Ch 1
Liz Parker picked up her son's teddy bear off the floor as she straightened the living room.
"Nick? Time for bed." Looking around she spotted her daughter. "Kayla! Come down from there!" Liz ordered her daughter, who was standing on top of the bookcase.
"Mommy! It's not time for bed yet!" Strong, willful Mikayla declared.
"It is so." Liz said lifting her daughter down. "Now where's your brother?"
"In there." Kayla pointed to the kitchen. "It's not time for bed!" She insisted with a pout. Liz, who was used to this sighed.
"C'mon Kayla. First some milk and then to bed." She said taking her daughter by the hand. "Nick? Bed time sweetie."
"Out here Mommy." He called from the dining porch just off the dining room.
Liz smiled, thanking God that at least one of her children had the ability to be reasonable. "What are you doing?" Mikayla was so like her namesake, stubborn, hardheaded, and undyingly loyal. Nick was more like a combination of Max and Isabelle. He was loyal, and devoted to family, but he knew when to listen.
"Looking at the stars. Last time he was here Uncle Michael taught me about the constellations." Nicholas Alexander looked at his mother as she knelt down next to him. "When's he coming back?"
"I don't know baby. Aunt Maria likes having him around too you know." Liz's smile did not waver, though her heart hurt at the thought of all she'd left behind. "Time for bed."
"OK." Nick took one last look at the stars before following his mother back into the house for his bedtime snack before he and his sister were put to bed.
Just as Liz was pouring Tabasco sauce into Kayla's cup the phone rang. Liz picked up the cordless and hit talk. "Hello?"
"Liz?"
She frowned. "Michael? The kids and I were just talking about you. What's up?" She tried to keep her tone light, but she could tell some thing was wrong.
"Uncle Michael!" Kayla shouted.
"Mikayla Isabelle, hush." Liz said sternly. "Michael? Sorry about that. What's up?"
"I need to see you." He said. "It can't be discussed over the phone."
Liz turned white. "When will you be here?"
"Tonight. After the kids are asleep."
"Okay. You remember the alarm code for the gate?"
"Yes. Take care Liz. Trouble's around, and I'm worried about you."
"Thanks. See you tomorrow morning." She made sure the kids realized Uncle Michael was coming soon.
"Bye." Liz hung the phone up and bit her lip.
"Mommy?" Kayla said.
"What baby?"
"What's the matter?"
Liz shook her head. Kayla was more like Max then Liz realized. "Nothing sweetheart. Your Uncle Michael's coming up."
"Cool. Is he bringing Aunt Maria and Annie?" Annie was Michael's year old daughter.
"Does he ever bring them?"
"No." Kayla pouted. "I want to meet them. And Aunt Isabelle!"
"Someday baby." Liz promised, with a heavy heart. How much had Michael told her children about their family?
"Mommy?" Nick asked.
"I'm okay sweetheart."
"Promise?"
"Pinky swear." Liz grinned. "Go get into pjs, then I'll read you a story. When you wake up tomorrow Uncle Michael will be here!" She promised. Liz couldn't help but feel excited. It would be the first news from Roswell, her home that she'd had in almost a month.
Michael packed his bag quickly.
"How bad is it?" Maria asked as she sat in the window seat.
"Not as bad as it could be." Michael didn't want his wife to worry.
"You better come home to us."
"I will." He said turning around and going to his wife. Gathering her in his arms he spoke quietly. "Look if you see someone suspicious don't hesitate to get out of here. Go to River Dog."
"Why? Michael, you're lying to me. It's bad, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's bad." Michael said. "I'm probably being overprotective, but I asked Isabelle to come stay with you and Annie."
"Protect her. If you have to, bring her home. I don't like not having you in plain sight."
"I know. I don't like being away from you either." Michael leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I know you want to know where she is, but I promised not to tell."
"Why did she leave? Can you at least tell me that much?" Maria asked.
Michael sighed and kissed her forehead. "It's not my place."
"Was it because of Max and Tess?"
"In a way."
Maria shook her head. "I love you." She said.
"I love you too. Where's that gun that Tess gave you last Christmas?"
"In the lock box. I'll put it in the nightstand before I go to bed and I promise to load it."
"Don't let Annie see you. I don't want to frighten her." Michael knew he was being paranoid, but after what happened he thought that was a better way to be.
"I swear but Michael? She's only a year old." Maria smiled slightly.
"Yes, but she's very intelligent." Michael argued. "Just like her mommy."
Maria wrinkled her nose. "Be careful okay? I like you in one piece."
"I do too." He kissed her passionately, then said, "Remember, you see any intruders, shoot first, ask questions later. Run for River Dog, and don't drive Is crazy. I love you." And he was gone.
Liz turned over when she heard her front door open. The first streams of daylight were just beginning to shine threw her window and she knew when she heard the footsteps on her front porch that Michael had arrived.
She slipped out of her room and into the living room where Michael was standing looking at a picture of her, Nick, and Kayla. She called his name softly. The second she saw him she knew he had not slept that night.
"What's going on Michael?" she asked immediately crossing her arms around her body.
"Are the kids asleep?"
"Yeah, but they won't be for long. What's going on?" She demanded.
"I'll explain all but first can I have some coffee?"
"Sure." She quickly brewed a pot, dumped a bit of Tabasco sauce in, and then handed it to him.
"Thanks." he took it gratefully. "Let's go outside."
The two went out onto her back stoop and sat down on the stairs.
"Michael how bad is it?"
"Well, it could be worse." He said unconvincingly. "But I won't lie to you, things are a mess."
"Is it Max?"
"Yes." Michael said.
"Is he marrying Tess?" Liz squeaked.
"No. The FBI captured him, Tess and Alex."
"Oh my God." Her face went white.
"I got a call from Is on Friday. Alex never showed for work and Tess and Max who were supposed to give him a ride never showed either."
"Are you sure it's the FBI?"
"Yes." Michael said. "Isabelle's powers have developed so that she can find Max Alex, or me anywhere, any time. She saw them being tortured." His voice was colder than anything she'd ever heard.
"Does Maria know yet?"
"She knows there's trouble, she knows they're missing." He paused. "I didn't tell her about you. She doesn't even know why you left Roswell. No one does, except maybe Isabelle. She's gotten so good at dream working you can't tell if she knows your secrets or not." He sighed. "Liz, I want you to come home. Where I can keep an eye on you while Is and I try to get Max and Tess out. And where you can keep an eye on Maria."
Liz closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll come home but as soon as they're safe we're gone again Michael."
"If that's the way you want it."
"It's the way it has to be."
"Uncle Michael?"
"Miki!" Michael put a smile on turned as he turned to hug his niece.
She ran into her Uncle's arms and hugged him. "I missed you." She said slightly reproachfully.
"Well I missed you too. But guess what?"
"What?" She asked eagerly.
"You know how you're always begging Mommy to take you and Nick to meet Aunt Maria and Aunt Isabelle?"
"Yeah." She said. Realization dawned. "WE ARE?! Oh, Mommy, this will be so much fun! I have to tell Nick! Can I bring my blankie?" She garbled ideas the way only a child can.
Liz laughed. "Of course sweetie. Go wake Nick. We have to get packing soon."
"Packing? What should I pack?" Kayla turned a puzzled face to her mother.
"I'll be up to help, don't worry. Just wake your brother, ok?" Liz squatted down so they were at eye level. Mikayla hugged her mom, and then ran up to tell her twin the news. Liz stood and looked at Michael. Her eyes were frightened. "I don't like this." She said
"I know. But Liz I swore a long time ago that I would never let anything happen to you three. I'm not leaving you guys out here like sitting ducks."
"Just be careful okay? You're the only father they know."
"You could change that." Michael urged gently.
Liz turned her head, so he couldn't see her face. "How's everyone? Besides this I mean?" He voice was muffled.
"Annie's fine. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to meet her aunt Liz. Maria misses you like crazy but she loves running the Crashdown since your folks moved to Florida. Is and Alex are planning their wedding and Max is still pining for you." Michael finished quietly.
Liz turned to look at him, startled. "I thought he was with Tess?"
"Tess keeps trying but Liz you're all he can see. You're all he could ever see."
"Please, Michael, don't start this again." Liz said. The twins’ arrival stopped any attempt at adult conversation, for the moment at least. Nick smiled happily to see his uncle, and ran to hug Michael.
"Hey Nick. How ya doing?" Michael asked hugging the little boy who looked so much like Max.
"Good." He said softly. "I asked Mommy when you were coming last night and she didn't know. Why were you gone so long? We missed you." He indicated his twin. Liz looked helplessly at Michael, as if to say, I'm sorry.
"Well you know if I came to see you two every time I missed you Aunt Maria would probably divorce me."
Nick and Kayla giggled.
"Kay said we're gonna meet Aunt Maria. Is that true?" Nick asked. His sister hit him.
"Kayla." Liz warned. "What do I say about hitting?"
"Not to." Kayla mumbled.
"That's right." Liz said. "And yes Nick your sister was telling the truth. We're gonna meet your Aunt Maria."
"Yay!" He jumped up.
"And Aunt Isabelle, and Annie, And Alex, and Grandma and Grandpa too?" Kayla demanded.
"Not everyone." Liz said. "But Annie for sure."
"Cool!" Kayla proclaimed.
"Hey how about I make you two breakfast while your mom starts packing?" Michael suggested.
"Um," The twins shared a long look. "OK." They proclaimed in unison.
Liz giggled as the twins raced inside. "Thank you,” she said quietly before she followed.
"Any time, Lizzie." He put an arm around her shoulders in a friendly gesture, and then kissed the top of her head. "Go pack." He admonished in a brotherly way.
"Sir yes sir!" she mock saluted and headed for her bedroom.
Liz threw her clothes into the suitcase, and started to cry as she did. She'd held it together in front of Michael and the kids, but this was her worst nightmare come to life.
She went to her closet and pulled down a box. Digging through it she found what she was looking for. Her picture of Max.
"Please, please be okay. I love you." She whispered.
Get your own Free Home Page