************************************
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
Several weeks after the events surrounding Tess' surprise return to Earth, Alex and Isabel lay in Alex's bed after sharing some precious moments of intimacy. Since Alex's parents were on a day trip, he knew that this would be the perfect time to have his wife over. They lay together, Alex's arms wrapped around Isabel, holding her close to him, her head resting on his chest.
"So," said Alex. "Couple of days, I'll be a High School graduate."
"Yeah," said Isabel. "Who would have thought I would be going to see my husband graduate from High School?"
They both chuckled. "Yeah, we don't do much like normal married couples, do we?" asked Alex playfully.
Isabel stopped chuckling, and her expression became more serious. "Alex," she said. "Do you...do you wish for a more normal life? I mean, I know you give up a lot of normalcy to be with me. I was just wondering if you ever regret that you have to."
"Sometimes," said Alex. "But not in the way you are thinking. I regret the fact that the strangeness of our lives sometimes interferes with our contentment at being together. But, if having a normal life meant having to give you up, I'd take a life more weird than ours any day."
The phone rang, and Alex and Isabel both let out moans of annoyance. Alex picked up the phone. "Hello," he said in a frustrated voice.
"Alex," said Max on the other line.
"Max," said Alex. "What do you have bat radar or something?! How is it you seem to call when Isabel and I are in bed together?"
"Oh, I didn't even know you were," said Max. "I figured you would know where she was, though. Alex, I need you and Isabel to come to Michael's apartment. Its an emergency."
"Okay, we'll be there shortly," said Alex.
**
Forty minutes later, Alex and Isabel arrived at Michael's apartment. They found Max, Liz, Maria, Michael, and Valenti already there waiting for them.
"Okay, you called us all here, what's the deal?" asked Michael.
"I think we may all be in danger," said Liz. "It has to do with something that happened the other night. I had this...premonition, that a woman was going to be robbed and killed in the alley behind the Crashdown. Max and I were able to stop it form happening thanks to the premonition."
"You mean...what you saw was really happening, then you stopped it?" asked Valenti.
"That's right," said Max.
"So, this must be some new manifestation of your powers," said Alex.
"Yeah, but there's more," said Liz. "I've been having more premonitions. I see Max, Michael, Isabel, and myself, and we're all dead. We're shot and killed."
"What?" asked Isabel with alarm. "Where? How?"
"I don't know," said Liz. "But, for some reason, I think it might be the FBI special unit. The men who shoot us are in, like, SWAT team gear, or something."
"I thought Kyle and Tess were able to draw the Feds out of Roswell," said Maria.
"Yeah, well, apparently they weren't as successful as they thought," said Michael. "Tess' return has brought the heat back down on us again."
"Wait, we don't know anything for sure at the moment," said Valenti. "Just because one of Liz's premonitions came true, doesn't mean others will."
"Can we really afford to take that risk?" asked Alex. "I mean, we're dealing with Isabel's, Liz's, Max's, and Michael's lives here."
"We can't act to protect ourselves until we know more about where and how this is supposed to happen," said Michael. "Liz, you've had flashes in the past when you were intimate with Max. Maybe you should try that, see if you get some new visions."
"Liz, it's a dirty job, I know," said Maria in a joking tone. "But I know you are up for it."
"Question is, whether Max is UP for it," said Alex.
Everyone looked at him with expressions that all said "bad joke". "Sorry," said Alex. "I must have hung around with Kyle too much."
"Okay," said Michael. "Liz, Max, you can use the place. We'll be at the Crashdown waiting to hear what happens."
"I should go see Hanson," said Valenti. "Maybe he would know about any FBI activity in town, if there is any."
***
An hour later, Maria, Michael, Alex, and Isabel, all sat around a table at the Crashdown, waiting to hear from Liz or Max. Valenti showed up after a while, and said that Hanson didn't seem to know a thing. He then left again, saying he was going to call an old friend of his at the FBI, and make a discreet inquiry at to whether or not the Special Unit had been reactivated secretly. Shortly thereafter, Isabel's cell phone rang. Max told them to get back to Michael's apartment. When they got there, Liz and Max had news.
"I saw a more complete vision this time," said Liz. "In the vision, I saw Bryce McClain, the science fiction writer, giving a speech where we are going to be killed."
"Wait, isn't he speaking at the UFO convention a couple of weeks from now?" asked Alex.
"Yeah," said Max. "That means we have two weeks to try and figure out what to do."
"So, what do we do, Max?" asked Isabel.
"No," said Max. "This isn't my decision. After all we have been through, I'm tired of being the King around here. This isn't a kingdom, Michael is not my second in command, and Isabel is not a princess. That's not our lives. We're all...friends, comrades, who are fighting to survive. So, any suggestions?"
"Let's face it," said Michael. "If the FBI are coming after us, then they know who we are. Or if they don't now, they will by the time of the convention two weeks from now. We're not safe here anymore. We're exposed here. I say we all have to leave, run as far away from here as we can get."
"All of us," said Alex.
"Right now, its just Max, Isabel, Liz, and I who get killed," said Michael. "The rest of you are probably safe. We should be the ones to go. All of us go separately, in the middle of the night, and don't look back."
"No way," said Alex. "Isabel is my wife. I'm staying with her, no matter what."
"Alex," said Isabel, turning to look at Alex. "Michael is right. You're not in danger. You shouldn't have to be by going with me."
Alex immediately put his arms around Isabel. "Do you think I would ever let you go without me?" asked Alex. "We're husband and wife, Isabel Whitman. Where you go, I go. Simple as that. So, sorry, but you can't get rid of me that easily."
Isabel gave up trying to argue, and just allowed Alex to pull her into his strong, warm embrace.
"What about me?" asked Maria. "If you think you're leaving me behind while you all leave, you need to get your heads examined."
"Maria," said Michael. "You've got no reason to go. Remember, you broke it off between us, so..."
"Wait, you think its that SIMPLE!" said Maria. "You think I am going to stay behind while the people I am closer to than anyone flee town!! Almost from the beginning, its been the six of us in this room. We have made up a team, a unit, a family!! Max once said there were five people in this world he trusts more than anyone, and we are all right here in this room!! We have shared the dangers, the victories, the defeats!!! Now, you want to leave me out!!"
"This isn't a game, Maria!!" said Michael. "We aren't going to be a team anymore!! The family you described...its breaking up, its gone!!! We are all going SEPARATELY!! You would be better off staying here, with your Mom, in your home town!!"
"Wait," said Alex. "I'm not convinced we should all leave separately! I mean, Maria made a good point about something!! How have we all survived this long, huh? Think about it!! We survived by sticking together, good times and bad!! How many times have we saved each others asses? Topolsky, Agent Pierce, the Skins, Tess, Khivar, Metachem.....all of these people who have tried to expose you or destroy you...have threatened all of us in some way. We beat them all!! TOGETHER!!"
"Six people traveling together is A LOT bigger target than just one!" said Michael.
"Michael is right," said Max. "We stand a lot better chance trying to slip away separately."
"No, he's NOT!" said Maria. "And neither are you, Max!!"
"Max," said Liz. "We all bring something to this group, some skill or knowledge or ability. Some of us have alien powers, some just have our intelligence or knack for something! I say we stand a lot better chance if we face the dangers ahead together, just like we always have. United we stand, divided we fall!"
"I agree with Liz, Alex, and Maria," said Isabel. "Max, I don't want to be separated from you or Michael. I sure as hell don't want to be apart from my husband, or Liz and Maria. We need each other. Maria is right. We are a family."
"Michael, I'd say we've been out voted," said Max. "And I'm not exactly upset that we have been."
"Yeah, well, you all can do what you want," said Michael. "I'm leaving! Today! And I'm going alone!"
****
That night, Alex and Isabel sat in his car, parked in Frasier Woods. This was the same spot where they came to make love after Alex got back from New York. Now, they were sitting in the car, and Alex was holding Isabel while she quietly sobbed.
"I can't believe he's gone," said Isabel. "I mean, I know he can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but..."
"Michael was like your brother," said Alex. "I understand, sweetie. I just can't believe, even KNOWING Michael, how he is, that he would run out on you and Max."
"He's as stubborn as he always is," said Isabel. "He's always hated relying on others for security. It scares him, to be so dependent on someone. Anyone, even us."
"He told Maria he loves her, just before he took off," said Alex. "I can't believe he didn't at least take her with him."
"He sees it as protecting her," said Isabel. "He probably thinks she'll stay since he won't be with us when we go."
"No chance of that," said Alex. "Maria told Liz she is standing by us. I kind of figured she would. It wasn't just about Michael to her. Liz and I are as close to her as siblings, and you and Max have come to mean the same to her."
"Its amazes me," said Isabel. "How we have become like a family to each other these past few years. I can't imagine my life without you, Liz, and Maria in it, just as much as I couldn't imagine it without Max and Michael...." She stopped mid sentence, whimpering slightly at the thought that Michael wasn't in her life any more.
"Shh," said Alex, kissing her on the top of her head. "Its going to be okay. Has Max told Valenti and your parents about this?"
"Valenti, yes," said Isabel. "He agrees with our decision. He offered to come with us, but Max convinced him to stay. After all, he may be our best chance of telling us if we can return someday. We'll work out a system of keeping in touch with him."
"But not your parents," said Alex.
"No, not yet," said Isabel. "They're still trying to get over the fact that their children are alien hybrids. We're going to break this news to them gently."
"Liz said she and Max talked about telling her parents, my parents, and Maria's Mom," said Alex. "They compromised. Liz is going to send her journal to her Father after we've gone, with a letter explaining everything. He'll be asked to show it to my Mom and Dad, and Maria's Mom, then burn it."
"What about our marriage?" asked Isabel. "Should we wait to break that news to our parents until then?"
"No," said Alex. "I think we should tell them after graduation tomorrow. We can sit your parents and my parents down and tell them. What do you say?"
"Good idea," said Isabel. Then, she leaned in, bringing her lips close to Alex's. "I'm damned tired of having to hide my wedding ring from the world. I want everyone to know, finally, that I am married to you."
She captured his lips in a passionate kiss. He returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Isabel and pulling her closer to him. Isabel climbed over the gear shift, and landed in Alex's lap. She then reached down and pulled back the lever to lower the driver's seat down.
"Oh, baby," said Alex, now flat on his back with Isabel laying flat on top of him. "Feeling horney tonight, I see!"
"Well, my husband is graduating from High School tomorrow," said Isabel. "I wanted to give him an early graduation present."
"Well, then," said Alex, reaching up to unbutton Isabel's blouse. "Let me unwrap it, and see what you've got for me."
End of Chapter Twenty-one. Chapter Twenty-two coming soon.
As you can see, some things are consistent with Season 3 of the show, but things are, of course, changed in ways because of the fact Alex is still alive. The story is about to enter into new territory here in many ways, so be sure to stay tuned to see what happens next. In the meantime, please keep those reviews coming. I appreciate all of the great feedback I've gotten so far, and would love to see any further comments you may have.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
Several weeks after the events surrounding Tess' surprise return to Earth, Alex and Isabel lay in Alex's bed after sharing some precious moments of intimacy. Since Alex's parents were on a day trip, he knew that this would be the perfect time to have his wife over. They lay together, Alex's arms wrapped around Isabel, holding her close to him, her head resting on his chest.
"So," said Alex. "Couple of days, I'll be a High School graduate."
"Yeah," said Isabel. "Who would have thought I would be going to see my husband graduate from High School?"
They both chuckled. "Yeah, we don't do much like normal married couples, do we?" asked Alex playfully.
Isabel stopped chuckling, and her expression became more serious. "Alex," she said. "Do you...do you wish for a more normal life? I mean, I know you give up a lot of normalcy to be with me. I was just wondering if you ever regret that you have to."
"Sometimes," said Alex. "But not in the way you are thinking. I regret the fact that the strangeness of our lives sometimes interferes with our contentment at being together. But, if having a normal life meant having to give you up, I'd take a life more weird than ours any day."
The phone rang, and Alex and Isabel both let out moans of annoyance. Alex picked up the phone. "Hello," he said in a frustrated voice.
"Alex," said Max on the other line.
"Max," said Alex. "What do you have bat radar or something?! How is it you seem to call when Isabel and I are in bed together?"
"Oh, I didn't even know you were," said Max. "I figured you would know where she was, though. Alex, I need you and Isabel to come to Michael's apartment. Its an emergency."
"Okay, we'll be there shortly," said Alex.
**
Forty minutes later, Alex and Isabel arrived at Michael's apartment. They found Max, Liz, Maria, Michael, and Valenti already there waiting for them.
"Okay, you called us all here, what's the deal?" asked Michael.
"I think we may all be in danger," said Liz. "It has to do with something that happened the other night. I had this...premonition, that a woman was going to be robbed and killed in the alley behind the Crashdown. Max and I were able to stop it form happening thanks to the premonition."
"You mean...what you saw was really happening, then you stopped it?" asked Valenti.
"That's right," said Max.
"So, this must be some new manifestation of your powers," said Alex.
"Yeah, but there's more," said Liz. "I've been having more premonitions. I see Max, Michael, Isabel, and myself, and we're all dead. We're shot and killed."
"What?" asked Isabel with alarm. "Where? How?"
"I don't know," said Liz. "But, for some reason, I think it might be the FBI special unit. The men who shoot us are in, like, SWAT team gear, or something."
"I thought Kyle and Tess were able to draw the Feds out of Roswell," said Maria.
"Yeah, well, apparently they weren't as successful as they thought," said Michael. "Tess' return has brought the heat back down on us again."
"Wait, we don't know anything for sure at the moment," said Valenti. "Just because one of Liz's premonitions came true, doesn't mean others will."
"Can we really afford to take that risk?" asked Alex. "I mean, we're dealing with Isabel's, Liz's, Max's, and Michael's lives here."
"We can't act to protect ourselves until we know more about where and how this is supposed to happen," said Michael. "Liz, you've had flashes in the past when you were intimate with Max. Maybe you should try that, see if you get some new visions."
"Liz, it's a dirty job, I know," said Maria in a joking tone. "But I know you are up for it."
"Question is, whether Max is UP for it," said Alex.
Everyone looked at him with expressions that all said "bad joke". "Sorry," said Alex. "I must have hung around with Kyle too much."
"Okay," said Michael. "Liz, Max, you can use the place. We'll be at the Crashdown waiting to hear what happens."
"I should go see Hanson," said Valenti. "Maybe he would know about any FBI activity in town, if there is any."
***
An hour later, Maria, Michael, Alex, and Isabel, all sat around a table at the Crashdown, waiting to hear from Liz or Max. Valenti showed up after a while, and said that Hanson didn't seem to know a thing. He then left again, saying he was going to call an old friend of his at the FBI, and make a discreet inquiry at to whether or not the Special Unit had been reactivated secretly. Shortly thereafter, Isabel's cell phone rang. Max told them to get back to Michael's apartment. When they got there, Liz and Max had news.
"I saw a more complete vision this time," said Liz. "In the vision, I saw Bryce McClain, the science fiction writer, giving a speech where we are going to be killed."
"Wait, isn't he speaking at the UFO convention a couple of weeks from now?" asked Alex.
"Yeah," said Max. "That means we have two weeks to try and figure out what to do."
"So, what do we do, Max?" asked Isabel.
"No," said Max. "This isn't my decision. After all we have been through, I'm tired of being the King around here. This isn't a kingdom, Michael is not my second in command, and Isabel is not a princess. That's not our lives. We're all...friends, comrades, who are fighting to survive. So, any suggestions?"
"Let's face it," said Michael. "If the FBI are coming after us, then they know who we are. Or if they don't now, they will by the time of the convention two weeks from now. We're not safe here anymore. We're exposed here. I say we all have to leave, run as far away from here as we can get."
"All of us," said Alex.
"Right now, its just Max, Isabel, Liz, and I who get killed," said Michael. "The rest of you are probably safe. We should be the ones to go. All of us go separately, in the middle of the night, and don't look back."
"No way," said Alex. "Isabel is my wife. I'm staying with her, no matter what."
"Alex," said Isabel, turning to look at Alex. "Michael is right. You're not in danger. You shouldn't have to be by going with me."
Alex immediately put his arms around Isabel. "Do you think I would ever let you go without me?" asked Alex. "We're husband and wife, Isabel Whitman. Where you go, I go. Simple as that. So, sorry, but you can't get rid of me that easily."
Isabel gave up trying to argue, and just allowed Alex to pull her into his strong, warm embrace.
"What about me?" asked Maria. "If you think you're leaving me behind while you all leave, you need to get your heads examined."
"Maria," said Michael. "You've got no reason to go. Remember, you broke it off between us, so..."
"Wait, you think its that SIMPLE!" said Maria. "You think I am going to stay behind while the people I am closer to than anyone flee town!! Almost from the beginning, its been the six of us in this room. We have made up a team, a unit, a family!! Max once said there were five people in this world he trusts more than anyone, and we are all right here in this room!! We have shared the dangers, the victories, the defeats!!! Now, you want to leave me out!!"
"This isn't a game, Maria!!" said Michael. "We aren't going to be a team anymore!! The family you described...its breaking up, its gone!!! We are all going SEPARATELY!! You would be better off staying here, with your Mom, in your home town!!"
"Wait," said Alex. "I'm not convinced we should all leave separately! I mean, Maria made a good point about something!! How have we all survived this long, huh? Think about it!! We survived by sticking together, good times and bad!! How many times have we saved each others asses? Topolsky, Agent Pierce, the Skins, Tess, Khivar, Metachem.....all of these people who have tried to expose you or destroy you...have threatened all of us in some way. We beat them all!! TOGETHER!!"
"Six people traveling together is A LOT bigger target than just one!" said Michael.
"Michael is right," said Max. "We stand a lot better chance trying to slip away separately."
"No, he's NOT!" said Maria. "And neither are you, Max!!"
"Max," said Liz. "We all bring something to this group, some skill or knowledge or ability. Some of us have alien powers, some just have our intelligence or knack for something! I say we stand a lot better chance if we face the dangers ahead together, just like we always have. United we stand, divided we fall!"
"I agree with Liz, Alex, and Maria," said Isabel. "Max, I don't want to be separated from you or Michael. I sure as hell don't want to be apart from my husband, or Liz and Maria. We need each other. Maria is right. We are a family."
"Michael, I'd say we've been out voted," said Max. "And I'm not exactly upset that we have been."
"Yeah, well, you all can do what you want," said Michael. "I'm leaving! Today! And I'm going alone!"
****
That night, Alex and Isabel sat in his car, parked in Frasier Woods. This was the same spot where they came to make love after Alex got back from New York. Now, they were sitting in the car, and Alex was holding Isabel while she quietly sobbed.
"I can't believe he's gone," said Isabel. "I mean, I know he can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but..."
"Michael was like your brother," said Alex. "I understand, sweetie. I just can't believe, even KNOWING Michael, how he is, that he would run out on you and Max."
"He's as stubborn as he always is," said Isabel. "He's always hated relying on others for security. It scares him, to be so dependent on someone. Anyone, even us."
"He told Maria he loves her, just before he took off," said Alex. "I can't believe he didn't at least take her with him."
"He sees it as protecting her," said Isabel. "He probably thinks she'll stay since he won't be with us when we go."
"No chance of that," said Alex. "Maria told Liz she is standing by us. I kind of figured she would. It wasn't just about Michael to her. Liz and I are as close to her as siblings, and you and Max have come to mean the same to her."
"Its amazes me," said Isabel. "How we have become like a family to each other these past few years. I can't imagine my life without you, Liz, and Maria in it, just as much as I couldn't imagine it without Max and Michael...." She stopped mid sentence, whimpering slightly at the thought that Michael wasn't in her life any more.
"Shh," said Alex, kissing her on the top of her head. "Its going to be okay. Has Max told Valenti and your parents about this?"
"Valenti, yes," said Isabel. "He agrees with our decision. He offered to come with us, but Max convinced him to stay. After all, he may be our best chance of telling us if we can return someday. We'll work out a system of keeping in touch with him."
"But not your parents," said Alex.
"No, not yet," said Isabel. "They're still trying to get over the fact that their children are alien hybrids. We're going to break this news to them gently."
"Liz said she and Max talked about telling her parents, my parents, and Maria's Mom," said Alex. "They compromised. Liz is going to send her journal to her Father after we've gone, with a letter explaining everything. He'll be asked to show it to my Mom and Dad, and Maria's Mom, then burn it."
"What about our marriage?" asked Isabel. "Should we wait to break that news to our parents until then?"
"No," said Alex. "I think we should tell them after graduation tomorrow. We can sit your parents and my parents down and tell them. What do you say?"
"Good idea," said Isabel. Then, she leaned in, bringing her lips close to Alex's. "I'm damned tired of having to hide my wedding ring from the world. I want everyone to know, finally, that I am married to you."
She captured his lips in a passionate kiss. He returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Isabel and pulling her closer to him. Isabel climbed over the gear shift, and landed in Alex's lap. She then reached down and pulled back the lever to lower the driver's seat down.
"Oh, baby," said Alex, now flat on his back with Isabel laying flat on top of him. "Feeling horney tonight, I see!"
"Well, my husband is graduating from High School tomorrow," said Isabel. "I wanted to give him an early graduation present."
"Well, then," said Alex, reaching up to unbutton Isabel's blouse. "Let me unwrap it, and see what you've got for me."
End of Chapter Twenty-one. Chapter Twenty-two coming soon.
As you can see, some things are consistent with Season 3 of the show, but things are, of course, changed in ways because of the fact Alex is still alive. The story is about to enter into new territory here in many ways, so be sure to stay tuned to see what happens next. In the meantime, please keep those reviews coming. I appreciate all of the great feedback I've gotten so far, and would love to see any further comments you may have.