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

Chapter Fifty-One - Viva Las Vegas

"Max has a plan," said Liz. "I don't know what it is, but he says it will work, and he said the sheriff helped him come up with it."

"Liz, chica, Max's plans are only slightly more successful than Michael's plans. It's never going to work, and oh look, we're going to see it not work first hand."

Liz looked up and say Sheriff Valenti walk into the CrashDown, followed by Maria's mother Amy, and Kyle.

"Oh God," whispered Liz. "Kyle looks like he's going to be sick. This cannot be good."

"Morning ladies," said Sheriff Valenti. "Liz, I was wondering if I could speak with your parents for a minute.

"Uh, sure thing, Sheriff Valenti," said Liz, flashing Kyle a curious glance. She wasn't aware of that particular power

This was so NOT my idea she heard Kyle's voice whisper in her head. Just play along with whatever he says.

Liz glanced at Maria, and then turned and leaned through the pick up window and yelled to her father.

"Dad, Sheriff Valenti is here. He wants to speak with you and Mom." Liz shouted to her father. At his concerned glance, she quickly added, "No, it's not about me."

"Well, Liz, actually it is," said Sheriff Valenti as Liz's dad joined them at the counter. "But it's a good thing. See Jeff, I'm here with good news actually. It seems that Kyle here, has won an all expenses paid vacation for himself and 9 friends to Las Vegas, and it was thanks to Liz. Seems she helped him write the winning essay."

"That's great Kyle," said Jeff, looking confused. "But I don't understand why you're telling me."

"Oh, didn't I mention that," said Jim Valenti, looking as innocent as possible. "Kyle wanted to invite Liz, Maria and their friends along. Amy has agreed to come along and act as a chaperon with me," added the Sheriff."

"Oh my God," muttered Maria. "THIS is Max's plan. There is no way they are going to go for this."

"You're mother already did," whispered Kyle, and without the benefit of Ava's mind warp."

"Look, I never claimed my mother was brilliant," snapped Maria in an undertone. "She married my father, after all."

"I don't know," said Jeff. "I need to check with Nancy before I agree to anything."

"Check with Nancy about what," said Liz's mother as she walked into the café. The sheriff quickly outlined the trip again, stressing the free, as well as the chaperons.

"Why not," agreed Nancy, to Liz's shock and amazement. "Liz has been putting in a lot of extra hours here, as has Maria. It would do them some good to get away. What did you say the sleeping arrangements would be, Amy?"

"We have two adjoining suites," said Amy. "Each with two bedrooms, and a sofa bed in the living rooms. We can put two girls in each of the bedrooms, and I'll take the sofa bed, and Jim can do the same with the boys. The connecting door is between the two living rooms, so there isn't any way they can sneak back and forth between rooms."

"Jeff, what do you think?" asked Nancy.

"If you think it's okay, then it's fine with me," said Jeff. "Did Philip and Diane agree to these plans?" he asked, referring to Max and Isabelle's parents.

"They sure did," said Jim Valenti. "So did Alex's parents."

"So soon?" questioned Amy. "I mean, he just got back from Sweden, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but his parents were so impressed by the reports from the school he attended over there that they decided to cut the apron string a little more," said Amy. "I was a bit surprised, to be honest. They always were a bit over protective."

Liz, Maria and Kyle listened in amazement to the discussion that was going on around them. Unbelievable as it seemed, Max's plan was working.

"Well, it seems like it's too good an opportunity to pass up," said Jeff. "As long as you and Amy are going, I'm okay with Liz going. In fact, Liz, why don't you schedule a few extra shifts for you and Maria so you can pay for your meals and such."

"Meals and hotel and travel all come as a part of the package, Jeff," Jim interjected. "As well as tickets to many of the age appropriate activities. All the girls will need is spending money."

"Th-thanks Mom, Dad!" cried Liz, running around the counter to hug her parents. "It's going to be such a blast!"

"No problem, Lizzie," said Jeff, hugging her tightly. "You're only young once, and I haven't forgotten that, no matter how much you may not believe it. By the way, what was Kyle's winning essay about?"

"Th-the essay?" stammered Liz, her puzzlement showing on her face.

"Yeah, sweetie," said Jeff Parker. "Kyle's winning essay. The one you helped him with."

"Oh, um," stammered Liz.

"It was about the crash and '47," said Kyle. "And what would have happened if there were survivors from the crash living among us today. I compared how I thought they would feel, trying to survive in an alien world and how kids feel trying to survive in the same alien world. You know, they are both outsiders, looking in."

"That's a very interesting topic," said Jeff. "Do you suppose I could read it some time?"

"Uh, yeah, sure Dad, no problem," said Liz, glaring at Kyle. "Listen, why don't we all get together tonight and make some plans and go over the itinerary. Kyle could you give everyone a call and have them meet us here after we close. If it's okay with you and Mom," she added, looking at her father.

"Sure, Lizzie. You know we don't mind when you and your friends hang out here."

"Thanks Dad, and thank you Sheriff Valenti, and you too Mrs. DeLuca. None of this would be possible if it wasn't for you."

"No problem, Liz," said the sheriff, leading Amy towards the door. "It will be fun for all of us.

"A comparison of how the survivors of the 47 crash and kids would feel!" screeched Liz the second Kyle walked back into the café that night. "My God, Kyle! What were you thinking?"

"Actually, it was my idea," said Max. All a part of that hiding in plain sight thing."

"Well, it's stupid," said Liz. "And I hope you have the essay written, because my father wants to read it."

"As a matter of fact," began Max.

"Oh shut up," said Liz with a laugh as she stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss against his lips. It figures you already wrote it."

The small group of friends laughed and planned how to spend their time in Las Vegas. They laughed, and threw french fries at each other. None of them noticed the small blond girl staring at them through the window of the CrashDown.