Isabel gasped! That had been more real than anything that had ever happened before! She had felt, smelt, tasted everything! They all looked at Liz in astonishment, but she could give them no answers, she herself was sitting open mouthed in complete astonishment.

Michael was sitting in silence, his face a mass of surprise and fury. 'I had a sister!' He gasped. He was so angry, some bastard had taken away his chance of a relationship like that one Max and Isabel had. And Nascedo hadn't even had the guts to tell him!

'That wasn't Ava…' Max whispered 'She wasn't even there. Leandre…' His voice trailed off.

Liz felt a feeling of despair sweep over her, there was someone out there who had meant more to Max than she ever could, another Tess. Another battle over Max, one hardly worth fighting, she had seen the way he looked at her in the vision. Tears welled up in her eyes. Standing up she walked out of the room.

Max looked up after her immediately sorry, how could he have been so insensitive? He got up to follow her.

'Sit down, Max.' said Maria commandingly as she followed Liz.

Liz threw herself down on the bed and began to cry, her sobs racked her whole body. She didn't look up when Maria came in, she knew it wasn't Max and that was all that mattered.

Maria sat down next to her friend and quietly put her arm around her. 'What did you see?' ask Maria in a gentle voice.

As Liz explained her sobs grew weaker and less frequent, when she got to the end of the story she looked up at Maria and said, 'I can't lose him again… Every time I let him get close something goes wrong…' her voice trailed off.

'He loves you Liz! I know he does, it's there for everyone to see! He'll never love anyone else!'

Liz just shook her head, 'He wouldn't be with me, he will always be with Leandre. I saw his eyes, they were made for each other.' Liz closed her eyes and sighed, she turned away. Maria got up quietly, taking the hint, and left Liz to think.

All eyes turned to her anxiously when she walked back into the sitting room. 'You lot have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.' said Maria.

Alex walked over and put his arm protectively round her shoulder. 'I think it's time you told us what's going on.' he said.

Alex' eyes grew larger and larger as Isabel began to explain. 'So this was real? It was a memory?'

Michael nodded and glanced over at Max. Max was staring at the door into his room, where Liz was. He felt so guilty! First he had dragged Liz into this and now he had destroyed everything she had left. He would never forget the hurt he saw in her eyes as she left the room. It had seemed like this Leandre was someone pretty important to him, but she didn't mean a thing to him now. It was just Liz he loved, just Liz he wanted!

'There were ten of us… Not four, but ten.' said Isabel quietly. 'And there was no Ava. None of it seemed to tie up with what Tess told us.' her voice trailed off as she realised what she was saying.

'Maxwell I don't know about you but I want to find these protectors, and soon! I want answers! Like why the hell Nascedo didn't breath a word of this to us! And what's going on with Tess! She's got some questions to answer!'

Max just nodded his mind on other things.

'Well then spaceboy, looks like you and I are going on a road trip tomorrow!' chirped

Maria, cheering up at the thought of a few hours alone with Michael.

Michael looked at her in surprise, 'You want to come?'

'Sure! I'm not gonna let my favourite little space delinquent go alone. Who knows what he might do!' she replied.

'Am I developing some kind of reputation?' Michael asked playfully.

'Max and I will keep and eye on Liz while you're gone, ' said Isabel glancing at Max.

'But don't be too long! I don't have a good feeling about this…'

'I think it's best we don't tell Tess about this until we know what's going on. The questions can wait.. For now.' said Michael.

Maria smiled at him, he was showing such good strength. He must have made an amazing second in command!

Just for a second her mind flicked back to the scene she had witnessed between Michael and Isabel, her face went tense.

***

Liz stood staring out the window at the stars, she swung round as the door began to open. She saw Maria and relaxed, she couldn't face Max now, maybe later but just not now.

'I told your parents that you're gonna stay here for a couple of days, spend some time with Isabel.'

Liz nodded, it was the last place she wanted to be but if she had to.

'Michael and I are going away tomorrow… we're going to find the protectors.' said Maria, cautiously eyeing her friend's face. Liz was to exhausted to care, but she instinctively shied away from the idea, what if they found Leandre there? Then she sighed, what did it matter? It was going to happen in the end, better sooner than later.

Isabel walked into the room, 'Hey Liz you want to come and set up your bed?' She asked with a warm voice.

'Sure, why not?' murmured Liz.

'It's slumber party time!' laughed Isabel. Liz let out a weak smile and followed her out

of the room.

'We've gotta go and get your stuff first,' called Isabel over her shoulder.

Max looked up as Liz walked into the room with Isabel. Her face became a wall of

stone and her eyes clouded over. She walked straight past Max, trying not to see him. Max felt his heart rip within him as he became cut off from Liz, she was shutting him out and would never let him back in…

Isabel saw her brother's face fall and felt both their pain. She knew Liz was just trying to stop herself from getting hurt, but she could see that Max just didn't understand. As she climbed into the driver's seat next to Liz she saw the petite brunette lift her hand and lightly brush her eyes.

***

'Mum!' called Maria as she walked into her house.

A small giggle came from the sitting room and Maria put her head round the door. She saw the sherrif's hat lying by the sofa. Gross! she thought

Amy DeLuca pulled herself off the sofa and walked towards the door. 'Hi sweetie.'

she brushed away a strand of hair the was lying over one side of her face, her lipstick was slightly smudged and her cheeks were glowing. Maria looked at her disapprovingly.

'Mum, I'm gonna go away for the day tomorrow OK?'

Amy eyed her suspiciously.

'Just for the day! We're just going on a trip!' said Maria explaining herself.

'We?'

'Liz, Michael and me,' said Maria bending the truth. Oops, did I say that? she thought.

Amy's eyes swung back towards the couch, she cleared the throat. 'Errm, yeah sure. Ok.'

'See you later Mum. Sheriff, you'd better be gone by the time I get back, ' she called over her mum's shoulder.

Amy blushed.