Liz finally pulled back, smiled up at Max. He looked slightly dazed, like he couldn�t quite believe that things were this good between them again. His eyes drifted momentarily to her lips, but then quickly looked away.

She felt her heart fall slightly. She knew it was too soon for anything beyond friends with them, but it didn�t mean that being in such close proximity to him wasn�t making her heart beat faster, wasn�t making her remember when he used to be able to make her see stars�and then only with a simple kiss.

It was unfair, she knew, that the fact that he hadn�t slept with Tess was so important to her. She had not been alone since he had been gone, something he was going to have to deal with. But the whole Tess thing� it had made her feel like she had never even known Max at all. That everything he had ever said to her over their short time together�every You�re the one Liz, the only one, whether I die tomorrow or fifty years from now, my destiny is the same� it�s you Liz, had been a lie. Now that she understood what had happened with Tess � really nothing at all � everything was different, just as she had known it would be.

He was suddenly Max again�Max with no baggage whatsoever. Max, completely clean and innocent and only hers, but also mature and sexy and still hers� and, oh God, just Max.

"So, that�s where we stand then," he was saying quietly, having taken a step back and still not looking at her. "Friends."

Liz smiled slightly to herself at the uncertain way he said it. It reminded her of that time in the Crashdown, when the whole friends conversation had been merely a cover for what they both really wanted to admit�that the idea of not touching each other was probably the worst they had ever been forced to contemplate.

"For now," Liz replied. "At least until I work things out with Dan."

"Right." He looked at her again, no longer the seventeen-year-old boy she remembered, but the mature and capable man he had become. "Which you�re going to do how?"

Liz sighed. "I wish I knew. He�s not going to take this easily." She saw Max frown slightly, knew what he was worrying about. "But he won�t betray you Max. I know he won�t. You were right about him. He�ll be hurt, but he�s not the kind of guy to lash out that way."

"He really took it well." Max shook his head in wonder. "I mean, it�s not every day someone learns that aliens are real."

Liz looked at him closely. "Max, you do trust Dan, don�t you?" The way he had said that� it was like he had still been a bit uncertain about her fianc�.

"I trust you," he replied simply. "It�s all I need to know."

She felt her heart begin to beat more quickly again. She had forgotten that tendency he had � had always had, even sometimes during the time that he had been sealed by his enemies � to be able to say exactly the right thing at the right time. She wondered if it was a remnant of being a king�that ability to warm people all over with only a simple stringing together of words. She loved it about him.

Liz realized that she was now staring at his lips�and he certainly noticed, because when she raised her eyes to meet his, she saw that they had darkened slightly, that he was breathing a bit more quickly.

"Okay, Dan!" She almost exclaimed it, trying to break the tension that had sprung up so suddenly again. "I guess I better head up there then."

"Right."

"Well, I�m going then." She blinked when she realized that she had taken a step closer to Max rather than away.

"I can see that." He sounded amused, but very serious at the same time.

You�re the one who wants to be friends you idiot! She could hear the voice screaming at her in her head. If you do this�it�s going to change everything � It�s too soon!

"I�m already gone." She knew that she was blushing as she turned away. When she realized that he wasn�t following her, she turned slightly though. "Aren�t you coming?"

"In a minute. I don�t think Dan�s going to be particularly happy to see me at the moment," he replied wryly.

"No," Liz agreed, sighing. "But it�ll be okay."

"I know it will."

They stared at each other for a moment longer, in complete sync.

She barely managed to turn away.

She was halfway up the slope when she noticed him. She was amazed that she had caught sight of him at all. It was almost dark, but she caught a glimpse of the silvery color of his hair against the darkened foliage, which made her turn her head just in time to see him disappear behind some bushes again.

"Ben?" She whispered his name, looking back to where she had left Max moments ago. He still hadn�t emerged from the copse of trees, was obviously staying true to his word to give her and Dan a little time without him as part of the audience.

There was no movement.

She frowned slightly, picked her way gingerly across the slope. "Ben, it�s me Liz. It�s okay, honey."

There was a long pause and then a sob, heavy with relief. "Liz?"

"What are you doing in here?" Liz dropped to her knees, poked her head into the bushes, her heart almost breaking at the sight of the little boy. She felt her eyes widen when she caught sight of Lexi, who was sitting behind Ben, talking quietly to herself in typical baby fashion.

Ben was sitting almost buried in the foliage, his knees up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, trying to make himself as small as possible. "Maria sent me out to find you and Dad," he said, his voice trembling. "We were in the basement, looking for some stuff� Lexi too." He cut himself off, began to cry in earnest.

"We were just down the hill, honey." Liz crawled in towards him, flinching as a sharp twig scraped across her arm. She ignored it, did not pause until she had reached his side, could pull the boy awkwardly into her arms. "What�s wrong?" Her heart was already beginning to beat double-time. She could see Lexi watching them now, her big eyes, the exact same color as Max�s Liz knew, glinting slightly in the approaching twilight.

Something was obviously very wrong. Maria would never have sent Ben out on his own, especially with the baby�not when it was almost dark, and not when there was a psycho alien after him.

"I couldn�t find you." He was sniffling against her, obviously calming down slightly now that he had an adult to take on his problems again. "Maria gave me her watch." He lifted his small arm, showed Liz, although it was too dark for her really see it. "She told me that if I didn�t find you in exactly five minutes, I had to hide�me and Lexi."

Liz briefly closed her eyes. It was bad. She knew it. She managed to keep her voice steady as she asked, "Why, sweetie?"

"I don�t know!" He almost wailed it, but then quickly dropped his voice. "She told me to whisper when I found you," he confided, sounding guilty.

"Okay, what exactly happened when you were with Maria in the basement?" Liz tried another tack.

"We were just messing around with some stuff. There�s junk everywhere down there. I told her before you got back that Dad had been looking for something, so she said that maybe we should go look for it again. We were down there and we heard some cars come up. It was you and Kyle and that other man. I heard you talking to my dad and then you and Dad left and Michael and the other man had a fight." He looked at her guiltily. "I know I wasn�t supposed to be listening, but Maria was too and she said it was for a good reason."

Liz rolled her eyes slightly, grimaced but focused on the important part of what Max�s son had just said. "What kind of fight?" She had visions of Dan saying something insulting about Max, of Michael finally reaching the end of his tether, of actually blasting her erstwhile fianc� into the stratosphere.

"Just yelling," Ben replied. "He was saying mean things about my dad." The outrage was clear in his voice. "But they both stopped because another car came and Aunt Isabel was happy because it was her husband."

"Jesse?"

"Yeah. But Maria said that we had to still stay in the basement. She was really scared suddenly."

"She was?" Liz was a little confused by that. Wasn�t Jesse�s arrival a good thing?

"There was a lot of yelling and then Aunt Izzy was screaming about someone named Nicholas."

Liz closed her eyes, clutched Ben closer to her. She reached out with the other hand, beckoned to Lexi. The little girl crawled towards her, gurgling happily.

"Then what happened?" she whispered.

"Maria pushed a big sheet aside and showed me a tunnel," Ben continued, taking Liz�s cue and speaking in a low voice. "She told me to take Lexi out to find you. I could hear someone coming down the stairs already."

"Why didn�t she come with you?" Liz demanded, angry at her best friend for making the two children stumble out the secret tunnel alone.

"She told me that she needed to stay. To make the people coming think that Lexi and I hadn�t been down there." Liz understood. Maria was going to play it that Max and Ben weren�t even there at all anymore�that they were long gone, which Ben reinforced when he said, "That we were with Dad."

Max.

Liz turned her head, took in the trees about a hundred yards below them. She hadn�t seen him come out yet. He had to still be there, completely unaware of what was going on up at the house. From Ben�s explanation it sounded like Nicholas had somehow forced Jesse to bring him to them. And Max had absolutely no idea. He was staying where he was, waiting for some indication that Dan was not going to freak out completely, oblivious to the fact that everything had changed�that their enemies had arrived and they were unprepared. All because of Liz�s stupid life.

She felt her heart thundering in her chest as she tried to gauge how quickly she could make it down that slope with Ben and Lexi.

Not fast enough. They were going to have to go around the long way if she took them with her.

She could leave the children here, relatively safe, and make a run for it herself, and then come back for them after she had told Max what was going on. But one glance at Ben�s terrified expression and she knew that she couldn�t do that either.

The long way it was then.

"Okay, listen to me, sweetie. This is what we�re going to do�"

Max had folded his arms across his chest, was leaning back against a tree, reflecting on his lengthy conversation with Liz, wondering how long he should stay away from the house. He was trying to put himself in Dan�s shoes, feeling a pang of sympathy for the other man, but he couldn�t quite wipe the silly grin off his face as he remembered how truly close Liz had been to kissing him, when he suddenly just knew that something was wrong. A chill ran down the length of his spine, making him jump immediately to attention.

Ben. He could almost feel the little boy�s terror crashing down on him in waves. He had turned and was out of the trees before the feeling completely passed. He could still see Liz making her way up the slope, it was that soon after she had left. As he watched, she paused, turned her head and then made a direct bee-line for a stand of brush on the left hand side of the slope.

Max frowned, wondered what the hell she was doing. He started after her, when his attention was suddenly caught by noise from up at the house. He could hear a car pulling away, obviously at a high rate of speed.

And he knew. They had been found.

He melted back into the trees, his heart pounding a mile a minute, guilt descending on him so quickly, it literally took his breath away. He had left Ben up there and his son�s enemies had found them. How could he have been so careless?

Unless it was Max�s enemies, of course�his good old brother-in-law and his friends at the Special Unit.

Max forced himself to push the guilt aside. Now wasn�t the time for it. He needed to focus on what exactly he was going to do to fix this. And the first thing he needed to do was to get to Liz, who, thankfully, had not made it all the way back up to the house.

He stood just within the wind-break of trees, stared over at the bushes where Liz was still out of sight. He measured the distance with his eyes, could see that it was too far to make a break for it. But, as he watched, he caught a hint of movement. He saw a form that could only be Liz emerge and head off in the opposite direction.

And she wasn�t alone. His relief was so great, he actually felt his knees weaken. She had Ben�s hand firmly in hers and was clutching Lexi against her chest as she darted away from Max and into another clump of brush.

Max hurried to the far side of the windbreak. He knew exactly what she was doing. She was taking the long way around to bring the kids to him. Well, he was going to meet her half-way.

The next five minutes were the longest of Max�s life. He didn�t make it far before he realized that there wasn�t much cover between the bushes Liz was now hiding in with his son and niece and the grouping of trees. The distance wasn�t nearly as great as it had been on the slope, but it was still a good fifty yards.

He had missed the desert when he had been on Antar, had felt closed in by the lack of wide, empty spaces on his native planet, but at the moment he longed for the claustrophobia of it all. There just weren�t enough damn hiding places when wide open spaces were involved.

Max wished that he could somehow get in touch with Liz, let her know that he knew where she was, that he was trying to get to her, but he couldn�t take the risk of calling her on her cell. He didn�t even know if she had it with her. He had his. He could feel it in the pocket of his jacket, taunting him because it was completely useless.

He felt helplessness forcing panic within him. He had not felt this afraid since his worst moments on Antar�not since the day he had finally come face to face with Khivar, the enemy that had been faceless for so long, but was suddenly just there.

Every single person he cared about was in danger. All because he had come back to them. Michael and Isabel and Maria and Kyle were up at the house, likely either in the control of Nicholas or the Special Unit. Liz and Ben and Lexi were so close, safe for the moment, and yet so far, they might as well have been on Antar.

He was going to have to make a break for it. He just couldn�t leave them alone there any longer.

And it was in that instant that he heard her.

Max?

He blinked, then closed his eyes. Her voice was tentative, unsure, but it was definitely her.

She was in his head.

Liz? He knew that he probably sounded incredulous to her, but he couldn�t help it. He knew that the connection was strong, was growing stronger now that they both knew the truth about their history, but he had never in a million years imagined that it would be this powerful.

It�s me. He could almost hear her straining. Ben is helping me. This is all he can do. He tried mind warping, but he�s still too weak from a couple of nights ago.

Max just shook his head, forced his shock aside. Are you all right?

We�re all fine. Max, Nicholas is up there. And Jesse. Ben hasn�t been able to give me too many details, but Max�it sounds like they�re working together! Her shock was apparent.

Max grimaced slightly. Of course, Liz didn�t know anything about Jesse. He had never had the chance to tell her. But the confirmation that his brother-in-law could not be trusted hit him like a truck. Isabel was going to be devastated.

Hell. It was a ridiculously simplistic response, but seemed to sum up the entire situation quite nicely.

Max, what are we going to do? I can�t stay here with them forever. Ben is practically on the verge of a breakdown and Lexi is getting fussy. She�s asking for Isabel.

What else did Ben tell you? Max asked quickly. He could almost feel Liz�s fear now, coming through the connection. He tried to keep her focused on what they could do, needed to keep her calm. She was all that was standing between his son and disaster. He knew he could trust her, but it had been so long since she had dealt with anything like this. He had brought this down on her head again. Her life was in danger because of him.

Stop it! he ordered himself to forget the guilt for the moment. It was his constant companion, but it could not be allowed to distract him. Not right now. It was his guilt over this connection with Liz, this bond that was turning out to be even more extraordinary than even he had been able to understand, that had put them all in this position in the first place. If he had been up at the house instead of pouting over his guilt about the connection, none of this would have happened.

They would have found who they were really looking for. He could have traded himself for his son�s life. For the lives of all of his friends. It would have been so easy�

There had been a pause while Liz had spoken to Ben, perhaps clarifying some details about exactly what he knew was going on. It sounds like Maria might have been trying to convince them that you and I had already left with Ben and Lexi. Ben says that�s what her plan was. I don�t know what Michael or Isabel or� There was a pause. �Dan might have said upstairs.

Dan. God, he was up there too. And he was in no way connected to any of them besides Liz. He might talk just to protect Liz. She was the only one he cared about after all.

And Max knew exactly what he had to do. Liz, there�s only one thing to do.

What, Max? He could hear the hope in her voice, her certainty that he would know how to fix this, that all of his years fighting a war on Antar could not have been in vain.

But all of his years on Antar had not involved everyone he loved. He had been incapable of remembering what love felt like through most of it, had only done what he knew he was supposed to do.

None of those rules applied anymore.

I�m going to give myself up.

Liz stopped breathing. She closed her eyes, convulsively pulling Ben more tightly against her side. She could feel the tension in the little boy�s frame, felt the connection flicker as she distracted him from the help he was giving her to connect with Max over the distance between them. Liz squeezed him lightly, apologetically, felt the energy he was transmitting to her increase again.

She then scowled, her shock quickly igniting into an anger so intense, it surprised her. She could feel it affecting Ben as well.

Liz? she heard his voice, small uncertain in her head, where only moments before Max had informed her of his plan�hands down the stupidest one she had ever heard.

Liz took a deep breath, tried to control her rage. It�s okay, sweetie, she soothed.

Her next thought was that she was astounded that she was even surprised that Max would decide that this was the best course of action. This was just like him. Taking everything onto his own shoulders, never letting anyone else make a decision, refusing to allow anyone else to risk themselves.

And suddenly she understood exactly why she had remained so unable to cope with the fact that he had left her eight years ago without even saying goodbye.

He never let her in. He told her he loved her, but he refused to allow her to give as much of herself as she truly wanted to. He arbitrarily decided that he was the only one who had the right to risk anything for the people he loved.

He had left without her, throwing the love and acceptance and forgiveness she had given him over the baby they had still thought was his at the time back in her face by doing so. Yes, there had been extenuating circumstances because of the seal, but it did not negate the fact that he had always done it, stretching all the way back to the time he had told her that they could only ever be friends after he had first healed her.

He had said then that it was because they were different, but she had always understood that that was not the real reason. He had not felt deserving of the risks that she was willing to take for him, and so had rejected her time and again. When he had finally been willing to take the chance, to truly believe that they were meant to be together, along had come Tess to screw everything up again.

He had never been able to stop hurting her since. And every time he did it, he felt less deserving of her love and so rejected her even more. The seal had only made it worse.

He could not accept her unconditional love and, so, had several times almost destroyed it.

It was not going to happen again.

That is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. She heard the coldness of her tone, was satisfied.

Liz, there�s no other way. He didn�t sound surprised that she was arguing with him. It appeared that he had been expecting it, but it also sounded like he thought he was going to win in the end.

He was not going to win this time.

Max, we�re in this together. If you�re going up there, I�m going with you.

Liz�

NO! You are not going up there alone. It�s a stupid plan, Max! You have no way of guaranteeing that they won�t just kill everyone anyway when they get their hands on you. And it�s not even you they want! It�s Ben. Right now no one up there knows exactly where Ben and Lexi are. Nicholas can�t get any worthwhile information out of them. But you know, Max. He could use you.

There. That was an argument he wouldn�t be able to deny.

Nicholas can�t mind rape me again, Liz. I�m too strong. There was a slight pause. I am stronger than he can ever hope to be. If I give myself up, I will be in complete control of the situation.

Liz felt a shiver descend her spine. His tone had been a little scary there. Almost merciless. What do you mean? But she knew exactly what he had meant.

If he confronted Nicholas, only one of them would survive it. And Max was positive that it would be him.

What exactly had he managed to learn about his powers on Antar?

If this is so true, then why didn�t you just deal with Nicholas back in Albuquerque? Liz demanded. Why the wild goose chase?

Liz, I was trying to get my son out of the way, Max replied patiently. Why do you think I wanted all of you out here with me? I was going to leave him with you all � the only people I can trust � and then I was going after him. There was a beat of silence. Things got a little messed up unfortunately.

Because of Dan. Liz felt a pang of guilt. Max, how can you be so sure?

I know everything there is to know about Nicholas, Liz. I know his weaknesses, I know his strengths. I learned it all on Antar. He doesn�t know anything about me. Not anymore. I�m not the stupid kid I was the first time we met, he finished grimly.

She could feel the situation slipping away from her. She couldn�t argue with him when he kept saying things that she didn�t understand.

And she had thought that he had told her everything.

Max, what are you talking about?

Liz, Nicholas completely screwed with my mind the first time I met him. That is not going to happen this time. I have a secret weapon. One that he won�t be able to understand and, so, won�t expect. He paused yet another time, as though unsure how to phrase what he wanted to tell her next.

What, Max?

I have a life I actually want to live this time. Liz�s heart skipped a beat. And if that evil little troll thinks that he�s going to come between me and my future, he�s got another thing coming. I am going to raise my son and I am going to hold onto my dream that we�re going to end up together, Liz.

She closed her eyes. Max�

Liz, please. You need to let me do this. I need you to look after Ben and Lexi. Please trust that I will not let anything happen to me or anyone else. Liz, I want my life. I want to be Max Evans, but in order to be him, I have to kill all of Zan�s enemies once and for all. And I will do it.

Liz felt Ben�s fear through the connection, knew that he understood what she and Max were saying to each other. It twined with her own fright, creating an almost overwhelming sense of panic within her.

But Max, you don�t even know what he wants, Liz tried once more, desperately, but she knew that he was right.

As much as she wanted to help him, she couldn�t�not up at the dome.

But down here she could�by protecting the person most important to him in the world.

The two most important people. It was a whisper, but she felt a lump in her throat that he had heard her private thought. That was how the sensitive the connection was becoming. Liz, you are the bravest person I know. I know you think that I didn�t accept your love because I wouldn�t let you risk yourself for me, so many times, but I just could not put you in danger like that. If it was selfish, then I�m sorry, but it�s a part of my make-up that I will never regret.

Max�

Liz, I couldn�t take you with me to Antar. I know you wanted to go, but I just couldn�t. There is no excuse for me having left without saying goodbye, but if I hadn�t, I would not have gone. Even with the seal�I know that I wouldn�t have. And I think that I knew that the only way to fix things between us was for me to go there, find Ben, and figure out exactly what the hell was the matter with me. I was a shell, Liz. I was not the Max Evans I wanted to be�

She cut him off. Max!

What? He sounded surprised and a little hurt that she hadn�t let him finish.

Go. She felt tears beginning to form under her lashes. End this. Please. Once and for all. I just want you to be safe. Finally. And if I have to let you go once more time for it to happen, then I can do it.

For an instant, the connection weakened again. She thought that he was gone, that she was actually going to have to sit here with two small, terrified children and wait for him to come back.

He was back abruptly, his tone suddenly even, as though he was trying to hide something. He sounded too normal.

Liz, you need to get them out of here. No matter what. As soon as I go up there, they�ll be distracted and you have to go.

Max, what about the Special Unit? Won�t they be waiting for us? But she knew already that there was no choice. He was right. They were going to have to risk it. They could not just sit here as darkness continued to fall on the desert, waiting like sitting ducks for this to be resolved one way or the other.

I have a feeling the Special Unit has absolutely nothing to do with this at all, Max answered grimly.

What?

Liz, I have to break this off. Someone else is here. You need to leave�now. There was a slight change in the feel of his mind in hers, a minor shifting. His next words told her why. He was now addressing Ben. Benno, I�m going to have to ask you to do something important.

Okay, Dad.

I need you to use as much strength as you have left, kiddo. You�re going to need to build a mind shield around you and Liz and Lexi until you get away from here. Do you think you have enough power left?

Yeah! Ben sounded insulted that Max would even question it.

Max sounded slightly amused, and yet even more determined in his reply. Okay then. You have to do it until Liz tells you it�s okay to stop.

Liz missed most of this though. She was still reflecting on the Max�s comment that "someone else was here." Max, is there something you�re not telling me?

Yes.

And she understood. He couldn�t tell her. Not with Ben so intimately connected to them.

She knew it was bad, whatever it was, but she was going to have to trust him. Trust Max. Trust him in a way she hadn�t since the whole Tess debacle had originally gone down.

She was going to have to trust that he would come back to her.

There was absolutely no hesitation. Not anymore.

He had come back to her once�and not even just physically in a spaceship from Antar. Her Max � the brave, innocent boy she had fallen in love with � had returned to her in the form of the mature, loving man she now knew. He had fought through hell to do so�physically and mentally.

Somehow she knew that he always would.

And she was no longer afraid.

I love you, Max.

But he was already gone.

The connection had broken so abruptly, it was though it had never existed.

Liz fought momentarily against the panic that threatened to rise within her again. She had to be strong. For Ben, for Lexi. And, yes, even for herself.

She did not want to die. Not when she was just starting to really live again.

"Liz?" Ben was whispering into her ear. She could feel him slumping against her, exhausted. "Is my dad going to be all right?"

"Of course he is, sweetie!" She could tell by the way that he relaxed against her that he believed her.

She was amazed that she even believed herself. "What�s a mind shield, Ben? Your dad asked you to do one."

Ben sighed heavily. "It�s a really little mind warp. Instead of warping the people to not see us, I mind warp us so that we think that we can�t be seen. And we can�t," he finished simply.

"Does it really work?" Liz asked, amazed. Would the extent of the aliens� abilities to control minds ever fail to astound her?

"Yeah." There was a pause "I used to do it to myself when I was really little when Mommy was looking for me."

Liz felt a lump rise in her throat. "You didn�t want your mom to find you?"

"Not all the time. But she hardly ever tried to find me anyway." He did not elaborate and Liz did not want to push him, but she felt a flash of such rage at Tess, it was almost more than she could bear. How that evil girl could have produced Ben, Liz would never understand, but it made her even more fiercely determined that he was going to know nothing but security and love for the rest of his life.

She tightened her arm around him, pulled Lexi more tightly against her side and went to the far side of the small clump of bushes to stare up the hill in the direction of the vehicles.

It took her another moment to realize that she had absolutely no way to start any of the cars up there. She looked down at Ben, who was pressed against her side, smiled slightly to herself as an idea came to her. "Benjamin Evans, this is absolutely the only time that you are ever going to hear these words from me. I guarantee it." She made her voice sound light, trying to reassure the little boy. "But I don�t suppose you know how to hot-wire a car?"

He just looked at her, perplexed. Liz gave him a squeeze, turned her attention to watching the hill Max should be climbing any moment. A slight tremor ran through her body, but she steeled herself to be ready to make a break for it as soon as Max went in.

Max felt the lack of the connection like a physical blow. He knew exactly what it meant and for a moment he was sure that he had held onto it for too long. He had betrayed Liz and Ben and Lexi by not being able to let them go soon enough.

But the entrance of his enemy into his mind had cut it off, not the fact that anything had happened to them. Max�s own mind had been protecting them it seemed, managing to hold him off long enough after the original shock of his presence had almost made Max weaken enough to allow him entrance while Liz and his son had still been present. But he had remained strong, his mind a virtual fortress, his will to protect them greater than his enemy�s desire to get at him.

Max was in control. He knew that he was the one who had let him in.

I�m growing tired of waiting, Zan. The voice was impatient, angry. Are you going to come out and face me like a man, or do I have to come and get you myself? Still a lover and not a fighter, I see.

I�m surprised you�re actually willing to fight your own battles this time, Max returned sharply. It�s not something you do regularly, after all. The fact that you�re even here more than proves it.

Max felt the flash of anger that ran through his enemy, narrowed his eyes, not caring in the least. You�re going to pay for that, you damn bastard!

Unfortunately for you, usurper, I�m the farthest thing from a bastard there is, Max replied wearily. I am the legitimate king of Antar and there is nothing you can do about it. Even killing me last time didn�t make the throne yours.

You gave up the throne! You don�t deserve it�you never did!

I was willing to give up the throne because I care about my people. The monarchy it rotten, a relic. A free system is what the people want.

They don�t want it! You decided for them because you wanted that insipid girl. You weren�t strong enough to hold it.

Funny, Max bit back. I�m not the one who needs to come after little boys to reinforce my claim.

What are you talking about? The voice was fierce, suspicious.

Oh, didn�t Nicholas tell you? He tried to kill my son.

There was a long pause. What happened to Ben?

Max did not reply, simply returned, I�m coming up there. You�re going to let the others go.

He could almost hear the glee in his enemy�s voice. If you think I�m letting Vilandra go now, you�re crazy. She is my wife. The mother of my daughter.

She is not your wife. She is married to a perfectly nice man, one that you are violating by being here.

So, you figured it out then did you, Zan? The voice sounded amused now.

I�ve had you figured out for a long time, Khivar, Max sighed. For two lifetimes in fact. But I�m tired of it. It�s over.

You thought it was over on Antar, Zan. Seems I�m still here.

But not for long, Max thought grimly. I�m coming up there, he repeated.

I�ll be waiting.

Max took a deep breath. Khivar would be waiting all right. But this time it would really be for the last time.

It was going to end once and for all. And not on a distant battlefield in a galaxy far away, but right in the desert of Max�s home�with the lives of everyone he held most dear at stake.

Max didn�t even bother to try and hide his approach to the dome. There was no point. Khivar knew he was out here. The faster he got into the dome, the faster Liz would be able to get Ben and Lexi away safely.

And so, he simply walked back up the slope, walked through the door and confronted what was close to his worst nightmare�all of his friends in danger at one time.

His worst nightmare would have been Liz and Ben in Khivar�s clutches. At least that had not yet happened. And it wasn�t going to.

No one stopped him. He had been right about the Special Unit. They were not a factor in this at all it seemed.

Only Khivar.

Khivar, whom he had been sure was dead. But, looking back on their one and only confrontation, in this lifetime anyway, Max understood perfectly what had happened.

He was furious at himself that he had made the mistake. He had known that Khivar had dupes of himself for security reasons, had had since Larek had turned traitor. It was amongst the first technology that Larek had turned over to Max�s enemy after he had changed sides. And the clones that Larek had been capable of creating by then had been far superior to even the hybrids he had engineered that had been Max and Isabel and Michael and Tess. He had had fifty years to perfect the technique after all.

But Max had been informed by all of his advisors that no more than two clones could be created from the same essence. He had made sure that both of Khivar�s were dead before he had taken on the original.

Apparently someone had misinformed him about Larek�s cloning capabilities. Because if Khivar was still alive, then it had to have been a clone that he killed.

How could he have not been more careful, have not made sure?

And, yet, Max knew that it had been the real Khivar that he had fought on Antar, at least part of the time. The connection from the seal had been too strong for it to have been a clone. The mind he had battled had been the mind of his captor.

Khivar must have done then what he was doing to Jesse now, Max reflected, what Larek had done to Brody all those years ago. He had inhabited his own clone, had made Max think that he had conquered him. And he had slipped away at the last moment, sacrificing the duplicated version of himself to advance his plot.

He had slipped away to inhabit Isabel�s husband, like the parasite that he was.

Isabel was going to be devastated, not only by the fact that Jesse had been violated so completely, but also by the fact that Khivar had obviously been around long enough to have had a hand in Lexi�s conception. The thought was too revolting to even contemplate. How could he have let this happen to his sister?

All of this was on Max�s mind as he paused at the door to the dome. He stared at it for a moment, his eyes narrowed.

He realized that he could feel his nerves tingling. His stomach was clenching in the way it always did before he had to face a battle of this magnitude, his heart pounding�but he was not really nervous. In fact, he was almost looking forward to this final confrontation.

When this was finally over, his real life could begin.

Max pushed open the door.

There was no one in the main dome. It was completely dark and empty, the sun having set and so no light filtered in through the holes in the roof.

Max scowled. Where are you?

Dealing with Nikkol. Max could hear the disdain in Khivar�s voice, even in his head. He tried to kill my heir. He has paid.

Max felt a twinge of satisfaction. Truly, he had known when he had accused his arch-enemy of attempting to hurt Ben that Khivar had had nothing to do with it. Ben was the one thing on which Max and Khivar were in complete agreement. Although Khivar wanted to use the boy as a pawn, he did care about him, about his survival, considered Ben to be his son. It was twisted and sick, but it was also slightly reassuring that his son would survive this, especially with Nicholas dealt with.

What did he want? What did he hope to gain?

Much, Khivar replied, sounding like he didn�t want to discuss it further. Sometimes Nikkol�s ambition has become a little less subtle than I would like. He has been punished, will learn.

What are you talking about? Max frowned. There was no answer.

"MAX!"

The sudden yell caused Max to cut off the connection abruptly. He whirled, threw his shield up just in time to stop the bullet that had been headed straight for his back.

He stared at his assailant through the green haze, felt his heart drop into his knees.

"Dan! What the hell are you doing?" It was Kyle who had yelled, Kyle who had warned him, Kyle who was presently wrestling the gun away from Liz�s fianc�.

Max dropped his shield, went to help Kyle.

"What the hell is going on here?" Max demanded as Kyle pulled a set of hand-cuffs off his belt and pulled Dan�s hands behind his back, made to restrain him. He was no longer struggling though, was staring straight ahead, his eyes blank. Max and Kyle both started in astonishment as Dan�s knees suddenly buckled and he collapsed in a heap at their feet.

Max crouched, quickly felt for a pulse.

Nothing. He closed his eyes, brought his hand to Dan�s chest, concentrated on starting his heart.

He was not going to let this man die. Liz would never forgive herself if it happened�if Dan should be killed because of her involvement with aliens. Max would not let her suffer that.

Max sent a pulse of energy into Dan�s chest, sighed in relief as he felt it jump and then start beating again.

"You�re all right now," Max said quietly, glancing up at Kyle and shaking his head when his old friend appeared about to say something. He helped Dan to sit up. Liz�s fianc� was blinking rapidly, a dazed expression on his face.

Dan stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. Max watched calmly as Dan�s face reflected his displeasure at recognizing Max. "What the hell? What am I doing here?" He looked around the dome, clearly confused, but more annoyed than anything. "Where�s Elizabeth?" He finally noticed Kyle. "Kyle, what�s going on? Why is he here? Where am I?"

"Er�" Kyle looked at Max desperately.

"You fainted," Max told him. "Are you okay?"

Dan�s expression was fierce. "I fainted? Why?"

"You passed out," Max modified quickly. "Don�t you remember anything?"

Dan shook off Max, stood up without help, stumbling slightly. "The last thing I remember is having dinner at Isabel and Jesse�s." He looked closely at Max. "You�re Max Evans, aren�t you? I�ve seen pictures of you." He did not look pleased. In fact, his expression was pretty much exactly the same as it had been on Isabel�s front lawn four days ago�when they had first met.

Because, Max was quickly beginning to realize, to Dan, this was their first meeting. "What have you done with Elizabeth?" Dan was snarling now.

"I haven�t done anything with her," Max replied quietly. "She�s at home, in Roswell." He looked at Kyle, trying to tell him with his eyes that he should play along. "We met at my sister�s. Don�t you remember? You invited me to your bachelor party. Kyle organized it. You got wasted and disappeared on us. We finally found you here."

Dan stared at him for a long moment, then looked at Kyle for confirmation. Kyle nodded. "I�m sorry, Dan. We turned our back for one minute at the bar and you disappeared."

"What the hell did I drink?" Dan muttered, shaking his head and clearly trying to remember. He looked at Max again. "Why would I invite you to my bachelor party? That doesn�t make any sense."

Max shrugged. "I don�t know what to tell you," he replied, noncommittal. "You did."

"And you wanted to come?"

Max simply shrugged again.

Kyle cut in here. "It�s a good thing we found you, man. It�s Friday night. You�ve been missing for three days. Liz is absolutely frantic."

"What?" Dan practically yelled. He glanced at his watch. "It�s nine o�clock! I�m getting married in fourteen hours!" He appeared to forget all about Max and why on Earth he would have invited his fianc�e�s ex-boyfriend to his stag party.

"And it�s a six hour drive back to Roswell," Kyle told him. "So we better get a move on. My car�s out there." He pointed towards the front of the dome. Dan just continued to sputter in disbelief as he started towards the door. "I�ll be right out," he called after him.

They waited for him to exit the dome before Max turned to Kyle, his voice reflecting his urgency. "What happened?"

"To Dan? I have no clue," Kyle shook his head. "I was hoping you could tell me."

Max pressed his lips together. "Possessed apparently."

"Possessed?" Kyle�s eyes widened. "Like what used to happen to Brody?"

"Exactly." Max closed his eyes.

"By who?"

"Khivar."

"Jesus. For how long?" Kyle demanded. "Isn�t he supposed to be dead?"

"He is�supposed to be dead that is," Max replied grimly. "I don�t think he�s possessed Dan for long though�a few days at most. He�s had other irons in the fire." When Kyle looked perplexed, Max just sighed. "It doesn�t matter." He shook his head. "Kyle, what the hell happened here? Where are the others?"

Kyle glanced towards the door of the dome. "Listen Max, I really think you better let Maria tell you that. I need to get Dan out of here. It looks like he doesn�t remember anything�and I�m not just talking about the Khivar thing. It�ll make life easier on everyone if we keep it that way."

Max knew exactly what he was talking about. Not only did Dan not remember his experience of being invaded by an alien essence, he apparently didn�t remember any of the revelations he had been party to over the last week either. "Maria�s here still?" At Kyle�s nod, Max sighed with relief. "Okay. But first I need to go get Liz. She�s still got the kids down in the trees. I just hope she hasn�t left yet." He began to follow Kyle towards the door. "Where�s Maria?"

Kyle smacked his hand against his forehead. "She�s still in the closet in the bedroom." He grimaced. "It�s where Jesse tied her up and put her before he left with Michael and Isabel."

Max stared at him. "You left her there?" And then, "Wait a minute! Why didn�t he tie you up?"

"Because I was willing to stay here because I knew someone had to tell you what was going on," Kyle replied. "He didn�t want us. Maria wanted to go though. Michael told him to do it."

Max frowned. Michael was going to pay for that one later. "So you have no idea where Jesse took them? Why did they go with him anyway? Ben said something about Nicholas. Was he here too?"

Kyle rubbed his eyes wearily. "I�ve got some bad news for you Evans�Nicholas was here, but not in the way you might have been expecting."

"What do you mean?"

"Jesse is Nicholas. All that Special Unit stuff � Maria told me about that last night � all the stuff he�s told Isabel over the years, none of it�s true. He is Khivar�s right-hand man. When Jesse got here, he got out of the car and just told her. Spilled it right outside, the minute he pulled up."

Max felt his heart stop. "How is this possible? Is Isabel okay?"

Kyle shrugged. "I don�t know. At least she has Michael with her." He glanced uneasily towards the door. "Listen, I need to get Dan out of here. Where do you want to meet up so that we can go after them?" He stared at Max seriously, clearly having no intention of not returning.

"I�ll be in touch by cell." He didn�t quite know what else to say. He didn�t want Kyle involved in this, but he couldn�t help the warm feeling that entered his heart when the help was offered.

He had had no one on his side on Antar, when he had gone into battle there�at least no one who wasn�t obligated to help him because he was the king. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to be able to depend on others.

Kyle nodded, turned to go. He paused after a couple steps, turned back to look at Max. "Listen Evans, I don�t think Nicholas is all bad. I really think he�s in love with Isabel. I know he loves their daughter."

"He tried to kill Ben," Max replied evenly. "There will never be any excuse for that."

Kyle sighed. "I know." He turned to leave again.

"Kyle," Max called after him. Kyle turned again, raised an eyebrow. "Thank you for saving my life."

There was an awkward pause. "I guess we�re even now," Kyle finally told him. He disappeared outside.

Max waited a moment, then followed. He would go let Maria out as soon as he made sure Liz was still here.

Procrastinating again are we, Zan?

Max jerked to a halt at the voice in his head. He scowled. What have you done? Where are you?

Where I�ve been all along, Khivar replied, sounding amused. In the body Nikkol has been keeping warm for me.

Max felt momentarily nauseous at the thought of Isabel married for years not to one monster, but two on occasion. How?

All in good time Zan.

Where are you?

Waiting for you to find me.

Max grit his teeth. Stop playing games with me. Where the hell are you?

Not far. There was a pause. Let�s just say that I am where you least want me.

Max frowned, realized that the connection had been severed suddenly. He frantically tried to re-enter Khivar�s mind, wherever he was, but something was blocking him.

It took him less than two seconds to realize what it was. Or rather, who it was.

It was Liz. Something had happened to her.

And, because it had, whatever it was, was happening to him too.

It was his last thought before he slipped into unconsciousness.

Liz watched Max make his way up the slope, waited until he disappeared from view before she turned again to Ben. The little boy was staring up at her, his blue eyes almost silver in the shadows, obviously still scared, but also determined now that his father had given him a very specific goal to accomplish.

She refused to think about how much danger Max had just placed himself in. She had a very specific job too. He had asked her to save his son and his niece. She would not let anything happen to them.

She would not allow Alex�s legacy to be hurt in any way. Ever. Her determination sent strength running through her veins, made her feel strong.

Because it was in that instant that she finally understood exactly why it was that she had forgiven Max in the end. For the first time since they had ever heard the name Tess Harding, they were in perfect sync, their lives dedicated to the same goal.

Before Tess, their common goal had been a simple one�finding happiness together. In the end, their new dream was just as simple, but so much more important. It was to live every minute to the fullest and in doing so, raise and protect the future in the form of Ben�because he was the only link they had left to the one person who still represented the innocence of the early days of the six friends who had been willing to die for each other.

The destiny message they had heard in the pod chamber that day had destroyed the strength that bound the six of them together, had divided them into camps that could not be reunited, no matter how much they loved each other.

Ben was the bridge between the two sides. And through their love for him, Max and Liz had found their way back to each other.

Liz felt peace settle over her. Through all of Max�s talk about the connection that bound them she had known that she was not compelled to be with him because of it. He still did not understand. Their bond was so much simpler than that, and yet so much stronger too.

They were bound by how deeply they both loved, by how truly optimistic they were at heart that there was one person meant for everyone. They had found it in each other, not once, but twice.

It was a gift, not a curse. As soon as they got themselves out of this mess, she was going to spend the rest of her life convincing him of it.

She loved him. It was as simple as that. And because she did, she forgave him.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" Liz whispered now, taking Ben by the hand and clutching Lexi close to her chest. The baby was restless, whimpering, obviously exhausted, but also just as clearly aware that something was wrong.

"Ready."

Liz felt a slight tugging at her mind, could feel Ben inching his way in. She felt the certainty that they were alone, that no one was chasing them, that no one could see them, begin to come over her�

They began the long climb up the hill. Liz felt Ben trip against her at one point, but he held the warp. In fact, it seemed to become even stronger after that. She was absolutely positive that they were going to make it. She knew intellectually that it was the warp making her feel this way, but she could not care, trusted that Max knew what he was about having Ben do this.

Her only moment of uncertainty came at the top of the hill. Just as they crested, movement near the door of the dome, about a hundred yards from the vehicle, caused her to take her focus off of getting away.

She watched in dismay as Dan Riley came stumbling out of the house, something obviously awry. He looked right at her for an instant, bringing her heart into her throat. But then he blinked and looked away.

"He can�t see us, Liz." Ben�s voice was strained, he was obviously tired, and yet he still took the time to try and reassure her. A pang of love for the child made her squeeze his hand.

"I know." She ignored Dan, tried not to question why he was collapsing on the hood of Kyle�s SUV. "Let�s go start your Auntie Isabel�s car."

She had Lexi in the child seat in the back and Ben strapped in beside his cousin before she told Ben to drop the warp. She knew it was too soon, that she should wait until they were well away from the dome, but she was growing concerned by the pasty colour of Ben�s skin, the blankness in his eyes. He was clearly exhausted.

The minute they hit the highway, she spoke over her shoulder, "We�re safe now, honey. You can end the mind warp."

She was already beginning to reflect on where she could take them that they would be assured of safety, was not focusing on the disappearance of the illusion.

And so, when the warp ended, she was completely unprepared for the fact that she was no longer alone in the car with two children.

She caught sight of Isabel first. She was in the back seat, beside Ben, staring straight ahead, unseeing. Liz gasped, swerved the car.

"Please don�t kill us." The voice was pleasant, came from beside her. She recognized it immediately as Jesse Ramirez�s, but the tone was so different from that of Isabel�s husband � arrogant and amused where Jesse�s was friendly and warm � that it made her blood run cold. "Keep driving, Elizabeth. Don�t worry about Vilandra. She has had quite a shock. She�ll be fine."

Liz swallowed, felt her insides freezing up in terror. She focused on the road, refused to look to her right. If she didn�t look, this wouldn�t be happening.

But she knew it was. "Where do you want me to go?" she finally asked. She glanced back at Ben. He had fallen instantly asleep, like the last time he had held a mind warp too long.

At least he was asleep. The last thing she wanted was for Ben to remember any of this.

"I don�t know," Jesse replied pleasantly. Liz finally forced herself to glance in his direction. He was staring straight ahead, a placid expression on his face. "I�ll think about it. For now, just drive."

"What�s wrong with Isabel?" Liz demanded. "What are you doing here? How could we not have seen you?"

"I was giving Ben�s mind warp a little boost of my own," Jesse told her.

Liz gasped despite herself, "You�re�"

"Alien? Certainly." Jesse turned to look at her, surprised. "Didn�t you know? Everyone else does."

"No," Liz searched her mind. "Isabel knows about this?"

"She�s known for a long while, has reveled in it. Vilandra has always loved people she isn�t supposed to." Jesse stretched lazily, cupped his hands together and rested them behind his dark head.

"Who are you?"

"I am many people, the least of whom is Jesse Ramirez, hotshot young attorney. I am Zan�s destroyer, Vilandra�s lover, Rath�s brother, Ava�s creator. I am the rightful King of Antar."

And Liz understood. "You�re Khivar." She swallowed again, resisted the urge to scream. There was no point.

"I am. I�m pleased to meet you officially Elizabeth."

"You�re supposed to be dead," Liz told him, knowing she sounded ridiculous, but her shock was deep. Max had been so sure, had proclaimed that Khivar had died by his own hand.

"Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Zan may have killed my body on Antar, but my mind has always been my most important weapon. With the aid of the turncoat Larek I have finally turned my essence into an entity that Zan cannot destroy, no matter how hard he tries." Khivar�s glee was barely controlled. He sounded like a spoiled child with a new toy.

Liz frowned. His tone indicated that he felt in complete control of this situation, was enjoying himself immensely. "Does Max know about this?"

"Oh, he knows." Khivar snorted. "He is berating me mentally as we speak."

Liz glanced at him, her heart starting to beat erratically. "You�re talking to him right now?"

"Gotta love that seal," Khivar shrugged. "I can have a chat with Zan whenever I feel like it. We are connected�eternally. Needless to say, he is somewhat disconcerted by the fact that I have you in my possession. He feels the same for you as he felt for that slut Kadiya. It�s really quite nauseating, but it makes him so easy to control. He is so predictable."

Max! Her heart screamed for him. He had to be going insane with worry, would surely be drowning in guilt that he had let Khivar get near Ben, her, Isabel.

And Khivar was tormenting him mentally right at this moment, weakening him with his own guilt, his own fear. He was using the seal as it was meant to be used, to control Max through his own human emotions.

His emotions were at once Max Evans�s greatest strength and his greatest weakness. His love for her and all the others had driven him to extremes, good and bad, on so many occasions, she had almost lost count.

She had to free him. Once and for all. And, suddenly, without a doubt, she knew that she was the only one who could do it.

Max had told her himself that it was only his love for her that had kept him from going off the precipice immediately after the summit in New York. Anytime he felt hope that they would find their way back to each other, the seal weakened. When he felt closer to losing her for good, it strengthened, turned him into someone unrecognizable.

His connection to her was stronger than the seal. She had to break it�had to save him, once and for all.

Liz felt her heart pounding as she formulated a plan. The first thing she needed to do was get this car stopped. She could not do anything while they were speeding down 285 North at seventy miles an hour.

She blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "I need to go to the bathroom."

There was a long pause. Khivar finally chuckled. "Very well. Stop the car. We�re not really in any hurry."

Liz slowed down the Volvo, carefully drove onto the shoulder. "I won�t be long."

"There�s a flashlight in the trunk," Khivar told her, sounding bored. When Liz looked at him strangely, he smiled slightly. "Hey, it�s my car. When I�m around that is."

Liz frowned slightly. "Aren�t you always?"

"No." He smirked at her. "When I am, Nikkol goes� elsewhere."

"Nikkol?"

"Oh, I apologize, you know him by his Earthly moniker. That would be Nicholas to you. He kept this body ready for me, ready for when I could finally leave my Antarian shell behind."

"Jesse is Nicholas?" Liz demanded in horror. "I don�t understand."

"It�s really not very complicated, Elizabeth." Khivar rolled his dark eyes. Liz felt her own widen at the way he said that. It sounded strangely familiar, and not just because Dan was the only one who called her by her first name. "This body contained Nicholas�s essence when I was not in it. His skin died long ago because Vilandra destroyed the Harvest. We had Larek�s technology�he was a traitor long before Zan ever suspected by the way, long before Zan even came back to Antar. Nicholas allowed himself to pass on so that his essence could be transferred."

"Does Jesse Ramirez even exist?" Liz asked quietly, glanced back worriedly at Isabel. No wonder Max�s sister was practically catatonic.

"He did, long ago. We had to clone his body from somewhere." Khivar scowled in Isabel�s direction as well. "I wish he still did though. He would have been a simpler being to control. Nikkol has been fighting me recently." He transferred his gaze to Lexi. The baby was sound asleep, her small hand entwined in her mother�s dark hair. Isabel�s head was leaning against her child�s, seemingly in an attempt to draw strength from her. Lexi had calmed down the instant she had laid eyes on Isabel, after the warp had broken. "Ever since that one was born, as a matter of fact," Khivar continued.

"Lexi? Why?"

Khivar shook his head. "She is in line to the throne you understand. Nikkol had visions of ruling Antar in his daughter�s name. Vilandra is Zan�s only blood relative after all. Her offspring are his heirs."

Liz felt a pang. Isabel was going to be devastated by all of this. Her life had appeared so perfect, had been one of the reasons that Liz had begun to recognize the depth of her discontent with Dan. But it had all been an illusion, none of it real. At least with Max, their problems were upfront, out in the open.

And, yet, she could not forget the way Jesse had looked at his wife. He had loved Isabel. Nicholas or not, evil or not, he had loved her.

She realized that she was thinking in the past tense. Khivar had spoken of Nicholas that way after all. "Is he dead?"

"Yes," Khivar replied, sounding unconcerned. "He threatened Ben. He paid the price. This body is mine alone now. I don�t need him anymore anyway."

"So you can�t leave it again?"

"There is no need. Zan is in my clutches, under my control again. I cannot return to Antar�the rebellion has completely destroyed the monarchy, thanks to that idiot. I will be content to rule Earth. I am human now after all."

Liz stared at him. "Max will stop you."

"If you say so." Khivar chuckled again. When Liz continued to sit staring at him, he finally turned to look at her. "Don�t you understand little one? As long as I have you, Zan will be preoccupied with finding you. He will not be able to stop me. You are his weakness. He knows I will not harm Ben. He is mine. But you�" He reached out a hand, gently tucked a strand of Liz�s hair behind her ear. It was so close to the gesture Max often employed, it made her shudder. "You, he will fear for. I am in complete control of him now."

"Because of the seal?" Liz asked quietly.

"Indeed." Khivar turned away again. "Now go and relieve yourself. We must depart quickly."

"I�ve changed my mind. I�m fine."

"Very well. Drive then."

"What would happen if I just killed myself? Then you wouldn�t have any more control over him."

Khivar turned back, his eyes surprised. "You would do that?"

"To free Max from you, from your control over him, I would," Liz replied simply.

"It would devastate him." Khivar raised an eyebrow at her, not sounding concerned, merely interested in her reasoning.

"But he would be free."

"Zan does not want to be free." Khivar smiled, amused. "Don�t you know what happened to him on Antar when he lost his love?" He paused. "You do know about Kadiya, do you not?"

Liz could feel the ring Max had given her practically burning against her skin. It still hung on the chain around her neck. It was all she could do not to touch it. But Khivar did not know who she was, could not know. It was the only power she held here�the knowledge that her connection to Max was stronger than his. If he knew�

He would kill her and end it all immediately. Because Liz did not doubt that he was right, that her fate was irrevocably linked to Max�s, that he would die if she did. But it wasn�t simply because of the Rashna, nor because they were bonded soul mates.

It was because they loved each other�as Max and Liz, Zan and Kadiya, it didn�t matter. Living alone would be intolerable.

"I know."

"He allowed himself to be killed because he believed that she was dead." Khivar shook his head. "He is such a fool. He allows his heart to rule him."

"It is why he is a great king," Liz returned hotly.

"He deserted his throne for a woman!" Khivar returned, sounding disbelieving still. Even over the years that had passed since the death of Zan on Antar, Khivar still could not understand it.

"His love for Kadiya showed him the path to take that was best for his people," Liz argued. "He rid them of you in the end, didn�t he? You�re stuck here."

Khivar�s eyes narrowed. Liz could see that she was finally making him angry. "I choose to be here."

"Right." Liz made a great show of rolling her eyes, turning away.

There was a long pause. She could feel the fury coming off of Khivar in waves. She held her breath, hoped that she had pushed him enough� She needed him distracted, angry, unfocused.

He started to laugh. Liz felt her heart drop.

"Well, I can certainly see what Zan sees in you. You�re exactly like Kadiya. So spirited! You haven�t shown me this side of yourself before, Elizabeth."

Liz frowned, refused to turn around. She stared out the driver�s side window, her arms crossed over her chest. "What are you talking about? We�ve never met before today."

"I�ve told you that Jesse Ramirez was not my only host� Elizabeth."

It took a moment for her to understand what he meant. She whirled, stared at him in horror. "You were� You were Dan?" She felt bile rise in her throat, quickly rolled down the window, breathed in great gulps of night air. "For how long?" she finally managed to ask, knew that her voice sounded weak, hated herself for it.

Images of all of the intimacies she had shared with Dan were tumbling through her mind, horrifying her more with each one.

"Oh relax," Khivar replied. "It was only this week that I understood how important you were to Zan. I had to find out why. But until this moment I couldn�t figure it out. You were not like this with your fianc�."

"Does Dan remember any of this?" Liz asked, finally turning around, relief sweeping through her. She remembered that Brody had never recalled anything from during the time that he had been possessed. It would be a supreme irony if Liz had confessed Max�s heritage to Dan, only for it to have been Khivar, who had certainly known better than anyone who Max was.

"I would doubt it. Not that it matters. He is dead anyway. The instant I left his body, he passed on."

Liz felt her heart stop. Guilt came crashing down on her so intensely, she had to grip the steering wheel for support. Tears of horror were welling in her eyes. She fought them desperately. He could not know how this was affecting her. "You are a monster," she finally whispered.

"No," Khivar replied. "I am merely human." He started to laugh again. She turned her head, glared at him. "Forgive my giddiness," he said. "It�s just that I have waited so long to finally have Zan in my clutches. I am quite losing my head."

"You killed him in his last life!" Liz exclaimed. "Wasn�t that enough for you?"

"But he came back." Khivar�s lip curled. "That slut made sure of it. But there is no Kadiya to save him this time." He picked up a lock of her hair, rubbed it between his fingers. "There is only you little human. And that isn�t enough, is it? It is enough to destroy him, but not enough to save him."

Liz swallowed, resisted the urge to spit in his face. It was time. He was totally engrossed in his own triumph, totally sure that he knew everything, that he could not be outplayed this time.

"You�re wrong," she whispered.

"Pardon me?" Khivar sounded amused, like he couldn�t wait to hear how she was going to tell him how mistaken he was and why. So that he could laugh again at her naivet�.

"I am the only one who can stop you."

"I think not," Khivar replied. He stroked her face gently. "Give in to me, Elizabeth. Accept what must be. You are mine to do with as I will�my instrument."

"Like Kadiya was? Did you not use Zan�s love for her to bring down his family?"

His face hardened. "I tried. But she evaded me, cloned him, sent him off here to live on without her."

"Not without her," Liz replied, smiling slightly. "I�m surprised you haven�t guessed by now Khivar�that you haven�t guessed why Max came back to me, why he didn�t just stay on Antar to raise his son. You were finished there anyway."

Khivar frowned. "What are you saying?"

"I�m saying that I am the only one who can stop you because I am the only one whose bond to Max is stronger than yours. He is mine�has been for two lifetimes. You have tried to take him away from me twice, but it ends here."

She saw the look of astonishment appear on his face as she pulled the ring out from under her shirt. "Do you know this?"

His jaw clenched. She felt a flash of joy when she saw fear flare in his eyes before he could hide it. "It is the Royal Seal," he finally managed to mutter. "I have been searching for that for years."

She didn�t know how she knew what to do. It was as though her past self, as though Kadiya, was working in the present, guiding her, sending her on the right path. She felt the power of Kadi�s knowledge in her veins like some sort of drug, pushing her on.

"Because it is the only seal that really counts," Liz replied. "Zan gave this to Kadi with his own free will. He gave himself over to her by choice. He did the same for me. It is why our bond will always be stronger. As long as he has me, you will never win."

With that, she placed her hands on both sides of his face, stared right into his eyes and said, "It ends now."

And she kissed him.

"ZAN!" She screamed his name, yet knew it was too late. She was never going to reach him in time. His despair was crushing her, making her stumble.

Their connection had never been so strong� not even in the first moments after they had bonded themselves eternally through the Rashna. She was actually seeing through his eyes, was listening through his ears�

But he could not hear her, could not feel her. They had shut him off from her somehow. He was all alone

. "Just do it. Kill me." His voice was cracking with grief. He was standing near the main fountain of the palace gardens, staring down in horror. Kadiya felt the hard stone under his knees as he fell to the ground, his face in his hands to block out the sight of Rath floating lifelessly in the still water.

She was aware of hands under her elbows, hauling her to her feet, knew it was Khivar. "Come along little whore. Let us go and witness the destruction of the king. The destruction you have brought about." He sounded gleeful. She struggled against him but was pulled along against her will, distracted by what she was seeing in her mind�s eye�what she was going to be unable to stop.

He thought she was dead. She knew it as certainly as she knew that she loved him.

"You betrayed me!" It was Ava, shrieking at him. "I am your wife and you were going to set me aside for a servant�a whore!. She died because of it and now you will as well."

"I died the moment you sent Khivar to kill her," Zan replied tonelessly. "Just do it. I will do nothing to stop you." He could not see Ava, was forcing himself to stare down at the body of his best friend, to reflect on the death of his sister in defense of his life.

She could feel him trying not to think of her, Kadi. He was desperately trying to erase his horrified imaginings of what Khivar had done to her before he had killed her.

**ZAN! It is not true my love! I still live!** She sent the frantic message through their connection, felt the block instantly. Khivar�s hold on her elbow tightened. She knew that it was he invading their bond, cutting it off somehow.

She could not feel him at all anymore. He was gone.

"ZAN!"

Kadiya wrenched away from Khivar, desperation giving her wings. She flew through the maze of garden paths but was forced to an abrupt halt as she ran head-on into someone fleeing in the opposite direction.

She tumbled to her knees, managed to stare up at the other woman, who was also on the ground, gasping with horror.

Ava�her eyes wide with guilt and fear. As she recognized Kadi, her face hardened into a mask of hatred. "YOU! You still live!"

"What have you done?" Kadiya whispered, sympathy for the other girl running through her despite herself.

Ava�s fate was sealed after all. She had killed the king. She would die for it. Already Kadiya could hear the marching steps of the palace guard as they descended on the fountain court.

Too late.

And Ava knew it. Kadi could see it in her eyes.

But Kadiya did not have time to waste with Ava. She had to get to Zan, had to see for herself that there was no way left to save him.

She stumbled to her feet, pushed past the new queen.

The scene near the fountain was exactly as she had envisioned it through the connection. Rath in the water, Zan on his knees, his head lowered in defeat.

"ZAN!"

She saw him start. Her heart soared with disbelief, with hope. He lived! She was not too late.

The world seemed to move in slow motion as he fell to his side, collapsing right in front of her.

She was at his side in a moment, falling to her knees, sobbing as she pulled him into her arms.

Blood everywhere. It drenched her light-colored dress instantly. He was gasping for breath.

"Zan! What have they done to you?" She lowered her head over him, ran her hands down his body, trying to determine how he had been hurt. Why was she so useless? She could feel his life draining away as she held him.

"Kay�" He panted, trying to speak.

"My love, stay still. The guards are on their way. You will live. Stay still!" She gently pressed her lips to his cheek, felt it growing cold under her kiss.

His dark eyes widened as a spasm of pain ran through him. "Kadiya." She jumped at the clarity with which he said her name. "They� they lied to me. How�how could�"

"Be quiet. Zan, do not speak. Concentrate on staying with me." Her voice was breaking. She could not control the tears that were coursing down her face, falling onto his.

"They�broke�

"They broke the connection somehow. I know it, Zan. All will be well my love. We will regain it. But you must live."

"I am glad." His words were so quiet, she had to strain to hear them. "Glad�that you will be free." He closed his eyes, shuddered against her.

"No. Zan! NO!" She grasped at him desperately. "I do not want this! Zan!"

"You� are free� my love." She felt his head move, felt his lips brush against her palm. He gently kissed the small scar that still marked the spot where they had mingled their blood during the Rashna .

He sighed once. And all was still.

"I am sorry."

Kadiya almost snapped her neck her head came up so quickly. Khivar stood on the other side of the court, a mocking expression on his face.

"What did you do? How did you do this?" She asked quietly, her hands still stroking down Zan�s body, unwilling to believe that he was really gone - that his soul had left her.

"I did nothing," Khivar smiled. "His own grief did it� his own fear. He cut himself off from you the instant he thought you were dead."

"That�s impossible. I was still connected to him. It makes no sense."

"You knew he lived! Don�t you understand what the Rashna is my sweet?" Khivar eyed her, looking momentarily disbelieving. "Were you really so innocent and stupid?"

She closed her eyes, remembering the ceremony they had performed alone in her chamber one night, the exchange of blood through their palms, the kiss of commitment after the words of bonding.

She had known�had tried to forget after she had understood that he was to marry Ava, that none of it mattered any longer.

"If your souls are to meet in the next life Kadiya then you must die together." He shook his head, amused. "How could you not have known this? Your time left is disappearing as we speak. Fate will intervene at any moment, will take you to join him. Zan�s own subconscious cut off the connection as soon as he believed you dead. It started to prepare him to follow you. He wanted to follow you." Khivar snorted with laughter. "It is the best joke I have ever heard that you do not feel the same."

But, of course, Khivar could not understand. She was not sorry that she would be joining Zan. She was grieving because she would not.

Kadiya stared at Khivar, unseeing. Because she had understood exactly what Zan�s kiss against her palm had meant.

He had left her, did not want her to join him. He wanted her to live. He had broken the connection himself.

He was lost to her forever.

She would not allow it. She would see him again. The iron entered her soul as she glared at Khivar, who was still snorting in amusement.

She would see Zan again and she would destroy Khivar�even if it was the last thing she ever did.

***

Kadiya watched from within the massive throng in the Great Square as Queen Ava was executed for the assassination of her husband, King Zan. She slid away as the crowd surged forward with a great gasp as Ava breathed her last.

All the pieces were now in place. Larek would now help her.

She refused to look up at the Palace where she knew Khivar, the newly crowned king, was watching it all unfold, likely barely containing his glee.

She had not set eyes on him since the day of Zan, Rath and Vilandra�s deaths. Amazingly, he had simply let her go, absolutely positive that it was only a matter of hours before she died anyway. She would not look upon him now. Larek was waiting for her in the small house she had moved to after Zan�s death. The Queen Mother had arranged for him to be absent from the execution. Normally, Larek, ruler of one of the five planets under the high kingship of Antar, should have been there representing his people. But the Queen Mother had sowed the seeds of a story that Larek�s guilt over arranging the marriage of his beloved friend and king, Zan, to the murderess Ava had rendered him unable to witness the ending to the tragedy.

Kadiya knew that Larek despised her, blamed her for the failure of the marriage of Zan and Ava. But he would help her because the Queen Mother had ordered him to and because he wanted his friend back on the throne. His only condition was that Ava should be sent to Earth as well, she having been an innocent victim in all of this. Kadi had begun to suspect long ago that his complete faith in Zan�s love for Ava stemmed from an obsession of Larek�s own, one he had attributed to his friend.

Because Zan had been his king, had he not deserved the best and brightest woman in the system? Which Kadiya now understood Larek had perceived Ava to be.

Larek�s loyalty to the monarchy was almost an absurd irony because of his scientific genius. That he could clone the very soul of the dead and blend it with the DNA of another species�it was almost god-like.

Of course, he also blamed Kadi for the fact that Zan had wanted to dissolve the monarchy, a rumor that was beginning to circulate through the population now that he was dead. And what would not have been accepted during Zan�s lifetime was beginning to be perceived as something worth examining now that he was gone. Because their king had been beloved, destroyed in the prime of his life, he had become a martyr. Whatever his goals had been, they had to have been in the best interest of his people. Or so it was whispered.

Kadiya�s satisfaction that Khivar�s reign would likely not be long was not enough. He would die for what he had done.

But she was in no rush. She would wait for the moment when he least expected it. She would wait a lifetime if necessary.

She descended the darkened staircase into the cellar of the house, followed the long tunnel that led to Larek�s laboratory, the tunnel the Queen Mother had had built in the night during the months following the deaths of her children. It had taken almost a full year for Ava to stand trial and for her execution to be arranged. Justice moved slowly on Antar.

Not that it had been justice. Kadiya could not blame Ava for what had happened after all. She had not been a pleasant girl, but she had not been evil.

Khivar was to blame. He would pay the final price.

In the months they had waited, Zan and Vilandra and Rath were cloned, the small human fetuses, which looked nothing like Antarians except for their shape, placed within organic pods for incubation. They were already beginning to develop distinct differences. Kadiya had spent hours watching Zan�s pod for any change. It was entirely fascinating.

Earth had been chosen as the site of Zan�s rebirth for many reasons, but the main being that it was still under-developed enough that a ship could land there without too much notice, and yet advanced enough to allow the royal children to develop intellectually�perhaps not to Antarian standards, but far enough that they would be possible to integrate.

Her beloved would return to his throne in triumph in Kadiya�s lifetime, different and, yet, still Zan. And then he would bring about the changes he had never managed to complete during his far too short first life.

She would be at his side�no longer as a lover, it having destroyed him once, but, rather, as a guide, as a protector.

He would not remember her after all.

Kadiya smiled slightly to herself as she ran her hand down the pod in which he grew, innocent and helpless, but soon to be safely away from the planet that had doomed him.

"Are you sure that the delay in cloning Ava won�t cause difficulties?" Kadiya asked Larek softly.

Zan�s friend glared at her. "For the one hundredth time Kadiya�no. Do you not believe that I know what I�m about?"

"I believe it, Larek." She traced the face of the small human infant that housed the soul of her beloved. "All is arranged for the transport. The protectors have been chosen?"

"Yes. Two shape shifters loyal to the Queen Mother," Larek replied grudgingly. "One for each set of clones."

Kadiya had argued against the duplicates at first, telling Larek that dividing the essences of the Royal Four could potentially dilute their personalities, but he had insisted, admonishing that if something should happen to one set of pods, at least the other set would survive and the whole mission would not have been in vain.

But Kadiya had already chosen which was the real king. He floated in the pod on which she presently rested her hand. It was the pod in which she had enclosed the royal seal in the form of the ring that Zan had given her what felt like yesterday.

The day that they had decided that they would be together forever. And the day he had left her.

Alone. It was almost unbearable the loneliness. But she did not blame him, knew why he had done it. He had lived her death before finding out that he had been lied to. He could not bear to reflect on it a second time and so he had broken their bond so that she would live. He had broken her heart in the process, but she could not blame him. He had done it because he had loved her.

"I can�t believe it is almost time," Kadiya sighed now.

Larek finally softened slightly. "Yes. The legitimate royal house of Antar will rise again."

Zan will rise again, Kadiya thought with satisfaction. And Khivar will fall.

"And you are no longer needed."

Kadiya whirled, felt her eyes widen. Larek was staring at her, unmoving, his disintegrator pointed directly at her heart.

"I would have done this long since Kadiya. But the Queen Mother would not allow it, insisted that it would not be what Zan wanted." He shook his head in disgust. "But I know better. You destroyed him as surely as I stand here. And now you will pay."

"Why now?" she asked quietly, closing her eyes, accepting it. She had wanted to see him return, but perhaps this was better anyway. Her only regret was that Khivar had not suffered at her hand.

If she ceased to exit, she would no longer be alone.

"Because now is the only time that the Queen Mother will accept that you took your own life. She will understand that once the goal of assuring the rebirth of Zan was complete, you were ready to meet your end, unable to exist any longer without him." He was sneering at her, his hatred a palatable force.

She simply bowed her head in acceptance. "Know that I forgive you for this Larek. You are trapped in your own guilt. If you must place the blame on me to survive so that you can be of use to Zan when he returns, then I will die without regret."

There was a long pause. She wondered briefly if he was going to be unable to do it after all, if he would be unable to commit this act of treason, this act that would have been the last thing his king would have wanted.

But she knew better. Larek only knew what he knew. He did not understand true love.

When the end came, her last thought was of Zan�s smile.

The connection was so easy to make, it made Liz gasp in astonishment. She had chosen to use her lips to do it, knew that whenever she had received flashes from Max, they had always been the most intense when they had kissed. It had stood to reason that it would be the same with Khivar�although she could already feel nausea rising within her.

The first emotion she felt from him was fear.

He knew who she was and he knew that she could kill him.

The next emotion was not from him at all.

She felt a flash of determination and knew it to be Max. She had found him in the one place Khivar had never dreamed that she would look.

She had found her love in Khivar�s own mind.

She would not do this alone. Unlike Kadiya, she was not alone.

Max!

There was a long silence and then, as though from a great distance�

I�m here, Liz!

Show me what to do!

She could feel his essence wrapping itself around her as they connected on a level beyond anything she had ever experienced before. It was exhilarating, brought such a sense of completion, it was actually weakening her physically.

Combine your strength with mine, Max told her calmly. I know exactly what to do.

This is pointless, Zan, Khivar broke in. She is not Kadiya. Did you not see what I saw? You broke the bond on Antar. She is merely human.

Liz almost burst into joyous giggles that he still did not understand. Khivar, I am Kadiya. Zan broke the connection, but I never did. My soul found his anyway because we are meant to be. It has always been so.

We chose it, Khivar, Max continued grimly. I never chose this disgusting bond to you. And it is going to end. Now.

Liz felt Max gathering her energy � the very substance of her mind � and she gave it over to him without reservation.

She was human, but she was his�at heart she was still Kadiya. They were one. Together they were strong.

I love you, Max!

I love you too.

Her last thought before she lost consciousness was that she had had her revenge. Khivar had finally paid.

Kadiya could rest in peace.

"Max!" He jerked his head away from the hard slap to his face, resisted the voice calling his name. He had to find Liz! His connection to her had been cut off with a resounding snap when he had felt Khivar�s essence burn itself out in his consciousness. His desperate calls for her in his mind were met only with silence.

"Zan, will you bloody well snap out of it?" He was hit again, this time much harder than was really necessary since he was conscious again, despite all of his efforts to remain within the connection.

Max�s eyes flew open. He sat up gasping, rubbing his face, reorienting himself.

It took him a moment to realize where he was. He was still on the ground in the main dome area of Atherton�s house. He blinked, looked up at Michael, who was standing over him, his arms crossed, a supremely irritated expression on his face. "It�s about time! What the hell happened to you?"

It was taking Max longer than he liked to get his bearings. He shook his head, hard, trying to clear it.

The first coherent thought that he could grasp was Liz�s name. "Liz�" he muttered, as Michael helped him to his feet. A feeling of emptiness was coming over him as he tried desperately to get any sense of her at all. With the intensity of the connection they had made to fry Khivar�s essence, he should be able to find her easily.

But there was nothing.

"Isabel is who you should be worried about!" Michael snapped. "Khivar has her! We need to go after them."

Max blinked again, stared at Michael. "Aren�t you supposed to be with them?" he asked, beginning to frown. It was all coming back to him now. Kyle had said that Khivar had taken both Isabel and Michael.

Michael looked away for a moment. "He knocked me out as soon as we got in the car. I woke up in the dust a few minutes ago," he finally said slowly.

Max narrowed his eyes. There had been something evasive in that answer� and it didn�t make sense with what Max knew about Khivar. Khivar had wanted all three of them dead. Michael was the reborn version of his brother Rath, but Max knew that would have meant nothing to Khivar. If he didn�t want Michael with him, he would have just killed him.

With all the essence hopping that had been going on over the past week, he needed to be sure this was really Michael.

"Tell me how you proposed to Maria," he ordered abruptly.

Michael�s head whipped around. "What? Why?"

And Max knew immediately. He had seen the panic that had flashed through the eyes of the monster impersonating his best friend.

"Humor me," he replied grimly.

"It�s private, Max."

"It wasn�t so private when you told me all about it yesterday." Max felt his nostrils flare. It was taking all of his strength not to beat the living crap out of the body in front of him. But he would be hurting Michael too�if his best friend still existed in there. "Michael would never have called me Zan. What is it going to take to get you out of there� Nicholas."

"I want my body back. Plain and simple."

Max clenched his fists at his side. The bastard who had tried to kill his son was staring at him through his brother�s face. "And then everything can go back to the way it was�right, Jesse? Or are you even bothering to go by that name now?"

"I am in love with your sister, Zan." He sounded exhausted, defeated.

"You�re obsessed with my sister you little weasel. You have been for two lifetimes. If you think Isabel will take you back after what you�ve done�"

"What have I done other than to love her?" Nicholas demanded. "I am the father of her child. I would die for her."

"You tried to murder my son!" Max bellowed. Nicholas flinched. "And you tortured all of us when we were teenagers�including Isabel. Do you think I would just forget that? That she will?"

"At this point, I don�t really care," Nicholas snapped. "I just want her safe. Can you understand that?"

Max clenched his jaw. "Of course I can. But I don�t want anything to do with you. I want you gone. If you think I�ll trust you to help me, then you must be even crazier than I thought."

Max could feel himself slowly but surely losing control. He took a few deep, calming breaths.

They were in a stand off and it was getting them nowhere. The longer he argued with this bastard, the more panicked he was becoming about Liz. He still could not feel her at all.

Max saw a vein pulsing on Michael�s neck, could almost see Nicholas�s brain working in his best friend�s head. "I�ll let Michael emerge if you�ll go after them," he finally ground out. "Michael can be the one who helps you. Just go after them, Zan!"

"And you�ll be where?" Max demanded. "Just lurking?"

He looked at the ground. "I won�t interfere�won�t hurt Michael." He raised his head, his eyes meeting Max�s squarely. "Because I can, Zan. I can extinguish him right now if I want to."

"Oh, that�s making me want to trust you," Max shook his head, disbelieving. "You�ll never change, Nicholas. You are evil, treating lives you don�t care about like pawns."

"I�m trying here!" Nicholas yelled. "Which is more than I can say for you! We�re just wasting time. Khivar has Isabel and Liz!"

"Khivar is dead," Max told him quietly.

"What?" Nicholas�s eyes widened in shock. "How?"

"Liz." Max felt a rush of pride and love, mixed with dread. He still could not feel her at all. It was beginning to become real to him that while Liz had been so brave and strong, she may have sacrificed herself completely. She may have relived Kadiya�s life � and death � in more than just a vision.

He couldn�t think that way. Not now. He had to find her.

He would make a deal with the devil himself if he had to. As much as he hated to admit it to himself, Nicholas was right. They didn�t have time to argue right now. He didn�t have time to make Nicholas pay.

There would be plenty of time later.

He took a deep, steadying breath then growled, "Give me Michael and I�ll let Isabel decide what�s to become of you when this is over."

He owed that much to his sister. She at least deserved the right to decide what grisly death this bastard had earned with his deceit.

Nicholas appeared satisfied. "Fine." He closed his eyes briefly.

Max watched in fascination as a grimace passed over Michael�s face. His eyes snapped open again a moment later. He stared at Max in horror. "Jesus Christ, Maxwell!"

"I take it I don�t have to fill you in on what�s going on?" Max demanded, bringing a hand down affectionately on his best friend�s shoulder. The relief that rushed through him, because somehow he just knew that this was Michael again, made him weak.

"No." Max could see fury beginning to claim Michael. "That little bastard� I was aware the whole time. I just didn�t have any control of my body. We need to get him out of my head. It�s bloody humiliating." He glanced toward the bedroom. "Jesus, Max. I need to get Maria out of the closet."

"Hurry."

Max trailed after Michael as he bolted for the bedroom. "How did he do it?" Max asked quietly.

"He just took over," Michael replied. He changed the subject abruptly. "I�m guessing you know that Dan is Khivar?" he asked as he opened the closet door, scowled at the sight of Maria bound hand and foot. She was glaring up at him, her eyes wide, her face tear-streaked. "Oh hell. Maria, please just don�t freak on me. I had no choice."

"Michael!" she shrieked, the minute he removed the gag from her mouth. "I hate, hate, hate you! The wedding is off!"

"Maria, if I had let you come with me and Isabel, there would have been no wedding," he replied, pulling her into his arms. "He would have killed you." Max watched her melt against Michael, unresisting. Max breathed a sigh of relief. She would forgive him.

"I wanted to be with you!" Maria exclaimed through her tears. "You can�t just arbitrarily make decisions for me Michael! It�s not fair!"

"It is fair when it�s the difference between you getting killed or not," Michael returned sternly.

"Guys, there�s no time for this," Max interrupted reluctantly. "I�m sorry, but we have to find Liz and Izzy."

"I thought you said Khivar was dead." Michael turned his head, Maria still pressed against him. He narrowed his eyes. "Again. How exactly is it that he came back anyway?"

"It�s a long story. The short version is that Larek helped him to possess Dan and then Jesse immediately after I killed his body on Antar." Max glanced at Maria. "Which is why Nicholas was bumped into you, Michael."

"What?" Maria shrieked, wrenching away from Michael. She was behind Max an instant later, clutching at him. "Michael?"

"It�s me, Maria," Michael sighed impatiently. "The troll let me have control back."

Max brought his arm around Maria to support her. "It�s true, Maria. Nicholas is in there, but Michael�s in charge. We need to get him back into Jesse�s body as soon as possible though. Now that Khivar�s essence is gone, the body is going to be useless really quickly."

"Are Liz and Isabel and the kids okay?" Maria asked, still apparently unable to go anywhere near Michael now that she knew that Nicholas was in there as well.

"I don�t know," Max replied, trying not to allow his fear to reflect in his voice. "I hope so."

They had better be, he thought grimly as he led the way out to the Cherokee. Because if they weren�t, then Nicholas was going to pay the price. There would be no mercy at all if either his sister or Liz were hurt.

They were on 285 North moments later.

"Are you sure they went this way?" Maria asked from the back seat.

"Yes," Max told her. The instant he had turned the car onto the highway, he had had a flash of emotion from Liz. It was almost like an echo of exactly what she had been feeling when her car had passed over the spot.

She had been scared�terrified. But not for herself. For Ben, for Isabel, for Lexi�for him. Trust Liz not to worry about herself.

The flash gave him a jolt of adrenaline, a rush of hope. Was the connection kicking back in, was that why he had had that flash? Because if so, then Liz was alive. Despite the amount of energy he had drained out of her to destroy Khivar, she lived.

Now he just had to find her.

LIZ? he called out with his mind, could hear Michael and Maria talking quietly, tried to ignore them.

Still nothing. But the emptiness in his heart was not as complete as it had been a few minutes before.

"Max!"

He jumped, focused on the road. It was Michael yelling at him. "There�s a car up there�on the side of the road. It looks like a Volvo."

Liz!

He slowed the Cherokee, drove off the road, pulling to a stop behind the Volvo. Max was out of the car instantly, forgetting to even turn off the engine. "Liz! Ben!"

His cries were met with nothing but silence.

Max wrenched open the driver�s side door. Liz, who had been leaning against the window, tumbled out into his arms, her dark hair falling over her face. "Ben�s fine too Max. Just totally conked out," Maria told him as she lifted the baby out into her arms.

Max sighed with relief. He pulled Liz more fully into his arms, began to speak quietly in her ear. "Liz, wake up sweetheart. It�s time to wake up." Now that he knew she was alive, another more poignant fear was beginning to take hold.

What had happened in her mind during the final confrontation with Khivar had been intense�maybe too intense for a human brain to be able to absorb undamaged. Because while Max knew in his heart that the essence that graced this beautiful body was that of his soul mate of two lifetimes, she was still human. There might have been brain trauma, irreparable harm done to the brilliant mind he had fallen in love with�

"Liz, please wake up." He could feel the panic again, the desperation that he had relived as Zan during the connection that had ultimately killed Khivar. He had felt everything that Zan had been feeling through Kadiya�s memories�everything that he had felt during that past life.

He could not live without her anymore now than he had been able to then. He just could not do it. If it made him the weak one, well, that was just the way it was.

She had always been his strength, had always been the one with the will to survive, to fight for them. He would be nothing without her. He closed his eyes, felt tears beginning to form behind the lids as she continued to lie lifelessly in his arms, breathing, but not living.

"Liz, please. I can�t do this alone."

"I will never leave you." The voice was weak, but entirely music to his ears. His eyes snapped open.

She was gazing up at him, tears shining in her dark, beloved eyes. "You left me once, but I will never leave you," she repeated, smiling slightly.

He crushed her against him knowing, once again, that he did not, in any way, deserve her.

Liz pressed her lips lightly against Max�s neck, sighing happily. He had gently helped her to her feet, but was still holding her tightly against him, apparently as unwilling to let go of her as she was to be let go of. She allowed herself to keep her eyes closed for a moment longer, to gather strength from the force of his love. It was almost as if she could feel the connection between them regenerating, filling her with peace and energy at the same time.

But it was all an illusion�this sense that all was finally right with their world. She knew that it was headed that way, that happiness was within their grasp, but they still had a lot to deal with before they could even begin to rebuild a life together.

The longer they put if off, the longer it would be until they could put it all behind them. She became aware of their surroundings, understood that they were standing near Isabel and Jesse�s Volvo in the middle of the night, at the side of 285 North. The world apart from Max was slowly returning. She could hear Maria nearby, speaking quietly to a baby, obviously Lexi, who was fussing slightly.

"Ben?" Liz whispered, her first concern, as always, for him�for the little boy who had stolen her heart even more quickly than his adoptive father had when they were teenagers.

"He�s fine," Max replied. "Still sound asleep."

"He was so brave, Max. How can a little boy be that strong?" Liz felt her heart expanding at the thought of Ben. It was still a little surprising to her that she had known him for less than a week. He had so quickly become such an important part of her life, she couldn�t quite remember what it had been like not to love him, not to worry about him, not to be proud of him. She knew that most of it stemmed from the fact that he was Alex�s son, but it was more than that too. Ben was just as equally Tess�s child and that did nothing to taint him in her estimation.

Ben was Ben and she loved him for his own sake.

"He�s amazing," Max agreed, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "But he�s finally safe now. Or at least he will be as soon as we take care of Nicholas once and for all."

"Nicholas?" Liz started, the name of Khivar�s right-hand man being the last she had expected to hear. Max�s voice had lowered in anger as he had said the last and she felt the tremor that ran through him as he tried to control it. "Max, he�s dead! Khivar told me!"

"Apparently not." Max sighed heavily. "Khivar wasn�t the only one with the ability to essence-hop. He survived Khivar�s take-over of his body."

Liz pulled back slightly, her strength slowly returning. "Survived? How?"

"In my body." It was Michael, coming up behind them. Liz turned her head, stared at Max�s best friend. Michael rolled his eyes. "Please don�t even ask. I may be sick just thinking about it." He reached out and gently tugged on a lock of Liz�s hair. "I�m glad you�re okay, Liz." He grimaced apologetically. "I�m sorry to interrupt here, but Maxwell we need to do this now. I don�t think I can stand him in here much longer. I feel polluted."

Liz�s eyes widened in horror as she began to understand what Michael was talking about. "He�s in you? Right now?" At Michael�s grim nod, Liz closed her eyes. "Oh Michael."

"Not for long." Max�s voice was hard, sent a shiver down Liz�s spine. "Is the body ready?" At Michael�s nod, a satisfied expression crossed his face. "Is Isabel okay?"

"She�s still totally out of it," Michael replied. "I�ve been trying to snap her out of it for the last five minutes, but nothing."

Liz felt Max sigh. "Well, we�ll just have to do it without her then." She glanced up at him. He was staring at Michael, concern evident on his face. "Are you ready?"

Michael set his jaw. "I�ll do anything to get him out of here�even let him take over again if I have to. I�ll let him emerge so that he can do whatever it is he has to do." He paused, his eyes flashing. "And then I�ll kill him. Slowly."

"No," Max replied quietly. "It�s up to Izzy what happens to him."

Liz�s head was spinning as she began to understand the seriousness of what was going on. Nicholas was still alive and lurking in Michael�s body. Isabel was catatonic with shock. And Max was going to put himself and Ben back in danger by allowing Nicholas to return to Jesse�s body.

Maria had moved closer. Her blue eyes met Liz�s. "I�m glad you�re okay, chica," she said quietly, still holding Lexi, who had fallen asleep against her shoulder. But Liz could see the terror in Maria�s eyes�the fear that she was trying desperately to hide from both Michael and Max.

Liz understood completely. Maria had finally made a commitment to Michael and now she was in serious danger of losing him. It wasn�t fair. Liz felt anger run through her veins at the injustice.

"Are you okay?" She realized that Max was speaking to her quietly again. "Do you need to sit? You�re really pale, Liz."

"No, I�m fine." Liz squeezed his hand. Her eyes raised, met his. "Get this over with, Max."

He nodded, followed Michael around the car where apparently Jesse�s body, now devoid of Khivar�s essence, was lying. For an instant Liz felt an urge to go look, to see what she had done when she had killed him, but, in the end, she knew that she couldn�t. Killing Khivar in a connection with Max had been powerful, difficult and, yes, life-altering. She understood that she had taken a life, even if it was an evil one, and it would have to be dealt with psychologically. But, for now, she could not face the physical evidence of it. It was just too much.

He had deserved it more than anyone had ever deserved to be destroyed. And, for now, it was enough. Any examination of her feelings on the matter, apart from the genuine joy she had experienced in the connection with Max, would force her to also begin to deal with the fact that one of the reasons she had hated him was because of what he had done to Dan.

For now, she could not accept Dan�s death and her part in it. The problem of Nicholas was too immediate, needed their focus.

And so, Liz and Maria stayed where they were, Liz bringing her arm up around her best friend in support.

Michael and Max were speaking quietly, Michael�s back to them. Michael knelt abruptly, disappearing behind the car.

The bright burst of light forced Liz to turn her face away, her heart beating so quickly, she felt momentarily light-headed, as though she might pass out. She reached up, felt for Lexi�s eyes, made sure that they were still closed, placed her hand firmly against the baby�s face to assure that they stayed that way.

She turned back when the light disappeared. Max already had the revived Jesse pinned face down on the hood of the Volvo, but Isabel�s husband was not fighting him. Liz shivered at the resigned expression on his face. Here was a man who knew that he was not long for this world.

Michael appeared at bit disoriented, but was obviously in complete control of his own body as he bent down and picked up a length of rope that he had had ready and handed it to Max, who quickly secured his brother-in-law�s hands behind his back, none too gently Liz noticed, causing her to frown slightly.

She understood though. This man had tried to kill Ben. And Liz still really didn�t understand why. She remembered what Khivar had told her about Lexi being Max�s heir, since technically Ben was not his son. Liz could believe that Nicholas would stoop as low as to murder a child to place his own daughter on the throne of Antar, but something in that explanation did not ring true.

There had to have been another reason.

But, whatever the reason, he had done it. He was their enemy.

"What are we going to do with him?" Michael was saying to Max. Jesse was standing up now, staring in the passenger side of the Volvo, no expression on his face. Liz realized that he was looking at Isabel, who still sat unmoving in the back seat, apparently refusing to return to them even now.

Max�s sister was going to need serious, professional help when all of this was over.

Max�s expression was hard as he straightened, glanced at Liz. She met his gaze steadily, told him without words that she would support him, whatever had to be done. She finally understood what Max had meant about awful acts being necessary to protect the innocent, the guilt he must have felt over having to commit them in order to bring Ben safely back to Earth. He had tried to shield them all from the darkness of it, but it had been beyond him to do so.

They were all bound by their love for each other and the lengths they would go to in order to protect each other. All of them.

Guilt was an emotion that she was just going to have to get used to. Because she was not strong enough to sacrifice Ben�s safety with mercy. And she knew Max felt the same.

And, so, she was surprised when all Max said was, "I�m going to call Kyle. He can throw him in jail for a while."

"Maxwell, he�ll just break out," Michael protested as he none too gently pushed Jesse in the direction of the Cherokee, which was still parked directly behind the Volvo.

"I won�t." His voice was grainy, slightly rusty, as though the body he was in was becoming used to animation again. "I will do anything to make you trust me."

"It�ll be a cold day in hell before any of us trust you," Michael flared hotly, shoving him into the back seat, a little more roughly than was really necessary.

The four of them stood staring at each other in silence after Nicholas was contained. Liz could feel the tension like a living force.

Finally, Liz gently took Lexi from Maria, sure that her best friend would want to at least touch Michael, to assure herself that he was really all right. But Maria did not move, stood frozen.

Liz�s eyes met Max�s again. And, suddenly, she understood. He lowered his eyes, brought a weary hand to his temple. "We can�t do it." He swallowed, looked at Michael. "Even if Isabel agrees, we can�t do it. It�s not what we�re about. We can�t just kill him in cold blood. It will destroy us."

Liz let her breath go in a rush. She had not even realized that she�d been holding it. Some invisible barrier had apparently come down between them all, because the instant Max stopped speaking, Liz felt herself pulled irrevocably to his side. He put his arm around her, careful of the sleeping baby. Maria was in Michael�s arms now too. Liz could see the relief on her best friend�s face, knew that it matched her own. Even Michael appeared to accept Max�s words, his face having relaxed.

"I�ve done it," Max continued quietly. "I have killed, but only when there was no choice." Liz knew that he was speaking of Tess and Larek and Hanar and Sero and especially Khivar. "I will carry that with me for the rest of my life. This would be different you guys. He is my enemy, our lives are potentially in jeopardy if he stays alive, but I cannot do it." He was saying this, not because he didn�t think his friends agreed with him, but because he needed to get this out, needed to let Michael and Maria know some of what he had done on Antar.

He was ready to exorcise the guilt. Liz wondered if she would ever be able to do the same.

Dan�s face flashed through her mind. "We know Max. We�ve been responsible for so many deaths against our will, in the past, but recently too." She lowered her head in grief for her fianc�the man she would not have married in the end, but a wonderful, brilliant person who had not deserved to die. "We can�t add one on purpose. We can�t be like them. I could not bear it."

"Liz, you�re not feeling guilty about Khivar, are you?" Max asked quietly. "You had no choice. It was in self-defense. You were protecting the kids and Isabel."

"No." Liz shook her head, her eyes still closed. "I will never regret that. I�m talking about Dan."

She felt Max start against her. "Dan�s not dead."

Her eyes snapped open. "What?" she exclaimed in disbelief, clutching at Lexi so abruptly that the sleeping baby murmured against her in protest. "Khivar said he was! That he had died when he had left his body!" She looked up at Max, her hope that he was right bringing her heart to her throat.

"His heart did stop Liz, but I revived him," Max informed her. "Just like I did that time with Larek. He doesn�t remember anything from the last week."

"Oh, thank God." She collapsed against him, happiness and relief making her weak.

She felt him tense slightly against her. Looking at him in surprise, Liz frowned. "What�s wrong, Max?"

"Nothing," he replied quietly, taking Lexi gently from her arms and moving away slightly. "I�m just sorry that I didn�t tell you that right away." He looked away. "I never want you to grieve, Liz, or feel guilty. I�ve put you through enough of that for one lifetime. There was no way that I would let you lose Dan."

Liz stared after him in confusion. There was something else wrong. She could just tell. She glanced at Michael and Maria, neither of whom appeared to think there was anything amiss. In fact, Michael stepped forward, Maria�s hand in his and said, "So, Maria and I will drive the car with the troll in the back, Max?"

Max turned, his hand gently stroking his niece�s dark curls, apparently comforting her, but Liz frowned, getting the distinct impression that he was taking more strength from the baby than she needed from her uncle. "No. I think Liz and Maria should drive together in the Volvo with Izzy and the kids. I don�t want them anywhere near Nicholas. We might not be able to kill him in cold blood, but if he tries anything, it�ll be an entirely different story."

"And you don�t quite believe that he won�t," Maria guessed. Maria was glancing up affectionately at Michael, oblivious to the tension that was again in the air, but this time for a different reason. "I guess we can stand to be separated for a few hours, Space boy." Michael gave her a quick squeeze, but Liz could see the beginning of suspicion appearing on his face as he continued to watch Max.

"Well, let�s go then." Maria moved forward, took Lexi from Max and grabbed Liz�s arm, hauling her after her towards the Volvo. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we�ll get there."

Liz considered wrenching away from Maria, forcing Max to tell her what was wrong. She was furious that he would dare do this to her � shut her out again � after everything that had happened between them over the past twenty-four hours.

She knew that now was not the time though. They needed to get Ben and Lexi to safety and had to get some help for Isabel. Nicholas needed to be dealt with more completely too.

But the instant she got him alone, he was going to tell her everything. She would not have it any other way. He was going to have to accept that if they were going to take another chance on each other, there could be no more secrets.

She knew that he was hiding something, but it was only a matter of time until she found out what.

She would not lose him again�not after only just finding him. And that was all there was to it.

"�glad you found them," Max said into his cell phone. "Can you get them all back to Roswell? We�ll meet you there in a few hours."

"Sure Evans, but I don�t know quite how I�m going to explain all of this to Sarah and Vick. Vick is like a dog with a bone." Kyle sighed heavily. Max had dialed up his friend the minute he had settled into the passenger seat of the Cherokee. Michael was driving, following the Volvo closely, obviously still a little paranoid for the safety of the women and children, although the only threat against them was currently sitting quietly in the back seat behind him, staring out the window at the slowly rising sun.

The first thing Kyle had informed him of was that he had run into his wife and her sister, Victoria the reporter, at the same twenty-four-hour rest-stop where Dan had held Michael, Isabel and Maria captive two nights before, it being where Dan had told Vick he�d meet her. It was what they were presently discussing, Kyle in his truck making ready to continue the trip to Roswell. It was hard for Max to believe that he and the others were only about three hours behind them, but it was true. Everything that had happened � the death of Khivar and the transfer of Nicholas�s essence back into Jesse�s body � had taken that little time.

"Dan told her when he invited her after us that he had something substantial to tell her and now she won�t leave him alone," Kyle continued. "Since he has absolutely no idea what the hell happened to him, or any memory of the truth about you, she�s driving him absolutely crazy." He paused. "But there�s something a little strange going on between those two anyway." Kyle confided.

"What do you mean?" Max asked, frowning.

"I don�t know. It�s weird. Vick keeps berating him about how awful he is that he did this to Liz, that he�s been missing for three days, that he�s so inconsiderate� I had no idea that she and Dan were so close that she feels she can act like his mother. But he was the one who told them what happened to him." Kyle sounded exasperated. "Or what he thinks happened to him anyway."

"Are Victoria and Sarah aware that Liz has been gone for the whole week too?" Max asked, confused, but a slight twinge of unease making him feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah, but they think she�s still in Albuquerque with Isabel, although I�m not sure why. You�d think she�d be in Roswell, since she�s supposed to get married in about six hours." The lunacy of this entire situation was apparently not lost on Kyle Valenti. Max grinned despite himself.

"Okay, well, thanks Kyle. We�ll meet you at the station in Roswell so that you can lock Jesse up." Max had decided that he would refer to his brother-in-law by the name he had used for the last few years. It was just easier because of the fact that it was the name by which everyone else knew him and Max didn�t want to accidentally call him Nicholas in front of someone.

"I still don�t know what charges I�m going to trump up," Kyle grumbled.

"I know it�s a pain, but we don�t know what else to do with him. Until we figure it out, it�s the only solution," Max told him.

"I guess kidnapping would work," Kyle was obviously thinking aloud. "You said he�d cooperate?"

Max glanced over his shoulder at Isabel�s husband. "I think so. He doesn�t seem to have much fight left in him."

"Okay then." There was a pause. "I�m glad everyone�s okay, Evans. Give my love to Liz. I�ll see you in a few hours." He hung up before Max had a chance to reply.

Liz. The mention of her name sent guilt running through him. He knew that he had hurt her with his behavior before they had split up for the drive back to Roswell, but he had not known what else to do. The grief he had witnessed from her when she had confessed that she thought Dan was dead had shaken him.

Because he had finally truly understood that she did love Dan. That if they were going to be together, she was going to have to hurt someone that she cared about. He knew Liz. It was going to break her heart to hurt Dan.

In a split second decision he had decided that it was best that he distance himself from her until she had figured out exactly what she wanted to do. But it had obviously been a mistake. He had hurt her again, but he couldn�t exactly talk to her about the situation in front of Michael and Maria and there had been no time for a private conversation.

He wondered if she thought that he was avoiding her by wanting to drive with Michael. He wasn�t, truly believed that this was safer, his mistrust of Nicholas/Jesse still strong and necessary. But it might have been the final straw for Liz, might have shattered the fragile relationship that they had started to rebuild through the final comprehension of the bond between them and the rebirth of the connection.

But, he had to admit to himself, that he was still not completely at ease. Liz had told him that she would never leave him, but her grief for Dan had shown him once and for all that she did love the other man. Maybe once she was back with him she would remember it, decide that life would be easier with him, less intense, safer.

He did not deserve her, and because of it, he was desperately afraid that she would realize it too and would leave him. He knew that he could survive without her � raising Ben would give his life purpose and maybe even joy � but he didn�t want to. He wanted her so badly, in every way, it burned within him.

But he wanted her happy above all. If she decided that she would be better off without him, he would let her go. It would be the hardest thing he would ever do, but he would do it.

Max sighed heavily, leaned his head back against the seat.

"What the hell�s the matter with you?" Michael demanded. "You�re acting weird, Maxwell. I don�t like it, what with all the essence-hopping going on around here." He glared quickly over his shoulder at Jesse, who had turned his head at the sound of Michael�s voice.

"I�m fine," Max snapped. "Just drive."

"He�s going over in his head how many different ways he�s unworthy of the woman he loves." It was Jesse who spoke, causing Max to whip his head around and scowl at him.

"You don�t know the first thing about me," he told him, annoyed. "Don�t try and psycho-analyze me."

Jesse shrugged, turned his head to look out the window again. "I just call them as I see them," he replied quietly. "I heard you talking to her. Just because I was tied up, doesn�t mean I was deaf. I recognized the tone of your voice. You were trying to hide your jealousy and fear. Plain and simple. You don�t think you�re worthy of her and you�re afraid that she�s going to pick him."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Max growled.

"I�ve lived the exact same feelings every day for the last eight years," Jesse sighed, leaning his head against the window. "Don�t you think I worried about how Isabel would react if she knew the truth? That she would remember how she felt about Khivar when she was Vilandra, that she would hate me?"

Max stared at him. He glanced in disbelief at Michael. "Are you trying to get us to feel sorry for you? Don�t you understand that my sister is nothing like Vilandra, that Vilandra was seduced anyway? She never loved Khivar."

"Isabel could never love evil. He was evil. You�re evil," Michael snapped in agreement. "Your weeping and wailing isn�t going to change our minds about that. Your days as her husband are numbered."

"You�re probably right." Jesse shrugged. "But it doesn�t mean I don�t understand."

Max continued to stare at him, still disgusted, but curiosity to finally understand this psycho beginning to strengthen. "How could you have tortured my sister and yet, you say you love her?" he asked despite himself.

"I was only obeying my master," Jesse replied. "Khivar was the be all and end all to me. Like an older brother. I hated you all. You were a threat to his throne." He looked back at Max, the weak light of the rising sun, causing shadows to hide his eyes. "I was always attracted to Vilandra�" Max felt his lip curl. The thought of this monster touching his sister was making him sick to his stomach. "But she betrayed Khivar in the end. I hated her."

"Why did you marry her then?" This was from Michael. Max glanced at his best friend, saw that his hands were clenched tightly on the steering wheel, as though it was all he could do not to pull over and pound the life out of the man in the back seat.

"To stay close to her, to prepare this body for when Khivar might need it. He still wanted her. I wanted my king to have whatever he wanted, even if I thought he was crazy." Max frowned at the expression he saw on the other man�s face. It was guilt�and it actually looked real.

"You fell in love with her," he finished for Jesse quietly. "Living with her as Jesse, without the fear and suspicion between you, you saw who she really was."

"Yes." Jesse turned away again. "But I loved her long before that. I only accepted it after we were married. I loved her the first time I met her again in this life. In Copper Summit. She was so kind to me before she knew who I really was, when she thought I was just a grieving little brother. It was why I was so cruel to her. I wanted to convince myself otherwise."

Max almost felt sorry for him. He couldn�t believe it. This man had tried to kill his son, had lied to his sister for years, had idolized a monster. "Whether you love her or not, it doesn�t matter. You tried to kill my son. There will never be an explanation for that."

Max turned around, faced the front, still angry. Silence fell over the vehicle.

"I know you won�t believe it," Jesse finally said into the quiet. "But that was Khivar. He was in control then."

"Khivar loved Ben," Max snapped. "I know he did. He would not have hurt him. He tried to kill you, his most loyal lieutenant, because you hurt him."

There was another pause, then Jesse sighed. "You really don�t get it Zan, do you? Even after everything that�s happened."

"Get what?" Max demanded.

"Khivar cared about Ben, sure. But he hated you more. Anything he could have done to hurt you, he would have. Including kill his own son."

As Maria pulled the Volvo into the driveway of the Evans house on Murray Lane, Liz stared out the windshield, a half-smile on her face. There was a light on in the window of Max�s bedroom, bringing back so many memories, it was almost enough to bring tears to her eyes.

She had had many hours to reflect on Max�s strange behavior during the drive back to Roswell. After she and Maria had decided that it would be best to bring Isabel to her parents and Maria had told Michael and Max so via cell-phone, there had been very little conversation, other than a few comments from Maria about the fact that she couldn�t quite believe that the disaster that had become their lives over the past week was finally almost over.

Liz was not stupid. It had not taken her long to understand what had happened to Max, why he had pulled away from her. It was the whole Dan situation of course. It had yet to be completely resolved. She had told him herself several times that she was planning to call off the wedding, but she didn�t really blame him for not quite believing it. The whole process that had brought them back together had been so extreme and intense, it was only natural that he would think she might have doubts after everything had settled down again�especially after how many times she had told him that she could never be happy with him because she didn�t trust him. He had told her a few times that he was not going to pressure her into anything. She had told him herself that all she wanted was a normal, happy life.

She had accepted that for her to be happy, normal was something entirely different from what it might be for someone else. Normal was loving him. But he still did not completely understand that. They needed to talk, clearly, but she needed to break things off with Dan first. They both needed to be on a level playing field when next they spoke about the future.

She was angry at him for being afraid. There was no doubt that it was frustrating to always have to be the strong one when it came to their relationship. But he had been hiding from his emotions for his entire life. It was not a surprise that he might still do so on occasion, even after all they had been through together.

Khivar had told her that Zan�s emotions had been what had destroyed him in his last life. But Liz had recognized long ago that it was Max�s emotions that made him strong. He had just not quite accepted that himself yet.

He brought strength to their bond in other ways after all. If she was the backbone, he was the heart, so deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of all those he cared about, that it had even been used against him by his enemies. But it was not a bad thing�he just needed to learn to let go a little bit, to let those he loved make their own decisions, and yes, sometimes their own mistakes. He was beginning to do so, one example being his willingness to have Isabel decide Nicholas�s fate. He had also been willing to let her, Liz, go if that�s what she wanted, even though his gut instinct had been to hold on to her with every ounce of his strength.

He believed in her. Completely, implicitly. She knew it. That was not the problem. The issue was that he did not believe in himself. Even after all that he had done, all that he had accomplished, he still felt unworthy. And unless he could get over it, they were never going to be happy.

Maria turned off the ignition, let her head fall back against the seat. "The one thing we haven�t discussed is how we�re going to explain Ben to the Evanses," she reminded Liz. "Max is going to be tied up at the police station with Kyle for a while. Should we tell them the truth?"

Liz was quiet for a moment. "Well, they already know the truth about Max and Isabel�s origins. Isabel had to tell them after Max disappeared, remember? I think it might be easier on them to hear that Max is back from us before he shows up here."

"I know Max will be happy with whatever you decide, Liz." There was a pause. "Are things going to work out between you two?" Maria finally asked.

"I think so." Liz sighed. "We still have a lot to work out, but I know that I want to try."

"Liz, are you sure that your decision isn�t just because of Ben?" Maria frowned slightly. "Are you sure this is what you really want?"

"I want to be happy, Maria," Liz replied quietly. "He makes me happy. In spite of it all, he does. When he�s not being a stubborn mule that is," she added wryly. "Ben is just a bonus." She glanced over the backseat at the still snoring Ben. She would have to ask Mr. Evans to come out and carry the little boy in. He really was too big for her to manage.

Maria had turned her head too. "Isabel? We�re here."

Max�s sister continued to stare straight ahead, no expression on her face. Liz and Maria exchanged a concerned look, Liz shaking her head as she opened her door. "Maybe her mother will be able to get through to her."

"I�ll be right behind you Liz," Maria told her over the car. "I�ll just get Lexi out of her car seat."

Liz nodded, went to ring the doorbell. It was still early, eight o�clock in the morning. The Evanses should be up though. Liz remembered, even after all this time, that they had always been early risers.

Diane Evans opened the door after a couple of minutes, surprise on her kind face when she recognized Liz. "Liz Parker! I haven�t seen you in ages, sweetie!" Her expression changed completely though a moment later. "What�s wrong? Something is wrong, isn�t it? You�re supposed to be getting married this morning. I�ve been trying to call Isabel all night, but she hasn�t answered the phone. She and Alexandra were supposed to be here last night to stay over for the wedding."

Liz reached out and took Mrs. Evans�s hand. "They�re both fine�well, mostly. Please don�t worry." She nodded in the direction of the Volvo, where Maria was straightening with Lexi in her arms. "Isabel�s in the car. There�s something else�"

"What?" Diane�s eyes widened with fear, slightly haunted as they had been every time Liz had run into her in the grocery store or at the Crashdown over the past eight years. As they had been ever since her son had disappeared.

"I have some good news and some bad news," Liz replied. "But first the good. Max is home."

Max�s mother�s eyes filled with tears of disbelief. "Liz�"

"It�s true, Mrs. Evans. He came back� to all of us."

Diane�s smile was so brilliant as she pulled Liz against her for a hug, it was almost heartbreaking to have to tell her about Isabel and Jesse. But Liz did it. There was no choice. Isabel needed her parents.

Yes, Max�s return was good news. But it had unearthed painful truths about the lives of those he had left behind that some might have thought better left alone. Isabel�s marriage had been a sham and the consequences were going to have to be dealt with. Liz�s relationship with Dan had also been less than she had pretended it was. She had had everything she had always wanted, but it had not brought the complete happiness she had envisioned.

But they all had a chance to rebuild now. It was going to take time and patience, but it would be worth it in the end.

Everyone was safe and alive. It was a start.

Liz glanced at her watch. Nine o�clock. She was supposed to be walking down the aisle in exactly two hours. She knew, without question, that her parents and Dan were freaking out by now. She sighed heavily as she pulled the Volvo to a halt outside the Crashdown.

She sat staring at the restaurant that had been the center of her life during the years she had grown up in this town. She had learned to walk by clinging to it�s tables, had done her homework at it�s counter. She had earned the money to support herself during her years at Harvard serving its customers.

She had come alive here on a September day in 1999 when Max Evans had patched a hole in her stomach that should have killed her. She should have been dead for the past ten years. But because of the brave act of one amazing boy, she had lived. Yes, she had suffered, mourned, hated and had regrets during those ten years and, yet, the living had been worth it.

She was finally beginning to realize that pain was a part of life. And she was truly blessed because while she had had more than her fair share of grief, she had also experienced love on a level beyond what few could even imagine. As she sat staring at the doors she would pass through in order to completely change the direction of her life, she did not feel a single moment of doubt.

Doubts were over. She had made her choice. To her, Max was worth it. And soon enough he would begin to recognize it too.

She had left Maria behind at the Evanses� after they had explained everything. Isabel had finally cracked slightly at the sight of her mother. She had climbed out of the car, walked into the house and had promptly fallen apart. The deep, wrenching sobs that had brought the poor young woman to her knees had only abated after Diane had rocked her like a baby for a long time. When Liz had left, mother and daughter had still been on the floor of the living room, Isabel�s tears finally halted as they spoke quietly together, Diane attempting to help her child put her life back together.

Mr. Evans had helped Liz put Ben to bed in Max�s old room. Liz had not been surprised to see that it had changed very little, that it had been maintained as something of a shrine to the Evans� lost son. She had seen the excitement in the eyes of the father as he had sat at the bedside of his new grandson, just staring down at him in amazement, glancing at his watch every few minutes, clearly willing the minutes by so that the little boy�s father � his son � would walk through the door and fulfill the wish of his heart for the past eight years. Liz had understood from Isabel that in some ways Phillip Evans had blamed himself for Max�s departure, convinced that if he hadn�t given his son the ultimatum about telling him the truth, if Max hadn�t taken him at his word and moved out, none of it would have happened. Liz had stood with him for several minutes, her hand on his shoulder in comfort, but she had been acutely aware of the digital clock on Max�s bedside table.

She had kissed Ben on the forehead, sweeping a loving hand through his blond curls before she left. He had stirred, opened his eyes, gazing up at her sleepily. "Liz?"

"Hi, sweetie. Go back to sleep. You�re safe at your grandma and grandpa�s. Maria�s just outside. Your dad and I will be back very soon. We�ll be here when you wake up again."

She had seen the flash of fear in his blue eyes, but it had almost instantly been replaced by a tentative trust. "Okay." He had closed his eyes again. She had been able to see him almost willing himself to fall asleep so that very soon would come more quickly. It had almost broken her heart, but she knew that she had no choice but to leave him.

She had to get to Dan, had to tell him the truth. It was bad enough that she was doing this two hours before the wedding. Every minute she waited only made it worse.

And so she had left the Evans family in the care of Maria, who had agreed to wait for Max and Michael to return. She had been worried about Liz though. "Are you sure you don�t need me to come with you, chica?" she had asked with concern at the door as Liz had been leaving.

"Thank you." Liz had smiled affectionately at her best friend. "But this is something I need to do alone."

"Okay." Her blue eyes had met Liz�s seriously. "What do you want me to tell Max when he gets here?"

Liz had sighed. "Don�t tell him anything. He�ll know where I am, and if he doesn�t, well, then he can just wonder for a while." She might understand Max�s fear, but it didn�t mean she wasn�t still peeved at him. He did deserve to suffer a little for doubting her. She was not a vindictive person, but, really, there was only so much angst one person could take.

And so now she sat trying to work up the nerve to break the heart of a man who had only ever been good to her. He was not the one for her, in the end, but she knew that he loved her. She was not looking forward to this.

"Get a grip Parker. You just killed an evil alien with your mind. You can do this." But Liz knew that, in some ways, this was going to be worse. Khivar had been evil. Dan was not. He did not deserve any of this.

Taking a deep breath, she climbed slowly from behind the wheel of Isabel and Jesse�s car, walked steadily towards the double doors leading into her parents� restaurant, and pushed her way through.

The bell above the door rang through the empty restaurant.

Well, not entirely empty. Dan Riley sat at the counter, his back to the entrance, nursing a chocolate milkshake. She knew that he had likely only been back for a couple of hours�Michael had reported in their cell-phone conversation that Kyle and the others had only been a hundred or so miles ahead of them. He had not even changed his clothes.

Here was a man caught in abject misery. She had never had a chance to ask Max exactly what it was Dan thought had happened to him over the past week. All she knew was that he remembered nothing of what had really happened. She was going to have to tread lightly, which really did not seem fair since she was about to break his heart.

"Dan?" She kept her voice quiet, willing him to explode on her if he wanted to. He had more than earned the right to do so after all.

"Where have you been?" His voice was weary, soft. "Your parents told me that they�ve been trying you at Isabel�s for the past two days and all they�ve gotten was an answering machine."

"I wasn�t there." Liz walked towards him, slowly sat down on the stool beside him. "I was with Max." She could not lie to him about that. It wouldn�t be fair.

"I thought so. When I saw him in Texas, I just knew that something weird was going on. I didn�t think the love of your life would just accidentally show up a couple of days before our wedding." He stirred his straw in his milkshake, still did not look at her. "So, I guess there won�t be a wedding now." He turned his head, his green eyes piercing on her face. "You still love him?"

"Yes." She wanted to take his hand in hers, comfort him somehow, but she knew that she didn�t have the right. "I�m so sorry, Dan."

He eyed her for a moment, then sighed heavily. "Please don�t apologize, Elizabeth. I think I�ve always known that I was really just a way to try and forget him." When Liz opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand. "It�s okay, Elizabeth! Really. I�m glad that I could be that person for you. I knew what I was getting into when we started dating. You tried to tell me so many times before you finally gave in and said yes. I always hoped that you could feel for me what I knew you still felt for him, but I knew even when I proposed that it hadn�t happened."

Liz frowned slightly. "Dan, why would you ask me to marry you then? You deserve so much more than half of someone�s heart."

He crooked a smile at her. "I know it, Elizabeth. But I think I was scared that I was never going to find that someone. I did love you�I do�" he amended. "I really though that me loving you could be enough. I never expected that I would let it go as far as I did, especially after what�s happened in the last six months. But I just couldn�t bear to hurt you again�not after what you had been through."

Now Liz was genuinely confused. "Dan, what are you talking about?"

"I�ve been so guilty for so long. I was willing to go through with it. I couldn�t hurt you by calling it off. But fate stepped in, didn�t it? He came back to you."

And suddenly Liz understood. She stared at him in complete horror. "You�re in love with someone else too! Aren�t you?" She could not believe that she had been about to marry someone who loved someone else. How could she have been so self-absorbed that she never even noticed? That he had cared about her enough to do it was even more amazing.

She reflected on all his manic behavior over the past week. All of his jealousy, his paranoia had been completely out of character. She had known it, but had attributed it all to Max�s return and Dan�s inability to accept that Max was going to be a part of her life, if only because of Ben. But it had all been an act, a performance played out by Khivar in possession of his body�Khivar pretending to act in the way he would have expected Dan to act in the situation he had been presented with.

Because Khivar had not known Dan, had not known that craziness and jealousy had never been Dan at all. And now Liz finally understood why. Dan had never been jealous because he had not been in love with her�at least not for a while. She still believed that he had loved her at one time. She did not doubt that. He was a good man. He never would have pursued her the way he did if he had not.

But her inability to truly let go with him had finally killed his love for her. She could not blame him, and yet she still felt sorry. He had not deserved to be hurt in that way. And, in spite of it all, he had found someone else to love. Someone who could maybe love him back.

"Elizabeth, you have to understand, I do love you. I never expected it to happen. I don�t think I ever really accepted that it was true�that I loved her. But when Kyle and I ran into her on the highway, when she told me that I had called her, had told her that I had something important to tell her, I realized that in my drunken stupor I must have finally realized the truth. It was the only logical explanation that I could come up with for why I would go on such a bender three days before our wedding." Liz grimaced slightly at that, sad that she had to allow him to believe the lie that he had been so irresponsible.

And as she thought about what he had said, suddenly it was all crystal clear. "Vick! It�s Victoria, isn�t it?" He looked uncomfortable, but he nodded.

Liz frowned, slightly confused. She still wasn�t really sure why Khivar, in control of Dan�s body, would have called Vick. Maybe somehow, accessing Dan�s mind as he had been, he had found out the truth, had figured that he would just cause more trouble for Max by bringing Victoria into the picture. But it was probably a question that she was never going to have an answer for so there was really no point in thinking about it.

The important thing was that, despite himself, Khivar had actually done a good thing in calling her. It had apparently forced Dan to confront his real feelings.

Somehow Liz wasn�t surprised that it was Vick. They had all known each other forever after all�she and Dan, Kyle and Sarah� and Vick. Dan and Vick had never been inordinately close, but on further reflection, Liz could see how they might have seriously tried to make it look that way so that no one would recognize how they really felt about each other. She still shook her head in amazement though. "Does she feel the same way?"

"I think she might, Elizabeth. She just never even thought it was a possibility though�because of us. She loves you. There is no way that she ever would have interfered in our relationship."

Liz felt her heart lighten. Could the problem of Dan really be resolving itself so easily? It almost seemed unfair that she wasn�t going to have to endure immense guilt over this. But she could not regret that her former fianc� was going to be able to move on quite nicely without her. She could only be happy for him.

Nothing was certain in life. Dan and Victoria might not end up together, but at least there was the potential. In the end, this break-up was the best thing for both of them.

"Oh Dan, I�m so sorry that I let it go this far. It wasn�t fair to you at all." She allowed herself to take his hand in hers now, now that she knew that he would survive this, that she had not broken his heart.

Dan frowned slightly. "Elizabeth, I�m still worried about you though. How can you be sure that Max Evans won�t hurt you again?" He shook his head. "I don�t know him from a hole in the head, but I know that it almost killed you to lose him last time. How can you be sure that this time will be different?"

Liz sighed. "You know what, Dan, I can�t really be sure. Max and I have been backwards and forwards for the past week�ever since seeing each other again. I do know he loves me and I know he came back because he loves me. I have never doubted that. But he left me once and so I told him that I couldn�t trust him and we couldn�t be together. In the end though, I realized something. Giving our heart to anyone is never a certain thing. Anyone can throw our trust back in our face. Max did it to me once, but I know, in my heart, that he�ll never do it again. And I love him. I�m willing to take the chance with him. To me, it�s just worth it."

Dan smiled at her, leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You are a very brave woman, Elizabeth Parker."

Liz shrugged. "Anyone who takes a chance on love is brave, Dan. But thank you." She stood up, hugged him close. "I never would have made it through the last few years without you. I will always love you for that and I will always be grateful. I hope that we can still be friends."

"Forever."

Liz stepped back, smiled at him again. "Well then, Dan Riley, I have only one more thing to say to you." She held out her hand. He looked at her, a slightly befuddled expression on his face, but he took hers in his, shook it slowly. She grinned teasingly at him.

"My friends call me Liz."

"Are you sure that he�s not going to break out of there?" Kyle asked suspiciously as he walked Max and Michael back into the house he shared with his wife, Sarah. He had agreed to take the first watch on Jesse after they had locked him up in a shed in Kyle�s backyard. Jesse had remained resigned, telling Max that he had absolutely no intention of running from them.

They were going to have to decide what to do with him at some point because he would not leave his wife or his daughter he had told them flatly, making Max just shake his head. It was apparently too much to ask for Nicholas to just try something so that they could kill him in peace. Michael had looked equally as irritated.

But he had promised himself that Isabel was going to be the one to decide her traitorous husband�s fate. He would stick to that as long as Jesse remained cooperative.

Max sighed now. "I don�t know Kyle. But it�s all I can think of for now. He seems to really want to try and work things out with Isabel. I�m hoping he�s not just messing with us about that. We thought about it on the way back. It would be just too complicated to actually involve the legal system, which we would have to if you arrested him." He shrugged. "And there�s no guarantee he wouldn�t break out of there anyway." He ran a hand through his hair wearily, still trying to figure out how they could possibly keep Isabel�s husband secure until they could figure out exactly how trustworthy he was.

Kyle just shook his head. "Jeez, Evans. Even if he does want to work things out with Isabel, I can�t believe you�re just going to let him." He glanced at Michael for support. "I mean, he tortured you. She�s your sister. How can you let her stay married to a monster like that?"

Max closed his eyes. "I know, Kyle, but we can�t just kill him. Whatever else he might be, he is Lexi�s father."

"Okay, but let me be the first to say I think this is a really bad idea." Kyle glanced at Michael. "I can�t believe you�re going along with this."

Michael looked away, an unreadable expression on his face. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I�m not the leader." Max frowned at him, opened his mouth to say that he wasn�t anymore either, but Michael met his eyes. "Puh-lease. You know we all still listen to you, abdication or not." He rolled his eyes. "Fine, Maxwell. Don�t get your pants in a twist. I agree with him, Kyle. We�re just not killers."

"So, I guess we�re off to see my parents," Max continued, nodding at Michael in satisfaction.

"And Liz?" Kyle grinned at him slyly, allowing the topic to change if it meant that he was going to be allowed to needle Max. Some things would never change.

"I don�t know. I�m guessing that she went to see Dan." Max refused to discuss the state of his relationship with Liz with Kyle Valenti. He trusted him, considered him a friend, but he had not consumed copious � or even small � amounts of alcohol after all. Kyle did not need to know.

"Kyle, is that you?" A woman�s voice drifted down the stairs.

Kyle glanced at the clock, grimaced. "She�s going to wonder why I�m home. I�m supposed to work today." He stared out the window at the shed, sitting innocuously at the back of the yard. "I also haven�t figured out what to tell her to keep her out of the shed..." He cut himself off abruptly as a slender blonde came bouncing into the kitchen.

"What are you doing home, honey?" She stared curiously at Max and Michael. "Hi Michael. Hi! I�m Sarah!" She continued, holding her hand out to Max.

"I�m Max," he replied.

"Not the Max? Not Max Evans?" Sarah�s mouth fell open. A mischievous expression crossed her delicately-featured face. "And suddenly it all makes sense. Why Kyle�s been so uptight the last few days I mean." She grinned lovingly at her husband. "It�s your nemesis, honey!"

Kyle looked uncomfortable, his face reddening. Max and Michael just exchanged a glance, Michael struggling to contain a grin at Kyle�s mortification. "Sarah..."

"Well, I have news boys," Sarah continued, smiling at Max. "And from what I�ve heard about you, Mr. Evans, I think you�re going to like it." Kyle just tightened his jaw as though he knew he had absolutely no control over his wife and was just going to have to accept whatever it was she was going to say.

"News?" Max smiled back. He couldn�t help it. Her grin lit up her face in a way that was infectious. He could see very easily what it was about Sarah that appealed to Kyle. He felt like he had known her for years already.

"Liz�s mom just called me," Sarah continued. "The wedding�s off. Well, sort of." She glanced at Michael, but then looked away again. Max saw suspicion on Michael�s face, but he didn�t pursue that comment. He was obviously used to Sarah�s ability to speak cryptically. "Kyle�s told me all about you and Liz. From before I mean. If you�re back in town..."

And suddenly what she had just said penetrated. The wedding�s off. Liz had really done it. She wasn�t going to marry Dan.

Kyle was staring at him. "Wow. You really do know how to smile." He snorted. "Amazing."

"Only when it has anything to do with Liz Parker," Michael confided. "Ow," he continued mildly when Max punched him lightly on the shoulder.

Max rolled his eyes. "We need to go, Michael," he said, already hurrying towards the front door. "I need to see, Liz. It was nice to meet you, Sarah," he called back over his shoulder.

Liz. She was finally free. And now he could tell her exactly what he had wanted to tell her since he had first laid eyes on her again a few days before. He had told her truth after truth over the past week, but it was the first time that they would truly be able to talk without the shadow of guilt about her fianc� dangling over them.

Kyle was right. He was grinning like a fool, but he couldn�t help himself. He didn�t expect that everything was going to be perfect right away, simply because Dan was gone, but at least they could try now. They could finally really try.

But it wasn�t meant to be. Not right away anyway. Because when Max opened the door to leave, standing on the front porch, her hand raised to ring the bell was Isabel. Max�s eyes met his sister�s questioningly, relief flooding him that she seemed in complete control of her faculties again.

In fact, she seemed a little too calm.

"What are you doing here, Iz?" He could feel Michael tensing behind him. He realized why a moment later.

Looking past his sister, his eyes met his father�s for the first time in eight years. He gasped in surprise. "Max?" Phillip Evans�s voice broke. "I can�t believe it�s really you, son."

Max forced himself to breathe. "Hi Dad." He smiled at his mother, who was already sobbing openly. "Hi Mom."

The next thing he knew he was hugging his mother, his father�s arms around them both. And for the next several minutes, all else flew out of his mind.

One more step climbed. He was closer to truly being home then he ever had been.

And yet, he knew that something still wasn�t right. There was one person he could not forget, even in his joy at being reunited with the people who had raised him, the kind family that had made him who he was, all strife and grief they had caused each other before he had left long forgotten.

Liz.

She should be here, he thought regretfully. He knew how happy she would be for him�for them all.

Nothing would ever be complete without her.

He had argued with himself that he could make a life for Ben and himself without her, had told himself that he would be able to accept it if she chose Dan. But he understood now that he had been lying to himself. None of it would mean anything without her.

He had to tell her. And until he did, home would remain just slightly beyond his reach.

"I want to see my husband." Isabel�s tone brooked no argument. Max could see clearly that she expected one. She stared both he and Michael down, daring them to naysay her.

"Okay," Max replied simply. "But we need to talk first." He was seated on the couch in Kyle and Sarah�s living room, Isabel seated across from him, rigid in an armchair. Michael stood stiffly near the doorway to the kitchen to make sure that Sarah wasn�t listening, although she had readily agreed to leave the Evans family in peace when she had understood that Max�s parents hadn�t seen him in years. "Are you okay, Isabel? You were totally out of it. Are you sure you�re ready for this?" Max�s mother was seated beside him on the couch, seemingly unable to let go of his hand, while his father stood behind Isabel, his hand on her shoulder in support.

"I�ll never be ready," Isabel said, her voice weakening slightly. She had obviously been surprised by Max�s quick capitulation. "But it needs to be now. I have to break it off now, before he can mess with my head again." She lifted her chin, looked away. "I know it�s what you all want."

Max and Michael exchanged glances. The way Isabel had said that... "Isabel, it has to be what you want," Max told her quietly.

"Needless to say, Isabel, we�re not thrilled by this, but we�ll go with what you decide," Michael agreed. "We won�t kill him�we�ve already decided that. Not unless he makes us."

Max recognized the shock on his sister�s face. "Who are you guys?" she demanded after a moment of silence. "My brothers would never let me stay married to Nicholas of all people!" She sounded hurt.

And suddenly Max understood. Despite all her grand posturing of moments before, she wanted them to tell her what to do � wanted them to make the decision for her � so that she wouldn�t have to do it.

It told him more about what she wanted to do than anything else ever could have.

"You want to stay married to him, don�t you?" he asked gently, grief for his sister�s guilt making his heart almost break. "Oh Iz."

Isabel started, stared straight at him. As he watched, her face crumbled with despair. She lifted her hands, buried her face. She began to cry, great sobs of confusion wracking her slender frame. Max�s mother jumped to her feet, went to perch on the arm of the chair in which Isabel sat, her arm going around her daughter in comfort.

"Max, does she really need to talk about this now?" Diane asked tearfully. "She needs to get away for a while�needs time to think."

Max shrugged. "I don�t disagree, Mom, but I think Izzy�s already made her decision," he continued grimly. "Haven�t you, Isabel?"

Isabel dropped her hands, sniffled. "Do you know why I went into that weird catatonia after I found out?" she asked abruptly, her voice cracking slightly. She cleared it, continued. "Since you�ve guessed already Max, do you know why I did that?"

Max sighed. "I don�t Iz."

"I was trying to figure out how I couldn�t have known. I went through absolutely every memory I have of my husband � of Jesse Ramirez � trying to remember even one incident that I ignored, or that I should have been able to guess from. I couldn�t. Not during the entire eight years I�ve known him." She shook her dark head sadly. "I really wanted to find one Max. I wanted a reason to run away from him�wanted a reason to leave him, even to kill him�" Max saw his mother flinch at that one. "But there was nothing."

"Isabel, if you need reasons, I can tell you one," Michael spoke up quietly. "What about before he was Jesse? What about when he was the troll? He tortured us, Isabel! All of us! How�s that for a reason?" Max could hear the anger in Michael�s voice, understood how his best friend felt.

He did not want his sister to stay with Jesse. He wanted her to be in a relationship that was safe and secure and that wasn�t built on lies.

Isabel met his eyes. "Max, that�s what I have." He blinked. Had he said that out loud? But he knew he hadn�t. Isabel was anticipating his thoughts before he even had them it seemed. "He is not the same. Not anymore. He is not Nicholas. He is Jesse Ramirez, my husband. More than anything I want to be able to walk away from him, but I just can�t. And that�s why I escaped from this world for a while. I needed to come to terms with the fact that I didn�t care who he was. He was my husband and I loved him. He was Nicholas and I still loved him. I know it�s wrong, and yet it�s still the most right thing I have ever felt. I cannot walk away from him�when I knew it, I came back."

"Why not?" Michael flared. "Why the hell not? Just do it, Isabel! If he�s the great guy now that you seem to think, he�ll let you. He�ll leave you alone."

"She loves him." Max closed his eyes. "And he loves her." He looked at Michael. "Michael, we know it. We believed him in the car. You can�t deny it. I know you believed him." He looked down again. "And, in the end, he�s really not so different from me. In some ways, we�re both monsters."

"Max!" his mother exclaimed. "Don�t say things like that!"

"Maxwell, comparing yourself to Nicholas is like comparing apples and oranges. You�re nothing like him!" Michael snapped. "Stop being ridiculous. If the troll was right about one thing, he was right that your guilt complex is going to do nothing but get you into trouble."

Max raised his eyebrows wryly. "I appreciate the support you guys, but you don�t really know me�not completely. Some of the stuff I�ve done� it�s pretty horrible. You don�t need to know about all of it, but I like to think that for most of it I had some pretty valid reasons. I think that Nicholas truly believed that a lot of what he did to us was justified. He loved Khivar�thought he was the rightful king. When I think about what I would do to protect the people I love�what I have done, he really doesn�t seem quite as horrible. And he knows what Khivar was now. He won�t make the same mistakes again." He looked directly at Isabel. "We can�t ever truly know another person Isabel, but if we trust that we know them well enough, sometimes that�s enough." He reached across and took her hand. "I trust you to make the right decision, Izzy. If you accept Jesse, then I do too."

Isabel�s eyes filled with tears again. She smiled though. "In some ways, I wish you�d pull that king crap and tell me to stay away from him, but here�" She placed a hand firmly over her heart. "I know that he�s changed. I know that we can trust him."

"Then it�s enough," Max replied. "I�m not saying that I won�t be keeping a very close eye on your husband for a very long time�"

"Me too," Michael growled.

"But I am willing to let him earn my trust as he regains yours." Max looked warningly at Michael. Michael scowled back at him. Max could almost hear him mentally complaining You said you weren�t the king anymore.

"Do you want to see him now?" Max asked, getting to his feet. "If so, I hope you don�t mind taking Michael with you. Because, for now, I think it�s a good idea."

"Where are you going?" Isabel asked, clearly understanding that the only reason that he wasn�t accompanying her was that he had something else on his mind.

"I have to go see Liz," Max admitted. "Because I�m beginning to realize that I haven�t been fair to her. She�s told me she forgives me, that she�s willing to give me another chance, but I think I finally understand that I haven�t been ready to forgive myself. For all I�ve put her through�" He sighed heavily. "I don�t deserve her, I know it. But she thinks I do. And second guessing her all the time isn�t fair. For her, I�m willing to forgive anyone�even myself."

Isabel smiled at him. "Good luck then." She stood, hugged him tightly. "Max, I�m glad you�re home. I haven�t told you so yet, but I am so happy. I have my brother back." She reached out, wrapped a hand around Michael�s neck, pulling him against her as well. "Both of my brothers. My life would not be complete without you guys. You are the only two who really understand me. Because, in the end, we�re the same and we need each other." She placed a gentle kiss on first Max�s cheek and then Michael�s. "Thank you for trusting me. I swear he won�t disappoint you."

Max met Michael�s gaze across their sister. His best friend still looked somewhat unconvinced. Max could not deny that was still a little wary too, but they would be careful. They would not be caught off guard again.

"If he has any intention of being for you what I intend to be for Liz, then I don�t think we�re going to have a problem," Max grinned. "And on that note, I�m out of here." He hugged his mother and father. "I�ll see you guys at home later. Thank you for allowing it to still be my home."

"You�re our son, Max," his father replied emotionally. "You always will be and you will always be welcome in our house. You and your son."

Max was whistling to himself as he climbed into the Cherokee and drove towards the centre of town. He knew that he really should not be in such a good mood�he still didn�t know if Liz was going to forgive him for his latest freak-out. He understood that he should be more worried about Jesse and Isabel.

And, yet, he still had a gut instinct that their troubled times were over. For the first time in his entire life, optimism was practically making him giddy.

He pulled up in front of the Crashdown several minutes later, virtually leapt from the car and hurried towards the familiar doors�the doors that he had dreamt of going through to tell Liz how much he loved her for so long, it was pretty much a permanent part of his imagination.

He pushed them open, his heart pounding in anticipation. The bell over the door tinkled its familiar tone, bringing a half-smile to his face. He stepped into the empty restaurant, his breath catching.

Because suddenly, there she was. She was just coming through the swinging door from the back, throwing a bag over her shoulder, obviously on her way out. She came to abrupt halt at the sight of him.

They stared at each other for what felt like forever before she finally broke the silence.

"Hi." Her voice was soft, barely audible.

"Hi," he replied tentatively, unsure how she was going to greet him.

"You came back." A small half-smile made his heart thunder.

"I had to see you."

She tilted her dark head to the side, continued to stare at him, her large brown eyes shining. "Why?"

"You�re not engaged anymore."

Liz frowned. "Is that all?"

"Because I love you." He took a careful step towards her. "I know that you�ve been waiting. I�m sorry."

She didn�t reply immediately, just watched him. "Am I going to have to wait much longer, Max?"

"You are never going to have to wait for me again."

It felt as though they were both holding their breath, unsure how to proceed. "We still need to talk," Liz told him quietly.

"I know."

"Things can�t go back to the way they were. Not ever."

"I know that too. I want to start over with you Liz. I want you to fall all over again."

She smiled slightly again. "I don�t think that�s going to be hard." There was a pause. "I was on my way to see Ben."

"Good idea. We should check on him." Max felt a twinge of guilt that Ben had actually not been on his mind at all for the past few minutes. His son was always on his mind, always came first. For just one instant, he had wanted it to be Liz who did.

But she would not allow it.

Liz brushed past him, headed for the door. He felt his heart fall slightly. She was pushing her way through, the bell already ringing, when she suddenly whirled and threw her arms around his neck. He stumbled backwards slightly, barely managed to grab her by the waist before her lips were on his.

"Liz?" he exclaimed, pushing her hair away from her face, unable to pull his own lips away from hers, despite the fact that he was so shocked, it took him a moment to start responding.

He had been waiting for this for so long, he had almost forgotten how to do it. But their lips were made for each other after all. It didn�t take him long.

She wound her hands through his hair, pulled back slightly. They were both gasping for air. She smiled at him, a sexy little grin that curled his toes. "I�ve fallen. It�s too late."

"But we need to talk," Max told her, leaning his forehead against hers, trying desperately to get a hold of himself. It was hard, considering the fact that all he wanted to do was to drag her down onto the floor of the Crashdown and make love to her.

He was a virgin, yes, but this was Liz and he didn�t think he was going to have much trouble figuring out what to do.

"We will," she continued to smile. "Just not now."

And with that, she kissed him again.

A ringing cell phone was what it finally took for Liz to snap out of the lust-induced haze in which she currently found herself. Max�s lips were on her neck, doing things to her body that she had forgotten were possible. After his first tentativeness, his uncertainty clear because of her abrupt change of mood, he had more than made up for it. His kisses were those of a man who had been crawling through the desert for weeks in search of a little bit of relief, when he suddenly stumbled across an oasis beyond his wildest dreams.

It was enough to make her dizzy in anticipation for what actually making love would be like.

She was no innocent - she had been living with Dan for almost a year after all - but, even in their most intimate moments, her former fianc� had never made her feel the way Max did with a simple brush of his hand against her skin. She had never forgotten the exhilarating experience of literally falling apart in someone�s arms but was only admitting to herself now that she had never had that with Dan. She had done her best to downplay the memory over the years of the rush that accompanied physical closeness with the person you felt most connected to in the world, but it was certainly all coming back to her now.

When it had came to their bodies, Max and Liz had always been on the same wavelength, the chemistry between them more than enough to help them to ignore some of their bigger issues. It had been one of the reasons she had found it so difficult to say no to him when he had originally wanted to get back together after Tess had left in the granolith. Deep inside she had known that something was still wrong � that this boy who told her that he had had to explore his attraction to Tess was not her Max � but the way he was able to make her feel when he touched her had almost convinced her otherwise. The physical connection they shared was almost enough to sometimes overshadow the spiritual bond.

But not quite. She had known on some deeper level that, in the end, the physical would not have been enough. Now, it was almost a relief to know that what had been blocking the spiritual connection for so long � the seal � was finally gone. If he had not left her, he could not have come back to her wholly hers again. And it seemed fully fitting that the true healing of his soul had only taken place after he had returned to her�after they had defeated Khivar together.

Because they were fully open to each other again, the physical was even more amazing�on a whole different level. All they had done was kiss after all and she felt more exposed and, yet, more satisfied than after any of her times with Dan.

It was almost frightening, the intensity of it, especially after so long. It was enough that she was relieved when that cell phone rang, allowing her to pull away slightly, wrench around in Max�s arms to reach for her bag, which had fallen to the floor. Since they had also ended up on their knees somehow � she wasn�t sure when � it was not far away.

"Liz!" Max was moaning in frustration, but then he started to laugh, his happiness utterly contagious, making her giggle despite herself.

"What�s so funny?" Liz demanded, turning her head to smile at him. She had answered the phone, told whoever was on the other end to hang on a minute.

"Look where we are!" He shook his head, his expression still amused, but his eyes� They were shining with some emotion she didn�t immediately recognize.

It was in that instant that she realized that they had been about to make love on the floor of the Crashdown in the exact same spot where he had saved her life ten years before. She smiled at him again, gently pressed a kiss to his lips. "We may be able to start over Max, but there are some parts of our past that I don�t ever want to forget," she whispered lovingly.

When he gazed down at her, his eyes still dark with desire, she realized what it was that she had seen in them moments before. It had been joy. She had never seen it there before, and it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

She did that to him. Simple small-town girl Liz Parker, who had become a world-class biologist at Harvard, who had become the fianc�e of a brilliant man because she had never felt like enough for the person she truly wanted, especially after they knew who he really was, was the only one who made him truly happy. And she knew, once and for all, that he would never take her for granted again. He knew what he had in her, had always known it, even through the dark days when he couldn�t show it because of what they had done to him.

And, finally, just being Liz Parker was enough.

She let herself remain pressed against Max as she smiled apologetically at him and spoke into the phone. She realized again that she was glad that they had been interrupted�and not only because the intensity of her feeling for him was somewhat scary. While making love for the first time on the exact same spot they had first connected would have been romantic, the thought that her parents or her former fianc� with whom she was still on good terms, but who was still upstairs packing, might have walked in� It was enough to seriously dampen the moment.

"Hello?" She realized that she still sounded breathless, swatted at Max playfully as he rained gentle kisses down the back of her neck.

"Liz? Are you okay?" It was Maria and she sounded concerned. "What the heck�s going on over there? Ben is awake and he�s asking for you and Max. You told me that you were coming right over!"

"Er�" Liz felt a pang of guilt. Poor Ben! He had to be pretty terrified by now. He hadn�t physically laid eyes on Max since the day before after all�not since Dan had first arrived at the dome actually. "We�re on our way."

"We?" And suddenly Maria seemed to understand. "Is Max there?"

"Yes."

"Liz," Maria sighed in exasperation. "I hope you�re just talking�but from the sound of your voice I can tell you�re not. What did I say about taking things slowly?"

"You�re one to talk Maria, especially after the hare-brained idea you came up with an hour ago!" Liz exclaimed. "And don�t worry about it. I am perfectly in control here." Of course the way Max�s hands were sending shivers down her spine said otherwise, but she chose to ignore that for the moment.

"Sure Liz," Maria was snorting. "I know how easy it is to maintain control in the presence of a horny Czechoslovakian. Anyway, get over here. We have planning to do. You and Max can play kissy-face later. Besides, your dad is going to have a coronary if he catches you, and I don�t personally plan on spending my wedding night in a hospital waiting room."

Liz felt another pang at the mention of her father. Her parents still had absolutely no idea about Max�s return. She and Dan had simply told them that their break-up was mutual and for the best. Eight years had passed since the whole hold-up in Utah fiasco, yes, but Liz�s dad had a long memory and very little tolerance when the subject of Max Evans came up, even now. In a twist on what had always been the case where her parents were concerned, her mother was the one who would be willing to let her make her own decisions now, if only about Max.

Her mother had told her once, about three years after Max had disappeared, when Liz had been on the verge of going out with Dan, that she hated to admit it, but that Liz had never been happy since Max had gone. She had told Liz that she liked Dan and that she hoped he would be able to make Liz smile again. But Liz knew, deep down, even after all this time, that Nancy Parker had never been convinced.

Yes, her mother would not be difficult about it. But her father � her easy-going, laid-back father � well, it wasn�t going to be pretty. But, he would get over it�eventually. And it wasn�t like he could send her to boarding school anymore. Liz snorted at the thought.

"Okay, okay! We�re coming," Liz laughed into the phone. "Tell Ben we�re on our way."

Max�s hands had stilled on her body as soon as his son�s name had passed her lips. As she turned of her phone, he asked. "Is Ben all right?" His voice reflected his concern, reminding Liz that one of the reasons that she and Max had to rebuild their relationship from the ground up was because it wasn�t just the two of them anymore.

They were a trio now, she, Max and Ben. It would take some time to figure out exactly what that meant, to figure out exactly how this was going to come together, but she knew that they could work it out.

They loved each other. It was enough.

"He�s awake," Liz replied, climbing unsteadily to her feet. "We�d better get over there. I think he needs to know exactly what�s going on, Max. Kids feel better when they don�t feel like adults are hiding things from them." She grabbed him by the hand, pulling him up after her, although he did most of the work.

"I agree." Max continued to hold her hand, clearly unwilling to forgo all physical contact now that he was allowed to touch her again. Even now the air between them was charged by something unfinished, something intoxicating in it�s intensity. "But, the question is Liz, what exactly is going on." He smiled at her wryly. "Because, despite our failed attempt at it several minutes ago, we still need to talk and decide how this is going to work."

"Well�" Liz trailed off as she climbed into the passenger seat of the Cherokee, waited for him to walk around the car and join her inside. "I guess we�re going to have to figure that out, Max," she continued quietly. "This isn�t ever going to be normal. We both know that. We make our own rules."

"We start slowly?" Max sounded unsure as he said it. He wasn�t looking at her, shoulder-checking as he backed out of the parking spot in front of the Crashdown.

Liz smiled slightly. "Well, we found out how hard that�s going to be today." She shook her head. "I don�t think slow has to mean the same thing for us that it means for other people. I mean, obviously we shouldn�t run off and get married tomorrow, but I don�t think I can pretend that we�re just friends, Max. It�s never worked for us before and we know it�s not going to be that way forever anyway, so what�s the point?"

"Okay�" She glanced at him, could see that he was even more confused. "Liz, I have to admit, I don�t exactly know what that means," he finally admitted, laughing slightly. He didn�t sound upset though, just curious, and certainly willing to go along with whatever she decided.

"I know that I want to play a big role in Ben�s life, Max," Liz elaborated. "Right away. But we don�t want to confuse him either." She had thought about this long and hard, knew there was only one answer. "We can�t dance around this. I think we either need to commit big right away or not do it at all. It�s the only thing that�s fair to him."

"And that means what?" Max asked. He sounded tentative, like he couldn�t quite believe he was hearing the words coming from her mouth.

"I think we should live together."

He almost swerved off the road. "What?" he managed to choke out after he had himself under control again.

Liz eyed him guiltily. "I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to freak you out. I didn�t just mean us. I meant all of us. Me, you, Ben, Isabel and Lexi. She�s going to need someone after all." She grinned at him, knew that she was teasing him now, but couldn�t help it. "And separate bedrooms�for now."

There was a long pause. "Liz, I never got a chance to tell you what happened with Isabel�" He trailed off, sighing heavily. Liz frowned. This did not sound good at all. She waited for him to continue. "She and Jesse are staying together."

It was enough of a shock that she felt it physically. She could not speak for several moments, her fear for her friend running through her, her fear for Ben even greater. But she knew inherently that Max would never allow something that he felt was dangerous to either his son or his sister. "Max, is this a good idea?" she asked anyway, needing to know his reasoning.

"I don�t know." She could hear the frustration in his voice. "All I know is that I believed him when he told me that he loves her Liz. And I also believed him when he told me that he had nothing to do with trying to kill Ben�that Khivar was in control then."

Liz didn�t speak for several more seconds as she processed this. "But you�re not completely sure, are you?" she guessed.

"No." He shook his dark head. "And I can�t figure out if my sister�s happiness outweighs my concerns about him. I want to let her make her own decisions, even told her I would, but I still can�t decide if I can actually do it."

"Well, then why don�t we ask Isabel if she wants to live with us on a trial basis?" Liz asked. "Because I�m guessing that if you�re having these doubts, she�s having them too. Max, I know how she feels. It�s what I�ve been going through over the past week after all. I knew I loved you still, but wasn�t sure if I could trust you. We decided that the only way for this to work between us was to start over�to a certain degree anyway. I think maybe Isabel and Jesse might find that they can rebuild on a firmer foundation if they spend some time apart too."

Max was quiet for a while as he processed this. "Well, it�s an idea anyway. What if she says no?"

"Then we�ll figure something else out." Liz leaned her head against the window. "It will always be complicated, won�t it?" she sighed, a little sadly.

"I�m sorry, Liz." He reached over, gently squeezed her hand where it lay in her lap.

Liz laughed quietly. "I�m not upset, Max." She sat up, squeezed back. "I was just remembering what my grandma once told me. If it�s not complicated, he�s probably not a soul mate. I am only now beginning to realize that she�s right. You�re worth any trouble, Max, and I�m betting that Isabel and Jesse will decide the same. And we�ll figure things out too. I know we will."

They were just pulling into the Evanses� driveway.

He looked at her one last time, as though to say something else, but his attention was caught by something just beyond her. He smiled.

She turned her heads as the front door of his parents� house burst open. Ben came running out, still in his pajamas, Maria on his heels.

Max and Liz both started to laugh.

"Dad! Liz!" He was practically jumping up and down in his excitement as he came to a screeching halt beside Liz�s door. She quickly rolled down the window, kissing him lightly as his face thrust in towards them. "Michael and Maria are getting married today and I get to be in the wedding! Isn�t that great?"

Liz smiled at Maria, who was hovering behind the little boy. "It certainly is," she agreed, although Ben wasn�t listening to her but was telling Max that Michael and Maria were getting married today.

"Does Michael know about this?" Max was asking as he climbed out of the Jeep. Ben careened around the car and Max swung him up, carrying him upside down over his shoulder into the house, making him scream with laughter. Whatever demons Ben was still running from, they were obviously far from his mind when his father was around. Liz felt tears welling in her eyes again as she linked arms with Maria and followed them.

"Oh, he won�t mind," Maria called after him. "It just seemed like such a stupid idea to waste a perfectly well-planned wedding. Plus, we get the added bonus of it being such a surprise, the tabloids will have absolutely no way of knowing about it!"

Max turned his head, his eyes meeting Liz�s. He appeared to be extremely amused. "Was this your idea?"

"Well� not exactly." Liz shrugged. "But everything is ready." She smiled. "Plus, what a beautiful new beginning for us all." This made Max�s eyes soften immediately. She grinned more fully. "Plus, a party seemed like a great way to celebrate that new beginning."

"Just remind me to be elsewhere when Michael is told." Max shook his head. He set Ben on his feet, ran an affectionate hand over his blond head. "How�re you feeling, kiddo?"

But Maria was not to be so easily swayed. "Max, you need to get him to the church!"

"What?" Liz struggled to hide her grin at Max�s sudden outrage. "You expect me to be a party to this?"

"Max!" Maria advanced on him. "Please! I have to go to the hairdresser and I promised Vick an exclusive interview before and after. I don�t have time to tell him."

Max held up his hands. "Fine. I�ll tell him. But Maria, I refuse to be held responsible if he doesn�t show."

"Oh, he�ll show," Maria replied smugly. "He�s got me exactly where he wants me now. He won�t screw things up again."

Max and Liz exchanged amused glances. "Well, I guess that sounds about right," Max finally admitted. "Fine, I�ll go get him. He�s still at Kyle�s with Iz and Jesse." He glanced down at Ben. "Go get changed, Benny. You can come with me."

"Isabel and Jesse?" Maria watched Ben shoot off towards Max�s former bedroom. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I�ll tell you the way to the hairdresser," Liz replied. "I assume you want me to come with you?" She looked at Max, who still looked perplexed by the utter haste with which this whole operation was being carried out. "We�ll see you at the church."

"Er � okay." His brows were knit together in consternation. She just knew he was contemplating Michael�s reaction to the wedding. But Liz knew it wouldn�t be a problem.

Michael loved Maria. He would do this if it made her happy. And it was a typical Maria reaction that as soon as she figured out in which direction she wanted her life to go, she wanted it to go there at one hundred miles an hour, rather than at the speed limit.

It was one of the things Liz admired about her best friend, one of her qualities that Liz wished she could call her own. She went after what she wanted�and that�s what Liz was finally trying to do by taking her destiny into her own hands and admitting that she wanted to be with Max, the past be damned.

"Liz?" Maria had already gone through the door when Max called after her. "Do you want me to talk to Isabel? See about getting things rolling?" His eyes were bright, as though he still couldn�t quite believe that she actually wanted to be with him, that they were making plans to move forward with their lives�plans to move forward together. And, if those plans were tentative and on a trial-basis, he didn�t care. Because at least they knew it was what they both wanted. Half the battle was already won.

But there was still one other person they had to make sure was going to be okay with all of this. Ben.

"Talk to Ben, Max, and then talk to Isabel," Liz suggested. She smiled at him again, saw his eyes darken as they lingered on her lips. "I love you." She couldn�t help herself. Now that she had said it once, she constantly wanted to say it.

And not just because of the way it made his entire face light up�although it did. Every single time. "I love you too."

With that, she turned and followed her best friend out the door.

Max was still smiling to himself as he followed the familiar hallway to his boyhood bedroom, knowing that Liz was right about talking to Ben. It made more sense for him to broach the subject of the role Liz was going to play in their lives alone.

It had been just he and Ben for so long. Just the two of them. He knew that his son loved Liz, was likely going to be thrilled about the idea of living with her, but he still needed to ask him about it.

Because he knew that neither he nor Liz would ever want to do something that made Ben uneasy. He had had enough of that in his short life. And, so, if he didn�t like it, they would slow the whole thing down, figure something else out. Max still had every intention of being with Liz, but not at the expense of his son�s happiness. He knew that Liz felt exactly the same way.

He knocked lightly on the door to the room he had first moved into when he had been just a bit younger than Ben. "How�s it going in there?"

"I can�t find my other sock." The complaint was so normal, it was a relief. His son had been through a lot of scary stuff over the past few days�new people thrust into his life, old enemies returning to try and kill him. That he accepted it all and still managed to somehow stay a kid�it was a blessing Max could not ever stop giving thanks for.

Max pushed the door open and laughed at the sight of his son sitting on the bed, his back to Max, a sock stuck to the back of his shirt.

"What�s so funny?" Ben demanded, turning his head.

"Did Grandma wash your clothes?" Max asked innocently, sitting down on the bed beside the little boy, peeling the sock off his back and passing it to him. Ben stared at it, then shrugged, putting it on.

"I guess so. I was really tired. I don�t even remember putting my pajamas on."

"I can understand why," Max replied, knowing his voice was breaking slightly with emotion. "You were really brave last night, Benny."

"Liz was with me." Ben looked at him in surprise. "And Lexi. I didn�t need to be brave. I wasn�t scared." He looked away slightly, his blue eyes shadowing. "I was scared at first though, Dad. Before Liz found me."

"That�s okay. I was scared too," Max told him, putting an arm around his shoulders.

"You were?" Ben stared at him. "Really?"

"Really. Because the two people I love the most were in danger."

Ben didn�t speak for a moment. "Me and Liz?" he finally asked, sounding pleased.

"You and Liz. And Lexi and Auntie Isabel and Michael and everyone," Max continued. "But mostly you and Liz." He paused, searching for words. "Things have been really weird the last few days, huh?"

"Yeah." Ben stood up, went towards his sneakers, which were sitting on the desk, Max�s mother�s obsession with neatness obviously still one of her personality quirks. "But it�s been my best week, too."

"It has?" Max watched him carefully.

Ben looked up. "Yeah Dad! I mean, I got to meet Liz, and Maria promised to teach me to play the guitar�Oh! And Michael gave me those hockey cards. I still have to take that one to school to trade with Hunter."

Max stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?"

"You know, Dad!" Ben exclaimed, sounding irritated. "I told you that I was going to trade a card with that kid I met at school."

"Er � okay." He narrowed his eyes. His son was resilient Max knew, but this seemed a bit ridiculous. "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"

Ben stopped tying his shoelace and looked up at him. "Like what?"

"I don�t know. About being scared and stuff?"

"I told you I was scared, Dad, but I was with Liz. I knew that nothing would happen to me when I was with her. I had to look after her. Just like you do. Because you look after people you love. Don�t your remember telling me that on Antar?" Ben asked, perplexed.

"Okay�" Max trailed off, uncertain how to proceed. "So, what do you want to happen now?"

Ben cocked his head, interested. "I want to get a penguin suit to wear to Maria and Michael�s wedding." He stood up. "Come on, Dad! That�s what Maria told me I�d get to wear!" He started out the door.

"Ben!" Max called after him.

"What?" He shifted impatiently from foot to foot.

"Do you think it would be okay if we lived with Liz now?" Max asked in a rush, grimacing, knew that it was not the way he wanted this conversation to go, but knowing that he was losing his son�s interest quickly.

Ben�s face lit up. "Live with Liz? Awesome!" He frowned slightly. "Does this mean we won�t get to live with Michael anymore?" His disappointment was so complete, it was almost comical.

"Well�" Max struggled to hide his grin. "Michael�s going to live with Maria now."

"Why can�t we all live together?" Ben demanded, crossing his arms in consternation. "Maria can teach me to play the guitar like my other dad. She promised!"

"She�ll still teach you, Benno. I don�t think Michael and Maria will be going far." Max stood, so relieved that Ben had no problem with living with Liz, it almost made him weak in the knees. He hadn�t imagined that there really would be, but knowing their long run of bad luck until fairly recently, having Ben become an obstacle rather than a unifier had become a very real, if brief, fear.

But, in the end, his son�s only issue was that he wasn�t going to get to hang out with Michael as much anymore. As long as he knew that Michael wasn�t going to disappear from his life, he would likely be okay with everything.

"Well, I guess that�s okay." Ben still sounded slightly put out. "Now, let�s go get my penguin suit!" He turned and marched out of the room.

Max sighed. "Ben, I hate to be the one who has to break the news to you about the penguin suit�" He began as he followed his son.

"I hate these damn monkey suits," Michael groaned. He stuck a finger into his collar and pulled. "I�m choking to death here."

Ben, who was sitting on the counter in his own little tuxedo, grimaced in agreement. "I saw a picture of a penguin in Aunt Isabel�s classroom," he told Michael confidentially. "And a monkey. They don�t look like these stupid things at all."

"Okay!" Max held up his hands in frustration. "Enough with the complaints. It�ll all be over soon enough and then you can run around in your underwear for all I care. But I have a job here � which is to get you to the altar decently attired � and I am going to do it if it kills me because you didn�t hear Maria on the phone, Michael. She was scary."

Max had been surprised by how easy it had been to convince Michael that his wedding day was today. In fact, it hadn�t taken any convincing at all. He had just rolled his eyes. "Whatever she wants."

However, Max had not been pleased by his new assignment after he had called Liz to tell her what had transpired. "Take them both to the tuxedo shop." She had sounded distracted. "Yes Maria! I�m telling him!"

"What�s wrong?" Max demanded, could tell by her voice that she was just about at the end of her rope.

"Maria is having one of her diva days, I�m afraid," Liz replied, sounding aggrieved and, yet, affectionate.

And suddenly he was listening to Maria�s voice, as she had clearly wrenched the phone out of Liz�s hands. "I deserve it. I made five million dollars last year, Max. I think at least on my wedding day I can forgo my eternal good nature and demand a little action from you people. I refuse to have my husband look like a shlub in the wedding pictures. They�ll be published you know!"

"Maria�"

"Get him to the church, Max and I want him in a tux. You have an hour. The end." She had hung up on him.

So he had complied, shaking his head in disbelief that twenty-four hours ago they had all been running for their lives and now their biggest concern was whether Michael looked like a shlub or not in the wedding photos.

He had never been more happy.

"Really?" Ben sounded interested. "I can wear my underwear later?"

"No, you may not," Max replied sternly. "I was joking."

Michael grinned at Max in the mirror. "But I can."

Max rolled his eyes. The only thing that was getting him through this was the fact that he would get to share a dance with Liz at the reception later�that and the fact that his son was practically jumping up and down on the counter he was so excited and so happy.

He knew that Ben felt completely secure for the first time in his young life and it was because of the people currently in this building. The people Max loved more than any others in the world�in the universe. He would not trade an instant of the craziness.

Meanwhile, across the church in the bride�s room, Maria was hugging Liz, who was trying desperately to hold back tears of love for her best friend. Because, even on her wedding day, Maria was more concerned about her best friend than herself.

Some things would never change. Liz was overcome again by how lucky she was. If this kept up, she was going to be a weeping mess long before the day was over.

"I mean it, chica. I want you to be happy. And if that means that I have to whip Max into shape for you, I will."

"I think he�s managed to do a pretty nice job of that himself," Liz replied wryly, wiping at her eyes. Isabel, who was standing nearby, gently pulled her towards the mirror, ran her hand across Liz�s face, fixing the damage to her make-up. Max�s sister had joined them, unwilling to miss her almost-brother�s wedding. She had told Liz upon arriving that she thought she liked the idea of living with she and Max for a while�at least until she and Jesse worked out exactly how they were going to move forward.

She had confided to Liz that the conversation had been difficult, especially with Michael hovering as he had been, but that she was still sure that she had made the right decision. "I love him," she finally told Liz. "And because I do, I can forgive him."

Liz had understood perfectly.

"He has," Isabel agreed now. Her face was still lined with sadness and fear, but she was doing her best to get into the spirit of the event. "He�s really grown up. And it�s because he loves you, Liz. I think he wants to be worthy of you more than he�s ever wanted anything."

"He�s always been worthy," Liz argued. "He�s only finally accepted it, which means that I can trust him again. It was his self-hatred that made him do all of those horrible things you know. He won�t sabotage himself again. And now that the seal is broken � now that Khivar is really gone � they won�t make him sabotage himself either."

"Now you just have to worry about general male stupidity," Maria agreed, laughing. "Not that they aren�t darn cute in spite of it."

Maria�s mother poked her head through the door. "It�s almost time, honey." She sighed heavily. "I still can�t believe that this is happening today! You can�t give a mother the time to get used to the idea that Michael Guerin is really going to become part of her family?" Liz and Isabel laughed. They knew that Amy was joking, that Michael had won her over long ago, way back in high school even. The fact that her husband of several years now, Jim Valenti, liked Michael so much too had finally convinced her.

"Sorry, Mom," Maria grinned. "It�s the price you pay for having a superstar daughter."

Amy grinned back. "Smartass. I�ll see you in a minute, sweetie." She reappeared a moment later. "Oh Vick is here. She wants some last minute quotes."

"Let her in," Maria grinned wider, her eyes twinkling wickedly. "I have some great stuff for her� including the little story about how Michael and I first fell in lust."

Liz exchanged a look with Isabel. They both burst out laughing. Maria was having too much fun with being in complete control of the media coverage of her wedding. It was a nice change to see her enjoying her celebrity rather than being oppressed by it.

The headline in the Boston Globe the next day read Pop Star Weds Man who Abducted her Heart Twelve Years Ago.

The moment had been broken when they had all realized that Michael�s vows had included the vow to obey Maria. He had scowled at her but had very deliberately enunciated the words. She had beamed back at him. Max and Liz had both burst out laughing.

"I would have added �and not lock her in closets,� but I was a little worried how that might have sounded, especially with a reporter present," Maria later told both Max and Liz, making them laugh again.

It was a day for laughter, not tears, and yet, Liz seemed constantly on the verge of them. He was not stupid enough anymore to think that she was having second thoughts about him � he knew she wasn�t � but he was still concerned about her.

And now it was happening again as they danced surrounded by all the people they most loved in the world, including Liz�s parents, who had been surprisingly civil to Max. But if they saw their daughter burst into tears right in front of them while she was dancing with him� It did not bode well for the future.

She met his gaze, her dark eyes brimming, but he could see that she wasn�t really upset. "Do you hear the song?" Liz asked quietly.

Max listened. "It�s nice. What is it?"

"It�s called I Shall Believe," Liz replied. "It�s our wedding song."

Max frowned slightly, stared down at her. "What do you mean?"

"We danced to it in the desert when we were nineteen on the night we were married," Liz elaborated. "When you came back from the future, you told me that."

Max closed his eyes briefly, bringing his hand up to cradle her head against his chest. Liz had told him long ago about the visit she had received from that future version of himself. It had been her explanation for why she had pretended to sleep with Kyle. But, until this moment, he had not truly understood that he had had a whole life with her in that other time. He had understood the other life they had shared as Zan and Kadi, but not the way that whole timelines could be changed by just one action.

He was being given a second chance with the love of his life. He would never take that for granted. Not like that other Max had seemed to. "We�ll dance to it at our wedding someday, Liz," he finally whispered against her hair. "I promise."

"I know. In some ways, I can�t wait. We�ve waited so long. But then, I know there�s no rush." She pulled back, smiling up at him. "We�ll just take this one day at a time, Max, loving each other and making each moment better than the last."

He swallowed, suddenly very close to losing it himself. Would he ever get used to the way he felt about her? Would it ever be less intense, less magical? He certainly hoped not.

He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed her palm. "I love you." He felt a shiver descend his spine, a flash of Zan doing the same to Kadiya as he lay dying momentarily making him flinch. He felt her tremble against him, knew that she had shared the flash.

But while that kiss had been about breaking apart, about despair and loss, this kiss was one of hope, about bringing what was lost back together with a strong promise for the future.

He knew that as long as they shared that promise, nothing would tear them apart again.

Her smile told him that she felt exactly the same way. She brought her hand up, wrapped it around his neck and kissed him gently.

"Welcome home, Max."

Roswell, New Mexico - May 2019

"Is everything okay?" Max asked, taking his wife�s hand as she sat down in her seat next to him. She had been mildly panicked when the usher had come to tell her that she had a phone call in the office�first worried that she was going to miss her son�s name being called, next concerned that something was really wrong at home. Max had wanted to go with her but she had insisted that he stay where he was, unwilling for them both to miss Ben�s big moment.

"Oh, it�s fine," Liz laughed, her relief now making her feel a little foolish over how she had practically freaked out a few minutes before. But it was the first time she had left the girls alone with their cousin and they could be holy terrors on occasion. The only person they ever behaved for was Ben. "Lexi couldn�t find Cady�s bottle and she was totally flipping out. Charlotte finally found it under the crib."

Isabel, who was sitting on Max�s other side, leaned over her brother and sighed. "I�m never going to hear the end of that. Lex was so worried that she wasn�t going to do well at her first baby-sitting job."

"It wasn�t her fault." Liz shrugged. "I should have warned her that our daughter has the potential to be a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox." She laughed again, turned to face the front. "Did I miss anything?"

She scanned the faces of the graduates sitting on the stage, felt her heart lighten as it found the one for which she was searching. He was talking quietly to the girl seated beside him, no indication of any nervousness on his face. Well, she was scared enough for the both of them.

She flashed back momentarily to her own graduation, so many years ago now. It had not been a happy occasion, mainly because the person sitting beside her had not been there. It had been during the time when she still had not accepted that Max was not coming back for a long time � if ever � and it had been even sadder because she had been reflecting on the fact that he was missing so much.

"No," Max was replying, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand lightly, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking, as always, sending a shiver down her spine. Sometimes she swore he had no idea what he did to her when he did that, and others, such as now, when he was sending her a lazy half-grin, she was sure he knew exactly. "Just the choir singing. He�s up next."

That he had made her so happy over the past few years had been no surprise. It had taken them a long time to get to the point they were at now and nothing was going to darken this day �not even thoughts of how much pain there had been to reach it. She pushed her memories of her loneliness away, focused back on the stage, on her son.

He had first called her "Mom" when he was ten years old. He had entered a sullen stage then, Maria jokingly dubbing it alien puberty, as the Czechs had always developed physically before their human counterparts. But there had been something deeper troubling Ben, Liz knew now, although she hadn�t then.

She and Max had been careful during those early months after moving in together, both sure that they wanted to be together, but not positive exactly how it was going to play out. They had moved into a house in Albuquerque so that Isabel could return to her teaching position and so that Liz could enroll at UNM in the College of Education to get her teaching license. Max had rapidly completely his GED and then had joined Liz there, taking liberal arts, still unsure what career path he wanted to take. She had never gone back to Harvard, had resigned her position there for personal reasons, the main one being that she hated it, and had looked forward to a bright future.

But then things had taken a difficult turn. Having Isabel and Lexi around for the first year or so had made it easier for Max and Liz to take things slowly, to go out on dates, to play at happy family�all five of them. Of course, Isabel had not been truly happy. That had only come after she had finally decided that she was ready to move back in with Jesse, everyone finally convinced by his patience and his ardent courting of his wife that Nicholas had really changed.

But, this had, of course, changed everything.

With Isabel gone, suddenly there was no buffer zone any longer. It was only the three of them in the house, Max, Liz and Ben and the tension had become palatable. Both Max and Liz had been so careful not to push the other to a step they weren�t ready for, their relationship had reached a virtual stand-still. Ben had known that there was something wrong, as kids usually do, but couldn�t figure out what. He knew his father and Liz loved each other, but he didn�t understand why they weren�t married like Michael and Maria or like Aunt Isabel and Uncle Jesse.

The day it had all come to a head, Liz had been on her way out to meet a friend from school for dinner. Max and Ben had been sitting at the table in the kitchen eating tomato soup with Tabasco. Liz still remembered it because when Ben had thrown his bowl across the kitchen, it had left a permanent stain on the wallpaper�at least until he had been willing to clean it up with his powers, which had been weeks later. Max and Liz had left it there as a reminder of what they had almost let slip away because they had let fear return to their relationship.

"Why can�t you have dinner with us, Liz?" Ben was whining as he watched Liz whirl around the kitchen, pulling her coat on and trying to brush her hair at the same time.

"Because I have to meet Peter, honey," Liz had explained in a rush, glancing at Max, who was watching her, his eyes slightly narrowed. She knew that he wasn�t happy that she had agreed to eat out again, but he was the one who had been studying late the past three nights. It wasn�t her fault that they never had any time together.

"Why?"

"For school."

And that�s when the soup had gone flying across the room, barely missing Liz, and smashing against the wall with a resounding crash. She had gasped, stopped abruptly and stared at the little boy, who had never, in the entire time she had known him, thrown a temper tantrum. "BEN!" both she and Max had yelled it at the same time, completely shocked. Her eyes had met Max�s.

"You don�t love my dad anymore!" he had screamed. "You�re never here! And when you are, he isn�t!" He turned and glared at Max. "Why aren�t you married? Why?"

She had seen the strange expression that had crossed Max�s face at that. She knew exactly what he was thinking. They were nowhere near marriage after all. They hadn�t even made love yet. After those first heady days of reunion, they had slowed things down, had hoped to make it even more special by waiting. But with every passing day, rather than growing closer, they had been falling apart, too afraid to rush the other, but destroying things because of it. Even Ben had noticed, which had been the last thing they had wanted.

After all, they had been taking things slowly for him, wanting to be sure that it was going to work so that there would be no break-up later, no separation that would hurt him.

Ben was still yelling. "I want to call you Mom, Liz. I want to, but I can�t because you might leave. Just like my real mom did. Why can�t you just get married so that I can call you that? Why?" He had started sobbing, literally breaking her heart.

Max had stood up, stared right at her. "Liz, I am a complete idiot. I am so sorry." He had his arm around his son. "We need to get this resolved, once and for all."

She had smiled at him, looked at Ben. "It�s not your fault Max, it was both of us. You�re totally right, honey. We�re so sorry."

Michael and Maria had come to stay with Ben for the month that she and Max had gone away together to get their relationship back on track. Their best friends had moved back to Los Angeles a few months after the wedding, but their schedules were such that where they lived wasn�t really an issue. Ben had been thrilled by Michael�s presence, but, in the end, even more happy that the two people he loved the most in the world were finally getting their acts together. Because as long as they were miserable, which both Max and Liz only began to realize they had been after Ben had thrown his fit, he was too.

They had made love for the first time under the desert sky near Albuquerque, all doubt finally gone after this last test. When they returned, they were already married and no one minded that they hadn�t been invited. It seemed somehow fitting that Max and Liz had done it alone, in Las Vegas, almost ten years after they had been meant to, finally making things right.

They danced under the stars to I Shall Believe and then returned to their son, who started calling Liz "Mom" the very next day.

And now he was graduating from high school�in fact from West Roswell High, where Liz had been teaching biology for the past five years. She almost couldn�t believe how quickly the time had flown by. They had been happy years, full of laughter and love.

Their first baby had arrived on a spring day in 2013. They had named her Charlotte, for Alex.

It had pleased Ben, who was getting to know his Whitman grandparents and liked any reference to his dearly missed real father. Liz had taken him to meet them when he was ten and the resemblance to Alex could no longer be denied. They had been unable to accept him for the first couple of years, unbelieving that they could have known so little about what their son�s life had become before his death. It had upset Liz that she had been unable to tell them more � to tell them that Alex had loved Leanna, even though she had really been Tess, that he had been happy, even if it had all been an illusion � to tell them the reality of how brave he had been and how much he had sacrificed to protect his friends. But when the Whitmans had finally agreed to meet Ben, they had fallen instantly in love. Their son was reflected in every gesture he made�in the fact that he had a wicked sense of humor and a love for music and a gangly awkwardness that only endeared him to those around him more. They were presently seated on the other side of Isabel, beaming proudly down at their grandson.

Claudia had been born the year they had taken over the Crashdown, in the fall of 2014. Liz�s father passed away that winter, having grudgingly accepted Max into the family, mainly because he could see on his son-in-law�s face how much he truly loved his daughter. He died too young, of a heart attack, but not before falling in love with his grandson (Liz had officially adopted Ben on his eleventh birthday) and his two granddaughters. Max had considered going on in school, medicine still of keen interest to him, but had decided to run the restaurant for his wife�s family instead, his deep affection for it making it impossible to sell it or close it down after Jeff Parker�s death. Liz had found a job at the high school and they had settled back in Roswell, their young family the center of their universe.

They had named Cady for the girl who had so loved Zan, she had given up her life for him. Both Max and Liz were still convinced that Kadiya�s soul lived on in some form in Liz, but they wanted to do her some honor anyway. And it was this baby who had the most spirit. She was barely one, but she already demonstrated a stubborn streak that could only come from her Aunt Isabel�or so Max argued. Liz merely nodded in agreement, secretly smiling that Cady was suspiciously like her father on occasion too. The other two girls were quiet and generally well behaved, their intelligence and thoughtfulness even at six and four evident in their shining dark eyes. Claudia�s shy nature worried Liz on occasion, but her older sister was fiercely protective of her. They would all grow up happy and well loved.

All three girls adored their older brother of course. Charlotte had almost thrown a temper tantrum that she wasn�t going to be allowed to come listen to Ben sing at his graduation, but when he had promised she and Claudy their own private concert that night, she had finally settled down and agreed to help her cousin Lexi look after her sisters.

The principal was moving to the microphone, clapping with the audience as the choir returned to their seats. He looked out across the assembled families of the graduates, waiting for quiet. "And now, just before the distribution of the diplomas, I would like to present valedictorian Benjamin Whitman Evans. He has chosen to sing a song instead of the traditional speech, which will be a treat for us all, I am sure."

Liz felt Max�s hand tighten around hers. They were both nervous for him, but Liz knew that Ben wasn�t the least bit concerned. He loved having an audience. His need to keep some of his more amazing abilities a secret had in no way dampened his outgoing nature, nor his pursuit of the more public of his talents. Liz knew that Max admired that about his son, wished that he could have been the same way in high school.

Liz felt tears filling her eyes now as the tall youth with shining golden hair moved to the front of the stage, a guitar over his shoulder. He spoke very briefly before he started to strum on his acoustic guitar. "My Aunt Isabel helped me to pick this song. It means much more than I can ever tell any of you, but I think you�ll all find something from it to take with you as we close this chapter of our lives."

Remember how they always seemed to know?
We had the forest for our eyes
But the earth was in our clothes
And they spilled out from under the stars
And these blankets and these robes of ours
And they thought we�d fall
Not at all.

So look back on those treasured days,
We were young in a world that was so tired.
Though it�s not what we wanted before
Even the saints had to crawl from the floor.
Summers when the money was gone you�d sing
All your little songs that meant everything to me.

And I�ll remember you
And the things that we used to do
And the things that we used to say
I�ll remember you that way.

I remember how they tried to hold you down
And we climbed those towers and looked down upon our town
And everything we hoped would last
Just always becomes the past,
Summers when the money was gone you�d sing
All your little songs that meant everything to me.

But then this world slipped through my fingers
And even the sun seemed tired�
I still cared.
As I lowered you down my heart just jaded
In that moment the earth made no sound,
But you were there�
You helped me lift my pain into the air.

I�ll remember you. I�ll remember you�
And the things that we used to do.
And the things we used to say
If it don�t hurt you it won�t hurt me
If it don�t hurt me, it won�t hurt you, I know.

The last gentle chords faded into the silence of the auditorium. Liz could see Ben looking up at she and Max. She met his bright eyes through her tears, clapped for him until her hands hurt.

She could hear Maria talking to her on her right. "I knew that kid had talent, but I�m getting him a recording contract Lizzie." But she could not tear her eyes off her son�s shining face�the boy she and Max had sacrificed so much to save. And she knew in her heart that it had all been worth it.

And she just knew that, somewhere, Alex Whitman was smiling.

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