Part 31
Stop your crying, it will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry.
For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken,
I will be here, don't you cry.
You'll be in my heart,
You'll be in my heart,
From this day on, now and forever,
You'll be in my heart,
You'll be in my heart,
No matter what they say,
You'll be in my heart...always.
Michael stood across Maria's bed from Jennetta. It took all of his strength not to reach across the bed and haul the little girl away from Maria's still form.
They had been connected for too long. And it was clearly painful.
Moments before tears had started to stream from Jennetta's eyes.
It was different from when Michael had seen Max connect with people to heal them. During those times Max was generally still aware of his surroundings although he often became wrapped up in the pain of whoever he happened to be helping.
Jennetta was NOT with him any longer. It was like her body had emptied out. The only sign of life were the tears.
His gaze returned to Maria's face.
And suddenly his heart entered his throat.
She was crying too.
****************************************************************************
Dreams* Maria
When Maria opened her eyes she encountered blackness.
She sat up blinking, trying to make sure that she really had her eyes open.
She did.
The first thought that penetrated the fog of her mind was that she was blind.
"You're not blind." A voice told her. "You're just not seeing me. You don't know what I look like now."
Maria glanced around in terror. Everywhere she looked was black.
Yet she could feel that she was not alone.
"Who are you?" She asked into the darkness.
"It's me Mother."
Maria's heart sped up. "Jennetta! Is that you baby?"
"Yes. I've come to help you come back to us."
"But, how can you be talking to me? The last time I saw you, you were a month old. Have I been out of it for that long?" Maria asked in horror.
She could hear Jennetta giggling. "No silly. After Tarsus took me away from you, they podded me. I'm seven now - at least in Earth years."
Maria frowned. "I want to see you." She said.
"Are you sure?" Jennetta sounded a little scared, like she didn't want her to be disappointed or something.
How could she be disappointed? It was her baby.
"Yes."
Suddenly light filled the place where they spoke. Maria blinked, looked around.
They were in the damn Ring.
And yet they weren't. There was no tall yellow grass, no yellow sky, no twelve moons overhead.
There were only the stones, standing in their timeless pattern, reaching towards the black, star-studded sky that surrounded them.
Her eyes found Jennetta moments later.
Her daughter was standing about ten feet away from her, watching her warily.
Maria felt tears fill her eyes. She looks exactly like Michael!
Her waist-length was exactly Michael's shade of light-brown. Her eyes were his too, dark and sad.
As Maria looked closer she could see herself as well though. Jennetta's lips were her own cupid-bow shape and her nose was small and pert, not at all dominant on her face like Michael's was on his.
Maria opened her arms. Jennetta rushed into them. "I didn't know who you were!" She sobbed against Maria's chest. "When Michael brought me to you, I was just going to heal you for him, but I didn't know that you were MINE too!"
"My baby." Maria stroked her daughter's soft hair. "How could I ever have forgotten you? How did you get here?" She looked around the Ring warily. "And where is here anyway?" She asked wryly.
"We're in your dreams." Jennetta replied. "You had to stay in here until we found each other again."
"But I don't understand how you got here Sweetie. They took you away from me." Maria flinched at the memory of Tarsus ripping her baby out of her arms. "And why couldn't we remember you?"
"I can answer that."
The air nearby seemed to ripple and suddenly an old man in a long robe was standing almost next to them. Maria blinked at him. "Who are you?"
She felt Jennetta stiffen in her arms. "Lucianus! How did you get here?" She pulled away from Maria, went to throw herself at the old man.
"I've been watching you since you left us child." The old man replied. Jennetta grasped him by the hand, led him over to Maria.
"This is Lucianus." She explained. "He lives with my mother." She paused. "Well, I guess she's not my mother now. I don't know who she is, but anyway, he lived with us on Illyria."
"Who did you live with on Illyria?" Maria asked, feeling more and more confused. "Not Tarsus I hope?"
"No." Lucianus smiled at Maria. Maria liked him instantly. The old man had the kindest smile she had ever seen. "Jennetta was saved almost immediately."
"By Max." Maria finished in relief. She should have known that Max would never have let Tarsus keep her child in his evil clutches.
"I'm afraid not." Lucianus replied. Maria blinked. "He would have helped her, but he did not remember her."
"I don't understand." Maria felt her frustration mounting. Why did aliens always have to talk in circles?
"Go and see for yourself." Lucianus indicated one of the stones. As Maria turned to stare at it, it began to shimmer, transforming into what almost appeared to be a doorway. "All will be explained."
Maria looked at him. For some reason she felt that she could trust him. "Come Sweetie." She held out her hand for Jennetta.
They walked into chaos.
Maria realized almost immediately that they were back on Illyria - and yet they weren't. They were there, but as observers, not as actual participants in the events unfolding around them.
It was the Ring and it seemed to be just moments after she and Michael had been thrown into the portal back to Earth. The red column of light was gone, but all the players who had been there in their last moments on Illyria were still in the Ring.
Max was on the ground, three guards holding him down. "You LIED to me!" He was yelling at Tarsus, who was standing over him, shaking his head. Max was struggling against his captors, the expression of rage on his face almost terrifying. Maria had never seen her gentle friend look like that before. It was not Max.
"You have always been too trusting Jaxon. That is the first thing I'm going to program out of you. Trust is weakness. You will never be the king I need you to be if you trust." He shook his head again, this time in disgust. "Take him back to town. I want the cleansing to take place immediately. It better be done when I return."
Max howled in frustration again, was wrenching away from his guards. Maria could see him frantically trying to get to Jennetta, but it was all in vain. They hauled him away.
Ren was still standing near where he had been when Maria had left. He had Jennetta cradled against his shoulder. The baby was screaming at the top of her lungs. Maria did not blame her at all.
Maria felt the older Jennetta beside her shift uncomfortably as they watched what was happening to her younger self.
"Bring the brat to me Ren." Tarsus ordered.
Maria blinked when Ren did not move. His eyes were wide and he glanced behind him, towards the Illyrian side of the Ring.
Tarsus' eyes narrowed. "What are you doing? Bring her to me." Ren took a step backwards. Tarsus started to walk towards him. "So, we were wrong to trust you. You are a traitor, just like your father before you."
Ren paused. Maria willed him to keep going, to save her baby. "Keep my father out of this." Ren finally replied evenly. "I just saw the sacrifice that was made here - and I saw what YOU did. If this is what not having emotions does...well, I think I made a mistake by allowing myself to be cleansed."
"Too bad it's not as simple as that." Tarsus replied in the snotty voice that had always made Maria want to punch him, "You HAVE been cleansed. You are mine to do with as I will."
Ren was still moving. "Not anymore. I denounce you for the unfeeling bastard you are. I have witnessed what love is capable of today and it is worth any pain that comes with it. I will not let you have their child."
"Stop!" Tarsus bellowed back. "I command you!" Maria could see several Illyrian border guards peering into the Ring, trying to see what was happening.
She watched in stupefied amazement as Ren took the final steps over into Illyria.
Her guard - she now knew that he had been her friend - had saved her daughter's life.
Maria hugged her daughter against her side. "Do you know him?" She asked her quietly.
"No. I wonder what happened to him." Jennetta sounded sad.
As she spoke, the world around them began to shimmer. Moments later they were back in the dark-shrouded Ring. Lucianus was gone.
"What happens now?" Jennetta asked Maria.
"I don't know." Maria replied. "I guess I try and wake up."
She held onto her daughter tightly, willed herself to wake up.
Nothing happened.
"Okay, so much for that idea." Maria finally said, annoyed. "I guess something's missing." She glanced down at her daughter, who looked equally irritated. It made Maria want to smile despite herself.
"Maybe if you think of all the reasons you have to wake up?" Jennetta finally suggested.
"Well, that's easy." Maria smiled down at her. "Needless to say, you're number one."
Jennetta smiled back. "But I'm here already."
"Okay, well there's Liz of course." Maria watched in amazement as Liz suddenly appeared in front of her.
Liz was smiling at her, beckoning her, visions of all the good and bad times they had shared whirling through Maria's mind.
She thought of Alex next. And then her mother...and Isabel, Kyle and even Tess. They all appeared to her as though they were with her, but disappeared almost immediately as though trying to whet her appetite to be with them again.
She thought of Max. Her friend, who had sacrificed so much for all of them - and it had all been in vain.
Max materialized in front of her. He held baby Jennetta in his arms.
Maria gasped when seven-year old Jennetta, who had been clinging tightly to her hand, disappeared.
Max stepped forward, smiled at her. "And I would do it again in a minute." He told her quietly. He handed her the baby he was holding. Maria brought her daughter up against her chest and Max was gone.
Maria thought of Michael last.
He was there an instant later, looking annoyed.
"Can we get the show on the road here Maria? I mean, really, aren't you dragging this out a bit too dramatically?" Michael demanded. He was gone an instant later.
Maria laughed.
*************************************************************************************
Michael stared down at Maria in amazement. She was laughing.
Her eyes opened a moment later. Jennetta's eyes opened at the exact same moment. He watched as his girlfriend's eyes met Max's sister's.
A moment later Maria was sitting up, holding Jennetta tightly against her.
Finally she glanced past Jennetta's dark head, smiled at Michael in such a way, his heart started to beat a mile a minute.
"What are you doing all the way over there Spaceboy?" She asked, her tone light and affectionate.
It was all the encouragement Michael needed.
Part 32
There's a ship out on the ocean
At the mercy of the sea
It's tossed about, lost and broken
Wandering aimlessly
And God somehow you know that ship is me.
'Cause there's a lighthouse in the harbour
Shining faithfully
Pouring its light out across the water
For this sinking soul to see
That someone out there still believes in me.
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice
And it keeps me hanging on
Raining down
Against the wind
I'm reaching out
Till we reach the circle's end
When you come back to me again.
Garth Brooks
"We're here." Liz told Max quietly.
She saw him jump slightly in the passenger seat of her parent's car. His thoughts had obviously been a million miles away again.
She knew that he was searching his memory, trying to find anything familiar in the places she had been showing him all morning.
It had been Max's idea for her to take him on a tour of the area, of all the places that had played significant roles in his life.
They had started at the Crashdown. The breakfast rush had just been starting when they had arrived and Liz had become aware almost immediately of the whispering.
She had totally forgotten that as far as the town was concerned Max Evans was dead, had been dead for the last nine months.
Max had seemed unaware of the stares at first. Liz had told him to sit at the counter, which he had done. He had been staring around with wide eyes, obviously trying to find something in the restaurant which would jog his memory.
Liz had hurried into the kitchen, had asked Jose to fix them some breakfast. She had not intended to leave Max alone for long, but by the time she got back it was too late.
Pam Troy was seated on the stool beside him at the counter, two of her cronies standing nearby.
Liz had hurried over, hoping to do as much damage control as she could.
".....when I read it in the newspaper this morning, I couldn't believe it Max!" Pam was saying in her shrill voice. "I mean, how lucky are you that you survived that river? Is it true that you don't remember anything?"
Max had been staring at her, a perplexed expression on his face. "No, I don't." He had replied in that super-polite way of his that was part Max/part Jaxon. "Do I know you?"
Pam's hand had slid across the counter to inch up his arm. "You sure do - pretty well as a matter of fact."
Liz had wanted to throw up. "Your order's ready Pam." She had told Pam between clenched teeth. Pam had shot her a snotty look but had left to return to her booth. "Remind me to tell my father to ban her from the premises." Liz whispered to Max, only half joking.
He had laughed. "I'm assuming that I wasn't friends with that girl?" He had looked momentarily worried. "Was I?"
"Well, not really." Liz had replied, wondering how much she should be telling him. "You did date her for a while last winter."
Liz had felt better immediately at the horrified expression on his face. "I did?"
People had come up to them several times while they had eaten their breakfast, telling Max how glad they were that he was back. He had seemed pleased, but also sad that he didn't remember anyone.
Liz had smiled secretly to herself when Max had reached for the Tabasco sauce and threw a generous portion of it on his eggs. Apparently SOME things were not forgotten.
They had gone to the UFO Museum next. Milton had almost had a heart attack at the sight of Max but then to Max's complete embarrassment had proceeded to burst into tears.
"EVANS! I can't believe it!" He lowered his voice. "We're going to have to discuss this at length later Evans. I think there was more to your disappearance than the newspaper was letting on. We were getting too close weren't we?"
Max had glanced at Liz uncertainly. "Er - I guess so."
Milton nodded knowingly. "I knew it. I knew the minute there was no body. THEY abducted you, didn't they?"
Liz had stepped in that that point. This was getting a little too close to the truth for comfort. "No, nothing like that Milton. Max was picked up by some nice people and they took him to a shelter. It took this long for them to figure out who he was because he had no ID on him and everyone assumed Max was dead so there was no missing persons report."
Milton had raised his eyebrow at her. "Right." He had shot Max a covert look. "We'll discuss this when you're back on track Max - alone." He had said in a significant tone.
"Okay." Liz could see that Max was amused. He had apparently figured out what was going on.
They had gone back to the car, Max asking her for some information about Roswell and the famous Crash.
"Strangely, I do remember that detail about this place." Max had told her wryly. "I assume that that's how we ended up here? In the Crash."
"Yes. Do you want to go to the crash site?" Liz had asked him.
"No." He had stared off into space for a moment. "I want to go to where the Evans found us." He told her.
"Okay, but I'm not sure of the exact location." Liz told him. "Do you want to go to the school first? It's on the way out of town anyway."
They had arrived at West Roswell during third period. Liz was pleased. She didn't think that Max was up to dealing with all the stares and comments his presence surely would have garnered.
She had taken him on a quick tour by his locker, to the band room where he had told her his secret, past Ms. Hardy's Bio class where they had spent so many countless hours working together as the perfect lab team, in between staring at each other and trying to touch each other without getting caught.
Liz had smiled to herself when they passed the Eraser Room. "We spent a lot of time in there right after we got together." Liz told him, blushing a little.
Max had looked at her for a moment, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Really? Cleaning erasers?" He had asked innocently, but his eyes had been twinkling wickedly.
"Not exactly." He had continued to smile. Somehow she knew that HE knew exactly what they had done in there.
He might not remember it, but he knew.
They had driven down the highway where Diane and Phillip Evans had found Max and Isabel wandering lost and alone over eleven years before. Liz knew the scene exactly as it had played out, it having been one of the things she had seen the first time she and Max had connected. She described to Max the way he had felt that day, having felt it herself through their connection.
"You were scared and you were worried about Michael, who didn't want to come with you, and your first instinct was to hide, but Isabel convinced you to let them find you."
Max had sighed, shaking his head. "How can I not remember any of this?" He asked in frustration, the good mood that had permeated at the school quickly dissipating.
Liz had reached over and taken his hand. He had let her, squeezing it gently in thanks. Liz had felt her heart speed up at his touch. He had been gone for so long - it was still magical every time she realized that he was really back. She wanted desperately to help him find his memories. Until then, he was not truly whole, could never truly be happy.
That was one thing she had promised herself when she had first determined that she was not going to rest until she brought Max home. This time he was going to be happy, and not just for isolated moments here and there. Her goal was to make him happy for the rest of his life.
"You will remember Max. I promise. And even if you don't...." She had felt his eyes on her. She turned to watch him. "We have our whole lives to make new memories." He had eyed her, his expression unreadable and had turned to stare out the window at the passing New Mexico desert.
Liz had realized that they weren't far from the pod chamber and had suggested that they go there next.
"That's weird." Liz told Max worriedly as she brought the car to a stop next to a sports utility vehicle. "Tess is here."
"Sabrya. I can feel her presence." Max said quietly. Liz knew that he had not seen Tess since his return. She wondered if the memories that had been implanted by Tarsus included Tess - Sabrya - as his wife...
Her heart lodged itself in her throat at the thought.
"Well, let's go see what she's doing." Liz suggested with false cheer. Max climbed out of the passenger side, following Liz up the cliff-side.
"You wave your hand here." She told him when they reached the ledge where the entrance was located. Max eyed the spot for a moment, waved his hand in front of it. The silver hand-print appeared immediately. Max placed his hand squarely upon it and the stone face slid away.
Liz called to Tess as they entered. She didn't want to freak her friend out.
She shivered when there was no answer. She could feel a presence here as well.
They were not alone.
Liz ducked her head beneath the opening, followed Max into the chamber proper.
She had not been there since the day Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had found out their true destinies - since the day that she had walked away from Max and had started the whole horrible chain of events that had led them to this moment.
Liz forced herself to suppress the memory of the despair and heartbreak she had felt that day. It had all worked out in the end. Max was here and even though he had no memory of who he was, he did know that it was HER that he loved, not Tess. He had told her so not five hours ago.
That had to mean something.
Liz nearly stumbled into Max when he came to an abrupt halt. She brought her hands up against his back to steady herself, looked past his shoulder.
Tess was seated on the floor in front of the empty and dark pods, her legs crossed, her hands on her knees. She had her eyes closed and she looked like she was meditating.
"Tess?" Liz asked, worried. She remembered that Kyle had told her that Liz had been acting very strangely since after they had left for England. She recalled the fit that Tess had thrown about being left behind in the first place.
Tess did not move at the sound of Liz's voice.
Liz felt Max's muscles tense under her hands. There was no question that he was affected by the sight of Tess. Liz bit her lip, jealousy invading her soul despite herself. She hated to feel that way, but this place - it made her remember exactly the devastation she had felt at the news of Tess' rightful place as Max's bride.
And yet, Max made no move towards her. He seemed perfectly content to stay close to Liz.
"Sabrya." He finally said.
Tess' eyes sprang open suddenly, their blue depths shining with a fervent light. Liz blinked. She had never seen Tess look like that before, even during her most insistent moments that she and Max belonged together.
She looked crazy. Her eyes shone with a zealot's passion. They zeroed in on Max in an instant, completely ignoring Liz's presence.
"Jaxon. You came for me."
Part 33
"Jaxon. You came for me." Tess could not believe that he was really here. Danala had been telling the truth.
Her destiny had returned to her.
"Sabrya. You are looking well." He said formally. Tess frowned slightly. Max sounded weird, like he didn't know what to say to her.
It was probably because SHE was there.
Tess was doing her best not to look at Liz. She was trying to suppress the feeling of guilt that seemed to be pressing on her where Liz was concerned.
She did feel bad that Liz was going to be hurt, but Liz had been the first to recognize all those long months ago that she and Max - make that Jaxon - she had to get used to calling him by his real name if they were going to go back to Illyria - belonged together.
Tess climbed gracefully to her feet. She paused momentarily when Max reached behind him and took Liz's hand.
What the hell?
"We should tell you Tess..." Liz said, "Max doesn't remember a lot right now. Tarsus did something to him, to make him forget who he is."
The way Liz used that "we" - it made it clear to Tess that even if Max had no memory, nothing had changed. She, Tess, was still second best. Somehow Liz had wormed her way back in to Max's affections in the short time he had been back.
This was not going to be easy. But Danala was depending on her to bring the chosen one into the universe. Max was hers. They were destined to have a child who would unite their world.
She wondered why she suddenly felt empty at that thought.
Tess suppressed the brief vision of Kyle that appeared before her. He looked sad and hurt. Her heart ached at the sight of it.
Where did that come from? She shook her head, forced herself to concentrate on Max and Liz.
"I'm glad you're back Max." She said sweetly. He was frowning slightly. "Do you remember ME?"
"I remember certain things."Max replied. Tess was barely concentrating on what he was saying. She was eyeing Liz's hand, which was stroking his arm comfortingly.
Is she trying to drive me insane? Tess wondered. And yet Tess did not feel jealous. Again, she felt nothing.
My sister is depending on me. I have to do this.
Tess tuned back into what Max was saying.
"I remember Tristandor bringing you to the palace. I remember our wedding day. And I remember you refusing to come with me when I was forced to leave the Citadel after he and Mirana betrayed me that same night." His tone was harsh.
Tess blinked. What the heck was he talking about? Danala hadn't told her anything about Michael and Isabel betraying Max.
"I...I'm sorry about that." Tess stuttered. She tried to shut out the sympathetic look Liz was sending her.
Why had she become friends with Liz? This was ten times worse than she had imagined it was going to be. Guilt was beginning to wind its way through her body, making her knees weak.
Max did not say anything else. A cell phone ringing pierced the silence that had descended on the pod chamber after Tess' last statement.
Liz looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry." She moved away from Max, pulling her cell out of her pocket.
Tess continued to stare at Max, looking for some sign that he knew what was expected of them both.
He wasn't looking at her at all. His gaze had followed Liz, his eyes warm as he listened to her talk on the phone. "Oh Alex! That's wonderful!" Liz paused, glanced at Max. She nodded happily at him.
Tess watched the smile appear on his face. "She did it." He murmured to himself, sounding proud.
"Who did what?" Tess asked, a feeling of dread tying her stomach into knots. Max and Liz both ignored her.
"We'll be right there." Liz told Alex. She rang off. "Maria's awake!" She told Tess happily. "Alex just saw her."
Tess felt relief flow through her. Michael was going to be so happy!
"How?" Tess asked, addressing Liz more warmly despite herself.
She frowned again at the glance that passed between Max and Liz. Something was not right here...
"We'll tell you on the way to the hospital." Liz decided. "We really need to go see Maria."
Tess clenched her jaw.
She had a feeling that Danala was not going to be happy about this development at all. The sooner Tess found out about the mysterious "she," the better.
"What are we waiting for?" She asked cheerily. "Let's go."
Tess followed Max and Liz out into the New Mexican sun, taking one last glance at the empty pods.
Destiny was going to have to wait for the moment.
*********************************************************************************
"I can't tell him Lizzie - not yet." Maria was staring out the window of her hospital room, a far-away expression on her face. Liz looked beyond her friend. She could see Michael, Alex and Jennetta horsing around on the front lawn of the hospital, soaking up the sun. Tess was there too, staring at the little girl. Kyle stood nearby, watching Tess. Liz wondered briefly where Max and Isabel had disappeared to.
Liz had been astounded when she, Max and Tess had arrived at the hospital. Not only was Maria awake, she was walking around, her complexion healthy. But underneath her friend's good spirits, Liz had detected something else, a new maturity perhaps - and a strange disquiet.
They had walked in on Alex, Kyle and Maria all laughing at Michael and Jennetta, who were arguing.
Isabel was there too, but she looked more annoyed than anything.
"But I don't LIKE pancakes Michael. Isabel made them for me last night - they're disgusting." Jennetta was saying, a mutinous expression on her face. She was sitting on a chair in the corner of Maria's room, a plate of rubbery-looking pancakes from the hospital cafeteria sitting in front of her.
"But you haven't tried them the way I make them."
"Good Lord! NO!" Alex had slapped his hand to his forehead as Michael pulled a bottle of Tabasco out of his jacket pocket. "Run Jennetta! Run for you life!"
Jennetta's head had tilted to the side. "What's that?" Her eyes had been glittering with interest.
"This is the BEST part of being on Earth." Michael had replied, liberally dousing her pancakes with the red liquid. Liz wrinkled her nose. Alex was making gagging noises.
Jennetta picked up her fork, took a bite of the pancakes. An expression of pure bliss appeared on her face. In that moment, she looked exactly like Maria whenever her friend ate ice-cream.
Liz had known then that there was no way that they were going to be able to keep the secret of Jennetta's origins for long. Every time Liz looked at her she could see Michael or Maria screaming out at her. She didn't know why she hadn't seen it the first time she had set eyes on the little girl.
She and Max, in sync as always, had not told Tess the whole truth about Jennetta on the way to the hospital. Liz wasn't really sure why, but it had just seemed to be the right thing to do.
They weren't even sure if Maria and Michael knew the truth.
That question had been answered about half an hour after their arrival. Liz had been watching Maria closely after their first tearful reunion.
Her friend's eyes followed Jennetta the entire time.
Maria knew.
It had been Liz who had asked the others to leave so that she could have a few moments alone with her best friend.
Maria had sobered almost immediately. "You know." She had pulled Liz down on the hospital bed beside her.
Liz had nodded. "Max told me. He found out when he tried to heal you." She paused. "How did you forget this Maria?"
Maria had shaken her head. "I don't know! I have no idea what Tarsus did to me. I mean I KNEW something had happened between me and Michael on that damn planet...But Liz! I forgot losing my virginity! How tragic is that! And how could I forget my own child Liz?" Maria's eyes had filled with tears of guilt. Liz's hatred for Tarsus had solidified. How dare he have done this to her friend?
He was evil. First he had hurt Max and now Maria.
She had never hated anyone as she hated the shapeshifter. "It wasn't your fault Maria! No one remembered. Max doesn't even remember who HE is."
Maria had flinched at that. "Poor Max. He tried to save her you know." She told Liz softly. "I saw it all Lizzie. It was just like we thought. He made a deal that he would stay if Michael and I were sent back. He told me that she was special Liz. That she was the saviour of his entire people." Liz put her arm around her best friend as Maria's voice cracked. "She's a baby Liz. I have to protect her. She's not ready for whatever it is they're going to make her do! I don't want her to be a stupid chosen one! She has a right to her own life."
"I know Maria." They had been quiet for a while, each reflecting on the fact that while they were happy that they were all back together, there was still so much to iron out.
Maria had finally moved to the window to watch her boyfriend play with his daughter - the one he did not know was his. "I just can't do it Liz." Maria repeated. "I just have this feeling that he can't know yet, that if he does, everything will be ruined."
"Max and I will go with whatever you decide Maria." Liz told her firmly. "I really think Michael has a right to know, but it's up to you. She's YOUR daughter."
"He's going to be so mad at me." Maria said softly.
"He'll get over it. Michael gets angry fast but it burns out quickly." Liz reassured her, although she wasn't sure Michael ever would get over Maria not telling him about Jennetta.
Liz knew - had known for a long time - that all Michael Guerin had ever wanted was to belong, to be part of a family. It was why he had been the most adamant about finding out who they really were, to find the place that was his in the universe.
Liz knew that his place was with Maria and their daughter.
She was still angry at Michael herself. Despite having decided in England that she was going to forgive Michael for Max's sake, letting her bitterness go had not been as easy as Liz had hoped. Seeing Max as confused and lost as he was - it had made the iron enter her soul again.
Max would not be suffering like he was if it wasn't for Michael.
But in spite of her anger, Liz felt bad for Michael. To keep from him the only thing he had ever wanted - it seemed wrong.
Yet it was Maria's decision. She knew Max wouldn't argue. He still didn't trust Michael or Isabel at all, still remembered them as the beloved family members who had betrayed them. He would see keeping Michael in the dark as a way to protect Jennetta. That would be enough for him.
"The only problem is that Jennetta knows." Maria was saying. "She's not going to understand why she has to keep it a secret Liz. I can't believe she hasn't said anything yet."
"Jennetta is special Maria." Liz replied. "I saw it the minute I met her. I don't think you'll have to worry about her - not if you explain it to her."
A soft knock on the door interrupted the charged moment as Liz and Maria stared at each other meaningfully.
Amy Deluca poked her head in. "Hey girls! Can your old mom come in Sweetie?"
Liz watched Maria paste a smile on her face. "Of course Mom!"
Amy moved across the room, took her daughter into her arms. "I still can't believe you're okay Maria! The doctors can't figure it out."
"It was a miracle." Maria replied simply, her eyes meeting Liz's again.
A miracle named Jennetta, Liz thought to herself.
She excused herself a few minutes later. "I'm going to find Max." She told Maria.
Maria waved her away. "Go! Tell that boyfriend of mine to get his butt in here." Her eyes had met Liz's again. "Oh, and tell him to bring Max's little sister." She said casually. "I want my mom to get a chance to talk to her."
"This seems to be the week for miracles..."Liz could hear Amy saying as she left the room. "First Max Evans comes back from the dead and now you baby."
Liz did not hear Maria's reply.
She came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Tess Harding talking on the phone. "Okay. Okay! I said I would do it!" Tess' tone was a mixture of sadness and anger.
Tess slammed the pay phone receiver down, briefly rested her forehead against it.
"Tess?" Liz was worried about Tess. She had been acting so strangely at the pod chamber.
If Tess had not told her with her own lips all those many months ago that she didn't want to be with Max, Liz would have been seriously worried. But she had seemed to snap out of her weird mood once they were in the car.
And yet...Liz remembered the way her eyes had burned when she had first seen Max again.
"Are you okay?" She asked Tess now, placing a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
She felt the other girl tense under her touch. She whirled. "Liz! I'm glad you're here! That was Isabel."
Liz felt a momentary pang of confusion. "Where is she?"
"She and Max went for a drive, to try and sort things out." Tess told her hurriedly. "She said that Max just freaked out. They're out near the Reservation. She said they were talking and it seemed to going okay, but that he suddenly just went ballistic on her. He got out of the car and took off."
Liz eyed Tess. Something about this did not sound right.
"How did Isabel call you on a pay phone?" She asked suspiciously.
Tess looked at her as though she was crazy. "I called her on her cell. To see how things were going." She explained.
"Oh. Okay." Liz's concern immediately switched to Max.
They were expecting too much of him too soon. No wonder he was losing it. She had to find him, help him.
"I'm going to find him." Liz told Tess.
"Can I come?" Tess asked immediately.
Liz frowned slightly. She wasn't sure it was a good idea. If Max was already freaking out, he didn't need an audience.
But the hopeful look on Tess' face convinced Liz.
She remembered Tess' fit at the Crashdown, how she cared about Max too.
Liz couldn't say no to her.
"Let's go."
The way Tess' face lit up...Liz was convinced she had done the right thing.
The two girls raced out to the parking lot.
Neither noticed the small figure who followed them.
Stop your crying, it will be all right
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry.
For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm.
This bond between us can't be broken,
I will be here, don't you cry.
You'll be in my heart,
You'll be in my heart,
From this day on, now and forever,
You'll be in my heart,
You'll be in my heart,
No matter what they say,
You'll be in my heart...always.
Michael stood across Maria's bed from Jennetta. It took all of his strength not to reach across the bed and haul the little girl away from Maria's still form.
They had been connected for too long. And it was clearly painful.
Moments before tears had started to stream from Jennetta's eyes.
It was different from when Michael had seen Max connect with people to heal them. During those times Max was generally still aware of his surroundings although he often became wrapped up in the pain of whoever he happened to be helping.
Jennetta was NOT with him any longer. It was like her body had emptied out. The only sign of life were the tears.
His gaze returned to Maria's face.
And suddenly his heart entered his throat.
She was crying too.
****************************************************************************
Dreams* Maria
When Maria opened her eyes she encountered blackness.
She sat up blinking, trying to make sure that she really had her eyes open.
She did.
The first thought that penetrated the fog of her mind was that she was blind.
"You're not blind." A voice told her. "You're just not seeing me. You don't know what I look like now."
Maria glanced around in terror. Everywhere she looked was black.
Yet she could feel that she was not alone.
"Who are you?" She asked into the darkness.
"It's me Mother."
Maria's heart sped up. "Jennetta! Is that you baby?"
"Yes. I've come to help you come back to us."
"But, how can you be talking to me? The last time I saw you, you were a month old. Have I been out of it for that long?" Maria asked in horror.
She could hear Jennetta giggling. "No silly. After Tarsus took me away from you, they podded me. I'm seven now - at least in Earth years."
Maria frowned. "I want to see you." She said.
"Are you sure?" Jennetta sounded a little scared, like she didn't want her to be disappointed or something.
How could she be disappointed? It was her baby.
"Yes."
Suddenly light filled the place where they spoke. Maria blinked, looked around.
They were in the damn Ring.
And yet they weren't. There was no tall yellow grass, no yellow sky, no twelve moons overhead.
There were only the stones, standing in their timeless pattern, reaching towards the black, star-studded sky that surrounded them.
Her eyes found Jennetta moments later.
Her daughter was standing about ten feet away from her, watching her warily.
Maria felt tears fill her eyes. She looks exactly like Michael!
Her waist-length was exactly Michael's shade of light-brown. Her eyes were his too, dark and sad.
As Maria looked closer she could see herself as well though. Jennetta's lips were her own cupid-bow shape and her nose was small and pert, not at all dominant on her face like Michael's was on his.
Maria opened her arms. Jennetta rushed into them. "I didn't know who you were!" She sobbed against Maria's chest. "When Michael brought me to you, I was just going to heal you for him, but I didn't know that you were MINE too!"
"My baby." Maria stroked her daughter's soft hair. "How could I ever have forgotten you? How did you get here?" She looked around the Ring warily. "And where is here anyway?" She asked wryly.
"We're in your dreams." Jennetta replied. "You had to stay in here until we found each other again."
"But I don't understand how you got here Sweetie. They took you away from me." Maria flinched at the memory of Tarsus ripping her baby out of her arms. "And why couldn't we remember you?"
"I can answer that."
The air nearby seemed to ripple and suddenly an old man in a long robe was standing almost next to them. Maria blinked at him. "Who are you?"
She felt Jennetta stiffen in her arms. "Lucianus! How did you get here?" She pulled away from Maria, went to throw herself at the old man.
"I've been watching you since you left us child." The old man replied. Jennetta grasped him by the hand, led him over to Maria.
"This is Lucianus." She explained. "He lives with my mother." She paused. "Well, I guess she's not my mother now. I don't know who she is, but anyway, he lived with us on Illyria."
"Who did you live with on Illyria?" Maria asked, feeling more and more confused. "Not Tarsus I hope?"
"No." Lucianus smiled at Maria. Maria liked him instantly. The old man had the kindest smile she had ever seen. "Jennetta was saved almost immediately."
"By Max." Maria finished in relief. She should have known that Max would never have let Tarsus keep her child in his evil clutches.
"I'm afraid not." Lucianus replied. Maria blinked. "He would have helped her, but he did not remember her."
"I don't understand." Maria felt her frustration mounting. Why did aliens always have to talk in circles?
"Go and see for yourself." Lucianus indicated one of the stones. As Maria turned to stare at it, it began to shimmer, transforming into what almost appeared to be a doorway. "All will be explained."
Maria looked at him. For some reason she felt that she could trust him. "Come Sweetie." She held out her hand for Jennetta.
They walked into chaos.
Maria realized almost immediately that they were back on Illyria - and yet they weren't. They were there, but as observers, not as actual participants in the events unfolding around them.
It was the Ring and it seemed to be just moments after she and Michael had been thrown into the portal back to Earth. The red column of light was gone, but all the players who had been there in their last moments on Illyria were still in the Ring.
Max was on the ground, three guards holding him down. "You LIED to me!" He was yelling at Tarsus, who was standing over him, shaking his head. Max was struggling against his captors, the expression of rage on his face almost terrifying. Maria had never seen her gentle friend look like that before. It was not Max.
"You have always been too trusting Jaxon. That is the first thing I'm going to program out of you. Trust is weakness. You will never be the king I need you to be if you trust." He shook his head again, this time in disgust. "Take him back to town. I want the cleansing to take place immediately. It better be done when I return."
Max howled in frustration again, was wrenching away from his guards. Maria could see him frantically trying to get to Jennetta, but it was all in vain. They hauled him away.
Ren was still standing near where he had been when Maria had left. He had Jennetta cradled against his shoulder. The baby was screaming at the top of her lungs. Maria did not blame her at all.
Maria felt the older Jennetta beside her shift uncomfortably as they watched what was happening to her younger self.
"Bring the brat to me Ren." Tarsus ordered.
Maria blinked when Ren did not move. His eyes were wide and he glanced behind him, towards the Illyrian side of the Ring.
Tarsus' eyes narrowed. "What are you doing? Bring her to me." Ren took a step backwards. Tarsus started to walk towards him. "So, we were wrong to trust you. You are a traitor, just like your father before you."
Ren paused. Maria willed him to keep going, to save her baby. "Keep my father out of this." Ren finally replied evenly. "I just saw the sacrifice that was made here - and I saw what YOU did. If this is what not having emotions does...well, I think I made a mistake by allowing myself to be cleansed."
"Too bad it's not as simple as that." Tarsus replied in the snotty voice that had always made Maria want to punch him, "You HAVE been cleansed. You are mine to do with as I will."
Ren was still moving. "Not anymore. I denounce you for the unfeeling bastard you are. I have witnessed what love is capable of today and it is worth any pain that comes with it. I will not let you have their child."
"Stop!" Tarsus bellowed back. "I command you!" Maria could see several Illyrian border guards peering into the Ring, trying to see what was happening.
She watched in stupefied amazement as Ren took the final steps over into Illyria.
Her guard - she now knew that he had been her friend - had saved her daughter's life.
Maria hugged her daughter against her side. "Do you know him?" She asked her quietly.
"No. I wonder what happened to him." Jennetta sounded sad.
As she spoke, the world around them began to shimmer. Moments later they were back in the dark-shrouded Ring. Lucianus was gone.
"What happens now?" Jennetta asked Maria.
"I don't know." Maria replied. "I guess I try and wake up."
She held onto her daughter tightly, willed herself to wake up.
Nothing happened.
"Okay, so much for that idea." Maria finally said, annoyed. "I guess something's missing." She glanced down at her daughter, who looked equally irritated. It made Maria want to smile despite herself.
"Maybe if you think of all the reasons you have to wake up?" Jennetta finally suggested.
"Well, that's easy." Maria smiled down at her. "Needless to say, you're number one."
Jennetta smiled back. "But I'm here already."
"Okay, well there's Liz of course." Maria watched in amazement as Liz suddenly appeared in front of her.
Liz was smiling at her, beckoning her, visions of all the good and bad times they had shared whirling through Maria's mind.
She thought of Alex next. And then her mother...and Isabel, Kyle and even Tess. They all appeared to her as though they were with her, but disappeared almost immediately as though trying to whet her appetite to be with them again.
She thought of Max. Her friend, who had sacrificed so much for all of them - and it had all been in vain.
Max materialized in front of her. He held baby Jennetta in his arms.
Maria gasped when seven-year old Jennetta, who had been clinging tightly to her hand, disappeared.
Max stepped forward, smiled at her. "And I would do it again in a minute." He told her quietly. He handed her the baby he was holding. Maria brought her daughter up against her chest and Max was gone.
Maria thought of Michael last.
He was there an instant later, looking annoyed.
"Can we get the show on the road here Maria? I mean, really, aren't you dragging this out a bit too dramatically?" Michael demanded. He was gone an instant later.
Maria laughed.
*************************************************************************************
Michael stared down at Maria in amazement. She was laughing.
Her eyes opened a moment later. Jennetta's eyes opened at the exact same moment. He watched as his girlfriend's eyes met Max's sister's.
A moment later Maria was sitting up, holding Jennetta tightly against her.
Finally she glanced past Jennetta's dark head, smiled at Michael in such a way, his heart started to beat a mile a minute.
"What are you doing all the way over there Spaceboy?" She asked, her tone light and affectionate.
It was all the encouragement Michael needed.
Part 32
There's a ship out on the ocean
At the mercy of the sea
It's tossed about, lost and broken
Wandering aimlessly
And God somehow you know that ship is me.
'Cause there's a lighthouse in the harbour
Shining faithfully
Pouring its light out across the water
For this sinking soul to see
That someone out there still believes in me.
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice
And it keeps me hanging on
Raining down
Against the wind
I'm reaching out
Till we reach the circle's end
When you come back to me again.
Garth Brooks
"We're here." Liz told Max quietly.
She saw him jump slightly in the passenger seat of her parent's car. His thoughts had obviously been a million miles away again.
She knew that he was searching his memory, trying to find anything familiar in the places she had been showing him all morning.
It had been Max's idea for her to take him on a tour of the area, of all the places that had played significant roles in his life.
They had started at the Crashdown. The breakfast rush had just been starting when they had arrived and Liz had become aware almost immediately of the whispering.
She had totally forgotten that as far as the town was concerned Max Evans was dead, had been dead for the last nine months.
Max had seemed unaware of the stares at first. Liz had told him to sit at the counter, which he had done. He had been staring around with wide eyes, obviously trying to find something in the restaurant which would jog his memory.
Liz had hurried into the kitchen, had asked Jose to fix them some breakfast. She had not intended to leave Max alone for long, but by the time she got back it was too late.
Pam Troy was seated on the stool beside him at the counter, two of her cronies standing nearby.
Liz had hurried over, hoping to do as much damage control as she could.
".....when I read it in the newspaper this morning, I couldn't believe it Max!" Pam was saying in her shrill voice. "I mean, how lucky are you that you survived that river? Is it true that you don't remember anything?"
Max had been staring at her, a perplexed expression on his face. "No, I don't." He had replied in that super-polite way of his that was part Max/part Jaxon. "Do I know you?"
Pam's hand had slid across the counter to inch up his arm. "You sure do - pretty well as a matter of fact."
Liz had wanted to throw up. "Your order's ready Pam." She had told Pam between clenched teeth. Pam had shot her a snotty look but had left to return to her booth. "Remind me to tell my father to ban her from the premises." Liz whispered to Max, only half joking.
He had laughed. "I'm assuming that I wasn't friends with that girl?" He had looked momentarily worried. "Was I?"
"Well, not really." Liz had replied, wondering how much she should be telling him. "You did date her for a while last winter."
Liz had felt better immediately at the horrified expression on his face. "I did?"
People had come up to them several times while they had eaten their breakfast, telling Max how glad they were that he was back. He had seemed pleased, but also sad that he didn't remember anyone.
Liz had smiled secretly to herself when Max had reached for the Tabasco sauce and threw a generous portion of it on his eggs. Apparently SOME things were not forgotten.
They had gone to the UFO Museum next. Milton had almost had a heart attack at the sight of Max but then to Max's complete embarrassment had proceeded to burst into tears.
"EVANS! I can't believe it!" He lowered his voice. "We're going to have to discuss this at length later Evans. I think there was more to your disappearance than the newspaper was letting on. We were getting too close weren't we?"
Max had glanced at Liz uncertainly. "Er - I guess so."
Milton nodded knowingly. "I knew it. I knew the minute there was no body. THEY abducted you, didn't they?"
Liz had stepped in that that point. This was getting a little too close to the truth for comfort. "No, nothing like that Milton. Max was picked up by some nice people and they took him to a shelter. It took this long for them to figure out who he was because he had no ID on him and everyone assumed Max was dead so there was no missing persons report."
Milton had raised his eyebrow at her. "Right." He had shot Max a covert look. "We'll discuss this when you're back on track Max - alone." He had said in a significant tone.
"Okay." Liz could see that Max was amused. He had apparently figured out what was going on.
They had gone back to the car, Max asking her for some information about Roswell and the famous Crash.
"Strangely, I do remember that detail about this place." Max had told her wryly. "I assume that that's how we ended up here? In the Crash."
"Yes. Do you want to go to the crash site?" Liz had asked him.
"No." He had stared off into space for a moment. "I want to go to where the Evans found us." He told her.
"Okay, but I'm not sure of the exact location." Liz told him. "Do you want to go to the school first? It's on the way out of town anyway."
They had arrived at West Roswell during third period. Liz was pleased. She didn't think that Max was up to dealing with all the stares and comments his presence surely would have garnered.
She had taken him on a quick tour by his locker, to the band room where he had told her his secret, past Ms. Hardy's Bio class where they had spent so many countless hours working together as the perfect lab team, in between staring at each other and trying to touch each other without getting caught.
Liz had smiled to herself when they passed the Eraser Room. "We spent a lot of time in there right after we got together." Liz told him, blushing a little.
Max had looked at her for a moment, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Really? Cleaning erasers?" He had asked innocently, but his eyes had been twinkling wickedly.
"Not exactly." He had continued to smile. Somehow she knew that HE knew exactly what they had done in there.
He might not remember it, but he knew.
They had driven down the highway where Diane and Phillip Evans had found Max and Isabel wandering lost and alone over eleven years before. Liz knew the scene exactly as it had played out, it having been one of the things she had seen the first time she and Max had connected. She described to Max the way he had felt that day, having felt it herself through their connection.
"You were scared and you were worried about Michael, who didn't want to come with you, and your first instinct was to hide, but Isabel convinced you to let them find you."
Max had sighed, shaking his head. "How can I not remember any of this?" He asked in frustration, the good mood that had permeated at the school quickly dissipating.
Liz had reached over and taken his hand. He had let her, squeezing it gently in thanks. Liz had felt her heart speed up at his touch. He had been gone for so long - it was still magical every time she realized that he was really back. She wanted desperately to help him find his memories. Until then, he was not truly whole, could never truly be happy.
That was one thing she had promised herself when she had first determined that she was not going to rest until she brought Max home. This time he was going to be happy, and not just for isolated moments here and there. Her goal was to make him happy for the rest of his life.
"You will remember Max. I promise. And even if you don't...." She had felt his eyes on her. She turned to watch him. "We have our whole lives to make new memories." He had eyed her, his expression unreadable and had turned to stare out the window at the passing New Mexico desert.
Liz had realized that they weren't far from the pod chamber and had suggested that they go there next.
"That's weird." Liz told Max worriedly as she brought the car to a stop next to a sports utility vehicle. "Tess is here."
"Sabrya. I can feel her presence." Max said quietly. Liz knew that he had not seen Tess since his return. She wondered if the memories that had been implanted by Tarsus included Tess - Sabrya - as his wife...
Her heart lodged itself in her throat at the thought.
"Well, let's go see what she's doing." Liz suggested with false cheer. Max climbed out of the passenger side, following Liz up the cliff-side.
"You wave your hand here." She told him when they reached the ledge where the entrance was located. Max eyed the spot for a moment, waved his hand in front of it. The silver hand-print appeared immediately. Max placed his hand squarely upon it and the stone face slid away.
Liz called to Tess as they entered. She didn't want to freak her friend out.
She shivered when there was no answer. She could feel a presence here as well.
They were not alone.
Liz ducked her head beneath the opening, followed Max into the chamber proper.
She had not been there since the day Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had found out their true destinies - since the day that she had walked away from Max and had started the whole horrible chain of events that had led them to this moment.
Liz forced herself to suppress the memory of the despair and heartbreak she had felt that day. It had all worked out in the end. Max was here and even though he had no memory of who he was, he did know that it was HER that he loved, not Tess. He had told her so not five hours ago.
That had to mean something.
Liz nearly stumbled into Max when he came to an abrupt halt. She brought her hands up against his back to steady herself, looked past his shoulder.
Tess was seated on the floor in front of the empty and dark pods, her legs crossed, her hands on her knees. She had her eyes closed and she looked like she was meditating.
"Tess?" Liz asked, worried. She remembered that Kyle had told her that Liz had been acting very strangely since after they had left for England. She recalled the fit that Tess had thrown about being left behind in the first place.
Tess did not move at the sound of Liz's voice.
Liz felt Max's muscles tense under her hands. There was no question that he was affected by the sight of Tess. Liz bit her lip, jealousy invading her soul despite herself. She hated to feel that way, but this place - it made her remember exactly the devastation she had felt at the news of Tess' rightful place as Max's bride.
And yet, Max made no move towards her. He seemed perfectly content to stay close to Liz.
"Sabrya." He finally said.
Tess' eyes sprang open suddenly, their blue depths shining with a fervent light. Liz blinked. She had never seen Tess look like that before, even during her most insistent moments that she and Max belonged together.
She looked crazy. Her eyes shone with a zealot's passion. They zeroed in on Max in an instant, completely ignoring Liz's presence.
"Jaxon. You came for me."
Part 33
"Jaxon. You came for me." Tess could not believe that he was really here. Danala had been telling the truth.
Her destiny had returned to her.
"Sabrya. You are looking well." He said formally. Tess frowned slightly. Max sounded weird, like he didn't know what to say to her.
It was probably because SHE was there.
Tess was doing her best not to look at Liz. She was trying to suppress the feeling of guilt that seemed to be pressing on her where Liz was concerned.
She did feel bad that Liz was going to be hurt, but Liz had been the first to recognize all those long months ago that she and Max - make that Jaxon - she had to get used to calling him by his real name if they were going to go back to Illyria - belonged together.
Tess climbed gracefully to her feet. She paused momentarily when Max reached behind him and took Liz's hand.
What the hell?
"We should tell you Tess..." Liz said, "Max doesn't remember a lot right now. Tarsus did something to him, to make him forget who he is."
The way Liz used that "we" - it made it clear to Tess that even if Max had no memory, nothing had changed. She, Tess, was still second best. Somehow Liz had wormed her way back in to Max's affections in the short time he had been back.
This was not going to be easy. But Danala was depending on her to bring the chosen one into the universe. Max was hers. They were destined to have a child who would unite their world.
She wondered why she suddenly felt empty at that thought.
Tess suppressed the brief vision of Kyle that appeared before her. He looked sad and hurt. Her heart ached at the sight of it.
Where did that come from? She shook her head, forced herself to concentrate on Max and Liz.
"I'm glad you're back Max." She said sweetly. He was frowning slightly. "Do you remember ME?"
"I remember certain things."Max replied. Tess was barely concentrating on what he was saying. She was eyeing Liz's hand, which was stroking his arm comfortingly.
Is she trying to drive me insane? Tess wondered. And yet Tess did not feel jealous. Again, she felt nothing.
My sister is depending on me. I have to do this.
Tess tuned back into what Max was saying.
"I remember Tristandor bringing you to the palace. I remember our wedding day. And I remember you refusing to come with me when I was forced to leave the Citadel after he and Mirana betrayed me that same night." His tone was harsh.
Tess blinked. What the heck was he talking about? Danala hadn't told her anything about Michael and Isabel betraying Max.
"I...I'm sorry about that." Tess stuttered. She tried to shut out the sympathetic look Liz was sending her.
Why had she become friends with Liz? This was ten times worse than she had imagined it was going to be. Guilt was beginning to wind its way through her body, making her knees weak.
Max did not say anything else. A cell phone ringing pierced the silence that had descended on the pod chamber after Tess' last statement.
Liz looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry." She moved away from Max, pulling her cell out of her pocket.
Tess continued to stare at Max, looking for some sign that he knew what was expected of them both.
He wasn't looking at her at all. His gaze had followed Liz, his eyes warm as he listened to her talk on the phone. "Oh Alex! That's wonderful!" Liz paused, glanced at Max. She nodded happily at him.
Tess watched the smile appear on his face. "She did it." He murmured to himself, sounding proud.
"Who did what?" Tess asked, a feeling of dread tying her stomach into knots. Max and Liz both ignored her.
"We'll be right there." Liz told Alex. She rang off. "Maria's awake!" She told Tess happily. "Alex just saw her."
Tess felt relief flow through her. Michael was going to be so happy!
"How?" Tess asked, addressing Liz more warmly despite herself.
She frowned again at the glance that passed between Max and Liz. Something was not right here...
"We'll tell you on the way to the hospital." Liz decided. "We really need to go see Maria."
Tess clenched her jaw.
She had a feeling that Danala was not going to be happy about this development at all. The sooner Tess found out about the mysterious "she," the better.
"What are we waiting for?" She asked cheerily. "Let's go."
Tess followed Max and Liz out into the New Mexican sun, taking one last glance at the empty pods.
Destiny was going to have to wait for the moment.
*********************************************************************************
"I can't tell him Lizzie - not yet." Maria was staring out the window of her hospital room, a far-away expression on her face. Liz looked beyond her friend. She could see Michael, Alex and Jennetta horsing around on the front lawn of the hospital, soaking up the sun. Tess was there too, staring at the little girl. Kyle stood nearby, watching Tess. Liz wondered briefly where Max and Isabel had disappeared to.
Liz had been astounded when she, Max and Tess had arrived at the hospital. Not only was Maria awake, she was walking around, her complexion healthy. But underneath her friend's good spirits, Liz had detected something else, a new maturity perhaps - and a strange disquiet.
They had walked in on Alex, Kyle and Maria all laughing at Michael and Jennetta, who were arguing.
Isabel was there too, but she looked more annoyed than anything.
"But I don't LIKE pancakes Michael. Isabel made them for me last night - they're disgusting." Jennetta was saying, a mutinous expression on her face. She was sitting on a chair in the corner of Maria's room, a plate of rubbery-looking pancakes from the hospital cafeteria sitting in front of her.
"But you haven't tried them the way I make them."
"Good Lord! NO!" Alex had slapped his hand to his forehead as Michael pulled a bottle of Tabasco out of his jacket pocket. "Run Jennetta! Run for you life!"
Jennetta's head had tilted to the side. "What's that?" Her eyes had been glittering with interest.
"This is the BEST part of being on Earth." Michael had replied, liberally dousing her pancakes with the red liquid. Liz wrinkled her nose. Alex was making gagging noises.
Jennetta picked up her fork, took a bite of the pancakes. An expression of pure bliss appeared on her face. In that moment, she looked exactly like Maria whenever her friend ate ice-cream.
Liz had known then that there was no way that they were going to be able to keep the secret of Jennetta's origins for long. Every time Liz looked at her she could see Michael or Maria screaming out at her. She didn't know why she hadn't seen it the first time she had set eyes on the little girl.
She and Max, in sync as always, had not told Tess the whole truth about Jennetta on the way to the hospital. Liz wasn't really sure why, but it had just seemed to be the right thing to do.
They weren't even sure if Maria and Michael knew the truth.
That question had been answered about half an hour after their arrival. Liz had been watching Maria closely after their first tearful reunion.
Her friend's eyes followed Jennetta the entire time.
Maria knew.
It had been Liz who had asked the others to leave so that she could have a few moments alone with her best friend.
Maria had sobered almost immediately. "You know." She had pulled Liz down on the hospital bed beside her.
Liz had nodded. "Max told me. He found out when he tried to heal you." She paused. "How did you forget this Maria?"
Maria had shaken her head. "I don't know! I have no idea what Tarsus did to me. I mean I KNEW something had happened between me and Michael on that damn planet...But Liz! I forgot losing my virginity! How tragic is that! And how could I forget my own child Liz?" Maria's eyes had filled with tears of guilt. Liz's hatred for Tarsus had solidified. How dare he have done this to her friend?
He was evil. First he had hurt Max and now Maria.
She had never hated anyone as she hated the shapeshifter. "It wasn't your fault Maria! No one remembered. Max doesn't even remember who HE is."
Maria had flinched at that. "Poor Max. He tried to save her you know." She told Liz softly. "I saw it all Lizzie. It was just like we thought. He made a deal that he would stay if Michael and I were sent back. He told me that she was special Liz. That she was the saviour of his entire people." Liz put her arm around her best friend as Maria's voice cracked. "She's a baby Liz. I have to protect her. She's not ready for whatever it is they're going to make her do! I don't want her to be a stupid chosen one! She has a right to her own life."
"I know Maria." They had been quiet for a while, each reflecting on the fact that while they were happy that they were all back together, there was still so much to iron out.
Maria had finally moved to the window to watch her boyfriend play with his daughter - the one he did not know was his. "I just can't do it Liz." Maria repeated. "I just have this feeling that he can't know yet, that if he does, everything will be ruined."
"Max and I will go with whatever you decide Maria." Liz told her firmly. "I really think Michael has a right to know, but it's up to you. She's YOUR daughter."
"He's going to be so mad at me." Maria said softly.
"He'll get over it. Michael gets angry fast but it burns out quickly." Liz reassured her, although she wasn't sure Michael ever would get over Maria not telling him about Jennetta.
Liz knew - had known for a long time - that all Michael Guerin had ever wanted was to belong, to be part of a family. It was why he had been the most adamant about finding out who they really were, to find the place that was his in the universe.
Liz knew that his place was with Maria and their daughter.
She was still angry at Michael herself. Despite having decided in England that she was going to forgive Michael for Max's sake, letting her bitterness go had not been as easy as Liz had hoped. Seeing Max as confused and lost as he was - it had made the iron enter her soul again.
Max would not be suffering like he was if it wasn't for Michael.
But in spite of her anger, Liz felt bad for Michael. To keep from him the only thing he had ever wanted - it seemed wrong.
Yet it was Maria's decision. She knew Max wouldn't argue. He still didn't trust Michael or Isabel at all, still remembered them as the beloved family members who had betrayed them. He would see keeping Michael in the dark as a way to protect Jennetta. That would be enough for him.
"The only problem is that Jennetta knows." Maria was saying. "She's not going to understand why she has to keep it a secret Liz. I can't believe she hasn't said anything yet."
"Jennetta is special Maria." Liz replied. "I saw it the minute I met her. I don't think you'll have to worry about her - not if you explain it to her."
A soft knock on the door interrupted the charged moment as Liz and Maria stared at each other meaningfully.
Amy Deluca poked her head in. "Hey girls! Can your old mom come in Sweetie?"
Liz watched Maria paste a smile on her face. "Of course Mom!"
Amy moved across the room, took her daughter into her arms. "I still can't believe you're okay Maria! The doctors can't figure it out."
"It was a miracle." Maria replied simply, her eyes meeting Liz's again.
A miracle named Jennetta, Liz thought to herself.
She excused herself a few minutes later. "I'm going to find Max." She told Maria.
Maria waved her away. "Go! Tell that boyfriend of mine to get his butt in here." Her eyes had met Liz's again. "Oh, and tell him to bring Max's little sister." She said casually. "I want my mom to get a chance to talk to her."
"This seems to be the week for miracles..."Liz could hear Amy saying as she left the room. "First Max Evans comes back from the dead and now you baby."
Liz did not hear Maria's reply.
She came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Tess Harding talking on the phone. "Okay. Okay! I said I would do it!" Tess' tone was a mixture of sadness and anger.
Tess slammed the pay phone receiver down, briefly rested her forehead against it.
"Tess?" Liz was worried about Tess. She had been acting so strangely at the pod chamber.
If Tess had not told her with her own lips all those many months ago that she didn't want to be with Max, Liz would have been seriously worried. But she had seemed to snap out of her weird mood once they were in the car.
And yet...Liz remembered the way her eyes had burned when she had first seen Max again.
"Are you okay?" She asked Tess now, placing a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
She felt the other girl tense under her touch. She whirled. "Liz! I'm glad you're here! That was Isabel."
Liz felt a momentary pang of confusion. "Where is she?"
"She and Max went for a drive, to try and sort things out." Tess told her hurriedly. "She said that Max just freaked out. They're out near the Reservation. She said they were talking and it seemed to going okay, but that he suddenly just went ballistic on her. He got out of the car and took off."
Liz eyed Tess. Something about this did not sound right.
"How did Isabel call you on a pay phone?" She asked suspiciously.
Tess looked at her as though she was crazy. "I called her on her cell. To see how things were going." She explained.
"Oh. Okay." Liz's concern immediately switched to Max.
They were expecting too much of him too soon. No wonder he was losing it. She had to find him, help him.
"I'm going to find him." Liz told Tess.
"Can I come?" Tess asked immediately.
Liz frowned slightly. She wasn't sure it was a good idea. If Max was already freaking out, he didn't need an audience.
But the hopeful look on Tess' face convinced Liz.
She remembered Tess' fit at the Crashdown, how she cared about Max too.
Liz couldn't say no to her.
"Let's go."
The way Tess' face lit up...Liz was convinced she had done the right thing.
The two girls raced out to the parking lot.
Neither noticed the small figure who followed them.