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.

Thanks: To my wonderful beta Elise and to Lauren for helping me with story direction.  I couldn't do it without you guys.  To everyone who left reviews, I appreciate it so much.

Feedback: Okay I said I wouldn't beg—but I lied…Feedback is always appreciated ! !

Distribution: I would be flattered if anyone wants to post this story somewhere else, just let me know first okay?

A/N: The italics indicate thought, journal entries, flashes, song lyrics, etc.  I'm really beginning to see that this is going to be one long twisted story. The only hint I will give is – some things are meant to happen.  Think about it.

"Liz!  Liz!  Are you okay?" Maria said, running from the back room.

"Yeah I'm fine…" Liz said, still a little stunned.

"Are you sure?  What happened?  Why is your uniform unbuttoned?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.  I just uh…fell and I accidentally broke the bottle of ketchup that I was holding," Liz said, trying to remember what Max had pleaded with her to say.  She wasn't sure what had happened exactly, but for some reason, she did as he had asked.

"So why is your uniform unbuttoned?" Maria continued.

"Geez Maria…why are you giving me the third degree about this?  Max came over to make sure I was okay and he saw the ketchup and thought that something had happened…so he unbuttoned my uniform to make sure.  I promise I'm fine," Liz said, exasperated.  She tried to calm herself down a little.  "Look, don't tell anyone about this okay?  I'm kinda embarrassed about it and I don't want Mr. Parker to know what a klutz I am."

"If you're sure you're alright…" Maria said a little warily.

Just then, Sheriff Valenti and a few other officers rushed into the café with their guns drawn.  Everyone again dropped to the ground, including Liz and Maria.  Liz quickly closed the snaps on the front of her uniform to avoid any more questions.

"What's going on here?" the sheriff asked.

Liz stood up, pulling Maria with her.  "One of the customers shot off a gun during an argument.  They both ran out, though, in all the confusion."

The sheriff lowered his gun and indicated that the others should do the same.  "Anyone hurt?" he asked, as he noticed the red stain on Liz's uniform.

"No, I just accidentally broke a bottle of ketchup…that's all."

"Well we'll just take a look around and make sure.  See if you can get a description of the gunman," he said to one of the deputies.

"What's going on in here?" Mr. Parker yelled, as he walked in the front door, looking rather confused.

"Apparently a couple of customers let an argument get a little out of hand and a gun went off," one of the deputies near the back said.

"What?!?!  Is everyone alright?  Maria?  Liz?  José?"

"All here and accounted for Mr. Parker," Maria said.

"Actually Mr. Parker, I have a bit of a headache from all the excitement…if it's okay with you…I'd like to just go home and lie down," Liz asked cautiously.

"Yeah I guess that would be okay.  Are you sure you're alright Liz?  Maybe we should take you to the hospital," he suggested.

"No.  I'm fine…really.  I promise.  I'll be here tomorrow.  Thank you so much," Liz said, as she hurried to the back room.  She quickly gathered her things from her locker and left through the back door.

The drive home was short, but seemed to take an eternity.  Liz just wanted to get as far away from all the police attention as quickly as possible.  She didn't need them to recognize her and cause more problems. 

She parked her car and ran into the apartment, hoping that the girls had not seen her return early.  Dropping her bags by the door, she walked quickly into the bedroom and started to undress.  As she unbuttoned her uniform, she saw that right in the middle, there was a hole…about the size of a bullet.  Holding her breath, she quickly opened the rest of the buttons and gasped when saw what was underneath—there was a silver handprint on her abdomen.  When the shock wore off, she hurriedly pulled her uniform the rest of the way off her body and threw it in the laundry basket, covering it with other clothes.  What the hell is going on? She thought, partly frightened—partly fascinated, I have to find Max—ASAP.  She reached into a dresser drawer, pulling out a pink tank top and a pair of cutoff denim shorts, and quickly put them on.  Checking her appearance in the small mirror over the dresser, she made her way back to the living room.

She stepped outside and was immediately hit by the stifling mid-day heat.  She took a deep breath and began to make her way across the street to pick up the girls, when for some reason, she looked down the street and was surprised to see Max's Jeep parked in front of another apartment.  She remembered then that he had mentioned that Michael lived here.  Unconsciously, she rubbed her hand over the spot where the silver mark lay hidden beneath her shirt as a million questions about what had happened ran through her head.  Letting her curiosity get the better of her, she abruptly changed her direction and headed towards Michael's apartment. 

It was only after she had knocked on the door that she started to get nervous.  What am I doing?  I barely know Michael and here I am standing at his front door…she thought, starting to think better of her plan and preparing to leave before anyone realized she was there.  Unfortunately, the door swung open before she had the chance, revealing a surprised and slightly confused Michael.

"Liz?" he said, still looking a little shocked to see his co-worker at his door.  "What are you doing here?  And how did you know where I lived?"

"Um…well…Max told me you lived around here and I saw his Jeep parked outside…and…is he here?  I really need to talk to him…" she said quickly, seeming to stumble over the words in her rush to get them out.

"Uh wait here a minute," he said, closing the door and leaving her standing there.

~ ~ ~

"Who was at the door?" Isabel asked, when Michael returned to the room.

"It's for Max actually," he said, turning towards Max, "Liz wants to talk to you."

Max got up from the couch and hurried to the door while Isabel was yelling, "Max, wait, stop!  We haven't figured out what to tell her yet!  Come back here!"

Before he opened the door, he turned and said, "Don't worry Iz.  I'll handle it.  It's my fault anyway…I should fix it."

"Max!" she tried again, only to have him pull the door shut behind him, cutting off any further argument.  "We're doomed," she sighed, falling to the couch where he had been sitting and holding her head in her hands.

 ~~~

"Liz," Max said, as he stepped outside to join her, pulling the door shut behind him.  "What are you doing here?"

"Can we go somewhere…um…private, to talk?"

"Uh yeah sure…where to?"

"Is my place okay?"

"That's fine with me," he said as they turned towards her apartment and walked the rest of the way in silence.  Liz dug the key out of her pocket and opened the door, turning on the lights as she stepped inside to make way for Max.

"So…what did you want to talk about Liz?" Max asked, feigning ignorance, as he pulled the door closed behind them.

"How 'bout this for starters?" Liz said, pulling the bottom of her tank top up to reveal the strange silver handprint on her abdomen.

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
Babies 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