Chapter Eleven: Realization
Chapter Eleven: Realization

Liz looked up from her homework and noticed Mrs. Evans come into the café. Taking a breath, she dropped her pencil and went to her. "Liz," Diane Evans smiled, her eyes large and wet. "I'm technically off duty," Liz explained, "but is there something I can get you?" "Just your company?" Liz smiled, wiped her nervous hands on her jeans and took a seat. Diane looked down at the table, running her hands across the surface. "This was Max's table, wasn't it?" Liz looked down, remembering how he would make his way instinctively to this booth, even when his eyes never left hers. And, miraculously, no one else but them, ever sat there. "It was," Liz answered softly. Diane smiled, reaching across the table and gathering Liz's hands in her own. "So, tomorrow's the big day?" she asked. "Graduation? Yeah." Diane smiled. "I heard through the grapevine that you made Valedictorian. Congratulations." Liz nodded, a tiny smile on her face. "Thank you." She didn't know what else to say. After the funerals for Max, Isabel, Michael, and Tess, Liz rarely saw the Evans. But they looked so broken. It's hard enough to lose a child; it must be devastating to lose both.

Diane released Liz's hands and leaned back in the booth. "So, what are your plans for college? Max mentioned something once about Harvard. How he was going to follow you up there while you became head of …" Liz laughed softly. "Head of Molecular Biology. Yeah, that was, um, always just a pipe dream. I was accepted to UCLA, so I'm going to go out there." "Never give up on your dreams, Liz," Diane told her softly, "I would Izzy that every night." She got a faraway look on her face. "Izzy would laugh, when she younger, and say 'but mommy, if I give up on my dreams, what will I think of when I'm asleep?'" Liz smiled, picturing Isabel's smart mouth even back then. "I won't," Liz promised, "but I'm afraid I don't have any dreams anymore."

**

"So, Michael's pretty upset," Max stated, leaning against Liz's balcony. She nodded absently, still thinking about what Tess said to her earlier: "This is something he needs to do Liz. He's the king, his people need him. You have to convince him. Please. If you love him enough, let him fulfill his …" "His destiny," Liz finished flatly. Tess nodded. "Liz?" She looked up. "Hmm?" "Where were you just now?" She sighed softly, coming to stand beside him. "Max? Why exactly did you decide not to go?" He shrugged. "Well, all the reasons I told you before. Roswell is home to me, I have everything I need here. And besides, what if Maria's right? What if Kivar is just setting us up to kill us? It's too dangerous, I won't risk our lives." Liz nodded, staring down at her shoes. "And you don't want to leave me." Max lifted her face with his finger, smiling down at her softly. "No, I don't. Especially not when we've only just gotten past everything that's happened this year." Liz walked away from him and settled onto her lawn chair. "Max, I don't want you to miss out on never seeing where you came from. I don't want it to be because of me." Max was confused as he sat down next to her. "Liz, where is this coming from?" She wouldn't make eye contact with him. "Are you trying to get rid of me?" he joked, his smile fading when she didn't laugh. "Max," she began, "just think about it. Seriously. Haven't you ever wondered? I don't want you to regret this. And, you'll be back, right? I will wait for you. I just … I just don't want to hold you back."

Max swallowed hard, his brows coming together. "You're not holding me back." He shook his head and sighed, needing to stand and move around. Liz watched him carefully. "The truth is, yes, I have always wondered what our real home is like; how it would be to go back there, to be given the chance. And now that the chance has come, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Scared, I think." Liz smiled sadly. "What are you afraid of?" she asked softly, "Kivar?" Max shrugged. "Yeah, but that's only part of it." He sat down again, turning to face her directly. "What kind of king was I? Will I be able to do that again? I'm just a kid. I'm not sure if I want all that responsibility." Liz reached for his hands and covered them with her own.

"Max, you'll be fine. I'm sure you were a wonderful king. I mean, look at you, you're the most wonderful person I've ever known." She leaned into him and he put his arm around her. "I'll miss you like crazy," she said, her voice slightly muffled by his shirt, "but we humans can keep each other busy until you come back." She looked up at him and grinned. "And you will come back," she said, "I don't care how beautiful it may be, or how much you like being in charge, there's no way I'm gonna let you be married to Tess." Max laughed. "Okay," he said, "I'll go. I just have to think of something to say to Isabel." Liz nodded, shifting so she was nestled deeply in his arms again. "Just don't be gone too long," she made him promise. Max kissed the top of her head and gently stroked her back. "Don't worry. I'll be back before both of us realize it."

**

Zan snapped out of his daydream and turned, open-mouthed, at Larek. Larek caught his staring and grinned. "What's the matter, Zan?" he laughed, slicing a piece of beef with his fork and shoving it into his mouth. "It's good," he mumbled, his mouth full. Zan shook his head. "You lied to us." Larek stopped his laughing and swallowed. "What?" he asked, with a confused shrug of his shoulders. Zan licked his lips, taking it all in. "You said we could go back. You promised us. I promised Liz." Larek gripped Zan's elbow and led him away from the others. "This is about another one of your dreams, isn't it?" he asked. Zan yanked his arm away, almost violently. "I'm not Zan," he whispered, "I'm … Max."