Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Melinda Metz, various publishers and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


Making Memories of Us


This is based on the Keith Urban's Making Memories of Us song. For all of those who wanted a Michael and Isabel story. Takes place in Second Season, during Meet the Dupes. It does have a hint of two other couples.

AN: I first heard this song on American Idol, the next day the radio station played it. The first thought that came to my mind was a Maria & Michael story. But upon reflection, it fitted a Michael & Isabel story better



'
I'm gonna be here for you baby
I'll be a man of my own word'

"Michael, please leave me alone," cried Isabel as she wrapped her arms around her slim frame. Dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep were visible.

"No," Michael whispered.

"You don't understand," chocked out Isabel as unshed tears spill down her cheeks. Her wounded blue eyes pieced his soul.

Shrugging his shoulders, Michael stood before her. "So make me understand. What happened?" Seeing sheer terror leap into her eyes, Michael patiently waits to hear the bomb that Isabel was going to tell him.

"It was me," whispered Isabel as she looked everywhere but at him. "I remember what I did. I'm the reason we're here. I'm the reason! I betrayed everyone."

Michael didn't think it was possible for someone to shriek into themselves. In seconds his brave, confident Isabel turned into a frighten and broken little girl. When he moved to comfort her, she flinched away from him.

"It took Lonnie saying 'I betrayed my family...brought down the whole house of cards...got everyone killed.' That's when I started to remember. But it was after Max and Tess left early today that I really remembered what I did," cried Isabel.

"And what did you do?" asked Michael as gently as he could.

"I led Kivar right to you," cried Isabel as her sobs raked her body. "You died because of me."

Wrapping his arms around her shaking frame, Michael pulled Isabel close to him. "Izzy, nothing you could do, would ever make me hate you or want to wish you harm," Michael whispered into her hair. "Until we have all the facts, let's not jump to conclusions."

"But Michael," agued Isabel.

"But nothing," stated Michael. Michael held her until he felt Isabel jerked away from him. "What?" questions Michael not likely the look in Isabel's eyes.

"She did it deliberately," whispered Isabel as she hastily stands up. "Lonnie, she deliberately started an argument between Max and me."

"That means Max and Tess are walking into a trap. Ava knew this, which is why she stayed behind. We need to get to New York City and fast," contemplated Michael.

"How are we going to find them?" questioned Isabel.

"We're going to ask Ava. Then we're going to hop a plan to New York. Find your brother and warn him of the danger he's in," planned Michael. 'Lonnie and I are going to have a little conversation of our own,' thinks Michael.

Getting to New York was easier then anyone thought it would be. Michael used his powers to make first class tickets. Standing in Times Square, Isabel looked around the city in awe.

"You live here?" asked Isabel.

"Yep, this is home… well it was home," stated Ava.

"I want to see the Empire States building," demanded Isabel.

"What? No! We have to find Max and Tess," dismissed Michael. He watched the smiles slip off of both Isabel and Ava. 'Damn, why me,' thinks Michael. "Fine! We can go but only for a short time. Then we have to find them."

"Great!" agreed Isabel quickly before Michael could change his mind. "Ava, will you play tour guide?"

"I… but Z… I would be glad," stated Ava. Both Michael and Isabel instantly knew that Ava was a follower, not a leader. Riding up the elevator, Michael smiles as Isabel works her magic. 'She always could charm people into doing what she wanted,' thought Michael. When the elevator doors opened he hears a startled gasp. Standing before him, was Max and Tess.

"Perfect!" Michael grunted. "Just the people we were looking for."

"What are you doing here?" demanded Max as he glared at Isabel.

"Saving you," stated Ava startling everyone. "There really is a meeting but Lonnie and Rath plan on going home. No matter what the cost, even your lives."

"How do you know this?" questioned Tess.

"They killed Zan," Ava whispered as tears form in her eyes. "They killed my Zan." It took Max several seconds to recover from what Ava said. The group moved to a secluded corner. Tess started to ask questions as to how Zan died and where the body was. From there an action plan was created.


'
Speak the language in a voice that you have never heard'

"I can't believe we're doing this," muttered Max as he opens the door.

"Me neither," agreed Michael. "But Tess is right, if they do an autopsy on Zan they going to find out."

"Do you think this is going to work?" questioned Isabel.

"No guaranties, but if we stick to the plan it should," stated Max as he walks up to the front desk. "Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you, but I received a call stating that my twin is here."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." gasped the clerk as he stood up. "He's in the back." The clerk lead the group to the morgue. He unzipped the body bag, causing Isabel to gasp in horror.

"Ní thuigim," mumbled Isabel.

"Is fear láidir atá ann," replied Michael as he wrapped his arms around her. He continued to speak to Isabel in the same dialect.

Frustration blooms in Maxwell; he recognizes the words but could not grasp their meaning. Nodding to the clerk, Maxwell signs the paperwork releasing the body into his care.

"Michael grab that side, I'll grab this," ordered Max. Together they pushed the gurney holding the body of Zan down the hallway. "We're almost there."

"Hold it right there!" ordered a guard rushing up to the group. Tension mounts in the group until the guard stated, "We have one more form for you to sign and then you can go."

As they stepped out into the brisk winds of New York, they knew that they succeeded. They followed Ava down into the subway, she lead them throw several tunnels before leading them to her home.

"You live in the sewer?" asked Michael as he looks over the lair.

"Yes, one day we broke free of the membranes, and step out of the pods into a brave new world of the sewers," stated Ava as she started to clean up the couch. Michael unzips the body bag; together with Max they place Zan on the couch.

"S-so why did your protector bring your pods to New York? And why put you in the sewers?" asked Tess.

"We didn't have a protector," answered Ava. "We just had each other."

"And they betrayed that? How could they?" asked Isabel.

"They wanted to go home," replied Ava. "They remember their lives there. You don't remember your lives there, but we do. Our world was alive with bright vivid colors, here everything is dull. Here we're nothing but sewer rats. There we mattered. There we were loved," explained Ava as she gently cupped Zan's face. "He didn't want to meet the emissary, he was afraid that he would pass the test."

"What test?" Michael questioned.

"To even get into the summit, you have to pass the emissary's test. It's to make sure that we're the real royal four. If we weren't they would continue to look for them, leaving us here," Ava answered as tears form in her eyes. "But they killed him anyways."

"Do you know where and when this meeting is?" Tess asked.

"Yes," whispered Ava.


'
I wanna sleep with you forever
And I wanna die in your arms
In a cabin by a meadow where the wild bees swarm'

"Ava, can you call them to you?" asked Tess.

"Why would I want too?" questioned Ava.

"Justice, I think Zan deserves some," Michael stated. "Also, I have brought the heal stones with us."

"But… Zan's dead," argued Ava. "Healing stones?"

"Not really," replied Isabel. "With the stones, we're going to try to revive him. If it works, your Zan will be walking amongst the living again."

"But why call Vilandra and Rath? I don't get it," questioned Ava.

"To revive Zan we're going to need energy. A lot of energy. Vilandra and Rath are going to provide that," answered Max. "And if they should fight back, well, it wouldn't be so good for them."

"Alright, I'll call for them," Ava stated as she shut her eyes.

Michael saw Isabel sway and ushered her to a nearby chair. Growling he focus on the floor as his head started to throb. 'I'm glad that Tess never did this to me,' thought Michael. 'Wait! She did this to Isabel on her birthday. Damn, stay the course Michael. If Izzy can stand this so can you.'

"Their coming," Ava whispered.

"Good," Max grunted. "Let's get ready. Michael you take one of the stones. Isabel you take one. You know what to do."

"Let's do this," stated Isabel as she hands out the stones. "Ava, you're with Max. Tess you've Zan." The group formed a lopsided square, each member holding a stone.

Michael heard footstep running towards them. Glancing at Max, Michael noted that he was holding Ava's hand. 'Keep her calm, Max,' thought Michael. Michael looked at Tess, seeing her holding one stone in her hand and the other was placed on Zan's chest. When Tess's eyes widened he knew that Vilandra and Rath where standing behind him.

"What do you think you're doing?" demanded Lonnie as she rushed in the lair. Looking over to Isabel, he nodded to her. 'Now!' thought Michael as he reached behind him and grabbed Vilandra's arm.

"Let go!" demanded Rath when Isabel grabbed him.

"Now!" shouted Max.

Feeling the stone vibrate in his hand, Michael struggled to hold onto it and Vilandra. Blinding bright light. Red, blue and purple flashed before him. Shouts and screams erupted in his ears. Instinctively, Michael clutched both the healing stone and Vilandra close to him. The room tilted. Clenching his eyes closed, Michael could hear Isabel's sobs.

"Izzy!" shouted Michael as he squinted his eyes. "Hold on!"

White light flashed before him. The room faded into a dull gray color.

"Zan, where are we?" asked a scared Vilandra. "Where's Rath?"

"He's here," answered Zan as he pointed out one of the pods. "And Ava is right here."

The scene faded into another. Michael could feel the air buzzing around him. Hands slide up his chest; he knew that she was holding him.

"Yo, you ok?" asked Lonnie.

"Better. I got's you," answered Rath. He pulled her from behind him and into his embrace. With a finger he traced her mouth before he kissed her. "You' mine," Rath hissed before he picked Lonnie up.

"Always," agreed Lonnie. Stalking over to his bed he tossed her onto it. Her laughter greeted him.

Blood Red light flashed.

"Yo, you sayin' we ain't going to the summit?" demanded Vilandra as she glared at Zan.

"That's what I'm saying," dismissed Zan as he wrapped an arm around Ava.

"Yo, that's messed up, duke. This is the only time we've ever been contacted," Michael felt himself saying. Anger raced in his veins.

Michael braced himself for the change, he could feel it. Bright purple flashed. He saw the desert. He recognized the symbols on the ground. Michael could feel Isabel around him.

Tess shows up outside his window, and draws the four squared symbol on the glass.

"What does that mean? Where is it?" demanded Michael.

"You already know. You've been there before," answered Tess. Michael saw the squared symbol on the sign for Puhlman Ranch.

"What is this place, Max?" asked Isabel.

"It's where we were all born," answered Tess.

"No. No. No, I don't believe this," cried Isabel. Michael felt her pain and fear. He knew that he ran after her, but the scene changed.

"How could you bring them up here like this? You know the Special Unit is close. You saw that camera. Who do you think put it on them in the first place? Our friend, Pierce," sneered Nasedo.

"Oh yeah, so why don't you just kill him? According to Max, you've done that before," replied Tess. Michael could feel her disgust and fear of him.

"What has he been telling you? You're going to trust him over me? Listen, you and I have spent a lot of time together. Now I don't want to say we're family…" said Nasedo.

"You're not my family. You never will be. Max, Michael and Isabel are," answered Tess.

"Fine. Go have your little reunion. If I have to kill people, I kill people. Pierce is dangerous. You all still need me if you expect to survive him," sneered Nasedo. Michael felt pure disbelief at Nasedo's treatment of Tess. 'We survived him, but no thanks to you!' thought Michael.

The scene faded away into another.

"I don't even know who you are anymore. I mean, are you my brother or my mate? I can't forget that dream, can you? You were so happy Michael. I've never seen you that happy," Isabel commented. Michael could feel her apprehension and a bit of wonder.

"Well, I've never been that happy before," Michael heard himself say.

"Is that what you want?" questioned Isabel. Confusion was swamped with hope.

"I don't know," answered Michael. Sharp pain hits him in the chest.

"Well, what is this going to do to everyone else: You and Maria, me and Alex?" demanded Isabel. Michel could feel her nervousness.

"Let's not think about that right now. I just want you to know that I'm not going to let you go through this alone. It's my baby too. Maybe this is the way things are meant to be. 'K?" answered Michael. He could feel her relief at his words.

Blinding pain came. He could smell chard flash. He could hear Isabel's cries. He felt her running towards him. Michael looked up in time to see her throwing herself over him. He saw Nicholas raising his hand. He swiftly shifted his body, shielding hers. Pain exploded in his back.

"Rath!" Vilandra screamed. Michael felt his heart break, as he knew that he was dieing. "Don't leave me. Please," begged Vilandra. "Please… Rath? No!"

"Isabel!" screamed Michael. Gasping hard, he blinked. Michael clutched his hand and felt nothing but air. "Where's Vilandra?" As he surveyed the room he noticed that only Max, Tess and Isabel remained.

"What happened?" demanded Isabel as she moved closer to Michael.

"We merged," answered Max.

"Huh?" muttered Michael.

"We became them and they become us," clarified Max, seeing the confusion evident on their faces he rolled his eyes. "When the eight of us used the healing stone we merged with our counterparts."

"So, I'm going to become like Lonnie," whispered Isabel horrified.

"No, we are them already," answered Tess. "You are Vilandra and you are Isabel. You're actions are your own."

"We'll talk more later, I have to go meet the emissary," Maxwell stated. "Michael I want you to watch your back, Nicholas is here. Tess, they already know you're here."


'And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you
And I'll earn your trust making memories of us'

On the plane ride back to Roswell, Michael observed Max and Tess. 'Well they certainly are more comfortable around each other,' Michael thought.

"Michael?"

"Yes, Izzy," replied Michael.

"Do you think… do you think I will betray you again?" questioned Isabel, voicing her fears.

"No," Michael whispered. Seeing terror reflect in her eyes, Michael smiled at her softly. "You or Vilandra, if you want to be technical didn't betray us in the first place." Placing one finger over her lips, Michael remarked, "I remember. You led Kivar into the city with his men, but he convinced you that he wanted peace. He said he wasn't gonna kill anybody, that he was there to call a truce. And once you helped him gain access, he killed all of us. You didn't kill us, Isabel. He did. He betrayed you."

"Oh, Michael," choked Isabel as sobs raked her frame. He pulled her close and held her as tight as he could. Within a few minutes Isabel was spent. Michael saw the relief in Max's eyes.

"Thank you," mouthed Max.

TBC….


Gaelic:

Isabel said:
I do not understand: Ní thuigim

Michael replied:
He's a strong man: Is fear láidir atá ann

Don't be afraid to let me know what you think! This is actually done; I have the other part already written. I plan on posting the second half next Friday, April 28, 2006.

Per-view: Kivar decides to 'drop' by. A wedding (not Isabel's or Michael's). And more so stay tuned.