Roswell Fanatics

Chapter 11

Max knocked on the door and was relieved when the sheriff was the one who answered, even if it was just a temporary reprieve. “Hi sheriff, is Tess here?”

The sheriff led him back to Tess’s room. Once inside Max and Tess faced off. Tess smiled, “Max, you’re back!”

Max nodded, “Yeah, and we need to talk. You’ve read the letters I left you, you know where I stand. I need to know where you stand.”

Tess put a sympathetic look on her face and began, “I’m sorry for the way I treated you when I first got here. I was just trying to do what I was taught was right.”

Max couldn’t believe it; even as she began her apology he became aware of two things. First, Tess was trying to mindwarp him… again. Second, Liz’s presence so firmly entrenched in his mind was a barrier that Tess’s powers couldn’t penetrate. He shook his head in disbelief, “Don’t Tess! Even as you’re apologizing to me for messing with my mind, you’re trying to do it again.”

Tess tried to interrupt him but Max continued, “I know Nasedo taught you we were going to be together. And I know because of who we are, lies and deception have become second nature to us, you more so than the rest of us because you grew up changing identities on the run and because your gifts are mental deception and manipulation. But this stops now! We were originally sent here as a team of four, but things have changed and now we number eight.”

Catching Tess’s gaze and making sure to hold it for the next part he stated, “You are not to use your powers on, or lie to any of us; most especially not me. You came here telling me I’m the king, and then you turned around and tried to manipulate and control me. Well I accept my position as king and I will fight for our people, but because of both your actions, and my feelings; in this life I can’t trust you to be my queen. In this life Liz is my queen.”

Taking a deep breath, “Now you’re still part of this; you’re still part of my team, my family. And in time I could come to love you the way I love Isabel, but first you’re going to have to make a decision. If you want to help our people, if you really care about our destiny, then follow the orders I issued when I left. Find your balance; and when your humanity has become strong enough that you actually feel guilty about what you’ve done to me; then and only then do I want your apology.”

Tess was furious when Max finally stopped speaking, “If I care about destiny Max! I’m your destiny, I’m your queen! And you’re right I’m not sorry about what I did, I pushed you towards your destiny.”

Max snapped back, “No my destiny is to save my people, Liz is my queen, she pushes me towards my destiny, you pushed me away from it. When you first started cramming destiny down my throat, I lumped it all together just like you do, and I rejected it because I won’t have you as my mate. But not anymore, I have two planets to save, Earth and Antar; that is my destiny and I won’t, I can’t walk away from it. Who I choose as my mate, however, has no effect on that.”

Max finished by questioning again, “So, where do you stand? If you’re willing I could use your help. Are you willing to be part of my team, and fight beside me under those conditions?”

Tess couldn’t understand why her mindwarps weren’t working and she knew by Max’s demeanor that she couldn’t push this any further without them so she agreed, “Yes Max, I’ll still help you.”

Having secured her agreement Max said, “Thank you Tess, I’ll see you around.” Then as he left he thought to Liz, “I need you.”

Liz replied, “I’m working right now.”

Max smiled and thought back, “In that case, I think I’m hungry, I’ll see you soon.”

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: This chapter contains parts of “A Roswell Christmas Carol”. I don’t own it.


Max walked into the Crashdown and spotted Liz immediately. They met in the middle of the room and were promptly locked in a kiss. It was passionate, it was possessive, it was a reaffirmation of everything they were to each other, and then it was over, and Max quickly went to his usual booth.

In his mind’s eye the kiss didn’t end there though. No, in his mind’s eye the kiss continued as everyone else disappeared. In his mind’s eye the kiss continued further as he ripped open her uniform, just like he had that fateful day just over fourteen months ago. But this time he continued undressing her as she undressed him. He carried her over to the place she had once lain dying; and made love to her right there, where everything began.

Max was startled out of his fantasy by Liz clearing her throat, ready to take his order. With one look at her, he knew she was aware of what he had just been thinking about. But she just smiled innocently at him and asked, “What can I get you?”

Max gave her a smoldering look and replied, “Well since what I’m hungry for doesn’t appear to be on the menu, I’ll settle for a cherry coke and a slice of Men in Blackberry Pie.”

Liz gave him a knowing smirk, “Coming right up, and if you behave yourself we’ll see what I can do about those off the menu items you’re interested in later.” She just hoped he behaved; she didn’t know how she was going to be able think straight to do her job, if Max kept sending her thoughts like those.

Jeff was restocking supplies behind the counter and witnessed the interaction between Max and Liz across the room. “I guess that answers the question of why Liz has been in a good mood since she got back. She and Max must have worked things out while they were gone.” He thought to himself.

A couple hours later Max was finishing his second slice of Men in Blackberry Pie, and enjoying one of his favorite pastimes – watching Liz work – when Isabel and Michael came in. Isabel marched over to Max in full Christmas Nazi mode, “There you are. You have makeup work to do.”

Max gulped questioned, “Makeup work?”

Isabel replied, “Yes makeup work. First you skip Thanksgiving, and then you’re gone for the next three weeks. Now it’s four days ‘til Christmas - which will participate in to show Mom and Dad you still love them and want to spend time with your family – and you haven’t done anything to help with preparations. So you’re first assignment is to go pick out a Christmas tree. Here’s I diagram of what we need, I expect you to follow it exactly.”

Max looks from Michael’s amused face Isabel’s serious one and conceded, “Alright. Michael, you coming?” As they left, he mentally told Liz, “I’ll see you later, I’m off to do the Christmas Nazi’s bidding.”

As Max is walking around looking at trees Michael complains, “Come on, Maxwell. Just pick a tree. It's freezing out here.”

Max answers, “It's not so simple. You heard Isabel; this tree's got to fall within certain parameters.”

Michael questions, “Parameters?”

Max replies, “Height, circumference, color, density of foliage. Look at this diagram. You know how Isabel gets this time of year.”

Michael argues, “The Christmas Nazi, driving everyone insane while trying to have the perfect Christmas. The worst thing you can do is play into it, Max. You've got to fight her. You've got to fight the Christmas Nazi. Come on. I got to get to the hardware store before it closes. I got to get Maria her present.”

Max is surprised and questions, “Why? Are you gonna get her a ratchet set?”

Michael explains, “Never mind. I'm under a lot of pressure. She's been busting my ass for weeks about this present. She says it's got to be significant.”

Max suggests, “Then you might want to steer clear of the hardware store. I’d try the jewelry store.”

Suddenly, a car veers sharply, heading towards a little girl. Her father sees the car coming and pushes her out of the way. But the car runs into him before he can get out of the way and he collapses to the ground. The little girl cries, “Daddy! Daddy!”

Max is watches the events unfolding around him and battles with himself whether or not to save the man when there are so many witnesses around. Michael sees Max’s internal struggle; he has no such struggle, it’s too dangerous. He grabs Max’s arm, “Maxwell.”

Someone hollers out, “Someone, call an ambulance.” While someone else is already checking the man’s condition, “He's not breathing.”

Michael pulls Max away, “Let's go.”

The End

A/N: Thanks to everybody for the feedback. Unfortunately this story has come to an end. This started after MitC and eds with ARCC. I'm not yet ready to start rewriting the rest of the timeline in this fic as I'm already planning that in The Third Time is the Charm and I don't want to steal my own thunder. I may write a sequel to this fic after I get Third Time past HoM. In the mean time I'm going to start working on "Completing Destiny" -- Summary available on my Author's Page.