Roswell Fanatics

Part 19

Jesse hugged Maria when she attacked him, trying hard to wipe, what he knew to be, the stunned expression from his face.

Maria grinned and made light of her expanding belly. "I know, I've put on some weight."

Jesse smiled a little. "Does Michael know?" Then as Billy came into view from the other room he added, "It is Michael's?"

Maria, annoyed with the question, thought about being bitchy but decided against it. She was too happy to see her friend and eventually they would all find out anyway. She was positive there would be no way to keep the child's origins from any of the aliens. "No he doesn't know. Best I can figure it happened the night before I left." She took note of Jesse's disapproving look then added. "I am going to tell him."

Jesse nodded his head and looked over at Billy.

Billy took that as he cue to leave. "Hey guys, I'm going to go get something to eat so you guys can catch up. Would you all like anything?"

Maria smiled at Billy thanking him silently. "No - nothing for me. Jesse?"

"No thanks." Jesse answered.

Billy stepped into some shoes. "Ok, well be back in an hour or so." He said before walking out the door.

Maria waited until the door closed before speaking again. "I wasn't going to keep it from him forever. I know I have to tell him . . . in case my baby isn't completely human but I keep putting it off, thinking that soon Michael will show up and tell me all the B.S. is over."

Jesse's face saddened. "I don't think any of this will be over anytime soon."

Maria didn't like the tone of his voice. She realized then that she had been so concerned about explaining herself that she hadn't even noticed that Isabel was not in the room with them. "What's wrong Jesse? . . . Where . . . is . . . Isabel?"

Jesse's eyes started to tear at the question. "She's gone. They . . . took her." He choked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~

After staying awake for well over twenty four hours, Serena was almost asleep when she heard the bloodcurdling scream from the hall.

"What the hell?" She jumped out of her bed and ran out her door, stopping only to pick up a robe lying near her bed.

As soon as she entered the hallway, she saw Liz falling to the floor as a man ran from the area. She quickly committed what she could of the man into memory, but did not take the time to process the information. She was too worried about Liz.

Serena yelled, "Liz!" and ran over to her friend who now lay on the floor. She stooped down and touched Liz's face, taking notice of how hot it was. She called out, "Liz. Liz.” Trying to get a response. When there was none, Serena’s medical training kicked in. She immediately felt for a pulse and was relieved when she found one, though worried that it was so rapid. She pulled open her eyelids to look at her eyes. Her pupils were fixed and unresponsive. "How could this be?"

Max ran into the cave, to find Liz on the ground with Serena hovering over her looking concerned and confused. He felt the dread consume his body at the realization that something was very wrong with Liz. Instinct took over as Max ran to her side and pushed Serena away. He knelt down and brought his hands to her head.

He tried not to think of unsuccessful tries before but doubt still entered his mind. He blocked it thinking that this was different. The other times had failed because he wanted answers or just wanted Liz, now he had to connect with her, to save her. "Liz." He said loudly, trying to get her to look at him, but realized that she could not respond. He closed his eyes and willed himself to get inside. "Please, just let me get in." He pleaded to himself or to Liz or maybe even to the god he couldn't believe in.

The connection still did not come, causing his fear and doubt to come back into play as he remembered the night years ago when he snuck into a hospital room to heal the love of Kyle's life. He had no doubts that night, he had no reason too. He had healed cancer victims before, there had been no reason to question his abilities, but as he started to connect with her cancer ridden body, he saw what he was seeing now - nothing. The connection never did come; the cancer had eaten her completely. There wasn't enough left to heal. That was the first time he failed to heal someone who was still alive, and it was the last time he tried.

He pushed the thoughts of Tracy from his mind and focused all his energy, all his love towards the task. Begging whoever controlled this universe to let him have this one last favor. But, it didn't work; instead all he found was a deep dark abyss. He realized then that in all the years he had lived without her this was the first time he felt he had completely lost her.

He strengthened his resolve, he wouldn't allow it. Good or bad, he had controlled his destiny for this long - there was no way he would let destiny control him now. He went back; he had to keep trying to heal her. He was mesmerized by his need. His whole being focused on saving the woman he loved.

"Max. Max!" Serena could see by the look on his face that nothing was happening and Liz needed medical attention. These first few moments were critical if a miraculous healing was not going to occur. "MAX!!!" She yelled at the top of his lungs and pulled him away from the unconscious Liz.

Max swung back off of Liz and fell on his back to the ground. His eyes started to water a bit as he realized that his powers would not be enough, he could do nothing to save her.

He sat up and watched Serena as she carefully examined Liz's head. He envied her. Being so calm, knowing what to do. She knew what would work and what wouldn't and if her knowledge could not save Liz then she knew she had done all she could.

It was so different for him. He knew what to do but he couldn't do it. Not because he was incapable but because he had shut himself off, he had chosen to become the person he was and that choice may kill the love of his life. He put his head between his knees; he couldn't bear to watch anymore.

Certain that Liz had not suffered head trauma from the fall Serena called for a guard. "I need her moved to a bed!"

The guard looked towards Max for approval. "Anything she needs!" Max barked out.

Max watched as Serena directed some of the guards on exactly how to move Liz into the room closest to their position.

Serena turned towards Max who was still sulking. "I need a thermometer, some ice, a spray bottle and a couple of fans!"

Max stared straight ahead, not processing Serena’s words.

Serena didn't have time and wasn't in the mood for Max's personal issues. She grabbed him by the shoulders. "MAX - FOCUS!!!"

Max snapped out of his stupor an instant later and started giving orders to others around him on what was needed. Then he turned back to Serena. "We don't have a thermometer."

Serena threw up her hands. "Of course not. Why would you all have something like a thermometer when the leader can just wave his hand and cure all ills?" She said sarcastically, then disappeared into the room where they had just taken Liz.

Max stood outside of the door until the guard came with the spray bottle and a bucket of ice. He snatched them away and ran inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Billy entered the apartment, purposely making enough noise for Maria and her guest to realize they were no longer alone. It had been unnecessary though. He found an empty apartment and a note from Maria, thanking him for letting her stay and explaining that it was time for her to go home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max entered the room to find Serena pulling off all of Liz’s clothing.

”Leave everything and GET OUT!” She ordered.

“I’m not leaving!” Max answered firmly, determined not to leave Liz’s side.

Serena swung around looking as if she were going to smack Max in the face. “YOU WILL LEAVE. I don’t know much about Liz and your relationship but I know there are problems and you are going to respect her privacy.”

Max saw the look on Serena’s face and knew this was not the time to argue – he started to walk out. “I’ll be right outside.”

Serena stopped him. “If you trust her, go get that alien girl I met when I first got here.”

“Her name is Ava and yeah I trust her.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Standing at the airport in Albuquerque, it finally dawned on Michael how rash his actions had been. All he had thought about since Max told him to leave was being with Maria – but now – looking at all the flights that could take him anywhere in the country, he realized that he had no clue where she might be. He had thought at first that some mystical power, their love, would guide him but now he was at a loss.

He sat on a bench and tried to reason what he might do. He thought about calling Amy but doubted that Maria had let her know where she had gone. Maria had learned over the past years that too much information could endanger the ones she loved. He thought of Jesse’s mother, but was sure that Isabel would have stopped him from telling her as well.

Michael was about to give up when he remembered someone. Sean. Sean was an annoying cousin of Maria’s that no one really knew about. Maria might have told Sean where she had gone in case there was an emergency. Sean would be pretty safe, and if he wasn’t – it wouldn’t have been that big of a loss. He chuckled to himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Satisfied that she had done all she could, Serena handed the bottle to Ava. "Every five minutes, spray her with the water, then move away from her. She doesn't need the extra heat of your body near her."

Ava nodded, happy to help the only member of the group who had ever been truly nice to her. Because of the drama, she had spent much of her time these last six months in her room avoiding everyone. Only speaking to Michael a few times about Liz’s supposed betrayal. She had never wanted to believe that Liz would do such a thing and when Michael came to her, sharing his doubts, she knew she never should have believed it at all.

“I am going to be right outside the door. If anything, anything at all, changes come and get me.”

Ava nodded her agreement then went back to spraying the cold water on Liz.

Serena walked out of the room to find Max pacing in front of it.

"What happened to her? Will she be alright?" Max asked quickly when Serena emerged.

"She had a heatstroke.”

Max nodded his head understanding Serena's initial confusion. “It's freezing outside and only in the low sixties in the cave. How in the hell could she have had a heatstroke?" He asked himself before quickly answering his own question. “Someone else did it - and that someone had to be an alien. That had been why she had screamed.”

Serena continued answering Max’s initial questions, “I don’t know if she will be alright or not. Her fever is still way too high,” she avoided telling him that if she could actually take Liz’s temperature she could tell more, “and she’s in a coma.” She looked up sadly at Max. “She may not make it and if she does, she probably will have severe brain damage.”

Max chastised himself. “It’s all my fault.” Max fought the tears in his eyes, knowing those tears wouldn’t do any good. He had to find out who did this and why. Maybe that would help him find a way to connect with her, to heal her.

“Is there a silver handprint on her?” He asked although he already knew the answer.

Max’s anger rose when Serena confirmed that there was. “Who in the hell!?! Did you see anyone!?!”

Serena took a deep breath. Then told Max what she had seen. “I only saw the back of him as he ran off.” She tried to remember the information she had noted in her brain an hour earlier. “I think I’ve seen him before but I’m not sure where.”

Max grabbed Serena by the shoulders and started to shake her. “YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER!!!”

Serena pushed him away. “LET ME GO!” When Max did, she stepped back to calm herself a bit. “Max, I am trying to remember but I promise you shaking me will not help!”

Max let go and looked down at her. “I’m sorry.” He said surprising even himself with the words. He was losing control, he didn’t want to but he knew he had to clear his mind and then find out who the hell did this. “I’m going to go look into this. Will you please let me know if there is any change?”

Serena understood his frustration. She nodded as he walked towards the cave entrance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Onuris strolled into his quarters and turned on the light to find one of the human guards sitting in the corner of the room.

"Tell me why you chose to invade my area!?!" He demanded.

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME IN THAT MANNER!"

Onuris realizing his mistake, bowed low, trying to pacify his queen. "I'm sorry your majesty. I did not realize it was you."

The queen stood up from her seat. "EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

"Mistress?"

"Do not be coy with me! What did you do to the human girl!?!"

Onuris knew he had been caught. "I . . . didn't know . . . what to do." He stammered, then found his voice again. "Zan informed me that she was gone but when I went into the caves she saw me and her memory returned."
"So you decided to harm her?"

"I saw no other way, your majesty."

"Did I not tell you before you left that once my son completed his mission, he would not be denied his happiness?"

Onuris nodded respectfully.

"SHE IS HIS HAPPINESS!"

Onuris sunk away from her.

"You will turn yourself in to Zan, and allow him to heal the girl. Then after that is finished you will accept any punishment my son deems necessary!"

Onuris knew his fate was sealed but for the good of his planet and his loved ones that lived upon it, he would do as he was told. He nodded his head in agreement, then bowed as the queen left the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesse and Maria waited to board the plane to Albuquerque. Maria looked at her watch once more. She was worried about her friend yet filled with wonderful anticipation about seeing Michael again. “I have to make a call.” She said.

Jesse nodded. “Don’t take too long we board in ten minutes.”

Maria smiled and walked to the phones. Picking one up; she dialed Michael’s cell.

The phone rang four times until a female voice answered the phone. “Hello.”

Maria’s first thought was to hang up. “How dare he!?! I’m pregnant for God’s sake!” She calmed a little to ask sweetly, “Can I speak to Michael Guerin please?”

The girl on the other end sounded tired and frustrated as she answered. “He’s not here, may I take a message.”

Maria’s patience left her. “Who the hell is this!?!” She demanded.

“Serena, Serena Baptiste, and you are?”

“This is Maria, Michael’s girlfriend and mother of his child!” She said tartly.

The woman on the other end of the phone started to giggle causing Maria’s anger to grow.

Unamused, Maria started to hang up, but then heard the woman on the other end start to yell out.

“Maria, don’t hang up. I’m sorry; it’s been a long day.”

Maria put the receiver back to her ear but still did not say a word.

“Maria honey, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m not a threat, I’m just a scientist brought to help with the machine here.”

Maria gasped but let Serena continue.

”Michael gave me his phone before he left so I could contact a friend if I needed her.”

Apprehension took the place of the anger in Maria’s voice. “Michael is gone?”

“He went to look for you. Max told him to leave.”

Maria wondered about what had been happening since she left but knew that she couldn’t start asking questions on an unsecured line so she said simply, “but I’m coming there.”

Serena looked at her watch. He might not have boarded a plane yet, she thought. “Look I’m going to try to call and have him paged at the airport. Give me a number where he can reach you – I’ll have him call if I get a hold of him.”

“He can’t. Just make him stay if you get a hold of him.”

“Sure.”

Maria could hear the speakers announcing that her plane was being boarded. “Look I have to go.” Then she added as an afterthought. “He doesn’t know I’m pregnant.” Then she hung up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max walked out into the desert night once again, unsure of what he should do. He looked up at the stars; the stars that he had, just hours ago, been under as he told Liz that he no longer loved her. The stars where he had decided to walk away – to leave her – to rid both of them from each other forever. And now, he had his wish. If he couldn’t find an answer, she would be gone.

He knew the fault was his, but still he couldn’t help believe that if he hadn’t been the king, if he had been of only one world, it would never have happened.

Tears of anger rolled down his cheeks in waves. He no longer cared to keep them at bay. He lifted his fist, shaking it in protest at the universe, and screamed. “DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading and for the feedback.
I know I've been slow - but I had a really busy week. Hope ya'll can forgive me.


Part 20

After speaking to Sean, who had been uncharacteristically helpful, Michael bought a ticket to New York. As he sat down in the terminal to wait for his plane to board he heard his name boom over the loudspeaker.

"Michael Guerin. Michael Guerin. Please pick up the nearest courtesy phone."

Confused, Michael found a phone immediately and picked it up. "Hello."

"Michael?" He heard Serena's voice on the other end.

"Yeah."

Serena sounded relieved. "I'm so glad I caught you - don't go anywhere."

Michael heard the call for his plane to board. "My plane is boarding. What the hell do you mean don't go anywhere?"

"Maria just called your phone."

Michael rolled his eyes when he heard that. After having no contact for months, he could just imagine what Maria thought when Serena answered - he didn’t ask, he just waited.

Serena continued. "She is coming here."

Utter disbelief went through Michael. "What!?!"

"She didn't tell me a lot. She just told me that she was going to be arriving at the Albuquerque airport later today."

Michael had a million questions but figured that Serena would have told him if anything else important was said. "Do you know her flight number?"

"No I don't know anything else – sorry, but I'm sure you'll be able to find her."

Michael heard the stress in Serena's voice. "Is everything ok?"

Serena struggled with what exactly she should tell Michael. She knew to leave the Maria situation to Maria but she wasn't sure how much to tell him about Liz. She decided to keep it short and simple, figuring that Michael would have enough to deal with in the next few hours. "There have been some developments but nothing you can help with – at least not right now. Just come back as soon as you can once you pick Maria up."

"We will." Although out of character for Michael, he didn't argue. Not because he didn't want to - he knew Serena was keeping something important from him but he had gotten to know her well enough these last few months to know that she wasn't going to tell him anything more. He also realized that if he did ask Serena would just fly off the handle and he wouldn't learn anything more anyway. That girl had to be the most impatient person he had ever met. He would let it go until he could return to the compound.

Serena was so tired; she almost forgot the other favor she needed from Michael. "Oh - Michael, don't hang up."

"Yeah."

"I was unable to talk to Max about this but my friend, the linguist is going to be arriving there sometime today too. Will you pick him up?"

"Sure - what's his name?"

"Alden. Alden Sutton, he'll be coming from New York."

"Flight?"

"Number 482, America West."

"No problem."

"Thanks."

Serena hung up the phone and walked over to Liz. Ava got out of her way and Serena moved closer to examine her again. She felt her head. Her temperature had receded, that was good. She took her pulse. It had slowed, also good. Then she looked again at her pupils. They were still fixed. She sighed. "Not a good sign." She thought."

Worried by the scowl on Serena’s face Ava asked. "Is she going to be ok?"

Serena was touched by her concern. The girl had been all but invisible over the past few months but as soon as she had been called upon to help she had immediately filled the position she was needed for. This girl had a quiet strength that none of the others seemed to notice. Serena felt sorry for the small girl.

"Serena?"

Serena snapped out of her thoughts to answer. "To be honest, it doesn't look good.” She watched as Ava’s face fell a bit. Serena hated being the bearer of bad news – she didn’t have the disposition for it. One more reason she couldn’t make it in medical school. She wanted to give the girl, and herself too, some hope. “Maybe Max will find a way to heal her."

Ava looked down in what seemed to be shame. "I tried."

Serena looked up confused. "What do you mean you tried?"

"I can heal a little. Not as well as Max but a little. I thought maybe Max couldn't heal her because Max has hated her for so long, but when I tried, I couldn't get through to her either. I'm sorry."

Serena once again felt sorry for this small girl. She wondered, what kind of life had she had, that she felt the need to apologize for trying to do something good? She looked down at the girl and tried to comfort her. "Ava don't be sorry. You tried - you did your best. That's all any of us can do."

Ava nodded and went back to caring for Liz. "You can sleep for a while. I promise to wake you if anything happens."

Knowing she needed the rest, Serena smiled sweetly at Ava. "Thank you. I will just take a nap here." And with that, she laid her head against the wall and drifted back off to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~

Max entered the main house still despondent and unsure of what he was going to do, when Onuris walked up to him and bowed lower than Max had ever seen the older man bow.

"Your Highness, I have a confession to make."

Max's nerves started to prickle, instinctively knowing this had to do with Liz. He took a breath, fighting for control, then asked in an eerie monotone, "What?"

Onuris stayed in his position as he spoke. "I was not aware that the human girl was important to you."

Max stopped his desire to attack. He would wait until Onuris finished. He clenched his jaw. "Continue." He prodded still in the same monotone.

"Please have mercy, your highness. I was the one who harmed the girl."

Max felt no mercy. He wanted this man who bowed before him dead. Pleasure ran through his body as he thought about beating this man, as a human would before blasting his ass to the next solar system.

Losing all of the control he had summoned when this conversation began, he stepped forward and pulled Onuris up by the back of his shirt. Before Onuris could respond Max had shoved his forearm into his trachea. "TELL ME WHY!!!"

Onuris had never been at the king’s mercy - he realized then that the king, although young, was more terrifying than the dowager queen had ever been. "She remembered." He choked out.

Max relaxed his body the tiniest bit, so Onuris could speak a little easier. "What EXACTLY did she remember?" He asked slowly.

"She remembered me. She remembered coming here. She remembered why she betrayed you."

Max’s emotions became paradoxical. Part of him hurt in hearing that she had indeed betrayed him but he also felt elation that there had been a reason, a reason he hoped - or maybe even knew - was just. He wanted to know that reason, he wanted to beat it out of the man standing before him, but Max realized that Liz’s life was more important. "You will heal her."

Looking up at his king, Onuris shook his head. "I cannot, sire." He saw the madness in Max’s eyes from his statement and knew the time had come to tell him the truth. "You can though."

Max shook his head. "DON’T FUCKING LIE TO ME!!! I can't! I already tried!"

"Sire,” Onuris was actually pleading now, “you can; actually you always could. You just have to believe that you can, believe in your abilities and . . .” he seemed to scowl as he continued "believe in this love you have for the girl. But still you must accept your destiny and become the king you were born to be.”

Max pushed against Onuris harder as he spoke of destiny. He didn’t need or want to hear about something he had already accepted – it had nothing to do with this. “When I try to connect I see nothing. I can’t heal her if I can’t see inside.”

Onuris swallowed hard. “The darkness is just a shield, put there by me so you would believe the healing was not working.”

Max didn’t utter another sound to Onuris; instead he called for his guards. Although he was unsure if they would obey him, he told them to put Onuris in a room and watch him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael had picked up Alden at the airport and now, as they waited for Maria’s plane to arrive, Michael paced while Alden looked on amused

Michael was concerned about what was happening back at the camp but he was more worried about seeing Maria once again. It had been six months and a lot could have changed in that time. He looked at the flowers in his hand. It had seemed like such a great idea to buy them but now he wondered if these pathetic gift shop flowers could even begin to make up for what he had put her through when he made her leave.

Alden was tired of watching Michael pace and finally spoke up to tell him so. "Could you please stop? Pacing does no one any good."

Michael stopped and looked over at the man sitting in front of him. Alden was a very strange man. Michael had expected a pretentious, older man but instead he had picked up someone about the same age as he was, wearing a sweatshirt and blue jeans, a man whose first words after he got off the plane was to ask Michael where they could get a beer. Michael shrugged. "It helps to keep moving." Then once again started to pace.

Alden rolled his eyes. "Please, tell me what it will take for you to stop."

Michael’s curiosity had been eating him up since he picked the man up, so with, what Michael perceived as an invitation, he sat down next to Alden. "Why don't you tell me how you know Serena? That might help."

Not one to talk about himself or his friends, Alden almost told Michael to go back to pacing, but decided against it - it wasn't an exciting story anyhow. "I met her through a mutual friend."

"Cassandra?"

Alden's face crinkled for an instant before his nonchalant demeanor returned. "No, actually through her husband."

Michael nodded, assuming correctly that Alden had meant Serena's ex, then he asked.

"But you know Cassandra too?"

"I know her."

"So who is she - she seems to know a lot."

Alden smirked. "Someone you don't want to know."

“Why is that?” Michael asked, confused that Serena seemed to respect the woman but a friend of her’s seemed to have such disdain for her.

The announcement blared over the intercom just in time for Alden to avoid anymore of Michael’s questions. "Flight 682 from New York arriving."

Forgetting his questions, Michael jumped up, both excited and nervous to see his beloved.

Alden stayed seated as Michael stood with flowers in hand, watching the door where Maria would eventually appear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serena stood up as Max barged into Liz's room. "Max." Serena started sternly. "I told you . . ."

Max didn't let her finish. "Get out of the way Serena."

Something in his voice made Serena move.

Max walked to the bed and looked down at Liz, seemingly sleeping peacefully. He knew she wasn’t, though, she was hanging on for dear life. He bent down beside the bed and held his hand out above her. He ran his hand through her hair, then touched her face determined to make the connection.

He felt the darkness, the abyss that he had seen before. There was so much emptiness that it was frightening, but instead of stopping he wading through it, looking for a sign that would tell him that he was getting though. He stayed in longer than he ever had, promising God or whoever, that he would do anything if he could just heal this woman one more time.

When the darkness didn’t dissipate, he felt the doubt enter him once again. He pushed it away then did something he hadn’t done before. He let go. He stopped focusing on his anger, on his needs, and started remembering their love.

In that moment the darkness began to part. Just a small slit of light coming through the curtain of the abyss but enough to give him hope. As he traveled towards the light, a small part of her consciousness appeared.

The flashes started slowly once he entered the light, flashes of her as a child, flashes her as a teenager when they first fell in love, and flashes of her years in New Orleans. There were even some since she had been at the compound. He felt shame in the knowledge of how he had made her feel these last few months.

He moved his hands down her body to her internal organs, leaving her mind until the end. He wove together the parts that had been harmed by a man he had trusted. Once that was finished and without breaking the connection, Max moved his hands back up her body and placed them on her head, once again.

He saw the damaged cells in her brain and commenced the process of reconstructing them, making them whole, not just the ones Onuris had damaged, but the ones that had been injured before he had brought her to him, putting back the receptors to her memory, determined that she would have her mind whole again.

As he worked, the answers to all his questions flashed before him. She had not left on her own, but had been taken by some of the skins to Khivar. There she had spent years being terrorized by him. Khivar had torn her body apart, piece by piece. Max felt all of the horror she had endured as Khivar ripped her flesh and took her mind. He felt her fear and her pain and then he saw how she had stayed firm, never betraying him to his enemy.

Then he saw the reason that she had given up – the reason that she had finally given in to Khivar and told him what he wanted to know. She had done what she had to do in order to save a child. His child.

He almost stopped then, not wanting to bear the images, any longer but continued when he decided his pain would never compare to hers. That was when he saw his mother and what she had done for Liz. He saw his mother’s wisdom and mercy.

He ceased the healing immediately, retracing the last few steps, causing some of the damage that had inflicted to return. He would never allow her to relive this pain.
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Hi everyone. I am so excited to see that people are still reading my story, and the feedback is just wonderful. I know - once again I was terribly slow. but I now have a BETA and I'm going to use her so hopefully I will start updating again more then once a week.

On that note - if you see an improvement in my writing - Thank Zendorox (cause it's all her doing.) THANK YOU ZEN!!! Of course if you don't then just blame me (since that means I didn't take her advice.)

Thanks once again to all of you for reading and for the feedback.

Hope you enjoy.

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Part 21


Maria followed behind Jesse as they disembarked the plane, unsure of Michael’s reaction if he happened to be there waiting. She stood on her tip toes, looking over Jesse’s shoulder, scanning the terminal, until she saw him. She pushed Jesse towards him, biting her lip in anticipation.

Michael didn’t see Maria at first, just Jesse. Concern had passed over him until he saw the blonde head bobbing from behind his brother-in-law. He smiled to himself, as he started walking towards them. Patting Jesse on the back, he reached around him for Maria. Looking into her eyes, mesmerized, he yanked her into his arms.

Maria reached around and hugged him back fiercely, looking up to receive the kisses that she had missed these past few months.

Michael felt her stomach immediately. “What the hell?” He asked himself, as he pushed her to arms length and looked down at her wide girth. His mood blackened. Subdued by her condition he handed her the flowers as questions began to pass through his mind. He stopped himself, he knew at this time, with his anger and pain he shouldn’t ask.

Maria felt the need to explain when she saw the turmoil in his eyes. “It’s yours.”

Michael looked straight into her eyes, wanting her to understand that question had not entered his mind. “I know.” He answered succinctly. Noticing that Isabel had not gotten off of the plane; he walked past her to Jesse to get the next round of surprises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max sat at the edge of Liz’s bed and watched as she slept. She hadn’t woken up yet and, although Max knew the last few days must have taken a lot out of her physically and mentally, he still worried that maybe the healing hadn’t worked. He reached down, gently pushing the hair out of her face. She stirred a little, showing more signs of life than she had during her coma, confirming that he had indeed managed to heal her broken body.

He sat back and closed his eyes. The ordeal had depleted his energy as well. He was amazed that even after everything he had put her through, she had loved him. He thought about how close he had come to losing her. Not just during the last few days but during the last few years. God, he loved this woman and no matter what happened he always would.

He let his mind wander to the dreams of long ago. Max admitted that he not only loved her but he wanted her, he needed her. He fantasized about being with her forever, holding her close to him so that no pain would ever come to her again. He thought about a wedding and children and growing old with her.

Just wanting to feel her touch, he reached towards her and took her hand in his.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael watched the road in silence, not knowing what to say or what to do, his mind torn between worry for Isabel and anger at Maria. Jesse had explained what happened to Isabel in detail but Michael didn’t know what they were going to do. He knew they needed to get to Antar; that they had to find a way to save her but there wasn’t a way, at least not a way he could think of.

The Maria situation was another story. The questions that churned in his mind caused his anger to elevate. “When had she lost all faith in him? Couldn’t she trust him anymore? How the hell could she have kept this from him? Had she ever planned on telling him?” He was so furious at her. He couldn’t believe that she hadn’t seen fit to tell him that he was going to be a father.

Maria’s bladder caused her to be the first to speak. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

No one answered.

Maria was getting tired of this whole situation. “Did you hear me!?! We need to stop!”

”I heard you.” Michael answered.

Maria turned towards him. “How long are you going to act this way?”

“What way?”

“Like an ass.”

“Oh I’m sorry – I’m an ass.” Michael answered sarcastically. “You walk off a plane pregnant. Hell, very pregnant! A condition you didn’t think I had a right to know about and I’m supposed to be pleased?”

Maria rolled her eyes. She had been so worried that he wouldn’t think the baby was his, she never thought about his anger at not knowing. “Look I’m sorry, but really Michael, YOU told me to leave. Hell you pushed me out the door! What exactly was I suppose to do? Just call you up and say something like ‘Hi Spaceboy. I know you want nothing to do with me because of your alien bullshit but guess what, I’m pregnant.’?”

Michael looked over at her, his eyes hot with anger. “Yes Maria, exactly like that!” He was silent for a few seconds then asked the question that had gnawed at him since he first noticed her condition. “Were you ever planning on telling me!?!”

Exasperation filled Maria. “I don’t know!” She lied. “Maybe I didn’t want my child growing up, dealing with all this crap. Maybe I wanted him to have a normal life, one that doesn’t include the alien abyss.”

“And what if my child is an alien? Did you think about that!?!”

Michael didn’t let her answer. He saw a gas station and pulled in; slamming on the breaks he turned towards her and yelled. “Fine, you don’t want me to have anything to do with you or my child so as soon as we get back, I will make sure you have the means to go back to your human life!”

“Good!” Maria answered, getting out of the car and slamming the door.

Jesse sat in silence with Michael for a few seconds before deciding to add his two cents worth. “She spent the whole trip excited about seeing you and hoping that you would understand.” When Michael didn’t reply, thinking about Isabel, Jesse added sadly, “Is it worth losing her, Michael?”

Michael remained silent while Jesse got out of the car. “I’m going to get something to drink. Do you all want anything?”

Michael shook his head as he exited the car but Alden yelled, “Yeah I could use a beer.”

Jesse nodded and walked away.

Alden waited for a minute or two and then stepped out of the car. He stared thoughtfully at the sulking Michael, considering what he should say. Michael’s relationship was none of his business so he opted to steer the conversation in another direction. “Aliens?”

Michael had been so absorbed in the argument with Maria he didn’t think about Alden being in the car. He thought about trying to cover the conversation but decided if Serena trusted this man he probably wouldn’t freak out and give them away; at least not until he heard the whole story. And anyway, Alden would have to study the Destiny Book, so he was going to find out sooner or later. “Yeah, some of us are aliens.”

Serena sure had a knack for getting involved in the craziest shit. Alden thought to himself. “Do these alien issues always include so much drama?”

Michael almost smirked at the question. Of course they did. He just shrugged. “I guess so.”

“Well, no offense but I really don’t need any extra drama in my life, so I think I’ll take my leave of you now.” Alden said as he turned and started to walk away.

Michael called after him. “Hey, I won’t hold you against your will,” Which was technically true, He wouldn’t. But now with Isabel’s life possibly on the line, Michael better understood the decisions that Max had made in the past. He motioned towards a pay phone outside of the gas station. “As long as you call Serena and explain why you aren’t going to come with us.”

Alden stopped when he heard Michael and cringed. The man was right; he should be the one to explain it to Serena. “Never mind.” Alden turned around and walked back to the car. “Bring on the mind melds and anal probes; they have to be easier to endure than Serena’s wrath.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serena finally refreshed, walked quietly into Liz’s room. “How is she?” She whispered.

Max looked up, still sad from his former realizations. “She hasn’t woken up yet.”

“She’s been through a lot.”

Max nodded.

”You need to get some rest.”

Max shook his head. Until he was sure that she would be all right, he would not leave her side.

Serena seemed to understand. “I sent Ava to get you something to eat.”

”Thank you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alden and Jesse followed Michael and Maria down to the granilith cave.

Hearing the commotion outside, Serena jumped up and ran out the door. "What the hell is going . . ." She stopped mid-sentence to see Michael, her old friend and two people she had never met before.

Alden smiled at the site of her. It had been a long time. "Ser, babe!" He held out his arms for the hug he was sure to get.

Serena squealed. "Alden!" She ran into his arms.

Finally they parted and Serena extended a hand to the others. "Hi, I'm Serena. You must be Jesse and Maria."

Smiling at her, Maria nodded, while Jesse took her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Jesse had finished with the niceties. He spoke up to the reason he was there. "Where is Max?"

Serena nodded towards Liz's room. "I'll get him for you." She turned to go back to the room but Jesse pushed past her.

"Max!" Jesse yelled urgently.

Max heard the yelling and walked out of the room and closing the door behind him. “Keep you voice . . .” He stopped short seeing the group standing in front of him. His eyes assessed each of them. He noticed first Maria's condition then his sister absence. He knew something had gone terribly wrong. "Where is Isabel?"

The question brought a deluge of answers. Max couldn't hear anything anyone said. Finally he lifted his hand. "SILENCE!" He yelled then angrily continued, "Jesse, tell me where my sister is!"

Jesse took a long breath before telling the tale of the abduction.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After explaining the alien soap opera, as he now called it, to Alden, Serena handed him the Destiny Book. “This is what needs to be translated.”

Alden sat at a table in the granilith lab and opened the book and studied it for a few seconds. “It’s not a language I’ve seen before.” He closed the book.

“That’s it?”

Alden smirked. “No babe, that is not it but before I start we need a beer – it helps me to concentrate.”

Serena rolled her eyes and joked with him. “So you’re still a lush?”

“No more then you, kiddo.” He quipped but then got serious. “Ser, why are you mixed up in all this? These people, aliens, whatever, have more drama in their lives than you do.”

Serena shrugged. “It keeps my mind off of my own problems and anyway, they need me.”

“You can’t save the world babe.”

Serena shrugged again. “I know but I can help them save their world.”

“Sometimes I think someone should lock you away to keep you out of trouble.”

Serena smiled. “Already been tried. Let’s go find you a beer so you can concentrate.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz’s eyes fluttered open to find Max staring down at her. The last thing she remembered was Onuris coming at her. She looked up in his eyes and could see the love that he had denied all this time. “You were worried about me.” She said almost gleefully.

Max grinned then shrugged.

She sat up and looked under the sheet that covered her, seeing the silver handprint starting to form. “You healed me?”

He nodded slowly.

Liz felt the joyful tears forming in her eyes. She reached out to him.

Leaning down, Max pulled her into his arms. Their love overwhelmed him as he bent his head down to kiss her lips. The sensation was intoxicating. He moved his hand around her neck pulling her closer, deepening the kiss; causing the beginnings of the connection that had been denied for too long.

His tongue found its way to hers as he used his other arm to pull her closer, lost in the ecstasy of the moment. He groaned at the feeling of her hand running softly up his chest. He realized his heaven as he felt her love for him, but then, knowing that she could feel his love for her, he realized his hell. In anguish, he disconnected himself from her.

He had known there would be consequences to his actions. He had known they could never connect again but he hadn’t counted on the connection coming back so strong. If he could not control the connection he would never be able to touch the woman he loved again.

She reached up towards him, beckoning him back into her arms.

Max felt his arms instinctively start to reach back. He wanted nothing more than to feel her in them but he forced them down, knowing that he could not risk her seeing what he had seen.

She saw him pull back, but she would not be deterred. She moved her hand closer to him.

He saw it coming. He stood up and walked away from her.

“Max?”

He felt the tears in his eyes. He loved her so much. He shook his head as he turned away from her. Opening the door to her room, he said sadly, “I can’t. Not now and maybe not ever.”

He walked out, hearing her pleas as he did. She had given up her dreams for him, a long time ago and now he would do the same for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria sat on her bed, waiting for Michael. He had stayed to find out about Liz after learning what had happened. She was still in awe that Liz was even in the compound and couldn’t seem to get her mind around the fact that Liz had not betrayed her loved ones.

Michael walked into the room, shutting the door behind him. He walked to the bed and sat beside her. He knew he had reacted badly. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her wrist, asking in his own way to be forgiven.

As if knowing his father was finally near, the baby started to kick. Maria pulled Michael’s hand to her, placing it on her stomach, letting Michael know that she forgave him.

Immediately the baby kicked causing Michael to jump a little at the new sensation. He couldn’t seem to find the words to express his feelings about this life growing in his lover’s body. “He’s strong.” He finally said.

Maria smiled. “Like his daddy.”

Michael sat smiling, comfortable in the moment, until Maria spoke. “What is going to happen to Isabel?”

Dejected, because there was nothing he could do he answered, “I don’t know.” He took a deep breath before continuing. He hated that he had to tell her once again that he would leave. “Max will find a way to save her.”

Maria looked down sadly at her every expanding belly. She knew what that meant. That soon Michael would leave again. She put her game face. “Will you come back?”

Michael reached up and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, then, looking directly into her eyes he answered firmly. “Yes. I will come back. I promise.”

Maria nodded. She knew he loved her and he had every intention of keeping that promise. But she also understood that he would be going into a war zone and anything might happen. She pushed the tears back. “I was going to tell you about the baby.”

Michael leaned forward to kiss her temple. “I know.”

She turned towards him, reaching behind his neck to pull him towards her. It was time for the long awaited kiss and more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

L K an Update - from me!!!

I want to thank everyone who is reading this because that means you were patient with me! Thank You!!!

Of course I must thank ZEN my WONDERFUL BETA!!! She should be paid to do the job she does!!!

OK here goes . . .

~~~~~~~~~~

Part 22

“Where is Isabel?”

Max could barely control his rage as he spoke in a low, carefully tempered voice.

Onuris shivered in response, but still he lied. “I believe Mexico Sire.”

Max looked at him with fire in his eyes as he sneered, “What happened to my sister?”

Onuris hid his eyes. “I do not know your majesty.”

Max lunged at him. Grabbing him by the throat, he jerked the alien to within inches of his face. He pulled every ounce of his power to his hand and started slowly burning Onuris’ body from the inside. Through gritted teeth Max hissed, “I know Isabel is on Antar, and I know you had something to do with that. If you want to die quickly you will tell me what has happened. Otherwise, I guarantee you an agonizing death as I cook you slowly.”

Onuris tried to free himself from Max’s iron grip but to no avail. Max shoved him away roughly and barked the order. “SPEAK!”

Still feeling the heat in his body, Onuris knew he would not be able to take the torture his king would submit him to. “She is with Khivar.”

“How the hell did Khivar know where to find her?” Max growled.

Onuris knew he could not inform the king on his mother’s involvement. He knew the truth would not save him, not after he almost killed the human. “I told him.” He said, bracing himself for what was to come.

Max instinctively raised his hand to Onuris, preparing to kill him, but stopped. He had to find out everything he could before they left for Antar. “Why did you tell him!?! Do you work for Khivar!?!”

Onuris shook his head. “I am a loyal subject of the crown your majesty. I only told Khivar when you brought the human girl to your side. I worried that you would stay on Earth to be with her instead of fulfilling your duty, instead of going back to Antar and freeing our people.”

”So now I must go back to save my sister!?! Is that it!?! It is all about manipulation!?!”

Onuris nodded and looked up at the king. “Our people are suffering. If we do not save Antar soon our people will be all but extinct and then afterwards, your precious Earth will fall. You must save us, but you did not understand that. All you understood was what you believed you had here. I had to make you want to go home.”

“Who else is involved? Asim?”

Onuris knew that his mission was complete. He knew there was no point in lying to the king anymore. “Asim did help me sire, but he is just a servant who followed orders.”

Max motioned to the guards to come closer. “Asim is to be placed in another cell immediately.”

The guards nodded and walked out to do their master’s bidding, while Onuris braced himself for his death.

Max looked up at Onuris noticing his discomfort. “I will not kill you now.” He snarled before walking out of the cell.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alden took a big gulp of his beer. “Holy shit Ser! You’ve got to see this.”

Rolling her eyes, Serena dutifully walked over to where Alden sat and leaned over him. “What now?” She asked, figuring that once again he had figured out some insignificant phrase on alien recycling that would once again make him all too proud of himself.

“This is a passage on the granilith.”

Serena picked up his beer and took a sip. “What? Does it explain how to flush it?”

Alden grabbed the beer out of her hand. “No.” He replied as he rolled his eyes at her.

Serena giggled. “Ok, ok, tell me what you found.”

"Well," Alden began clearing his throat, "This talks about the granilith. See that symbol right there?" he stabbed the book with his finger and looked up her excitedly.

Serena followed his finger with her eyes and nodded, "Yeah, I see that. But what does it say about the granilith?"

"I don't have that part figured out yet." he waved at her dismissively and took another sip of his beer.

"Well then what the hell are you so excited about?" Serena barked at him in exasperation.

"You know Ser, you need a good shot of Tequila, make that two." Alden winked at her. "You're getting awfully testy."

Serena put her hands on her hips and looked at him pointedly, “Alden, you call me over here, shouting like you just found the alien cure for cancer and then all you show me is one symbol. You're damn right I'm getting testy; we're running out of time!"

He finally understood. "Ser, Ser, baby,” Alden set his beer down, stood up and hugged her. "Relax cara. It's progress ain't it? We'll get it done."

Serena growled at him as she pushed herself out of his arms, "I swear to God Alden. At the rate you're going Max won't ever have a chance to kill you. I'm gonna do it myself!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trying to feel close to her, Jesse walked around the room where Isabel had resided these last few years, running his hand over the things she had left behind when she had decided to break free of Max. He picked up a picture of them taken years ago at some party. He had believed then that they were a normal couple with normal problems. It was like looking at a picture of your youth, when you still believe that everything revolves around you. Now he knew better.

His vision started to blur with tears. Would he ever see her again? Could he or Max or anyone rescue her from the evil that was on another planet? Jesse was so lost in his thoughts that he never heard Max as he walked in silently.

“Hey.” He started.

Jesse tried to hide it as he wiped his eyes with his shirtsleeve. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Just coming by to see how you’re doing?” Max answered quietly, ignoring the tears he had seen.

Blaming the situation on Max, Jesse answered angrily. “How do you think I’m doing!?! My wife is gone, probably in the hands of a mad man and I’m stuck here on earth, not able to do a damn thing about it. And you, the GREAT ALIEN KING, are standing here asking how I’m doing.”

Worn out emotionally as well as physically, Max fought to keep his cool. “We are doing everything that we can.”

“REALLY!?! You’re the ‘more advanced species.’ Shouldn’t you be able to snap your fingers and get her back for me!?!”

Hearing Jesse’s words caused Max to lose all control. “YOU’RE RIGHT!” He got into Jesse’s face. “I am more advanced! I am smarter and stronger then you and if MY SISTER had been with me she would never have been taken!”

Max looked into Jesse’s guilt ridden face, feeling guilty himself that his tirade had caused the desired effect. Jesse inched slowly away from Max. Max knew Jesse wanted to say more, but Max didn’t want to deal with it, at least not now. Instead Max turned away from him and exited the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Excuse me, sir.” Langley walked into Max’s study.

Max looked up agitated. He had spent the last week trying to find a way home, a way to save Isabel. “What?”

“There is something you need to see outside.”

“I don’t have time for games, Langley – just tell me what it is.”

Langley nodded; he had not been playing games. “It is a ship from home.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria had wanted to talk to Liz as soon as she returned, but she had been a coward. She worried that Liz would never understand how she could believe something so bad about her best friend. Today she had finally decided that, good or bad, she could no longer put off the reunion.

She walked slowly into Liz’s room, stopping just inside the door. Her first instinct was to walk up to Liz and hug her, just like old times, but her guilt kept her from that action.

Finally Liz broke the awkward silence. “Hi.”

Maria stared at Liz for a few seconds. How could she have ever believed that Liz had done all those horrible things? “Hey.” She walked closer to Liz as Liz stood up. “It’s been a long time.” Maria finally said before mentally kicking herself for being so lame.

Liz giggled, knowing what Maria was thinking. “Yes it has.” She covered the last bit of distance between them and held out her arms.

Relief passed over Maria as she wrapped her arms around her childhood friend. “I was worried you wouldn’t forgive me.”

Liz gently pushed Maria to arms length. "Forgive you for what?”

Ashamed, Maria looked down at her feet. “For not believing in you. For trusting them when they told me that you betrayed us.”

Liz scoffed. “Please Maria. If I had been in your place, I would have believed it too. I’m still not sure I wasn’t the villain in all of this.”

“Michael told me that Max said you aren’t and if Max believes that you are not to blame then you aren’t. He seems to believe the worse about people you know.”

Liz nodded her head. “I know. I feel so sorry for him.”

“Well don’t! He brought all his problems on himself!”

“Maybe, but I still . . .”

Just like old times, Maria cut her off. “What!?! Love him!?! You don’t need that heartbreak Liz.”

Liz smiled knowing that Maria and she would have to agree to disagree once again. “Let’s talk about something else, like your stomach.” Liz teased as all the tension disappeared.

Maria rolled her eyes and giggled as she rubbed her belly affectionately. “Well, that’s something I can’t blame Max for, it’s all Michael’s fault.”

She began filling Liz in on the years that Liz had missed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Langley followed Max through the desert to the vessel that was hidden in between some rock formations. Michael had already arrived and was waiting impatiently for Max before looking over the ship. “It’s about time,” he grumbled.

Max ignored Michael’s caustic remark and started his examination of the craft. Langley directed Max and Michael to where the hatch should be.

“You hand will open the door, like it does for the pod chamber.” Langley said as he motioned to an area next to the entry.

As Max placed his hand in the area Langley indicated, the hatch slid open and dropped a short ladder to the ground. Michael started up the ladder without any hesitation as Max followed.

When they entered the ship they saw what looked like a control room. There was a view screen that could not be seen from the outside and what appeared to be a large console in front of it. As they looked around, they noticed three more rooms; two of which seemed to be places to rest. The third resembled a galley, though neither Max nor Michael could decipher how the trappings might work.

“Where are the controls?” Max finally asked Langley.

“The ship is controlled with our minds.” Langley walked over to the console and placed his hands it's surface. The device lit up with star charts as the floor began to rumble. “The ship is in excellent condition. We could try a test flight if you would like, but we might be detected.”

Max shook his head as he looked around for the ship’s pilot and crew.

Langley noticed his confusion and tried to explain. “It is probably on a remote.”

Michael looked up, surprised. “A remote? From Antar?”

Langley nodded. “Our culture is far more advanced then this human planet.”

Max nodded.

Michael looked on in disgust, but kept his mouth shut.

“I am not letting a remote take us back home. I can’t be sure of who is in control of it.” Max stated then turned to Langley. “Can you fly it?”

“It has been over fifty years, but I’m sure I can sir. I will need a few days to reacquaint myself with everything.” Langley answered.

“Good. I want you to go over everything with Michael,” Max ordered Langley. “We will leave as soon as we’re sure it will work. How long will it take for us to get to Antar?”

Langley looked thoughtfully at the display in front of him. “Just over three weeks, if nothing goes wrong.”

Michael immediately piped in, “Too long Max. I think we should give Serena and Alden some more time. Serena believes that if they can get the granilith to work, it will take us to Antar instantaneously.”

“If we wait for them then we could be wasting time. I don’t have a lot of faith in their abilities to get the granilith working properly.” Max answered.

“Why not?” Michael questioned. “You seemed to believe that they could do it before this ship came.”

“Because they’re only humans.”

Michael could not hold his tongue any longer. “You still believe that humans are beneath you, don’t you!?!”

Max didn’t know how to answer Michael so instead he just glared at him. He no longer believed that humans were beneath him, not really, but he also realized that they weren’t as evolved. It was just a fact.

When Max didn’t answer, Michael rolled his eyes but stopped himself from saying anything more. They had more important issues to worry about. “Whatever, Max. We have to decide what we’re going to do.”

Max did see the validity of Michael’s arguments, but he knew they couldn’t wait for something that might never come about. “They have until you and Langley figure out the operation of this ship. If they can’t make the granilith work by then, we will take this ship to Antar. I know it will take longer but we can’t afford to wait. Hopefully Isabel will still be alright when we arrive.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quietly, Max slipped into the small room where Liz slept. He carefully avoided her during the day, not wanting the temptation to get the better of him, but during the night, this was where he could be found.

He knelt down at her bed side and watched as she breathed easily in and out. He fought the desire to reach out and touch her face, worried that even in her slumber the connection would form.

Days before, when he snuck into the room the first time, he told himself that he just wanted to make sure she was all right. Finally, he gave up on the pretense, knowing that he just needed to be near her.

He needed her, he knew that, but he couldn’t have her. Part of him was relieved that he would leave soon, that the temptation would no longer be there. Of course thinking of leaving brought the pain back, knowing that he would be so far away.

In his fantasies he would come back and he would be able to be with her. She would be strong enough, with his help, to handle her memories or he would never have to let her see them. He would be able to control the connection they shared.

He stopped thinking of what may never be, watching as she slept. She looked so peaceful. Both Michael and Serena had told him that her nightmares had not been back since the healing. How could he ever give those back to her?

He looked up at the clock. He had been by her bed for hours. Although he hated to go, he knew he had to leave before she woke. He would never be able to explain his presence. He stood up and crept softly to the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max, walking out of the kitchen, almost bumped into Maria. “Excuse me.” He mumbled and then stepped back out of the way so she could pass. He couldn’t really blame her, but Maria had barely spoken to him during the week she had been back.

Maria nodded slightly and walked past him to the refrigerator to get some milk.

Max started to walk out the door but stopped, surprised by how much he missed her friendship. He turned back, speaking softly. “Maria.”

Maria looked up over the refrigerator door at him but didn’t say anything.

Max walked a bit closer. “Can we talk?”

Maria glared at him. “I don’t have anything to say to you Max! You are not my king, my family or even my friend anymore! So no we can’t talk.“

She tried to push her way past him but he caught her arm. She looked up at him defiantly. “Are you going to kill me?” She asked in all seriousness.

Saddened, Max let go of her, knowing that he could not force her to listen.

Maria looked into his face and saw a glimmer of the boy she had known years before. The boy who would beg her to tell him everything about Liz, the one who would risk his life to save any one of them, the boy who had once been her best friend.

She shrugged. “Fine, if you want to talk, you go over there,” she pointed to the far side of the kitchen. “I'll stay here and you can talk.” She might have seen something in him from years before, something that made her want to at least hear him out, but that didn’t mean that she trusted him.

Max honored her request and walked to the far corner of the room. Running his hands through his hair he sighed, gathering his thoughts. He looked into Maria’s eyes and started, “I’ve made a lot of mistakes that I will never be able to fix. I know that will never atone for all that I put you and Michael through,” He stopped, trying to find the appropriate words, but he couldn’t. Nothing could ever atone for his sins. He looked up at her again saying all he knew to say, “I’m sorry. I wish . . .” Knowing what he wished would not make anything better he let his words fell off.

Maria, slightly stunned, studied him. There seemed to be so much regret in his eyes. She realized that regret was what made him look like the Max of her youth, but that was the only similarity to the boy she once knew. His eyes were so much older, he seemed to have aged decades in the amount of time the rest had only aged years.

She actually felt sorry for him, realizing the decisions he had made so they wouldn’t have to, but that was as far as her sympathy would take her. She was still angry. He had done so much wrong and now, he was once again going to take the love of her life away. She looked down at her belly.

Max noticed the look, the wistfulness in her eyes. He walked carefully towards her, as he might creep up on a hurt animal, half expecting it to snap at him. He expected Maria to jump and run from him. When she didn’t he inched closer, finally near enough to reach out to touch her shoulder.

Maria didn’t startle. She had seen him coming, but when he touched her, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

He spoke with a certainty that he hadn’t used in years, knowing that it was all he could do to begin righting his wrongs. “I promise you that he will come back to you.”

The tears rolled down her cheeks as she nodded and turned to leave. She didn’t understand why, maybe just because she needed to, but she trusted him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now DON'T faint but here is an update.

I want to thank everyone who still remembers this story and who has left such wonderful feedback during the last few months. Also thank you ALL for waiting patiently while my real life calmed down. You all are so great.

Kiss My Ass Pooh.

Part 23

Serena paced back and forth in front of Alden. They had been working on the translation for nearly 48 hours. The breaks had been few and far between and the stress was starting to wear on her.

“Damnit Ser!” He yelled, frustration getting the best of him. “You’re driving me crazy.”

She stopped and put her hands on her hips. “I need to get out of here.”

Alden gulped his beer then mumbled under his breath. “No shit.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” He looked back down at the book but feeling her glare on him, he looked back up. “Go! Take a break. I don’t need your help right now.”

“But the translation... “

“... can wait until tomorrow.” He finished.

She shook her head. “We have to get it done. If we don’t Max...”

Alden rolled his eyes. “...will what?” He had known from the beginning that Serena’s initial assessment of Max, although may have been correct at the time, was completely wrong now. “Max will get it when he gets it and he knows that.”

Turning back to the book, he waved her away, “Now go – PLEASE. I will get more done without you.

Serena looked as if she might say something smart-ass but then stopped, turned and walked quietly out the door.

“Thank God.” He muttered, taking another drink from the can. He had known hours ago that she needed to leave and not just because she was making him nuts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You wanted to see me?” Michael asked, surprised that Max would take him away from his work on the ship.

Max nodded for him to sit down, but he hesitated to say anything. Michael was the only one of them that ever purposely blocked a connection from the one he loved. Max sought that ability, but he hadn’t spoken to Michael or anyone about his feelings in so long, he didn’t know how to start.

Michael scratched his eyebrow as he waited for Max to get to the point. He watched his leader squirm in his chair and knew this must be a big deal for him. He held his tongue for as long as he could before deciding Max needed a little push. He spoke as he started to rise. “Look Max, I have to get back.”

Max watched as Michael got up and turned his back to him before he said anything. “I want to be able to touch Liz.”

Michael stopped, awestruck. Not because of Max’s statement, but because of the raw need that seemed to emanate from Max’s voice. He turned around and studied him. There stood Max Evans, the mighty king of Antar, looking at him as if he were the savior of their race. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you.”

Max dropped down in a chair in frustration. Clearly, he would just have to spit it out. “Every time I touch her, a connection starts. How do I block that?”

Max had finally told Michael about the healing, about how little Lizzy Parker tried to stand up to Khivar to save them all. Michael didn’t agree with Max’s assessment of it though. He figured if Liz could do that, then she had the strength to deal with everything that happened. “Just let her know.”

Max shook his head vigorously. “That is not an option. I won’t do it. Not now. How do I block the connection?”

Michael started to get angry. Max was once again deciding other people’s fates, but he knew he couldn’t argue with Max about this, so he didn’t. “You just shut down, close yourself off.”

“But how?”

Michael knew it didn’t matter how long Max questioned him about this, he would never be able to give him an acceptable answer. “It’s not something I can just teach you how to do. You just do it. Hell, I would think it would be easy for you.”

Max looked up, annoyed.

Michael shrugged. “Look Maxwell, I haven’t tried to shut myself off from Maria in a long time, but that’s all you’ve done to people for years. It really shouldn’t be that hard for you.”

Max knew he was right, but it was hard for him. He couldn’t seem to find a way to shut down the connection between him and Liz. He wanted to, maybe even needed to, but if he couldn’t; he knew he could never risk her sanity for a few moments of bliss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alden opened the door to his room to find Serena rummaging through his bag. He wasn’t really surprised; he had known when he sent her away from the granilith lab what day it was. Every year this day was always hard for her. He had always tried to play the role of the supportive friend, tried to see her past the pain, but nothing he did was ever good enough. Only one thing seemed to bring her the comfort she sought.

With swollen eyes, she looked up at him. “Did you bring it?”

“Ser . . .” Alden started sadly.

But she cut him off, shaking her head. “I don’t need any of your sage advice today.”

He walked over to the bag and pulled out the bottle. Serena yanked it from him and started out his door.

Alden grabbed her arm. “That’s not going to help. It’s time to let it go. You didn’t kill him. 'Life begins on the other side of despair’*.”

She pulled away from him and fled out the door. “FUCK YOU and fuck Sartre too!!”

He tensed slightly as the door slammed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel sat on the luxurious bed in the rooms where her captors had placed her days ago. It was actually quite a nice place for a prison. She enjoyed the best Antar had to offer, beautifully decorated rooms, wonderful food and servants who saw to her every need.

She stared at the clock that had been brought to her. Actually, it wasn’t a clock like on earth, but the metal bar showed time, at least as the Antarians knew it. It was funny – when it had first been brought to her, she had instinctively known how to read it and she was reading it now. It was almost time for her daily visit and God how she hated that visit.

Isabel got up off of the bed and went about preparing herself. She dressed then walked into the sitting room, taking a seat on the chair she had placed in the middle of the room. She felt safest there away from corners where she could be pinned down.

She heard him as he entered her room, but didn’t bother to look his way.

“Vilandra.” He spoke softly as someone might speak to a child so not to scare it away.

She sat unmoving, looking towards the window. He pulled a seat next to her and sat down, pleading for her attention. After a few moments of silence he asked, “How was your midday meal?”

She rubbed the bruise that still discolored her cheek. At the start of her imprisonment, she had learned that answers were required. She studied the violet colors coming from the middle of the windowpane. “Fine.” She answered flatly. Answers were required... feelings were not.

“I’m pleased.” He said smiling. He reached towards brushing his hand against her cheek. “Would you like me to heal your face?” He asked with regret in his voice if not in his eyes.

She answered as she did each day. “No, thank you.”

“Is there anything you desire?” The question seemed to beg for a longer answer.

She glared at him through the corner of her eyes all the while thinking what she desired, her freedom. But she was a good captive. “No, thank you.”

Khivar stood up, and as always, took her hand in his. She had known from the first touch that he was trying to connect with her, but thankfully, she had lost that ability as a teenager. “I will leave you for today my dear.” He said, bowing politely.

She watched from her seat as he walked back through the door. There was a sadness to his walk that almost made her feel sorry for him. The door closed and she saw the bright light beyond it, locking her in. “You’ve been here too long – you need to get a grip.” She said reminding herself that she was his prisoner and deserved her hatred.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serena sat on a rock, looking off into the darkness. She took another swig from the bottle, feeling the warmth of the liquor as it slid easily down her throat. Her tears had ceased and now the anger had started its encroachment on her sorrow. She never noticed Michael walking towards her.

Michael heard her sniffle and realized that she had been crying. “Is this a private party?” Michael asked.

Serena shrugged, then motioned that he could sit down.

Michael sat down and picked up the bottle to look at the label. “What the hell!?! Absinthe? Isn’t that shit supposed to make you crazy?”

Serena yanked the bottle away from him, shrugged again, and took another swig.

He wanted to offer her his shoulder to cry on as he had months before, but he didn’t know how.

“Want to talk about it?” Michael asked softly.

Holding the bottle by the neck, Serena shook her head and continued to stare into the distance.

Michael chastised himself for being so bad at this. A man of action, he was the kind of person who wanted to fix whatever was broken, not sit helplessly in silence. But he forced himself to wait, to just be there for her.

It seemed like hours before Serena whispered out an explanation. “Someone I once cared about died today.”

Michael wanted to put his arm around her, to make it all better, but something about her demeanor told him that she would not accept it and it wouldn’t help. He finally just said all he knew to say. “I’m sorry.”

Serena took another drink and shrugged again. “Nothing anyone can do about it now. Of course, if I . . . when it happened... “

She stopped. “Never mind, what’s done is done.”

Michael sat quietly not knowing what to say, watching as Serena continued drinking out of the bottle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max had just left Liz’s room and wandered into the dark hallway towards the entrance to the cave.

”Max?”

He was startled by the whisper coming from the dark, but then eased, realizing that the voice belonged to Liz. “Yes.”

“Were you in my room?” She asked quietly. The hope in her voice tore his heart in two.

He thought of lying, that would be best, but his desires got the better of him. Instead of lying, he just stood quiet and still, watching her silhouette against the moonlight coming through the entrance. He was awestruck as she walked towards him.

As she approached, she reached out for him. “Tell me the truth Max. Tell me what you are keeping from me.”

Her hand was almost to his face, when he gathered his wits and moved away. He turned his back to her. “I’m not keeping anything from you.”

She would not be dissuaded. “I can tell that you are. Please Max.” She pleaded.

He shook his head and started to walk away.

He felt her fingers wrap around his arm before he could close off as Michael had suggested. He saw her love flash before him and was almost lost. He needed her so bad. He regained his senses and stopped the connection. His heart soared a bit when the connection stopped. Could he dare ask for more?

Liz felt the connection stop. “See – you are hiding something.”

Max knew this battle had been lost. “Yes I am.”

“I can handle it, Max.”

Max looked down into her eyes as he tentatively caressed her cheek. Thinking of all the pain she'd endured to protect him he replied, “No, you can’t. At least not now.”

When he continued to successfully block the connection, he ran his hand down her neck. Playing with a stray lock of hair, he pushed it behind her ear, “I do love you Liz, but that’s all I can give you right now, is that enough?” He asked, speaking of the connection that he had blocked.

Liz looked up with defiance in her eyes as Max leaned in and brushed her lips with his. He wanted to lose himself in her, but restrained himself, worried the connection would come back without warning if he wasn’t careful.

Liz’s mind wanted to argue, she wanted it all and all included a connection, but to feel him this close after she never thought she would again... she made a decision. She would do something for Max that she swore she would never do for anyone. She would settle. She would take what he would give her. She loved this man more than life itself and if he needed to approach this is small degrees, that was a small price for her to pay for the luxury of having him in her arms again. She answered his question silently by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

Max savored the feel of her skin, he wanted more. He wanted to feel the heat of her next to him, wanted to surround himself in the essence that was Liz. A war raged within him, a battle between what his mind knew and what was in his heart. He wanted nothing more then to be with her, but he feared his ability to block the connection wouldn't hold.

As if sensing his conflict, Liz drew away from him. She took his hand, threading her fingers through his, turned and started to walk towards her room. When Max hesitated, she looked back at him, "Max, just be with me. I don't need anything you aren't ready to give. Just lay with me for awhile and be with me." He nodded his assent and followed her.

Upon entering her room, Liz led him to her bed. Without letting go of his hand, she stretched out and pulled him down beside her. Liz sighed contentedly as Max wrapped her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and laid his cheek against her hair. Feeling a calm roll over him he hadn't felt in years, he closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serena knew that Michael was uncomfortable and at first, she just didn’t give a damn but finally, she put the bottle down and changed the subject. “So how long until you figure out how to use that ship?”

“I don’t know.” If he were honest with himself and her, he would say as long as possible. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go – but he was torn - he hated that Isabel was with Khivar and worried about her safety, but he kept thinking of Maria and the baby. “What about the granilith?”

“That’s a mystery also.” She took another drink. “We are getting close.”

He looked out across the desert, “It doesn’t look like I will see my baby born.”

Serena handed Michael the bottle, she couldn’t alleviate his distress and honestly, tonight, she didn’t care too but he could drown his sorrows with her. He just shook his head and pushed it away. They sat in silence for a while longer.

“Michael, I don’t mean to be rude, but I really need to be by myself for a while.” She picked the bottle back up and swallowed a big gulp. She noticed Michael’s uneasiness so she added, “Don’t worry. Alden knows where I am; he will come and collect me by daybreak.”

Michael didn’t want to leave her but Maria had taught him long ago that a grown woman can take care of herself. He decided to leave but would pass by Alden’s room before he went back to make sure he knew where she could be found.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She sat in her drawing room looking out at the second sun setting in the north when he came in. She felt him long before he approached her but never acknowledged him.

The man didn’t even bother to bow. Protocol was something he never became accustomed to. “When were you going to tell me?”

The Queen turned regally from the window to look at the man’s face but didn’t bother to answer.

“Well?”

“How dare you come into my quarters and demand answers to your questions. I made you and I can destroy you.”

The man smirked. “You made me – that’s true – but I know that you wouldn’t destroy me. You need me too much.” He walked over and stood over the queen. “Now, my queen...” the sarcasm dripping from his lips, “...when were you going to tell me that your daughter is on Antar? When were you going to tell me that you traded her to your worst enemy? When were you going to tell me about my part in your little play? When were you going to tell me that the one she loves must save her from the one who loves her?”

The queen turned back to the window. “What makes you believe you are the one in her heart?”

“Because I would still be fertilizing the earth if I weren’t.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: * is a quote by Jean Paul Sartre.

A/N: PLEASE READ: I have written a prequel to Without You that is now up on Pooh’s site soon called . . . Help Me Get Away From Myself. It should answer some of your questions. The link below will take you to her site, just click on the banner at her site and you should go straight to the story.

Help Me Get Away From Myself

Hi everyone!

Believe it or not I'm posting again!!! I did say I was going to try to start updating regularly. (Of course I said this story would hopefully be done by Mardi Gras too - ok - well that's not going to happen. Sorry.)

I want to thank EVERYONE who is still reading this story and especially you all who left FB!!! I felt so missed - it was just overwhelming.
THANK YOU!!!

Now for those of you who care anything about Serena and Alden or want more info on the last part - remember you can read Help Me Get Away From Myself (see link in my previous post on this story) over on Pooh's site. Oh and well I'm thinking of the Goddess . . .
Kiss my Ass Pooh. Ok - really while I'm thanking everyone I would like to take this moment to thank Pooh for giving me a place for that story.
Thank you Pooh!!!

I also want to thank once again my MARVELOUS beta, Zendorox. She really know's how to make my ramblings sound good.
Thanks Zen!!!

Ok - I'm shutting up . . .

Part 24a

Serena woke to a well deserve hangover and one of Alden’s goofy grins. “What?” She growled.

”Good morning to you, too.” He said smiling.

She turned over in her bed and faced the wall, she needed to go back to sleep – at least until the pounding in her head went away. “Go away!”

“Get up babe.” He nudged her a bit. “Coffee – I have coffee,” he teased.

She turned to face him, propping herself up on one elbow and reached for the coffee.

“No, no, no.” He jumped up and walked to the other side of the room. “If you want the coffee you have to get out of bed.” He waited while she glared at him. “Come on Ser, we have work to do.”

Serena prayed that the hot coffee would spill and scald him. When it didn’t she shrugged, rolled out of the bed and walked over to him. Reaching for the cup she warned, “Waking me up so early better mean that you found the key to the translation.”

"Well Ser, I think I did.” He grinned. “But I need your help to make sure.”

Serena took a long drink of the coffee and then handed the cup back to him, “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

~~~

Max watched as his minions once again tore into Onuris. He needed to know who his enemies were before he got to Antar. Asim had told Max that Onuris was hiding something, protecting someone and Max wanted to know who. “You will tell me what I want to know.”

Onuris looked up into the eyes of his king, his tortured voice begging for mercy, “I cannot tell you anything more sire.”

Max carefully kept his face expressionless as he nodded to his men to continue. He had done this before; extracting information was nothing new to him. In the past, he'd personally handled some of the efforts. But this time it was different, he felt regret. He mentally kicked himself for it. If he felt this way over a man who almost killed the one he loved, how would he be able to fight, maybe even kill, people he knew nothing about?

Michael stood at the door watching the men work over Onuris. He shrugged, he never liked him anyway and after what he did to Liz... well, he deserved it. When Max finally turned around, Michael motioned for him to come out into the corridor.

“What?” Max demanded once he had closed the door to the cell.

Michael got straight to the point. “We’re ready. The ship is ready.”

Max nodded thoughtfully. He had made the decision that when the ship and Michael were ready, they would leave. That time was at hand. Isabel was his sister and a priority – the only thing that should matter was getting her back. However, it wasn’t the only thing that mattered to him now. Now his heart was torn between his love for his sister and his love for Liz. Max knew this was a weakness, could see how it hindered what he must do.

Michael waited for an answer impatiently as he watched Max struggle with his demons. He understood that his friend was battling with a newly reawakened conscience, but he needed to know when they would leave. He had to deal with Maria and he couldn't do that without Max's decision. “Well?”

Michael knew when the choice had been made. He watched as Max's demeanor changed back to that of the king they had known and hated over the last few years. The eerie transformation sent a chill down his spine.

Max looked up and coldly replied, “We will leave at dawn.”

With that, he turned and walked back to the cell.

~~~

Isabel stared down at her food as her captor sat watching her from across the massive table. He had insisted that they have a ‘nice’ dinner together. She rubbed the new bruise appearing on her arm as she tried to play her part. Just sitting with him made her sick, but being forced to eat with him was cruel and unusual punishment.

”How is your food my dearest?”

She shuddered and forced the bile she tasted back down. Hearing him speak to her like they were some happy couple was almost more than she could take. She wanted nothing more than to stand and throw the food in his face. Knowing this would get her nothing but more abuse, she forced herself to stay composed and merely nodded in response.

“Good.” He put his utensil down. “Vilandra, is there anything I can do to make your stay more pleasant?”

“Rip out your tongue for starters,” she thought to herself. “Impaling yourself on a rusty spike might be entertaining.” But Isabel didn’t answer, she just shook her head slightly.”

“Vilandra, give me a chance to have your love again.”

The sentence was almost a plea. Startled by the change in his voice, she looked into his eyes for the first time. There she saw not the eyes of a maniacal ruler, but something that scared her much worse. She saw in his eyes obsession, a need that defied understanding, and that need was directed towards her. The realization was disquieting.

~~~

Alden pointed to a symbol in the book, "And this means pit."

Serena nodded and wrote the word on the paper in front of her.

"Then the next symbol is again Antar or Antarians." He took a sip of his beer and grinned proudly at his accomplishment.

Serena stopped in the middle of what she was writing and started shaking her head, "Nope. Can't be right. If I put it in the same order as before then that passage says that the granilith will be used to remove hair from the pits while Antar falls."

They both chuckled before Alden dropped his head again to study the passage. He looked down at his notes. “I swear this key was working before,” he mumbled.

Max hesitated at the door, already questioning his earlier decision. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he steeled himself not to allow his feelings for any of the humans to make him second guess himself, not even the one who completed his soul.

Serena noticed him first. "What's up?"

Max gave Alden a disdainful look and barked, “I need to speak to Serena alone."

Alden, not use to being commanded, almost told Max to go screw himself. When he saw the warning in Serena's eyes, he decided to keep his mouth shut. "No problem. I could use some fresh air and maybe another beer."

Max waited until Alden left the lab before he started, "You can stop."

Serena looked up at him, knowing he was telling her to stop work on the translation. "Michael has figured out how to fly your ship?"

Max nodded, "We're leaving tomorrow before dawn."

Serena started to argue, "You can't. The ship will take weeks to get you back to your planet!" She could hear her voice starting to rise, but she didn’t care, this was important. "Alden and I have been working on the translation day and night. We’re almost done."

"When!?! When will you have it done?" he growled. "My sister is up on Antar being subjected to who knows what from a man who killed us all in a past life. I can't risk waiting any longer!"

Serena understood his agitation. If it were someone she loved she would feel the same way, but she still fought him. The granilith was the only way to save some of her friend’s pain. "Max you have to understand. The granilith could theoretically get you to Antar in an instant. After you do what it is you need to do on your planet, it could bring you back to the same moment in time you left. You all might be a bit older, but Michael could see his child born, no one would have to suffer the pain of wondering what happened to you. Liz wouldn’t have to..."

Max cut her off, "I won’t be coming back."

Serena stopped her arguments and looked at Max in awe. "You're not . . .?"

Max looked down, then back up into Serena's eyes, "I have accepted my destiny and whether I like it or not, I will have to stay on Antar, to rebuild, to rule, to keep the peace, to make sure that Antar as well as Earth are not destroyed.”

Serena stood silently before whispering, "Did you tell her yet?"

When he didn't answer, Serena's thoughts went immediately to the men she had loved. One had been in and out of her life for years. The other, even if it had been in death, had completely left with no possibility of return. The later, save for one night a year, had always been easier to deal with.

"Max, I understand. I don't like it, but I understand.” She looked thoughtful for a moment then continued, "You can't leave her hanging on, you have to end it completely. You have to make sure she understands you won't be back."

Max shook his head sadly, "I will before I leave."

Serena didn't know which of them she hurt for more, Max or Liz. She wanted to wrap them in her arms, she wanted to make it all right for them, but she knew she couldn't.

Max looked as if he might actually shed a tear as he changed the subject, "I need to ask a favor."

Serena nodded thinking that if she could do anything to make this better for them she would.

"I need you to destroy the granilith. Can you do it?"

Her first thought was no, absolutely not, never in a million years. It’s too important. But when she looked into his eyes and saw how impassioned he was about this, she decided hear him out. "Why would you want to?"

He turned and stared at the machine towering in the center of the room. "I can't kill anyone, not anymore. When you let the others go, they are going to go back and tell whoever will listen about this. It can't be here when someone comes to investigate. It will be dangerous for everyone involved, especially Maria and the baby.”

Serena understood what he was saying, but still didn't agree, "Max you realize you have a lawyer for a brother-in-law don't you?"

Confused Max nodded his head.

"Have you ever heard of a non-disclosure agreement?"

Max acknowledged his understanding, but that wasn't about to change his mind. "You can't force someone to sign one after the fact."

"We can... "

Max silently cut her off, the scientists were only half of it. The other half was much more important to him. He didn't want Serena to get it working because he didn't want the humans to be able to follow them. Although he knew that they probably couldn't use it without one of the royal four, he didn't want to take the chance. The risk was too great after hearing the horror stories that Onuris had finally shared with them.

Serena finally realized he wasn't going to budge and begrudgingly agreed. This was Max's call, not hers.

~~~

Michael walked through the door of his and Maria's room to find her lounging on their bed reading some baby book. He stood at the entrance, content with just watching her.

Maria looked up and frowned, "Did you know that I’m going to get a lot fatter these next few months?”

Michael forced a smile, "You’ll be beautiful." He walked over to the bed and sat beside her. Laying his hand on her belly, he felt a kick. "Has he been kicking you a lot today?" He heard his voice crack as he asked.

Maria had suspected something was up when she had first seen him in the doorway, but now she knew. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

Michael rubbed his hand over her stomach again and slowly nodded.

Maria sat up and encircled him in her arms. As she did, she felt him start to shake and knew that there were now tears in his eyes. She held him close as her own tears started to flow.

Michael wrapped his arms around her. "I don't want to leave you. I don’t want to leave our baby," he choked.

She tightened the embrace, knowing that this night he needed her to be strong. "You'll be back," she said forcefully.

She felt him nod his agreement through their tears, both of them knowing that he must go, but also knowing that their love would see them through. Someday they would be together again but right now, that gave them little comfort so they found it in each other's arms.

~~~~

Max lay with Liz in his arms one last time. He knew this feeling of contentment was fleeting. That tomorrow he would leave, he would go back to Antar and win or lose, he would never return. If he won this war he had to stay to rebuild, to protect, to make sure this would never happen again and if he lost . . . he couldn’t lose, he knew that. Not when Earth was at stake, not when Liz was at stake.

He pulled her closer, saddened that he had found this peace only before his death. Maybe not his physical death, but tomorrow he would be dead to himself, to this world and to Liz. He looked down at her sleeping. She was still everything he wanted, everything he needed, everything that made him human. He wished he could be that for her, but he knew that for her to have a normal life, he had to be something else.

“What’s so great about normal?” He asked himself as he had years before. His answer then had been nothing, but now it had changed, now the answer was everything. Normal meant she could live without fear.

He pushed her hair from her eyes and looked once again into the face of the only woman he had ever or would ever love. He pulled her towards him and gently kissed her lips, savoring the touch.

Max closed his eyes, not to sleep, sleep would come later. No, he closed his eyes to remember, to heighten his other senses so he could treasure this moment in his mind. He tasted the sweetness of her lips, inhaled the fruity scent of her hair, felt the silky softness of her skin, and heard the quiet echo of her sigh. He imprinted in his mind the exact temperature of her breath on his neck as she exhaled and the way her heart felt beating against his chest.

He closed his eyes so that in two days or fifty years, when death was upon him and he was alone, he would be able to remember this moment with absolute clarity, remember the love, remember the peace, and remember her... remember his salvation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey everyone!!!

THANK YOU so much for reading and especially for your excellent feedback!!!

For those of you who asked . . . NO - I am not trying to kill anyone! All I can tell you is keep the faith!!! (We still have a ways to go before this is over.)

Thank you Zen once again for your awesome job betaing!!!

Kiss My Ass Pooh You Goddess You.

~~~

Part 24b

~~~

Serena rolled over to find Michael standing over her. “What?” She asked as she sat up on her bed.

“I need a favor.”

Not one to appreciate being awakened early, especially two days in a row, she almost rolled her eyes and spouted some smart ass remark but stopped herself. This was a hard day for all of them; they didn’t need attitude to go with it. “What kind of favor?”

Michael sighed. “Take care of Maria and the baby. Take them to New Orleans or somewhere safe until I come back. I know she thinks that she doesn’t need anyone to take care of her and you probably agree but, with me gone and the baby coming . . . “

Serena stopped him. “I understand.”

He didn’t think she did, at least not completely. “The baby could be alien.”

“I know. If it’s not a delivery I can handle, I have friend that won’t ask questions. She will be fine.”

Serena stood as Michael put his arms around her, giving her a big bear hug. “Thank you. You have been a great friend these last few months.”

Serena hugged him tightly, feeling as if at any moment one of them might start to cry.

Michael, not one to get overemotional with anyone except Maria, pushed her back. “I really am sorry that I drugged you.”

Serena grinned. “That’s ok pharmacy man. I’ve forgiven you.”

Michael smiled back. “Thank you.” He said again then walked out the door.

~~~

Max found Langley by the ship, making the necessary preparations for the trip. “Is Onirus on the ship yet?”

Langley nodded.

“And Asim?”

Langley frowned as he looked at his leader. “There isn’t enough room.”

Max’s face looked like it might explode. “And you’re just telling me this now!?!”

“I’m sorry sir. I thought that we could put them both on if we got rid of some of the extra weight, but it did not work. I believe that Asim does not constitute the same threat as Onirus, so I made a choice.”

Max didn’t like it. He didn’t want to leave either of the traitors behind. “Can Michael fly this ship alone?”

Langley nodded slowly, knowing that his time on Earth was about to be extended. “Yes sir, he can.”

“Good.” He knew Langley would not like his new order but it was necessary. “You will remain on Earth and keep the humans safe until my sister and Michael return.”

~~~

It only rains a few days a year in the desert and today would be one of those days. Max watched the rain as he tried to gather the resolve to do what he believed must be done. He loved her, he always would, he knew that, but today he would leave, and he had to make it easier for her to move on. "I love you Elizabeth Parker." He whispered.

"What?"

Max tensed upon hearing her voice. He had been sure she was still asleep. Hoping that she had not heard his silent profession of love, Max shook his head while he stared out the window for another moment before he turned towards her. It was time. "We need to talk."

Something was very wrong. If his face hadn't given it away, then the way he spoke the words would have. She sat up swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She should have known as soon as she saw him. He was never there when she woke up. She looked up at him and nodded slowly.

Knowing that he would not be able to do this if he got too close, Max stayed on the other side of the room. "I'm leaving today." He started.

She had prepared herself for this since they found out what happened to Isabel. She looked at him with steady eyes. "I'm going with you."

"No you aren't."

She started to argue but he stopped her before she had the chance. "It's not safe for you. Not just because there is a war - but because you are human. We don't know if you could survive."

"You have human DNA Max. If you can survive, I can."

"I have alien DNA too." He knew he couldn’t continue this lie for long. He loved her too much for that. He knew for a fact that she could survive on Antar. He had seen it in her mind. She had already survived there. "You will not be going – that’s final.” He stopped for a moment then added, “There isn’t enough space on the ship for you anyway.”

Believing that he could be right, she had no argument. She looked back at him and forced a smile. Sure, it was hard to see the one you love go off to fight a war but she had hope. Hope that he would be safe, that he would complete what he needed to and he would come back to her. Hope would have to be enough. "I understand. I will miss you Max. I lo . . . “

"No." He cut her off before she could say the words he didn’t need to hear. "You don't understand Liz. I won't be coming back." He paused, gathering strength. "Even if we get Isabel back, even if we win the war, I won't be coming back to Earth."

Her face fell as she tried to fight the tears. "But . . . Max . . .” She couldn't continue, not without the dam breaking.

He walked over to her and, without looking into her eyes; he brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. "I wanted to tell you . . ."

He didn't continue. He couldn’t continue. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was. Sorry for bringing her here, for believing that she had betrayed him, for being as bad as the alien who had taken years away from her. He wanted to tell her he hadn’t meant to get Alex killed, tell her he was sorry for not being able to save him.

He wanted to tell her how much he regretted that knowing him had caused her so much pain and suffering, but he kept this all to himself. Not because he did not feel the anguish of the mistakes he had made, but because saying so might give her hope and he couldn’t allow her to have hope – not for him.

"Forget me Liz. Have a good life, fall in love with someone worthy of you, have children, grow old, be happy."

She shook her head, the tears beginning to fall.

Max knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't stop himself. He cradled her face in his hands, knelt down and kissed the salty tears from her eyes.

A knock prevented him from going farther; from making a bigger mistake. He brushed his lips to hers, then crossed the room and opened the door to find Langley. "The ship is ready, sir."

Max nodded as Langley walked away.

Max turned but didn't walk back over to her. "I have to go." He said before he walked through the door, leaving her alone with her tears.

~~~

No words needed to be spoken; words were for the poets and songwriters. No, Michael and Maria just held each other through the morning, drawing their strength from the other. Langley had just come to say it was time but they still held on, not wanting to let the other go.

Finally, knowing he couldn't put this off any longer, he bent just a bit and softly kissed her lips. "I love you Maria." He said when they broke apart.

She smiled through her tears, keeping in mind Max's promise. He would be back. "I love you, Spaceboy."

The old nickname made them smile lost in bittersweet memories. Michael touched her cheek on last time. "Promise me you won't name that baby anything too crazy - like Michael Junior."

Maria looked up with a gleam in her eye. "You know I can't promise that, but I promise that a normal person will be able to spell it."

~~~

Max looked at Michael curiously as Michael walked alone towards the ship.

"She's not coming out. We've said our goodbyes."

Realizing that the scene might get quite emotional and Michael was not one to show emotion, Max nodded his understanding.

Jesse walked over to the ship, with a duffle in his hand.

"What the hell are you doing?" Max demanded.

Jesse looked at him, determination in his eyes. "I'm going with you."

"The hell you are."

"She's MY wife!" Jesse shot back.

"And my sister." He knew that would not be good enough. "Jesse, we don't know if humans can even breathe there. If you get on that ship you could just as well commit suicide."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take."

Max turned away from him. "Well, I'm not and it's my decision."

Jesse grabbed Max's shoulder and repeated, "She's my wife, Max."

Max glared at him. "Jesse, I know you love her and contrary to everyone's belief, I love her too. I want to get her back, but I don't know what Khivar has put her through. When we save her, she may need you and your love to get her past this. If you die you won't be able to help her." He knew he was getting through. "I promise if you stay here I will get her back to you." He had been making a lot of promises lately and he just hoped he could keep them.

Jesse finally relented and stepped away from the craft. Max placed his hand on the ship and the small hatch opened. Ava was the first to ascend, followed by Michael. Max looked longingly, one last time at the desert sky, and then started to climb into the craft.

"Max!" He heard his name over the thunder. He hesitated for a moment, then moved towards the door once again.

"Max! Please!" She yelled again, knowing, as she did when she decided to go after him that this moment was their last chance.

He knew he shouldn't. They had already said all they needed to say. He knew he should just get onto the ship, close the door and disappear, but he didn't. He stopped and turned around.

Liz stood before him as he did. She took his hand in hers, almost willing him to just stay. "Max, please."

He didn't look into her eyes. He knew if he did, he would never be able to stay strong. He focused on the rock behind her.

"Max don't leave like this. Please tell me you'll come back." She knew she needed something from him to see her through. If he left now, the way it was, he would never come back. She would never see him again.

He continued to stare, knowing that words would be the end of his strength.

She ignored his coldness, knowing it was a front. "I will always love you . . . always." She choked out.

He closed his eyes, strengthening his resolve, pushing the tears away. He had to stay strong for a few more minutes. If he didn't, then it would all be for nothing. He basked in her love for just a moment more before he opened his eyes forcing himself to look straight into hers and say coldly, "Love someone else."

With those words, the dam broke and tears streamed down her face. “Max?”

He shook his head, knowing he had to be strong. He turned around and entered the ship. As the door closed, Max nodded to Michael that it was time to leave, then collapsed on the floor and started to weep.

She watched as the ship flew up into the sky and eventually disappeared, all the while yelling behind it. “MAX!” But it was too late; Max was gone and they were both alone again.

~~~

Musical thought . . .
A Verse of At This Moment by Billy Vera and the Beaters that just kept going through my head.

What do you think
I would give at this moment
If you’d stay
I’d subtract twenty years from my life
I’d fall down on my knees
and kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again

~~~

Hello to all you wonderful feedbackers (is that a word?) and readers!!!

I'm so pleased to see new people leaving feedback! Thank you!!! Of course I'm always thrilled when I see feedback from all ya'll who started this story so long ago and all ya'll who have stayed!!! Thank you!!!

THANKS BUNCHES to EVERYONE who is reading and who took the time to leave feedback - you all are so wonderful!!!!

I'm tired and kind of goofy - sorry.

Anyway, as always I'm sending many thanks to my awesome beta Zen! Also, thanks to Pooh Goddess who helped me with something from this next part. Oh - yeah - Kiss my ass Pooh!!!

Now that this is posted I can go enjoy the parades without guilt.

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

And here we go . . .

~~~

Part 25

“Come on Boo. You have to get out of this rain.” Serena said as she and Maria wrapped their arms around Liz, lifting her from the wet ground to lead her inside the house.

Back in Maria's room, Liz sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wall while tears streamed down her face. Maria dried Liz’s hair with a towel, while Serena found her a warm robe. She handed it to Liz. "You need to change, Boo."

Maria took the robe from Serena so she could help Liz change.

Serena watched in silence. Knowing that the two friends had a past that she was not a part of, she decided to leave them alone. She knew they had both said goodbye to the ones they loved today, that both were in pain and that the only difference was Maria had hope. “Are you alright?” She asked Maria, making sure they knew she was more than willing to stay, but wanting to give them an opportunity, in their grief to commiserate alone.

"We're fine." Maria said softly as she nodded her thanks to Serena.

Serena forced a half smile. "I'll be close if you need me."

Maria nodded and Serena walked from the room to find Jesse. She needed to speak to him before completing the task that Max had entrusted her with.

Maria ran a brush through Liz's hair. "They will be back." She whispered, trying to sooth both her and Liz's fears.

Liz could hear Maria but didn’t bother to argue. Responding to the statement wouldn’t have changed anything. Instead she sat paralyzed on the bed, willing herself to feel nothing – nothing except the tears that ran down her cheeks.

~~~

Serena walked down the hall to the room where she guessed Jesse might occupy. Opening the door she found the man sitting on the floor in the corner of the room alone looking defeated. She squatted before him and put her hand on his arm. “Can I do something for you?” She asked softly.

Jesse shook his head trying to cover the tears he had shed. “I just want to do something – to help. I should have gone with them.” His hands went back to his eyes as he whispered, “She’s my wife.”

Serena understood the feeling of helplessness too well. “Do you want to tell me about her?”

Jesse didn’t want to share his pain by talking about Isabel. Instead he lifted the hand that had been concealed and handed Serena a picture of Isabel on their wedding day that he had always kept with him.

Serena took the picture and studied it. Surprised to find that she remembered this girl from years before in New Orleans. She almost smiled at the coincidence but stopped herself. Partly because she remembered the girl alone not with her husband and partly because she wasn’t sure how much of all this was actually coincidence anymore. She remembered Liz saying that they had met in an alternate life, that she had already figured out the granilith once before. That on its own was strange, add her meeting Isabel – well who knew how much of her involvement was predestined and how much was chance. Finally, she handed the picture back to Jesse. “She’s beautiful.”

He smiled a forced smile and nodded his head but offered no more.

Finally she determined that talking would not help the man but maybe what she had come to ask would. She was going to destroy the granilith but it would still be wise, just in case, if the few remaining scientists could be convinced to sign a non-disclosure agreement. “Jesse, I know you are hurting so if you don’t feel up to it, let me know, but I have something you could help me with and maybe in the process help your friends, alien and human, alike.

~~~

Isabel sat in her place at the large table, waiting for her captor as she did every night. It seemed like it had been weeks, but she was no longer sure time moved the same as it did on Earth. She looked over at the time piece. He was late. She didn't know why she cared that he was, but she did.

Maybe it was because he was the only one who would speak to her, even look at her. The slaves he kept where loyal subjects of the crown and saw her as the betrayer, the sole reason their cause had been lost. The servants of the house, loyal to Khivar, had been kind and helpful at first. They had treated her as their saviors beloved, but she had learned that Khivar had been displeased, believing their actions inappropriate. Those servants had been replaced by ones that would not speak except to answer simple questions.

Basically, she was alone, relying on the whims of a man who kept her against her will. She looked at the timepiece again. She was starting to get hungry. She milled over some of what Khivar had told her these last days. He had told her that her father had been a mad man, killing peasants for the smallest of crimes. That she had joined him at first because she had believed that change was necessary. That their love had been a wonderful (at least in Khivar's words) byproduct of the shared goal.

She had tried to tune out his voice when he spoke of her family in such a way. She would not believe him, but some of his words had seeped through and she had begun to ask questions in her mind. For instance, knowing the tyrant that Max had become even after being raised by Philip and Diane Evans, wasn’t it possible that their biological father would have the same faults and why would so many follow Khivar if they had not believed they were being mistreated?

Isabel sat up straight and put on her stone face when she heard the door open behind her. Khivar walked to the table, taking her hand in his, he urged her to stand. "I am sorry you had to wait, my dearest and I know that you must be hungry but if you will indulge me I have a surprise for you." He took her arm and threaded it into his leading her out of the door.

Isabel feelings seesawed between the fear of going somewhere unknown with this man and the excitement of finally being allowed to leave her small prison.

~~~

Serena looked at her watch. It was late. She had spent the afternoon helping Jesse convince the remaining scientists to sign the non-disclosure agreement. At first it had been slow going but now, after hours of persuasion and dipping into her personal fortune they seemed to have everyone in one accord. The only thing left to be done was for Jesse to draw up the papers and have each of them sign.

“Then we can leave?” One of the scientists questioned.

Serena nodded. “Tomorrow – yes, but just so you understand, you will be able to leave whether you sign the agreement or not.” She wanted them to realize that signing the paper was their choice. If they felt it wasn’t then they would not feel bound to the agreement. Of course she was pretty much buying them off – she knew that – but if that’s what it took for Liz, Jesse, Maria and the unborn baby to be safer then that was what she would do.

Another scientist spoke up. “When will we get our money?”

Serena didn’t exactly have a checkbook on her – she had been abducted but she was pretty sure she could get the funds wired tomorrow. “I will go into Roswell tomorrow and hopefully be able to cut checks for you by tomorrow evening.”

Serena looked around the room, waiting for anymore questions but they all seemed to be satisfied. She looked over at Jesse. “You can handle this from here?” She asked.

“No problem.” He answered content for the moment to have something to keep his mind occupied.

Serena smiled, satisfied to have helped him, at least a little. “See you later.” She mumbled and took off, out the door to the cave.”

~~~

Langley sat in the distance, watching the setting sun. Antar, with its two suns, went complete seasons without darkness making night a novelty to most Antarians; a novelty that Langley still enjoyed even after his many years on Earth.

His appreciation of the Earth and it’s cycles did not cause him to miss home any less. He thought of the friends and family he had left behind, knowing how Khivar would punish them if he discovered Langley’s part in helping the royals. Langley missed them but now he just hoped that his loved ones were still alive.

Looking towards the complex, Langley forced thoughts of Antar from his mind. Earlier, he had watched the humans move from the cave to the house. It angered him since Max would never have allowed them there. But he hadn’t been surprised. Humans were weak and given the chance to take over more comfortable quarters they would. Now as he scanned the area he noticed that the Antarians were leaving too. “What is going on?” He asked himself. He had hoped to keep his presence a secret, at least for a while, but now, wondering what was going on, he stood up and headed back towards the house

~~~

"What are you doing in here?" Serena asked Alden as she entered the chamber that contained the granilith.

Alden shrugged. "I'm just looking at the symbols on the granilith. I was sure they would help me figure out this damn thing."

Serena waited but when Alden didn't continue, she began to get frustrated. "WELL, did they!?!"

Alden shrugged and took a drink of the beer he had in his hand. "I'm not sure. I think so. I have to check something first."

"Don't bother."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "Don't bother?"

Serena opened the box that contained the crystal key. "I promised Max I would destroy it once he was gone."

Alden, not able to believe his ears, actually put down his beer. It was so unlike Serena to give up on anything; she was too driven, well actually stubborn, maybe even obsessed. If she promised to destroy the granilith, that was what she was doing.

Before Alden could argue, Serena explained, "It's Max's decision. Not mine."

"How the hell are you going to destroy it? We don't even know exactly how it works."

"I don't have to know. I know the theory of it all, I can overload it. It will cause a bit of an explosion but in the cave, it should be contained."

Alden didn't like what he was hearing. "Should be? You don't sound too sure."

"Well, I’ve made sure all the occupants of the cave went up to the house. It will be safe for them there."

Nervously Alden asked, "And what about you?"

Serena rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. I'll have plenty of time to get out."

"NO!" Alden shook his head profusely. "I'm not letting you do it Ser."

"How exactly do you plan on stopping me?" Serena asked putting her hands on her hips.

Visions of him picking her up and dragging her away screaming and kicking went through his head. It would serve her ass right. He thought to himself.

Serena continued. "I'll be fine, just get to the house, I'll be there as soon as I can."

Alden took a deep breath. He reminded himself that they respected each other and their decisions. He also knew that once Serena set her mind to something - nothing would keep her from it. Unless something changed her mind, she would eventually destroy the granilith or die trying. It was better for him to stay and help. To make sure that she made it out alive.

Alden let out a quick breath. "I'll stay and help." He noticed her beginning to argue but cut her off. "If it's safe then there's no reason I shouldn't stay and help and if it's not - well - let's just say, it won't be the first time someone has locked your ass up to keep you safe." He smiled and winked at her, hoping to soften her a bit.

It worked. Serena sighed loudly showing her annoyance, but nodded her agreement.

~~~

Isabel sat on the tarp that Khivar, trying to mimic the human custom of a picnic, had put down. He had explained to her that he had heard of it through some of his followers whom he had sent to Earth. When she asked about his need to have his soldiers on Earth he tried again to justify his actions.

"But, my dearest, I must admit that the main objective of my servants was to find you." Khivar looked almost ashamed by his admission.

Isabel looked up at him defiantly. "Really? You want me to believe that you loved me so much that you sent your slaves to find me and my family and kill us." She gave a haughty sneer.

Khivar reached for her face, but she turned away. "They were under orders not to kill you."

"But Max, Michael, Tess?"

"Zan, Rath and Ava were part of the government that we . . . that you swore to demolish. It was necessary so they . . . the government could not come back."

"And what about Nicholas and his mind rape? He tried to . . . to me . . . Did you love me so much. . ."

He looked her in the eyes. "If it was necessary he did have my permission." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Vilandra there was a time when you would have expected no less from him or me. A time when you would have insisted that I use any means to get the information to free your people."

She stood up and walked a few feet away from him. She didn't want to hear what she use to be."

Khivar stood and followed, finally reaching her, he grabbed her shoulders making her stop.

Isabel grimaced, knowing there would be fresh bruises. In the beginning she had thought he had meant to hurt her but now she knew that he did not understand his physical strength. The Antarians did not need the physical when the mental was so strong.

Khivar was learning to read her human emotions and upon seeing her discomfort, he loosened his grip. "Vilandra please understand." He pleaded as he raised one hand to the side of her face and traced her ear with one of his fingers.

Isabel shivered at the first caring touch she had allowed from him. She looked into his eyes and a flash went through her mind. It wasn't a flash like the connection she once shared with her first love but in that touch, her senses came alive. It was if she could remember the past life she had. She remembered the smells, the tastes, the way her eyes would get disoriented when the suns were both low at mid dusk. She remembered Khivar. For a moment she caught, in the most human of ways, a fleeting glimpse of why she had betrayed her family for him.

It hadn't been a love like Alex; that wonderful, first love that had made her heart soar. Nor had it been a love like she shared with Jesse, a mature love where her mind was at peace. No - this love had been something else, something that she couldn't or didn't want to understand. It might have even been less then love, more like an unhealthy obsession aimed at the one man, who in her last life, she could not have. She knew as she stood staring into his dark eyes, unable to move, unable to breath, that this passion had controlled her very soul as if she had sold it to Satan himself.

She pulled away as she regained her senses, looking defiantly at the devil's face. A smirk crossed his lips as he realized what had happened. How dare he? She wondered as she raised her hand to slap the smirk away.

He had seen it coming and grabbed a hold of her wrist. "My dearest Vilandra, just because you don't like what you see - does not mean it is untrue."

She twisted her wrist out of his grip, pushing herself away from him. She kept hearing Vanessa Whitaker's voice. "History is bound to repeat itself." It wouldn't. Not if there was a way that Isabel could stop it.

~~~

Max pulled himself off the floor, knowing that showing his anguish helped no one. It was time to harden his heart again, accept his responsibility and be the king he was born to be. He walked over to the control area where Michael and Ava stood, looking out the large window.

Ava had been the one most surprised by Max's breakdown and now, with him standing beside her, was uncomfortable. What was she suppose to do? She didn't know when her feelings had changed towards him but over the last few months, they had. She had always respected him and in some small way, maybe because he was her kind, maybe because of his resemblance to Zan, loved him but now her feelings went much deeper. She cared about him - all of him, his feelings and his well being. She felt he was a friend. And now her friend was in pain and she didn't know how to help him so she just stood next to him, hoping that some of her strength would find its way to him.

Michael stood on the other side of Max and pointed sadly. "That's Earth."

Max peered out the window focusing on the blue and white sphere that kept getting smaller and smaller, finally becoming just another light in the sky. Max knew it was time for him to be strong for all of them. He rested a hand on the other's shoulders. "We will see it again.”

He knew it wasn’t the right time to tell them the truth. That he would never see Earth again.

~~~
[/b]

Part 26

“Hey there Frank,” Kyle said, greeting his long lost neighbor. “How’s Europe?”

Frank turned and shook Kyle’s hand. “Pretty good but glad to be back.”

“We’re gonna have to go out for a drink soon.”

Frank raised his eyebrows. “If you have the time.”

“What are you talking about? I always have time for my friends.”

“What would that little brunette think about that?”

Confusion passed over Kyle’s face. “Brunette?”

“Cute girl about yea high,” Frank lifted his hand showing her height, “brown hair and eyes. You were with her at the Crashdown the morning I left town. Said she was an old friend from high school but I thought there might be more.” Frank shrugged. “Guess not.”

Kyle didn’t like what he was hearing but passed it off. “Oh yeah. No – nothing more than friends.”

“Well then, how about tonight. We could go meet the guys at that new sport’s bar.”

Kyle shook his head. “Sorry Frank. I can’t tonight . . . in fact, I just remembered the boss might need me to go out of town this week. I will definitely call you when I get back though.”

Frank nodded. “No problem but I might go over there anyway, so if you stay around call me on my cell.”

“Yeah – will do. Well, gotta get going. Good to have you back buddy.”

Frank smiled and disappeared into his apartment. Kyle walked back to his, went in and shut the door.

~~~

Langley entered the house to find a few of the Antarian guards standing watch by the door. Dismissing them as they saluted, signaling their allegiance to Antar and to him as their superior, he got right to the point. "What is going on?" He demanded.

One of the ranking guards stepped forward. "The human scientist commanded us to leave the cave."

"And you did?" Langley asked in disbelief.

The guard nodded. "His majesty left orders that we were to obey her."

Langley's first instinct was to discipline the guard immediately; believing that obedience to a human was one order that these men should not have obeyed. "Tell me - what is she doing in the cave?"

"Sir, I believe she means to destroy the granilith."

Langley stopped for a moment staring at the guard in disbelief, the granilith was too important to Antar to allow anyone, even the king himself, to destroy it. The Antarians should know that! But he kept his anger in check, instead he turned back through the door and headed to the cave, that human would not destroy the granilith as long as he still lived.

~~~

“Vilandra – please stop!”

Isabel ignored Khivar’s words as she ran up the stairs and through the doorway of her room, barring the door behind her.
The door rattled as he attempted to open it. She knew that eventually he would get in if he really wanted to but still she prayed that he would give up and leave her be.

“Vilandra.” His voice pled from the other side of the door.

”My name is Isabel.” She said defiantly. “I am not the person you use to know.”

For a few moments, she heard nothing. She turned towards the door, almost making the mistake of opening it but then she heard his voice.

Not wanting to scare her, not wanting her to close up to him again, the silence had just been a chance for him to collect his thoughts. “I know you felt it. The passion we shared, the need we had for one another. Do not deny it Vila . . . Isabel.” He placed his hand on the outside of the door; he knew that she stood behind it, listening. “I loved you. You loved me. If you would just give that feeling a chance again . . . “ He stopped. Vilandra had never acted purely on emotion. She always had to weigh her feelings against her mind and soul. “Just think about it. Remember.”

Seconds later, Isabel relaxed a bit, hearing his footsteps as he walked away, leaving her with the disturbing knowledge that once, even if it was in her past life, she had cared for him.

~~~

Alden stood near the granilith, watching the lights as Serena instructed. "Red, amber, off, red again."

Serena looked up. “Are you sure?”

Alden nodded, waited and then, after a few moments of silence asked. “Do you have enough money to pay off the scientists?”

Serena stared ahead at the panel in front of her. “I’m fine.” She held up her hand, signaling him to be quiet for a moment. “Tell it to me again.”

“Red, amber, off, red again.” He watched as she nodded then asked again. “Fine?”

Serena walked over to where he stood and looked at the lights again.

“Ser?”

Serena looked directly at him wanting to put an end to his questions. “I put the house on the market.”

Alden was noticeably stunned. “The house? You can’t mean it! You love that house! It’s been in your family almost two hundred years.”

She shrugged. “It’s just a ‘thing’. Maybe someday I’ll get it back.” Although, she believed selling the house was worth it she still didn’t want to discuss it. It still hurt. “It’s already done.” Walking back to the other side of the granilith, she asked him to repeat the sequence again.

“Red, amber, blue, off, red again.”

Serena nodded as he said each; she placed the key into the slot.

~~~

The dream had returned. Only now, it was slightly different. The terror still consumed her and the man with the eyes still came to ease her fears. But that man – the man who she now knew was Max Evans would still vanish and leave her with the terror.

“NO! Don’t go!” Liz cried out, sitting up in the bed where she and Maria had finally fallen asleep.

With her extra weight, Maria wasn’t as quick to get up. “Liz? Are you alright?” She touched Liz’s arm. “What’s the matter?”

The vision Liz got from the touch was brief.

Maria lay on a bed bleeding uncontrollably while Serena ran around her, doing all she could to keep Maria alive. Liz looked down in her arms where a new baby laid. She pulled the blanket back to find the child blue from lack of oxygen. She reached down to touch its sweet face, to find that it already deadly cold.

Maria wailed. "Not me! The baby! Save my baby!"

Serena looked helplessly up at Liz, signaling that nothing could be done for the baby or for Maria.

Liz pushed Maria’s hand away stopping the vision.

”Do you want to talk about it?” Maria asked.

Dazed by what she had just seen Liz didn’t answer right away.

“Liz? Are you ok?”

Liz made herself speak. “The dream . . . yeah I’m fine. I just need to go take a walk and clear my head.”

Maria tried to stifle a yawn. “Want some company?”

Shaking her head Liz answered, “No . . . no . . . you need to get your sleep. You have a baby you need to take care of. “Forcing herself to smile as she finished.

Maria was worried but nodded her agreement. Their friendship wasn’t what it used to be. She would have to give Liz her space and she did need sleep.

Liz just wanted to find Serena and talk to her about what she had just seen.

~~~

"What the hell are you doing?" Langley asked as he entered the room.

Alden looked up at the alien but Serena never took her eyes off the panel. "Max wanted it destroyed." She answered.

Langley raised his hand forming an energy blast that caused Serena to fly across the room and land with a hard thump. Alden took a step towards Langley but another blast landed Alden on top of Serena. "Fuck!" Alden yelled as he landed. He looked down at Serena, seeing if she was hurt. Serena's eyes were opened but she seemed to be in shock. Langley lifted his hand once again. "You will not destroy the granilith - it means too much to my people."

Alden watched as Langley was lifted from his position and thrown to the opposite side of the room. His gaze shifted towards the entrance of the room where Liz stood with blood in her eyes.

"Stay away from them!!!" She yelled.

Langley jumped up into a defensive position, ready to blast the human. But as he looked into her eyes he realized that she was much stronger then he, almost as strong as the king himself. But even with this revelation, Langley only had one goal in mind. “Without the granilith . . .”

“Shut UP!” Liz growled while holding him at bay. She crossed the room to see how her friends fared. “Are you all ok?”

Alden nodded as he rolled off of Serena and held out a hand for her. When she didn’t move he knelt by her side. "Sera . . .Sera! . . . SERA!" He repeated over and over again, worried that she did not respond.

Serena stared towards Alden for a few more moments watching as he became more and more frantic before she began to laugh.

"Dammit Ser!" Alden offered his hand to help her up.

Smiling, Serena took his hand, pulling herself off the floor. Her attention almost immediately shifted towards the granilith and with her eyes focused on the machine all laughter left her. "We have to get out of here NOW!"

Alden had forgotten until that moment that they had already begun the destruction of the granilith. He grabbed Serena's hand and pulled her towards the door.

Serena yelled towards Liz. “Come on! The granilith – it’s going to explode!”

Liz realized at that moment that the granilith was the answer. If Serena could make it work, they could use it to get a message to Max. Max could save Maria and her baby. Instead of following her friend, she started to yell. "You have to stop it! Maria . . . baby!!! It’s important!!!” Liz pleaded.

Serena shook her head. "I can't."

"I CAN!" Langley yelled from the corner where Liz held him at bay.

Liz looked at Langley, then back at Serena before dropping her hand and allowing Langley to do what he could.

Langley ran over to the control panel and reached for the key.

The three humans watched as Langley changed his appearance to a metallic liquid state. The liquid covered the control panel.

A blinding light encompassed the figure forcing the three humans to look away. Liz felt the power surround her first - she brought up a shield around her and her friends shielding them from what was happening.

Minutes later, Alden was the first to find his voice. "HOLY SHIT!!! What the hell was that?"

Serena walked to the figure that now lay beside the granilith. Langley had changed back into his human form for a moment, then as Serena bent down to touch him, he turned into a pile of dust.

Liz looked on in awe. "He knew it would kill him."

"The damn thing must be pretty important to him – to his people.” Serena commented under her breath. Then looking to Liz she asked, “But why is it important to you?”

Out of breath from the excitement, Liz answered. “I had a vision. Maria and the baby. They won’t survive. Max – if we can get a message to him – if we can get him to come back or if she can go there . . . He can save her.”

Serena nodded then noticed the rod that lay on the ground next to where Langley's body had been. Picking it up, she turned to the others. "Guess we are going to need this then." Serena handed the key to Liz and mumbled to Alden under her breath. "Finish the translation."

Guessing her intentions, Alden grabbed her hand. "Sera, you can't keep them."

She pulled her hand from him. “I can. Everyone has their price.”

~~~

Kyle’s first thought was to go back to the Crashdown but if his memory had been erased by aliens then it stood to reason that the Parker’s would have no memory of their daughter being in Roswell either. No, what he needed to do was something he swore he would never do again. He needed to involve his dad.

Calling his father was a problem for Kyle. Max and his alien army had only caused pain and destruction in his father’s life but he knew that his dad knew more about where the aliens were then he did, at least these last few years. There were times when Max had still needed his father even though he was human.

Kyle knew out of respect for him and the loss he had endured when Tracy died, his dad never spoke to him about his alien involvements but that hadn’t stopped him from helping and it hadn’t kept Kyle from knowing that he was. Kyle understood his father’s position even if he didn’t agree. Max Evans had saved his son’s life and that was a debt that Jim would never forget or stop repaying.

After almost an hour of debate with himself, Kyle finally picked up the phone and dialed the number.

“Yeah.” Came the voice after five full rings.

“Hey dad . . . I have a problem.” He paused drawing a long breath. “One of the extra-terrestrial kind.”

~~~

Finally able to walk and clear her mind, Liz tromped through the desert until she came upon a rock that marked the place where Max had gotten into that ‘damn’ ship less then 14 hours before and with that action ripped her heart in two one final time. She looked up at the stars wondering how far from Earth he now was. The more time that passed the more real his leaving became. And that reality drove home his final words. “Love someone else.”

Remembering those words started the flow of tears once more. Of course, she thought, how could she have expected more? After being apart for all those years – a few months could not bring back the love they had once shared, at least not how it had been. Her rational side understood that he didn’t owe her any more but that part of her soul, the part that belonged only to him asked why he would just leave like that. That he could deny that part of himself – that part she knew still existed – that part that belonged to her – without a second thought.

Later, after the tears had dried, the anger began to creep up on her. It wasn’t as if she didn’t understand him needing to save his sister. Liz would expect nothing less from the man she loved, but to tell her that he would not return... and now Maria and the baby... How could they leave her friend like that – in the condition she was in? Hadn’t they known that there was a possibility of complications? That something awful could happen?

“Damn Antar and damn Max Evans.”

~~~

Lying on his bed, the man stared at the old photograph. The paper yellowed with time, the edges singed, probably from the war. The face that gazed back at him was not the same as the face he fell in love with but he could see beyond that. This girl had the soul of his Isabel.

Although he didn't require as much sleep now that he had been transformed, Alex closed his eyes, trying to find the dream plane. Since discovering her presence on Antar he had spent all of his nights and most of his days trying to find her one way or another; knowing she was safe was the only thing that mattered to him. But thanks to her ‘mother’, his search heeded no results.

"Isabel." He pleaded softly. "Help me find you."

~~~

Hey everyone – thanks again for reading!!! I love all your feedback! It is truly fabulous!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!

Don't really know about why there are so many projects but both ideas sound feasible. Oh - well the projects are thankfully finished now.

I would like to thank once again my marvelous beta, Zen!!! She truly makes my story come alive. (And she makes it readable – we should ALL thank her for that. )

Anyway – have errands and such but I wanted to get this out (cause I’m a few days later then I had planned) so I have to run.

Kiss my ass Pooh!!! (Oh yeah – and been missing you.) <~Look I rhymed.

Ok – shutting up – here’s the story . . .


Part 27

Serena kicked the granilith. “Fuck it!”

Alden looked up over the top of the alien’s book, raising his eyebrows a bit at Serena’s outburst. He had learned over the last few weeks that asking too many questions while she worked would only direct wrath towards him, though he suspected that this time, keeping quiet would not spare him.

“What the HELL are you looking at?” she barked.

Alden shrugged. “Just making sure you were alright.”

“NO! I am NOT fucking alright!!!” Serena seethed. “Maria and her baby are living on borrowed time and now we have this translation of the book that tells us exactly how to operate the damn thing and even though I follow the directions word for word I can’t get it to fucking work right!!!”

Alden cringed – not because of her anger, that he could handle, but because of her fear. He rarely saw Serena scared and that bothered him. She had actually become insecure in her abilities. His concern prompted him to stand up and walk over to her, despite her fury. He wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her to him. Even as she tried to push him away, he tucked her head under his chin and held her. “Ser baby,” he soothed, “we will make it work.”

Tears formed in Serena’s eyes. “Nothing we are doing is changing anything. Liz’s visions all tell us one thing. Nothing we have done is going to make a damn bit of difference. Maria still dies – the baby still dies.”

He rubbed her back, trying to ease her fears. “Then we have to do something else.”

She looked up at him defeated. “I don’t know what else to do.”

“Call Erica.” When she started to protest he added, “I don’t think you have a choice.”

Serena nodded and pushed herself out of his grasp. “I will in the morning.” She looked up at the granilith then back at her friend. “She won’t tell anyone?”

Determined to calm her fears he shook his head. “She won’t.”

Feeling a little better from Alden’s assurance, she looked back at the granilith. “Bon-temps fait crapaud manqué bounda.”

"Idleness leaves the frogs without buttocks?” He tried to stifle a chuckle, but it found its way out. “Why can’t you just say let’s get back to work?”

~~~

Isabel lay down on her bed forcing herself to close her eyes; to try and get some much needed rest. Fleeting thoughts of Jesse raced through her mind. She prayed he was alive and well, that he would let Max handle her situation. “Well, that is if Max even cares,” she thought. “He's probably just happy that I now reside on Antar.”

As sleep crept upon her and control of her thoughts started to leave, visions of Khivar replaced Jesse. Over the past few weeks Khivar had worn her down. In spite of her better judgment, she had begun to let her guard down. She would listen as he tried to convince her of her father’s and then her brother’s tyranny. She would let him touch her softly and with those touches, passion filled memories seemed to return.

When sleep finally came so did her dreams. It was always the same dream....

She’s frightened by a storm that is blowing over the hills of Antar. Khivar lies beside her murmuring words of comfort in her ear. She snuggles beside him feeling the warmth of his strong body next to hers. She lifts her face to his as he bends to meet her lips. “You will always be mine.” He whispers. “I will never let you go.”

As the dream continues, another voice whispers her name.

“Isabel.”

This has happened before but she has always ignored it. But this time she raises her head above Khivar’s body and peers into the darkness. “Who’s there?”

“Isabel.”

She pulls away from the man who lay with her in her dream to get out of the bed. Walking towards the voice she asks again, “Who’s there?”

“Isabel.”

Following the voice to the far corner of the room, her eyes adjust immediately to the darkness. “Alex?”

He reaches out to her, pushing a tendril of her hair off her face. “Don’t trust him.”

Isabel looks over at the bed. Khivar is still there; this is still a dream. She looks back at Alex. “You're dead.”

Hundreds of miles away, Alex lies in his room, wondering what to say next. Of course she would believe that – he was dead – at least to her. He knew that he had to do something, that she wouldn’t heed his warning unless she believed he was real.

“I am not dead, I was reborn. You have to believe me.” He pleads. “Please Isabel don’t trust him.” He reaches for her hand, willing her to believe.

Tears glistened in Isabel’s eyes. She wanted to believe that Alex was actually there but years of dreamwalking others only serves to convince her that only in her dreams could Alex still exist.

Seeing her disbelief, Alex tries once more. “Don’t trust in him Isabel.”

She hears Khivar’s voice calling to her, first from the bed and then from a place unknown. Turning towards his voice, she knows she must leave. She looks over at Alex one last time.

Disappearing from her dream Alex whispers his last words. “Trust in me.”

~~~

Liz always dreaded this. Since the first vision, Liz avoided touching Maria as much as she could. But just as she had every few days since her first vision, Serena had asked her to. Strengthening her resolve, she marched into the kitchen where Maria sat eating determined to find out if Maria’s future had been changed.

Cassandra had always told her that this was a gift, but every time she forced herself to look at Maria’s future – every time she held the lifeless body of the baby in her arms – every time she looked into Maria’s face as she died – she knew it was a curse as well.

Maria put down the novel she was reading and looked over at Liz. “Hey there. Want something to eat?” She pushed an uneaten half of her sandwich towards Liz.

“Thanks.” Liz picked up the sandwich and took a bite. “So, how are you doing?”

“Pretty miserable actually.” When Liz’s face saddened, Maria felt the need to clarify. “The heat is terrible, I’m all swollen – I feel like a whale. I just want to get this baby out of me.” Maria sighed then smiled. “Well – less then a month then I will be back to normal.”

Well aware of Maria’s due date, Liz forced a sympathetic smile. She understood that Maria was just an expectant mother who was excited to meet her firstborn, but to the small group who knew of Liz’s visions, her due date was a ticking time bomb. “He’ll be here soon enough.”

“Or she will.” Maria said smiling.

Liz decided to change the subject. “What are you reading?”

Maria picked the book up, handing it to Liz.

This was going to be easier then she expected. Over the past few weeks, she had become pretty adept at reading Maria. All she had to do was reach out and take the book from her hand, making sure to touch her in the process. Liz paused for a split second, bracing herself for the worst then reached out.

The room is different now, more like a hospital room. Liz no longer is holding a child – instead she sits next to Maria who lies on the bed crying and rocking a small bundle in her arms. A woman who Liz had never seen before walks into the room and looks at a few of the monitors then softly places a hand on Liz’s shoulder. “Maria is going to be fine.”

Maria looks up at the woman. “Why?” She asks through her tears. “Why did he die?”

The woman looks sympathetically at Maria. “I don’t really know. You carried to term, he looks to be completely healthy, but he never took a breath. He tried, but it seems his lungs didn’t fully develop.”

Liz watches as Maria nods as if she understands and then goes back to rocking her firstborn.

The vision ended and Liz, forcing herself to be calm, took the book from Maria and looked at it. “Another trashy novel – huh?”

Maria grinned. “Well when your man is away you have to get your excitement somewhere.”

~~~

The ship landed on a barren plain three weeks after it had left Earth. When its engines were powered down, Max looked over at his two comrades. “We’re here.”

Michael grabbed a nervous Ava’s hand and tried to make light of the situation. “We might as well see what the fuss is all about.”

Max nodded and lifted his hand to a panel beside the door. The panel glowed dimly and then the door opened with a hushed whoosh. The heat that rushed into the ship was stifling, worse then New Mexico in the middle of summer. Max turned one more time, making sure the others were ready before he descended down the ladder.

On the ground, the three took their first breath of the alien air. While oxygen did exist, the air felt heavier than that on Earth. The atmosphere was hot and humid, smelling of rock and decay with a faint undercurrent of spices. It seemed to caress the skin with a life of its own

The land was desolate, scorched from years of war and the two suns blazed above. A mysterious mist rose above desert sands, swirling among rolling hills of red clay. The fiery red of volcanic eruptions was visible in the distance. Harsh, jagged black rocks towered faraway against the backdrop of a brilliant sky painted in oranges, pinks and violet. The crescents of several large outlying planets were clearly discernible on the horizon, the largest showing many rings. Three moons were just beginning their climb to join the millions of stars already beginning to twinkle in the heavens.

Max squinted as he scanned the area, wondering where to go and what to do next.

“Over there.” Michael pointed towards a hill in warning. The sound of Michael's voice was muffled and hollow, as though he were speaking through cotton.

Max and Ava followed the direction of his finger and saw a small group of people in flowing robes headed towards them. As the group came closer, the three lifted their hands ready to defend themselves.

Max was the first to lower his hand in recognition. Leading the small entourage was his mother. She walked close to him, bowed slightly, and then captured his face in her hands. “You have returned my son.”

Her actions seemed to be a signal to those with her as they dropped to their knees and bowed before him.

Not sure what they should do, Michael and Ava stood behind Max, shifting back and forth. The queen noticed their discomfort and walked over to them. “I am pleased to see you both are well.” She took one of each of their hands in hers then turned to the followers. “This is a happy day for your king and my children have returned home.”

The followers replied in agreement as the queen went back to Max. “I know you have had a long journey and will need to rest. If you will follow me to my residence, I will see that your needs are met.” She motioned for the followers to rise, then began to walk back towards the hills.

Max stood firm. “I will see my sister and son immediately!”

The queen turned calmly back towards her son. “I see you have seen her mind. She was a very brave woman.”

“And you allowed me to believe she betrayed me!” he responded.

“It was necessary. You will come to see that.” The queen answered.

Max fought for control of his temper. He knew now was not the time or place for the confrontation that would eventually come. Instead, glaring at her, he repeated his demand. “I will see my sister and son immediately.”

“Yes of course. Your son resides at my residence. You may see him as soon as you wish.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing, “But until your sister, as well as our world, is freed, she is lost to us.”

~~~

“If it’s a boy I think I will name him Alexander Michael, which will piss Michael off royally,” she giggled, “but if it’s a girl I haven’t decided yet.”

Jesse nodded, wondering if the baby would be named Isabel if his wife did not return.

The two continued their walk around the compound, taking advantage of the cooler evening air. Maria looked towards the horizon, noticing an object approaching in the distance. She pointed towards it. “What is that?”

Jesse looked up, adjusting his eyes to get a look where she was pointing. “It looks as if it’s a car.” He said with concern. “No one ever comes out here – we need to get the others.”

“You run – I will catch up.” Maria said in agreement.

“Hurry – We don’t know who that is or what they want.” Jesse said hastily before running off towards the cave.

A few minutes later Maria, Jesse, Liz, Alden, and Serena, along with a few of the Antarian guards, stood outside watching as the car came closer.

They watched as the car came to a stop and the occupants got out, revealing themselves as Jim and Kyle Valenti.

Liz was the first to greet the pair with a hug. “How did you know we were here?”

“Someone saw us together at the Crashdown – someone Max obviously didn’t know about.” Kyle explained showing his disdain of Max. “I put two and two together and realized that you must have been there, but Max made sure I didn’t remember. I was worried. Max . . .” he stopped for a moment, wondering what she knew, “Anyway, I called dad and he had an idea of where the aliens were held up. We began looking, of course the great one – Max – decided to move the place so it took a lot longer then we thought. We had to . . . ”

Listening to his son tell his story, Jim noticed Maria. Grinning, he cut off Kyle. “Holy shit girl you’re pregnant!”

Maria laughed. “Yep.”

“Amy doesn’t know though – does she?”

Maria shook her head. “We’ve been kind of busy around here – I haven’t had a chance to tell her.”

“Too busy to tell your mother she is going to be a grandmother?” Jim chastised, then demanded. “Where the hell is Max?”

Liz tried to calm her own resentment as she started to explain all that had happened in the last eight or so months.

~~~