Mending Pieces

A Roswell Alternate Universe Story

By Andrea Sinisterra

Romance/Drama

Standard Disclaimers Apply

* * *

Oh my love, it's a long way we've come.

From the freckled hills, to the steel and glass canyons.

From the stony fields, to hanging steel from the sky.

From digging in our pockets, for a reason not to say goodbye.

"The Hands That Built America"

- U2

* * *

Part 1

The town was bustling with activity, which was something far from new. After a row of rainy, dark days, today was turning out to be the epitome of bright and clear, it seemed. A few puffy white clouds here and there... he was bored. Yeah, yeah, why would someone be bored with such a beautiful day? Simple: lack of inspiration. He's tried everything, hiring models, taking tours around the city, walking endless miles of park, and still, nothing seemed to inspire him. This was rare, since he was a man who was easily pleased... but nothing cut it anymore.

His dark eyes perused the vicinity, yawning as he glanced around. A waitress came by, placing a glass of cool water in front of him. He glanced up to check out the waitress. Yeah, she was pretty... but there were a lot of pretty girls around town, but not one made his hand itch for a crayon and paper. His eyes then rested on the little blonde boy a few tables from him, sitting amongst seven other kids. They laughed, and talked, and laughed again... sometimes he wished he could go back to his own childhood.

His eyes traveled the small round table where he sat; finally resting on the new sketchbooks he just bought in some small paint shop around the corner, yesterday afternoon. They stared accusingly at him. He groaned. Great, he was hallucinating now. Okay, okay, he just had to relax; it wasn't like he had a deadline or something.

His mind wandered down that aisle. He remembered a few years back, when he was in his early twenties and he refused to run the company that has passed down to every new Evans' generation. Yeah, that had been a riot.  He remembered the angry red face of his grandfather, Robert Evans, when Phillip had told him that he wasn't going to fulfill his duty as an Evans and run Parker-Evans Investments and Financial Corporation.

But it seemed now that everyone forgot all about the issue, as they put the future of the company in the shoulders of Michael Evans, the second oldest son of Phillip Evans. But really, it was fine by him. He had no intention of reclaiming rights he refused years back. And anyway, Michael had the brains and the guts, as every Evans in history, to run the business smoothly and successfully.

He studied medicine at Harvard, which had been a holy pain in the ass, to say the least. But he managed to graduate at the top of his class, with honors. He worked full time at Las Cruces General Hospital, which took every spare time he might have left.

And the spare time he had, he spent it or with Aaron or painting. He had decided then, after that commotion had died down a little, that he would resume his painting. It was something he'd always enjoyed, since little. Painting gives him peace.

Although the pursue of his profession had been hectic being a neo surgeon in neology and neonatal, he still managed to be as close with his family as one could get. Sometimes the thought that he had let down his grandfather and father brought painful memories and almost made him regret his decisions, but he refused to back down. He had the full support of every female in his family on both sides... Not that he felt guilty. He was giving Mickey a once in a life opportunity. He loved his brother dearly, and his sister, Isabel, although, not what everyone had expected from her, was still the most loved and spoiled brat in the Evans clan.

A model. He remembered the snort of laughter that had escaped his father's mouth when she had claimed that that was the path she wanted to follow. His mother had almost gone into cardiac arrest. But Izzy didn't back down, and now had a very successful clothes and make-up line... very 'in' I hear.

A loud noise from a breaking glass brought him out of his reverie. Startled, he realized he was still sitting at the outdoor café, hungry, bored, and alone. He had spaced out completely for God only knows how long.

A movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. His breath caught in his throat. His eyes traveled from the slender, long legs of the woman, to her trim waist, where he could see a little skin where her shirt had ridden up a little. Smooth, silky, ivory skin that called to him. The profile of a beautiful face, small nose, lush, pink lips, and long, flowing dark brown hair. His eyes marveled at the graceful movements of her arms as she spoke animatedly with her blonde companion. Her twinkling laugh reached his ears, and he found himself smiling back with amusement.

Unconsciously, his hand reached for the sketchbook at his side.

 * * *

Aaron looked around, and smiled when he saw his father reach for his books. Finally, about time he decided to paint again!

"So when are you going to get a new mommy?" Jeremy asked.

"We are in no hurry." Aaron said, "Besides, my dad doesn't want to get hurt again, so he's taking his time."

"But don't you feel lonely. I mean, I feel lonely when I don't see my mom."

"Look, Lil', I don't want to talk about this, okay? And by the way, I don't feel lonely because I know my dad loves me very much and I love him, too!"

Aaron turned in his seat to look at his father and found that he was already looking at him. He obviously heard the argument with Lily and Jeremy. His father smiled reassuringly at him. Aaron calmed down. His father went back to his sketching.

 * * *

Time seemed to pass in an expanse of seconds. His hand ceaselessly flowed around the page in eager, smooth strokes of crayon that formed into a beautiful face as he worked.

He smiled in satisfaction as he put down the crayon.... and brought his head up. She was gone. He quickly went after her, and stopped in his tracks when Aaron called after him. He brought one finger up, in a sign of 'one second' and a 'be right back' and he was off again.

"Hey!" He called when he rounded the corner and saw her opening the door to her ice blue S500 Mercedes Benz sedan. "God, you're fast."

"Do I know you?" She asked, as she opened the door.

"Probably not. I saw you at the restaurant, and wanted to give you this." And handed the picture he'd drawn. "It's a little rough around the edges due to the hurry, but you get the picture." And he smiled.

She frowned a little at the tall man in front of her. He was nice... Hell, who was she kidding, he was incredibly hot with his dark hair and dark eyes. He was broad shouldered, and although he was built, he was still lean. She liked it, which was why she found it hard not to stare like a stupid at the page he was handing her.

She gasped. "You drew this?" She asked surprised.

"Yeah, sort of like re-found myself back there, you can say." He gave her a small smile. "Okay, so I wanted to give you that. I'll see you around." And he started to back away.

"Hey! Wait-- umm... I don't even know your name!" She asked, quickly closing the heavy door, and rushing to him, "I mean, thank you, it's very beautiful."

"My name's Max Evans."

There was a brief silence, and when she was about to respond, they were interrupted by a small hurricane of kids.

"Dad, dad! We want to go to the movies now! Please!" Said Aaron, now firmly attached to his father's arm.

Max laughed heartily, dislodging his son from his arm, "in a minute, Aaron."

"Hey, you're very pretty. I like your hair."

"Why, thank you. You have very pretty hair, too. You can call me Liz." Then, addressing Max, "I'm Elizabeth Carson."

They shook hands politely.

"I'm glad you liked it." Then, turning around, he tossed over his shoulder at her, "I'll see you around."  Then, "which one should we watch, I heard Harry Potter's out."

Liz stared at his retreating broad back, he didn't even ask her name! Or her number! You just met him! Though, her face softened as he hurled his son into his arms and threw him over his shoulder. Aaron shrieked in surprised delight, as his father bounced up and down, all the other kids laughing and cheering. 'They look so cute'.

To be continued...

Chapter 2: Tears of the past