Author's Note: The next chapter takes place 8 years after Thaman disappeared that day in the desert.

Chapter Thirty


" Max can you look on my desk for that sample? " called Liz from downstairs.
" Ok " he called back as he grabbed it and ran down the stairs to give it to her.
" Thank you " she said kissing him lightly. He pulled her closer.
" Do you have to go now? " he asked.
" Yes if I'm supposed to be back from work before everyone comes for dinner "
" What time are you coming home? "
" About 4. What time are you coming home? "
" I'll be home at 5 "
" Ok " she looked at her watch. She was ten minutes late, " Gotta go. I'm late " She kissed him again before she ran out the door.

" Liz it's pouring out there. Here's an umbrella " called Max handing her an umbrella.

It was a rainy day in Roswell. Not really typical weather for this time of year. Winter seemed to be coming faster than expected. Roswell is used to desert style weather, not this wet weather. It does rain in Roswell but not now. The weather man had not predicted this.
The phone rang making Max jump out of his daze.
" Hello? "
" Hey Max. Did I miss Liz? "
" Yeah Maria. She's gone "
" Great, I just wanted to confirm the time "
" Three "
" Thanks. Does she have any clue? "
" She still thinks that everyone's just going to come for dinner at 7, " Max could hear Michael in the background. " What's Michael doing? "
" Zip it! " Maria shouted. " He's just complaining about the new alien merchandise again. I made a new alien design and he hates it "
" It's degrading! " he heard Michael say in the background.
" All right "
" Ok we'll see you at 3 Max " she said and hung up the phone.
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Isabel was in with her last patient of the day. A little girl who had chicken pox. Her mother was petrified and worried about her temperature being too high. The poor girl was totally covered with the pox. Isabel smiled at her warmly. She told her to stick out her tongue and took her temperature.
" This is normal Mrs. Charles. This fever will be here for another day or so. I suggest you buy some Aveeno lotion and Aveeno Bath. It will be good to give her a bath every other hour when she's most itchy. She's going to be very itchy "
" Thank you Dr. Evans. I'm just a little nervous. She's the first one of my kids to get it and I don't remember having mine "

" Just be careful not to let the puss from the pox get on anyone. That's how you get it "
" Ok thank you again doctor, " she said looking relieved.

" And for you, you brave girl " said Isabel reaching into her drawer. " I think you need something special "
The little girl smiled and Isabel saw a gap where the front teeth used to be. She picked out a blow pop.
" A lollipop " shrieked the girl.
" Now you get all better so that your mommy doesn't worry ok? "
" Ok " said the girl taking the wrapper off and putting it into her mouth.
" Dr. " called one of the nurses.
" Yes? "
" There's someone on the phone for you "
" I'll take it in my office" she said walking towards her office and closing the door behind her. " This is Dr. Evans "
" Why don't you return my calls? "
" I don't want to get into this right now. I already told you "
" That there's someone else. I know the whole story. But he left you. He hasn't come back "
" He is coming back "
" Isabel don't fool yourself. Who's going to take better care of you than me? "
" James, we've already been through this. I'm not going out with you ever "
" This is how you're going to end this? "
" End what? We're just friends. Well we were just friends until you decided you wanted to go further " said Isabel impatiently. " I'm busy. Don't call me " she hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair. James was someone
she met in Med school. She didn't like him but he kept bothering her. Eventually they became friends but now he said he was ready to commit. Commit to what? She had no intention on going out with him ever. But what was she waiting for? Thaman never came back. Nothing has happened since he left. They didn't hear anything from him since that day. What happened to him? Maybe he was dead. No, Thaman couldn't die. He would keep his promise
and come back. But the only thing that would keep him from coming back would be death. She sighed to herself and looked at the clock. It was 2. She promised Ava that she would pick her up.
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" Dr. Evans please call reception. Dr. Evans please call reception " rang the loud speaker.
Liz looked up at the clock on the wall. It was 3. She slowly took off her goggles and walked over to the phone.
" This is Dr. Evans. Yeah put her through. Hey Serena! "
" Liz sorry to bug ya but I was wondering about tonight "
" What's wrong? You're coming aren't you? "
" Oh no I'm definitely coming. I'm just wondering what I should bring "
" Just yourself "
" I can't do that "
" Come on Serena. You're always doing the most "
" Oh all right. So how's your system working out? Do you like the microscope I made for you? "
" Serena it's great " gushed Liz. " The images are so crisp. It's so much easier to document my samples "
" Liz I have a question on some of the things I added to it. Can you come over to my department and show me how you use them? "
" Sure, I'll be right there " she hung up the phone and took off her gloves and hair net.
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Since that day in the desert with Nicholas taking the Granolith, Liz secretly feared for their lives. There wasn't a day that she didn't think about it. That any day now things would catch up to them and that Khivar was
coming to destroy them all. She never liked to talk about it with Max. He had enough to worry about. She often thought about where Thaman was. He seemed to really have loved Isabel. It made her nervous that he wasn't with them. Even though we did get to have some kind of training, they needed him, especially Isabel. Isabel became a doctor in five years. That's incredible. I guess the alien powers of scanning are very handy. It took Liz a couple more years to get her Ph.D. Isabel doesn't date at all and she sighs a lot. I don't blame her. I know how she feels. I would do the same thing for Max if he ever left me. She has changed drastically since this whole thing began. Now she seemed caring and sad.

They had found Ava in Florida. She was struggling as a waitress making minimum wage. She didn't look like the same Ava that left the Crashdown that day. She looked more independent and more open. She looked very different now. She agreed to come back when they explained the situation to her and when she met Brody, things just clicked. They didn't look like the best looking couple but they were happy together. I guess cause they had strange pasts they had something to connect with. Ava is a great person and sometimes I'm confused as to how. She had grown up with Lonnie and Rath all her life. Liz sighed as she knocked on the door and tried to forget her thoughts.
" Come in " said Serena from inside.
" Serena? " asked Liz as she walked into the dark and empty room. She turned the switch.
" SURPRISE! " they cried throwing confetti at her.
" Oh my God! " she yelped. Maria, Michael, Isabel, Serena, Kyle, Brody and Ava were standing there. There was a huge banner behind them saying " Happy 8th Anniversary ".
Max was in front with a white rose in his hand. He walked over to her with a grin on his face and kissed her. " I love you, " he said.
" I'm going to kill you " she whispered back.
" Surprised honey? " asked Maria walking towards her.
" Definitely " said Liz hugging her friend. " Thank you "
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" Ok this is from my dad and mom " said Kyle holding up a gift. They had already opened everyone else's gifts. They were getting towards the last two. The rain outside had stopped but you could still faintly hear the single drops falling to the ground outside the lab.
" What did mom and dad get them? " asked Maria.
" No idea " answered Kyle. " They're sorry they couldn't be here. But they're on an urgently need vacation. Whatever that means " He handed Liz the gift.
Max and Liz were sitting on a lab station with Max sitting behind her with his lips in her hair. Liz took the gift and slowly opened it. It looked like she had four arms as both her and Max unwrapped it.
" Oh my " said Liz. She took out a silver candelabra. " This is so awesome "

" They don't get stuff like that for me " complained Maria. Michael was standing behind her with his arms around her.
" Talk about it. And we're their kids " said Kyle, he pulled Serena closer to him.
" They know you won't take care of it " said Brody holding Ava.
" Yeah, what are you going to do with them? Put your alien logos on it? " asked Michael.
" Look Space Boy just because... "
" Next gift, " said Kyle. " Here's the last one for ya "

" I wonder who it's from, " said Maria. There was no card.

" It's beautiful wrapping though, " said Liz appreciating it by holding it up.

" Ain't mine, " said Ava.
" You've already opened mine, " said Serena " I think that's the department's gift "

The packaging looked careful and precise. Someone put some serious work into this. Probably some of the department people put it together thought Liz. The wrapping was silver and the ribbons ran perfectly to the sides. She slowly untied the bow with Max's help.

" Come on " said Brody " Don't be polite. Just rip the darn thing open "

They all laughed.

" Tell them thanks for me " said Liz.
" Almost don't want to open it " said Max.
They both slowly unwrapped the bow and tore off the wrapping. It was a hand painted gift box.
" It's a hat " said Kyle.
Michael rolled his eyes. " Why the hell would anybody get them a hat? "
Liz took the lid off the box. She almost fainted when she saw what was inside. She fell back on Max who just sat there with his mouth open. " Is it really? " said Liz. She opened the box again and took out what was inside.
" Oh my God " cried Michael.

" What is it? " asked Serena.
" The Granolith " said Michael. Maria fainted beside him.
" Thaman " said Isabel, her face was beaming. She looked around the room. " Thaman, are you there? ". She strained her ears but nothing. She tried to feel his presence but she didn't feel anything.
" How do we know it's really from Thaman? " asked Ava.
" How do you guys know it's not your enemies? " asked Brody.
" You don't know him " said Michael " He's the only one that would give us the Granolith "
" Not our people? " asked Ava.
" How did he get this? " asked Kyle. " Why did it take him so long to get it? "
" Why now? " asked Maria. " We've been happy these past eight years and this has to come back in our face. Can't we just be normal? " She put her head on Michael's chest.
" We're not normal " said Isabel.
" We all knew this was going to happen " said Max

" It's time for the fighting, " said Serena.
" Here we go again, " said Kyle. " I'm not sure if I have the energy to fight with them every day "
" I don't think we'll have to now, " said Liz.
" This means Kivar is coming and we have to figure out what we're going to do " said Max grimly.
" Yeah, us against an entire army " said Brody.
" With Thaman back we don't have to worry about that "
" Are you sure? "
" Well I hope all of you remember how to use your fighting powers, " said Kyle.