FIC: Full Circle Story of Lines Book II

This is rated: R

This is an original story based on the television series 'Roswell'

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Roswell. I don't profit from anything. Original story and new characters are solely mine.

Chapter One

"What next?" She cocked her head to one side.

"I don’t know." He laughed. "I’m going to be father!" He laughed again. "You’re mom is going to flip out, you know that right?"

"Oh, yeah. Big time."

"I guess Liz knows," he glanced towards the backdoor of the Crashdown.

"Tonight, when I finally took the tests." She saw the misgiving in his eyes. "Not before tonight, I promise."

"Why didn’t you say anything before?"

"I was scared. Scared of everything. Remember how freaked out you were about waiting and dreams and Max and Tess? I didn’t want to freak you out anymore and have you..."

"Leave?" He grinned.

"Yeah, leave."

"Sorry, you are pretty much stuck with me now. You and me Maria, we’re in it together. I’m not going anywhere without you, ever." He pulled her close to him again and hugged her tight. "We should go back in, we have to tell Max."

"I know, I’m just so glad you’re okay with everything."

"You know I am." Michael thought back to when he had stepped off the Granilith to be with Maria. She was his home.

The pair walked back in the café holding hands. Liz knew from her friends expression that everything was going to be okay. Finally, everything was going to be okay.

"So, what’s going on guy’s?" Isabel asked.

"Well," Michael sat down and Maria sat on his lap. He encircled her waist and kissed her neck. "Funny you should ask. We are having a baby!"

Max and Isabel’s mouths dropped as they gaped at the happy couple.

"Is that it? No congrat’s?" Michael laughed.

"Oh my God," Max set his drink down with a shaking hand. "Are you sure?"

"Two tests is pretty sure," Maria answered narrowing her eyes in Max’s direction. "It’s been over a month."

"Over?" He repeated.

"Yeah, Maxwell." Michael squinted towards him. "Over a month. It might be okay. Everything might be okay."

"How can you know that?" Max fought to control the urge to yell. "You don’t know that. There is no way of knowing what’s..."

"What’s going on inside of me?" Maria pointed to herself. "Did you ever think that all the mixed up DNA you guys are full of might have worked with mine? We are having a baby. A human baby."

"You don’t know that Maria," Isabel spoke softly and apologetically. "I hope you’re right, but you can’t know."

"I feel okay Isabel," Maria shot back. "I don’t feel strange, I feel alive and healthy and everything feels normal."

"But it might not be." Max spoke through clenched teeth. "How did you let this happen?"

"You don’t want to go there Max," Michael said. "You have no right to go there."

Liz bit her lip and looked to the floor, Max glanced in her direction and nodded.

"It happened, okay?" Michael raised his hand into the air. "Now we’re going to deal with it."

"How?" Isabel asked.

"The doctor. I think Maria should go see a doctor and see if everything is okay."

"And if it’s not?" Max asked feeling for Liz’s hand under the table.

"Then we’ll deal from there," Michael shrugged. "I’m going to take her to doctor outside town, maybe a clinic or something and see. If strange things show up, we’ll get lost and no one will be the wiser. If everything’s cool, as I think it will be, she can go to a real doctor here."

"When?" Max asked feeling Liz’s hand slide from his own.

"Soon. Next week."

Max nodded and looked across at his sister. "Is this what you meant when you said you felt you should be here this week-end?"

"I don’t know," she shrugged and stood up and went to Maria. She hugged her. "I didn’t mean to sound like a bitch. I’m very happy, for both of you." She grabbed Michael’s hand and squeezed. "If there’s anything I can do to help, call me. I will be there for you both."

"Me too, you both know that." Liz chimed in.

"And me," Max outstretched his hand and grasped Michael’s. "I’ll always be there for you."

"So who wants to be there for me when I tell my mom?" Maria smiled as all hands fell down.

* * * * *

Liz and Michael waited in the waiting room inside the building that housed the New Mexico Clinic. The walls were painted a delightful shade of pale blue that accented the canary yellow tiled floor to the point of nausea. Michael’s foot had been tapping since Maria had walked away behind the doors over half an hour ago. He sat up and sighed, looked at the clock on the wall then back to Liz.

"What’s taking so long?"

"It’s not long Michael, the doctor might not even be in there with her yet."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, you have to wait a lot for doctors." She tried to explain. "Give it awhile longer. If she’s not out in like another half hour, we’ll ask."

"What if something is wrong? What if the freakin’ FBI or someone is on their way here now?"

"Don’t be stupid. Just relax, go back to tapping and relax. We’ll know soon enough." Liz picked up a magazine and flipped pages not reading or looking, just flipping. She didn’t want to voice her own concerns right now.

Thirty-five minutes later Maria strolled thought the blue double doors and she was smiling. She carried a loaded down bag and she was nearly skipping over to Michael and Liz.

"This is a good?" Michael asked softly as she approached.

"This is a big good." Her eyes were wet. "Everything looks fine. I’m normal, the baby seems normal. They didn’t question anything or see anything strange and they were so nice!" Maria gushed. "I got all this information on what to do to have a healthy happy pregnancy."

"So, it’s all good?" Liz asked.

"I think so. I have to go see my real doctor and then I’ll know more, but this was a successful day. I think my due date will be around Labor Day. Ha!" She laughed as she looped arms with both Liz and Michael. "C’mon, let’s go get something to eat before we go home."

"You going to tell your mom tonight?" Liz asked once they were in the car.

"Yeah, I have to." Maria looked sullen. "Not unless..."

"I’m not doing it for you." Liz smiled.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Michael asked cringing as he spoke. He didn’t want to go, but he would if she wanted him.

"God, no." Maria rolled her eyes. "I doubt you’ll ever even be allowed in my house again."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. For awhile at least." Maria changed the subject to baby names, she didn’t want to think about how her mother was going to react. She knew it was going to bad.

* * * * *

"Are you feeling okay?" Isabel asked her brother over the phone.

"Yeah, you?"

"I don’t know. Ever since I got back to school I just feel like something’s not right. I don’t know what, I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like something gnawing at the back of my neck."

"Everything’s okay here Is, I don’t know what to tell you."

"With Maria and the baby?"

"I just heard from Liz, everything’s fine so far."

"That’s a relief. Call me if anything turns up. Something just doesn’t feel right."

Max promised and hung up the phone. He glanced at his watch, he had an hour before he was going to pick up Liz.

* * * * *

Liz was waiting outside when Max pulled up; she hopped in the jeep and kissed him.

"Nice to see you too," he kissed her back. "How’s Maria?"

"Good. She’s going to tell her mom tonight so if she call’s I gotta go."

Max nodded and started driving north.

"Where are we going?"

"For a surprise."

"I don’t like surprises." Liz snapped on her seatbelt.

"I know." Max laughed and ignored her plea for answers. About twenty minutes later he pulled up to the State Park. He gestured for Liz to get out of the jeep and follow him, she did.

"Why are we here?" She asked taking his outstretched hand.

"Because, I wanted to give you something." He led her down a short path and to a picnic table. He sat and she sat next to him. He waved his arms to the sky. "I want to give you the world."

Liz looked quizzically at him.

"The world. I want to give you everything in the world. All the stars and the moons and planets and the suns. It’s all for you. Everything has always been for my Dream girl. You."

Liz smiled and fell into his embrace.

"You are my world. I don’t care what happens to anything as much as I care about you." He spoke between kisses. "You are the only person I care about and I will spend the rest of my life making you happy. I’ll always have other responsibilities, but you are number one. Always and forever."

"I love you Max," Liz kissed him again and again. "I want to be with you so bad..."

"It’s not time. Not yet." He shook his head.

"I know, it’s just so hard with Maria..."

"We’ll be there soon Liz. We’ll be there soon." He kissed away the loose hair w that was blowing across her face and led her back to the jeep. He had shown her what he wanted to. All was good with his world.

"Thank you," Liz spoke softly as she climbed in the jeep. "Thank you for everything."

"Don’t thank me, just love me." Max reached over to her and pulled her over on him. He stroked her neck and kissed her lips murmuring of love you’s. Liz smiled and opened her eyes. She glanced in the driver’s side mirror and saw her reflection, her eyes were blue.

* * * * *

Chapter Two

Liz blinked and looked in the mirror again, her eyes were brown. Had to be a reflection, she thought absently. Of course it was. She untucked her shirt and put Max’s hand’s on her bare waist. He shuddered and backed away from her.

"What’s wrong?" She asked quietly.

"I don’t think..."

"I know, just a little playtime, nothing more." She winked causing him to smile and relent. She moved his hands up to her bra and shivered, nipples contracting underneath the thin fabric. Max froze.

"I won’t want to stop Liz," he panted. "I don’t know if I’ll know how to stop."

"Okay," she pulled his hands back out of her shirt and pulled the hem down low. "I see what you mean. It shouldn’t be like this." She agreed. It should be that we’re both still virgins! She wanted to yell but remained silent. "I’ll wait."

"I’ll wait forever."

"Let’s hope it doesn’t take that long." She closed her eyes and saw flashes. Max’s hands moving down a bare back, her back? Moving around to the front of undone jeans, her jeans? She shook her head and turned back to him. "Why don’t you come over, we can hang out and watch TV and see if Maria calls. We can invite Michael over after work and he can wait for the wreckage of the DeLuca house with us."

* * * * *

"Do you think Jim will like this?" Amy DeLuca held up a flowing burgundy Gypsy skirt and black tunic against herself. She turned to her daughter when she got no response. "Well? Do you think it looks okay together?" She pulled at the top of her head. "Maybe I should get some highlights. A little red, maybe? What do you think, Maria?"

Nothing.

"Maria? Are you even listening to me?" Amy dropped the clothes to her side and looked across the room at her daughter.

"Yeah, red. I think it’ll be great." Maria nodded.

"Finally. I never thought I’d hear the day you didn’t have an opinion." Amy laughed and turned back to the mirror.

"So, you and the Sheriff are going out tonight?"

"No, tomorrow, just trying to get a jump on it. Why? You have plans or did you want to hang out with mom and watch a stupid Lifetime movie?"

"I thought I’d hang out here." Maria took a deep breath. Can’t back out now. Can’t back out now. "So, how are things going with you and the Sheriff?"

"You know, you can call him Jim or Mr. Valenti. Kyle calls me Amy."

"That’s because you are Amy. He’s the Sheriff. It’s like the President."

"Whatever. Anyway, things are going nicely. Very nicely. I really like him and we have so much fun together!"

"Do you see it going anywhere seriously?"

"Well Maria," Amy blushed. "I just don’t know and I don’t know if it’s appropriate for a mother to discuss her sex life with her daughter."

"So there is a sex life?"

"Maria!"

"I’m just asking. You know this concerns me too. If things move forward I’ll have a step-father and brother." That’s it DeLuca, stall. Stall. Stall.

"I don’t know." She looked around then back at Maria. "But I do have the love corner of the Feng Shui all set up."

Maria rolled her eyes.

"Hey, it’s been going on for millions of years." Amy defended herself and turned back to the mirror. "I think I’ll get highlights tomorrow."

"So it could get serious, like marriage any everything?"

"Honey, we’re both trying something new. Jim and I both have been hurt and we’re taking things slow. And then that little Tess girl plopping down in his and Kyle’s lives and then bolting, just another thing."

"Root of all evil," Maria murmured.

"But yes, I like Jim a lot and I’m happy with him." Oblivious to Maria’s statement. "Before anything became more permanent I will discuss it whole heartedly with you, you know that. Remember that it’s just you and me. We’re a team."

"Yeah." Maria took a deep breath. "I have to talk to you."

"Sure, honey. What else?"

"About me." Maria lowered her voice and Amy turned back to her. She sat next to Maria on the bed, a look of concern across her brow.

"What’s going on?" Amy’s heart raced.

"You know that I’m not stupid."

"Oh..."

"I’m not. I’m intelligent, I’ve got a good head on my shoulders and I don’t intentionally do stupid things."

"Are you not going to graduate?"

"What?! Of course I am."

"Okay, " Amy crossed her legs. "I’m sorry, go on."

"Okay. You know that Michael and I are close. Very close."

"Right."

"I really love him," Maria held up her hand. "Not in a high school sweetheart way, but in an out of this world way. I can’t see my future without him anymore."

Amy waited silently.

"I know you’re warming up to him and I know it hasn’t always been easy. He’s a little strange, well, he used to be. He’s grown up a lot over the last year and we’re really in true love."

"Where is this going?"

"Let me speak my way," Maria closed her eyes for a few seconds. "We’ve become very close. I mean intimate."

"You’re having sex?" Amy jumped off the bed. "This is what this is about? My little girl is having sex with that...That..."

"Michael, mom. His name is Michael."

"Well, his name will be Mudd if you ever think about having sex under my roof! I can’t believe this!" She started to pace. "This is not what I wanted for you."

"I know."

"He’s going to break your heart, the first one’s always do."

"He’s not going to break my heart."

"How do you know that? He’s just like all the others boys in school, they’re all the same-"

"Not Michael. He’ll be there with me, always. I’m his home."

"His home?" Amy snorted. "I thought his home was broken with an abuser who... just where did he go? He’s a little boy who’s trying to live like a man. You are still a little girl who has no idea what it means to be a grown up woman. You have time to see the world, see what it can offer you and now you want to tie yourself up with that... Michael?"

"We need each other," Maria congratulated herself on her calmness so far. "I am a woman and I know what I’m saying."

"Your heart-"

"No! My heart and my head are speaking the same language."

"I can’t stop you, can I?" Amy closed her eyes, she knew when she was defeated.

"Mom."

"Okay, can I take you to the doctor at least? For..."

Maria hung her head.

"Maria?" Amy’s voice cracked.

Tears ran down her cheeks in rivers.

"Maria?"

"I’m pregnant." She closed her eyes and waited a beat before opening them. Her mother was staring at her, face red, veins she had never seen before were sticking out on her neck. Tears in her eyes. "I’m sorry."

"Sor? I...Can’t...But...Why...?" Amy stuttered. "How could you?"

"I’m sorry mommy, I didn’t mean for it to happen."

"You are better than this!" Amy began to yell. "How could you be so stupid? Do you know that you’ve ruined your life? You’ll be just like me Maria! Why couldn’t you listen? You had so much for going for you, more than I ever did and you just threw it away by getting into bed with that....Boy!"

"I didn’t throw anything away."

"Yeah, you did. You threw away your life. Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise a baby by yourself?"

"I won’t be alone."

"Yeah you will. He got into your pants and now..."

"It’s not like that mom."

"I never wanted you to turn out like me!" Amy broke down. "I wanted you to have the world. I wanted you to get out of this stupid town and be something. Make something of yourself, for yourself and now it’s over. All for a boy."

"I can still do anything I want."

"No, you can’t."

"I’m sorry?"

"No. You’re going to be a mother and you’re not even out of high school."

"My due date’s around Labor Day."

"Don’t get cute with me."

"I was just saying..."

"Don’t. Don’t say anything. I don’t want to hear anything else. Go to your room. I don’t even want to see you right now."

"Mommy, please."

"No. You are grounded."

"Grounded?"

"Yes, grounded. You are not to leave this house. You are not to call anyone and so help me God if I see that boy sneaking around here, I’ll kill him."

"Wait. We have to talk about this." Maria shook her head.

"Oh, yeah, we will. Not right now because I’m afraid of what else I might say. Soon. And we will talk and figure out exactly what to do."

"Michael and I are going to be together."

"Really?" Amy laughed. "How about over my dead body?"

"I’d hope not."

"Funny. You live under my roof, my rules." She held up her hand for silence. "Before you decide the fate of the world, I want you to think about it. Don’t say anything stupid right now."

"I won’t say anything stupid." Maria narrowed her eyes.

"You might. I might. Just go to your room and we’ll talk about this in the morning."

"Fine," Maria jumped off the bed and stomped down the hall. She walked into her room and flung the door shut behind her.

Amy waited until she heard the door slam before she crumpled on her bed crying, hysterical.

"Why my little girl?" She cried into her pillow.

* * * * *

Michael fidgeted on the couch next to Liz. She placed her hand on his knee and shook her head.

"I can’t stand it anymore," he reached for the phone. "It’s almost eleven and she hasn’t called anyone."

"She will," Liz took the phone from him and laid it back on the table. "There might be a discussion, a fight, or an understanding going on over there right now."

"Or..."

"She could’ve backed out." Max raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "Maria, not being of the most sound mind."

"That’s it." Michael stood up. "When you say things like that, I get mad. So please, don’t. I don’t want to have to kick your ass, but I will."

"I didn’t mean it like that Michael, sit down. I just meant maybe Maria chickened out and-"

"Then not called anyone?" Liz finished for him. "I highly think not. It’s just not over yet, I’m sure. Be patient."

Liz’s cell phone rang in her backpack across the room. She bolted for it and yanked it out.

"Maria?" She answered.

"I told, it’s bad and I’m grounded. Tell Michael I love him and I’ll talk to him soon. I’ll try to call you tomorrow. Shit, she remembered the cell-" Maria was gone.

Chapter Three

"Have you heard from her at all?" Liz leaned over the counter asking Michael.

"Nope, not a word. I guess she called in again tonight?"

"Her mom called for her. I wish she’d call, this is driving me crazy." She looked at the desperation in Michael’s eyes. "I know, you too."

"She told her two days ago and now nothing." He threw his hands into the air. "I’ll take anything at this point. Anything."

"It could be okay..."

"You know as well as I do that it’s not okay, something went bad and it’s going to stay bad. This is killing me Liz, actually killing me. I should be like the happiest man in the world and instead I feel immoral and corrupt and guilty." He slammed a spatula down on the grill. "I love her and I want to be with her. I’m so freaking happy that we’re having a baby that I can’t even see straight! I just wish that her mom would open her eyes and see what’s really going on."

"You got anything else to say about my aunt?" Sean DeLuca appeared next to Liz holding the hand of an auburn haired young woman about his age.

"I don’t have anything to say to you about this, no." Michael rolled his eyes.

"Well, watch what you say about Aunt Amy. This is a tense situation and I don’t think you’re making it any easier for anyone being all doom and gloom and family: bad."

"Who are you," Liz ignored the males and looked toward the raven-haired beauty next to Sean.

"Sorry, Liz Parker this is Jade Zamoras. Jade, my cousin’s friend." Sean tilted his head in Liz’s direction.

"Nice to meet you," Liz held out her hand and had it ignored.

"Yeah," Jade looked back to Sean. "So, do we have to stay around this dump or can we go back to the depression of your Aunts? Or better yet, we could actually go out somewhere and have fun!"

"Let’s go. See you later Parker." He looked to Michael. "Don’t come around anymore for awhile. A long while." He escorted Jade from the café.

"What an asshole," Michael looked after him. "What an asshole!"

"I know."

"And you were actually going to date him?"

"If you remember correctly, I think he was the only asking for a date at the time." Liz smiled. "So, you’re going to call her, aren’t you?"

"Nope. I think I’ll just go over there after work tonight. This is my prob- Situation too, I should be a part of it."

"Good luck."

* * * * *

Maria peeked her nose around the corner into the living room. Her mom was still sitting in the same chair by the bookcase, a box of Kleenex on her lap. Candles that had been burning brightly forty-eight hours earlier were now nubs of wax spilled and frozen on the shelf. It was breaking Maria’s heart to know she was the reason for her mother’s sadness. Mom hadn’t said more than five words to her since the initial grounding.

"Mom?" Maria whispered stepping around the corner. When her mother looked at her all she could see was the red in her eyes and face. "Can we talk now?"

Amy motioned for her to come closer. When Maria was close enough, Amy reached to her and hugged her around the waist and wept. Maria rubbed her mothers’ back and waited, fresh tears running down her own red cheeks. Within minutes, Amy let go and Maria pulled up the footstool in front of her to sit on.

"Mom, I’m sorry."

"I know."

"We have to talk about this..."

"I know."

"Can we start now?"

"Yeah," Amy forced a smile. "I think we have to." She picked up her daughters’ hand and squeezed.

"I’m having the baby, I have to start out by saying that first. There’s no other option."

"Good, I wouldn’t have it any other way."

"And Michael and I will be parents-"

"Maria, you don’t know that."

"Yes! I do know that, Mom. I know that with all my heart and head. He’s now a permanent part of this family and you’re going to have-"

"No. I’m not going to have to do anything. Like I told you before, this is my house, my rules."

"But-"

"No buts. If you can’t live with my rules, which I have not stated yet, then you can move out. Which I don’t want you to do."

"I don’t want to move out, I need you." Maria spoke softly. "I’m scared."

"I know honey, I’m scared too. We’ll get through this together."

"What are your rules?"

"Okay, I don’t have them all ready yet, but I’ll give you a run down. No Michael, not for now. I don’t want to hear his voice on the phone, if he call’s, I don’t want him around here, I don’t want you around him except at work and school."

"That’s not fair."

"Nothing is fair for anyone right now."

Maria nodded, she had been beat.

"I’m not saying that it will be like that forever, just for now. The thought of him in my home and in...It’s too much." Amy shook her head. "I don’t want you going out all the time anymore, and no sneaking. If you think you can get Liz to help you sneak off with that boy, you’re wrong. I can get Liz Parker to tell me the truth, you know that. After I tell her parents what we’re talking about, she won’t be able to lie. If you say you’re with Liz, then so help me God, you will be with Liz. No more lies. I want the truth about everything."

"I’ve told you the truth."

"From now on. Something happens, I want to know. You’ve been keeping secrets from me ever since you got messed up with that boy."

"No more secrets," Maria lied. By the way mom, it’s an alien baby!

"That’s it for now. Can you live with that?"

"Will it change?"

"Probably, but I don’t know when. I just get so frustrated that I let him into our family and look at what happens!"

"I was there too, Mom. It’s not all Michael."

"Oh, trust me, I know. So can you deal?"

"For awhile. I don’t want to move away from you. I’m going to need you more soon than I ever thought possible. But I’m also going to need Michael. Don’t make me choose between the two of you."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t know who would win." Maria stood and bent over to hug her mom. "Can I have the phone back? I would really like to let Liz know that you didn’t kill me."

"You can call Liz, Liz only. Can I trust you Maria? Can I trust you to follow my rules."

"Unless they become more unreasonable, and then no." Maria bowed her head and walked back to her bedroom after picking up the phone from the kitchen table. She dialed the Crashdown, relieved when Liz answered. "Hey lady, what’s going on?"

"Maria! Thank God you called. We’re going crazy trying to figure out what happened. How are things?"

"Scary, but I think it’ll be okay. Is Michael there?"

"No, he left. He’s on his way over-"

"Here? He’s coming here?" Maria became hysterical.

"Yeah."

"Shit, shit! He can’t come here, not now!" Maria heard the doorbell. "Shit, he’s here. Gotta go, I’ll call you back." She was gone.

Maria bolted out of her room in time to hear to hear her mother’s voice breaking in rage.

"Get away from my home! Get away from my daughter. You are not welcome here anymore, Go!"

"Please, Ms. DeLuca, is Maria okay?" Michael pleaded taking a step backwards. "Just tell me if she’s okay."

"Get off of my property!"

"Please, can I see her for just a minute?"

"No!" Amy yelled and slammed the door on him. She turned as Maria came into view. "Why is he here?"

"He might not have gotten the memo yet on the new rules." She squinted. "God, he just wants to see if I’m okay. Can I show him I am?"

"No."

"Then he might stay out there all night. One second, okay? I won’t even leave the door."

Amy nodded and stood in back of her. Maria opened the door and surprised Michael who had sat down on the steps. He rushed to her stopping a foot away.

"Are you okay?" He asked looking deep in her eyes.

"Yes, but now is not a good time." Then she mouthed to him: I will talk to you at school. Everything will be okay.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Michael. Thank you for stopping by." She mouthed: I love you.

Michael smiled and stepped away and back down the steps vanishing into the darkness.

"See, he cares Mom." Maria closed the door and looked back at her mom. "I’m going to bed. I can go to school tomorrow, right?"

Amy nodded and retreated to her chair.

Maria got into bed and pulled the blankets over her head before calling Liz back. She answered on the first ring.

"Liz."

"Jesus Christ Maria! What’s going on?"

"Michael is not allowed over here for awhile. I just had to step into a freak-out of my mothers."

"Are you okay?"

"Believe it or not, yes. I will be at school tomorrow and we’ll talk then. I don’t want to stay on the phone too long because of Mom. She’s freaking. And warning, she’s going to call your parents and tell them the happy news. I’ll fill you in on the rest. I miss you."

"I miss you. I’ll be waiting by the lockers."

Chapter Four

Liz waited anxiously for Maria’s arrival the following morning with Max at her side.

"What is taking her so long to get here?" Liz asked absently glancing down at her watch again. No sooner had she looked up that she saw Maria and Michael strolling hand in hand down the hall towards them. "Thank God!"

"Hi guys," Maria smiled and let go of Michael’s hand to hug her friend. "What’s up?"

"Oh my God!" Liz exclaimed. "How are you?"

"Okay, this is the deal. Mom freaked, expected. Took it better than I thought, unexpected. Pretty much forbidden me to see Michael except at work and school, expected. Is calling in the troops to make sure I’m not sneaking around, unexpected."

"For how long?" Max sidled up next to her and gave her an awkward hug around the shoulders.

"Awkward, much?" she laughed. "Anyway, I don’t know. I don’t think that long. She doesn’t want to deal right now and she doesn’t want to see Michael at all. I can understand that. He is the man that knocked up her little girl."

"Whatever," Michael rolled his eyes sarcastically, but his heart was on his sleeve.

"So, for awhile I have to play by her rules as she puts it. Her roof, her rules."

"You could move in with me," Michael said softly and received the look from Maria. Apparently this was not the first time he had suggested it this morning. "I know."

"Not an option right now Space Boy, got it?"

"So what now?" Liz asked.

"Nothing, really. Will I sneak around to see my honey? You betcha. Will you help me?"

"As always," Liz grinned.

"She’s calling your parents, probably today. You know, to tell them and to make sure that they tell on me if we foil one of our harebrained schemes."

"Great. You’re the one who gets pregnant and I’m the one who’s getting in trouble."

"I’ll help, too." Max picked up Liz’s hand. "Whatever you need."

"Thanks guys." Maria threw her arms around the gang and tried to hug them all.

"I’m almost family and the last to know," a familiar voice came from in back of them. It was Kyle.

"Hey, my future Bro!" Maria hugged him. "I guess Grandma told the Law on me, huh?"

"Oh yeah, last night. They were on the phone for hours."

"Sorry."

"Hey, not your fault," Kyle held up his hands. "Congrats, to both of you." He shook Michael’s hand. "Is everything...You know?"

"So far so good," Maria placed her hand on her stomach. "I think everything’s going to be just fine."

* * * * *

"This is so weird," Liz leaned into Max on a picnic table outside the cafeteria. "I mean have you really sat down and thought about it? Maria and Michael are having a baby. They are going to be parents!"

"I know," Max’s thought’s drifted off to his own child. He had put him out of his mind so much for so long, but now, now it was different. His best friend, like a brother to him, was going to be a father. Too. "It’ll be cool. I assume I will be made Godfather and you Godmother and we can do all the cool stuff. And then someday when we get married and have babies..."

"Do you really think that will happen?" She looked up into his eyes.

"I know it will," he kissed the top of her head. "I can feel with every bit of me it will. I’ll always love you, I’ll always be here for and with you."

"I’ll be here for eternity." Liz mumbled into his shoulder.

"What?" Max jerked away from her holding her at arms length. "What did you say?" Eyes baring into her.

"I...I don’t know." Liz shook her head clearly confused. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Max caught his breath and pulled her close again. "Nothing, never mind."

Liz leaned against his chest feeling his heart pounding rapidly. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

"Yeah," he half smiled and tried to laugh it off. "Something just struck me as odd. Don’t worry. Everything’s cool."

Liz shrugged again and smiled. She didn’t know why she was smiling, but she had too.

Maria, Michael and Kyle joined them at the picnic table within a few minutes and sat down. Maria had a tray of food in front of her. She started to eat carrot sticks and noticed everyone watching her.

"What?" She asked snapping a baby carrot in two. "Haven’t you ever seen anyone eat before?"

"Chill out," Liz slid off the table and sat next to her. "It’s just kind of cool knowing that you're eating for your baby, too."

"Well," Maria blushed. "Quit watching, all of you!"

"Mood swings," Kyle nodded. "I think there’s something about mood swings."

"It’s called an emotional roller coaster, moron." Maria glared at him.

"See?" Kyle grinned looking down at his sandwich.

"Okay, so what else did your mom say?" Liz prodded.

"Not all that much. It’s going to take some time for her to really accept Michael again. She thinks he soiled her little girl and now he’s going to split." Maria shrugged. "I can’t talk her out of it yet, but it’ll come. It’ll just take time for everyone to get used to the idea and then one day, voilá, it’ll be good."

"But in the meantime, do you have any idea what this is doing to my dad?" Kyle asked. "He was like a depressed old guy last night. I guess your mom pretty much cried on the phone the whole time and it kind of depressed him."

"I’m sorry Kyle, You know I never wanted that to happen." Maria shook her head at him. "I totally want my mom and your dad to stay together and I will do everything I can to make that happen. She broke dates with him the last couple of nights because of me, but they need to go out."

"She won’t leave you alone, not right now." Liz shook her head. "There’s no way."

"Maybe if you baby-sit me," Maria batted her eyelashes at her friend.

"Too soon, your mom’s not stupid."

"What if I baby sit?" Kyle raised his eyebrows. "My house? Do you think she’d go for that?"

"That," Maria pointed at him. "Sounds like a plan."

"And then I could come over?" Michael asked excitedly.

"No," Kyle and Maria said at the same time.

"Why not?"

"They’d be expecting that." Kyle nodded slowly. "My dad would forget his wallet and come back in a hour. Two hours later he heard something about a break-in down the street on his scanner."

"He’s right," Liz agreed. "A few times, then I can see it. You have to earn their trust before you can misuse it."

"Spoken like a true Golden Girl." Michael winked at her.

"She’s right," Max agreed. "Michael, you know we will all lie, cheat and steal to make sure you and Maria can see each other, especially now. But we have to be smart about it. If you guy’s get caught, who knows?"

"Okay. Think you’re mom will go for it?" Michael asked Maria.

"If my dad can talk her into it," Kyle answered for her.

* * * * *

That night, Maria and Kyle sat and watched old Saturday Night Live episodes on Comedy Central while Amy and Jim went out to dinner and a movie. They left at six and by seven-thirty had returned for Jim’s wallet. At ten they returned again because Jim heard on the police radio about a break-in down the street. At midnight, Amy picked Maria up and drove her home.

"Kyle, did you guys have a nice night?" Jim asked plopping down on the couch next to him.

"Yeah, watched TV, even did a little homework."

"You were expecting us, weren’t you?"

"Oh," Kyle nodded. "You mean about the wallet and the break in? Yeah, definitely."

"That’s what I figured." He chuckled. "I told Amy you’d see right through it."

"Yeah, we did. It was good entertainment though."

"That’s great son." Jim stood and stretched. "I’m going to bed. You going to get any sleep?"

"Yeah, soon."

"Back in your room?

"Yeah."

"Thank you. I wanted to thank you for taking care of...Everything like that."

"For taking the room back? Not a problem, I was more than happy to do it." Kyle thought briefly to Tess and his head began to swim with emotion. He had loved her then hated her.

"Thanks anyway, I wasn’t looking forward to it, I’m glad it’s gone." Jim said good night and went to bed.

Kyle stayed up until one and then went to his room and slept in his bed and liked it.

* * * * *

Max was also awake at Midnight. He was lying on his back on his bed staring at the ceiling, thinking. Had Liz said almost the exact same thing that Tess had said before he had slept with her? Or could he be imaging it? Liz would have no way of knowing and even if she did, why would she ever say that to him knowingly? Coincidence. Had to be a coincidence, there was no other explanation.

He rolled to his side and looked at the clock, he watched the minutes change to hours. He drifted off close to five and then heard the alarm at six. Dragging he pulled himself from bed, showered and got dressed. His thoughts were consumed with what he thought Liz had said. Maybe it wasn’t even what Tess had said that night. Most of that night became a blur, a memory he wanted to forget. He could have it all wrong. He smiled, Max the brooding, again. His spirits picked up when he saw Liz waiting outside to be picked up. She got in the jeep and leaned across to kiss his lips.

"Thank God you’re here!"

"Good morning to you, too!"

"They got me. My parents. Maria’s mom called before she went out with the Sheriff last night."

"And?"

"They’re freaking out. Now that Maria is pregnant, they’re convinced I will be too in like five seconds."

"Wow."

"Yeah." Liz shook her head. "You have no idea how hard I tried to convince them it wasn’t going to happen. But..."

"Your mom doesn’t really like me that much sometimes, I know."

"It’s not that Max, it’s just they're worried."

"Worried that I’m going to hurt you again?"

"You know, it’s not fair. They don’t know about all this Destiny and alien crap. All they saw was their only daughter getting her heart broken. It upset them, but they like you."

"But they don’t trust me."

"They trust me, though. It’s fine. Why don’t you come over for dinner tonight? It might take the edge off the sex talks for awhile."

"Sure, if you don’t think they’ll mind."

"Of course not. Maria’s mom pretty much demanded that they call her if they see Maria and Michael together. My dad didn’t care for the threat, but don’t mention that. Think she’ll ever calm down?"

"I hope so. Michael’s tearing himself up over this. I’ve never seen him acting so...Manic, before."

"He really loves her and he wants to take responsibility. I think it’s admirable." Liz bit her lip thinking about how Max let Tess go with their son inside her. She figured by his silence, Max was thinking about the same thing. "Anyway..."

Max didn’t hear her, all his thoughts were consumed with the thoughts of his son. The bond seemed to be getting weaker and weaker with each day. He could feel Tess, sometimes stronger than others. When he was away from Liz he felt her the most. Sometimes it felt like his son was so close and then he’d be whisked away. He absently pulled into a parking spot and turned the car off.

"You okay Max?" Liz was staring at him.

"Yeah," he smiled trying to put everything he had into it. "Super."

"What I said earlier, I wasn’t talking about you and-"

"I know, Remember Liz, that part of our storybook is closed." He picked up her hand and brought it to his dry lips. "I can’t lie to you, with the baby thing it makes me think. But I can’t change the past and I will do whatever it takes to make the future with you. Someday, all of this will be so far away, just a distant memory."

"Your child will never be a distant memory."

"Someday Liz Parker. Someday."

* * * * *

Liz took of her jacket at lunch and laid it across her lap. He shirt was royal blue and form fitting with three-quarter length sleeves pushed up on her forearms, like nothing she has worn before. Max stared at her and Maria touched her arm.

"What are you doing?" Maria asked quietly.

"Nothing, why?"

"Can I talk to you?" She stood and walked away and Liz followed. "What the hell is going on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That is so not your shirt," Maria pointed. "That is a freaking Tess shirt!"

Liz looked down and pulled at the shirt. "Oh my God, I don’t even remember putting this on. I don’t even remember buying this!"

"You didn’t, when I said it was a Tess shirt, I meant it was Tess’s shirt!" Maria shivered. "I know I put it in a freaking bag for Good Will. I know that without a doubt."

"Then how did it get into my closet and on my body?"

"You had to have taken it with you when we were there." Maria nodded. "Remember how freaky you got before we left? Maybe I didn’t put it in a bag, maybe I laid it on the bed and you just picked it up."

Liz thought about it for a second and shook her head. "Are you crazy?"

"How else?"

"Are you sure it isn’t mine?" She looked hopelessly at the shirt. "Oh God, now I’m a clepto!"

"No sweetie, you were having a bad time and you got a little wiggy. You could have just stuck it in your pocket and never known. You know the last couple of months have been rough on everyone. All kinds of weird crap’s going on." Maria hoped she was convincing Liz as much as she was herself. "Going through the Hooker’s things was traumatic. I probably would have been slashing things to shreds."

"Exactly, not stealing them and wearing them!" Liz shook her head, embarrassed. "Now what? I can so not go on the rest of the day in this."

"Michael’s got a sweatshirt in his locker. Let’s go get it." They girls walked quickly down the hall and Maria opened Michael’s locker. She handed Liz a gray sweatshirt and slammed the door shut. Liz ducked into the bathroom across the hall and ripped the blue shirt from her body, she wanted a shower. She threw the shirt in the trash and put on the sweatshirt. She rolled up the sleeves and met Maria in the hall. "It’s a good thing the Fashion Police don’t patrol the school."

* * * * *

Chapter Five

For two weeks Maria had not been allowed to see Michael outside of school or work and it was killing her. She longed to be with him, to hold him to kiss him to talk about their future with him. Kyle and Maria had also bonded more in the last two weeks that she ever thought possible. Kyle played baby-sitter when his dad went out with her mom. They were playing by the rules, however the rules were going to change soon.

"Do you think about her a lot?" Maria asked while scarfing down popcorn on the Valenti’s couch.

"Who?" Kyle looked at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"Tess?"

"No. I try not to." Kyle shook his head.

"Yeah, but it was still hard, wasn’t it?"

"Everything in Roswell is hard. I remember back to before all this alien crap. I was dating the town sweetheart, playing football, going to parties, hanging out with my dad. And now...I’ve almost died and been saved, let an alien move into my home and into my family, lost a friend and every single thing I do is usually a lie or cover-up." Kyle reached for his soda on a table. "Doesn’t this ever get to you?"

"Of course!" Maria laughed. "When I first found out about everything, I was floored. I was scared to death and wanted to turn to your dad and blab everything."

"What kept you from doing it?"

"I don’t know. Liz, probably. I was overwhelmed. I’m still overwhelmed."

"But you get by."

"We all get by. It just happened that all this fell on us, we could’ve walked away and ignored it until we were blue in the face. Sometimes people make connections and they have to hold. Liz made that connection with Max when he saved her."

"Oh, yeah, trust me. I remember."

"Some people are meant to be together."

"I used to hate Max" Kyle laughed. "I wanted to kill him. I was like ‘hey, I’m the football stud and you’re dumping me for that little dork?’ "

"Stud?"

"Anyway, now I see him differently. I’m still new to the alien world, but he’s got a lot on his plate and sometimes I even feel sorry for him. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a dumbass in my book, but I do have my moments of sympathy."

"You’re all heart." Maria laughed. "Anyway, back to Tess."

"I hate her. I know it shift’s the balance of equality, but I do." Kyle shook his head. "She played me and my dad. We took her in our home and made her part of the family. I really liked her, for awhile, I think I was in love with her. I didn’t see the Tess that you and Liz saw, the Hooker side. Then I felt like she was family. All I felt for her was friendship and family. She used me."

"She used everyone."

"No one else helped her with Alex when she killed him."

Maria was silent.

"Everyday I look in the mirror and I can see myself dragging Alex to the car and putting him in. I don’t know if he was alive then, I was carrying a friend and thought he was luggage. Do you have any idea what kind of cross that is to carry?"

"Kyle..." She placed her hand on his shaking wrist.

"She mind fucked me. She already broke Alex. There wasn’t anything left to warp with him. That’s why he came here. To tell her to leave him alone. I can remember bits and pieces, he begged her. He was begging her and she killed him"

"It wasn’t your fault, no one blames you."

"Except me. I blame me. I blame myself for being taken. I’ll have to live with this the rest of my life."

"We all have to."

"Not like me."

"We all made mistakes, some too many to count. But what happened to you was beyond your control. It could have been me or Liz or your dad that helped her, you were just the one who walked in the door. She didn’t care who it was, she just didn’t want to get caught."

"I guess your right," Kyle nodded. "I never thought about it like that. I guess I wasn’t singled out."

"Nope, just walked in at the wrong time." Maria jumped at a knock on the window. She turned and looked over her shoulder; Michael was peering in at her. "Michael’s here?"

"I know," Kyle got up and went to the front door and let him in. "Surprise!"

Maria stood and walked to Michael and embraced him.

"Okay," Kyle looked at his watch. "You guys got one hour and then Michael, you have to go. Got it? I’ll be locked away in my bedroom if you need anything." He smiled to himself and walked down the hall.

"Oh my God!" Maria exclaimed. "You guys planned this?"

"Kyle planned this, I followed his orders." He looked thoughtfully. "Why am I always following orders? Do you think I’ll ever be able to give orders?"

"Not while I’m around," She looped her arms over his shoulders and pulled him close smothering his face with kisses. "I’ve missed you so much."

"I’ve missed you, too."

"This is so cool! A whole hour! Do you know what we could do in an hour?" She smiled coyly.

"Nu-uh! Here? Are you serious?"

"It’s not like I can get pregnant again."

Michael looked down the hall at Kyle’s closed door.

"He knows, give me a break." Maria pulled him down to the couch and laid on top of him.

"Are you sure you...Can?"

"Positive. I’ve been doing a lot of reading with all this free time I have at home. Grandma Amy keeps setting around little pregnancy books everywhere. Some of them are really interesting, I’ve learned a lot. Did you know that in a few months I’ll be able-"

"Is this going to gross me out?"

Maria pursed her lips and nodded. "Yeah, never mind."

* * * * *

Isabel was sitting by the phone in her dorm room waiting patiently. She knew a call was coming, but she didn’t know why. She had been having feelings again that something was going on and just couldn’t put her finger on it. She placed her hand on the handset and it rang nearly sending her back a foot.

"Hello?"

"Hi." It was Max.

"Hey little brother, I was just thinking about you."

"Really?"

"Yup. Anything going on around there I should know about?"

"Not really. Everything’s still okay with Maria, but I’m watching with bated breath. I don’t think anyone else realizes that there could actually be a problem later on."

"But there might not be."

"True. So what’s new with you?"

"Missing home, to be honest." Isabel laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. "I miss everyone and everything so much."

"We all miss you. Mom and dad miss you bad."

"I want to come home."

"Home? Like drop out?"

"No, but after this semester I want to come home. I feel so far away from everything and I’m really homesick. I want to go to school at home, at least for next year." Isabel finally said out loud what she had been thinking for months.

"Good." Max sighed. "I hate having you so far away. Still coming home for spring break?"

"Yup, and I’m bringing a friend." Isabel lowered her voice.

"Who?"

"A guy. His name is Bret and we’ve been seeing each other for awhile."

"Do mom and dad know?"

"Yup, it’s all good." Isabel smiled. "You’ll like him, I think. He’s smart and kind of dorky."

"Like Alex?’

"Yeah, a lot like Alex. Except he doesn’t worship the ground I walk on." She half laughed. "I actually picked him up. I’ll tell you all about him later. So nothing else is new? Michael and Maria allowed to see each other yet?"

"Nope, but I don’t know how long that’s going to last. Kyle baby-sits Maria when her mom goes out. It’s actually kind of funny." Max paused. "But there is something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Okay," Isabel rolled on her stomach.

"It’s Liz. Sometimes she says something or does something and it seems like it’s Tess."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, just like a phrase here or there and then a couple weeks ago I think she was wearing Tess’s shirt."

"Her shirt? Even Liz has better taste in clothes than Tess."

"Iz."

"Sorry, but it’s true, that girl could not dress. So, why was she wearing her shirt? Where did she get it?"

"Well, I don’t know. Her and Maria ran off and it was gone when they came back. Just little nuances, it’s probably nothing. I might be reading more into it than there is. Just feels kind of weird sometimes."

"Where are all of Tess’s things anyway? I never even thought about asking Kyle."

"I don’t know. I never asked either. Maybe I should. Maybe there might be something there that could help me..."

"Find your son?"

"Yeah," He let out a breath. "It gets harder to talk about. Now with Michael and Maria, it’s all I can do to not think about him and wonder if he’s okay."

"Do you still feel him?"

"Yeah, but it’s not as strong most of the time. Almost fading."

"And her?"

"Yeah, but the same thing. When I’m not with Liz I feel her more, which surprises me. I thought it’s be the other way around."

"Maybe you made peace about what happened. When you’re with Liz, you’re only with Liz? Tess is a distant memory."

"I hope. Something’s are blurry with her. I can remember saying and doing things, but not everything’s in order."

"That could be from her. You have no idea if she was warping you or not, do you? Do you know if she even could?"

"No, I don’t know."

"So, any idea’s?"

"Nope."

"Still good with Liz?’

"Yup. Really good. It’ll never be like it was before, but I think it’s as good as it can get from here. She’s all I think about, I hate being away from her."

"Are you...You know?"

"That is personal."

"Oh, that means no." Isabel laughed as there was a knock on the door. She told Max to hold and opened the door. Bret walked in with a backpack over his arm. She motioned him to the bed. "I gotta go, Bret’s here and we have to study. Keep me posted on everything! And tell Michael to call every once in awhile, okay?" She hung up and sat down next to Bret.

"Who was that?" He asked trying to smooth down a cowlick on the side of his chestnut colored hair. "Max?"

"Yup." Isabel looked at him and smiled. "He can’t wait to meet you."

"I bet," Bret shifted uncomfortably.

Isabel looked at him and admired him. He was very intelligent and that was a good. He looked like a cross between a Law student and A/V Club dork. He wore contacts and he was only a few inches taller than she was; when she wore heels, she towered over him. There was nothing that stood out about Bret, he was normal. Plain old All-American Bret Anderson. And Isabel Evans was falling for him.

Chapter Six

Amy was mulling over what she had been talking to Jim about on the phone earlier. Jim was backing Michael and it was irritating Amy to death. She played their conversation back over in her head.

"Why don’t you give him a chance to say or do anything?" Jim had asked.

"Because it’s my little girl."

"But she’s going to have a baby with Michael. You’re going to have to give in a little. I know Michael pretty well and he’s not going to just go away."

"How do you know that? How do you know the first time that baby cries he’s not going to take off for the hills and never come back?"

"Because I know Michael Guerin and he’s not going anywhere." She had felt the annoyance Jim had been trying to hide. "You’re going to have to trust me Amy."

"I don’t know."

"Do you really think that Maria is just going to roll over on this? She’s only biding her time, you know that as well as anyone."

"I know."

"Give him a chance to make it right with you."

Amy paced in the kitchen still holding the cordless phone in her hand. Jim had made sense and it bothered her. He seemed to know her daughter better than she did. Of course he was right. Maria was biding her time playing by her rules. She had told her herself not to make her choose between the two of them. Maybe a few of the restrictions could be lifted? She walked into the living room and was startled by a knock at the door. She smiled and opened the door expecting Jim. Instead she got Michael.

"Ms. DeLuca, I have to talk to you." Michael stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and looked at her for a response.

Amy paused, stared at him, then opened the door wider and invited him. Michael nodded in appreciation at her and walked past her to the couch and sat down. Amy followed and sat across from him on an ottoman. She set the phone on the floor and waited.

"Okay," Michael rubbed his hands together and then blew into them. "I know I’m not your favorite person."

Amy nodded.

"But, I love your daughter. I am in love with your daughter."

Amy nodded again.

"I know you’re mad and disappointed and everything else. Yeah, it was a stupid mistake to make, but we did it anyway." Michael shrugged. "We can’t go back and fix it."

"I know."

"But I want to make it right. This," he pointed between the two of them, "is making Maria miserable."

Amy considered it and finally nodded.

"She won’t choose between us, I don’t want her to choose. I don’t think she should have to. She needs us both in different ways." Michael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I know you’ve never really liked me, you don’t trust me and all that. All I can tell you is that I’m staying with Maria. I will be the best father in the world and nothing or no-one will be able to stop that."

"I don’t want to stop that."

"But you are. By keeping us apart."

"I don’t want to see my daughter get hurt..."

"By me? Never. That’s the last thing I’d do." Michael shook his head. "I’m not like that."

"Do you have any suggestions?" Amy choked back fresh tears. "About how to make this right? I don’t want to lose my daughter."

"You won’t," Michael reached across to her and picked up her hand and squeezed it tentatively, then released it and leaned back against the couch. "It just has to get easier for her."

"Okay. Let me think about it." Amy stood and Michael followed. "Don’t expect a miracle overnight. I have to think about what’s best for everyone." She walked to the front door and opened it. "Thank you for taking the time to come over and talk to me."

"I wanted to talk to you, Maria didn’t think it would be a good idea."

"She’s working tonight until ten." Amy nodded and bit her lip. "Make sure she’s home by eleven." She didn’t see the light in Michael’s eyes as she closed the door on him.

* * * * *

"I hate this!" Maria slapped her pen to the counter. "I don’t know if I can take much more. I mean, all the watching and baby-sitting and everything. I feel like I’m twelve again."

"She’s just worried." Liz sat next to her at the counter. The restaurant was almost empty. Sean and Jade were sitting next to each other across the café; she was feeding fries to Sean. "God, what is that girl’s deal?"

"Who?"

"That...Jade!" Liz motioned to the table. "Is she always so rude?"

"Yeah," Maria nodded. "Very. She doesn’t like you very much."

"Me?" Liz pointed to herself. "Why not?"

"Whenever she’s over she’s always asking where my little friend is."

Liz narrowed her eyes and glared at the couple who was oblivious.

"I think my good old cousin probably told her some story about you and it got her all upset. That sounds like Sean, doesn’t it?"

"What a jerk."

"Anyway, back to me." Maria turned Liz back around to face her. "So, this is driving me crazy, you know."

"I know. Everything will work out. You know it will. You’re mom can sometimes freak out a little and then she’ll calm down." Liz said.

"It’s been weeks and I miss...Him!" Maria pointed to Michael walking inside. She hopped off the stool and ran to him throwing her arms around his neck. "Hey stranger, what are you doing here?"

"Came to get you."

"Get me?" Maria quizzed.

"Yup. I got you until eleven and then I gotta have you back."

"Or I’ll turn into a pumpkin?"

"No, or your mom will turn me into a soprano."

"You talked to my mom?" Maria broke away from him.

"Yes, I did. We came to an understanding, kind of. It will be an understanding when she figures it out. For now all I have is until eleven." He looked at the clock on the wall. "You don’t get off for another hour-"

"Liz, I’m leaving." Maria called over her shoulder. "I’ll see you in the morning, okay?"

"Sure," Liz smiled as she watched her friends walk hand and hand out the front door.

"Hey Parker," Sean called from across the café. Liz looked in his direction. "Why did you just let my cousin leave with him? They aren’t suppose to be together."

"Uh...Okay. Your Aunt said it was okay." Liz rolled her eyes after receiving a glare from Jade. "Just don’t worry about it."

Jade whispered something in Sean’s ear causing them both to laugh. Liz stood and walked in the back. She was moaning about how rude Sean and Jade were when she felt hands on her shoulders. She knew the touch immediately and she was not alarmed. She turned and fell against Max.

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to see you." He whispered into her hair. "I miss you."

"I miss you," she looked into his eyes and smiled at him before kissing him. He drew her into him and hugged her tight. "Why all the extra attention tonight Mr. Evans?"

"I was just sitting at home thinking about you and how bad I wanted to see you and here I am. I guess you’re the only one here?" He looked around. "And you can’t leave?"

"Missed it by that much," she held up her index finger and thumb. "Michael just came by and got Maria."

"Got?"

"Took her away. Ms. DeLuca had a revision tonight. I don’t know anything else."

"What hap-"

"You already know what I know. Quit asking so many questions." She put her finger to his lips. "But if I can get rid of Sean and the Wicked Bitch of the West, I will be more than happy to escape with you."

"Sean’s girlfriend?"

"More like girlbeast." Liz shuddered. "There is just something about her that I can’t stand."

"Do you want me to say something?"

"No," Liz didn’t want to see that altercation. "Just give them a few minutes. They’ll go. I’m sure they have some place they’d rather be."

Max walked out front and sat at the counter and looked at the backs of their heads. Liz watched as Sean and Jade both felt their heads and then look at each other. They conferred and stood up. Sean nodded good-bye in Liz’s direction as Jade stomped out.

"What did you do to them?" Liz laughed sitting down next to Max.

"Just thought it was getting a little hot in here, that’s all." He shrugged. "Can we go now?"

"Let me close up."

Max and Liz found themselves parked behind West Roswell High School after driving around for awhile.

"So, what are we doing here?" Liz asked getting out of the Jeep. "Forgot your homework?"

"You are my homework." Max led her by the hand to the baseball field. He opened the gate and let her walk in. They walked up the bleachers to the middle and sat. He kissed her hand. "Why am I so lucky?"

Liz shrugged.

"No really. I want to know what I ever did to deserve you. To deserve all of you like this."

"It was meant to be this way. There were just a few things in the way we had to get past. A few people." Liz shied away.

"You came back to me, though."

"Max, I never left you."

Max saw the pain in her eyes that she always tried to keep hidden from him. He hurt knowing he was causing the pain. It seemed like the pain would always be just below the surface.

"I know." He shook his head. "Not a day that goes by that I don’t think about what I could have done differently. I know we’ll never be able to get that back."

"Not exactly, but close." Liz leaned into him and inhaled. "Someday."

"You really believe that, don’t you?"

"I have to," Liz sighed. "It’s all I have."

Max hugged her tightly. "It’s all I have too, Liz. It’s all I have. Someday I will give you the world."

"Whose?"

"Whose what?"

"World. Whose world will you give me Max? Yours or mine?"

"Both." He whispered. "Ours."

Liz snuggled against him closer and listened to his heartbeat. In an instant, there was an echo. Liz opened her eyes and listened closer. Max didn’t seem to notice, but it was there, shallow. She placed her hand to his chest and felt the reverberation of both heartbeats. She gasped.

"What’s wrong?"

"I can feel two heartbeats," Liz sat up away from him but leaving her hand on his chest. "Why do you have two?"

Max looked down and looked back at her and shrugged. "I don’t know."

"Freaky alien thing?" Liz raised her eyebrows and forced a smile.

"Maybe, I am the King." He grinned.

"No, Max, you’re just a boy." Liz leaned into him and kissed him unaware of the frozen image of horror on his face.

Chapter Seven

Max Evans was in love with Liz Parker, but for the last three weeks he had done everything he possibly could not to be alone with her. Liz had been questioning him about the alone time together, or lack there of, and he could give no valid response. His non-committal answer was to be there for Michael and Maria.

"Do you think we maybe we could go to a movie or something? Just the two of us?" Liz questioned while sitting on the Evans’s couch. The sky was a blurry blue gray through the window. Dusk. Spring-like. "It’s been so long since we’ve had any time to ourselves."

"Uh..." Max looked at his watch. "How about next week? Isabel’s coming home tomorrow and I want to...Get ready. She’s bringing her new boyfriend."

"I know," Liz sighed. "Get ready for what?"

"Just get ready." Max shrugged. "I mean they’re going to be here for a week and I want everything to go smooth."

"It's Isabel, Max. Everything usually goes smooth for Isabel. She’s actually got her act together."

"I know. Listen, why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow and meet the new man and then we can all go out somewhere. You know, like go bowling or something?"

"Bowling?" Liz raised her eyebrows momentarily thinking of Sean and the magic of the alley. "Sure."

"She really likes him."

"I’m sure she does." Liz stood up and rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "You are really acting odd Max. If I didn’t know you better I’d think something was seriously wrong."

"Nothing’s wrong," he rose and embraced her. "It’s spring break and all is good in my world." At least the one on earth. "I’m just a little high strung from mid-terms, I think."

"Okay. I have to work lunch tomorrow, so will you be stopping by?" Liz walked slowly towards the door.

"Yeah, probably." He kissed her lips and she was gone. Mix sighed and sat back on the couch.

He closed his eyes and images began moving. Dark images began to cloud his mind. There was no shape, just formless dark objects. They crawled from each side until they covered him. His eyes flew open, they were gone and he was sweating. He reached for the phone and called Michael. He answered with a gruff greeting.

"Are you busy?"

"Busy? Define busy." Michael snorted. "Busy as in I don’t have a freakin’ minute for anything? Or busy as in ‘hey, man, how about I come rescue you?’"

"Do you need rescuing?" Max smiled hearing Maria in the background.

"Oh, yeah."

"I’ll pick you up. Give me ten." Max hung up.

* * * * *

"What do you need rescuing from?" Maria stood with hands on hips in front of him. "Do you need rescuing from me? Is that what you were insinuating?"

"Oh God," Michael ran his hands through his hair. "Of course not, Maria."

"Then what?"" She tapped her foot.

"I just need to get out for awhile, you know. Hang with Max." Michael glanced at the clock on the VCR behind her. Eight minutes. "I haven’t been able to hang out with just him and I want to. You know we use to have all these big talks and now, nothing."

"Are you saying you’re spending too much time with me?" Maria’s bottom lip quivered. "I mean, because I’m sure my mom will reinstate all the rules if you think you’re seeing me too much."

"No, no, no!" Michael rushed over to her and hugged her. "You know that’s not it. You know that’s all hormones talking." Michael winced as he said it. Stupid.

"Hormones?" Maria backed away from him. "Let me tell you about hormones, Mister! Try carrying around this little extra something for months and not being able to eat what I want, or sleep when I want or cry all the time and be sad and then be happy..." She looked sheepishly at him. "I guess you do know."

"I’ve been here."

"I’m sorry," she hugged him again. "I can’t help it. You run along and play with your friends." She shooed him away. "I’ll let myself out and then I’ll stay home."

"Where’s Liz?"

"I don’t know. Yeah, good idea." She nodded.

"What? Go freak out Liz for awhile?" Michael opened the door.

"Yeah, you shouldn’t have all the fun!" Maria waved as Michael walked out the door and to the waiting jeep.

Michael ran to the jeep and jumped it. He looked to Max. "Go."

Max hit the gas and they took off down the road.

"So, how is the happy family?" Max asked once they were on the highway out of town. "Still bliss?"

"Bliss? Hmm...That’s a good word. I have no idea what it means, but it’s a nice word." Michael laughed and seemed to relax. "So, where are we going?"

"Somewhere to talk, that okay?"

"Of course."

They pulled into the State Park and parked. Max led Michael down the same path he had Liz months before. They arrived at the picnic table and Michael only looked at him.

"You don’t want to make out, do you?" Michael sniggered.

"Shut up," Max sat down with Michael across from him. "So, thing’s are still good with Maria, right?"

"Yeah, everything’s great." Michael tried not to smile, but couldn’t stop. "Since I stepped out of the Granilith I have never once questioned myself. That’s pretty big for me. I made the right choice and every one since then, too."

"You don’t know how glad I am to hear that."

"What do you think of the name Summer?"

"That’s a season."

"See," Michael raised his hand to the air. "That’s what I said. It’s a season, not a name."

"Maria likes it?"

"Big time. I was thinking more like Carmen or Heidi."

"Carmen or Heidi?" Max raised his eyebrows. "You will never win."

"I know," he sighed. "Anyway, what’s going on tonight? Isabel’s still coming home tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, in the morning. Don’t forget about Bret."

"Bret. What a manly man name. Anyway, what gives?"

"Okay," Max bit his lip, hands folded on the table in front of him. "I probably should have said something a long time ago, but didn’t. I mentioned a little to Iz and she wasn’t all that concerned."

"What’s going on?" Michael the solider leaned forward and looked into his friend's eyes.

"I think we have a problem. I think we may have a few problems."

"What kind of problems?"

"Well, at first I was thinking it was just a mind thing. You know how your mind plays tricks on you, right?"

"Or someone else plays tricks with your mind?" Michael shoulders were hunched.

"Something like that. Since Liz and I have gotten back together, everything’s been really good."

"Good."

"I mean really good. Then there are times when she’ll say something or do something that is so uncharacteristic of her it’s scary."

"People aren’t robots."

"When we’re alone, she’s said a few things that Tess has said."

"Like, ‘oh Max, you’re so cute?’" Michael smirked trying to make light of the situation.

"No, like phrases. Things that Tess said that no one could know about. Things that Tess said when we were alone."

"Like what?" Michael squinted at him. Max. Trying to make more of something than what was really there? Nah, never.

"Like what Tess said before we...You know. And in the Granilith. You guy’s couldn’t hear any of that, could you?"

"No, nothing." Michael got a chill and rubbed his arms. "She said it the same way?"

"Not really, that’s the thing. It’s in different context, but the words are the same."

"Coincidence?"

"Since when do you believe in those?"

Michael shrugged.

"Do you remember that day at lunch? The whole episode with Liz’s shirt?"

"Yeah, I don’t think she ever gave me my sweatshirt back, though." Michael replied thoughtfully.

"That was Tess’s shirt she was wearing."

"Like her actual shirt?"

Max nodded.

"Why would she be wearing her shirt?"

"See, that’s just it. Nothing is adding up. She didn’t talk about it, but I know for a fact it had belonged to Tess."

"Maybe she picked up somewhere and..."

"Put it on? Give me a break. Liz would be the last person to ever do that. She’s the one that never trusted Tess and now she’s wearing her clothes?"

"What else?"

"Little things like that." Max shrugged. "I don’t believe in coincidences either. I think it’s actually Tess."

"You think Liz is Tess?" Michael rubbed his eyes. "Are you high?"

"I know she’s not literally Tess, but I think Tess is still around." Max looked around himself in the near dark. "Out there, somewhere."

"Did you mention this to Liz?"

"Uh. No."

"Why not? Don’t you think she has the right to know?"

"Of course, but how do I even approach it? I don’t know anything for sure at all. It could just be in my head. I could be making more of this than it is. Maybe there are coincidences?" He half shrugged and looked back to Michael. "Right?"

"Yeah." Michael ran his hands through his hair. "Sure. I bet everything is one big coincidence, because nothing strange or out of the ordinary ever happens to us or anyone we know, right? The whole thing: fiction."

"I get the point."

"Is she acting like Tess? I mean when you’re alone because I haven’t noticed anything different about her."

"Kinda. She’s a little more aggressive and is pushing us to...Have sex. That’s sort of out of character."

"But, her best friend is pregnant."

"True. I guess maybe it’s the way she’s doing it. It doesn’t seem as innocent as before. It edgier. It’s harder, it’s more...Tess like."

"You have to say something, maybe she’s noticed something too. And-" Michael began before getting interrupted by Max. "This is not the easiest subject for her to talk about with you, the whole Tess thing. God, she hates her!"

"I know. I want to run it by Iz before I say anything though."

"Good, always ask the college girl. So, what are the other problems?"

"Tonight I got like a vision that darkness was all around me." Max stated so bluntly it took Michael a second to react.

"A vision?"

"My eyes were shut and it was this weird feeling that darkness was closing in on me and I couldn’t get away. I was sweating and shaking and that’s when I called you."

"Why?"

"I don’t know. I just felt so overwhelmed it was frightening. I think there’s something on the way."

"Like in the enemy sense?"

"I hope not, but I think so."

"It’s not just a Tess feeling?"

"No, it’s much darker than anything I ever felt from Tess."

* * * * *

"No Michael tonight?" Amy DeLuca as Maria strolled in the front door.

"Nope, he went out with Max." She plopped down on the couch next to her mother. "No Sheriff tonight?"

"Nope, working."

They nodded and looked at each other, then laughed.

"You know," Amy began. "I have to admit Michael has done everything right. So far."

"I told you he would."

"I know. He’s trying to prove that he can take care of you and a baby and I have to admit that he’s doing a good job so far. I don’t know what the future holds, but so far it’s good."

Maria reached across and hugged her mother.

"I’m not relenting on the rules, though." Amy smiled. "I still think you both need to prove that you’ll be able to be real parents. You still can’t stay out all night and he can’t be over after ten, but it’s a step in the right direction. I’m very proud of you both."

"Thank you Mom. I really mean that." Maria swiped at an escaped tear.

"I know." She hugged her daughter. "We are pathetic, sitting around here while our men are out. Let’s go out to eat. Just you and me. We can talk about baby names and what you want to do to nursery. What do you think?"

"Nursery?"

"The other bedroom once I kick Sean out."

"Well," Maria sat up straighter. "I don’t know. I mean, Michael and I haven’t really talked too much about it, but I think we might...You know...Like..."

"Like move in together?" Amy felt the rush under her skin.

"Yeah."

"Okay," she counted to ten in her head. "Maybe we don’t have to talk about that just yet. It’s still a long way off."

"Thank you."

"So, any baby names?"

"What do you think of Summer?"

Chapter Eight

Bret Anderson sat uncomfortably on Isabel’s bed. Isabel sat on the other side of him; Max reclined in a desk chair balanced on the back two legs. Bret’s eyes shifted nervously from brother to sister.

"So," Max leaned the chair back onto four legs. "What do you think of Roswell so far?"

"Well," Bret wiped his palms on his khaki pants. "So far, everyone’s been real nice. I mean, I’ve only met you and your parents, but so far so good."

"We’re nice people," Max nodded in agreement. "So, how did you meet my sister and what are your intentions?"

"That’s it!" Isabel stood up. "There will be no interrogation tonight Max. None."

"Okay," Max smiled and stood up. "I’m just messing with you. God, you act like it’s so out of character." He laughed and walked out of the room.

"I’m sorry," Isabel sat back down next to Bret. "My brother can be a bit out there sometimes. He thinks he’s funny." Blush crept up her neck. "He likes you."

"Relieved. Would hate to have the brother hate me."

"No one will hate you. So, tonight Max thought it would be fun if we all went bowling after dinner. We all meaning you, me, Max his girlfriend, our friend Michael and his girlfriend Maria. Sound okay to you?"

"Great. You know, I used to bowl a 244 in High School."

"You were on the bowling tem?" Isabel suppressed a smile.

"Yes. Even dorks can play sports," Bret smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "You are so pretty."

"Thank you," Isabel blushed. She stood up. "C’mon, I’ll take you on a tour of our sleepy little town before dinner."

Bret agreed eagerly and took her hand. They passed Max on the way to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out. We’ll be back by dinner." Isabel opened the door, surprised to find Liz with her hand raised, ready to knock. "Hi. Liz. This is Bret. Bret, Liz. Bye." She pulled Bret from the house and Liz walked in.

"Hi." She sat next to Max and hugged him. "What’s going on?"

"Hi." He kissed her earlobe. "Nothing. What are you doing here so early?"

"Is it too much to ask that I get to spend a little time with my boyfriend?" Liz slunk back away from him, feelings obviously hurt. "If you’re busy, I can come back later."

"No. No. That’s not it. I just thought you were working today."

"I did. It was dead, I left." Liz sighed. "I’ll go."

"I don’t want you to go," Max grabbed her hand and pulled her close to her. "I never want you to go."

Liz buried her face in his neck and kissed. She licked his neck from collarbone to ear. He stiffened under her touch, if Liz felt the hesitancy, she didn’t let on. She pulled back the collar of his shirt and explored the skin with her tongue. Her hand rubbed a circular pattern on his jean-clad thigh. Max closed his eyes and leaned further back onto the couch, biting his lower lip. Liz’s hand crept closer to the end of the zipper and Max involuntarily spread his legs. Roaming over his hardness, Max suddenly put his hand on her and lifted it away from him. Liz stopped her tongue dancing and looked him in the eye, confused.

"Liz..." Soft. Panting.

"What’s wrong?" She whispered as she pushed his damp hair off his forehead. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Smiling. "But...We..."

"Can’t?" She licked her lips. "Is that what you were going to say?"

"Uh...Yeah." Nervous.

"Why not?" She kissed away the sweat on his brow.

"It’s not right, not here." Max looked around at the living room where his family spent time together every night.

"Take me where it’s right." Liz prodded, hair falling over her face. Eyes feral.

"What’s wrong with you?" Max whispered hoarsely.

"Nothing at all, Lover. Just take me where it’s right." She looked down at her shirt and raised her hand. She undid the top four buttons until it gaped open. Raising her eyes to meet his, she smiled. "Don’t you want to take me there? Don’t you just want to take me?"

"Liz..." He glanced to her bare skin under her shirt, his breath caught. She narrowed her eyes and picked up his trembling hand. She placed it under her shirt on her bare breast. Max opened and shut his eyes; jaw working up and down and then withdrew his hand. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?" She cocked her head to one side. "What the fuck does it look like I’m doing?"

"I don’t think...."

"I don’t want you to think, Max. " She tittered and threw back her head. "That’s the last thing I want you to do!" Hair still in her face, strands sticking to the corner of her mouth, she undid the rest of the buttons on her shirt and pulled it to the sides of her. "What do you think?"

"I think you’re beautiful," Max pried his eyes away from bare breasts to meet hers. He swallowed hard.

Her eyes tapered, brilliant with sexual tendency. Kneeling next to him, slipping the shirt off her shoulders. Eyes never wavering from his, she straddled him and pulled his head to her breast; mouth encircling her. She bowled her head away and arched her back, hands resting on his knees. Max’s hands supporting her back, mouth bonded to her tender nipple.

"Oh...God." Max pulled away from her and brought her towards him, encasing her in his arms. "We can’t go on." He reached beside her and picked up her shirt. With shaking hands he slipped it back on her and fumbled with the buttons. Liz stared at him, never blinking. He finished buttoning and tucked her mussed hair behind her ears. "Liz?" She gazed blankly at him, through him. He shook her gently by the arms. Nothing. "Liz!"

Liz shook her head and blinked. Confused.

"Why am I on your lap?" She smiled and slid off his legs. "God. What are you doing?"

Max only looked at her, color draining from his face.

"Hello?" She knocked gently on his forehead. "What happened?"

"I don’t know," Max wiped a bead of perspiration from his lip. "What do you think happened?"

"Well, Mister, I don’t know. I remember kissing you and talking about dinner and then bam! I’m on your lap and you look like you’ve seen a ghost." Liz shrugged. "Sometimes, that happens."

"What do you mean that happens?"

"I should go to the doctor or something," She smiled sweetly. "Don’t worry about it. Every once in awhile I just forget things for a second or two. No big."

"That sounds like a big." Max swallowed audibly. Trying to push aside every emotion and arousal he had been through in the last few minutes. "That sounds like a real big."

"I’m fine Max, I think I’m just nervous about the end of school and Maria’s baby and what happens next. Just have a lot on my plate right now." She argued. "I’ll be fine."

Max nodded as the front door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Evans came in.

* * * * *

"UFO capital of the world, huh?" Bret looked at the front doors of the UFO Center. "Kind of silly, isn’t it?"

"What?" Isabel tilted her head.

"You know, all this alien stuff." Bret pointed to the Center and then to the Crashdown Café. "You don’t take it seriously, do you?"

"What? You don’t believe in aliens?" She smiled coyly. If you only knew Mr. Anderson.

"Aliens? Not really."

"Ghosts? Vampires? Demons?"

"No, no and no. I guess I’m a skeptic. Until someone shows me proof I can’t believe it. I mean, seriously, little green men? I’m sure if there were aliens anywhere around here someone would know." Bret shrugged. "Do you believe?"

"I believe in everything," Isabel took his hand and led him back down the street towards home and dinner with the parents.

* * * * *

The bowling alley was packed. The three couples had to wait an hour for a lane and then it was the very last lane right next to a team of older women wearing matching shirts.

"Wow," Michael looked around at their new neighbors. "I feel so stupid."

"More than usual?" Isabel quipped.

"Uh...Yeah." He looked down at his un-matched bowling shoes. "I look like an idiot."

Isabel smiled and met the other girls to pick out their balls.

"You are getting so cute!" Isabel looked in Maria’s face. "I mean really. Your face is getting chubby and you look so happy. And you’re with Michael and you look so happy. You’re so cute."

"You are on something," Maria raised her eyebrow at her. "I look horrible."

"No," Liz shook her head. "You really do look cute."

"Okay," Maria held up her hands. "No more of this cute shit. Not in the mood. I hate bowling, I hate my fat face, I hate these clown shoes I have on, I hate that my stupid cousin and his slimy girlfriend just walked in the door. I hate everything."

Liz looked towards the front and saw Sean walking with his arm around Jade who seemed to talking non-stop. The pair stopped when they saw the girls and Sean smiled.

"What’s going on?"

"What does it look like Sean?" Maria remarked sarcastically and held up a light blue bowling ball. "We’re going bowling."

"Okay," he held up his hands in defense. "Just making conversation. So Parker, do you think you’ll have as much fun here tonight as you did after Prom?"

Jade cackled and whispered into Sean’s ear causing him to smile. Stunned, Liz didn’t answer. Maria looked back and forth between the two.

"Get out of here Sean, God!" Maria swung her ball in his direction. "Take your little...Little thing and go!"

Jade narrowed her eyes at Maria and tugged on Sean’s hand until he followed her.

"What was that?" Isabel asked.

"I don’t know. My stupid cousin and his...Thing." Maria shrugged then looked to Liz. "You came here with him after Prom?"

"Uh...Yeah." Liz looked towards the males; they were oblivious to the squabble that had taken place a few feet away. "It was nothing."

"Bret, do you want something to drink?" Max asked after setting the names in the electronic scorekeeper. "Michael and I are going to the snack bar."

"Sure, Coke would be great." Bret nodded and looked towards Isabel.

"Great!" Max stood. "We’ll be back." He motioned for Michael to follow and then ducked down the hallway leading to the restrooms instead of the concessions. "Something bad’s going on."

"I know. I hate bowling."

"No. It’s Liz. Remember what I was telling you about the other night?" Max spoke in hushed tones and kept looking over his shoulder. Michael nodded. "Today, before dinner. She like tried to...On the couch at my parents. I mean she was molesting me."

"People would kill to be in your shoes." Michael smiled.

"No, she doesn’t remember it. She was half naked on my lap and she doesn’t remember anything about it."

"Are you serious?"

"Dead. She said it happens sometimes. She just forgets things for a few seconds." He shook his head. "I mean this was intense, like, it could have gone all the way within minutes and she doesn’t remember it."

"This is bad." Michael nodded. "This is really bad. We have to talk to Iz, and soon."

"I know," he rubbed his face with his hands.

* * * * *

"You are the Royal Four. Zan the king. Ava the queen. Vilandra his sister.
Rath his councilor. You were created from the genetic material of your alien
predecessors and human subjects. You were given human form so that you could
live safely on the planet undetected until the time comes for your return." Reading aloud from a sheaf of paper.

"How did you find it?"

"Don’t worry about it."

"Are you sure that’s it?"

"What the hell do you think. I found it, I keep it. When the time comes, we use it."

Darkness clouded the moon, two silhouettes in the deepest of night. Waiting.

Chapter Nine

"You know," Kyle rested his elbows on the kitchen table in his house. "It’s been almost a year since Alex was killed."

"I know," Maria sighed. "It’s still so hard. I think about him everyday."

"Me too. I can’t believe it’s been so long. Sometimes when I’m here alone I just can’t help thinking about her and what she did." He shook his head, disgusted. "I know it wasn’t my fault. It’s taken me a long time to believe it, but I finally do."

"I’m so glad!" Maria reached across and squeezed his hand. "I knew you would sooner or later."

"Thank you." He looked at her through the tops of his eyes. "I really wanted to thank you for everything."

"Me?" Maria pointed to herself. "Why?"

"These past few months of spending time with you have been great," he blushed. "I mean, I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had someone to talk to about all this."

"You don’t have to thank me Kyle," Maria wiped at a tear. "We’re friends, that’s what friends do."

"We didn’t used to be friends." He winked.

"But we are now. Practically family." She rubbed her stomach. "You will so be Uncle Kyle. The cool football playin’ Buddha teachin’ Uncle Studly that she always wants to hang out with!"

"She?"

"I think she. She feels very feminine to me." She nodded. "I won’t find out for sure for a while."

"A girl?" Kyle mused. "Any names?"

"What do you think about Summer?"

"That it’s right around the corner?"

* * * * *

"Where’s Bret?" Max asked walking into the kitchen. Isabel and Michael were already seated at the Evans’s table.

"You told me to get rid of him, so I did." Isabel shrugged. "I bound and gagged him and stuck him in the basement."

"Okay," Max looked to Michael and only received another shrug as an answer. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, Max. I really did that." She laughed. "God. He’s actually out with Dad."

"Our dad?"

"Yup. He took Bret to the golf course. They’re playing golf. Finally, he has someone who willingly wants to play golf with him."

"Okay." Max sat down and delivered nearly the identical story of Liz that he had told Michael a few days earlier.

"So, why are you complaining?" Isabel looked to Michael. Once again, a shrug.

"See, you’re both missing the point. That’s not Liz. Nothing about that was Liz-like. Shit, she doesn’t even remember it." Max splayed his hands flat on the table. "Her shirt was off and she doesn’t have a clue."

"She just sat there naked?" Michael finally spoke.

"No, before she snapped out of it I put it back on her." Max felt his ears turning red. "I just don’t understand. I don’t want things to go like that. I want her to actually be there, you know."

"Wow." Isabel looked at her brother. "What the hell is going on?"

"She said she was going to see her doctor, but I doubt she will. She thinks it’s no big deal." Max shook his head. "I don’t know what to do about it. Sooner or later, it’s going to progress."

"That’s like rape, Max." Isabel said.

"I don’t know about that..." Michael pulled his top lip down with his teeth.

"Sure it is, Michael." Isabel shot back at him. "If she has no idea what’s going on, it’s rape. Plain and simple. She’s not making a decision for herself."

"I kind of agree with you," Max looked to her. "Not all the way. I mean, she was pressuring a little before all the real aggressiveness started. She wants to."

"Uuhh!!" Isabel slapped the tabletop. "Are you insane? Do you hear what you’re saying? This girl of your dreams, your future, is out of her mind and you want to take advantage of her?"

"No! That’s not what I was saying. I will not have sex with her until I know for damn sure that she is Liz Parker and not Tess!" Max’s voice rose as he stood from the chair. He looked down at the table and then closed his eyes before sitting. "Damn it!"

"Tess?" Isabel looked to Michael who looked away. "What are you saying?"

"I don’t know."

"You think she’s like possessed by Tess?" Isabel narrowed her eyes at him. "All the stuff from before, what she said and the shirt? Do you really think that?"

"I don’t know." Max took a deep breath. "When I’m with Liz, all I see or feel is Liz. When I’m away from her, it’s Tess. Not so much my son, I think she’s turned him. Our connection is severed, about to break. But Tess is strong."

"She couldn’t do that." Isabel looked to Michael. No response. "How could she do that?"

"Do you still think she was behind your dreams?" Max asked.

"Yeah," Iz said. "Damn her! I hate her. What can we do to fix it? Should I dream walk her? Should we talk to her? Should we tell her what we think?"

"Yes and soon." Michael said. "I’ll do it. Tomorrow."

"You?" Max raised his eyebrows at him. "Don’t you think this might be a little personal?"

"I don’t want her to hear anything from you about sex and Tess." Michael pursed his lips together. "I don’t want to see her hurt by something stupid that you wouldn’t mean to say, but would anyway. She’s my friend."

Max, surprised by his friend, did not argue.

"Should I dream walk her?"

"I don’t think it’ll hurt. Can you do it tonight?" Max asked. "Or will Mr. Bret be sneaking into your room again?"

"I don’t think it will be a problem," Isabel blushed. "Are you going to see her tonight? Are you going to tell her I’ll be in her dreams?"

"Yes and no." He smiled. "Did I mention anything about a big darkness that I’m feeling all around?"

"Can’t anything ever be easy for us?" Isabel sighed. "Tell me about the big bad darkness..."

* * * * *

"What is on your mind tonight, Guerin?" Maria rubbed the back of his neck. "You’ve been spacey all night. No pun intended."

"Got a few things on my mind." He relaxed into her arm. "How late can I stay?"

"Midnight, can you believe that?" Maria looked at the clock across the room. "Mom’s out with the Sheriff and said she’ll be home by midnight and would like to pass you on her way in."

"How sweet."

"You should be counting your lucky stars you’re even allowed in the house at all. Without a chaperone, no less." She continued to rub his neck feeling the tension. "So are you going to tell me what’s on your mind or am I going to have to pry it out of you?"

"It’s Liz, actually." Michael sat up straighter. "Have you noticed her acting a little strange lately?"

"Liz? No. Why? Did something happen with Max?" She got defensive.

"No. Max thinks she’s not really acting like herself. Has she said anything to you?"

"As far I as I knew everything was perfect." She rested her free hand on her stomach. "It’s so hard to believe that a itty bitty baby is in here. Can you believe that we’re actually having a baby?"

"Sometimes, no." Michael shook his head. "If someone would have said when we hooked up that a couple of years down the road we’d be having a baby I’d laughed them off the planet. I never even thought I’d still be on this planet!"

"But you are and I’m so glad you stayed," Maria wiped a tear away smiling. "You know, I can’t even watch stupid Long Distance commercials without crying anymore?"

"You are so beautiful." Michael looked into her eyes and cupped her chin in his palm. "I could never leave you. I will never leave you."

"You better not," she whispered. "I don’t think I could live without you. I wouldn’t want to."

Michael embraced her and inhaled the scent of her hair. His eyes were wet, but she’d never see that. He hugged her until he heard her breath become shallow. He let her sleep in his arms until Amy came home at Midnight and told him to be careful on his way home.

* * * * *

Liz pulled on her bottom lip as she watched Max open up his bedroom window. She sat cross-legged on his bed, his pillow on her lap.

"Why don’t you come sit next to me?" She patted the mattress next to her. "I’m getting lonely."

"Uh...Sure." He proceeded with caution and sat next to her. At once her arms were around him and her lips were on his. He pushed her away keeping his hands on her shoulders. "Hey. I thought you wanted to look through course catalogs tonight?" He motioned to the stack of catalogs and pamphlets on the end of the bed. "Summer classes at the U?"

"Fine," she sighed and laid down on her stomach and began leafing through a course description booklet. Max laid next to her and snuck a kiss. "Hey!"

He winked at her.

For the next twenty minutes they laid side by side flipping through the booklets and pointing things out to each other. Liz had kicked her slip-on shoes to the floor and began to run her bare foot over Max’s calf. She set down what she was looking at and scooted closer to Max, stretching her body against his.

"I need a break," she said softly and ran her hand along his bare thigh to just below the cuff of his shorts.

Max rolled over on his side and looked in her eyes. Was it Liz?

She continued to run her hand along his thigh, each time going higher and higher under his shorts. Her eyes were closed. Max tried to even out his breathing, but with each movement of her hand found it harder and harder. He looked to her face and moved his head in closer to meet her lips.

"I love you Liz." He said softly between kisses. As her fingertips teased the stretched material of boxer shorts, Max rolled halfway on her and braced her face in-between his hands and pushed his mouth to hers.

Her hand slid inside his boxer’s and Max gasped. He kissed down her neck to the straps of her halter and then pushed it up with both hands exposing her. His mouth explored her chest while his hands unsnapped her denim shorts. Using both hands she unfastened his shorts and pulled them down to his thighs, his boxers followed. Her hand stayed on him. Cupping. Rubbing.

Sweat was forming on his brow and dripping on her stomach as he unzipped her shorts and pushed them down revealing a blue cotton triangle. Kissing below her belly button, he ran a finger under the waistband and felt her quiver then tense.

"What are you doing?" Liz yelled and fought him off with her hands. "Max?"

He sat back and looked at her, mouth gaping, sweating. She looked down at her bare breasts and pulled her shirt down. Tears were streaming down her face as she stood up and fastened her shorts. Max pulled his shorts up and stood, watching her. She was trembling as she put on her shoes.

"Liz?" He whispered.

"What do you think you were doing?" She cried at him.

"No, wait." He reached for her arm, barely grazing it.

"Don’t touch me!" She saw her purse on the floor and scooped it up and headed for the door.

"No, wait!" Max reached for her and caught her arm turning her around to face him.

"How could you do that to me?" She reeked of fear.

"I didn’t..."

"How could you do that when I was asleep?" She yelled her voice faltering. She pushed him away from her and ran from the room and to the front door with Max on her heels. "Leave me alone!"

"No, no, no!" Max followed her outside. "You weren’t asleep Liz!"

"Go away!" She ran down the front yard and disappeared into he night.

Max collapsed on his knees in his front yard; fist’s beating the ground.

* * * * *

Liz Parker did not sleep that night. She cried. Crying was the only thing she could do. When one side of her pillow became too wet, she flipped it over. She had never felt so used in her entire life. How could Max have done that to her while she was asleep? She’d never trust him again. All the trust and confidence she had built up in him since Tess left was shattered. She wanted to desperately call Maria and tell her what happened, but it was too late and she didn’t want to wake her. She’d call her in the morning and deliver the story of Max the asshole.

* * * * *

Max laid face down in the grass, head resting on his arms for what seemed like eternity. He didn’t hear anyone approaching, only felt the jab of a foot in his side.

"What are you doing?" It was Isabel with Bret.

Max looked up at her and she knew it was bad. She told Bret to go wait inside and sat next to her brother, alarmed. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"

"I fucked up." He sat up and rocked back and forth. "It’s Liz."

"Liz? Why? What’d you do?" She leaned back resting her weight on her arms and crossing her legs in front of her.

"Tonight we were going through all the college stuff in my room and she got a little, you know, frisky."

"Oh shit."

"And we stopped right away and then a little while later, her shirt was up, my shorts were off, hers were down and she freaked out." His eye’s opened wider. "She was yelling at me, she said she was asleep. She accused me of doing that to her while she was asleep!"

"Oh Max."

"She wasn’t asleep, Iz." He shook his head vehemently. "You know I would never do that. She was awake. One hundred percent awake."

"I told you-"

"I know. I should have listened, but I didn’t and I have to fix it. She probably hates me right now!"

"She said she was asleep?"

"Yeah, she asked how I could do that to her when she was asleep. She was crying and looked so scared." He brought his hands to his face. "She wasn’t asleep Iz. She started it and I thought it was her. I know it was her. It was so innocent and then I...I progressed and so did she."

"Call Michael, tell him what happened so he’ll know when he talks to her tomorrow."

"She was scared of me. I could feel the fear rolling off her." He hit the ground with a closed fist.

Chapter Ten

After saying goodnight to Bret, Isabel laid in bed, a picture on her stomach. A picture from Prom of Max and Liz. She closed her eyes and waited.

<<The terrain was rocky. Mountains and valley’s, enormous caverns. Isabel looked skyward into a vast wave of deep purple-blue skies, churning night clouds of iridescent pearl. A sound caught her attention and she turned. A river? A sea? It was water and it was crimson. Isabel was nervous. She looked for Liz and saw her straight ahead. She walked towards her and watched as Liz bent to the ground and picked up handfuls of dirt. As she threw it in the air, it glittered. Liz laughed. She spun around towards Isabel and faced her.

"I knew you’d come," Liz grinned sideways. She tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Why?" Isabel asked. Something wasn’t right. Liz shouldn’t be able to have this conversation with her.

"Because it’s what you do," Liz laughed loudly. "God! You were always so predictable."

"What do you mean?"

"You’re not stupid. Figure it out." Liz rolled her eyes and turned away from her walking towards the crimson sea. She looked back over her shoulder. "You surprised so many people when you turned. Even me."

Isabel swallowed hard and followed her towards the water. Liz shook her head and turned sharply away and down a small stone path. "Where are you going?"

Liz didn’t answer but stayed on the path. Isabel followed. After a turn in the path, a white canopy tent appeared in between some brush. Isabel sucked in her breath as Liz made her way to the center of the tent. There was a chair, no, more like a throne. She watched as Liz picked up a jeweled metallic tiara and put it on her head.

"I’m the Queen. You are nothing." Liz looked around then focused back on Isabel. "Go on, go tell what you saw. You’ll never understand. Pretty little Vilandra, smart as a whip. Only problem is, she can see what’s directly in front of her."

Isabel backed away.>>

Her eyes flew open and she sat up in bed. She noticed her trembling hand and took a few deep breaths. When she felt she could, she left her room and went to the living room where Max was sleeping on the couch. She knelt next to him and gently shook him awake. His eyes opened and once they adjusted to the dark, he sat and looked at his sister. She was pale.

"What’s wrong?"

"I dream walked Liz. She said she knew I was coming, that I was predictable." Isabel whispered. "I don’t know where we were at, but it was rocky, the sky was like purple and there was a red sea. She sat on a freakin’ throne and put on a crown, Max. She called me Vilandra. She said she was the Queen and I was nothing and that I’d never understand."

"Understand what?"

"I don’t know. She said I never see what’s in front of me." Isabel stood then sat next to him. "Do you think that was our home planet?"

"Yes. The Crimson Sea." Max nodded. "What do you make of it?"

"I don’t know. It was Liz’s dream."

"Or was it?"

"Meaning that it could have been that skanky Tess?"

"Do you think it could be what’s happening now? She could be the Queen with Khivar at her side and my son?"

"I don’t know." Isabel shook her head. "I have to go lay down. I don’t know what to make of any of it."

* * * * *

Liz’s mom woke her up and told her she had a visitor. Expecting Maria or Max, she was surprised when she was told it was Michael. She asked her mom to wait a few minutes so she could get dressed, then to send him in. She dressed in shorts and T-shirt and brushed her teeth and hair before she heard a light wrapping at her door.

"You decent?" Michael called from the other side.

"Come in," Liz called and straightened the blankets on the bed. She sat down cross-legged and watched as Michael came in and shut the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"We have to talk." He sat across from her and took a deep breath.

"Is Maria okay?" She asked alarmed.

"She’s fine. It’s you we have to talk about."

"If Max told you what he did last night, then there’s nothing to talk about. You tell him he’s lucky I’m not pressing charges!" Never did she imagine that she’d ever say those words about Max Evans.

"It’s more than last night," he ran his hands through his hair. Did I really volunteer to do this? He asked himself. "A lot more."

"What are you talking about?"

"Something’s going on with you and you don’t know it. Max told me about last night and a few other occasions. There’s something wrong with you Liz and you don’t know it."

"There is nothing wrong with me!" Liz snapped. "How dare you imply that there is."

"Max said you’ve been losing time."

"I’ve been forgetful, that doesn’t mean-"

"It does mean something," he interrupted. "You can’t account for small amounts of time. That’s a problem."

"Well then I will see a doctor and get it fixed."

"I don’t think it’s that easy." He pursed his lips. "A doctor can’t fix it."

"Great," she laughed sarcastically. "You’re getting ready to tell me some weird alien thing, right? An extra-terrestrial virus?"

"Not exactly."

"Quit beating around the freakin’ bush and tell me what the hell is going on!" Liz slammed her hand down on the bed net to her. Patience no longer being a virtue. "I don’t have time to play games."

"We, meaning myself, Max and Isabel think that Tess is involved." He cringed saying the name out loud to her. He waited for a response, but got a blank stare in return. "Liz?"

"Tess is gone."

"Physically, yeah."

"What’s going on? Did Max put you up to this?"

"Actually, I volunteered." He shook his head. "I didn’t want Max to be the one to tell you anything. I wanted to."

"After last night, Max won’t be telling me anything ever again. I’m done with him."

"No, that’s not right."

"He took advantage of me when I was sleeping!"

"No, you weren’t sleeping."

"Were you there? Do you know that when I woke up he had my shirt up, my shorts almost off and his were to his knees? That’s about two seconds away from rape!" Tears stung her eyes. Michael leaned over and enveloped her in his arms and hugged her letting her cry against him. She stiffened at first, then relented and relaxed against him. She pushed away from him. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault."

"You will never understand what I feel." She wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Why did he send you here?"

"I want to tell you what we think is going on." Michael ran his hands through his hair. "We think its Tess. We think somehow Tess is taking you over."

"I’m being possessed by Tess Harding?" Liz almost laughed. "Oh my God, is that the best you could come up with?"

"It’s the truth. There have been too many unexplainable things that have happened for any other answer."

"Do you have a virus?"

"I know it sounds stupid, but we’ve been talking it over and it’s all we can come up. When you lose time, your not just sitting there staring off into space, your walking, talking and moving around. You’re still there. Tess’s shirt? Why were you wearing it?"

"I don’t know," Liz looked to the floor. She had asked herself the same question a thousand times before. "I think I just picked it up over at Kyle’s."

"You stole her shirt and then wore it? Yeah, that sounds like something you would do. Wear the shirt of the one person you truly hate. Maria, she would have shredded it and used it as confetti. Give me something better."

"I don’t know. I was upset when we cleaned out her stuff-"

"Tess’s stuff? You cleaned it out?" Michael had not seen that coming.

"Yeah, awhile ago. Last year. Maria and I helped Kyle."

"Maria helped?" Michael smiled and shook his head. "She never mentioned it."

"Maybe she didn’t want you to tell Max."

"I don’t tell Max everything."

"I know, I’m sorry. We just decided to keep it to ourselves. Anyway, that was a hard day going through all her stuff trying to find out anything useful; which there wasn’t anything. I just picked it up and took it home."

"Okay." He nodded. "You’ve said some things that Tess has said."

"Did she have her own language? Am I barred from using words that she ever used?"

"If you’re going to be a smart ass about this..."

"How do you expect me be? You’ve come in here and told me I’m Linda Blair and my Devil is Tess!"

"I know, but give me chance. There have been several times that you’ve said something to Max that Tess had said earlier." He held up his hand to abort the oncoming interruption. Liz closed her mouth and listened. "These thing’s you’ve said have been identical. Things that you would normally not say. Things that no one else had heard except Max."

"Example?"

"I don’t know all the exact phrases. You said one time that you’d be here for eternity for Max. That he was just a boy, that...I don’t know a few other things. You’re saying them exactly as Tess said them."

"So he remembers every single sentence ever uttered by her?" A mad as Liz was at Max, she’d always be jealous of Tess.

"Not everything. You seem to only be saying things that happened at certain times, memorable times."

"Oh God." Liz felt sick.

"The eternity thing was before they...You know. The boy thing was in the Granilith."

"Oh God. I don’t even remember saying either of those two things."

"Do you remember getting physical with Max?"

"I told you I had fallen asleep!"

"Not just last night." Michael weighed his words carefully. "When you and Max have been making out, you have been getting aggressive. More than ever. You are the aggressor."

"That’s crazy," her voice trembled.

"When you and Max are getting hot and heavy, he stops you from letting it go all the way. You’re the one who’s pushing him."

"Now I have heard everything!" Liz tried to laugh, but it came out as a choke. "That’s crazy. I think you all are crazy. As if I wasn’t pissed off before, now that Max has decided to share our sex life, or lack there of, with everyone I’m even more pissed!"

"He didn’t give details."

"There were no details to give until last night and I was asleep!"

"Do you really think that Max, Mr. Shy and sensitive, would do that? Mr. I’ve never kissed a girl until Liz Parker. Do you think he could take advantage of you like that?"

"I wouldn’t have, but he lost a lot of ground when he fucked Tess."

"Okay. I understand that."

"It doesn’t matter if you understand it or not. I don’t care anymore. I said I was done with Max and I am. I don’t think Tess is doing anything. As far as I’m concerned, she’s dead."

"You need help, Liz. We have to help you." Michael spoke softer. "I will do everything in my power to make this right."

"Why do you think this is up to you? You have nothing at stake."

"Max is my friend, my brother. You are my friend and you gave up everything good in your life to save mine."

"You don’t owe me." Liz shook her head.

"I know I don’t owe you. I want to do this. I want to fix the problem, I want everyone to be happy."

"That won’t happen. Your friend almost raped me!"

"I wish I could convince you otherwise."

"I know, but I’m sorry. I’m the one who woke up with my shorts down. I was there. I know what happened."

"If there had only been a Nanny-Cam."

"Then it would probably be used as evidence."

Michael sighed. "You haven’t noticed anything at all?"

Liz shook her head without thinking. Sure, she would know if she was possessed, right? Besides, Michael wasn’t asking about dreams, right?

"Nothing strange? No weird dreams?" He saw her eye twitch involuntarily. "Dreams, huh?"

"No weirder than usual."

"Hmm..." Michael rubbed his jaw with his thumb and forefinger. "What do we have in the way of the dream department?"