The kitchen was cramped with seven people sitting around it, eating on assorted items produced from the cabinets and refrigerators. Max noted how the New York set sat. Liz sat practically on Zan�s lap, Lannie next to him, Rath with his arm resting on the back of her chair, Ava off to the side. He noted the definite glares transmitted between Liz and Ava while Zan was kissing on Liz.
Michael and Isabel were both sitting on the counter with cartons of leftover Chinese food, eyeing the others warily. Max become aware of for the first time that Tess wasn�t anywhere. He mouthed her named to his sister and she nodded to the backdoor. Groaning, he knew he should go see what was wrong with her this time but he didn�t want to let Liz out of his sight.
Michael hadn�t said much about the whole situation since he had woken up that morning and no one had asked him. There was a lot that he didn�t understand and he figured now was as good a time to ask questions. �Parker, you got our powers? How�s that?�
�I actually don�t know. We found out I had them about six years ago. They�re not strong or anything but I can hold my own.� Liz nodded and picked at a Twinkie, giving Zan a sly smile. In response he slid his hand up her thigh and she crossed her legs, trapping his hand where it was.
�We ain�t never tested her but I think she could take Ava in a fight.� Zan sent a look across the table to Ava, who looked away to keep from voicing her opinion. �If we left them alone, we�d have a bloodbath on our hands.�
�Her and her?� Michael snorted and then started laughing. �No way. I remember Parker always breaking up fights.�
�Things change.� Liz whispered suddenly and got to her feet, gently pushing away Zan�s hand. She didn�t want to think about all the ways she had changed since going to live with Zan. �Sometimes kickin� ass is the only option.�
Zan watched her disappear into the house, barely brushing past Max to leave. He had noted all the looks the preppy guy had been giving Liz and he wasn�t going to stand for it. He was going to watch Max like a hawk.
--
Liz opened the front door two seconds before Alex was going to knock. �Hi.�
�Hi.� He smiled and shook his head. �You knew I was coming?�
�Yeah. You got worried because Max never called you. Come on. It�s a zoo but it feels a little bit more like home.� Liz stepped aside to let the tall man into the house.
�You got all that by opening the door?� Alex narrowed his eyes at her.
�No, I got an impression of his conversation with you from Max, paired with a little common sense; I heard your footsteps coming up the walk.� Liz smiled and led Alex into the living room where the others had gathered to stare at each other. They hadn�t been speaking much when Liz had entered momentarily before heading out into the foyer for a look at the statues. When they entered, Isabel and Michael were arguing.
�I can�t keep telling the planner to come back some other time.� Isabel shouted at him. �The wedding is in three months and we still have so much to do. We have too much to do and we can�t cancel because these... freaks are here.�
�Isabel, the wedding isn�t nearly as important as these guys. We have to prepare for whatever the hell it is that we�ve been waiting for for 15 damn years.� Michael shouted back.
�You don�t even want this wedding... why would I think you would care?� She scoffed and rolled her eyes. �You and Max and your damn pride. Just because someone told you it was supposed to happen, all of a sudden you don�t love us and you don�t want to get married... just because it wasn�t your idea.�
�That is not it, Isabel!� He turned on her and stopped his next sentence when he saw Alex and Liz standing in the doorway. �What the hell is he doing here?�
�Nice to see you, too, Michael.� Alex nodded to the harried alien. He turned to Isabel and smiled. �Isabel, if you�re looking for a stand-in groom, I�d be happy to volunteer myself as a candidate.�
�I�ll keep that in mind, Alex.� Isabel shook her head with a small smile.
�No she won�t.� Michael�s eyes narrowed at the skinny man standing in his home. He stared at Alex until Liz had led him to the little alcove that Zan was reclining in.
�Alex, this is Zan.� She slipped behind her lover, providing him with a human pillow. Alex held out his hand and then let it drop when Zan didn�t sit up to take it. She nudged him.
�Yo.� Zan muttered and closed his eyes. He listened to them reminisce about the days when Liz lived in Roswell, all the while enjoying the caresses that Liz gave to his shoulders and neck. She must have thought that he fell asleep because she began to tell Alex about how things were with them.
�I know he loves me... he doesn�t always say it but I know.� Liz didn�t meet Alex�s eyes when she said the next part. �Sure, he�s with Ava sometimes but it�s me he loves, not her.�
�That�s not a good situation, Liz.�
�It�s not like he even cares about her. He... I don�t know why but he feels like he�s evening the score by being with her.� She shrugged her shoulders and stroked Zan�s arms.
�Why would he think that?� Alex leaned forward.
�I guess it has to do with Rath. Sometimes... we... you know... and Rath is the noisiest lover in the world. So, Zan always knows.� She bit her lip and turned to stare out the window. �I don�t love Rath. I don�t even like him, in general. It�s just that the first time I had a vision of Zan and Ava together, I was shell-shocked. Then I saw them and I ran to Rath because I knew that Rath would have sex with me, no questions asked. He confronted me after the first time I slept with Rath.�
�Why would you do something like that?� Alex shook his head at her.
�I don�t know. To get back at him. He gets pissed when he knows I�ve been with Rath, just like I get pissed when I know he�s been with her. Most of the time we�re okay though. I just couldn�t stand to lose him to her.�
�What about Max?�
�What about him?� Liz shook her head and tried to see where Alex was going.
�Well, since I�ve been here... he hasn�t taken his eyes off you. Let me be the first to tell you that Max is devoted to you. He told me that he had the biggest crush on you and always regretted never acting on it.� Tossing a glance over his shoulder, Alex saw how Max�s gaze was still locked on Liz. �You could stay here, get to know Max.�
�I know all I need to know about Max.� Liz kissed the top of Zan�s spiky head. �I�ve already taken him for a test drive.�
Zan�s body involuntarily tensed at her words. He wanted to kill Max.
�Liz. I don�t understand you. You slept with Max. When?�
�Earlier. Granted, he�s a very good lover but... I don�t love him. He gave me the strength I needed to make it through the day and... I don�t know. Knowing what I know about him... he�s very self-deluded.� Liz whispered.
�What do you mean?�
�I know he wants me to stay here with him but I can�t. For one, I don�t love him. Two, he doesn�t really love me. Three, I don�t fit into his storybook delusions of the way life should be. Four, it�s not meant to be. I�ve seen the future and in order for it to work... I have to follow my heart.� Liz gazed down on Zan�s sleeping face and knew she loved him without a doubt. She glanced up and met Max�s eyes. She recognized the yearning in them and turned away. His life was not for her.
--
Max couldn�t believe his eyes. He saw the guilt in Liz�s eyes when their eyes met. She had purposefully looked away and kissed Zan�s head again. He felt someone sit beside him but didn�t look up. �It hurts, don�t it?�
�What?� Max turned to find Ava sitting next to him.
�That she used you and then forgot about you. He does it to me all the time.� She brushed some pink hair out of her face. �You get used to it.�
�I don�t want to get used to it. I want her.� Max shook his head and tore his eyes of the face that was too much like Tess�s. �I love her.�
�Then fight for her. Maybe she�ll change her mind about you.� Ava stood up and shrugged her shoulders.
--
�So check it. I�ll get him upstairs for a little romp and then you get him to go see what�s up. Then you can have a little fun with her.�
�No, see, I start talkin� to her and when he leaves. Switch. Then I gets retard into the room... You let her see... and then I�ll have my fun with her.�
�Cherry, yo. Let�s do this.�
Part 14
Liz blindly followed Zan, leaving Alex downstairs with everyone else. He had plans for the night. He was going to prove once and for all what he had been trying to tell her for the past few days. Pulling her into a room, he pressed her against the door when it shut. With agonizingly slowness their lips drifted to each other, Liz noted how soft and gentle his kiss was and just went with it. Then he pulled away. �I gots to say somethin� to you.�
�What�s that?� Liz whispered.
�I know you heard me tell Lannie that I ain�t care �bout you... that I only keep you �round... for the visions.� His eyes locked on hers. �I lied. I lied to my sister, to my own blood. I love you and I ain�t never gon leave you behind.�
�Zan...� She breathed, a hand lifted to the side of his face, then fell to rest on his neck. �I know. I always know how you feel.�
�But I gots to tell you. You needs to hear it come from me.� Amber eyes burned into her as he insisted upon his point. �As soon as we gets that damn orb and the shape-shifter comes back with the stones... we gone.�
�We aren�t taking the orbs.� Liz shook her head, and kept doing so after he tilted his head. �I... let�s just say that a lot of things are supposed to happen.�
�Like what?�
�I�ll tell you tomorrow. Why did you bring me up here? If all you were going to do is say �I love you�... you could have done that downstairs.� She raised her eyebrows at him. �Were we expecting some kind of physical reciprocation?� Her fingers found his belt loops and pulled him against her. �Cause I think... that pleasing me with an audience doesn�t count as time together.�
�Oh, you know �bout that, huh?� He clucked his tongue and fiddled with his labret piercing on the inside of his mouth.
�Yeah, I know about that.� Liz nodded her head and watched him cast his gaze to their feet. �I don�t know how I feel knowing that old alien guy saw me almost naked and being pleasured by my lover.�
�You�re better, right?� He lifted his eyes to hers once more. Her slow nod pleased him. �And Max? That ain�t gon� happen �gin... right?� She didn�t look at him for a second, and when she tried to speak and he cut her off. �I wudn�t sleepin�.�
�I don�t love him... if that�s what you�re asking.� Liz shook her head. Two deep breaths later she tried to explain. �I�ve said to you that sometimes things need to happen. That was one of them.�
�Does this turn you on?� Suddenly his body shifted; facial hair disappeared, as did all piercings and tattoos, his black jeans were replaced with a pair of boxers and slacks, his hair shortened and lay flat on his head. Liz�s jaw dropped. �What? Don�t like it?�
�Don�t do that.� She found her tongue and sighed. �It�s not that I don�t like it... sometimes I do but it�s not you...� Taking a deep breath, she looked him over again. �It�s sexy as hell but I like the goatee.�
�Good to hear. These pants are too tight and I don�t like boxers.� His body shifted again and everything returned to normal.
�Funny... me either.� Liz whispered as she let her fingers play with the hair on the back of his neck. His fingers began untying the string through the belt loops of her borrowed jeans. She let him lead her to the bed.
�Funny, I know you ain�t wearin� panties... but I think these are actually my jeans and I�m gonna hafta take �em back.� Zan gently pushed her back on the bed before pulling his jeans off her body. His eyes ran over her legs and up to her glistening curls. �I think that�s mine too.�
�It is?� Liz bit her lip to keep from laughing. �Does it have your name on it?�
�I don�t know. I�s just gon hafta check.� Zan knelt on the bed and pretended to look her over for his name, spreading her legs wide as he turned his head this way and that. �Well... I�s gon hafta get a closer look.�
Liz squirmed in anticipation of his lips on her core. His breath puffed against her rapidly heating flesh, then his tongue ran from bottom to top, circling her clit before lifting his head. Her eyes closed and her hands clenched the bedspread on either side of her body. Then he lowered his head once more to run his tongue over every inch of her wet pussy before plunging it deep inside her. Liz raised her hips to meet his mouth, gripping the bedspread so tight her knuckles turned white. Every lap and dip of his tongue rippled throughout her body, lifting her up so high she was almost afraid to come down. Zan sped up the thrusting of his tongue, alternating with sucking on her tiny bundle of nerves. Her feet pushed against the edge of the mattress before sliding over his shoulders, toes curling against his flesh.
Liz had been good about keeping quiet until he did that thing he always did to make her cum on the spot. A scream ripped out of her throat and her legs nearly crushed his head.
--
Max�s head shot up at the scream. He panicked until he noticed Lannie snort. She turned to him. �They�s at it again. She only screams like that when he goes down on her.�
�She�s got lungs like them fat chicks with the horns...� Rath popped a cheeseball into his mouth. Then he groaned. �And she tastes... like...mmmf.�
�You... um... you�ve... you and Liz?� Max sputtered and pointed to the offensive man, making motions to get his unasked question across.
�What? You think she�s special?� Rath drawled and leaned forward. �You think women want just one guy?�
�Play nice, Rath.� Lannie murmured and got up, sauntering off into the kitchen.
�I just don�t see Liz being with...� Max stopped his talking. It wouldn�t have made any sense. Rath obviously knew Liz a lot better than he did.
�You�re right.� Rath nodded. �She doesn�t... but sometimes she goes slummin� and I�s only eager to please. She�s Zan�s bitch.�
�Wait... you�re saying that Parker.� Michael pointed upstairs. �She�s not... monogamous?�
�What?� Rath furrowed his brow at his duplicate. Then he turned to Ava.
�Monogamous means she stays with just one guy, idiot.� Ava sat there fiddling with her nose piercing, twirling the stud in the hole.
�She is... I guess... what you said.� Rath shrugged his shoulders. �She don�t go bouncin� around or nothin�. It�s either me or Zan. Our friends don�t appeal to her or somethin�, like she�s too good.�
�I think that we need to stop talking about this.� Alex spoke up from where he was sitting by the window. �Some of us don�t like to hear our friends� private life spread around for entertainment.�
�Alex?� All heads turned to see Isabel poking her head into the living room. �Can I talk to you for a minute?�
Michael glared at the thinner man, when he shot up out of his chair and followed Isabel up the stairs. �That guy is just asking for a stomping.�
�He�s harmless.� Max shook his head at his friend.
�Doesn�t he ever give up? Isabel is engaged. Taken. Off the market.� Michael growled, still staring at the staircase.
--
Liz shucked her tank and immediately felt Zan�s mouth on her bullet-hard nipples. Pushing his jeans down with her feet, she pulled him down against her. She wanted him inside her immediately but he took his time, being surprisingly slow and torturously gentle. Kissing his way, inch by slow inch, from one nipple to the other, using only the lightest possible suction on her flesh. His hands trailed down her skin with feather-light pressure, running from her ribs to her thighs and back up again.
She ran her hands over his shoulders, urging him to use more pressure, to touch harder, to go faster. He ignored every signal she gave him and continued to love every inch of her as slowly as he could. When he made his way up to her lips with hers, she was crying and begging for him to be inside her. Gently, he moved her further up on the bed and knelt between her legs, still languorously kissing her mouth. Then his mouth left hers to trail kisses over her face. His hands rested against her hips, keeping them from thrusting up against him.
�Please! Zan! God, now!�
--
�Please! Zan! God, now!�
Michael and Max looked up at the ceiling. Then Max�s jaw dropped. �Are they?�
�Yeah. I think that�s your room.� Michael nodded. �He was right. She does have a great pair of lungs.�
�Yo. You guys seen that Alex guy. I wanna ask him somethin� �bout Liz�s parents.� Rath scratched his eyebrow. Michael immediately sat up. Then he nodded for Rath to follow him. Max sat on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. He barely noticed Tess enter the room and sit on the opposite side of the room.
--
Liz couldn�t hold back the cry when Zan finally slid his achingly hard cock into her up-thrusting hips. Deep throated moans and cries were ripped from her throat every single time he made a long smooth stroke inside her. He had worked her up into such frenzy that she came screaming his name not too long after he began his deep thrusts.
--
�Zan! Zan!�
Max glared up at the ceiling, barely noticing that Tess was curled up on an armchair and closed her eyes. Moments later, Michael stormed down the stairs and out the door. Not a word to anyone, just straight out the front door without looking back. After the door slammed there were only the sound of Liz�s screams, steady thumping and Zan�s grunts drifting down from the second floor.
�She�s a busy girl, isn�t she?� Tess whispered and kept her eyes off her betrothed.
�Where have you been?� Max took his eyes off the ceiling but didn�t look at her.
�Outside.� She murmured. Ava raised an eyebrow at the two but didn�t say anything. Just then, Alex ran down the stairs, glancing back, nervously.
�Hey, Alex. What�s with Michael?� Max asked and watched his friend�s face pale.
�It�s nothing. Can you tell Liz I said bye?� Alex rushed out the door and his car roared off. The three people stared at the door as if one of the people just gone through it would come back.
�A-uh!� The moan made it down to the living room.
Isabel wandered into the living room, her eyes on the ceiling. �How long has that been going on?�
�Too long. They�re in my room.� Max ran a hand over his face.
�I�m gonna go try to sleep.� She nodded to her brother and made her way up the stairs.
--
Zan�s fingers stroked Liz�s nipples in time with his fast thrusts. He had to get her close one more time and then he could cum. His breath puffed on her face where his face hovered near her. His thrusts were becoming sharper and shorter. Her body jerked with every movement he made inside her. She was well on her way to her third orgasm. Their bodies slid together with the sweat built up between them. Liz dragged her nails down his back, pulling him deeper inside her body. Zan bent his head to her ear, licking the curve before whispering three words. �I love you.�
Her scream near split his eardrum as she came, her body convulsing under his. Her inner walls clamped down around him, finally allowing him to spill his seed within her body.
--
�How many times was that?� Tess glanced up at the ceiling. �Two since I�ve been in here.�
�I think it was four.� Max murmured, his eyes also fixed on the ceiling. �Maybe it was six... I�m not sure about a couple...�
�So you have potential.� She shot out at him.
Ava burst out laughing. �Yo, they�s tantric. Ain�t just anybody can do that.�
�Ok...� Max shut his eyes. He did not need to imagine it anymore than he already was. Isabel rushed downstairs and slammed the door to Michael�s room behind her. �I�ll go see what�s up with her.�
--
Liz ran her tongue around Zan�s lips, tasting him slowly before pulling away. �I just wanna lay here with you forever but... I gotta go clean up that mess out there.�
�What mess?� Zan sat up and leaned over her, muscles flexing under drying sweat.
�Come and find out.� She looked towards the window, not surprised to see it was getting light out. �We�re going to have fun.�
�There you go being all sarcastic again.� Zan groaned and ran a hand over his face. �Let it lie. Stay here.�
�I think Max is going to want his bed back.�
�Long as you ain�t in it when he gets it back... I don�t care.� He pulled her on top of him. �Hey you �member that time we kicked back... just me and you?�
�That was a lot of fun.� She licked her lips and pressed a series of kisses to his chest. �If you help me clean up... I�ll make it worth your while.�
�That ain�t gon work.� He warned her but then she turned those doe eyes on him. �I�ll do it for free.�
�Okay... now... if I could walk... I�d go downstairs.� She stretched her legs back. �We�ll just lay here one more minute... then we�ll go.�
�Yeah.� He nodded. He was feeling the effects of their love-making as well.
�Just one more minute...� Liz closed her eyes.
--
�Isabel?� Max rapped on the door. Isabel had been in there for ten minutes without answering.
�Yo, she okay?� Rath appeared behind him.
�I don�t know. She just ran down here and locked herself in.� Max shook his head. �What happened upstairs?�
�Nothing, yo.� Rath shook his head and raised his hands. �I just come down to see if she okay.�
�Bullshit.� Liz glared at the two guys as they turned to her. They hadn�t heard her or Zan walk up behind them. �Let�s get some things straight, shall we?�
Part 15
�Girls in the kitchen, guys in the living room.� Liz ordered, running a hand through her braids, Zan glared until they did what she said. Rath sank down on a couch, Max waited in a chair and Zan turned to his love. �Find Michael, bring him back here and sit him down in the living room. I�m going in there to talk to them first.�
Tess walked right through the kitchen and out the back door to watch the sunrise. Lannie and Isabel sat on opposite sides of the table and Ava perched herself on the counter. She knew that she hadn�t done anything... not that there wasn�t a plan involving her that had never gone into effect.
Liz stared at the door when she walked in, then shook her head. By the look in her eyes, Lannie knew that Liz knew. Their eyes locked. �Lannie, tell Isabel what you did or I will.�
�I know what she did.� Isabel whispered and turned her head to stare out the window.
�See. Case closed. Let�s go.� Lannie started to stand up but Liz pointed to the chair. �Fine.� Lannie finally conceded. It wasn�t as if she really cared. �I sleep with the geek and then Rath and I got into a little role-playing. You gotta spice it up or else it gets boring.�
�Lannie to Isabel translation is...� Liz sighed. �Lannie made herself look like you and slept with Alex. Then she went back to her old self and Rath made himself look like Michael and they did it. Did I leave anything out?�
�That�s about it.� Lannie nodded.
�You mean it wasn�t really Michael? Then where is he?� Isabel stood up and was about to go look for him but she was cut off.
�Michael saw Lannie with Alex and thought it was you. He�s pissed but don�t worry. Zan went to get him.� Liz reassured her. �We�ll tell him the truth and then it�ll be good.�
�I�ll tell him. I know where he is.� Isabel was out the door before anyone could stop her. The three girls stared at each other before Ava shrugged and hopped off the counter. Lannie crossed her arms and Liz nodded to the door.
�That�s it?� Lannie snorted. Both she and Ava were about to leave when Liz�s voice stopped them.
�No, it�s not.� Liz shoved a hand in her pocket. �I�m telling Zan about this... then things are going to change before the ship comes.�
--
Zan and Max listened intently as Liz explained what had happened the night before. Rath pretended to be stupid, or was that an act at all? Zan sighed and drew a hand over his face. �We�ll deal with it. When we get back to the crib... we�ll talk.�
�Rath and Lannie have to start respecting this.� Liz gestured to the house around them. �We can�t go to Antar like punks.�
�So what? Charm school?� Max snorted and sat back in his seat.
�Something like that.� Liz turned her back on Rath and knelt in front of Zan. �You tell them to do it and I�ll get them ready to address people properly. They have to respect what it is you all stand for. If they don�t, we will fail very quickly.�
�Ok, yo, it�s done.� Zan nodded. �We�ll learn to behave.�
�And talk correctly?� Liz pleaded.
�Yeah, that too.� He mumbled absently.
Liz groaned, slightly exasperated. �I will not have you guys going to meet Kivar and saying �Yo, Kivar, what�s up, bro? You gon give up the throne or what?� I have a feeling that won�t go over too well.�
�Fine, fine. Whateva.� Zan nodded. �I mean, �Yes, Liz. How very fine of you to educate us, the ignorant ignoramuses. We are in dire need of charm and beauty school.�� He batted his eyes at her and lay his hands flat under his chin. ��What ever would we have done without your kindness and generosity?��
�Much better.� She snickered.
--
Liz looked in on the living room without entering. Lannie and Rath were attached at the mouth in a corner. Max and Ava were talking about the Summit since he had missed that conversation due to his activities with Liz. Liz could see Michael and Isabel�s shadows through the window. Apparently, Liz hadn�t needed to tell Michael a thing herself. He had a trust in Isabel that Rath and never had in Lannie. Michael and Isabel were in love while Rath and Lannie were just going through the mating motions, barely anything more than lust.
She turned and saw Zan asleep in a chair, his feet up on the coffee table, his chin on his chest. Smiling at how relaxed he looked, she made her escape into the backyard where Tess was seated on a chair facing the bushes. Tess didn�t acknowledge the other girl�s presence. Liz broke the morning silence. �I�m not staying.�
�That�s nice.� Tess murmured and wiped a tear of relief from her eye.
�He loves you.� Liz sat on the ground, her thin legs drowning in Zan�s jeans. �You know he does... or else you wouldn�t be going through this.�
�Going through what?� Tess dragged her eyes over to the other girl. Her blue eyes were all cried out.
�You�re pregnant and you won�t tell him until he admits he loves you.� Liz winced when Tess burst into fresh tears. �You couldn�t have gotten pregnant unless he really loved you.�
�He loves you. He always has. He�s never been afraid to tell me how he was drawn to you.� Her words sank in deep.
�I gave him what he wanted.� Liz cleared her throat. �He wanted the chance to be with me, to tell me how he felt about me and he did. I can�t love him back and I can�t stay. He�ll realize he loves you but he had to make the mistake with me first. Sometimes these things need to happen.� Liz stayed quiet for a moment. �I envy you.�
�Why?� Tess shook her head in confusion. �You�re the one with the king. He loves you. Max loves you. Rath is infatuated with you... you have their respect. You lead them.�
�I don�t lead them. I tell Zan what I know and he makes the final decision. Sometimes it matches mine and sometimes it doesn�t. Max doesn�t love me, he was in love with the idea of me. Of the fourteen year old president of the science club, of the perfect Parker daughter, of the girl who had her life taken too soon. He�ll realize that I am not that person... hell... it took coming back here to make me realize I�m not that girl anymore. I was holding on to this place and these memories but I have a life and love that have nothing to do with this.�
�So why do you envy me?�
�You�re going to have a baby with the man you love. In all this time... I�ve never even been afraid that I might have gotten pregnant. I�ve always gotten my periods. I�ve never been sick aside from the visions and... I don�t think I�ll ever know what it�s like to have Zan�s child growing inside me. I don�t know what Nicholas did to me but... it�s like I�m being punished for loving him.� Liz sniffed a little and stared at the grass under her feet.
�At least you know he loves you. You�ll always have his love. Max will never love me.�
�You�re wrong but you�ll see.� Liz smiled bitterly. �I�d give anything to experience being a mother to his children but that isn�t going to happen.�
�Why not? Ed�s going to heal you when he gets back. Won�t that fix everything that�s wrong with you?� Tess whispered.
�It�s supposed to but... I need to tell you something that you cannot tell the others. I have to bide my time with this secret.� Liz rose to her knees and placed her hands on Tess�s knees. Tess nodded and put her hands on top of Liz�s. It was oddly reminiscent of a servant pleading to her queen. �There is a reason for there being two sets. A reason that was never planned but it will come to pass. Zan and Max have the royal seal in their heads. Zan has shown his to prove he is Zan... but his wouldn�t work on the Granilith. That�s why I won�t tell him where it is. It wouldn�t do any good. His seal will get us to Antar. Once there, it will come out that Zan can�t work the Granilith because there is a test on Antar. We will all die and even if I could have a child... it would be killed once we got there.�
�No.� Tess shook her head but Liz nodded. �There�s more?�
�Yes. Max can work the Granilith. Max is the true king of Antar. Only he can work the Granilith and the orbs. The second orb is in your attic. Ed knows it but he won�t hand it over. I will leave you ours but you have to promise me that in nine years you will bring them together and activate them. Don�t do it any sooner. Nine years, fours days and six hours from this moment, you need to activate them.� Liz instructed. �I don�t know everything but I know enough. You will be a great Queen. Max a great King... your son will reign for many years after you both pass. These things had to happen.�
�Why?�
�Zan is strong. We�ll make it home but... Max had to see it. Had to see what he needs to be in order to save his world. Michael had to learn to be tough. Isabel to stay close. Lannie is too much like Vilandra. She will be better trusted than she used to be. You... you have to know these things. I had to come here and break Max�s heart to show him that he had one and that it didn�t love me. Lannie was supposed to have sex with Alex to make his dream come true. Alex won�t stay in Roswell after the wedding and he�ll move on. He�ll know what could have been with Isabel or me... What Lannie and Rath did to Michael and Isabel will serve to further strengthen their bond.�
�I understand.� Tess nodded. The wheels in her head began turning, really turning, for the first time in her life. �I will stay with Max and I will have our son. I will bring them together to activate the orbs in nine years, fours days and six hours from now. I promise.�
�Thank you.�
�There you are, ladies.� Ed popped his head out the back door. �If you don�t mind, I�ve got the stones.�
--
Liz lay in the middle of the living room, her body aching slightly. Visions would accompany her healing. Zan knelt and took a stone in his hand. Max followed suit, as did Isabel and Michael. Ed was about to kneel in the final spot but Tess stopped him. �Let me. You cannot enter the circle with fear in your heart. I don�t understand why but you are afraid.�
�You�re right.� Ed nodded but he did know why. If he healed this girl, she would leave and so would her visions. He might accidentally prevent her from getting better and no one would forgive him for that.
Silence filled the room before Ed began the chant. The others soon picked up on it until their energies activated the stones. Liz gasped when their energies filled her. Each one touched her body, mind and spirit.
Liz turned the CD up and danced into the center of the room. Zan watched her from where he lay sprawled on the couch. They were alone. Ava was scoring some human and the others had headed out for some fun. He watched her twirl and move, dancing to the music. Suddenly she turned to him. �Dance with me, Zan.�
�No.� He shook his head. �I ain�t dancin�.�
�You know... I don�t think you know how to dance. I�ve never seen you do it.� Liz bit her lip and crossed her arms, still bouncing in time with the music drifting around the cave-like hollow in the sewers.
�I can dance. Sit your ass right here and I�ll show you.� He pointed to his lap.
�I�m not talking about sex... you do that very well.� Liz turned her nose up at his crudeness. �Which I can vouch for... I want to see you dance... vertically, with your clothes on... and properly fastened.� She added to make sure there was no mistake about what she was talking about.
Zan rose to his feet and switched CDs. Soft music echoed through the room. He grasped her hand, spun her out, in, around and back. �You was sayin�?�
�Ok... so you can dance...� Liz started but his lips pressed to hers, making her forget everything but him. When he pulled away, he pulled her toward her curtained corner.
�Don�t I get something special, today?�
�You get that everyday. I don�t think it�s special anymore.� Liz teased and followed him anyway.
�Can�t I be a man on the day I am officially a man?� Zan sank down on the pillow, rearranging them for his comfort before reaching for her.
�Oh big man wants to be a man but don�t wanna do any of the work?� Liz shook her head and backed away. �I don�t think so...�
�It�s my birthday and I shouldn�t have to work.� He turned his amber eyes on her and Liz couldn�t deny him anymore.
�You�re right.� Liz laughed and jumped on top of him, straddling him and then propping up his upper-body with more pillows. �Get ready, King Zan. If you weren�t a man before... you will be. Happy...� She kissed his chin. �18th...� She kissed his neck. �Birthday.� She finally closed her mouth over his.
It was the last time they made love before the Summit, the last time their lovemaking had not been preceded by pain and headaches due to visions.
Liz turned at a tap on her shoulder. Amber eyes met hers then hers dropped to his hand where it still rested on her shoulder. �Max?�
�You um... did you hear what she said about... about functions? I... I didn�t understand everything.� He quickly pulled his hand away from her shoulder as if he had been burned.
�Max? We�re in English.� Liz shook her head.
�I know but... you�ve got Algebra with me... I mean in fourth period like me. I already read this book and so did you, you told us and... could you help me out with these functions?� He rambled and kept his eyes on his pencil. It had taken him two hours to come up with that brilliant excuse to talk to Liz.
�Okay.� Liz turned in her seat and looked over his problems. �Well f equals this equation. x squared plus 4x minus 2 is set as equal to f. That�s the function. Here are the problems. What is the function when x is equal to 4, 7 and 9. From there it�s just the basics...� Liz looked over his face for a moment. He hadn�t looked at her since he asked for her help. His face was a study in concentration. �You�re usually good at this stuff... what... why didn�t you understand earlier?�
�Oh... um...� Max glanced up at her for a second then quickly looked back at his paper. He was caught, he was sure of it. She was going to laugh when she found out the geek sitting behind her in English was head over heels in love with her. She was going to laugh because it was stupid to think that someone like him could be with someone like her. �I... I fell asleep.�
�Oh. Ok.� Liz smiled and turned back around in her seat. She knew there was an explanation for the hottest guy on the planet talking to her... even if it was about school related materials. She would have to tell Maria who had talked to her!
Six months later, Max had hidden amongst the huge crowd at Liz�s funeral. He and Liz had never had another conversation pertaining to anything else the rest of the school year.
Isabel felt a pair of eyes on her. It wasn�t so unusual but she turned anyway. Little Liz and Flaky Maria were talking and pointing at her. For a split second, she panicked. Did they know? Then it was dismissed. She saw them pointing to a magazine. They were probably wondering how she had gotten the latest style when the magazine hadn�t been out for more than a week. They were envious. Somehow that didn�t settle well with Isabel. She shook her head as Michael approached. Maybe he had been right. She was trying too hard to fit in.
A month later, Isabel had found her brother crying. The object of his obsession had been gunned down in front of Senor Chow�s. She remembered the girl had been nice but she had never talked to her or been inclined to do so.
Michael watched Max watch that brunette; the one with the big doe eyes and tiny little body with those stupid little sweaters. He had to agree with Max. There was definitely something about her. She was pretty and smart and way too good for any guy. Michael knew that he wasn�t good enough for her. Max might be but he was chicken so that meant he wasn�t. Liz Parker was the girl that broke up fights, that gave half her lunch to that geek that had gotten his lunch money stolen, that was supposed to help tutor stupid guys like him, and didn�t make her parents worry about where she was. Figured Max would like the girl next-door type. Michael snorted and looked for Isabel.
A week later, he met Max across from Senor Chow�s where some weird activity was going on. That chick Max liked had gotten shot just moments before Max had arrived, or so he had been told.
�I promise.� Tess told Liz in the backyard. Her blue eyes glittered with unshed tears, just like Liz�s brown ones did.
�Thank you.�
Tess had only just met the girl and suddenly felt like her best friend. There was only one way to pay her back for the gift she was giving them.
--
Liz woke up. Apparently she had passed out right after the healing. She slept all day and night in the same spot. They had all been too afraid to move her. Zan was at her side in an instant. �Hey. You ok?�
�Yeah. I am.� Liz nodded. Her head was completely clear. She felt healthy like she hadn�t in so long. Feeling like a test, she reached out and touched someone�s shoe. No real thought about it, just touching it, idly. �Nothing.�
�What?� He asked her.
�Nothing. No vision. No headache.� Liz turned her tear filled eyes up to him. �I think it worked.�
She touched the shoe again, this time she wanted to see something. She took her hand off the shoe immediately. �Tell Michael that he needs to wash his shoes. That puddle he stepped in was not water.�
�You saw that?� Zan eyed her carefully.
�Yeah, and no pain, no headache. You did it. You really did it.� She threw her arms around him. Zan picked her up and twirled her around. �I still get visions, just no pain.� He set her down and Liz looked around at everyone in the room. They had woken up and moved into the room at the noise they were making. Liz�s eyes locked on Tess�s that were gleaming with something that she couldn�t identify. She tilted her head at the blonde.
�I�m glad you�re better, Liz.� Tess smiled sincerely. �Maybe you�ll get what you want...�
Liz tilted her head at the blond girl�s secretive smile and shook it off. She was too happy to think too much about it. Her eyes drifted over to Max and his downcast expression. He knew she was leaving and they still hadn�t talked.
--
Max sat in the driveway, staring up at the blue sky and its scattered clouds. Liz had come out and sat with him twenty minutes before and nothing had been said. Figuring he may as well get it over and done with, Max cleared his throat. �So... you�re leaving.�
�Did you really think I would stay?� Liz whispered, not meaning it to come out as harsh as it did.
�Was being with me really that bad?� Max turned to her. �Is the idea of staying here with me and being happy... just really so out there? The thought of a home with at least one working bathroom fixture, with plenty of food, warmth, shelter and one hopelessly devoted man... is that all just not what you want?�
�What I want is not the issue��
�Bullshit. If you want it, I will get it for you. I will make it happen.� Max pleaded with her but she wouldn�t meet his eyes. �Liz, I have been in love with you since the first day I stepped off the bus in the third grade. I saw you and I knew you were it. When I thought you died... a part of me died too. I�ve just now gotten that back and call me selfish for wanting to keep that.�
�You�re selfish.� Liz pursed her lips into a tight white line as she thought of a better way to go about this conversation. She knew his growing up would only happen with her gone. �I am not for you. I was never for you, Max.�
�What?� The light in his eyes faded as he leaned back on his elbows to listen to her.
�As much as you would like to believe you are in control of it all... you aren�t. You are still very young, so much younger than I am... so very much younger than Zan is. You aren�t ready to handle the responsibility of a kingdom, much less a planet at this point. You�ve been sheltered your whole life.� Liz stared across the street at the houses in their little rows with their gardens and sidewalks, all clueless to the real wonders of the universe. �You�ve been raised human as I was. We have that in common... I stopped being human when Zan healed me. He changed something inside of me... as did Nicholas when I died for those split seconds. For the past seven years... I�m been something different. Not human, not alien. I am more alien now that I was willing to admit to myself. I rarely used my powers before now. How often do you use yours?�
Max didn�t answer her and so she kept talking. �I have been in love with Zan since...� She smiled to herself. �Probably since he saved me but really since the first time we kissed. He just wanted to make me feel better and he did something that would have normally grossed him out. He kissed a girl... My role in all this is just barely more than a catalyst. I know what will happen and in order for us, that�s us and you guys, in order for us to be victorious... I have to change a few things. That is up to me. The way they happen can change but not what happens.
�Had we met some other way... maybe you and I could be the ones in love... but you don�t love me. You refuse to acknowledge your love... because if you do... then it�s out of your hands, or so you think.� She nudged him gently. �Just because someone said you would love Tess doesn�t mean that you won�t genuinely love her. She needs you. You asked your protector more than once why Tess was chosen to come with you... have you tried asking yourself that question?�
�She�s not like me. She�s alien to me.� Max whispered.
�Because she accepts her alien side, because she loves you unconditionally, because she�s yours totally and completely and you don�t think you can reciprocate?� Liz locked eyes with him. �Know what that tells me? You already love her. You can learn from her.�
�What about you? What will you do now?� Max sat up, never losing her gaze.
�We�ll hunt some Skins.� Liz shrugged. �Might even send a few your way. We�ll make love... remember things we learned here and then the ship will come. In three years the ship will come and Zan will take me with him to Antar.� She let her eyes drift up to the sky. �Then the time will come when you�ll need to step up and when you do... you�ll be ready.�
�How long?�
�I don�t know.� She lied. �You�ll be ready when you�ll be ready and you�ll be ready by the time Zan is gone. You�ll be older and wiser and ready. I have no doubt about that.�
�Will I forget you?� Max closed his eyes. He didn�t want to forget her... or for her to forget him. This all seemed wrong to him. It was wrong.
�Only if you want to. The universe isn�t a peaceful place, Max. Remember that. There are dangers everywhere. Hurdles to be jumped, rivers to cross, roads to travel. I do know that you will be a great King with a great Queen and your best friend will make your sister a happy woman. Keep that in mind. Keep them safe.�
�When are you leaving?�
�I guess you were really out there. The others are waiting for me. They�re in the van already.� Liz pointed to where Rath and Lannie were making out in the front seat, Ava was laid out on the hood and Zan was crouched in the side door. �Promise me that my ghost won�t stop you. I know I�m great and all...� They both chuckled. �Give Tess a chance, trust her a little. Ava may not really love Zan but Tess really loves you.� She got to her feet and Max hopped to his. They locked eyes once more. �You are the true Zan. My Zan is just a copy, a good one but just a copy.�
�What are you then?� Max dipped his head. Liz stood on tiptoe to press a small kiss to his lips after a soft whisper. It was her goodbye. She squeezed his hand and turned to walk away. One tear escaped her eye as she climbed into the van next to Zan. Ava hopped off the hood and into the van. The old heap roared off with only Max to see it off. Max was never going to forget Liz Parker. Her words stayed with him. All the ones she had ever told him as the beautiful bright-eyed daughter of the Crashdown owners, the few they had exchanged in the house as the dying young woman, the truth she told him in the driveway as the healthy beauty and those little ones as her goodbye.
�I�m just the augur.�
------------------------------
Part 16
Max held his young son on his back as he moved around, trying to clean up the mass amounts of toys that were needed to keep Aaron Evans happy. When he passed his wife, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips and kept going. �Daddy... Um... pay cars.�
�So now you want to play cars?� Max called back to the two and a half year old.
�Uh-huh...� Aaron nodded and started to slide down Max�s back. Once his little feet hit the floor, he was off and running to his toy chest. Tess watched them from where she was sitting making the grocery list. Max was a great father to their son. Aaron had his mother�s hair and his father�s eyes. It was too soon to tell but she was sure he inherited his father�s habit of controlling everything.
�Max? Did you like those things with the pineapple and the coconut?� She called out and nearly laughed. Every time Max put something away, Aaron would pull two more things out.
�Yeah. We need more Tabasco and more... whatever those things are you buy for him. I had to throw them out. He got a hold of them and dumped them in the toilet.� Max wrinkled up his nose.
�The animal crackers?�
�No... the... the other cracker things. The spicy ones.� He corrected her. The doorbell rang and Aaron shot to his feet to get there before his father did. Max ran and caught the little boy, hefting him onto his shoulder before looking out the peephole. A four-door Toyota was speeding down the street. Curious, Max opened the door and nearly stepped on a little girl sitting on the porch.
Kneeling down, he looked her over and then over the street but there was no one in sight. She had dark hair like his done up in two braids, hazel eyes, she had on a dark red shirt, little black jeans, and little sneakers. He could barely make out two sets of wet spots on her shirt. That�s when he noticed the tattered notebook in her little hands.
He took it from her and looked it over. Aaron eyed the little girl then ran into the house screeching. The little girl narrowed her eyes at him and then ran screaming after him. Max stayed in the doorway, sinking down to sit with the notebook. Tess blinked at the two children who ran past her and found her husband in a daze. Slowly he opened the book and read the note.
Yo Max,
You ain�t got any idea how this is killing us. The ship is coming and by the time you get to reading this, we�ll be on our way to meet it. You gotta know that Liz and me, we love our baby girl. I ain�t never seen anything as beautiful as my Sara... besides Liz. Liz won�t tell me why but we can�t take her with us.
I love my baby girl. She�s something special but I don�t want her to get hurt. We argued about this for weeks and only came to one solution. You take Sara, raise her like yous her daddy. I don�t want to do this. I want to see her grow up and shit. I been there the whole way. I looked over Liz once we found out she was pregnant. I brought her into this world. I counted her ten toes and ten fingers, two arms, two legs, two eyes, nose and mouth. She�s perfect. I took care of them both... and now I wants you to take care of her.
She probably ain�t ever gonna remember me or Liz but you don�t let her forget that we love her. We always gonna love her. Don�t let me be sorry I gave her to you.
Zan
Max turned the page and there was another note. It wasn�t addressed to him but he kept reading anyway.
Dear Tess,
I want to thank you for allowing me this time. I know that it was you and I just... thank you isn�t nearly enough but there it is. I didn�t think I would ever feel my Zan�s baby growing inside me or see her born but I did. I�ve carried her and watched her grow over the past two years, three months and four days. And now my time is up.
You remember what I told you would happen and though I cannot change the fact my Sara will die on Antar... I can change when. Take her for me. Let her grow up and then take her to Antar with you. Tell her that I love her, that her father loves her. Never let her forget that loving her was the only reason we left her behind. I will cry every night that I am separated from her until the day I die.
Keep your promise to me. I trust that mine to you is fulfilled. Max loves you, he really does and you both love your son. Zan didn�t want to leave her behind but it�s the only way. Oh Tess, I want her to grow up. I don�t want her to die with the rest of us. Not so soon. Take care of her.
Liz
Max handed Tess the notebook with its notes from their new daughter�s parents. She read them both and then flipped through the contents of the rest of the notebook. There were pictures of Liz, Zan, Lannie, Rath and Ava. Then where were sketches of Sara as a baby and growing up. �Wow.�
�Yeah.� Max nodded. �What was she talking about?�
�Who?� Tess stalled and eyed a letter written from both Liz and Zan to their daughter to be read in the future.
�Liz. Do you know something about this that I don�t?�
�Just a little.� She nodded and sat beside him. �They aren�t going to make it, Max. Liz wasn�t supposed to have a baby, but I changed that. So it�s up to me to see that she lives to die where she would have. Sara will live a long life and then die naturally... I hope.�
--
Max turned to his wife and queen moments before they were due to step out in front of their people. He held the hands of young teenage children on either side of him; one of them his and the other could have been. They had used the Granilith to fly across the mass amount of space between Earth and Antar. A modification in its general use had gotten them home in two years with the aid of a redesigned ship made from parts of the original. Tess smiled at her husband and king reassuringly. It was time for Antar to meet their true king. Behind them Isabel and Michael stood with their two children, ten year old Penelope Guerin and seven year old Darin Guerin.
Tess turned her smile on young Jessica Evans, only five years old, wide-eyed and wondering what the heck was gong on. Max felt his son getting restless. He was fourteen, he didn�t want to be holding his father�s hand. Aaron Evans rolled his eyes repeatedly, it still hadn�t hit him that he was on an alien planet about to be hailed as the future king. On Max�s other side, fourteen year old, orphaned Sara stood. She was calm and quiet and reminded him of her mother in many ways.
The girl had turned up on his doorstep eleven years before. That little girl was a mix of her parents and left behind so that one thing could be changed about the future set forth for her. Tess said that Liz had told her their child would die on Antar, if she ever had one from Zan. Max remembered that Liz said she could only change the how and when but not the event itself. No one had to know the false king had a daughter. No one had to know that the daughter was half human. No one had to know that Sara was that daughter. No one had to know that she had inherited her mother�s gift...
Zan and Liz had only the chance to bring life into the universe once before they were taken from it. The story that Max had been told was that all communications between the king and Antar had taken place through �puppets� and when he arrived on Antar, he was asked to activate the Granilith. Zan had turned to Liz, she shook her head and closed her eyes. When the task could not be performed. The five were set to death. Each was asked to speak their identity and plots.
�I am Avaria, queen of Antar. I live only to serve my king.�
�I am Rathard, commander of our king�s army. I live only to serve my king.�
�I am Vilandra, princess. I live only to serve my brother, my king and my people.�
�I am Zan, king of Antar. I live only to serve my people and my planet.�
�And who are you?�
�I am Liz. I�m just the augur.�
They were then put to death. Zan had one final thing to say before his passing and before a transmission was intercepted from Earth. �I am Zan. I came before. I have passed. I was foretold to come again. I come now. I pass again and I will come again. Mark my words... this is far from over, Kivar.�
THE END
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