Before they had left, everyone in the group had come up with the story that the four podsters were participating in an exchange program in Europe for the rest of their high school years. Because Max, Michael, and Tess had kept a relatively low profile in school, this was not too much of a deal. With Isabel, it didn't take too much to convince her friends about her little hoax.
After the four of them were gone, the humans back on Earth tried to get on with their lives. However, it wasn't easy considering the fact that they lived in Roswell, where practically every storefront had something alien related in the windows.
Philip and Diane kept everything in their children's rooms as they were, half-hoping that they might return soon to those rooms once again. While they grieved over the quick departure of their children, they kept a brave face. Part of their façade was telling the community how their children and their friends were enjoying Europe.
Kyle missed Tess but he moved on rather quickly. He wasn't as pained as the others because he had been distancing himself from the others for a while, even before the aliens had left. He continued to play basketball and football and was made captain for both teams. With this new position, he made new friends and hung out in an entirely new clique of people, and avoided Maria, Alex, and Liz all together.
Maria decided to rejoin Alex's band and they poured their hearts and souls into this project. They often practiced into the late hours of the night and early hours of the morning. Mrs. DeLuca started worrying over the possibility that Maria was taking drugs during these 'practices' and practically had Maria taking urine sample tests. However, Alex and Maria's hard work paid off as they started getting more and more gigs at the local clubs.
Liz meanwhile withdrew and threw all of her time into her schoolwork. When she wasn't working at the Crashdown or studying, she would just blank out. Liz tortured herself with 'what if's' and 'could have beens.' Maria and Alex tried to help Liz out of her withdrawal process and begged her to no end about going out with them to the local clubs.
However, on the rare occasions on which they did convince Liz to go with them, any bystander could see that Liz was ill at ease there. Soon, Alex and Maria stopped trying to convince Liz. Because they spent less and less time together, they drifted apart.
~*~Antar~*~
When Max stepped out, he could sense the others before he actually saw them. The light there seemed to be brighter and more intense than back on Earth. His eyes focused and he saw the other three looking at him. There didn't seem to be anyone else there.
Immediately Tess sidled up next to him and clung to his arm. "Max, I was getting so worried that you weren't coming or something. What took you so long?"
Max absently withdrew his arm and looked around. "Shouldn't there be someone here waiting for us?" he asked.
Michael squinted at him and said, "Yeah, but there doesn't seem to be anyone around. I don't like this, Maxwell."
"Be ready." That was all Max said but everyone knew what he meant. They stood in a circle with their backs toward each other so that every person was facing out. Their senses were heightened as adrenaline pumped through them. Max was silently berating himself already, afraid that he had led them into a trap. In his hand, he still clutched Liz's journal.
"Welcome," a voice came. Instantly, the four heads snapped up to see where the voice was coming from. "Do not be alarmed, your majesties. We are here to receive you."
Max looked off into the distance and he saw some figures coming toward them. They looked…different. Not exactly human, but not altogether out of this world alien like they had on television. As he glanced at the others, he was shocked to see that they also were not in human form. He hadn't even noticed it before – why?
Then he realized it was as if their personalities, essence, soul was on the outside, just so that he could sense them without even having to look at them. It was odd, yet familiar at the same time. By now, the strangers had approached and Max could indeed sense that they meant them no harm.
"Welcome. We have waited so long for this day, King Zan," they said. It took Max a second to realize that this was him. He wasn't quite sure how to respond. 'Yes, well, we really didn't all want to come?' Somehow, he knew this was not the best thing to say.
"Forgive us, you have had a long trip. You must be very tired. Allow us to show you to your rooms," their 'guide' said. As he walked, Max and the others followed him.
"What is your name?" Max managed to ask.
"My name is Akire, your majesty," Akire answered as he led them into a castle that just seemed to exude authority and royalty. It was made of some kind of material that glowed a brilliant white and gold, catching the rays of the sun.
"Wow," Michael said, awestruck. That one word captured basically what the others were feeling about the building.
"Wait, what about our bags," Isabel suddenly asked, remembering they had left them in a big pile where they had 'landed.'
"You will not need them any longer. You will find them completely useless here," Akire replied. "As a matter of fact, King Zan, I will take that … book … out of your hands if you do not want it."
"NO!" Max nearly shouted and gripped Liz's journal even harder. He quickly recovered when he saw the startled look on Akire and the confused looks from the others. "I mean, no, that is quite alright. I want to keep this."
"As you wish."
"Here you are. This room here belongs to Prince Rath and Princess Vilandra. The one two doors away is King Zan's and Queen Ava."
Immediately, Max, Michael, and Isabel knew there was a problem. "Umm… actually, we would like separate rooms for the four of us," Max spoke up.
Akire was puzzled. "Four separate rooms? But why?"
"Well, we're not exactly comfortable sleeping together in the same room like this."
"But you are married."
"Hey, buddy, listen," Michael finally exploded. "That guy there is the king, right? Well, if he says he wants separate rooms, give him separate rooms. And we are not married!"
Akire was taken aback. "Yes, of course. Allow for me to arrange it," before scurrying off.
"Well, that went well," Michael said, after a pause.
"Michael, I don't think you had to be that rude," Max reproached.
"Look, Maxwell – or Zan. I am not sleeping in the same room as Isabel and I am sure she feels the same way." Michael looked at Isabel for confirmation and she vigorously nodded her head. "And we have power here so we might as well use it!"
"But we're not supposed to abuse that," Max said, stubbornly.
"Abuse it! I was just speaking up for you! … Unless of course you want to share a room with Tess," Michael said pointedly.
Max glanced at Tess who was looking at him expectantly. "No, of course not," Max relented softly.
Tess spoke up. "Max, you know Akire is right. We are married and we should sleep in one room."
"We aren't really married, Tess," Max automatically replied. "That was our old life and this is our new one."
Tess appeared disgusted at his words for a moment. But then she noticed the notebook in Max's hands. "What is that?"
"It's…" Max was reluctant to answer Tess. For some reason, he wanted to keep this private, it was his only physical connection with Liz left. He was just dying to go and read what was inside. Luckily, Akire came back at that moment and saved Max from having to answer Tess.
"Your rooms are ready. This room here will belong to King Zan, this one next to it will go to Princess Vilandra and those down there will be Prince Rath's and Queen Ava's."
"Why isn't my room next to Ma – I mean, Zan's?" Tess pouted.
"King Zan and Princess Vilandra always have rooms next to each other. That is the way it has always been," Akire answered. "Now, if there is nothing else…"
"No, thank you," Max replied absently, already heading into his room. "I will see you all later," before disappearing into privacy. Once inside the room, he practically ripped open the cover. He knew he should have started at the beginning, but he couldn't help himself. He flipped to that date that was seared in his brain.
Oh, God, what have I done? He thinks I've…betrayed him – his trust, his love. How can I ever look him in the eyes again, knowing that I love him more than ever but he won't ever know that?
Wait a minute, thinks I've betrayed him? Did this mean that …? Max forged on.
I told Future Max. Wait a minute, Future Max? What was this? Max flipped back a few pages. As Max read about Future Max coming back and everything that Liz had done for, everything that Liz sacrificed because of him, he was filled with so many emotions. There was regret, remorse, pain, shock. But most of all, there was love. His love for Liz just seemed to grow in size, to a level where Max thought his heart and soul would burst.
He looked up. He looked around. He was Antar. She was on Earth. He loved her still.
Thanks everyone for the wonderful feedback!! You guys are really awesome and I am so grateful for your wonderful words!!! They encourage me to go on even when I feel like stopping. I am sorry this part took so long but I changed email addresses and had a heck of a time switching it at FF.Net because it wouldn't send me my new password to login. Okay, enough ranting. Hope you enjoyed!! :-)