Roswell Summer Vignettes

by purplemud

Short stories on what the characters on Roswell went through right after Destiny (Season 2)

1. Desert Sky

ROSWELL SUMMER VIGNETTES

Author: purplemud

Title: Desert Sky

E-mail: purplewitch10@yahoo.com

Disclaimers: Roswell does not belong to me. Standard Disclaimers apply

Rating: Mostly PG 13 for language.

Summary: Under one sky, the aliens and the humans shares one of moment understanding

Author's Note: Short stories on what the characters on Roswell went through right after Destiny (Season 2). Some explanations on the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy reading. Feedback please.

My many thanks to Diane who have been so great beta-reading this fic.

DESERT SKY

Out in the desert, one can't help but feel small and insignificant. The whole desert can swallow anyone up and the world would never notice. Would never even realize that another soul had succumbed to the lonely depths of oblivion, deep within the golden grains of sand.

It's especially scary when you thought about it that way and Michael Guerin was scared. He stared up at the sky and saw nothing. The bright pinpoints of light that once meant home to him had gone unnoticed. Everything was dark, black - insignificant. He blinked and bent his head. The light from Max's jeep a few feet behind them cast eerie shadows across the sand. He kicked the sand that held his shadow and it was just his luck that at that very moment the wind picked up, scattering the dust everywhere and into his eyes.

"Michael!" Isabel complained, brushing her shoulders and her hair. "Stop that."

He complied and rubbed his eyes until they felt stingy and raw. He glanced at his wrist, trying to make out the green glowing numbers on his watch. It wasn't midnight yet. He had a feeling that they'd be staying like this for a very long time. It was getting cold. He wanted to wrap his arms around his body but then they would notice and one of them would offer their jacket. They always wore adequate clothes that protected them from the cold. And he didn't want that. Didn't want them to notice that he was different from them. Despite their alien blood, he was still different, still on the outside. He bit his cheeks and started to wander around, still staying fairly close inside their circle. From his position he could see everyone. He watched Max silently sitting beside Isabel.

The Evans' had bought their picnic paraphernalia on this desert night activity that Max had planned. Michael was familiar with the red-checkered blanket that was now spread onto the desert floor. He had been invited once to one of the Evans' picnic by the beach. He never joined them again. It bothered him, the way Diane Evans always stole glances towards him, like he was an illusion that would soon disappear if she stared long enough. He felt like he was intruding, like he didn't belong. That feeling stayed and he realized early on that he secretly envied Max and Isabel because they were happy and they had a loving family, while he was stuck in a trailer with a drunken father who beat him up on a regular basis.

He was no longer the envious ten-year-old but he was still a little mad. It got him pretty bad especially when Max and Isabel would start complaining on the stupidest of things, like not being allowed to stay out late at night or having parents that can impose strict rules, can ground you at their whim, take away your money and driving privileges. Michael snorted and shook his head. He knew that there was no sense in comparing his life with theirs. It wouldn't change a damn thing.

Well that's the Evans' for you. Of course there were more to them than that. They were his family and he loved them in his own way. Max was his brother and Isabel was his sister. Nothing would ever change that. Speaking of family, he glanced at Tess.

He couldn't decide where to put her. She was now part of their group because she was one of them. For a while he thought that maybe she could be his own sister. His one real family. But Nasedo was Tess' family and he never did quite feel that "sisterly-bond" with her. He watched Tess for a while and decided that she was more of an ally, not really a friend yet. But who knows, maybe he'd learn to treat her more like a friend and then a sister. This year he had learned to trust more than one human being. He might have even loved one. But he quickly dismissed that train of thought. He didn't want to think about her. Not tonight. He needed a break from all of the Maria-thoughts that had been plaguing him ever since he first felt her skin.

He willed himself to steer his thoughts back to Tess Harding and he squinted his eyes to get a better view of her. Tess was standing a foot away from him, hands shoved deep into the back pockets of her jeans, and staring at the sky...the stars...he wasn't sure. Tess had been staring at it ever since they got here as though some alien deity that had wings would swoop down on her bearing a jeweled alien crown to pronounce her as the Queen of Antar.

Antar, what a funny sounding name that was. Home was Antar. There, he won't be intruding - he'd belong. There he'd never feel so inconsequential. And finally, he would never be scared of being alone and angry with himself.

He sighed impatiently, snapping himself from his pathetic thoughts. Get over yourself Guerin, he chided himself harshly. If he could, he would love to give himself a dose of his own cruelty. Maybe he already had. He had said goodbye to Maria and then walked away, wasn't that the cruelest thing he had done?

Oh, nope, erase that. He had killed. There, cruelty at it's finest. Max healed people and he killed them. Or him. But hey who's counting. He had a strange feeling that if left without any other choice he would probably kill again. And that thought probably scares him the most.

The wind never blew again and everything was still and peaceful and dead. Not one of them were talking, except for Isabel who would occasionally murmur something to Max, to which Max would respond in as little as he could. Michael finally got tired of walking aimlessly and sat himself down on the desert floor. It was still a little warm. Sun kissed, like Maria's hair. He allowed himself a brief smile at this thought.

"Max, what time are we supposed to see... what was it that we were supposed to see again?" Isabel asked.

Max repeated for the eighty-seventh time that they were going to see the planet line up in the sky. Like it was some glorious major event. Michael figured that Isabel had only come because she was tired of being held inside the house for too long, tired of hanging out with her pretentious group of cliques. He turned to Tess, who was still fixated on the sky. Easy guess on why she came. She came because Max was here, that was all that would matter to Tess. Max and Destiny. Michael had the feeling that if Max wanted to go to Mars, Tess would only be too glad to provide Max the space shuttle he'll need.

And he came because he was part of this group. Because staying inside his house with all the Maria-memories was driving him insane. Because he got tired of wandering around the streets of Roswell, New Mexico when he got too restless and bored. Because he was afraid that he'd find himself standing by Maria's window again, watching her sleep.

There was a distant rumble of an engine that quickly died away. Isabel tensed and straightened her back. Tess immediately backed away and was beside Max, who had suddenly stood up.

Jumpy aren't we. Michael thought disgustedly. He remained seated. Tired of being so damn paranoid and scared.

"What was that?" Isabel asked, knowing the answer but not wanting to believe in it.

"Just a car. Probably some dumb couple wanting to...you know..." Michael said shrugging.

"Out in the desert?" Tess asked incredulously.

Max put a finger on his lips and Tess was immediately silenced. Michael rolled his eyes, if it had been him who had done that gesture, no one would take him seriously, everyone would keep yapping at him.

"Michael's probably right," Max finally said sitting down.

"Thank you," Michael muttered sarcastically. But it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Isabel didn't relax one bit. But Tess was already back to her composed self, settling herself beside Max.

"Are you sure?" Isabel asked.

Max nodded. "There are probably a few people who know about the planets aligning tonight and they've probably heard that this is a great spot to watch it." Max explained rationally.

Isabel let out a big sigh. "God, I hate being so...so..."

"Jumpy?" Michael asked.

"Yeah," Isabel said nodding quietly, already deep in her thought. Michael wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't heard him at all.

Max was about to say something when another voice beat him to it.

"Dammit Kyle! Slow down!"

Michael felt as though he had been kicked in the gut. No, no, not his gut, someplace, some organ more precious than his gut. Like maybe his whole being, flesh and bones and maybe his soul too.

Maria.

Maria and Kyle.

He sensed everyone staring at him but he pretended not to notice. He had felt that stare all his life. He was already familiar with the combination of pity and amusement it held. It was fucking redundant in his life already. He looked straight on and pretended not to care. He clenched his fist as voices continued to drift towards them. Somehow it reminded him of his neighbor's radio that was always playing annoying cheesy pop songs day in and day out. Listening to the softest hint of whiny pop stars was enough to make his head explode. He had in fact, more than once pressed his hands against the wall and concentrated on blowing up the goddamn radio. Of course it didn't work

*****

"Well, it wouldn't be so damn hard for you to walk if you hadn't put on those strappy sandals and that itty bitty skirt of yours!" Kyle shot back glancing back at his blonde companion who was struggling against the mini- sand dunes that they had to walk on. Friggin' time for a short skirt, but hey, who was he to tell her what to wear?

"Well I wouldn't be wearing this if you had told me we were only going to go to the desert and..." Maria paused. "What are we doing here Kyle?" she asked sounding lost.

"Alex said we're gonna watch the..." Kyle paused too, scratched his head and then shrugged his shoulder, "I don't know, stars or Mars or something. He just said that I pick you up and bring you here." He walked on, the perfect spot catching his eyes. He headed towards it.

"What?!" Maria stopped dead on her tracks.

Kyle rolled his eyes and turned just in time to see her seethe. "Did I stutter?" He asked viciously.

Maria ignored him. "You woke me up in the middle of the night to watch the freakin' stars!" She shrieked.

"Yes! What? You think it was a date?"

"Date? With you? Right..."

"Yeah, well, you're all dressed up. Figured you wanted to-" Kyle paused, searching for the right word. He turned and looked at Maria, smiling easily, "seduce me." He finished, adding a wink

There was a teasing tone in his voice and what sounded like a light chuckle. Maria winced. "Seduce you?!" She exploded. Kyle chuckled some more. She stopped and gritted her teeth, trying to calm herself. "Kyle, I hate to break it to you, but you're not exactly my type. Never have been and never will be." She trudged along, walking past Kyle, shaking her head. "I thought it was Liz's surprise going away party." She muttered.

"And I thought you dressed up for me." Kyle smirked, feigning hurt. He bent down and spread the blanket he had been clutching. He turned at Maria who was frowning at him. He sighed loudly and sat down. He was determined to ignore her. Her and her long legs.

Dammit, Valenti. We're talking about Maria here, ok? Flaky Maria. Remember you used to throw sand on her face when you were younger playing in that old sandbox by the playground? And oh, God, how she'd fight back. Which was why you had been attracted to Liz Parker in the first place because she was always clean and smelled sweet and acted less angry and more like a girl. He glanced at Maria.

Innocent DeLuca. God, every man is going to want to break her. He felt a sudden surge of brotherly protectiveness over her. He just couldn't decide if it was a good thing or not. Maybe it was neither, it was just weird. Because him and Maria, as brother and sister? He shuddered inwardly and reminded himself of Guerin's laser eyes. He'd seen the warning signs and he wasn't going to ignore it, he could tempt it, yes, but only if the Martian was there to bear witness and suffer, but not when it was just him and Maria underneath the stars.

"Now what?" Maria asked noticing Kyle staring at her.

"Now we wait for Liz and Alex," he answered looking up into the sky. And I hope they get here soon enough he added silently.

*****

"God, are they flirting with each other?" Tess muttered darkly.

And again the feeling of everyone's eyes on him. Michael scowled. So much for one night of alien bonding Max had planned. Michael thought trying to drive away Maria's name inside his head.

"Max, should we..." Isabel asked, her voice lowered, as if afraid that they'd be found out lurking by the dark, listening, prying into Maria and Kyle's normal life.

Normal huh? Before, sure. He'd give them normal any day. But now, after all that had happened, normal? No, I don't think so. Michael thought. No thanks to me and my happy alien life of course.

Max was about to answer, but again, another voice spoke. Isabel's back straightened and she tilted her head forward her eyes suddenly bright and alive.

"And you're arguing again," Alex said.

"What a surprise," Liz echoed from behind him.

And this needless to say, garnered the very same reaction from Isabel's brother. On any normal day (if they ever had any) Max would have immediately stood up and followed that voice. It was the romantic kind of crap Michael knew Max was capable of. He was fairly surprised that Max remained glued to his seat. And the scene a few weeks ago played out in his mind. Liz Parker walking away from Max Evans. She gave him up. For Tess. For Destiny. For Antar.

Tess gritted her teeth. God, these humans were everywhere! She searched for the faces of Max, Isabel and Michael. They all had the same blank expression on their faces. But she knew exactly what they were feeling. And for a brief moment, she felt jealous that she hadn't connected with even one human being. She couldn't decide whether or not she should be scared with this passing thought.

*****

Alex and Liz came with a small folding chair, thick blankets, a telescope, flashlights and basket, probably filled with food and drinks. Good 'ol dependable Alex and Liz. But neither Kyle nor Maria took notice of the goods. Instead they immediately went on defensive mode.

"It wasn't my fault." Kyle immediately defended himself crossing his arms.

"Of course! Since when do guys ever admit that it's their fault? So, sure, let's humor the male population, I started it all." Maria replied plopping herself beside Kyle and yanking one of Alex's thick blankets out of his hands. She quickly covered up her legs and glared at the boys.

"Ok, you guys, we're here to marvel at the beauty and mystery of nature, of the universe, so please, lets not get angry, ok?" Liz quickly said both arms raised as if to placate two stubborn kids. She sat herself beside Kyle and smiled at him. "Nice of you to come," she said softly.

"Yeah, well, I figured since this is gonna be your last night here before you go to Florida, might as well fix things between us." Kyle said with a shrug.

"Thanks." Liz said quietly. "I appreciate it."

*****

A few feet away, one particular alien wasn't in the least bit appreciative. Max looked away, as though he was actually seeing Liz and Kyle, together, seated side by side, elbows touching. And it would be so easy for them. No Destiny to keep them apart. No otherworldly status to ponder on.

Florida. It sounded so very far away. So very far away from him. She was running away from him. The one thing he had been so scared of happening. Back when all he could do was imagine what it would be like if he had Liz Parker by his side, when all he could do was watch her from a distance, he had played out scenes in his mind on how she'd react when she'd found out that he was an alien. All of them played out nicely, but there was this one scene he couldn't forget: Liz Parker, screaming in terror and fear, backing away from him, running, running until he could see her no more, smell her no more, sense her no more. And now, it was all coming true. And this wasn't in anyway related to his alien status - well maybe a part of it - but she was running away from him because he had broken her heart.

The rest of them decided to ignore Max's reaction. Instead they sat there silently. Not wanting to eavesdrop, but left with not much of a choice. At least that was what they were telling themselves.

*****

Alex unfolded the chair and sat down beside Maria. "And not that I don't appreciate the effort and you look pretty by the way, but why are you all dressed up?" He asked taking note of Maria's hair and make-up.

Maria blushed and muttered, "Oh, just being me. Dumb blonde and all."

"So uh, what exactly are we doing here?" Kyle asked looking around him. He never really enjoyed - much less liked - the desert. And yet here he was, surrounded by the black dunes of sand and soil, so very bleak and dry. Not at all like vast green football field where he felt like he belonged. Desert. He had his own definition of the desert. A terrain that doesn't seem to belong here on Earth. Where had he heard that futuristic films set in Mars or some other freakin' planet were shot on the desert?

"I know you guys are not exactly into the whole 'space' thing..." Liz began slowly.

"You can say that again." Kyle interrupted loudly.

"But, because we figured it would be nice for the four of us to get together after all that has happened and be, you know, friends." Alex continued ignoring Kyle.

"Ah, human bonding." Maria said, smiling. "But I like it." She said tilting her head. "I mean, us, underneath the same sky, moon, stars, you know, whatever."

The guys nodded solemnly, not sure what Maria meant exactly, Liz however reached out to squeeze Maria's arm.

"Are we going to pledge our friendship and bury something in the sand?" Maria asked with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

Of course, sarcasm was always lost on Kyle. "Gimme a break! That's just, girly stuff! I don't do that!" He turned towards Alex ignoring the exasperated expression on Maria's face. "So we're star gazing? Is that it? Is that the human activity for the week?" Kyle asked.

"No actually, we're gonna watch the planets align tonight," Liz said with a proud flourish.

*****

Ah, it seems as though Max Evans and Liz Parker had the very same thing in mind when they dragged their respective friends out in the desert. Try to patch things up. Heal all broken bonds that had bled and snapped over the last few months. Really, were there any more questions in their minds who was really destined for who?

And oh, look at that. Michael thought almost bitterly. The very same excuse! Now, see, there is what soulmates do best. Think with just one mind, heart, and soul. Except he wasn't sure if being an alien gave them heart and soul. He should better ask Nasedo or Tess about that one. He briefly noted that the same thought had probably gone through the same heads of his alien companions. Max looked both hurt and what was that... pride? Was that pride in his eyes? And Isabel. Oh, probably the same thing he was feeling. Jealousy. And Tess? Tess looked like she needed to gag. He smirked at the humanness of their reactions. Human bonding that was what Maria had called Liz's desert rendezvous. He smirked. Interesting indeed.

*****

There was a lengthy pause and then Kyle and Maria said in unison, "And?"

"And well, this thing happens like, once in a million years." Alex tried to rescue Liz who was trying to hide her disappointment. "You, know, it's like History! C'mon, I mean, it's...we're lucky we get to see it." Alex scratched his head at the clueless and expectant looks on Kyle and Maria's faces. He gave a short bark of laughter and added sheepishly, "Actually, it is pretty lame. But hey, we're all here now, so we might as well try and enjoy the night. Right?"

Alex looked at Liz in apology, but Liz merely smiled at him. She wasn't really expecting Maria and Kyle to jump up and down at the concept of watching the sky, waiting for the planets to align themselves. But she knew Max would've loved it. She wondered if Max knew. If he was staring at the same sky that she was. If he remembered the night they had first kissed and... Stop! Just stop right there Parker! No Max Evans thoughts for tonight. No, this was a strictly human only thing - event - even if it did involve planets... and Argh!

"Ok-aaay." Kyle said. There was another silent pause and then Kyle spoke up again. "So, if this involves, you know, planets, the universe, wormholes, whatever, did someone inform the Pod Squad about this, ugh, phenomenon? I mean, isn't this the kind of, uh, stuff that they're looking for?"

*****

POD SQUAD?

The group of aliens suddenly scowled at this. They heard Alex chuckling. And Max turned at Isabel raising an eyebrow.

"Well," Isabel said, shrugging her shoulders, "it is true. I mean, technically, we can be the Pod Squad, right?" She frowned. "But then again, Kyle could need a little experience in Dreamwalking. Let's see how freaked out he'd get when I visit him one of these nights." And then Isabel allowed herself a slow smile.

"One day, I'm gonna zap Kyle Valenti and it ain't gonna be pretty," Tess said crossing her arms.

"Hear, hear." Michael muttered.

*****

"Hey, you know, they might not appreciate that, um, moniker." Liz said trying to hide the amusement in her voice. Maybe thinking of them wouldn't be so bad. Besides she had already planned, no vowed, to herself that once she set foot at Florida, there would be no more alien thoughts. No more in depth analysis on Destiny and heartbreak.

Kyle snickered. "Yeah, well, it's not like the Pod Squad's gonna know about it. And weren't you the one who called Isabel, Queen Amidala."

"Actually, that would be me," Maria admitted. "But that's different." Maria added quickly trying to save grace.

"Yeah how?" Maria opened her mouth to say something and then closed it again. "Yeah, I thought so. Besides, who's gonna hear? C'mon, lighten up. You're starting to sound like that paranoid Martian."

"And that Martian would be?" Alex asked.

"Why doncha ask Maria, eh?" Kyle said grinning slightly.

Maria rolled her eyes. "Stop the name calling Kyle. It's low ok."

Kyle merely shrugged his shoulders. "I don't care," he said quietly.

"Right. Why would you care? I mean, hey Max just healed you and basically brought you back from the dead after you got yourself shot..." Maria commented brusquely.

"Yeah well, you're forgetting that the only reason why I got shot in the first place was because of a certain alien..."

"Who happened to save your life," Liz insisted.

"Ok, if you're all going to start defending Evans, I'm outta here." Kyle said standing up.

"No! Wait! Kyle!" Liz said pulling Kyle back down. "We weren't defending him or anything."

"Sounds like it to me." Kyle said. "I thought we are human bonding - or whatever you call it. I'm here for it, but no alien discussion ok?"

"You brought them up." Maria reminded him. Kyle looked at her pointedly, and she sighed. "It's not therapy. I mean, God forbid we do that, cause I don't think any shrink would ever believe me when I say an alien human hybrid broke my..." Maria paused and then smiled slyly, "broke my best friend's heart."

"Hey!" Liz said swatting Maria.

"What?! It was just an example." She giggled and continued, "Besides, what else are we gonna talk about? Football? No, uh-uh, not gonna work buddy."

"She's right. I thought you would want to talk about it Kyle." Alex said. "I mean, I knew I wanted to talk about it when I found out. Maybe we could, uh, enlighten you somehow."

"Well, then enlighten me." Kyle said crossing his arms.

"We'll try." Liz said.

Kyle paused. He thought for a second and then nodded his head. "Ok, so how does the whole alien-human-relationship work?" Kyle asked looking at them.

"Next question." Liz said immediately.

"Pass." Alex announced.

"Argh! You had to ask that question didn't you? Jerk!" Maria accused him.

"I'm enlightened now." Kyle said nodding thoughtfully.

*****

There was a lengthy pause where Max and Isabel had hung their heads. Michael, defiantly threw out his chin, so very obviously pretending that he didn't care. What were they expecting anyway? That Alex, Liz and Maria would gush and rave about them and their human sensitivity.

Tess watched them somberly. It was beginning to show how much the humans affected them. She wondered if there ever would come a time when she'd care what humans thought or felt about her.

*****

"Ok, fine. It wasn't that bad." Maria said exasperatedly.

"No, actually, it was quite fine." Alex added.

"Except for the Destiny part. Which none of us are ready to talk about so..."

"So, lemme ask just one question." Kyle announced. "It's sorta private..."

Maria cut him off, "This better not be about our sex lives Kyle." She warned.

*****

And the corners of Michael's mouth actually lifted up in a smirk. It was the first time he had ever heard the word "sex" come out of Maria's luscious mouth. He regretted not being there to see it. Damn. Damn her and the way she could always do something that would throw him off balance. God. He had to stop thinking about her!

*****

Kyle turned towards Maria with a smile. "Really? You have one?" That earned him a punch in the arm. Maria opened her mouth. "No! Stop! On second thoughts, I don't wanna hear about it!"

"Your question?" Liz asked not wanting to remember the time when... no wait, that was it. She did not want to remember anything about Max Evans. Or his kisses or his touch or the way it made her feel as though she was flying through space and time. The flashes. Oh, God the flashes.

"Liz?" She heard Maria ask. She snapped out of it and mentally kicked herself. Nice job Parker. Really, keep that up and you'll never make it to Florida at all. "Oh, huh?" She asked absentmindedly. Maria looked at her knowingly. Liz smiled and acknowledged Maria's questioning look. Got me there, chica. She thought, marveling at their best friend telepathy. She turned towards Kyle and tried to make out what he was saying.

"I'm just curious. Have you ever wished you hadn't known about the, you, know, the Martians?" Kyle asked.

*****

The aliens tensed and held their breaths. Even if they didn't want to admit it, this question had been plaguing them too. Of course, they already had an idea as to what the answer would be. They had this curse. Everything they touched. Everyone they let in, they ultimately destroy. They could very well hear it now and learn how to deal with it. After all, after finding their destiny, there had been the silent understanding that they'd have to cut off whatever human ties they had formed. It would be easier if the humans hated them, wouldn't it? They'd have a reason to hate back.

Liz, Maria, Alex - even Kyle, they had never asked to be let in on their secret. No it was their mistake. It was Max's. It was something that they're gonna have to deal with for the rest of their lives. It was something they'll have to carry every damn day. The silent guilt of wanting to be human, to be normal and in doing so, in wanting so, they had learned love and friendship. They had learned how it was to be human. Vulnerable and weak.

*****

"That's not fair." Maria cried. "I mean, its not like we had any choice. It's not like they had any choice for that matter."

"Evans did." Kyle said.

"Yeah and if he hadn't Liz would've died." Alex reminded him.

"So, we're thankful. Is that it?" Kyle asked.

There was another pause.

Liz couldn't bring herself to speak. How could they blame Max? He had saved her! He had given her this... this gift. And even if it meant having her life in danger, having her heart broken, at least she had known that it was for something... precious. Something that made her alive, in every sense of the word.

"Well," Maria began carefully. "I am. I mean, I'm thankful and I'm not sorry I got to know about their secret. Yeah, and not just because Max saved Liz's life. It's more than that. I - I can't explain it." She paused and looked at Kyle, "You think it had been any easier on them trusting us?"

"I don't know. I was never trusted anyway. If I hadn't gotten shot, maybe I would have never found out. If my dad had found out, I don't think he'd tell me either. So, I don't know Maria. You tell me. You think it was that hard for them to trust you guys?"

"We can't answer that Kyle. You'll have to ask them." Liz said.

*****

No. It was a vehement answer that shocked Michael to the core. No, that's not right. He told himself. He hadn't trusted anyone in the first place. Never did. And yet, when he heard Kyle ask that question, the answer had been immediate and sure.

Had it been hard for them to trust Liz, Maria and Alex?

No. He trusted them almost right away, even if he had been too stubborn and blind to admit it. The many times that Liz and Maria and Alex had helped them out, no questions asked. The loyalty they gave them, one that they had never even asked for in the first place, puzzled him. Why had they put their lives on the line for them?

He glanced at Max and Isabel. And for the first time in many weeks, he could see right through them. Could know what they were thinking.

No. It hadn't been hard to trust them. the humans.

The very same answer that he had.

They had trusted Liz, Maria and Alex and maybe even Sheriff Valenti almost as easily as they trusted each other. Maybe it was their need to believe that the humans that they had lived with - well, some of them anyway - could learn to accept them. The alien hybrids that they were. And in accepting them, maybe they could live without the fear that had haunted them ever since they realized they were different.

Or maybe, he just loved Maria too much. Had loved her even before he could realize it. Maybe it was the same for Isabel and Alex. And suddenly, he understood Max. He maybe he can even understand why Max risked everything to save Liz Parker.

*****

"Think about it this way, who on this planet had ever knowingly experienced having breakfast with a bunch of aliens, huh? No one. Except for me and Liz and Maria," Alex said.

"And kissing. Making out with an alien... but, oooh, I so don't wanna talk about that one!" Maria said out of nowhere.

"It's not that bad." Alex hurriedly said noting Kyle's reaction. "Besides, I personally like the running around, spying, gun-fighting, alien-hunting adventures. It was fun."

"Not for me. I got shot remember?" Kyle reminded them.

"You just gotta know them. I mean, Max, he's Max and he's a real nice guy." Alex offered. "Isabel can be really prissy sometimes, but she doesn't let anyone treat her like crap, same goes for her friends." Liz added.

"And Michael... well he's infuriating and all, but I personally like him the best." Maria giggled and added, "Besides, all in all, I think no matter how much they try to deny it, they're still human."

"And Tess?" He asked.

*****

All eyes this time turned to Tess as the silence stretched on.

Tess pretended not to care. She shrugged. But deep inside, she could feel a stir in her chest. Was it longing? No. Nasedo said she shouldn't... she shouldn't feel.

*****

"Tess?" Liz asked. "Well, she's..."

"We don't know. I mean, I can call her bitch all day and all night, but really Kyle, none of us know. Maybe she's just a victim here, on a grand scheme of things, it wasn't her fault that she had to be the one to know about their destiny," Maria said more slowly this time.

"She helped get Max out of the white room." Liz said, "I owe her that. She saved Max's life. I couldn't."

"Isabel trusted her in the first place and trust me, if there's a good judge of character among the uh, Pod Squad, that would be her." Alex said.

"Sure, Tess did a lot of nasty things, but we have to think about the fact that she grew up with an alien too, unlike Max and Isabel and Spaceboy. So, she's you know, kinda driven towards the whole Destiny thing." Maria added.

"So, all in all these aliens don't seem so alien after all?" Kyle said raising an eyebrow.

"Ok, now, you're confusing us." Maria said. "See, that's my job Kyle."

"No, I mean, I figure since physically, they're not little green men, I thought they think and feel differently. As far as I can tell, they seem, well, normal to me."

"Oh, God, you called them normal!" Maria shrieked and giggled. "Do you know how much that would mean to them?!" She giggled again.

"They're just different. But they're as human as you, me and the next Adam or Jane can get. They just can manipulate molecules and save lives. Which frankly, makes them no better than us. They have the same insecurities." Alex said trying to silence Maria's laughter.

"Except maybe for Isabel, cause she's so perfect and all." Maria interrupted. "But they get to do a lot of stupid things too." She paused and stopped herself before she started enumerating the stupid things Michael had done. "I know they kinda suck on the human part, but who doesn't? There isn't like a book on how to be human. They're even better humans than the rest of the humans I know!" Maria scrunched up her nose. "That made sense right?"

"And you Kyle?" Liz asked ignoring Maria's confusing statement. "Any regrets?"

"I hate them."

"Nah, you don't. Admit it, you actually think it's kinda cool being healed by an alien." Alex teased.

"No, I don't." Kyle said coldly, crossing his arms

"Right. You never know. Maybe in the next year, you'd be putting your ass on the line for them too," Maria said. "Hey, maybe you might even be invited in our alien secret meetings."

"You have meetings?" Kyle asked incredulously.

"Maybe you can even save the world or two." Alex added.

"Wait, you save the world?" Kyle asked again turning to Liz with wide eyes. Liz nodded seriously.

"Of course! What, you think all we do is make-out with them? Pig!" Maria retorted. "Might even teach you the secret alien handshake." She added with another batch of giggles.

"Not me. I'm planning on an alien-free life baby." Kyle muttered.

"But you haven't answered your question." Liz pointed out.

"What, do I ever regret knowing about them?" Maria nodded. Kyle paused and thought about it. He was feeling pretty charitable today. And it had been a long time since he had talked honestly with Liz and Maria and Alex. It felt nice. What the hell! He cleared his throat. "First off, I regret getting shot. It wasn't fun." He thought again, "I regret harassing them. It was low and juvenile." He dug deeper. "I regret not being able to thank Guerin for saving my dad's life. Hell, maybe I even regret not thanking Evans for saving my life."

"But not knowing about them?" Maria asked her eyes kind.

Kyle paused, more out of confusion than anything else. "Would you just stop." He said instead throwing up his arms.

"I want to hear it!" Maria insisted.

Kyle rolled his eyes. Fine! Not like the alien bunch would find out anyway. "No, I don't. I just wish I was let in on the secret before. What, I couldn't be trusted, was that it? You think I'd babble to my dad?"

"You hated Max." Alex pointed out.

"But if I had known that he healed Liz, I wouldn't. I'd kiss the guy's feet if I'd known!"

Liz smiled at this and reached out to touch Kyle's arm. And everything between them - all the bad stuff faded away. He smiled back. "You're a great friend Kyle."

"You would?" Maria asked ignoring the Liz-Kyle moment happening right before her nose.

"It was just an expression ok!" Kyle snapped.

And again the silence.

Four humans, four aliens all underneath one glorious star-studded sky. The silence felt precious and even though they were not conscious of sharing this night, this sky, this experience with each other, they could very well have been sitting together. And all of them briefly wondered why it couldn't have been so. Was the difference too great for them to understand the same pain, the same need to belong, to be loved? It wasn't a question they normally ask themselves, but perhaps at this particular time, at this span of silence this thought had crossed their minds. And the answer scared them a little. But more than anything, it gave them strength.

Maybe being human after all wasn't just about being vulnerable and weak.

The four humans had already proven that, hadn't they?

Max, Michael, Isabel and even Tess had been completely floored by this revelation. For the first time, they actually felt not bad being who they were.

Without them knowing it, without them realizing it, they had made a permanent connection with the human beings of Roswell, New Mexico.

End note:

Ok, that's the first vignette. I have a whole series of it actually. I don't know how many, but I hope you guys all enjoyed reading it and I would really appreciate your feedbacks. C&Cs are most welcome. Please feel free to tell me what you guys think and I'll be more than happy to reply. I posted it before but wasn't able to update regularly and now I'm trying to make sure that I update at least once a month. I'll be posting the second vignette soon. Thanks. And reviews please!