An hour after Peter had left them to change, Max, Michael, and Isabel stood together in the large room waiting. They had given up on conversation because everything inevitably led back to Liz, Maria, and Alex.

Isabel was sitting on the edge of one of the beds following Michael's pacing with her eyes. "Do you mind?"

He didn't pause, only turned his head in her direction, "Not really."

"Would you please stop? That's getting on my nerves."

"Tough."

"Guys," Max stepped between them, "don't do this. We don't need to start bickering when…well, when we don't even know what's going on."

"Ever the peacemaker, Maxwell." Michael smirked and continued pacing. "Let me ask you something. Why you? Why not me…or Isabel? Why do you get to be the one with the connection?"

Max shrugged helplessly, "I don't know." He tried to justify what he had, "And it's not that strong, it's just…there. It is. I can't control it and I don't know why you don't have it."

"But I believe that I do."

The three turned to see Peter and Lyn standing in the doorway. Isabel, being better at observations than the others noticed that Lyn stood as far away from Peter as possible without being obvious to him. She also noticed the glint of something akin to anger in Peter's dark eyes. She'd have to remember that later.

"What do you mean? Do you know what the connection is?" Max was eager to know.

"I have my suspicions, but I can't be sure. You'd be the first to experience it in this fashion." He walked over to another wall and opened a door that hadn't been there five minutes ago. "If you'll come with me, we can get something to eat while I attempt to explain."

There were maybe fifty others in the large room eating and talking. A few turned as they entered, taking notice of the new arrivals before turning their attention again. What struck Michael was the strong sense of familiarity. They were all like him. Here, he wasn't an outcast or a freak, he was just another person.

You'd be surprised.

Michael turned his head sharply towards Lyn and realized that she hadn't even spoken. Before he could open his mouth, she shook her head slightly, just so he barely noticed.

Don't let them know you hear me. They aren't like us, Michael. We're still outcasts.

He faced away and try to look like he was listening to what Peter was saying about the building that they were in and focused on one thought, hoping that she'd hear him, What do you mean 'us?'

Her soft lilt replied, I grew up on Earth too. Look, I need to explain some things to the three of you, but not here…not with him around. Tonight, alone, leave the compound and walk to the edge of the beach. There is a large grouping of rocks there. I'll be waiting.

"…ah Colin, we were just getting ready to eat. Won't you join us, my boy?" Peter's call ended their conversation and Lyn smiled warmly at the man walking in their direction.

Michael saw the resemblance the instant that they stood side by side. They had the same red hue to their hair and identical silver eyes.

Colin looped an arm across Lyn's shoulders and smiled to the others, "Hello." The lilt was there, but it was as though it had faded over the years.

"Twins?" Max asked, sharing a glance with Isabel.

Colin and Lyn nodded together. Lyn looked at Peter, to make sure she wouldn't say anything that he didn't want them to know…at least not in front of him. "We have a bond. We can sense each other, feel emotions, pain, excitement, fear, guilt…" she said the last with a pointed look at her brother who just smiled sheepishly. "It's similar to the connection that you now have with Liz, Max."

"How so?"

"Well, within our own race, those that have connections, ones where you can sense things outside of intense situations, are family, most commonly twins. But during a pregnancy, the mother and father are connected telepathically."

Max froze, "Pr-pregnancy?"

A slow smile crossed Lyn's face, "Yes. The connection isn't noticeable until at least six weeks in, but then it builds quickly. Despite the distance between you, you should be able to pick up emotions in another week. Thoughts in three. The child serves as a link between the parents. Of course, Liz will be the first human to have successfully mated with one of our kind, so it could be different, but I doubt it will be significant." Peter nodded in approval.

Max looked like what Maria's reaction must have been when she found out about their "not of this earth" status…only without the screaming and running.