Part 6

Max, Isabel, Michael, Maria, Tess, Kyle, the sheriff and the Parkers were all crammed into the small room behind the café later that day. They all watched the news tensely for any news for survivors. Max watched the Parkers hold each other closely, terrified of what they knew was possible.

Their daughter had gotten on that plane without telling anyone but him and Max felt responsible. He should have stopped her.

You did try. A small voice at the back of his head reminded him but he pushed it away. He should have forced her to stay.

Max heard a quiet sob and turned to find Maria being comforted by Michael. He turned his head to find Isabel being consoled by Kyle. Tess sat near him, holding his hand and he had to use all his will power not to pull away. They didn't even know yet whether Liz had been on the plane and already Tess was making her move. It made him sick. But right now he had more important matters to worry about.

"Max are you sure she was going to Sweden?" Nancy Parker asked with a sob.

Max looked at her apologetically as he nodded. Nancy gave a stifled cry as she buried her head against her husband's shoulder and cried. Jeff Parker was looking pale himself as he comforted his wife.

Sheriff Valenti looked at Max questioningly. "I know this isn't a time to ask Max, but do you have any idea why she was going to Sweden? Without telling anyone?" he asked.

Max looked at the sheriff and nodded slightly. "She was going to investigate Alex's death." He replied quietly so that only the sheriff could hear him.

Valenti looked at him in disbelief. "But Alex died here, in Roswell…"

"She was convinced that Alex had been murdered. She was intent on finding him. She had her lead in Sweden." Max told him.

"Yeah, she came to me too with that." He replied quietly.

"Quick, raise the volume." Isabel yelled when the newscaster appeared.

They all held their breaths as the names of the passengers scrolled on the TV screen. Then, they saw what they had dreaded the most. Liz's name.

"Elizabeth Parker…"Kyle murmured in shock. "She was on that damn plane!"

"My baby…"Jeff Parker whispered as his wife clung harder and cried uncontrollably. He was eventually forced to lead her upstairs after looking in anguish at his daughter's friends.

"Liz…oh God! Not again…"Kyle yelled, punching the wall in anger.

"This-this can't be happening…"Maria cried hysterically. "I mean I just lost Alex…and-and Liz…"

She began to cry as she clung on to Michael.

"L-Liz can't be…she just can't…"Isabel whispered to herself over and over again until Max pulled her into a hug and both siblings held on tightly to each other as they tried to let it sink in.

"Please, please, someone tell me this is some sick joke or a bad dream!" Maria cried. She turned pleading eyes upwards. "I don't think I could handle losing another friend and so soon!" she sobbed.

"Accept it." Tess said sharply. "She's gone. Liz Parker is dead."

"How can you say that?" Isabel yelled. "How can you be so cold about it? She was our friend! Do you know what friends are Tess? Huh?" she asked.

"All I'm saying is that you have to accept it sooner or later. I mean her name was on the list. The sooner you accept that Liz is dead the better." Tess cried.

Maria pulled away from Michael and marched up to Tess. She glared at Tess with fury blazing in her teary eyes.

"Take that back Tess or you'll regret it." Maria growled.

"What? Liz was just troublesome! You know it's true. None of this would ever have happened if Max hadn't saved her! I mean it all started when she came into the picture, isn't it."

"Tess!" Max yelled in warning, can not believing what he was hearing.

"What? It's true. Maybe we would have been better off. And maybe with her gone you'll realize who you belong with." Tess said bitterly.

Without a second thought Maria raised her hand and slapped Tess across the face.

Tess looked at Maria in surprise.

"Don't you ever talk about Liz like that!" Maria said in a low growl. "Don't you ever tell us to get over this, because we can't! We have lost two friends in the past two weeks…don't you dare tell us to forget either of them! And Liz has saved your sorry alien ass more times than you can count. You have no right to say those things."

Tess glared back at Maria, her cheek stinging from the slap. "All I'm saying is that you can't bring someone back from the dead and the sooner you will accept that the better for all of us." She replied coldly before storming out the café.