Prologue
By June Goddess
She was bored. Really bored. Isabel Evans was the complete embodiment of boredom. And it was not fun. So what does a bored, a really bored, Isabel Evans do? She dreamwalks. And who should she dreamwalk? Well, not an alien, that was a given. They would notice. And get angry. Especially Max. He had been especially testy since he and Liz had broken up. Which left humans. The world was filled with lots and lots of humans. But it did not make sense - and would not be nearly as much fun - to dreamwalk a complete stranger.
After a bit more debate, Isabel managed to justify dreamwalking Liz Parker. It was her original goal, but it had taken about ten minutes to really figure out her story as to why she would invade Liz's privacy should anyone ask. Not that they would. But just in case. It never hurt to be prepared.
Grabbing last year's yearbook, the blonde flipped quickly to Liz's class section, flipped past the A, B, and C sections, flipped past the L, M, and N sections, and finally got to the P section. Luckily, since Liz was 'P-A,' the task was even easier. Dropping her finger on Liz's shining, smiling face - Practically a demented-chipmunk-kind-of-chipper face, she thought - she let her powers fuse with the photograph.
And, once again, Isabel Evans entered the dreams of one Liz Parker.
"Max." Liz's voice echoed throughout the dream. Isabel looked around. It was a very dark. Liz was not a dark person, and the main backdrop usually was an indication of personality. Strange, thought Isabel. Ah well. I'll just sit and wait for something to happen, I suppose.
After a moment, a worn lawn chair appeared next to Isabel. Slowly the darkness melted into Liz's balcony. The stars were really bright. This is sort of relaxing.
Suddenly Max appeared. Oh crap! Max! Isabel thought frantically. Wait. This is Liz's dream. Of course Max would be here.
"I don't love you, Max. I want to have a normal life. I want to have kids someday. It's over, Max. I'm sorry." Isabel heard Liz's voice but could not see her. She looked around and spotted her in the shadows by a glowing heart with "L.P. + M.E."
Max's form went to the railing and went over. Liz's face became anguished and she ran to the balcony's edge. "Max!" she cried. "Oh God. Max. I love you. I love you, Max." She collapsed and heaved dry sobs.
Isabel watched, fascinated. She could not look away. It was heart-wrenching. She watched, stunned, as Liz spent several minutes crying her heart out. She eventually quieted and looked up at the stars.
"There'll never be another you. You're the only one I'll ever love."
Isabel looked around. Who is she talking to? I'm the only one here, and she can't see me.
Liz fell silent for a moment. She looked like she was thinking. Her shoulders squared and she stood. "I want my wedding dance." With those words, she turned and looked past Isabel. Isabel turned and saw a man in the shadows. He stepped into the light and made his way to Liz. He looked like hell. He had gray hairs. He had long hair. He had scars. He was much older. But his eyes, the eyes reserved only for Liz, those were Max's eyes.
This strange version of Max took Liz's offered hand and they danced. Once again, Isabel could not look away. The way the stared at each other… it was as if nothing else existed but the other. The feeling between the two was compelling and strong. It was beautiful. They were beautiful.
Isabel watched as a tear escaped Max's desperate eyes when Liz tucked her head beneath his chin. She watched as he spun her one last time and disappeared, smiling for her as though nothing were wrong. She watched as he faded into nothing, leaving Liz still spinning, still smiling. When she stopped, she searched desperately for some sign of Max, but the defeat in her eyes said she knew he was gone. She looked to the stars. She never noticed the tears streaming down her moon-lit face.
Isabel watched all night as Liz stared at the stars and grieved, never moving.
"Isabel! Honey, it's time for you to get up!" Diane's voice broke through Isabel's half-sleep. She swung her legs out of the bed and reached for her robe. As she passed the mirror, she saw the dried tears on her cheeks. For a long moment she stared at herself in the mirror, wondering about her nightly jaunt. She was no longer bored. But she wanted more. She needed more. She would dreamwalk Liz Parker until the other's dreams made sense.