I Forgot To Tell You...(CC,A/I,TEEN) (Complete)

[StargazerUK]

A/N: Hi, As I normally post each Monday this wil be my last before the 25th so I just wanted to wish everyone Happy Christmas or Happy holidays, which ever you prefer . All the best, David / StargazerUK


Chapter 20


“Are you sure you’re not peeking?” Maria asked.

Michael sighed heavily from his place in the corner, face towards the wall. “For the third time Maria I am NOT looking! Despite what you might think of my alien traits eyes in the back of my head isn’t one of them.” Michael heard an intake of breath from Maria at that comment.

“I know that Michael and I’d appreciate it if you stopped talking to me as if I were five years old or if this was my first encounter with an alien.” Maria ranted.

“I’m sorry but what do you want me to say?” He queried. “It was your idea to come in here and I’m doing as you asked by standing over here with my back to you and my eyes closed so I don’t know what you expect from me.”

“That’s not what I am saying.” Maria countered. “I was just making sure you were giving me my privacy as I get changed. There’s no need for the spiteful comments about eyes in the back of your head.”

“So how else am I going to see you with my back turned if it’s not with eyes in the back of my head?” He questioned.

Although Michael couldn’t see her Maria shrugged. “You’re the tricky alien out of the two of us. For all I know you have fashioned a mirror out of something.”

Michael let out a laugh. “Maria if I was going to spy on you I wouldn’t have a need to fashion a mirror out of anything.”

“Oh…” She paused. “…and why wouldn’t you need to make a mirror?”

“Because if I turn my head slightly to the right I can see your reflection in the full length mirror that you have here in your bedroom.” He explained.

“I KNEW IT!” Maria exclaimed. “I knew you were spying on me.”

“Maria, can I turn round now?” Michael asked softly.

“I’m not sure you deserve to turn round after spying on me.”

Michael sighed again. “Maria, I’m turning round so if you have anything you don’t want me to see I suggest you cover it up.” Before Maria had a chance to react to that comment Michael slowly turned himself around. He found Maria, fully dressed, staring at him from the other side of her bed. “I wasn’t spying on you…I would never spy on you. I know you are annoyed with me right now but please be angry with me for the things I have done and not for the things you imagine I have done.”

“What?” Maria blinked rapidly. “All of a sudden I’m not worth spying on now?”

Michael allowed his head to drop for a moment as he thought about his reply. Slowly he looked back up at Maria and a slight smile appeared on his lips, which made Maria feel a little uncomfortable. “You are more beautiful now than I could have ever imagined. I’ve always thought you beautiful but looking at you now you make me want to pick you up and hold you in my arms, never letting you go.”

For the first time in her life Maria was lost for words. That was so not what she was expecting from the lumbering young man. “The reason I am so adamant that I wasn’t spying on you isn’t because you aren’t worth spying on, far from it. I wasn’t looking because you asked me not to…it’s as simple as that. I only want to look at you when you want me to, when you are ready. If that time doesn’t come then that is something I will have to learn to deal with but in the meantime I will wait.”

Maria felt the tears starting to burn her eyes. She had thought it all out. She knew how she was going to handle their return, his return…but this wasn’t it. She hadn’t even contemplated the thought that Michael might have matured, grown even. How the hell was she supposed to compete with words like the ones he had just spoken to her? She couldn’t.

Michael watched as Maria moved around the bed, closing the gap between them. She only came to a halt once she was merely inches from her companion, their height difference meaning he was now looking down into her beautiful, tearful eyes. She reached up slowly and cupped his cheek with her right hand and caressed it gently. “Promise me you’ll never stop looking at me.”

Michael simply stared down at her. “Always…I promise.”


*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz and Max were strolling along the sidewalk, laden with food. Max could see out of the corner of his eye that Liz kept looking at him but then quickly looking away. He was trying hard not to smile as it was a long time since he had seen Liz do this little routine and he now realised he had missed it. Whenever Liz had something on her mind that she wanted to talk to Max about she would look at him so she could start a conversation but then she would second guess herself by starting to answer her own questions, causing her to look away.

Max had witnessed a few of these silent battles and he knew it would only annoy Liz if she thought he was laughing at her. He realised now might be a good time for him to start talking. “I’m sorry about the way the whole Tess thing came up. I feel horrible about Maria. Do you think she will be alright?”

“She’ll be fine.” Liz glanced over at Max with a confident smile on her beautiful face. “It was a shock to all of us. It’s never a nice thing, hearing about someone dying, especially someone so young but I think the reason Maria is feeling so bad is because she didn’t particularly like Tess, that’s what’s making her feel so guilty now.”

“Are you OK?” Max asked softly, not wishing to pry.

“I’m good.” Liz nodded. “I’m truly sad she is dead but her passing is the least of my worries. If I’m honest I can’t say Tess was one of my favourite people either but as selfish as it might seem I have more important things on my mind.”

“Like us.” Max nodded his understanding. He looked at Liz and then realised his comment could be taken one of two ways. “By us I mean me, Isabel and Michael.” He added hurriedly.

Liz let out a stifled laugh. “I knew who you meant.” She paused for a moment. “Max, please don’t feel like you need to pussy-foot around me.”

“Oh I don’t.” He replied, although he was acutely aware that he didn’t believe his words anymore than Liz did.

Liz stopped her walk back to the apartment and looked at Max who had turned back to look at his petit companion when he realised she had come to a halt. “I’m glad you and Tess never came to anything.” She said bluntly. “I’ve thought back on that day many times over the last few years and I’ve tried to convince myself that my actions were purely noble, for the greater good, but now I’m not so sure.”

“If you’re telling me that you might not have been 100% behind the idea of me and Tess as a couple I would have to tell you that it would be music to my ears.” Max smiled softly. “I was so naive then and there was so much going on that I was having difficulty thinking straight let alone making decisions about destiny and fulfilling prophecies. What I can tell you with absolute certainty is that the one thing that I never lost sight of. The one thing I was never confused or in doubt about was us. I love you Liz Parker. I always have and I always will and I just need you to know that. My one true regret, leaving the way I did, was I never got to tell you how I really felt, not on that particular day anyway.”

Liz looked up at Max and was unsure how she was supposed to react to his words. She wanted to respond, tell him how she truly felt that day but she wasn’t sure she was ready. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. She needed time to think. “If we don’t get this food back soon it will be cold.” It was the only thing she could think to say that didn’t include telling Max how overjoyed she was to have him back in her life or how she was fighting against every fibre of her being that was simply screaming for her to drop the food and rap herself in his arms.

“Cold food,” Max repeated. “Right.” He nodded. He knew a smoke screen when he saw one and this was Liz holding back, biding her time. If she needed time then he would give her time. There was no statute of limitations when it came to how he felt about Liz Parker. He wasn’t going anywhere.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“What are you not telling me?”

Isabel frowned. Those were the words she was thinking about saying to Alex and now here she sat hearing those exact same words directed at her. “What am I holding back?” She asked, barely able to hide her amazement.

Now Alex was confused. “Isabel I’m not looking to upset you but you are clearly unhappy about something, I can see it in your face so I just thought I should ask, see if I can help.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me Alex!” She said defensively. “It’s you that I think has the problem, you’re the one holding something back and it scares me.”

“Problem? I don’t have a problem.” He countered. “I’ve gone out of my way to be nice to you, welcoming you back and you think I have a problem. It’s not as thought I’m the one that walked away without as much as a goodbye.”

“Exactly!” Isabel cried. “And that is what I am saying. I never intended to hurt you but I knew that as a consequence of my actions you might feel betrayed and upset yet since I’ve been back you’ve done nothing but tip-toe around me saying all the right things at all the right times. It’s as though you are trying to gloss over what went on between us and I can’t let that happen!”

Alex stood up, scratching his head. “Let me get this straight. I’ve been nice to you and completely supportive when it came to your return and you’re telling me that it’s a bad thing. Me trying to be positive about us and looking forward is wrong?”

“Not wrong.” Isabel pleaded as she followed his lead and stood up. “We just need to come to terms with what has happened between us before we can even think about moving forward.” Isabel took a step closer and reached for his hand. “Trust me Alex when I tell you I have thought about nothing else for the last four years, being with you and looking to have a future together, but we have to put to rest what has passed between us. I hate to use the word closure but I can’t think of a more appropriate word.”

“I don’t understand.” Alex shook his head. “Where is all this coming from? I thought everything was fine between us and now you tell me we have to pick our relationship apart before we can rebuild it? If it’s not broken why do we have to fix it?”

“Do you love me Alex?” Isabel suddenly asked.

“You know I do.” He responded. “Which is why I don’t think there is a problem.”

“But why do you love me?” She pressed. “I mean I was an absolute bitch in high school, to you and everyone else so why did you keep trying? Why didn’t you just walk away, you were and still are too good for me.”

Alex stood silent for a minute, simply staring at the beautiful young woman who stood before him while he thought about her question. “I knew you.” He stated softly. “We’d never really spoken but I just knew you, I knew the type of woman you really were from the first time I laid eyes on you.” Alex let out a slight laugh. “Of course the first time I saw you we were in 3rd grade so you weren’t exactly a woman but even then I knew there was just something about you, something special. When you grew older nothing changed. You were still special to me and it was clear you had your secrets and that you had your insecurities.”

“That’s it!” Isabel exclaimed with a broad smile on her face. “That’s the word I’ve been waiting for. The word that I knew was coming. Insecurity Alex, it’s one of the things that tie us to one another. My insecurities ruled my life until you came along, allowing me to open up to you. I never dreamed of letting anyone get close to me, of letting someone in but there was just something about you. Even when I pushed you away you just waited for me as though it was meant to be.”

Alex continued to gaze upon his companion, her words slowly eating into him. “And my insecurities?” He questioned.

“Even now you probably question why I love you, why I am so in love with you.” Isabel released her hold on his hand and reached up and brushed the back of her fingers against his cheek, her fingers tingling at the sensation. “You’re just this great guy who does anything for anyone without a second thought and yet you still question why people feel about you the way they do. I bet you even think about your friendship with Liz and Maria sometimes not even knowing that they probably wake up each morning and thank the lord that you are in their lives. I know that is how you feel about them and you shouldn’t be surprised that that is how they feel about you. How I feel about you.”

“So what do I say?” He asked softly. “What do I do?”

“Tell me what you’re scared off.” Isabel asked softly. “Tell me anything that is on your mind no matter what it is and that way we can deal with it together. I know you’ve been holding something back, I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. If you want to shout at me or scream at me then do it. We can’t have any secrets between us and certainly no ill feeling. I will never intentionally hurt you but if I do you have to tell me, no holding back.”

Alex could feel his heart pounding in his chest. His mind was racing at a million miles an hour and he wasn’t sure he could do as she was asking, he couldn’t tell her his deepest fear.”

“It doesn’t matter what it is, you can say anything and I’ll be here for you.” Isabel offered gently. “Please Alex, I’m begging you.”

Alex looked at her again, tears glistening in his eyes. “I’m scared you will leave me again.”


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

A/N: Hi, I just wanted to say a big thank you to anyone who voted for me in the recent awards. Winning best Stargazer Author is simply wonderful. It is the high-light of my brief fan-fiction career and if I am honest it is the award I would have most liked to win. ( I was never going to win best story as POM is simply too good , it was an honour to come second. ) Thanks, David / StargazerUK.


Chapter 21


“What?” Isabel asked weakly, the sight of Alex in tears was ripping at her very soul.

Alex dropped his gaze. “I said I’m scared you will leave me again. I can’t shake the realisation of what your leaving for a second time would do to me. It’s fixed itself in my mind and it is all I keep thinking about. I’ve hoped and I’ve prayed for this moment since the night you left but now that it’s here I’m scared to go through it all again.”

Isabel stood motionless and silent for a moment, eventually she slowly started to shake her head. “You silly, silly boy.” She whispered, the warmth apparent in her voice. “I can’t believe that we are trying to cement our relationship but because of both our reservations it is preventing either of us from being able to open up fully to one another. We’re both remaining guarded for fear of hurting each other and getting hurt in return.”

Confused by her comments Alex lifted his gaze and was unable to hide the frown on his face. “What are you saying Isabel? I don’t understand.”

Isabel stepped forward and snaked her arms around Alex’s waist, pulling him close as she looked deep into his eyes. “I can understand that you might think it possible that I could ever leave you again but I am here to tell you that what I did was a one time deal. I left solely because I wanted to keep you and the others safe. I’m back now because it worked, you are safe and I hope that it will stay that way for a very long time but what I must get you to understand is that I’m different now and so are you. We were only kids when we left, forced to grow up too soon due to the circumstances we were born into. We’re adults now and as such we get to make our own choices, our own decisions. My choice is to stay here with you…if you’ll have me…”

Alex fixed Isabel with a steely gaze, transfixed by her last words.

“I no longer want to protect you by staying away.” She continued. “I want to protect you by standing by your side.”

“You won’t leave me?” He asked softly.

Isabel shook her head slightly and was trying to hide her smile. “I’ll only leave if you tell me to go and even then I will be kicking and screaming.”

“But what about Max and Michael?” Alex’s face was etched with a pained expression. “What if they leave again or they tell you that you have to go?”

“I love Max and Michael but I am in love with you. I want to keep my family close but I have my own life to lead just as they have their own lives to lead. If it is a straight choice I know who I’d choose and I’m pretty sure I know who Max and who Michael would choose as well.” Isabel explained.


“If you two don’t hurry Michael will have most of the food…” Maria came crashing into the living room but trailed off when she found Isabel and Alex wrapped in each others arms with tear stained faces. If was very apparent she had walked in on an extremely private moment. She started to slowly back out of the room. “I’ll just tell Liz to keep you both some…sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Alex and Isabel turned their attention back to one another, both more than a little amused by Maria’s brash entrance and then meek exit.

“Of course I wanted us to talk about this but I didn’t know it would be brought up so soon.” Isabel offered gently.

Alex actually managed a smile. “One of the pitfalls of dating an insecure man.”

“That suits me fine.” Isabel stated confidently. “That might be one of the pitfalls to our relationship but I know quite a few benefits as well.”

“Such as?”

“Such as you’ll never complain when I tell you that I love you every day. You won’t find me overbearing and clingy when we sit in front of the TV with me wrapped around you.” Suddenly a mischievous grin crept over Isabel’s face. “And of course you won’t mind me showing you that I love you each and every day.”

“Showing me?” Alex repeated. “I like the sound of that.” He grinned, his confidence returning.

“Oh you’ll like the sound of it…” Isabel leaned in close. “…but you’ll love the feel of it even more.”

Alex felt his skin flush in an instant. If there’s one thing better than having a beautiful woman in love with you it’s having that beautiful woman telling you and showing you that she’s in love with you. “I feel a little light-headed.” He confessed.

Isabel took Alex’s hand and started to lead him towards the kitchen. “We’d better get you something to eat as you need to keep your strength up.” Isabel glanced back at the tall young man, her mischievous smile having returned. “You never know what you might need it for later.”

Suddenly Isabel’s progress was halted when she felt a tug on her hand. She looked back at Alex and realised he had come to a halt. “Yes.” He suddenly stated.

“Yes?” Isabel repeated, unsure what her companion was saying. “Yes what?”

“In the middle of your beautiful speech, which was no doubt designed to comfort me and put me at my ease you said you would stay with me if I would have you.” Alex explained. “I’ve only just realised I didn’t reply so I am replying now…Yes, I will have you in my life. I don’t want you to ever leave me…for any reason.”

Isabel leaned in and gave Alex a loving kiss on the lips. As she leaned back she was smiling broadly. “That’s settled then. You want me to stay and I don’t want to leave so I think it is safe to say we are in 100% agreement.”

With that statement Alex could feel his apprehension and concern simply fade away, the relief that they had safely overcome their first and main hurdle was palpable. “I think I must be feeling better as I’m suddenly very hungry.”

“Let’s get you something to eat and then we can think about what our next move needs to be.” Isabel offered.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


A short while later the living room looked like a food grenade had exploded in there. Food cartons, pizza boxes and various remnants of food were laid out on most surfaces and numerous plates. Max and Liz were sitting in the two free standing chairs while Isabel, Maria and Michael were sat on the couch. Finally Alex was sitting on the floor at one end of the couch as both he and Michael continued to eat. Needless to say Alex had somewhat fortunately found himself at the end Isabel was sitting and it hadn’t gone unnoticed that he was leaning in ever so slightly on Isabel’s leg, which didn’t appear to be bothering the tall blond.

“How can you possibly still be eating?” Maria asked, turning to look at Michael. “You must have eaten half your body weight in the last half an hour. What are you, some kind of hummingbird?”

Thankfully Michael managed to wait until he had finished his latest mouthful of food before he replied. “You forget I have lived the last four years on the run. One of the first things you learn is to eat when you can as you never know when or where your next meal is coming from.”

Maria eyed the large young man for a moment. “I don’t want to make light of your situation over the last few years, I know it must have been very difficult, but having spoken to Isabel this morning it don’t sound like you were exactly living off of the fat of the land. In fact don’t motel6 count you as one their best customers?”

Michael could see he wasn’t going to win this argument so a diversion was called for. “What about Alex? He’s still eating and you’re not pestering him.”

“Pestering?” Maria arched an eyebrow and looked sternly at Michael before turning her attention to Alex. “Aside from the fact that Alex was almost an Olympic athlete when it came to eating during high school…” Maria turned to the others for a moment. “It’s a long story which Liz and I will come back to later.” She explained. “…He also has a lot of nervous energy to contend with now that you are back…” She glanced at Isabel pointedly. “…so the fact that Alex is burning up the calories before they get a chance to settle on his hips means he’ll keep going until the food runs out or one of us gives him a disapproving look.”

Everyone turned to look at Alex who continued to sit happily next to Isabel as he finished the last piece of pizza from his plate. “Enough is as good as a feast.” He smiled while wiping his mouth with a paper napkin. “And I’ve had enough.”

“You always say that.” Liz said with a smile.

“And I always mean it.” He countered, matching Liz’s smile.

Once everyone’s hunger was sated the room fell into a comfortable silence, each person allowing their food to digest and the comfort of being back in the company of their friends simply washed over them.

“Are you guys staying here tonight?” Alex casually asked.

In an instant the comfortable silence was transformed in an uncomfortable one, each person suddenly unable to make eye contact with their fellow companions.

“That wasn’t meant as a loaded or trick question.” Alex continued. “It’s just that I would feel funny having you guys in town and not staying with us. The thought of you three staying in a hotel just seems kind of odd.” As he looked around at his friends realisation suddenly hit him, he flushed furiously. “I…I didn’t mean anything by that question, it wasn’t a hint.” He turned to look at Isabel. “I wasn’t trying to suggest anything I just thought it would be nicer for you to stay here, girls in one room and boy’s in another.”

“We knew what you meant.” Max smiled, looking to reassure his nervous friend. “The though of staying here is great if you guys don’t mind…” This time Max’s pointed look was directed at Liz. “…but are we sure there is room?”

“I’m sure we could manage.” Liz cut in, drawing a bigger smile from Max. “We have three double beds and although I already know none of you macho guys would sleep in the same bed together Maria and I could share and with Alex in his room it would mean one free double bed for Isabel and then the living room for you two guys.” Liz glanced from Max to Michael.

“Oh don’t forget Liz we have that airbed we bought last spring when Alex’s cousin stayed.” Maria offered.

“I wouldn’t place a lot of faith in that old thing.” Alex chimed in. “It wasn’t one of my best bargain buys and I’m still feeling the twinges in my back after you two kindly volunteered my room to her.”

“Alex she was your little cousin who had come all the way to visit New York and we couldn’t shove her on an airbed now could we?” Maria argued.

“Maria, she was about 100lbs dripping wet, she wouldn’t have made a dent in that thing but oh no you had to go and give her my nice comfy soft bed while I tossed and turned on that thing all night.” Alex recounted. “It’s funny now that you mention it as neither of you offered to double up back then and give her your bed!”

“She was your cousin Alex!” Maria said flippantly. “Anyway you’re supposed to be a gentleman.”

“It really wouldn’t be a problem for us to stay in the hotel.” Isabel interjected. “We don’t mind.”

“Don’t be silly.” Liz smiled at her companion.

“Yeah, don’t be silly.” Maria repeated. “Just ignore us, it’s already decided…you’re staying.”

The room fell quiet again once that had been decided.

“Much like your news about Tess there’s something I have been putting off.” Alex said quietly. He looked up at Isabel, then Michael and finally he settled on Max. “We’ve kept in touch with your parents over the years, in fact we have all grown quite close and the one thing we always promised one another is that we would get in touch should you guys ever reappear. Now I don’t know how you will feel about this but from my point of view I really need for you to agree for me to contact them. I would hate to think that you could have turned up in Roswell and they would have kept it from us.”

The three hybrids silently exchanged a look and somewhat disconcertingly they all started to smile. “With all the little things to overcome and set straight this will be one of our easiest.” Max began. “This, again, is a subject we have spoken about and we had already decided that once we had sorted out our reunion with you we would then sort out a reunion with our parents.”

“They’ve asked about you constantly.” Liz explained. “Always checking how we are doing in New York and whether we had heard anything from you.” Liz turned to Michael specifically. “They’re struggled with having all three of you gone and they’ve always felt they should have done more to help Michael.”

“I think it was more down to my naivety and stubbornness that prevented Mr and Mrs Evans from doing more for me when I was younger and not a lack of concern or effort on their part.” Michael confessed.

“So how will we handle it?” Alex asked tentatively. “I’m not looking to steal your thunder but I also feel I owe it to Diane to not leave her in limbo. I know how desperate we’ve been to get news on you so I can only imagine how she feels as your mother.”

“I’m not sure it is the best idea to tell her over the phone as all she will want to do is see us immediately so a flight to New Mexico might be in order. We can still get Alex to phone but we make sure we are just around the corner when he does. That way we won’t give them a heart attack by just walking in but we will also be close enough to prevent their agony from being prolonged.” Max reasoned.

“Are you saying for us to come with you?” Liz questioned.

“We’d welcome the company and money isn’t an issue so we’ll pay.” Max offered. “It’s just whether or not you can spare the time. Although having said that we only need to fly down, see our parents and then we can fly back before we make more long term plans.”

“We could book our tickets online now if you want.” Alex suggested.

“Erm…that might be a problem as we try to stick with using cash so we don’t own a credit card.” Isabel stated.

“I have a credit card.” Maria offered. “But the limit isn’t huge. It should be enough to cover the tickets but not much else and my social life will be heavily curtailed until I get it paid off.”

“We could pay some money into the bank in the morning and have it put on your card.” Max cut in. “We wouldn’t leave you with the bill.” He smiled, reassuring Maria.

“So that’s it sorted then.” Michael nodded. “Alex will see about booking some tickets, we’re staying here so we need to go and get our stuff and then we’re off to Roswell for one hell of a reunion.”

“Isabel, make sure you speak to Alex before he looks to book the tickets.” Max turned to Alex. “Isabel will need to tell you some false names before she creates some I.D.s for us.”

That comment stopped everyone in their tracks. The reality of their friends four years on the run became abundantly clear.

Max looked around the room at all of his friends. “It won’t always be like this for us. There’s a good chance that the precautions that we still take are no longer required but we’ll keep them in place until we find somewhere to settle down, then we’ll be on for a normal life.”

“Come on Maria.” Liz called as she headed for the hall with a smile. “We need to find some clean bedding and hide Alex’s bunny pyjamas.”

Alex blushed a bright red and sheepishly glanced at Isabel as they both stood up. “I don’t really wear bunny pyjamas.” He tried to state casually but failed miserably.

“I know sweetie.” She brushed a hand against his face and she turned to leave. “I don’t picture you in bunny pyjamas when I think about you.” She glanced over her shoulder as she left the room. “In fact I don’t picture you wearing anything at all.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 22


“Am I putting you off?”

Alex tried to stop his hands from shaking while he closed his eyes to concentrate, rational thought appearing to be a major problem for him at the moment. “No…no you’re fine where you are.” He managed to stammer. He opened his eyes and tried to focus his mind back on the task at hand.

“I think that just about covers it.” He stated nervously having finished his work on the Internet.

“And what are these?” Isabel leaned over Alex’s shoulder to point at something on the computer screen but as she did so she pushed herself fully into his back causing him to feel light headed. Her perfume had filled his nostrils for the last fifteen minutes and it was driving him wild, her beautiful voice was left reverberating in his ears with each passing question and comment. The final straw had long since been past as Isabel had leaned in closer and closer to him, eventually reaching the point where he could feel the front of her blouse brush his shoulder blades.

He was trying to be mature about it as they were dealing with a potentially serious situation but since he and Isabel had retreated to his room to book their flights to Roswell it seemed Isabel had made it her one mission in life to remain as close to him as humanly possible. That, in itself, wasn’t the problem. However his raging hormones and increasing desire for the goddess who was currently crushing his back with her burgeoning chest was.

“Erm…they’re contact numbers in case they need to reach us for whatever reason. I’ve given them my cell phone number and my parent’s home number, nothing that would point directly to you.” Alex explained while also trying to reassure his companion. “It’s a standard thing that has been in place for a number of years, especially with the advent of cell phones. It seems the world and his wife has a phone in their bag or pocket these days.”

“I don’t.” Isabel stated casually as she lifted herself up into a standing position. Alex turned in his chair and watched as the object of his affection absentmindedly looked around the room while she moved over to his bed and sat down. She continued to look around, taking in every inch of her host’s room, hoping to glean everything and anything when it came to gathering information about the young man she had left behind and the man he had turned into. “I like your room.” She finally added.

“Really?” Alex couldn’t hide his surprise. “I know it probably looks quite plain and boring but I like it. Liz and Maria have offered on many occasions to help me ‘Jazz it up’ as they call it but I’m happy with the way it is.”

“This is exactly why I like it.” She explained. “I certainly wouldn’t call it boring, maybe practical or sensible.” Isabel suddenly fell silent and her face took on the look of someone deep in thought as she surveyed the room once again. When she turned her head and looked at where Alex was sat in front of his computer she was surprised to find him smiling gently towards her.

When her solemn look was replaced by one of mild surprise at seeing his amused smile Alex raised a hand as though to stop her from speak before he stood up, walked over to the drawer beside his bed and opened it. As Isabel continued to watch Alex pulled out a leather bound folder, closed the drawer and turned to sit down on the bed beside her. “If my instincts are right, and I have a feeling they are, I think you might have been looking for this.”

Isabel frowned as she wasn’t conscious she had been looking for anything in particular but when she opened the leather folder and saw its contents she was amazed to discover Alex had been right. She was overjoyed at not only what she found in the folder but the fact that Alex’s connection to her had told him what she was looking for before she had realised it herself.

“Your mother gave it to me.” Alex nodded towards the folder as Isabel continued to leaf through its contents. “It already had some photos of you in it when she gave it to me but every month or so she sends me a few more pictures. I think it strengthened both our resolve and the bond that has formed between us. I also feel we have taken strength from one another over the years. Obviously your mother has your father to lean on but I think the idea of some young suitor waiting for your return simply added to her expectations of having you back and the thought that all three of you might be able to resume a normal life someday. Your mother obviously doesn’t know the real reason you left but it doesn’t stop her from hoping you will return.”

Alex was drawn to look at Isabel as she reached over and took his hand. When he looked at her beautiful features he was upset to find she was crying and he silently admonished himself for doing the one thing he had been determined not to do, namely distress Isabel further. Before he had a chance to apologise Isabel spoke.

“I can only imagine how painful it has been for my parents and for you guys but please be honest with me Alex, was it as terrible for them as I have feared?” Isabel’s voice was little more than a whisper.

“You know I would never lie to you Isabel so I’m afraid the truthful answer is yes, it was as bad as anyone could have guessed and probably more so.” Alex admitted, being brutally sincere. “For parents I guess it is the not know more than the actual leaving that haunts them. It’s bad enough finding out your children have left but then there’s the uncertainty of why they left and whether or not they are OK, alive even.”

Alex snaked out an arm and wrapped it around Isabel’s shoulders and pulled her close. Her sobbing was increasing as her body shook with each new wave of tears. “Isabel as honest and sincere as I have been with you there is more that you need to know.” Isabel looked up at Alex through tear blurred vision and she was about to ask him to hold off as she wasn’t sure she could take hearing anymore about how they had hurt the ones they loved but she didn’t get the chance. “As painful and as difficult as it was for your parents to come to terms with your leaving the two things they were both convinced of and are still sure of to this very day is that you had a good reason to leave and that the three of you would take care of each other. It may have been heart breaking for them to know you had left but I know they took comfort from knowing they had raised you and Max properly, that the three of you would be there for each other and also the belief that you left for the right reason, whatever it was.”

“You never told them?” Isabel asked meekly.

Alex shook his head. “It wasn’t our secret to share and if you are ever going to divulge the sort of amazing information that would be required to explain who exactly you are and the reasons for your leaving to someone you don’t do it just after the aliens in question have left, possibly for ever. No one would ever believe us without proof and when you left so did our proof.” He smiled. “Your mother, father and I have spoken often about why you left and they have just always known it was a reason that was above and beyond the normal reasons people leave and they have just resigned themselves to the thought that you will return when you are good and ready.”

“Which is tomorrow.” Isabel said with a slight smile.

Alex nodded, matching Isabel’s growing smile. “Which, thanks to our efforts on the Internet, is tomorrow.”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Liz and Maria turned their heads to watch as Alex and Isabel came into the living room. When Maria saw that Isabel had been crying she leapt to her feet. “Alex, what did you do?” She demanded as she moved to put an arm around Isabel and comfort her tall friend.

Alex looked stunned, caught out by Maria’s sudden and explosive reaction. “I didn’t do anything, I…”

“Oh sure!” Maria cut in. “Isabel was fine when she left and now she clearly has been crying.” Maria turned to look at Alex. “Don’t make me hurt you Whitman!”

“Maria,” Isabel finally finished blowing her nose, which not only allowed her to step in to defend Alex but also allowed her to drop her hands from her face, revealing a concealed smile that had been hidden beneath her tissues. “I have been crying but only because Alex was telling me about my mom and dad, he hasn’t been deliberately making me cry. In fact I am the one who has been forcing him to speak about a very difficult subject.”

“Oh?” Maria suddenly felt a little foolish, now aware of her overreaction.

“I appreciate your concern Maria and I thank you for leaping to my aid but trust me when I tell you I don’t need protecting from Alex.” Isabel leaned in close to Maria so Alex couldn’t hear. “Although Alex might need you to protect him from me if my resolve weakens any further.”

“What was that?” Alex enquired. He instinctively knew they were talking about him but he couldn’t quite hear what was being said.

“Nothing.” Maria spun round and looked at her best pal. “Sorry sweetie. With all that is going on I’m in full battle mode so if anyone upsets anyone else they’re in for it.”

“And that includes you picking on Michael does it?” Liz asked with a smile.

“If Michael incurs my wrath it basically means he did something to deserve it.” Maria stated simply.

“And you’ll be judge and jury?” Alex questioned.

“Don’t forget executioner.” Liz added. It was now clear to Maria that her friend was enjoying this way too much for her liking so a change of topic was called for.

“So Alex did you manage to hide your bunny pyjamas?” Maria grinned, aware this would change the focus of their conversation in one single swoop.

Alex flushed a bright red in an instant as he recalled Isabel’s comment to him earlier as she left the room. “Maria you know I’ve never worn bunny pyjamas…” Suddenly Alex trailed off when he saw the looks both Liz and Maria were giving him after his last statement. “I mean I no longer have a pair of bunny pyjamas.” He corrected himself.

This time it was Isabel’s turn to give Alex an interesting look as she picked up the baton that the girls had passed too her and she decided to run with it. “You used to wear bunny pyjamas?” She queried.

“I suppose you’ve never worn something in bed that we would all find amusing?” Alex blurted out defensively, now fully aware the girl’s were ganging up on him.

Isabel took a step towards Alex causing him to take an involuntary step backwards. “I am more than happy to discuss my bedtime clothing arrangements with you but I must warn you I’m not sure you are in any condition to withstand my revelations. With my brother and parents in the house I obviously used to wear something but on the rare occasions when I have a little privacy that was a different matter. Bed clothes can be so restrictive don’t you think?” She asked Alex in a suggestive manner. The stunned look on his face told her she had hit her mark. “Let’s just leave it at that for the sake of your poor heart.” Isabel reached up and gently patted Alex on the chest over his heart before she turned to sit down, winking at each girl in turn when Alex couldn’t see.

“I need to get a drink of water.” Alex managed to choke out as he turned and ran for the kitchen, leaving the girls in gales of laughter.

When things had settled down after a minute or so it was noticeable that Isabel’s face took on a more sombre look. “Isabel, are you alright?” Liz questioned, concern evident in her voice.

Isabel suddenly snapped out of her daze. “Huh? Oh sorry Liz I’m fine it’s just that last little prank we did on Alex has made me realise just what I have missed over the last four years or so, what we all have missed.”

“You’re right, you have missed this just as we have missed you.” Liz agreed. “But the important thing is you are here now. Alex was right when he said we have no way of knowing what you changed by leaving but the fact remains that you are here now and you are safe, which I think is all that matters.”

“Well said Liz.” Maria nodded. “If we try and think about ‘What if’ or ‘Why’ we will only succeed in confusing the issue and missing what is before our very eyes, which is your safe return. Don’t look back, only look forward.”

“I think I can do that.” Isabel nodded and smiled.

The next moment Alex came into the room carrying a tray. When he lowered it onto the coffee table it was clear that Alex had made coffee as well as loading up a couple of plates with cookies and chocolate snacks.

“Please tell me you’re not hungry.” Liz asked Alex incredulously.

“Not hungry as such.” Alex admitted. “More hoping that if I can get the three of you to eat or drink something you are less likely to pick on me and reduce me to a foetal position over in the corner.”

“We’re sorry Alex.” Isabel apologised to her friend. “We were only having some fun but we will stop.”

“For now.” Maria added with a mischievous grin.

A noise at the end of the hall told the four friends that the two wanders had returned. “Did you give them a key?” Alex asked having realised that he and Isabel had gone to his room before the two boys had left so he wasn’t sure what the plan was with them.

“Yes,” Liz nodded. “Not that either of them need one but I thought it might make them feel more at home having a key to get back in with.”

“Having you three here is all that we will need to make this home.” Isabel stated without hesitation.

Finally Max and Michael came into the room loaded with bags. In truth they actually didn’t have that much stuff considering Isabel was one of their travelling companions and coupled with the realisation that they were carrying everything the three of them own it suddenly made the three humans feel very sad.

“We would have left everything in the hall but as we weren’t 100% sure where everyone was sleeping so we decided not to block the hallway.” Max explained.

“That’s OK.” Liz smiled. “You guys sit down and I’ll get you a drink.”

As Liz got up and headed out of the room Maria leapt up out of the chair after her. “Here Liz let me give you a hand.” She called dashing after her friend.

Liz frowned in confusion as she turned to see Maria follow her into the kitchen. “I appreciate the offer of help Maria but years of waitressing mean I have just about mastered carrying two cups of coffee on my own.” She said with a smile towards her friend, aware there must have been another reason for her appearance in the kitchen.

“I know you can manage the coffee on your own.” Maria paused for a moment. “It’s just…”

Liz eyed her friend for a moment before carrying on for her. “It’s just there are three of them, three of us and three beds, is that it?”

Maria nodded silently.

“We’re adults Maria so we can make our own decisions but having said that no one is under any pressure to do anything they don’t want to.” Liz stated. “Even if we do have feelings for them it’s not like we were sleeping together before they left so it’s not as though anyone will be expecting to sleep together now.”

“I know that Liz but as you said yourself, we are adults now and more capable to making an informed decision.” Maria countered. “When I look at Michael as well as wanting to throttle him for leaving when he did I also want him to take me up into his arms and never let me go.”

“I think we are all having feelings similar to that in one shape or form.” Liz confessed. “But we’re friends first and foremost so we are more than capable of spending the night together under the same roof without a bout of musical beds breaking out.”

“Have you seen the way Isabel is looking at Alex?” Maria asked as she arched an eyebrow and a smile crept across her face. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

A/N: Hi, I was worried this might get a little convoluted so I have decided, for the first time, to post a chapter in two parts as part A & part B. I intend to post part B on Monday, God willing . David / StargazerUK


Chapter 23a


A few hours later the gang were still sprawled out in various positions around the living room as they watched TV in silence. It was barely credible that more than four years had past as it had taken just a fleeting moment for them all to revert to their old ways, feeling comfortable around one another.

Liz smiled to herself when she thought about it but she was also conscious of something that was clearly on all of their minds at this very moment. There was no doubting it was the main reason they were all still sitting in the living room and watching the TV rather than tucked up in bed and getting much needed sleep before their plane journey to New Mexico in the morning. That reason? The sleeping arrangements.

It was true to say that a brief conversation had taken place earlier in the day when the possibility of the aliens staying in the apartment was first mentioned and it seemed as though things were pretty much sorted out at the time but no one could doubt that the subject still hung over them like the sword of Damocles if the furtive glances and uncomfortable smiles were anything to go by.

It wasn’t so much what was being said as much as what wasn’t. Everyone knew it broke down into a very simple equation. There were three guys, there were three girls and at one stage or another they had each had very strong feelings for a certain significant other. But there was more. When they had all last been together they were in the sixteen to seventeen age range and quite inexperienced when it came to rounding certain bases and thundering towards home plate as though their life depended on it. However, certain things had changed. Namely sixteen to seventeen had become twenty to twenty-one and although very little, if any, experience had been gained when it came to the ways of love the fact remained that at sixteen they were horny teenagers but at twenty-one they were consenting adults.

“Whether we like it or not I think it is time for us to go to bed.” Liz announced to the group. “When I say time for us I mean time for each of us to go to our allotted beds for the night.” She rather clumsily added having felt panicky about her previous statement.

“We girls will grab the bathroom first so I suggest you boys stay in here to prevent any inadvertent coming together in the hall where we might be partially dressed.” Maria explained, her comment being more a command than a suggestion. “Having said that I’m not entirely sure you boys even use the bathroom to have a wash or brush your teeth when you go to bed so I might be wasting my breath.”

“Hey!” Alex cried. “We’ve lived together for years and you know I brush my teeth before I go to bed every night.”

“Oh I know honey.” Maria agreed as she moved towards the door to the hallway. “But I think it’s a whole tribal thing with you guys. Once you get at least one guy spending time with another guy I find things like hygiene and manners go out of the window. For all I know you’ll all be belching, farting and scratching yourself by the time I get to my room.”

“For God sake Maria!” Liz exclaimed. “What is wrong with you saying those disgusting things?”

“I just call it like I see it Liz.” Maria stated casually. “And as I know each of these three reasonably well I think I might not be far off the mark.”

“I don’t know Liz.” Isabel cut in as they walked down the hall. “I’ve got dumb and dumber in there and they are like a couple of Neanderthals when the football or hockey’s on. You wouldn’t even know I existed with some of the things they have become comfortable doing in front of me, things a girl should never see any man do. Nose picking, teeth picking and don’t even get me started on their ears!”

“I heard that!” Michael called.

“See what I mean.” Isabel whispered with a smile. “Neanderthals…with big ears.”

“I can still hear you!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Forty minutes later the apartment was bathed in silence. The girls had used the bathroom and aside from a fifteen minute spell where Isabel had sat in with the girls to simply spend some more time chatting with them they had now said their goodnights and gone to bed. It had been like a scene from the ‘Walton’s’ when they had all gone about saying their goodnights. Everyone was trying not to notice the respective couples saying their goodbyes in plain sight of everyone else. Max and Michael tried not to notice how Isabel seemed to be making a point of leaning in the doorway to say her farewells with longing looks towards Alex but the shoe was soon on the other foot as first Maria and then Liz popped in to say goodnight.

Despite the scurrilous rumour started by, and then circulated by, the girl’s the boys did in fact use the bathroom but it was noticeable that they each came out smelling a little more fragrant than when they went in. It seemed the deodorant and Alex’s after shave were all put to good use.

Eventually Michael had settled himself down on the couch where he was stretched out under a blanket while Max was making the best of the two chairs he had pushed together to form some kind of bed. They had tried the infamous airbed but just as Alex had predicted it was doing more harm than good to Max’s lower back so that was soon put away in the cupboard with Alex promising to throw it out in the morning.

Alex had offered for Max to share with him or even for Max and Michael to share his double bed and he would take the couch but after much uncomfortable silence and shifting in chairs while not making eye contact with one another it was decided to leave things as they were. The relief on Alex’s face when Max said no to sharing with him was clear for them all to see. It was a guy thing.

Finally they were all in bed, or what passed for a bed in Max and Michael’s case. Maria and Liz lay silent as they both stared at the ceiling, lost in their own thoughts. Alex was lying with his blankets wrapped tightly around him hoping the thought that Isabel was asleep in the room next to him would soon diminish as it was the only chance he had of stopping his heart from pounding its way right out of his chest.

Unbeknownst to Alex Isabel wasn’t asleep, far from it. She had been given some photo albums by Maria for her to look at so she was lying on her side, leaning on one elbow as her hand propped her head up. The room was bathed in a low light from the lamp beside Maria’s bed as she flipped through the albums. Then there were the two boys, both very aware that the other was awake but neither finding a subject worth talking about so they remained muted and motionless.


“What was that?” Maria asked nervously as she leaned forward and looked towards the bedroom door.

“It wasn’t anything.” Liz replied as she tried not to smile. It was clear Maria was as nervous as she was but it seemed Maria’s anxiety was manifesting itself by making her hear things, things that weren’t there. “There are six of us in the apartment tonight so we may well end up hearing things we don’t normally hear but don’t fret. I gave the door to the apartment a little extra attention when I locked it this evening so trust me when I tell you there won’t be anyone in this apartment tonight but us.”

Maria looked at her friend and exchanged a smile in the near dark. “That’s what I’m worried about.” She joked, causing them both to laugh.

If each friend could have seen what their fellow insomniacs were doing they would have laughed. Each was lost in their own little world that was connected, tenuously to that of a certain counterpart. Max was thinking about Liz and vice-versa. Maria was thinking about Michael and vice-versa. Finally Alex was thinking about Isabel but Isabel wasn’t thinking about Alex as such, she had other things to think about. Such as how could she get into Alex’s bedroom without making it obvious? A ruse was called for.

Isabel was finished with the photo albums but unfortunately they had had an adverse affect on her. She had truly loved seeing the pictures that represented her three friends lives over the last four years but seeing numerous pictures of Alex had only increased her desire to see him, and to see him now.

“Think Isabel!” She commanded herself out loud. “How difficult can it be to come up with some reason to go and knock on his door?”

Finally the idea she had been struggling to come up with dawned on her. It wasn’t an epiphany, which she thought she might need to come up with a desired reason to go and bother the young man. Instead it was the most obvious and simple answer of all. She was just going to knock on his door and be honest with him. Tell him she wanted to see him because she wanted to be with him, it was as simple as that. She knew it was obvious, which she was initially trying to avoid, but she knew Alex and she was confident he would understand so no subterfuge was called for.

She climbed out of bed and moved to the door. Turning the door handle silently she pulled it towards her and stepped out into the hallway. She knew the room the two girls were staying in was to the right and Alex’s room was the next room on the left so she turned and moved up the hallway in the direction that led to Alex’s room and the kitchen and living room beyond. Isabel hadn’t taken more than two steps when the silhouette of a large man became apparent at the end of the hall. She didn’t panic as with her excellent night vision and the familiarity of the frame she was looking at she knew it was Michael who was lumbering towards her.

“What are you doing wandering around in the dark?” He hissed as the shadowy figure of Isabel approached him.

“What am I doing? What are you doing?” She replied in equally hushed tones.

“I asked you first.” He countered.

“You asked me first?” She repeated. “What are you, twelve?”

“I was looking to get a glass of water.” Michael suddenly stated.

Isabel eyed him suspiciously. “And I suppose it would have nothing to do with a certain petite blond who is in the room at the end of the hallway.”

“No.” He barked out immediately, a little too loud. “Anyway I think you’ll find Liz is in there with Maria so I can hardly go climbing over one to get to the other.”

“No but you could always knock and ask to see her.” A familiar voice broke in.

Isabel and Michael turned to see the small form of Liz wrapped in a nightgown. “Sorry Liz, did we wake you?” Isabel questioned in whispered tones. “We were just getting a glass of water.”

“Hey! that’s my excuse.” Michael stated indignantly. “Find your own.”

Isabel turned to look at him with a triumphant smirk on her face. “So it was an excuse.”

Michael narrowed his gaze. “You know what I meant.”

“Guys,” Liz interjected. “We can’t stay out here all night bickering. Michael, go down and speak to Maria if you want to but for god sake don’t scare her.” Liz turned to look at Isabel. “I don’t imagine I need to tell you what to do as I can see the determined look in your eyes.” She smiled at her friend.

“And what will you do?” Isabel questioned her petite friend.

Liz lifted her hand and it was then that her two clandestine friends saw she was holding some kind of book or journal. “I need to show this to Max. Hopefully it will help him understand what has been going on with me. I think I owe him that.”

Suddenly Isabel got a knowing smile. “I think he’ll appreciate it.”

With that the three parted company. Michael strode down to the girl’s room at the end of the hall and came to a grinding halt once he had reached the door. Isabel moved back on herself until she was outside Alex’s room while Liz carried on up the hallway until she reached the entrance to the living room. With a quick exchanged glance between all three of them they all gently knocked on their respective doors and stepped inside.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

A/N: As promised here's part b. cheers, David.


Chapter 23b


“Come in.”

Michael slowly pushed the door open to reveal Maria leaning up in bed, peering over the quilt that engulfed her. “Michael? Is everything alright?” She asked, rising panic evident in her voice.

“Everything is fine Maria. I’m sorry I don’t mean to scare you.” He said softly, trying to reassure his anxious friend. “I know it’s late but I just wanted to see you.”

“Oh.” Maria let slip in surprise at his sincere comment. “Well you’d better come in then.” She smiled as she lifted herself into a more comfortable position on the bed.

Michael stepped inside and pushed the door until it was almost completely closed but he made a point of leaving it slightly ajar. He stepped cautiously into the room and looked around nervously. Initially Maria couldn’t understand what he was doing but she suddenly realised that he had never been in Liz’s room so he was both acquainting himself with the layout as well as looking for somewhere to sit down.

Maria felt a pang deep in her heart when he elected to sit on the chair in the corner of the room rather than on the bed next to her but she soon realised he was keen to give her some space, not wishing to crowd her or make her feel uncomfortable. She was overjoyed to see him but it was becoming clear that other than the monumental step of coming to see her late at night he hadn’t given it much thought beyond that as he sat silently clasping his hands, barely able to look at her. “I’m glad you came.” She stated simply, looking to both put him at his ease and to make her feelings known to the young man.

“I’m sorry.” He began. “I haven’t really thought this through it’s just I knew I wanted to see you on your own and this was going to be the only chance before we fly out tomorrow lunchtime. Things are moving so fast but in some respects things aren’t moving fast enough.”

Maria frowned, not fully understanding his last comment. “How do you mean?”

“I don’t expect anything from you.” He suddenly blurted out. “I have no preconceptions about what we are but I’ve waited too long for this moment to lie or deny my feelings.” He looked at her pointedly. “I promised myself that if this day should come, if I ever saw you again I wouldn’t hold back. I want to be able to look myself in the mirror in later life and be able to regret the things I have done rather than the things I haven’t.” He paused without taking his eyes from hers. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. My love for you is my one accomplishment in life and I just needed you to know that before whatever happens after we return from Roswell.”

Maria looked on in amazement as he made the most beautiful and heartfelt statement she had ever heard in her entire life before she watched in bewilderment as he tried to make a bolt for the door. “Wait!” She commanded, stopping the young man in his tracks. “Where are you going?”

Michael turned to her looking rather sheepish. “I told you Maria, I have no preconceptions. I don’t expect a declaration of love from you or anything else for that matter. I’m being purely selfish and now that I have I thought it would be best that I leave.”

He turned to leave again. “What if I don’t want you to?” She asked in a hurry, leaning forward on the bed.

Michael turned back. “What?”

Maria stiffened up. “I said what if I don’t want you to? You’ve had your selfish act by coming here and saying what you said now it’s my turn. I want my selfish act, it’s only fair. Isn’t it?” She queried. Michael nodded silently. “The only thing I can think of is for you to stay and talk to me now that you are done disturbing my sleep.” She stated

“You want me to stay and talk to you?” Michael repeated, looking to clarify things between them.

“Yes.” Maria nodded in agreement. “If we’re being honest with one another you are not the only one who missed what we had, what ever it was.” Maria eyed her nocturnal visitor for a moment before she patted the bed beside her. “Come and sit with me where I can see you. That way I can keep an eye on you.”

Michael, who was unused to moments of intimacy or thoughts of poetic licence, felt his heart soar, it was the only way to describe it. He moved slowly to the double bed and sat down, lifting his feet onto the bed so he could turn and lean against the headboard beside Maria. “Just keep your hands to yourself.” He instructed with a wry smile.

“Oh OK.” Maria replied, her comment dripping in sarcasm. “But remember this is Liz’s bed so no funny business, I mean it!”

“Yes Dear.” Michael countered as he turned and smiled at his bedfellow, his heart leaping for a second time as she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“Yes?”

The door opened slightly and Isabel popped her head round to look in at Alex as he squinted towards the doorway in the near dark.

“It’s me, Isabel. Can I come in?” She asked softly.

“Yes.” Came the reply in a rather squeaky voice. After a quick cough and much throat clearing “Yes.” was repeated, this time it was a deeper more manly tone that broke the silence causing Isabel to smile to herself.

Alex switched on his bedside light and the vision that was Isabel Evans stood before him in what could only be describe as a rather skimpy pair of pyjamas. “Forgive the attire.” Isabel commented nervously as she pulled at the edge of her pyjama top. “I normally wear something a lot more practical and ordinary having spent the last four years on the run with my brothers but knowing I was staying in a family environment with girls around I allowed myself to pamper my ego and feel somewhat girlie again for the first time in years. That was before I had thought through my idea of coming to see you. I wasn’t sure if I…”

“Isabel.” Alex called, stopping her mid-sentence.

Isabel stood in disbelief as she watched Alex pull back the bed clothes and pat the bed beside him, urging her to join him in the bed. Without hesitation she stepped forward and climbed in as Alex pulled the bed covers over her. The feeling of warmth from the bed was multiplied by the thought that it had been Alex’s body that had warmed it for her.

Suddenly Isabel felt confused, something clearly wasn’t right but what? She was in bed with Alex and the both of them were transfixed by the other, neither capable of taking their eyes off of one another but something was wrong. It took her a moment to work out what it was but finally she knew what was missing. She couldn’t feel Alex’s body next to hers. Finally, forcing herself to look away from his loving eyes she realised that somehow, when he had pulled back the bed clothes for her to climb into bed, he had slipped out the other side and he was now lying on top of the bed covers.

“How on earth did you manage that?” She questioned, unable to stop herself or mask her disappointment.

“Manage what?” He asked, but by the amused look on his face he knew what Isabel was referring to.

“You know what I am talking about Whitman.” She growled. “How the hell did you slip out of the bed while I was slipping into it?” Isabel knew he was toying with her so she decided to pull out the big guns, putting on her best pout. ‘This was going to be too easy.’ She thought. “Don’t you want to be with me?”

“Oh Isabel, please don’t ever think that.” He immediately started to apologise. “I’ve dreamed of having you here with me for the last four years and I want nothing more than to be with you but I also want you to know you are more to me than just a moment of lust. I long to be with you and not just for the obvious reasons.”

“A moment of lust?” She repeated with an amused look on her face, unable to get beyond that one remark.

“Help me out here Isabel.” Alex pleaded. “You’re a beautiful woman who I have lusted after for in excess of ten years and who has been out of my life for the last four. If you get more than a moment from me, if and when if happens, you can count yourself lucky.”

That comment made them both blush furiously.

“Seriously Iz. You have to know I would love nothing more than to just leap on you and have my wicked way with you but I’m scared.” Alex paused for a moment. “I don’t want to ruin this or just make it about having sex. I don’t want to have sex with you Isabel.”

“You don’t?” Isabel arched an eyebrow in surprise at such a strong and perceivably hurtful statement.

“No I don’t.” He shook his head before lifting his gaze to look directly at her. “I want to make love to you and when I do I want us both to be ready. We don’t have any need to be in a rush. You’re not going anywhere, except maybe Roswell but I am going with you.” He smiled gently towards her.

Isabel reached up and caressed the side of Alex’s face. “I love you Alexander Whitman and I agree with every single word you’ve said but I can’t leave you out in the cold. I appreciate the sentiment of what you did but if you don’t get back into this bed in ten seconds I’m going to scream, which will only bring the others running and when I tell Maria what you have done to me she is going to do untold damage to you.”

“But…but I haven’t done anything to you.” He stammered.

“I know that and you know that but who will Maria believe?” Isabel countered with an amused look on her beautiful features. Her voice was both soft and loving despite the veiled threat it conveyed.

After a moments thought Alex leapt off of the bed, pulled back the bed covers and dived in. Isabel pulled the covers back over her partner and pulled him towards her before he had any thoughts about trying to shy away from her while in the bed. The coldness of his skin against the warmth of hers sent a shudder through her entire body. It was that or the mere fact that she had finally got her hands on the man of her dreams, quite literally.

“What do we do now?” Alex asked rather nervously.

“Well if mad, passionate love making is out of the question you could always tell me what has been going on in your life for the last four years and then I could tell you what has been happening in mine.” Isabel offered.

“OK.” Alex nodded. “But let’s start with you because if you fall asleep while I am telling you about my life the thought that you might think me boring could kill me.”

Isabel lifted herself up onto one elbow to look down at Alex beside her. “Alex, We’re finally in bed together, we’re both nearly naked and deeply and passionately in love with one another. Me thinking you are boring isn’t what will kill you…but the sexual tension might.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“Come in Liz.” Max called softly.

Liz stepped inside to find Max wedged in the middle of two chairs in some kind of makeshift bed. “How did you know it was me?” She asked softly.

“Weren’t you paying attention when Isabel gave you the speech earlier about us Neanderthals and our super hearing?” Max joked. “I heard the three of you out in the hall so I knew you were coming and I’m glad that you have.” Max nodded towards the item she was holding close to her chest with both hands as though her life depended on it. “What have you got there?”

“Didn’t your super hearing pick up what it was when I told Isabel and Michael in the hall?” She asked with a smile.

“I’m afraid not.” Max shook his head and smiled. “In truth our hearing isn’t that great but from experience we know that if Isabel is talking to you guys within earshot of us she is normally moaning about us.” Max quickly threw up a hand. “Not that I am being two faced by that comment. It can’t have been easy for her over the last four years as Michael and I aren’t ideal travelling companions, especially not for a girl in her late teens and early twenties who is also our sister. She’s had to put up with more than most married women do in a lifetime.”

“That might be the case.” Liz smiled as she sat down on the couch across from Max. “But she’s paid her penance up front.”

Max frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Liz continued to smile. “She has Alex now. If things turn out the way I would imagine they will the pair of them are set for life, which means Isabel is going to get one of the most caring, patient and loving individuals ever to grace this mortal realm. He will be a loving and attentive husband, a loyal and trusting best friend and he will make a wonderful father.”

“She gets all that for putting up with me and Michael?” Max questioned with a smile. “And what do we get?”

“You and Michael are men, just like Alex.” Liz informed him. “You have to pay your penance by being loving, attentive and reliable. Do that for the next forty or fifty years once you are in a relationship and you should just about have it covered.”

“So what was going on with your clandestine meeting out in the hall?” Max asked delicately, not wishing to pry.

“I was looking to come up here to give you something quietly, without disturbing the others, but when I popped out of my room it was like grand central station out there.” Liz joked. “I’m glad I bumped into both Isabel and Michael at the same time as if I had bumped into just Michael in the dark hallway I’m afraid I might have screamed and woken up the entire apartment.”

“He has that effect on people.” Max quipped. “And by the sounds of what you are saying I don’t think an awful lot of sleeping is going on at the moment.”

“I think it is to be expected.” Liz reasoned. “We’ve been apart for so long and people are keen to catch up, which brings me to this.” Liz looked down and finally revealed the journal she had been holding by lifting it and offering it to Max. “I’d like you to read this.”

Max pulled back the blanket he had been covered in and lifted himself from his so called bed. Liz immediately dropped her gaze when she saw the muscular figure of Max Evans bearing down on her in only his boxer shorts. It seemed he was oblivious to both the fact that he was nearly naked and the effect his appearance was having on her. He lowered himself onto the couch next to Liz and took the offered book.

Liz clasped her hands together on her lap for a moment until she realised she had intended to leave the instant she had given him the journal so she wouldn’t be with him when he started to read it. She stood up and turned to leave. “I’ll leave that with you but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t let the others see it, it’s private.”

Before she had taken another step she felt a strong hand catch her arm. Max was firm but gentle as he waited for his petite companion to turn and look at him, which she did after a momentary pause. “I have something for you as well.” Max released his hold on Liz and placed her journal on the couch beside where he had been sitting before he moved to where he had left the bags earlier in the evening. Once again Liz glanced around the room at nothing in particular as long as she wasn’t staring at Max’s butt as he bent over and rummaged around in his bag. A moment late he straightened up and turned to reveal what looked like a book. “I’d like you to read this.” Max said, echoing her words from a moment earlier. “I’d also appreciate it if you didn’t let the others see, it’s private.”

Liz finally managed to break her gaze from where she had been staring at the book Max had just given her and smiled at her companion. “Are you mocking me with both your words and your actions?”

“If I’m honest I think I might be walking a dangerous line with my words but I promise you that I’m not with my actions.” Max confessed. “Despite me aping your words for amusement purposes the words in that journal are anything but. What is in that book is from the heart and it has always been my intention to give you that journal whenever I saw you next.”

“So you did intend to see me again?” Liz questioned. “I mean aside from any intervention from Alex and Isabel.”

“I always hoped.” Max nodded. “I certainly always wanted to see you again but not at the expense of your happiness.” Liz frowned at that comment so he continued. “I told Isabel that I truly hoped you were happy and that you were living a contented life but as selfish as it makes me sound I didn’t want to know if you had found someone else. I can’t help the way I feel about you Liz and although I want the best for you I can’t say I will stand and cheer at your wedding, should you invite me.”

“You have a groom picked out for me already?” She questioned with a smile at the mention of a wedding.

“I have one in mind.” Max nodded. “But I’m not sure you’d approve…just yet.”

Liz looked at the journal she was holding once again. “I guess we have a choice to make.” Liz stated. “I imagine by now that Isabel is in with Alex and as I haven’t heard any shouting or screaming Michael is still in with Maria so either I can go and sit in one of the other rooms and read this or I can stay here.”

“You’re very welcome to stay here Liz but please don’t feel you have to read it now.” Max offered. “I just meant for you to read it at some stage, in your own time.”

“Are you going to read that now?” Liz nodded towards her journal that Max was holding.

“I think the short answer to that is ‘Hell yes’!” Max stated.

Then you had better make room on the couch for me once I have turned on the over head light. Liz moved over and switched on the light forcing her to shield her eyes from the bright light as they readjusted to the over powering beam. “It’s too bright in here.” She grumbled. Without a second thought Liz lifted her hand and waved it in the direct of the bulb and instantly the output was reduced by half making the room bright enough to read in but no so bright as to make you feel you were under interrogation.

Liz turned towards the couch to sit down and noticed Max shaking his head with a broad smile playing on his lips. “No matter how often I see that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Chapter 24


Alex scrubbed at his face with his left hand as he began to stir. It slowly dawned on him that he had tried to use two hands but couldn’t, something was stopping him. He gradually opened his eyes and glanced to his right and lying beside him was nearly six feet of blond Amazon, giving him the answer as to why he only had one free hand.

He almost had to put his hand to his mouth to stop the cry of delight he felt like yelling when the events of last night suddenly came rushing back to him. They had remained true to his initial comment about not thundering towards love making but that wasn’t really the point. He had wanted this for so long, it was difficult to remember a time when his one true desire didn’t involve Isabel, and yet he knew in his heart of hearts that it was something he was never fully convinced would actually happen. That being said, in spite of all the uncertainties, the insecurities and the downright unlikelihood of it ever happening, the fact remained that lying next to him, with her arms wrapped around him was Isabel Evans.

With the early morning sun streaming in through the half shaded windows he allowed himself to just look at the goddess that lay beside him. She was everything he ever wanted, ever dreamed of and for this very moment at least, she was his. He suddenly felt a flash of guilt as he continued to stare at his companion, was he taking advantage of the fact that she was sleeping safely in her arms? Had he yet earned the right to simply ogle her? He soon got his answer when he dared to look away.

“Found something more interesting have you?” A soft voice asked him.

Alex quickly looked back at what he thought was his sleeping beauty but from the slight smirk on her lips and the question that had just been posed to him he was clearly wrong. “Sorry?” He asked in uncertainty.

Isabel slowly opened her eyes and her smirk grew into a full sized smile. “I could feel you looking at me and it was making me feel all warm and tender inside but suddenly it was gone so I knew you had looked away so I was wondering what on earth could be more interesting for you to look at in this room than me?”

There would have been a time when Alex would have immediately leapt to an apology after hearing Isabel’s words but not anymore. He would never fully rid himself of his self doubt and insecurities but even the most insecure man understands he has been placed in a position of trust and absolute confidence when he wakes up with a beautiful woman wrapped around him. “You’ll have to take my word for it when I tell you that there is nothing on this earth that I find more interesting and more captivating than the young woman I find lying beside me but I must admit to feeling unsure when I realised I was simply just staring at you.”

Isabel finally released the vice like grip she had on Alex and lifted herself up onto one elbow so she could look down at her bedfellow. “I’ll make a pact with you.” She began. “You keep doing whatever you are doing. In fact you do anything you feel like doing, when it comes to me, and if you do something I don’t like I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Alex just stared at Isabel in near disbelief before he shook his head. “Oh I’m not sure I could do that. I’m not sure I would feel comfortable.”

Isabel frowned, realising that throwing herself at this young man was going to be harder work than she thought. “Alex I know the type of guy you are. You're a gentleman when it comes to women in particular but I also know you are very gregarious. I’ve seen you around women you are comfortable with like Liz and Maria and you seem to be quite happy being tactile with them.”

“I know that Iz, but they know I don’t mean anything by it. We’ve known each other for so long I’m just used to them.” Alex explained. He suddenly dropped his head. “Look Isabel, I’m not as much of a moron as I am probably making myself out to be with this conversation, it’s just I don’t want you to ever think I take you for granted or that you’re my property or something.”

Isabel smiled softly and reached across and cupped Alex’s face with her free hand. “I know that sweetie and I would never think you capable of anything untoward but we are starting a relationship here. I’ll always be my own woman but I actually like the thought of belonging to someone, specifically you. It’s not like I’m suddenly going to start doing as you tell me or waiting on you hand and foot but if I start getting hit upon in a bar I like the idea that you’ll step in and politely, but firmly, inform whoever they are that I’m ‘your’ girlfriend. Equally I want for you to take me in your arms whenever you feel like it simply because you felt like it. You’ll never need a reason for loving me Alex, other than you want to.”

Alex dropped his head back onto the pillow and let out a heavy sigh. “I’m such a tool!” He exclaimed. This caused Isabel to gasp in shock before a smile spread across her lips at Alex’s self-deprecating remark.

“You’re not a tool Alex, as you so delicately put it.” She laughed. “It’s just new to you just as it is new to me. The only difference is it’s slightly less controversial for me to go stalking you than for you to go stalking me. You tell a girl she’s being sort by a man and she starts to worry. You tell a guy he’s being sort by a woman and he’ll probably think he’s won the lottery.” That comment caused them both to laugh.

“OK.” Alex stated as he lifted himself up onto one elbow to ape Isabel’s position so they were now looking directly at one another. “I’m going to take you at your word, which will mean me no longer tip-toeing around you. As long as you promise to stop me the instant I do anything you are uncomfortable with then I’ll happily make this pact of yours. I realise I’m being too P.C. and risking any sort of relationship with you by not treating you as the strong and capable woman that you clearly are.”

“Oh my!” Isabel pretended to fan herself with her hand. “Strong, confident and sexy Alex, I think I might grow to like this.”

“Yeah well, make the most of it as it might not last long.” Alex joked ruefully.

“Well we’d better hurry up and cement our pact.” Isabel pushed.

“Cement our pact?” Alex echoed in confusion.

“You must have seen it on TV and in films.” Isabel questioned. “Whenever you make a pact you need to make it binding, something between just the two of us that no one else knows about.” Suddenly a mischievous look spread across Isabel’s beautiful features and it was soon followed by a devilish grin.

“Oh no!” Alex stated firmly. “Not after my impassioned speech last night, you can’t have your wicked way with me.” It was clear to them both that his resolve was slowly weakening.

“We don’t have to make love.” Isabel offered, her voice extremely alluring. “We could…you know.”

“Isabel.” Alex called firmly as he lifted his hand and pointed to his bedroom door. “Your two brothers are on the far side of that door, which means there is a flimsy piece of wood standing between your virtue and my life! Now trust me when I tell you that if you live to be 150 years old you will never know the self-control I am currently using to keep my hands off of your soft, supple white skin…” Alex’s face seemed to glaze over for a moment as the realisation that the answer to every fantasy that he had ever had since the age of 14 was laying next to him but with a sudden shake of his head he managed to pull himself out of his self induced stupor, just! “I think I need to take a shower.”

Isabel watched in disbelief as Alex pulled back the covers and leapt from the bed. Without any preamble or hesitation he made straight for the bedroom door, pulled it open and closed it behind himself as he left. She dropped back onto the bed for a moment, not sure whether to laugh or cry. What she did decide was that she had made the right decision when it came to the one man whom she was going to let in. She could tell by the look on his face, let alone the beautiful words that he had spoken, that she was his hearts desire but what she wasn’t quite convinced of yet was that he understood that he was her hearts desire.

As she climbed out of bed and grabbed one of Alex’s baggy tops from off of the back of the chair Isabel knew she would simply have to make it her life’s ambition to make him fully understand what he meant to her and that quest would start right now.

After pulling the top over her night clothes Isabel stepped quietly out into the hall and was surprised to see Maria standing at the far end, just outside the kitchen doorway. She smiled at her friend but had cause to smile even further when Maria pointed towards the bathroom door, to Isabel’s right, and mouthed the words, ‘He’s in there’. Isabel took a step towards the door and it was then that she could hear the shower running. She laughed to herself when the thought that it might have been a cold shower entered her head.

Walking up the hallway she followed Maria into the kitchen and found her about to take a seat opposite where Liz was sat with both hands wrapped around what appeared to be a cup of coffee.

“Hey.” Liz greeted Isabel as she approached the table. “Did you sleep alright?”

Isabel went to reply but before she had a chance to she was abruptly interrupted. “Cut the morning pleasantries Liz, we want to know the nitty-gritty.” Maria interjected, turning her attention to Isabel. “So how are things with you and Alex?”

“Fine.” Isabel managed to say, suddenly feeling under more than a little pressure. “Actually, better than fine.” She corrected herself. “Everything’s wonderful.”

“Did you erm…” Maria slowly trailed off.

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed. “We don’t want to know that. Why would you ask such a thing?”

“I don’t want to know details Liz.” Maria explained. “I’m just looking for an indication as to how it went for them. We both know we want nothing more than for Alex to be happy and we also both know for Alex to be happy he needs to be with Isabel.”

Isabel raised a hand to cut in, a vaguely amused look on her face. “We didn’t close the deal if that was what you were asking Maria but I think it is safe to say that we are on very steady ground. We’ve had a talk, we’re both with who we want to be with and we’ll just have to take the rest from there and see how it goes.”

“Sounds promising.” Liz smiled warmly to her friend. “I’m glad. In fact I’m glad for you both.” She added.

“Thanks.” Isabel returned her smile. “How were things with you guys?”

“Pretty good.” Maria cut in, again, despite the fact that the question was directed more at Liz. “Michael came in to see me and was trying to play it all cool and that but I saw through him straight away. Of course he begged and pleaded for me to let him stay and it was all I could do to keep his hands off of me.”

Liz smiled at her enthusiastic friend. “And now the honest version, please Maria, without the embellishments.”

“Are you questioning my honesty and integrity?” Maria asked, a hurt look on her face.

“Maria!” Liz asked firmly as she raised a questioning eye-brow.

Maria suddenly looked a little reticent. “Well he might not have been the only one who wanted him to stay. I told him no funny business as we were in Liz’s bed but it still came as a shock when he simply lay down beside me, on top of the covers.”

“Try not to look too disappointed Maria.” Isabel joked.

Suddenly Maria’s face took on a more serious but also contented look. “I have to admit waking up in his arms was something I think I might like to do again.”

“And you?” Isabel queried softly as she turned to look at Liz.

“I gave Max my journal to read and he upped and surprised me by giving me one he had been keeping.” As Liz replied to Isabel’s question something slowly dawned on her as she looked at her smiling friend. “You knew.” She suddenly stated. “I’ve just realised that when we spoke last night you said ‘He’ll appreciate that’ or something like it but you already knew he had a journal to give to me in return.”

“I knew he had kept a journal but he has never let either Michael or myself read it as he said it was private, which was fair enough.” Isabel explained. “I also knew it was always his intention to give it to you, should we ever meet up again but obviously I didn’t know you would take the decision to show Max your journal. It just made me smile last night as it was a typical thing for you both to do.”

“So,” Maria interrupted. “Anything juicy you want to tell us?”

“About what?” Liz feigned ignorance.

“Anything!” Maria cried. “I don’t care. If you feel the need to unburden yourself with regards the events of last night or the contents of the journal.” Maria reached across the table and took hold of one of Liz’s hands before commenting, in the most sickly sweet of voices. “I’m here for you.”

Liz covered Maria’s hand with both of hers before looking at her nosey friend. “Never in a million years Maria.”

Maria pulled back her hand and slumped back in the chair. “Doesn’t anyone have anything to tell me?”

“The one thing I can tell you.” Liz offered by way of comfort. “I’m feeling much happier about things today than I was yesterday.”

“Yes!” Maria suddenly threw her hands up in triumph before looking back at her friend. “That’s all that I wanted to hear.”

Isabel glanced at the clock. “We’d better get ready Maria.” When Maria frowned in uncertainty Isabel explained. “We’ve got to get to the bank so we can pay in the money to cover your credit card bill.”

“Do I want to know where you got this money?” Maria asked suspiciously.

“Probably not.” Isabel admitted. “But it wasn’t anything illegal, as such.” She smiled. “Let’s just say we are very lucky when it comes to games of chance and we are not the lottery company’s favourite people.”

“You won the lottery?” Maria went wide-eyed.

“Not large amounts.” Isabel explained. “Not enough to cause interest anyway. It’s amazing how much you can amass winning a little here and a little there.”

Maria trudged off to get ready and Isabel went to follow but she stopped and turned to look at Liz. “I’m glad things are looking a little clearer for you and Max now.” Isabel offered. “I know you have a long road ahead of you but I’m still pleased for you both.”

“Me too.” Liz nodded in agreement. “As Maria said earlier, there’s a lot to be said for waking up in your erstwhile boyfriends arms.”

Isabel left the kitchen, her heart warmed by the thought that the couple she worried about the most had taken their first steps towards a better understanding. She’d made it three quarters of the way down the corridor before feeling a hand grab the baggy top she was wearing and drag her out of the hallway. Before she had even had a chance to react the realisation that she was standing in the bathroom with a water-soaked Alex standing before her prevented her from flying into a panic.

She didn’t know if she was disappointed or relieved to find Alex was at least partially covered by the towel that was currently wrapped around his waist. “It didn’t work!” Alex stated firmly pulling Isabel out of her musings.

“Sorry, what didn’t work?” She questioned.

Unexpectedly Alex started to blush. “The cold shower.”

Suddenly Isabel’s evil grin returned. “Well we have yet to cement our pact and I’ve still got to take my shower before I go out with Maria so we could always kill two birds with one stone.”

“And you…you wouldn’t mind?” Alex stuttered. “I mean showering with me?”

“It will be tough but I’m sure I’ll manage.” Isabel smiled as she started to disrobe.

Finally standing naked in front of him Alex couldn’t bring himself to look down, his eyes now firmly fixed on Isabel’s. “Be gentle with me.” He joked as Isabel took his hand and led him to the shower.

“I will.” Isabel nodded, echoing his smile. “And I think we can wave goodbye to that towel now don’t you?”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

A/N: Hi, Just to let you know this story is coming to an end pretty soon. After this chapter I think there will be another two and it will be where I want it to be. The good news is I have already started my next story which is called "Rebirth", thanks Kath...I made my decision , and should appear in the next week or two. ( Depending how long I can hold onto it before I start posting lol. ) cheers, David / StargazerUK


Chapter 25


“Are you nervous?” Alex asked softly.

Isabel turned from where she had been looking out of the window as they powered down the highway and squeezed her boyfriend’s hand. “I was going to say no but I just realised who I am talking to. You, more than anyone, would know I was lying.” She smiled.

“Well I think it is understandable that you would feel some nerves. I mean it’s a big deal going home to see your parents after more than four years and for you guys it has an even bigger significance.” Alex tried to reassure both his girlfriend and her two brothers who were also travelling in the MPV they had hired.

After Isabel and Maria had returned from their trip to the bank the gang had left in plenty of time to make their lunchtime flight out of JFK. The realisation of what the three aliens had gone through over the last four years had been brought home to the humans when they had passed through security at the airport. Everyone’s hearts were pounding as their I.D.’s were checked and it was all Michael could do to keep hold of Maria and stop her from making a break for freedom.

The flight had passed off without incident for the most part with the girl’s sitting three abreast in one row and the boy’s one row behind. Isabel was thankful she didn’t have to suffer the topics of conversation she had heard during the inbound flight now that she had her two female friends to keep her company. Alex on the other hand was clearly overjoyed about the prospects of being able to talk about films and music without his girl’s directing the conversation to ‘chick flicks’ or worse still, make-up! However, it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Isabel that things were pretty quiet back there.

Alex had hired the MPV upon their arrival, not only because it had plenty of seats but also because it came with tinted windows giving the passengers in the back the anonymity they so desired. They had insured it so anyone could drive so Max volunteered as it had been so long since he had driven a car himself. He’d spent so much time driving his old jeep that it was one of the things he missed most, travelling by coach and train as they did these days.

Max pulled into the last gas station before they hit Roswell’s city limits. They had already decided that was where they would freshen up and swap drivers before heading into town. Alex had made a private phone call that morning to casually inform the Evans’ that he and the girl’s were making an unexpected flying visit to Roswell and that they would love to call in and visit. Because of the burgeoning relationship that had formed between the parents and their children’s closets friends it had become a ritual that if they came to town they would make time to stopover. Of course this time Diane and Philip had no idea that they were the main reason for the visit or that they were about to get the surprise of their lives.

The gang all piled out of the car and Liz and Maria made a dash for the restrooms. Isabel watched as both Max and Michael silently eyed Alex and she realised action was called for. “Alex Sweetie, would you get me a soda please?”

“Sure.” He smiled affectionately at Isabel before turning to her brothers. “How about you guys, can I get you anything?”

Michael simply turned and glared at him while Max was less aggressive but no less distant. “Erm…I’ll tell you what, I’ll just get a bag of stuff and then if anyone wants anything they can help themselves.”

“That sounds great Honey.” Isabel enthused. “Make sure you get plenty of candy as it might be a long night and who knows when we will next eat.”

Isabel watched patiently as Alex moved off to the entrance of the store and stepped inside. The absolute instant the door closed behind him she rounded on her two brothers, all guns blazing. “Listen up and listen good!” She demanded without preamble. “I don’t know what you two are playing at but whatever it is it stops now! Knowing Alex as we all do I know he hasn’t done anything directly to upset you so that leaves only one thing. Now I will never feel the need to answer to you or explain myself to you but if you really want to know what went on in that bathroom this morning I will tell you…”

“No wait” Max cried. “That won’t be necessary. It’s just you’re our sister and it’s our job to look out for you.”

“Yes it is.” Isabel agreed. “But more so when I was sixteen and seventeen and maybe when I was dating someone new. I’m twenty-one and I have known Alex most of my life. I appreciate you looking out for me but do you think I would start in on Liz or Maria if they start showing affection for you? Don’t forget I know whose arms you both slept in last night.”

“Yes…but…”

“No buts Michael. You can’t have it both ways.” She instructed firmly. “Alex will be back any second and I know I can’t make you be best friends with him but if I see either of you treat him without the respect he deserves, let alone the respect my boyfriend would deserve I will make you both suffer in ways you can not comprehend.” Isabel took a step towards her two brother’s forcing them to take a collective step back. “And that is all before I have told both Liz and Maria what you are doing to the most important man in their lives!”

Isabel timed her tirade perfectly because just as she finished Alex came staggering out the door with a bag full of goodies and several ‘Big gulp’ drinks balancing in his arms.

“Here let me help you, Alex.” Michael leapt forward and grabbed a couple of drinks to free his arms.

“I’ll take that Alex, thanks.” Max added as he followed Michael’s lead and lifted the bag from him.

Alex paused for a moment, aware something had happened but he wasn’t quite sure what. He decided not to push the matter as Max and Michael no longer seemed angry with him as they appeared to be earlier. He turned in time to see the girl’s return from the restrooms and climb into the car before the guys followed.

As Isabel turned to climb into the side door before Alex closed it behind her she felt a quick peck on her cheek. She turned to see Alex grinning at her from ear to ear. “Not that I am complaining but what was that for?”

“Isabel, despite appearances I’m not as green as I am cabbage looking.” He continued to smile. “I don’t know exactly what has happened in my brief absence but I know whatever it is I have you to thank for it.”

Realising she had been caught she could do little else other than return his kiss before she climbed into the back and he slid the door closed, engulfing them in a protective shield, away from prying eyes.

Alex climbed into the driver’s seat and was surprised to see Maria sat in the passenger seat. “I called shotgun.” She beamed, as she clearly read his mind.

Alex turned to look at the apprehensive faces that stared back at him. “So we’re clear on what’s going to happen. I’ll drive by your house to make sure everything is as it should be, not that we’re expecting anything untoward.” He added. “I’ll park on your drive and we’ll leap out and get to the front door before your parents can come out to meet us at the car. We’ll go inside and set the ground work before one of us comes out and gets you. Does everyone understand?” He was glad when everyone nodded. “I know this is a difficult time for you all but trust me when I tell you this a good thing you are doing, a very good thing.”

“We know Alex.” Max countered.

“I just meant you could all try smiling a little.” He clarified. “You all look like you’re about to face a firing squad.”

“We’re just a little nervous about the reception we are about to receive.” Max continued.

Suddenly it was Alex’s turn to look pensive. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be glib or flippant.” He apologised. “It’s just Liz, Maria and I know how much this means to your parents so we’re already confident we know the greeting you are about to receive.”

“I only hope you are right.” Max finished.

With that last comment on everyone’s mind Alex turned to the front and started the engine, placed the car in gear and headed on into Roswell itself.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Max, Michael and Isabel watched in silence as the familiar sights of Roswell passed by as they headed towards their street and their home. Although technically it wasn’t Michael’s home he had spent so many happy hours there in the company of Max and Isabel and he had been treated so well by Mr and Mrs Evans it was as near to a home as he could recall so he was going to enjoy this home coming as much as the others were. It soon became apparent that Isabel had started to cry but Liz had already strategically placed herself beside the tall blond and was ready with the tissues.

Finally they reached their desired street and Alex slowly turned in and drove leisurely down the line of houses until the Evans house came into view. It was now clear that there wasn’t a dry eye in the car as evidence of what they had walked away from all those years ago came crashing into their eye-line.

“That’s your parent’s two cars outside the house.” Alex pointed out.

“Why’s one car on the drive and one on the street?” Michael asked curiously.

Alex smiled. “Diane always makes Philip take his car off of the drive and park in on the street so we have somewhere to park when we arrive.”

“I’m beginning to think you guys get the preferential treatment when you come around here.” Isabel joked through her sniffles.

“It’s true to say our attachment to you guys carries certain benefits when it comes to the Evans household.” Alex replied, matching Isabel’s banter.

He turned the car around at the bottom of the street and drove the opposite way up towards the Evans house again. “Guys I don’t want to draw attention to ourselves driving this tank up and down the street, people will think we are casing the place, so if no one has any objections I’m going to put this baby up on the drive and make a dash for the door. Are you girl’s ready?”

He turned to see Maria nodding at him anxiously while he heard an affirmative call from Liz at the back. Not hearing any reason to stop his plan before he set it in motion he indicated and turned onto the Evans’ drive. In a flash he was out the driver’s door while Maria climbed out the passenger side, petit and nimble Liz climbed through to the front and leapt out the same door Maria had used. Shutting the car behind them they made their way to the house just in time to see the front door open and meet Diane and Philip Evans coming the other way.

Inside the car the three aliens watched in near silence as their friends did the one thing they had dreamed about for the last four years, greet their parents on their return to Roswell. The only sound was the sound of Isabel crying into her tattered tissue. They had come so far and now they were only a matter of minutes, a matter of feet from one of the most important and joyous moments of their lives.


To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

This is for Trude and Lisa who doubted me. I won't lie, I'm a little hurt right now lol. . One more part after this and we are done. As for my new story, "Rebirth", I can't see me holding onto it much longer before posting so keep an eye out. Cheers, David / StargzerUK


Chapter 26


Philip Evan’s closed the front door behind him as he followed his wife and their guests inside the house. “I see you’re driving that monster of an MPV, Alex.” He called to his young friend who was further down the hallway. “Doesn’t your mother or one of the girl’s mother’s normally pick you up from the airport?”

“Normally.” He nodded in agreement as he did some quick thinking on his feet. “But this was such a short notice visit that we didn’t want to put anybody out so we decided to simply hire a car.”

“I think it must be your male hormones coming to the fore.” Diane joked with a wink to the two girls. “A nice little compact would have done you and yet you turn up in some enormous gas guzzler. You should be thinking of the environment.”

“Don’t we know it.” Maria chimed in before she let out a loud ‘tut’. “Men!” She finally added, rolling her eyes.

Alex suddenly felt a large hand on his shoulder. He turned to see the smiling face of Philip Evans looking back with a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry, Alex. I’m here to back you up. We can’t let our women have it their own way all the time.”

“Thanks, Philip.” He smiled in return. “I could do with the help as these two are at me all of the time.”

“Whose he trying to kid?” Diane smiled at the girls again. “Alex is just like every other man, they love all the attention and don’t we know it. Anyway, let’s stop all this chitchat and get you something to drink. Now, what can we get you?”

“Actually, Diane.” Alex suddenly cut in, an apprehensive look on his face. “I know it will seem rather rude but can I have a very quick word with Liz and Maria, I promise it won’t take a moment.”

“Of course, Dear.” She smiled her approval. “Philip, why don’t you come and help me get some coffee and cookies ready while they have a little chat and then we can all settle down and catch up.”

Both girls smiled politely as their hosts moved past them and into the kitchen, closing the kitchen door behind them as they went. They then spun around to look at Alex with looks of confusion, neither sure what the problem was and both hoping he hadn’t had a change of heart.

“Alex, what is it?” Liz questioned. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.” He admonished himself as he shook his head. “The instant we tell Diane and Philip that their kids are back, what is the first thing they will do?”

Liz eyed him for a moment. Already putting the piece’s together. “They’re going to ask where they are.”

“And the second thing?” Alex pressed.

“They’re going to run to them.” Maria added, finally catching on to what Alex was getting at.

“The instant we tell them they are here and that they are out in the car they’re not going to stand around on ceremony. I doubt Diane will even wait for Philip to open the door, she’ll simply run right through it!”

“So what do we do?” Maria questioned.

“We need a sign.” Liz offered. “Nothing elaborate, just something simple so one of us can go and bring them inside. That way there is less likely to be a scene out on the street. It wouldn’t be the end of the world for the neighbours to see they are back but initially the fewer people that know the better.”

“I’ll go.” Maria volunteered. “I’ll hardly be able to hold it together once we go in so Alex, if you just give me a nod I’ll go and bring them inside.”

“OK.” Alex nodded in agreement. “It’s sorted. I’ll let you know to go and get the others just before we tell them the truth. Be warned though Maria, I think we are all on tender-hooks now so it will only be a matter of a moment or two before I tell you.”

With them all in agreement and a minor obstacle now behind them the three friends entered the kitchen to join Philip and Diane who were already sitting at the kitchen table. As they sat down Maria made a point of picking the chair nearest the door through which she had just entered. Her heart was racing at a million miles an hour and she was noticeably shying away from looking at their hosts directly for fear of being overcome with emotion.

“So how have you all been?” Diane asked, unable to hide her affection or enthusiasm for her guests.

“We’re good thanks, Diane.” Liz replied on behalf of her friends. “School is going well and I’m pleased to say Maria’s just got a promotion at work.”

“The buyer’s job?” She queried as she turned her attention to Maria specifically. “Oh well done, Maria.” She cried, as Maria nodded mutely in reply to her question.

“I’m…I’m on probation for the first few months but I’m hoping that won’t be a problem.” She said nervously. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and I’m pretty sure it will be something I can be good at.”

“Of course it is.” Philip joined in, echoing both Diane’s happiness for the girl and steadfast belief that she would excel at the job.

Maria was just allowing herself to relax when she saw Alex turn to her and nod, almost imperceptible, but it was a nod nonetheless. Instantly Maria kicked into gear. “Diane, Philip…please excuse me. I think I left my bag in the car. I’ll quickly go and get it and be back in a moment.”

“Of course Dear.” She smiled, as Maria left the room. She then turned her attention back to her two remaining guests. “You know you guy’s are being very mysterious.”

“We are?” Alex asked uneasily, swapping looks with Liz.

“First of all you turn up here with very little notice, not that we aren’t thrilled to have you here.” Diane explained. “Then you have a little meeting out in the hall, which in itself isn’t anything of note but with everything else, including how polite and formal you are all being I’m beginning to get a little worried. It’s as though you are trying to cover…” Suddenly the warm smile that had been almost a permanent fixture on Diane’s face since their guests have arrived slipped away. It was replaced by a look of anxiety.

Diane suddenly felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. She subconsciously turned her entire attention to Alex who was now looking a little anxious himself. “Alex…” She managed to call, her voice little more than a whisper. “…Please don’t toy with me. I’m putting all these things together and probably coming up with entirely the wrong outcome but I definitely know something is wrong.” She quickly turned to look at her husband whose faced echoed her now solemn demeanour. She turned back to look at Alex once again, her hands trembling. “You’ve heard from them haven’t you?” Diane’s voice was now almost inaudible as it started to crack under the extreme emotions she was going through but Alex didn’t need to hear her words to know what she was asking.

He nodded slowly but firmly, tears now building in his eyes as he watched the hope within Diane Evans soar. “They came to New York a couple of days ago but we didn’t want to tell you over the phone. We’ve brought them here as soon as we could.”

“They’re here?” Diane whispered as she slowly lifted herself to her feet, she glanced to the doorway but it remained empty. “Where are they?”

“How are they?” Philip asked nervously cutting in, his voice betraying his attempts at remaining both calm and collected.

“They’re good Philip.” Liz replied as Alex was clearly choked up. “They’re all fine and looking forward to seeing you.”


“Hello Mom.” A voice called from the doorway.

Diane spun round from where she had been focusing on Liz’s last words to see Isabel standing in the doorway with Max and Michael standing on either side, just behind her. Tears were streaming down her face, which now mirrored Isabel’s, who continued to stand in the doorway, nervously pulling at the tissue in her hands.

In an instant both women leapt forward and crashed into one another as the cries and sobs began. Seeing his wife wrapping their daughter completely in her arms Philip moved past the two sobbing women and pulled Max into a colossal bear hug. Just as Michael dropped his gaze and started to feel slightly out of place a large hand grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him bodily into the hug. When he looked back at that moment in later life he realised that Philip was clearly a man on a mission who would have lifted him up off of the floor with one hand if needed, so strong was his desire to include Michael in their family reunion.

The kitchen was now awash with sobbing, crying and free flowing tears. Very little was being said and what was being said couldn’t be understood as words were being muffled as they continued to hug one another. After a few moments Diane released her grip on Isabel and was enveloped by what she now firmly regarded as her two sons. Isabel, as tall as she was, had disappeared into the clutches of her father and was now scarcely visible.

Maria had come back in and was taking part in a hug of her own. She stood one side of Alex and Liz stood the other, both wrapped in the long arms of their best friend. The next ten minutes flew by with hardly a coherent word being spoken. Everyone was concentrating on keeping physical contact with their reunited family as though the only way to keep this from being a dream was to hold on tight and never let go.

Finally, things began to calm down. Diane and Philip had even spent time hugging Alex, Maria and Liz despite the three assuring them that they hadn’t done anything to deserve it. The four women busied themselves sorting out their make-up and gathering their thoughts while I quick blow on a tissue, a wipe at their faces with their bare hands and a silent understanding that none of them would ever bring up the crying that they had all partaken in and witnessed was all the guys needed.

With things calming down and a fresh pot of coffee made they set about making polite conversation. ‘How are you?’, ‘How have you been?’ and so on and so forth. No one dared to break the mood with a direct question such as ‘Why did you leave?’, that was for another time.

Diane exchanged a knowing look with her husband when she noticed that Isabel seemed to be clinging to Alex and the other two couples didn’t appear to be far behind. It was yet another reason for them to be overjoyed.

“We’re sorry, Mom.” Isabel suddenly stated, bringing the group to silence.

Diane turned from where she had been preparing food at the counter with Philip, her next words surprising them all. “I don’t really care, Isabel.”

Just as Isabel thought her worst fears were realised and her mother was truly upset with her for what they did, Diane carried on.

“I don’t care why you left, I don’t care how you left. I’m just grateful that you are all home safe and sound.” She looked lovingly at her daughter. “If, someday, you decide to tell us, then fine. Otherwise your father and I truly don’t care as long as you are safe. It’s all we’ve ever wanted for you, to keep you safe.”

Suddenly Max stood up. He looked a little apprehensive but when he looked at Isabel and then Michael he received nods of approval for whatever he was about to do and it seemed to calm him.

Alex, Liz and Maria all exchanged a look, suddenly aware of what was about to happen. It was about the only thing they hadn’t discussed but they soon realised that it really wasn’t a matter for them to decide, just the runaways. After all, it had been the main reason behind them leaving in the first place.

“Do you remember Mom, how you always told both Isabel and I that we were special?” Max asked softly.

“Of course, Dear.” She smiled at her son.

“Well you might have been more right than you ever imagined.” He said, with a slight ironic tone to his voice.

As Max spoke Alex noticed Philip lean over to Michael, whisper something in his ear and then hand him a brown envelope. Michael took the envelope and tucked it in his jacket before smiling at Philip and exchanging a handshake before turning back to Max.

“Mom, Dad. Michael, Isabel and I aren’t from around here.” He began. “What I’m about to tell you is going to be hard to understand or believe but trust me when I tell you that we are telling you the truth and that this was the reason we left when we did.

Without another word Max stepped forward and picked up Diane’s empty cup that she had placed on the table in front of her. He held it in between his hands and closed his eyes momentarily to concentrate. Slowly a light began to emanate from within his hands that grew stronger and stronger. Finally the light died down and as both his mother and father looked on opened mouthed he handed his mother a small statuette of an angel.

Diane looked down at the present that she held so delicately in her hands, tears now slowly running down her cheeks. Max was overjoyed when she then gazed up at him with a broad smile on her face. The look of love that he feared he would never see again still there for everyone to see.

He smiled, looking from his mother to his father and then back again. “I think we have a few things to talk about.”



To be continued…

[StargazerUK]

Here you go. I sincerely hope you like it. Thanks for all the feedback, I truly appreciate it. Cheers, David

Chapter 27


“I can’t believe they dumped us!” Maria yelled for the third time, hands held aloft in an exasperated manner.

“They did not dump us.” Liz repeated slowly but firmly, her patience for her overly dramatic friend clearly wearing thin. “I think it was a little naïve of us to think we could just blow into Roswell with the three runaways, say ‘Hi, we’re back with your missing loved ones’ and then expect us all to leave the next day.”

“We could have stayed with them.” Maria almost started to stamp her feet, so much were her childish tendency’s beginning to show through. As it was she was looking to both Liz and Alex for support of her indignation at having to return to New York without their travelling companions but it didn’t look like she was going to get any.

“They’ll be back, Maria.” Alex tried to reassure his petite friend. “Liz is right. We wholeheartedly overestimated our role in what played out last weekend. I know they wanted to come back with us when we left on Sunday afternoon but can you honestly tell me that after being away from your mom for in excess of four years a simple 24hr visit would have been sufficient before flying back to New York, especially when you could simply stay for another five or six days and then fly back?”

Maria looked at Alex with her customary big doe eyes, a pout firmly fixed on her lips. “No, I suppose not. But it doesn’t explain why it’s Friday now and we haven’t seen or heard from them.”

Liz stepped up from her seat at the kitchen table and wrapped a loving arm around her best friend. “You know why they’re not here and you know why we haven’t heard from them. They told us on Sunday night, when we called them to let them know we had arrived home safely, that they were going to sit down with their parents and decided what they were going to do with their lives. They’ve tested the waters by visiting us here in New York and also by going home to Roswell and I’m glad to say that everything appears normal so hopefully they can get on with their lives without having to continually look over their shoulders as they have been doing since they left.”

Liz led a restless Maria to the table and sat her down before sitting down beside her. It had been a tortuous week for all of them as they decided it was best to leave the three aliens to make they own decisions before they could all look to move forward with their lives. Even Isabel had promised faithfully not to visit Alex on the dream plain for the entire week and by the despondent look that he had been wearing for the last few days as he moped around the apartment pining for his missing partner she had been true to her word.

“It must be hell on them.” Liz suddenly broke the silence that had descended upon the trio. “They have so many options, so many choices. I’m not sure I’d know where to start.”

Maria suddenly looked worried. “You don’t think that they’ll simply up and leave do you?”

“That’s what they might do in the long run.” Alex replied ruefully. “But the one thing I am sure of is that they will be back to see us, one way or another. I just wish it wasn’t taking so long.” A pained expression slowly appeared on his handsome features. “I’m not sure I can take the pain of not knowing for much longer.”

“Not knowing?” Liz repeated. “Not knowing what?”

“You know.” Alex nodded. “Whether they are going to come back to stay or whether it will simply be to say goodbye.”

Liz swapped a look of amazement with Maria before looking back at Alex. “Alex, you do know that whatever is decided that Isabel is coming back here for you?”

“Oh, I know that.” Alex confirmed. “I know she wouldn’t leave a second time without a proper goodbye. Especially as they’re not under the pressure they were last time.”

Liz was almost lost for words. “Alex, how can you be that bright and yet so stupid at one and the same time?”

Alex was somewhat taken aback by Liz’s outburst. “I’m sorry I don’t understand.” He frowned.

“Alex, Isabel isn’t coming back here to say goodbye, even if the boys decide to leave. When Isabel comes back she is coming back for you, to be with you. If anyone leaves I can promise you it won’t be Isabel.” Liz state firmly.

Alex kept looking from Liz to Maria and back again, the look on both their faces telling him that he was the only one who didn’t already know this. “Are…are you sure?” He stammered.

“Alex, sweetie.” Maria reached over and patted his hand in a gesture of reassurance. “At this stage in your relationship Isabel has decided what she wants and it’s you. In the nicest possible way if she saw Max and Michael lying on the floor she would step over them to get to you. That’s how sure we are that she is coming back to be with you. We’d never build your hopes up if we weren’t one hundred percent sure.”

Alex suddenly slumped back in his chair. He was clearly unsure what to feel as he had just been given the most wonderful news he could ever have hoped or dreamed of but in front of him his two best friends were still left hanging.

“Take that look off of your face, Alex.” Liz commanded with a slight smile playing on her lips. “It’s good news for us as well as you, whatever the outcome.” Liz glanced at the clock on the wall. “We’d better get to class.” Liz turned to Maria as she stood up. “And you, young lady, had better get to work.”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Liz sat staring out the window of her last class before lunch. It was true to say she was acing this and every other class she was taking but it didn’t make her feel any less guilty about not paying attention the way she normally would, and should. Today was just not the day to expand her library of knowledge as Alex jokingly called it. She had one thing on her mind and one thing only. He was about six feet tall, beautiful amber eyes and a body to drool over. Sadly he wasn’t even in the same state, let alone the same city, same building or the same room.

She could hear the class going on about her but she still couldn’t pull herself away from her daydream, such as it was. It wasn’t so much a daydream as wishful thinking on her part. When she wasn’t thinking about Max Evans himself she was thinking about his journal that he had given to her, and she meant ‘given’ to her. After she had read it she tried to give it back only to have Max inform her that he only wrote it with the intention of giving it to her so she had spent each night since they had returned from Roswell flicking through the pages, rereading passage after passage, falling in love with him all over again.

It wasn’t like she had ever fallen out of love with Max but having read his private thoughts and feelings she realised how much they were alike and yet, at the same time, different. He complimented her in ways she couldn’t begin to count. They had similar tastes and passions but they were equally capable of a heated debate on numerous subjects. There was just enough spice to make things interesting. To find out that on specific days, when she felt down for no particular reason, Max had been going through an especially hard time only confirmed what she already believed, their connection had never been truly broken and had remained dormant in the background, waiting to kick back into life.

Liz heard a break in class but she didn’t even bother to move her eyes away from the window, so strong was her indifference. She hadn’t looked at the clock but she knew it wasn’t anywhere near the end of class so either someone had come in to talk to the tutor or they had paused for someone to get their notes or a piece of equipment.

Still barely tuning into what was going on she could hear an announcement about a new arrival or something. Feeling slightly intrigued she allowed her mind to wander back to what was occurring in the class when she heard something that clearly must have been a mistake. Having just retuned into proceedings, before even having turned to look to the front of the class she clearly made out the name Max Evans being called.

In an instant her mind kicked into gear. In one movement she sat up and turned from her slumped position of looking out of the window and focused on the front of the class. She hadn’t believed her ears and now she couldn’t believe her eyes. Standing at the front of the class was Max with a rucksack slung over his shoulder while he clung to a couple of text books and what appeared to be a class schedule.

Liz had been so focused on this impossible scenario unfolding in front of her that she hadn’t heard a single word after the name ‘Evans’ had been announced. Finally finding the sense to concentrate she realised they were talking about her. The fact that most of the class had turned to look at her was the final clue.

“So Max, if you’d like to take a seat next to Liz we’ll continue.” The tutor informed him with a smile. “I’m sure someone with your academic record will pick up where we are in no time.”

Max smiled briefly before moving across the room towards Liz. He watched in amusement as the look of sheer amazement just hung on Liz’s beautiful features.

“I can’t believe it!” She stated as he sat down beside her, her voice little more than a whisper.

“I know.” He smiled her a thousand watt smile. “And I’m sorry. It was a little mean, me not telling you what I had planned, but I thought it might make a nice surprise.”

“Well it was certainly that.” She choked out, slowly getting her mind straight on what had just occurred. “What’s happening?” She finally asked. “Are you really going to be going here?”

Max nodded. “As long as it isn’t a problem for you.” He suddenly lowered his voice to be sure that only she could hear him speak. “Because of my background and the fact that I have managed to do an awful lot of reading over the last four years I’m pretty much up to speed on most things and I hoped that you might help me on the things that I’m not.”

“Of course, I don’t mind.” She returned his beaming smile. “Does this mean you’re staying in New York?” Liz suddenly blushed. “Was that really as stupid a question as I think it was?”

Max shook his head. “I don’t think it was stupid but in answer to your first question, the answer is yes.” Max suddenly threw up a hand. “I want to make it clear from the out set that I’m not assuming anything. We’ll sort out a permanent residence so as not to crowd you and then we’ll take things from there.”

“Do I want to know how you got yourself onto the schools computer and into this class?” Liz asked tentatively.

Max laughed while shaking his head. “I don’t think so. That’s why we’ve been gone the last few days. Making sure everything was in place for our return. You’d be amazed the things we have learnt to do over the last four years. Maybe you’ll let me show you sometime?” Max left that last offer hanging, waiting for Liz’s reaction.

“I’d like that.” She confirmed with a smile as she slipped her hand into his and gave it a tight squeeze. Suddenly she realised she didn’t know what was going on with Max’s siblings. “What about the others, are they staying as well?” Liz couldn’t help but allow her hopes to build.

Max gave Liz a knowing smile. “I think the answer to that question is taking place at this very moment.”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“You look like a shoplifter.” A familiar voice called.

Michael turned around to find Maria staring up at him, her arms folded across her chest. “I know.” He agreed. “But I can’t help it. If you come into one of these big stores you get the feeling that everyone is watching you. Well I do anyway.” He added.

“Well what’s it to be then?” Maria asked abruptly.

Michael frowned. “Sorry, I don’t understand?”

“You’re back.” Maria said, stating the obvious. “But you haven’t said if you are back to stay or back to say goodbye?”

“God! Why do you have to always make these things so difficult?” Michael asked as he turned away and ran his fingers through his hair.

“I think you just answered your own question.” Maria replied firmly. “When you use words like ‘always’ and ‘these things’ it should remind you that we have been here before.” Suddenly Maria began to tear up. “You’ve hurt me before Michael and I don’t want you of all people to hurt me again so if you are here to say goodbye then just get on with it!”

Michael turned back and it broke his heart to see her close to tears. This wasn’t what he wanted. He held out a hand towards the petite love of his life. “Will you come with me?”

“Come with you, where?” Maria asked nervously, this wasn’t what she was expecting.

“Please, Maria.” He pleaded. “I know you are working but it is nearly lunchtime and I’m sure you can get some time free. I promise it will only take ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes?” Maria repeated, eyeing him warily.

“OK,” He smiled. “Maybe twenty but no more I promise.”

A few minutes later they were walking down a side street a couple of blocks from where Maria worked. She knew the area well as it had lots of neat shops and trendy markets and she had taken to having her lunch down this way whenever the weather allowed. Suddenly they came to a halt in front of a row of fashionable shops. Maria liked to window shop here but as the items in the windows didn’t have any prices on them she deemed that if she needed to ask, she couldn’t afford them.

Michael pointed to a shop in the centre of the row of shops. Its windows had been whitewashed and there was a ‘for lease’ sign out side. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?” Maria frowned. “It’s a shop. It’s a nice shop but my professional opinion is that it is definitely a shop.”

“Actually, the downstairs is a shop. The upstairs is a studio.” Michael could barely contain his enthusiasm.

Maria suddenly caught on to what Michael was alluding to. “Michael, are you telling me that this is your shop and studio?”

Maria then saw something that if anyone else but her had seen it would have scarred them for life. A broad smile came beaming back at her as he nodded his reply. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now that we have finished running I can.”

Maria stared back at Michael, unused to seeing this amount of excitement from the large young man. “You’ve always wanted to open a studio, paint and then sell your paintings?”

Michael simply nodded.

“Here, in New York?”

Suddenly Michael stopped smiling. “No. I always wanted to paint and have my own studio.”

“But what about New York?”

“I don’t care where I do it!” He stated firmly, now somewhat confused by Maria’s confusion. “I’m doing it here in New York because you’re here.”

Maria stopped still. “What?”

Michael stepped forward and pulled Maria to him. “I love you, Maria. I have since the days of taking you across state lines. I know I hurt you by leaving the way I did but I will never knowingly hurt you again. I will never leave you again. You live here in New York so I will live here in New York. If you want to go somewhere else, I’ll go with you. Assuming you want me.”

Maria simply looked up at her own man mountain, tears glistening in her eyes as he said the words she longed to hear. She reached up and caressed his face gently. “Well I’ll keep you for now.” She smiled, “You know…until someone better comes along.”

“That’ll do me.” Michael cried as he swept her up into his arms.

Once Michael put her back down he hung a long arm over her shoulders and turned her back in the direction of her store.

“So,” She looked up at her tall escort. “Do you ever plan on telling me what was in that brown envelope that Philip gave you?”

“I have it here if you want to see it.” Michael moved to reach into his jacket pocket.

“That’s OK.” Maria stopped him. “You don’t have to show me.”

They walked a few hundred yards further on and Michael knew it was killing Maria, not knowing. When they reached the staff entrance to the store he leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. As she stood staring at him he knew he had to put her out of her misery.

“For want of a better description they are like adoption papers.” Michael explained. “Obviously I am old enough to not need a guardian as such but Philip and Diane wrote me a letter explaining their regret over not having done more for me, not that they should have.” Michael added. “They said it just made things a little more official. You know, like next of kin on a hospital form or having a home to go back to at Christmas and any other holiday.”

“That’s really lovely of them.” Maria smiled. “What did you tell them?”

“Are you mad?” Michael frowned. “The choice is home cooked dinners on the holidays surrounded by family and friends or a TV dinner for one from the freezer. Of course I said yes.”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“Hey, Whitman.” A classmate called from the front of the computer suite to where Alex was sat at the back. “Rogers was just down at the reception desk and said some Honey was there looking for you. I thought we decided that we all know those sweet chicks we see you with are only your roommates and that there was no point in you carrying on that charade anymore.”

Alex looked up from his screen in the corner and simply stared at the young man who had made a point of not only addressing him but the rest of the class that now hung on his every word, all of whom had turned to look back at him. “Peterson, I don’t know why you delude yourself. For a guy who is failing most of his classes and who couldn’t find his ass with both hands I think you need to spend a little less time worrying about what is happening in my life and a little more time worrying about what is happening in yours, including a noticeable lack of female company.”

“First of all, Whitman. I have plenty of female company.” Peterson was clearly unhappy with Alex’s comeback. “And secondly if I didn’t, which I do, I wouldn’t use my roommates to cover for me. You forget you only have two roommates and we’ve all seen them. One blond, one brunette and both small.” Peterson turned to the rest of the class to make sure he had their full attention before looking back at Alex. “Maybe he could put one of them in a wig and high heels and that might confuse us.”

To everyone’s surprise, not least Peterson’s, Alex leaned back in his chair and smiled a broad smile as he watched an unexpected visitor step unseen into the front of the room and watch proceedings.

“What’s the matter, Whitman?” Peterson began to gloat in triumph. “Got nothing to say?”

Alex frowned. “Why on earth would I want to talk to you when my six foot tall, stunningly beautiful girlfriend has just turned up?”

“Oh, very funny, Whitman.” He barked. “I suppose you want me to turn around and make a fool of myself?”

“Trust me when I tell you that you don’t need me or my girlfriend to make you look a fool.” Alex stood up from his desk. “You’re doing a fine job on your own.”

Peterson took a step towards Alex but was stopped when Alex held up his hand. “If you’re thinking about embarrassing yourself by trying to hit me I really wouldn’t. It will be bad enough when you turn round and meet my girlfriend, who you don’t think exists, but to then have her kick your ass in front of everyone for trying to hurt me means you’ll never be able to show your face at this school again, let alone this class.”

“Whitman, cut the crap!” Peterson ordered as he got more and more agitated. “You don’t have a girlfriend and she isn’t here to protect you.”

Alex fumbled around in his pocket for a moment before he pulled out some money. “I have five, ten, twenty…twenty-seven dollars here in my hand. If you turn around and there isn’t the most stunningly beautiful woman you have ever seen in your life standing there, then I’ll give you this money.”

Suddenly Peterson didn’t know what to do. Whitman seemed supremely confident for someone who simply couldn’t have a beautiful girlfriend waiting for him at the front of the class…could he?

Peterson slowly turned around and saw the one thing in this world he didn’t want to see. As he watched a very tall, voluptuous blond beauty lifted herself from where she had perched on the side of a desk. She slowly sauntered past him and his fellow students until she came to a seductive halt in front of Alex. She leaned in and gave him a deep, passionate kiss before looping an arm in his. Alex bent down and grabbed his bag from off of the floor, slung it over his free shoulder and moved the two of them towards the door.

Isabel made a point of staring deep into Alex’s eyes as they moved past Peterson and with her voice loud enough for all to hear she said. “I’ve missed you these past few nights. The bed feels empty without you.”

Alex could barely contain his glee as the two of them left the class and moved down the corridor. Before they made for the exit Alex stopped the two of them and turned Isabel to look at him, he was still unable to wipe the smile off of his face. “I will love you forever, if for no other reason than for what you just did for me in there.”

Isabel reached up and touched his face with the tips of her fingers, tracing the line of his jaw as she stared deep into his loving eyes. “I will love you forever, if for no other reason than you are who you are. In case you are unsure let me lay it out for you. You belong to me now and I belong to you. Wherever you go, I go. If anyone does anything to you, then they will answer to me.”

Alex simply stared back in wonder. “And what do I do?” He asks softly.

“All you need to do is love me the way you do and look at me the way you have since before I can remember.” She leaned in and brushed her lips against his in a feather-light kiss. “I’m where I’m meant to be and with the guy I am meant to be with. All I want to do now is get on with the rest of our lives together.”

Alex suddenly blushed slightly and looked a little awkward.

“What’s the matter, Sweetie?” Isabel asked. “Is there something wrong?”

“I was just wondering if you would mind taking a walk with me to the cafeteria?” He asked nervously. “It’s just my advanced science club meet in there on Friday lunchtime and I wouldn’t mind settling a few old scores.”

“You mean you want to show them your trophy girlfriend?” Isabel asked, making sure she made Alex squirm for a moment. “Of course!” She finally added with a smile. “Let’s go kick some science club ass!”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?” Maria asked a grinning Alex.

Alex shrugged but remained smiling. “Oh I don’t know.”

“It wouldn’t have anything to do with the gorgeous Amazon I saw you strutting around the cafeteria with today would it.” Liz asked with a mischievous grin.

Instantly Alex’s contented smile was replaced by a look of horror at having been found out and he was now blushing furiously. After a moment he regained his composure and looked at his two best friends. “I think you two are the only other people in the world who can understand where I am right now. I hoped and dreamed about having them back but I never fully believed it would happen. I couldn’t allow myself to believe because if it didn’t happen it would have destroyed me.” Alex suddenly dropped his head. “I know it was very shallow of me to do what I did today and I’m not looking to deflect the real reason why I did it but there’s just something about walking around with Isabel on my arm. She makes me feel like a giant, like nothing’s impossible.” Alex lifted his head again and glanced at both Liz and Maria. “Much as you two have always made me feel.”

“We know what you are saying, Honey.” Maria agreed. “We feel it too.”

“I’m just beginning to allow myself to believe that the nightmare is over. Isabel, Max and Michael are back where they should be and we can finally get on with our lives.” He confessed.

Liz checked her watch. “It’s nearly twenty past so we had better get a move on if we are going to meet the others for dinner.”

“It’s so exciting.” Maria enthused. “I just know they are going to take us to some fancy restaurant and we are going to have a lovely time.” Maria turned to look at Liz as she put on her jacket. “And can you believe we are going apartment hunting tomorrow?”

“Maria, you need to calm down.” Alex tried to pacify his petite friend.

“I will.” She agreed. “But I’m just letting you know I have first dibs on any penthouses over looking Central Park.”

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed. “Why would you think we are going to look at penthouses let alone ones that over look Central Park? They cost millions of dollars.”

“Now that they have realised they have a thousand and one ways of making money I thought we might be moving up in the world.” She explained.

Alex looked at Liz and rolled his eyes before looking back at Maria. “But what about Fifth Avenue and all the shops? He decided to encourage Maria’s outlandish dreams rather than put her straight.

“You’re right.” She conceded as she walked down the stairs in front of her two friends. “I need to give this some thought as money is no object.”

Liz and Alex exchanged a look before Liz leaned in and whispered to her tall escort. “I take it Maria doesn’t know that above the studio that is above the shop there is an apartment?”

Alex shook his head slowly. “And I don’t want to be within five city blocks when Michael tells her.”

Liz grinned at her best friend. “It’s going to be interesting having them back in our lives isn’t it?”

“That, my petite chum, is an understatement.” He joked.

The three friends stepped outside into the cool evening air and were surprised to see a large, black limo waiting at the kerb. As soon as they stepped outside the door sprang open and Max, followed by Michael and finally Isabel appeared. All of them looking immaculately dressed.

“Wow!” Alex inadvertently let slip when he looked at Isabel.

“Wow is right.” Liz agreed as she only had eyes for Max.

Maria turned to look at her two friends who were standing a little higher than she was on the front steps of their apartment building. “I think we’re going to have quite a few adventures now that the gang is back together.”

“There’s one thing for sure,” Alex called to his beautiful companions. “We’re not in Kansas anymore?”



The End.