Author's NOTE: I'm putting the idea of Isabel's mystery guy on hold…as of now—there is no mystery guy. Many of you recommended that I couple her with Michael. I'm carefully considering it because I truly love Destiny, but I also love Michael/Maria. They have a cute, yet volatile relationship that is fun to write about as an author. (So, we'll just pretend that she was very happy to see Alex for now.) And, just so you know, this chapter will mostly focus on Alex/Ava and Max/Tess but from the other character's perspective.

(Evans' House)

"Yes. To check on my son—and my wife."

The words that Max had said so matter-of-factly ripped through Phillip Evans entire world. Tension and stress flowed into every cell of his body, making it so tight that he feared that he would have a heart-attack.

Confusion and disbelief warred with anger and disappointment. Reaching for his cell phone, Philip checked his emotions at the door. He forced his voice to sound professional as he called the mayor's assistant to check the marriage certificate records for any record that his son had indeed married Tess Harding. He nearly sagged in relief when she called back telling him that there was no record of their marriage in any state in the United States of America. It made it so much easier to fight for custody.

Diane just stood in shock watching her husband frantically call every lawyer that he knew for advice. He was like a general preparing for battle. A battle she wasn't sure was necessary; they didn't know what Max and Tess's plans were.

"Phillip! What are you doing?" she asked him, hands at her waist, her pose angry.

He barely glanced at her, "I'm making sure that our son doesn't lose his rights as a father. These days judges are more compassionate towards single mothers than the fathers…" his voice trailed off as he continued his search through the stack of law books on his desk.

"Phillip, I don't understand why you're doing this. You heard Max! He wants to marry Tess!" Diane tried to get his attention, but failed utterly. "PHILLIP! Stop! Please! Just listen to me for a minute! If you do this, if you try to insinuate that Tess would try to take Max's son, you WILL lose Max! Didn't you see him? Don't you know when your son is being serious! He called that young woman HIS WIFE! He obviously wants to do the right thing and marry her—if not for love, because he wants to do the right thing for his child. He's being responsible, Phillip and I'm telling you that if you do this—you'll lose your son and grandson forever. And I will never forgive you for that for as long as I live." With that said, she walked out of the room, leaving him speechlessly staring after her.

(Later that Evening)

Max walked up to his front door, a smile still on his face from earlier. Tess was so happy and that made him happy. Truly, he'd never been happier in his entire life. His son was going to survive, Tess had agreed to marry him, Alex was alive; his life was almost perfect. The smile slipped from his lips as he walked through the kitchen.

His father sat in the chair facing the door; obviously he had been waiting for him to come home. Max took in a much needed calming deep breath as he quietly went over to sit in the chair across from him. For the next few minutes, no words were spoken; it wasn't necessary, his father's disappointment in him was apparent even to a blind man.

The atmosphere was so dense you could cut it with a dull knife. Max choose to start first, he had to make his father understand…

"Dad…I don't know what you want me to say. I won't say that I'm sorry, because I'm not. It's true that Tess and I never planned for this to happen; at least, not so soon, but it's happened. We're having a baby together." He took in another breath, "Dad, I love Tess. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. I know that you're disappointed in me—but please, don't take it out on Tess."

Phillip had sat back, listening intently to his son. "I know that you're not married, yet. I checked."

Max sat up straighter, upset. "You checked?"

"Yes, Max! I checked! I wanted to make sure that you didn't ruin your life any further than you have already. God, Max! You are one of the best students in your class. You're one of the smartest people that I know, and you go and do something incredibly stupid like this! Okay, marry Tess! Then what? How are you going to support her and the baby? You're working minimum wage –part time at the UFO Center! Do you really think that you make enough to support a baby, Max? Where the hell are you going to live? –In your jeep? Oh…I'm sorry, you don't have one anymore! Somehow, it was driven off a cliff, then exploded mid-air!"

Standing up, "Dad, you have no idea what we've been through…Tess and I will make it. We're strong. The only thing that matters to me is Tess and our son's health. Money doesn't matter! And just for your information, when Ed Harding died, he left Tess with not only a government pension, but a massive life insurance policy and a trust fund. So neither of us needs to work for a very long time! As for our education, we're both going to finish high school. Tess is being home schooled until the baby is born, so we're both going to graduate on time. As for where we'll live, both Sheriff Valenti and Michael have offered their homes to us; since Tess is like a daughter to the Sheriff, we've decided to stay there until we find an apartment. Michael is keeping an ear out for an opening in his apartment building for me. As for college, we'll figure it out! We can even take on-line courses if we have to. But I'm not going to make any decisions until I know that Tess and the baby are okay," Max told his father, voice strained with stress. Max truly didn't care about anything but the safety of his new family and was extremely frustrated by his parents' lack of understanding.

Diane had been standing outside the kitchen door, listening to her husband and son argue. She walked in the kitchen, not very surprised they didn't seem to notice her. She turned her attention to Max, he'd said 'until I know that Tess and the baby are okay.' She interrupted her husband's continuing litany. "Until you know that Tess and the baby are okay? Max, is something wrong with the baby? Sheriff Valenti told us that Tess had a hard time with the pregnancy, but is she okay? The baby?"

Max stared at his mother, her insight had thrown him off guard. She walked over to him, holding out her arms to him. Once he was warmly in her arms with his head resting on her shoulder, she rubbed his back as she had done for him as a small child. Her lips turned slightly in a smile, thinking that soon she'd have a grandson to hold…

Max's shoulders started shaking; it was too much. He had tried so hard to keep it all inside, but he couldn't do it anymore. The emotions that he had bottled for so long were bursting through the walls he'd put up. His mother was rubbing his back, muttering things that he couldn't understand, and honestly didn't care that he couldn't; it was the fact that he was safe, warm and loved. Tears streamed down his face, unseen by anyone, but felt by his mother as it soaked her blouse.

The words just flew from his lips, unguarded, raw, and emotional. "We almost lost the baby, Mom. Tess and I were sitting on the couch—we were so happy, you know, just planning our future with the baby. She was thirsty, so she went to the kitchen for a drink. I was looking through the newspaper for an apartment, then I heard the glass break and her fall. I ran to the kitchen and she was lying on the ground in so much pain, Mom. We almost lost the baby." He amended his story a little, "We rushed to the nearest doctor and, thank god, the doctor was able to stop her from miscarrying. So, we've had to be extremely careful. Tess is on bed rest until she gives birth, which will be any day now..." He lifted his head up, looking at her with red rimmed eyes, "Mom, I'm so scared. I'm about to be a father…and I have no idea what I'm going to do."

Her arms pulled him tighter against her chest, kissing the top of his head as she spoke softly to her only son, "Oh, Max. I had no idea. I'm so sorry. I wish that you would've told us…Maybe I could've helped. As for being a father, you'll be a wonderful father."

"Thanks, Mom." He whispered back. Strong arms, his father's arms, enfolded him and his mother from behind binding them together.

Phillip rested his head on Max's, "God, Max! Why? Why didn't you tell us? Why did you have to let us find out about our grandson through gossip? Jeff Parker knew the entire situation before we did! I'm sorry that I 'freaked out', as you'd say, but you caught us all off guard, Max. I knew that you were hiding something from us, but I had no idea about Tess! I've only seen her here a handful of times—neither of us thought that it was so serious between you two. I thought that you were still going out with Liz Parker!"

Max laughed, it was almost hysterical. "Liz and I broke up, Dad. We're just friends now. Tess—she's different. Special, you know." He pulled away from his parents so that he could look them in the eyes, "I knew she was the one the second that I met her, Dad. We had this instant connection. You told me that when you met Mom, you knew that she'd be the woman that you'd spend the rest of your life with; When I met Tess, I pictured our children…" he trailed off, remembering the visions of the cliff. His face felt flushed as he pictured Tess in his arms as he made love to her in the desert. Isabel had told him of her vision of her and Michael's child. What he'd never told her was of the baby clinging to Tess as she twirled him around in the air; his baby. Tess had told him that afternoon that it was just a vision to trigger their biological urges, to show them how it was supposed to be. To show them their destinies. He hadn't believed her; had told her that he would make his own destiny. Then he'd spent the rest of the time trying to ignore her; denying her right as his wife to be by his side. He shook his head at himself—stupid. He'd wasted time…

Phillip rubbed his shoulder, "It's alright, son. We'll be behind you, no matter what." His mother nodded in agreement as she kissed his forehead again, her hands didn't want to leave him. Diane spoke up, "Don't worry, Max. We're not planning on leaving you and Tess to fend for yourselves. Don't forget that we're grandparents now. I hope that we can help…after all, it's our job—we have to spoil him."

Giving them a small smile, "Thanks. I love you, you know. I couldn't have asked for better parents.—I just hope that you rubbed off on me."

They stared at him, momentarily stunned by his joke. It took a few seconds, but laughter filled the air as more hugs and kisses were exchanged.

The kitchen door opened as Isabel walked in, taking sight of the hugs and smiles. She smiled back at them, joining in for the hug. "I have such impeccable timing, you know. I show up just in time for the fun stuff."

Diane ran her hands through her daughter's hair, "You're right about that, Isabel. You did walk in just in time for the fun stuff—we've got a surprise baby shower to plan!" She rubbed her hands in prospect. "Although, I did think that I'd be planning a wedding shower first." She gave Max a stern glare.

Isabel laughed, clapping with excitement. "That's right! Tess hasn't had a baby shower yet! Oh…This is going to be so exciting!" She jumped up and down with her mother while the boys just shook their heads at the ladies.

Isabel ran for the phone while her mother ran for the store catalogs. They ran around and started making their plans. "We have to call Amy De Luca. She's got amazing decorations! We could do a theme!" Diane told Isabel. She nodded agreeing. "That sounds like a good idea. Let's stay away from the 'alien' theme though. You know how Maria's mom is with the alien stuff." They chattered excitedly about the quick party they were going to throw. "Oh…do you think that Tess is up to getting out of bed? I don't want to hurt the baby…maybe we could have it at the Valenti's. I should call the Sheriff." Diane ran to get her cell phone from the living room.

His father shook his head, laughing at their antics. He turned to Max, "You do realize we're doing to get another woman in the family? Right?"

Max laughed, "Don't worry. Tess isn't as bad as Isabel. And," he lowered his voice in conspiracy, "she can cook better than Mom."

Phillip's eyebrows rose, "Really? Is that the case? Well, we're just going to have to invite her to a barbeque, or something."

"That'll be great, Dad. Thanks."

Max smiled a real smile. His family's support meant the entire world to him. The Evans family was going to survive! It wasn't going to collapse as he'd feared; it was just going to get a whole lot bigger.

(One Week Later)

The baby was coming any day now.

Amazingly, the current stereotypes about pregnant teenaged girls hiding their pregnancies and not seeing a doctor until after delivery had been a blessing. No one was the wiser about Tess's alien pregnancy.

Tess was becoming increasingly worried about the baby; her son was half alien. She and Max were scared. Would he be able to breathe the Earth's air once he was born? Would he look human? What if he had their abilities? Would her abilities re-emerge after she gave birth or would she remain weak? How would she be able to protect him if it didn't? Would he age differently on Earth? The questions were unending.

Michael and Isabel had different worries. They understood that all their lives were about to inadvertently change. Not only were they to gain a new member of the family, a baby that would count on them to care for until adulthood; they were gaining a new member of the 'pod squad', one that they secretly feared might expose them.

Then, of course, was the issue of the new 'grandparents' that were becoming a constant presence at the Valenti's. Every evening, never fail, Philip and Diane Evans would drive over with Max and Isabel to the Valenti's to visit, bringing yet another gift for the baby. Diane had thrown Tess a surprise Baby Shower: almost every young woman in town showed up at the Valenti's house for a party, bringing everything that a baby would ever need. Poor Jim and Kyle were kicked out of their own home for five hours; afterwards being forced to put the baby furniture together, refusing Tess's suggestion to call Michael or Max for help. They didn't need 'alien powers' to put together furniture! They were manly men!

It was funny, Alex thought, how quickly Max's parents had accepted Tess as family. They had been so desperate for an answer to why Max was hiding things from them, that Tess's pregnancy was enough of the truth for them. They had been furious with Max, at first, but the fear of losing their son, and their grandson, had kept them from asking too much. Instead, they focused their attention on Tess; wanting to make her feel comfortable. And once they realized that Max hadn't married Tess yet, they'd been only too happy to accept her as his fiancé. Diane had even promised to take her and Isabel dress shopping as soon as she was up to it, excited that she hadn't missed her son's wedding.

So, it was understandable why no one had thought of a solution to Alex's situation yet. At least, that's what he kept telling himself as he hid in the Sheriff's bedroom with Ava until the Evans left. Ava was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling as she, using her powers, painted different designs on the walls, and then changed them as she got bored. Alex sat on the ground back against the mattress as he hit his head against it softly. They couldn't even talk while hiding in the room, because only a wall separated them from Tess's bedroom and it was too much of a risk if they would hear them. Alex huffed, at least it was better than hiding in the stuffy closet with Ava during the Baby Shower, he thought.

Frustration pulsated through his entire body, making him feel jittery and agitated. It wasn't fair! At least Ava, when dressed as Tess, could actually go outside for a walk, go shopping, and talk to anyone she wanted. Not him, he was trapped at the Valenti's. He was still a prisoner; it was just this prison had a bed, television, and windows. Alex almost wished he was back in the sealed White Room where he didn't know what he was missing. In that room, the world outside didn't exist; survival was the only thing that was important. Here—in this warm, loving home—he felt everything pass him by. He'd hear Diane Evans chatting excitedly with her "daughters" about the wedding, then listen to her husband complain about the money it was going to cost. Then the laughter as he suggested that Jim take on the traditional role as 'bride's-father-footing-the-bill-for-the-wedding' and Jim's refusal. Every word and laugh was like a knife stabbing in his heart. His father was grieving for him alone in his home; his mother had passed away years ago, so he didn't even have anyone to share the grief with.

Liz, Maria, and Isabel were the only ones who came to visit HIM. They were the only ones who knew he existed. Maria would come with stories about their friends from school; Liz would bring him homework, promising him that that'd figure something out—a good story that wouldn't make anyone suspicious. Promising him that he would finish school with them. Isabel—Isabel would just look at him with sad eyes. She'd kiss him and tell him that she loved him; how sorry she was that she took him for granted before, but in her eyes, Alex knew. He knew that it was a lie. She did love him, yes, but not the way he wanted her to. She loved his memory, of the way he used to be. The 'puppy-dog' Alex who was kind, sweet, and loving; not the man he'd become within the last few months. He tried so hard to be the calm, sweet boy he used to be, but he couldn't; he couldn't go back to that life. He was angry—all the time and he couldn't help it. Everything felt out of his grasp, even his love for Isabel. She felt too far away from him and there was nothing he could do to go back to her. They used to be able to talk about anything; they used to sit under the stars, just staring at their beauty. Now, every time he looked out the window to look at the stars, they merely reminded him that there was an entire world out there of aliens who wanted them all dead because they were born 'of royal blood.' She would plead with him to talk about his feelings with her. How could he? There were no words to describe the emotions that he felt. So he did what he could, he pushed her away, making her leave him alone.

The only one who understood what he was going through was Ava because she was in the same situation. Everyone had mostly ignored her completely. She'd told him once that she felt like the wall; everyone stared through her and forgot she was even there. Liz was the only one who talked to her besides the Sheriff; and even then, it was small talk. The only time she felt like she belonged was when she dressed up as Tess; no one knew the real Ava.

Sheriff Valenti was the only one to even make the effort to know her. She'd won him over with her ability to bake incredible 'goodies'. He'd talked her into making him a coconut cream pie for him once. He was the only one to talk to Alex as well. He was pushy as Alex expected, it was more like a fatherly concern. He always wanted to know how he was doing and promised him that he'd come up with a good idea soon. That he just had to set up a scheme that everyone would believe. He'd promise that he'd have his life back soon.

Alex laughed to himself, now rubbing his palms over his face, trying to remain calm and quiet in the small room. Ava heard him, so she rolled to her side, leaning her head over the edge of the bed to whisper her questions of concern. "Are you alright, Alex?" Ava whispered into his ear.

He hit his head once more on the mattress, before leaning his head back to stare up at her. "I've got to get out of here, Ava. I can't stand it anymore. I'm going to go crazy in this house."

She leaned further down to rest her head on his shoulder, resting her left hand on his other shoulder. With her right hand, she painted the New York City view on the wall that they faced. "We can pretend, Alex. We can pretend that we're somewhere else. We can go anywhere—where do you want to go?"

He took in a deep breath as he thought about it. "I've never been to New York. What's it like there?"

She smiled, "It's busy all the time. There are lots of crazy people in the streets. You'll never see the sky like you do here—but in its own way, it's still beautiful." She painted the images on the wall in front of them, making it as large and real as real life as she spoke, pointing out her favorite places to visit. Strange and interesting sites that he'd never seen before. She'd even taken him for a ride in the subway, they laughed quietly she made the picture show a drunk threw up practically on their feet.

They heard footsteps coming towards the door, so Ava rolled off the bed to hide besides Alex opposite the door, taking down the 'painting' fast. Quieting down, they could practically hear each other's hearts beating in fear of being discovered.

The door opened and Jim walked in, carrying a tray of food. Alex and Ava both released their breaths with a puff in great relief.

"Sorry," Jim whispered to them, "I hadn't realized how late it was. I can't believe that its past ten o'clock and you haven't even had any dinner. Sorry that you couldn't join us, but the Evans haven't left yet. Those girls are STILL talking about the wedding. I'll try my best to get rid of them, okay?"

"Okay," Ava whispered back.

"Yeah, whatever!" Alex grumbled, getting more and more angry at the situation.

Jim noticed their disposition, so he went over to where they sat on the ground to kneel in front of them. "Alex, Ava. Listen, I know that things aren't going the way that you'd like…Hell, I know how you feel. You're thinking that you traded one cage for another, am I right?" He waited until they nodded. "We're trying our best, you know. It's not like we forgot about you, Alex. It's hard to come up with a reasonable story…but we're trying. Just—give us a little more time. We'll come up with something—."

Alex glanced at the Sheriff sharply. "Well, maybe I'm sick of giving you all more time! I've been here for almost two weeks now. I've missed out almost the entire school year! Everyone thinks I'm dead! Don't you think that I've tried to come up with something? I've had nothing to do but hide in closets and THINK!"

"Alex, please, lower your voice!" Jim whispered frantically.

He took in a deep breath, but did as he was told, "Fine. I'll whisper. This is what I've been reduced to: whispering and hiding in bedroom closets. I've thought of everything: every option that we can use. Hell, I even tried to hack into City Hall to erase my death certificate. I figured that if Ava could mind-warp the entire town into forgetting that I died, I could erase the public records. Unfortunately, Roswell is such a rinky-dink, financially stunted town, that the records are still on paper; I even called to see if I could get a copy, but it was already sent to the New Mexico State Records Building in Santa Fe. Once it's in Santa Fe, the government removes your information from all the systems: social security number, bank accounts, the works. So, you see, Sheriff Valenti, there is no story, no explanation or miracle that can explain how I'm alive to the whole world. Not without exposing Isabel, Michael, Tess, Max, and Ava…and I won't do that. So as far as I'm concerned, Alex Whitman is dead."

"Oh, Alex, don't say that!" Ava exclaimed.

He turned towards her, his tone becoming more gentle, "Ava, its true. You know it is. There is no life for Alex Whitman in Roswell anymore." Alex took in a deep breath, held it for a few seconds, and then released it in a controlled manner.

"I'm leaving Roswell."

To Be Continued…

Yes…I know, it's sad, but there really wasn't a good explanation for Alex being alive. It's just easier to have him move on—with Ava, of course.

Don't worry, he'll say good-bye to Isabel before he leaves…

As for the baby, it's coming soon! (Very soon)