Chapter Thirty-Seven

Several days have passed and the lives of the Roswellians have been turned upside down once again. Events had already paseed that were neither coincidental or expected. Max had regained his memories and almost immediately Tess had returned. And like before her arrival had set in motion a lot of headache and changes. Max and Liz had decided to take a break, but as usually, theirs is a relationship with complications. Tess has already began seeing her future in a different light but as usually a roadblock seems underway. A stranger with a connection with Tess arrived only to bring Tess's lies to the surface. The army arrived only to bring Tess's misdeeds to the surface. Max revealed to his parents a seven year old secret without discussion with Isabel or Michael. Isabel had began to have dreams of her past and so has Michael. Maria seems to have had a major breakdown and has silenced her voice. And finally, Tess decided that enough was enough and has actually disappeared again.

Michael has made the hospital his second home since Maria's breakdown and has yet been able to make Maria talk. Max had tried to heal Maria but of course, she wasn't physically hurt and most of her injuries were emotional and mental. And he was also remembering his past in vivid details. He remembered being a great warrior, he remembered always having the best military stratigist on Antar after his father's death, he remembered his friendship with Zan and his relationship with Valendra. He remembered bits and snaps of pictures reflecting his past. But no matter how much he tried and wanted to, he couldn't remember Nikolas at all. It seemed that his mind had just shut off Nikolas from his memories. And added to that, he was just so worried about Maria but she had yet to say anything to him.

Max was walking in park, holding a cell in one hand as he searched for Eric Vandercamp. It was almost ritual for him to call the guy and ask about Tess, and even he had to honestly know that he was beginning to annoy Eric.

"Hello, Max" The familiar voice spoke before Max could say anything at all, "NO, I have not seen Tess, and have not spoken to Tess, I didn't know where she is and if she contacts me...I will call you"

Max was silent for a moment and if this wasn't serious, he would have been laughing but he thanked Eric and hanged the phone sighing in fastraution. He was going to kill her, he really was, Max thought to himself sitting on a park bench and found himself staring at a young mother across from him holding her baby.

Eric was close to the Crashdown when he hanged up the phone on Max. He stopped for a moment staring at the cell wondering if he should change his number. He was already feeling guilty for lying and that last person he wanted to feel guilty for was Max. He remembered a few days ago when he had gotten his first call from Max after Tess had left Michael's apartment. Eric had lied then too, claiming that he had no idea were Tess was and telling Max that if he come in contact with Tess, he would be the first person to know. But it wasn't so, because he had been contact with Tess, she had been right beside him as he talked to Max.

"Max is furious at you" Eric said after hanging up on his phone conversation, "You shouldn't have left without telling him anything"

Tess looked at Eric and smiled slightly, "The colliding of the past and present, Zan's memories are taking over if Max is now so suddenly worried about me"

Eric looked at Tess for a moment then shook his head in disbelief before he looked at the floor of his new apartment with the blankets bundled aroung the sleeping baby, "Maybe he is worried about his son"

Tess followed Eric's gaze then looked back at Eric momentary before smiling arkwardly at him and then giving off a chuckle, "Of course, his son...aah I didn't think about that, I guess that makes me rather selffish"

"What?" Eric asked suddenly looking all shocked, that wasn't how he wanted Tess to think of herself, not at all, not one bit and for her to think that made him very much angry "How can you say that to me, you have no right to say that about yourself, you came to Roswell because you knew that millions were dying each day and because you wanted to stop that from happening and..."

"Gave up a future with you because of that fact" Tess said silently completing the sentence because that was what Eric was thinking, she knew that well.

"Our future was going to be filled with happiness and love" Eric said with a small smile studing her, "You upset about the night before? About the hug?"

"Between Max and Liz?" Tess asked silently then shrugged her shoulders, "This is how it's always going to be, so I should get prepared for it"

Tess was so sure of it now, she was no longer in illusionary mode where all she could see was her future with Max. She shouldn't thought of that future, "When I first came here to Roswell, the reason wasn't because of being a queen, it was the memories of Zan"

Eric smiled for a moment then looked away from her then, because he knew that it was true, "I know"

"Zan loved Ava so much, more than his kingdom, his own life" Tess declared what she viewed to be an universal truth, "Remembering him like that, the prince of my dreams...I remembered the love I had felt for him before, that was before I came to Roswell"

Eric was silent for a moment then looked back at Tess, "Tessa, it seems to me like you got your prince"
Tess looked at her baby once again and smiled once more, "My illusions were shattered soon afterwards, I thought my prince, my king would remember me at first sight...but that's not what happened, Max only had eyes for Liz...there were times I thought he regconized me"

"Is there a point to this" Eric asked breathing out a sigh of fastraution, "I mean why are saying all this"

"Because I am not the victim" Tess snapped trying to calm herself down, "Isn't that's what you think? The truth is I come in between them when I had no right to him at all"

Remembering that conversation with Tess, Eric couldn't believe how much power Max seems to have on the two women in his life. Tess and Liz seemed so possessed in their infatuations and blinded by love. Eric didn't think that Tess had any reason to feel guilt at all over coming between Max and Liz, how could it have been so easy for her to come in between if the two had really been in love? Eric shook his head and opened the door to the crashdown, almost at once Liz looked up from her customer and smiled brightly at him. Eric gave a small wave and moved to the counter. Liz moved from her customer immediately and walked toward the back to bring Eric his order. The guy had been coming at the crashdown about the same time the entire week and always seemed to order the same thing.

"Hey, you remembered" Eric said with a laughing tone expecting the food, "You must have been looking forward to our meeting"

Liz raised her eyebrows and chuckled before saying in a joking manner, "Sure, darling...actually lost sleep over it"

"so you admit it" Eric exclaimed brightly, "I knew you would have to admit your feelings for me one day"

Liz looked at Eric for a moment then started laughing, she didn't know why but even with the problems that seemed to just multiply in her life, meeting Eric was something she would not exchange. Around him, she found herself laughing more that she had ever in her life. He was always flirting, always trying to make her smile or laugh and she had to admit that he was doing that very well. She tried to be angry at him at times but always she would end up smiling and happy.

"Hey, don't laugh at me" Eric said with a smile, putting his cell on the counter and taking off his jacket, "I was actually giving a compliment"

Liz smiled brightly again, "Really, a compliment?"

Eric nodded and smiled before standing up, "I will be back, have to go to the...you know, bathroom"

"Thanks for telling me" Liz said before rolling her eyes and going back to work. Time seemed to move so fast in her life, things had already changed since Tess's return. The most horrible was her best friend seemingly emotionally exhausted. Tess was a thorn in Liz's side and she would not denie that fact. She hated her but she was so tired of being angry yet she could not help herself. After taking another order she moved to the counter and almost immediately, Eric's phone began to ring. She knew it was wrong, she knew that she shouldn't but before she could stop herself she answered the phone.

"Hello" Liz greated slowly, looking around arkwardly.

There was silent on the other end before a feminane voice spoke cheerfully, "Hello, I am sorry I must have dialed the wrong number"

"Really, who were you trying to contact?" Liz asked knowing for a fact that the girl may have called the right number after all, she knew that she should just hang up the phone but she had already crossed the line.

"Eric" The girl said after a moment of silence, "But like I said, I must have dialed the wrong number"

"No, you dialed the right number" Liz said trying not to smile, "You want to leave a message?"
There was another moment before the voice spoke again only this time it was an ice tone that met her suggestion, "No thanks"

Liz was shocked a little when the other girl hanged up the phone before any more words were exchanged. Knowing that she had totally done something that she shouldn't have, Liz hoped against hope that Eric wouldn't be mad and also a little part of her hopped that the girl would be so angry that she wouln't call again. Before she could put the phone down however, the phone rang once again. She looked at the cell for a moment then shook her head, she was already in trouble for interceping one call already. She really should just put the phone down and back away slowly. But maybe she could take a message for him.

Liz answered the phone but before she could say a word, she was met by a familiar voice.

"Hi Eric" The voice spoke making Liz freeze still holding the phone, "Eric...hello"

Liz brought herself from her thoughts, "Tess"

There was silence at the other end of the line and before any more words could be spoken the phone was snatched away from her. Eric was staring at her in disbelief and anger, and Liz couldn't blame him...but she knew that she had heard Tess and that was making her angry as well.

"Hello" Eric spoke still staring at Liz.

"Eric" Tess's voice came at the other end of the line, "I am so sorry, I thought you had answered your phone"

"It's okay" Eric said finally turning away from Liz walking as far from her as she could, "Where are you?"

"I am walking Zan" Tess respounded soundly a little off, "Maybe it's a good thing that Liz knows and you know...I am actually thinking of going to see Diana, Max's mother?"
"Really" Eric said then sighed a little, "since when?"

"Since I woke up" Tess said with a small chuckle, "Look, this is a good thing, you can tell Liz that...look I will see you at home"

"Okay" Eric shook his head as he hanged up the phone before turning back to Liz who was still standing behind the counter staring at him with hints of anger flashing in her eyes.

Liz was rather angry, she had trusted Eric and so had Max. All along he had known where Tess had been and he had lied to her and to Max and to everyone else. Instead of concetrating on Maria, everyone had turned their attention to finding Tess. There was a moment of silence at the two teens looked at each other for a moment, both angry for different reasons.

"That was Tess?" Liz stated with a question, "I can't believe this, you have been lying all along, to everyone...to me, to Max...how could you when you knew how worried he was?"

Eric looked away for a minute then chuckled, a unfriendly sound coming through before turning back to Liz, "I am sorry but I didn't think I was under any obligation to tell either you or Max..."

"Under any obligation?" Liz interupted in rage trying to calm herself down as not to cause a public spectacle then leaned forward, "I thought we were friends Eric, friends don't lie the way you lied to me"

"Oh come back to real world" Eric tuned in quickly steping forward to stand near the counter, "Friends lie to each other all the time, and you know what, I don't remember giving you the right to answer my call from my cell by the way..."

"Are you blaming me now?" Liz asked interupting him once and raised her hand slightly, "I can't believe you are going to turn this around when you are so in the wrong"

"Well then forgive me for feeling like someone trumbled on my privacy" Eric nearly screamed causing others to turn to them, Eric calmed himself down and leaned forward, "I promised a friend that I would keep her whereabouts a secret, I promised Tess first and that cancelled everything else..."

"Tess is a lying scanky bitch" Liz exclaimed silently so only Eric could hear her, "She is manipulator who only looks after herself, its all about her but did she really think that she could kill innocent people and get away with it, taking someone's son away, and killing Alex, she doesn't deserve that little boy and he would be better off with Max and I can't believe anyone would help her at all"

Eric looked at Liz after her little speech and shook his head, "You know, I talked to Tess about Alex, she never admitted to the crime did she and you never had any proof"

"Yes, I do" Liz said absolutely sure of her convictions, "I have Kyle"

"Right" Eric sighed and finally calmed his raging heart, "Kyle...you know what I think, a few headache don't count but I suppose having your worst enemy doing the worst kind of terror justifies having all that hatred for her doesn't it, you really examine what you view as the truth Liz"

Liz said nothing else but watched silently as Eric wore his jacket and turned to leave. She felt like crying all the sudden but she really couldn't, she felt so betrayed and felt so in the right to be angry but she also felt like she was in the wrong. That she shouldn't have said what she had said, she shouldn't have answered that phone, what had possessed her to answer that danmed phone in the first place. She wanted to call Eric back and apoligize but she really couldn't make her lips move at all.

Eric stopped at the doorway before turned back to Liz and walked to the counter again, "Tess is on her way to Max's house, I don't know how long she will be there but now you have something to tell Max but remember something Liz, he doesn't belong to you anymore, he never did"

Liz couldn't believe her ears and watched silently as Eric turned from her and walked from the crashdown. For a moment when he had turned back, she had figured that he would apologize but instead he had told her of Tess's plans. That had to be something right, a way to make it up to her. If that was form of apologe, it wasn't very good at all, even if what he said had some truth in reality it still hurt to hear that. But she knew where Tess was at that very moment, should she call Max and warn him. She wanted to but she was really frozen, grounded and all she could think about was the "conversation" that she just had with Eric. Liz sighed and placed her head on the counter before banging a couple of times on the counter. She had totally screwed things over with him, hadn't she...she was the one that was suppose to be angry but suddenly she felt like a fool.

"Hey"

A voice that was very familiar broke into her thoughts, and when Liz looked up she was met by Max's beautiful eyes. Well speak of the devil and right on time to find out the news about his beloved.

Max looked at Liz for a moment, "Are you okay?"
"Thats the question of the century?" Liz muttered to herself then smiled at Max, "Do you have to ask that everytime you see me now?"

Max smiled back and shrugged his shoulders, "What can I say, I care"

Liz stared at Max after he had said that, she knew that he cared about her, those two had been through a lot and she would never not care about Max. She loved him still even though he had moved on. She thought of telling him about Tess and her whereabouts but she couldn't really open her mouth and say what needed to be said. She didn't understand why, it just felt like anything she said at this point all be proving Eric right. If she told Max about Tess, then it would be as if she really wanted to be Max's kinght in shining armor as a matter of speaking. And maybe it was true, maybe she wanted to be his hero and give him what he wanted and wasn't that what love was all about? Giving? But if she did, she would then ensure that Max was reunited with Tess. And then again if she didn't tell Max and he found out that she maybe knew then everyone would think that she was trying to maybe keep Max and Tess apart. Liz began shaking her head furiously then stopped when she found Max staring at her like she had just lost her mind.

"Liz are you sure you are okay?" Max asked looking at her with concern, "I mean I very been worried about you and maybe you should talk to someone, Isabel maybe if this is a woman thing"

"No, I am fine" Liz said quickly, then sighed, "How is the search going anyway?"

"Tess" Max whispered while looking around as if making sure that noone was listening, "Not very well, she doesn't want to be found and I have to say that if I don't find her soon I am going to go crazy, I don't want to lose her again"

"Again?" Liz asked looking at Max in disbelief as if he should know better that to say such things in front of her.

"Well yeah, I was separated from her the first eleven years of this life..." Max broke off when he finally realized who he was speaking and almost at once felt regret for speaking at all, "Liz, look..."

"No, don't" Liz said remembering Eric's words that rang so true only a few minutes ago and nodded her head understanding where she stood in Max's world now that he knew were he belonged, "We are over, I get it and even if you don't believe me I do hope you find Tess and you son"

Max knew what it must have taken for Liz to say what she had said, "Thanks, I think I am going to go home"

"That's a good idea" Liz agreed quickly because she knew what was waiting for him there, she smiled, "Who knows you might find a gift waiting for you"

Max looked at Liz for a moment, really studing her with concerned eyes and then smiled for a moment then turned to leave. Liz watched Max for a moment, her smile slipping away from her lips. She shooke her head again trying not to yell at Max to come back. She turned to hide her tears that were almost out and sighed again, she was feeling a headache coming through. Can't things just go her way for once, huh?

"Hey"

Liz turned around to find Eric standing at the same spot he had stood before. Eric had reached the end of the block before he stopped and thought through his actions and had to admit that he had come of a little strong. He would have come back sooner but thought better of that when he saw Max entering the crashdown and the two old lovers talking and decided to stay away from the fire.

"Hi" Liz greated him slowly like this was their first meeting, she wanted to say she was sorry but she really couldn't make herself say those words, "Max was here by the way"

Eric looked at Liz for a moment trying so find something to say and not have her blow up at him again, "Did you tell him about me and Tess and the situation?"

Liz shook her head, "I just told him to go home"

Eric looked at her for a moment and suddenly smiled at her flirtiously, "You were trying to protect me, huh? You like me, huh? can't really blame you though? Look at me, I am irresistible"

Liz was shocked by the sudden change in the air, really did this guy ever stay angry and why did he have to think that every action that Liz made had anything to do with him. Liz shook her head, and sighed, "You are unbelievable"

"True" Eric said sitting down then leaning forward, "Unbelievablely irresistible, come on Liz admit it"

Liz threw her head back and laughed, she definately couldn't help herself and suddenly all her troubles seemed to leave her mind and body, gone was the knowledge that she and Max were finally over, the fight she just had with Eric all over.

"Are you on drugs?" Liz asked then shook her head again, "I have to go back to work, and you are crazy"

Eric grabbed Liz's hand before she could leave and met her eyes, her smile slipped off as an electrified field seemed to overtake them, both felt it all the sudden. Was it because Liz had finally admitted to herself that she and Max were over, was it because both of them suddenly found themselves at the same place at the same time. Was it fate? was it destiny? It was unexplainable and not something either wanted to admit was happening at all. Eric let go almost at once and stared at Liz for a moment then smiled nerviously before saying what he had wanted to say before, "I'm sorry"

Liz looked at Eric for a moment then smiled before turning away, she had work to do after all.

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Isabel was on her way home and something had doned on her. She was just a shell without a life of her own, her life before was the leading aura to her fate. After Max spilled the alien secret to Liz, everything had suddenly become smaller. Her friends had decreased as she founf her attention drawn towards her heritage. Her popularity dispatched. It hadn't really become reality until just a few days ago when all she wanted was to be as far away from Max, Michael and all the others that she realized how alone she completely was. She was also beginning to remember small fragments of her past memories, nothing concrite, just flashes of kisses, embraces, feelings but nothing like her dream before. Nethertheless, she found all this disturbing considering that she had betrayed Zan for Kavir. Still, she couldn't really rememver why? Was it all for love? Could she have loved Kavir that much? She hated herself for those thoughts, maybe because her feeling were discontent. Her emotions and thoughts in conflict with her actions. While she felt a need for voilent retaliation for Alex's death, she instead found herself helping Max try to find the little bitch. Her mind couldn't really grasp the fact that Tess would never really pay for killing Alex.

As her home come to view, Isabel stopped for a while. She wanted to avoid that place but really she couldn't. Helping didn't, wouldn't be so hard if she didn't have to face max every single day. Everytime she was with her brother, Isabel had to keep herself in check, her emotions would then be placed in a provided space and keep herself in control. Not all for Max's sake but also her parents. They had no idea of Tess's dark deeds and were pleased with their grandchild. Not that her parents weren't pleased that their teenage son had a girl pregnant but somehow that child was a bright star. How was Isabel suppose to tell her parents that Tess had split? Thank god it was not up to her. Isabel opened the front doo and finally walked in the house. she wanted to at least smile so her parents wouldn't get up on her case but as she walked in she could sense a restless in the air. Time seemed to slow down as if trying to slow her reaction.

The first thing she saw was her mother's back moving in a rocking motion then she noticed a cross the floor scattered baby toys, on the side a bassinette. She looked at her mother once more and shook her head. Diana turned as if she had sensed somthing and once she saw Isabel smiled as a greating, never stopping her rocking motion.

"Hello hon" Diana spoke softly unaware of the turmoil in her daughter's head, "How was you day?"

Isabel wanted to answer Diana right away and smile back but she couldn't. Only a clear thought raised past though her mind, If Zan was here, there was no doubt in Isabel's mind that it was Zan. If he was there so was Tess. Sure enough, Tess entered the room coming from the kitchen, walked over to Diana not yet noticing Isabel. Tess smiled to Diana then baby Zan saying somthing or other that Isabel couldn't hear. She was making baby noises probably. All this, Isabel watched in shock until Tess looking up and their eyes met.

In that instant Tess's smile slipped from her lips only to show up in the next second. Tess could feel her heartbeat increase tenfold, humming without stop.

"Hi, Isabel" She spoke first, trying to be polite and bringing the princess back to reality.

Isabel looked at Tess trying to figure out how she could look innocent after the trouble she had caused. nOt just the last few days but the day she det foot in Roswell. She was trying not to let the disgust that she felt show on her face. Nor the hate or anger, on in front of her mother.

"Isabel" She turned her attention to her mother's shocked expression as she rocked the baby, "Tess just said hi to you, shouldn't you say something back. Didn't I raise you better than that?"

Isabel was toung tighted for a moment. Wanting to comply but not really knowing how. There was a conversation limit with Tess and she would rather keep that limit in silent mode. But if she said nothing, her mother would figure something was up.

"Its okay, Mrs Evans" Tess to the rescue as she smiled brightly to Diana, she knew that Isabel would rather eat dirt than speak to her, "I'm sure Isabel is shell shocked at seeing me here, I didn't mention to either Max or her that I was gonna be here"

"And why should you?" Diana asked softly turning to Tess wearing a lovely smile, "You are more than welcome here anytime, day or night, its always a pleasure seeing Zan...and you ofcourse and beside, that doesn't give Isabel the right to be rude."

"Iam sorry" Isabel said quickly when her mom turned to look at her, she then turnhed to Tess, "Its good to see you Tess"

Tess could se that Isabel looked pale, as if she wanted to throw up or something of sorts, Tess turned to Diana, "I'll go back to the kitchen""

"Ok, sweety" Diana said with another smile.

"Tess wanted to cook dinner, isn't that sweet of her?"

Tess sighed in relief, she had dodged a bullet, next would be a nuclear warhead, one which she was very much prepared for. She had to make sure that when she left Max, he would have forgiven her. Already, she was afraid that her disapperance act had allowed Max and Liz to become even more close. She closed her eyes and prayed that Max would be forgiving, that she hadn't absolutely ruined everything.

"Do you want to hold her?" Diana asked Isabel, then placed the baby softly in her daughter's arms.

Isabel drew her breath as she looked at her nephew up and once more she realized that she had never trully took hold of the baby. Looking at the tiny creature, she was filled with a bright joyous emotion. She was looking at something incredable, wasn't she? Joy, love, a dream of a thousand stars, even more so...hope! Zan was hope, for the future, for Max, for herself even for Michael and also for Antar. Isabel raised her head, facing away from hope and though of Antar...Antar, Zan was hope for antar, the thought had come from nowhere.

Max walked into his home and also felt something in the air, he felt his burdensbeing driven away. As if everything would be cleared soon enough. Talking to Liz had helped him somewhat. He wondered if their relationship had been finally put in the right path. He hoped so, for her sake more than his, he no longer wanted to break her heart. Also something else was up and front in his thoughts. He was going to find Tess and his son. That was a fact. When Max walked in to the livingroom his mother and sister both looked up at once. But somethimg else hhad caught his attention, a small bundle that his sister was holding in her arms. He knew it was Zan, without thought or words. Ignoring his mother's greatings, he rushed over and took his son in his arms and embraced him. If anything, he should have shed tears but he wasn't going to be in the girly mode.

"Gesh Max, you're holding him like you thought you were never to see him again" Diana made the comment with a smile, then stood to take Zan in her arms again, "I guess its just that you are shocked, does Tess have to confer with both you and Izzy when she has to come here?'

"Tess" Max calmly said her name though his insides were boiling mad, "Is she here?"

"Yes" Diana looked at Max as if his question was rather stupid, "She is in the kitchen, she is cooking dinner"

"Isn't that sweet of her, max" Isabel sacrastically asked

Max heard and ignored the remark, he had bigger fish to fry. He wa furious and it was time for Tess to learn her place. Max strode to the kitchen with a purpose before stopping short. Tess was turned away from him working on a rather nsyc way.
"You are late" Tess drawled out, Max watched in silent as Tess turned to him leaning against the sink, "I thought Liz would have told you I was here soon enough to stay in her pedastal of the honest vritous sainthod of all North America."

Max was silent for a moment, this wasn't what he had expected, shouldn't she be apologizing to him? Hasn't he been worrying about her? Going craxy over her? Even as he thought of her words, Liz's words flew into his thoughts. This was the gift she had meant, she hadn's said anything outright and who could blame her for that but she had sent him a coded message, If only he had really heard her.

"She did give me the message" Max voiced outloud, even though he hadn't gotten the entire message, "And don't you make fun of her honest and virtue or her saintful nature, you should at least strive to be like her"

Tess blinked a bouple of times, this wasn't how she has envisioned this conversation. Her statement had been rather way off, hadn't it? But how could he say such things to her, especially with her history with Liz? Okay, so she was in the wrong but wasn't that just insenstive of him?

"Max, how can you say that to me?" Tess asked trying to hold back tears, she had to be strong because this conversation had just started, she hoped she wouldn't lost at the end however, "Did you think I had taken Zan away for good, that I would keep him from you forever, even if that were so, how can you want to be Liz?"

"Thats not what I said, was it?" Max asked then shook his head in fastruation, his words were going to hurt and that was how he wanted them to, "If that was true, lets face it...If Liz was pregnant, she would tell me right away, she wouldn't kill someone close to us and then travel millions on light miles away and go to the enemy, she wouldn't try to keep my child from me and she wouldn't be a manipulative bitch like some people and use my child to sent a message to me"

As Max spoke, he would walk closer to her and she would back away sudden feeling like in the dangereous zone, he was angry with her and was hurting her and she understood that however she couldn't help the aching pain inside.

"You think I took Zan to sent some kind of message?" Tess asked slowly, trying not to get angry and trying to think...Was he right?

"I know you did" Max said watching the pain in her face, he wanted to stop he really did but he couldn't, al the emotions he had felt were coming out, "And you know what else, you proved something to me, that Michael, Isabel, Liz and everyone else was right about you. I've let my memories of you clous my judgement and thus we are now in this situation. You can't be trusted, i can't trust you. I wanted to, and for a while I did as I did before as Zan. I was so happy at remembering, at being with you but that doesn't mean I should forget you sins, I can't can I?"

"Well how can you? I am not Ava remember" Tess suddenly stopping and staring at him with such anger, she knew she should stop herself before she has gone to far but she really couldn't, she had some thoughts to share with Max as well, "Just like you are not Zan, Michael isn't Rath and Isabel is definately not Valendra remember, thats what you said before and are saying now...this would justify you relationship...oh I am sorry, affair with Liz.

Max stood shocked looking at Tess for a moment then shook his head, "You are completely missig the point aren't you?"

"No, I get the point" Tess was quick to answer him, "You don't trust me, right? Well your high and mighty have you ever thought maybe I don't trust you the same way you don't trust me?"

"You..you don't trust?" Max asked, his entire being frozen in shocked suspense.

"Should I?" Tess asked, she was this to hurt him as he had hurt her but there was a truth behind her words. She was driving off her road and wanted to go back, but oh well...screw forgiveness, "You, a man...sorry...a boy who changed his feelings the way people change clothes. Even before your memories returned, you always made sure I knew where I stood with you. When you heard that message from you mother, you made sure I knew...but your mistake was Max? you don't seem to realize that actions speaker louder than words. Same may say I threw myself at you and lets face it, I kinda of did...but I never forced to kiss time after time, I didn't a gun to your head and forced to sleep with me. Its not like I changed my form so you could believe I was Liz. You always fo back and forth, first Liz, then me then Liz as soon as I leave, then me as soon as I get back. I guess i should trust that you finally made your choice, that this is real...get serious and get a clue"

"Tess" Max spoke her name feeling regret creeping in and forgetting his anger and accusation.

"Maybe you have a point, love is about trust" Tess kept going not giving him a chance to interupt, "You don't trust me and instead you trust Liz, I don't trust you and I trust someone else...maybe fate is trying to tell us something"

After Tess finished saying her piece, she left Max standing alone in the kitchen as she went to set dinner. he had heard what she said every word, and he knew that she was still angry about his relationship with Liz. Everything she had said made sense, and she was absolutely right. It was the last statement that worried him however. He hadn't lost her, he couldn't have? Max shook his head, she had strike a cord and now Max was the one who wanted to apologize. She didn't leave him any room that entire night, returning to the kitchen with his mother and she stayed by Tess's side throughout dinner until Tess got into a cab. Tess had left her new number with his mother and Diana refused to give it to him, claiming that Tess didn't want to talk to him. Whos mother was she anywhere?

"She is good" Isabel had said with a hint of admiration before she reminded herself who this persn was, shaking her head at Max, she climped up the stairs still struggling with her emotions.

Her sister was right, max decided, how had Tess twisted all this around. How had all of this become his fault?