Name: Lori R 11/02
Email:Gussywussy55@y...
Title: 'Catching Up To The Past'
Category: Outsiders (Max/Isabel)
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I use
them for my own enjoyment and no infringement is
intended.
Summary: Five years after leaving Roswell the Pod
Squad find that their lives are going to change
forever with the words of one strange woman and
unsettling dreams.
Feedback: Sure. It helps me to know what works and
what doesn't.

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

Five years after the Pod Squad has left Roswell......

Isabel walked the aisles picking up food items here
and there on her mission to procure food for herself
and the others. It was her turn to take on this chore
and she dared anyone to question what she brought
back. She stood contemplating the dairy selections
when she had the odd sensation that someone was
watching her. Her senses suddenly alert, she slowly
made her way to the front of the store where she
abandoned her cart and made her way out the door.
She was rounding the corner of the building to the
near empty parking lot when she felt a hand from
behind on her shoulder that sent a tingling sensation
through out her body. 
She stifled a scream then turned around.
"Don't be alarmed! I'm not here to hurt you," said the
woman touching Isabel's shoulder.
"Who are you and what do you want?" asked Isabel on
guard against the woman before her.
"Who I am is not important. Why I'm here is," answered
the woman.
"And why are you here?" asked Isabel as her eyes
searched for a way to escape.
"I'm here to bring King Zan a message."
Isabel's hid her surprise at the name. "Who?"
"I understand you are confused. I can explain, but not
here," the woman said as she grasped Isabel's arm.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you
don't let me go I'm going to scream," said Isabel
wrenching her arm free.
"No you won't. You would draw attention to yourself
and you can't afford to do that. You've been running
too long to throw it all away on stupidity," the woman
told her.
Isabel stared at the woman. "Who are you?"
"I'm a follower of King Zan's," the woman told her.
Isabel turned away slightly and rolled her eyes. 
The woman grabbed her arm again. "They showed you the
false message didn't they?"
Isabel looked at the woman and tried not to cringe as
her fingers bit into Isabel's arm.
"What message?"
"Kivhar created a false message to mislead you. He
wanted his sister Ava to marry King Zan, but Zan only
had eyes for you just as Kivhar did. He was angry when
you and Zan married and ruined his plans. He dreamed
of you belonging to him, but also of Ava sealing his
families hold on the throne of Antar by marrying King
Zan. Kivhar had a message created that said Ava was
King Zan's wife and therefore his Queen and you were
Zan's sister betrothed to his First in Command, Rath.
Kivhar had all of you killed at your wedding, and we
who foolishly followed him sent the message he created
with Nasedo and the others who were entrusted to care
fvehementlye on Earth," the strange woman told
Isabel.
Isabel shook her head venemently. "N-no! You don't
know what you are talking about!"
The fingers tightened. "I do know! I helped create the
lie!"
Isabel began to feel ill not knowing whether to
believe the woman or not. 
"Kivhar was beyond angry when he realized that not
only did you and Zan love one another, but Prince Rath
and Ava loved one another as well and were to be
secretly married. He killed his own sister to gain
control of Antar and he killed you too. He had high
hopes of bringing you back to Antar and making you his
Queen, but when he came for you before he realized you
how strong you were becoming. He couldn't hold you
with his mind warp."
Isabel remembered sending Kivhar back threw the
portal.
"He failed at what he set out to do. He used to many
of our people. We killwoman's for it," the woman told
Isabel without emotion.
Isabel turned her eyes to the womans. "He's dead?"
The woman nodded as she released Isabel. "I know that
Ava bore King Zan a child when she returned to Antar.
A son. But she was under a mind warp. The old Zan and
Ava would never have mated. She loved Rath too much to
betray him, just as Zan loved you. The child is
human, something we never anticipated."
"Tess....Ava is dead," whispered Isabel wide eyed. 
"Yes, I know. That is another reason I am here. We
want to correct our mistake in trusting Kivhar, before
anymore of you die needlessly. You and King Zan will
be reunited as you should be. You and your children
will one day rule Antar should you decide to return."
Isabel stared at the woman. "Max....he's Max now. He's
my brother."
The woman shook her head.
"I tell you he's my brother!" said Isabel shaking her
head and backing away.
"No, he is not. You were married. You were lovers. Now
that you know what we did you can be together again as
you were meant to be." The woman seemed to think that
telling Isabel all of this was all that was needed to
make everything right. Little did she know she had
just opened up a Pandora's Box.
Isabel began to panic. "What about the others?
Lonnie...Ava...all them looked like us! Lonnie said
Zan was her brother!" pointed out Isabel. She was
feeling ill. This wasn't happening!
"Sent by Kivhar in case you regained your memories.
They were poor substitutes and greedy. I know you do
not believe me, but all I have said is true," the
woman told Isabel. "Now the rest is up to you and the
others to create the life you were supposed to have.
The one you were destined for."
"NO! I won't tell Max and Michael these lies! And they
are lies!" said Isabel angrily.
The woman looked at Isabel with surprise. "I speak the
truth. You know I do. Your heart is human and
Antarian. Look inside it and you will see everything I
have said is true."
Then while Isabel leaned against the building in shock
and denial, the woman left.

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

"Isabel did you get the Cheesey Puffs I asked you to
get?" called out Michael as Isabel walked into the
large motel room they were using as a gathering place.
"Yes!" He jumped up. "Did you see that play?!"
Michael, Max, and Kyle were watching a football game
on TV and were hoping for snacks with Isabel's return.
Isabel proceeded to the connecting room without
responding and closed the door without ever looking
back.
"Does that mean she didn't get me any Cheesey Puffs?"
asked Michael as he, Max, and Kyle stared at the
closed door. 
"Max. Maria and I just saw Isabel outside and she
acted like she never even saw us," said Liz as she and
Maria entered the room where the guys were.
"Something must have happened," said Max as he headed
for the closed door. 
"Think someone knows who we are?" asked Maria.
"No, she would have told us. It's got to be something
else," said Kyle worriedly.
"I'll be right back," said Max as he entered the other
room.

"She's wrong! That woman is wrong! Max and I ...we're
not...we've never been....oh gawd, why did she say
those things?!" Isabel thought wildly to herself. She
crawled up on the bed and closed her eyes. The air
began to feel electrified as Isabel's anxious energy
built. 
"It was a lie...it's only a lie!" she repeated in her
head as the things around her began to quiver.

Max stood looking in shock at the sight before him.
This had happened only once before that he knew of and
it didn't bode well that it was happening again.
Isabel sat rocking on the bed, the items in the room
flying around her like they were being stirred by a
small tornado.
Max frowneraisedtever had upset Isabel must be really
bad for her to show her powers like this. 
"Iz?" asked Max worriedly.
Isabel's eyes flew open as she rasied her hand and
sent the items in the room flying back to their
original spaces.
"Isabel, what's happened? Somethings upset you and I
want to know what," said Max as he drew near.
Isabel jumped up off the bed and moved away from Max. 
"Can't I just have a bad day? I'm only ....human." She
realized the irony of the words as soon as they left
her mouth. She wrapped her arms around herself and
turned away.
Max stepped closer and placed his hand on her
shoulder. "Somethings happened. Tell me what it is."
Isabel shook her head as she pulled away as if burned.
"Nothing, now just leave me alone please," she added
at his stricken look.
Max nodded after a moment and headed back to the
others.

"Well?" asked Liz as Max returned.
"She says nothing's wrong, but she had everything in
the room spinning. Somethings upset her and I want to
know what it is," Max told them.
"Maxwell, it's probably a female thing. Let her be a
few days and she'll be fine," said Michael
distractedly as he watched the last minutes of the
game.
"Pig!" said Maria as she hit him over the head.
"Ow! Why do you always hit?" complained Michael.
"Because you need it! You can't blame everything that
bothers us on PMS!" said Maria shaking her head in
disgust.
"Do you think she saw something that upset her?" asked
Kyle ignoring Michael and Maria. "Remember how she was
when we found the ad Jesse placed in the paper saying
he was divorcing her on grounds of abandonment? She
was upset for weeks."
"Maybe we should search the papers. See if there is
something in it that might have triggered this,"
suggested Liz.
"Good idea. Kyle, you get a paper and check it out.
Liz, would try to talk to her?" asked Max.
Kyle shook his head. "I really think I should be the
one to talk to her. We've gotten close....you know
we're friends," said Kyle.
Max and Liz looked at one another and then Liz
shrugged. "Maybe he should. She doesn't exactly open
up to me you know."
Max nodded. "Okay. But I want to know whatever it is
she tells you."
Kyle nodded. "Right." He stood up and headed to the
room Isabel was seeking refuge in.



Isabel sat on the bed and tensed at the sound of a
knock on the door. Why wouldn't Max leave her alone?
"Isabel? It's me," came Kyle's voice. 
She heard the door open and shut as he entered the
room.
Kyle stood looking down at Isabel as he tried to
figure out where to start. He sat down and sighed.
"So, what the hell was that when you came in?
Did...something happen while you were out?" 
"Kyle, Max sent you in here didn't he?" she said. 
"And if he did?" questioned Kyle.
"Then you can leave," Isabel told him.
Kyle considered her words. "What if I came for me? 'I'
want to know what happened?"
Isabel looked at him sadly. "Then I would tell you I
need a friend who won't ask me questions because I
can't give any answers."
That scared Kyle, but he knew if he was to eventually
find out what was going on he had to bide his time. 
"Fair enough. But I'm here if you want to talk."
Isabel nodded. "Fair enough."



Kyle exited the room and found Max and the others
waiting.
"Well?" asked Max standing up.
Kyle shook his head. "Not a clue. But something did
happen. She just won't say what."
Max crossed his arms. "I don't get it. Why won't she
say what's wrong?"
"Let me talk to her. Maybe I can get her to talk,"
said Michael.
"She won't talk to you," said Maria.
"Why not?" he asked.
"She wouldn't talk to Max or Kyle, what makes you
think she'll talk to you?" 
Michael stood up. "I don't know, but I can try can't
I?"
Maria's mouth fell open as she watched Michael enter
the room where Isabel was.



"Okay, what's up? You come in here and hide...not to
mention you don't even bring my Cheesy Puffs...what's
up?" said Michael flopping down on the bed beside
Isabel.
Isabel looked at Michael and bit her lip. "Michael, I
can't tell you."
"Why? Did someone attack you? I would think you could
kill them since you have powers and they don't."
Isabel shook her head. "No one attacked me. No
aliens...no humans."
Michael sat close to her. "Then what is it?"



Isabel was aching inside. She knew she needed to talk
to someone about the woman and what she had told her,
but she was afraid. She couldn't handle this alone,
but what was she to do? She had tried handling things
on her own before and it had not always turned out.
But telling them that she and Max were not what they
had always believed....she didn't know if she could
handle it herself.
Isabel looked at Michael with fear in her eyes. "I...I
need to talk to someone....but ...." She swallowed.
"Michael, I'm so scared."
Michael sat up straight as he tuned in to her fear.
He'd come in here expecting some little exaggerated 
tragedy, but he could tell whatever was bothering
Isabel was a bigger deal than he first thought.
"What is it?"
She was shaking now. "There was a woman....at the
store. She was following me. She was an alien...she
had to be to say...what she said."
Michael frowned. "Alien? Are you sure? What did she
say?"
Isabel didn't speak, but the fear grew in her eyes
alarming Michael.
"Isabel, what did she say? " Michael asked
insistantly. Then he froze. "Did you kill her?"
Isabel began to laugh with a tinge of hysteria. "No, I
didn't kill her!" Her voice grew strained. "She was
wrong....she had to be wrong. I mean why ...why would
someone ...she's wrong." Her fingers were digging into
her skin.
Michael took hold of her shoulders and gently shook
her. "ISABEL! What did she say?"
Isabel stared at him as she whispered, " You and
Tess....loved each other."
Michael released her. "That's crap! And you believed
her?" He sat down sighing. He'd almost freaked over
nothing.
"....and Max...." Isabel's voice trailed off as she
stared into space.
Michael wiped his brow. "Yeah, what about Max?" he
asked blowing out a breath as he let his head fall
back.
"We...we....Max and I....we...we...." she didn't know
how to say it.
"Isabel..." Michael wearily said her name.
"....were lovers." Her voice was a whisper. 
Michael raised his head. "What?"
"Why would she say that?" There was confusion and
anxiety in her voice.
Michael splayed his hands out in front of him. "What?
Isabel, that was an enemy trying to get us with that
story! It's a lie! That's all! A lie!" But her words
left him feeling like someone had just changed the
course of his life and everything he ever thought it
meant, and he didn't like it.
"Michael, you weren't there. This woman said
things....she frightened me. What if it's true? The
things she said, what if they're true? Max and
I....she said we belong together like we were on
Antar....lovers Michael. We were married. I can't look
at Max knowing what she said even if it isn't true."
Michael ran a hand over his face. "It's not true so
don't worry."
"But what if it is?" Isabel insisted.
"It's not." 
"But what if...." 
Michael realized that things were more serious than he
thought. Isabel's instincts were usually right on the
money and if she was freaking there may be a justified
reason. On the other hand she could be freaking
because this alien woman told her that her lover in
this life and the one before was not him, but the man
she had always known as her brother. What a mess if it
really was true.
Sighing he told her, "Then you tell Max."
Isabel sat back and shook her head. "No. I can't do
that. I feel..." she shrugged. 
"You want me to do it?" he asked her.
Isabel sighed. "Yes." Then she shook her head. "No." 
She hugged a pillow to her. "Michael, I'm so scared.
What if it's true? What do Max and I do? We'll never
be comfortable around one another. Or what if I tell
him and it's a lie? That still ruins everything. What
do I do?"
Michael put his arm around her and pulled her close.
"We'll do this together. If it's not true it means we
still have aliens to watch out for who will do
anything to break us up. And if it's true...you have
to work it out."
Isabel dropped her head onto his shoulder. Things had
become more complicated and she didn't think she could
handle anymore.


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


"Okay, so what's up? Why did the others have to
leave?" asked Max as he sat later on that evening with
Isabel and Michael. He hoped he was going to find out
what had upset Isabel earlier that day. She looked
liked hell and Michael didn't look that great either
though he was putting up a good front.
Michael sat forward and gripped his hands together. 
"Isabel, she had a little run in today...with another
alien." He watched for Max's reaction.
Max's mouth fell open as he turned to Isabel. "What?
And you didn't tell us?"
Isabel bit her lower lip, but avoided eye contact as
she shook her head and answered. "I am now."
Max stood up. "What happened?"
"Sit down, Max. There's more and it's huge," said
Michael looking up at his best friend.
Max stared at Michael then Isabel a moment then slowly
sat down. "What? What's wrong?" he asked with dread. 
"This woman layed a story on Isabel that could very
easily be the truth. I don't know if it is or not. But
the thing is Isabel believes her....and it scares her.
Anyway if it's true, things are going to be changing,
and it all depends on who you are and what you want to
be truth on if the change is for the better," said
Michael cryptically.
Max's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?" He
turned to Isabel. "Iz, what did this woman tell you?"
It was then that he noticed Isabel had yet to look at
him. "Iz. Look at me," he begged gently. "What did she
say?"
Michael knew she wouldn't answer so he finally said,
"That we weren't all paired the way we were led to
believe." He looked at his friend and waited for it to
sink in.
"How....how were we paired? What did this woman tell
you, Isabel?" asked Max suddenly uneasy.
"You know how, Max. Do you really need her to say it?"
asked Michael quietly.
Max's eyes grew as it all sank in. He stared at Isabel
like he was seeing her for the first time. He felt
light headed as everything began to sink in. They were
telling him he was supposed to be mates with Isabel!
"And you believe her?" He stood up, his hands
clinching and unclinching. He stared at Isabel.
"Do you realize what she's saying?" 
"She knows Max, we both do. Now you know why she's
been upset. So the thing is do we believe this story?"
asked Michael.
Max couldn't think. All he could do was stare at
Isabel. He didn't know what to think. Everything was
changed now. They could never go back to the way they
were even if they wanted too. Liz! Max felt sick as he
blinked and shook his head.
"No. It's not true. I don't care what she said, it's
not true," said Max with a tone that had a finality to
it.
Michael looked between Isabel and Max, but didn't say
anything. 
Something told him that this was far from over.

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


Weeks have passed.....

Isabel tossed and turned as the dream came at her
again. 
.......She was looking out at the water when she felt
arms go around her waist and warm breath on her neck.
One hand raised to caress his cheek while the other
covered his at her waist.
"You came," he whispered in her ear. "I was afraid you
wouldn't."
"I wasn't going to, but ....." she turned in his arms.
"I couldn't fight this pull to be here with you. I
don't understand it," she wdream selfas she looked
uncertainly in his eyes.
"It's our destiny, Isabel. We're mates. From one life
to another we are one. No matter where we go we will
always belong to one another," Max said as he pulled
her closer to him.
Isabel's arms slid slowly up his chest to his wind
around his neck.
"Then these feelings I'm having for you....their not
wrong?"
He shook his head. "You're my wife, Isabel. How can
feelings you have for your husband be wrong?"

Isabel sat on a rock watching her dreamself and Max.
Her heart was hammering in her chest as she watched
them kiss. She knew what was about to happen. She had
had this same dream every night since the woman had
stopped her. 

Max pressed his hand to her breast as he took her
mouth with his and gently kissed her. His caress made
her nipple harden beneath his hand like a pebble. Her
moans of pleasure encouraged him to untie her gown and
push it down to her waist, baring her swollen globes
to his gaze. He took a raised nipple in his mouth and
worried it gently with his teeth. Isabel's hands
clutched at his head as she tried to give him more.
Max's hands gathered the material at her waist and
with a push let it fall to the ground. 
"You're so beautiful," he whispered against her mouth.
Isabel pressed her naked form against his body. 
"I need you, Max...please...I need you," she moaned as
she began to lay kisses along his bared chest.
Her hands reached for the button on his pants and
forced it thru the hole that held it tight. Sliding
the zipper slowly down she smiled as she heard him
sigh. Her hand slid inside and he gasped aseagerlysped
him in her hand.
Max kissed her, his tongue seeking hers and toying
with it inside her mouth.
Max's dream self pushed his pants and boxers down
where they joined her gown.
He pulled her leg up over his hip while the tip of his
throbbing penis found her opening and rubbed against
it.
"Maaaxxxx," she moaned.
He chuckled. "Soon, love. Soon."
He slid a finger over her swollen nub and found her
wet. She bucked nearer to it.
He kissed her again as he lay her down on their
clothing. She parted her legs to receive him and he
eargerly entered her.

Isabel sat on the rock, her breathing coming hard as
her body reacted to seeing her dreamself and Max
making love on the beach. She had the dream so often
now that she imagined that she could feel each touch
and each kiss as if Max were really there with her. 
What was happening to her that she kept having this
dream? 
It was effecting her relationship with him as well as
her sleep. 
She wondered if he was having the dreams too or if it
was just her.

The couple on the beach cried out in pleasure and
Isabel felt a burst of warmth over her body.
She shivered. 
Then she began to cry. 
What was going to happen if Max found out she was
dreaming of him like this? 
And why was she doing it and how could she stop it?


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

The tension between Max and Isabel didn't go unnoticed
by the others.
They avoided eye contact, but would watch the other
thoughtfully when they thought no one was looking.
"Max, what has gotten in to you and Isabel? I haven't
seen you two like this since she wanted to go off to
school and you told her no. You've been purposely
ignoring one another unless necessary for weeks now.
What's going on?" asked Liz as she crawled behind Max
where he sat thinking on the bed, and lay her head on
his back. She ran her arms around Max's middle and he
tensed.
Liz brought her head up at the action. This wasn't the
first time this week that he had pulled away from her.
"Max?" she asked with confusion.
Max stood up and shook his head. "Nothing. I just....I
just ..."
Liz sat up as well. "You didn't want me to touch you.
You pulled away from me and it isn't the first time."

The hurt in her voice was apparent to Max and he ached
at the sound. How did he tell her he had been having
dreams and they weren't about her? They were
disturbing images of him and Isabel and he needed time
alone to think what they meant and how he felt about
them.

"I just need some time alone Liz. Okay?" he asked
looking at her expression.
"By alone, what do you mean? A few hours? A few days?
What are we talking here Max? Something is wrong
between us and I don't know what. How can we work to
fix the problem if you won't tell me what is wrong?"
asked Liz.
"I just need time Liz. I don't know how much, but I
need to work thru some stuff," Max replied knowing
that answer wasn't going to satisfy her.
"Stuff," repeated Liz. "First you won't talk to
Isabel, now it's me. I don't understand what's going
on Max."
"Liz, please," said Max looking at her. "I just need
to be alone."
"I would ask if there was another woman, but with
Maria being your only other option I would say that is
not the problem," said Liz standing before him.
Max looked away.
Liz froze. Max's action let her know that another
woman was the problem. "Maria? Are you having feelings
for Maria?" she asked with disbelief.
Max looked back at her. "No. I'm not having any
feelings for Maria. Liz, I just ask that you give me
time. Can you do thatjeapordize#34; 
Liz stared into Max's eyes and knew that he was not
going to tell her what was going on. All she could do
was leave him alone...and try to find the answer on
her own.
"Okay, Max. Fine. You take the time you need. But
remember I'm here and wanting to make this work," said
Liz as she turned and left.

Max began to pace. He hadn't slept in five days. He
was exhausted and it was beginning to show. 
All of his thoughts were filled with Isabel and that
damn message the woman gave her. 
He slammed his fist into his other hand. Why did this
have to happen? He thought he still loved Liz and
wouldn't jeapordize their relationship if he could
avoid it, but these thoughts of Isabel were happening
more and more against his will.
He was going back over every touch he could remember,
every word as well analyzing each one for signs that
could have been clues to what this woman had told
Isabel. And what he was finding disturbed him greatly.
His mind wandered back to last nights dream. All he
had done was close his eyes. He hadn't even been
truely asleep, but the images came immediately to him
and kept him from any sleep he might have had.
They were all the same. Isabel was on a beach at
sunset and he approached her. Well his dream self did.
He was standing apart and watching what was happening
on the beach and what he saw unnerved him. His dream
self took Isabel in his arms and began to kiss her
while his hands roamed her body, pushing her clothes
down her body until she stood naked in the light of
the setting sun. He suckled her. Lay her on the beach
and kissed every exposed inch of her while she cried
out for more. Then he removed his own clothing and
crawled between her open thighs....entered her
body...made love to her. 
Max pressed his palms to his closed eyes. Stop! Don't
go there! He didn't want to analyze the feelings he
had when these images appeared. Think of something
else.
He was so tired, but hungry too, as his stomach soon
let him know by it's rumbling deep inside. He hadn't
really eaten anything in days. Maybe eating would help
him sleep. He would grab a bite to eat at the burger
joint on the corner and then try to find some sleep
without dreams of Isabel.

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

Max picked up his drink and order number before
heading for an empty booth.
He was getting ready to take a drink when a woman
placed his order in front of him and sat down across
from him.
He stared at her with surprise then trepidation. "Can
I help you?"
"You are fighting what you know is to be true, Zan.
Once you give yourself over to the truth you will be
set free from the fears you have," the woman told him.
Max set his drink down. "You're the one who talked to
Isabel."
The woman nodded. "She too feared what I said, but you
must not. It is important that we make rightfirmly we
made wrong. She is your wife and you her husband. The
lies must be corrected."
Max shook his head. "Isabel is my sister. I don't know
what Kivhar or the Skins hope to accomplish by telling
these lies to us, but it won't work."
The woman lay her hand on Max's. A tingling ran threw
his hand at her touch. He drew back sharply.
"What did you just do?"
"Just something to aide in the return of your
memories. Vilandra has begun to remember. She is
afraid, but will soon know peace just as you will. Now
eat and then rest. You will need your strength." The
woman rose and Max grabbed her arm.
"We're not mates," he told her fimly.
The woman only smiled and then left as Max released
her.
He blinked and closed his eyes. When he opened them he
ate without thought like a starving man then headed
back to his room and fell asleep.

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

Isabel yawned as she gathered her hair in her hands in
a ponytail and let it fall. Her eyes teared up in
frustration as she rested her head in her hands. "I'm
so tired, but when I sleep I have these...dreams."
"You look like hell Isabel. You can't keep going
without sleep anymore or you'll get sick," said
Michael as he watched her take a drink of coffee.
"That's not going to keep you awEvery timelonger.
You're body is still part human and needs some rest."
"Has....has Max...has he said anything to you?" asked
Isabel setting the cup aside with shaking hands.
"No. But from the looks of him he's not sleeping
either."
Michael walked over to the bed and turned it back,
then to Isabel where she sat in a chair and picked her
up against her protest. He lay her on the bed with the
order, "Sleep."
"Michael....the dreams. I can't. They're...vivid,"
said Isabel as she pushed clinched fists against her
eyes.
Michael's brow went up. "You mean...?" He sat on the
edge of the bed.
Isabel nodded. 
"Wow," said Michael stunned. "Everytime you try to
sleep?"
Isabel nodded. "I don't know how to make them stop. I
can't control them. And what's strange, is that they
are more like memories that I don't remember having
instead of dreams. That doesn't make sense I know, but
it's like I should know these dreams I'm having."
"Like you're remembering something from another life,"
said Michael trying to make sense of what she was
telling him.
Isabel looked at Michael with tears in her eyes.
"Yes," she whispered. She had been afraid to admit it,
but that is what they were like. Memories from another
life that she couldn't fully remember.
"You and Max," Michael shook his head. 
Isabel frowned. "What?"
"Nothin'. Just forget it," said Michael standing up. 
"No, you were going to say something. What?"
"It's just that you and Max...how is this going to
effect everyone else if they find out what's up? Right
now you and Max are barely even looking at one another
let alone speaking. And he and Liz are barely civil as
well. Hell I'm sharing a room with him instead of
Maria and I don't like it. What is going to happen to
all of us if the others find out what this woman
said?"
"Michael....." Isabel said shaking her head. "I don't
know what to do. I don't know how to make it all go
away. How to make things the way they were."
Michael dropped his head and sighed before looking 
back up at Isabel. "I know. Look, why don't you try 
to get some sleep," he told her as he covered her up.
"Michael...."
"Sleep, Isabel. Just try to sleep," he told her.
He turned out the light and left the room while
Isabel, despite fighting it, fell into a deep but
active sleep.


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

Two dreams melding into one........

"You're here in my dreams again, but you seem real
this time. Are you real?" Max asked Isabel as he
approached her on the beach. 
Isabel lifted her head but didn't look at him. "I
don't know. You can see me and it feels different this
time. Before I watched 'us'. But now...." she looked
around the empty beach. "Now, there is only us. I'm
not observing this time." She turned to Max. "Maybe it
is real. We're real. But how can that be?" she asked
in confusion.
He sat beside her and looked out at the water. "I
don't know. Maybe I'm still just dreaming you are here
with me now. Those other times we were here....I
observed 'us' too."
"So you saw...everything," said Isabel raising her
face to the soft breeze that blew while she watched 
the orange glow of the sunset. The shoulder of her
gown slipped off one side as the sheer material was
caught by the breeze.
"Yes." He thought she looked beautiful. "We were
making love," he replied softly. He realized he didn't
find it odd they had made love, but right. Natural.
Isabel nodded, and he could tell she was confused.
"Were they us from another life time Max, or were they
who we were supposed to be in this life time?" Isabel
asked him.
"Does it matter?" he asked her.
"Yes, I think it does," Isabel replied finally looking
at him.
"Which do you want it to be?" Max asked.
Isabel didn't say anything as she looked away.
"Isabel?" asked Max as he brushed her hair back off of
her bared shoulder.
She closed her eyes as his fingers caressed her skin.
"I can feel you shiver when I touch you. Feel the
warmth of your skin," he whispered in awe.
"Max," she whispered with a sigh.
"What do you want it to be Isabel?" he asked her again
as his fingers traced her collar bone.
"Both. I want it to be both. I want what she told us
to be true." She turned to face Max. "I want it to be
true."
He nodded. "Me too." He leaned in. "Then if I kiss
you....."
"I want you to," she whispered as his lips came down
to meet hers.
Isabel's lips were soft under his, her mouth opening
to his and accepting.
Max's had slid up the side of her face and into her
hair, his fingers weaving a way through the tangle of
long blond mane.
"I love you," he whispered against her mouth.
Isabel's hand came to cover his as her eyes closed and
tears formed.
"I love you too," she replied.
"I want you," he breathed against her cheek.
"Max," she sighed as his hands began to move over the
curves of her body.
Max slid the gown further off of her shoulder until
her breast was bared, the nipple puckered and hard. He
lowered his head and ......."

"Max....Max."
He grabbed the hands that were shaking him and opened
his eyes.
"What? What's wrong?" he groggily asked Michael as he
released his hands and sat up.
"You were saying stuff I don't think you want the
others to hear," said Michael as he turned on the
lamp.
Max came fully awake at that. "What did I say? Are you
sure no one heard?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," said Michael as he flopped down on
the chair in the room. 
"What...what did I say?" asked Max. He was afraid he
knew the answer.
"Besides moaning? You said you loved someone and it
wasn't Liz," said Michael watching Max's reaction.
Max closed his eyes. "No."
"Oh yeah," said Michael leaning forward. "Want any
guesses as to the name you did call out?"
Max blew out a breath. "What am I going to do?"
"Hell if I know. She's a basket case and so are you.
Sooner or later one or both of you is going to blow
and my bet is all hell will break lose when you do,"
said Michael leaning back.
"She's my sister Michael," Max reminded him.
Michael looked over at Max and shook his head. "I
guess that depends on where you come from. She's your
wife on Antar and your sister here. That makes all of
this one hell of a mess."
Max stared at Michael. "So what do you believe?"
Michael shrugged. "I don't know."
"I don't know what to do Michael. I keep having these
dreams about Isabel, but I'm supposed to be with
Liz....love Liz," said Max rubbing his eyes.
"Do you still love her?" 
Max's hesitation before he spoke said more to Michael
than Max's words.
"I do, but ...."
"And what about Isabel? Do you love her? I don't mean
sisterly love either. Are you ' in love'?" asked
Michael crooking his fingers in the air in quotes.
Max blinked. He loved Isabel, but 'in love'? 
"I don't know," he finally told Michael.
Mwoman's sighed as he looked off. He was afraid of
this. "If you don't know that means most likely you
do."
"And who made you an authority on love?" asked Max
lifting one eyebrow.
"I never said I was," said Michael standing up. "But I
do know this, you better be damn sure of who you want
because once you make your decision then there's no
going back," he said before leaving Max alone.

He was sitting there contemplating the mess they were
in when he heard Isabel scream.
He hurried to the door and opened it to find Isabel
sobbing hysterically with Michael trying to console
her.
"Isabel! What's going on?!" he asked as he ran and
knelt down beside her. 
Isabel threw her arms around Max's neck and sobbed.
"Max....Oh gawd....Max they're gone! Mom and
Dad.....their dead!" 
Max froze as Isabel sobbed into his neck. All thoughts
of troubling dreams and some alien womans story
disappeared from their minds. Max's arms tightened
around Isabel as he stared straight ahead with eyes
that stung with unshed tears.
Dead? No, they couldn't be. But one glance at the
others told him it was true.
"Wh--what happened?" he asked as he moved to sit
beside Isabel. He pulled her closer as she lay her
head on his shoulder and gripped his hands.
"The radio said it was a car accident," said Kyle from
where he was standing by the door.
"How did they get this story?" asked Michael. "We
aren't even near Roswell."
"The uh, the papers and radio stations sometimes pick
up obscure AP stories off the of wire on slow news
days," Liz told the group quietly. She wanted to go
to Max, but right now it looked like he and Isabel
needed one another more.
"Do you think it was real or a planted story? You know
FBI?" asked Maria moving to sit on Michael's lap.
"We have to find out," said Max quietly as he met
Isabel's tear filled eyes. "We have to know what
happened to our parents."


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


That night......

Max turned his head and looked at Liz sleeping beside
him. She had tried to console him, but he would have
none of it. He kept worrying about how his parents had
died and about the dreams connecting him intimately
with Isabel. Liz had fallen asleep, but not before
she had asked him again if something was wrong
between them. He had told her he was just mourning 
his parents and she had left him alone. 
Glancing at the clock he saw it was near midnight. He
slipped out of bed and made his way to the door and
quietly left the room.
Once outside he stood at the motel railing and looked
down at the empty pool area below. That is he thought
it was empty until he spied a lone figure sitting all
alone. He knew who it was immediately and without
putting on a shirt or shoes, he headed down to the
pool area.

Isabel sat quietly sobbing as Max approached her.
"Isabel, what are you doing down here?" asked Max as
he sat down beside her on the lounge chair.
Isabel closed her eyes before snuffing and wiping at
her nose with a kleenex.
"I nee-ded some ....air," she told him as she put her
tissue away. Then she teared up again as she said,
"Their gone Max....gone. I'll never get to tell them
how much I loved them or how sorry I was for not
telling them our secret sooner."
Max moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her
without hesitation. The problem of their relationship
was put on hold in their moment of sadness. He kissed
the side of her head and rested his on top of hers as
he too tried to control his emotions.
"I know. I feel the same way. I should have listened
to you when you wanted to tell them," said Max angry
at himself for not trusting his parents to accept
their secret. He turned his head from her as tears
began to gather.
Isabel heard the condemnation in his voice and raised
her head. She placed her hand on his cheek and turned
his head so he was forced to face her. He was crying.
"Don't do that, Max. Don't blame yourself. You did
what you thought was right for us at the timuntil4;
Max placed a hand on the back of her hair until their
foreheads were touching. "I'm just praying we aren't
the cause of their death like we were Alex's."
Isabel swallowed a sob. 
Max pressed his lips to her forehead. "Sssshhhhh."
She sobbed quietly as Max continued to console her.
"Why don't you let me take you back to your room so
you can rest," suggested Max rubbing her back.
"I can't sleep in there alone," said Isabel shaking
her head.
"Where's Kyle?" asked Max. Isabel and Kyle had shared
a room platonically since they had left Roswell and
now Max wondered where Kyle was.
"He and Michael are at the pool hall we passed when we
came into town," said Isabel brushing a hand over her
eyes to dry them.
Max stood up and held a hand out to Isabel. "Come on.
I'll walk you back to your room."
Isabel hesitated and then placed her hand in his and
stood up.
They walked silently side by side unitl they reached
her room.
Isabel unlocked the door and pushed it open.
"Do you think you'll be able to sleep now?" he asked
her.
Isabel shook her head as she stared at the near
darkened room. She knew when her eyes closed she would
see her parents faces or Max's. "No."
"What if I stay for a while? I could rub your back or
something. Help you to relax. I remember you always
liked that when we were growing up." He wondered if he
heard the pleading in his voice. He needed to be with
someone who understood what he was going through right
now. 
Isabel searched his eyes as they stared at one
another. Both saw a sadness as well as open longing
in the others eyes that they hadn't allowed themselves
to show before.
She slowly nodded. "Okay."
She entered the room with Max silently following
behind her.
The light in the bathroom was on letting a small glint
of it's glow filter into the room.
"Kyle?" she called out. When no one answered, Max
said, "He must still be gone."
Isabel nodded. "They play untill all hours when we
come across a pool hall or bowling alley." 
"Why don't you lay down. I'll....I'll rub your back,"
suggested Max motioning towards the bed.
Isabel glanced at the bed and nodded before cautiously
making her way there.
She lay down and Max joined her. Both were tense and
trying hard to act as if there wasn't turmoil in their
lives right now.
"Roll on your side," Max instructed her softly. 
"What?" Isabel asked distractedly. She realized Max
was dressed much like he was in her dreams and it was
disconcerting.
"Your side. I noticed you sleep on your side. I just
thought it would be more comfortable than your
stomach," said Max.
"Oh, right," Isabel replied nervously as she turned
on her side. Her body was reacting to Max being near
and it was scaring her. The fact that he noticed how
she slept added to her nervousness.
Max placed his hands on Isabel's back and she noticed
his hands were warm....and shaking. 
Her eyes drifted shut as she tried to focus on sleep
and not Max's hands or her parents death.
As he rubbed in a slow circular motion, Isabel's night
shirt began to crawl up until her back was bare under
Max's hand. It was flawless and so smooth just like in
his dreams, thought Max. Without thinking about the
consequences of what he was doing he began to let his
hand drift down along her ribs...then higher until he
was caressing the sides of her breast with his
fingers.
They both became aware of the action when their
breathing simultaniously sped up.
Max's hand stilled, but didn't move away. His heart
was pounding. He could feel how hard Isabel was
breathing by the movement of her breast beside his
hand and he wondered what was going through her mind.

Isabel didn't move. She didn't know how to react to
Max being so intimate with her body. If he had any
idea what she dreamed about then he would never have
touched her. 
Max couldn't say why he did it, but he let one finger
lightly trace the outline of her bared breast stopping
underneath the fullness. His hand opened to barely cup
the exposed globe. His thumb and finger gently closed
around a pebbled nub.
She quivered as her breathing quickened, but still she
didn't move to stop him. She was torn between stopping
Max and wanting him to continue touching her.
Max lowered his lips to Isabel's shoulder and closed
his eyes as he pressed his lips to her smooth skin. He
then grew bolder as he began to gently squeeze the
firm roundness filling his hand
A tear escaped Isabel's eye as she slowly turned over
and raised her eyes to his. Her shirt stayed above one
breast with Max's hand casually resting on her waist.
She raised her hand to cover her breast.
She searched his eyes and saw pleading and need,
sorrow and love. Max was feeling what she was
feeling. Needing what she was needing. Throwing all
caution to the wind she slowly removed her hand
exposing her breast to him, and raised her finger to
his lips, tracing the edge with her fingertip.
Max took her hand in his and brought the palm to his
lips. He saw raw pain in her eyes and love as well.
Letting go of her hand he caught the tear that was
falling with his thumb and gently dried her cheek.
He lowered his head then hesitated just above hers. If
he kissed her and she returned it there would be no
turning back. 
Isabel felt his warm ragged breath on her face as he
searched her eyes for signs he should stop. In answer,
Isabel raised her hand to his head and pulled him to
her, their lips meeting in a soft kiss.
Max's hand again stole to her full breast and began to
kneed it while his kisses turned deeper. 
Isabel began to moan beneath his caress and her back
arched as she sought more of his touch.
Max pushed her shirt up to expose both breasts and he
buried his face in them and cried. 
Isabel caressed his head as Max's tears fell on her
skin. Her own tears slid silently down the side of her
face and onto the pillow. She no longer knew if she
cried for her parents or for what they were about to
do. 
When he could cry no more, Max raised his head and
gently removed the shirt from Isabel, tossing it to
the floor. His eyes followed his hand as he explored
her body. She was perfect, but then they were hybrids
so they would be. His fingers traced her collar bone,
down her arm, to her finger tips. He raised her hand
and entwined his fingers with hers. He brought their
clasped hands to her belly and rested it there while
he placed soft kisses on the swell of her breasts,
taking each nipple in turn into his mouth to tease
them. 
Isabel's sighs of pleasure made him bolder as he
released her hand and so his own could travel down her
belly to the top of her panties. He followed the line
of the garment as where it covered her hip bones and
began to kiss the skin exposed just above. His hand
slid over her thighs and knees and back up, moving
between her legs and up to her cotton covered apex.
Max lightly fingered the moist area and was rewarded
with a gasp and small movement of her hips. He ran his
hand over the material up to the top and slid a hand
inside. He could tell the tight area was clipped and
was eager to see it exposed. He tugged the garment
down her body and tossed it aside. Looking down at
Isabel's bared body brought a growl of hunger from
deep in Max's body. He moved back up her body and
kissed her as he lay his own body over hers. He
thrilled at the feel of her breasts pushed against
his, the smell of her, the touch of her hands on him
as they lightly moved over his muscled back.
Isabel could feel Max's erection thru his pajama pants
and it both excited and scared her. The dreams had
been so real to her, but this, this was reality
itself. She knew now in her heart that the love she
felt for Max was the one she had had for him on Antar
when he was her husband, Zan. On this world because of
a fluke he belonged to Liz. But for tonight, for this
one night, he was hers as they were meant to be all
along.

Isabel ran her hands over Max's muscular chest and
sides while she returned his kisses. She was hungry
for him in a 
way she had never felt for Jesse, and she knew it was
because they had been meant for each other from the
very start.
She tugged on his pants and he helped her remove them.
He was everything he had been in her dreams and more.
His body was hardened as she had always known it was,
but the parts her eyes had never touched before were
what amazed her. He was thick and hard to her touch,
the tip weeping with precum as he anticipated what was
to come between them. Her legs wrapped around his as
they sought each others touch. and still it wasn't
enough. Isabel released her legs from Max's and felt
his knee between her own as he sought entrance to her
body. She opened her legs eagerly to him. Max moved
between them until the tip of his erection touched her
swollen opening, and looked in her eyes again.
No turning back. 
Isabel took one of his hands and placed it on her
breast and moved it along the globe as she kissed him.
Max pressed forward and slid into her tight warmth
until he was fully inside of her. Their eyes closed as
her walls surrounded him and held tight. He began a
slow movement of his hips that thrust gently into her
own, the friction it caused inside their bodies
electrifying them both. 
She wanted more. She wanted as much of him as he could
gstillr and stilll it would never be enough for her.
He seemed to have the same need for he sped up his
movements and thrust more forcefully inside her. She
took him deep inside to her womb, clinching her walls
around him to caress him as he pulled slowly back out
and thrust in again. Isabel wrapped her legs tighter
around Max's waste and met his thrusts so that they
were moving as one. 
Max was savoring every moment of being with Isabel. He
realized that the dreams were just a foretelling of
this moment and what she meant to him. She was his
wife. His Queen. His heart and mind were awakened to
the fact that Isabel was the one he had been waiting
for all of his life. She was his destiny.
White heat began to envelope them as their bodies as
they neared fullfillment. They began to lose
themselves in the rings of pleasure that they were
giving one another as they moved faster and faster,
their bodies bathed in sweat of their exertions. 
Max kissed Isabel as he made one last deep thrust to
empty his hot fluid inside her and settle at her womb.
Isabel arched up towards him as she came, her muffled
cry quieted by his kiss while holding her hands as
they clinched and unclinched then lay still.

They struggled to breathe and come back to Earth from
their love making. Each was wondering what the other
was thinking. They hadn't said a word to one another
the whole time they had made love.
Isabel removed her legs from Max and he slowly made
his way from her body. He looked down in her face to
see if it registered disgust. All he saw was love.
He kissed her forehead before laying beside her and
pulling her close.
Isabel felt the hot tears running out the sides of her
eyes before she realized she was crying. 
She wiped at them as unobtrusively as she could, but
he still noticed.
Max rolled on his side towards her to wipe at the
tears.
"I dreamed of us like this," he told her.
Her lips trembled at his words. "So did I."
"The last dream I had, it was real wasn't it? We were
really together weren't we?" he asked her.
Isabel nodded. "I think so. I wasn't sure before."
"You really are my wife then," said Max still amazed.
Isabel looked away. 
"What?" he asked her.
"It can't happen again, Max. What we just did, it
can't happen again."
He leaned up on his arm. "I love you. You love me too,
don't you?"
Isabel nodded. "Yes, but you belong to Liz."
Max rolled back on the bed. Liz. 
"I love you. You are my wife...my lover," he told her.
"We were weak, Max. She thinks you love her, and up
until some woman told us differently and we had those
dreams you thought you loved her too. The only reason
we gave in was because...." she looked away.
Max shook his head. "You're my wife, Isabel."
"But she is with you now."
"But you are my wife. I don't care if it was on Antar,
you were and are my wife!" Max said.

The door swung open and Kyle walked in. He stood there
staring at Max and Isabel tangled up in the sheets and
his eyes widened. "Oh shit! What the hell is going on
here?!"
"Close the door, Kyle!" ordered Max pulling the sheet
over Isabel.
"Kyle! Wait, let us explain! It's not what you think!"
said Isabel hurriedly as she covered up.
Kyle shut the door and ran at Max. "You bastard! How
could you do that to her?!" he yelled as he hit Max
with his fist.
Max took the hit and then said, "She's my wife, Kyle!
My wife!"
Kyle ptalkingmidway thru another punch. "What the hell
are you talkin about? She's your sister, you bastard!"
"Kyle! It's true! Max is my husband! We were married
on Antar! Not Max and Tess." She waited for the news
to sink in.
Kyle's fist dropped. "But I thought..."
"Yeah, well it's a long story. But it's true. We've
been fighting it, but ...." Max looked to Kyle and
hoped he understood. 
"So you are not brother and sister?"
Max and Isabel shook their heads. 
"And who else knows this bit of news?" he still wasn't
sure he believed it. 
"Michael. Michael knows," said Max. 
"And Liz?"
Max shook his head. "No."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Oh this is going to go over
really good."
"You can't tell, Kyle. Do you understand? No one,"
said Max.
"What? You two are going to boff when you want, and
still lead Liz on? I don't want to be a party to
that," said Kyle throwing up his hands.
"No. It's not going to happen again," said Isabel. 
Both men looked at her. "Isabel..." began Max, but she
cut him off.
"It was only this time. It can't happen again. We
can't do that to everyone."
"We love one another! You are my wife!" said Max
getting upset.
"Go back to Liz, Max," said Isabel sadly.
"NO!" Max said angrily.
"Max....please go," said Isabel turning away.
Max stared at her profile. She was serious. "I love
you, Isabel," he told her quietly. "This isn't
finished." He pulled on his pajama pants while Kyle
turned around. He turned the knob on the door and
said, "I love you."
Then he was gone.
Kyle looked at Isabel on the bed sobbing into the
twisted sheets.
He walked over to her and sat down on the far side of
the bed.
"You okay?"
Isabel shook her head.
"What you said....you know about you two being
married. It's true. You two weren't being perverted,
you were just being...."
Isabel nodded.
"You love him?"
Isabel nodded. 
Kyle held open his arms and Isabel fell into them.
Kyle patted her head and wondered how the hell things
had gotten more complicated than he ever thought
possible since leaving Roswell.


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

A few days later.....

"I can't believe after five years we're back where we
started," said Maria quietly as she and Michael sat in
the back seat of the van they were riding in.
"I never thought I'd see this place again," said
Michael looking out the window. 
"Yeah, well I'm glad to see it again," said Liz. Then
she quickly looked at Max and Isabel. "I mean, I'm not
glad why we came back. I mean it's just really sad why
we're here, but I might can see my parents and ...."
She paled. "I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean."
"It's okay Liz," said Max without emotion as he sat
beside her in the van. Liz smiled slightly and took
his hand and squeezed it. Max stared at the back of
Isabel's head. She hadn't looked at him since he had
left her in bed after Kyle had found them together.
His heart was breaking in more ways than one now that
she had told him they could never be together.

Isabel sat in the front seat next to Kyle who was
driving. She never turned away from looking out the
passenger window. She rode in silence as she tried to
tune out Liz's nervous blunders and the reason why
they were all here. She had too much on her mind to
deal with any more right now, and being enclosed in
the van with Max and Liz was not doing her any good.
She was feeling ill from the stress of everything and
just wanted to be alone if even for a short while so
she could grieve and sort through it all.

"Home sweet home," said Kyle pulling up without lights
to the Valenti home. He sucked in a nervous breath as
his hands clinched around the steargreetedl. 
"I can't believe I'm home. After all this time I'm
home," he whispered. 
"What if he doesn't live here anymore?" asked Maria. 
Silence greeeted her question. 
"I'm serious. We have no idea if he or anyone else
still lives here," said Maria playing nervously with
her necklace.
"They wouldn't leave, " came Isabel's voice quietly
from the front. "They would be waiting to hear
something from us.... and they never did," said Isabel
sadly.
Max blinked and reached forward to place a comforting
hand on Isabel's shoulder. "Iz," he whispered.
Isabel wiped tears that fell silently down her cheeks
as she nodded and pulled away. "I know."
Max ached at her movement. 
"You guys get out and I'll move the van somewhere 
that won't be so noticeable," said Micsurprised
"Kyle should go first since it's his home," suggested
Liz. 
The others silently agree. So Kyle headed to the back
of the house and the door located there.

He tried the door and was not suprised to find it
locked. His Dad was always a stickler about that.
He went to his father's bedroom window located near by
and was about to take the screen down when he heard a
click near his ear. 
"Hold it right there. Put your hands up. You picked
the wrong place to rob," came a familiar voice near
his ear.
"Dad?"
Jim Valenti paused. It couldn't be. "Kyle?" he asked
hesitantly.
Kyle slowly turned around. "Yeah Dad, it's me." 
The two men stood looking at one another before Jim
grabbed Kyle in his arms and hugged him tight.
"Oh gawd, Kyle! My son, oh gawd it's really you," he
cried as he kissed Kyle's head.
Tears fell down Kyle's face as he clung to his father.
"I've missed you, Dad. I've missed you so much," he
whispered in the older man's ear.
Jim stood back and wiped his eyes. "Kyle, what are you
doing here son? It isn't safe." Then he answered his
own question. "Max and Isabel....everyone. They're all
here aren't they?" 
Kyle nodded. "We had to, Dad. They couldn't stay
away."
Jim nodded. "I know. I was hoping when the story was
picked up that you all would see it, but still stay
away. Well where are they?"
"Waiting in the shadows beside the house," answered
Kyle. 
"Best get you all inside before someone notices," said
Jim walking with his arm around Kyle to the side of
his house.
Jim spied Isabel first and walked up to where she was
sitting on the log pile.
"Isabel."
Isabel looked up and without hesitation stood and
threw her arms around the man she considered a second
father. 
"I'm sorry, Isabel. Truly sorry," Jim whispered as he
held her. He looked up to find the others watching.
"We need to head on into the house before someone sees
you."


Once inside Jim made sure the curtains were closed and
only the lowest of lights were used.
"I scan for bugs and such everyday so we're safe to
talk," he told them. 
He walked up to Max and stuck out his hand. "Max. I
wish we were seeing each other under better
cirucumstances."
Max nodded. "Thanks."
Jim then turned to Michael. "Michael, it's been a long
time."
"Yes sir," replied Michael as he shook the hand of the
only father figure he'd ever had.
"Liz...Maria. You two look beautiful," said Jim as he
hugged each in turn.
"Can I get you all something ....food....drink?" asked
Jim.
When no one accepted he indicated they should sit.
"How'd it happen?" asked Max getting right to the
point.
Jim sighed. "Well the report that came in said your
father was driving and lost control. Most likely hit a
patch of the loose gravel that had just been put out
on the road in preparation for some road work that is
going on. They were both killed instantly."
"You checked? Nothing was amiss?" asked Max as he
clinched and unclinched his hands.
"You mean did I find signs that something alien
happened to them? No. It appears to be just what it
was. An accident," said Jim.
"We thought Alex's death was an accident too, but it
was Tess. How do we know another alien didn't do this
to draw us out?" asked Max.
"Excuse me," said Isabel as she hastily beat a path
towards the bathroom and slammed the door. 
Max stood up to follow Isabel, but Liz placed a hand
on his arm to hold him back.
"I'll go," said Liz as she followed Isabel.
Max watched Liz follow Isabel and then sat back down. 
He listened to all Jim said, but his eyes kept
wandering back to the closed door the two women in his
life were behind.

Isabel leaned over the toilet and heaved silently. She
hadn't eaten in days so there was nothing to give up.
She heard the door open and shut. She figured it was
Max, and was surprised to hear Liz's voice as she
brought a wet cloth for her to use.
devastatedt you some water or something, Isabel?" 
Isabel shook her head slightly as Liz held her hair
for her.
When she could finally sit she leaned her head on the
wall behind her and wiped at her mouth.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
Liz nodded. "It's been hard on you. Max has been
devestated too."
Isabel looked sideways at Liz and wiped her mouth
again then moved the rag to her throat.
A knock at the door sounded and Maria entered the
room.
"Is she okay?"
"Yeah, just upset. It's normal," said Liz.
"Their going to go to the cemetery later when the town
gets quieter," Maria told them.
Isabel nodded. "Look, I just need to be alone. Thanks
for your help."
Liz and Maria looked at one another. "Okay, but we're
right outside if you need us."
Isabel nodded and both girls left.

Isabel closed her eyes. "This isn't happening. I'm
asleep and it's all just a bad dream."
But she opened her eyes and knew it wasn't. Tears
slipped down. "Oh gawd."
She stood on shaky eyes and went to the sink. She
washed her face and took a swig of Jim's mouthwash and
spit. With one last look, she went back to join the
others.

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

"They planned their funerals before you two even left
Roswell. They didn't want you to have to make any
decisions," said Jim as they looked down at the
graves.
Isabel lay flowers on both graves and stood up. 
"Thanks for putting out the news story. How did you
know the AP might pick it up?" asked Max.
"I have connections and pulled in a favor," said Jim.
"I knew it would be seen by you sooner or later."
Isabel looked to where Alex's grave lay near by. Liz
and Maria were there now.
"Max, Maria and Liz want to see there parents. I don't
know," said Michael. He was always looking over his
shoulder for the Special Unit or enemies.
"Let them," whispered Isabel. The men looked at her.
"I wouldn't want them to feel what we're feeling right
now. I would give anything if I could talk to my
Mother again right now. Let them see their families."
Max looked at Michael and nodded. "Take them, but be
careful."
"Go with Liz, Max. I'll stay here," said Isabel.
Max didn't want to go with Liz. He saw this as an
opportunity to talk to Isabel and change her mind. 
"Max. I said go with her," said Isabel as if sensing
his need to stay with her.
Max frowned but did as he was asked.

When Max, Liz, Michael and Maria had left, Isabel
turned to Jim and Kyle.
"I'm tired. If you don't mind I'd like to go back and
lay down."
"Sure thing, Isabel," said Jim as he led her away with
Kyle following behind.

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

Isabel could hear Jim and Kyle talking in the den. Now
was the time to go. She had made the decision before
they had made it back to Roswell, but she knew they
would fight her on it. Now she had no choice.
Isabel raised Kyle's window and had one leg out when
there was a knock on the door. Isabel couldn't get her
leg back in fast enough before Kyle was standing there
in the open door way.
"Where are you going?" he asked suspiciously.
Isabel lay her head on the window and cursed to
herself.
"I'm leaving, Kyle."
Kyle looked behind him and quickly closed the door.
"What? Why? Because of Max and the whole thing between
you two?"
"Yes."
"Isabel, this is a mistake. Where the hell do you
think you're going to go?" he asked angrily.
Isabel sighed. "Kyle...I have to leave....I'm ....I'm
pregnant." She didn't look at him as she said it.
Kyle's mouth dropped. "Pregnant. Does Max know?"
Isabel shook her head. "No, and you aren't going to
tell him either. He has a life now with Liz. She
wouldn't 
understand all of this between Max and me. And a
baby...." she laughed with the sound of pain in her
voice. 
"You can't leave and raise a baby on your own,
Isabel." Kyle searched for some way to get her to
stay. "Marry me. We'll say the baby is mine." 
Isabel stared at him with a mixture of shock and
gratitude. His gesture was so unselfish and she was
tempted for the heads tartcond to accept.
"Kyle, I can't let you do that. It is so sweet and I'm
touched. I truely am, but Max would know the baby is
his and so would I. Plus....it wouldn't be fair to
you. But thank you." 
"Where are you going to go?" He couldn't stand to
think of her alone raising a baby.
"I don't know. But I can't stay here. Not now." She
stuck her leg back out the window. "Kyle, give me a
headstart please. Don't tell them you saw me leave.
Not yet."
Kyle walked over to the window and after a moment
finally nodded. "I don't like this."
"I know. You've been a good friend, Kyle. Thank you."
She kissed his cheek then was out the window and gone.

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

"How long has Isabel been asleep?" asked Max a while
after returning from Liz's parents.
He had wanted to talk to her, but he hated to wake her
up.
Kyle bit his nail as he avoided Max's question. But
Jim spoke up. "Oh, going on 3 hours I guess. Isn't
that what you would say, son?"
Kyle shrugged. "Yeah."
"I think I'll go check on her," said Max moving
towards the hall.
"NO!" said Kyle jumping up. At everyones looks he
said, "She didn't want to be disturbed."
He felt sick lying. He was worried about Isabel. He
should have tried harder to keep her here.
Michael thought Kyle looked a bit pale and nervous.
"What's up, Kyle?"
"Nothing." Kyle bit off another nail.
Now Max noticed how nervous Kyle was. "Is something
wrong with Isabel?"
Kyle hit his palm with his fist. "Damn it! I shouldn't
have let her do it!"
Everyone was instantly alert. "Let her do what?" asked
Max. 
Kyle swallowed. "She's gone."
Max ran to Kyle's bedroom and opened the door. The
room was empty.
"Where is she?" he asked Kyle. 
"I don't know," said Kyle.
Max hauled him up by his shirt. "Where is she, Kyle?!"
"I don't know. She didn't....she didn't tell me," said
Kyle with self loathing.
"When?" asked Max as a chill went over him.
"About 3 and half hours I guess. She said she had to
be on her own now."
Everyone looked around at each other. 
"How did she leave?" asked Michael. 
"On foot. She went out the window and that's the last
I saw of her," said Kyle. "I'm sorry."
Max looked at Kyle. He felt there wprecede Kyle wasn't
telling him, but he couldn't press it here.
"We have to find her," said Max going to the door.
Michael stepped in front of Max. "No. Not until we
have a plan. She's got almost 4 hours on us. We have
to think where she would have gone."
Max started to argue then nodded. Michael was right.
"Liz, sit down with Max and try to think of where she
might have gone. Kyle and I..." he looked at Kyle.
"We'll check out the transportation we have." He
motioned for Kyle to preceed him out the door.
Kyle understood what Michael wanted and went outside
with dread.

"Okay, where did she go?" demanded Michael.
"I don't know! She really didn't tell me," said Kyle.
"You want me to beat it out of you?" asked Michael.
"Go ahead! I need it after letting her leave in her
condition in the first place!" Kyle burst out.
Michael froze. "Her condition?"
Kyle closed his eyes. "Damn."
"What condition does she have?" asked Michael. "She's
pregnant isn't she?"
"Yeah, but I swear it's not mine!" said Kyle holding
up his hands.
Michael cursed. "I know it's not yours."
"You do?" asked Kyle. "So you know whose it is?" 
The way he asked let Michael know that Kyle did too.
"How did you find out?" he asked Kyle.
"Which part? That she was pregnant or whose it is?"
"Both," said Michael.
"She told me....and I caught them in bed," said Kyle.
"The stupid son of bitch!" said Michael. "He just
couldn't leave her alone."
"She looked pretty willing," said Kyle.
Michael nodded. "She gave in to the dreams."
"He's gotten two out of three pregnant. It is just
those three isn't it? He didn't get to Maria too did
he?" asked Kyle. 
Michael gave Kyle a withering look.
"Well I wasn't sure. And how come Liz isn't pregnant
if he's got such super swimmers?" asked Kyle.
Michael thought about it. One conclusion came to mind.
"Because Liz isn't a hybrid." Neither was Maria which
meant he would never have kids with her either.
"Are you going to tell Max, Isabel is pregnant? asked
Kyle.
Michael shook his head. "No. Not yet anyway. He went
crazy trying to find his son. Trying to find Isabel if
knows she's carrying his kid will do him in. We'll
wait."

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

A month later.....

"Max, you should eat," said Liz bringing him a burger
and drink.
Max stared at the map before him trying to figure out 
what direction they should go next.
"Max. Did you hear me?" 
Max drew some coordinates on a paper and added some
notes.
"Max!" Liz yelled.
Max looked up. "What?"
Liz began to pace. "What? What? Max, you have been
driving us all crazy trying to find Isabel! Look at
you! You're unkempt and not eating! She doesn't want
to be found! Do you understand that? Isabel doesn't
want to be found! This is worse than you trying to
find your son!"
Max stood up. "You don't know what you are talking
about! You know nothing about it!"
"And you do? Do you know why she left? NO! Because she
doesn't want us to know or to be found!" yelled Liz.
The door opened and Maria, Michael, and Kyle stepped
in.
"Will you two shut up!" hissed Michael. "We can't draw
attention to ourselves."
"I will find her! If you don't want to help that's
fine, but leave me alone!" said Max going back to his
maps.
"Why are you obsessed about finding her? She didn't
care enough to let us know she was leaving!" said Liz
hurt and angry.
"She left because of me! I have to find her!" said Max
running a hand through his mussed hair.
"What?" asked Liz. The others in the room were quiet.
Michael and Kyle were looking at one another. It was
all fixing to come down on them.
"I love her," said Max without apology.
"Of course you do, Max. She's your sister. It's only
natural, but she didn't care about that," said Liz
sitting by him.
Max shook his head. "No. I love her because she's my
wife. Now do you understand? She's my wife," explained
Max looking at Liz.
Liz slowly stood up and shook her head. "Noooooo she's
your sister."
"Liz....she's my wife." He looked up at Liz with
regret. "We've known for a while now. The reason I
became cool to you....the dreams...they were all about
Isabel."
"NO!" Liz was shaking.
"You bastard!" yelled Maria as she went to Liz. "You
sick bastard!"
"It's true, Maria. It's a long story, but it's true.
They were married to one another on Antar. Not Max and
Tess. They sort of 'reconnected'."
"Sort of reconnected! And you didn't tell me? You
knew and didn't tell me!" said Maria angrily.
"Get out of my room," said Liz quietly. "Get your
things and get out of my room."
"I never meant to hurt you, Liz. I never touched you
when I found out because I was confused. I
knounbelievable misled you and maybe I did, but I
never meant to hurt you. I have to be with her. I
love her!" said Max. He realized what a mess of things
he had mada lotth Liz, and didn't know how to make it
up to her.
"Get out Max," Liz repeated quietly.
"Not yet," said Michael. He looked at Liz and Maria.
"Are you going to sell us out?"
"Michael...." Max shook his head. 
"No, Max. We have to know. Women who've been scorned
act on revenge. If Liz or Maria is going to sell us
out I want to know."
"Your best friend just broke my best friend's heart
and all you can think of is if we're going to tell
someone that you're aliens? You are unbelieveable!"
said Maria with disgust.
"He has a point. Are you?" asked Kyle.
"You're siding with them?" asked Maria.
"Yeah. There's alot you don't know and I do. I'm sorry
Liz was hurt. I always said Evan's would do that to
her, but that is beside the point. I'm siding with
them," said Kyle crossing his arms.
Max looked greatfully at Kyle, but the look he
received was anything but friendly.
"Could everyone just leave please," said Liz with
tears threatening to fall. She wanted to be alone to
cry.
Max and Michael walked out the door. "I'll be right
back, Liz," said Maria as she ran after Michael.
Kyle stood by the door and then reached out to close
it.
"Kyle, please...just leave."
"No. I want to talk to you and you're going to
listen," said Kyle.
"You don't have anything I want to hear," said Liz
sitting down and moving the maps off the bed.
Kyle locked the door so they wouldn't be interrupted.
"Look, I promised Michael I wouldn't say anything
about this. Max has no idea, but I think you should
know. You deserve to know." He waited until Liz looked
at him. "Isabel and Max were together only one time."
"He....he made love to her?" Liz put a hand to her
mouth. 
"Yeah, but the point is, she loves him as much as he
loves her and she told him they couldn't be together
because he should stay with you."
"What?" Liz shook her head. "That doesn't
majudgmentsse. Why would she would tell him that if
she really loved him?"
"Because she didn't want any trouble between all of
us."
"That doesn't mean anything. If they really loved..."
"Isabel's pregnant, Liz," Kyle told her quietly. At
her look of shocked dismay Kyle added, "Max has no
idea. Micheal and I decided he couldn't handle it if
he thought he had lost her and another child as well."
Liz sat down. Her world was upside down with no hope
of ever turning right again.
"But..."
"You can't tell him either. They were told about their
history and the dreams showed them their life before.
It was their ..."
"Destiny," Liz whispered.
"I thought you should know before you made any
judgements," said Kyle as he unlocked the door.
Liz nodded absently as Kyle left.


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

Days later.....

Max sat down next to Liz at a picnic table in a park
area they were stopped in.
"Huh Maria said you wanted to see me."
Liz nodded. "Yeah." She took a deep breath. "I've
talked to Kyle. He explained things that had been
happening that you never told me." She looked at him.
"You should have told me, Max," she said softly.
"I never meant to hurt you, Liz. Please believe that,"
said Max.
"I know you didn't, but you did. I thought it hurt
when you were with Tess and had a baby with her, but
this..." she shook her head. "It's Isabel. I never
thought it would be Isabel."
"I know. We didn't know ourselves," said Max.
Liz sighed and sat up straighter. "I'm not going to
tell anyone about you, so you can quit worrying about
that. I thought about it though. But after talking to
Kyle, I've changed my mind."
"Thank you, Liz. You know I respectcare for you,
but..."
"Max...don't. Just don't say it," said Liz shaking her
head.
"Yeah, okay," said Max standing up.
"Max."
He stopped and looked down at Liz. "I'll help you find
Isabel."
Max sat back down. "Why? After everything, why would
you help me?"
"I have my reasons," she said. 
"Thank you, Liz." Max reached out for her hand, but
Liz pulled away.
Max sadly pulled his back and stood up.
With one last look he left.

"That took guts girlfriend. I don't think I could have
done that," said Maria coming up behind Liz with Kyle.
Liz nodded and placed her head on Maria's shoulder as
tears stung her eyes. 
Kyle sat on her other side. "You have a big heart,
Liz." He looked at her with a new repect. "A very big
heart."
"Maria, can I talk to Kyle a minute?" Liz requested.
Maria looked surprised, but said, "Okay. I'll see you
at the van."
"So what made you decide to help him?" asked Kyle.
"You did. I saw what he went thru when he searched for
his son. Then I watched while he gave him up again.
He's never recovered from that. I couldn't watch him
do it again," said Liz.
"But what about you? You still love him," said Kyle.
"Yes, I do. I just hope that maybe someday I'll find a
man who wants to be with me that I can love," said
Liz.
Kyle gave her a smile. "You will Liz. Something tells
me you will."

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

One year later......

Max sat in his car and rechecked the slip of paper
containing the address that Liz had managed to dig up
for him. It was just one of many he had checked out in
the past year in the hopes of finally locating Isabel.

The address was the same. This was the place. He
stared out the window at the neatly groomed yard and
flowering plants. He could see her living some place
like this.
He checked his watch.
7:30.
He wondered if she was home. He didn't see any lights
on, but the sun hadn't started to set yet so she could
be inside with the lights off if she indeed lived
here.
Max glanced at himself in the mirror. He looked calm,
but inwardly he was a ball of nerves. 
Taking a deep breath, he opened the car door and got
out. It seemed like the front walk to the door of the
duplex went on endlessly, yet he knew it did not. He
walked with a purpose towards the door in the hopes of
finally finding the one he sought.
Blowing out the deep breath he had been holding, Max
knocked on the door before he noticed the door bell.
He rang it as well then waited nervously.
He was about to ring the bell again when he heard a
voice behind him.
"She isn't home young man. She's at work. You should
come back tomorrow."
Max turned and spotted an older woman to his left on
the walk. He glanced at his watch. It was late to be
working. "When will she be home? Or maybe you can
tell me where she works? I'd like to surprise her.
It's been a while since we've seen each other."
The woman squinted as she studied Max a moment then
finally asked, "Have we met young man?"
"No ma'am. Huh, you said she was working. Could you
tell me where?" replied Max. He was anxious to be on
his way, but didn't want to be too rude.
"Are you sure we haven't met? I never forget a face.
It might take me a while to remember where I've seen
it, but I never forget," the woman stated as she
studied Max more.
Max shook his head. "No ma'am. I would have remembered
if we had met. The place she works...you were going to
tell me," reminded Max. He tried to stay calm, but he
was so close to finding her and didn't want to play
'twenty questions' with the woman.
"I never said I would help you young man. If you say
we haven't met then I don't know you and I can't give
out that information. You will just have to come back
tomorrow," said the woman. 
A baby's cry made the woman turn. "I have to go. You
come back tomorrow now, you hear?" The woman returned
to her side of the duplex leaving Max all alone on the
walk.
"Tomorrow," groaned Max. He was so close yet so far
away in finding her.
He looked at his watch then up and down the street. It
was quiet. A nice neighborhood actually.
He realized his palms were sweating. He rubbed them on
the inside of his pants pockets to dry them. 
He hadn't been this nervous since....since this all
started he realized. 
Max walked back to his car and got in. He leaned his
head back on the head rest and closed his eyes. He'd
been driving for four days to get here and the
exhaustion was catching up to him. How many days had
he spent on the road in the past year trying to find
her? He'd lost count.
He would have to come back tomorrow. He would just
have to be patient one more day.
He started his car and drove off, missing the car that
drove in the drive as he rounded the corner.

Isabel jumped out of her car and headed next door.
She rang the bell and smiled brightly when she was
greeted at the door by her neighbor and an infant.
"There's my girl!" said Isabel happily as she held her
hands out for the baby. "Was she good for you Mrs.
Watson?"
"She's always good honey! But she's getting hungry.
The bottles you sent are all gone. You're going to
need to send some cereal or jars to fill her up."
Isabel kissed her baby. "I know. I've just put it off.
I will send some next week. They are giving me
tomorrow off so I can have a loreligiousnd with her."
She blew on the baby's tummy and the little girl
laughed. "Ready to go home precious?" She picked up
her daughter and the diaper bag. Pulling some bills
out of her pocket she handed them to the older woman.
"Here's this weeks money, Mrs. Watkins. I don't know
what I would do without you."
"Oh, I enjoy her. She's a delight to have around,"
said the woman as she walked Isabel to the door.
"Night, Mrs. Watkins."
"Night....oh wait. Someone was here looking for you."
Isabel froze. "Someone was looking for me? Did they
say who?"
"No, but he was nice looking young man. He said he
would be back tomorrow. Well night now, honey."

Isabel made her way to her own home and went inside.
She made sure her door was locked and the curtains
pulled. She wondered who was looking for her. No one
knows you're here, Isabel so don't worry. It's
probably a salesman or some religous person, she told
herself.
The baby began to cry so Isabel kicked off her shoes
and lay the baby on her bed while she quickly changed
into pajamas. She left her top unbuttoned and picked
up her daughter and offered her a breast. The child
latched on greedily, making loud sucking noises as she
nursed. 
"Ow! I think you're getting another tooth," winced
Isabel.
She sat on the lounge chair in her room and caressed
her baby's head as she watched her nurse.
"I love you, Rachel," said Isabel kissing the top of
her head.
She lay her head back and rested her eyes. The first
thing that popped in was the same thing that always
did....Max. She wondered where he was now. Had he and
Liz married yet? Did he miss her at all?

Max walked out the 'Stop-n-Go' and got into his car.
He had a full tank of gas and no where to go. He hated
to give up on seeing Isabel tonight. If he was wrong
and it wasn't her, then he would begin the drive back
tonight.
He drove back towards the address he had. As he
approached he noticed a car out front. 
His heart skipped a beat. Was that her car?
Max stopped his own car and killed the lights and
motor.
This was it. Please let it be her.
He walked up the walk which now seemed longer than
before and rang the bell.

Isabel opened her eyes and looked down. Rachel was
asleep.
The bell sounded again.
Isabel hurriedly placed Rachel in her crib and
buttoned her top on the way to the door.
She looked outside the peep hole and gasped. Slowly
she opened the door.
"Max."
Max stood looking at Isabel and wondered how she had
gotten more beautiful. 
"Isabel."
"What...how...?" she was shocked he was standing in
her doorway. She hadn't realized how much she had
missed him until just now. Yes, she spent every waking
moment with some sort of thought about him, but to see
him here in front of her now made her heart leap for
joy.
"Liz...she tracked you doacquiredme," explained Max.
Isabel blanched. "Liz?" She recovered and asked. "How
is Liz? Everyone?"
"Liz is fine. Everyone is fine. Hm, Isabel, can I come
in?" asked Max.
Isabel looked behind her as she clutched at her night
shirt. 
Max noticed the movements and frowned. He'd never
considered she might have a boyfriend....or husband!
"Are you alone?" he asked uncertainly. 
"N-no. No, I'm not," said Isabel wondering how to
explain that she'd had his baby and hadn't told him.
Max's face fell. "Oh."
Isabel realized he had the wrong idea. "Come in, Max."
She opened the door up.
Max stepped inside and looked around. Isabel had made
her house warm and inviting. 
"The place looks nice," said Max walking around. 
"Thanks."
"How do you support yourself? I mean this stuff is
nice," asked Max as he eyed a near empty vase.
"I work for a decorator. I get things discounted which
is how I aquired the stuff I have," she explained.
He looked at the bookshelf. Along with several books
were some pictures. "I thought you didn't have
anything when you left."
"I had pictures of Mom and Dad...Michael....you."
Max walked over to see them and Isabel held her
breath.
"I remember when that one was made. Michael was a bear
about having his picture taken until you convinced him
you would never dream walk him," said Max smiling. But
his smile turned to a frown as he came upon several
pictures of a baby....and Isabel. He turned to look at
her with a questioning look in his eyes. 
"Max...there is something I need to tell you."
"You have a baby?" he asked in shock. Then it fully
registered with him. "That's my baby." He looked back
at the picture then at Isabel. "WE have a baby!"
As if on cue, Rachel let out a cry. Isabel's eyes went
to the bedroom.
His heart stopped and restarted as Max realized that
the child crying was his. He followed the sound of the
cry.
Max stopped at the sight of a nursery decorated for a
little girl. Isabel followed Max into the room.
"Her name is Rachel Diane...for Mom."
Max looked down at the crying child. His child. He had
a daughter. He picked her up and almost immediately
she stopped crying. He turned to Isabel. She had been
pregnant and hadn't told him.
"You weren't going to tell me? Ever?" The hurt and
anger in his voice was evident.
"Max, I couldn't tell you. You were with Liz....and we
were together only once. I didn't know how you would
react after everything with Tess ...the dreams we
had...."
"She's my child, Isabel! You know what I went through
trying to find Zan and then you took my daughter! How
could you do that?frightening you leave me?"
Isabel began to cry. "I was scared, Max. All of it...I
was wrong, but I didn't know what else to do."
"You should have told me," said Max holding Rachel
close to him and kissing her ear. Her baby smell
reminded him of the son he had given up and the moment
was both sweet and sorrowful.
"I know...I'm sorry." Isabel began to cry harder. The
baby picked up on the sound and began to cry too.
Isabel's breasts began to leak at the sound of the
baby's cry.
"I need to nurse her," said Isabel holding out her
arms.
Max saw the wet spots on her top and handed his crying
daughter to Isabel. He watched as she undid her top
and put Rachel to her breast, then went to sit in a
nursery rocker.
Max left the room to return with a dining chair. He
sat beside Isabel and watched Rachel kneed her
mother's breast as she sucked then fell back asleep.
All of his anger left him at the sight of his child
with Isabel. He tried to imagine how Isabel must have
felt. Everything was so confusing and frightning to
them then. For her to find herself pregnant and
everything between them unsettled she must have been
very afraid. To think she carried their child, gave
birth, and made a home for them all by herself made
his heart ache. 
"I'm sorry, Isabel. I just wish I had known. You
didn't have to leave. Liz and I, we never got back
together. She's with Kyle now. Their happy, and now
that I've found you....well I hope we can be happy
too."
Isabel looked up at him. "I should have told you. You
had the right. I took that from you. But I'm so glad
you're here now, Max. I've missed you so much!"
Max leaned over to place a soft kiss on her lips.
"I've looked for you everywhere. I thought I'd lost
you forever."
"Stay here with us, Max." Isabel loved it here. She
felt safe.
"What about the others?" 
"They are welcome here. It&un-obstructed place to
live. But...will Liz want to move here?" Isabel wasn't
certain she wanted Liz living nearby.
"No. But Michael and Maria might. I think Kyle and Liz
will move closer to their parents if they can," said
Max. 
He looked down on Rachel. "She's beautiful, Isabel."
"Yes, I think she's a keeper." She regretted the words
immediately. "Max....I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I did what was right for Zan at the time.
Maybe someday...."
Isabel rose from the rocker and placed Rachel back in
her crib. 
Max followed Isabel as she left the room and entered
her own.
"Nice room," said Max taking in the modern country
look.
"Thanks," said Isabel as she went to her dresser for a
clean top. She started to remove the other then
stopped.
"Shy?" he teased her.
"I don't ....my body...it's ...different." She wasn't
certain how he would react.
"Your point being?"
Isabel hesitated then removed her shirt.
Max sucked in his breath. With her top on it was hard
to see the size of her breasts, but now with an
unobstructed view he swallowed a gasp. She was huge on
top due to nursing Rachel. But her waist was small and
nearly flat. A slight curve was all that told him a
baby had once been in there.
"You look great to me," he told her. She heard the
hunger in his voice. Her fingers released the button
she was about to place in the button hole.
Max watched while she moved to the bed and climbed on
top. Her shirt remained open.
"If you want to be a family then this is your bed
too."
Max swallowed as he approached the bed. "You're sure?"
"I've waited two life times, Max. I almost lost you
again. I'm sure."
"We need to get married," he told her.
"Now?" she teased.
"Soon. I want this marriage to be legal on this
planet."
He joined Isabel on the bed and kissed her as his hand
slid inside her shirt to caress a swollen breast.
"Do they hurt?" he asked as his hand brushed a nipple.
"Some. But it's okay," she replied. 
Rachel cried.
"I'll go," said Max getting up.
"Max, she might drift back off...." He was gone.
Soon he returned with their daughter and placed her in
the bed between them.
"You're going to spoil our daughter," said Isabel as
she watched with delight the pleasure on Max's face.
"I'll spoil you both if I can," he told her as he
kissed her. Then he grew serious. "I'll do my best to
keep you both safe."
"I know, Max. You will." She caressed his cheek. "We
love you."
"I love both of you too."

The End