Disclaimer: I don't own them. If I did, Roswell would be a totally different world. This wouldn't be necessary. And I would be such a happy camper. Also, I don't own "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King. So please don't sue me.
Author's Note: Alex and Isabel didn't get to play out the story most of us know they deserved. Since the writers chose to kill off a wonderful character, and therefore can't tell the story that still needs to be told, I've decided to attempt it. Obviously, in my AU world, Alex doesn't die. Feedback will keep me writing, so if you want more, you've got to tell me.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive.
Isabel POV – Stand By Me
I don't think I've
ever felt so content in my life. When
he's holding me in his arms, it's like we're the only two people on the
planet. Nothing else matters except us. He makes me feel safe. I haven't felt safe in a long time.
"Izzy?"
"Yeah?" My eyes are closed and I'm smiling at him.
"What about Max?"
"What about
him?" I don't want to talk about my
brother right now. I don't want to ruin
our time together.
"Sweetie, he's your
brother. What he thinks matters to you,
no mater how much you try to fight it. And it's hurting you right now that he's upset about us."
How the hell did he
get to be so perceptive? "Yeah, it
is…but that's his problem, not mine."
"No, it's our
problem, Izzy. I promised you that I'd
do anything to make you happy. And
you're not going to be happy without making peace with Max."
//When the night
Has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see//
I sighed. He was right. "I don't want to ruin our day."
He grinned at
me. "Izzy, nothing can ruin today. This has been the best day of my life. We had a picnic, flew a kite in the park,
saw a movie, had supper at the Crashdown, and now we're stargazing. But none of that really matters. The whole reason today was great is because
I was with you. We could've sat inside
and watched paint dry and it would've been a great day."
I laughed and threw
my arms around him. "Why did it take me
so long to realize the truth?" I asked him as I leaned in to kiss him.
He smiled against my
lips before deepening the kiss. Finally, he drew away, and I pretended to pout a little. "Izzy, I've got to breathe!"
"Okay…done breathing
yet?"
//Well I won't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me//
He tickled me for a
few minutes, before I begged for mercy. Then I leaned back against his chest again.
"Want to tell me the
real reason you don't want to talk to Max?" he asked softly.
"I'm afraid."
"I'm going to be
right there with you, Izzy. You don't
have to be afraid."
"I won't. Not as long as you're with me."
//So darling, darling stand by me
Won't you stand by me
Just as long as you stand, stand by me//
We were both quiet
as we drove back to town. "Alex…"
"Yeah?"
"Max has changed so
much lately. I feel like I don't even
know him anymore. He's so distant it
scares me. He's not the brother I remember. I miss him. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you."
//If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains crumble to the sea//
"Well, you don't
have to worry about that. I'm not going
anywhere."
I smiled at
him. "Alex…I've made a decision. I'm not going to graduate. I'm not ready yet. I want to spend next year with you."
"Are you sure?" he
asked, glancing at me. His voice was
even, making it hard for me to gage his reaction.
"Yes."
He pulled over and
pulled me into his arms. "I'm so
happy," he whispered in my ear, as he trailed butterfly kisses along my jaw. "I can't lose you, not after we finally
found each other."
"Not going to
happen, buddy," I answered playfully as he began driving again.
//I won't cry, I won't cry
No I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand by me//
I bit my lower lip
as we approached the house. "Come in
with me, okay?"
"Sure. But it's kind of late. Won't your parents object?"
"No, they're not
home. They drove to Santa Fe this
morning to visit my Great Aunt Jodie."
He nodded and
grabbed my hand as we opened the door. Like I suspected, Max was watching TV in the living room. "Max? We need to talk about this morning."
"I know. I'm sorry. I was upset, and I took it out on you. Forgive me?"
"Always." I hug him, and then I take a deep
breath. "Max…I love you. You know that. But I love Alex, too. Being with him isn't going to stop me from doing whatever I have to do
for our people. I owe them that…Vilandra
owes them that."
"You're not her,
Izzy," Alex tells me as he wraps his arms around me. "Stop beating yourself up for her mistakes."
I swallow, trying to
force back the tears. "Part of me is
her, though, Alex, no matter how much I hate her. No matter how much I despise
her, I'm still her. I'm still evil." I think I somehow forgot Max was in the room
with us.
"Isabel, don't ever
say that again. You are beautiful and
loving and perfect. You are Isabel
Evans, not Vilandra. And you are not
evil."
"Yes, I am. I betrayed my brother and destroyed a
world. All for love. Oh…god…what have I done? What if I do this again?" The tears that threatened earlier now
spilled down my cheeks. I whirled to
face a shocked Max. "This is what you were getting at this morning, isn't it."
Max shook his head
vehemently. "Isabel, I trust you. I know you wouldn't do anything like
that. I'm sorry about this
morning. You didn't deserve that."
His reassurances
really didn't register. Then Alex
grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me a little. "Isabel, I'm not Kivar. And you're not Vilandra. You
fell in love. With me. The right man this time…the man who
would protect you with his life, if I have to. You are not going to betray anyone."
//So darling, darling stand by me
Oh won't you stand by me
Oh won't you stand, won't you stand, stand by me//
"How do you know?"
He smiled and kissed
my forehead. "Because I love you. And I'm going to be right here next to you
forever."
//So darling, darling stand by me
Oh won't you stand by me
Oh won't you stand, won't you stand, stand by me//