Title: Hedging Her Bets

Author: blackknight5
beta by: Strawbehrry Shortcake
Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Four Aliens and Baby & Roswell Books "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape".

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and review this story. Please continue to Read and Review.

Part 10:

Boston - Jesse Ramirez Office

Jesse leaned back into his office chair after skimming the lines of the legal commentary for thetenth time and still not getting it. His mind was focused on her. Always on her.

A part of him wished it wasn't, but another part of him screamed that his mind didn't concentrate enough effort on her. He stood up and turned to look out the window at the buildings his window offered a view of.

Jesse had found Boston much as many new comers had, confusing, strange, and fixated on the Red Sox's. It was a beautiful city that glowed with as much with the power of its history as because of the electric light bulb. And in a city of millions he found himself alone. For months as he worked on legal cases his mind would wander to his wife. He still thought of her as his wife, and wished she was here.

Or more yet just wished he was with her. Isabelle had grabbed a hold of his heart, and given him a passion that he had never felt with anyone else. Then as quickly as she had appeared in his life she was gone. He really couldn't blame her for that, the government trying to kill her had definitely been a good reason to leave, but his heart couldn't take that she hadn't let him come with her.

He also knew she hadn't tried to contact him through human means or other. He also knew that his problem with the other part of her had made the decision to kick him away easier. He needed to stop this, he thought. If he kept this kind of thoughts up he would just drive himself crazy. Finally able to put aside the chaotic thoughts of his mind Jesse stepped back to his desk and worked.

Los Angeles - Langley's House

Kyle really was starting to think he should have gone with Max & Michael. And although he couldn't read minds he was pretty sure Isabelle was feeling the same way. Maria was on the war path. Maria when angry was the equivalent of tank running amok and the only real safe thing was to dive out of the way. Unfortunately, everyone also seemed to forget that tanks had cannons, or that Maria had impossibly good aim when it came to throwing things.

Ducking just behind the sofa in the Lounge, Kyle nearly escaped the flying vase that Maria had held a second earlier. "Kyle Valenti, get your ass out here, right now!" Maria screamed.

"I said I was sorry, what more do you want Maria?"

"I want your hide on a platter."

"Maria I didn't do anything."

"Men!" Maria screamed.

Kyle realized Maria had her back turned, and using all the speed his ex-football player body had Kyle managed to get behind Maria and place her hands in a vice-grip and turned her around. "Now Maria just calm down!"

California Desert - Death Valley

Max watched Michael. Michael was one to over think anything he did. Once he decided to act, he acted there was no point rethinking what he'd done. However, right now Michael seemed nervous bordering on near panic.

Antarian Royal Guard arrives.

Max watched as the side of the ship opened, and what looked like a man of sixty or more walked out. Max had spent the last few years of his life fighting against people who were strong and people who were dangerous. This man gave off the impression of both. "Langley do you know who that is?" Max asked.

Before he could answer Michael moved forward. "Michael?"

Michael walked up to the man and looked him the eyes. The eyes that had seemed to say he had walked through the ninth level of hell then turned around and decided to walk back now changed. A thin smile appeared on his face. Again Michael acted first. "Garen?" Michael asked.

"Hello my old friend. Its Michael right?"

"Yeah. I don't..."

"Her Majesty informed us of all that is happening, and has happened." Max and Langley walk up just as Garen says this.

"Your Majesty. I am Garen. Commander of the Antarian Royal Guard."

"I have no throne yet Commander, and perhaps never. We have much ahead of us. I don't think it would wise to separate those who must fight together. So just call me Max."

"Your Queen has clearly had a powerful influence on you, Max."

"She is more noble then I could ever be."

"Oh, what great dialogue. If I made bad Dawson's Creek rip-offs you'd be perfect."

Garen stood face to face with Langley. "Hello Garen," Langley said in a voice that held less warmth than the voice he used for Max. Garen just nodded then before Langley could block him launched his fist into the right side of Langley's face.

Antar - Royal Palace.

The Dowager Queen walked alone through the halls of Antar's Royal Palace her home for so long, and the place her soul had been trapped since her son's death. Despite his hatred for all things Royal, and he had done a great deal of damage to the historical buildings in an effort to remove all traces of the monarchy from the physical if not the historical memory, but the palace had survived almost untouched.

She was never really sure why, after all if there was ever a symbol of the monarchy it was the Royal Palace. A stream of cynical reasons flooded her mind, but they didn't explain it. Yet, she knew that all her thoughts now were simply trying to avoid what her mind was really thinking about. That unless everything went perfectly to plan her son and his wife would never walk these halls. They would never enjoy its rooms, or ...No she can't think these thoughts. Garen would make sure her son returned, and that all would be good.

She stopped her walk for a second, and a smile forced itself onto her face as it always did when she thought of her son. She had never seen him except in the shared moments with Liz over their link. She knew he was a good man. No other way could he inspire such love from a woman such as Liz.

Boston - Jesse Ramirez Office

Jesse left the office around 8:00 pm. The cool Boston air was still not enough to completely keep him from thoughts of her. What would Isabelle think of the nights in Boston? What would she say if I came home and she was waiting for me? Sorry Isabelle, I had to finish up that brief before I could come home. What are you doing right now? Where are you? Are you safe? Do you still think of me? Do you still love me? Did you ever love me?

These thoughts for weeks had almost broken him emotionally. Jesse had watched 'The Graduate' recently & almost laughed at the irony between him and Ben. Ben was caught between uncertainty and a world that seemed to press him to make a decision. Jesse was caught between a job that everyone assumed he would enjoy, and the loss of the one thing that would have made it enjoyable. He wasn't sure how long he'd walked, or if he'd knew where he was going so once again he simply wandered.

Jesse didn't see the slim figure following him from just across the street. He didn't see the fire in his eyes. The hate and the knowledge that before this night was over Jesse Ramirez would be dead. Khivar had found what he was looking for in Boston.

Los Angeles - Langley's House

Kyle and Maria's antics aside Langley's home was quiet. Almost like a hospital waiting for a person to wake up. Liz was still unconscious from whatever it was that Langley had helped her do. She knew that Maria's hair trigger temper had erupted because her friend was unconscious. She had taken it out on Kyle because he was closer, because he was male, and because she didn't want to be angry at Liz.

Isabelle knew the limits she had placed on herself and the others. She knew why she did it, and what it had cost her. She also knew that Maria was avoiding her because right now Isabelle was the only one that could be angry at Liz. The only one that could be furious at her, for her Michael like recklessness, for her being so desperate to save them that she forgot the risks to herself, and the consequences to Max and to her if she didn't come back.

Laying her head on Liz's unconscious body, and began to cry. Isabelle could only look at the unmoving figure of the woman that had shown more poise, nobility, and strength than one bred to be a Queen. She had at first wanted to keep her away, and now she couldn't imagine a life without her.

California Desert - Death Valley

"I'll take that as a hello," Langley said as he rubbed the side of his face.

"Give me one reason not to kill you."

"Because I said so," Max said, "Langley might be an ass, but right now he has resources we need. Khivar is here with more numbers, and an agenda. We need all the allies we can get."

"Yes, sir."

"That's the good little soldier Garen. Never disobey an order." Garen turns and slugs Langley in the face again.

"I won't kill him, but he needs to learn to shut up."

"I really like you," Michael said.

Max sighed then turned to Langley. "I saved you for a reason Langley. Whatever else has happened between us I never believed you should die, but if Liz dies so does my protection of you. So pray she's alive, and stop baiting Garen."

"Is that an order?"

"The hardest one I've ever given."

Los Angeles - Langley's house

Isabelle looked at the picture of Jesse and her. She'd had it with her on the day they'd fled Roswell. Focusing on the face of Jesse, Isabelle felt the room around her shift and fade. A second later she was surrounded by the inside of her and Jesse's home in Roswell. Suddenly the front door flew open, and Jesse came running in. "Isabelle! Isabelle!" He screamed searching through every room.

Then Isabelle reached out, and touched Jesse. "I'm here."

"Oh, god Isabelle. I've missed you."

"I know. Jesse this isn't safe I can't stay for long, but I just had to tell you. I still love you. You fixed my heart when no one else could. Please wait for me. I'll find you."

"And I will wait for you, Vilandra."

Isabelle stepped back a look of overwhelming fear crossing her face. "You called me Vilandra."

"No I called you Isabelle."

"No. You called me Vilandra. You're not Jesse! Who are you?"

The man wearing Jesse's face faded. Suddenly the face of the man Khivar had possessed to come to her wedding appeared in front of her. His eyes seemed to fill with laughter at her shock. "I told you that you were mine Vilandra. I do not give what is mine up so easily. Especially to one who is so undeserving as this human."

"No!"

"Ohh don't worry. Jesse is still alive. For the moment at least, I would not deny you the pleasure of seeing me liberate you from your 'husband'? I believe that is the term, right. This human language, English, is so confusing. So many words that have multiple meanings,"

"Stay away from me!"

"Do not raise your hand to me Vilandra, or I may have to punish you."

Suddenly Jesse reappeared. His battered body lying on the floor bleeding. "Oh, Jesse!"

Lifting his severely bruised face off the floor Jesse seemed to look in Isabelle's direction. His eye swollen shut prevented him from seeing Isabelle so he called out. "Isabelle?"

Khivar reached out to prevent Isabelle from going to Jesse. "He did fight bravely even for a human. He is still not worthy of you, but he is not totally useless. I do need a new punching bag, but with all the blood he's losing I don't think he's going to around much longer."

Khivar suddenly spun Isabelle away, and began to head over to Jesse's unmoving form. Just before Khivar's fist connected with Jesse's face Jesse called out, "Isabelle?"

Isabelle struggled to her feet, but suddenly found a green shield blocking her path. She could only watch as Khivar beat Jesse to death. After a few minutes his eyes then turned from Jesse's bleeding form to her. "Did you think you could escape me? You are mine."

Suddenly Alex appeared in front of her, and Khivar stopped. He studied the new face for a second before laughing. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Surprise."

"You're nothing more then figment of her mind. You cannot save her."

"You're right," at that moment Kyle leaps onto to Khivar, "But he can."

Kyle makes a perfect tackle, and plants Khivar into the ground. Coach would be proud.

"Kyle go now. Get Isabelle out of here."

Isabelle fought Kyle's grip reaching for the broken form of her husband.

"No! Not again, JESSE!"

"Isabelle, we have to go," Isabelle responded to Kyle's words with a look of pain that Kyle never expected to see cross her eyes.

The dreamwalk is broken and Isabelle is alone. She cries. Alex's death had destroyed her heart, and then Jesse had put it back together. Now Jesse is gone. She does not try to hold back the tears because tears are all she has left. As the first of her tears fell on Liz's unconscious form Liz's eyes flew open.

Kyle woke violently. "Isabelle!" he screamed. In the dark night of his room Kyle watched as a green light traveled up his arm, and he screamed again his eyes missing the two figures standing off to the side just barely noticeable in the shadows.

Los Angeles - Langley's House (Epilogue)

Liz watched as another part of her vision fell into place. In front of her was Isabelle crying as she clutched desperately to the single picture of Jesse that she had when they fled Roswell all those long months ago. Clinging to it as if the only thing holding her to this life was that picture, and Liz knew why. She knew and knew that for now nothing could separate Isabelle from her grief.

Maria and Kyle were waiting as she closed the door. "Leave her alone for now. We can't leave her alone for long, but for now let her grieve," Liz commanded.

I turned to look at Kyle. I can see the look in his eyes. The look I had when the green energy first started zipping through my body. The look that someone would step up and make it all not true, but I couldn't and neither could anyone else. I don't know what he knows, but either way they deserve to know. "Jesse's dead," I say in a soft voice.

Maria winces in shock, but Kyle just looks as if the world had finally made sure he could never go back to the were it had all made sense. "It's more then that," Kyle finally says, but his voice is filled with a struggle as if the words pain him to come out.

"Khivar killed him."

"How do you know that?" Maria asked before she thought about it. Kyle didn't need to answer the look on his face was good enough. Whatever else Maria might be, stupid wasn't one of them. She knew right then that Kyle had finally made the jump from the 'I know an alien club' to the 'I am an alien club'. Now she was the only surviving member of the 'I know an alien club' that was still human, or still alive.

Liz knew that right now that their emotions were being driven all over the map, but she also knew that if they didn't focus more people would lose their lives that didn't have too. Then she felt it, the seal using its powers to help settle her emotions. She didn't need it, but she welcomed the aid like one welcomes the offered hand of a friend when you fall down. You can always get up on your own, but the friend just makes it easier.

"Maria look at me. You don't have powers, but that doesn't mean anything. Your fire, determination, and strength are what has gotten you this far not being able to blast people with energy. Kyle. Look at me Kyle. You are not alone. You are surrounded by people that know exactly what you are going through, and both of you don't ever forget that I love you."

"Liz?" the three friends turned to look at the voice that had interrupted their group hug. Standing not fifteen feet from them was one person that could make Liz forget everything else and bring out more love than anything else. The two seemed to fly towards each other's arms in a crushing embrace. To the Antarians entering the house the king had returned to find his queen awake and waiting for him. To the Roswell survivors it was Max & Liz. "I love you," Max muttered as he pulled back from her lips with barely repressed tears.

"We need to talk," Liz said as she grabbed Max to her with all the strength she had in her small body.

Watching from the steps Michael just shook his head. "I'm sleeping downstairs tonight. I recommend you do as well."