Title: Secrets
Author: Gaudicia
E-mail: life_mistery@hotmail.com
ICQ: 101624726
IM: Gaudy831
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Roswell, except David.
Category: Liz/Max
Rating: PG
Summary: Liz has a secret no one knows. Its short, but I don't want to give much away.
Distribution: Just ask. This is so I know where to send the other chapters.
Author notes: You all have to thank Julie, Lacy and Brie, my beta (editors') readers. Lacy does a wonderful job and most important puts up with me. Brie helps me keep the fic going. Julie helps me with my writer's block and it's my fountain of information.
Authors note 2: The time line will be a bit different I will be changing something like when Nasedo show up and Liz meet Maria and Alex when she was 8 years old and Max first saw her at that age also. (I wanted to clear this up)
Authors note 3: Please bear with me if I take long with sending out the chapters. This is my first fic, so I'm new at this. I hope you enjoy.
Authors note 4: I also want to thank everyone who sent feedback for the previous chapters. I really appreciate it.
Feedback: You know the drill. Please, send your comments good or bad.

Chapter 14

"Not long Mrs. Parker." Max said, not wanting to start another fight.

Liz ignored them both, and returned her gaze to the Evans, "Tell us what?" Liz repeated.

"That—" Mr. Evans started, but was cut off by Mr. Parker.

"Nothing, Liz. It just some nonsense."

"Look, Jeff, we made up our minds. I personally don't care what you think anymore. They need to know the truth, and I will tell them," Mrs. Evans argued.

"Who do you think you are? Making decisions for everyone. You have no right to do that," Mrs. Parker spoke.

"I am one of Jennifer's friends, and I won't stand idly by any longer."

The kids stood and watched the argument in amusement. They hadn't known the Parkers and the Evans knew each other well, a fact made obvious by the snapping and tones in their voices. Every second that passed their voices grew louder.

Isabel couldn't take their bickering anymore. "Could you all just shut up?! God! You are worse than Michael and Maria! You are adults, so act like it!"

Isabel's sudden outburst surprised the Parkers and the Evans. The talking ceased, but the glares being thrown about the room remained.

They were all grateful for Isabel's interference. Michael and Maria acting offended by the comparison. The seven kids all shared the same thought, 'Well the day has turned out to be very interesting to say the least.'

David, seeing the adults weren't going to start arguing again, repeated Liz's question. "Mr. and Mrs. Evans, tell us what?"

"We are going to tell you that we know you were at the cemetery." Mr. Evans answered, deciding to start with something they both knew to be true.

"Cemetery?" David asked, as though he didn't know what Mr. Evans was talking about.

"David, I know that is why you came to my office, to ask me who was in charge of the burial. There is no denying it, someone saw you both." Mr. Evans said, looking at David and Liz.

The Parkers didn't interrupt knowing they had lost the fight.

Mrs. Evans seeing their confused looks said, "Take a seat you will be more comfortable. Liz, David, do you want us to continue in front of your friends?" Mrs. Evans knew that though they had heard everything so far the conversation was ultimately private, and that it was up to Liz and David if the others stayed.

Liz quickly nodded. She didn't care if the whole town heard them. It seemed as if she was finally going to get her answers. Liz shot David a look that said, 'Don't argue! Stay in your seat and be quiet!' Even though she was going to get the answers she was confused as to what had the cemetery had to do with it. "Why did you brought up the cemetery?

Mr. Evans sighed, "Because we know what you found, better yet we know what you didn't find."

Liz and David were speechless. The others were just confused, but they paid close attention, hoping to find out what they were talking about.

Liz finally managed to speak, "You knew that there was no one was inside the coffin?"

Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans sadly nodded, "Yes, we knew, we also knew she was alive."

The Parkers knew the truth was coming out, and that there was nothing they could do to stop it.

"You knew our mother was alive all this time, and you didn't tell us?! Did you know I still have nightmares of that day?! How could you make me-us go through that? Do you know what is like to think your mother is dead, or what it feels like to think that your mother has been laid to rest in a coffin? Do you know what I felt when I saw the coffin being lowered into the ground?!" Liz cried out, her voice muffled by unshed tears.

Max couldn't bear to see Liz like that, he instinctively reached out for her, and hugged her. Liz held onto Max as if he were her lifeline. Liz asked another question, this time directed towards her adoptive parents. "You knew this?" Their silence was confirmation enough to her. Liz buried her head on Max's shoulder.

David had more control over his feeling, and he needed to know why they went through all that trouble. "Why?"

Alex, Isabel, Michael, and the others all held their breath, waiting to see what other bomb was about to explode.

Mrs. Evans swallowed, and continued to relate her story. "One day Jen came to us asking for our help. Jen said she was in trouble, a life or death situation. Jen told us that a man wanted to kill her, for what reason we don't know, but she said that she also needed to protect you and Liz, that the man after her was capable of anything. Jen preferred to not see the both of you grow up than to see you die. It was the hardest decision she ever made."

None of them could believe what they were hearing. They couldn't believe a mother would risk so much for her children.

"You helped stage the burial, right? You had the right connections, so you could make it possible." David concluded.

Mr. Evans answered, "Yes, and it helped her for some time, but the man found out our secret."

Mrs. Evans continued, "We didn't know her whereabouts, Hector was the only one who knew that."

They all were surprised at what they just heard, but even more when they heard Mrs. Parker speak. "We once saw that man. He told us that if we wanted to keep Liz and David alive we had to separate them. We couldn't allow their death, Jen had risked so much, and if separating them would keep them alive and safe then so be it."

Mr. Parker couldn't believe his wife had just told them that. 'It's all lost now.'

Liz didn't know what to think, her mind went blank. She was physically and emotionally spent.

The Evans saw this, so they said out loud, "Kids, we should leave. David are you coming?"

"Yeah, could you give me a minute? I'm going to make sure Liz is okay."

The Evans nodded, and left him alone with Liz ignoring Max's protests.

David approached her, "Liz, are you okay?"

Liz hugged David, "Oh! David, I don't know what to think, or how to feel." Liz then remembered David was also affected by what happened asked, "Are YOU okay?

"Yeah. Liz, don't worry. You better get some rest. I'm going home with the Evans."

"Okay, and you rest too!"

David left with the others. Maria, Alex and Michael went their own ways. None of them knew what to think.

Unknown to them a figure lurked in the shadows. "You have all ruined my plans, but I'll fix it by any means or actions necessary. Nothing will stop me." With that thought the figure left with the mist.

Liz took a hot bath trying to clear her mind. Too much had taken place, too much information to process. After her shower Liz sat in her bed drying her hair with her towel. 'First, the guys find out David is my brother. Second, they found out Nancy and Jeff aren't my real parents. Third, we see those pictures.' At the reminder of the pictures a shudder went up and down her spine. 'The Evans, David's godparents, Nancy and Jeff knew my Mom was alive and they didn't tell us!' Liz remembered her flash. 'I have to talk to River Dog tomorrow! David didn't tell us where he got the pictures.' With those thoughts, Liz drifted into a troubled sleep yet again. It was the same, but this time it started with the man attacking her mother, it never got as far as him actually killing her, but she could tell when it was close because the nightmare started over on a never ending loop until she woke up.

Liz woke up drenched in sweat, and gasping for breath. Liz took a bath and went to prepare herself some breakfast. When she got to the kitchen she saw both of her adoptive parents there. Liz could still feel the tension, lately that was all there was between her and her parents.

Liz quietly approached them, "Can I ask you a question?"

Mr. Parker defeated, knowing there was nothing else they were keeping said, "Of course."

"You kept David and I separated to save our lives, right? You didn't do it, because of our abilities?"

"Oh, Liz, we love you and David too much and we had to help Jennifer. We did what we thought was right. It may not have been the best idea or way, but to save your lives we would do whatever we had to. Even if it was earning the name of the cruelest people. We had to make people believe we hated David and that we didn't want him near you for some reason, some people thought we did it, because you were our favorite, others because of your abilities," Mrs. Parker explained.

"By people, how many do you mean?" Liz asked.

"A few from the reservation and Hector, his wife, Diane, Philip, and us. People from town didn't know about David, since we hadn't lived in Roswell in a long time.

"Dad, why did you explode when you saw David was here?"

"Because we don't know if that man is still alive and still after you. We thought all our efforts would go to waste."

Liz hugged them both, "I'm sorry, I have acted the way I have. I love you, both."

"We love you too, Liz. We consider you to be our own flesh and blood." Mrs. Parkers said, lovingly. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

"Okay, look at us we have to stop this or we'll flood the kitchen." Mr. Parker joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Mrs. Parker and Liz laughed.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going to the reservation after school, okay?"

"Okay, be careful," Mr. Parker said.

Liz was leaving the room, but she turned and called, "Mom, Dad!" When she saw she had their attention she said, "Thank you."

They didn't need to ask what she was thanking them for. They already knew and for the first time they felt peace.
---
Liz got to school late; her talk with her parents had delayed her. Liz had wanted to talk to Max and the others, but every time she tried something would happen to make it impossible.
---
At lunchtime Max, Alex, and the others meet in a bench. They were going to talk about what had happened the day before.

"I still can't believe everything. It's all so unbelievable."

"Isabel, you are an alien, and you find the whole thing with Liz unbelievable?" Alex remarked.

Michael started laughing drawing their attention. "Sorry, it's just that the thought of Max being jealous over Liz's brother is too much!"

No one laughed; instead they all glared at Michael. Michael immediately sobered up, and muttered, "Sorry."

Michael's words brought Max back memories of the small talk he had with his mother. After they returned from the Crashdwon his mother called him asking for a minute alone with him.

"Max, are you angry with Liz, or us?"

"Mom, I haven't had enough time to process anything that happened today."

"I understand. It must be hard to discover so many things about someone, all in one day. It must be even harder that you love that person, and you didn't know all her secrets."

His mother's words brought pain to Max's heart, they were true.

Mrs. Evans saw the pained look on her son's face, but she continued, "Imagine how hard it must have been to keep a secret, to not be able to tell the person you love, because Son, Liz loves you. But how could she tell you things she didn't know? Just like you, she had a secret. You must know that no secret is greater than the other, they are secrets and every person has to deal with them in their own way."

"But—"

"Max, she has been living a lie and she didn't even know it. But you know your secret Max, you been living your lie, because you want to. The only thing she is guilty of is not telling any of you she has a brother and that she is adopted."

"Liz could have told us. How hard can it be?"

"Max, for her, it can be the hardest thing. You heard her, she said she still had nightmares of that day. Max, think about it. Liz is a very special girl--don't let her go, because she had some secrets of her own. Max, everyone is entitled to their own secrets. Max think about what I told you." As an afterthought Mrs. Evans added, "Well, I'm going to sleep."

Max didn't understand how his Mom could understand everything that had happened so well, and took her words to heart, thinking about what she had told him.

Maria brought Max back from memory lane. "I still can't believe Liz didn't tell me anything about this. I am her best friend, I should have known this stuff," Maria pointed out.

Alex still couldn't believe everything that had taken place. "I'll have to hear Liz's side before I can come to come to any kind of conclusion."

Max spoke for the first time, "I agree with Alex. We have to hear Liz out before we start accusing her of anything."

By Max's tone of voice everyone knew it was the end of the discussion.
---
Liz spotted them at a bench, but as she was nearing them she saw David waving at her. So she headed in his direction instead. David came to ask her if she was okay and it took almost the entire hour to convince him she was fine, and the remaining time was spent with David explaining why he couldn't accompany her to the reservation.
---
As had happened earlier it was like an unknown force was keeping Liz away from them. By the last class Liz had given up, when the bell rang Liz was the first out of the classroom. Liz got in her parents' car, and headed to the reservation.

Liz went straight to River Dog's house. Liz was about to knock on the door, when she heard him.

"Liz, come in."

Liz did as told, she was prepared to ask River Dog the question that had been on her mind since she saw the pictures, but before she could voice her thoughts River Dog answered her.

"Liz, you already know the answer to your question. You need to trust your ability more, trust your instincts."

"I wasn't sure, I was confused," Liz tried to explain.

"I know. You have too much on your mind. Meditate, and sort out your thoughts. Do it today."

"We won't train today?" Liz asked disappointed.

"No, I have to take care of some ill children."

"Tomorrow we'll train, right?" Liz asked eagerly. Liz always looked forward to learning something new.

River Dog chuckled, "Yes, tomorrow."

"Okay. Bye, and thank you!"

Liz was opening the door of the car, when she felt someone behind her, just when she was about to turn around, pain shot through her and all turned black.

To be continued…