I don't own Roswell or any of its franchise.

A/N I managed to update before one month - yay lol. It's probably not what you expected, but it is what it is. Not much happening really, but I needed it. Sorry if Claudia is a bit OOC, but she only ever was shown in the series in one episode, so give me a break;) Enjoy regardless!

Scorpio6: I tried sending you the "trailer" but your PM feature is disabled and you have no e-mail showing at your profile so it was impossible for me. It was sad really, because you were the only one asking for the preview.

Liz's POV

I hate growing up, Liz thought as she sat brushing her long dark hair before bed. It makes people realize that the people they've always seen as infallible are humans too… Stubborn humans.

Liz put down her hairbrush and hung her robe on her chair neatly before getting into her bed, pulling the sheets up to her chin, as she thought back on her odd day of realizations and emotional turmoil.

She'd gotten up early and, in an attempt to fight of the continuous guilt about Max, hurried into the kitchen to grab some cereal before showering. She'd stopped dead in the doorway when she'd realized that her parents weren't alone.

"Grandma Claudia!" She'd hurried over and greeted her grandmother with a fierce hug, talking a mile a minute. For a moment, she'd noticed how her grandmother's usually so vibrant eyes were dark with some unfamiliar emotion, but a second later, the elderly Parker had laughed loudly like she always did and everything had been right with the world again.

Liz sighed, trying to get comfortable in the bed, while inwardly going over her day in more detail. She'd been sitting at the breakfast table with her cereal, talking animatedly with her grandmother when she spotted that unusual look in her eyes again.

"Are you okay, Grandma?" Liz had asked, putting down her spoon.

Claudia had laughed again, but even Liz could hear it was a forced effort. "I'm fine girly girl. Just you keep telling me what you've been up too since my last visit? Any cute boys in your life?"

Immediately, an image of Max had fluttered through Liz's mind, and she had looked down at her half eaten breakfast.

"Uh," Claudia had grinned with a slight teasing leer on her face, "tell me everything."

"I'm not involved with anyone right now," Liz had managed to say with quiet dignity before her mother suddenly sat down next to them and had interjected with a raised eyebrow,

"Oh? What about Kyle? Didn't you tell me you were going out tonight?"

Liz was usually a very serene and quiet kind of girl, but in that moment, she had wanted to throttle her mother or at the very least have a Maria freak out at Nancy Parker. Instead, she had settled on a big eye roll and a scowl. "Mom, I wasn't talking to you."

"Well, I guess I should finish the laundry," the pragmatic Parker female had stated and left.

Liz had instantly fought down the tiny spark of guilt over her rudeness, but then looked back at her grandmother and asked, "When did you come? I didn't know you'd made plans to stay until sometime next month."

Claudia's smile and shrug had seemed faked as she'd answered, "I took an earlier flight on a whim and believe me when I say; I won't be regretting it anytime soon."

Frowning over the strange statement, Liz had finished her breakfast quickly and spent the rest of the morning with her grandmother.

Back in the present, Liz groaned and all but pummeled her pillow as she kept trying to get comfortable enough to sleep. She knew that her lack of sleepiness wasn't because of her stupid pillow, but more about the fact that she just knew her beloved grandmother, the one person she'd always been able to count on, was must definitely keeping some sort of secret from her.

Of course, it's a bit hypocritical for me to complain, Liz thought, throwing the abused pillow to the floor and settling down once again, I have my own secrets now too…

The entire day had gone by with Liz reconnecting with her grandmother, only to notice that for once, the charismatic woman wasn't completely in the now. Something was bothering her and finally, just a few minutes before Kyle was due to pick her up, Liz had dragged Claudia into her room and asked if something was wrong.

Her grandmother's eyes, so like her own, had taken on an innocent look that didn't fool Liz in the slightest. "Honey, I don't know why you're worrying so much about little ol' me. I'm just focused on my book signing next month and your future love life of course."

"Grandma," Liz had practically pleaded, "you can trust me. I just want to help any way I can."

There was a sad look in Claudia's eyes, but her voice was as light and cheerful as always as she'd replied, "I appreciate that, Sugar, but don't go making mountains out of molehills on my account. Go enjoy your evening with your young man."

Liz had instantly protested having a relationship with the Sheriff's son and it was only after she'd exited the house that she realized that she'd been derailed from her questions.

And then she'd begun her evening with Kyle and to be fair, it had started out nicely enough…

Suddenly there was a knock on her window and all thoughts about her day flew out of her mind. Liz sat up and glanced over at the window; she could only make out a vague silhouette but somehow she just knew that it was Max.

The moment the realization hit her, Liz was torn between mortification that the guy she barely acknowledged as her crush was about to see her in her PJ's and fierce, unaltered joy that he still sought her out despite her earlier anger.

A few seconds later, Liz was at the window and she quickly opened it with a small smile. "Hi Max."

Max's eyes looked dimmer than usual and Liz understood that he still thought she was angry at him. After all, he can't feel my emotions anymore, she thought to herself.

"I just wanted to have a quick word," Max explained in the awkward silence that had arisen, "I didn't want to call and risk waking you or your parents."

"So," Liz said with an attempt at humor, "you decided to creep over here and stare through my window in the middle of the night? 'Cause that's not creepy at all."

Max chuckled sheepishly and ran a hand through his dark hair. He stepped back, making room for Liz to follow him out onto the balcony. "I guess you're right about that. But I really did want to talk to you…"

Liz grabbed her robe and swung it over her shoulders before making her way outside. All her previous concern about her grandmother was forgotten as her observant eyes noticed the dark shadows under Max's eyes and the almost guilty look that was shining through all of the sudden.

"What's wrong, Max?"

Max looked up at the starry sky for a long minute without replying and Liz took the opportunity to admire his neck. Who knew a guy's neck could be so…sensual? She wondered and then flinched when Max finally started to speak.

"Firstly, I wanted to apologize for trying to control you and," he paused briefly as though the words were painful to say, "You have every right to go out with whomever you wish."

"Okay," Liz agreed, happy that he seemed willing to put the matter behind them and forget her childish overreaction. "What else did you want to talk about?"

Max leaned up against the nearest wall, he sent a weird look at a place on the brick wall that Liz couldn't quite decipher. His hands absentmindedly traced out the form of a heart and Liz crossed her arms and for the first time felt the loss of the bond first hand. I wonder what he's thinking about? He seems really intense right now.

"Max?" Liz urged him back to the present and he turned back to her with another slightly sheepish smile.

"I wanted to explain about the whole thing with Kyle's friends…"

The words caused Liz's memory of her earlier casual date with Kyle to emerge and she sighed, remembering once again just why she'd been in such a depressing mood before Max's arrival.

Kyle had picked her up as per their agreement and Liz had tried to overlook the fact that Kyle was dressed way more formally than he should be to keep things casual.

"Hi Kyle," she'd greeted politely and Kyle's answering smile had been yet another warning that, no matter how he'd phrased it when asking, he clearly expected things to be a bit more date like than Liz was comfortable with.

A few minutes later, they'd arrived at the local movie theater. Liz had once again ignored her own instincts when Kyle had bought tickets to a romantic comedy. She'd even fought past her feelings of uneasiness when Kyle had insisted on paying for everything no matter how much she'd objected.

During the movie, Liz had gone to the restroom a grand total of eight times to escape Kyle's wandering arm around her shoulders. Finally the movie was over and Liz had overruled Kyle's attempt at going to eat anywhere else then the Crashdown.

When they'd walked inside a little while later, Liz's eyes had immediately scanned the area to make sure someone (Max!) didn't see and get the wrong idea. Not that she had anything to feel the least bit guilty for, she repeated inwardly as she'd been doing the entire evening.

Maria had been their waitress and Liz might have engaged in pointless girl talk for a little longer than was strictly necessary until their food had arrived. As Maria walked away, Liz had not been blind to the mixture of annoyance and exasperation in Kyle's eyes.

She'd decided to try to steer things back on the friendship road that she'd thought had been the whole point of the evening in the first place. "So, how are things going with you?"

Kyle had lit up at her so called interest and immediately started talking about his team's upcoming match the upcoming weekend. When he'd slowed down a bit to take a huge bite of his burger, Liz had gone over ways to politely remind him that they could never be more than friends. She had refused to acknowledge the small part of her that told her that Max might have had a point to begin with concerning Kyle.

All thoughts about being polite evaporated, when Kyle had mentioned Max with a half-hearted sneer on his face, "I'm actually glad we went here tonight. At first, I didn't want to, 'cause I might have lost it if I'd ran into Evans, but I'm glad."

"What are you talking about?" Liz had leaned forward, suddenly anxious. She hadn't liked the sudden sour look in Kyle's eyes.

Kyle had finished off his soda before leaning forward himself to answer quietly, "Well, some of my friends ran into him last night and he went all postal on them. Beat the crap out of them, with some judo tricks or whatever. My buddy Johnny had to get fourteen stitches. So I need to find him sometime and let him know that nobody hurts my friends."

Liz had gripped the table so hard that she was vaguely surprised that her fingers didn't leave marks on it. "Why would Max do something like that? What happened?"

Kyle had shrugged, "I don't know. Johnny said they were just walking by and before they knew it, they were getting their ass- Well, it wasn't pretty."

Liz had been confused. "It doesn't sound like something Max would do. I mean, he's not a violent person and-"

"Oh yes he is, Liz!" Kyle's voice had risen and Liz had noticed how Maria stepped out from the backroom, with her protective "don't hurt my best friend-face" on, but Liz had waved her off discreetly.

Liz had felt her anger grow, eager to defend the guy that had saved her life. This anger was nothing like the one she'd somehow fed off of Max earlier; no this was pure hers.

"Did you ever ask your buddy why Max, who's normally the most passive aggressive guy in school, and have been ever since he showed up in Roswell, felt the need to act the way he did? Also, why would Johnny and the rest of them even go near Max in the first place? Come on, Kyle, even you should be able to see that your story has some holes in it. Max Evans has never done anything without reason and I doubt he'd be starting now. And if you can't see that, I really can't see us being friends at all because no friend of mine, would think violence is okay! Goodbye!"

She'd stormed away from the table, leaving Kyle with a truly dumbstruck expression on his face, and gone up to the bedroom.

Of course, Liz sighed to herself, that's when I spotted Grandma sitting quietly in the living room with the lights off, looking serious and troubled. And when I tried talking to her again, she smiled that fake smile of hers and went to bed herself… When did my life get so complicated?

"Liz?"

Liz flinched and stumbled backwards, but Max's strong arm wrapped around her and straightened her up. Before she even realized it, Max had released her and stepped back a few steps.

"I'm sorry, Max," Liz apologized, "I guess, I'm a little more tired than I thought… so you were saying?"

Max's lips quirked in a tiny smile and he sat down in one of the chairs available. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't angry about the thing with Kyle's friends and the rest of it. I felt we needed some closure of sorts."

Liz copied him and sat down in front of him. She looked him deep into his eyes and for the first time the whole day, she felt at peace. All her anger, an anger she'd come to realize had originated from the boy in front of her, was gone. Her annoyance over her grandmother, and her own guilt over her hypocrisy was gone. Even her irritation at Kyle was completely nonexistent in that moment.

"I'm not angry, Max. I know that the thing with those guys probably has another side to it and that Kyle only has their side of things." Liz eventually said, remembering that she was in fact in the middle of a conversation and not alone to ponder her thoughts. "And I'm sorry for overreacting like I did at the Crashdown. I think I might have hurt your feelings, and that was never my intention."

Max raised a teasing eyebrow and Liz amended with a soft chuckle, "okay, not my whole intention. I was mad and I know it stemmed from you and then I lost my own temper and one thing led to another and even though I'm not ready to open the bond again just yet," Liz pretended not to see the crushed hope in Max's eyes as she continued gently, "I really would like it if we could be friends."

There was a long silence before Max sighed and said barely audible, "I'll take what I can get."

With some effort, Liz reminded herself of Kyle's story and decided to ask Max for his side of the unbelievable tale and she looked up, only to freeze.

The warmth in Max's brown gaze as he looked intently at her, made Liz's face burn and she looked down, trying to catch her breath again.

"I'd better go now. I'll see you in school. Goodnight Liz."

There was a slight movement and a second later, all Liz was able to think about was the feeling of two warm lips touching her forehead ever so gently. When she managed to look up again, Max was gone.

Liz walked as in a daze back into her bedroom, grabbed her journal and proceeded to write down every last bit of her day. When she finally went to sleep, Liz's mind wasn't full of the growing complications of impending adulthood, or annoying ex-boyfriends. All she thought about was the fact that Max Evans had actually, almost, sort of kissed her.

"This day hasn't been completely bad after all," Liz muttered sleepily, not noticing that her door was open and Claudia was standing there looking both happy and worried at the same time.

Claudia's POV

It was supposed to be a vacation, a trip to get some peace of mind. Her doctor had bullied her for a long time until she'd succumbed and agreed to visit her son and his family, preparing to publish her book. All in all; an attempt to rest up beforehand so her darn heart wouldn't act up and quit on her before she was good and ready.

She sighed quietly and carefully closed the door to her beloved grandchild's bedroom and walked down the stairs and outside into the night. The streetlight next to the diner's backdoor was blinding her for a brief moment, but when she'd blinked out of it, she spotted her grandchild's earlier guest standing stationary on the other side of the door.

"Weren't you going home?" she asked casually, wrapping her shall around her shoulders. Dying from a weak heart or not, an old lady like her still needed to avoid getting colds.

Max stepped out of the shadows and smiled a small smile. "I knew you were there and figured you wanted to talk a bit more."

Claudia smirked, crossing her arms to seem imposing, "Well, yeah. I'm glad you didn't rat me out to Liz, she would most definitely not have enjoyed being interrupted by her ol' Grandma. As for the talking bit, shouldn't you wait until the other two get here?"

Max shrugged, "They don't know you. They never met you before so they let me decide whether or not I wanted to talk to you some more."

"Seeing as you pretty much told me everything last night in that alley," Claudia shrugged herself, "I just wanted to know if you were planning on doing any of that mind control thing that make you forget seeing things to me? I mean, that's what usually happens on TV."

She watched the seemingly teenage boy rub his neck tiredly before he answered, "Even if I could, I would never do that."

Claudia sighed and tried to ignore the quick stab of pain in her chest. She had been so caught up in her head the entire day that she hadn't remembered to take any of her medication and now she was paying the price. "I'm happy to hear that. Now, why don't you tell me the real reason you showed up here tonight? I know you say you wanted to allow me to hear more of your unbelievable story, but I'm not buying it."

Max stiffened briefly and Claudia just knew she'd been right on the money and she continued with a little smug smile, "Unless of course, you're using me as an excuse to go stare into Liz's bedroom way over any civilized bedtime."

Oh good, Claudia couldn't suppress a tiny grin from spreading, he can blush.

Max tried to act like his face hadn't just turned crimson and straightened up slightly. To Claudia's surprise, he suddenly looked a lot older. "I came because I wanted to ask you to go to a doctor as soon as possible. You're in danger of a heart attack."

Despite the seriousness, Claudia laughed. Even to her ears, the sound was bitter. "Trust me, Son, there isn't anything any of this town's doctors could say or do to me that would help me in the long run. But I appreciate the concern."

Max blinked, he looked genuinely mystified by her response for a short minute. Then Claudia watched his face darken and without thinking about it, she took a step back. "You mean to tell me that you knew all along that you were sick? Do you have any idea what your death did to Liz?"

Claudia's heart jumped, and again she battled the stab of pain, "Nice way of letting and old woman know of her impending death. Really, young man, ever heard of caution?"

Max didn't seem to appreciate her attempt at humor and she bit her lip. "I don't know what happened to me in your time, but from what you are implying I reckon it isn't something good."

Suddenly Claudia gasped, her heart started racing as though it wanted to escape her chest and she quickly sat down on an empty crate near the door and tried to catch her breath.

"Mrs. Parker?" Max's voice was no longer dark, but concerned and full of youth. "Are you all right? Should I call anyone?"

"I'll-be-fine-in-a-minute," she spat out and tried taking in a soothing breath, praying her heart's escape wouldn't succeed.

This was bad, Claudia instinctively knew. There was already an unusual pain in her arms, her sight was spotty and she really, really didn't want to die.

Out of the corner of her eye, Claudia saw Max move and all of the sudden there was a pleasant warmth spreading from her chest area out to her whole body. It was like drinking a warm cup of cocoa after being out in the cold all day.

Looking down, she noticed Max had somehow found it necessary to place his hand on her chest, right over her heart and she saw a faint, unearthly glow emanate from his hand. If she hadn't already known about his out of Earth genes, this would have seriously freaked her out.

After a seemingly never ending minute, Max removed his hand and ran it through his hair with a loud sigh. Claudia, on the other hand, never felt better. She took a deep breath, half expecting her body to constrict in spite. But the air went in her lungs as easily as it had in her pre illness days.

She looked down at the kneeling youth in front of her and without thinking she grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace. "Whatever it was you just did. Thank you."

To say that Max didn't respond well to her touch was an understatement. The poor boy froze like she was putting him under torture. It took a while, but seeing as Claudia refused to release him, he slowly relaxed and then suddenly his arms went around her and he was hugging her like his whole life depended on it.

After a while, Max pulled back. His face was crimson again and he wouldn't look her in the eyes. Claudia frowned. "I'm not mad at you," she stated. "Like I said, I'm very grateful. I haven't felt this good in years. Also a good hug never hurt anybody."

Max's eyes met hers at that statement and he muttered quietly, "Let me know in a few years if you still feel the same." He went on to explain something about his healing's side effect being that she would eventually develop some form of power herself.

"I'm not gonna look a gifted horse in the mouth here, but why did you heal me if it apparently is such a bad thing in your opinion? You could just as easily have gotten me to the hospital and let things take its natural course."

Max's solemn dark eyes didn't waver one inch as he said, "I might not be fully human, but not even I am that inhumane. I couldn't let you die right in front of me. Liz would never forgive me."

Claudia chuckled, shook her head with mock hurt. "So you only helped an old lady because you didn't want her grandchild to be sad? I'm touched, really I am."

Max smiled ruefully and for a moment, Claudia could most definitely understand why this young man got her intelligent grandchild's heart racing. "No, that's not…I didn't mean it like that Mrs. Parker."

"Considering what we've been through since meeting yesterday, and what you just did for me, I think you should call me Claudia."

"Okay…Claudia." Max replied, helping her to her feet. "It's getting late; I should be going home. I hope you'll keep your promise and not tell Liz about the time travelling. That's one part of the story she hasn't gotten yet."

Claudia nodded and cupped Max's cheek, "You bet. But I think I'll let my knowledge of your origins slip sometime so she knows that she can always come to me with her worries. And you can too. I'll always be there to help you and the others if it's possible. Good night Max and thanks again."

The young man echoed her nod and stepped away and slipped into the darkness, leaving her alone to try and come to terms with what had just taken place.

Claudia couldn't quite stop the unladylike snort from escaping as she imagined how her doctor would act at their next consultation. "Well, Doctor Jensen, you see, I'm feeling mighty fine now because my grandchild's love interest is a time travelling alien that somehow healed my insides and fixed my heart right up. Thanks for advising me to have a nice peaceful vacation…"

With a heavy sigh, Claudia got back inside and went up to the guestroom that Nancy and Jeff had prepared for her. One quick glance at the clock told her that it would be light soon, so she didn't want to spend too long preparing for bed again. She settled on brushing her teeth, because her own momma always said that one shouldn't go to bed with unwashed teeth. As Claudia rinsed her mouth, she noticed something odd in the small amount of visible skin of her chest. With a frown, she buttoned up her nightgown and then gasped.

There was a glowing handprint right where Max had placed his warm hand. Claudia traced the mark carefully, wondering for just one tiny second if she'd gotten into something she really shouldn't have, but then she scoffed. Closing her gown again, she went to bed. Not only have Max saved my life, but he saved Liz and for that I'm willing to go to the gates of Hell before I turn my back on him; any of them.

Having settled her own, unspoken fears, Claudia fell asleep with a tiny smile on her lips.

Michael's POV

"What do you think it will be like now?" Isabel asked for the tenth time, fidgeting in the middle of the room.

Michael looked up from the comic book, he was pretending to read and answered just as cautiously as he'd done the other nine times, "I don't know."

Before Isabel could continue with her pacing around her bedroom, there was a quiet knock on the door and Max entered.

Michael immediately threw the comic book away and stood up, but Isabel was even faster in her own way. "What happened? Did you talk to her? Is she still willing to keep quiet? I really don't want to hurt and old lady, Max."

Michael watched curiously as Max avoided Isabel's eyes as he answered that the eldest Parker would not betray them.

For some peculiar reason, Michael didn't doubt it. In fact, unlike Isabel, Michael had barely managed to scrounge up any worry about the whole thing to begin with. There was just something about Claudia Parker that made him want to trust her. A feat no one, but his close circle of friends had ever gotten out of him before.

Ever since Claudia Parker had announced her presence in the alley, he'd watched silently as she took in Max's words. Not once did the old woman act like a normal old woman. She barely batted an eye over the alien thing, let alone the whole time travelling deal. After they'd made sure that the kids that Max beat up were safely out of earshot, she'd demanded the full story and stood calmly as it washed over her.

Michael had had a sudden realization about from whom Liz got her silent strength. Isabel of course, had been a nervous wreck ever since they'd escorted Mrs. Parker to the Parker residence. They all knew that if despite everything, Mrs. Parker decided to reveal her knowledge to the wrong people they would have to do something and no matter how many people they'd killed in their old lives, none of them wanted to murder Liz's beloved grandmother.

"What do you think Michael?" Isabel's voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked over at the siblings.

"About what?"

Isabel rolled her eyes, "Don't you ever listen? I swear it's like going back in time has made you just as inattentive as you were before the war."

"Thank you. Now," Michael smirked, "what do I think about what?"

Max walked over and sat down on Isabel's bed. "She wants to know what you think about me healing Liz's grandmother."

"Tell me you didn't." Michael said and sat down next to his best friend, who looked oddly at ease. "Do you want The Special Unit to come here? We have enough on our hands with Topolsky."

"I know. I couldn't just let her die in front of me. I don't want to be that guy that has to choose whether to save someone or let them die anymore. I just know that we can trust her, so please…" Max paused and looked first at Isabel and then at Michael with such naked emotion in his eyes that Michael could feel his eyes burn, "Please just trust me. I beg you."

Michael caught Isabel's eyes and noticed the same unshed tears in hers that he could feel burning in his. After a moment, she nodded mutely and sat down on the other side of Max and Michael clapped him on the back. "Let's go to sleep Maxwell. We'll worry about everything when we're more levelheaded. "

The relief and gratitude shining on Max's usually so reserved face did nothing to lessen the burn in Michael's eyes, so he quickly muttered goodnight and walked into Max's bedroom and laid down on the sleeping bag that he'd prepared earlier.

Instantly, all thoughts about Mrs. Parker, the unexpected healing and all of those things went away. Instead his mind filled up with the one thing he could never deny himself; Maria. He closed his eyes and pictured her as she'd looked that night by her window. He tested his bond with her and could feel her sleepy, calm response and smiled.

I'm gonna ask her out in school tomorrow. I am done waiting…

0o0o0o0

Monday morning, Michael practically jumped out of Max's jeep the second it stopped in the parking lot at the school. He ignored his fellow hybrids puzzled looks and went in search of Maria. Unfortunately she was sitting together with Liz and Alex when he finally found her in the first class of the day.

He knew he'd never been one for the big gestures and words. Oh, he could if he absolutely had to. Treasured memories of a night with Scooby Doo plates and a homemade meal came to mind, but he never really loved doing them.

Come on, Michael said to himself, she's not gonna kill me if she says no. That just means that I have to work harder. Besides, I bet she won't be too mean if Liz is around…

Having talked some courage into himself, Michael quickly made his way through the room and settled into a seat at the table next to Maria. "Mornin'."

Maria turned slowly from her conversation with Liz. He could see the nervousness in her eyes and feel it through their bond. "Hello Michael," she greeted carefully. "Did you want anything?"

Michael's gaze darted over to Liz, who was watching with a knowing smile on her lips. Alex was looking from Maria to him with confusion, but remained silent. "Well," Michael started to say, his heart in his throat, "I was just wondering if-"

"Good morning class," their teacher interrupted. Something that normally wouldn't deter Michael from finishing asking out the woman he loved, but the young female standing next to the teacher managed to halt him in his self appointed mission.

Tess Harding had finally arrived in Roswell.

0o0o0o0o0

Michael never managed to finish asking out Maria. Ever since Tess had walked in to the classroom, he'd been staring at the fourth alien as discreetly as he could. Maria kept glancing over at him with a frown; apparently she felt his inner turmoil but couldn't understand it.

Michael had barely had to look at Max and Isabel to know what they were feeling. Despite having initiated contact in the first place, it was clear that Tess's arrival had brought back some unpleasant memories.

Isabel kept following Alex around whenever he wasn't around Liz or Maria, looking for all the world like she would protect him with everything she had. Max was a bit harder to interpret as he simply kept his head down and diligently took notes.

When lunch came around, the trio settled down at a table and tried eating their food without throwing it up immediately afterwards.

A few minutes later, Tess entered the quad with her own, red lunch tray. They were all frozen as they watched the pretty, curly haired blond walk by. She looked timid and nervous; not at all like the betraying female they'd come to know her as. No, Michael calmed himself; she hasn't done anything like that yet…

Taking a deep breath, he looked over at his fellow hybrids. Isabel had turned her head down, letting her long hair shield her face, but Michael could practically feel the hate flowing off of her. She didn't say anything though, and continued to eat her apple quietly.

Michael's eyes slid over to Max; his mood had been off ever since she stepped foot in their class, so this would probably not do anything to help him. To his surprise, Michael didn't sense any anger on Max's face. In fact he didn't sense a damned thing.

Max was staring straight ahead with his blank mask firmly in place. The sight of it didn't really bring Michael comfort, knowing that he only wore that expression when he was trying desperately not to do something.

"Maxwell? Are you okay?"

Max nodded and seemingly shook off his gloom. He reached out for his soda, but before taking a sip, he suddenly spoke. "Michael, I need you to promise me one thing and one thing only." Max's eyes briefly landed on the unknowing Tess.

Michael rolled his eyes. Of course, he'll try to caution us one more time… "What," he said instead of complaining, "to behave around Tess; don't worry, I won't kill her."

To Michael's, and the now watching Isabel's, surprise, Max didn't react visibly to Michael's promise. He simply took a sip of his soda before saying calmly without looking at him, "no, that's not it, Michael. I want you to keep me from hurting her."

Isabel flinched noticeably at the sudden increase of danger emanating from Max, he had briefly transformed in to the killing monster from their dark future. Michael looked at his best friend with shock; too used to the Max, who'd never really wanted to hurt any of his friends or the mother of his now never to be born child.

"Max?"

Max finally blinked out of his cold mask and met Michael's stare head on as he explained gently, "Keep me from taking her, torturing her for fourteen days, five hours and fifty three minutes, before healing her and starting all over again like Khivar did to me because of her betrayal. Promise me, that you'll help me from letting the hate I have for her and Nasedo overwhelm me so we can build a new relationship with them and possibly salvage our lives here in Roswell. I'm not interested in fighting another war."

Michael swallowed roughly and nodded after a heartbeat of silence. "Sure Max. Changing things is good. Like with Mrs. Parker; befriending Tess will be good…Right Iz?"

Isabel's eyes were locked on Alex, who was busy strumming his guitar over in one of the corners of the quad. "Yeah…no more wars, I agree. But if they even think about hurting Alex, I'll show them what I learned in the one I did participate in."

Michael nodded; he felt the exact same thing regarding Maria. "Noted. Now, will any of you give me some pointers on how to ask Maria out?"

TBC…

A/N Please take a moment to review. I know I don't update all that fast, but believe me there's a reason. Having your reviews reminds me that I have great people following my story and it makes it that much harder to put the updating on hold;) That said, thanks to all of you, who are in fact reviewing! I love you;)

I'll try to update faster next time, I promise!

Until Next Time

Ditte Mai