The ship shook beneath them as they made the final descent. Michael watched Max comfort his son and felt a pang of jealousy. He should have had that once. He sat back and never took his eyes off his king while he strapped in little Gideon for the impact of landing. The 11 month old boy screamed and cried but Max managed to strap himself in close to the boy without giving in to the temptation to hold him again. They braced for landing, Max reached out a hand to make sure Gideon stayed in his little seat.
The ground rushed up to meet the ship. Its little legs locked in place, shock-absorbers kept the landing's rocking to a minimum, the ship was depressurized and then the door opened. Quick, get out of the ship. Quick. Quick. Set the timer and get off the ship, Michael thought to himself.
Max hurried behind a large rock, cradling his son against his chest and waiting until Michael had joined him before glancing back. He was counting off in his head. Then he ducked, Michael doing the same. The explosion shook them and the rocks around them. Debris flew over their heads. Max squeezed Gideon tightly, trying to calm the boy's screams. "It's okay. It's okay. It's over. Daddy's got you."
"Max, we've got to get to town and warn them. I'm not entirely sure they'll think we died in that." He gestured over their shoulders and upwards to the sky where ash and debris were still falling.
"Let's go." Max nodded. He just hoped that if they had been followed their little staged explosion would go over as a crash.
Michael opened the doors of the Crashdown with his powers and held them open for Max and the sleeping baby. He crashed into a booth, kissing his son's head.
"Whoever's out there... I have a gun." Maria's voice called out. "I'm not afraid to use it. I am personal friends with the Sheriff so you might want to reconsider your options here."
"Maria!" Michael called out to her, sinking into a chair. His feet ached, his back ached... his heart ached. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at how things were before he left. "Guns don't work on us!"
"Michael?" Maria rushed through the swinging doors with a baby in her arms. "Max? Oh my god... It's really you!"
"Can you keep it down a little?" Max whispered.
"Yeah, the kid just fell asleep." Michael offered and eyed the baby in Maria's arms. The boy was quiet, watching them from where his head rested on Maria's shoulder.
"Why are you guys back? Where're Tess and Isabel?" She quickly hugged each one around the little boy in her arms.
"Isabel was fighting the last time we saw her." Michael answered remembering Isabel's cries to get them out of harm's way. "Tess... she died giving birth."
"Oh my god..." Maria slid into the booth opposite Max.
"We joined the revolution the moment we escaped." Max began. "We landed and right away made a break for it. We couldn't afford to be captured with Tess pregnant. She... died and we kept on the move. It's been hard staying out of Kivar's reach but we managed to do it for several months. Isabel and Nodar, her boyfriend, took a cell out to distract his men from finding us. He wants Gideon." His eyes filled with tears. "He thinks that if he can get my son then he can rule unchallenged. I couldn't let that happen. So we came back."
"We may have been followed." Michael took up the story. "We tried to make it look like a crash but we need to hide just in case... we don't want you guys to get hurt." He locked eyes with her. "We need a car, we need some place to go. They can't get a hold of any hybrids... it's not safe."
"Take my car." Maria shot up and went to retrieve her keys. She thrust the baby into Michael's arms. He had gotten used to holding babies but this one was so young, maybe about five months or so. "I don't know where you could hide though."
She came back with her keys, purse and a diaper bag. Michael started to hand the baby back. "We'll go to that silo we used when we got Max out of the white room."
"Okay. I'll go find Liz and Kyle. Take Luke, here, with you. Okay?" Maria shook her head and helped Michael hold him right. "He's really good. Just take him. I'm babysitting."
"Maria..." Michael protested but held on to Luke anyway.
"Just take him." She locked eyes with him. "Just take him. I'll see you guys out there."
"Maria..." He tried again but she was already moving out the door.
"Hey, get all four of your hybrid asses secure while I get the other two." And then she was gone.
"Did she say four?" Max whispered getting to his feet.
"Yeah. What is she talking about? I mean..." Michael shook his head and made his way through the back and out the back doors. "I think she's finally lost it."
"She never said whose kid that was. We might be putting him in danger." Max murmured as he put his son in the baby seat in Maria's car. "Well, Maria takes care of Luke alot if she's got the car seat."
"Think his thoughts are coherent enough to make a solid connection." Michael pondered aloud and slid into the passenger seat.
"Well, Gideon's weren't solid until he was eight months. Luke there looks to be about six months. You could try it." Max got behind the wheel and started the engine. "Least we know he isn't Liz or Maria's."
"Yeah huh." Michael felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought that they could have gotten involved with someone else. Then he rolled his eyes heavenward as he realized it was directed at Liz. Klarika. He would never forget the awe in Liz's eyes when she looked at him the morning after he had made love to her.
Gently, he made a connection with the boy in his arms. He was rocked by what he saw.
Max blinked when he saw Michael pull out of the connection and hold Luke close to his chest, hugging the boy tight and kissing his little head. In the year since they had been gone, Max had not see Michael so content, not even for a moment.
--
Liz pushed Kyle's car to go faster. He was passed out in the backseat and Maria was sitting still in the passenger seat. "What possessed you to give them my son?"
"They were all about securing the good aliens on earth. I figured what safer place than with them." Maria smiled hesitantly. "Look there they are."
The car screeched to a halt. That instantly woke up the groggy Kyle. "Hey be gentle with my car."
Liz wasn't paying attention because she was racing into the silo and rushing down the stairs to the two men and two babies waiting inside. She stopped short when she saw her baby in Michael's arms. He was kissing his head and playing with his little fingers. Michael's eyes lifted to her, full of tears. "I'm sorry... If I had known..."
"His name is Lucas Michael. I call him Lucas." Liz whispered, inching closer to him.
"I thought his name was Luke." Max spoke up.
"It is." Maria shrugged.
"It's Scout." Kyle rubbed at his eyes and wandered into the area to find a place to crash. "The kid has so many names he's going to have split personalities."
"He's... beautiful." Michael whispered in complete awe at the baby boy in his arms. "He's mine. He's my son... I'm a father."
"Yeah." Liz whispered as she inched closer. She hadn't expected her heart to beat triple time at seeing Michael holding their son in his arms. She hadn't expected him to come back... although he had promised he would come back for her. But that was a promise he made as Rath when he thought she was Klarika.
Liz had spent the past year trying to put the aliens behind her but with no such luck. All that first week, she wept for the way Michael had made her feel that night in her room. Then she wept for the son that he wasn't going to get to know. For six months she managed to get through for the sake of her baby. The past six months were much harder. Seeing Michael in her child just confused her. She didn't know how she really felt about him.
--
Maria watched how Liz watched Michael with the baby and almost cried. She remembered what Michael had said to her before leaving. That he couldn't promise her a thing after he left. That he was already remembering and he didn't want her trying to stay loyal to him if he couldn't do the same. Of course it wasn't for another two weeks that she found out about what happened on Liz's roof but it still stung slightly after a whole year of knowing that Liz had a part of Michael that she never would.
--
Michael reluctantly gave his son back to his mother, pressing one more kiss on his little forehead. "I'm glad you guys came. It's really important that you guys are safe."
"Why? What's going on?" Liz turned from Michael to look at Max, who had dropped his eyes to the floor, clutching his own son to his chest. "Max?"
"Kivar. He's out for blood." Max finally said. "He wants my son... and if... I can't even say it." He stopped and turned to Michael.
"We've been discussing this." Michael spoke up. "If Max's son is so important... then mine... one with human blood, might be worth just as much... if not as a pawn then as a test subject. Kivar is worse than we could have ever thought. Liz and Kyle, you guys would be worth just as much as Lucas. We've been spying from time to time and we find out things..."
"Why did you come back?" Liz whispered softly.
"It wasn't safe for us there." Max stood up straight. "It was dangerous to come here but where else could we go? Our best chance is here. We know the terrain and we know how they work now. Kivar will come himself. I have been waiting for this for so many months."
"What happened up there?"
"Kivar killed my mother in front of me." Max ground out. "I hadn't met her yet and he knew I was hiding nearby. I couldn't save her... not without exposing Gideon..."
Liz and Maria gasped. How could anyone be so cruel? Liz hugged her son to her chest and approached the men who had been just boys when they left. It was obvious they had grown up. "What happens now?"
"We prepare."
With a pang, Max remembered his past life. He watched how Michael and Liz snuck looks at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. He went back to examining the walls and contents of the silo. His chest constricted. He hadn't ever really loved Tess. He had always loved Liz and now he didn't even have that. She was obviously infatuated with Michael... the father of her child.
--
Everyday he watched Klarika serve him his meals until finally he couldn't take it anymore. When she went to clear his plate, he caught her wrist. "You're beautiful."
"I am?" Her innocence astounded him. How could someone so beautiful be a kitchen servant? She should be his personal servant. He swooped down on her, taking her mouth gently as not to frighten her.
Zan pulled back and stared into her face. Her eyes were still closed. Just when he was about to lean in again, someone cleared their throat. King Jireb stood in the entryway. Quickly, Zan dismissed Klarika who rushed about, clearing his meal away before he was left alone with his father.
"Care to explain, Zan?" King Jireb made a round of the room.
"Explain what, father?" Zan countered.
"Klarika is a servant. She's not for you." Jireb warned him. "I have your bride all picked out."
"Just like Vilandra's intended? You've had Rath picked out since before she was born. You hand picked him to be your daughter's husband and trained him. You picked him before you had a daughter. She won't marry him. It's over. Just stop. The old ways don't work anymore. That's why the wars aren't getting any better. When are you going to wake up?" Zan cried after his father, who had just shut down.
"I didn't not raise my son to speak to me like this."
"No. You raised your son to rule your planet. This is the way it's going to be. I just wish you'd realize that before you're gone." Zan turned away and exited his personal dining hall.
---
Zan ignored his wife's ramblings and stared out the window. It was raining and the large green drops fell fast making it hard to see far but it not impossible. In fact, he could see them on the next balcony. They were making love. Rath and Klarika. They were over there living the life that Zan so desperately wanted. Jealousy overrode him. If he couldn't be happy, then neither could they.
---
Zan saw Rath's scream of rage on the next hill. Then his second in command let out a ball of energy never again to be matched. It wiped out everything in its path. He wondered what happened to make Rath do something like that. He found out the second they neared base camp.
Zan knew exactly where Rath's tent was. He ran straight for it and saw her bloody body amongst the debris. "Rath! Over here!"
He couldn't believe it. He dared not to touch her. He knew the second that Rath pulled her lifeless body into his arms what had happened. The whole battle had been a distraction. Someone had known that there were still important people in camp. A good leader would have spies to know that killing loved ones would weaken a warrior.
--
Glancing at Liz, Max knew there was no way that she could ever love him like she once did. Not if she knew how Michael had grown to feel about her. It may have even been equal to how the warrior's former self had felt about Klarika. It scared him that he could lose her for good.
All they had to do was wait. Gideon was happily playing with an empty box, oblivious to the danger they were in. Kyle was playing look out, probably out of a sense of duty than anything else. Maria was doing the same thing Max was doing; watching Michael and Liz. He knew how she felt. He watched her turn away.
Maria couldn't take it anymore. It still hurt. It hurt so much to know that Liz was the reason she had lost Michael.
+++
"Liz, babe." Maria rushed to Liz's bathroom where the girl was crying.
"Maria. I'm sorry." Liz gasped out and put her head in her hands. "I am so sorry."
"Babe?" Maria knelt down beside her, next to the toilet, and then noticed the pregnancy test on the floor. Plus sign. "Are you pregnant?"
"Yes. I'm sorry." Liz bawled and refused any sort of comfort from Maria.
"Did Max--" She was cut off by Liz's head shaking. "Who?"
"Michael." Liz whispered so softly. "I'm sorry."
"Michael? My Michael? No. Nonononono." Maria shook her head and rose to her feet in disbelief. "Not my Michael. NO."
"It's true, Maria. I am so, so sorry."
+++
For weeks after she found out, she couldn't look at Liz. Then she realized that Liz had no one to lean on through her ordeal. Maria had to swallow her pride and be there for her like Liz always had for her. Knowing Luke made it all worth it. It didn't lessen the sting of the truth but it helped.
Max held the crying Gideon against his chest and began singing. He couldn't think if Gideon was crying. It hurt too much to hear his son so upset. "Ja no... liea geoyhnio. Benie u--- orewio."
Liz tilted her head at Maria with a half-smile. Gideon's cries diminished to a whimper to their amazement. The alien song filled the silo with a strange soothing melody.
"Ja no... fieobneis. Vaneiosh o--- urosweioa." Michael's voice rumbled in response to Max's singing. To his surprise, his own son turned his head to listen.
Liz couldn't believe what she was hearing. The melodic singing of the foriegn tongue had actually begun to lull both babies to sleep. Maria leaned back in her seat, clearly impressed at the way the two men sang from the heart a song from their home world.
"Ger pia... ger cutioqui... denir fiorplio." Michael crossed the room to take Lucas from Liz. Both men lay their sons on a pile of Army issue blankets to rest.
"Zaoir junider... feroi suincer. Ja no liea deniosh." Max and Michael finished with a kiss to the forehead of their respective sons. Liz put a hand to her mouth in shock at the sweet scene.
Michael stared out the little window at his turn as look out. He felt Liz approach but didn't turn, not even when she addressed him. "Hey."
"Hey."
"You know... It's hard to think of what to say to you and I've been trying to find the right words for a year now." Liz whispered and leaned on the wall next to him.
"I'm sorry. Did... did you graduate?"
"Yeah. I missed the week before homecoming and that's it. My parents have been real good about it. They don't know your role of course. Everyone thinks he's Sean's but that would never happen." She sighed and glanced over at her sleeping son.
"Maria?"
"She didn't talk to me for a month after she found out." Her gaze dropped to her feet, glad that he wasn't looking at her.
"Liz..." He half turned, not wanting to stop looking out the window and not wanting to have to look at her, but needing to all at the same time.
"Michael. I'm not blaming you. He's wonderful and I love him. He seems to love you already." Their eyes met for the first time since she had first arrived at the silo. "I'm not Klarika."
"I know." Michael nodded. "Liz... I have thought about that night practically every night since I left. I don't know what we're supposed to do now... and now that I know we have a son..."
"I've thought alot about that night too..." She began. "I can't deny that on some level, I wanted it to happen but I don't know where it puts us now either." Liz wrapped her arms around herself and walked back to her sleeping son.
Max felt her nearby and he opened his eyes. She saw the red weariness and it just... it broke her heart. "Max."
"You couldn't leave us alone. You had to follow us."
"What?" She shook her head in confusion.
"When father introduced you to the house, you were thin, scrawny and straight from the sewers. I thought I was too good for you then." Max wiped at his nose and kept right on talking. "Then as every day passed, you grew more and more beautiful. You were properly fed, rested and protected. I watched you become a woman. A woman that I wanted. I only kissed you once. Father took you away from me. He sent you to the trainers for personal servants then he gave you to Rath."
"Max?" Liz swallowed. She hadn't known this part of the story.
"My father gave you to Rath and you both fell in love. I couldn't stand it. I married Avaria but I kept thinking about you. When Father died, I ordered Vilandra and Rath to get used to the idea of one another. I thought Rath would be honorable just like he always was. I thought he'd give you up but for once he was selfish. He wouldn't give you up for the world.
"I told them that father had ordered it so but the truth was... Father's last orders to me regarding the subject of their betrothal was to dissolve it. I was never to announce the engagement he had made when Vilandra was born. I was jealous and angry. I'm sorry." Max bowed his head and let the tears of shame fall down his face.
"Max. I'm not her." Liz whispered, not knowing if she should comfort him.
"Yes." He raised his head to look her in the eye. "Yes, you are. You might be Liz Parker, but you are Klarika. You are her." He insisted. "He loves you. Whether he can admit it to you or not... he loves you. How in the universe could he not?"
--
"Michael? Do you love her?" Maria knelt down beside the cot that he occupied while Max kept watch. "I know you said you didn't love me, not like that, but do you love her like that?"
"Maria. I honestly don't know. I was Rath, his memories had taken over my body, when we made love. I thought she was Klarika and now... Well, Liz and Michael have a son. It's a little hard to take but I already love him." Michael sighed heavily. His head was hurting from so much thought and talk on the subject. "If we live through this, I want to be there for him... if she'll let me."
"Why?"
"He's my son, Maria." He sat up and looked at her. "He's all I've ever dreamed of having in my life besides her."
"Besides Liz or that other chick?" She whispered.
"I'm not so sure there's a difference."
--
Michael leaned against his box and took a look around the silo. The babies were still asleep on the pile of blankets they had put together. Maria and Kyle had been dozing for quite awhile on a cot against the wall. He knew without asking that something had blossomed between the two since the knowledge of Liz's pregnancy had become known. The way Kyle had his arm wrapped around her, the way Maria leaned into him, the way they lay together instead of sitting up.
Max stood up at the door, looking through the small window to see any would be intruders. He looked tense, as if there were a million thoughts running through his mind. Then Michael turned his head to see Liz, sleeping on another cot, blankets pulled tight around her body. She had fallen asleep some time ago, watching the babies sleep. Michael felt a calm wash over him as he gazed at her.
It still worked. Watching her sleep made everything else seem so much less important. Who cared that Kivar himself had probably followed them in the past week's journey across the stars? Who cared that their lives were in danger? He could watch her sleep.
"Someone's coming." Max called out. "Michael, come on."
Michael jumped to his feet and ran up the steps to where Max was peering out the door. "They're pretty far off."
"Yeah. I'm leaving Gideon with them. We'll split up..." Max whispered and then turned to Michael, glancing past for a second at Liz. "I suggest you tell her before it's too late."
"What?" Michael shook his head, not understanding.
"You pined for a year, Michael. She's all we ever talked about." Max placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I would say that I forgave you a long time ago but you didn't do anything to me. I had no claim on Liz after what I did. Go. Tell. Her."
"Guys. What's going on?" Kyle climbed up the steps. Their talking had woken up the other three teenagers.
"We're moving out. Someone's coming." Michael told him and headed down the steps. "You five are going to leave in the car. Max and I are going to make a stand here."
"Five?" Liz blinked and then shot a glance up to Max. "We're taking your son?"
"I don't want him getting hurt... or worse." Max descended the steps. "We have to move now. They'll be here soon and I want you guys well on your way when they get here."
Everyone moved quickly, getting into the cars as the cloud of dust approached. Liz moved the car seat from the Jetta to Kyle's convertible. Kyle jumped in and started the engine. Maria hopped into the passenger seat and watched the others.
Max cradled Gideon against his chest, reluctant to put him in the car but knowing he had to. "Gideon, I love you. Always know that Daddy loves you. Be good for me and for them. They'll take care of you."
Michael kissed Luke's head and touched his little fingers. Lucas sighed in his sleep and barely felt the shift from one parent to the other. Liz took her son from Michael and turned to go but Michael's hand on her cheek stayed her. "Liz..."
He couldn't form words and his thoughts were too jumbled to make an intelligent sentence, so he did the one thing he knew how to do. He kissed her, filling both their minds with familiar images and feelings.
--
[Note: Michael's flashes are in bold italic]
Rath pulled her tight into his arms. "My Klarika, I will never leave you. I will come back to you tomorrow."
"And I will be waiting." She curled herself into his body and fell asleep. Rath held tight and drifted off. His dreams filled with the little boy that would soon grace their lives. He was never happier than in his dreams, playing with his son and, only in his dreams, his wife.
---
Liz lay in her bed and caressed her round stomach, whispering softly to her unborn child all the good points about his father. She took care only to do so when no one could hear her. Her parents still couldn't understand how she could let something like this happen but had managed to be supportive. She told her son that it would be alright and then blinked. "My son. Yeah, I think you are."
---
"My Klarika, I love you now and always." Rath told his lover as he distracted her attempts to pull her robe over her shoulders.
"You're just saying that." She blushed.
"No. I'm not." He corrected her. "You are not my servant. You are mine to love, not to order."
---
The doctor handed Liz her baby. "It's a boy, Ms. Parker. A healthy baby boy."
"Hi there." She whispered to her son. Tears rolled down her face at the sight of his little red cheeks and sparse spiky hair. "I love you, beautiful."
"He's handsome." A nurse commented. "Daddy would be proud of him."
"Yeah. He would." Liz whispered almost to herself. "Yeah, Daddy would love you too."
---
"I will be back by nightfall." Rath kissed Klarika and ran a hand over her stomach. "I will see you then."
---
Liz watched Michael with their son and sighed. It just looked so right despite all the confusion she held about her relationship with him. Relationship? Nonexistent.
Still, she could tell that he would make a great father. Yeah, that sounded nice. Michael as a father.
---
It still worked. Watching her sleep made everything else seem so much less important. Who cared that Kivar himself had probably followed them in the past week's journey across the stars? Who cared that their lives were in danger? He could watch her sleep.
--
"Michael." Liz sobbed as she took a step back. The tears fell down her face as she looked up at him. "You had better come back to me. I am not raising our son alone. He will know you."
"He will. I promise." Michael backed off toward the other car. He watched Liz climb into the back seat with their son. Kyle's convertible took off in a cloud of dust in the opposite direction of the approaching cloud. "Maxwell, time to make a decision."
"Yeah." Max nodded stiffly, his chest stinging lightly with the display he had just witnessed between his ex-girlfriend and best friend. "We'll stay and make a stand here. Kivar won't be on Earth long."
Liz stared out over the speeding desert. Kyle was taking them to another town to wait a while and gas up, then they would head home, all the while praying that the aliens would be okay. Lucas had woken up but hadn't made a sound, as if he knew what was going on. Gideon on the other hand had been crying for miles. Not loud wailing but soft whimpers that tore at everyone's hearts. It was obvious the little boy missed his father.
Who knew what danger they were in?
--
Michael stood beside his king and faced the approaching car. It figured that Nicholas would waste his time finding a Jaguar to bring Kivar in style. The fourteen-year-old facade stepped out of the car first. "You just don't learn, do you?"
"Neither do you." Max raised an eyebrow. "How many times have we met now?"
"Shut up, Niko." Kivar ordered as he stepped out of the car. "Your punishment will come after we've disposed of them." The tall man stared at his adversaries with barely noticeable disdain. "Zan, where have you hidden your son?"
"What son?" Max answered.
"Don't lie to me. That was the deal... or didn't you know?" Kivar approached slowly. "Did that insipid Avaria fall in love with you? I swear, nothing gets done right these days. Avaria was to come bearing your son and only then. My guess is the idiot actually fell for you and changed her mind. No matter. I'll be done with you, soon."
Michael's mind kept flashing with images of Liz and Lucas. Somewhere in his head, he knew this could be the moment he died. He began gathering energy and felt Max doing the same.
"It doesn't matter. She's dead." Max stated calmly. "Guess Antar didn't agree with her. You've signed your death certificate coming here. Every second you're here, gives my sister another second on you. Our kingdom will be restored to us in your absence. Be sure of that."
"Really." Kivar smiled evilly. "Then who is that?"
Max refused to look. That was always the oldest trick in the book but he heard footsteps behind him.
"What the hell?" Kivar blinked suddenly. "Niko. You are dead meat. How in the hell are there two of them?"
"Did the party start without us?" Lannie's voice reached both Michael and Max's ears to their surprise. "Funny how I remember you being better looking. Maybe I was just young but you ain't got nothing, Kivar, baby."
"You betrayed us for that?" Rath clucked his tongue.
"We're not here to play games." Ava warned and stepped up next to Max. "We're here to get the throne back." Her energy joined Max's with just a touch of her hand to his arm. "How's Klarika?"
"She's safe." Max whispered.
"Klarika?" Kivar asked. Michael narrowed his eyes at the enemy. They didn't appear frightened in the least but the mention of Klarika had made them... distracted. "What does she have to do with anything? My sister died when she was 12."
"Sister?" Michael whispered, the air sucked out of his lungs. He looked to Max, who had the same expression on his face.
Rath broke the stunned silence. "Buddy, I don't know what you've been smokin' but uh... Klarika was a member of the house of Antar. She died when your little pet there, sent a fireball through our camp. She was 19 and pregnant, you fucker."
Kivar seemed to remain impassive as the duplicate set kept talking, allowing Max and Michael to build more energy.
"You ain't never told me bout no baby sister, sweetiepie." Lannie tsked. "And here I thought you loved me."
"Whatever the what... she's here, Kivar. Human, too." Ava scrunched up her nose, feeding Max more power. "She's got the cutest little boy. Antarian, he is."
"Lies!" Kivar shouted and sent a ball of energy for the group of Antarian royalty. Max quickly threw up his shield and deflect what he could of the blast. "No sister of mine would ever marry Antar scum."
--
Kyle leaned against the car and tried to get Gideon to stop crying while the tank filled up. "So why do you think they remember you?"
"What?" Liz sat up a little, trying to pay attention to her friends.
"Yeah. Why would Michael think you were Klarika to begin with?" Maria sighed. "It's all a little out there if you ask me. I thought, well, Isabel said that they don't look like we do up there."
"Okay, well. I'll be back and then we'll go home to wait." Kyle stood up.
--
Michael watched as Max and Kivar stared each other down. Nicholas was leaning on the car, picking at his peeling skin, muttering about the desert heat. Ava had taken her place beside Max, always ready to add to his power when he needed. Lannie had taken to crouching just above them all on a rock. Michael could tell she was trying to decide which side to stick to, which side would prove in her favor.
Rath was another story. He was being silent for once. Michael glanced at him occasionally until Rath spoke softly. "Yo, you got Klarika or did he beat you to her?"
"I... She's with me." Michael answered just as softly.
"That's good. I'd just fuck her up anyway." Rath muttered. Lifting his head to his dupe, he motioned him closer. "I'm not gonna make it out of this. I owe Niko for killin' us, for killin' her. Kivar is Maxie's problem. Ava will help him. Lannie ain't gonna be trusted unless she chooses sides now. You and me? We... I'm takin' out Niko. You stand by Max."
"Let's do this." Michael nodded and went to stand by Max. "Max, we need to do something now. Don't worry about Nicholas. Just aim for Kivar."
"What?" Max asked without turning from Kivar's gaze. He knew the earlier blast was just a taste of what Kivar could do. An attack would be suicide unless he was properly distracted.
"We need to ambush him. Say something." Michael hissed. "Just don't turn your back on Lannie."
"Kivar, surely there's a way around this. You don't want to die, do you?" Max cleared his throat and spoke slowly.
Kivar laughed. "You had your chance. I just want the kid, then you can die peacefully on this infested planet. Whose bright idea to bring you here, I'll never know. Your mother wasn't too bright."
Max ignored the jibe at his mother. "Michael, how was Klarika when you last saw her?"
"Beautiful." Michael answered slowly, not getting what Max was getting at.
"You know, I've been with Klarika before. She's quite... nice. Pretty face, nice smile, perfect lips. Don't think I've ever had a better blow job." Max's face gave away nothing but Kivar's human face was turning bright red with anger. "How did you take to her?"
"She's got the tightest body I've ever had. Beautiful breasts and you're right... she knows what to do with her mouth--"
"Augh!" Kivar roared and shot out a blast that lit up every nook and cranny in the surrounding area. Everything seemed to slow down and speed up at the same time. Michael knew they had to act fast. Flicking a glance at an empty dune not far off, he almost expected to see the wraith of his beloved.
--
Kyle flipped on the TV. The news showed a charred area of the desert and the newswoman spoke bruskly. "Last night an explosion was reportedly heard by several motorists on the neighboring highway. It took officials most of the day to find the source of the alleged explosion. No reporters have been allowed within 100 yards of the scene. Officials have opted not to make a statement at this time."
"Looks like 1947 all over again." Maria whispered as she was attempting to calm Gideon down. "Betcha that's where Max's ship landed before they blew it up."
"Probably." Liz whispered as she changed her son's pamper. "Okay, mister, you got anymore surprises for me?"
He just stuck his little tongue out at her in a little pout. She couldn't help but smile at his beautiful little face. It made everything better if just for a little bit.
"This just in. Another explosion has been reported. Just an hour ago, a motorist driving an 18-wheeler on the old highway reported a bright light from an unidentified source followed by an explosion that rocked the truck to the point it tipped over. While not harmed, his radio was not functioning and he had to walk ten miles before finding someone willing to give him a ride into town. Authorities are en route to investigate this second explosion." The TV blared out the anchorwoman's voice.
Kyle turned to his friends. Maria turned to Liz. Liz blinked rapidly. "They're okay. They are fine. We just have to wait for them. They'll make it back."
The phone rang and Kyle rushed to answer it. "Dad... yeah, I know. It's them... you know, THEM. They're back and it's a war. Michael, Max and his son came back... We have the kid but we just heard on the news... yeah, yeah. I'll look out for her... for all of them. I promise. Just try to make sure the news people don't find them out there... Yeah the place they went the last time... Yeah. Me too, bye."
"Wait." Liz whispered and sank onto the couch when Kyle hung up the phone. "All we can do now is wait and any minute, they'll walk through the doors."
Hours passed like years. The five kept watching the doors, hoping that the next minute would bring them home. Kyle puttered around getting water for the girls, mixing bottles for the babies, pushing a vial under Maria's nose occasionally. It was Gideon that clued them in. He stopped crying.
It was Liz that noticed. He had stopped crying and then he fell asleep. "They're coming."
"What?" Maria shook her head in confusion.
"Well, at least Max is." Liz whispered. "Gideon's quiet, sleeping peacefully."
Five minutes later they heard a car pull up to the Valenti house. Sure enough, Max was the first to burst into the house. He rushed over to his sleeping son and kissed his cheeks. Ava came next with Michael right behind her, helping a crying Lannie into the house. Valenti hurried into the house and shut the door.
Liz got to her feet, baby in her arms, and looked Michael over. He was dirty, covered in sweat and desert, his clothes singed, a burn on his arm. As soon as he sat Isabel's dupe on the couch, he rushed to Liz. They hugged tightly, never wanting to let go again. Michael cringed when he felt Liz's tears through his shirt and on his wound. "Hey, I said I'd be back."
"Yeah, I was just so worried that something had happened out there." She whispered, oblivious to anything but his arms around her. "Is it over?"
"Yeah, it's over."
--
Liz washed her son in the tub in her room while Michael made an attempt to heal his burn. He had already showered the battle from his body and stood clad in a pair of her father's sweat pants. They had barely spoken since leaving the Sheriff's. Mostly it had been gestures to doors and silent questions that needed no verbal answer. Liz turned slightly to watch him concentrate. "So, Michael, what happened out there?"
"Kivar and Nicholas." Michael concentrated on his arm and slowly the flesh fought against blister. He was slowly gaining energy back from the final showdown in the desert. He'd gotten off lucky. Max had been totally drained and on top of that... he had parents to contend with. It was times like this that made Michael glad he didn't have any adults to report to. "Both dead, took Rath with them."
"What's wrong with Lannie?" She whispered as she reached for a towel to dry Lucas with. "She looked pretty shaken up at Kyle's." That was putting it lightly, the girl had been near catatonic since entering with Michael. They had decided to take her to the Evans' with Max. Liz didn't even want to know how they were going to reintroduce Max, much less Gideon and Lannie.
"Ava was with us as soon as they got there. She gave Max her energy like that time in Copper Summit, you know the way Tess did with Max. Rath told me that Lannie still hadn't made up her mind about who to fight for. He told me that he was going to take Nicholas down... and he did. Not before Nicholas got a good shot at him. Lannie had finally made up her mind to help us take down Kivar and..." He trailed off and turned to Liz. "She had been trying to come off immune to him. But when he went down, he lay there and suffered for a while... and she completely broke down. She still loved him, you know?"
"She did?" Liz gasped. They moved into the bedroom to dress their son. She couldn't fathom loving a monster like Kivar appeared to be.
"Liz," he got her attention, "in the past life, I loved Klarika with all I had. I would have laid down my life given the chance. Vilandra and Kivar had the same kind of love. She betrayed her family for him."
"Were she and Zan close in that life?"
"Close enough until they grew up. Isabel told me once after we got our first glimpse of him on Antar that she felt something deep for him. It scared her that a complete stranger could make her feel like that. Nodar, that's her boyfriend, was a member of Kivar's home back before the wars started. He fled to our home for refuge just days before they started. They're going to try to rebuild the society up there. I think she'll learn to love him." Michael nodded stiffly and noticed Liz's shock. "Look at all she's been through. Grant and Alex were killed, seeing Kivar and feeling love for him, watching her mother die needlessly at his hands... she's lucky she can feel again."
They both lay back on the bed with Lucas between them. Michael stared at them both, touching their faces lightly. "I've missed Earth."
"Earth has missed you, too." She gave him a small smile.
"Klarika was Kivar's little sister." He blurted out suddenly. He couldn't figure out why in the world he had told her but she just nodded.
"I talked to Max a little bit today. He told me about that. He's scarred. And there are so many questions for all of you that will never be answered because you're here and Kivar's dead and... you're here." Liz took a deep breath. That conversation with Max had been tense. He explained to her everything that he could think of. Then he proceeded to congratulate her on winning Michael over. He wished her nothing but happiness, kissed her cheek, hugged her tightly and walked away. He had looked completely lost. Then he had mentioned Ava, casually, and a possible interest since they had both lost their mates. "Are... do you... Are you guys going back?"
"I'm not." Michael leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. "I am going to stay." Kiss. "Right here with you and Lucas." Kiss. "I'll get a job and we'll get our own place." Kiss. "And..."
"Dada." a tiny voice interrupted.
"Hey." Michael whispered with a broad smile and stared down at his son. "Is that who I am?"
"Dada." Lucas garbled again, eyes slipping closed as he fell asleep between both his parents for the first time in his 6 months of life.
"Michael." Liz reached over and touched his arm. "We have a lot to talk about."
"Yeah." He nodded stiffly.
"Ava, she told me alot about what went on up there. I have some of your memories that tell me more. Maria and I are working on a theory for why... you know, why me." Liz whispered and scooted closer to rest her head on his other arm. "Remind me to tell my parents about you in the morning."
"You know this is weird, I mean, even for me?" Michael settled himself onto the pillows, suddenly realizing that he hadn't slept at all in four days and not well in months and not peacefully since that night a year before.
"Uh-huh. Hope I'm not jumping the gun but... we can spend the rest of our lives getting to know each other and talking about your past life. It's fascinating, really." Liz murmured as her eyes shut.
"You got it... Your dad isn't going to kill me is he?" Michael couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.
"Hope not. Lucas loves you already... and so do I." Liz wasn't sure if she finished her sentence or not.
"Love you too." Michael's chest rose with a deep breath and released with him already asleep. His last coherent thought before sleep overtook him was how completely complete he felt for the first time in his life with his son and future wife lying in his arms.
The End
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DMartinez