Title: A Different Kind of Reality

Disclaimer: ALL MY IDEA!!! ALL OF IT! But.... the people don't exactly belong to me. Hey, can't have it all.

Rating: PG-13 heavy scenes

Summary: An alternate fic. What if things had gone differently for the Roswell gang? How would things have turned out? Possibly a tear jerker. PLEASE R&R! Oh, and the sequel to For Then... coming soon. (y'all know what I'm talking about.)



Chapter 1:

"That movie was weird."

"I know. I actually found it kinda scary." Liz held Max's hand as they walked out of the movie theater. Maria walked alongside Michael, who had his arm around her, and Isabel walked side by side with Kyle who was making her laugh every five minutes with his stupid observations.

"I'm telling you, that guy who left or vanished for like ten years... that guy had it planned! I mean think about it! How perfect would it be if you could just disappear when you needed to and then show up ten years later expecting everyone to bend backwards for you because they've missed you all these years!"

"Or have these people kill you for worrying them to death!" Maria rolled her eyes at Kyle's stupid comment and didn't want him giving Michael any ideas.

"I think he was smart. He left when things got rough and decided when he and everyone else was out of danger, then he could come back." Michael looked out in the distance as he said it, avoiding Maria's cold glare.

"If that's the case then he was a wuss, and a loser because he couldn't face his family and friends when he needed them the most." Maria stopped in her tracks and came out from Michael's arms.

"All I'm saying Maria is that if he had to go, he had to go. If he felt that it was the best thing to do, then it probably was, for everyone involved." The group stopped what they were doing and looked back at Michael and Maria who had remained slightly behind, arguing... again.

"And all I'm saying Michael, is that if he were to leave and come back and expect everything to be just as it was before than he has another thing coming, because life is not like that. Things change, people change, and when he comes back, he may just find that everything and everyone he cares about, is no longer who he thought they were. And he is no longer their priority!" Isabel rolled her eyes, feeling another all out Michael vs. Maria war coming on. Kyle laughed, always amused at how much the two could actually argue, and still manage to remain together. Fighting for them was more like a turn on than anything else. Max shook his head and held Liz closer, appreciating every moment they all had together. Things were going to be great. Tess was gone, and they could finally be together. The only problem was finding his son. And they could do that together. It was just sad that Alex was gone because of all of it. The thought saddened Max, but he shook off the feeling. This was not the time or place.

"Maria... I'm just stating a fact from the movie..."

"No Michael! You're just stating this very vague possibility that you might disappear! God! You think I don't think about these things all the time...." Michael pulled Maria in close and held her head on his chest.

"I'm not going anywhere Maria. I can't, remember? The Granolith is gone... and my home is here now. With you. Just, take it easy. Come on, let's grab some Saturn rings at the Crashdown." They all nodded in agreement and walked the 15-minute walk to the Crashdown. Once there, everyone sat down, exhausted from such a busy day. They had taken advantage of the beautiful Saturday and decided to spend the day together. The six of them did everything together; they went shopping in the morning for the girls, went to lunch, and then caught the afternoon movie. Now it was about fifteen minutes to eight and everyone was itching for some solo time. They decided to have dinner together, and then they could part ways. They laughed and talked and for several minutes of the day, Max, Michael, and Isabel felt like normal teenagers. It was a great feeling, knowing now that they would have to stay on the planet, and figure out how to live there like "normal" teenagers. Or as normal as they could get.

"Ok, it's 8:30p.m. I have to start heading home. Dad's expecting me to do some stuff with him tonight. You know, real father/son bonding stuff." Kyle made a sarcastic face then rolled his eyes and laughed. "Sounds like fun huh?" He said goodnight to everyone and made his way out. Isabel looked around at the empty Crashdown and nodded in agreement.

"Yea, I need to get out of here too. I've got things to finish up at home."

"Like what?" Max looked at his sister with honest curiosity. She had been having a lot to do at home all of a sudden.

"Things. Night everyone." Isabel grabbed her purse and left quickly, before any more questions could be asked. Maria got up and hugged Liz.

"I gotta go. Mom's probably worried that I haven't called. I'll call tomorrow morning ok?"

"Yup." Michael got up after Maria and threw down some cash.

"G'night." He ran after Maria who was still slightly angry with him from his earlier comments. Finally, Max and Liz were alone.

"Now what?" Liz smiled shyly at Max, who smiled back at her innocent comment.

"Come on." He grabbed her hand and they walked out to the back of the Crashdown. He helped her climb up her fire escape and climbed up after her. Once on her balcony, she turned around to face Max who without giving her a chance to collect herself kissed her passionately. She drew back a bit, surprised at the kiss and the intensity of it, and then gave in to his strong hands holding her face. Max pulled away for a second, placing his forehead on hers, tenderly lowering his hands to her back.

"I love you Liz Parker." His voice trembled as he said it, his eyes looking into hers so intensely, she was afraid she was looking into his heart.

"I love you too Max." She smiled sweetly as she looked up at him and she softly kissed his lips.

"This is how it should always be. I'm sorry... I never got to apologize for all I put you through. For Alex... for Tess...." Liz held up her hand to his mouth and hushed him.

"Let's not bring up the past."

"Yea. We have to worry about our future." Max smiled and kissed Liz again. But she pulled away, looking slightly troubled.

"What? What's wrong?" Max searched for some problem and saw something in her eyes. Doubt.

"If you hadn't found out about Tess... would you really have left me?" The question had been bothering her since the day Tess was sent away on the Granolith. She knew that it would haunt her unless she asked him. He looked at her and held her close.

"I felt like I had no choice. I had made a stupid mistake, and therefore had to be man enough to go through with my responsibilities. But the thought of leaving you... it was just... too much."

"But you would've left... right?"

"Yes. But not because I loved her. But because I felt I had to. I could never love her the way I love you. What we have... I could never explain. No matter where I go, I always feel you so close to me. Because, you're part of me. I want to breathe your air, and touch your face." Max touched her face and kissed her forehead. "It's getting late. I don't want your parents to hang me. Goodnight Liz."

"Goodnight Max." He walked away and went to climb the stairs, when Liz called his name. She ran to him and kissed him one last time. When they pulled away, he looked into her eyes and kissed her lips softly.

"I love you Liz." It was all he could say to express what he felt. But for some reason, he never felt like he was telling her the whole truth. Love wasn't the word he could use to express what he felt for her. It was too strong, too intense an emotion, that the English language had no words for. As he reached the bottom he called up to her one last time.

"Liz!" She looked over her balcony, and he smiled at the sight of her.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" He looked up expectantly, hoping the answer would be yes.

"Of course. Come to the Crashdown at noon. We'll go out for lunch."

"Ok." He kept his gaze on her deep brown eyes and nodded.

"Goodnight." She went into her room and Max walked away. Tomorrow seemed like too long a time to wait to see her again. As she closed her window to her room, she pulled out the covers, and changed into her nightclothes. Her stomach was still in knots and the butterflies had seemed to take permanent residency in her stomach. That's how she always felt around Max. It was almost like when they'd first opened themselves up to each other. After he'd saved her life. It felt new, exciting, and almost dangerous. But she loved every second of it. And to think she had it for an eternity was probably what made her the happiest of all. With these thoughts, she closed her eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.