It was hard on them, after Liz's departure. They all handled it quite differently.

Max was mad with denial and then anger. He tore apart Liz's room, trying to find clues to where she might have gone. After finding nothing, he grabbed a bag of his belongings and drove off, convinced he would find her and bring her home.

Kyle, had been expecting Liz's escape for quite some time, so he was more calmed than the others. He was sad but happy Liz had finally pulled enough strength to leave. He laughed at Max's idea to find her. Liz was strong and very intelligent. If she didn't want to be found, nobody would find her. He wished her the best and gathered his own strength to help Isabel with the loss.

Isabel took it hard. She cried for days. Although she knew that Liz needed to be free and that she herself had pushed Liz to leave it still hurt to know she was gone. Liz and Isabel had never been close throughout High School and not even in the months after leaving Roswell. It had been one fateful night, almost a year after leaving Roswell, that Liz had come upon Isabel crying over Jesse. Isabel had been feeling depressed. She still loved Jesse in a lot of ways but knew it was crazy and stupid to still be married to him. She had to give him his life back. She was also feeling guilty because her relationship with Kyle was well past close friends. He'd been her close friend for well over a year and her feelings toward him were no longer innocent. He hadn't tried anything, due to the fact that she was still married. And that action in itself made Isabel love him more. So, she'd been sitting and crying over these facts when Liz had stumbled onto her. Liz had asked her if she was ok and needed to talk. Isabel could see that Liz was genuinely concerned and poured her heart out to her would be sister in law. Liz's eyes had slowly started to open to who the real Max Evans was and they had a heart to heart. Liz asked Isabel if she was serious over the divorce and Isabel had nodded. That's all that Liz needed to hear, she told Isabel not to worry about it and she'd handle everything. Over the next few months, Liz did just that. She sent a letter and divorce papers from Isabel to Jesse. She was their middle ground. Jesse signed the divorce papers and sent Isabel a letter back. He let her know that he'd always love her but had been expecting the papers for some time. He also admitted he was seeing someone and wished them all the best. It was hard for Isabel to see her divorced finalized. Her depression slowly eased with the help of Liz and Kyle's of course. Kyle and Isabel admitted their feelings and a couple of months after the divorce, Kyle proposed. That's when Maria decided she was leaving. She didn't want to watch her life pass her by and wanted more for herself. Liz took it very hard. Her relationship with Max was turning for the worst and Maria was leaving. Isabel, Kyle and Michael gathered around her which caused them to get closer.

Isabel called Ava once a day to see if by some chance Liz had gone to her and grew more worried when Ava told her she hadn't heard from Liz.

By the time Max came back from his Liz crusade, Isabel and Kyle were packed and ready to go. He wasn't very happy with that and demanded that they stay but they wouldn't let him get his way again and left the same night he returned.

Isabel and Kyle had of course tried to convince Michael to come with them but he knew they needed to be alone for a while and get used to married life on their own.

He knew it wouldn't change where he lived. He was empty. With Liz gone, he felt no purpose. It was worse than when he thought Maria had cheated on him, worse than when he found out he didn't have any real family, worse than when he was beaten by Hank as a child. He had no spark. Liz had been holding him together. He lived with Max for a while. Not because he loved his brother but because of guilt. Max was alone and part of that was because of him. He had slept with his brother's ex-fiance. He'd broken his promise. He'd let his lust and love for her overrule him and as much as he loved every second of passion and every taste of her, he still hated himself for it.

Almost 3 years later...

He was finally close to where she was. He had looked for her the last year and now, Michael was now literally minutes from seeing her again.

Michael didn't know what he'd do or say. He knew he'd give her the choice to let the others know where she was or that he had found her.

Michael drove down highway 178 getting more and more anxious as he got closer to his destination.

It'd taken him a while but he'd finally found her. He had to admit it was a lot of luck but still, he'd found her. Bakersfield, CA was the last place Liz would ever be and here she was. He turned up the AC in his car as he saw the temperature was now at 102. He couldn't understand how Liz lived in this hell whole of a so called city.

Finally, he saw his exit and turned on the first street on his left and arrived at the apartment complex he'd been looking for.

Michael parked and found a map of the apartment complex at the entrance. It was easy to find the apartment he was looking for and in no time he was standing outside of door 207. He hesitated only for a second before ringing the doorbell.

He stood awkwardly waiting, the perspiration on his forehead had nothing to do with the heat. The voices inside the apartment made his stomach turn.

The door began to open and a boyish grin appeared on his face, expecting to see Liz but there was no one there.

"Hi." Came a small voice from inside the apartment and then the door was wide open.

Michael looked down to find a small boy looking up at him and he stammered for a second. "I-um, sorry. Wrong apartment."

The boy stared at him and Michael's stomach tightened. Something was familiar about the boy and it made him uneasy. He looked...

"Parker James Guerin! You better not have opened that door! So help me-" Ava half ran into the living room when she noticed who was at the door and stopped mid stride.

Michael's jaw clenched. He had a feeling Ava was around Liz but hadn't been completely positive.

The boy turned from Michael to Ava and back again.

"Ava." Michael greeted.

"Michael." Ava was shocked.

Parker's eyes widened. "I know you! You're my daddy!" And he threw himself at Michael.

And as soon as Michael touched him, he saw just what he was talking about. Flashes of Parker overruled his mind. Michael saw Parker with Liz when he was a baby. Liz showing Parker pictures of Michael from birth, telling him he was his father. And the last of Ava and Liz telling stories of him, Isabel and Kyle.

Michael blinked a couple of times and automatically bent down to pick up his son. The tears that filled his eyes spilled over and Parker hugged him tight. Michael had never experienced this kind of love and devotion. A minute ago he had no son and now he could think of nothing but this boy hanging onto him for dear life. Life now revolved around two people. The need to keep them safe was overwhelming.

"Honey, come here." Ava reached for Parker. "Why don't you go in the room and play. You're daddy and I need to talk."

"No, Auntie Ava." Parker whined and grabbed onto Michael's shirt at the same time that Michael tightened his grip.

"We need to speak alone, Michael. I don't want him hearing this." Ava explained.

Michael nodded once and pulled Parker away from him a little, "Parker, listen to Auntie Ava. I'll go in there in a bit to play. OK?"

Parker nodded and ran off down the hall as soon as Michael put him down.

It was silent for a minute, awkward as neither knew where to start.

"Why don't we sit down first?" Ava suggested as she walked toward the couch and sat.

Michael followed.

"Just let it out, Michael." Ava wanted to get it over fast.

That's all Michael needed to let loose. "How dare she keep him from me? What the hell were you thinking, Ava? That's my son! You helped her keep him from me! Has she been with you? From day one, has she been with you?"

Ava looked down and winced. She swallowed before she nodded, "Yes, she's been with me."

"F-"

"Hey!" Ava warned and reminded Michael of Parker by tossing her head toward the hall.

Michael bit his tongue and cussed inwardly.

"Isabel and Kyle have been worried sick! Do you know how long they've been waiting for news from her. I can't believe she would do that to them! And you!"

"Michael, I'm sorry. She needed me in the beginning. Can you please think of the state she was in when she arrived? She needed time. She was depressed, confused and in need of someone. I'm sorry." She genuinely felt it.

Michael kept his anger at bay. His gorgeous brunette had hell to pay when he spoke to her. "Where's the phone? Mine took a crap and I need to call Isabel and Leprechaun Boy."

"Don't you think Liz should do that?"

"She had 2 years, Ava. Where's the phone?"

Ava pointed it out to him without saying another word.

Michael dialed Isabel's cell. As he waited for it to ring, he realized he didn't know where to start.

"Hello?" Isabel not recognizing the number sounded anxious.

"Iz, it's me."

"Michael! Ohmygod! Kyle, honey! It's Michael! Where the hell have you been? Where are you? Why haven't you called us? Do you know how worried we've been? Of all the-"

"Isabel, do you want me to answer any of your questions or would you rather keep yelling?" Michael pulled a stool from under the small bar and sat, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Isabel let our a frustrated scream. "Fine. Talk."

"I'm sorry I left. I know I should have called but I broke my phone before I left and haven't gotten it fixed. I sent you postcards though."

"Michael, that's not the point!"

"Look, I found Liz. Or rather found where she's living. She's been with Ava. I'm waiting for her to get home." Michael was scared to even mention Parker. He'd never told them that he and Liz had slept together.

"What? With Ava? Where is she? Put her on the phone now!"

Ava gave him the most hateful look as he handed her the phone.

"Hi, Isa-" Ava winced as Isabel started her yelling.

Michael gave a small smile. She deserved it. He walked down the small hall, looking for Parker.

The apartment was small but homey.

Parker sat in the room to Michael's right. He was on his stomach, coloring intently.

There was a small bed in the corner of the room which was scattered with toys.

Michael watched as Parker picked up a sippy cup and drank, while still coloring. As Parker set the cup back down, it tilted to the side and fell open. The red liquid fell onto the carper. "Rats." Parker's forehead creased and then waved his hand over the stain and it disappeared in seconds.

Michael's jaw dropped. "Parker," he said with shock and disbelief.

Parker looked up as he secured his cup. "Daddy." Parker sat up and waved him over.

Michael's smile appeared without him knowing and walked over to his son.

"Are you allowed to use your powers?" He asked trying to hide his smile.

Parker shrugged.

"What else can you do?"

Parker smiled from ear to ear and then giggled. "This was milk."

"Wow. That's good."

"I can also break stuff. Mommy doesn't like it." Parker looked impressed by himself.

Michael chuckled and took a look around the room. The room was full of Parker's artwork and by family pictures. Michael noticed a lot were of Parker, Ava and Liz but he also noticed some were of him, Kyle, Isabel and even Max.

He stood up and touched a few of himself. He did not recollect these pictures being taken or thought they even existed. Some were as far back as high school.

"Parker, where did your Mommy get these?"

"We make them." Parker looked like that was an obvious answer.

"You made them?" Michael was lost.

Parker nodded. "From memories. Look." Parker touched a small piece of blank paper and the paper soon turned into a picture.

Michael bent down and looked to look at it. It was a picture of Michael at the apartment doorway, the door was open and it looked like the picture was taken by a low point of view, Parker's. "First time I saw you." Parker smiled.

Michael's eye welled up again and he cursed Liz for taking away the chance to know this little person. "Where's your mom, Parker."

"Working. Always working. Auntie Ava takes care of me. Mommy says she's taking me to Disneyland."

"When are you going?"

"Mommy says next week."

"Do you mind if I tag along?"

"Come. Come. Come." Parker jumped in place. "Can you stay? Don't leave me again."

Michael's throat tightened. "I won't leave." And yet again cussed Liz for leaving.

"Michael." Ava's voice surprised him.

"What Ava."

"Well, I know you need a phone, so I thought you'd want to go get one."

"Not now, Ava." His voice was shaky.

"Michael, just go. Give me a couple of minutes to straighten up and focus on tonight. I swear Parker will be here. Liz will be home in maybe an hour and I want you a little calmer. I know how angry you are and you have a right to be but if you're gonna do this confrontation here, with Parker-"

Michael nodded. Maybe he did need to calm down. "I get it Ava."

"Get back on the freeway heading west. Get off on your first exit and turn left. Then, turn on your first right. You'll see the building on your left."

Michael got up and automatically kissed the top of his son's head. "I'll be back in a little while. Ok?"

"Promise?" Parker looked scared.

"I promise."

Michael could not look at Parker anymore in fear he would not be able to leave.

He drove like a zombie to where Ava had told him and did indeed see the cell phone store on his left. He entered the store and was welcomed with "Hello's" and "welcome's".

A couple of the woman's eyes lingered and he smiled. He looked around and saw her just as she saw him.

Liz.

"Can I help you with something?" A slender, brunette approached him. Her smile was nice but a little flirty.

He pulled his gaze away from Liz and turned to the girl. He read her name tag and gave her a smile. "No, thanks Rashell. I found who I was looking for." He turned back to the back register but Liz was gone.

Could she have possibly run away. The bells in Michael's head went off. And just as he was about to demand to see her, she came out of a back door with her purse in hand. She turned to a guy standing close to her and asked for him to count her drawer. He looked worried but agreed.

When she reached him, she looked up and said, "Hello, Michael."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Let's go before you start yelling." She turned and smiled to everyone waving goodbye.

Once outside, Michael grabbed Liz's arm.

"How could you, Liz?"

To his surprise, Liz had tears streaming down her face. "Let's talk somewhere else, please. I know of a park that is practically abandoned by day. Follow me in your car."