Love and the Single Woman (A/I, Teen) (Complete)

[StargazerUK]

Winner - Round 6



Winner - Round 4





Best Lead Portrayal of Alex Whitman
Most Improved Writer

Author: StargazerUK.

Email: david.meade@virgin.net

Category: A/I, with M/L, M/M & K/T.

Rating: Teen

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these Roswell characters, I have borrowed them.( If I did Alex & Isabel would be living happily ever after. )

Author's Note: This is another idea from Stacey so as before if you like the story it is down to Stacey and if you don’t like the story it is down to me.
This is my first attempt at a future fiction so please forgive any glaring mistakes. Be kind.

This story is set five years after the Prom in Heart of Mine. The big change is Tess wasn’t evil and she only ever had eyes for Kyle. As Tess didn’t have any ulterior motive all the couples were able to live and evolve without too many problems. That is except Alex and Isabel. Inexplicably Isabel left Roswell the morning after the Prom and despite Max and Michael catching up with her they returned home empty handed. As Isabel graduated early she was able to enrol in college in New York and she only ever kept in touch with her family.


Chapter 1

Isabel tightened her grip on the handle of her bag that was sitting on her lap as the car sped along the highway. She was feeling nervous, which under the circumstances was understandable, but she didn’t ever imagine she would feel this nervous. A glance across at Max who had just picked her up at the airport calmed her fraught nerves but she still felt the need to cling to her bag for some sort of support.

“So how are Mom & Dad?” Isabel asked.

“Fine.” Max smiled softly at his sister.

“And Liz and Maria?”

“There are fine as well.”

“What about Jim and Amy Valenti?”

“Isabel!” Max glanced at his sister. “Everyone’s fine. If they weren’t fine I would have told you over the phone or just now when I picked you up at the airport.”

Isabel squinted her eyes in annoyance. “There’s no need to bite my head off Max.”

Max could see a picnic area coming up on the right so at the earliest opportunity he pulled the car in and came to a halt, switching off the engine.

Isabel was confused by her brother’s actions. “What are you doing? Why have we stopped?”

Max ignored Isabel’s questions for a moment while he thought about what he was going to say. Finally he was ready to speak. “Iz, I know you are scared but you made your bed and now you have to lie in it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” For all her time away Max could see his sister still retained the ability to slip into her Ice Princess act in a split second.

Max opened the door and stepped out of the car. Isabel watched as he slowly walked over and sat at an empty picnic table, looking off into the distance. The last thing she wanted was to be arguing with Max and she could tell by his reaction it was the last thing he wanted as well.

Isabel pushed open the door and slowly rose to her feet. Leaving her bag on the seat she moved over to the table and sat down beside her brother. “Sorry Max.”

Max looked to his sister and he could see she didn’t want to be arguing with him. “Sorry Iz. I had it all planned out in my head what I wanted to say but when I saw you walking through the arrivals hall my mind just went blank. I know this must be really difficult for you and I just wanted to make sure you were fully prepared.”

“Prepared?” Isabel arched her eyebrows.

Max smiled at her reaction. “I mean in a nice way. Not much has changed so not only will Mom and Dad be glad to have you home but so will Liz, Maria and Tess. It’s all the three of them have talked about since you called to say you were coming home. In fact I think they have a girls night out planned for Saturday night.”

Isabel forgot her nerves and allowed a broad smile to adorn her face. The prospect of being on a girl’s night out with Liz, Maria & Tess gave her nothing but happy thoughts.

“You know you will get lots of questions.” Max said, interrupting her contemplation. “They’ll be curious about what you did and why.”

Isabel nodded. “I know.”

The siblings fell silent. Little did they know they were both pondering the same subject from two different sides. Finally Isabel decided to broach the matter that was on both of their minds. “How’s Alex?”

Max took a huge intake of breath, which filled Isabel with dread. “He’s good.”

“Oh! Great.” Isabel said, relieved Max hadn’t said anything more.

Isabel thought of no one more than she did about Alex during her time away. Leaving as she did she knew it would have been devastating but she did what she thought was best for everyone. She had discovered over the years while dating that she had subconsciously compared every man to Alex and it came as somewhat of a surprise when she found that none could compare. Sure some of them were taller or better built. While others were smart and witty in that certain way that she found very attractive but none were the complete package in the way that Alex was.

It may have been five years since she left but a day had not gone by when she hadn’t found time to sit and think of Alex and what might have been. When she had decided to return her mind wandered to what still might be but she shutdown those thought processes before they could take hold. She had taken the decision to leave Alex all that time ago and she had no right to waltz back into his life expecting for him to drop everything and be there for her. But she couldn’t stop her hopes or her dreams and they were always about Alex Charles Whitman.

“You know what you did to him.” Max interrupted her thoughts. It wasn’t a question as much as a statement

“What?” Isabel said barely above a whisper, tears already forming in her eyes. She knew what Max was about to say. She had dreaded this moment many times over the last few years.

“He was a broken man Isabel.” Max couldn’t look at his sister. “And I don’t mean in the sense of how you hurt him before I mean you broke him in ever sense of the word. You broke his mind, his spirit and his soul. The phrase ‘You broke his heart’ just doesn’t do it justice.” Max finally glanced at his sister and could see the tears streaming down her face.

Max reached an arm around his sister and pulled her close. “I don’t say these things to hurt you Iz but you need to know what went on. You know we haven’t spoken of this over the years but if you are going to see everyone again you need to know these things.”

“How is he now?” Isabel whispered. She was relieved to see a smile break out on her brother’s face.

“He’s good. In fact he is better than good he is great.” The smile soon disappeared from Max’s face. “It took him a couple of years to get back to something near his old self but he’s there now, which is all important. In fact it was down to him that the girls also managed to get past what happened and carry on.”

Isabel shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

Max sighed. “As Tess has the alien connection with you she will always fight your corner so she wasn’t too judgemental but Liz and especially Maria were a different story. You remember how much they both love Alex so when you hurt him it was only the fact that Maria couldn’t find you that you didn’t wake up one night with her standing over you holding a sharp knife. She didn’t even talk to Michael for two weeks after we returned from when we first found you. She couldn’t forgive him for taking your side as she saw it.”

“But Alex intervened.” Isabel suddenly understood.

Max nodded. “Alex took both girls aside and told them he didn’t want to lose them as well so he told them they couldn’t be anywhere but at his side. Being the girls that we know and love that is exactly what they did. After many months Alex told them that if you needed to leave when you did that you had to have a good reason for doing it and that none of us should judge you, not even him. So, slowly, the girls harden hearts began to soften and the occasional question about how you were doing was asked until it was no longer an issue. All that said I would stay away from anything sharp when you see Maria.”

Isabel let out a snort at Max’s joke. It was very unbecoming for a young lady but her brother caught her off guard.

“Isabel, it is going to be difficult but not as bad as you might have imagined. There’ll be the occasional uncomfortable pause in conversation when we run out of things to say but it will soon pass.” Max offered.

“Should we get going?” Isabel nodded towards the car.

Max smiled and headed back. “Michael was sorry he couldn’t be with me to pick you up but he is working. The girls didn’t want to crowd you so they are all hoping you will come out for a get together at the Crash later. I told them you might not be up to it but just give it a thought.”

The remainder of the journey was spent in near silence other than the occasional question from Isabel about various people from the town. Who was doing what, with whom. One of Isabel’s many regrets about leaving Roswell was when she discovered that the rest of the gang had decided to stay together and they all went to colleges within easy travelling distance from Home. In the end the boys had rented a house near college so they could be together and still travel home at weekends. Max, Kyle and Alex had all gone to the University of New Mexico while Michael had gone to a local community college nearby but had ended up taking several classes within the University, as part of his course. He still worked every available hour at the Crashdown to fund his efforts and the fact that the three other boys paid for their digs near college meant he was able to keep his own place in Roswell.

Finally Isabel saw the sign denoting the start of the city limits. Her heart began to beat faster as she began to recognise her familiar surroundings and with each passing street she was nearer to home. When Max finally pulled the car up onto the drive Isabel could see the door to the house open and her parents hurriedly appear. After her initial disappearance it was a long while before Isabel allowed her parents to come and visit her in New York. She had promised to keep in touch after Max and Michael had caught up with her and she did. She got herself an email account so she could email her parents at work and she also made a point of calling every couple of weeks just so her mother could hear her voice and reassure herself that her baby girl was doing OK.

“It’s wonderful to have you home dear.” Diane Evans cried enveloping her daughter in a tearful hug.

Philip Evans couldn’t wait for his wife to release their daughter so he wrapped his long arms around both women.

“I’ll take your bags in.” Max said to the currently hidden Isabel.

Finally Isabel’s parents released their grip on their daughter and she was able to come up for air. “It’s good to be home. Thanks Mom, thanks Dad.”


“Isabel are you nearly ready?” Max called up the stairs. Before he got an answer Isabel slowly descended the stairs. “Wow! You look great.”

“Thank you dear brother.” Isabel smiled. “I thought I’d make the effort.”

At Isabel’s comment Max’s smiled faded on his lips and his gaze dropped to the floor. “Come on or we will be late.”

“Max’s what’s wrong?” Isabel enquired.

“Nothing Iz.” Max opened the front door. “We just need to get going.”

Within a few minutes Max pulled the car up outside the Crashdown. Isabel was relieved to see very little if anything had changed. By the time she had stepped out onto the sidewalk the doors to the café burst open and an enthusiastic Michael came barrelling at Isabel.

“Hi Michael.” Isabel barely managed to utter in mid bear hug.

“I’m glad you’re home.” Michael said lowering her back to the ground from her hug. “The others are inside.”

Isabel stopped for a moment to catch her breath as Max and Michael made their way inside. As Isabel looked through the window she could just about see her friends getting up from the booth they had been sitting at. She felt very alone as she watched her closest friends and family chatting, as she was sure they had done on almost every day for the least five years. She could see how close the three girls that she left behind had become. She was now the outsider and not Tess although she had no doubt the girls would welcome her back to the fold with open arms. There would be a time and place when she would have to answer her friends questions but she just hoped it wouldn’t be here and now.


Finally Isabel followed and she was barely inside when she was met by a horde of female friends who enveloped her in a group hug.

For several long minutes there were copious amounts of tears, tissues and nose blowing. As things began to return to normal Isabel glanced around at her friends and, as glad as she was to see them her heart sank, where was Alex?

“We have seats reserved at the back for our returning wanderer.” Liz announced. “Isabel you had better make the most of Michael’s company as my Dad says he has to be back in the kitchen in five minutes.”

“Oh, poor Michael.” Isabel placed a hand on the side of his face.

“Poor Michael!” Maria exclaimed. “You do know that we are still going out together. Don’t you think I deserve a medal for putting up with him so long?”

“Only if it is posthumous.” Michael quipped.

Maria slapped Michael’s arm. “Don’t think I don’t know what that means Spaceboy.”

“I’m glad to see some things haven’t changed.” Isabel laughed.

The friends all took their seats and the conversations began. It didn’t take Isabel long to notice that her friends were steering clear of all awkward subjects and there was no mention of Alex. Her friends were sticking to light hearted topics and nothing was too intrusive. A quick glance at Liz told Isabel that they were all giving her time to settle back in before the real questions started.

After several minutes it became apparent that the subject of Alex was not going to be brought up so she decided to grasp the nettle. “Where’s Alex?”

The sudden silence was deafening. Isabel couldn’t imagine a bigger contrast then between the table which they were sat around ten seconds ago and now. “You know we were going to have to talk about it some time.” Isabel told her friends.

“We know.” Liz said quickly. “We were just allowing you to get your feet back under the table. We weren’t avoiding the subject, Alex is looking forward to seeing you.”

“Good.” Isabel smiled. “I’m looking forward to see him.”


Isabel took a sip from her drink. “Actually I have just realised I am starving. I told my parents I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t eat any dinner but now that I am back here my taste buds are running riot.”

“What do you want?” Liz questioned. “I’ll go and ask Michael to make it for you.”

“Don’t be silly Liz.” Isabel said getting up from the table. “You’re stuck in the back there with Max. It’s easier for me to just ask him myself.”

Isabel moved over by the kitchen hatch but could see the kitchen was empty. She took a seat at the counter waiting for Michael to return.

Isabel was pleased to see all her friends again but she was taken aback by how Alex’s absence was affecting her. She had been making polite conversation but she couldn’t get Alex out of her mind. She would have understood if he was still upset with her and didn’t want to have anything to do with her but both Max and Liz said he was over what had happened and that he was actually looking forward to seeing her so why wasn’t he here?

“Hi Isabel.”

Isabel spun round to see the origin of the voice, although she knew who would be standing before her. She knew his voice better than any other. “Hi Alex.”

Isabel lifted herself up from her sitting position and stood in front of Alex. She had forgotten hold tall he was, in fact she was pretty sure he was slightly taller than when she last saw him. More than that she was positive he had filled out a great deal. She was always happy with the way Alex looked but she would fantasize about how he would look with a broader figure and now she didn’t have to fantasize. Here he was standing in front of her. His next action made her heart soar.

Alex stepped forward, pulling Isabel into a hug. For a split second Isabel allowed herself to be fully immersed in all that was Alex. She had thought of this moment countless times but she had never really let herself believe that she would once again be in his arms. She knew he was only being a good friend, as he always was to her, but it didn’t take away any of the delight which she was getting from her close encounter with her tall friend.


As soon as she had allowed herself to relax she felt Alex release his grip on her and he stepped back. She fought the urge to step forward, back into his strong arms. She felt the cold on her body where a second ago Alex once stood. Isabel’s heart had been pounding at the mere sight of Alex let alone the feeling of his body next to hers. For all that she had done to him he was still the only man who could affect her this way.

“Isabel I’d like you to meet someone.” Alex said turning to his side and slightly behind where he was standing.

Suddenly a tall, brown haired girl came into view as Alex guided her towards Isabel. “Laura this is Isabel the friend I told you about. Isabel this is Laura…my fiancée.”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 2


“She’s your what?!” Isabel exclaimed.

The smile fell from Alex’s face when he saw Isabel’s reaction. Alex turned quickly to their friends that were seated at a booth across from where Isabel had been sat at the counter. “You didn’t tell her?”

Everyone looked on, stunned and silent until Liz spoke. “We didn’t get a chance to. You said Laura couldn’t make it this evening so we thought we had time to let Isabel know before you introduced her.”

Isabel’s head was spinning. This was the last thing she expected when, in reality, it should have been one of the first. What did she expect Alex to do? Sit and pine for her until she was ready to return. This was her doing and it was down to her to rectify the situation.

Isabel’s next action caught everyone off guard. Laura suddenly found herself being crushed in a hug from the tall blond she had just been introduced to. “Congratulations you guys.” Isabel released her hold on Laura and pulled an awkward Alex into a similar hold. “If I had known I would have brought you a present.”

“That’s OK Iz.” Alex said, after being released by Isabel. “I thought you would have known by now otherwise I wouldn’t have just charged right in.”

“It’s honestly not a problem and I really am happy for you.” Isabel turned to Laura. “For you both.”

Isabel turned to face her friends and she could see Max trying to shrink in the booth beside Liz. He had ample opportunity to tell her about Alex’s news but never quite managed it.

Isabel could still feel the flush on her cheeks and the warm atmosphere in the Crashdown wasn’t helping. “Actually you guys I think I am going to head home.”

Alex stepped forward. “Are you sure? I’d rather you stayed. We have a lot to catch up on.”

Isabel stared back at the most comforting sight she had ever seen. Amongst the many things she left behind when she ran away was a young man who’s first thought had always been of her. Even now, as he stood with a beautiful fiancée beside him he was still thinking of her and her well being.

“Thanks Alex but the journey home has finally caught up with me.” Isabel smiled.

“I’ll take you Iz.” Max said as he motioned to move.

“You stay there.” Liz glared at him. “I’ll take Isabel home and you and I can speak later.”

As Liz climbed out from the booth Max could see his future life slipping away from his grasp. If Liz didn’t kill him for not tell Isabel about Alex’s fiancée then Isabel definitely would. He also realised he could kiss goodbye to any uninterrupted sleep for the next few nights. He didn’t doubt that Isabel would be sending dancing sumo wrestlers and naked images of Hollywood’s leading men his way just to get the point across that he had a big mistake not warning her.

“Maybe we can catch up tomorrow?” Alex offered.

“I’d like nothing more Alex.” Despite Isabel’s shock at the news she was overjoyed at Alex’s behaviour towards her. Even though she had done a terrible thing to him he seemed to be willing to forgive if not forget.

“Alex Honey.” Laura interjected. “We’re seeing the Florist tomorrow so there may not be time for your little reunion.”

Isabel turned her gaze to the new girl. ‘Little reunion’ Isabel thought. ‘Who the hell was this woman to be demeaning her reunion with her closest friend?’ Then the thought hit her…she’s Alex’s fiancée that’s who!

“I know we’re seeing the Florist tomorrow.” Alex repeated Laura’s words. “But that is in the morning so maybe I can catch up with Isabel in the afternoon.” Alex turned back to Isabel.

Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “Sure. Whenever you can fit me in.”

Isabel waved goodbye to her friends and followed Liz out of the Crashdown.


As soon as they hit the cool evening air Isabel let out a huge sigh.

“Isabel I am so sorry.” Liz began. “If I had thought for a second that…”

Isabel held up her hand to stop Liz in full flight. “Liz you haven’t done anything wrong. My darling brother has some explaining to do but it’s fine, really.”

Liz was pleased she didn’t have to spend the drive over to the Evans house apologising for not forewarning Isabel. “I know we have a lot to catch up on Isabel so I think the best thing for us all to do is take it nice and slow.”

Isabel stopped her stroll along the sidewalk at Liz’s words. For the second time in two minutes Isabel pulled someone into an unexpected hug.

“What’s this for?” Liz whispered through a broad smile.

Isabel released her hold on her friend. “A combination of you being a good friend to me, as you always have been, and the fact that I haven’t been able to hug many people over the last five years. Of my own choosing.” Isabel belatedly added.

Liz came to a halt beside a bright yellow VW beetle.

“This is yours?” Isabel raised both a smile and her eyebrows.

Liz nodded vigorously. “Isn’t it great. Max hates it, which might be why I love it so much.”

“Max hates it and yet you still have it?” Isabel questioned.

“I think it might be the fact that he hates the colour is the reason I love it and keep it.” Liz enthused.

“That’s strange logic if ever I heard it.” Isabel climbed into the car.

Liz started the car and pulled out into the road. “It’s just that everything is so perfect between Max and I that when I found out he didn’t like the colour I choose it just felt right to stand up to him and make my own choice. We get on so well and have so much in common that I like it when something comes along to remind us that although we are a couple we are also individuals.”

“You got all that from the colour of your car?” Isabel laughed.

Liz started laughing too. “Well it’s better than Michael and Maria who are the exact opposite of Max and I. They have nothing in common until every now and again a little thing will crop up and they will be stunned into silence when they realise they have nothing to argue about.”

“What about Kyle and Tess?” How are they getting on?” Isabel asked.

“Really great.” Liz replied. “I take it Max told you that Jim and Amy got married four years ago.”

Isabel simply nodded. Obviously slightly embarrassed she never made it back for the wedding.

“They had this long discussion about where they were all going to live, especially as Kyle and Tess were full on dating at this stage so in the end they kept both houses but Amy moved into the Valenti house. As both Maria and Tess were at college it wasn’t like she had abandoned Maria. The funniest thing you could ever see was Kyle trying to spend time with Tess when we were all home from college. Kyle was still living in his own house while Tess and Maria were in the Deluca house so he had a curfew to uphold so that he wasn’t tempted to try and spend the night with Tess. 11pm every night either Jim or Amy would be standing at the front door waiting for him. In fairness they began to let it slip when they realised how serious they were about each other.” Liz finished.

“Sounds like I missed a lot.” Isabel said mournfully. “I could see how well you, Maria and Tess are getting on nowadays.”

Liz nodded. “Tess has come along way since…”

“Since I left.” Isabel finished. “You can say it Liz. As Max said I have made my bed now I have to lie in it.”

Liz gave her friend a soft smile. “All I meant was with you gone Tess knew if she wanted to make friends and settle down properly that Maria and I were her best bet.”

Liz pulled the car up outside the Evans home. “So we’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Definitely.” Isabel smiled. “I’ll give you a call as I don’t know what time I will be getting up. Then we can arrange to meet.”

Isabel opened the door and began to climb out of the car.

“When you are ready to talk Isabel I’ll be here.” Liz said softly.

Isabel stopped halfway out of the car. She waited a moment, apparently thinking what to say. Finally, without looking back she said. “I know what I did Liz and I know I have to answer to those who are closest to me. I also know what I did to Alex is inexcusable but that will be for him to judge me.”

Isabel stepped out of the car and leaned back down into the open doorway. “Thanks Liz. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Liz looked at her tall friend who had been gone far too long. “It’s good to have you home Isabel.”

“It’s good to be home Liz.”




Isabel stepped out of the bathroom wearing a pair of cotton pyjamas. As she slipped under the bed covers she was able to take in the entire bedroom, nothing had changed. It didn’t come as any surprise that her Mom had kept everything the way it was when she left. As she continued to gaze around the room something caught her eye, something was out of place.

Isabel climbed out of the bed and approached her vanity mirror above her dressing table. A picture had been slipped into one of the edges of the mirror, a picture she hadn’t seen before. Isabel pulled the picture out of the mirrors grasp and returned to sit on the bed as she glanced down it became very clear what she had left behind.

Isabel wiped away the tears that had started to fall down her immaculate face. She placed the picture gently on the nightstand leaning against the lamp so she could still see it. Slowly she lay back down, pulled the covers over her and turned off the light.

As she drifted off to sleep she tried to remind herself to thank whoever had left the picture of her with Alex at the Prom on her mirror.

To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 3


Isabel stared at herself in the mirror for a long moment. She hadn’t changed much in the past five years, not outwardly anyway. She had awoken just after 10:30am, which surprised her. She knew when she left the Crashdown last night she was tired but she also thought her reason for leaving early had something to do with Alex’s arrival with his soon to be wife! It would seem, with the benefit of hindsight, that all the travelling she did yesterday had indeed taken its toll and her body obviously felt the need to catch up.

She’d phoned the Parker residence and had been put through to the restaurant, as it seems Liz was helping her father with some paperwork. After speaking to Liz it was agreed Isabel would make her way over to meet up with the other girls by midday so they could begin the long process of catching up.

Isabel lifted and turned her long, blond hair until it was piled up onto the top of her head in a style that looked anything but elegant. At nearly six feet tall Isabel was head and shoulders above her female friends already so piling her hair up added additional inches to her height, which might not be the best way to go.

Slowly making her way along the hallway towards the kitchen Isabel pulled her locks into a tight pony tail and allowed her long hair to trail down her back. As she stepped into the kitchen she could see through to the dinning area and it was apparent Max had seen her as he was repeating his efforts of last night, trying to physically shrink in his chair.

“Hello Dear brother.” Isabel grabbed a cup and sat at the table, helping herself to Orange juice from the jug that sat in front of Max.

“That’s not funny Isabel. I didn’t mean to leave you in the dark.” Max growled

Isabel feigned an expression of innocence. “Whatever can you mean Max?”

“Do you know what it does to a man to wake up and realise he has been dreaming about Brad Pitt?” The pained look on Max’s face was priceless. “I mean it Isabel. If I see one more naked butt you’ll wake up with pimples the size of volcano’s.”

The smile from Isabel’s face fell. “I think if the worst thing I do to you is flash the occasional male behind at you in your sleep you have gotten away lightly. Do you know how embarrassing it was for me last night? Not only did I have to contend with facing Alex but I also have to meet his fiancée, unprepared. How could you not tell me?”

Max let out a heavy sigh. “Iz, the last thing I wanted to do was put you in a difficult position but you heard what Liz said last night. Alex told us she wasn’t going to be in town until the weekend so the last thing I expected was for him to show up, fiancée in tow. It was your rule not mine that we were not to discuss anything other than family. You were the one who made Michael and I promise to tell you if anything was wrong with the group but nothing more. No discussions about what they have been up to or whom they were seeing. I tried to tell you in the car on the way back from the airport but that seemed too soon. I mean, ‘Hi Isabel, let me take your bag. By the way Alex is getting married.’, it all felt too rushed so I thought we could tell you when we were at home but then when you came down ready to go I wanted to tell you but my nerve went. Finally I decided to tell you when the others were there so they could help me fend off your questions. If I thought for one minute that Alex and Laura were going to turn up so early I would have warned you…honestly!”

Isabel eyed her brother. It was apparent that he was truly sorry and she didn’t imagine for a second that he would have deliberately hurt her. “It’s OK Max, I believe you. I don’t know why I am getting so worked up anyway. It’s not like I have come home to win Alex back or that I expected him to be waiting for me.”

Max’s eyebrows arched at Isabel’s comments. “Then why did you come back?”

“Thanks very much!” Isabel said, pretending to be hurt by his words.

“You know what I mean Iz.” Max smiled. “We’re all very glad you’re back but what are your plans?”

Isabel fell silent for a moment. “That’s the $64,000 question. What do I do now?”

The siblings fell into a comfortable silence as the two of them mulled over there recent conversation. Finally Max spoke. “OK. If you don’t know what the future holds what about the next hour? I was going to go over to the Crashdown to see Liz.”

“You can’t.” Isabel said resolutely.

“What?” Max questioned. “Why not?”

“Because I am just about to go over there to meet Liz, Maria & Tess for Lunch and the last thing I need is you mooning over Liz.” Isabel explained.

“Mooning?” Max repeated. “I’m a college graduate with my whole life in front of me, I do not moon!” Max affirmed.

“My dear, dear Max.” Isabel stood up from the table. “I may have been gone for five years but something’s will never change. Michael and Maria will always argue, Tess will always tease Kyle & you will always moon over Liz.”

“And you and Alex?”

Max suddenly regretted his question, as Isabel looked crestfallen at his words. “I said something’s never change Max. I had my chance with Alex and I blew it. All I can do now is wish him and his future bride the best of luck for their wedding day and the future. I’ll catch you later Max and I’ll get Liz to give you a call when our girlie reunion is done.”

Max’s heart sank as he watched his sister turn and walk towards the front door of the house. Despite repeated questions from both he and Michael Isabel had never revealed why she left when she did. Even when the two of them caught up with Isabel not long after she left she had never fully explain herself other than to say she was leaving for the right reasons and she wouldn’t change her mind. Not matter what they had asked, promised or threatened Isabel had been defiant to the last. She simply refused to explain herself or to return home. Short of tying her up and throwing her in the back of the car there was little else the two brothers could do. Even then they knew she would simply have left again at the earliest opportunity.

Max didn’t doubt that Isabel could manage on her own, what with Alien powers and an ability to reduce anyone to tears with just an Ice Princess look Max knew she could live on her own but he wasn’t confident she could survive on her own. If you had asked him what his greatest fear was it would be to lose Liz, she was everything to him and he couldn’t live without her.

If you had asked him what Isabel’s greatest fear was it would be to lose her family. Having gone through what they had gone through as children anyone who knew Isabel would know that her greatest love was her family. That was why it had been so unbelievable that Isabel had actually chosen to leave her family and live on her own. It was even more incredible when you factored in that Isabel could dream walk people so, if she wanted, she could visit anyone and everyone on a nightly basis but she never had. He had asked her directly if she had ever dream walked any of their friends and family but he already knew the answer before he even gave the question, she hadn’t. It was like him leaving Liz and moving to the next town over and never coming to visit her.

Suddenly a thought hit Max. What could Isabel love more than her family? Max had often thought about his relationship with Liz and one thing he knew was he loved her more than life itself. If he looked at Michael and Maria he knew that there had been a time when both he and Isabel were the most important people in Michael’s life and that her Mom, Liz and Alex had been the most important thing in Maria’s life but the one thing they had all faced was the point when that changed. If you asked Michael who was the most important thing in his life now he would answer Maria, without a shadow of a doubt. What if Isabel had reached that point? What if Isabel’s main priority in life was no longer her family but was something else, or someone else?

A look of realisation crossed Max’s face. He leapt from the table and ran towards the kitchen door. He needed to speak to Isabel. As he pulled open the front door he ran straight into his Mom who was just coming the other way.

“Whoa, what’s the rush son?” Diane nearly fell back off the step.

Max steadied his Mom. “I was hoping to catch Isabel.”

“Oh, sorry dear.” Diane moved past her son into the house. “You just missed her. Your father is just dropping her off at the Crashdown before coming back here to pick me up. She said something about an early lunch with the girls. Why don’t you give her a call? You still have her cell number don’t you.”

Max continued to look down the empty street. “It’s OK Mom. I wasn’t in that much of a rush to talk to her, it will keep.”


Isabel stood outside the Crashdown as she waved at her father’s car as it disappeared into the distance. She hadn’t expected to run into her parents as she was heading to meet the girls but it seemed they needed to pick some things up from home for the office.

As she turned to face the café entrance she realised her heart was pounding and her mouth had suddenly run dry. It would seem the impending girlie lunch was giving her subconscious cause for concern.

‘Come on! You can do this.’ She told herself. ‘What was the worst that could happen?’ The sudden thought of Maria holding a sharp knife entered her mind.

“Stop being so ridiculous.” She said out loud as she pushed her way into the Crashdown.

Suddenly Isabel could see Maria coming at her with a large carving knife, was she dreaming?

“Hi Isabel.” Maria smiled. “The others just want some pie as it’s still quite early. Do you want me to cut you a piece?”

Isabel stood stock-still. Maria waved her free hand in front of the tall girl, pulling her out of her stupor. “Are you alright Isabel? You look shocked.”

Isabel let out a small laugh that had more to do with relief than amusement. “Sorry Maria. It was just something Max said yesterday that suddenly hit home. Pie sounds great. What flavours do you have?”

“Apple, Apple & Blackcurrant or Peach pie.” Maria leaned in a little closer to her friend. “I’ll add a little you know what to give it that little extra kick you guys love.”

Isabel let out another laugh. “Thanks Maria. I think I’ll have apple pie.” Isabel gave Maria a knowing wink.

“OK.” Maria nodded in return as she turned her attention to the pies on the counter.

Isabel made her way down the café until she reached the end booth but was stopped in her tracks. Sitting in the booth was Liz and Tess, as she had expected but the sight of Laura sitting in beside Tess came as somewhat of a surprise.

“Hi Isabel.” Liz said nervously. “Look who’s just showed up for Lunch?”

Laura smiled at the new arrival. “I sincerely hope you don’t mind Isabel but I thought it would be nice for us to get to know each other a little better.”

“Not at all.” Isabel said as she slid in beside Liz. “It’s just I though you were going to see the Florist with Alex today.”

“I was. I mean I did.” Laura laughed at her slight mistake. “It’s just when I heard that the famous Isabel Evans was going to be here for lunch it was too good an opportunity to pass up, a chance to get to know the girl that Alex is always taking about.”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Sorry for the delay. I intend to post more frequently from now on. David


Chapter 4


Isabel stared blankly at Laura for a moment. What was that supposed to mean? Isabel thought, ‘The famous Isabel Evans who Alex is always talking about.’

“It’s really great to have you home.” Liz interjected, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “Max has talked of nothing else since you called to say you were coming back.”

“Nor Michael.” Maria added as she brought a tray of desserts. “I hadn’t seen him this excited since the latest Metallica CD was due for release.”

Isabel smiled at the example Maria gave. In that one sentence was everything she had missed in the last five years but even with the benefit of hindsight she was sure she had made the right decision to leave.

“So what have you been up to over the last five years?” Laura’s question drew open-mouthed looks from the other girls. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be so forward but I’m curious to know all about you and what you’ve been up to.” Laura added.

Isabel gave a forced smile. “That’s quite alright Laura, I’m quite keen to hear all about you.”

Liz threw Maria a split second glance, which between such old friends spoke volumes. A broad smile broke out across Maria’s face and Liz found she had to stifle a grin to not let her feelings be known but both girls were overjoyed to have Isabel back where she belonged. They had there own opinions when it came to Laura but she made Alex happy and that was all they were worried about. That being said, to see Isabel kick into Ice Princess mode at the abrupt questioning from Laura told both girls that Isabel was not going to suffer fools gladly and that it was apparent that Isabel was equally keen to see if Laura was the girl for Alex.

“How did you and Alex meet?” Isabel began.

A broad smile extended across Laura’s face as she patently started to think of Alex. “We shared some classes at college. It took me a while to breakdown the wall he had built up around himself but the occasional work question or chat extended into full on conversations over coffee or early evening walks.” Laura eyed Isabel. “What about you?”

Isabel blinked at the question. “Sorry, What about me?”

Laura let out a small laugh. “How did you meet Alex?”

Isabel was stunned into silence. This wasn’t what she was expecting or what she had prepared herself for. If she wasn’t already embarrassed by her reaction to Laura’s question she would be now as she felt her skin flush as the thought of Alex made her blush. “We sort of grew up together.” Isabel finally managed.

“We all met for the first time in third grade.” Liz offered. “We sort of knew about each other for years but them in high school we finally became friends.”

“Very firm friends.” Maria added. “We started to hangout together and found we had things in common.”

“And finally I arrived.” Tess interjected. “Making up a happy group of eight.”

“Well hopefully a happy group of nine with me here now.” Laura added. “Then maybe we can find a nice guy for Isabel.”

Liz watched as Isabel visibly stiffened up at that comment. Giving Laura the benefit of the doubt Liz was sure she was just trying to be nice but the comments she was making weren’t helping a difficult situation.

“Laura have you seen Isabel?” Maria said firmly. “She is an absolute goddess who has had men falling at her feet since the eighth grade so I don’t think she will need any help from us to find a man.”

“Oh I’m sorry.” Laura put down her fork and looked at Isabel. “I wasn’t trying to imply you couldn’t get a man on your own…just that you are the last single girl out of this group and I’m sure everyone is just keen to see you happy.”

“That’s quite alright Laura, I knew what you meant and I appreciate the sentiment.” Isabel said while trying to be diplomatic. While she was accepting Laura’s apology Isabel reached under the table to Maria, who was sitting on a chair next to her at the end of the booth, and gave her hand a quick squeeze to thank her friend for coming to her aid.

As the conversation fell into another silence a cell phone began to ring. “Sorry that’s me. Please excuse me.” Isabel said as she grabbed her phone and stepped up from the booth.

“Liz can you give me a hand with the drinks?” Maria questioned her friend.

“Sure.” Liz followed Maria to the far side of the serving counter to get more drinks.

“Could that have gone any worse?” Maria said in whispered tones.

Liz glanced at Isabel who was deep in conversation on her phone at the end of the counter with her back to the girls. “Let’s just say it would have been easier without Laura here. I’m sure she is genuinely interested in Isabel but her timing leaves a lot to be desired.”

“That’s you Liz, forever the diplomat.” Maria continued in a hushed voice. “I was going to say down right rude and intrusive. I mean ‘When did you meet Alex?’ What business is it of hers?”

Liz smiled. “Maria you know what a loyal friend you are but put yourself in Laura’s shoes. She has heard all about Isabel from Alex and from us and it must have knocked her confidence a little to see what Isabel looks like. I mean come on would you want to compete with Isabel for a man? Anyway, if it had just been Isabel that showed up you would have been questioning her about why she left and telling her how she hurt Alex.”

“That’s right Liz.” Maria said in a slightly raised voice. “He is OUR Alex and it is for us to find out what went on. Having said that she is OUR Isabel so if anyone is going to question her it should be us and only us. All for one and one for all, if anyone else starts on Isabel they will have me to answer to. Liz?…Liz? Are you even listening to me?”

Maria watched as Liz waved her hand distractedly as she looked towards the far end of the counter. “What is it?”

“SShhh!” Liz hissed. “Listen.”

Maria focused her gaze on what was keeping Liz so occupied. It was then that she realised that Isabel had turned back towards the two girls and it soon became apparent that she was still lost deep in conversation with whomever she was talking to on the phone. A broad smile had spread across the tall girls face.

Maria strained her hearing to try and pick up any of the conversation.

“…I can’t wait to see you, you know that. I miss you as well Honey but I will be back soon and we can go out for dinner then…I’m just wrapping up a couple of things here and it will be done…I love you and I will see you soon…OK thanks Pete I’ll talk to you soon, bye.”

“Liz, look at her face.” Maria whispered. “We haven’t seen that since the night of the Prom. That’s a smile that says ‘I am in love’.”

Isabel closed her phone and looked up from her conversation to see her two friends staring at her. With all the finesse of a Laurel and Hardy routine the girls tried to feign interest in anything other than Isabel’s conversation.

Isabel walked back along the counter and smiled at the two girls before retaking a seat at the booth. Liz and Maria placed the collection of assorted drinks on the tray and moved back to their friends.

“Who was that?” Maria asked.

Liz gave Maria a swift elbow to the ribs causing her friend to yell in pain. “Sorry Isabel, Maria can’t help being nosy.”

Isabel let out a laugh at the continuing comic routine the two girls were playing out. “That’s OK Liz, it’s part of what I love about Maria. That was my friend Pete who was just checking up on me.”

“Maybe I spoke too soon when I said we had to find a man for Isabel.” Laura smiled. “Why didn’t Pete come with you?”

“What was it you said you did for a living?” Isabel asked unexpectedly.

“Why?” Laura asked quizzically. “What brought that on?”

Isabel shrugged. “It’s just that you ask a lot of questions plus you often answer a question with a question.”

Laura looked around at the girls gathered at the table. “I didn’t realise I was being so mysterious, I’ll try to stop.”

It didn’t go unnoticed by any of the girl’s that Laura didn’t answer Isabel’s question or that Isabel didn’t answer Laura’s question.

“So how are the plans for the wedding going?” Tess asked trying to stay on a neutral subject they would all be interested in.

“It’s all running along smoothly thanks Tess. We had a final meeting this morning with the Florist to check all was as it should be so it is now just a case of fine tuning and making sure I haven’t overlooked anything.”

“Sounds like you have it all in hand.” Liz was relieved to hit a topic that wasn’t causing controversy. “How’s Alex coping?”

“You all know Alex.” Laura let out a laugh. “He’s useless in these sort of situations. I’ve spent the last three months trying to get him into the habit of doing his top button up on his shirts. I don’t know where he got it from but he has this habit of undoing his top button. It makes him look very untidy”

Isabel felt a warm sensation coursing through her veins at Laura’s comments. He maybe about to marry another woman but in some ways he would always be her Alex.

Isabel glanced around and was pleased to see Liz and Maria sharing in her secret moment.

“Have I missed something?” Laura enquired. “You guys look like you are enjoying an inside joke.”

“It’s nothing really.” Isabel replied. “It just sounds a typical Alex thing to do.”

“Well with all due respect Isabel.” Laura eyed the tall blond. “I know you were the girl that went out with Alex prior to me but I think you’ll find he is a different man to the one you knew. He’s matured in many ways.”

Isabel nodded slowly. “Of that I am sure Laura.”

Isabel checked her watch. “Hey guys it’s time I was making a move.”

“So soon?” Liz asked as she got up from the table.

“We’ll have plenty of time to catch up don’t worry.” Isabel smiled at her friends. “Laura it was great to meet you and I wish you every happiness.”

“Thanks Isabel, that’s very kind.” Laura returned the smile. “I hope I didn’t create too bad an impression.”

“Not at all.” Isabel turned towards the exit. “You’re exactly how I thought you would be.”

Liz walked Isabel out into the afternoon sun. “Here…take my car and you can bring it back later and we can talk, just the two of us.”

“Thanks Liz.” Isabel took the car keys. “Tell Maria to be there and we can catch up and by the way, give Max a ring as he was going to come over until I stopped him in his tracks.”

“What about Tess?” Liz questioned. “Do you want her there?”

Isabel shook her head. “No. I love Tess but I need to talk to you two about Alex and why I left so I think it will be better if it is just the three of us. I’ll catch you later Liz and thanks for lunch.”

“You’re welcome…see you later.”



Isabel pulled Liz’s yellow bug up outside her house and made her way inside. “Max are you here?” She called.

“In here Isabel.” A reply came from the kitchen.

As Isabel made her way down to the kitchen Max met her coming the other way. “Thanks Isabel.”

Isabel furrowed her brow. “For what?”

“For tell Liz I was coming over. She’s just phoned to say you were on your way home and for me to head on over there.”

Isabel gave her brother a smile. “I’m glad I could be of assistance.”

Max continued towards the front door. “By the way there’s a surprise for you in the kitchen.” Max called over his shoulder as he shut the front door.

Isabel hurried on into the kitchen in anticipation of her surprise, what had Max bought her?

Isabel came to a grinding halt when she saw what her surprise was.

Alex stood up. “Hi Isabel. I’ve been waiting for you.”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 5


Isabel was suddenly flustered, which left her even more confused, as she didn’t do flustered. “Alex…Hi! I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

Alex took a step forward and went to hold out a hand to steady Isabel but before it had reached halfway he withdrew it, thinking better of it. “When I saw you last night we spoke about meeting today and you said anytime.”

Isabel shook her head in an attempt to regain her composure. “Of course I did. I didn’t mean to give the appearance of not being glad to see you it’s just with the way Max worded his comment when I came in…”

“You thought he had brought you a present.” Alex finished for her.

Isabel dropped her gaze to her hands as she felt the skin on her face begin to burn, he still knew her so well. “I didn’t realise I was so transparent.”

“Not transparent.” Alex said causing Isabel to lift her gaze. “Just a good friend.”

“Good friend?” Isabel questioned. “I’m not sure I was ever a good friend to you Alex.”

Now it was Alex’s turn to drop his head. “Don’t do this Isabel. I had hoped five years would have been long enough for you to grow out of your self-deprecating moods when it came to me.”

Isabel raised her eyebrows in shock at Alex’s cutting comment.

“I never could understand why you and everyone else thought it was only ever you that gained anything from our relationship, that I didn’t benefit from knowing you.” Alex continued.

Isabel needed to take a hold of herself. As she moved round to take a seat at the table she could see where Alex had been evidently sitting with Max until she came home. The two glasses and plates were testament to that. Isabel sat down in a heap as this was all going too fast.

Alex eyed the tall girl he hadn’t seen since the happiest night of his life, the night of the Prom. He knew this couldn’t be easy for her but he’d been preparing for this meeting for five long years and he wasn’t going to be a shrinking violet now.

“This doesn’t have to be difficult or uncomfortable Isabel. The girls have spoken to me over the years about whether or not I could forgive you but there was never anything to forgive.” Alex retook his seat across from Isabel. “No matter what you have to say there is one thing I have always been certain of…I never believed you left to hurt me.”

Isabel allowed her eyes to come to rest on the one man she had truly loved. “That’s it?” Was all she could think to say? She had expected so much more.

Alex frowned. “You were expecting more?”

Isabel shook her head. “I wasn’t expecting anything specifically but I didn’t imagine it was going to be just eight words.”

Alex shrugged. “Well I’m sorry Iz but that’s it. As I said the one thing I believe is you never left just to hurt me, which means you had your own reason to leave. Who am I to judge you?”

Isabel shook her head again, this time more vigorously. “It can’t be this easy, not after what I did.”

Alex let out a laugh. “No Isabel I am not sure you are understanding me correctly. The reason I am behaving as I am today is because I have taken five years to get here. Although I never honestly thought you wanted to hurt me it doesn’t mean that you didn’t break my heart…”

Isabel knew what she was about to be told by Alex was what she deserved.

“…That you ripped the beating heart from my chest and stomped on it as though it meant absolutely nothing to you.”

Isabel went to raise a hand to protest but Alex kept on going.

“It was the happiest moment of my life waking up that morning after the Prom. My world was filled with endless possibilities, it was filled with good family, good friends and a great life but most of all it was filled with you…and then you were gone.”

“Alex I know…” Isabel began.

“I’M SPEAKING!!” Alex cried forcing Isabel back in her chair.

Alex lowered his voice again until it was back to a normal, conversational level. “About the only thing that broke my heart more than finding out you had left without saying goodbye was the look on your brothers face when he told me you had gone. I’ve seen that man bring people back to life and fight alien invaders but I doubt he has done anything as brave as telling me you had left.”

Alex stepped up from the table and started to pace, Isabel’s eyes never leaving him. “Of course at first I was sure you had been kidnapped and I wanted to go find you until he told me about the note you left him, left him mind you…not me. Then when Max and Michael returned to say you were OK but you weren’t coming back that was when I really lost it. God forbid but it wasn’t like you had died and I had to mourn your passing it was much worse than that. You had chosen to leave and without saying goodbye, that was what I couldn’t understand.” Alex turned to look directly at Isabel. “I may not have known you as well as your family did, as well as Max and Michael knew you but I honestly felt I understood you more than anyone. I knew the reason for the Ice Princess and I knew why you kept pushing me away even when the others were telling me it wasn’t to be and that I should move on but I couldn’t.”

Alex started to fidget with his hands while he continued to pace.

“If this has taught me anything it is that you don’t get to choose who you fall in love with. It was only by giving that example to Max, Liz, Michael and Maria that they finally understood. I didn’t choose to love you Isabel but because I was in love with you I was going to do it with all my heart and soul. You pushed me away and you saw other men but we both knew the reasoning behind that even if the others didn’t. Finally I came to terms with what you did. However, the hatred and the fact that I despised you began to fade. Don’t misunderstand, even at my lowest ebb when I never wanted to see you again or even hear your name I never stopped loving you because that is what love really is…seeing deep within someone and know who they truly are.”

Tears were streaming down Isabel’s face as Alex approached and dropped to his knees in front of her so he was eye to eye with his seated princess. “That’s the thing Isabel. That’s the thing that has kept me going for the last five years, what allowed me to move past what happened and what I have tried to explain to Liz and Maria so they can understand where I am coming from.”

Alex reached forward slowly and gently placed a hand on Isabel chest above her heart. “No matter what you do, no matter where you go and no matter what you say…I know you Isabel Evans. I know you in here…” Alex then removed his hand from over Isabel’s heart and placed both hands on either side of her face, wiping away the tears that were falling down her face with his thumbs. “And I know you in here.”
Alex tapped his fore finger on the side of Isabel’s temple.

Alex slowly leaned forward, tilting Isabel’s head slightly downward and placed a feather light kiss on her head before he stood up, took a few steps back and looked down at Isabel. “This should never be about what anyone else thinks. As I understand it you made your peace with your parents, Max and Michael years ago. It’s not for you to explain yourself to me or anyone else. It’s your life Isabel and not anyone else’s. After all you have been through you, Max, Michael and Tess deserve to be happy…that’s all there is to say.”

Finally Alex slowly retook his seat after handing Isabel a box of tissues that had been sitting on the side in the kitchen.

“How the hell am I supposed to follow that?” Isabel scoffed.

Alex let out a laugh as a broad smile spread across his face. “Sorry about going all postal on you it’s just I had stored that all up for five years so once I started there was no way short of an alien blast from you to stop me.”

Isabel finished with her tissues and laughed at Alex’s comment. “I think the word you might be looking for is ‘Closure’.”

Alex suddenly went serious and shook his head. “This isn’t about an ending Iz. We’re friends and I don’t ever want that to end.” Alex shrugged. “I guess this was more about me getting my side of the story heard.”

Isabel nodded in agreement but then stopped. “But you haven’t heard my side.”

“Weren’t you listening Isabel?” Alex joked. “That was my point. You don’t need to put your side. I believe that if you felt the need to leave when you did and how you did then that is all I need to know.”

“But what if I want you to know.” Isabel questioned.

“Then tell me.” Alex replied. “But the important word in that sentence is ‘Want’ Isabel. If you want to tell me then tell me but don’t do it out of some misguided notion of ‘Having’ to do it. ‘Wanting to’ is good, ‘Having to’ is bad.”

Isabel smiled. “God Laura said you had changed, now I know what she meant.”

“When did you speak to Laura?” Alex was confused.

Isabel was also confused. “Just now when I was having lunch with the girls. You did know that she coming along for lunch didn’t you?”

Alex sighed. “Erm…no. I wasn’t aware that Laura was going to crash you lunchtime gathering. We had our meeting with the Florist and then she said she had some errands to run. I went home for awhile and then decided to come over here to see you.”

“It’s not a big deal Alex.” Isabel shrugged. “It was only lunch.”

Alex slowly shook his head as his gaze fell to his hands.

“What is it Alex? What’s the matter?” Isabel was concerned.

“It’s nothing.” Alex lifted his gaze. “And certainly not something I can talk to you about.”

“Alex Charles Whitman.” Isabel exclaimed. “Didn’t I just sit through the most beautiful speech about us being friend’s and wanting it to remain that way?”

“Yes.” Alex nodded.

“Then what is it?” Isabel repeated.

Alex sighed again. “I think Laura is a bit intimidated by you so she has got it into her head that I still have a thing for you.”

Isabel was never more pleased that Alex’s gaze had once again dropped to his hands. If it hadn’t he would have noticed the flush on her skin from embarrassment but also the smile she couldn’t stop from creeping across her face.

“I guess over the years she has heard me talk about you often. Usually not in the happiest of contexts. Every time an anniversary came round I would go all maudlin and then we would have to talk about you all over again. And of course there’s the other thing…” Alex trailed off.

Now Alex had peeked Isabel’s curiosity. “What other thing?”

Alex shook his head. “I can’t have this conversation with you Isabel.”

Isabel threw up her hands. “Are you honestly telling me that after all that we have been through together you can’t tell me something?”

“You really want to know?” Alex said standing his ground. “OK then I will tell you. After many years of hearing me talk about how I was madly in love with you, how after all the time I talked about you being the only girl for me and finally after I have managed to move on and make a commitment to another girl you walk in looking like you have just stepped down from a New York Catwalk.”

Isabel felt the blood coursing through her veins again as now seemed to be the norm whenever she got one up on Laura.

“And you can stop sitting there, looking so smug.” Alex said with a smile. “And if you could start wearing flat shoes I would appreciate it.” Alex finished.

That comment brought Isabel crashing back down. “What? Why flat shoes?”

Alex could no longer look at Isabel she was enjoying this too much. “Because despite how tall Laura is she even found time last night to notice you are taller than she is.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Isabel said through a grin.

“Isabel!” Alex was fast running out of patience. “Over my lifetime my three best friends have all been women. Do you honestly expect me to believe that you didn’t notice how tall Laura was, what her figure looked like, how much make-up she was wearing and whether it was the right colour on her? I really wouldn’t test my nerves right now Iz.”

“I don’t know what you mean Alex?”

“Isabel.” Alex said pleadingly. “Look at it from my point of view. I’m getting married. Laura has moved about all of her life so she doesn’t have a particular place in mind to get married so we are getting married here in Roswell so we are near my family and friends. Subconsciously it seems I have been speaking about you over the years and comparing every aspect of everyone and anyone to you. Finally my fiancée gets to meet my former girlfriend, whom I am apparently always waxing lyrical about, and she turns out to be you…six feet of blond goddess with perfect skin, a perfect figure and great dress sense. Cut her some slack would you?…for me.”

Isabel eyed Alex for a moment. Whether he was aware of it or not he had just given her ego the biggest boost the world had ever seen. Up until the final comment Isabel was happy to laud it over Laura but when Alex asked her to do something for him she wasn’t ever going to say no.

“Ok Alex I’ll try…for you but I don’t know what all the fuss is about. It’s not like I am going to be seeing much of her.” Isabel offered.

Alex whipped his gaze directly to Isabel. “What do you mean? You’re coming to the wedding aren’t you?”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 6


“What?” Isabel asked in shock. “Why on earth would you want me at your wedding?”

Alex furrowed his brow in confusion. “Why would I want you at my wedding?” He repeated. “I don’t know, maybe that you are one of my closest friends, maybe because we have been in life and death situations together and hopefully the reason that will be most important to you is that I want you there!”

Isabel could feel her skin flushing once more at the thought that he wanted her there. “Alex I love you for the kind words but after what you have just told me about how Laura feels about me and the fact that I intimidate her I don’t think it will be the best of ideas to have me at your wedding.”

“But I want you there.” Alex repeated softly.

The thought of having to stand and watch as Alex committed his life to someone else sent shivers down Isabel’s spine. As she was fond of thinking lately she had made her bed and now she had to lie in it. That being said it didn’t mean she had to like it or to watch what might have been slip through her grasp. “Alex I thank you for the kind request but I think it will be better all round if I don’t go.”

Isabel looked at her watch. “Alex time is getting on and I have things to do so…”

Alex stood up slowly. “You want me to leave?”

“Not want to Alex.” Isabel felt bad for almost pushing the poor guy out of the door but she couldn’t take much more of the conversation they were having. “I just need to get on.” She lied.

Alex walked quietly and slowly towards the front door with Isabel silently following. The mood had turned sombre in the last couple of minutes and it wasn’t how either wanted to leave things.

“I told Liz and Maria that I was going to ask you to the wedding but they both felt it might be difficult for both you and Laura if you came.” Alex said turning to Isabel. “But I have spent most of my life letting people walk all over me but not anymore. I don’t care if it is difficult for you or Laura or if it is selfish for me to ask but I want you there. If you aren’t there I will understand but as long as you know my feelings on the subject that is all I can do.”

Isabel watched as Alex opened the front door, stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind him.


Alex walked slowly to his car, opened the door and sat in the drivers seat. He didn’t start the engine, as at the moment he wasn’t in any fit state to drive. What was he thinking and more to the point what was he doing? How could he ask Isabel to come to his wedding? But then how could he not ask her!

Alex looked out the side window of the car and back at the Evans house. He thought he saw the curtain to the front window move but then he wasn’t so sure. ‘Great’ he thought, ‘Now I can add paranoia to my current problems’.


Isabel stepped back from the window where she had watched Alex climb into his car. She was confused as to why he didn’t just start the car up and drive away but then it became apparent that he was thinking. Finally she was forced back from her watching position as Alex glanced back at the house. ‘God!’ Isabel thought, ‘All I need is for Alex to catch me spying on him and Laura will think I am stalking him’.




It was just after 8pm when Isabel arrived at the Crashdown. She had spoken to Liz in the afternoon, not long after Alex had left, and set a firm time and place to meet up with Liz and Maria.

Isabel realised that things, all though difficult, had gone better with Alex than she could have hoped for. Tonight, however, would be a different matter. Tonight she had to face Liz, and more worryingly, Maria!

As Isabel entered the Crashdown she wasn’t surprised to see it was quite busy, even for a weeknight. The food was always good, if not very conducive to losing weight. That coupled with how nice the Parker family were meant the place always had a homely feel and it was always a comforting place to eat.

Liz and Maria were sat at the counter talking with Liz’s Dad as Isabel approached. “Hello ladies, Hello Mr Parker.” Isabel said as she stopped beside Maria.

“Hi Isabel.” Both girls replied. “Hello Isabel, great to see you.” Mr Parker added.

“Dad we are going to have a girls night in upstairs so you’re not allowed to disturb us.” Liz said with a fake sternness to her voice.

“Yes dear.” Mr Parker replied and then leaned towards Isabel. “I hope your brother knows what he has in store when he finally walks my daughter up the aisle.”

Isabel tried to stifle a laugh. “Sadly Mr Parker I think my brother is looking forward to it.”

“Hey!” Liz exclaimed. “I heard that.”

“Oh get over yourself Liz.” Maria interjected. “You know the main reason you want to get married to Max is so you can boss him around…legally.”

“See what you have started.” Liz turned to Isabel. “You have only been back five minutes and already you are all ganging up against me.”

Isabel threw her hands up in mock surrender. “I only said hello.”

“That might be so.” Liz said sliding off her stool at the counter. “But you know what a loaded statement that can be.”

All three girls were laughing at their ‘Non-argument’ as they made their way up to Liz’s room.

Isabel knew that Liz was only joking, her way of letting Isabel know that nothing had changed, she was still one of the gang. However, it still left Isabel apprehensive about what was about to take place.

The three girls entered Liz’s room and as the two guests grabbed a seat Liz closed the door behind them and joined Isabel who was seated on the bed.

“So how have you been?” Liz started.

“Cut the crap Liz.” Maria cut in. “Get to the good stuff.”

Both girls eyed Maria in shock. “What?” Liz replied.

Maria let out a huge sigh. “Liz, love Isabel as we do you know why we are all here so let’s get on with it.”

“Well Maria!” Liz exclaimed. “There is such a thing as subtly.”

Maria slowly waved a hand in front of Liz. “Hello…Hello! Have you met me before?”

“Sadly the answer to that question is Yes, I have met you before and I think you have been spending way too much time with Michael if you are going to bluntly ask Isabel why she left.” Liz glanced at Isabel. “Obviously we want to know but hopefully Isabel will tell us in her own good time.”

Isabel let out a laugh at the comments that were passing between the two girls. “Look you two. I know this isn’t easy but I am here to explain myself and to say I am sorry. I have already spoken to Alex and now I need to talk to the both of you.”

“We’re not trying to pressurise you into telling us what went on.” Liz said softly.

“We’re not?” Maria appeared confused. “Then why are we here?”

“To welcome home a good friend who has been out of our lives for too long. Yes she left abruptly but you remember what Alex said don’t you Maria?”

Suddenly Maria’s head dropped so she was looking at the floor. “Yes.”

“And you remember what you promised him?” Liz continued.

“Not to hit Isabel until she has had a chance to explained herself.” Maria said nonchalantly.

Isabel looked at Maria in amazement. Maria looked back at Isabel as though she had just told someone the time.

“What?” Maria questioned. “You don’t think I was going to let you get away with what you did to Alex did you?”

Isabel shook her head. “No I guess not.”

“Understand Isabel I love you but I love Alex more. If he had treated you so badly I would have come down on him like a ton of bricks but as it was you treating him badly then it is your turn to suffer.” Maria finished.

Isabel nodded. “The one thing I was sure of Maria was that anything I got on my return I totally deserved so don’t worry about holding back.”

“I won’t!” Maria said firmly.

Suddenly Maria reached for Isabel and it was all the tall girl could do to stop herself from recoiling from what Maria was about to do. Surprisingly, considering how the conversation was going, Maria took hold of Isabel’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Just know that when I am finished with you I will be there to help you and to give you a hug.”

Isabel felt the tears stinging her eyes. “Thanks Maria, I appreciate it.”

“OK.” Liz started. “In the spirit of Maria Deluca, what the hell did you do Isabel?”

Isabel was taken aback my Liz’s comments. There was no preamble just a straight up question. ‘She could do this’ Isabel thought, ‘This was why she was here.’

“I don’t necessarily expect either of you to understand but I wasn’t prepared for what happened. I know you have heard this part of the story on more than one occasion but I never, in my lifetime, expected to meet someone and fall in love.”

Isabel’s opening statement caught both girls off guard. Despite the fact that they were both there to get the truth from Isabel the fact that their tall friend didn’t appear to be holding anything back was still unexpected.

“As we didn’t know our full history I couldn’t be sure if Max and Michael were my biological brothers or not. Either way it didn’t matter as I have always looked upon them as my brothers and nothing else so I could never have romantic feelings for them. As we thought we were the only three alien hybrids on the planet it didn’t leave much room for romance. Of course that all ended that day in the Crashdown.”

Isabel looked towards Liz. “Obviously you now know that Max had a thing for you long before that fateful day but the way he acted towards you neither Michael or I ever dreamt it would ever be more than a crush. Long story short Max and Michael fell in love with you both and things changed.”

“And that’s where Alex comes in.” Maria offered.

“Exactly.” Isabel couldn’t help but smile. “I had known that he had a thing for me for quite sometime. I always knew he was different from the others as he was always the gentleman, never leering or making a grab for me. Just watching shyly from afar.”

Isabel sighed. “Again you guys already know the story. I wasn’t ready to let someone in so I kept him at arms length. Every time I managed to talk myself into a position where I wanted to get closer to him my nerve went and I would back away. No matter how often I messed him about he never gave up. That was when I finally realised it.”

“Realised what?” Both girls asked.

“Realised that he was the one. That he knew me, maybe even better than I knew myself. He knew why I acted the way I did and why I pushed him away in the way that I did.”

“But what about the Prom?” Maria pushed. “It all seemed so perfect.”

“It was…” Tears began to run down Isabel’s face. “It was and that was the problem.”

Liz shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

Isabel visibly stiffened up as though preparing for something. “Do you girls know that back when I was having those dreams and I thought I was pregnant with Michael’s child that Alex said he would standby me no matter what.”

“That’s so typically Alex.” Maria smiled. “He’s one in a million.”

Isabel shook her head. “No you don’t understand. He meant he would do anything for me and give up everything he was going to be just to be at my side and, if need be, be a father to my child.”

“So what does that have to do with Alex and why you left?” Liz was going round in circles in her mind.

“Did Alex tell you about after we left the Prom?” Isabel queried.

Liz nodded. “He told us that you went for a drive to Frasier Woods and then he drove you home.”

“And he never said anything else?” Isabel pushed.

This time Maria shook her head. “No! Why would he…” Maria suddenly trailed off into silence.

Liz and Maria exchanged a silent glance before they both looked back at Isabel.

“Isabel did you and Alex…” Liz asked tentatively.

Both girls went wide-eyed when Isabel slowly nodded.

“But you can’t have.” Maria blurted out.

Isabel eyed her questioningly.

“What I mean is I asked Alex a short while after if you two had ever…and he said no.”

“What did we say earlier Maria?” Isabel asked softly. “Forever the gentleman?”

“So that’s why you left.” Maria said firmly. “Because you had taken you relationship to the next level?”

Isabel looked over at Liz as a look of understanding flashed across Liz’s face.

“I spoke to Max at lunchtime.” Liz began. “He said he had a strange conversation with you this morning that set him thinking.”

Maria was watching her friend in a state of confusion.

Liz continued. “He said he was trying to work out why you left and the only thought that came remotely close to a reason is because your priorities changed. He was explaining that in everyone’s life there comes a point where the greatest love in your life is no longer you Mother or Father or your closest friends but your lover or partner. When we were talking about it we thought it was a case that Alex had become your main priority in life and not Max, Michael or your family.”

“So that’s why you left?” Maria questioned.

Liz shook her head even though Maria’s question was directed at Isabel. “There was only one thing more important to you than your family or your friends and that was Alex. You put Alex’s life and future above everything else.”

Isabel had watched silently as her friend was finally unravelling the truth.

“So when did you have the baby?” Liz asked barely above a whisper.

“She was born seven months after I left!”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 7


“Alex, are you in?”

“I’m in here.” Alex looked up from his book as Laura came in carrying copious amounts of shopping. “Do you need a hand?” Alex leapt from his seat.

“No I’m fine.” Laura dumped the bags on the floor. “Where were you this afternoon I tried calling?”

Alex shrugged. “I was just out. I think I switched my cell phone off by mistake.”

Laura eyed Alex. “How do you switch a phone off by mistake?”

“It can happen.” Alex said defensively. “Sometimes when it is in my pocket my keys hit the on/off key by accident.”

“Then maybe you might need to give some thought to putting your keys in a different pocket.” Laura walked over to where Alex had retaken his seat. “What’s the matter Honey? You seem down.”

Alex reached up and took Laura’s hand. “It’s nothing, I’m fine.”

Laura sat on the arm of the chair. “Is it anything to do with Isabel Evans?”

Alex looked at Laura in surprise. “Why would you say that?”

“Firstly you didn’t say no.” Laura eyed her fiancée. “Secondly you seem to always be a million miles away lately but never more so than since you heard Isabel was coming back to town.”

Alex sighed. “Laura, look at me. Do I look like the type of guy who has had women beating down his door? No! I don’t know what Isabel saw in me and I still don’t know what you see in me. Isabel and I are friends and nothing more but the fact remains that we are friends.”

“And she happens to be drop dead gorgeous.” Laura added.

Alex frowned. “So are Liz and Maria. They are both beautiful young women but you don’t have a problem with me being friends with them.”

“Well Maria and Liz are in long term relationships.” Laura began. “They are both very attractive but Isabel is single and of a type, which makes other women nervous.”

Alex shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

“I know and that is what I think I love about you.” Laura stroked Alex’s hair. “A woman like Isabel is a predator, a vamp. She’s the type that if she sees a guy she wants she has the equipment to go get him.”

Alex stood up from his chair. “Laura I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t talk about my friend like that.”

Laura stood up to face Alex. “You’re standing up for her?”

“Yes.” Alex said firmly. “As she isn’t here to defend herself. Laura, she didn’t say anything about you and I am not about to let you say things about her.” Alex froze when he realised what he had just said.

“She didn’t say anything about me?” Laura repeated. “I take it you have been to see her this afternoon. Is that why I couldn’t get hold of you?”

“I already told you why you couldn’t get hold of me, my phone turned itself off.” Alex was unhappy about having to answer for his actions. “And what about you? You never told me you were going to crash the girls lunch.”

Now it was Laura’s turn to feel defensive. “I was only being sociable. I though, as you are always talking about her, I would finally get to see what this Isabel Evans was like.”

Alex shook his head. “Why do we always have to have the same argument? I am not always talking about her but the fact remains she was an important part of my life and of all of my friends lives so I can’t just forget about her, I can’t just cut her out of my life.”

“Why?” Laura turned to leave. “That’s what she did to you!”





“WHAT!?” Maria cried.

“Maria calm down otherwise you’ll have my father up here.” Liz cut in.

“Ok…Ok…I can do this.” Maria held her hands out as if to steady herself. “Are you telling me that you and Alex have had a baby girl?”

Isabel nodded slowly as she watched her petit friend.

“That’s brilliant!” Maria screamed as she threw herself at Isabel, throwing them both back onto the bed.

“Wait for me.” Liz called as she threw herself on top of the two girls as they writhed about on the bed as Maria hugged her much taller friend.

After a minute the girls began to recompose themselves and settled back down in their seats.

Isabel reached into her bag and pulled out a photo, which she handed to Maria. “Maria I would like you to meet your niece Katherine Stacey Whitman but I call her Katie.”

Liz took the photo from Maria as her friend passed it across to her. “Katie Whitman? You took Alex’s name for her.”

“Well he is her father and I was already taking so much away from him I couldn’t take that away as well. I’ve made sure she knows where she comes from and who her family are.” Isabel explained.

“How did you manage that?” Curiosity getting the better of Liz. “Did you take photo’s with you when you left?”

“Some.” Isabel nodded. “But about a year ago things got a little more complicated.”

Liz frowned, not understanding Isabel’s answer.

“As you know I am half human and half alien but Katie’s father, Alex, is human so I didn’t know what if any powers our daughter would have.” Isabel explained. “I was ever watchful but nothing seemed to be happening but then Katie started to talk about Alex as though she knew him. She would tell me how she saw ‘Daddy’ going to school or playing his music. It was then that I realised she had been dream walking him.”

Liz threw her hand to her mouth in shock. “Oh my god! What did you do?”

“Well first of all I sat her down and explained that she was special and that she couldn’t tell anyone about her gift.” Isabel took the photo back from Liz and placed it back in her purse. “Then one night when I was putting her back down to sleep after she had woken up I made a connection to her just before she fell asleep so I could see what she was dreaming about and that was when I confirmed what I expected.”

“That she had been dream walking Alex?” Liz offered.

Isabel nodded. “Yes but I found out later that it was slightly different to what I do.” Isabel could see Liz’s confusion again. “It soon became apparent that Katie wasn’t randomly dream walking or even dream walking specific people, she was solely connected to Alex, he was the only one she was visiting.”

“That’s so cute I think I am going to start crying again.” Maria sniffled through her tissue. “But how is Katie? You said it was only seven months after you left that she was born.”

Isabel let out a big sigh and nodded again. “Obviously I had nothing to compare my pregnancy with but I made sure I ate healthily and looked after myself. I read everything and anything on childbirth and took some classes, which prepared me for what was coming. It wasn’t easy as I had to use my powers on a few occasions when it came to registering Katie and all the paperwork that goes along with child birth.”

“What about money? How did you cope?” Liz asked softly.

“I managed to get a job in a children’s clothes store. That helped me understand what was coming with all the customers I got to talk to over several months and even when it became noticeable that I was pregnant the manager didn’t mind as what is more comforting for an expectant mother who is out shopping than to find your shop assistant is going through the same thing.”

“But with your classes how did you manage?” Liz questioned further, her need to know what her friend had gone through at the forefront of her mind.

“The job at the store was only part time and I was able to work my classes round my work schedule. Of course my photographic memory and alien talents meant college wasn’t as hard as it might have been if I had been a normal, human girl.” Isabel suddenly had a serious look on her face. “Of course there were times when I wasn’t earning enough money to cover bills or pay my child minder while I was at class.”

“Oh Isabel you didn’t…” Liz asked.

Isabel’s head snapped up, looking directly at her friend. “What? Do something I am not proud of…Yes! But not what you might be thinking.” Isabel reached into her purse again and pulled out a single dollar bill. With one wave of her hand over the note she was suddenly holding a one hundred dollar bill. “It’s not something I am proud of or that I made use of more than I had to but I wasn’t going to have my child suffer just so I could have a clear conscience.”

“Don’t tell Michael you can do that, he’ll be sitting at home night after night making himself a millionaire.” Maria offered causing all three girls to start laughing.

“So why did you come back?” Liz questioned.

“I knew the morning after sleeping with Alex that I was pregnant, I just knew. I also knew that if I told Alex he would want to get married and to quit school so he could earn money to look after both Katie and I. I thought about the fact that he would be 18 years old, no money, no prospects and a wife and child to support.” Isabel shook her head. “And it wasn’t even as though we didn’t take precautions.”

Both Liz and Maria stiffened up in their seats. “You used protection?” Maria asked slowly.

Isabel nodded. “Yes I had taken a condom with me…just in case.” Isabel watched as the two girls turned and looked at each other. “I take it you guys have been taking precautions.”

Both girls nodded. “Maybe it was just bad luck that your condom didn’t work.” Maria replied.

“Or we are lucky that ours have been working.” Liz added. “I never even thought about the possibility that your alien physiology might not take to human birth control.”

“Well if you guys have had a little practice over the years I think it is more likely to be a one off rather than anything alien related.” Isabel tried to comfort her friends.

“Well Michael had better get used to Mrs Palm and her five lovely daughters.” Maria said absently.

“Maria!” Liz cried. “I think that comes under the heading of a little too much information.”

Isabel couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure you have nothing to worry about.”

“Maybe not.” Maria replied. “But a little abstinence won’t do Michael any harm.”

“So what did Alex say when you told him?” Liz asked.

Isabel shook her head. “I haven’t told Alex.”

Liz frowned. “But you said you spoke to Alex earlier and now you were going to tell us why you left.”

Isabel nodded. “Yes I spoke to Alex but I was going to tell him I left because I got cold feet only for him to stop me in my tracks and tell me I didn’t have to explain.”

“But you came back to Roswell to tell him about Katie?” Maria was still confused.

Isabel let out a sigh. “I’m sorry I am not explaining myself very well.”

Liz reached an arm around her tall friend. “Don’t worry Isabel, we’re here for you.”

Isabel dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “I know and thanks guys I appreciate it.” Isabel steadied herself before beginning. “I got pregnant with Alex’s baby. I decided that if I told Alex I would have taken away so much of his life and so many of his choices so I ran, it was all I could think to do. I hid the fact that I was pregnant from Max and Michael when they visited and even later, after Katie was born, I didn’t tell any of my family even when they visited.”

“So who’s Pete?”

Isabel turned to look at Maria.

“I’m sorry but there is so much to take in that I am only now catching up.”

Isabel smiled. “Pete’s a close friend who I met in New York. He’s helped me over the last couple of years and he is looking after Katie for the few days I am gone.”

“So Pete…” Liz paused. “Is he?”


Isabel smiled again and shook her head. “Pete happens to be gay but even so I haven’t looked at another guy since I left Roswell, It would have been like betraying Alex more than I already had.”

“Oh Honey.” Maria came and sat on the other side of Isabel. “You haven’t betrayed him.”

“Haven’t I?” Isabel eyed her friend. “I took Alex’s daughter away from him.”

Liz shook her head. “Isabel you would need the wisdom of Solomon to make the decision that you made. You did what you thought was best for Alex and I can’t see anyone ever making a bigger sacrifice than you did, giving up your life and your family.”

“But would Alex see it that way?” Isabel whispered. Isabel suddenly straightened up. “Well it doesn’t matter as I am not going to tell him.”

“What?” Maria exploded. “You have to tell him.”

Isabel shook her head vigorously. “I’ve already ruined Alex’s life once I can’t do it again.”

“But you came here to tell Alex about Katie.” Liz pressed.

“That was before I knew he was getting married.”

“To hell with that.” Maria turned Isabel’s face to look at her. “Do you think Alex is going to choose some girl who is at best a second choice over the love of his life who happens to have given birth to his daughter?”

Isabel stood up from her seated position beside her friends and started pacing. “That’s my point Maria. How can I throw this all at him now? If I telling him what went on he will leave Laura and be with Katie and I out of some sense of obligation. If I leave quietly, now, he will be none the wiser. He can marry Laura and finally get on with the life he deserves.”

Liz stood up. “I won’t let you.”

Isabel eyed her small friend for a moment. “What? What do you mean you won’t let me?”

Liz looked resolute. “Isabel if you don’t tell Alex about Katie I will.”

“No you won’t.” Maria interjected causing both girls to look at her with differing expressions, one of thanks and one of confusion. “Because if needs be, I will!”

Isabel looked crest fallen. “Please don’t do this. I know you think you are doing the right thing but if you tell Alex it will ruin everything.”

“Doesn’t Alex deserve to know the truth? Doesn’t he deserve to know that he has a daughter?” Liz stepped towards her tall friend. “Doesn’t he deserve to know the sacrifice you made for him and the fact that you are still in love with him?”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 8


Alex pushed open the door to the Crashdown and was pleased to see Max, Michael and Kyle sitting at a booth towards the back. As he made his way towards the booth he could see Liz and Maria busying themselves behind the counter, neither turning to look at him as he approached their mutual friends.

“Hey.” Alex said sliding into the booth. “Hey.” Came the replies.

“Do you guys know what is going on with the girls?” Alex asked in a hushed voice.

“Not you as well!” Michael exclaimed.

“Shhh!” Max hissed. “Michael keep it down or the girls will know.”

The group of young men turned to see both Liz and Maria quickly averted their gaze and continued with their work. Unknown to the boys the two girls exchanged a silent look, which told them the boys knew something was up.

“So what exactly is going on?” Alex asked.

“Women!” Kyle shrugged. “That’s all you need to know.”

“Tell me about it.” Michael sighed a second time. “I don’t even remember upsetting Maria yesterday but when she came back from seeing Liz and Isabel she told me if I as much as laid one finger on her she would break it off and feed it to the dog.”

Kyle frowned. “You don’t have a dog?”

“I think she was going for the dramatic.” Michael explained. “If she tells me she is going to break off my finger and feed it to the dog it is more a statement of intent rather than fact.”

“If you two have finished discussing the inner workings of a Maria Deluca threat maybe we can get on?” Max whispered.

“Don’t tell me there’s trouble in Max and Liz land.” Kyle joked. “She didn’t catch you looking at the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders on the Internet again did she?”

Both Alex and Michael’s gaze was quickly drawn to Max, eagerly awaiting his reply to such a loaded question.

“I told you before Kyle.” Max was trying to be insistent while continuing to be quiet. “I was trying to look up the team statistics on their web site when Liz walked in. She only said it in front of you to embarrass me, I wasn’t looking at the cheerleaders.”

“Why not?” Michael knew they had Max on the ropes.

Max took a sharp intake of breath. “I’m not doing this. Not here and not now. We have other things to talk about.”

“Where’s Isabel?” Alex asked softly. His comment brought the previous banter to a shuddering halt.

“What?” Max blinked at Alex.

“I said where is Isabel?” Alex spoke slowly as though to make sure he was understood this time. “I called your house this morning and your Mom said she had left. I then called here and Mr Parker said Liz was unavailable to come to the phone. Finally I have just come into the Crashdown and for the first time ever I have managed to get from the front door to the back booth without either Liz or Maria seeing me and saying hello. Since I have sat down the two of them have been looking at me but each time I even hint that I might be glancing in their direction they both turn away and try to look busy…something is going on and I thought you might know before I begin the painstaking process of trying to get information out of the two of them.”

Max shook his head slightly. “I really don’t know what to tell you, I’m sorry. When I got up this morning my Mom said that Liz, Maria, and Tess came by early to pick up Isabel and take her back to the airport.”

“But she can’t have gone home I didn’t get a chance to talk to her properly, I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.” Alex slumped back in his seat. “This is all my fault.”

“Come on man.” Kyle gave Alex a playful punch on the arm. “Don’t go so hard on yourself, why do you always think it is your fault when it comes to Isabel?” Kyle glanced at Max. “No offence.”

“When I spoke to her yesterday I knew I was pushing it to hard.” Alex continued.

“Pushed what too hard.” Michael questioned.

Alex glanced around at his friends. “About wanting her to go to the wedding.”

“What!” Michael exclaimed causing Liz and Maria to forget their subterfuge and blatantly look over at the boys.

“Dude, you asked your gorgeous ex-girlfriend to come to your wedding.” Kyle couldn’t help but smile. “What were you thinking? You wanted to get into the Guinness book of records for the shortest marriage?”

“How about the man with the most stitches when they sew you back together at the hospital?” Michael added.

“This isn’t helping you know?” Alex said grimly.

“Alex is right.” Max said with a sombre face. “I don’t think any of us should be happy that Isabel felt the need to leave without saying goodbye.”

Suddenly the table fell into silence.

“So what exactly happened yesterday?” Kyle asked.

“Why? What do you know?” Michael eyed his friend suspiciously.

Kyle shrugged. “Tess told me that Liz and Maria had arranged to see Isabel last night. I asked her if she was going but she said no as she thought they were going to talk about Alex.”

Alex lifted his gaze to Kyle at that comment.

“Tess said they were meeting about 8pm but just after 9pm Liz called and spoke to Tess. Two minutes later Tess was rushing out of the door and the only thing she told me was she was going to join the girls and not to wait up.” Kyle continued. “I remember her coming home about midnight, when I was in bed, and when I woke up this morning she was gone. Apparently taking Isabel to the airport with the other girls.”

“What about you Max?” Michael continued to lead the hunt for background information.

“I know even less.” Max looked crest fallen. “I knew they were getting together. I didn’t see Liz last night and I didn’t hear Isabel come in or go out this morning.”

“Alex?” Apparently Michael was enjoying his role as interrogator.

Alex shrugged. “I tried to contact Isabel this morning so I could arrange to meet her. I also tried to contact Liz here but nothing. Finally I tried ringing both Liz and Maria’s cell phones but I couldn’t get through.”

“As for me.” Michael finished. “Other than the threat from Maria, which we all know is a daily occurrence, nothing out of the ordinary. As Kyle said when I woke up this morning she was gone.”

“Well there’s only one thing for it.” Alex lifted himself up from the table. “If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed...”

Alex turned and approached the counter. If he thought it was possible he would have believed he was invisible because despite standing in front of his two best friends neither made a move to either look at him or speak to him.

“OK, that’s enough.” Alex said forcefully. “I don’t know what is going on or what I have done but I am going into the back and I expect one or both of you to come and tell me what exactly is happening.”

Both girls exchanged a quick glance and then watched as a new, forceful Alex stomped off towards the back, finally disappearing behind the flapping door.

“What do we do?” Maria asked nervously. “Isabel made us promise not to tell him.”

“We have to tell him something.” Liz replied. “You saw how he was. He looks like he will go and get on a plane and go to New York himself, even if he doesn’t have an address for Isabel.”

Liz looked over at the back booth and watched as the three remaining boys simply stared back at her. Liz allowed her gaze to stop on Max’s face. It was amazing how one simple look from him could instil an inner calm and belief that could see her through any crisis.

Maria looked at the three boys that stared back until she finally saw Michael looking directly at her with an intensity that she hadn’t seen for some time. He knew she was up to something but she could tell that he trusted her to do the right thing.

Both girls made their way out to the back and found Alex pacing. “I know it is all my fault and I don’t want to put you two in the middle of something that isn’t your problem but did you really have to let her leave without giving me a chance to say goodbye?”

As Alex slumped down onto the couch at the back of the rest area his two friends came and sat either side of him, resting an arm each over his hunched shoulders.

“You haven’t done anything wrong Alex.” Maria said in her most comforting voice

“In fact you have made things right.” Liz added. “Isabel thought you would never want to speak to her after the way she left but from what she said of your meeting yesterday she was overjoyed you still wanted to be friends.”

“So why has she left like this?” Alex didn’t even bother to look up. “Why has she left again? Everything is going wrong and I don’t know how to fix it.”

Liz and Maria exchanged a look before Liz finally spoke. “What do you mean Alex? What’s going wrong?”

Alex leaned back in his seat, finally allowing his two best friends to see his face. The tears that were stinging his eyes came as a surprise to both girls. “Things have been a little shaky between Laura and I lately. I know if you were to ask her now she will probably blame it all onto Isabel saying I still have a thing for her or that she, Laura, is just a poor substitute.”

“And is she?” Maria asked softly.

“I’m not sure…No!” Alex shook his head vigorously. “I’ve never looked at Laura as a substitute for Isabel but at the same time I can’t deny I still felt a connection to her.”

“A connection? How?” Liz pressed.

Alex shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe I have just been dreaming it.”

Both girls visibly stiffened at his comment.

Alex let out a stifled laugh as he wiped his eyes. “Did I tell you I started to dream about having a child with Isabel? I little girl who was the absolute image of Isabel. She’s tall for her age with blond hair that hangs down in ringlets framing her face.”

As the two girls listened to their friend open his heart it was all they could do not to cry themselves.

“But then I wake up and I realise none of it is real. Then I started feeling guilty because I believe I have betrayed Laura.” Alex took the tissue being offered to him by Liz before continuing. “I know Laura isn’t Isabel and I thank you both for not telling me how you really felt about her.”

Liz went to speak but Alex carried on. “I know you weren’t being mean. I know the two of you well enough to know you were being both loyal to Isabel but also loyal to me. I, of all people, thought Isabel was the one so I can hardly find fault with my two best friends agreeing with me now can I?” Alex let out another laugh. “But Isabel was gone and after a couple of years of pining it was time for me to get on with my life, to move on.”

Alex looked from one friend to the other before dropping his gaze to his hands. “Then I found things had gone too fast. By the time I had it clear in my head that as lovely as Laura is I couldn’t give myself to her in the way she deserved it was too late. Before I knew what was happening we were engaged and making wedding plans. After being so upset with Isabel for the way she left I couldn’t do that to someone else, how much of a hypocrite would that make me?”

Maria started to rub Alex’s back. “Alex, Honey If you don’t think you are ready to marry Laura then you need to stop this wedding or at the very least delay it until you are sure.”

“Maria’s right Alex.” Liz added. “It isn’t a failing on your part if you still love Isabel it just means what you always thought was right, that she is your one true love.”

“But Isabel has her own life and I have done my time as the little puppy dog bouncing around her ankles.”

“Alex that isn’t how you appeared then and it won’t be how you appear now.” Liz took hold of Alex’s hand. “What was it Isabel said you told her? ‘You can’t help who you falling in love with.’”

“Listen to what we are saying Alex.” Maria took Alex’s other hand. “Before we even start to deal with how you feel about Isabel if you aren’t sure about marrying Laura you need to stop it now.”

“I have.” Alex said barely above a whisper.

“What did you say?” Liz had heard him the first time but she just wanted it repeated.

“Laura and I have been fighting on almost a daily basis. We tried to tell each other that it was normal pre-wedding nerves but things were getting worse and worse. Finally when I mentioned Isabel was coming home it gave Laura something to focus on, someone to blame. Before she had even met Isabel she had made up her mind about so many things. That she had not been good enough for me. That she had left to live a life of loose morals. And most of all that I wanted Isabel simply because I knew I could never have her…a sort of fantasy figure.”

“Alex can I ask you something?” Maria asked softly.

Alex turned to look at his friend, thrown by her sudden meekness. “Anything.”

“Are you saying the wedding is off and you are not getting back with Laura?”

Liz eyed her small friend, worried what she was preparing to say.

Alex nodded.

“OK.” Was all Maria said.

“That’s it?” Alex frowned. “Why did you ask me if I was getting back with Laura?”

Maria shrugged. “It just means that all of the mean things Liz, Tess and I have been saying about her no longer have to be said behind your back.”

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed. What are you talking about? We haven’t been saying horrible things about Laura.”

“Well maybe not horrible things but it was you who said she was no Isabel.”

Liz looked at Alex with embarrassment. “All I meant was…”

“It’s OK Liz I know what you meant.” Alex smiled.

“Be clear Alex.” Maria continued. “We wouldn’t have allowed you to marry some horrible woman but I think I would have put Laura in the ‘Nice friend’ category but not the ‘Marrying’ category.”

“And you couldn’t have said something before?” Alex asked in amazement.

Maria sighed. “And what if we had turned round and said, ‘No Alex, don’t marry her’, but you still married her? How awkward would that have been?”

Liz smiled. “As Maria said Laura was nice but she wasn’t other worldly nice.”

“Like a certain young lady we all know.” Maria added.

“I appreciate the sentiment but I haven’t spoken to Isabel in five years, I’m sure she has her own life to lead, which will no doubt include some lucky guy.” Alex said ruefully.

Alex stood up. “If you’ll forgive me I have quite a few phone calls to make. I only came by to find out what happened to Isabel and what you two were up to. If you don’t mind will you let the guys know about the wedding as I don’t feel up to repeating it all.”

“Sure.” Liz said as she gave her friend a hug.

“Alex, how about you come here for lunch tomorrow? You’ll need a little morale boosting after all the phone calls you are going to have to make.” Maria offered after releasing Alex from his hug.

“You’re right, I think I’d like that but more importantly I think I’ll need it.”

Maria wrapped an arm around her petit friend as they watched Alex disappear through the swing doors again. “What time does the flight get in?”

“Tess is picking them up from the airport at 11am.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 9


Tess looked at her watch for what seemed like the one-hundredth time in the last hour. ‘Where are they?’ She thought to herself.

As she looked at the arrivals display that hung above her head she could still see the word ‘Delayed’ posted ominously beside the 11am New York flight. Tess checked her watch again, this time even putting it to her ear to check it hadn’t stopped.

“Excuse me Sir.” Tess said reaching towards a member of airport staff who was making his way through the arrivals area.

“Yes Miss?”

“Do you know what is happening to the 11am flight from New York? It says delayed on the screens but nothing else.” Tess was struggling to hide her impatience.

The airport worker smiled a comforting smile. He was in his early fifties and had no doubt seen it all before. “There’s nothing to worry about Miss. The flight landed ten minutes ago and they are just unloading the baggage. Whoever you are waiting for will be through those doors any minute now.”

“Thank you.” Tess called after the man as he carried on his way. If the truth be told she had already forgotten her conversation with him as her eyes were now transfixed on the sliding doors that led from baggage reclaim.

The curly haired blond had been trying to put all of what was happening straight in her mind but without much success. She had received an urgent call from Liz two nights previous summoning her to the Crashdown. Little did she realise the startling revelations that would be imparted to her as Isabel spoke of her reasons for leaving Roswell and severing all contact.

Tess checked her watch again, 11:54. She had called Liz and Maria little over ten minutes earlier to tell them of the delay. She still wasn’t sure what the two girls had planned with regards introducing Alex to his daughter but she knew today would be a day she wouldn’t soon forget.

By the time she had listened to Isabel’s explanation it was already apparent that the two human girls had talked her round when it came to letting Alex know about his daughter. Over the next couple of hours Tess was able to piece together what had gone on in the hour that she had missed. With Alex’s wedding being called off and now Isabel divulging the existence of a daughter it was all getting a bit too much but the one thing she knew was that everyone had Alex, Isabel and Katie’s best interests at heart.

While the girls has discussed what, exactly, should be done it was apparent that Isabel was stuck between a rock and a hard place when it came to what to do. It was clear that she had come back to Roswell to tell Alex about Katie and to face whatever wrath Alex would have in store for her. That plan fell by the wayside when Isabel found out Alex was getting married. Now even that had changed with Alex and Laura deciding to split.

Tess moved over to the seating area and sat down, making sure she still had a clear view of the sliding doors.

Finally, and with more than a hint of pressure from Liz and Maria, Isabel had agreed to go back to New York and pick up Katie. At this stage all the girls decided that the less the boys knew about what was going on the better, simply so they didn’t have to go over everything for a second time. It would obviously blow Max and Michael away to find out they are uncles as well as the Evan’s parents and the Whitman parents finding out they are Grandparents. But all of that paled into insignificance when it came to what Isabel had to do and what Alex was about to find out.

Tess’s instructions were to pick up Isabel and Katie from the airport and take them to her house. She would call the girls from there and then they could arrange for Isabel to have some time with Alex to explain exactly what had gone on. The one thing they all agreed was that whenever Isabel told Alex about Katie she had to be within easy reach as he would no doubt want to see his daughter. The last thing Isabel wanted to do was tell Alex he had a child only to have to tell him she was in New York at that moment.

“Hello.”

Tess shook her head when she realised that she had zoned out with all her musings. When her head cleared she realised there was a little girl standing in front of her. As realisation dawned on Tess at exactly who see was looking at she became aware of a much tall, more familiar figure standing just behind the youngster.

Tess couldn’t help it when her eyes began to mist up at what she was seeing. “Oh my God Isabel!” The petit blond gasped as she stood up.

“Her eyes?” Isabel offered as a smile spread across her face.

Tess nodded slowly. “She is the exact image of you but her eyes…I can’t believe it she has Alex’s green eyes.”

Tess suddenly came crashing back down to earth once her discovery had sunk in. She stepped forward and gave her much taller friend a hug. “So how was your flight?”

“It was fine.” Isabel continued to smile. “We had a delay taking off due to some sort of technical fault but it was fine.” Isabel looked down at her daughter. “We did some drawing didn’t we Honey.”

The little girl smiled and nodded back at her Mother before returning her gaze to the petit blond woman she recognised. “You’re Aunt Tess.”

Tess threw a glance to Isabel before looking back at Katie. “That’s right how do you know?”

My Mommy told me about you. And about uncle Max and aunty Liz and…”

“OK sweetheart. Aunty Tess gets the picture. We need to get going now.” Isabel interjected.

Without a care in the world the little girl linked hands with Tess as they headed towards the car park. “My Mommy says you are special like me.”

Again Tess threw a glance towards Isabel before answering. “That’s right Honey.”

“But we’re not allowed to tell anyone.” The little girl continued.

Tess smiled at her little companion as they reached the car. “She’s incredible.” Tess said to Isabel as she watched the loving mother strap her child into a car seat.

Isabel closed the car door giving the two of them a moment of privacy. “Aside from being tall for her age her speech and understanding are way ahead of what they should be. I put her height down to a mixture of both Alex and I but as bright as Alex undoubtedly is I think her alien make-up is affecting her learning abilities.”

Both women climbed into the car and readied themselves to head off.

“We’re going to see my Daddy.” Katie called from the back seat.

Isabel leaned back and gently rubbed her daughters cheek. “That’s right Honey. Today’s the day you finally get to meet Daddy.”





“Maria if you don’t stop eyeing the clock it will stop moving all together.” Liz hissed in a hushed tone.

Maria moved hurriedly to Liz’s side. “What do you expect me to do? This is the biggest thing that will ever happen in Alex’s life and he is sitting over there with the others completely oblivious.”

Liz sighed. “Maria we talked about this and we agreed that it was right that Alex should know about his daughter and once we had decided that Isabel obviously had to bring her here.”

Maria started to fidget with her hands. “I know Liz but now I am having second thoughts.”

“WHAT!” Liz cried out.

The four boys sitting in their usual booth all turned to see what the commotion was about. They turned to find a very sheepish looking Maria and a very embarrassed looking Liz staring back at them. Suddenly Liz grabbed Maria by the arm and marched her into the back room.

“What was all that about?” Michael questioned.

“I think we cover this yesterday.” Kyle said without lifting his head that was slumped back down on the table. “They’re women, they are a mystery to us.”


“What do you mean you are having second thoughts?” Liz questioned Maria. “First of all Alex has to know about Katie so Isabel has to do this and secondly Tess will have picked them up by now and she is bringing them to Roswell. It’s a bit late for second thoughts.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Maria became defensive. “It’s suddenly dawned on me exactly what Isabel has to do. She has to introduce her daughter to Alex, to us and to both her and Alex’s family. She has to stand and watch while Alex will either except what she has done or who knows what.”

“Maria there is no doubt that Alex will love Katie more than life itself…”

“I know that Liz and I would never doubt it.” Maria said cutting in. “But what about Isabel? What if Alex can’t stand the sight of her after what she did? Where does that leave Katie?”

Suddenly the enormity of what was about to take place hit both girls. Liz stepped forward and took Maria’s hand. “I think we are both aware of how big a deal this all is and how complicated things might become but it has to be done.”

“I know.” Maria said softly

“Maria it may have been a mistake what Isabel did but I will never doubt she did it for the right reason, she did it for Alex and because of that I couldn’t possibly love her more.”

Maria simply nodded.

“But this is the price she will have to pay for thinking of Alex and I have no doubt this is a price she was always willing to pay.” Liz finished.

Maria gave Liz’s hand a squeeze. “Liz I love Alex more than almost anything on this earth and I know he will do the right thing but I won’t choose sides over this. As you say Isabel may have made a huge mistake but from where I am standing she made one of the biggest sacrifices imaginable for Alex. Now that we have her back and once we have Katie where she belongs I won’t let anything change that. I pray Alex will find it in his heart to forgive her if he feels there is something to forgive but we lost her once and we are not going to lose her again.”

“I know Maria.” Liz wrapped her arms around her friend. “All we can do now is be there for them.”

“Be there for who?”

Liz and Maria released their grip on one another and turned sharply towards the swinging doors.

“Michael what are you doing sneaking around?” Maria yelled at him.

“For your information I wasn’t sneaking around.” Michael stepped further into the room letting the door close behind him. “But something is going on and I’m not going anywhere until I know what it is. We all know it so there is no point in denying it!”

“All know it?” Liz repeated. “What about Alex?”

Michael narrowed his gaze. “Listen ladies. I love you both but I also trust the two of you as far as you can carry me. If you two are up to something or in trouble I want to know what it is now.”

The two girls exchanged a look before Liz spoke. “You two wait here a minute.”

Michael and Maria watched as Liz disappeared through the swing doors.


“Alex this is somewhat embarrassing but I need to speak to these two alone for a minute.”

Alex watched as Liz dragged Max and Kyle up from their seated positions.

“What’s going on?” Alex questioned.

“It’s to do with returning your wedding present.” Liz called over her shoulder.


Liz pushed the two boys into the rest area and allowed the door to close behind her. “Look guys we don’t have time to chat and there isn’t time for questions. We need to tell you something, which will come as a big shock.”

Liz moved to be beside Max, taking his hand in hers. Maria tightened her grip on Michael while Kyle just looked bemused.

“Max, Michael I’m sorry but there is no easy way to say this…” Liz took a deep breath. “Isabel got pregnant and had a baby daughter nearly five years ago and Alex is the Father.”

Kyle looked like he needed to sit down while Liz and Maria watched as Max and Michael didn’t react, they simply exchanged a look.

“Max did you hear me?” Liz pushed.

Max looked down at his beautiful girlfriend, squeezing her hand. “We know.”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 10


“What do you mean you know?” Liz repeated Max’s words. “How do you know?”

Max glanced around at their friends. “I told you I had a conversation with Isabel the day after she returned before she met you for lunch.” Liz simply nodded. “Well that set me thinking.”

“We had always struggled with the reasoning behind Isabel leaving.” Michael cut in. “But the only logical conclusion we could come up with was that she loved Alex but she couldn’t bring herself to commit. When we finally caught up with her after she left she admitted as much.”

“We tried everything to try and convince her to come back but I have never seen her so adamant.” Max continued. “The only promise we could get out of her was that she would take care and keep in contact. As we were unaware that Isabel and Alex had ever slept together it didn’t enter our thinking that she might be pregnant.”

“But you just said you know about Katie.” Maria pressed.

“We do.” Max nodded. “But only since yesterday.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Kyle asked.

“It looked like the girls had already talked it out and come up with a plan.” Max looked sombrely at Liz. “After Isabel left so abruptly and after the line of thinking I had come up with a couple of days ago I phoned her yesterday to see what was happening. Of course Isabel being Isabel denied anything was going on so, playing a hunch, I told her that from now on I would talk our parents into making surprise visits to New York, just so we could surprise her.”

“We knew it was a horrible thing to do but after giving Isabel five years on her own we didn’t want to lose her again.” Michael felt Maria’s arm tighten around him as he continued. “Finally she confessed all. She told us about Alex and the pregnancy. That she didn’t want to ruin Alex’s life so early on so she ran. We realised that she had chosen Alex over everything else and we had to respect that choice.”

“When Isabel told us she was coming back but bringing Katie with her we knew that if we tried to explain that we already knew we would just be making a confusing situation even worse.” Max explained. “If we kept quiet it would all be explained today and everyone would be in the picture.”

“Not everyone!”

The group turned to look towards the unseen voice and what they say caused their hearts to sink. Alex stood in the doorway with tears stinging his eyes as he tried to take in what he had just heard.

“Alex honey, come and sit down.” Liz advanced on her stunned friend.
Alex started to move backwards slowly as he shook his head. “No I think I need to get home. I need to speak to Isabel and then speak to my parents.”

The group followed Alex back out into the Crashdown, the boys allowing Liz and Maria to take the lead.

Maria caught up with Alex and took his arm. “Alex please just sit down and take a moment.”

Alex was obviously in a state of shock. “No…No, I don’t have time to sit down Maria I have things to do. I need to…I need to…”

Alex turned to Liz. “Where are they?”

Liz blinked back tears. “Tess picked them up to the airport and took them to the Deluca house.”

“I need to see them.” Alex turned to walk away.

“Alex you aren’t in any fit state to drive.” Kyle called over Maria’s shoulder.

“Let us take you.” Liz offered.

Maria nodded. “Yes Alex let us take you. Then you can see Isabel…”

“And Katie?” Alex whispered.

“And Katie.” Maria agreed.

Maria took hold of Alex as they moved slowly out towards the sidewalk. Liz glanced back at Max who nodded. “I’ll let them know you are coming.” He called after her.

Liz joined Maria as she walked Alex to her car.

“Alex Honey, do you need a minute?” Maria asked.

Alex stopped and looked around as though he was unsure of his surroundings. Suddenly Alex nodded. “Yes I think I need to sit down.”

Both girls manoeuvred Alex to a bench beside Maria’s car and sat him down. The two girls looked at one another nervously but didn’t speak.

As they watched Alex a look of realisation appeared on his face. “My dreams.” Alex looked from one girl to another. “I told you I have been dreaming about a little girl.”

Liz dropped to her knees in front of Alex, taking hold of his hands. She couldn’t help but smile. “You’re right. You have been dreaming about Katie. Isabel came back to tell you about her but she didn’t know you were engaged.”

“That’s when she told us about Katie and about the fact that she had been dream walking you.” Maria placed a comforting arm around Alex. “She is only connected to you at the moment. She knows who you are and what you look like.”

“She does?” Alex looked on in amazement as his two best friends told him the most incredible news.

Maria nodded. “And she has been looking forward to meeting you.”

Suddenly Alex’s bright face darkened. “So that’s why Isabel left.”

“She was worried about how you would take the news.” Liz explained. “That you would quit school and want to get married.”

Alex unexpectedly rose to his feet. “And I suppose the thought of being with me was too much for her.”

Liz and Maria followed his actions, standing up to meet him. “No Alex that’s not what we are saying at all.” Maria looked to Liz for support.

“What we are saying Alex is that Isabel did what she thought was best for you.” Liz watched as Alex’s stern face visibly softened. “I know this has all come as a shock and it is our fault the way it has all been dumped in your lap but the fact remains there is a certain little girl who is look forward to meeting her Daddy.”

Alex looked at Liz in wonder. ”Daddy?”

“That’s right Mister.” Liz smiled. “Max has called ahead so they will be expecting us.”

“Just think you will be able to take her to see all of the Star Wars films.” Maria joked.

“And let’s not forget the Back to the Future Trilogy.” Liz joined in.

Alex smiled as he moved towards the car. “I’ve always wanted an excuse to sit and watch all of the Disney films.”

The three friends sat in silence on the short journey over to the Deluca house. Both girls knew it was best not to say any more as it would give Alex a chance to digest all that he had discovered in the last twenty minutes.

The three friends stepped out of the car and up to the house. As Alex moved to go in he noticed that neither girl moved. “What are you waiting for?”

Both girls shook their heads. “Nothing but we thought you might want to do this on your own.”

Alex stepped back and took each girl by the hand. “I’m not going in to defuse a bomb, I need you to come inside with me.”

As Alex pushed open the front door the house was in complete silence. Both girls could feel their hearts pounding in their chests so God only knew how Alex was feeling at this stage.

Alex moved slowly along the hallway until he came to the kitchen. As he slowly moved forward Tess came into view as it became apparent that she was sitting at one end of the kitchen table waiting for him. As he stepped further into the room Isabel came next. She could barely bring herself to look at Alex, as she was unsure how he would react towards her.

Finally Alex stepped into the room fully and what met him was beyond his wildest dreams. Standing near the far end of the table was a little girl. Well she was a little girl but even Alex knew enough to know that for less than five years old Katie was very tall for her age.

His heart soared as a smile broke out across the young girls face. It took everything Alex had to stop the tears flowing. He had only seen his daughter for the first time 10 seconds earlier and already he was thinking parental thoughts. He didn’t want to cry for fear of upsetting the little princess that stood before him.

As Alex glanced across at Isabel he knew from her nervous state she was unsure how he might react towards her. As he looked back at his daughter he knew now was not the time to be dealing with those feelings. Even though was he unsure how he felt towards Isabel at this precise moment the one thing he was sure of was he couldn’t act on his feelings for fear of upsetting his new found child, which was the last thing he wanted.

Alex became aware that Liz and Maria had followed him into the room and he heard them both gasp as they finally got to see Katie.

Alex watched as the little girl silently looked towards her mother. With a silent nod Isabel answered Katie’s unspoken question and Alex watched as the little girl advanced on him.

As tall as Katie was she appeared to shrink in size as she approached her father. As Alex towered over the little girl he dropped onto one knee to bring himself nearer to his daughter’s height. Katie stopped a foot short of Alex, a smile still plastered across her face.

“Hello.” Alex choked out.

“Hi.” Katie said with an up beat tone. “My name is Katherine Stacey Whitman but my Mom calls me Katie.” It looked like Katie had been rehearsing this moment.

“Well it is very nice to meet you Katie…” Alex trailed off.

“Katherine?” Alex repeated, looking from Katie to Isabel and back again. “My Mothers name is Katherine.”

“That’s what Mommy said.” Katie nodded.

Alex looked over at Isabel, unable to prevent the tears stinging his eyes once more. “You named her after my Mother?”

Isabel couldn’t bring herself to speak, she simply nodded.

“I know I am a surprise.” Katie cut in on Alex’s thoughts. “Mommy said it would be like your birthday, cause I am a big secret.”

“Katie!” Isabel cut in.

“I’m sorry Mommy.” Katie looked ruefully at her mother. “I wanted to make Daddy happy.”

“It’s OK sweetie.” Isabel reassured her daughter.

“Daddy?” Alex repeated.

“Aren’t you my Daddy?” Katie asked.

Alex smiled his broadest smile. “I’d want nothing more in this world.”

Katie smiled back. “Mommy calls me Sweetie. Will you call me Sweetie?”

“Your wish is my command.” Alex bowed forward causing Katie to giggle.

The four women watched as the bonding process began between father and daughter.

“Can I have a hug?” Alex asked tentatively.

Without waiting to reply Katie threw herself into her fathers arms. “Mommy says we can meet all my family.”

Alex stood up holding Katie tightly. “Mommy’s right Sweetie we can. Who do you want to meet first?”

“Uncle Max, Uncle Michael and Uncle Kyle.” Katie said enthusiastically.

Alex looked over to Isabel who was still looking uncomfortable. “Shall we?”

Isabel smiled softly and nodded.

Alex smiled at Katie. “Let’s go then.”



To be continued…