Chapter Thirty-Nine

It was one thing to defend yourself when you were in the right and completely another if you were way wrong and should just apologize. That's what Tess should have done instead of making a bigger mess that she had intentionally planed. She should really think before she acted anymore because if she wasn't careful all her planning and sacrifices would be moot, all for nothing. That was something that she was determined to avoid. But what, how was she going to handle this now worse situation. She knew what the best thing to do was, apologize…that's what she should have done in the first place. Would she ever learn, first of all she had joked about Liz, benevolent Liz and Max had taken everything out of content. The young woman sat up straighter on the couch as her thoughts swirled in her mind like a hurricane as she analyzed her sticky situation. She was thinking about how he had screwed everything up when all she wanted was for him to trust her completely and totally. In all honest ness, though Tess felt wrong for defending herself there was still so much she didn't understand, she had been treated so wrong and badly…like a virus really. Giving up would seems like the better part of logic but she couldn't, she was determined to pass though the seemly dark future and swallow the sweet scent of victory. Max loved her, he had loved her in all the past lives and he did in this life as well…Tess had way too hard for that to not be true. A small loud shrill intercepted her thoughts. Tess sighted and cringed slightly standing up to move towards Zan who wasn't far from her. What now?

She was slightly confused at the moment about the recurring shedding of tears. Even though Zan was a baby and should cry constantly for that is a biologically input in the genes of infants, the fact that nothing seemed to pacify him was really starting to bother mother dear. According to Antar scientific knowledge of the bond between a mother and the infant, the very presence of one should always be a calming force for another. So the fact that Tess was there with Zan should be a calming factor that would in any case cause less tears unlike earth children. But maybe the fact that Zan had earth bound genes in his veins and that he was on earth was a probably cause of the crying. He wasn't hungry, he wasn't wet in anyway, and Tess was there but the child just kept crying because was missing. Something he had gained before was gone.
"Hey baby" Tess cooed picking Zan up and started to move around a bit trying to stop him from crying, "What is the matter…huh? Mama's here with you…sshh, don't cry"

Max stood in the hallway looking at the doorway that would led to a very difficult conversation. After a moment threatening…no, convincing Eric that it would be in his best interest to give Max the information that he so desired, Eric had given Max the building number and the direction. Eric had rather given him everything without as much as a fight in a factually that he was beginning to doubt at all that Eric had given him to right address. It had been Zan who had spoken in a very persuading manner, or threatening manner. Max was already getting a very tiresome headache trying to figure out who was who when he acted. Really could he really separate Max and Zan when he was the one who took action and spoke and thought? He was one person with two personalities being mashed into one. But he knew that Eric had told him where to find Tess because he had been afraid of him in a millisecond of that moment. Eric's eyes had reflected fear but someone afraid of him was a new thing for Max. Many had been afraid of Zan...Many.

With a sigh, Max rang the doorbell and waited in suspense.

Tess turned to the door and tried once more to no result to quiet Zan then moved to the door at the same time changing her force. Opening the door, Tess dropped her mouth open in shock.

Max almost smiled at the sight of Tess with long black locks and blue eyes wearing loose jeans and a simple black shirt. He knew that it was Tess and didn't wait for an invitation as he made his way into the apartment. He looked through his surroundings, this was after all were his son was staying so safety was the issue although he knew that Tess would not intentionally put Zan in danger, It was the intentionally part that worried him. The place was pretty normal and rather successfully designed in beautifying drapes and flowers with great textile furniture.

Max turned around to find Tess back in her form trying with a losing force to stop Zan from crying. Max reached forward without a word and took his son in his arms. Surprise the crying at once toned down. Max smiled as he realized that Zan had knowingly realized that he had been absent and had relatively been sad about it. Now it was only obviously that Tess wasn't the only on with a connection with Zan. Max then looked up at Tess and shook his head for a moment the two stared at each other with a flare and an obvious battle of wills. Tess turned away in defeat. She was the one wrong; she had to remind herself of that.
"Tess" Max called out to his wife after a moment of silent. Then something unexpected took place, Tess flung herself into Max's arms and started to cry. It was unexpected because Max had never seen Tess cry before, ever. She was always so strong no matter ever happened, never shown any sign of weakness but she was crying and Max felt an inkling of guilty disposition. Max held on to her and the baby all at once, a little cute family, "I am so sorry"
When Max apologized Tess pulled away feeling rather shamefully, "You are not suppose to apologize, I am"
"Tess" Max called once more after feeling a little unease about being studied to bluntly.
Tess stood up quietly and moved closer to her son gathering him into her arms and smiled a little, "Max, its my fault"
Ten minutes later, silence filled the apartment now that Zan had quite crying was laying in a basinet, while his parents were sitting on the couch avoiding each other intently after Tess had explained why she had left Michael's apartment. Apparently she felt a little guilty and thought the condition Maria was in was her fault.

"You still shouldn't have left like that" Max concluded breaking the silence, "If you felt uncomfortable staying with Michael, you should have told me"

"I know" Tess agreed completely beside at that point Max had a very good point.

"You need to tell me what's wrong Tess" Max stated looking at the mother of his child, "Tell me when you are sad or unhappy, when you are uncomfortable and give me the chance to fix it okay…what you can't do is run away from me, do you understand?"

Tess quickly nodded, at least he didn't seem as angry as the night before and that was always a good sign, "I know I have done a lot of horrible things, things that seem a little harsh and things you don't understand"
"Yeah you have" Max agreed interrupting Tess, "And there is a very big possibility that I'll never truly understand everything that you have done"

Tess nodded in understanding then gazed at him, "Is there a but in that statement?"

Max smiled and placed his hand over her own, "But I will never leave your side again, I will not allow you to be hurt by anyone or anything and I know that my words don't hold much strength…"

"Max"

"No listen" Max interrupted, "I know you have no reason to believe in me but I promise that I will make up to you all the hurt and suffering you went through because of me"

"And I, also" Tess said touching his check with her left hand, "I will make up to you all the hurt and suffering you have experience because of me"

Max looked deeply in her eyes, "I do love you Tess, you have to know that"

"I do know that" Tess agreed without much thought gazing into his eyes as well, "just as I'm sure that you know everything that I've done has always been for you"

Max leaned forward and kissed her lightly on her brow, then in a gentle manner moved down to her eyelids, then her check and finally her lips. It was a light at first, a view of the passion underneath the caring graze before it become deep and throbbing as the hearts beats began to beat furiously fast. Max sucked and suckled and pulled and pushed in intense eagerness. Moments had already been lost; this was an improvement of a love that was meant to be. Max grabbed her head, keeping it still as he tried to claim what should be his and what belonged to him. It wasn't enough, a kiss wasn't enough. But Max could practically feel his blood boil in his veins, heat rushing into his head and Tess was experiencing the same overwhelming flames of fire within her persona.

"Tess" Max whispered breaking the kiss and looking at her flushed face and then into her blazing eyes that radiated the heat within, "I have wanted you from the moment you come back"

"Then take me" Tess pleaded, "I am yours, now and forever"

Max smiled then leaned forward once more only to feel a buzzing in his back pocket. Max frowned and took his cell phone out looking at the name, Tess moved away rolling her eyes. Who the hell could be calling at a time like this, however they were had very bad timing.

"What?" Max looked at Tess and offered an apologetic smile, "Michael, what is it? What…oh, oh, uh…okay sure, in 30 minutes…I will be right there"

Tess could tell that something was up, "What is it? What did Michael want?"

"Michael found a way to cure Maria" Max said simply, "Do you think that Eric can baby-sit Zan?"

Tess smiled, "Yeah, I'll call him"

"Well" Isabel was standing beside Michael in the parking lot of the hospital, "What did our lord and master say"

Michael ignored Isabel sarcastic remarks because nothing was going to ban on his parade, the plan could actually work, and "he will be here in 30 minutes"

"I don't understand why I couldn't just walked into Maria's head at home like I normally do" Isabel pointed out sully; the last thing she really wanted to do was deal with her brother. And really what would have been the harm from doing this without informing the great and powerful king.

"I will say this one more time" Michael said with a sigh looking at the hospital building, "We need to get back to our earlier commitment to one another, we need to confide in each other if we are to survive and everyone has to show some sort of goodwill Izzy, and keeping Max in the dark is not a show of goodwill or is it any way to treat your king and beside, he has a role to play"

Isabel was tempted to point out that she didn't want to show an goodwill to Max and didn't care if he was king or not. What was he going to do, cut her head of? He was a king of nothing, he thought he was in change but the fact was, he had already lost a subject. This was it for Isabel, she would help Michael revive Maria with or without Max then she was going to have a talk with her mother. She needed to get out of Roswell, away from the alien crap and everything else that seemed only to hinder her emotions.

"And beside" Michael interrupted her thoughts as he tried to explain his views, "We have to remember that Maria isn't sleeping and maybe it would not be easy to penetrate her mind. This isn't like the time that Max was captured by the Government and was weak-minded. Maria has deliberately put blockers on her mind to avoid any intrusions to her privacy"

Maybe it was the way Michael was avoiding her gaze or maybe it was because of her being suspicious of everything and everyone but something wasn't right with his explanation, "What are you really trying to say Michael?"

Michael turned to look at her and smiled slightly, "I'm just saying that some people, humans, can be taught to block certain intrusions in their minds and well…Maria, she sort of asked me, no she begged me into teaching her how to block anyone from entering her mind. It was probably right after Alex died and she was worried that Kavir or someone close to Kavir might try to control her."

"And" Isabel waited for Michael to continue, she was surprised and very much even in a small way impressed by what Michael was telling her, "Is she good at blocking telepathic links"

"Well, truthfully we never put it to the test after intense studying and practicing, we were going to ask you to help" Michael fell silence looking at Isabel expectantly.

Isabel chuckled, so much for showing goodwill and being truthful to one and the other. Everyone had personal lives they refused to share with the rest, they are were bonded by the most life altering secret of all, that didn't mean they had to always share everything with each other.

"I just think, incase it works" Michael highly doubted it would but in any case he wanted to be near Maria, just in case…"We should just be in close proximate"

"Oh my God" Isabel stated in a shocked voice starting outwardly at the dark.

Michael followed her gaze and found Max striding towards them with Tess beside him. Michael glanced at Isabel and grabbed her hand offering a comforting calm stance. He didn't know if he was doing that for her benefit or for Tess but he really needed Isabel if his plan was to work.

Immediately as the royal couple neared Max instinctively placed his arm around Tess's back. This wasn't going to be a comfortable situation especially he knew between Isabel and Tess. He really didn't know how to stop the hatred his sister had for Tess, he didn't know how to convinced her that Tess wasn't the enemy, but Tess had agreed to killing Alex and unless she proved otherwise…nothing was going to get better. He knew that he should have left Tess and came alone but the truth of the matter was that it was the royal four for a reason, Tess was going to be their insurance. If anything was to go wrong, she was strong enough to manipulate people into believing whatever they wanted.

Max avoided looking at Isabel and instead turned his attention to Michael, "So what's the plan"

Michael was looking at Tess intensely before realizing that Max had addressed him, "oh, right…simple really, Isabel is going to go to Maria's mind and try to find her while you heal"

"We tried the healing thing remember" Max said strongly, "It didn't work"

"It will work this time" Michael said with full conviction, whether it was because he needed to believe it or not, it didn't matter. For him this was their last chance.

"Well, it seemed that not all of us are going to be of any use" Isabel said calmly staring at Tess, "You can go home Tess"

Tess looked at Max for a moment then turned back to Isabel, "I can help"

"We don't want your help" Isabel grinded her teeth as she stated herself clearly, "So you can go home, Tess, wherever that is"

"We don't have time for this" Max said finally turning to his sister, "It is an ultimatum Izzy, either Tess goes or you won't help"

Isabel opened her mouth to retort and swallowed the foul words that had almost been released. That was so wrong for Max to use her emotions in such a manipulative way, he had done it before. Isabel shook her head, pulling her hand from Michael.

"Lets just do this" Isabel said staring at Max, "Just get it over with"

Max sighed and looked at Tess's grateful eyes while Isabel stalked toward the hospital. Michael stared at Max for a moment before running after Isabel. One woman was angry at him, another was grateful. He just couldn't please anyone that was a lesson for the young king to learn. Only problem was that it was his sister against his wife and he was stuck in the middle. Max pulled his hand away and began walking toward the hospital, he had promised Tess that he would allow anyone to hurt her. Tess stood there for a moment then looked up at the stars, the time was almost close, and she could feel that in her veins.

It wasn't hard for the royal four to walk right through and straight to Maria's room, she was their friend after all and Tess wasn't really needed at that point. It was a silent party after the little confrontation that had taken place. Walking in the room, Michael wasted no time closing the drapes, indicating were everyone was suppose to be and what they were suppose to do. He had thought of this operation a few hours back and seemed to have thought things through effectively. Rath was showing his roaring head.

Max and Isabel were on either side of the bed, each holding on to Maria's hand avoiding to look at each other. Isabel closed her eyes and allowed herself to transcend from her own body and fly into Maria. Through Michael had warned her, she was surprised by the amount of resistant that she had never experienced before. Her head throbbed in pain and she was about to give up when she felt Max's healing hand grasp her skin, giving her support and strength while making sure that Maria wasn't suffering any pain either. The light that illuminated from Max gave Maria a false sense of security and her building blocks cracked giving Isabel the way she needed.

Isabel stepped into the halls of Roswell high, many students brazing through the hallways. Isabel frowned at the scene, it was a normal high school day. Was this was Maria dreamed about, a normal life…Well so did she? Then a commotion took place as the students started screaming in delight, a joyous unison as the student moved as one towards a destination and Isabel was dragged along with them. All of them entered the auditorium and began filling the seats while chatting away in excited volumes. Isabel didn't know what but to stand there while looking around for any sight of Maria. She didn't have to wait for long before the curtain on the stage opened revealing a super sensational superstar standing in the middle, all at once the everything got quiet, silence stretched throughout the room. Then Maria began to sing, a song of heartbreak, a song of hope, a song of love and a cheering sounded through out the hall. People screamed frantically, happily and Maria sang, and sang and sang with the entire world at her feet. She looked so happy on the stage, it was something that was obvious to Isabel. Isabel sighed and walked forward to Maria until she was standing right in front of her friend. Maria didn't seems to notice her as she sand to her heart's content then in the next moment the show was over.

"Thanks for coming everyone" Maria spoke trying to make herself heard over the screaming frenzy, "Now, please be patient, since this is a special day for me as I have once again stepped into the high school halls that were a pedestal in making my dreams come true, everyone will receive a signed photograph of yours truly."

Isabel found herself led by the crowd once again towards Maria, to get her own signed photography…her dream come true. It had been an amazing concert, Maria was meant to sing in front of fans the way she had in her mind. And the thing was that Maria had a gift, a beautiful voice that could really help the world immensely. But in the real world…

"Next" Maria said lightly without raising her head.

"Maria" Isabel softly called out her friend's name. Maria froze for a moment, Isabel could tell when the pen stopped but in the next moment moved rapidly.

"Next" Maria said without raising her head.

"Maria" Isabel called again willing her friend to look up at her, "Maria look at me"
Maria shook her head, "Leave me alone"

Isabel felt sorry because of the voice that seemed so small, "Maria, you can't stay here"

Finally Maria raised her head, "I know, but…I like it here, its better here, my dreams have come true here"

Isabel nodded in understanding, "I know, but remember…this isn't real, you can make your dreams come true in the real world too, so many people will be able to benefit from that wonderful voice of yours…please come home"

"What if I don't want to?" Maria asked warily, "What if I wish to stay here for a while?"

"Then it will be our lost" Isabel said, "And the rest of the world who would miss such a perfect addition to the popular culture"

Maria chuckled, "You are being nice"

Isabel smiled back, "It won't last long, I promise…just take my hand"

Maria looked at the hand that Isabel offered for a moment then looked at Isabel's eyes, "Michael"

"He is waiting for you" Isabel said simply, because that was the case, Michael was waiting for Maria. Those were the magic words because Maria took a hold of Isabel and sighed and looked around as everything looked so suspended and with a feeling of detachment followed Isabel home, to the real world.

Maria opened her eyes to find four pairs of eyes staring at her, it was the gray brown eyes that held her attention. She struggled to sit up and when she found she couldn't settled for staying still. Michael finally allowed himself to let out his breath, not leaving her eyes she, he walked to her side. Max stepped back, allowing Michael to take his place beside the woman he loved while Max moved closer to Tess.

"Hey" Maria managed feeling suddenly guilty for leaving Michael worry for her.

"Hey" Michael said back reaching to caress her face.

Max smiled then tugged Tess and nodded to his sister and the two woman followed him out of the room. The two lovers needed time for themselves.

"I thought I had lost you for a moment there" Michael said in a shake voice, "I was so scared"

"I know" Maria said then smiled, "I was scared too"

"Well, you are okay now" Michael said then smiled appreciatively, "Your mom and Liz are going to be so happy, I would have told Liz what I was planning but I didn't want to disappoint her if the procedure hadn't worked"

Maria nodded in understanding, she had some major apologizing to do, "I am tired"

"Sleep away" Michael advised then stood up climbed on the bed, "I'll be right here with you"

Michael held Maria in his arms and the two fell asleep through the peace of the night.