Aftermath and Eternity (CC/UC/SL/ADULT) Completed

[ñusta]

Sadly to inform you that this will be my last entry for Ñusta, as my dear friend from many years left us almost a month ago by her own choice. Lately, she had had very little cases of physical abuse but far too many of psychological one, and they proved to be too much for her. Among the things she left me, was this jewel, which wraps up her two fics, The Martyr of Antar and The Calm Before the Storm. I should have posted it sooner, as she would have wanted, but I’ve just found the strength to do it. I shall continue enjoying this site by myself, with my own profile, but just reading and post replying, as unfortunately, I’m no writer at all. My deepest thanks on Ñusta’s behalf, and I hope you like it. Enjoy.



Title: AFTERMATH AND ETERNITY
Author: Ñusta
Category: CC/UC/Slash
Rating: Adult
Disclaimer: I don’t own Roswell, and mean no disrespect to those
who do.


Many Antares decades had gone by and the Royal blooded family had grown larger with each generation, to their people’s delight. Peace reigned throughout the galaxy and once again the war games of old were the sport celebrated by everyone, keeping them ready for anything and entertaining the Antares at the same time. Every once in a while, Rath-Michael would honour his people with his presence, taking part and proving he could never be beaten. He charged on horseback, surrounding the “enemy”, who stood still until he returned to his lines and dismounted to join in the mock battle. Looking exactly like the day he died, going on eighteen, he showed the kind of warrior he would be for eternity, as every soldier strived to be at least a little like him. His unfailing instincts and feline agility allowed him to take as many as three men at the same time, and though some did manage to touch and “wound” him, none was able to “kill” him because of the speed with which he moved. It had nothing to do with his present condition, it had been just the same when he was alive.

Back on Earth, after five years, the Evans couldn’t take it any longer, missing their children too much, so Philip decided to retire and return to spend the rest of his life with his grandchildren. He had received a call just a few days ago from Derek Lavoisse saying he had come back from his weekly visit to Antar and had made up his mind that next time he would stay there for good. Wayne was already in charge of his whole business so he and Laurie would keep up the visits every weekend. With Diane, completely agreeing, they met at the Crashdown for an alien dinner with the Parkers and the Valenti’s to tell them their plans. They were not surprised to find out they had been thinking of doing just that, specially the Valentis, since Amy had began to develop some alien traits due to her marriage with Jim. Though no offspring had resulted from their union, suspecting the alien side was more to blame than their age, they were very happy together. Jim still loved his work and had managed to turn his shield invisible, so Amy could rest assured that no harm would come to him. He admitted he missed Kyle as much as Amy, the Evans and the Parkers missed Maria, Max, Isabel and Liz as they all did Michael, so it was decided they would all retire and leave for their new home to dote on their grandchildren for as long as they could. It took just a couple of Isabel’s dreamwalks to arrange everything and they were back on Antar to be happy for as long as they lived. Of course, by Antares’ time, they lived far beyond their years, so that if they had returned to Earth during their last years of life, they wouldn’t have found anyone left there who even knew about them. They had had nothing much to leave behind on Earth except perhaps, the Parkers, whose family business had been left in the able hands of the cook, Jose Ortecho and his now large family, without any regrets whatsoever.
By the time their great-grandchildren were running around the place, the three men passed away one after the other. Two of them had strokes and the other one a massive coronary during their sleep. The three widows stuck together until depression over the loss of their partners did the same to them. Ramthis and Wyteeah left them too not so long after their parents and so did Amaru, who was ironically, the oldest. Derek and Serena had passed away quite some time ago, after Wayne and Laurie’s last visit, heartbroken to see how old their children looked and knowing they wouldn’t see them again. Max had sadly confirmed it would be due to age, and from his experience with Clayton Wheeler, there was nothing he could do about it. None of them had ever understood why Wayne and Laurie had chosen not to come and live with them, though they suspected it had to do with the fact that they hadn’t had children and it was too much for them to see their friends so happy with their growing families. The Whitman’s had also preferred to stay on Earth, because Alex’s friends on Antar reminded them how happy their son would have been with them and had passed away shortly before the elder Earth group left definitely. Jim’s father with his new wife had lived long enough to enjoy his grandchildren and then had discreetly died in their sleep, in each others’ arms, and been the first to leave them. It had been their decision, being very old by then, and Amaru had wisely complied. Sadly, those they left behind were forced to respect their choice.


They couldn’t believe they were now grandparents, so they were now the eldest and it was hard not to have anyone anymore to look up to and ask for advice. It took them a lot to adjust but they simply had to. At least, they were all together still, with Michael there for them whenever they needed him. Time dragged on until their grandchildren’s kids were already in their late teens, and they were past their eighties, in Antares’ time. Everytime they looked at each other, they could see what age had done to them, specially when they faced Michael. He sensed their discomfort but couldn’t find a reason for it, having been there with them all along and quite used to the changes they had gone through. It was a shock to him when they confessed their decision that they had lived way too long and they were all ready to take him on his word that when they passed away, they would all be back to the appearance they had had on their arrival at the planet, and that that was what they wanted, right there and then.

“But why? You’re healthy, right? Is something making you uncomfortable? There’s nothing Max can’t heal, is there?” He turned to Max, pleading with his eyes.

“Michael, Michael baby, don’t you get it? Look at yourself! Now look at us…we’re old! We want to be like you, young again. No one needs us any longer; our great grandchildren are ready to be married! Michael, you promised! Please, we’ve had enough, Michael, please!” Maria begged, and Michael had to give in to the hopeful looks on all of his friends’ eyes.

Next morning, they met at the Granilith, and the sages accepted their request. That very afternoon, in a beautiful touching simple ceremony, they informed their people of their decision and said their goodbyes. They went to sleep for the last time all together, with Michael in the middle as the catalyst for their change of status, and woke up just like they had wished for, ready to be joined forever in a new Granilith, this one with the wisdom of both planets and in a wonderful world of their own with all their loved ones, as Serena had managed to bring over Wayne and Laurie’s essences from Earth to join them there too. They had one last look at the castle that had been their home for much longer than Earth had, and they were overjoyed to see a huge lifelike painting of all of them on the wall of the main hall, depicting them just as they were now, looking like they had when they came to stay on Antar for good. Their names were written in Antares under each one of them, and after nodding in satisfaction, they left for their new home where they would live on with eternal youth.


As they stepped away, they seemed to have passed into another dimension, finding themselves in what could only be called ‘Paradise’ because that’s what it was in its beauty. Figures started materializing from bright multicoloured lights, and soon they were surrounded by all the ones they craved to see, welcoming them, but something was missing: a very important part of their lives, someone they wouldn’t bear to live without. It couldn’t be, it was impossible! Michael wasn’t there. Maria started anxiously looking all around, searching for him, Isabel followed and then all of them as they caught on. Then, very faintly, they heard something. Maria’s head shot up in recognition. ‘What? No…is this some kind of joke?’ She thought, aware that they could all hear her. It was the opening to an eighties song that took her back to her early schooldays, one that her mother used to love and hum all the time, smiling when Maria imitated her. Amy got this sad look when she heard it or hummed it, a look that Maria called the ‘family look’ meaning Amy identified the song with “Runaway DeLuca” coming back to them. It was “Coming Home” by Cinderella, a band of that time. Then, what they could swear was lightning, crashed on the ground to their left and when they could open their eyes after the blinding light was gone, they gasped to see Michael. He stood there, shirtless, in tight black leather pants and boots, his longish hair looking darker and curlier as his lips parted and he sounded just like Tom Kiefer.


I took a walk down a road
It's the road I was meant to stay
I see the fire in your eyes
But a man's got to make his way
So are you tough enough for my love
Just close your eyes to the heaven above
I'm coming home
I'm coming home

I took a ride in a world
I'll be spinnin' for the rest of my life
I feel your heart beatin' baby
Oh sometimes it cuts like a knife
So are you tough enough for my love
Just close your eyes to the heaven above
I'm coming home

I'm coming home
Where your love tonight can shine on me
I'm coming home
Where your lovin' arms can set me free

Here we go oh yeah,
I'm on my way
Come on baby, come on now
Let your love, shine on me

I'm on my way
Come on baby,
Let your love shine on me
Oh yeah, I'm on my way


By the time the song ended, Michael looked his normal self again and he opened his arms, locking his eyes on Maria’s as he said:

“I’m home Maria. I’ve finally come home to my family. I love you all so much!”

Maria raced into his arms and they all followed. When their kiss ended, Maria had a question that was in everyone’s mind, but they let her voice it.

“Michael, why…how could you do that?”

“Well, one night back on Earth and on my crummy apartment, I woke up on the couch and found you had already gone home leaving the TV on. You had been watching these eighties videos programme while I slept and I opened my eyes to this one. It impressed me because it was about a guy on a bike trying to go back to his girl and I identified totally with him and the words. Then out of nowhere, I had this vivid flash of what the song reminded you of, so I wanted to welcome you here with it. I’m asking you now, Maria, with Amy’s permission, if you want me to bring your father here for you.” Michael smirked, feeling Amy tense in Jim’s arms.

“No Michael, he left us, he didn’t want us and never cared about us after he did. He stopped being my father the second he went away, though it took me years of hoping I was wrong to realize it. I’m better off without him…we’re better off without him.” She repeated, smiling at her mother, as she relaxed and smiled back at her.

“Thank you Michael.” Amy said, her eyes full of love for Michael’s thoughtfulness.

“This will sound crazy, but during Literature in school, I always thought stupid that Shakespeare could write a play that was sad and full of trouble but the fact that everything worked finally out and it ended well, made it a comedy. And a tragedy only meant it had a bad ending even if it was funny and pleasant throughout. We always thought a comedy meant you would laugh from beginning to end so you see how wrong we are. We’ve been through hell to get here but I’m glad it ended well because I think we deserve it. It’s fair…it’s justice.” He observed. “You can’t imagine what it means to me to have you all here with me. Yes, this is Paradise. Everything makes sense now, and if it was worth it to me in spite of everything, I guess it must have been worth it to you too.” Michael blinked his eyes and though no suns were visible, the colours of an amazing Earth sunset appeared on the sky as it gradually turned dark, with millions of brilliant stars to provide just the amount of light they needed to see their way. They separated to go to the houses they loved, and the younger group went together to have the first of unending nights the way they liked liked then to be. Michael reached out and had Geehan and Shenti join them as part of them too. Even Max felt no jealousy and was willing to share Michael with the rest of them, enjoying being together and lacking nothing ever again.


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