Title: A Past and Present Love
Author: Lori R 6-02
Email: Gussywussy55@yahoo.com
Category: Outsiders (Max & Isabel)
Rating: NC17 Please do not read this fic if you are
under the legal age.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but I
borrow them for my own enjoyment. No infringement is
intended.
Feedback: Yes, please it helps me to see what works
and what does not.
Summary: This fic lightly spans Max and Isabel's lives
to the present. It is not based on any particular
episode or event. 


***************

The young boy opened his eyes and stretched in the
warm sea that enveloped him. His hands reached out to
press against the translucent walls that surrounded
him until they gave way, and he was able to step out
into a world quite unknown to him. He looked around
until his eyes fell on the one he sought. He watched
as she too pushed her way through the barrier that had
protected them. 
They stood side by side, each covered by a gel like
substance that both protected and nourished their
bodies while in the pods from which they had emerged.
They joined hands and a life bond formed on one planet
was reaffirmed on this new one.
"It worked," the boy said telepathically to the girl.
She smiled and nodded. "They said it would."
The boy looked around and his eyes fell on another
just emerging from his pod. 
"Rath," he communicated to the girl. 
They watched as Rath struggled to free himself and
then joined them.
"I don't like this place!" Rath let them know. He was
afraid here. He looked around. "Where is Ava?"
They looked at the other pod, and the golden haired
girl still asleep with in.
"She's not ready to join us yet Rath. We can not stay
here. We must move on or we shall die before we even
have a chance to live again," said Vilandra sending
out her thoughts to the two males. She looked at Ava
and knew a moment of sadness.
"But we must stay together to survive. She's my
sister, and Rath's mate. We can not leave her behind,"
Zan replied, reluctant to leave Ava. 
"She will find us when she is ready Zan. We must go
now," Vilandra communicated to them.
Zan sighed and nodded. "Yes we must leave. If we do
not then our purpose for being reborn and sent here
will be for not."
He placed his hand on the wall of the cave and it
opened to allow the bright, blinding light of the
single sun above to illuminate the cave. 
"Come," he signaled to the other two as they raised
their hands to shield their eyes from the glare.
Rath held back. "No. I'm not leaving Ava."
"We must or we shall die here in this place!"
responded Vilandra urgently. "Make him leave Zan! Make
him come with us!"
"It's his choice to protect her. I can not force him
to leave," Zan told her.
With one more look back, Vilandra took Zan's hand and
together they left the cave behind.

As they walked, the substance covering their bodies
disapated in the air of the coming night leaving their
bodies naked and open to the elements.
"It is not unlike Antar, Zan. The colors are not as
bright, and there is only one moon, but I think it
will be alright here."
"Our advisors did well when they chose this planet
Vilandra. That they could recreate us on this planet
with human DNA is amazing. I do not know why they
chose to make us children, but once we are full grown
and ready we will return to Antar. Then we will
reclaim what belongs to us from Kivhar," Zan replied
squeezing her hand.
At the mention of Kivhar, Vilandra shivered. The
memory of watching Kivhar slay Zan was horrible. The
pain of her own death still fresh in her mind despite
the time that had passed.
"Zan, it hurt to die. And to know I may lose you and
never be in your arms again, I couldn't bear it,"
Vilandra told him with her heart and her mind.
"We won't lose one another again Vilandra. As long as
we retain our memories and focus on becoming strong in
order to fight Kivhar, all will be well," he told her.

They had walked for a long while in silence when a car
approached, its lights shinning on the two young
children walking hand in hand.
The car stopped and a woman got out and approached
them.
"Oh my God! You poor things! Where did you come from?"
the woman exclaimed, as she knelt before the two naked
children. They appeared to be about eight years old.
When neither responded to her, she went to her car and
pulled an emergency blanket from the trunk. She
wrapped a bewildered Zan and Vilandra in side and
hurried them to her car. The woman looked around for
signs of anyone else before getting in the car and
driving off.
"Zan, where is the human taking us?" asked Vilandra,
communicating her fright to him.
Zan put his arm around her and pulled her close. 
"It will be okay Vilandra. We are together. Just
remember, we are royal warriors and we are strong,"
Zan told her, though he too was frightened by contact
with the human.

They were taken to an orphanage where they were
checked over by humans who prodded and poked them, but
not unkindly. They were fed strange, yet tastey foods.
And they were given strange feeling garments to wear.
Not like the soft ones on Antar. And there were so
many layers of clothing too.
Zan was taken to a room filled with beds and boys,
while Vilandra was taken to a similar one with girls.
When the lights went out, they found one another. 
"In here," Zan told Vilandra as he pulled her into a
closet where linens were kept. He pulled several on
the floor and made them a bed. 
"These things scratch Zan," complained Vilandra,
pulling at her clothing.
"Take them off then," Zan told her as he pulled off
his own clothing. 
They lay on the make shift bed wrapped in each others
arms, their hearts pounding in perfect time to the
others. 
"It's not like I thought it would be," said Vilandra.
"But we will adapt. Yes, we can learn to adapt." The
words were positive, but the vibes accompanying them
were unsure.
Zan smiled. He knew she was scared just as he was. "We
have too. Our people are depending on us," Zan told
her as he closed his eyes. 
"I love you Zan," Vilandra said, sending waves of love
to him.
"And I love you too Vilandra," Zan told her as they
fell asleep.


**********

A short time later....

"Come Max....Isabel, come meet your new parents!"
encouraged the woman in charge of the orphanage.
She ushered the two in side her office where a man and
woman rose to their feet.
"Oh Philip, just look at them! Aren't they the most
precious things you ever saw?" said the new woman with
a kind face.
Philip smiled. "They sure are." He turned to the woman
in charge. "Thank you for thinking about us Mrs.
Asher. I know there is usually a long wait and process
to go through, but after the disappointment from the
last time with the young girl taking her baby
back....well we just feel that maybe older children
would be better for us."
"You and your wife more than met the requirements we
have Mr. Evans. These children are going to a good
home," said Mrs. Asher smiling. Older children,
especially those with problems were hard to place, and
the Evans were eager to take these two in.
The other woman knelt down in front of the children.
The children clutched one anothers hands as the woman
raised her own to their faces and she smiled.
"My name is Diane Evans. What's yours?" she asked
them.
Philip bent down and whispered in her ear, "Honey,
remember what they told us. The children don't speak."
Diane smiled and nodded, but she said, "I think they
can, their just scared. Aren't you sweetlings?"
Zan and Vilandra looked at one another then at the
woman. They blinked.
"What is she saying Zan?" asked Vilandra with her
mind.
"I do not know, but she seems to like us," he replied.

He wasn't sure they should trust the humans yet, but
then again the humans were their only hope of survival
right now.
"Maybe they don't respond because those are not their
names. I know you told us that you named them, but
maybe they just need to hear their own names," Diane
said as she hugged the children to her. 
Zan and Vilandra felt a warmth coming from the woman
that made them feel good. Safe. They could trust this
human. 
Philip knelt down beside them and said, "I'm Philip
Evans. You..." he pointed to Zan, "Your name is 'Max'.
And you," he pointed to Vilandra, "Your name is
'Isabel'." He repeated this process several times.
"I think he wants us to say those words," Zan told
Vilandra. I think they are ....names. What they will
choose to call us here on this planet."
"But we have names," Vilandra told him.
"They do not know that. We will have to learn to speak
their language. We must learn these new names and
their ways so that we may survive here," Zan informed
her.
Zan opened his mouth and in a slow, but determined
voice said, "Mmmmmax."
"YES! Oh Philip, did you hear him?" exclaimed Diane
excitedly as she caressed Zan's arm and smiled at him.
Vilandra looked at Zan, and when he nodded and
squeezed her hand she said, "Isssa-bel."
Diane's eyes shown with tears as she lay her hand
gently on Vilandra's head. "That's right baby.
Isabel."
Zan and Vilandra looked at one another as Diane and
Philip each took a child to hug them. Their hold on
each others hand broke. This along with repeating
their new names caused their memories of Antar and
their lives before to vanish from their minds.
"We're your new parents," said Philip to Max. "You and
your sister will live with us now."
Max blinked. He couldn't help feeling like he had
forgotten something very important. Maybe he would
remember it later.

**********

"This is your room Isabel," said Diane gently, as she
took Isabel's hand and led her inside a room decorated
with with pink frilly things and lots of dolls.
Isabel released Diane's hand as she looked about.
"Your home now Isabel. You and Max. Whatever happened
to you before you can forget about. We're your family
now and we'll take care of you," said Diane as she
anxiously watched the young girl.
Isabel turned back to Diane and tears formed.
She was scared. Where was Max?
"Max?" her voice trembled with the unfamiliar language
and fear of being alone.
"He's next door honey. He has his own room. Would you
like to see?" she asked as she held out her hand.
Isabel latched on to the offered hand and was led next
door to Max. They spied one another immediately and
ran to each other and hugged.
"I think it may take some time for them to feel secure
Diane," Philip told her as they watched the children.
"We'll make them feel secure Philip. And loved. I want
them to know that we will always be here to love them
no matter what," Diane replied with determination.

Later that night Isabel began to shake. She had never
slept alone in her life. At the orphanage the people
in charge had allowed Max and Isabel to stay together
when they had discovered them sneaking off to sleep in
the closet. But they had insisted they wear clothing.
Now Isabel was alone and afraid. 
Looking towards the door she crept out of her bed and
headed next door to Max's room. He was laying on his
bed with the covers to his chin. When he spied Isabel,
he smiled and quickly pushed the covers aside allowing
her to jump in beside him. Max replaced the covers,
and held Isabel tight against him. Her heart was
beating so hard he could feel it as if it were in his
own chest. 
"It's okay now Isabel. Shhhh," he whispered to her out
loud, not even realizing he had done so. 
"Aren't you afraid?" she asked him. She began to relax
against Max. She knew somehow that he would protect
her.
"Yes, I'm afraid. But I think our new parents will be
kind to us so I'm not as scared as I was," he told
her.
"Besides, we are together."
Isabel yawned. 
"Go to sleep Isabel," said Max as he too yawned and
closed his eyes.

The next morning Diane called quietly to Philip.
They stood at the door and observed the children
wrapped in each others arms asleep.
"Philip, what should we do? They can't always sleep
like that," said Diane.
"We'll get them something for security," said Philip.
""That's all they need. Everything seems strange to
them right now, but it will be fine once they learn to
trust us," assured Philip as he lay his hands on
Diane's shoulders and led her out of the room.

That day Max and Isabel followed Diane about Roswell
as she readied them for school. It was all so new and
strange to them. Their eyes widened at all that they
saw, taking it in like sponges. 
Yet much to Diane's dismay, everywhere they went the
children clung to one another with the bond they had
built between them.

That night.....

"Isabel, here is a bear I found today. It belonged to
me when I was a little girl. It protected me from the
the things that I was scared of. I want you to have it
now. He will protect you as well," said Diane as she
placed the bear in bed next to Isabel.
Isabel clutched the bear to her, and smiled. 
Diane smiled back as she kissed Isabel on the head.
"Daddy and I love you honey. You and Max," she told
the child as she smoothed Isabel's hair.
Isabel snuggled down as the lights went out,t and she
waited for the house to quiet so she could go to Max.

Diane then went to Max's room, and entered with
something behind her back.
"Max, I have something for you." She held out a small
house. "This is for you. When you feel scared, just
remember that you will always have a home because we
love you."
Max took the tiny house, and looked it over. Then he
placed it carefully on the table beside his bed, and
lay down. "Thank you."
Diane smiled and kissed his forehead. Then she turned
out the light, and closed the door. 
In no time Isabel appeared in Max's room. The routine
from the night before was followed again., and yet
again from then on for many years.


**********

Two years later....

Isabel slid part of her lunch over to Michael as she
listened to him and Max discussing Isabel's latest
discovery.
"I'm telling you Michael, Isabel freaked out," said
Max as he took a drink of his milk. 
"No freakin' way! How'd it happen?" asked Michael as
he bit in to the sandwich Isabel had shared with him.
Both boys looked at Isabel, who just shrugged and
looked away.
"She was going to bed. She was wondering if Mom was
going to let her get make up to wear like the other
girls, and the next thing Isabel knows, she's in Mom's
dream! I heard her screaming and ran in to her room
just as she was waking up. It really scared her and me
didn't it Isabel?" said Max as he again looked at
Isabel.
Isabel tore apart her sandwich but didn't eat
anything. She crossed her arms over her chest, and
grimaced.
"So you can walk in to peoples dreams? That is so
cool!" said Michael bobbing his head up and down as he
munched a chip.
"Iz? What's wrong? You're acting really weird," asked
Max as he watched her squirm under his scrutiny.
"Nothing," said Isabel. 
"You're not eating. How come?" asked Michael as he
looked at her food.
Isabel shoved the rest of the food over to Michael and
shook her head.
"I'm not hungry. Mom, fixed a big breakfast. I must
still be full," Isabel replied.
Max knew she was lying. Isabel had not even touched
the breakfast their Mother had made them. Something
was wrong.
The bell rang signaling an end to lunch.
"I think I'm going to see what's happening from the
roof," said Michael as he got up.
"Michael, you can't skip class again," said Isabel
shaking her head.
"Hey, it's boring. Besides, that Teacher hates me.
Later," he said as he grabbed the rest of the chips
Isabel had given him and walked off.
"He needs to quit skipping classes Max. They'll start
asking questions if he doesn't, and then he'll get
sent away or beat," said Isabel worriedly as she
gathered up the trash from their lunch.
"I know. But he's been through a lot Isabel. We can't
expect him to be like us. His foster family doesn't
care about him like our family does us. We have to be
patient and just hope those things don't happen," said
Max. 
He remembered when they had met Michael. 
Isabel had over heard Michael and a Teacher arguing
over his wanting to pay for his lunch with food
stamps.
Somehow each had known that they were alike. Different
from everyone else, except for Max. Over time they
discovered several odd things about themselves. They
never got sick. They didn't require much rest, and
they each had 'special gifts' unique to them. And they
didn't know why. But they did realize that if others
found out how different they were that things could
become very dangerous for them. So they stayed
together. The 'Three Musketeers'. Bound together by
what they figured was some outside force.
"Isabel, why did you lie just now? I mean somethings
wrong. What is it?" asked Max with concern.
Isabel threw away their trash and started back to
class ignoring Max's question.
"Isabel!" called Max as he ran to catch up to her.
"We're going to be late Max," said Isabel walking
faster.
Max looked around and then grabbed Isabel by the arm
dragging her into the supply closet.
"Ow, Max! What do you think you're doing?" demanded
Isabel as she rubbed her arm.
"Sorry, but I want you to tell me what's wrong with
you," said Max. He wasn't going to let her leave until
she told him. They were too close to keep secrets. If
something was wrong with Isabel he wanted to know.
"It's nothing Max, now let me out of here!" demanded
Isabel.
"No, something's wrong. We don't get sick so I know
that's not it. But you look like you're in ....pain.
Are you hurt?" he asked with apprehension. 
Isabel closed her eyes in embarrassment. 
"No, I'm not hurt," she said. She wanted to die.
"Then what? You're scaring me Isabel," said Max. 
Isabel heard the anxiousness in Max's voice and opened
her eyes. She didn't want to worry him. They were all
they had so they were very protective of each other
and of Michael. She would have to tell him.
"My...chest hurts," she mumbled, her face beginning to
heat up.
"What? Why? I thought you said you weren't hurt?"
asked Max.
"It's....it's....growing," said Isabel under her
breath. She was humiliated.
"Really?" asked Max staring at her chest.
"Stop staring at it!" hissed Isabel, covering her
chest with her arms. The pressure on her sensitive,
developing breasts brought tears to her eyes.
"And it hurts?" asked Max, still not understanding.
"Yes!" cried Isabel as she rolled her eyes. "They ache
when they grow Mother says. My curse for being a girl.
I wish I didn't have boobies!"
"Oh," said Max as if in understanding.
But he didn't understand what was happening to Isabel
or why she was embarrassed and in pain from it.
"Let's go to class now. And don't you be telling
Michael about my boobies growing either or I'll deck
you!" warned Isabel as she headed for the door.
Max felt badly that he had forced Isabel into telling
him about something that was truly private. He also
felt bad that she was hurting, but he could do
something about that.
"Iz...Iz, I can help you not hurt," said Max as he
looked at her back.
Isabel stopped. "What?" she sniffed.
"I can make it so your chest doesn't hurt when it
grows," said Max quietly.
Isabel turned around. "How?" she asked.
"I just have to touch them, and they won't hurt
anymore. Like when I heal you and Michael other at
other times," offered Max.
Max's ability to heal had come to light last year on
an outing to the park. He had healed a wounded bird to
the amazement of everyone. Now whenever one of the
three had injuries, Max healed them.
"You're not touching my boobies!" gasped Isabel as she
clutched her books to her chest. The pressure was
unbearable. Tears spilled out of her eyes.
"Isabel, you're crying. Please let me help you,"
begged Max. He couldn't stand to see her in such pain.
Relunctuntly Isabel agreed. "Okay, but no looking,"
she whispered as she wiped her tears.
"I won't," Max promised. "Just lift your shirt," he
told her. 
Isabel raised her shirt up to just under her young
breasts, and Max slid his hands up underneath. 
"What's that?" he asked her, as his hands encountered
her training bra. 
"Max!" Isabel said, squeezing her eyes shut in
embarrassment. 
"Okay, okay," he said. Hesitating, he slid his hands
inside the bra, and he felt the heat from her sore,
fevered breasts. He closed his eyes and concentrated.
Images flashed through his mind. This had happened
before, but this time the images were strange. He saw
Isabel and himself walking naked in the desert as
young children. He also saw Michael, and he was
scared. Then he saw himself with Isabel again waving
as if in goodbye to Michael. Then suddenly the healing
connection ended. Max withdrew his hands. He stood
back and blew out his breath as he leaned against the
wall.
Isabel opened her eyes, and quickly pulled down her
shirt in relief then looked at Max. 
"Thank you Max," she told him with sincerity.
Max seemed to not hear her as he struggled with what
he had seen.
"Max?" she asked with concern. 
"I saw something strange," he told her.
"What?" 
"We were in the desert like when the lady found us.
Remember? But there was something else. Michael. He
was scared and naked like we had been, but then we
were there waving goodbye to him," said Max. "What
does that mean?"
"I don't know. We've always known that the three of us
have powers no one else has, maybe what you saw is
part of it. Maybe we come from the same place, or the
same family," said Isabel trying to make sense of it.
Max swallowed. "Or....another planet."
Isabel forced a laugh. "Oh yeah right. Now you sound
like Michael."
"Think about it Isabel. We aren't like other kids.
Something isn't right about us. We can do things that
aren't normal. They aren't....human," said Max.
"Just because we live in Roswell doesn't make us
....aliens Max!" But Isabel had been having her own
doubts, and deep inside she too believed that just
maybe they were closer to aliens than just living in
Roswell.
Max blinked and then remembered why they were in the
closet. "Are you okay now?" His hands still felt warm
from where he had touched Isabel.
"Yes." Isabel grabbed her books. "We better go Max,"
she said. Her skin tingled where Max had touched her.
Everytime he healed her she felt this way. 
Max's mind was on two different things as he picked up
his books and followed Isabel to class. One was the
vision he had just had. And the second, why was it
everytime he healed Isabel he felt funny inside?
He shrugged as he entered his class, and closed the
door.


**********

Four Years Later....

Max sat on the bench outside school watching Isabel
talking and laughing with an older boy.
Ever since she had developed a few years ago, Isabel
had started dressing to show off her body, and acting
differently by running around with the popular crowd.
Boys drooled after her and competed for her attention,
and she liked it. Max didn't.
"Hey!" said Michael as he sat next to Max. "We playing
basketball today?"
"Sure, why not," said Max, his gaze not leaving
Isabel.
Michael frowned and followed Max's gaze. "What's she
doing with him? He's too old for her."
"I know," said Max agreeing with Michael. He stood up
as Isabel walked towards them. 
"A friend's taking me home Max. Tell Mom not to worry
okay?" said Isabel as she started to turn away.
"I saw you flirting with Connor, Isabel," said Max
quietly.
Isabel turned back.
"Connor's driving me home, so tell Mom for me okay?,"
said Isabel as she turned a smiling face back to
Connor and waved.
"He's too old for you Isabel. He's sixteen. Mom and
Dad won't like it," said Max. "You're coming home with
me."
Isabel slowly turned back around. "He's not too old
for me and besides, it's not for you to decide who I
go with."
"Take the fancy sunglasses off and pay attention
Isabel. He only wants to touch your rack and get in
your pants," said Michael bluntly.
"Michael, don't be so crude! Besides, Connor's not
like that," said Isabel defensively.
"You're not going Isabel, and that's final," said Max
with determination.
"Go drool after Liz Parker, Max. I'm going with
Connor," said Isabel as she walked off and took
Connor's arm.
Max gritted his teeth. He didn't know why Isabel's
interest in boys upset him so much. And why was it
everytime Liz Parker was mentioned, Isabel got mad? 
Maybe they had been so protective of one another for
so long they were jealous when someone else spent time
with the other. 
"We should follow them Max," said Michael.
Max shook his head. "No. Isabel's right. It's not our
business. Let's go."
"He just wants in her pants Maxwell or don't you
care?" hissed Michael.
"She'll be fine," he replied his hands clinched as he
thought about Connor kissing or touching Isabel.
"I hope so Maxwell."
"She can take care of herself Michael. Let's go," said
Max quietly as he turned his back on Isabel and
Connor.
Michael shook his head in disgust. "If he tries
anything she better not use her powers on him Maxwell.
She could get us killed."
Max agreed that it would be bad if Isabel used her
powers, but Max knew she wouldn't. She knew the
dangers. But then again, he hoped Connor revealed
himself to be a jerk so Isabel would quit flirting
with him.
Liz Parker walked by at just that moment. She smiled
at him and he smiled back.
He needed a life. Whether Isabel knew it or not, she
had been right about one thing. Liz Parker may be just
what he needed to get his mind off of Isabel and her
many admirers. Now if could just make himself go after
Liz.
Max took one last look at Isabel getting into Connor's
car and sighed as he followed Michael to the courts. 


Later that night Max could hear Isabel crying.
She had been quiet at dinner and had gone straight to
her room afterwards saying she had homework to do. But
Max knew something was wrong.
He got up and went quietly to her room so as not to
wake their parents. He tried the door and found it
locked. 
"Iz? Isabel," he softly called.
"Go away Max," Isabel managed to get out. 
Max hesitated and then turned to leave, but just then
he heard Isabel sob. He knew that he had to go her.
Using his powers he unlocked her door and quietly
entered her room, closing the door behind him.
Isabel was sitting cross legged on her bed clutching
her pillow to her, crying into it so she wouldn't be
heard.
"Isabel, what's wrong?" asked Max as he approached the
bed and sat down beside her.
Isabel looked up and wiped her eyes.
"I locked that door for a reason Max," she sniffed.
Max pushed her hair back from her face. Only Isabel
could have a face swollen from crying and still look
beautiful. "What happened?" he asked her.
Fresh tears sprang from Isabel's eyes.
"You were right." She clutched her pillow tighter.
Max frowned. "I was right about what?" But he was
afraid he already knew, and his body clinched waiting
for her to confirm his fear. "Is this about Connor?
Isabel, did Connor...do something to you?"
Isabel cried harder.
"Isabel! Did he...hurt you?" Max asked a bit
forcefully. He couldn't believe Isabel would let
someone hurt her, but maybe he was wrong.
Isabel wiped her nose and said, "He tried. I couldn't
believe it! It was just like Michael said. He tried
to...to...all he wanted was my body."
Max pulled Isabel into his arms and held her while she
cried.
"What happened Isabel? You said he tried," asked Max.
He needed to know.
Isabel sniffed. "He said he would drive me home after
we went to the park. We were going to get snow cones,"
said Isabel distractedly. Then her face took on a
pained look. "But when we got to the there he pushed
me behind the bushes and started...he started to ..."
Max's grip on Isabel tightened. She was shaking badly.
"He called me a tease. He said if I wanted to go with
the older boys I had to play the game."
Isabel looked at Max. "I never meant to make him or
anyone else think I was easy Max! Really I didn't!"
"I know Isabel. You would never do that," he reassured
her. "So then what happened?" he asked her.
"I got so angry that...I used my powers Max," cried
Isabel quietly.
Max felt his blood grow cold as he sucked in his
breath. "You....used your powers? Did he know what you
did? Did anyone see you?"
She shook her head. "I threw him back. He just thought
I was really strong from being scared, but I was so
mad! If he only knew what I could have done to him.
Anyway he ran off, and threatened me if I told what
happened. I can't believe I thought he really liked
me," she said sadly.
"I'm just glad you're not hurt," said Max kissing her
forehead.
"Don't tell Mom and Dad, okay? They might call the
Sheriff or something, and we don't need that," she
begged.
"I won't," agreed Max. But that didn't mean he
wouldn't take care of Connor himself.
Isabel sighed. Max's words and the comfort of his arms
were calming her down. How could she have been so
stupid as to think an older boy liked her for anything
more than her body? Max didn't treat girls that way.
"Max? Would you stay with me until I go to sleep?" she
asked him. She knew she would never sleep as long as
she was alone, and Max always soothed her and made her
feel safe.
"You know I will. Just lay your head back and close
your eyes. I'll be here in case you need me," Max told
her as he lay back on her pillow and pulled her closer
to him. 
Isabel snuggled her head down on Max's chest and
wrapped her arms around him. Max began to draw lazy
circles on Isabel's back, and soon she was asleep.
And while she slept, Max plotted his revenge.

The next day, Max followed Connor from a distance as
the guy started making time with another unsuspecting
victim. He watched as they got in Connor's car and
drove off. Max grabbed his skateboard and taking the
short path, made it to the park just as Connor drove
up. He knew the slime would return to the scene of the
crime. He wondered how many girls he had brought here.
"It's right over here babe," Max heard Connor say as
he directed a girl up the path. Suddenly Connor pulled
the girl into the bushes and began to kiss and grope
her. The girl tried to struggle, but Connor was
stronger. 
Max raised his hand and sent the heavy branch above
Connor's head down on his back. Connor grunted and
released the girl as he fell to the ground. 
Max ran up to the shaking girl and asked, "Are you
okay?" 
When the girl nodded, Max said, "Then run! I'll take
care of him!"
As the frightened girl ran off, Max turned back to
Connor. This is what he had done to Isabel. Max was so
angry he could barely contain himself. He watched
Connor writhe in agony on the ground from the heavy
branch falling on him. Max leaned down close to
Connor's head and pressed it against the ground with
his hand. He put his mouth close to Connor's ear and
hissed, "I saw what you did you freak! I know you've
done this to others too. If you EVER go near another
girl or threaten one again I'll do more than hit you
with a branch. I'll make you regret the day you were
born. You think you're in pain now, I'll really make
you feel pain. You understand?"
Connor whimpered and nodded his head. "I...I
understand. Just...just don't hurt me anymore!"
Max stood up and looked down at Connor in disgust.
This whimpering coward had had his hands on Isabel and
caused her emotional pain. Clinching and unclinching
his fists, Max knew he could do no more than he had
already done. Grabbing his skate board he quickly left
the area. 

"Liz, did you hear about Connor? He's transferring out
of district. Good ridence if you ask me," Max
overheard Maria DeLuca tell Liz Parker as they stood
outside their history class.
Isabel walked up about that time and looked at Max. 
"You know anything about Connor transferring Max? The
timing seems sort of remarkable," commented Isabel as
she looked Max in the eye.
Max shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe he thought he had
worn out his welcome."
Isabel softly smiled then leaned over to kiss Max's
cheek.
"Thanks," she whispered to him before heading off to
class.
Max touched his cheek, and smiled as he watched her go
before he headed to class himself.
"Hi Max," said Liz as she followed him into the
classroom.
"Liz," said Max as he sat down beside her.
"Isabel looked happy," she commented. 
"Yeah....yeah, she did," he replied, feeling good that
he had been the one to give Isabel that look of
happiness.

***********

Three Years Later....

"Michael, this is serious! Max is crazy for Liz
Parker!" complained Isabel, as she lay on her bed
staring at her ceiling.
She sat up, and looked down on the floor at Michael.
"What do we do?" she asked him.
Michael put a pretzel in his mouth, chewed it up and
followed it with a drink.
"I told Max messing with humans is a bad idea. He
won't listen to me. When he saved Liz at the Crashdown
I think it screwed with his head," said Michael in
disgust.
Isabel moved down beside Michael. 
"I'm scared we'll lose him Michael. He's really fallen
for her. I mean he's that serious," said Isabel, the
fear and sadness coming through loud and clear to
Michael. He put his arm around her and gave her
shoulder a squeeze. 
"Max knows better Isabel. He may think he's in love,
but he knows nothing can come of it. He's alien, she's
human. Besides," he placed his arm around her neck,
"you have me," he told her. He kissed the top of her
head.
Isabel lay her head on Michael's shoulder and sighed.
Yes, she had Michael, but it was Max she most afraid
of losing. 
"You think he's really in love with her?" asked Isabel
sadly. She hadn't thought he might be in love, just
infatuated.
Michael frowned at her sigh. He was concerned about
Max's feelings towards Liz too, but Isabel was really
upset. More than he figured she should be. "Isabel,
I'm serious. Max is playing with her. He won't leave
us for a human." 
"I hope you're right," she replied as he placed his
lips on her brow.
The door to her room opened and Max walked in.
He stopped suddenly at seeing Isabel on the floor with
Michael kissing her. Well his lips were on her brow,
but still it unnerved him. 
"What's going on?" he asked trying to sound casual.
Michael and Isabel stood up. "Nothing. We were just
having a snack," Isabel replied as she glanced towards
Michael.
Max saw Michael lick his lips, and wink at Isabel. 
He suddenly wanted to deck his best friend. 
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" asked Max
watching them both carefully.
"No. In fact I'm on my way out. Hank'll bust my balls
if I'm late. Later," he said as he climbed out of the
window into the darkness, and was gone.
"You better not let Mom and Dad catch Michael in here,
they'll toss him out and ground you," commented Max.
"Why? He's stays over here all the time in your room,"
replied Isabel as she grabbed her brush and began
doing some deep strokes on her hair.
"If they had seen you two kissing just now they
would. When did you and Michael get to be
so....close?" asked Max, obviously upset, but still
trying to act like he didn't care.
Isabel stopped brushing her hair, and stared at Max in
amazement. 
"What did you just say?"
Max frowned. "I saw you two on the floor kissing."
Isabel let out a small, bitter laugh at what Max
thought he saw, and his tone. "You mean Michael and I
can't be 'close' as you put it, but you and 'Liz
Parker' can? That's a bit unfair don't you think Max?"
"This has nothing to do with Liz and me, Isabel! This
is about you entertaining Michael in your bedroom.
Don't!" warned Max.
"Don't?! Who do you think you are Max? And this does
have something to do with Liz! You spend most of your
time with her, and seem to have forgotten that Michael
and I are even around," said Isabel, her face flushed
with anger.
"What are you talking about? I could never forget
about you! You and Michael are all I have. Besides I
couldn't let her die Isabel, you know that. I have
this gift to heal. I couldn't just let her die," said
Max shaking his head. 
"So you saved her. Great. But why do you still seek
her out?" asked Isabel. Why did she even care?
Max shook his head and turned away. "I don't know." He
couldn't tell Isabel that he spent time with Liz,
because Isabel was the only other girl he ever talked
to. He wanted to have something in common with the
other guys when they talked about the girls they
liked, and to do that he needed to be around a girl
that wasn't living in the same house with him. 
"Do you ....like her?" asked Isabel quietly. She bit
her fingernail nervously as she waited for his answer.
Max thought about her question and then said, "Yeah,
she's nice. She even helped us Isabel. She could have
turned us in when I healed her, but she didn't. I
can't forget that."
Isabel dropped her hand. "I see." But she didn't. She
only knew that Liz was taking Max away from her, and
she didn't understand why she was so upset about that.
Maybe it was because Liz was human.
"Try to be nice to her Isabel. Please?" begged Max.
"And....and I'll turn the other way when Michael is
here." He would have to leave the house if he knew
Michael was in here alone with Isabel. He just never
thought they would be drawn together.
"Fine," said Isabel softly. 
Max looked at Isabel and nodded before telling her
good night, and leaving her room. 
He leaned against the wall and sighed. He didn't know
why, but he had a feeling things were about to change
and he was scared.

*************

"There she is again," whispered Michael as he nodded
towards the petite, blond girl that has just entered
the quad.
Max and Isabel looked up. "So?" said Max. 
"Somethings up with that chick! She keeps watching
me...us! Maybe she's FBI," he said.
"Michael, you're freaking! She's not FBI," said
Isabel. But she too had noticed the new girl watching
them.
The new girl approached them.
"Is there room here for me? The tables all seem to be
full," she said , as she looked at them expectantly.
Isabel glanced Michael's way and noticed him staring
at Tess. 
"No, why don't you have a seat," said Isabel, as she
moved her books. Now what had made her invite the new
girl to sit with them?
"Thanks! Hi, I'm Tess," she replied with a smile as
she sat down.
Michael glared at Isabel then continued staring at
Tess.
"I'm Max. This is my sister Isabel, and our friend
Michael."
Tess seemed surprised when Max said he and Isabel were
brother and sister. 
"Nice to meet you. My first new friends," she said.
"So where are you from Tess?" asked Max, as he too
wondered why Isabel had asked this new girl to join
them.
"Everywhere. My guardian works for the government so
we move a lot," she replied as she poured sugar into
her yogurt and soft drink.
"I do that," said Isabel watching her in awe. "I
didn't think anyone else did."
Tess took a big bite and smiled. "I love things really
sweet. The sweeter the better if you ask me. Well
unless it's spicey then I really like that too."
Max, Isabel, and Michael all looked at one another.
Their guard went up more. 
"You said you're guardian works for the government.
Which part? You know, what does he do?" asked Michael.
"I'm not really sure. He doesn't talk about it. I just
know we have to move a lot because of it. It's hard to
make new friends when you do that," she replied as she
continued eating.
The bell rang and they all stood up. 
"Thanks for letting me sit with you. Bye," Tess said
as she walked off to class.
"Anyone else get the feeling that she knew exactly who
we were before she sat down? I don't mean just our
names, but really knew who we are?" asked Isabel
uncomfortably.
"Yeah, I got the same feeling," said Max as they
watched Tess enter the building.
"Anyone else feel like we should know who she is?"
asked Michael. He had this feeling of someone walking
over his grave.
"Yeah. We need to be careful when she's around. I
can't explain it, but I never meant to invite her to
join us. It just happened. I felt compelled to ask her
and then just did it," said Isabel in confusion.
Max looked at Isabel. "What?"
"Like I said, I can't explain it. But I felt willed to
ask her to join us. It's really weird," Isabel said as
she gathered up her books.
Michael could see Tess through a window entering a
classroom and sitting down.
"She's in my history class."
"Be careful Michael," said Isabel squeezing his arm.
Max bit back a remark at her actions. He had promised
to keep his mouth shut about her and Michael, but he
did like watching Isabel touching Michael so
intimately.
"Max! Come on we'll be late!" called Liz as she
hurried across the quad. She kissed him on the cheek
when she reached him.
"Hey Isabel, Michael!" 
"Liz," they replied without enthusiasm.
"The bells going to ring Max," Liz said, as she pulled
him towards the building.
Isabel stood there watching Liz and Max enter the
building, and didn't realize her face was scowling.
"Glad I'm not Liz," commented Michael as he watched
Isabel.
"Why?" asked Isabel as they followed other students to
the building.
"I'd be dead by now," he replied as he turned into his
history class.
Isabel stopped and looked after him in surprise. She
shook her head at Michael's comment, and headed off to
her own class.


**************

That night......

Max tossed in his bed as he began to dream.
He could see a young woman entering an open space
surrounded by heavy greenery and flowering plants so
colorful they almost didn't seem real. He seemed to be
behind her. She had flowing blond hair, and wore a
gown of light gauze. She looked around and then called
out,"Zan? Zan, where are you?" She waited, and then
began to tug at the belt around her waist, throwing it
to the ground when she removed it from her narrow
waist. Lifting her gown a bit she kicked off her
shoes, and then bent her head. He assumed she untied
the top of her gown because she shrugged her shoulders
allowing the gown to shimmy down her body and to the
ground. She was naked as she stepped into the pool.
The curve of her hips and the long slender legs
mesmerized him. He watched as she waded out until the
water was at her waist, but he still couldn't see who
she was.
He stripped off his own clothes and entered the water
quietly. He was right behind her. He bent his head to
kiss her shoulder as his hands encircled her waist and
pulled her back to him. Her skin was smooth and like
silk. Flawless as far as he could tell.
She leaned her head back on his shoulder. "I thought I
had missed you my love," she sighed. He cupped her
breasts in his hands and kneaded them. She raised her 
hand to caress his cheek, and sighed again as her
nipples hardened under his touch.
He ran his tongue lightly over her collar bone causing
her to shiver. Pressing his body close to hers, his
hard arousal probed her from behind. 
"You seem in need of some relief my love," she
breathed. "I am eager for you as well," she moaned as
he rubbed his hips against her behind. He turned her
in his arms ready to take her mouth with his.
"Zan," she whispered as her hands rested lightly on
his chest. She raised her eyes to his and he gasped.
"Isabel!?"

Max awoke with a start, his breathing labored and his
body drenched with sweat.
"Oh gawd!" he groaned with panic as he remembered his
dream with clarity.
He was dreaming about being with Isabel. Oh gawd!
He got out of bed, painfully aware of his aroused
state brought on by the dream. What was wrong with
him? How could he be dreaming of Isabel like that?
Max headed for the bathroom when he heard Isabel gasp.
He inched towards her door and pushing it open saw
Isabel frantically pacing her room and holding her
stomach.
All thoughts of his dream passed as he observed how
upset Isabel was. 
"Isabel? What's wrong?" he questioned with concern.
Isabel's head snapped up as she froze to look at him.
"Max! What...what are you doing in here?" she demanded
nervously. She actually seemed to be ill at ease
around him.
"I heard you. Is everything all right?" he asked her.
"Can I do anything?"
"NO! No you've done enough. Just go...go back to bed.
I'm....I'm fine," Isabel said as she moved in
agitation from one foot to the other. Then she looked
at him and paled. 
Max frowned as he remembered his arousal was still
painfully obvious. He placed his hands in front of
himself and said, "Then I'll go now. Night." He left
her room and headed for the bathroom. He turned on the
shower and stepped inside. He would take a cold one,
and try hard to get rid of the images in his mind of
Isabel naked in arms.

Isabel watched Max leave her room and then dropped
down to her bed.
"Oh gawd," she moaned in dispare. "Why did I dream of
Max like that?" she asked herself as she remembered
the pool and being naked in Max's arms. It had seemed
so right.
"I'm a sicko," she cried to herself as she fell back
on the bed.
She was scared. What had caused the dream, and would
it come back?
One thing was for sure, she wasn't going to sleep
anymore tonight.

************

"You look like hell," remarked Micheal as he leaned
back against the tree outside the Evans house.
"Have you looked in a mirror yourself this morning?"
asked Max yawning. He had refused to let himself sleep
after his disturbing dream.
Michael picked a leaf off of the tree, tore it apart,
then threw it down .
"I didn't sleep to good," he finally said. "I had this
really....it was a nightmare actually."
Max's head was suddenly clear. "What did you say?"
"I had a nightmare," he repeated. He seemed
embarrassed.
"About what?" Max asked. This was too coincidental.
"Her. The new girl,Tess," said Michael frowning. 
"How was it a nightmare?" asked Max, his head feeling
lite.
"Nosey aren't you," said Michael wishing he had never
said anything.
"You brought it up. How was it a nightmare?" Max asked
again.
"We were....we were doing the dirty bump in the
desert," Michael finally said.
"You were...."
"Having sex! Making love! Whatever you want to call
it, that's what we were doing!" said Michael angrily.
Max couldn't believe it. 
"Yeah, I know it's disturbing. It was me and her, but
it wasn't you know? I mean it was like I was looking
at two other people, but I knew it was me and her,"
Michael said as he hung his head and pushed the toe of
his shoe into the grass.
Max couldn't breathe. "Michael, I need you to do
something. I need you to find out if Isabel had a
dream last night. A nightmare."
Michael looked at Max and asked, " Why don't you just
ask her? Wait a minute. You had one too?"
Max shook his head. "Yeah, I had one too. And I can't
ask Isabel this."
"What, you don't want to know if Isabel is dreaming
about having sex with some guy?" Michael asked.
Max scowled at Michael.
"Fine, I'll go find out if we have another victim in
the nightmare department," Michael said as he headed
around the back to Isabel's window. 

Michael climbed up to Isabel's room and found her
sitting on her bed staring into space.
"Hey," he called as he opened her window and entered
her room.
Isabel looked up with tired eyes, and then away. She
looked like she hadn't slept either.
"You know I've seen you look a lot better in the
mornings, Isabel," commented Michael. He would bet
anything she had had nightmares too.
"Gee thanks Michael. Just what every girl wants to
hear," said Isabel sarcastically.
Michael sat beside her and then after searching for
the words asked, "Did you have nightmares last night?"
"What?" asked Isabel suddenly paying attention.
Michael rolled his eyes and then jumped in. "Did you
dream about having sex with someone last night?"
"Michael!" gasped Isabel. How did he know? He
couldn't.
"Look, both Max and I had these nightmares about
having sex with someone we didn't expect. We just
wondered if you did too," said Michael.
Isabel's stomach started rolling. "Why didn't Max ask
me himself?" Maybe it was embarrassment because of
last night and his apparent physical need.
"I don't know. Maybe he felt he couldn't ask you that
sort of question. Anyway, did you?"
Isabel stood up. "Where's Max?" she asked.
"He was outside," said Michael frowning. Then he
stood up too. "You did have a dream didn't you?"
Isabel nodded. "Michael...I'm scared. What do the
dreams mean?" asked Isabel as she moved into his arms
seeking comfort.
"I don't know. But it's weird that all three of us had
them."
"Did...did Max tell you who was in his dream?" asked
Isabel as she clutched Michael's shirt front. "Was it
Liz?" Please let it be Liz, she prayed.
"I guess so. He didn't say," said Michael. "But I
dreamed about Tess. Why would I do that?"
Isabel pulled back. "Tess? Michael! Oh gawd, we have
to find Max!" she said as she ran for her door.
"Why?" called Michael as he followed her downstairs.
They drew up short seeing Max sitting on the patio. He
looked up at them.
Max and Isabel stared at one another. No words were
needed. They knew without a doubt by the expression 
on the other's face, that their fears were confirmed
about the dreams.
"What's going on?" demanded Michael, sensing the
tension between the two.
"I think Tess is like us," Isabel finally managed to
get out. She was shaking. Her world was turning upside
down and she couldn't stop it.
Max wanted to go to Isabel, to tell her it would be
okay, but he couldn't. It wasn't okay. It would never
be okay. Instead he asked, "How do you know?"
Isabel shook her head to clear it. "It makes sense.
Michael dreamed about her, so she would dream about
him," Isabel explained.
"That doesn't explain anything!" said Michael shaking
his head.
Isabel and Max stared at one another. But both of
them knew it did.
Michael noticed the sadness, the pain, the shock, and
...disgust pouring over Max and Isabel's faces.
"Somethings wrong here and I want to know what!"
demanded Michael.
Max and Isabel looked away. 
"You're dreams. Who did you dream about?" asked
Micheal with suspicion.
Neither one replied, but looked away guiltily.
"Oh f***!" Michael said under his breath as he
realized what was going on. Why it made sense to Max
and Isabel that Tess was like them.
Isabel hugged herself, then turned and ran off to her
room.
Max watched her go, and then turned to Michael.
"We don't know why we dreamed as we did Michael, just
as you don't. It's never happened before," swore Max.
He had to know that Michael didn't think bad about him
and Isabel.
Michael nodded. "I know Max." 
"We need to talk to Tess," said Max.
Michael nodded. "Let's go!"

************

"Ouch! Let go of me!" screamed Tess as Michael pushed
her into Max's jeep.
Max sped off towards the desert just out of town.
"Where are you taking me?" demanded Tess as she pushed
her wind blown hair out of her face.
"Who are you?" demanded Michael from the back seat.
"What? You know who I am Michael," said Tess looking
at him.
"No, I don't! Now start talking!" said Michael
angrily.
Tess looked to Max. "Max?" she pleaded.
Max pulled to a stop in the desert.
"Answer the question! Who are you? And I'm warning
you, we'll know if you're lying," ordered Max.
Tess sat back and sighed. "You know who I am," she
repeated quietly.
"You knew who we were before you sat with us that day
at lunch!" said Michael. "How?"
Tess looked at Michael. "You know the answer."
Max hit the steering wheel with his hand. "Enough!
Stop talking in riddles, and just answer the damn
question! Who are you?"
"I'm like you," Tess replied calmly.
"Like..like us?" asked Max tensing.
"Alien," Tess replied.
Michael sat back stunned. The word they had avoided.
The one thing they dared not call themselves. And
Isabel was right. Tess was one of them.
"How did you know who we are? We've never met," he
asked.
"My guardian...our protector raised me. He taught me
about us. I've been searching for you for such a long
time," said Tess with relief.
"Whoa! Our protector? What are you talking about?"
asked Max.
"I think we should all be together for this so it
won't have to repeated," said Tess. "Let's get Isabel
and go to my house. Nasedo will be there. He can
explain."
Max drove them back to pick up Isabel, his nerves so
tight he thought he might scream. 

***********

"I'm not married to her!" shouted Michael as he paced
the room at Tess's house.
"Yes, you are. And please reframe from shouting," said
Nasedo, the man who had raised Tess. Another alien.
"You're hybrids. Part human, part alien. Max, you and
Isabel were married on Antar, and rulers of our
planet."
Max and Isabel gasped in shock, and then quickly
looked away from one another. 
"Michael, you were married to Tess, and Max's second
in command. Pity that you didn't retain your memories
as Tess did of your past. I see that a mess has been
made that needs cleaned up," continued Nasedo to the
surprised trio. "Now that you know about your true
past then we can begin to work on strengthening your
powers, and going home to Antar."
" Going where? You come here and tell us this story
and expect us to accept it? I don't think so," said
Max in a panic. This was too much. None of this could
be right.
"You know it's true. You've felt it. I'm guessing
you've been drawn to one another and not understood
why. We never guessed you would renounce your names
and memories. In doing so you wiped away any memories 
you had of one another. We should have planned for
that,but we failed. Now, we must retrieve them and
make everything right again."
"NO! I don't believe you!" cried Isabel.
"What if we show you where we were born?" asked Tess.
She looked to Michael tenderly. "Please just go look,"
she begged.
Michael tried fighting it, but he couldn't resist
Tess. He was drawn into her eyes, and they told him to
trust her. "I want to see," he told Max and Isabel.
Tess smiled.
Max looked at Isabel. She was pale. It was too much
for them to take in.
"Isabel's not ready. I don't know that I am either. We
wait," said Max, unwittingly taking on the leadership
mantel.
"No. I want to see," Isabel softly said.
Max looked at her in surprise. "Isabel, we don't have
too. We don't know that any of this is true."
But Isabel knew it was. Everything they had been told
was true. She could feel it down deep inside.
Max saw the resolve in her eyes, and nodded in
resignation. "Okay."

**********

They had been shown a large chamber inside a mountain
of rock. Pods were on the ground. They were 'born'
from the pods Nasedo had said. They hadn't even been 
born normally. Never been babies. They had hatched
like some damned bird. Nasedo also showed them a book
made of metal from their home planet. Pictures showing
how they were designed, and paired on Antar, and
again on Earth. How he was paired with Isabel.
Max looked out his window at the night sky above. He
wondered for the millionth time just what he was
supposed to do.
It had been weeks since their unnerving discovery and
in that time, he and Isabel had hardly spoken. Both
were trying to deal with this new knowledge that they
were not brother and sister, but husband and wife.
That is if they were to believe Nasedo. 
Michael on the other hand was more accepting of Tess
and Nasedo. Once he had seen the chamber and the book
he seemed to accept that he and Tess were mates. 
Having been raised in foster homes and treated badly, 
he appeared relieved he had a place where he belonged.
It strengthened him, and made him more at peace. 
A knock sounded on Max's door. "Come in," he called
out.
He was rose surprised when Isabel entered.
"Isabel," he said as he walked towards her.
She moved away from him.
Max stopped.
Isabel looked at Max with a mixture of emotions.
"I had another dream last night Max," she told him.
She looked at him expectantly.
"I know," he replied in a low voice.
"They won't stop," Isabel whispered, as she pushed her
fists against her forehead.
Max wanted to take away her fears and confusion, but
he was fighting his own. 
Both were thinking how much more graphic the dreams
were becoming. 
"Nasedo said the memory retrieval might accelerate the
dreams," Max reminded her.
They each began remembering the dream from last
night....

....Zan tilted his head back into the water before
rasing up, and shaking his head of the droplets.
"My lord looks much cleaner," a voice behind him said.
He turned, and saw Vilandra standing beside the
bathing pool watching him, her face reflecting her
desire.
"Some. My back still needs scrubbing," he replied. One
of his four attendants stepped forward. 
"Is that all that still needs scrubbing?" asked
Vilandra eyeing him.
Zan raised his eyebrows at her, and then glanced at
the servant. "Leave us." He then turned to the others
and indicated with his head that they too should
leave.
Vilandra raised her hand to her shoulders and released
her clasps holding her gown. It puddled at her feet on
the stone floor. Stepping over it she slowly made her
way down the steps into the bathing pool to where Zan
waited for her.
Zan watched as the water lapped at Vilandra's twin
mounds, the nipples disappearing now and again under
the water. He licked his lips."Wife."
"Husband," Vilandra replied with a voice tinged with
desire. "Your back needs scrubbing?" She smiled.
"No," Zan replied.
Vilandra raised her brow. "I misunderstood?" she asked
innocently.
"I lied," he told her as his hands went about her
waist.
"So you have no need for me," she said impishly, as
she made to leave.
"I have need of you wife," he growled into her neck as
he kissed the hollow there.
Vilandra purred as her head fell back. "And I you,"
she breathed.
Zan lowered his head to her breast and suckled one,
and then the other.
"You cause a hunger to grow in me," he told her as his
hands ran down her hips to her bottom, and cupped her.
Vilandra felt his hardness probing her entrance and
replied huskily, "I think more than hunger grows with
you, my lord."
Zan laughed, and lifted Vilandra onto his shaft,
plunging deep inside to her heated core.
They both gasped as his fullness filled her. 
Vilandra opened her mouth to his eager one, tasting
the spirits he had drank earlier. Her breasts were
crushed against his chest, and her limbs were tightly
entwined about him. 
"I love you Zan," she breathed, as he stroked her
walls with his shaft, their bodies moving as one. The
water lapped softly against them adding to their
pleasure.
Zan looked into her eyes and knew he was forever a
lost man. She was his life, his reason for being. If
he died tomorrow he wanted it to be in her arms.
"I love you too, wife," he told her as he came inside
of her, taking her with him over the edge....

........Max blinked and brought himself back to the
present. He looked at Isabel. She was flushed. Was he?
He felt on fire, so he must be. Their eyes met. 
Isabel's lips parted in a small 'o', and her hands
were at her throat. "Max?" she whispered hoarsely.
Max swallowed. "I know." He was so confused. He was
being drawn by these dreams into wanting Isabel.
Something kept telling him deep inside his brain that
these were not just dreams. They were memories.
Memories of their life together on Antar.
Isabel's heart was racing, and she felt all achy in
places she had not known existed.
"Max. These aren't dreams are they?" It wasn't really
a question. It was something she just needed
confirmed. Something she felt in her soul said these
were memories of her life with Max in another place.
He shook his head. "No. No, I don't think they are."
Isabel nodded and headed for the door.
Max quickly moved there and placed his hand over it so
she couldn't leave. 
"Iz?" The sound of his voice made her look up. He was
confused as well by the past and the present.
She didn't speak. She just looked at him for a moment
with eyes that both feared and longed for what they
had been reliving in their dreams.
They both knew in that moment that not now, but
someday soon the visions would take over and change
their lives forever.
Max released the door and Isabel left his room in
silence.

**********

Months later......

"Isabel, did you see Max today? Is he getting enough
to eat over at Michael's?" asked Diane Evans,
worriedly.
Isabel swallowed. "Huh, yeah. Yeah I saw him. He's
fine. Michael brings home left overs," she told her
mother quietly.
In the months since she and Max had agreed the dreams
were really memories, Max had moved out. He was now
living with Michael, much to her parents dismay. They
liked Michael, but couldn't understand why Max was
doing this. He had even stopped seeing Liz Parker. Her
parents had even asked her if Max was gay as they
tried to make sense of what was happening. Isabel had
assured them that Max was not gay, but needing some
space. Space from her she added to herself. 
Diane looked at Isabel and her worry transferred to
her daughter. 
"Honey, are you okay? I know you miss Max too, but I'm
worried you are going to make yourself sick. You 
don't eat, and you keep to yourself so much,"
commented Diane as she brushed Isabel's hair with her
hand.
Isabel forced a smile. She didn't want to worry her
parents. 
"I didn't mean to worry you. It's like you said. I
miss Max."
Diane nodded, but she was not convinced. "Okay, but
please make more of an effort to eat."
Isabel nodded. "I will."
Diane left the kitchen, and Isabel went to her room. 

***********

Isabel had been sitting in her room for hours going
over in her mind what Nasedo had shown them, and the
memories that she and Max were having. 
She rubbed her temples. Her head ached so badly.
She stood up and walked over to the window. She had
been fighting an inner battle over whether she should
dream walk Max. He would be furious if she did, but
she needed to know how he felt about what was going
on. They didn't speak about the dreams or what it all
meant. In fact they avoided being alone with one
another. But now Isabel needed to know his feelings.
Going back to her bed, Isabel emptied her mind of
everything but Max. Focusing, she finally entered his
dream....

.....Isabel swallowed a gasp. Max was talking to her
dream self, and what she heard told her everything.
"I love you Isabel. I love everything about you, just
as I did before. You're my life. If I died again
tomorrow, I would want it to be in your arms." Max
kissed her. A deep, passionate kiss that left her
dreams elf gasping for air. 
"Max, I love you too," she heard herself whisper to
him. Her hands began to caress his chest as she placed
small kisses up on it.
He picked her up, and carried her to his bed to lay
her down. He pulled off his shirt, and then joined her
on the bed. Max bent to kiss her again, while his
hands roamed her body. 
"I want to make love to you Isabel," he whispered
huskily into her mouth. "I remember how it was between
us before, and I want to feel that way with you
again."
"Yes....yes....I want you to make love me," she
begged, as her hands played along his back.
Isabel couldn't turn away. Max was making love to her
dreams elf, and she was standing there wishing it were
real. 
And then she realized this wasn't a memory! This was
what he wanted to happen!
Isabel sucked in her breath at the thought, and woke
up.

"Oh gawd! He loves me!" she gasped. Then her mind
registered more thoroughly. "He loves me," she
repeated softly with awe. And then surprising herself,
she added, "And I love him." This couldn't be. 
What were they going to do?

*********

She needed to talk to Michael.
Isabel saw with relief that Max's car was not at the
apartment, but Michael's motorcycle was. She knocked
on the door. When she didn't get an answer she let
herself inside.
She didn't expect what she saw.
Michael in bed with Tess.
Tess seemed to feel Isabel's stare, because she looked
towards the door and gasped. "Isabel!"
Michael swiftly turned over, and grabbed the sheet. 
"Isabel!" They stared at one another. "I...we didn't
hear you knock," he said pointedly as he recovered his
composure.
Isabel pointed over her shoulder to the door.
"I....I...knocked...." she said uncomfortably.
She looked away, and Michael grabbed his pants and put
them on.
"How long has this been going on?" she asked, as
Michael walked up behind her.
Michael looked back at Tess, then at Isabel. " A few
months."
Isabel's mind whirled. Michael and Tess. They were now
coupled as they were on Antar.
"You....do you accept the dreams? What they've shown
us then?" Isabel asked him. She was shaking over what
seeing Michael and Tess together implied for her and
Max.
Michael let out a sigh. "Yeah, yeah I do. And I think
you and Max should too."
She turned to face him. "Because they say it's so? Or
because you wanted her?" It wasn't meant to be cruel,
but she needed to know.
"Because I love her," said Michael. He put his arm
around Tess as she appeared by his side.
"You ....love her?" Isabel didn't know what to think
anymore. Michael in love was not what she expected
when she came over here for answers.
"Our memories are clear to me now Isabel. I remember
my life on Antar with Tess. All of our lives," he
said. At her panicked look he added, "I know you're
scared Isabel. You're situation is more complicated
than ours is. But you and Max have always had this
thing that drew you to one another that went beyond
family. You know this is right. Just give it a
chance."
Isabel rubbed at the chill on her arms that came over
her at his words. Was he right? 
"Isabel, you and Max belong together just as Michael
and I do. The more you fight what you know was meant
to be, the unhappier you'll be. Your love was strong
for one another on Antar. No one who saw you doubted
it. When they sent us here they didn't expect you
leave the chamber without Nasedo, or have your
memories to disappear. Now that you remember your
past, and are aware of your destiny then you should
give in to it like Michael has with me. I promise you
will not regret it," said Tess gently.
"But our lives here....what would happen? People
wouldn't understand," she whispered. "Our parents.
What about them?"
"They're not your parents, Isabel. Not blood. You have
a destiny that you know in your heart you will follow.
Why are you making this so hard on yourself and Max?"
asked Tess.
Michael released Tess and stood face to face with
Isabel. "You know the answers Isabel."
Isabel nodded. She couldn't fight it anymore. She
loved Max. Tears began to fall as Michael took her
into his arms. He looked at Tess, and she smiled in
agreement. 
The walls were coming down.

**************

Max opened the door to the darkened apartment and
froze. 
"Who's there?" he asked. He could feel someone in the
room. Hear their labored breathing.
He raised his hand, preparing to protect himself.
"It's me Max," came Isabel's voice from the dark.
Max reached for the light switch, but Isabel said,
"No. Please leave it off." 
"Okay," he replied puzzled.
He made his way to the couch where he could just make
out her outline from the light of the street lamp
outside the window.
"Isabel, what are you doing sitting here in the dark?"
he asked as he sat down beside her.
"We need to talk Max," she told him nervously.
Max tensed. "Okay." He had been trying to prepare
himself for this moment, and now that it was here he
was really nervous and afraid.
"Why didn't you tell me Michael and Tess were together
now?" she asked him.
Max sighed. "How did you find out?"
"I saw them in bed together today when I came by," she
replied.
Max had found out the same way, so he knew what a
shock it must have been to Isabel.
"I just found out recently myself. He says they love
one another," said Max. He wondered what Isabel was
thinking.
"I know," she said softly.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, each one
wanting to tell the other how they felt, but not
knowing how to begin.
"Max, I have to tell you something," said Isabel.
Max turned towards her. "Okay."
"Please don't be mad," she told him.
Max's brow furrowed. "Okay. I promise."
"I....I dream walked you last night," Isabel said in a
rush.
For a moment Max was furious. He had told Isabel to
never do that to him, but then the anger turned to
something else. He knew what she had seen. 
"You saw something that wasn't a memory," he said with
quiet unease. "I'm sorry."
She didn't say anything for a while, and then when she
did, she surprised him.
"I'm not."
"Isabel?" He couldn't believe he had heard her right.
She wasn't angry or sorry.
"Max, I'm scared. I'm scared because there are things
I don't understand about us being aliens, and all that
it means. But more than that, I'm scared because I
love you, and what that means to us and everyone
else," she told him in a voice quavering with emotion.
The blood in Max's head was roaring at her words.
"You...you love me?" he asked her. "You mean like a
brother." He wasn't going to get his hopes up or
weaken their already precarious relationship with
misunderstandings.
Isabel snapped her fingers, and a candle on the table
beside them lit. 
She looked at him with wide eyes, and slowly shook her
head. "No. I'm in love with you," she nervously
whispered as she watched for his reaction to her
words. 
Max stared at her. He opened and closed his mouth, but
no words came forth. 
Isabel felt sick. Maybe she had been wrong to tell Max
how she felt. But another look at his face told her
she wasn't.
Max's face broke out in a smile full of love and
relief.
He touched her cheek softly with the back side of his
hand.
"Iz, I'm in love with you too," he whispered. "I don't
want to fight it anymore."
A tear fell down her cheek as closed her eyes in
relief. Then as Max caught the tear on his finger tip,
she opened her eyes and asked, "What are we going to
do Max?"
He knew what she meant. 
"We'll have to leave Isabel," he told her. His pain
reflected her own. They would have to leave family and
friends in order to be together as they were supposed
to be.
Isabel nodded as she sucked in her lip. She had known
it was the only way, but it hurt. 
Max recognized her sadness and fear and said, "I'm
scared too, Isabel. But we have each other so it will
be okay." He pulled her into his arms.
This was the first time they had held each other after
acknowledging their love. Both sighed as they relished
the touch of being in the others embrace.
Max tilted Isabel's face, and looked in her eyes. Then
his gaze fell to her lips. The lips he had dreamed of
claiming as his own. 
Her lips parted as his descended to hers, and they
tasted their first kiss on this planet. 
Isabel was so lost in the passion of Max's hungry 
kiss that he took her breath away.
Max gasped as he finally pulled his lips from
Isabel's. He had never dreamed that kissing Isabel
could be so good. Too good.
He moved away from her as he drew a ragged breath.
"Max?" Isabel was confused by his moving away. Had she
kissed that badly?
Max's eyes widened, and he shook his head as he drew
in a steadying breath. 
He looked at Isabel and saw her confused expression.
"That... was amazing," he told her, as he touched her
lips with a finger.
She smiled as she leaned forward to kiss him again.
But he backed away.
"I thought..." Isabel was again confused.
"I can't stop at kissing you, Isabel," Max told her. 
He wondered how she would react to that admission.
"You mean you want tooooo," she asked shyly.
He met her gaze. "Yeah I do. But I don't know if we
are ready for that yet." 
Isabel knew what he meant about being ready. They had
just admitted their love, they couldn't just jump into
bed. "I know."
"But we will. When the time is right we will," he told
her as he pulled her to him and kissed the top of her
head.
"Max, how do we tell Mom and Dad that we're not what
they thought?" she asked, as her arms went around him.
"I wish I knew, Isabel." Max rested his head against
hers as both of them held one another, and tried to
figure out what to do.

************

A few weeks later at the cave......

"Max, you're powers are strong now. All of you, the
work you have done on strengthening your powers is
excellent," said Nasedo as he looked at the four
hybrids. "Soon we will be able to return to Antar to
free our people, and you Max will again reign as
King!"
Max , Isabel, and Michael all looked at one another
uneasily. Yes they had trained, but they still were
leary of returning to Antar. Earth was the only home
they really knew, and they didn't want to leave.
"What if we aren't as strong as you think and we
fail?" asked Max.
"You won't," Nasedo assured them.
"But what if we do?" insisted Michael.
Nasedo looked at them and said, "Then our race will
eventually die."
"I don't feel like a King," said Max. "I can't lead
anyone. I don't want too."
"It's your responsibility Max! You are the King. No
one else can take your place," said Nasedo as he
narrowed his eyes.
Max looked at Isabel, and took her hand in his. "I
don't want her to die again if we're not strong
enough."
Isabel tightened her hold on Max's hand.
"But what about those that are depending on us Max?"
asked Tess.
Max sighed. "I don't know."
Nasedo frowned. "Indecision can cost us Max. You must
be firm and strong in your role as King or all will be
lost."
Isabel could feel the pressure Max was under just by
touching him. How strange that now that they had
admitted their love for one another that their
emotions were easily read by the other.
"I want to try to contact Antar," said Max.
Nasedo shook his head. "We might alert others to our
where abouts. I can't allow that."
Max released Isabel's hand and approached Nasedo.
"It's not for you to decide."
The others held their breaths as they waited for
Nasedo to respond. Neither Max nor Nasedo broke their
eye contact. It was a power of wills.
Finally Nasedo said, "You are correct. It is not my
decision. Forgive me."
A collective sigh went out from the group.
They watched as Nasedo went to the cave wall and
reached inside a niche. He removed two oval shaped
stones and handed one each to Max and Michael. 
"You must all use your powers together so the orbs
will work."
Max and Isabel held an orb between their hands, as did
Michael and Tess. They concentrated until the orbs
glowed. Then just as suddenly the lights died.
"What happened?" asked Michael as he looked at Nasedo.

They all looked to Nasedo who's eyes widened and he
shook his head. "NO! Try again!" His voice took on an
urgent tone as he stepped closer.
The four hybrids again tried to activate the orbs, but
this time nothing happened. No glowing light. Nothing.
Nasedo began to shake. "No! It can't be!" 
"What's wrong? Why won't the orbs work?" asked Max.
Nasedo stared off into space. "Because there is no
longer anyone to contact," he said quietly.
"What do you mean?" asked Tess as she stood beside
him.
"I mean their all gone. The orbs have no one to
contact. We have no home to go back too."
"But how can that be?" Tess asked. All her life she
had been told that she must find the others so they
could return to save their planet, and now it wasn't
there. She felt a loss she couldn't understand.
"You mean the people are gone, or the planet?" asked
Max.
"I don't know. But either way we can no longer go
home. We are stuck here on this planet," Nasedo told
them. 
"I for one am not upset about that," said Isabel.
"This is the only home I've ever known."
"It's not," Nasedo reminded her.
"Yes, it is. You may have guided us in retrieving our
memories of Antar and each other, but this is still
the place we call home," said Max. He looked at
Isabel. "We build new lives here. A new race."
Isabel smiled at him.

*************

Later that day.....

"So what is so important?" asked Philip Evans, as he
and Diane sat with Max and Isabel in the kitchen.
"We have something to tell you that will be hard for
you to understand. We've wanted to tell you for
sometime now, but the time wasn't right. It is now,"
said Max. He took Isabel's hand in his.
The move wasn't lost on Philip and Diane.
"Just what are we supposed to understand?" asked
Philip.
Max looked at Isabel who squeezed his hand with
encouragement.
Max turned his gaze on Philip and Diane. "We aren't
from here. Isabel and I, we're from....another
planet."
Philip and Diane stared at Max and Isabel. "What?"
asked Philip.
Max proceeded to tell them how he and Isabel had come
to be found in the desert and why. When he ended his
tale, Philip and Diane continued to stare.
"And you expect us to believe that? That you and
Isabel are aliens from another planet reunited here on
Earth?" asked Diane.
"We're mates Mother. That's what why we're telling you
this. Max and I are mates," said Isabel.
Diane put up her hand and shook her head in denial.
"NO! I am not listening to this! My children are not
aliens, and you most certainly are not mates!"
"Why would you make something like this up? You've
upset your Mother and I with this crazy,sick story!
How could you do that?" demanded Philip.
"Because it's true! And because it is true, we can't
stay in Roswell anymore! We can't tell anyone else
we're aliens, and they sure won't understand us being
mates! We told you because we have to leave, and we
didn't want you to worry! We love you, and trusted you
enough to know our secret!" said Max urgently. 
"We need to show them Max," said Isabel.
Max nodded. He raised his hand and changed the form of
the bowl of fruit in front of them and then back
again. 
Diane's mouth fell open. 
Isabel changed the color of the table from oak to
bright yellow and back again.
Philip and Diane shook.
"Let me show you," said Max as he reached out to them.
Diane backed up. "I just want to share our memories
with you," Max explained. "It won't hurt. I promise."
Cautiously Diane leaned forward and Max touched her
brow. Images flooded from him to her. She saw the
children and their lives on Antar, and as children
emerging from the pods. Max showed her their lives on
Earth, and let his love for Isabel flow through as
well.
When he released his hold he sat back and waited.
Diane looked at them with tears in her eyes. She
pressed her fingers to her lips and then touched Max
and Isabel. 
"Oh my babies!"
Philip asked, "You saw something?"
Diane nodded. "They are telling us the truth Philip.
And we have to help them."
"You're sure? I mean, it's all real?" he asked.
"Yes. Yes, I'm sure." Diane then looked at Isabel and
Max. "You've been waiting to be together until you
told us haven't you?"
Max and Isabel looked at Isabel with his eyes full of
love then at Diane. "Yes."
Philip watched Isabel's eyes tear up with her love for
Max. If they felt anything like he and Diane did for
one another then their love was strong.
"Okay then," he said. "Just remember, we know you're
secret. Where ever you go, we are your family and want
to stay that way."
Isabel got up and went around to hug first Philip and
then Diane. "Thank you!" she said. 
Leaving would be easier now. 
And now Max and Isabel could be together.

*****************

"Isabel, are you coming out?" asked Max as he rubbed
his hands nervously on his pants.
"In a minute," she called through the bathroom door.
They had been married just over the state line with
Michael and Tess and their parents in attendance.
Diane had insisted that though they were mates on
Antar, she wanted them married on Earth as well.
Michael and Tess were to meet up with them in a few
days in Arizona.
But for now it was Max and Isabel's honeymoon, and he
was nervous.
This was their first time on Earth and he wanted it to
be special for her.
He looked up as the door to the bathroom opened, and
Isabel stepped out. Max sucked in his breath.
Isabel stood there in a barely there, see through gown
that left nothing to the imagination.
His body reacted immediately.
She was nervous.
"You look....beautiful," Max whispered. He couldn't
take his eyes off of her.
Isabel smiled as she twisted her hands in front of
her. "Tess gave me this," she said self consciously.
"I like her choice," he told her smiling.
Isabel smiled again, but he could see her shaking. Was
she cold or just nervous?
"Are you cold?" he asked.
"No, why?" she replied.
"You're shaking," he replied. He walked over to her
and ran his hand lightly over her arms, and around her
waist. 
Isabel placed her hands on his bared chest. "Okay, so
I'm nervous," she told him with a little laugh.
He raised her chin so she was forced to look at him.
"I'm nervous too," he told her quietly.
She relaxed at his words. Raising her arms and placing
them around his neck, she pressed against him.
"Think the time is right now?" she asked him.
Max smiled. "Yeah." He bent his head and kissed her,
his mouth possessing hers with a hunger that foretold
what was to come.
Isabel broke the kiss and stood there with stars in
her eyes. She reached up and released the ties on her
gown letting it fall to her feet. 
Max sucked in his breath. "Your so beautiful!" he said
with a breathlessness that was full of desire.
He bent and picked Isabel up and carried her to the
bed.
Isabel reclined back and watched while he divested
himself of his boxers. Her eyes widened at the sight
of his engorged organ. 
Max noticed and said, "I'm scaring you. I'm moving too
fast."
Isabel shook her head. "No, I'm just telling myself
that we've done this before. You know, in our other
life." Then she added embarrassed, "And.... I was
wondering ...." She hesitated.
"Wondering what?" asked Max joining her on the bed.
"If....if it will....if it will fit," she said
hurriedly.
Max grinned. "It will fit. We were made for each other
remember," he told her gently as he kissed her again.
His hands ran over her body enjoying the feel of her
silken skin.
She sighed at his touch. 
Max bent his head and suckled a breast while Isabel
moaned. Her fingers entwined in his hair and held him
close.
He could smell her. Her scent was driving him wild,
and he ached to be inside of her. But she wasn't
ready.
Not yet.
His hand moved down her stomach until it came to her
apex. His fingers moved inside her folds into her wet
warmth. 
"Mmmmmm," she moaned, her legs opening to his touch.
He lay her back on the bed, and kissed her while his
fingers worked their magic inside of her. 
She began to move her hips against his hand. Max
flicked her nub with his nail, and was rewarded with a
gasp of pleasure.
Isabel slid her hand down between them and hesitantly
touched his stiff member. It jumped, and he hissed.
"Yessss," he encouraged her. She watched as she moved
her hand over him, testing the feel of him and
observing how he reacted. Max used his own hand to
guide her, and soon she was pleasuring him as much as
he was her. He sucked at her nipple, pulling it
between his teeth, then lapping it with a teasing
tongue.
She needed release, and it came. Hard. Her hips bucked
as she clung to him, her hold on his shaft tightening
causing the precum to ooze out on to her hand. 
"Oh gawd!" she gasped as Max removed his hand. He
rolled her over, and parted her thighs. 
"Max....oh please,"she whispered.
He entered her slowly, their fluids easing his entry.
He reached her barrier and hesitated. 
"Max......" She looked with trust into his eyes.
He pushed home to her core, her gasp giving him pause.
But now the barrier was gone, and the pleasure began.
He moved within her, slow strokes within tight walls
that caused extreme pleasure to both.
"Are you okay?" he asked her as he looked down into
her eyes.
Isabel nodded. "Yes. Oh gawd yes, I'm more than okay."
He kissed her as he moved inside of her, their bodies
finding a rhythm that set them on a quest for
something they had yet to experience together in this
life.
She was so tight around him that he thought he would
die from extreme pleasure of just being inside of her.
Isabel reveled in Max's member inside. She felt so
full, yet so good. When he moved she felt ripples of
pleasure move over her.
Then it grew intense. 
Max felt a heat growing in his body that was like
nothing he had ever known. His movements grew faster,
and faster as he drove deeper inside of Isabel.
Isabel felt Max stiffen. "Maxxxxx," she cried as she
felt her own release begin. Her legs tightened around
his waist and held him tightly to her while he poured
himself into her waiting womb.
He collapsed on top of her panting. His head lay on
her breast, and she smoothed the damp tendrils of hair
back with her shaking hand.
He made to move off of her, but she wouldn't release
him. "Don't leave me," she implored him.
He relaxed against her listening to her pounding
heart.
"Max, it was better than any memory or dream," she
told him softly.
He nodded. "That it was."
She felt him grow inside of her again. "So soon?"
"Do you mind?" he asked her concerned. He didn't want
to hurt her. Her gaze met his own.
She smiled softly. "No. But I think it's because I
love you."
"I know it's because I love you," he told her as he
kissed her and made love to her again.


End