Part 31
Maria, Isabel and Alex watched the scene unfolding below them, their combined feelings of horror causing the small ledge they were huddled on to feel like it was drowning in tension. "Go find the others." They heard Tarsus order Michael.
Maria felt her heart skip a beat. She turned and grimaced at Alex. "Where are we going to go?" She mouthed.
Alex shrugged, his expression resigned.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Liz would go in first, try and get through to Max. The other three would hang back as reinforcements if things went awry - which they were almost positive they would.
Meanwhile Isabel would try to penetrate Michael's mind. They had climbed up to the ledge while it had still been covered in the dissipating steam from the hot spring.
They were still hidden slightly behind an overhanging rock, but it would likely only be moments until Michael found them, especially because Isabel had been unable to break her mental connection with him immediately. "He knows where we are." Isabel told them, as Alex had to physically pull her out of the dream-state she had been in.
And Michael was suddenly there. Maria felt like she was reliving a nightmare as his hand came up, began to glow.
Her last conscious thought was of Alex grabbing her by the arm, trying to thrust her behind him and then all went dark.
*******************************************************
"You promised Max that you would change Michael back if he gave himself up to you. Are you going to keep that promise?" Liz demanded, sounding braver than she felt.
It seemed like forever before the shapeshifter gave Liz a reply. "Why should I change him back?" He finally asked. "Michael chose to be transformed. I would be going against his free will if I made him become again that which he has always despised."
Liz was suddenly furious. "You didn't give him a free choice!" She told Tarsus, her tone disgusted. "You lied to him, led him to believe you were someone you were not. He thought that he was joining his family. All you made him do was give up his REAL family."
Tarsus' lip curled. He shook his head in annoyance, like Liz was some insect he was humouring. "You do not seem to understand that he is better off the way he is. He will be returning to his home. He is his true self."
"I thought you said he was insignificant and unimportant." Liz retorted. "Why bother bringing him with you?" She demanded.
"Because he knows that he needs Michael to control me." The voice was achingly familiar - and yet somehow totally foreign.
It was Max.
Liz whirled around, her eyes widening at the sight of her boyfriend standing near his pod, his arms folded across his chest. "Max?" She breathed. She didn't know if it was really him or not. Had he been transformed?
But suddenly Liz knew that he had not - her Max had never given up on being human. He had tried unsuccessfully to break his bonds with those he loved - their bonds with him. They had proven stronger then Max's will, which was definitely not insignificant. There was no question in Liz's mind. Max had to be still Max.
Max was not looking at her, but his voice brooked no opposition as he said quietly. "Get behind me Liz."
Liz didn't even try to argue. She knew that he was still her Max, but somehow he was something else entirely as well.
His dark eyes were intense and driven, glinting with an awareness of his own power that was almost frightening.
But Liz was unafraid as she hurried away from Tarsus. Her eyes met Max's briefly. The flash of love she saw there was the final proof she needed but it was unnecessary anyway.
"Can you see if Izzy is okay?" Max asked her quietly as she passed him.
Liz knelt at Isabel's side, gently drew Max's sister's head onto her lap. Isabel was breathing evenly. Liz didn't even think that she was unconscious. It was almost as if she was sleeping. "Isabel." She whispered. "Isabel, wake up." Liz felt her friend begin to stir.
Liz's eyes were drawn back to Max as though to a magnet. Something was different about him. She couldn't quite place her finger on it.
He was staring at Tarsus, his expression stern. "Well, it is done." Max told the other alien. "Is everything prepared for our departure?"
What??? Liz's mind screamed. She felt a sudden, light flash across her mind, calming reassuring...* Liz! It's all right...* She knew it was Max.
She immediately felt better.
Liz was astounded when Tarsus suddenly fell to his knees in front of Max. "Yes my lord."
The shapeshifter motioned urgently to Michael who was watching the whole scene passively. "Prepare the portal."
Michael looked momentarily nonplused. "I told you that it is still malfunctioning master."
Tarsus rolled his eyes, gritted his teeth. "You are good-for-nothing Tristandor." Liz blinked at the strange name. Isabel was beginning to groan quietly. Liz saw that her eyelashes were beginning to flutter.
Tarsus pushed Michael aside, grabbed one of the orbs off the floor of the cave, the other out of Michael's hand. He bowed and scraped his way until he was standing directly in front of Max. "My lord?"
Max took the orbs, eyed them. As Liz watched amazed, Max closed his eyes. The blue orbs began to glow. It looked somewhat like how they had glowed when Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had received the message from their mother the previous spring but it was somehow different at the same time.
Isabel sat up abruptly, gasping. "Alex!" She clutched at her temples as though she had the world's worse headache. Liz threw her arm around the other girl reassuringly. Isabel calmed immediately. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of her brother with the orbs.
"What's going on?" She whispered to Liz. "Is Max still Max?"
Liz nodded. "But I have no idea what he's doing Iz. We just have to trust him." She replied quietly.
Isabel grabbed Liz's hand. "What happened to Alex and Maria?" She whispered urgently as they both watched Max intently. Liz's glance slipped to Tarsus, who looked like he had suddenly been thrust into the presence of a god. Michael had also fallen to his knees. He was staring at the orbs with something approximating interest.
"I don't know." Liz told her, not as quietly this time. Max, Michael and Tarsus were ignoring them anyway.
All thought fled Liz's mind as Max suddenly thrust the orbs away from himself. They seemed to take on a life of their own. Isabel and Liz both ducked their heads as an intense flash of light burst from each orb.
The streams of light joined together, forming a column of such brilliance Liz could not even look at it. She briefly caught a glimpse of Michael and Max through the light.
And then she saw something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end.
Maria.
Part 32
Maria woke up with a splitting, Czech-induced headache for the second time in twelve hours.
Michael.
She brought her hands up to her forehead, tried to massage away the ache that her errant ex-boyfriend had caused with his cursed powers.
Maria managed to pull herself into a sitting position. She was not surprised to see Alex passed out next to her. Isabel was nowhere to be found.
She reached out a hand, started shaking Alex gently. "Wake up! Alex, wake up." Her friend groaned, shifted, went quiet again.
Maria bit her lip. Desperate times called for desperate measures. "Good grief Isabel! Put your clothes back on!"
Alex was up in a flash. He blinked, looked around in confusion. "What the hell?"
Maria smirked despite herself. "Sorry about that bub. I needed you conscious."
Alex's eyes were closed. He collapsed momentarily against the solid rock-face of the cave. "Was I hit by a train?" He managed to croak almost a minute later.
"Just the Michael Express." Maria replied, tried to control the hysterical note that had crept into her voice.
Alex pried his eyes open. "Where's Isabel?" He asked suddenly.
"No clue." Maria told him. She climbed unsteadily to her feet, made her way to the edge of the natural shelf.
Peeking over the edge, Maria wished momentarily that she was still unconscious.
Michael had returned to Tarsus of Dernia's side. He was watching Max, who was fiddling with the damn orbs that had done nothing but cause trouble since Max and Liz had first uncovered one of them.
"Isabel's down below." Maria finally reported over her shoulder to Alex who was finally on his feet. "She looks okay. She's awake."
Maria was surprised to see Alex moving away from her, back the way they had climbed up to their perch. "I'm going down there." He told her.
"Alex!" Maria raced after him, grabbed him by the arm. "You can't just barge in there. We don't have any way to protect ourselves from AK47 Guerin."
Alex shook her off. "I don't care. We should all be in this together Maria." He stared at her, daring her to disagree with him.
Finally she nodded. As usual, Alex was right. "Okay, but listen, let me try and talk to Michael first. I think he's still in there. If we can get him back on our side..." She trailed off.
Alex looked unconvinced. "Fine. But I'm giving you five minutes - that's it. Then we're going in there to get Liz and Isabel out. We can figure out what to do about Max and Michael when we're all safe."
Maria agreed, but briefly crossed her fingers behind her back.
She would not leave Michael again.
He could keep knocking her out until E.T. called home. She would never give up on him.
Alex and Maria carefully climbed down from the ledge, Maria forcing herself not to look down. Alex jumped the last five feet, grasped Maria by her waist, lifted her to join him.
"Wow, impressive Whitman." She joked nervously. "Been working out?"
Alex just rolled his eyes. Maria sighed. Her mouth always motored itself into trouble when she was scared.
And Maria was scared. In fact, she was terrified.
Their trajectory was halted suddenly when an intense beam of light practically knocked them both to the ground. Alex fell back against Maria, shielding her with his body. "What the..." He yelled.
Maria pushed him aside. "Michael!" She screamed.
She could see Liz and Isabel staring at her through the light, both of them with expressions of horror on their faces.
Maria had no idea what was going on, but she knew that she needed to get to Michael, stop him. Whatever he was about to do - it was wrong.
"Maria!" Alex grabbed her by the arm as she tried to get past him. She wrenched herself free, sprinted across the cave, threw herself at Michael's back.
She heard Liz scream, heard Max yelling her name and then she felt Michael's broad back under her hands.
He stumbled as she rammed into him, directly into the beam of light. Maria could not stop herself. Her forward momentum was too great.
Suddenly, she felt as though she was being burned alive. She knew that she was right in the middle of the column of light.
And all went dark.
Part 33
Liz watched in horror as Michael and Maria disappeared into the column of light.
"Maria!" She shrieked, rushing forward, saving her best friend the only thing on her mind.
Max grabbed her as she passed him. "Liz! Stop!"
She struggled to get free. "Let me go Max! We have to do something."
Max forced her to look at him. He was gentle, but insistent. "They're gone! Liz, you can't help them. You have to let me do it."
Liz calmed immediately. This was MAX. She trusted him.
As they both watched, their arms wrapped around each other, the column of light disintegrated. Michael, Maria and, Liz noted quickly, Tarsus, were all gone.
They had completely disappeared.
Liz threw her arms around Max's neck, realized that this was the first time that she had touched him since he went into the pod. "Max, are YOU okay? What's going on?" She felt tears beginning to fill her eyes. She had been maintaining a brave front up until this point but watching her best friend disappear before her eyes - it was too much.
Max's hands were stroking her back. "They've been transported to our home planet." He explained quietly, clearly trying not to upset her again.
Nice try, but no way. Liz wondered if she would ever again feel anything other than upset.
"Is that what you were doing?" Liz asked tersely. "You were going to go with him, weren't you?" She could feel herself getting angry at him again. Why couldn't he ever just let them in? Why did he always have to take everything onto his own shoulders? He had been planning to abandon all of them - abandon HER! - and he wasn't even going to tell them.
Max's jaw clenched. "I'm still going Liz." Liz felt him wind his hands in her hair as she jerked with shock. He brought his forehead down to meet hers. "Liz, please try and understand. I have to get Maria and Michael back. They don't want them. It was a mistake. They want me. I have to go and get them myself."
Liz stared up at him, saw herself reflected in the depths of his beautiful eyes. Max! She couldn't lose him again. She couldn't! "I'm going with you." She told him resolutely.
Max smiled sadly. "Liz, you can't. Your human form won't survive it."
Liz flinched. "Are you telling me that Maria's..." She paused, tried to force the word past her lips. "Dead?"
Max grimaced briefly, touched her face, tried to comfort her. "I hope not. I'm going to do everything in my power to try and save her Liz."
Liz sobbed, buried her head in Max's chest. "Oh God! Maria!" Max's hand cupped the back of her head, as he tried to console her.
Liz became aware of Alex and Isabel standing nearby, equal expressions of shock and grief on their faces. Alex had his arm around Isabel, but she stood stiffly, clearly about to break down.
Liz turned around in Max's embrace. She refused to stop touching him in some capacity. He was leaving her, going into danger to save her best friend and his.
And she couldn't go with him.
She brought her hands to her mouth, tried to control her sobs.
"Max?" Isabel asked carefully.
"I have to go Izzy. You know I do."
Isabel's eyes filled with tears. "Please let me come with you Max!" She motioned to the pod. "I can go through the transformation. I can't let you go alone."
Liz saw Alex's face harden, but he didn't comment. She knew that Alex would consider it to be Isabel's decision, no matter how much he wanted to interfere.
Max shook his head. "No. It won't work Isabel."
Isabel began to look desperate. "But I don't understand Max - how can you go? You're no different. You aren't acting like Michael at all! You still have your emotions. How can you be sure that you aren't still human?" She glanced at the empty pod again. "If you can go, why can't I?"
Max sighed, ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how I know Isabel. I just know."
Liz could hear the pleading tone in his voice. "You guys have to trust me. It's me they want and I need to go now."
Liz closed her eyes. She could feel that she was about to start hyper-ventilating. Max gently set her away from him.
She suddenly felt so cold.
Alex quickly came and put his arm around her as Max said good-bye to his sister. Liz couldn't bear to watch them. It was too painful.
She turned and buried her head in Alex's chest but she couldn't shut out their voices.
"Please Max." Isabel was practically begging. Liz had never heard the other girl sound so desperate. "Please let me go with you."
"It'll be okay Izzy, I promise. You need to stay here and protect Mom and Dad - explain to them." Liz jerked her head up. Was Max saying what it sounded like he was saying?
Isabel sounded equally as incredulous. "Are you telling me to tell them the truth?" Isabel was staring at him. "Max, you are coming back?"
Liz saw Max swallow. She narrowed her eyes. "Of course I'm coming back! I just think that they need to know the truth. It's time." Isabel continued to assess him, but finally nodded. She looked somewhat better then she had a few minutes before.
Max hugged his sister tightly, clearly trying to pass some of his strength on to her. Isabel finally broke free, stumbled away from him. She paused at the wall of the cave, leaning against it for support.
Alex approached Max, who was staring after her in concern. "I'll take care of them Max. I promise."
Max smiled at him. "I know Alex. I knew I didn't even have to ask." Liz felt her tears beginning to flow again as they shook hands.
Alex went to join Isabel, to comfort her. Max turned slowly. His eyes met Liz's.
There was a brief pause as their gazes devoured each other.
His eyes...his beautiful eyes...
"Max." Liz finally whimpered, could feel her knees giving out.
He was at her side in an instant, crushing her to him. Their lips met in a kiss so fierce, Liz couldn't breathe.
She didn't care.
She wound her hands through his soft hair, trying to hold him to her.
Max finally broke their kiss, breathing hard. "Liz." She raised her eyes to meet his. "Please, I'm depending on you to be strong here. Isabel and the others need you."
Liz swallowed painfully. "Max. I need you to promise me that you're coming back to me." Max's gaze never wavered.
"I will always be with you Liz. You are my heart." She sobbed painfully, kissed him again.
"I love you. Max, please know how much I love you." Max's hands were on her face, in her hair, stroking her back.
"I love you too Liz. I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you and I will love you until my dying breath."
Their lips met again, this time in a kiss so gentle, it nearly broke Liz's heart. "I have to go." He finally told her, his lips on her neck.
Liz's hands traced the contours of his beloved face, trying to memorize them. "How long will you be?"
"They'll be back before you know it. I promise."
Liz placed one more gentle kiss on Max's lips, turned away. "Go! Hurry! Please Max."
She felt him sweep his hand down the back of her head one final time. And then he had moved away from her.
It took a couple of minutes, but it seemed far too soon to Liz.
She turned around and watched him take the orbs into his hands. He closed his eyes, concentrating.
And then the flash of light...
He was gone.
It was only then that Liz realized that he had not promised that he would be back.
Part 34
I'd give up my sight just to see you,
I'd beg, I would borrow and steal
I'd cut off my hands just to touch you,
And tear out my heart so you'd know how I feel.
There's nowhere that I wouldn't follow
There's no place that I'd rather be
This life without you would be hollow
This love is a gift and you gave it to me.
All that I am you have made me,
And, baby, I know that it's true
I'd give it all up in a heartbeat
Just to spend every moment with you.
There's no place that I wouldn't follow,
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
'Cause I wouldn't want to be me,
If I didn't have you.
Amanda Marshall
Liz, Isabel and Alex huddled together in the cave for quite a while after Max had left.
Liz's tears had stopped almost immediately. Now she just felt numb.
Her mind was blank.
She knew it was a defense mechanism against the pain that would overwhelm her if she let herself think. To lose both Max and Maria on the same day...and even Michael.
To reflect on it would make her break her promise to Max. She had to be strong. She had to become the stone wall that Michael had always failed at being.
For the others.
None of them wanted to move, hoping against hope that it was all a nightmare - that they would all wake up and look at each other and laugh - and that Max and Michael and Maria would be there to share the joke.
Finally Alex spoke. "I think we better go back to the camp. We need to tell Kyle and Tess what happened. And we need to tell your dad Isabel, and the Sheriff."
Isabel was leaning back against the wall of the cave, her eyes closed. They snapped open abruptly. "We have to stay here - for when they come back."
Liz bit her lip. Be strong Liz! Be strong! She put her arm around Isabel. "We don't even know if they'll return here Isabel. They could come back anywhere."
Isabel shook her head stubbornly. "No. It will be here. I know it." Alex and Liz exchanged glances.
"Okay, why don't I go back and get the others and you girls can stay here and wait." Alex finally offered, clearly displeased to be leaving them alone, but seeing no alternative.
Liz glanced quickly at her watch. "It should be almost light." She told her friend. "Kyle and Tess might already be on their way here."
Alex nodded in agreement but said, "I think I should go anyway, just in case."
Isabel closed her eyes again, retreated into silence. Liz was more worried about the other girl than she was about herself. She had lost the two most important people in her life - other than Alex. Liz had known for a long time that despite all her posturing and snippiness, which had largely disappeared in the last year, Isabel was the most vulnerable of them all. She would try to go on for her parents' sake, but she would be dying inside.
Of course Liz wasn't allowing herself to recognize that she too had just watched the two most important people in her life disappear in a flash of light.
She would think about that later.
Liz sat down next to Isabel, put her arm around her. She looked at Alex. "Hurry."
Liz and Isabel sat in silence for several minutes after Alex had departed.
Isabel's form was tense. It was clear that her thoughts were a thousand miles away.
Liz wished that her friend would say something. The quiet was beginning to make her think.
She did not want to think.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Isabel suddenly relaxed and spoke. "Alex should be long gone by now. I knew he would try and stop us. It's time Liz. It's time to take matters into our own hands."
Liz blinked. "What can we do?"
Isabel pulled away, climbed to her feet. "We're going after them."
Liz swallowed. "How?"
Isabel turned to eye her. "The orbs of course."
"But Isabel, only Max could make them work." Liz told her. "And we're in human form. We'll never survive."
Isabel raised an eyebrow and just stared at Liz. Liz smiled weakly. "Okay, I admit it. I'm just playing devil's advocate. You convinced me at the first word."
She climbed slowly to her feet, went and grabbed the orbs where they had fallen to the ground after Max had left. They felt heavy in her hands. Looking down at them she flashed momentarily to the night that she and Max had first found one.
It had been the best night of her life - the first time that she had fallen asleep in Max's arms, the first night that she had truly realized how in love with him she was.
It was the first night that their connection had moved past high schoolers playing at being in love. The way he had looked at her, the way he had told her that he wanted to be her destiny, she had known that never in her life would she find anyone to equal him.
He was her soul-mate, her fate, her other half and he had come across the universe to find her.
And now she would do the same for him.
Even if it killed her.
"Are you okay Liz?" Isabel asked. Max's sister had been examining the empty pod closely, but had now turned to gaze at her with concern.
Liz straightened her spine. "I will be. As soon as we get them back."
Isabel smiled. "Okay. Well, it looks like Max was right." She gestured at the pod. "This thing looks pretty useless now." She swallowed, her smile suddenly more forced. "We're just going to have to risk it."
Liz nodded. "Let's do it."
She went to stand beside Isabel, handed her the orbs.
Isabel stared down at them intensely for what seemed like forever. She turned to Liz. "I guess maybe you should hold on to me somehow. We don't want to lose each other."
Liz grabbed a hold of Isabel's jacket.
She watched Isabel close her eyes, her forehead wrinkled in concentration.
For the longest time nothing happened.
Just when Liz was about to speak, ask Isabel if anything was happening, she saw one of the orbs begin to glow.
She held her breath as the other one seemed to realize that it was falling behind its twin. It brightened much more quickly, until they both burned with an intense light that forced Liz to avert her eyes.
And suddenly the column of light erupted, pulling the orbs from Isabel's hands.
But something was different...
Liz grabbed a hold of Isabel's arm as her friend's eyes snapped open. They exchanged frightened glances.
"I think something's wrong Isabel." Liz finally murmured. "It wasn't red the last time."
Isabel's eyes narrowed. "I'm going Liz." She started to walk towards the portal. Liz was on her heels.
The both stopped abruptly when the light began to flicker.
And then the world seemed to explode.
Part 35
Alex heard the explosion from almost a mile away.
Just as he spun on his heel, Kyle and Tess appeared from behind a tree, matching expressions of fear on their faces.
"What the hell was that?" Kyle yelled, grabbed Tess, who looked like she was about to faint.
Alex pressed his lips together in fury. "Isabel."
"What's going on Alex?" Tess demanded.
"No time to explain. We have to get back there." Alex sprinted back in the direction he had just come from. Dammit! He berated himself. You knew you shouldn't leave them alone!
But he had trusted Liz not to do anything foolish.
Stupid, stupid! Liz was anything but reasonable when it came to Max. When Max was involved his usually level-headed best friend was the first to jump in head first without looking.
It took less then five minutes to get back to the cave where the hot spring was located.
Or where it had been located.
Alex slammed to a halt so suddenly, Tess stumbled into his back, sending him flying. She landed on top of him. Neither bothered to get up.
They just stared at the spot where the cave had stood in horror.
Alex finally managed to crawl to his knees. "Oh my God! Isabel!" He whispered.
Kyle had stopped a few feet behind him. He was staring at the rubble in front of them dumbfounded. "What the hell is going on?" He finally managed to choke out.
"They're all gone." Alex replied quietly. "I left Liz and Isabel alone and they tried to go after Max. I knew they would do it and I left them anyway."
Tess climbed to her feet, wrapped her arm around Alex comfortingly. Alex stared down at her, blinked. "It's not your fault Alex."
Who knew I would actually want comfort from Tess Harding, he thought stupidly.
He realized that he was in shock.
It was then that he saw something move out of the corner of his eye.
Alex turned his head, caught a flash of gold.
The just rising sun illuminated Isabel's blonde hair so that it shone like a halo around her head.
She had been thrown about a hundred feet from the cave. She was now climbing unsteadily to her feet. Her hands flew to her head and she bent over at the waist in pain.
"Isabel!" Alex was at her side in an instant, managed to catch her before she fell over.
He gently laid her back on the ground. Her beautiful dark eyes were closed, but they fluttered, opened to stare up at him. "Where's...where's Liz?" She finally managed to ask after licking her lips.
Alex raised his head, searched the surrounding area frantically.
And then he saw her.
Liz was sprawled atop a pile of rubble on her stomach, her dark hair covering her like a shroud. "Kyle!" Alex yelled, pointing towards his friend. "Liz is over there."
Kyle stared in the direction he was pointing, was at a dead run in less then a second.
Alex heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Kyle turn Liz over. He could hear her groaning.
He looked back down at Isabel, who was trying to sit up. "Isabel! Stop it! You're not going anywhere." Alex ordered, his anger returning now that he knew she was going to be all right. "What the hell were you doing?" He demanded, getting ready to launch into a full-fledged lecture. "You broke your promise to Max and you almost got yourself killed. What the hell were you trying to accomplish?"
But Isabel was definitely not listening to him. She was starting past him, tears beginning to appear in her eyes. "Alex, look!"
Alex followed her gaze, did a double-take.
Just appearing out of the trees was Michael Guerin - and in his arms he was cradling the most beautiful sight Alex had ever seen.
Maria.
All thought of pain had obviously fled Isabel's mind at the sight of her almost-brother. "Michael!" She stumbled to her feet, had thrown her arms around the spiky-haired boy and the precious bundle he carried in his arms before Alex had truly processed the sight of them.
"Whoa Iz!" Alex heard Michael croak, clearly practically suffocating due to Isabel's constrictive hold on his neck. "Oxygen...please."
Alex managed to reach their side just in time to catch Maria as Michael lost his grip on her. Maria's eyes were closed, but she opened them almost immediately, stared up at Alex. "Thanks Alex." She sounded exhausted. "Where's Liz?" She managed to say before closing her eyes again.
Alex turned to see how Kyle was doing with Liz. He was pleased to see that his other best friend was on her feet, leaning on her ex-boyfriend for support.
He saw the exact moment that Liz noticed that Maria and Michael had returned. Her eyes widened with joy.
Liz rushed forward threw her arms around Maria, whom Alex had gently placed on the ground. Alex could hear the tears of happiness in her voice as she said, "Oh my God Maria! We were so worried."
Isabel was still wailing on an uncomfortable looking Michael's chest. Michael was staring over his head at Alex helplessly. Alex just shrugged, a grin breaking out over his face.
The look of complete horror at the scene Isabel was creating on the other boy's face told Alex exactly what he needed to know.
The REAL Michael Guerin was back.
Finally, the happy reunion began to simmer down.
"What happened to you guys?" Tess, who had joined them by now, asked curiously. "Maria, your hair is like a foot longer."
Alex stared at his friend in surprise. It was true. Maria's blonde hair was longer, actually almost halfway down her back.
It was then that he noticed that both Michael and Maria were also wearing strange clothes. Maria a long white gown, Michael some sort of weird green tunic and - this was the part Alex really couldn't believe - some sort of tights.
Michael Guerin was wearing tights and looked pretty darn comfortable doing so.
Michael and Maria exchanged a brief look across the crowd of friends gathered around them. "It's complicated." Maria replied evasively, quickly glancing at Liz.
And it was then that Alex realized what he could not have believed they had missed for so long.
He looked at Liz. An expression of fear had appeared on her face.
The immediate tension that had claimed the group doubled when his best friend finally managed to whisper the question that was haunting them all, "Where's Max?"
Maria swallowed, exchanged another look with Michael, who actually looked like he was on the verge of tears. Alex noticed that Isabel was clutching Michael's sleeve tightly, her face beginning to crumble as dawning realization came to her. Michael did not even flinch, only put his arm around her in support.
"Maria?" Liz asked again, thrusting herself away as Kyle put his hand on her shoulder, clearly aware that she was going to very soon need someone.
Maria bit her lip, closed her eyes briefly. She took a deep breath, finally managed to open her eyes. She stared at Liz sadly. "He's gone Liz."
Part 36
Tess seemed to be the only one capable of speech. "What do you mean gone Maria?" She asked in a fairly even tone.
Liz stared at her former nemesis in amazement. How could she be so calm? Liz's entire being was screaming with tension and pain.
But she had to be strong.
She had promised Max.
Maria was still seated on the ground. She shivered suddenly. Liz realized that the long white gown that she was wearing was quite thin. She quickly started to take off her jacket, but Alex beat her too it, gently placing his coat around Maria's shoulders.
Michael and Maria were staring at each other again. It looked to Liz like they were having some sort of silent conversation. She frowned with concern.
What on Earth had happened to her friends?
Liz still wasn't quite sure what had occurred when she and Isabel had opened the portal to Max's planet. She remembered the red light, so different from the gateway that had whisked Michael and Maria, and later Max, away from them. But everything after that was a blur. The next thing she remembered was Kyle gently turning her over, waking her up.
Max! She had to know. "Please Maria!" Liz begged her best friend.
Maria managed to tear her gaze away from Michael. "What year is it Lizzie?"
Liz exchanged a quick look with Alex. He looked just as perplexed as she felt. "Ummmm it's exactly the same day it was when you left Maria. It's January 2001. You've only been gone for like an hour."
Liz saw Maria swallow convulsively. "Michael, how can that be?"
Michael just shook his head. "I have no idea." He turned back to the others. "We've been gone for at least a year."
Liz raised her hands to her temples. She had a sudden flash of Max, his face smiling, lit up by the fireworks he had unleashed from a parking meter. "What's so great about normal?"
Suddenly normal seemed like a luxury that Liz would kill for.
"Okay. Colour me confounded." Alex finally said. They had all been standing there in silence for several minutes as they all tried to come to grips with what was going on.
Liz felt like giggling hysterically. She saw Kyle look at her with concern, move to put his arm around her. This time she let him. Her knees felt like jello. "Where is Max?" She demanded for what felt like the millionth time.
"He's on Illyria Liz." Maria told her softly.
"Is he coming back?" Liz asked quietly, already knowing the answer.
"I don't think so." Maria pulled her knees up to her chest. "I'm sorry Liz."
Liz could feel herself becoming detached from reality. She had never before fainted in her life and she was not about to begin now. She shook her head vigorously, trying to clear it, turned to Isabel desperately. "Isabel! What did we do?"
"Can you guys please stop being so cryptic?" Isabel berated Michael and Maria. "How did you get back? Why isn't Max with you?"
"We had to wait a year - until you reactivated the orbs from this end." Michael explained. "It turns out your not so insignificant after all Izzy." He told her ruefully. "Max is the gate home. You're the gate to Earth."
"What the heck are you talking about?" Isabel replied. "I activated them almost right after Max left." She looked guiltily at Alex.
"Not in Illyrian time." Maria said. "It took Max six months to follow us and then it was more than six months before you reactivated them from this side." She looked at them all, her expression suddenly all Maria. "I guess I don't need to explain that time moves differently there?"
"I think they've got that Maria." Michael rolled his eyes.
Liz did not care about any of this. "Please - just tell me why Max isn't with you."
A pained expression came over Michael's chiseled face. "He had to trade himself for me." He told her. Maria climbed to her feet, went to stand beside him, taking his hand in hers. "They wouldn't let me come back unless he stayed."
His eyes were haunted. They had been gone for a year. What had happened to Michael and Maria in that time?
"Can he ever come back?" Liz asked quietly.
"No." Michael nearly choked on the word.
"Why not?" Liz could feel herself fading away again.
"I don't know." And Michael really looked like he didn't. "I don't really remember anything. I just know he's not coming back."
This was still something that Liz did not understand. "But Michael, why did you come back? This all started because you wanted to go home. You got what you wanted. Why would you come back, let Max sacrifice himself like that?" She could feel herself becoming angry at Michael.
Anger was better then pain. If she was angry, she wouldn't cry. She would keep her promise to Max. She would be strong.
It was all Michael's fault! If he hadn't let Tarsus of Dernia get to him in the first place, Max would still be there. He would be safe.
Michael glanced guiltily at Maria. "Maria." He replied simply.
And Liz knew then that she would never see Max Evans again.
Part 37 - Conclusion
Liz heard the telephone ringing.
She pulled her pillow over her head, tried to shut it out. She didn't want to talk to anyone.
This was the first chance she had had to be alone since the catastrophe.
It had been a week since they had returned from Fraser Woods.
Liz had kept her promise to Max. She had been strong. She had not cried. Her eyes felt like sandpaper they were so dry, but she would honour what he had asked of her.
They had finally returned to the campsite to find their fathers milling around in confusion, clearly worried about where they had all disappeared to.
Liz had been shell-shocked. Kyle and Tess had practically had to drag her back through the woods, but she had managed to pull herself together in time to face their fathers.
Michael and Maria had been lost in their own little world, clearly unsure of how to deal with returning to their "real" lives. They had been unable to tell them anything more about their time on Illyria. The memories seemed to be fading with every minute that they spent back on Earth.
Liz had not cared. She thought that if she heard Michael's voice for another moment, she would be sick. She stoked her anger at him, using it to preserve her delicate state of mind. Strong, strong - she would be strong. It was Michael's fault. He was to blame.
Isabel had collapsed the moment she had laid eyes on Mr. Evans. She had been inconsolable for hours. Liz had been unable to speak. She had simply held Isabel's head in her lap, stroking her hair, Alex kneeling beside her, trying to help.
Mr. Evans had known instantly that his son was not coming back. He hadn't even asked for an explanation. He had simply retired to his tent in silence, had not emerged until Mrs. Evans arrived, the Sheriff having radioed one of his deputies to bring her out.
Liz's father had tried to get her to return to Roswell with him, but she had refused to leave Isabel. Comforting her friend, Max's sister, was the only thing that mattered. Isabel was all that she had left of him. She had to protect her.
Mr. Parker and Mr. Whitman were told that there had been an accident, that Max had fallen into the river, had been swept away by the current before any of them could do anything. They had believed it. The Sheriff had managed to convince them to return to town, telling them that those who had known and loved Max needed to be together, alone, for a while - to try and come to terms with their grief.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans were told the truth.
In the end, it was the Sheriff who had had to tell them. Isabel had been incoherent, Liz trapped in a world of silence. Alex had helped him with the details of what had transpired that weekend.
The Sheriff's lips had compressed as he was told what he had missed. His anger that he had been left out had been evident, but his grief for Max was just as strong. He had never truly repaid the boy who had saved his son's life and now he would never have the chance.
Isabel's parents had taken the truth better then was expected. They were so grief-stricken over the loss of their son and their daughter's state of mind, the alien stuff had seemed sort of insignificant. Liz knew that Mrs. Evans had practically known already anyway and it was unlikely that she had never discussed her suspicions with Max's dad.
None of them quite knew what to do after the story had been told. They didn't want to leave the woods, the hope that Max might return still alive.
But as the hours had passed, hope had died.
Liz had spent the past week sleeping on Isabel's spare bed. Neither girl wanted to be separated from the other. It now seemed ludicrous that at one time they had been jealous of the other's relationship with Max. Now they were glad that someone else understood how much they had each loved him - in different ways of course, but still with an equal fervor.
One night Liz had crept silently into Max's bedroom, had curled up in his bed. She could still smell him on his pillow. It had been the closest she had come to breaking down since he had left. When she had found the picture of the two of them that he had hidden under his bed during his anti-Max act, she had had to leave the room. It had been another Maria original, totally candid, taken of the two of them in the Crashdown. Liz was in her uniform, leaning over the table where Max was sitting, a cherry cola in front of him. They both had slight smiles on their faces, but Liz had known right away that they had not been talking - or at least not with their mouths. The way they were staring into each other's eyes...Liz had clutched it to her chest for the entire night. It now sat on her bedside table.
Alex had been with them every moment that they were not asleep and Kyle and Tess spent a lot of time with them as well.
Tess was grieving in her own way. She had loved the idea of who Max was, but as she came to terms with his disappearance, she had finally acknowledged that she had never really been in love with him. She had loved him as a friend and she missed him, but she would recover. And Kyle was there to help her.
Maria and Michael kept their distance. They had holed themselves up in Michael's apartment and seemed to be drifting in a strange state of detachment. Liz wished that Maria would see her, but she was glad that she did not have to see Michael's face. She knew that she was being irrational but for once she did not care.
The Parkers had finally insisted yesterday that Liz return home. They had been terrified by the sight of her when Mr. Evans had dropped her off. She knew that she looked horrible. The dark circles under her eyes alone were enough to convince her parents that she needed to see a doctor.
She had ignored the, had locked herself in her bedroom and had spent the last twelve hours re-reading her journal.
She had re-lived every wonderful, every horrible, every magical, every abnormal, every fated moment of her relationship with Max Evans.
Liz had sat curled up under a blanket on her balcony as she read, had often paused to stare at the place where she and Max had shared their first kiss.
She had finally crawled into bed at seven in the morning, when the "V" constellation in the sky had set as the sun rose. She and Isabel had spent many an hour over the last week staring at that constellation, wondering what Max was doing, whether he was safe.
Whether he was trying to come back to them.
Liz knew in her heart of hearts that he was.
And even if he wasn't...
She would wait forever.
The End (Or is it?)
Of course it's not!
Part 1 of "Legacy" - sequel to Out of the Woods...Coming Soon!
Maria, Isabel and Alex watched the scene unfolding below them, their combined feelings of horror causing the small ledge they were huddled on to feel like it was drowning in tension. "Go find the others." They heard Tarsus order Michael.
Maria felt her heart skip a beat. She turned and grimaced at Alex. "Where are we going to go?" She mouthed.
Alex shrugged, his expression resigned.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Liz would go in first, try and get through to Max. The other three would hang back as reinforcements if things went awry - which they were almost positive they would.
Meanwhile Isabel would try to penetrate Michael's mind. They had climbed up to the ledge while it had still been covered in the dissipating steam from the hot spring.
They were still hidden slightly behind an overhanging rock, but it would likely only be moments until Michael found them, especially because Isabel had been unable to break her mental connection with him immediately. "He knows where we are." Isabel told them, as Alex had to physically pull her out of the dream-state she had been in.
And Michael was suddenly there. Maria felt like she was reliving a nightmare as his hand came up, began to glow.
Her last conscious thought was of Alex grabbing her by the arm, trying to thrust her behind him and then all went dark.
*******************************************************
"You promised Max that you would change Michael back if he gave himself up to you. Are you going to keep that promise?" Liz demanded, sounding braver than she felt.
It seemed like forever before the shapeshifter gave Liz a reply. "Why should I change him back?" He finally asked. "Michael chose to be transformed. I would be going against his free will if I made him become again that which he has always despised."
Liz was suddenly furious. "You didn't give him a free choice!" She told Tarsus, her tone disgusted. "You lied to him, led him to believe you were someone you were not. He thought that he was joining his family. All you made him do was give up his REAL family."
Tarsus' lip curled. He shook his head in annoyance, like Liz was some insect he was humouring. "You do not seem to understand that he is better off the way he is. He will be returning to his home. He is his true self."
"I thought you said he was insignificant and unimportant." Liz retorted. "Why bother bringing him with you?" She demanded.
"Because he knows that he needs Michael to control me." The voice was achingly familiar - and yet somehow totally foreign.
It was Max.
Liz whirled around, her eyes widening at the sight of her boyfriend standing near his pod, his arms folded across his chest. "Max?" She breathed. She didn't know if it was really him or not. Had he been transformed?
But suddenly Liz knew that he had not - her Max had never given up on being human. He had tried unsuccessfully to break his bonds with those he loved - their bonds with him. They had proven stronger then Max's will, which was definitely not insignificant. There was no question in Liz's mind. Max had to be still Max.
Max was not looking at her, but his voice brooked no opposition as he said quietly. "Get behind me Liz."
Liz didn't even try to argue. She knew that he was still her Max, but somehow he was something else entirely as well.
His dark eyes were intense and driven, glinting with an awareness of his own power that was almost frightening.
But Liz was unafraid as she hurried away from Tarsus. Her eyes met Max's briefly. The flash of love she saw there was the final proof she needed but it was unnecessary anyway.
"Can you see if Izzy is okay?" Max asked her quietly as she passed him.
Liz knelt at Isabel's side, gently drew Max's sister's head onto her lap. Isabel was breathing evenly. Liz didn't even think that she was unconscious. It was almost as if she was sleeping. "Isabel." She whispered. "Isabel, wake up." Liz felt her friend begin to stir.
Liz's eyes were drawn back to Max as though to a magnet. Something was different about him. She couldn't quite place her finger on it.
He was staring at Tarsus, his expression stern. "Well, it is done." Max told the other alien. "Is everything prepared for our departure?"
What??? Liz's mind screamed. She felt a sudden, light flash across her mind, calming reassuring...* Liz! It's all right...* She knew it was Max.
She immediately felt better.
Liz was astounded when Tarsus suddenly fell to his knees in front of Max. "Yes my lord."
The shapeshifter motioned urgently to Michael who was watching the whole scene passively. "Prepare the portal."
Michael looked momentarily nonplused. "I told you that it is still malfunctioning master."
Tarsus rolled his eyes, gritted his teeth. "You are good-for-nothing Tristandor." Liz blinked at the strange name. Isabel was beginning to groan quietly. Liz saw that her eyelashes were beginning to flutter.
Tarsus pushed Michael aside, grabbed one of the orbs off the floor of the cave, the other out of Michael's hand. He bowed and scraped his way until he was standing directly in front of Max. "My lord?"
Max took the orbs, eyed them. As Liz watched amazed, Max closed his eyes. The blue orbs began to glow. It looked somewhat like how they had glowed when Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had received the message from their mother the previous spring but it was somehow different at the same time.
Isabel sat up abruptly, gasping. "Alex!" She clutched at her temples as though she had the world's worse headache. Liz threw her arm around the other girl reassuringly. Isabel calmed immediately. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of her brother with the orbs.
"What's going on?" She whispered to Liz. "Is Max still Max?"
Liz nodded. "But I have no idea what he's doing Iz. We just have to trust him." She replied quietly.
Isabel grabbed Liz's hand. "What happened to Alex and Maria?" She whispered urgently as they both watched Max intently. Liz's glance slipped to Tarsus, who looked like he had suddenly been thrust into the presence of a god. Michael had also fallen to his knees. He was staring at the orbs with something approximating interest.
"I don't know." Liz told her, not as quietly this time. Max, Michael and Tarsus were ignoring them anyway.
All thought fled Liz's mind as Max suddenly thrust the orbs away from himself. They seemed to take on a life of their own. Isabel and Liz both ducked their heads as an intense flash of light burst from each orb.
The streams of light joined together, forming a column of such brilliance Liz could not even look at it. She briefly caught a glimpse of Michael and Max through the light.
And then she saw something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up on end.
Maria.
Part 32
Maria woke up with a splitting, Czech-induced headache for the second time in twelve hours.
Michael.
She brought her hands up to her forehead, tried to massage away the ache that her errant ex-boyfriend had caused with his cursed powers.
Maria managed to pull herself into a sitting position. She was not surprised to see Alex passed out next to her. Isabel was nowhere to be found.
She reached out a hand, started shaking Alex gently. "Wake up! Alex, wake up." Her friend groaned, shifted, went quiet again.
Maria bit her lip. Desperate times called for desperate measures. "Good grief Isabel! Put your clothes back on!"
Alex was up in a flash. He blinked, looked around in confusion. "What the hell?"
Maria smirked despite herself. "Sorry about that bub. I needed you conscious."
Alex's eyes were closed. He collapsed momentarily against the solid rock-face of the cave. "Was I hit by a train?" He managed to croak almost a minute later.
"Just the Michael Express." Maria replied, tried to control the hysterical note that had crept into her voice.
Alex pried his eyes open. "Where's Isabel?" He asked suddenly.
"No clue." Maria told him. She climbed unsteadily to her feet, made her way to the edge of the natural shelf.
Peeking over the edge, Maria wished momentarily that she was still unconscious.
Michael had returned to Tarsus of Dernia's side. He was watching Max, who was fiddling with the damn orbs that had done nothing but cause trouble since Max and Liz had first uncovered one of them.
"Isabel's down below." Maria finally reported over her shoulder to Alex who was finally on his feet. "She looks okay. She's awake."
Maria was surprised to see Alex moving away from her, back the way they had climbed up to their perch. "I'm going down there." He told her.
"Alex!" Maria raced after him, grabbed him by the arm. "You can't just barge in there. We don't have any way to protect ourselves from AK47 Guerin."
Alex shook her off. "I don't care. We should all be in this together Maria." He stared at her, daring her to disagree with him.
Finally she nodded. As usual, Alex was right. "Okay, but listen, let me try and talk to Michael first. I think he's still in there. If we can get him back on our side..." She trailed off.
Alex looked unconvinced. "Fine. But I'm giving you five minutes - that's it. Then we're going in there to get Liz and Isabel out. We can figure out what to do about Max and Michael when we're all safe."
Maria agreed, but briefly crossed her fingers behind her back.
She would not leave Michael again.
He could keep knocking her out until E.T. called home. She would never give up on him.
Alex and Maria carefully climbed down from the ledge, Maria forcing herself not to look down. Alex jumped the last five feet, grasped Maria by her waist, lifted her to join him.
"Wow, impressive Whitman." She joked nervously. "Been working out?"
Alex just rolled his eyes. Maria sighed. Her mouth always motored itself into trouble when she was scared.
And Maria was scared. In fact, she was terrified.
Their trajectory was halted suddenly when an intense beam of light practically knocked them both to the ground. Alex fell back against Maria, shielding her with his body. "What the..." He yelled.
Maria pushed him aside. "Michael!" She screamed.
She could see Liz and Isabel staring at her through the light, both of them with expressions of horror on their faces.
Maria had no idea what was going on, but she knew that she needed to get to Michael, stop him. Whatever he was about to do - it was wrong.
"Maria!" Alex grabbed her by the arm as she tried to get past him. She wrenched herself free, sprinted across the cave, threw herself at Michael's back.
She heard Liz scream, heard Max yelling her name and then she felt Michael's broad back under her hands.
He stumbled as she rammed into him, directly into the beam of light. Maria could not stop herself. Her forward momentum was too great.
Suddenly, she felt as though she was being burned alive. She knew that she was right in the middle of the column of light.
And all went dark.
Part 33
Liz watched in horror as Michael and Maria disappeared into the column of light.
"Maria!" She shrieked, rushing forward, saving her best friend the only thing on her mind.
Max grabbed her as she passed him. "Liz! Stop!"
She struggled to get free. "Let me go Max! We have to do something."
Max forced her to look at him. He was gentle, but insistent. "They're gone! Liz, you can't help them. You have to let me do it."
Liz calmed immediately. This was MAX. She trusted him.
As they both watched, their arms wrapped around each other, the column of light disintegrated. Michael, Maria and, Liz noted quickly, Tarsus, were all gone.
They had completely disappeared.
Liz threw her arms around Max's neck, realized that this was the first time that she had touched him since he went into the pod. "Max, are YOU okay? What's going on?" She felt tears beginning to fill her eyes. She had been maintaining a brave front up until this point but watching her best friend disappear before her eyes - it was too much.
Max's hands were stroking her back. "They've been transported to our home planet." He explained quietly, clearly trying not to upset her again.
Nice try, but no way. Liz wondered if she would ever again feel anything other than upset.
"Is that what you were doing?" Liz asked tersely. "You were going to go with him, weren't you?" She could feel herself getting angry at him again. Why couldn't he ever just let them in? Why did he always have to take everything onto his own shoulders? He had been planning to abandon all of them - abandon HER! - and he wasn't even going to tell them.
Max's jaw clenched. "I'm still going Liz." Liz felt him wind his hands in her hair as she jerked with shock. He brought his forehead down to meet hers. "Liz, please try and understand. I have to get Maria and Michael back. They don't want them. It was a mistake. They want me. I have to go and get them myself."
Liz stared up at him, saw herself reflected in the depths of his beautiful eyes. Max! She couldn't lose him again. She couldn't! "I'm going with you." She told him resolutely.
Max smiled sadly. "Liz, you can't. Your human form won't survive it."
Liz flinched. "Are you telling me that Maria's..." She paused, tried to force the word past her lips. "Dead?"
Max grimaced briefly, touched her face, tried to comfort her. "I hope not. I'm going to do everything in my power to try and save her Liz."
Liz sobbed, buried her head in Max's chest. "Oh God! Maria!" Max's hand cupped the back of her head, as he tried to console her.
Liz became aware of Alex and Isabel standing nearby, equal expressions of shock and grief on their faces. Alex had his arm around Isabel, but she stood stiffly, clearly about to break down.
Liz turned around in Max's embrace. She refused to stop touching him in some capacity. He was leaving her, going into danger to save her best friend and his.
And she couldn't go with him.
She brought her hands to her mouth, tried to control her sobs.
"Max?" Isabel asked carefully.
"I have to go Izzy. You know I do."
Isabel's eyes filled with tears. "Please let me come with you Max!" She motioned to the pod. "I can go through the transformation. I can't let you go alone."
Liz saw Alex's face harden, but he didn't comment. She knew that Alex would consider it to be Isabel's decision, no matter how much he wanted to interfere.
Max shook his head. "No. It won't work Isabel."
Isabel began to look desperate. "But I don't understand Max - how can you go? You're no different. You aren't acting like Michael at all! You still have your emotions. How can you be sure that you aren't still human?" She glanced at the empty pod again. "If you can go, why can't I?"
Max sighed, ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how I know Isabel. I just know."
Liz could hear the pleading tone in his voice. "You guys have to trust me. It's me they want and I need to go now."
Liz closed her eyes. She could feel that she was about to start hyper-ventilating. Max gently set her away from him.
She suddenly felt so cold.
Alex quickly came and put his arm around her as Max said good-bye to his sister. Liz couldn't bear to watch them. It was too painful.
She turned and buried her head in Alex's chest but she couldn't shut out their voices.
"Please Max." Isabel was practically begging. Liz had never heard the other girl sound so desperate. "Please let me go with you."
"It'll be okay Izzy, I promise. You need to stay here and protect Mom and Dad - explain to them." Liz jerked her head up. Was Max saying what it sounded like he was saying?
Isabel sounded equally as incredulous. "Are you telling me to tell them the truth?" Isabel was staring at him. "Max, you are coming back?"
Liz saw Max swallow. She narrowed her eyes. "Of course I'm coming back! I just think that they need to know the truth. It's time." Isabel continued to assess him, but finally nodded. She looked somewhat better then she had a few minutes before.
Max hugged his sister tightly, clearly trying to pass some of his strength on to her. Isabel finally broke free, stumbled away from him. She paused at the wall of the cave, leaning against it for support.
Alex approached Max, who was staring after her in concern. "I'll take care of them Max. I promise."
Max smiled at him. "I know Alex. I knew I didn't even have to ask." Liz felt her tears beginning to flow again as they shook hands.
Alex went to join Isabel, to comfort her. Max turned slowly. His eyes met Liz's.
There was a brief pause as their gazes devoured each other.
His eyes...his beautiful eyes...
"Max." Liz finally whimpered, could feel her knees giving out.
He was at her side in an instant, crushing her to him. Their lips met in a kiss so fierce, Liz couldn't breathe.
She didn't care.
She wound her hands through his soft hair, trying to hold him to her.
Max finally broke their kiss, breathing hard. "Liz." She raised her eyes to meet his. "Please, I'm depending on you to be strong here. Isabel and the others need you."
Liz swallowed painfully. "Max. I need you to promise me that you're coming back to me." Max's gaze never wavered.
"I will always be with you Liz. You are my heart." She sobbed painfully, kissed him again.
"I love you. Max, please know how much I love you." Max's hands were on her face, in her hair, stroking her back.
"I love you too Liz. I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you and I will love you until my dying breath."
Their lips met again, this time in a kiss so gentle, it nearly broke Liz's heart. "I have to go." He finally told her, his lips on her neck.
Liz's hands traced the contours of his beloved face, trying to memorize them. "How long will you be?"
"They'll be back before you know it. I promise."
Liz placed one more gentle kiss on Max's lips, turned away. "Go! Hurry! Please Max."
She felt him sweep his hand down the back of her head one final time. And then he had moved away from her.
It took a couple of minutes, but it seemed far too soon to Liz.
She turned around and watched him take the orbs into his hands. He closed his eyes, concentrating.
And then the flash of light...
He was gone.
It was only then that Liz realized that he had not promised that he would be back.
Part 34
I'd give up my sight just to see you,
I'd beg, I would borrow and steal
I'd cut off my hands just to touch you,
And tear out my heart so you'd know how I feel.
There's nowhere that I wouldn't follow
There's no place that I'd rather be
This life without you would be hollow
This love is a gift and you gave it to me.
All that I am you have made me,
And, baby, I know that it's true
I'd give it all up in a heartbeat
Just to spend every moment with you.
There's no place that I wouldn't follow,
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
'Cause I wouldn't want to be me,
If I didn't have you.
Amanda Marshall
Liz, Isabel and Alex huddled together in the cave for quite a while after Max had left.
Liz's tears had stopped almost immediately. Now she just felt numb.
Her mind was blank.
She knew it was a defense mechanism against the pain that would overwhelm her if she let herself think. To lose both Max and Maria on the same day...and even Michael.
To reflect on it would make her break her promise to Max. She had to be strong. She had to become the stone wall that Michael had always failed at being.
For the others.
None of them wanted to move, hoping against hope that it was all a nightmare - that they would all wake up and look at each other and laugh - and that Max and Michael and Maria would be there to share the joke.
Finally Alex spoke. "I think we better go back to the camp. We need to tell Kyle and Tess what happened. And we need to tell your dad Isabel, and the Sheriff."
Isabel was leaning back against the wall of the cave, her eyes closed. They snapped open abruptly. "We have to stay here - for when they come back."
Liz bit her lip. Be strong Liz! Be strong! She put her arm around Isabel. "We don't even know if they'll return here Isabel. They could come back anywhere."
Isabel shook her head stubbornly. "No. It will be here. I know it." Alex and Liz exchanged glances.
"Okay, why don't I go back and get the others and you girls can stay here and wait." Alex finally offered, clearly displeased to be leaving them alone, but seeing no alternative.
Liz glanced quickly at her watch. "It should be almost light." She told her friend. "Kyle and Tess might already be on their way here."
Alex nodded in agreement but said, "I think I should go anyway, just in case."
Isabel closed her eyes again, retreated into silence. Liz was more worried about the other girl than she was about herself. She had lost the two most important people in her life - other than Alex. Liz had known for a long time that despite all her posturing and snippiness, which had largely disappeared in the last year, Isabel was the most vulnerable of them all. She would try to go on for her parents' sake, but she would be dying inside.
Of course Liz wasn't allowing herself to recognize that she too had just watched the two most important people in her life disappear in a flash of light.
She would think about that later.
Liz sat down next to Isabel, put her arm around her. She looked at Alex. "Hurry."
Liz and Isabel sat in silence for several minutes after Alex had departed.
Isabel's form was tense. It was clear that her thoughts were a thousand miles away.
Liz wished that her friend would say something. The quiet was beginning to make her think.
She did not want to think.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Isabel suddenly relaxed and spoke. "Alex should be long gone by now. I knew he would try and stop us. It's time Liz. It's time to take matters into our own hands."
Liz blinked. "What can we do?"
Isabel pulled away, climbed to her feet. "We're going after them."
Liz swallowed. "How?"
Isabel turned to eye her. "The orbs of course."
"But Isabel, only Max could make them work." Liz told her. "And we're in human form. We'll never survive."
Isabel raised an eyebrow and just stared at Liz. Liz smiled weakly. "Okay, I admit it. I'm just playing devil's advocate. You convinced me at the first word."
She climbed slowly to her feet, went and grabbed the orbs where they had fallen to the ground after Max had left. They felt heavy in her hands. Looking down at them she flashed momentarily to the night that she and Max had first found one.
It had been the best night of her life - the first time that she had fallen asleep in Max's arms, the first night that she had truly realized how in love with him she was.
It was the first night that their connection had moved past high schoolers playing at being in love. The way he had looked at her, the way he had told her that he wanted to be her destiny, she had known that never in her life would she find anyone to equal him.
He was her soul-mate, her fate, her other half and he had come across the universe to find her.
And now she would do the same for him.
Even if it killed her.
"Are you okay Liz?" Isabel asked. Max's sister had been examining the empty pod closely, but had now turned to gaze at her with concern.
Liz straightened her spine. "I will be. As soon as we get them back."
Isabel smiled. "Okay. Well, it looks like Max was right." She gestured at the pod. "This thing looks pretty useless now." She swallowed, her smile suddenly more forced. "We're just going to have to risk it."
Liz nodded. "Let's do it."
She went to stand beside Isabel, handed her the orbs.
Isabel stared down at them intensely for what seemed like forever. She turned to Liz. "I guess maybe you should hold on to me somehow. We don't want to lose each other."
Liz grabbed a hold of Isabel's jacket.
She watched Isabel close her eyes, her forehead wrinkled in concentration.
For the longest time nothing happened.
Just when Liz was about to speak, ask Isabel if anything was happening, she saw one of the orbs begin to glow.
She held her breath as the other one seemed to realize that it was falling behind its twin. It brightened much more quickly, until they both burned with an intense light that forced Liz to avert her eyes.
And suddenly the column of light erupted, pulling the orbs from Isabel's hands.
But something was different...
Liz grabbed a hold of Isabel's arm as her friend's eyes snapped open. They exchanged frightened glances.
"I think something's wrong Isabel." Liz finally murmured. "It wasn't red the last time."
Isabel's eyes narrowed. "I'm going Liz." She started to walk towards the portal. Liz was on her heels.
The both stopped abruptly when the light began to flicker.
And then the world seemed to explode.
Part 35
Alex heard the explosion from almost a mile away.
Just as he spun on his heel, Kyle and Tess appeared from behind a tree, matching expressions of fear on their faces.
"What the hell was that?" Kyle yelled, grabbed Tess, who looked like she was about to faint.
Alex pressed his lips together in fury. "Isabel."
"What's going on Alex?" Tess demanded.
"No time to explain. We have to get back there." Alex sprinted back in the direction he had just come from. Dammit! He berated himself. You knew you shouldn't leave them alone!
But he had trusted Liz not to do anything foolish.
Stupid, stupid! Liz was anything but reasonable when it came to Max. When Max was involved his usually level-headed best friend was the first to jump in head first without looking.
It took less then five minutes to get back to the cave where the hot spring was located.
Or where it had been located.
Alex slammed to a halt so suddenly, Tess stumbled into his back, sending him flying. She landed on top of him. Neither bothered to get up.
They just stared at the spot where the cave had stood in horror.
Alex finally managed to crawl to his knees. "Oh my God! Isabel!" He whispered.
Kyle had stopped a few feet behind him. He was staring at the rubble in front of them dumbfounded. "What the hell is going on?" He finally managed to choke out.
"They're all gone." Alex replied quietly. "I left Liz and Isabel alone and they tried to go after Max. I knew they would do it and I left them anyway."
Tess climbed to her feet, wrapped her arm around Alex comfortingly. Alex stared down at her, blinked. "It's not your fault Alex."
Who knew I would actually want comfort from Tess Harding, he thought stupidly.
He realized that he was in shock.
It was then that he saw something move out of the corner of his eye.
Alex turned his head, caught a flash of gold.
The just rising sun illuminated Isabel's blonde hair so that it shone like a halo around her head.
She had been thrown about a hundred feet from the cave. She was now climbing unsteadily to her feet. Her hands flew to her head and she bent over at the waist in pain.
"Isabel!" Alex was at her side in an instant, managed to catch her before she fell over.
He gently laid her back on the ground. Her beautiful dark eyes were closed, but they fluttered, opened to stare up at him. "Where's...where's Liz?" She finally managed to ask after licking her lips.
Alex raised his head, searched the surrounding area frantically.
And then he saw her.
Liz was sprawled atop a pile of rubble on her stomach, her dark hair covering her like a shroud. "Kyle!" Alex yelled, pointing towards his friend. "Liz is over there."
Kyle stared in the direction he was pointing, was at a dead run in less then a second.
Alex heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Kyle turn Liz over. He could hear her groaning.
He looked back down at Isabel, who was trying to sit up. "Isabel! Stop it! You're not going anywhere." Alex ordered, his anger returning now that he knew she was going to be all right. "What the hell were you doing?" He demanded, getting ready to launch into a full-fledged lecture. "You broke your promise to Max and you almost got yourself killed. What the hell were you trying to accomplish?"
But Isabel was definitely not listening to him. She was starting past him, tears beginning to appear in her eyes. "Alex, look!"
Alex followed her gaze, did a double-take.
Just appearing out of the trees was Michael Guerin - and in his arms he was cradling the most beautiful sight Alex had ever seen.
Maria.
All thought of pain had obviously fled Isabel's mind at the sight of her almost-brother. "Michael!" She stumbled to her feet, had thrown her arms around the spiky-haired boy and the precious bundle he carried in his arms before Alex had truly processed the sight of them.
"Whoa Iz!" Alex heard Michael croak, clearly practically suffocating due to Isabel's constrictive hold on his neck. "Oxygen...please."
Alex managed to reach their side just in time to catch Maria as Michael lost his grip on her. Maria's eyes were closed, but she opened them almost immediately, stared up at Alex. "Thanks Alex." She sounded exhausted. "Where's Liz?" She managed to say before closing her eyes again.
Alex turned to see how Kyle was doing with Liz. He was pleased to see that his other best friend was on her feet, leaning on her ex-boyfriend for support.
He saw the exact moment that Liz noticed that Maria and Michael had returned. Her eyes widened with joy.
Liz rushed forward threw her arms around Maria, whom Alex had gently placed on the ground. Alex could hear the tears of happiness in her voice as she said, "Oh my God Maria! We were so worried."
Isabel was still wailing on an uncomfortable looking Michael's chest. Michael was staring over his head at Alex helplessly. Alex just shrugged, a grin breaking out over his face.
The look of complete horror at the scene Isabel was creating on the other boy's face told Alex exactly what he needed to know.
The REAL Michael Guerin was back.
Finally, the happy reunion began to simmer down.
"What happened to you guys?" Tess, who had joined them by now, asked curiously. "Maria, your hair is like a foot longer."
Alex stared at his friend in surprise. It was true. Maria's blonde hair was longer, actually almost halfway down her back.
It was then that he noticed that both Michael and Maria were also wearing strange clothes. Maria a long white gown, Michael some sort of weird green tunic and - this was the part Alex really couldn't believe - some sort of tights.
Michael Guerin was wearing tights and looked pretty darn comfortable doing so.
Michael and Maria exchanged a brief look across the crowd of friends gathered around them. "It's complicated." Maria replied evasively, quickly glancing at Liz.
And it was then that Alex realized what he could not have believed they had missed for so long.
He looked at Liz. An expression of fear had appeared on her face.
The immediate tension that had claimed the group doubled when his best friend finally managed to whisper the question that was haunting them all, "Where's Max?"
Maria swallowed, exchanged another look with Michael, who actually looked like he was on the verge of tears. Alex noticed that Isabel was clutching Michael's sleeve tightly, her face beginning to crumble as dawning realization came to her. Michael did not even flinch, only put his arm around her in support.
"Maria?" Liz asked again, thrusting herself away as Kyle put his hand on her shoulder, clearly aware that she was going to very soon need someone.
Maria bit her lip, closed her eyes briefly. She took a deep breath, finally managed to open her eyes. She stared at Liz sadly. "He's gone Liz."
Part 36
Tess seemed to be the only one capable of speech. "What do you mean gone Maria?" She asked in a fairly even tone.
Liz stared at her former nemesis in amazement. How could she be so calm? Liz's entire being was screaming with tension and pain.
But she had to be strong.
She had promised Max.
Maria was still seated on the ground. She shivered suddenly. Liz realized that the long white gown that she was wearing was quite thin. She quickly started to take off her jacket, but Alex beat her too it, gently placing his coat around Maria's shoulders.
Michael and Maria were staring at each other again. It looked to Liz like they were having some sort of silent conversation. She frowned with concern.
What on Earth had happened to her friends?
Liz still wasn't quite sure what had occurred when she and Isabel had opened the portal to Max's planet. She remembered the red light, so different from the gateway that had whisked Michael and Maria, and later Max, away from them. But everything after that was a blur. The next thing she remembered was Kyle gently turning her over, waking her up.
Max! She had to know. "Please Maria!" Liz begged her best friend.
Maria managed to tear her gaze away from Michael. "What year is it Lizzie?"
Liz exchanged a quick look with Alex. He looked just as perplexed as she felt. "Ummmm it's exactly the same day it was when you left Maria. It's January 2001. You've only been gone for like an hour."
Liz saw Maria swallow convulsively. "Michael, how can that be?"
Michael just shook his head. "I have no idea." He turned back to the others. "We've been gone for at least a year."
Liz raised her hands to her temples. She had a sudden flash of Max, his face smiling, lit up by the fireworks he had unleashed from a parking meter. "What's so great about normal?"
Suddenly normal seemed like a luxury that Liz would kill for.
"Okay. Colour me confounded." Alex finally said. They had all been standing there in silence for several minutes as they all tried to come to grips with what was going on.
Liz felt like giggling hysterically. She saw Kyle look at her with concern, move to put his arm around her. This time she let him. Her knees felt like jello. "Where is Max?" She demanded for what felt like the millionth time.
"He's on Illyria Liz." Maria told her softly.
"Is he coming back?" Liz asked quietly, already knowing the answer.
"I don't think so." Maria pulled her knees up to her chest. "I'm sorry Liz."
Liz could feel herself becoming detached from reality. She had never before fainted in her life and she was not about to begin now. She shook her head vigorously, trying to clear it, turned to Isabel desperately. "Isabel! What did we do?"
"Can you guys please stop being so cryptic?" Isabel berated Michael and Maria. "How did you get back? Why isn't Max with you?"
"We had to wait a year - until you reactivated the orbs from this end." Michael explained. "It turns out your not so insignificant after all Izzy." He told her ruefully. "Max is the gate home. You're the gate to Earth."
"What the heck are you talking about?" Isabel replied. "I activated them almost right after Max left." She looked guiltily at Alex.
"Not in Illyrian time." Maria said. "It took Max six months to follow us and then it was more than six months before you reactivated them from this side." She looked at them all, her expression suddenly all Maria. "I guess I don't need to explain that time moves differently there?"
"I think they've got that Maria." Michael rolled his eyes.
Liz did not care about any of this. "Please - just tell me why Max isn't with you."
A pained expression came over Michael's chiseled face. "He had to trade himself for me." He told her. Maria climbed to her feet, went to stand beside him, taking his hand in hers. "They wouldn't let me come back unless he stayed."
His eyes were haunted. They had been gone for a year. What had happened to Michael and Maria in that time?
"Can he ever come back?" Liz asked quietly.
"No." Michael nearly choked on the word.
"Why not?" Liz could feel herself fading away again.
"I don't know." And Michael really looked like he didn't. "I don't really remember anything. I just know he's not coming back."
This was still something that Liz did not understand. "But Michael, why did you come back? This all started because you wanted to go home. You got what you wanted. Why would you come back, let Max sacrifice himself like that?" She could feel herself becoming angry at Michael.
Anger was better then pain. If she was angry, she wouldn't cry. She would keep her promise to Max. She would be strong.
It was all Michael's fault! If he hadn't let Tarsus of Dernia get to him in the first place, Max would still be there. He would be safe.
Michael glanced guiltily at Maria. "Maria." He replied simply.
And Liz knew then that she would never see Max Evans again.
Part 37 - Conclusion
Liz heard the telephone ringing.
She pulled her pillow over her head, tried to shut it out. She didn't want to talk to anyone.
This was the first chance she had had to be alone since the catastrophe.
It had been a week since they had returned from Fraser Woods.
Liz had kept her promise to Max. She had been strong. She had not cried. Her eyes felt like sandpaper they were so dry, but she would honour what he had asked of her.
They had finally returned to the campsite to find their fathers milling around in confusion, clearly worried about where they had all disappeared to.
Liz had been shell-shocked. Kyle and Tess had practically had to drag her back through the woods, but she had managed to pull herself together in time to face their fathers.
Michael and Maria had been lost in their own little world, clearly unsure of how to deal with returning to their "real" lives. They had been unable to tell them anything more about their time on Illyria. The memories seemed to be fading with every minute that they spent back on Earth.
Liz had not cared. She thought that if she heard Michael's voice for another moment, she would be sick. She stoked her anger at him, using it to preserve her delicate state of mind. Strong, strong - she would be strong. It was Michael's fault. He was to blame.
Isabel had collapsed the moment she had laid eyes on Mr. Evans. She had been inconsolable for hours. Liz had been unable to speak. She had simply held Isabel's head in her lap, stroking her hair, Alex kneeling beside her, trying to help.
Mr. Evans had known instantly that his son was not coming back. He hadn't even asked for an explanation. He had simply retired to his tent in silence, had not emerged until Mrs. Evans arrived, the Sheriff having radioed one of his deputies to bring her out.
Liz's father had tried to get her to return to Roswell with him, but she had refused to leave Isabel. Comforting her friend, Max's sister, was the only thing that mattered. Isabel was all that she had left of him. She had to protect her.
Mr. Parker and Mr. Whitman were told that there had been an accident, that Max had fallen into the river, had been swept away by the current before any of them could do anything. They had believed it. The Sheriff had managed to convince them to return to town, telling them that those who had known and loved Max needed to be together, alone, for a while - to try and come to terms with their grief.
Mr. and Mrs. Evans were told the truth.
In the end, it was the Sheriff who had had to tell them. Isabel had been incoherent, Liz trapped in a world of silence. Alex had helped him with the details of what had transpired that weekend.
The Sheriff's lips had compressed as he was told what he had missed. His anger that he had been left out had been evident, but his grief for Max was just as strong. He had never truly repaid the boy who had saved his son's life and now he would never have the chance.
Isabel's parents had taken the truth better then was expected. They were so grief-stricken over the loss of their son and their daughter's state of mind, the alien stuff had seemed sort of insignificant. Liz knew that Mrs. Evans had practically known already anyway and it was unlikely that she had never discussed her suspicions with Max's dad.
None of them quite knew what to do after the story had been told. They didn't want to leave the woods, the hope that Max might return still alive.
But as the hours had passed, hope had died.
Liz had spent the past week sleeping on Isabel's spare bed. Neither girl wanted to be separated from the other. It now seemed ludicrous that at one time they had been jealous of the other's relationship with Max. Now they were glad that someone else understood how much they had each loved him - in different ways of course, but still with an equal fervor.
One night Liz had crept silently into Max's bedroom, had curled up in his bed. She could still smell him on his pillow. It had been the closest she had come to breaking down since he had left. When she had found the picture of the two of them that he had hidden under his bed during his anti-Max act, she had had to leave the room. It had been another Maria original, totally candid, taken of the two of them in the Crashdown. Liz was in her uniform, leaning over the table where Max was sitting, a cherry cola in front of him. They both had slight smiles on their faces, but Liz had known right away that they had not been talking - or at least not with their mouths. The way they were staring into each other's eyes...Liz had clutched it to her chest for the entire night. It now sat on her bedside table.
Alex had been with them every moment that they were not asleep and Kyle and Tess spent a lot of time with them as well.
Tess was grieving in her own way. She had loved the idea of who Max was, but as she came to terms with his disappearance, she had finally acknowledged that she had never really been in love with him. She had loved him as a friend and she missed him, but she would recover. And Kyle was there to help her.
Maria and Michael kept their distance. They had holed themselves up in Michael's apartment and seemed to be drifting in a strange state of detachment. Liz wished that Maria would see her, but she was glad that she did not have to see Michael's face. She knew that she was being irrational but for once she did not care.
The Parkers had finally insisted yesterday that Liz return home. They had been terrified by the sight of her when Mr. Evans had dropped her off. She knew that she looked horrible. The dark circles under her eyes alone were enough to convince her parents that she needed to see a doctor.
She had ignored the, had locked herself in her bedroom and had spent the last twelve hours re-reading her journal.
She had re-lived every wonderful, every horrible, every magical, every abnormal, every fated moment of her relationship with Max Evans.
Liz had sat curled up under a blanket on her balcony as she read, had often paused to stare at the place where she and Max had shared their first kiss.
She had finally crawled into bed at seven in the morning, when the "V" constellation in the sky had set as the sun rose. She and Isabel had spent many an hour over the last week staring at that constellation, wondering what Max was doing, whether he was safe.
Whether he was trying to come back to them.
Liz knew in her heart of hearts that he was.
And even if he wasn't...
She would wait forever.
The End (Or is it?)
Of course it's not!
Part 1 of "Legacy" - sequel to Out of the Woods...Coming Soon!