Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them.

Rating: PG-13 – possibly to R

Chapter Forty-Three – Oops, He Did it Again

"I am so NOT anybody's mate," snapped Maria. "So why don't you just climb back into your spaceship, or whatever it is, and head back to Venus?"

"Yeah," added Kyle. "I mean, how do we know the Great Gazoo, here is on the level?"

"The Great Gazoo?" queried Che'koth. "I'm sorry, but I am not familiar with that reference."

"See, that's my point," ranted Maria. "How can somebody, so ignorant of basic Earth culture come in here and tell us we're mated for life, like a bunch of animals in the zoo?

"Maria, will you relax," said Michael quietly. "Give the guy a chance to explain, will ya?

"Maria, shut up!" said Liz, catching a glimpse of pain in Michael's eyes. "Michael's right, we have to give him a chance to explain."

"Fine, whatever," snapped Maria. "Okay, Gazoo, you heard the woman, explain."

"What is it you want to know?" inquired Che'koth.

"Well, more about this mated for life thing, to start with," said Liz. "Not that I don't love you Max," she said, turning to him. "But being told that we have no choice in any of this is a bit unnerving."

"You take offense at the term mated, then?" asked Che'koth. "Forgive me. My aim was not to insult anybody. I think perhaps, the true meaning has been misinterpreted."

"That's a possibility," said Isabelle. "Can you try and explain it again, so we understand better?"

"I can do better than that, Your Highness," said Che'koth. "If you would all join hands and circle the granolith please, I will try and show you exactly what I mean."

Liz and Max quickly joined hands and moved closer to the granolith. After a slight hesitation, Isabelle put her hand in Max's, and held out her other hand to Alex. Michael moved to stand next to Liz, and took her hand in his, and looked back at Maria. Maria glared at the room in general for a moment, then with a huff, moved into the circle and placed her hand in Michael's, and Kyle and Ava quickly completed the circle.

Che'koth bowed his head, and an intense look of concentration crossed his face. In seconds, images began to fill the heads of the group. Liz saw what she took to be an Antarian couple meeting for the first time. She could feel the attraction that the girl felt for the boy. Then she saw a flash of the girl with other people, and she could feel the longing the girl had for the first boy. Another flash, and she saw the boy and girl together again, and felt the love between the two. Another flash, and she saw what she thought was an image of Romeo and Juliet.

The images faded away, and Che'koth raised his head. Liz could see that it glistened with sweat.

"I think I get it," she said, to the room in general.

"Me too," said Alex and Isabelle simultaneously.

"Is there a more correct term?" inquired Che'koth. "I have no wish to offend any of you with improper language.

"Soul mates," said Maria, softly. "You were trying to say we were soul mates. But I still don't understand the DNA stuff. How did our meeting, change our bodies? Is this some alien thing that happened to us?"

"I don't think so," said Liz. "That's why we saw Romeo and Juliet. They were so much in love, that they'd rather die than be apart. I think what Che'koth was explaining to us has been happening forever, but our technology isn't advanced enough to detect it. It probably ties in with pheromones. I can't really explain it very well, but I think it's okay Maria. I mean, think about it, as many times as you and Michael have fought and broken up, you always end up back together."

"I suppose," said Maria.

"And when you're apart, think about how miserable you are," continued Liz. "I really think that's what Che'koth was talking about when he said our DNA changed and that we were mated for life. Am I close?" she asked, turning to the holograph of the Antarian."

"I believe so, Your Majesty. You are very wise, as well as very beautiful. The child you carry is fortunate to have a mother such as yourself."

"How do we know this isn't just some other type of mind warp or something?" asked Kyle. "I mean who is to say he isn't just working some other type of alien mojo on us."

"I don't think he is," said Alex. "It didn't feel anything like when Tess tries to mind warp us. He was just trying to explain something to us, that's all."

Kyle broke free of the circle, and pulled Ava to one side. He looked over his shoulder and glared at the others who were all watching intently. As one, they all turned away and began to discuss anything and everything but the subject at hand with Che'koth and each other.

"Ave," Kyle began. "Look, it's not that I don't care about you. Please don't think that. It's just that all of this is just being thrown at us out of nowhere, and I have to admit to being kind of freaked out."

"Would you be freaked out if someone came and told you that you and Liz were destined to spend the rest of your lives together?" Ava asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"Damn right I would be," said Kyle. "I'd freak even if Hugh Hefner himself showed up and said I was destined to spend my life with Jody Ann Patterson!"

"Who?" asked Ava.

"Jody Ann – never mind," said Kyle. "My point is, knowing that I found my soul mate is a realization I'd like to come to myself. Not something that I want to find out in an alien singing telegram."

"I think I understand," said Ava.

"Um, guys," said Alex. "I hate to interrupt what appears to be a meaningful moment and all, but the Great Gazoo has something he wants to share with us."

Kyle and Ava followed Alex over to the center of the room.

"Okay, Gazoo, what do you have for us now?" asked Kyle, his tone still resentful.

"I do wish someone would explain the term Gazoo to me," said Che'koth."

"Well, are you familiar with the Flintstones?" asked Max, a small grin playing on his face. "If not, we'll save that discussion for another time. Right now, I'd rather hear what else you have to tell us."

"There is much to discuss, but my first duty is to inform you you're your Royal Mother has been informed of your Setara, and has acknowledged them as legal and binding."

"Setara?" asked Max. "What's that?"

"You don't know?" asked Che'koth, his voice full of shock. "You are married."

Max looked at Liz and shared a secret smile with her.

"That's okay," he said. "We were planning on doing that anyhow!"

"Your Majesty," said Che'koth. "I'm not sure you are understanding me. It is not just you and Liz who are married. "Princess Vilondra and Alex are, as well as Sir Rath, and Maria, and Lady Ava and Kyle. When you activated the granolith, you also participated in the Antarian Setara, or wedding ritual. All of you are married now."