I see a shadow every day and night
I walk a hundred streets of neon lights,
Only when I'm crying
Wish I wasn't crying
Can you hear me crying?

There's an ocean between us
You know where to find me
You reach out and touch me
I feel you in my own heart
But it helps to remember you're only an ocean away

Was there a moment when I felt no pain?
I want to feel it in my life again
Let it be over now

More than a lifetime
Still goes on forever
But I'll always remember you're only an ocean away

Lost For You (Part 6: Only an Ocean Away)

Craning her neck, Liz searched the large display room. She was in the Museum of Natural History with Max, Beth, Mike and Belle's class. She was also supposed to be the chaperone of six ten-year-olds and she'd already lost them.

Flipping her hair over her shoulder Liz sighed and scanned the room. "Ok, lots of elephants, but no aliens," she muttered under her breath, casting an irritated glance at the herd of elephants frozen in time on display right in front of her. She was in the exhibit near the front of the museum where various animals were on display behind glass enclosures.

She could have sworn that she'd seen Beth and Max chase each other into the room, but now she wasn't too sure. The noises of all the children were distracting in the background, but she cleared her throat. "Maxwell Parker!" she yelled, her voice carrying through the room.

Immediately her son's dark haired head popped over the edge of the balcony above. He sheepishly looked down at her and waved, he knew she meant business when she used his full name. "Do you want me to come down?" he called back.

She shook her head, indicating he should stay where he was. She'd really just wanted to know where he was. Glancing around, she saw the other four children assigned to her scattered throughout the room. She checked in with each one and then sat down next to the elephant display, waiting for when the kids would be ready to move on to the next exhibit. She closed her eyes briefly until someone said her name.

"Dr. Parker?"

She looked up and studied the man addressing her carefully, knowing that he looked familiar. He was short, barely taller than she was, with blond hair and a friendly smile. Her eyes lit up as she recognized him. "Jeremy! What are you doing here?" she asked as she laughed and shook the hand of her former student.

"I work here now. I was just heading over to the labs when I saw you. What are you doing here? This isn't the usual hanging place for Biology professors," he commented, raising his eyebrows.

"I suppose not, but it is a usual hanging place for the mother of a fifth grader on a field trip with his class," she replied. He nodded and sat down next to her after she gestured for him to sit. She smiled at him, he had been one of her most enthusiastic graduate students three years ago. "What have you been up to Jeremy, aside from your job here?" she asked.

"Well, I got married last year," he said proudly.

Liz grinned, seeing the ring on his left hand. "Congratulations! I wouldn't know her, would I?" she asked.

"Do you remember your teacher's aide during chemistry three years back?" he asked, clearing his throat carefully.

Liz thought for a second. "Gwen? You married Gwen? That's fantastic, she used to say you were the cute one in the class," Liz teased gently.

"There wasn't anything going on during the class though, Dr. Parker, really-" Jeremy said, holding up his hands.

Liz reassured him. "It's ok Jeremy, I wasn't even wondering that," she said, touched by his insistence that she didn't think badly of him.

Jeremy glanced around the room. "So, where's your son?" he asked.

Liz smiled and pointed to where Max and Beth had come downstairs and were now examining the cheetah display off to the side. Jeremy studied the boy and then looked at Liz. "He looks a lot like you. Who do you think he looks more like, you or his father?" Jeremy asked.

Liz paused for a second, realizing the question didn't hurt as much as she would have thought. "He looks just like his father," she said softly.

Max followed the director of the museum around to the front of the dinosaur exhibit. He dutifully took notes, balancing his tape recorder and pad of paper in his hands. Pivoting quickly, he avoided crashing into two small kids racing by. Must be another field trip, he thought absent- mindedly as he tuned back into what Steve was saying.

"So, the new Triceratops skeleton will arrive by next week and will be a welcome addition to our already extensive exhibit," the director was saying.

Max nodded and looked up from his notes. "And there's an opening gala event on April 15th here at the museum?" he asked.

The man smiled and nodded. "Also a fund raiser for the other exhibits here at the Museum of
Natural History. Will you be in attendance Parker?" he asked.

Max nodded as he closed his notebook and pocketed in his backpack. "I sure will, the paper wants it to be a follow up to this story. And this will be in next week's Monday edition, so you can look for it there," Max confirmed, following Steve to the front of the museum. He switched off his recorder and was slipping that into the outer pocket of his backpack, listening to what Steve was saying when his eyes strayed off in the distance towards the animal exhibit just past the entrance to the museum.

They were off to the side, with a partial view of the elephant herd when Max's eyes locked on the woman casually sitting on the wood bench. Before his mind could even rationalize what he was seeing, his heart started to thud in his chest. His hands shook and he couldn't swallow, as he couldn't tear his eyes away from Liz Parker.

He didn't even blink as a thousand thoughts ran through his mind as he stared at the girl he'd loved as long as he could remember and hadn't seen in over ten years. She looked amazing. And she looked exactly as he remembered her. His eyes darted over her figure, drinking in the long blue skirt and sandals she wore. She had a pale blue blouse on and her hair fell half way down her back, just as he recalled. Her hands were gesturing in the air and he watched as her face lit up in a smile.

It took all his willpower not to run over to her, grab her in his arms and never let go. She was so close. And yet, she was also so far away. He knew he couldn't let her see him. He had no idea how she was in New York, but she couldn't know he was there. Then the last ten years would be for nothing. Max stepped back, away from Liz's line of vision, but close enough that he could still see the slender outline of her figure.

Steve glanced back at him and followed him to the side, his face puzzled. "Parker, what's with you? Did you hear me?" he asked.

Max shook his head. "Uh, no, I didn't. What was the question?" he asked, struggling to find his voice and not stare too intently at Liz. He couldn't believe that she was right there, less than 100 feet away and he couldn't touch her. He'd dreamed of seeing her again all the time, but he'd never expected his wish to come true.

"I was asking if you would be bringing anyone to the gala?" Steve asked slowly, then his eyes followed Max's train of vision and he grinned as his eyes fell on Liz. "When you set your goal, you do set them high! Forget about her Parker, she's already taken," Steve advised, clapping Max on the shoulder.

Max nearly fell over with shock. "Wh-what do you mean?" he asked.

"Believe me, I'm not faulting your choice. Dr. Liz Parker would be perfect if she wasn't married," Steve said pointedly.

Max felt his heart sink and he suddenly felt cold. She was married? "She's a doctor?" he managed to ask.

Steve nodded. "Yep, teaches Biology and Chemistry at Columbia University. She was helping out with one of the benefits the museum was doing with the museum last year and I worked with her on one of the displays. I asked her out, before I noticed the ring and she turned me down, she said she was married," Steve said shrugging as though it were no big deal.

Max's eyes fell on the man Liz was sitting with. They were laughing and Liz put her hand on the man's arm and smiled widely at him. Max felt the prickling of tears in his eyes as he realized he needed to get out of the museum. He couldn't stand so close to her and not approach her. He started to back away from Steve.

"Are you ok?" he asked, concerned at the sick expression on Max's face.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I've got a deadline. Thanks for the interview," Max said, his voice sounding hollow as he turned and walked as fast as he could without running from the museum.

When he got outside Max sucked the fresh air into his lungs and swiped at his eyes angrily. He'd nearly lost control inside, and it wasn't a feeling he was accustomed to. Forgetting any ideas about returning to the office, Max crossed the street and entered Central Park. He kept walking, not really watching where exactly he was going until he came to an arched bridge.

He dropped his backpack to his feet next to him and leaned his elbows on the rough stone, staring down at the still green water under the bridge. For once, he didn't know what to think. His mind buzzed with so many questions and he had no one to talk to. He cursed the situation he and Michael were in, angry and frustrated with where his life was. He didn't even really have much of a life, alone in New York. He had a job, no friends and the one person he could talk to was studying cave drawings and UFO sightings in Venezuela.

And the one person he'd been able to talk to about everything, the one person who had accepted him and loved him lived in the same city as him. The one person he'd sworn never to contact again.

His vision blurred as he realized there was no possible way he could stay away from Liz, knowing
where she was. That was why he tried to get far away from Roswell, he knew he couldn't be close to her.

It was time to leave.

"Max! Come back!" Beth laughed as she followed Max down the front steps of the museum. He turned back to look at her and he grinned, his eyes mischievous as he clutched her lunch bag in his hand. He finally stopped next to the street and she caught up with him, practically tackling him to the ground.

Liz caught up with the kids, pulling the other four kids in their group behind her. Beth cringed a little at the look on Liz's face. Her mother would hear about it later.

"Could you two stand still for more than two seconds?" Liz asked, fixing her stern gaze on her son.

Max stopped squirming and stood up, carefully watching his mother. Liz sighed and brushed her hair back behind her ear. "Ok, it's lunch in the Park and then the scavenger hunt. Does everybody have their list of items to look for?" she asked, to which she got a chorus of yes's. "Ok, since the class is eating together, you guys can eat with your friends and start the scavenger hunt. Don't go out of view of the Lawn though, ok? I want to keep an eye on all of you." Liz fixed them with another stern glance before dismissing them to scatter into groups to eat lunch. She sagged a little and looked over at Max who smirked at her.

"That was good Mom, you sounded real authoritative," Max replied.

Liz ruffled his hair and smiled. "I'm going to take away that thesaurus of yours. Go find Mike and
Belle so we can eat. Beth and I will meet you in the Park," Liz said, reaching for Beth's hand. Beth took her aunt's hand readily, swinging it gently and they crossed the street, Beth talking animatedly.

Max turned and searched the kids on the museum steps for a few seconds before he spotted Mike with Belle perched on his back. She was holding onto his shoulders as he tore down the steps towards Max. Max could hear Belle laughing down the street, her laughter was so bright. He motioned them over and they crossed the street with some of the other kids.

They found Beth and Liz sitting under one of the trees, enjoying the shade. It was a warm March afternoon, spring had come early to the city after a brutal winter. They ate lunch together like they always did. Max looked at his cousin and Beth and Mike. They'd never actually been apart and he couldn't imagine not being with them all the time.

Sometimes he could hear them in his mind, Aunt Isabel said that it was probably some of his powers beginning to strengthen. She spent a lot of time trying to help them to determine what powers they did have so they wouldn't use them uncontrollably and around other people.

He watched as Beth concentrated on the piece of leftover pizza she'd brought for lunch. His eyes widened as steam drifted off it and the cheese and sauce began to bubble just a little. Beth looked up and her green eyes met his proudly.

"Wow, that was cool Beth," he said. Beth smiled, thanking him silently and Max noticed his mother watching them carefully. Max sighed to himself, knowing she worried so much. He knew she worried even more because of what she'd gone through when she'd lost his father. Sometimes when she touched him he would catch flashes and pictures, emotions and thoughts from her past.

He knew she missed him. And he knew what losing his father had done to her. What losing Beth and Michael's father had done to Maria and how Isabel missed her brothers. Michael wasn't technically Isabel's brother, but that's how she thought of him. He knew this because he could hear his aunt's thoughts when she was near him.

He hadn't told Isabel yet how strongly he could sense the people around him. It was only certain people, his family and people he was around all the time. He also felt some presences far away, like they were just out of his reach. He thought maybe it was his father and Michael, but he could never quite bring them close enough to tell. Isabel had also told them how they'd blocked her and kept her from finding them. Max wondered if he tried hard enough if be might be able to tell where they were.

He munched on his sandwich, quieting his thoughts in case the others picked up on them. He didn't think they could read people like he did, but he hadn't told anyone yet. Not his mother and not even Beth. And he and Beth told each other everything. He didn't want to get their hopes up.

He was just finishing his lunch when Beth pulled him up from the ground, giggling as she grabbed their lists. "Come on Max! Let's get started!" she exclaimed.

Max nodded and ran after her, waving to his mom as they left. She waved back at them and Belle
and Mike, who headed off in another direction. "Beth! Wait up!" he called. She already had a pretty good lead on him, but he would catch her. Grinning, he followed her towards the outskirts of the Lawn.

Max opened his eyes against the bright sunlight of the afternoon sun. He glanced at his watch, realizing he'd spent nearly an hour staring at the water under the bridge. He couldn't tear his thoughts away from the thought of how close she'd been. He could practically smell her perfume.

He closed his eyes and tried not to think about her warm brown eyes. Straightening up, he resolved to return to the office, type up his last story and then turn in his resignation. He genuinely

smiled for the first time in a long time. He would see Michael again very soon.

He was just about to lean down and pick up his backpack when he heard the sound of laughter coming towards the bridge from the main path. He could tell that it was a young girl and she was running, her footsteps sounding rapidly on the pavement. He turned to look and a girl with curly blond hair that reached down her back and laughing green eyes came to the foot of the bridge.

She was looking behind her, but Max found something oddly familiar about her. He shook his head, it seemed to be the day for that. He knew that he didn't know who she was though, he'd never seen her before, but still, she seemed familiar.

The girl turned her head towards him and her laughter suddenly stopped. She halted in her tracks and her eyes widened as she looked at him. Max took a step back, not wanting to scare her. His eyes grew concerned as she continued to stare at him. She was young and Max looked down the path, hoping she wasn't alone in the Park. He heard the resounding sound of more footsteps and sighed with relief.

"Beth! I'm going to catch you!"

Max heard the voice and knew it belonged to the girl's friend. She couldn't seem to stop staring at him, dumbfounded until a boy her age tumbled into her from behind. She stumbled a little and grabbed the boy, turning him to look at Max. Max met the boy's eyes and he immediately felt it.

They were connected somehow. He couldn't explain it, just that it was like what he felt around Michael and what he'd felt around Isabel. Max was still taking in the boy's brown eyes as he felt his heart skip again.

He felt as though his mind was working slower than his heart, which had already found the answer to why he felt a connection with the boy in front of him.

The girl nudged her friend excitedly, her eyes searching his. They almost seemed to communicate without words. "Max! That's . . .is that?" she asked.

Max cocked his head, wondering if he'd heard her words right. As the boy, Max, looked back at him turning to speak, Max suddenly realized who he was looking at.

"It's my father."

Deliver me
Out of my sadness
Deliver me
From all of the madness
Deliver me
Courage to guide me
Deliver me
Strength from inside me

All of my life
I've been in hiding
Wishing there was someone just like you
Now that you're here, now that I've found you
I know that you're the one to pull me through

All of my life
I was in hiding

Deliver me

Lost For You (Part 7: Deliver Me)

Max Evans, known as Parker Maxwell for the past ten years, couldn't tear his eyes away from the two kids in front of him. He couldn't believe what he saw, heard and felt. The boy glanced from Max to the blond girl next to him, his eyes slightly wary. The girl clutched the boy's hand tightly, like a lifeline.

Max shook his head and took a tentative step forward. Neither of them took a step back and Max was again puzzled by how they looked at him like they knew him. He'd never seen either of them before, and yet he did feel as though he knew them. The boy's words jolted him out of his
silence.

"It's my father."

Max's eyes went wide at the statement and he studied the boy, unable to believe it could be true. Logically speaking, it didn't seem possible. He'd made love to one woman in his entire lifetime, and it had only been that one time with Liz. As Max narrowed his eyes and looked at the boy, he nearly gasped. He saw Liz in the boy, in his smile and open face. Looking closer, he saw himself too. The boy looked a lot like he had looked as a kid, dark hair, and light brown eyes. Max's eyes lifted to meet the boy's and Max tried not to look too stunned.

He really was looking at his son.

At Liz's son.

Max was trying to make sense of the jumble of questions and thoughts in his head while the girl pulled on the boy's hand, somewhat impatiently. The boy looked at her pleading eyes and without a word to her, turned to look back at Max. "Where is Michael?" he asked.

Max hadn't thought he could be surprised more that day, but he was. How did these children even know about him, about Michael? "Who do you think I am?" Max asked cautiously, sidestepping the question.

"Max Evans, from Roswell, New Mexico. Though you're originally from somewhere much further away," the boy said, grinning just a little.

"And who are you?" Max asked, his voice barely a whisper as he stepped forward.

"I'm Max Parker, and this is Elizabeth Guerin," the boy said, gesturing to the girl next to him. Max blinked as he looked at them, at his and Michael's children.

"I go by Beth," the girl said quietly, looking at Max hopefully. "Do you know where my father is?"

Max looked into Beth's green eyes and her expression, so trusting, puzzled him. He didn't understand how these children knew anything about him. He sat down on the ledge of the bridge and ran a hand through his hair. "Michael's in Venezuela. He's been there for the past ten years,"
Max said, trying not to notice how Beth's eyes filled with tears at the news that her father was not nearby. She hid her face in her friend's shoulder as he studied Max carefully.

"Where have you been?" Max asked his father, his tone even.

Max looked at his son and detected no hurt expression, just curiosity. "It's a really long story. I'm obviously behind on current events. I have a son," Max whispered, looking at the boy in front of him. Reaching out, he pulled Max towards him and engulfed him in a tight hug. He felt the ten-year-old's arms hold onto him tightly. "I have a son," Max knew his tone held disbelief. He held Max out to look at him carefully. "Please, tell me what happened," Max said urgently, eager to hear what had happened in the last ten years.

The boy took a deep breath and glanced at Beth before he began. "We know why you and Michael left. You thought that you would be blamed for Sheriff Valenti's murder. He didn't die though. He woke up a month later and cleared you and Michael and even though he told the police it was Topolski, no one could find her. They tried to find you but couldn't. Isabel tried every night, but you were blocking her. They tried to tell you it was ok to come back," Max said.

Thoughtfully, Max nodded at his son. "We were blocking her, because we knew she would find us otherwise. We thought we were keeping them safe," he whispered.

Young Max nodded. "They knew that, they've always known that. They just never got to tell you that Mom was pregnant with me and Aunt Maria was pregnant with Beth and Mike," he said.

That caught Max's attention. "Mike? Who's Mike?" he asked.

"Mike is Beth's twin. And Aunt Isabel and Uncle Alex have a daughter named Belle. She's a few months younger than the rest of us, but we were born within a few days of each other," Max replied.

"What happened? How did Liz and Maria end up in New York City?" Max asked, desperate for any news about Liz.

"Mom and Maria came here when Mom's parents wouldn't help her. Mom decided to go to Columbia University and Maria went with her. They've lived here for ten years. Mom thinks about you all the time," Max added softly.

His father turned to look at him. "What do you mean?" Max asked, unable to hope that Liz could
possibly still love him after all that had happened.

"She talks about you. She shows me pictures and tells me stories. She won't take off the wedding ring you gave her. She never goes out with other men. She tells them she's married. She still hopes that one day you'll come back," Max said, studying the man he'd heard about his entire life.

Max swallowed, unable to look at either of the children. "Wait, she tells people she's married?" Max asked, grasping onto what his son had said. The boy nodded. If she told people she was married, like Steve had said, that meant what he'd heard in the museum wasn't true. Liz wasn't married.

And she still wore the ring he'd given her. She'd promised to never take it off, and she hadn't. Max glanced down at his left hand and ran his thumb against the smooth metal on his finger. He clenched his fist as he thought about the promises he broken to Liz. It pained him to think that she had been so unhappy over the years, but at the same time he felt hope. He felt hope for the first time in over ten years. Despite all that had happened, he hoped that maybe he'd be able to tell Liz how sorry he was that they'd ever left.

He and Michael had thought they were protecting the others when they'd gone. Instead, they'd created more pain. And he'd never known that he had a son until just a few minutes before.

"When Michael and I left, we headed south to Mexico," Max began his story, knowing the children needed to know. "We made some money and traveled to South America, taking odd jobs where we could. We heard news of some UFO sightings in Venezuela and Michael convinced me to go. That was eight years ago. We spent the next three years in Caracas. Michael studied cave drawings like the ones in Roswell that he found and investigated UFO sightings. I started to write stories for the local English speaking paper. My work got noticed and I was hired by the New York Times five years ago. I've been living here every since. And you've been here the whole time," Max said, amazed at the coincidence.

Young Max grinned at his father. "Isabel and Alex are here too. Belle and Mike are also in the Park. Mom's sitting by the Lawn right now," Max said, watching his father carefully. He saw Max's brown eyes light up at the mention of Liz and then how they shifted.

"They're all here? I can't believe it. I don't think-I can't see her. After all that's happened, it doesn't seem fair to barge right back into her life," Max said helplessly.

His son fixed a hard gaze on him. "There's no 'back into her life'. Mom hasn't had a real life since she lost you. If it wasn't for the rest of us she wouldn't have survived this long. You just don't get what you and Michael leaving did to everyone. But there's no way that we're going to let this hurt them more than it already has. I know that they think it would be better if you came back, but I want to be sure," Max said vehemently.

Beth stared at Max in horror, his words surprising her. "Max! What are you doing? Aunt Liz would want to know that he's alive. And what about Aunt Isabel?" she pleaded, her eyes hoping for her own father's return as well.

Max caught her eyes and he softened a little, but she still noticed the resolve there. "Not until we know it's safe. Do you really want to watch my mom and yours go through it all again?" Max asked. Beth stared at him a moment before agreeing.

Max looked at the kids, a little uncomfortable. He was starting to understand what position his absence had put his son in. He was obviously very protective and careful when it came to Liz. Max stared at his son in admiration, knowing that he couldn't have asked for a better person to take care of her. "I won't walk back into her life and cause her more pain. I've already done enough," Max said softly.

Young Max studied his father, starting to see some of what his mother had told him. Suddenly, his head shot up and looked behind them, where he and Beth had come from. He could sense two presences coming closer. "Belle and Mike are coming," he whispered to Beth. Her eyes widened and they both looked back at Max. "We won't tell anyone we found you, but you'll meet us again,
right?" Max asked, his voice hopeful and pleading.

His father seemed to consider it a moment before he nodded. "Tomorrow afternoon? Right back here?" Max suggested, to which both kids nodded.

As Beth started down the path, Max approached his father. "Please bring Michael back," he said, extending his hand. His father took it and when his broad hand enveloped his son's, he saw a thousand images at once. And he felt every emotion behind each image. The longing that Max felt whenever someone spoke about his father. The love he felt towards the family that had raised him. And the fierce protection of his mother.

Max stepped back reluctantly, releasing his son's hand. He watched at the boy walked down the path and around the bend, finally releasing the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Beth grabbed Max's arm as they walked down the path towards the Lawn, their scavenger hunt forgotten. "Max, can you believe it! We found them! Wait until we tell the others!"

"No."

"Max, what do you mean? We HAVE to tell them! You couldn't have been serious back there!"

"Beth, we can't. Not until we know it's safe. We need to keep this between you and me until we know for sure," Max said, stopping to face her.

Beth looked exasperated. "But Max, it is safe! There's no crime that they're accused of, and they're both alive. Why can't we tell everyone?" Beth said, obviously desperate.

"Because I don't want to put my mom, yours, Isabel or Alex through this without knowing for sure. You know as well as I do that we need to be sure," Max replied.

Beth nodded. "I know. I just want to see her face, when we tell her that my father's alive and he's coming back," Beth said tearfully.

Max softened and comfortably put an arm around her shoulders. "I know you do, I do too. Come on, we've got work to do," Max said, referring to their scavenger hunt. Although he'd been calm as he talked to his father, Max was quaking inside. It was like every birthday wish he'd made, and every wish on a shooting star had suddenly been granted.

He'd found his father. And he would bring his father back to his mother.

Mike and Belle came crashing through the bushes loudly as Belle called to them. Beth and Max exchanged a silent glance before they turned to the others, carefully trying to conceal the secret they'd uncovered.

Max stood dumbfounded at the corner. He was just barely outside of Central Park, watching traffic go by on Fifth Avenue. The crosswalk had changed more times than he could count already, but he couldn't quite seem to order his feet to move. Finally, he shook his head and crossed the
street, walking on autopilot back to his apartment. After picking up his mail he climbed the stairs to his floor and dropped his backpack as he entered.

The mail hit the table with a slap, completely forgotten as Max reached for the phone. He entered a long string of memorized numbers and waited as the line dialed, static crackling slightly in the background. Finally, a woman picked up. "Hello?" she said, her voice touched with an English accent.

Max grinned, knowing immediately who it was. "Corrine, it's Max," he said, addressing the woman who owned the apartments he and Michael had lived at when they'd been in Venezuela. She also served as Michael's message service when he was out on trips.

"Max! So good to hear your voice! You must come visit soon, Michael has grown quite unpleasant since you last came down two years ago," Corrine said.

Max nodded to himself, but pressed on impatiently. "Is Michael around? It's very important," he asked.

"No, he's been on a trip to Angel Falls. He left three weeks ago and I expect him back any day. What message should I leave for him?" she asked.

Max recited the words carefully and thanked Corrine before hanging up. He stared at the phone in his hand for a few minutes before he set it down on the table and walked over to the window.

Just that afternoon he'd been ready to pack up and leave behind New York. He'd been tired and worn out from all the hiding and running he's done for the past ten years. That had all changed when he'd seen his son in the park. It felt like the answer had been given to him. Everything was still unclear, Max didn't want to hope for too much.

He couldn't hope for Liz. Because if he did, he wouldn't be able to stay in his apartment until the next day. He would have to find some way to find them. As much as he wanted to do just that, he had to remind himself to stay in control. Not until it was safe. Glancing back at the phone, he tried to will it to ring.

Max knew that Michael would just get his message and react immediately, Corrine had taken down his message word for word.

Michael, come to New York right away.

Chances are you'll find me
Somewhere on the road tonight
Seems I always end up driving by
Ever since I've known you
It just seems you're on my way
All the rules of logic don't apply

I long to see you in the night
Be with you 'til morning light

I remember clearly how you looked the night we met
I recall your laughter and your smile
I remember how you made me feel so at ease
I remember all your grace, your style
And now you're all I long to see
You've come to mean so much to me

Chances are I'll see you somewhere in my dreams tonight

Lost For You (Part 8: Chances Are)

March 2013
Near Caracas, Venezuela

Michael shifted restlessly in the passenger seat of the jeep. Suddenly, he was jolted awake as the vehicle lurched to the side when the front right wheel dropped into a large pothole in the road. He snapped his eyes open and glanced over at the driver, who virtually ignored him. Michael merely
folded his arms over his chest and rested back against the side of the car.

The suspension was definitely worse than Max's old jeep, but he had to get back to town some way and paying a local for the ride was the only choice. Michael closed his eyes, his brain wistfully recalling what had occupied his mind. He'd dreamed of Maria again.

The memory of her was so strong, he could practically smell her cedar oil in his nose. Even the humidity of the forest and the smells of the damp earth after the earlier downpour couldn't drown out the smell.

He sighed a little as he tried to practice his own words of advice that he'd given to Max. Try not to think about them, Max. There's nothing we can do. He remembered writing the words. He'd even believed them, at least a little, when he'd penned them to paper.

Sometimes he wondered if there was something they could do. Or something they could have done different that morning. Michael even realized that it had been his idea to leave Roswell, to protect the others in the first place. Max hadn't wanted to leave, and Michael knew that. At the time he felt it was their only choice and he'd convinced Max it was the right thing to do.

Michael also knew that ever since they'd left, Max had been lost. That was why when Max had left South America for New York Michael hadn't objected too much. He sometimes wondered if Max felt trapped in the forests of Venezuela, despite all the quiet and dense trees. Michael didn't feel trapped, but he also didn't feel at home. The only place that had been truly home for him was with Maria.

Michael's thoughts were interrupted at the jeep screeched to a halt just outside of town. He swung down from the side and grabbed his tattered canvas backpack from behind the seat. He handed the driver some bills and turned to trudge into town. He shifted the weight of the pack over his shoulders and followed the road, knowing he had some distance to travel.

His eyes trained on the road under him, Michael's thoughts returned to Maria. He missed her constantly. No one other than Max and Isabel had ever cared what happened to him until Max had saved Liz in the Crashdown. From that day on his life had changed. He was grateful that Max had been stubborn enough not to listen to him as he'd tried to pull his friend away from Liz as she bled on the floor. If he had, Michael never would have gotten to know Liz, Maria and Alex.

He wondered what they were all doing now. He could guess, but unless he ran into them someday, he'd never know. He and Max had vowed never to contact anyone from their pasts and he'd kept his promise. After ten years he wondered if it had been the right choice, but it was the choice he would stand by. It didn't make it any easier though. When Max had been with him at least he had someone to talk to. Once Max had left Michael kept to himself.

Corrine, who kept the apartments where he lived running, kept her distance because she sensed that he needed it. Maria had been the first person to cross that distance. And she crossed it loudly and without apology. She called him on all the crap he put up to the rest of the world. And she made him feel like he belonged, like he had a family. She made him long for what Max and Liz had had and she made him realize that they could have that together. The night they'd spent together
after Prom had made Michael look forward to so much more. Topolski had taken that all away in just a second.

Michael sometimes wondered how he'd come to do what he did in South America. Max had called him crazy, hunting after UFO sightings and cave drawings. Michael let him, knowing that Max couldn't really concentrate on learning more about where they'd come from. Max had his own way of coping.

But it was the only way Michael could think of coping. He'd spent years searching for artifacts and pieces of their past, hoping that something would be familiar, that something would provide some of the answers. He smiled to himself. And he'd found it a week ago in a cave near Angel Falls. As street lights began to flicker on along the buildings, Michael glanced up as he approached the dark brown apartments he lived in. Ditching his bag just outside the front office, he caught his reflection in the glass window.

The years of time spent out in the forests and climbing through caves to collect samples had developed the muscles in his chest and arms. He wore camoflage and a hat over his spiky hair in case it rained. He rubbed his chin where a beard was starting to grow since he'd left three weeks ago.

Rubbing his forehead, Michael pulled on the front door handle. Corrine, an elderly English woman who had come to Venezuela twenty years ago and knew the area better than the locals, looked up as he entered. She graced him with a smile and stood to greet him. He gingerly gave her a hug, trying to keep his dusty clothes away from her. With her usual abandon, she hugged him tight before stepping back to examine him closely. Michael smiled at one of the few friends he had left. Corrine had been like a mother to him and Max when they'd both been living there. With Max gone she sometimes doubled the efforts with him.

"Michael, I am so glad you've returned! It's been much too quiet since you left," she said, beaming at him.

"You're just happy to have someone to play chess with again," Michael teased. Corrine laughed, partially because it was true. She turned to hand him his mail and messages. Michael knew there wouldn't be many, he interacted with very few people and the only person who knew where he
was was Max. He started to flip through the envelopes and papers and stopped as he came to a folded piece of stationary. Puzzled, he opened it and scanned the words quickly.

Michael, come to New York right away.

He held up the paper, showing Corrine as he raised his eyebrows in a silent question. She slapped her forehead, and rolled her eyes.

"I completely forgot to give that to you right away. Max called earlier today and he said to give you that message as soon as you returned," she said.

Michael studied the words for a minute, trying to figure out what they meant. They were purposefully vague, Michael knew that Max wouldn't want to divulge too much to Corrine. Even though they trusted her, they didn't tell her everything about them. Not by a long shot.

He knew he wouldn't get anything else from the seven words on paper, so he pocketed the note and turned to Corrine. "Did Max sound ok?" he asked.

She nodded thoughtfully. "He sounded purposefully casual. Something was bothering him, but
I could tell he didn't want to be pushed. You know how Max can get awfully closed off and quiet," Corrine responded.

Michael nodded, knowing how Max would shut himself off whenever he was thinking of Liz. He wondered what was so urgent that he come to New York right away. He also knew that Max would not have made such an obvious demand unless it was important. Shrugging, he resigned himself to a plane trip north.

"Will you be leaving again?" Corrine asked, her eyes disappointed.

"I'm afraid so, as soon as I can. Sounds like Max needs me for something," he said, already planing a plane route.

"Do you think you should phone Max first?" she asked curiously.

Michael shrugged, not really seeing the point. "He knows I'll come, I might as well just leave now. You'll watch the place for me?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course I will, darling. Just keep me posted if you need anything," she replied.

Michael gave Corrine a quick hug and departed the office. He climbed the shaky metal stairs to his apartment and quickly dumped his bag on the bed. He traded out the clothes he'd taken to Angel Falls for another set and was tying the bag closed when he picked up the bag carrying his findings
in the cave. Thinking carefully, he made some quick changes to his travel plans. He knew it might not be a good idea, that he might be discovered, but he had to take the chance.

He tried to tell himself that he was excited about the prospects of what he might discover and not the chance that he would see her again. He packed the bag in with his clothes, showered and changed quickly and then left the apartment again not an hour later. He began to hike through town, looking for a taxi to hail to the airport. He wasn't going straight to New York.

First he'd make a stop in Roswell.

March 2013
New York City

Maria was folding the load of laundry she'd just brought up from the basement when she heard a faint screeching noise. She finished pairing up the two socks in her hands before she walked over to the window. The sound had come from just outside, through the open window.

She pushed the glass open further and leaned out into the warm spring air. She looked up and smiled at the darting flashlights on the roof. Beth had climbed up the fire escape to meet Max again. It had become a ritual of sorts for the two of them. They loved to watch the sky. It couldn't be called stargazing because the stars were usually harder to see with all the city lights, but they still liked the solitude.

Maria walked quietly down the hall towards the kid's rooms and she eased Mike's door open, letting a stream of light in. She smiled at the sight of her son, curled up in bed and sleeping soundly. She closed the door quietly and returned to her basket of laundry. It was still warm as she separated the kid's clothing and folded shirts and pants. She reached for the phone and hit the number one for memory dial.

It rang once until Liz's voice answered. "Hello?"

"Hola Chica, it's me."

"Maria, have you seen Max?" Liz asked.

Maria smiled, Liz worried so much about her son. "He's on the roof with Beth. I heard her go up a few minutes ago," she replied.

Liz sighed a little with relief. "Good, I was just going to call and see if he was over there. How was your day at the studio today?" Liz asked.

"Pretty good, I sold quite a few of my Central Park spring pictures. People must be in the mood for warmer weather," she commented.

"It was so beautiful in the Park today, so warm and green. The kids had a lot of fun," Liz replied.

Maria stopped her folding, catching the slight hesitation in her friend's voice. "What happened?" Maria asked.

"I don't know. Probably nothing. The kids separated to find items for the scavenger hunt. Max and Beth went off together, and when they came back they were very quiet. I asked Max, but he was kind of distant. It just wasn't like him," Liz said thoughtfully.

Maria nodded. "I'm sure he'll tell you eventually if there's something to tell. Max knows he can talk to you. And he knows he can talk to any of us," she replied.

"I don't know, I think if he's going to talk to anyone, it's going to be Beth. They're getting awfully close," Liz observed.

Maria snorted. "Liz, they've been joined at the hip since they were born. Although I do think your son is developing a little crush on my daughter," Maria pointed out.

Liz laughed out loud. "As if I haven't noticed your daughter's adoring eyes gazing at my son! I'm glad he can talk to her too. Could you-"

"I'll ask Beth and see if she can tell me anything. Now, you get some rest. After this nice day off, chasing kids all over the Museum and the Park, you have to go back to real work tomorrow," Maria teased gently.

Liz laughed and said goodnight before hanging up the phone. Maria replaced the handset in the cradle and listened through the window for the sounds of Beth and Max. They were pretty quiet, usually she heard constant laughter coming from above.

Must be a lot to talk about tonight, Maria thought.

"So, what'll we do?" Beth asked breathlessly, huddled under a blanket with Max. It wasn't too cold out, but the breeze was beginning to pick up.

He shrugged. "We wait until tomorrow and see what he tells us," Max said, trying to sound confident. Beth nodded, seemingly satisfied.

She turned to smile at him. "He looked just like all the pictures, didn't he?" she asked.

Max turned and found her eyes with his. "Yeah, yeah, he did,"

"Awfully handsome too," Beth commented quietly.

Max's head snapped up. "Beth!"

"Oh, come on, Max! Not like it's a bad thing, since you look so much like him when he was your age!" Beth laughed.

Max was speechless for a minute, realizing Beth was paying him a compliment of sorts. "When he hugged me, I could feel all the things he felt towards my mom. He still loves her. And he's been so lonely, Beth," Max whispered, feeling sober. Max felt the silence from Beth, heavy in curiosity. He cursed himself, realizing he'd just revealed to her how much he could sense from people around him. He hadn't told anyone yet, hoping to develop his powers more.

"How did you know that Max?" she asked, her voice low and next to his ear.

He sighed, realizing he had to tell her. "I can sense people really strongly, their thoughts and feelings about things or people of events. When things get really intense I get flashes of what they're thinking about. When I'm touching someone, that's when it's the strongest," Max explained.

Beth nodded slowly, and then she smiled at him. "You should tell Aunt Isabel, she'd love to know what powers you're getting. I know! You can tell her tomorrow, when we meet in the Park for our weekly session," Beth exclaimed. Then her face fell. "Oh, Max, how are we going to meet your father tomorrow if we have to stay with Isabel?"

Max groaned, remembering the weekly two hours they spent with Isabel in the Park, honing their powers in a secluded area. Normally he looked forward to the meeting, but not when he had the chance to talk with his father. "We'll think of something. We have to be back at that bridge tomorrow afternoon," Max said, his face set indetermination.

Beth studied him and she smiled, reassured as she rested her head on his shoulder. She knew he could do anything. And if her Max could do anything, maybe his father could do the impossible.

Maybe he could bring her father back.

"Max, honey, you need to hurry up, or you kids will be late," Liz warned, reaching for her bag as Max walked towards the front room, backpack slung over his shoulders. He looked tired to her. She walked towards him and cupped his face in her hands, lifting his chin to look up at her. "Are you ok sweetheart?" Liz asked, her eyebrows knit in concern.

Max's eyes hesitated for a minute before he nodded his head. She saw the pause and tried not to worry. She knew she could pry it out of him if she really wanted to, but Liz didn't want to force him to tell her anything he wasn't ready for. She kissed his forehead gently and walked with him to the door.

After locking the door, Liz looked up to see Beth and Mike running down the hall from their home.
"Hi kids," Liz said with a smile. They grinned back and as a group they rode the elevator down to the ground level. As they always did, Liz parted ways with the kids at the subway stop, she was heading north while they rode the subway to midtown where their school was.

After his mother was out of sight and Mike was busy staring off into the dark tunnel Max turned to Beth. "Did you get it?" he asked anxiously.

She nodded, patting her backpack. "I got it, and as long as I get it back later tonight Mom won't
notice," Beth replied with a grin.

Mike turned a suspicious eye towards them. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," Beth and Max answered in unison. Max held his breath, Mike obviously didn't buy it, but he let it go, for now. Max settled back in the hard plastic chair for the rest of the short trip, his eyes focused outside the subway car, but his thoughts trying to decide what he would say to his father later in the day. He spent the rest of the day during school trying to come up with a way to get away from Isabel, Mike and Belle during their meeting in the park that afternoon. He still hadn't come up with anything as they walked towards the park after school.

Beth and Belle were chattering on about something as he and Mike walked ahead of them and Mike bounced a ball against the pavement.

"You two don't have that dumb dance class today, do you?" Mike called back to them.

Beth glared at him. "No Michael. We do not have our ballet class today," Beth retorted.

Mike stuck his tongue out at her, she knew he didn't like the use of his full name. They continued to walk towards the park until they came to the 59th Street Columbus Circle subway stop where they got on and rode up to the 81st Street stop. As they entered the park, Max caught Beth's arm, pulling her back as Belle and Mike walked ahead of them. "What is it Max?" she asked, her voice low.

"Look, I think I know how we can get away from them later on," he replied.

Beth's eyes lit up. "How?"

"Simple, we'll just say that we want to go off and explore," he replied.

Beth looked at him dubiously. "I don't know Max, I don't think she'll buy it," she replied.

"She has to," Max replied, waving to Isabel as they got closer.

Isabel watched the children out of the corner of her eye. They'd been in the park over an hour and the kids were getting distracted. As they usually did, they found a secluded area, surrounded by trees and bush. There Isabel demonstrated her powers to the kids and explained to them how she kept them under control. Next, she gave them specific tasks, so she could try and figure out the extent of their powers. Isabel sighed, she had no idea if what she was doing was right, but it was the only thing she could think of.

"Aunt Isabel, Beth and I are going to explore a little," Max said, grabbing her attention.

Isabel nodded. "That's fine, just stay together and stay close," she said, watching them run off into the park. Soon, Belle and Mike wanted to head off into the park and Isabel watched them go a little sadly. She constantly wondered about Max and Michael. She wished that they were there, that they could see their children.

Isabel recognized that it had been difficult for everyone when they had left, she'd gone into a state of depression that almost no one could break. When the sheriff had woken up and there had been some hope, Isabel had been able to rouse herself from the stupor she'd been in. Even the prospect
of Maria and Liz carrying Michael and Max's children had managed to bring a smile to her face.

Then Liz and Maria had left. Isabel knew why, she'd listened to Liz's tearful explanation as she related how her parents wouldn't accept or help her. But with Liz and Maria gone, and Max and Michael's whereabouts unknown, Isabel had slipped back into depression. She'd taken to sleeping in Max's room, just to be a little closer to him. She dreamwalked every night, hoping that she might find them somewhere. But she never did.

July 2002
Roswell

Isabel's eyes focused on the picture on Max's dresser. Her and Max in Snowmass, at the top of the ski slope. His arm was around her shoulder and the flakes of snow falling around them almost blurred the picture. Looking at that picture made her feel so alone.

She knew they had to be out there somewhere, but she couldn't feel them. The others didn't understand what that was like. Being different than everyone else had been bad enough growing up, but at least she'd had Max and Michael, who were as different as her. Liz and Maria had tried so hard to comfort her in her loss and Isabel had tried to do the same for them. But she'd failed them.

Even with all her powers she couldn't bring them back, she couldn't find them for the women who needed them so much. Alex tried so hard to be there for all of them, but it was too hard to do. Liz and Maria had left a week ago for New York City and Isabel had retreated to Max's room. Alex
called nearly every hour, but she never spoke to him.

She felt so alone, losing nearly everyone all in a few months. Alex was all she had left, but she was too afraid of losing him too. Three years ago when he'd been missing out in the snow she'd almost died thinking she would never see him again. She didn't want to pick up the phone to hear him say he was leaving for college or a band tour and that she was completely alone.

The phone began to ring again and Isabel started to cry at the sound, pulling the pillow over her head to drown it out. She sobbed and her body shook at the shrill sound until it stopped after the tenth ring. The tears rolled down her face, making the pillow damp until she wiped her cheeks with the sheet, drying them. Her throat was raw from crying and her eyes were still wet when she heard a knocking sound.

Looking at the door, she realized it wasn't coming from there. She turned her eyes to the window as it cracked open. "Isabel? It's Alex, I'm coming in," he said, his voice carrying through the dark curtains.

Isabel didn't utter a sound as Alex climbed in and sat next to her on the bed. Silently, he picked up her limp body and pulled her into his lap. She settled against his warm chest, grasping the shirt her wore in her hand. He stroked her hair gently and rubbed her back in slow circles. She was still shaking, but she gradually stopped as Alex's heartbeat under her ear calmed her. "I am so sorry Isabel. I wish I'd come sooner, but I thought you needed space. I thought you needed to be alone," Alex said, his voice unhappy.

She closed her eyes painfully. Being alone was the last thing she needed, but that was all she ever felt. "I miss them so much."

"I know you do sweetheart. But they'll come back someday, you have to believe that," Alex tried to reassure her.

She shook her head. "No, not Max and Michael. I mean, I do miss them, but I miss Liz and Maria. So much, I wish they were here," Isabel said, her voice soft.

Alex stopped his movements, catching her attention. She looked up and met his playful eyes, knowing that he had some kind of surprise for her. It almost felt like things were back to normal, back when Alex would leave her presents and surprises in her locker, blindfold and kidnap her to some mysterious location.

"What is it?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

They'd played the game for years. Alex refused to give her any clues until she asked him, mostly because he knew her curiosity would win in the end. He shifted a little and pulled out a plane ticket. Her body froze for a second as every horrible thought floated through her head. He was leaving her, and she'd be all alone. Just as she was beginning to panic, her eyes settled on the ticket and she realized there were two.

"Two plane tickets to New York City. We leave on Saturday. I'd suggest you get packing," Alex said, a hint of a smile on his face.

Feeling happy for the first time since Liz and Maria had left, Isabel kissed Alex gently. She pulled him down to the bed with her as his hands ran up her body to touch her face. The loneliness was still in the back of her mind, but it felt like she could deal with it better with her friends and family around her.

March 2013
New York

Isabel blinked her eyes, realizing she had been staring at a small bird perched on a tree nearby. She'd been thinking about the day that she and Alex had conceived their daughter. Isabel grinned to herself, wondering what her brother would think knowing his sister had had sex on his bed.

She and Alex had gone to New York, knowing they wouldn't return to Roswell because the people they needed were in New York. For awhile they'd all lived together and they all celebrated Isabel's pregnancy and the birth of Maria and Liz's children. It had been eleven years since they'd all come to New York, and none of them had ever let.

Isabel's parents came to visit often, they understood how hard it was for her to come back to Roswell. And they loved to see both their grandchildren, so they came to New York.

Somehow, she and Alex had managed to start at the bottom level of their jobs at Virgin Records and Saks Fifth Avenue, but they'd both managed to reach the top. They had a family, an even bigger family when she counted their extended family of Liz, Max, Maria, Beth and Michael.

But still, even after all the years that had gone by, Isabel missed her brothers. She had a feeling they were still out there, but it frustrated her that she didn't know where. And she worried that they might return to Roswell and find that they had all left. Alex calmed her during those moments, and he told her that Max and Michael would find them.

And she believed her husband. She did believe that her brothers would come back someday.

March 2013
Outskirts of Roswell

Michael drove the jeep under the cover of night, reassured by the darkness. The air was drier than he was used to and the breeze was light as he could feel the warmth of the spring night over the desert. He'd been traveling for over a day now.

His plane had landed in Mexico near the border of the United States and he'd found Max's old jeep, hidden and nearly forgotten for over ten years. A quick swipe of his hand brought the engine back to life and he'd grinned, pleased with himself. Fixing Maria's car years ago had been too much of a challenge for him, but with a little fine tuning, he'd gotten his powers better under control.

It had been dusk as he'd crossed over the border into New Mexico and he'd driven north to Roswell. He kept the radio off and only the headlights on. He watched his speed and was careful when he passed other cars. He couldn't get pulled over in a car with no registration and a driver without a license.

Michael took a deep breath as he got closer to Roswell. He'd been contemplating actually going into town the entire trip up north. He wondered if she was still in Roswell, if they were all still there. The question was almost enough to get him to turn into town, but the possibility that anyone
might see him drove him to turn away and head directly for the Indian Reservation.

Before he even drove past the entrance to the reservation, he ditched the jeep, covering it with the camouflage he and Max had hidden it with in Mexico. The jeep had remained undiscovered for years in the Mexican desert, he thought it would be safe for a few hours.

Michael pulled his backpack from the jeep and he began the hike towards the cave. It was almost like the cave was calling to him. It pulled him, gave him energy to hike faster to the entrance. He was careful to listen for anyone else before he entered the cave. The area was deserted and as Michael looked around the entrance, he didn't notice any human footprints at the opening.

No one had been up to the cave in a long time.

He entered, stooping his back to accommodate the low ceiling. Putting his hand in front of him, Michael lit the dark interior with just a thought that made a bright glow resonate over the walls. He trudged deeper into the cave and walked a path that he didn't actually know, but he was guided by the pull he felt. Finally, he reached the cave drawings, which had held such mystery all those years ago when Max and Liz had first discovered them.

He traced them with his fingers and sighed. He still didn't know what they said, or what they meant. Setting his backpack down, Michael retrieved his findings from the cave in Venezuela. Near Angel Falls he'd found a cave and deep inside was what he'd found.

Unwrapping them slowly, Michael carefully cradled the five stones in his hands. They were just like the stones that River Dog had been given by Nasedo when River Dog was a boy, the stones that they had used to heal Michael with during his struggle to balance his body. Except these stones were a midnight blue where the other stones were an amber color. They also had a round shape and rough edges, and Michael was almost certain that they would fit into the same spots that the other stones had.

He couldn't even explain what had compelled him to find the stones in the first place. Just like he was being drawn to the cave in New Mexico, he'd felt that same pull in Venezuela. He'd thought about having Max meet him and they could figure it out together, but Michael couldn't wait, whatever was calling him wouldn't allow him to delay.

Carefully Michael placed one stone in each of the hollows on the cave wall. Somehow he knew which stone went where and how it fit in the scheme of the cave drawing. As he pushed the last stone into the remaining hole, he stepped back. His heart sped up as the stones began to glow and he heard a hum begin to build. The glowing increased until the cave became as light as day.

Michael shielded his eyes from the glare until the light burst like a super nova. He could feel the light in his mind as it filled his entire being.

And then the world went black.

To Be Continued.......