A New Life

Author: Susan

Distribution: Anyone can have it, just ask first.

Category: UC, AU, Max/Tess with mentions of Isabel/Kyle and Michael/Maria

Summary: Tess did not kill Alex they still didn’t know who it was. The Granolith didn’t work but the baby was ok and was able to adjust to our atmosphere.

Max POV

MJ, Max Jr., was born two months ago and now Isabel, Tess and I are on our way home to Roswell. The granolith did not work. It warmed up like it was supposed to but when the timer was finished its countdown nothing happened. We don’t know what went wrong but it forced us to change our plans. Tess and the baby were sick and we couldn’t take her to a doctor. It was the most terrifying moment in my life when I realized that the granolith wasn’t going to work and we were not going to be able to go home. I never wanted to leave, not really, but I was afraid what would happen to Tess and the baby if we didn’t. Michael came back in the chamber when nothing happened and we had to make a decision fast on what to do next. We decided that Tess and I would have to leave Roswell, at least until the baby was born. It was never an option that Tess wouldn’t have the baby and there was no way that we could explain why Tess only started showing right before the baby was born or why we couldn’t go to a doctor. So we left and planned on coming back after the summer. I just prayed that Tess and our son would survive. Michael decided to stay in Roswell. Alex’s killer was still out there and he felt like he needed to stay to protect Maria, Liz, Kyle and Valenti. Of course, he had decided not to go home with us in the first place because he didn’t want to leave Maria. She was his home now. I couldn’t blame him. Isabel, on the other hand, did go with us. She said that we needed her and we did.

Tess was sick, real sick, for the entire pregnancy but the baby didn’t seem to get any worse. Isabel said it was because he was strong, just like his parents. A part of me loved Tess before we left Roswell but Liz was always the first and foremost in my heart. That has all changed now. Tess has become so much more to me than I ever imagined. I think watching her suffer so that our child could be born really had a lot to do with that. Her love for both of us was abundantly clear.

Now we had this beautiful baby boy, who at the moment seems to be quite healthy. Tess, on the other hand, is still very weak. I am hoping she will get better once we are back in Roswell. She will then have Valenti and Kyle to help take care of her. I’m not sure how to approach my parents about the whole situation. I know that we can’t stay with them. I am hoping Valenti will let us stay with him until I can find us a place to live. Isabel has talked to our parents just to let them know that we are ok but she didn’t tell them anything about me and Tess or MJ. I know that they are going to be shocked when we come home and even more shocked to meet their grandson.

Speaking of Isabel she has been talking with Kyle almost every day. He tells her what is going on in Roswell. Michael and Maria are as close as ever according to Kyle. I think he has told Isabel about Liz but she hasn’t mentioned her to us. I imagine that she is probably dating Sean Deluca. They had been getting close right before we left. She deserves to be happy and if Sean can do that then I will be happy for her. I will always love her deep down but now my life is with Tess and our child.

“How much farther Max?” Tess asks from the back seat.

I turn my head slightly so that I can look at her. I smile seeing that she is playing with MJ’s little feet. “About 20 minutes. You ready?”

She smiles weakly at me. “As I will ever be. I can’t wait to see to Kyle and the Sheriff, I mean Jim.”

“It won’t be long now.” I turn to Isabel. “Do you want me to drop you off out the house first.”

She shakes her head. “No I will go with you to the Valenti’s”

I smile at her. I’m not really surprised to hear that. Kyle and her have gotten very close and I wouldn’t be shocked if it was a beginning of a relationship for them.

Almost a half an hour later we finally reach our destination and pull up in front of the Valenti’s. Kyle comes running out of the house even before I have stopped the car. He must have been watching out the window for us. Michael, Maria and Valenti come out of the house right after him. Frankly, I am actually a little surprised to see Maria here. Maria and Tess have never been friends and I know she can’t be too happy about this situation. I guess she came to see Isabel and I.

“It took you long enough to get here.” Kyle says to us.

“Nice to see you to Kyle.” I say. He barely acknowledges me and goes right for Isabel and gives her a hug. He then goes to Tess who has just gotten out of the car. I go and get MJ out of the car since Tess has her arms full at the moment. She smiles at me over Kyle’s shoulder. I can’t help but smile back.

Michael and Maria, who have already greeted Isabel come over to me and MJ. They both seem a little hesitant. Of course MJ smiles at Maria and she is a goner. Before I know it she takes MJ out of my arms and is telling him how his Auntie Maria was going to spoil him rotten. Michael and I just smile at her.

“Everything ok Maxwell?” Michael asks nodding first to MJ and then to Tess.

“MJ is perfect. Tess is weak but she is getting stronger everyday. Being back in Roswell will do us all good.”

Michael nods his head and then envelopes me in a bear hug. “Good to have you back” then he whispers in my ear “It has been hell around here with you all gone. Maria and Kyle have been driving me insane.”

I look over to Maria and Kyle who are now fighting over who was going to hold MJ next. I laugh. “I can imagine.”

Tess comes over to me and I put my arm around her. I kiss her forehead and find that she is warm. I look down at her concerned. “You ok?”

“Yeah, just a little tired.”

The Sheriff, who had his turn holding the baby, comes over to both of us. He gives Tess a hug and shakes my hand. “Good to have you both home again.”

“It is good to be back.” I tell him and then pull Tess to my side and lead her inside the house. She needs to rest.

“Have you spoken to your parents yet?” Valenti asks me.

I shake my head. “No.”

Isabel who had been silently speaking to Kyle across the room gets up and tells us she is going to go see them. She asks if I want to go. I look at Tess and she nods her head. “Take MJ. Let them meet their grandchild.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I give her a gentle kiss and leave with Isabel. Michael and Maria follow us out of the house.

“Maxwell. What do you plan to do now?”

“Besides taking care of my wife and child I don’t know.”

“Your wife?” Maria asks.

“Well she isn’t my wife in this life, yet, but she will be.” Maria nods her head. I think she understands what I am trying to tell her. She comes and stands in front of me.

“I missed you Girlfriend.” She hugs me. Michael stands to the side and smiles at us. “ And I can’t wait to spoil that adorable little guy.” Maria looks over at MJ who is in Isabel’s arms. MJ smiles at Maria.

MJ’s gift seems to be to make any situation better. I hope that he has that effect on my parents.

When we get to the house, which I used to consider my home, I get really nervous. I guess I don’t want to see the look of disappointment on their faces. I may have been a king in my other life but in this one with one look from them I still feel like such a child.

Isabel notices my discomfort. “It will be ok Max. One look at MJ and they will forget about everything else.”

“We’ll see.” I get out and get MJ out from the back. “Come on little man lets go meet grandpa and grandma.”

We ring the doorbell. Neither one of us feel comfortable just walking right in like nothing has happened. Mom answers the door. She had a coffee cup in her hand and when she sees us she drops it. Isabel rushes to her and grabs her in a fierce hug. My mom still seems so shocked to see us and she hasn’t taken her eyes off me and MJ. I can see the questions in her eyes. Dad heard the noise from the breaking coffee cup and comes to the door to see what is wrong. “Diane what was not noise.” He sees Isabel first. “Isabel.”

“Daddy” She rushes to him and hugs him. My dad then sees me and MJ. “Max?”

“Hi Dad.”

Mom is still looking at MJ. “Who is this Max?” she asks pointing to MJ.

“Mom, Dad this is my son Max Jr. We call him MJ.”

Mom and Dad both gasp. “Your son?”

“Yes mine and Tess’s.”

“Is this why you left son?” My dad asks.

“We thought it was best but then we just wanted to come home. I also wanted you to meet your grandson.”

When I said grandson something in my mom’s eyes lit up. She rushed over to us enveloping both of us in a hug and then she took MJ from me. Once again MJ won over the situation. My dad comes over to me and hugs me. “Come in. I think we have a lot to talk about.”

Part 2

So for the next couple of hours Dad grills us on how we have been living. For the most part we told him the truth. We didn’t mention, of course, how we on occasion did a little creative changing of our money. Living on our own and taking care of Tess and the baby had been hard but we had managed for the most part without using our powers. My mom hadn’t let go of MJ yet and I think he was enjoying every minute of it if his smiles and giggles were any indication. My dad kept looking at him like he wanted to hold him too but I think he was a little nervous never actually dealing with a baby before.

“Do you want to hold him Dad?” I ask him.

“Yes, I would.”

I took MJ from my mom and handed him to Dad. MJ worked his magic once again. My dad who had been frowning at us since we entered the house was now smiling from ear to ear. You could actually see the change in him as soon as he had MJ in his arms. I think MJ actually is using a bit a power. He has a tendency to touch faces and I have noticed myself that no matter how I am feeling before once he does that I always feel better.

“He is such a beautiful baby Max.” My mom says putting an arm around me.

“Thanks. We think so to.” My mom frowned a bit at the mention of we.

“Where is Tess Max?” she asks

I know my worried look was back on my face from my mom’s expression. “She is at the Valenit’s, resting. She was real sick and she still is very weak.”

“She had a hard pregnancy?”

“Yes.” I wanted to say more but that would just evoke more questions; questions that I can’t answer.

“Well when she feels up to it you are going to have to bring her by. Speaking of which where are you going to stay?”

“Nothing has been decided yet. Probably the Valenti’s until we can find a place of our own.”

“Max you can stay here, all of you.” My dad says. I am actually a little surprised that he would even offer that.

“I will talk to Tess. It is up to her.”

“About Tess Max, are you planning on doing?”

Ah hah, now there was the Dad I knew.

“As soon as she is feeling better I am going to marry her.”

“But Max you are so young.” Now it was my mom’s turn.

I look over at MJ and I can tell he senses the tension in the room. He reaches for me and I take him out of my dad’s arms. When I have him in my arms I sense that he wants to see his mom. I will never get tired of that, this special connection that I have with him.

“I think it is time for us to leave. MJ wants his mom.”

“How can you tell?” Mom asks me.

“I just know.” My mom looks at me and nods her head. She has always known deep down that there was something different about me. I think she realizes that there is also something special about MJ to.

My mom comes over to us and gives us both a kiss. Dad also kisses MJ’s forehead and puts his hand on my shoulder. I look over to Isabel.

“I’m going to stay here for awhile but I will come back over to the Valenti’s in a bit.”

“Ok. Call if you need a ride. I’m sure Kyle will come pick you up.” I couldn’t resist giving her a hard time about Kyle. I loved to see her blush whenever I mention his name.

She lightly smacks me on the arm and kisses MJ’s little fingers. “Be good little man. You to little brother.” I roll my eyes and take MJ out to the car.

I think I am as anxious to see Tess as MJ is. I don’t like being away from her for to long. I always have this fear that I am going to come home and she will not be there any longer, that I would have lost her. I guess that is my biggest fear right now. I don’t think I could take losing her. Tess and MJ are everything to me now.

On the way back to the Valenti’s I drive by the Crashdown. I see Liz outside talking to Sean. They are holding hands. Even after everything I feel for Tess I thought I would feel some sort of twinge seeing that but to my biggest surprise I felt nothing. I guess I really have moved on.

When I get back to the Valenti’s Tess is laying on the couch. Kyle and Jim are hovering over her trying to make her comfortable and getting her anything she needs. Her face lights up when she sees us walking through the door. MJ is already reaching for her before I even get to the couch. Tess takes him and pulls him close to her kissing him. MJ smiles at her and touches her face. I lean down and kiss her on the lips.

“So they loved MJ, huh?”

“Of course. He worked his magic on them both.”

“But.”

“Things got a little tense but everything will be fine.”

“I know Max.” Tess reaches up and touches my cheek. I kiss her wrist.

“So how are you feeling?”

“Better now. I missed you both.”

“We missed you.”

I look over to Kyle. “Isabel is staying at the house for a bit but she said she was coming back.”

Kyle just shrugs and tries to act like he doesn’t care. Tess and I share a smile. We have talked about Isabel and Kyle many times before. She agrees that they would be good together.

“Max, have you decided what you are going to do next, where you are going to stay?” Jim asks me.

“Well my parents said we could stay with them but we were actually hoping you would allow us to stay here until we find a place of our own.”

“You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to Max. Tess is part of our family and now so are MJ and you.”

“Thanks Sheriff, I mean Jim.”

“Now I think you need a nap.” I say.

“Which one of us are you talking to me or MJ?”

“Both.” I help her up and lead her to her old room. Kyle must have anticipated her staying here because all his stuff was once again moved out of the room.

We put MJ in his portable crib and we lay down on the bed. I hold Tess close to me.

“I have something else to tell you.” I say. She turns towards me and I can see the fear in her eyes.

“I drove by the Crashdown on the way back here. Liz was outside and she was with Sean Deluca.”

Tess doesn’t say anything she just closes her eyes for a moment.

“They were holding hands.”

“I’m sorry Max.” Tess says.

“I’m not. Don’t you see, I thought I would be upset but I’m not. I’m glad that she has moved on because I certainly have. Liz will always be special to me but she isn’t my life.” I touch her cheek. “You are and when you are better you will once again be my wife.”

There are tears in her eyes. “I love you Max.”

“I love you to Tess.” I give her a gentle kiss and pull her close. This is where I want to be for the rest of my life, where I belonged all along.

One year later…

“I can’t believe I’m so nervous.” I am standing in front of the mirror trying to get this bowtie to stay straight. Michael and Kyle are sitting on the bed watching me fidget with my tie and then pace back and forth.

“Maxwell, would you please sit down you are making me dizzy.” Michael says.

“Yeah Evans you need to meditate or something.”

“Kyle don’t start with the Buddha stuff. I’m not in the mood.”

“Whatever you say Senor Presidente.”

I look over my shoulder and glare at Kyle. Michael and him just laugh.

“I don’t know why you are so nervous Max. You are just remarrying your wife. I’m the one who should be nervous. You don’t have to deal with a crazy girlfriend who has totally fell in love with your son and has decided she wants one of her own.”

“What?” Kyle and I both say to him.

“I mean she doesn’t want one right now but she does want us to make this thing, you know us, permanent.”

“You mean like getting married?” I ask with a smile on my face. I can almost see Maria having a conversation with Michael about marriage and the look of horror that must have crossed his face.

“Yeah I guess. I gave her a ring last night, I’m sure you will see it latter she has been showing it off all morning.”

“Well good luck my friend. Take it from someone who lives with two Deluca women you will need it.” Kyle pats Michael on the back shaking his head.

Jim and Amy Deluca got married about a month ago and moved into a new house together a little bit before that. The Valenti home has never been so loud. Tess, MJ and I have dinner with them every Sunday night and it is always an experience.

There is a knock on the door and Isabel comes in. She goes to Kyle first and kisses him and then comes over to me.

“Mom and Dad are outside. They would like to come in.”

I take a deep breath and nod my head. “Ok.”

“We will just wait outside for you.” Michael says as Kyle, Isabel and he walk out the door.

My mom and dad come in. My dad has the same look on his face that he has had this whole year, a cross between disappointment and concern. He doesn’t think I am ready for this and I know he doesn’t really approve of my choice. He has hinted to me on a number of occasions how nice Liz Parker is and how we were such a cute couple together. I finally blew up at him about a month ago and told him I was in love with Tess, that she was going to be my wife and he better learn to accept it or he was going to loose both me and MJ. We were a package deal. It was all of us or none of us. I hadn’t spoken to him since until today.

My mom comes up to me and gives me a hug. I notice there are tears in her eyes. You look so handsome and MJ is absolutely adorable. I smile at her. Isabel brought him in earlier for me to see in his little suit. He was pretty darn cute.

“Have you seen Tess?”

My father answers, “Yes, we saw her right before coming in here. She looks very beautiful and happy. You both do.”

I walk over to my dad and give him a hug. “Thank you.” I whisper. I think he knows I’m thanking him for accepting us.

The rest of the afternoon is like a blur. The only thing I remember vividly is seeing Tess at the end of the aisle. She was breathtaking. Saying our vows is a blur yet I remember pretty clearly kissing the bride, my bride. We took tons of pictures but still my mind could only focus on Tess. Seeing Tess in her wedding gown at the end of the aisle made something in my mind click and suddenly I remembered it all, I remembered loving Tess in our other life. I remembered our to brief life together. The past wedding and this one seemed to merge together in my mind. That is why the day seems like such a blur.

I am standing by Michael and Maria; who are arguing, which is nothing new, as I watch my wife, my queen, and our son dancing in middle of the room with Kyle. I can’t wait for us to begin our new life together. Hopefully this one will last longer then the last one and with any luck we can reborn once again I know that we will find our way to each other, as it was always meant to be.

The End.