Title: Rockets Red Glare

Author: Dontia

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything but the plot.

Spoilers: None

Rating: R for language

Summary: Fourth of July fic. Relationships shift.

Notes: Sequel to "Mini Explosions – Interlude #5". Similarities to Season Two are vague. So the crappy finale didn’t happen.

Feedback: Come on, it’s not like I’m making any money off this.

Dedication: To the wonderful replies I’ve gotten from so many of you. Thank you for taking the time.

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

It’s late afternoon at the Roswell Fourth of July Celebration. Tess and Isabel are walking around, looking at various booths.

"You’re gonna leave it like that?" asks Isabel.

"What am I supposed to do?" asks Tess. "Michael doesn’t wanna make love to me."

"I’ve seen him watching you. He wants you."

"Not enough. Even if I talk him into it, I’ll have had to talk him into it. That is not a turn on."

"So what do you want?"

"I want him to wanna have sex with me. I’m tired of offering myself on a silver platter and him rejecting me."

"You want him to chase you."

"Yeah, but that’s not gonna happen. I want him too much, I love him to much, to hide how I feel."

"You don’t have to hide it, you just have to work it."

"Work it?"

"Yeah. You’re used to being forthright and telling a guy what you want. It’s time you enrolled in the Isabel Evans school of getting what you want through subtlety."

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

Liz is walking the fairgrounds alone. She spots Alex and tries to go in the other direction before he sees her.

"Liz, wait up," yells Alex, jogging to her.

"What is it?"

"I think we should talk."

"There’s nothing to talk about."

"Liz, we made a mistake."

"It was more than a mistake. The three of you ruined my life."

"I’m sorry we hurt you."

"Why didn’t you stop them? Why didn’t you stop yourself?"

"By the time it happened, we were all too far gone to think about inhibitions or complications or much of anything."

"So you didn’t even think about what this would do to me."

"Your life isn’t the only one affected by this."

"My pain isn’t important?"

"Maria’s gonna be a mother. Max or I are gonna be a father. We’re all scared as hell because our lives are about to change forever. What you’re going through is important Liz, but it’s not more important than what’s happening to everyone else."

Alex walks away from her.

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

Tess shakes her head at Isabel. "I don’t wanna make him jealous."

"It’s the easiest way," says Isabel. "You don’t have to do anything special. Just talk to a member of the opposite sex. Michael’s testosterone will handle the rest."

"Why can’t I just tell him how much his decision is hurting me?"

"Because you already tried the direct approach. He doesn’t get it. Besides, I thought you wanted him to chase you?"

"I do. But I don’t wanna lose him in the process."

"That’s why the plan has a failsafe. If he stops talking to you, I tell him you were following my advice because he wouldn’t listen to you."

"He’ll never fall for it."

"Then there’s no harm in trying. Hey, is that Liz?"

Tess looks to where Isabel’s pointing. "Looks like she’s crying."

"Maybe we should check on her."

"Last time I asked Liz if she was all right, she went off on me."

"Yeah, she’d probably do the same to me. I am Max’s sister."

"She still not talking to him?"

"She hangs up whenever he calls her. I’ve never seen him so depressed."

"Maybe we should do something."

"You wanna get ‘em back together? Is the heat affecting you?"

"Why does everyone keep asking if something’s wrong? Can I not be nice to Liz?"

"I suppose you could. You just haven’t ever."

"That’s because she’s never been nice to me. But there’s a first time for everything."

Isabel nods sagely. "That’s why there’s the saying ‘Once in a blue moon’."

"Everyone’s a comedian. There’s Kyle."

"Is he coming over here?"

"No. He watching us but pretending like he’s not. What happened with you two?"

"I don’t know. One day we were fine, the next we weren’t."

"I think you need to take a page from my book. March up to him and ask what’s going on."

"What if he wants to break up with me?"

"You’re barely speaking, how together are you?"

"Right. I’ll just, go ask him."

"Good luck. I’ll catch up with you later."

Tess walks away. Isabel puts on a ‘I don’t care what you think’ smile and walks over to Kyle. "I haven’t seen you in a while."

"I’ve been busy," says Kyle.

"Too busy to call me?"

"I’ve had stuff to do Isabel."

"Look, if you wanna break up with me just say so."

"Is that what you want?"

"I wanna know why you’re suddenly avoiding me."

"I’m not sure I can do this."

"Do what?"

"Wait for you to dump me."

"What are you talking about?"

"I talked to Alex. He told me why you broke up with him."

"We broke up because things weren’t working out."

"He said you told him it was because he wasn’t…different…like you. I don’t think I can let myself fall for you, then have you get tired of me not being different and cut me loose."

Kyle walks away from her.

Isabel stares after him in shock. Her eyes narrow and her mouth tightens. "Alex."

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

Tess is walking and bumps into someone. The instant they touch, she knows who it is without looking at his face. "Hey Max."

"Hi Tess," says Max, smiling slightly. "I thought you and Isabel were hanging out today."

"She needed to talk to Kyle. How are you?"

"I’m…hanging in there."

"If you need to talk, I’m available."

"Thanks."

"So, you wanna talk?"

"Not yet. Maybe after I do the paternity thing."

"Okay. I know we’re not…what we were to each other in our last life. But I’m here for you Max, whatever you need."

"I don’t think Michael would appreciate the thought. Especially given the way he’s glaring at me right now."

Tess turns and sees Michael scowling at them. She sighs when he stalks away.

"I can talk to him if you want," says Max.

"Michael and I need to deal with this ourselves. But thanks."

"No problem."

"Isabel and I have a spot to watch the fireworks later. You’re welcome to join us."

"I don’t wanna make everyone uncomfortable."

"Yeah, cause we totally forget you exist when you’re not there."

Max laughs. "If you’re sure?"

"I am. See you at sunset. Bring Alex if you see him."

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

Alex takes the stuffed bear he won from the booth attendant. He turns to find Isabel glaring at him. "What did I do now?"

"You tell me," says Isabel. "What did you say to Kyle?"

"About what?"

"Our breakup."

"I told him the truth."

"The whole truth?"

"Yeah."

"Alex, you know we didn’t break up JUST because I’m…different and you’re not."

"No, I don’t know that. You told me that’s that reason we couldn’t see each other anymore."

"I told you that was one of the reasons. Granted, it’s a big one on the long list of why we’re completely wrong for each other. But it wasn’t the only reason."

"You didn’t give me another reason."

"I thought you knew them as much as I did. Alex, we don’t like the same things. We don’t have the same interests. If you didn’t know about me being different, we wouldn’t be friends."

"You really think that?"

"If Max and Liz hadn’t hooked up, I wouldn’t have looked past your sometimes dorky exterior and you wouldn’t have gotten past my looks. I’m glad we’re friends but we don’t have much in common."

"You and Kyle do?"

"Kyle and I both enjoy pep rallies and football games. He gets my jokes and likes it when I’m sarcastic and bitchy. He likes the total package, not just the nice side."

"You’re falling for him."

"Probably. But because of you, he’s barely speaking to me. He thinks I’m gonna ditch him the second I get bored."

"I’ll talk to him."

"Thank you. Just because we can’t be together Alex, doesn’t mean I’m not gonna be incredibly jealous when you fall for someone else."

"Good," says Alex, smiling. His smile widens at Isabel’s hug.

"Friends?"

"Always."

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

Max and Liz come face to face with each other.

"Can we please talk?" asks Max.

"If I say yes, will you stop calling my house?"

"Okay."

"Fine, let’s talk."

They walk away from the crowd until they’re sure no one will be able to hear them.

"So talk," says Liz.

"I never meant to hurt you."

"You keep saying that. It doesn’t change anything."

"I don’t know how to make this right. How do I make you stop hurting?"

"I don’t think you can. You didn’t sleep with some random girl, or even Tess. You slept with my best friend Max. Maria and I have been friends most of our lives and in one night, you wiped all that out. We can never go back."

"You’ll never forgive me, will you?"

"Maybe one day. But I don’t think we can get past this."

"I love you."

"I love you too. That’s why this is so hard. I need to move on Max, away from you. It hurts so much to even look at you right now. If you really love me, you’ll stop hanging on."

"How can I say I love you if I just give up?"

"It’s not giving up, it’s letting go. Please let go. Stop calling, don’t come by. Just let me be."

"If that’s what you need, then that’s what I’ll do."

"Thank you."

"Just remember that I’ll always love you Liz Parker."

"Goodbye Max."

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

Jim comes over to Amy’s booth. "You’ve been avoiding me."

"Your uniform is scaring away my customers," says Amy.

"We need to talk."

"No, we needed to talk when you knew what my daughter was involved in and didn’t tell me."

"Would you have believed me?"

"That isn’t the point."

"It’s not like she fell in with a bad crowd. They’re good kids."

"They’re a lot of things but KIDS they aren’t."

"Yes they are. They need help protecting themselves."

"And now she and her baby might need help because she got involved with them."

"We all make our choices."

"She’s a teenager. She’s not supposed to be making life-altering decisions yet. I’m so angry with you."

"It’s not his fault," says Maria, walking up.

"You shouldn’t be out in this heat," says Amy. "It’s too much for you and the baby."

"I needed to talk to you. Could you give us some privacy Sheriff?"

"I have to make my rounds," says Jim. "We’ll talk later Amy."

"You shouldn’t blame him," says Maria after Jim walks away.

"He should’ve told me," says Amy.

"That wasn’t his responsibility, it was mine."

"You’re still a kid Maria, what do you know about responsibility?"

"I quit the Crashdown."

"Did the Parkers make you? Because they can’t do that."

"No, they didn’t make me. I found another job, one where I won’t be on my feet all the time."

"Where are you working?"

"At the UFO Center."

"With Max?"

"With Brody."

"But Max will be there."

"Yeah."

"I don’t think it’s safe for you to spend even more time with Max."

"Mom, Max will always be my friend, whether or not it’s his kid. I’m gonna need all the friends I can get when school starts."

"This isn’t the life I wanted for you."

"I know, but I’ll be okay. I have good friends, a new and great job, and I have a great mother."

"Riiight. I practically kicked you out when you told me you were pregnant."

"You’d have been fine if saying I was pregnant was the biggest thing I told you."

"Do you at least have a plan on what you’re going to do next?"

"A lot depends on how the paternity test turns out."

"No matter what, I’m here for you."

"Thanks Mom."

"Are you working tomorrow?"

"Just in the afternoon, why?"

"Because we need to get you moved home."

Maria and Amy hug, tears spilling down Maria’s face.

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

As Max and Alex near the area for the fireworks, Alex spots Kyle. "I’ll catch up with you."

Max nods and keeps walking.

"Kyle, you got a sec?"

"What’s up?" asks Kyle.

"I talked to Isabel a while ago. I think when we talked a couple weeks ago, we had a miscommunication."

"Isabel talked you into changing your story."

"She gave me a different perspective on our breakup."

"I don’t wanna hear the revised version she made up to get out of this. I’ll see you around."

"Aren’t you gonna watch the fireworks with us?"

"No."

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

After seeing Tess with Max, Michael walked around trying to calm down. He can’t help thinking of what Kyle said about Max being available. He wonders if he’ll lose Tess now that she can have Max.

He decides to attend the fireworks display after almost blowing it off. As he’s walking toward that area, he spots Liz. He sees that she looks defeated and goes to her. "What can I do?"

"Michael! Sorry, didn’t see you."

"You were preoccupied. Can I help?"

"Not unless you have a time machine. I finally convinced Max it’s over."

"But you didn’t want him to be convinced."

"Every time I see them, I can’t help but picture them together."

"Doesn’t mean you’re supposed to be happy about it."

"I don’t know if I’ll ever be happy again."

"You will be," says Michael, hugging her.

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

Tess and Isabel are on their way to their blanket when they see Michael hugging Liz.

"I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything," says Isabel at the sick look on Tess’s face. "He’s just being a good friend."

"I’m starting to wonder if he has any male friends."

"Tess-"

"It bothers me, okay? Maria I can handle, barely. But Max was my destiny. I spent my entire life counting on that and Liz took it away. I finally find someone else to be happy with and suddenly Liz is available and finding comfort in MY boyfriend."

"You’re the one Michael loves."

"As he has yet to take his hands off her, I don’t find that reassuring."

Tess stalks toward their blanket. Isabel shakes her head at Michael and follows Tess.

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

After declining Michael’s offer to watch the fireworks with everyone, Liz is leaving the fairgrounds. She sees Kyle ahead of her. "Kyle, wait!"

"Aren’t you gonna watch the fireworks?" asks Kyle when she reaches him.

"I’ve had enough explosions in my life lately. What about you?"

"I’m not in the mood to deal with everyone and their problems."

"You wanna hang out?"

"Sure thing Parker. Where to?"

"Let’s find a town that’s not alien themed."

"Now you’re talkin’. Let’s go."

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

Michael arrives at the blanket. He scowls when he sees Tess sitting next to Max.

Isabel grins at the look on Michael’s face. "What kept you?"

"Got held up talking to Liz," says Michael, not taking his eyes off Max.

Max looks at Michael and moves away from Tess. "Is she okay?"

"She will be," says Michael, sitting in the seat Max vacated. "Where’s Maria and Kyle?"

"Kyle decided not to come," says Alex. "I tried talking to him Isabel."

Isabel sighs. "I’ll catch him later. What about Maria?"

"She and Amy are talking," says Tess. "Maria’s gonna move home tomorrow."

"That’s great," says Max. "You’ve been a really good friend to her Tess. Thank you."

"It’s no big deal."

"Yeah, it is," says Michael as he pulls Tess against him and gives Max a dirty look.

"Is something wrong Michael?" asks Isabel, smirking. "You keep glaring at Max."

"Everything’s fine."

"If you say so."

Michael looks down as Tess quietly watches the fireworks. "What are you thinking?"

"About how fireworks became traditional," says Tess.

"What do you mean?" asks Alex.

"After independence was declared, the British were bombing an American fort hard throughout the night. Yet the Americans never gave in and never gave up. In the morning, their flag was still waving in the breeze. A poet was watching that night. His poem became the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ when music was added."

"I always wondered why they shot off fireworks," says Isabel.

"It’s a sign of their strength of will and determination. I wonder if our people have that much strength."

"I’m sure they do," says Michael. "We’ll fight until we free our people Tess."

"I hope they know we haven’t given up on them."

"I’m sure they do," says Max. "We will save them."

Tess smiles at Max and snuggles into Michael’s arms before turning back to the fireworks.

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

THE END