A/N: I am so sorry, something went all wonky and I didn't see that people had been giving more feedback to my story (I also didn't see that other people's stories were being updated) so now as a gift to you from me I will probably post another chapter later in the week. I also want to thank everyone for reading and giving feedback, you guys rock for sticking with me even though I keep promising Max and then not delivering (he will come back soon!) Sorry for the long authors note I know you guys don't care so here is the next chapter!

WILD HORSES

They reached the Crashdown; Tess was sitting outside reading something she looked up smiling as they approached. Isabel parked the car and everyone stepped out Liz looked over to the UFO center which didn't seem to have changed at all.

"Hey Liz," Tess said awkwardly as they all stood outside of Crashdown

"Hi," Liz said before leaning in to a peculiar hug "This is my boyfriend, Tom" Liz cringed at the words

"Oh," Tess raised her eyebrows "Nice to meet you Tom," Tom nodded at her before they all stepped into the diner "I told your parents I hope that's ok," Tess said cautiously

"Yeah, thanks" Liz smiled as her father stepped out from the back room

"Lizzie!" he exclaimed as he rushed to her and hugged her tightly and just as he let go her mother tackled her in another hug,

"Hey," she smiled as she returned the hug

"God we haven't seen you since you left that summer before school!" her mother exclaimed looking for a difference in Liz's appearance. "Your hair is so long," she smiled pulling on Liz's hair a little.

"This is ... Tom," Liz said trying to avoid the 'b' word

"Nice to meet you Tom," Jeff Parker said firmly, grabbing Tom's hand and shaking it roughly

"What were you guys going to do today?" Nancy Parker asked forcefully

"Uh... I'm not sure," Liz started

"Well we can have dinner tonight and talk," Nancy exclaimed "You guys should bring your things upstairs," Mrs. Parker motioned towards the stairs, the group walked into the backroom and up the stairs leaving Mr. and Mrs. Parker downstairs

"Geez Liz," Kyle said loudly

"I call all the time, the way they acted you'd think I ran off to be a crack whore or something" Liz shrugged as they entered her room

"This place is so cool, you really grew up here?" Tom asked putting the bags down

"Yup, this was my room" she smiled as she looked around at all the memories that the room held.

"Michael is with Maria, they're at her place" Tess said sadly

"You don't have to go now though if you don't want to," Isabel said softly

"No. I want to go see her," Liz said slowly

"I don't have to come if you want some time alone," Tom said carefully

"Thanks Tom," Liz hugged him tightly before pulling away "Kyle can show you around Roswell,"

'Maria,' Liz thought her name almost bringing tears to her eyes 'I'm coming Maria,' she promised silently before following the others out her room.

As they entered Maria's house Liz almost flinched as memories flooded her mind, happy memories and the more recent and unpleasant ones. She could remember thousands of times when she had barged in through the front door laughing and she could remember a couple of Czech related meetings, a painful smile spread slightly across her face as she remembered all the good times and a tear almost spilled across her face as she thought of all the hard times and heartbreak that she could recall so vividly. She wondered if Sean was still staying there and shivered as she remembered all the confusion and sadness that had brought on their bewildering relationship. Michael was leaning against the counter in the kitchen at the end of the hallway his head rested against the palm of his hand; he looked up when they entered the room. Liz looked at him and for the first time Michael was an open book, he hadn't wiped away the tears when they walked in and his hair was messy. A small smile crossed her face when she remembered how much work he put into his hair, he seemed so tough but he was so worried about what people thought of him.

"Michael," Liz breathed out as if she had been holding it in since they left the Crashdown

"It's been a while," he looked relieved to see her

"Too long," she stepped forward and hugged him, her small figure supporting the much larger Michael as he fell into the hug. It felt strange hugging Michael, despite their friendship they had never been this close physically or emotionally.

"She was sleeping last time I checked but I think she'd want to see you," The hope on his face was so great that she had to look away.

'He thinks I can heal her,' she thought and a deep fear gripped her as the realization hit her, everything was riding on her Maria's life was in her hands and Liz had never been more terrified in her life. Michael stepped forward and opened the door before stepping back and giving Liz a reassuring push into Maria's room. Liz stepped inside the room which was lit by the rays of sunshine streaming through the window; she turned towards the bed as she heard the door close behind her.

"Liz," Maria's voice sounded exactly as she remembered it a little groggy but she was still Maria, she had expected her to sound sick but she sounded fine and a new burst of confidence fluttered through Liz's body as she turned to see her friend smiling brightly at her.

"Maria," Liz almost cried "Maria I'm so sorry I never should have left," Liz burst out as if she had been waiting to say it forever.

"Come here," Maria motioned to her friend who now had tears streaming down her face, Liz sat down on the edge of the bed and Maria pulled her into a long awaited hug. "It's okay," Maria hushed Liz "Everything's okay,"

"No it's not," Liz pulled back and looked at Maria "You're not okay..." Liz struggled to find the words

"Oh, thanks!" Maria laughed

"No, I mean... you know what I mean" Liz giggled a little

"Yes I know, I'm dying" Maria said quietly

"What happened?" Liz shuddered at her friends words

"Khivar is here; somewhere in town" Maria started "He came a couple of weeks ago. We had it under control but he had some kind of disease some version of biological warfare it only works on humans..." she stopped for a moment swallowing hard "I got infected and now it looks like this is it for me,"

"Unless..." Liz started "Unless I can help you," conviction in her words

"Liz..." Maria said worried that if Liz couldn't heal her she wouldn't be able to forgive herself

"No, Maria I might be able to help you and then..." Liz trailed off not knowing what to say

"And then everything could be like it used to?" Maria asked

"Yeah," Liz said hesitantly

"Liz lets just talk for a little," Maria lifted Liz's downcast chin with her finger and looked her in the eyes "I've missed you..." Maria said sadly

"I've missed you everyday since I left, I wish I hadn't..." Liz paused "But I didn't know what to do, I didn't know how to live my life anymore I thought if I could live someone else's then maybe it would be easier," Liz remembered the summer after she left and how she just drove across country in the hopes of finding peace.

"But?" Maria asked feeling Liz's doubt

"But no matter where I was or how much I lied I was still me," Liz choked back the tears as she thought about how she just left Maria in Roswell. "God I've missed you so much!" Liz wept

"I know, I'm great" Maria joked trying to lighten the mood "I've been spinning around in the alien abyss by myself for a while, what's life been like for you?"

"I just finished my freshmen year at Amherst college, my roommate Michelle is nice I think you would like her" Liz said trying to calm herself down "But I couldn't stop thinking about Roswell, I couldn't forget about what I did" Liz paused never turning from her friend

"I miss them too," Maria spoke of their deceased friends

"I've had the same nightmare every night since I left" Liz's voice became quiet

"What about your powers?"

"I ignore them when I can," she laughed a little at the stupidity of her statement "But they never go away, I try to keep my emotions in check so I don't just explode things when I'm pissed" she let herself smile when she saw her Maria's smirk "I can't do anything great..." Liz paused for a moment remembering why she had come back to Roswell

"Liz," Maria started realizing what was going through Liz's head "I don't want you to hate yourself for something you have no control over,"

"But I have to try Maria," Liz smiled slightly "I just found you I can't lose you again,"

Maria nodded weakly giving her friend a reassuring smile, Liz reached over and put her hand over Maria's heart focusing all her energy she stared into Maria's eyes trying to remember everything that Max had done. The air in the room became thick with electricity and Liz's skin illuminated with electrical energy, suddenly the lights in the room exploded but Liz and Maria couldn't hear the glass bursting and falling to the floor all of a sudden they were both bombarded with images of their past, images of sleepovers and parties, of school and work, as the flashes faded tears were streaming down both of their faces. Michael came bursting in to see the girls holding each other tightly.

"I'm sorry," Liz said through her sobs as Maria stroked her hair "I'm so sorry"