So, this chapter is on the shorter side, but it has some steam and goodness for a few couples and some needed intervention to move the story forward. Hope you like it. Thanks to Kbeth82 for the reviews.

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

At UNM, Las Cruces Max and Tess wait for the supercomputer to finish.

"So, are you going to the concert tomorrow?" Max asks.

"No," she answers. He looks at her questioningly. "Alex didn't really invite me and I doubt motormouth would miss me that much," Tess answers.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. Why does everyone keep asking about the concert anyway?"

"Guess we were all planning to go."

"Obviously, not all of us."

"Why are you upset?"

"I'm not."

"It's Alex forgetting to invite you. That's what's bothering you."

"That's part of it. I don't really want to talk about it."

"Okay, but… if anything is happening or something is bothering you, you can tell me. I'd only try to help or listen if that's what you want."

She smiles at him. "Thanks, Max. I'm just… figuring some things out and I don't want to think about the humans right now."

"The humans?" Max asks concerned.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. Just… Kyle is supposed to be like my brother and Alex was my first real friend, but right now they don't feel like it."

"Did you have a fight?"

"Not really. Could we drop it?"

"Okay. So, what are you doing tomorrow instead of the concert?"

"Don't know. Watching a movie, knitting, reviewing what we find."

"We may not have much to review if this doesn't work."

"I know," she answers and feels guilty not telling him that she's almost sure it will work. She looks at his kind eyes and feels worse. She can try to make it up to him. "Wanna do dinner and a movie instead of the concert?"

He smiles at her. "The library is having a reading of The Pearl at two, maybe we can catch that. Then dinner and a movie."

"That sounds great. And maybe we could ask Iz and Michael if we can visit Adam between the reading and dinner, if they're not working. We haven't seen him in a while."

"Sure. Which movie do you want to watch?"

"They're showing Memento in the theatre."

"Sounds goods," he adds and then just looks at her. She really is beautiful, all blond curls and big blue eyes that can be brighter than the bluest sky but also ferocious like the ocean.

"Tess"

"Yeah."

"I…"

"What?"

He doesn't talk anymore, he simply kisses her, slowly, tentatively. She responds and they stay lip locked.

Then he sees. A young child coming out of a pod, scared and alone, looking around her and feeling desperately rejected and confused. She's a bit older and is holding a black cat with bright green eyes. She looks joyous as she talks to it, pets it and kisses its head. She hears a door and hides it in a kitchen cabinet. She scurries into a small living room as Nasedo walks in. She greets him and asks about dinner. Then they hear the cat meow and she looks panicked. Nasedo finds the animal, picks it up and it dies on contact. She's been crying and pleading from the moment the cat made a sound. The alien yells at her for being stupid and over emotional. He tells her she's supposed to be a queen and if she wants the other Royals to accept her, she needs to toughen up and act like one. She stops crying and says that she hates him and when she finds her family, they will give her everything she needs and they won't need him. He sends her to her room telling her she can figure out her own dinner. The pain of rejection when Max didn't remember her and accused her of being Nasedo, and when Isabel put distance between them and Michael gave her only suspicious looks. The relief of meeting Adam and finally feeling connected to someone, someone innocent and deserving and who wouldn't hurt her. The baby was a balm that healed her wounds and made her question the awful ideas that had been going through her head. A talk with Kyle in which he told her she was his favorite Martian. Watching Star Wars with Alex and listening to him talk about computers. A sleepover with Isabel. Making mistletoe appear above his sister and best friend and her smiling when they finally kissed. Talking to Max after Thanksgiving dinner and feeling relieved that they can at least finally be friends. The kiss in the Jeep after he told her what he had remembered. The fear that he will leave her behind again.

Tess feels him too. She feels his worry at being different and the terror that invades him when he thinks he may become a monster that could destroy everyone he cares about. The way his heart beat faster when he first saw Liz as a child and first kissed her and how it broke the night he caught her with Kyle. The way she scared him when she first arrived at Roswell because she awoke a piece of him that he didn't understand. She made him feel wild and aroused and insanely out of control and that was completely new for Max Evans. The pain and guilt he felt when she attacked him and told him that she hated him. The contentment and calm that he now feels when she's around. How he wants to keep her close and safe because he knows that she understands and that gives him hope. Because even if he has to let the alien out, she will be there and accept him. She'll be there, strong and fearless, and everything will be okay. She's become a safety net, a part of his family.

"Tess…"

"Yeah…"

"I think I'm -" They hear the printer.

They turn and see that the report of their run on the supercomputer is coming out. She moves and takes the paper.

"Max, it worked." A part of her wants to jump in excitement but another is afraid and mad. How did they know this would work? Max looks at her and thinks that she looks as nervous as he feels. "Let's send it to your email, print a copy and go home," she says.

At the UFO center after closing time.

"Hey, I brought you a sandwich."

"Thanks," Brody answers.

"So… have you decided?"

"I think I'll pass."

"Why?"

"Maria, I'd be like the older brother or young uncle that's kind of cool but no one wants to have there."

"I want you there."

"Why?"

"Because… we're friends. We are friends, right?"

"Of course. But, you have friends your age. You must have a boyfriend coming, right?"

"I don't have a boyfriend. Michael is the last guy I dated and he's having a baby with Isabel, remember?"

"Yeah, but you're a beautiful girl. Someone would be unhappy to see an older man hanging around you."

"You're barely older than me."

"Barely? Maria, I'm eight years older than you. You're in high school. I have a child and a business. I have no place in a concert with teens."

"Why not? It's not illegal. I'm eighteen."

"By like a week."

"So?"

"Look, I like talking to you. You're… a breath of fresh air and funny and I like listening to your stories and ideas. But, you need to live. Even Max doesn't spend this much time at the center and he works here. You have better things to do than help me clean or look for alien clues or sit around reading or vegging out. You're so young and beautiful. Go have fun."

"What if I am?"

"You are what?"

"Having fun. What if I have fun coming here or at your house, cleaning and vegging and reading with you and playing fairy and singing with Sydney when she visits? How about that?"

"Maria… a concert and parties, football games and singing, that's what you should be doing."

"Then come and see me tomorrow! I will be singing at a concert."

"Why do you want me there so badly? I'm just some guy you bring sandwiches to who happens to have a wonderful little girl and this place. Do you pity me because Sydney was sick and I don't have much of a life?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why?"

They get back from the pod chamber and know they need to go to bed early because he has to work at the construction site at six in the morning and she needs to be all energy tomorrow to run between two weddings. They finish dinner and begin doing the dishes. Isabel's quiet.

"You're worried," Michael says.

"I don't like keeping things from Max, not anymore. He's accepted us and been really supportive of Tess and remembering and training."

"Yeah, but all that could go to hell. It's Liz."

"I know. But I don't think he would just ditch all that we've been doing. She cheated on him. But even if he did, Liz is not our enemy and this feels wrong. And it's not like Tess even told you."

"No, but she knew you would and I would agree even before you. That's why she only asked you not to tell Max yet."

"True."

"So, are you going to?"

She nods. "It feels wrong, but I will. Just not tonight."

"Fair enough. You feeling up for a ride Sunday?"

She smiles at him. "Yeah." They've been going on bike rides a lot lately. The furthest one so far was to Santa Fe, but Michael says he wants to go further before Adam comes, maybe Vegas or she's always wanted to go to San Francisco. They know they won't be able to spontaneously pick up and leave for an afternoon or entire weekend with a baby, especially not on a bike.

He smirks at her. "Bet none of your clients know the wedding Nazi is actually a bike chick."

"I can surprise."

"Surprise me."

"And how should I do that?" He kisses her and snakes his hand under her shirt. Soon the thing is off. "Oh… like that..." she murmurs, her voice filled with desire.

"Should I stop?"

"No."

"I'm crazy about you," he exhales as he kisses her neck.

"I love you. Oh God!" she moans, as his hands and lips get more daring.

"Because..." Maria says. Then she gets close to him.

"Maria?"

She looks into his eyes and brings her hand to caress his face. She is excited but also calm and certain that he won't hurt her. He could bring her joy and sweetness and care if he chooses her. He is not a boy that attracts her like nectar does a bee. This is a man. A man who is handsome in a geeky and quiet way, but also a friend, someone she admires and appreciates. He's not one to give her a rush of feelings and heat and excitement while trying to push her away. She doesn't need to work like crazy to earn every bit of his trust or hold on and fight because he deserves to learn that he's worth something to someone. She won't have to figure out his million walls and he won't realize that his heart was already taken by the girl that was there all along, the one he always trusted implicitly. Brody is so unlike Michael that he makes everything feel different. He's inquisitive and driven and obsessive about some things, like the abductions, but he still listens and does his best to understand. He's responsible and grown-up and can give her advice and if she becomes a part of his life he will be there for her in a way that Michael never was. Even as just a friend, he already gave her a birthday present and the sweetest birthday card. She knows Brody would be the kind that takes care of her as much as she would take care of him, maybe even more. They'd be equals or he would be the mature one. She caresses his lips with her index finger and looks at his kind blue eyes. She wants this so bad. She wants a love that is reliable and sweet and thoughtful.

He looks at her and she can swear that he knows exactly what she's thinking and all about her feelings. "You're… so young..." he murmurs with clear wanton in his voice.

"I'm old enough," she whispers. She takes his right hand in hers and then brings it to her hip.

He swallows visibly and closes his eyes. His hand moves to her back. "You're… wonderful."

She moves closer. Their noses are touching and she can feel the warmth of his lips so close to hers, she's ready, so ready. Finally, he kisses her and she feels that thumping in her chest, the one she worried she would never feel again, and the flutters in her stomach and heat spreading everywhere. He breaks the kiss for a second and has his forehead against her. "This is insane."

"It feels right," Maria says, hoping to God he agrees.

"That's what's crazy," he says and then kisses her again. It's deeper and wonderful. She holds onto his neck for dear life and just wants to feel him closer and closer. It's intense and sweet all at once. But suddenly he steps away. His previous expression of awe and wanton is gone.

"Brody?" He puts more distance between them and looks at her strangely. She's seen that look before. "Larek?"

"Human."

She feels like screaming. Off course just when she gets to enjoy being with a human who is decent and can manage to verbalize a compliment and treats her right, alien crap would get in the way! She stomps away from Larek in frustration.

"Human?"

"I have a name!"

"Marla?"

"Maria!"

"Maria, take me to the Royal four."

"What? Right now?"

"Yes."

Max and Tess are in the Jeep on the way to Roswell. She's been reading the translation out loud and just like she thought this is the device that can take them home, the Granilith. He looks at her and pulls over to the side of the road.

"Max?"

He stares at her then closes the distance between them and kisses her softly. "I think I'm falling for you."

She smiles but also looks scared. "Max, I-"

His phone rings. They ignore it at first as he kisses her again, but the ringing doesn't stop. Max finally answers and listens to Maria. She sounds annoyed and is basically screaming about Larek taking over Brody's body at the worst time in the world and how he wants to meet them. He tells her to wait at the UFO center and they'll be in town in about half an hour. He relays the events to Tess and they focus on getting home and discuss what could be the reason for Larek to contact them. They try Isabel and Michael's cells but get no answers.

He calls Maria once they get to the city limits. She says she hasn't been able to get a hold of Michael or Isabel and no one else has either. She explains that they're all waiting but Larek won't tell them what this is about, except he asked them to contact Courtney. They decide to go check on Michael and Isabel at their house. They can hold the meeting there. When Max and Tess arrive, they see everyone waiting and Courtney is using her powers to disarm the alarm system.

"We rang the bell a few times with no luck," Liz says, explaining their actions.

"We should check the garage first," Max states. "If the truck or the bike are gone they might just be out and forgot their phones." They move to that area and Max unlocks the door using his powers. The Montero and the bike are there. He looks concerned and moves fast to the door that joins the garage to the house. Tess, Kyle and Larek are right behind him followed by Courtney, Liz, Alex and Maria, who seems royally pissed.

"Jesus!" Max exclaims and turns away in shock as they find Isabel perched on a kitchen counter with Michael all over her. They're glowing and half naked.

"Oh god!" Isabel yelps, and covers up with her hands.

Michael quickly pulls her off the counter and hides her behind him. "Get out!" he yells, feeling ready to kill them. Isabel flees into the dining room. He hears Kyle's laughter and Brody saying something about how some things never change. Everything about the moment with her soft fingers exploring him and her incredible body coming alive under his hands and lips is ruined. He could ring their necks! He leaves the kitchen to check on her.

"They forgot a few things," Kyle snickers once they get back in the kitchen. Tess rolls her eyes at him and picks up a Metallica T-shirt, a navy-blue top and the purple bra that Kyle was looking at.

"You wouldn't be able to mind warp me to forget this ever happened?" Max says, sounding disturbed.

"They were just making out," she answers.

"Give my man some credit," Kyle counters. "He was so in third base and had her light up like a Christmas tree."

"That's my sister!" Max admonishes.

Isabel and Michael come downstairs, they are still glowing but dressed. Tess hands Isabel the clothes she picked-up from the floor and somehow Iz blushes through the golden hue that still surrounds her. Kyle is about to speak.

"Say a word and I'll make you wish you would have never walked in here," Isabel threatens. Kyle's startled and almost recoils at her vicious scowl. Michael's expression of annoyance lessens. His girl could pulverize the best of Roswell High with one glare and biting comment. Apparently, she hated the interruption as much as he did and looks lethal and gorgeous.

"Got it. No words," Kyle responds.

Brody smirks and says, "Your powers are emerging strongly." Michael and Isabel look confused.

"It's Larek," Maria says, looking like she just sucked on a lemon.

"Has something happened? Our mother?" Isabel asks concerned.

"The Queen mother is safe and everything appears to be going according to plan, Princess. She sends her regards and looks forward to the birth of her grandson."

"Then why are you here?" Max asks.

"Because I made contact with the Antarian rebellion," Courtney says, as if he just realizes this. "But I obviously made some sort of mistake. You two are not having a child," she adds, looking at Isabel.

Larek interrupts, "They are and they're keeping the child safe from their enemies."

"But I thought… I reported that Vilandra was carrying Rath's son, the life bringer! Kivar -"

"Kivar is a murderous liar," he answers angrily.

"Killing your mate doesn't make him a liar."

"Speak of her again and I will fly to Earth and break you like a twig," Larek threatens, getting in her face. For the first time the group fears him as they see that even through Brody this alien can make the air in the room crackle with an unearthly power. He takes a breath. "Understand that the four have the life bringer. He may not be inside the Princess, but he's alive and will be born within a moon."

Courtney looks angry but accepting. She looks at Michael.

"Adam is real," Michael states.

"Why did you pretend to be pregnant?"

"We couldn't have a baby appear out of thin air. How else could we explain him besides me looking like I'm having him?" Isabel says.

"Taktra, enough. The renegades will have proof when the child is born. For now, get your comrades on Earth to protect the four, unless you want to face the might of Ratakia. Kivar doesn't have us or the Plateians completely tamed yet. I can make you do this."

"What is Taktra?" Liz asks.

"My Golderian name," Courtney answers. She turns to Larek. "Fine, I'll protect them. But you need to keep your side of the bargain. Complete amnesty and homes in Ratakia, for us and our families when the war is over. And you must rescue the ones held in the Lunarkia encampment within the next six moons and send me some help to Earth."

"Granted. Help is on the way for the four already and you will follow his commands. Let's get to the point, this body is already trying to reject me," Larek says, looking at Courtney.

"What is the point?" Max asks.

"Her report about the Harvest and making sure you find the one that's ready to retrain you."

"You sent another alien to Earth?" Max asks concerned.

"The Queen mother did."

"Who?" Michael asks.

"The last commander of the intergalactic defense, Anquio of the Qotkr clan."

"My brother?" Tess asks.

He nods. "The Queen mother ordered him to save his essence before his last battle. She knew his plan was too risky. Once he died she put his essence through the process you four went through. Luckily, we have upgraded the incubation systems to make the process faster and ensured that he will emerge old enough to be on his own and have all his memories. You will need to explain that the Queen mother sent him and help him deal with the trauma of his death. He's strong, defeated one to one only by General Rath. He'll pull himself together and train you well."

"He died," Tess says, looking pale and desperate.

Max takes her hand, makes her sit and stays next to her. "What about her other brother, Anlo?"

"He's gone, my King."

Max brings her close to him and kisses her head.

"What happened to them?" Alex asks.

Larek is silent. "Just answer all their questions," Max orders sounding dismayed.

"It's a long story my King. We do not have the time to go over the fall of Plateia. I must tell you where to retrieve commander Anquio and how to manage his hatching and the information you need to have him help you attack the skin's Earth squadron."

"Attack?" Liz asks. "You're going to put them in danger?"

"They're already in danger."

"Look at Tess, she can't go attack anyone," Kyle argues.

"Kyle is right. We are not ready. We can defend ourselves here for now," Isabel argues.

"My Princess, you chose to wait and defend while trying to make peace before. It didn't end well. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense."

"We can't possibly defeat them," Courtney adds. "There's too many. Queen Ava and General Rath died fighting too many when they had their full powers and I'm guessing so did Commander Anquio."

"Yes, but they don't need to defeat the skins, just end the Harvest. Then they'll die on their own and the threat to Vilandra and the rest would be under control."

"Kivar won't stop," Tess says, sounding hollow. "He told me so. He said he would kill my brothers and find a way to her. I didn't do what he wanted and he killed them," she states and the breaks down into tears. Max holds on to her and murmurs reassurances only she can hear.

Larek looks confused. "My Queen, your brothers were killed less than twenty moons after you hatched. There is nothing you could have done."

"What's that in years?" Maria asks sounding dismayed. "As in human years?"

"About Two. My Queen, you were a youngling."

"Tess looks up."

"He lied to you," Max says, cleaning her face from the tears with his thumbs. "They were already dead when he threatened you. It was all lies."

"I want him dead. Dead and gone," she says in a furious whisper that shows her anger. Max holds her tight again and she takes deep breaths trying to regain control. She separates from Max and looks to the others. "We can't let the Vilandra project continue. He killed my brothers, tortured my mind and manipulated me. I will not let him get to my sister again."

"What if going after them makes it worse?" Liz asks.

"She's right. What if they counterattack and come for Iz and Adam?" Alex asks.

"If we don't end the Harvest they will have new bodies and attack with renewed strength," Larek argues.

"What is the Harvest?" Kyle asks. Courtney explains about the husks and what the skins are doing in Copper Summit.

"Tell us the plan," Max orders. "Every detail and who came up with what ideas. I want to know what our mother said about this, what you think we should do, how Tess's brother could help and how we can help him stay safe as well."

Tess looks at him gratefully. Larek starts to explain, but she interrupts. "Wait, I need to know. Who's left? From our families? Who's left that we could remember and Kivar could try to use against us?"

"Only commander Anquio's essence was saved from your clan. He was helping the Queen mother when Plateia's strongholds fell." Tess nods her head accepting his words. Isabel looks at him with a million questions in her eyes. "The Queen mother is the only Valyr left besides your majesties. She organizes the efforts to fight for Antar and the nearest systems and runs the safe zones for rebels and refugees in the ruined stars." He looks to Michael. "I'm sorry, you're the last of the Urnian clan of Antar, you and the life bringer. I don't know if you have any family left from your Golderian side. The planet is Kivar's completely."

Michael looks at Max and Tess and then at Izzy. She takes his hand and threats their fingers together. "Tell us the plan," Michael commands.

Okay so a few comments on this one:

I hoped you enjoyed the Cliffie goodness and the move to have some PeppeJacker in this story. I realized how few stories have that and wanted to try it. I'm not guaranteeing they'll get married and be together forever, but Maria and Brody in a long-term relationship is super fun and I might just have them get the happily ever after.

I would like to say I've decided on making this a Rebel story and go all out destiny, but I can't. I'm still making up my mind, even if I get Max and Tess close. That can always end. Which is why I'm figuring out what to do with Liz if she doesn't end up back with Max. Ahhh? So many options. As always feedback is super welcome.

I thought and rethought on whether I wanted to bring in a new alien character or not and decided to go for it. One of the things I always wanted to see in the show was some Royal Four allies from their world. All we saw was the bad guys and sometimes Larek and the one message from their mother. I kept waiting to see if their mother found a way to contact Max and Isabel again, but nothing. I think there might more allies in the book, but I decided a long time ago not to read them. Someone told me Michael is nothing but a jerk in the books and I let the idea of reading those go.