Author: Lori R                  10/18/2004
Email: Gussywussy55@yahoo.com
Title: ‘The Way Home’
Category: Cliffie (Michael and Isabel) with strong Rebel (Max and Tess)
Rating: R
Feedback: It would be nice if you did so I know what worked and what did not.
Summary: Working off of S2...sort of. 


                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was nearly dark out in the desert when a car approached and parked at the base of some rocks.  
The occupant got out and looked around before making the journey up the steep incline and stopping only when they had reached the remains of the highest cliff. 
Isabel Evans sat down and looked up at the stars in the sky. The Antarian 'V' formation was clearer here than anywhere else. 
She reached into the deep pocket of her jacket and pulled out a thin metal book of alien origin and let the stars above be her light to see by.
Opening the book she found herself searching once again the pictures that were etched on its pages, her fingers carefully tracing the images she found there. 
Max and Tess....Michael and herself. They were set in the book as partners. Mates to be specific. 
The anxious, restless feeling that brought her here grew within her as she looked at the pictures.
The feeling that something was about to happen. 
Something big that would change everything about who she was and why she was here, and it frightened her.

"Does Max know you have that?" came a voice from behind her, eliciting a small gasp from the startled woman as she quickly turned around to face the person who spoke.

"Michael!" she admonished clutching the book to her chest. " Gawd! Don't sneak up like that!!"

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he told her as he looked down on at her. He blinked as he sat beside her. She had changed her hair again.  She did that when she wanted to be stylish like the people in the magazines she read. It was now just below her shoulders, the strands a mixture of colors that appeared to be like gold silk in the starlight. It suited her.

"I've been out here alone before."

"It's not safe," Michael reminded her as he looked around at the rubble.

"I can take care of myself," Isabel retorted sharply.

"I didn't say you couldn't," Michael replied as he sat beside her and crossed his legs. He looked up at the 'V' in the sky then said, "You didn't answer my question. Does Max know you have that?" 

Isabel glanced away guiltily then back at Michael with cautious defiance. "No. But the book belongs to all of us, so I don't feel I need his permission to take it."

Michael looked over at her and smirked. "Hey, you're preaching to the choir here."

The defiance Isabel had felt was suddenly gone. "I know," she replied as she lowered the book to her lap.

Michael's brows knitted as he asked, "So why do you have it?" 
He had noticed the page she was on and how she had been tracing his picture and her's with the tips of her fingers. It unnerved him a bit to know that she was thinking about 'them' again. They had traveled this road before when it had been revealed that they were betrothed in another life. It had strained their relationship for a long time after. Neither had wanted to look too closely at a future that might put them together and not with those of their own choosing.  They saw one another as friends and nothing more. 

Isabel looked down at the book then finally shrugged her shoulders as she slightly shook her head. "Honestly? I don't know." She could feel Michael's eyes on her and knew her answer wasn't enough for him. But she didn't have any clear answers for him or for herself. 
"I’m partially just trying to figure out why I'm here."

"What are you talking about?" asked Michael confused. "You're here because you're one of the Royal Four, not that it means much here," he said with a shrug, as he looked sideways at her.

Isabel considered her words carefully.
"According to Nicholas and Whittiker, I'm this Princess that fell so hard for our enemy that I single handedly brought on the deaths of not only my family, but myself as well. I don't want to be 'the traitor'." Tears welled in her eyes as she turned her head away. "I guess I'm trying to find answers in here that I was more than that. That I'm not bad." Her eyes glistened with tears that she wouldn't let spill. "That I did have some good in me and that is why I was sent here," she whispered.

Michael sucked in his breath as he ran his tongue over his lips then clinched his jaw in frustration. He watched the torment that Isabel was placing on herself yet again over this whole 'Vilandra' thing. He didn't understand why she couldn't let it go. Sighing, he placed a hand on the back of her neck and slowly rubbed circles on the tense knot he felt there. "Screw Antarian history. You're not her. You're Isabel Evans, and you are a great person."
He looked down to where she held the book.
"Does the woman in that book look like someone who is bad? No! You don't have it in you."

Isabel considered his words then quietly said, "Sometimes.....I feel like....like I was sent here to watch others find happiness.... and to watch the ones I care for suffer.....or die as punishment for what they say I did up there." 
The tears threatened to spill as she looked at Michael for understanding.

Michael firmly shook his head in anger at her reasoning. "That's just crazy! They didn't send you here to make you suffer."

 He took a deep breath when he saw that she truly believed that was why she was here. 
It broke his heart to see her like this. Taking a different tone he said, "Look, I don't know why they sent any of us here. But what ever their reasons were doesn't matter anymore. I do know it wasn't to punish you or anyone you care about. You have to let all of that go, Isabel.  Alex and that guy Grant....what happened to them had nothing to do with you. You didn't kill them." 

Isabel wiped at her eyes as a ragged sigh escaped. 

Michael pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear. "Our lives up there....it's a past we don't even remember. You need to focus on what's real here and stop looking for things that aren't there. This is our life now and you need to live it."

Isabel looked down at the book then slowly nodded, though the restless, anxious feeling she had inside didn't subside. It was growing stronger.
"You're right." She knew he was right, but it didn’t change how she felt. She couldn’t let him know that though or he would continue to worry. She turned back to Michael and sniffed slightly before saying, "This is our life now and it doesn't matter why I was sent here." She held the book out to Michael. "Put it back for me?"

Michael searched Isabel's face as he took the shiny metal book. "No more talk about past lives and stuff?"

Isabel knew what Michael wanted to hear....that she was going to drop the matter.... but something inside of her told her this was far from over. She had a good idea what was causing this feeling within her and it was unsettling. And whether Michael wanted to accept it or not she felt it had a connection to her past.  
Her hesitation didn't go unnoticed.

"Isabel...promise me you're going to drop this. Forget about whatever was in the past and forget about this damned book!" demanded Michael. He was beginning to worry about how much she was obsessing over this Vilandra thing. Why couldn't she just let it go?

Isabel saw the worried look on Michael's face and said, "I'll leave the book alone."

 Michael inwardly sighed. The book. She hadn't promised to leave the past alone, just the book. She was pacifying him and that both angered and wounded him.  She wasn't going to let go. Deciding that was all she was going to give him for now, Michael said,  "Let's get out of here." 
He stood up and held out his hand to Isabel.  She stared at it a brief moment before accepting it and letting Michael help her to rise. He gave her hand a slight squeeze before releasing it and starting back down the path.

Isabel dusted off her pants, and watched as Michael walked off before she followed him.  Her brows knitted neatly with curiosity as a question arose in her mind.
"Michael? How did you know I was here?" 

Michael acted as if he hadn't heard Isabel as he continued his trek down the rocks. Suddenly he stopped half way and waved his hand over the side of what was left of the rock formation. The rocks shifted to reveal a narrow entrance that Michael proceeded to cautiously enter the opening. 

"Michael!"

Michael halted as he heard his name sharply called, and turned.  "What?" he asked with a touch of annoyance.
He wanted to get the book put back into its hiding place here in the pod chamber. The book had quickly gone from a source telling them a bit about their former selves to a present source for trouble. If Max found out anyone had been here and removed the book bets were good that he would think Michael had it, which didn't bother him in the least.  Better Max thought he had it then to lay into Isabel for not only removing it, but for being here at all. It was dangerous to be out here alone.

Isabel reached out a hand to Michael. "How did you know I was here?"

Michael slightly turned to face her as he felt her hand on his upper arm. He looked down at her hand then into her eyes. 
"I followed you."  As her hand fell away at his reply he turned back and entered the cave followed closely by Isabel.

"You followed me? Can't I even have one moment to myself without you or Max telling me what to do or when to do it or.....or following me!?" she asked with a mix of surprise and anger.

Michael's brows knitted together in a frown at her words, but he didn't answer until he had returned the book to its hiding place high inside a crevice in the rocks.
Looking at Isabel he said, "I was going to your house to see if Max wanted to shoot some hoops. I saw you pull out of your driveway like a bat out of hell. I knew when you almost ran me down that something was bothering you, so I followed you."

Isabel blinked and her lips parted at his words. Her anger diffused immediately. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you," she said with heart-felt apology.

Michael acknowledged the apology with a slight nod of his head. "That was apparent." He motioned towards the entrance. "Let's get out of here."

After resealing the entrance they silently made their way down the path to her car and his motorcycle. Reaching her door Isabel broke the silence.

"Michael.....thanks. For watching out for me I mean."

Michael picked up his helmet and nodded before slipping it on his head and hopping on his bike.
"I'll follow you back."

Isabel nodded before getting in her car and driving off, the restless feeling growing inside her...Michael following close behind.

When they reached the city limits Isabel stopped. Michael pulled up beside her window.

"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?" he asked.

"I don't know," she replied gripping the steering wheel while staring straight ahead. She couldn't go home. Her insides felt jittery inside. Nervous, and with no explanation for it at all.

Michael sighed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just feel....I don't know. Restless....anxious....I don't know." She looked at Michael as she gripped the wheel tighter.  The feeling was growing stronger and stronger inside of her.
"I can't explain it."

Michael frowned as he observed her actions.  He would bet anything that her obsession with Vilandra and the past was doing this to her.
"Look, once you have a good night sleep you will be fine. Now let's.....HEY!"

Isabel had turned her attention back to the road and floored the accelerator, taking off like a bat out of hell, feeling the need for something she couldn't describe, and leaving an astonished Michael in her wake.
She sped through lights and stop signs, taking corners so fast that the tires on her car squealed in protest as she ‘fish tailed’ around them, and all the while she pushed the car faster with no sign of slowing down as she tried to rid herself of this unexplainable feeling. 

Michael trailed behind her praying that she didn't kill them both with her reckless action and wondering what the hell had made her take off like that.
When he caught up to her it was in front of her house where she was just getting out of her car.

Isabel pushed her hair back from her brow with a shaking hand as she opened her door and stepped out. 

"What the hell was that? Are you trying to get yourself and me killed?" he demanded as he tossed his helmet aside and came after her.

Isabel paused at the opened car door. She immediately felt guilt and confusion at her irresponsible behavior especially after their conversation tonight. What had made her do that? What was happening to her?

"Michael, I'm sorry. I don't know what got.....OW! Michael, let go of me!" Isabel's eyes widened as Michael's anger took on a physical manner.

Michael had hold of her tender upper arm and it both shocked and pained her as he had never treated her harshly before.

Isabel winced. "Ow, Michael! Let me go!" She tried to pull away, but Michael held tighter.

"Get in!" he ordered. There was no way he was going to have it out with her on the Evans's lawn with Max and his parents right upstairs to intervene. 

"No!" Isabel stubbornly continued to try and free herself from his grasp, but Michael just held tighter. "Michael, you're hurting me!"

"Good! Now you get back in that car right now and move over or I'll stick your ass in there myself, you got that?" he said through clinched teeth. He was furious at the stunt she had just pulled.

Tears of pain formed in Isabel's eyes as she got back inside the car and moved over to the passenger side. 
Michael released her arm and she rubbed at the injured area as he climbed in beside her and slammed the door.

"Where are we going?"

"My place," came the curt reply.


                                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Michael opened the door to his apartment and led Isabel inside before kicking the door shut behind him.

"Sit!" he ordered as he released her arm and tossed his keys on the table.

Isabel slowly sat on his couch and rubbed her injured arm. She couldn't recall ever seeing Michael so angry with her. Oh sure he had been upset with her, like when she had invited Grant for her Birthday, but that was nothing to compared to this.
She watched as he paced his small apartment, opening and shut his hands as he tried to control himself. Okay, so anger was an understatement. He was furious with her.

"Michael........"

"Don't! Just....don't!" He looked her way and saw the tears in her eyes and the deep dark bruises beginning to show on her arm. Had he done that to her? Some of his anger left him as he motioned towards her arm. "I'll get you some ice. I don't know that I could heal it. Besides there is no reason for Max to see it and start asking questions."
He went into his tiny kitchen and filled a rag with ice and carried it back to her. "Here, hold this on it."

Isabel took the ice pack and held it gingerly on her arm, wincing as it touched her skin. 

Michael sat beside her and studied her a moment before exploding again. 
"What the hell were you thinking, Isabel? Were you trying to get us killed?"

She had scared the crap out of him and he didn’t like it one bit. If she had crashed….he covered his face with his hands. He didn’t even want to think about what could have happened to her.

Isabel shook her head as she adjusted the ice pack.
"No. It was like I said....I was restless. I needed.....something." She knew how lame that sounded, but she had no other explanation. She was still confused herself about what was going on. The weird feelings started at the cliffs and hadn't really gone away. If anything they were stronger. She looked at Michael. "You didn't have to follow me."

"Oh yeah.  I'm just going to let you drive off like that and not follow you? Isn't that how we both ended up at the rocks to begin with?" he reminded her. At her look he asked, "What is with you, Isabel? I thought you said you weren't going to let this Vilandra thing bother you anymore?"

"That wasn't it. Not really. I told you I don't know how to explain it."

"Try. I've got all night," Michael told her as he crossed his arms and looked at her.

Isabel closed her eyes. Admitting part of what was bothering and had driven her to the cliffs was difficult to do. 
The other part she just didn't understand herself.
"Okay." She turned to Michael. "Max, he's the Leader of our little group....you're his Second in Command. What am I?"

Michael looked at her confused. "What?" 

Isabel rephrased her words. 
"On Antar, Max was the King...our Leader. He is here too, whether we want to admit it or not. Just like you are still his Second in Command. So what am I? What is my purpose for being here? Nothing. I don't have one. I'm not important to our being here. Not really."

Michael ran a hand over his face and back through his hair. "That's not true. Max and I couldn't make it without you." Where was she getting the idea she wasn't important?
"We need you."

Isabel smiled sadly as she shifted the ice pack. 
"How? How do you need me? You two rarely listen to me when I make suggestions. You treat me differently than you do one another. How am I important? I want to know." She watched his face waiting for an answer.

Michael sat forward, his hands dropped between his open thighs. "You and Tess...."

Isabel sighed and shook her head as she let the ice pack drop into her other hand, forgotten. 
"Tess is the Queen. Her purpose for being here is to give Max an heir. And we know how well that is going since he tries to avoid her at every turn. Me...I'm nothing to this group."

Michael bit his lip to keep from reminding her of what neither of them dared to remember, but the words came forth in a quite subdued tone anyway. He looked at his hands that were clasped down between his spread legs before looking back at her again and quietly saying, "You know why you were sent here, Isabel. We both know. But that doesn't mean anything. Our lives aren't dictated by what was in our past." 

The skin on her arms grew pimply while her insides quivered at his words. Looking down at the ice pack then back up at Michael she replied, "So you and Max keep saying."

Michael frowned at her reply. "You don't really believe we should be following this destiny thing do you? Isabel....."

Isabel shivered as the odd feeling that had been with her all evening became stronger.
She stood up, uncomfortable with the conversation. She looked at her arm.
"The ice helped but I still see bruises. I guess I'll be wearing longer sleeves for a while."
She looked at Michael. "I'm sorry, Michael. I was reckless and thoughtless earlier. It won't happen again."

Michael knew there was no use in talking to her anymore and nodded. He stood up and motioning to her arm said, "I guess I can try to fix it. Couldn't hurt anyway." 
He gently put his hand on her injured arm and closed his eyes in concentration then gasped as bright detailed images flew from Isabel to him. He gasped as he released her now healed arm and then stared into her face.  He'd had an idea of how Max felt when he performed healings because when he himself had healed River Dog's ankle he had experienced some small static type flashes. But nothing like this. It was like looking into a person's soul. The images he had from Isabel had been very clear and very disconcerting.

Isabel's eyes held with Michael's until she willed herself to look away. The bruise was completely healed. She slowly looked back to Michael's face wondering why he was so quiet, and then realized what was wrong. He'd seen her! How could that be? Fear grew inside her as he continued to stare at her in shock.

"Isabel?"  It was said in a whisper as his eyes searched her own. 

She looked away, her lip pulled nervously between her teeth.

"Isabel....." What was he to say to her?

Isabel put her hand up and shook her head as her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Don't. Okay." She took a breath and looked down at her hands as she rubbed them on her thighs.  "I need to go home." She raised her head and pushed back her hair.

Michael stared at her. He saw the sadness and the embarrassment, and knew the reason for both.
He nodded slightly, his own hands shoved into his pockets to keep from reaching out to her. If he touched her he didn't know what that would do.
"I'll take you back," he told her quietly.

Neither said a word on the return trip, the silence speaking louder than any words they could have spoken.
When they reached the Evans home Isabel reached for the handle, but Michael's words stopped her.

"We're going to have to talk about what happened when I healed you, Isabel. You know that."

Isabel swallowed, but didn't look his way. "There's nothing to talk about, Michael." Then opening the door she got out and ran inside the house.

Michael stared at the house and knew when she had reached her room, as the light that had been glowing softly suddenly was gone. He knew she watched him as he got out of the car and went over to his bike. He put on his helmet and looked up at her window one more time before starting his bike and heading home.


                                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning....

"Hey! said Max as he poured himself some juice and sat down across from Isabel at the table. He looked up as Diane Evans walked into the kitchen from the laundry room.

"Good morning, Max! Do you want eggs this morning?" she asked as she reached for the skillet. "Isabel has decided she's not hungry." Her tone suggested she wasn't happy that her daughter was passing on breakfast. 'Juice' didn't constitute a healthy breakfast in Diane's eyes.

Max shook his head as he grabbed an apple. "No thanks, Mom. This is all I want." 

Again Diane looked unhappy, but at seemed some what satisfied that Max was at least eating an apple. 
She returned to the laundry room leaving Max and Isabel alone.

Max looked at Isabel who had yet to respond to his question. In fact she seemed to have not heard him at all. 
"I thought you said you were staying in last night. Where did you go?" he whispered to Isabel as he took a bite from the apple.

Isabel lightly rubbed at her arm with out thought. "No where," she quietly replied with out looking his way. "Just...out."

Max frowned. "Out? Out where? You came in rather late, Isabel. Who were you with? Where did you go?"

Isabel shot him a look as she said a bit curtly, "I don't need to report to you, Max.  I said I was out and that is all you need to know."   She got up from the table and left a speechless Max sitting alone.

In her room Isabel closed the door and then moved to sit cross-legged on her bed, her pillow clutched to her tightly.
Sleep had eluded her last night as she lay awake still stunned that Michael had been able to see inside her thoughts.
Oh gawd, what he must have seen!  How would she be able to look at him again? 
If only she had stayed home then he never would have known.


                                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Later.......

Michael yawned as he prepared for work. He hadn't slept a wink last night. The images he had seen when he healed Isabel's bruised arm were disturbing to him. Hell, if that is what he saw just healing a bruise what would he have seen if her injuries had been worse? The thought terrified him.
A knock on the door disrupted his thoughts for the moment. Grateful for the interruption Michael opened the door to find Max making his way past him without greeting.

"Yeah, 'Hi' to you too, Maxwell," said Michael drolly as he shut the door and continued pulling his shirt over his head.

"I'm worried about Isabel, Michael. She went out late last night after told me she was staying in."

Michael barely paused in his actions as he listened to Max. 
"Maybe she went for a walk."

Max shook his head as he paced in small circles. "No, she's hiding something. This morning she about took my head off when I questioned her about her where she was last night. I just can't figure out why."

Michael sat down on his couch and slid his sock covered feet into his shoes. 
"You think she was meeting some guy on the sly?" He didn't look at Max as he said the words lest Max see that his friend knew more than he was letting on.

"I don't think so. I just know she's keeping something from me," said Max worriedly as he stopped pacing and looked at Michael.   "Have you noticed anything that would make her act so secretive?"

Michael grabbed his hat as he headed towards the door. 
"I think you're making a bigger deal out of this than there is, Maxwell.  She was probably restless and just went for a walk. And you know she hates it when we meddle in her business or try to tell her what to do." Isabel's words came back to him in an instant and he wondered if and Max were as guilty as she said of telling her how to live her life while doing as they wished with their own. "Leave her be, Maxwell." He opened the door. "Now get out. I'm late for work."

Max looked at Michael annoyed. 
"We don't tell her what to do, Michael." Then he looked worried. "Wait, does Isabel think we do that? Does she think we try to control her?"

"Max, I don't have time for this right now," said Michael he indicated that Max should proceed him out the door.

Max didn't move. "So you really think there is nothing to be worried about?"

Michael rolled his eyes upward.
"MAXWELL!" Michael slapped his hat on his head and said, "Fine stay. I'm out of here." 
He slammed the door behind him then stood waiting for his heart to slow down.
Great! Now Max was asking questions and he doubted his friend would like the answers he received.



                                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Crashdown.....


"ORDER UP!" called out Michael has he slid a basket loaded with an 'Alien Melt Down' and 'Saturn Fries' on to the Pick Up window. He turned back to the grill and flipped three burgers with ease and tossed cheese squares on each before throwing some more fries into the fryer and giving it a quick shake.

"Michael! Did you cut the onions off of this order like I asked? I smell onions,” said Maria as she picked up the order and sniffed the air around the burger.

"You didn't tell me not to add them," replied Michael as he flipped more burgers on to waiting buns.

Maria rolled her eyes. "Yes, I did, Michael. I distinctly told you no onions on this order. You can't just ignore the customers requests!"

Michael was in no mood for this right now. He had other things on his mind and 1/2 an hour to go on his shift.
He grabbed the order from Maria's hand and took the bun off of the burger. He scraped the onion off and slapped the top back on before shoving the basket back on the pick up window to a startled Maria. 
"No onions," he said with a flourishing hand without blinking or smiling. Then he turned his back on her and went back to work.

Maria frowned. "Oh that's really nice, Michael. Just turn your back on me when I'm talking to you! I don't have to stand here and take that type of rudeness!"
She stomped off with the order not even noticing that Michael was paying her no mind.

"Michael, is that 'Will Smith Burger' ready yet?" asked Liz as she pushed her hair back behind her ear.

Michael slapped an alien toothpick in the center of the burger and turned to Liz at the pick up window.
"Here."

"Thanks!" said Liz as she grabbed the basket and headed off. 

But Michael didn't hear. His eyes were glued on the blond that had just sat down at the back booth. Seeing no new orders were needed he wiped his hands on his apron and headed to the booth where he sat down without preamble opposite a startled Isabel.

"Hey." He was nervous. He tried not to show it, but his eyes were shifting around and his hand drummed on the table in unconscious movement.

"Hey," came the equally nervous, yet soft reply from Isabel. Her eyes flicked to his then away. She sucked in her upper lip and looked over at the counter then down at the paper napkin she had started to shred. 
"I'm just...I was waiting on a drink and some pie to carry home." 

Michael's hands had stopped drumming as he faced her.  "We need to talk, Isabel." 

Isabel's eyes met Michael's. "No. There is nothing to say. Just leave it alone, Michael."

Michael reached across the table and took hold of her hand. Immediately a sharp current ran through his body with a not unpleasant, almost arousing effect. A sudden 'flash' of him and Isabel being very intimate in an unfamiliar room sprang to mind. He immediately let go of her hand and the flash was gone just as fast as it had come. The feeling was slower to diminish.

"What the hell?!" He looked at their hands and then at Isabel. He could feel the heat rise inside of him as he demanded, "What did you just do to me?"

Isabel stood up and rubbed her hands together, anxiety and fear written all over her face. 
"I didn't do anything, Michael! Look, just leave me alone! Just leave me alone!" She ran out the door just as Liz brought Isabel's take out order to her. Liz stared at her retreating back.

"Michael, is Isabel okay? Should we call Max?" she asked worriedly as she stood holding the forgotten order.

"NO! Don't call Max!" It was said a bit sharply, but Michael sensed that telling Max wouldn't give Michael the answers he needed. This was between him and Isabel.

At Liz's look Michael said as calmly as he could, "There's nothing to worry about.  Isabel's fine.  No need to tell Max anything."
He stood up and looked down at Liz.  "Look I need to leave a bit early if that's okay." He looked upset and Liz could see it.
Something wasn't right.

"Michael....." Liz was unsure. Max would be furious if there was something wrong with Isabel and she hadn't told him.

Michael forced himself to speak calmly. "Liz, I really need to leave."

"Yeah sure," nodded Liz. 

"Thanks," called Michael as he ran out the door.

Maria came over to stand by Liz as she too watched Michael leave.  "Where's Michael going? His shifts not over for another 15 minutes."

Liz shook her head as she watched the door slowly close after Michael's rushed exit. 
"I don't know, but I think I need to find Max."


                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Michael looked around outside the Crashdown before he began to run down the sidewalk only to stop as he caught a glimpse of Isabel at the other end of an alley. He rushed to catch up. 

"Isabel!" He fell into step beside her. "Wait! We really need to talk about this!"

"Michael, I told you to leave me alone," said Isabel walking faster.

Michael reached out to take her arm then paused right before touching her. He pulled his hand back unsure.
Isabel stopped and looked at him.

"You're afraid to touch me aren't you?" 

"No, of course not," denied Michael, but Isabel could see the truth.

"Yes, you are. You're afraid of what you might see if you touch me again. Believe me, I don't blame you. I'm seeing them too." She rubbed at her arms as if to warm them, her voice shaking and strained as she trailed off with a whisper. "I'm seeing them too."

"How long have you been seeing them?" asked Michael, still not touching her, yet not moving away.

Isabel shrugged. "A week maybe. The first one happened right after you had the near collision with that truck." She looked at Michael. "You didn't feel it I guess." 

He had swerved to miss a truck that had veered into his lane, his bike and body sliding across the pavement skinning his leg and arm before coming to a stop and lying unconscious for maybe a less than a minute. Isabel had been driving behind him on the way to the Crashdown to meet the others and had seen the whole thing. The driver quickly corrected and never stopped. Isabel had rushed with fear to Michael's side praying he was okay. He was so still, but knowing she shouldn't move him she had placed her hands on his face as she tearfully called his name. The flash had been quick, but what she had seen had disturbed her greatly. As she removed her hands Michael had become conscious. He had been fine except for the skinned areas and the damage to his bike. And he had never mentioned the flash so neither had she. But she had dwelled on it which is what had led her to the cliff last night.

"You had a flash then? Why didn't you say anything?" he demanded.

"I don't know! I guess I was trying to understand why it happened or if it even did happen!" replied Isabel defensively.

"Okay," said Michael rubbing his upper lip with his finger. "Have you had anymore? I mean besides the two I know about?"

Isabel shook her head as she looked off. "Not really."

"What do you mean 'Not really'? Were there other flashes?" He was trying not to freak over this. The only time he had flashes was when he'd been with Maria, but these had been nothing like those times. These were highly intense and more than just flashes and that made what was happening even more unsettling.

Isabel looked unsure. "I've had something that really can't be called a flash. More like...." she looked at Michael again, "....memories."

Michael's mouth dropped open a bit. Somehow he knew that was what she was going to say. He looked away, his eyes not seeing anything, his mind trying to comprehend what Isabel was telling him.

"So what you're telling me is that what I saw was......a memory?"

Isabel shrugged. "I don't know. I guess. I don't know what else it could be. And the thing is I don't know why it's happening." 

“Is this why you were at the rocks with the book?” asked Michael.

Isabel nodded and looked away.

At that moment the sound of footsteps could be heard coming down the alley. Michael and Isabel looked towards the sound.

"Damn. I told her not to call him."

Max and Liz halted as they approached the quiet couple.

"What's going on?" demanded Max. "Liz said that you were both upset. Has something happened?"

Michael glared at Liz who blinked then stood up a bit straighter as she confronted Michael's furious look.

"I felt he needed to know that something was bothering both of you. Maybe he can help."

"How'd you know we were here?" asked Michael.

"We saw you run down here. So what's going on?" asked Max as he looked at Isabel and Michael. They were upset all right and apparently both wanted to keep him from finding out why. "Iz?" He placed his hand on her arm in a soothing gesture.

"It's nothing, Max. Just a discussion. Nothing to worry about," she replied. But Max always knew when she was lying to him. He and Michael could always tell. Maybe it had to do with them being alien. "Isabel, I know you're lying. Now tell me what is wrong."

Isabel rolled her eyes in dismay at being caught in her lie. "Michael, maybe we should....."

"Telling him isn't going to do any good! But since Liz here brought him in on this anyway," he glared at her again, "I guess we'll have to tell him now." He looked at Isabel and she looked at him. Neither wanted to be the one to tell Max what was happening. Michael sucked in a breath and finally spoke up.
"Isabel and I have been getting these huh....flashes." He looked away then at Isabel and then Max.

Max's brows went up in surprise. "Flashes? What kind of flashes?" He only knew of two kinds. The kind when he healed someone and the kind he had with Liz when they were emotionally bonding, such as when he kissed her or touched her hair.

"That's just it. They're sort of um, strange. More like memories…and stuff," Michael replied.

"What kind of memories?" asked Liz. She had a feeling whatever they were it didn't bode well and it frightened her.

"Our past life. They're memories of our past lives together."

All eyes turned to Isabel.

"What? That can't be," said Max.  He looked at Michael. "How long has this been happening and why didn't you tell me about them?" Liz put a hand on Max's arm. He was acting like this was Michael's fault.

"Don't take what you're feeling out on Michael, Max! He didn't know what it was until right before you showed up," berated Isabel. Max looked at her.
"I got the first one a week ago." She explained about the truck and then the other two flashes, leaving out her retrieval of the book and much of her discussion with Michael as well as her race through town. 

"I don't understand why you got flashes," said Max thinking. Then he looked at Michael and asked, “What did you mean when you said, ‘And stuff’?”

“Nothing, Maxwell. Let’s just focus on why we’re having them,” replied Michael, cursing himself for nearly making the situation worse.


"Why don't we go upstairs to talk. My parents are away and it's more private than the alley," said Liz, seeing where this was heading. The others nodded and headed back to towards the Crashdown. In the kitchen they could see Maria talking to Kyle at the counter. She happened to look up and saw them head upstairs. Frowning she straightened up. 

"What's wrong?" asked Kyle seeing her change of mood.

"Something’s up?" she told Kyle. He looked in the direction she indicated and then followed her through the kitchen and up to the apartment. 

Inside the others looked up as Maria and Kyle entered. 
"What's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing. You should go," said Michael knowing that she would be upset if she found out about the flashes.

Maria frowned. "I'm not going anywhere. What's going on?" She looked at Liz.

"Michael and Isabel are having visions," said Liz. She knew her friend would be upset.

Maria's eyes widened. "Visions? You mean as in 'flashes'? Since when?" She had always dreaded something like this happening. Dreaded the day he made another connection with Isabel like he had with the dreams. "Michael, why didn't you tell me?" Her tone was accusatory and he resented it.

"I didn't tell you because I just had them! Now would you leave so we can figure out why it's happening?" He turned away and went to stand by Isabel who was sitting on the arm of Liz's sofa.

Maria huffed and went to stand beside Liz. "I'm not leaving." She was hurt and angry and scared. But Michael didn't see that. All he cared about was Isabel just as he had before.

"Fine," came Michael's curt reply, dismissing her as he focused on why they were all there.

"Okay, okay, guys this is getting us no where. Maria, sit down and be quiet so they can think," ordered Liz, turning to her best friend.

"You know Tess may have the answers you're looking for," said Kyle.

All eyes turned to him. 

"All I'm saying is that she spent all that time with Nasedo and learned some stuff from him. Maybe she knows about this too."

"That's not a bad idea," said Michael. "Tess probably could tell us why this is happening."
He looked at Isabel. She appeared apprehensive. "We have to know what is going on."

Isabel nodded. She was afraid, but she had to know. "Okay."

Liz looked at Max. "Max?"

He looked down at her. He understood. Going to Tess meant discussing their past and that meant his life with Tess as his wife. "I have to go, Liz. We have to know what is going on."

"Then I'm coming too," she told him. She turned to Maria. "I need you to cover my shift." 

Maria shook her head. "No. If Michael's going then I'm going too."

"Maria....." Liz began. But she understood. "Okay. I'll call in Nancy."

Max nodded then looked at the others. "Then it's settled. Let's go."

                                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valenti Home....


Tess was sitting on the living room sofa watching a movie when the door opened.

"What's this?" she asked as she snapped off the television and sat up. Kyle lead the crowd into the room and all stood facing Tess.  She saw Liz move closer to Max and looked away, a small pain piercing her heart.

"Tess, we need to talk to you," explained Max.

Tess looked at Max and then around at the anxious faces and leaned her head back on the sofa.

"So you're all here to talk to me. By the looks on your faces it isn't going to be a fun conversation either. So what have I supposedly done now?"  

She knew she wasn't liked. Well not well anyway. Kyle liked her and she Isabel and Michael were warming towards her. But she knew she was seen as an interloper to their group. Someone to come between Max and Liz, though all knew that in reality she had the right. She was Max's wife.

The small group looked at one another uneasily at her words. Kyle went to stand behind her.

"You haven't done anything wrong," he told her as Max looked away guiltily. 

"We need your help," said Michael. He then explained what they had told Max. He didn't want to add anything to what she had already explained. No sense in dragging more problems into this.

Tess listened to the explanation, her delicate brows rising now and again. When Michael had finished she nodded.
"So you want me to tell you what the flashes mean. Is that right?"

At their nods she said, "I can't." At their fallen expressions she explained. "I don't know what the flashes mean. But I can help you try to find out."

"How?" demanded Michael.

"Michael...." admonished Isabel softly. Then to Tess. "How Tess?"

She looked at the expectant faces. "Force the flashes. Hold them as long as you can so that you can see more than just a momentary flash."

"What?" A few others echoed Maria’s dismay silently.

"It's the only way I know how to find the answer." She looked at Michael and Isabel. "From what I'm understanding you only get the flashes when you touch. Is that right?"

Everyone looked at Michael and Isabel as they nodded uncomfortably.

"Then you need to try to make the connection last longer. Are you two willing to try?"

Michael and Isabel looked at one another. Bring on the flashes. Bring the memories they had been avoiding to full light? 

"Michael?" 

He looked at Isabel and then Maria. Damn! He looked back at Isabel. "Yeah, let's do this."
He looked back at Maria and saw her body droop. "I have to know what this means."

Max swallowed hard. Fear begin to rise inside him at what this could all lead to. He felt like whatever was happening to Isabel and Michael was going to affect his life as well and he was scared.

"Then it should be done in the Pod Chamber. No distractions," said Max, shifting nervously on his feet.
He looked at Liz, Maria, and Kyle. "You all should stay here."

"Max, I'm going....." began Liz, but he stopped her. "Liz, you have to stay here." 

"Max...." she said his name almost plaintively. Fearfully.

Turning to her and putting his hands on her shoulders he told her, "Not this time, Liz. You have to stay here."
She nodded unhappily then looked at Tess.

"Michael....." Maria went to him. "Please don't do this."

"I have to. I have to know what it means," said Michael. He looked at Isabel, Max and Tess. "Let's go."

The 3 humans watched the 4 aliens walk out of the house and close the door.

"I don't like this, Liz," said Maria as Kyle put his arm around each of the girls. 

Liz couldn’t have agreed more. 

"I don't care what Evans and Guerin said I think we should follow them," said Kyle. "They may need us."

Maria and Liz looked at one another then Kyle.

"Let's go," said Liz.

                                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Pod Chamber.......

"Okay, Isabel and Michael, maybe you should sit down facing one another. Then focus as you touch," suggested Tess. 
"Max and I will be here if you need us."

"Why would we need you?" asked Michael.  He was suddenly unsure about this.

"You won't, but if you do then we're here,"  said Tess. She looked in Max's direction. "We should have a seat too. This could take minutes or hours."

Max rubbed his fingers together nervously as he sat across from the chamber from Tess. He looked at Isabel. 
"Isabel, are you sure you want to do this?" 

Isabel hesitated then pressed her lips together as she nodded. "I have to know why this is happening, Max." 

"Okay then." He looked at Michael who had a pained look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"Why didn't we bring something to sit on," complained Michael as he moved a small rock out from under his backside and tossed it away.

"We could go inside the Granolith Chamber. It's smoother there," suggested Max as he noticed Isabel also squirm around trying to get comfortable.

All eyes looked at one another in silent agreement as they got up and went inside the mystical chamber.
Seating themselves on the ground as they had been out in the Pod Chamber, Michael and Isabel looked at one another with apprehension.

"Ready?" asked Michael. His palms were sweating and he wiped them on his pants before holding them out to Isabel.

Isabel stared at his outstretched hands and then finally nodded as she slowly put her hands in his and closed her eyes.
Immediately and unexpectedly Michael and Isabel began to get flashes. Unprepared for the onslaught that assaulted their brains both slightly gasped as both forgotten and remembered images flew through their heads. Images showing the other what their private and public lives up to now had held. And it wasn't just images that they received. They also felt the emotions of the other in every flash. 
Then it was over.
They broke contact and sat back with a gasp staring at one another stunned by the dizzying connection.

"Did it work? Did you see anything?" asked Tess looking wide eyed between the two.

"Isabel? Michael?" Max knelt by Isabel, calling out both of their names until they blinked and looked his way.

"Um....Yes and no," said Michael, rubbing his eyes before allowing them to travel back to Isabel.

"What does that mean?" asked Max, frowning. With the exception of appearing dazed, both seemed fine. 

"It means we saw one another’s lives on Earth. Not Antar," explained Isabel, as she met Michael's gaze.

"Then it failed," said Max, not noticing the unusual looks passing between Michael and Isabel before they turned their attention to Tess.

"No, I think it was just a start,"  said Tess. "They need to try again. Go deeper," she suggested. "The connection went so fast I don't think they had time to really concentrate on going deeper. If they can concentrate before touching then their past will come back to them, I know it will." She looked at Max and he didn't miss the longing in her eyes. "Just as parts of it have for you and me."

"I don't know if this is such a good idea any more," Max said as he avoided her look.
Part of him wanted to know of the past as well, but he was afraid of what he would find out. Afraid it would break him from Liz.

Tess's face took on a look of sadness at Max's words.

"Isabel?"

Isabel looked at Michael as he said her name. "It scares me, but I still need to know."

"I know. It scares me too." He sat up and extended his hands once again. "Let's give it another try."

Isabel took a deep breath and began to concentrate as she slowly placed her hands in Michael's. He closed his fingers over her hands and gently rubbed them with the pads of his thumbs in reassurance before tightening his hold and closing his eyes in concentration.

At first, nothing happened. They concentrated harder, forcing their minds to look deeper inside of themselves.  Then it happened.  Both aliens felt as if they were spiraling about, images of their present world speeding by faster than before until they reached a world they no longer remembered. The images were gripping them, pulling them in and holding them, fighting to keep them in a world where they no longer lived.

"Max, look at them. It must be working," said Tess as she moved closer. Soon though she began to frown with worry. "They're so pale."

Max joined her, his own worries increasing as he watched the pair before him.  The two before him were ghostly white with beads of perspiration beading on their brows and upper lips.

"Max, we have to stop them! Something isn't right!" cried out Tess, as she got to her feet.

But just as Max reached out to awaken them, Isabel fell forward on to Michael, the momentum pushing them backwards against the Granolith, and amidst a bright flash of light they both disappeared.

"NOOOOO!" screamed Max as he reached the Granolith. "ISABEL!!! MICHAEL!!!" He pounded on the Granolith, but nothing happened. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he cried as he leaned his head against the Granolith, his fists clinched so hard blood began to drip where his nails dug into his hands.

Tess stood horrified behind him, her hands covering her mouth to stifle a scream of her own.  "MAX!" 
She turned as Liz, Maria, and Kyle ran into the Chamber, tears streaming down her terrified face.

Liz barely glanced at Tess on her way to Max who was still standing with his fists on the Granolith. 

"Max, what happened? We saw a bright flash as we came in the Pod Chamber then heard you scream?"  She had never seen him like this. Pain so intense she could feel it radiate off of him.  It was then that she looked around. "Where are Isabel and Michael?"

Maria and Kyle also looked around. 

"Max, where's Michael?" demanded Maria fearfully, as she moved closer.

"Max?" Liz questioned quietly, as she saw tears running down his face.

"They're gone," Tess told them in an anguished voice. 

"Gone? How can they be gone?" asked Kyle in shock as he went to her. 

Tess shook her head. "I don't know. One minute they were sitting there before us and the next they were gone," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.

Liz's eyes widened in shock as well as she put her head on Max's arm. 
"But how? How could this happen?"

Maria's hand was clinched into a fist over her mouth as she tried not to sob, but the effort was futile. 
"How....where...where did they go? Are they...." she bit her lip before going on...."dead?"

"NO! They aren't dead! I won't believe that!" yelled Max as he turned around and headed for Tess.
"You never said anything like this could happen! Why didn't you tell us?" he shouted, as he grabbed her by the upper arms in a vice like grip and began to shake her.

Tess shook her head as the tears ran faster down her cheeks. "I didn't know! I swear I didn't know this would happen! Please, Max.....you're hurting me!"

Kyle stepped forward and pulled at Max's arm. "Let her go, Max! She didn't do this! Let her go!"

Max blinked then abruptly let go of Tess's arms. "We need to get them back! How do we do that?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't," Tess told him, crying.

"We have to figure out a way to get them back and now!" said Max, frantic with worry wondering if Isabel and Michael were okay. He looked at the Granolith. "We have to get them back. We have to."

                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Else where....

Michael fell to the ground beside Isabel as they were thrown from the portal. 
Both were struggling to regain their equilibrium as their sudden exit from the Granolith Chamber to their present location left them disoriented.

Michael raised his head, the world finally beginning to make itself right. His eyes widened at what he saw as he lay frozen in place, but his eyes took in everything around him as his insides filled with dread.
"Oh shit!" he whispered, stunned by what he saw. 

Isabel swallowed as her head began to stop its nauseating spin. Slowly she opened her eyes and blinked a few times until the ceiling above her became clear.
"What happened? Where....." she blinked again...."Where are we?" she whispered, not yet totally aware of her surroundings.

"I don't think we're on Earth anymore, Isabel," came Michael's guarded reply.

Isabel frowned as she leaned up on her elbow and put a hand to her head to ease the ache. "What?" She looked up to where Michael's gaze led and gasped.  "Oh my gawd!"  Her head swung around to take in the room they were in and then the figures silently approaching.  
"Michael!"  Fear was etched in her voice as the figures slowly made their way towards them.

"I see them," he replied, as he stood up and then helped her as well, his eyes barely leaving the figures long enough to note that Isabel seemed physically okay after their 'ride' to where ever the hell they were. But then he knew where they were. There was nowhere else they could be.

"Michael, you don't think......" Isabel moved closer to Michael's side and slid her hand in to his. 

Michael closed his fingers tightly around her's as he replied. 

"Antar."

                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Earth........

"Where do you think they are?" asked Maria.  Her eyes were puffy from crying, the tissue in her hands long turned useless.

"Antar." 

All eyes turned to Max as he continued to speak. 

"I don't know how it happened, but we have to figure out how to recreate what ever took Michael and Isabel so we can get them back!"

"And how are we supposed to do that?" asked Kyle standing next to Tess.

"I don't know! I just know we have to do it! I have to get Isabel and Michael back!" Max shouted, more scared than he had ever been in his life. Even more scared then when Pierce had tortured him in the White Room.  He couldn't survive if he didn't have Isabel and Michael.

"We will get them back, Max. We will," promised Liz, as she hugged him.

"Don't make promises you don't know that you can keep," warned Tess. Everyone looked at her. "I'm not saying we won't get them back, but we have to be realistic. We don't know if we can get them back." 

Max stepped up to her. "I will get them back. Even if it takes everything I have in me to do it, I will get them back!"

Kyle blew out a breath. "Okay, lets think. What were they doing when it happened? Exactly....tell us everything that happened."

Tess and Max related everything leading up to Isabel and Michael's disappearance.

Liz began to walk around the Granolith, her fingers lightly touching its smooth, mirrored surface.

"The connection they made some how acted like a key to the Granolith." She turned to the others. "I think their connection was so intense that when they fell back against the Granolith it activated it....drawing in them back to Antar like it was meant to do all this time." 

"But to have a connection that intense means that ....." Kyle stopped and frowned as he looked at the others. 

"They had to have had some strong emotional connections....very strong....to start the Granolith, " finished Liz, with a whisper as she looked at Max and Tess.

Maria shook her head. "No. That can't be....it can't. Michael loves me." But in her heart this was what she always felt might happen. That she might lose her Space boy to Isabel and his alien home.

"So the only way to get them back is to go after them," said Tess.   She looked at Max. "WE have to go after them."

Max looked from Tess to Liz.

"Max?" Liz's voice held fear as she approached his side. "You can't. You don't know where they are for sure or if you can even come back if you do find them."

"I have to, Liz. It's Isabel and Michael. I have to try to get them back."

"So how are you going to gain the same type of connection? No offense Tess, but Max isn't exactly emotionally bonded with you," pointed out Kyle.

"We didn't think Isabel and Michael were that strongly connected either. Tess and I will just have to try," said Max. "Maybe it is just a hybrid connection." Even to him the reasoning sounded hollow. There was definitely a reason Michael and Isabel had some how activated the Granolith and it was one Max didn't want to examine.

Tess looked at Liz and Max. "I know that you two don't like my connection to Max. In fact you’ve made that very clear. But right now that connection is the only thing that might get Isabel and Michael back."

Max and Liz as well as Maria and Kyle looked away with some embarrassment at being reminded in her own subtle way that Tess was in fact Max's wife.

"What you have to face is that my connection to Max is one that you can do nothing about. I'm not going away. And right now you better be damned glad that I am here. You need me.   Now I don't know exactly how we get Michael and Isabel back, but what ever it is we would be fools not to try," said Tess. She looked at Max. "So let's get started."

                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Antar.....

"Michael, how are we going to get back home? Max must be going crazy wondering what happened to us?" said Isabel, as she frantically paced the spacious room they had been shown to. 

The figures, human in appearance, had shown them the room without speaking a word, but Isabel and Michael had fully understood them as if they were communicating telepathically. Introductions had yet to be made, but both suspected they had nothing to fear from the two beings.

"Max is a smart guy.  He'll figure it out. What we have to do right now is figure out how to get back to Earth. We can't count on anyone to help us except ourselves," replied an equally worried Michael, as he looked out of a window at the world known as 'Antar'.

He had never seen anything like it.
It was as near to Earth as you could get without the smog and over crowding.  
Lush gardens, mountains, hills, lakes, and people meandering about outside of buildings.
People. They looked just like Earthlings, but he suspected they were Shape Shifters.
The biggest difference he could see was the transportation. There were airships instead of cars. And from what he could tell so far everything seemed to be voice activated. It was like they had been dropped into an episode of Star Trek. 

"Vilandra!"

Isabel and Michael turned as a woman's voice called out the name Isabel had gone by in her former life.
The older, attractive woman clasped a startled Isabel to her, tears falling on to Isabel's shoulder as the woman held her tight.

"Isabel. My name is Isabel. Who....who are you?" asked Isabel pulling back. She should have been afraid of this woman, but for some reason all she felt was comfort.

"My name is Karra. I was your Mother’s best friend."
She looked to Michael and held out her hand to him. "Rath."

Michael viewed the outstretched hand guardedly before taking it in his own. "Michael. My name is Michael." He looked at the hand in his. "You look human. Are you a shape shifter like Nasedo?"

Karra again looked between the two and nodded at the names they gave her. "I am as I appear to you. In the time you have been gone we have adapted our outer physical forms to permanently look like those of humans. Inside we are still alien. But there are still those that can shift their forms. We communicate mostly through a form of telepathy, but we do use our voices when we desire as I am now. I thought it might make you more comfortable." She then frowned and her tone changed to a serious one as she asked, "Why are you here? It's too dangerous for you!"

"We didn't choose to be here," said Michael as he drew his hand back. "We were drawn into the Granolith by accident. We had no intention of coming here....ever." He waited almost defiantly for her reaction to his words.

"What do you mean it's not safe for us here? I thought you were all waiting for the four of us to return to save Antar," said Isabel. "My Mother's hologram said we were expected to come back here to lead the planet against Kivar."

Karra shook her head sharply. "Your Mother was my friend and I loved her dearly, but she was a fool."

Isabel and Michael stared at Karra.

"What are you saying?" asked Isabel. 

"Your Mother was right having our Counselors send you to Earth to be reborn as hybrids....more human than alien with a chance to live once again. But when she created the hologram she should never have allowed it to be activated so early. I begged her to let you live your lives in peace for a number of years and not let you know about your pasts here on Antar until you were much older and had mastered your powers.  Kivar rules this planet now with no hope of any change. To bring the four of you back when you are not in full use of your powers could be certain death for you once again. You are just not strong enough to fight him." 

"So why didn't you send us to Earth as older hybrids instead of 6 year olds?" asked Michael.  "Why the delay?"

"I think Michael is asking why the wait? What was the purpose for delaying our return?" asked Isabel.

Michael looked at Isabel suddenly understanding what she must have been trying to explain to him.  What was ‘her’ purpose for being?

Karra looked around guardedly. "I'll explain as much as I can to you, but time is short. If Kivar finds you here," she looked at Isabel, "then there is nothing we can do to stop what happens."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean we can't stop what happens?" asked Isabel uneasily. 

"When Zan and Ava ruled Antar our people were happy. The love those two felt for one another filtered down to their subjects and things were good. Plans were being made for your marriage to Rath," Karra looked towards Michael, "when things started to turn."

"Turn? How?" asked Michael, something inside a bit unnerved at the mention of his past self's betrothal to Isabel's.

Karra looked at the two people in front of her and wondered just how much they remembered or knew. From what she could tell, not much. And now that they were here their lack of knowledge of their previous lives was endangering their present ones.

"Kivar had his eye on Vilandra since she became of age. It didn't matter to him that the two of you had been enamored of one another since you were practically babes." The use of their past names still stayed on Karra's lips.

Michael and Isabel exchanged quick looks to gauge the others reaction to Karra's words while fighting down nervous butterflies in their bellies.

 "All that mattered to Kivar was that he wanted to have Vilandra for his own....and his foot in the door of Zan's Kingdom. He believed that once he was married Vilandra he could get rid of Zan and Vilandra would be the new ruler of Antar. As her husband Kivar figured he would control her and thus how the country was ruled, thereby giving him at least some of the power that he craved."

"So what happened? How did everyone die?" asked Michael.  This had haunted him for so long and now that he was about to find out he was afraid of what he would hear.

"We....we heard that I...." Isabel took a shaky breath. "We heard that it was I that caused everyone to be killed. That I loved Kivar and sold out my family."  Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Karra willing her to tell her the story wasn't true. That she wasn't a traitor.

Karra's face took on a look of surprise as her mouth formed an 'O'.  She placed her hands on Isabel's shoulders.
"I don't know who told you this, but it is wrong! So very wrong!" Her hands moved to cup Isabel's face. 
"Kivar became enraged when he learned that Zan had allowed you to become betrothed to Zan. He couldn't stand the thought that you wouldn't be his and that his grasp on the kingdom had slipped away. He began to gather a small army of restless rabble to wage war on our people." 
Karra again looked around cautiously before continuing on. 
"Our people helped fight other worlds with their wars as a way of gaining peace, but we had never had one on Antar. Never! We began to fight back under your direction, Rath, and that of Zan. We were winning too! Then something odd happened. Kivar sent you a message, Vilandra, saying he wanted a truce. He congratulated you on your upcoming marriage and then asked for an interview with Zan to discuss the possibility of peace. He said that Zan had refused the messenger he had sent and implored you to intercede. That all he wanted was peace," she scoffed bitterly as she dropped her hands. Then her voice became quieter as she remembered back to that day.  "Peace was what you had grown up knowing and what you wanted again. So you agreed and even let him in yourself. Kivar knew that Rath would be by Zan's side planning strategies and he let his hatred fuel his actions." She walked to a nearby chair and fingered its back as she continued. "He entered with his Second in Command Nicholas and without blinking an eye he killed Zan with one blast. Zan never knew what hit him." 

Isabel's tears fell down her cheeks at hearing how Max had died by Kivar's hand.

"Nicholas immediately fired upon Rath who had pulled his own weapon at the surprise attack, but Nicholas had the advantage of having his weapon ready as he entered the chamber." She looked at Michael.  "You never had a chance."

Michael swallowed. Listening to accounts of his own death as well as Max's made him ill. 

"Your screaming Vilandra, brought Ava and the guards running. Kivar aimed at Ava to kill her, but you pushed her aside and took the blast. Kivar was devastated as well as furious as he held you in his arms and watched your life ebb away.  As he saw it not only had he lost you but his chance at the Kingdom as well. He killed Ava in blind anger despite the fact that she was far along with child." 

Isabel raised a shaking hand to her mouth, stunned.  Max and Tess....no, Zan and Ava had been expecting a child! 
 "She was pregnant? And he still killed her? How could he do that?" whispered Isabel, as horror and incredible grief filled her.

"He's a crazed murderer, Isabel. That's all there is to it," said Michael. Karra's tale of their deaths affected him more than he thought they would. Glancing at Isabel he could see she was barely holding it together. He placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.  He could feel the shaking and knew she was suffering just as he was. Maybe even more now that she knew the truth. 

"Once he had calmed down Kivar realized his mistake in killing Ava. In his mind he should have forced her to marry him and controlled the throne through her and eventually through her son. What he doesn't know is that Ava would never have married him. She loved Zan too much to dishonor his name that way. And she would never have allowed Kivar to be a father to Zan's son."    Karra stood before Isabel and Michael, fear written on her face as she spoke to Isabel. 
"If Kivar finds out you are here then he will do everything in his power to make you his and kill Rath."

"How do you know all of this? Where was everyone else while we were all being killed?" asked Michael.

Karra hung her head. "We never suspected Kivar would try what he did. The surveillance caught it all.....but too late for us to react," she said sadly.

"So I wasn't that great of a Second in Command after all. I wasn't ready," said Michael bitterly.

"It wasn't you Rath....Michael. Our people just underestimated Kivar," replied Karra. 

"He's not getting near Isabel. He may want her, but he can't have her! I won't let him," declared Michael.

"And I won't let him kill Michael." Isabel looked at Michael. "I won't let him kill you."

Michael gave her a small nod of his head, a hint of a smile on his face.  "We won't give him the chance."

"You won't be able to stop him. He's too powerful," replied Karra, watching the two hybrids. Didn't they understand?

"Why would he need Isabel now if he controls the throne?" asked Michael, refocusing on Karra. 

"He doesn't need her for the throne. Not really. That he took over at once. Kivar would want her so he could possess her just as he has always wanted to do. His obsession with her has never ended. That is why he sent his people to Earth. To look for Vilandra and bring her back to him," said Karra. "But to have a blooded royal as his wife who could give him a son would seal his rule forever. As a bonus he would never have to worry that someone would try to take the throne from him with Vilandra as his wife."

Michael looked at Isabel.  Suddenly a deeper protective emotion took over him. 
"He won't get her. I won't let him," he vowed.

Isabel heard the determination in his voice and saw in his eyes that he would do everything in his power to protect her.
She gave him a small smile and he returned it with a slight nod, both were not missed by Karra.

"I sense that you are not mated as you were to be here. Is this true?"

Michael and Isabel shifted uncomfortably before answering. 

"I sort of have a girlfriend...someone I’ve cared about," said Michael. He didn’t mention that they were most likely broke up again because of this.

"Sort of?"

"We're sort of 'off and on'."  Now why had he felt the need to explain his love life to this woman he didn't even remember?

Karra's gaze moved to Isabel. "And you?"

"No one." Isabel shook her head and crossed her arms before looking away.

Michael noticed the pained look on her face before she turned it away.

Karra frowned. "Zan and Ava?"

"Um, no. His name is Max....he has a girlfriend too. Ava....Tess....she isn't with anyone," explained Michael. He bereted himself for again answering such personal questions.

"This was not supposed to happen. You were to go to Earth, be reborn and live as you were meant to with your mates, raising your children and developing your powers until time to return.  How could this have happened?" pondered Karra, clearly upset.

"What's the big deal? So we chose to be with others. You didn't really expect us to come back anyway did you?  We could have died in the crash or .....I mean didn't you guys even think that we might not want to return?  asked Michael. 

Karra bit her lip as she contemplated her words. She had to make them understand.
"No, we never considered that you wouldn't want to return. You were created to reconnect with one another, develop your powers and procreate. Then you would return to lead us against Kivar then regain the thrown. Nasedo was to watch over all of you to make sure that the course was followed."

"Well we all know what side Nasedo was on now don't we," said Michael sarcastically.

"Listen to me! The only way for you to stay safe is to follow your life’s course and be mated. You are stronger together than apart!" Karra told them. "As for your decision not to return here..... we can't think of that right now. Your safety is what we must concentrate on now. The Royal Four MUST be protected at all costs!"

Her words struck a familiar chord. How often had Max said the very same thing? "We're safer together than apart." 

"So what do you propose we do?" asked Isabel.  "Do you know how to send us back home? To Earth I mean?"

Footsteps in the corridor put them on alert. A man entered the room and bowed to Isabel and then nodded his head to Michael and Karra.

"Well?" Karra's voice was low, cautious.

"It's as we feared. He knows," the man told her. "I suspect he will be here within a day." 

Karra blanched. 

"Does he mean......Kivar?" asked Isabel, also turning an unnatural shade. Unconsciously she moved closer to Michael.

"He's coming here?!" demanded Michael. He glanced over at Isabel and saw fear in her eyes. She was trying to be brave, but he could see the slight shaking of her body. She was terrified of what Kivar could do.  "It'll be okay, Isabel,” he tried to reassure her, but he wasn’t naïve. He knew they were screwed if they didn’t think of something fast.

"I know," she replied, her head nodding a bit jerkily. Though she completely trusted Michael, she knew he would never be able to stand up to Kivar and win. The thought that something might happen to him made her shake even more.

"Kivar is across the city, but is making his way here as we speak. His powers are strong. Once he sees you there will be nothing you can do. He'll possess you, Vilandra whether you want him to or not," Karra warned.  She couldn't look at Michael. In her eyes his fate was sealed with certain death.

"If I may," the man behind them said.

Three pairs of eyes turned to the slender man that had been standing quietly to one side. 

"What is it, Keeon?" asked Karra.

"The only solution of course," he replied.


                                                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Earth......


"It's not working!" shouted Max in frustration as he withdrew his hands from Tess's and jumped up.
He shoved his hands in through his hair and then ran one across his face. "We aren't getting any where!"

Liz walked over to him and began to massage his back as she pressed her face to his. "It's okay, Max. It will happen." But inside she wasn't so sure she wanted him to make the connection with Tess. And that made her feel horrible. To not make the connection meant Michael and Isabel might not be able to get back. 

Tess looked down at her hands. "If we aren't getting any where it's because you aren't trying hard enough."

Max glared at her. "How can you say that?! Isabel and Michael are stuck God knows where and I'm doing everything I can to get them back! Everything!" he shouted as he punctuated the air with his finger.

"I think she's right," observed Kyle from his position on by the wall.

"You don't know anything about it, Kyle, so stay out of it!" Max retorted.

"I know enough to see that you two are still here so something isn't working. I mean we've been here for hours. Have either one of you seen anything? Anything at all?" He looked between Max and Tess.

"No," replied Max quietly, as he shook his head dejectedly.

"Yes," came Tess's soft reply. She looked at Max. "I have."

All eyes turned her way. 

"What? Why didn't you say something?" demanded Max, as he approached her.

"Because it wouldn't have done any good. It takes both of us to make the connection, Max.  I can't do it alone and you're not ready." She looked past him to Liz then back to Max. "You don't want to remember your life with me and so we can't make the connection."

Liz swallowed hard, knowing that Tess was right. She could blame Tess all she wanted, but until Max quit focusing on his current love for her and faced his past life with Tess then he wasn't going to be able to make the connection and find Max and Isabel.  And if he never found them he would forever blame himself.

She turned Max to face her. "Max, you have to try, really try to remember your life with Tess. If you don't then Isabel and Michael ....."

A pained look crossed Max's face. "Liz........"

Liz shook her head as she put her finger to his lips. "You have to, Max.....for Isabel and Michael." Tears formed in her eyes, but she wouldn't allow them to fall.

Max's brow met Liz's. "I love you, Liz. Remember that." He kissed her and turned to Tess.  "Let's try again."

                                                             
                                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Antar....

"That's crazy! What kind of a plan is that?" said Michael staring at the Keeon as if he was insane.

"The only one you have," was the man's reply. "Kivar can't do anything once it is done. To act would be a certain down fall for him that he could never justify to our people."

"Well your 'people' let him rule over them now. What makes you think this would stop him?" asked Michael sarcastically.

"Because you and Princess Vilandra are the hope they have been waiting for," explained Keeon, as if it should be understood.  

"They don't know us! They expect Vilandra and Rath and that isn't who we are," Michael replied. "Besides, that's not the point. We aren't doing it."

"If you don't then you'll die and Kivar will get what he's always wanted," pointed out Keeon, as he stood by Karra. "We do not have much time. Kivar could arrive within hours or tomorrow. We have to act now."

Seeing the conflicting emotions crossing Michael’s face the latter pressed her advantage and said, "You vowed to protect the Princess. Have you changed your mind?" 

“We don’t belong here. We didn’t ask to be created as your saviours against Kivar! What you are asking us to do now isn’t fair to us,” argued Michael, turning away. 

Karra and Keeon looked at one another anxiously before Karra moved to just behind Michael and spoke.

“No, perhaps it wasn’t fair, but there is nothing to be done about that now. We have only one thing to think of now, and that is saving the Princess from Kivar and you from certain death. If you don’t value your own life at least think of her’s and what it will become if she is left to Kivar.”

Michael looked to where Isabel stood looking out the window. She was scared, but so was he. 
They were on a planet they never really thought they would ever see and getting ready to face an enemy they had hoped to never face.  Then there were the damn memories they had that had brought them here to begin with. The remembered feelings as well as their friendship made things all the more difficult.  And now what Keeon and Karra were suggesting they do was beyond huge.  He scratched his head and stared at the floor as his mind searched for any other way to save their lives, but he couldn't find one.
"Maria will kick my ass if I do this. Hell, Max will kick my ass!"  he thought to himself with a sigh. "And then we may never see them again either."  The thought was very sobering and put their immediate situation into perspective. He looked again at Isabel and knew that he would do whatever it took to save them.

From her position at the window Isabel heard the argument that was going on behind her. 
Karra was afraid for her and Michael, but no more than they themselves were.
She was terrified of Kivar and hadn’t even seen him yet. Just knowing what happened in their old life filled her with a terror that she never knew could exist. Then added to everything was their present situation and the fear of what her remembered feelings were for Michael and how this was going effect them later.  She rubbed the charm that hung from her necklace as if it would bring her answers, but none came.   She could just imagine what was going through Michael’s head right now. If his thoughts were anything like her’s then he was going mad trying to figure out a way to leave this planet and go home.

Her hand stilled as she felt a presence just to the side behind her. 
Michael. 

Michael swallowed hard as he stood and watched Isabel nibble at her bottom lip, something she often did when she was worried or afraid. Right now, if he were to make a guess, he would say she had never been more scared in her life, because that is exactly what he was feeling.  

"Hey." "I con do this. I have to do this."

Isabel turned to fully face him. "Michael, I'm so scared. I’m trying not to be, but ….." Her eyes bright with fear, she nervously moved from side to side, the charm of her necklace held tight in her hand. 
"We don't have the power to fight Kivar. I can't...." she swallowed and looked away before whispering hoarsely,  "I can't be his wife!" 

Isabel suddenly dropped the charm and buried her face in Michael’s neck, clinging to him so tightly as if she was afraid she would be pulled from him.  Michael’s eyes widened as he swallowed hard and put his arms tightly around her.  Whatever reservations he had fled as he felt Isabel's body lean against his. She needed him just as he needed her to survive on this planet.  Hell, she needed him more, if he were truly honest with himself.  Her hair tickled his face has he pressed it to her blond head.  A flash filled them…a memory of another time, this time from Earth when they thought she was pregnant with his child.  They had clung to one another in fear that time too.  He heard Isabel gasp as he suppressed his own.  Whatever doubts he had about his decision fled with the vision.  Taking a deep breath and gathering his nerve he told her,  "I know. That's why you're going marry me."

Isabel pulled back still stunned from the vision and stared at Michael in shock. 
"What? Michael.....!"
She couldn’t believe he was actually considering Keeon’s and Karra’s option.

"We don't have to time to discuss it Isabel. You heard Karra and Keeon. Kivar will be here soon to claim you and kill me. This is the only way."

"But...." ‘This is crazy! How did we get to this?’  Isabel asked herself.

"No buts, Isabel." He took her hand in his. "We have to do this. For all we know this may be a one-way trip we're on with no way to get back home.  If Antar is where we are going to live from now on then we have to live according to their rules. And rule #1 is to survive by any means we can so we can fight that bastard Kivar....even if that means you and I have to marry to do it."

Isabel felt her stomach drop, her nerves pushed to the point of breaking. 
"Marry Michael? But that is what he....they...had been fighting since the dreams and memories." 

“Marry?” ‘Oh gawd! Things were moving too fast!’

But she knew there was no other way. Time wouldn’t allow them to find one.
She searched Michael’s eyes and what she found gave her strength. He was afraid, but determined to make the best of their situation while doing everything he could to protect them from Kivar. If he could do this then so could she. 
She nodded her head and with just a hint of fear still in her voice she said, ”Okay. Let's do it."

Michael's stomach felt like he had when he had first discovered he was an alien. His stomach was rolling with fear and uncertainty as well as a warmth that he couldn’t put a name to. He didn't know any other way to describe what he was feeling.
"I'm getting ready to marry Isabel!  I can do this! It’s just nerves messing with me. I'm just keeping Isabel safe... that’s all I’m doing, keeping her safe," he repeated to himself.  He nodded to Isabel with a small smile of reassurance that he didn’t feel. 
"Okay then. Let's go tell them we've agreed to do it."  

Two alien beings watched the hybrids approach. 

“Okay, we’ll do it," said Michael, wiping his hands on his pants in a nervous gesture.

Karra and Keeon looked at one another and nodded.


                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Earth.....

"It's late, Max...Tess, we've been here for hours. I think we can safely say nothing is going to happen tonight," said Kyle tiredly from his place against the rocks. "Maybe you need to try again tomorrow. Get some rest."

Max slumped to the side and rested his weight on his left arm as he looked at Tess. She appeared as exhausted as he was.

"Michael's gone." Maria looked down at her hands without seeing them. "I've lost him." Another tear slipped down her cheek. 

Liz wrapped her arm around her friend. Maria had been sitting in the same place repeating the same thing off and on for hours.  "Kyle, take Maria home please."

Maria shook her head. "I'm not leaving. Not until we know...." 

Kyle stood up and reached a hand down to Maria. "She's right. I'm taking you home." He looked at Liz and extended his other hand. "And I'm taking you home too." 

Liz shook her head. "No, I'm staying. Max might need me."

"Go home Liz," came Max's voice behind her.

Liz turned around. "No, Max. I'm staying."

Max shook his head. "Not this time. Maybe that is what Tess and I need. To be here alone.....without distractions."
He knew how she would take his words, but right now it couldn't be helped. He had to focus on getting Isabel and Michael back. 

Liz blinked. She was a distraction. She knew he was right, but leaving him here with Tess wasn't easy to do.   She stood up. "Okay, Max."  Walking up to him she hugged him to her. "Be careful, Max.  I need you to come back to me." 

Neither voiced the fact that maybe he and the others would never be able to return if he and Tess were even able to find Michael and Isabel. 

Max kissed Liz deeply, the tiredness in his body reflected in his kiss. "I will."

Liz nodded, then kissing him again lightly on the lips she turned to Kyle and Maria who had been waiting nearby and followed them out of the chamber.

Max watched as Kyle escorted the two girls out and then he turned back to Tess.
She had been quietly watching everything.
"Are you up to trying again?" he asked her. 

Tess nodded. "I'm up for it if you are. I want them back just as badly as you do." She arched her back and rubbed at her shoulder wincing as she did so. She rose to her feet and stretched. "I just need to walk around a minute. I'm stiff."

Max nodded. He too needed a small break. He stretched his arms up and then bent over letting his arms hang down for a minute. Standing back up he noticed Tess grimacing as she rubbed her shoulder.  "Ache?"

Tess looked up at him and nodded. "Yeah. I guess the tension and sitting so long caused it."

Max hesitated then walked over to her. "I can....um...." he motioned to her shoulder. "I can make it better."

Tess's eyes widened a bit at his offer.  "Okay, thanks."  She turned her back to Max. He laid his hand on her and concentrated on easing the aching muscles inside. He felt her relax as the stiffness left her. But just as he was about to withdraw his hand he suddenly seized up as small flashes came at him that he hadn't had before.  As they ended his eyes widened as he slowly removed his hand. 
"I saw something," he told her, grief stricken from what he had seen and felt.

Tess turned to face him, her face etched with pain. "I know. I saw them too." She shook her head slowly as she looked away and whispered, "I...I didn't know.  Nasedo never told me." She brought her fingers to her lips as if to silence a cry that might emerge.

"You were carrying our child," said Max quietly, still stunned by the images of his and Tess's former selves. Tess, rounded with his child, he smiling at her as he placed a hand on her belly. Max shook the image away and focused on what was going on now.   "It wasn’t just the four of us that Kivar killed ...."

"Whe he killed me he killed our child too," Tess finished as she turned to wipe away a tear.

"Tess...." Max said her name gently, but helplessly. He was at a loss as well. He'd lost a child too. A son. He knew without a doubt it had been a boy. The anguish he felt inside threatened to choke him as he remembered the joy he had felt watching Tess round with his child. But he couldn't let it.  Not now. There were other lives at stake now. 

"I hate him, Max. I hate him for what he did to us. And now I hate him even more for what he did to our child," said Tess bitterly as she choked back an unwanted sob.

"We'll make him pay. I promise," Max told her.  He reached out to console her, but she moved back and shook her head as she wiped her tears away.
"No, don't. Let's just get Isabel and Michael back." 
She went to sit back on the floor leaving Max standing alone with his grief.

Taking a steadying breath, he walked back to join her on the floor of the chamber.
Joining hands and with one last look at one another they closed their eyes and began to concentrate.
The depth of their feelings concerning their lost child and their hatred of Kivar propelled them deeper and deeper into their suppressed memories until they finally reached their goal. Gasping at what they felt and saw they fell against the Granolith just as Michael and Isabel had, thus activating the portal sending them both to a place they used to call 'home'.

                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Antar......

The ceremony was much like that of one on Earth. Of course there were things that were different and unique to the planet, but still it was basically performed the same way, yet very simple and beautiful, but neither hybrid noticed.

Isabel stared at Michael, the words of the alien Priest falling on deaf ears. 

"I'm marrying Michael! Oh, gawd, what are we doing? He doesn't want to marry me!! He loves Maria! I can't let him do this just to save me from Kivar!' She took a deep breath. 'Okay, okay, this marriage isn't real. We don't live on Antar. We are from Earth. This marriage isn't real!"

She was jerked back to the present as she heard her name called. 
"What?" she blinked then looked at the Priest. "What?"

"Just say 'yes'," instructed Michael, wondering why Isabel still seemed unsure of the marriage.  He wasn’t exactly thrilled with the plan either, but there wasn’t another option.

Isabel looked at Michael. "Michael.....are you sure?" 

Michael blinked then rolled his eyes. He rubbed at the area over his brow unconsciously as his palms began to sweat. They were cutting this too close to suit him. He shoved his hands in his pockets to dry them before reaching over and taking hold of Isabel’s hand. It was cold.
"Yes, I’m sure. Isabel, just say it. We're running out of time." 


Biting her lip as she did when she was unsure or afraid, she then took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

The alien Priest wrapped a jeweled ribbon along with a plain one around their clasped hands symbolizing their family lines becoming one.  He lay his own hands on their heads and pronounced them married. He then divided the threads and tied one of each around both Michael’s wrist and Isabel’s. “This will let others know that you are bonded.”

Michael blew out a breath and looked at Isabel. Then he bent over and kissed her softly on the lips.  It was an impulse, one that shocked them both, not only because of Michael’s actions, but because for a tiny moment Isabel could feel how Michael truly felt about her, whether he realized it or not. 
He pulled back and shrugged a bit nervously to cover his own shock.  
"It seemed like the thing to do."

Isabel swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, and nodded.  She felt a warm tingle shimmer throughout her body. 

"Our people now know that you are back and are joined.  Kivar can't expect their support if he carries out his plan," said Karra. 

Isabel's bros drew together. "What do you mean they know? How can they know? We ‘just’ …married." She found herself stumbling over the word.

"We have technology much like your own devices on Earth, but more advanced. Our people were all witnesses to your marriage. Listen," instructed Keeon, as he led them to the terrace.

The roar was deafening once the windows were opened. 

"How? How did they see?" asked Isabel stunned, as she stared at the mass of people below. 

"Security devices hidden in the walls as safety precautions," explained Keeon. "That is also how we knew how you had perished before." 

“Not very secure then,” commented Michael wryly, as he too stared at the crowd before.  “How much longer until you think Kivar will show up? I thought he would have been here by now considering how much he desires Isabel and wants me dead.”  He was getting nervous waiting for Kivar to show up.

At that point another alien entered the room and bowed to Isabel and then to Michael before turning to Karra and Keeon and whispering low to them.  The two aliens nodded and the third left.

“What the hell is going on?” demanded Michael.  “Why hasn’t Kivar shown up?”
He was beginning to feel like he and Isabel weren’t being told everything they should know. 

“He will be here. We’ve just learned that the crowds have detained his arrival, but he will be here as we have said before. Time enough for the last thing you must do before he arrives.”
At their questioning looks Karra glanced at Keeon and then back at the two hybrids. 
“You must insure your marriage. We thought you understood that.”

“Insure our marriage? I thought we just did that,” said Michael, looking confused.
“What more could we do?” The words had no more left his mouth when he knew.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” He looked at Isabel and saw that she too was just grasping what they were saying.  Her mouth fell open and he could see alarm in her eyes.

Isabel turned to Michael, her head shaking as she met his gaze. This was just supposed to be a ‘marriage in alien name’ only, nothing else! She could feel her blood rushing threw her body hot and fast as her mind tried to take in what they were saying.  What were they going to do?

Both hybrids sucked in steadying breaths as they tried to figure a way out of this new situation.  Their newly remembered memories and the feelings they were experiencing with this new dilemma were beginning to take a toll on them. 

“We never agreed to this! THAT wasn’t part of the plan!” said Isabel, pushing her hair back and holding it behind her neck in a stress filled gesture.

“Why didn’t you tell us this before? Is it because you knew it would effect our decision to marry?” demanded Michael. He knew there was something else and this was it. Damn! He should have gone with his gut feeling.

Isabel looked over at Michael. “We can’t do what they ask, Michael. I’m only willing to do just so much, and this isn’t part of it!”

Michael’s hand came up to quickly run over his face in the nervous way he had. “I know!  Just calm down! No one is going to make us do anything we don’t want to do.”

Keeon and Karra exchanged glances. Finally the woman said, “I’m sure you are tired.  Let us take you to your quarters to rest.” 

Isabel sighed as she released her hair before dropping her arms.  “I would like that. This has all been too much.” The strain of the whole situation and everything that had brought them to it was just more than she could handle right now.

Michael agreed.  “Yeah, we need to rest before Kivar gets here. We need to be ready for whatever is to come.”  He hesitated before resting his hands on Isabel’s shoulders and pressing his forehead to hers. Remembered warmth that could only be attributed to deep intense love filled them both, but no flash.  Michael blinked as he tried to push the feeling aside. “Everything is going to be okay.” At least he hoped so.

Isabel swallowed as the feeling began to fade away, and then nodded, but couldn’t meet his eyes.  She hoped he was right.

Michael stepped back and the two hybrids followed the two aliens, neither sure of what was to come.




                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Else where on Antar…

“Ow, my head,” groaned Tess as she sat up and rubbed her brow.  A painful ache gave her a dizzy feeling. “I can’t remember ever going so deep into….” She paused as she blinked and  looked around. “Max…..” she whispered.  She reached out to him without glancing his way. “Max….oh my gawd….we….”

Max took her hand and helped her to rise as he did, keeping his arm around her to steady her.  “I know.” He looked around too. “We did it.”  He was both relieved and anxious. This was a strange new world and neither of them knew for sure what they would find as they searched for Isabel and Michael.

Tess felt only relief. She wasn’t sure they could actually do it, but here they were. Antar!

“Do you think we can find Michael and Isabel?” she asked Max.

“We have to. I’m not leaving without them and I have no intentions of staying.”

Tess looked down, saddened by his words.  She wondered if Liz had been with him instead if he would want to stay and take up his rightful place on the throne.  After a moment of silence her ears picked up on a low roar and she asked, “Do you hear that?”

Max’s ears tuned in toward the noise. “It sounds like ….a crowd.” He looked bewildered.
“Let’s see if we can find it,’ he replied, taking her hand without thought and following the sound.


                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The Soldier and The Princess…

After being led down a series of hallways Isabel and Michael were led into a large, but beautiful room. 
A huge bed with plenty of pillows and sheets made of something similar to silk dominated the room. The walls were off white, but the soft lighting of candles gave them a nice feel. Artwork decorated the walls and surfaces. 

“Your room, Princess. We’ve kept it as it was,” said Keeon.

Michael’s attention was caught by some paintings and he walked over to explore first one and then another of scenery he had seen outside the windows and other things. “These are good.”

“They are yours,” replied Karra.

Michael turned in surprise. “What?”

Karra smiled. “You may have been a soldier, but Vilandra always encouraged you to carry out your passion of drawing and painting. I think it came in handy many times while planning strategies with King Zan.”

“So it’s a carry over,” Michael voiced aloud to himself. No wonder he could draw the dome.

Isabel looked at the paintings too. “These are wonderful,” she said in wonder, as she touched one lightly with her fingertips.

She continued to walk around lightly touching things here and there. This had been her room.  She wanted to explore this part of her old self, but a voice beside her brought her back to the present.

“And my room?” asked Michael, looking around. Whether she realized it or not this room screamed ‘Isabel’. He wondered what his would say about him. He glanced around and his eyes fell on the bed. A flash of the past came flying at him. He shivered and wiped his face with his hand in an attempt to dismiss the image, but it wouldn’t leave him. ‘Noooo, no, no, no! Damn, don’t go there, Guerin!’
He rubbed his eyes in attempt to vanish the images in his mind. Why did he have to see that?
But it also made him begin to think about their present situation. 
A voice brought him back to the present.

“We had hoped you would see the room and remember….stay here with the Princess,” admitted Keeon.

“This marriage is in name only! We didn’t agree to anything else!” voiced Isabel. She looked at Michael for help, but what she saw and heard from him surprised them all.

“I think we need to talk about this Isabel.”

“WHAT?”

He looked at Keeon and Karra. “If the marriage isn’t insured can Kivar try to claim her?”

“Yes, he can. It doesn’t mean he will win, but he can claim that a ‘name only’ marriage will not produce the desired heir the people want and need. They could side with him,” admitted Keeon.

“Why didn’t you tell us this before? You led us to believe that all we had to do was marry and the people would fight against Kivar!” said Isabel in dismay. “Oh my gawd!” 

“We never meant to mislead you. But you must realize how crucial it is that you ensure this marriage. Everything depends on it,” replied Keeon.

“Look, even if Isabel and I had a kid, we don’t want to stay here. There would still be no heir,” said Michael.

Isabel turned startled eyes to Michael. “Michael, you can’t seriously be considering….”

“I think we need to do this….but on our terms,” interrupted Michael.

Isabel couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Michael, do you hear yourself?” The panic was rising in her again. “Gawd, what were we thinking giving in to this marriage? No matter what we do Kivar is going to kill us!”

Michael frowned. She was right, but at least they were trying to save themselves. Couldn’t she see that? “Look, we can’t undo it now and it’s the only plan we had and still have. I think we need to make Kivar believe we have sealed the marriage. We don’t actually have to do it,” Michael clarified.


Michael, I don’t know,” said Isabel crossing her arms tightly. She was shaking again and not from cold.

He hated seeing her so upset, but they had to do something to get out of here and right now this was their only option.  “I know. But it’s all that we have. Like I said, we won’t really do it. But we have to do everything we can to make Kivar believe that we have.”

Isabel knew he was right. They had to try everything they could to get out of here. 


“Do you think it will work?” asked Isabel, beginning to see what he was planning. But there were still problems. “Can’t Kivar read minds like Nicholas? I mean how can we make Kivar believe we’ve ….you know…been together?”

“We’ll come to that problem if it happens,” said Michael, not sure him self how they would be able to trick Kivar if he did indeed try to read their minds to see if the deed was actually done.

Karra turned a dismayed look to Keeon who whispered, “We have no choice. We can’t force them.”  He then looked to Michael and Isabel. “Do what you must. We will leave you now.”

Karra came to Isabel and placed her hand on Isabel’s cheek. “We have waited so long for your return. Please believe we want to make things right again and wish you only happiness.”
Then she turned and nodded to Michael and followed Keeon from the room.

Isabel turned to Michael. “What are we going to do, Michael? How do we convince Kivar?”

”Hell if I know,” was his reply as he sat on a chair and picked up a goblet sitting on the table nearby and drank from it.

“Well we have to think of something and fast. He’ll be here and…..”

“You think I don’t know that?” he interrupted testily then sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just frustrated is all. This wasn’t what I was expecting when I agreed to the memory retrieval.”

Isabel sat in a chair across from him. “I know.” A single tear began a descent down her cheek. 
“Michael, I’m sorry I got you into this.”  She hated she was being so emotional, but she was terrified of having no control over what was happening to them and of finally seeing Kivar.

Michael moved over to kneel before her and wiped the tear away. He handed her the goblet.  “Here.” Michael waited a moment while Isabel drank a small amount. “You didn’t cause this, Isabel. Don’t even think you did. If we want to get out of this we have to be strong. Do you understand me? You’ve always been stronger than anyone I’ve ever known, so don’t stop now.”

Isabel looked into his eyes and nodded. “Okay.”

Michael smiled slightly and nodded before telling her, “I think I know how to fool Kivar.”





                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Some where in the Palace….

“Max, don’t you think it’s strange we haven’t see anyone yet?” asked Tess worriedly. 

Max nodded. “Yes, that’s why we have to be extra careful. We don’t know when we will….” He paused. “Shhh, listen. “It’s getting louder,” he whispered as they continued down the empty corridors.
Finally they heard individual voices and Max motioned for Tess to stay quiet. 

“The Princess and Lord Rath are to be protected from Kivar at all costs! Double our guards and be ready for anything!” ordered a voice with authority. “They are in her quarters. Give them privacy without failing in your duties to protect them!”

Movement was heard as the others moved into action.

“Did you hear that? Isabel and Michael are okay so far! We just need to find these quarters they were talking about,” said Tess. When he remained silent she understood. She gently touched his arm and said, “Max, you heard them. Isabel and Michael are okay.”

Max nodded, amazed that she knew what was on his mind. His relief at knowing they were alive was great. “I know, but we haven’t found them yet. When we have them and we’re back on Earth, then I’ll breath easy again.”

He took her hand again and squeezed it while giving her a small smile before heading off again.
Behind him Tess felt as if a bit of sunshine had just shined down on her.



                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Rage…..

“Michael, I really don’t think we have to carry it this far,” said Isabel with nervous concern.

This was getting out of hand. The dreams of being with Michael in their past lives had stirred emotions in her for him that she had been running from. Now here they were getting far to close to creating that again, even if it was for show, to make her comfortable.

Michael sighed. “Isabel, no couple on their honeymoon goes to bed with their clothes on, even on Antar.”

Did she think this was easy on him either? He was feeling things for her that he attributed to his memories of his past life. But then he remembered that she didn’t know the effect she was having on him. He looked down at the bed. ‘The bed’ that they had made love in so many times a lifetime ago. This was going to be harder than he thought it was going to be. He slowly began to remove his own clothing, but was halted at her words.

“Michael, what if it doesn’t work?”

He turned to look at her. “Then we die for sure, so we have to make it work,” he replied.

Both turned their backs as they undressed. 

“You won’t look will you?” asked Isabel, hesitating as she unbuttoned her shirt.

Michael suppressed a smile. He wouldn’t remind her that he had seen her naked in their dreams and memories and what they had done, she was nervous enough as it was.

“No, I won’t look. I’m getting in now.”

Isabel heard the swish of the sheets as Michael entered the bed and turned to face away from Isabel. 

“You’re sure you aren’t looking?”

“Maybe I should watch you undress…you know incase Kivar does look into my mind,” he teased, trying to lighten the seriousness of the situation. 

Isabel paused thoughtfully at the remark then turned around. “You’re right.”

Michael’s head whipped around. “What? I was teasing, Isabel.”

“But you were right. To make him believe we are together we have to give him something that we remember from the present.”

She began to unbutton her shirt again with shaking fingers, her jeans were already on the floor with her shoes and socks.
The last button slipped from the hole and the shirt parted. Isabel let it slide down her arms then stood uncertainly before Michael in her bra and panties. 

Michael’s eyes grew large and his mouth hung open before he snapped it shut. His eyes widened even more as Isabel crawled onto the bed and came near him to sit on her knees with her back to him. 

“What are you doing?” he asked apprehensively, yet his eyes were drawn down her back to the curves of her hips.

“Help?” she asked moving her long hair aside. She could feel the heat in her face, so great was her embarrassment.

“Wh---what?” croaked Michael as he felt a throb grow in his lower body.  “Can’t you do it?”

Isabel turned her head slightly to the side and said softly, “Yes, but you have to so that we make him believe, Michael.”

She seemed determined in this so he replied, “Yeah, um okay.”

Michael sat up and leaned closer to her, his warm breath caressing her shoulders and neck. 
Her skin looked incredibly soft and when his fingers grazed it to run between her back and the bra he could feel just how soft it actually was. 

‘Be strong! You can’t act on this!’

He unsnapped the bra with practiced fingers and then pushed the straps down her arms, his hands lightly caressing her skin as the straps fell. From his perspective he could see the tops of her large breasts pushed up high then drop slightly as she removed the bra and tossed it to the floor. 

“Thanks,” she said quietly. 

He lay back down and watched while she raised up and turned on her knees, the fullness of a single breast appeared before she quickly covered both with her hands as best as she could, then pulled the sheet aside and slid underneath. She pulled the sheet up high to her chin and stared at the ceiling before realizing that lovers wouldn’t do that. She pushed the sheet down so that the swell of her breasts appeared and rested her hands just under them.

Her eyes widened as her leg brushed his bared hip.

“Michael, are you naked? I mean ‘all’ naked?” She swallowed hard at the image that invoked. Heat between her thighs began to simmer.

Now it was Michael’s turn to be embarrassed. “Yeah, but I had no choice. I go commando. Sorry. If it’s making you uncomfortable then I can put my pants back on, but it defeats what we’re trying to do.”

Isabel shook her head, her mind still envisioning Michael totally nude just as he was in her dreams and memories. “No, it’s fine. I just wasn’t prepared that’s all.” 

She bit her lip in indecision before releasing her hold on the sheet and placing her hands beneath. A moment later her panties joined her bra. 

Michael’s eyes widened at her action. 

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did. Even the smallest details have to be believed or this won’t work,” Isabel replied softly.

She pulled the covers up as before while he kept his half at his waist, his hands over his groin area to hide his growing desire at remembering their past in this bed and seeing her like this. Both were struggling with the new emotions they were both feeling too as they focused their eyes above them.

‘What was I thinking asking Michael to unhook my bra? That isn’t going to trick Kivar! Face it Isabel, Kivar had nothing to do with it. You can’t keep denying your feelings for Michael. They aren’t just remembered feelings anymore either. They are very real. ’ Isabel closed her eyes and tried to still the voice inside, but it was right, she couldn’t deny the way she felt for Michael. And now they were most likely going to die. She couldn’t make this harder on him by letting him know how she felt. Besides her feelings weren’t going to be returned, not in the way she desired.

 “This seems familiar some how,” said Isabel quietly, breaking the silence. 

“That’s because we’ve been in this bed ‘many’ times before,” said Michael, unintentionally matter of fact. 

“Michael!” gasped Isabel in embarrassment, as she turned her head to face him.

Michael turned his head towards her. “We have to face it, Isabel. We were hot and heavy in our past lives. We were mates even if we were only betrothed. You know it and I know it. In our past lives we made love in this bed a lot. And not just here. We both know that too. Our memories prove it.”

Isabel sighed as she looked up again and nodded. “I know. It’s just hearing it voiced out loud, it’s…..”

“I know.” He grew thoughtful.  “And one more thing….” Michael quickly leaned over Isabel and swept his hand into her hair as he claimed her mouth with his own, giving the surprised girl a kiss that was both soft and deep. He took advantage of her startled reaction to explore her warm mouth with his tongue. She tasted sweet….the drink they had earlier. He let himself relax and that is when it happened.

Another flash. 

Both Michael and Isabel’s feelings for the other came through stronger than ever.  When he pulled back both realized that neither had wanted the kiss to end. They also realized that now wasn’t the time to explore what was happening between them.   

Isabel stared breathlessly at Michael. “Wh-why did you do that?”  She regretted that he had stopped, and after ‘seeing her’ he now knew it too.

Michael licked his lips that were still damp with moisture as his hand traveled from her hair down to her shoulders, down the side swell of her breast,  and then to her hip bone where it rested. 
“I just thought….you know if he read our minds that he would…”   

He no longer had to wonder how to tell her that he had been dying to kiss her since finding out about their past lives. She had just seen that for herself. Each moment he remembered something else about how much he had loved her, and those feelings were filling him now. She was his mate and he wanted to claim her, but he could feel her resistance though he knew what she was feeling for him too. 

”Yeah…yeah…good thinking,” replied Isabel, running her tongue over her own lips. Spice. He tasted of spice. She smiled softly. 

Michael’s heart felt near to exploding and his member felt the same. He hoped she didn’t realize how she was affecting him physically. He couldn’t think straight. All he wanted to do was to be as near to Isabel as he could. He wanted to claim her mouth again, he wanted to touch her skin…

“Maybe we should ….cuddle or something. Make it look good you know,” he suddenly suggested.

Isabel nodded stupidly. “Oh, okay.” She moved closer to his side, the sheet that had been tucked between now pulled up so that they were skin to skin, his arm cradling her. It felt right being here with him like this. She felt comfort despite their dire situation. Then her eyes drifted and she saw the tented sheet and her desire grew causing her to tense next to him. 


Michael hugged her to him. “You okay?” he asked with concern. 
Knowing Isabel she wasn’t comfortable being in the bed ‘naked’ with him especially after the flashes and all. 

Before she could answer the sound of a door being shoved against the wall caused Isabel and Michael to jump and sit up in alarm. 

Kivar.

Isabel swallowed as fear tightened its hold on her. She allowed herself to look at the man that had plagued her past and current lives. He was ruggedly handsome. Older, but not old.

Michael leaned forward and pushed Isabel behind him as he saw Kivar eye Isabel with anger and lust. The bastard was making no secret of his desire for her.
“Stop staring at my wife, you son of a bitch!”

Kivar’s smile slid from his face as he turned his eyes to Michael. Bitter hatred filled them as he hissed, “Rath.”

Michael returned the look without flinching, which infuriated Kivar even more.

“Wife?” His brows went up slightly as he took in the situation. “I think not. Until the union is sealed then she isn’t your wife. There has been no time for that so Vilandra will still belong to me and you will be killed yet again after you watch me say vows with her and make her my own. And this time I intend to see that you stay dead.”


Michael shook his head as he felt Isabel’s warm body huddle next to his back.
The sheet had been taken from her and her bare breasts pressed to his bared skin. He shielded her as best as he could from Kivar’s eyes and those of his men.

“Your people don’t keep you too informed now do they? Or did no one tell you why the city is celebrating? She’s my wife. Our….” He wrinkled his brow as he remembered the exact words the Priest used….”Houses are tied to one another forever in this life and the next as they were meant to be in the past.” Then sending Kivar a piercing look he added, “As are our bodies.”

Kivar’s eyes turned to Isabel staring at him in defiance before returning his eyes to Rath. 
“Your attempt to trick me is pathetic. There has been no time to seal the marriage.”

“Oh there was time. She belongs to me now, Kivar. Our bodies have been one and our souls united for eternity. You’ve lost. And this Kingdom knows that. That is why they are rejoicing. 
They won’t accept you as King or anything else now that she and I are sealed.”

Kivar moved towards the bed and Michael went to his knees. The sheet fell forgotten leaving him naked, his sexual desire gone as his desire to protect Isabel took over. He raised his hand in defense.

 “Try it and you’re a dead man, Kivar. On the other hand killing you would be really sweet.”

Kivar’s eyes widened then grew dark at seeing the young hybrid naked. He recovered himself and smirked as he continued to advance. 
“Your powers are nothing compared to mine. You are weak in this life, just as you were before.”

Michael attempted to use his powers on Kivar, but the evil alien was right, he was no match for Kivar.

Kivar flicked his wrist and a power bolt hit Michael sending him falling in pain to the floor.

Isabel screamed Michael’s name as she reached for him, but Kivar quickly pulled her across the bed to him and laid his own body across her nude one. His hand ran over her bared breast that was exposed to his eyes, his lust for her evident.

“WAIT OUTSIDE!” he yelled over his shoulder. 
His men immediately left the room.

“Have you been giving away what belongs to me, Vilandra? You understand that I must see if he speaks the truth. Are you sullied or still pure for me? Oh, don’t look so afraid, it will only hurt for a minute,” Kivar whispered close to her ear as his hand grasped the top of her head and he searched inside.

Isabel writhed in agony as Kivar searched her memories, her body growing limp as he released her. He looked down on her in disgust and rage, his hand now cruelly pawing at Isabel’s bared body. 

“It’s true,” he hissed. “You’re no good to me now! You’ve spoiled everything by giving yourself to that ……”

He never finished his sentence. In his blind rage he had forgotten about the one on the floor.

Michael raised himself up from his position on the floor and saw Kivar on top of Isabel and he knew his own rage. 

“NOOO!!!” he yelled, as he lifted his hand and focused everything he had on the alien that dared to touch and torment Isabel, and he let loose a blast more powerful than any he had ever released before. 

Kivar screamed and arched his back in pain away from Isabel before gathering himself and returning the attack.

Michael focused harder, but he could feel it draining him fast and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He had to stay strong and save Isabel. He squinted his eyes, sweat popping out on his forehead as he tried to redouble his efforts to vanquish Kivar. He needed help and Isabel was in no position to give it. 
In the back of his mind Michael knew that he would kill Isabel himself before allowing Kivar to have her and he hoped that it wouldn’t come to that.



                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~






The Return of the King…


“I don’t like this. Why are there no beings? It’s like this place is totally empty,” whispered Max.

Tess had to agree. There was something odd going on here and it was beginning to frighten her.

Suddenly Max and Tess paused in their hunt as they spied two aliens exit a room and stand guard. 
At their feet were two more guards dressed differently, apparently over powered by those now guarding the entry.

“Do you think that’s the room?” whispered Tess from behind Max.

Max nodded. “It has to be. I wish I knew if those guards were on our side or Kivar’s?”  

As he was deciding how to precede a scream that he recognized as Isabel’s answered the question for him. 

“Isabel!” He started forward when Tess stopped him by holding his arm.

“No, Max! Wait!”  She closed her eyes and concentrated hard. 

Max watched as the guards suddenly responded to someone not even there and then walk away.

Tess opened her eyes, her head aching from the effort of mind warping the two guards.  “Okay, let’s go.”

Max grabbed her hand and they headed for the room, stopping short close to the wall as they heard an unknown male voice speaking.  When they heard Michael’s shout they quickly entered the room, momentarily stunned by what they found.  Both recovered and immediately raised their hands, Tess joining her’s to Max’s, and released their powers on the one they assumed was Kivar. 

Kivar arched once again as his head turned towards the door. His eyes widened then narrowed with hate.

“ZAN!” 

With Kivar’s focus now divided, Michael felt less power coming at him and was able to recover slightly. The three hybrids focused everything they had on Kivar in an attempt to kill him. 

Isabel moaned as she struggled against the pain in her head. She heard Max’s former name called out and tried to focus. Max and Tess! Hope surged in her.  Then her heart leapt at seeing Michael standing near by as well. He wasn’t dead!  But she couldn’t think of that now, they all needed her help. Mindless of her own nudity she forced herself to sit up and raised her hand, focusing everything she had left inside on Kivar. With all four hybrid powers joined they felt a growing strength in them and a sure knowledge that this time Kivar would not win. 

Kivar began to feel his powers dwindle, the combined hybrids powers forcing down his own. 
How was this possible? He began to shake and he could feel his insides begin to burn. He collapsed on the floor, nothing left inside to give.

The hybrids cautiously pulled back their powers as they stared at the one that had haunted their lives for so long, their hands still at the ready.

“How?” whispered Kivar raggedly.

“We learned from the past,” replied Max. “What you did to us before made us stronger now.”
He heard Tess breathing heavily beside him most likely remembering as he was the painful memories of the child they would have shared in their past lives. “You killed our unborn son, you bastard. For that alone it will be a pleasure to watch you die!”

“Why couldn’t you have waited to kill me? Why did you have to kill our unborn son?” cried out Tess.

 “And risk him growing up and retaking the thrown?” He laughed without humor before his eyes fell on Tess and he frowned. “Nicholas said you weren’t mated to Ava in this life. You wouldn’t be as strong without her.”

Tess glanced at Max and noted his surprised look before turning back as Kivar continued.

 “The fool said you loved another this time. He’s done nothing but lie to me.”

Kivar then looked up at Isabel, her upper body bared, the lower concealed by the twisted sheet. His eyes though dull now took on a lustful look. 

“You always were beautiful, Vilandra.” He reached up to her, but dropped his hand as he saw her dispassionate look. Kivar coughed and laughed weakly. “You could have been my Queen….borne  generations to lead this Kingdom.” He looked at Michael and hate filled him. “Instead you let him be your first once again.” The disgust was apparent even as he lay in pain. “You had to have him once again.”

Max’s eyes flickered to Isabel then quickly to Michael noting their appearance once again before focusing back on Kivar.

“I would never have been yours, Kivar. I would have killed myself first,” replied Isabel.

Kivar laughed once again then without warning raised both hands in a final act of revenge!
The hybrids reacted immediately and swiftly sending their powers into Kivar. He cried out in agony, his body shaking in pain before he burst into flames and then finally leaving him nothing but dust.
The four hybrids lowered their hands as each tried to take in the fact that they had finally vanquished their enemy.

Michael looked at Max and Tess. “I’ve never been so relieved to see anyone in my life. How did you two get here?”

When Max didn’t reply, Tess quietly replied, “The same way you did,” as she briefly viewed Michael’s nude body before closing her eyes.

Max on the other hand looked pointedly at Michael, but averted his eyes from Isabel. “Now isn’t the time, but when we get out of here I want to know what went on here before Kivar arrived.” 

Michael and Isabel realized they were still naked and Isabel hurriedly grabbed at something to cover up with. Both had an idea what Max wanted to know, but neither was sure they had an answer that would satisfy him.

Isabel tightened the sheet to her upper body as Michael reached unhurriedly for his pants. No need to rush he figured. Everyone had seen him now anyway. As he zipped his pants he realized that he really couldn’t blame Max if he decided to kick his butt three different ways. He knew how things looked, and to be honest if Kivar hadn’t of barged in when he had things might have gone too far between him and Isabel.
Isabel.
He looked her way. He supposed things had just gotten more complicated.
He knew he was confused as hell about how he felt and wondered if she felt the same.

Isabel wanted to die. Everyone had seen her naked and of course assumed the worst. The look of shock on Max’s face at seeing her nude brought a blush of shame to her own. She just hoped he would understand when she and Michael tried to explain. The thing was she had wanted what they assumed happened. She glanced at Michael dressing. Were things going to be more awkward between them now? She knew her feelings were stronger for him than ever and for her that would be a problem.

After dressing Michael said, “We need to get rid of this mess incase his followers try to use the same technology on him that they did on us.”

“Agreed,” replied Max.

Beside him Tess suddenly dropped to the floor.

“TESS!”

Max’s urgent call of Tess’s name brought both Michael and Isabel’s attention.

Max knelt and held her limp, but conscious body in his arms. “Tess?”

“Is she okay, Max?” asked Isabel worriedly as she climbed from the bed with the sheet around her.

Tess swallowed and forced a smile as she opened her eyes. “I’m okay, Max. Just drained. I’ve never used my powers so strongly or so close together before. I just need to rest a moment. I’m sorry.”

Max shook his head and gave her a small worried smile. “Don’t be sorry. You were great. Just rest.” 

He looked at Isabel taking in the sheet. “Get dressed and then we’ll go. I’ll carry Tess when it’s time if need be.”

Michael watched as Isabel moved self consciously to retrieve her clothes then carried them to the changing area.

“Easy on her, Max. You have no idea what happened here,” warned Michael, as he handed Max the goblet he and Isabel had drank from earlier.

Max frowned at him as he accepted the goblet and offered it to Tess. “I won’t discuss it now, Michael. Later when we’re out of here, not before.”

His tone irked Michael, but he didn’t argue. Now wasn’t the time.

Isabel returned and Max asked Tess, “How do you feel?”

“Better. I think I’m ready.”

“Let me know if you feel dizzy or weak. I’ll carry you,” Max told her.

Tess nodded, touched and confused by his concern.

Michael cleaned up Kivar’s ashes and dumped them out the window, a breeze whisking them away, while Isabel wiped the floor clean with water so that no residue was left behind. 

“The bastard’s taken care of. Let’s get the hell out of here,” said Michael.

With Max leading the way, Tess, Isabel, and Michael followed behind making their way down the hall.

“Where is everyone?” asked Max, disturbed that the halls were still so empty.

“Celebrating,” replied Michael as he brought up the rear.

“Celebrating what?” asked Tess. 

“Shhhh,” whispered Max as they drew near the chamber room.

As he cautiously looked inside two aliens turned towards him throwing him off guard.
The two aliens immediately stopped talking and bowed at the sight of the four hybrids.

“Majesty!”

Max frowned at the greeting. “I’m no King. I’m Max Evans.”

Karra turned to Tess. “I am Karra and this is Keeon. We have looked forward to the day when you would return.”

Tess stared at her a moment before her attention was drawn to Michael as he grabbed Keeon’s tunic.

“Where the hell were the guards that were to protect us, Keeon? You said security was everywhere, but Kivar and his men made their way into her chambers anyway! What happened?!”

“We do not keep security measures inside the private chambers by order of King Zan. We had no idea the room had been penetrated,” replied Keeon calmly, his eyes never leaving Michael’s. “We had guards set up outside.”

“No one came to our aide when the guards were killed. What happened to security in the halls?” Michael continued to question. 

“It was dismissed when we realized the four of you had things under control,” admitted Keeon.

“You son of a bitch!” yelled Michael as he grabbed hold of Keeon again. “We could have been killed!”

“But you were not. You did as you were supposed to do and used your powers as one against Kivar defeating him,” said Keeon.

The four hybrids stared at the two aliens. “You set us up?” asked Michael.

Karra shook her head. “No. But things could not have turned out better. We are more than pleased that your powers are stronger than we thought they would be. Now that you have returned to lead us again….”

Max shook his head. “I’m not your King and this isn’t our home.”

Karra and Keeon exchanged looks. “Then what we have been told is true. You truly do not want to regain your thrown.”

“We don’t know this place. We’ve only just regained memories of our lives here, but the only ones we know are our lives on Earth. That is our home,” said Max. Then he turned to Tess and his look softened. “You’ve always wanted to come back here. It’s up to you on whether you stay or not. We hope you return with us, but we’ll understand if you stay.” 

Tess bowed her head. She hated to admit it, but now that they were here it didn’t feel like home to her either. Strange that something she had wanted all of her life was suddenly something she no longer desired. She looked at Max. Wherever Max was, that was her home. She hoped that someday he would feel for her the way she felt towards him.

She shook her head. “No, I thought this was what I wanted, but now I realize it’s not really my home at all. I want to go back with all of you to Roswell.” 

Max smiled in surprise and nodded.

Keeon turned to Michael and Isabel. “And you still wish to leave as well? The people have accepted you. You two could rule Antar.”

Isabel shook her head. “We did what we had to do to save Antar from Kivar. But we don’t want to stay here. I’m sorry.”

“At least let the people know that you returned and saved them from Kivar,” appealed Karra.

“Wait a minute. Am I to understand that Isabel and I could have been immediately sent back to Earth after we arrived here? We went through all of that for nothing?!” demanded Michael. 

Keeon shook his head. “Not all for nothing. Kivar was cruel. You killed him and released the people of this planet from his selfish reign.”

“Why didn’t you tell us we could have left? Why put us through all of that?” demanded Michael.

“You never asked,” replied Keeon. 

Michael looked near to bursting he was so angry. One look at Isabel told him she wasn’t pleased at being taken either.

“We never meant to mislead you, but we needed you to fulfill your destinies and in doing so help us to be free once again,” explained Karra.

Max looked at Isabel and Michael. “What does she mean ‘fulfill’ your destinies? What did you two do?” he asked suspiciously.

Michael and Isabel exchanged looks before Michael said, “We got married.”

“YOU WHAT?”

“It was the only way we thought we could maybe survive here. We didn’t know we had been tricked or that we could have actually gone home, “ said Michael defensively.

“You weren’t here, Max. We thought it was our only way to survive against Kivar until we could get back home,” said Isabel. She dared Max to hold this against them. 

Max suspected the two had slept together, but he had never imagined that marriage was what they had done.

As if reading Max’s mind, Michael said, “I never touched Isabel in that way, Max. We set up the scene for Kivar, but we never actually slept together.”

Max looked at Isabel. “Never,” she confirmed.

Max nodded, but something told him that there was more to the story then he was hearing. His thoughts were interrupted by Karra.

“You truly do not wish to reclaim your throne?” asked Karra. “It is your wish to return to Earth?”

“Yes,” replied Max for all of them. 

“Then so be it,” said Keeon.  “But keep this in mind. Your throne will remain here for you for whenever you wish to reclaim it.”

“Before you leave we ask that you at least let them see you in person. They have waited long for you to return,” said Karra.

Max nodded and the four were led to the balcony that Karra had led Michael and Isabel to earlier.

Suddenly a deafening roar filled the air as the four hybrids appeared.

“How do they know?” asked Max in aw. He was overwhelmed by the love and gratitude he felt pouring out of these beings.

“They just do, Maxwell,” replied Michael. He too could feel the emotions pouring out of those below and it warmed him. 

Tess stood near Max and he put his arm around her. “Are you sure you want to leave?” he asked her again, to which she nodded ‘yes’. 

“This isn’t my home. I was raised to believe this is where I belonged and now I know it’s not. I don’t know this world. It’s not my home. Earth and Roswell are my home.” She didn’t add so was Max.

Isabel felt Michael behind her and started when he leaned over and asked, “Do you still feel like you have no purpose?” 

Isabel shook her head. “No. I see that now. I just had to wait to find out what it was.”

Karra turned to Max. “Will you at least spend some time here before you return?”

Max shook his head. “We will be missed. But we need help getting home. Will you help us?”

Keeon nodded. “Yes. Follow me.”

He returned them to the area where all four had landed earlier. 

“Maybe some day you will decide to return,” said Keeon.

Max knew they wouldn’t but nodded.

“How do we do this?” asked Michael.

“Stand on the platform and join hands. We will transport you back to the location where you left,” Keeon instructed.

The four did as instructed, each relieved to be returning home.

“Safe journey,” Karra said from beside Keeon. 

A beam of light enveloped the four and then suddenly they were gone.

“Do you think they will return?” asked Karra.

“Not in this life,” replied Keeon as they walked away.


                                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Home…

They four hybrids suddenly found themselves in the pod chamber on the floor surrounding the Granolith. 

Making sure that all four were accounted for, Max helped Tess to her feet. 

“We did it. We’re home,” he said quietly and with no small amount of relief. 

“My head is swimming,” said Tess as she waited for the room to stop spinning.

“I just want to go home, “ said Isabel tiredly. She needed to be alone to think about the feelings she was having and about what had occurred on Antar with Michael.

“Yeah, me too, “ said Michael. 

But Max wasn’t ready to let it all end yet. He looked at Isabel and Michael a bit uncomfortably, yet still with the authoritative voice of being ‘Leader’ he said,  “If there is anything we need to know before we have any ‘surprises’ later, then now is the time to tell.”

“Surprises? What kind of ‘surprises’ are you referring to, Maxwell?” demanded Michael, clinching his fists. He didn’t like what Max was implying, but couldn’t deny Max’s reasoning considering the compromising situation he had found him and Isabel in. 

“Max,” pleaded Isabel quietly. “Don’t do this. We told you nothing happened.”

Max finally nodded satisfied that they were telling him the truth. 

“Then we need to talk about the marriage,” said Max. “You do realize it’s not valid here so no worries. You can just forget it ever happened.”

Michael and Isabel stared at Max then one another before Michael turned back to Max. Tess noted that both Michael and Isabel seemed upset, but Max seemed not to notice.

“I’m going home, Maxwell. I need some sleep,” said Michael curtly. He turned to Isabel, his tone softer. “Do you want a ride?”

Isabel nodded, though she was nervous about being alone with Michael now after all that had happened.

Max and Tess watched as the other two left the chamber without even saying goodbye. 

“Max?”

He turned to her, slight confusion etched on his face.

 “You really should pay more attention to what is going on around you. Take me home please.”
She left the chamber without waiting for Max.

Now even more confused, Max followed her out, his mind replaying everything that had happened.

                                                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later…

Michael pulled up in front of Isabel’s door and shut off his motorcycle. 
The ride here had been torture for both with Isabel hugging Michael’s body to keep from falling off the bike.

“We need to talk,” Michael said without preamble.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Isabel said, her eyes not meeting Michael’s.

Michael took hold of her arm when she made to turn away. 
“We got married, Isabel. You call that nothing? What about our feelings?”

”All of that was on another world, Michael. As far as this one is concerned our marriage doesn’t exist,” replied Isabel, a bit sharply. She bit her lip in regret for her tone. Softening it she said, “Look, I’m tired. I just want my bed. Goodnight, Michael.” She went inside her apartment with Michael staring with hurt and anger at her retreating back before he hopped on his bike and left.
                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning…

Max picked up the newspaper outside of Michael’s apartment and rubbed his eyes. 
He hadn’t slept all night. 
Michael had never come home. 
On top of that was the feeling of regret he had at leaving Tess at the Valenti’s. 
Neither had spoken on the ride there and she had looked so sad as she had told him goodnight.  He had spent the rest of the night worrying about Michael and Isabel and then about these new found memories and feelings concerning Tess. 
Glancing down at the newspaper his eyes widened before he ran inside and headed for the phone.

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle entered the bathroom and then came back out again as he heard a creaking sound coming from his old room that he’d given over to Tess.  Opening the door he found Tess asleep in the bed.
He rushed over to her and shook her awake. 

“When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell us?” he demanded. 

Tess rubbed her eyes. She’d finally fallen asleep after tossing all night long thinking about Max. “What? I don’t know. It was late.”

“But we’ve been worried that you didn’t make it to Antar…that you were dead!” said Kyle grabbing her to him. “Did everyone come back okay? Isabel? Michael and Max?”

Tess grew more alert as Kyle squeezed her tightly to him. “Dead? What? Um, yes. We’re all fine. Why would you think we were dead?”

Kyle released her and sat back as his father came running into the room.  

“TESS! Thank god!” He too hugged her tightly to him.

“Sheesh, you’d think I’d been gone forever,” Tess said laughing. 

Jim and Kyle exchanged looks. “Tess, do you even know how long you’ve been gone?” asked Jim.

Tess instantly grew sober. “No, why?”

“It’s been a week, Tess. You’ve been gone a week,” said Kyle.

Tess stared at the two men she had grown to love as family and slowly shook her head. 

“No, that can’t be. We were only on Antar a day.”

Jim shook his head. “It’s the truth. Everyone has been frantic. We began thinking you all were dead.”

Tess jumped from the bed. “I need to call, Max!”

 
                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A half hour later the four aliens gathered at the Valenti home.

“I called Mom and Dad and they totally freaked,” said Isabel pacing the living room.  
“Mom said they had reported us missing and were about to call in private investigators.”

Max watched her pace and nodded. “I got the same response. It was all I could do to convince her not to come over to Michael’s place.”

“Where did you tell her you were?” asked Jim.

“Camping. I told her we thought we had told them and we were sorry for worrying them.”

“Michael?” 

“Um, I haven’t actually called in yet,” he replied. 

At that moment the Valenti’s front door opened and Liz and Maria came rushing in and over to Max and Michael, pulling them both into hugs.
Isabel and Tess watched, their hearts aching at the scene.

“Max, what happened? We thought you were dead!” said Liz looking up into his eyes.

“You big, dumb alien, I thought I had lost you,” said Maria kissing Michael’s face.

Michael didn’t respond which didn’t go unnoticed by Max, as he unconsciously pulled back a bit from Liz.

“How did you find out?” asked Max. He hadn’t called Liz and he doubted Michael had called Maria. In fact how had Michael known? He looked between him and Isabel.

“Michael, you didn’t come home last night. How did you find out to come here?” Max asked.

Michael and Isabel exchanged looks. “I spent the night on a bench in the park thinking. I was pulling up to Isabel’s when she came running out to head here.”

“Kyle called us. Max you were gone so long. I thought I’d never see you again,” said Liz quietly looking up into his eyes.

“I guess time must pass slower up there. To us we had only been gone one day. We had no idea a week had gone by here,” he explained.

“I guess I’ve been replaced at work, “ Michael said to Liz.

Liz shook her head. “I told my dad that you had an emergency come up and needed some time off.” 

Michael nodded and gave her a small smile. “Thanks.”

“So what happened up there? Did you find Kivar? Did you kill him?” asked Kyle.

Max looked around the room before solemnly nodding. “Yes.”

“So tell us what happened,” pressed Kyle.

The four hybrids looked at one another not sure where to start or what parts to tell.

“Kivar tried to kill me and take Isabel as his bride. Max and Tess showed up and the four of us together killed Kivar. We came back here and that’s it,” said Michael, never one for long explanations.

“That’s it? That’s all you have to tell after being gone a whole week?” said Maria.
“There has to be more. What are you leaving out Guerin?”

“Nothing. To you it was a week. To us a day,” he replied.

“What’s that, Isabel?” asked Liz with interest, pointing to Isabel’s wrist.

Isabel looked down and noticed the entwined strings. She had forgotten she had them on.
She fingered them, her face unknowingly softening before telling Liz, “They um were given to me on Antar,” she said softly.

“Why is one plain and the other so beautiful? It looks like….are those jewels on there?” asked Maria, impressed.

Isabel nodded. “Yes. The jeweled thread signifies that my past self came from a royal line.”

“And the plain one?” asked Liz.

Michael drew in a deep breath as he waited to see how Isabel would explain the plain thread.

“It represents something special too,” she said softly as she continued to finger the threads.

Michael frowned when she didn’t give a further explanation then jumped as Maria grabbed his wrist and held it up.

“Michael! Why do YOU have the same threads that Isabel does?” she demanded as she waved his wrist in front of his face. She looked at Max and Tess’s wrists and noted that they didn’t wear the bracelets.

All eyes turned to Michael who in turn looked to Isabel. 

“Uh, I got it the same place Isabel got hers.”

“But hers is for a royal line. I don’t understand why you have one too. Shouldn’t yours be different?” Maria persisted. 

Michael took a deep breath knowing hell was fixing to be raised on his head. 
“I do have mine on. My thread is plain.” 

Maria’s brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

 “So why do you both have the same threads on?”  Maria continued to question.
She looked at Max and Tess. “Why don’t Max and Tess have them on?”

Michael looked at Isabel who seemed about to panic. 

“What’s going on here? You’re hiding something. I knew you were!” said Maria.

Max and Tess waited to see if Michael or Isabel would explain the significance of the threads that neither of them had noticed until they were pointed out.

“Do you want to tell them?” asked Michael of Isabel.

Maria’s head swung between the two. 

“Michael, I don’t know if they will understand.”

He frowned. “Understand? Hell ‘I’ don’t even understand anymore! Damn it, Isabel! I knew we should have talked about this last night! Are you ashamed? Am I not good enough?”

Liz gasped and covered her mouth in understanding. “Oh my gawd!”

“What?” asked Maria, still totally in the dark. “Someone tell me what is going on!’

“What’s going on is that the plain thread is mine and the jeweled one is Isabel’s. They signify that we are married,” said Michael as he continued to stare at Isabel, who had paled considerably. 

“Michael,” she barely managed to whisper. She couldn’t believe he thought he was beneath her or that she was ashamed of him. Her heart felt an ache at how he must feel.

 “MARRIED!?!?” cried Maria as she burst into tears. She slumped down to the couch in shock. “You got married? How could you? We’re supposed to get married!’

Kyle and Jim each had their own reaction to the news: Kyle’s was one of shock then amusement, while Jim’s was more thoughtful as he observed the two.

Michael looked helplessly between Isabel and Maria trying to decide whom to go to first. He finally knelt beside Maria.  “I’m sorry. I never meant for you to find out this way. Isabel and I both know that our marriage means nothing here on Earth,” he looked towards Isabel, “But to me it means everything.”

Maria looked up at him as the others stood nearby as quiet observers to what was unfolding.

Michael looked back at her.  “I remember my life with her, Maria.” 

She shook her head in denial as the tears poured down. 

“Yes, I do. I remember all of it and so does she. We loved one another, Maria. And I realized that I still love her, I just didn’t know how much until I got up there.” It wasn’t said unkindly, but gently, because he knew he was hurting her and he had never wanted that.

“It’s a mind warp, right? That thing that Tess does. They mind warped you,” said Maria.

Michael shook his head. “No. It’s not a mind warp. I love her and will always think of her as my wife whether she wants me or not. I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.” 

He stood up and went to stand before Isabel.  “I didn’t mean to announce it that way in front of everybody like that. I tried to talk to you last night, but you didn’t want to talk.”

Isabel’s eyes were bright with tears that threatened to fall. 

“Michael, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you feel like I do. You can’t tell me that you don’t. I’ve seen inside your soul, Isabel. You can’t hide from me.”

Isabel felt light headed as she heard Michael voice his feelings for her.  She had been awake all night trying to push her own of thoughts of love for Michael out of her mind and her heart, but now they were rushing back in with hope following cautiously right behind.  

“How do you know that these feelings aren’t momentary for you, Michael? It was intense up there. We had only ourselves to rely on and things got really emotional. How do you know that in a week or even a month that you won’t think they were a mistake and you will want to go back to Maria?”

“I won’t. I know how I feel. I love you, Isabel. You know that. You saw inside of me too. You know that what I feel for you is real.” He wished that they were alone, but maybe with everyone watching it would convince her that he was being truthful with her.

Isabel couldn’t stop the tear that began to fall. She looked over at Maria sobbing and felt regret. She could well imagine her pain. Her eyes then found Max standing with Tess. She could see the questioning look in his eyes and knew he wasn’t thrilled with learning about all of this between her and Michael. 

Max read the look in Isabel’s eyes and knew that he was the reason she was holding back. 
It hurt him to know that she would cast away her own happiness if it meant that she thought he would be unhappy with her choice.  Maybe he did need to pay more attention as Tess said.  Did he wear blinders where Isabel and Michael’s happiness was concerned? He looked at Tess. Did he have them on where his own was concerned? 

He walked over to Isabel and Michael. They looked at him as Max put his hand on Isabel’s arm and asked, “Do you love him, Isabel?” 

She looked between the two and then nodded as her tears fell freely. 

“Then tell him.”  He looked between Isabel and Michael, the looks on their faces telling him all he needed to know. What was between was right and meant to be. He dropped his hand and moved near Tess, a move that completely devastated and confused Liz.

Everyone waited to see if Isabel would respond to Michael, but no one more than Michael himself. 

Finally Isabel cupped his face with her hand and whispered, “I’m not now nor have I ever been ashamed of you, Michael.” 

He smiled a bit and nodded, afraid that if he spoke he’d lose it in front of everyone. 
‘Stone walls’ didn’t do that.

“I love you. I loved you before, I love you now, and I’ll love you in our next life too,” Isabel told him, choking back a sob as Michael pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her neck. 

Max sighed, though he was still disturbed that ‘destiny’ was getting its way.  He looked again at Tess as she happily watched Isabel and Michael and he remembered what he had felt for her in their past.  Was he fighting what was meant to be? Was he causing her pain and Liz too, by denying what was supposed to be?  

Liz watched as Max stood watching Tess. She could tell something was on his mind and the dreaded feeling in her stomach told her that he was reconsidering his own destiny.

“Does this mean you guys are getting married?” asked Kyle. 

“We’re already married,” replied Michael, turning to face everyone, his arm around Isabel. 

“Not here you’re not,” replied Jim. 

Maria suddenly stood up. “Forgive me for not joining in the celebration. I don’t feel like celebrating my boyfriend’s marriage to someone else.”

Michael guiltily dropped his arm from Isabel, having forgotten about Maria. 

“We didn’t plan this, Maria. We can’t control any of it. I am sorry you are hurt. I truly am,” said Isabel.  

Maria acknowledged her with a quick nod on her way to the door. “Yeah, well I can’t stay. I can’t bear this anymore.” And then she was gone.

“I think Isabel and I need to be alone to talk about what we will do next,” said Michael, leading her to the door. 

When they neared Tess and Max, Isabel suddenly stopped and hugged the petite blond to her and then Max. 

“You made the right decision, Isabel. Never forget that,” said Max.

“I know,” she replied before following Michael out the door.

After they left Max turned to Liz. “We need to talk.”

Liz nodded her head slowly dreading what was to come.  

“Outside?”

Tess watched as Liz made her way outside with Max following.

“I think I’m going to go to my room,” said Tess watching Max and Liz go outside.

Kyle looked at Jim. “This really sucks. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad right now.”

Jim put his hand on his hips. “I know just what you mean, son.”
                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Liz moved to sit on the lawn chair on the patio while Max sat across from her.

“You’re breaking up with me aren’t you?” said Liz, her dark eyes filling with tears.

“I have too. I’m so sorry, Liz.” Max’s heart was breaking. He did love her, but now with his memories and feelings for Tess he had to go where his heart took him.

“Is it because of Michael and Isabel or did something happen up there with you and Tess?”

“Both, I guess, but not in the way you mean.” He took a deep breath and said, “Tess and I remember her being killed while carrying our son.”  

Liz’s mouth formed a silent ‘Oh’.  “How do you know that wasn’t a mind warp?”

Max shook his head. “It wasn’t. It’s too hard to explain, but I do remember everything about my life with her up there.  I need to explore my feelings for her.”

“And what about your feelings for me? You said you would always love me,” said Liz with an angry hurt tone.

“I do. But what I feel for Tess….what I remember about the two of us, I need to explore that. She’s my wife, Liz.”

Liz rolled her eyes upward in dismay. “She’s not your wife here, Max.”

“But it’s how I remember her up there. And now after our time searching for Michael and Isabel and then fighting Kivar…I have these new feelings for her.  I’m sorry, Liz. I truly am. I would never hurt you intentionally. Never. You know that,” said Max reaching for her hand. 

Liz pulled back. “Don’t.”

Max sadly pulled back and stood up. “I want us to stay friends, Liz.”

Liz shook her head in amazement. 

“Then this is goodbye,” said Max sadly as he stood up. He willed her to look at him, but she wouldn’t.  Finally he went back inside the house while Liz sat at the table and cried.

Inside Kyle watched Liz sitting there all alone devastated over the loss of Max to Tess. 
He opened the sliding door and went to offer comfort to his friend.

                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tess heard a knock on the door and looked up from her spot on the bed where she sat hugging her pillow, expecting to see Kyle. She was totally unprepared to see Max walk in the room. 

“Max, what are you doing here?”  She motioned for him to sit.

“We need to talk,” he said as he sat down beside her. 

“Talk? About what?” asked Tess, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“About us,” replied Max.

Tess felt a shiver go through her. “Us?”

“I remember everything about you, Tess and our lives together. I know you do too. They’ve aroused feelings in me that have long been dormant and I want to explore them.”

Tess sat up straighter hugging the pillow tighter to her. “What about Liz?”

Max shook his head. “We’re not together anymore. I told her about us….about our child.”

Tess’s mind was reeling. She never expected this. “You want to be with me? But for how long, Max? How long before you run back to Liz? I won’t be used just so you can try to figure out things in your head.”

Max hadn’t expected her reaction. He thought after all of the time Tess had spent trying to convince him they were married and meant to be that she would be happy. 

He took her hand in his and covered it with his other one. “I won’t leave. I watched Isabel and Michael today. They stopped fighting their feelings and embraced their destiny. I’m doing that too.”

Tess shook her head. “Not good enough, Max. That was fine for Isabel and Michael, but….”

“I feel in my heart that I do love you, Tess. How much? Enough to know I want to be with you. Beyond that is what I don’t know.”

Tess’s eyes filled with tears as Max told her he loved her. She never thought to hear him say to the words to her in this lifetime and actually mean them . She nodded and smiled.  “Then I want to explore what’s between us too.”

Max smiled and brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. 

“I love you, Max. I always have,” said Tess smiling, her heart full of happiness.

                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Cliff…

Isabel rested between Michael’s legs while he leaned against a rock at the top of the cliff just above the Pod chamber. They looked up at the coming night sky and sighed with contentment. 

Michael picked up Isabel’s left hand and kissed it. “It needs a wedding ring.”

Isabel smiled. “I don’t need one.” Then added, “But I guess others would expect me to wear one.”

Michael grinned. “We’ll get you one tomorrow. I want everyone to know you are my wife.”

The smile slipped from Isabel’s face. “Not here. Not yet.”

Michael kissed the back of her head then her neck. “Okay. We’ll do it again.”

Isabel felt like she was melting under Michael’s kisses and that was a problem. 
 She considered her words carefully before speaking. 
“Michael, you know I love you. I love you more than life itself. What happened before Kivar came in…I want that and more with you…so much more…. but not until we are married.  We can’t take the chance of any ‘surprises’ happening yet. Okay?”  She waited nervously for his reply.

Michael stopped his nibbling. “Look at me.”

Isabel turned her body, but avoided Michael’s eyes.

He put a finger under her chin and said again, “Look at me.”

Isabel raised her eyes to Michael’s. 

“I want you, but I can wait. It wont’ be easy and I really don’t want too, but I can wait a few more days. No longer.”
At her smile he added, “But any ‘surprises’ would be welcome ones, understand? I want children with you, Isabel. Now or later, we’re going to have them and for that I can’t wait. I love you.”

“I love you too, Michael,” Isabel replied kissing him softly.
 
Michael returned her kiss just as softly at first then hungrily, his body wanting her, needing her, but he kept his promise to wait. 

Isabel leaned back against Michael once again as they both looked up at a star glowing brightly, and each thanked the ones above that had given them this second chance.

~End~