The Light of Day (CC,M/L,ADULT) Pt 8 - AN 06/24/04 [WIP]

[Lolita]

Title: The Light of Day
Rating:: ADULT
Category: CC M/L
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters but the story and the banner are mine.
Summary: Future fic. Post Departure. This is the third installment of my short story trilogy. The first part, Dormir and the second, Réveiller can be found here.



(banner was made by me)


Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

- The Bible : 1 Corinthians -


Part 1: What Goes Up, Must Come Down.

~ Liz ~

I awake to the sensation of soft kisses being pressed slowly along my shoulder. I lazily open my eyes, encountering my lover’s smoldering gaze and I am floored by its intensity. I open my mouth and attempt to speak, but I am rendered speechless by his wandering hand. I feel it glide smoothly over my thighs as it makes a slow ascent up my body to tangle in my hair. For a brief moment we lay there, face to face, nose to nose, brow to brow, staring intensely at each other as though trying to etch the moment in our memories.

I inhale sharply as his mouth descends on mine.

His lips devour me and I enthusiastically return his gesture. His tongue thrusts deep into my mouth and entwines with mine – mimicking the sensual dance that’s to come.

His hand fists in my hair as he pulls me closer to him. My breasts are pressed into his bare chest and I feel a groan rumble through him, fanning the embers of my desire.

All vestiges of sleep are wiped away as his other hand snakes between our bodies to gently cup my breast.

I moan.

His body hardens as we roll and he presses my back against the mattress. He pulls back and I'm unable to stifle my whimper of disappointment at the loss of contact.

His gaze travels hungrily down my body and I'm awed by his reverence. I raise my hand caressing his cheek lovingly. His eyes meet mine as he takes my hand and places a tender kiss to my palm.

My eyes burn and I swallow, fighting the urge to cry.

I feel his thumbs brushing away the moisture that trails down my cheeks.

Apparently, I’m already crying.

I give him a wobbly smile as my love for him overwhelms me.

I can’t believe that it was only hours ago that we were arguing to no end. Not the loud exchange that's typical of domestic spats but the unspoken kind. The kind that stabs deeper than any words of anger could.

And now, here we are.

I throw my head back in ecstasy as his lips burn a trail of fire down my neck. I can feel him tugging at my shirt and I am more than happy to oblige as he raises it over my head.

His mouth latches onto my breast and I'm unable to suppress the lustful moan that escapes my lips.

I feel his hand wander lower until it reaches my core.

I hiss his name as my fingers dig into his flesh.

Unable to bear it any longer, I urge his body upward, even with mine. Once again, my lips take his and I’m lost, surrendering to the moment.

All logic, anger and resentment fly out the window. I roll us over and begin attacking his body with my lips.

Desire has taken over and my body is merely its vessel.

All remaining barriers between us are removed and I position myself above his manhood. Opening my eyes, they connect with his.

Zap!

Like static electricity we tense momentarily in response to the contact as I slide onto his unyielding flesh.

We both hiss simultaneously as I begin to rock.

And rock…

And rock…

Our hands are everywhere.

He grabs my breasts…my hips…my buttocks.

I claw him. His chest…his thighs…his arms.

We’ve both given over. Lost ourselves in this amorous dance. Not caring one way or another what lies beyond our bedroom door.

This is just us.

My breath starts coming out in gasps as my tempo increases. Max grabs my hips and helps my frantic movements.

We’re both straining...reaching…

A moment later, a scream erupts from me and I’m lost.

I’m falling…deeper…and deeper…

My head rolls back and my eyes close.

Soon after I hear Max. He’s panting until finally he shudders as his fingers tighten their hold on my hips. His fingernails digging into my skin…

But I don’t feel any pain.

I’m ecstatic, fulfilled, and content.

I collapse on top of Max and rest my head on his chest.

I hear his heart beating.

I feel him constrict between my legs and I giggle.

“Do that again,” I say looking up at his handsome face.

“Do what?” he asks with his eyes closed.

“That thing you do.”

“What thing?”

“Never mind.”

I rest my head back on his chest and close my eyes, feeling the fatigue that our exertion has caused.

I feel like I’m floating on water. A sated smile is on my face.

I spread my hands across my lover’s stomach feeling the tightness of his muscles there.

Suddenly, I feel him constricting again and I can’t help it, I bite his nipple.

He yelps and rolls us over, once again successfully pinning me beneath him.

We’re both laughing but it soon dies down.

His features turn serious. His glittering eyes connect with mine and I can’t look away. I’m mesmerized.

“Good morning, Max,” I utter in sated idiocy.

He smiles and it’s so brilliant that I feel the need to shield my eyes from the glare.

“I love you, Liz Parker,” he whispers and I can’t help but smile in return.

“I love you too, Max Evans.”



I shuffle my way around the kitchen in a state of semi-undress.

I place the kettle on the stove and glance at Max from the corner of my eyes. He looks down and blushes as he catches me peeking at him.

‘Max Evans is staring at you again.’ Maria’s voice flits quickly through my mind. I smile and duck my head as I try to busy myself in the kitchen.

I have no idea what's going on between us but frankly, I don’t care.

A grin is threatening to erupt on my face as my thoughts drift to our early morning activities.

I remember having these conversations with Maria back in high school. I used to ask her why she never just broke things off with Michael since they bickered constantly. And you know what she said? She smiled that smile of hers, the one that she always uses when she has a secret, and told me something that I'll never forget.

‘The bigger the fight, the better the making up.’

At the time I just laughed and rolled my eyes.

Who knew Maria was right after all.


The kettle whistles, distracting me from my thoughts. I pour the water into our mugs and take my seat at the table.

I look over at Max and see that he’s picking at his breakfast.

“Are the eggs too runny?”

He looks up bewildered as if I had just asked him the strangest question.

“Liz…I…”

I raise my leg and rest my chin on my knee waiting for Max to continue. I have no idea what he wants to tell me but the anticipation is starting to turn my stomach into knots.

He grabs his mug and takes a sip of his tea. I want to tell him to just spit it out already, but instead I wait.

His eyes wander to the corner of the kitchen and I follow his gaze. That’s when I notice the pile of papers sticking out of the garbage can.

I look back at Max, my eyebrows knitted in confusion.

He’s hesitant, I can tell. It takes him a while before he speaks again, his eyes still staring at the stack of papers in the trash.

However, he never gets to say a word, because shrill ringing of the telephone interrupts our breakfast and I’m thankful for it. I don’t think I want to hear anything that will spoil our wonderful morning. If his sudden mood change is any indicator, what he has to say cannot be good.


tbc...

[Lolita]

It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

- J.K. Rowling -


Part 2: A Development

~ Max ~

I’ve been sitting here for the past hour and a half contemplating on what to do. After Liz left for work, I had nothing but time on my hands. That’s what happens when you’re an unemployed alien king with a superhero complex, or at least that’s how Isabel so eloquently puts it.

‘You can’t save the world, Max’ she constantly tells me. However, as supportive as she is, she just doesn’t understand my dilemma.

I know that it's my fault that things are the way they are. I can’t help but shoulder the responsibility for everything that has happened. From Alex’s death to my son’s unknown whereabouts, the onus has fallen on me.

And the guilt that I have to live with everyday is stifling.

It was I that everyone looked to for advice.

I was the leader. I was the king.

Didn’t anyone ever stop to wonder if I wanted that role? If I wanted to be king?

At a time when guys my age are going on beer bashes and frat parties, I’m constantly looking over my shoulder for the FBI or the Skins, while at the same time searching for my illegitimate child. It’s a wonder I haven’t gone insane.

But still, I shouldn’t complain.

In the end, I got what I always wanted.

Liz.

My life, my heart. After everything we’ve been through, she still manages to amaze me. She hasn’t given up on us, on me.

I know that living with me isn’t easy. I know that she’s put aside her hopes, her plans to be with me. I know it isn’t fair but still, I’m grateful. Without her, I don’t think I could have gotten this far, but I think it’s time to stop.

I need to put an end to this fruitless search, this half-assed quest that I’ve been on.

It’s been two years and still nothing. I know that my son is out there and he needs my help, but there is just nothing I can do.

Frustration has eaten through most of my resolve. I bet Tess would be delighted to hear this. She would be jumping with joy to hear that she has beaten the King of Antar.

Deep in thought, I am caught by surprise by the ringing of the telephone.

“Maxwell!” Michael says in his usual gruff tone. “You and Liz have to haul your ass back into town. There’s been a development and I think you might want to see for yourself.”

“What are you talking about, Michael?” my voice is laced with worry. “Is it Mom and Dad? Are they okay?”

“Max, listen to me carefully. There. Has. Been. A. De-ve-lop-ment. Catch my drift?” he enunciates.

It takes me a second but when I finally understand his cryptic message, the hackles rise on the back of my neck.

“Are you sure? When?” I demand.

“I’m positive. I saw it with my own eyes. I was riding my bike around dawn and I saw it. In the desert.”

“What were doing riding your bike at dawn?”

“It doesn’t matter! Focus here, Maxwell! You and Liz need to come home. We need a group meeting.”

Michael is not a patient man and I can tell that my ignorance is wearing thin on his nerves.

“Fine. We’ll leave here as soon as Liz gets off work. We should be there by midnight tonight.”

“Alright. Bye.”

I slowly return the receiver back to its cradle. My mind is already churning with the possibilities of what this development could mean.

Is it the Skins? Are they still alive? Have the FBI come back into town? My anxiety is rising and it's threatening to turn into a full-blown panic attack.

I need a plan.

As I begin to list the things off in my mind, my feet are already moving. I grab our suitcases and begin stuffing them with our clothes. As soon as my hand touches each article, I shove them into the bags. There is no time to think.

As soon as I finished packing, I haul our bags out to the Chevelle and make the short drive to the university.

As I walk toward the library, a feeling of sadness and longing comes over me. I look around and see students rushing off to class. I feel out of place and I shove my hands deep into my pockets hoping to just disappear.

I envy them, these college kids. I long to be like them. To live a life where all you have to worry about are midterms and dating, but a normal life was never meant for me. I've lived this way for so long that I doubt I would know how to live a normal life.

I enter the library and immediately make my way to the classic literature section and grab a well-worn copy of Shakespeare’s plays. I find a secluded study area and make myself comfortable.

Liz doesn’t know that I come here during the day to watch her work. For hours, I've sat in an isolated corner of the library covertly observing my love from afar. It makes me nostalgic for our high school days when I would sit at the café all day just to watch Liz smile and laugh as she waited on tables.

Nevertheless, as much as I miss those days, I'd never trade the closeness that we share now – the privilege of touching her skin, tasting her lips, holding her as she sleeps. Those high school days might have been simple and innocent but what I have with her now is passionate and forever. It consumes me like fire.

I will never give it up.

From the corner of my eye I spot her. She’s pushing a trolley full of books through the stacks. I see her pick up a book to re-shelve it, but she opens it instead. She bites her lip and runs her hand over the page lovingly. I wonder what has caused such a reaction in her. I crane my neck to catch the title of the book…

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

My thoughts are instantly catapulted to that night so long ago, when Liz broke my heart. Although I now know the truth, the pain of that experience stays with me to this day. I might have forgiven but I will never forget.

“Excuse me? Are you in my English Lit class?” A voice to my right asks, invading my solitude.

“Sorry. No, no I’m not,” I reply, hardly paying any attention to the other person. My sole focus is on the petite brunette that has forever been my obsession.

“Yeah, I think you are,” the voice insists.

I turn my head, carefully hiding my irritation. “No I don’t think so,” I politely assert.

“Oh, my mistake,” she says giving me a friendly smile, “but since I already have your attention, would you like to go to the Student Union and grab a cup of coffee?”

My eyes widen slightly when I realize what's happening. I give her my most courteous smile before I turn her down.

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think my girlfriend would like that too much.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I guess I’ll leave you be,” she says chagrinned.

I nod at her before resuming my favorite past time, but when I look back at the stacks she’s already gone. I surge to my feet and silently prowl through the aisles looking for my love.

A minute later I find her in the Social Sciences section, reaching to put a book up on the top shelf.

She places her feet on the bottom shelf, trying to use it for leverage. Unfortunately, her grip is loose and she slips, but I’m there in an instant catching her as she falls.

“Oh!” she gasps, stiffening from our contact.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper in her ear, “I’ll never let you fall.”

She relaxes upon hearing my voice and turns in my arms.

She looks up at me and flashes me a brilliant smile. Suddenly, she throws her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly.

“Thank you,” she mumbles into my chest.

“You’re welcome,” I reply. I kiss the top of her head and rub my hands soothingly down her back.

She pulls back. “What are you doing here, Max?” she asks her brows knitting in confusion, but instead of answering her I get right to the point.

“What time do you get off?”

“Three o’clock. Why?” she asks looking up at me.

I look around making sure that no curious ears are within the vicinity. “Michael called. He says there’s been a development.” I raise my eyebrow to emphasize the latter.

Understanding dawns in her eyes. “I see. When do we leave?”

“As soon as you’re off. I told Michael that we’ll be there by midnight tonight.”

“It’s a long drive to Roswell, Max,” she glances at her watch, “we still have to go pack and…”

“All done,” I smile at her, “as soon as I got off the phone I started packing. We just have to grab some lunch and we can be off. The car's stuffed and ready to go.”

She nods her head and looks back at the cart full of books.

“How am I going to finish all this by then?” she whispers mostly to herself.

“I’ll help you. Like this…,” I lift her by her hips, helping her reach the top shelf.

“Max!” She gasps as she tries to swat my hands away. “You’re gonna get me in trouble!”

I slide her down my body, causing my muscles to coil at the sensual contact. My hands begin to wander of their own accord. I caress her hips before my arms wrap around her stomach. I bend my head forward and inhale her sweet scent.

“Max,” she whispers, “we’ll never finish if you keep this up.”

She turns and brushes her lips against mine. She pulls back and tweaks the tip of my nose.

Oh God! This woman is incredible!

I slide my hand up to cradle the back of her head. “One kiss and then I promise, it’ll be all business,” I say in a mock serious tone.

“Okay, just one kiss,” she acquiesces.

I nod my head before touching my lips to hers.



tbc...

[Lolita]

The world was on fire
No one could save me but you.
Strange what desire will make foolish people do.

- “Wicked Game,” by Chris Isaak -


Part 3: Wicked Game

~ Liz ~

We hit rush hour traffic as soon as we enter the freeway. Cars are lined up as far as the eye can see. I lean my head back and close my eyes hoping to catch a little nap while we’re stuck in this gridlock.

When I open my eyes again, I see that the sun is dipping below the horizon, throwing deep purples and reds across the sky. It amazes me that I'm still awed by a New Mexico sunset even after living here all my life. I turn to look at Max and see that he's fiddling with the radio while trying to keep his eyes on the road.

“Here let me do that,” I suggest, taking his busy hand and placing it back on the wheel.

“Thanks, babe,” he says, glancing at me quickly. “I thought you were asleep?”

“Yeah, but now I’m not,” I reply cheekily.

I continue to turn the knob until I hear the notes to a Chris Isaak song. I lay my head back on my seat and close my eyes again, savoring the sensual melody.

I feel Max’s hand caressing my thigh and I peek open an eye to glance at him.

The dashboard light is illuminating his profile, accentuating the angles and planes of his chiseled face. I open both eyes to admire this handsome man.

What is so special about him that makes me stick with him to this day? Despite all our troubles and all our setbacks I’m still determined to be with him.

Why is it that every time I look at him my stomach rumbles with desire and I am compelled to touch him, to feel his skin beneath my fingertips? Why do I feel the incessant need to taste his lips, to make love to his mouth?

‘Max Evans has put a force on you,’ Maria once told me. Perhaps he did, but I was a more than willing prey.

Max notices my gaze and gives me a shy smile. “Are you hungry, love? There are still some sandwiches left from this afternoon. Do you want me to pull over and grab them from the cooler?”

“No that’s okay. I’m fine,” he doesn’t know that I’m content to just watch him, even when he’s doing something as mundane as driving. Max Evans will always be mysterious and fascinating to me. Even when were 80 and senile, I’ll still be fantasizing about him.

The thought of a geriatric Max causes me to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” he glances at me, giving me a confused smile.

“Nothing,” I giggle, “I was just thinking of you at 80. All grey hair and dentures,” voicing my thoughts aloud causes me to laugh even harder, which elicits a similar reaction from Max. By the time our laughter dies down, we both have tears in our eyes and our stomachs are in stitches.

Max suddenly pulls the car off the road catching me off guard. My eyes widen in surprise. As he cuts the engine, I turn to look at him. He’s staring at me so intensely that I feel myself melting into a puddle of Liz.

“What?” I ask him, searching his face for a reason for the unexpected stop.

“Nothing,” he says shyly before reaching over to frame my face between his hands. “God, you’re so beautiful, Liz! Do you know that?” He says to me with such ardor that I am at a loss for words.

After all these years, Max Evans can still make me blush.

He places a finger under my chin tilting my head so that my eyes meet his. “Thank you,” he says before brushing a tender kiss across my lips.

“For what?” I ask, leaning forward to capture his lips again.

“For being you,” his hand moves to the back of my head as he pulls me toward him to deepen the kiss.

I wrap my arms around his neck craving the contact. It seems that Max feels the same because a second later he slides his body over the center console to rest on top of mine. His hand fumbles with the controls and a second later my seat slowly reclines.

I moan his name as our kisses become more intense. I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of Max. Desperately, I taste his lips, feeling his body crushing against mine. I wrap my leg around his thigh, bringing his center closer to mine.

I take a deep breath. My sudden wantonness catches me by surprise. Max Evans brings out things in me that I never even knew existed.

I close my eyes and focus on the feel of his lips against mine. The way the rough stubble on his jaw brushes against my cheek.

The scent of his skin.

The softness of his hair as my fingers comb through it.

The hardness of his body as it presses down on mine.

My hand snakes beneath the hem of his shirt and I rest my palm on his muscular back. His muscles bunch and cord as he shifts his body on top of mine.

I feel the frantic beating of my heart matching his. I hear a roaring in my ears and a moment later, the flashes begin.

Max Evans shyly watching me during a shift at the CrashDown.

Max and I making out on the dusty desert floor that one winter night so long ago.

Jumping off the bridge hand in hand with the Special Unit in pursuit.

The Granolith blasting off with Tess and his son, leaving Max feeling lost and adrift.

Max and I arguing about his quest to find his son.

Max stuffing maps and papers in the trash, feeling defeated about his decision.

At the last image, I tear my lips away from his, pushing at his chest so I can look him in the eyes.

“Max?” I pant, “What was that?”

He’s breathing heavily and I can tell he’s trying to swim out of the sensual haze that he’s floating in.

“What was what?”

“The papers in the trash. What is it?”

He blinks once, then twice, trying to compose himself enough to answer my question.

“Max?”

He pushes his body off mine. I wrap my arms around myself trying to ward off the chill I feel at the loss his contact.

“I was gonna tell you this morning,” he starts, running his fingers through his wind-blown hair, “but then things happened and you went to work and now we’re on our way back to Roswell.”

I turn and tuck my leg under me so that I can fully face him. He’s staring blankly out at the road like he’s afraid to meet my eyes.

He sighs loudly before he begins again. “I was going over the maps and my notes again last night when it happened. I saw my reflection in the mirror and it scared me, Liz. I barely even recognized myself.” He leans forward and engulfs me in his arms. His hold is tight and desperate. I say nothing. I can only return his embrace and run my hand soothingly down his back.

“I just…I just couldn’t do it anymore,” I feel his breath hitch and I pull back to look at his face and the sorrow and regret I see there just breaks my heart.

“I can’t keep doing this anymore. I can’t do this to you anymore. You deserve more, Liz,” he tearfully cups my face and gazes deeply into my eyes, “you deserve the world and I’m so…so sorry that I can’t give it to you.”

My throat constricts and I am tempted to say something, to soothe his worries, but instead I keep my mouth shut and let him speak.

“All I can give you is my love…and that may not be enough sometimes…,” he swallows convulsively before speaking again.

“I know it’s been tough these past couple of years. I know how much you’ve given up, how many things you’ve put on hold because of me and although I can never make it up to you, I’m going to try. I’m going to stop, Liz. My son…I’m going to stop loo –” but I don’t hear the rest of what he says. My heart aches at the mere mention of his son. The wound inflicted by his liaison with Tess is still so raw that it's almost tangible. Try as I might, I just cannot put it behind me. The anger I feel toward Tess is threatening to engulf me. I close my eyes, trying to calm myself. Instead, my anger increases, causing my harsh breathing to escalate. I feel the rage consuming me. It’s boiling in the pit of my stomach and looking for escape.

Suddenly, the radio turns on full blast and Max and I jump in our seats in surprise.

“What the…?!” he gasps, looking right at me. My eyes widen in surprise and I look at him questioningly.

“Did you do that, Max?”

“N-no. Did you?” his gaze is cutting and I can tell there’s fear in the depths of his eyes.

“I-I..n-no I didn’t,” I deny though something tells me I’m not being entirely truthful. I couldn’t have done it, could I? I mean, I’m an average human girl. I don’t have any special powers. This has to be something alien related. It has to be.

“You’re right. I probably didn’t turn the ignition key all the way.” he decides, “ I guess I must have hit the volume knob when we got…carried away,” he adds, somewhat embarrassed by the thought of being a lustful 20-year old guy.

“That’s probably it,” I agree forcing a smile onto my face. He doesn’t need to know that I suspect that I might have caused the radio to turn on. I mean, he’s got enough to worry about with this ‘development’ that Michael freaked out about. He doesn’t need me to compound it with my stupid little fears.

He leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my forehead smoothing my disheveled hair off of my face.

“Hey,” he says tilting my chin up, “its okay. It’s just some freak incident. I’m sure it’s nothing.” He smiles at me before pulling on his seatbelt. “We’re almost in Roswell anyway.”

He starts the car and pulls back out onto the road.

I pull my seatbelt and click it into place. I place my hands between my thighs in an effort to warm them. Max’s eyes are back on the road now and neither of us dares to speak. I think we’re both trying to process what just happened.

Pain shoots across my hands, catching my attention. I gasp in agony.

“What’s wrong?” Max whips his head toward me worriedly.

“Nothing,” I grimace, “just…I’m c-cold.” I chatter my teeth for emphasis hoping to hide my pain. Max nods at me before reaching forward to switch on the heater.

“Thanks,” I lay my head back on the headrest and glance at Max from the corner of my eye. When I’m sure that he’s not looking, I open my legs slightly, covertly perusing my hands.

Green crackles across the pale skin, outlining my fingers. I can't breathe; my breath is choked in my lungs. Hastily I shove my hands back between my legs before Max can see.

What's happening to me?!

[Lolita]

“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.”

- Act IV, Scene I: Macbeth -


Part 4: Something Wicked this Way Comes

~ Max ~

“Liz, Liz sweetheart. Wake up. We’re here,” I say as I brush an errant hair off her gentle face. I pull back and crouch, leaning my back on the opened car door. I pause to admire her innocent beauty. Her expression is so serene that I loathe waking her.

“Hmmnn…,” she murmurs stretching her arms up languidly. “Where are we?”

“We’re at Michael’s,” I smile at her innocent expression. I bend my head down with the intent to kiss her but miss when she turns her face away.

“Uh uh,” she rasps shaking her head, “morning breath.” She points to her mouth and grimaces.

I nod my head in understanding before settling back on my heels.

“What time is it?”

“It’s just a little past midnight,” I reply glancing down at my watch. I stand up from my crouched position and hold my hand out to help her out of the car.

She stares at my hand and for a fraction of a second, she hesitates. Her reaction puzzles me but before I can think further of it, she’s grasping my hand and hauling herself out of the car.

“Um…I’m just gonna…,” she hitches her thumb behind her, pointing to Michael’s apartment building. I nod my head at her before walking around to the back of the car.

“You go on up and send Michael down to help me with our bags.” I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. I watch her jog up the stairs and disappear around the corner before popping open the trunk. I’m tired as hell and my mind is buzzing with worries. I feel unsettled, edgy. Like hot metal, something inside me is expanding, preparing itself for an attack.

“Hey, man,” Michael claps me on the back, making me jump.

“Michael! Wear a bell for shit’s sake!” I hiss trying to calm down my beating heart. “You scared the crap out of me!” For a split second I see my hand glow bright white before it dissipates as if it never happened.

“Sorry,” he says sheepishly. “Liz says you need some help with your stuff.”

I nod before handing him some bags. I grab our suitcase and the cooler before shutting the trunk and following Michael up the stairs. When we enter his apartment I’m greeted by a sleepy Maria and an exhausted Isabel.

“Hey,” they greet simultaneously not bothering to get up from the couch.

“Hi,” I say in return placing my load in the corner. “Where’s Liz?”

“She’s in the bathroom,” Maria points to the hallway behind her. “Glad to see you both made it safe and sound,” she says before yawning and rubbing her eyes.

I shuffle my way to the couch and crash beside my sister. I drape my arm over her shoulders giving her a squeeze.

“Hey Iz. I’ve missed you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she mumbles nonchalantly although I know that she’s missed me too judging from the way she’s burrowed her way to my side. “Let’s get this over with so I can go home to my husband.”

“Oh. Where is Jessie?” I ask glancing at her.

“He’s at home. I told him I was studying over at a friend’s place,” she says punctuating her sentence with a yawn.

“Man, what the hell do you have in those bags?!” Michael groans as he settles himself into an armchair. “They weigh a ton.”

“Just clothes and necessities,” I reply, “I didn’t know how long we’d be out here.”

As Michael reaches for the tv remote, Liz emerges out of the bathroom looking very drowsy. I make room for her on my other side when she surprises me and settles in beside a dozing Maria. I shake off the hurt that I feel chalking up her action to her missing her best friend.

I turn my attention toward Michael hoping to get the show on the road.

“Okay, so we’re all here. What’s this big incident you’re so stressed out about?”

Michael mutes the tv before leaning back on his seat. “Like I told you on the phone, I was out riding my bike this morning and out of nowhere this big streak of light comes shooting across the sky before disappearing behind the sand dunes. I tried to trace it to see where it could have landed, but it was still dark and the area was too big.”

“Where did this happen?” I ask disentangling myself from Isabel.

“Just outside of town, by 285 South. I tried to go back this morning but the place was crawling with military personnel. I couldn’t even take a piss without someone asking me for ID,” he says crudely, shaking his head.

I lean forward, anxious to hear the rest, and rest my elbows on my thighs. “Do you know what it was that crashed?” I ask bracing myself for his answer. To be honest, I’m a bit afraid of what it could be. Trouble just never seems to end. First, we thought that the Skins were all gone but they surprised us when they showed up and made everyone in town disappear. Secondly, there’s the FBI. We can never be sure about them. Nasedo was our only source for information regarding the Special Unit and since he’s dead, well…we’re just sitting ducks.

“I don’t know, man. From what they’ve been saying on the news, it was apparently some stray debris from an experimental plane they were testing that morning.”

“Do you believe them?” I know it’s fruitless to ask. I already know that Michael believes that it’s another government conspiracy, but still, I have to ask.

“Nope,” he says pointedly, “the flames were far too big to be some lame-ass plane debris. I mean they wouldn’t have so many dudes with guns guarding the site if it wasn’t something big.”

“What about you guys? Do you think its alien related?” I turn to ask the girls but they’re already passed out.

“I think we better continue this tomorrow morning,” I suggest rolling my eyes.

“Michael, I hate to ask but…can Liz and I…I mean can we…,” I feel awkward as hell asking if Liz and I can crash on his couch. I know that he doesn’t have a lot of room but we just don’t have anywhere else to go. We’re low on funds and mine and Liz’s parents are out of the question. I don’t plan to tell my parents that I’m back in town and the Parkers hate my guts.

“Max, do you even have to ask? Of course you and Liz can stay here. Maria’s sleeping over but I think we better get Isabel home. Are you okay to drive her?”

I nod my head before nudging Isabel awake.

“I’m driving you home, Iz. Grab your coat,” I rise to my feet and make my way to the door. We walk in silence to my car. Neither of us has any energy to even strike up a conversation. However, it didn’t surprise me that Isabel was the first one to speak.

“So…how are things,” she prods studying my reaction from the corner of her eyes.

“They’re okay. Liz is busy at the library and I’m still unemployed,” I joke hoping to lighten the mood.

“Max…,” she whines knowing that I’m avoiding her question. I know what she wants to know but I’m unsure whether I want to share that information. Minutes pass before I finally relent.

“I’m quitting,” I say, pursing my lips.

“What? What are you quitting?” she asks looking puzzled.

“My search. I’m gonna stop looking for my son.” I glance at her and I’m not surprised when I find her staring intently at me.

“You’re what?” she asks not quite believing my words.

“I’m going to stop looking – ”

“I know that. I heard you,” she interrupts, “what I mean is why? Why all of a sudden you’ve decided to stop? I mean, Jesus Max! You’ve been hell-bent on searching for your kid for almost two years.” She frantically waves her hands in front of her clearly concerned about my revelation.

I sigh loudly. I’m really not in the mood to bear my soul out to my sister right now. I’ve been driving for the past six hours and I’m beat. All I can think of right now is crawling in bed and holding my girlfriend while we sleep.

“It’s just time, Iz. Two years is a long time to spend chasing a ghost. ‘Cuz, that’s what he basically is, a ghost,” I whisper the last word, afraid that if I say it any louder it’ll come true.

“Max,” she says in a tone that I definitely know will be followed by a lecture, “are you sure this is what you want to do? I mean, I for one am glad. I’ve always told you to let the past go but I mean if you’re feeling pressured…if Liz is pressuring you –“

At the mere mention of my girlfriend’s name I whip my head around to her so fast that the car swerves. “Leave Liz out of this, Isabel!” I grit out through clenched teeth. “She has nothing to do with this.” My sister has no right accusing Liz about my decision. She has done nothing but support me on this ridiculous search and for Isabel to blame her for my fallacy just raises my ire.

“I’m sorry, Max,” she raises both hands in front of her defensively, “I wasn’t blaming Liz. I was just stating a possibility, that’s all.” She leans back on her seat heavily, clearly hurt by my outburst.

The fight deflates out of me at her wounded expression. “I’m sorry, Iz. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just tired…and cranky,” I mumble the last word, embarrassed that my behavior is reminiscent of a five-year old.

“S’okay,” she says dismissing my apology, “don’t worry about it. I’m just cranky too. I guess it’s not really a good time to talk about this right now,” she says, shrugging her shoulders.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I nod in agreement.

The rest of the drive is spent in silence with me concentrating on the road and Isabel snoring lightly in her seat.

Minutes later, I’m back at Michael’s apartment rapping gently on his door.

“Hey,” he greets as he steps back to let me in to his now darkened apartment.

“Liz is already passed out on the couch and Maria’s in my room sleeping. You know where everything is. I’m going to bed,” he turns and heads toward his bedroom leaving me alone in the middle of the living room. I kick off my shoes before rifling through our suitcase to fetch my toothbrush. I look over to the couch and see that Liz has already changed into one of my shirts. The sight of her tiny form wrapped up in my shirt makes my stomach grumble with a fierce sense of protectiveness.

I brush my teeth quickly and change into a clean pair of shorts. I tiptoe my way to the couch and spoon behind my beloved, moving gently so as not to wake her. Only when I feel her warmth against my chest do I let myself relax. I push aside my worries and close my eyes. There will be enough time for concern tomorrow.

I wrap an arm around Liz, cradling her into my body. I breathe a heavy sigh and welcome the heavy blanket of sleep.

[Lolita]

“Oft expectation fails, and most oft there
Where most it promises; and oft it hits
Where hope is coldest and despair most fits.”

– Act II, Scene I: All's Well That Ends Well –


Part 5: Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave


~ Liz ~

“No…no…”

I’m startled awake and my eyes snap open. I feel a gentle touch to my head and hear a soft rumble of soothing words. I take a deep shuddering breath and realize that I’ve been sobbing.

“Shhh…it’s okay sweetheart. It’s okay,” the voice says comforting me as I slowly swim my way out of the murkiness of sleep.

I lift my head up and squint into the darkness. I have no idea where I am and it only adds to my confusion.

“It’s alright, Liz. I’m right here,” I realize that I’m lying on top of someone and when I lift my head and look down I see Max staring up at me worriedly. I breathe a sigh of relief and collapse on top of him inhaling his familiar scent. For a moment I thought I’d lost him and the panic I felt was overwhelming.

“Are you okay, love?” he asks concern lacing his tone.

“Hmmnn…I’m perfect,” I purr contentedly as I rub my cheek against his bare chest, “why do you ask?”

He pulls me further up on his body until his lips are touching my temple. “You were sobbing in your sleep. It sounded like you were having a nightmare,” he mumbles into my hair.

I lift my head up to look at him, attempting to understand what he’s telling me. I search my mind and realize that he’s probably right. I must have been dreaming, but the more I concentrate on trying to recall my dream the more I draw a blank.

“Hmmnn…I don’t remember,” I mumble into his chest. I just want him to stop talking and let me go back to sleep.

“Okay,” he sighs and tightens his arms around me. I smile in bliss at the comfort I feel. Sleep is crowding around my conscious mind and I willingly succumb to it.

When my eyes open again, I realize that it’s early morning. Gently, I extricate myself from beneath Max’s limbs, careful not to wake him. I lean over and brush a quick kiss on his brow before making my way to the bathroom.

I brush my teeth and turn on the shower when I hear someone tapping on the door.

“Liz?”

“Yeah?” I whip off my shirt and underwear before stepping into the shower.

“It’s me. Can I come in?”

“Sure,” I reply. I close my eyes and relish the hot spray of water as it soothes my aching muscles. I’d forgotten how lumpy Michael’s couch is.

“Can I join you?” Max asks poking his head into the shower.

I quickly glance at my hands wondering if I should grant his request. I’m afraid my days as a human disco ball are long from over. I cannot chance him seeing my secret.

“I don’t know,” I frown, “I don’t think it’s a good idea being as we’re at Michael’s and all,” I reason lamely hoping that he’ll just accept it and go.

“I’ll be quiet. I promise. Anyway, we’ll be saving water,” he gives me a lopsided grin, which becomes my undoing. My heart does a quick stutter and I scoot over to make room for him.

“Fine,” I agree, “-- but no funny business,” I warn, secretly praying that my glowing hands don't make a return appearance.


When I emerge from the shower clean and…sated, I’m greeted by a grumpy Michael and a half-asleep Maria.

“Morning,” I smile and make my way to the cupboard to grab cups for Max and me.

“Sleep well?” Maria asks pointedly raising an eyebrow.

“Not really,” I shrug hoping to thwart off her nosey questions. However, when Max emerges from the bathroom a minute later, Maria sputters her into her cup of coffee and stares at me knowingly. Embarrassed, I avert my eyes and pretend to busy myself with the coffee maker.

“Hey,” Max greets shaking the excess water off his hair. He comes up behind me and rubs my back before nuzzling his lips on the crown of my head. I smile and close my eyes relishing his affection.

“Sorry to interrupt this post-coital moment,” Michael clears his throat drawing both our attentions, “but we gotta figure out what we’re doing today.”

“Right,” Max sighs and takes a seat at the counter. “What do you suggest, Michael?”

Clearly Michael isn’t expecting this question judging from the widening of his eyes. All throughout their lives, Max has always been the leader and Michael his second in command. Robin to Max’s Batman - the eternal sidekick. These were their roles in their previous lives and without conscious intent they've become their roles in this lifetime too. So it’s only natural for Michael to feel disconcerted by this sudden reversal.

Michael stares at the ceiling for a moment, deep in thought. “I think we should stake it out. Do some reconnaissance work.”

Max thinks about the suggestion for a minute before nodding his head in agreement. “Alright, we’ll go check it out, but didn’t you say that the place was crawling with MP’s?”

“Yeah but we can go under the guise of campers,” Michael’s face brightens as his ideas begin to form. “After all we’re locals. They shouldn’t think much of it.”

“Well, you can count me out,” Maria says pointing a finger to herself, “this girl ain’t made for campin’.”

“Not a problem, Maria. I wasn’t planning on asking you anyway. Someone has to stay here and man the fort.” Michael answers dismissively. Of course, this is the wrong to say because a second later she’s on her feet with her fists placed firmly on her hips, an irritated expression on her face.

“I am so going,” she says daring him to challenge her. “You can’t tell me what I can and cannot do. You don’t control me, Michael Guerin!”

“No, Maria. There’s no need for you to go,” Michael says looking at her hoping to placate her anger. “Max and I can go check it out. There’s no need for you girls to come.”

“Gee, Michael. How very chauvinist of you,” Maria gives him a sarcastic smirk, clearly annoyed by his statement. “I’m going and that’s final,” she purses her lips in determination. “It’s not only you guys that are in danger. Everyone is. There’s a good chance that anyone involved in this whole –” she flails her arms around her making a sweeping motion, “alien conspiracy has a good chance of getting off’ed.”

I look over at Max and see that his chin is resting on his hands clearly fascinated by this entertaining exchange between our best friends.

“Fine,” Michael huffs, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you if something happens.”

I clear my throat and elbow Max in his ribs hoping that he’ll say something to break this tension.

“Ow!” He looks at me confused and in pain. I in turn make animated gestures with my eyebrows tipping my head towards Michael and Maria who now have both their arms crossed in front of their chests defensively.

“Okay guys, we’re all going,” he says ending the stand-off. “It’s not a problem for Liz and me but how about you guys. Don’t you have to work?”

Michael relaxes and turns his attention back to Max. “Nah, don’t worry about me. I can get some vacation time off from Meta-Chem.”

“And I’ll just ask Mr. P for some time off. I’ve worked seven days straight this week,” Maria pipes in before she clamps her hands over her mouth realizing what she’s brought up.

My parents.

I haven’t spoken to them for over a year. Not since I ran off with Max to help him search for his son. I spent my last night at home arguing with them about Max. They insisted that I break it off with him saying that he wasn’t good enough for me. That he’d only bring me down. They were so desperate that my dad had even threatened to send me off to a boarding school in Vermont. However, he never got a chance to follow up with his threat because the very next morning I hopped into Max’s Chevelle and we drove off to search for his son. I haven’t been back to Roswell since.

Max must have noticed my reaction because I feel him rubbing soothing circles on my back.

“Are you okay?” he asks looking at me with concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer shrugging my head dismissively. I know that he still harbors a lot of guilt over my estrangement from my parents but now isn't the time to bring it up.

“You and Michael grab the camping stuff and I’ll hang with Maria.” He doesn’t know that I plan to go with Maria to the Crashdown nor does he know that I plan to see my parents. If he did, I know that he’d be hovering over me worrying and I just don’t need that right now. No matter how much concern he expresses, he cannot dissuade me. I need to do this for myself.

An hour later, Maria and I are sitting in her Jetta in front of the Crashdown.

“Are you sure you want to do this now, Liz?” she asks me hesitantly.

I nod my head in response and I see her purse her lips in disapproval, yet she stays quiet. Maria knows me well. She knows that once I’ve made up my mind, there is no stopping me.

We exit the car and I walk a step behind Maria. Everything feels so surreal. It's like I have tunnel vision. All I can see is the inside of the Crashdown. All I can hear is the furious pounding of my heart and the rushing of my blood. When we finally do make it inside, we sit down in a booth. As I look around, it seems that my parents aren’t even here. With that realization, I let out the breath that I didn’t even realize I’ve been holding.

“Why don’t you order something to drink while I go check and see if your dad's in the back?” Maria gives me a sympathetic smile and squeezes my hand before getting out of the booth and making her way to the backroom.

With Maria gone, I'm left alone with nothing to do but glance at my surroundings. Everything looks unchanged but it feels different. The decorations are the same but the people are different. I realize that every single one of the wait staff on duty is new. None of them knows me. To them I'm just some random customer who’s too cheap to order anything but a drink.

A moment later, my musings are interrupted. The ringing of the bell over the front door draws my attention as my mother walks in carrying bags of groceries.

I am literally frozen in my seat. In my head I’m hoping that she doesn’t see me. That she'll continue to walk past, but my body remains paralyzed. Unmoving. Perched on the edge of the booth as if willing her to notice me, which after a minute she does.

She turns her head and her eyes land on mine. Her expression turns to one of shock. Her jaw drops slightly and her eyes widen. I have a feeling that I’m wearing a similar mask of disbelief. However, what she does next truly shocks me.

She shuffles her way toward my booth and sits across from me, placing her groceries on the bench beside her.

“Hi,” she says, her eyes roaming my face.

“Hi,” I reply, too dumbfounded to say anything else. The last thing I expected was for her to actually sit down with me. Let alone be civil to me.

Our staring match is broken by the sound of my father’s bellowing voice as he breezes through the restaurant and heads straight for the back room.

“It’s nice to see you again, Liz,” my mom says smiling.

“Yeah, it’s nice to see you too, Mom.”

“Are you here alone?” She asks, her eyes shifting past me and looking around.

“No. I’m here with Maria. She wants to speak to Daddy.” I know what she’s asking but yet I don’t volunteer that information. Max isn’t here and there’s no need to drag up trouble.

“Will you be in Roswell a while?” My eyes search hers for the meaning to her question. Does she mean she wants me gone from town? Or does she want me to stay a while so we can visit? I’m unsure and in the end my insecurities win out.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be staying,” I say, averting my eyes to the Formica tabletop. “It probably won’t be long.”

“Oh,” I look up at the surprised tone in my mother’s voice. Once again, I search her face but come up with nothing. This awkwardness is nerve-wracking. Who knew that I’d be speaking to my mother like we’re two perfect strangers?

“Well….,” she gets up from the booth and grabs the grocery bags, “I better get this upstairs before the perishables start to spoil. It was nice seeing you again.”

I stare at my mother’s retreating back slack-jawed. Did she just say what I think I heard her say?

‘Nice seeing you again.’ That's something you say to a stranger or an acquaintance, not to your only daughter! It hurts that my relationship with my mother has been reduced to this. Polite greetings and inane chitchat, but I guess I don’t have anyone to blame but myself. After all, what did I expect?

Just as I think that the drama for the day is over, it seems fate has other plans for me. A manila envelope is unceremoniously dropped on table in front of me.

“Here’s your diploma. Thought you might want it,” my father says gruffly before storming away.

That is the final straw for me. I look around the semi-full restaurant and notice that the customers are staring at me. I feel my face burn and my vision becoming blurry with tears. Unable to hold out any longer, I grab the envelope off the table and make a mad dash for the door. I make it to the alley before the dam holding back my tears breaks and I slump to the dirty ground sobbing and clutching the envelope in my hands.

A second later, I feel an intense heat suffuse my hand, distracting me from my tears. My eyes widen in shock as I stare at it. The green crackles have reappeared. The electric charges seem to have increased in intensity and without warning, the envelope I'm clutching ignites, quickly catching fire. I let go before it has a chance to burn me, scrambling backward in horror.

I hear a gasp behind me and I whip my head around in fear. Maria is standing at the entrance of the alleyway, hands clasped to her chest, pale as a ghost. Wide-eyed, she gawks in astonishment at the little fire that I’ve caused. I know I should get up and run to the car with Maria but I, too, am frozen in shock.


tbc...

____________________
Hey guys sorry for the delay in this part but I've been sick the past 2 weeks. Had me a nasty bout of pneumonia, but thanks to the magic of antibiotics I am now much better

Special thanks to my beta, Liz, who always does a good job of correcting my many mistakes.

Most of all thank you to all of you who take the time to leave feedback. I know how easy it is to just lurk on threads. All of your comments are most appreciated and I do take them into consideration when writing the chapters.

[Lolita]

Dedicated to Lelle

This girl I know needs some shelter
She don't believe anyone can help her
She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
But you don't want to get involved
You tell her she can manage
And you can't change the way she feels
But you could put your arms around her

- Protection by Massive Attack -


Part 6: Lies of Omission


~ Liz ~

“What the hell just happened?!” Maria asks on the verge of panic.

I open my mouth to say something but no sound comes out. I’m struggling to come up with an explanation but I keep coming up empty-handed.

Finally, my wits re-emerge and I grab Maria’s shirt, dragging her to the car. I snatch the keys out of her limp fingers and shove her in the passenger seat. I’m barely holding on but I know that we can’t stay here any longer. Flooring the engine, I drive away from the Crashdown as fast as the little car can take us. As if putting distance between me and the alleyway will make the whole incident go away.

I finally pull over and stop the car when I realized that I had driven us all the way to the outskirts of town.

I grasp the wheel tightly as I try to organize my thoughts. What the hell am I going to tell Maria?! I don’t even know what is going on myself. How the hell am I supposed to explain it to another person?

However, Maria being Maria, she grabs my hand and in a dramatic fashion, places it over her brow.

“Lizzie, do I feel warm? Does it feel like I have a fever?”

I stare at her in confusion. What is she talking about? I think I’ve finally done it. I’ve pushed Maria over the edge.

“Uh, no,” I stammer, slowly lowering my hand from her face.

“Okay, if I don’t have a fever, then I mustn’t be sick. If I’m not sick then I’m not hallucinating and if I’m not hallucinating then what I just saw was fucking real!!” She yells whirling to face me. “Liz, please explain to me what happened! My imagination is going a mile a minute here and maybe you could give me a logical explanation because let me tell you what I’m thinking is not good!”

Okay this is it. Maybe by explaining to her what I think may be causing these power flares I can enlighten myself in the process.

“I think I’m mutating, Maria.”

“What?!” she turns, her eyes widening in shock. “What do you mean you’re mutating? You’re not a freaking X-Man!”

“No, I mean I think I’m changing,” I speak slowly so as to not further aggravate Maria’s burgeoning hysteria. “When Max healed me, he changed me. Remember what Ava said?”

Apparently, Maria has no recollection of the whole Ava conversation because she just shoots me a blank look in response to my question.

“Remember when Max went to New York. Ava said that I was the only who could reach him. That I’ve been changed. I tried to press her for more but she said that there just wasn’t enough time. I guess this is what she must have meant.” I glance down at my hands, watching as the green lightning subsides until they disappear altogether.

“Okay, okay,” Maria mumbles as she unscrews a vial of cedar oil and places it under her nose. “So you’re saying you’re different now?”

I nod my head in affirmation.

“Okay. So does this mean you’re like them? That you’re an…an…alien?” she whispers the last word in trepidation. She crouches back in fear ever so slightly that it’s almost unnoticeable. I doubt that she’s even aware of it. Nevertheless, her reaction still hurts but I shrug it off.

“I…yes…no…I don’t know!” I’m beginning to get frustrated at my inability to think logically. “At least I think I’m still human. Remember that most of Max’s, Michael’s, and Isabel’s power stem from the human cerebral cortex. It’s just that the development of theirs is more advanced than the average human being. That the human race would be able to achieve it after years of evolu –”

“Stop, Liz,” Maria covers her ears stopping my rambling, “you’re making my head hurt with all this scientific crap! I just want to know, am I the only human left within our group?”

“Well, technically no. There’s Jessie,” I try to lighten the mood but it falls on unreceptive ears. Maria shoots me a pointed look telling me that now isn’t the right time to joke.

“Have you told Max?”

I’m stumped by her unexpected question. Frankly, I don’t know if I should tell Max. Maybe this is just some freak reaction brought on by too much stress. After all, these power flare ups tend to happen when my emotions are heightened.

“No, I haven’t told him.”

“Are you going to?”

“Can we just drop this, Maria?” I plead, leaning my head back against the head rest. “I’ll tell him when the time is right.”

“Fine,” she huffs, “I’ll let it go for now but I think you should tell Max. Maybe he can help you.”

Instead of answering her, I turn the ignition and start the engine, promptly ending our conversation.



~ Max ~

“Michael, have you noticed anything different about Liz?” I ask nonchalantly as we unload our stuff from the car.

“What do you mean different?” Michael asks not paying too much attention to my question.

“I mean, is she acting funny to you? Does she look different?” I ask as I heave another heavy bag out of the trunk.

“Well, come to think of it…yeah a little,” he replies, placing the bags down and stretching his back. “She looks really tired and she’s been going to the bathroom a lot.”

I stop my movements and divert my full attention to him.

“Oh shit! You don’t think she’s…preg – pregnant do you?” Michael gapes at me, his eyes boring into mine. “Holy cow, man! What do you got? Super-sperm?!” He sputters and begins guffawing at my expense.

“What?! No, she’s not pregnant! God Michael! Don’t you think I would have learned after Tess?” I look at him astonished as to why he would even suggest such a reason.

“Sorry man. You asked,” he shrugs his shoulders before picking the bags up off the ground.

“Pregnant, psshh…,” I mumble, following Michael up to his apartment. There’s no way she could be. We’ve been very careful. She must just be coming down with something, that’s all.


When Maria and Liz finally make it home a couple of hours later, they’re both silent and moody. Maria seems ready to jump out of her skin and Liz looks thoroughly irritated. I wonder what went on between these two to put them in such a state.

I walk over to Liz to give her a kiss when she turns her face and my lips touch her cheek instead.

Something must definitely be wrong.

“What’s going on?” I ask, pushing an errant strand of her hair behind her ear. “Did you and Maria have a fight?”

“Nothing’s wrong. We just had a little disagreement. Over some…girl stuff,” she mumbles shuffling towards the bathroom.

I turn around to look at Michael who merely raises his eyebrow as he pointedly looks in the direction Liz has gone. I roll my eyes in response and slump down onto the couch, trying to ignore Maria banging her way around the kitchen.

“God Michael! Don’t you ever have any food in this place?!” she says before slamming another cabinet closed. “Didn’t you guys go to the grocery store?”

Michael opens his mouth about to say something when he catches my eyes and I shake my head at him. It would be a bad idea for him to say anything when Maria is in one of her tirades. It’s in his best interest to keep his mouth shut and just weather the storm. However, in typical Michael fashion, he negates my advice.

“Didn’t you just come from the Crashdown? Why the hell didn’t you eat there?!” This of course earns him a nice swift smack to the gut causing him to hunch over.

“You know you can be such an insensitive prick sometimes, Michael!” Maria huffs before grabbing the remote control and turning on the television.

As Maria channel surfs, my eyes drift down the hallway to where my beloved has gone. What can be taking her so long? Is she ill? Is she upset about her fight with Maria? However, my thoughts don’t get much of a chance to dwell this topic because the TV has suddenly caught my attention.

“We apologize for this interruption.

“An explosion has been reported at Rogers Air Force Base. The incident occurred at approximately four o’clock this afternoon. General O’Neil has been contacted for comment but has declined all interviews. Sources suspect that this could be the work of a militant terrorist group but…”

I don’t hear the rest of the news report because Michael has muted the volume and is now facing me with wild eyes.

“Do you know what this could mean?” he asks, looking a little too excited for my liking. “It means I was right! There’s something going on that the government isn’t telling us!”

I don’t know what to say. He could be right. There may be something going on that’s alien related. However, there’s also a possibility that this could be an act of terrorism. At this point, we don’t have much to go on.

“I guess camping is out of the question then,” I mumble.

“No. We’re still going,” Michael insists.

“Michael! Are you crazy?! There’s just been an explosion at a military base. Don’t you think that the security will be even tighter tonight?” Maria asks looking at Michael incredulously.

“Yes but you’re forgetting we’ve got the force on our side,” he says cockily.

“You’re insane, Michael!” Maria yells, throwing her hands up in the air. “You might have your alien mojo going for you but you’re not invincible.”

At this point, I decided to interrupt. I don’t think I can take another Michael and Maria argument right now.

“I think Michael’s right. We have to go see what’s going on,” I’m afraid to turn my head in Maria’s direction. Already I can feel her staring daggers at me. I don’t think I want to face that head on.

“I know Liz is totally on my side about this. I don’t think any of us should go anywhere near the Air Force base tonight. The only thing that will accomplish is raising their suspicion,” Maria replies glibly. “Speaking of which, what’s taking her so long?”

We all turn our heads toward the bathroom waiting for Liz to come out.

“Oh for pete’s sake,” Maria sighs, pushing herself off the couch and stalking towards the bathroom. A second later, the door opens to let her in and is promptly shut again.

“Maxwell!” Michael whispers conspiratorially. “What do you say we take off tonight? When the girls are sleeping.”

I think about it for a moment before nodding my agreement.


________________

Thank you Lelle for keeping this story thread alive. Btw, I like your avi. Is that you?

[Lolita]

“…everything that happened has a dim hazy cast over it.”

- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald -


Part 7: Salvation in the Most Unexpected Places


~Liz~

“Liz! Are you okay?” Maria asks worriedly as she crouches beside me on the bathroom floor. I glance at her hoping that my discomfort isn’t showing on my face, but as soon as she sees my eyes, her arms come around me enveloping me in a warm comforting embrace. I almost sob in relief. The thought of going through this ordeal alone terrifies me.

“Thank you, Maria,” I sigh. Despite all her idiosyncrasies, Maria is the greatest friend I could ever ask for. We’ve known each other our entire lives and since Alex’s passing, we’ve come to depend on each other even more. She’s like the sister I never had; and now, during my time of need she’s with me again. Comforting me and pushing me to do right.

“Hey no problem, Petunia,” she leans back and gives me a soft smile. “After all, what are best buds for?”

I give her a grateful smile before pushing myself up off the floor. I make my way to the sink and splash some cold water on my face hoping that the frigid temperature will erase the tear tracks off my face.

I can do this. All I need is to get some control over my emotions and the power flares should go away.

“Liz,” Maria whispers as she gently touches my shoulder. “Are you gonna be okay?” I can tell she’s hesitant, like she wants me to talk but she doesn’t want to press. I give her a wobbly smile before reaching for the towel to dry my face.

“Um…I don’t mean to put this on you but something just happened that I think you need to know about.”

I turn and give Maria my full attention.

“The guys…um…they’re planning on doing something tonight.” She scoots past me and sits on the edge of the tub. “We were watching the news just now and there was an explosion at the Air Force Base.” My eyes widen in surprise. Nothing like this ever happens in Roswell. Sure we might be the capital of conspiracy theories and alien sightings but there has never been much violence in Roswell.

“They think that it could have been caused by terrorists but Michael believes it’s got an otherworldly reason behind it. If you ask me, I think he’s just being paranoid,” Maria snorts in annoyance.

“What would make him think that?” I’m actually in agreement with Michael on this one but I don’t let Maria know that. I have a feeling he’s in her bad books right now.

She waves her hands dismissively, “you know how they are. I guess being paranoid is programmed into them or something.”

Honestly, I don’t fault Max, Michael or Isabel for being overly cautious. They have great reason to be so. After Max’s stint in the White Room, the need to be vigilant is even greater. I guess that old Fox Mulder saying is true. You really cannot trust anyone.


When Maria and I finally decided to emerge from the isolation of the bathroom, we stumble across Max and Michael having a hushed conversation. However, as soon as Michael spots us, he straightens his posture and raises his voice, obviously trying to distract us from inquiring about their conspiratorial whispers.

“…so I guess Maria was right,” Michael stands up from his perch on the coffee table and makes his way to the kitchen, “maybe we shouldn’t go traipsing off in the desert tonight.”

I look over at Maria and see her roll her eyes. I guess Michael’s lame attempt at subterfuge is as obvious to her as it is to me. Now I know that they’re planning something. We’d have to be pretty dense not to be able to tell that from the abrupt change in their demeanors. One minute they’re very secretive, the next Michael’s all but shouting that he agrees with Maria…and Michael never agrees with Maria!


Dinner was a quiet affair. Mostly it was filled with idle conversation but I was too lost in my own world to pay too much attention to it. At the same time, I could feel the worried glances Max had been throwing my way. At one point, I got so fed up that I looked him straight in the eye and cocked an eyebrow. As I expected, he merely lowered his eyes and continued to push the food around on his plate. However, instead of feeling victorious, I only felt like a royal bitch. He shouldn’t be suffering the brunt of my fears and frustrations. I know that he’s merely concerned about my well-being, but I can’t help it. It feels like my emotions are controlling my actions and I’m just along for the ride.

After dinner, Maria makes a grand production of having Michael wash the dishes. I don’t bother to listen. Frankly, I’m too tired and all I want to do is go to bed. I move to sit on the couch and a second later, the couch dips as Max sits beside me.

“Hey,” he slings his arm over my shoulder drawing me close. I don’t bother to protest. Instead, I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes in fatigue. I feel him drop a lingering kiss on my head.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“Long day?”

“Uhum….,” I don’t bother stifling my yawn. I assume I must have dozed off because the next thing I hear is Michael and Maria arguing before I’m shaken awake.

“Liz! Liz! Wake up,” Maria shakes my shoulder.

I crane my neck to look up at her.

“…Michael, I don’t care! You and Max can sleep here on the couch. Liz and I will sleep in the room!”

I look over at Max and he’s wearing a deep frown. I can tell Michael and Maria are really getting to him. I think it’s time to get to the bottom of this.

I don’t object when Maria grabs my hand to hauls me to my feet. I merely follow her into their room. I wait for her to shut the door before starting in on her.

“Maria! What the hell was that?!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She won’t meet my eyes. She makes her way around the room touching this or that, all the while avoiding eye contact.

“Come off it, Maria. You know I love you like a sister but this is too much. You and Michael have been fighting ever since Max and I got here. Aren’t you tired yet?”

I sigh in exasperation before dropping heavily on the bed. Maria does the same before laying down on her back and looking up at the ceiling.

“Liz,” she sighs, “you should know by now. Fighting is like a sport for Michael and I. We’re just so used to it that it comes naturally. I wouldn’t worry about us. Okay?” She touches my hand causing me to look over at her. I see her smile and I nod my head in understanding.

“Plus, it will make it easier to follow them tonight if they’re thinking of sneaking out.” She raises an eyebrow and grins slyly. I guess Maria is a lot smarter than I give her credit for.


~Max~

I feel someone jostling my shoulder waking me from my peaceful slumber. I slide one eye open not surprised to see Michael’s ugly mug staring back at me.

“Max!” Michael hisses next to my ear. “Wake up!”

“What?! Go away.”

“Wake up, man!”

“Christ, Michael! It’s one o’clock in the morning!”

“Yeah I know! Get up!”

Grudgingly I sit up from my makeshift bed on the couch and glare at Michael. However, I soon realize that there’s really no point in my giving him dirty looks. He can’t see me anyways. It’s dark and the only light that filters in is from the street lamp outside. I wait a second for my eyes to adjust to the lack of light before attempting to get up. No need to wake the girls by my stumbling around.

The girls. I feel like a fucking bastard sneaking out on them like this, but Michael’s right. We need to sniff things out. I just hope that things go smoothly and that we’re back before the girls wake up. If we’re not, there’ll be hell to pay.

I feel my way around the cluttered living room retrieving my clothes and shoes. When I’m good and ready I make my way towards Michael who’s impatiently waiting by the door.


Even from the city outskirts we can make out the bright halo of military lights off in the distance. It looks like we’re probably going to have to go on foot the rest of the way. There’s no way we can remain inconspicuous under such heavy activity. I try to drive as close to Ground Zero as I can get before hiding the Chevelle behind a sand dune. Before I even cut the engine, Michael’s already out of the car. I can tell he’s getting really anxious.

I let him lead the way while I carefully trail behind him, watching our backs. It takes us another ten minutes to even get close enough to peek at the site. We crouch (on our belies) on the ground making sure to stay behind the shadows of the dunes. What used to be Rogers Air Force base is now nothing but a pile of dirt and rubble. The area is lit up like a Christmas tree with military personnel dressed in hazardous material suits crawling all over the place.

I look over at Michael and his eyes seem to gleam with validation.

“See. I told you it’s not just some terrorist attack.”

I turn away and fix my eyes on the men investigating the scene. The men in the HAZMAT suits are upturning chunks of metal and wood. A backhoe is digging up the heavier, larger pieces and placing them in a corral where they're being loaded onto waiting military trucks, probably to be taken away for examination. It’s amazing that they haven’t attracted more attention from the townspeople than they already have. You think with all the noise that the military is making, half the town would be awake.

I hear a noise beside me and see that Michael is pushing himself up off the ground. Before I can scramble up to grab him, he’s already up and moved closer towards the metal fence.

“Michael!” I can’t believe how stupid he’s being. “Michael!” He doesn’t turn and I realize that he’s too far away to hear me. Shit!

I clamber up off the ground and scurry behind Michael, the whole time hoping that nobody spots us.

I catch up to him and yank the back of his collar. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?! Are you purposely trying to get caught?” The headlights of an army jeep sweep past us and I drag Michael to the ground. Christ! That was too close for comfort.

He shrugs my arm off before pointing to a group of men to our left. I crane my neck to get a better look at what’s caused the commotion. I see a bright glint of silver before I hear someone yelling for the general.

“Max!” Michael elbows me excitedly. “Is that what I think it is?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see too clearly.”

“Shit! I think it’s a…it’s a ship!” Michael scuttles along the perimeter of the metal fence and I have no choice but to follow him. A second later, I hear a rumbling engine and instinctively I duck. However, a buckle on my leather jacket has caught a metal link of the fence and I desperately tug it loose.

“Max!”

I look down on Michael and I recognize the look fear in his eyes because mine must be the same. I raise my hand prepared to melt the buckle on my jacket when suddenly the headlights from an oncoming truck flash on me and I freeze. I close my eyes in desperate fear hoping against hope that they don’t see me. I feel the bright glare of the headlights against my closed lids and I know that it’s too late. They’ve seen me. I anxiously urge Michael to run as I prepare myself to be captured. I’m unexpectedly surprised when the army truck rumbles past us like we weren’t even there. I look at Michael in confusion but his attention is focused elsewhere. I follow his line of sight and my eyes widen in shock.

There, behind some dry underbrush is Tess Harding, standing still with her eyes closed in concentration.

[Lolita]

A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.

- Ambrose Bierce –


Part 8: The Edge of Reason

~ Max ~

“What the hell?!” Michael scrambles up from the ground raising his arm in defense.

“Stop, Michael! Wait!” I furiously grab for his arm before he fires a shot.

Michael whirls to face me, his face full of accusation.

“What the fuck?! It’s Tess! Don’t you remember? The murdering, conniving bitch that sold us to the wolves. Does that ring a bell?!”

I purse my lips in determination willing him to understand and respect my decision. This might be my only opportunity to know what happened to my son and I just can’t pass it up.

“You can’t kill her, Michael. Not yet at least,” I mutter. “She’s got my son. I need to find him and get him the hell away from her.”

Michael stares at me for a moment, nodding his head in understanding before standing down.

I raise my hand in defense. I’m not a fool. I know how deceiving she can be. However, I don’t make a move. I’m still painfully aware of the precarious situation we’re in. Soldiers are still milling around us and it seems that they’ve uncovered something of interest judging from the sudden excitement that’s going on. We can’t very well conduct any sort of conversation right now lest we want to be captured. So, I do the best thing I can think of. I make a run for it, ungracefully dragging Michael with me. I pause to look behind me and to my surprise I see Tess trailing behind us.

I collapse against the car the moment we reach it. My jacket scrapes against the cool metal as I slide down to the dusty desert floor. Michael is beside me panting and glaring murderously at Tess who still hasn’t said a word. I look up at her and for the first time I notice the bloody scrapes on her face and the way her left arm hangs limply against her side.

I swallow spasmodically trying to get my voice to work.

“What happened to you?”

She looks at me, clearly surprised by my interest in her well-being. She tugs on her oversized shirt and slowly sits on the ground.

“I was captured.”

I feel Michael still beside me. That was the last thing we expected to hear from her. As much as I hated her I wouldn’t wish upon her the torture that was put upon me in the White Room.

“She’s lying, Max!” Michael hisses beside me. Maybe he’s right. I wouldn’t put it past Tess to use my compassion to get her way.

I steel myself and mask my doubt. There’s no need to let her know my feelings.

“Why are you really here, Tess?”

She looks offended by my question and for a moment I recognize the old Tess as she lifts her chin up gathering her remaining pride. However, a second later, her shoulders slump back down and once again her look of defeat returns.

“I need your help.”

“For what? So you can screw us over again!” Michael scoffs but my elbow to his ribs quickly silences him.

“It’s about Zan.”

And with those three words she’s got my whole undivided attention.

“What about Za – ”

“Max, I don’t think this is the best place for a family reunion.” Michael quickly interrupts, his gaze scanning our surroundings and just like that I’m doused with the cold hard reality of our situation.

“Where do you propose we do this, Michael? At your apartment?” I glare at him in annoyance.

“Exactly.”

“Are you out of your mind?!” Doesn’t he realize that we could be putting not only our lives in danger but our girlfriends’ as well?

“Don’t worry, Maxwell. She’ll be in our territory. I don’t think she can put up much of a fight,” he tilts his chin up towards her, “I mean look at her. I doubt she can even raise that arm to pick her nose.” He huffs bitterly.


Half an hour later we’re pulling up to Michael’s apartment.

The whole drive was made in silence. Me gripping the wheel in tension, while Michael stares distrustfully at Tess. You’d think Michael’s eyes were made of laser the way he cut Tess down with his glare. Unexpectedly, Tess didn’t put up a fight during the whole ordeal. She sat unmoving, vaguely glancing at the passing scenery.

As we make our way up the stairs, each step feels heavy. Like a big ball of lead is hanging onto my legs. I’m so anxious that my palms are actually sweating. I’m dreading the confrontation that awaits us when we enter inside. I have a feeling that something volatile will happen once the girls set eyes on Tess. Frankly, I don’t know if I’ll have the sense to stop it. I don’t condone any act of violence, yet a part of me wants to give Liz and Maria the satisfaction of avenging their best friend’s death.

“Ready, Max?” Michael looks at me questioningly his key poised inside the lock.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I take a deep breath before Michael opens the door.


~ Liz ~

I groggily make my way down toward the living room, half aware of Maria trailing behind me muttering a string of curses. I guess all that planning failed through in the end because Maria never took into account that she’s a deep sleeper. Not even a bull horn can wake her up. And so, the guys got the better of us and sneaked out in the middle of the night.

Just as I’m about to flip on the light switch, the front door swings open revealing three dark figures. I recognize the two larger figures as Michael and Max but I’m puzzled by the third. However, I don’t have long to ponder because a second later, the street light outside filters in and I see a flash of blond hair, immediately setting off alarm bells in my head.

“What’s going on, Liz?” Mumbles a sleepy Maria before she turns on the light. “For crying out loud, just turn on the li – ” Maria and I freeze as our eyes land on someone we never thought we would ever see.

Tess Harding.

Suddenly, I feel disconnected from my body. I hear ringing in my ears as my vision begins to sharpen. I block out all sounds and action around me. All I see is the murdering, conniving whore and my rage begins to build.

And build.

And build.

I feel it bubbling up from the pit of my stomach, spreading to my limbs at an alarming rate.

My legs seem to have a mind of their own as they propel me towards Tess. My gaze is trained on her as I ignore everything else going on around me. I see her stunned expression before she narrows her eyes. I see a flicker of some familiar emotion there…anger perhaps…before it disappears and her expression once again is that of utter disbelief.

I feel my energy building causing the hair on my skin to stand on end. I prepare to hurl myself towards Tess and beat her senseless, when a strong pair of arms engulf me, deterring me from my mission.

“Liz, no!” I hear Max call out and I struggle to free myself from his hold. Frustration and even more anger builds within me and I yell for him to let go, my voice sounding surprisingly shrill. However, Max is strong and determined. The more I struggle the more his grip tightens. Finally, I can’t hold my energy any longer and it erupts from me, followed by a hoarse scream from my throat. I feel myself being thrown back before everything grows black.

* * *

“Shit! Liz! Liz! Wake up!”

“Don’t move, Tess. Don’t even fucking breathe!”

“Lizzie. Open your eyes, please!”

“Maxwell! Get up!”

“Maria, go check on Max.”

I hear muffled voices around me and I try to open my eyes. The moment I do, light assaults my senses like a two-by-four to the head. Groaning, I roll over to my side and that’s when I see my lover lying prone as Maria hovers over him.

“Wh-what happened?” I look over at Maria questioningly. She rushes over to me and helps me sit up.

“You exploded, Liz.”

“What do you mean I exploded?” It’s not like I’m some sort of balloon. I didn’t spontaneously combust!

“You know…snap, crackle, pop!” Maria runs her fingers down her arm before flicking it out like an explosion.

“For crying out loud, Maria! She’s not a freaking rice crispy!” Michael snaps from the other side of the room.

I turn to look at him and that’s when I see someone standing behind him. Someone blonde.

That’s when the situation hits me like a cold bucket of water. Tess is here. In my blind rage, my power surged to the surface and Max was the unfortunate victim.

My eyes move back to Max who still hasn’t moved and my heart leaps to my throat. Oh my God! What if he’s dead?!

I shift my gaze back to Tess and I feel the familiar fury well up within me.

I’m torn. I have the perfect opportunity to get back at Tess, yet as I look at my paramour, my love and worry springs forth overriding any need I have for revenge. In the end, my heart wins out and I scramble over to Max’s side and cradle his head in my lap.

“Oh God! I’m so sorry!” I blink back my tears as I continue to shake him.

“Wake up, Max! Please open your eyes!” I smooth his hair back off his brow, willing him to open his eyes.

It’s all my fault. I will never forgive myself if he dies. Desperation seeps into my voice as I once again plead with him to wake up.

“You killed him. I can’t belie –”

“Shut up Tess!” Michael, Maria and I simultaneously yell.

“Ahh! My head.” I look down and see Max squeezing his eyes shut and rubbing his temples.

“You’re okay!” I breathed as I rained kisses all over his face. “You’re okay!”

“What happened?” Max asks groggily. He makes an attempt to push up to his elbows that only results in him flopping back with a groan. He looks into my eyes and I see the absolute trust in them and that big ball of guilt in my stomach just got a lot heavier.

“Liz,” he whispers my name before he reaches up and caresses my cheek lovingly. I close my eyes and lean into his touch knowing what I must do.


Tbc…

_________________

Thanks for all the comments everyone!

Happy Mother's day to all the mommies out there.

[Lolita]

Aww! Thanks, Lelle! Just wanting to let everyone know that I am working on the new chapter. Actually, I've been working on it since my last update. I've just been really lazy since the weather's been wonderful and my guy's been wonderful and I've been happy. It's tough to write angst when you're happy.

On a side note, an official fanart challenge has opened up on the Multimedia board. I'm encouraging everyone to pop by take a look and hopefully enter the contest.

Hope to see more people there!