Author's Note: I realize it's been a very long time since I updated. Real life has finally afforded me a chance to come back to this. If anyone is still interested! And now, finally, is the next chapter.

The drive to Vegas was short, which was a good thing for Isabel, as being at Meg and Jesse's wedding had brought back memories of her wedding to her Jesse-such as it was with all the alien troubles that plagued her happy day.

The others were excited to be returning to Vegas, seemingly forgetting what their intention in going there was; to find James.

The mysterious James.

Isabel couldn't help but wonder how much he really knew. Kal had warned them he knew enough; but Isabel didn't trust Kal in the least. He had shown, on more than one occasion, to be untrustworthy and to have little interest in fulfilling his role as their protector. Only when ordered to do something had he fulfilled his duty.

Isabel listened as everyone reminisced of their last trip to Vegas. She couldn't help but remember Tess had been with them that time. She had been friends with Tess then. It made Isabel sick to her stomach to think that she had brought Tess into their group. Granted, she likely would have found another way in if Isabel hadn't befriended her, but still she harbored a deep guilt for Tess, and for Alex's death.

Isabel listened to Liz recount her dream of marrying Max at a Vegas wedding chapel-and watching her brother Isabel felt a moment's happiness. At least one of them was with the one they loved.

"Even if it's not me," Isabel grumbled as she felt her back pocket to make sure Jesse's well worn, ragged photo was still there.

"What?"

Isabel jumped at Kyle's question. She had forgotten he was sitting beside her, not participating in the excited talk of the others.

"What was what?" Isabel questioned, pretending she hadn't said anything.

"Whatever," Kyle shrugged and crossed his arms.

"I thought you were excited to come back to Vegas?" Isabel pressed, trying to be what Max wanted her to be, Kyle's friend.

"Eh-," he shrugged half-heartedly. "I was until I remembered last time we were here. With Tess," Kyle spat the name like it was poison on his tongue.

Isabel nodded, happy she wasn't alone in her thoughts.

"I feel so guilty about everything that happened," Kyle spoke, his voice so low that Isabel almost didn't hear him. But she did hear him, and she was surprised at the rush of emotions that welled within her.

"I-," Isabel paused, not sure what she wanted to say, but knowing she wanted to say something.

"I do too," she finally settled.

Kyle looked to her, his eyes slightly wide with astonishment. Isabel smiled gently and grasped his hand in hers.

"I loved her," Kyle whispered.

"Not just like a friend, but I was falling in love with her," Kyle bit his lower lip, and Isabel suddenly understood how much emotion and blame Kyle was holding inside.

Isabel, unsure how to comfort a man who had fallen for a murdering alien, simply squeezed his hand, letting him know she was there. He looked at her, and for a moment, Isabel felt a connection, a common bond, but then it was gone, and Kyle just smiled sadly and stared out the window while the others carried on, oblivious to the misery in the back seat of the van.

They arrived in Vegas with no problems, and as the sun was setting. The lights of the city were as bright and beautiful as Isabel remembered, and after some arguing about where to stay, it was determined that they would get a room in the Bellagio. First, they had to stop at an ATM. This part of their running Isabel found uncomfortable. Only in big cities did they dare do this, but they had become, in essence, bank robbers.

They would pull up, around the corner from an ATM, and Max and Michael would approach and using their powers they would deactivate the camera and damage it and its memory beyond repair, then withdraw as much money as they desired from the ATM, again, using their powers.

Only in big cities did they do this, because only in big cities were they certain the bank wouldn't go broke. And it wouldn't be too hard, in a small town, for law enforcement to determine a group of traveling strangers had stolen from an ATM.

So here they were, in Las Vegas, about to steal from another ATM. Michael found perverse pleasure in it, as he sought out the bank chain that claimed they "lost" his account and his $45,000 dollars he had saved up. He was taking it back now.

Isabel and the others waited in the car while Michael and Max did their thing, returning to the van with just over $10,000.

"Are you crazy!" Isabel exclaimed when Max told them how much they took.

"Hell, no," Michael replied. "I'm getting my money back!"

And with that, nothing more was said. Isabel crossed her arms and sat in silence while the others asked how much they would have to gamble with, and asked Max if he would change their driver's licenses again like last time.

Isabel drilled her gaze to the back of Max's head and he felt it, looking at her in the rear-view mirror as they navigated The Las Vegas Strip and arrived at valet parking for the Bellagio Hotel.

Max paid the valet, and checked them into one of the premier suites. It was $950 dollars a night for the three room suite, complete with a balcony and 8-person hot tub. Michael, Maria, Max and Liz were in heaven. Isabel was angry and Kyle was just quiet and somber.

Immediately the others wanted to go out. Weeks of traveling with each other, confined to a van for hours on end, stuck with nothing but "alien business" they undoubtedly found the wilds of Las Vegas a welcome break. And like the commercial says, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Michael and Max determined that $500 each was plenty to gamble with and they proceeded to hand out cash and once again create "fake" IDs from their real ones, minus the obvious and silly fake names of their last trip.

Isabel however, refused. She was not in a party mood, and wanted to stay in and maybe try to connect with Jesse again. The brief moments they'd had together earlier weren't enough and were simply a cruel tease to Isabel's wounded heart.

Max and the others left her, resigned that she would be safe alone in the room. Everyone left en masse and the hotel suite was immediately and eerily quiet.

Feeling the grime of travel on her skin, Isabel retreated to the shower were she stood under the hot spray until her wrinkled, pruny skin demanded she get out. The hotel suite was amazing, and Isabel wished Jesse were there to share it with her. Calling room service, Isabel inquired after laundry service, and soon all the travelers clothes were on their way to getting a thorough cleaning.

Isabel, snuggled in the complimentary robe the hotel provided, realized only too late that her picture of Jesse was still in the back pocket of her jeans, the jeans she had just sent to be laundered. Rushing back to the phone Isabel was told that all clothing items were checked for loose change and other things before they are laundered. She breathed a sigh of relief, but knew she wouldn't feel better until her husband's photograph was safely back in her hands.

Stepping out onto the balcony, Isabel watched the fountains of the Bellagio do their musical dance; she watched the cars traveling slowly up and the down the strip; she watched the hundreds of tourists stop for pictures and travel up and down the 1/2 –scale Eiffel Tower right across the street.

Paris. France. Someplace Isabel had hoped to visit with Jesse one day. Turning back inside the suite, Isabel retreated to the large King size bed in one of the adjacent rooms. Curling up, Isabel closed her eyes and imagined Jesse with her, holding her…

There was sunlight, and birds chirping. The sounds of horses on a cobblestone street drifted in from the open window. Isabel opened her eyes and found herself in a cozy room, snuggled in a large, soft bed with a man's heavy arms around her. Slowly turning, Isabel grinned at the innocent, sleeping face of Jesse. He was topless, and Isabel realized she was also. Isabel grinned, but wished she had arrived a little sooner into Jesse's dream…

Isabel kissed Jesse softly on the forehead, then gently climbed out of the bed, wrapping the thin cotton robe hanging off the end of the four-poster bed, around her. She wandered to the window and looking out, saw what could only be described as heaven. Rolling green hills as far as the eye could see, with goats and sheep grazing in the pastures immediately below her window. There was a horse-drawn cart on the cobbled street below, delivering what looked like hay. The people were dressed simply, in what Isabel always thought of as "Heidi" clothes, or Swiss-style (based on her predisposed ideas from movies as a child).

"Good morning."

Isabel turned and smiled at her husband. He was propped up on one elbow, staring at Isabel with a wanton look. Isabel felt the heat of passion rise within her and slowly walked towards the bed, shedding the robe as she went.

Climbing in to the bed and reaching for Jesse, Isabel…

…was startled awake by a commotion outside the suite. Rubbing her eyes, and realizing she had been in her own dream, not one of Jesse's, looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was already 11:45pm.

"I've got it, thanks!"

Isabel heard the door thrust open and slam against the wall. There was more talking and low voices now in the room.

Isabel stood and pulled her robe tighter around her. She was not sure of what she should do. There was a crash in the adjoining room and then loud laughter. Isabel, whose heart was pounding, relaxed.

Kyle.

Tightening her robe more, Isabel slowly stepped out into the adjoining room where Kyle was doubled over an end table, laughing hysterically. There was a lamp broken on the floor and two hotel employees standing over him with disapproving looks.

One of the hotel employees noticed Isabel and nudged his partner. They both looked on her, still with a disapproving glare.

"This guy belong here?" The younger, stouter one asked.

"Yes, he's with me," Isabel moved towards Kyle, and pulling him up she could smell the alcohol.

"Good grief Kyle, did you bath in the bar?" Isabel muttered and Kyle set off on another laughing fit. The older, tall, thin hotel employee moved to help but Isabel warded him off with her hand.

"I've got him, thanks," Isabel moved Kyle to the plush sofa that furnished the common room they were in, then grabbed a $100 bill off the stack that Michael had left on the coffee table. She thrust the bill into the older employee's hand and his eyes widened.

"Buy your wives something nice," she said absently as she hauled Kyle to his feet again. He was like dead weight.

"Kyle, you gotta help me out a bit, here," she said as she absently heard the door to the suite open and close as the two men left.

"Isabel, you're beautiful, you know that?" Kyle muttered, stumbling next to Isabel as she gripped his arm around her shoulders. His free hand came up and stroked her cheek. The gentle trace left a white-hot streak and Isabel felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Kyle," she admonished, "stop. You're drunk."

Kyle laughed as they finally made it into the bedroom where Isabel had been sleeping prior to Kyle's loud entrance. She lowered him to the bed and he laid back, his feet still on the floor.

"I know," he sighed. "It's all I can do to keep from going mad!"

Isabel leaned down and started to remove Kyle's shoes. She heard him begin to breathe deeply, as if he were falling asleep. Isabel pulled his shoes off, not being careful, and heard him snort in discomfort.

"No need to be mean," he muttered.

Isabel shook her head, disappointed that Kyle would resort to drinking to deal with his feelings.

"Isabel," he muttered.

Looking up, Isabel watched his face. His eyes were still closed and he was barely conscious.

"Isabel," he said again, "I love you."

Isabel stared in confusion and disbelief.

"Kyle?" she gently nudged his shoulder, but he was gone; lost to the deep sleep of a drunken stupor.

Lifting his legs onto the bed, Isabel pulled the comforter over him, covering him and watching him. His face was soft; the hard lines usually present when he was awake were smoothed. He looked like a little boy; a sad little boy. Isabel had known Kyle had a crush on her that last year in Roswell, but she thought he'd gotten over it.

"Apparently not," she said out loud to the empty suite.

Isabel, lonely for Jesse, wondered if the brief feelings he'd stirred in her before were real, or if she was just desperate for any human touch. Now more confused then before, Isabel climbed into the bed next to Kyle, and wrapping the remaining blankets around her, she tossed and turned in a fitful sleep the remainder of the night.