Prologue

It's easier to run

3 years earlier

Max Evans was running away, he was running away from all that he had ever known and all the dreams he had held for the future. Max Evans was running away from Liz Parker and the pain that seemed to be linked with loving her. He was man enough to admit that he was a coward and he was smart enough to realize that leaving Roswell wouldn't stop the pain but still, escaping Roswell seemed to be the only option.

He had to get as far away from her as possible and California seemed like the perfect place to recuperate and rebuild his life. He didn't want to have to keep avoiding his friends just in case she happened to be there or have to deal with the painfully awkward silences that happened every time that they did happen to be in the same place at the same time. He needed to be somewhere that didn't constantly remind him of her.

"I don't want you to leave. Please just think about this!" Isabel pleaded as she gripped his hand tightly. "Max, please don't go"

Max tried to smile reassuringly but hated himself for the pain he was causing his sister. He was being selfish but he couldn't stay not even for Isabel. He needed to do something for himself; he needed to discover who he actually was.

"I don't think that this is a good idea," Isabel continued before adding in a strained whisper "What if the skins attack again? We are safer if we all stay together. What if Khiver…"

"Isabel, I need to do this." Max said gently squeezing her hand "I need a change, I want a fresh beginning."

"Max, lots of people break up and they don't move to a different state. Why do you have to?" Isabel said hotly. She pushed a hand through her hair and glared at him in frustration. It had been a week since Max had informed everyone that he was leaving Roswell and it had been a week full of bitter arguments, pointless reasoning and endless pleading.

"The bus is going to be leaving in a minute and I don't want to leave with you mad at me,"

"Then don't leave. Please Max don't leave." Isabel sniffed "I don't want to lose you."

Max embraced his crying sister tightly, "Don't cry Izzy, please don't cry. Everything is going to be okay, I'll be home for the holidays and you can come and visit me whenever you like. You'll barely notice that I'm gone."

"Honey, the bus is getting ready to leave now." Diane said giving him a watery smile.

Max nodded and gave Isabel a finally squeeze before releasing her. He moved towards his parents, unsure what to say or do now that the time to leave them had finally come. Doubts started to cloud his mind as his mother hugged him closely. He was going to miss them so much, more then he had thought possible.

"Now if you needed anything, anything at all just call! And if you decided that you want to come home then don't hesitate to get on the first bus back here." she let go of him and smiled "Just be safe and know that we love you. You'll always be my special little…"

"There's no need to embarrass him, Diane! Anyone would think that we weren't ever going to see Max again the way you and Izzy are behaving." Philip said. He moved towards his son and smiled. "We are proud of you Max. Now you better get on that bus before the women of this family decided never to let you go"

"Thanks dad,"

"Just don't look back," Philip whispered in Max's ear as they hugged.

Max nodded and moved towards the bus. His father's finally words to him chanting in his head. Don't look back, don't look back, just don't look back.

It was easier said then done.

"Did you know that I'm a seductive diva?"

Max looked up from the thesis he had been working on and stared blankly at his roommate, Serena Macalister. How was he suppose to answer her question? Yes? No? Can I phone a friend? In all fairness, he should really be use to Serena saying the most random and bizarre things, they had after all been living together for the last six months.

"And you know this because?" Max asked, deciding that it was safer answer.

"I did the 'What's your passion personality?' quiz in my Cosmopolitan. I just can't believe that I'm a seductive diva! Do you think I'm temperamental?" She collapsed onto his bed with a dramatic sigh. "You're the 'Shy Escapist' type by the way. Apparently you are a romantic fantasist who secretly daydreams about being dominated and has no interest in porn"

Max rolled his eyes and snorted in amusement "You know those quizzes are a load bullshit. I don't know why you insist on doing them."

Serena let out another sigh before smiling at him "I guess you're right. I mean that secret stash of porn you have hidden would suggest that you had some interest in…"

Serena squealed as a pillow sailed past her face and hit the wall behind her. She grinned smugly at him. "Wow that was a pretty weak throw. I would have thought it would have been a lot stronger considering all the exercise your right hand must get"

The second pillow did not miss its target and Serena landed on the floor with a soft thud. Max peered over the side of the bed to where Serena laid giggling and sent her a victorious smile. He reached down and helped her to her feet. "Shouldn't you be getting to class?"

"Ugh, don't remember me! I don't know what Jane Austen was thinking about when she wrote 'Emma' but whatever it was, it must have been boring. Did you need me to pick you up from soccer practice this afternoon?" Serena asked as she walked through the apartment with Max following closely behind her.

Max shook his head, "I've got a date with Kimber,"

"What happened with Joey?" Serena asked as she searched in her bag for her car keys.

"It didn't work out," Max said, he reached for Serena's keys that were where she left them and passed them to her. "She just wasn't…" he paused as he searched for the right word to describe what Joey had been missing.

"She just wasn't that Liz girl and in a month's time you're be breaking up with Kimber because she just isn't that Liz girl." Serena pointed out. "And before you deny it, you know I'm right. I know she hurt you Max but you cannot keep on like this. It isn't fair to Kimber and it isn't fair to you."

"Can we talk about this later?"

"Translation; can we continue to avoid this subject?" Serena muttered. She narrowed her hazel eyes and searched for some sign that he was listening to her. "Fine Mr Evans you go off and be all broody! I will see you later that is if you can tear yourself away from Kimber,"

"Serena, wait…"

"Max, you are my best friend and I love you but sometimes I just don't understand you!"

Max sighed as the apartment door slammed shut. Sometimes living with Serena was impossible; she was so desperate to fix everything and everyone. She couldn't bear to see anyone in pain especially if she loved that person but she just could not understand what it was like to be betrayed countless time by the person you loved. She thought that he could just pick up the phone and dial Liz's number.

He looked towards the phone and suddenly had the most overwhelming urge to take Serena's advice. He missed the sound of Liz's voice, he missed the way she would say his name and…

Stupid! He was so very stupid.

To:

Subject: Babies, Christmas and other stuff.

Max,

In case you have forgotten, this is Isabel. You know your sister. Would it kill you to reply to one of my emails or maybe even phone me! Anyway, I thought I would email you to let you know that Tess has had the babies. Two perfect little boys, Nathan and Lucas. Kyle is over the moon. Although Michael and Alex keep having panic attacks whenever Maria and I look or fuss over the babies. I attached some photos of the babies so that you can see for your self how adorable they are. Will you be able to come home for the Christenings? Tess really wants you there and I know that I wouldn't mind seeing you.

How was your Christmas? Was skiing in Italy as much as fun as you thought it would be? Christmas here just wasn't the same without you. It was really strange. This was the first Christmas that we haven't spent together and it was really odd. I thought Mom was going to cry every time she looked at your empty place but I guess a free trip to Italy is something you just couldn't pass up on.

On other news, Alex and I are moving in together. It's a big step but I think it is the right time in our relationship for it. What do you think? Do you think I'm doing the right thing? I love Alex, even when he is being annoying but the thought of moving together scares me. Michael and Maria are still the same, they still fight and make up and then fight again. I think Michael is sulking at the moment because he overheard Maria declaring her undying love for Brad Pitt. Men! Just so childish.

Anyway, I had better end this here. Alex is coming over soon to talk about apartments. I had better hear from you soon.

Love,

Izzy

p.s Liz is doing okay. I think she still misses you. She asks after you all the time. I wish you would speak to her Max. Please think about it.

To:

Sender:

Subject: Sorry!

Hey Izzy,

I know it has been ages since you sent me that last email and I'm sorry that I haven't replied sooner. Life has been kind of hectic! I'm glad to hear that you are all doing so well. The twins look just like Tess, which must be a huge relief to her. I don't know if I'll be able to come home for the…

"I got a job," Serena declared as she bounced into the room taking Max's attention away from the computer. She laughed breathlessly as she waved a piece of paper in front of his face and grinned at him. "Wow, I never thought the word 'job' could be this exciting unless of course I was guy and it was prefixed with the word 'Blow' and accompanied by a stunning blonde who has easy tattooed to her forehead."

"That's great," Max said, thankful for a distraction. He watched Serena twirl around the room and felt a smile tug at his lips. Serena's excitement was infectious although thankfully her randomness wasn't. "Do you want to tell me about it or are you going to just ramble about how exciting the word 'Job' is?"

"Oh well I was in the record store and got talking to the manager. Long story short, he said he could see a lot of potential in me and offered me a job on the spot. I can't believe it. How much fun is going to be? I love the movie 'Empire Records'. I wonder if…"

Max rolled his eyes as Serena rambled on. Potential? Ha, Max bet that guy saw potential. You would have to blind not to notice that Serena was undeniable beautiful with dark curly hair and hazel eyes that always seemed to be full of laughter.

"…we should go out and celebrate! Are you busy?"

Max glanced at the computer screen before shaking his head, "Nope, now is the perfect time to celebrate!"

"Excellent, Bryon already said that he would join us and I was thinking about inviting Claire and maybe Amanda. What do you think? Should I invite another guy to even out the numbers?"

Max groaned, "Bryon? God, I hate that guy."

"You could invite one of you soccer buddies! How about Jonathan? I've wanted to meet him for ages," Serena continued, ignoring Max's groan.

Max groaned again, "What? So I can have the pleasure of explaining why you aren't returning any of his calls and why you suddenly jumped into a bush to avoid him when you saw him on the street?"

"For you information I fell into that bush and anyway that Sol guy was so weird." Serena said in a matter-of-factly tone as she blushed and glared at him "Anyway I've got a really good feeling about Jonathan. Or at least I would like to get a good feel of him,"

"Fine but…" Max's sentence was left hanging as Serena wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. He sighed, when had he became wrapped around her finger?

"You're the best Max,"

He was going to have to break up with her. There was nothing else he could do. Max tried to smile across the table at the buxom blonde who sat across from him but just couldn't. He wasn't sure what she was talking about nor was he interested in what she was saying.

"Amanda, we need to talk" Max said interrupting her in mid sentence. He tried to decide where to begin. It was so hard. There were no right words, only wrong ones. Maybe he should sleep with another girl when he knew that Amanda could walk in at any moment.

He had got the message loud and clear when he caught Liz in bed with… No, he shouldn't be thinking about this right now.

"What is it baby?"

He hated it when she called him baby. Liz had never… He stopped himself before he finished that thought. Why did he always have to compare everyone to Liz? Amanda was nothing like Liz, she didn't look like Liz or sound like Liz. She was the complete opposite to Liz.

Maybe that was the problem.

"I think we should break up."

"You're breaking up with me? Why are you breaking up me?"

Why indeed? Haley was beautiful, smart and funny. She didn't smoke or do drugs. She liked animals and children. She was practically perfect. There just wasn't that spark. She just wasn't…

Max tried to think of something that didn't sound to cliché but gave up as Haley glared at him fiercely "I think you deserve better then me and…"

"Are you sleeping with Serena?" Haley asked abruptly.

Max snorted in amusement before he could stop himself. That had to be the most absurd thing he had ever heard. Serena was going to die laughing when she heard about this.

"Oh my God! You are!"

Max shook his head quickly, "No I'm not. Serena has nothing to do with this. I don't think that we are going to work as a couple. I am sorry Haley. I want us to…"

"Save it Evans. I hope you and Serena are extremely miserable together." Haley said as she emptied the rest of her wine into Max's lap.

"You may now kiss the bride,"

"If you're tongue goes anywhere near my tongue, I'll bite it off" Serena whispered sweetly as Max leaned down to kiss her.

"Why do I let you talk me into these things?" Max mumbled against Serena's lips. He shifted uncomfortably as the overweight and slightly balding Elvis impersonator stared at him and a completely unaware Serena.

This was not how he had thought his wedding day to be and Serena was not who he had imagined he would be married to. The odd time he had thought about getting married Liz's face had always appeared in his mind. Of course that had always been before he left Roswell. But there was no doubt about the fact that Liz Parker would have made a most stunning bride. He would have wore a suit for Liz.

Dressed simply in a vintage Sex Pistols t-shirt and a pair of faded jeans, Max was not your typical groom but then again Serena was hardly what you could call a typical bride. Wearing a pair of low rise jeans and a Baby-Doll Camisole, Serena looked like she was dressed for a day of shopping instead of a wedding.

"Because…" Serena started, smacking him in chest with her bouquet "Its fun and spontaneous. And you've got to do four things you will regret or you won't get a free ride! It's the rules of Vegas baby!"

Max rolled his eyes. "I don't know if you've noticed but nothing is free in Las Vegas and haven't you already lost $500 playing roulette?"

Serena whacked him with the bouquet again. "You are no fun Mr Evans and for you information it was $487 and that was regret number 1. My new tattoo was regret number 2 and marrying you was regret number…"

"You're such a sweet talker Serena,"

Serena grinned at him mischievously and grabbed his hand, "We've got two days left in Vegas and I think its about time you got a tattoo…"