Later
Tess had let Max go in a daring and threatening way... "Get out of here, you'll see me again..." She warned, poking Max in the chest. Max left, Tess didn't follow.
Isabel had gone back home, to her husband. She tried to relax, but in vain. Jesse was having a heated argument with her father on he phone when she came in.
"I said, just stop, Philip! This has gone on for too long, we all- Isabel?" Jesse asked, calling into the other room. "Yeah, Hun... I'm back." She shouted, putting her keys on the table. "Great, be right there." He called. "We'll talk about this later." He assured, then hung up. "What was that all about?" She asked, placing her coat on the chair. "Nothing, work..." Jesse vaguely stated. "Huh, sounds fun..." She teased, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Need love?" He asked, with a cute loving voice. "You know it." She smiled. They went into the bedroom.
At Michael's
Max sat at the table. He held his head with his hands, running his fingers through his hair. Michael sat watching him. "Max, you got her pregnant, it was your destiny, but hey she killed-" Michael was topped. "That's just it. I forgave Isabel for killing everyone, even her family, but with Tess..." Max shook his head. "What? That wasn't Isabel, come one, don't you even try to throw that in her face, man." Michael crossed his arms. "Tess was so strong. Too strong, she could have killed me, but didn't." Max said, remembering what had happened.
"I just don't see why she would come all this way when all she wanted was to sorta make you nervous?" Michael shrugged. "But that's just it, she said that if she killed me, she'd be just like i say, doesn't that mean she isn't?" Max was so torn. "Max you have issues." Michael stated bluntly. "What's that supposed to mean?" Max looked angry, almost offended. "Relax, I didn't mean anything by it." Michael said, trying to drop it. "No, tell me, now." Max demanded. "Fine, have it your way." Michael shrugged. "You saved Liz, you Love Liz. But you've never been with her. In fact you never even made out with, not really. Then all you could do was complain about how Tess got in the way of you and Liz. Then you and Liz broke up. You and Tess were together..." Michael was interrupted by Max. "Where's this going?" He snapped. "look, Max you had liz, but all did was talk about Tess. When you were with Tess, you never even mentioned Liz... not really. Then, the baby... you got laid by her, no offense Max but I think your missing the signs. Destiny was made up and written in stone for us. We can't help how we feel, it's just the way it is." Michael nodded, crossing his arm.
Max sat up. "Oh, destiny, huh? Well then why aren't you married to Isabel? Hmm, oh wait that's right, she's got Jesse. Destiny is made, not written." Max protested. Michael nodded. "Okay fine, but for your information, me and Isabel did accept our destiny... we dated." Michael revealed. Max raised his eye brow. "What, when?" He asked. "Just after Tess had gotten here. I took her to a few dinners, movies and stuff. But we never had to get hitched, and if you remember correctly she ran off with Kivar... Jesse is just her human Kivar, sorta. My destiny hasn't changed, not really." Michael said, shrugging.
Max sat back and thought about all the things that led him to where he was. He saved Liz then all the events of his past began to unravel. No matter what way he looked at it, it began with Liz. Sadly something other than healing her occurred. He transferred his emotions of his lost destiny at the time to Liz. He manifested something in Liz. He made himself love her. He didn't want to think about it, he still felt as if Liz was the one, he had visions of them marrying, dreams of them being together. But in the end they had only been dreams. Nothing with Liz had ever been real, nothing but pain and sorrow. Only love that had been true was his one night with Tess, what did it all mean?
At The Evans
The house was quiet. No children to keep the noise level up. Only two old people who planned against their own kids.
Isabel knocked at the door. "Hey, dad." Isabel greeted. "Hi sweetie." He greeted back. He opened the door wider, letting her in. She smiled, stepping in and taking his coat off. "Jesse's not with you?" He asked, looking past her, out the door. "Um, no. This is a... business talk, just you and me." Isabel said, very cryptic like. Philip smiled, but when Isabel turned away, he became frightened looking.
Isabel walked and gave her mother a hug and kiss. "In here, okay?" Philip asked. Isabel nodded. "That's fine." She said. They walked into his at home office. He sat down at his desk and she in the seat across from him. "Can you get our files, please." She asked. Philip looked surprised. "Okay?" He ran out to get them. While he was gone, Isabel stood up, twirled around with her hand out stretched. She used her powers to disable any taping devices or video recorders that may be in the room. She smiled at her self and sat back down. "Here you go..." he handed them to her. "Thanks." She threw then on the table. "What did you want them for, did you want to read them?" He asked. "Nope." She stood. Striking a match he lit the folders on fire. She used her powers to make the fire consume the papers too quickly. Philip didn't have a chance to sane them. "If you want to know something, ask." She said, with a edged voice, almost threatening him. "Fine." he sighed hard, sitting down. He looked at the ashes, then at Isabel. "Those were really thick, how on Earth did they light up like that?" he asked. "Good question." Isabel answered. "You said if I had a question to ask, ask, I am, how?' He asked again. "Yeah about me or Max or Michael... but not about a match against paper..." Isabel rolled her eyes. "Isabel..." He warned. Isabel stood again, towering over him. She leaned on her hands, ver confident. He seemed intimidated. "What are you searching for?" She asked, directly. He gulped. "In our pasts, what is it that you think you can gain from this little... this little charade." Isabel asked, her eye twitched with anger. "Um." He cleared his throat. "How about Tess." He began. "What do you want to know?" Isabel asked, she seemed to calm. "How about where she went, what happened to her?" He asked. "How the hell am I supposed to know? Max looked for her, for what seemed like forever. If she wants to be seem, trust me she will." Isabel assured. "Plus it's not like I knew her all that well. Max hid stuff from me too, you know, but that's Max, I excepted it, because I love him, can you?" She asked, testing him. Philip squirmed slightly, then settled again. "I need to know, what happened with him, the robbery, the baby, the jeep..." He asked, desperate. Isabel felt bad, but never let herself show it, she had gone into full ice queen mode.
"You can't know the truth, we don't even know it, and what we do know, is none of your business." Isabel said daring him to continue. "Not my business? My children are not my-" but his rage was abruptly ended by Isabel standing one last time. "I don't think you understand. This is very dangerous. You don't know what hole your digging up, and if you do care, you should stop. Your putting more people in danger than you could ever imagine. Phi- Dad, if you don't stop, consider yourself, those!" Isabel pointed to the dust that once was the folders. "Excuse me. I have dinner plans with my husband." She said, with a certain grace. "Bye Mom." She called, walking to the front door. Diane watched her leave. She had locked the door after Isabel came in. But Isabel just walked through, as if it was wide open. She ran into Philip and told him.
At Michael's
Max and Michael were watching Bewitched. "No, totally, you'd never use your powers to do that, especially where everyone could see!" Michael began to laugh so hard. His drink almost came up through his nose. The door opened. With out looked away from the TV both boys called to whom ever was entering. "Come in!" They called. Heals clicked in the hard floor. Max's ears perked. Michael tensed. "Hmmm, you seemed very relaxed for someone who could have been dust not that long ago..." It was Tess. Max stood up and turned around. Her hair had loose curls. Her skin never looked so good, her clothes seemed a little out of character but diffidently something Max could get used to. He shook his head. Pushing the sexy thoughts out far out. "I'm glad someone liked my hair, I was beginning to think it was a bad move to cut it..." Tess said smiling evilly and touching her hair. Max looked at her amazed. Did she read his mind? "Don't worry I can't read your mind." Tess rolled her eyes. "Th-then how?" Max stammered. "I know you... or at least I used to." Tess said, smiling with a softer, gentler face.
At Isabel and Jesse's
She slipped into her silk dress, trying on many different shoes. "Man, not these!" Isabel huffed, Tossing them into a pile of shoes. She reached into her closet. "No more?" She looked back at the pile. "Damn it." She mumbled. "Okay,..." She said, rubbing her hand together. She picked up her favorite pair and used her powers to mold them into her idea of perfect. "Great." Isabel sighed, slipping them on. She looked at her watch. "Jesse... where are you?" She questioned. Just then the door opened, then shut. "Hun!" Isabel called, happily walking from her room to the front door. He looked tired, almost too tired to finish coming in. "Hun? We're not gonna go out?" She asked, worried. "Um, well..." Jesse began, setting his suitcase down. "I knew it." Isabel sighed, siting down and leaning her head on her hand. "Not until I give you... these." Jesse smiled. Isabel's eyes lit up at his gift. A single rose bud. "Ooh." Isabel gasped. "It's perfect." She exclaimed. "Hmmm, reminds me of my wife." He took a deep breath of her, feeling her every motion. Taking her into him, just to hold her, to feel her, to be near her.
"Well. I'm ready." Jesse announced. Isabel hopped slightly with excitement. They hadn't been out for a night in a long time. She was excited. "Great, I'm ready." She said, relieved they were leaving. "You ready to dance?" He asked, opening the door as Isabel walked out.
At Michael's
"Take a hike." Michael demanded. "What? No. I don't think so." Tess said bluntly, flat out refusing. "What? No way, get out, this is MY home!" Michael demanded. "Michael, please." Max begged. "Huh? No, I don't think so, Maxwell, get out." He ordered. Tess just rolled her eyes. "If you don't get out, right now, I'll-" Michael began. "You'll what? Bore me to death?" Tess asked, teasing him. Michael grew red in the face. "What! How dare you!" Michael shouted, using his powers to blow up the table. "Um, you missed." Tess commented. She stood up. "See the table is there, and I'm waaay over here. You have to, a-i-m" Tess teased. Michael grinned his teeth together, truly pissed off. "Michael, she wants you mad, stop!" Max said, trying to calm him. "Yeah, well. He's a lot more fun that way, don't you think?" Tess smiled, laughing at her own wit.
Out at Dinner
Jesse pulled out the chair for his wife. "Ah, I'm gonna go get freshened up, be right back." Isabel commented, kissing him on the cheek.
In the bathroom
Isabel looked under each stall. There was feet under one. "Hello?" Isabel called. "Um, yes?' the voice answered, kind of husky for a girl. "Nothing, thought I recognized the shoes." Isabel explained, but she was actually checking for people. She wanted to used her powers. Satisfied that no-one was left, she walked to the mirror. "I such a perfectionist..." Isabel commented to herself. "Thank god for quick fixes." She smiled, using her powers to refresh her make up, making it look perfect. "There." Isabel smiled. She looked over at the stall with the feet. "You okay?" Isabel called. The voice was silent for a moment. "Y-yes." The husky woman answered. "Okay then." Isabel left.
Moments later the toilet flushed and out came her mother. Diane looked white as a ghost, very spooked by something. She had seen Isabel use her powers, again.
Isabel sat back down, lifting her menu, and began to talk lovingly with her husband. They talked about everything, with exception of work, and school.
At Michael's
"Look, if you're not gonna fight us, or try to kill us, then why did you come, just to piss me off, and ruin my table?" Michael asked, annoyed. "Um, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need to try, and I didn't ruin your table, you did." Tess corrected. Michael huffed. "Seriously, though, you really do need to get a lid on that rage, Michael. Stuff like that leads to stress, and stress is a killer." Tess smiled, taunting him. Max finally stepped in. She was standing now. He walked up to her. She became very seductive. Max tried to remain cool. "Tess..." He asked, their breathing became deep. "What?" She asked, running her finger down his arm. "Why are you here?" He asked, trying to keep a flat tone, so as not to seem attracted to her. "Hmmm. I got bored." Tess commented, taking her finger from the back of his hand to his chest. "Bored? Why did you come, where's my son, what are you doing to me?" He asked. "Is that one, or three questions?" Tess asked, giggling. "Tess..." Max's voice warned. "Your mad, you should get mad... I like you mad, dangerous... seductively evil." Tess smiled. "I don't." Max snapped. "I'm here because of you, our son, is none of your business and I'm not doing anything to you that you don't want." Tess said, talking her nail and running it down his cheek. It made a small cut. She licked it off. "You love pain. I remember, you were dirty, and hard, and rough. You didn't want it easy, you never liked it easy, you liked it hard, really hard." Tess said, breathing rapidly, tempting Max.
At Dinner
"Oh, yeah. I know." Isabel nodding to Jesse. He laughed with her, reaching out for her hand. "When was the last Time I told you, how gorgeous my wife is?" He smiled. Isabel blushed. "Hmm, I can't remember, you should tell me again." She teased. "Well, she's got this great smile, and the best laugh. Her hair is the softest I've ever felt. When she walks it's like magic and when we kiss, I feel like I'm seeing inside her soul..." Jesse complimented. Isabel's smiled, trying to contain her worry. She didn't want him to see her 'soul'.
Outside the restaurant
Diane paced back and forth. She was talking to her husband, very shaken by something. "Slow down, now what did you see?" He asked. Her voice was shaky and her hand shook with frear. "I-I was in the bathroom. I was here to meet Mrs. Parker... anyway. I was in the stall when Isabel came in. I made a funny voice, so she doesn't know it was me. I- she went to mirror. I peeked out and watched her, she waved her hand over her face and, and she changed her make-up, completely. Then... the door, seemed to open for her, before she got to it. Like it had at the house." She stammered. "Okay, calm down. Maybe you should come home, get some rest and tell me again, in detail when you get back." Philip soothed. She agreed.
At Michael's
Michael sat back, unable, and unwilling to get involved. He watched in disgust. Tess, this tiny little girl standing up, and braving Max, this tall, strong guy. The sight alone was funny, if you didn't understand their past, or their power. The fact that she knew she could crush them both only made her more dangerous. She knew she could , and he knew she would. Tess' attitude wasn't one to match. If she decided she had to do something, she would, that was that. Max and her had always been at odds, why or how they managed a marriage was beyond him.
"Mmmm..." Tess closed her eyes, breathing Max in. "How did I marry you?" Max said, acting as if he hated the thought. "You were a king. I offered you something you couldn't get with anyone else." Tess smiled. Max took her hand off his ass. "Oh, and what was that?" Max said, not believing her. "Love, Lust, command, power, duty, destiny all wrapped up... in me." Tess said, with a quirky undertone. "That's kind of egotistical." Max said, trying to prove her wrong. "oh, well when you told it to me, it didn't." Tess smirked. "I'd never." max snapped. "Oh, maybe not as Max, but Zan would, he was a devil... in the sack." She added at the last moment. Max rolled his eyes. "I'm not Zan." Max said, protesting. "I know. I'm sorry." She said as if it were a bad thing. "I'm not. I like me." Max contended. "Oh, you do, you like running, fighting and always loosing. I can offer you power. Wealth, love, lust, loyalty from millions, and entire world to command." Tess said, getting excited. "I don't want it. I don't want that life." Max stated. "You don't want it because you don't remember it." Tess reminded. "I don't want it because I like it here." he corrected. "Wrong. It's because your a selfish little boy. There is wold that needs you. A people that used the last of their resources to send us so we would come back. And what do we do, decided, ah well, lets NOT save them... who do you think you are? To put yourself before an entire people?" Tess asked, out-raged. Max was startled. They pulled apart, looking at each other.