Disclaimer: I don't own the series Roswell or any of the original characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.
A/N: I think I mentioned somewhere in my profile that I usually prefer to write one parters, but I had to make an exception, which I sometimes do and have done with some other shows and pairings in the past. This entire story will be written for a friend as she requested me to delve into the Roswell fandom once again and write a story that met a few of her requirements, so this first chapter is for you Dilek and I hope I don't let you down. The same goes for the select few who will stumble upon this story and hopefully choose to give it a chance.
A Second Coming
Part 1: The Angel in the House
''When reality is nothing like a pipedream…''
It was a big enough house in a decent enough neighborhood in a town that was small enough to be inconspicuous in. That was why they had been able to stay there for as long as they had, and why they had decided to eventually settle here and give it a try as their second home, especially after weeks had passed without there being any trouble. No one came looking for them and the local townspeople had accepted them into their community with open arms because it was just the kind of people they were.
They were the kind of people who liked their privacy, but who also enjoyed having a couple of new faces around to get to know during run-ins at the supermarket and the occasional town barbecue—barbecues where the men would watch whatever sport was on TV at the time and the women would sit around and talk about the frivolous things they liked to do. For Isabel it was gardening, although she spent most of the day cooking and cleaning (like the perfect angel in the house). It were the things she was used doing for Jesse as his wife, and she was still his wife as well as a housewife, but the only thing was that she was here and that he was still in Roswell.
They were on the phone with each other constantly, but yet they had begun to drift as any couple eventually would under the same circumstances, and Isabel had known that this would happen. She even thought that she had managed to prepare herself for it, though life without Jesse had been nothing like she'd expected it to be. It was as lonely as she had thought it would be, and at the same time it was more freeing than she had expected.
Even Max had loosened up a little after realizing that they didn't have to look over their shoulder as often. He had even sold the van, which signaled the official start of their new lives here: they rented a place to live, or places actually, because Max and Liz had their own—everyone feeling like they deserved their privacy since they were still relatively newlyweds—Michael and Maria had a place and Kyle lived in their basement, and Isabel got her own place. It was paid for by Max and Michael because she was the only one who didn't work and she didn't have to, or wanted to. She just wanted to be for the time being.
The others, on the other hand, did have jobs: Maria, ironically enough, worked as a waitress at the local diner while Liz did the accountancy at the same diner (having the experience since she used to do the same for her father), Max answered phones at some small office building, and Kyle and Michael both worked at one of the two garages the town had, Kyle as a mechanic and Michael stripped cars for parts.
They all had found a new routine, including Isabel, and, for the moment, things were alright, even if they couldn't help cutting or coloring their hair every now and then. Isabel had contemplated changing her look this morning while in front of the mirror, but decided to stick with the blond shoulder-length curls she had gone back to about a week ago. Instead she'd changed her lip color and nail polish a few times until she settled on red, after which she'd put on her clothes and had gone grocery shopping.
She liked to cook for everyone as often as she could, liking how they seemed like a big family when all around the table (it helped her miss Roswell a little less), so this Friday was not one of the exceptions.
Isabel was in the kitchen when Michael and Kyle's truck, which they borrowed from the garage, pulled into the driveway. The others would arrive a few minutes later because Max had to pick up Liz and Maria on his way home.
Kyle was the first one in the kitchen, thoughtfully remembering to place a kiss on her cheek on his way to the sink. ''Do you need any help?'' he asked while washing his hands.
Isabel nodded and gestured in the direction of the cabinets above them. ''You can set the table.''
Kyle turned off the faucet and dried his hands on his overalls, earning him a look from Isabel. ''What? It's either this or your white dish towels.''
Isabel rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile at the same time. Surprisingly enough, it was Kyle who made her miss Roswell the most, yet he was also the one who made this place feel like home to her.
As he left the kitchen, Michael came strolling in, not bothering with washing his hands before reaching for a sparerib.
''Michael!'' Isabel exclaimed.
He shrugged. ''I'm hungry. I've been working all day.''
Isabel sighed and reached for the plate of ribs to take outside, but before she could turn away from Michael, he lightly grabbed her by the elbow. ''Hey, I'm sorry Iz. You know we appreciate what you do, especially the dinners.''
''That's because none of you can cook.''
''Not true. I work a mean grill,'' Michael pointed out.
Their eyes met and they shared a smile.
Isabel handed the plate of ribs to him. ''Do me favor, take this outside?''
Michael nodded. ''I'll ask Kyle to help you with the rest. It's not like he does anything at work, so that's the least he can do.''
''I heard that!'' Kyle answered from the garden.
Michael grinned. ''I know.''
Isabel put the finishing touches on the salad as Kyle entered the kitchen again, saying, ''I vote you and Max zap him.''
''I don't think Max would go for it.''
''I know.'' Kyle leaned against the counter. ''And what Max says goes since he's the king and all, but, on the other hand, isn't Max the most powerful since he's the king? So, couldn't we just get rid of Michael since his power is like nothing compared to Max's?!'' Kyle asked, purposely raising his voice so Michael would hear.
''I still have enough power to zap you in your sleep,'' Michael said when coming to stand in the door opening.
''Can you do that? Can he do that?'' Kyle asked Isabel while his brow wrinkled up at the idea.
''No one's going to zap anyone,'' Isabel reassured him while throwing Michael a warning look, who put up both his hands in defense and went back outside. She handed Kyle the salad bowl and as he was on his way outside he perked up, hearing Max's car pull into the driveway. ''Maybe I can convince Max to zap Michael.''
Isabel shook her head and got together the final things to take outside, running into Maria on her way. ''Hey, how was work?''
Maria shrugged. ''Oh, you know, since I've been waitressing a while now, it's no longer a challenge, but the tips are good and I got free desert for all of us.'' Maria held up a paper bag. ''I'm going to put it in the freezer and then I'm ready for dinner.''
Isabel nodded and wanted to continue on outside, but remembered something and turned back to Maria. ''Could you bring the glasses? It's for the lemonade.''
''Yeah, sure.''
''Thanks!'' Isabel called over her shoulder while making her way outside into the garden.
Liz took the things from her and started arranging them on the table. ''You guys could help you know,'' she said to Kyle and Michael who had already taken their places at the table.
''We already did,'' Kyle stated. ''Or, at least I did. I set the table.''
''I brought out the ribs,'' Michael reminded him of his effort.
Both Kyle and Liz rolled their eyes and Michael sighed. ''You guys want me to help out more, okay.'' He looked over the table quickly before leaning over and waving his hand over the French bread. ''There you go, I helped out some more,'' he observed after having pulled his hand back and revealed the French bread to Liz and Kyle, now cut into slices. Michael sat back and folded his hands behind his head. ''Now what did Max and Maria do to help out, huh?''
''Maria brought home desert for everyone,'' Liz defended her friend.
''And I brought out the glasses and the lemonade!'' Maria added when appearing out of the kitchen again.
''Guys,'' Isabel interrupted. ''It's nice that everybody wants to help out, but it's not necessary. You've all been working all day, so the least I can do is make dinner. I really don't mind.''
''She really doesn't,'' Max chipped in while coming to stand beside his sister. ''She's been wanting to cook for people ever since she got that Easy-Bake Oven toy.''
''It wasn't a toy,'' Isabel proclaimed. ''Remember that chocolate birthday cake I made for Michael?''
''I do,'' Michael announced with his mouth full. ''It was horrible. You forgot to put Tabasco in it.''
''Speaking of Tabasco,'' Liz said. ''you didn't put any in the food, did you?''
''The Tabasco seasoning isn't your thing yet?'' Kyle asked. ''It should, since you're slowly becoming one of them.''
Liz childishly stuck out her tongue and tilted her head to the side so Max could kiss her neck before sitting down next to her.
''You know what you should do when you've fully developed your powers, you should zap him,'' Kyle continued while pointing at Michael. ''Or am I the only one who gets that urge every now and them?''
''No.'' Maria shook her head. ''I hear you.''
''Yeah, but that's not the same 'cause you're all talk and nothing else, since you're in love with the alien.''
Liz and Max smiled at Kyle's comment while Maria took Michael's hand in hers and placed a quick kiss on it, reassuring him that she did in fact love him.
Kyle made a face and Isabel turned her back to the scenario, unable to take it.
''Where are you going?'' Kyle asked.
''I'm going to get some more Tabasco,'' Isabel answered. ''But you guys can start without me. I'll be right back.'' And she went inside, using the Tabasco as an easy way out of the perfect picture.
Sometimes it seemed so unfair to her that the others hadn't given up as much as her. They hadn't given up what she had given up: a love. Max and Michael had brought theirs with them, and Isabel liked having Liz and Maria around, but it just seemed unfair to her at times. They didn't have to go to bed alone and spend their nights dreaming because they didn't have anything tangible. They didn't have to spend as much time missing Roswell as much as she did because they had brought what they found most precious in it with them. She hadn't, and neither had Kyle, it was different with him. He didn't mind being on his own, and, more importantly, he hadn't left anyone behind that he wished he could have with him instead.
Isabel got the Tabasco, but didn't go back outside just yet; instead, she lingered by the phone, contemplating calling Jesse, for no reason, really, but for so many others at the same time. She placed her hand on the phone, wanting to pick it up, but didn't. The doorbell distracted her and she left the phone behind her, the Tabasco still in her hands, though it slipped from between her fingers as soon as she had opened the door.
The bottle shattered on the tiles, making everyone outside turn their heads as their senses sprang into a heightened state of awareness as well. They hadn't forgotten what it was like and Max was the first to get up. The others followed and were inside just in time to hear Isabel say one thing: ''Alex.''
Please review? (: I'd really appreciate if you'd let me know how I'm doing so far because Roswell has never really been my forte, in my opinion at least, so comments and critique are more than welcome. As for the updates, I think I can promise you weekly ones, so hopefully you'll keep this story in the back of your mind. Thanks for reading. :)