Disclaimer: Roswell, and its characters do not belong to me. Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and 20th Century Fox have that particular pleasure. I'm simply borrowing them until the Season 2 DVD's get released.

Chapter Seventy – Eight – Family Reunion

"Dijanya," Kitana whispered, holding her hand up to her mouth. "My friend, you survived. I am so happy."

Michael knelt on the ground helping Kyle support Ava. He looked up at the woman in front of him and stared.

"Is it true?" he asked, his voice catching. "Never mind," he said. "I know it is. You look just like Ava." His face darkened, and he turned back to Kyle. "Is she okay?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"Yeah, I think so," Kyle whispered back. "I think it was just he shock. Ava, Ava, sweetie, wake up," he said, turning his attention back to his wife. "Come on Ava, wake up."

"Kyle?" Ava whispered. "I thought I saw,"

"You did," Michael interrupted. "Come on. We have to get to the Granolith." He and Kyle helped Ava to her feet, and Michael made sure she was steady before he moved over to where Maria stood open mouthed. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room without another word.

"Well, that went well," said Alex.

"Watch it, Whitman," said Kyle, slipping his arm around Ava's waist more securely. "I'm supposed to be the comic relief here, not you. Come on, Ava, let's go make sure Michael's all right."

"Michael's right," said Max, addressing the rest of the room. We do need to get up there. We can straighten out the rest of this, later on. I'm sorry this is happening now," he added, looking at the woman who claimed to be not only his aunt, but also the mother of his best friend. "We have another situation to deal with, and then we'll get this straightened out, I promise. Mother, Father, are you coming with us."

"Yes, Son," said Drinian. "We will be along in a moment. You go on ahead."

Max motioned to the others, and they walked out the door, following the path that Michael and the others took. Within minutes, they walked into the room that housed the base of the Granolith. The top of the Granolith exited out through an opening to tower above the palace.

"Majesty," said one of the members of the royal senate. "We began to fear that you would not join us."

"We said we'd be here, and we're here, Nendron," Max said in a cold hard voice. "Now, it seems to me that you are concerned about who is to rule Antar. We have something to show you."

"Wait," said a voice from the back of the room. "I want everyone to know I stand before any ruler that the Granolith chooses. I was foolish enough to turn my back on the power of the Granolith when I was young and foolish. It is a mistake I will never make again."

The crowd gasped as Drinian pushed forward through the crowd, flanked by Kitana and Dijanya. He turned and surveyed the people crowding into the chamber.

"The Granolith will tell you the true ruler, and I want your solemn word that you will abide by its choice."

"King Drinian!" shouted a man in the crowd. "It's King Drinian and Queen Kitana, and Lady Dijanya. King Drinian has come back to rule over Antar again!"

"No I have not!" thundered Drinian. "Do you hear nothing, have you learned nothing from all of this? I willingly handed over the throne to my son, and now, to appease you, we will allow the Granolith to show you the true ruler. Max, Zan, whenever you are ready, you may begin."

Max and the others took their positions surrounding the Granolith in the four square position, with Zan joining Max and Liz in their corner of the square. Almost at once, the Granolith began to pulse with light. It shot up from the base of the Granolith, shooting out of the top and coming down in columns of light, enveloping each person that stood in the corner.

As quickly as it had begun, the lights faded back into the Granolith and slowly down into its base. As one, Max and Zan stepped forward and faced the crowd.

"The Granolith has spoken," they said. "And it has made its choice. We are all chosen as fit to rule Antar."

"How can this be?" Nendron shouted. "How can the Granolith choose nine people to rule our world?"

"It doesn't matter," said Zan, speaking forcefully. "You agreed to abide by the decision of the Granolith, and the Granolith has shown that any one of us is fit to rule Antar. Now, if you will excuse us, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to visit with our families."

Zan swept past the watching crowds, his expression almost haughty as he looked down his nose at them, almost daring any one of them to say anything. He winked at Max, who stepped out of the four square, along with Liz, and walked beside him out of the Granolith chamber.

The others fell in behind them, walking out in pairs, looking neither right, nor left. They simply took their cue from Zan, and walked from the room as if they owned it.

Once the door to the Granolith chamber closed behind them, Maria, then Ava exploded into laughter. It didn't take long for the others to follow suit, and the nine friends stood in the hallway, holding on to each other for support as they laughed as if they'd never laughed before, or would again.

"Oh, my God," snorted Ava, indelicately. "Did you see the looks on their faces when the Granolith did its laser light show?"

"That was great," said Maria. "But not half as funny as Zan's lord of the manor impression. I was just waiting for him to use the royal 'We.' I swear if he had done that, I would have lost it."

"It was a bit extreme," said Max. "But you pulled it off. Why didn't you tell them that you were going to stay and rule though? We all agreed that if you wanted it, the job was yours. Does this mean you're coming back with us, instead?" he added, hopefully.

"I don't know," Zan admitted. "After the news Michael and Ava got, I thought maybe they'd want to reconsider their decisions to stay. I mean since they have family here and all."

"I'm not staying," said Michael, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Maria is my family, and you guys are my family. I'm going back to Earth. Zan, I'll miss you, man, but this place isn't my home, and those people aren't my family."

He turned his back on the group and stared out the window at the two moons that were rising up over the horizon. Maria moved to stand next to him, and Michael slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in close to him. No words were spoken, but the others could feel the healing love that flowed between Maria and Michael.

"Well," hedged Ava. "I don't know. Actually, I do know. I'm not a ruler. Maybe I'd consider staying here and visiting for a while, but I agree with Michael, this isn't our home anymore, and I'm ready to go home for a while. The job is all yours, Zan. Have it with our blessings."

She moved forward and hugged her friend tightly. "You're gonna be a great king, Zan. You always were a leader."