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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
About a week later, Alex, Isabel, Max, Liz, Michael, and Maria, all arrived safely in Santa Fe. They made frequent stops along the way, in order to give Isabel a chance to rest. Though she had been stronger than she was in the beginning, Isabel was now starting to feel weak again, perhaps indicating that the time for delivery was near. Everyone felt a lot better about that situation when they finally arrived in Santa Fe, and got Isabel, Liz, Alex, and Maria, ensconced in a hotel. They decided to splurge and rent a room at a lodge type hotel outside of Santa Fe, asking for the most isolate cabin at the lodge they could get. That way, Isabel could give birth there (if necessary) without attracting too much attention.
In the meantime, Liz finally was able to take a pregnancy test. It came back positive. Liz was, indeed, pregnant, and everyone was ecstatic about the prospect of another baby coming into their little family. Max, like Alex, was nervous about becoming a Father, but was at the same time thrilled that Liz was carrying his child.
About twelve hours after arriving in Santa Fe, Max and Michael proceeded alone to Roswell. They were planning to get to Valenti's home in Roswell at about 1 o'clock in the morning, hoping that Jim Valenti still lived in the same house.
Meanwhile, Alex, Isabel, Liz, and Maria, waited at the cabin they had rented. Isabel was sleeping, with Alex laying beside her on the bed watching TV. Meanwhile, Liz and Maria were sitting outside on the porch on quaint wooden chairs.
"I hope they'll be okay," said Maria.
"I'm sure they will," said Liz. "I just hope they find good news when they get there. Now that I'm having a child...I just can't imagine my parents not knowing their grandchild, you know."
"Don't worry, girl," said Maria. "Everything will work out."
Maria then kind of turned away and hung her head down. She had a funny look on her face, a mixture of frustration and sadness. Liz, knowing her friend well, knew that Maria seemed upset about something.
"What's wrong?" asked Liz. "Still worried about Michael?"
"I will be until they get back, but that's not the only thing," said Maria.
"What then?" asked Liz.
"Well, I just...with you having a baby, and Isabel having a baby," said Maria. "I mean, you and Max have been married for two and a half years now. Isabel and Alex have you guys beat in that department by a few months. Michael and I....we still haven't even gotten to the altar, and you guys are already having babies for Pete's sake!"
Maria got up from the chair and went over to a rail. She leaned down on the rail, and looked out on the beautiful desert scenery. Much to her surprise, Maria had actually missed the New Mexican desert where she had grown up, and had once wished she could leave behind.
"Have you tried talking to Michael about it?" asked Liz, who came up to lean on the rail beside her friend.
"He wants to change the subject when I bring up marriage," said Maria. "He says that we don't need some paper that says we are together. I guess he might be right, but..."
"But you still want to be married," said Liz.
"Yeah, I guess I do," said Maria. "Actually, on our last stop before getting here, I...kind of pushed the discussion with Michael. He told me to wait until he got back from Roswell, that he didn't want to be distracted by it. He'll probably come up with some other excuse when he gets back! You know, for all his bravado, he can be such a chicken shit sometimes!"
"I'm surprised this hasn't ever come up between you two before," said Liz.
"Well, I mean...before Isabel got pregnant, and now you, I never really put it foremost in my mind," said Maria. "I mean, Michael and I were together. We were actually HAPPY! I mean, I was, and I think Michael was. He tells me he loves me a lot more than he used to. He does these little...romantic things a lot more."
"So much for the old Michael, who tries to buy you generic shampoo, huh," said Liz.
Both girls giggled. "Yeah, he has come a long way," said Maria. "And maybe I should be happy with that, and take the rest at his pace."
"Maria, you two are in a relationship TOGETHER," said Liz. "It is perfectly reasonable for you to put some influence on the pace of where things go, and how they go."
"I know," said Maria. "Its just funny how it has become so urgent for me now. I guess I feel like Michael and I are behind the rest of you in the whole marriage and baby carriage stuff. I always figured we'd get married someday, but..."
"Someday isn't good enough anymore," said Liz.
Just then, they heard the door open behind them. Alex came rushing out of the door.
"LIZ!" said Alex. "I think you'd better come in here! Isabel has gone into labor!"
**
Max and Michael drove on in their car through the New Mexico night. It felt so surreal, for both of them, as they got within a few miles of Roswell. They had traveled these roads so much when they were young. They passed by the road side fast food stand where they used to eat sometimes. They drive past the turn off for the reservoir where the group met a couple of times during a crisis, where Isabel had her confrontation with Khivar. Even after having been gone for so long, they slipped right back into the mode of knowing exactly which way to go.
"We should be there in a half hour," said Max. "Maybe less, given that there won't be any cars on the road this late at night."
"Yeah, right," said Michael, sounding like he was half interested in what Max is saying.
"Michael!" said Max. "We could be driving into trouble here! Are you with me?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, its just...never mind, its stupid to talk about right now," said Michael.
"No way, spill it," said Max. "Whatever it is, I want you to get it off your chest before we get there."
"Its Maria," said Michael. "She was pressing me a day ago, about...marrying her. I think she is getting into this whole marriage kick because of the baby boom going on with Isabel and Liz."
"You don't think it might be because you two have been together for so long, and she wants a permanent commitment?" asked Max.
"I guess," said Michael. "Its just...I'm afraid I'll screw it up. I mean, what experience do I have with family? My child hood was not exactly 'Father Knows Best'. More like 'Father Knows Booze'."
"I don't know about that," said Max. "Maybe you don't have much experience with the nuclear family of mommy and daddy and all that, but...just think about me, Isabel, Alex, Liz, AND Maria. We're your family! And we like you. Well, most of the time."
Michael gave him a sardonic look. "Just kidding about that last part," said Max. "But, seriously. All you can do is give it your best shot. If you want my advice, I'd say take the risk. Maria loves you, and has for a while now. She knows who you are, what you are...good and bad. She still loves you. And I bet you think Maria has her flaws, too. Am I right?"
"A few," said Michael. "Nothing I can't live with."
"Do you love her?" asked Max.
"Yeah, I do," said Michael.
"Then what the hell are you waiting for?" asked Max.
Michael smiled, and looked at Max. "Thanks man," he said. "For some perspective. I'll...think about it."
"That's a start," said Max. "We're coming into town. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
They drove through the center of town. Everything was eerily quiet, no movement on the streets at all. It could have been a ghost town from Max's and Michael's perception. Then, they passed one car, filled with teenagers who looked like they were out past curfew drinking.
"Well, some of West Roswell High's finest," said Michael sarcastically.
As they drove through town, they passed the Crashdown. It looked the same as it always had, and it was an image that brought back a flood of memories back to Max and Michael. Max, in particular, could think of Liz working in the diner in her uniform, while he watched her outside. She would smile at him, and wave him in. He would enter, and be greeted by a kiss from the only girl he ever truly loved.
"Man, this is so weird being back," said Max. "But it feels...right, somehow. I feel like we're home."
"Let's hope it's a warm welcome home," said Michael.
They drove on through the night, finally turning down the street where the Valenti home was. As they approached the house, Max turned the headlights off so as not to wake anyone in the homes around them. They sat in the car for what seemed like an eternity, partly checking out their surroundings for suspicious people or things, but also out of trying to work up the courage to walk up to Valenti's door and reopen contact with Roswell.
"You know Max," whispered Michael. "We could just drive on into the night. No one would even know we were here. It might be safer if we did."
"We could," said Max. "But we've come this far. I say we go all the way."
"Then let's do it," said Michael.
The two young men got out of the car, and quietly closed the doors. They walked quietly up to the door to the house. Max held his hand up to the door to knock, hesitating a bit before finally closing his eyes and knocking.
There was no response from the inside at first. Max knocked again. They knew it might take a few minutes, given that Valenti was sure to be sleeping. Then, finally, they heard a click as the door was unlocked from the inside.
The door opened, and there stood Jim Valenti, a look of pure shock and awe on his face. "My God," he said. "Its really you. I...I saw you, through the peep hole, and...what are you doing here?"
"We need to talk to you," said Max. "We want to come home. And you can tell us if its safe to do that."
"Jim," said a female voice from inside.
Michael thought he recognized the voice, but he couldn't quite place it. Then, they saw the source of the voice come up behind Jim Valenti, the same look of shock plastered on her face.
"Mrs. Deluca!" said Michael. "What are you doing here?"
"Actually," she said. "Its...Mrs. Valenti, now."
She walked over and pulled Michael into her arms. He hugged her back, as she began to cry. "Welcome home," she said.
Jim, now finally shaken out of his state of shock, pulled Max into a hug. Then, he looked at them, and said. "Come inside," he said. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
"My Maria," said Amy Valenti. "How is she, Michael?"
"Fine," said Michael. "She, Liz, Isabel, and Alex are waiting in Santa Fe for word from us."
"Good thinking," said Jim. "I'm glad you didn't risk everyone, even though the danger has passed."
They all sat down, and readied themselves to exchange stories about what had been happening in the past two and a half years. "So, why did you two decide to come back now, after all of this time?" asked Amy.
"First, I just have to ask...you know..." said Max.
"Everything," said Amy. "I do, the Parkers, the Whitmans. We read Liz's journal she sent us. I've had some time to take it all in and process it. Jim here has told me some stories about what had really been going on, me...oblivious to most of it. It does explain some things, though. So...the reason for your return?"
"Isabel and Liz are pregnant," said Max.
"Oh my God!" said Amy. "That's wonderful! How far along are they?"
"Isabel will give birth any day now," said Max. "We just found out about Liz's pregnancy."
"Isabel's pregnancy has only lasted about a month," said Michael.
"That's right," said Jim. "I remember, when Tess was pregnant. Before she left, well, the planet. Well, that explains a lot about why you're coming home. Where have you been all this time?"
"We traveled around the country," said Max. "Finally, we settled in Bangor, Maine. We had to leave, when I had to heal someone. The FBI got word, and..."
"The Special Unit?" asked Jim.
"Yeah," said Michael.
"How many?" asked Jim.
"Four of them," said Michael. "Max and I took out three of them, Alex had to kill the other one."
"Alex did?" asked Amy.
"He brought his Father's gun with him," said Max. "It was kill the agent, or the agent would have killed Isabel...and her baby."
"My God," said Amy.
"So all four of them are dead?" asked Jim.
"As door nails," said Michael.
"Well, then...you're troubles with the Feds might be mainly over," said Jim.
"How's that?" asked Max.
"Well, for starters, I'm Sheriff here in Roswell again," said Jim. "Hanson got hired on as a security consultant for some Microchip company operating outside of Albuquerque. The town council decided, on Hanson's recommendation, that they give me another shot at the job. Naturally, I took it. Anyhow, getting back to the Feds. I've been working with Agent Duff. Remember her?"
"Oh yeah," said Michael. "The agent who was out to get you, then helped you and us out in Arizona with that whole alien jellyfish fiasco."
"Right," said Valenti. "I...took a risk, and let her in on the secret. I mainly told her about Topolsky, what had happened to her. Along with the stuff Pierce did to you, Max...how he tried to kill all of you. I felt I could trust her, because she never told her superiors about what happened in Arizona. She also went to the bat to clear me of any connection to wrong doing with the Federal authorities. Luckily, my risk paid off. She was horrified by it all, especially how they tried to assassinate you at your own High School graduation. Your Father, Max, was a lot of help in that area, too. He raised quite a stink about FBI agents with machine guns charging into a High School graduation ceremony. It gave Duff some leverage to work at the FBI in rooting out what was left of the Special Unit."
"What I never got was how the Special Unit came back," said Max. "I thought that when Nasedo posed as Agent Pierce, he discredited them and their work."
"Well, there was no Special Unit per se," said Jim. "It had been disbanded, discredited, and had actually become a major embarrassment to the FBI. The agents who came after you were acting without agency sanction. They had lied to their superiors to get the tactical support for the operation. Apparently, some people in the Air Force were able to contact the remaining former Special Unit members, and get them on your scent. Anyhow, Duff was able to start a major investigation. Several people were fired from the Bureau. But there were four of them who managed to escape major charges, though they were demoted and severely reprimanded. They were separated, posted at different field offices."
"But now that they're dead, won't it raise some questions, more trouble?" asked Max.
Jim nodded. "It might. I'll have to contact Duff, tell her what happened."
"Has she told anyone about our secret?" asked Michael.
"No," said Jim. "She doesn't want you guys hurt. She sees you as innocent of wrong doing. She was able to get her superiors to go after the rogues because they had brought down some major public embarrassment to the Bureau, and were guilty of lying to their superiors about the reasons for their operation in Roswell that caused you to skip town."
"Okay," said Max. "So, you think the odds are good we can come back?"
"Yeah," said Jim. "But, let's talk to Duff first, before bringing the others to town. Just to be safe. Also, there is one other thing I need to tell you. Its about Kyle and Tess."
"What about them?" asked Michael.
"They're back in town," said Jim. "Have been for a year now."
"WHAT?!" said Max, as he looked at Michael in shock. "What about the military? They were after them..."
"Well, the military never really got a good ID on who they were," said Jim. "They stayed well away from Roswell, though, because they knew that the Air Force must have had a general description of Tess at least. But they finally decided to come home after a year and a half."
"What does Duff say about them?" asked Michael. "She know for sure if the military has a good ID on them."
"Duff doesn't know about that part of it," said Jim. "Her involvement with the deaths at the military base. She doesn't have military clearance, and I didn't give her any info on that. I did it mainly to protect Tess. After all, she did kill military personnel, and..."
"To protect TESS!" said Max. "After all she has done! Why?"
"Because, Max," said Jim. "Tess is my son's wife."
"His wife?" said Michael. "Kyle married Tess!"
"While they were on the road," said Jim. "In Las Vegas, to be exact. Look, I'm not saying Tess hasn't done some bad things, and I know how you all feel about her. But...she lived in my house for months. She became like my daughter. And now, she's my daughter-in-law. Kyle loves her, and she loves him. She's changed, Max."
"I don't believe it," said Michael. "She probably mind warped Kyle..."
"No, no mind warp," said Jim. "She really has changed, fellas."
"Its true," said Amy. "I've spent a lot of time with her. She and Kyle....they are SO happy together. If you saw them..."
"How do we know you're not ALL mind warped?" asked Michael. "What if Tess..."
"When Kyle ran off with Tess," said Jim. "Was he mind warped then?"
"I don't think so," said Max. "And Alex did say that he felt Kyle had strong feelings for Tess, even after he found out what Tess had done to Alex. I still don't trust her."
"Well, if you are going to come back to Roswell, you are going to have to make some kind of peace with Tess and Kyle," said Jim. "He is still your friend, and Tess...well, she wants peace. I TRULLY believe that. Especially now that....Tess is pregnant. We just found out this week."
"Great," said Michael sarcastically. "The alien stork has made a deposit here, too."
"Where are Kyle and Tess?" asked Max.
"Kyle is at work," said Jim. "Believe it or not, he's now one of my deputies."
"Kyle's a cop?" asked Michael.
"I thought he didn't want to have anything to do with a badge," said Max.
"Well, just like Tess changed," said Jim. "I guess Kyle did, too. As for Tess, well, she's..."
"Right here," said a voice from the second bedroom.
The group turned to see Tess, standing in the doorway. "Hello, Max, Michael," she said quietly. "Welcome home."
End of Chapter Twenty-Eight. Chapter Twenty-Nine coming soon.
Well, Max and Michael found some surprises when they got back, didn't they? And now it looks like Isabel is going to have her baby. Big things coming up, folks. Don't miss the next installment to find out what happens next. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
About a week later, Alex, Isabel, Max, Liz, Michael, and Maria, all arrived safely in Santa Fe. They made frequent stops along the way, in order to give Isabel a chance to rest. Though she had been stronger than she was in the beginning, Isabel was now starting to feel weak again, perhaps indicating that the time for delivery was near. Everyone felt a lot better about that situation when they finally arrived in Santa Fe, and got Isabel, Liz, Alex, and Maria, ensconced in a hotel. They decided to splurge and rent a room at a lodge type hotel outside of Santa Fe, asking for the most isolate cabin at the lodge they could get. That way, Isabel could give birth there (if necessary) without attracting too much attention.
In the meantime, Liz finally was able to take a pregnancy test. It came back positive. Liz was, indeed, pregnant, and everyone was ecstatic about the prospect of another baby coming into their little family. Max, like Alex, was nervous about becoming a Father, but was at the same time thrilled that Liz was carrying his child.
About twelve hours after arriving in Santa Fe, Max and Michael proceeded alone to Roswell. They were planning to get to Valenti's home in Roswell at about 1 o'clock in the morning, hoping that Jim Valenti still lived in the same house.
Meanwhile, Alex, Isabel, Liz, and Maria, waited at the cabin they had rented. Isabel was sleeping, with Alex laying beside her on the bed watching TV. Meanwhile, Liz and Maria were sitting outside on the porch on quaint wooden chairs.
"I hope they'll be okay," said Maria.
"I'm sure they will," said Liz. "I just hope they find good news when they get there. Now that I'm having a child...I just can't imagine my parents not knowing their grandchild, you know."
"Don't worry, girl," said Maria. "Everything will work out."
Maria then kind of turned away and hung her head down. She had a funny look on her face, a mixture of frustration and sadness. Liz, knowing her friend well, knew that Maria seemed upset about something.
"What's wrong?" asked Liz. "Still worried about Michael?"
"I will be until they get back, but that's not the only thing," said Maria.
"What then?" asked Liz.
"Well, I just...with you having a baby, and Isabel having a baby," said Maria. "I mean, you and Max have been married for two and a half years now. Isabel and Alex have you guys beat in that department by a few months. Michael and I....we still haven't even gotten to the altar, and you guys are already having babies for Pete's sake!"
Maria got up from the chair and went over to a rail. She leaned down on the rail, and looked out on the beautiful desert scenery. Much to her surprise, Maria had actually missed the New Mexican desert where she had grown up, and had once wished she could leave behind.
"Have you tried talking to Michael about it?" asked Liz, who came up to lean on the rail beside her friend.
"He wants to change the subject when I bring up marriage," said Maria. "He says that we don't need some paper that says we are together. I guess he might be right, but..."
"But you still want to be married," said Liz.
"Yeah, I guess I do," said Maria. "Actually, on our last stop before getting here, I...kind of pushed the discussion with Michael. He told me to wait until he got back from Roswell, that he didn't want to be distracted by it. He'll probably come up with some other excuse when he gets back! You know, for all his bravado, he can be such a chicken shit sometimes!"
"I'm surprised this hasn't ever come up between you two before," said Liz.
"Well, I mean...before Isabel got pregnant, and now you, I never really put it foremost in my mind," said Maria. "I mean, Michael and I were together. We were actually HAPPY! I mean, I was, and I think Michael was. He tells me he loves me a lot more than he used to. He does these little...romantic things a lot more."
"So much for the old Michael, who tries to buy you generic shampoo, huh," said Liz.
Both girls giggled. "Yeah, he has come a long way," said Maria. "And maybe I should be happy with that, and take the rest at his pace."
"Maria, you two are in a relationship TOGETHER," said Liz. "It is perfectly reasonable for you to put some influence on the pace of where things go, and how they go."
"I know," said Maria. "Its just funny how it has become so urgent for me now. I guess I feel like Michael and I are behind the rest of you in the whole marriage and baby carriage stuff. I always figured we'd get married someday, but..."
"Someday isn't good enough anymore," said Liz.
Just then, they heard the door open behind them. Alex came rushing out of the door.
"LIZ!" said Alex. "I think you'd better come in here! Isabel has gone into labor!"
**
Max and Michael drove on in their car through the New Mexico night. It felt so surreal, for both of them, as they got within a few miles of Roswell. They had traveled these roads so much when they were young. They passed by the road side fast food stand where they used to eat sometimes. They drive past the turn off for the reservoir where the group met a couple of times during a crisis, where Isabel had her confrontation with Khivar. Even after having been gone for so long, they slipped right back into the mode of knowing exactly which way to go.
"We should be there in a half hour," said Max. "Maybe less, given that there won't be any cars on the road this late at night."
"Yeah, right," said Michael, sounding like he was half interested in what Max is saying.
"Michael!" said Max. "We could be driving into trouble here! Are you with me?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, its just...never mind, its stupid to talk about right now," said Michael.
"No way, spill it," said Max. "Whatever it is, I want you to get it off your chest before we get there."
"Its Maria," said Michael. "She was pressing me a day ago, about...marrying her. I think she is getting into this whole marriage kick because of the baby boom going on with Isabel and Liz."
"You don't think it might be because you two have been together for so long, and she wants a permanent commitment?" asked Max.
"I guess," said Michael. "Its just...I'm afraid I'll screw it up. I mean, what experience do I have with family? My child hood was not exactly 'Father Knows Best'. More like 'Father Knows Booze'."
"I don't know about that," said Max. "Maybe you don't have much experience with the nuclear family of mommy and daddy and all that, but...just think about me, Isabel, Alex, Liz, AND Maria. We're your family! And we like you. Well, most of the time."
Michael gave him a sardonic look. "Just kidding about that last part," said Max. "But, seriously. All you can do is give it your best shot. If you want my advice, I'd say take the risk. Maria loves you, and has for a while now. She knows who you are, what you are...good and bad. She still loves you. And I bet you think Maria has her flaws, too. Am I right?"
"A few," said Michael. "Nothing I can't live with."
"Do you love her?" asked Max.
"Yeah, I do," said Michael.
"Then what the hell are you waiting for?" asked Max.
Michael smiled, and looked at Max. "Thanks man," he said. "For some perspective. I'll...think about it."
"That's a start," said Max. "We're coming into town. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
They drove through the center of town. Everything was eerily quiet, no movement on the streets at all. It could have been a ghost town from Max's and Michael's perception. Then, they passed one car, filled with teenagers who looked like they were out past curfew drinking.
"Well, some of West Roswell High's finest," said Michael sarcastically.
As they drove through town, they passed the Crashdown. It looked the same as it always had, and it was an image that brought back a flood of memories back to Max and Michael. Max, in particular, could think of Liz working in the diner in her uniform, while he watched her outside. She would smile at him, and wave him in. He would enter, and be greeted by a kiss from the only girl he ever truly loved.
"Man, this is so weird being back," said Max. "But it feels...right, somehow. I feel like we're home."
"Let's hope it's a warm welcome home," said Michael.
They drove on through the night, finally turning down the street where the Valenti home was. As they approached the house, Max turned the headlights off so as not to wake anyone in the homes around them. They sat in the car for what seemed like an eternity, partly checking out their surroundings for suspicious people or things, but also out of trying to work up the courage to walk up to Valenti's door and reopen contact with Roswell.
"You know Max," whispered Michael. "We could just drive on into the night. No one would even know we were here. It might be safer if we did."
"We could," said Max. "But we've come this far. I say we go all the way."
"Then let's do it," said Michael.
The two young men got out of the car, and quietly closed the doors. They walked quietly up to the door to the house. Max held his hand up to the door to knock, hesitating a bit before finally closing his eyes and knocking.
There was no response from the inside at first. Max knocked again. They knew it might take a few minutes, given that Valenti was sure to be sleeping. Then, finally, they heard a click as the door was unlocked from the inside.
The door opened, and there stood Jim Valenti, a look of pure shock and awe on his face. "My God," he said. "Its really you. I...I saw you, through the peep hole, and...what are you doing here?"
"We need to talk to you," said Max. "We want to come home. And you can tell us if its safe to do that."
"Jim," said a female voice from inside.
Michael thought he recognized the voice, but he couldn't quite place it. Then, they saw the source of the voice come up behind Jim Valenti, the same look of shock plastered on her face.
"Mrs. Deluca!" said Michael. "What are you doing here?"
"Actually," she said. "Its...Mrs. Valenti, now."
She walked over and pulled Michael into her arms. He hugged her back, as she began to cry. "Welcome home," she said.
Jim, now finally shaken out of his state of shock, pulled Max into a hug. Then, he looked at them, and said. "Come inside," he said. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
"My Maria," said Amy Valenti. "How is she, Michael?"
"Fine," said Michael. "She, Liz, Isabel, and Alex are waiting in Santa Fe for word from us."
"Good thinking," said Jim. "I'm glad you didn't risk everyone, even though the danger has passed."
They all sat down, and readied themselves to exchange stories about what had been happening in the past two and a half years. "So, why did you two decide to come back now, after all of this time?" asked Amy.
"First, I just have to ask...you know..." said Max.
"Everything," said Amy. "I do, the Parkers, the Whitmans. We read Liz's journal she sent us. I've had some time to take it all in and process it. Jim here has told me some stories about what had really been going on, me...oblivious to most of it. It does explain some things, though. So...the reason for your return?"
"Isabel and Liz are pregnant," said Max.
"Oh my God!" said Amy. "That's wonderful! How far along are they?"
"Isabel will give birth any day now," said Max. "We just found out about Liz's pregnancy."
"Isabel's pregnancy has only lasted about a month," said Michael.
"That's right," said Jim. "I remember, when Tess was pregnant. Before she left, well, the planet. Well, that explains a lot about why you're coming home. Where have you been all this time?"
"We traveled around the country," said Max. "Finally, we settled in Bangor, Maine. We had to leave, when I had to heal someone. The FBI got word, and..."
"The Special Unit?" asked Jim.
"Yeah," said Michael.
"How many?" asked Jim.
"Four of them," said Michael. "Max and I took out three of them, Alex had to kill the other one."
"Alex did?" asked Amy.
"He brought his Father's gun with him," said Max. "It was kill the agent, or the agent would have killed Isabel...and her baby."
"My God," said Amy.
"So all four of them are dead?" asked Jim.
"As door nails," said Michael.
"Well, then...you're troubles with the Feds might be mainly over," said Jim.
"How's that?" asked Max.
"Well, for starters, I'm Sheriff here in Roswell again," said Jim. "Hanson got hired on as a security consultant for some Microchip company operating outside of Albuquerque. The town council decided, on Hanson's recommendation, that they give me another shot at the job. Naturally, I took it. Anyhow, getting back to the Feds. I've been working with Agent Duff. Remember her?"
"Oh yeah," said Michael. "The agent who was out to get you, then helped you and us out in Arizona with that whole alien jellyfish fiasco."
"Right," said Valenti. "I...took a risk, and let her in on the secret. I mainly told her about Topolsky, what had happened to her. Along with the stuff Pierce did to you, Max...how he tried to kill all of you. I felt I could trust her, because she never told her superiors about what happened in Arizona. She also went to the bat to clear me of any connection to wrong doing with the Federal authorities. Luckily, my risk paid off. She was horrified by it all, especially how they tried to assassinate you at your own High School graduation. Your Father, Max, was a lot of help in that area, too. He raised quite a stink about FBI agents with machine guns charging into a High School graduation ceremony. It gave Duff some leverage to work at the FBI in rooting out what was left of the Special Unit."
"What I never got was how the Special Unit came back," said Max. "I thought that when Nasedo posed as Agent Pierce, he discredited them and their work."
"Well, there was no Special Unit per se," said Jim. "It had been disbanded, discredited, and had actually become a major embarrassment to the FBI. The agents who came after you were acting without agency sanction. They had lied to their superiors to get the tactical support for the operation. Apparently, some people in the Air Force were able to contact the remaining former Special Unit members, and get them on your scent. Anyhow, Duff was able to start a major investigation. Several people were fired from the Bureau. But there were four of them who managed to escape major charges, though they were demoted and severely reprimanded. They were separated, posted at different field offices."
"But now that they're dead, won't it raise some questions, more trouble?" asked Max.
Jim nodded. "It might. I'll have to contact Duff, tell her what happened."
"Has she told anyone about our secret?" asked Michael.
"No," said Jim. "She doesn't want you guys hurt. She sees you as innocent of wrong doing. She was able to get her superiors to go after the rogues because they had brought down some major public embarrassment to the Bureau, and were guilty of lying to their superiors about the reasons for their operation in Roswell that caused you to skip town."
"Okay," said Max. "So, you think the odds are good we can come back?"
"Yeah," said Jim. "But, let's talk to Duff first, before bringing the others to town. Just to be safe. Also, there is one other thing I need to tell you. Its about Kyle and Tess."
"What about them?" asked Michael.
"They're back in town," said Jim. "Have been for a year now."
"WHAT?!" said Max, as he looked at Michael in shock. "What about the military? They were after them..."
"Well, the military never really got a good ID on who they were," said Jim. "They stayed well away from Roswell, though, because they knew that the Air Force must have had a general description of Tess at least. But they finally decided to come home after a year and a half."
"What does Duff say about them?" asked Michael. "She know for sure if the military has a good ID on them."
"Duff doesn't know about that part of it," said Jim. "Her involvement with the deaths at the military base. She doesn't have military clearance, and I didn't give her any info on that. I did it mainly to protect Tess. After all, she did kill military personnel, and..."
"To protect TESS!" said Max. "After all she has done! Why?"
"Because, Max," said Jim. "Tess is my son's wife."
"His wife?" said Michael. "Kyle married Tess!"
"While they were on the road," said Jim. "In Las Vegas, to be exact. Look, I'm not saying Tess hasn't done some bad things, and I know how you all feel about her. But...she lived in my house for months. She became like my daughter. And now, she's my daughter-in-law. Kyle loves her, and she loves him. She's changed, Max."
"I don't believe it," said Michael. "She probably mind warped Kyle..."
"No, no mind warp," said Jim. "She really has changed, fellas."
"Its true," said Amy. "I've spent a lot of time with her. She and Kyle....they are SO happy together. If you saw them..."
"How do we know you're not ALL mind warped?" asked Michael. "What if Tess..."
"When Kyle ran off with Tess," said Jim. "Was he mind warped then?"
"I don't think so," said Max. "And Alex did say that he felt Kyle had strong feelings for Tess, even after he found out what Tess had done to Alex. I still don't trust her."
"Well, if you are going to come back to Roswell, you are going to have to make some kind of peace with Tess and Kyle," said Jim. "He is still your friend, and Tess...well, she wants peace. I TRULLY believe that. Especially now that....Tess is pregnant. We just found out this week."
"Great," said Michael sarcastically. "The alien stork has made a deposit here, too."
"Where are Kyle and Tess?" asked Max.
"Kyle is at work," said Jim. "Believe it or not, he's now one of my deputies."
"Kyle's a cop?" asked Michael.
"I thought he didn't want to have anything to do with a badge," said Max.
"Well, just like Tess changed," said Jim. "I guess Kyle did, too. As for Tess, well, she's..."
"Right here," said a voice from the second bedroom.
The group turned to see Tess, standing in the doorway. "Hello, Max, Michael," she said quietly. "Welcome home."
End of Chapter Twenty-Eight. Chapter Twenty-Nine coming soon.
Well, Max and Michael found some surprises when they got back, didn't they? And now it looks like Isabel is going to have her baby. Big things coming up, folks. Don't miss the next installment to find out what happens next. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.