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

Hell Hath No Fury

"Okay, so everybody knows what their doing?" said Max, looking around the booth.
"Yeah," said Kyle. "I think I'm okay with my part in this."
"Great Kyle," said Max. "Do me a favor, just don't get too into your role. Alex, what about you?"
"Yeah, I think it's going to work Max. We made a lot of progress last night. I'll work on it some more this afternoon."
Michael?" Max looked at his second in command.
"I'm on it. I'll hide up in Liz's room again tonight, just in case we're wrong, and Future Max is real."

"Great," said Max. "Liz, you know what you have to do, right?"
"Yeah, I all set," she said, playing nervously with her hair.
"What about Maria?" asked Alex.
"We'll fill Maria and Isabelle in on everything as soon as possible," said Max.
"It's not going to be pretty," said Michael.
"You're right," agreed Max.
"When she finds out what Tess did, she's going to go ballistic. She's going to want to destroy her right away."
"Guys," said Kyle. "Don't you think you're underestimating Isabelle? She'll handle this. She's not going to overreact like that."
"Isabelle?" said Michael with a laugh. "We're not talking about Isabelle, we're talking about Maria.



"Morning Chica," said Maria. "Sorry I'm late, but counting those stupid alien autopsy kits took forever. "But you are never going to believe who showed up to help us"
"Tess," said Liz, wiping down the counter of the empty restaurant.
"Yeah," said Maria, her voice dejected. "How'd you know?"
"She wasn't really there," said Liz.
"Yeah she was," said Maria, her confusion showing on her face.
"No, she wasn't Maria."
"Trust me Liz, she was there. In fact, if I didn't hate the bitch so much, I might even be glad she showed up to help."
"Maria, do you remember when you wanted me to tell you about Max. I made you promise not to freak out."
"Liz, what does this have to do with anything?"
"Well, do you remember?"
"Yeah, of course I remember," she said, giving Liz a look that said D'uh as clearly as if she had said it.
"And what did you do when I told you?" asked Liz.
"I, well, I freaked out," Maria mumbled.
"What's that Maria, I couldn't hear you?"
Maria looked up at Michael, who was leaning through the pick-up window, clearly enjoying the exchange. "I freaked out," she said clearly. "I ran screaming into the street, okay!"

"Okay, now that we have that out in the open, I want you to promise me that when I tell you this, you will remain perfectly calm. No running, no screaming, no killing. Do I have your promise?"
"Liz, girlfriend, you are seriously losing it. What could you possibly tell me that compares with that?"
"Promise me, Maria," said Liz, insistently.
OK, fine, I promise. Now tell me what's going on?"
"Tess has the ability to modify our memories. We knew this at one time, and she erased it from our memories. She made me believe that I saw Future Max, and to cover her tracks, she made you and Isabelle believe that she helped you do inventory last night," said Liz in one big rush.
Maria took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "Okay, so what you are telling me is that stupid bitch has basically been messing with our minds the entire time we have known her?"
"Well, yeah," said Liz. "Maria, you're taking this really well. I'm really impressed. Maria? Wait! Where are you going? Michael, stop her!"

Maria crossed the floor of the café, storm towards the door. "That stupid lying little tramp. I'm going to kill her. I am going to take my hands, and wrap them around her scrawny neck and squeeze the life out of her!" she raged. "Michael Guerin, let me go. I'm going to kill her!" she screamed at Michael, who had rushed to the door and was restraining her.
"Maria, listen to me," said Liz. "You have got to calm down. We're going to stop her, but this isn't the way. Do you hear me Maria?"
Maria stopped struggling, and began to relax. As she did, Michael relaxed his grip and Maria broke free and started for the door again."
"Maria! Will you chill?" yelled Liz.
"Okay, Okay," said Maria. "I promise, I'm fine now. Liz, explain everything to me again, very slowly. I want to make sure I understand everything."

In between waiting tables in the now busy café, Liz and Michael filled Maria in on what had occurred in Liz's bedroom the night before, and on Kyle's experiences as well.
"Man Liz, I'm sorry," said Maria. "Here I am ranting and raving over nothing, you're the one who has to deal with all this crap. I can't believe she would do something like that. Why?"
"I don't know Maria," said Liz as she grabbed an order off of the counter. "I mean, I love Max, and I'd do anything for him, but what she's doing is just unexplainable."
"Well, she's not going to get away with it," said Maria. "What do you need me to do?"
"Stay calm," deadpanned Michael.
"Shut up, Michael. I'm serious."
"So am I Maria. The last thing we need is for you to go off half-cocked."
"Michael, look at me, I'm calm. I'm the epitome of calm," said Maria, balancing a tray of glasses on one hand to show how steady she was. She looked up and saw Tess stroll into the restaurant, and the tray and glasses went crashing to the floor."

"Oh sure," laughed Liz. "Real calm, Maria. Don't worry, I'll take care of her." Liz pulled out her order pad and walked over to the booth occupied only by Tess.
"Hi Tess," she said. "Do you want to order now, or are you waiting for someone?"
" Now please," said Tess, politely. "There isn't anything edible at the Valenti's, and I'm starving." Liz smiled and wrote down the girl's order, marveling at her ability to project such a sweet and innocent persona."
"That will just be a few minutes," said Liz. "Did you want your drink now, or with your meal?"
"Oh, now," said Tess, looking around the café. "What's wrong with Maria? She looks like she's a wreck?"
"Oh, I think she counted one to many alien antenna toppers. She told me how you stopped by to help her last night. That was really thoughtful of you Tess." She turned to go put in Tess's order, but not before she caught the look of smug satisfaction that shown in Tess's eyes.