Part 57
Roswell, New Mexico - May 2002 - four months later
"Alex! Finally! Why are you so late?" Isabel's next comment was practically a screech. "What the heck are you wearing? You are not going to MY prom in that!"
Liz tried desperately to control her smile, but when Michael snorted suddenly causing Maria to burst out laughing, it was like a chain reaction. She started to laugh too, which caused Max to grin - it was a rare phenomenon for something to make Max REALLY laugh and Alex's usual high-jinx still weren't quite enough.
Liz watched Isabel's face, saw her friend's cheeks turning pink as she resolutely fought the smile that was threatening to break out across her beautiful face. She was trying very hard to maintain her stern expression, but it was clear that she was fighting a losing battle.
Diane Evans lowered the camera she had been pointing at Isabel. She had been in the process of taking one of the innumerable candid shots of the group that she had been insisting on since Max and Michael had picked up Liz and Maria over an hour before. Her blue eyes widened and she started to laugh too.
"Nice man." Michael was saying. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to wear that? I would have found one too." Maria was rolling her eyes. "Thank you." She mouthed to Alex.
"That really is a very...er...interesting ensemble Alex." Mr. Evans said, glancing worriedly at Isabel. When it was clear that his daughter wasn't really mad, he let himself chuckle.
Alex just shrugged, gave a patented Whitman thumbs-up. "I always like to do it up in style. If you can't go powder blue, why go at all? My dad saved this for my wedding, but he decided the prom was okay too." He hiked his pants in the air, showing off his white patent leather shoes. "Of course, these are the best part."
The shoes actually earned a laugh from Max, which Liz barely noticed because she and Maria were leaning on each other for support, as they laughed hysterically.
Michael was circling Alex, stroking his chin. "Hmmm...I disagree. I really think it's the shirt that completes the outfit."
Alex was nodding, primping slightly in front of the mirror over the Evans' fireplace. "Yeah. I decided 'My Girlfriend is an Alien' was a little too out there. No one would believe it." He grinned at Isabel in the mirror. Her lips were pursed, but Liz could see that her eyes were shining.
"And they are going to believe that?" Liz asked, smiling. She pointed at the T-shirt Alex wore under his powder blue tux jacket. It had an arrow pointing downward and said "Alien Bun in the Oven."
Alex just continued to grin at Isabel. "One can only dream." Isabel blushed crimson. Mr. Evans looked horrified, Max repulsed and Mrs. Evans, despite her usual self, actually collapsed on the sofa she was laughing so hard.
"Class all the way Whitman." Maria said, jabbing Alex in the ribs. But Alex just jokingly pushed her aside, taking Isabel by the hand and sweeping her into a dip so deep he almost dropped her. Mrs. Evans started snapping pictures, although Liz was sure they were all going to be out of focus since she couldn't seem to stop giggling.
Liz went over to Max, kissing him lightly to try and erase the mental picture she was sure he was conjuring in his head. She could tell that he was beginning to get a little steamed. Isabel WAS his sister after all. She felt him relax slightly.
She knew that he wasn't really mad. It was so good to see Isabel actually smiling and having a good time. And, of course, it was Alex who had put that smile there. He seemed the only one capable of doing so these days.
It had been four months since Isabel had had the first orb-induced nightmare. They had not stopped since. Apparently the purple orb had triggered the first one, but it had not been necessary for it to be in Isabel's hands for them to return.
Liz sobered slightly, glancing at her friend, who was smacking Alex lightly as he finally let her up. She moved over to the mirror, began fussing with her upswept blonde hair. Her ice-blue dress was floor-length and made the most of Isabel's blonde ice-queen quality. She looked exquisite. But not even her usual perfect make-up job and immaculately put-together look could hide the dark circles under her eyes.
No one had wanted to go to the prom. It had seemed wrong somehow, with Jennetta still in her pod and Isabel suffering from nightmares that seemed to be threatening more horrible times to come. Not to mention the fact that both Kyle and Tess were missing.
Well, Liz reflected sadly, as Max put his arm around her, squeezing gently, it's not like Kyle hasn't been missing for a long time.
Liz sighed as she thought about what the last months had brought, in spite of her promise to herself and to Max that they were going to have fun that night - that they were going to let all the craziness go for once.
After Isabel's first nightmare, Max had driven Liz home that morning in dead silence. When they had reached the Crashdown, it was still very early, barely six-thirty and so there had been no one on the Main Street. Liz had undone her seat-belt, climbed onto Max's lap and had wrapped him in her arms. He had buried his face in her neck, his hands twining through her loose hair.
It was then that he had started to shake.
He had been strong for Isabel, but Liz knew that whatever it was Max's sister had seen, Max had seen it too. And it had been horrible. Max had been incapable of talking about it at the time, but he had told Liz later and it had been almost worse than she had imagined.
And it refused to stop.
Max and Liz had managed to escape a serious talking to by their respective sets of parents over the fact that Liz had fallen asleep in Max's bed because of the Isabel issue. The Evans had called the Parkers to explain. All Liz's dad had said when she came into the Crashdown was "Call next time honey."
The Parkers had seemed inclined not to want to upset Liz anyway that morning. Liz suspected it had to do with how weirdly they had acted when she had asked if she was adopted.
And so Liz had been free to call Tess when she finally reached her room. Her friend had been up, getting ready for school. Tess had been upset to hear about Isabel, but Liz had heard the underlying distraction in Tess' voice on the other end of the line.
Finally she had broken down and asked. "Did you talk to Kyle yet Liz?" Tess paused, sounded upset. "I don't mean to sound uncaring here - I mean, I do care about Isabel, but I just can't concentrate on anything until this thing with him is resolved."
Liz had sighed. "I haven't talked to him Tess. I'll do it at school today."
She would have too - except that when she arrived at school, the rumour was already flying.
It was Tess who had brought it to her, flying out the front doors of West Roswell, a stricken expression on her face. "LIZ! He's together with Vicky Delaney!"
Liz had been with Max. They had been standing near the Jeep, holding hands, trying to work up the energy to care about school when Tess had appeared. "What?" Liz demanded, letting Max go and grabbing Tess by the shoulders.
"You heard me!" Tess had screeched, almost hysterically. "I got to school this morning and that witch Courney James came over to me and asked me if I had heard. I said heard what...and SHE said that Kyle had gotten back together with Vicky Delaney!"
Liz had just stared at Tess in open-mouthed amazement. "This can't be true Tess. I know Kyle. He's been trying to distance himself, but he just can't do it. He LOVES you."
Tess had swallowed convulsively, her blue eyes glittering with tears. "I was such a little idiot Liz! Of course he's given up. He probably SHOULD be with Vicky. At least she's normal..." Liz had exchanged a look with Max. He had seemed upset, but was quiet. Liz had seen that he couldn't deal with this right now. She could tell that Isabel's horrible nightmare was still replaying itself in his mind.
"I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Liz had told her resolutely. She had gently led Tess to the passenger side of the Jeep. She had returned to Max, hugging him briefly. "Take Tess to your parent's house. I don't think either of you are in any condition to be here today. You can check on Isabel."
Max had just nodded, smiling sadly at her. "Have I told you today that I love you?" He had asked as he enfolded her in his arms.
"And I love you." Liz had replied. She had watched them drive away, fear in the pit of her stomach. She was used to it by now. Her feeling that something horrible was about to happen was still as strong as ever - but if she could at least patch up one disaster, she would.
Liz had finally found Kyle after third period. He had been difficult to miss actually, considering that he was standing in the middle of the main hallway, his arm around Vicky Delaney, surrounded by a bunch of jocks and cheerleaders in various states of general rowdiness.
Liz had marched right up to him. She had been surprised by the anger she felt coursing through her. She could see that Kyle was miserable although he was doing his best to appear that he was having a good time, kissing Vicky perfunctorily every few minutes or so.
"We need to talk." Liz had told Kyle curtly, glancing at Vicky and forcing a smile. "Can you excuse us for a minute?" After all, none of this was Vicky's fault and she really was a nice girl. Kyle using her to get back at Tess was even worse than if he had used someone who deserved it - like one of Pam Troy's cronies.
Vicky had just smiled her fairly blank smile. She was a nice girl, but she wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. "Sure Liz. Nice to see you."
Liz had grabbed Kyle by the arm, none too gently, and had hauled him off to the Eraser Room. She had known that THAT was going to be around school in less than an hour too, but privacy had been of the essence. She had been able to tell that Kyle was actually considering NOT talking to her, but he wasn't quite at the point where he wanted to hurt HER too. Liz knew that Kyle still had a very protective tendency towards her and she planned to take full advantage of it.
"Okay, what are you doing Kyle?" Liz had demanded when they were finally alone.
Kyle had not answered her question directly, instead had stuffed his hands into the pockets of his letterman's jacket, and had asked a question of his own. "Where's Saint Max? Oh wait! Didn't I see him driving off campus with Tess first thing this morning?" His tone had been patented Valenti sarcasm. Liz had felt herself bristling despite herself. If there was one thing Kyle was talented at, it was the pointed one-liner.
Liz had eyed him for a long moment, until Kyle began to squirm. "What are you implying?" She finally asked. "You don't still think that there's something going on between Max and Tess?"
Kyle had just sighed. "Honestly Liz, I don't think MAX has anything going on with Tess. But its time to face facts here. She's NEVER going to get over him."
"ARE YOU INSANE?" Liz had practically yelled. Kyle had backed up a step he had been so surprised. Liz had been slightly surprised herself. She NEVER yelled. "Kyle, I expected more from you. You're not a dumb jock. You're one of us. Tess loves you. Why is it that you're the only one who can't see it?"
Kyle had just closed his eyes, looking defeated. "Liz, I just can't do it anymore. It's too much. I can't deal with it. She doesn't love me. She loves him. I know you don't want to believe it, but I HEARD her talking to Ren. She was asking if it would be possible for you guys to share Max..."
Liz had just stared at him in shocked disbelief. "You're basing this assumption on a conversation you overheard, that you eavesdropped on LATE?" She had felt like laughing. "Kyle, Tess was asking Ren about something she and I found in the library yesterday. Something that changes everything we've ever known about the destiny that Max and Tess and Isabel and Michael have been told about."
Kyle had just rubbed his forehead. "Even if what you say is true Liz..."
"It is!" Liz had exclaimed, frustrated beyond measure.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I've come to a realization...I can't do it. I just can't deal with any of this. And it's not just about Tess. He CHANGED me Liz. He changed YOU! I never asked for this!" Kyle was hunched up in his jacket looking like a scared little boy. "I just can't deal with it. I keep getting pulled back in and I want out. I love her, but I can't give up a normal life for her Liz. I'm not you."
Liz had just shaken her head. "I can't believe this." She finally said, feeling sick. "I never thought I'd see the day that you were a coward Kyle. And I know you're lying. This is all about Max and how you can't give up this crazy delusion that Tess loves him. How can she love him? She doesn't even know him! It's YOU she knows...it's YOU she loves. You're her best friend!"
Kyle had turned away. Liz could tell that he was trying to hide the fact that he was about to cry. She had never seen her friend in so much pain. Somehow Kyle had become lost on the great adventure that the eight of them were entangled in together. How had they lost him?
"Kyle, please don't shut us out." Liz had pleaded, ready to burst into tears herself.
"I have to Liz. Please just go. Leave me alone."
"I'm not leaving you." Liz had replied stubbornly, placing her hand on his back in comfort.
She HAD started to cry when he flinched away from her. "Then I'll leave. And please don't talk to me about this again. I have to move on."
Liz had almost run after him, had almost gone screaming down the school hallway after him....
But she had been weak that day. She had let him go.
He had never come back.
Kyle had returned to being Mr. Popularity, had not spoken to any of them since. He dated Vicky, played basketball, played baseball....he had left them. His facade of normalcy was so good, Liz almost believed it. But she knew better.
Liz knew that they would see Kyle at the Prom that night, that he would be there with Vicky...but they had become used to it...it was unlikely that any of them would exchange two words with Kyle.
And that was the worst part. They had become used to letting their friend shut them out of his life.
The decision to go to the Prom had not been taken lightly. No one had been comfortable with the idea, feeling like they were being petty and selfish by wanting to enjoy one of the rites of passage of high school.
It had been Maria who had finally decided for all of them.
Liz knew that Maria spent most of her free time at the transformation chamber with Jennetta, waiting desperately for her daughter to emerge from her pod. She had seen Maria gradually accepting over the long months of the transformation that she was not going to get see her daughter grow up.
Somewhere, somehow, over the last month, Maria had achieved an epiphany.
She had appeared at Liz's bedroom door at midnight a few weeks before. She had been soaking wet and had looked embarrassed to be there, especially when she saw that Max had fallen asleep on Liz's bed. He was so exhausted all the time, Liz had just decided to let him sleep for a while before waking him in a way that would be pleasant for both of them and then sending him home.
"I'm sorry. I'll come back tomorrow." Maria had said. But she had seemed relieved when Liz had grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the Parker's kitchen.
"What's wrong? Is it Jennetta?" Liz had demanded, going immediately to the freezer and pulling out the ice cream.
"No." Maria had replied. "Well, sort of..." Tears had welled up in Maria's eyes, causing Liz to set the carton of ice cream down in order to put her arm around her friend.
"Maria! What's wrong?" Liz had been able to tell that her friend was undergoing an internal struggle of some sort...like she was trying to hold back what she really wanted to say.
And then the dam had burst.
"I want to go to the prom!!!!" Maria had wailed. "I'm a horrible person! My daughter is in a pod and is going to be older than I am when she gets out and I want to go to the prom!" Maria had grabbed Liz by the shoulders, staring at her. "Tell me I'm a horrible person. I know I am!"
Liz had felt her heart go out to her best friend. "You're not a horrible person Maria. It's only natural that you'd want to do something normal teenagers do. I mean, we didn't go last year because Max was gone..." Liz had trailed off, briefly remembering how horrible that had been. "How did this happen?" Liz had asked, wanting to erase that awful memory.
"I was at the transformation chamber with Ren. He was walking me to my car. When we got outside, we were both surprised to see that it was pouring...it was raining so hard that the entrance to the complex was flooded. Liz, I fell into the puddle! I didn't see it and I fell in."
Liz had raised an eyebrow. "Well, I can see that you're wet. But what does this have to do with the prom?"
"I'm getting there." Maria had replied, sounding more like her old Maria self than she had in a long time. She was babbling in a way that Liz had never thought that she would hear again. "So anyway, I fell in and just sat there staring up at Ren. And then you'll never believe what happened Lizzie! He laughed! That stone-faced alien actually laughed at me!"
Liz had swallowed, trying hard not to laugh herself at the complete astonishment in Maria's voice. "Okay?" She had waved her hand in front of her, prompting Maria to continue.
"Anyway, I just stared at him more and then I started to laugh. I laughed Liz. I haven't laughed in so long...I mean REALLY laughed." Maria had looked so guilty, Liz had reached out to hug her. "And it felt SOOOO good."
"I'm glad you laughed." Liz had told her seriously. "Jennetta doesn't want you and Michael putting your lives on hold. She told Isabel that."
"But I didn't believe her Liz!" Maria had exclaimed. "And even if I did, I certainly wasn't going to listen to her. I'm her mother! I know better than she does..." She had trailed off, looking astonished again. "But then I realized - I don't know better than she does! I'm eighteen years old Liz! I've spent maybe a total of a month with my daughter. I'm a kid!"
Liz had felt sad for a moment. "We're all kids Maria. We've all had to deal with so much stuff kids should never have to deal with."
"And it's not fair." Maria had replied. "And I think we've done a pretty decent job up until now in spite of that..." She had pursed her lips. "And I want to go to the prom! I want to have pictures to show my grandchildren of when I was young. Of course, at the rate I'm going I'm likely to have grandchildren by the time I'm twenty, but that's another story! I want to go to the prom!"
Liz had smiled, her love for Maria increasing tenfold. Her friend was finally dealing with her own wants and needs for once. It was about time. Maria had put up with enough crap to fill three life-times. "So we'll go." Liz had told her quietly.
And so they were going. All of them.
Except Tess, which was why, despite all their attempts to have at least one night just for THEM, a night that was just about them, about being young and carefree and HUMAN...something was still off.
Max and Liz had tried to convince her to come with them, but she had just raised an eyebrow and said "Yeah right."
Michael had tried ordering her to go with he and Maria. Again she had just stared him down. Liz had never seen Michael cower like that before. Tess had her brother wrapped around her finger by now. Even the thought that she might get mad at him had made him back down almost as quickly as he had tried to "convince" her.
Isabel had even secretly tried to find Tess a date, but when Tess had found out, her fury had been so scary, even Isabel had left well enough alone.
It had been to Liz that she had told the truth.
"I won't go with anyone but Kyle. And I won't go to see him there with someone else."
And so the night wasn't perfect. But it was pretty close - or as close as they had come in a long time.
Liz should have known that it couldn't last.
Part 58
Kyle managed to plaster a smile on his face as he and Vicky posed for the photographer. It was a complete sham, trying to pretend that he was having a good time, that he wanted to be there, that he wanted to be with Vicky. But then, his entire life was a sham, so it wasn't like anything was new.
"C'mon Kyle! Let's dance!" Vicky grabbed him by the hand, pulling him out onto the dance floor, which was currently packed with gyrating high school seniors. Kyle rolled his eyes. This was the absolutely last place he wanted to be but throwing himself lock, stock and barrel back into jock-land unfortunately meant that the prom was a social obligation.
He couldn't believe he was actually concerned about frigging social obligations.
And they were actually playing that Vitamin C song - the one about graduation and about being friends forever.
He wanted to kill himself.
He was definitely losing it. Not that this came as any sort of surprise. He had been losing it for a long time - since the day he had admitted to himself that he loved Tess and that she was never going to love him back.
Kyle missed her. He missed them all.
He missed Liz, the understanding friend he had found in her whenever they talked. He had always loved Liz, always would. She was completely above him in every way, but she loved him too and he knew it when he was with her. She was the only true friend he had ever had.
He missed Maria - her craziness and her love of life, although there hadn't been much of that over the last few months. He missed Alex, even if he did used to torture him by making him listen to all his new songs. He missed Isabel's snootiness, which hid a sharply wicked sense of humour. He missed Guerin's grumpiness
Finally, and, yes, Kyle had to admit it to himself, he even missed King Max. He had always been able to tell that there was something apart about Max Evans, and while it had often pissed him off, he had always admired the guy, even wanted to be like him. It wasn't Max's fault that he had everything Kyle had ever wanted.
Of course, Kyle had seen them all at school over the few months since he had made his break from them. It wasn't like they had fallen off the face of the planet just because he wished they would, wished that they would stop flaunting what he had once had with them in his face. He would see Liz and Max sitting quietly together in the quad, completely wrapped up in each other as they always were when they were alone, would see Liz and Maria and Alex laughing together in the computer lab, would see Michael and Max having one of their intense - read argumentative- conversations in the parking lot, would see Isabel and Liz studying in the library...
And needless to say, SHE was even MORE everywhere then the rest of them.
He would turn one way and she would be walking down the hall-way with Michael and Maria, trying to mediate their bickering. He would turn another way and she was talking intently to Liz on the front steps of the school. But he saw her most often with Max, as though they were deliberately trying to torture him. She and Max seemed to be the best of friends these days.
Tess Harding was haunting him.
She knew she was doing it too. They had gone back to the game of her staring at him all the time - in class, in the hall-way, if he saw her on the street. Even when she had no idea he was in the room, her blue eyes were always on him, penetrating him, looking hurt, making him feel guilty.
She was going to drive him crazy.
At least he knew for a fact that she wouldn't be there tonight. He would be able to get through this damn prom without having to watch Tess with whatever bohunk she brought. Kyle knew that it was unlikely that any of them would come. He was sure that they would have decided that it would just be weird, what with all the crap they were constantly dealing with.
Kyle often wished that he knew for sure that they were all right - that Jennetta was okay. He knew that Max kept in touch with his dad, but that the Sheriff was even more out of the loop than he had been since Max's disappearance. Max was trying to distance his dad, didn't want to put him in danger. Kyle knew it, but it was still annoying that that one venue of information had completely dried up.
He knew that his dad was worried about him. Kyle even thought he might have mentioned how worried he was to Amy Deluca since she always asked him if he had talked to Maria lately. It was ironic that as Kyle cut himself off from Amy's daughter and her friends, Amy and Kyle's dad seemed to be growing closer and closer. It was bloody typical. If he wasn't seeing one of THEM, he was seeing their parents.
Kyle felt Vicky put her arms around his neck. Tuning back into what was going on around him, he realized that a slow song was beginning to play. He put his arms around his unwanted girlfriend's waist, sighing. It wasn't that he didn't like Vicky - he did - but unfortunately his heart didn't belong to him anymore. He didn't have it to give to anyone else. Nothing had changed. Even if he never spoke directly to Tess again, she had him.
But at least he didn't have to see her tonight...didn't have to see any of them.
Of course, it was just as this thought was running through his head that Vicky suddenly said, "Hey! There's Liz! She looks great!"
Kyle's head whipped around despite himself, his heart in his throat.
Liz was standing in the entrance to the gym with Max. She looked beautiful just as Vicky had said. Her dark hair fell around her face in those ringlets that she sometimes wore, the ones that made her look like some Renaissance goddess come to life. Her dress was light pink and fairly simple, but it emphasized the complete naturalness of Liz Parker's beauty. And since she happened to be talking to Max at the moment, her entire being seemed to radiate with some weird sort of energy that lit up the entire room around her. Kyle didn't blame Evans at all when he suddenly pulled Liz close to him, kissing her lightly on the forehead. While Kyle loved Tess, he could still remember the time when Liz had been everything that was perfect to him. Looking at her tonight reminded him even more strongly.
At the thought of Tess, Kyle felt his heart drop to his toes. He scanned the group coming in behind Max and Liz. First Isabel and Alex, Isabel drop-dead gorgeous as usual, Alex looking absurd and yet completely comfortable in a powder blue tuxedo. They were followed by Maria, who had already started to drag Michael towards the photographer. Michael was tugging at his tie, looking like he was about to strangle. He must have muttered something to Max as he passed him, because Max grinned and Liz scowled at him.
Kyle's heart began to beat at a more normal pace when he realized that Tess was nowhere to be seen.
"We should go say hi!" Vicky said suddenly, following his gaze.
"NO!" Kyle said too quickly. Vicky stared at him, her blue eyes confused.
"I thought they were your friends."
"Vicky, have you seen me with them at all since we started dating?" Kyle demanded, annoyed at himself for using such a mean tone. "I'm not friends with them anymore." He continued in a gentler voice.
Vicky frowned slightly. "Well, okay, I guess."
"Let's dance." Kyle decided that changing the subject was the best possible solution to the awkward silence that had suddenly sprung up between them. Vicky allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor.
Kyle did his best not to look at any of them, but this didn't mean that he wasn't aware of the exact moment that Liz became aware of him.
She and Max were standing near the punch bowl, watching the dance floor, where Alex and Isabel were already cutting a rug, Alex dipping Isabel all over the place, to the point that she was practically in hysterics.
Liz's eyes seemed to light up the minute they met his across the crowd. He saw her say something in Max's ear and then she was on her way over.
Oh hell.
He had not actually conversed with Liz since that horrible scene in the Eraser Room a few months ago - the time he had actually cried. They had said hi in the halls, but Liz had seemed at a loss about how to deal with him. It was clear that she wanted to but that she didn't know what to say to him. He knew that she thought he was an insane imbecile, that she thought that Tess loved him, that she was sure that there was nothing going on between Tess and Max, knew that she was frustrated that he couldn't say that he felt the same.
And so the fact that she was actually approaching him was a surprise - and yet not. This was Liz after all, Miss "I'll never give up on my friends" Parker. She had practically brought Max back from Illyria with the strength of her will alone.
"Hi guys!" Liz said, her voice friendly, but with a vein of steel running through it. There was no way Kyle was avoiding this confrontation.
Vicky turned, smiled. Kyle knew that she genuinely liked Liz. Why did the girl have to be so darn friendly to everyone? Why couldn't he have picked one of Pam Troy's mean robots to date? But then he hadn't wanted to completely torture himself...
"Hi Liz!" Vicky said brightly. "You look beautiful!"
Liz smiled her kind smile, the one that made Kyle know that he was in real trouble. "You too Vicky." She turned to Kyle, her eyes determined. "Do you mind if I cut in?"
Vicky smiled again. "Not at all. I need to go powder my nose anyway." Vicky kissed him lightly on the cheek before deserting him with the one person who was capable of getting past his resolve.
He was dead meat.
Kyle sighed when another slow song came on. Liz raised an eyebrow at him, grabbed his hands and practically forced him to put his arms around her. "Well?" She asked after they had danced for several moments in tense silence.
"Well what?" Kyle knew he was being a belligerent idiot, but he had to protect himself somehow.
"Are you ever going to let us in again?" Kyle stared down at her. Liz's eyes were filling with tears. Oh man, she had brought out the big guns early.
"Liz..." Kyle felt completely helpless.
"We miss you Kyle. All of us." Liz said significantly. Kyle knew she was talking about Tess.
And then he was mad. "I haven't seen much evidence that ANYONE misses me." Kyle snapped. "The Queen of Illyria seems to be doing her best NOT to address me in any situation. All she does is stare at me."
Liz flinched slightly at his tone. "She's scared you're going to reject her again."
Kyle scowled. "This is really unfriggingbelievable Liz! I never rejected Tess! She was the one who told me that she didn't care when I told her I loved her."
Liz was staring at him steadily. "But the two times she tried to talk to you, you either got distracted or you refused to listen to her."
Kyle was almost seeing red he was so angry. He knew deep down that it was at himself, but Liz, unfortunately was a convenient target. "How many times do I have to tell you that I want nothing to do with any of you Liz? But especially with her! Why can't you leave me alone?"
Liz didn't seem upset at all by his tone of voice. "Because I love you. You are one of us. We will always be here for you. Especially Tess. Do you know she's not here tonight because she wouldn't come with anyone who WASN'T you? Those were her exact words Kyle. If you can't get it through your thick skull that Tess loves you, well then I guess you don't deserve her." Liz pulled away from him. Kyle stood frozen in the middle of the dance floor staring after her as she stalked away.
He didn't deserve her...
They were the exact words he had said to Tess all those months ago - in the transformation chamber on the day that Jennetta had gone into the pod. He had told her that running away from the others when they needed her meant that she didn't deserve to have them.
He WAS a complete moron.
He needed air. Quickly.
Kyle stumbled to the nearest entrance and managed to smash into the person coming in. He reached out to steady the girl, mumbled an apology.
And then he realized who it was. Tess Harding was staring at him, her blue eyes unreadable.
Kyle's heart stopped. "What are you doing here?" He managed to croak. He realized that his hands were still clutching her silky, bare shoulders. Her gold dress was sleeveless, clinging to every single curve she possessed, her blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders in that tousled way that always made her look like she had just climbed out of bed. Kyle dropped his hands immediately.
"You know exactly why I'm here." Tess replied. Kyle was staring at her glossy lips. He was beginning to get dizzy. "I've come for you. And you're not going to escape me again."
He was DEFINITELY dead-meat.
*********************************************************************
Love of my life
I don't have a lot to give you
What's in my heart is all that I can really give you
Love, undying love is all I have
A handful of words that might make you laugh
And all the strength you need
To make it through all your troubled times
I give all of myself to you
Only you
My dream come true...
Love of my life
You were all I ever wanted
To be with you
Was all I ever really wanted
You, you've made my life a fairy-tale
You've added love to a life that was so stale
And know that I'll be here
Always for you
When you need a friend
I give all of myself to you
Only you
My dream come true.
I've been waiting my whole life for you
Now my waiting is through
All the nights I spent dreaming I knew
That my dream would come true...
So many nights
I lay awake dreaming I knew
One day I'd be with you
Now all my nights of dreaming are through
'Cause my dream has come true.
Frozen Ghost
Max watched Liz stomp away from Kyle, her expression furious. He could tell that she was trying to hide how angry and upset she was, but he KNEW her.
She came and stood beside him, her arms crossed, clearly still fuming.
"I take it that didn't go well." Max asked unnecessarily, reaching out and pulling her against him.
"I don't want to talk about it." Liz replied. "He's a completely blind fool. I give up."
Max kissed her on the temple lightly. "Right."
Liz pulled back, glared up at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just like you gave up on bringing ME back from Illyria?" Max raised an eyebrow. Liz scowled at him, but Max could tell that she was beginning to calm down.
"You can be really annoying, you know that?" She finally asked, a look of resignation appearing on her face.
"You can't fix everything all the time Liz." Max told her, running his hands up her arms. He felt her shiver slightly. She began to relax, her eyes glowing in that way that was reserved solely for him, in that way that made him thank his lucky stars ten times a day.
She was so incredibly beautiful, it sometimes still took Max's breath away. And he wasn't just talking about on the outside, although that went without saying. When Max had first laid eyes on her earlier that night, he had literally wanted to sweep her off her feet in order to lock them both in her bedroom, not to emerge until the next morning. He had managed to restrain himself, however, but only because he was looking forward to holding her against him while they danced at the prom. He hadn't danced with her properly since their first date. Since that had been one of the most incredible experiences of his life, he had definitely been looking forward to a repeat of that magical feeling tonight.
And yet, Max knew without a shadow of a doubt, that it wasn't Liz's exterior beauty that made him want to bind her to him forever. He had seen her soul, knew it for the spectacular thing that it was. She was so good and kind and intelligent. She was his angel, his soulmate. She always would be.
They still hadn't figured out what the heck that book she and Tess had found in the alien library meant, but Max didn't really care. He didn't need a book to tell him what he already knew. Liz completed him - she was the other half of his whole, his dream come true.
"I just want them all to be as happy as you've made me." Liz was telling him. Her hands were snaking up around his neck. It was his turn to shiver.
"And they might be Liz." Max replied, "But you can't force it. If it's meant to be, it will be."
"What happened to 'we make our own destiny?'" Liz asked, her eyes laughing up at him.
"Well, since I've already made mine," Max replied jokingly, "I've decided to move on to a new catchphrase."
"Really?" Liz's eyes darkened with love. "Well Mr. Destiny-Expert, let's say we show these amateurs what real destiny is about." A slow song was beginning again. Max allowed himself to be pulled out among the swaying couples. He wished momentarily that they were alone on Liz's balcony, under the stars. Now that would be PERFECT.
And yet, he certainly was not complaining as Liz came into his arms, her body warm and inviting.
Making your own destiny was the best.
Part 59 - Conclusion
Tess tried to ignore the scowl on Kyle's face as he stared down at her. She had promised herself that she was going to say what she had to say to him and that was final. If he turned away from her after that she would leave him alone forever. But she couldn't go on being a coward, avoiding the confrontation that HAD to happen between them.
She had almost convinced herself that she could avoid it. She had told the others many times that she wasn't coming to the Prom, that she wouldn't go and see Kyle with another girl. She had even told Liz and Isabel that she was looking forward to a night at home, that she just wanted to watch T.V. and paint her toe-nails. She had been able to tell that they hadn't believed her, but that they had decided to let it go. It was clear to both of her friends that there was no convincing her.
Of course, Michael had not given up as easily.
While Tess was pleased that he had accepted her offer to move into the empty Harding house with her after the forging of their bond on D-Day, it was slightly irritating to have a brother constantly watching over her. The closer they became, the more protective HE became, and although he technically wasn't older than her in THIS life-time, he still had an annoying tendency to act like the older sibling.
She had been sure that she had finally bullied him into submissively leaving her alone for the night when he had come down the stairs in his tuxedo. She had frowned at him, annoyed to see a silky gold dress draped over his arm.
"What is that?" She demanded.
"Maria bought it. She said it would fit you. Put it on." He ordered her. "I'm not letting you sit at home alone the night of your prom. I'm not going to have any fun thinking about you sitting here pouting and if I don't have fun, Maria won't have fun, and Maria WILL be having fun tonight. Valenti's an idiot and doesn't deserve you."
"Don't say that about him!" Tess had said, anger instantly flaring. "He's had a lot to deal with!"
Michael just raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah. Gee. We should be REALLY sorry that we're aliens, that Max saved his life, that you love him. Excuse me if I don't feel his pain."
"Michael."
"Get dressed Tess. I'll be back to pick you up in an hour."
"I don't have a date! I'm not going without a date!" Tess had pleaded desperately.
"You'll find a date." Michael had replied dismissively. "Maxwell is waiting for me. We'll be back in an hour."
And he had left, slamming the door behind him. Tess had clenched her fists, screeched in frustration.
But she had gotten dressed. She had known that Michael would just drag her to the dance in her pyjamas if she didn't.
When she had finished doing her hair and her make-up, she had stared at herself in the mirror for a long time.
She was a coward. She knew it, knew it was the real reason that she hadn't wanted to go to the prom. She had let Kyle run away from her in the transformation chamber, hadn't tried to sort out the problem. She had wanted Liz to fix everything for her, had given up when it hadn't worked. She had decided to MAKE Kyle come to her. She had known what she was doing to him, staring at him, making sure that she turned up everywhere he was bound to be.
She had been torturing him, daring him NOT to be with her.
And it was all because SHE was the coward, was scared he would reject her again. But she couldn't go on like this. She loved him. And if he was going to reject her again, well this time it would be on her terms. He would have to do it with the proof of her love for him staring him directly in the face. She wouldn't let him hide behind his jealousy of Max Evans.
This had nothing to do with Max. It had everything to do with Kyle Valenti and Tess Harding and the fact that they were both scared to death of what it would mean if they actually let this go somewhere. There would be no more excuses. THEY would be responsible if things got screwed up, they would be responsible for making their own happiness.
And so she had been waiting when Michael and Maria had come to pick her up.
She had almost lost her nerve when they had arrived at the school. It was going to be hard to walk into that gym all alone. They had been running late as it was, having fallen behind Max, Liz, Isabel and Alex in the Jeep. Maria had been hauling Michael by the arm, trying to catch up. Everyone was going to be in there, watching the door, watching her come in alone...
Tess had felt her heart speed up nervously. She had paused on the front steps to calm herself. She had sat down, careful not to muss her dress, had stared up at the stars for several long minutes. The "V" constellation, the one that sheltered their home world, had winked down at her, almost daring her to go through with this.
She knew that they were never going back there. Her life there was over. She had been Max's wife in another life-time, but that was not her life anymore. She was Tess Harding, not Sabrya of Dernia - and Tess Harding wanted Kyle Valenti. It was simple as that.
Tess had decided to go in through a side door, hoping that she could slip in unnoticed and find Kyle. She hoped that she would be able to scope out the situation first. She felt bad that Vicky Delaney was going to get caught in the middle of this situation, but Tess admitted to herself that there were only seven people on this planet that she really cared about...well, nine if you counted Jennetta and Ren. She knew what she wanted and she had to go for it. Kyle had the right to make an informed decision.
And so she had been mildly surprised to find herself stumbling into Kyle's arms the moment she walked into the gym. He had momentarily looked like he was seeing a ghost. His face was white and he actually looked a little sick.
Her heart began to thump a mile a minute. She couldn't do it! She wasn't ready!
The shock in his voice managed to make her focus. "What are you doing here?" She felt him clutch gently at her bare shoulders. It sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed. He dropped his hands quickly, like he had been burned.
"You know exactly why I'm here." Tess replied, relieved that she sounded more confident than she felt. "I've come for you. And you're not going to escape me again."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kyle demanded, clearly quickly regaining his senses. He looked beyond her. "Are you here alone? Liz said you weren't coming!" He sounded astounded that Liz might have lied to him.
"She doesn't know I'm here. I was with Michael and Maria." Tess replied, licking her lips. She smiled slightly to herself as Kyle's eyes seemed to become glued to her mouth. He began to blink rapidly, as though he was about to pass out. She frowned slightly. "Kyle? Are you okay?"
He brought a hand up to his temple, rubbed. "I don't think so. I was on my way out for some air."
"Good." Tess said quickly. "We need to talk - privately."
Kyle stared at her. "Why?"
"Because I have things to say to you - things you haven't let me say. I'm tired of running Kyle." She reached out and touched his cheek. "I'm so tired. And I think you are too. I just want..."
She was interrupted suddenly. "Kyle!" Tess recognized the voice immediately. It was Vicky Delaney.
Kyle whirled guiltily.
Vicky was standing nearby, watching them, her face completely lacking in suspicion. "There you are!" She exclaimed. "Hi Tess! I didn't know you were here. You look beautiful." Tess wondered why SHE suddenly felt guilty. Why couldn't Pam Troy still have been around for Kyle to date? Tess would have enjoyed having Kyle dump HER unceremoniously. Why did Vicky have to be so darn NICE?
"Thanks Vicky." She managed to reply. "So do you." And she did, damn her.
Vicky moved up next to Kyle, linked her arm through his. "I just talked to Sandy. She said they're announcing the king and queen soon. We better go back in."
Kyle just nodded mechanically, still staring at Tess. He looked like he had been hit by a truck.
"I'll wait for you." She mouthed after him. He nodded again.
Tess followed Vicky and Kyle into the gym. She could see Max and Liz dancing nearby, completely in their own world as usual. She scanned the room, sighed in relief when her eyes lit on Michael, Maria, Alex and Isabel sitting at a table to her left. Maria was sitting on Michael's lap, wrinkling her nose as Alex pulled a bottle of Tabasco sauce out of his powder blue tux jacket, dolloping Isabel's chocolate cake liberally.
"Why don't you carry Tabasco in YOUR purse?" Michael was asking as Tess came up to them. "What kind of girlfriend are you?"
"The best you'll ever get Spaceboy." Maria replied, smacking him lightly on the head. It pleased Tess to see her brother and Maria teasing each other again. They had been in a state of stupor for so many months now. While there was still always an underlying note of sadness in their demeanor, they were finally trying to live again, at least a little bit.
"Ah! Lady Tess!" Alex stood up, bowing her into his chair. "You look divine."
"I'm sorry I can't say the same." Tess replied, smiling despite herself at Alex's hideous ensemble.
"You came!" Isabel stared at her, her expression gradually melting into a smile. As quickly as the smile appeared, it faded, as Isabel's eyes began to scan the crowd.
"I've already seen him." Tess reassured her friend. "It's okay." Tess saw Isabel and Maria exchange a look. "Really you guys! It's okay."
At that moment, a drum-roll began and a spotlight focused on the stage at the far end of the gym. Coach Clay, looking ludicrous in a tuxedo about ten times too small for his roly-poly frame, accompanied by Ms. Hardy, climbed onto the stage. They had a pair of envelopes in their hands.
"Prom King and Queen!" Isabel rolled her eyes. "Really! How immature are we?" Tess and Maria exchanged an amused glance, both appreciating the fact of how much Isabel had changed. The old Isabel would have been sitting on the edge of her seat in anticipation of being called up on stage, her acceptance speech already planned out in her perfectly coifed head.
It was absolutely no surprise to Tess when Kyle and Pam's names were read off as the King and Queen. Tess smiled slightly to herself at the completely annoyed expression on Kyle's face as Ms. Hardy placed the fake crown on his head. He reached up quickly and pulled it off.
She wasn't worried, Tess assured herself. She had made her move. She had seen the look on Kyle's face. She just had to wait for him to come to her. Vicky deserved to enjoy her moment, even to enjoy the whole evening. Tess could wait.
She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, tried to forget that Kyle hadn't really said anything at all reassuring during their brief conversation, tried to forget that SHE hadn't really said anything to him at all.
Tess was watching Kyle dance with Vicky moments later, a slight pang of jealousy beginning to hit her when suddenly a cell phone ringing caught her attention.
It was Isabel's. Her purse was sitting on the table in front of her. The five of them all turned to stare at it.
"Well, answer it!" Michael finally snapped. "Why are you acting like you've never heard a phone ring before?"
It was at that moment that Tess noticed the expression on Isabel's face. Her friend was swallowing convulsively, her visage completely white. "Alex!" Tess grabbed for Isabel's purse. "Catch her! I think she's having a vision!"
Alex just managed to catch Isabel before she went toppling out of her chair. Maria and Michael had both jumped to their feet. Tess barely noticed that Max and Liz had come running up, Max instantly on his knees in front of his sister. Alex was gently slapping Isabel's cheeks as Tess answered the phone, expecting to hear Mrs. Evans' voice.
"Hello?"
"Who is this?" The voice was familiar. Ren! Tess' eyes widened.
"It's Tess. What's wrong? Is Jennetta okay?" Tess waved Michael away as he made a grab for the phone. She could see that Isabel was just beginning to come out of her trance. She was shrugging away from Max and Alex, wanting to be solitary as was usually the case after something like this had happened.
"She's fine." Ren snapped. "Let me speak to his Highness."
Tess felt a flash of irritation. "This is your Queen." She snapped back.
"Not anymore." Ren replied, sounding a little more calm. "Please let me speak to the King Tess."
Tess rolled her eyes, handed the phone over to Max. "It's Ren."
Max turned away, covering his other ear as he tried to talk to Jennetta's bodyguard. The music had picked up again, the pounding beat ringing in Tess' ears.
"I think we should get Isabel out of here." Alex was saying. He scowled slightly when Michael pushed him aside, sweeping Isabel up into his arms. "Hey!"
"Get the door." Michael ordered. Tess looked around uncomfortably. People were beginning to stare at them. Couldn't Michael ever think before he acted?
Alex just rolled his eyes, hurried ahead to get the door. It wasn't until they were in the parking lot that anyone thought to ask Max what Ren had wanted.
Max was standing quietly near the Jeep, his arm around Liz, a strange expression on his face.
"Maxwell! What's going on?" Michael demanded, clearly remembering about Ren now that Isabel was safe.
"I know." Isabel said quietly. She was looking at Max steadily. "Jennetta is about to be born."
Maria shrieked. "WHAT???? Why did he ask to speak to you?" She grabbed Max by the lapels, shaking him. "What's wrong with her? What bad news does he want you to break to us gently?" Tess looked at Michael, could see that her brother looked ill.
"Maria!" Max managed to grab her hands, lower them to her sides. "She's fine! The pod is preparing to let her break out. We need to get out there fast." Tess saw the look on Max's face though. There was still something he wasn't telling them.
Of course Liz knew it too. "Max, what is it?" She asked quietly.
"I know THAT too." Isabel broke in, her voice still little more than a whisper. "Tarsus has taken the Citadel."
They all stared at each other in shock. The silence was deafening.
*************************************************************************************
It seemed to take forever to drive out to the transformation chamber.
At the best of times it took close to a half and hour. Now that they wanted to be there immediately, it felt like three hundred years.
Michael thought he was going to lose his mind before Max finally slammed the brakes on the Jeep, screeching the car to a stop near the boulder that hid his and Maria's entire world. He had long since discarded his jacket and tie, feeling like he was strangling.
Their daughter.
Jennetta was coming back to them. But she was going to be entirely different. She was going to be older than him for Christ's sake!
Michael felt the pang of despair that had been a familiar friend over the past eight months, since the day his little girl had left them.
Stop it! He ordered himself sternly. You need to be strong for Maria. And you can't let Jennetta see you like this. She has to know that you still love her, that you still want her.
The ludicrousness of the entire situation was not lost on Michael Guerin, however. Not for the first time he wanted to laugh his head off that his life should have turned out thus. All he had ever wanted was a family - and then when he finally had his chance, it was taken away from him.
And yet he knew that it hadn't been.
He thanked his stars everyday that he had his friends. It had taken losing Jennetta to make him realize that he wasn't alone, that his family was made up of his six closest friends.
The seven of them practically sprinted down the corridor to the transformation chamber after Max had activated the lights. The girls had all removed their heels, although Maria did go careening into a stone wall at one point when she slid on her stockinged feet.
And yet, without a word, of one accord, they all stopped abruptly at the spot where the entrance to the transformation chamber lay.
Max's eyes met Michael's seriously. He looked at all of them closely before saying. "Are you all ready for this? Nothing is going to be the same again."
Michael swallowed. Truer words had never been spoken. Well, of course, they HAD been spoken, MANY times before. It was the price of being a teenage alien. But this time - well, it was REALLY true.
Everyone was nodding. Michael saw Liz reach out to take Max's hand. She looked scared. He reached for Maria.
"Let us go first." He said quietly. The others all nodded again. Michael felt Tess take his other hand, squeezing it reassuringly, then letting it drop.
Michael lifted his hand, swiped it across the wall, swallowed as the familiar silver handprint glowed out at him. He took a deep breath, placed his palm squarely upon it, watched the wall swing away.
But, in the end, of course, as was always his luck, they were too late.
Ren had his back to them as they entered. He was bent over something lying on the cot Max had had brought in for the shapeshifter many months before.
Or someone, rather.
Michael felt Maria squeeze his hand. When he looked down at her, she was indicating the empty, dark pod nearby. The one Jennetta had occupied for so many months.
Michael closed his eyes briefly. He knew what she looked like, had seen her earlier that day, floating peacefully, a little girl no longer.
And yet he was still shocked when he opened his eyes and saw her.
Ren was helping her to her feet, although he did not look pleased to be doing so. "You should be resting Your Highness."
"Nine months seems like long enough to sleep." Her voice was smoky, no trace of the little girl she had been in its tone. Michael realized that she was staring at Maria, felt his own heart stop when her dark eyes shifted to him.
"Jennetta." Maria sounded like she was about to burst into tears. And yet she didn't move. She seemed glued to the floor. Michael understood perfectly, considering he felt exactly the same way.
She was taller than he would have expected, as tall as Isabel for certain. Her floor length white robe only emphasized her height. It made her resemblance to Maria even more shocking, the fact that she was so much taller than her mother. Their faces were practically a matched pair.
But he saw himself in her eyes.
She was not moving, just watching them carefully. Slowly a smile began to appear on her face. "Hello." She paused, laughed quietly. "I don't know what to call you." She admitted finally. "Mother and Father seems slightly absurd now."
At that, Maria began to cry in earnest. Michael saw the expression of distress that crossed Jennetta's face. "I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, hurrying towards them, Ren staying close to her, looking extremely frustrated. And then Jennetta was hugging Maria, as Maria continued to sob. "Mother, please!" She sounded flustered, sounded exactly how Michael felt when he didn't know how to comfort his girlfriend.
And then Maria was speaking, babbling actually. "My baby! I'm so glad that you're okay!" Michael blinked. It was then that he realized that Maria was LAUGHING.
He closed his eyes again, snorted. "Will the insanity EVER end?" He muttered to himself.
He had not intended anyone to hear him. But Jennetta did. She looked at him over Maria's shoulder, reached out her hand to bring him closer. "It will end. I promise."
Michael saw his eyes move past him. He could hear the others entering the chamber, although he could tell they were trying to be quiet.
"Jaxon!" Jennetta pulled away from Maria, threw herself into Max's arms. Michael managed to suppress the twinge of jealousy he felt. He knew that Jenny loved Max. It was all right. There was room for both of them in her heart.
Max pulled back, put his hands on her shoulders, scanning her face closely. "Are you okay?" He asked seriously, in his intense Max way.
Jennetta smiled sadly. "What was meant to be has happened." She replied. She turned to include the whole group. "I know that this has been difficult for all of you." She moved near Maria again, taking her mother's hand. Michael just shook his head. He wondered if he would ever get used to the absurdity of the fact that his daughter was now older than him.
Jennetta was still speaking. "And I'm afraid that its not over yet." She focused on Isabel, who was standing slightly behind Alex, clutching his hand. Michael frowned. Actually, she looked like she was HIDING behind Alex. "Mirana. I know that Mother has contacted you."
Isabel nodded reluctantly. "The Citadel has fallen to the Dernians." She paused. Michael looked back at Jennetta. His daughter was just gazing steadily at Izzy, her expression unreadable, as though she knew that Isabel was holding something back. Isabel licked her lips. "And the Ring has been claimed." She finally said in a great rush.
Michael heard Liz and Tess gasp, almost in unison.
Jennetta lifted her chin. "Which is why it is time to go back." She said without a moment's hesitation. "The prophecy is ready to be fulfilled. Illyria has entered its darkest days."
Michael swallowed, closed his eyes to avoid the tears that he felt collecting there.
So it was over already. She was lost to him. She was going back to Illyria.
"We are all needed." Michael's eyes snapped open. Jennetta was looking right at him, a slight smirk on her face. He realized that that smile looked VERY familiar. In fact Maria had used it on him only an hour before when he had teased her about the Tabasco sauce. "Did you really think I could do this alone?" She demanded, quirking an eyebrow at him.
Everyone stared at each other for several moments and then Alex spoke, breaking the silence.
"What DOES one pack for Illyria in the summertime?" He asked Isabel, stroking his chin pensively.
In spite of the fact that there was absolutely NOTHING funny about this situation, everyone burst out laughing.
In later years Michael would look back on that moment as the last one of their childhoods. For one brief shining moment he had felt the hope that had risen in that chamber. It was something pure, something strong.
Together they could do anything. They would free their planet and live happily ever after.
Of course, it didn't work out that way.
*************************************************************************************
Max groaned, pulled his pillow over his head. He did not want to open his eyes. Maybe if he ignored the phone, it would stop ringing.
He had been dreaming about Liz. It had been their wedding day and their happiness had been almost painful. All of their friends and family had been there, including his mother from Illyria and Jennetta and Ren. And, although all the trappings of the wedding had been traditional, down to Liz looking almost unbelievably beautiful in a long white dress, they had been in the Waylandian Ring, the one known as Lucianus bringing their palms together....
"Let this union heal the breach that exists. So it is written in the stars, so shall it be..." The old man was intoning when a piercing noise had suddenly interrupted the whole proceeding.
Dream Michael had rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Can't anything go right? Even in your dreams Maximillian?"
Max sighed, opened his eyes. He realized that someone was tapping on his bedroom door. "Max? Are you awake honey?"
"Coming Mom." Max glanced at the clock. He frowned slightly when he saw that it was only five-thirty in the morning. He opened his door, padded down the hallway, rubbing his face tiredly.
It had been close to three a.m. when Max had gotten home from dropping Liz off. They had made it back to the Crashdown by one, but, of course, Max had gone up to Liz's bedroom via his usual route over her balcony. Isabel had taken Jennetta home with her, the Evans being the only ones with any idea of who she was and what had been going on.
Max had felt strangely at peace as he lay on the chaise lounge waiting for Liz as she locked up downstairs. He had been staring up at the "V" constellation, almost excited to be going back there, to be taking care of his responsibilities to his home world once and for all.
After that he would be free. Free to live the life with Liz that was all he really wanted.
Of course, it wasn't going to be easy, but Max had no doubt that it was going to happen. Finally.
Liz had finally joined him, bringing the quilt off her bed. She had changed out of her prom dress and had pulled her hair into a pony-tail on top of her head. Max had known that wouldn't last long though. He had every intention of kissing her with her hair tumbling around his face in the way he loved.
She had curled up next to him, her head on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" She had finally asked quietly, after they had laid in companionable silence for quite a while.
"I'll show you." He had replied, bringing his lips to hers, sending her the flashes of exactly how wonderful their future was going to be together...it had been the perfect ending to an otherwise chaotic evening.
Max was in the front hallway before it dawned on him that it hadn't been the phone ringing that had awoken him at all. It had been the doorbell.
He frowned, felt a shiver of dread run down his spine as his mother turned to look at him, her eyes wide with horror. She was in her dressing gown, clutching it to her chest with tight fists.
The Sheriff was standing in the doorway, his hat in his hands. Max wondered why he was holding it like that - like he wanted to strangle it. The hat had totally lost all shape in the Sheriff's hands.
"Max." Max stared at him. The Sheriff NEVER called him Max. It was always MR. Evans. It was just his way.
"Sheriff?" Max looked at his mother again. He could see that she was starting to move towards him, her hand outstretched. "Mom?"
"Honey..." Diane paused, swallowed. Max heard his father and Isabel descending the stairs behind him.
"What's wrong?" Izzy asked, yawning. Max turned to look at his sister. Jennetta was standing on the stairs behind Isabel, her dark eyes wide.
Max turned back to the Sheriff. "What's wrong?" He saw Sheriff Valenti look at his mother, as though he didn't know what to say.
And then Max knew.
Something had happened to Liz.
The End (but not really! The third story in the trilogy, entitled "Union," coming soon!)
Roswell, New Mexico - May 2002 - four months later
"Alex! Finally! Why are you so late?" Isabel's next comment was practically a screech. "What the heck are you wearing? You are not going to MY prom in that!"
Liz tried desperately to control her smile, but when Michael snorted suddenly causing Maria to burst out laughing, it was like a chain reaction. She started to laugh too, which caused Max to grin - it was a rare phenomenon for something to make Max REALLY laugh and Alex's usual high-jinx still weren't quite enough.
Liz watched Isabel's face, saw her friend's cheeks turning pink as she resolutely fought the smile that was threatening to break out across her beautiful face. She was trying very hard to maintain her stern expression, but it was clear that she was fighting a losing battle.
Diane Evans lowered the camera she had been pointing at Isabel. She had been in the process of taking one of the innumerable candid shots of the group that she had been insisting on since Max and Michael had picked up Liz and Maria over an hour before. Her blue eyes widened and she started to laugh too.
"Nice man." Michael was saying. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to wear that? I would have found one too." Maria was rolling her eyes. "Thank you." She mouthed to Alex.
"That really is a very...er...interesting ensemble Alex." Mr. Evans said, glancing worriedly at Isabel. When it was clear that his daughter wasn't really mad, he let himself chuckle.
Alex just shrugged, gave a patented Whitman thumbs-up. "I always like to do it up in style. If you can't go powder blue, why go at all? My dad saved this for my wedding, but he decided the prom was okay too." He hiked his pants in the air, showing off his white patent leather shoes. "Of course, these are the best part."
The shoes actually earned a laugh from Max, which Liz barely noticed because she and Maria were leaning on each other for support, as they laughed hysterically.
Michael was circling Alex, stroking his chin. "Hmmm...I disagree. I really think it's the shirt that completes the outfit."
Alex was nodding, primping slightly in front of the mirror over the Evans' fireplace. "Yeah. I decided 'My Girlfriend is an Alien' was a little too out there. No one would believe it." He grinned at Isabel in the mirror. Her lips were pursed, but Liz could see that her eyes were shining.
"And they are going to believe that?" Liz asked, smiling. She pointed at the T-shirt Alex wore under his powder blue tux jacket. It had an arrow pointing downward and said "Alien Bun in the Oven."
Alex just continued to grin at Isabel. "One can only dream." Isabel blushed crimson. Mr. Evans looked horrified, Max repulsed and Mrs. Evans, despite her usual self, actually collapsed on the sofa she was laughing so hard.
"Class all the way Whitman." Maria said, jabbing Alex in the ribs. But Alex just jokingly pushed her aside, taking Isabel by the hand and sweeping her into a dip so deep he almost dropped her. Mrs. Evans started snapping pictures, although Liz was sure they were all going to be out of focus since she couldn't seem to stop giggling.
Liz went over to Max, kissing him lightly to try and erase the mental picture she was sure he was conjuring in his head. She could tell that he was beginning to get a little steamed. Isabel WAS his sister after all. She felt him relax slightly.
She knew that he wasn't really mad. It was so good to see Isabel actually smiling and having a good time. And, of course, it was Alex who had put that smile there. He seemed the only one capable of doing so these days.
It had been four months since Isabel had had the first orb-induced nightmare. They had not stopped since. Apparently the purple orb had triggered the first one, but it had not been necessary for it to be in Isabel's hands for them to return.
Liz sobered slightly, glancing at her friend, who was smacking Alex lightly as he finally let her up. She moved over to the mirror, began fussing with her upswept blonde hair. Her ice-blue dress was floor-length and made the most of Isabel's blonde ice-queen quality. She looked exquisite. But not even her usual perfect make-up job and immaculately put-together look could hide the dark circles under her eyes.
No one had wanted to go to the prom. It had seemed wrong somehow, with Jennetta still in her pod and Isabel suffering from nightmares that seemed to be threatening more horrible times to come. Not to mention the fact that both Kyle and Tess were missing.
Well, Liz reflected sadly, as Max put his arm around her, squeezing gently, it's not like Kyle hasn't been missing for a long time.
Liz sighed as she thought about what the last months had brought, in spite of her promise to herself and to Max that they were going to have fun that night - that they were going to let all the craziness go for once.
After Isabel's first nightmare, Max had driven Liz home that morning in dead silence. When they had reached the Crashdown, it was still very early, barely six-thirty and so there had been no one on the Main Street. Liz had undone her seat-belt, climbed onto Max's lap and had wrapped him in her arms. He had buried his face in her neck, his hands twining through her loose hair.
It was then that he had started to shake.
He had been strong for Isabel, but Liz knew that whatever it was Max's sister had seen, Max had seen it too. And it had been horrible. Max had been incapable of talking about it at the time, but he had told Liz later and it had been almost worse than she had imagined.
And it refused to stop.
Max and Liz had managed to escape a serious talking to by their respective sets of parents over the fact that Liz had fallen asleep in Max's bed because of the Isabel issue. The Evans had called the Parkers to explain. All Liz's dad had said when she came into the Crashdown was "Call next time honey."
The Parkers had seemed inclined not to want to upset Liz anyway that morning. Liz suspected it had to do with how weirdly they had acted when she had asked if she was adopted.
And so Liz had been free to call Tess when she finally reached her room. Her friend had been up, getting ready for school. Tess had been upset to hear about Isabel, but Liz had heard the underlying distraction in Tess' voice on the other end of the line.
Finally she had broken down and asked. "Did you talk to Kyle yet Liz?" Tess paused, sounded upset. "I don't mean to sound uncaring here - I mean, I do care about Isabel, but I just can't concentrate on anything until this thing with him is resolved."
Liz had sighed. "I haven't talked to him Tess. I'll do it at school today."
She would have too - except that when she arrived at school, the rumour was already flying.
It was Tess who had brought it to her, flying out the front doors of West Roswell, a stricken expression on her face. "LIZ! He's together with Vicky Delaney!"
Liz had been with Max. They had been standing near the Jeep, holding hands, trying to work up the energy to care about school when Tess had appeared. "What?" Liz demanded, letting Max go and grabbing Tess by the shoulders.
"You heard me!" Tess had screeched, almost hysterically. "I got to school this morning and that witch Courney James came over to me and asked me if I had heard. I said heard what...and SHE said that Kyle had gotten back together with Vicky Delaney!"
Liz had just stared at Tess in open-mouthed amazement. "This can't be true Tess. I know Kyle. He's been trying to distance himself, but he just can't do it. He LOVES you."
Tess had swallowed convulsively, her blue eyes glittering with tears. "I was such a little idiot Liz! Of course he's given up. He probably SHOULD be with Vicky. At least she's normal..." Liz had exchanged a look with Max. He had seemed upset, but was quiet. Liz had seen that he couldn't deal with this right now. She could tell that Isabel's horrible nightmare was still replaying itself in his mind.
"I'm going to get to the bottom of this." Liz had told her resolutely. She had gently led Tess to the passenger side of the Jeep. She had returned to Max, hugging him briefly. "Take Tess to your parent's house. I don't think either of you are in any condition to be here today. You can check on Isabel."
Max had just nodded, smiling sadly at her. "Have I told you today that I love you?" He had asked as he enfolded her in his arms.
"And I love you." Liz had replied. She had watched them drive away, fear in the pit of her stomach. She was used to it by now. Her feeling that something horrible was about to happen was still as strong as ever - but if she could at least patch up one disaster, she would.
Liz had finally found Kyle after third period. He had been difficult to miss actually, considering that he was standing in the middle of the main hallway, his arm around Vicky Delaney, surrounded by a bunch of jocks and cheerleaders in various states of general rowdiness.
Liz had marched right up to him. She had been surprised by the anger she felt coursing through her. She could see that Kyle was miserable although he was doing his best to appear that he was having a good time, kissing Vicky perfunctorily every few minutes or so.
"We need to talk." Liz had told Kyle curtly, glancing at Vicky and forcing a smile. "Can you excuse us for a minute?" After all, none of this was Vicky's fault and she really was a nice girl. Kyle using her to get back at Tess was even worse than if he had used someone who deserved it - like one of Pam Troy's cronies.
Vicky had just smiled her fairly blank smile. She was a nice girl, but she wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. "Sure Liz. Nice to see you."
Liz had grabbed Kyle by the arm, none too gently, and had hauled him off to the Eraser Room. She had known that THAT was going to be around school in less than an hour too, but privacy had been of the essence. She had been able to tell that Kyle was actually considering NOT talking to her, but he wasn't quite at the point where he wanted to hurt HER too. Liz knew that Kyle still had a very protective tendency towards her and she planned to take full advantage of it.
"Okay, what are you doing Kyle?" Liz had demanded when they were finally alone.
Kyle had not answered her question directly, instead had stuffed his hands into the pockets of his letterman's jacket, and had asked a question of his own. "Where's Saint Max? Oh wait! Didn't I see him driving off campus with Tess first thing this morning?" His tone had been patented Valenti sarcasm. Liz had felt herself bristling despite herself. If there was one thing Kyle was talented at, it was the pointed one-liner.
Liz had eyed him for a long moment, until Kyle began to squirm. "What are you implying?" She finally asked. "You don't still think that there's something going on between Max and Tess?"
Kyle had just sighed. "Honestly Liz, I don't think MAX has anything going on with Tess. But its time to face facts here. She's NEVER going to get over him."
"ARE YOU INSANE?" Liz had practically yelled. Kyle had backed up a step he had been so surprised. Liz had been slightly surprised herself. She NEVER yelled. "Kyle, I expected more from you. You're not a dumb jock. You're one of us. Tess loves you. Why is it that you're the only one who can't see it?"
Kyle had just closed his eyes, looking defeated. "Liz, I just can't do it anymore. It's too much. I can't deal with it. She doesn't love me. She loves him. I know you don't want to believe it, but I HEARD her talking to Ren. She was asking if it would be possible for you guys to share Max..."
Liz had just stared at him in shocked disbelief. "You're basing this assumption on a conversation you overheard, that you eavesdropped on LATE?" She had felt like laughing. "Kyle, Tess was asking Ren about something she and I found in the library yesterday. Something that changes everything we've ever known about the destiny that Max and Tess and Isabel and Michael have been told about."
Kyle had just rubbed his forehead. "Even if what you say is true Liz..."
"It is!" Liz had exclaimed, frustrated beyond measure.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I've come to a realization...I can't do it. I just can't deal with any of this. And it's not just about Tess. He CHANGED me Liz. He changed YOU! I never asked for this!" Kyle was hunched up in his jacket looking like a scared little boy. "I just can't deal with it. I keep getting pulled back in and I want out. I love her, but I can't give up a normal life for her Liz. I'm not you."
Liz had just shaken her head. "I can't believe this." She finally said, feeling sick. "I never thought I'd see the day that you were a coward Kyle. And I know you're lying. This is all about Max and how you can't give up this crazy delusion that Tess loves him. How can she love him? She doesn't even know him! It's YOU she knows...it's YOU she loves. You're her best friend!"
Kyle had turned away. Liz could tell that he was trying to hide the fact that he was about to cry. She had never seen her friend in so much pain. Somehow Kyle had become lost on the great adventure that the eight of them were entangled in together. How had they lost him?
"Kyle, please don't shut us out." Liz had pleaded, ready to burst into tears herself.
"I have to Liz. Please just go. Leave me alone."
"I'm not leaving you." Liz had replied stubbornly, placing her hand on his back in comfort.
She HAD started to cry when he flinched away from her. "Then I'll leave. And please don't talk to me about this again. I have to move on."
Liz had almost run after him, had almost gone screaming down the school hallway after him....
But she had been weak that day. She had let him go.
He had never come back.
Kyle had returned to being Mr. Popularity, had not spoken to any of them since. He dated Vicky, played basketball, played baseball....he had left them. His facade of normalcy was so good, Liz almost believed it. But she knew better.
Liz knew that they would see Kyle at the Prom that night, that he would be there with Vicky...but they had become used to it...it was unlikely that any of them would exchange two words with Kyle.
And that was the worst part. They had become used to letting their friend shut them out of his life.
The decision to go to the Prom had not been taken lightly. No one had been comfortable with the idea, feeling like they were being petty and selfish by wanting to enjoy one of the rites of passage of high school.
It had been Maria who had finally decided for all of them.
Liz knew that Maria spent most of her free time at the transformation chamber with Jennetta, waiting desperately for her daughter to emerge from her pod. She had seen Maria gradually accepting over the long months of the transformation that she was not going to get see her daughter grow up.
Somewhere, somehow, over the last month, Maria had achieved an epiphany.
She had appeared at Liz's bedroom door at midnight a few weeks before. She had been soaking wet and had looked embarrassed to be there, especially when she saw that Max had fallen asleep on Liz's bed. He was so exhausted all the time, Liz had just decided to let him sleep for a while before waking him in a way that would be pleasant for both of them and then sending him home.
"I'm sorry. I'll come back tomorrow." Maria had said. But she had seemed relieved when Liz had grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the Parker's kitchen.
"What's wrong? Is it Jennetta?" Liz had demanded, going immediately to the freezer and pulling out the ice cream.
"No." Maria had replied. "Well, sort of..." Tears had welled up in Maria's eyes, causing Liz to set the carton of ice cream down in order to put her arm around her friend.
"Maria! What's wrong?" Liz had been able to tell that her friend was undergoing an internal struggle of some sort...like she was trying to hold back what she really wanted to say.
And then the dam had burst.
"I want to go to the prom!!!!" Maria had wailed. "I'm a horrible person! My daughter is in a pod and is going to be older than I am when she gets out and I want to go to the prom!" Maria had grabbed Liz by the shoulders, staring at her. "Tell me I'm a horrible person. I know I am!"
Liz had felt her heart go out to her best friend. "You're not a horrible person Maria. It's only natural that you'd want to do something normal teenagers do. I mean, we didn't go last year because Max was gone..." Liz had trailed off, briefly remembering how horrible that had been. "How did this happen?" Liz had asked, wanting to erase that awful memory.
"I was at the transformation chamber with Ren. He was walking me to my car. When we got outside, we were both surprised to see that it was pouring...it was raining so hard that the entrance to the complex was flooded. Liz, I fell into the puddle! I didn't see it and I fell in."
Liz had raised an eyebrow. "Well, I can see that you're wet. But what does this have to do with the prom?"
"I'm getting there." Maria had replied, sounding more like her old Maria self than she had in a long time. She was babbling in a way that Liz had never thought that she would hear again. "So anyway, I fell in and just sat there staring up at Ren. And then you'll never believe what happened Lizzie! He laughed! That stone-faced alien actually laughed at me!"
Liz had swallowed, trying hard not to laugh herself at the complete astonishment in Maria's voice. "Okay?" She had waved her hand in front of her, prompting Maria to continue.
"Anyway, I just stared at him more and then I started to laugh. I laughed Liz. I haven't laughed in so long...I mean REALLY laughed." Maria had looked so guilty, Liz had reached out to hug her. "And it felt SOOOO good."
"I'm glad you laughed." Liz had told her seriously. "Jennetta doesn't want you and Michael putting your lives on hold. She told Isabel that."
"But I didn't believe her Liz!" Maria had exclaimed. "And even if I did, I certainly wasn't going to listen to her. I'm her mother! I know better than she does..." She had trailed off, looking astonished again. "But then I realized - I don't know better than she does! I'm eighteen years old Liz! I've spent maybe a total of a month with my daughter. I'm a kid!"
Liz had felt sad for a moment. "We're all kids Maria. We've all had to deal with so much stuff kids should never have to deal with."
"And it's not fair." Maria had replied. "And I think we've done a pretty decent job up until now in spite of that..." She had pursed her lips. "And I want to go to the prom! I want to have pictures to show my grandchildren of when I was young. Of course, at the rate I'm going I'm likely to have grandchildren by the time I'm twenty, but that's another story! I want to go to the prom!"
Liz had smiled, her love for Maria increasing tenfold. Her friend was finally dealing with her own wants and needs for once. It was about time. Maria had put up with enough crap to fill three life-times. "So we'll go." Liz had told her quietly.
And so they were going. All of them.
Except Tess, which was why, despite all their attempts to have at least one night just for THEM, a night that was just about them, about being young and carefree and HUMAN...something was still off.
Max and Liz had tried to convince her to come with them, but she had just raised an eyebrow and said "Yeah right."
Michael had tried ordering her to go with he and Maria. Again she had just stared him down. Liz had never seen Michael cower like that before. Tess had her brother wrapped around her finger by now. Even the thought that she might get mad at him had made him back down almost as quickly as he had tried to "convince" her.
Isabel had even secretly tried to find Tess a date, but when Tess had found out, her fury had been so scary, even Isabel had left well enough alone.
It had been to Liz that she had told the truth.
"I won't go with anyone but Kyle. And I won't go to see him there with someone else."
And so the night wasn't perfect. But it was pretty close - or as close as they had come in a long time.
Liz should have known that it couldn't last.
Part 58
Kyle managed to plaster a smile on his face as he and Vicky posed for the photographer. It was a complete sham, trying to pretend that he was having a good time, that he wanted to be there, that he wanted to be with Vicky. But then, his entire life was a sham, so it wasn't like anything was new.
"C'mon Kyle! Let's dance!" Vicky grabbed him by the hand, pulling him out onto the dance floor, which was currently packed with gyrating high school seniors. Kyle rolled his eyes. This was the absolutely last place he wanted to be but throwing himself lock, stock and barrel back into jock-land unfortunately meant that the prom was a social obligation.
He couldn't believe he was actually concerned about frigging social obligations.
And they were actually playing that Vitamin C song - the one about graduation and about being friends forever.
He wanted to kill himself.
He was definitely losing it. Not that this came as any sort of surprise. He had been losing it for a long time - since the day he had admitted to himself that he loved Tess and that she was never going to love him back.
Kyle missed her. He missed them all.
He missed Liz, the understanding friend he had found in her whenever they talked. He had always loved Liz, always would. She was completely above him in every way, but she loved him too and he knew it when he was with her. She was the only true friend he had ever had.
He missed Maria - her craziness and her love of life, although there hadn't been much of that over the last few months. He missed Alex, even if he did used to torture him by making him listen to all his new songs. He missed Isabel's snootiness, which hid a sharply wicked sense of humour. He missed Guerin's grumpiness
Finally, and, yes, Kyle had to admit it to himself, he even missed King Max. He had always been able to tell that there was something apart about Max Evans, and while it had often pissed him off, he had always admired the guy, even wanted to be like him. It wasn't Max's fault that he had everything Kyle had ever wanted.
Of course, Kyle had seen them all at school over the few months since he had made his break from them. It wasn't like they had fallen off the face of the planet just because he wished they would, wished that they would stop flaunting what he had once had with them in his face. He would see Liz and Max sitting quietly together in the quad, completely wrapped up in each other as they always were when they were alone, would see Liz and Maria and Alex laughing together in the computer lab, would see Michael and Max having one of their intense - read argumentative- conversations in the parking lot, would see Isabel and Liz studying in the library...
And needless to say, SHE was even MORE everywhere then the rest of them.
He would turn one way and she would be walking down the hall-way with Michael and Maria, trying to mediate their bickering. He would turn another way and she was talking intently to Liz on the front steps of the school. But he saw her most often with Max, as though they were deliberately trying to torture him. She and Max seemed to be the best of friends these days.
Tess Harding was haunting him.
She knew she was doing it too. They had gone back to the game of her staring at him all the time - in class, in the hall-way, if he saw her on the street. Even when she had no idea he was in the room, her blue eyes were always on him, penetrating him, looking hurt, making him feel guilty.
She was going to drive him crazy.
At least he knew for a fact that she wouldn't be there tonight. He would be able to get through this damn prom without having to watch Tess with whatever bohunk she brought. Kyle knew that it was unlikely that any of them would come. He was sure that they would have decided that it would just be weird, what with all the crap they were constantly dealing with.
Kyle often wished that he knew for sure that they were all right - that Jennetta was okay. He knew that Max kept in touch with his dad, but that the Sheriff was even more out of the loop than he had been since Max's disappearance. Max was trying to distance his dad, didn't want to put him in danger. Kyle knew it, but it was still annoying that that one venue of information had completely dried up.
He knew that his dad was worried about him. Kyle even thought he might have mentioned how worried he was to Amy Deluca since she always asked him if he had talked to Maria lately. It was ironic that as Kyle cut himself off from Amy's daughter and her friends, Amy and Kyle's dad seemed to be growing closer and closer. It was bloody typical. If he wasn't seeing one of THEM, he was seeing their parents.
Kyle felt Vicky put her arms around his neck. Tuning back into what was going on around him, he realized that a slow song was beginning to play. He put his arms around his unwanted girlfriend's waist, sighing. It wasn't that he didn't like Vicky - he did - but unfortunately his heart didn't belong to him anymore. He didn't have it to give to anyone else. Nothing had changed. Even if he never spoke directly to Tess again, she had him.
But at least he didn't have to see her tonight...didn't have to see any of them.
Of course, it was just as this thought was running through his head that Vicky suddenly said, "Hey! There's Liz! She looks great!"
Kyle's head whipped around despite himself, his heart in his throat.
Liz was standing in the entrance to the gym with Max. She looked beautiful just as Vicky had said. Her dark hair fell around her face in those ringlets that she sometimes wore, the ones that made her look like some Renaissance goddess come to life. Her dress was light pink and fairly simple, but it emphasized the complete naturalness of Liz Parker's beauty. And since she happened to be talking to Max at the moment, her entire being seemed to radiate with some weird sort of energy that lit up the entire room around her. Kyle didn't blame Evans at all when he suddenly pulled Liz close to him, kissing her lightly on the forehead. While Kyle loved Tess, he could still remember the time when Liz had been everything that was perfect to him. Looking at her tonight reminded him even more strongly.
At the thought of Tess, Kyle felt his heart drop to his toes. He scanned the group coming in behind Max and Liz. First Isabel and Alex, Isabel drop-dead gorgeous as usual, Alex looking absurd and yet completely comfortable in a powder blue tuxedo. They were followed by Maria, who had already started to drag Michael towards the photographer. Michael was tugging at his tie, looking like he was about to strangle. He must have muttered something to Max as he passed him, because Max grinned and Liz scowled at him.
Kyle's heart began to beat at a more normal pace when he realized that Tess was nowhere to be seen.
"We should go say hi!" Vicky said suddenly, following his gaze.
"NO!" Kyle said too quickly. Vicky stared at him, her blue eyes confused.
"I thought they were your friends."
"Vicky, have you seen me with them at all since we started dating?" Kyle demanded, annoyed at himself for using such a mean tone. "I'm not friends with them anymore." He continued in a gentler voice.
Vicky frowned slightly. "Well, okay, I guess."
"Let's dance." Kyle decided that changing the subject was the best possible solution to the awkward silence that had suddenly sprung up between them. Vicky allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor.
Kyle did his best not to look at any of them, but this didn't mean that he wasn't aware of the exact moment that Liz became aware of him.
She and Max were standing near the punch bowl, watching the dance floor, where Alex and Isabel were already cutting a rug, Alex dipping Isabel all over the place, to the point that she was practically in hysterics.
Liz's eyes seemed to light up the minute they met his across the crowd. He saw her say something in Max's ear and then she was on her way over.
Oh hell.
He had not actually conversed with Liz since that horrible scene in the Eraser Room a few months ago - the time he had actually cried. They had said hi in the halls, but Liz had seemed at a loss about how to deal with him. It was clear that she wanted to but that she didn't know what to say to him. He knew that she thought he was an insane imbecile, that she thought that Tess loved him, that she was sure that there was nothing going on between Tess and Max, knew that she was frustrated that he couldn't say that he felt the same.
And so the fact that she was actually approaching him was a surprise - and yet not. This was Liz after all, Miss "I'll never give up on my friends" Parker. She had practically brought Max back from Illyria with the strength of her will alone.
"Hi guys!" Liz said, her voice friendly, but with a vein of steel running through it. There was no way Kyle was avoiding this confrontation.
Vicky turned, smiled. Kyle knew that she genuinely liked Liz. Why did the girl have to be so darn friendly to everyone? Why couldn't he have picked one of Pam Troy's mean robots to date? But then he hadn't wanted to completely torture himself...
"Hi Liz!" Vicky said brightly. "You look beautiful!"
Liz smiled her kind smile, the one that made Kyle know that he was in real trouble. "You too Vicky." She turned to Kyle, her eyes determined. "Do you mind if I cut in?"
Vicky smiled again. "Not at all. I need to go powder my nose anyway." Vicky kissed him lightly on the cheek before deserting him with the one person who was capable of getting past his resolve.
He was dead meat.
Kyle sighed when another slow song came on. Liz raised an eyebrow at him, grabbed his hands and practically forced him to put his arms around her. "Well?" She asked after they had danced for several moments in tense silence.
"Well what?" Kyle knew he was being a belligerent idiot, but he had to protect himself somehow.
"Are you ever going to let us in again?" Kyle stared down at her. Liz's eyes were filling with tears. Oh man, she had brought out the big guns early.
"Liz..." Kyle felt completely helpless.
"We miss you Kyle. All of us." Liz said significantly. Kyle knew she was talking about Tess.
And then he was mad. "I haven't seen much evidence that ANYONE misses me." Kyle snapped. "The Queen of Illyria seems to be doing her best NOT to address me in any situation. All she does is stare at me."
Liz flinched slightly at his tone. "She's scared you're going to reject her again."
Kyle scowled. "This is really unfriggingbelievable Liz! I never rejected Tess! She was the one who told me that she didn't care when I told her I loved her."
Liz was staring at him steadily. "But the two times she tried to talk to you, you either got distracted or you refused to listen to her."
Kyle was almost seeing red he was so angry. He knew deep down that it was at himself, but Liz, unfortunately was a convenient target. "How many times do I have to tell you that I want nothing to do with any of you Liz? But especially with her! Why can't you leave me alone?"
Liz didn't seem upset at all by his tone of voice. "Because I love you. You are one of us. We will always be here for you. Especially Tess. Do you know she's not here tonight because she wouldn't come with anyone who WASN'T you? Those were her exact words Kyle. If you can't get it through your thick skull that Tess loves you, well then I guess you don't deserve her." Liz pulled away from him. Kyle stood frozen in the middle of the dance floor staring after her as she stalked away.
He didn't deserve her...
They were the exact words he had said to Tess all those months ago - in the transformation chamber on the day that Jennetta had gone into the pod. He had told her that running away from the others when they needed her meant that she didn't deserve to have them.
He WAS a complete moron.
He needed air. Quickly.
Kyle stumbled to the nearest entrance and managed to smash into the person coming in. He reached out to steady the girl, mumbled an apology.
And then he realized who it was. Tess Harding was staring at him, her blue eyes unreadable.
Kyle's heart stopped. "What are you doing here?" He managed to croak. He realized that his hands were still clutching her silky, bare shoulders. Her gold dress was sleeveless, clinging to every single curve she possessed, her blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders in that tousled way that always made her look like she had just climbed out of bed. Kyle dropped his hands immediately.
"You know exactly why I'm here." Tess replied. Kyle was staring at her glossy lips. He was beginning to get dizzy. "I've come for you. And you're not going to escape me again."
He was DEFINITELY dead-meat.
*********************************************************************
Love of my life
I don't have a lot to give you
What's in my heart is all that I can really give you
Love, undying love is all I have
A handful of words that might make you laugh
And all the strength you need
To make it through all your troubled times
I give all of myself to you
Only you
My dream come true...
Love of my life
You were all I ever wanted
To be with you
Was all I ever really wanted
You, you've made my life a fairy-tale
You've added love to a life that was so stale
And know that I'll be here
Always for you
When you need a friend
I give all of myself to you
Only you
My dream come true.
I've been waiting my whole life for you
Now my waiting is through
All the nights I spent dreaming I knew
That my dream would come true...
So many nights
I lay awake dreaming I knew
One day I'd be with you
Now all my nights of dreaming are through
'Cause my dream has come true.
Frozen Ghost
Max watched Liz stomp away from Kyle, her expression furious. He could tell that she was trying to hide how angry and upset she was, but he KNEW her.
She came and stood beside him, her arms crossed, clearly still fuming.
"I take it that didn't go well." Max asked unnecessarily, reaching out and pulling her against him.
"I don't want to talk about it." Liz replied. "He's a completely blind fool. I give up."
Max kissed her on the temple lightly. "Right."
Liz pulled back, glared up at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just like you gave up on bringing ME back from Illyria?" Max raised an eyebrow. Liz scowled at him, but Max could tell that she was beginning to calm down.
"You can be really annoying, you know that?" She finally asked, a look of resignation appearing on her face.
"You can't fix everything all the time Liz." Max told her, running his hands up her arms. He felt her shiver slightly. She began to relax, her eyes glowing in that way that was reserved solely for him, in that way that made him thank his lucky stars ten times a day.
She was so incredibly beautiful, it sometimes still took Max's breath away. And he wasn't just talking about on the outside, although that went without saying. When Max had first laid eyes on her earlier that night, he had literally wanted to sweep her off her feet in order to lock them both in her bedroom, not to emerge until the next morning. He had managed to restrain himself, however, but only because he was looking forward to holding her against him while they danced at the prom. He hadn't danced with her properly since their first date. Since that had been one of the most incredible experiences of his life, he had definitely been looking forward to a repeat of that magical feeling tonight.
And yet, Max knew without a shadow of a doubt, that it wasn't Liz's exterior beauty that made him want to bind her to him forever. He had seen her soul, knew it for the spectacular thing that it was. She was so good and kind and intelligent. She was his angel, his soulmate. She always would be.
They still hadn't figured out what the heck that book she and Tess had found in the alien library meant, but Max didn't really care. He didn't need a book to tell him what he already knew. Liz completed him - she was the other half of his whole, his dream come true.
"I just want them all to be as happy as you've made me." Liz was telling him. Her hands were snaking up around his neck. It was his turn to shiver.
"And they might be Liz." Max replied, "But you can't force it. If it's meant to be, it will be."
"What happened to 'we make our own destiny?'" Liz asked, her eyes laughing up at him.
"Well, since I've already made mine," Max replied jokingly, "I've decided to move on to a new catchphrase."
"Really?" Liz's eyes darkened with love. "Well Mr. Destiny-Expert, let's say we show these amateurs what real destiny is about." A slow song was beginning again. Max allowed himself to be pulled out among the swaying couples. He wished momentarily that they were alone on Liz's balcony, under the stars. Now that would be PERFECT.
And yet, he certainly was not complaining as Liz came into his arms, her body warm and inviting.
Making your own destiny was the best.
Part 59 - Conclusion
Tess tried to ignore the scowl on Kyle's face as he stared down at her. She had promised herself that she was going to say what she had to say to him and that was final. If he turned away from her after that she would leave him alone forever. But she couldn't go on being a coward, avoiding the confrontation that HAD to happen between them.
She had almost convinced herself that she could avoid it. She had told the others many times that she wasn't coming to the Prom, that she wouldn't go and see Kyle with another girl. She had even told Liz and Isabel that she was looking forward to a night at home, that she just wanted to watch T.V. and paint her toe-nails. She had been able to tell that they hadn't believed her, but that they had decided to let it go. It was clear to both of her friends that there was no convincing her.
Of course, Michael had not given up as easily.
While Tess was pleased that he had accepted her offer to move into the empty Harding house with her after the forging of their bond on D-Day, it was slightly irritating to have a brother constantly watching over her. The closer they became, the more protective HE became, and although he technically wasn't older than her in THIS life-time, he still had an annoying tendency to act like the older sibling.
She had been sure that she had finally bullied him into submissively leaving her alone for the night when he had come down the stairs in his tuxedo. She had frowned at him, annoyed to see a silky gold dress draped over his arm.
"What is that?" She demanded.
"Maria bought it. She said it would fit you. Put it on." He ordered her. "I'm not letting you sit at home alone the night of your prom. I'm not going to have any fun thinking about you sitting here pouting and if I don't have fun, Maria won't have fun, and Maria WILL be having fun tonight. Valenti's an idiot and doesn't deserve you."
"Don't say that about him!" Tess had said, anger instantly flaring. "He's had a lot to deal with!"
Michael just raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah. Gee. We should be REALLY sorry that we're aliens, that Max saved his life, that you love him. Excuse me if I don't feel his pain."
"Michael."
"Get dressed Tess. I'll be back to pick you up in an hour."
"I don't have a date! I'm not going without a date!" Tess had pleaded desperately.
"You'll find a date." Michael had replied dismissively. "Maxwell is waiting for me. We'll be back in an hour."
And he had left, slamming the door behind him. Tess had clenched her fists, screeched in frustration.
But she had gotten dressed. She had known that Michael would just drag her to the dance in her pyjamas if she didn't.
When she had finished doing her hair and her make-up, she had stared at herself in the mirror for a long time.
She was a coward. She knew it, knew it was the real reason that she hadn't wanted to go to the prom. She had let Kyle run away from her in the transformation chamber, hadn't tried to sort out the problem. She had wanted Liz to fix everything for her, had given up when it hadn't worked. She had decided to MAKE Kyle come to her. She had known what she was doing to him, staring at him, making sure that she turned up everywhere he was bound to be.
She had been torturing him, daring him NOT to be with her.
And it was all because SHE was the coward, was scared he would reject her again. But she couldn't go on like this. She loved him. And if he was going to reject her again, well this time it would be on her terms. He would have to do it with the proof of her love for him staring him directly in the face. She wouldn't let him hide behind his jealousy of Max Evans.
This had nothing to do with Max. It had everything to do with Kyle Valenti and Tess Harding and the fact that they were both scared to death of what it would mean if they actually let this go somewhere. There would be no more excuses. THEY would be responsible if things got screwed up, they would be responsible for making their own happiness.
And so she had been waiting when Michael and Maria had come to pick her up.
She had almost lost her nerve when they had arrived at the school. It was going to be hard to walk into that gym all alone. They had been running late as it was, having fallen behind Max, Liz, Isabel and Alex in the Jeep. Maria had been hauling Michael by the arm, trying to catch up. Everyone was going to be in there, watching the door, watching her come in alone...
Tess had felt her heart speed up nervously. She had paused on the front steps to calm herself. She had sat down, careful not to muss her dress, had stared up at the stars for several long minutes. The "V" constellation, the one that sheltered their home world, had winked down at her, almost daring her to go through with this.
She knew that they were never going back there. Her life there was over. She had been Max's wife in another life-time, but that was not her life anymore. She was Tess Harding, not Sabrya of Dernia - and Tess Harding wanted Kyle Valenti. It was simple as that.
Tess had decided to go in through a side door, hoping that she could slip in unnoticed and find Kyle. She hoped that she would be able to scope out the situation first. She felt bad that Vicky Delaney was going to get caught in the middle of this situation, but Tess admitted to herself that there were only seven people on this planet that she really cared about...well, nine if you counted Jennetta and Ren. She knew what she wanted and she had to go for it. Kyle had the right to make an informed decision.
And so she had been mildly surprised to find herself stumbling into Kyle's arms the moment she walked into the gym. He had momentarily looked like he was seeing a ghost. His face was white and he actually looked a little sick.
Her heart began to thump a mile a minute. She couldn't do it! She wasn't ready!
The shock in his voice managed to make her focus. "What are you doing here?" She felt him clutch gently at her bare shoulders. It sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed. He dropped his hands quickly, like he had been burned.
"You know exactly why I'm here." Tess replied, relieved that she sounded more confident than she felt. "I've come for you. And you're not going to escape me again."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kyle demanded, clearly quickly regaining his senses. He looked beyond her. "Are you here alone? Liz said you weren't coming!" He sounded astounded that Liz might have lied to him.
"She doesn't know I'm here. I was with Michael and Maria." Tess replied, licking her lips. She smiled slightly to herself as Kyle's eyes seemed to become glued to her mouth. He began to blink rapidly, as though he was about to pass out. She frowned slightly. "Kyle? Are you okay?"
He brought a hand up to his temple, rubbed. "I don't think so. I was on my way out for some air."
"Good." Tess said quickly. "We need to talk - privately."
Kyle stared at her. "Why?"
"Because I have things to say to you - things you haven't let me say. I'm tired of running Kyle." She reached out and touched his cheek. "I'm so tired. And I think you are too. I just want..."
She was interrupted suddenly. "Kyle!" Tess recognized the voice immediately. It was Vicky Delaney.
Kyle whirled guiltily.
Vicky was standing nearby, watching them, her face completely lacking in suspicion. "There you are!" She exclaimed. "Hi Tess! I didn't know you were here. You look beautiful." Tess wondered why SHE suddenly felt guilty. Why couldn't Pam Troy still have been around for Kyle to date? Tess would have enjoyed having Kyle dump HER unceremoniously. Why did Vicky have to be so darn NICE?
"Thanks Vicky." She managed to reply. "So do you." And she did, damn her.
Vicky moved up next to Kyle, linked her arm through his. "I just talked to Sandy. She said they're announcing the king and queen soon. We better go back in."
Kyle just nodded mechanically, still staring at Tess. He looked like he had been hit by a truck.
"I'll wait for you." She mouthed after him. He nodded again.
Tess followed Vicky and Kyle into the gym. She could see Max and Liz dancing nearby, completely in their own world as usual. She scanned the room, sighed in relief when her eyes lit on Michael, Maria, Alex and Isabel sitting at a table to her left. Maria was sitting on Michael's lap, wrinkling her nose as Alex pulled a bottle of Tabasco sauce out of his powder blue tux jacket, dolloping Isabel's chocolate cake liberally.
"Why don't you carry Tabasco in YOUR purse?" Michael was asking as Tess came up to them. "What kind of girlfriend are you?"
"The best you'll ever get Spaceboy." Maria replied, smacking him lightly on the head. It pleased Tess to see her brother and Maria teasing each other again. They had been in a state of stupor for so many months now. While there was still always an underlying note of sadness in their demeanor, they were finally trying to live again, at least a little bit.
"Ah! Lady Tess!" Alex stood up, bowing her into his chair. "You look divine."
"I'm sorry I can't say the same." Tess replied, smiling despite herself at Alex's hideous ensemble.
"You came!" Isabel stared at her, her expression gradually melting into a smile. As quickly as the smile appeared, it faded, as Isabel's eyes began to scan the crowd.
"I've already seen him." Tess reassured her friend. "It's okay." Tess saw Isabel and Maria exchange a look. "Really you guys! It's okay."
At that moment, a drum-roll began and a spotlight focused on the stage at the far end of the gym. Coach Clay, looking ludicrous in a tuxedo about ten times too small for his roly-poly frame, accompanied by Ms. Hardy, climbed onto the stage. They had a pair of envelopes in their hands.
"Prom King and Queen!" Isabel rolled her eyes. "Really! How immature are we?" Tess and Maria exchanged an amused glance, both appreciating the fact of how much Isabel had changed. The old Isabel would have been sitting on the edge of her seat in anticipation of being called up on stage, her acceptance speech already planned out in her perfectly coifed head.
It was absolutely no surprise to Tess when Kyle and Pam's names were read off as the King and Queen. Tess smiled slightly to herself at the completely annoyed expression on Kyle's face as Ms. Hardy placed the fake crown on his head. He reached up quickly and pulled it off.
She wasn't worried, Tess assured herself. She had made her move. She had seen the look on Kyle's face. She just had to wait for him to come to her. Vicky deserved to enjoy her moment, even to enjoy the whole evening. Tess could wait.
She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, tried to forget that Kyle hadn't really said anything at all reassuring during their brief conversation, tried to forget that SHE hadn't really said anything to him at all.
Tess was watching Kyle dance with Vicky moments later, a slight pang of jealousy beginning to hit her when suddenly a cell phone ringing caught her attention.
It was Isabel's. Her purse was sitting on the table in front of her. The five of them all turned to stare at it.
"Well, answer it!" Michael finally snapped. "Why are you acting like you've never heard a phone ring before?"
It was at that moment that Tess noticed the expression on Isabel's face. Her friend was swallowing convulsively, her visage completely white. "Alex!" Tess grabbed for Isabel's purse. "Catch her! I think she's having a vision!"
Alex just managed to catch Isabel before she went toppling out of her chair. Maria and Michael had both jumped to their feet. Tess barely noticed that Max and Liz had come running up, Max instantly on his knees in front of his sister. Alex was gently slapping Isabel's cheeks as Tess answered the phone, expecting to hear Mrs. Evans' voice.
"Hello?"
"Who is this?" The voice was familiar. Ren! Tess' eyes widened.
"It's Tess. What's wrong? Is Jennetta okay?" Tess waved Michael away as he made a grab for the phone. She could see that Isabel was just beginning to come out of her trance. She was shrugging away from Max and Alex, wanting to be solitary as was usually the case after something like this had happened.
"She's fine." Ren snapped. "Let me speak to his Highness."
Tess felt a flash of irritation. "This is your Queen." She snapped back.
"Not anymore." Ren replied, sounding a little more calm. "Please let me speak to the King Tess."
Tess rolled her eyes, handed the phone over to Max. "It's Ren."
Max turned away, covering his other ear as he tried to talk to Jennetta's bodyguard. The music had picked up again, the pounding beat ringing in Tess' ears.
"I think we should get Isabel out of here." Alex was saying. He scowled slightly when Michael pushed him aside, sweeping Isabel up into his arms. "Hey!"
"Get the door." Michael ordered. Tess looked around uncomfortably. People were beginning to stare at them. Couldn't Michael ever think before he acted?
Alex just rolled his eyes, hurried ahead to get the door. It wasn't until they were in the parking lot that anyone thought to ask Max what Ren had wanted.
Max was standing quietly near the Jeep, his arm around Liz, a strange expression on his face.
"Maxwell! What's going on?" Michael demanded, clearly remembering about Ren now that Isabel was safe.
"I know." Isabel said quietly. She was looking at Max steadily. "Jennetta is about to be born."
Maria shrieked. "WHAT???? Why did he ask to speak to you?" She grabbed Max by the lapels, shaking him. "What's wrong with her? What bad news does he want you to break to us gently?" Tess looked at Michael, could see that her brother looked ill.
"Maria!" Max managed to grab her hands, lower them to her sides. "She's fine! The pod is preparing to let her break out. We need to get out there fast." Tess saw the look on Max's face though. There was still something he wasn't telling them.
Of course Liz knew it too. "Max, what is it?" She asked quietly.
"I know THAT too." Isabel broke in, her voice still little more than a whisper. "Tarsus has taken the Citadel."
They all stared at each other in shock. The silence was deafening.
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It seemed to take forever to drive out to the transformation chamber.
At the best of times it took close to a half and hour. Now that they wanted to be there immediately, it felt like three hundred years.
Michael thought he was going to lose his mind before Max finally slammed the brakes on the Jeep, screeching the car to a stop near the boulder that hid his and Maria's entire world. He had long since discarded his jacket and tie, feeling like he was strangling.
Their daughter.
Jennetta was coming back to them. But she was going to be entirely different. She was going to be older than him for Christ's sake!
Michael felt the pang of despair that had been a familiar friend over the past eight months, since the day his little girl had left them.
Stop it! He ordered himself sternly. You need to be strong for Maria. And you can't let Jennetta see you like this. She has to know that you still love her, that you still want her.
The ludicrousness of the entire situation was not lost on Michael Guerin, however. Not for the first time he wanted to laugh his head off that his life should have turned out thus. All he had ever wanted was a family - and then when he finally had his chance, it was taken away from him.
And yet he knew that it hadn't been.
He thanked his stars everyday that he had his friends. It had taken losing Jennetta to make him realize that he wasn't alone, that his family was made up of his six closest friends.
The seven of them practically sprinted down the corridor to the transformation chamber after Max had activated the lights. The girls had all removed their heels, although Maria did go careening into a stone wall at one point when she slid on her stockinged feet.
And yet, without a word, of one accord, they all stopped abruptly at the spot where the entrance to the transformation chamber lay.
Max's eyes met Michael's seriously. He looked at all of them closely before saying. "Are you all ready for this? Nothing is going to be the same again."
Michael swallowed. Truer words had never been spoken. Well, of course, they HAD been spoken, MANY times before. It was the price of being a teenage alien. But this time - well, it was REALLY true.
Everyone was nodding. Michael saw Liz reach out to take Max's hand. She looked scared. He reached for Maria.
"Let us go first." He said quietly. The others all nodded again. Michael felt Tess take his other hand, squeezing it reassuringly, then letting it drop.
Michael lifted his hand, swiped it across the wall, swallowed as the familiar silver handprint glowed out at him. He took a deep breath, placed his palm squarely upon it, watched the wall swing away.
But, in the end, of course, as was always his luck, they were too late.
Ren had his back to them as they entered. He was bent over something lying on the cot Max had had brought in for the shapeshifter many months before.
Or someone, rather.
Michael felt Maria squeeze his hand. When he looked down at her, she was indicating the empty, dark pod nearby. The one Jennetta had occupied for so many months.
Michael closed his eyes briefly. He knew what she looked like, had seen her earlier that day, floating peacefully, a little girl no longer.
And yet he was still shocked when he opened his eyes and saw her.
Ren was helping her to her feet, although he did not look pleased to be doing so. "You should be resting Your Highness."
"Nine months seems like long enough to sleep." Her voice was smoky, no trace of the little girl she had been in its tone. Michael realized that she was staring at Maria, felt his own heart stop when her dark eyes shifted to him.
"Jennetta." Maria sounded like she was about to burst into tears. And yet she didn't move. She seemed glued to the floor. Michael understood perfectly, considering he felt exactly the same way.
She was taller than he would have expected, as tall as Isabel for certain. Her floor length white robe only emphasized her height. It made her resemblance to Maria even more shocking, the fact that she was so much taller than her mother. Their faces were practically a matched pair.
But he saw himself in her eyes.
She was not moving, just watching them carefully. Slowly a smile began to appear on her face. "Hello." She paused, laughed quietly. "I don't know what to call you." She admitted finally. "Mother and Father seems slightly absurd now."
At that, Maria began to cry in earnest. Michael saw the expression of distress that crossed Jennetta's face. "I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, hurrying towards them, Ren staying close to her, looking extremely frustrated. And then Jennetta was hugging Maria, as Maria continued to sob. "Mother, please!" She sounded flustered, sounded exactly how Michael felt when he didn't know how to comfort his girlfriend.
And then Maria was speaking, babbling actually. "My baby! I'm so glad that you're okay!" Michael blinked. It was then that he realized that Maria was LAUGHING.
He closed his eyes again, snorted. "Will the insanity EVER end?" He muttered to himself.
He had not intended anyone to hear him. But Jennetta did. She looked at him over Maria's shoulder, reached out her hand to bring him closer. "It will end. I promise."
Michael saw his eyes move past him. He could hear the others entering the chamber, although he could tell they were trying to be quiet.
"Jaxon!" Jennetta pulled away from Maria, threw herself into Max's arms. Michael managed to suppress the twinge of jealousy he felt. He knew that Jenny loved Max. It was all right. There was room for both of them in her heart.
Max pulled back, put his hands on her shoulders, scanning her face closely. "Are you okay?" He asked seriously, in his intense Max way.
Jennetta smiled sadly. "What was meant to be has happened." She replied. She turned to include the whole group. "I know that this has been difficult for all of you." She moved near Maria again, taking her mother's hand. Michael just shook his head. He wondered if he would ever get used to the absurdity of the fact that his daughter was now older than him.
Jennetta was still speaking. "And I'm afraid that its not over yet." She focused on Isabel, who was standing slightly behind Alex, clutching his hand. Michael frowned. Actually, she looked like she was HIDING behind Alex. "Mirana. I know that Mother has contacted you."
Isabel nodded reluctantly. "The Citadel has fallen to the Dernians." She paused. Michael looked back at Jennetta. His daughter was just gazing steadily at Izzy, her expression unreadable, as though she knew that Isabel was holding something back. Isabel licked her lips. "And the Ring has been claimed." She finally said in a great rush.
Michael heard Liz and Tess gasp, almost in unison.
Jennetta lifted her chin. "Which is why it is time to go back." She said without a moment's hesitation. "The prophecy is ready to be fulfilled. Illyria has entered its darkest days."
Michael swallowed, closed his eyes to avoid the tears that he felt collecting there.
So it was over already. She was lost to him. She was going back to Illyria.
"We are all needed." Michael's eyes snapped open. Jennetta was looking right at him, a slight smirk on her face. He realized that that smile looked VERY familiar. In fact Maria had used it on him only an hour before when he had teased her about the Tabasco sauce. "Did you really think I could do this alone?" She demanded, quirking an eyebrow at him.
Everyone stared at each other for several moments and then Alex spoke, breaking the silence.
"What DOES one pack for Illyria in the summertime?" He asked Isabel, stroking his chin pensively.
In spite of the fact that there was absolutely NOTHING funny about this situation, everyone burst out laughing.
In later years Michael would look back on that moment as the last one of their childhoods. For one brief shining moment he had felt the hope that had risen in that chamber. It was something pure, something strong.
Together they could do anything. They would free their planet and live happily ever after.
Of course, it didn't work out that way.
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Max groaned, pulled his pillow over his head. He did not want to open his eyes. Maybe if he ignored the phone, it would stop ringing.
He had been dreaming about Liz. It had been their wedding day and their happiness had been almost painful. All of their friends and family had been there, including his mother from Illyria and Jennetta and Ren. And, although all the trappings of the wedding had been traditional, down to Liz looking almost unbelievably beautiful in a long white dress, they had been in the Waylandian Ring, the one known as Lucianus bringing their palms together....
"Let this union heal the breach that exists. So it is written in the stars, so shall it be..." The old man was intoning when a piercing noise had suddenly interrupted the whole proceeding.
Dream Michael had rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Can't anything go right? Even in your dreams Maximillian?"
Max sighed, opened his eyes. He realized that someone was tapping on his bedroom door. "Max? Are you awake honey?"
"Coming Mom." Max glanced at the clock. He frowned slightly when he saw that it was only five-thirty in the morning. He opened his door, padded down the hallway, rubbing his face tiredly.
It had been close to three a.m. when Max had gotten home from dropping Liz off. They had made it back to the Crashdown by one, but, of course, Max had gone up to Liz's bedroom via his usual route over her balcony. Isabel had taken Jennetta home with her, the Evans being the only ones with any idea of who she was and what had been going on.
Max had felt strangely at peace as he lay on the chaise lounge waiting for Liz as she locked up downstairs. He had been staring up at the "V" constellation, almost excited to be going back there, to be taking care of his responsibilities to his home world once and for all.
After that he would be free. Free to live the life with Liz that was all he really wanted.
Of course, it wasn't going to be easy, but Max had no doubt that it was going to happen. Finally.
Liz had finally joined him, bringing the quilt off her bed. She had changed out of her prom dress and had pulled her hair into a pony-tail on top of her head. Max had known that wouldn't last long though. He had every intention of kissing her with her hair tumbling around his face in the way he loved.
She had curled up next to him, her head on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" She had finally asked quietly, after they had laid in companionable silence for quite a while.
"I'll show you." He had replied, bringing his lips to hers, sending her the flashes of exactly how wonderful their future was going to be together...it had been the perfect ending to an otherwise chaotic evening.
Max was in the front hallway before it dawned on him that it hadn't been the phone ringing that had awoken him at all. It had been the doorbell.
He frowned, felt a shiver of dread run down his spine as his mother turned to look at him, her eyes wide with horror. She was in her dressing gown, clutching it to her chest with tight fists.
The Sheriff was standing in the doorway, his hat in his hands. Max wondered why he was holding it like that - like he wanted to strangle it. The hat had totally lost all shape in the Sheriff's hands.
"Max." Max stared at him. The Sheriff NEVER called him Max. It was always MR. Evans. It was just his way.
"Sheriff?" Max looked at his mother again. He could see that she was starting to move towards him, her hand outstretched. "Mom?"
"Honey..." Diane paused, swallowed. Max heard his father and Isabel descending the stairs behind him.
"What's wrong?" Izzy asked, yawning. Max turned to look at his sister. Jennetta was standing on the stairs behind Isabel, her dark eyes wide.
Max turned back to the Sheriff. "What's wrong?" He saw Sheriff Valenti look at his mother, as though he didn't know what to say.
And then Max knew.
Something had happened to Liz.
The End (but not really! The third story in the trilogy, entitled "Union," coming soon!)