A/N: Sorry it took so long to update,I left it at work so I couldn't do it over the weekend. Thanks for all the reviews... it really helps :)

Secrets Revealed

Michael walked in the bedroom to find Maria sitting in a chair waiting for him. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her lips protruding, as her eyes glared at him.

"You look sexy when you're mad," Michael laughed.

"Michael," her eye's practically stared through him. She was not amused.

"What did I do this time?" Michael sat on the bed facing her.

"You lied to me." Maria adjusted herself to look at him. "What are you and Max hiding?"

"He's just worried…"

"Don't give me that again," Maria huffed. "There is something else going on, Michael. This is not just about Zan."

"No it's not," Michael scratched his eyebrow. "But it's something Max is going through."

"Then why did he lie to Liz?" Maria questioned.

"He didn't want to bother her with his crap, you know Max." Michael leaned forward. "You have nothing to worry about." He hoped he was telling her the truth.

"But Michael," She sighed.

"Maria," Michael cut her off. "Max is going to tell Liz and they'll work it out. Okay?"

"Okay?" Maria repeated; making sure he knew this discussion was far from over.

"Hey," Isabel knocked, but came in before either of them had a chance to answer. "Can I borrow him?"

"Sure, whatever." Maria got up to leave. "But this better not be about the secret."

"What secret?" Isabel leaned against the dresser.

"There is no secret, right Maria?" Michael looked at her for support but she turned and walked out the door. He turned back to Isabel. "She's just being Maria."

"Uh-huh," Isabel replied. "Cut the crap Michael, what's going on? What are you and Max hiding… from me?"

"Max is just going through some stuff." Michael shrugged, "Missing Roswell, the whole Zan thing."

"It's been hard on all of us," Isabel shook her head, somewhat offended. "We all left home. I lost my husband."

"He lost a kid he was searching for, for a year. His kid," Michael stood up. "Now I don't have a kid but I'm guessing it's a little different."

"Pretty good Michael," Isabel put on a fake smile. "I almost bought that. Nice try though."

"Isabel," Michael looked away from her. "You wanna know what's going on with Max, talk to Max."

"Oh my god, what is it?" Isabel looked him straight in the eyes. "Why can't you just tell me?" Before it had been more curiosity, now she was actually worried.

"There's no reason to get everyone else all worked up." Michael walked towards the door, opening it wider. "Let us handle it."

"Handle what?" Isabel was getting angry. "Is this some kind of sexist thing?"

"We haven't told Kyle," Michael tried to be funny.

"Michael," Isabel held his arm as he tried to walk away. "It's me."

He looked at the girl he'd know his whole life. He trusted her. "You can not say anything until we find out if it's true or not." Michael closed the door, locking it. "Promise?"

"I promise," Isabel leaned in closer so he could whisper it to her.

"Max is very upset because he had a dream about…" Michael paused, unsure if he was doing the right thing.

"What, What is it?" Isabel was becoming anxious.

"Another woman," Michael whispered.

"That's it!" Isabel stepped back from Michael. "That's what you two are so hush-hush about?"

"He doesn't want to Liz to know," Michael shrugged. "You know how he is." So it's a partial truth.

"I can't believe you Michael." Isabel opened the door to walk out. "That's it!" She slammed it shut behind her.

"What happened?" Maria was walking up the hall.

"Michael told me Max's little secret," Isabel huffed.

"Well what is it?" Maria couldn't believe Isabel had gotten it out of Michael.

"Max had a dream about another woman." Isabel shook her head, annoyed. "He's all freaked out about telling Liz. Can you believe that?" She continued to walk away from the room.

"No," Maria said to herself. "I don't believe that at all."

Tess froze as she saw the gun pointed directly at her. She'd seen him before. He was a deputy when Valenti was the sheriff. Hansen.She read the badge on his uniform. "Is there a problem officer?"

"Yes ma'am," Hansen answered. "We see breaking and entering as a real problem here."

"I'm not breaking and entering." Tess scoffed while putting her hand in her pocket. "I have a key."

"You just take your hand out of your pocket." Hansen stepped back, "Nice and easy now."

"See," Tess removed her hand from her pocket, holding up a key. "Diane gave it to me some time ago. You know, Diane Evans. She lives here." Tess rolled her eyes.

"The Evans have moved." Hansen put his gun in the holster, no longer seeing her as a threat. "You're the girl who used to live with Jim."

"What do you mean they've moved?" Tess questioned, worry spreading through her mind. "When? Where did they go?"

"I'm not sure," Hansen replied. "They've been gone a few weeks now, I guess."

"Thank you," Tess looked around. "Can I go now?"

"Well it seems to have been a misunderstanding so I guess I can let it go." Hansen was now smiling.

"Thanks," Tess shrugged and began to walk away.

"Can I give you a lift somewhere?" Hansen asked. "How long are you here for?"

"Not long," Tess put on a fake smile. Nosey much? "I'm just passing through, just thought I'd say hello."

"You have a good evening," Hansen replied before getting back in his car and driving away.

Tess wandered around aimlessly, wondering where she could go. She was hungry, tired and needed to rest. Tess got a couple of scones and a soda from a bakery and then headed to a nearby building that was under construction. She knew she'd be safe there for the night.

Max walked down the street looking for a payphone to call Valenti. He didn't trust using the phone at the inn just in case Valenti's phone was tapped. He'd waited until the others left the hotel to prevent anyone from tagging along with him. He found a phone a few blocks from the inn and hoped it would be safe enough. He picked up the receiver and began dialing.

"Hello," Valenti answered.

"Valenti?" Max questioned. "It's me."

"Max…" Valenti paused. "Is everything okay, has something happened?"

"We're all fine," Max replied. "He's doing really well, considering." He knew Valenti must be worried about Kyle.

"That's good." Valenti was surprised to hear from him. "Your parents moved. They just wanted to get away from it all."

"I think that should be good for them." Max thought he'd better get to the point, he was just unsure of what to say exactly. "I know it must be a shock, me calling like this."

"Are you sure everything's okay?" Valenti questioned, worried. "Why did you call here? What is happening?" Did he know about Tess returning from the dead?

"Do you think it's safe to talk?" Max asked looking around at his own surroundings. They had to be cautious, but he needed to know the truth.

"As safe as it can be," He looked out of the window. "I'm not bugged, if that's what you're asking but I always feel like I'm being watched."

"It's about Tess," Max finally blurted out. "I have reason to believe she didn't die and I thought maybe she would contact you. I know this sounds…"

"She's alive." Valenti interrupted. "She called a couple of nights ago."

"She's alive," Max repeated. "What- what did she want?"

"She was looking for the baby." Valenti replied. "I told her you'd given him up and that I couldn't help."

"Did she say why she was looking for him? Did she say he was in danger?" Max was concerned now. It hadn't been a dream.

"We didn't speak very long." Valenti replied. "Look, I care about you kids a lot but…" Valenti fell silent.

"I understand." Max knew what this had done to his life. "I may call you to see if she's tried to contact you again, if that's okay?" He wasn't really asking the question.

"Be careful." Valenti cautioned. "Who knows what she's up to?"

"I will," Max said. "Thank you."

"Goodbye," Valenti hung up the phone.

Max hurriedly returned to the inn. He paced in the living room, scrambling for ideas on what to do. He wondered how he'd tell Liz; how he'd tell everyone that she was alive. Tess was really alive. Max sat on the couch and tried to concentrate. He had to find out if his son was really in danger, he had to find Tess. Max let his mind blank, except for the thought of contacting her. Max began to take slow, deep breathes as he focused on reaching out to his son's mother.

"Tess," Max whispered heavily. "Where are you?" His mind began to flood with thoughts of how he would tell the others and if he was making a mistake trying to find Tess. "Why can't I do this?" He buried his head in his hands.

Tess awoke in the tiny room she'd found to sleep in last night. She pushed her self up from the floor, stretching. She longed for the comfy bed and warmth at Estel's house. She decided to go to the adoption agency across town to search for any information on where Zan ended up. Tess began to gather her things when she heard a familiar voice calling to her from the distance.

'Tess, where are you?' The voice almost echoed through her.

"Max," Tess looked around the room for him but saw nothing. She could feel him, calling to her from afar. Tess closed her eyes and begun to take shallow breathes, focusing on his energy. Soon she was encompassed in darkness but she could sense him. He was reaching out to her.

"Max," Tess called into the oblivion. "Focus on my voice and then you will see. Concentrate."

"Tess," It took a few minutes for Max to find his way, but he as now standing face to face with Tess in an open space. "What is this place?"

"It's a plane we can kind of project to where we can meet when we're apart," Tess replied. "Our bodies are still in their separate places but our minds are here."

"How is that possible?" Max questioned.

"We are all connected, the four of us." Tess explained. "When I was on Antar I learned more about us and the way we were designed, for lack of a better word; we were supposed to know all this but something went wrong, apparently."

Max took her words in but was unable to completely believe her. She sensed his distrust.

"There are many things I wanted to teach you," Tess paused. "But that's no longer important. Zan is what matters."

"How do you know Zan is in trouble?" Max questioned. "I thought you weren't connected in any way."

"He's still my son Max," Tess snapped. "I meant our lives weren't linked but there is a connection. You felt it when he reached out to you."

"In the lake," Max remembered how he'd almost drowned when he'd felt his son reach out to him. He had since dismissed it when he found out Zan was a human being. "How could he reach out if he's completely human? Another lie Tess?"

"I don't know how it's possible but I know my son." Tess stepped closer to him. "Our son is in danger."

"How can I believe you after what you've done?" Max asked. "You betrayed us all."

"Fine, Max. You're right not to trust me. Is that what you need to hear?" She was getting frustrated with defending herself. Why can't he let it go? Why can't he see this is not about us, but Zan? "I would never hurt my son. I would do anything to keep him safe and I think you know that."

Max did know that. Deep down inside, he knew that Zan was the only thing that really mattered to Tess. If she were right, how could he forgive himself if he let something happen to his son? But how could he believe any of this. She died. Liz had seen it with her own eyes yet here she was, alive.

"How did you survive the explosion?" Max was curious.

"Story time later," Tess replied. "Right now I need to know where Zan is, I can't hold on much longer."

"I don't know," Max shook his head. "I had to give him up to protect him."

"What adoption agency?" Tess was anxious for answers. "Here in Roswell?"

"You're in Roswell?" Max questioned. "What are you doing there?"

"Maxwell…" Michael's voice came from the distance. "What the hell is going on?"

"Max," Liz's voice echoed through. "Can you hear me Max?" She held his face in her hands.

Max looked around and suddenly he couldn't see Tess anymore. He awoke from his translucent state and found himself propped against the couch with two figures hovering over him.

"Tess…" Max said, still disillusioned as to where he was. His eyes blinked furiously as the fuzzy images in front of him became clearer.

"Max," Liz stroked his face. "It's me." She turned to look at her friend standing next to her. "Michael, do something."

"What's wrong with my brother?" Isabel dashed towards them. "Max, not again." She turned back to look between Liz and Michael."What happened?"

"Liz?" Max looked at his wife, now aware of his surroundings. "Isabel. Michael."

Liz and Isabel both hugged him.

"You scared the hell outta me," a look of relief spread across Michael's face. "Where'd you go?"

"And why were you calling for Tess?" Liz was worried by the very mention of her name.

"Tess?" Isabel questioned. "You were calling for Tess?" She shot a glance at her brother and then at Michael. Tess must be the other woman in the dream. But why would he be dreaming about her?

Michael looked back at Isabel, almost reading her thoughts.

Max noticed the intense look between the other aliens. "I think we need to call a meeting." He pushed himself off the floor and sat on the couch.

After Michael returned with Kyle and Maria, Max began to tell everyone about his dream, talking to Valenti, and Tess being alive. He told his story quickly, as to avoid any interruptions until he was finished. They all looked at him in shock except for Michael, who the others learned was keeping Max's secret. Max went on, explaining how he was talking to Tess when they came in.

"You knew Tess was alive and you didn't tell me?" Isabel was fuming. "Both of you!" Her eyes were full of rage.

"You lied to me Max." Liz was in disbelief, her words full of hurt.

"I didn't want to make everyone worry if I didn't have to," Max tried to explain. "I had to make sure it was true."

"By contacting her?" Liz questioned.

"She's a murderer Max!" Maria exploded. "She betrayed you; she betrayed all of us!"

"You can not trust her," Liz stepped closer to him, her voice pleading. "You can't believe anything she says. C'mon Max, you know her. She lies all the time."

"And you Michael," Isabel turned her attention towards him. "How could you let my obviously insane brother do something so…?" She took a deep breathe. "I don't even have a word."

"I don't know, maybe stupid, dangerous, dumb…" Maria threw her hands up in the air. "Asinine. I've got plenty of words for this."

"I can't believe this," Isabel's face tensed up.

"I can't believe she's alive," Kyle was taken aback. Part of him was relieved while the other was worried. What does this mean for all of us?

"Like I said before, she thinks Zan is in danger." Max blurted out, hoping somehow that would be enough for them. It wasn't.

"And you believe her?" Liz asked, already seeing the answer in his eyes.

"I don't have a choice, it's my son!" Max's voice heightened then became softer. "My son."

"You have a choice," Isabel stated. "How could she possibly know anything, anyway?"

"She says she just feels it," Max replied dryly.

"She just feels it, huh Max?" Liz exaggerated, waving her arms around. "Is that what she told you? Is that really what you're telling me?"

"What are you thinking?" Maria flicked her hand off her forehead. "You know what she did."

"Hey," Michael finally spoke. "None of us have a kid out there who may be in danger."

"If it were your son," Max paused. "Could you just let it go?"

Everyone was silent for a few minutes.

"I'm not asking you guys to trust Tess." Max spoke again. "I don't trust Tess; I'm asking you to trust me."

"You're asking us to believe her Max," Liz replied. "I don't know if that's something I can do." She turned and walked away.

Isabel saw the torment in her brother's eyes. He looked the same way when he told her that Tess was pregnant and the baby couldn't survive on Earth. Tess has always had a way of tormenting Max and I will not let her get away with it this time. "We'll figure something out Max," Isabel was calmer now. "For you and for Zan, okay?" And for Tess.

"Thanks Is," Max smiled at his sister. "I have to talk to Liz."

"Go," Isabel nodded as Max retreated from the living room in search of Liz.

Tess didn't find any information in the adoption center about what happened to Zan. She'd searched through the computer records and file cabinets, still she was no closer to finding her son then when she awoke in that strange place.

Tess trudged down the street, distraught over her missing child. She decided to go to the one place that had always felt peaceful to her, the observatory. She was on her way there when she saw a familiar face.

"Hi," a girl about her age walked up. "Tess, right? You went to West Roswell for a little while, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Tess put on a fake smile. Great, cornered by the prom queen. "Vicki, how are you?"

"I'm fine," Vicki replied. "So are you moving back or just visiting?"

"I was actually just passing through." Tess was in no mood for small talk. "I thought I'd stop by the Evan's but it seems they've moved."

"Yeah," Vicki nodded. "I guess you hadn't heard."

"Heard what?" Her interest was piqued.

"I think Max and some of his friends got into some trouble." Vicki leaned in closer to Tess. "He made this really weird speech at graduation, and then his friend Michael drove his motorcycle on stage and they drove off."

"Sounds like I missed quite a ceremony." Tess smiled at the thought.

"They disappeared that night along with his sister, Kyle, Liz, and her friend." Vicki took a breathe before continuing her story. "Some people said it had to do with that robbery they were charged for, some say they just ran off for no real reason and others think they were..." Vicki looked around as if someone may be eavesdropping on them. "You know, abducted."

"Hmm," Tess nodded, suppressing the urge to laugh. "Abducted, huh? Do you think that's what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Evans?"

"No," Vicki rolled her eyes. "They moved shortly after their kids disappeared, maybe to New York."

"New York?" Tess repeated. "Why would you say that?"

"Well they took a vacation there for a couple of days right before graduation," Vicki filled her in. "I only know because Tina's parents live next door and they were watching the mail or something. Maybe they were looking for property to move to."

"It's been really nice seeing you again," Tess smiled at her genuinely this time.

"You too," Vicki hugged her. "Don't be a stranger."

Tess grinned happily, finally receiving a clue that could lead her to Zan. It wasn't much to go on but it was a start. She began to head to the airport, carrying the belongings she'd been given by Estel. She picked up an envelope and waved her hand over it, creating a ticket for the next flight. Tess sat outside the terminal, anxiously awaiting the plane.

Going back to New York made her nervous. All the memories that had been clouding her mind scared her, and Tess was not easily frightened. It was as if she had two sets of memories for certain events in her life. Tess knew she killed Alex but somehow felt it was not her fault. Had Ava really sent Alex to decode the book? None of this mattered now, she thought, as she tried to forget about her last trip to the Big Apple. Her thoughts drifted to Max and if he'd told the others she was indeed, alive.

"Liz," Max closed the door behind him. "I…"

"No," Liz could no longer stay calm. "How could you keep something like this from me?"

"I just didn't want you to worry," Max stepped closer to her. "I'm sorry."

"Worry about what Max?" Liz said sarcastically. "About you not telling me that the person who killed one of my best friends is alive and you're meeting her in dreams and lying to me about it. Why would that worry me?"

"I know you're upset," Max's tone was soft.

"Upset? Upset doesn't even cover it. I'm hurt Max." Liz looked at him, her eyes wide. "I trusted you. You promised me that she would pay." She was almost in tears now, her voice softening. "I can't believe you didn't tell me." She tried to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"You're right, I should've told you Liz and I'm sorry." Max shook his head. "I didn't know if it was real and I didn't want you to have to deal with Tess but now…"

"Now you feel you have to," Liz crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't believe this is happening again. I thought she was out of our lives."

"She will be, for good." Max held her by her arms. "I promised you that Liz. I just have to make sure my son is alright."

"And how do you do that?" Liz breathed deeply. "By working with Tess?"

"After we figure out what's happening with your vision, Michael and I will go to New York." Max replied. "We'll find Zan…"

"No!" Liz shook her head. "We'll all go."

"I know how you feel about her," Max paused briefly. "I won't ask you to do this."

"You're not Max. But you're right, I hate her, I do." Liz shook her head. She never thought she'd ever feel that way about someone. "But this is about your son and I decided a long time ago to help you find him."

"And you did," Max held her hands in his. "This is different."

"No," Liz was much calmer. "You're my husband." Not hers… "We'll do this together."

"Thank you." Max smiled at her.

"For what?" Liz tried to hide her worry.

"For being so understanding," Max squeezed her hands gently. "For always standing beside me."

"Don't nominate me for sainthood just yet," Liz looked serious. "I still want her to pay for what she's done."

"She will," Max embraced a reluctant Liz. "She will."

"You looked in my eyes and lied to me," Maria was yelling at Michael. "I asked you what was going on, and you give me this story about some stupid dream and another woman."

"Technically I wasn't lying," Michael replied. "It was a dream about another woman, it just happened to be Tess."

"You know how I felt about Alex, he was my best friend. I was devastated when he died," Maria sat on the bed as her eyes begun to swell with tears. "And you didn't tell me."

"Maria," Michael sat beside her. "I didn't think about how this would affect you and I'm sorry."

"She…" Maria stopped mid-sentence. "I really thought this was all over but it isn't. It will never be over, will it?"

"Come here." Michael wrapped his arm around her and kissed her tenderly on the forehead. "I promise if she's lying I'll…"

Maria put her finger over his mouth and curled up against him, sobbing silently as she relived how Alex's life was cut short.