Destined Love

Name:Lori R            9/02
Email: Gussywussy55@yahoo.com
Rating: NC17
Couple: Cliffie (Michael and Isabel)
Disclaimer: I want them, but no infringement is
intended.
Summery: It's all a mishmash of eppies the way I want
them at this particular time, and not according to the
series order.
Thanks: To Maxi and Covina Guy for reading it and
giving comments: )
Feedback: It helps to me know what works, so please
leave remarks.

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

Isabel ran her hands threw her long blond hair pulling
it back off of her face. She closed her eyes and once
again  heard Max's words turning over in her
head......"Isabel, you're not pregnant.....you
can't get pregnant from a dream."......  The
picture of  Michael hurrying to Maria's side to make
nice was burned into her brain. No one had given her
another thought.  Isabel opened her eyes and sighed.
True, they had all been immediately thrown into
finding Liz and rescuing Max from the FBI. But then
they had found out about their lives on Antar and
their Destiny, and nothing had been the same.
That had been early last summer. She had barely spoken
to Michael since then except  in tense conversations
that in some way involved Max and Tess. No one in
their small circle of friends ever brought it up,
especially Alex and Maria.  But it was always on her
mind just like tonight. The dreams, the feelings and
what it all meant haunted her. Why couldn't she let
this go? It was effecting her relationship with
Michael and she missed that. Max and Michael were all
really had. Well Tess too, but it had always really
been just Max, Michael, and her. Now there was a
strain on her relationship with Michael, and it was
all because of the dreams and her inability to let
them go.
Isabel sighed again as she stood up from the bench.
She had come to the park to clear her head after the
dreams had awakened her again, but instead she had
dwelled on them as usual. She looked up at the stars
and shivered. She hugged herself against the chill in
the night air before starting back to home on the
other side of the park.

Michael watched all of this from the back of his
motorcycle while he was sitting at the corner stop
light.
He continued to watch Isabel as she slowly made her
way  home. She looked so sad....lost.
He felt like he had a part in that. Ever since those
damned dreams all of their lives had been a freakin'
roller coaster. All of their relationships with the
humans were a wreck, and the ones between the aliens
were even worse. He and Max either fought or didn't
speak to one another period because of what Michael
considered to be Max's lack of leadership or over use
of it. He knew he shouldn't be angry at Max because he
didn't know what to do to prepare for another alien
attack either, but this sitting on their asses and
doing absolutely nothing was not the answer. Then
there was Maria. Michael sighed. He had broken off
with her just as Liz had with Max. They couldn't be
with the humans when they had this responsibility from
their other lives to save their home planet. Destiny
is what Tess and Nasedo called it. Michael blew out a
ragged breath. Destiny. That was another huge thing to
deal with. He and Isabel were supposed to be mates
just as Max and Tess were.  He had never looked at
Isabel that way until  those dreams. They'd been so
vivid and he'd been so happy. They'd been so happy. Or
so he had thought.  Michael frowned and reved his
bike. But as usual happiness wasn't in the cards for
him. He and Maria weren't together, and  Isabel had
made it clear that she wanted no part of him as a
mate. Her relief when Max had told them she wasn't
pregnant was evident. He'd felt like a fool for having
just layed it out to her that he wouldn't mind it if
the kid was real.  He'd been able to cover his
embarrassment by begging Maria to forgive him. He'd
hated groveling in front of Max and Isabel, but he
wasn't going to let them see the sadness he'd felt at
finding out the dreams weren't real. They had all
avoided speaking about Destiny and the dreams, well
all but Tess. She sniffed after Max all the time
reminding him  they were married and he was a King.
A horn blared from behind bringing Michael back to the
present.
He raised his hand and gave the person a one fingered
salute before tearing off down the street.
Without really knowing why he went by the Evan's
house.  He saw Isabel's light on in her window, and
stopped in the street when he saw her curtain part and
she looked out.
Their eyes locked.
Then Isabel dropped the curtain and the light went
out.
Michael reved his bike and with his mouth set in a
grim line he sped off, the bikes engine roaring in the
night.

Isabel sat in the dark on her bed and hugged her knees
to herself.
 What had Michael been doing outside? He never came
over anymore so why had he chosen to come by tonight?
Her door opened and Max entered. "Iz? You awake?"
"Yeah," she answered quietly.
Max shut the door and came to sit on the bed beside
her.
"Where'd you go Iz? You know it's not safe to go out
by yourself. We've got our enemies ....Nicholas,
Kivar, Lonnie and Rath not to mention the Government,
all just waiting to destroy us. We don't  know who
else may be out there  looking for us, Isabel, but you
can't just go off like that," Max gently admonished. 
Isabel rolled her eyes as she pushed her hair back
with impatience.  "I'm not going to be a prisoner Max.
You've told us to carry on like normal until something
happens and that's what  I'm trying to do. Telling me
to not go out alone...that's not normal.
Besides, I can take care of myself. I killed Whittaker
didn't I?" She still had problems dealing with that.
She'd killed someone.
Max's lips thinned at her words. "Isabel, I'm just
trying to do what I think is best to keep everyone
safe."
Isabel looked away, but Max knew she was biting back
another retort.
"Go ahead, say what's on your mind," he told her.
Isabel looked back at  him. "Michael's right. We
should be preparing to meet our enemies. We don't know
what or who we're up against, but we need to be ready.
We can't just sit here and pretend we're not alien and
that we're not being sought out."
At his shocked look she added, "Humans and aliens
alike want us dead Max, you just said so yourself.
Like I told you before Max, I don't plan to end up a
pile of dust like Nasedo."
"He's not right! And since when do you talk to
Michael? I thought you two weren't speaking?" said
Max, his temper rising at being doubted by Isabel, the
one person he had thought would back him up.
Isabel looked away again as she dropped her legs over
the edge of the bed. "We don't talk," she admitted
quietly. "But that doesn't mean he isn't right."
Max stood up. "Well I'm the one who has to make the
decision, and I say we do nothing until we know what
we're up against."
"Fine Max. You do that. Make the decisions like you
did when you and Tess went to New York without even
telling Michael and me.  But remember this. It's the
decisions you make alone that just may get us all
killed," said Isabel looking up at him.
Max stared at her with a hurt look before he left the
room.
Isabel watched him go then lay back on her pillow.
She'd hurt him, but Michael was right. They needed to
be prepared.
Closing her eyes, Isabel tried again to sleep, but it
never came. Her mind was on Michael out in the street
....and a dream that wouldn't go away.

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

A few days later......

"Michael, you have to focus. Clear your mind and it
will happen," encouraged Tess as she and Michael
worked on developing his powers out in the desert. He
had come a long way in controlling  his powers, but
Tess was teaching him how to be stronger and more at
ease with them.
"I've got too much on my mind," said Michael wiping
his brow with his arm.
"Like what?" asked Tess picking up her water bottle.
"Nothing," said Michael as he squinted against the
bright sunlight. He had no intention of 'opening up'
to Tess.
Tess closed the top on her bottle and observed
Michael. "Must be something to take your focus off
what we're doing."
"Leave it alone Tess," warned Michael rubbing at his
eyes.
They both looked up at the sound of an approaching
vehicle. Max's jeep soon came into view.
"Great. Just what I need," grumbled Michael as he
crossed his arms.
"Something must be wrong for Max to come out here,"
said Tess near Michael's shoulder.
They both watched as Max and Isabel got out of the
jeep and walked over to them.
"Well this is an honor. King Max has decided to grace
us with his presence," said Michael sarcastically.
Max threw a grim look at Michael. "We need to talk."
"What's up Max?" asked Tess, as Isabel stood quietly
by wondering why Max had dragged her out here.
"I think it's time we prepared ourselves for what's to
come," Max told them.
No one spoke. That Max had finally said it was time to
act was an unexpected shock.
Michael pulled himself together and asked, "What made
you change your mind?"
Max looked around at all of them and said, "Isabel."
At her startled look he clarified, "She said you were
right Michael for working on developing your powers.
I've been trying to deny what's coming and I can't
anymore. This is real. If we're to survive we have to
be ready for  whatever comes, not wait until it's
here. We need to be ready to fight at any given
moment."
Michael glanced at Isabel. She seemed to feel his eyes
on her  and looked his way. He nodded slightly at her
as his lip went up one side, then turned his attention
back to Max.

Isabel couldn't focus on what Max was saying. All she
could think about was the  look she had exchanged with
Michael. She could tell he'd been pleased she had
sided with him. She wanted to tell him that she
honestly agreed with what he had said, but knew she
wouldn't. She had also been shocked that Max had
considered her opinion. Usually he asked and then
disregarded what she said.  Apparently this time what
she said had held merit.

"Don't you think so Isabel?" asked Max.
Isabel realized everyone was looking at her.
"I huh...." what could she say since she hadn't been
following the conversation?
"Huh, I think we'll be okay working together," said
Michael, effectively covering up any lapse in Isabel's
answering Max.
Isabel stared at Michael then realized Max was still
waiting for her answer.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," she replied looking back at
Max. Apparently she was going to be working with
Michael on something. That news was something of a
shock considering he seemed to avoid her just as much
as she avoided him.
"Good. Then Tess you'll work with me on the memory
retrievals we were working on before. Maybe I can
remember something important that will help us," said
Max.
"Don't you think I should work with all of you on
that? You all have memories that could help us here
Max," said Tess.
Michael and Isabel glanced at one another. Retrieving
memories could mean seeing more than information about
their enemies.
"Good idea Tess. We'll all set up times to work with
you. Anything that you think could be helpful make
sure you share with all of us right away," said Max.
Michael and Isabel looked away. Tess noticed, but
didn't say anything. She would explore this later on
when she had them each alone. This may be just what
she had been looking for to get the others to see they
belonged not here on Earth, but on Antar as they were
before.

"So what did I just agree to work with you on?" asked
Isabel, when she and Michael were alone.
"We're going to work to build each others powers up.
See if we can discover new ones while we're at it. The
same thing that Tess and I have been doing," said
Michael as he walked back across the hot desert floor
to his motorcycle.
Isabel stood looking at Michael's retreating back then
called out. "Michael! Where are you going?"
"I've got a job or did you forget?" answered Michael
as he climbed on his back and pulled his helmet on.
Isabel approached him. "So when do we work on this?"
Michael shrugged then started the bike. "I don't know.
I'll get back to you."
"You'll get back to me? I don't think.....MICHAEL!"
yelled Isabel as she watched  Michael take off on his
bike.
Isabel crossed her arms and stood there fuming and a
little hurt. She hadn't asked to be paired with him,
and he hadn't said no either. So the least he could do
is do his part in all of this.
"Where did Michael go?" asked Max as he came to stand
beside her.
"Work...he said," Isabel told him as she headed
towards the jeep.
"Where do you think you're going?" asked Max.
"My partner is gone. I'm heading home. Tess can drive
you back," said Isabel getting behind the wheel.
Max reached in and took the keys.
"Michael may be gone, but you can still prepare. You
can work with Tess first while I try to make some sort
of plan," said Max.
"Max, I have plans. Some other time," said Isabel
reaching for the keys.
Max pulled them back. "Isabel, you were the one that
reminded me we needed to be prepared. Don't you still
feel that way?" he questioned.
Isabel's hands fell off the wheel and onto her lap.
She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. Great. Just
great, she thought to herself. Opening her eyes she
said, "Fine! Let's just get it over with." She climbed
out of the jeep and kicked dirt up all the way to
where Tess stood.
Max couldn't figure out why Isabel was so
uncooperative. She had convinced him that they needed
to be ready and now she seemed angry that they were
doing just that.
He shook his head and began to focus on what their
plan should be if they were attacked.

Inside the cave......

"Isabel, you have to focus. I know it's frustrating,
but it will work. Now make your mind a
blank....everything in your mind is pushed
aside.....there is nothing but
space....dark....free.....just let your mind go,"
instructed Tess soothingly of Isabel.
Isabel nodded ever so slightly. They had been at this
for a while now. She had been tense at what she might
find out about herself, but Tess had not let her give
up.

...."I know you're afraid to see your past Isabel,"
Tess had said. "But I truly believe you will be glad
if you do this. Trust me," whispered Tess close to
Isabel's ear, her hand gently pressing Isabel's
shoulder....

And Isabel had. She couldn't explain why, but suddenly
she had needed to know what was in her past besides
this evil person that was her former self. A traitor
to her family and people. A murderess. Surely
somewhere in her past life she had been good.

"Now Isabel I want you to think back...back....back to
your very first thought," whispered Tess.  "What do
you remember?"
Isabel licked her lips. "Where's Rath?" she whispered
softly.
Tess bit back a gasp. Instead she swallowed and asked,
"Where are you?"
"In...in a cave."
"And who....who are you?" Tess asked with restrained
excitement.
"Vilandra," breathed Isabel.
Tess gripped her hands tightly together. She realized
that Isabel was reliving emerging from the pods. That
she had used their previous names amazed Tess. Now
maybe she could push Isabel back further.
"Okaaay...Vilandra. Let's go back further. What do you
see?" she asked.
There was silence for awhile and then Isabel smiled.
"Rath! I see Rath! And me." She smiled at the memory.
"We're supposed to be readying our warriors, but we've
stolen a few moments to be alone." She grinned. "He's
impatient to be married. Zan would frown if he knew we
haven't waited to be together. We're ready to have a
family. Rath never had one growing up except for Zan
and I." She smiled softly. " We have loved one another
all our lives, but...." Her face clouds over. "He will
be angry if he finds out.....Kivar is threatening
me...my family!" Tears spilled down Isabel's face.
Tess frowned. "Threatening you? How?"
Suddenly Isabel began to breathe hard as if she was
running and upset. "NO!... NO  DON'T! STOP IT!" Then
her voice became a hoarse whisper as she shook her
head. "Please no!  Zan?...Ava?"  Then Tess felt her
blood run cold at the next sounds to come from Isabel.
"RATH!!!! Noooooooooo!" screamed a shaking Isabel as
she reached out in front of her. She shook her head
before she clutched her stomach and fell over in a
dead faint.
"Isabel!" gasped Tess as she gently shook the young
woman.
"What happend?!" demanded Max as he rushed into the
cave and to Isabel's side. "I could hear her screaming
outside! She sounded like she was in pain!"
He pulled Isabel to him.
"We were doing the mind retrieval. She saw
Michael...Rath....and Vilandra walking. She was
telling me how much in love they were. Then she
started saying something about Kivar threatening her
and her family. Then she started screaming ....our
true names. The next thing I knew she fainted,"
explained Tess unnerved by what had happened.
Max looked at Tess. "She went that far back already?
It took me weeks to do that. Do you think she saw what
happened to us?" He had been unnerved seeing his own
death, so he could only imagine what it was like for
her to see all of them for supposedly she was the last
to die.
"I don't know for sure, but I think so. Max she was so
happy one moment then suddenly she was terrified. It
scared me to watch her," said Tess hugging herself.
"You said Kivar threatened her. I thought Vilandra and
Kivar were lovers. Why would Kivar threaten her unless
we've been lied to along and they weren't lovers at
all!" said Max thoughtfully.
"That would mean that Rath and Vilandra were truely
lovers as I've tried to tell you, Max. They were
together then just as Michael and Isabel are now. It's
the same for you and me," said Tess.
Max looked grim as he looked at Tess then at Isabel.
He didn't want to believe that all of this was true.
It would mean he was never meant to be with Liz, and
that the aliens Destiny was real.
"I think Isabel is fine. Maybe we shouldn't push this
with her for a few days," said Max as he helped Isabel
to sit up.

Isabel moaned and put a hand to her head. She felt
like her head was going to explode.
"Wh...what....what happened?" she asked. Nausea
threatened to over power her as she recognized the
taste of blood in her mouth. "Am I bleeding?"
Max searched and found nothing. "I can't find
anything."
"I...." Isabel swallowed as she the taste of blood
grew stronger. "I...taste....blood.....oh gawd....!"
And she rolled to her side and threw up.
Alarmed, Max held Isabel until nothing else came. He
again searched her with his powers and his eyes. "I
can't find anything!"
Tess was anxiously kneeling nearby when she whispered,
"Maybe it's from her memory. You know, the memory of
her death before."
Isabel froze. She remembered everything she had told
Tess. And she knew that Tess was right. She had been
devastated at finding Zan, and Ava, and
.....Rath...her hearts love was dead. Then she had
felt the pain in her own gut. Tasted her own blood
pouring into her mouth as she reached for Rath's hand.
Michael's hand.
Isabel touched her lips with her fingers as she looked
with tear filled eyes at Max.  "I saw it Max. I saw
all of it. We were all... dead."  The image of them
lying there made her bite her lip.
Max held her tight in his arms. He wouldn't have put
her through this so fast if he had known how quickly
she would respond to the retrieval.
"I'm sorry Isabel. I'm sorry," he whispered against
her hair.
He helped her up and out to the jeep with Tess
following close behind.
"We'll wait before doing this again....if you're even
willing to do it," said Max.
Isabel sat quietly.
"Iz?" asked Max worriedly. He looked at Tess who shook
her head.
With one more look at Isabel, Max started the jeep and
drove the quiet trio back to Roswell.

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

Later at Michael's apartment....

"You should have seen her Michael. She was all happy
then suddenly she was clutching her stomach and
screaming. She just fainted away," said Tess as she
placed a bowl of popcorn on the table by Michael's
feet, then sank down on the floor.
Michael's hand froze in the bowl. He stared at Tess.
"No way! Isabel fainted?"  He couldn't believe that.
Isabel was strong and healthy...alien, nothing could
make her faint. "So do you think she really saw all of
that?" he asked curiously. It was so hard to believe
that after that one time she had seen that much. He
frowned. And the part about him and her...well that
was not what he'd expected her to see first anyhow.
Tess nodded. "I believe her. She's seeing a lot of
what Max and I saw. I don't doubt her. What she was
saying about you two..."
"NOT us! That was some other life. Not this one. Not
us," clarified Michael hastily as he shook a salty
finger at her.
Tess looked up at him and rolled her eyes. "It was you
Michael. Maybe not the same name and form, but face
it. It was you and Isabel...Rath and Vilandra."
Michael sighed and nodded. He made a motion with his
hand for her to continue. "So what else happened?"
Tess leaned forward.  "Max told her to wait before
trying this again. She reacted much quicker than Max
to the retrieval. And..... well she seemed very upset
when you were killed."
She looked at Michael for his reaction to that.

Michael blew out a breath as he sat back. He wondered
why that part had been so strong for Isabel.
"When Max did the retrieval, what did he see first?"
he asked Tess.
"He saw the planet's topography. Then the colors came
alive and he felt the sensations of our world. They're
very different from Earth's," said Tess. "Why?"
"When did he start to remember you...all of us?" asked
Michael.
"It wasn't until much later. We had several sessions.
It was mostly outlines of images and the vibes we gave
off that he felt first. We don't look the same as we
did then, but you know it's us," said Tess.
"But Isabel saw us first," said Michael trying to
understand.
"I don't know why it was so easy for her to go back or
why she saw what she did," said Tess.
Michael abruptly stood up. "You've got to go. I'm
tired."
Tess stood up and placed a hand on Michael's arm.
"Michael, it's going to happen for you too, you'll
see. And just so you know, I didn't tell Max and
Isabel that you and I have been working on the
retrieval on our own," said Tess.
"I said I'm tired. You should go now," said Michael
dismissively.
Tess blinked in confusion. "O-okay. Huh, I'll see you
tomorrow I guess." She grabbed her purse and jacket
and headed for the door. She turned back to say
something else and saw Michael biting his thumb nail
as he looked off into space. A wrinkle formed between
her brows as she wondered what was up. Opening the
door, she quietly left.

Michael rubbed the back of his neck. Why was Isabel
reacting so strongly to the retrieval? Was it because
Vilandra had turned traitor on them and she felt
guilty? That would be stupid if she was feeling that,
but also very Isabel. It upset her that she did that
in her past life.  He knew that soon Max would be
asking him to take his turn for the retrieval. Now he
had mixed feelings about it even though he and Tess
had been working on it for a while now. Max would be
pissed to know that.
He lay down on his bed, and put on arm under his head
while the other lay casually across his stomach.
That Isabel saw them together discussing marriage and
a family disturbed him. It was the first image she
described seeing. Why that? Was it because it came
right before their deaths? Or was there some other
more personal reason for it?
He turned over. This was driving him nuts. He wanted
to know why she saw what she did, but then again he
didn't want to know if it had anything to do with all
that destiny stuff. They were friends. That's all.
He closed his eyes, but sleep didn't come. Just
unwanted visions of a cliff ....him ....Isabel.... and
a baby.

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

Kyle Valenti heard the pounding on the front door and
groggily made his way over to see who had dared to
disrupt his sleep. Peeking past the curtain he groaned
as he saw Guerin impatiently pounding on the door.
"Hey open up!" he called to Kyle.
"What the hell do you want Guerin? My Dad's working so
he can't help you with your weird alien problems right
now, " said Kyle as Michael pushed his way inside.
"Where's Tess?" demanded Michael as he started down
the hall.
"HEY! You can't barge in here like this and ....okay
you can, but ....HEY!" he called out as he followed
Michael down the hall to Kyle's former room.
Michael threw the door open just as Tess sat up in
bed.
"Michael! What's wrong?" she asked as she got up.
"Did you make Max and Isabel have those visions? Did
you plant memories in their heads?" Michael asked her.

Kyle stood behind Michael and frowned. "Tess, do you
want me to ...." He knew there was really no way to
make Michael leave, but he felt like he should at
least make the offer.
"It's fine Kyle," said Tess, but her eyes were on
Michael. "You think I made them have the visions?
Why?"
"Because you know how to do that kind of stuff and you
want us to go back there so badly," said Michael
watching her. "And because I haven't seen crap," he
admitted.
Tess slowly shook her head. "No Michael.  What they
saw was all on their own. And I told you, it will
happen for you too. It just takes time."
Michael rubbed his face then looked at Tess. "I want
you to help me retrieve my memories."
Tess's eyes widened. "Okaaaay. Tomorrow we'll..."
"NO!" Michael blew out a breath at his own outburst,
and Tess's shocked look. "No. I want to do it now."
Kyle moved to stand beside Tess. "It's the middle of
the night Guerin. Why don't you both rest then...."
"I want to do it now," said Michael stubbornly. He
stood waiting for Tess's answer.
Tess knew that something had happened to make Michael
want to do this here and now. She had to talk him in
to it when they had began trying to do the retrieval
weeks ago, and now here he was demanding she help him
this minute. She couldn't let this opportunity slip
by.
"Then let's do this," she said. She turned to Kyle.
"Leave us alone Kyle. We'll be fine."
Kyle looked between the two. "You're sure?"
Tess nodded.
Kyle didn't like it, but he nodded before closing the
door behind himself.

"Okay Michael, let's sit on the bed and get
comfortable facing one another," instructed Tess.
Michael slid off his shoes and joined Tess on the bed.

"Let's get on with this," said Michael.
"Remember, deep breaths Michael. Close your eyes.
Clear your mind," said Tess taking his hands in hers.
Giving Michael what she thought was time enough Tess
said, "Now....focus on your life before you came out
of the pod. Your earliest memory," said Tess.
Michael closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and
waited. After what seemed like forever to him, Michael
opened his eyes. "I don't see anything. Why don't I
see anything?" he asked in frustration.
"You didn't clear your mind or give it enough time.
Now Michael close your eyes and really clear your
mind," ordered Tess. She took his hands in hers and
gently rubbed her thumb over his hand.
Michael closed his eyes and blew out a slow breath.
Once again let his mind go blank. Darkness and peace
descended on him.
Then he saw them. The pods. They were empty except for
the one holding Tess. He sucked in his breath.
"What do you see Michael?" asked Tess.
"You in the pod ....Max and Isabel wanting to leave,"
said Michael. He opened his eyes. "This isn't
working," he said in frustration. He always saw the
same thing. Why couldn't he go back further?
Tess opened her own eyes. "Yes it is. Now try again."
Michael nodded and did as he had before.
That's when it happened. Suddenly Michael was was in a
war ridden place that he was not familiar with....

....Destruction was all around him. Antar. He looked
around and in the distance he saw his warriors. But at
his side he saw her. Isabel. No, Vilandra.
"Zan has agreed to our bonding Vilandra. Soon we will
be together and have our family," he told her as he
slipped his arms around her. He could feel how much
they loved one another.  She was his life, and he knew
she felt the same.
Vilandra smiled up at him as she wrapped her arms
around his neck.
"A son like his father," she told him as she kissed
him.
"Sons. I want lots of sons and daughters," he told her
as he returned her kiss.
She laughed. "Creating your own army Rath?"
His face grew serious. "I hope they never have to
fight. I want this war over and their home safe."
She too grew serious as she touched his face. "I know
my love. I want that too. I want Kivar defeated so we
can live our lives again."
Suddenly a shout drew their attention.
Turning they saw the Kivar's warriors falling on their
own.
"NO!... NO  DON'T! STOP IT!" cried Vilandra. Then her
voice became a hoarse whisper as she shook her head.
"Please no!  Zan?...Ava?"  
"Damn him!" yelled Rath as they both raced towards the
camp.
As they approached  they watched in horror as Zan and
Ava were dragged out in the middle of the camp to a
waiting Kivar. "It's over Zan. You were foolish to try
and fight me." Then with out blinking an eye he
killed them by blasting them with a ball of power so
strong that it burned them to death.
"ZAN!!!!!" cried Vilandra as she tried to run to where
he and Ava had been. Nothing was left but their burned
bodies.
"NO! We can't help Zan and Ava now!" Rath told her as
he pulled her close. He couldn't let anything happen
to her. She may be the best warrior he knew, but she
was his life and he wasn't going to risk losing her.
"VILANDRA!" he yelled at her  when she still fought
him.  Suddenly he stiffened as he felt a fire burning
into his body from behind. He released her and stared
at her horrified face, then  fell to his knees while
he heard her scream his name. He stared up at her with
pain and sorrow at what he knew was the end. She fell
to her knees and pulled him to her. He tried to warn
her as he saw Kivar approach her from the side, but no
sound would come forth.  He watched her stiffen as
they heard Kivar smuggly say, "Vilandra. I warned you
that I would destroy your family if you rejected me
again. Do you believe me now? I want you for my Queen.
Agree to my proposal or you will join your family in
death."
Rath watched proudly as she slowly, but boldly stood
and faced Kivar. She shook her head. "I love Rath, and
I'll die with him."
 She fell next to him then, reaching for his
hand....then there was nothing....

...Michael opened his eyes. Damn, he'd never expected
anything like that. If that's what Isabel had
experienced no wonder she'd fainted. He looked at his
hands. They were shaking.
"Michael? Michael?" He realized Tess was calling his
name.
He looked at her.
"Michael, are you okay?" she asked him as she touched
his arm.
He ran his hands over his hair and then shook his head
as if to clear it.
"You saw something," whispered Tess, as she leaned
back.
Michael thought about the things he had seen, the
emotions he'd felt for Vilandra....Isabel.
He looked away in confusion.
"Michael, what did you see?" asked Tess. 
"Nothing. Nothing that ....mattered," replied Michael.
He was damned if he was going to discuss this with
Tess or anyone else until he had it figured out in his
own head what had just happened.
He stood up. His legs felt cramped and achy. He
glanced at the clock behind Tess. He'd been here over
three hours. He was surprised. He'd not thought it had
been that long.
"Thanks," he told her as he headed for the door.
Tess followed him. "Michael, you can't just leave.
What happened? What did you see?" asked Tess as she
followed him past a wide eyed  Kyle to the front door.
"MICHAEL!"
But he never stopped. He went out the door and got on
his bike, leaving Tess and  Kyle standing and staring.
"What the hell is up with him?" asked Kyle as he
watched Michael ride out of sight.
"More than I think he ever anticipated," said Tess
quietly. She turned and thoughtfully made her way into
the house.
"Did whatever you two were doing work?" asked Kyle as
he closed the door.
Tess stopped and turned back to Kyle. "I think it
worked better than we ever imagined." And she smiled
as she went back to bed.

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

Max looked up from his lunch as Tess sat down across
from him. He was eating in the park and was hoping for
a little think time.
"Tess," he said drily before casually sticking a chip
in his mouth. He looked at his plate and wondered if
she was here because of what had happened at the cave.
"How's Isabel?" asked Tess.
"She was gone when I got up this morning so I don't
know. She's okay I guess. I didn't hear her last night
so I think she slept," said Max putting his trash
together and tossing it in the can near by.
Tess looked around before saying, "Michael came to me
last night. He asked me to help him do the retrieval."
Max looked at Tess with surprise. "He what? Did you do
it?" He thought he'd have to stand over Michael to get
him to do the retrieval and here he had gone to Tess
on his own.
Tess nodded. "It took a few attempts, but Michael did
it."
Max crossed his arms, and leaned forward on the table.
"Really?" He was impressed and puzzled. It had taken
him awhile to see anything and now Michael and Isabel
both had seen something right off. "What did he see?"
Tess shook her head. "He wouldn't tell me. But I know
it was something he wasn't expecting."
"How do you know that?" asked Max.
"The look on his face and the way he just got up and
left. He saw something that disturbed him, and I don't
think it was just his own death," said Tess.
Then she looked at Max and said, "I want to try and do
a retrieval with all of us."
Max stared at her. "Together? You mean at the same
time? Is that even possible?"
"I really have no idea," said Tess, "but I think we
should try."
Max shook his head. "What good would it do?"
"I don't know. Maybe going back at the same time we
might see something the other missed," said Tess. "I
just think we should try it."
Max scratched at his ear. "Tess, I don't think it's
such a good idea."
Tess sat up straight. "Why not? Don't you want to go
home?"
Max looked her in the eyes as he replied, "I don't
think so. My life...our lives are here. It's all
Michael, Isabel, and I have ever known...you know
that."
"Oh," Tess replied as she slowly stood up. "Well I
thought you had changed your mind about that once you
found out how things were back home."
"Tess, I thought  you felt the same we did. I mean
after what happened in New York, I thought you had
decided this was your home too," said Max a little
confused by Tess's change of mind.
"That was when I was weak from Rath and Lonnie's
powers. I'm myself again and I think we should try to
go home. We have the granolith and can do it. Our
people need us," she told him.
"Tess...." said Max shaking his head.
"I see. You still believe you're supposed to be with
Liz. You just want to forget what we are to one
another," Tess said.
"There is no 'us' Tess," said Max.
Tess stared at Max. "You're wrong Max. Someday you'll
see that we are mates no matter what planet we are on
just as Michael and Isabel are. You can't fight what
was meant to be," she told him before leaving the
park.  As Max watched her go he wondered why she
wouldn't drop the destiny issue.
He stood up and went to the one place he really
shouldn't....the Crashdown.

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

Liz saw Max walk in to the Crashdown and sit at one of
her stations. She picked up a menu and slowly made her
way to his booth.
"Max," she said quietly.
"Liz," he said smiling gently up at her.
"What can I get you? We um....we have a good special
today...".
"Just a Coke please," he told her.
Liz took his menu and nodded. "Right. I'll get that
for you." She turned to leave.
"Liz!"
She hesitated and turned back to him. "Max, don't do
this."
"I just wanted to talk to you," he told her.
She melted under his gaze.
"Let me get your Coke," she said.
Max rested his chin on his fists as he watched her.
When Liz returned with his Coke, she sat across from
him and said, "So, how are you? I hear that you guys
are preparing for an attack. Do you really think that
will happen?"
Max rolled the glass between his hands as he
considered her question.
"Yeah, I think they'll come. They want the four of us
and the granolith. We have to be prepared," he told
her.
Liz nodded. "So how is everyone? Maria said Michael
won't talk to her and Alex said Isabel is cool as
well. I think the only ones who do speak are Kyle and
Tess."
"It's hard on everyone, I know." Max then looked at
Liz. "How are you?"
Liz shrugged. "I'm okay."
Max swallowed. "I heard you went out with Kyle." The
hurt in his voice was evident.
Liz nodded slowly. "Yeah. A few times now." She saw
the pain cross his face at her words.
Max looked down at his Coke then at Liz.
"I miss you," he told her.
Liz's eyes grew cloudy. "Don't Max. We're only friends
now, nothing more."
"But I want more than that!" he told her.
"You belong with Tess, Max. Not me," she said sadly.
"So she keeps saying," said Max under his breath as he
pushed his straw up and down in glass.
"Why do you fight it Max? It's your destiny. You're
making this harder on both of us," she said.
"Just because I'm the King doesn't mean I'm her
husband," said Max.
"But that's what you are Max. Why is it you and
Michael and Isabel can readily accept that you are
royal leaders of another planet, but you can't accept
that you are mated with Tess, and Michael with
Isabel?" asked, Liz.
Max frowned at her words. "Since when do you want me
to accept Tess as my wife? I thought we loved one
another. It sounds to me like you're trying to push me
to her," Max said.
 "I'm not your destiny, Max. You heard your Mother and
Nasedo. Tess is your wife, and Michael and Isabel are
meant to be together as well. You can't take part of
your destiny and throw away the rest no matter how
much we wish it were different." Liz watched Max shake
his head in denial.  "I'm trying to make a life for
myself, Max. I want a family," said Liz, trying to
make him understand.
"We can have that!" said Max reaching for her hand.
Liz pulled her hand away and stood up. "No we can't.
We can never be, so stop trying to make it happen."
Then Max watched stunned as she walked away.


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


Isabel sat behind the wheel of the car lost in thought
as she drove down the highway towards Roswell.
She had met Tess for lunch, but had left early when
Tess had wanted to discuss the retrieval and what
Isabel had seen. But Isabel had not wanted to discuss
it.  After they had parted she had gone out to the
desert alone.
"I'm not Vilandra, and I'm not living her life all
over again," she told herself as she gripped the
wheel. She was disturbed by the images and feelings
she'd  had concerning herself and Michael....or rather
Vilandra and Rath. "I don't love Michael....not that
way anyway. I'm....we're just friends. Nothing more,"
she told herself. But in her mind she kept seeing
another vision to go with the already disturbing ones
she had of them on the cliff making love or playing
with their son. Now she was seeing them together on
Antar kissing and ...dying. And in all the dreams the
one constant she realized was how much they loved one
another. That deep love felt by lovers.
Something crossed in front of the car causing Isabel
to look up in surprise and run off the road hitting a
billboard sign. The car came to a sudden stop and
Isabel fell forward hard before being forced back  the
airbag.
"Ow!" Isabel moaned as her hands pushed at the bag
pressing against her face. As the bag slowly deflated
Isabel reached for her seat belt to release it. She
felt okay, so she mustn't have been hurt. Just shook
up.
"Damn! Just great. Now how do I get back to town?" she
said to herself as she climbed from the car.
The front of the car smoked and was crushed from the
impact with the sign. 
"Daddy's going to kill me," she thought to herself.
Isabel got back in the car and began to look for her
cell phone to call for help.
She looked up as an engine approaching from the
direction of Roswell alerted her that help may have
already arrived.
"What's he doing out here?" she thought as she
realized who her rescuer was. She wasn't even aware
that her heart was pumping faster.

Michael sped up his motorcycle as he headed towards
the rocks where the cave was located. He'd had the
damn dreams again. Each time the thing that was always
the same was the rocks near the cave....and Isabel.
He'd decided to ride out to the cave to check out the
rocks there. He had to know if the rocks in his dreams
were real.
He frowned as he saw  that a car had plowed into a
billboard up ahead. The same frown deepened and a
feeling of fear came over him as he realized who the
car belonged to.
He pulled over and stopped behind the car before
quickly making his way to the drivers side and peering
in.
"Isabel! Are you okay?" he asked anxiously. One look
at her and he said, "You're bleeding!" 
Isabel frowned. "I am?" She hadn't realized she was
injured.
"Your head is bleeding," he told her as he reached in
and touched her brow. "You must have hit the dash.
Didn't you feel it?" He went sick inside as he
wondered if she had more injuries they didn't know
about.
"N-no. No I didn't," said Isabel softly, raising her
hand to her head. Her fingers touched the wet sticky
substance that was dripping down her temple. She
stared at her hand and the blood that was smeared
there.
Michael looked around for something to use to wipe the
blood from Isabel's face. Finding nothing, he pulled
off his shirt and gently wiped at the blood on
Isabel's face. "It's pretty deep Isabel. Do you hurt
anywhere else?"
She shook her head. He checked her over carefully, but
didn't find anymore blood or anything that looked
broken. He picked up the cell phone next to Isabel and
called Max.
"Max! Isabel's been in a car accident! No. She's okay
as far as I can tell. Nothing too serious anyway. Just
a head wound that needs tending and she's pale....
Naw, I don't think anythings broken..... Yeah, I
thought I'd take her to my place..... Right," said
Michael before tossing the phone aside.
"I'm going to take you to my place, and  Max will meet
us there. That is unless you want a scar," he told
her.
"Very funny Michael," she replied looking up at him.
"Whose kidding," said Michael as he looked at his bike
then back at Isabel. He hadn't considered he was on
his motorcycle. He cursed under his breath at the
situation.
"Think you can ride on the back of my bike and hold on
to me?" he asked her. He really didn't want to chance
her falling off, but leaving her was not an option.
Anyone coming along would insist on taking her to the
hospital and that would be that. They'd find out her
blood was not human and in would come the Special
Unit.
"I feel fine Michael. I can ride," she told him as she
stood up. She weaved as a slight dizziness came over
her. She was feeling odd now and didn't know if it was
from the accident, the sight of her own blood, or
Michael. She actually preferred it be one of the first
two.
Michael grabbed hold of her. "Yeah, I can see that.
You're white as a sheet. Just hold on to me."
"Michael, what about the car?" Isabel asked him as she
held on to Michael.
"It'll be fine. If anyone finds it we'll just say I
picked you up and we were coming back for the car
later. It's not a lie anyway," he told her as they
made their way to his bike.  He helped her on and then
slid on in front of her.
"Lean on me and hold on tight. Do NOT let go Isabel.
You hear me?" he ordered.
Isabel nodded as she leaned her head on Michael's back
and clutched his middle.
Michael started the bike and carefully rode back to
Roswell, with Isabel holding on to him.
All the way to his apartment Michael was very aware of
Isabel hanging on to his body, her own pressed close
to his. Don't go there, he told himself. She's your
friend and nothing more.  The dreams were just that.
Dreams. She's hurt and she needs you.
He pulled in to the drive of his building and stopped
the bike in a parking spot.
"We're here," he told her.
"I know Michael. I'm bleeding, not blind," Isabel
replied.
Michael would have come back with a retort if her
voice hadn't sounded so weak.
"You okay?" he asked as he helped her off the bike.
One look at her face told him she wasn't.
He bent down, and despite her protest, picked her up
in his arms and carried her inside.
"Michael put me down. I'm not...an invalid," said
Isabel leaning her head on his shoulder. She felt so
sleepy.
Michael kicked open his door and headed for his bed,
laying Isabel in the middle.
"Max will be here soon, but until then Do NOT go to
sleep Isabel!" he told her.
Isabel closed her eyes.
"ISABEL! Did you hear me? Do NOT go to sleep! You
might have a concussion! Damn!" said Michael.
"Talk to me Isabel! Talk to me so you'll stay awake,"
ordered Michael giving her a shake.
"I'm awake...I'm awake....but I'm so tired," said
Isabel yawning.
Michael went to the bathroom and returned with a wet
rag.
"Well don't give in and go to sleep. Just talk to me,"
said Michael laying the rag on her head and dabbing at
the blood.
"Talk about what?" she asked him closing her eyes.
"Open your eyes, Isabel! Damn it!...huh...tell me what
you were doing out there on the highway. What happened
that you ran in to the sign?" said Michael trying to
keep her awake.
Isabel swallowed. "I huh....I saw something...a ...a
bird...a roadrunner I think. It crossed in front of
me. It startled me," said Isabel sighing.
Michael shook his head. "Next time hit the damn bird.
It's safer than running in to a sign," Michael told
her.
"It would have made a mess of my car," she told him
yawning again.
"Yeah a wrecked car is much better than a dead bird
stuck in your grill,"  he retorted, as he wiped her
brow with the cloth. "What were you doing out there?"
Isabel didn't want to discuss how she had been at the
rocks trying to reconstruct the places she had seen in
her dreams.
"Isabel?"
"Nothing, I ....."
She was thankfully interrupted by Max and Tess
entering the apartment.

"How is she?" asked Max hurrying to Isabel's side.
"Banged her head pretty good, but I think she's okay.
I think we'd all feel better if you gave her the once
over though," said Michael moving back.
"How did it happen?" asked Tess as she came to stand
beside Michael.
"She tried to miss a damn bird crossing the road,"
said Michael as he watched Max move his hands over
Isabel's body. "Well?"
Max finished healing the wound on Isabel's head and
stood up. "She's okay, just a concussion."
He looked down at Isabel. "Next time, hit the bird.
You scared all of us."
"That's what I told her," said Michel crossing his
arms. He felt relief that there was nothing seriously
wrong with Isabel.
Isabel nodded. "Okay."
"It's a good thing you came across her, Michael.
Anyone else might have taken her to the hospital,"
said Tess .
"What were you doing out there Michael?" asked Max.
They all looked at Michael.
"I was riding. Anything wrong with that?" he asked
defensively.
"No. We're just glad you were there," said Max shaking
his head and turning back to Isabel.
Tess looked at Michael.
"There's nothing out there but the rocks. In fact,"
she turned to face the girl on the bed.  "Isabel, what
were you doing out there?" asked Tess.
Isabel shrugged. "Does it matter?"
"No, no I guess not," said Tess.
Isabel pushed herself up. "I'm ready to go home now."
She needed to get out of here before anymore questions
were asked that she didn't want to answer.
Max gently pushed her back. "No, you're not. I healed
your wound, but you've had a concussion. I think you
need to stay here and rest."
He looked between her and Michael. "You can stay here.
We'll tell Mom and Dad you're staying the night with
Tess."
"What, all night?" asked Michael.
Max looked at him strangely. "Well yeah. She really
should rest until tomorrow. And you and I can take
care of the car."
"Right," said Michael. Of course. Where was his head?
"I'll take care of her, Max. You and Michael just be
careful," said Tess.

The guys left and Tess turned her attention to Isabel.

"Why don't you rest. I'll wake you in an hour to check
on you," said Tess.
"That sounds good," said Isabel sighing and she closed
her eyes.

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

"What was that back there?" asked Max as he drove to
where  Isabel's car was.
"What was what?" asked Michael as he stared out the
window.
Max glanced sideways at Michael. "You acted like you
didn't want Isabel to stay at your place. Why?"
Michael shook his head. "I don't know what you're
talking about Maxwell." He nodded his head. "It's
right up here."
Max pulled off the road behind the wrecked car.
"We're lucky no one's carried it off," said Max
walking up to the car.
"She could have been killed," he said after he
inspected the damage.
A sick feeling hit Michael. He had tried to block it
out that they had almost lost Isabel, and now here was
Max saying it out loud.
"Let's do this and get out of here before someone
comes along," said Max.
They raised their arms out in front of them and
focused all of their energy on the car. Mangled metal
began to change form and soon the car looked as good
as new.
"Think it works?" asked Michael.
"Let's find out," said Max getting behind the wheel.
The engine hummed when Max turned the key in the
ignition. He looked up at Michael and smiled.
"We'll drop it off at your place. Isabel can drive it
home tomorrow if she feels okay."
Michael nodded and then drove Max's car back to his
apartment while Max drove Isabel's car.
On the way back he tried to figure out a way sleep in
his apartment with Isabel and Tess without dreaming.


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

......She moaned as he kissed the nape of her neck.
"Mmmm....oh gawd...." she breathed as his kisses moved
down to the swell of her breast.
His tongue flicked out to delve in to the valley
between her breasts while his hands ran over her ribs
down to her waist.
"You have to st..stop. We c-can't....aahhhh....." she
weakly begged him as her back arched at his touch.
He kissed the top of her breast. "I don't want to
stop" he whispered as he continued his arousing
assault on her with his lips while moving between her
open bent legs.
Her eyes closed as she ran her fingers threw his hair
and sighed. They shouldn't be doing this here out in
the open on the rocks, but she didn't want to stop.
Couldn't stop despite the consequences they faced.
There was going to be hell to pay as it was for what
they had done.
He sighed and looked at her face. "You're scared of
what he'll say when he finds out aren't you?"
At her silence he lightly caressed her arm with the
pad of his thumb.
"He'll be more angry with me than you," he told her
with a soft kiss of reassurance.
"What are we going to do when he finds out? When they
all find out?" she asked him. Despite how much she
loved him, she was still afraid.
He looked down at his hand on her stomach, then up at
her. "What's there to do? We love one another. We
didn't plan it, so they'll just have to accept it."
He hugged her to him, letting his strength flow to her
though he was just as afraid as she was.
"It will be alright. This is the way it was meant to
be....."

Isabel and Michael both woke with a start gasping for
breath. 
Isabel looked around in confusion from the dream and
waking in a strange place.
Michael's back ached from sleeping on the floor, and
jerking upright from the dream didn't help.
He looked towards the bed and saw Isabel pushing the
hair out of her eyes. He could hear how hard she was
breathing. She'd had the dream too. He knew without a
doubt she'd had it too.
Isabel saw Michael watching her. Her hands fell to her
lap. They'd shared another dream. Similar, yet
different from the others.
"What's going on?" asked Tess sleepily from the couch.

"Nothing," said Michael, his gaze never leaving the
direction of the bed. "I thought I heard something. I
was wrong."
"Isabel, are you okay?" asked Tess getting up and
heading for the bed.
"I'm  fine. I just need...some water," Isabel replied.
She could feel his eyes on her.
"I'll get you some," Tess said. "Maybe you heard
Isabel, Michael." She brought Isabel the water.
"Yeah, maybe," he replied as he lay back down.
Isabel drank the water, the coolness feeling good to
her parched throat. "Thanks," she said as she handed
Tess the glass and lay back down.
Tess returned to the couch and was soon settled back
down, but for Michael and Isabel sleep never returned.

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

At the Crashdown, Michael was busy cleaning the grill
when Maria came up beside him.
Michael slowed his movements.
"Michael, I thought I'd go to the movies later. Want
to come?  No date or anything, just friends taking in
a movie," she said.
Michael stopped cleaning the grill and faced her. "I
told you it's over."
Maria stared at him with a smile frozen on her face.
Tears glistened in her eyes.
"I know, but you can't ignore me forever. We're still
friends, right? I mean we can still do stuff
together."
Michael shook his head. "No, we can't. Not right now.
I have to get ready for what's to come. I can't be
with you ....or anyone."
Maria frowned. "Is there someone else? Is it Isabel?
You finally decided to go with Isabel because she's
your destiny didn't you?" she accused him.
Michael gripped the scrubber at her words. He hadn't
seen Isabel the past few days. But she was on his mind
more and more these days and that disturbed him.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone. Look, I told you, I'm a
soldier and I have to be ready." He waved his hand and
the grill was clean. So much for not using his powers
at work.  He took off his apron and threw it down.
"I've got to go."
 And he left a gaping Maria standing alone.


A week later at the cave.....

Max looked directly at Michael and Isabel, who were
sitting with Tess between them. Neither had spoken
since the day of the accident.
"We need to talk. I don't know what's going on with
you two, but  it needs to be worked out. The silence
and the excuses to not work on your powers together is
going to stop now. Save whatever it is, and focus on
working together to stay alive when our enemies come"
ordered Max as the four hybrids met in the cave.
Michael and Isabel frowned as they looked towards one
another.
"What is going on with you two?" asked Tess looking
between them.
"Nothing," they said simultianiously. They looked at
one another and then off.
Max sighed as he rubbed his face in frustration.
Finally he said, "I didn't want to do this, but you
two have forced my hand."
At everyones look he elaborated. "Tess thinks the four
of us can do the memory retrieval together."
At the shocked looks from Michael and Isabel, and the
pleased one from Tess, Max said, "We need information
about ourselves from before, and you two are not
cooperating. You won't share what you see when working
with Tess, and you won't work with one another. Now
you'll have to," he told them.
"Max, I really...." Isabel began to say when Max cut
her off.
"It's too late for any more excuses Isabel. We're
doing this now."
Isabel stared at him before moving towards Tess.
"I'm not being a part of this Maxwell! You can do it
without me!" said Michael shaking his head.
Max moved to stand in front of Michael. "You will do
this. I don't care if you like it or not, we are all
doing this. That's an order."
The two faced one another down, with Michael finally
moving towards Tess and Isabel.
Max sighed and joined them.

Michael and Isabel looked at one another covertly.
Neither knew what the other had seen for sure, but
both suspected it was the same thing. Now Max and Tess
would see it too.
"Let's get started. We don't know how long it will
take to connect if we even can at all," said Tess.
Slowly Michael and Isabel joined Max and Tess on the
cave floor.
"This sucks I hope you know," said Michael to the
group as he sat facing Isabel.
Max looked at Tess uncomfortably. "I only want to see
what happened to our planet and our part in it. If we
can do that then this is worth it."
Tess swallowed hard at Max's words and looked away.
Max definitely had his own agenda for doing this just
as she did. But she needed Michael and Isabel's
cooperation for this to work.
"Okay, grab hands and close your eyes," she ordered.
"Let your mind go back just as you have before."
Following Tess's directions they began to go through
the process that would take them back to their
memories of Antar.

Michael breathed in deeply, his mind wandering around
on anything but where it should be.
The last time he had done this he saw himself and
Isabel being killed right along with Tess and Max.
But since then the dreams he had of her were more
intimate. He was afraid to go to sleep at night for
what he might dream. Not that the dreams were
unpleasant. Just unnerving that it was Isabel. Seeing
your best friend naked and making love to her was not
what he'd expected. Neither was having a kid with her.
Don't go there Guerin! Those were just dreams. She's
your friend and that's all. Yeah she stands behind you
most times when Max is taking your ass to task for
something, but that's all. Friend. She's my friend
just like Max and Tess.  His mind wandered back to
what he was supposed to be doing. This was taking
forever, he thought as he rolled his head around to
relieve the tension that was building in his neck.

Isabel sighed. She preferred her dream walks to this
any day. At least she could choose whose dreams to
walk in, where with this she had no choice. Just as
she had no choice about the dreams she had when she
was not dream walking someone. She was being to think
she would never stop dreaming of Michael. Why did this
keep happening? She'd been over and over it in her
mind on why they kept occurring and so far she was
drawing a blank. She began to get the now familiar
feeling she got when she thought of those dreams.
Michael naked was not a bad thing once she had gotten
used to seeing him that way. In fact it was a very
good thing, she thought smiling to herself. And who'd
have thought the guy could make love like that. No!
Don't think of that! That wasn't Michael, but a dream.
Only a dream. A slight frown marred her face. That's
not how she wanted to think of him. He's my friend
....he's my friend...he's my friend. He's not my
lover. We don't have a child together. He's my friend
and nothing more. She shook her head slightly and
tried to focus on what she was here for now. This was
taking forever if it was going to happen at all.

"Someone's not concentrating," said Tess sighing as
she dropped Michael and Isabel's hands.
They all opened their eyes and squinted at one
another.
"Hey, I was doing my part," said Michael when Max
looked his way.
They looked at Isabel.
"Don't look at me!" said Isabel shaking her head.
Everyone looked at Max.
"Maybe some of us need to clear out our heads more,"
he suggested as he looked around at the others.
"Maybe," agreed Tess. "Why don't we take a break and
regroup in a few minutes."
"Fine," said Max as they all stood up. "We'll all meet
back in here in 10 minutes."

Isabel walked out in the sunshine and raised her hand
at the glare. She needed fresh air after the cave, but
the heat outside was oppressive.
She felt someone behind her and knew immediately who
it was. "Michael," whispered Isabel without turning.
Michael hesitated at the cave entrance before moving
just behind her. He looked at her hair shining in the
sunlight. It looked so soft, and like it had  the
colors of wheat woven through out. He'd never noticed
that before. He reached his hand up to touch it and
caught himself.
"You knew it was me," he commented. He wondered how
she could always do that.
Isabel ran her hands over her arms. A chill moved over
her despite the initial heat from the sun.
"I always know when you're near," she replied softly.
She never understood how she knew, but it had been
that way for as long as she had known him.
Michael requarded her for a minute before looking out
over the rocks. When had they become uncomfortable
with one another? Was Max right? Were they avoiding
one another?
"What's happening to us, Michael?" she asked him as if
reading his mind.
"I don't know," he replied honestly.
"I don't mean to avoid you," she told him, turning his
way.
He looked at her and said, "I know. Me either."
They stood contemplating one another when Max came to
the mouth of the cave.
"You two ready?"
"Give us a minute Max," said Michael.
Max hoped that they were fixing what ever was wrong
between them. He nodded and returned to the cave.
"When we go back in there, whatever we see, it means
nothing. We're friends," Michael told her.
"And we shouldn't let this effect our friendship,"
said Isabel.
"Right," Michael said.
So why did they feel everything was about to change?
They took one last look at one another and nodded
before heading back inside the cave.

"Okay, let's try this again," said Tess as they all
took hands again. "Remember to clear your minds of
everything....just relax...." she whispered.
"Let's just do this," said Michael closing his eyes.
"Shut up Michael," whispered Tess as she squeezed his
hand.
He frowned, but stayed quiet. His mind and those of
the others went blank. Emptiness and darkness was
everywhere.....then the images went flying swiftly by
in a mass of confusing episodes as their thoughts
intertwined...

....."Zan, you are great and loving
King"........."Ava, our children will be peace
keepers"........"You're my life Vilandra. I would die
with out you"......."I love you Rath with all my
heart"......"Do not mistake what I say, Vilandra!  I
want you by my side as I rule this kingdom, or I'll
kill them all! It's your decision".....

Isabel gasped and her eyes flew open as she dropped
Max and Tess's hands.
Everyone stared at her.
"I...I can't do this anymore," said Isabel as she got
up and hurried out of the cave.
"Isabel!" called Max as he started to go after her,
but Tess stopped him.
"She has to deal with her actions on Antar, Max. Let
her be," advised Tess.
Michael looked at her with anger. "She didn't do
anything wrong, Tess. You know that from just the
little bit we saw or didn't you notice?" He looked at
Max. "She didn't betray us with Kivar, and she
shouldn't have to go on believing she did." And he
hurried out of the cave after Isabel.
Max stared down at Tess. "I was wrong to have agreed
to do this. It didn't show us what we wanted to know,
and placed blame where it didn't belong."
"But you saw our lives together Max. You saw how it
was between us and can be again," said Tess standing.
"No. I saw a life I don't remember and don't plan on
recreating." Then he too left the cave.
Tess frowned as she watched him leave. This was not
what was supposed to have happened. If anything things
were worse in some ways while better in others.
Sighing, she too left the cave.

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

"Isabel...Isabel stop!" called Michael as he hurried
up the to catch up with her.
She had climbed to the top of the cliff above the
rocks that sheltered the cave entrance. Looking down
on the vast desert below she could see Max and Tess
drive off in their respective cars. She could tell by
the way he moved that Max wasn't happy and neither was
Tess.
Michael struggled to catch his breath as he finally
reached Isabel's side. He didn't know how she had
moved so fast on the loose rocks.
He could see the torment on her face, the tears
coursing down her cheeks.
"You didn't do anything wrong," he told her
"It was because of me.... that we all died. He wanted
me and I turned him down. He threatened our lives and
I.... didn't believe him. It's like I killed everyone
with my own hand," she cried.
He grabbed her arm and turned her around. "That's crap
and you know it! I was there too, and I didn't see or
hear anything that makes me believe you had anything
to do with us being killed."
"He wanted me..." she said hoarsely, pulling away. "
Then she stared at him as if seeing him for the first
time. "And I chose you," she whispered. "He killed us
all because I chose you." She turned away and wiped at
her tears in confusion and pain.
He stared at her with the feeling that he'd just been
sucker punched. No more hiding or denying what had
happened between them in their past lives. No more
watching her suffer for something she didn't do.
"Yeah. You chose me," he told her quietly. "So I guess
I'm to blame too."
She turned. "You? How?"
He tried to find the right words, but he kept coming
back to the same thing.
"Because I loved you too," he simply  told her.
They stared at one another for what seemed like
eternity before either remembered to breathe.
Isabel blinked and looked away.
Michael's gaze never wavered.
It was out there now. They had acknowledged they had
been in love in their past lives. Now what?
"Why are we not together now, Michael?" Isabel asked
him as she looked back at him.
He was surprised by her question. She had always made
it clear that was not ever going to happen.
"I don't know," he told her truthfully. "I guess
because we've grown up as friends. I don't know."
"We grew up as friends then too. So why are we not
together now?"
"They didn't figure on the crash or us having the
lives we do here," said Michael. Was she suggesting
they should be together. His heart beat faster.
Isabel nodded in agreement.
Michael's hands were tucked into his crossed arms, and
Isabel was struck by how much that stance was like how
he appeared in her dreams.
Isabel tugged in her bottom lip, an action not missed
by Michael. He knew she did that when she was nervous.

Suddenly without knowing why, he reached out and
pulled her to him and kissed her.
It was a brief kiss, but something in it caused a
spark between them as Michael's lips pressed to
Isabel's.
Shocked by his own actions, he released her just as
suddenly as he had pulled her to him.
He looked at her stunned face. Her lips were a little
puffier than they had been a moment before. They were
softer than he had thought possible.
Isabel touched her lips with her fingertips.
Oh my gawd! Michael had just kissed her!
And what disturbed her was most was not that he had
kissed her, but that she had liked it!
Michael stared at Isabel a moment with a look she
couldn't read.
"Isabel...I don't know why I did that. I'm sorry,"
Michael said before he took off down the rocks.
She watched him go, her tears falling again.
He was sorry for kissing her. So why was she so upset?
Things were worse between them than ever.

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

Michael cursed himself over and over on the ride back
to Roswell. He'd kissed Isabel! What the hell was the
matter with him? He moved the motorcycle faster down
the road, the edges of his hair flying out from under
his helmet.
Well if they weren't avoiding each other on purpose
before, they sure would be now. Damn! What was he
thinking? He'd watched her tug on that bottom lip of
hers and he'd just lost all reason. And those lips had
tasted so good....were so warm and soft, he mused to
himself.
He shook his head. Stop it! Don't think of her like
that!
He pulled up in his drive and cut the engine. Entering
his apartment he removed his helmet and threw it
across the room. Quit thinking about her, damn it!
The glass in his apartment began to explode as he
raged at himself for letting her get under his skin.
He ducked as shards came flying at him. Damn! He
thought has he surveyed the mess. But just as quickly,
thoughts of Isabel returned.
He drove his fists into his eyes. The feelings from
the kiss, and the images he had of her from the dreams
were wrapping themselves around his brain. Was he
actually feeling something for her that wasn't just
friendship, or was it just because he couldn't get her
out of his head?
"I need to do something to get her out of my mind!"
He found his helmet and headed to the one person he
figured could help him out.

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

Maria sat on her bed playing her guitar when she heard
a knock at her window. Looking up she saw Michael.
What was he doing here? she wondered excitedly.  Don't
show him you're thrilled to see him DeLuca, she warned
herself. She lay her guitar down and slowly made her
way over to the window and raised it.
"What do you want?"she asked casually.
"Can I come in?" he asked her.
She regarded him a moment then stepped aside.
Michael climbed threw the window.
"Well?" asked Maria with her hands on her hips.
"I rethought what you said. Maybe we can do this," he
told her. So why wasn't he happy?
"So you expect me to just take you back, is that it?"
"Yeah," he replied.
She considered that and then smiled. "I knew you'd
come around, Space Boy." She wound her arms around his
neck. "I've missed you, Michael." She began to kiss
his neck and face.
Michael wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her
on the mouth. Maria molded her body to fit his.
Michael kept remembering Isabel's soft kiss and her
spicy sweet taste.
He pulled back.
"What's wrong?" asked Maria looking up at him.
He took her arms from around his neck.
"This was a mistake," he said wiping his mouth.
"A mistake?! What are you talking about Michael?"
demanded Maria, with hurt in her voice.
Michael headed for the window. "I'm sorry, Maria. I
should never have come here."
"You bastard! What's going on? Who do you think you
are to come over like this and then try to dump me all
over again?"
Michael looked back at her with regret. "Yeah, I'm
bastard alright. I tried to fix one mistake with
another. I'm sorry."
"There's someone else. You said there wasn't, but
there is isn't there?" Maria said quietly.
He shook his head. "No. There's no one."
Maria watched as he went back out the window. She knew
this time it was for good.

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

Isabel tossed and turned in her bed. Her body was
still tingling from Michael's kiss. She could still
feel his lips on hers. There had been a spicy taste to
his kiss, she thought as she licked her own.
Isabel sat up in frustration. Why is this happening to
me?!
She got out of bed and turned on her stereo.
Metallica. Perfect, she thought with dismay.  Just
what she wanted to hear when she was trying to forget
their number one fan. She snapped off the stereo and
got back in bed.
Michael. He was rude, impulsive, quick tempered, and
not the greatest house keeper.  On the other hand, he
had your back if you needed him, he had a soft spot he
didn't like to show, he was determined,
honorable....good looking and he wasn't a bad kisser.
She wondered if he was as good a lover as her dreams
indicated. She blushed at where her thoughts had
traveled.
She got warm all over when she thought of Michael and
she didn't know why.
Were her feelings for him changing? She had never
considered Michael as her mate before. Not seriously
anyway. But now, these feelings were getting harder to
fight.
She sighed. 
She needed a walk to clear her head. So she dressed
and headed out the window.


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


Tess was walking with Kyle to his truck when they saw
Isabel walking towards the park.
"Where's she going this time of night?" asked Kyle.
"I don't know. Maybe we should find out," she said as
they walked towards the park.
Isabel sat on the bench that was out from under the
trees. She wanted to see the stars.
"Isabel? What are you doing here?" asked Tess as she
and Kyle walked up.
Isabel looked at the two and sighed. So much for being
alone to think.
"I was taking a walk," she told them.  "What are you
two doing here? Isn't it kind of late?"
"We were at the movies. It just let out," said Kyle.
Isabel nodded.
"We saw Alex. He said you won't talk to him," said
Tess.
Isabel didn't answer. Alex wanted something she
couldn't offer him. Feelings of deep affection that
went beyond friendship. Those feelings were for
someone else she was beginning to find out.
"Isabel, is something bothering you?" Tess asked.
"No, I'm fine. I just wanted to walk," Isabel told
her. She was more confused then ever over everything.
"Well if you're sure you're okay then we'll be
leaving," said Kyle.
"It's the dreams again isn't it?" asked Tess.
Isabel looked away. She didn't want to discuss them.
Tess looked across the park, then said, "Isabel, why
don't you let Kyle walk you home. You're distracted
and I would feel better knowing you got home okay."
Kyle looked at Tess in confusion. "What? But she can
take care of herself better than I ...."
"Kyle's right Tess. I can take care of myself," said
Isabel.
"Nonsense, you are so distracted. I would feel better
if Kyle saw you home."
Turning to Kyle she said, "I need to run by the drug
store, so I'll come back here to pick you up."
"Why can't we all just go together?" asked Kyle.
"Well we can, but it's 'personal' items Kyle. If you
don't mind...." hedged Tess.
"NO! No, that's quite alright. I'll take Isabel, and
you come back and get me," said Kyle, not wanting to
be around when Tess bought any of her female hygiene
things.
"Fine! Take your time," said Tess walking back to
Kyle's truck.
"Well, shall we?" said Kyle as he indicated the
direction of Isabel's house.
Might as well thought Isabel. I'll never get any peace
until I do.
They walked across the park, the bright moon light
illuminating their way.
"So, Tess says you guys have been working hard," said
Kyle.
"Yeah, we have," agreed Isabel.
"She said that memory retrieval really freaked you
out," said Kyle watching Isabel.
Isabel stiffened. "She told you that?"
"Yeah, she said it was clear what had happened. She
can't understand why you guys are fighting it. And
frankly I can't either. I mean your Alien Mom sends
you this message telling you what is what, you meet
these other aliens who tell you the same thing, and
you have doubles out there who also tell you what your
destiny is. So why aren't you guys following it?"
Isabel shook her head. "It's not that simple Kyle."
"Why not? You were sent here with a plan. You must
have been in on the creation of it and what would
happen to you since you're the leaders. Why fight your
own plan?" he asked her.
Why indeed, wondered Isabel.
They walked up the Evan's drive and Isabel turned to
Kyle.
"You know I've been thinking on this dream thing Tess
said you and Guerin are having. I think I know how to
stop them," said Kyle.
Isabel was upset that Tess seemed to be discussing
their problems so freely, but still she asked, "And
how do you propose we stop them?"
"Just have sex. That seems to be the theme of your
dreams. Have sex. Then you won't be wondering about it
anymore," he told her.
Isabel's mouth fell open and then shut quickly, before
giving Kyle 'the look'.
"Well it was just a thought," said Kyle.
Isabel smiled slightly, embarrassed by the suggestion.
"Thanks anyway Kyle. And thanks for walking me home,"
said Isabel, and she hugged him and kissed his cheek.
Kyle smiled. "Sure."
Isabel walked towards the house and Kyle off towards
the park.

Tess drove up and picked up Kyle as he neared the
park.
"Did you get Isabel safely home?" she asked as she
drove toward the Valenti home.
"Yeah, but I think she could have made it on her own,"
said Kyle.
"Did anyone see you?" she asked.
"I don't think so. Why?"
"No reason," said Tess. She knew she had seen Michael
headed that way. She wondered what happened to him.

Michael watched Isabel kiss Kyle from where he stood
at the Evan's front door, and feelings of jealousy
emerged from deep within his heart.
"Michael?" said  Isabel, as she spotted him by the
door. He looked angry.
"Why are you here?" After the kiss she thought he
would try to avoid her.
"What the hell are you doing with Kyle?" he demanded.
"Excuse me?" Isabel asked perplexed.
"I saw you kiss Kyle just now, so don't deny it!"
Michael said. He was angry and didn't know why.
Isabel put her hands on her hips and glared at
Michael. "What does it matter that I kissed him? And
just so you know it was a thank you kiss!"
Michael grabbed her upper arms and pulled her to him.
"I don't care what kind of a kiss it was, you belong
to me and I won't have you kissing anyone else!" Then
he kissed her hard, his tongue pushing in to her mouth
and ravaging it.
Isabel fought him, but soon the feelings of anger at
his attitude turned to feelings of longing. Months of
fighting her conflicting emotions concerning Michael
rose up and she gave in to the one she never thought
she would. Attraction. She molded her body to his and
returned his kiss.
Michael knew when Isabel stopped fighting. He released
her arms and wrapped her in his, the kiss deepening
until neither could breathe.
When they parted, the stood back breathing heavily and
searched one anothers eyes.
"If you tell me you're sorry for kissing me again I'll
hit you," she told him breaking the silence.
He shook his head. "No, I'm only sorry for the way I
did it. And I'm just really confused."
Isabel sat down on the front stoop and Michael joined
her.
"I don't know why I did it," he told her. He'd kissed
her twice now and hadn't planned on either one. "I
don't know what's happening."
"I don't know what's happening either," she told him.
Then she looked at him and after hesitating asked,
"What did you mean, 'I belong to you'?"
Michael ran his hands through his hair while he
thought of how to explain it, but he didn't have an
answer.
"I don't know. I just felt...." he didn't want to say
jealous. He didn't get jealous so he said the first
thing that came to mind. "He's human."
Isabel's lips curled up slightly at his reason.
"How do we get this to stop Michael?" she asked him.
"I don't know. I thought about starting up with Maria
again, but...." he shrugged and shook his head. "It
was a mistake. I didn't feel anything," he said.  All
he could think about was Isabel and he wasn't going to
tell her that.
Isabel gave a forced laugh. "Apparently Tess has been
discussing us with Kyle. HE suggested we have sex and
get it over with."
But Michael didn't laugh.
Isabel looked his way when she realized it.
He was studying her.
Isabel realized where his thoughts had gone and shook
her head as she stood up.
"Oh no! I said that was Kyle's answer, not mine!"
But knowing that Michael was interested made a hot
blush course over her body. It was a good thing it was
dark or he would have seen.
Michael stood as well. "Maybe he's right. Maybe that's
all it takes."
Isabel shook her head. "No. I'm not doing it. I'm
sorry I told you what he said."
"You can't tell me you don't want to make the dreams
stop because I know you do. I see you walking every
night. I know it's the dreams because they are
appearing to me too. And now with our memories
retrieved we think about it all the time. Our destiny.
Tell me you don't," he challenged.
"I can't," she admitted.
"So?"
"I can't." And Isabel ran inside the house.
Michael stood there staring at the door.
Face it Guerin, she can't because it's you.


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

Isabel's dreams were rolling over one another. The
images coming at her so fast and vivid she wanted to
scream. She headed for her desk and picked up a
magazine. She flipped the pages, the articles going by
without her even seeing them. Suddenly she closed the
magazine as a thought popped in to her head.
Scrambling for her skirt and shirt, she dressed and
gone in no time.


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


Michael opened the door of his apartment ready to go
out for his nightly ride when he pulled up short.
"Isabel! Damn it, you scared the hell out of me! What
are you doing here?" he asked as he moved to let her
enter.
Isabel whirled and asked, "Have you been watching me?"
Michael stared at her. "No."
"You don't lie very well Michael. You have haven't
you?" she asked him.
His silence told her what she wanted to know. She made
her decision.
"Okay, let's do this," she said. Her hands fidgeted
with the the bottom of her shirt.
Michael looked at her. "Do what?"
"Let's...have sex," she told him trying to sound
casual, but he could sense her nervousness.
"What? Why? What changed your mind?" he asked.
Surprise didn't even began to describe how he felt
about her request, but his body had a good idea by the
response he was having from it.
"I thought you wanted to. You know, to get the dreams
to stop. Well I'm ready," she said.
She was offering herself to him. Isabel was offering
'herself' to him. And though he wanted the dreams to
stop, he knew this wasn't the way to do it. Isabel had
been right.
Inwardly groaning he said," "You were right. This
isn't the way. At least not here and not now. If it's
meant to be it will happen in the right place at the
right time. But now isn't it."
"So we keep on putting up with the dreams?" she asked.

"Yeah, I guess." Only his body didn't get the message
that it wasn't going to be getting any. It was wound
so tight he thought he might explode.
Isabel headed for the door then stopped with her hand
on the knob.
"Michael, do you think we really have a destiny
together? I mean besides being friends? We are still
friends...right?"
"Yeah, we're still friends. But I don't know the
answer about us having a destiny together. Maybe being
friends is our destiny," he honestly told her.
"K," she said, nodding her head. What had she
expected. "Goodnight."
After she had gone, Michael wondered if the look he
had seen on Isabel's face was relief or sadness.


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


Isabel started back to her car and stopped as she
heard a sound behind her.
"Who is there?" she called out. She looked around and
couldn't see anyone. Walking a bit faster she reached
her car and was putting the key in the lock when a
hand reached from behind and cupped her mouth.
"What's up bitch?" whispered a voice in her ear.
Isabel felt a chill move over her body. She knew that
voice.
She struggled to get free, biting the hand that
covered her mouth.
"YEOW! Damn bitch!" Rath growled as he turned her
around and slapped her.
Isabel screamed and struggled in her fight with Rath,
but suddenly another person grabbed her from behind.
"Stop fighting or I'll kill you now do you understand
me?" Lonnie told her.
Isabel froze.
"That's good. That's real good. Now we're going on a
little trip soon as your boyfriend shows himself,"
Lonnie told her.
Michael. Please Michael don't come out! she screamed
in her head.

Michael heard a scream and knew it was Isabel. He
hurried outside and froze at the sight of Lonnie and
Rath holding Isabel.
"Oh shit!" he thought to himself.
"Well there he is now! We've been waiting for
you...Mi-chael!" drolled Lonnie.
"Let her go!" Michael demanded with his hand
outstretched.
"Don't try and be the hero, Micheal. We 'will' kill
her so just cooperate and no one gets hurt," Lonnie
told him.
Michael lowered his hand slowly. "Isabel, are you
okay?" The terror in her eyes spoke for her.
"If you hurt her, I will kill you!" Michael promised.
"Yeah, yeah, just get in the car," said Rath. "We've
got people to meet and you don't wanna be late."
"We're not going anywhere with you until we know what
this all about!" Michael said.
Lonnie moved her hand to Isabel's throat and tightened
her hold. "What did we tell you Michael? We're holding
all the cards here.  Do you really want her to die?"
Michael felt his throat tighten as Isabel's eyes began
to widen. Her air was being cut off.
"Okay! Okay, I'm coming! Just leave her alone," he
said as he made his way to where they stood.
"Open up the door Rath," ordered Lonnie as they walked
to a waiting limo.
As Michael and Isabel ducked inside they heard a voice
they had hoped never to hear again.
"Well if isn't the loser and betrayer. Long time no
see," said Nicholas.
It was then that Michael and Isabel realized they were
on their way to hell.


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

"What do you mean he didn't show up for work?" asked
Max as he as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"Yeah, I'll go over and check on him. Thanks for
calling Liz. Bye."
Max hung up the phone and stretched. He wondered where
Michael was. He padded down the hall to Isabel's room
and knocked. When she didn't answer he went in and
found it empty. On the bed was a note.
 'Meet at the rock. You know which one.' K
"K?" Max's gut knotted up as he put a name to the
letter. "Kivar."
He rushed to his room and called Tess.
"Hello?" he heard Jim say.
"Sheriff! Kivar has Isabel and Michael! Tell Tess to
be ready in 10 minutes!"
"Max! Wait! What are you planning on doing? You can't
just rush in there without a plan?" said Jim.
"They have Isabel and Michael! Tess and I will just
have to go in and try to do the best we can," said Max
 as he tried not to panic.
"I'll help you anyway I can Max," Jim told him.
"NO! You stay away and don't tell the others what's
going on! I can't worry about keeping you all safe,"
ordered Max.
Jim sighed. "Okay Max, we'll do it your way. Just be
careful. Both of you."
Max hung up and headed out.


***********

"Your sure it's Kivar?" asked Tess.
"Look at the note. Who else could it be?" said Max as
they drove toward the desert.
"But how did he know about the rocks?" asked Tess
reading the note.
"I don't know," said Max. "All I know is that Kivar
has them and we have to get them back."

***********

On the cliff above the cave Michael and Isabel sat on
a rock across from Nicholas.
"Kivar won't be happy to find out you won't disclose
the location of the granolith," Nicholas told them.
"Are we supposed to care?" asked Michael.
Rath hit him upside the head from his place behind
Michael.
Michael's head rang and he saw stars. He shook his
head to clear it.
"You should," came a voice from the lower part of the
cliff. "Hello Vilandra," said Kivar as he came in to
view.
"Oh my gawd," whispered Isabel as a tall rather good
looking man came in to view. This was the man who had
killed her and everyone she loved on Antar.
"You look surprised my dear. Surely you knew I would
come for you and the granolith," said Kivar as he sat
in a chair that Rath brought for him.
"You said you would take me back with you, Kivar. Not
her!" said Lonnie angrily.
"You? Why would I take you when I have the one I've
been searching for," said Kivar dismissively.
Lonnie clenched her fists in anger.  "She's nothing!
I'm the one who should rightfully go back!"
"You are nothing! She is ...everything," he whispered
as he gazed at Isabel.
Lonnie's eyes reflected the anger she felt at his
words.
"You think you're just gonna leave us behind?" Rath
growled.
"I only want Vilandra and the granolith," said Kivar
as he reached out and caressed Isabel's cheek. "You're
just as beautiful as Nicholas said you were. More so I
believe."
Isabel pulled away and moved closer to Michael, who
was eyeing Kivar with restraint. Kivar frowned as he
pulled back.
"I see your taste hasn't improved," said Kivar with
disdain.
"I think it's perfect," said Isabel defiantly.
She'd angered him, but to Kivar's credit he moved to
Nicholas and asked, "Did you take care of it?"
"Rath and Lonnie left it. He'll be here," said
Nicholas with cock assurance.
"Why did you bring us here?" asked Michael as he
assessed the man who had killed them all. 
"We've been following all of you, and so I thought you
would feel more comfortable here," said Kivar
grinning.
Isabel hoped that she appeared as calm as Michael.
What were they going to do?
They could hear a car approaching down below.
Michael and Isabel looked at one another. Their eyes
told one another they knew Max had arrived.
"He's here. She's with him," reported Nicholas looking
over the side of the overhang.
A few minutes later, Max and Tess appeared at the top
of the cliff.
"Kivar," said Max.
"Zan. I see you have brought your lovely bride with
you," he said. "Hello my dear."
"Kivar," said Tess guardedly, as she moved closer to
Max.
"Now is that anyway to greet your brother?" Kivar
asked.
Max, Michael, and Isabel all turned stunned eyes on
Tess.
"I think we now know who the traitor is," said
Michael. "We should have stuck to our original
feelings where you were concerned," he told Tess.
Isabel couldn't believe Tess had been the one to
betray them. But a part of her felt relief if it was
true.
"Tess?" Max was shaking his head.
"It's not the way you think Max! Please believe me! I
didn't betray you! I swear I didn't. Not any of you!"
cried Tess looking at them.
"It may surprise you to know she's telling you the
truth. Well as she knows it," said Kivar with
amusement. "You see when I found out she was in love
with the King of planet I wanted for myself, she
unwittingly fell in to my plans. That you loved her
too made it all the easier."
Max looked uncertainly at Tess.
"And then I saw you at their wedding my dear and I
knew I had to have you," said Kivar as he touched
Isabel's hair. "So beautiful...so strong....a woman
warrior. There had never been such a thing....until
you."
He looked at Tess. "But you wouldn't betray your
husband. You were a coward and disloyal to our
family."
Tess flinched at his words, taking hold of Max's hand.
His closed around hers. He sensed she had changed her
mind about leaving, but he wasn't sure.
Kivar tilted Isabel's face upwards. "And you wanted
Rath." He said the name with distaste. "Despite my
threats you chose him. You stood up to me...kept me
from what I wanted and no one does that."
"Why are you telling us all this?" asked Michael.
"Because I'm here to claim what is mine. I've
regretted killing Vilandra everyday since. I should
have taken her, but my anger got the best of me and I
killed her."
"And what of Michael and I? We won't go, and we won't
allow you take Isabel either," declared  Max. "Tess
can go if she wants, but we won't."
Max could feel Tess tense at his side.
Kivar laughed along with Nicholas.
"She 'thinks' she wants to go back. I planted those
thoughts in her head. In reality she's afraid to
return to Antar. I promised to let her live this time
if she brought you to me to finish off for good. But
we failed to see how strong  your feelings are for
another, or how weak Ava is."
He turned back to Isabel. "But I have what I came for.
 We know the granolith is hidden inside this mountain
of rock. And," he paused before Isabel and pulled her
up against him. "Now that I see you again my dear, I
know I was right in coming for you. You'll give me
sons to carry on, and my link to the throne will be
secure. As for the rest of you," he looked at the
others, "I only wanted you dead." Over his shoulder he
casually said, "Kill them."
"You bastard!" yelled Lonnie as she raised her hand at
Kivar. "I've done everything you asked! We made a
deal! You said you'd take me back with you!"
"Deals are meant to be broken." Kivar said. He flicked
his hand and sent Lonnie over the side of the rocks.
"NO!" yelled Rath as he watched Lonnie go screaming
over the side. He ran to the side of the cliff and
looked over at Lonnie's broken body at the bottom. "Oh
my gawd! Lonnie! Oh shit!" He turned to Kivar. "You
son of a bitch! Why'd you do that?" He ran at Kivar
mindless of the fate he might meet.
Michael and Isabel watched in disbelief as first
Lonnie and then Rath tried to attack Kivar.
Isabel felt sick seeing Lonnie die. It was like
watching herself die all over again.
Michael sucked in his breath as his double met the
same fate as Lonnie. With no effort at all, Kivar had
sent both aliens to their deaths. How was he supposed
to protect Isabel from something like that?
Isabel knew the same fate awaited Michael, Max, and
Tess. She couldn't let that happen. But she didn't
know how to stop it.
Nicholas turned to Max and Tess. "Next!"  he said with
an evil grin.
Tess clung to Max. "I'm sorry Max. I should have
known."
Max shook his head. "I'm the one that's sorry." He
wondered how he was going to get them out of this.
"Isn't that just too sweet," laughed Nicholas.
While they were distracted, Michael suddenly raised
his hand and sent a pulse of power at Nicholas,
pushing him over the side.
Nicholas's screams echoed off the rocks as he fell to
join the others down below. Kivar turned on Michael.
"YOU!" He was livid. Nicholas was his closet adviser.
Now Rath had killed him.
He raised both hands at Michael and roared as he sent
a surge of power at him.
"NOOOOOO!" cried Isabel.
Before anyone knew what was happening Isabel threw
herself in front of Michael and caught the brunt of
the blast.
"NO!" cried Kivar as he realized what he had done.
Michael and Isabel were both sent flying in to the
rocks so hard they bounced off to the horror of Max
and Tess.
"ISABEL! MICHAEL!" cried Max. With Tess clinging to
him and giving him her power as well, Max sent Kivar
to the side of the cliff where he teetered on the edge
as he looked in shock at his beautiful Vilandra on the
ground nearby dead by his own hand. His plans had gone
deadly wrong.
Michael struggled to breathe and his body ached. Tears
fell from the corners of his eyes as he saw again in
his mind, Isabel throwing herself in front of him to
save him from Kivar. He turned his head slowly,
struggling to stay conscious so he could find her. He
had to find her. Blood dripped down in his eyes as he
spied her lying still at the edge of the cliff just
inches from him. And he saw Kivar. A new strength
filled him at seeing Kivar alive while Isabel lay
dead.
Max saw Michael pull himself to his feet, and while
Kivar was distracted by how things had gone so wrong,
Michael grabbed him by the throat and began to squeeze
slowly. Kivar struggled against Michael's hands, but
he was no match for the grieving warrior.
"Burn in hell you murdering bastard," said Michael
with a deadly calm that belied the inner pain he was
feeling. He snapped Kivar's neck and then sent his
lifeless body over the side.
He turned to where Isabel lay and tears fell from his
eyes as he made his way to her broken body.
He fell down to his knees in shock and touched her
hair and her face.
Max hurriedly knelt beside him. "Michael let me help
her!" he cried. This couldn't be happening.
Michael buried his face in Isabel's neck and cried out
his grief.
"Why did you do that? Why? We're supposed to be
together just like before. We're supposed to have a
family and be together forever. You're not supposed to
die....Isabel," Michael cried.
He realized that he loved her in a way he never
thought he would and now she was lost to him.
That's when he felt a shallow warmth caress his neck.
He pulled back.
"Isabel?"  he whispered hopefully.

Isabel knew she was dying. Could feel her life ebbing
away, but still she struggled to hang on. She couldn't
leave until she was sure that Michael was safe or she
would  never be able to rest in peace.
"Mmich-ael?" came her strangled voice so softly that
Michael could barely hear her.
"YES! Oh gawd, Isabel! Don't die baby! Please don't
die! MAX! Max, she's alive! Help her!" Michael cried.
Max pushed Michael aside and pressed his hands to
Isabel's body.
Isabel looked up through hazey eyes and saw Michael.
He was safe. She could go now, her Michael was safe.
She smiled as she closed her eyes and whispered, "I
love you... Michael."


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


"Oh my gawd! Isabel threw herself in front of Michael
and saved him?!" interrupted Liz, as Kyle retold the
story that Tess had shared with him over the phone.
Kyle popped a Saturn Ring in his mouth while nodding.
"Yeah. She said she never even hesitated. And you know
what else she told me?" Kyle asked his small attentive
audience.
Maria, Alex, and Liz shook their heads.
Kyle looked between Maria and Alex. He felt bad about
what he was going to say, but someone had to do it.
"Well you know that 'destiny thing' they all have?"
At the hesitant nods he continued. "Well....Tess said
that Michael was going crazy with grief when it all
happened. She said he kept going on about how him and
Isabel were supposed to be together and she couldn't
die."
Maria felt her heart twist up inside.
Liz and Alex looked at Maria with sympathy.
"Sorry," Kyle told her.
Maria nodded. "Yeah. I should have known."
"That really sucks," said Alex. He could only imagine
how Maria felt.
Kyle glanced at Alex. "Um,before she lost
consciousness.... Isabel said ....she said she
loved....Michael. Sorry man."
Alex's face dropped. He'd known he really hadn't a
chance, but he still had held out that small hope that
things would turn around.
Liz looked at Alex and Maria. "Hey, we knew this could
happen. We knew that they were mates in their other
lives, so we shouldn't be upset that they have a
future here as well." She said the words, but inside
she was dying as well.


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


After Max had saved her, Michael had carried her down
the rocks despite her objections. He had been afraid
if he let her go she would disappear.
At the bottom the four hybrids had found the mangled
bodies of Lonnie and Rath, while Nicholas and Kivar
were nothing but piles of dust. Isabel had shivered at
the sight knowing that death had nearly been her fate
as well.  Max and Tess had taken care of Lonnie and
Rath's bodies while Michael had taken Isabel to the
jeep.
"How do you feel?" he asked as she reclined back
against the seat.
"Tired. And I can't remember everything," she said.
She kept looking at where Max and Tess were destroying
the evidence of what had happened.
He nodded. After a minute he said, "I can't believe
you did that Isabel." He was shaking. "I mean I almost
died when Kivar hit you with that blast. If Max hadn't
been here...." He rubbed his face to hide his tears.
He'd almost lost her forever.
"I couldn't let him kill you," she told him.
"We almost lost you. I...almost lost you," Michael
said quietly.
Isabel  looked at him.
"I know you don't feel like I do, but....."Michael
began, but Max's voice stopped him.
"It's done." Max  looked at Isabel. "How are you
doing?" he asked with concern.
"I'll live," she'd  him.
"You scared the hell out of all of us," Max told her.
"I know. I'm sorry," she had quietly as she looked at
Michael.
Max followed her gaze then looked at Tess.
Tess nodded.
"We need to get Isabel back to town," said Max getting
in to drive back.
Michael climbed in with Isabel and pulled her head to
his shoulder. Tess stood there for a minute then
climbed in beside Max.
"Let's get out of here, Maxwell," said Michael as he
caressed Isabel's shoulder.
"Far away from here."

Michael sat with his feet propped up on the side of
the bed watching Isabel sleep. He hadn't left her side
since Max had saved her life out on the rocks.
That had been hours ago, and now Isabel was asleep in
his bed.
He was afraid if he closed his own eyes that she would
disappear.
"Michael?" he heard his name.
He sat forward. "Hey! You want something? Water
maybe?"
Isabel stretched. "No. I'm fine. I should probably go
home now." She looked at him. "Thanks for letting me
use your bed."
Michael nodded. "No problem."
"Where's Max and Tess?" asked Isabel looking around.
"Huh, they left. Max said you were going to be okay
and he needed to smooth things over with your folks.
Explain why you were late," he told her. At her look
he shrugged. "And Tess said Valenti gave her orders to
be home if she wasn't fighting aliens or saving the
Earth." He grinned slightly at that one.
"I'm sorry Michael, I had no idea you would be put out
like this. I'm fine really," said Isabel embarrassed.
Michael took a deep breath. "Actually...I sort of
thought...."
"You thought what?" she asked.
"Do you remember anything about what happened?" he
asked.
She shook her head. "Not a lot. Well it's all sort of
fuzzy."
"Oh." He was disappointed.
"You were going to tell me what you thought," she
hinted.
He blinked. "Oh, huh yeah..." He shook his head. "It
was nothing."
"You're sure?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure."
Isabel looked down at her hands and twisted the sheet
between them.
"Michael?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to...I need to see it," she told him.
"See what?" he asked confused.
She looked in his eyes.  "I need to see where they
died. I need to see it so I can remember."
Michael sat back. "NO."
"Michael, you know I have to do this. I have to see
for myself where it happened so I'll remember."
"You don't need to remember! Lonnie, Rath, Nicholas,
Kivar, they're all dead! That should be enough," said
Michael. He didn't want her to go through that again.
"Michael, I need to do it. Please," she said quietly.
"No." He wouldn't do it. She didn't need to go.
"Then take me home," she said getting out of his bed.
"What?" he asked surprised.
"Take me home or I'll walk," she told him. She looked
down. "What's this?" She was wearing his V-necked T
shirt and boxers.
"You're clothes were burned. Tess changed you,"
explained Michael. He didn't tell her that he'd turned
his back, but hadn't left the room. He wouldn't leave
her alone.
"Thanks," she told him.
"Isabel," he sighed. "I'll...I'll take you." He knew
she would head there alone if he took her home and he
didn't want that.
"Thanks." She smiled softly at him.


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


Isabel stood on the edge of the cliff gazing at where
the land and sky came together. The cool air was
blowing across the desert as the sun said it's
goodnights and the moon began to glow in it's place.
It was joined by millions of stars all ready to
twinkle like jewels in the night sky.
"You okay?" Michael asked her.
She nodded. "I was just thinking. Hours ago there was
death here. But now, it's so beautiful. Strange don't
you think?"
"Yeah, I guess," Michael said from behind her.
Being here had jogged  her memory. Isabel saw again
everything that had happened and hugged herself. How
she had felt when she thought Michael was going to
die, the decision she had made to sacrifice herself to
try and give him time to save himself and the others,
and the pain of dying. But mostly she remembered how
much she loved him. Never did she think she would have
feelings this intense for him. Having almost lost him
brought all of her feelings to the surface and she
couldn't deny them. But would he?
"What are you thinking?" he asked her. "Anything ring
a bell?
She nodded. "Yes." She held her breath. Did he
remember her saying she loved him when she thought she
was going to die?
"I remember all of it now."
His heart skipped a beat. "All of it?"
"Yeah. All of it," she told him as she turned to face
him. She held her breath as she cupped his face with
her hand and gazed up at him.  "Kivar wanted to kill
you."
"He almost did kill you! I thought I'd lost you,
Isabel. I was going crazy when I saw you lying there!
I couldn't lose you again," he told her as he placed
his hand over hers and brought it to his lips to kiss
her palm.
Again. He'd said 'again'. Her heart fluttered at his
words and actions.
"You heard me tell you...that I loved you," she
whispered softly.
He nodded. "Yeah. Was it the truth?" he asked her.
Tears sprang to her eyes. She wiped at them as she
nodded.
"Because....I love you too," he told her.
"Really?" He loved her! She smiled at him as her eyes
glistened.
"Who'd have thought this freakin' destiny thing was
for real," he said holding her hand in his.
"Michael," she whispered as she plucked at the
material on his shirt.
He hugged her to him. "I thought I would die when I
saw you lying there. Don't ever do that to me again!"
"Okay," she told him smiling.
Then he took her mouth with his and Isabel knew she
was where she belonged.

No dream ever compared to the way Michael was making
her feel right now. She never wanted to leave his
arms, never have the feel of his lips leave hers.
"Isabel, I love you," Michael whispered in her ear.
"I love you too."
"I'm never letting you go again," he told her as he
hugged her tightly to him.
She felt warmth in his words and she glowed from it.
He leaned back and took her hand. His eyes were full
of love as he said, "Come on." He started to lead her
down the trail, but she stopped him. "No, Michael."
"What? Why not?" He took her face in his. "I want
to....I thought we'd..." He wanted to make love to
her, but then he thought, what if she didn't? Was that
why she didn't want to leave?
"It has to be here, Michael," she told him, hoping he
knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
 He looked around. "It's a rock, Isabel. We can go
back to..." Then he stopped. He understood what she
meant. "Yeah, it has to be here." Their first time had
to be where it all started in this lifetime.
"I know it's not as comfortable as a...." Isabel said,
trying to cover her nervousness.
"Sshhhhhh," Michael said as he pressed a finger to her
lips. "This is where we were meant to be. The right
time... the right place."
"Our destiny," she whispered.
His mouth covered hers hungrily as he kissed her,
while his hands began to roam up her back, and
underneath his shirt that she wore.
Her back was bare under the shirt. Her skin like the
softest petal of a flower. His hands pushed the shirt
higher so that the air hit her bared skin. Michael
could feel her full breasts heaving through the
material of the shirts they both wore. Her skin was
warm compared to the cool night air.
Isabel began to tug at the bottom of Michael's shirt
but it kept catching on his jeans, so she began to
pull at the buttons, sliding them through the holes
with a slowness that was driving Michael crazy. Her
fingers caressed his body through the T-shirt
underneath as she pushed the now unbuttoned material
aside.
"I'll do it," he told her, but she brushed his hands
away.
"I want to do this," she told him.
She pushed the shirt off of his shoulders then slowly
gathered the T-shirt in her hands and pulled it over
his head.
She lightly kissed his bared chest before she rested
her head on it. She could hear the rapid beating of
his heart and it soothed her knowing that it matched
her own.
Micheal closed his arms around her and kissed the top
of her head.
They were really going to do this.
"Isabel, we don't have to," he told her. He didn't
want her to regret it later.
She looked up at him. "I know," she said as she began
to gather the bottom of her shirt. Michael reached
down and together they pulled her it over her head.
She was shy at first, covering herself with her arms,
but then she slowly released them when Michael reached
up to gently take her  hands in his.
"You're beautiful," he breathed as he feasted his eyes
on her.
She blushed, but was pleased.
"Nervous?" he asked her.
She hesitated then nodded. "Yeah."
"Me too," he told her.
He put his arms around her and they both sighed as
their bared skin touched.
Michael held her as he rested his head on hers, and
rocked them as they stood on the cliff.
She felt her fears falling away. Not of him, but of
the unknown they had fought for so long.
She looked up at him. "I want to make love with you,
Michael."
He nodded. "I want to make love with you too."
They kicked off their shoes and then he self
consciously reached for the waist of her shorts and
tugged them down over her hips, kneeling to pull them
off.
He sucked in his breath at the sight of her naked
form. She was smooth everywhere and curvy where it
mattered. She was perfect.
He stood up and she reached for his buttons. Her hands
were shaking as one by one the buttons were plucked
from their home until they were all free. She pushed
her hands inside his jeans and over his naked hips to
slide the pants down. His erection stopped the decent.

"Sorry," he said.
She smiled as she moved the material until it finally
came free. Kneeling she tried not to stare at the
hardness that was boldy standing out right in front of
her. She removed the pants and stood up.
She moved into his arms and pressed close to him, his
member large and throbbing between them.
Both were shaking, their breaths ragged as their
bodies moved against one another.
Michael moved to arrange their discarded clothing as a
bed, and together they lay down.
Their eyes followed their hands as they went on a tour
of discovery of one another.
Isabel pulled Michael's head down to her so that she
could kiss him. His mouth opened eagerly to hers and
he relished her taste.
Michael's hands went to her breast, kneading the
fullness, and gently rolling the nipple between his
fingers.
Isabel gasped then moaned with pleasure as her hands
locked in his hair while his mouth covered her nipple,
and he laved it.
She wanted more. She wanted him.
She rolled them over and covered his chest with tiny
kisses, her tongue teasing his hardened nipples until
she heard him rumble with pleasure.
Her hair was tickling his chest adding to the
sensations Michael was feeling from her fingers
running
 over his ribs and belly. Isabel's hands moved lower
until she gingerly took his length in her hands.
She marveled at the warm thickness that pulsed with
life. Smooth, yet hard with pearly white drops of
fluid beaded on the end, it made her shiver to realize
that soon this part of him would be inside of her. She
ran her fingers over it, then closed her hand and felt
him leap. She moved her hand up and down the shaft and
he moaned.
She looked back at him.  He was watching her reaction
to his body and the pleasure she was giving him.
She smiled as she moved her hand again.
He was going to lose it if he let her keep on touching
him like she was doing.
Michael rolled Isabel on her back and looked into her
eyes while his hands moved down her body exploring as
she had done to him. His fingers moved over her ribs
and belly to her smooth apex. Her legs hesitantly
opened to his probing hand and Michael felt how wet
she was. She was slick to the touch, his fingers
sliding in to her with ease and caressing her inner
lips.
He heard her gasp, saw her eyes close, and he smiled.
Her hips moved beneath his hand. He suckled a breast
as she clutched at his arm and moved against his hand
as she so