This was a fun chapter to write. Sorry about no Alex in this one, but he'll be back soon and Kyle will also join the mix. Please read and review.

Hurt and Memories

Later that night in Liz's room.

"I think deep down I always knew it would end," Maria says after the tears subside.

"Maria, he does love you. He told you. It's just-"

"If you say destiny I swear to God -"

"Okay, not destiny just reality."

"Liz."

"They have a baby and they are aliens. I… I keep thinking of how things were with Max. How connected we were and then -"

"Then space slut showed up and threw our relationships into a horrible tailspin."

"She's not so bad. I want to hate her, but today… she wasn't bad."

"That's the worst part! I mean space slut hasn't grown on me, but I actually like Isabel. Once she lets go of her worry and her need to be perfect for everyone, she can be funny with her sarcastic witty comments. She got us Nelly Furtado tickets because she was thankful for all our help and found out I liked her. I mean she didn't pay for them just asked daddy the wealthy lawyer, but still. And God, she does all these things… her planner is almost psychotic and she was mad when she found out Michael and I broke up. She told him he was losing his chance at happiness with someone normal. She's taking my man without batting an eyelash and while trying to push him to be with me. I don't even know if she realizes the way he looks at her. It's like he accepts her with all her quirks and insecurities and just wants to protect her. He got a better job and is trying to graduate early and acting all… responsible and wonderful and -"

"And it's for Adam. Maria, I think Isabel is also changing and it's for him not Michael."

"I know. I know they love baby Skywalker and… I can't blame them. But I'm just so mad Liz. Why did Michael have to say he loved me too much? Maybe if he hadn't said it I wouldn't have held on for this long. I just… I'm just so mad at him. How can he say that one day and drop me like nothing after? How can he look at someone else that way so soon?"

"Ria, did he tell you he's in love with her?"

"No. He said he doesn't know anything. I mean he knows he loves Adam. And now he's doing the memory retrieval with Tess to try to figure out what part is him and what is Rath. He was crass as usual but not actually unreasonable. But you know the annoying part? He only really chewed me out about her. He warned me to leave Isabel out of it because she has enough without our issues."

"Ria. That's true. She had a big fight with Max today. I think she won. But, it must be hard for her, for all of them, even Tess."

"Must be if space slut asked for your help."

"Maria."

"Oh come on?" she says, raising her eyebrow at her friend.

"Fine I still hate her. But… maybe less. I mean it's not like she made all the destiny things up and got the baby to appear out of thin air."

"Point taken. But Max still wants you."

"For now."

"Liz, he spent all summer asking me about you. God, I wished Michael had ever shown a tenth of that devotion. Liz, he's so in love with you. Not for now. You two are for always."

"And when he starts to remember, Maria? What if he gets confused like Michael? I can't do it. It was hard enough for me to walk away. If I take him back and fall all over again and then he leaves me... or I get flashes of him with Tess… I don't think I could bear it."

"Oh chica."

"It' okay. That's why I can't. I have to keep him at arms' length. Even if Tess herself asked me to talk to him."

"Maybe you're right. Maybe we should put space and… we could try to be just friends with them."

"You want to be just friends with Michael?"

"I think so. I just… I've never been Michael's friend. It's like I went from being mildly attracted and partially afraid to feeling this incredible passion and an insane need to be there for him. And then in one swoop it was all taken away and... Oh god I'm becoming the hateful ex!" Maria exclaims, looking horrified.

Liz almost laughs aloud. Of course Maria would never want to go there, never the hateful ex. "So don't be. Be friends."

"You're probably right. I'm just so confused. But I can't imagine my life without him, even if he's there just to annoy me. And I can't hate her. I don't really want to I try. But I don't know how I could be their friend and watch them together if it happens… it just... hurts," she says, trying to contain the tears that threaten to reemerge.

"I know," Liz says, hugging her friend. "I know it hurts. But you are strong. You're the strongest person I know. And if it helps, I love you and I really believe that somewhere out there, there is someone who will love you the way you deserve."

Maria smiles. "It helps. I love you too. I missed you, chica."

Max sat in his room thinking about everything his sister had said a week ago. Isabel was right. He could try to remember and still keep his humanity, his life and Liz. Izzy's words still echoed in his head. "Max, what Michael and I do and feel about Adam or anything else, it doesn't change you or your feelings. You are still you and you can still love Liz and be with her. And if you remember, it could make your love stronger. If regardless of memories, of me, Michael, Adam or Tess, you still love Liz then that's that. If you are meant to be with her, you two will find a way. But you can't just drop everything else and leave us behind. Max, me and Adam, we're your family and so is Michael, and as much as you don't like it, we also have to be there for Tess."

So, he had to find a way. He knew that this time Isabel and Michael were on the same side and they were right, even Tess was right. He would help them remember and find a way to stay true to himself, to stay human and keep Liz. He stood and got ready. They were right next door in Isabel's room working on the memory retrieval. It was time for him to join them, help get Adam out of the pod and take on the future head on. When he walked in he found Isabel, Tess and Michael holding hands while sitting in a circle with the healing stones in the middle.

"Max," Isabel said.

"I thought about what you said and… I'll do it. I'm ready to remember." Isabel smiled big at him. Michael nodded his head and looked as pleased as Michael could look. His face seemed to say "finally". Tess though had an expression as if she had just been given the sun. Her face was so happy it made Max uncomfortable.

"Let's get this going again," Michael said.

Max took a spot between Michael and his sister. Away from Tess, he told himself. She explained how to breathe, relax and then focus. Isabel said the healing stones could help. She had had a vision of those helping not only heal physical wounds, but also emotional and mental ones.

Max didn't know what to concentrate on. Tess had said that he just needed feel the connection. That even alone he just had to breathe and focus on what was dormant. But did he really want to find what was in there, the alien inside? No, he just wanted to help his sister and Michael while staying human. This was about his family, Isabel, Michael and Adam. He was here for them, not himself. He would remember his family not Tess. Then it happened.

He was in the middle of a discussion with her. She was in a simple white tunic. Her hair was long and her eyes seemed bigger than he had ever seen and so blue, like the sky on the clearest day.

"Then show them they're wrong, Zan. Announce Lonnie and Rath's child as future King," she pleads taking hold of his hands in hers.

"You would agree to that? You would give up the chance to have the child king?"

"I would let our nephew be the child king, but I would never give up the chance to have our child. Do you not agree?"

He smiles at her and hugs her. "I want my child with you, my Queen. I just always thought our son or daughter would inherit all of this and rule but… you're right. Their son should be king."

Ava looks at his face and smiles at him. "Yes. Even if we had our own, this baby is the next king. He will bring peace and prosperity, a new age of progress and plenty. Our world will flourish under his rule." She pauses. "We should tell them soon." Zan nods, looking out of the window at his sister and friend. They sit on bench in a blue forest with flowers blooming all around them. "Why do you not look happy my king?"

"You know me too well."

"As you know me."

"I need your council," he says, separating from her.

"You have it, unconditionally."

"There's a plan in motion. A plan that would save the royal line if this war is lost and the four are killed."

"But we do not have the four, it's just Lonnie, you and I." Zan looks at her for a second and then she gets a look as if something just clicked. "Rath. You intent to give him the fourth seal."

"No destroyer has ever achieved Rath's level of skill. He made the volcano in the Haltirkran moon erupt when he rescued Lonnie. And he can produce Alkalean gazes whenever he's with her. I have never seen anyone without the shine make those bloom out of thin air. He belongs with my sister, with us. He's the fourth."

"I have no disagreement. Rath is family now. So we have the four and a way to preserve ourselves and the seals if the worst comes to pass. What concerns you?"

"Lonnie." She looks at him with confusion. "Ava, she's completely in love with the baby."

"Of course, she is. It's her son."

"I know. But if the worst happens the plan is to take our essences and combine them with human strands so that we can take refuge in their blue planet."

"Human?"

"It's a being in a blue planet that they call Earth, though it's mostly made of something they call water. It's in the twirl galaxy, the one your forefathers found using the Plateaian lenses. The elders say that outside of our galaxy these humans have the closest structure to ours though they haven't evolved into their gifts and do not carry the AXP or ULV strands."

"So we go to this Earth and then?"

"We would have to be incubated and released as children. We'll grow together and return to Antar to retake the galaxy and fix the damage of war. We would be ready to return in less than six turns of the silver suns if this happens."

"Sounds reasonable. I don't see why Lonnie would object. We'll take her and Rath and she'll have the baby there." Zan stays quiet and looks concerned. Ava looks at him intently and speaks again. "We can't bring the baby?"

"The preliminary tests of basic composition were not promising."

"How can that be?"

"Ava, you know what the baby's symbol means."

"Life bringer."

"Exactly. No child has shown it since Adameus the first. We looked at his basic composition and it's like nothing I have ever seen. He has only the best of Lonnie and Rath, minimal misuse of positive traits and practically complete disregard of defective ones. It's something you see in theoretical manuscripts as the final goal of bonding and mating but we have never achieved it. Thr elders are as baffled as me, attempting something that ambitious usually leads to bond failure."

"They didn't even perform the bond before conception."

"I know, Ava. It makes no sense. His strand for the Alkalean shine is stronger than Lonnie's even though males in our family have never inherited the active portion of it. He has markers of low to medium level illusionism, visioning and shape shifting and the full strands of a mind glider, a destroyer and a king."

"He has all their active powers and healing?"

"His power should be stronger than mine, my Queen. If the tests are correct, where I have failed he should succeed."

"He is the life bringer."

"Ava, we have some ideas for how to capture his essence but even if we succeed, it will probably be as new to us as his composition and the process will be very painful for my sister. I have no clue if we can merge his essence with human strands much less how we would put it all back in Lonnie and keep it dormant until she's old enough to carry him to birth."

"You fear she will refuse her essence capture if she can't have the baby. Even Rath might."

"Exactly. If they find out just how special the baby is and the issues with our plan, she will refuse the capture and he may never leave her side."

"We still need to tell them." He sits on a chair and stays silent. "You cannot keep the truth or trick them into giving you their essences."

"Why not?"

"She is our sister!"

"She betrayed us and caused this mess and Rath went along and defied me."

"You cannot compare! If you do this they will never forgive you and neither would I."

"Ava, I would be saving them."

"You would be giving up your nephew! Their baby, the life bringer, the next king!" Zan is quiet. "If you do this then you are not the King I thought you were. Vilandra is our sister and yes she made mistakes, but it was out of love. And Rath is your best general and our dearest friend and he defies you because he couldn't bare life without her. His entire family has given all they could to Antar, the galaxy and the crown. You cannot hurt them this way. I will not let you!"

"Ava."

"You asked for my council. Now you have it. Be honest and find a way King Zan of the Valyrs or your battle won't be with just Lonnie. She will be hysterical and refuse the capture. As will I, though quietly."

"You would choose to meet your true end? You would leave me alone?"

"I love you, more than I ever imagined I would. But our lives are not ours. You taught me that. We have a duty to the galaxy and all its beings, which I swore to fulfill the day we met."

"And how would you fulfill our duty if you're dead and your essence gone forever?"

"By making sure the life bringer survives this war and becomes king. I will side with our sister. But for our love, for us, I beg you to do the right thing. Be honest with them and do your best to ensure the baby lives if the worst comes to pass."

They stare at each other for what feels like forever. "I could never rule without you. I'm yours completely, beloved. You know this," he says as he pulls her to him and gives her a peck on the lips. "I will talk to them and have us all meet with the architects and the elders. But promise you will help me convince Rath to retake over the defense of the galaxy while I work on a way to save the child if needed. And you must get Lonnie to listen to reason. We know how she can be and now you and Rath are the only ones she listens."

"Zan, you must forgive each other."

"I have forgiven them! It's not that, it's just… if they refuse the procedure and get killed without a chance to be brought back… I couldn't bare it, Ava. Not after what we have been through, not my sister."

Tess wanted to remember what Nasedo had done to cause her fear. She had experienced a few glimpses of a man with vibrant green eyes and a child standing with Nasedo and hovering. She was flat on the floor and they were talking. She focused on that moment, trying to get a full memory, a clear look at their faces and what they were saying. But nothing. It wasn't happening for her. Then she felt Isabel's hand warm in hers and that was her trigger.

She's a young girl and is wearing an incredible silver and blue dress. Two women are using their powers on her hair and face and hovering everywhere. A young girl is speaking about how she looks after each change the women make.

"Too simple," the young girl says, looking at her. They keep going until they all agree and the young golden girl excitedly says, "Perfect!"

She looks at herself in the mirror and frowns. The women and the young girl all look concerned. "What if I can't be perfect today?" she asks.

"You will be. You look so beautiful and you know the words. My heart, everything will be just great," one of the women answers. She's beautiful with a slight purple glow around her and beautiful blue eyes that tell her she loves her.

"But what if he doesn't like me, mother? I'm not a princess."

The other woman in the room, the one with the golden halo around her, speaks. "Ava, I understand your fear. I was once in your position, my girl. It's not easy to promise a mating bond at your age just because it is necessary to maintain peace and prosperity. But this is your destiny, sweet one. I could have chosen a princess or a noble girl, the agreement only required a female born in Plateaia. But I chose you because I can see you are better than any other. My son will grow to love you as you will him. You have more power, more strength and more beauty than any of the princesses."

"No more than Princess Vilandra," she answers, looking at the young girl that was in there.

"That may be so," her mother answers with a smile. "But I dare say the prince would not want to bond with his sister, would he?"

"Oh gross," Vilandra says. Ava lets out a giggle.

"Do not worry, my heart. I'll be at your side," her mother adds.

"You are the right girl," the golden woman says. "Now, stand straight and we'll head there. We must get the betrothal ceremony underway."

"Yes, my Queen."

"Call me Queen mother, Ava. One turn of the silver suns and you will be a second daughter to me. I will love you and Zan will as well."

"And me," young Vilandra adds. "I've always wanted a sister. I love you already. Call me Lonnie."

Michael sat in the circle without a clear goal. He wanted to remember the architects and anything related to Adam's hatching. But he had not gotten any memories of that since the one flash he had with Isabel at the Crashdown when they realized Adam existed. He also wanted to figure out if he really had feelings for Isabel or if the things he felt for her lately were all Rath, which would mean he should be alone or he could go back to Maria. He forced himself to stop that train of thought, Isabel and Maria were too complicated. Adam was the goal. That's what he needed to remember. Adam… Adam… But nothing. He opened his eyes and saw Izzy right across from him. Her eyes were closed and her brow furrowed. The healing stones were glowing and making her look golden and then the memories assaulted him.

He sees himself as a boy, probably no more than eight years old. He is standing by a large man in a strange armor next to some sort of metal pyre with two bodies wrapped in a silver fabric like material. He looks and feels shattered but only a single tear makes its way down his face. Then he feels her stare like a heatwave. He looks up and meets a pair of chocolate eyes that are not prying nor pitying. He instantly knows the girl feels for him in a way that the adults around cannot. From her small hand blooms a yellow flower that holds a glow that's almost as brilliantly gold as her. Michael recognizes the flower. It's the one he saw in the memory of the garden, when he kissed Isabel. No when Rath made the flower and kissed Vilandra. That's it. He's never seen anything remotely similar to that flower in real life, but young Rath knows it as well as he knows the red sky of his home.

She moves to the softly weeping boy version of himself and gently places her blossom in his hand. He looks up and their young eyes connect. Her brown eyes hold his as the man next to him lifts his hand and the pyre comes to life.

He feels like time stands still as he looks to the flames and a deep sadness invades him but then her eyes are there giving him a different kind of warmth and protecting him from being consumed by a fire of misery. That sweet face tells him that he still has a hope. There's still good in this universe. He knows it's Isabel, no Vilandra. This is Rath meeting Vilandra. The man next to him places a hand on his shoulder and the spell of her stare is broken. The little girl hurries back to her mother's side and everyone watches in silence as the fire consumes the dead. The boy knows his life will never be the same, for in such brief a time, he learned sadness and loss but also warmth and hope and beauty.

The scene changes and he's in a very familiar setting. He's standing by the lunch line arguing with asshole Mr. Trevers. He tells him that the cafeteria won't take his food stamps.

"They're for food, aren't they?" Michael answers.

Mr. Trevers looks down on him and says, "I don't take lip from welfare punks."

He feels so angry. He's about to kick his balls up into his throat. But then he feels someone watching him. It feels like a heat lamp turned on the back of his neck. He turns around and there she is, sitting at a table all by herself.

She's staring right at him and he walks over and sits down. He's next to her and she's still staring at him with those big eyes that have not left him for even a second. His anger has melted away, replaced with a warmth in his chest that he has never felt before. He's not alone, not anymore. She pushes her tray of food over to him and says, "You can have my lunch."

Right then he knows, she is different like he is different. They are still staring at each other and she smiles. He's mesmerized until he hears, "Who are you?"

She says, "It's him. I found him."

"You're like us? You're our brother?"

"I guess."

"I'm Max."

"Michael," he answers and turns back to her.

"Isabel."

Something about her being his sister seems odd, but he can't really understand it. They start eating and Michael decides he doesn't need a full lunch. He cuts the burger and apple in half and shares with her.

Isabel is trying to keep her mind focused on Adam and her brother and Tess and Michael. She is terrified that she will remember the man with the green eyes again. She has seen him in flashes twice since her dream and their interactions left her baffled. In one of them they were young and he asked her if she had been touched in the lips. She answered in the negative and he smiled at her before he went ahead and granted her what she assumed was Vilandra's first kiss. In the other memory, he sat next to her eating. It must have been a celebration of some sort. Max… no Zan and Ava and Rath were there as was her mother. She hated the memory because in it the man touched her thigh under the table and made her uncomfortable and Rath looked livid. But, she cherished being able to see her mother. She learned her name was Daharia in that memory. She was beautiful and seemed wise and kind. So Isabel focused on everything she could except that man. Kiv, the man with the green eyes that hunted her and made her feel doubt and shame. Then a memory came.

They are running frantically. She feels fear like she never has but the hold he has on her hand steadies her. Enemies have their hands up and she tries to create a shield and is sometimes effective but knows that it's him that is keeping them safe from the attacks around them. He makes rocks fly and fire erupt and it all hits his targets.

"Keep running!" he orders.

"But -"

"Get in the ship, now!" he yells shoving her in and making the door close.

"No! General!" she screams in despair. "Rath!"

Engines start and she is screaming at a tall figure with green skin. "We cannot leave! Open the gates!"

"I have orders."

"Forget your orders! We cannot lose him!"

"Our General knew the risks when he took this mission. We all did."

"No!"

Another figure walks towards her. "Princess," he says and pulls her into another room with all white walls and nothing but a table and three chairs.

"Larek! We have to save him! Please!"

"Princess." She gives him a meaningful look. "Lonnie, I'm sorry but we cannot go back there. General Rath is leveling the place. We must trust he knows what he's doing. Please, take a breath and steele yourself."

She does and it feels like they wait in that room for ages. Then the green skinned figure walks into the room. "Princess. Ambassador." They look at him expectantly. "We have a signal from the undercarriage of the ship. Seems like we have a stowaway," he says with a smile. Larek begins to laugh. She feels relieved and takes a breath.

"That son of a -"

"Ambassador!" she admonishes.

"Apologies."

"Bring me the General," she orders.

"Yes, Princess."

He arrives with his body armor slightly dented and covered in dirt. "Your highness."

She smiles at him. "My deepest gratitude," she says, her voice filled with awe and tenderness.

He looks as stoic as ever. "My mission was to retrieve you."

"Mission accomplished, friend," Larek says.

"No, not yet," she counters. "We must retrieve the cargo lost by my convoy. I believe it was taken to the other side of this moon."

"Negative," Rath answers.

"What?" she questions shocked.

"I was ordered to ensure your safe return. I'm not going to jeopardize you by parading to the other side of this place."

"General, as the Princess of Antar I'm giving you new orders! We retrieve the cargo!"

"No."

"How dare you? It is your job to follow the will of the crown!"

"I get orders from the King. I'm his second and my job does not involve tracking party favors carried through the galaxy by pampered Princesses!"

"You know nothing about me! And I'm sorry I assumed your job involved more than fighting irrational fools like yourself!" she screams. Then she runs. She runs down silver hallways, passing windows with magnificent views of space until she gets to a door and scans her hand against it. She throws her body onto the bed that crams the small compartment and begins to sob. She cries with such intensity that it makes Isabel feel like she's drowning in sadness and rage. Vilandra's tears subside eventually and she murmurs to herself, "I hate him. I hate him with the power of a thousand suns."

Now Isabel sees Vilandra in a skin tight golden armor like suit, looking otherworldly with her hair intricately braided and a tiara with a yellow gem on her head. She walks next to the spaceship and sees her mother, brother and Ava. They meet halfway and he smiles and hugs her. She moves to hug her mother who says, "Thank the stars. I was besides myself."

"Thank the General. He was set in ensuring my safety and cared not for his life or anything else," she answers while hugging Ava.

"And the cargo, sister. We need that cargo for the virus survivors," Ava says.

"I gave the order to retrieve the cargo, but was told it was not my place. I'm not the King."

"You are royalty!" her brother says in outrage. "Who would dare-"

"No matter," she interrupts. "I contacted Lord Khivar and he agreed to send his forces and should be retrieving the cargo as we speak. The supplies should arrive in Sakayta and get delivered to the quarantined areas in time."

Zan smiles. "Your resourcefulness brings hope to those who need it most."

"I'm only fulfilling my duties as Queen Ava's hand and Princess of this Galaxy. Innocent beings under our rule needed those elixirs and delivering them is my job."

"I couldn't ask for a better hand or Princess. I cherish your commitment, sister," Ava says.

Vilandra looks towards Rath victoriously. He has regret clearly written all over his face.

Max speaks first. He looks troubled and exhausted. "Life bringer," he says. "The symbol on Adam, in the book, it means life bringer."

"Did you figure out how to get him out of the pod?" Michael asks, abrasively.

"Michael, let him breathe and listen," Isabel admonishes. "Max, what did you see?"

"Zan and Ava. I think it's what Tess told us about before. I saw the two of you from a window in a blue forest. Ava told Zan to declare the baby king and he agreed. Zan was worried about the war and the plan to send us to Earth. He didn't think we could get the baby to come because the baby had too many powers. He was too special."

"But he did come, Max," Isabel said.

"What do you mean he was too special?" Michael questions.

"I think he has both of your powers and mine. Ava said Lonnie would never come without the child and neither would she. She threatened Zan so somehow he must have found a way to bring him."

"I didn't see that," Tess says. "I saw myself saying he should be king but that's it."

"Ava believed in him," Max says. "She was willing to remain dead and have Zan lose his wife if the life bringer couldn't be saved."

"Stop talking about Ava and Zan like they are some random aliens! They live inside us," Tess says.

"I am my own person. I'm human," Max answers.

"But you are also alien and whether you like it or not Zan lives in you like Ava lives in me and Rath and Lonnie live in them. Stop refusing to admit that just because you want Liz."

"Tess, not now," Michael says, annoyed.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to cause any more trouble." She turns to Max. "Zan didn't love me either so you can stop being scared. You can remember and lead us. It won't cause the return of past feelings. Stay with Liz," she says and stands up, getting ready to leave.

"Tess wait. What did you see?" Isabel asks.

"You, me, and our mothers. They were getting me ready for a betrothal and you were with us. I was chosen by your mother to marry the future king when I was really young. I didn't marry for love. Nasedo lied to me."

Max begins to speak, "Tess, I -"

"Don't," she interrupts. "Destiny is over. You were always right."

"I'm sorry," says Isabel. She approaches Tess and hugs her.

"I'm fine," she lets out a half laugh that seems false. "At least I had you." Isabel looks at her confused. "We were friends, like in this life. In the memory, you said you already loved me, that you had always wanted a sister. You and I were real. That's probably why I threatened Zan to save your son."

"Thank you," Isabel says after a couple of seconds.

Tess nods. "I need to go," she adds, obviously upset.

"I'll go with you," Isabel says, moving to get a jacket.

"I'll wait in the car," Tess says as she leaves.

"Wait. Did you remember anything important?" Michael asks, looking at Isabel.

Isabel looks annoyed but speaks, "Rath rescued me in some moon and then called me a party-planning pampered Princess and made me feel like crap. You?"

"Are you mad at me?" he asks, clearly frustrated by her tone.

"No! What did you remember?"

"I didn't do anything!" She just gives him a hard look. Of course, I get memories of her making me feel better when life is shit and she remembers me making her feel like crap. He speaks with anger dripping out, "I saw when Rath and Vilandra first met. She made a flower for him at a funeral. I think my family had died."

Her face completely changes. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, Princess. I'm used to being parentless. Go with Tess," he answers in a clipped tone.

"Michael, I'm sorry."

"Just go."

"Michael, I'm really-"

"I said go!"

She startles at his scream and leaves slowly and looking sad, as if she's waiting for him to change his mind. He doesn't.

"Are you okay?" Max asks.

Michael looks at him like he's ready to murder him. "Never better, Maxwell," he answers sarcastically as he gets ready to leave as well. "You should be happy, you can go ahead and be with Liz and have your perfect normal life again."

"You could be with Maria if you wanted."

"I have a kid to worry about. The rest of us have to deal and beg for your help while you get what you want. Long live the king."

"That's not true!"

"Whatever. The girls might have been the ones that threatened you in our past lives, but in this one I want my son and I will find a way. Go be with Liz and stay happy with mommy and daddy, but keep the rocks and try to remember how to hatch him." Michael slams the door as he leaves.

Max stands in the middle of his sister's room, feeling confused, angry and ashamed. Zan almost left Adam behind. It wasn't just that they didn't know how to get his essence and bring him, deep down he feared how powerful the baby was. Am I also scared of that baby? Am I being selfish? But Zan found a way because of Ava, Rath and his sister. He loved them.

Max picks up the rocks and shakes his head. What Tess said doesn't make sense. Zan loved her and valued her opinions above all others. He couldn't stand the idea of her not coming to Earth. I felt it. But I'm not him. He was afraid of Adam and I'm not. I will help Izzy and Michael and even Tess. They can count on me and I can love Liz.

At the Crashdown Michael flips burgers. He wasn't supposed to be here until school started again and his other job had less hours but Mr. Parker called and he needed the distraction anyway. He feels like he wants to make things explode. At least Maria is not here to make things more confusing. Thank heavens for small favors.

He hears someone coming in. "Orders are not behind and I'm not in the mood for demanding crazies."

"I admit I am demanding but hopefully not too crazy," Isabel answers. He turns and looks at her with no clear expression on his face. "Michael, I'm really sorry."

"You said that."

"I meant it. Michael… when I remembered, it wasn't just seeing what was happening. It was like I was there. I felt what she felt and… she was crying and really angry. But I shouldn't have taken that out on you. You didn't do anything."

"I said that."

"You were right and I apologize."

"Whatever," he says and turns back to the grill.

She approaches him and touches his arm to make him look at her again. "Please, forgive me." He looks at her, all sincere and remorseful, and stays quiet. "I'm truly sorry," she adds, showing him a tin container. "I made your favorite and brought books so we can read to Adam when we leave. We can have a cookie dinner."

"I still have an hour on the grill and cleaning after that."

"I'll wait."

"Okay."

"Okay?" she asks with the beginning of a smile.

"Give me one of those," he orders. She does and he puts a cookie in his mouth. "It's fine," he says with a mouthful of cookie.

"No, it isn't. You saw something that was hard on you and I should have been there. You needed me and I acted like a baby."

He moves to take the burgers off the grill and begin serving. "No need to beat yourself up over it. I won't make you beg. I forgive you."

"Thank you, but that doesn't excuse my behavior."

He knows even though he's not facing her that she's staring in that way she does. He feels those big eyes on him, like a heatwave behind him. When he's done serving he says, "Izzy, I'm okay." Just stop staring like that.

She moves closer and gives him a hug. "You're good at pretending nothing affects you, but I could tell that memory got to you. And if you felt things like I did when I remembered then it wasn't okay." She tightens her arms around him and he closes his eyes, feeling like the helpless angry boy of his memories with her giving him comfort. He squeezes her against him and breathes. Then he opens his eyes and notices. "Izzy, you're glowing."

They separate. "Oh my God!"

"Shit!"

"What do I do?"

"Calm down. Focus and try to make it stop. I'll keep people away," he says. He takes the food that's ready, sets it out for pickup and locks the door to the kitchen. He runs back to her. She's still glowing and looks panicked.

"What now?"

"I don't know."

"Okay, I need this to stop. Focus on stopping. Stop glowing. Breathe and stop glowing. Oh God."

He has an idea, but is hesitant to speak. Why did hugging him made her glow like this? Did he even want to know? She looks, wow, she's… no, focus! She can't stay this way. Say something.

"Izzy, when we train Tess says that we have to focus properly to keep control. That wanting something to happen is not enough, you have to will it to happen, feel it in your gut. Is there something you wanted to happen that could have made you glow like this?"

"I wanted to make it better… to get you to feel… that I'm here, that I care… that'll be okay."

"Izzy..."

"I must have failed."

"No, I was feeling better." She looks unconvinced. "I was! But then I noticed you all golden."

"Right."

He pulls her into a hug again. "You were there to contact Nasedo and when… I killed Pierce, and all the times we check on Adam and you're here now. I'm better. I know you're here."

She separates from him and looks into his eyes while holding onto his hands. Then she sincerely says, "Whenever you need me." The glow around her hair and face lessens but it intensifies on her hands. They let go of each other and suddenly from her palm blooms a yellow flower. The gold around her is now completely gone and she is relieved. They both look at the bloom astonished. He's about to tell her this is the alien flower he's seen in his memories when they hear a knock.

"Michael? Are you in there?"

"Mr. Parker! One second!"

"Where can I hide this?"

"Here," he says, opening the tin with cookies. She takes out a couple of more cookies, squeezes the flower in there and closes it while he runs to open the door.

Liz's dad walks into the kitchen. "You shouldn't have non-staff in here, especially with the door locked."

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Parker. It was my fault," Isabel says. "I brought cookies and must have accidentally locked the door after I came in. My bad." He looks unconvinced. "I'll wait in the jeep until you're done," she says to Michael and then gets out of the kitchen with the tin in hand, but leaving two cookies on the counter.

"That's Max's sister, isn't she?"

"Yeah, that's Isabel."

"Pretty girl," he says trying a cookie from the counter. He spits it out immediately. "Can't cook, must have put chili powder instead of cinnamon or something."

"Umhhh… yeah."

"Keep the door unlocked and don't make out with girls in my kitchen."

"We were not -"

"Michael, I was your age once. That's a beautiful girl and you are a teenage boy. I know what teenagers do behind closed doors. And I would have hidden too if I was making out with my best friend's sister."

"We weren't making out."

"Right, you were filling up on uneatable cookies." Michael is ready to protest, but Mr. Parker speaks again. "It's fine. Why don't you just go with the girl? It's not that busy anymore and I'm free to take care of things here. Shame to keep her waiting in a car like that."

"Okay. Umm… thanks?"

"Go ahead."

Michael moves quickly and he swears he hears Mr. Parker say, "Hormonal teenagers."

So, I haven't seen that many reviews or readership for this lately and I might put this on hold for two or three weeks and work on my HP stories since some lovely readers have sent me some messages about those. I'm totally not putting this on hiatus since I have a ton of other chapters half written and a cool outline. It's just a little break.