I don't own Roswell or any of its franchis. I do however have dips on this plot idea and will defend it religiously people:)

A/N I know I said that I would update faster - and although I'm still nearly a week faster than last time, it still took a long time. I can't even give a good reason...Sorry. This chapter is probably gonna be confusing, but I know what I'm doing, remember that. Thanks for all your great comments, they are the main reason I'm sticking with this story! Now enjoy!

This Chapter Is Unbetaed, But Please Let Me Know If You See Any Glaring Mistakes:)

Max's POV

It was just after a fairly uneventful school day when he stopped the jeep near the entrance of the Indian reservation. The sun was shining warmly down on them, telling them that summer wasn't too far away. Out of the corner of his eye, Max could see Isabel glance hesitantly at the small group of people standing with big smiles as they tried to sell their merchandise to visitors.

"I never thought I'd see this place again," Michael muttered and got out of the jeep as the first one, "last time I was here, I was a little out of it and the time before that I nearly coughed out my lungs in that damned ritual thing."

Max nodded and followed Michael out of the car, albeit in a slower pace. "Me neither, but we need those stones. Especially since Nasedo has arrived. We might need them sometime soon. We can't keep relying on my healing powers."

Isabel snorted and finally got out of the jeep as the last one. Her dark brown eyes were full of contempt as she stated, "Call me self-centered, but I doubt I'd be willing to use the stones on that backstabbing son of a-"

"Hello, may I interest you in some homemade jewelry?" A kind, female voice sounded behind the trio and they immediately spun around. Apparently their faces gave off their tenseness and annoyance because the poor woman quickly took a few steps back and muttered an apology with downcast eyes.

Max met Isabel's and Michael's eyes and could see they felt a bit shamed about their lack of control and without a word they all quickly walked further into the reservation.

Michael took the lead, being the one who'd actually been inside the grounds. Isabel walked closely behind him, eying the other people present warily while Max stayed a few steps behind, making sure no one paid them too much attention.

As they walked in silence, Max's mind dwelled on the new arrival in their lives. Tess. He still remembered looking up the day before in class and seeing her for the first time since she went and blew herself up to save Zan. Instantly his insides had been burning with a deep, almost wounding hatred and he was honestly happy that Liz had refused their bond and couldn't feel him at that moment.

I was the one who sent for her and Nasedo, Max rationalized, not for the first time, and we'll all go to Nasedo's house tonight to speak to him face to face. The quicker we act the less time he has to settle in and start scheming.

Suddenly, Max bumped into Isabel and only then realizing that the other two had stopped. Blinking back into the present, Max spotted a young man that he vaguely remembered as the man that had led Liz and him to the healing stones. We were so young then, he reminisced with a soft sigh, while simultaneously trying to remember the man's name.

Michael glanced back at him quickly before asking the older man where to find River Dog.

The guy's eyes narrowed and he looked at them one by one, his eyes staying just a hint longer on Max than on the others. "Who wants to know?" he finally asked, crossing his arms.

`Let me try´ Isabel's finger gently touched Max's arm and a second later, she stepped forward with a huge, flirtatious smile on her full lips.

"We're just doing a project about the Native Americans in school and well…" she looked down, trying to look bashful and eager at the same time, "we heard from someone that this man, River Dog, is supposedly an expert on all the legends and stuff. Is that okay? Do you think he'd mind? I really hope not, because these guys," Isabel pointed briefly at Max and Michael, "are complete losers that would rather spend their time playing videogames than do any kind of real schoolwork so I'll be stuck with a lot of work if I can't interview someone in the know. Please Mister; I'll be really thankful for your help."

Even Max, who still remembered fondly how easily Isabel could manipulate boys of all ages ever since childhood, held his breath while the older guy stood immobile for what seemed like forever. Then Max released the air in his lungs in a sigh of relief when the other man smiled a little bit and gave his consent.

"I'll take you to him, but it's not certain that he's gonna want to talk to you. River Dog is a very busy man. I'm Eddie by the way."

Isabel nodded and rewarded her newest victim with a beaming smile and slid her arm through his as they started walking. Max met Michael's amused eyes with a shrug and they hurried to follow after their devious sister.

It didn't take more than a few minutes of walking, before Eddie stopped outside a worn down building that looked more like a child's attempt at carpentry than an actual house. "He's in there," Eddie announced and knocked on the frail looking door before entering.

Michael and Isabel looked back at Max when he didn't move immediately. Isabel shook her head so her long hair fell in a wave down her back and said, "It was your idea, Max so you go first."

"Michael's the only one who ever really spent time with him," Max protested, but Michael simply crossed his arms and raised a mocking eyebrow until Max sighed and followed Eddie inside.

It was dark, but Max's eyes adjusted to the different lighting fairly quickly. The elderly man, River Dog that Max vaguely remembered, was sitting at a cluttered desk. His entire face was etched in concentration as he was apparently busy writing something with a bright, pink pen.

Max's eyebrows went upwards when his eyes landed on the pen. It wasn't exactly something he'd ever imagined that the older man had in his possession. Apparently, Max's stare had alerted River Dog to their presence, because he looked up with a start.

If Max hadn't spent the last years of his past life learning to take in details in a single glance, he would have missed the way River Dog's eyes narrowed a fraction in suspicion like Eddie's had done earlier. Was he always so suspicious of us? Max wondered, or is it just because we're strangers in general?

It didn't even last a second before River Dog's lined face melted into a good-natured grin and he gestured down at the pink pen in his hand. "Awful thing, isn't it? I got it from my granddaughter at my last birthday and she insists that I use it every time I write to her. Well," River Dog sighed briefly and put away the pen, "I have only myself to blame. I acted a bit too happy when I got it, so I must endure until she inevitably turns her affections towards another color. I just hope it will happen sooner rather than later."

Max kept his face carefully friendly and smiled. He noticed that Isabel and Michael were copying him. Eddie stepped forward and spoke to River Dog in their native tongue. Again, Max's keen observational skills made sure he didn't miss the quick pointed stare in both his and Michael's direction.

I don't remember them acting like this before, Max thought again. He took a small step to the side and let his hand brush against Isabel's. 'What do you think they're saying about us?'

'I have no idea, but Michael just said that they seem to be very interested in you two and not me'. Isabel replied a few seconds later.

Max thought back to the time when he'd first met River Dog and had a tentative theory. Again his hand touched Isabel's casually. 'It could because he knew that Nasedo was a male and he wants to make sure that we're not like him; that we're just humans. Remember how he put Michael through that test?'

Isabel relayed Max's thoughts to Michael, whose eyes widened marginally before he turned his head towards Max and nodded a fraction in obvious agreement.

The whole silent conversation hadn't taken more than a few seconds and now Max turned his full attention back on River Dog. The old man was still talking quietly with Eddie, but his face was looking welcoming and no longer reserved. Maybe Iz's story has convinced them that we're just three normal high school students, Max thought.

"Well, sorry about that," River Dog exclaimed several moments later and watched as Eddie made his way back outside to do whatever he had been doing before being intercepted so effortlessly by Isabel, "forgive an old man for making sure I knew what you wanted in such a rude manner."

"You know," Isabel drawled and raised an eyebrow, "you could just have asked."

River Dog glanced at her, but it was clear that he had no regrets over what he'd done. Isabel opened her mouth to reply, but in the next instant, both Max and Michael had placed their hands on her wrist. 'Don't make the guy angry,' Michael demanded. 'Let's follow the plan and get a move on.'

Max agreed with Michael and then took a deep breath before stepping forward to River Dog to do as they'd planned all along. "River Dog, I'm sorry for doing this to you, but we are in a hurry and can't afford to wait. I need the stones and I know you have them."

River Dog's tanned face paled as the implications of Max's statement became clear and he got to his feet with an agility that didn't match his age. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don't," Max said, raising his hands in a placating manner. "We're not here to hurt you or yours. We simply need the stones."

"I will not help a murderer," the old man hissed, showing a much more emotional side than Max ever recalled seeing in his earlier life.

"Look Old Man," Michael suddenly spoke, his entire demeanor clearly showing that he did not appreciate the insult, "like Max said; we're in a hurry, we aren't evil, so pipe down and give us the damn stones. They belong to us."

Max had the insane urge to chuckle. Trust Michael to get right to the point at a time like this. Outwardly, he settled for saying a gentle as he could, "We are not gonna let Nasedo win, so we need what is rightfully ours."

River Dog's intelligent eyes went from Michael to Max when he heard that. "Nasedo? You are not him, but you know of him? You are not with him?"

Max crossed his arms and answered truthfully, "We know him and no, we are not with him. I give you my word that we have no intention of doing anything that isn't justified. Will you give us the stones?"

Not for the first time, Max berated himself for not remembering the way to the cave where Liz and he had gotten the healing stones in the original timeline. Going to River Dog to simply request for them had been his own idea, but right now, he was no longer sure it was such a great one.

River Dog kept silent for a long minute, he simply stared intently at them all, one by one. Max remained motionless, Michael copied Max's stance and crossed his arms and Isabel fidgeted uncomfortably as the tension rose.

Half an hour later, the hybrids left the Indian reservation with a small pouch that was filled with the stones they'd requested. Max started the jeep and they drove back to the Evans residence to prepare for their next big issue; Confronting Nasedo.

At least now we have the stones, Max thought grimly, let's just hope that things go as smoothly tonight…

Isabel's POV

"Can I just say one last time that I'm not happy about this," Isabel said in a near whisper as she followed the two male hybrids up the small path to Nasedo's house.

It was dark, but the light from the windows gave off an intimidating aura that made the hairs in the back of her neck stand out. Isabel was no coward, but still; she was not feeling particularly at ease either.

Max stopped and waited for her to catch up. "I know that, Iz. None of us are, but we need them in our corner. Nasedo has avoided the law for decades and his shape shifting ability is the only way we can destroy the special unit from within without jeopardizing ourselves like before. It doesn't mean that we have to be best friends with either of them."

"I know," Isabel sighed and straightened up, putting on her emotionless mask that she'd mastered in the war. "Lead the way."

They walked as a united front to the door and Michael knocked twice. He looks just as tense as I feel, Isabel thought, clenching her fists as they heard someone walk towards the door.

A few seconds later, the door was opened and Tess Harding stood before them. Isabel bit the inside of her lip so hard that she could taste blood in her struggle to remain unemotional on the outside.

Tess' admittedly pretty face frowned in confusion at the sight of them. Don't act so surprised, Blondie, Isabel thought coldly, Nasedo has been keeping tabs on us our whole lives, so you must already know how we look like. Don't bother with the innocent act.

"Err…Hello, may I help you?" Tess eventually asked when neither of the remaining hybrids spoke.

"We need to talk to your guardian," Max stated blankly, his voice completely devoid of emotions.

"I'm sorry," Tess tilted her head with a friendly smile, "my dad is really busy right now. He's only just beginning to catch up at his new job, so he's really tired. But, if you leave me your names and number, I promise, I'll get him to call you."

Isabel gritted her teeth and was about to spit out something none too ladylike, but Michael stepped forward a bit and sent her a warning look. I'm sorry I'm so confrontational, Isabel thought to out to the other hybrids, but whenever I see her I want just to bash her head in…

Isabel managed to send a grateful smile in Michael's direction before she snapped her attention back to her brother when he finally answered Tess.

"You can tell your dad that Rath, Vilandra and Zan are here and we demand to talk to him immediately."

Tess' eyes widened so much that Isabel wondered if her eyes were about to pop out of her head. "Z-Zan?" she stuttered and looked between them as though trying to absorb their features in her memory. "Vilandra and -and Rath?" Evidently, she hadn't counted on them knowing their origins in such detail.

"Yes, Ava" Max said, his eyes cool, "Get Nasedo, we need to speak with him."

Tess quickly spun around and in her befuddlement; she simply closed the door in their faces. It didn't take more than a minute before the door was reopened and the visage of Mr. Harding was standing in the doorway, looking if not as much then very close to it, as flustered as his charge.

However, he quickly regained his control with a blink of his eyes. Isabel's upper lip curled in distaste. This was the person, whose behind the scene activities had led to Tess' betrayal and ultimately Alex's death. If he makes one wrong move, I'll show him what the Ice Queen is capable of. I can get very creative…

"Hello," Nasedo greeted them with an amiable smile. Maybe it was just Isabel, but she thought she saw a spark of genuine unease in the alien's eyes. "This is truly a surprise. Come on in."

Michael walked in first, his large frame tensed noticeably as he passed Nasedo. Isabel went next. She fought down the temptation to give in to her childish urge to bump roughly into Tess, who was standing slightly behind Nasedo and watching them all with confusion. Max entered the house last and he immediately walked over to Isabel's side, thus making sure that she was covered from both sides.

Oh please, the female hybrid thought with an internal huff, while simultaneously ignoring the tiny part of her that was actually thankful for their protection, I've killed and fought just as much as you two have…

"Can I offer you something to drink?" Nasedo was the picture of politeness, but Isabel couldn't quite hold back a shudder of discomfort when the old alien closed the door behind them with a quiet snap.

Max looked over at Isabel and she saw the struggle he was having with himself to remain calm and collected so she answered Nasedo instead, "No thanks. We're not here to chit chat. We came here tonight to ask for your cooperation in a matter of great importance."

Michael took over when Isabel didn't quite know how to continue. "There's a man you need to become and dispose of to prevent them from finding out about us."

This time, Nasedo's surprise lasted a bit longer than a second and he walked over to Tess as he stared hard at Michael. "Really? I must admit that, given your life up until now, I'm amazed. I'd expected you three children to be wary of death and its ugly sides."

"Well, we're not," Michael's abruptness was oddly enough soothing on Isabel's nerves and she took over again.

"What he means to say is; we're well aware of the dangers The Special Unit represents. There's already an agent at the school digging around. We can't do anything to her because it'd be too obvious. She's merely a foot soldier anyway and we want you to go to the top and put a dent in the Unit's credibility."

Nasedo's eyes narrowed and he stared at Isabel with such intensity that she had to force herself to remain where she was. "You're not at all what I expected, Vilandra."

"Her name is Isabel. We only used the other names to get your attention." Michael all but sneered and Nasedo nodded once in understanding. His eyes showed that he was not in the least bit frazzled now that he'd overcome his initial surprise.

"Of course. I meant no disrespect. Well, back to business then. I have come here after receiving your message and as you can see, I've brought the last of the Royal Four. She likes to be called Tess, isn't that right?"

Tess smiled, and if Isabel didn't know better, she'd say that the look in her eyes was one of delight. Was she as happy to be reunited with us in our former life? I can't remember; I was too freaked out thinking I was carrying Michael's kid at the time.

The memory of what Isabel now knew to be the very first time, Tess had mindwarped her, brought back a fresh wave of anger. Her anger was derailed into genuine shock a moment later, when Nasedo spoke again.

"Although I respect your idea, I must decline. I have no intention of going undercover. I have my own system and it's worked pretty well so far. I will, however, take care of the before mentioned foot soldier and leave a fresh trail to confuse her peers. That reminds me," Nasedo's polite tone turned judgmental as he looked into Max's eerie blank eyes. "What in the world were you thinking when you decided to risk everything for a mere human? It would have been better if you'd just left the girl to die."

Oh, no. Isabel bit her lip, knowing that Nasedo had just committed a huge mistake. She quickly stepped closer to her brother, seeing out of the corner of her eye that Michael was doing the same.

To Isabel's surprise, Max didn't move a muscle. There was a small increase in the temperature, but that was the only visible sign of the rage that Isabel just knew was lurking inside of him.

A few moments later, Max blinked slowly and then took one, casual step forward; making sure to keep eye contact with Nasedo the whole time.

"Liz and any other human we choose to socialize with are of no concern to you. You will be taking over Pierce's job and you will ruin The Special Unit from within."

Nasedo looked down at Tess for a short second before looking back up at Max with a small smirk in place. "Really, what makes you so sure, Max?" The way he spoke the human name was etched with mockery.

Isabel swallowed down her growing worry when Max simply copied Nasedo's smirk and said with steel in his voice, "Because I'm your king and I gave you an order. And while we're on the subject; the deal you've made is hereby annulled, do you understand. That's an order."

Nasedo paled so fast that it looked like his blood was vanishing completely from his head. Tess looked even more confused as she kept looking from her guardian to Max. "What is going on here? I thought you'd be happy to see us. I'm the fourth alien; we have a destiny to fulfill."

Isabel wanted nothing more but to grab Tess' neck and squeeze the life out of her while laughing, but realistically, she knew that they had to tread carefully. They wouldn't want to change things too much. It took everything she had, but Isabel managed to look Tess in the eyes without letting her burning hatred shine through…At least, she hoped so.

"That destiny isn't going to happen," Isabel said quietly, "we're on Earth now and have formed connections that can't easily be broken."

"That's not…you just haven't been involved with our alien side like I have by growing up with Nasedo. I've learned so much, and Nasedo's helped me all my life and every time I wanted to live a normal life, he'd remind me of my duty. My destiny. Our destiny." Tess argued eagerly, it was clear that she fully believed in what she was saying.

For one tiny second, Isabel wondered if the Tess had ever longed to be normal as much as she had in the original timeline. We never really bothered to ask her about her childhood with Nasedo and then she betrayed us and no one cared.

"We do not need to be paired up, just because we were on Antar," Michael said, interrupting Isabel's thought process. "It's true that we're stronger when we're all together, our abilities fit together like the well-oiled machines we were made to be. Or in this case alien hybrids."

Nasedo was still standing frozen next to Tess, his widened eyes trained on Max with something akin to real fear written over his entire face. Isabel looked over at Max and saw that he too wasn't looking away from the older alien.

Coming to a decision, Isabel stepped in-between them and said coolly, "Well, it's getting late and I think we all have a lot to think about. You," her brown eyes zeroed in on Nasedo, "can send messages through Tess and we'll finalize the plans in the upcoming days. Tess," this time her eyes landed on the gaping blonde, "you are…welcome to join us for lunch at school tomorrow. We'll let ourselves out. Come on guys."

Isabel nodded to the fourth hybrid and her alien guardian before slowly walking out to the jeep, trailed by a silent Max and a tired looking Michael.

Max started the engine and they drove away from the Harding house. The silence stretched over them as each of them tried to come to terms with their day. Isabel was feeling nauseous, the disgust she had over Tess and having to be civil to her, a woman she'd hated for over a decade, was making her stomach turn.

She leaned forward and placed her head between her legs, trying to breathe slowly in and out. She closed her eyes and tried to follow the link from her to Alex, honing in on his soothing and regular emotions.

"Isabel, are you okay?" Max's voice sounded both concerned and exhausted at the same time.

Sitting back up, Isabel nodded. "I'll be fine. Just," she looked out at her surroundings, "please drop me off here and I'll walk the rest of the way home. I just need some time to think."

The understanding in both Max and Michael's eyes was palpable and a moment later, Max pulled in to the sidewalk and Isabel got out of the jeep.

"Be careful, Iz," Max cautioned softly, "I'll wait up for you at home."

"Don't worry, Max," Isabel smiled, "I can take care of myself, as you both know. I'll see you later."

She watched them drive away and didn't move until she could no longer see the jeep in the distance. Only then did Isabel start to make her way over to Alex's house. She was barely aware that she was doing it, but somehow there was a part in her that needed to see that Alex was still alive and well, despite having invited Tess back into their lives.

A little while later, Isabel stood on the Whitman's doorstep and after a brief hesitation, she resolutely rang the doorbell.

Fortunately, Alex was the one opening the door. He looked extremely shocked to see her, but there was also a clear hint of pleasure that made Isabel smile. I've always loved the way his emotions are written on his face. I don't even need the bond to tell me what he's feeling.

"Isabel, hi!" Alex nearly yelled his greeting and he quickly looked behind him with a sheepish grin. "Whoops, sorry about the noise level…Let me try again; hey Isabel. What brings you here?"

Before she knew what she was doing, Isabel put her arms around Alex's neck and hugged him tightly. Her nose was buried in his collar and she breathed in that scent of his that she'd never really forgotten.

"Oh, okay," Alex mumbled and she felt him battle through surprise, desire and concern before he settled on caring confusion. After a long second, he slowly put his arms around her, bringing her closer to him, something which Isabel didn't object to in the least. "What's going on, Isabel? Are you all right?"

"It's nothing," Isabel's reply was muffled because she didn't move her head from the crook of his neck. "Can I just, please stand here for a little while? I promise I'll leave in a minute…"

The soothing sound of his beating heart calmed Isabel in a way she had never imagined. He's alive; he's not lying in the back of a van with those empty eyes and that cold skin… The dreaded memory of the night he'd died crept into Isabel's mind and she hugged Alex even tighter. If she could, she would have crawled into him, she was that desperate to be close to him.

Alex placed his hand on the back of her head and gently caressed her hair, stroking it as though he wanted to calm her like a wild, scared animal. "It's okay; I'll just stand here with you for as long as you need it, Isabel. Take all the time you want, I'm not going anywhere."

No you're not; Isabel thought and blinked away the burning in her eyes that threatened to turn into tears. I'll see to that.

Outwardly, Isabel simply sighed and whispered, "Thank you, Alex," before allowing herself to just relish in the fact that Alex was with her and alive and well.

Michael's POV

Having had his very first, all round exhausting day after his trip with the granolith express, Michael was not in a very good mood.

Therefore the morning after the visit at Nasedo and Tess' house, Michael was tired and grumpy. He'd never really been great at the whole cheerful thing, especially when he was tired. His mood wasn't made any better when he was rudely awoken fully by a pounding that the fragile door to his so called room in Hank's trailer couldn't quite handle. A moment later, the door banged open and slammed into the wall with a bang.

Hank stepped inside and by the looks of him, he was extremely intoxicated. "You! Boy!" he roared and stomped over and hauled Michael off the pitiful excuse for a bed and dragged him through the living room area and threw him out the door and onto the patch of dirt that made up their entire garden area.

"Hank, what the hell!" Michael yelled; he was wide now awake and ready for anything. Having lived through a war with unexpected twists and horrors, Michael's training made him instinctively tense up and prepare for blood.

Hank himself, stood swaying in the doorframe for a second, before jumping down on the ground in front of him. "Don't you sass me, Boy," he spat and his arm lunged out to hit his foster child as he'd done so many times before.

Except, this time things were about to happen a little differently. The second before Hank's fist would have connected with Michael's chin; Michael's left hand snapped up and grabbed a firm hold on Hank's wrist.

"Don't even think about it," Michael stated with an uncanny calm that managed to ruffle Hank momentarily.

Hank tried to wrestle his wrist away from the iron tight grip his foster son had on him, but it was without success. "Let go of me, Boy," he finally ordered angrily.

Michael knew that although he'd probably enjoy it for about five seconds (or more), it wouldn't be a good idea to pound his abusing foster parent into the ground for all the neglect and violence he'd suffered in his childhood. Instead he took a deep breath and settled for asking calmly, "Now, tell me why you felt the need to throw me out of my bed? Now Hank."

Hank swallowed, making his prominent Adam's apple jump. It was obvious that he was feeling intimidated by the much more mature Michael in front of him. As they stood at their impasse, Hank realized with an internal start that Michael was actually taller than him. "You've grown so much," he murmured after yet another long moment.

Michael rolled his eyes and released Hank. "Good observation Hank. I'm still waiting for your answer."

"I-I got a call from your school yesterday and this lady wanted to talk to me Monday afternoon. Sounded like you've been misbehaving and," here Hank's insecure tone turned determined, "I won't allow any kid of mine to mess up his chances at school. You're gonna finish high school no matter what, ya hear?"

"I didn't know you cared," Michael said, still oozing with a calm that seemed to almost scare the sobriety back into his foster dad.

"Your ma' would've wanted you to graduate and I want to make her proud of you." Hank responded after a brief thought period, there was something that resembled guilt and regret showing in his red rimmed eyes.

Michael blinked; he honestly couldn't remember when he'd last thought of the woman that had been married to Hank when he first came to live with him. Marianne Guerin had been a complete opposite to her husband; quiet, intelligent and extremely happy about having him in her life.

The almost forgotten memory of his foster mom, reminded Michael of a time when Hank had been sober, hardworking at the factory where he'd been employed for over fifteen years. Then Marianne had fallen ill and died after a short battle with cancer. It had been the start of Hank's current way of life.

Marianne had been the only human that Michael had ever opened up too before Maria, and when she left him all alone with a man that had transformed from a decent guy to an angry drunk, that had been the start of his own journey into self-preservation and caution towards letting people in.

Blinking out of the unexpected memories, Michael ran a hair through his hair with a sigh. "Look, Hank; I'm not sure what Topolsky told you, but I've got no plans to quit school. Now go back inside and sober up while I get ready for school."

Hank stared at him for a long while, and for a moment it was as though the haze of alcohol and stupidity slipped away to reveal the man he'd once been. "I'll do that Mike. And I'm…sorry, ya know for-"

Michael nodded mutely and walked back inside the trailer. He paused at the door to send a one fingered salute to their nearest neighbor, who'd been watching the whole thing with rapt, nosy attention.

Michael grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and walked into the tiny room that made up their shower. He quickly showered and dried off. He didn't look in the mirror as he brushed his teeth, still not used to seeing his naked torso without all the scars. Instead, he thought about how much his own negativity and anger had prevented Hank from getting decent help in the original timeline.

He used to be a good guy, Michael remembered as he dressed and went into his room to pack his worn book bag. Maybe I could try and convince him to go to some sobering up thing and get back on his feet.

It spoke of Michael's growth that he didn't entertain thoughts about making Hank relieve his past misdeeds. He no longer carried around that resentment and anger that had shaped him into the young hot head that had been so desperate to get out of Roswell that he'd kidnapped Maria to get answers. Hell, Michael thought with a wry smile, those beatings he stumbled through are nothing compared to what I've lived through since leaving this shitty place.

Finished with his preparations for the day, Michael reentered the living room area, where Hank was now sitting on his recliner with an unopened can of beer in his hand. It was obvious that something that Michael had said and done had somehow reached him and he was now looking thoughtful.

Silently, Michael walked over to the refrigerator and poured a glass of clumpy, smelly and clearly long expired milk. He shielded the glass as he placed his hand over it and changed it back into fresh milk. Then he walked back over to Hank and mutely replaced the can of beer with the milk.

Hank looked at the white liquid for a long time before looking up at the still silent Michael. Eventually, he nodded and drank half of the glass in one go. After wiping off the milk from his lip, Hank stood up with a new look in his eyes that were mixed with a bit of trepidation. "Got time to help me take out the beer? I don't think I can do it alone."

For the first time in years, Michael Guerin smiled a little at his foster parent. "Sure, Hank. I got time."

The two men then started taking out the trash. Michael took the trash bag filled with alcohol with him when Max and Isabel pulled up in front of the trailer, that way making sure that Hank wouldn't just go back to the trash and reclaim his beer once Michael had left for school.

The Evans kids eyed the bag in Michael's hand with interest clearly written on their faces and Isabel curiously asked, "What's that?"

Michael threw the bag in the back and jumped in next to it. He looked back at the trailer where Hank was now standing in the doorway looking at them driving away. "Hope for a man that didn't use to have any."

"What?" Isabel frowned in confusion and Michael looked back at her.

"I'll explain later, let's just go to school so we can see if Tess has any messages from Nasedo. Also, I need to have a quick chat with Topolsky."

Max and Isabel cast a hesitant look at him, clearly they didn't understand what was going on with him, but they didn't say anything and for that, Michael was grateful.

TBC...

A/N Things are slowly changing and I hope you don't find them too unbelievable. I know that Hank's turnaround might seem sudden and without any reason, but having grown up in a family of alcoholics, I've gone through some of the same things as Michael and the scene with the trashbag etc (not the manipulated milk for obvious reasons) are something that happened to me and that's why I think it's a believable path for Hank to go now...BTW Marianne Guerin is a complete figment of my imagination, if there's ever been written something about Michael's foster mom, this is obviously AU. Let me know what you think about this, it'd mean the world to me:)

Until Next Time

Ditte Mai