Chapter Nine

" He's so different from Nascedo " said Liz. She was lying with Max on her bed. She lay on her stomach with her face propped up on her hands, looking up at him. " He wouldn't even sit with us while we ate French Fries "

" Yeah he's a lot different, " said Max. He was holding himself up on with his elbow as he brushed her hair with his fingers. " Whenever Nascedo would talk to me he would make fun of my commands. When I talk to Thaman it's different. He seems more patient "

" He's the exact opposite of Nascedo. "

" He actually has some answers, " said Max. " I feel so inferior to him. He seems nobler than I do. How could I rule over a guy like him? "

" You must have been a great King if you still have the loyalty of someone like him "said Liz looking at him. Her eyes full of love and adoration " You're the reason why he's here you know. You, Michael, and Isabel "

" I don't want to disappoint him, but I'm also scared of him and what he can do "

" Max, you won't disappoint him. What do you mean you're scared of him? "

" He's still not half human like us. He may be like Nascedo and just kill people without any feeling. Did he say anything to you while you were alone? " asked Max resting his hand on her back.

" He did say something funny, " said Liz smiling to herself.

" What was it? " he said laying his head down on his arm still looking at her.

" He told me why I was the one he watched the most "

" What did he say? "

" He said it was because he had to protect the future queen " she said laughing. " Can you believe that? Me? Liz Parker Queen of anything "

Max just looked at her seriously. " He said that? " he asked

" Yeah " said Liz, she stopped laughing. " Why? "

" Nothing " said Max, his face changing. " It's just odd that he said that "

" I know " she said " He said you had chosen me or something like that "

" Liz? "

" Yes? " she said looking up at him again

" I'm going to marry you one day. You know that right? " He brought his hand up from her back and touched her cheek.

She stared at him blankly. She knew that in the other reality she did marry Max but she didn't really apply it to herself. That was a different universe.

" When you're ready, I'm going to marry you "

" I know you will, " she said pulling herself up and rubbing her nose against his. " But I want it at the Elvis Chapel "

" Whatever you want, " he said kissing her. They both laughed at the thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~

" You should get a good night's rest My lady, " said Thaman as he turned off the Jeep's engine.

" Will you stay with me again tonight? " she asked shyly.

" I do not think I need to tonight " he answered not looking at her.

" I think it would be good if you went to sleep yourself " she said taking off her seat belt, then she stopped " Where do you sleep? " she asked curiously.

" Wherever I can, " he said

She knew he was lying. He just didn't want to tell her in case she decided she wanted to visit him probably.

" Then you should sleep here, " she said in a commanding voice

Thaman looked at her.

" You can sleep in Max's room, " she said

Thaman just looked out the window.

" I don't know if Max will be home any time tonight. Michael will be with Maria and I won't have anybody "

Thaman thought it over quickly.

" Whatever you wish, " he said getting out of the car. When she walked up toward her front door he turned invisible again and walked through the door with her. She couldn't see him but she knew where he was when he walked, it was like she could just feel his presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~

" Do you really have to go home? " asked Maria pleading with Michael as he grabbed his jacket.

" I have to go get some sleep, " he said putting his jacket on. " Besides, your mom needs you right now and I don't think she'll appreciate me in your room "

Maria looked at the floor. She knew he was right but she wanted him there just the same.

" I'll see you tomorrow, " he said bringing her face up to his.

" Oh all right " she said " Good night "

" Bye " he said walking out the door.

" Oh that sweet boy " said Amy " He's just so great "

" Yeah, " said Maria as she sighed. " He is " little did her mom know what he risked to be with her right now. She turned towards her mom and they both started talking.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle Valenti was laying on the couch in the living room. He still couldn't go into his room. Since Tess had slept in there he didn't want to go in. He was used to the couch anyway. He couldn't believe that he was living with a killer in his house. How could she betray everyone like that? Just because what, she and that other freaky alien guy made a deal with whoever that enemy guy was. She was a good actress, he gave her that. She managed to mislead them for a whole year. His dad was a cop and he didn't suspect her. He was so frustrated with himself. He tossed on the couch and he looked at the clock. It was 3:00am oh God, I have to sleep. But I can't sleep, this whole Tess thing is really bugging me. He sighed aloud and sat down on the floor. He folded his legs and started breathing in and out. He needed to meditate now.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Valenti sat in his office at his desk. He was thinking about Sally Jenkins' body. She didn't seem hurt anywhere else but that mark on her chest. She had looked so terrified. She had found something and then someone killed her. What did she find? What was so special about the Pepper's Café? There had to be some kind of connection to it. Hubble's wife had been killed there when Nascedo was on the run. It had to have been Nascedo who did it. But was it really Nascedo who killed her? But this mark was a Red Triangle. The "aliens" he knew didn't leave a mark like that. What did this all mean? Someone, some other kind of alien is out there killing innocent people. They had to go back to the café to find out.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thaman sat up from the floor in Max's room. He didn't feel comfortable at all sleeping in this room. He could hear Isabel sleeping in the next room. Her soft breathing was relaxing him. He was thinking about Sally Jenkins. Why was she killed? The only person who would have a motive in killing her would be him. But nobody knew where he was. Nobody knew that he knew where the King was. He didn't think anyone would do that. It was illogical because all of the other aliens would know that the Royal Four had left earth. Their monitors would have told them that the ship had left Earth's atmosphere. It had to be Nicholas, there was no one else who would do something that desperate. Nicholas must be hiding something at the Pepper's Café. He would check it out with King Zan, Rath and Valenti. But wait a minute he said stopping himself. They have to figure it out themselves. He could only give them a little bit of guidance but he couldn't lead them, that was Zan's authority to do so. Even though he didn't know too much now he still had to learn through experience. He has to become the king that he was. Then his thoughts drifted, he thought about Isabel. Even though she didn't look like Vilandra, Vilandra was in her. He could tell from her eyes. She moved her eyes just as Vilandra had. He had to be very careful with Isabel. She knew his feelings and he didn't know what to expect from her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The heavenly bliss that surrounded Liz now that she had Max and he knew all her secrets once again. They were definitely making up for lost time. To finally feel complete and alive.

" How could I be any happier? " she said to herself. She sighed happily as she lay on her bed with Max beside her.

" Don't be too happy, " said a cynical voice.

She got up and saw a shadow figure just inside her room from the window. She couldn't see his face. His face was dark but she could see his outline.

" Who, who are you? " she said trying to make out his face.

" Someone you'll know " he answered " very well soon " he emphasized soon. His voice was so bone chilling and creepy.

" What do you want? " she cried

" You " he said

" Me? Wh, why? "

" So many questions. Haven't you figured it out yet? " he said sarcastically. " But I am coming Liz. I am coming for you "

" What? Why me? Who are you? " yelled Liz out loud.

" Liz, Liz " whispered Max as he rocked her in her arms. " Wake up Liz. "

Max heard her parents coming down the hallway. He quickly jumped off her bed, unlocked the door and dove into the bathroom just as they opened the door. Jeffrey Parker and his wife had run through the door.

" Lizzie " he cried running to her bed.

Liz looked up at him but couldn't see his face. " Max? " she asked

Her dad frowned. No Liz It's your dad "

Liz rubbed her eyes and blushed. " I was only dreaming, " she said

" Sounds more like a nightmare to me " remarked her dad

" Honey why are you still in your regular clothes? " asked her mother.

" I guess I was so tired. I just knocked out " said Liz getting up and walking over to her dresser.

" You ok Lizzie? "

" Yeah dad. It was just a bad dream " she said opening the drawer.

Her dad yawned as he got up from her bed." Ok honey, let's go back to bed " he said putting his arm around his wife's waist.

" Good night Lizzie " he said

" Good night dad, mom " she said watching them as they closed the door. Her parents smiled at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Something's different about her, " said his wife once they got back into their room.

" She's been like that for a long time now. She's just going through that teenage phase " he answered getting back into bed.

" No I know that Jeff, " she said laying beside him. " She has this glow on her face "

" Glow? She just had a nightmare honey " he said confused.

" Despite that, something else is going on "

" As long as she's fine, " he said " She's probably just in love "

" With Sean? "

Jeff looked at his wife. " Sean? I doubt it. She called me by that kid's name, Max. "

Max thought Nancy. Max was the boy that Liz was caught making out with last year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Michael lay on his couch looking at a picture of Maria. He wanted to stay on Earth with her and forget about his destiny. Destiny, he thought. What was destiny anyway? He thought about all the times he'd fought with Max about finding home and where they belonged. They had found out last summer. He was the second in command, he was going to marry Isabel and he was responsible for the fate of an entire race. He only accepted half of his destiny. He never thought about being with Isabel but having the power to change the fate of a whole race made him proud. But then he realized that what he wanted was to stay on Earth with Maria. She was his destiny now. How could he just leave her? They now shared something that he could never share with anyone else. He didn't want to risk his life and have her lose him. After all she had been through the least he could do is stay with her. But now that Thaman is here and things are getting weird again, he had no choice but to stick with his former destiny. He had to save his planet and come back to Earth. Only then would he really be with Maria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz slowly put on her PJs. She didn't remember seeing Max leave. She probably just fell asleep and he had decided to go home.

" I wish I could've said good night to him at least before he left " she thought. She sighed out loud. " Well Parker you should go brush your teeth and wash up " She walked over to her bathroom and turned on the lights.

" Max! " she yelped.

" Ssh " he said putting his finger to his mouth.

" Have you been in here long? "

" I heard your parents coming so I ran in here "

" They're gone now, don't worry " she said grabbing his arm.

" I wasn't sure " he looked relieved. " The last thing we need right now is to get caught and then we're never allowed to see each other again "

Liz laughed at his worry.

" I don't think I could be separated from you again Liz "

" Me too " she said

" I better get going then. That was too close of a call but first… " he said looking worried again

" First? "

" Are you ok? It looked like you were having a nightmare. Did you have a vision? "

" No, it was nothing. It was just a nightmare. It's nothing to worry about "

" Are you sure? "

" Positive "

" Because I can stay if you want "

" If you say it like that then yeah I want you stay with me for protection " she grinned at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Liz? " called Jeff Parker, knocking on Liz's door. It was now early in the morning.

" Oh my God Max, my dad " said Liz as they both scrambled to get him out the window.

" Oh dad " she said trying to sound calm

" Yeah honey. Can I come in? "

" Um no dad, I'm kind of in the middle of changing " she said, which was true in a way. She bent down and gave Max back his shirt and jacket. " Can you give me a minute? "

" I'll wait right here "

Max looked terrified as Liz followed him out the window. She smiled at him breathlessly. She had managed to put on jeans and a shirt.

" This is so funny, " she said as he got onto the ladder and was now facing her.

" This is funny? " he said laughing with her.

" This is just like Romeo and Juliet " she laughed as she kissed him on the lips.

" Fair well Sweet Juliet " he said looking up at her.

" Fair well Sweet Romeo. Parting is such sweet sorrow that I should say good night 'til it be morrow " she said

" It's already morrow. See you soon " he kissed her once more before descending the ladder. She watched him climb down and run towards the jeep.

She ran over to her door and unlocked it. Her dad was holding his chin.

" Morning " she said brightly.

" Good morning " he said coming into her room.

" What's up dad? " she said following him.

" Lizzie I, I'm a little worried about you "

" Why? " she said nonchalantly.

" You've been sulking around and acting distraught since Alex died. Now you're going around happy and scared and happy again. Is there something you want to talk about? "

" Dad, I'm just trying to get through this "

" Has something else happened since then? "

" What else would happen dad? "

" I don't know Lizzie. You've just become so distant. I want to be a part of your life "

" I just haven't had anything to tell you dad "

" So nothing's going on? " he said questioningly.

" Not really dad " she said innocently.

" Ok then " he said kissing her forehead. " I just wanted to check " he walked over to her door.

" Dad? " called Liz

" Yeah Hon? "

" Thank you "

He smiled at her and scratched his head. " Sure, anytime " he said closing the door.

Liz sighed as she flopped back onto her bed. She looked up at her ceiling. Her dream was still lingering in her mind.

" I'm coming for you Liz, " the figure had said. Was it a flash or was it just really a dream? It was just a dream, she told herself. They had nothing to worry about. Nobody was hunting them anymore. Everyone now thought that they had left to go home. Thaman was with them too. The only thing that they had to worry about now was our son. Our son, she thought. She had told Max that. It didn't matter that it's real mother was Tess. The baby came from Max and it was going to be hers too. But would she be a good mother? What would it look like? Would it look human or alien? Since Max and Tess were both hybrids… wait hybrids. It probably would come out in human form. But Max said it couldn't survive on Earth. How could that be possible? Tess' mind warp couldn't have been that good. What's missing here? There's something else.

To Be continued…

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