Eve: Yes, Liz and Michael have become very good friends over the years, I’m sure that Maria, Michael and Isabelle all shared a big part of their lives with her since they were the only members of the “I know an alien club” for awhile. Of course they eventually told their parents who were very helpful in taking care of the Special Unit. And, yes, Liz has her lonesome moments that’s for sure. As for Harvik, well he’s definitely ‘creepy’. Hey, there is one thing though…I’ve gone back and reread the first nine chapters myself because you mentioned Max and Michael are angry with each other. I didn’t say that, I don’t think. Anyway, they aren’t angry with each other, sorry if I hinted at that.
Michele: Honest, Liz knows she’s the one that walked away…her heart isn’t real happy about that but her head knows she did. She is still hurt that Max didn't believe her when she suggested that Alex was murdered and that he promised to always be her friend and then he turned against her.
As for Jeff’s problem, well that gets covered down the road a piece and Harvik? Well, I’m not so sure his elevator goes all the way to the top but that’s later too.
Now, here’s something more than one of you have suggested and I’m confused about it, I can’t find where I said Michael was angry with Max anywhere. Cardinal suggested it, Eve suggested it and now you have suggested it. I’m really confused here. I went back and read all nine chapters and I didn’t suggest that. I did say that Michael would most likely be spending a lot of time at Toys-r-Us with Zan, and he probably will, this Michael likes toys as much as the series Michael did…all kinds of toys.
And thanks for the compliment. If you guys keep it up I might try another one of these some day.
Carolyn: Yes she is…”you gotta’ have a plan.” And she’s covering all bases. I’m glad you’re enjoying the regular updates…it’s fun to turn my computer on in the morning and see all of the remarks you guys leave for me. It’s like morning conversation over a cup of tea and I’m enjoying it as well.
XAF RU208: Glad your happy just reading along. No, Mr. Chapin wasn’t interested in Liz’s conversation on the phone so much as he was interested in her getting rid of Harvik…Harvik has been a headache for sometime but company policy is usually filed along with other corporate by-laws when a company incorporates so he has been stuck with the creep for some time because he is ‘protected’ by the by-laws of the corporation. (whew! I forgot I knew all that shit!)
lol. Nitpick 23: Max has brought the culture back with him because he thinks it’s an earth virus. Like we didn’t know what the gandarium was, they don’t know what this is. And at this point, most of the studies have been done for Liz, all she and Serena need to find is a cure at this point. We hope!
And yes, Liz is lonesome. Her best friends are scattered all over the US and her family is in Roswell, but like most people she went with the best offer which happened to be in Dallas, Tx. So she’s lonely. She’s doing what she loves to do, science, and she’s making big bucks but she’s lonely. She needs to go 'shit-kickin' with girlfriends.
xtingman: It seems we were both posting here at the same time and I almost missed your fb. Your right about Mr. Chapin, all he wants is for Liz to come back to work for him. As for the rest of your questions...they'll be answered in due time.
The Jeff situation is going to be covered as well, honest! You are all soooo nice!!!
(smiles)*~*~*
Chapter: 10
It was mid morning before Serena came down the hallway and entered Diane’s kitchen and the smells were divine. Diane had baked a coffee cake and put cayenne pepper in it. She remembered the spicy that Max and Isabelle loved as kids and she really peppered the pastry with the hot spice for the travelers. Zan was sitting practically on Diane’s lap as she went through photo album after photo album with the child showing him his daddy and aunt Isabelle at his age. He was enthralled. They only used connections, as his daddy called them, on Antar when they wanted to look at the past. This was much better…the person didn’t have to be around if you wanted to look at them and then he spotted a photograph of a large group of teen-agers…and he immediately zoomed in on one particular dark haired young girl…
“Grandma, that’s Liz isn’t it?”
Diane was semi shocked that the young boy knew who Liz was but she merely answered his question…
“Yes Zan, that’s Liz. Your grandfather said she is a little older looking now and much prettier if that’s possible but that’s Liz. How do you know Liz?”
And Serena couldn’t take it any longer and walked over to their side of the table and had a look at the young girl also.
“Dad dreams about her and when I sleep with him I can see her too.”
Max was rounding the corner coming in from the back of the house when he heard this confession. He had no idea that Zan knew about Liz and then he felt sad. He couldn’t remember any dreams he had ever had of Tess…his son had no idea what his mother looked like. Maybe Isabelle had a picture of her somewhere and then he decided that it was not important for him to know her at all…he didn’t want Zan to get confused about finding out she was not a good person…well that’s not true, she wasn’t raised to be a good person and there is a difference.
“Hey Serena, did you sleep well?”
“Oh my yes Max…thank you. I am so glad you brought us back here…it seems so long since I’ve been able to actually fall asleep and not keep one eye open that I can’t even remember it. And that bed, it’s heavenly. We need beds like that on Antar.”
“Max laughed. When you go back we will put one on board for you. How’s that? It’s the least we can do for you.”
“How about you Zan…did you sleep well too?”
“Yeah daddy, but you snore.”
They all laughed and then Diane asked…
“Zan, you can have your own room if you want it. There’s another spare room but it’s upstairs with your grandfather and me if you don’t mind being away from your daddy.”
Zan looked at Max and Max nodded yes and the boy smiled at his grandmother.
“I would like that…I’ve never had my own room. Dad always made me sleep with him…always.”
“I see…well you can have your own room now Zan and we’ll fix it up any way you want it fixed. How’s that?”
“Great. Dad, can we go to that toy store you were talking about? We can get stuff to put in it.”
“Yes Zan, we can go to that toy store buddy. Whenever Serena is ready to go shopping you and I will go to the toy store and grandma can take Serena to the mall.”
About that time the back door opened and Philip came in with a big smile on his face and Zan’s eyes got huge…
“Dad! He’s big!” And everyone started laughing as Philip smiled down at the boy and took his little hand in his…
“Hello Zan. I’m your grandfather and I am so glad to meet you. You have no idea how glad, none at all.” And Philips' eyes started to water up as he took in the child’s appearance. He was the image of Max at that age and then Zan did exactly what he had done with Diane, feeling just as secure in Philips' love the young boy got up from his chair and hugged his grandfather as hard as he could. Philip picked the child up and hugged him back, just as hard. And when they were finished with their greeting Philip sat the boy on his hip and reached a hand out to Serena…
“Hello Serena. Diane told me about you last night. Welcome to our home and better yet to our planet. I hope your stay gives you all of the answers you are looking for.”
“Thank you Mr. Evans, I hope so too. I understand you visited with Liz. Is she going to help us?”
“Yes she is…as a matter of fact she has a list of materials she feels you two will need and she said that you should look it over and if there’s anything she’s missed you should have Max get it for you, and Serena, my name is Philip.” And Philip smiled at the young woman who resembled Liz in so many ways. What is it about short little brunettes that Max is so enthralled with.
Zan remained in his grandfather’s arms until Philip was ready to have some coffee…and then Philip looked at Diane…
“Diane, is this a special coffee cake?”
“Yes it is but there’s one on the side of the island for you Philip…minus the cayenne.”
“Thank you.” And Philip got up and went over to the island and took the coffee cake to the table.
“What’s that grandpa? Is it different?”
“Yes it is Zan, there’s no heat in it.”
“What heat? It’s not hot in here, is it?”
“ This heat… it burns your tongue.”
“But there’s no fire under it.”
“Honey…” and Philip pointed to the other coffee cake “that cake has fire built into it. It’s for your father…he likes spicy hot food and grandma makes his food special.” Then Philip whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, “he’s spoiled Zan.”
And Serena laughed. She liked these people, they seemed very loving.
“Well, if we’re going to go shopping we’d better get busy. Philip, Max and Zan are going to the toy store to get ‘stuff’ for Zan’s room. He’s going to be staying in the guest room upstairs with us. He’s never had his own room and, although I’m not sure just what he wants, he seems to be familiar with toys.”
“Well good for him. He’ll need a fishing pole too…so let me just put my brief case in my office and take my bag upstairs and I’ll be with you in a jiffy. Oh, and Liz sends her love. Maria and Michael are going to be arriving at her place on Wednesday for a concert tour and Liz was going to put in for a leave of absence today so we should see her the following Monday. She has to make arrangements for things to be taken care of in her absence.”
“Philip, which bedroom did she put you up in. I think Jeff and Nancy have a bet going with each other…Nancy is positive you got the canopy bed room and Jeff mentioned the rose room.”
“Although the rose room had the larger bed I had the canopy bed. I might add that it was quite comfortable and it really wasn’t as feminine as it sounds.”
Serena and Max grinned at each other and Diane raised an eyebrow to her husband…
“It wasn’t the least bit frilly, honest.” And then they all laughed. Zan was lost, they weren’t making sense.
“Did Liz ask about me?” The little boy wondered…
“Yes she did Zan and she’s looking forward to meeting you.”
“I knew she would.” The little boy said, very nonchalantly, and the adults just stared at him in wander…he couldn’t possibly mean that and they all moved away from the table to get ready for the mall.
*
Back in New York a very tired Maria DeLuca rolled out of bed around 11:30 a.m. and headed for her bathroom, purely out of necessity, and tried to wake herself up. She had a very late night last night trying to get ready for another tour. Her music director was being impossible regarding song choices and wardrobe…she figured she had reached a point in her career where she could perform some variations on the teeny bopper songs and the director was trying to convince her to stick to what sells. It was a never ending battle and she was ready to blow them all off. If she invested wisely she could be sitting comfortably any where in the world for the rest of her life…maybe even quit fighting with spaceboy long enough to make a go of it. God knows there wasn’t anyone else she wanted to spend her life with but it seemed that every time she got upset she took it out on Michael…why did she do that…and this last time he actually moved out and got his own place. That really hurt.
After she got herself settled in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and the morning trade papers she gave Michael a call…
“Hey spaceboy…are you awake yet?”
“Yes Maria, wide awake and on my second pot of coffee…what’s up?”
“Oh just checking in. Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”
“As a matter of fact I do. I’m going to go over to the mall and look around for some things I might need for the next couple of months. I’m taking off to Roswell and I’ll be gone at least three months, maybe more.”
“What in the hell do you want to go to Roswell for Michael?”
“Because Liz asked me to. Max is back and he has enlisted Liz’s help with a biological problem. She needs me to do some security for her.”
“Of course…Liz needs you so you are going.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean Maria. You know she would be there for any of us if we needed her. There isn’t anyone else she trusts to do this. She really doesn’t want to go there herself but she’s going and after all she’s done for us in the past I’m not letting her down and I don’t think you have anything to complain about either Maria.”
“You’re right Michael, I don’t…but three months. My God, does the world depend on this or something?”
“Since you put it that way Maria…yes it does.”
“Oh…OH! Do you think I should come also?”
“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. You should probably stay here and make sure things are handled the way they should be while I’m gone. You know as much as I do about the business end of it and I don’t see any more concert dates coming up in the near future so you can take care of things here. Book in performances as you wish and write songs if you want to. What do you say?”
“I say no…I’ve got an uncomfortable feeling about this and I think I need to be with the “gang” for this one. It sounds safer for some reason. Call Isabelle and see what she’s doing about it.”
“I don’t think Isabelle knows he’s back yet…I’ll check with Liz first and then call her. You just may be right. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay Michael…see you for dinner?”
“Yeah, sure…I’ll come over.”
“Good. See you then.” And they rung off. ‘will this shit ever stop’ she thought to herself. ‘I knew it was too good to be true. We get the damned feds off our asses and then he has to come back with more shit…damn!’
And Maria looked as though she wanted to cry.
*
Diane took Serena in her car to go shopping and Philip took Max and Zan in his SUV and they headed to the tackle and bait shop before heading to Toys-r-Us…you just had to deal with things in the order of their importance and Max grinned at his dad.
“Have you called Isabelle yet Max?”
“No dad, I haven’t called anyone. I think Mom is the only one using the phone and she’s been talking to you. I’ll call her when I get back to the house.”
“Is that aunt Isabelle Dad?”
“Yeah Zan, she’s my sister…I think you’ll like her.”
“Grandma showed me pictures of her, she’s very pretty.”
“Yes she is Zan, very pretty. She will probably come to visit us as soon as she knows we’re here…so it’s best we get settled in first because your Aunt Isabelle is a whirlwind of energy.”
“Well that’s a nice way to put it.” Philip said with a grin.
“Yeah, it’s nicer than what I was thinking dad…but I do love her.”
“I know Max…we all do.” And now they were exiting the vehicle and going in search of fishing gear.
*
