FIC: Followers Story of Lines Book XI
Author: rttavi@aol.com
Rating: R
Distribution: Please, ask first.
Pairing: CC M/L & Mi/M
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Roswell or the characters of Roswell. I don't profit from anything. Original story and new characters are solely mine.
Spoilers: S2
Feedback: Send it to rttavi@aol.com
Notes: Like I said last time, I didn't have closure. Still don't. Too much is left to do, too many avenues to explore. This is for you guys <still bowing with hat in hand>.Thank you. Without the first ten, not a clue.


Chapter One


Sloane looked to her date, "stay with my parents." She met Leia's eyes as Leia moved closer to her.

Morgan wrapped her arm round Kyle's waist, feeling the tremors rolling through him. He was pale with sweat dripping from his face and staining underneath his arms; Morgan had tears of confusion in her eyes. Isabel and Rick backed away from Tess as she strode towards them. Instinctively, Michael led his new bride behind him. Max did the same to Liz. Jim Valenti sat and took deep breaths, his breathing became shallow. Amy rubbed his arm and told him everything was going to be okay. He rested his hand on his wife's arm and nodded.

Kyle couldn't pry his eyes away from her. It's Tess, he told himself, manipulating murdering Tess. He felt his wife around him but at the same time couldn't feel anything at all. He was numb.

"Kyle," Morgan whispered shakily into his ear while keeping one eye on who she guessed was Tess. "Kyle, baby. Kyle?"

"I think he's ignoring you." Tess whispered loudly and giggled again.

"No," Max touched Morgan's shoulder as she opened her mouth.

Sloane and Leia stood in front of the others watching Tess. Their arms touched presenting a united front against her. With a wave of Tess's hand, tables flew off the ground around them landing haphazardly in the yard. Amy and Morgan screamed. Liz reached to Chris and grabbed his arm pulling him closer to her. He came willingly, his mouth gaping.

"This is so sweet, almost like a big family reunion!" Tess clapped and looked at Jim. "Hi dad. How's it going?" Jim shook his head and held his wife's hand not facing the woman he once considered part of his family. "What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

"What do you want Tess?" Max called to her, redness creeping up his neck.

"I just came by to congratulate the happy couple," she smiled at Michael. "Finally married her, huh? I can't believe it. After all this time I would have thought you'd tire of her. I've heard stories about the real Rath; he never had the same woman two nights in a row."

Sloane felt the anger flowing off Leia.

No!

"Get the fuck out of here you bitch!" Leia spoke rapidly as she heard Sloane in her head. "You're so not welcome here."

"Big words from such a little girl," Tess grinned and waved her hand towards Leia.

Leia gasped as she felt pain searing through her cheek. She raised her hand to her face; it came back bloody. She looked at the blood on her hand and then at Sloane. "Did she cut my face?" Sloane nodded slowly unsure of what Leia was going to do. "What a bitch! Why don't you come over here and try that?"

Michael stepped closer to his daughter with Maria trailing behind him. It was thirteen to one. And the one by herself was the scariest of them all. "Leia." He rested his hand on his daughter's shaking shoulder. "No." Leia nodded.

"Why are you here?" Sloane called out to her.

"Finally!" Tess smiled at her adversary. "Someone asks why I'm here, not what I want, but why! And it's the little half-breed."

"Just answer the question," Sloane held her voice steady although her nerves were jumping nearly out of her skin. She wondered what Chris was doing or if he had passed out from shock yet.

"I'm here because you two," she pointed to Sloane and then Leia, "killed my son and I'm going to make you pay. All's fair in love and war, right?" Without warning she whipped her hand through the air as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Sloane and Leia grabbed hands; a green-yellow energy shield went up in front of them as Tess's power slammed into it. The ground rocked. The girls looked to each other and smiled as their shield dissipated into a glowing point and then vanished.

"Hold on tight kids, the best is yet to come." Tess laughed and dusted off imaginary dirt from her white pantsuit.

"Yeah," Leia found her confidence. "I thought you were in jail or something and I doubt they let you out for good behavior."

"Let's just say, little girl, we have loyal friends. Friends are a very good thing to have." Tess laughed. "They'll do anything for you."

"We know that already," Max stood next to his daughter. He looked as Michael stood beside Leia. Within a few seconds their wives, Isabel and Rick and the younger Valenti's were standing next to them. Jim and Amy remained sitting. Liz still had a grip on Chris. She held his arm while shielding him with her small frame.

"The half-breeds with their clan of rejects and humans. How cute! And me without my camera!"

"My name is Leia," Leia spoke behind clenched teeth. "We had to go through this with your son before we killed him and now I'll go through it with you. This is Sloane. I don't know if you just can't remember or if you're actually this stupid. Sloane."

She pointed to her friend and then herself. "Leia. Do you want to say it with me?"

"Leia," Sloane said quietly biting back a smile at her friend's boldness.

"When you're dead it won't matter, Leia." Tess spat her name out. "You'll never know what hit you." Tess met each of their eyes and giggled. She went back to Kyle; her blue eyes searched his for the recognition of things past. "Maybe we can play again, Kyle. I've missed you."

Kyle felt his knees buckle. Max steadied him by the arm as Tess walked away as quietly as she had arrived.

Sloane and Leia each took a deep breath and looked at each other. Leia nodded, "yeah, I say she's gunning for us. You?"

"Thinking so," Sloane smiled and hugged her friend. She placed her hand on Leia's cheek. After a few seconds, the scratches were gone. The glimmering handprint was already fading. Max watched the effect in amazement. "We can beat her Leia, you know that. We can beat them all as long as we're together."

"It’s already fading," Max gawked pointing to Leia's face. "It shouldn't fade for a few days."

"On Leia it fades faster," Sloane explained. "I don't know why, but the print never stays on her." She let go of Leia and turned around to her family and Chris. "Chris."

"Okay," Chris ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair. "I think it's time you tell me what the hell is going on. I know I just saw tables flying and big bright lights. And I'm pretty sure that woman said she was going to kill you and Leia. And her face? Leia's face. What did you do to her?" He pinched his arm. "So, I'm not dreaming. This is all real?"

"Yeah," Sloane nodded.

"So what I saw when I kissed you was real? All the images?" He looked around at the other people. "They were all there in the flashes."

"You got flashes?" Liz asked proudly. She looked to her daughter. "You gave him flashes?"

"You make it sound like a disease mom," Sloane smiled and took Chris by the hand leading him away from the crowd. "Okay, I guess we need to talk."

* * * * * *

Kyle wiped sweat off his brow and sat back down next to his dad. "Wow."

Jim nodded in agreement. Wow was right. He let go of his wife's hand and stood up. Walking towards the new Guerins he pulled Michael away from his new wife. They walked into the shadows before Jim spoke. "I'm too old for this Michael."

"Jim," Michael shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"It’s not your fault," he smiled the smile of a tired man. "No one's to blame. But I can't go through this, neither can Amy. I'm just too damn old!"

"You're not that old…"Michael trailed off and looked as if seeing him for the first time. The prominent lines etched in his face had multiplied and deepened; his eyes no longer held the sharp interest of a hawk circling its prey. Jim Valenti had aged. "Will you and Amy leave?"

"If I can talk her into it," he shook his head. "If she'll leave Roswell, we'll be on the first train, plane or bus out of here. I told you a long time ago that it was your turn to take care of everyone, remember that?" Michael nodded. "I said I'd always help you, and if I could, I would. I'm an old man now and I'm not much help. You're stronger than I ever was, you take of everyone. That's your job."

"I can't do it alone."

"You don't have to," Jim pointed to the crowd in back of Michael. "You all are in this together. You'll take care of each other. Leia and Sloane are strong, God, they're strong. When they need guidance they're going to come to you."

"Me?" Michael pointed to himself. "Why not Max?"

"Because Max thinks with his heart first, he always has. You're rational."

Michael laughed feeling like he was seventeen again. "Rational."

"You've been in charge for a long time, Michael, whether you knew it or not." Jim glanced back over to his granddaughter. "I know you'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe."

"Thank you," he hugged his mentor awkwardly. "For everything."

* * * * * *

Maria knelt in her wedding dress in the grass on the side of Kyle's chair holding his hand. Morgan had pulled up another chair and was sitting across from her husband.

"It all came back in a rush," he said quietly. "Everything that I worked so hard to push away hit me like a bat out of hell when I saw her. I was hoping to avoid her this time around. So was my dad."

Morgan didn't know the words to say to him. She hadn't known the pain he went through when he learned about his own involvement in the death of a friend. She knew he bore guilt; but since he never spoke about it, she didn't know how much. She smiled as Maria stroked her husband's hand.

"I'm sorry, Kyle," Maria whispered to him. "I hoped you'd never see her again. We all hoped we'd never see her again."

"I want her gone," his voice broke.

"She'll be gone Kyle, I can promise you that. No one comes traipsing into my wedding and says she wants my daughter dead. No one!" Maria shook her head vehemently; a wilted hibiscus bloom flew from her hair.

"Be careful, Maria." He squeezed her hand. He stood and pulled her up and embraced her. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you, any of you."

Morgan watched the embrace of siblings by choice, then marriage. She felt no jealousy as her husband buried his face in Maria's neck and wept. A hand on her shoulder sent a jolt of electricity through her. She knew who it was before she turned around.

"He'll be okay," Max said thickly in her ear.

"Like you care!" The whisper turned into a hiss. She walked a few feet away and Max followed. "Like you have a right to say anything about him!"

"What are you talking about?" He stared at her sudden burst of rage towards him.

"Don't play dumb with me Max, it won't work. You could care less about Kyle or his feelings." She spared a glance at Kyle, her heart breaking as she watched his body tremble, Maria stroking his back and head.

"Why are you saying that?" He asked wetting his bottom lip.
She stared at the movement. "Fast healer?" she snorted. "You…You are such a fraud, Max."

"Healer? Fraud?" He rubbed his eyes with his palms. "Tell me what's going on Morgan, why are you being so resentful towards me?"

"What the hell is going on over here?" Isabel demanded stepping in between the two of them.

"I don't know," Max looked to his sister who in turn looked to Morgan.

"Morgan?" Isabel met her eyes. "What's going on? I could feel the tension across the yard."

"Your brother is an asshole," she folded her arms across her chest. "That's it. You want to know why? Ask him." She turned around and marched away from the Evans'.

"What's she talking about?" Isabel asked while Max watched her walk away.

"I have no idea." He looked around the yard at the fallen party. A day of joy and happiness had ended in threats of violence, drudged up memories and anger. Leia was alone at the sole upright table, her head resting on her arms. Sloane and Chris were barely silhouettes at the back of the yard, their shadows cast by an eerie half moon. Rick and Liz were huddled around Amy Valenti. Michael and Jim were off to the side their heads together in conversation. Maria held Kyle and Morgan was gone. He looked to his sister as they stood alone. "We're already apart."

"What?"

"We all stood together a few minutes ago and now we’re scattered."

"Don't read too much into it, Max. Everyone's dealing in their own way."

"That's what they want. We separate and we're as good as dead," he met Isabel's cool gaze. "We have to stand together or we're all going to lose."

* * * * * *

Tess skipped through the yard and to the waiting black sedan. She got in and smiled at Khivar. "That was so much fun!"

"You're so easy to please, my pet." Khivar started the engine and roared down the street. "Tell me."

"Everyone was there," she swooned. "I saw Kyle and Jim and those two half-breed bitches. We put on a little show and exchanged a few threats. I think they'll break apart and I can't wait to watch."

"We're not here to kill them all," Khivar reminded her. "Only the leader and her second."

"Oh, we will, Khiv. But if a few other's get pinched in the mix, I won't be sad."

"I know," he pat her leg. "We have to get the half-breeds apart. Once they're apart they're not half as strong."

"We'll get them apart, don't worry about that." Tess licked her lips and looked in the visor mirror into the backseat as Lonnie lit up a cigarette. "Isn't that right Lonnie?"

"Yeah, baby, that's right." She leaned over the back of Tess's seat and ran her fingers through her white blond hair. "We'll tear them apart if we have to do it limb by limb." They way she said it made Khivar wonder if she was literal or not.

* * * * * *

Chapter Two

Sloane held Chris' hand as they stood face to face. She took a deep breath and wished she were anywhere else but there. "Are you okay?"

"Honestly?" He almost laughed. "No Sloane, I'm not okay. I've been weirded out all day seeing your family and Leia's since I saw them already in my head when I kissed you. Now, this…Whatever the hell it was! I feel like I'm in a movie and I actually can't believe that I haven't pissed on myself yet. I'm so far beyond okay."

"This is going to sound stupid, but I have to have you promise me something first. Okay?" Sloane looked back to her scattered family and then watched Chris nod slowly. "Whatever I tell you, you can't tell anyone. Ever. I don't care if it's ten years from now and you hate me. No one can ever know."

"I promise," he squeezed her hand as a genuine smile graced his lips. "I do."

"This started long before I was born," she exhaled audibly not believing that she was getting ready to tell the family secret to someone she barely knew. "My dad, Aunt Isabel and Michael are not from around here." She smiled at the often used phrase. "Let's just say they're from another world altogether."

"Another world?" Chris cocked his head to one side. "Are you trying to tell me that they're aliens?" He smiled at the word. When Sloane didn't smile back he dropped her hand and stepped away from her. "No. C'mon Sloane…"

"Chris-"

"Jesus! You're serious aren't you?" He sat down on the grass shaking his head. She sat next to him. "I don't know if I can believe this."

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth." She pointed over her shoulder towards the others. "Those are the only people who know, and my brother Jack, of course. I swear I'm telling the truth."

"Your mom?"

"Human. So is Maria and everyone else. Well, except for me and Leia." She bit her lip. "We're…"

"Half-breed's? Isn't that what that blond called you?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Sloane nodded at the despised nickname.

"So you're part alien?" Chris laughed. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation. This is all real, isn't it?" Sloane nodded and waved her hand to the sky. Leaves from the tree next to them began to float down and encircled Chris. He laughed. "Oh my God!"

"You're not scared?"

"Scared? No. I don't feel a threat here with you or your family. From that blond, yeah, she scared the crap out of me. But from the rest of you I felt acceptance." He shrugged. "I guess I should be running away screaming, huh?"

Sloane smiled thinking about the stories her mom told her about when Maria first found out. "We're nothing to fear. We're not the scary ones."

Chris picked her hand back up, "I know. So, who was the blond and why was she so pissed and what else can you do and how did you take away Leia's scratches and did your mom really think she could protect me? What does she weigh, like seven pounds?"

"Wow. The blond is Tess and she hates us all, that's a longer story for another night. Another night very soon. I can do all kinds of things; one of them is healing hurts. I can fix people, so can my dad. And yeah, my mom may not look like much, but she would have done anything to protect you from Tess." Sloane crinkled her nose. "I think I answered-"

"Sloane, you haven't answered shit!" He laughed. "Not tonight, but soon, tomorrow. You and I are going to have to sit down and have the chat from hell. I got dragged into something that I don't understand and -"

"You can walk away, Chris." She nodded. "Walk away now and you can forget about all of us. Keep your promise not to tell and walk away. You'll be safe and I won't have to worry about you."

"Sloane," his blue eyes met her amber ones. "I don't know why, but I don't think I could walk away from you even if I tried."

* * * * * *

Max and his sister watched the others as they reconvened into a group. Sloane and Chris strolled up holding hands and sat with Leia and her questioning eyes.

Is he okay with this?

I think so, or he just might be in shock!

Leia laughed out loud and turned her attention to her newlywed parents. Michael remained standing while the others, sans the absent Morgan, sat and looked at him expectantly. "Thank you everyone for coming to our wedding." He cleared his throat and smiled. "You know, when you wait as long as we did to get married, you have to expect some fireworks, right?" Nervous laughter followed as tension eased away. "I think we should all just go home and deal with this tomorrow." He looked to Max and thought he saw a glimmer of something unfamiliar. "It's been a long night and I'd like to go home with my wife." He grinned as he said 'wife'.

"That's a good idea, Michael." Max said coolly. He turned to his wife. "Liz? You ready?"

As the group broke up and said their good-bye's the new husband and wife, fear trickled through each of them. Max and Liz walked silently to their car with Sloane, Leia and a semi-shocked Chris. The girls were driving him home and then coming back to the Evans'. Kyle walked sullenly to his car after a quick search of the residence hadn't turned up his wife. He saw her in the driver's seat as he approached and felt relief. Relief that she was okay and relief that he didn't have to drive. He was still trembling but now trying desperately to hide it. Isabel and Rick left quietly after Iz told Michael that the two of them along with Max had to talk later.

Max and Liz drove in silence. Liz kept looking to her husband waiting for him to say anything about the night's events, but he said nothing. He turned the radio up and kept his eyes straight ahead.

"Are you not going to say anything?" She finally asked keeping her voice in check although she wanted to scream in his ear.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything Max. I want you to say anything!" She leaned forward and then back exaggeratedly. "The first stone was tossed right on out there tonight and you're sitting here like nothing."

He shrugged, "if you want answers, go to Michael. He seems to know everything already."

Liz squinted at her husband and detected the same unfamiliarity Michael had earlier. "What's going on Max?"

"Nothing, okay? I'm tired and I want to go to bed. It's been a long day and even a longer night. Jack's staying all night with your parents, right?"

"Yeah. Leia's staying over though."

"That's fine, she's always there anyway." He honked at the person in front of him who waited as the stoplight turned from red to green for a second too long. "Move it!" He yelled to the unhearing driver.

"What is your deal? Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?" He finally turned to face her. "What am I doing wrong now Liz? Please, tell me all my faults. Tell me everything I'm doing so wrong. Tell me!"

"What has gotten into you tonight?" Liz slid closer to the door and looked out the window. "This was a great day with an unexpected ending. I wasn't going to fault you, you're not doing anything wrong except not talking to me."

"Are you sure you want to talk to me? I mean, you can wait until Michael's free again and talk to him, he does seem to be the all-knowing."

"Yeah. Okay. Did you miss the whole conversation we had the other night about communication between us? I was there and you were there, matter of fact, I believe you were the one to initiate that talk."

"Yeah, well, shit happens Liz. Thing's change." He dug in the console compartment between them and seized a half-empty pack of cigarettes with a lighter tucked in the box. He lit one up and inhaled deeply.

"You're smoking a lot lately."

"Jesus," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay?"

Liz studied her husband's face, "it was what Michael said, wasn't it?" She knew she was right when Max didn't look at her or respond. "He took charge and told everyone what to do."

"I was the leader Liz," he said softly and tossed his cigarette out the window. "I was the one who made the decisions and people listened to me. Now it's Michael. He's in charge."

"No one's in charge Max," she rubbed his thigh. "We're all in this together and we have been for a long time. Michael made a suggestion, a good one, don't get bent out of shape over it, okay?"

He nodded and eventually smiled. "You're right. I guess I should be happy that someone else is in charge now." Liz nodded in agreement with her husband, she didn't tell him she thought Michael had been in charge long before tonight. "Anyway, I can't wait to hear how Sloane explained all that to Chris. He seems smart enough not to fall for a line."

"She probably told him the truth, Max."

* * * * * *

"So, you can do tricks too? Right?" Chris turned around in the passenger seat to face Leia.

"Tricks?" She grinned. "Yeah, I can do tricks. You know Chris, you're handling this much better than most people would."

"Am I?" He raised his eyebrows. "I don't know how anyone else would handle it. I feel kind of special. How many people know real aliens?"

"Not too many," Sloane agreed. "Leia's right, though, thanks for not freaking out."

"Oh, I may freak out at a later date, I'm keeping that option open. Right now I may just be in shock." He nodded and looked to Sloane. "But I trust Sloane; she said I shouldn't be scared of you guys and well, I'm not."

"Yeah, don't be afraid of us." Leia hung her arms over the front seat. "We're the good guys. We're the leaders."

"Leaders?" Chris looked to her quizzically.

* * * * * *

Kyle went to bed as soon as he paid the babysitter. Morgan followed and held her husband while the trembles subsided. She wished there was more that she could for him; she wished there was anything she could. The part of his life that had involved Tess was before her. Knowing about and living through were two entirely different things.

She rose early the next morning and let Kyle sleep after a night of tossing and turning. She dressed Dora and took her to Grandma Amy's for the day. Morgan was only working a few hours in the morning; finishing up an ongoing case of a little girl who had been sexually assaulted by her stepbrother. She dreaded the days she used to love. The depression of never-ending sadness and despair weighed heavily on her shoulders. Throughout all the years of being a social worker and all the lives she helped change or fix, Morgan Valenti was ready for a new job. As she passed her supervisor's office on the way out the door she stepped in and handed her a piece of paper. She was resigning.

In a blur of tears she strode out the plate glass doors of her former job and walked directly into a body. She looked and relief swept through her when she recognized Isabel Evans.
"Where you going in such a rush?" Isabel wrinkled her brow. "Why the tears?"

"I just quit my job," Morgan laughed wiping at her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Came by to see if you wanted to get lunch," Isabel looked at her friend noticing a relief sweep through her. Morgan looped her arm through Isabel's and they walked down the street to a little restaurant with a few tables outside. "Outside?"

Morgan nodded and sat down across from her. They ordered and Morgan told her about the reasons for quitting and asking her opinion on how Kyle was going to react. Their conversation drifted through lunch and covered the basics in everyone's lives. From the newness of the arrival of Tess to where Dora was going to go to pre-school. After a huge lunch and sweet desert Morgan met her friend's eyes.

"What's wrong?" Isabel set down her fork and lit up a cigarette.

"It's Max."

"Right, about last night," she nodded relieved Morgan had finally brought it up on her own. This whole lunch scenario had been designed to figure out why Morgan was so mad at her brother. "What was all that about?"

"I want to tell you something in confidence," Morgan lowered her voice.

"Always," Isabel felt the knot of her brother's stupidity looming close by.

"He came on to me. Twice." Morgan said with guilt on her face. She met her friend's shocked expression. "It wasn't me, I swear Iz. I didn't do anything…"

Isabel ran her hands through her hair unsnapping the barrette holding her hair off her face. She let out a deep breath and cursed Max; not again. "Well…"

"I don't know why," Morgan shook her head. "I mean, sure, I've thought about, you know, over the years, but I'd never…I've never act on it."

"You've thought about Max?" Isabel sat up straighter in her chair. "Really?"

"Sure, but it wasn't like that." Morgan explained the scene in the mall parking lot and then about her fighting back on the street after having lunch with Jo Davie. Isabel sat and listened trying to figure out whom Morgan was talking about because it sure didn't sound like her brother.

"It doesn't sound right Morgan; what you described doesn't sound like Max."

"I know!" Morgan slapped the tabletop. "It was so out of character for him."

"He's not a forceful person, Morgan." Isabel felt that same knot get bigger. "Are you sure that's what happened?"

"I'm not stupid Isabel," Morgan got defensive, "I know I'm still an outsider to your close knit band of aliens and Max is your brother but I'm not lying to you Isabel. I try to make a habit of not lying to my friends."

"Shit," Isabel reached for her glass of water and drained it. "I'll talk to him."

"No!" Morgan eyebrows went high. "I just want to let it go and forget it ever happened."

"Did you confront him last night? Is that what was going on?"
"In an indirect kind of way. He played dumb and pissed me off. He was acting all worried about Kyle."

"He was worried about Kyle, Morgan."

Morgan shook her head. "No one can tell me he gives a damn about Kyle when he was sticking his tongue down my throat. I want to keep the peace Isabel especially with all this badness roaming around. Kyle needs me to be there for him."

"You have to get this worked out; let me talk to Max and hear his reasons or whatever, okay?"

Morgan denied her the right to talk to Max on her behalf. She believed Isabel when she promised she wouldn't confront her brother about it. As she drove home to her husband she felt a little better about things. She was completely unaware of anyone following her home.

* * * * * *

"Can you do her?" Zan asked his sister as they followed Blondie in the black sedan on loan from Khivar.

"Yeah," Lonnie ran a hand over her hair and looked to her brother with an unmistakable Isabel smile. "Oh boy! How did I do?" She chirped and then changed back.

"Do you think they'll be able to tell?" He asked with a hint of concern in his voice. He took his sister's lit cigarette from her hand and inhaled before handing it back to her.

"Nope, I know they won't. I'll be dear Aunt Isabel," her smile was cruel. "This is all going to work out Zan. We're here to help the big guns and get a little play time in too."

"Play time?" He raised his eyebrows. "Blondie?"

"Do what you wish, brother. She doesn't count."

* * * * * *

Jack Evans was getting bored. He had been at the park with his friends Ava and Khiv for an hour and they were just siting there now. He answered all their questions about the wedding and who was there and was ready to go home.

"I'm leaving," Jack stood and picked up his backpack. "I can be this bored at home."

"Wait!" Tess reached to his arm. "I'm sorry you're bored Jack."
She looked to Khivar who nodded in return. "How about we play a game?"

Jack sighed and sat back down. "Like what?"

Tess smiled and outstretched her hand. A yellow glow appeared on her palm. Jack watched intently as Tess tossed the glow into the air; it burst with a slight crack and rained silver feather's down on them. Jack looked at his friends with astonishment. He shook his head at the beaming faces of Tess and Khivar.

"You're…"

"Yes Jack," she held his hand. "We're just like you."

Jack smiled and then laughed.

* * * * * *


Chapter Three

Isabel, Michael and Max met for dinner the following evening in the restaurant they'd claimed as their favorite years earlier, Rizzo's. Michael still bared the glow of his newest achievement: marriage. The weight Max had been harboring on his shoulders seemed to be gone and Isabel was almost in a panic.

"Why are you being so unreasonable?" Max looked to his sister. "Why is everything life or death with you tonight?"

"Because that's a fact, Max! It is life and death. Theirs or ours." Isabel spoke in a low tone. "You're not taking any of this seriously and it's beginning to piss me off."

"I'm taking it seriously Iz," Max pat his sister's hand. "I think you're just worrying too much. Sloane and Leia are in control and they can take care of this."

She snatched her hand away, "don't be so condescending. Weren't you the one who was saying we all had to stick together?" She looked to Michael and then back to Max. "Or are you just too damn busy with other things now?"

"We do have to stand together, Iz, of course. We can't go off all half-cocked when we don't even know what we're up against."

"Then why are you making waves?" She bit her lip as she said it damning herself for not being able to keep Morgan's confidence. "Why are you stirring things up?"

Max looked blankly at her and shrugged. "I'm not stirring anything up." He looked to Michael across the table and got a shrug in return.

"Damn it Max, I know." She emphasized the last part.

"Know what?"

"What's going on?" Michael joined the newest round in the conversation. "Iz?"

Isabel berated herself as she spilled. "Morgan. I know about Morgan."

"What about Morgan?" Michael went on the defensive. He looked to Max; it was his turn to shrug.

"Just knock it off Max," Isabel scooted out of the booth, grabbed her purse and stormed out of the restaurant leaving the men alone.

"What's going on with Morgan?" Michael asked
hesitantly. "Max?"

He shook his head looking at the empty path his sister had taken out of the restaurant. "I don't know what the hell she's talking about. Morgan was pissed at me and said I didn't, or couldn't care about Kyle. I don't know Michael. Women suck."

Michael laughed. "Not all of them, Maxwell. Not all."

"I guess you're right. So, before Isabel's outburst I believe we were trying to brainstorm? Maybe hatch a plan? Decide the fate of a nation?" He grinned and shook his head again. "I don't know Michael. Knowing that it's Tess and probably Khivar just makes it seem not so bad."

"You don't think? Tess scares the crap out of me." Michael admitted. "The death threat against our daughters pisses me off and makes me scared for them."

"I think our girls can handle whatever is thrown at them."

"As long as they stay together." Michael met his friend's eyes. "Sometimes friends drift apart and make new ones. Sometimes they think they don't need their old friends as much as they really do."

Max searched Michael's eyes for the meaning behind his carefully chosen words. Who was he talking about? Max wondered. Himself and Michael and Liz? Maria and Liz? Michael and Isabel? "What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said." He ran his hands through his hair. "Think back Max. Think back to before you and Liz. It was you, Isabel and myself. That was it; we didn't let anyone else in. And now," he laughed, "there's Maria, Liz, Rick, Jim and Amy, Kyle, Morgan, Jo to an extent. Plus after the Tess-encounter, Sloane's new boyfriend, Chris?" Max confirmed with a nod. "Look at how much time you, Iz and I spend together now. Hardly any. We've split up into little groups. We don't act like we need each other as much as we once did."

"We'll always need each other Michael." Max looked around to make sure no one else was listening to their conversation. "I know we've all drifted, but that's life. Our human earthly life. When we need each other, we're always there. I'd give my life to save yours."

"I'd give mine for you," Michael sighed. "I just wanted to make sure. I don't know what the hell Tess has up her sleeve and I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page." Max rested his elbow on the table and opened his hand. Michael clasped it as though they were going to arm wrestle. "Friends. Brothers."

"Equals."

* * * * * *

"So Chris is just fine with everything?" Leia asked somewhat surprised while the two friends sat across from each other on Sloane's bed. "Just like that."

"Well," Sloane smiled thinking about her new boyfriend. "He's a little freaked and is asking like a thousand questions; but who wouldn't?"

"You told him the whole story?"

"Almost," she blushed. "I kind of told him a version that our parents would tell. You know, just leaving out a few things."

"Like?"

"The evil twins, the Elders and how exactly Lantham died and that he was my half brother."

"Okay," Leia said slowly. "But you told him everything else? You told him that we might fly away to go rule another planet?"

"Yeah. He said he'd miss me," Sloane lied to her friend. She wasn't quite sure why she thought she had to. Chris had actually told her he'd be honored to go with her someday. Something about being the 'Leader's boy toy'. She shrugged. "So, everything's going okay for now, I guess."

"Sounds like it," Leia nodded knowing Sloane was holding back. "So, any new revelations on Tess?"

"Nothing. I know the dads went to dinner with Aunt Iz last night but no one has said anything to me."

"Imagine that," Leia snorted. She glanced at the clock and jumped up. "I gotta get to work. You're working tonight, right?"

"Yeah, special showing. 'A River in Hell'." Sloane smiled. "Some local guy who rented the gallery out. I heard he only uses different shades of red on his canvas."

"Sounds delightful," Leia picked up her backpack from the floor. "I've been meaning to ask, where the hell has Jack been lately? Usually he's creeping around the house stirring shit up."

"I don't know. I think he might have some new friends."

* * * * * *

"So, you've never been here before Jack?" Tess asked as she stepped inside the Pod Chamber behind him with Khivar bringing up the rear.

He shook his head as he looked around; his eyes were wide with curiosity and interest. "What is this place?"

"It's where we're from." Tess smiled as her young friend's eye's wandered enthusiastically around the cavern. "What do you think?"

"I think it rocks!" Jack turned around and faced her. "This place is awesome. This is where my dad came from too?"

"Yup, all of us." Tess knelt down in front of him. "So, they never told you about it before, huh?"

"My parents don’t tell me shit," Jack looked to the floor. "All they ever do is worry about Sloane."

"Don't you like your sister?" Khivar asked uncharacteristically. He normally left the mind-probing questions for Tess. Even Tess looked at him.

"She's okay," Jack shrugged and ran his hand along one of the crumbling pod openings in the wall. "No, actually, I don't think I like her all that much. Everyone thinks she's so great. She's not, you know."

"Yeah, my sister used to think that way too," Khivar smiled licking his bottom lip. "She doesn't think that way too much anymore. Let's just say I changed her mind." He thought briefly to his older sister living a life of blindness and silence; having removed her tongue and eyes himself.

"How'd you change her mind?" Jack asked curiously.

"I'll tell you someday Jack, someday when you're older." He cocked his head to the side after getting an approving look from Tess.

"Ava," Jack tugged on her hand. "You said when we met that you were friends of my parents from high school but I know you were lying about that now. You're one of us. Why didn't my parents ever tell me about you?"

"Well," Tess sat down on the dusty floor and motioned for Jack to sit across from her while Khivar stood. "Your mom and I didn't always get along so I had to leave Roswell."

"She can be a bitch sometimes."

"Yeah, she can." Tess smiled; her blue eyes sparkling. "Well, anyway, I'm back. We're back and we're going to try to help you learn about where you come from."

"Really?"

"Really!" Tess clapped. "We're going to teach you things and let you use your powers. Everything your parents can't find the time for because they pay too much attention to Sloane."

"Do you mean it?" Jack could barely sit still. Finally! He thought, someone was going to help him understand.

"Promise," Tess snapped her fingers and the entire chamber lit up in a harsh shade of yellow. Jack tilted his head to the side and closed his eyes, immediately the harshness was dimmed. "Very nice Jack. Very nice."

* * * * * *

Never looking in her eyes. She could feel his rough hands on her sensitive skin. His flesh searing through her in a trail of pain. His eyes. Screaming from her baby.

Maria sat straight up as a muffled scream came from her mouth. She wiped the sweat out of her eyes and looked at her surroundings. It wasn't the old place. It wasn't twenty years ago. It wasn't happening again.

"Shit," she panted. She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes trying to forget the nightmare she'd been having everyday for over a week. Michael was working late, Leia too, leaving her in the house by herself. Although she felt perfectly safe there, sometimes a chill of memories would race through her and bring all the fear back to the surface. She called Liz first, no answer, of course. She called Kyle next who promised to come over and wait with her until her husband got home.



After getting all the support she needed from Kyle about her sudden job quitting the day before and then trying to reassure him that she would always be there for him, the distress call from Maria seemed like a good time to take a break from deep conversation. Kyle kissed his daughter goodbye as she lay sleeping in her room, then kissed his wife.

"Take care of Maria, she needs you." Morgan smiled while running her hands through his hair.

"I know," he kissed her neck. "Thing's will be normal again, I think, someday."

"I know I said I wanted excitement, but you know what? I think I was lying." She smiled. "Be careful out there, okay? I don't think you need to be running into-"

"I know," he cut her off before she could say the name. "I'll be careful. I shouldn't be gone long."

"Be gone as long as you need to, okay? We're all good here." Morgan kissed her husband good-bye.

* * * * *

"Sometimes, since Leia found out, I can almost feel his breath on me." Maria took a sip of beer.

"He's gone, Maria, he won't come back." Kyle stared longingly at her bottled beer while drinking soda.

"I know," she smiled. "All that was so far away from me I had forgotten it. I had forgotten his name and then out of nowhere, it's like I'm going through it again."

"You're strong, you always have been. This is all going to fade, you know it will, just like before." He put his arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay again. After all this bullshit is over and those girls kick some alien ass, we go back to normal."

Maria nodded. "You think that will ever happen? I mean being normal?"

"Well, not really for you…" he grinned as she whacked him in the gut. "You know what I mean. Normal to the point of no battles or free for all alien warfare in the backyard, yeah, it'll come. Be patient Grasshopper."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Thanks for coming over Kyle."

"Anything for you." He kissed the side of her head. "Did your mom mention anything to you that her and my dad are thinking about leaving Roswell?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "As much as I'll miss them, I think it's a great idea."

"Me too," he nodded.

* * * * * *

Kyle had been gone for over an hour when Morgan finally got done doing dishes and picking up the apartment. Dora was fast asleep in her toddler bed with bed-rails in place to prevent the accidental roll out of bed that she was partial to. Morgan kicked off her slip on shoes and sat on the couch with remote control in hand. Knowing she didn't have to get up and go to work in the morning had given her a second wind. Knowing she was getting ready to spend a full summer with her husband and daughter made her smile; besides the fact Kyle owed her a getaway vacation.

When the familiar beeping from the parking lot wafted through the open living room window, Morgan sighed. "Stupid car alarm!" She picked her keys up and aimed the remote down to the parking lot. After a few attempts, the alarm cut off. As she got comfortable again, the car alarm was back. "Damn it!" She aimed the key remote and the alarm silenced. She slipped on her shoes before the next round of obnoxious beeping started. " I told Kyle I thought the connection was bad." She looked in at her sleeping daughter before leaving the apartment.

She jogged down the steps and ran to her car. She got in and popped the hood. After a few seconds underneath the low watt hood bulb, she got the wires disconnected and slammed the hood shut.

Morgan walked back towards the building; as she neared the stairwell the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Her gait slowed to near stillness before she turned around. She came face to face with a fantasy wrapped up into a nightmare.

"Max," she said softly as she backed away from him.

"Hey Blondie," Zan leered and stepped closer into her. His gaze caught the key chain in her hand, still with mace, and before she could react, he snatched it from her and tossed it out of her reach. He kept walking towards her causing her to stumble backwards further into the walkway. With a wave of his hand, the light bulbs dimmed.

"Oh God," she whispered, scared. "Please Max."

"Please what?" He licked his lips and smiled.

"Go away. Please. Dora's upstairs alone." The panic over her child stung her soul. Leaving her alone had been
stupid. "Please. Let me make sure she's okay."

"She's fine Blondie," Zan backed her against the wall pressing his body into hers.

"Max," she outstretched her hands to his chest trying to push him away. He was too strong and held her against the wall firmly as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Don't…"

"Don't." He mocked and licked her mouth catching tears. "Umm…Salty."

She closed her eyes as her body sank. "Please Max."

"I thought you wanted me Blondie. Don't you want some wicked alien love?" He ground himself into her. "Once you go alien, you never go back."

She heaved into sobs and bowed her head. Zan grabbed her hands and held them against the wall above her head with one of his. With his free hand he ripped the buttons from her shirt and flipped her bra over her breasts.

"Max. Please. Don't." She whispered unable to look at him, unable to fight.

He lowered his mouth to her breasts, "sweet."

As she felt her shorts being undone she let out a guttural scream. His hand was inside of her underwear, his fingers gliding into her as she bucked against him trying to make him stop. He only laughed.

She turned her head as she was violated. Fat tears for her family slid down her red cheeks. A scrape in the hallway caught her attention and she screamed. The scream startled her attacker.

"Shut the fuck up."

"Morgan?" A familiar voice came from just beyond where the darkness started.

Her husband. "Kyle!" She yelled as Zan looked up into the steely eyes of Kyle Valenti.

Kyle's eye's fell to his wife, her shirt hanging open, her breasts exposed. Her shorts and underwear resting on her hips. Max Evans holding her hands above her. Fear. He lunged towards them and pulled him away from his wife as he laughed. Morgan pulled up her shorts and fixed her bra backing away towards the light.

"You mother fucker," Kyle swung out as Zan easily ducked his fist. "I told you Evans, you mother fucker! Stay away from my wife!" He swung again and missed.

"Easy cowboy," Zan laughed as his fist connected with Kyle's jaw with a crack.

* * * * * *

Lonnie looked through the window as Sloane Evans rubbed her head. "Poor baby have a headache?" She tossed her cigarette into the street and gave herself the once over in the window. "Why don't you tell Aunt Isabel all about it?" She grinned at her reflection and walked into the gallery.
"Aunt Iz?" Sloane saw her immediately. "What are you doing here?"

"I think we have to talk," Lonnie fought back a smile.

* * * * * *

"Why are going over there?" Liz asked her husband as he reached for the doorknob. "It's late."

"Because, Isabel hasn't answered her damn phone all day and I want to know why the hell Morgan is so pissed off at me! So I think I have to get it from the source. I'm sure Morgan and I can work out whatever misunderstanding she's having." Max leaned into his wife and kissed her. "I'll be back soon. Don't worry Liz."

Liz smiled and watched him walk away and she did worry.

* * * * * *

Chapter Four

Sloane said goodnight to her boss and followed Lonnie out into the stifling summer air. She looked towards the sky and sighed. "It's a beautiful night, isn't it? The moon is so full."

"Yeah," Lonnie looked her over. "It's nice."

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Sloane stopped walking. "Where's your car?"

"I walked." Lonnie stumbled over her words. "You know, being a nice night and all."

"From home?" Sloane raised her eyebrows at her. "That's more than five miles away."

"No," Lonnie smiled. "From the coffee bar," she pointed across the street to the first business she saw. "I'm parked in back."

"Oh," Sloane nodded. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

"C'mon," she touched Sloane's shoulder and felt a ripple of energy through her hand. She pulled her hand back and hoped Sloane didn't notice. "Let's go across the street and sit outside."

Sloane followed the woman who matched her aunt to the coffee bar. They sat at a bistro table and each ordered an iced something.

"So Aunt Iz, what's going on?" Sloane glanced to her watch knowing she wasn't going to make it home in time to get Chris's call.

"I've been thinking about you and Leia."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've been giving it a lot of thought and I know you're the true leader, the heir to the throne, why are you wasting so much time with her?"

"I'm sorry?" Sloane said thinking she must have heard her aunt wrong.

"I don't mean to sound so harsh Sloane," Lonnie lit up a cigarette and froze. Isabel smoked, right? "Is the smoke going to bother you?"

"No, but I thought you quit again." Sloane's voice had deadened.

"Yeah, well." Lonnie waved her hand in the air dismissing the thought. "Anyway, as I was saying. Don't you think that she might be holding you back a little?"

"Are you serious?" Sloane shook her head not believing what she was hearing.

"I told you I've been giving this some thought. I know how close you two are, but this is real life. Not high school or prom. You're going to rule a planet, another world, you Sloane. You're the one!"

"Leia and I have to be together," she said slowly meeting Lonnie's eyes. "I couldn't have beaten Lantham without her. You were there, you know that."

"That was then, this is now Sloane." Lonnie took a deep drag off her cigarette. "You're stronger now, right?"

"Leia and I both are," Sloane got more uncomfortable with the conversation as it wore on. "We do things together."

Lonnie nodded. "But who's stronger?"

Sloane shrugged. "I don't know. We both are. We do everything together." She said again. Why was her aunt asking her questions to things she should already know the answer to?

"What about the new beau? I thought you were spending a lot of time with him." Lonnie fought the hesitation in her voice. Damn Tess if she didn't get the stolen information from Jack right. "You and Chris look good together."

Sloane finally smiled. "We are spending time together and he seems real cool with everything."

"You told him?"

"I had to! After that little display with Tess the other night." Sloane watched her aunt's eyes. Something was off. Something wasn't right. "Listen, I'm tired and I better get home. I have a headache from hell from the 'River in Hell' show tonight." She stood up. "I don't mean to be rude but I don't like where this conversation is going with Leia and I think we better end it."

Lonnie grabbed her arm as she stood. "You think about it Sloane. You have Chris now, a person to make you happy. You don't have to spend all your time with Leia anymore."

Sloane nodded and walked away back to the gallery; a feeling of dread looming over her. She got in her car and drove off watching her aunt in the rear-view mirror standing on the street smoking.

* * * * * *

Lonnie flicked her cigarette against the wall. "Fuck!" She walked around the back of the building to the waiting black sedan. She got in the backseat and slammed the door shut.

"Thing's not go so well?" Khivar asked watching her in the rearview mirror.

"Gee, great dictator, what gave you that idea," Lonnie snorted.

"What happened?" Tess knelt in the front seat and faced her.

"Okay, she's strong willed. A lot stronger than you gave her credit for Tess." Lonnie met the blue eyes and stared. "It's not going to be so easy to get her away from her second. Sloane's not stupid."

"So I misjudged her?" Tess shrugged. "She's got more of her mother in her than I thought. Stand by your man and all that crap." She giggled. "So I guess we move on to plan B?"

"Yeah," Lonnie licked her lips and morphed back into herself. "Plan B, baby. You know what they say, if at first you don't succeed, play dirty." She watched Khivar's smile in the mirror as Tess's eyes lit up with sudden glee.

* * * * * *

Isabel pounded on the door to her brother's home. "Max! Liz!"

Liz swung the door open and faced her sister-in -law. "What's wrong?"

"Is Max here?" Isabel scanned the room in back of the small brunette.

"No, what's wrong?" Liz stepped back and let Isabel inside. "Isabel?"

"Damn it! I've been out with Rick all day, we met Paige and her son at the airport while they had a layover." She sighed. "I just wanted to see my brother. Do you know where he's at or when he'll be back?"

"He went to Kyle and Morgan's."

"What?" She yelled her eyes wide. "Why?"

"He said he wanted to clear everything up with Morgan. What's up?" Liz led her into the living room where Jack was lying on the floor writing in his journal. "Jack, your Aunt Isabel's here."

Jack looked up and smiled at her before closing his journal and tucking it underneath his arm. He stood and walked to his mother, then hugged her. She kissed the top of his head. "I'm going to bed mom."

"Okay, sweetheart. Sleep tight." Liz watched as he walked from the room and then heard him run up the steps.

"Who was that?" Isabel pointed after him.

"He's been an angel child lately," Liz smiled proudly. "Ever since school let out he's a joy to have around. He's got some new friends from school that we haven't met yet and they seem to have a positive influence with him. He keeps promising we'll meet them soon."

"That's great," Isabel smiled momentarily pulled from her state of panic. "Okay, so Max is at Kyle's?"

"What's going on? Why is Morgan so pissed at him?"

Isabel looked into Liz's eyes and wanted to cry. For all the hurt and pain her brother had put his wife through; it wasn't fair. Liz had loved him and trusted him implicitly and he made big mistakes. Still, Liz always stood by him. Would she this time? Damn, she needed to talk to Max. "I don't know," she stammered feeling the lie over her every pore.

"Right," Liz folded her arms over her chest. "What's going on?"

Isabel shook her head. "I don't know anymore, Liz. Nothing is at it seems-" She stopped as the color drained from her face. 'Sometimes you can't see what's in front of you all along'; she heard the words from Kyle years before. Nothing is at seems. "I don't know."

"Isabel, tell me what the hell is going on?"

"Morgan's mad and I'm sure Max can take of it," she nodded nervously. "I better go. Can you have Max call me when he gets home? I don't care how late it is. I'll be up. Rick bought me a puppy, did I tell you?"

"No," her eyes smiled. "When?"

"This morning actually, before we went to the airport. He's a mutt, nothing but a mutt. I named him Penhall." She smiled at her guilty pleasure of '21 Jumpstreet' on DVD sitting at home in the player. She shrugged. "Don't forget, Liz. I have to talk to him tonight."

Liz promised she'd tell her husband and watched a frazzled Isabel walk unsteadily to her car. She sat down in the living room with a hardback bestseller on her lap when Sloane came in the front door. "Hi, how was the show?"

"Dreadful." Sloane stood and faced her. "Have you talked to Aunt Isabel lately?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Did she seem like she was acting strange?"

"Yeah, actually she did. Why?" Liz asked curiously.

"Just wondering," she shrugged. "Where's Jack and dad?"

"Jack went to bed and your father went to the Valenti's. Chris called a few minutes ago, he said to call him back any time he'd be waiting. You really like him, don't you?"

Sloane blushed. "Yeah, I do. I can be myself around him."

Liz looked as the happiness flushed across her daughter's face. She knew that flush from her husband. Having someone special to share your secrets with made everything okay. "Good. That's real good."

"Did Leia call by chance?"

"Earlier. She'll call you tomorrow."

* * * * * *

Kyle fell to his knees experiencing severe pain in his jaw. It had to be broken, he was sure. Saliva mixed with blood dripped from his mouth as he faced his opponent. "I'll kill you if I have to Evans!"

"Big talk from a little man," Zan sneered. He turned to check on Morgan's whereabouts and Kyle slammed his fist into Zan's nose. Blood dripped down into invisible stains on his black shirt. "Fuck!"

Exchanges of blows and kicks ensued. Both men were panting, although Kyle had clearly gotten the most severe of the blows.

Zan leapt at Kyle and slammed him into the wall. Pressing his body against Kyle's he whispered low in his ear. "You know I can kill you with a flick of my wrist or a wink of my eye, why are you fighting me?"

"Because you mother fucker, you fucked with my wife and no one fucks with my wife!" Kyle spat in his face.

Zan laughed and wiped the spit away with his cuff. He looked over his shoulder at the trembling Blondie and then back to Kyle. He slammed his by his shoulders into the wall and watched as his body slumped down to the ground. He turned to Morgan and walked slowly to her. She was crying and trembling and he was getting hard watching her. She backed up and tried to keep one eye on her attacker and one on her fallen husband. Zan looked her up from her toes to her eyes. "Nah," he shook his head and smiled. "I think I'd rather jack-off." He whistled as he strode away into the night.

Morgan gasped and ran to her husband, cradling his head in her arms. "Kyle? Kyle!"

He opened his swollen eyes and saw his love. "Are you okay?"

Somewhere between a laugh and a sob she nodded and helped him to his feet. With one arm slung over her shoulder, they took the elevator to their floor. She helped him inside and on to the couch before checking on her daughter. Dora was still asleep. Morgan let out a sigh of relief and went back to tend to her husband.

"You have to go to the hospital." She looked closely at his swollen face. "I think your jaw's broke."

"No. Fine," Kyle said deliberately trying to annunciate his words through the pain. "Call Michael."

Morgan nodded and dutifully called the Sheriff. After a few minutes of nonstop breathless talking, Morgan hung up and assured Kyle that Michael would be there in minutes.

"I'm sorry," she sighed into his neck as she knelt on the floor next to him. "I'm so sorry."

"Nothing wrong," he winced at the pain.

Morgan bowed her head and cried until the knock on the door came. She jumped up and opened the door. She gasped and took a step back shaking her head.

"Morgan, can I come in?" Max Evans asked quietly.

"Is Evans here?" Kyle tried to look up to the door but couldn't because of the overwhelming pain.


"Go away," Morgan slammed the door as her body shook. She locked the deadbolt and resumed her place on the floor next to the couch. She heard him knocking for a few minutes then it stopped. She sobbed and when the next knock came she jumped and let out a stifled scream.

"Morgan! Kyle!" It was Michael. Morgan jumped up and opened the door. She let Michael in and saw Max still in the hall. She shook her head and slammed the door again. "What's going on?" He looked at her torn clothes and then Kyle as he lay bleeding on the couch. "Jesus!" He rushed to his friend. "What happened?"

Kyle looked towards his wife as a single tear made a clear path on his bloodstained face. Morgan knelt down next to Michael. "It was Max. He attacked me."

"What?" Michael nearly shouted. "When?"

"Not long ago," she shook her head not aware of the time anymore. "Downstairs."

"Max Evans?" Michael asked not believing what he was seeing. Max wasn't capable of something like this. "Jesus, you're really hurt Kyle." He looked around trying to find an answer. "I gotta get you somewhere."

Kyle shook his head slightly. "No."

"Can I call…" Of course not, dumbass, Michael chided himself, why would he let Max in now? "Sloane. Can I call Sloane? She can fix you."

Kyle met his wife's eyes and nodded. He trusted Sloane, his gaze told her. Michael whipped out the cell phone and called the Evans house. He explained a vague scenario leaving out the allegations against Max to Liz and was told Sloane was on her way before he hung up with her. He turned back to his friends. "Tell me."

Morgan started her sordid story about the other encounters with Max and then the car alarm scam that night. She began to sob when she told him of how Max fondled her and then began to beat on Kyle when he got there. Kyle's eyes were filled with rage as he heard his wife's accounts of the evening.

"Oh God," Michael stood and ran his hands through his hair. "That can't be. Max isn't violent."

"You don't believe me?" Morgan asked. "Us? Look at us."

"Then why is he in the hallway and looks fine?"

"Healer." Kyle said while his eyes slid shut.

"He can't, not to himself." Michael reasoned while he paced. Damn, he thought, is that was Isabel was talking about at dinner? "Was it dark?"

"I know Max Evans, Michael!" Morgan shouted. "I know he's your friend, but…"

"Do you want me to arrest him?" He asked as his shoulders sank. Not again. He never wanted to put Max through that again. This was wrong. This was all wrong.

"No," Kyle whispered. "Liz and Sloane. No."

Michael nodded and promised he'd be back. He stepped into the hallway and met his friends confused stare. "Why are you here Michael? What the hell is going on in there?"

"They…" He looked to the door. "Morgan was sexually assaulted and Kyle had the shit kicked out of him."

"Let me in, I'll fix-"

"No, Max." He ran his hands through his hair and felt like pulling it all out. "They said it was you."

Max stared as his mind reeled. "No," he said shakily. He breathed audibly and backed a step away. "You can't think…"
"I don't know what to think. Kyle got the shit beat out of him and Morgan, God, she…" He thought about Maria's rape and how enraged he had been. "Morgan."

"I just got here Michael. A few minutes before you did." Max said not believing he was trying to defend himself. "I was with Liz and then I stopped by the store then I came here."
"I don't know," Michael heard running footfalls coming up the steps. Sloane bound around the corner out of breath and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw her father.

"Dad?"

"Honey, I didn't do anything. You have to believe me," he pleaded to his daughter.

Michael led Sloane inside the apartment and straight to Kyle. "Can you?"

Sloane nodded and knelt down on the floor next to the couch and Morgan. She smiled at Kyle and ran her hands over his face. When she sensed him, she laid her hands on his cheeks and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Sloane drew his pain and injury away from him. Kyle opened his eyes and met Sloane's. "Thank you," he said hoarsely. Silvery-green handprints glimmered on his cheeks. Morgan smiled down at him and kissed his healed lips.

Sloane touched Morgan's hand and felt fear and family. She looked to Morgan and saw the accusation in her eyes. Sloane shook her head as she began to understand. Her dad. She stood and walked to Michael. "My dad? She's afraid of my dad."

"Sloanie," Michael drew her into him. "I'm sorry…"

"No," she pushed away and met his eyes. "Not…No!"

"Sloane," Kyle sat up on the couch. "I'm sorry."

Sloane shook her head and ran from the apartment. She passed her father in the hall and couldn't meet his eyes. She ran from him and to the one person she always felt the safest with. She parked in front of the Guerin's house and ran to the front door. She knocked frantically until Maria answered in her nightgown.

"Leia?" Sloane cried as Maria let her in.

"Sloane, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Maria led her inside.

Leia bolted down the hall and took one look at her friend and went to her side. Sloane shook her head and let Leia guide her into her bedroom. They sat on the bed while Sloane cried and Leia stroked her hair.

* * * * * *

Zan met his partners in crime back at the suites they had rented with a credit card belonging to a corpse. Of course, the corpse had been alive before he had met his fate with Khivar. The trio looked at him as he entered the room. Blood stained skin underneath his nose and mussed hair made them stare.

"What?" He walked to the couch and plopped down next to Tess.

"What the fuck did you do?" Lonnie asked him seething.

"I had me a little play time," he grinned. "Just like you said I could, Sis."

"You got in a fight?" Tess asked. "With who?"

"Let's just say I got to know Blondie a little better and then I met her swinging dick, we duked it out and I won."

"Did you kill them?" Khivar asked.

"Nah, just left them there." His dark eyes twinkled. "The thought I was Pansy Maxie."

"No shit," Lonnie rolled her eyes. "And you let them live?"

Zan shrugged. "Sorry kids, I don't do death all that well."

"You fucked up then, Zan." Khivar leaned against the wall a watchful eye on the muscle. "Where was Max tonight? Did you think of that? What if he's got an alibi?"

Zan shrugged. "Well, then, I guess they'll find out who's in town a little early."

"Not good, brother dear." Lonnie strode across the room and sat next to him.

"I'm the King, baby." He leered. "I can do whatever the fuck I want." He looked to Tess and saw the wild desire flash through her eyes.

Chapter Five

The silvery-green prints left on Kyle's face glimmered when he stood in front of the window as the sunlight bore inside. He looked to his sleeping wife on the couch. Curled into a fetal position, she looked so young and afraid. He thought about the previous night and felt rage build up in him again. He began to pace.

"Fucking Evans!" He swore quietly and glanced to the silent phone. No one had called this morning and he wasn't sure how to take that. Either no one believed them at all, or they totally backed them up. Anything was possible.

* * * * * *

Liz Evans wiped her eyes again; the rims were red and raw from tears as she stood leaning against the wall. Isabel and Rick sat slumped next to each other on the couch; Rick was asleep. Michael and Maria sat at the table across from Max.

"We've been going over this all night and it doesn't make any sense," Michael ran his hands through his hair. "Why, Max. That's what I want to know. Why would they say it was you?"

"I. Don't. Know." He said quietly keeping his attention fixed on the tabletop.

"Then-"

"I don't know!" Max slammed his palms down on the table with such force everyone jumped and Rick woke up momentarily. "I still don't fucking know!"

Liz turned away as fresh tears bathed her face. Maria stood and walked to her taking her in her arms. "It'll be okay, Liz," she whispered in her ear.

Liz shook her head and broke from the embrace. She left the room and then the house. Maria watched her from the kitchen sitting at the picnic table in the backyard, her head on her arms. Her body was heaving.

"Morgan was sure," Isabel stood and walked towards her brother. "She was sure it was you."

"It wasn't me Isabel," Max pleaded looking up into her eyes. "You can't believe that I would do something like that. You can't!"

"You and Kyle have such a history of bad feelings-" Isabel hated the accusations, it didn't make sense. Nothing made sense.

"So," Max stood up; the vein in his neck was prominent, "because Kyle and I haven't always gotten along, that means I'm going to go beat him up, threaten him and stick my hand in his wife's pants? Feel her up? Christ! It's Morgan, guys. Morgan! Why in God's name would I do that? I have a wife that you know I love with every breath I take. I've fucked up before, I know that, but damn it! Don't condemn me for past actions. I did not do anything last night!"

Michael nodded and stood up taking his place next to Maria. Maria watched Max's agony and felt sorry for him. He was right. A few mistakes made a long time ago were still haunting him. She took her husband's hand. Isabel bowed her head and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder giving it a small squeeze. She stepped away and back to Rick. She woke her husband up and left the house leaving behind them a shadow of uncertainty.

Michael lowered his head and whispered in his wife's ear. "I'm going outside to check on Liz." He kissed her cheek and walked out of the room. I trust Max with my wife, he thought as he walked through the kitchen to the back door, I just left them alone. Max couldn't have done that to Morgan and Kyle.

Maria watched Max slump into the high-backed dining room chair. She waited a beat before approaching him. She sat in the chair next to him and scooted closer. She picked his hand up in hers and smiled at his bewilderment. "I believe you," she said softly.

"Really?" He croaked.

She nodded. "Really, Max. I've known you almost as long as the others and I can't believe that there is any doubt in their minds."

"Thank you," he squeezed her hand. "Maria, thank you. If one person believes in me it'll be enough."

"I'll talk to Michael, but Isabel's all yours." She smiled. "Deep down no one can believe this was you."

"Then who was it?"

Maria shook her head. She didn't have any answers for him. "With everything as it is, with Tess and whoever else, anything's possible. This could have been some random act of violence. It was dark and…"

"What about when I allegedly accosted her the two other times?" He snorted. "God, Maria, you're good friends with Morgan. Does she have a grudge against me? Did I do something to her to make her say these things?"

"Well," Maria smiled. "She always thought you were very good looking. I don't really see how that could have anything to do with it though. Did she ever come on to you?" Maria winced as she said it.

"Never," he shook his head. "What am I going to say to Sloane? She's a grown woman now, it's not like…"

"Tell her the truth, Max. Always tell her the truth or it'll bite you in the ass in the long run. True?"

"Very true Maria," he leaned into her and hugged her. "Thank you for believing me."

"I also believe in you Max, try to do the same. This will get cleared up just like everything else."




Jack Evans sat at the top of the steps as he had the majority of the late night and early hours of the day. Everyone coming into the house had woken him. Curious about what was going on, he eavesdropped. He didn't understand everything that was said, some of the things the adults talked about were confusing. Things that happened before he was born. He didn't know all the people they were talking about either. Who was Tess? He wrote down in his journal the parts that he remembered trying hard not to say it out loud as he wrote it. Maybe he'd ask Ava if she knew anything.

He didn't like to hear that Morgan and Kyle had been hurt. He liked them, a lot. He didn't think his dad would do anything to hurt them and that confused him. As far as he knew his dad never hurt anyone.




Michael sat down next to Liz and wrapped his arm around her shoulder feeling her body sag. "Liz."

"Don't tell me everything's going to be okay, okay?" She sat up and looked at him. "I can't believe this is happening, again. Do I think Max is capable of forcing himself on anyone, no, I don't. Could he kick Kyle's ass? Yeah, definitely. But do I think he assaulted Morgan and beat up Kyle, no."

"So you believe him?"

"I believe that he believes he didn't do it," she sighed. "Did he have enough time to do it? Yes. Motive? No. Means? Yes. If Max is the culprit, then I don't think he knows it."

"What are you saying, Liz?" Michael smiled sideways at her running a hand through his hair.

"I'm saying that it is very possible that my husband has lost his mind," she said it as clear as day and Michael stared at her. "Think about it. Who's the one that gets put through everything? Who had to watch his son die at the hands of his own daughter? Whose life gets turned upside down every time anyone sneezes? It's Max. It's always been Max."

"Liz-"

"Let me finish Michael," she sighed. "Do you think I've been sitting in that room listening to everyone interrogate my husband all night not saying a word because I was upset? I was trying to read in between the lines. I think it's very possible that Max is losing his mind."

"How can you say that so rationally?"

"I have to. I have to be the strong one, again. Sloane and Jack will need me to be there for them if Max is flipping out," Liz wiped her eyes. "I won't desert my husband. I never will. But unless someone can come up with a better explanation for these allegations, I'm sticking to mine."

"You can't be serious."

"I am, Michael." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You can't honestly tell me that he hasn't been on the edge since all the badness starting coming down again, can you?"

"I know he's been a little out there sometimes."

"Exactly. Think about it, okay?" She stood up. "The Max I married wouldn't do those things to either Kyle or Morgan. I'll prove it Michael. Either it’s a big mistake or Max has lost his mind."

"It might not be that cut and dried, Liz." Michael stood and faced her.

"Maybe it is." She stepped into him and felt the warmth of his arms around her. God, she thought as a new round of tears soaked into Michael's shirt, am I really saying that my husband is fucking crazy?

* * * * * *

Sloane woke up and immediately regretted falling asleep in her clothes. Her jeans were stiff and her shirt had rolled up while she was sleeping leaving red serpentine indentations on her abdomen. She yawned and noticed Leia was sitting at her computer looking at her over her shoulder.

"Hi," Leia said quietly.

"Hi," Sloane smiled noticing her eyes ache. "I feel like shit."

"You look like shit," Leia laughed and sat on the bed next to her.

"You took off my shoes, thanks."

"Yeah, as for the clothes, I didn't really feel like stripping you last night," Leia handed her a bottled water she had ready on the nightstand.

Sloane accepted and sat up. "Thanks for last night. I was in bad shape. I don't feel any better about anything right now though. God, this really sucks."

"My parents left late last night, they're not home yet. They went to your house." Leia offered the weakest of smiles. "Have you come to a conclusion?"

"I can't believe my dad did anything." Sloane shook her head. "I know that's not what it looks like, but you know him Leia, do you think he could attack Morgan and Kyle?"

"Not unless his family was threatened," Leia shrugged. "So no, I can't see it."

"Good. I'll find out what's going on. Maybe I should go talk to Kyle."

"Maybe you should wait until my parents get home and see what they have to say."

"No," she shook her head. "I'm going over there."

"Need a someone to go with you?"

" 'A someone'?" She smiled. "No, but I'll take a best friend."
Sloane changed into one of Leia's outfits after a quick shower while Leia scribbled a note to her parents.

They drove with the radio blaring to the Valenti's and walked in silence to the apartment. Kyle answered the door before they had a chance to knock. "I saw you in the parking lot," he explained letting them in.

"Nice look for you Kyle," Leia smirked pointing to the silvery-green on his face.

Kyle smiled and led them to the living room. "Thank you again, Sloane. I was hurt pretty bad."

"And you think my dad did it?" She asked without contempt.
"Sloane, if I wouldn't have seen him and felt him I would say no. It was Max Evans last night. I wish it wasn't, but it was," he took her hand. "I'm sorry. God, I'm sorry."

"You have to be wrong, Kyle." Sloane withdrew her hand. "You know my dad, he would never do something like that to you or Morgan!"

"He did," Morgan walked into the living room from the hallway. "I swear to you Sloane, it was your dad. I wouldn't lie about it, why would I?"

Sloane shook her head. "This isn't like him. He's not a violent person."

Morgan couldn't face Sloane again; she offered a weak smile to Leia and went back down the hall.

"Why did you call my dad if you weren't pressing charges?" Leia asked. "None of this makes any sense to us."

"I wanted Michael to know what was happening. It seemed the best idea at the time. I didn't call him as the Sheriff, I called him as alien friend." Kyle smiled and shook his head. "I wish I had answers for you both, I really do. But if I hadn't gotten home when I did and heard Morgan…" He trailed off unable to finish his thought. "Damn!"

"My dad wouldn't hurt anyone. He'd never hurt my mom by doing any of that, you know that Kyle, don't you?" Sloane knew she was whining but didn't seem to care.

"Your father has done some stupid things over the years and it's not place to tell you about them. Ask him, hell, ask anyone. Sometimes Mr. Evans surprises us all." He laughed bitterly. "But this was it, Sloane, I'm done with him. I'm not blaming you or your mom and I'm not mad at either one of you, but I'm done with Max."

Sloane nodded and stood followed by Leia. "We'll see what happens Kyle."

Kyle led the girls outside and watched from the apartment window as they got into Leia's car and drove off.

"This is all bullshit," Sloane slapped the dashboard. "My dad…" She looked longingly out the window as memories bombarded her from ever angle. She seemed to seize and tremble. Leia pulled the car over to the side of the road and grabbed Sloane's shaking arm.

"Sloane!" She yelled her voice cracking. "Sloanie! What's wrong?" Sloane's eyes rolled in back of her head; saliva collected n the corners of her mouth. She started shaking her head and then rocking back and forth. "Sloanie…" Leia cried taking her friend into her arms and holding her shuddering body.

* * * * * *

As Lonnie, masquerading as Isabel, sauntered down the street in front of the Department of Public Health she inhaled the dusty desert air. "Tess was right about the air, it sucks." She smiled and flicked a cigarette into the street before pushing open the double glass doors. She told the receptionist she was there to se Liz Evans and waited only seconds before she was lead back to Liz's office. Liz smiled and Lonnie felt like she was going to throw up from the sweetness.

"Iz! What a nice surprise." Liz crinkled her nose. "Maybe. What brings you here in the middle of the day?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about my brother," Lonnie took the seat on the other side of the desk.

"Oh," Liz sat down heavily in her chair. "I told Michael last night that I think he's crazy. Not Michael, Max. I think Max is crazy."

"What?" Lonnie nearly choked.

"If Max attacked Morgan and Kyle, he really believes he didn't. I think he's losing his mind."

"Really?" Lonnie fought back a smile. This was getting too easy.

"Yeah. Think about it. Everything falls on Max; it makes sense for him to crack. Like I explained to Michael, all the tragedies have affected him more than anyone else. He watched his daughter kill his son. Well, almost watched, you remember. Except for the Rath incident, it's always on Max."

"Rath…" Lonnie said slowly. So he had been here; she got an ache in her heart where she never thought she would.

"Don't get me wrong, that was very traumatic for Maria and Michael, but the actual aftermath of killing him didn't belong to Max; Michael carries that. Max didn't lose sleep over him. But that's the only thing. Everything else has been Max." Liz shook her head unaware of the distant expression from Isabel/Lonnie. "So, that's why I think he's lost it."

"Wow." Lonnie shook her head reeling from the news that Rath was actually dead and Max and Michael were responsible. The anger rolled through her as she thought about her slain lover. So it had been twenty years? Didn't matter, they killed Rath. "Yeah, well. I better go. I just…"

"You're acting strange Iz. What's up?"

"Nothing," she shook her head. "Just wanted to see how my brother was doing."

Liz smiled faintly as Lonnie stood and left the office. She went back to work and eventually forgot about the visit.

* * * * * *

Liz Evans was surprised to see her husband leaning on her car when she left work. She smiled as she approached him. "Max. Hi."

"Hey," Zan smiled and ticked his head to one side. "What's up?"

"Nothing, what are you doing here?"

Zan stepped into her and cupped her face with his hands. He kissed her as one hand slid down her back into the back of her pants. She laughed and pushed him away. "Max, stop!"

He looked at her and grinned. "There's rats in the cornfield."

"Excuse me?"

"Rats in the cornfield and the elves are due in at midnight, Liz." He looked through her as he spoke. His eyes went wild. "Rats."

"Max, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Rats in the corn. Rath's in the corn. Rath at midnight."

"Rath," Liz took a deep breath. "Rath's gone, baby." She took a small step towards him. "You okay?"

"Rath. Midnight. Gone?"

"You and Michael, Max. Remember? After what he did to Maria, you killed him. He's gone." Liz took her husband's hand and tried to smile. "You were protecting Maria."

"Maria?" Zan tried to look confused. "Maria. Always help Maria."

"That's right Max, we'll always help Maria." Liz fought back tears as she watched her husband stroll away. I'm right, she thought, he's fucking crazy.




Zan suppressed his smile as she strolled away back to the black sedan with Lonnie behind the wheel. He slid into the passenger seat and lit up a cigarette.

"Well," Lonnie asked anxiously.

"She thinks her old man is fucking crazy. And it looks like little Rathie must have had some fun here with Michael's bitch before they killed him." Zan watched the delight flick on behind his sister's eyes.

"Perfect," she threw back her head and laughed. "Everything falls into place so easy when you're dealing with a bunch of fucking idiots!"

* * * * * *

Chapter Six

"Sloane," Leia cried into her friend's hair. Sloane continued to tremble then stopped as abruptly as she started. Her eyes became focused again. She wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand. "Sloanie?"

"Leia," Sloane whispered. "My head hurts."

"Should I call your dad?" Leia dug round in the console trying to locate her cell phone. After a weak nod from Sloane, she dialed the Evans' house, Max answered. Leia told him briefly what was going on and he told her to drive to Isabel's, it was the closest place.

Leia helped Sloane inside to a surprised Isabel and Rick. Rick took over getting Sloane to the couch and immediately got her a cold pack. Isabel sat on one side of her and Leia the other.

"What happened?" Isabel stroked her niece's hand.

"We were at Kyle's," Leia explained. "Then in the car, she freaked out. The whole eye rolling, drooling shaking thing."

Sloane smiled weakly, "sorry."

"It's not your fault," Leia paused as the front door opened and Max came barreling in.

"Sloanie!" Max knelt in front of his daughter and got Leia's account of what happened. Rick handed Sloane the icepack and Sloane pressed it to her head.

"It hurts, daddy." Sloane whimpered feeling like a child. "It hurts so bad."

Max shook his head, "the last time something like that happened was with the voices. Did you hear them in your head?"

Sloane gave a slow shake of her head, "no." She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing perfectly aware that all eyes were on her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at her dad. "I'm better. I guess I overreacted a little."

"No sweetheart, you didn't." Max stood and excused himself outside with a pack of Isabel's cigarettes.

"He's a little high strung lately," Isabel offered then laughed. "Of course he is! God, why is everything so complicated?"

"Because you're all aliens!" Rick said from in back of the couch causing the three women to laugh.

"I'm glad Leia was there," Isabel looked to the young woman she considered family. "Thank God you two are always together."

Sloane took the icepack away from her head and looked at her aunt and the conflicting messages she was saying now as opposed to the ones she gave outside the gallery.

"We'll always be together," Sloane said slowly and reached for her friend's hand.

"Good, that's the way it's supposed to be." Isabel smiled watching the relationship that went way beyond friendship in the two women she loved the most.

* * * * * *


Tess and Khivar were sitting across the table in the dining room of the suite they had leased with Jack in front of them. He was balancing a small sprite of energy in his hand.

"This is way cool," Jack laughed as the energy disappeared. "I don't know why my dad never teaches me anything like this."

"Because your dad doesn't like to talk about the alien side of things, Jack. He likes to pretend he's human." Tess smiled.

"I don't know why, this is much more fun!" Jack laughed and felt at ease. These were his friends and he had learned so much from them.

"Your dad hasn't told you about a lot of things, Jack." Tess looked to Khivar who nodded in return. "Did he ever tell you that you had a half brother?"

Jack was stunned as he shook his head slowly.

"I didn't think so," Tess tried to look concerned. "You did; he's dead now."

"What happened to him?" Jack asked the first question a regular early teenager would ask.

"Well, let's back up a little bit. A long time ago before your parents got married and had Sloane there was someone else in your father's life. She had a baby and your father was his father too." Tess spoke slowly watching her words. Jack had already questioned her on who 'Tess' was. She didn't want to give that little secret away yet and had told Jack she was just an old friend. "His mom was an alien and they went away back to their home for a long time."

"Really?" Jack's eyes grew wide. "Cool!"

"It was nice, but then there was a problem and they had to come back here. You see Jack, your half-brother, Lantham, who should have been the heir to the throne met with an obstacle. Apparently, there was a loophole and he wasn't in line for the throne, your sister was."

"Sloane?" Jack's eyes were wide with surprise. "No way."

"Way," Khivar smiled. "Sloane is the new leader."

Jack nodded remembering the conversations about Sloane and Leia being the leaders. "Leia?"

"She's your sister's second in command."

"Cool," Jack nodded.

"Not cool," Tess snapped. "Do you know what they did to Lantham? They killed him. They burned him from the inside out. Do you still think that's cool?"

Jack shook his head. "No, that's not cool." He paused and met Tess's eyes. "But he was her half-brother too, right?"

"Right! She killed her own brother."

Jack felt sick. His sister was a killer? It all seemed so impossible, but it was real. Oh God!

"That's what your parents never told you." Tess reached across the table and took Jack's hand. "We think it's time for a new leader though, you’re the blood of the king."

"Me?" Jack pointed to himself. His eyes lit up as he envisioned a kingdom of his own. Ha! That'd prove to everyone that he was a lot better than Sloane.

"Yeah Jack, would you be up for the job?" Khivar fought back the leer turning it into a smile.

Jack nodded slowly. "I wouldn't have to hurt my sister, would I?"

"Of course not," Tess grinned and added silently; we'll take care of that for you.

Khivar and Tess went into the kitchenette for some drinks. Khivar pressed her up against the counter and spoke quietly into her ear. "It's going good with the boy."

"I know Khiv, real good." She giggled and kissed him. "Thing's just have a way of working themselves out for us, don't they?"

"Yes dear, they do." He met her eyes. "I have a couple of questions for you though."

"Can you ask them later?"

"No," his voice was gruff. "We're never alone. Either Jack's here or the wonder twins."

"Fine, make it quick." She looked agitated.

"What happens to the boy when we're done?"

"I think anything could happen. If he stays with us, we'll take him home. He does carry the kings blood, right?"

"Okay. What about the wonder twins? I think this whole king thing has gone to Zan's head."

"Zan," she smiled. "He'll be dead before we go back. We'll have no use for either of them after we separate and kill the half-breeds. But we need them for now."

"I don't like the way you look at him, dear." Khivar showed a flash of emotion. "I think I might be jealous."

"Oh please, Khiv," Tess touched his cheek with the back of her hand. "I have to lead him on a little. Don't you know by now I'm a master of deception?"

"Maybe that's what worries me."

* * * * * *

Max drove his daughter home and watched her for most of the day. Sloane tried to tell him over and over that she was fine. She wasn't lying though, she felt fine. Sure it had been awhile she she'd freaked out like that, but it could be from anything. Stress alone could have forced a seizure. Right, she thought, stress about the lies about her dad and evil lurking around every corner, or maybe it's from the knowledge of impending doom.

"Sloanie," Max looked to his daughter. His beautiful, strong daughter. "Do you believe me?"

Sloane waited a beat before answering. "I don't think you're capable doing that to anyone dad, let alone your friends."

He sighed and hugged her. "Thank you, baby, thank you. You're one of the few that believe me."

"We went to see Kyle, me and Leia, before I freaked out." She said softly grimacing at the look of hurt in her father's eyes. "He's so sure it was you."

"But it wasn't."

"I know daddy," she took his hand and felt nothing but love from him. "We'll figure it out."

After finally getting out from under her father's watchful eye she made the escape to her room where she called Leia.

"How are you?" Leia asked.

"Okay, I think. I'm going to call Chris and see if he wants to get together tonight. I think I could use a little snuggling."

"Daddy dearest going to let you out of the house?"

"Like he has a choice," Sloane laughed. "Any news from the parents?"

"Dad's freaking out and mom told me she believes your dad, completely."

"Really?" Sloane smiled. Thank God for Maria.

Sloane hung up with Leia and called Chris. She knew she must have sounded pathetic on the phone because he invited her over to his apartment for dinner. She accepted without hesitation; it would be nice to be able to cry on his shoulder for awhile.

After a slight argument with Max, Sloane left. Chris met her at the door and hugged her when she came inside. His apartment was clean, too clean, she thought. He must have spent all afternoon cleaning. Smells of something Italian wafted through the apartment and Sloane felt like crying. This was so normal. So new. So right.

"You okay?" He asked and walked her to the couch.
She nodded and felt the first tears fall. Such a baby, she thought. She felt her body sag as he wrapped his arms around her. So strong.

"Thank you for inviting me over." She whispered.

"I'm glad you came." He kissed her forehead, her nose then her lips. "You have a rough life, don't you?"

She nodded and unloaded the allegations about Max on him. "That's not my dad, Chris. He's not like that."

"I didn't think he was," he reassured her. "Tell me, Sloane, tell me your secrets. You've got too many to hold alone."

Sloane nodded and told him the rest. She told him everything she could think of from trying to kill Kyle when she was little to the seizure that afternoon. During the middle Chris got up and turned off the stove; neither had an appetite any longer. She told him about her half-brother and the power that Leia and her have together. This time she didn't leave anything out. Her entire life was on his lap and he listened. He didn't ask questions, he let her talk. When she was done she looked at him and smiled.

"See, it's a little more complicated than I originally told you."

"Yeah, it is." He smiled and kissed her again. "I don't want you to go through this alone, Sloane. When you need someone to cry on or hold you, I want it to me."

"It could be so hard, though, Chris." She shook her head. "You haven't witnessed any of this. It'll be hard for you to be with me."

"No, that's the easy part. The hard part is going to be watching you go through the rest of this. All this Tess stuff, knowing that I can't protect you." He sighed. "When I first saw you I thought, wow, she's hot. When I talked to you I was blown away by your sincerity and your values. When you went to Leia's aid that night, I was floored. You're so loyal and loyalty is hard to find. When we kissed and I saw your life through your eyes I was intrigued. Was I scared? Not really. You've never scared me Sloane."

"I'm not all that scary."

He laughed. "You, no, not that scary. Everything else, that's another story."

"So you still want to see me?"

"Of course I do. I think sometime in your life you meet that certain person and suddenly everything begins to make sense. You see why you've been wandering around aimlessly for years. That one person lets you see things in a new light. It may be a big glowing extraterrestrial light, but you get my point."

Sloane laughed, "yeah, I know what you mean."

"I want to be a part of your life Sloane Evans, a big part. Do you have room for me?"

New tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded. "Oh God, yes Chris."

He held her close and kissed the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist and felt relaxed. For the first time in a while, Sloane Evans was relaxed. When he stood her up and started leading her to the bedroom, she went willingly with nothing but positively. Christian Lewis was a very good thing.

He held her hand and walked her towards his bed. He tilted her chin up to face him. "Sloane, if this isn't what you want…"

"It is, Chris," she reassured him. "But I've never…"

"I know," he kissed her again and pulled her shirt over her head. Gooseflesh appeared on her skin as he unsnapped her bra and dropped it to he floor.

Sloane unbuttoned his shirt; her hands were trembling. They undressed each other in the darkened bedroom and Chris picked her up around the waist, his mouth meeting her breasts. Sloane sighed. He lay her on the bed and nervously got a condom out from the nightstand. He saw her questioning look and smiled. He reached back in the drawer and pulled out the box it came from. "I just opened the box, Sloane."

She smiled and watched him. When he entered her she gasped somewhere on that fine line between pleasure and pain. She held his face in her hands and kissed him. She saw unfamiliar places and people flashing in her mind's eye. Oh God, she thought, flashes! They came so rapidly she couldn't hold one image for more than a second. Then she saw herself as he saw her and it took her breath away. All the stories her parents told her, now they were hers. He loved her.

She was loved. Someone who knew her secrets and was willing to keep them and deal with them loved her. "I love you too, Chris," she whispered.

"You already know I love you," he stated rather than asked.

* * * * * *

Liz had kept her distance form her husband that night. It was all off. When she asked him about the rats he looked at her like she was the one who was crazy. Maybe I am, she thought. Maybe everything else was right but me, Liz Evans, maybe I am the crazy one.

She wanted to scream. After the 'rat' encounter with Max and the argument with her son about meeting his new friends, Liz wanted nothing more than to go to bed. Thoughts of Rath weighed heavily on her. Why the hell was Max talking about rats and Rath. She was so close to a thought, but she couldn't put it together.

As she lay in bed alone she thought about her earlier conversation with Kyle. Thank God neither of the Valenti's seemed to be mad at her. She knew Kyle wasn't lying. He was attacked by Max and Morgan was sexually assaulted. So this is how it all ends? she thought, my husband's crazy, my son's got new friends and won't let me meet them and my daughter is spending the night with someone she barely knows. Maybe it is me.

* * * * * *

Liz left early for work the next morning. She couldn't deal with anything and sinking herself into work seemed like the perfect escape. Max and Jack ate breakfast together and Jack showed him the new trick of the energy burst in his palm. As much as Max tried to look interested in his son's new trick, he had too many other things on his mind. Jack eventually excused himself telling his dad he was off to meet his friends.
Max walked around the house for awhile waiting to see if Sloane showed up. He was worried that she was getting in too deep too soon with Chris. He seemed like a nice enough guy, but this was his little girl he was talking about. After wasting most of the morning he went to see Maria. The one person he felt who truly believed him. When he pulled up at the Guerin residence she was sitting on the porch a coffee mug in her hand. She smiled and waved and pointed to the empty driveway. Michael and Leia were both gone. He walked up the porch steps and sat across the round table from her.

"How's it going, Max?" She smiled.

"It's been better, you know. Michael still not believe me?"

"Michael doesn't know what to believe. He's confused. How's Liz?"

"Either she thinks I'm crazy or she's crazy." Max laughed. "She was asking me about rats and…stuff. I think my entire fucking world is crazy. Jack's showing me new powers he's learned and Sloane spent the night at that Chris's last night."

"He's a good guy, Max. Even Leia thinks so." Maria took a deep breath. "You have other supporters Max. Leia believes you. Sloane believes you. The others will come around once this gets figured out. Leia told me she's going to work on Michael today at work on your behalf. I talked to Morgan last night and she feels awful about everything."

"Why?" Max asked surprised.

"She thinks this is her fault," Maria shrugged knowing the feeling of the victim's guilt. "She'll recover from it. So will Kyle. He's still mad as hell, though."

"You know, I don't blame him. I think he might need glasses but I don't blame him."

They talked for awhile longer before Max left. He told her he wanted to visit the Granilith and see if he could come up with any answers. Sometimes the Granilith was the most calming place on the planet.

Maria watched him go and then looked to her sorry excuse for a garden on the side of the house. She wrinkled her nose and went back inside. She found a pair of gardening gloves and a shovel in the basement and took them outside. As she turned over the dirt she thought about all the events that had shaped her life.

She smiled thinking of her husband. His strong will and smart mouth; she loved him and he loved her. Nothing would ever come in-between them. They had made that promise a long time ago. Leia. God, she was so proud of her. She had come to face the reality that Leia would leave someday; the same heartache she had when she thought Michael was leaving coursed through her. But who knew when? It might not happen for years. And poor Max. There had to be an explanation for this. Max wasn't crazy, that she was sure of. Sure, he was on edge, but who wouldn't be in his position? Maybe Liz was losing it. That seemed more realistic than Max. Liz had told her she didn't even know who Jack was hanging out with. Maria shook her head and continued to turn over the soil.

"Hello lover."

Maria stopped working. The voice. It was so familiar, but a little different. Isabel? Why would Isabel be calling her lover? She laid the shovel down and turned around slowly. She started to smile at the Evans' siblings then stopped. This wasn't right.

"Hi," she looked back and forth and immediately noticed the differences. This wasn't Max and Isabel. Oh God. She backed up as they walked towards her on either side. Lonnie? But then…Zan? Zan! Oh God, Zan's alive! "Lonnie…"

"You remember me peaches?" Lonnie smiled. "Aww…I'm flattered. I don't think you've met my brother have you. This is Zan."

Zan nodded and smiled as Maria fought the urge to bolt. There was no where to go. She looked at Zan and knew what was going on. Allies? She had to tell someone, she had to call Michael. The last thing she felt was the shovel blade crashing into her skull.

* * * * * *
Chapter Seven

Leia arrived home before Michael and when she didn't see her mom, she wasn't worried. Why would she be, it wasn't like her mother was under house arrest. She called Sloane and heard all the sordid details of her night with Chris. She was excited for her friend, but at the same time felt a little jealous. She wanted someone to tell all her secrets to. Someone who wanted to be with her for who she was, not what she was. Sloane was lucky, Leia thought as she pounded away at the keyboard of her computer. She heard the front door open and slam shut. Dad, she mused. She met him in the living room.

"Where's your mother?" He asked. He car's out front."

"I don't know," Leia shrugged. "She wasn't here when I got home. Maybe she went out with Morgan or Liz."

"Liz is working late and Morgan and Kyle took Dora to Jim's." Michael looked around the house for a note. Nothing. A sinking feeling ravaged him. "Call Max, Leia."

"Why?" She asked suddenly worried at her father's reaction. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," he ran his hands through his hair and looked his daughter in the eye. "But something doesn't feel right."

Leia nodded as Michael continued his search of the house. He found her purse hanging on the doorknob of the bedroom. Her keys were inside. His breath quickened and his heart skipped. Maria. Not Maria!

He met Leia back in the living room carrying Maria's purse.

"Max's coming over-" She stopped seeing what Michael had in his hand. "Oh God. Not mom!" Tears fell from her eyes and her father took her in his arms. "Dad? What's going on?"

Michael shook his head. He didn't have any answers for her and he was afraid to speak. The same tears as his daughter had would follow any words coming from his mouth now. He held her and let her cry until the front door opened. Both of the Guerin's turned to the door in anticipation of seeing the beautiful face of wife and mother.

"What's going on?" Max asked as he walked in followed by Sloane. Sloane immediately went to Leia and took Michael's place.

"Maria's gone," Michael's voice caught. He held up her purse. "Everything's here."

"Could she be with-"

"No. Morgan and Kyle are at Jim's with Dora and Liz is working late."

Max nodded. He hated it when Michael knew more about his wife than he did. "Okay, you just got home and she was gone?"

"I got home first, " Leia volunteered. "About an hour before dad."

"Okay, so around four." Max glanced at his watch and Leia nodded. "I was here around noon, but I didn't stay that long. So let's say between twelve-thirty and four."

"What's going on Max?" Michael asked. He turned away from his daughter and caught his friend's eye. He motioned him to the front door after setting the purse on the couch. With a longing look behind him at his daughter he went outside. "Where is she? What the fuck is going on?"

"I don't know Michael." Max shook his head. "She didn't say anything about going anywhere?"

"No. Nothing. She left everything. Her car's still here, her keys, her wallet. Everything! Where the fuck is she?" Michael stormed off the steps and into the front yard with Max

following. "This is too fucked up. This isn't right. It's Maria!"
"We'll find her Michael," he placed a reassuring hand on Michael's shoulder. "You know we will. We won't stop until we do."

"Do you think this is all connected? Do you think it's Tess?"

"I don't know, but I, we will find out." He looked to the front door then towards the side yard. Something caught his eye and he walked over to it. He picked up a garden glove. "This Maria's?" He asked holding up to Michael.

Michael shrugged walking closer to him. "I don't know, I guess."

Max nodded and shoved the glove in his back pocket. His gaze wandered from Michael to the overgrown garden. A glint of light from the setting sun hit something metallic in the brush behind the garden. Max walked though the soil to get a better look. He saw the metal, then the wooden handle. A shovel. He picked it up and saw Michael watching him.

Michael saw it first. The discoloration on the blade. In two steps he was at Max's side taking the shovel from him. With shaking hands he lifted the blade closer to his face.

"Michael?"

"It's blood," he said and fell to his knees.

* * * * * *

Liz kept her arm around Michael's heaving body in the Evans living room. His face was buried in her shoulder. Leia and Sloane sat on the floor huddled together. Leia's worry and dread was slowly being replaced by anger. Max paced the length of the room while Isabel and Rick sat helpless in chairs trying not to stare at Michael at his most vulnerable.

A knock at the door sent the room into a frenzy. Michael jumped up and swayed. Isabel ran to the door and opened it letting in Morgan and Kyle. Michael returned to his spot beside Liz as the Valenti's entered the house. Kyle dropped his wife's hand and met Max.

"We're here for Maria, that's it." Kyle spoke with clenched teeth. "We'll be here until she comes home. This in no way means that we're friends, buddies or pals, Evans. What you did, but are too pussy to admit, was unforgivable. If I see you even glance at my wife, I'll kill you. I don't care about super powers or all the other crap, I'll rip your Goddamn head off!"

Max nodded solemnly and averted his eyes from him. Kyle retreated and joined Morgan on the floor in front of Isabel and Rick.

Michael began to rock in Liz's arms. She rubbed his back, keeping her face next to his. Whispering in his ear things he needed to hear. Everyone else was silent. Max continued to pace while keeping his eyes far away from the Valenti's.

Damn it, Liz thought as she held her friend, not Maria! She shook her head while rubbing the back of Michael's neck. She could feel where his tears had soaked through her shirt. A cursory glance around the room held all the information. It was Maria. Everyone was there for Maria.

A best friend to everyone, loved by everyone. Maria was never the one to start an argument or fight; she tried to keep the peace. Sure, she gave her opinion on everything, but she never set out to hurt anyone. Liz glanced to Leia; she was so much like her mother. Full of energy and stubborn as an ox. Liz closed her eyes and prayed Leia hadn't lost her mother for good. She glanced to the Valenti's and saw the pain settled on Kyle's face. His sister, more like blood to him. He'd said it before, anything for Maria. Morgan, her and Maria had become so close and now…She hated to see Michael like this. Michael was the strong one. He was really the one in charge. He took care of everyone and kept them safe. Now all he could do was tremble and cry for a missing wife. Liz finally thought of herself. Maria had been her best friend forever; they were finally getting back on the right track. They had shared so much together. Late night talks about everything under the sun, from the first kiss to the hardest moments. Life altering events had seemed easier with Maria around.

When Maria was in pain, she didn't even want to tell anyone. Maria, sweet Maria. Liz's own tears rolled down her face to mix with Michael's. The agony of her nightmare with Rath. Her resolve to push that part of her life away and lock it up.

Rath. 'Rats in the corn.' Liz's body stiffened hearing her husband's delusions. 'Rath's in the corn.' Liz looked across the room to her pacing husband. He looked so sane. He was back in charge tonight. She could almost see the wheels spinning in his head. 'Rath at midnight.' She tried to concentrate. She was so close but the thought kept eluding her. Damn it Liz, pull it together!

The group stayed in their closed surroundings for hours. It was well past nightfall when another knock at the door sent Michael reeling. Liz pulled him back to her, she knew it wasn't going to be Maria. Michael knew it wasn't going to be Maria.
Max answered the door and let Chris Lewis in. He took a look around the room at the somber faces. He met Sloane's eyes and could see it was bad. Chris looked back to Max and squinted.

"How'd you do that Mr. Evans?" He asked causing everyone to look up at the new vocalization.

"I'm sorry?" Max shook his head in confusion. "Do what?"

Liz let go of Michael as she got closer to the evasive thought. She stood and looked at the exchange between her husband and her daughter's boyfriend. She blinked several times and opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't form.

"I just saw you walking into gas station when I was pulling out. I waved-"

"Zan!" Liz yelled causing the group to jump. She looked wildly from Michael, Isabel and then back to Max. "Zan! It's Zan!"

Max stared at his wife as the realization crept into view. "Oh God."

Isabel stood and took her place next to Liz. "Zan? He's dead."

"Who told us that Iz?" Liz nearly shouted. "Lonnie! Lonnie and Rath!"

Max shook his head. "But…"

"He's the one who attacked them!" Liz pointed to the Valenti's. "It’s him. He's here with Tess and Khivar!"

"Oh God," Isabel stepped closer to her brother and hugged him. "I knew it wasn't you."

Max hugged his sister tight. "I told you."

"He's not crazy, Liz." Michael said hoarsely from the couch. It was the first sentence he'd strung together since arriving at the Evans' house.

"You thought I was crazy?" Max suppressed a smile. "Is that what all the talk about rats was about?"

"It wasn't you, was it?" Liz turned her attention away from Max and looked to her sister in law. "When you came and saw me at work, Max was waiting for me at the car-"

"I didn't come to your work," Isabel whispered, her eyes wide.

"I told you I thought he was crazy…" Liz shook her head. "Damn it! It's Lonnie and Zan!"

"Oh shit," Isabel stepped back. "Of course it is! God, are we all complete idiots? We should have seen it right away."

"They played me," Liz shook her head, disgusted. "They played me bad."

"I met Lonnie," Sloane said softly from her spot on the floor in-between. All eyes turned to her, even Michael's swollen ones. Chris kept his arm tightly around her shoulder. "Outside the gallery the other night. She was you," she pointed to Isabel, "she said I didn't need Leia anymore."

"What a bitch!" Leia retorted.

"Well, now we know who we're really up against." Max finally looked to the shocked faces of the Valenti's. "Do you believe me now?"

Kyle remained motionless on the floor while Morgan stood. She walked tentatively across the room and embraced Max. "I believe you."

Max hugged her awkwardly avoiding making eye contact with Kyle. "I'm sorry, Morgan."

"Thank God it wasn't you!" She cried as she squeezed him tighter. "Thank you for not being you." She laughed. "You know what I mean."

Max nodded and released her. He looked to Michael and felt his pain. "Now we know who's playing. It's time to find Maria."

"They have my Maria," Michael said from the couch. Liz immediately went back to him and took him in her arms. "Maria!" He sobbed.

"If they know about…" Isabel stopped herself. Leia. Michael. Oh God, retribution for Rath? Do they know Michael and Max killed him? She looked over to the couch and caught her sister-in-law's stare. Liz nodded.

Sloane explained to Chris and Leia what had happened outside the gallery with Lonnie. Leia got more pissed while Chris stayed supportive. "It's going to get bad, Chris. I can't ask you to stay or help. For your own safety, I think you should go."

He looked between the woman he loved and her friend shaking his head. "No way. I think you're stuck with me." He kissed Sloane's cheek and picked up Leia's hand. "You both are. I'll do anything I can to help."

Sloane and Leia both smiled. Any jealousy that Leia had felt about Sloane's new relationship dissolved on the spot. She knew she wasn't losing a best friend, she was gaining one.
Leia looked to her father and wanted to cry again; but there was time for that later. She had to be the strong one. She had to get her mother back or she'd lose both her parents. She looked to Max. "So what now?"

Max looked to his best friend's daughter. "We get your mom back and then we kick some ass! How does that sound Leia?"

"Well, Mr. Evans the Sane, I think that sounds like a kick ass idea." She stood up and walked to Max as the front door opened and Jack walked in.

He looked around to the room full of people and smiled. He looked in back of him then faced everyone else. "Wow, a party?"

"Where the hell have you been?" Max yelled noticing the time. Damn I should have noticed earlier.

"With a friend, do you want to meet her?"

Liz looked towards the door as Jack stood to the side and invited his friend inside. "Everyone, this is Ava. Ava, this is everyone."

Tess strolled in the Evans living room and looked around. Her eyes were sparkling at the shocked faces. "Hi guys!" She chirped.

"This is your new friend?" Liz asked rising from the couch. "The one you've been spending so much time with?"

"Yeah," Jack nodded enthusiastically. "They've been teaching me all kinds of cool stuff!"

"Get over here, Jack," Max said slowly locking eyes with Tess. "Now!"

"I don't have to," Jack stood up straight.

"Excuse me?" Max looked down to his son.

"I don't have to," Jack backed up and stood next to Tess. "I'm with them now."

"No…" Liz shook her head. "Jack?"

Jack looked to his mother and felt sorry for her. Michael was crying? Why? He met the eyes of everyone in the room before turning his back on them and walking out the front door.
"An eye for an eye," Tess giggled looking at Max before following her young protégé out the front door.

Max stood motionless then bolted for the door. He flung it open with his wife on his heels. They were gone.

Max walked back in the living room and watched as his wife went to Michael where they comforted each other. He turned to look at his daughter when Kyle approached him.

"I'm sorry," Kyle looked to the ground. "I thought…Well, you know what I thought. I was wrong; but how the hell was I supposed to know your presumed dead evil twin was alive and kicking?" He tried to smile, but in light of new circumstances, couldn't. "Don't worry Evans, we'll get Maria and Jack both back." He held out his hand and Max shook it. "Pals?"

"Buddies," Max frowned and drew him close to hug him briefly.

Sloane was shocked. All this time her little brother had been hanging out with the enemy; probably getting his head filled with lies. Leia came through loud and clear.

It's not your fault, Sloanie.

I feel like it is.

I know, but it's not. Jack's not stupid. He'll come back over to the good side.

Before it's too late?

We can hope.

Stand together.

Always.

Sloane met Leia's eyes and smiled.

* * * * * *

Chapter Eight

Michael's body sagged against Liz. So much to cry for. Liz rubbed his neck while crying for her f