Kivar paced at his throne. The tarnished throne of Zan seemed less his today for some reason. His hazel eyes placid seemed so far away at each turn he made from one side to the other. The throne room that once held such pleasure for him seemed as if it lacked a bit of luster today. The room glistened like a large diamond and the fragrance of the cackdi flowers filled the room but the gleam it once held for him was gone. As he paced he questioned if he had made the correct decision by sending Zan to do the job no one else had been able to accomplish. Would Zan’s conditioning here on Antar be enough for him to betray his biological father? Could the connection between them be too strong for Zan to complete his mission?  He ran the question through his mind many times had he made the right choice?

 

“ I need collateral.” He said as he gripped his fists in front of him. “Collateral to bring him back. Something that ensures his mission will be successful.” The veins in his forehead pulsated as he racked his brain. Kivar relaxed his fists then began to run them through his coal black hair. What did Zan care most about he thought as his eyes scanned the room? He looked at the statues of King’s that had passed before him. Most of them had been destroyed in wars of the past. The statue that was once a replica of Max had been beaten down to the floor with only inscription remaining. It read: Love can prevail with truth and honesty; Zan of Antar. This inscription was the only remaining relic from Max’s days as king. He told Zan he wanted it here to remind him of the lies that Max told not only his people but to everyone.

 

The massive doors to the throne room opened as Kivar took a seat on the throne. Leaning his head onto one fist his eyes were fixated on the servant girl moving toward him. “ What do you want girl?” he questioned.

 

She moved quickly over the palace floor to kneel in front of the king. “ I, I.” She stuttered out.

“ Spit it out slave what is it that you want?” Kivar blurted loudly.

 

Lifting her head from the floor her blonde hair fell into her red, tear soaked eyes “ I am here to beg for the life of my son.”

 

“For the life of your son you say? Why would you have to do that?” he questioned.

 

“My son is Kale. The boy who saved one of your guards yesterday.” She replied.

 

“ Oh the bastard son of Alden. Him?” He questioned “ The boy who used his powers to save one of my guards?”

 

“Yes King Kivar, that is my son.” Her hands trembled more with each word she spoke.

 

Kivar stood from his throne swinging his large black cloak around his body. “ You know the penalty for using your powers do you not slave?” he said as he moved toward her.

 

“ Yes sire I do. But he saved one of your men? I beg you.”

Kneeling down over the girl he placed his hand on her head. “ Do you think of me as a good king girl?”

 

“Yes Sire I do.” he eyes showing her fear.

 

Grabbing her viciously by the top of her head wrapping her blonde hair in his fingers. “Then why do you question my laws?” he screamed loudly as spit flew from his lips.

 

“Please no, please do not kill my son.” She begged as Kivar drug her by her hair across the floor. He legs kicking as she tried to grasp onto anything to break his stride.

 

“Guards!” He called out.

 

“ Please no sire, Please spare his life. Take mine in his place” She gripped at his hands.

 

Bending down Kivar looked into the eyes of the girl. “ Do you love your son?” He questioned.

 

“ Yes” she called out. “I love my son” Her hands stll gripping onto his.

 

“Then you can be together. Guards! Come take this woman.” He yelled as they walked through the doors.

 

“ Thank you sire, thank you for sparing his life. I will be forever in your service” Her eyes showing relief.

 

The guards wrapped their arms under her own as they lifted her from the floor. “ Thank you again ”She said as she looked back at Kivar.

 

“ What do you want done with her?” one of the brutally guards questioned.

 

“ She said she loved her son. So let her be with him. Take her to the dungeon and have them both executed at noon tomorrow.” He laughed.

 

“No!” the woman screamed out in fury. “You lied, you lied!” She screamed loudly as she broke free from the guards grip. Her face that of a hungry tiger ready to devour it’s prey “ What kind of king are you? Do you have a heart? How could you kill an innocent boy? A boy who saved the life of one of your blasted soldiers?” Gripping her fists tightly in front of her.

 

“ Get this girl out of my site!” Kivar bellowed.

 

Kicking and screaming the guards drug the woman from the throne room “ He will come back to us.” She screamed. “ He will put a dagger in your heart! Zan will learn the truth and you lead him right to it!”

 

The doors shut and the room fell dead silent. Kivar’s mind began to race. Had he led Zan to the truth? Would he truly believe Max? Then it hit him. The collateral he needed. It had been right under his nose the whole time. If Zan did turn he had the collateral he needed to bring him back and kill both he and Max. A wicked smile crept across his villainous lips. “Nadia” the name rolled off his tongue in such a sweet manner.

 

He saw how Zan reacted when he caught them together. He could see the look in their eyes. He loved Nadia. He loved her and would do anything for her.

 

Kivar quickly darted from the throne room to search the hallways for Nadia. He wanted her right under his nose at all times. As he walked down the corridor to her room then he noticed the silence. Nadia and Zan’s hallway was always alive with sounds of birds and chimes. Today nothing. Not a bird chirping not a chime one ringing. The window at the end of the hallway was wide open inviting the pollen filled air into the palace. He felt as if he were moving in slow motion as he opened Nadia’s door. The window to her room was open as well. Small bits of pollen from the Cackdi flowers filled the room and hovered in the air like fireflies. Her bed made, chimes and a piece of paper sat alone on her bed. Kivar snatched the paper into his hands. It read.

 

 

Dear Family,

 

I am dead to Antar. Please forgive me.

 

Nadia.

 

Kivar’s hands shook with rage as he read the words before him. He quickly ran to the window gazing out over the vast lands of Antar. His collateral, it had slipped through his fingers. Did she kill herself? He questioned in his mind. Is this a trick? He wanted to kill her himself at this moment.

 

Kivar raced from the room and down the front of the palace. Grabbing the guard at the front doors “ Have you seen the slave girl Nadia?” his face red with anger.

 

The guard looking astonished at his concern for a slave “ Uh, Yes, Uh yes sire. She was found dead this morning outside the palace. Why do you ask?”

 

“ I want to see the body! NOW!” He insisted.

 

In the dungeon the guard led Kivar to a large room filled with rotting corpses from the weeks slayings. A young boy lay crying in the middle of the room. Next to him laid the body of a dark haired girl. The guard pointed to them. “ There she is sire.”

 

As he stepped toward her the woman he had condemned to death earlier stepped next to boy. “ You bastard!” She called out. “ You have managed to end the life of not only myself and my son but that of my niece as well.”

 

Kivar kicked the body on the floor rolling it over to expose the once beautiful face of Nadia. “ The stench in this place is burning my nose.” He insisted. Then turned and walked from the room, his collateral gone. He thought to himself as he walked feverishly through the dungeon stopping at one of the last cells next to the door. Looking inside. “I still have you thought don’t I?” he questioned to the cell.

 

 

 

Only a day had passed since Zan’s arrival but Liz could tell the difference in the house. She could also tell a big difference in Max. He had not been this happy in years. She was not sure weather to take this in a good manner or take it offensively. She knew he loved her, the kids and his life on Earth but could they match up to someone he had longed to find for years? Could they match up to the love for Zan? She continued to cook breakfast though her heart wasn’t in it today. The smell of Eggs, bacon and fried potato’s filled the house of the Evans. It was a normal Sunday ritual and one that Max never missed. Even when he was hot on the trail of a lead to find Zan he would somehow always find his way back to Sunday breakfast.

 

Liz knew that today’s Sunday breakfast would be slightly different considering she had a house full. The entire family had stayed the night. She was not sure if it was for protection of if it was to have more time to spend with Zan.

 

Michael walked down the stairs into the dinning area at the crashdown. Taking in a deep breath of the breakfast he so desired to eat “ Liz hey you down here?” he said loudly.

 

“ Yeah Michael I’m in the kitchen.” She replied.

 

Walking into the kitchen the smell became more prevalent “ You know Liz this is why her married you.” He said laughingly.

“ Yeah well I wonder sometimes.” She sighed.

Michael could feel the tension in her words. “ Liz?” he questioned

“ Yeah Michael.” She turned with spatula in hand to face him.

“ He has always loved you. You know that don’t you?”

“ Yeah Michael I know.”

“ But?” Michael inquired

“ But nothing. Max loves us. What more is there to say?”

“ You have put up with a lot of shit over the years Liz. I sometimes feel like we ruined your life. I can only imagine you might feel the same way.” Michael insisted.

“Michael I love Max and have loved Max for as long as I can remember without him I would have never had a life. I would have died right over there.” Pointing at the waitress station.

“ I assume doors are closed today?” Michael questioned

“ Yeah it is kinda hard to cook for that many people upstairs.” She smiled.

“ Well here.” Grabbing an apron. “ Let Michael the cook help ya!” he said with his whole heart into it. “ I haven’t cooked here in years but I think I still got the touch.” He smiled.

 

Smacking Michael with the spatula “ You never had the touch to begin with. What makes you think I am going to let you help me cook today?” She teased.

 

“ You need me to.” He smiled taking Liz in his arms.

 

She wrapped her arms tightly around Michael unable to hold back the tears that had been prevalent since Zan’s arrival. “What if he doesn’t need us anymore Michael? What if Zan being here is enough to fulfill his heart?” she cried in his arms.

 

“ Liz Max does love you and the kids. I mean he has loved you since third grade why would he stop loving you because of Zan? Michael inquired.

 

“Because when you have wanted something for 20 years and you get it you tend to be absorbed by it Michael.”

 

“Or you tend to find it less fascinating than you once did.” Michael interrupted.

 

“ I don’t want to lose him Michael. I need him. I need him more now than ever. I need him to tell me everything is going to be ok. For him to tell me he loves me as much as he did the day he saved my life.

 

“ I do.” Max quietly said from the door of the kitchen.

 

Walking toward Liz and Michael his eyes were fixed on Liz. “ I need you more now than ever. Everything is going to be ok and I love you just as much today as I did when I saved you.” His lips shuddered. “ I will never leave you Liz. I will never leave my children. I need you here with me, beside me.

 

Breaking the embrace with Michael she ran into the arms of the man she had loved for over 20 years. Wrapping herself inside him she felt the intensity that she had felt as a teenager, the feeling of passion and desire, the feeling of her destiny, and the feeling of Max Evans.

 

“ Guess I’m cooking.” Michael laughed.

 

Max lead Liz to the back room near the lockers that still stood sturdy after 20 years “ This is where my life started Liz. This is where I belong. I figured that out years ago. I knew it from the moment we connected. I knew I would spend the rest of my life with you.”  Placing his strong and weathered hands on each side of her face. “ I know you can feel it Liz. I know you know our love runs as deep as my blood. I need you Liz. I have needed you for years.” His lips could not stand the separation any longer. The intensity more than he could handle. He pulled her face toward him. Just the touch of her lips invigorated him. His lips trembled against hers, the taste of her lips like strawberries and her warmth refreshing.

 

Liz could barely stand. Her feet and legs felt like jello. Her heart was pounding with a ferocity that she had not felt in years. She pulled back a bit from the kiss “ Max?”

 

His breathing intense “ Yeah?”

 

“ I love you.” She said breathlessly

 

“ I love you too Liz, I always have.” He replied. His eyes let her know that this was true but she didn’t need to look at him to know this. She could feel it in her body.

 

 

At the top of the steps Zan stood quietly watching the emotional outpour that his father was sharing with Liz. How could a man such as this, a man with so much love in his heart seek to exterminate an entire race of beings? He also wondered how his father could have so much passion and love for a human. Humans were so beneath their race, so inferior.

 

“ I can see through you.” Seth whispered behind Zan.

 

Startled, Zan turned in the direction of Seth’s voice. “ What do you mean you can see through me?”

“ You may look like and sound like my father but I know you have no intentions on becoming his long lost son. I know that you are here for something else.”

“ What else would you assume I would come to this horrible planet for?” Zan put in.

“ Horrible planet?” Seth looked around the hall. “ You say this is a horrible planet? What drugs are you on Zan?” his anger becoming more prevalent. “Your planet enslaves humans and any other race that gets in the way of your great leader Kivar. Open your eyes Zan at least we are free.”

Zan turned his attention back to his father once again. “ Free you say Seth? I see nothing freeing about this planet. You have rules and a leader just as I do. What makes your leader any better than Kivar?” He questioned.

“ Our leader does not kill for pleasure.” He replied.

 “ You know nothing of our planet!” All you know is what your father has told you.” Zan raised his voice. “ And your father knows nothing about Antar or Kivar.”

“ He knows enough and so do I. Enough to know he is a murderer!” Seth yelled.

 

Zan hurled himself toward Seth grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and firmly slamming him into the wall. “This is how you fight here on Earth isn’t it?” He questioned as spit flew from his lips onto Seth’s warm, red skin. “ Primitive’s!” he added in.

 

“No this is how we fight!” Seth raised his left hand to Zan’s chest. A searing red glow began to radiate from it. Seth closed his eyes briefly then let his anger and fear take over. Zan’s body was then hurled across the room and down the steps.

 

Max and Liz were already half way up the steps when a body came lunging down at them. “ Liz move, get down!” Max yelled.

 

Liz did her best to move quickly back down the steps only to fall down the last two. “ Ahhh!” Liz let out when she hit the last step and then the floor.

 

Max raised his hand as the body flew strait at him stopping the person in mid air. It was Zan. He had expected it to be Seth considering the argument that he and Liz had overheard just seconds before and assuming that Zan would be the stronger of the two.

 

With his powers he steadily hovered Zan to the floor at the bottom of the steps. Zan lay motionless in front of Liz. “ Is he, he dead Max?” Her eyes filled with fear.

 

Max swiftly knelt next to him reaching down to feel for a pulse. Looking up at Liz “He’s alive.”

 

 Just as he pulled his hand away and before he could get another word out Zan had pulled Max viciously down to his level again. “ NO BOY! This is how we play!” Zan bellowed.

 

“No don’t hurt him! Kayla yelled from the top of the steps.

 

Zan was taken back and then realized this was not Seth he held firmly in his grip. It was his father. He had him right where he wanted him. Right where it would look like an accident and no one would question what happened. He looked into the eyes of Max Evans then back up at the top of the steps at Kayla as tears ran down her face. He could not do it. He could not take her father away from her this soon. He could not take him down without knowing he was doing the right thing. He knew he would most likely not get another opportunity to do it so simply but he needed to know.

 

“ Your son is a fool.” He finally muttered as he lay on the floor letting go of Max’s shirt. “ To challenge a being before discovering what it is capable of. I could kill him with a thought.”

 

“ Well it looks to me as if you were the one who challenged a being without know what it was capable of Zan.” Liz put in. “ Seems to me from the argument I heard you were the one who turned it physical. It looks as if you were the one almost killed not Seth.”  Liz said as she stood to walk up the steps. Her eyes were focused and furious.

 

“ Liz?” Zan begged.

 

“ No Zan. Leave me alone. I have to go check on our son” Staring directly at Max. “ You better hope to god Seth is ok.”

 

By this time the family had gathered in the hallway at the top of the stairs. Isabel and Kayla were already checking Seth for any injuries. “ Seth are you ok?” Isabel inquired.

 

Seth sat against the wall silently his chest heaving with each breath. “ Yeah I’m fine Aunt Is. Just a few bumps and bruises I assume.” He began to move slowly from his position on the floor as he saw his mother racing toward him. “ Mom I am fine.” He said before she even reached him.

 

“ Dammit Seth!” Liz exclaimed. What in god’s name were you thinking?”

“ I was only protecting myself Mom.” Seth replied.

 

Liz began to pat her son down to check for any injuries “ You need to be a little more cautious Seth you have no clue what kind of powers Zan has.”

“ MOM! I am fine. Leave me alone!” Seth yelled. “ I am not a child anymore. I can take care of myself and make my own decisions. And as for Zan’s powers, he has no clue what mine are either for that matter neither do you.”

 

Liz was taken back at her son’s tone of voice. She sat on the floor as Seth stood and bolted down the hallway to the room that was once Liz’s and headed out on the roof.

 

Isabel sat next to Liz as the rest of the kids followed Seth to his room.

 

“ You ok Liz?” Isabel questioned

“ Yeah just great Isabel, just frigging great!” Liz said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

 

Michael walked into the back room and Maria followed close behind  “ Breakfast is served!” Michael exclaimed still holding the spatula in his hand. Michael looked around the back room in amazement.

“ Did we miss something?” Maria asked noticing that Zan looked a little roughed up and a large burn mark on his shirt and chest in the form of a handprint.

“ Where’s Jake?” she quickly inquired looking around the room frantically. “ Did he have something to do with this?” She questioned angrily.

“ He’s fine.” Liz called from the top of the steps.

“ Liz?” Maria questioned.

“ I’m fine, I’m up here.” She replied. “ Jake is fine he is out on the roof with the rest of the kids.”

 

Maria flew to the top of the steps passing Sarena, Kyle, Alex, Jim and Isabel by. “ What happened Liz?”

 

Sarena stood quietly at the top of the steps staring down at Zan. Her heart poured out to him. He is so unfamiliar with this planet and having family and friends, at least real ones. She dropped Kyle’s hand and made her way down the steps to kneel next to Zan and Max. “ Are you ok?” she asked Zan.

“ He’s going to be fine Sarena.” Max replied.

“ Max? Can you?” Her eyes begging Max not to make her actually ask she hated to ask things of Max.

Max’s heart knew what she wanted and was more than happy to do it but would Zan actually let him? Max looked at him his eyes steady and his heart secure “ Do you want me to heal you?” he questioned.

“ Heal me? What do you mean heal me?”

“ You know make you all better, heal you?” Michael smarted off.

“ Michael stop.” Max insisted. “ He is right though. I do mean heal your wound.

Zan starred at Max for a few seconds as if he were unable to comprehend what Max was saying. He can heal? His mind searched for reasoning. Zan knew that to rule with an iron fist was powerful but to heal was even greater.

 

Max could see the confusion in his eyes. He could tell that Kivar had filled his head full of lies just by the look on his face. “ Do you not have healers on Antar?” Max questioned.

“ Uh, uh, no we do not.” Zan replied his eyes looking as if he had been whipped.

“ Will you let me, heal you?” Max questioned once again. “ I will have to connect with you rather deeply. If there are things you prefer not to share with me you may want to try and heal on your own. I understand that you may not be ready for that.”

 

Zan had never been healed before and he was not about to share the information locked deep in his mind and soul with Max just yet. “ No I will heal on my own as I always have during battle. I am a man. I do not need your healing powers.” Zan replied after a long moment of silence.

“ That’s fine Zan when you are ready I will be here. Whatever it is that you do not want to share with me no matter what it is I will still love you and  I will still be here for you. So when you are ready you know where to find me.”

 

Zan watched Max stand his eyes followed him to the door of the dinning room. He slowly stood from the floor himself with the help of Sarena. “ Why Zan? Why do you choose to suffer when your father has the power to heal you?” Sarena asked.

“ I would prefer it if you would call him Max.” Zan insisted. “ Please?” he added. He did not want Sarena to be a casualty of this argument or this war. She reminded him of his mother. No matter how much he hated her for taking him from his father he would always love her.

 

Max overheard the comment and his heart sank to his feet. “ If it helps any there is a burn kit in the kitchen it should help to take the sting out of it.” His eyes showed the pain that Zan’s words had inflicted upon his heart.

 

Seth sat stewing on the roof. His heart pounded against his rib cage as he and Jake starred out over the small town of Roswell. “ Ya know Jake I don’t trust that guy.”

“ Oh and what gave you that idea?” Jake replied sarcastically.

“ You two just stop while you’re ahead.” Leah said as she paced the roof. “ I mean we have no reason to really think he is here to hurt anyone. Well other than Seth at this point. It would help if you didn’t antagonize him ya know.”

 

“Antagonize? Me antagonize him? What side are you on here Leah?” Seth inquired his eyes showing the displeasure in her statement.

 

“ Mabey Leah is right Seth.” Kayla added.

 

“ Are you crazy Kayla he is a killer just like Kivar and I will prove it somehow.” Seth replied crossly.

 

“ Look you accused him of being here for reasons other than he has already stated he was here for. What would you do in his case?” Leah questioned.

 

“ Leah cut the crap. Look around you. Do you really think he could have traveled to Earth to meet his real father without Kivar knowing? Do you really think that Kivar is that stupid?” Jake inquired. “ I say we go out to where the ship is hidden and do a little investigation of our own.

 

“ I don’t know if that is a great idea Jake.” Kayla said as she sat in one of the lawn chairs. “ We know nothing about that ship. We could end up setting off some kind of self- destruct mechanism or something.”

 

“ I think we have the right to know what is on that ship. It is here on our planet and could contain the power to possibly destroy it.” Jake replied.

 

“ You guys come on. Listen to yourself. I will be no part of spying on Zan.” Leah insisted.

 

“ Look you have made your choice Leah. Why you would choose Zan over your own family is beyond me.” Jake announced.

 

“ He is her brother Jake. Leave her alone.” Seth replied.

 

Jake took a couple of steps back from Leah. “ Yeah her brother and I guess we are chopped liver.”

 

“ It is not like that Jake. You just don’t understand.” Tears began to fall from her eyes. “ You have no idea what it is like to feel so empty, so alone. When Zan stepped off that ship it was like a void in my life had been filled. I don’t want that taken away from me. I need him Jake, I need him.”  She repeated.

 

Seth walked over to Leah gingerly wrapping her in his arms. “ It’s ok Leah no one is going to take that away from you. We just want to make sure that him being here doesn’t put a void in any of our lives.”

 

Jake stomped off in a rage. “Poor little Leah. I thought you were stronger than this.” He added as he crawled back in the window.

 

“ Jake?” Seth called out.

“ Leave him alone. I’ll go after him.” Kayla said.

 

“ Yeah you do that.” Seth knew that if anyone could talk some sense into Jake it would be Kayla. He walked back over to the edge of the roof and starred out once again over Roswell. “ Do you really trust him Leah?”

 

“ I never said I trusted him Seth just that we should at least try and give him the benefit of the doubt. We need to give it a bit more time before we judge him. Right now I’m afraid that my feelings toward him could be impairing my perception. He has block up. I cant read his thoughts I tried last night.” Leah leaned her head onto Seth’s shoulder and placed her arm around his waist. “ I know you want to protect us. I understand that Seth. You can’t keep taking on the role of the king. That is your father’s job. He knows what he is doing.”

 

“ Yeah but maybe his feelings are getting in the way as well.” He replied. “ You better go get washed up for breakfast Leah. You don’t want to miss Uncle Michael’s cooking.” He laughed.

 

“ Yeah well I think that I will get washed up and head down the street and pick something up.” Leah giggled back. “ Seth?” she questioned once more.

 

“ Yeah Leah?” He replied as he turned to face her.

 

“ I need you too ya know?”  Leah said shyly.

 

Seth was stunned by her comment. She suddenly seemed so vulnerable so soft. She didn’t seem like the hard ass that he had known since she was born. He stood silently for a minute searching for his true feelings then as if it had been there all along “ I need you too Leah.”

 

Leah smiled pleasantly then darted through the window and down the hallway. Seth was left alone. The morning was slowly turning into the afternoon and the desert winds were blowing briskly through the town. Off in the distance he could see the desert. He knew Jake was right but he also wanted to respect Leah’s wishes. The wind began to toss through is dark brown hair and it seemed to call his name.  He knew what he had to do and he knew he had to do it alone and in secrecy. He had to go out to the ship. He did not want to involve or put the rest of his family at risk. He would go in the middle of the night tonight and find out just what Zan was here to do.

 

Isabel and Alex sat quietly at the counter in the crashdown. The warm sun and vivid clouds had given way to night and an eloquent full moon. A cool desert breeze now blew through the small town that Isabel had lived in the majority of her life. They watched as local kids came in and out, some on their first date and some on their last. Isabel missed those days. She also missed the days when Alex enjoyed coming here. She could only see the shell of a man she used to know well.

 

It had been at least a year or more since they had sat at this counter together. Alex did not like joining Isabel on her trips to Roswell. He did his best to stay away unless something big was going on. He always wanted to be there to protect Isabel if anything happened. Isabel never doubted his love for her but wondered if her love for him was the same.

 

Isabel still loved Roswell. She still loved the way it made her feel at home. Living in Santa Fe was nice but it wasn’t her idea to move there. Alex couldn’t stand living in Roswell after coming back from Antar. He wanted to be as far as Isabel would allow them to be. He always said there were just too many bad memories. Santa Fe made Isabel feel uneasy. Sometimes she swore that something or someone was lurking behind her.

 

Isabel scanned the Crashdown. Liz and Serena had changed the place very little. It was still the hot spot for the tourists to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Isabel laughed to herself about the one and only time that she helped serve dinner to a group of orthodontists when Liz’s grandmother passed away. She then noticed the two waitresses over in the corner snickering and laughing, they reminded her so much of Liz and Maria 20 years ago. Still the same goofy uniforms with the whole antenna deal. She then looked over at Alex who sat solemnly staring off into space. “ Adam.” She said as she waved her hand in front of his face. “Adam!” she repeated louder.

Alex’s mind always seemed to wonder off to never, never land when they were in Roswell. “ Adam!” she repeated once more. Alex was still not really used to the name change either when he was here.

“ Hu? Oh, sorry. Did you say something Isabel?” He replied.

She knew that the time on Antar had changed Alex and that it had caused him to have blackouts sometimes. She did her best not to bring them to his attention. “ I was just thinking about how much I love being here in Roswell with everyone.” She replied.

 

“ Not that again Isabel. You know how I feel about living here.” Alex stated.

“ Yeah, I know.” She said as she spun around on her stool. “ I just hate not getting to see the twins, Jake and Leah on a daily basis. I mean Kayla really needs a fashion guru.” She smiled.

“ No Isabel. I just can’t bring myself to live here again. I can’t stand to pass by a house that was mine, and a graveyard that should contain my body on a daily basis.” He whispered.

Isabel’s eyes showed her unhappiness about the subject. “ I am so unhappy in Santa Fe.” She confessed. “ I need to be with my family Alex.” She whispered back. Isabel ran her hand down Alex’s shoulder. She never called him Alex in Roswell. “ My brother needs me here. This whole Zan thing is just too much for them to handle alone. The kids are a mess, Liz is a mess and god only knows Max is a disaster. They need someone to keep things in perspective.”

 

“ They have Michael and Maria for that.” He said coldly.

 

Isabel had not seen this side of Alex in a long time. He was like this when he first came back. Before Antar Alex had always been so light hearted and compassionate. He had come back slightly uncaring at times and rather callous about some subjects, Roswell being one of them.

 

Her eyes began to fill with tears and her bottom lip began to quiver. “ I can’t live like this anymore.” She said in a pleading voice. “ I have to be here in Roswell. I am suffocating in Santa Fe.”

 

“ What about your job Isabel? Will you just give up designing? What about us?” Alex questioned as his eyes too began to water up.

Isabel looked away from him. “ I love you more than you can imagine but I have sacrificed how I feel for years now and I think it is time you face your anger and your fears here at home in Roswell.”

 

Alex stood from the stool knocking over a glass and watching it shatter on the floor. “ I can’t deal with this Isabel!” he yelled as he stormed out of the front doors of the crashdown.

 

The waitress that reminded her of Liz rushed over and began picking up the shards of glass that were lying at Isabel’s feet. “ Are you ok Mam?” She asked.

 

Tears streamed down Isabel’s face as she bent down to help the young girl pick up the glass. “ Yeah, Yeah I’m fine.” She sniffled. “ Just always find out who your marrying before you walk down the isle.” She said hesitantly.

 

The young lady looked at her as if she had no clue what Isabel was talking about. “ I’m sorry just a middle aged woman ranting.” She laughed.

 

Isabel decided to sit alone for a while. It was closing time and told the two young girls to pack it in for the day and she would finish filling the sugar, ketchup and Tabasco. Isabel sat quietly at one of the back tables for about and hour tediously filling the condiments. Alex had not come back yet and she was starting to get a bit concerned. Just then a noise came from the back room. Isabel crept quietly to the kitchen doors peering in through the small hole. She was sure it was going to be Alex to her surprise her nephew was going through his locker and throwing on a jacket. She opened the door slowly to be sure not to startle him. “ Seth?” She said quietly.

 

Seth jumped about a foot off of the ground grasping at his chest. “ Damm! Aunt Is you scared me to death!” He exclaimed.  What was she still doing up Seth wondered? His heart pounded frantically and his palms were soaked with sweat.

 

“ Where are you going Seth?” Isabel questioned.

“ I, I just needed to get some air.” He replied.

“ You can get that on your roof can’t you?”

“ Yeah but I need to get some of this extra energy out. I just need to walk for a while.” He insisted as he anxiously stood before her.

“ It’s because of Zan isn’t it?” She questioned. “ I understand Seth he has you spinning. He has us all spinning.”

“ Yeah well he has you all fooled. I know he is here for something and like I said I don’t think it is a family reunion.” Seth said.

“ Just don’t get into anything you might regret. Give him a chance Seth. You have lived here your whole life he has been here a day and a half. He will adjust.” She replied.

 

“ I need to go before I end up saying things I don’t want to. I just need to get out of here.” Seth said quickly.

“ If you need me you know where I am or if you need a ride and get tired of walking off your frustrations. Just don’t stay gone too long Seth. Your mother will have a hissy.”

 

Kissing Isabel on the cheek he quickly darted out the door.

 

Seth stood silently outside the door for a few moments. His heart was pounding viciously against his rib cage. He was that close to being busted, that close to Isabel finding out where he was going. He would have just went down the fire escape but he needed his flashlight and jacket out of the damm locker not only that but now he had the dilemma of trying to get his jeep out without her hearing the engine. No way was he walking out to the desert.

 

He walked around the side of the building where he parked his jeep and slid it into neutral giving it a sturdy push backing down the ally, so no one could see him from the store- front. Once he was far enough from the crashdown he jumped into the drivers seat and fired the engine. He felt a sense of urgency as he turned onto the highway. He wasn’t sure what it was but something seemed to be pulling him.

 

 

Max looked over at the clock on the dresser for the millionth time. His eyes were tired and heavy and his muscles were reminding him of his age. He checked the clock once again to find the time had only moved one- minute 12:52.  Sitting up in the bed his eyes focused to the right, to her, to the one woman that he had loved from the day he met her. She looked so calm and tranquil while she slept. Her long brown hair fell ever so elegantly across her sensuous face and the light from the moon amplified her exquisiteness. He had to make things right he had to make this thing with Zan work. The last thing he wanted to do was push Liz farther away. He could barely breath when the thought of Liz not being there crossed his mind and right now was one of those moments.

 

His heart began to pound under his skin as he reached over and with the tips of his fingers brushed her hair from across her face. To his surprise Liz opened her eyes “ Max?” She whispered softly.

“ I’m sorry did I wake you?” Max questioned.

“ No not really.” She said quietly.

“ I just couldn’t sleep Liz. I just have too much on my mind.”

Liz’s eyes had now become more focused and awake “ I understand Max there is a lot going on. Do you want to talk about it?”

“ No I don’t want to keep you awake.” He replied reluctantly.

 

Liz could see the stress and the torture that Max was harboring behind his intense brown eyes “ Lay down beside me Max.” Liz insisted as she lightly brushed his arm with her fingers “ Hold me.” She added quietly.

 

Max pulled the covers back and moved in next to Liz pulling her into his arms. He could feel the warmth of her skin against his bare chest as she laid her head on his shoulder.

 

“ I don’t want to loose my family Liz.” Max said wholeheartedly. “ I can feel everything just slipping away from me, I have no clue how to get Zan to trust me, Seth will barely speak to me and Isabel mentioned to me she may need to stay with us for a while.”

 

“ Are her and Alex having problems?” she questioned as her eyes drifted to his.

“ Just the same thing really. Isabel wants to come back to Roswell and you know Alex’s point of view on the subject. Is says she just can’t live like this anymore. Alex is not the Alex she used to know and even you have to admit that Alex has changed.”

 

“ I think Isabel knew that from the day he came back Max. Did she just decide that he was not worth it anymore?” She questioned.

 

“ No Liz that is not it at all. Alex came back and we all understood the condition he was in, we all understood he was not the same. It is just that lately Isabel said things have been worse. That he is extremely distant and that he rarely speaks to her and since they have been here it has been intolerable.”

 

“ I have noticed that Alex has been extremely standoffish the last couple of times he’s been in town. I think that Maria has noticed it too. Do you think we should try to talk to him before Isabel decides to move to Roswell by herself?”

 

“ I think that could help some. He has a tendency to listen to you.” He said as he ran his hand down her arm.

 

“ As for Zan. I think you really need to talk to him. Tell him your story and let him decide for himself. There is no telling what Kivar has told him. I mean he could have told Zan you were a horrible monster for all we know.”

 

“ Well as far as a correct assessment I would say you were pretty close.” Max agreed. “ He just seems to have a fierce amount of rage locked inside him.”

 

“ Seth picks up on things like that. I think that is why he doesn’t trust Zan. Besides he may feel like he is losing his father. To be honest I’m not fully sure I trust him either.” She said as her eyes drifted once again to Max’s.

 

“ I will talk to both of them tomorrow separately.” Max said as he leaned his head onto hers.

 

Liz looked over at the clock it read 1:15 “ Time seems to be escaping us Maxwell. We seem to be growing older and I think I need my beauty sleep.” She laughed.

 

“ Your amazing the way you are.” Max insisted.

 

Liz pulled herself closer to feel his heartbeat against her body. She wanted him to hold her like this the rest of their lives and forget the problems that surrounded them everyday. She then ran her petite hand up his chest “ Ditto.” She put in.

 

Max pulled Liz onto his body laying her on top of him. Her legs now straddling his body their eyes met excitedly. He could feel the heat and eagerness radiating from her. He wanted her more now than the first time they made love.  Their lips met hungrily.

 

Liz could feel the sturdy hands of her husband slinking up the back of her legs pulling up her tiny silk nightgown exposing her exquisite hourglass shape.

 

Max effortlessly pulled the gown from her body then intertwined his fingers in the lavish locks of dark sensuality that danced on his bare shoulders. His hands then trailed down to the small of her back pulling her bare body against his own. He was lost in her.

 

“ Max.” Liz said  “ Max.”

 

“ Yeah?” Max said breathlessly.

 

“ I think someone is knocking at the door.” Liz said.

 

Max fell silent and then heard the light rapping at the door as well. “ Hold that thought.” He whispered as moved quickly out of the bed wrapping his bathrobe around him.

 

Max opened the door to find Zan standing outside. “ Um hey Zan it is pretty late is something wrong?” Max questioned.

 

“ I can’t sleep. We need to talk. I need to know some things and I need to know them now.” Zan insisted.

 

Max looked back over at Liz “ Well I guess there is no better time than the present.”

“ I will meet you down stairs in just a few minuets let me get dressed.” Max said to Zan.

 

Max grabbed his jeans and a tshirt that lay on the dresser “ I’m sorry Liz.”

 

“ No Max, don’t be. We have plenty of time to have our discussion.” She said as she watched him open the door to their room. “ I’m afraid if you don’t take the opportunity to do this now you may never get the chance to again. I don’t think Zan is going to be here for long.”

 

Max leaned over kissing Liz on the forehead. “ I hope for once your wrong Liz.”

 

 

Zan sat impatiently in one of the booths in the dinning area of the crashdown. His hands had become moist and he seemed so unsure of himself. Max intimidated him though he didn’t dare let him see this. His eyes drifted toward the sound of the kitchen door opening. Max walked steadily toward the booth then sat in front of him.

 

“ What did you want to talk about Zan?” Max questioned.

 

At first Zan was not capable of looking into the eyes of the man before him “ I want to know who you are.” He said as he lifted his head to meet Max’s gaze.

 

“ Who I am?” Max asked. “ I am just a man who loves his family and wants them to be together.

“ No matter the price.” Zan said coldly.

“ No, you cannot put a price on the people you love. I know you don’t understand this, you have never had the chance to understand the human side of yourself.”

“ I am not human, humans are like fleas on dogs. Unintelligent and annoying.” Zan blurted.

“ How can you make that judgment intelligently? You only know what Kivar has told you. Humans are very intelligent. Liz, my wife, she is amazing. If you would only give her a chance you would see this, if you only knew what she and her friends have sacrificed to find you.” Max added.

Zan stood from his seat and began to pace around the booth. “ How could you just give me up? Why didn’t you care enough to stop her from leaving Earth if it was such a great place?”

“ Earth is not any better than Antar Zan. Every planet has their problems.” Max said his eyes becoming more intense with each word. “ I didn’t just let her leave, I didn’t really have much of a say so in it.”

“ You created me why wouldn’t you have a say so in where I belonged?” Zan questioned loudly. “ I mean if you were really the king then why couldn’t you control your own wife.”

Max jumped from his seat standing face to face with his son “ I am the rightful king of Antar and you are the heir to the throne. If you have made the choice to be Kivar’s puppet, as he wanted me to be at one time then the blood of our people will on your hands. As for your mother she was not my wife.”

“ You no nothing of Kivar.” Zan yelled. “ He cared enough to raise me as his son.”

“ No he cared enough about ruling Antar to raise you. He knew that our people would fall at your feet and that you would someday deliver me into his hands as well. He is evil Zan cant you see that with your own eyes, cant you feel it in your heart?” Max yelled as he placed his hand on Zan’s chest.

“ Don’t touch me.” He said as he pulled away from Max.

“ What are you afraid of?” Max bellowed. “ Are you afraid you might find out that I’m not this evil villain or monster that Kivar has created? I know the things his people say about me. About the way I ruled Antar. That was another life Zan, a life I know little to nothing about. I am not that person that he has implanted in your head.”

“ How could you kill so many people? Women, children and whole families slaughtered at your feet?” asked Zan.

 

Grabbing Zan by his shirt collar he pulled him close to his face “ I am not that person. I am Max Evans your father! I don’t believe for a minuet that as king I killed innocent families. Tell me why would so many people love and worship me if I was a brutal murderer? Tell me?” He yelled loudly. “ How many of Kivar’s subject’s love him? Hu? Tell me!” He screamed louder.

 

“ Max!” Liz Yelled from the kitchen doors  “ Stop! What are you doing?”

 

“ Liz stay out of this. This is between me and Zan!” He yelled to her.

 

“ Now tell me dammit! How many?” he repeated.

Zan was face to face with something he had denied for years, the truth. The truth was that not even Kivar’s own people seemed to love him. The only people on the planet that seemed to love him were his general’s of war and the trader’s guild but he paid them very hefty amounts of money and kept them in Cackdi pollen. His mind wondered rapidly to find a face just once face that loved him.

“ Well Zan?” Max asked again.

“ None.” He mumbled under his breath.

“ I didn’t hear you.” He spoke directly to his face.

“ NONE!” Zan yelled as tears fell from his eyes.

 

Max could feel the tension leaving his own body. He could feel a sense of relief falling over him. “ I am not that person Kivar created.” He repeated as a single tear fell from his eye and streamed down his chiseled chin.

 

Zan could not look him in the eyes. The anxiety of knowing his life was a lie was tearing him apart inside. He felt as if his insides were going to explode.

 

“ Let it go Zan, let the hate go. Don’t let it rule your life. Don’t let him rule your life.”

 

Zan looked up at Max tears streaming down his face “ I am ready father. I am ready to let you see me.” He announced.

 

Max’s eyes slowly met Zan’s. The intensity was unbearable for Liz. She could barely stand on her own two feet and then she felt the arms of a friend wrap around her just when she needed them most, Alex Whitman. He did not say a word only held her quietly “ Alex.” She cried.

 

Alex did not answer her, only stood holding Liz in his arms.

 

Then Max wrapped his arms around his firstborn son. Zan welcomed the embrace from Max for the first time as his father. Then the connection was made.

 

Max could feel the hatred coursing through Zan’s veins. He watched as Zan grew from a child. The years he missed, the child he was never able to embrace. He watched as he learned to fly and his years spent in the Antar military studying the brutal tactics that Kivar used that he didn’t believe in. He watched as his mother was taken away from him and the yearning to find his real father. He felt the anguish this had inflicted on his life and influenced him to follow Kivar. Zan then he shared the unimaginable, the plot that Kivar had devised to put an end to Max’s life.

 

Zan was able to feel the devotion and love that Max had to offer. The passion that the Evan’s had instilled in him. He felt Max’s insecurity as a teen and the undying love that he had for his family and for Liz. He then saw their wedding day, the birth of his brother and sister and of his cousins. He felt the animosity that Max had for Tess, Kivar and for Nasedo. The hatred he had for them taking Zan away from him from his family. The revulsion he had for Tess and the evil game she had played with the people he cared most about. Then he felt the perpetual love of his father. The unconditional love he had been searching for his entire life.

Max then broke the connection pulling back from Zan.

 

Zan’s body was shaking violently. He was not sure if it were from fear or from sensory overload. His heart ached as he knew his father was looking into the eyes of his would be killer. Zan could not take the anguish any longer he fell to his knees grasping around Max’s legs “ Father” He yelled loudly. “ Why, Why did it have to be this way? Please forgive me? I need you. Please?” He begged.

 

Max knelt down to his son’s level “You don’t need to beg me Son and not on your knees. Just give us a chance to show you what life can be like, what it means to have a family and true friends, and what it means to be loved.”

 

Seth passed the cliff that once held the pod’s that gave life to the majority of his family. The cold desert wind was brutal tonight. He knew he had another hundred yards to the side of the cliff where Zan’s ship was hidden.

 

Jumping out of the jeep he decided he would walk the rest of the way. The ground in front of the cliff was rather rocky and he didn’t want to get a flat. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take care of it he didn’t really want to waste his powers on something he could avoid in the first place.

 

He moved swiftly and silently to the side of the cliff. His passionate eyes were now filled with apprehension and his heart slammed against his rib cage as he placed his hand on the entrance they had created to hide the ship. His hand began to put off a very bright but soft yellow hue. Then the Side of the cave slowly disappeared revealing the ship that held all the answers he knew he needed to prove Zan was a liar.

 

Seth thought to himself as he walked around the perimeter of the ship. He pondered if Kayla could be right about a self- destruct mechanism being on the ship. What if it did blow up? Would he have time to save himself or the rest of his family? Then he thought of Jake and it hit him he had no time to waste. This was not the time to be chicken or back down. He was here and he was going to find out what was on that ship.

 

He cautiously placed his hand on the ship praying that it would not explode at his touch. The metal was like no other he had ever felt. He assumed that it would have been cold and hard but to his surprise it was rather warm to the touch and sort of gooshy. The metal seemed to bend at his touch then move back into place when pressure was removed.  Trailing his hand along the ship he circled the perimeter. He applied pressure the entire time hoping he would stumble across an opening or a lock of some nature. Beautiful, warm colors seemed to emanate from under his hand as he drug it along the ship.

 

Seth was not sure what he would look for when he finally found a way in but he assumed it would just present itself. He had almost circled the entire ship with no luck and was about to make another round when his hand ran across a spot that seemed to become brighter. He moved his hand back from the spot then over it again. This had to mean something he thought to his self. Closing his eyes he began to concentrate on the area. His mind called out to the ship as if it were a living being willing it to show him an opening. The gooshy wall began to dissipate and a bright light filled the cave around him. A sweet smell filled his senses as he opened his eyes. What was this smell he wondered it was the most satisfying smell that he had ever had the pleasure of inhaling. He recalled a perfume that a girl in class wore that he thought was breathtaking but this beat that all to hell.

 

He felt almost mesmerized as he stepped into the ship before him and his fear seemed to dissipate as his feet moved effortlessly along the floor. The inside seemed so much larger than he would have assumed. The walls were of the same material as the outside but each panel illuminated a different color of the rainbow and some colors he new h