******************************
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:
A month after Alex, Isabel, baby Kevin, Liz, and Maria returned to Roswell, they (along with Max and Michael) were trying to decide what to do with their lives now that they were home. Max and Liz were going to enroll at the University and go to school, while Liz worked at the Crashdown for her Father, only this time as an assistant manager. Max was going to work at the University in the library in order to contribute financially to his little family, which would include a baby before long. They got an apartment in town, even though both the Parkers and the Evans offered to have them come live with them.
Maria was also considering what to do about school as well, but was more focused on convincing Michael that they should get married. The latter would only say he was thinking about it every time Maria, or her Mother, brought it up. Both of them were now working at the Crashdown in their old jobs, and were renting an apartment in the same building Michael used to live in.
In the meantime, Tess finally gave birth to a daughter. She and Kyle named the baby girl Lisa. They, along with Jim and Amy Valenti, were ecstatic at the baby's birth, but even the arrival of baby Lisa had not repaired the rift between her parents and the others.
Alex and Isabel were walking down the sidewalk, heading towards the Crashdown for lunch, and were talking about their future, while pushing baby Kevin in a stroller. He had just gotten a job working for a software company in Las Cruces, while at the same time going to school there. He and Isabel also came to the decision that they would get a place there, since it wasn't too far from Roswell.
"I think this job is going to work out fine," said Alex. "Its basically the same kind of job I had in Bangor. I'll have to work nights two days out of the week, but the hours will be flexible with my class schedule at the University. I am so glad my parents have that college fund for me to go to school with, so the money I make working can go to supporting you and Kevin."
"That's great," said Isabel, kissing Alex on the cheek. "I am so glad you were able to get that job. Of course, how could they turn you down? You are the best computer whiz there is!"
"Well, enough about me," said Alex. "Have you decided when you want to go back to school?"
"I have, actually," said Isabel. "Alex, I've decided that I don't want to go back to school, at least for a few years."
"Why?" asked Alex. "Isabel, your parents are going to pay for your college, too. And if it's the baby, then..."
"Actually, it is," said Isabel. "Alex, I've decided I want to be a stay at home Mother. I want my job to be Kevin's Mommy and your wife. I want to be there for Kevin myself, not dump him on day care or baby sitters because I'm working or going to school."
"Isabel, are you sure?" asked Alex. "I mean, you are so smart. You have so much potential. I just don't want to see you give up any of your dreams."
"Alex, I am living my dream now," said Isabel. "At least, the dream that matters to me. I am married to a great man, I have a beautiful baby. I have something worthwhile-raising my baby. That's what I want my focus to be on. That, and being your wife. I'll go back to school someday, but that's not my priority right now. Right now, being a stay at home Mom for Kevin and being your wife is all I want. At least until Kevin goes off to Kindergarten. Then, I'll go back to school."
Alex chuckled. "Isabel Whitman as June Cleaver. I just can't picture it."
"No," said Isabel. "Isabel Whitman wants to be Isabel Whitman. This is who I want to be, Alex. Will you support me on this?"
"Hey," said Alex, turning to put his arms around Isabel. "If that's what you want, then you've got it."
**
Sheriff Valenti came home from work to find Amy and Maria sitting on the couch, deep in conversation about something. "Hey," he said. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
"Oh, hi, Jim!" said Amy, who got up and welcomed her husband home with a kiss. "How's work?"
"Oh, just another slow day in Roswell," said Jim. "Hi, Maria."
"Hi, Sheriff," said Maria, with a glum tone.
"Now, I told you to call me Jim," he said, as he hung up his coat and took off his gun belt.
"I know," said Maria. "I just...can't bring myself to call you that. You've always been the Sheriff to me."
"Even when we and Alex did that number on stage together when I was singing with the Kit Shickers," said Jim with a smile.
"Okay," said Maria, with a slight smile. "Most of the time, you were the Sheriff to me."
Jim came over and sat down in a chair opposite of Maria. "You seem kind of down," he said. "Something wrong?"
"Maria talked to Michael about getting married again," said Amy, who sat back down next to Maria on the couch. "He said he is still thinking about it."
"I'm starting to think HE is going to be 'thinking about it' until the next decade," said Maria.
"Well, what's got him so hung up about it?" asked Jim. "If he loves ya, he should marry you."
"Well, beyond the fact that he is not exactly the poster child for commitment," said Maria, with a slight chuckle.
"I can kind of understand where he's coming from," said Jim. "Considering how he grew up."
"But the other thing is that he feels like he's...I don't know, not a good person for me to marry," said Maria. "High school drop out, no job prospects beyond being a short order cook. None of that matters to me, though."
Jim was silent for a moment, apparently thinking about something. Then, he spoke again. "So his main concern is his ability to support you, support a family, it seems."
"I have to admit it is something he should be concerned about," said Amy. "I mean, they say love is all you need, but you do need a sense of stability. Of course, before I married Jim, I didn't really have that much of a good track record with stability."
"Don't sell yourself short, Amy," said Jim.
"He's right," said Maria. "Through good times and bad, you were there for me. We made do, always had food on the table. You were a great Mom."
"Thanks, honey," said Amy, kissing her daughter on the cheek.
"And I think Michael and I could do the same," said Maria. "We could work things out together."
"You know," said Jim. "I have an idea. Let me talk to Michael about it. I think I might be able to help him make his mind up."
"Oh, no," said Maria. "You aren't going to start being this, like, protective Daddy or something for me, are you. Try to pound him into marrying me or letting me go, because if that's it..."
"Maria," said Jim. "Trust me."
***
Max and Liz were coming out of the Crashdown that night, on their way to go and see a movie. Liz had just closed up the diner, so the place was deserted by the time they left. As they walked towards their car, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Both Max and Liz recognized who it was immediately.
"Tess," said Liz.
"What do you want?" asked Max in a cold tone.
"I want to talk to you," said Tess. "I NEED to talk to you."
"Shouldn't you be in bed," said Liz. "You just gave birth to a baby a couple of days ago, after all."
"I'm fine," said Tess. "Thanks for asking though. The baby is with Amy. I wanted to...talk to Max about something."
"I don't have anything to say to you," said Max. "I thought we had agreed that you were going to stay away from us, and we were going to stay away from you."
"Max, I have to know something," said Tess. "I was looking...at my daughter, this afternoon. She was...sleeping in her crib. I remembered the look on Kyle's face when he first saw his daughter. He was crying. He felt so...proud, happy. I was, too."
"The Sheriff, I know, has been flying high about it, too," said Liz, trying to be pleasant. "He's a proud Grandfather, I know. He told us...you and Kyle named the baby Lisa."
"That's right," said Tess. "Anyhow, I was thinking about her, and...I was thinking about the night...I brought baby Zahn to you, Max. I was trying to remember what you looked like...when you saw your son for the first time. I was trying to recall how you seemed to feel about the baby. I know...you hated me, and for good reason."
"Using the word 'hate' in the past tense is not exactly the correct context," said Max.
"Max," said Liz, in rebuke. "Please, I have just as much reason to hate Tess, too. But, let's try to be civil."
"WHY?!" said Max. "I can't believe she has just weaseled her way back into a life here! After all she did!"
"Look, I know you don't like me!" said Tess. "But I have to know something. Dad...Jim, told me about you putting Zahn up for adoption! I was so angry at first! You had given away our baby like he was NOTHING!"
"NOTHING!" said Max. "How dare you?!! You were the one who had run out on the baby!!"
"Because I knew he would be taken care of!" said Tess. "And you just gave him away! For a long time, I was angry with you! For just giving our baby up! But then, Kyle...talked to me about it. He helped me to see, that it was for the best. Especially considering what happened shortly after Kyle and I left, when the FBI came after you. I just...wanted to know, for my own sake. Max...did you feel anything at all, for the baby? Was it hard to give him up?"
Max was silent for a moment, anger turning his face red. "You have no RIGHT to ask me that!" he yelled. "You were the one who deceived me, who made sure that baby was conceived out of a LIE!! But to answer your question, yes it was! It was DAMNED HARD to give that baby up! Are you happy now?!"
"Tess," said Liz, in a calm, conciliatory tone. "Max's Dad...made sure the baby was in good hands. He was adopted by a good family. But, I really don't think it would be good for you to try and get him back now, after over two and a half years, if that's what your thinking."
"No," said Tess. "I just...wanted to hear it from Max, that...he...I don't know. Maybe it was a mistake for me to come here. I just...I just wanted to know."
As tears began to fall down her face, Tess ran away from Max and Liz across the street. Just then, a car came swerving around the corner in an erratic fashion. There was no time for Tess to react. Max and Liz watched in horror as the car plowed into Tess, sending her limp form spiraling to the ground with tremendous force. The driver backed up, and then sped off down the street, as Max and Liz ran over to Tess.
"TESS!" yelled Liz. "Max, is she...!"
"Max," she whispered. "Tell Kyle...and my baby...I love them."
End of Chapter Thirty-one. Chapter Thirty-two coming soon.
Ah, another cliffhanger. Will Tess live or die? What will happen as a result of this incident? How is Jim Valenti going to help convince Michael to marry Maria? Find out by tuning in for the next installment. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:
A month after Alex, Isabel, baby Kevin, Liz, and Maria returned to Roswell, they (along with Max and Michael) were trying to decide what to do with their lives now that they were home. Max and Liz were going to enroll at the University and go to school, while Liz worked at the Crashdown for her Father, only this time as an assistant manager. Max was going to work at the University in the library in order to contribute financially to his little family, which would include a baby before long. They got an apartment in town, even though both the Parkers and the Evans offered to have them come live with them.
Maria was also considering what to do about school as well, but was more focused on convincing Michael that they should get married. The latter would only say he was thinking about it every time Maria, or her Mother, brought it up. Both of them were now working at the Crashdown in their old jobs, and were renting an apartment in the same building Michael used to live in.
In the meantime, Tess finally gave birth to a daughter. She and Kyle named the baby girl Lisa. They, along with Jim and Amy Valenti, were ecstatic at the baby's birth, but even the arrival of baby Lisa had not repaired the rift between her parents and the others.
Alex and Isabel were walking down the sidewalk, heading towards the Crashdown for lunch, and were talking about their future, while pushing baby Kevin in a stroller. He had just gotten a job working for a software company in Las Cruces, while at the same time going to school there. He and Isabel also came to the decision that they would get a place there, since it wasn't too far from Roswell.
"I think this job is going to work out fine," said Alex. "Its basically the same kind of job I had in Bangor. I'll have to work nights two days out of the week, but the hours will be flexible with my class schedule at the University. I am so glad my parents have that college fund for me to go to school with, so the money I make working can go to supporting you and Kevin."
"That's great," said Isabel, kissing Alex on the cheek. "I am so glad you were able to get that job. Of course, how could they turn you down? You are the best computer whiz there is!"
"Well, enough about me," said Alex. "Have you decided when you want to go back to school?"
"I have, actually," said Isabel. "Alex, I've decided that I don't want to go back to school, at least for a few years."
"Why?" asked Alex. "Isabel, your parents are going to pay for your college, too. And if it's the baby, then..."
"Actually, it is," said Isabel. "Alex, I've decided I want to be a stay at home Mother. I want my job to be Kevin's Mommy and your wife. I want to be there for Kevin myself, not dump him on day care or baby sitters because I'm working or going to school."
"Isabel, are you sure?" asked Alex. "I mean, you are so smart. You have so much potential. I just don't want to see you give up any of your dreams."
"Alex, I am living my dream now," said Isabel. "At least, the dream that matters to me. I am married to a great man, I have a beautiful baby. I have something worthwhile-raising my baby. That's what I want my focus to be on. That, and being your wife. I'll go back to school someday, but that's not my priority right now. Right now, being a stay at home Mom for Kevin and being your wife is all I want. At least until Kevin goes off to Kindergarten. Then, I'll go back to school."
Alex chuckled. "Isabel Whitman as June Cleaver. I just can't picture it."
"No," said Isabel. "Isabel Whitman wants to be Isabel Whitman. This is who I want to be, Alex. Will you support me on this?"
"Hey," said Alex, turning to put his arms around Isabel. "If that's what you want, then you've got it."
**
Sheriff Valenti came home from work to find Amy and Maria sitting on the couch, deep in conversation about something. "Hey," he said. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
"Oh, hi, Jim!" said Amy, who got up and welcomed her husband home with a kiss. "How's work?"
"Oh, just another slow day in Roswell," said Jim. "Hi, Maria."
"Hi, Sheriff," said Maria, with a glum tone.
"Now, I told you to call me Jim," he said, as he hung up his coat and took off his gun belt.
"I know," said Maria. "I just...can't bring myself to call you that. You've always been the Sheriff to me."
"Even when we and Alex did that number on stage together when I was singing with the Kit Shickers," said Jim with a smile.
"Okay," said Maria, with a slight smile. "Most of the time, you were the Sheriff to me."
Jim came over and sat down in a chair opposite of Maria. "You seem kind of down," he said. "Something wrong?"
"Maria talked to Michael about getting married again," said Amy, who sat back down next to Maria on the couch. "He said he is still thinking about it."
"I'm starting to think HE is going to be 'thinking about it' until the next decade," said Maria.
"Well, what's got him so hung up about it?" asked Jim. "If he loves ya, he should marry you."
"Well, beyond the fact that he is not exactly the poster child for commitment," said Maria, with a slight chuckle.
"I can kind of understand where he's coming from," said Jim. "Considering how he grew up."
"But the other thing is that he feels like he's...I don't know, not a good person for me to marry," said Maria. "High school drop out, no job prospects beyond being a short order cook. None of that matters to me, though."
Jim was silent for a moment, apparently thinking about something. Then, he spoke again. "So his main concern is his ability to support you, support a family, it seems."
"I have to admit it is something he should be concerned about," said Amy. "I mean, they say love is all you need, but you do need a sense of stability. Of course, before I married Jim, I didn't really have that much of a good track record with stability."
"Don't sell yourself short, Amy," said Jim.
"He's right," said Maria. "Through good times and bad, you were there for me. We made do, always had food on the table. You were a great Mom."
"Thanks, honey," said Amy, kissing her daughter on the cheek.
"And I think Michael and I could do the same," said Maria. "We could work things out together."
"You know," said Jim. "I have an idea. Let me talk to Michael about it. I think I might be able to help him make his mind up."
"Oh, no," said Maria. "You aren't going to start being this, like, protective Daddy or something for me, are you. Try to pound him into marrying me or letting me go, because if that's it..."
"Maria," said Jim. "Trust me."
***
Max and Liz were coming out of the Crashdown that night, on their way to go and see a movie. Liz had just closed up the diner, so the place was deserted by the time they left. As they walked towards their car, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Both Max and Liz recognized who it was immediately.
"Tess," said Liz.
"What do you want?" asked Max in a cold tone.
"I want to talk to you," said Tess. "I NEED to talk to you."
"Shouldn't you be in bed," said Liz. "You just gave birth to a baby a couple of days ago, after all."
"I'm fine," said Tess. "Thanks for asking though. The baby is with Amy. I wanted to...talk to Max about something."
"I don't have anything to say to you," said Max. "I thought we had agreed that you were going to stay away from us, and we were going to stay away from you."
"Max, I have to know something," said Tess. "I was looking...at my daughter, this afternoon. She was...sleeping in her crib. I remembered the look on Kyle's face when he first saw his daughter. He was crying. He felt so...proud, happy. I was, too."
"The Sheriff, I know, has been flying high about it, too," said Liz, trying to be pleasant. "He's a proud Grandfather, I know. He told us...you and Kyle named the baby Lisa."
"That's right," said Tess. "Anyhow, I was thinking about her, and...I was thinking about the night...I brought baby Zahn to you, Max. I was trying to remember what you looked like...when you saw your son for the first time. I was trying to recall how you seemed to feel about the baby. I know...you hated me, and for good reason."
"Using the word 'hate' in the past tense is not exactly the correct context," said Max.
"Max," said Liz, in rebuke. "Please, I have just as much reason to hate Tess, too. But, let's try to be civil."
"WHY?!" said Max. "I can't believe she has just weaseled her way back into a life here! After all she did!"
"Look, I know you don't like me!" said Tess. "But I have to know something. Dad...Jim, told me about you putting Zahn up for adoption! I was so angry at first! You had given away our baby like he was NOTHING!"
"NOTHING!" said Max. "How dare you?!! You were the one who had run out on the baby!!"
"Because I knew he would be taken care of!" said Tess. "And you just gave him away! For a long time, I was angry with you! For just giving our baby up! But then, Kyle...talked to me about it. He helped me to see, that it was for the best. Especially considering what happened shortly after Kyle and I left, when the FBI came after you. I just...wanted to know, for my own sake. Max...did you feel anything at all, for the baby? Was it hard to give him up?"
Max was silent for a moment, anger turning his face red. "You have no RIGHT to ask me that!" he yelled. "You were the one who deceived me, who made sure that baby was conceived out of a LIE!! But to answer your question, yes it was! It was DAMNED HARD to give that baby up! Are you happy now?!"
"Tess," said Liz, in a calm, conciliatory tone. "Max's Dad...made sure the baby was in good hands. He was adopted by a good family. But, I really don't think it would be good for you to try and get him back now, after over two and a half years, if that's what your thinking."
"No," said Tess. "I just...wanted to hear it from Max, that...he...I don't know. Maybe it was a mistake for me to come here. I just...I just wanted to know."
As tears began to fall down her face, Tess ran away from Max and Liz across the street. Just then, a car came swerving around the corner in an erratic fashion. There was no time for Tess to react. Max and Liz watched in horror as the car plowed into Tess, sending her limp form spiraling to the ground with tremendous force. The driver backed up, and then sped off down the street, as Max and Liz ran over to Tess.
"TESS!" yelled Liz. "Max, is she...!"
"Max," she whispered. "Tell Kyle...and my baby...I love them."
End of Chapter Thirty-one. Chapter Thirty-two coming soon.
Ah, another cliffhanger. Will Tess live or die? What will happen as a result of this incident? How is Jim Valenti going to help convince Michael to marry Maria? Find out by tuning in for the next installment. In the meantime, please do keep those reviews coming. Feedback is always appreciated.