Max stared down at Liz peacefully sleeping in his arms. He reached out his hand to the phone.

'Hey Is, is that you? Get the others and come over to Liz' right now, we have a problem… I'll tell you when you get here.'

Max replaced the receiver and began to gently stroke Liz' hair.

***

Max looked at Liz and laughed, they were in Senor Chow's on their first date. She felt the complete contentment flow over her. Max was happy, she was happy, everyone was happy. In a way they were the only two people in the world who mattered. She

sighed in a blissful tone and then felt her dream world begin to slip away from her.

***

Maria, Alex, Michael and Isabel stood round Liz' bed staring wide eyed at Max and contemplating what he had just told them.

'So why was this guy calling her Leandre? And more to the point how did she get these powers?' asked Alex.

'Ava said something about Protectors right? so we have to find them. And one more thing, what was that about the Royal Court, I thought it was just the royal four…' Said Isabel.

She trailed off as Maria squealed. 'Lizzie, baby! Are you OK?'

'Maria? What? how.' Suddenly she notice that Max was sitting with his arm around her, she tensed up and moved away. 'What's going on?'

'Liz, I've told them everything.. they need to know, you need protection!'

Liz swallowed she could hear the caring tone in his voice and it warmed her through and through.

'Who's Leandre, Liz?' Michael asked. Max shot a look at him that was sharper than daggers, how could he be so insensitive?

'I don't know… that was the first time anyone's ever spoken to me in a flash… But it sounds alien.'

'It sounds like something I should remember,' murmured Michael. Everyone looked at him in surprise except Liz.

'I know… Something that sounds familiar but you just can't place it…' she sighed.

'Where's Tess?' asked Liz in surprise.

'She was busy,' replied Isabel.

Damn that girl, thought Liz. Ever since she had turned up everything had gone wrong, Max had been captured by Pierce, they had learnt of their Destiny and then Future Max. Nothing felt right anymore.

'I don't know… I don't know what's going on.' She stared round at the group in a worried fashion.

'Don't worry Liz, we'll find the answers.' said Isabel in a reassuring voice.

'Looks like we've got to find the Protectors then, The great alien hunt begins!' said Alex with a grin.

'But how? We don't even know what they look like let alone where they are!' said Maria.

'Sunny Oaks, they're in Sunny oaks.' Everyone turned to look at Liz in astonishment.

'Liz why there?' asked Isabel gently.

'They are… I don't know why… they just are. Please trust me! We don't have much time!' stressed Liz staring round at them all in panic.

***

Outside the Crashdown a dark car pulled out onto the road and drove away. In the car two men turned to face each other, 'It is time!'