Ch 1
September 2000
"Liz you're back!" Maria shrieked once she saw her brown-haired friend at her locker the first day of school. "When did you get in?"
"Last night around midnight. I would've called you but I was completely exhausted." Liz hugged her. "So how was your summer?"
"Interesting. But judging from what you told me and Alex last week on the phone not half as interesting as yours." Maria gave her a meaningful look as they walked down the hallway.
"Right. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away but it was a little hard to comprehend much less think about telling you and Alex."
"It's cool. Speaking of Alex let's find him. I know that he is absolutely dying to see you." Maria shot Liz a look. "And he's not the only one."
"Maria the first bell hasn't even rung yet. Can we save the 'Max talk' till later?"
"Sure." Maria nodded.
Liz took her friend's arm and stopped them both in mid-step. "Maria you didn't tell him, right?"
"Liz of course not." Maria said and Liz released her arm. The girls started to walk again.
"Just checking." The two reached Alex's locker and leaned against the surrounding lockers. "So tell me, how is Alex?" Liz asked looking around.
"Peachy, considering her Royal Highness has been running hot and cold all summer."
"What else is new?"
"That tan for one." A new voice said.
"Alex!" Liz threw herself into her friend's arms.
"How's my favorite Wicca chick?" Alex asked softly.
"Feeling pretty magical." Liz teased.
"And your cousins?"
"Pheebs is nuts, Prue's in charge, and Piper's in love."
"That guy Leo?" Maria guessed.
"Yes. Very cute. I have pictures but I haven't had a chance to get them developed yet."
"Well I can't wait to see how gorgeous your cousins turned out." Alex said as he put something in his locker.
"Well they are brunettes Alex." Liz reminded him. "And we all know how much you like blondes."
Maria snorted as Alex gave Liz a withering look. "Funny."
"I thought so."
hr
"Liz?"
Liz looked up from her lunch. "Hi Max. How are you?"
"Good. Can I sit?"
"I'm waiting for Maria and Alex."
"I'm sure they won't mind."
"I'm sure they wouldn't but I do."
"I see." Max shifted slightly. "Look Liz-"
"Max how ya doing?" Alex clapped Max on the back. "Long time no see." He sat down across from Liz. "Where's Maria?"
"I don't know. Last time I saw her she was arguing with Mi-"
"He is without a doubt the single most infuriating creature on this planet." Maria interrupted. "And possibly even off it."
"What did he do now?" Liz asked.
"He was just being more Michael than usual." Maria said exasperatedly. She finally noticed Max when she sat down next to Liz. "Hi Max."
"Maria." Max nodded in a friendly way. "More Michael than usual?"
"He- get this, you so won't even believe it! He was all like-"
Max noticed Liz wince. "Time to reassemble the Maria filter." He joked lightly.
"Yeah tell me about it. This is what I get for hanging around people who don't babble incoherently all summer."
"I do not babble and even if I did so does Piper."
"Piper doesn't talk anymore."
"Why not?"
"She's attached at the lip to Leo."
"Well then Phoebe. She uses fragmented sentences too. In fact, she taught me how!" Maria said brightly.
"She's right you know." Alex agreed.
"Quiet you."
"You are not the boss of me."
"Oh I iso/i am."
"Liz." Alex appealed.
"She is the boss. So am I. I'm Maria's boss and your boss too."
"Hey!" Maria said indignantly before she lost the battle of the giggles. "Give it up Alex. You know she's right."
"Fine, fine." Alex looked at Max. "Hey your food's getting cold."
"I'm not really all that hungry."
"Michael's waving at you." Liz pointed.
Max turned his head and nodded. "Well I guess I'll see you guys later."
"Bye Max." They all said.
He stood. "Liz, will you be at the Crashdown later?"
"Uh no actually. I have to clean out Grandma Claud's house on Sunbriar."
"Oh, all right. Need a hand?"
Liz was about to refuse when Maria poked her and whispered. "Don't say no! You can make him drag furniture out of the attic, instead of having to do it ourselves. Having a strong man to do your bidding is useful."
"I'm telekinetic. It's good practice." Liz hissed back.
"Liz say yes to the man or I'm telling Vicki Delaney that you let Kyle give you a hickey over the summer right before you left." Maria said with a smile.
"Fine." Liz looked back at Max. "Sure Max, in fact bring Michael. Give Alex's back a break."
"Thanks, but with them there-"
"We'll still need you Alex." Maria said. "In fact Max, why don't you bring Isabel too?"
"And Kyle was telling me in History that he's not busy so why not ask him too?" Alex said.
"Ask me what?" Kyle's voice intruded.
"To come with us to help Liz clean the attic." Max answered.
"Sure, I'll come- hey you know who would be good to bring?"
"We're gonna have the entire school at the manor." Liz muttered.
"Just Tess." Kyle promised.
"Tess?" Liz succeeded in keeping the dismayed look of her face. "Sure why not?"
"Great. Liz what's the address?"
"1516 Sunbriar Lane."
"Kyle, a word?" Maria gripped his arm like a vise.
"Sure little sis."
"I told you, do not call me that. They aren't married yet."
"But they will be soon." Liz interjected as Maria dragged Kyle away.
"What's up Maria?"
"Do you have to bring Tess?"
"You're gonna have Max and company there, right?"
"Right."
"So leaving her out would be rude."
"Boo-hoo."
"Maria, she's a nice girl."
"No she isn't. She's a slut."
"No, Pam Troy is a slut, Tess is not."
"But-"
"She's my friend and she's going to be living with us once Dad and Amy get married."
"She is? Since when?"
"Since Amy found out she lives alone in that big house and that Dad and I are taking care of her."
"No you're not."
"Who do you think makes sure there's food in the house, she's home safe at night and she hasn't bolted out of here?"
"Perfect."
"Look if Liz can put up with her for an afternoon so can you."
"No I can't."
hr
"I'm telling you right now Liz, that you may have a tenant for the Manor whether or not you want one." Maria ranted as Liz drove them and Alex to the Manor after school after they changed into work clothes.
Alex exchanged a pained glance with Liz. "Is your mom marrying the Sheriff really that bad?" He ventured.
"No, living with Tess is though. She's living with the Sheriff and Kyle. Why didn't I know about this?"
"Maybe your mom wanted to find just the right way to tell you. Or maybe, hmm, could it be that you haven't talked to Amy at all since she told you about the engagement?"
"We talk." Maria said defensively.
"Screaming to get off the phone or pass the salt doesn't count."
Liz snorted. "Is that what they've been reduced to?" She asked Alex.
"Yeah. That and grunting. I was over there last week and it was like I was in a bad movie about cavemen."
"It's not that bad." Maria rolled her eyes. "It's actually more civil than usual."
"Whatever you say Maria." Alex rolled his eyes.
"Alex I have a favor to ask." Liz said changing the subject.
"What is it? I am at your disposal."
"I want to practice on you."
"Practice what?" He asked suspiciously.
"My powers of telekinesis and freezing time."
"Freezing time is fine as long as it isn't long, but leave me out of TK practice."
"Why?"
"I don't want to get moved into another state."
"Alex I have great control."
"I don't care. Practicing implies all sorts of hazardous possibilities."
"Wimp."
"Damn proud of it too."
Liz pulled the car to a stop. "Okay, okay. You win. I'll just have to practice on inanimate objects."
"Thank you." Alex said, relieved.
"You're welcome. Now as for the freezing thing-"
"I still can't believe you can stop time." Maria said as they got out of the car.
"I'll prove it. Watch." She lifted her hand and concentrated for a split second. The water gushing from the sprinkler hung suspended.
"Uh Liz, make it work again." Alex said looking down the road at the approaching jeep and truck.
"Oh!" Liz whirled her hands. The water started to gush again.
"That is so awesome!" Maria squealed. "So what? Like if you got stuck on a test- not that it would ever happen cause you're brilliant, but you could freeze the room, look up the answer and unfreeze everything?"
"Uh no. There's this whole set of personal gain rules. I can't punish the guilty, I can only protect the innocent, no using your powers to further yourself, yadda, yadda, yadda."
"That sucks." Maria said frankly. "Are you gonna do something to Tess today?" She whispered.
"Maria!"
"Well it would be protecting poor innocent Max from-"
"Maria, please give it a rest." Alex whispered as the pod squad approached.
"Hi guys." Isabel greeted. "Liz this is some house."
"Thanks Is."
"It's good to see you again." Michael conceded after being poked in the side by Isabel and then Max.
"Thanks Michael. So you guys ready?"
"Willing and able." Isabel concurred brightly, for all of them. "Oh, Liz, Tess said to say she's sorry but she can't make it today, but Kyle should be here soon."
"Oh. OK." Liz said passively.
"So Max, how was your first day?" Maria asked trying to draw him into a conversation when they all followed Liz to the front door.
"Fine. I got Ohl for Chem."
"Yuck." Maria made a face.
"He taught my mother." Liz said. "I thought he was going to retire last year?"
"No, he said, and I paraphrase, that before he goes he wants to whip Mr. Guerin into shape."
Maria hid a giggle behind her hand and followed Liz and Alex into the house. Michael scowled and Isabel smirked.
"Just let me find the light switch guys." Liz called. "I'm sorry it's so dark in here but the last time anyone was here was when Grandpa Parker died. Aha!" The room lit up. "And then there was light."
"Oh man, we have our work cut out for us, don't we?" Alex mumbled. The hall was a sea of boxes.
"Well Dad told me he'd cleaned out Grandma's storage space but he neglected to mention that it was the size of the school gym." Liz said as she walked down the hall. "Oh wait this is today's mail." She said stopping at a box. "Mom told me that something came. Anyone have a pocket knife?"
Max offered her his knife. Their fingers brushed lightly. "Thanks." She said, wishing that her cheeks hadn't heated with a blush from a simple touch.
"Anytime."
Liz slit open the box and started to pull things out. The first thing was a note. "Maria would you read this for me?" she said diving back in. "You and Pheebs have about the same handwriting. Awful."
Maria made a face as she deciphered the loopy script. "Um, call when you get this, they want to know how you're doing, they love you, um, they want to know when's a good time for a visit and she's found Prince Charming but he thinks he's an alien so help figure out a way to return him to sanity- wait that's not it." Maria returned to the puzzle the piece of paper presented.
"I want them to come for Thanksgiving." Liz opened a square box. "Oh how cool." She squealed.
"What?"
"Prue took a pic of Halliwell Manor." She showed them. "And one of Parker Manor West." She again displayed a framed picture. "I told her I wanted to hang some pictures of the other family homes. She must have taken these the day Piper dragged me to China Town."
"That is so cool." Maria agreed. "You have to hang them up- boys go find a hammer and nails."
"No way." Michael challenged.
"I'll do it." Max volunteered.
"Max it's okay. I can handle it." Liz said. "It's basically what I did all summer. Well that and sightseeing. Pheebs even took me to Alcatraz."
"Cool."
"Yeah it's really a shame they shut it down."
"Why Liz?" Alex asked.
"Cause I think Michael would've liked it there." Liz said brightly.
HR
"Hey Liz where does this go?" Maria asked pointing to a box of old records.
"Grandpa's study."
"It can't go in the study."
"Why not?"
"One, I can't lift it, Two even if I could the study door is completely blocked with junk."
"Oh. Then just leave it there." Liz said turning back to the wall she was hanging photographs on.
"Are you related to all those people?" Kyle asked as he drank a soda.
"Yeah. Hard to believe, isn't it?" Her eyes twinkled.
"I think it's kinda nice." Kyle said. "You forgot this one." He said lifting a picture up.
"No I didn't. That's my dad's cousin Patti and her ex-husband, Victor. I wanna ask Prue, Piper, and Phoebe if they mind before I hang it up."
"Why would they?"
"Cause he acted like a jerk." Liz said simply.
There was a long pause.
"Will you two stop it? Please!" Liz cried at Kyle and Maria, who were studiously ignoring each other.
"Fine. Hi Kyle, how are you?" Maria said in an extremely polite voice.
"I'm wonderful. Maria, could you tell me something?" His voice was also perfectly precise.
"Sure. What is it?"
"What the hell did you say to Tess?" He bellowed. "She was all set to come- really looking forward to it actually! That was at the end of lunch. After lunch she had computer, with you. She came out and I couldn't get her within a mile radius of this place!"
"Maria?" Liz prodded. "I was really okay with Tess coming here you know."
"I just thought it'd be safer if not a lot of people came over."
"Safer?" Kyle said.
"Maria, know that I say this with love, shut up before you say something we can't take back."
"You know what, I don't even want to know." He set his soda down hard. "Thanks for the drink Liz, is there anything you want me to do before I go try to soothe the hurt feelings of the blonde alien who will be living in my house very soon?" He aimed the barbed comment at Maria.
"Yeah go upstairs and see if Alex had any luck getting into the attic." Liz said.
"Gladly." Kyle stormed away and up the stairs.
"Maria, I appreciate your trying to protect me but I was really okay with Tess coming over here and don't you think you should get used to her?"
"Why? She isn't staying." Maria aimed her barb at Kyle's retreating back.
"I hate to be the one to point this out to you but yes she is Maria. She's a part of Kyle's life now and very soon she's going to be part of your life."
Maria made a face. "Liz? Please, I'm having a breakdown here. I don't want you to be logical, I want sympathy."
"Okay sympathy. I'm sorry you're going to have to live with the blonde witch."
"Thank you." Maria said
"You're welcome. Now where is everyone? I haven't seen Isabel or Max in about an hour. And where's Michael?"
"Isabel is cooing over a box of baby clothes. Max is dragging around furniture with Alex. They're doing decorating or as much of it as men are capable of."
"And Michael?" Liz almost dreaded the answer.
"Gutters." Maria smirked with satisfaction.
"You didn't."
"I did."
"Maria those ladders are like forty years old. He could fall."
"Boo hoo, one less alien to complicate my life."
"Maria, you don't mean that."
She heaved a sigh. "Maybe not..."
"Maria."
"Okay I'm a miserable bitch, happy?"
"No. And you are not. C'mon let's go make the bed in the master bedroom." Liz pulled her down the hall past the kitchen and into the master bedroom.
Maria shifted from side to side a little. "Wow, that thing is huge!"
"I know." Liz said from the linen closet before she sneezed.
"Bless you." Maria said.
"Thank you. Dusty in there."
"Dusty everywhere. How long was this place locked up? Don't you have, like, no dust charms or something?"
"Sorry but no. Of course I could try writing one."
"That would be cool." Maria said enviously. "You'd have to follow it with clean dishes, no vacuuming and-"
"Personal gain, remember?"
"That is a horrible rule."
"I know but it's the law of Wicca. Goes back for centuries."
"How many?"
"Liz, sorry to do this to you, but I better duck out." Kyle said from the doorway. "Isabel keeps getting some kind of a weird vibe off Tess but I'm sort of the only one on speaking terms with her at the moment."
"What happened with the others?"
"Long story."
"Enough said. Thanks for the help. Where's Alex?"
"Fooling around upstairs. There's this stool thing- I swear if you could patent it, it would replace scooters as toy of choice."
"Alex is upstairs playing on a chair." Liz repeated in disbelief.
"Well at least he's not trying to get some damned trunk open like Evans."
"What did you just say?"
"Max is trying to get some trunk op-" Kyle broke off when Liz raced past him. He looked back at Maria. "Something I said?"
Maria scowled and put her nose in the air, ignoring him.
"Fine then, I'll see you tonight." He said.
That grabbed her attention. "Huh?"
"Amy and Dad are having some kind of meeting with all of us tonight. About the wedding, and buying a house after that. Ground rules, all that junk."
"Oh God this can't be happening."
hr
"Max?" Liz called as she raced up the attic stairs. "Are you up there?" No answer. She dashed into the open room. Max was sprawled against the wall, on the opposite side of the room from the trunk. He was unconscious. "Oh God. Max!" Liz darted across the room. "Max? Max? Can you hear me?" She looked heavenward. "Grandma, Aunt Penny, a little help please?" Nothing that she could see happened, but there was a little gust of wind and suddenly Max was coughing. "Oh thank you." She said as she helped Max sit up. "Max are you okay?" She touched his face and made him look at her.
"Liz?" He sounded nearly reverent. "What happened? I mean- I died- almost- how did you bring me back?"
"What are you talking about?" Liz asked in confusion. "I came up here cause Kyle told me you were trying to get a trunk open. I knew it was Grandma's so I came up to tell you not to because her diaries are in there."
"But...but...I don't understand. What happened?" Max stammered.
"That's what I'd like to know." Liz said.
A tremor went through him. "I don't remember- all I did was touch the trunk."
iBooby trap/i, Liz thought to herself. She'd have to contact Leo to see if she had to perform a spell to take it off or if it was just for those non-Wiccans. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." He blinked hard. "You're very beautiful." He sounded a little fainter.
"Thank you. Can you stand up?"
"Um- I don't know." He blinked again harder. "I think so." He pulled himself up using the wall. He swayed a little. "You better get Michael to help me down the stairs." He suggested.
"Michael's on a ladder." Liz called down the stairs. "Alex, Isabel? Can one of you come up here?"
Isabel poked her head up. "Max?" She said, immediately alarmed. "What is it?"
"He passed out or something. He's feeling a little weak, so he needs some help down the stairs and Michael's on a ladder."
"Oh." Isabel said. "Why don't you just heal yourself?"
"I have to be able to- to- to concentrate for that." He mumbled, a flush darkening his face as he admitted his weakness.
"Oh. Okay. C'mon lean on me." Isabel said as they followed Liz downstairs. "Uh Liz, is there someplace he can lie down?"
"The master bedroom is the only one with bed that's made up. It's downstairs. I'll show you."
"Okay." She agreed. Max leaned against his sister. "Liz, I know you might have a couple problems with Tess but she can heal too. I can't."
"It's fine with me Isabel. The phones work but good luck getting her over here." Liz pointed. "Bedroom's in there. I gotta go clear a path into the study."
"OK, thanks. Why will I need luck?" Isabel asked as Max sank gratefully onto the corner of the bed.
"Cause Maria and Tess had words and according to Kyle, Tess doesn't want to be within a fifty-mile radius of this place." Liz left the siblings alone.
"Ah shoot." Isabel muttered. "Max, what really happened up there?"
"I touched that trunk and the next thing I know Liz is hovering over me trying to wake me up."
"That's really weird," Isabel frowned. She dialed her cell quickly. "Tess? Hi- it's Isabel- no don't hang up!"
Too late. Isabel pushed off on her cell.
"Hung up huh? It's okay Is, I'll be fine."
"No you won't. Max, you can't even see straight." Isabel fretted.
"I can too."
Isabel held up one finger in front of his face. "How many fingers?"
"Cute Isabel, but that's more the sort of thing Michael would do."
"Max, just answer me."
"One, you're holding up one finger. Are you happy now?"
"Lie down and rest. I'll come get you when I'm ready to leave."
"Fine."
hr
Liz locked herself into the study. "Leo!" She hissed. "Leo! Leo, get your whitelighter ass down here now!" She curled her hand into a fist and tapped her foot impatiently. "Leo, get down here or I'm calling Phoebe up and telling that it was your fault that her chemistry experiment explo-" She stopped talking when Leo materialized.
"No need to get violent Lizzie Beth." Leo arched an eyebrow.
"Quiet. There are people who don't know about you in this house."
"Right," he mock-saluted. "What do you want?"
"I take it you don't know what happened yet."
"No can't say I do. What?"
"Is there any way that Grandma could've booby trapped the trunk upstairs?"
"It's possible- probable even given the history she had with nosy people."
"Great."
"What happened?"
"A friend of mine touched the trunk and ended up across the room unconscious."
"That shouldn't have happened." Leo frowned. "Unless he- or she tried to force it open."
"Can you keep a secret?"
Leo gave her a long look. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to?"
"Right. Sorry. Dumb question. Okay the person in question just may have tried to force it open. He can manipulate cell structures."
"In English please. I'm a Whitelighter, not a scientist."
"He can unlock things without a key and he can heal, sorta like you can heal. He saved my life last year when I was shot and if you tell my cousins, I will hurt you."
"Wait a minute, are you saying he's some kind of a supernatural being?"
"No, he's an alien."
"An alien?" Leo repeated. "You mean like he's not from this planet kind of alien?"
"Exactly."
"Lizzie Beth-"
"Don't patronize me."
"Are you sure?"
"Leo, haven't you been watching me my whole life?"
"Well, not exactly."
"Not exactly?"
"You were supposed to have someone else- your Grandma pulled some strings."
"So what do you know?"
"I got a briefing from your cousins, that's about it."
"Okay last year was about the most horrific and wonderful year of my life. I fell in love with Max Evans, who happened to be from another planet. We went through hell and back and at the end I walked away because he is destined to be with someone else."
"Right. Does he believe that?"
"Why is that the first question anyone asks when I give them the story?"
"So he doesn't believe that."
"I'm not sure. We didn't really talk about it. I mean I walked away and then I was in San Francisco all summer."
"If you haven't talked, why was he in the attic?"
"Maria, who was trying to play matchmaker, invited him, Michael, and Isabel over to help organize the place."
"Michael and Isabel are?"
"Like Max."
"Any other aliens?"
"Just Tess, who is supposedly Max's young bride."
"You don't like her, do you?"
"I don't care about her."
"That's what I said about Dan." Leo's eyes twinkled. "But it turned out for the best."
"You are Piper's meant to be. I'm not Max's."
"You never know." Leo snapped his fingers. "I have to go."
"Tell my cousins I said hello."
"I will. Anything else?"
"Thank Prue for the pictures, tell Pheebs I'll call when I can and I want them all here for Thanksgiving."
"Even me?"
"Especially you," Liz smiled as Leo disappeared. Then she sat in a leather chair. "Oh boy," she muttered. "This'll be interesting."
hr
"I'm not going," Tess insisted to Kyle.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not. Maria's right, I don't belong anywhere near any of you. Tell your dad thanks, it was a nice offer but I'm comfortable where I am."
"Okay you've reduced me to this." Kyle went over to her. "Stand up."
She narrowed her eyes at him, "No."
"Yes," he insisted.
"I can mess with your head while you sleep and readjust the part of your brain that controls your drooling. Do you really want me in the same house?"
"Just stand up."
"Fine." She stood up. "Now what?"
"Now I make the ultimate guy maneuver." He threw Tess over his shoulder. "And in answer to your question, yes I want you in the same house."
She made a frustrated sound and slapped his shoulder. "Put me down," she ordered. "Or I'll mind warp Pam Troy and suggest to her that you're interested."
"I dare you to." Kyle carried her out of the house and walked down the street towards the Crashdown. "By the way did I mention we're meeting them at the Crashdown?"
"Kyle James Valenti if you don't let me go you'll be stuck with a blond alien in your life. You don't want that."
"Let me be the judge of that."
"I hate you!" She howled.
"Good. Since you can't think any worse of me-"
"Kyle, don't do anything stupid that I'll have to tell Michael about to get revenge on you."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He opened the door to the Crashdown and walked in. "Hey Dad, Amy."
"Kyle!" Amy exclaimed.
"He won't put me down." Tess complained.
"Well if you hadn't protested so vehemently about coming I wouldn't have resorted to this. Where's Maria?"
"She's in the bathroom cleaning up," Amy said as Kyle put Tess in a chair.
Tess narrowed her eyes. "Thank you very much for the offer of having me come live with you-" She began.
"But she can't accept," Maria's falsely honeyed tone said.
"Yes she can," Kyle said.
"No I can't."
"Tess, you know you're welcome," Amy began, shooting Maria a look.
"Yeah, thanks, I know. But I really couldn't impose. You're going to have a rough enough transition without me added to the mix."
"Tess I really hate the thought of you living all by yourself in a big empty house," Amy said. "Let's just give it a trial period."
She squirmed under their gazes, "I-"
"Tess, I promised to take care of you, and we will do that," Jim added softly.
"A week," she said. "If it doesn't work, I leave, no questions asked."
"No questions asked as long as we all try to make it work." Amy said shooting a look at Maria.
"I'll try I promise."
Tess looked uneasy. "There's Michael- I have to ask him something. I'll be right back."
"Okay." Jim said cheerfully as he and Amy began to peruse a menu.
hr
"Help me." Tess said to Michael.
"What?" He looked up.
"I said help me. I've got to get away from your girlfriend."
"Ex-girlfriend."
"Whatever. Please Michael, I'll do anything- I'll pay all your bills and your rent for a month."
"Tess I'm busy. I just spent the last three hours cleaning out rain gutters on a ladder that could've fallen apart."
"Oh yeah what's Parker Manor like?"
"Dangerous."
"What do you mean?"
"Max passed out- Iz said she called you to heal him."
Tess' face acquired a guilty expression. "I'll go right now. Just tell them something." She gestured towards the Deluca/Valenti party. "Please Michael."
"They're upstairs. Iz didn't want to take him home and Liz didn't want them in the house alone, in case something else happened."
"Oh. Okay." Tess went up the stairs and knocked on the door.
"Tess." Isabel said.
"Where is he?" She asked.
"On the couch."
Tess entered, and knelt next to him. She touched his Cheek and their eyes met. A moment later she gasped. Max sat up with a smile. "Thanks Tess, I feel better."
"What the hell- Liz did you know that there's something with magic inside your house?"
"Pardon me?" Liz said in a bewildered tone of voice.
"Magic. As in spells and things."
"In my house? Tess have you been eating the Martian pie again?"
"No- that's what happened to Max. I remember from when Nasedo and I were in San Francisco. I touched something magical- a book of some kind I guess, I don't completely remember but it left me with the same feeling. If I were you I'd try to get rid of it." She shrugged. "But of course you're not."
"Of course she's going to get rid of it." Max said. "It could be dangerous."
"Uh Tess where in San Francisco were you? And when?"
"I don't remember where- um, I think it was two years ago. We just passed through- we were trying to distract the FBI's focus from something and get them to trail us instead. It worked, so we were only there for a week."
"Oh."
"Liz you should get rid of that trunk." Max reiterated.
She shot him an irritated look. "I'll take care of it."
"Now that that's settled, Max we should go home." Isabel said. "Tess can we walk you down?"
"No, that's ok, I'll just go home myself. Tell Michael thanks, I'll give him the check tomorrow."
"A check? For what?"
"I'm moving in with him so I don't have to live with the Valenti/DeLuca family."
"He agreed to it?"
"I'm paying all expenses for a month and half after that."
"Where are you going to work?" Isabel asked.
She offered a slightly mysterious smile. "A girl's gotta have some secrets."
Liz smiled slightly. Now that I can relate to. Who would've thought?