Category:  AU  M/L

Summary: AU story based on a song I have liked for a long time, but with a different twist.  Liz didn't grow up in Roswell and has been living in foster homes as long as she can remember.

Disclaimer:  Jason Katims owns everything Roswell…come on now if I owned it would I be writing fanfic???  Also I don't own the song either, it's "Two beds and a coffee machine" by Savage Garden.  I'm just borrowing this stuff and I'll put it back when I'm done I promise.  Oh and I created the characters of Abby, Charlotte, and Frank who are loosely based on characters in the song and people I know.

Feedback: Okay I said I wouldn't beg—but I lied…..Please please please leave feedback!

Thanks: To my oh so wonderful beta Elise –you rock!

A/N: the italics indicate thought, also song lyrics.

"Liz!  Where are you?  Stupid bitch…" Frank grumbled, as he stumbled through the house.  She could hear him rummaging around in the kitchen—looking for something to eat.  She knew he wouldn't find anything because the diner had kept her late tonight and she had not been able to stop for food.  This isn't good, she thought to herself.  Quickly checking her apron, she realized that she might have enough from tips to order a pizza.  Maybe this will keep him quiet. 

"Frank, I'm right here.  Look…I didn't get a chance to get any groceries, but I thought I would use my tip money and order some pizza," she said quietly.

"I don't want any pizza!  Where the hell is the food?  Those damn brats must have eaten it again.  I swear I don't know why the hell I keep you kids around!"

"The girls didn't eat the food…" she started to say.

"Don't contradict me girl!"

"Frank…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…" she stammered as she began backing up.

"The hell you didn't mean to!" he yelled, picking up a glass from the table and throwing it across the room towards Liz.  She ducked and covered her head as it crashed into the wall behind her head.  "You know that school of yours called again…they said you been skipping again.  Wanna explain yourself missy?"

"It's just that I had to work and there wasn't anyone to cover my shifts so I had to go and…" she stuttered as he stalked towards her.

"If you fail outta school they will take the three of you outta here and I'll lose my check," he said menacingly.  "And we wouldn't want that to happen now would we?"  He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the wall.

"Please Frank, just let me go to the store and I can get some food and everything will be okay."

"God-damnit!  Forget about the food!" he yelled, throwing her across the floor.  "Just shut-up."

"I'm sorry…" she sobbed.

"I said shut-up bitch!" he yelled again, only this time he started to hit her too.  Liz curled up in a ball and forced her mind to turn off until he went away.

TBC

And she takes another step
Slowly she opens the door
Check that he is sleeping
Pick up all the broken glass
And furniture on the floor
Been up half the night screaming
Now it's time to get away
Pack up the kids in the car
Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through

And there are children to think of
Baby's asleep in the back seat
Wonder how they'll ever make it through this living nightmare
But the mind is an amazing thing
Full of candy dreams and new toys and another cheap hotel
Two beds and a coffee machine
But there are groceries to buy
And she knows she'll have to go home

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Wonder how I ever made it through

Another bruise to try and hide
Another alibi to write
Another lonely highway in the black of the night
But there's hope in the darkness
You know you're going to make it

Another ditch in the road
You keep moving
Another stop sign
You keep moving on
And the years go by so fast
Silent fortress built to last
Wonder how I ever made it through