyone when dey’ noticed me n’ Max look alike?”

“That you are Max’s twin brother,” Isabel replied. “Everyone knows we’re adopted. Who knows what kind of family we have?”

“Nah, I don’t wanna get in da’ way.”

“If you were a problem we wouldn’t have asked,” Tess replied. She felt so bad for this guy sitting across from her. She had a feeling that as hard as Zan thought he was there was a lost little boy in there that needed some one to cling to.

“You don’t have to stay long,” Liz added. “You still look pretty beat up. Just heal here...naturally, and then you can leave if you still want.”

“Hey Zan, when did you say the Summit was?”

“Few days from now. Why?” Zan asked.

Michael took over. “Because if it is, chances are your friends are gonna show up soon. You can’t stay here, you can’t stay with the Evans’. At least not until the Summit it over.”

“He can stay with me,” Liz offered. Everyone other than Zan turned to look at Liz as though she was crazy. “What?”

Isabel looked at the others before she cautiously made her way to Liz. “Liz, I know you still miss my brother, do you really think that having Zan stay with you is going to be okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Liz asked. “I’m not going to do anything with Zan because he may look like Max. I know he isn’t Max, I lost Max. It has been a long time, but I am getting over it.”

Isabel studied Liz before letting the subject go and taking her seat again.

“We better go. Liz take Zan back to your place. Zan, you’re going to have to stay out of sight until the Summit is over incase Lonnie and Rath come by.”

Zan nodded at him before he and Liz made their way to they door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“During the day you are going to have to stay up here,” Liz finished as she told him about her daily routine.

“Yeah, until the rents go to bed.” Zan looked around her room. It was decorated to fit her personality with pictures littering her room. He looked on her dresser and spotted a photo strip she must have gotten from a booth. At a closer look he saw it was his dupe and Liz.

“What a cornball,” Zan voiced. Liz smiled when she saw what he was looking at.

He put the photo strip down and looked at some of the other pictures. He spotted another one of his dupe and Liz. Were they together or something? What was the deal? How did humans even get mixed up with the aliens? In New York he, Lonnie, Rath and Ava never told any humans their secrets. Why did their dupes work with humans?

“How’d you guys find out about Michael and Isabel and my dupe?”

“Max had been in love with me since the first day he saw me. As the years passed he continued watching me, but that was as far as it went. We were lab partners and he was always at the Crashdown–”

“Where you work?”

Liz nodded. “Well, one day I was working and these two guys got in a fight and one of them pulled out a gun...anyway, I kind of got shot and Max healed me. After that happened I told Maria, Alex found out a few months later. Kyle found out when he was shot and Max healed him. Kyle’s dad had been on to Max and the others since my shooting and he found out, started helping them.”

“So, Tess wasn’t with you?”

“No, Max, Michael and Isabel left her behind. Tess was with Nesado...uh, he’s their protector.”

“Where is he?”

“He died. Uh, what about your protector?”

“Don’ know. He left soon after we–”

“Hatched,” Liz finished for him.

“Hatched?” Zan asked with a smirk.

“Yeah, that’s what my friend Maria says.” Liz blushed and bit her bottom lip.

“I was goin’ to say emerged,” Zan said with a smiling playing around his lips. “So, you guys all close?”

“More or less. Michael and Isabel never approved of my relationship with Max, but they got over it. When Tess moved here we were at odds with each other over Max. It’s gotten better between us. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he got another girl pregnant and married her,” Liz muttered the last part, but Zan heard it all the same.

“So, Max liked you his whole life?”

“Pretty much.”

“What ‘bout when Tess got here?”

“He felt a pull to her, but that was it.” Zan nodded. “Why?”

“Dat’s how it is wit’ me n’ Ava. She’s a good lay, but I don’t care for her like she does me.”

Liz nodded. How weird, identical sets of the royal four and neither dupe felt a romantic way towards the other.

Chapter 8


“So, did anyone actually call Max earlier?” Maria asked as she, Michael and Liz stood out on Liz’s balcony. Both Maria and Michael were on their break and Liz was trying to catch up on her journal. She didn’t want to make too much noise because Zan had passed out on her bed an hour earlier.

“I don’t think so,” Michael replied.

“You can use my phone and call him,” Liz suggested. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to Max. As much as she was getting over him it still hurt to think of him with someone else.

“Can’t, gotta get back to work. Look, just call him and tell him what’s going on.” He didn't understand what the big problem was. It wasn't as though Liz was calling him to bs, there was an actual situation that he needed to be aware of.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Gia stepped into her bedroom in a towel around her. It had been a lazy morning for her an Max. They stayed in bed most of the morning talking and laughing over the baby. Max was the first one to get up and she soon followed and jumped in the shower. As she laid back on the bed a happy smile plastered it’s self on her face. Things were going great. She and Max were very happy. He was so attentive to her and her needs.

The phone started ringing and Gia called out that she would answer it. “Hello?” She waited for a second and there was no reply. “Hello?”

“Um, yeah. Is Max there?”

Gia’s brows furrowed together. Who would be calling Max? She knew Isabel’s voice and she was pretty sure that this was not Isabel. “May I ask who’s calling?”

From her end of the line, Liz took a deep breath. “Um, this is Liz.”

Liz? Max’s ex-girlfriend. Why would she be calling Max after all this time? “Oh, I’m sorry Liz, but Max isn’t in right now. Can I take a message?”

“Yeah, when he get’s in can you tell him to call me? We found his brother, and I thought he’d want to know.”

Gia shook her head at the pathetic attempt Liz had made. Max had told her everything about his life. He never mentioned having a brother, and even if he did have one, why wouldn’t his sister or parents call to tell him? “I know what you’re doing Liz,” Gia said a second later.

“I beg your pardon?”

Ignoring Liz’s ignorance, Gia continued. “And it’s not going to work. Max and I are happy. We’re having a baby. This is just some pathetic attempt to worm your way into his life again. We both know he doesn’t have a brother. Look, what you and Max had was in the past, move on. He has.”

How dare she!? “Listen tart face! This isn’t some pathetic attempt to worm my way into his life again. There is something going on here that he needs to know about. You need to tell him!” Liz had never been more appalled in all her life. The nerve of this girl!

“Goodbye Liz,” Gia said calmly. When she placed the phone down she chewed on the side of her cheek wondering if she should tell Max what happened.

“Hey,” Max greeted. “Who was on the phone?”

“Oh, it was the wrong number,” Gia said pushing the conversation aside. Max leaned down and kissed her quickly before making his way out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz hung up the phone and dropped it one the chair beside her and placed her head in her hands. Hearing Gia say those things cut into her heart. It was as if she was purposely saying them to hurt her. Liz was well aware of the fact that Gia and Max were having a baby. Liz knew that they were married and she imagined that they were happy together. At that thought a tear fell down her cheek, another followed, and another. Why was Max able to be happy and she wasn’t?

When Zan woke up he was surprised. He didn’t even remember going to sleep. He looked around the room and to her bathroom, but he didn’t see Liz. After hearing a voice coming from the outside Zan walked over to open window and saw her on what looked like a balcony. She was screaming at someone on the phone and after hanging up she broke down in tears. Zan decided he would let the situation alone. The last thing he needed to do was upset the girl even more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that night after everything was closed the group had gathered at the Crashdown in hopes of making out some more plans as to where they were and what to do. Zan stood by the employee door looking at the people around him. Liz and Michael were huddled close together talking in hushed tones. Maria was standing a few feet away with flaming eyes. Tess and Isabel were talking a few booths over, every once in a while Isabel would glance over at Alex and Alex and Kyle were seated together talking and laughing.

“So, let’s get started then,” Michael said when he broke away from Liz.

“Liz, what did Max say?” Isabel asked.

“He wasn’t home and his wife wasn’t exactly thrilled that I called for him,” Liz replied through clenched teeth. She was still highly upset from earlier that afternoon. “My best guess is that if you want to let Max know something, someone else has to call him.”

“We’ll keep that in mind,” Isabel replied. “Look, I will call him right now.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Max hung up the phone with his sister a myriad of emotions were flowing through him. Confusion, fear, isolation, anxiety, happiness, anger, he couldn’t even understand everything he was feeling. He walked into the bedroom and saw Gia in their bed. She was reading and book. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. She looked as though she hadn’t a care in the world.

“I have a question.”

“Okay.” She looked up at him and smiled.

“Why didn’t you tell me that Liz called earlier?” He watched as her smiled faltered and he was even more angered.

Gia’s mouth opened and closed as she struggled for a response. “I just...she had this crazy story and I thought that she...I’m sorry sweetie.”

Again, he wondered why she would keep something from him. Liz hadn’t interrupted their life once since their marriage. “Why didn’t you tell me? This was something really important Gia.”

“I was afraid.”

“Afraid? Of what?”

“We have been so happy. I know that you don’t fall for people lightly and I know that Liz meant a lot to you. I thought that if you started talking to her that you would fall for her again,” Gia confessed in a small voice.

Max’s tense body unraveled. He brushed the hair away from her face. “Liz was part of my past. She was the first girl I ever liked, she was my first kiss. She will always hold some importance to me, not only that, but she is my friend,” he explained gently. He himself knew it was more then that, but Gia didn’t need to know that. “But we also have something special too. You were my first everything else, not to mention the fact that we have are going to have a baby together. It’s you I hold in my arms at night, it’s you who I make love to, it’s you I share my life with.” At the slight smile on Gia’s face, Max knew he’d said just right things to appease his wife.

Gia nodded at him. “You’re right, sometimes I just get scared that you are going to leave me one day to start your life over again with her.”

Max gently grabbed his wife’s chin and forced her to look in his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere,” he told her firmly. He gently leaned in and kissed her before pulling her against his chest. As he tried to comfort her further, Max couldn’t deny the wave of disgust that enveloped his soul. He’d never once cheapened what he shared with Liz and now he felt as though he tainted it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two weeks had passed and with that so did Lonnie and Rath, prom and Zan’z introduction to the Evans’. Lonnie and Rath were not the sharpest crayons in the box. They were quite rude and no one could stand them. The group had decided to tell them that Max was dead instead of letting them go find him. Rath and Lonnie took them at face value and soon left with only minor damage. The damage being that Rath kissed Liz. Maria had seen the entire thing and the next time she saw Michael she gave him a black eye. All the guys in the group had gotten protective over Liz once that happened. Especially Michael after Zan’s warning about Rath’s way with women.

Prom had come and gone. Michael, Maria, Alex, Isabel, Tess and Kyle had all gone together. For Michael and Maria the night had been their high point. Michael had apologized for not being able to go out with Maria right before prom, but he explained to her that Liz was teaching him how to dance. Maria had simply smiled at the effort he made and kissed him. Kyle had been on cloud nine the entire night. Having Tess in his arms as they danced was like heaven and she was his own personal angel. He only wished that she had felt the same. The only couple that had a bad time together on prom night was Alex and Isabel. Isabel had given him the ‘friends’ speech again before excusing herself to get a drink. When she started walking back in his former direction, she stopped when she noticed that he had disappeared. She found him in the hall with his arms around Alicia Redmond and his tongue down her throat. Isabel silently gasped and ran away from the prom without a word to anyone.

After the danger of Rath and Lonnie had passed Zan was introduced to Dianne and Phillip Evans as Max’s twin brother. There were of course many questions. Zan and Isabel answered them to the best of their capability without giving away the facts about their true origins. Dianne had welcomed Zan with open arms. Perhaps it was because Max was gone and here was another boy who needed someone, or perhaps it was because she needed someone. Dianne wasn’t sure, but for the last month Zan had been a permanent fixture in their household.

“Hey, so how are you adjusting?” Liz asked Zan as she entered his room, actually it was Max’s old room. Most of his things were gone from the move, but any of the items left were boxed up and put away.

“It’s weird,” he answered. “Dey’s always wondering how I am and Dianne’s always motherin’ me.”

Rolling her eyes at him for his silly remark, Liz smiled. “Well, that’s what mothers do.”

“I know, but it’s driving me insane. She is always correcting my grammar and she’s so concerned about where I go and who I’m wit’. She is constantly asking me how I am. I’ve never had dis’ before.”

As Zan finished talking, a certain tone had entered his voice. His face relaxed and small half smile played on his lips. Yes, he liked the attention he was getting. Liz nodded at him, “it must be a nice change.”

Zan only shrugged his shoulders. “Whenever Max calls he acts weird.”

“Well of course he would. This is his family. He probably doesn’t trust you because he hasn’t met you and is worried about you staying with them,” Liz tried to rationalize. She was actually surprised he wasn’t on the first available plane out there when the Evans’ welcomed Zan into their home. Her brows knit in confusion as to why he wasn’t there. What had Isabel said? Something about Gia being sick or something?

“I guess,” he admitted with a shrug. “So what are you doing tonight?” Prom night, while the others had danced the night away, Zan had kept Liz company, she having introduced him to the game of Monopoly.

Liz shrugged. “Michael and I were supposed to be working together tonight, but Maria offered to switch days with me.”

“Why’d she want to work?” Zan asked, not quite understanding the dynamics of the group.

“My guess is to stay close to Michael. She isn’t too happy in this recent development between me and Michael.”

“What have you guys done to make her like dis?’”

So it was automatically her fault? “Nothing. It’s just after Max left, Michael and I grew closer. I don’t know where this insecurity she has came from. She has always been a strong, independent person. It kind of sucks that she feels this way. I never thought she would. I mean Maria, Alex and I have been best friends so long, it hurts me to know that she thinks I would back stab her like that. We’re no longer the friends I once thought we were.”

Slipping closer to Liz, Zan placed an arm around her shoulders. “Well, how about you me and a game of yahtzee?”

Liz looked over at her companion and giggled. Gone was the died hair and peircings. It was the one thing that Dianne and Phillip insisted he do when he became a permanent fixture in their household. His ‘street like’ accent had also been tamed. He’d been adjusting quite nicely to life in Roswell. “I never would have thought you would be one for yahtzee.”

“Yeah, well...you kicked my ass when we played monopoly. I figured it’s time I return the favor.”

“So...you think you’re going to win?”

Zan shook his head and sighed at the small brunette. “No cherry, I know I’m gonna.” With that last statement he walked out of the room, leaving Liz standing in amusement.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Oh, now isn’t this disgusting?” Maria teased as she and Michael walked over to Alex who was in a heavy lip lock with Alicia. The couple pulled away from one another with red faces.

“Good morning Maria,” Alex said sarcastically with a matching smile.

“Hey Alex, I have to go talk to one of my teachers,” Alicia said. “I will see you later though right?”

“Yeah, I will pick you up at six tonight.”

“Great! My parents are out of town,” she whispered in his ear before kissing him and walking away. Alex stood frozen in his spot unable to think about anything else other than what she had told him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What does he see in her anyway?” Isabel ranted as she, Liz and Tess walked down the hall. “I mean she is always all over him, he can’t like that.”

Liz and Tess shared smiles at Isabel’s comments. It was clear to everyone in the group other than Alex, and of course Isabel herself, that she harbored feelings for Alex. Even though Isabel was experiencing heartache over Alex's new relationship, Liz was glad for Alex. She knew that Alex had wanted Isabel for the longest time. She was happy that Isabel was finally seeing Alex for the guy he had always been.

“Her hair is just like...way too dark for him.”

“Isabel it’s like a light brown,” Tess pointed out.

“I know what color her hair is. I just mean that he needs someone with lighter hair.”

“Someone with your hair?” Tess asked.

“Yes...I mean no. Ugh, I don’t know what I mean.”

“Well, I’m happy for Alex,” Liz volunteered. “He met someone that makes him happy. Aren’t you happy for him?” Liz asked.

Isabel folded her arms over her chest and sighed. “Well, yeah...I guess. I mean the friend part of me feels that way.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“He’s never around anymore. He never calls me anymore. It’s like Isabel Evans doesn’t exist to him,” Isabel confessed. He was once her closest friend.

“Um, aren’t you supposed to be mad at him?” Liz asked. Why would Isabel want him to call her if she was mad at him in the first place?

“He’s always with her,” Isabel finished as though she hadn’t heard her friend. “He doesn’t even sit with us at lunch anymore....because there’s no room for Alicia,” her voice became mocking at the end of the declaration.

“Isabel, everything will work out in the end, you’ll see.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Mmm, Alex, ooh that feels good,” Alicia purred. Alex sucked on her neck harder. Her reaction was much louder when she let out a breathy moan and Alex felt himself groan. “I think it’s time we move to the next level.”

Her words caused him to quickly pull away. The effect of her last comment would be like having cold water splashed on him. The next level? “What do you mean?”

“Sex.”

“Sex? Alicia, I don’t know if we’re ready for that. We have only been together a short time.”

“I know, but I really care about you Alex. We don’t have to, it was just a suggestion.”

“I know, but the idea of sex kind of makes me nervous.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never done it before.”

“Neither have I,” she replied with a small smile as she grasped his hand and placed it on her shirt covered breast.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“You will never believe what I walked in on last night,” Isabel announced as she walked over to Liz, Tess and Kyle.

“What?” Kyle asked in mock fascination.

Tossing the former jock a glare, she turned to the females of the small gathering. “So I heard this knocking noise and when I went to open Zan’s room he was in bed with Pam Troy!”

“No way!” Tess exclaimed.

“I swear. I am never going to look at them the same way again. Talk about disgusting.” Pam Troy was a popular name in the boy’s bathroom. Many stories had been shared about her.

“Where were your parents?” Liz wondered.

“They were out to dinner.”

“I guess it’s safe to say that he’s adjusting well to WRH...” Truth be told, since Zan started school, he hadn’t really been around. Never having been to school before, he was tested to be placed in a grade and once he was, he was swamped with work.

“Pam Troy! She’s just like everywhere!” Isabel took a breath. “You remember that crush she used to have on my brother...and then she sleeps with Zan?! That just ups the ick factor!”

“Oh, I completely agree. What would possess anyone to ever sleep with her is beyond me,” Tess agreed. She finished off muttering something about having to see it, Liz could hardly make it out.

“Hey Kyle, didn’t you lose your virginity to Pam Troy?” Liz asked turning to her exboyfriend. Kyle didn’t say a word, but the girls laughed at his serious expression.

“Hey Isabel,” Alicia greeted, standing in front of the four. She quickly turned to greet the other before returning to the statuesque blonde. “You have second hour with Alex right?”

“Yeah.”

“Great, um, can you give him this? It’s his history book. He left it at my house last night.”

“Yeah, sure.” Isabel muttered while reaching for the book.

“Thanks.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel stared at the back of Alex’s head in their lit class. She couldn’t help it. There were many times in the past four weeks when Isabel found herself looking at Alex, it began the following Monday after prom. Isabel was so embarrassed and upset that night. She couldn’t believe that Alex would go and kiss another girl at her prom when she was his date, not Alicia. The worst part was, he never noticed that she had left. He never said anything about it.

The last four weeks had been torture for Isabel. She refused even speak to Alex. Whenever he tried talking to her she did her best to ignore him. Her pride was too hurt and she wasn’t ready to forgive. Even though she was sticking to that, it hadn’t stopped the sting she felt when he gave up trying to get her to talk to him.

It hurt Isabel to see Alex with another girl. Not only was someone else making him happy, he was sharing part of himself with her. Isabel had always considered Alex a friend above anything else. After her destiny was revealed she never started their relationship back up. It never occurred to her that he would fine someone. Isabel never even thought she would care. She was finding things out about herself though. She hated when Alicia made Alex laugh, she hated their hushed whispers, she hated the fact that Alex happy with another girl, she hated the kisses she was witness to between the two. Isabel hated it all. She wanted to be the one to share those things with Alex. He was an amazing person. Why had she never realized that before? Why had she always been after the wrong ones?

The bell rang before Isabel knew it. She had been so zoned in on her thoughts she had completely forgotten about putting her things away. After gathering her things she noticed that Alex was already gone. Isabel hurried to find him. She called his name.

“Here’s your book. Alicia asked me to give it to you.”

“Thanks,” he replied.

“No problem.” They stared at one another for a second longer before Alex broke it.

“I should...probably get going.”

“Yeah...me too. Bye Alex.”

“By Isabel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey spaceboy,” Maria greeted with a big smile when Michael walked over to her.

Liz and Isabel looked at the couple. Maria was being much nicer than usual and she seemed more happy than most days. They watched as Michael’s lips lingered on Maria’s just a little longer than normal. After sitting down Michael made sure to touch Maria one way or another. That was all it took to convince them that something had happened between Michael and Maria.

“So, what’s up with you two?” Isabel asked.

“Nothing, why do you ask?”

“No, there is something,” Liz replied. She narrowed her eyes and looked more closely. It wasn’t only the fact that they were touching, it was the intimate gestures between them, the soft looks, the lingering kisses. No, there was definitely going on. Then it finally clicked. Liz gasped and covered her mouth with her hands excitedly.

“You okay Parker?” Michael asked.

“You two had sex didn’t you?” Liz exploded completely ignoring Michael’s statement. When Michael and Maria smiled and looked at each other as though they were remembering what happened Liz and Isabel smiled at each other, happy for their friends. After their smiles Isabel jumped into the questions.

“Was it normal? Did anything out of the ordinary happen?”

“Well, other than my joy stick glowing and the hour long orgasm everything was normal.”

“What?” Isabel asked immediately worried.

“I’m kidding! Geez, didn’t you ask Max any of this?”

“I kind of didn’t have a chance to. He never told me that he had sex with her in the first place. It was one of those out of the blue announcements that the girl was even pregnant.” The two remembered that Liz was at the table and shut their mouths. When Liz noticed this she rolled her eyes.

“Guys, it’s okay. I’m not going to throw myself over a ledge whenever Max is mentioned," Liz explained while rolling her eyes. "Hey Isabel, can I see your homework for history? There was this one essay question that I had some trouble with and I was wondering if I could see what you got.”

“Sure.” Isabel pulled out her book and opened the cover. She stopped when she found a folded piece of paper with Alex’s name scrawled on it. “Um, I...this is Alex’s book. He has my book, with my homework.”

“Oh.”

“Listen, I have to try to find him so I can turn in my homework. I’ll catch you later.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that day Isabel laid on her bed staring at the note to Alex. There was no question in her mind that it was from Alicia. She had looked all over for Alex at lunch only to learn from Alicia’s friends that she and Alex had decided to take the rest of the day off. During the rest of school Isabel tried to ignore the note, but now that she was home with nothing better to do it was eating away at her. What did it say?

The letter seemed to be taunting her. She wanted to open it, but she was afraid to invade someone else’s privacy. Sure, she had gone into Alex’s dreams, she had gone into a lot of people’s dreams, but she never felt guilty. She just thought of it as a better way to get to know a person. Not only would she be invading someone else’s privacy, but it would be Alex. He would be mad and upset for her even doing something like that.

She just...needed to know. Since Alex had gotten together with Alicia, since prom it seemed as though all communication had stopped between the two of them. Liz couldn’t live like that. She missed him more than ever! He had always been the one human she could identify with. With them no longer speaking to one another Isabel felt as though a piece of her was missing.

She spent her days staring at him, thinking about their past experiences together. She always saw the dazzling smile he gave her, there was always the tender way he treated her. Today as they stood in the hall she had seen the passion that seemed to ignite between them, she felt it. She wanted that back. With that last thought Isabel opened the note, consequences be damned.

However, after reading the note Isabel dropped the letter as though she had been burned. She brought a hand to her chest as though it could help heal her now aching heart. She hadn’t even noticed when the tears started pouring out of her eyes.

Chapter 9

“Hey Isabel what are you doing here?” Alex asked when he opened his front door. He stopped his voice when he got a good look at her. Her eyes were read and puffy, her nose was runny, far from her usual perfect self.

Isabel held out the history book. “This is your book. You have mine.”

Alex took it from her. “Are you all right? Do want to talk or something?”

Biting her bottom, she asked the question that had been on her mind. “I just, Alex...do you love her?”

There was no question in his mind as to who Isabel was referring to. “I could see myself falling in love with her.” Isabel jerkily shook her head, meanwhile her heart was breaking.

Isabel tried to offer him a smile as she turned around, but she failed miserably. “I have to go. I’ll um, I guess I’ll see you at school.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“He’s in love with her, or well on his way to being so.”

“Is it that much of a surprise?” Liz asked after Isabel spoke. She had been upstairs studying when she heard a knock on her window. She had been shocked that Isabel had come over. Besides that, she was a mess. Liz was sure that Isabel would never let anyone see her like that on a good day.

“What?” Isabel asked unable to believe that Liz would say something like that.

Moving to her friend, Liz wrapped Isabel in a comforting embrace. “Isabel, you and Alex have basically been nothing but screwed up since May. You used to be more than friends, then you were back to friends. You dated other people while Alex sat by and watched. How do you think that made him feel? From an outsider’s point of view it looks like you only want him when you can’t have him. You can’t do that to someone. It isn’t fair.” She hoped that Isabel understood what she was trying to say without offending her.

“I never meant to. I was...scared. I mean, Alex is the first person who I ever really let in wholly. Because of that I know I would have so much more to lose than if it were someone else,” Isabel confessed in a confused whisper. How had she managed to ruin the one thing she wanted most in the world?

Liz’s heart broke for her friends. Was it enough that she would never get to have her happily ever after with Max, but now her friends wouldn’t get what they desired? “Iz, I really don’t know what to say about that. I told you my thoughts.” Pulling away from Isabel, Liz offered her the best piece of advice she could muster. “Take it from someone who let love go...if you have a chance for love, then hold on and don’t let go.”

“You’re right. I love him and he should know.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After departing from Liz’s Isabel headed back over to see Alex. Liz was right, and she knew what it was like to lose the person she loved. If anyone knew what she was talking about she did and Isabel didn’t want to lose Alex the way Liz had lost her brother. Of course there was always the thought that Alex would only think it was because he was with someone else. Isabel knew he would bring that up, but she didn’t care. She would admit to him what an idiot she was for not knowing what she had before.

Maybe she should talk to him tomorrow.? She had already seen him once and then things were too sad for her. She needed to gather some time, she needed to think through what she should say. Isabel knew that whatever she said would be the determining factor in their relationship. It would be better is she knew what to say.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“What did Isabel want?” Michael asked as Liz walked downstairs. At the narrowed eyes she gave him he shrugged. “I was on my way upstairs to ask you something when I heard you two talking.”

Liz nodded before answering. “She just needed someone to talk to.”

“Is everything okay with her?” He was never one to really get involved with Isabel’s romantic life, he didn’t plan on starting any time soon, but he hated to see his surrogate sister upset.

Liz nodded and took a breath of assurance. “I’m sure it will be.” After all, this was Isabel and Alex. The dork had gotten past the ice queen, they deserved to be together. With all the pain that Alex had been put through, Liz was glad that Isabel had finally realized what Alex was all about. No, there was no way they wouldn’t end up together.

“Good. So I was wondering if you and Zan wanted to go out with me and Maria this weekend.”

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not?”

How could Michael even ask her to go out with he and Maria? “Well, lets see shall we? My former best friend like...almost hates me, thinks I’m trying to get in her boyfriend’s pants, and can hardly stand to be around me.” When Michael looked as though he was going to break in with something, Liz held her hand up to stop him. “And what if people see us? I mean imagine what people will say when they see us out? Max left so I settle for his brother? Right. Like that’s going to happen anytime soon.”

“Who cares what they think?” Michael asked. “This is a small town, they talk about everyone. Besides, it won’t be the first time you and your love life have been up at the top.”

“After that whole Kyle thing I just want the added attention. I know that they don’t even know anything about it, but...”

“Please come Liz?” Michael pleaded, cutting off her explanation. “You know Maria doesn’t really dislike you, this could be a good start to repairing things.” he said. “Besides, if anyone says anything I’ll just pull that act I did last year with Kyle’s friends.”

“Then was Maria act that way?”

“I haven’t figured that out yet. I’m trying to find this stuff out discreetly. I don’t want to upset her,” Michael confessed.

“Michael, you don’t have to find out. I don’t want you getting in trouble from your girlfriend over me again.

“Don’t worry about me Liz. I know how to handle Maria.”

“So...a double date thing huh?” She made a face as she looked away.

“Not a date,” Michael was quick to fix. “It’s just two friends accompanying two people on a date.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Alex, I need to speak with you,” Isabel said as she approached Alex the following morning at school. As much as she would have preferred to wait until after school when she could be over at his house, her mind was too focused on him. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get through the day if she didn’t speak to him as soon as possible.

“O...kay.” It had been ages since she had last spoken to him (Okay, days, but it felt like ages) he thought to himself and he wondered what she had to say. He followed her to an empty classroom nearby. When they were inside Isabel began pacing while Alex calmly sat on a desk looking at her. He had never seen her so nervous before.

“Yesterday...when I was supposed to give you your book I didn’t pay attention and they were switched.” Alex nodded his head showing her he understood as much. “I found a note in it and I read it.”

Alex narrowed his eyes at her. “You read a note out of my book? You read a note addressed to me?” Isabel had done some things in the past, but this was by far the worst. She had completely invaded his privacy!

“Yes...I didn’t mean to,” she answered quickly at his glare, “but I just got to thinking and before I knew it my mind ran away from me and I read it to see if everything I was thinking was really...real.”

“I can’t believe you! What, it isn’t enough to go into people’s dreams at night you have to read their letters too?”

“Alex! I already apologized. What else can I do?”

“You can–”

He was effectively cut off from finishing his statement when he felt Isabel’s lips close over his. It was only brief contact before he tore away from her.

“What are you doing?” He half yelled, half demanded.

Isabel’s eyes widened at his tone. Never once had he ever been so angry with her. “I was kissing you.”

Stepping away from her, Alex shook his head. “You can’t do that!”

“Alex, I’m in love with you,” Isabel cried out trying to get close to him.

“No, you only want me because you can’t have me. Besides, I am with Alicia now and I really like her. You can’t do this! You can’t just screw with my life!”

“I’m not trying to.”

“I can’t handle this right now. I gotta go.” He left Isabel alone in the classroom, still holding his book. He furious with her! He purposely ignored the tears in her eyes as he stalked away.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The rest of the week passed without incidence for anyone. Alex hadn’t spoken to Isabel since she tried to kiss him and whenever they were due to be in the same vicinity he would avoid her at all costs. Isabel had taken the clue and she began letting it set in that Alex no longer wanted her.

In the mean time Liz and Maria were forced in the between the two. No matter how long they had been friends with Alex, they couldn’t deny their new friendship with Isabel. Usually they would take turns with the couple, Maria would visit with Alex, while Liz stayed with Isabel. None of it was too fun, that was why they were looking forward to getting away from the feuding couple.


Friday night Maria had picked her boyfriend and Zan up before getting Liz. When Liz had walked to the car she noticed that the boys were already there Liz couldn’t contain the small pout. Usually Maria would have picked her up first. It was something they had done since Maria had first gotten her license. This new fact only added her negative thoughts. She promised herself that she would find out what Maria’s problem was with her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex had gone over to Alicia’s earlier that night in hopes of getting Isabel off his mind. He had been doing that a lot over the last few days. Ever since Isabel kissed him and confessed to him how he felt he somehow felt guilty for it and in turn dedicated all his time to Alicia.

At the present moment things had escalated very much between him and his girlfriend. He had gone over to hang out with Alicia, but when she mentioned that her parents were out and started kissing him he never stopped them. They had moved to her bedroom and were nearly naked.

Alex kissed her hard before moving his mouth lower to her small breasts. Isabel had much larger ones, he had never been there before, but he imagined them to be quite nice. Her body was so different from Alicia’s. Alicia was small and mostly petite while Isabel’s was long and luxurious.

Isabel...did she really mean what she said? It could have been because he was taken. Before Alicia had come along he dedicated most of his time to Isabel. He sat by and watched as she dated guy after guy. It wasn’t fun for him, his heart was always hurting. He supposed that when he got together with Alicia he had done to get over Isabel, and he had...or he thought he had. It was only when Isabel said something to him that his mind started wandering. He had pretty much given up on them as a couple. He trained himself to realize that she would never want him and when that happened he slowly started to believe it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So, what should we do?” Maria asked as everyone sat in her car. They were stopped at a red light and until then things had been silent.

“What if we go to the carnival?”

Maria looked in her rearview mirror at Liz and Zan. “What do you guys think about that?”

“Sure, sounds fine to me,” Zan answered, he’d never been to one to actually go on the rides. He, Lonnie, Rath and Ava would go and pit pocket the crowd, but that was it.

“Whatever,” Liz replied not moving her gaze from the scenery passing by. Not saying anything, from his position next to her, Zan studied her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“This has been a great night,” Maria purred as she and Michael cuddled up on the Ferris Wheel.

“Yeah.” Michael kissed her forehead. “Maria, if I ask you something, do you promise to tell me the truth?”

“Okay.”

“Why do you practically hate Liz all of a sudden?”

“I don’t. I just...Liz has this thing about her. She comes across as a damsel in distress and for that reason guys always feel they have to protect her. They get sucked in by her. It’s happened in the past. Like freshman year I had just started dating Robbie Freeman when her parents had started going through some rough things. Robbie dropped me to spend time with her. I know that Liz didn’t want anything to do with him, but it hurt you know. It’s like it’s not enough that my father left me, but my boyfriends have to as well. I just...I feel threatened sometimes.”

“Why didn’t you say anything before?” Michael’s eyebrows arched. Maria always insisted that she was teflon. She never let things bother her.

“Because I felt embarrassed. The fact that things like these have happened in the past reminds me that it can happen now or in the future. Liz doesn’t know how I feel. I tried to tell her once, but I chickened out and said something entirely different from the situation at hand. I don’t like feeling insecure and the fact that I care about you way more than any other boyfriends I ever had, I am even more frightened that I will lose you too.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“I always wanted to have sex on a ride,” Zan announced as he and Liz rode in a different carriage on the Ferris wheel.

Breaking out of her thoughts, Liz looked to her companion with a small smile. “I’ll bet,” she replied in a playful tone.

“There isn’t anything wrong with having sex. I do it all the time and you look at me like I’m crazy.” His voice was light and a bit teasing.

“Well, you are,” Liz returned. “Look at your sexual preferences...I mean Pam Troy?” She and Zan had become fast friends. It was an odd situation. After removing his piercings, he toned down a bit. He looked more similar to Max then ever before, but she never once felt anything other then a fond friendship for him. Aside from that, they were more open to each other about certain subjects then they were with anyone else in the group.

“Aside from her,” he answered smiling at Liz. The day after he’d slept with the leggy blonde, he’d gotten quite an earful from Isabel, Liz and Tess on the subject. Zan moved closer to Liz and placed an arm on the side of the ride so that it was stretched across the length of Liz’s shoulders. “So...how about you?”

Peering at him from the side she laughed. She didn’t want him to see the way her face reddened at the mention of his offer. Not him exactly, just sex in general. “Don’t you even dare buddy!” She warned playfully.

Zan mock sighed. “Well, there goes my chance at some real fun for the evening.”

“Oh you poor baby,” Liz replied, turning to face him when she felt as though her face was no longer flushed. “How ever will you survive?”

“Eh, you’re lucky you’re beautiful.” Liz laughed as she snuggled up to her date for the evening.

“I’m glad I agreed to come tonight,” Liz confessed. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a great date?”

Zan cleared his throat and used his free hand scratch his eyebrow. “I don’t think they meant it in the same way that you do.”

Liz smiled at him and pulled away, playfully swatting at him. “And there goes the normal conversation.”

“Eh, what’s so great about normal?” Zan returned. Liz released a deep breath, and tried to smile back. It was such a Max like thing to say. The rest of the ride, she sat in silence thinking back to the night when Zan’s dupe had said those fateful words. It had been the most magical night of her young life, she and Max were so care free then. They had no reincarnated brides, destinies, future husbands or loose black haired, new girls coming between them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex pulled away from Alicia when she went to unbuckle his pants. His mind screamed at him to stop before he messed things up completely. “Alicia, we need to stop.”

“Stop?” She asked.

“Slow down,” he clarified when he saw her confused expression.

“Why?”

“It’s too fast. I thought we could wait a little longer.”

“Wait?” She asked, what was wrong with this guy? Didn’t he have any hormones? “Okay...we wait. What do we do now?”

“Well, we can cuddle,” Alex suggested putting his shirt back on. He handed Alcia her’s before settling down on her bed.

Looking at the shirt in her hand, and then to her boy friend, Alicia nodded. “Okay...sure...we cuddle,” her voice, somewhat unsure.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Kyle, can I talk to you?” Tess asked as she sat down on the couch next to him. She was glad that Jim was working. This was the most awkward thing she ever had to ask and she wasn’t sure she would have even broached the subject if Jim had been anywhere near.

“Shoot.” He looked away from the tv.

“Okay, so...you know that we are both single and that we hang out together a lot right?” She looked up from her hands to judge his reaction, but she found him staring at the tv. She rolled her eyes and turned the tv off using her powers.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“Never mind, I just lost all my nerve!” Tess muttered marching out of the room.

“The least you could do was turn the tv back on!” Kyle called as she walked out of the room.

Chapter 10

Just to warn you, this part includes just a tiny bit of NC17, but only a small....teeny, weeny little part.



“God, my life sucks right now,” Liz complained with a pathetic whine as she walked into Isabel’s room and tossed herself on the bed. She looked over at Isabel, they shared a smile, both sad and depressed.

“Tell me about it,” Isabel agreed. She quieted down as she thought about the last few weeks. Alex was still avoiding her like the plague. It hurt all the time whenever he would scamper off when she came around. On the bright side of things she had found a strong friend in Liz. It was ironic. She had never really like Max and Liz together, but low and behold she was discovering a new best friend out of her brother’s ex girlfriend.

The last week she, Liz and Tess had hung out more than they ever had. The three had bonded over heart break and ice cream. They had invited Maria to spend time with them, but she always declined to hang out with Michael. The only good thing the three could find out of that was that they wouldn’t have to listen to her gush about how sweet he was. Even though they were jealous of Maria they would never say anything. She had everything they wanted, they were both very envious and undeniably sick of the PDA.

“So, did you ever find out why Maria was so rotten for that while?”

“No. Michael knows but he doesn’t want to break Maria’s trust and whenever we get together Maria clams up about the subject.”

“So, you guys do talk and hang out?”

“More like talk. When we are at work or school in between classes. Things are still kind of strained but...there’s nothing I can do until she confides in me. I still kind of miss her friendship though. We have been together through everything, even the first time we got our periods. You can’t replace a friend like that and Alex...he barely talks to me anymore.”

Isabel snorted at the comment. “He hardly talks to anyone. Did I tell you? Last night he and Alicia went on a double date with Maria and Michael.”

“How cozy,” Liz added. Liz liked Alicia, she was really a nice girl, but she hated the way that she seemed to be dictating Alex’s life. “Still, it seems like everything is falling down around us. I hardly speak to Maria and Alex anymore. I can’t even remember the last time that Maria and I spent the night together...alone watching movies.” She looked over to Isabel. “Looking on the bright side though, I have formed friendships with you and Tess. Who would have thought?”

“I know, I was thinking the same thing earlier,” Isabel admitted.

“So, since the school year is almost over, are there any plans?”

“Well, I don’t really know. I’m sure my parents are going to want to visit Max when Gia has the baby. Other than that I don’t know.”

Thinking about the impending birth of Max’s child, Liz snorted. “That’s convenient.”

“What?” Isabel asked, what was?

“She’s due in nine months? That’s the length of a human pregnancy...and this is a humans/hybrid baby we’re talking about.”

“What are you saying?” Isabel asked, she’d already spent her time fretting over the meaning of this baby and the possible exposures that went along with it.

“You guys were in pods for how long and you came out as six year olds,” Liz answered. “I just don’t see how it could be such human length of time for this child...and while we’re on it, I have to say, you and Michael seemed to take the news of Gia’s pregnancy pretty calmly.”

“We don’t know anything about hybrid pregnancies Liz,” Isabel replied. “It’s like we’re just flying by the seat of our pants here. As for the other thing, you were still staying away from Max. You weren’t there to hear the ass chewing he received from both Michael and I.” Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “There wasn’t anything we could do though. She was already pregnant. Max swore he would keep a close eye on things and he calls and keeps me informed, but he never mentioned anything paranormal.” Isabel let out a breath. “I can’t wait until the summer. I miss my brother.”

Summer vacation, it was normally a fun time. As much as she had fun hanging out with her friends, she remembered what it was like when she and Kyle were dating over the summer. She enjoyed it. “Man, I need a boyfriend for times like that.”

“I thought you weren’t ready for a relationship?”

“I’m not, but I really miss someone being there. I just...the situation with Max is still there. I feel the pain all the time when I think about meeting someone else. It’s lessened over time.” Liz took a breath. “Who knows, maybe it’s a sign that I’m almost ready.”

“Yeah,” Isabel murmured. It was about damn time! If there was anyone she knew who deserved to be happy it was Liz. “I can’t even get Alex out of my head.” Isabel shook her negatively, “do you know many dates I have turned down?” Liz rolled her eyes, there was the ice princess that they all knew and loved. As if knowing where Liz’s thoughts had ventured, Isabel continued. “I just, if Alex ever does make a decision I want him to know that I was serious.”

Liz didn’t know what to say. The difference between herself and Isabel was that she had lost love while Isabel still had a chance at grasping it. There was no doubt in her mind that Alex and Isabel would become a couple. There was no way they couldn’t. It didn’t look like it at first glance, but Liz was almost positive the two had been made for each other. They balanced each other out perfectly...if only Alicia wasn’t involved. “So, where’s Tess?”

“I’m not sure. She called and said she was cancelling, but I don’t know what she’s doing.”

“Maybe she’s going to talk to Kyle again?” Liz asked. Personally, she felt as though it was time for Kyle and Tess to announce their ‘couplehood,’ everyone in the group could see that the two only held eyes for each other.

“Maybe.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Right there! Just a little more baby,” Kyle panted out as Tess continued to ride him. His hands were on her hips helping to glide her movements. Her eyes were closed and her head was tilted back. Boy! Was he glad that they sat down and talked about their increasing attraction towards one another! Feeling her move up until he mostly out of her before slapping back down brought out a loud groan. If he’d known this would be the result of their conversation, he would have talked much sooner with her.

“I know. This feels so good. Ky...Kyle. I’m almost...”

“Me too.” The two were so intent on reaching their orgasms they never heard the front door open or Jim calling for them. Just as their peaks were about to hit the bedroom door slammed opened.

“What the hell is going on in here?” He stopped what he was doing when he saw a naked Tess scramble off his son as he lifted the sheets to cover her. He had only gone in there to see what the noise was, the music had been blaring, and he had a horrific headache. He had come home early in hopes of getting some rest, but as he looked at the two he had the feeling that wouldn’t be possible for a while.

“Dad! I didn’t think you would be home until later.”

“Obviously. You two get dressed and be in the living room in two minutes!” He screamed. Jim waited until he the two teenagers scampered out of the room before letting silently laughing. He knew the situation was serious, but the looks on their faces were priceless! Yup, this would definitely be a story that he could embarrass Kyle with for years

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hi Tess,” Isabel greeted as Tess approached the lunch table. “So, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” she muttered. Isabel and Liz exchanged a look.

“Right. Seriously, what’s going on?”

“JimwalkedinonmeandKylehavingsexyesterday.” Isabel chocked on the bit of food she had just eaten while Liz spit out her drink, neither had expected to hear that kind of news from Tess.

“When did you and Kyle start sleeping together?” Liz asked.

“Yesterday.” Liz and Isabel fought to hide back their laughter and smiles. They felt bad for Tess, but honestly what a hilarious situation!

“What did Jim do?”

“A lot of screaming.” Tess looked down and pouted. “ What’s worse is I feel that I feel like I’ve let him down. I mean he took me into his home and since then I’ve become part of the family. You should have seen the way he was looking at us!”

“You were having sex with his son...in his house,” Isabel reiterated, no wonder why Jim Valenti would be upset. “So, what happened to Kyle?”

“I don’t really know. Jim sent me to my room after he finished speaking to me. Kyle slept on the couch and when I woke up, in the morning he was gone and so was his mustang. I haven’t spoken to him all day. I haven’t even seen him yet.”

“I can’t believe you slept with him! What brought that on anyway? Last I checked you were pissed off at him for ignoring you.”

“Well, I was. Last night we were just sitting around and he brought up the same thing I had been trying to the other night. One thing lead to the other and the next thing I know we were having sex.”

“So, that’s why you wanted to talk to him that night?” Liz asked. She had been under the impression that Tess wanted more than just sex.

“It...will work for now.”

Neither Liz nor Isabel said anything else. Tess started to sound uncomfortable and they didn’t need to examine the subject. Tess looked at the two grateful that they stopped asking questions. She no other information, being truthful she wasn’t happy with the way things had gone. She felt that since Kyle wasn’t talking to her that he considered a meaningless rump in the sack.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabel got home that day thankful that school had ended when it did. It hadn’t been too bad of a day, but it started getting there. “You want something to drink?”

“Water’s fine.” Liz sat down at the kitchen table and pulled out her homework. “I just want to finish this damn homework. Five classes worth of homework! Can you believe that?” Looking at Isabel she shrugged. “It’s not like I have a life I need to get back to or anything, but still.”

Isabel smiled at Liz before walking into the kitchen. “Hey Liz! Call up to Zan and see what he wants to drink!” When she heard a knock on the back door, Isabel made a face. Who would be knocking on the back door? She was completely shocked when she opened it.

“Max? What are you doing here?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hey Iz,” Max greeted breezily as he gathered her in for a hug. Isabel smiled big, but somewhat forced. Seeing him was a complete surprise. What was he doing here? Where was Gia? Oh no! Liz was sitting in the living room, what if she saw Max and Gia all cuddly?

“Wow, it’s great to see you, where is Gia?”

“Gia and her parents went to see some distant relatives. I figured what better time than this to come and visit my family and new brother?” He pulled away and smiled again. “Speaking of which, where is he?”

“Upstairs, Liz is asking him what he wants to drink.”

“Liz is here?” Max asked, his heart slamming against his chest. He couldn’t explain it, but he wanted to see her, he needed to.

“Yeah, we’re doing our homework,” Isabel explained shortly. She saw the look in Max’s eyes and decided it was a bad idea for Liz and Max to be in the same area.

“Well, where is she? I want to say hi.”

Isabel smiled thinly. “Yeah...I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not?” He couldn’t fathom why he felt the undeniable urge to see his soulmate, he knew he really had no reason to, but he wanted to. When he’d made the decision to return to Roswell for the night, he had coached himself, he wouldn’t go looking for the tiny brunette, but he knew that he wouldn’t mind if they were thrown together. Hearing that Liz was in his house at that very moment, it was like it was meant to be.

Shaking her head at her brother’s nonchalance, “Can you really stand there and ask me that?”

“I know that I hurt her, but we were friends first,” Max admitted. He couldn’t believe his sister was actually suggesting that he not bother speaking to Liz. Didn’t she know what Liz meant to him?

“But you still hurt her–” she was cut off from finishing her sentence as Liz walked into the kitchen with her nose stuck in a book.

“Zan wanted....” She looked up before looking back down. “Sorry, I didn’t know you had company.” She looked back up thinking there was something familiar about the guy standing with her friend. At a closer look she gasped. “Max?”

“Hi Liz.” His amber eyes were boring into hers. Tears started gathering in her eyes at the sight of him. The past heartache was forgotten, all she could see was her soul mate standing in front of her.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was homesick.” She gave him a small smile, never breaking eye contact. She watched as he walked closer to her and gently pulled her into his arms. She went willingly. As his arms surrounded her she closed her eyes and let the familiar feeling flow through her.

When he pulled away she felt that it was too soon. She looked into his eyes, not believing that he was actually there. Before she knew it a once common tingling sensation sprung forth from the back of her head. Their eyes were locked and both were unable to look away as flashes sprung forth between them.

Liz felt tears prick her eyes as their last moments between them in Roswell were replayed. She saw his wedding, the nights he spent with Gia, she saw him holding her, she saw him comforting her. The nights that Max and Gia spent together sexually were forever stuck in her head. It wasn’t nice when she thought about the fact that her love was married. She had assumed that they would sleep together, but to actually see it? Why was she being tortured? She tried to pull away, but something was forcing her to stay still. The next thing she saw made her heart brake in half. More so than anything else that had happened in her life. It was that one moment that made her hate Max.

FLASH*

“Liz was part of my past. She was the first girl I ever liked, she was my first kiss. She will always hold some importance to me, not only that, but she is my friend,” he explained gently, “but we also have something special together too. You were my first everything else, not to mention the fact that we have a daughter. It’s you who I hold in my arms at night, it’s you who I make love to, it’s you that I share my life with.”

END FLASH*

Liz recoiled in pain and yanked herself away. She struggled to catch her balance from the force she pulled away with, but she needed to get away from Max.

“Liz?” Max asked. His heart was hurting. He saw everything she went through since he was gone, felt every emotion she felt about him, about the situation. It had been so long since they connected.

“What’s taking so long?” Zan asked walking into the kitchen. He stopped short at seeing his dupe in there as well.

Liz stepped forward with a blank expression on her face. Isabel watched the entire scene with a feeling of dread. She knew they were connected when neither looked away from the other. When Liz yanked herself away and put a blank expression on her face Isabel knew something had happened. Since she had come back to the land of the living Liz never hid her emotions. She usually was straight forward and truthful, never minding who she hurt when she spoke her truth. Isabel gasped and covered her mouth as Liz gave Max a ferocious right hook that connected with his chin. He sprawled to the floor, not being ready for the powerful attack.

“I knew that we weren’t anything to each other when you went off decided to fuck the new girl, but I thought that when we were together we at least loved one another. At least that’s what you made me think. I thought I was your soul mate and you were mine, but I realize now what a selfish little boy you are. You don’t care about anything other than yourself or what effects you! Do you have any idea what I was going though?! You killed me the day that you screwed that girl, killed me a little more when you married her. Connecting with you and seeing you do the things you did and said the things you said reminded me that just because you were a bastard and hurt me the way you did doesn’t mean that I need to be dead from the world. Over the last few months, I have become a strong woman, I no longer feel the need to want a man to make me feel better about myself! It’s amazing that here I was still partly in love with you while you are off telling your wife that all I was to you was the first person you liked...your first kiss. Well, you know what Max? I don’t feel like that! I thought that what we had was something special, apparently not to you. I want to thank you for the experience of letting me love you...and not getting loved back in return. Now that I have said that, I’m done with you. I want you out of my life, from now on you will be dead to me, because the Max that I fell in love with is dead as well! Don’t ask about me, in fact, don’t even think about me. I need to move on with my life just as you have. I hate the person you have become so I refuse to shed any tears over this!”

Isabel couldn’t say anything, she nodded her head. When Liz walked into the kitchen she grabbed her things and slammed door behind her when she left. Isabel turned back to her brother and helped him up. She saw the tears gathering in his eyes.

“Max?”

She was vaguely aware of Zan heading the same way that Liz went.

Max looked to Isabel sadly before looking in direction that Liz took off in. “So, welcome home to me huh?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When Liz walked out of the Evans’ residence, she took a deep breath and smiled. She couldn’t help it. She felt wonderful, she felt free! It was something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Saying the things she said to Max was the most therapeutic thing she could have ever done for herself.

She realized what a moron she had been the last months. She had given up everything after Max left, how stupid was that? She had gotten strong, but she forced her every opportunity for romance away because she felt that she wasn’t ready. Liz could admit to herself it was because she wasn’t over Max. It was different now though. She could feel her heart lightening, she finally had the closure that she needed to allow herself to move on.

“You okay cherry?” Zan asked walking up to Liz. He wasn’t sure what he would find in following her, maybe anger and a few tears, but he was stunned when she turned to him smiling.

“I haven’t felt this good in ages,” Liz answered truthfully. “I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hi Mrs. Evans,” Maria greeted as Dianne walked into the Crashdown and headed straight for her.

“Hello Maria. Listen Max is back. He arrived earlier today and I was wondering if you and Max’s friends wanted to come over tonight?”

“Um, I think that would be all right. Let me talk to them and I will call you later.”

“That would be great. Bye dear!” Dianne rushed out of the restaurant while Maria sprung on her heals and headed for the cook’s window.

“Max is back”

“Really?” Michael asked. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Max had been like a brother to him, whether he agreed with his actions or not, but he had become so protective of Liz the last months. Did Liz even know? “Does Liz know?”

Maria shrugged, not knowing anything more then he did. “I couldn’t tell you.”

“Do you have a break coming up soon?” He was concerned for Liz. He remembered the pain she went through the last time she saw Max. She didn’t need to feel the same way again.

“Yeah.”

“Why don’t you go check on Liz. Find out what she knows. Don’t tell her if she doesn’t have any idea.”

“Thank you Michael, I planned on not telling her. What special kind of stupid do you think I am?” Maria gave him the evil eye and walked away. Before getting back to work she had to call the others and tell them that Mrs. Evans invited them over.

Hey guys! I notced that this chapter was considerably shorter then the others. I'm just going to go ahead and post it since I've already posted the previous one.


Chapter 11

As Zan, Maria, Michael, Tess and Kyle stood in the living room at the Evans’ they couldn’t get over how awkward it was. Dianne and Phillip were the only ones talking to Max. Isabel had gone upstairs ten minutes ago and hadn’t come back down.

“So? It’ awfully quiet. I would have thought you guys would have something to talk about,” Diane suggested. “Maybe it’s because we’re here. Phillip, why don’t we get dinner cooking?” She looked at Max’s friends. “Where’s Liz at?”

“She got sucked into working tonight and couldn’t get away,” Maria answered as she looked at Max. During her break she had gone to check on Liz and when she heard what happened she was so happy for her friend. Liz had told her how she felt afterwards and Liz could tell it was something she hadn’t felt in a while.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Weren’t you looking forward to seeing her honey?”

“Uh...no,” Max muttered back. Dianne looked at her son but said nothing. She had seen the way her son fell all over himself at the mention of Liz. At one time, she was almost certain that her son was going to marry the Parker girl.

When Mr. And Mrs. Evans had gone into the kitchen everyone looked at each other unable to think of something to say. “So, Max...it’s great to see you again,” Tess offered.

“Yeah...you too.”

“So, what made you decide to come back Roswell?” Kyle asked just as unsurely as Tess spoke to Max only a moment ago.

“I just wanted to come home. I missed you guys...and my parents. Besides, I figured now would be the perfect time to come and meet my brother,” the look that Max fixed upon Zan was clear to everyone. They’d all heard about the confrontation between the reincarnated kings.

“Well, I suppose this isn’t the greeting you were expecting,” Maria guessed with a slight smirk. Max looked at her but judging by the looks the others were giving him they had no idea what had gone on between Liz and himself earlier that day.

“No I suppose not,” he replied in a dead voice. “So, what’s been going on since I left?” Max asked. It had taken a few minutes for everyone to start talking, but once that started things seemed be flowing like they used to. Maria and Max had chosen to ignore one another completely and when they did that Michael looked at them wondering what had happened. They both knew something that the others didn’t.

By this time Isabel had come down. She shared what was going on with her life while Tess told him when the sheriff walked on her and Kyle as they were having sex. When Max heard the story he laughed so hard he almost cried. He couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so hard.

“So what happened?”

“He yelled, but he hasn’t really said anything since then...”

“Yeah, my dad says he spends too much time at work and he doesn’t have enough time to baby sit us. It’s either that or those looks. Those parental looks that they give you when they know you know you’ve done something bad.”

“How has Liz been?” Max ventured.

“She’s been great,” Maria replied. “I mean after a while she dusted herself off and...she’s doing great. You should know that she and Zan have quite a strong friendship going.”

Max quieted down when Maria mentioned Zan and Liz’s frienship. He felt jealousy strike him down before he could contain his thoughts. What did it matter? She practically hated him? Why would he need to care what she did or who she did it with. He was married now. He knew he was being ridiculous, but it was a habit. When he and Liz finally got together after years of him pining for her he couldn’t help but feel protective over her.

Michael looked from Maria to Zan to Max. He knew that she was trying to make Max think that there was a possibility of something going on between Zan and Liz. He didn’t understand how Maria could act that way. She was once his friend. As for Zan...he honestly didn’t know why he didn’t bother correcting Maria.

“So, how is the wife?” Maria asked sweetly. Max looked at her, he could sense the malice in her voice, he also could tell she knew where his mind had gone.

“Good.”

“That good. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to her or junior.” By now the others had picked up on her attitude.

“Maria can I talk to you?” Michael asked as politely as possible. He wasn’t too thrilled with Max after the way he hurt Liz, but he would never go off and purposely say things.

“Sure. Excuse us,” Maria replied with a smile.

Michael waited until the front door was completely shut before opening his mouth. “What the hell is going on?” Michael barked out as soon as they were alone on the Evans’ porch.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the rude comments to Max.”

“Okay, so it’s like this. Liz was over this afternoon when Max arrived home and she yelled at him and punched him and I just couldn’t help it. He hurt her so badly.”

“Stop acting like you’re the model friend! You have been mean to Liz since we got back together and I am sick of it. You are way out of line with both of them.”

“Not this again!” Maria thought that they were past this, she shook her head. “You always seem to defend her, why?”

“Don’t even pull this shit again Maria! You know there isn’t anything between me and Liz besides friendship.”

“Could have fooled me with all the time you spend together.”

“When do I hang out with her? I am constantly with you!” He argued back. He took a deep breath. “I’m tired.”

“Then why don’t we just go home?” Maria asked immediately worried about him.

“No, I mean of this...us. You may be able to act like we’re this loving couple in public and around our friends, but you know it isn’t true. We are in a constant battle and I am tired of it. You are always judging me, the things I do. I talk to Liz and you act like I am asking her to run off with me. I am tired of it Maria. It isn’t fair to either of us. I deserve someone that can trust me and you need to find someone else you can trust.”

“You can’t mean that,” Maria responded as she tried to grab his hand. Michael stepped out of her reach and shook his head.

“I’m sorry Maria, but I can’t...I won’t stay with you.”

“But I love you. We made love...and I know you love me!”

“It’s not about love anymore. It’s about trust now.”

“Michael please don’t break us up, we can work it out,” she begged. The idea of losing him was more than she had ever imagined. She knew she loved him, but she couldn’t believe how much he had come to mean to her.

“This is us working it out. We argue. I can’t even bring up Liz for fear that I will end up in the dog house.”

“I’ll change,” she provided, trying to keep him. Michael felt remorse wash through him as he looked at her. He knew that Maria was trying to hold on, but in his opinion, there was nothing to hold on to.

“But you shouldn’t have to change, and neither should I.”

“Michael...please.”

“I love you Maria, I do, but there’s nothing holding me right now. I don’t want to be with you and I am sure that pretty deep down that you don’t want me either. I think that we have become a habit to one another and that’s what you want.”

“I don’t think of you as a habit.”

“Well, we aren’t happy together anyway.” Maria opened her mouth to respond to him, but stopped at what she was saying. He was right, she wasn’t happy. She knew that there were good days and bad days for couples, but shouldn’t they at least be glad to see one another on those good days? She couldn’t remember the last time they were happy to see one another on those days.

“Maybe you’re right. We should at least take a break?” Maria thought out loud.

Michael wanted to agree with her, but he couldn’t. “Maria, we have taken breaks...and this is where we end up. It’s not good for us. We need a clean break from each other.”

Tears started pouring down her cheeks. Maria couldn’t believe that they were ending. Michael reached up and wiped her tears away. “Oh Michael.” She threw herself in his arms and Michael just held her.

“I’m sorry I’m hurting you. I don’t want to anymore.”

Maria nodded. “I know.” She pulled away from him.

“I want to thank you for giving me your virginity and letting me share mine with you. It was one of the most special moments in my life. I will always remember it.”

Maria really didn’t want to listen to him anymore. She nodded again before looking away. “I guess I should go.” Michael didn’t say anything as she walked away from him. When she got into her car and drove off he stared after him. Long after she was gone he was still standing in the same place.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty minutes later Max joined Michael outside. For the longest time neither spoke. It was only when Michael noticed Max looking at him and he met Max’s eyes. “So...”

“We broke up,” Michael provided before Max could say anything else.

Max uncomfortably scratch his head. “Yeah...we uh...overheard. You okay.”

“I will be...” Michael replied evasively. Max nodded his head. The two spent the next hour in silence, both letting their mind wander.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Looking up at the clock for the third time in the last ten minutes, Liz sighed. Everyone was over at the Evans’ with Max and she was so completely bored. Her body still hummed with the excitement over her actions that afternoon. She needed a to find a way to let it flow, but she had no one to talk to. Her parents had already gone to sleep, and so she sat alone in the living room aimlessly flipping through the channels.

After hearing a knock on her door, she was confused to find a crying Maria standing in front of her. “Maria?”

Maria didn’t wait for anything else before walking towards Liz. Seeing her friend only caused more sobs to escape her. “Liz.” It was a desperate cry as she hugged her.

“What happened?”

“Michael. He broke up with me,” Maria choked out before more tears burst. She hadn’t wanted to even go over to Liz’s, at the time she was so furious. Furious that Michael had broken up with her over her actions with Liz. It was a bitter moment. Her boyfriend broke up with over, probably over Liz and what does she do? She seeks solace in said girl.

Liz didn’t say a word, she led Maria over to the couch and let her friend cry on her shoulders.

Chapter 12
(June)

“So, how was Gia? What’s the baby like?” Tess asked as she, Liz, Michael, Alex, Zan, Maria and Kyle sat around at Michael’s apartment. Isabel and Zan had just returned home from visiting Max and his new born baby girl. Everyone wondered how it all went? Mostly because they had no idea how an alien birth went.

“She was fine...well normal. She seemed exhausted but nothing out of the ordinary. They named her Karina Dianne,” Isabel smiled, “mom was thrilled. She was five pounds 9 ounces.” Normally Isabel would have been glad, but she felt odd about the entire thing. She, Max, Michael and Tess weren’t completely human so would it make sense that her brother’s baby was? She melted the minute she held the tiny bundle in her arms though.

“Nothing?” Alex asked. He wondered if all alien pregnancies were like that. Did it matter if an alien was male or female? It seemed odd to find that it was normal. He knew that Max, Michael, Isabel and Tess weren’t too different from them, but he at least expected glowing.

“I know,” Isabel conceded as if knowing where his thoughts had trailed. ”And get this, Max never connected to her.”

“What do you mean?” Tess asked. She didn’t know much about alien pregnancies or parent/children bonding, but she thought there would have been some sort of connection.

“You’d figure that Max could make a connection with his own child, but he couldn’t.” she explained thinking about Max and Liz’s connection.

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t?” Michael asked. Before Max had left he said he would take care of things. Maybe he just didn’t connect with the child since Gia had no idea about his origins and he didn’t want to alert her. He looked to Isabel for an answer, but she never gave him one.

“Well, maybe she is too human?” Kyle suggested.

Maria retorted. “Well, so is Liz, but Max made a connection with her.”

“Uh, Max and Liz were pretty much bonded because of his healing her,” Alex replied, trying to clarify things.

“Which you would think that he would be bonded with his child because he helped create it,” Tess added. She looked to Zan. “Do you know of anything?”

Zan shook his head in denial. “Never had a reason to know.”

Isabel and Zan met each other’s eyes briefly before Isabel opened her mouth, “I...we don’t think Max is the father of Kara.”

“What?” Liz breathed out in shock. No one in the room spoke after her. They just couldn’t believe it. Whenever Isabel would tell them about Max’s joy over the child. He really loved this child and for Isabel to suggest something so mind boggling.

“Well, she has his mother’s eyes already and her hair is really dark, much more so than Max’s. It’s hard determine because right now, but Kara looks more like Gia than anything, I guess we have to wait until later to find out if she is Max’s.”

“Did you tell Max what you thought?” Michael asked. He would be pissed if he had married some girl because he thought she was pregnant with his child and then learn that the child wasn’t even his.

“I tried to mention it, but he closed up about the subject. He wouldn’t even listen to me.” She recalled their conversation. He had been so angry with her for even proposing something so bad about his wife.

“Knowing the kind of person that Max is I wouldn’t be surprised if he took care of the child regardless if it was his or not. After nine months, there would be some sort of attachment with him to the baby,” Alex theorized.

“But it just makes me mad,” Isabel went on. “She basically trapped my brother.”

“What can you do? You already tried talking to Max, he didn’t want to hear it. Besides, it’s his decision,” Liz answered softly. She knew first hand how protective Isabel could be over her brother.

“I know, it just doesn’t seem fair. He’s going to miss out on so much.”

Liz stayed silent through out the continuing conversation. She thought about Isabel’s points and completely agreed. Since her explosion at Max her anger towards him and about him dissipated. She was no longer bitter when it came to him. Now, all she felt was sorrow for her ex-boyfriend. She just hoped that he was happy with his life and his new born daughter

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“So...what do you think?” Liz asked as she looked at Isabel. Isabel looked up from the magazine she was reading and studied Liz’s outfit with a very critical eye. Since the summer started, she and Liz had pretty much spent most of their time together.

It was Liz’s first official date since Max had married Gia. Liz was scared and the rest of the group had been more than happy for her. It was about time. “I don’t think so...it seems kind of...school marm-mish.”

“Well, I’m not trying to get him in bed,” Liz answered as she looked at her outfit. It seemed fine to her.

“Trust me, with that outfit you won’t.”

Liz rolled her eyes. “This isn’t helping!”

“Fine,” Isabel walked to her closet and quickly pulled something out. When Liz looked at it she made a face. It was a pair of leather pants. She had bought them ages ago after Maria had begged her to.

“You want me to wear this?”

“Why not?” Isabel shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t see anything wrong with it. She actually liked the black shirt. It only had one sleeve that was cut to a tank. At the corner there was a star made out of diamonds with lines of diamonds going down from the bottom points to be the rays off it.

“It’s...I wasn’t planning on wearing it.”

“Liz, this is technically your first date. Are you trying to make yourself as unattractive as possible?”

Liz shot Isabel a rude look through the reflection of the mirror. “You know I’m not.”

“Fine, then wear this outfit,” Isabel pointed to the leather pants and black shirt. “I’m sure Ryan will love it.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Do you remember that day that I played with Alex’s band?” Maria asked as she, Michael, Isabel, Tess and Kyle sat around at their regular booth in the Crashdown, referring to the first weekend of their summer. She waited until the others nodded before continuing. “Well, there was a scout there and she really liked my music.”

“That’s great.”

“Yeah. I didn’t tell you guys this, but I had a meeting with her and she asked me to go to a recording studio with her. I’m leaving for New York in a few days.”

“You’re leaving?” Michael asked, upset that she hadn’t said anything earlier. They might have broken up but they had remained close friends, or at least he thought they had.

Maria smiled at her friends and shrugged. “It will only be for a few days. I don’t even know if the company will sign me. My mom’s going anyway so that they don’t try to trap me or anything.”

“Wow, so what does Alex say?” Tess asked. She knew that Alex was very involved in his band. He had once dreamt about getting a record deal, it must have been hard to hear that Maria got scouted and not the band...or him.

“He was a little upset, but he really couldn’t deny my talent,” Maria joked. “He was actually the first person I went to for advice. This whole thing is kind of scary.”

“I bet,” Isabel tried to sympathize.

Michael couldn’t focus on anything other than the fact that Maria was leaving. “So what happens if they like what they hear?”

“Um, I’m not sure. My mom said something about putting me up in a hotel until she can get everything settled here and she would move there with me.”

“So, there’s a chance you might not be coming back?” Kyle asked.

“Basically.”

Everyone went on congratulating Maria, but Michael stayed silent. For some reason he knew that things would never be the same again. He knew that he would always love Maria...for everything they ever shared. Even though they weren’t together, she was still part of the group.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz returned home from her date thankful for it to end. Sure, Ryan Smith was a nice guy and he was a proper date . She had seen him around school and in her classes. They would smile or wave whenever they saw one another, but that had been as far as it ever went. Liz couldn’t deny how good looking he was. He had blonde and had striking blue eyes. He had played for the golfing team since his freshman year. He was a little preppy, but he wasn’t Max. That was one of the reasons why she agreed to go out with him when he asked her.

Their date had gone easily and the best part was...there was no alien situation to interrupt them. He had taken her to eat before taking her miniature golfing. He was so sweet about the game. After she confessed to him how bad she was at the game he would purposely miss shots to make her feel better. The only problem was, as many shots as he would purposely miss she still lost. From there they went to the pool hall. They were neck to neck until she made the winning shot. They played a game after and was glad that she was able to dominate it.

On the way home they shared an easy conversation...it was normal. Even though it was normal, it was ...weird. She couldn’t remember her last ‘normal’ conversation with someone outside the group and not have to lie. It was something so completely different from what she was used to.

When she got to the restaurant she saw Michael and Zan sitting at the counter. Liz greeted them cheerily.

Zan took a perusal of Liz and her smiling face. “So, I take it, the date was a success.”

Liz shrugged. “I don’t know. He was nice, everything my parents wanted for me in a guy, but I just...I didn’t feel anything for him other then friendship. We had a good date, but there weren't any romantic sparks what so ever.” Liz shook her head, she’d figure all of that out later. “What’s up Michael? Why do you look so down?”

“Maria had a scout listening to her at Alex’s last performance. She’s going to New York, maybe for good.”

Liz’s smile dropped fro her face as she looked at Michael. She could tell that he was taking the news rather hard. “Oh Michael.”

“I know this is supposed to be good news, she’s got what she always wanted but she’s leaving. I mean it’s bad enough without Max here. I just...I’m really going to miss her.” Liz looked over at Zan before turning to Michael.

“But Michael, why should she stay here?” Liz asked as she looked at it from Maria’s point of view. “She doesn’t have a boyfriend, she gave up her friends for a select group of people and then basically alienates herself from those people. Why should she stay?”

“We aren’t together, but she still means a lot to me,” he confessed in a weak voice.

“And she probably always will,” Liz added. “As much as I hate it, Max still means a lot to me. I made a lot of memories with him, but there isn’t a thing you can do about it. You can tell her you love her, you can wish her luck, give her a kiss on the cheek and send her on her way.”

“It just...sounds so hard.”

“I know, I know.” She wrapped her arms around him. Michael hadn’t cried that night, but Liz knew he could have had he let his stonewall down.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alex sat in the Crashdown the following morning waiting for Liz to serve him. She looked tired, but semi-happy. He knew all about Ryan asking her out, but he wanted to know happened. He couldn’t tell by looking if it went well or not.

“Hi Alex, what can I get you this morning?” Liz asked when she approached him.

“That’s all I get? You don’t want to share your date with me? I came here to hear about it.”

Liz sat down and looked at him. “I don’t know. This was my first real date since Max and I broke up and I was so excited...”

With the way Liz trailed off, Alex knew there was an exception. “But...?”

“I didn’t feel anything more then friendship with him,” she confessed. “Is that weird? I mean he was my first date, but he was practically a stranger.”

“Not necessarily,” Alex answered. “Maybe you just didn’t find the right guy? Or, maybe you still harbor some feelings for Max deep inside?”

“No,” Liz replied shaking her head negatively. “I know that it isn’t that, I think that last meeting with Max was my closure." Liz shook her head to clear her thoughts. "So, how do you feel about Maria and the contract...or almost one?”

“I was pretty bummed at first. I guess it will only ever be a dream for me,” he answered. “Too bad I will only make millions by designing computer programs. I suppose that will have to do.” Liz laughed at his semi-joke. Knowing Alex, she knew he would follow that thought.

“Yeah, too bad not all of us can do that.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Liz?” Alex asked with a yawn as he answered his door early Sunday morning. A sobbing Liz fell into his arms. He didn’t even have to ask what it was over, he already knew. When they talked about Maria’s chance at stardom, it never soaked into Liz that her friend was actually leaving. Alex was actually suspecting this or something similar to it, seeing as Maria was leaving that night.

“She’s leaving!” Liz howled out before more sobs could burst out. When they did Alex just held her tighter stroking her hair.

“Sh, sh, sh. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

Liz nuzzled his neck, trying to find warmth, trying to find comfort. “I tried to be happy for her, but she won’t be here anymore.”

“We don’t even know that. She might come back!” Alex was trying to cheer his friend up.

Liz rolled her eyes at what he was saying. “She’ll be like this...famous singer and have no time for her former small town best friends. Well be sitting here, me a waitress and knowing you, your band will never go anywhere. We’ll become losers.”

Alex smiled. He wanted to laugh out loud at the absurdness of what she was saying. Sometimes when Liz got upset she would mumble things that were not only wrong, but completely insane. It was the only time she was ever over-dramatic. “Lizzie, we are not going to be losers. So what if Maria becomes famous and forgets us, at least we have each other, and Michael, Tess, Zan, Kyle...”

“And Isabel,” she finished before hiccuping. She hated when she got herself so worked up over silly things.

“Exactly.” He pulled away and wiped off her spilled tears. “Why don’t you come inside and I make you an omelet ala Alex?”

“That would be great,” Liz agreed starting to get choked up again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When it came closer to Maria’s departure for New York the group had gotten together to take her to dinner and then returned to the Crashdown for them to have on final time to hang out with each other.

The night had gone on well. During dinner things between all of them were settled. Everyone decided to leave their problems out of the door as they sat together talking about nothing and everything all together. As Liz looked at everyone around her she wondered what it would have been like if they could have done that earlier.

As they left the restaurant Maria got ready to leave by pulling out her keys. It was then Liz’s heart started thumping. NO! Her heart screamed that it wasn’t time yet. She wasn’t ready for her best friend to leave.

“Where are you going?” Michael asked. He had seen the flash of panic in Liz’s eyes and couldn’t deny the flash he felt as well.

“I was going home,” she replied softly.

“You can’t!” Alex burst out. Maria looked at him wondering why he was so anxious. They all wore the same expressions and she felt guilty about wanting leave. She just felt that if she didn’t leave then she wouldn’t be able to leave them at all.

“Okay, and why not?”

“We have a surprise,” Isabel added trying to make her stay. She knew that she and Maria were never close, she would miss the girl, but she knew she would get over it. It was Liz, Alex and Michael she was worried about though.

“Well, then I guess I shouldn’t leave then huh?” Maria asked trying to lighten the mood.

Alex and Liz walked forward before locking arms on either side of Maria. The three began taking a walk down memory lane. They talked about their saddest moment as friends and the time when they had most fun. As they led the others to the Crashdown, the others heard every story and seemed to feel even worse for Liz and Alex.

When Maria got outside she gave a teary smile at what she saw. Her mother along with the sheriff the Parkers, the Evan’s and the Whitman’s. “Oh...you guys didn’t have to do this.”

“Nonsense. I think that all of us have spent so much time together that we all thought our parents should be here as well. Especially Alex and Liz’s since you guys grew up so close,” Isabel replied waving her hand in dismissal.

For the next hour and a half the teens mixed with their parents and Maria made the best of their remainging time together. They ate a cake that was made for Maria wishing her good luck. It was then they gave her a farewell present. Maria gasped when she saw the guitar that they had pitched in to buy her. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She sang her demo song to all of them using her new treasure before the night dwindled down. “This is beautiful you guys!”

“You should just be thanking me,” Zan replied jokingly. “If it was up to the rest of them, you’d be holding one ugly guitar.” Maria only laughed as the others grumbled.

When the time for goodbyes came it was a hard one. Maria took her time saying goodbye to everyone separately, starting with Zan. “ I’m so glad that you came to Roswell,” she said hugging him. “You’re a really nice guy and I think this is exactly the kind of thing you needed.”

Zan smiled and pulled away. “Good luck Maria. Give me a call some time. It’ll be nice to have another New Yorker to bond with instead of all these cornballs.”

Maria laughed. “I will.” She moved away from him to Kyle. “So, looks like we’ll never have to worry about the possibility of becoming siblings huh?”

“I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you Maria,” Kyle replied. “They might not even like you,” he finished with a smile hoping that she knew he was kidding.

Maria smiled back. “It wouldn’t have been so bad...us being a family and all. I mean you have become this really great guy.”

“Well, it’s an improvement then being compared to a dog,” he threw in, letting her know that Liz had told him about her conversation with Maria. “I’m going to miss you Maria.” He hugged her quickly and kissed her temple. “Don’t forget to say goodbye to my dad.”

Next to Kyle, Tess stood smiling brightly. “I won’t pretend to miss you Tess,” Maria said automatically. She watched Tess smile falter. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t regret never really giving you a chance. “I’m sorry for not getting to know you better.” Maria spied Jim next to Tess and she lowered her voice a bit. “Be good to Kyle, he really likes you.”

“I think Tess has already taken good care of him,” Jim cut in sternly. “Come here.” He pulled Maria into a hug.

“Thanks for always being there for us sheriff,” Maria thanked. “I’m sorry that things never really worked out for you and mom.”

Jim pulled away. “Never you mind that. You take care of yourself up there.”

Maria moved to Isabel next. “Do you remember our first car ride together?” The two girls laughed over the way Maria had first acted when she found out the true origins of Max, Michael and Isabel.

“I didn’t think you make it Maria. I thought you would turn us right over, but you proved to be a really good friend. I’m really glad you came into our lives, specially Michael’s life. You did him a world of good.”

Maria smiled. “I hope that you get everything you want Isabel, you deserve it.”

“Take care Maria.”

Her goodbye with Liz and Alex was even more emotional then the previous ones. The three childhood friends stood together hugging each other, both girls silently crying. “You have been the best friends a person could ever ask for. Thank you for always being there for me.” She directed her next statement to Liz. “And I’m sorry for these past few months. I’ve been a horrible friend. We aren’t leaving on the best of terms, but I want you to know that I really do love you Liz. You’re like a sister to me.”

“Oh come here!” Liz pulled Maria into a hug. After a minute, Maria pulled away and turned to Alex. “Take care of Liz huh?”

Alex pulled her in his arms. “Of course.”

When Maria pulled away from Alex she smiled sadly. “Man this sucks. I’m the first one to leave the three musketeers..” The three shared a few more hugs and teary smiles before Maria went to Michael.

Maria wiped her tears before she turned to Michael. He held out his hand and offered to walk her to her car. Amy stayed inside for a few minutes so Michael and Maria could share a private goodbye. As the two stepped outside Liz began crying again and Alex tried to offer comfort, but tears were all so streaking his face as well.

“You know, I knew you were the girl for me. I knew it back when I stole your car.” They both shared tortured smiles at the comment. “There was never anyone else...there still isn’t.”

Maria nodded at him, not sure of what to say.

“I love you Maria and I am so proud of you.”

“I love you too Michael.”

“I want you to go to New York and sing your heart out. You deserve to reach your dreams.” He pulled her close and kissed her cheek as he stroked her hair. They kept their embrace for a while, just sharing what they knew could possibly be their last moment together.

Maria finally pulled away and got into the passenger side of her mother’s Jetta. Amy watched from inside and made her way to the door after another quick round of goodbyes. After Maria and her mother pulled away the parents went their separate ways. Michael had come back in and Isabel had gone over to hug him.

No one spoke for a long time. The only noises that could be heard were Liz’s sobs and Alex’s sniffles.

That night, Tess and Kyle were the first people to bid goodbye to the others, they were soon followed by Michael and then Isabel and Zan. Liz and Alex looked at each other painfully.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Liz whispered. “I just...I don’t think I c...can handle being alone...right now,” she explained during hiccups.

Alex didn’t say anything to her, he only nodded his head before the two walked to Liz’s room in silence. They didn’t even bother taking off their shoes as they slipped into a troubled sleep.

That night neither friend got much sleep. Liz had only slept for a hour before she woke up. Tears had started pouring out of her eyes and silent sobs wracked her body. She tried to be quiet as so not to wake Alex, but he had woken up from the bed shaking at her cries. His arms encircled her and he tried to sooth her into sleep by talking about different memories they shared with Maria. It had helped some what, but by the morning they were both were extremely exhausted.

Chapter 13

“There is so nothing good on tonight,” Tess murmured as she lazily flipped through the channels. Next to her, she heard Liz snort.

“We should be out like other people our age.” Ever since her first date, Liz had opened up a bit and began dating more frequently. “Why aren’t you out with Kyle?”

Tess rolled her eyes. “Something about some male bonding he’s doing with the boys,” she shrugged.

“What ever that means,” Liz remarked. What was it exactly that guys did to ‘bond’?

“It’s really cool that your parents are letting me stay here. If I had to endure the sheriff’s knowing looks one more time...I miss them though.”

“Of course you do,” Liz replied. She was about to say something else when the phone interrupted her. “Hello?” she answered.

“Liz?”

It was the first time she had heard from Maria since her friend left for New York. “Maria! Hey! Wow, what are you doing? How’s it going?” She heard Maria’s laughter on the other end. It was a comforting sound.

“Great! I am now a singer. My CD will be coming out in the next few months!”

“That’s great. Wow, already?”

“I know. Life is so exciting. I have met a lot of other people through dinner parties and everything. I actually ran into someone.”

“Who?”

“Do you remember Billy Darden?”

“Billy...Billy?” Her mind came up with a blank as she tried to think back.

“He was my first kiss!”

“Oh! That Billy. God, I haven’t thought of him in ages. So, what about him?”

“We’re dating now.”

Liz smiled into the phone. It was obvious by the tone in Maria’s voice that she was excited. Maria went on to tell her everything she possibly could. She filled Liz in on the people she met, the conversations she had, how her days were spent, what it was like at the record studio and how it was like to record. By the time they hung up the phone Liz was in shock. It wasn’t as thought her friend shocked her, it was that while she was missing her best friend, Maria had evolved into a completely different person.

Liz was pretty sure that she and Maria would drift away. Certain things had already pointed to that. Maria’s voice had changed, and Liz could sense an air about her. It seemed to scream “I’m better than you and you were just so lucky that I gave you the time of day.” Liz had been warned from enough people to know that Maria would undergo a period of change and that most likely she would experience a period of snobbery, but Liz wasn’t so sure it would just be a period.

Since Maria left, Michael had shared with Liz the reason why Maria had acted so weird before leaving. Liz was completely blown over with what she heard. To think that Maria was jealous of her! It was the weirdest idea she ever heard. Maria was so friendly and bubbly and out going. There was no reason for her to have acted the way she had. Liz was sure that one reason was Maria had called her was to show herself she wasn’t jealous of her any longer and that hopefully the roles would be reversed and she would be envious of Maria.


Liz couldn’t believe their friendship with one another had been reduced to something so petty. In the last year so many relationships had changed among the group, she had been worried that they would be able to survive it, but under some miracle they had and perhaps...were closer than ever. Liz’s only regret was that Max and Maria weren’t part of that new, stronger friendship.

“That was Maria,” Liz said absently, as she hung up the phone.

“Oh...how is she liking New York?” Tess gave Liz her full attention.

Liz shrugged her shoulders. “She’s adjusted great. She’s already been signed and she’s begun recording.”

Tess’ eyes widened, “wow, that’s...great. I wasn’t aware it would be such a short amount of time for that to be done.”

“Yeah,” Liz replied a little less than thrilled. Maria hadn’t even asked her how she or anyone else was.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“How come you’re hanging out here with us playing video games instead of with Tess?” Michael asked as they stared at the screen. He’d just managed to deliver Kyle’s guy an upper cut.

Kyle let out a frustrated sigh and paused the game.

“What are you doing?” Michael exclaimed looking at Kyle in astonishment. “I was kicking your ass!”

Zan picked up the controller and took Kyle’s spot. “I’ll fight you.”

Michael let out a disgusted grunt. “Forget it, it’s gone now.” He turned to Kyle and glared at the human. “You have a reason for completely screwing with my concentration?”

“I’m horny.”

The words seemed to come out from no where. Alex and Zan burst out laughing at the inopportune timing for Kyle’s declaration. That mixed with Michael’s disbelieving stare only added to their hysteria.

“What the fuck do I care?” Michael asked completely flabbergasted with Kyle’s admission.

“Hey you asked!” Kyle screamed with a mixture of anger for the outburst and humiliation for feeling that way in the first place.

“I wouldn’t have if I knew that was going to be your answer,” Michael shot back.

Looking towards the other two occupants in the room, Kyle chose to ignore Michael. “Our first time together and my father walks in....ever since then, I could hardly look at her without feeling guilty and...” Kyle ran a hand through his hair. “She’s living with the Parkers now and....”

“So what?” Michael asked. “You completely screw up our game cause you want to play ‘hide the weeny’ with your girlfriend?”

“It’s not like you don’t have any place at your disposal in which you could sex,” Alex mentioned finally calming down.

Zan nodded. “There’s the car, the school, we are surrounded by desert...I’m sure you could relieve yourself then...”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Max stared down at his daughter with misty eyes. Karina was so small, so breakable. Max still couldn’t wrap it around his brain that one day he would grow into a walking and talking person, and he felt a sense of pride that he had never felt before. He would be raising her, shaping her into the person she would become. To find out that he had would be having a girl was one thing, but to finally hold her in his arms was another. Only days old, she had made him the happiest man in the world.

Max was thankful for everything that he had received, especially his littlegirl, wondering what he had done so right to get her. “Hi Kara. It’s daddy. I just wanted to let you know that both your mommy and I love you to pieces and that you are going to grow up being loved...no matter what happens.”

“What are you doing?” Gia asked as she stumbled into the kitchen. She was in so much pain. For the first few days she could hardly walk. She silently thanked Max for being such a great help, although she was sure it was more for their daughter, not her.

“Just talking to her,” Max replied as he held the baby closer to his body. Gia grabbed a glass of water before making her way to the couch and sitting down. Max walked his new born daughter to sleep before gently lying her down in her bassinet.

After Kara was asleep Max walked over to the couch and sat next to Gia as they tuned into the movie on tv. When Gia moved to cuddle up to him he momentarily froze at the contact, Isabel’s words ringing in his ears.

“Max? Is something wrong?”

“No, I was just thinking about something.”

“Are you sure?” She locked her arm with his and placed her head against his chest. When she heard his rumbled reply she quickly kissed his chest through the shirt. “Good. I love you so much. I have no idea what I would have ever done without you.” When she looked up, Max forced a smile onto his face though.

When she turned her attention back to the tv Max zoned back out again. He hadn’t forgotten what his sister had said, yet he hadn’t acknowledged it either. How could he? He had given up everything he had ever known. He gave up his friends, his family, his childhood home...Liz. He had dreamed about what it was like to get married to Liz, what it was like to have a family with her. He gave up that opportunity for his responsibility.

God...Liz. The last time they were together, she had torn him in half. When they had involuntarily connected, he wanted to die. He never meant for her to see something like that, especially when it sounded like he had no love for her. She had been the first human he ever trusted. They may have never been actual friends, he always valued what she had to say. What he wouldn’t give to talk to her, to get some of her advice.

Like Isabel, he too had been worried in case any alien tendencies showed up. It was odd that Gia hadn’t even craved tabasco considered that Kara’s father, assuming it was his, lived off the condiment. During the delivery, Max had no idea what to expect, but according to the doctors, everything that was completely normal. From that thought, the possibility that baby wasn’t his had jumped into his mind.

He chased the demon away, but when Isabel said something he snapped. He didn’t want to discover that Kara wasn’t his. That would mean that everything he gave up would have been for nothing! After his last visit in Roswell, he had resigned to himself that if he and Liz never spoke again he would have at least had a child, someone to help take the pain away. He knew that the love for others could be changed, but the one constant that would always be there was a parent’s love for their child. He knew that he would always have Kara in his life and that if nothing else, she would always love him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Laying in Alicia’s bed with his arm wrapped around her, Alex smiled. Having sex...Maria had explained to him what it was like and the feelings he should expect, but words failed to describe the way he felt in that moment. Not only was what he did an amazing step, but he had been lucky enough to share it with someone that he loved.

Smiling and placing open mouthed kisses all over his bare chests, Alicia looked to Alex’s eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

Moving Alicia up his body so that their faces were only inches apart, Alex lovingly moved her hair out of her face. “I think I’m in love with you.”

Smiling brightly, Alicia moved in to kiss him quickly. “I love you too.” Their mouths joined together once more as Alex rolled on top of his girlfriend. Laughing at Alex’s eagerness, Alicia pulled away again. “Again?”

Wagging his eyebrows, Alex smirked. “What can I say? I’m addicted to you.” He trailed a hand down her body towards her center. “If that’s okay with you? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” He began to stroke her feminine part and stopped immediately when she hissed. “Okay, I guess we’re done for the night.”

Feeling bad about ruining his night of fun, Alicia looked down. “I’m sorry baby.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alex replied as he kissed her soundly. “I’m not. There’s always tomorrow or the day after....”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hello again Mr. Ramirez,” Isabel said as she greeted her father’s associate. A smile made its way onto her face. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Jesse looked to his business associate who was busy talking with his wife. “You too Isabel.”

“These are my friends, Liz Parker and Tess Harding,” Isabel added introducing him to the girls.

“Isabel, sweetie...why don’t you give Jesse a tour of the house,” Phillip Evans said as he walked over the younger people in the room.

“Of course.”

As Isabel and Jesse walked away, Liz and Tess moved further away from the Evans before giggling. “I cannot believe her!” Tess exclaimed. “He’s like what....eight years older then her?”

Liz looked in the direction that her friend had walked off with Mr. Ramirez and shrugged. “Alex slept with Alicia,” Liz replied softly. “I think Isabel finally gave up on waiting for him.”

“I guess we’ll be hearing a bit about Mr. Ramirez...won’t we?”

Liz smiled. “Eh, you know Isabel and those older guys.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“And here is Zan’s room,” Isabel said, looking up at Jesse. “We don’t really need to go in there.”

“What about your room Ms. Evans? Will that be included on the tour as well?”

Isabel smiled. “If you’d like.” She led him to her bedroom and opened up the door. Once inside, Isabel had barely closed the door before Jesse’s lips were upon hers.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the other day,” Jesse confessed.