Forgotten (CC, M/L, Mature)

[Erina]

Chapter 9


Four years later

“Mommy! Mommy” Liz heard her children yell, as they ran excitedly into the kitchen.

Zack was almost 6 years old now. He was a big brother to the others. Zack almost all the time was the responsible and serious one. He always looked after the twins, although they were good kids and never got into trouble. But he had kept his big brother attitude and he loved his brother and sister. Zack was the exact image of Max. He had the same eyes, hair, ears, attitude, likes and dislikes...Zack had got nothing from his mother.

The twins had celebrated their 4th birthday yesterday. Liz could not believe that they were already four years old. ‘They grow too fast,’ she thought as she looked at her daughter. She was family’s baby. With her mother’s hair and father’s eyes, she looked too adorable to resist. She, along with Xander, weren’t as shy and quiet as Zack. But how they adored their big brother! The three of them were always seen together.

Just like now. The twins ran and yelled, while Zack came after them, quiet and serious.

“Mommy, Daddy is home!” said Claudia, “He brought me a bear...A very big bear!” she came and took mother’s hand, “Come on, I want to show you!”

Liz sighed. Chris had bought so many different toys for the children, that their huge house was full. But he was their daddy...It was a big surprise when Zack called Chris, Daddy, but Liz was shocked when Xander and Claudia had called him Daddy too.

She had never wanted her children to refer to another man as their Dad. But as the years went on, she understood that they needed a father too.

She hadn’t heard from Max. Liz wasn’t actually waiting for him or anybody else from Roswell, because nobody knew where she was, but still, she had hoped.

In the end, Liz gave up. Max wasn’t going to be in their lives anymore, but their children deserved a family... Although Liz and Chris weren’t married, children considered him to be their father and Liz didn’t argue.

He wasn’t their father, but Chris was the children’s relative. In some way…

He had told her that he loved her almost every day in the past years, but Liz didn’t feel that kind of love towards him.

She just couldn’t make herself love him. Liz knew it wasn’t only because he was Max’s son, she considered him to be a very good friend, that’s it...

Although Liz had said that she never could love him, Chris hadn’t given up. While Liz was at the university Chris was the main help. He was so proud when, not so long ago, she had graduated from the University of Boston.

The last four years had passed peacefully. There had been a couple of summit meetings, but nothing important had been decided and Kivar hadn’t attacked.

Life was good. Liz had even called her mother, just to say that she was alive and ok. Liz had neither told nor asked any more. She didn’t want to know about Max.

Max had signed divorce papers and refused to be King anymore. He hadn’t done anything to find her. She knew that if he had wanted to find her, he would have done it. Come on, he was an alien! But Isabel had never dreamwalked her...

Nothing.

Her own powers were now stronger. Zan and Chris had helped her, Alex and Serena to train. If she needed to, Liz would be able to protect herself and the children but not for a long period of time.

Things with Serena were more confusing. They were friends. How could they not be? They were only females in the house, besides Claudia.

Still something had changed with her and Liz wasn’t sure was it for the good.
Lately, when they talked about Chris, she would become very angry one minute, and the next she would be sad and vulnerable.

Liz remembered her surprise when she had agreed to bond with Chris. But just lately Liz started to have suspicions about Serena’s feelings towards Chris.

Yesterday she had talked to Alex and asked him about Serena and Chris...After her many pleas he had told her...

Serena loved Chris. Apparently a long time ago Chris had loved Serena, but she’d just laughed him off. He had a hurt heart for long time. Until he had seen Liz. Then everything had changed. Serena had started to notice Chris, but it was too late, he was already in love with Liz.

Liz was determined to talk about that with Serena, but every time she had seen her, Serena would say that she needed to do something and leave.

It must hurt like hell – to live in a house with a man that you love, but who isn’t in love with you.

Liz sighed and went to the lobby with her daughter and sons.

There indeed was a huge bear. She gasped. It was even bigger than Liz.

“Chris! What is she going to do with that big bear?” she asked.

“Come on, Liz...I just saw it and decided that his place is in Claudia’s room. You know how much she likes bears…Any size,” Chris explained.

“Let’s go, Dia…We need to find the right place for this bear, right?” he took the huge bear and went with Claudia upstairs to her room.

“Well, boys it’s already late. Your beds are waiting for you!” Liz said.

“But mom...” Xander whined, “It’s only eight o’clock. I’m not a baby anymore, can I stay up a bit longer?” he pleaded.
“Xander...” Liz said sternly. She was having this conversation about bedtime almost every day now.

“Come on, Xan,” Zack said, “The sooner we go to bed, the sooner we’ll wake up. Remember, the park tomorrow?” he asked.

Xander eyes were immediately full of excitement.

“Time for bed,” he called and ran up to his room.

Liz just smiled.



Later that night



Liz couldn’t understand what made her wake up.

After she had put the children to bed, Liz said goodnight to both Chris and Serena and went to bed. Alex and Zan were at some summit meeting again. Sometimes Chris went with them, but this time he decided to stay home.

Then she heard it again.

Someone was moaning.

She stood up and went out of the room. She saw that the door to Chris’ room was slightly open. Again she heard moans, this time clearer.

She looked inside Chris’ room and quickly turned around completely embarrassed. Her cheeks start to burn immediately.

Ok, she didn’t love Chris, but she’d thought that he didn’t love Serena anymore. But after she had seen the two naked bodies moving together on the bed and the moaning that she still heard, Liz started to have doubts.

Why he had told her so many times that he loved her? Was he a liar? Liz had thought he was different...better than his father, but it looked like she was wrong.

When Liz started to leave, she heard something again. Somewhere between the moans, she had heard it, but she wasn’t sure, because there was just no way, that that word could be moaned.

“Liz...”

Now she heard it loud and clear. Chris was moaning her name whilst he was having sex with Serena. Liz was shocked and for a moment, couldn’t even move. During that time she heard her name again and again...

Liz felt sick...She felt used and dirty and.…confused.

Why in the hell would Chris be moaning her name?

Liz didn’t have much time for thinking about that...very interesting question, because someone had shut door very loudly.

“Liz?” she heard Alex yell from downstairs and rushed down.

She saw him and Zan still in the lobby.

“Liz! Take the children! I will wake up Serena and Chris. We must leave immediately!” Alex yelled while doing something with his laptop.

“Alex, what’s happened?” Liz asked while becoming very scared. Something wasn’t right...Something definitely wasn’t right.

“It’s Kivar...Nicholas is dead, but he managed to tell us, that Kivar has found where we live and is planning to attack us. Come on, we don’t have much time,” Alex quickly explained.

“Well, well...I must just say that you don’t have time at all...” Liz heard cold voice from the door.

“Kivar,” Zan whispered.

The next events happened very fast. Kivar threw them all to the wall and Liz felt a sharp pain in her leg. She was in the middle of Zan and Alex. Alex was very weak, but Zan was unconscious.

Kivar raised his hand again and throw energy ball to Alex. Liz screamed, when she saw blood flow from his stomach. She didn’t even quiet notice that now Kivar was aiming to her, until she felt a hard body pressed to her.

When Liz tried to push the body from her, she saw that was Chris. His eyes were closed and he was barely breathing. When her hand went through his hair she noticed blood.

Liz looked around. Kivar was nowhere to see, but beside her was Zan, who had regained consciousness.

“I almost killed him,” whispered Zan, “but it was not enough, he is still alive,” he said looking at her.

Then Zan eyes went down to her lap, where Chris’ head was. When his expression paled, Liz looked down too.

Liz gasped and tears start to flow. She wasn’t sure what was happening, but Chris was...fading.

“Zan! Do something!” she yelled.

Zan went to Chris and tried to put his hand on his chest. But he just couldn’t do it. He had faded. All Liz had as a reminder that Chris had been there were her bloody hands.

“Liz....” she heard faint whisper and looked up from her hands.

“Alex...Come on, Zan, we need to help him,” Liz said and ran to Alex.

“He can’t help me, Liz. It’s my time...” Alex coughed.

Zan still placed his hand over Alex’s wound. After short moment, when nothing happened, Alex weakly said: “See? I told you!”

“Alex, don’t speak, you must save your strength,” Liz told him, “Zan, do something...I don’t know...Call the ambulance!” she cried.

“He didn’t sleep with her...” she heard and turned to Alex once more.

“Max didn’t sleep with Maria,” were his last words as his body went limp.

[Erina]

Chapter 10


Liz’s body was on the bed, but her mind was somewhere else. Her children were safely lying beside her.

After yesterday’s events, Liz had hardly left them.

When Alex died, Liz couldn’t move or even speak. She was numb for several hours. Only when Zack had called to her, had she snapped out of the trance she’d been in.

Alex was dead.

Chris was dead.

And Serena...Liz didn’t know anything about her. Was she alive? There was a chance that Kivar had killed her too and her body had disappeared just like Chris. But what if she was alive? Where was she?

Many questions were running through her head. What had Alex meant when he had said that Max hadn’t sleep with Maria?

Liz had felt hope, just hearing those words, but how true were they? What kind of connection was there between Max cheating on her, and Alex?

How noticeably her life had changed. Just yesterday morning she was chatting with Serena while Chris was playing with the children.

And now...She was in some hotel, but she wasn’t sure where exactly they were. Zan had driven for a long time, so maybe they were in a different state now.

She was sure about only one thing. She would do anything to protect her children.


***


“How are you?” asked Zan after a few hours.

“Fine enough to move on,” Liz stood up and went to the window. She looked out as sun was rising. Just a day before, they were all alive. Now she was alone with Zan and the children.

“Where are we?” she asked some minutes later.

“Too close to Boston,” Zan replied as he joined her to watch the sunrise, “We can wait an hour or two until the children wake up, but then we have to go further.”

When Liz didn’t say anything, he continued, “We had a plan for these kinds of situations. We already have a house in another state and money in the bank. We are going to California,” he told her.

“Wow...That’s far...” was all Liz could say.

“Yeah…well, we had all this planed. I have already booked us into hotel rooms,” Zan said.

“Alex was a good planner, wasn’t he?” Liz whispered.

Zan just nodded.

“Zan...”Liz started, “What do you know about what Alex said? I mean, just before he died,” she felt tears flowing again.

“I’m ashamed about it, but I know everything, Liz. We didn’t have secrets from each other; although Chris didn’t know anything about it. Just me, Alex and Serena.”

Liz couldn’t believe her ears. So many people had known that Max didn’t cheat on her, but nobody had said anything to her.

She had thought that they were her friends. Friends...Maybe even Alex wasn’t her friend it he could lie to her about something that important.

“Tell me,” she demanded and turned to Zan.

“Liz...I’m not sure if this is good for you now. Maybe you could wait a few days, because–” Zan said, but Liz quickly interrupted him.

“Zan. I. Want. To. Know. NOW.” she said it in a tone that left no doubts to Zan, that he hadn’t other choice but to tell her.

Zan looked at the children that were still sleeping on the hotel bed. He made a shield around them, so they wouldn’t hear them and wake up.

“Like I said, I’m ashamed because of what I know, and...I’m truly sorry, Liz. But it just wasn’t my secret to tell you. You understand that, right?” he asked.

Liz remembered similar situation with Alex, when he’d wanted to know what she was hiding. She understood Zan, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be angry with him. Those situations may be similar, but at the same time very different, so Liz just nodded and Zan continued.

“You probably don’t know that Alex hated Max,” Zan said.

Liz didn’t expect that. Alex hated Max? Why? What he had done to Alex that was so terrible?

Zan went on, “Even when Alex was in Roswell, he didn’t like him. They might have been friends, but deep in his heart, he wasn’t a friend of Max Evans.”

“Why?” Liz somehow found her voice to ask the question she desperately wanted to be answered.

“Because Max had hurt you. Alex was your friend, Liz. He saw almost every tear you cried because of Max. He saw your pain when Max kissed Tess for the first time. He was there when you ran home crying because Max’s destiny was Tess. Liz, he saw all your pain. And he started to hate the cause of your tears. After his ‘death’ he visited Roswell a couple of times, so he knew about Max sleeping with Tess; and the baby. He was in the desert when Max tried to heal you from your powers...With every tear his anger and hatred just grew bigger.” Zan explained.

“But how does it explain that Max didn’t sleep with Maria? Zan, I saw them!” Liz cried. She was slowly becoming more and more angry, because of all the lies that were around her. She was sick of that. At first Chris hadn’t told her about his parents. Serena also never had said anything to her about her true feelings towards Chris. And now Alex, the last person she thought would lie to her, had hidden something from her.

“You don’t know about Serena’s powers. Like you and Alex she could blast and so on, but she had another strong ability...She could mindwarp, just like Tess, but Serena was stronger and better. She could easy mindwarp a person without even close contact. If she wanted to, she could have mindwarped a citizen somewhere in Africa, although she would be drained for a long time after that. That’s why she used this power very rarely...”

“What are you saying, Zan? Did Serena mindwarp me to see Max together with Maria?” she asked.

“Yes, but she didn’t just mindwarp just you, but Max and Maria too.” Zan replied.

“But...Why? Why did she do something like that?”

“Well, besides her own personal reasons, she was ordered to by Alex,” Zan quietly told her.

“What? Alex told her to do that? Oh god...Are you serious?” Liz asked and when Zan nodded, she put her head in her hands, “Oh my god...I can’t believe it...Alex...How could he have done something like that? He might have hated Max, but he hurt not only him, but me, too! And what about the children? My children could be now with their father! Didn’t Alex think about that?” Liz cried, “Why didn’t he tell me when he found about my pregnancy?” she asked.

“That was then when he started to regret his actions, but he had gone too far and he was afraid you would hate him.”

“Well, he was right about that!” Liz exclaimed.

“Liz, I know you are angry and hurt, but you must understand...Alex loved you and he only did it because he thought it would be better for you. I’m not defending him, but you need to know that he loved you and he didn’t want you to suffer,” Zan told her.

“But I am suffering! For years I thought that my husband, my soulmate and the father of my children had cheated on me! And not just with anyone, but with my best friend! Oh god, Maria! Didn’t Alex think that he’d probably ruined her life too? She was his friend too!” Liz was now almost yelling, she was so angry about everything.

“Alex didn’t know about Maria until it was too late,” Zan whispered.

“What?” Liz again was suddenly calm and surprised. How could Alex not know about it?

“Serena...Let’s just say she didn’t care about who was with Max in the bed. She thought it would be more believable...Later she said she was sorry, but she couldn’t erase or change anything,”

“What was wrong with her? I mean, Serena and I ...We were friends, although right now the term ‘friends’ make me sick,” she said, “But how could she just accept that Alex ordered her to mindwarp Max, Maria and I?” she asked, but she remembered the night before when she had walked on Chris and Serena having sex.

“Oh god,” she whispered, when realization hit her, “Serena mindwarped Chris too!” Liz exclaimed.

“Huh?” Zan was surprised.

“Yesterday,” Liz began, but she already felt the heat rising in her cheeks, “I walked on Serena and Chris in his room, while they were...Um...Well, they were...h-having sex,” she blurted out and blushed when again remembered the scene, “And he was...you know...moaning a name...my name...Why did she have to do all these things, Zan? Why?” she cried.

“Liz, I think it would be better if you sat down,” Zan told her gently as he moved her towards the chair beside the window.

“What?” Liz asked, but still sat down.

“She’s your sister,” Zan quickly blurted out.

The only thing that came into Liz’s head was that her soap opera had just become a reality.

[Erina]

Chapter 11


Liz sighed and buried her feet deeper in the sand. Sun was just rising and the view was simply beautiful. She liked California, although Roswell was the best place for her. Roswell was where her family, friends and soulmate were. Roswell was the place where she had found out about Max.

Roswell was her home.

But she couldn’t deny that California was nice, too. The children just adored the sun, sea and sand...They were happy and that had made Liz almost completely happy.

Almost.

She wished that Max could be here with her right now.

In the past year, since she had found out the truth, that Max hadn’t cheated on her, she had missed him even more, if that was possibly...She was now so sorry that she had divorced from him. Maybe if hadn’t run so fast, things would be different now.

At first Liz had wanted to go to Roswell immediately, but Zan had objected. He had convinced her that Kivar was still a threat. He had also pointed out that she also needed to think about what she was going to tell them.

Zan was right. How could she explain everything to them?

How was she going to explain to them about Alex? Isabel and Maria would just explode, Liz was sure of it. Especially Maria...Liz didn’t know what had happened between Michael and Maria during these last years, but she didn’t expect anything good. Liz had divorced from Max…She didn’t know what had Michael done.

And what was worse, it was Alex’s fault.

She and Max had had their problems, but Liz was sure they would have got over them eventually.

But Alex had interfered.

Maybe they would have been living right now, happy and content with their lives. The twins would know their father. But Zack...Zack possibly was the only thing that Liz didn’t regret. During the years, he had become a second son to her and she wouldn’t change it for the world .

Alex had lied to and manipulated her. Maybe someday she would forgive him, but she wasn’t sure that she would understand his actions and motives.

Liz wasn’t even sure if she was going to tell them about Alex. How could she tell them that their friend had been alive for all that time and they didn’t even know. And now he had died...Again...Liz knew she could give them the best reasons and motives, but they wouldn’t completely understand.

She had so many secrets from them. They’d all deserved to know about Alex, Zan, Zack and Chris... but they hadn’t known.

Just like she had deserved to know about her sister, but she hadn’t known.

They hadn’t found her and it had been almost a year since that horrible day in Boston.

Liz still remembered everything about that day so clearly. Every sound, every move, every smell, everything was imprinted in her mind forever...

“Apparently your father had been in a relationship before he met your mother and they just...lost contact, I think. When Serena’s mother found your dad, he was already married and your mother was pregnant.” Zan explained.

“That’s it? So she just didn’t tell my father that he had another daughter. He had a right to know! I had the right to know that I had a sister!” Liz cried.

“I-I don’t know the details, but...What your father and Serena’s mother had wasn’t love, she just didn’t want to interfere. Besides, I think you know best why fathers sometimes don’t know about their children...” Zan looked at Liz with raised eyebrows.

Liz exploded.

“I wanted to tell him, you know that!” she started to sob, “I really wanted to,” she quietly whispered.

Zan came to her and hugged her.

“Why?” Liz whispered, “W-Why has she done such terrible things to me?” she asked more to herself.

“I don’t know, Liz, I really don’t,” Zan said whilst he was soothing her.

Liz sighed. That was a year ago and now she was determined to solve her problems and face her demons.

They were going to Roswell.


***


They had driven for hours now and Liz felt sick.

Roswell was getting closer and closer and Liz became more nervous with each passing mile.

How could she just come back? She hadn’t abandoned just Max, but the others, too. She hadn’t given her and Max’s parents the chance to know their grandchildren. How could she explain that to them?

Liz looked at her children in the back seat and smiled. Zack, now 7 years old and still awake, was in the middle, with the twins by his sides, both sleeping peacefully.

The last year had been hard for them. They had lost an aunt, an uncle and ‘daddy’. It had taken Liz long conversation with them, but she had tried to explain things as best as she could. She had also told them that Chris wasn’t their real dad...

Liz thought that in the end, they understood, but the twins still cried for him in the nights shortly after moving in Los Angeles.

They passed the sign ‘Welcome to Roswell’ and Liz for a moment lost her breath.

That was it. Soon she was going to see everyone.

Soon she would meet Max.


***


They had stopped by the UFO center, where they could perfectly see the Crashdown, which hadn’t changed at all during these years.

Liz took a big breath and looked at the Crashdown. It looked like there was some party or something like that, because the cafe had been decorated and there were just so many balloons.

She couldn’t quite see all the people inside, but there were many. Maybe it wasn’t the best moment to come? Liz almost told Zan to drive them to the hotel, when a car drove to the Crashdown.

Liz couldn’t believe her eyes.

There was Max, but he wasn’t alone.

There by his side was Maria and safely held in Max arms, was a sleeping infant.

[Erina]

Chapter 12


Liz looked at her children and sighed. They were sleeping so peacefully, but Liz’s mind wandered in a thousand different directions.

Why were Max and Maria together? Who was that infant in Max’s arms?

Maybe...just maybe it was Max’s child? No, no. The baby wasn’t Max’s. Liz was sure of it. Now that she knew he hadn’t cheated on her, she would never doubt him. Max loved her.

He couldn’t just move on and create a child with another woman, right?

Liz looked once more at her children and then left their room. Zan had rented a house in Roswell, so they wouldn’t need to live in the hotel. Liz thought that she would live with Max again soon, but for now it would be better to stay here.

Liz would go and talk to her parents. Tomorrow. They hadn’t gone into the Crashdown this evening due to the party that had been in the cafe. Although Zan had changed his look, it still would be better if he didn’t go to a crowded place.

And Liz couldn’t just waltz into the Crashdown with three children by her side. She needed to talk with her parents first, before she told others about the kids.

They had also another problem. Now that Nicholas was dead, they didn’t know anything about Kivar and his plans. But Liz was determined to talk about that with Max. At least she hoped that she would have enough courage to go to him.

Max would definitely be crushed if she told him about Alex and Serena, and their actions. He had been used and mindwarped. His condition was even worse than hers.

All these years he had thought he’d slept with their friend. If something like that had happened to Liz, she would be crushed.

No matter how much she thought about it, she didn’t know how she was going to tell them the truth.

It would definitely hurt them, the fact that their friend had manipulated and lied.

What was she going to do?


***


Liz stood in the front of the Crashdown.

She was shaking slightly. Liz was nervous and even a little bit scared. It was early Sunday morning, so the street was empty. She had decided to talk with her parents before anybody knew that she was back after so many years.

Liz just stood there for a moment. She looked at the cafe that hadn’t changed. She remembered how she had worked there along with Maria, how Max had stared at her, how they had celebrated Isabel’s birthday...So many memories washed over her.

Roswell was her home.

At last, she reached the door and opened it, using her powers slightly. She wanted to surprise them.

Slowly she went into the cafe and looked around. Yeah...Nothing had changed. It felt like she had been there just yesterday, arguing with her father about her marriage.

Liz tensed. What if her father was still angry about it and didn’t want to see his daughter? But Liz immediately threw that thought away.

Her father loved her. No matter what she was his daughter. Years ago he just had thought that she had made a mistake. He was just scared and concerned about her, that’s all.

Liz now understood her father and mother much better, since she was a parent also. She would do anything to protect her children. Liz hadn’t even told Max that his children had been born, because she thought it would put Claudia and Xander in danger.

But that was going to change. Now.

She was now standing in the middle of cafe and decided to wait a little bit. Her father would soon come down and she didn’t want to scare them by standing at the door of their bedroom.

She had waited so many years; she could wait a couple of minutes.

But it looked that she didn’t have to wait even a couple of minutes, because she heard a faint steps coming to the cafe.

Liz held her breath and saw the doors open and her father stepped inside the cafe. Time just went in slow motion, until he looked up and his eyes found hers.

She saw so much grief, pain and sadness there, but also...love and hope.

They just stood there for what it had seemed for eternity, until her father whispered quietly.

“Am I dreaming?”

“No.” Liz told in an equally quiet whisper.

When she said that, her father rushed to her and pulled into such a tight hug, that Liz thought he would crush her.

“You have no idea how scared I was for you, young lady!” he told her as they pulled finally apart.

‘Aha...That’s my dad,’ Liz thought and that warmed her inside. Her father still loved her, no matter what and was scared for her. He was her father, that hadn’t changed.

“I know Dad...I am so sorry...It wasn’t my intention to stay away so long and not tell you where I was...” Liz told him softly, ”Can you forgive me?” she asked.

Once again Jeff pulled his daughter into a hug and softly whispered in her ear, “Of course, Liz, you didn’t need to doubt it...I don’t have to forgive you anything, I’m just happy that you are back...I was so worried about you, Liz...You were so young and you just...disappeared. I needed much more than just one phone call per year, Liz...Promise me, that you wouldn’t do it again...”

“I promise, Dad...I will stay here now...I understand that Roswell is the place where I belong,” Liz told him.

“Where is Mom?” Liz asked.

“She’s upstairs, still sleeping. Oh God, she will so happy to see you!” Jeff exclaimed, ”I have to tell her,” he said and already turned to go to the upstairs.

“Dad, wait,” Liz called. There was something she needed to know and it couldn’t wait.

“I need to know something,” Liz began when her father turned around, “Well, there is one thing that I wanted to ask you...Hmm…Well...I want to know about Max,” she finally blurted out.

Liz saw that her father immediately tensed up when she mentioned Max. It worried her. Could he be still angry with him?

“Liz...Are you sure you want to talk about it now? I mean your mother will be really happy when she will see you and....You have just come back, you must be tired and you want to rest...We can talk about it later, honey,” he said.

Liz was getting more scared and anxious with every word that had passed her father’s lips.

Something was wrong; she could feel it.

“What is it, Dad?” Liz quietly asked and mentally prepared herself to hear shocking news about Max.


“Liz...Max’s son was born a few months ago...”

[Erina]

Chapter 13


Beep...Beep...Beep...

Max groaned and quickly turned off the alarm. Although he needed to go to work, he didn’t want to wake up his son.

His son.

What a mess his life was. What was wrong with him? Why he had lost control over his life? He loved to control everything and be the responsible person in their group. What had happened?

He had made so many mistakes in his life and had hurt so many people...the saddest part was that he didn’t see any way to go back and correct his mistakes.

He was unhappy. But he didn’t deserve happiness. Not after everything.

He had created a child with someone that wasn’t Liz. With Tess. Worse, he had abandoned his son. Max missed him terribly, although maybe it would be better if he stayed away from him. Not only because of who he was, but also what kind of person he was.

He was a bad person.

He had abandoned his son and cheated on his wife, Liz. And not just with a stranger, but with her best friend. How sick was that?

After Michael had left his house that morning years ago, he was numb. His house was a reminder what had happened. He had been unfaithful. He had gone out and just ran. Max didn’t know where he was running to, he just wanted to get as far as possible from his problems, but he had known that it wouldn’t change anything.

He had hurt not just Liz, but Maria too. His memory was foggy and he just couldn’t remember his lovemaking with Maria. What if he had hurt her? What if he had forced her? Max knew then for sure – he was a monster. He felt dirty and was disgusted with himself.

And Michael...Oh god, he had slept not just with his wife’s best friend but also HIS friend’s girlfriend and possible future bride. If the situation had been reversed, Max would have killed Michael.

But Michael had been smarter.

Max hadn’t wanted to live, he would have been happy if Michael had killed him and his misery would end. But no, Michael had known that the greatest punishment for Max would be a life without Liz, with the knowledge of how much pain he had caused her.

So he ran. He ran and ran for what was seemed like eternity, but that wasn’t enough for Max. Unbearable pain was still in his heart and he wanted to stop it. But he wanted to stop Liz’s pain more. The fact that he couldn’t do that made his own pain greater.

Finally, he collapsed. His whole body was weak and his mind tired. He just wanted to wake up from this nightmare he was in. He wanted his Liz back.

Max had looked around him. He was in the desert, close to the cave where they had born.

He sighed. It would be perfect place to die – the place where he was born. He hadn’t wanted to live. What for? He could go after Liz, but what would that change? His love for her couldn’t erase the fact that had slept with someone else, someone that wasn’t Liz.

He was nothing without her.

He had gone inside and sealed the entrance. But again, someone had interfered.

Isabel...She had found out what had happened and had feared the worst. When she opened the cave, she had seen her brother laying on the ground. His eyes were red and his whole face was wet from the tears. His whole body was covered in sweat and dirt.

When she had gone closer to him and looked into his eyes, she gasped.

They were empty.

His eyes, the windows to his soul, were dead.

When Isabel couldn’t pull him out of his trance, she got scared. She did the first thing that came to her mind. She called Jesse.

While she was waiting for her husband, Isabel started to cry. Her brother had almost died. But he should be her big, strong leader. Her brother...Isabel needed him, his love and support.

She wouldn’t just let him die...No she had already lost Alex.

When Jesse arrived, Isabel helped him to move Max to the car and they had driven to their parent’s house. Max just moved where they told him to go, but when he saw where they were going, he became hysterical. He started to cry again and ran back to the car.

Isabel hadn’t had any other choice but to take him to Valenti, because her and Jesse’s apartment was just one-bedroom.

When they had arrived at the house, Jim hadn’t even asked questions. They moved Max to the bed in Kyle’s room. After Isabel had cleaned him she had tried to get into his mind to pull him back to real life again, she gasped. She saw so much pain, grief and misery in his mind that she too had started to cry again.

He thought he was a monster.

Isabel had suffered. Months passed, but Max’s situation didn’t change. Isabel had to take care of him. She had fed him like a child. He couldn’t even go to the bathroom by himself, but there was Kyle or Mr. Valenti for those kinds of situations.

Isabel had to stay strong. Their mother couldn’t take care of Max. Every time she saw him in that state she cried hysterically. Although, their parents had of course gone to visit Max and Diane had even sometimes taken care of her son, it had been for a short time. Isabel was the one that spent the most time by his bed. Just looking at him and praying that he would be better.

Isabel wouldn’t leave her brother. She might have betrayed him in the past life, but not in this.

She was by his side when he had woken up from his trance.

Liz had left exactly six months ago.

“She isn’t here, right?” was the first thing he’d asked and Isabel’s heart had broken even more at the sight of him.

Isabel just shook her head and tears had started to flow down Max’s cheeks again. She held him while he cried. Since then, Isabel hadn’t seen her brother’s tears anymore.

After he had calmed a little bit, he wanted to know what had happened during those months.

Isabel had told everything. Michael had broken up with Maria and had left. Even she didn’t know where he was. Maria, of course, had been crushed too. The others hadn’t been actually good towards her; Kyle still didn’t talk to her.

But Isabel just accepted it. No one could change what had happened. What was the point in staying angry with them?

Although Evans’ had known what had happened, the Parkers’ hadn’t. Isabel told Liz’s parents that Liz and Max had just fought pretty hard. When they got Liz’s first phone call, everybody had relaxed a little bit. She was fine.

Although Isabel hadn’t wanted to tell Max about one thing, she knew she had to. Isabel confessed that some months ago, divorce papers from Liz had arrived. And that she’d faked his signature and signed them.

Isabel shut her eyes close and waited for the outburst from her brother. When she didn’t hear anything, she slowly opened her eyes.

Max had been deep in thought and after some moments he told her that was okay for her to do that.

“I would have done the same thing,” he told her and then quietly added, “I don’t deserve her. She is better without me,” Max confessed to his sister.

The first thing he had done after that was to give up the throne. He might have cared about his planet and people, but he didn’t remember them or his past life. How could he then save his people? He was nothing. No, that was wrong...He was a cheater. They didn’t need a King like him. He didn’t know anything about leading a planet and he didn’t have any idea how to free his planet from Kivar. He was miserable.

Although Isabel pleaded him not to do this, he hadn’t changed his mind. Maybe, just maybe, their life would get safer and he would be able to get back his son.

Months later, Max was able to go to his parent’s house, but he couldn’t go into his or Isabel’s rooms. The same had gone with Maria. Surprise, but after everything they had managed to stay friends. They both hadn’t remembered their lovemaking, although they knew that they had done it.

They were each other best friend now, although they missed their best friend – Liz.

While Maria had stayed in Roswell, still working in the Crashdown, Max had gone to university of Las Cruces to study law. Isabel was happily married to Jesse and Jim had got back his sheriff job.

After Max returned from university, he bought an apartment close to his job in his dad’s firm. Slowly, during the years, he pulled himself out of his misery and led pretty normal life in Roswell, pretending that everything was fine. But that was just what he had made the others see.

Inside he was still slowly killing himself. But he never cried. Max had closed off. He hadn’t spoken about Liz or that night. He didn’t want to remember the night when his life ended. What would be the point?

A year ago, Max had decided to look after his son. His research had put him even in more misery because he couldn’t find him. And he feared the worst.

By now Max felt like he was slowly going insane. So, when Kyle had suggested that they needed to have a little fun, Max had agreed.

They had gone to Las Cruces. By the end of the evening, Max found himself in some crowded and noisy club.

The next morning he found himself in a strange, unfamiliar room. More importantly, by his side was sleeping a brown-haired young woman.

Nine months later Jason Philip Evans had been born.

His son.

[Erina]

Chapter 14


Liz sat on a rock near the Pod Chamber and looked at the sky. Her feelings were out of control. Liz was confused, scared and angry all at once.

Liz wondered why Serena hated her.

Serena had done so many bad things to her that Liz couldn’t understand how she could be so evil. Liz was her sister, not her enemy. Why she had hurt her so much?

Liz thought about what her father had said and anger took over her once again. He had said that Max’s son was born some months ago. She was furious at first. How he had dared to move on and create a child with another woman? Especially after he had said, with so much passion, that he hadn’t wanted another child at all. Liz knew that they had been apart and that he theoretically could move on, but it just felt so...wrong.

But then her father had said the child’s mother’s name.

Serena.

If Liz had been furious before, now she felt her blood start to boil.

How dare she?

Something snapped inside her. She wouldn’t allow Serena to mess with her life anymore. Liz was sick and tired of this. So many people had interfered in her life and made decisions in her place.

She would make her own destiny from now on. She had let people walk over her again and again, but no more.

She wouldn’t allow this. If Serena had wanted to hurt her, well then Liz would be capable of hurting someone too. Especially when Serena had hurt people Liz loved and cared about.

This Serena’s sick and twisted game would end.

Soon.

Liz would assure that.

Had Serena thought that Liz wouldn’t know the truth? Maybe she hadn’t expected Liz to someday return to Roswell. After all, Serena didn’t know that Alex and Zan had told her the truth. She didn’t know that Liz had seen her and Chris together.

Serena expected Liz to believe that she and Max had a son.

No, Liz might be naive sometimes, but she wasn’t stupid.

She hadn’t seen Max yet, but she knew that he still loved her. Just like she loved him. Liz just knew that he hadn’t slept with Serena. He thought that he’d slept with Maria only because of the mindwarp. Liz was sure that Serena had done the exact same thing this time too.

Oh God, Serena had used her ability to fool people so often. She had messed with Maria’s, hers, Chris’ and Max’s minds. Liz was beginning to doubt whether these were the only situations where she had mindwarped people.

How Liz could be sure of that?

She couldn’t.

But Liz was sure that Max’s son was actually Chris’ son.

Her father had mentioned that Max was a good father. At that, Liz had felt like someone had punched her. Max was a good father...He was a good father to a child that wasn’t even his, while his own children were without a father.

How sick and twisted was that???

But Liz had indeed felt sorry for Max. It wouldn’t be nice when he found out the truth. No matter what Max had thought and was still thinking, Jason was his son and Liz knew without a doubt that Max loved him.

And she was going to tell the Max the truth. That Jason wasn’t his.

Liz sighed and stood up. She was finally going to talk to Max.

Just as she was getting inside her car something or rather, someone, caught her eyes.

Someone was going out of the Pod Chamber. Liz didn’t see the face, but she could tell that it was a man and an alien too, because he sealed the entrance.

Liz got scared. Who was it? It could be some shape shifter or some of the Kivar’s men.

Worse. It could be Max.

At that thought, Liz panicked. Sure, she was going to see him after many years and tell him the truth, but now was soon. Too soon. She just wasn’t ready.

Liz tensed when the man started go down. She knew that she should do something. Like hide or run or ...just something. But she couldn’t. Everything around her seemed to happen in slow motion. The mysterious man didn’t see her and just continued his journey down the rock directly to her.

And she just stood.

Then he saw her.

They just stood there and stared at each other. In his eyes, Liz could see so much pain. But no anger, like she had expected. Just pain, plain and simple.

“Why did you return?” Michael asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she told him, but when she saw that he wasn’t going to answer, continued, “I ...Well, I found out something and ...I’m kind of here because there are some things that need to be done,” she somehow answered simply.

When she saw confusion in Michael’s face she continued, “Michael, there are many things that you just don’t know about. We think we can believe our eyes and ears, but we can’t,” Liz told him, telling him the words that Alex had said many years ago.

“Ok, Liz, excuse me, but “he said and started to shake her,” What the hell are you talking about?” confusion was still clear in his now even rougher face.

“I am saying that it is time,” she simply answered.

Michael just stared at her.

“Why are you back?” Liz asked.

“Actually I don’t know. I just have had this strange feeling, this pull to Roswell. God knows I never wanted to return to this damned place, but I just couldn’t resist. I feel that I need to be here. Something bad is going to happen, Liz. And I’m here to prevent it, although I don’t even know what I need to do…I’m confused...” Michael confessed to her.

Liz thought about his words for a moment. Could Serena and her actions cause these feelings? If it wasn’t Serena, then what? What more could happen to them, to her?

Michael and Maria were apart, so were she and Max. Serena had convinced Max that her son was his, in the meantime, he even didn’t know about his children. Alex was dead. Chris was dead. She feared for her children lives day and night.

And Michael was telling her that something bad was going to happen. Again. Liz wasn’t sure whether cry or laugh.

“Maybe you just knew that it was time to return home and face your demons, just like me, “Liz said and started to go, “Come on, gotta face the music,” Liz motioned him to the car.

“Where you want to go?” Michael asked unsurely.

Liz understood him. Hell, she was so scared just a couple of minutes before about meeting Max that she didn’t doubt that Michael was panicked too.

“To the Crashdown,” she said and watched how Michael paled at her words, “My father said that they’ve been eating at the Crashdown every Sunday for the past few years,”

“Ok and by ‘them’ you think...?”Michael asked.

“Well, Max and Maria for sure, I’m not sure about the others,” she answered.

After a couple of moments, Michael looked at her and answered, “I won’t go there, Liz. Why do you want to do that?” he asked her while stepping further from the car.

Liz knew that Michael didn’t want to see Maria. Hell, before Alex had told her the truth even she hadn’t wanted to see Max. Of course, she missed him, but Liz had been sure that seeing Max would simple cause her more pain.

“Michael, look at me,” she ordered and when he looked in her eyes she said, “She didn’t sleep with him, Michael,” she confessed and watched as Michael paled even more, if that was possible.

After a couple of minutes, when Michael didn’t answer but just stared in her eyes, Liz started to get worried. She called him, but he didn’t tear his gaze from her or move.

When he didn’t answer to her calls, Liz came to him and shook a little bit, but that was enough, because he immediately snapped back to the real world and his eyes went wide.

“Liz, are you sure?” he asked her in quiet, but shocked voice.

Liz looked directly in his eyes, so he wouldn’t have doubts that she was lying, “Yes, Michael, they never slept together...”

Michael found out it difficult to find his voice, “But...Why...I-I mean h-how...How is it p-possible? You saw them...Did you lie to me?” Michael asked his voice rising.

“No, Michael, of course not. How could you think that I could do something like that?” Liz couldn’t believe that Michael had even thought about that. But, then again...She was the only one who had seen them together.

“We were all manipulated and cheated,” she finally said.

“Who?” he asked and now Liz could tell that he was angry. Not even angry, but...Enraged, furious.

“Come with me to the Crashdown. I want to tell everyone together,” Liz pleaded.

Michael thought about it and then ran to the driver’s seat, “I’m driving.”

Liz had barely closed the door, when Michael started to drive. For several moments, Liz even feared for her life, because Michael was driving so fast. Never in her life, had she been so relieved to see the Crashdown.

She got out as quickly as she could, but bumped into someone and almost fell, but two strong arms prevented her from the fall, which Liz knew for sure would be rather painful.

But immediately after she’d calmed a little bit, her head began to spin furiously.

She knew those arms. She knew that scent. Heck, she even knew that sweater.

Liz looked up and her eyes met his.


His beautiful hazel eyes.

[Erina]

Chapter 15


Max found it difficult to breath. He couldn’t believe that he was here, beside the Crashdown, holding Liz. His Liz. His beautiful Liz.

Max knew he should wonder what was she doing here and why. He’d promised that he would beg Liz’s forgiveness on his knees, but this moment was too perfect to end. So Max just let his mind blank out and just feel.

He felt like he had come to life at first time in the years since she had been gone. He had missed her so much, that now he wondered how had he been able to live without her, even for one day.

He’d wanted to find her shortly after he’d woken up. Max had yearned for her. At first, he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink.

He just wanted her to come back to him.

But what he could do to make everything right? He had slept with Maria, Liz’s best friend and his friend too.

Isabel had mentioned that his actions could be somehow related to his alien side. Everyone had wanted to believe that. But that wouldn’t solve anything.

All his life he had wanted just one thing: for Liz Parker to be his wife.

He hadn’t desired to be the king. He had never asked for that, but at the same time, he couldn’t do anything to change that. More or less, he just let the things come and go, and he just...accepted them.

But after everything what had happened between him and Liz, he hadn’t even wanted to accept it, although he had accepted Liz running away from him.

He could understand her. It was painful, but he understood. If he had seen her in the bed with another man, he would have gone mad. He tensed just at the thought of it.
But now, Liz, his Liz, was finally in his arms and Max wanted, just for a moment, to pretend that they were a normal and happily married couple.

After a few moments, Max noticed that Liz had looked up and their eyes locked. Max had never felt better. Her eyes just....warmed him.

Liz couldn’t believe that she had run into Max. Of all people! But the sensations that his body was causing in her were incredible. She felt secure, safe, happy and....loved. Liz could feel love from him. His eyes, his body...Everything in him showed how much he loved her.

The moment was perfect.

Suddenly Max felt Liz pulling away. Or more correctly, someone was pulling her. Max saw a man with brown hair and blue eyes. And Liz...hugged him, almost knocking him down in the process. Max felt like he had lost his last hope about the future with Liz.

Who was he? Was he her boyfriend? Max didn’t know anything about Liz’s life during these last years. She could be married with a couple of kids and a house with a white picket fence. Oh, and a dog. Did her husband come home every evening and greet Liz as his wife? Just like he had in the first month in their marriage?

Max felt his heart break more and more as Liz and the stranger seemed to be locked in their embrace.

She had moved on. His worst fear had come true. Liz didn’t love him anymore.

At that thought, Max felt coldness enter his heart. He was alone. Liz wasn’t with him.

She didn’t love him.

How could he blame her? He had a son and was living with another women; the mother of his son.

Serena.

She seemed nice, although Max had never spent much time with her. By some miracle, Serena had befriended Maria. Maybe it was because so many people had turned their backs on Maria when they had slept together.

Serena quickly had become a member of their group, mainly because she knew about their alien status.

Soon after their night together, the glow had appeared on her tummy, where his child lay. No one had doubts about child’s father anymore and Serena had found out the truth about them. She was shocked, but she had remained faithful. He was glad about that. Max liked Serena, but just as friend. Something in her seemed so familiar, but at the same time, he felt something negative about her too. But, although he had watched her, Max couldn’t find anything bad about her.

She didn’t try to be Max’s girlfriend or even worse, wife; something that he had been very grateful. One thing was sure – she loved their son. Although when he had seen Serena together with Jason, he had almost started to cry.

How much he had wished that it were Liz instead of Serena.

Now, when Serena had been through the human-alien pregnancy, he had, more than ever, regretted his behaviour towards Liz. Oh God, he’d told her that he didn’t want to have children with her. He was cruel and Max wanted to apologise at least for that.

He would apologise as soon as he would rip that guy from her.

Liz saw, but more felt, Max’s anger. But she was too shocked to do anything, because of Chris.

Chris was here. He was alive!

Although Liz didn’t have any deeper feelings towards him, he had been a great friend to her and had even saved her life. Heck, she had even bonded with him! He was the King and she was his Queen.

“Come on, we need to go to a safest place,” Chris softly whispered into her ear and took her arm, “I will explain everything,” Chris added, as he saw Liz’s mouth open slightly, “We really need to go somewhere else.”

All Max rational thoughts flew away when he saw the stranger took HIS Liz’s arms. But he felt his blood start to boil when Max saw him kissing her gently on her lips.

Liz was shocked by Chris’ kiss. She hadn’t expected that. Liz would definitely talk with him about that later. Her main concern was Max, whose eyes were so angry and ...full of jealousy.

Max came to both them and as he opened his mouth to say...at least something to the stranger that didn’t know that Liz was his, the blue-eyed man said, “Whatever you want to tell me, save it for half an hour. We are going to the Pod Chamber and I expect you and your friends to be there.”

Liz’s mouth felt open at the harsh and cold Chris’ voice. She had known his feelings towards his so-called father, but now...seeing his angry eyes and hearing his voice, full of pain, she was even more convinced that Chris never had liked his father.

Max just stood there dumbfound and watched as the stranger led Liz, his Liz, towards a car, one that he hadn’t noticed before. He looked at Liz’s eyes, full of love, as the car speed away...

From him...

Again.

But he wouldn’t allow that to happen. Again.

Max turned around and saw, that the others had seen and heard his ‘talk’ with unfamiliar guy.

“Let’s go,” Max just said and turned to go to his car. Isabel, Maria and Kyle climbed into Max’s car and they speed off.

Just as they approached, Max remembered about Michael. He had seen him briefly, but then all his attention turned to Liz, so he had totally forgotten about his past best friend. But, when he stopped and went out of the car, he saw Michael’s car too.

Max felt like his life would change soon. He just hoped it would be for good.

Then Max saw HIM again. He felt like he should know him, like he HAD known him...But he couldn’t understand his feelings. Max was confused. Who was this stranger? How had he known about the Pod Chamber? Had Liz told him?

Max was determined to find out.

Liz watched as everyone gathered around her and Chris. Chris had still her hand in his. She’d wanted to talk with him, but he had said that they would talk...but later. Liz was confused, what the hell was happening around her?

She saw Maria. Last time she had seen her best friend, Maria was in Max’s embrace. Now Maria looked older and…stronger. She knew that Maria had been probably been through a lot too and again she anger rose in her. What had Alex done? He had made, not just her miserable, but Maria as well.

And Chris? What had happened with him?

“Well, although we don’t have too much time I suppose I need to introduce myself properly,” Chris said as he moved behind Liz and placed his hands on her shoulders.

‘Oh my God,’ Liz thought, ‘He wasn’t going to tell that...Was he?’

“I’m the rightful King of the Antar and Liz is my wife, my Queen,” he said with a smile while pulling Liz closer to his body.

Max whole world crushed as his jaw hit the ground.

His worst fear had just come true.

[Erina]

Chapter 16


Liz saw red. She was so angry at that moment, but not just with Chris. The whole situation just made her sick and angry at the same time. Here she was, in the desert and Max’s previous life’s son was telling the others that they were married.

Chris had been wonderful to her. Although Chris hadn’t said at first that he was Max’s son, he had been there for her.

He had told her that she was pregnant.

He had helped her babies to be born.

He had helped her through her college years.

And he had saved her life.

Liz knew that she couldn’t hate him, but she could be angry with him. He had kissed her and now pronounced that they were married! At that thought, Liz’s anger returned full force. How dare he? Liz had never said that she had feelings towards him.

Liz slowly turned to face him and looked directly in his eyes. But as she opened her mouth to say some no-so-pleasant words to her so-called-husband, the ground started to shake slightly. It lasted just a few seconds and when it ended, a figure appeared not so far away from them.

“Kivar,” Liz heard Chris whisper. She immediately tensed. The last time she had meet Kivar, her life changed dramatically. Alex had died and Liz had lost Chris also.

Max couldn’t believe that this was happening. Here he was in the dessert, some man had his arms around his Liz and his enemy was standing in front of him. Kivar.

Max was already shocked, but what Kivar said a moment later, made him almost fall to the ground. Or... rather beat something...or someone.

“Well, well...What a beautiful moment I’ve interupted. The son tells his father that he has married his father’s love...How sweet....” Kivar smiled evilly, “Too bad you both won’t be alive enough to discuss this...interesting topic.”

At that moment, they saw many of Kivar’s men surrounding them.

Max didn’t care about Kivar or his men or even the fact that they could be dead in a few minutes. All he heard was Kivar voice, telling him that his son has married his Liz. At first, he thought that Kivar was simply lying. Max’s brain tried to find a reasonable explanation to all that mess, but he couldn’t.

Liz’s eyes told him everything he needed to know at the moment.

Kivar was telling the truth.

Max felt numb. But when Kivar’s men started to attack them, his anger took over. He felt energy pouring out of him in waves...Over the years, Max had learned to control his powers even more, and so he was able to make a shield around them.

Kivar’s men didn’t give up. Every time they attacked the shield, it became thinner and thinner. But at the same time, Max and the others were able to attack them easily. Soon the shield had almost faded away, but there were just a few men left.

Max kept fighting furiously but all he saw was Liz...She was still in Chris tight embrace. Although Chris was shielding her with his body and basically saving her, Max’s jealousy was almost beyond his control. All he wanted was to go over them and rip his Liz from the stranger arms; his son’s arms. ‘How that is even possible?’ Max wondered.

Soon the shield had faded completely. By that time, even Kivar had disappeared, but Max knew he wasn’t dead. That worried him.

He didn’t have to worry about a long time.

Suddenly, not so far from the place where Liz and Chris were standing, Kivar re-appeared.
Max eyes widened as he saw Kivar’s hand begin to rise. His Liz and Chris were the aim. He started to run towards them, but he was too late when he reached them.

Chris was lying on the ground, blood flowing from his stomach.

Apparently, Chris had seen Kivar and had attacked him at the same moment. Kivar’s lifeless body was lying on the ground nearby. At the sight of his enemy’s dead body, Max felt relieved. His eyes then saw a man in his Liz’s arms again.

Liz was holding Chris to her as tightly she could. Liz couldn’t believe that once again she was losing him. She didn’t love him. Liz cared about him. A lot. He had been there for her and had already saved her life twice. Of course, he had made mistakes, but who hadn’t?

Liz didn’t want him to die. There were too many topics that needed to be discussed. They needed to talk about their bonding, Serena, his son, his father, Alex...What the hell was wrong with this life?

She had lost Alex...Twice. And now the same fate would be with Chris also. Liz started to sob and tried to press Chris body even closer to her.

She wanted him alive. He had been her best friend for long time and she needed him.

“Love you, Liz...” Liz heard a faint whisper coming from Chris’ lips. Her tears were now openly flowing down her cheeks. Why life was so cruel towards her? Had she been a bad person in a previous life that she needed to suffer in this one?

Liz found it difficult to speak, but somehow she managed to say, “Shh…Chris, please don’t die, I need you...Please...”

Max looked at the scene before him and his heart broke even more. There was his Liz, his beautiful Liz, holding a stranger, no…not stranger, but his son and begging him not to die.

Max didn’t want him to die. Max’s jealousy might have told him to not to care, but deep in his heart, Max cared.

He had recognized him and now Max knew why.

Chris was his son.

Normally that fact would make him laugh…hysterically. Chris was around his age and he was his Liz’s husband. Yep, they really were related.

But Max couldn’t laugh, not even smile. His son was dying in front of him.

Liz saw Max moving towards him. She looked up and her teary eyes locked with his hazel ones. She saw as he kneeled besides them and placed his hand over Chris stomach.

That was hopeless.

Max tried and tried, but he just couldn’t form a connection...There was so much blood. Everywhere. Blood.

“Liz...” Liz could barely heard Chris whisper, he was so weak...Life was abandoning him.

“A letter...Car...Need you...to read,” Chris painfully whispered, holding Liz’s hand, which was covered in his own blood.

Liz furiously nodded her head, “I will...I will read it...”

Max heart broke. What use were his powers, if he couldn’t help with them?

Then he heard Chris’ last words.

“Please...Tell the children about me...” were Chris’ last words as his body lifeless felt even more on Liz’s one.

Liz started to cry almost hysterically and Max moved over so he was able to take her in his arms. His hands found her bloody ones as he pressed Liz’s body into his. With his eyes, he motioned Michael to remove Chris’ dead body from Liz’s. She didn’t need that.

Max just held her, while she cried.

He couldn’t stop thinking about what kids Chris had been talking about.


They couldn’t be Liz’s, right?

[Erina]

Chapter 17

Liz was now sobbing quietly, but she was still in Max’s strong arms. Liz didn’t mind that. His arms were the safest place for her. They were now going back to the Roswell, to Isabel’s apartment, just her, Max, Isabel and Maria. Kyle and Michael had stayed to bury Chris’ body.

Liz knew that she needed to talk with Max about them. He deserved to know...everything; even the fact that she had been bonded to his previous life’s son. But she wasn’t anymore. Chris was dead and so was their bond. Nothing linked them anymore.

But she wouldn’t forget him. Liz would always remember him. If Chris hadn’t saved her Liz would be already dead.

Chris somehow, by saving her life, gave Liz the second chance to repair her relationship to his father. Max.

Although Liz couldn’t wait until they were alone, to tell everything she desired to tell him. Liz wanted to throw her arms around him, kiss him and tell the love of her love how much she loved and missed him.

But she needed to talk to Serena first. She needed Serena to confirm every suspicion she had. The sisters would finally talk.

And then there were Chris...and his letter.

Liz found Chris’ letter in the car, just like he said, but she didn’t dare open and read it yet. She was afraid what might be written there. But she also had to know what exactly had happened to him. Liz knew the letter held more secrets and she was afraid of that. Her world had already turned around and Liz didn’t know what to expect next.

All Liz could do at the moment was hold Chris letter close to her body and wait until she would be able to talk with Serena. Her sister.

Max was still holding Liz in his arms. He couldn’t believe that she was here, in his embrace. Max had missed her so much, but did he deserve her? After all what had happened between them? He still loved her; he didn’t doubt that. His love for her seemed to grow even more during the years they had been apart, if that was even possible.

But would she want to be with him after she found out that he had a son...With another woman.

Oh God, how he regretted his actions now. Max couldn’t believe that he had slept with someone that wasn’t Liz. And not just once, but already three times.

He didn’t deserve her. But he could be selfish and savour the moment when she was in his arms.

Max knew that after she found out about Serena, she would be gone again from his life. How could he have been so stupid, Max wondered again and again. But he couldn’t regret his son.

He loved his son.

Maybe it was because he had lost his first-born child that made him love so much his second son. Max had tried to spend as much time as possible with his son since his birth.

But it was hard. Jason was Serena’s son too and she loved him. It was understandable that she wanted to spend time with her son also, but Max had found it difficult to be in the same room with her. He always had felt so...depressed, lonely and sad around her. Max assumed that he was just ashamed that he had this one-night-stand and couldn’t even remember it.

However, every time he had slept with someone else that wasn’t Liz, his memory would be foggy and unclear. He would remember something, just one detail or feeling, but that was all...With Liz he remembered every detail and every feeling. Those moments were imprinted on his brain and Max knew that he would always remember them...His memories about those nights he had spent with Liz were so vivid and clear...He remembered it all like it had happened just yesterday.

But that was just with Liz. Max just assumed that his mind tried to forget everything that was related to his cheating. That didn’t change the fact that he was a cheater.

Max eyes once again drifted to the letter in Liz’s arms. She was still sobbing, although it seemed that she was finally calming down.

Max knew that this event had impressed Isabel and Maria too. Although Isabel was driving and looked almost calm, he knew that inside, she was storming. During the last few years, he and Isabel had become closer and closer. She was the first to forgive him of his mistake with Maria and she was the one who helped him decorate his son’s room.

Max didn’t know how to thank her for everything she had done. If it wasn’t for Isabel, he didn’t know what would have happened to him.

And Maria...She was the total opposite of Isabel. While Isabel appeared to be calm and collected, Maria was nervously biting her nails and she was even shaking slightly. Max knew that wasn’t just because of Kivar. The fact that she would talk with Michael soon made her nervous as hell. And Liz was in the same car as her, but Maria hadn’t looked at her.

She was afraid.

Maria and Max had talked about everything. That included the subject of their night together. They didn’t have feelings for each other, but when they’d talked about it, it was still awkward. So Max knew that Maria was afraid of Liz...she was scared that Liz hated her. She couldn’t just turn around to look at her former best friend; she wasn’t ready to face the hate in Liz’s eyes.

Finally, they reached they destination and everyone gathered in Isabel’s apartment’s living room.

Silence. No one knew what to say, although there were so many things that needed to be discussed.

When Isabel couldn’t bear that anymore she said, “I actually think we should wait for Michael and Kyle, before we start our...discussion.” When everyone nodded, she continued, “Ok then, I will go to the kitchen and make...some drinks.” As quickly as possible, she went to the kitchen. The tension in the room was killing her.

Liz felt slightly uncomfortable, although she knew that Maria must be very embarrassed just from the look at her. Liz had seen her nervous behaviour in the car and as much as she wanted to tell her everything she knew, Liz still desperately needed to talk with Serena first.

But before that, Liz wanted to read Chris’ letter.

“I-I...I need some time to clear my thoughts. Can you call me when Michael and Kyle get back?” Liz quickly asked Max. As soon as she saw his nod, Liz went to the apartment’s balcony.

It was rather small, but very nice and comfortable, because Isabel had decorated it with flowers and there were even candles there and here...It reminded Liz so much of her balcony on the roof of the Crashdown. She missed it.

Liz sighed, took one last glance over the street and sat down, the letter still in her hands.

For a moment, Liz just stared at the envelope. Chris had written her name on it. He had very neat and accurate handwriting. At that thought, she felt tears once again starting to flow down her cheeks. Liz already missed him...Why did she have to cry so much?

After a couple of minutes, when Liz had finally calmed down, she opened the envelope and took out the letter.

Liz closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, took a deep breath and started reading something that could change her life.

Dear Liz,
If you are reading this letter, then I’m pretty sure I’m dead. But there are still some things you need to know. First of all, I love you Liz. That night when you came to my bedroom and we made love was the most memorable night of my life. You made me so happy, so content, so...whole. I never expected that. You’d said that you couldn’t love me and I...accepted that. But that night...My all dreams came true, because you were mine. You said that you loved me and my heart missed a beat. You were miracle, my beautiful angel sent from above.

I will die as a happy man, Liz, because you love me.

But our happiness didn’t last long. When I had woken up and found that you weren’t besides me, I already sensed that...Death. But I wasn’t afraid for me...I was scared because of you. When I saw you standing there in the front of Kivar I did the only thing I could...I saved you...I was supposed to be dead, but Kivar had other plans for me. I didn’t die. During those years, Kivar found a way to transport bodies through universe, from planet to planet and that was the exact thing he had done to me.

He transported me to Antar.

And there I found out the truth.

Apparently, Kivar had messed up something with my memories about my previous life on Antar. And the truth is...My father had been a good man. I never had a reason to hate him, but I did. Now I regret that, but I can’t do anything to change that now.

Kivar tortured me at first, but then some people who were still loyal to my father, rescued me and told me the truth about our lives on Antar. Right now, as I am writing this later, I have just come back from Antar...To you Liz...

I hope you will find your happiness in this life, although you will be without me. I will miss you; no matter where I am...You will be always in my heart, in my mind, in me. I will never forget you Liz, but I want you to be happy.

Love you...Always...
Chris



Liz placed the letter back in the envelope and looked at the sky above her. She was glad that he had died happy, although this happiness had been based on the lies, because Liz had never loved him. But still...She was glad.


For the first time in years, Liz felt hope...Hope that she would have her happy ending.

[Erina]

Chapter 18


Max was nervously pacing the living room. He couldn’t wait to talk to Liz. Max once again looked to the side, where the balcony was, an action he had already done probably a million times since Liz had gone.

He knew that she was reading Chris’ letter, his son’s letter at that moment and he didn’t want to interrupt her, but Michael and Kyle had come back and they needed Liz.

“I will go and tell Liz that everyone is there,” he said and started to walk towards the balcony.

“Are you sure, Max?” Isabel asked him, “If you want I can call her...”

Max smiled, “No, Isabel, that’s okay, I can do it,” he replied and went to call Liz.

Max came to the balcony door and as he was going to open it, he heard Liz’s voice. Through the window, he could see that she was talking on her mobile phone. Max was going to go back to the living room and return later, but then he heard something...

“So, how are the kids doing?” Liz asked. Before returning to the living room, she had decided to call Zan and ask about children. Although she knew that she shouldn’t worry about it. Zan was good with children.

“Hey, we are totally fine! We have eaten breakfast, they have brushed their teeth and cleaned their rooms…and…I know how to care of them...” Zan finally exclaimed.

“Ok, ok...If you are so good with the children, what did you give them for breakfast, Zan?” Liz asked, not seeing a person behind her back.

“I gave them the perfect breakfast...They just loved it, you know...” Zan said.

“Zan,” Liz took a big breath, “What exactly?”

“Ice-cream,” Zan simply answered.

“Oh...And you are saying you know how to take care of MY children, Zan?” Liz asked.

“Ok, fine...But they had also strawberries with their ice-cream...” Zan laughed, but then asked seriously, “What has happened, Liz? I felt those waves of energy...What is going on?” he asked.

“Everything is fine now,” Liz said, but then added, “More or less,” she said remembering Chris.

“When are you coming back?” Zan asked after several moments of silence.

“Soon, but there are still some things that need to be done...But soon...” Liz signed and looked down the street, “Zan, I have to go,” she quickly said and shut her phone.

Liz turned around quickly and was shocked when she bumped into Max’s chest.

She looked up and saw clear confusion in Max’s eyes. But she didn’t have time for that...Not now...

“Max...I didn’t see you,” she said as calmly as she could.

Max had a hard time to keep his emotions to himself. How he was supposed to react when just now, he’d heard Liz talking to Zan...about children! Her children!

And Chris’ children.

That was it, his Liz was a mother and he wasn’t the father. His son was.

Oh God, he was a grandfather!

That sounded so…wrong. Liz and his son had children together. How sick was that? She had obviously moved on, but with his son? Although Max knew he had no right to blame her. He hadn’t been faithful and hadn’t waited for her to come back to him. He had slept with another woman and created a child...again.

What was worse...He’d told Liz with so much passion that he hadn’t wanted children with her and now...He had two sons with two different women and neither of them was Liz. And she had children with another man. Not him, but his son.

Were they happy? Max wondered. Did they have that big house with a backyard and white picket fence? How many children did they have? Did her daughter have Liz’s hair? Did her son have Liz’s brown eyes?

The most important question was: Did she love Chris? His son?

But, although it was so painful, Max knew the answer. Yes, she loved Chris. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have children with him. Liz wasn’t like that. She needed love...They were so different at that point. Max had slept with someone else, but hadn’t loved them. But Liz was different.

He had really lost her. And he couldn’t blame anyone but himself. He had ruined everything. Not Liz.

“I-I…Umm, that’s okay,” Max said as he finally released Liz from his embrace and took a step back to give her space, “So, who you were talking to?” Max asked and mentally kicked himself. Could he be more obvious?

Liz immediately understood that he had heard everything and she was glad about that. Liz knew that Max eventually would find out everything soon, and, heck, she wanted to tell him all the secrets, all the lies, the manipulations they had been through the last years, but...Right now really wasn’t the best time for that.

“Max,” Liz said as she looked deep in his eyes, “I know you probably have a million questions and I swear I am going to answer them all...But not exactly right now. There is someone I need to meet before I start to talk with you all...”

“I…Well, that’s okay, Liz. Take your time,” Max said and tried to smile, but that didn’t reach his eyes. Although Liz had said that she had something to take care at first, he couldn’t wait. It was as simple as that.

He felt like a kid on Christmas morning, when he tried and tried to wake up his parents to unwrap the presents...But when he thought it was time to see his presents, he needed to wait...A little more. He needed to wait a little more to get his biggest present...Liz.

But he could do that.

At least he hoped he could.

Max thought about how different his day had turned out. Just this morning he had woken up and expected pretty ordinary day with his son. And then...All his life had been turned around.

The day wasn’t even over yet.

“When we will talk?” Max asked.

Liz thought about that for a while and then replied, “Can you all come to the Crashdown, let’s say, tomorrow at 9 a.m.?” she asked.

Max simply nodded.

“Well, then I better get going,” Liz said and brushed against Max as she tried to go out of the door. But when she smelt his so unique scent, Liz had a hard time thinking rationally and for a moment, she even forgot what she was going to do.

Max felt his head spinning; Liz was so close, but yet so far. He immediately felt the loss of her body heat as she pulled further from him and he felt so cold...So lonely...

“Bye, Max,” Liz whispered softly before leaving the balcony.

Seconds later Max heard Liz close the apartment door.

The only thing Max was able to think about was the hope that he hadn’t dreamed all this...and Liz was truly here in Roswell...If not with him, then simply near his heart.


***


Liz breathed the air in deeply as she hurried to her destination. There was something about Roswell’s air. It smelled like...home.

Liz wanted to stop and just breathe in the familiar scent that calmed her so much, but she couldn’t.

She was going finally talk with Serena. Now.

Liz hoped that she would be able to talk to her before Max came home. She wanted to speak with Serena first, and then her all attention would be on the others.

Her father had given her Max and Serena’s address and now she was standing at the door.

For some unknown reason, she felt nervous. Liz looked at the house. It was her dream house; she had always wanted to live there in Max and their children. But now...Serena had taken her place. She had played with her life, without doubts, without regrets. Serena didn’t even care that they were sisters, so why would she care?

It was time.

Liz slowly raised her hand and knocked. At first, she didn’t hear anything, so she knocked once more.

Finally, the door opened and Serena appeared. Her eyes were red and puffy and she looked absolutely terrible...and miserable.

As Liz opened her mouth to speak, Serena dropped to her knees and cried, “Please Liz, don’t hate me...I swear I didn’t do anything!” she sobbed hysterically.

Liz gasped when a car stopped beside the house and Max, along with Isabel, Maria and Michael stepped out.


“Please, Liz...She made me to do all those things!” Serena exclaimed loudly.