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 Seventy-One Two Down, One to Go

"How can we go back to Antar?" Tess asked, while clutching her stomach.

"I'll find a way," said Max. "I want you to stay here and rest. The Sheriff is a phone call away if you need anything. I'm going to go get everything organized and tell the others. We'll leave tomorrow."

"Oh, Max, this is wonderful. We can go home, and our baby will be safe. We'll be so happy, Max, I just feel it."

Max smiled briefly and walked out the door and got into his Jeep and drove away. As soon as he was out of sight, Tess sprang from the couch and ran outside to her own car. She was in such a hurry to get to the Tumbleweed Motel, that she didn't notice Maria's Jetta following several car lengths behind.

Tess quickly climbed from her car, and made her way to the room where she pounded on the door to Lonnie and Rath's room.

"I'm comin, I'm comin, chill, will ya?" came Rath's voice from behind the door.

"Yeah, Queenie, what the frig do you want?" he asked, lounging against the door, wrapped only in a towel.

"Shut up and let me in, Rath," demanded Tess pushing past him. "Where's Lonnie? We have to talk."

"I'm right her, Queenie," answered Lonnie, from the bed. She sat up and pulled the covers tighter around her naked body. "Rath and me were busy. So, hurry up and say what you gotta say, so me and my man can get back to business. Unless you'se are here to join us or sumptin?"

"Please," said Tess, her voice heavy with disgust. "As if. But if you two would rather screw than hear my news, that's fine. I'll just leave, and then you and Rath can spend the rest of your worthless lives stuck here on this God forsaken planet.

Wait a second, Queenie, what are you talking about?" asked Rath.

"It's time, you moron, that's what I mean. We're going home. Tomorrow. That is, if you can get rid of Michael and Isabelle between now and then," answered Tess.

"Don't worry, Tess. We'll do our part," snarled Rath. "You just make sure you don't screw everything up."

"Watch it, Rath," said Tess. "I don't have to bring you with us. So just back off, or you'll find yourself stuck on this frigging hell hole for the rest of your life."

"Relax, Queenie," said Rath, holding up his hands in a placating manner. "It'll be taken care of. Just chill, and go take care of Maxie boy."

Tess glared at Rath, with venom filled eyes, then turned and walked out the door.

"I'm glad that bitch is gone," said Rath as he threw himself across the room, and landed on the bed next to Lonnie. She is startin to get me really pissed."

"So why dontcha just off her already. I'm sick of hearin about her," said Lonnie, pulling the towel off of Rath's body.

"You know why," growled Rath. "Jesus, don't you start actin as friggin stupid as that bitch. "Our protector cut a deal with Kivar, that's why. He still wants her. She betrayed her man, and let Kivar's armies enter the city undetected. "

"Cause she's his connection to the Royal family babe. He knew he didn't stand chance with you, so he'll settle for Queenie. Especially if she's knocked up with Zan's brat."

"Yeah, but who says he won't whack us, as soon as we bring Queenie home to him," said Lonnie, pressing kisses against Rath's flat stomach.

"Cause I'm gonna kill the bastard first," groaned Rath, as Lonnie's mouth slid lower down his body.

"Ah, shit!" Rath exploded when someone began to pound on the door. "Who the frig is at the door now?" he shouted, over the pounding on the door. "Queenie, if that's you, get the hell outta here. I'm busy."

The pounding continued, until Rath pushed Lonnie away, and climbed off the bed and walked across the stained motel carpet to the door.

"What the hell do you want now, we're busy!" he shouted.

"Rath, open up," came the muffled voice from the other side of the door. "It's important. I have to talk to you right away!"

"Jesus Christ, Queenie, this better be good!" he shouted as he opened the door. "What the hell," his voice trailed off. "Wait, you're dead," Rath said, his voice hoarse.

"Wrong," said Alex, pushing his way into the room. "But now, you are!" Maria ducked under Alex's arm and pressed her hand against Rath's chest, and concentrated, sending a short fast burst of energy directly to his heart.

"Bastard, I killed you once!" said Maria. "You should have stayed dead."

"Rath!" screamed Lonnie, jumping from the bed "You're gonna die, bitch."

"No, she isn't," said Alex, aiming a bolt of energy at her. Lonnie's naked body flew back across the bed, and then fell to the floor.

Alex stood looking down at Rath's dead body, and then glanced across the room to where Lonnie's body had fallen.

"We just killed two people," he said, his voice hollow. "And I don't feel any different, do you?"

"No, but why should I," snapped Maria. "I already killed Rath once, like I said. If Max had just let him stay dead, maybe things wouldn't have gone this far."

"But if Max had let him stay dead, we may have never learned that it wasn't Isabelle that betrayed them on Antar, it was Tess. Isabelle deserves to know that. No, she needs to know that,' said Alex.

"Come on," said Maria, tugging at his arm. "I need to get out of here, and find Michael. I also need to take a shower, and maybe sniff some cedar oil, and not necessarily in that order. God, I feel so dirty." She looked around the room. "Did they ever let housekeeping in here?" she asked, not expecting an answer. "It's disgusting in here."

"Maria, snap out of it," said Alex." "You're rambling about the state of the room. Let's get you to Michael, I think you need to be with him, more than you need anything else."

"It's just that he looks so much like Michael," Maria whispered, looking down at Rath's body. "I mean, consciously, I know that it isn't Michael. Michael could never ever act like that. It's just that sometimes, it's hard to get past the physical differences."

"Maria, look at me," said Alex, turning Maria away from the bodies lying on the floor. "When you look at Ava, who do you see?"

"Ava, of course," said Maria. "What is this, some kind of geek brain teaser of yours?"

"No, just listen for a minute. Kyle said it one time. When he looks at Ava, he doesn't see the resemblance to Tess. For him, it isn't there. Ava is herself, a unique individual, and the person she is on the inside is what shows through. If you spent more time with those two things in there, you wouldn't see any resemblance at all to either Michael, or Isabelle. Those two were completely evil inside. There wasn't any good in them anywhere, and that's what would have shown through. Just keep reminding yourself of that."

"How'd you get so smart?" Maria sniffed.

"I hang around with a couple of really smart ladies," said Alex, pulling her close. "Now come on, lets get out of here. Kyle, Ava and his dad are going to take care of removing, well, getting rid of," he stopped.

"I know what you mean," said Maria. "You're right, let's get out of here." She turned and gave one last look at the Michael doppelganger that lay on the floor. "You know, you're right," she added as they walked out the door into the warm Roswell evening. "He doesn't look anything at all like Michael.