The Valentine's Dance was going in full swing. Everyone was enjoying it and the food was actually pretty good, yet Maria wasn't dancing nor was she eating. Maria wringed her hands constantly, waiting for Michael to show up. She looked over towards Liz, who was by the punch bowl, sipping her cup every few seconds and looking at the main entrance; trying to appear nonchalant, but Maria knew what Lizzie was thinking. Where in the hell were the Czechs at?
Taking a deep breath she walks over to where Kyle is sitting, eating his food with great enjoyment, making Maria want to hurl. How can he eat at a time like this?

Making a face, Maria sits down and plays with the silverware-seeing her somewhat perfect reflection. Tucking in a strand of her curly hair behind her ear, Maria gives Kyle a pointed look. She didn't know why, but she wanted to be admired right now. She wanted him to compliment her, but all Kyle was doing was eating and eating even some more. Rolling her sultry, green eyes, Maria props her elbows on the table and folds her hand, supporting her pointed chin.
It was going to be a long night...

Tess screamed trying to fight off Nicholas' mindwarp. She knew what he was trying to do-he was trying to control her mind..again..doing the same thing he had been doing in New York, when Lonnie and Rath had capturedher and almost killing Max. Fortunately, with Nasedo's killer drills, she had fought them off. Now, if only she could do it again. Tess concentrates, using her mindwarp capabilities, getting into his mind.

Flash
Nicholas at the summit meeting when he sees her.

Flash
When Tess destroys the skins using her firebolt and the rage he is feeling.

Tess feels herself drowning in darkness, screaming for help. Tess falls to her knees, clawing an invisible force, feeling her mind splitting in two. She feels a pair of strong arms enfold her, and she can almost smell the subtle scent of spices. Max.
She clings to him, desperate to escape. Desperate to see his beloved face again. She feels herself panicing. She can feel his energy through her. His strength. Just like in New York...
The world is spinning around her and then it stops. She opens her tearstained eyes slowly, her breathing coming back to normal. He looked so beautiful, so strong and capable, that she couldn't help collapsing against him. She was dimly aware that he was stroking her hair, but she was simply too overcome to notice much else, just the comfortable and gentle feeling, surronding her. She burrows her face into his chest, and his arms tighten around her.
Max cups the back of Tess' head, stroking her soft, blonde hair, whispering words of comfort into her ear.

"Tess-" Max's voice was tenderness itself. "What happened? Are you alright?"
Max's voice was too gentle and his arms too strong, and the feelings inside of her waking up again from a long sleep, making her cry harder. Tess swallows, wondering if she should tell him. Lifting her head from his chest and looking into his gentle, unnamble brown eyes, Tess shakes her head, trying to clear her foggy mind and a forboding sense of loss filling inside of her so slowly and so unexpected. She knows she has to remember Nicholas and what he was trying to do, but it's useless. She can feel herself slipping away.
Max lightly touches her tearstained cheeks and caresses her bottom lip, an aching tenderness overwhelming, as he leans forward to kiss her. Max wraps his arms around her, wanting to protect her. From everything. From him.

Isabel drops her brush on her vanity tray, hearing the scream. Tess. Isabel grabs a hold of her dress, racing towards the door. Before she can open it, she feels a strong hand sending her on her bed, landing in a hard thud. Before she can even comprehend what has happened, she sees a pair of familiar brown eyes looking into hers and the smirk of a she-devil.

Lonnie.

Liz dances slowly to Nelly, her hips swaying back and forth, but her heart wasn't in it. She sees Maria having a silent conversation with Kyle and Liz can't help but smile, when she sees Sherif Valenti and Amy dancing, each into their own world. Just the two of them. Not noticing anything. Love.
Liz's eyes take on a far-away glance, remembering the times she and Max danced or would just hold hands and stare into each other's eyes. How she missed him. Liz touches her lips, feeling silly, for having a goofy grin plastered on her lips. Liz straightens out her black dress and adjusting the strapless top. She notices Alex sitting with his band friends.
Why was he so distant lately?
Liz ponders to herself, looking at him. Alex seemed to be happy, but she's known him for a long time, and she can tell he's keeping a secret. His usual cheerful dispostion and luminous, gentle blue eyes were now shadowed and in pain-as if, he could never tell her. His best friend what was wrong.
Which hurt.

Alex feels a prickle on his neck and glances towards Liz, who is looking at him, her face showing a sign of concern. Alex knows he hasn't been himself, but he can't help. Not after seeing Isabel with Michael. Isabel and Michael. God, how he hated how close it fit.
Alex looks over towards Maria and Kyle. Alex has a good feeling, Kyle knows what's going on, while Maria didn't have clue. Alex could always tell whether she was in a good mood or not, just by looking into her eyes. She couldn't hide anything, no matter how hard she tried, she always showed her emotions. Honesty is so important in a relationship-any relationship for that matter. Alex gives out a deep sigh, barely listening to his friends on the latest music trends and upcoming albums.
Alex looks up at the ceiling, and he can almost imagine Isabel's eyes. Like twinkling stars and he wishes what would be...

Max feels Tess slipping away from him, her mind wandering. Max deepens the kiss, connecting his mind to hers, wanting desperately see her. Her.

Flash
The first day they met.

Flash
The day at the bench, when he had told her he didn't want her to leave.

Flash
When he had walked away from her, after hearing about their destiny. Rejecting her. His bride. His wife.

Flash
When Nicholas, Lonnie, and Rath tried to get inside her head. Trying to mindwarp her. Trying to control, but she fought them off. Firebolt...

Max breaks away from her, breathing heavily and choking with tears.
I'm sorry, Tess. Max searches her eyes, her eyes filled with pain and longing, as he looks into hers, pleadingly. Begging forgiveness.

Tess touches his cheeks and says softly.
"Nicholas is here."

Isabel looks at Lonnie, stunned. Lonnie is dressed in a lovely gown, but Lonnie's face is the exact likeness of Isabel. Why? What happened to the tattoos? The body piercings? The ragged, torn clothes?
Isabel scrambles to her feet, facing Lonnie, her hand raised for whatever Lonnie was going to throw at her. She wanted to call out for Max, but she was afraid. Lonnie smiles-a contemputous smile, her pearly white teeth gleaming with a secret. A secret that Isabel knew what she was thinking of. Her betrayel to her own family.

Lonnie looks around Isabel's room and says, touching a bottle of Isabel's favorite perfume.
"I don't understand why you won't betray your family..Vilandra," says Lonnie, throwing the bottle of perfume one hand to the other. "if only you would remember Kivar's love or any of men at court, who loved you..us." Lonnie gives her a pointed look, her dark eyes glittering dangerously. She smiles again-a smirk more so than a smile, her eyes studying Isabel. Vilandra. Her.
"You probably think I can't love, but I do. All of those men were pawns into letting me gain power. My rightful throne." Lonnie says softly, confessing to Isabel the past. A past which Isabel wanted to forget. Lonnie puts the bottle of perfume back down and faces her. "My love is Rath. I'm sure you wouldn't understand, considering you haven't pursued...Michael." Lonnie shrugs her shoulders and flips her blonde hair. "Too bad. You two would have made a perfect couple."

Isabel's face is white and strained, tears brimming, wanting to fall, but she holds them back. Taking in a shaky breath, Isabel asks, "What do you want, Lonnie? Why did you come back to Roswell, unless you want someone or..something."
Lonnie and Isabel lock eyes. Weighing each down.
"Yes, we want the Granolith. Always the granolith, but only four can go back, you know." Lonnie says softly.

Isabel nods her head. "Yes, Max told me."

Lonnie gives a broad smile. "You're going to the Valentine's Dance, aren't you?"
Isabel frowns, her dark eyes flickering, wondering how Lonnie would know..and why would she even care?
Lonnie laughs softly to herself and says, waving her hand to the side. "We heard music playing at West Roswell High, when were passing through and-.."

Isabel cuts her off and asks plainly. "What do you want, Lonnie?"

Lonnie sighs and says, exasperated, "What do you think. We want to go home. It's always been that. Home." She looks at Isabel, walking towards her slowly almost mencing. "And, you're going to help me."

Isabel closes her eyes back away from her. "You're going to have to get through me first." She looks directly into her own brown eyes. Lonnie's.

Max gets up quickly, scanning the room.
"Nicholas is here? Where?"
Tess rocks herself back and forth and before she can tell him, she feels a force sending her and Max to a chest of drawers. Max hits the edge of wood, his shoulder in great pain, while Tess hits her head on the handles, knocking her out, cold.
Max gets up, holding his shoulder and feels that his collarbone is broken. Wincing, Max faces Nicholas.
Nicholas' boyish face looks at the damage he's caused and straightens out his suit and gives Max a brief smile.
"Well, well, well..why it isn't our beloved King." Nicholas makes pity face towards Tess. "And, his Queen, who at the moment is asleep." Nicholas shakes his head. "And, I thought she was a Queen of etiquette."
Max rasps out, trying to heal his broken collarbone.
"What do you want, Nicholas."
Nicholas starts to walk towards Max and the unconcious Tess. Max puts out his right hand and brings up his shield. Nicholas scowls and brings up his hand to break through Max's shield.

Max feels himself weakening, his collarbone throbbing.
Before he can think of something to stop Nicholas, someone knocks on the door. Max turns his head quickly to the door and asks, roughly.
"Who is it?"
"Max, it's me. Michael. What's happening in there anyway? Your parents wanted me to know if Isabel is throwing a tantrum or something."
Max looks at Nicholas and says quickly, "No, but Nicholas is. Get in here, Michael! Help me!"
Max hears Michael give out a loud curse, as Michael opens the door and brings out his hand. Quickly, Max lets go of the shield, as Michael sends Nicholas to the dressing table.
Nicholas struggles to get up, but Michael holds out his hand and says, "Don't move."
Nicholas' eyes narrow in silent hatred, as he looks at his adversary. "Your powers have grown. I'm impressed."
Nicholas looks at Tess' body, while Max is trying to wake her up. "That Queen of yours is stronger than I thought she would be, Max. I couldn't even mindwarp her. Her mind is too strong. Odd. In New York, when we captured her for a time, I tried to mindwarp her. To control her, but I couldn't, because of the horrible firebolt she used!"
Nicholas gets up quickly and straightens his suit out once more, showing Max and Michael his burnt arm.

Max looks at him and asks, "When you say 'we' you also mean, Lonnie and Rath, right?"
Nicholas nods his head and says, "Corret." Nicholas turns his gaze towards Tess and before he can do anything, Max throws Nicholas to the wall, as hard as he can.
"Dont you dare!" Max yells, his hands forming into, tight fists. "Don't you dare, mindwarp her." Max is shaking. Literally shaking. He had never felt such hatred towards someone. Why?
Nicholas laughs, still on the floor. "Your powers have also been growing. How I've underestimated you. I always thought that little bitch over there was the strongest out of you three, but I was wrong..or maybe not." Nicholas arches his back, cracking it and says, "In the past, I wouldn't have been a match for you or your Queen, but with your second in command. I killed him." Nicholas smiles evily. "Would you like a face off, Max? See who is the strongest?"

Michael looks at Max, silently sending him a message not to agree. Max wasn't ready.
Tess is waking up slowly, her face deathly white.
"Max-." Tess begins, putting a trembling hand to her temple. Max gently hushes her, putting his index finger to her lips. "I know what I'm doing, Tess."
Tess shakes her head, trying to clear her mind and the stabbing pain in the back of her head. "Max, let me fight him. I heard what he said. It's a trick."
Max kisses her forehead and says, "Trust in me. Do you?" Tess opens her eyes, looking deeply into his and nods her head. "Yes, I trust you. Beat the #$ out of him." Tess adds. Max smiles.

Nicholas makes a disguisting snort and says, "It's bad enough as it was back home. Ugh!" Nicholas shakes his head and says, "And, I thought you two weren't a couple. What happened to your precious Liz, Max? Or shall I not tell you."

Max looks at Nicholas, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Nicholas laughs and says, "If you want to know. As of this moment, Rath is going to hold up the Valentine's Dance. Do you think any will come out alive?"

Maria.
Liz.
Kyle.
Alex.
And many more...