Protector

Chapter 6: Hide and Seek

A/N: Okay, no sci-fi stuff in the next few chapters. I really want to let Max and Tess spend some time together before the danger begins. Tell me if all the fluff gets too boring.

Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell.

Rating: M

The Evan's Home

"She's waking up!" said Kyle watching anxiously as Mrs. Evans begin to stir. Isabel, Michael, Max and Liz rushed to her side while Maria and Alex exchanged nervous grins. Tess sat quietly on the couch clutching her sleeping son.

"What happened?" Diane asked groggily, rubbing the back of her head.

"You fainted," said Michael as though it should be obvious to Mrs. Evans what had happened to her.

"No, really Michael?" asked Isabel, sarcasm dripping from her voice. Michael winked at her.

Slowly Diane sat up just as Max approached her. "Mom," he began gently. "Do you remember what we talked about?"

Diane grimaced. "We were in the kitchen and you wanted to talk," she said slowly, trying to remember what happened next. She opened her mouth to speak when she finally remembered what Max had told her. She looked astonished and surprisingly….happy. "I'm a grandmother."

Max beamed. "Yea, you are."

"Well," said Diane excitedly, "where is he? And more importantly, where is she?" Her last remark came out stern and the smile Max as wearing slowly faded away. He was nervously anticipating Diane's response to Tess.

Quickly Kyle, Liz, Michael and Isabel backed away from Diane so that she could get a clear view of Tess and her son. Immediately, Max ran to her side. With wobbly legs Diane got up from the couch and gradually began to approach a nervous looking Tess. Max gave his wife a reassuring squeeze.

Stopping directly in front of her, Tess and Max watched apprehensively as Diane's stoic faced turned into a pleasant grin. "Welcome to our family," she said tearfully, leaning in to give Tess a hug. Surprised at her response, Tess looked to Max before the felt herself being enveloped in Diane Evans' arms.

Liz scowled. Its not that she wanted Max to be in trouble but, honestly, he's eighteen and he has a baby. And here was Diane Evans practically marrying the two of them in their living room.

"Can I hold him?" asked Diane.

"Sure," Tess said timidly, handing her son to Max's mom.

"Oh my god," said Diane. "He's so beautiful. Tess, Max, he's amazing."

"I know," her son responded immensely happy with his mother's response to their child.

"What's his name?"

"Alexander James Evans," Tess said proudly as Diane began walking away with the baby.

"I thought his name was Zan?" Max whispered, confused.

"Well, that's what I call him," she mumbled back before speaking to everyone. "I named him after Alex for obvious reasons." Alex blushed. "And his middle name is James, after your dad." Kyle smiled proudly. "This way he has a normal human name, but he can still be referred to as Zan." Tess whispered the last part and shrugged her shoulders before sitting down next to Alex. Max smiled at Tess realizing that she never ceased to amaze him.

Slowly he walked towards her and sat on the armchair of the couch before bending over and whispering into her ear. "That's a nice name and all," he said, "but do you think I can have a say in naming our next kid?"

Tess blushed furiously. Max was staring at Tess with a weird look on his face, she was looking down at the carpet, Liz was looking more pissed than ever and the rest of them pretended that they didn't hear what Max had just said. Isabel and Michael however grinned proudly.

"Just as it should be," thought Michael.

"I agree," thought Isabel responding to his musings.

"Well," said Kyle trying to break the tension, "at least your mom took it well. What do you think your dad's going to say?"

"Absolutely nothing," responded Diane, re-entering the room. "Because we're not going to tell him. At least not yet."

Everyone's mouths dropped open. "Trust me Max, with the stress your dad is under at work, I don't think this a good time to tell him that you and Tess have a son, no matter how cute he is."

"Well, when do we tell dad?" asked Max.

"When you've moved to campus," Diane muttered.

"We can't keep it a secret that long," said Isabel.

"Honey, there are nine of us and one of your dad, how hard could it be?"

Evan's Home- 8:13 am

About half an hour after Max had dumped the big news on his mom, the ten of them, including Max's father were sitting in the living room eating breakfast. Tess had hesitantly placed Zan in Max's room after minutes of Max telling her that he would put a shield over their son and that he would be safe. Now they just had to pray that Zan didn't wake up and start crying before Phillip Evans went to work.

"So, Tess," began Phillip, "now that you're back in Roswell, where will you live?"

Tess quickly swallowed a mouthful of eggs before replying. "Well, before my dad died he had a will and everything," she said, trying to sound sad about Nasedo's death. "So everything's in my name, the house and the life insurance he had. Someone's been taking care of the upkeep of the house, now I just have to go to a notary and claim it."

"You're only eighteen and you're a friend of Max and Izzy, you have a home here," said Phillip smiling broadly before biting into his bacon.

"And with me and my dad," said Kyle shaking a sausage link at her before devouring it.

"Thanks, all of you, but I think I'll be okay," Tess said confidently.

"Are you sure it won't bother you living alone?" asked Phillip.

"I don't think so. Ed was always out of town for work so I'm kinda used to it."

Diane grimaced at her words when she realized that she had rarely seen Ed Harding around town and that, more importantly, he had never actually seen him with Tess. For the future, Diane made it her business to make sure Tess felt like she was a real part of the Evans bunch.

"Well, Tess," said Phillip, looking at his watch, "It was nice seeing you again."

"Thank you, Mr. Evans," she said. "You too."

"Don't be a stranger," he said, picking up his coat before kissing Isabel and Diane on the cheek. "See you kids later."

Holding their breath they watched Phillip walk out of the door. "See, piece of cake," said Diane.

"We're just lucky he didn't cry," said Isabel.

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Lonnie," Michael muttered. Isabel, Max and Tess looked at him with bulging eyes.

"Whose Lonnie?" asked Diane.

Michael almost sputtered. "Just my little nickname for Isabel."

Diane looked at him oddly before she began collecting the paper plates. "Let me help you Mrs. Evans," said Tess.

Diane waved the request away. "You're our guest. Besides it's all paper. I can handle it. You guys have been up all night. Get some rest."

Isabel got up from the table and pushed her chair in. "Who wants to crash here, we have plenty of blankets?"

Liz quickly got up from her seat. "I think I'm going to go. I have a shift at the Crashdown today."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" asked Maria. Liz frowned. "What? I want to stay here with the baby."

"Okay," said Liz. "Max, will you walk me to my car?"

Max hesitated. "Sure. I'll be back," he said to Tess.

The group watched as Liz filed out of the door, Max following behind her. "He's a beautiful baby," she said honestly as they walked to her car.

"Thanks," he said.

"Look I know the next few days will be crazy for you, but do you think you could come see me tonight after the Crashdown closes?"

"I don't know," he said truthfully. All Max really wanted to do was spend time with Zan and Tess. "I'll try, if things aren't too chaotic."

"Thanks Max," she said, standing onto her tip toes to kiss him. He quickly turned his face so that she kissed his cheek. Feeling completely blown off and stupid, Liz stepped into her car and drove off. Max quickly re-entered his home without a second glance to the fleeing brunette.

"So, Tess, if you ever need a baby sitter, I'm totally up for it," said Maria, watching as Alex stood up. "Where are you going?"

"I haven't seen my parents in over a year, I'm going home," he said walking to Maria, Tess and Isabel and giving them all individuals kisses on their cheeks. "I'll call you all later." Quickly Alex rushed out of the door, anxious to see his family after such a long time.

"I guess that leaves Michael, Kyle and Maria sleeping on the floor."

"Actually, I'm sure my dad will want to know about Tess and the baby, I'm going to go," said Kyle. "Are you sure you don't want a ride, Maria?"

"Oh I suppose," she said half-heartedly. "Tess, Max please, please, please, call me to baby-sit."

"Will do," said Max, walking towards Tess.

The four aliens watched the rest of their human friends leave the house. They were all exhausted and the one thing Max wanted to do more than anything was sleep.

"Michael, you staying?" asked Isabel.

"Yea, pass me a sleeping bag will you?" asked Michael.

"Sure," Isabel said, ushering him up the stairs. "You can sleep in my room."

Max smiled as Isabel and Michael ascended the stairs leaving him alone with Tess in the living room. She yawned.

"Let's get you to bed," said Max.

"I need to go to the mall first," she said. "I don't have any clothes."

"Well, you can borrow some of Isabel's," he said, grabbing her by the hand and leading her toward his bedroom.

"I don't think they'll fit," said Tess blushing as she looked down at her chest. Max smiled heatedly. It was the first time he had noticed the…expanse in her figure. He had imagined that she would have gained weight but she was skinnier than before and a lot bustier.

"We'll figure out something," he said. "And I'll send my mom for diapers and stuff, she won't mind."

"Max, the baby is my responsibility—"

"No, he's our responsibility," said Max, correcting her as he pushed open the door of his bedroom to find a very awake Zan staring brightly at them.

"Mama," cried the baby's soft voice, causing Max's eyes to widen.

"He talks?"

"Oh yea," she said, touching the shield and making it disappear before she grabbed Zan and picked him up causing the child to giggle. He quickly laid his head on his mother's chest before looking to Max, who smiled at his son.

"You want to shower first?" asked Max.

"Yea," said Tess tiredly, handing him the baby and walking to the nearest bathroom.

For minutes Max just held Zan, not truly believing that his son was back. Zan continued staring at his father, his blue eyes constantly reminding him of Tess. Eventually he heard the shower water turn off just as Zan began to drift off into sleep again. Tenderly he placed the baby on the bed just as his alien wife entered the room. Max was quickly taken aback by her appearance.

She was wet.

And in a towel.

Max swallowed hard. "Can I borrow a shirt or something?" she asked, embarrassed. Sure, Max had seen her naked, but that was a long time ago and she was a little self conscious about her body at the moment.

Max noticed her discomfort. "Yea," he said walking toward her, his hands caressing her face. "You're beautiful."

She blushed even harder. Max, liking whatever affect he was having on her quickly rushed to his drawer and pulled out a "George W. is An Alien" shirt before gently placing in her hands. He turned around and began searching through his own things for something to wear.

After grabbing a pair of checkered pajama bottoms he turned around, astonished at what he found. Tess' towel, which had previously been wrapped around her upper body, was now hanging off of her extremely small waist. Her hair was pulled over her shoulder and Max was very privy to the milky white skin of her back. He watched mesmerized as she lifted her arms to put on the shirt he gave her, the outline of her breasts visible even with her back to him. She pulled the shirt down and it ventured past her slim hips before she eventually let the towel drop to the floor. Max quickly got a peak of her upper thighs and had to keep himself from either groaning really loud or launching himself at her. Slowly, she turned around to face him.

He smiled at her before rushing to the shower and bathing himself in the icy cold water. Tess walked to the bed and picked up her son. "Hi honey."

Zan reached for her face. "Yea, I missed you too," she said to him. "Your dad's in the shower, he'll be out in a little bit."

She reached for the collar of Max's shirt and pulled it down past her chest so that she could feed Zan. Quietly she hummed to him watching, his eyes never leaving hers. Thankful for the cold shower, Max sauntered back into his room. He was shocked and utterly amazed at what he was seeing.

He wasn't sure if it was the morning sunlight descending onto her body or the fact that she was nursing their son and singing to him, but Max was momentarily overwhelmed by how beautiful she looked. He couldn't help but stare. He smiled when she eventually noticed him staring at her and blushed harder than she had ever in her life. Max leaned against the doorway as Tess finished feeding their son.

"Sorry," she said, tapping Zan's back until he let out a loud burp.

"Don't be," said Max, sitting on the bed next to her as she covered herself and laid Zan down on the bed next to her.

"Does it hurt?"

"It used to," she said honestly. "But you get used to it, I guess."

"Oh," said Max. "I'm so sorry that you had to do this alone."

"Do what?"

"Take care of Zan, fight for him, fight for us," said Max. "I was so quick to judge you, Tess. I don't how I'm going to make this up to you."

"You already have Max, when you gave me him," she said stroking her son's head. "He's the best gift anyone has ever given to me and everything I did, everything that happened; I'd do it again for him."

He watched as his wife crawled into his full size bed, resting Zan's head on her chest. The baby reached out and clutched Tess' shirt and Max couldn't help but think how amazingly beautiful his family was. Following her, he crawled into bed and got under the covers. Beneath the sheets his hands gently caressed her thigh and Tess closed her eyes at the sensation it gave. She tried to convince herself that Max belonged to Liz and it was the situation that was making him act so lovingly toward her.

Max couldn't get over how soft her skin was. He had to forcefully block the images of their love-making in the conservatory. "There will be plenty of time for that," he thought before scolding himself. She had just got back from another planet after almost dying and he was thinking about making love to her.

"Night, Max," she said, her eyes closing. Before drifting into a fitful slumber, Tess felt a pair of warm lips brush against her temple and had fleeting thoughts about how amazingly perfect her family was.