A Life for Second Chances (CC, Mature) Part 14 12/15 (WIP)

[starcrazed]

Title: A Life for Second Chances
Author: starcrazed
Disclaimer: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended."
Category: CC
Rating: Mature
Summary: A different world, where Tess has a family, Liz is never shot, and Alex knows a whole lot more than he’s sharing. The Traitor is hunting them and they’re still divided by a secret they won’t share. Their lives are at stake, but they have yet to unlock their full potential. What will it take to bring them together? And can they do it before the Traitor finds them?

Prologue

Far above Earth beyond its solar system, a spacecraft was traveling faster than the speed of light.

Two forms huddled in the corner while their friend distracted the other one.

The Traitor.

They planned a way to secure the pods, and hide the artifacts: the stones and the orbs.

The overhead beeping alerted them that a planet meeting the requirements was found. Despite their fear of the Traitor, their excitement grew as the blue-green planet increased in size. The other personal on the ship were scattering to and fro, frantically to prepare the ship for landing.

It was the unstable jostling that had the two forms running for the pods. As the alarm went off their friend and the Traitor shot out of their seats and ran after them to help.

Even though he was a traitor he needed the podlings to survive.

As the ship entered the atmosphere the Four Royal Guards activated the protective shield. When the ship impacted with Earth only those 12 survived. Out of 132 personal, eight podlings, three guards, and the Traitor survived.

As the strange vehicles approached the two ran, hid, and watched in fear as their friend and charges were taken along with one of the commuting orbs. The Traitor had the other orb. He escaped for a short time and managed to bury it before he too was caught.

By then, the two in hiding came to understand these men must be the guards of this planet. This awareness did not ease their fear.

In the few days that followed they planted clues, false memories, and persuaded the humans to help them retrieve what had been stolen.

When the strange man entered the room with the contraption that momentarily blinded them, they again feared for the pods.

He helped them though.

The alarm went off and they understood enough of this strange planet to know they’d have to come back for their friend.

They never got a chance.

As they finished securing the true set of pods, they felt their friend die.

The stones where hidden like the orb, buried in the dirt, scattered throughout the surrounding area.

Then they traveled far, to the other side of the land mass. In a crawling metropolitan they hide the other set, the red herrings. With them they left the false book to ensure their interactions were only with each other.

They went their own ways after that. It was too dangerous to stick together if the Traitor escaped.

They could feel his pain.

If they stayed together they were more traceable, easily to be found by the Traitor and then defeated.

They embraced and swore a sacred oath to each other, more important they thought than what the Queen requested.

Antar was dead to them.

The Royals would get a second chance, a second life without the burden of destiny.

One crossed the landmass again settling in another growing metropolitan quickly adapting and rising in fame.

The other wandered the country, learning, blending, and hiding.

As far as we’re concerned these events never changed. The arrival of the Royals on Earth was never disrupted by the Granilith’s altering of the timelines.

From that point though there are many variations. Here’s one of them…

TBC.

[starcrazed]

Part 1

Awareness slowly settled in the back of the little girl’s mind. As it did she realized she was emerged in a liquid substance.

In panic, her small hand shot out and broke the thin membrane of the pod. The liquid drained away and she climbed out of her pod.

The cavern was dark ahead of her as she tried to stand on wobbly feet.

She could feel the others but their essences were dampened. Fearing they had left her, she searched the cave. When she turned around the other podlings came into sight.

Looking up she saw the boy and girl above her pod. They were unrecognizable, but she knew who they were.

~Rath~

~Vilandra~

Their names crossed her mind as she turned to the pod next to hers. Again she was met with the face of a stranger, but she would recognize his soul anywhere.

~Zan~

Ava placed her hand on the pod, feeling its warmth. It was a greeting and a farewell. She had to leave, but Ava knew that one day they would meet again and become the best of friends.

Ava searched the cave wall for something unseen. Approaching it, she gently placed her hand on the wall. A much larger hand print suddenly appeared glowingly silver.

The door slide open and Ava walked out. Carefully and slowly she walked down the hill listening as first the door closed behind her and then the silence of the desert enveloped her.

By the time she reached the bottom her muscles were swore and her naked body was shivering. The liquid turned to sticky webbing which was now uncomfortable, no longer providing nutrients and warmth.

As the sun peaked over the horizon Ava marveled at the beauty of it. Then she heard a noise.

The car crawled to a stop when the driver saw the child on the side of the road.

Ava’s fear had her frozen in her spot. When the large man exited the car her eyes went wide and she took a single step back. However when the delicate woman stepped out gracefully, her welcoming smile calmed the child.

Ava raised her palm in greeting, elbow tucked into her side, her fingertips came up to her chin. She smiled as the woman attempted a greeting, but messed it up by moving her hand back and forth.

“Hi.”

Ava looked at the woman blankly.

“What’s your name, sweetie?”

Confusion crossed Ava’s face.

“Sweetie, where are your parents?”

The confusion deepened at the second question. It continued to grow when the man spoke mimicking his wife’s soft tone.

“Can you talk sweet pea?”

Ava realized they were communicating with her. Trying at least.

Tears filled her bright blue eyes and the woman spoke again,

“Oh, sweetie. It’s okay.” She reached out her hand, slowly not wanting to scare the girl.

Ava looked at the offering and cautiously placed her much smaller, colder hand in the warm one.

“Matthew, she’s freezing.” He shrugged off his coat and slowly approached, draping his coat around the girl.

“MOMMY!!! Are we home yet?”

The woman turned back to the car and saw her daughter’s face pressed into the window. She smiled and shook her head.

“No Serena, we found a friend for you.”

She carefully led the girl to the car opening the door and placing her next to her daughter. She shut the door quietly so not to scare her. Then she turned to find her husband starring at her bemused.

Jumping to defend herself she began immediately. “Well, you can’t expect me to leave her out here do you Matthew?”

He smiled, “No Lynn, but Serena will get attached to her. You know how she is.”

A glint appeared in her dark blue eyes. “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

Unbelieving he spoke, “You want to keep her? What about her family?”

Angry now and determined, Lynn stayed firm. “Her FAMILY left her out here, hungry, cold, naked, and alone!”

She looked at the two girls in the back seat.

“We’re her family now.”

~*~*~*~

As the adults were speaking, Ava looked at the girl who was now staring at her. ~Such strange creatures with their fierce gazes.~

“Hi. My name is Serena.”

Ava was saddened. She wanted to greet the girl too.

So she did in the only way she knew how: raising her small hand up.

After a brief pause, four year old Serena placed her hand to Ava’s, palm to palm, laughing as a huge grin split Ava’s face.

From that moment on they were sisters. It didn’t matter that they were different species. Serena’s parents became Ava’s parents and they became a family. Not bound by blood but something stronger. Love.

~*~*~*~

The Harding’s took the precious girl they found home with them to Albuquerque, alerting Childcare Services. They were allowed to foster her as her parents were searched for.

In that time, Lynn taught Ava, who they had named Tess, since she didn’t remember her name once she started to speak, all a six year old should have known. Tess was a quick learner and strived to impress her new little sister, Serena.

When it became apparent that no one was claiming Tess, the Harding’s adopted her. Making official the family they had become in such a short time.

As she learned the ways of this new planet Tess had forgotten about the cave, about her ability to talk in her head, and about her pod-mates. She remembered only one thing from her life before.

The raised hand greeting.

Serena and her had bonded in that moment in the car with it and from then on they continued to do it

~*~*~*~

Two years later Serena and her were eating lunch when Serena split her juice on her shirt. Instantly, Tess waved her hand over it and it was gone.

Tess stared in horror at her own hand.

For a long time she had known she was different, not like her sister in some ways. It was something she kept to herself, afraid of being left alone again.

She watched Serena, waiting for the scream of terror she knew was building.

“Do it again.”

Hesitantly, Tess touched Serena’s pink shirt turning it yellow.

Serena examined the shirt in wonder. Tess heard their mom coming back into the kitchen and quickly fixed the shirt.

Lynn entered the room immediately noting the silence.

“What’s going on girls?”

Tess held her breath.

“Nothing momma. Can I have more juice?”

As Lynn was buried in the refrigerator Serena raised her hand up.

Tess let out her breath and smiled as she placed her palm to her sister’s.

Once again Serena was overcome by giggling. Tess joined her and Lynn just shook her head in confusion.

With a sigh she thought how she would never understand those two.

A truer statement was never spoken…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Part 2

Around the time Tess was learning to talk, the pod above hers broke open as the small boy climbed free.

He took in his surroundings of the dark cave, noticing Ava was gone and the others known by their essences alone slept on peacefully.

He stood in front of the pods protectively, waiting patiently, a trait that would soon leave him.

The girl who he felt to be Vilandra was the first to push her hand out of the membrane.

The boy watched as she stood shakily in front of him. He raised his hand to her.

Even as she put her hand to his she had a question cross her mind. ~Rath?~

The small boy smiled as their hands tingled in recognition. He sent back to the girl a thought of his own. ~Of course you dummy! Who else would I be Vilandra?~

Moving her hand away she took in the cave. She too saw the empty pod, ~Ava?~

Rath shrugged, ~Gone when I broke free.~

Vilandra was distracted then as the light emitted from the pods dimmed as the last podling broke free.

Rath and Vilandra watched Zan stumble a moment as he gained his balance.

His amber eyes looked up to the familiar dark brown eyes of a boy and the milk chocolate brown of his sister. He paused wondering where the blue eyes were. Seeing the empty pod he sighed as if a burden were placed on his small shoulders.

Turning back to the other two he raised his hand in greeting.

First Vilandra met her brother and their hands tingled as they touched. Bright blue and purple sparks shot out form their touching hands. She smiled glad to see her brother again.

She stepped back and Rath took her place, greeting his friend, his King.

Their palms met and they too tingled. The two boys nodded as they came to a silent agreement. ~Protect Vilandra. Find Ava.~

As Rath searched the wall for an invisible hand print, Zan touched Ava’s pod. He received a flash of her breaking free and touching his pod like he was to hers now.

He smiled when he felt her assurance that they would meet again.

The door slide open and Zan saw the luminous hand print. The three walked down the hill to the setting sun. They too marveled at its beauty.

They walked for hours and when the Evan’s car pulled to a stop on the way back from the party, Zan and Vilandra panicked as Rath fled.

Zan watched cautiously as the large beings approached. ~They look harmless enough.~

Vilandra’s tears over Rath had the woman wrapping her arms around the girl.

“Oh Philip, these poor children.”

He squatted down by the boy who was starring at his wife, Diane.

“What’s your name son?”

Philip frowned as the boy turned to intensely stare at him. He thought how kids so young shouldn’t be so serious.

Moments passed, Vilandra’s tears subsided, but still not a word was spoken, out loud.

Diane and Philip loaded the two children safely in the back of the car.

As it pulled back onto the highway memories of the cave, Ava, and Rath were already fading.

Wrapped in the blankets in the back seat Zan and Vilandra listened as the adults whispered in the front.

~I like them.~

Zan gave a sharp look at his sister who rolled her eyes.

~What?~

Zan just stared at her.

~Fine, but they could be our family.~

Finally Zan thought back.

~We are family. You and Me.~

Vilandra smiled and raised her hand; Zan placed his to hers and smiled back.

Diane and Philip smiled from the front knowing their family had just increased by two.

~*~*~*~

Rath wandered the ground scared and alone, fascinated by the twinkling stars above.

~Home never had so many stars did it?~

Rath was startled as the new voice floated across his mind.

He raised his hand. Not in greeting, but in defense.

The woman rolled her eyes and spoke out loud.

“Always so defensive little Rath.” His confusion had her going back to speaking to his mind.

~You don’t have your abilities yet young Rath.~

Rath’s eyes grew suspicious of the woman.

~First the car. Now me? Really Rath, you need to learn to trust others.~

For the first time the boy thought a reply for her mind.

~I trust me.~

~What about Zan, Vilandra and little Ava?~

Rath didn’t answer.

“Stubborn as always I see. Fine.” Seeing him staring at her again in confusion she continued,

~Let’s go. It’s dangerous here. The Traitor is still looking.~

A part of Rath moved before he thought about it, knowing what she said was right.

~Where we going?~

~We’re not going any where. You’re not safe with me. I have to take you to Child Services, they will find you a family.~

~I have no family.~

The woman paused, ~What about Zan, Vilandra and Ava?~

At his confused look she realized the memories were gone, soon he wouldn’t be able to talk mentally either.

~Listen to me. You’re different here Rath. It’s not the safest place. Watch out for yourself. Protect the others.~

The small boy looked at her deeply, as if trying to read her very soul. She feared she was too late.

But slowly he nodded. She smiled and bent down to his level. She raised her hand and waited hoping he would keep this one thing.

She was not disappointed as a moment later his small hand fitted against her palm.

~*~*~*~

As Tess and Serena finished their lunch, in another town eight year old Michael heard Hank Guerin bang open the front door of the trailer.

“Boy! Get out here!”

Michael flinched at the slurred words.

He went to his bedroom door and saw Hank’s menacing form in the hallway.

Michael angrily slammed his door shut and locked it.

Not a minute passed before Hank was banging on the door. It continued for a while before Hank stopped and began to fiddle with the door knob.

As it began to turn Michael reached out and grabbed it halting Hank’s progress. When he pulled his hand back the doorknob was melted.

For the rest of that summer day, Michael stared at first his hand and then the door knob. Realizing how different he really was.

~*~*~*~

As Michael hid in his room, Max and Isabel Evans played at a park accompanied by their mom and dad.

July was almost over and the next month they would be going to a new place called school.

Max didn’t like the idea, but Isabel was very excited. She tried to convince him big things would happen there.

“The bird is hurt.”

Max came back from his thoughts and looked at Isabel who had tears in her eyes as she pointed to the bird. Its wings were bent out of shape and it was making a dreadful noise.

Max picked up the bird gently and closed his eyes.

“Max, what are you… Max! Put that down.”

Diane had Max gently put the bird down.

All three watched as the birds eyes flickered briefly and then it died. Diane cleaned off their hands, convinced them that the bird was better off now with God and not in pain. When Isabel stopped crying she went back to the bench.

“Izzie.”

Isabel looked up at Max’s pained whisper.

“Something’s wrong. The bird…”

Izzie gave a comforting smile and raised her hand. Max put his hand to hers. “It’s okay Max.”

Pausing she sat down next to the bird. Max joined her.

“We'll just bury it.” Max nodded, looking around as Isabel dug a hole in the dirt without touching it.

Max placed the bird in the small grave and pushed the dirt back in with his hands, worried others would discover Isabel and his secret. With the grave filled in he wiped his hands on his jeans leaving muddy hand prints.

Isabel ran off to Diane and Philip for some snacks.

Max stared at his dirt hand print for a moment before waving his arm and making them both vanish.

He joined his family feeling the absences of something he should have had, something he would one day need…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Part 3

Tess always loved school, since she started the previous year that is. But now she was even more excited because Serena was starting first grade, so they would be in the same hallway this year.

Tess kept to herself mostly.

She already had a best friend in her sister so she tried not to be so welcoming towards the other kids. Tess was afraid making friends would make her want to tell them her secret. She had already decided that nobody besides Serena would ever know the truth about her.

With Serena’s encouragement for the past month Tess has been practicing her secret abilities. She was becoming quite efficient at changing colors and heating up food.

The better she got, the more Tess was scared of others finding out. She knew regular people, like adults, wouldn’t understand. She didn’t understand it granted she was only eight.

During practices, Serena liked to inform her of how funny she looked when she squinted her face in concentration.

The concentration was wasted though, because whatever Tess was trying to do never happened. She couldn’t even tell you what it was she was attempted to begin with so she wasn’t that disappointed.

~*~*~*~

Michael had set his alarm early for school. He didn’t really want to go but the social service lady warned Hank he would get into trouble if Michael’s schooling wasn’t monitored.

Michael saw no reason to get Hank more pissed off at him so he decided he could deal with school.

Anything would be better than an angry Hank.

Since the incident with the doorknob, Michael had been trying to do it again, but he never managed anything like that again. He did manage to reheat up some burgers for dinner one night though.

And there was that other incident.

Michael didn’t want to think about that though. How could he have been so stupid?

Who cares if her hair was like sunshine and her laughter was music. Did it really matter that she had the greenest eyes he’s ever seen. So green he wanted to fall into them.

And she was so colorful.

So beautif…No. He refused to think about how pretty the pixie creature was.

It wasn’t really his fault. He was going to blame her for the incident.

She had walked by him and he was scowling as usual. Apparently she didn’t like the way he was scowling at everything and everyone so she stuck her tongue out at him.

Michael was shocked and then he was mesmerized. It was when she got too close and he saw her emerald eyes that he reached out an arm to touch her. His finger tips grazed hers and a flash hit him.

He saw her crying with a spotted dog. So many tears leaking from her green eyes, it made Michael want to cry for her. She was confused and upset. Why would he leave them, didn’t he love her and mommy anymore. The flash ended and he looked down to see her staring into his eyes dazed.

She blinked once. Twice. Then her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.

Michael watched all this happen, hoping she hadn’t seen anything from him, but fearing the worst.

Before she could say a word a woman was yelling, “Maria!”

The pixie turned and waved at her apparent mommy, briefly she turned to look at Michael in wonderment before running off to catch up with her mom.

Michael stared after her in amazement. Maybe he was that lucky and she didn’t see anything.

The thought died as the colorful pixie creature turned around to face him before disappearing around the corner. He watched as she held up her hand.

When his mouth dropped open she smiled. Then caught up with her mother and was gone before he knew it.

Michael raised his own hand once she was gone.

So now he was going to school hoping to see the pixie again and hoping she was a tourist who’d he never see again.

~*~*~*~

Isabel said goodbye for the fifth time and then dragged Max onto the bus.

“Cheer up. It will be fun.”

“Yeah fun.”

Max spent the fifteen minute bus ride pouting deciding how not fun this whole school thing would be. His mind was still a million miles away as Isabel pulled him from his seat and led the way out of the bus.

As she reached the bottom step she let go of his hand and wandered off thinking he was following.

But as Isabel dropped his hand he looked up and saw the prettiest face he’d ever seen. Granted that isn’t many for an eight year old but still. He froze on the spot and watched in amazement as the pools of liquid brown eyes gazed up and met his. Then she smiled and spun around with her friends, her brown hair twirling around her.

Max was in awe at how shiny it was. Then Isabel was back dragging him off to class.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe school could be fun.

The first half of the day went by in a blur. He made a friend in his math class. Him and the boy Alex, where partnered together for the worksheet. He was just as awkward as Max was, but much more outgoing. By the end of the class, Max was looking forward to his newfound friendship with the boy Alex Whitman.

At lunchtime Max looked around for Isabel. Not finding her anywhere he sat at a table and waiting for her to find him.

~*~*~*~

Michael decided after the first five minutes of school that he hated it. People were mean and looked at him like he was dirty.

Then they gave him a hard time for not having any supplies.

By lunch Michael was weighing the pros and cons of never coming to school again vs. Hank’s anger.

It was as he stepped out of the lunch line that he caught sight of blonde hair. It grabbed his attention and he froze.

The girl turned around and he sighed in relief. It wasn’t the pixie.

His relief was momentary as the girl continued to stare at him. He scowled at her and went to turn away when her eyes widen in shock.

Then she did the craziest thing. She looked both ways as if checking and raised her hand.

Michael stared at her in disbelief. He walked over to her suspiciously.

In the most intimidating tone he could muster up he asked, “Did that stupid pixie girl show you that?”

The confusion was instant in her eyes and honest. She seemed to rethink her idea and slowly lowered her hand.

But Michael’s shot out against his will and grabbed her wrist stopping her.

He regretted it as fear filled her eyes. Then he placed his own hand to hers and she gasped. He smirked as he felt the tingles.

It sparked a memory at the edge of his conscious, but he couldn’t grab hold of it quickly enough.

Before he knew it the girl was dragging him behind her towards another boy at a table by himself.

The kid looked up and Michael was met with a pair of amber eyes. The memory felt stronger now, but still outside his reach. He knew these two were familiar. He could feel them.

“Max.”

Michael watched as the boy faced this girl who he had now decided was obsessive.

“Yes, Isabel.” Michael suppressed a chuckle; obviously this Max character had practice in dealing with her.

“Max this is…”

Suddenly she was looking at him expectantly, “Michael, I’m Michael.”

“Max…” At that point Michael cut her off, “We get the point, he’s Max, your Isabel, I’m Michael. You can stop saying his feakin’ name now.”

The out burst startled Isabel at first, not used to dealing with his attitude.

But Michael watched as she straightened her back and gave him an icy glare.

Years later, Michael would still be convinced that was the moment the Ice Queen was born.

“It’s him.”

“Him who?”

“You know him.” Michael watched as Isabel tried to emphasize the point by widening her eyes. He was almost convinced they were going to pop out.

To save himself from seeing that on an empty stomach he sat down next to Max and raised his hand.

It didn’t work.

Now both of them were staring at him wide eyed.

Must be genetic.

With that thought the memory clicked into place as Michael saw first Isabel and then Max break out of their pods.

He came back to reality as he felt Max place his hand against his and the tingles started again. A far away voice spoke across his mind. ~Watch out for yourself. Protect the others.~

Michael spoke the thought out loud, “Others. You’re the others.”

Isabel smiled and Max slowly nodded concentrating on the own flash he got, an empty pod.

“Ava.”

It was a whisper but both Michael and Isabel heard him.

“Huh?”

Max’s eyebrows drew together as he tried to remember, but he got nothing.

Glancing at Isabel they saw her far away look. When she came back she had a sad smile on her face.

“She was gone by the time we…”

She trailed off looking around the other children eating, yelling, and laughing.

In that moment she realized how truly different she was and always would be from them.

Max and Michael also turned to the kids around them reflectively especially for eight year olds.

Suddenly, Isabel was whispering furiously at them.

“We can’t ever tell anyone the truth. We can’t let anyone else know about us. They’ll get too close and it’s dangerous to let others in. We have to swear it. A sacred pact to never let anyone in.”

At that moment a group of giggling girls walked by. Max’s eyes were drawn to the dark haired girl who was laughing with a blonde girl.

If he made this promise he would never get to know the dark haired girl. She would never know him. Then again she would never reject him either. She would never be in danger because of his differences.

Michael eyes narrowed as he looked at the blonde girl, the pixie was whispering to the brunette. He didn’t like the other girl’s reaction. She was laughing. Did the pixie tell his secret? Does she know his secret? More importantly, Michael was wondering why he was wishing she did. He looked back at Max and Isabel. Protect the others.

Max put his hand on the table first. “We never tell anyone.”

Michael gave a quick glance to the pixie who was surprisingly looking back at him this time. She smiled at him and raised her hand.

Somehow across the distance Michael knew she could see the regret in his eyes before he scowled at her. She nodded and smiled anyway before turning back to the brown haired girl and laughing with her.

Michael could see a small spark in her eyes die though.

“We never let anyone in.”

Isabel gave them a strained smile as she put her hand on top of theirs. “Our lives may depend on it.”

The rest of the lunch period passed quietly for the three reunited Royals.

~*~*~*~

Maria turned away as the boy with the ridiculous hair scowled at her. His loss really, she would have been a great friend to him.

The lunch period passed and she laughed with Liz as usual. She was trying to convince Liz that hanging out with Alex was fine because he wasn’t like those icky boys. Occasionally, she was found to be looking over at the table with the three new kids. There was something about them. About him.

“Maria are you listening to me?”

“Yes.”

“What’d I say then?”

Panic crossed Maria’s face as she turned to Liz, only to find Liz looking at the exact table she had just turned away from.

“The new kid is staring at you again Liz.”

“Max.”

“What?”

“His name is Max Evans, he’s in the same room as Alex and me.”

“Well then, Liz Parker, Max Evans is staring at you again.”

It was the first time Maria DeLuca said it, but in the years that followed it would be far from the last…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Part 4

Tess was fidgeting as she waited with Serena for their mom to come out to the car.

“Calm down will you. You’re freaking me out. I don’t know what the problem is, you love school.”

Tess nodded, “But, it’s a new school and you’re not down the hallway anymore. It’s an entirely different building.”

In a hushed voice she continued, “What if somebody finds out?”

Serena laughed, “Unless you do your hocus pocus nobody will be any wiser. Now cheer up and be happy for me I’m in 8th grade now! Top of the hierarchy.”

Tess smiled for her sister, “Yeah, I can’t believe mom and dad actually let you move up a grade and totally bypass 7th.”

“It’s because I’m a genius. Don’t worry Tess, you don’t have to be jealous they still love you.”

Tess glared at her younger sister, sometimes she could be annoying.

“I could easily skip grades if I wanted to; I'm probably smarter than any senior, and to think I’ll only be a freshman.”

“Why don’t you then.” Serena gave Tess a challenging look.

Tess laughed humorlessly.

“Are you kidding me. Did you not notice all the freaking attention you got at the end of last year? All the newspaper articles and the interview for the radio station about you and your smarts. I don’t need that kind of attention.”

The door opened and Lynn entered cutting short their conversation.

“Okay girls, dad and me wanted to talk to you at breakfast about this, but he got called into work early. I know it’s your first day of school, but we thought you should know so you could make the most of this year.”

“What’s going on mom?”

“Your father and I have been discussing moving.”

Outraged Serena shrieked, “MOVING! Are you crazy?”

Ignoring Serena’s outburst Lynn turned her eyes in Tess explaining to her clam daughter in hopes that she could convince Serena later.

“It’s just that with grandpa’s health, I really want to be closer to home. We would move sooner, but I want Serena to be able to finish up 8th grade. It would be so hard to start 8th grade in a new school.”

“HELLO I’m right here.”

“Serena, I know you don’t want to move, but you’ll make new friends once you start high school. What’s important is family. And our family needs us right now. Besides dad is sick of working in this city, he wants to move to a smaller one.”

For the first time Tess spoke, “Okay, so we’re moving at the end of the school year.”

Lynn nodded and Tess continued, “Where we moving to?”

“Roswell…”

~*~*~*~

Isabel watched her brothers as they stared at the two girls thinking that she didn’t notice.

“Hello, Max, Michael, Earth to spaceboys.”

Michael looked up at Isabel, she wasn’t surprised to find the scowl on his face. She was convinced it was a permanent fixture.

She could count on two hands the number of times Michael has smiled. Smile isn’t even the right word; it’s more like a smirk.

Isabel only recalled one actual memory when Michael was smiling, but she didn’t want to think about how worrisome it was that it was directed at his so called pixie, even if the girl wasn’t looking.

“What’s up Iz?”

Isabel turned to Max to address his question, “I just wanted to let you both know that I won’t be joining you this year for lunch. I’m going to sit with my other…friends.”

She glared as Michael chuckled, “You mean the fake people.”

The glare if possible grew colder.

“Cut it out you two. You felt the need to share Isabel because…?”

Her eyes soften and the real Isabel shined through for a moment, “It’s just, we’ve always eaten together since that day in third grade so…”

“It’s okay Iz, go eat with your friends. Max and I will try to survive without you for these forty minutes.”

She smiled at them and walked off to join her friends.

Instantly both Michael and Max turned to look at the deadly duo, as they referred to them, who were talking rapidly. It was Michael who spoke,

“They’re so odd…” Then Michael got up and walked away to get some food.

Max just nodded his head in agreement.

~*~*~*~

“I’m telling you Liz abnormal. Those three are abnormal.”

Liz rolled her eyes, “Maria, not again.”

“What!”

Liz sighed, “Every year since third grade you’ve tried to convince me and Alex how anomalous they are.”

Maria’s eyebrow’s went up at the choice vocabulary word.

“Out of the ordinary.”

“Honors English is something for you Chica. But seriously they are strange.”

Whispering as Isabel passed their table Maria went on, “Nobody can be that perfect all the time.”

Liz was looking at Max who just happen to look away when she caught him staring, “Sure they can.”

Maria who was watching Isabel cross the quad was caught off guard by Liz’s soft statement. She looked to find Liz the one staring at Max for a change.

“Oh yea Prince Charming is a real treat. I don’t understand why he doesn’t make a move. He’s been staring at you since third grade. Back then it was gross. You know boys with cooties, but now. Now people are starting to date; he should ask you out on a date. Make a move before it’s too late.

Liz smiled evilly as the figure sat back down by Max,

“Speaking of cooties…”

Maria looked at Liz with a question in her eyes. Liz pointed as she took a bite of her apple. Maria followed her finger to see one shady character plopping down his tray and running a hand through his spiky head.

“Don’t even get me started on that one.”

Feeling her gaze he turned to glare at the pixie . She glared right back until her view was blocked by Alex who sat down in front of her.

“So ladies what are we discussing?”

“Hey Alex, just the usual.”

Alex nodded his head and turned from Liz to Maria, “Any new theories about them this week Ria.”

Maria focused her glare on Alex, but couldn’t hold it as he made a goofy face at her.

Then she pouted as she answered, “No.”

“What about you Miss Scientist, any ideas about our wonderful trio of mystery?”

“Alex you were the one who was friends with Max for so long. What can you tell us?”

Liz and Alex shared an Oh boy here we go again look.

Liz began before Alex could, trying to divert Maria’s attention.

“Are you guys going to homecoming.”

“Nice try Liz. Alex spill.”

“Ria, we’ve done this a hundred times. Doesn’t it ever get old for you?”

“No it’s my favorite hobby, I mean …” She stopped as Kyle Valenti sat down next to Alex.

The previous year Maria’s mom, Amy and Kyle’s dad, Jim had gotten married. Needless to say Maria and Kyle were happy for their parent's happiness, but not so much that it resulted in them being siblings.

“Smelly sis, what’s up.”

“Bonehead brother, nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about.”

“Ah, you think I’m pretty. You hear that Liz, I’m pretty.”

Alex and Liz rolled their eyes at the pair. Very rarely were they ever found to be getting along. Although both Alex and Liz were starting to suspect there was a speck of sibling love and respect gradually growing between the two.

Maria snorted.

“So ah listen Liz, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me. The homecoming dance.”

Both Maria and Alex’s jaws dropped. Liz blushed the color of ripe strawberries. “I don’t know Kyle…”

“Come on it will be fun.”

Liz looked at Maria and Alex who were both trying to control their laughter, she looked at Kyle’s light blue friendly and hopeful eyes, then almost against her will she looked over towards Max’s table. She ignored Maria’s sharp intake of breath at the action and quickly turned back to Kyle.

“I think I’d like that Kyle.”

“Awesome, I’ll talk to you later then Liz.”

She nodded as he walked away. He joined his football buddies at the table where Isabel and her friends were also sitting.

“Well that was… unexpected.”

Alex attention was drawn to his girls when neither one of them answered.

Maria was staring at Liz. Alex could swear she was peering into the depths of Liz’s soul while interestingly enough, Liz was avoiding Maria’s gaze at all costs.

“What did I miss? I mean I know it probably makes more sense for Kyle to have asked Isabel. I mean with them both being the top of popularity, but I think it’s a good thing. Kyle liking Liz proves he’s not as stupid as Maria claims.”

Not even a chuckle, Alex briefly worried he was losing his touch.

Finally Liz spoke, the desperation in her voice surprising Alex.

“Maria. Plleeeasse.”

“It’s true.”

Alex looked back and forth wondering what was true.

Before he knew it Liz was rambling more efficiently than Maria ever had.

“Yes. Fine. Alright. It’s true. You were right and all knowing as usual. I was in denial or shy, whatever. It’s just Ms. Hardy put us together for lab partners and he was so close and I could smell him and see those eyes and Maria, my knees went weak and I could barely stand and it was wonderful. Painfully wonderful.”

Maria smiled her all knowing smile.

Alex’s jaw dropped, “You like Evans.”

Watching their dirty looks he corrected himself, “Max. You like Max?” They hated it when he used last names to address other guys. The said it was so guy like, they had raised him better than that.

Liz’s blush told him his answer. He started to laugh and Maria opened her mouth to gloat when Liz opened her mouth to speak.

“Oh don’t you two start. You’re just as bad as I was. At least I finally admitted it to myself. You two are still denying it when we all know perfectly well that Alex would move mountains and bring home the moon for Isabel Evans.”

Maria laughed as Alex face straightened out.

“And you…” Liz emphasized the point by pointing her finger in Maria’s face. “You’re worse than both of us combined. Ever since that day you came to the Café when we were eight and told me about that spiky haired boy. By now the sexual tension between you and Michael when you’re within five feet of each other is suffocating to anyone within a block of the two of you.”

Maria’s mouth shut and for the first time she found herself speechless.

Alex cautiously spoke not wanted to set Liz off again, “Liz why say yes to Kyle than. I mean if you like Max…”

“Kyle’s right, it might be some fun. Max will never ask me to go to the dance.”

“You could ask him.” Maria said softly after finding her voice.

Liz shook her head furiously. “I don’t know what it is, but I get this feeling that he’s trying to keep himself removed from everyone, especially me.”

Maria detected the hurt in Liz’s tone easily.

“Oh Chica. Don’t worry. Spiky head does the same thing with me. And we all know he’s head over heels in love with me. I’m telling you its all part of their weirdness.” The bell rang and Maria was off running before Alex or Liz could say anything.

They watched her filter through the crowds. Liz turned to look at Max to find him turning away and pulling Michael up from his seat. Michael having been distracted by the flurry of Maria as he stared after her too.

Then Alex spoke drawing Liz’s attention back to him.

“So what do we do about this new development?”

“It’s not a new development. It’s the same as it’s always been. And we do the same thing we always have. They’re over there and we’re over here. Max stares at me and I’ll hide behind my hair while Michael glares at Maria and she laughs to get on his nerves. Both Max and Michael hoping Isabel isn’t nearby to yell at them for it even though they don’t yell at her for the way her guard is let down even the tiniest bit when you hold open a door for her.”

“Welcome to high school.” His tone sounded so mournful, Liz couldn’t help but try to lighten the dark mood that had descended as they walked towards their class.

“Don’t worry Alex, I’m convinced high school will change our lives. It will lead us to opportunities and chances we can’t even dream of.”

Liz Parker had no idea…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Words taken from the Pilot

Part 5

Due to the trouble they had in selling their house the Harding’s didn’t get settled in Roswell until the beginning of September.

The girls got to hold off on school for an extra week as they moved into their new rooms.

Serena was still pouting as she unloaded the last box and Tess came skipping into her room.

“Hey you want to wander around town?”

“No. How can you be so happy about this? They ripped us away from our home, our friends. Our lives are ruined.”

“God Serena don’t be so over dramatic. Our lives aren’t ruined, well be fine here. And this house is much nicer. Very homey.”

“How can you be so happy about this?”

Tess shrugged, “I didn’t lose all my friends like you did. My best friend moved with me. That’s all that really matters to me as far as friends go. New acquaintances I can make anywhere.”

“Aww. I love you too Tessie.”

“Please, not the Tessie thing again." Tess rolled her eyes as Serena reverted back to a childhood nickname. "So do you want to wander around town?”

“Maybe we can go out later for dinner. I want to finish unpacking and organizing this stuff.”

“Sure, we could check out The Crashdown place, that looked kind of interesting.”

“Yeah, little green men, so fun.” As if realizing what she had said she looked at Tess. “You don’t think…”

“I don’t know. I always figured I was the only one.”

“Hm… maybe we’ll meet your relatives at dinner.”

“Wouldn’t that be awkward, ‘Hi, I’m Tess, I think I’m an alien. What about you?’ Ha! They’d send me off to the psych ward." Serena giggled and Tess laughed before continuing, "I’m gonna go help mom.”

She raised her hand as she backed out of the room, turning to leave only after Serena raised her hand in acknowledgment, her mind already elsewhere.

~*~*~*~

Diane walked into the kitchen to find Isabel sitting at the table staring off into space. She was baffled usually it was Max she would find with his mind a million miles away from Earth.

“Honey. Are you okay?"

Startled by the presences of her mom Isabel looked up, “What? Oh yeah I’m fine. I just feel…”

“Feel what honey?”

“Torn.”

“This isn’t about you quitting cheer leading is it?”

“God no! I can only deal with so much of their phoniness before I want to bash them in the heads for their sheer stupidity.”

Diane was shocked, not by what Isabel said, but that she said it at all. Isabel has never lied to them, but she held back a part of herself. Both her and Max did. Diane was certain this was one of those things Isabel wouldn’t talk about. The fact that she was friends with such shallow superficial people when she was so complex, so kind hearted.

Isabel looked concerned as her mom didn’t react. She said too much, now her mother would be suspicious of her, but then Diane spoke.

“Well, if it’s not the cheer leading what is it?”

Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure. I feel like I’m in two places at once. Or that I should be. I feel drawn somewhere else, but the feeling is kind of removed like somehow I am in that other place I’m suppose to be at. God it doesn’t make any sense.”

Diane had to agree. “When did it start Izzie?”

“This morning. The thing is its fading, like a window of opportunity is closing or something. A chance is passing me by.”

She looked up and Diane was shocked to see real fear in her daughter’s eyes.

“Mommy what if I miss it? Whatever it is. What if I don’t get a second chance to seize hold of whatever this feeling is?”

“Oh Izzie.” Diane didn’t have an answer. All she could do was wrap her arms around Isabel as a few tears ran down her face.

“It’ll be okay honey. I don’t know what this is, but I do believe in second chances. If you miss this time eventually you will get a second chance. I feel that with every bone in my body.”

Isabel pulled back, “Thanks mom.”

~*~*~*~

“You are so bad girl.” Liz rolled her eyes at Maria.

“Where did Alex go?”

“Don’t know he said he would be back though. He ran off in a hurry after looking around the Café frantically. Wonder what it was about?”

Liz shrugged her shoulders.

“By the way, Max Evan’s is staring at you again.”

“Maria!!!”

Liz looked back to make sure he hadn’t heard, only to find him indeed looking at her. She smiled briefly before turning back to Maria.

“That is so in your imagination.”

Maria gave her the all-knowing look.

“Fine you’re completely right, but it doesn’t matter. I have a date with Kyle tonight.”

“You two are the weirdest couple I have ever heard of. You’re not even a real couple. I mean you get together for a date what like twice a month and sit together at lunch sometimes. It’s like your putting on a show for some unknown observer.”

Liz gulped as Maria nailed it in one. She didn’t feel bad though, after two months Kyle and her had decided they would be much better off as friends. A couple weeks later he approached her for a favor, pretend to be his girlfriend so the other superficial girls would leave him be. Liz had no problem with that at first.

The few times she caught Max looking at her with such pain when she was with Kyle made her rethink the decision though.

She was pulled out her thoughts by shouting from the front booth and Alex walking back in with Jeff Parker and the Sheriff.

Liz frowned and Maria looked on curiously.

Max and Michael watched from their booth. Michael was ready to bolt at the sight of Sheriff Valenti, but Max kept him there so not to draw attention to them.

Jeff Parker asked the men to leave. Sheriff Valenti was checking them over to see if what the boy had said was true. When the men seemed to ignore Jeff, Valenti cleared his throat.

“Excuse me sir, you wouldn’t perchance have a permit for that weapon would you?”

The one man with the gun paled, the other looked at his ‘colleague’ in horror.

“That’s what I thought.”

At this point Deputy Owen was walking into the Café. Sheriff Valenti and Deputy Owen easily took care of the man with the gun, reading him his rights and cuffing him. His partner went with Valenti to the Sheriff’s station to answer some questions.

The whole thing was over in five minutes. Liz stared after the men until they were gone. She sat at the counter with Alex for a while and talked to him about how crazy that was. When he eventually left, the rest of the day went by in a blur. She felt something was off.

Maria glared at the men as they left. What idiots she thought, someone could have gotten hurt. Then she looked over to Max and Michael. Max was pale and Michael looked angry. She was drawn to them, it was the vibes in the air, something around her was changing.

“Hey guys. You okay?”

Max looked up, “Yeah Maria, how about that huh?” He pointed towards the now empty booth.

She nodded, but wasn’t really paying attention; she was looking at Michael willing him to look at her. He refused.

Max tried to ease out of the awkwardness, “So Maria did you finish that English essay yet?”

“Yeah, piece of cake. English is my best subject so…” She trailed off as Michael finally looked up, not at her but at least now she could see his eyes.

Eyes that were filled with anger, eyes filled with regret and fear, eyes that held a hint of annoyance. A dim awareness was reflected in his eyes too. It made her think he too could feel the change going on around them. And then there was something else. Something Maria couldn’t identify even though she saw it when she looked in the mirror every day. It was too painful to name. There was a spark too. A spark she recognized when they would pass insults in the hallway or argue about something in a classroom.

A spark that was in his eyes all those years ago when she had seen that image from his mind.

The same way Michael was pulled against his will to look up, she was forced to talk directly to him.

“Hey.”

Max got up at that point, it was getting a bit hard to breath with all that tension. He joined Alex and Liz at the counter talking about the two men.

Maria took Max’s seat as he vacated. Still looking at Michael intensely, a whole minute passed before he sighed resigned to what was about to happen.

He looked up and met her green eyes. Eyes filled with sadness and regret, eyes that held a flicker of wonder and challenge. Then he saw the other thing deeper, more hidden, but still seen by him; he after all had seen it in his own eyes. An understanding filled her eyes even though he didn’t say a word. Then there was that spark. That damn spark.

He cleared his throat, “Ma…” She cut him off with a quick shake of her head. Then she leaned forward across the table and whispered.

“I don’t know why or what it is that stops you. I just know that there something that does since that day…”

As if Michael didn’t know what day she was talking about she lifted her hand, instinctually he placed his against it. Not expecting it, she took in a deep breath and closed her eyes pulling her hand away as if it was burnt.

“…I don’t know, but I don’t push it either. I don’t push it because of that look in your eyes right now, but if you say my name, if I say your name, I won’t be able to let you get away with whatever the reason is that you do what you do." Maria paused and then changed the subject to what was bothering her, "Something is happening.”

She waited and he nodded confirming she was right, he too felt whatever it was altering around them this very moment.

“Will we get…” Maria cleared her throat and wiped away a lone tear, “Will we get a chance, another chance. Later maybe after you figure this out.” She waved her arms around encompassing them, the Café, maybe even the whole world.

Something new filled his eyes then, hope. Maria thought it was absolutely beautiful.

As if she couldn’t read him he spoke for the first time, “I hope so pixie. I sure as hell hope so.”

While he had her so close to him he had to ask, “Did you…do you…?” A question that burned in his mind for almost eight years now, but he couldn’t get the words out. Did she know what he was?

Maria gave an understanding smile. “Some, I think.” She leaned back into the booth. “Enough at least.”

Then she raised her hand and Michael presented her with his second real smile, a smile Isabel had cataloged away and never questioned because it would mean that the pact they swore to wasn’t going to keep them as safe as she thought.

It was the first time Maria had seen it though and as he lifted his hand again, this time making sure not to touch her she smiled for him, a smile that had her eyes lighting up in wonder, understanding and longing before she stood up and walked away leaving them to go back to their usual routines.

As she got to the counter she was surprised to find Liz and Max laughing at Alex’s antics.

Upon seeing Maria though, Max went back to join Michael.

“Ladies, it’s been a real interesting day so far, but I need to head home for a little bit. See you later for the movies.”

They nodded and said goodbye to Alex.

When Alex passed Max and Michael’s booth on his way back outside he caught Max’s eye and nodded at him. Something passed between them, but it would be years before Max realized what it was…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Part 6

Serena walked through the doors of the Café first, laughing as the bell above her head rang. Tess followed her in distracted by the feel in the air around them. Something felt funny.

When she sat in the booth she took in a sharp breath. Serena looked at her concerned, “Tess?”

Tess shook her head, looking around wildly for whatever or whoever it was. Her eyes were captured by the bright green of one of the waitress’s. The waitress was staring at her as if she knew her. Then suddenly the girl raised her hand.

Tess’s jaw dropped, Serena turned to see what caused Tess to react that way. “Guess we found that relative.” Tess nodded gulping for air as the waitress approached.

“Hi my name’s Maria. I’ll be your waitress tonight can I start you off with a Green Martian Shake or Blood of Alien Smoothie?”

Serena seeing Tess was still a million miles in outer space she answered. “Sure we’ll have one of each.”

By the time Maria returned with the drinks Tess had regained her thoughts. “So what’s good here? We just moved into town so…”

They were met with a charming smile. “Well I advise if you’re on a diet to move on because everything here is served with a side of grease.”

Tess smiled back while Serena licked her lips, “Sounds wonderful, I’ll have two.”

Maria laughed, “New in town huh? That’s cool will you guys be going to West Roswell or…”

“Yeah, we start on Monday.”

“Awesome, well I suggest an order of space fries and orbit rings with whatever else you get tonight. I’m sure you’ll have tried everything soon enough though. I’m a fan of the Nebula Salad.”

“I’ll have that, Serena?”

“Sigourney Weaver Burger sounds good with those orbit rings.”

Maria chuckled and went off to place their order.

The two girls leaned in and whispered, “Do you think she’s like you?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t feel her, but she did the thing. I’ve never seen anybody else do that.”

“Me neither. Hmm…”

“What?”

“It’s nothing just…”

“Just what Serena?”

“Well maybe she isn’t like you. Maybe she just knows about you. I mean not you necessarily, although now with that hand thing, but maybe she knows of the others. We are still assuming there are others right?”

Tess cringed at the feel of something that would resemble a headache coming on. She didn’t get sick; annoyed she rubbed at her forehead.

“Well just have to keep an eye on her.”

Serena shrugged, “Whatever, you’re the boss.”

“I am not.”

“Oh please you so suffer from older child syndrome.”

"Well at least I'm not a spoiled brat." Tess stuck her tongue out.

They fell into giggles as Maria brought there food.

“Hi again, here’s your food. Hope you enjoy it.” She paused looking between them as if trying to decide something.

“Ah, this is probably forward of me or whatever, but since your new in town and all my friend and I, Liz…” Maria pointed behind her and they saw the brunette waitress smiling at them.

“…Anyways, we were wondering if you wanted to come to movie night tonight with us and our other friend Alex. It’s at my house and you don’t have to worry about any shenanigans, because my step-dad’s the Sheriff so. I promise only stale popcorn, bad movies, and excellent company.”

Tess and Serena exchanged quick glances before smiling and nodding at Maria.

“Cool, okay well since it’s almost closing I guess you can just hang around and we can leave when our shift is over.”

~*~*~*~

As Serena and Tess were settling into the DeLuca-Valenti family room for movies with Alex, Liz, and Maria, Max and Michael were sitting in his room. Max staring at the ceiling while Michael stared at the stars out the window.

“Do you ever want to tell her?”

“Who?”

“Oh give me a break Michael, you know who I mean.” Max tore his gaze from the chipping white paint to Michael’s tensed back.

“Always so difficult aren’t you.”

Michael turned with a smirk.

“Maria, do you ever want to tell her?”

Michael chanced a glance at Max one that had a little bit of guilt in it. Max saw it immediately.

“Michael what did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything alright. It was the stupid pixie’s fault.”

“Michael?”

Max's tone set off the emotionally uncontrolled outburst,

“Yes I want to tell her Maxwell, everyday for the past eight years some part of me has wanted to bare my entire freakin’ soul to the pixie. The other part is horrified at the very thought and wants to get the hell out of Roswell away from her.”

Needless to say Max’s jaw dropped open, but Michael was far from finished.

“From the minute I saw her. Her eyes they spoke to me, you know? There was this spark in them. I dunno what it was but I reached out. She was so full of color and happiness, just life. I wanted, no needed, to touch that. I needed to have a part of it, if only for a second. Our fingertips brushed together and I saw something, a flash. I knew then, a second of her would never be enough, not nearly. Now I’m pretty sure a lifetime would still leave me wanting.”

Max was still dazed from Michael’s heartfelt confession when he asked, “A flash?”

Michael nodded the guilt returning. “Yeah, I saw this moment in her life, felt what she was feeling in that moment. The thing is she saw something too.”

“What did she see?”

“I dunno.”

“Michael?”

“Max I was too terrified to go near the girl and ask her if she saw my deep dark secret alright! I wouldn’t have been able to stay away if she did and if she didn’t, I probably would have told her.”

“Isabel’s going to kill you.”

“I asked her today. After you went over by Liz and Alex. Well I tried to ask her, couldn’t actually get the words out.”

“And.”

“She knows the hand thing. Said she knew enough. I think she understands the importance of that gesture even if she doesn’t really know anything.”

Silence followed this admission, it was Michael who broke it, “Hey Max, did you…today in the Crashdown did you feel something…”

“Change? Yeah. After Valenti walked out with those men it started. The feeling itself isn’t as strong now almost like its done or moved on?”

Michael nodded his head in agreement. “So do you ever want to tell her.”

Max laughed not even trying to pretend he didn’t know who Michael was talking about.

“Yeah, every time I looked into her eyes and see her soul. Makes me question what we were thinking when we made that pact with Isabel.”

Michael’s back straighten at the reminder of the sacred pact and the words protect the others floated through his mind again. Maybe the others could include more than Max and Izzie with time.

“We were thinking about our safety. About the safety of people who know us. What would happen to them if they knew the truth about us and the wrong people found out.”

“How do you think they would react if we told them? Liz and Maria?”

Michael smirked, “Pixie would freak out. Only at first though. She’d get over it and move on. Liz, Liz would probably have a list of a thousand questions for us to answer. She’d want do run experiments to test the limits of our abilities. She’d want to see what else we could do with them.”

Max looked up at the comment, “What else we could do?”

Michael nodded, “I dunno. Don’t you ever feel we should be able to do…”

“More." Max finished Michael's thought nodding his head, "All the time.”

At that moment Isabel walked into the room almost in a state of panic.

“Oh thank God you’re both here.”

“Izzie what’s wrong.”

“I don’t know. All day I’ve been feeling. I don’t know what it is and it’s so frustrating. I feel pulled in two different directions and I feel like everything is off.”

“We felt it too Iz.”

She calmed instantly, “You did?”

“Yeah, not the being pulled apart, but the change.”

Fear and anxiety creeping back into her she asked, “What is it?”

Max and Michael both shrugged.

Michael spoke then surprising them both with his reassuring words, “Don’t worry, it will work itself out. Whatever it was, we’ll get our chance. All of us.”

Max and Isabel smiled.

“Michael when did you get so insightful and optimistic?”

“Shut up Iz.” The scowl was back on his face and had both Isabel and Max clutching their sides in laughter.

~*~*~*~

It wasn’t until lunch time the next day that it happened.

Throughout the day Alex was charged with showing Serena around since they shared most classes, even though Serena was two years younger and a grade behind them. He didn't mind. She seemed nice enough, plus it gave him an excuse to hide from Maria and Liz. Yesterday it was already starting to be difficult to keep the secret from them. It wouldn't be long before they noticed.

Liz was given responsibility over Tess since they too had every class together.

It didn’t happen until lunch because the one class they all shared together Michael had ditched and Tess was still in the office with Serena, Alex, and Liz. So Maria and Max were left by themselves in sociology, rolling there eyes at each other in boredom since all their friends were gone and Isabel was ignoring both of them.

But at lunch time they were all there.

Max and Michael were sitting at their usual table off to the side while Isabel was sitting next to Kyle, surprisingly, laughing out of control. Very un-Ice Queen of her, but who really cared.

Alex sure didn’t, he thought it was the most beautiful sound in the world. It took Maria tossing her sandwich at him to get him to stop staring.

Serena just laughed, thoroughly entertained by all of it. She was surprised that she liked West Roswell so much. It was so different from her last school, but than again her last school didn’t have anybody like Alex, Maria, or Liz.

Liz and Tess were running late because they stayed a little later in biology to ask Ms. Hardy a few questions.

But when they did get to the quad for lunch and Tess and Liz sat down very few people noticed it happening.

Liz noticed because she was always that observant.

Alex saw it happen because he was still staring at Isabel when she suddenly changed, stiffening her back and turning in her seat.

Serena noticed because she saw the change occur on Tess’s face.

Maria didn’t see any of it, she felt it.

Only seven people had any understanding of the significance of the event as first Isabel and then Tess raised their arms.

It was discreet enough, so they weren’t noticed by anybody who wasn’t paying attention. Unless of course you were sitting right next to them or understood what it was that they were doing.

As soon as Tess raised her hand Max’s hand was raised at his side. Only Michael heard what he said though causing him to curse.

“Ava.”

Michael looked over at the new girl and his eyes were magnetically drawn over to the pixie next to her. Maria smiled and raised her own hand smiling at him encouragingly, reminding him what he should be doing.

His eyes never left hers as his arm raised and the collective flash hit the hybrids all at once. Causing each to draw in a deep breath.

~Antar needs them!~

~Antar already had them and it destroyed them!~

~So what we just leave them on that hostile planet to fend for themselves.~

~Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll send the protectors. Royal Guards.~

~They’re our children. You just want to ship them off and never see them again.~

~I want them to LIVE. I want them to be HAPPY. I want them to LOVE. ~

~He will search for them. The Traitor will always look for them until he has gotten what he wants then he’ll destroyed them for good.~

~They will have their gifts.~

~Not right away. Not until they are needed.~

~That will have to be good enough.~

~I’m not strong enough to send off my children and never see them again. How can you be so calm about this?~

~Because it’s a second chance for them. They deserve a second chance more than anyone.~

~What about DESTINY?~

~Screw DESTINY!!! Look what good its done here.~

~The people will never allow that. The scientists, the protectors, the guardians will never allow that.~

~Then we lie to them. ~

~You would do that~

~I would do anything for my children. So would you.~

~I am a Queen.~

~You are their mother first.~

~A second chance…very well.~

It was over in less than a minute. A thirty second time span that would change their lives forever…

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Part 7

Max and Michael glanced at each other then Isabel before studying the new girl.

Tess looked at Serena first and then back and forth between Isabel and the boys.

Isabel’s attention was draw between her brothers and the new girl. The new girl who was sitting with and apparently good friends with the three individuals Isabel just knew would crumble her sacred pact she held with Max and Michael.

By this point Liz had a hundred theories running through her mind. Observant enough to put some clues together, but still missing so many pieces.

Through it all Kyle Valenti too was noticing the exchange. He looked up when Isabel has stopped laughing and followed her movements ever since. Seeing Evans and Guerin react the same way, he then noticed the new girl acting exactly like the three who had always been a bit off in his opinion. Then he saw Liz his sort of fake girlfriend. Her expression clued him into the fact that whatever was going on wasn’t logical. The other new girl, looked amused, but he didn’t know her so that told him nothing.

Stretching around to see Whitman and Maria would be more helpful. But one glance at Maria just gave him a headache. There were too many thoughts and emotions running across her face. He was surprise she didn’t explode. Now Whitman, he looked like he was about to faint. Never good. The last time that happened was in gym class when Alex got a bloody nose that wouldn’t stop and the sight of all the blood was too much for him.

Yep, Alex was panicking and in that moment Kyle promised himself to figure out what was going on. If Alex was panicking it couldn’t be good. The guy was always mellow, unless his girls were threatened. And Kyle wasn’t about to let anything happen to his sis..ah Maria or Liz, she had become a good friend recently.

Serena was smiling, realizing her sister had found the rest of her family.

Alex was panicking. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The Isabel person from the Future told him to stop the shooting and everything would be fine. The pieces of this strange puzzle they found themselves in were scattered throughout his mind. He had several of them, but still they made no sense in light of this new development.

Maria was perplexed. She had more pieces then Liz did, but less than Alex. If only he would look at her. She would read it in his eyes. The fact he wouldn’t look at her was also telling her a lot. Stupid spikey headed boy.

Serena looked around at the three who were like her sister glad there were more like her. Then she looked at their three new friends, the humans, she saw Liz and Maria’s expressions of confusion and exasperation. It was Alex’s expression that astounded her.

The bell rang sending Liz and Maria off in different directions not even realizing they left without a good bye.

As the popular crowd cleared off Tess slowly made her way over towards Isabel. Once she was gone Serena spoke.

“You know don’t you?”

Alex turned, startled by the knowledge shinning in her eyes. It had only been a day and already it felt like a lifetime. Not a very good one at that.

“More than I wish I did.”

“How?”

“Long story.”

“I got time.”

Alex looked at her seeing a glint in her eyes. The same one Maria had when she made up her mind about something.

“I’m sure you do, but no offense I hardly know you. I don’t think it would be wise to share what I know to a stranger.”

“Stranger? I’m Tess’s sister. She’s involved in this.”

Alex sighed and rubbed a hand across his face feeling much older than his sixteen years. “I know. You have no idea how much I know. But I can’t Serena too much is at stake.”

“At stake? What? What are you talking about? Are they in danger?”

Wearily Alex stood, he paused not wanted to lose the new friendship, but knowing this would tear them apart because he wouldn’t tell her his secret, not yet anyways. He could give her something though, warn her. Who knew maybe it would keep them all alive a little longer.

“They are now and always will be in danger. Our lives’s mixing with theirs only makes it so sooner.”

“Alex…”

“I can’t Serena, I promised her I wouldn’t. I want to be your friend, but you can’t push me on this, not now, maybe not ever. Can you accept that.”

“If their lives are directly threatened and you knew something about it would you help them?”

Without hesitation Alex answered, “Absolutely.” Quieter so only Serena could hear him he left her with a final thought, “WHAT they are doesn’t change WHO they are. And they are good PEOPLE.”

Serena watched as Alex walked away.

~*~*~*~

By the time Serena started hounding Alex, Kyle had impressively introduced himself to Tess who had timidly approached Isabel.

Something in itself which should be worshiped since Isabel didn’t send her away crying. But now a silence had fallen over the three. Tess and Isabel obviously dying to talk, but not with him standing there.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be Valenti?”

Kyle ignored the tone, used to Isabel’s attitude. He noticed Alex walking off, “Yeah, actually I do, somewhere very important. Excuse me ladies.”

When he was gone Isabel gave Tess an icy glare horrified by this small girl and needing to protect herself.

Tess just raised her hand for Isabel.

Unable to resist she put her palm to Tess’s. She closed her eyes at the familiar tingles, stronger than when she had found Michael again.

When she opened her eyes Max and Michael where standing next to her one flanked on each side, after all some part of them remembered, Protect Vilandra. Find Ava.

They just had to make sure it was her.

“Ava?” Tess frowned at the name, it was familiar but not. Instead of answer she put her hand to Max’s raised one. The tingles again traveled across their palms fluttering with in their minds. When Tess pulled her hand back she understood.

“Tess, now. My name is Tess here.”

Michael looked at Tess’s offered hand. His hand was next to his side itching to greet her; ironic that he could share this with a random human but not…but not who?

“Michael, it’s okay.”

Protect the others.

What if it was a trap?

Well only one way to find out.

His hand touched hers and the tingles were instantaneous. So were the sparks. Bright red and dark yellow emitted from their joined hands. In fear they drew back.

“Well that was interesting.”

“Shut up Iz.”

“What was that?”

“I don’t know Tess.”

“Max, Iz any ideas?”

“It’s familiar.”

Isabel nodded, “I know what you mean, like I’ve seen it before or experienced it before, but can’t place it.”

Michael shrugged what was one more question to the growing pile. “We should get to class.”

All three gave him shocked looks. Looks that only turned to laughter at his scowl before he turned his back on them and headed for trig.

~*~*~*~

As the Four Royals headed towards class, she watched from the fence.

~So not good.~

Briefly she wondered if she should inform her friend. Then she laughed. Knowing him he already had four people updating him on the status of the podlings.

Despite their pact, they were both still watching over their podlings. Granted they never said they wouldn’t watch out for them, try to keep them safe. They only wanted to make sure that they got their second chance. So far it looked like they were doing well.

All grown up now.

She felt a flicker in her mind and swore as the Traitor grew closer.

So much for second chances. Maybe DESTINY would find a way after all.

~NO!~

She was startled by the voice.

~You’re too close to them Danelea.~

~You’re obviously a lot closer than I thought. This isn’t good Kal, the Traitor...~

~I’m flying by overhead, don’t have a cow. You’re too close.~

~We have to protect them. They have no idea about who they are.~

~They know exactly who they are. Two of them are in love, Ava has a sister she would die for and Vilandra is just as beautiful and dedicated to her family as before. They have families who love them, hobbies they enjoy, and are working on an education that will provide them with what they need to support their future families. And WE are protecting them. WE protect them by staying out of their lives.~

~Such a smart ass. Too much influence from Rath if you ask me. FINE. They don’t know WHAT they are. Happy. He’s getting closer Kal.~

~Do you think I don’t know that.~

~How do we protect them from him.~

She was met with silence.

~That’s what I thought. They need us maybe, not right now but they will need us. And I for one don’t want to leave them alone. WE already did that once.~

~I could distract him with the rejections.~

~I hate that you call them that.~

~It’s what they are. I could alert him to their location. They are very flawed, more so than we originally believed. It would be doing this planet a favor if he took care of them.~

~Won’t it just piss him off more?~

~Probably, but it’s that or wait for him to come and destroy the Royals. And then what of their second chance?~

~Fine, but make sure you stay safe too, don’t risk yourself just to send him after the red herrings.~

~Lea, I’m…I’m sorry we never…~

~Forget it Kalei. It was a life-time ago. Quite literally.~

~Still…~

~No.~

She felt his frustration at her refusal to talk about it, but she didn’t care. Couldn’t care while the Royals were still in so much danger. She felt him drop the issue probably realizing her own loss of control on her emotions.

~I’ll divert the Traitor. It wouldn’t hurt if you backed off a bit form the podlings. I don’t think it’s necessary for you to be at the doors of their school to save them from homework.~

Not even a little bit surprised that he knew exactly where she was, Danelea chuckled as she waked away from the school allowing the connection to drop.

~*~*~*~

Inside the school, in the middle of trig class, Michael was staring intensely out the window. He knew that woman from somewhere, but for the life of him he couldn’t place her.

And what the hell was that buzzing at the back of his head. He turned to see Tess rubbing at the back of her head as she worked on the problem. He was certain it wasn’t from a headache either. They didn’t get headaches.

Michael watched in suspicious as the woman laughed and then wandered off chuckling. It was her hand that caught his attention though, her hand lingered on the fence raised up in a farewell.

From inside Michael raised his own hand starting to wonder if their strangeness would eventually start a new trend. He watched the woman fade into the streets with other people and finally dropping his own hand.

The buzzing was gone, replaced by a sense that it wouldn’t be long before he met her again. Whoever she was.

~Protect the others~

Michael jumped as the thought crossed is mind. It wasn’t just a memory this time the woman had actually told him that in his mind. Again.

Michael was startled to realize it was indeed the second time she had told him this.

Informed him of what his job entailed.

“Mr. Guerin is there a problem?”

Michael smirked; hell yeah there was a problem, many of them in fact.

“Not that I’m aware of sir.”

“Good, perhaps then you can return your mind and body from outer space and join us.”

Michael nodded distractedly. He could have sworn he heard laughter. Her laughter and a smart ass remark that had him smirking despite himself,

~Been there. Done that.~

Tess looked at him from across the classroom the buzzing was stronger now, but Michael just shook his head at her.

He sighed, looking around bored out of his mind, briefly he wished pixie was in this class for a distraction, but then again maybe it was better she wasn’t.

Somehow Michael knew she would have known what was going on with him. A scary thought, but one he was warming up to every day.

Now all he needed to figure out was a way to deal with that sacred pact and a crazy Izzie.

Yes. He certainly had problems, but surely nothing that would bring about the end of the world…

TBC.


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

[starcrazed]

Part 8

The year went on.

So did the next one.

Through it all Danelea watched, waiting for it to happen. Growing more concerned each week as they went on without their gifts.

In the middle of the Junior year, Max, Isabel, Michael, and Tess all passed out one day when they were hanging out at the Crashdown.

It caused a big uproar among all the customers.

Liz and Maria who were working rushed over to them to help.

Alex was on the verge of telling them about the healing stones.

Serena was trying to wake up Tess tears running down her cheeks.

Kyle stood over them all, scaring off customers.

They pulled together, not because they all knew the secret of the Royals. Kyle, Liz and Maria were in fact still in the dark for the most part.

They came together because in the past year they had formed a weird type of bond between the nine of them.

They were friends, but they weren’t. Some of them were at least.

They respected each other, but fought constantly. Some of them more so than others.

They were related by blood, by love, by choice. Yet they were still so distant.

A pact was made in third grade by three of them. It was one none of them wanted to follow still, but they did.

So there they stood together, but apart until the four Royals woke back up.

They didn’t know what had caused it, and by the next week there was new gossip about some pregnant student or two teachers having an affair so they didn’t have to deal with the questioning looks.

How were they supposed to know at that moment the Traitor realized he had been played a fool and took out his aggression out on their duplicates?

Even across the country the Royals still felt an ache as the red herrings were eliminated from the Earth. They passed out as the replacement link was cut off.

Danelea cried for the New York set, but she was the only one.

After the Crashdown closed that day the pixie girl went out to her car to find one reformed spiky haired boy on her hood.

“Tell me.”

He looked up over at her. Clearly surprised, through all their flirting, bickering, and ignoring each other she had never once asked. He could always see the question in the back of her eyes, even though she tried to hide it yet she never asked.

Had she asked then, he probably wouldn’t have been able to resist. Every secret he had would have spilled from his mouth and he would have been helpless to stop the words until he was empty and her green eyes danced with overflowing emotions, full with knowledge.

But not now, maybe not ever.

Today that had changed. Whatever it was that caused them to pass out was dangerous. It was moving back towards them too. He had long ago felt the evil leaving the area. It scared him now to feel it slowly but surely working its' way back here, just in the few hours since they had passed out.

The woman too clued him onto the fact. For a long time she had disappeared, but within the last two months he had spotted her a total of four times.

“You’re not going to tell me are you?”

His attention went back to the pixie in front of him. Knowing the words would never come; he hoped his eyes would tell her for him. He shook his head no.

He watched as so much pain filled her eyes he couldn’t breath.

“Ma…”

Silenced once again by her holding up her hand, in a warning. Not a greeting or a farewell or comfort.

It was a warning. Almost like she was going to blast him onto his ass. Blasting. Hmm now there was an interesting thought.

“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say my name.”

He nodded his head in acceptance and she lowered her shaking hand.

“Why not.”

He struggled to find the words. Words he could tell her that wouldn’t break a pact that he now only held to keep her safe. Always for her.

“I’m dangerous.”

He could see the disbelief in her eyes. She knew him after all, most of him anyway. If anyone on this planet wouldn’t believe him it would be her. Even if she didn’t know him he figured she wouldn’t believe him just to spite him.

“Listen Pixie, this thing, not the, you and me thing, the other thing…” He saw her soft smile as he actually acknowledge that there was a thing going on between them.

“…this thing. I don’t understand it yet. I don’t have control of it.”

She cut him off, “You have control of it when you’re with me.”

He wasn’t surprised she had noticed. They had spent enough time together the past year as they practiced avoiding each other. He nodded his head in agreement.

“I think… I think that I’ll have to leave. Something is coming. Something evil and I think I’ll have to leave to take care of it and I don’t want to leave you. Not like he did.”

Maria didn’t question how he knew that, even though she never told him about her dad it would figure he would know all about the most painful moment in her life thus far. It seemed insignificant only when compared to the fact that his ‘father’ hit him. Almost beat him to an inch of his life once. That was the pain that reflected in his eyes. A pain that was mirrored in hers. The pain left in the unwanted children.

Maria listened to his words taking them in. She watched his eyes. Eyes that were capable of telling her so much.

It was his eyes that told her all that he wasn’t saying. How causing her pain was more unbearable to him than sitting in the core of the Earth, how if he indeed left, he would transverse the Universe to get back to her, how not telling her was causing him just as much pain as her, but he would deal with it because it meant she would be safer, how her being safe, alive, and happy meant more to him than his next breath, how he needed her more than his next breath, how when he took his last breath hopefully years from now, it would be her name that he said.

He stepped forward and she took a step back. Her control wavering. He took another step to her and she shook her head furiously, no longer having the energy to step away.

When he was an inch from her body he held up his hand. She stared at it for a minute, and then looked up into his eyes.

His eyes pleading with her.

Her eyes pleading with him.

“Ple…ase.”

A tear fell from her eye at his choked up voice. He wiped it away with the tip of his finger.

Maria closed her eyes in absolute pleasure. Liz was right when she said it was painfully wonderful.

She opened her eyes looked into his and then very deliberately, very slowly took a step back.

A weaker person would have caved. But she had to be strong when he couldn’t. In that action she was acting for the both of them because that, touching his hand like that right now, would have been almost as bad, maybe worse if he said her name or she said his.

Over the past year they had been very careful not to touch each other. Not since that day in the Crashdown when everything changed. The tip of his finger alone would forever be burned into her soul. It was implanted on her memory, more familiar to her than her own name.

She watched as the pain filled his eyes a moment before the understanding broke through and then relief that she had done what he wasn’t able to.

He closed his eyes trying to gain control as she wrapped her arms around her now freezing body.

When he opened his eyes all the emotions where still there, she could see them, but anyone else wouldn’t have because he was holding them back now.

Only the tinge of annoyance was outright obvious. Maria laughed and he smiled. A smile that warmed her soul.

“See you around, Pixie.”

“Threatening me now?”

He chuckled as he turned and walked back to his apartment.

Maria got into her car and only then did she notice the shaking of her hands.

“Damn him and his…his freakiness. I told Liz. I tried to tell her and Alex about them and their strangeness, but did they listen. No, of course not. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about Maria,’ ‘You’re crazy Maria.’ Ha. Yeah, now I am talking to myself sheesh. Damn right I’m crazy. It won’t be long before I’m abducted by an alien…”

TBC.

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

[starcrazed]

Thanks for all the great feed back. Enjoy this next part!

Part 9

The rest of junior year pasted without any difficulties as far as anything that involved graduating high school involves.

Isabel had gained a second shadow in the form of Kyle, who was relentlessly pestering her about that day sophomore year when they found Tess. Or rather when Tess found them.

Granted Kyle and her had become great friends, if he asked her one more time she as going to make it her business in life to ensure Kyle Valenti woke up everyday from a nightmare. What an odd thought.

Strangely enough, as Kyle pursued Isabel, Serena pursued Alex all the while Alex worked to avoid Isabel.

All of that on top of, not sharing with Liz and Maria what he knew about the Royals was driving him to exhaustion. He was also beginning to question his sanity. Who in their right mind would actively avoid Isabel Evans when she was seeking them out? For a date believe it or not.

Before they knew it senior year was among them.

By the start of it, only Max and Liz seemed to have retained their sanity between the nine of them. For them, science projects and staring endlessly at the other, who they thought wasn’t lookingb sustained them.

The others watched in amusement though as their sanity fled out the door like the rest of theirs had so long ago with the college applications and acceptance letters.

Liz got her dream. Harvard accepted her into the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Tess had also set her sites on Harvard. She was also accepted, going into Physics just like her dad.

Max decided that Princeton was the place for him. It was close enough to Liz. Just in case. He was doing a double major with History and Philosophy.

Even closer to Max than Liz would be both Isabel and Maria who had both decided to attend NYU. Both were disgusted to learn the other would be in the same state as them. It seemed to fail their notice they spent all their lives in the same small town. Isabel chose to focus on International Relations while Maria was dedicating her study to Journalism, her passion for English leading her there. Eventually she hoped to write books. Her goal…to be a starving artist.

Across the country both Michael and Kyle would find themselves at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. With Michael focusing on Architecture and Kyle going into Mechanical Engineering. Thanks to the charms of Isabel, her constant nagging and threatening, Kyle and Michael were going to be roommates. Neither were too certain about that decision, but willing to give it a chance for Isabel’s peace of mind and their safety. Michael was hesitant to leave the others by staying closer to home, but something in him overrode his ever-present need to protect the others. Something was closer to home that needed to be discovered. Something he had to find for them.

With Serena graduating a year early, her and Alex were headed to the west coast to Stanford. Alex becoming a part of the Department of Computer Science while Serena turned to Psychology.

The graduation party held at the Crashdown was quite an affair. In 8th grade, Alex, Maria, and Liz had spent a week planning out their graduation party from high school. They were so excited about growing up and moving away from home.

It had started as a small party with them and their families. Obviously Kyle would have to be there since he was technically Maria’s family by then, but they decided this small detail wouldn’t take away from their big day.

Most things don’t end up how they are planned though.

Kyle took the liberty to invite Isabel who naturally dragged Max along with their parents following shortly after.

Liz invited Serena and Tess to join them. Tess was hesitant to intrude on their specially planned day, but Serena jumped at another chance to question Alex.

The day before the party Michael cornered Maria in a hallway at school when she was running late for her pre-calculus class.

“I don’t have time for this Spaceboy, I’m late.”

“Why wasn’t I invited?”

It took a whole two minutes for the question to make sense in her head. If Michael wasn’t hurt by the thoughtlessness of it all he would have been amused by her confusion. When the question made sense her eyes widen and her mouth formed a nice O.

After that though she was confused again.

“You WANT to go to a party? Where there will be other people? Adults will be there. Expecting you to talk to them and be happy and excited for college. They’ll be asking you about your future plans, forcing cake down your mouth. You want to voluntarily submit yourself to that? Socializing? Are you ill?”

Michael was worried for a minute. He questioned the intelligence of his pixie. But then he saw the challenge in her eyes, daring him to say what they both knew. Never one to back down from a challenge Michael stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“You’ll be there.”

He smirked as he saw her body shiver, hopefully in delight.

Maria looked up glaring at him for the underhanded move.

“Starts at five. Don’t be late.”

With a final glare she walked off to class, talking extra care to sway her hips.

At the end of the hallway she heard him groan and smiled at her victory.

~*~*~*~

Needless the say the party was anything but dull. The parents watched in wonder as their children spaced away from one another while at the same time trying to be as close as possible.

There was an awkward moment among the parents when they were discussing the kids. Amy started the conversation out with how Maria took 23 hours to delivery. Then the Evans began talking about how they found Max and Isabel which caused Lynn and Matthew to look at them in speculation. Then they told the story of how they found Tess.

The kids might have been concerned if they weren’t too busy dancing around each other. Literally this time.

Liz and Maria were spinning around laughing, very much like that first day at school for Max and Isabel. Her hair was still just as shinny as Max sat in his booth staring at her. Tess giggled at him drawing his attention away from his soul-mate.

“You have some drool Max.”

“What? Oh sorry, was I staring again?” Her laughter filled the whole Café that time.

“It can’t be healthy if you don’t even know if you’re staring at the girl anymore.”

Max blushed and shrugged sheepishly.

“Tess I just wanted to say that I’m glad you came to Roswell. I’m glad you came home.”

She smiled, “Me too Max. I mean having Serena my whole life has been more than I could have asked for and then I get you guys too and it’s just almost too good to be true you know? Hanging out with you, going shopping with Isabel, helping Michael with his gifts all of it has been like this dream come true almost. More family like me; at least now I know why I didn’t freak out like Serena did when we found out we were moving. I think part of me knew you were here; at least I like to pretend so. That eventually I would have found the three of you. It’s like I found a long lost friend with you.”

Max smiled, “A best friend.”

~*~*~*~

Alex was drinking orange soda when Isabel appeared at his elbow. She had paid Liz and Maria ten bucks to distract Serena.

“Look, Alex. I’m not an idiot okay? I’m a smart girl. Woman. I’m an intelligent woman who frankly is more than half way decent looking. I’m a good person. I won’t let you keep giving me the cold shoulder. I didn’t get to go to prom with who I wanted and I’ll be damned if I don’t get to dance with you at least once on my graduation day.”

She stood there waiting. Alex risked a glance at her. Big mistake. She had red on. More than that though, despite her harsh words her eyes were filled with vulnerability.

Alex gave her a goofy grin, “Rats, spoiled again.” Alex got up taking Isabel's hand and leading her to the small area they had cleared tables from in order to dance.

She cracked a smile. Alex thought it was a start. Maybe it would be okay now if he disregarded what that other Isabel said. The one who claimed to be from the future. A future that was at her point looking to be pretty brief.

“You’re wrong you know.”

Isabel looked into his eyes, there were very few people she respected that she was eye-level with.

“Wrong?”

Alex nodded very sure of himself.

She waited even if a bit impatiently.

“You’re more then half-way decent looking. You’re the most stunningly beautiful woman to ever grace this planet. You’re more than just a good person; you’re the kindest, most generous, heartwarming soul who ever lived on Earth. The lengths you would go to in order to protect your family are something War Generals should envy. You Isabel Amanda Evans are a first rate human being. As far as I’m concerned they should make more like you.”

She kissed him then.

How else should she have responded to the lanky boy who was just outside the lines of popularity, yet she fell for him anyway? First as a friend because of the way he treated Maria and Liz, then wanting more because of the way he would look at her. Seeing beyond her beauty to the very core of her being. A look so penetrating it made her tingle. Without even realizing it she had let Alex Whitman into her heart. That proved to be less of a challenge though then getting him to let his guard down.

So once he did, Isabel wasted no time on moving in.

She pulled back when the flash crossed her mind. If it had been anybody else she might have just passed it off as some twisted fantasy. But this was Alex and she was doing some freaky stuff in the flash.

“Alex what was that?”

It didn’t even occur to her that she was the one with abilities. The possibility that Alex might have seen something too that he didn’t understand never crossed her mind. If she had asked he would have told her all about her regret of a pact she forced her brothers to make, one that every time she saw him looking at her made her want to take it back.

It also didn’t register that as far as she knew Alex thought she was human. Lucky for her he already knew all about aliens.

“What’d you see?”

It was that question that had Isabel realizing she was talking to someone who supposedly did not know her secret. At least she didn’t think he did, yet he spoke about it more knowingly and sure than she ever had in her eighteen, well okay technically twelve, years alive.

“Me, but not me. Dark clothes, scars, short hair, and ah… stuff was moving around…by itself.”

Maybe it was a test, when she said it she wasn’t sure. She just knew she couldn’t lie to him.

“Oh Isabel I really wish you hadn’t seen that. Of all the things. Multiple fantasies, years of embarrassment, ridiculous band dreams…

I’ll tell you Isabel, but you have to swear not to ever tell another living soul. Not Max or Michael or Tess. Not anybody. One of you has to know, but it has to die with you. This secret is too dangerous for all of us to be running around with it. ”

Beyond confused Isabel cut him off, “Alex just tell me. It’s okay you can trust me.”

Alex nodded as they continued to sway to the music. “I know. I know I can trust you. Even though you didn’t trust me, even when your gut was telling you too.”

“Alex…”

“It’s okay Isabel. I understand really. You, ah, I guess you could say I had a visitor and she cleared it all up for me.”

Seeing her confusion was only increasing Alex decided to start over.

“Do you remember back in September, right when Tess showed up.” She nodded so he continued. “That day in the Crashdown, the day Sheriff Valenti arrested the man with the gun. The gun was supposed to go off. The men got into an argument and one of them pulled out the gun and he fired it and the bullet hit Liz.”

Isabel paled as her mouth opened slightly in shock.

“Yeah I know right, crazy. But that didn’t happen because I stopped it. I stopped it because a person from the Future dropped into my room and told me the future of the planet, of multiple planets actually, depended on Liz Parker not getting shot. More specifically on Max Evans not healing Liz Parker when she did get shot, but both of us agreed a dead Liz was no good so…I went to the Café that day saw the men and went to find Mr. Parker and Valenti.”

Doubt covered Isabel’s features. Alex didn’t blame her, half the time he didn’t believe it and it happen to him.

“I stopped Max from using his healing powers thus preventing the rest of your guy’s gifts from being revealed.”

Isabel said the only thing she could think of. “Max can’t heal.”

Alex nodded in understanding, “I know. And he won’t be able to, unless his emotions break through his iron control and unleash the block. Liz Parker lying on the floor of the Crashdown for sixteen year old Max Evans was more than enough for him to set free the ability. Liz Parker dying at any age to Max is unacceptable. He would do anything to prevent it, and because of your genetics he can.”

The rest of what Alex was saying seemed to register in Isabel’s mind, “Oh my god. You know. You’ve known for two and a half years!”

Alex covered Isabel’s mouth with his own. When he pulled back he spoke gently but firmly.

“Until Tess, Michael, Max, and you are ready to break that stupid pact, Liz and Maria don’t know. Until you can find the courage to tell them, Liz and Maria can’t find out that I know. It would crush them. Even then they can’t know how I found out.”

“Won’t it crush them if they find out?”

“No. Either one of them would have done the same thing as I did if a Future version of Max or Michael showed up in their room a shadow of their younger selves. They’ll be pissed off and hurt, but they will understand and they will forgive me. Because I would forgive them. But that can’t ever happen. The possibility of time travel dies with us Isabel.”

“It’s so much. Too much. What we are, how much we don’t know. What you do know. We can’t ever tell them Alex it’s too dangerous.”

That set Alex off, he tried to pull away but she held him tight. “Isabel you can trust Liz, Maria, and Kyle with your lives. They would do anything to protect you.”

Isabel nodded in agreement, confusing him. “I know Alex. We all do. From that day, the day of the shooting, we’ve wanted to tell you. Before that even all of us have wanted to share with each of you at some point or another.”

“Why don’t you.”

Isabel gave a sad smile, “Because like you guys we would do anything to protect you. That means not knowing us. Not knowing what we are.”

“A princess.”

“What?”

Alex smiled, “You were a princess, before on your planet.”

She laughed then a full body laugh, “Well at least some things don’t change.”

“She didn’t think we should know either. Future Iz, said not to tell the rest of the ‘humans.’ I think she was wrong though. She came from a horrible time when everyone she had loved died, her planet was about to be destroyed and she had one chance to ‘fix’ whatever it was that went wrong. Everything for them tied to us finding out aliens existed. Prevent that, prevent the end of the world.”

“You think she was wrong?”

“I know she was. We make each other stronger. Even now when we’re not really together, not how we should be, we make each other stronger. We make each other happy. Give each other something to fight for. I think she just wanted to give us more time to grow up. A second chance before your powers came into play and throw off our ‘normal’ lives. She wanted us to have a chance to live.”

“What do we do about this new situation?”

A memory surface in his mind of him asking Liz almost the same question. He gave Isabel a similar answer.

“It’s the same as it’s always been, so we do the same as we always have. You guys have your lives and we have ours. In some places they just so happen to bump up against each other. You’re best friends with Kyle, who is infatuated with Tess who is best friends with Max who loves Liz. Wow, it almost sounds like a soap opera. Anyways, Liz has no idea what is going on just what Maria tells her and Maria knows a lot or a least suspects a lot that is dead on. And Maria is the only girl in the world, maybe the entire Universe that gets Michael to smile. Michael Guerin who is willing and proud protector of us all, even Serena whose only crime was trying to get the secret of future Isabel from me.

It’s who you guys are Isabel, it defines who you are. In two months time we’ll be spread across the country so…”

“What about you Alex?”

“Huh?”

“You didn’t tell me how your life bumps up against the rest of ours.”

“Well I would have thought that obvious: big brother type of two brilliant strong willed women, devoted friend to the blonde hair, blue eyed sisters, court jester to the King and comrade of the Michael and Kyle.”

He paused a moment to watch her expression; noting the humor when he gave Max his title. Labeled the role Michael, she, and later Tess appropriately forced him into throughout their lives.

“Most importantly though,”

“Yeah?”

“Madly in love with the Princess.”

She kissed him softly.

“I don’t know how it happen Alex, but the Princess fell in love too. You slipped past my guards that were only half alert and then I barricaded you inside. I hope that’s okay, because I don’t think I’ll be able to let you go. Not now, probably not ever.”

“Why my lady, what could ever be wrong with that.”

“Nothing, nothing at all…”

TBC.