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.

Chapter Sixty-Nine Until Forever

"So, that's it," said the voice. "Does everybody understand what they have to do?"

One by one, each person in the room nodded.

"I'm not sure I can do this," said one of them.

"You can. You have to. Your role is crucial to the success of the plan."

"I'll do my best."

"That's all anybody can ask. It's late, we should all get home," the voice continued.

They said their goodnights, and filed one by one out of the pod chamber into the dark desert night.

"Your home is up there," said the first voice, looking up to a sky filled with dazzling stars.

"My home is with you. You are my world.

"And I love you, Max, until forever."

"Max," we need to talk," Tess said to Max early the next morning after he picked her up for school.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Well, we kind of have a problem," Tess said. "I'm, well, Max, I'm pregnant."

"You are? Are you sure, I mean, how can you know already?"

"I guess an Antarian pregnancy progresses differently than those on Earth. I can fell this baby already. He's growing inside of me."

"He?" said Max. "You can tell that it's a boy?"

"It's like he's communicating with me," said Tess. "I can sense his feelings and thoughts. It's amazing. But, Max, what are we going to do?"

"Whatever you want to do," said Max. "I'll stand by you, Tess. You're not in this alone. We'll get through it together."

"Oh, Max," said Tess, her face shining with happiness. "Do you really mean it? I thought you'd just tell me to deal with it."

Max pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road, and gathered Tess in his arms.

"Tess, we got into this situation together, we'll get through it together."

"But what about Liz?" Tess asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"What about her?" Max asked, clearly puzzled. "We're not together, and we haven't been for a very long time.

"I know," said Tess. "I just wanted to make sure, I mean, she came to Las Vegas with us, and you guys were, well, it seemed like you two were getting close again."

"Not even close, Tess. You and I are together; we're a couple, not Liz and I, that's ancient history. Now, we need to get to school. We'll talk more, later on."

Max pulled the Jeep back onto the road, and quickly drove to West Roswell High School. He parked the Jeep and climbed out and rushed to the passenger side and helped Tess out. Together the two walked into school, and met Michael and Isabelle in the hall.

"Hey," said Michael. "What's up?"

"Tess and I have some news," said Max, looking pointedly at Michael and Isabelle.

"What's wrong, Max?" said Isabelle, her voice tinged with panic.

"Nothing's wrong," said Max. "In fact, it could even be considered right. Like a destiny fulfilled even. Tess and I are having a baby."

"What!" shouted Michael. "You can't be."

"We can, and are," said Max, calmly.

"But Max, what if it comes out with green skin or something?" Michael said in a panic.

"Michael, will you relax," said Isabelle, trying to be the voice of reason. "Nothing has to be decided now, and especially, not here."

"There's nothing to decide," said Max. "Tess and I are together now, she's pregnant, and we're having this baby. That's all there is to it."

Max took Tess by the hand, and led her down the hallway, while Michael and Isabelle watched the walk away.

"A baby, huh?" said Michael.

"Don't look at me," said Isabelle. "You're sister is the one who mind warped her. The baby thing was her idea."

"Yeah, and it's working great," said Michael, his voice tinged with pride at Ava's accomplishment. "Except for the part where we have to watch Max drool all over her. That part is rather disgusting."

"If you think it's disgusting for us, how do you think Liz feels about the whole thing," said Isabelle, motioning across the hall. Michael looked up, and saw Liz standing by a locker, with tears spilling out of her eyes.

The two Antarians crossed the hallway and stood protectively on either side of Liz.

"You okay?" Michael asked.

"It's just harder than I thought, that's all," sniffed Liz. "Seeing them walking through the hall together, and she's glowing like she's a Madonna or something. It's not like she's really pregnant or anything."

"Yeah, but she thinks she is, Liz, and the mind is a powerful thing. She's convinced that she's pregnant and her body is going to start providing her with psychosomatic symptoms," said Isabelle. "But we all know better. She's not pregnant with Max's baby, and she never will be. He loves you Liz, and don't you forget it."

"I won't, Isabelle," Liz said, wiping her eyes. "Thank you for reminding me."

"Come on, we need to get to class. The threesome walked down the halls, and paused outside of Isabelle's classroom.

"You'll be okay?" she asked Liz, uncertainly.

"Yeah, I will be," said Liz, her voice strong with resolve. "I have to be, I have a war to win."

Michael took Liz by the arm, and they continued to walk down the now deserted hallway.

"You don't have to escort me, Michael," Liz said with a small smile. "I'll be okay."

"I know you will," he replied. "Did you ever think that maybe I just want to walk you to class?"

"No," Liz said, bluntly. "You want something, what is it?"

"This think, I don't think we're all going to make it out of this alive. Just make sure Maria knows how much I love her."

"Tell her yourself, Guerin," said Liz. "Nobody is going to die, at least not anybody I care about."

"Liz, I'm serious," said Michael.

"So am I, so just drop it. Now, is everything set for tonight?"

"Yeah, it's going to be great. I wish I could see it happen," said Michael, shaken by the vehemence in Liz's voice.

"We can't, none of us can be there, it's too much of a risk. Alex will be able to pull it off without us," said Liz. "Now, I'm going to class, I'll see you later."

Michael watched as Liz walked down the hall, her head held high. "Maybe if she had been with us on Antar, we would have won the war. She sure makes one hell of a general," he said in admiration to the empty hall.