Chapter One

Isabel Evans walked around her cozy cottage home and sighed. She walked to the fireplace and looked at the array of pictures she had accumulated over the years. Her parents, her brother's wedding and her niece Sloane growing up, then her nephew Jack when he didn't hide from the camera. Michael, Maria and Leia. Kyle and Morgan. Rick Mineo and Paige. All of her family and friends sitting so neat and compact and on a wooden mantle above a cool fireplace. If only their real life counterparts could be so simple.

Kyle Valenti and his wife Morgan were probably the easiest. Kyle was still working at the high school, still as a guidance counselor. Morgan was still a social worker and still loved her job as depressing as it got at times, she couldn't see herself doing anything else, ever. A few years back they had gotten some disturbing news; Morgan wasn't able to conceive children. It had been a depressing year for the Valenti's, but they had survived and they had prevailed. Talks about adoption came up every few months or so. Eventually Kyle had overcome his contempt and jealousy of Max and his fear of Sloane; the latter being the easier of the two.

Isabel paused briefly thinking about Jim Valenti and Amy DeLuca and how far they'd come since they first got together. Jim Valenti and Amy DeLuca finally tied the knot after shacking up together for about four years. They eloped and got married the same place in Las Vegas as Kyle and Morgan. They were happy in their semi-retirement. After a few years of not being the Sheriff, Jim Valenti took a part-time job as a security guard at the First National Bank of Roswell. It wasn't glamorous, but it passed some time and he still got to talk to people everyday, something he had missed greatly.

Isabel touched the framed picture of Michael Guerin and Maria DeLuca and smiled. Nothing was ever boring with those two around. Michael, one of her oldest and dearest friends, was still the Sheriff. Winning the last few elections by landslides had given him the confidence to do his job the best he could. He was respected in Roswell. She loved to hear him talk about work; he would get so excited talking about all the bad guys and how stupid they were. Isabel had been glad when Maria had decided to go back to school after Leia was in the second grade. She completed her two-year degree and now was a substitute teacher for both the Junior High as well as the High School. She didn't work everyday, only when she wanted to and that was perfect for her. Isabel knew she'd never have a job that made the rules for her. Maria would always walk to beat of her own drummer. A few nights a month she went back to her first love and sang at a semi-new nightclub just barely inside the city limits.

Isabel touched Maria's face in the picture thinking back to a few years earlier when she had decided to have a hysterectomy. One of the hardest choices a woman ever makes, Isabel thought, but it was for the best in her case. Maria had been so good about it, so strong. They had Leia and Leia was enough. Isabel smiled, boy, was Leia enough!

Leia Chance Guerin had turned into a well-adjusted, beautiful young woman with a mischievous streak in her a mile wide. Isabel shook her head when she thought about Leia, God, she had put her parents through a lot and she was just now driving. They were all going to be in for a long ride. Leia was so much like her mother sometimes it was scary. She'd go off on tangents about nothing and not even stop for a breath. When her and Maria locked horns, everyone knew to just walk away it wasn't going to end for awhile. As much Maria that Leia had in her, there was also a lot of Michael. His calmness took over sometimes and his thought process was most evident. Think and then react. Leia had gotten good grades in school and had a lot of friends and seemed to accept the fact that her father was an alien.

Isabel would always smile thinking about that day when they had all sat down with Leia and Sloane and explained where their fathers and Isabel had come from. The girls were both twelve, Leia almost thirteen, when they sat them down side by side and said they were different than other people. They had decided it was best if the mothers' stayed away from this one. Sloane had nodded and smiled in the way that she was known to do. Her smile could speak the volumes that she was unable or unwilling to. Leia on the other hand freaked out for a solid hour before the coolness of it dawned on her. After that she was full of questions asking what each of them could do. Leia still used her powers almost daily at home, but she had somehow never questioned why she had them. Isabel grimaced when she remembered what Leia had said to Sloane that day. 'I guess you can't do anything anymore, huh? What does that make you?' Her niece had hung her head in what they thought was shame. Couldn't Sloane remember all the wonderful things she had done as small child?

Leia was adamant about one thing though, she wanted to visit the pod chamber and where the Granilith had been. The adults had discussed it and agreed the girls should see where their fathers had come from. Sloane did nod when she was asked if she wanted to go.

Isabel's brother was happy again. After the whole rape allegations had been pushed away he was rehired at the high school. Max Evans was back to being an English teacher, a revered and beloved English teacher. He was in love with his job and everyone knew it. Sometimes he'd get so into a conversation he'd start rattling off quotes that were so obscure they made everyone laugh. The birth of his son, Jack, was another happy day in the life of Max Evans. After Sloane had been silent for almost three years Liz gave birth to Jackson Evans. His appearance was shocking, resembling neither parent. Light blond hair and light blue eyes, eerily iridescent, matching pale skin and a slight build. Isabel was sure that if she hadn't actually been there when he was born she would have guessed there was a baby switch at the hospital. He was a quiet child, quieter than Sloane had ever been. He didn't display any powers of any kind; he didn't do much. He was almost too human, Isabel frowned hating to think such things about her nephew, but it was true. He was plain; he was so introverted he didn't like anyone to talk to him or especially have his picture taken. He always regarded Sloane with uncertainty and never tried to get close to his silent sister. They were strangers to each other. Jack seemed to be a stranger to everyone.

Liz was still with the Department of Health, although now she was the assistant director. She loved her job as well and loved even more that she could come and go as she pleased always ready to spend time with her friends and family. Liz was a great sister-in-law, Isabel mused, she was supportive of everyone's ideas and never tried to boss Isabel around, a definite plus for Iz. She trusted Liz more and more with each passing year. Through everything, they had managed to become friends. Not semi-friends like they were for the first few years, but real friends. Isabel had asked with sincerity for Liz to stand up for her as her witness to her upcoming nuptials to Rick Mineo.

Rick Mineo, Isabel sighed thinking about him. They had been dating for ten years before Rick finally asked her to be his wife. Isabel hadn't been in a hurry to get married, she actually liked being single, but to think about the happiness she could live out with Rick was magnificent. Paige was away at school in Texas staying with her mother's family. Isabel didn't think that she'd ever come back to Roswell. Isabel and Paige had never quite bonded as they should have. They became friends, but she knew Paige would never see her as a parental figure. That was okay with Isabel too, she had enough children in her life; with Leia, that was sometimes more than she could handle.

If Leia was day then Sloane was night. Her sweet niece. The girl who used to crawl up in her lap and draw and color was gone. Sloane was fifteen years old and hadn't said a word in a decade. Isabel always shuddered when she thought back to the night her niece closed herself up from the rest of the world. Five year old Sloane had tried to kill Kyle Valenti and would have succeeded had it not been for Leia. Leia had called it 'stealing breath' when Sloane held her hand above Kyle's mouth literally stealing his breath. The goosebumps came when Isabel heard in her head the last words her niece had spoken: 'the enemy'. Sloane was so sure that someone was trying to take away her daddy, so positive it was frightening. That night was horrible. Having a frantic Max weeping at his daughter's silent side, accusing both Isabel and Kyle of doing something to her. Max so disbelieving that his daughter was suddenly mute. Kyle's unbridled horror at almost being killed by little Sloane slowly dissolved as he watched a father and daughter as their connection seemed to fade.

Isabel glanced around the living room remembering the events as if they had happened that day. The anguish, fear and importance of it all was embedded so deep in her mind she knew she'd never shake it. It didn't help that everyday she had a constant reminder. She was Sloane's teacher. She looked back to the mantle and touched the silver frame around her niece's picture. Sloane was a story all on her own.

At fifteen she looked so much like her mother had back then, Isabel scowled at the nostalgia aspect of the whole thing, her silken deep brown hair was long and straight, her amber-colored eyes were so intelligent, so caring. She wasn't as fragile as her mother and was several inches taller than her already. She nearly looked her father in the eye now. When it was time to enroll in school and Sloane was still not showing any signs of speaking, Isabel took it upon herself to home school her. She was so far beyond where she should be, nearly fluent in Spanish, well, on paper anyway. She had soared past the recommended books for her grades. She was reading literature aimed at college level courses, her math skills impeccable. Isabel had always thought of herself as intelligent, but now she had to review and learn in order to teach Sloane.

Isabel had prodded Sloane for years about not speaking and about what she had meant that night when her life changed and got nothing more than a shrug in return. Sloane didn't use her powers again after that night; when she was questioned about it, she looked like she didn't understand. Isabel remembered vividly when Max had brought home a kitten for Sloane when she was eleven, shortly after they had moved into a quaint A-frame house with a picket fence and walk-in closets. Sloane loved her kitten. She'd rather have that kitten around than anyone else; she'd carry her around like a baby, always making a silent fuss over her. At least until the day she watched her die. Someone had left the front door open and the kitten, affectionately referred to as 'Ruff', had bolted into the street. Sloane wasn't far behind her and watched as her adored kitten got run over by an innocent motorist. Sloane ran to her kitten's broken body and held her tight against her chest. Liz had run from the house and witnessed her daughter holding Ruff as she died. Sloane did nothing to save her. No one knew for sure if she didn't or couldn't. Sloane Evans remained a mystery.

Max had seemed to accept his daughter's silence long before anyone else did. He never pushed her to talk, never questioned her why she stopped. He had taken her to a couple therapists and was told the same thing by each: she'd talk again when she was ready. Michael, Isabel smiled, sweet Michael. He had gone as far to bring in his Deputy Jo Davie to touch her and see if she could sense anything off the little girl. Isabel hadn't found that out until much later. Michael and Liz had concocted that effort behind closed doors. Jo had offered very little at the time; Sloane was scared of something she didn't understand. Jo's 'feelings' she got off Sloane were dark. Everything was dark around that little girl. So scared and scarred.

Isabel liked Jo Davie and her adopted son, Sam. Jo was a part of their circle of friends now. It had taken a long time for anyone besides Michael to accept her, eventually they all had. Jo was different; she was a sensitive, she could see things from touch. Although no one had ever told her directly that her friends were aliens, and she never asked, Isabel was sure she either knew or suspected the truth. Eight years earlier, Jo had adopted a little boy who had been repeatedly abused by his mother's boyfriend and then by his mother. Now Sam was a healthy and happy seventh grader. Jo tried to work on Sloane every so often, but usually came back with the same. Darkness surrounded the girl's aura.

Isabel looked to her watch and sighed, Rick would be there soon. He was taking her out for a congratulatory dinner. Another book deal had been signed, another bundle Isabel was going to make on it. Her 'Robin' series had drawn so much attention; Robin was now in high school. Isabel knew the cash cow wasn't going to last forever, hell, she would have never thought it would have lasted this long to begin with. She wasn't complaining, though, she was still doing exactly what she wanted to do. Plus, she'd been able to home school her niece, and that's what was really important to her.

She had decided long ago not to try to have children of her own. Her system was too complicated and she didn't know enough about it to even consider it. Rick was okay with that. Isabel wondered if she had been selfish by not telling him her secrets for the first six years they dated. The truth had come out after a night on the town, Rick had swept her off her feet and declared everlasting love for her, no matter what. Isabel had taken him to his word on the 'no matter what' clause. He handled her alien heritage better than she expected. He had promised her it didn't matter what or who she was; he loved Isabel Evans because she was Isabel Evans.

* * * * * *

Chapter Two

Morgan Valenti sat on the couch in the Guerin/DeLuca household staring blankly at the television. She had been waiting on Maria for almost an hour. The two friends were going to dinner and shopping and then out for a cocktail. Leia was at a friend's house for the night and Michael was working. Eventually Maria appeared and stood in front of Morgan expectantly. Morgan raised her eyes to her and waited.

"Well," Maria turned in a slow circle in front of her friend. "What do you think?"

Morgan whistled. Maria was dressed in leather, not something she normally did. Tight leather pants, bustier and spiked heels, all in black. Her hair piled loosely on top of her head. "Very dominatrix-like, but I thought we were just going shopping."

"We are dingbat, this is for my next show on Saturday. What do you think? I bought it yesterday."

"I think that if Michael let's you out of the house like that I'll eat my own foot." Morgan laughed tossing back her head along with her mane of long blond hair. "Are you seriously going to wear that?"

"I was thinking about it," Maria looked downcast. "So, no way?"

"Uh, yeah. No way." Morgan watched the door as an unexpected Michael walked through it.

Michael took one look at Maria and shut his eyes. He waited a beat then opened them again. "Wow, so I'm not dreaming?" He walked to Maria and kissed her. "I swear I just walked right into my fantasy."

"Should I go?" Morgan called from the couch as the couple broke apart.

"Sorry," Michael blushed like a high school boy. Michael was all grown up now. The slight worry lines by his temples had deepened over the years, strands of gray hair co-mingled with the rest in harmony. He didn't look like the baby-faced man who had started out as a Deputy, now he looked the role of Sheriff. He looked good. "So, you think you're going out looking like that?"

"Not right now, I was thinking about wearing it for my next show-"

Michael interrupted her with laughter. "You've got to be kidding. Did you really think I would let you out of the house looking like that?"

Maria shrugged and looked to her friend. "Well, I guess I can return everything."

"Oh, hell no. You're keeping it, just not wearing on stage." He winked over his shoulder at Morgan.

"Why are you home, anyway?" Maria put her hands on her hips looking at him expectantly.

"I'm the head honcho, I can do as I please." He removed his utility belt and slung it over the back of the couch. "Where's Leia?"

"Staying all night with a friend and I'm going out with Morgan. After I change, of course." She added quickly and scampered off to the bedroom leaving Michael and Morgan alone looking at each other.

"So, no baddies out there tonight?" Morgan asked.

"Nope, none that I saw. Hey, how's Kyle? He ditched me the other night."

"He's fine," she smiled as Maria came back in the room looking more like herself in a long skirt and tank shirt.

"That's better," Michael looked her over.

"So, you going to hang here alone tonight?" Maria asked collecting her purse.

"I think I might go over to Liz's," He nodded.

"Oh, okay." Maria faked a smile. The Evans' home had changed from 'Max's' to 'Liz's' a while back. She hated the fact that her and Liz had grown more distant while Michael and Liz were almost inseparable. She had Morgan now, but it wasn't the same. She'd never have another best friend like Liz. Maria always hoped that someday they could be as close as they used to be.

Michael kissed his adored one good-bye and changed before going to Liz's. He figured he'd hang out there for a few hours and get back home in time to help Maria carry in the bags of whatever was on sale. As planned, he arrived home minutes before her and helped carry in bags. Something's never changed.

* * * * * *

At sixteen, Leia Guerin had boyfriends lined up around the corner. Isabel actually thought she reminded her of herself in high school except for the fact that Leia didn't get perfect grades and had friends, but otherwise, yeah. Leia and Sloane were both at Isabel's house, Sloane was just finishing up an afternoon of schoolwork and Leia had the tendency to pop by unannounced to talk about different alien-related things with Isabel.

"So," Leia bounced on the balls of her feet. "Why does Sloane do this home schooling thing all year? Doesn't she ever get a break? It is summer." She looked to the brown haired girl on the other side of the room and almost smiled. Leia remembered how close they had been as children, the talks they had in each other's heads. How Sloane pushed her away and never came back. Leia was still resentful as hell about that.

"It's not really school work," Isabel explained standing up and walking into the kitchen. She returned a few minutes later with soft drinks and a bottle of Tabasco sauce. "She's learning French, we both are."

"I don't know why you spend so much time with Slow-N," Leia smiled impishly at the nickname she had given Sloane a long time ago.

"Damn it Leia, I've told you a hundred times not to call her that." Isabel admonished her. "It's not funny and she's not slow."

"Then why won't she talk?" Leia spat out with a tinge of wounded emotion. She looked to Sloane and sighed. "I just miss her, Iz, I can't help it."

"I know sweetie, we all do." Isabel glanced to her soundless niece. "We all do."

"Will she ever come back?" Leia spoke in a softer tone. "Will anyone ever tell me why she went away?"

"I don't know, I don't think anyone really knows." Isabel thought back to the weak explanation she had received from Liz. The real story hadn't emerged for years after that. She watched her brother's heart break when Liz and Michael told them both about the future. Both the withheld knowledge of the future and also what the future held had hurt feelings. Liz never divulged how she knew the future. She had told them some things were better left unknown. Sloane was fifteen now, in three years she was going to battle her half brother to the death. Isabel shuddered thinking about it; how could Sloane ever be a warrior?

"She said she was a warrior," Leia was rambling when Isabel jerked her head towards her.

"What? What did you say?"

"What?" Leia rolled her eyes. "Maybe if you would have been listening-"

"What did you say about a warrior?" Isabel snapped at her.

"Oh, I remember like the last thing Slow-N ever said to me was that she was a warrior." Leia shrugged. "Nothing new."

Isabel stared at the young woman in front of her. Had she known that? Had anyone known that? Did Sloane know when she was five years old that she was the warrior? Is that why she closed herself off? "That was the last night you were able to talk in her head?"

"Yeah," Leia nodded and bugged out her eerily green eyes. "I tried all the time when I was little. Hell, I still try from time to time. I don't know, maybe she hears me and maybe she's ignoring me."

Sloane joined the two other females at the table as the front door opened and her father walked in. Sloane's eye's lit up as Max walked to her and hugged her. "How's my Tiger Eyes?" Sloane wrinkled her nose at him. "Oh, sorry. You're too old for that. I forgot." Sloane smiled and pulled out a chair for him for him to sit in. She sat next to him across from her aunt and Leia. "Leia, do you want a ride home?"

"A ride?" She scoffed. "I guess somehow you missed the ancient blue Tempo parked out front? Oh, unless someone stole it!"

"I probably just overlooked it, sorry." Max smiled at her. God, she reminded him so much of both her parents.

"Well, whatever. I'm not staying." She stood up. "I was just going to try to pry some info form Iz about when we might get a gander at the infamous Pod Chamber that you guys keep promising we're going to see."

"Funny you should ask," Max looked to his sister. "I was just there yesterday and I think we should all plan a nice little trip out there before school starts. We can bring a picnic and make a day out of it."

"You went there?" Isabel asked slowly.

"Yeah, actually I've been going out there most of the summer off and on." He raised his eyebrows at his sister. "Thing's look a little different."

"At the chamber?"

"There and the Granilith. I might be getting the idea of how it worked." He shrugged and looked to his daughter. "You ready to go? Your mom's ordering Chinese as we speak."

"I want to go to high school." The voice was thick from abandonment. The words seemed foreign to her; the sounds of her own voice were distant. Too worried about the actual speaking she didn't notice the dazed stares from the others around her. "Please."

Max took his daughter's hands in his own and pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. "Sloane, baby, are you really here?"

She nodded into her father's chest. Isabel and Leia both stood and walked around the other side of the table, Isabel had tears in her eyes. She placed her hand on Sloane's shoulder. Sloane looked up at her aunt and smiled. "¿Qué pasa, Tía Isabel?"

"Nada, Sloanie." She reached for her niece and hugged her trying to pry her away from Max. "Let her go, you have to share!"

Leia laughed watching her long lost friend being tugged from one Evans to the other. She wiped hastily at a tear in her eye. Now was not the time to cry, crying was for sad times.

"Hi," Sloane finally looked to Leia and smiled.

"Hi," Leia said suddenly as nervous if she was meeting someone brand new, not someone she had known almost her entire life. Someone she used to think of as a sister then just a body to talk to sometimes when she wasn't looking for a response.

"Hi," Sloane said again and laughed. The laugh sounded awkward coming from her, so delicate and so unsure. "Thank you."

"Me?" Leia pointed to herself. "For what? I didn't do anything."

"You tried to talk me, you didn't desert me." She reached a hand to Leia. Leia grasped it feeling a jolt of something run through her. She withdrew her hand and looked back at Sloane. Sloane didn't seem to notice anything.

Isabel was already calling her sister-in-law by the time Max got the notion to inform his wife. She hung up and looked at the reconnection of a father and daughter. "Liz want's you both home, now."

Max nodded and grabbed his daughters hand leading her tot he front door. They said their good-byes at the door with more hugs and tears before leaving to get reintroduced to Liz and Jack.

* * * * * *

"That was unreal," Isabel looked to the young woman who was still at her side in the doorframe looking out. "Out of nowhere."

"It's almost like she knew we were talking about her," Leia shrugged. "Well, I'm glad she's back. I better get home and tell the parents. Man, it's already past my birthday and now I'll never get my Sweet Sixteen party with the big Sloane news."

"You have to be sweet to get a party like that," Isabel smirked as Leia gave her a dirty look over her shoulder walking out to the hand me down car.

Leia Guerin was happy her childhood friend had finally talked again. It seemed like forever since she'd heard Sloane's voice, to a sixteen-year-old it was forever. All the private conversations they had shared had seemed like magic for only them. Leia would never forget that Sloane had saved her mother's life, nor that she had almost killed Kyle Valenti. Leia smiled thinking back to when her and Sloane had bonded, it had taken a while because Leia had been so mean to her for no reason. Leia would never forget the night that Sloane tried to 'steal breath' away from her. The whole time she was telling Leia over and over in her head, in her dreams, that they were friends not enemies. They had too many enemies already and they'd need each other. Until today Leia had never really considered it had reached further than saving her mother. The jolt that shot through her touching Sloane made her reconsider. Was there more out there?

She pulled in front of her house in back of her mother's car, a black Sebring, and jumped out running inside to tell her mother about Sloane. She found her in the kitchen looking confused over a counter of chopped vegetables.

"Hey, mom!" Leia bounded in next to her. "Guess who talked today?"

Maria looked puzzled at her daughter. "Sloane?"

Leia nodded and smiled. "It was cool as shit-"

"Watch your mouth." Maria grimaced. God, was she really turning into her mother?

"It was way cool, out of the blue at Isabel's Sloane suddenly say's she wants to go to high school."

"You’re kidding." Maria's mouth dropped.

Leia shook her head. "Max was there and it was so cool. I can't wait to tell dad." She looked longingly towards the front door. "When's he getting home?"

"Soon," Maria smiled. "Does Liz know?"

"Iz called her." She looked back at her mother. "What are you making?"

"Fajitas?" Maria shrugged as the front door was thrown open and Michael came barreling in. "Hi honey, you're home!"

"Sloane!" He laughed. "She talked, did you hear?"

"Yeah dad, I was there," Leia rolled her eyes at her father's goofiness. "How'd you find out so fast?"

"Liz called me," he looked to Maria and saw the same hurt in her eyes that blossomed every time she felt the loss of her true best friend. Michael could read her thoughts; Maria felt Liz should have called her first.

"Have you been home? Maybe…" Michael trailed off as Maria shot him a look and glanced at Leia. "Right. Anyway, they're doing the family bonding thing tonight but I think Liz wants to get her to tell why all the silence."

"You know," Leia interjected breaking the tension between her parents' every time Liz Evans' name came up. "I said something to Isabel today right before Sloane talked. I remember the last thing Sloane said to me was she was the warrior. Isabel looked like she'd seen a ghost. Kind of like you." She pointed to her father. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Michael shook his head. I'm sure it was nothing. Don't worry about it. Just be glad we all got Sloane back." He glanced at Maria who nodded. "I know you want to go over there. Go."

Michael shook his head stepping closer to Maria and hugged her kissing her neck. Leia made some type of gagging noise and left the room calling out she was going over to a friend's, she left the house. Michael pushed Maria back against the counter crushing his pelvis into her, grinding.

"You still act like you're eighteen," Maria giggled. "I thought men were suppose to get their sexual peak then. That was a long time ago."

"I'll never lose my sexual peak with you around." He pulled the crew neck of her shirt away kissing her shoulder underneath. "Never."

Maria tried to swat him away but instead fell underneath the Guerin charms again. The belt around her waist was gone, the pants were unzipped and slowly being pushed to the floor. She unbuckled his utility belt and let it fall to the floor with a clang. They slowly undressed each other as the sun was setting behind them through the window. Lifting her onto the counter amid the freshly cut vegetables, holding her close to him, he entered her and groaned.

"I swear I don't know of a happier place than inside of you," he whispered in her hair as he thrust in and out of her. "I can't seem to care about anything else when I'm with you. I'd be lost; I don't care how many times I tell you that. Without you Maria, I'm nothing."

"Without me you'd have half of everything," she laughed.

"No common law marriage in New Mexico babe," he smiled in neck.

She whacked him on the back and told him she loved him. Always.

* * * * * *

Liz Evans was trying to do everything she could not to quiz her daughter. She wanted to know everything that had gone through the girl's head for the last decade.

"Why now?" She finally asked after putting Jack to bed. "Why now, Sloane?"

"I don't know," she shrugged and looked to her dad. "I want to go to high school with everyone else and I can't if I don't talk."

Liz smiled; her daughter's voice had matured so much from the last time she had heard it. "That's it? That's the only reason?"

Sloane shrugged again; so used to body language to convey her thoughts.

"Of course you can go to the high school," Max smiled proudly. "You can have anything you want."

"I want to go to the Pod Chamber." Sloane said so softly that her parents had to lean in closer to hear her. "Please?"

Max nodded eagerly. "Of course. We'll get together with Michael and Isabel and like I told them, make a day of it."

"No," Sloane shook her head looking at her father. "Just you."

"Well," Max looked to his wife for help. "Okay, I mean, if that's what you want."

"I do, tomorrow." Sloane kissed both her parents on their cheeks and retired to her room complaining of a sore throat from talking and grinning.

"Why just you?" Liz asked once she heard the stereo on upstairs. "I wanted to go, too."

Max shrugged. "I have no idea, but if that's what she asked for, so be it, that's how it'll be."

Over the years Liz had sometimes regretted telling Max about the future. She never told him all of it, like how she had found out, but sometimes thought it might have been better to keep all of it from him. Through all the happiness in his life she knew he harbored the feeling of dread thinking about the death of one of his children. Lantham or Sloane? His future self left in the middle of a battle, he didn't know how it ended or who was dead. Liz felt a pain in back of her eye as she thought about her daughter dying. No, she'd never let that happen, not for any reason.

* * * * * *

Chapter Three

The Pod Chamber had crumbled some over the years; it wasn't as easy to find, loose rocks made the trek slightly more treacherous than before. Max had visited it so many times over the years on the sly, especially this summer, that he could walk it with his eyes shut. He held his daughter's hand to prevent her from slipping.

"This is a bitch," she caught her breath. "Almost there?"

Max smiled at her and led her through a disguised open door inside the chamber. Sloane dropped her father's hand and looked around in awe. She touched the pods where her family had incubated. Running her hands around the outside encasements she shivered.

"Yours, Aunt Isabel and Michael." The forth empty pod scared her. She recoiled from it. "Who was she?"

Max stared at his daughter dumbfounded. This was not what he was expecting, should he tell her about Tess? "Someone else, unimportant."

Sloane nodded in amusement. One thing her father was never able to get away with was lying to her. "Sure."

"Okay, she was kind of important, but that was a long time ago. She's gone." Max said quickly hoping she would drop it. There wasn't enough daylight left to begin the Tess narrative.

"Gone but not forgotten," Sloane said sounding remarkably like her mother. She looked back to her father. "You saw your real mother here."

"We did, Iz and me. Breathtaking." Max smiled. "So what do you think about where we came from?"

"It's beautiful," she smiled sincerely at the dusty dried rocks and cavernous nooks waiting to be explored. "It's a place of life. Leia's going to be upset we came without her. She's been wanting to get here since you guys told us about the alien heritage thing."

"I'll bring Leia back with Michael. You said you just wanted to be with me here today. I think it kind of hurt your mother's feelings."

"No, mom's strong. She'll be fine. Don't you know by now, she's always fine. I just had to be here with you alone, dad. This is your side. You're the one who belongs here; this is where you came from. Some of the most significant parts of your life happened around here. I wanted to share it with you." Sloane looked away from him back towards the fourth empty pod. "She wasn't very nice was she?"

"No, Sloanie, not really." He leaned against a dusty wall. "She's another story all on her own. We'll save that one for another day."

"You never mentioned her name, what was it?"

"Tess. Her name was Tess."

Sloane nodded at the new information as if getting more from it than just a name. "The Granilith?"

Max nodded and led the way not making eye contact and trying not to think about anything Tess-related. He didn't know for sure if Sloane was still able to read him. After spending hours upon hours at the Granilith Max had memorized almost every crevice, every unbelievable inch of it. Sloane looked around the silver dome running her hands along the smooth sides and defunct buttons. Max watched her intently.

"Do you want to know what I think I've learned about it?"

Sloane shook her head. "Not yet dad. I just want to get a feel for it. You know?"

Max nodded but he didn't really know. He had no idea what his teen-aged daughter was thinking or doing. He knew her, but without the dialogue for so long, there was still so much more he didn't know. A brief conversation with Liz the night before had rendered him useless in pushing Sloane about anything in the future. Liz had been adamant that she wasn't to know anything about upcoming events, end of discussion. Past events were fair game.

"So, I know this talking thing is new to you again, but is there anything you want to talk about?" Max asked as Sloane shook her head. "Okay, well, when you were little you were able to do these great things. Do you remember that?"

"Not really," Sloane shrugged and ran her hand along dead controls.

"Okay, so you don't remember helping Leia when she got hit by a car or Maria when she was sick?" Max tried to resist the urge of wiping off the back of his neck when his daughter looked coolly at him. "Sloane?"

"Did Tess leave from here?" She asked oblivious to her father's questions. "I can feel her, I think. Why can I feel her?"

Max shook his head. Damn, it wasn't Tess she was feeling; it was Lantham. Damn! "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," she wrinkled her nose at him. "It's all female and so familiar."

Female and familiar? Can't be Tess. Why would Tess ever feel familiar to her? "You about ready to go? You're kind of creeping me out." Max asked inanely.

"Sure," Sloane smiled brilliantly, her aunt's smile. She held out her hand to her father who squeezed it as he led the way back out into the searing desert sun. "I didn't mean to creep you out in there. I just think I felt her. I never knew her, did I?"

"No, baby, you never knew her." Max said quietly. Hearing and saying the name again brought back to him the future Liz told him about. He hadn't thought about it seriously in years that one of his children was going to die. Lantham, the son he had never met raised by Tess and Khivar or Sloane, the daughter he had loved since watching her being born. His heart and loyalty were with Sloane, always; the decision hadn't been difficult to make.

* * * * * *

Leia finally did get her Sweet Sixteen party over a month after her birthday. School was starting in a couple of weeks and Maria decided to have an end of summer soiree disguised as a birthday party. The usual crowd was in attendance however the usual demeanor was unbalanced. The newness of Sloane talking was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to talk to her. She spent half of the day talking to just about everyone there. Everyone except Kyle Valenti. Kyle had managed to pretty much avoid close contact with her for the last ten years and he didn't really want to get chummy with her now. If she hadn't approached him he might not have ever talked to her.

"Kyle," she smiled when she said his name for the first time sitting down next to him at redwood picnic table. "Hi."

"Hi," he looked nervously around catching his wife's eye. Morgan rolled her eyes at him and went back to standing inches away from Max who was talking animatedly with his hands.

"I know you're uncomfortable around me. I've known that since I was a little girl, but I don't know why." She bit her lower lip. "Can you tell me why?"

"You don't remember anything from before? Like before you quit talking?"

"Not really," Sloane shook her head.

"Oh," Kyle looked around for help and saw no one paying attention to him. "We had a slight disagreement when you were five." I wanted to live and you wanted me to die, he thought.

She laughed and touched his arm. "When I was five? Boy, it must have been a big one for you to still hold a grudge."

"I'm not holding a grudge," Kyle smiled and relaxed a bit. This wasn't the same girl who had tried to kill him. This was a teenager who didn't even remember holding her hand over his face all those years ago.

"I don't remember a lot from when I was younger," she admitted biting her lower lip. "My parent's haven't told me everything I'm afraid."

"Well," he ran his hand around his collar. "Maybe that's for the best."

"Do you think?" Sloane drank him in her eyes until he turned away. "They said I could do some pretty amazing things."

Kyle nodded uncomfortably. "Yeah, well, I don't know, Sloane." He shrugged. "Your parents know what's best for you, most of the time. Trust them."

"I do." Implicitly.

Leia stood by herself away from the crowd and watched. Her parents were split up, her mom with Morgan, and her dad with Liz. Was her dad always with Liz? She looked towards Sloane and Kyle sitting on the picnic table and closed her eyes.

Sloane? I don't know if you can hear me.

Nothing

I've been trying to reach you like this for years and you never came, I don't know if that's changed. You're hiding something, I can tell.

Nothing.

Damn it Sloane. Tell me what's going on. You used to tell me everything and now I haven't heard anything in ten years. I know bad things are coming, I can feel it. I remember when you said you were the warrior.

Leia opened her eyes still facing in Sloane's direction. Sloane whipped her head around and locked eyes with Leia taking her in the amber before turning back to Kyle.

Leia let out a deep breath and knew. Sloane was back in more than one way and she was hiding things from everyone. Am I the only one who can feel it? The only one who knows there's something wrong? She tried to find her parents again to see if they had noticed anything. Of course not. Since when did parents see what was really important?

"So, Maxwell's still going out to the Granilith?" Michael mused.

"Yeah," Liz smiled. They were sitting alone at a bistro table set up near the side of the house. It was a common occurrence to see them holed up together like that. An outsider may have guessed they were a couple watching the intimacy. The intimacy of friendship. "I guess he'll figure out how to use it to time travel, right? I mean, would that still happen?"

"I don't know," Michael rubbed his face with his hands. "I guess he doesn't have to because Sloane was conceived and born and that's what he came back to tell you. Right?"

"I don't know," Liz shrugged. "Do you think it was like this in his future? Do you think that Sloane was almost a murderer and then locked herself up for ten years?"

"She was just a little girl, Liz." Michael tried to reassure her the same way that he always did. "Isabel said she was convinced someone was going to take Max away. The 'enemy', remember? That night it was Kyle."

"She doesn't remember anything Michael. She can't use her powers, if they're even still there. How can she be the warrior? How can she defeat her brother and save the world? She's just a normal girl!"

"I don't know."

"I won't let her die Michael. I won't let that bitch and her bastard son win." Liz said heatedly. "I never gave in to her before and I won't this time either. I don't care what I have to do or who I have to sacrifice. No one is taking away my daughter."

"It's still a few years away. We have time to prepare for it," he tried to reassure her. "I mean I haven't even told Maria the whole story yet. Can you imagine how well she's going to take it? Me keeping this from her for ten years?"

"She's going to be pissed." Liz smiled thinking about the tantrums her old friend used to throw when she was upset. Did she still? "I miss her, Michael."

"She misses you," he glanced across the yard to see Maria watching them. "She really does."

"She has Morgan, now."

"And you have me."

Liz smirked. "Funny how things work out in life isn't it?"

"Yeah," he sniggered. "Funny."

Liz smiled and looked over her shoulder to her son. Jack was by himself, as usual, sitting in the grass inspecting some type of insect life. Jack was a loner. He was still young, but all the signs were there. He was most happy in his own company. Any sibling relationships between Sloane and Jack were completely out of the question. Although it was his sister that had been silent for so long, it might as well have been Jack, too.

* * * * * *

Sloane sat across from her parents and waited for them to say something. Her brother was at Aunt Isabel's for the evening so she knew it was going to be big. More than just seeing how the first week of school had gone. Which, she thought to herself, had gone quite well. Starting school was fun, plus she had Leia with her and had made a couple of new friends.

"Sloane," Max was fighting a rubberband tangled in his hair as he tried to pull it off the short ponytail he had sported for years now.

"Dad," she grinned.

"Okay. I know this summer has been full of new things and experiences," Max looked to his wife for support. "And there's a lot you don't remember from your early years."

"My early years," she repeated and smirked.

"Sloane, what your father is trying to say is that you were powerful when you were younger. You had so much power, more than him." Liz explained. "You and Leia used to have conversations without talking. When you were only a few years old you saved Leia's life when a car hit her. You and your father saved Maria. He couldn't do it, but you could."

"I wish I could remember," Sloane looked down. "It sounds amazing. I love to watch Leia float things across the room and all the other stuff you guys do. I just can't remember much." Her eyes became unfocussed, her mind clouded. Holding her hand over Kyle Valenti's mouth, watching him gasping for air. Wanting to kill him. She gasped as she focussed back on her parent's tense expressions.

"What?" Max asked. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Sloane forced a smile.

"You and Leia are still close, can't you remember all the times you talked in each other's heads?" Liz looked to her husband before continuing. "You talked to other people too."

"Who?" Sloane's attention jerked back into the conversation.

"You said he was your brother," Liz said.

"I didn't have a brother then. Do you think I was talking to like a Pre-Jack?"

"Maybe," Liz said quietly. "I just wish you could remember."

"So I was more powerful than dad, huh?" She grinned. "I wish I still was."

So do I, Liz thought. So do I. "We'll see what the future holds sweetheart."

Sloane nodded and heard the voices. After so many years of silence the voices seemed so loud. Talking over one another fighting for her attention. She clasped her hands over her ears they way she had when she was a child. Max was at her side within seconds. Sloane began to rock back and forth mumbling, her eyes rolled in back of her head.

"No," Liz backed away from the table.

"Sloane," Max held his daughter next to him. "I told you before I'll keep you safe. I'll always keep you safe."

Sloane's ramblings grew louder, her body shook. She looked to her father's face with unseeing eyes. With a flash of green light Max was thrown from her, landing about eight feet away hitting his head on the leg of an end table. Liz rushed to his side after yelling his name.

"I'm sorry," Sloane whispered over and over. "I'm sorry."

Max sat up with Liz's help, both looking at their daughter. He rubbed his hands on his Khaki's trying to ease the burning sensation running through his fingertips. "Did you do that?" Max asked as he stood up walking apprehensively towards her. He looked in his daughter's newly focused eyes and knew she had. "Why?"

"Not you," she shook her head. "Everyone else. I wanted them all to go away."

"You still have powers," Liz's shoulders sagged. Maybe her little girl was able to save the world after all.

* * * * * *

Leia Guerin had been sitting at her desk in front of the computer with her eyes shut, concentrating. Suddenly she found herself tipped over on the chair flat on her back. Her tailbone ached. Her hands felt like they were on fire. She hadn't been alone this time. There were others and Leia didn't like them.

* * * * * *

Chapter Four

The courthouse was semi-filled with family and friends for the marriage of Isabel Evans to Rick Mineo. Rick's daughter, Paige, was notably absent. Rick had tried to explain apologetically that she couldn't get away from school. Phillip and Diane Evans were there as well at the newer Valenti's. Kyle and Morgan had taken the day off work as well as Max and Liz and Michael and Maria. Leia and Sloane sat together whispering and giggling until Isabel and Rick took center stage. Sloane looked proud to watch her mother standing up for Aunt Isabel. Rick's brother Tom from Santa Fe stood up for Rick. Max sat with Jack in the front row. Everyone was so happy. Isabel was glowing in her tailored ivory suit; a small bouquet of lilac's clutched in her hands. Rick wore a dark suit, a single lilac bud in his lapel.

The civil service was short and simple and over within minutes. The bride and groom thanked everyone for coming and then whisked themselves away to a waiting limousine to be taken to the airport for a honeymoon in Maine. They were booked into a bed and breakfast off the coast for the remainder of the week. Do not disturb, please.

* * * * * *

As the school year drifted into late fall, Leia was having conflicted feelings. Her friends from school were important to her, as friends were most important in any sixteen-year old girls world. Lately some of her friends had been giving her a hard time about hanging out with Sloane so much. They complained she was a dork and was giving Leia a bad reputation.

Leia tried to convince them otherwise explaining that Sloane had been home schooled and just didn't know anyone yet; she was still new. Her friends still chided her and Sloane didn't make it any better by entering high school as a brainy sophomore. The fact that her father was a favorite teacher was the one thing Leia's friends thought Sloane had going for her. Everything else was doubtful.

A few weeks after Isabel's wedding Leia ate lunch alone. She had ignored her normal lunchtime buddies and opted for sitting behind a tree in the dirt. She lit up a cigarette and looked around making sure Sloane, Max or Kyle wasn't anywhere around. Too hard to be bad with so many eyes watching. She closed her eyes and tried to contact Sloane. They hadn't been spending as much time together lately, mostly due to the pressure put on Leia by her friends. Sloane had asked her to do things with her almost daily and daily Leia declined. Now she needed to talk to her and Sloane wasn't around.

Leia never asked about the voices she'd heard while trying to reach Sloane after the start of school, nor did she mention getting tossed back in her chair with burning hands. It had been a few weeks since she'd tried to talk to Sloane this way. If Sloane actually responded it'd be the first time since they were small. She tapped ashes onto the ground and didn't notice anyone sitting down in front of her until she'd all but given up on Sloane and opened her eyes. She jumped when she saw Sloane in front of her smiling.

"Oh shit." Leia put her hand to heart. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

"I didn't know you smoked," Sloane motioned to the cigarette in Leia's hand.

"I don't," she stubbed it out and tossed the butt. "Not really. Just every once in awhile. You're not going to tell are you?"

"Of course not. Aunt Iz still smokes, but not a lot and never around anyone. Well, except my dad every once in while when he thinks he's cool to light up," Sloane laughed. "So, anyway, what did you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"You called me over here," Sloane grew serious.

"Oh," Leia said as her eyes widened. "So, you could hear me, huh?" A-ha!

"Yeah, kind of." Sloane shrugged. "I knew you were talking but I'm trying to tune that stuff out." She sighed.

"The other's?" Leia asked hesitantly earning a surprised look from Sloane. "I heard them, too."

"When?"

Leia finally told her about the day that she fell back, her hands burning. Sloane stifled a laugh picturing her friend lying on her back. "I'm sorry, I think that was me. I threw my dad across the room and I still don't know how."

"Who else was talking to you?"

"The same ones as before, when I was little." Sloane explained. "I thought they were gone until that day then everyone was talking at once and I freaked out. The parents were quite worried."

"I bet. Do you know who they actually are?"

"Not really. I couldn't understand what they were saying, your voice was more overbearing."

"Imagine that." Leia quipped.

"I thought I was going to crack again and next thing I know my dad's on the floor." Sloane smiled. "I guess some of what I used to have is back."

"Can I ask you something?" Leia raised her eyebrows as Sloane nodded. "I know you're probably tired of people asking but why did you close yourself up?"

Sloane grinned. "Leia, you are the first person to actually come right out and ask that. Everyone else wants to know if I can remember anything from before. No one has asked why I quit talking. I'll tell you, I didn't know for a long time, I was so little. The voices I heard were getting so scary, they were getting mean and telling me what to do and saying bad things about my parents and lying to me. I got so scared and didn't know what else to do. I just stopped everything."

"The voices went away then?" Leia asked as the bell rang denoting the end of lunch. Neither girl moved. "After you quit talking so did they?"

"Yeah, I think so. Or maybe I just quit hearing them." Sloane watched the other students trudging back into school for the rest of the afternoon. "Either way they were gone, everything was gone."

"So you do remember a little then?"

"It comes back to me in pieces." Sloane admitted. "I can't heal anyone I wouldn't even know how, but I almost remember you getting hit by that car. I can't remember anything about healing your mom, though." She hesitated. "I know what I did to Kyle."

"Oh. Shit. What do you say we skip the rest of the day? We can go hang out somewhere and talk, try to figure out what's going on."

"Okay." Sloane perked up and grabbed her backpack following her friend as they sneaked to the parking lot.

They piled into the ancient Tempo without being noticed. As Leia started up the car she thought everyone in a hundred-mile radius would hear the engine roar to life and the muffler growl. Leia floored the car out of the lot and flew through town hoping to not get spotted by her dad or one of his deputies that would tell.

* * * * * *

Inside the Granilith, where the light from outside didn't dare to enter, Leia Guerin and Sloane Evans had lost track of time. Leaving school after noon and concealing themselves inside the magical cavity had blocked out real life. Leia surprised Sloane by driving directly there after stopping for soft drinks and a few candles. Sloane had been impressed she could find the way after Leia had only been there once and Max had been driving. They sat on the floor and talked like normal high school girls for hours about whom they liked and whom they didn't. Boys they thought were cute and boys they thought liked them. They laughed like all normal girls did when they got together. Their alien heritage didn't come up for the first couple of hours.

"I can't believe we're here," Leia looked around her. "My dad would freak out if he knew we were here alone."

"Mine too." Sloane agreed. She ran her hand along a gleaming silver plate in front of her and got tingles in her fingertips. She pulled her hand away quickly and decided against saying anything. There was a lot of metal, she reasoned, probably just a little shock.

"So," Leia bobbed her head and sipped her soda. "At school you said you know about what happened with Kyle."

Sloane nodded. "I think I tried to kill him."

"Stealing breath," Leia supplied. "That's what I called it. I stopped you that night, do you remember?"

"Not really. I remember being afraid for my dad. I was so scared someone was coming to hurt him and I don't know who or why." Sloane shrugged and stretched her legs out in front of her.

"Do you remember telling me you were a 'warrior'? That was right before you said you didn't want to be my friend anymore." Leia sniffled exaggeratedly. "That was rough for a six year old to hear."

"I don't know why I said that. I'm sorry. I wish I could remember," Sloane sighed. "I want to know why I was so scared about the voices. I mean I know kind of, but I can't remember who they were or all of what they said. I hated them, but I felt like I knew them." She looked around. "Like here, I feel like I know the other one."

"Tess?" Leia sat up straighter eager to hear more about her than just a name.

"Yeah, Tess. When I came here with my dad I thought I could totally feel her, like her aura or something. It was so familiar." Sloane recalled the look her father had given her when she questioned him. "But he said I've never met her."

"Do you know anything else about her?" Leia pushed.

"Just that she wasn't very nice. My dad didn't want to talk about her."

"Shit. I was hoping you knew more about the mysterious Tess. My dad and yours told me not to worry about her when we came out here. I got her name from Max and a groan from my dad."

"I guess she wasn't really liked a lot even though she was a member of the Royal Four."

"The what?" Leia asked.

Sloane shook her head. "I don't know where that came from, Royal Four?"

"Four. Max was the King, Isabel is his sister and my dad was his second in command. Right? That's three. Is Tess really a bigger part of this than anyone wants to talk about?" Leia asked excitedly. "Where did you get the name Royal Four?"

"I just said it." Sloane rubbed her arms and glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Oh my God! It's after nine!"

"Holy shit!" Leia looked at her friend and laughed. "We are going to be in so much trouble!"

The girls scrambled to get together their things as a booming voice came from the entryway. "What the hell are you two doing here?" It was Michael and he was beyond pissed.

"Dad," Leia stood up with Sloane at her side. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?" He asked again looking from girl to girl. "Answer me. Now."

"We were talking and lost track of time, I swear." Leia tried to explain while Sloane nodded in agreement. They blew out the candles they were each holding letting the room slide into an almost blackened state.

"Why are you here?" He turned away before they had a chance to answer and whipped his cell phone of his belt. He angrily punched in numbers and waited. His one sided conversation was clear enough. "Yeah, found them--At the freaking Granilith--I know! --Oh no, we'll be leaving here very shortly. Leia will drop her off and I'll follow them." Michael turned back to the girls shaking his head. "Do you have any idea how worried we've been?"

"Sorry," they said in unison.

"I can't believe you two," he shook his head. "Let's go." He walked from the Granilith with the two girls trailing behind him. A glowing emblem in an otherwise darkened room glimmered after them.

He walked them to Leia's car and then followed them in the Sheriff's 4X4. The first stop was Max's and he was waiting outside. Michael waved as he watched Sloane being escorted inside the house. He knew he'd get the skinny from Liz later on. He grumbled as he followed his daughter home and then walked her inside to a frantic Maria.

"Leia!" Maria ran to her daughter and hugged her. "I am so pissed off at you I can't even see straight."

"Sorry mom, we just lost track of time."

"You skipped school," Michael stood in back of Leia and looked at Maria. "Max called you, right?"

"No, actually Liz did." Maria smiled then put her upset parent face back on. "Why did you skip school? Did something happen?"

"We just wanted to talk," Leia said not sure if she should reveal that Sloane was coming back around a little. "We needed to talk."

"What was so damn important that you had to leave school and drive out to the fuc-freakin' Granilith?" Michael asked.

"About things that go on with us." Leia sighed. "I'm weird, okay? So is Sloane. We're strange and we don't have anyone else to talk about what goes on with us except each other and to tell you the truth, until recently, Sloane was not the best conversationalist in the world."

"So you left school?" Maria's hands rested on her hips.

"We had to get away, to be together. You won't understand!"

"I'll try."

"No, you're not weird mom. Not weird like I am."

"I understand," Michael said softly from behind her. Leia swung around and faced him. "I do understand Leia. Growing up is hard enough without hiding this huge confusing secret. Max, Isabel and I had to get together and talk about things too. I do get that part. Next time, I want you to call and tell us. Okay? And I don't want you going back out there without Max, Iz or myself. Got it?"

"How long am I grounded for?" Leia bowed her head.

"You're not grounded." Michael said.

"Seriously?" Leia smiled.

"Yeah, now get to your room and do any homework you got form this morning and go to bed. Oh, but you and Sloane will both have detention for skipping." He smiled. "And guess who your detention teacher will be tomorrow? I'm sure Mr. Evans will have plenty of fun stuff for you girls to do."

Leia rolled her eyes and went to her room.

* * * * * *

Liz was pacing when Max brought their daughter inside. She looked at Sloane and wanted to strangle her. "I can't believe you ditched school and went to the Granilith."

"Liz," Max tried to step between mother and daughter.

"I'm sorry. Leia and I had to talk."

"That's what phone's are for." Liz snapped. "I was worried. We all were worried. You two aren't like the other kids."

"I know, that's what we were talking about."

"That's not an excuse!"

"Liz, it is an excuse." Max interceded on behalf of his daughter. "Michael, Isabel and I used to have to do the same thing when we were their age. They only have each other who can understand."

Liz looked at her husband and understood. Things were different for Sloane and Leia. They needed each other. "Okay, fine, you're off the hook."

"Just like that?" Sloane asked.

"Well," Max smiled. "You both have detention tomorrow for skipping and guess who's in charge? Do you have any idea how you two are going to spend tomorrow afternoon?"

Sloane hung her head and went to her room. She undressed and laid on the coolness of the comforter with her eyes shut. Then she heard Leia so clear and so alone.

Are you grounded?

"No. You?" Sloane asked out loud.

Nope. Are you okay? I don't hear anyone else.

"I'm good. Real good." Sloane whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

* * * * * *

The Holidays passed without incident. Time was spent with friends and family as it should be. The running joke of Amy Valenti not knowing about the aliens kept everyone who knew laughing. The Evans' spent Christmas Eve alone as a small family. Being the first one in a long time that Sloane truly felt like she was a part of.

Michael and Max took a day out to spend together; something that they hadn't done together in years. At Max's suggestion, they went to the Granilith and sat on the floor much like their daughters had a couple of months earlier. They sat with their backs against the dusty silver walls and kicked their legs out in front of them. A propane camping lantern sat in between them.

"You know, sometimes I almost forget we're not human. I feel human now, like, all the time. If it wasn't for the powers I wouldn't even know."

"What are you saying? That you miss being hunted and tortured? I don't." Max replied. "Do you miss the excitement?"

"I might. I mean nothing has happened in years. It's like we're card carrying members of the human race." Michael ran his hands through his hair. "I know that's all good but at the same time I feel so mundane."

"I think I know what you mean," Max nodded.

"Look at us Maxwell, we have kids in high school! Max the dork and Michael the rebel. We're parents, we have families and real jobs."

"And the end of earth could come in two short years." Max added wearily.

"The end only comes if Sloane's defeated and she won't be. After all, she is the warrior."

"She barely has any powers, she can't remember shit about before," Max hung his head. "How is she supposed to battle someone who was raised to fight, raised with anger by Tess and Khivar and win? How is she supposed to kill her own brother?"

"Man," Michael sighed. "You never talk about it; not since Liz and I told you. I don't know how you can deal with this. I know he's your son, but you've never even met him."

"That doesn't mean I don't love him," Max met Michael's eyes. "When I do meet him, he's going to be a grown man and he'll be here to kill my little girl. Damn it! I hate this knowledge. I almost wish I didn't know."

Michael closed his eyes and sighed. "I didn't want to tell you anything about it, Liz did. She thought you should know."

"I know there's more to it." He looked at the ground.

"That's for Liz to say."

"Liz is saying nothing."

"Then let it go, man."

Max nodded. "Let it play out like it's supposed to. You can't change the future, right?"

"You can try, but you'll fail if you think you know what you're doing." He thought about saying more. Telling Max of Tess's plan to make sure Sloane was not conceived and thought better of it. That was a story for Liz to tell if she got the nerve.

* * * * * *

School was back in session and Sloane had celebrated her sixteenth birthday by getting a car. It wasn't much, but she laughed saying it was better than Leia's Tempo. The Evans family had retired to bed already when their slumber was interrupted by a knock at the door close to one in the morning. Max went to the door with Liz behind him. Visitors in the middle of the night were not usually those bearing good news. Max turned on the porch light and opened the door letting in Leia Guerin. An odd expression on her face, her eyes void of emotion.

"Leia! It’s the middle of the night!" Max exclaimed. "What are you doing out?"

She looked back and forth between the two before focussing on Max. She didn't notice Sloane sitting near the top of the steps. "You were a King, Zan." Her voice was monotonous.

"Oh," Liz stifled an audible intake of breath and covered her mouth with her hand.

"We the Elders bring tidings." Leia didn't blink. "The current rule of Antar are preparing for a torturous battle. The assumed heir to the throne is erroneous in his belief. We bring you the knowledge of the true heir. A female bore to the King. A warrior." Leia fell forward. Max caught her with one arm and lowered her to the ground.

"Call Michael," Max yelled as he cradled Leia in his arms.

Sloane heard and watched her friend in fear. She knew it wasn't really Leia and she now knew her place. As she tiptoed back to her room she recognized her fate as a surge of energy roared through her. She was the one. Warrior.

* * * * * *

Chapter Five

The greeting from the Elders rocked the small alien community in Roswell. Leia didn't remember any of it. When she woke up at the Evans' house her parents were already there and she didn't have a clue why she was there or how she got there. Both Max and Michael deemed it a good idea not to tell Leia or Sloane anything about the strange ventriloquism. Max reminded the others about Brody and the strange 'alien abductions' he went through before he had moved away years before to be closer to his daughter.

Months after the mystifying message from the Elders, life became normal again for Leia and Sloane. They stole away together as much as they could often sitting in the Pod Chamber or Granilith. Sloane let Leia in on her memories of powers and anything new she discovered about herself as she found it out. She avoided conversations that led to questions about her being a warrior. The one thing she didn't tell her was that she heard what the Elders had said and she knew the weight of the world was on her shoulders, hers alone.

On a late spring day while sitting in the Pod Chamber, Sloane felt a rush of energy shoot through her. She gasped trying to catch her breath. Darkness crashed over her, through her. She began to rock as she heard the voices. Two of them: a man and a woman.

"You little bitch!" The woman screamed in Sloane's head. "How dare you think you're better!"

Leia scooted over to her friend and wrapped her arms around her, stroking her hair. "Sloane."

"I will destroy you," the male voice boomed. "I will be triumphant!"

Sloane squeezed her eyes shut fighting off the violence in her head. Clasping her hands together into fists, her fingernails making indentations in her palm drawing blood. "No, no, no."

"I will walk in your shadow and watch you fall." The female voice became softer. "I had you in my control so long ago and I'll get you back. I had everyone once and they'll all regret the day they persecuted their Queen. Your Queen."

Sloane rocked harder, her mouth agape, saliva collecting in the corners of her mouth.

"You won't fight me with help and you can't win alone." The male voice was still so loud.

Leia began to cry as she held her friend. Her tears falling in Sloane's hair. "Sloanie, please come back!"

The voices were gone as fast as they had came. Sloane stopped rocking and opened her eyes looking into the red one's of Leia. "Bad."

Leia smiled and hugged her closer. "You have to tell your dad. He might know what to do."

"No, I can't." Sloane cried. "This is me. They're coming for me and I have to do it alone. She said she was my queen, Leia, I don't have a queen."

"Queen?" Leia's brows knitted together then her eyes widened. "The fourth. Tess? Was Tess the queen to your dad's king?"

"Oh God," Sloane closed her eyes again feeling sick. As soon as Leia had said it, she knew it was the truth.

"My dad or Isabel. We have to tell them. If that was Tess in your head they should know. They can help you, Sloane. They knew her. They can at least tell us if we're right."

Sloane relented and nodded. The last people she wanted to talk about this with were her parents. Did her mom know? Aunt Isabel would tell her the truth, she'd never held out on her before. The girls scurried off to Isabel's, Leia driving Sloane's car because of her friend's shakiness. Leia pounded on the door frantically until Rick answered. He let the girl's in upon seeing their pained expressions. Isabel walked into the living room, immediately sensing something was severely wrong. The three females sat at the table while Rick made himself scarce.

"What's up?" Isabel asked looking back and forth between them. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Heard one's more like it." Leia commented.

"What are you talking about?"

"Sloane," Leia looked to her friend. "She's hearing the voices again. It got pretty bad today at the Pod Chamber."

"You aren't suppose to be there alone." Isabel chided.

"We know, but we were anyway." Leia rolled her eyes. "Anyway, the voice's came back and we think its Tess."

"Tess?" Isabel nearly choked on the name. "You girls don't know anything about Tess! Why would you think it was her?"

"Was she the queen to my dad's king?" Sloane asked quietly looking at her aunt through the tops of her eyes.

"Oh," Isabel's hands grew clammy. Damn it, she thought, they should have been told sooner and by someone else! "Okay. Well, Tess was a pain in the ass to be honest."

"Answer me Aunt Iz, please."

"Why aren't you going to your parents with this?"

"I want the truth," Sloane shrugged. "I don't want to bring up anything that will upset either of them."

"Okay. In the other life, yes, Tess was the queen. Her name was Ava." Isabel cussed Max out in her mind. "Your dad doesn't remember her as Ava."

"Only as Tess, right. No one ever talks about her and she was important, wasn't she?" Leia cut in. "I mean she was part of the Royal Four and then one day she's just gone and that's the end of it? We don't buy it."

"Well, Miss Guerin, I don't care what you buy or not." Isabel frowned. "Tess is long gone. I doubt she's telling Sloane anything."

"In my head she said she was the Queen. She was my Queen and something about everyone she had in her control would regret the day they persecuted her."

Without another second's thought Isabel knew the girl's were right. It was Tess and she was pissed. "Okay. Let's tell your dad's and see what they think."

"No!" Sloane said obstinately. "I don't want him to know. He'll worry and I don't want him to. Please, let's just keep it between us, okay?"

"I can't Sloane," Isabel shook her head. "You're his daughter he should know."

"It'll hurt him and mom," Sloane sighed. "I want to know the truth about her, but not at any cost. If my parents are hurt from the truth, then don't tell me."

"Sloane, so much happened before you were born. Thing's that don't have to be brought up now," Isabel didn't think she was really lying. "If you really need answers, go to your parents. Don't put me in the middle like this."

"I'm sorry," Leia sighed. "We just thought we might have figured something out and wanted to know fir sure. Tess, or Ava, or whatever the hell her name is, was the queen or is the queen. Whatever. She was a pain in the ass and no one liked her so she zoomed off back to outer space never to be heard from again except in Sloane's head. Right?"

"You don't have to be such a smart ass Leia," Isabel held back a smile. "And yes, something like that but I don't know if it's Tess in Sloane's head. I guess it really could be anyone." She looked to Sloane and saw the accusatory stare. "It's probably Tess, though, I don't know why. Can you tune her out?"

"And not talk again for ten years?" Sloane asked dryly.

Isabel closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, Sloanie."

"If I tune them out I think I tune everything out. Any powers that I might be getting back might go away again. I think it's like a giant on/off switch."

Isabel looked defeated. Her niece had to have powers, there wasn't anyway she could fight without them. Wait a second. "Them? Who else?"

"A man." Sloane didn't offer anymore. It was bad enough that she knew she was the warrior already, now she knew the voice of the person she had to battle. She watched her aunt swallow and close her eyes. Did she know who the mystery man was? "We should go." Sloane pushed her chair back abruptly and stood. "Leia, c'mon."

Leia looked confused at her friend but followed her with the feeling that she'd always follow her. Isabel bade them good-bye at the door, a sensation of dread looming over her.

* * * * * *

Days passed before Isabel called a meeting between herself, Max and Michael. Max picked them up in Liz's new convertible with the top down, Michael in the front and Isabel in back with her hair pulled up into a high ponytail. He drove out of town into the desert, the wind whipping their hair as nostalgia washed over him. It was so long ago, he couldn't even remember the last time just the three of them had been alone together. The familiar path to the Pod Chamber felt well worn under the tires although you'd miss it if you didn't know it was there. He parked and they got out of the car and walked inside.

"The girl's know about Tess." Isabel said bluntly as she trailed her hand along the pod that she had emerged from.

"What do you mean? What do they know?" Max asked alarmed.

Isabel shrugged. "Not much. Don't you think it's time you told them, or at least Sloane?"

"They came to you about her?" Max felt lightheaded.

"Yeah, both of them." She sighed. "Sloane's hearing voices and she thinks it's Tess. I think she's right."

"Tess." Michael nodded. "I'm sure it is. Just because you leave the planet doesn't make you any less of a bitch. What's she saying to her?"

"She told Sloane she was her Queen. Sloane needs to know the truth about her and Lantham."

"No." Max shook his head. "No way. Liz would never go for it."

"Frankly I don't give a damn what Liz goes for or what she doesn't." Isabel said raising her eyebrows. "This is my niece and she needs to be told. She has a half brother out there that is going to try to kill her!"

"No." Max was defiant. "Sloane isn't suppose to know about the future. Technically, no one is suppose to know the future until it comes. If it wasn't for Liz and her anonymous source," he cast a sideways glance at Michael," none of us would have any idea about anything until we got the message from the Elders. Even then it was less than vague."

"It's not fair," she said crossing her arms over her chest. "She's barely gotten any of her powers back. She can't defeat him. She's going to lose which means we all lose. Everyone!"

"Have faith, Iz." Michael touched her elbow.

"How can I?" Her raised voice a few octaves causing a reverberation around the dome sending chills to both Max and Michael. "How can I have faith? I love Sloane, but give me a break; she hasn't used her powers since she was five! At least when she was five she could steal breath now she can't do anything. Tess taught Lantham to hate you Max, you and your family. She's going to enjoy this, watching us fall, watching Earth fall when our only hope is a scared sixteen year old who hears voices."

"Shut up Isabel," Max glared at her. She stared at him; through all the fights they'd had over the years she didn't think he'd ever actually told her to shut up. "Sloane can do it. Like Michael said, have faith."

"I'm not ready to die!" she turned away from them. "I have a life, finally. I have a husband who loves me for who I am. I have a great family and I don't want to die."

"We're not going to die." Michael said calmly as his own thoughts that were so similar to hers bounced around his consciousness. "No one is going to die except for Lantham." He looked to Max in time to see him close his eyes. "I'm sorry, man, but you know that's the way it's going to play out. Sloane and the rest of us live. He dies."

Max nodded. "He's still my son. Just don't forget that."

* * * * * *

Sloane paced in her bedroom with her hands over her ears trying to keep the invading voices at bay. Wishing Leia was there with her to help her block them out, or her dad. No one else could help her. The two people she had the strongest connection with were nowhere around. She knew she'd have to start fighting her own battles and she guessed it was a good time to start. She looked across to the open window and focused on a dying tree in the backyard. Focus Sloanie, she told herself. Focus. She watched in amazement as the tree burst into flames and the voices were gone.

As her mother was yelling from downstairs about a fire in the backyard, Sloane Evans smiled to herself. Maybe she could get back everything she had lost before it was too late. When were the verbal attackers going to become physical ones? She asked herself. It didn't matter. When the time came, she'd be ready.

Whoever these people in her head were, she'd kick their asses. She didn't care if it was Tess the great and terrible or not, it didn't matter. They wanted to meet the warrior? Bring them on.

* * * * * *

Liz and Michael sat in a back booth at Rizzo's almost completely cut off from the rest of the restaurant. Meeting for a secret dinner, they both felt the weight of guilt. No one understood the friendship they maintained; they didn't always understand it themselves either. Starting out as enemies had led them to be friends. What they didn't have in their significant others, they had in each other.

"Isabel still freaking out?" Liz asked.

"Kind of," Michael smiled. "She hasn't said much to me about anything, really. She doesn't have faith in Sloane, I hope that doesn't hinder her."

"Sloane hasn't shown any more powers that I know of. The tree in the backyard last week I think could have been her because it was only her, me and Jack home. Or it could have been a freak bolt of lightening."

"Still nothing from Jack, huh?"

"Hardly even a word. He's a morose kid, I don't get it." She shrugged and tucked her short hair behind her ears. "Maybe it has something to do with Sloane not speaking, but I don't know. He doesn't want to do anything. It's kind of sad."

"Kids are like that sometimes," Michael shrugged. "Look how crazy Leia was when she was little."

"As opposed to?"

"Bad example." He ran his hands through his hair. "Screw it, I don't know Liz. I don't know anything anymore. I do know I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach whenever I think about the future. Max said something the other day that made me think. We're not supposed to know about the future until it comes."

"I'm sorry I told you then." She snapped.

"No," he reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "I'm glad that you trusted me enough to come to me. It’s just sometimes I wish I didn't know. I feel like I have to prepare and I don't know how."

"Don't prepare Michael." She smiled. "Maybe it won't happen."

"It's Tess, Liz. Max wasn't going to tell you, but one of the voices Sloane hears is Tess."

Liz shook her head as the color drained from her face and tried to lean back, Michael kept a grip on her hand and pulled her back to the table. "No."

"Yeah, Sloane and Leia went to Isabel and she told Max and I at the Chamber." Michael blew out a breath. "She knows Tess was or is the Queen. Sloane didn't want to hurt you by coming to you about it so she went to Iz who didn't tell them much about her except she was a pain in the ass, I believe."

"That's putting it kindly," she instinctively rubbed her brand over her pants. "So, Tess thinks she can get to Sloane by messing with her head, huh? That's fantastic," Liz released Michael's hand. "Let her try. We're stronger than she is. We all are."

"Sloane has to fight alone," he reminded her.

"And she will, but with all the support of this fucking planet behind her." Liz said with audacity. "No one will stand by and let them win, especially me."

* * * * * *

Morgan Valenti stormed into their apartment and went to the bedroom where she began tossing her clothes out of the closet on to the bed. Kyle approached her from the back and touched her shoulder.

"Don't fucking touch me." Morgan said without looking at him.

"Morgan, please. I can explain."

"Explain? There is nothing to explain except for how you got to be such a self-serving asshole."

"Morgan, wait. You haven't said more than tow words to me since we left the office."

"Explain to me again why I should?" She turned to face him so he could see the hurt and pain in her eyes. "Go ahead."

He reached for her hands and held them limply in his own. "I'm sorry. I should have told you, I should have fixed it."

"Would of, could of, should of." She said blankly. "Didn't."

"I'm sorry. I never thought it would interfere with anything. I didn't want you to know."

"We got booted by the adoption agency because you got a fucking DUI, Kyle. We lost our only chance at having a child because you were drunk!" Tears poured down her cheeks. "I don't know if I can ever forgive you for this."

"I didn't want to tell you," he looked deep in his wife's blue eyes, "because I was embarrassed to. I got drunk because Michael told me the end of the world could be coming in like, less than two years."

"I know about that, Maria told me." Morgan spoke with clenched teeth. "We could have discussed it together. There's going to be a battle for control of the throne, right?"

"Something like that, I don't think he told me everything." Kyle said. "I don't know between who and who. Do you?"

"No," Morgan shook her head momentarily forgetting her anger and immersing herself in alien gossip. "That's all Maria said and I think that's all she knows."

Kyle shook his head. "It's all alien bullshit to me. Morgan, I love you, okay? I messed up and I'm sorry. Will they ban us forever? I don't think so. We'll adopt a baby, okay? I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." She pulled a suitcase out from under the bed and folded her clothes into it. "I'm leaving. I don't know if I'm leaving you or the situation, yet. I'll let you know."

"Where are you going?" He asked quietly.

"I'll let you know." She zipped up her bag and walked past her husband leaving him in the cool wake of her departure. He called Maria's and warned her Morgan was probably on her way and then gave her the condensed version of what happened.

* * * * * *

Chapter Six

The seasons passed, melting into each other like sand. Sand was telling the story and it was ordinary. It had been over a year since Sloane had heard the other voices in her head. Since her and Leia had found out the puzzling Tess had been her father's Queen. Sloane had pushed the voices away from her. She didn't hear Leia as much, only occasionally; she knew when Leia wanted to be heard she would be no matter what. The others, Tess and the man, were gone. From her breathtaking display of setting the tree on fire the voices had been driven away. Her powers seemed to be restoring themselves, although she hadn't told anyone except Leia. She was turning eighteen after the first of the year and graduating high school that following spring. Her family went about day to day never mentioning a word about anything important that would concern her in the future. They never told her about the night Leia had come with a message from the Elders or who the Elders were. She hated being in the dark, but maybe that was the way fate had it planned for her. A great battle was going to be fought and she was the one to do it. She didn't know where or when or even how and no one was telling her. She caught the uneasy glances from her parents when they thought she wasn't paying attention. Didn't they believe in her?

It had gotten much worse lately. Michael, Maria and Isabel visited constantly, the five adults hiding in clandestine conferences. Sometimes Kyle and Jim Valenti were present as well. It was coming.

* * * * * *

Kyle Valenti looked at the half-unmade bed and sighed. One side was perfect, as always. It had been over a year since anyone had slept on the perfect side. Morgan hadn't returned and he couldn't blame her. He had dashed her dreams of having a family by getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking. He considered himself lucky, though, he could have killed himself or worse, someone else. He hadn't had a drop to drink since the night Morgan left.

After staying at the Guerin/DeLuca residence for a brief time she rented a small apartment on the other side of Roswell. They weren't divorced or even legally separated, just apart and Kyle missed her desperately. It had been a long year without his wife. They had gone on a few dates and seen each other at family and/or friend functions. Kyle could see in her eyes that she still loved him. He wore his heart on his sleeve when he saw her or talked to her. There would never be another Morgan.

A knock at the door confused him, no one ever came over there, except occasionally Maria or Isabel, however, and they always called first. He opened the front door and stepped back. It was Morgan. His wife. She smiled and walked past him inside.

"Hi," she sat on the couch and looked at Kyle. "How are you?"

"Okay," he stuttered. "You?"

"Sad, lonely and scared." She looked into his eyes. "I miss you Kyle, can I come home?"

He grinned and knelt in front of her wrapping his arms around her waist, burying his face at her waist. She laughed and he felt his heart ache from the noise. "Please, come home." He murmured into her. "Please."

"Sloane's turning eighteen soon and I'm scared Kyle," she admitted. "It could be the end of the world and there's no one I'd rather spend the remaining time with that you."

"Me too, baby, me too." He sat next to her and clasped her hands. "I'm sorry for everything. You have to know that by now."

"I know, I'm sorry too. I was being so selfish," Morgan chided herself. "I saw all our friends with kids and I felt so left out. I mean, neither us can do anything spectacular and then we didn't have kids, and I felt out of the loop. It felt like a last chance effort to adopt and you let me down. It took awhile for me to figure out that I left for all the wrong reasons. You are enough for me Kyle, you always have been."

"Really?" He looked in her eyes and saw the truth.

"Yeah, always." She leaned to him and hugged him. "So, Sloane gonna be able to save us all or are we going to perish or become slaves?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Hopefully she's going to save the world."

* * * * * *

Liz watched her daughter laughing while helping her younger brother trim the Christmas tree. She got out her camera and said Sloane's name. The teenager turned around and Liz snapped her picture. Liz felt the goosebumps as she looked through the lens; it was the picture from her dream. She quickly turned to Jack and saw the other one from her dreams; she took his picture before he had time to turn around. All those years ago Liz had thought the picture was of high school graduation. God, she grimaced, was that a sign there wasn't going to be a graduation?

The doorbell interrupted her negative thoughts. She opened the door to see the person who had been her best friend, but was now just a friend. Maria DeLuca came bearing gifts. She motioned down to her extended arms and a pan of brownies.

"Maria?" Liz let her in instinctively looking for Michael to be with her.

"It's just me," she sighed and handed the brownies of to her. "Sorry."

"No, I'm glad you're here," Liz said uncomfortably and walked the brownies into the kitchen, Maria trailed her and sat down. "So, what's going on?"

"I want to talk to you. Just you, with no Max or Michael around." Maria took a deep breath. "We were tighter than sisters, you know that? I would have done anything for you and then one day you were gone. You didn't want to hang out with me anymore or talk to me about anything important, it was all Michael. You dumped me for Michael and I need to know why." She glanced to the kitchen door. "If the world's ending, I need to know why you dumped me before that, Liz. I can take hearing the truth, but I have to know!"

"Wow," Liz sat down across from her after helping herself to a brownie, a warm one at that. "I never dumped you Maria."

"Yeah, yeah you did. Straight up." Maria nodded. "One day it was Liz and Maria and the next it was Liz and Michael. I need to know why you go to him and not me."

Liz took a deep breath. "He understood me. He does understand me when I need to talk to him about this alien wackiness."

"I would understand too, Liz."

"Not like Michael. With you it would be more drama that I needed and I found the kind of support I needed in Michael. I never meant to, but I did." She watched as her friend's confidence deflated. "I don't expect you to understand, I know Max doesn't. Once you get close to someone and tell them all your secrets, it's hard to back away. It was hard not to tell you things Maria, but at the time, Leia was little and you were trying to take care of her. I was told to talk to Michael."

"By who?"

"Okay," Liz took a deep breath shaking her head slightly. She told her the rest of the story about their knowledge of Sloane's fate and how she was told. Maria stared in disbelief. "I know, sounds crazy, doesn't it?"

"I can't believe you guys didn't fill me in sooner. Max too, you know."

"I'm sorry," Liz offered. "It snowballed after that. I trusted Michael with my life, I still do. I wish I could tell you we wouldn't be friends anymore, but I'd be lying."

"I'm not asking you to give him up," she grinned. "He's like a drug, I could never go a day without a Michael -fix. Anyway, I just want to be back in your life, Liz. I miss my Lizzie."

"I miss my Hurricane," Liz smiled and stood. The two women met in the center of the kitchen and hugged. They hugged for all the years they had been apart and then for all the years they had together.

* * * * * *

The basement was damp and dingy, as basements should be. Sloane was on a mission to find the manger to set up under the tree. She hadn't seen it in the past few years, but this year she needed it to be set up. Digging through the boxes she stumbled upon something she knew was never meant for her eyes. Never meant for anyone's eyes except the person who wrote it. Her mother. Sloane placed her hand on top of a stack of leather bound journals and took a deep breath. It would be such an invasion of privacy to read them, to even skim through them. These were her mother's private thoughts. Sloane knew she had no right to look through them.

Temptation. Would they tell her the truth of what was to happen? Would they unleash the secrets of the mysterious Tess? She closed her eyes and debated the options. Knowing, not knowing. Maybe, she'd just peek at them, she thought. Not stopping to read anything too personal, just looking for the answers that everyone was so unwilling to give her.

She picked up the stack and took the one off the bottom and flipped it open to the first page:

September twenty-third. Entry number one. My name is Liz Parker and five days ago I died.

Sloane got goosebumps. She knew the story of her dad saving her mom, almost like a fairy tale, an extraterrestrial one, but none the less a fairy tale. She flipped through the rest of the journal picking out names and nothing else. Two books later, she found the first mention of Tess:

I don't like her. Not at all. Maybe I'm not giving her a chance, but I don't trust her. I think she's hiding a hell of a lot more than anyone realizes, but no one will listen to me. After all, I'm just a human.

Sloane grinned hearing her mother's sarcasm. She flipped through the pages only pausing enough to read about when they had found out Tess was alien. The next book was sad. Her mother's penmanship was different, her thoughts melancholy. References to a person who told her what she had to do were vague. A period of separation and grief. She didn't read the full entries, still only looking for the four-letter name. It was near the end off the book three that she saw Tess written in red:

It's been a few days since I wrote to you, but to be honest, I wasn't in the mood. Max and I went to prom as friends and it ended up with him kissing Tess. I felt my heart shatter in a million pieces. I don't care if they're destined to be together, that doesn't make it fair or right. I wish Tess Harding had never come here. Destiny sucks and I lost. Seeing them kiss made my head hurt. Won't he ever realize how much I love him? All that I've given for him?

Sloane wiped at her eyes hearing her mother's heartbroken voice. Tess was important to them all. She was a part of their small group and her mom didn't like her at all. Sloane glanced at the basement steps hoping her parents wouldn't decide to see what was taking so long. The beginning of the next one was as far as Sloane needed to read. She knew the story of the three staying behind after the Granilith took off with Tess. That information had been pried from Isabel after much harassment from Leia. Tear stains on the pages:

Max Evans slept with Tess. Tess! Of anyone in the world, it was her. I shouldn't be so mad at him, but I am. He tells me this as he's getting ready to zoom off and leave forever. He's still here, though, and she's gone. We, the stupid humans, figured it out. Tess was the one who killed Alex. I'll never forget the look as Michael climbed out of the Granilith to stay here with Maria. It was so beautiful. We stormed in and told them the truth. Now Max thinks everything is going to be just fine between us, but it's not. How can it be fine when he has a son out there? How can it be perfect when he got Tess pregnant?

Sloane dropped the book as fear rippled through her. A son. Tess's son. She had a half-brother. Memories from years ago echoed in her head, 'my brother', and 'my brother's mother.'

She shook her head as realization dawned on her. It was her brother she was going to have to battle.

* * * * * *

Chapter Seven

The day of Sloane's eighteenth birthday was cool and rainy. A small party was going on when Leia Guerin stood and marched up to Max. "King Zan," her voice was as monotonous as before. Maria ran towards her daughter, but Michael held her back. The small crowd watched in awe.

"We the Elders bring tidings," she droned as Sloane took the spot next to her father. "The time has come, a conflict is arising and it shall travel to you forthwith. The true heir," Leia turned her expressionless eyes to Sloane, "is proficient in her ways and is able to defeat the rule. The female bore to the King is a savior of your people. If she is defeated, may there be mercy on her soul."

"How do I fight him?" Sloane stood up straighter next to her father.

"You shall know when the time is right," Leia spoke to her then turned back to Max. "Evil arrives and will not leave until it has been conquered. If your heir can succeed, you need not agonize, the current rule's fate has been sealed."

"Why can't you show yourselves?" Sloane asked.

"We come in a vessel of trust." Leia fell backwards with Michael catching her. Maria hovered over her daughter caressing her smooth cheek and brushing the hair back out of her face.

Sloane looked to Max and smiled. "I know he's my brother." A collective gasp echoed in the room.

"How?" Liz asked hoarsely.

Sloane shook her head not ready to disclose the snooping. "It's okay. Everything's going to be okay."

* * * * * *

The Evans, Guerin/DeLuca and Valenti families had been walking on eggshells for the last eight days. Eight days had passed since Sloane Evans had turned eighteen. Leia Guerin sat across from her friend and looked at her intently.

"You have to tell me what the hell is going on with you." Leia demanded. "You're different Sloane, tell me why."

Sloane shrugged. A few days before her birthday she had gone to the Granilith alone, the lights had been on and a glowing emblem welcomed her inside. She touched the symbols and warmth spread across her hand into her bloodstream. A kind of warmth that made her feel welcome and wanted, needed and invited. Was it a hoax or was it from the Elders? "I don't know, I just don't feel like doing anything, okay?"

"No, it's not okay. I've got some old guys taking over my body to talk to you and you can't even give me the time of day. I think that sucks." Leia stood and paced in front of her friend.

"I don't care, Leia. I can't worry about you right now, okay?"

"No, it's not okay. I've always stood by you and now you want to push me away like I was nothing? I can't believe you are being such a bitch!"

"I have to protect you Leia, don't be around me or I can't save you."

"You're not fucking Wonder Woman, Sloane."

"No, but apparently I'm going to have to be or we're all screwed. They told me, okay? My mom finally told me what the fate of this damn planet is. Do you know Leia? Do you know what's at risk if I fail?" Sloane stood up inches away from her friend's face. "They'll bring their stupid war to Earth and destroy it. Because of me. Because I was born and because I'm a girl. Everyone I know and love will die. Because they know me their deaths will be worse. I don't want to see that happen to you."

Leia fought back tears. "I won't let you down. Let me help."

"You're not a part of this, it's me! I don't need you Leia. Go home. Just stay away from me."

"You'll always need me, Sloanie." Leia whispered and walked from the room.

"I know," Sloane whispered after her before she collapsed on her bed in tears.

* * * * * *

"Are my mom and Jim gone yet?" Maria asked anxiously as Michael walked in the door.

"Yeah, I saw them board the plane off for a nice trip to Florida. Love that Florida sun." He smiled. "I wish we could have forced Leia to go with them."

"Leia will never do what she doesn't want to."

"Kind of reminds me of someone else," he looked at his wife and took her hands. "It's close you know, can you feel it in the air?"

"Like electricity. I don't know if it's because everyone can feel it or I've just been hanging around all you freaking aliens for too long."

"I love you Maria, always remember that. No matter what happens, never forget my love."

"Don't start talking like we're all going to die, okay?" Maria's voice broke. Michael tried to hide the fact that he thought they might but was unsuccessful. "Oh no, you can't believe that."

"I don't know Maria, I don't know if Sloane can do it or not." He ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know what she has to do to win."

"She has to kill him," Maria said bluntly.

"I don't know if she can. If she can't, first it'll be Max, then Isabel and then me. Our death's will be eminent."

"Damn it Michael, don't talk like that."

"It could happen, baby, I don't want it to, but it could." He pulled her into him. "I just have to make sure no matter what, you'll always hold me in your heart. You'll always know how much I cared for you and how much I love you."

"Michael-"

"Promise me Maria." He pleaded.

"I promise," she said between sobs and clung to him praying that it wouldn't be the last time she ever had the chance to hold him.

* * * * * *

Isabel and Rick embraced at the airport departing gate. She kissed him and interlaced her fingers with his. "Stay away until I call you back, okay?"

"Isabel, I'll never pretend to understand all of this crazy stuff that goes on in your life. But when I married you, I married you for better or for worse."

"This is not the kind of worse they were talking about, Rick." She managed a smile. "You should have left days ago. The vibes are so strong now. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you because of me."

"Will you call me?"

"I will when I can," she looked down. "I'll call you every night. When you don't hear form me you'll know it began. If you haven't heard from me in a few days, expect the worse but hope for the best. Try Max's or Michael's."

"I hate leaving you like this." He heard his flight number announced. "Reconsider?"

"No, Rick. Just go. I love you."

"And I love you Isabel Evans!" He picked her up and swung her around in his arms. "I'd marry you all over again if I could. Don't you dare think about leaving me."

Isabel watched him board his flight before the tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn't care about the people staring at her. She didn't care that mascara was running down her face in black rivers. All she cared about was that may have been the last time she ever saw her husband.

She walked out into the blinding sunlight and got into Liz's convertible with Max at the wheel. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, fine." She nodded and looked out the side. "You got a dent in the front bumper, did you see that?"

"Yeah," he smiled. "I hit a telephone pole the other day in the rain. I offered to work some powers on it, but Liz got a funny look on her face and said to keep it like it was." He shrugged. "I don't know. Sometimes women don't make any sense. So, where to? You're house or ours?"

"Mine. I want to get something's together and then come over and stay with Sloane. How is she? Any amazing powers I should know about?"

Max shook his head. "No. She can do a few things, but they're superficial."

Isabel picked up his free hand and held it. "I love you Max, okay? You were the only family I had for so long. I don't think you have any idea how much you mean to me. Remember, I'll stand by your side until the end."

"I love you too, Iz." He slipped on a pair of sunglasses and turned his attention back to the road.

Max dropped his sister off at home and drove to his own home. His wife waited on the front porch, a jacket wrapped tightly around her.

"What's wrong?" He asked running up the steps.

"Nothing, just thinking about things." She smiled. "Jack's taking a nap and Sloane's in her room. Jack's got a huge cut on his leg. He was outside and slid into that tree stump in the backyard, I thought he might need stitches."

"He okay?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. You can fix him," Liz smiled. Using the term to 'fix' instead of heal had been a running joke since Leia had first said it twelve years before. "Sloane was there, Max. She placed her hands on him and nothing. She can't do it anymore."

Max hung his head as things began to look bleak for them. Their only hope was a girl who could change the color of her hair with the wave of her hand and not much else. "I love you, Liz. You know that, right?"

"Of course I know that. I've always known that." Liz took his hand and led him to the porch swing. "It's not over Max, don't act like it is. This is far from over. I can feel it in the air too."

"Really? I drove to the Granilith to pick up some notebooks I forgot there and it seemed alive. Lights were blinking, a humming vibration was echoing through it. I think I almost figured out how it works for time travel." He looked in his wife's big brown eyes. "It was freaky. I think they're on their way."

"Tess will be here, right?"

"I don't know Liz," he answered honestly. "If there's an opportunity to watch us fall I think she'd want a front row seat."

"I figured." Liz nodded and nuzzled in closer to her husband. "I'll stand by you no matter what. I'll fight for my family until the second I die. I always loved you Max, always."

Max wiped his eyes and buried his face in her neck, rocking her back and forth.

* * * * * *

Morgan and Kyle had decided to stay in Roswell after all, they joked around that they'd rather die with everyone else instead of in a different city where they didn't know anyone. Always better to die with friends, Morgan had said the last time the small group had gotten together to discuss matters the day after Sloane's birthday.

A warning phone call from Isabel telling them about the vibes in the atmosphere had made them lock the doors to the apartment and cuddle next to each other on the couch under a quilt.

"It's almost time, huh?" Morgan asked while eating popcorn.

"I'm glad my dad's out of town," Kyle remarked. "I wouldn't want to have to worry about him too."

"Maybe it'll be okay, you know, and then we can go back to our lives and live happily ever after."

"Sounds like a fairytale. There's never any sex in fairytales."

* * * * * *

Sloane Evans had locked herself in her room hours earlier. She felt the energy in the air and knew it was time. She was going to meet her half-brother and the battle was to begin. She overheard the talks about her powers being diminished, about the fear they had because she wasn't strong enough to win. Holding out her hand in front of her she looked to her open palm as a green flicker of flame appeared. She guided the flame with her eyes; the green bouncing off her amber irises made her eyes seem to twinkle. The flame leapt from her palm to her other hand and then back again. With a blink it was gone.

She blew greenish-gray dust from her hands and rested back on her bed. She had heard Leia's voice earlier but ignored her. She couldn't let her get hurt or worse. None of them.

* * * * * *

Nine days had passed since the infamous birthday and all still seemed calm except for the power still buzzing in the air. The Guerin/DeLuca family were staying in their home as a family, waiting. Isabel had taken over the guestroom at the Evans' home and tried to spend time with Sloane to work on her powers. Sloane refused the offer of help and spent most of her time closeted away alone in her bedroom.

After dinner Max couldn't take it anymore, he had to get out of the house. After a brief disagreement with Liz and Isabel about it, he walked out the front door and down the street of their quiet residential neighborhood. His thoughts slid to his daughter, he was so proud of her. She was taking this better than he would have imagined. Better than he would have had it been the other way around. So cool and so collected about everything. If she was worried, she wasn't showing it. Maybe Sloane had a trick or two up her sleeve.

Max wondered a lot about the decisions they'd made with Sloane. Thinking on it now it seemed like it might have been a good idea to tell her the truth earlier on. Telling her the whole Tess ordeal wouldn't have killed them. It might now, but it wouldn't have before. Of course there were questions that both Sloane and Leia wanted answers to. Max reflected on the questions he had when he was growing up. He didn't have anyone to ask, the girl's did and they were denied the answers.

He stopped about a block away from his house on his way back home. Gooseflesh breaking out on every surface of skin. A cold sweat on a cool night began running down his face, soaking under his arms. He sensed her presence before he heard her. The voice from behind him, it was unmistakable.

"Hello Max."

* * * * * *