5 YEARS LATER

"MAX!"

Max shot up in his bed, covered in a cold sweat. Every night he dreamed about his last time seeing Liz, five years ago in the pod chamber. He had never been able to sleep through an entire night since he had left earth. He dreamed of her every night, and like tonight, it awoke him. Next to him, Tess lay asleep. Their five year old son, Zan, was asleep down the hall in his room. He, Tess, Zan, Isabel, and their mother lived in the royal palace on Antar. In two days, Max was to be bethrothed to Tess, and take his place as King. Not because he wanted to, but because it was required. The only reason he had stayed here so long was because it had taken this long to restore peace to this planet. He had rid Antar of Kavar, and any who worked for him, then worked on restoring the land to what it should have always been.

Max rose from the bed and walked to the window, gazing out at the night sky. She was out there, somewhere. Max put on his clothes and left the room, making his way through the palace. A short while later, he arrived at the granolith. He circled it slowly, staring at it. Then he took the key from its place, and activated the granolith. He quietly exited the room, and made his way towards Isabel's room.


Liz looked out her window, up at the night sky. She hoped that Max was out there….somewhere. Because he had never returned after all of these years, she was fearful that he was dead, yet she couldn't bring herself to believe it. She wondered where he was, and what he was doing at this very moment, if her fears were false. She wondered if he was happy, and if being there had made him forget her, and if he was living happily with Tess. It was on this night every year that she couldn't sleep, and she wondered if it was the same for him. Liz walked to her dresser and opened the top drawer. From under a pile of clothes she pulled out a picture frame. In the frame was a picture of her and Max. She ran a finger over the smooth glass while she gazed at the picture. Then she gingerly tucked it back beneath the clothes and closed the drawer. She walked back to the window and let out a deep sigh.

"Isabel, wake up." Isabel opened her eyes slowly. "What is it Max?" she asked, slightly annoyed. "I'm going back." He whispered. "What?" Isabel asked, sitting up in her bed. "I'm going back." He repeated. "For Liz." The two sat for a moment without speaking. "Our mother is here Max." "Michael isn't here. He's more family than anyone else has ever been. Mom and Dad aren't here. Those are our real parents, the ones that raised us. Isabel, I can't stay here anymore. This is not where I belong." "What are you going to do?" "Whatever I have to." He replied. "Well, I'm not going to just stay here." Isabel responded, getting herself out of bed. "I can't ask you to come with me. I know that you've grown close…to Mom." "Haven't we already had this conversation Max? I'm not going to be anywhere if you're not with me. You are my brother, and my best friend." "Okay, well, be ready tomorrow night. And don't let anyone find out." Max turned on his heel to leave. "Max, wait." Isabel called. "What about Zan?" Max turned his head to look at his sister. "That is the price I will have to pay." "You're just going to leave him?" Isabel asked incredulously. "What choice do I have Is?" "We can bring him with us!" "Think about what you are saying. Tess would come chasing after us for sure. It's better this way Isabel. Would you really want him to go through what we went through with the Special Unit?" To this, Isabel said nothing. "I don't expect you to understand." Max said with a hard edge to his voice. "But I can't stay here anymore. I can't stay here and play king and marry Tess. That was never what I wanted. What I want is to go back to Roswell, and spend my life with Liz , you, Michael, and our parents." "Newsflash Max! It has been five years, do you really think Liz is still waiting around for you? I wouldn't, not after that long." "I told her I would come back for her. She knows that." Without waiting for a response, Max turned on his heel and left the room. "If you want to go, be ready in twenty-four hours."

AN: I know this is a short chapter, but it sets up the next few to follow. Feedback is greatly appreciated!