**************************
CHAPTER TWO:
Liz Parker sat on her lounge chair on the balcony outside of her bedroom window. She was alone tonight because Maria had a date with Michael, and Max was in Los Angeles. Not that her Father would have allowed her to see him if he was in town, though they had managed some clandestine meetings lately. Liz wondered if her Father was ever going to accept that she was going to be with Max, even if she had to wait until after she graduated High School and left home to do it.
"Liz Parker," said a whisper from the ladder that led up to the balcony.
Liz quietly got up and approached the ladder. "Hello," she whispered.
Then, a head popped up from where the ladder met the balcony. Liz recognized the face in front of her.
"Oh my God, Tess...no, wait. Ava! You're AVA!" said Liz.
"Second time was the charm," said Ava, climbing off of the ladder and standing on the balcony. "How's my favorite small town homegirl?"
"Ava, I can't believe it," said Liz. "Where did you come from?"
"Long story," said Ava. "I hope you're happy to see me."
"Sure," said Liz. "I mean, why wouldn't I? How are you?"
"Well, I need you to do somethin for me," said Ava. "Actually, when you find out why I need you to do it, you're going to be happy. There is someone who wants to see you. I need to take you to this person, though. And I can't tell you who it is until we get there."
"Just me?" asked Liz. "I don't..."
"Look, Liz," said Ava. "You took me into your home when I had nothin. You treated me real good, you know. Like I was a person. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I actually want you to come with me because this person is someone you are going to wanna see."
"Well, that's...cryptic," said Liz. "Why can't you tell me more about it? Why do I have to come alone?"
"Because I only trust you," said Ava. "If the wrong person or people found out about you comin with me, or who I was taking you to see, then it could be, like, lights out for me, you, and this person. Catch me?"
"Yeah, I think so," said Liz. "But, I'm kind of under restriction."
"What, like your grounded or somethin," said Ava. "That is like, so 'Leave it to Beaver.' What'd you do to get grounded?"
"Held up a convenience store," said Liz.
Ava giggled. "Damned, girl," said Ava. "I leave you for a year, and you go and turn into Public Enemy number one."
"Long story," said Liz. "Look, if we're going to go, I guess we'd better do it."
"Come on," said Ava.
"Wait, where are we goin?" asked Liz.
"Just a few miles outside of town," said Ava. "Trust me."
**
Ava drove Liz out of town, then down a dirt road. "Hey, I know this area," said Liz. "There is some kind of abandoned mining camp out here."
"Right," said Ava. "I've been using one of the cabins out here."
"How'd you find it?" asked Liz.
"You know a guy named Kyle Valenti?" asked Ava.
"Yeah!" said Liz. "But how do you know him?"
"You'll find out," said Ava. "Let's just say I got the info from him while I was picking his brain."
"That's right, it was Kyle who told me about this place once," said Liz.
"Here we are," said Ava, pulling up to an old cabin. As she turned off the ignition, Ava turned and looked at Liz. "Okay, before you go in, I got to tell you. You are going to be in for a shock. But the person you are going to meet is real. No illusions, no mind warps, you got my word."
"Ava, you're spooking me a bit here," said Liz.
"You'll see," said Ava. "Come on. He's anxious to see you."
Ava and Liz got out of the car, and walked towards the cabin's door. Liz moved more slowly than Ava, worried about just what she was going to find in that cabin. Ava turned around, and motioned her forward with her hand. "Princess, if I was goin to bring you out here to do somethin that would harm you, I could have just mind warped you to do it. Trust me."
Liz nodded, and walked up to the door. Ava opened the door, and led Liz inside of the cabin. The only light was provided by two Coleman lamps sitting on tables on opposite ends of the room.
"She's here," said Ava. "Its okay, you can come out."
A door at the other side of the room opened. Liz saw someone, a man, step into the doorway. She couldn't tell who it was at first, because of the darkness. But when he stepped out of a shadow and into the light, Liz recognized him. When she did, Liz put her hand up to her mouth and screamed. She tried to run out of the door, but she found her legs couldn't move. Liz started breathing heavily, her heart pounding in her ears.
"Liz," said Alex. "Its me. I'm alive. This is no illusion, no mind warp, no trick."
"You're dead!" said Liz. "You can't be..."
Alex walked over to Liz, and took her hands in his. "Feel the warmth of my hands," said Alex. "Feel the touch. I am not a ghost. I am here, I am real, and I am alive."
Liz realized that he must be telling the truth. Alex was really standing there in front of her. She began to cry and smile all at the same time, then flung herself at Alex. He spun her around, and hugged her tight, as tears began to flow down his own cheeks.
"OH MY GOD!" yelled Liz. "I don't know how this can real, but you're alive! Oh, Alex!"
"God, its good to see you, Liz!" said Alex.
Liz pulled back and looked at him. "I don't understand," said Liz. "You're supposed to be dead. Max saw your body. Valenti did, too. Tess killed you..."
"So you know about Tess and her mind warp," said Ava.
"Yeah," said Liz. "I...when Alex died, I never believed that it was an accident. Then, the Sheriff's office said it was a suicide..."
"Suicide!" said Alex. "Oh God, my Mom and Dad think I KILLED MYSELF!"
Alex turned and slammed his fist into a wall. "Calm down, dude," said Ava. "Aint nothin you could have done about it."
"Alex, I don't understand," said Liz. "How are you alive?"
Alex and Ava proceeded to tell Liz the whole story about how Ava saved Alex from Tess. They also explained to her why everyone was led to believe Alex was dead. Liz was upset about being deceived, but understood why. It was then Liz's turn to tell Alex and Ava everything that has happened since Alex "died". She ended off with Tess leaving Earth with Max's unborn child.
"I don't believe this," said Ava. "I mean, I loved my Zahn, but I would never get myself knocked up to deceive him. And I'm not like Val and Rath, I don't try and kill my friends, neither."
"Tess was raised by Nasedo," said Liz. "I'm not excusing what she did, but it explains the difference in feelings. All of her feelings were just pretense, except some twisted obsession with Max."
"So, no one else was in league with Tess?" asked Alex.
"No, no one," said Liz. "Kyle carried your body to the car the night Tess killed you, or thought he did, but Tess was mind warping him. I guess Ava was, too."
"Yeah, sorry I had to do that," said Ava. "I didn't know who to trust."
"Alex is alive and safe," said Liz. "That's all that matters."
"Liz, how is everyone?" asked Alex. "I mean, I know Maria must have been upset..."
"She was," said Liz. "Your death almost destroyed her. It would have, too, if Michael wasn't there for her. He helped both her and her Mom get through it. After Kyle broke his mind warp, he felt incredibly guilty about what he did."
"It wasn't his fault," said Alex. "I've got to make sure he knows that."
"He does," said Liz. "We helped him."
Alex looked pointedly at Liz. "How about Isabel?" he asked. "Is she doing okay?"
Liz smiled. "She's fine," said Liz. "Though, your death....she realized how much she cared for you. She just shut herself off from everyone for a while. She even wanted to leave Roswell, because she wanted a normal life, and everything here reminded her of you."
"Liz, I know that I can't just re-insert myself into my life," said Alex. "Not without risking exposure to Isabel, Max, and Michael. At least not until we've all figured out a way to do it. But, I do want one part of my life back now. One special part. I need you to do something for me."
"What's that?" asked Liz.
"Bring Isabel here," said Alex. "I've got to see her."
***
Michael Guerin woke up from a sound sleep when someone started pounding on his apartment door. "Shit," he said to himself. "Whoever that is, it better be about an alien invasion, or I'm going to kick some serious ass!"
He went to the door, and opened it. Mr. Parker came storming into the apartment, not even giving Michael a chance to ask why he was there.
"MAX!" he yelled. "Where are you!?"
"Whoa, Mr. Parker," said Michael. "Max isn't here. He's out of town."
Mr. Parker looked at Michael with an expression that could melt ice. "Michael, I'm going to ask you some questions, and you'd better give me some straight answers, or you can forget about ever coming back to work at the Crashdown! First, where is Max, and how long has he been gone?"
"He's been gone for several days," said Michael. "He's in Los Angeles."
"Several days," said Mr. Parker. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," said Michael. "Look, what is this about?"
"Liz is gone," said Mr. Parker. "I saw her just before she went up to her room for the night, but when I knocked on her door to check on her when I woke up at one point, she was gone."
"You thought she ran off with Max?" said Michael. "Look, Mr. Parker, I don't know where Liz is, but I do know she isn't with Max."
"She never used to do things like this before she started going with Max Evans," said Mr. Parker. "Look, if you see or hear from Liz, you tell her to get her but back home immediately! Meanwhile, I'm going to make some calls, some of them to boarding schools!"
Mr. Parker stormed out of the apartment. Michael closed the door. "Where could she be?" asked Michael. "Liz just wouldn't...wait a minute."
Michael went to his phone, and dialed Max's cell phone. "Hello," said Max, in a weary tone.
"Max, its me," said Michael.
"Michael, its late, what's going on?" asked Max.
"Have you heard from Liz?" asked Michael.
"No," said Max. "Why?"
"She's gone," said Michael. "Mr. Parker was just here, looking for her."
"It's the middle of the night, where could she have gone?" asked Max, in a worried tone.
"She might be headed out to see you," said Michael. "When are you coming back, anyway?"
"I've made some progress," said Max. "But never mind that now. Call the others, see if they know where Liz is at. I'll head back to Roswell. I don't like the sound of this."
"You sure she isn't just headed out to see you?" asked Michael.
"She doesn't know where to find me, and LA is a big place," he said. "Look, call me if you find out anything. I'm on my way back."
Michael hung up the phone, then started dialing the others.
End of Chapter Two. Chapter Three coming soon.
Don't miss the next installment to see what happens next. In the meantime, please do provide feedback by posting a review for this story. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.
CHAPTER TWO:
Liz Parker sat on her lounge chair on the balcony outside of her bedroom window. She was alone tonight because Maria had a date with Michael, and Max was in Los Angeles. Not that her Father would have allowed her to see him if he was in town, though they had managed some clandestine meetings lately. Liz wondered if her Father was ever going to accept that she was going to be with Max, even if she had to wait until after she graduated High School and left home to do it.
"Liz Parker," said a whisper from the ladder that led up to the balcony.
Liz quietly got up and approached the ladder. "Hello," she whispered.
Then, a head popped up from where the ladder met the balcony. Liz recognized the face in front of her.
"Oh my God, Tess...no, wait. Ava! You're AVA!" said Liz.
"Second time was the charm," said Ava, climbing off of the ladder and standing on the balcony. "How's my favorite small town homegirl?"
"Ava, I can't believe it," said Liz. "Where did you come from?"
"Long story," said Ava. "I hope you're happy to see me."
"Sure," said Liz. "I mean, why wouldn't I? How are you?"
"Well, I need you to do somethin for me," said Ava. "Actually, when you find out why I need you to do it, you're going to be happy. There is someone who wants to see you. I need to take you to this person, though. And I can't tell you who it is until we get there."
"Just me?" asked Liz. "I don't..."
"Look, Liz," said Ava. "You took me into your home when I had nothin. You treated me real good, you know. Like I was a person. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I actually want you to come with me because this person is someone you are going to wanna see."
"Well, that's...cryptic," said Liz. "Why can't you tell me more about it? Why do I have to come alone?"
"Because I only trust you," said Ava. "If the wrong person or people found out about you comin with me, or who I was taking you to see, then it could be, like, lights out for me, you, and this person. Catch me?"
"Yeah, I think so," said Liz. "But, I'm kind of under restriction."
"What, like your grounded or somethin," said Ava. "That is like, so 'Leave it to Beaver.' What'd you do to get grounded?"
"Held up a convenience store," said Liz.
Ava giggled. "Damned, girl," said Ava. "I leave you for a year, and you go and turn into Public Enemy number one."
"Long story," said Liz. "Look, if we're going to go, I guess we'd better do it."
"Come on," said Ava.
"Wait, where are we goin?" asked Liz.
"Just a few miles outside of town," said Ava. "Trust me."
**
Ava drove Liz out of town, then down a dirt road. "Hey, I know this area," said Liz. "There is some kind of abandoned mining camp out here."
"Right," said Ava. "I've been using one of the cabins out here."
"How'd you find it?" asked Liz.
"You know a guy named Kyle Valenti?" asked Ava.
"Yeah!" said Liz. "But how do you know him?"
"You'll find out," said Ava. "Let's just say I got the info from him while I was picking his brain."
"That's right, it was Kyle who told me about this place once," said Liz.
"Here we are," said Ava, pulling up to an old cabin. As she turned off the ignition, Ava turned and looked at Liz. "Okay, before you go in, I got to tell you. You are going to be in for a shock. But the person you are going to meet is real. No illusions, no mind warps, you got my word."
"Ava, you're spooking me a bit here," said Liz.
"You'll see," said Ava. "Come on. He's anxious to see you."
Ava and Liz got out of the car, and walked towards the cabin's door. Liz moved more slowly than Ava, worried about just what she was going to find in that cabin. Ava turned around, and motioned her forward with her hand. "Princess, if I was goin to bring you out here to do somethin that would harm you, I could have just mind warped you to do it. Trust me."
Liz nodded, and walked up to the door. Ava opened the door, and led Liz inside of the cabin. The only light was provided by two Coleman lamps sitting on tables on opposite ends of the room.
"She's here," said Ava. "Its okay, you can come out."
A door at the other side of the room opened. Liz saw someone, a man, step into the doorway. She couldn't tell who it was at first, because of the darkness. But when he stepped out of a shadow and into the light, Liz recognized him. When she did, Liz put her hand up to her mouth and screamed. She tried to run out of the door, but she found her legs couldn't move. Liz started breathing heavily, her heart pounding in her ears.
"Liz," said Alex. "Its me. I'm alive. This is no illusion, no mind warp, no trick."
"You're dead!" said Liz. "You can't be..."
Alex walked over to Liz, and took her hands in his. "Feel the warmth of my hands," said Alex. "Feel the touch. I am not a ghost. I am here, I am real, and I am alive."
Liz realized that he must be telling the truth. Alex was really standing there in front of her. She began to cry and smile all at the same time, then flung herself at Alex. He spun her around, and hugged her tight, as tears began to flow down his own cheeks.
"OH MY GOD!" yelled Liz. "I don't know how this can real, but you're alive! Oh, Alex!"
"God, its good to see you, Liz!" said Alex.
Liz pulled back and looked at him. "I don't understand," said Liz. "You're supposed to be dead. Max saw your body. Valenti did, too. Tess killed you..."
"So you know about Tess and her mind warp," said Ava.
"Yeah," said Liz. "I...when Alex died, I never believed that it was an accident. Then, the Sheriff's office said it was a suicide..."
"Suicide!" said Alex. "Oh God, my Mom and Dad think I KILLED MYSELF!"
Alex turned and slammed his fist into a wall. "Calm down, dude," said Ava. "Aint nothin you could have done about it."
"Alex, I don't understand," said Liz. "How are you alive?"
Alex and Ava proceeded to tell Liz the whole story about how Ava saved Alex from Tess. They also explained to her why everyone was led to believe Alex was dead. Liz was upset about being deceived, but understood why. It was then Liz's turn to tell Alex and Ava everything that has happened since Alex "died". She ended off with Tess leaving Earth with Max's unborn child.
"I don't believe this," said Ava. "I mean, I loved my Zahn, but I would never get myself knocked up to deceive him. And I'm not like Val and Rath, I don't try and kill my friends, neither."
"Tess was raised by Nasedo," said Liz. "I'm not excusing what she did, but it explains the difference in feelings. All of her feelings were just pretense, except some twisted obsession with Max."
"So, no one else was in league with Tess?" asked Alex.
"No, no one," said Liz. "Kyle carried your body to the car the night Tess killed you, or thought he did, but Tess was mind warping him. I guess Ava was, too."
"Yeah, sorry I had to do that," said Ava. "I didn't know who to trust."
"Alex is alive and safe," said Liz. "That's all that matters."
"Liz, how is everyone?" asked Alex. "I mean, I know Maria must have been upset..."
"She was," said Liz. "Your death almost destroyed her. It would have, too, if Michael wasn't there for her. He helped both her and her Mom get through it. After Kyle broke his mind warp, he felt incredibly guilty about what he did."
"It wasn't his fault," said Alex. "I've got to make sure he knows that."
"He does," said Liz. "We helped him."
Alex looked pointedly at Liz. "How about Isabel?" he asked. "Is she doing okay?"
Liz smiled. "She's fine," said Liz. "Though, your death....she realized how much she cared for you. She just shut herself off from everyone for a while. She even wanted to leave Roswell, because she wanted a normal life, and everything here reminded her of you."
"Liz, I know that I can't just re-insert myself into my life," said Alex. "Not without risking exposure to Isabel, Max, and Michael. At least not until we've all figured out a way to do it. But, I do want one part of my life back now. One special part. I need you to do something for me."
"What's that?" asked Liz.
"Bring Isabel here," said Alex. "I've got to see her."
***
Michael Guerin woke up from a sound sleep when someone started pounding on his apartment door. "Shit," he said to himself. "Whoever that is, it better be about an alien invasion, or I'm going to kick some serious ass!"
He went to the door, and opened it. Mr. Parker came storming into the apartment, not even giving Michael a chance to ask why he was there.
"MAX!" he yelled. "Where are you!?"
"Whoa, Mr. Parker," said Michael. "Max isn't here. He's out of town."
Mr. Parker looked at Michael with an expression that could melt ice. "Michael, I'm going to ask you some questions, and you'd better give me some straight answers, or you can forget about ever coming back to work at the Crashdown! First, where is Max, and how long has he been gone?"
"He's been gone for several days," said Michael. "He's in Los Angeles."
"Several days," said Mr. Parker. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," said Michael. "Look, what is this about?"
"Liz is gone," said Mr. Parker. "I saw her just before she went up to her room for the night, but when I knocked on her door to check on her when I woke up at one point, she was gone."
"You thought she ran off with Max?" said Michael. "Look, Mr. Parker, I don't know where Liz is, but I do know she isn't with Max."
"She never used to do things like this before she started going with Max Evans," said Mr. Parker. "Look, if you see or hear from Liz, you tell her to get her but back home immediately! Meanwhile, I'm going to make some calls, some of them to boarding schools!"
Mr. Parker stormed out of the apartment. Michael closed the door. "Where could she be?" asked Michael. "Liz just wouldn't...wait a minute."
Michael went to his phone, and dialed Max's cell phone. "Hello," said Max, in a weary tone.
"Max, its me," said Michael.
"Michael, its late, what's going on?" asked Max.
"Have you heard from Liz?" asked Michael.
"No," said Max. "Why?"
"She's gone," said Michael. "Mr. Parker was just here, looking for her."
"It's the middle of the night, where could she have gone?" asked Max, in a worried tone.
"She might be headed out to see you," said Michael. "When are you coming back, anyway?"
"I've made some progress," said Max. "But never mind that now. Call the others, see if they know where Liz is at. I'll head back to Roswell. I don't like the sound of this."
"You sure she isn't just headed out to see you?" asked Michael.
"She doesn't know where to find me, and LA is a big place," he said. "Look, call me if you find out anything. I'm on my way back."
Michael hung up the phone, then started dialing the others.
End of Chapter Two. Chapter Three coming soon.
Don't miss the next installment to see what happens next. In the meantime, please do provide feedback by posting a review for this story. Feedback is always welcomed and appreciated.
