A/N: Thank you all for all your reviews. Thanks for reading.

More Questions Than Answers

"Get in!" Kal yelled from the driver's seat of the car that had obviously hit Jared. "Let's go!"

Tess looked up form the ground at the car and then over to Jared's body before her eyes landed on Zander, who was now standing where she'd been before she fell. She realized Zander must have pushed her out of the way just as Kal hit Jared with his car.

"Tess!" the shapeshifter yelled again. "Come on!"

She looked up at Zander once again and watched him nod before rushing over to the vehicle and hopping in the back seat. Cina followed her as Zander ran around the front and jumped into the passenger seat. As soon as he closed the door, Kal speed out of the parking lot and raced down the street.

"You saved me, again." Tess looked around the seat in front of her. "Thank you," she turned to the driver. "And thank you too."

"No problem," Kal said stonily, his eyes still glued to the road in front of him.

"Oh my gosh Tess," Cina pointed at the blonde's elbow. "You're bleeding.

"What?" Zander turned around in his seat, concerned. "Let me see."

"It's nothing," she shrugged. "I probably hit it when you pushed me out of the way; I'm fine."

"Well it looks pretty nasty," Cina turned towards her.

"And it's not nothing if you're bleeding," his usually hardened eyes were soft. "Let me see."

She rolled her eyes. "Zander."

"Tess," he pressed.

She nodded before finally offering her arm to him. "It just a few scratches," she argued as he held her hand and inspected the wound.

"It's deep," his eyes glanced up at hers before returning his gaze to her injury. Zander softly placed his hand over the abrasion, his hand glowing for a few seconds as he removed all traces of the fall. He looked up at her and their eyes locked for what seemed like forever to both of them.

"Thank you," she said softly, still staring into his eyes, seeing a tenderness she hadn't seen before.

"So where do we go from here?" Cina's voice brought them out of their private moment.

Zander retuned to his seat as Tess settled back into hers.

"I'm just driving," Kal stated.

"Why did you come?" Tess asked. "I'm not complaining but I'd like to know."

"You probably don't remember this but at first the council of Antar was wary about you marrying Prince Zan and becoming our queen but you made this incredible speech that won us all over," he slowed, realizing no one was following them. "Today when you spoke, you reminded me of her; a queen I was loyal to. I felt like I needed to help." He paused briefly. "But I will not shapeshift."

"I think we can live with that," she gave a slight smile before her face turned serious again. "I still don't know how they found us."

"Was it you Cina?' Zander accused.

"No," she shook her head fiercely. "Barbas believes in you Zan, he always has and I would never do anything to betray him." She turned to Tess. "I was loyal to you on Antar and I am loyal to you now, I swear Your Majesty."

Tess was a bit taken back at the formal title. "I believe you," she nodded. "And you don't have to call me that."

"Maybe they were watching me," Kal offered. "Someone could have followed you from my house and waited to attack till the others arrived."

"It's possible but how would they know I'd come to you?" Tess asked.

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "But Max wasn't very quiet about his search for your son."

"And if they knew Max went to you, they figured Tess might too," Zander supplied. "So that means we can't go back to your house."

"Well at least not that one," Kal replied. "But I think I know of one we could."


Tess stood on the deck watching the waves crash against the beach front, silently wishing, hoping, and praying to anything that may exist to help her find her son.

Kal had brought them to one of his get away homes: somewhere he went when he wanted to escape the demands of his Hollywood life. The fact that one of her protectors lived his life as a movie producer would be a thought she'd normally find amusing but this was anything but a normal time.

"Hey," Zander walked up behind her. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm still standing," she replied heavily and then shook her head. "I feel like an awful mother."

"You're an amazing mother Tess," he said confidently.

"Yeah," she sighed. "This isn't the first time he hasn't been with me."

"That wasn't your fault," Zander put his hand on her shoulder confidently.

"How do you know?" she challenged.

"Because I saw you," he answered. "When I healed you, I saw you and," he paused for a moment. "And I could feel how much you love him and it was amazing."

"You're so guarded most of the time but then you look at me and…" Her sapphire saucers stared up into his soulful ones.

"Am I interrupting?" Cina stepped on to the deck, lingering just outside the door. "I could come back."

"No, we're done." Zander nodded at Tess. "I need to check in with Kal anyways; start planning our next move." He looked at Cina for a moment before stepping past her and walking into the house.

"Sorry," the brunette alien gave an awkward look.

"Its fine," Tess replied. "What's going on?"

"Kal and I got to talking and I was thinking if they were watching him then it must be happening here," Cina explained. "Or at least somewhere near by."

"So why hasn't it happened yet?" she asked thoughtfully, rhetorically. "If Kivar can come here anytime he wants, why hasn't he yet?"

"Exactly," Cina nodded. "So either Rath wants something else besides passage home…"

"Or Kivar wants something else," Tess supplied.

"Precisely," she agreed. "My only questions are what could it be and how do we find it first?"

"I don't know," Tess said as she turned to watch around, watching the waves crash again. She had a feeling though that she knew exactly what else Kivar was looking for.


"Zander," Kal got up as the hybrid walked in. "I've been expecting you."

He looked at the shapeshifter curiously. "Really?" He studied him for a moment. "You sent Cina to talk to Tess?"

"Yes I did," he answered coolly.

"Why?" Zander moved towards him. "Are you setting us up?"

"No," his answer was honest. "Cina and I have been talking about Kivar and why with the technology at his disposal, he hasn't come to get little Zan yet? I think that display at the hotel proves he hasn't come yet."

"Go on," the duplicate king instructed.

"My guess," Kal clarified. "Our guess is that he's after something else; soothing he hasn't quite found yet."

Zander raised his eyebrows. "And what do you think it is he's after?"

"I'm not sure yet but maybe someone else knows." His hint was far from discreet.

"You think Tess knows," he was a bit taken back. "If I hadn't healed her, she would have died." He instantly had the need to defend her.

"Perhaps," Kal admitted. "But that was more Rath than Kivar." His face grew thoughtful. "I have no doubt that Rath is making a deal with Kivar by using Zan but I doubt he's actually working for him which means that part of the attack could have been all Rath."

"That's definitely possible," Zander nodded.

"When Kivar comes to Earth he'll be risking quite a lot and he must know that The Royal Four is not united so they'd be little threat to his reign." Kal continued, "For him to come here…"

"It would have to be for more than just a little boy," Zander interrupted, "regardless of his parentage."

"Exactly," the shapeshifter nodded. "So what do we do now?"

"We find out what else it is he wants and get it first," Zander said.

"Hmm," Kale exhaled slowly. "That's why I sent Cina to Tess; I think she knows exactly what he's after."

"And you think she's hiding it?" he asked defensively.

"Yes I do," Kal answered calmly.

"She'd never risk her son to hold onto something Kivar wants," Zander said angrily. "I don't care what it is."

"I'm not saying she is," Kal explained. "Maybe she's scared or doesn't know who to trust but whatever she has that he wants may be what we need to beat him."

"You want to make a deal," he surmised. "With the devil?"

"I want Kivar off my planet, off this planet." Kal replied firmly. "I want to get Zan back to his mother and I will do what it takes to make that happen. The question is Zander, will you?"


Tess stood alone on the beach, stray tears running down her face as she thought of the mess she was in and what Nacedo would think at this very moment. She hadn't ever been one for crying but at this particular moment in time she couldn't seem to stop herself. They had no clue of where to find Zan and she feared they were running out of time.

"It's nice out here," Zander voice came from behind her.

"Yeah," she crossed her arms over her chest as she felt the chill of the wind. "Zan would've loved to splash around in the water or make a sand castle."

"We'll find him," he said reassuringly. "And then we'll bring him here."

She tightened the embrace as she gave a slight shiver. "Any news yet?"

"You cold?" Zander took off the jacket he'd been wearing and placed it over her shoulders. "Better?" He rubbed her arms up and down, warming her with his hands.

"Thank you," she nodded. "So…" she pressed for the answer to her previous question.

"Nothing yet," he answered. "Well, nothing we're sure of."

Tess looked at him for a moment. "What exactly does that mean? Is there a clue on where Zan might be?"

"No," he replied, pausing to run a hand through his hair. "I assume Cina told you what she and Kal think." He waited for her to respond but continued after he was met with silence. "I think they could be right."

"You think Kivar is after something else besides my son," Tess studied him. "And you think I'm hiding it from you?" Her voice rose slightly. "Is that what you and Kal were talking about? He sent Cina out there to what, break me down?"

"Tess," he reached over to her but she backed away.

"Is it what you were talking about?" she demanded, already knowing the answer. "I can't believe this! I guess I should have known you'd turn on me just like…." Her eyes shot at him like daggers as she left the sentence hanging in the air. "I thought you were on my side."

"I am," Zander said firmly, his voice elevated as well. "But you have to trust me. I have to know what I'm facing or we could end up dead while Kivar raises your son; is that what you want?"

"Of course not," she scoffed, resentment evident in her eyes.

"I am not Max," he grabbed her by the shoulders, his voice was calm but his eyes were intense.

"What are you talking about?" she shifted in his grasp. "Let go of me."

"Calm down and I will," he countered. As soon as he felt her relax in his hands, he let go of her shoulders and looked down at her. "I want you to listen to what I'm saying to you."

Tess exhaled in a huff. "Fine."

"All these other people who have let you down, who have turned on you," Zander looked her directly in the eyes. "I am not them; I am not Max."

She felt like he was looking inside of her and it made her feel uneasily vulnerable. "I know you're not," she nodded. "I grew up never trusting anyone; Nacedo taught me that and it has kept me alive." She took a calming breath. "And every time I've ignored that teaching and trusted someone, I've gotten burned."

"I know the feeling," he replied. "My protector dipped when I was ten, my best friend tried to kill me, and my sister set me up. Put that with what happened on Antar…"

"And you're not so trusting either," she looked up into his eyes, "except with me."

"I do trust you Tess," Zander took her hand in his. "I need you to trust me."

"I do," she smiled. "You and my love for my son, that's what's getting me through this."

"Then let me help you," he pressed. "If you don't want me to tell Kal or Cina I won't but I need to know so I can protect you." Zander reached up to wipe the stray tear that rolled down her cheek.

"I think you're the most amazing man I've ever met in this life," she gave a slight smile as she gazed up at him in admiration and gratitude.

Zander bent down towards her slowly as she placed her palms against his chest and stood up on her tiptoes until their lips met. Tess allowed herself to give into the roughness and passion of Zander's kiss as she lost herself in the moment and the sudden flashes of his life. He hungrily ravished her mouth as Tess returned his kiss with fervor but then suddenly pulled back.

"We can't," Tess spoke, her words breathy.

Zander stepped back. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she was still a little out of breath. "It's just there's so much going on right now. I can't let myself go there with you…"

"I understand," Zander interrupted. "Your focus, our focus needs to be on your son and fighting Kivar."

"Yes it does," she agreed. "You and I," she paused briefly. "We just can't go there, yet."

"Yet," he repeated as he gave her an inquiring look.

Tess nodded. "Until then, will you settle for knowing what else it is Kivar wants from me?"

"Zander, Tess!" Cina called from a few feet away. "Barbas is in LA; he wants to meet us here."

Zander and Tess exchanged a glance before rushing to meet Cina and then returning to the house. Tess only hoped his arrival would bring more answers than questions.