"How…how….how did this happen?" Jill whispered as she felt his chest move, his heart pound. "You….you….you…were dead."

"I don't know." He said with amazement. "I don't know. When you put up the shield..it was as if…as if…I was becoming whole again."

"He was never dead." Tess said, leaning on the post of the door for support. "All this time…and…it never…"

"Tess" Alex hissed, standing up and turning around, putting himself in front of Jill. "What are you doing here?"

"I came home." She said, in a voice that seemed more like a lost little child than a ruthless killer. "This is my home."

"No." He said, his fists clenched. "You gave up, everything….everyone…so that you, and only you can get back home. You had no regrets about hurting me or anyone. You wanted to go home, and you did. So don't pretend that this is home…it's not."

"How can you say that I have no regrets? For goodness sake…there is so much that you don't know…you don't know how much I have fought and struggled to get back here. How much I sacrificed." She said, stepping closer.

Jill gasped. The woman, Tess…she was the girl in the vision, the vision from the book. The girl her Dad flirted with at the library…she was the same girl that had killed Alex. Tess had to be the same age as her parents…but she looked much older. Her hair was ragged, her eyes sallow. Jill could tell that this woman had known pain…she could see it in her eyes.

"I lost my life, Tess. My future." Alex snapped. "What is a bigger sacrifice is that?"

"That's what I've come back to fix."

"I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for you."

"It wasn't me."

"Tess…how can you say that?" He yelled. "I was there. I know what you did?"

She shook her head. "Do you know what it is like to be taken over completely? To loose yourself to some greater power?"

"I think that just about covers the mindwarp."

Tess shut her eyes, as if searching for the right words to say. "Alex…when Nasedo died…he didn't die. He reversed the powers of the healing stones somehow, and his energy was channeled into my body. At first, I didn't even know that he was there…he was silent, except for times when I thought he was hallucinating. And then…there were dreams, Alex…terrible dreams. I couldn't sleep, I could barely even function…and he began to take over more and more. Sometimes I would be myself, and other times I would be his puppet. By the time I went to New York with Max, I was virtually taken over all the time. But when I was mindraped by Nicolas, I he didn't have as much control over me anymore. I could be myself most of the time."

"What about the mindwarp? That happened after Thanksgiving."

"Nasedo…he struck up a deal with the other doubles…he would take them home with them when he left, if they would deliver Ava to him. They found her, and he bribed her as well. Ava did all of the mindwarping before Vegas…I swear."

"Vegas?"

"That was the last time I was myself. When we all got back to Roswell, they were waiting for me. They used their powers on me…and weakened me to a point where Nasedo could take over. I saw everything that happened, everything that I did…but I couldn't do anything. Nasedo's power…his force…was too strong. I ended up on Antar, in a prison, waiting to give birth first, before they killed me. I was crossed, Alex. I was betrayed. Nasedo did anything and everything he could to get home. He told me that he loved me like a daughter…but now I can see all he wanted was a way home."

"How do I know that you aren't lying?" He scoffed.

"You have to trust me." She said, on the verge of tears. "I know that you don't want to trust me Alex, but you must. You must."

"That's something I can't do." He said, pulling Jill out the door with him.

Jill snapped out of Alex's grip, and reentered the room. She reached for Tess' hand.

The connection was instantaneous.

Images, faces, sounds, flowed through her mind.

Alex ran in and pushed Jill away.

"Alex, she's telling the truth." Jill said, grabbing his hand. "I can tell. It's the truth."

"Jill…she's powerful. She can manipulate the truth..she can manipulate what you see…"

"But she can't manipulate her heart, Alex. Not even an alien is capable of that."


***
"You don't know what you're talking about." He muttered, glaring at Tess.

"Anyone can be good, and anybody can be bad. Anybody can act, Alex. But the heart doesn't lie. What Tess is saying is true. She deserves a chance, so let's listen to what she has to say."

Alex rubbed his head, trying to absorb all of this into his brain. "I'll listen to what she has to say, but not anything else."

Jill grabbed his hand. The feeling of his warm flesh sent goose bumps up her spine. "It will be ok, Alex."

Tess came over towards them. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

Jill shook her head "No", and Tess sat down.

"I've been looking for you, Jill."

"Me?" she exclaimed shaking her head. "What do you mean?"

Tess took a deep breath, and stared up at the ceiling, as if in a silent prayer. "When I arrived back on Antar, our home planet, I was immediately taken in front of Khivar. Then they took me to some medical base, and Nasedo's personality was stripped from mine. They put me in solitary confinement, and scheluled me for execution. I was kept alive only because of the child I was carrying- Khivar made that perfectly clear when he came to taunt me everyday."

"Child?" Alex asked puzzled.

"It was Max's. The deal that Nasedo worked out for his routine involved him returning with a heir to the throne- a child of one of the royal four. It didn't matter whether it was Max's and my child, or Michael's and Isabel's- but Khivar needed to be the guardian of the heir, so he could legitimately gain control of the throne and become possessor of the granalith."

"What happened?" Jill replied breathlessly.

"One of my guards was on the side against Khivar. He got me out to safety."

"And the child?"

"I don't know exactly where he is, but he must be safe. One of the alliance members came here and transported him to Earth. He'd probably be in his twenties by now, I guess."

"But why were you looking for me?"

The book levitated off the floor and snapped into Tess' hands. "I am looking for you because of this."

"There was nothing about her in the book. I translated it. I know." Alex said, grabbing it away form her.

"Look at it, Alex. It's not the same book."

He opened the book. Tess was right. "Are you sure that this isn't just a mindwarp?"

"I know you don't trust me, Alex, but hear me out. This book is the true book that was sent with us. And this book talks about a prophecy, a promise…of a second chance."

"Huh?" Alex and Jill said in unison.

"Things can be made right. If we can go back in time, back to just after we got back from Vegas, then things would be fixed. I need someone to go back in time and free me from Nasedo before he gains ultimate power."

"Who?"

"Jill." Tess replied. "She's the only one that can do it."

"Why me?"

"You're half alien, Jill."

"I'm not the only one…"

"But you are the strongest. Not only did you inherit powers from your mother, but you have benefited from the residual powers your father gained when Max healed him. Your powers are growing stronger, Jill. Since you've come to Roswell, I have felt your powers grow."

"What happens if I don't go? What happens if I say no?"

Tess shrugged. "Right away, probably nothing. But even as we speak, Khivar is preparing for another attack…he'll try to find my son, and turn both of you- or all of your cousins and siblings to his side."

"We would never turn away from our parents."

"Power can be alluring. But I pray that you'll never have that struggle."

"Tess?" Alex said, looking up from his spot on the floor. "If Jill went back in time- to right after Vegas, then I wouldn't die."

Jill's face grew pale. "And I might not exist."

"Tess, how can you ask her to do this? How can you ask her to give up her future for you to be happy?"

Jill sat up abruptly. "Alex, you've got to get Tess out of here. If Rob comes back and finds her here…"

Alex nodded, picking up on her cue. "Give me the keys. I'll take her back home."

Tess looked panicked. "I'm not leaving. I'm safe here, and I am not leaving this house."

"Why?"

Alex said, the keys jangling in his hand.

"Because this is the only home I ever had. And I don't want to let it go."

***

Jill and Alex were cuddling together on the couch. Jill loved the way she felt in his arms- he held her as if she was a precious jewel. She felt safe, and the gentle rythym of his heartbeat kept her mind off of Tess' request. Tess was upstairs taking a shower, and they were spending the few moments alone, just enjoying being together.

"Look at that…now Sheli's making out with Brendan!" Jill said, tracing lazy circles on Alex's chest.

"She sure got over Brian fast…"

"Yeah, but at least Allie and Jason and Tracy and Nick have their acts together."

"True. But it's only television, right?"

"Yeah." Jill said, growing silent. "But what if it were different?"

"What are you getting at?"

"What if Jason never got up the courage to ask Allie out? What if Colin never died and Rosie never went off to college?"

"You aren't thinking about Tess' idea are you?"

"Well, yes.." She said, sitting up nervously.

"I won't let you do it, Jill. It's a stupid idea, and it wouldn't work. I won't have you sacrifice your life in vain."

"It wouldn't be in vain. I could.."

He cut her off. "Nobody could change everything. It's not your duty to save the world."

"It's my decision."

"No." She asserted. "Alex!"

"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back later."
"Alex!" She said, grabbing his wrist. "You can't."

"I can, and I will."

"Alex, what if someone who knew you saw you? Don't you think it would cause suspicion?"

"You might be right." He growled.

Jill placed her hand on his hair, and turned it a dark shade of auburn, and grew it down to his shoulders. She handed him her sunglasses. "Just don't talk to anyone, and you'll be fine."

He slammed the door in response.

She groaned when she saw the second episode of "Sydney" for that night starting with Sheli's usual introduction using the blackboard. "Awww…shut up." She said, grabbing the remote and turning off the television set.

Jill turned her energy to unpacking the few boxes that had been neglected. One was the box of photos that her parents had delivered after she left them in Florida during the move.

She liked looking at the pictures. It reminded her that she did belong, that she did have people who loved her. She was lucky.

Each photo brought memories to mind, and Jill set them up on the bookshelves and the mantelpiece.

Tess came downstairs and watched Jill at work.

And then she picked up one framed photograph- and promptly dropped it.

Jill turned around at the sound of breaking glass. "Is it ok?"

Tess knelt down and picked up the picture. She used her powers and reformed the glass over the snapshot. "I'm so sorry."

"No harm done." Jill said, putting the picture back at the exact spot and angle it was back at before.

"You really are your mother's daughter." Tess said, observing Jill's perfectionism.

"I've been told so. But I'm nowhere as bad as she is. Especially at Christmas time."

Tess laughed at that. "Michael called her the Christmas Nazi."

"Still does."

"I just can't see your father going along with that level of insanity. He used to use the Christmas tree to dry his socks."

"I think Mom threatened him within an inch of his equipment or something…No seriously, Dad really gets into Christmas…every year he searches for just the right gift to get Mom for Christmas…and he leaves her little clues…it's adorable."

"Kyle always was adorable." Tess said, looking down at her feet, as she began to blush.

Jill raised her eyebrows. "Just how well did you know my father?"

"He was my best friend…for the time I was in Roswell. I moved in with the Sheriff and Kyle after Nasedo died…I didn't know that he was in my body then. We had an unique relationship…to say the least. If Nasedo hadn't been driven to greaten his own destiny…who knows what would have happened?

"You loved him…you loved my father." Jill said, gazing into Tess' eyes.

"I did…but that was a long time ago…I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"Is this the whole reason for the mission you want to send me on? So that you can go back and be with my Dad…I would never exist…"

Tess stood up, and started to pace around the room. "When I first started my mission…that was my goal. I wanted to get back to the normal teenage life that I hoped to lead…that is the reason I came back to Earth."

"But something changed your mind?"

"I was not sent back to this time frame. Instead, they sent me 20 years into the future- 20 years from now. The world- the universe was at war. I used one of the granolith crystals I had with me to get back here. I have one more crystal, and in order to save the world…I need your help, Jill. If there was a way to do this without breaking up your parents, or everyone, I would. But you are literally the last hope…Jill."

Jill sat back down on her couch and grabbed a throw pillow.

She didn't know what to do.