Disclaimer: I do not own Roswell or any other character, location, or whatever is mentioned in the works of Melinda Metz or Jason Katims, FOX, WB, and UPN.
Author's Note: Just in case some of you don't understand a lingo or a pop culture reference, there will be explanations at the end of this chapter.
There are some lines from "Meet The Dupes" (Season 2, Episode 8). All spelling errors in the dialogue of the Dupes are intentional. There will start to be some other coupling action now as you can tell from this chapter and later future chapters. I'm creating round characters. Also, the time span is going to be speeding up now. I will start doing weeks rather than day by day. This is to move the story along. Yay, right? P
Chapter Seventeen:
Out of luck and out of tune.
Half a day and I'm confused.
Love may wash away the bruise,
but I still ain't over you.
Hey, I'm the blood in your veins.
I'm a colding rain.
Love you hard when it rains.
Time, no it ain't all aside.
On the truth she lies.
Love your tear when you cry.
Damn the day that I forgot.
Came so close and almost lost.
It's been one year and fourteen months,
but I still ain't over you.
Hey, I'm the blood in your veins.
I'm a colding rain.
Love you hard when it rains.
Time, no it ain't all aside.
On the truth she lies.
Love your tear when you cry.
Back and forth and side to side,
right ain't wrong if wrong ain't right.
I will love you day and night
'cause I still ain't over you.
Hey, I'm the blood in your veins.
I'm a colding rain.
Love you hard when it rains.
Time, no it ain't all aside.
On the truth she lies.
Love your tear when you cry.
'Cause when the walls come crashing in,
when flames come coasting in.
Just remember time again,
I still ain't over you.
Oh hey, I'm the blood in your veins.
I'm a colding rain.
Love you hard when it rains.
Time, no it ain't all aside
'cause on the truth she lies.
Love your tear when you cry.
"I Still Aint' Over You," Augustana.
December 21, 2000, Thursday; Roswell, New Mexico:
Liz didn't understand Zan one bit. On Tuesday, she thought they had reached an understanding, seeing that they were on the same side since they were saving the Roswell group, but boy had she thought wrong. One minute, Zan was warm like he had been on Tuesday when he held her—momentarily anyway... Then the next, he was as cold as dry ice.
Flashback: Zan couldn't even fathom the idea of his ex-lover's younger self attempting suicide. He had been so shocked that all he wanted to do was comfort her. He didn't know what else to do but hug her. Suddenly, his feelings took over and his body moved to wrap his arms around her. Her petite frame molded to his larger body, arousing him the slightest the bit. But she wasn't his. He couldn't just openly touch this girl—he didn't have the right. Future-Liz was the love of his life, not this person. But did he love her—this younger self of his lover from the future? His mind raced with contrasting thoughts and his body expressed this turmoil by quickly becoming stiff. He was troubled and felt nothing but the desire to run away as far as possible.
"Zan?" asked Liz, wondering what was wrong. She could feel his rigid body against hers. It wasn't the soft comforting gesture she had felt in the beginning. It was uncomfortable.
He pushed her aside and said, "Don't touch me." Then he strolled out of the kitchen like he had a mission.
Liz stood there completely flabbergasted. It was Zan who touched her, Zan who hugged her, Zan who had initiated this… whatever it was. She hadn't done anything but told him her story. "What the hell?" she said to herself, completely baffled by the situation. She shook her head, refusing to allow herself to get even more furious, but she did. Zan was a man of ups and downs, a man that could not be described to a few adjectives. It infuriated her of how he treated her. He was kind one moment and then rude the next. Asking herself again in less than twenty-four hours, Who does that? Eyeing the uncooked ingredients, she sighed, taking up what Zan had left unfinished in the kitchen. "Great, he has a fit, leaves, and I get stuck with the cooking," she said to no one in particular.
When she served the omelets to the group who were satisfied with the first real comfortable sleep they had in days, she scowled when Zan came in and took a seat as if nothing had happened. He took one bite and said, "This is fucking disgusting," and left for another smoke. Liz only stood there with a shocked face. He comes in for what—thirty seconds—complains about my cooking, and leaves again, she thought to herself, this is getting ridiculous!
The group watched, slightly confused yet at the same time, unconfused. They knew what he was probably feeling. It was hard on them too. Future-Liz may have only been in their lives for less than two weeks, but she made a huge impact on them. They accepted her, an outsider, and took her in as family. In those few days, it seemed like life couldn't get any better. Lonnie and Ava had a new girl among the group. Rath had gotten a new sister. Zan finally opened his heart. Then when she disappeared… the subject of her disappearance was still too raw to talk about. They missed her, shuddered when they thought of how their king had screamed, and mourned the loss of their new family member. But coming to Roswell and seeing her younger version—it was too much to handle. They notice the differences quickly, but Liz, present-Liz that is, was still as kind and fun as Future-Liz. For them, it was different from what Zan was feeling. They were happy to get another chance, a longer chance, to be Liz's friend. But Zan felt confusion, rage, and uneasiness—all three emotions rolled up into one. His emotions were risking their chance to be Liz's friend once again.
Rath shrugged, choosing to ignore the topic of how Zan was feeling. He knew his friend needed to sort things out for himself. Rath, himself, tried many times to tell him that Liz wasn't Future-Liz, but he never listened. So in the end, he gave up. "I don't know what he's on about. This is good!" he spoke, taking another mouthful.
"I agree," said Lonnie, taking another bite while pouring tabasco sauce on the uneaten parts at the same time.
Ava glared at Zan's retreating back and just gave Liz a smile as if to tell her she understood. "Don't worry. That's jus' Zan bein' Zan."
To Liz, it seemed as if everything she had done was wrong in Zan's eyes. Every time he walked into the same room as her, he left, growling about how she was stalking him. He yelled at her, cursed at her, and even pushed her!
Flashback: Liz had been holding it in for too long. She had to go! She pressed her fingers against her lower abdomen and winced at the feeling of her bladder getting ready to explode. She had been meaning to go, but she was so caught up in Ava telling her stories about their life in New York—how they hatched, learned to speak, and how they discovered they were different from the rest. She was so entranced by their story that she somehow had forgotten she needed to go to the bathroom. Running to the backroom, just as she was about to turn the knob, the door swung open and Zan stepped out.
"You again!" he said as if she was the most annoying thing in the world.
She ignored him; the desire to pee was greater than getting into another verbal fight with him. She moved to the left and he moved too. They blocked each other. He shifted to the right and she stepped to the right. "Move!" she yelled at him.
"Then get out of my way!" he said, shoving her to the side.
"Ah!" yelped Liz as she was pushed away.
Liz had enough with it! They had only known each other for a little less than two days and Zan was being a downright prick. He had no right to treat her that way!
Seeing her chance, she cornered him in the open café in front of the dupes, not caring anymore. "What is your problem?" she asked.
"What are ya on 'bout?" Zan asked. "Get out of mah way," he said as he stepped to the side.
She blocked him. "No, this stops now! You've been a complete jerk to me ever since you came!"
"I'm da jerk? If ya wasn't so fuckin' ubiquitous, I wouldn't hafta be!"
"Oh, lookie here. The king knows what ubiquitous means!"
"You betta watch yerself," he said, getting in her face. He was letting his anger get the best of him, just like Liz was with herself. "Ya might say somethin' and I might hafta do somethin' 'bout it."
"I am so scared," said Liz, surprising herself a little with this new found attitude of hers. "For your information, I happen to live here and you're my guest, so I suggest you change this uptight cocky attitude of yours!"
Lonnie and Ava watched curiously, sipping their sodas. This was so reminiscent of when Future-Liz yelled at Zan. Rath grabbed himself a piece of cake. This was like a fight ready to happen and he was supplying himself with snacks.
Angered by the sudden challenge, Zan automatically lifted up his hand. He wasn't going to use his powers on her, but it was a reflex. His hand was in her face before he could stop himself.
"You want to fight? Take your best shot!" Liz yelled, jumping up at him. Her words had no hestitation in them, but in reality, she was actually terrified that Zan would try to blow her face off.
Frustration was what Zan was feeling—a lot of it. He looked upwards, muttered something to himself, and lifted her up. Liz made a yelp as she was suddenly elevated from the ground. He held her at arm's length and carried her to the backroom. Normally she would be amazed at his strength, but this wasn't the time. Liz yelled when her back came into contact with the swinging door and the two continued to the back.
Unable to resist himself, Rath spoke, "What's da chances they gonna make da beast wit' two backs?" To help visualize his words, he thrust his hips with a grunt and held his arms out as if he was holding someone's thighs, taking her doggie-style.
"Yer disgustin'," Ava said, shaking her head. Rath was her brother, but sometimes she didn't know how to put up with him.
"Naw, I doubt it," said Lonnie, scrunching her nose up in disgust from being reminded of her brother's sexcapades. The image of the rocking van suddenly flashed in her mind. She shuddered.
"Aw, come on? Las' time he took 'er, well future her, they humped da shit outta each otha," he said. "We trio know she ain't her, but come on… Ya think Zan knows dat? He's gonna fuck her against them lockers wit' her skirt hiked up."
"Rath, yer an ass. She was like a sis and ya talk 'bout her like ya wanna do her," replied Ava. "I ditto wit' Lonnie. Zan jus' met 'er. He ain't gonna do her."
Rath shrugged. "She mah sis. I wouldn't kick it to 'er, but I ain't gonna lie she's not tight." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and smirked. "Wanna bet they fuck or not?"
- - - -
"Let me down!" screamed Liz as she fought her way to get out of his grip, but was only successful in swinging her legs back and forth like an angry child throwing a tantrum.
Zan dropped her on the sofa, infuriated. "Shut up!" He needed to think. Yes, thinking was the best option in this moment.
She quickly got up. "Don't tell be to shut up! One minute, you're fine. The next, you've got a pole up your ass. I can't stand it anymore!"
What is she trying to do, wondered Zan. He didn't like people pushing him nor did he like being cornered the way she did with him. He was a man of cold steel—emotionless and rational. He was always in control of emotions, in control of himself, but something about this girl pushed all his buttons. With Future-Liz, she challenged him many times, but he knew how to push her buttons back. But Liz, she was so naïve. He didn't know what to expect of her. "It's all yer fault!" he said, trying to keep his voice from screaming level.
Liz stepped back. "My fault? I haven't done anything wrong! What have I done to you? I only just met you three days ago! Tell me what I possibly could have done in those two days to make you hate me so!"
"I'm not him!"
"What? Him who?" she asked.
Zan gritted his teeth. "I ain't him and you're not her."
Liz shook her head. He wasn't making any sense at all. What did he mean he's not him and she's not her? It felt like minutes, but it only took her seconds to finally understand what he meant. "Wait a minute, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"GOD!" yelled Zan as he began to walk away from her only to be stopped by Liz who caught his wrist.
"Talk to me!" yelled Liz.
"I don't wanna talk! Don't ya git it?"
"Damn it, Zan! It's not my fault I happen to look like my future self because god forbid I turn black as I get older! Is this what this has been about—because you can't separate me with Future-Liz?"
He didn't say anything because she was right.
Liz shook her head in disbelief. "Do you think it was easy for me? I mean, I not only met with me from the future, but I met Max from the future. He wore the same face too!"
"It ain't dat easy," he said.
"Do you think I didn't have a hard time separating them two as well? Well, tough luck, Zan, because I did and I managed to do it too," said Liz. "But you have to realize that Future-Liz and I are completely different. Yeah, she came back, but I know what's going to happen. Things are changing; I am changing… Changing from what you knew of Future-Liz. You can't keep doing this to me. It's just not my fault!"
He knew she was right. Liz, whether present or future, was always smart and rational. He thought those very same words she spoke, but he didn't want to admit to it. He just needed to hear the words from her. She made everything seem real. He had been so caught up with confusing them together that he could barely focus on their differences. He knew they were different, but at the same time, he didn't know what qualities.
This girl had been through the same ordeal he had gone through. Future-Liz disappeared and so did Future-Max. He loved Future-Liz. She probably loved Future-Max. He didn't know how close she was to the guy, but if she still loved Max and he wore his face, then he knew they must've been more than just friends.
Coming to terms with this, still a little uneasy, he knew he was in the wrong. He had been a jerk to her and she didn't deserve it, not from him. She was hurting, but so was he. "I'm sorry," he spoke.
This apology was too easy for her. "That's it? You say a simple 'I'm sorry' and I'm supposed to pretend it's all okay?"
Zan scowled at her, gritted his teeth, and tried to get over his high horse. "I'm sorry, angel, for b—"
"Liz," she stated.
His right eye twitched. "I'm sorry, Liz, for bein' a prick, okay?"
"And for pushing me."
God, what the hell is wrong with her, he thought, I'm already apologizing and she wants to add more? She should know better than apologizing is not in my nature. "And for pushin' you."
She was satisfied. "Apology accepted."
"Okay," he spoke. He then realized he had man-handled Liz into the backroom. He could picture his family's faces. They prob thinkin' we's fuckin', he thought.
"We should go back out there. They're probably worried," said Liz.
When they came out, the three dupes were staring at them as if they were looking for something. Lonnie squinted at Zan and Liz. Ava made an "hmm" noise. Rath studied them as if he was going to be quizzed in five minutes.
Knowing exactly what they were thinking, Zan shook his head. "You's a bunch of pervs. We didn't do nothin'," he said.
"Ahah! Pay up!" said Ava who stuck her hand out at Rath.
Rath reached into his pocket with a scowl and withdrew a twenty dollar bill. "I suppose ya want yer payment too, Lon'?" he asked.
Lonnie smiled. "Naw, I'll save yer payment for later," she said with a wink.
Rath could only grin foolishly.
Confused, Liz spoke, "Umm, guys? Huh? What just happened?"
- - - -
December 22, 2000, Friday to January 9, 2001, Tuesday; Roswell, New Mexico:
Over the next several days, since Zan and Liz had finally worked everything out, the dupes bonded with the Roswell group as if they were always living there. They all had more in common than they thought, besides their fashion sense. But of course, there were always still many differences.
"Maria's my girl," stated Michael.
"I don't see yer name written on her," said Rath.
"Listen here, dick, I'm going to rip your he—"
"Michael, don't make me go over there!" yelled Maria from the other side of the room who was watching them. She knew her boyfriend would cause trouble. "Stick to the questions I gave you!"
Michael was still angry at Rath for hitting on Maria. The first time Michael had ever taken an interest in a girl, much less a human girl, his twin was trying to take her from him. Well, it seemed that way. He stared down at the flimsy napkin that Maria gave to him. She had written down several questions to get them connecting, but he didn't see that happening any time soon. Sensing her glare on him, his eyes scrolled down the questions. He rather asks questions than be beaten by Maria. She had a hell of an arm on her.
"Favorite band?" he asked.
"Metallica," replied Rath.
Michael's right eyebrow rose. He wasn't expecting that. He nodded in approvement. So they had one thing in common. That didn't matter to him. He still hated his twin. So he replied, "Good," and their conversation ended there.
Zan and Max were both being stubborn-headed. They weren't getting along one bit, but that was to be expected given the events that had occurred. But they did have one main thing in common: their love for Liz, but at the moment, this wasn't on their mind.
"I'm king," said Max.
"In yer dreams, stand-in. I'm da king," replied Zan.
Both just watched at each other as if mentally having a battle of penis sizes.
Lonnie and Isabel, well… they both were popular among the men, one namely Alex. They were beautiful and if they wanted to, they could be models.
"How do you get your eye shadow to do that?" asked Isabel, fascinated by Lonnie's makeup.
"Ya jus' gotta smudge it all ovah, but nothin' alien powers can't do," replied Lonnie. "Ya jus' gotta learn how tah tweak it a bit."
The only ones that were completely and utterly different were Ava and Tess. Ava was kind and she made it a point to befriend the Roswell set, but Tess was always glaring at everyone, including her own group. Ava didn't believe in their destined path, but Tess clung to it as if it was a lifeline.
"Max and I belong together," said Tess. "It's destiny."
"Ew?" said a disgusted Ava. "Uhhh, Johnny Depp or Robert Downey Jr.?"
"Neither," replied Tess. "I like Ben Affleck."
Ava choked on her soda and began to gag. "Gross, he's so fug!"
Gossip travelled among the inhabitants of Roswell, speaking of the punk twins. Everyone was confused, but Isabel, being the queen bee she was, snapped at everyone for sticking their nose in their family business. Mouths were shut. The gossip died down a little, but everyone still wondered who these new people were. All they knew, of course and obviously, was the twins were lost family.
As for Liz, her parents had come back from their vacation, surprised to see their daughter had taken the liberty of getting roommates in their home. At first, they thought it was Max, Isabel, Michael, and Ava who suddenly wanted to be part of the "cool" trend, but after much explanation from their daughter, they realized who they really were. They were shocked because of the chances that four of their Roswell residents had twins. It was even weirder that these four were good friends like their own set. They were a little hesitant about letting these ruffians stay at their home, but upon hearing their homeless situation, the Parkers were more than willing to let them stay as long as they helped out with the chores of the home and even work at the Crashdown. Thus everyone had their own roles in the home. Rath helped Michael out in the kitchen (when they weren't trying to burn each other at the grill) while Lonnie and Ava helped Liz and Maria with the waitressing. Zan would fix anything that had broken down and sometimes clean up the Crashdown during closing time.
When the Evans parents were introduced to the dupes, they were shocked at the resemblance. Again, what were the odds that four orphans would have identical twins? Afraid, Diane thought they were going to take their babies away from them, but Zan just laughed and asked her if he looked capable of handling the four brats himself. She nervously said no and he agreed. Actually, he said, "Look lady. I got mah own crew to support. I ain't takin' those no good for nothin' rugrats under mah wing. Shit, they's prob better wit' you, all fuckin' goody-two-shoed like it's some re-run of the Brady Bunch." It's safe to say that Nancy could only gap at his crudeness. He let her know that they were staying in Roswell for a while, perhaps permanently, but he wasn't going to take them away from her. Honestly, Zan, deep down, was jealous that his double grew up in a home with a family that loved him dearly—something he never had. He had to fend for himself since birth and he never knew a mother's loving touch.
When Jim finally had been introduced to them, like Michael, he didn't trust them. He even did a background search on them and found they had been arrested a few times with many charges against them that never stuck as if the evidence had suddenly disappeared. He knew that was to be expected, seeing that they were aliens who could make all evidence disappear into thin air. Kyle assured his father that they were alright people and they had just been dealt a bad hand since they were born. Still, Jim remained wary of them.
Over the days, Zan and Liz had bonded the most. Because both had been affected so greatly by people from the future, they reached an understanding, a level where they both understood that they have much of the similar feelings and thoughts. Constantly laughing, they were always seen together, just chatting away. Zan, who had bought a motorcycle, was seen driving with Liz on the back throughout Roswell, taking trips out to the desert and back after dinner. They loved the air that breezed through their hair as the machine under them roared. The stars seemed to move with them and the moon seemed so reachable. They were content, feeling nothing but comfortableness as they rode together with her arms around his waist. Many could see they clearly felt something for one another. This didn't settle well with Max who became more and more jealous with each passing second. He knew what Liz had done to him, but to see the love of his life get on the bike of practically a stranger, she felt farther from him that ever before. It was as if she and Zan both shared a secret that brought them closer. Truthfully, they did, but no one else knew what it was.
Tess kept pursuing Max, finding reasons to be at his side. She dangled the fact that Liz was off with another man and constantly told him to move on. She reminded him of his destiny, but he wasn't having any of it. It wasn't that easy for him to just drop everything he's ever felt and move on. Since the third grade, it had always been Liz Parker for him.
On a Tuesday night, after the Crashdown closed, the group lounged in the café, resting and smiling, clearly somewhat more comfortable with one another. "So then he was like, 'Hell no!'" Kyle said, bursting into laughter. The humans followed, bearing their pearly whites at him.
"So cornball," muttered Lonnie, rolling her eyes as she watched the humans tell stories in a booth. Turning the high chair away from them, she found Ava staring at Kyle with her mouth slightly parted open.
"I thought it was funny," Ava said meekly, flipping her pink bangs over her shoulder.
Lonnie snorted. "'Course ya did. You jus' wanna git in his pants."
"What? No, I don't—… He's cute."
"Yeah, in a total Full House's Steve Hale kind of way," Lonnie retorted. "Lyin' don't suit ya. Look, yer cheeks glowin' pink like you gots slapped."
Rath appeared by their side and growled into Lonnie's ear, "Ah, leave 'er alone. We all gots needs—needs dat need to be satisfied." She moaned as his hands slid up her back to her shoulders. His fingers soothed the kinks out of her muscles before grazing the side of her face. "Ya smell good," he whispered, burying his nose into her short blonde hair. Lonnie grabbed the back of his neck and crushed his lips to hers.
Silence. There was silence among everyone. Then there were gasping.
"Oh my god, Rath and Lonnie are making out!" Kyle cried in horror. "It's like—it's like Michael and Isabel! Woo hoo hoo," Kyle chucked in surprise. He quickly took out his cell phone and snapped a picture. "This is going to be my wallpaper!"
Alex and Maria covered their faces. Both simply said, "Oh no. Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!"
Liz's eyes widened in shock and then a smile formed on her face. It grew bigger when she heard Maria cry, "Oh my god, that's my boyfriend's fucking face sucking yours, Isabel."
Isabel, in much horror, replied, "Michael, if you ever want to live, don't ever, ever, look at me again."
"Ditto" was his uncomfortable response as he tried to shift as far as away as possible from Isabel.
"Michael, you're not going to leave me for—for Isabel, are you?" asked Maria.
"Of course not! She's like my sister!"
"That's not brotherly-and-sisterly love right there, my friend," said Kyle as Rath's hand started to travel under Lonnie's shirt. Alex offered a comforting pat to Michael's back, slightly disgusted himself at the sight of the love of his life's twin making out with another man, a man who wore his friend's face.
Having enough, Michael screamed, "Would you two quit it?!" at the clueless couple. Rath and Lonnie pulled away with a heated dazed look.
"Wha' man? Yer blockin' mah cock here," Rath said, motioning to his groin.
"Cock blockage! There will be major cock blockage because there will be no cock involved!" yelled Michael.
Awkward silence. Nothing but awkward silence. Alex shook his head in disturbed humor. Breaking the silence, he asked, "You guys are together?"
"Not really," replied Rath.
"Meaning?" Maria asked.
"We fuck. Dat's 'bout it," Lonnie said with a shrug. Michael and Isabel started to gag.
"Because of the whole destiny thing?" Kyle asked.
"Naw man. She's a good fuck. Cries like a bitch in heat," Rath said.
Lonnie began to make hand gestures as she said, "Rath's got a really long—" Maria snorted.
"NO! NO! I don't want to hear it!" cried Isabel who was wishing the ground would swallow her up.
"So Ava," Kyle said, moving up to her. "Are you with Zan?" He hears Zan making an "ugh" sound but ignored it.
Scrunching up her face, she replied, "Hell no. He's like mah bro. He sees me like he sees Rath—a boy bro."
"I see no brother or boy, only a beautiful lady." He then hopefully asked, "Single then?"
"Wouldn't ya like to know," she said with a wink. Kyle broke out in a grin.
Filling soda into a cup, Liz placed it in front of Zan who was watching her. She rubbed her hands against her apron, feeling uncomfortable under his stare. "So you're not with Ava?"
"Naw, I gots my eye on someone else," he smirked. She blushed.
Maria stared at her boyfriend and started to play with his hair. She pressed the sides toward the center, making a semi-faux hawk. Michael was sexy in her eyes, but Rath with his bared arms and his tattoos….
"Hey, stop! 'Ria, what are you doing?"
"Maybe you should get a tattoo," she suggested.
"Why, so I can look like Rath?"
"Hey, you can take some tips from him. He isn't so bad either."
"Then why don't you go sleep with him?" he jealously said, getting up and walking into the backroom.
"'ey Pixie, if he ever messes up, don't be afraid to come to meh," Rath said. "I'd treat ya real good, treat ya like a queen."
Maria didn't know exactly how to feel about that offer. Obviously she wasn't going to take it. "Weren't you just making out with Lonnie a second ago?"
With a smirk and wink, he whispered, "I rather have you," and then left the Crashdown.
To be continued.
Pop Culture References:
"The Brady Bunch" was a 1969-1974 American sitcom about a family. Though they had problems, they were often seen as the typical perfect American family.
"Steven 'Steve' Hale" is a character from "Full House" (1987-1995 American sitcom) who was dating D.J. Tanner. — I'm comparing him to Kyle because Steve was on the wrestling team and well... to me, Kyle looks like he could be on a wrestling team. Go jocks?
"Fug" means F--king Ugly.
"Block your cock" is a line from the 2007 movie, "Superbad".