This was written in response to the Departure Debacle contest/challenge at Majik's World of Fan Fic. My submission is just for fun, since I couldn't pass up the chance to make it all better lol.

Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine. A lot of stuff in the beginning is taken from End of the World. God knows THAT'S not mine. Anything that makes sense and makes it all better, now that's mine. Seriously, Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them.

Rating: PG-13 – possibly to R

Love Changes Everything

I Spy, With My Little Eye

Kyle drove Liz back to the CrashDown, followed by Michael, on his motorcycle.
"I feel like a part of a presidential motorcade," Liz groused.
"Stop your bitching, Liz. For some reason, Tess, or whoever it is, has targeted you. We have to keep you safe until we know what's going on."
"I'm sorry," said Liz. "I'm being a real jerk. The thing is, if this were happening to Maria, or Isabelle, I'd be the same way towards them."
Kyle parked the car, and the two walked towards the alien themed restaurant owned by Liz's parents. They walked through the door to be greeted by her very harried father.
"Lizzie!" shouted Geoff Parker, over the din of the very crowded restaurant. "Agnes went home sick, can you fill in for her?"
"Uh, sure Dad, just give me a minute to run upstairs and change," she said to her father, as she surveyed the crowded room. "Kyle, why don't you come upstairs too, and I can give you those chemistry notes."

Kyle and Liz ran up the stairs to the Parker's apartment. Kyle checked the room, and the rooftop before Liz went in to change. As she dressed, Liz shouted through the door. "Did you see her down there?"
"Yeah," said Kyle. "Sitting in that corner booth."
"How about if you stay here and watch her. I'll tell dad I was supposed to tutor you tonight, and that's why you're hanging around."
"It sounds good," said Kyle. "But do I really have to study chemistry?"
"Well, it might help, come finals time," laughed Liz as they walked down the stairs to the restaurant.

Liz walked over to the register where her father was working and found out what tables she should cover. She grabbed a pitcher of water and explained to her father that Kyle was supposed to be tutored by her that night. "Do you mind if I set him up in that back booth, Dad?" she asked. "That way I can help him during the lulls?"
"No problem, Lizzie," said her father. "I'm sorry to cut into your date like that.
"Dad, it's not a date," said Liz, blushing a little.
"I know, I know, your seeing Max Evans."
Liz looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Tess approaching the counter. She took a deep breath and took the plunge. "Actually, Dad, I don't think I'll be seeing Max much longer. I don't want to get too serious at my age." She turned quickly and moved to a nearby table to fill the water glasses, but not before she caught a glimpse of the slow smile forming on Tess's face.

Kyle sat in the back booth, pretending to study, but instead, watching Tess return to her seat. He jumped a little, when a plate full of food was placed on his table, nudging his notes out of the way.
"I know why you're here," said Geoff.
"Y-you do?" stammered Kyle.
"Yes, I do," said Geoff in a rather imperious tone. "Liz told me she was cooling things down with Max. I think it's great that you are being a friend and trying to keep her mind off of everything."
"Yeah, well, Liz is a good friend," said Kyle. "Besides, I can use all the help I can get in chemistry."
"Enjoy the food," said Geoff. "Liz will be over when it slows down.'
Kyle watched as Liz's father made his way back over to the register, and slumped down in his seat. He slipped his cell phone out of his pocket and punched Max's number into it.
"Hey," he said when Max answered. "Tess is at the CrashDown, so I stayed here. Liz came up with a great cover story about helping me study."
Is Liz okay? Max asked.
"Yeah, she's fine," Kyle said. "She told her dad that she was trying to cool things off with you, though."
What! Max, yelled through the cell phone.
"Relax Evans. Tess came up behind her while she was talking to her father. I think Liz knew she was there, that's why she did it."
What's Tess doing now?
"Looking very much like Sylvester after he just ate Tweety Bird. Hang on a second, here comes Liz." He passed the phone to Liz and said in a loud voice that it was Maria on the phone.

"Maria?" Liz said into the phone.
Liz, it's me, said Max. Kyle told me what you told your dad about us cooling things off. Are you sure Tess heard you?
"Judging from the expression on her face, I'd say yes."
Good thinking Liz. Listen, Alex and I are still going over things, so I'm not going to stop in there tonight. You be safe, and keep Michael or Kyle close to you at all times. And Liz, I love you.
"Yeah, me too," said Liz, a goofy grin on her face. "Bye." She disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Kyle.
"My shift's almost over, if you want to head out," she said.
"Maybe I'll go see if Tess needs a ride home," he said. "Not that she'll accept, but it might give me a chance to see what she has planned.
"Be careful, Kyle," said Liz.

Kyle walked across the restaurant floor and slid into the seat across from Tess.
"Hey, Tess."
"Hey Kyle," said the blond girl. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy here?"
"Uh, yeah, because drinking a cola takes a lot of effort," said Kyle.
"Did you want something Buddha Boy, or are you just here to make my life miserable?"
"Actually, I'm just about to head home, and I thought I'd do the polite thing and see if you wanted a ride."
"Now why would I want a ride with you," she said coolly. "I do have my own car you know."
"Just being neighborly," he said. "And try to be quiet when you come in tonight. "I gave up my bedroom for you, but I don't have to give up my sleep too."
"Goodbye Kyle."

Kyle made his way to the door, motioning to Liz to join him. She walked up to him, and he reached out and pulled her a little bit closer.
"Make this look semi convincing, will you?" he whispered. "Not too passionate, just like I'm giving you a nice friendly supportive comforting hug."
"You jerk," Liz giggled. "Is she watching?"
"Oh yeah, she's practically climbing over the booth trying not to miss anything.
"Great, lets make sure she sees this." Liz stood on tiptoe and pressed a gentle kiss on Kyle's cheek. "Kyle, be careful out there, don't let her see you."
"I'll be alright Liz, you watch out too. Keep Michael close. Well, not too close, or Maria will totally freak," he said as he opened the door and stepped out in to the cool New Mexico night.


Liz drew all the curtains in her room, isolating it from the outside world until Michael was completely settled. She quickly changed, opened the curtains, and sat down to write in her journal. Fifteen minutes later, she heard a soft rapping at her window. She unlatched it and slid it open, and Future Max slipped into the room.
"How did it go, did you make any headway convincing him today?" he asked urgently.
"A little, but it's so hard," said Liz. "You better move away from the window, in case he comes by tonight and tries to convince me not to break up with him."
"Liz, you have to do more than break up with him," said Future Max. "You have to make him hate you. He has to totally despise you."
"How will we know if it works?" asked Liz.
"If you make Max fall out of love with you, it will change the future I belong to. In essence, I will cease to exist. But I'm willing to make that sacrifice."

"What was our life like together?" asked Liz wistfully.
"You know I can't tell you that," said Future Max.
"Why not. If that future isn't going to exist anyhow, why not tell me about it."
"We eloped when we were 19," said Future Max.
"But that's so young."
"That's what I said, but you said that Romeo and Juliet were younger than we were. So we drove to Vegas and got married in an Elvis chapel."
"So we didn't even have a real wedding?"
"Oh it was a great wedding." "You called everyone and they met us at some sleazy bar in Phoenix. We danced all night. At the end of the night, I shall Believe came on and we danced once more. After that, it was always our song."

Liz glanced at the clock next to her bed, it read 1:57, she wanted this thing, this apparition out of her room.
"I'll think of something. I gave you my word, and I meant it. But you have to get out of here before my parents come upstairs."
"Alright," said Future Max. "I'll be back tomorrow night, you can tell me what you came up with. Liz, I know this is hard. It's hard for me to. I'll never love anyone like I love you, but Earth is depending on us." He paused at the window. "Thank you Liz," he whispered as he climbed out. Liz waited a few moments to make sure he was gone; the she shut the windows and closed the curtains once again.

"Michael, come on out, he's gone."
"What do you mean, he's gone. He was never here, was he?
"What are you talking about Michael? I just talked to him? Didn't you hear us?"
"Us? No, I didn't hear an us, I heard a you, talking to yourself, but that's about it. I looked out the door and everything, but Liz, you were in the room by yourself."
"Michael, he was here, I swear it!" said Liz, trembling "He told me about our wedding and everything. Oh God, am I losing my mind?"
"Liz, relax, your not losing your mind. Something is going on, and I have no clue what it is, but you are not losing your mind."