Hard times are fallin' on you
Even when you smile
I see the hurt come through
And I know it feels like it's never gonna end
You say nothin's been right for a long time
And every step you take is an uphill climb
I see you're reachin' out
So let me tell you friend that

Better days are comin' around


Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home

His eyes devoured the familiar surroundings, having been away for what seemed like years, it felt good to be going home. Looking over at his companion, her eyes met his and they both nodded grimly as they continued back to the familiar building. Walking through the doors to his house, Max was greeted by a fierce hug from his mother, and a stern look from his father. He hadn't told them he was going to New York, and he had been gone for a little over a week now. Regret coursed through him when he saw the tears of worry in Isabel's eyes. Reaching over he grabbed her into a bear hug, and she mumbled inchorent apologies to him.

"Shh...it's ok." Max continued to murmur comforting words into Isabel's ears as she continued to weep. Finally, Isabel regained her composure, noticing for the first time, the scar on the side of his face.

"What happened?" She whispered, touching it. His eyes hardened, and he shook his head, signalling that now wasn't the time.

Isabel jumped when she heard his voice in her head, 'Get the others. We have a lot to talk about.'

Wide eyes met his as she silenty asked for an explaination as to why she could hear him when he hadn't even moved his mouth. He just looked at her earnestly, and Isabel, getting the message, went to call the others.

Sighing, Max grabbed Tess's hand and led her to his room where they both sat down on his bed. Looking over at her, he felt something in the back of his mind, and he gave her a light peck on the cheek, then a small one on her lips. A peck that turned into a full-blown kiss, meanwhile, the buzzing in his mind became louder and louder, as their kiss became more passionate. A throat cleared at the doorway, and the two broke away quickly. The buzzing in Max's head disappeared, and he was looking at the woman in the middle of his doorway.

"I..uh..guess I didn't realize how close you two were." Diane Evans said, with a nervous smile. She looked Max over and her eyes stuck to his scar. "Isabel said that you and Tess weren't going to stay for dinner?"

"Yea, Tess and I were going to head over to the UFO Center and grab something at the Crashdown. I'll eat breakfast here tomorrow though." Max replied, smiling at her. He felt guilty when a flash of hurt passed through his mother's eyes. "Oh, ok."

"Thanks for offering, Mrs. Evans." Tess said, speaking for the first time since they arrived at the house. "We should get going." She glanced towards Max and he nodded and stood. On the way out of his room he gave his mom another hug, "I missed you." And with that being said he disappeared out of Diane's view.

Without a word, Max climbed into the jeep next to Tess, frowning slightly. He didn't understand why he had suddenly kissed her, and thought it to be another one of her mindwarps, but then quickly dismissed the idea, knowing that he would have sensed her and knowing that she wouldn't try something like that again. She wasn't looking at him, but at the stars, looking thoughtful as she gazed at the 'V' formation in the sky.

"Do you ever wonder what or who's waiting up there for us?" Max asked, breaking the silence, thinking of the first question that popped in his mind and then added softly, "Do you think it's worth it?"

Tess had looked over at him to see him studying the stars too, and she shrugged, a bit sadden because she knew what 'it' he was talking about. He was wondering if it had been worth it to let go of Liz and to embrace his destiny. After all this time, and after all she had done, Max still loved her. Added to that, Kyle had known she was in love with Max, but had slept with her also.

That was probably what made her angry at the petite brunette. She seemed to have all these people who loved her, while she, herself had no one. Nascedo had been a poor substitute for a parent, never showing her any affection when she had needed it. But you're not alone. She reminded herself, you have the Valentis...and Kyle..what? Kyle what? She stopped her train of thought and pushed back those annoying little thoughts and the thumping of her chest. Once again telling herself that it didn't matter, that she was supposed to be with Destiny.

I don't know." She answered softly, "I don't know if it's worth it. But Max, your mom is up there, as is Larek, and a whole race of people waiting for us to come and save them. They're waiting for us, and so is Khivar. I don't know if it's worth it." She repeated softly, an image of Kyle flashing briefly in her mind before fading.

They waited in silence for Isabel to make an excuse to leave the house and join them. Finally, they spotted Isabel making her way over to the jeep. Once she was settled, Max took off towards Michael's apartment.

---

"OK, so what's this all about, why did you HAVE to have a meeting at my-" Michael stopped yelling at Isabel when he saw Max and Tess standing behind her. "Holy shit." He mumbled, before nodding to Max. "Maxwell...pleased that you could grace us with your presence."

"Michael, he has to tell us something. Can you let us in please?" Isabel snapped, walking past Michael. She saw Maria and nodded towards the girl, doing the same towards Kyle.

"Look, I realize all this alien mumbo jumbo is important and all but I do have a piece of normal life I'd like to keep...and missing every wrestling practice will get me kicked off the team." Kyle stated, putting his hands into his pockets. Michael shut the door after Max and Tess came in.

"Nice reunion huh?" Michael asks sarcastically. Maria snorted in agreement. Alex was standing by the window and glanced over at Maria, "I don't think now is the best time for this-"

"Now's a perfect time." Maria replied icily. Michael sat next to her on the couch, "Go on your Majesty. Tell us why you've returned to the place you had to leave so suddenly without saying goodbye."

"Wait...where's Liz?" Max asked, looking around at the group. Michael, Maria, Isabel, Kyle, Alex, Tess, himself...but no Liz. He looked around at everyone, searching for an answer in their eyes, but the only person's eyes he didn't meet were Kyle's. After all this time, Max hadn't forgiven him.

"I couldn't reach her." Isabel said off-handedly,"And her parents haven't seen her all day."

Max turned to Maria and Alex, "Have you guys seen her?"

"Look, I'm not her keeper ok? Liz is a big girl, she can take care of herself," Maria snapped, and got up to get something to drink, obviously upset about something. It was clear things weren't going well with her and Liz. If it had been, Maria would have been freaking out so badly that not all the cedar oil in the world would have calmed her down.

Alex sort of just shrugged and shook his head, his eyes betraying his worry about the disappearance of his best friend. "I haven't really seen her since..."

He let his words trail off, and he saw all the aliens plus Kyle stiffen. No one had really seen or talk to Liz since she had slept with Kyle. Not even Kyle himself, although he had been there to comfort her when she cried, if she ever cried. Max had avoided her, and Tess followed him, a little hurt, though she wouldn't admit it, that Kyle and Liz had slept together. Michael and Isabel had been angry at Liz for betraying their trust and hurting Max like she had.

Max cleared his throat and looked over at Michael.

"Hey don't look at me, she was gone before I came in for my shift." Michael shrugged showing that he really didn't care about what happened to Liz. She was probably out looking for another way to break Max's heart.

Everyone turned to Kyle. Something he hadn't want to happen. Oh why did he let them convince him to leave practice for this? Why? Clearing his throat, Kyle rubbed his sweaty palms together, his voice calm as he spoke the lie, "I haven't seen her."

Well technically it was true, he hadn't seen her that day, but he did talk to her. But they were asking if he had seen her, he hadn't seen her, but he had heard from her.

"As much as I like playing this game of 'Where's Liz?'," Michael interuppted rudely, "But can you get on with it? There's a hockey game on at nine, and I don't want to miss it to be yapping it up about Miss Perfect."

Once again Kyle and Alex winced at everyone's cruel treatment of Liz behind her back. Alex tried to keep the peace as he suggested, "Let's just get on with the meeting. I'll fill Liz in later."

"If she's available that is." Maria muttered loud enough for the others to hear.

"Max...you wanted to say something?" Alex asked, shooting a look Maria's way. "I have to get home soon or my mom will grill me about where I've been."

"Ya, and I gotta get back to wrestling if there's time left." Kyle said quickly, wanting to escape Michael's apartment as soon as he could. He could feel Max's glare on him the entire time he'd been in the apartment and that was the last thing he wanted; being glared at by an alien.

"Allright...Tess and I went to New York a little over a week ago with Rath and Lonnie-" Max began only to be cut off by Michael. "We know all that Max. Get to the good stuff...if there is good stuff."

"When we were there...at the summit we found out that Rath and Lonnie had killed Zan, and they tried to kill Max too." Tess snapped, glaring at Michael. Isabel's eyes widened and she looked at Max sharply. "Max...is that true?"

"Got a scar to prove it." He joked, indicating his own scar on the side of his face. Isabel's eyes filled with tears, "Max, it isn't funny."

"Where are they now?" Maria asked, her voice softer than it had been earlier although the annoyance was still in her tone of voice."

"Max killed them." Tess replied, saying something that Max couldn't face admitting yet. He had killed someone, and it was finally hitting home. Michael, and Isabel shared a look. They too, knew how it was to kill someone. "But, he got something in return."

"What'd you get a batch of cookies?" Michael asked sarcastically.

"Powers, Michael...I got their powers." Max replied. He held out his hand and in seconds a type of wall emitted from his hand. It was green, with a 3-d look, and separated him from the others. Isabel approached it and pushed a shaky hand against it. It never went through the shield, and she pulled her hand back quickly. "Michael shoot a blast at it." She suggested.

"Are you crazy?" Michael shouted, looking at the shield in annoyance. "It'll go right through that thing."

"No, it won't. Go ahead." Tess replied, smirking. Michael shook his head and stood, holding out his hand. A few seconds later a bright white light filled the room and you could hear what sounded like grease hitting a pan on a stove. Michael stood amazed, looking at Max, still holding his shield. "Who had that power?"

"Rath did." Max replied, putting his hand down willing the shield to disappear. "Maybe you can do it too."

"And what'd you get from Lonnie?" Alex asked, speaking for the first time since 'defending' Liz.

'Lonnie was more into things to do with the mind, seeing as how she was always playing mind games.' Everyone, but Isabel and Tess, jumped and turned to look at Max with wide eyes.

"Did you guys just hear that?" Maria asked, panicking, "How did we hear you Max? You didn't move your mouth! I saw you! Please don't tell me I'm hearing things and going crazy."

"Too late." Michael muttered sarcastically, somewhat freaked about hearing Max's voice in his head.

Michael looked up at her and smirked, but he didn't say anything. Maria fumed, "What? Are you deaf now too? I said...DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE?"

Each word was pronounced slowly, but loudly causing Michael to wince. "Would you just be quiet for one second motormouth! All you ever do is talk and talk and talk..."

Maria pulled her hand back to slap Michael, but Alex intervened, "Maria, stop. Let it go. We have more important matters to talk about."

Turning to Max he asked, "How could we hear you like that?"

Max shrugged, "Those were Lonnie's powers. Like I said she was big on the mind games. I found out about it when I started hearing some of Tess's thoughts."

Everyone froze at that. Kyle looked over at him in alarm, "So you could like hear my thoughts? Oh Buddha, I didn't sign up for this. First Tess goes around the house doing her little alien voodoo scaring the shit out of me when she turned my hair green, and then now King Max can hear all my little private thoughts? What do I have to do to get some privacy around here? Become a monk?"

Tess looked over at him sharply, a little hurt by his words, while Isabel not so nicely told Kyle to shut up.

Anyway, as I was saying," Max glared at Kyle, "I sensed some of her thoughts, and I found we could communicate in our minds.

"So how did you kill Lonnie and Rath?" Michael asked, frustrated, "I know you're boring and all Maxwell, and listening to you talk about how much you love Liz and how you don't want to be an alien can kill anyone, I doubt you could kill anyone by doing a glowy wall thing with your hands and talking them to death in their minds. Although, Maria could give you a run for your money in that area."

Max was silent, he didn't know how to respond, but he had clearly remembered his anger before he had killed Lonnie and Rath. They had been bragging about how they had come between him and his family. Rath kept going on and on about how tight Liz's body was and how he was going to get some. That had angered Max to no extent, and he felt the power pulse through him as he listened to Rath talking trash about his Liz. The energy had pulled from him, and the bonds that had held him and Tess in place broke, and the energy had left him like a great blast of lightening, and Rath and Lonnie had disintergrated into thin air.

"Rath said some things...that angered him." Tess replied quickly, glancing at Max out of the corner of her eye. She had no idea how he would have answered that question.

"A.K.A. he insulted Liz." Isabel translated, sitting back down on Michael's chair. There was silence in the apartment until Kyle broke it. "Well...seeing as how I can't possibly be needed I'm gonna leave. Whitman, need a ride?"

Alex looked towards Maria who had brought him here before nodding. "Yup, let's go." He looked at the group once more before shaking his head sadly. Since when were they all about talking behind each other's backs? He walked out of the apartment and shut the door. He and Kyle each walked to the car in silence, only breaking it when they were inside. "Tough meeting huh?"

"Extremely. I don't know which is harder; wanting to choke Maria for acting...however she was acting or sitting there listening to all the alien drama." Alex lay his head back against the headrest and shook his head.

"What was with Maria tonight, she was pissed about something!" Kyle replied. Alex shrugged, "I don't know. She's been pissed at Liz since the two of you slept together for some reason. I think it's because Liz never talked to her about it."

Kyle groaned and started to drive even slower than he had before. He never knew 'sleeping' with a girl would cause so many problems. "So now everyone hates me and Liz?"

"Dude, I have no grudges against anyone." Alex replied firmly.

"Hey...uh Alex. Dude, I seriously gotta share some stuff with you or I will go psycho. I mean I will go PYSCHO." Kyle said, pulling over to the side of the road. Alex raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Kyle what's up?"

"Liz and I never slept together." Kyle said bluntly. Alex stared at him in silence. "So...what did Max see?"

"He saw me and Liz in bed together." Kyle replied. Alex rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry...I thought that you said you and Liz never slept together."

"Are you not listening? Liz called me and told me she needed a favor, so I said yes. I never figured the favor would be for me to jump into bed with her, to push Max and Tess together. How Liz knew he was coming, I have no idea. Maybe she invited him over or something. But in my defense she was wearing a towel." Kyle replied, sighing as though some weight had been taken off his shoulders.

"So Liz set Max up?" Alex asked, sitting up in his seat. "And she never told you why...just that she had to push Max towards Tess?"

"Well it looks like it worked doesn't it?" Kyle asked, before jumping into something else. "That's not all. Liz called me today, and she left Roswell." He waited for it...the explosion.

"She WHAT?" Alex shouted, his eyes filling with rage and confusion. There is was, the explosion. "Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?"

What a sight to see, big and macho Mr. Jock extrodinaire, Kyle Valenti, shrinking away from the band geek, Alex Whitman. Well, to Alex's credit, he had become a lot more muscular, and was a pretty scary sight to see when he was angry. Damn. No wonder those three are the Three Musketeers. They're all scary as hell when they're angry. Kyle gulped, before regaining his composure, "Look man, Liz told me not to tell anyone. I couldn't say no. You should have heard her voice, she sounded so defeated and sad. I just couldn't say no."

Alex sighed, calming down a bit, but still angry that Kyle had kept information from him about Liz. "Did she say where she was going?"

Kyle nodded and told Alex of their conversation. After Kyle finished his narration, Alex sat back against his seat, slumping as he let out a low sigh. Everything was so messed up, everyone was at each others' throats, Kyle was having a nervous breakdown, Liz had left Roswell without telling anyone but a person who was having a nervous breakdown, and to top it all off, Isabel still just wanted to be friends. Well ok, the last thing wasn't as bad as the others, but hey. He was a teenage boy with hormonese, getting mixed signals from the girl of his dreams. Who wouldn't be frustrated?

"So what do we do?" Alex finally asked Kyle. Kyle looked over at him, his face dead serious. "Nothing."

"What?!" Seeing that Alex was about to explode again, Kyle calmly but quickly continued, "I figure that after all of this, Liz needs to get away. Recover and put her life back on track. Away from all this alien crap. I wish I had gone with her now that I think about it. Besides, the others don't deserve to know where she is. They couldn't care any less anyway."

"So you're saying that we just sit here and do nothing?" Alex asked exasparated.

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Seeing Alex's look, Kyle conceded, "Look man, I don't like it anymore than you do, but I figure Liz will be gone for only a few days, calm down, and come back. Besides, it isn't like she's alone or in danger."

Alex looked at Kyle after a moment and sighed in resignation, "I hope you're right."

A/N: The lyrics are Faith Hills' Better Days