Part 45
"Michael?" Maria's voice was soft as she spoke. She wasn't sure whether he was asleep or not.
They had not spoken a word since the others had left a couple of hours before. Michael had simply backed up into one of the stone walls near Jennetta's pod, sliding to the floor, without saying a word.
It was like he had given up. His expression was completely blank as he continued to stare at Jennetta in her pod. Maria had gone to sit beside him. She had jumped when he had put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her up close to his side.
And that was how they had sat, both reluctant to take their eyes off their daughter, in case they missed something that would help them to stop whatever was happening to her.
"Hmmmm..."
"Can you see anything happening?"
This was what Maria had been looking for for the past few minutes; any sign that Jennetta was changing physically in any way. But she didn't look any different. The only thing was that her face had lost the animation that had been such a large part of who she was. She did not look to be in any sort of pain; only serene and oblivious to what was going on around her.
"No." Michael replied gruffly.
"I wonder how long it will be before she starts to change." Maria shivered at the thought of it, the thought that her daughter was going to start maturing until she was actually older than Maria herself.
It was just WRONG - on every level.
Maria knew that she had not been very strong up to this point. She had become nearly hysterical when Ren had first told them there was nothing they could do to stop what was happening to Jennetta. And then she had fainted...
She, Maria Deluca, had fainted. What was up with that?
"I don't know." Michael told her. "I would guess it would be soon if the pods are working right. If they aren't...well, it could be years."
They were quiet for a while longer. It was not an uncomfortable silence but there was something underlying that had to be addressed. Maria didn't know if this was the right time to do it, but she didn't know if she could stand to have any sort of conflict between she and Michael. Not now.
It was ironic really. Her entire relationship with Michael over the two years that they had been together off and on had revolved around conflict. It was one of the things she loved most about him - that he nearly drove her crazy on a regular basis. He challenged her.
And yet now, the last thing in the world she wanted to do was fight with him.
But if that was going to stop they were definitely going to have to master the art of communication.
Max and Liz had done it. They didn't even have to talk and they were in perfect sync. But the bond that existed between those two was not something that Maria could ever hope to approximate.
What Max and Liz had was not normal. It was something apart. Those two were in many ways, quite literally, one soul divided into two bodies - to the point that Maria did not think that they could live without each other. She was still convinced that the only reason that Liz had survived their separation while Max was on Illyria was because she somehow KNEW that he would come back to her someday.
Maria had often complained to Michael that he should be more like Max. But that wasn't what she wanted really. All she wanted was the chance to be with him, the chance to share something with him.
And Jennetta had been that chance.
But now that chance was gone and it was all up to Maria again. She could not depend that their daughter would bind him to her. For all they knew Jennetta WOULD leave when she came out of her pod. They couldn't read the future.
Maria could not depend on him staying around because he loved their daughter. She was going to have to do it herself.
It was scary.
"Michael?"
"What Maria." His tone was not annoyed, just exhausted. Maybe this wasn't the time...
"Why didn't you tell me about Jennetta when you found out?" She couldn't stop the words from tumbling from her mouth. She flinched, felt him stiffen beside her. She couldn't look at him.
"Why didn't you?" Michael finally asked, not answering her question.
"Michael! Why can't you just answer me?" Maria demanded, shocked by the intensity of the fury that coursed through her. She knew that it wasn't anger at Michael...it was anger about the unfairness of the entire situation in which they found themselves. And yet she couldn't control herself. "You always shut me out! Would you even be here if it wasn't for Jennetta?"
Maria pulled away from him, keeping her back to him. She tried to control the tears that threatened to pour from her eyes.
Michael didn't say anything for a long time. Maria wondered if he actually HAD gone to sleep.
So help me...if he's asleep...
Maria jumped at the sound of his voice. "Maria, I want you to tell me why you didn't tell ME." His tone was urgent.
"Why?" Maria demanded, jumping to her feet and whirling on him.
Michael stared up at her, his expression unreadable. "Because I'm guessing it was for the same reason that I couldn't tell you."
Maria froze. Finally she whispered, "I think I knew that she wasn't going to be ours for good." Maria paused, horrified. But it was true, somehow, deep down, she had known that they were going to lose her...
And more than she couldn't bear that for herself...she couldn't bear it for Michael.
She couldn't bear the thought of the pain she knew that he would feel.
Michael had climbed unsteadily to his feet. His eyes were bright. Maria realized that it was with tears.
"Me too." He continued to stare at her, until she couldn't stand it anymore. She threw herself against his chest and sobbed out her grief at the fact that while their daughter would live, she would never be theirs.
Jennetta belonged to her planet. Just like Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had always belonged to Illyria.
The Royal Four had escaped their destiny, but only because they were sacrificing something even greater than themselves.
They were sacrificing their future, in the form of a small child, one who would not be small for much longer.
"We're... going to have to...to give her up Michael." Maria finally managed to say after she had cried herself dry, hiccuping twice before she could get it out.
"I know."
There was another long silence.
"Why us?" Maria asked eventually.
"Because we're the ones who would KNOW how big a sacrifice it is." Michael replied, sounding more sure than Maria had ever heard him. "Max and Liz...they would be devastated, but for them, giving each other up would be even worse. They've had to do it once already. They made their sacrifice."
"But us?"
Michael pulled back, looked steadily at her face. "Be honest Maria...if you knew that we could keep her forever, but the price was that we could never be together...would you do it?"
"Yes." Maria said without hesitation.
Michael smiled weakly. "Me too."
Michael sank back against the wall, bringing Maria down with him. "You know," Maria said after a while, "I don't think it's about Liz and I making sacrifices at all."
"What do you mean?" Michael asked, sounding angry. "You both have given up just as much as me and Max."
"Well, duh. I mean, I know that, but I don't think your people particularly care about us." Maria replied. "I think it's all about you and the other three sacrificing...I mean, think about it. Max gave up Liz by going back to Illyria. You're giving up Jennetta. Tess gave up her dream of Max and destiny and family. And Isabel gave up her mother." She paused, thinking hard. "You all made the ultimate sacrifice to save your planet. Your sacrifices resulted in Jennetta - the Chosen One."
"Hmmmm..." Michael snorted. "Nice planet I come from...I'm damn glad I never have to go back."
"But think about it Michael...if it's true, then maybe we won't have lost Jennetta forever. Max got Liz back, Isabel has regained some sort of contact with her mother AND has Mrs. Evans....and Tess has US to replace her family." Maria could feel herself beginning to get excited. "Maybe we just have to be willing to make the sacrifice but in the end it won't happen!"
Michael pulled her more tightly against him. He rested his chin on top of her head. Maria felt her eyes drift back to her little girl, so quiet and yet so peaceful in her pod. She knew that Michael was looking at her too. "I hope so." He finally muttered.
Part 46
West Roswell High, New Mexico - February 2002 - Six Months later
Liz hurried down the empty corridor, already tardy for AP English. She and Alex had left campus for lunch at Senor Chow's because Alex had a coupon that expired that day, but their waitress had been so slow, in the end their idea of a leisurely meal had flown out the window. They had practically wolfed down their food but they were still late.
"See that your dad never hires that girl at the Crashdown." Alex had ordered as he had rushed away from her on his way to Computer Programming.
Liz had almost reached her class when an arm suddenly reached out from a nearby doorway, grabbing her and hauling her into a vacant classroom. Liz barely had time to gasp before Max's lips were on hers.
As was always the case, all thoughts of being responsible instantly flew out of Liz's mind. Max's warmth, his scent infiltrated her senses, making her dizzy.
The flashes began almost immediately.
In the past, flashes had been solitary events, either brought on by great stress or interesting circumstances - if you could qualify finding a "damn orb," as Maria had dubbed them, an interesting circumstance...but now - they were as natural as breathing.
When Max and Liz's commitment had solidified, the flashes had become a normal part of every moment they spent together. They heightened the connection that existed between them and Liz would not have traded them for a million dollars. She knew him inside and out because of them - not only who Max Evans was, but also who Jaxon Falconer, King of Illyria had been, for those memories were still intact as well.
Liz also loved that Max knew everything there was to know about her. It had been scary at first, to have yourself be so naked and vulnerable to another person, but in the end she would have it no other way.
Plus, it was darn fun seeing some of the dirty thoughts Max had about her.
Liz finally pulled away, scolding jokingly. "I'm sorry sir but I have a boyfriend and I don't think he would be very happy to find me in here with you. You really must learn not to accost young ladies." She knew the smile on her face in no way matched her tone, but she couldn't help it. She had no control of her happiness where Max was concerned. When she was with him, she was happy. When she wasn't with him, she was happy that she soon would be. That was all there was to it.
Max gazed at her with hooded eyes. "Don't you know about my reputation miss?" He asked teasingly. "I'm honouring you with my presence...you should be grateful! Your boyfriend would more than understand. I mean, I am the FAMOUS Max Evans."
Liz smirked at him. Max was referring to the infamous photos of them that Pam Troy - aka Danala - had posted on the Internet all those months ago. Max had still been missing during that little horror show, but he had definitely heard about it.
Oh, had he heard.
Only several days after he had set foot back in West Roswell as a matter of fact... which had been two days after they had destroyed Danala and Jennetta went into the pod. He had not wanted to leave her, but Liz had finally convinced him that it was up to Michael and Maria to look after his little sister.
It was the way they wanted it and they all had to respect it. They would help as much as the pair wanted them too, but it had to be Michael and Maria's decision.
Liz had reminded him that not only was he half a year behind his classmates in school because of his months on Illyria, he had also been flunking most of his classes when he HAD been at school. This, of course, had all been part of his anti-Max act, but obviously no teacher was going to accept that excuse. And so Max Evans had spent most of the last six months desperately trying to catch up on almost a year's worth of school work on top of his Senior Year work, hoping that he would still be able to graduate with his class.
Unfortunately Max was too darn honest to use his scanning ability to make his task a little easier, but then that was one of the things Liz loved about him. But it did mean that he was often exhausted.
It didn't help that he had insisted on returning to work at the UFO Museum and that he also drove out to the Transformation Chamber at least once a day to check on Jennetta and Ren, the latter having set up camp within the Chamber to guard the precious one housed there. And this was on top of his shifts looking after Jennetta anyway.
And then there was the fall-out from Max's return from the dead...and those infamous pictures.
Max had entered the school on that first day encircled protectively by Isabel, Alex, Tess and, of course, Liz. Liz had even convinced Kyle to meet them at the front doors although he had been strangely missing in action during the two days since they had defeated Danala.
People had been thrilled to see Max. Before the anti-Max routine, he had been very popular. Sure he had been quiet and mysterious, but everyone knew that he was just about the nicest guy in the world. That sort of thing could not be hidden. Which was why the anti-Max behaviour had been so shocking and extreme...
They had all read the headlines in the newspaper, had seen it on the news: MIRACLE RETURN OF PRESUMED DEAD LOCAL TEENAGER. The papers in Albuquerque had picked up the story. Liz had been shocked to even see a report of the story on a network newscast a few days later, it clearly having been of enough human interest for Peter Jennings to talk about it.
Everyone was looking for miracles it seemed.
The Sheriff had done his best to shield the Evans from the brunt of the publicity, but they had been forced to endure it for several days.
And then when the kids at West Roswell had finally started to simmer down about Max's miraculous return, they had begun to notice that not only was Max Evans back from the dead, but clearly so was his relationship with Liz Parker.
It had been their own fault really. Max and Liz had barely managed to keep their hands off of each other half the time. They had just spent so much time apart, had not really been together and half-way safe since the time before Tess had appeared in Roswell almost two years before. They couldn't help it. And it was noticed immediately of course...
And certain people took it to mean something that they shouldn't...mainly people that had known Pam Troy.
Liz still hadn't found her journal. Tess had searched Danala's belongings, which had been stored in the Pod Chamber, but the book of the history of Max and Liz had not been among them.
Liz remembered the exact moment Max had first heard that practically the entire school had seen those pictures.
They had all been sitting in the quad eating their lunch about two weeks after D-Day as Alex had taken to calling that horrible event, it being short for Danala Day. No one thought it was very funny, but they couldn't exactly go around talking about it openly otherwise. Destroy Evil Alien Day had just not seemed appropriate somehow.
A routine had begun with everyone sharing the job of sitting with Jennetta because, although they wanted to, Michael and Maria had determined that they could not keep her a secret, look after her AND lead semi-normal lives to keep that secret at the same time, and thus had had to delegate. Clearly Ren was always there, but no one wanted Jenny to be alone when she first came out of the pod.
Alex and Isabel had been on duty and therefore were not sitting with them, but the rest of the gang was there, including Michael and Maria. Even Kyle had deigned to join them, although his distance had been increasing with every day. Liz knew that it had everything to do with Tess, but she had no idea what to do to help that situation.
It had been equally clear to Liz that TESS had not known what to do about the awkwardness between the two of them and so chose to ignore it. This had resulted in Kyle being even more hurt and pulling away from the whole group.
Because, as Kyle had told Liz when she had confronted him about it, Tess didn't have anyone else. Kyle would survive without the group, but Tess wouldn't. Liz had gone over to Max's and cried on his chest about how sad she felt for her friend. Max had stroked her hair and told her that it would all work out if it was meant to...just look at them.
And so, the grouping on that particular day had been strange. Tension had been in the air. Michael had been grumpy for days, and while no one blamed him, it was still hard to deal with. Maria was no longer MARIA. She was quiet and sad and barely spoke at all. Tess had been chattering, trying to erase the unnatural silence and Kyle had been staring everywhere but at Tess. Max and Liz were holding hands, both upset at what their friends had come to.
They had all been jerked from their respective funks when Sandy Snell and Julie Lucas, two of Pam Troy's lackeys if Liz remembered correctly, although it was hard too because Pam had always failed to keep friends for very long, had come marching up to them. They had looked frightened but determined as well.
"What did you do to Pam? Everyone's been treating you like gold just because you disappeared Max Evans, but we don't care!" Sandy had said, her voice dripping with venom. "I know you did something to her and that your crazy group of friends helped you!" She had stated, staring straight at Max.
Liz had felt Max flinch.
Pam Troy was another problem that had yet to be resolved. They had no idea what Danala had done to the girl when she had assumed her form. They had already determined that the Pam Max had dated was the REAL Pam. Although they were fairly sure Michael and Tess' evil sister had murdered her, they had no idea where her body was. And they also had no idea what to do if Pam's body WAS ever found.
The Sheriff had helped them, but they all felt terrible having to tell the Troys that Pam had run away. And yet there had been little else they could do. Liz knew that while Max had despised her, his guilt over Pam's fate was yet another burden added to the heavy load he already carried.
"What the hell are you talking about Snell? Get lost!" Kyle had sneered, trying to rid themselves of she and Julie. But Liz had felt her heart go out to Pam's friends despite herself.
She certainly had hated Pam, having been her victim once upon a time, but no one had deserved the end Danala had likely visited on her.
Sandy had flinched, clearly slightly intimidated by Kyle and his social status. She knew that he could ruin her, but Liz had to admire her backbone, if not her next words, when she continued. "I mean, I think you thought Pam was responsible for those pictures and now that you and Liz are back together, you wanted to get rid of her."
Liz had felt Max tense up. "What pictures?" He had asked Liz under his breath.
But Michael had spoken up at this point. "You're crazy woman! Who the hell would 'take care' of someone over something like that?"
Sandy had stared at him. "I didn't think you had killed her or anything...just that you made her run-away somehow." Her eyes widened and she looked terrified. "Did you kill her?"
Michael had snorted, rising and getting ready to leave. "I don't have time for these high school dramas." He pulled Maria to her feet. Maria had eyed Max sympathetically before they left.
"We'll be with Jenny!" She called to Liz as they disappeared.
"We're sorry." Liz finally said gently. "We don't know where Pam is."
Sandy's eyes had filled with tears. Julie had taken her by the arm, pulling her away. "I'm sorry." Julie told them. "She's just really upset."
"I didn't know Pam Troy had any real friends." Tess said after the foursome of she, Kyle, Liz and Max had sat for several moments in uncomfortable silence.
"I guess everyone has SOMEONE who cares about them." Liz replied, squeezing Max' hand. She could feel his curiosity about those pictures that Sandy had mentioned, but also his guilt over Pam. She knew exactly what he was thinking. If he wasn't who he was, innocent people wouldn't be getting hurt.
River Dog. Eddie. Pam...even Nasedo and Silesa and her mate, who had died protecting him and Isabel and Michael and Tess. Liz knew that he carried the weight of their sacrifice around with him constantly.
That was just Max.
And that was when the rumours had started again. They were all sure that Sandy was responsible. Liz had had to tell Max all about the web-site. He had been horrified at first, that their privacy had been violated in that way. He had also been aware of the danger of Liz's journal's still missing status. But eventually he had started to see the humour in the situation, even had started to tease Liz about it because it still made her blush.
But as Max had told her finally: "I don't care if people see how much I love you Liz. I mean, they can see it when I LOOK at you. They are probably assuming that we do that stuff anyway."
"How can you be so calm about this?" Liz had asked, reddening just thinking about it.
"I have other things to think about." Max had replied, pulling her to him and showing her EXACTLY what he was thinking about.
Things had slowly begun to return to normal, despite all the questions they still had.
They had exhausted Ren's knowledge about what was happening to Jennetta. The transformation had begun. It had been Max who had first noticed the difference, he being the one who still knew her the best. It was slow, but she was definitely maturing.
She looked about thirteen at the present stage. It was disturbing and unnatural, but it was still Jennetta...and with every passing day she looked more like Maria. Her colouring was still all Michael, but her face was almost an exact replica of her mother's.
Maria had cried when Isabel had pointed it out.
The other major concern was Tarsus. Max knew him, knew that he would not take Danala's destruction lightly. Their fear of his return had calmed down slightly when Ren had reminded them that only Isabel and Max could open the portals.
"He got here the first time." Max had replied darkly. "And so did Danala...and I KNOW that Izzy didn't bring them."
"Tarsus followed you on a ship the first time. He had been on Earth for decades, searching for you. He only found you when you activated the orb the first time." Ren had explained.
"And Danala?" Liz had inquired, knowing exactly what Max was thinking.
Ren had frowned. "Hmmmm..."
And they had left it at that....and so they worried.
Now as Liz threw her arms around Max's neck and kissed him again, all these worries interfered again.
Max pulled back slightly, bringing his forehead to rest against hers. "What's wrong Liz?"
Liz sighed, brought her hand up to touch his face lovingly. "The usual."
Max took her hand, smiled weakly. "I take it by that you mean the English test you are presently missing?" Liz eyed him seriously, knowing that he was just trying to cheer her up. He was so strong...always worrying about everyone else before himself.
But clearly right now he wanted to forget their problems. She would let him...for now.
"I guess I better go." She replied reluctantly.
"Hmmmm..." Max brought her hand to his lips, kissing her palm lightly. "I'll only let you go if you promise to accompany me on a lovely carriage ride out to the desert later this afternoon milady."
Welcome back problems, Liz reflected ruefully. She and Max were on the evening shift with Jenny...
"You have a deal your highness." Liz replied with false cheer.
As Max walked Liz to her class, they both paused as they noticed Tess at the far end of the corridor staring into a classroom.
She must have felt their presence because she turned, saw them, and then whirled, running outside through the double-doors nearby.
"What was that all about?" Liz asked worriedly.
Max sighed. "I guess I'd better go see." He pulled her in for one last kiss. "I'll see you later."
Liz watched him walk away, feeling the combination of complete happiness that being with Max engendered within her and sadness that nothing could ever be just normal.
It never would be again.
Part 47
Max paused briefly outside the doors of the school, surprised to see that Tess hadn't run very far. She was sitting on a bench on the front lawn, staring off into space, a sad look on her pretty face.
He knew that whatever was upsetting her was not about he and Liz. Liz had told him that Tess had accepted that he would not be with her long ago. It was why Liz had somehow known during the whole time that it looked like Tess was betraying them that she was not. All the stuff with Danala had been a momentary back-step...something Tess had not been able to resist for a time, that feeling of being important...of being needed.
Tess had not had that feeling for a long while - had not had it since it had become clear that Max was never going to fall in love with her, that she was never going to be the "bride", that all that she had ever been raised to be was not going to come about. Danala had given it back to her briefly, but she had managed, in the end, to see it for the lie it was.
Max knew that Tess had never been in love with him - and that now SHE knew it too.
And so this had to be about Kyle.
He didn't know what to make of Kyle half the time. He didn't know what had gone down between Kyle and Tess on the day Danala had been destroyed, but whatever it was, it had not been good. He knew that Kyle was trust-worthy and loyal, but Max also knew that it was not to HIM. Kyle cared about Liz and Maria and Alex - even Michael and Isabel, having bonded with them during the period when Max had been on Illyria - but he only tolerated Max.
Max knew that Kyle was grateful that he had once saved his life, but that didn't mean that they would EVER be friends. Kyle had some gripe with him that it was unlikely would ever disappear. And Max couldn't blame him. If he had been dating someone like Liz, only to find out that she had a soulmate about to enter her life - well, hell, he would have been pissed too.
And yet, somehow Max knew that none of this was about Liz either. It was about Tess.
It was Tess that Kyle loved - or so Liz had told him anyway. From the way Max had seen Kyle behave around Tess since he had had his memory back, he had trouble believing it.
He had even told Liz so. She had just smiled affectionately at him, clearly thinking he was an idiot.
"Max, how did you behave around me before I knew the truth about you?" She had asked, raising a delicate eyebrow at him,
Max had felt confused. "I don't know. I guess I sort of stayed away from you." He had finally replied, having no idea what she was talking about. Of course that was not entirely true. He hadn't approached her anyway, well, except in Bio lab, but he had certainly not stayed away. Michael used to joke that they should have a reserved table at the Crashdown because Max always wanted to go there to ogle the waitresses.
"But you loved me?" Liz asked.
"Of course. You know that."
They had been on Liz's balcony, curled up together on the chaise lounge. She had sat up as soon as they had begun this conversation though and was staring down at him incredulously.
"So then why did you stay away from me?" Liz had inquired mischievously.
"To keep you safe." Max had replied instantly, sure that was the right answer.
Liz just grinned. "Sorry. Wrong." She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on his lips to make him feel better, and although he was slightly distracted, he felt a twinge of annoyance.
Max had frowned at her. "I am NOT wrong. I think I know what was going through my own mind!" He had replied, knowing he sounded miffed.
Liz had just continued to smile tolerantly. "But no one knew anything about your Czech status then Max. And you and I were barely friends...we were just school buddies. Why would you have to keep me safe?"
Max had opened his mouth to reply, but then frowned, remembering suddenly exactly WHY he used to stay away from Liz.
"I didn't think that someone like you could ever be interested in someone like me." He finally said quietly, looking up at Liz. He and Liz had gone through so much together since then, he had almost forgotten what it had been like to be that boy - madly in love with someone he was sure he was never going to have in his life. Liz had been smart and popular and so breathtakingly beautiful AND dating the captain of the football and basketball teams - he had been a nobody. That wasn't even bringing into account his other-worldly origins, which should have been the biggest obstacle of all. "And so I didn't even try - I just wanted to keep the dream alive by not doing anything about it." He continued, feeling a little sad for that boy he had been.
It had sucked.
Liz's eyes were shining down at him. "You were so dumb." She had gently touched his face. His heart had swelled at the love he had seen in her gaze as she leaned down again, her silky, dark hair falling around them like a curtain. "I was born to be yours and you were born to be mine." She had whispered, kissing him nearly senseless.
But that conversation had come back to him later and he knew now exactly what Liz had been getting at. Kyle was distancing himself from Tess because he loved her and he was sure that she would never feel the same way. The hurt was too much to deal with and so he stayed away.
And yet the look on Tess' face told him that Kyle had nothing to worry about.
Max had glanced into the classroom Tess had been staring into as he had chased after her. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had upset her.
It was a study hall. The teacher was busy marking at her desk and was virtually ignoring what the students were doing.
But of course the teacher had not interested Tess. Kyle was in there, surrounded by three cheerleaders, all giggling, one of them actually on his lap.
And yet, although Kyle had been laughing, Max had seen the distance on his face. He was not happy.
Max realized that Tess had become aware of his presence. She did not try to flee though. She was just gazing at him, her expression blank.
Max walked over slowly, indicated the seat beside her. "Mind if I join you?"
Tess pursed her lips momentarily, but nodded. "No." She looked away. "I take it Liz sent you." She paused. "I don't know why that girl is so nice to me. I almost killed her."
Max touched her shoulder lightly. She turned to look at him, her face still unreadable. "But you didn't. And she didn't send me."
A flash of surprise crossed Tess' face before she managed to suppress it. Max didn't blame her. He and Tess were not on bad terms, but it had taken him a while to get over the rage he had felt at her when he had thought that she had murdered Liz.
He would have killed her then - and painfully too.
And so he had left her alone and she had kept her distance from him. She and Michael were extremely close now and she and Isabel were getting back to the friendship they had shared when they had first met. Maria was preoccupied with other things, but Tess and Alex had developed a fairly close friendship as well. Max thought it was because Alex remembered how it had felt to be an outsider, way back when they had all been lying to him at the beginning of their sophomore year.
That had affected Alex far more deeply than he let on, Max knew. He was the most loyal of them all, would die for any of them, and that was probably what had hurt him the most. That he had not been trusted. So now that Alex knew that Tess was not out to hurt Liz or claim Max, he identified with her and had befriended her.
Everyone could see that Tess was no longer interested in Max. Max wondered why Kyle couldn't.
"Tell me how I can help you Tess." Max said now, feeling for all the world like he would do anything to make her happy. He didn't like to see anyone as miserable as Tess currently was. They still had a bond through the Four Square and he could feel her emotions quite clearly, even though she was trying to mask them.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She snapped suddenly, getting to her feet.
"I saw Kyle with those girls." Max interjected smoothly. She halted in mid-step. She had been about to run away but she collapsed back on the bench instead. Her mask fell away and her misery was suddenly plain.
Max remained quiet, waiting for her to open up.
Tess bit her lip, trying to control her tears. "He hates me." She finally said quietly.
Max wondered why it was always the two people most closely involved in a situation that could not see what was directly in front of their faces. "I don't think so Tess." He replied gently.
But she didn't answer, just kept staring off into space. "Do you know what I said to him the first time he told me that he loved me Max?" Max just shook his head. Tess turned to eye him. "I told him I didn't care. I told him that to his face, as cruelly as I possibly could. I WANTED to hurt him Max." Tears were falling in earnest now. She was not sobbing, just silently crying. "I wanted to hurt him even though I felt the same way. He's the only person who has EVER accepted me exactly as I am. But I was so scared and so stupid that I trusted Danala and I chose to hurt him rather than face the way I felt about him." She paused, shaking her head. "I wanted to hurt the one person I loved more than anyone Max. What kind of person does that make ME?"
"I think it makes you human Tess." Max replied quietly. She jerked in surprise. "I know that you have always wanted to go home, that you never wanted to accept what we were...but it's the truth Tess. No matter where we come from Tess, the fact that we can love the way we do, it makes us human." Tess was staring at him, a strange expression on her face. "I once told Liz that loving her made me human. I think we both know that you NEVER loved me...it was loving Kyle that made YOU human. And there's one part of being in love that really sucks Tess..." Max smiled sympathetically at her. "Sometimes it really, REALLY hurts."
Tess rolled her eyes, a bit of her spirit coming back. "That I know." She said. She sobered again very quickly, looking sad again. "But I've heard that old phrase Max: there's a thin line between love and hate. I think Kyle has crossed it." She shook her head again. "I know that he thinks that I'm in love with you and I don't know how to show him that I'm not. I always run away Max. But I'm sick of running..."
Max put his arm around her comfortingly. "While I disagree with you, IF Kyle HAS crossed that line, well, then you'll just have to pull him back over to the other side."
Tess was stiff in his embrace for a moment, but relaxed suddenly, sighing. Max had a flash of the affection he had had for her when she had been Sabrya and he had been Jaxon. He had never been IN love with her, but he HAD loved her, more like brother and sister than anything else. Their marriage had been meant to end the disastrous conflict that divided their planet. It had been meant for good and it HAD been good. It just had not been meant to be.
"Tess, I once gave up on love." Max told her after they had sat in companionable silence for a while. "I didn't tell Liz or anyone what was going on with Tarsus and it led to all that we've gone through since. If I had trusted people who loved me, maybe we could have stopped it all before it started." He squeezed her gently. "We've already figured out that you, me, Izzy and Michael are stronger as a unit. I KNOW that I'm stronger with Liz by my side. I think that if you love Kyle you're going to have to tell him...but not just that...you're going to have to let him in...you can't keep any part of yourself separate or it will never work."
Tess was gazing up at him, looking amused. "Max, you do realize that you're a guy don't you?" She giggled. "You sound exactly like a girl. Guy aren't supposed to WANT to let people in."
Max felt himself reddening, but he grinned. "Well, if we're a matched pair, I guess you're the guy then, since you're the one who has trouble expressing her emotions."
Tess stared at him in open-mouthed shock for a moment, but suddenly burst into peals of laughter. She threw her arms around him, hugging him affectionately. "I know that Liz knows how lucky she is." Tess told him, still laughing. "But I'm going to make sure that she never forgets it."
Max had been laughing too, but he pulled back and stared at Tess hard. "You're lucky too Tess. Kyle is a good guy. I think we all take him for granted a bit. He deserves to be happy and you need to talk to him - sooner rather than later."
Tess sobered again, nodded. "I know. It's just scary Max."
Max raised an eyebrow at her. "What's scarier Tess, talking to him or losing him?"
"The second." Tess replied seriously. She smiled at him again. "Thank you Jaxon."
"Thank YOU Sabrya." Tess hugged him again.
Neither of them noticed that the bell had rung or that Kyle Valenti was standing at the entrance to the school, a girl on each arm. He had been standing there for quite a while, had witnessed at least TWO hugs between Tess Harding and Max Evans.
He didn't react. He just shook off the cheerleaders and stalked to his Mustang, pulling out of the parking lot with a squeal of tires.
"Michael?" Maria's voice was soft as she spoke. She wasn't sure whether he was asleep or not.
They had not spoken a word since the others had left a couple of hours before. Michael had simply backed up into one of the stone walls near Jennetta's pod, sliding to the floor, without saying a word.
It was like he had given up. His expression was completely blank as he continued to stare at Jennetta in her pod. Maria had gone to sit beside him. She had jumped when he had put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her up close to his side.
And that was how they had sat, both reluctant to take their eyes off their daughter, in case they missed something that would help them to stop whatever was happening to her.
"Hmmmm..."
"Can you see anything happening?"
This was what Maria had been looking for for the past few minutes; any sign that Jennetta was changing physically in any way. But she didn't look any different. The only thing was that her face had lost the animation that had been such a large part of who she was. She did not look to be in any sort of pain; only serene and oblivious to what was going on around her.
"No." Michael replied gruffly.
"I wonder how long it will be before she starts to change." Maria shivered at the thought of it, the thought that her daughter was going to start maturing until she was actually older than Maria herself.
It was just WRONG - on every level.
Maria knew that she had not been very strong up to this point. She had become nearly hysterical when Ren had first told them there was nothing they could do to stop what was happening to Jennetta. And then she had fainted...
She, Maria Deluca, had fainted. What was up with that?
"I don't know." Michael told her. "I would guess it would be soon if the pods are working right. If they aren't...well, it could be years."
They were quiet for a while longer. It was not an uncomfortable silence but there was something underlying that had to be addressed. Maria didn't know if this was the right time to do it, but she didn't know if she could stand to have any sort of conflict between she and Michael. Not now.
It was ironic really. Her entire relationship with Michael over the two years that they had been together off and on had revolved around conflict. It was one of the things she loved most about him - that he nearly drove her crazy on a regular basis. He challenged her.
And yet now, the last thing in the world she wanted to do was fight with him.
But if that was going to stop they were definitely going to have to master the art of communication.
Max and Liz had done it. They didn't even have to talk and they were in perfect sync. But the bond that existed between those two was not something that Maria could ever hope to approximate.
What Max and Liz had was not normal. It was something apart. Those two were in many ways, quite literally, one soul divided into two bodies - to the point that Maria did not think that they could live without each other. She was still convinced that the only reason that Liz had survived their separation while Max was on Illyria was because she somehow KNEW that he would come back to her someday.
Maria had often complained to Michael that he should be more like Max. But that wasn't what she wanted really. All she wanted was the chance to be with him, the chance to share something with him.
And Jennetta had been that chance.
But now that chance was gone and it was all up to Maria again. She could not depend that their daughter would bind him to her. For all they knew Jennetta WOULD leave when she came out of her pod. They couldn't read the future.
Maria could not depend on him staying around because he loved their daughter. She was going to have to do it herself.
It was scary.
"Michael?"
"What Maria." His tone was not annoyed, just exhausted. Maybe this wasn't the time...
"Why didn't you tell me about Jennetta when you found out?" She couldn't stop the words from tumbling from her mouth. She flinched, felt him stiffen beside her. She couldn't look at him.
"Why didn't you?" Michael finally asked, not answering her question.
"Michael! Why can't you just answer me?" Maria demanded, shocked by the intensity of the fury that coursed through her. She knew that it wasn't anger at Michael...it was anger about the unfairness of the entire situation in which they found themselves. And yet she couldn't control herself. "You always shut me out! Would you even be here if it wasn't for Jennetta?"
Maria pulled away from him, keeping her back to him. She tried to control the tears that threatened to pour from her eyes.
Michael didn't say anything for a long time. Maria wondered if he actually HAD gone to sleep.
So help me...if he's asleep...
Maria jumped at the sound of his voice. "Maria, I want you to tell me why you didn't tell ME." His tone was urgent.
"Why?" Maria demanded, jumping to her feet and whirling on him.
Michael stared up at her, his expression unreadable. "Because I'm guessing it was for the same reason that I couldn't tell you."
Maria froze. Finally she whispered, "I think I knew that she wasn't going to be ours for good." Maria paused, horrified. But it was true, somehow, deep down, she had known that they were going to lose her...
And more than she couldn't bear that for herself...she couldn't bear it for Michael.
She couldn't bear the thought of the pain she knew that he would feel.
Michael had climbed unsteadily to his feet. His eyes were bright. Maria realized that it was with tears.
"Me too." He continued to stare at her, until she couldn't stand it anymore. She threw herself against his chest and sobbed out her grief at the fact that while their daughter would live, she would never be theirs.
Jennetta belonged to her planet. Just like Max, Isabel, Michael and Tess had always belonged to Illyria.
The Royal Four had escaped their destiny, but only because they were sacrificing something even greater than themselves.
They were sacrificing their future, in the form of a small child, one who would not be small for much longer.
"We're... going to have to...to give her up Michael." Maria finally managed to say after she had cried herself dry, hiccuping twice before she could get it out.
"I know."
There was another long silence.
"Why us?" Maria asked eventually.
"Because we're the ones who would KNOW how big a sacrifice it is." Michael replied, sounding more sure than Maria had ever heard him. "Max and Liz...they would be devastated, but for them, giving each other up would be even worse. They've had to do it once already. They made their sacrifice."
"But us?"
Michael pulled back, looked steadily at her face. "Be honest Maria...if you knew that we could keep her forever, but the price was that we could never be together...would you do it?"
"Yes." Maria said without hesitation.
Michael smiled weakly. "Me too."
Michael sank back against the wall, bringing Maria down with him. "You know," Maria said after a while, "I don't think it's about Liz and I making sacrifices at all."
"What do you mean?" Michael asked, sounding angry. "You both have given up just as much as me and Max."
"Well, duh. I mean, I know that, but I don't think your people particularly care about us." Maria replied. "I think it's all about you and the other three sacrificing...I mean, think about it. Max gave up Liz by going back to Illyria. You're giving up Jennetta. Tess gave up her dream of Max and destiny and family. And Isabel gave up her mother." She paused, thinking hard. "You all made the ultimate sacrifice to save your planet. Your sacrifices resulted in Jennetta - the Chosen One."
"Hmmmm..." Michael snorted. "Nice planet I come from...I'm damn glad I never have to go back."
"But think about it Michael...if it's true, then maybe we won't have lost Jennetta forever. Max got Liz back, Isabel has regained some sort of contact with her mother AND has Mrs. Evans....and Tess has US to replace her family." Maria could feel herself beginning to get excited. "Maybe we just have to be willing to make the sacrifice but in the end it won't happen!"
Michael pulled her more tightly against him. He rested his chin on top of her head. Maria felt her eyes drift back to her little girl, so quiet and yet so peaceful in her pod. She knew that Michael was looking at her too. "I hope so." He finally muttered.
Part 46
West Roswell High, New Mexico - February 2002 - Six Months later
Liz hurried down the empty corridor, already tardy for AP English. She and Alex had left campus for lunch at Senor Chow's because Alex had a coupon that expired that day, but their waitress had been so slow, in the end their idea of a leisurely meal had flown out the window. They had practically wolfed down their food but they were still late.
"See that your dad never hires that girl at the Crashdown." Alex had ordered as he had rushed away from her on his way to Computer Programming.
Liz had almost reached her class when an arm suddenly reached out from a nearby doorway, grabbing her and hauling her into a vacant classroom. Liz barely had time to gasp before Max's lips were on hers.
As was always the case, all thoughts of being responsible instantly flew out of Liz's mind. Max's warmth, his scent infiltrated her senses, making her dizzy.
The flashes began almost immediately.
In the past, flashes had been solitary events, either brought on by great stress or interesting circumstances - if you could qualify finding a "damn orb," as Maria had dubbed them, an interesting circumstance...but now - they were as natural as breathing.
When Max and Liz's commitment had solidified, the flashes had become a normal part of every moment they spent together. They heightened the connection that existed between them and Liz would not have traded them for a million dollars. She knew him inside and out because of them - not only who Max Evans was, but also who Jaxon Falconer, King of Illyria had been, for those memories were still intact as well.
Liz also loved that Max knew everything there was to know about her. It had been scary at first, to have yourself be so naked and vulnerable to another person, but in the end she would have it no other way.
Plus, it was darn fun seeing some of the dirty thoughts Max had about her.
Liz finally pulled away, scolding jokingly. "I'm sorry sir but I have a boyfriend and I don't think he would be very happy to find me in here with you. You really must learn not to accost young ladies." She knew the smile on her face in no way matched her tone, but she couldn't help it. She had no control of her happiness where Max was concerned. When she was with him, she was happy. When she wasn't with him, she was happy that she soon would be. That was all there was to it.
Max gazed at her with hooded eyes. "Don't you know about my reputation miss?" He asked teasingly. "I'm honouring you with my presence...you should be grateful! Your boyfriend would more than understand. I mean, I am the FAMOUS Max Evans."
Liz smirked at him. Max was referring to the infamous photos of them that Pam Troy - aka Danala - had posted on the Internet all those months ago. Max had still been missing during that little horror show, but he had definitely heard about it.
Oh, had he heard.
Only several days after he had set foot back in West Roswell as a matter of fact... which had been two days after they had destroyed Danala and Jennetta went into the pod. He had not wanted to leave her, but Liz had finally convinced him that it was up to Michael and Maria to look after his little sister.
It was the way they wanted it and they all had to respect it. They would help as much as the pair wanted them too, but it had to be Michael and Maria's decision.
Liz had reminded him that not only was he half a year behind his classmates in school because of his months on Illyria, he had also been flunking most of his classes when he HAD been at school. This, of course, had all been part of his anti-Max act, but obviously no teacher was going to accept that excuse. And so Max Evans had spent most of the last six months desperately trying to catch up on almost a year's worth of school work on top of his Senior Year work, hoping that he would still be able to graduate with his class.
Unfortunately Max was too darn honest to use his scanning ability to make his task a little easier, but then that was one of the things Liz loved about him. But it did mean that he was often exhausted.
It didn't help that he had insisted on returning to work at the UFO Museum and that he also drove out to the Transformation Chamber at least once a day to check on Jennetta and Ren, the latter having set up camp within the Chamber to guard the precious one housed there. And this was on top of his shifts looking after Jennetta anyway.
And then there was the fall-out from Max's return from the dead...and those infamous pictures.
Max had entered the school on that first day encircled protectively by Isabel, Alex, Tess and, of course, Liz. Liz had even convinced Kyle to meet them at the front doors although he had been strangely missing in action during the two days since they had defeated Danala.
People had been thrilled to see Max. Before the anti-Max routine, he had been very popular. Sure he had been quiet and mysterious, but everyone knew that he was just about the nicest guy in the world. That sort of thing could not be hidden. Which was why the anti-Max behaviour had been so shocking and extreme...
They had all read the headlines in the newspaper, had seen it on the news: MIRACLE RETURN OF PRESUMED DEAD LOCAL TEENAGER. The papers in Albuquerque had picked up the story. Liz had been shocked to even see a report of the story on a network newscast a few days later, it clearly having been of enough human interest for Peter Jennings to talk about it.
Everyone was looking for miracles it seemed.
The Sheriff had done his best to shield the Evans from the brunt of the publicity, but they had been forced to endure it for several days.
And then when the kids at West Roswell had finally started to simmer down about Max's miraculous return, they had begun to notice that not only was Max Evans back from the dead, but clearly so was his relationship with Liz Parker.
It had been their own fault really. Max and Liz had barely managed to keep their hands off of each other half the time. They had just spent so much time apart, had not really been together and half-way safe since the time before Tess had appeared in Roswell almost two years before. They couldn't help it. And it was noticed immediately of course...
And certain people took it to mean something that they shouldn't...mainly people that had known Pam Troy.
Liz still hadn't found her journal. Tess had searched Danala's belongings, which had been stored in the Pod Chamber, but the book of the history of Max and Liz had not been among them.
Liz remembered the exact moment Max had first heard that practically the entire school had seen those pictures.
They had all been sitting in the quad eating their lunch about two weeks after D-Day as Alex had taken to calling that horrible event, it being short for Danala Day. No one thought it was very funny, but they couldn't exactly go around talking about it openly otherwise. Destroy Evil Alien Day had just not seemed appropriate somehow.
A routine had begun with everyone sharing the job of sitting with Jennetta because, although they wanted to, Michael and Maria had determined that they could not keep her a secret, look after her AND lead semi-normal lives to keep that secret at the same time, and thus had had to delegate. Clearly Ren was always there, but no one wanted Jenny to be alone when she first came out of the pod.
Alex and Isabel had been on duty and therefore were not sitting with them, but the rest of the gang was there, including Michael and Maria. Even Kyle had deigned to join them, although his distance had been increasing with every day. Liz knew that it had everything to do with Tess, but she had no idea what to do to help that situation.
It had been equally clear to Liz that TESS had not known what to do about the awkwardness between the two of them and so chose to ignore it. This had resulted in Kyle being even more hurt and pulling away from the whole group.
Because, as Kyle had told Liz when she had confronted him about it, Tess didn't have anyone else. Kyle would survive without the group, but Tess wouldn't. Liz had gone over to Max's and cried on his chest about how sad she felt for her friend. Max had stroked her hair and told her that it would all work out if it was meant to...just look at them.
And so, the grouping on that particular day had been strange. Tension had been in the air. Michael had been grumpy for days, and while no one blamed him, it was still hard to deal with. Maria was no longer MARIA. She was quiet and sad and barely spoke at all. Tess had been chattering, trying to erase the unnatural silence and Kyle had been staring everywhere but at Tess. Max and Liz were holding hands, both upset at what their friends had come to.
They had all been jerked from their respective funks when Sandy Snell and Julie Lucas, two of Pam Troy's lackeys if Liz remembered correctly, although it was hard too because Pam had always failed to keep friends for very long, had come marching up to them. They had looked frightened but determined as well.
"What did you do to Pam? Everyone's been treating you like gold just because you disappeared Max Evans, but we don't care!" Sandy had said, her voice dripping with venom. "I know you did something to her and that your crazy group of friends helped you!" She had stated, staring straight at Max.
Liz had felt Max flinch.
Pam Troy was another problem that had yet to be resolved. They had no idea what Danala had done to the girl when she had assumed her form. They had already determined that the Pam Max had dated was the REAL Pam. Although they were fairly sure Michael and Tess' evil sister had murdered her, they had no idea where her body was. And they also had no idea what to do if Pam's body WAS ever found.
The Sheriff had helped them, but they all felt terrible having to tell the Troys that Pam had run away. And yet there had been little else they could do. Liz knew that while Max had despised her, his guilt over Pam's fate was yet another burden added to the heavy load he already carried.
"What the hell are you talking about Snell? Get lost!" Kyle had sneered, trying to rid themselves of she and Julie. But Liz had felt her heart go out to Pam's friends despite herself.
She certainly had hated Pam, having been her victim once upon a time, but no one had deserved the end Danala had likely visited on her.
Sandy had flinched, clearly slightly intimidated by Kyle and his social status. She knew that he could ruin her, but Liz had to admire her backbone, if not her next words, when she continued. "I mean, I think you thought Pam was responsible for those pictures and now that you and Liz are back together, you wanted to get rid of her."
Liz had felt Max tense up. "What pictures?" He had asked Liz under his breath.
But Michael had spoken up at this point. "You're crazy woman! Who the hell would 'take care' of someone over something like that?"
Sandy had stared at him. "I didn't think you had killed her or anything...just that you made her run-away somehow." Her eyes widened and she looked terrified. "Did you kill her?"
Michael had snorted, rising and getting ready to leave. "I don't have time for these high school dramas." He pulled Maria to her feet. Maria had eyed Max sympathetically before they left.
"We'll be with Jenny!" She called to Liz as they disappeared.
"We're sorry." Liz finally said gently. "We don't know where Pam is."
Sandy's eyes had filled with tears. Julie had taken her by the arm, pulling her away. "I'm sorry." Julie told them. "She's just really upset."
"I didn't know Pam Troy had any real friends." Tess said after the foursome of she, Kyle, Liz and Max had sat for several moments in uncomfortable silence.
"I guess everyone has SOMEONE who cares about them." Liz replied, squeezing Max' hand. She could feel his curiosity about those pictures that Sandy had mentioned, but also his guilt over Pam. She knew exactly what he was thinking. If he wasn't who he was, innocent people wouldn't be getting hurt.
River Dog. Eddie. Pam...even Nasedo and Silesa and her mate, who had died protecting him and Isabel and Michael and Tess. Liz knew that he carried the weight of their sacrifice around with him constantly.
That was just Max.
And that was when the rumours had started again. They were all sure that Sandy was responsible. Liz had had to tell Max all about the web-site. He had been horrified at first, that their privacy had been violated in that way. He had also been aware of the danger of Liz's journal's still missing status. But eventually he had started to see the humour in the situation, even had started to tease Liz about it because it still made her blush.
But as Max had told her finally: "I don't care if people see how much I love you Liz. I mean, they can see it when I LOOK at you. They are probably assuming that we do that stuff anyway."
"How can you be so calm about this?" Liz had asked, reddening just thinking about it.
"I have other things to think about." Max had replied, pulling her to him and showing her EXACTLY what he was thinking about.
Things had slowly begun to return to normal, despite all the questions they still had.
They had exhausted Ren's knowledge about what was happening to Jennetta. The transformation had begun. It had been Max who had first noticed the difference, he being the one who still knew her the best. It was slow, but she was definitely maturing.
She looked about thirteen at the present stage. It was disturbing and unnatural, but it was still Jennetta...and with every passing day she looked more like Maria. Her colouring was still all Michael, but her face was almost an exact replica of her mother's.
Maria had cried when Isabel had pointed it out.
The other major concern was Tarsus. Max knew him, knew that he would not take Danala's destruction lightly. Their fear of his return had calmed down slightly when Ren had reminded them that only Isabel and Max could open the portals.
"He got here the first time." Max had replied darkly. "And so did Danala...and I KNOW that Izzy didn't bring them."
"Tarsus followed you on a ship the first time. He had been on Earth for decades, searching for you. He only found you when you activated the orb the first time." Ren had explained.
"And Danala?" Liz had inquired, knowing exactly what Max was thinking.
Ren had frowned. "Hmmmm..."
And they had left it at that....and so they worried.
Now as Liz threw her arms around Max's neck and kissed him again, all these worries interfered again.
Max pulled back slightly, bringing his forehead to rest against hers. "What's wrong Liz?"
Liz sighed, brought her hand up to touch his face lovingly. "The usual."
Max took her hand, smiled weakly. "I take it by that you mean the English test you are presently missing?" Liz eyed him seriously, knowing that he was just trying to cheer her up. He was so strong...always worrying about everyone else before himself.
But clearly right now he wanted to forget their problems. She would let him...for now.
"I guess I better go." She replied reluctantly.
"Hmmmm..." Max brought her hand to his lips, kissing her palm lightly. "I'll only let you go if you promise to accompany me on a lovely carriage ride out to the desert later this afternoon milady."
Welcome back problems, Liz reflected ruefully. She and Max were on the evening shift with Jenny...
"You have a deal your highness." Liz replied with false cheer.
As Max walked Liz to her class, they both paused as they noticed Tess at the far end of the corridor staring into a classroom.
She must have felt their presence because she turned, saw them, and then whirled, running outside through the double-doors nearby.
"What was that all about?" Liz asked worriedly.
Max sighed. "I guess I'd better go see." He pulled her in for one last kiss. "I'll see you later."
Liz watched him walk away, feeling the combination of complete happiness that being with Max engendered within her and sadness that nothing could ever be just normal.
It never would be again.
Part 47
Max paused briefly outside the doors of the school, surprised to see that Tess hadn't run very far. She was sitting on a bench on the front lawn, staring off into space, a sad look on her pretty face.
He knew that whatever was upsetting her was not about he and Liz. Liz had told him that Tess had accepted that he would not be with her long ago. It was why Liz had somehow known during the whole time that it looked like Tess was betraying them that she was not. All the stuff with Danala had been a momentary back-step...something Tess had not been able to resist for a time, that feeling of being important...of being needed.
Tess had not had that feeling for a long while - had not had it since it had become clear that Max was never going to fall in love with her, that she was never going to be the "bride", that all that she had ever been raised to be was not going to come about. Danala had given it back to her briefly, but she had managed, in the end, to see it for the lie it was.
Max knew that Tess had never been in love with him - and that now SHE knew it too.
And so this had to be about Kyle.
He didn't know what to make of Kyle half the time. He didn't know what had gone down between Kyle and Tess on the day Danala had been destroyed, but whatever it was, it had not been good. He knew that Kyle was trust-worthy and loyal, but Max also knew that it was not to HIM. Kyle cared about Liz and Maria and Alex - even Michael and Isabel, having bonded with them during the period when Max had been on Illyria - but he only tolerated Max.
Max knew that Kyle was grateful that he had once saved his life, but that didn't mean that they would EVER be friends. Kyle had some gripe with him that it was unlikely would ever disappear. And Max couldn't blame him. If he had been dating someone like Liz, only to find out that she had a soulmate about to enter her life - well, hell, he would have been pissed too.
And yet, somehow Max knew that none of this was about Liz either. It was about Tess.
It was Tess that Kyle loved - or so Liz had told him anyway. From the way Max had seen Kyle behave around Tess since he had had his memory back, he had trouble believing it.
He had even told Liz so. She had just smiled affectionately at him, clearly thinking he was an idiot.
"Max, how did you behave around me before I knew the truth about you?" She had asked, raising a delicate eyebrow at him,
Max had felt confused. "I don't know. I guess I sort of stayed away from you." He had finally replied, having no idea what she was talking about. Of course that was not entirely true. He hadn't approached her anyway, well, except in Bio lab, but he had certainly not stayed away. Michael used to joke that they should have a reserved table at the Crashdown because Max always wanted to go there to ogle the waitresses.
"But you loved me?" Liz asked.
"Of course. You know that."
They had been on Liz's balcony, curled up together on the chaise lounge. She had sat up as soon as they had begun this conversation though and was staring down at him incredulously.
"So then why did you stay away from me?" Liz had inquired mischievously.
"To keep you safe." Max had replied instantly, sure that was the right answer.
Liz just grinned. "Sorry. Wrong." She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on his lips to make him feel better, and although he was slightly distracted, he felt a twinge of annoyance.
Max had frowned at her. "I am NOT wrong. I think I know what was going through my own mind!" He had replied, knowing he sounded miffed.
Liz had just continued to smile tolerantly. "But no one knew anything about your Czech status then Max. And you and I were barely friends...we were just school buddies. Why would you have to keep me safe?"
Max had opened his mouth to reply, but then frowned, remembering suddenly exactly WHY he used to stay away from Liz.
"I didn't think that someone like you could ever be interested in someone like me." He finally said quietly, looking up at Liz. He and Liz had gone through so much together since then, he had almost forgotten what it had been like to be that boy - madly in love with someone he was sure he was never going to have in his life. Liz had been smart and popular and so breathtakingly beautiful AND dating the captain of the football and basketball teams - he had been a nobody. That wasn't even bringing into account his other-worldly origins, which should have been the biggest obstacle of all. "And so I didn't even try - I just wanted to keep the dream alive by not doing anything about it." He continued, feeling a little sad for that boy he had been.
It had sucked.
Liz's eyes were shining down at him. "You were so dumb." She had gently touched his face. His heart had swelled at the love he had seen in her gaze as she leaned down again, her silky, dark hair falling around them like a curtain. "I was born to be yours and you were born to be mine." She had whispered, kissing him nearly senseless.
But that conversation had come back to him later and he knew now exactly what Liz had been getting at. Kyle was distancing himself from Tess because he loved her and he was sure that she would never feel the same way. The hurt was too much to deal with and so he stayed away.
And yet the look on Tess' face told him that Kyle had nothing to worry about.
Max had glanced into the classroom Tess had been staring into as he had chased after her. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had upset her.
It was a study hall. The teacher was busy marking at her desk and was virtually ignoring what the students were doing.
But of course the teacher had not interested Tess. Kyle was in there, surrounded by three cheerleaders, all giggling, one of them actually on his lap.
And yet, although Kyle had been laughing, Max had seen the distance on his face. He was not happy.
Max realized that Tess had become aware of his presence. She did not try to flee though. She was just gazing at him, her expression blank.
Max walked over slowly, indicated the seat beside her. "Mind if I join you?"
Tess pursed her lips momentarily, but nodded. "No." She looked away. "I take it Liz sent you." She paused. "I don't know why that girl is so nice to me. I almost killed her."
Max touched her shoulder lightly. She turned to look at him, her face still unreadable. "But you didn't. And she didn't send me."
A flash of surprise crossed Tess' face before she managed to suppress it. Max didn't blame her. He and Tess were not on bad terms, but it had taken him a while to get over the rage he had felt at her when he had thought that she had murdered Liz.
He would have killed her then - and painfully too.
And so he had left her alone and she had kept her distance from him. She and Michael were extremely close now and she and Isabel were getting back to the friendship they had shared when they had first met. Maria was preoccupied with other things, but Tess and Alex had developed a fairly close friendship as well. Max thought it was because Alex remembered how it had felt to be an outsider, way back when they had all been lying to him at the beginning of their sophomore year.
That had affected Alex far more deeply than he let on, Max knew. He was the most loyal of them all, would die for any of them, and that was probably what had hurt him the most. That he had not been trusted. So now that Alex knew that Tess was not out to hurt Liz or claim Max, he identified with her and had befriended her.
Everyone could see that Tess was no longer interested in Max. Max wondered why Kyle couldn't.
"Tell me how I can help you Tess." Max said now, feeling for all the world like he would do anything to make her happy. He didn't like to see anyone as miserable as Tess currently was. They still had a bond through the Four Square and he could feel her emotions quite clearly, even though she was trying to mask them.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She snapped suddenly, getting to her feet.
"I saw Kyle with those girls." Max interjected smoothly. She halted in mid-step. She had been about to run away but she collapsed back on the bench instead. Her mask fell away and her misery was suddenly plain.
Max remained quiet, waiting for her to open up.
Tess bit her lip, trying to control her tears. "He hates me." She finally said quietly.
Max wondered why it was always the two people most closely involved in a situation that could not see what was directly in front of their faces. "I don't think so Tess." He replied gently.
But she didn't answer, just kept staring off into space. "Do you know what I said to him the first time he told me that he loved me Max?" Max just shook his head. Tess turned to eye him. "I told him I didn't care. I told him that to his face, as cruelly as I possibly could. I WANTED to hurt him Max." Tears were falling in earnest now. She was not sobbing, just silently crying. "I wanted to hurt him even though I felt the same way. He's the only person who has EVER accepted me exactly as I am. But I was so scared and so stupid that I trusted Danala and I chose to hurt him rather than face the way I felt about him." She paused, shaking her head. "I wanted to hurt the one person I loved more than anyone Max. What kind of person does that make ME?"
"I think it makes you human Tess." Max replied quietly. She jerked in surprise. "I know that you have always wanted to go home, that you never wanted to accept what we were...but it's the truth Tess. No matter where we come from Tess, the fact that we can love the way we do, it makes us human." Tess was staring at him, a strange expression on her face. "I once told Liz that loving her made me human. I think we both know that you NEVER loved me...it was loving Kyle that made YOU human. And there's one part of being in love that really sucks Tess..." Max smiled sympathetically at her. "Sometimes it really, REALLY hurts."
Tess rolled her eyes, a bit of her spirit coming back. "That I know." She said. She sobered again very quickly, looking sad again. "But I've heard that old phrase Max: there's a thin line between love and hate. I think Kyle has crossed it." She shook her head again. "I know that he thinks that I'm in love with you and I don't know how to show him that I'm not. I always run away Max. But I'm sick of running..."
Max put his arm around her comfortingly. "While I disagree with you, IF Kyle HAS crossed that line, well, then you'll just have to pull him back over to the other side."
Tess was stiff in his embrace for a moment, but relaxed suddenly, sighing. Max had a flash of the affection he had had for her when she had been Sabrya and he had been Jaxon. He had never been IN love with her, but he HAD loved her, more like brother and sister than anything else. Their marriage had been meant to end the disastrous conflict that divided their planet. It had been meant for good and it HAD been good. It just had not been meant to be.
"Tess, I once gave up on love." Max told her after they had sat in companionable silence for a while. "I didn't tell Liz or anyone what was going on with Tarsus and it led to all that we've gone through since. If I had trusted people who loved me, maybe we could have stopped it all before it started." He squeezed her gently. "We've already figured out that you, me, Izzy and Michael are stronger as a unit. I KNOW that I'm stronger with Liz by my side. I think that if you love Kyle you're going to have to tell him...but not just that...you're going to have to let him in...you can't keep any part of yourself separate or it will never work."
Tess was gazing up at him, looking amused. "Max, you do realize that you're a guy don't you?" She giggled. "You sound exactly like a girl. Guy aren't supposed to WANT to let people in."
Max felt himself reddening, but he grinned. "Well, if we're a matched pair, I guess you're the guy then, since you're the one who has trouble expressing her emotions."
Tess stared at him in open-mouthed shock for a moment, but suddenly burst into peals of laughter. She threw her arms around him, hugging him affectionately. "I know that Liz knows how lucky she is." Tess told him, still laughing. "But I'm going to make sure that she never forgets it."
Max had been laughing too, but he pulled back and stared at Tess hard. "You're lucky too Tess. Kyle is a good guy. I think we all take him for granted a bit. He deserves to be happy and you need to talk to him - sooner rather than later."
Tess sobered again, nodded. "I know. It's just scary Max."
Max raised an eyebrow at her. "What's scarier Tess, talking to him or losing him?"
"The second." Tess replied seriously. She smiled at him again. "Thank you Jaxon."
"Thank YOU Sabrya." Tess hugged him again.
Neither of them noticed that the bell had rung or that Kyle Valenti was standing at the entrance to the school, a girl on each arm. He had been standing there for quite a while, had witnessed at least TWO hugs between Tess Harding and Max Evans.
He didn't react. He just shook off the cheerleaders and stalked to his Mustang, pulling out of the parking lot with a squeal of tires.