They have not wondered into a different story. But indeed, the villain of all this one was someone unexpected and no one had expected it, when it was thrown into middle of such a tense situation. And Maria Deluca Guerin was still dealing it herself across town as she got out of her car and took some deep breaths. As she stood outside the Sheriff’s Department. A place that had history to it, but it was a place in recent times that had not brought trauma to her,
because we have grown past this or so she thought, as she knew she had to do this. As she walked into the Sheriff’s Department, and gave her name to the deputy on duty, and told him who she wanted to see.
She was not seeing the villain, but his understudy.
Nope, the real kick in the stomach departed this town she thought,
and he is unaccounted for, and likely has skipped the country once it became certain that the jig was up, she thought.
Good riddance. Not that I particularly want to see him and apparently, I did she thought of the other night at Cow Patties, and a quick sighting.
But I had not seen him since I was a kid, so how did I know that was my father she muttered to herself
But now he has run for the hills she sighed,
what else is new. That is all he can do. Because he spent so much of my life in absentia she murmured. But this was a visit she did have to make. After delaying it for three days.
Ever since the incident at Ava’s cabin.
My defence was that I was trying to get my bearings she knew of the bombshell.
Because the disclosure in the hours after the incident would pass as a stunner. In the discovery that the person who had abducted Claudia and Kyla was actually her
half brother.
Yes, half brother.
Chase Delaney.
Maria Deluca Guerin had almost fainted on that one. But stayed standing and was still standing. But it turned out that
Richard Delany had been Maria’s biological father. The man who had walked out on her and Amy when she was a child. And changed his name. Although Deluca apparently was Amy’s maiden name, and she chose to raise her child as a Deluca.
When there was a Delany in the midst, or whatever his name was. Maria did not know,
and I don’t want to know.
But he was the one who got in the midst of them. And forced Liz away from Max. It did not feel good to know her deadbeat father was behind all this,
it would be so much easier to blame a rogue alien for this, but nope it was a human who hated who they were and hated those who were different or that his daughter had fallen in love with one.
And procreated with one. But Richard Delaney, Special Agent of the old Special Unit of the government had gone rogue. And made it seem like he had the blessing of the government, and now back in 2002. There was a distinct possibility that there were branches of the government who might not have liked the pod squad, and those who were different.
But in a lot of different ways than today.
But they had disbanded the Special Unit officially in the wake of everything that went down in their day. With the army base explosion,
that Tess engineered Maria muttered. But Richard Delaney would eventually go his own way and started up his own faction of the Unit and went hunting and eventually would find Liz and would make her pay. And she had not known any difference or that she could have said no.
She could have said no.
And she had no idea.
She believed everything was up and up. And she ultimately made a decision that would force herself and Claudia away from Max.
On faulty information Maria cursed.
Which would bring eighteen year of pain to all involved. She also now knew that Liz was only chosen because her dear old biological father Richard knew that coming after Maria would only bring among the media’s attention since she had started to become a up and coming music star in Nashville. And while certainly, he could have cause trouble. But he also knew that making a play on his daughter, and her spouse or grandchild would have elicit attention, and those in higher branches of government would notice, and his rogue actions would be called into question.
And he was not going to have that…
So, after he would raise the son that he would go on to have with his second wife, or girlfriend because he and Amy had not been officially married. She had been too much of hippie to want marriage at that time in her life. Anyways, the child he would have with another woman,
Chase Delaney would be raised to think that his father’s beliefs were the right thing to believe.
And not to go against him.
And when in recent days, Liz had come back to Roswell.
The news drifted along the vine to Richard. Who was incensed.
And he would act and would send his son in as a sacrificial lamb and would skip town before they were able to get to him. But his name was now on all the watch lists, so if he ever did come back to town.
While Chase was in lockup.
In Roswell.
And on this day, Maria was coming to visit.
Not that she wanted too.
But she had to protect her family.
This is all about protection she murmured.
I can see what Liz was going for she thought of her friend’s decision all those years ago.
Because I will do anything to protect my family.
“We have to talk,” was all she said to her half brother as she faced Chase in the jail cell. And Chase sat in the jail cell.
Chase looked up at his older sister, with a battered and bruised face because he had gotten in the way of Max the other night,
not a pretty sight. And a little bit coming from Kyle. Chase would be arrested, and even though Jim knew he did not have jurisdiction. He still brought back the younger man to face the furor in Roswell.
Unfortunately, only so much could be said to the press. They all knew that Claudia and Kyla had been found safe and sound.
They did not know there was someone in lockup. Or that Claudia had nearly died,
because her injuries were healed by the time she was brought back to town by her mother and father and therefore did not need the aid for a hospital, which was good given the state of the health care system at the moment.
“I don’t know you; you don’t know me but if you do anything to mess with my family,” she threatened. “Then I will end you.”
And I have my ways she thought.
I have someone who cause a lot of harm she murmured,
not that I want to use that method she thought.
Smirking, “You cannot do anything to me,” Chase muttered as he knew that his sitting here in lockup was all a facade, and that he was unlikely to be able to be held much longer. Because whatever injuries had had brought, were now not in the record.
I cannot prove the charges he thought,
because I can talk, he thought.
The press might not believe me. But there will be a realm of the public who will believe me. “Otherwise, I spill the whole story to the media the truth about your husband and your daughter,” he threatened and knew he had a winning hand. “Dad has told me everything about you, and I have documentation.”
“I am sure he did,” Maria muttered of the man she not seen in many years, and now had no desire to see.
As if I ever, she murmured because
he walked out on me, she thought.
And left Mom and I to scrape by. “Where is he? Where is this father of ours?” she asked and made a point of looking around and then back to Chase. “Don’t you understand. Our dad has thrown you under the bridge. Because he has not come to rescue you Chase,” she muttered. “He has skipped town,” she muttered. “He used you as a fall guy for his agenda, and he has left you in the lurch” she muttered. “You will get nothing else from him,” she sighed. “You tried to mess with my family. And that was very wrong of you.”
“I cannot believe you fell in love with one of those people,” Chase muttered.
“I did and I do, and I don’t care what you think about them, because they are my family, and you are nothing to me,” she sighed. “I don’t know what our father told you all these years. But they were lies, and you were stupid to believe in him,” she sighed. “Look at what he has done to you. Just like he left me once upon a time, he has left you.”
“He knows I am going to get out of here,” Chase muttered. “Your Sheriff will not be able to keep me much longer,” he asked. “What are even the charges going to be?” he asked. “We will meet up again.”
Dream on Maria muttered at the thought that their father would allow Chase to find him. “Whatever they end up being,” Maria murmured. “But if you are released. You are going to leave this town and never come back okay, and if you ever do hear from our father again, tell him the same thing,” she murmured. “You are nothing to me.”
“I am your blood,” Chase muttered. “Dad is your blood.”
“Dad is nothing to me,” Maria muttered. “My mother is my blood.
I am a Deluca. She raised me. Our father walked away from me as a child, and then he chose to mess with me, and therefore he is nothing…”
“Mess with you,” Chase laughed with a crackle. “My god, he protected you,” Chase muttered. “Do you know how many times I had to measure up to you. The famous country music star,” he spat. “You were famous,” he murmured. “You made something of yourself,” he sighed. “He was proud of you, and he used me because he could have gone after you, and your husband” he demanded. “He could have come after your husband for what he did back when he was younger” he taunted. “There is no statue of limitation on murder,” he muttered. “But he protected you.”
Maybe not, but he would not be able to prove it Maria knew. But she did not believe that her father had protected her for a minute. She knew the downside of coming after her, and it was no solace. “He only stayed away because of how it would have looked if he did,” Maria sighed. “His jig would be up. He was on his own. He was rogue. He was doing it against the wishes of his bosses. It is all about the perception of it. It was not about
love,” she sighed. “I have built something here, and it is about love, and you will not do anything to mess with that, okay?” she murmured.
“You cannot do anything to me,” Chase murmured.
“And if you think you can use the media, think again” Maria warned. “The media does not know of your relation to me,” Maria murmured. “I will deny that we are related. They won’t believe you. Do you here me, you are nothing to me,” she sighed. “If you try to mess with us, I can make sure that you regret that decision.”
“And wreck your career?” Chase challenged.
I don’t care about my career. I care about my Space Boy Maria mused.
I care about my family. “Don’t mess with me Chase,” Maria threatened. “I will win every time,” she sighed. “I am done with this,” she sighed. “We are finished,” she murmured as she walked away without another word and saw the encouraging smile of Jim.
The father who means something to me Maria muttered. Jim was the one who walked me down the aisle she thought.
That is what family is.
Blood is not always everything she sighed. “Do you think it will help?”
“You never know,” Jim said softly as they walked into his office. “He is right, I am going to have to let him go,” he sighed. “I am sorry you had to do that Maria,” he sighed. “It is never easy to disown family.”
“No, it is not” Maria sighed. “I feel for him that he had to deal with having my father in his life,” she sighed. “But he chose to follow his teachings…” she sighed, as they walked into the office and wilted when she saw her mother there for her. “Mom?” she said softly as she saw her mother.
“Honey,” Amy said softly as she held out her arms and Maria rushed into them and held on tight as she looked at Jim with a smile, and happiness at what they had discovered together, and the family they had built together. And Amy would do anything to protect her daughter. And help her. “What do you want to do now?”
“I need a drink,” Maria muttered. “Badly.”
But she knew she needed something more…
She needed Michael.
But Michael was still gone.
So, she chose her next best alternative…
*
Meanwhile,
The Park,
“Are you okay?” Archie was asking as he, Claudia and Lucy had gone for a walk and found themselves in the park. Claudia had felt the needed to get out of the neighborhood she did not know, and figure out if she was really in reality, or was she in some elaborate dream land, but the more she was on the outside, the more real it was becoming because the emotions of everything over the last few days was starting to catch up. And after Lucy had to go off to meet her mother, it only left Claudia and Archie alone in the park.
And they both knew it was time for a chat, a real chat they both thought.
“I am fine,” Claudia said softly because she could sense that Archie was being cautious with her,
like I am going to fall apart she thought. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“But I do,” Archie sighed.
“Why are you still here in Roswell after all that happened?” Claudia asked as she looked at her boyfriend.
Are we even still dating? She thought,
everything is rush she thought, everything was coming back to her, and she did not know where they were standing. She remembered
what she had been thinking before the worst had happened, but she did not know what that meant today, when she was in a new world.
“You,” Archie sighed. “I could not leave you,” he murmured. “You matter to me, and you almost died.”
“I am fine now,” Claudia sighed.
“But you weren’t Claudia,” Archie sighed. “I saw you. Lucy can tell you what she was told but I saw you. I saw you were barely with us, and you nearly died. Even after your father saved your life, in a way that still blows my mind, because really, you are
that kind of person,” he asked. “I still don’t know what it all means.”
“You and me both,” Claudia sighed. “I was always told by mother to be careful of who I told, and being in Boston, I was taught early that being different is not always accepted, and therefore, I tried to present myself as someone different, and mostly I am that person, I just have different quirks about me.”
Quirks Archie thought. “Quirks, sure” he sighed.
Let us go with that he sighed,
that is easier to manage.
“Can you accept
me for being who I am?” Claudia asked.
“Can you accept me for me being me, and who my birth mother is?” Archie asked.
“It was never that I could not accept that, or did I think you were lying to me” Claudia sighed. “I know I accused you of that,” she sighed. “But the last couple of weeks has shocked my system, and it was all a shock you know, to hear how close that you were in my world, even when you are not in
that world, because my father is not your father,” she sighed. “I liked that you were someone different from me, someone who I did not be myself with…”
“I am still
that person,” Archie murmured. “I just know
more now,” he said. “At the end of the day, it does not matter to me who my birth parents are. I am a Holmes, and I know who I am, and who I want to be.”
“Where does that leave us?” Claudia asked.
“Where do you want it leave us?” Archie asked.
“I don’t know,” Claudia sighed. “I appreciate that you stayed. I know you could have gone running…”
“I love you Claudia,” Archie murmured, as he took her hand, and held it in his own, and they looked into each other eyes. “I know everything won’t be like it was before, and I am okay with that,” he murmured. “But I love you, and I don’t want to run.”
“I love you too,” Claudia murmured.
“Then how about we try at least to see if we can make it work?” Archie asked. “Knowing what we know and see where it takes us?” he murmured. “Can you do that?”
“Maybe,” Claudia sighed. “Can you accept me for me,” she asked. “Knowing that I have quirks that go beyond what a conventional girl might give you?”
“You have never been conventional?” Archie said with a smile. “So, why would I expect a conventional girlfriend now?”
Claudia smiled.
“I have always loved that about you,” Archie said.
Truly. “Even when you mystified me, so what, you just have a few more unique quirks?”
More than a few quirks “You don’t know all I can do,” Claudia said with a sexy suggestive smile.
“Well, I have seen a few of them,” Archie smirked right back.
Claudia smiled, and wondered if something was going back to being normal.
Finally.
*
Kyle was asking that of himself. Because he did not know if his life was normal. And because he was experiencing for first time what it was like to have a kid in his house for more than a few days. Because his custody agreement with Sue Ann in relation to Tripp had always flowed differently according to their individual schedules. So, it was not like he was used to being a full-time father. So, this was different. This was being a parent twenty-four hours a day, and he loved it.
He did not know what he and Kyla were developing. But at least he was there for her. And it had been only natural to offer to take his daughter in when it was clear that Max wanted to have Liz and Claudia along with JJ at his house, so that he could keep a eye on them, and particularly Claudia because her recovery had not been according to expectations. And therefore, she would not be able to go back to the Crashdown.
And with Liz and JJ at the motel. Being at the Evans household was next possible option,
and I doubt if Liz will ever leave again, he muttered, but that only a guess on his part, and even though Liz was saying to anyone that would listen that it was only temporary,
they all knew the truth about Max and Liz.
Nothing could separate them for long.
And it has already been eighteen years.
So, Kyla needed a new place to stay until her mother had come home. And so, he and Tripp offered to put her up, and she had said yes.
And because Kyle had pressed Isabel to keep going on her trip, instead of coming home, which had been Isabel first instinct. But Kyle knew that Isabel would have wanted to be there to pick the girls up, and see Poppy and Katy for herself, instead of sending Michael to pick them up, and even though the girls knew Michael. It was better for the girls to see their mother. And he could handle Kyla at his house.
And especially given recent events, he wanted to keep an eye on their daughter. Because he did not trust that there was not a repeat incident.
Even though Kyla had given her statement and said, that they had only wanted Claudia. She was just a bonus. Because she was trying to save Claudia and forced herself on the kidnappers. Which made her biological father happy, but it did not dissuade doubts about the future,
because there are always threats out there.
And even though Kyla came home completely safe, and sound.
He did not know if she was completely sound.
“Are you sure that you are, okay?” Kyle was asking Kyla as he was getting ready for the game that would be on television. Tripp would be come over, and they would be joined by his father.
“I am fine,” Kyla insisted. “You keep asking me that…”
“And I will keep asking you that,” Kyle smiled.
“Seriously Kyle,” Kyla said with a smile. “I am fine.”
“Good,” Kyle said softly. “Do you want to watch the game with Tripp and Dad, and me?” he asked.
“No, I am going over to Jennifer’s place,” Kyla said. “If that is allowed.”
“Sure, it is” Kyle said simply.
“Thanks Kyle,”
Kyle nodded.
“Have you talked to Archie yet?” Kyla asked, quietly. Because she knew how hard the last few days have been, and she could see the frown on Kyle’s face. “I just wanted to ask.”
“You can ask,” Kyle said softly. “I know it is a weird situation but no, I have not talked to him,” he said honestly. “I don’t know what is happening on that front,” he allowed. “I am leaving it with him to approach me,” he sighed.
I don’t even known how I feel.
“Oh, okay” Kyla murmured. “I’ve got to go.”
“Go, have a great time” was all Kyle could say because he knew this was a completely unusual situation.
*
It was completely unusual situations all around and Max knew this as well as anyone. Claudia was still not back, but he figured she was alright,
or I hope so he thought, but he felt that life was finally working out,
or at least I hope so he told himself once more. But he prayed it was, and he was doing some of the mindless chores he should have done days ago, but got diverted by life and death pain, and with the house full these last days, he had not wanted to make too much noise because Claudia was sleeping.
And not waking up.
Mystifying them all. Because he had healed her injury, and she should have woken up, but it was almost like she was not waking up for a reason, and it kept them all on edge. But now, she was awake, and life was starting to right itself. Although if it did, it meant that eventually the house would be empty again, and Liz would leave.
Because this was temporary.
He knew this, but he did not want it to be temporary, but if he tried to say that to his former wife than she would run.
And so, he was fine with their arrangement, and he was not about to say anything. Even if he wanted it to be more, but he would take whatever she would give him.
So, with her constantly on his mind, he was doing some repairs, to keep his mind occupied, with the house empty.
His father was actually out and about. Doing something. What he was doing. Max did not know, and he did not ask. After all, things were better between the two. And Max knew that having Liz in the house had been an antidote for him, so he prayed that the antidote didn’t run out, but he was finishing up, when he heard the doorbell ring, and he sighed, and went to the door.
“Hello,” he said to his visitor. “Come in,” Max said softly, inviting Maria into the house.
“Is Liz here?” Maria asked, as she looked around. She had not seen her friend’s car out front, but she was hoping that it meant that she would still be here at the house.
“No, unfortunately, it is just me” Max said softly. “JJ was invited to sleepover, and Liz was taking him over there,” he said simply. “And then I think she wanted to do some errands,” he said softly.
“JJ is making friends, that is good” Maria sighed but from the tone of her voice, it was clear she had other matters on her mind “How is Claudia?”
“Yes, it is” Max murmured. “Hopefully, that will mean that Liz will likely stick,” he said with a smile. A smile meant that he did not seriously think that Liz was a threat to leave, because he could see how she was for the last few days, and he felt secure that life was a lot more settled. “Claudia is awake, and out figuring out what to make of all this,” he asked, and he would like to know what to make of all this. But he was not an eighteen-year-old just out of a three-day coma after experiencing some hair-raising experiences of late.
Thank god Maria thought. “I am glad Max, truly” Maria said feeling the weight of relief lift off her, in that Claudia was now awake. And at least one thing had been righted. “But I don’t think you have to worry about Liz running,” Maria sighed, but also gave a smile. “Not anymore.”
Max could see the conflict in her friend and could understand it.
No one wants to be totally shocked… “How are you doing?”
“I wish Michael was around,” Maria sighed of her Space boy, and she wished she had a bit of his gruff and his sense of control, and because her life was a little spinning, and spiralling, and she needed to feel settled. “I just had to go down to the jail, you know.”
“I know, Jim called” Max said softly of the phone call, or the warning that came from the Sheriff. “I am sorry.”
“I am sorry,” Max said.
“Why would you say that?” Maria asked.
I should be saying that to you. “It’s my family who screwed with yours?”
Max could see the weight on the shoulders of his friend, and he felt for her.
I could never blame for her for the sins of a parent he muttered,
I know something about that he thought in his own father,
and my own actions. “You did not see it coming nor did we see it,” Max sighed.
Because who would think that their threat was coming from Maria’s father, someone she had not seen since she was a child.
“Jim won’t be able to hold him much longer,” Maria warned.
“I know,” Max said simply. And while it was a mucky situation, he was not giving it any real concern.
Maria did not know what to think. “Which means he could come after us again, and this time on his own” Maria asked. “I have no idea where my father is, nor do I want to know” she sighed because she was over the man. “But it means that the threat is not completely over?”
“We will be watching,” Max said simply.
I choose to believe it is over.
Maria murmured.
“Don’t worry Maria, you have nothing to worry about” Max said softly. “We don’t blame you, and you should not blame yourself.” she sighed.
“I wonder if Liz will?” Maria asked.
“She will be fine with it,” Max said softly.
“I hope so” Maria sighed. “But my father messed with her and put her through hell to force her to leave you, and you lost her and your daughter for eighteen years, all for nothing, because he was doing it all on his own, and not under some directive.”
Simply because he did not like who Max, and her husband were…
“But they are back now,” Max said simply. “The past is over. And the future is what we should be concerned with, for good and for bad.”
Maria sighed.
“I have faith that it will work out,” Max said. “So, don’t worry about it on my behalf…”
“How can you have so much faith?” Maria asked, weary that Max could be so lighthearted after all he had experienced.
But Max had hope. He did not know why he had it. But he did, and he believed in it.
Someone has to believe it. “Because I lost her once, and she’s back, and that means I have a chance to get it all back again” Max sighed. “Sure, we are different people. But hopefully we are better for it, because I know what it was like with her and Claudia, and I hated it, but I have a chance to make it all work out.”
Maria sighed. “I sure hope it works out for you.”
“So do I.,” Max smiled
I only hope Liz is with me on this he thought, but he had faith, but he could still sense that his friend was still antsy. “Have you spoken to Michael?”
“I am sure you have spoken to Isabel…” Maria sighed.
“I have,” Max agreed.
“Then you know they are in Portland,” Maria sighed. “They should be starting the drive back tomorrow.”
“Yes,” Max nodded. “Which means that you and Lucy will get him back soon enough.” Max said softly, because yes, he had been talking to Isabel because Isabel tended to need a backup to say that everything was fine over at the Valenti house, and as far as Max knew, things were fine with Kyle and Mikyla.
“Thankfully,” Maria sighed as she looked at the clock. “When will Liz be back?”
“I don’t know, honestly” Max said. “I was doing some chores around here…”
“Then I better go,” Maria sighed as she checked her watch and winced, as time was getting away from her.
“If you want too,” Max said with a smile.
“I don’t want too, but I
have to,” Maria sighed. “I have to meet my daughter for an errand that we have to do together,” she sighed of the plan to meet up with Lucy. “But how about you, Liz and I meet up at
Cow Patties tonight for some relaxing entertainment. I think we
all will need it” she sighed. “Lucy has plans, and with Michael gone. The house will be boring.”
“Sure, I will check it out with Liz,” Max said simply. Because he figured Maria needed a night out, not thinking of her private worries.
We all could all use some fun.
“Thank you, Max,” Maria murmured as she realized how much she valued Max’s trust in her, “For everything, and the pep talk.”
“And I meant every word,” Max said softly as he walked Maria to the door, and watched as she got in the car and drove off, and he picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number, “About
that favor I asked, are we on?” he asked, and smiled at the answer. “Great, thank you” he said as he put down his phone, and got back to working on those chores.
Yes, life was finally working out.