A/N: I don't own anything. Thank you to reviewers, past and future.
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April 26 2012, Roswell New Mexico (Day after the second crash)
Michael pulled the car to the side of the road and gazed up at the "Welcome to Roswell" sign, contemplating his next move. After seeing the news report he hadn't really stopped to think and now he was sitting outside the town he'd been running from with no plan.
He held his hand to the ignition and felt the car start up again. He decided to park his car out by the old pod chambers. Hopefully that's where Isabel or Max would head first. Before he could pull the car out onto the road flashing sirens directed him to stay put.
"Damn it" he mumbled reaching for some old receipts. Keeping an eye on the police car behind him he turned an old receipt into a driver's license and wound down the window.
The policeman slammed his car door and headed towards the dusty old Ute. Michael silently prayed for a smooth transaction and bent his head down to fiddle with the new license he'd created.
"I clocked you up the road there going…Michael?"
"Valenti?"
"What the hell are you doing here? You know it's not safe! Where's everyone else? Where's Kyle? Is he alright?"
"Whoa calm down." Michael threw the fake license to the passenger seat and opened his door. After jumping out he stretched his legs a little and looked over at the worried officer. "Hey, nah everything's fine."
"What are you doing here Michael?"
"You the only person who hasn't heard of the crash?"
"Well yeah I've heard of it."
"That's why I'm here; hopefully Max and Isabel are running this way too." Michael leaned into his car through the window and grabbed a cigarette and his lighter.
"You're not with Max and Isabel?"
"Nah not for ages. Haven't seen them since…'06? Yeah '06."
"You split up?! What? Why?"
"Long story."
Valenti started pacing and taking quick glances at Michael, he seemed tired. "Where you staying?"
"Thinking about parking by the pod chambers. If it gets too cold I'll find a motel."
"No. Follow me; you can stay at my place. Then you can explain."
Michael watched as Valenti walked towards his car, looking frustrated and confused. As Valenti opened his door Michael stamped out his cigarette and got into his own car.
--
After following Valenti for what felt like an eternity they pulled into the familiar driveway. Michael watched from his seat as Valenti exited his car and walked towards his house, stopping before he entered the door to wave Michael over.
Valenti watched Michael get out of the car and walk towards him, with each step he'd look around. Checking his left, right and back.
Before Michael stepped in the house he quickly took another glance of the front yard and street, nothing too alarming. "Shouldn't you bring your bag?"
"Yeah let me get my comfort zone set up first."
"Umm yeah, sure."
"Jim? Are you home? I thought you didn't finish for another hour?" Michael spun and his eyes focused on the direction the voice had come from. Amy DeLuca came walking out of the kitchen, her mouth dropped when she saw Michael and her eyes flashed between surprise and joy. "Michael!"
Michael braced himself as the older woman ran towards him and threw her arms around his body. "Oh my god Michael! Where's Maria?" she let go of him and ran out the door.
"Amy it's just him." Amy waked back through the door chewing on her bottom lip and eyes welling up.
"Maria's not here?"
"Err no. Sorry Ms. DeLuca."
"Valenti, its Valenti now" She whispered as she walked back into the kitchen.
Jim looked down at the hat in is hands and said "Why don't you get your bag. I'll go speak to her then we'll all talk."
Michael nodded and headed out to his car, wondering how much he should tell them.
--
Isabel angrily tapped her foot and began to explain to the receptionist again "I called up this morning. The woman said there was a room, I booked the room, I want the room!"
"I'm sorry Miss but it's all been booked."
"But the woman earlier said-"
"Well earlier there might have been a room but now with the crash-"
"Yeah you know what? Whatever! I don't care! I'll find somewhere else! This place probably has roaches anyway!" Isabel picked up her bag and headed out to her rental car.
Clenching her first she banged at the steering wheel for a few minutes.
She could go find another motel? Her parent's house? Valenti's house?
With a groan she started her car and drove towards her parent's house.
--
Michael pulled his bag from the Ute and quickly took another glance of his surroundings, just as a silver BMW drove passed the house and skipped to a stop. Michael watched as the car slowly reversed back and pulled into the driveway behind his Ute. Dropping his bag Michael held out his hand prepared for a fight.
--
Isabel couldn't believe her luck. She'd passed her parents house and hadn't seen a light or familiar car so kept on driving, then when passing Valenti's she saw Michael.
At first she wasn't sure but as she stared at him through the cars tinted windows she was positive. His hair was shorter and he looked older but it was definitely him. She stepped out of the car and took a few steps towards him; slowly he put his hand down.
--
Isabel was still beautiful. He watched as she stepped out of her car and moved towards him. She was all in black and her long blonde hair falling loosely down her back.
Valenti had heard the tires squeal and watched from the porch steps as Isabel stepped out of the car and took a few timid steps towards Michael. After he dropped his hand she ran towards him and threw herself into his arms. After hugging him for quite a while they whispered something Valenti couldn't quite hear.
Isabel returned to her car and pulled out a large handbag before slamming the door shut and returning to Michael. As they began walking towards the house Isabel and Valenti caught each others eyes and she ran towards him.
--
Jim, Amy, Michael and Isabel were all sitting in the lounge quietly sipping at their coffees. Amy and Jim had so many questions but felt they needed to wait until their new house mates were calmed down.
"So…how'd you get to Roswell?" Jim bravely started.
"Car."
"Plane."
"Oh ok. Alone?"
"Yeah."
"Yep."
They returned to quietly nodding and sipping at their drinks.
"So Isabel, you flew?" Jim started again.
"Yeah, got in this morning and rented a car."
"Nice car."
"Thanks." Isabel smiled and turned to watch Michael pour the contents of a silver flask into his mug.
Michael suddenly felt all eyes on him so he raised his head "What?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing."
"Damn it Michael where's Maria?" Amy looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Michael returned the flask to his bag and looked awkwardly at Isabel.
Jim shuffled a little before he continued "What Amy means is. We have some questions. Like…"
"Where's Maria?"
"For instance."
Isabel stared into her coffee allowing Michael to start "ummm the thing is we kinda all split up a while back."
"You mentioned '06?"
"Well kinda."
"What do you mean 'kinda'? Do you know where my daughter is?"
"Sorta."
"What? Michael you know where she is?" Isabel was staring at Michael with a look of anger mixed with confusion.
"He should! He took her after graduation and risked her life!"
"Amy." Jim patted her leg while she glared angrily at Michael.
Michael shifted uncomfortably while Isabel and Amy stared at him.
Isabel quietly started "We split up with Maria in 2004. She was in Georgia that's all we know."
"So you're telling me 2 years after you took her she left? She just left? You don't know where she is? She could be…she could…she…" tears started to fall from Amy's eyes as she panicked about her daughter.
"She's not dead. She's in LA. She owns a club, even sings sometimes." Michael took another gulp of his coffee and put the mug on the coffee table.
Isabel continued staring at Michael "How do you know that?"
"Just do."
"She owns a club? Did you hear that Jim? She owns a club! She must love it! Jim did you hear?"
"Sitting right here, I heard it." Amy seemed satisfied enough and stood up "With all this crash excitement my sales are sky rocketing. So if you two promise to answer some questions tomorrow I'll be off to bed."
As she walked out the door Michael could hear her muttering "my baby owns a club."
--
It was late and Isabel was asleep in Kyle's old room while Michael sat out the front door having a cigarette. He looked up from his seat on the ground as Valenti walked out and sat next to him.
"Those things'll kill you ya know"
"They can get in line" Michael joked.
"Hey thanks for saying that stuff to Amy, she gets kinda…you know?"
"Don't worry."
"Was it, was it true?"
Michael looked out across the street at the flickering street light and murmured "yeah."
Valenti nodded and quietly asked "Kyle? Do you know about him?"
"Not really. We all went our different ways in 2006. I think he was heading south. Maybe Texas?"
"Oh…ok I guess. Do you reckon he'll come this way? Because of the crash? You and Isabel came."
"Yeah he might. I dunno."
Valenti smiled and leant against the wall "good, good." Suddenly he sat forwards "hey what about his..." he began wiggling his fingers "you know. Alien…"
Michael laughed "Yeah they kicked in around '03"
"How'd he take that?"
"Not well" Michael continued his laughing "not well at all."
"Alright well I'm off to work; this crash is turning people crazy. Hey did I tell you? I'm Sheriff again."
"Yeah? Congrats."
"Thanks." Valenti started walking towards his car.
"Wait, Valenti!"
"Yeah?" Jim stopped and turned.
"Congrats on the wedding, Amy's nice."
"Yeah thanks." Valenti smiled and began to head off again.
"Wait, Valenti!"
"Yeah?"
"Ummm thanks for letting me…you know…crash."
Valenti chuckled "No problem." Then walked to his car.
--
April 26th, 2012, Private plane entering New Mexico (Day after the second crash)
Smith looked across the seat at his girlfriend Donna. Ever since she'd seen the news on an 'alien crash' she'd seemed nervous, right now she was bouncing her leg up and down, fiddling with a necklace and staring out the window even though the screen was down. "So are you an alien?"
Donna snapped her head towards him and for a moment he thought she'd throw up all over him.
"Kidding, kidding. But are you going to explain?"
It took her a moment to find her voice but then she began to ramble bringing a smile to his face "Well you know because sometimes but I want when thing you know? I mean, explain what?"
"Why you need to get to Roswell? Why you're so interested in some crash? Underneath all the curls, gloss and heels are you secretly a sci-fi freak? Because I can accept that, I really can. Maybe we can even watch old Stargate episodes instead of those trashy chick flicks?"
"Umm ok mister, first chick flicks are not trashy. They are deep and romantic and…and…"
"Trashy. But continue."
Donna grunted before continuing "I'm not a sci-fi freak. Roswell is just. It's" Donna rubbed behind her neck and frustration clouded her eyes. "Ok. Roswell is, Roswell is just a part of me. No not part of me. It was part of me. A long long looooong time ago. Another life time even."
"You lived in Roswell? For how long?"
"Yeah. A while."
"You said you grew up in New York then moved to LA when you were 23" It wasn't so much a question as it was a statement.
"Maybe that's not entirely true."
Smith scratched at his arm rest before returning his attention to Donna "I know."
Donna's bottom lip dropped slightly while she waited for Smith to continue.
"I mean I know you didn't grow up in New York. When things with you started to get…serious, it was suggested I get a background check done on you. That way there'd be no surprises. You understand with the work I do its best not to have any embarrassments. That sounds wrong."
"Keep going."
"Umm…ok. Well anyway history for Donna Bailey started in 2007. This wasn't really that weird, people change their name when they come to Los Angeles all the time. So I had him check out New York for anything in the past 20 years when that came up dry he widened it. Long story short in the end he could only find info from the last 5 years and all that as Donna Bailey. But you'd mentioned Kansas and Colorado a few times so I guessed you'd come from around there."
After Smith had finished speaking they were both quiet for at least 20 minutes digesting everything that had been said. Finally Donna broke the silence "is that person still looking for information?"
"No, and nobody knows he was looking. I figured you had no history for a reason and eventually you'd tell me."
Donna took a deep breath and began what she swore she'd never tell him "what I'm about to tell you can't leave this plane. You have to swear to keep it to yourself, no matter what."
"Cross my heart."
Donna took another deep breath and continued "obviously my name isn't Donna. It's Maria, Maria DeLuca…"
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A/N: Ok…What did you think? Remember 'Honesty is the best policy'. Now please, please, please review.
