By: Cheri
E-mail: cheri_and_ty@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I am in no way connected to Roswell. I don’t own any of the characters. So please don’t sue.
You won’t get anything.
Feedback is greatly appreciated. This is my first effort at a fanfic. So please be gentle.
***
Isabel drove into the city limits towards her parent's house. It had been nearly ten years since she had left Roswell and everyone behind. She had told them she was just leaving for a year. She told them she needed to discover who she really was. So, she went to Los Angeles.
At first, it was hard for her to be on her own-- to be alone, without them. She thought about Roswell and her friends constantly-- especially Alex. She relived every moment they shared: every look, every kiss and every touch. She had told him that she loved him, but she needed time to figure herself out. So, he let her go because he loved her so much.
Gradually, she went on auditions and got parts. Then one day she became Hollywood's "It Girl". She was invited to parties and hung out with celebrities. She called Max a year after she left, and told him she was staying in California, that she had found what she wanted there. She had explained to Alex that although she did love him, she wasn't coming back to Roswell and that she was sorry.
Eventually, she started dating, again. But, nothing too serious. She was featured regularly in the tabloids, being linked to nearly everyone. But in reality there was only one person she was truly linked to-- Alex. But, it was too late. There had been too much distance between them.
When Max had phoned her the other night and gave her the news her heart shattered into a million pieces. Alex, her Alex, had fallen in love with someone else and was getting married. He was getting married to someone who wasn't her.
They had tried to keep in touch over the years. Alex even made a trip out to see her that first year. But, their lives were so different and in the end they gradually lost touch.
It had been nearly two years since she had spoken to him. Max always updated her on the important happenings of their lives, but she always felt out of touch. Max was one of the only people she still kept in contact with, mostly because he was her brother. She wasn't able to make it to his wedding to Liz. She had really wanted to, but it conflicted with her filming schedule. They were both angry with her, but in the end, they understood-- her work was her passion.
In the ten years she had been away from Roswell, she felt like she had lost herself in trying to discover who Isabel Evans really was. Was she the talented actress, the confused woman, or an abandoned alien? She really didn't know who she was anymore. That was one of her reasons for coming home. That and the fact she needed to tell Alex that she still loved him, hoping there was a way that some part of him loved her too.
When she pulled into her parent's driveway, it was close to 8 pm. She knew her parents were somewhere in Europe, they seemed to travel a lot after her and Max graduated high school. So, no one would be there to greet her or tell her how happy they were that she was home.
She had told no one she was even coming home. It was a split-second decision on her part to come back to Roswell. She had just decided on leaving two days ago. She threw some stuff in her car and drove towards New Mexico, not thinking of anything, but Alex.
She unlocked the front door with the key she always kept on her keyring. She carried the key with her everywhere, to remind herself that she did have another life she could return to at anytime. She immediately went upstairs to her room and opened the door. She looked around to discover everything was just how she left it, like if they had changed anything she would never come home.
Isabel walked around the room taking in everything. On her dresser there was her Prom picture of her and Alex. To the right of it was the picture of all six of them together. She walked over to her closet and looked inside to discover all of her clothes still hanging there.
That's when she remembered it. "I know it's back here." She said to herself.
"A-ha! There you are." Isabel said as she grasped the book's binding in her hand. She pulled it out of her closet and looked at the cover.
My Astronomy book. She thought to herself. She looked at it lovingly, remembering the day nearly 13 years ago that Alex had given her this book. "He never thought I'd keep it. He never really knew how much I loved this book." She could feel the tears flooding her eyes as she wiped ten years of dust from the cover.
Isabel sat on her bed remembering everything they had shared. The time she had went into his dreams and discovered how he really felt about her. Their first kiss on his front porch. Her dragging him into the eraser room. Alex giving her the space she needed after she discovered the truth about their destiny. She remembered when she thought she was pregnant by Michael and how Alex had told her he'd be there for her no matter what. She thought about Prom and the first time they made love. She thought about the way Alex looked when they last saw each other.
Isabel was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't hear her bedroom door open.
"Isabel? What are you doing here?" Max asked his sister, shocked.
Isabel, startled from her thoughts, quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. "Max, I didn't hear you. What are you doing here?"
"The neighbors called me when they noticed lights on and a strange car in the driveway. They know that Mom and Dad were gone and that you don't come home. They were worried, so they called me. What are you doing here?" Max asked again, puzzled.
“I just wanted to come home, Max. Aren't you happy I'm back? You've been asking me to come home for years. And now you're acting like you're pissed at me." Isabel said to her brother. "Aren't you even going to give me a hug?"
Max grinned at his sister and crossed the room to give her a hug. The embrace between the siblings went on forever. They didn't want to let go of each other, both fearing that it was a dream and soon they'd wake up. It had been nearly a year since Max and Liz had went to Los Angeles to see Isabel.
"I'm sorry, Izzy. It's just weird to see you here. Not just here as in the house, but in Roswell. I thought you didn't want to come back. Did something bad happen?" Max asked his sister, worried.
"Yeah, something happened. Your phone call woke me up."
"What? What do you mean?"
"It woke something up inside of me, Max. Something I haven't felt in so long. I realized how much I missed everyone and everything in Roswell. Max, I missed home. After talking to you, I thought about the last ten years and then it hit me-- I was wrong, I'm not happy in L.A. At least, not like I was here. Then, I took a real good look at myself and I didn't like what I saw. The whole celebrity thing, that's not me and we both know it. I missed being myself around people. I missed having real, genuine friends. The ones you can hang around with in sweats and just watch the same videos you've watched a million
times with before. And who know every little thing about you and don't care if you're different. I missed having someone who truly loved me, and really listened to what I had to say. Someone who was always there when I needed them. Max, I realized just how much I missed Alex being in my life." Isabel told him, saying the last sentence in a whisper.
"Isabel, I glad you came to this self-realization, but things have changed. Alex waited for you to come back here for eight years. Eight years that took a toll on him, Isabel. Every time there was a new article about you and some other guy, he took it all in stride, because he believed that you truly loved him. And because he loved you so much. He took a lot of ribbing about it. You weren't here to see the pain in his eyes. Now, just when you find out he's getting married, you decide to come back to Roswell. You made the choice not to be with him, Isabel. You crushed him. It's taken forever, but he's finally over you. He's
happy. You need to just leave the guy alone!" Max had rarely said harsh words to his sister, but he had seen Alex go through hell over Isabel once and he didn't want that to happen again.
Isabel had never seen Max so angry. Usually, he was the one who would have encouraged her to go after what she wanted. Maybe he is right, Isabel thought to herself. I probably would only hurt him, again. He deserves so much more. Isabel felt a tear trickle down her cheek.
Max saw the tear and his heart lurched. He could never bear to see her cry. His anger passed and he pulled her into a hug. "Is. Isabel, don't cry. Please don't cry." Max begged her. "I'm sorry I was so harsh."
"Max, you're right. I turned him away. I'm the one that left. I don't deserve him. I never deserved him. I won't bother Alex while I'm here."
"That’s not what I meant. It's just that I don't want to see him hurt again. I don't think he would survive it. How long will you be here?" Max wondered out loud.
"I really don't know. Maybe a few days. Maybe a week. Maybe forever. I just know that right now I want to be here. Home."
"Won't that hurt your career?"
"Right now, Max, I really don't care. I probably have enough money to last me the rest of my life. If worse comes to worse, I could get a job at the Crashdown." Isabel said with a chuckle, making Max laugh out loud also.
"Yeah, I can really see you in that uniform again." Max teased. "Do you want to stay with me and Liz? I know it'll get lonely being in this house alone." Max said to her. He just realized how much he missed having Isabel in his life.
"No. I want to stay here in our house, in my own room, and in my own bed." Isabel said to Max as he nodded, totally understanding her need to be home.
"What about if Liz and I came over here and stayed with you?" Max asked. He wanted to keep an eye on her.
“You would do that?" Isabel asked.
"Yeah. I'm sure Liz would want to. Let me call her. I'll be right back."
"Take your time. I'm in no hurry to go anywhere." Isabel said, meaning every word.
***
"Wait, Max, what do you mean Isabel's home?" Liz asked.
"She's sitting in her room right now. She looks so sad and alone, Liz. I've never seen her look like this before. It's scaring me. I told her that we'd stay with her at the house while she's here." Max told her and then added, "But it's totally up to you."
Liz smiled. "Max, you knew I'd say yes before you ever asked me. Let me grab some things and I'll be right over."
Max grinned at himself as he hung up the phone. He really had no idea how he got to be so lucky. He had the perfect marriage. When he healed Liz the day of the shooting at the cafe he had truly connected them for life. Even when she selflessly walked away after learning his destiny, the connection did not break. She was there for him when he came to her after finding out that there was no home for him to go back to. She was always there for him. She truly was his soul-mate.
"What are you smiling about? Oh, no! Not the soul-mate-gushing-lovey thing. I so did not miss that!" Isabel said to her brother teasingly.
Max laughed out loud. "Caught! You know, Is, you should be encouraging it, that is if you want to have any nieces or nephews."
Max saw the look of surprise on Isabel's face when he said that. He then quickly added, "Liz said okay. She's packing some things for us, so she should be here in a little while. Have you eaten? You look starved." Max said, looking at her too-thin body. "I could make you something."
Isabel shook her head at him. "You know what would be really good right now? A burger from the Crashdown." Isabel said as her mouth watered at the thought. Being around the other actresses in Hollywood, she never really had the chance to pig out. Her agent was always telling her she needed to lose five more pounds.
"Are you serious?! You are serious. You really have been gone a long time. Let me call Liz and tell her to meet us there." Max said, chuckling at his sister.
***
Isabel walked through the cafe doors and quickly scanned the room. It hadn't really changed that much, she thought. It still had all of the alien memorabilia and it still smelled the same as she remembered. But, in the cafe she felt at home, like she had never left. She saw that the booth they had normally used as teenagers was free so she walked towards it and sat down.
Max followed her, amazed that she still remembered. He motioned for the waitress to come take their order.
"Hey, Max. What'll it be tonight? The usual?" The waitress asked him and then looked towards Isabel and shrieked, "OH, MY GOD. You're Isabel Evans, right. The actress. Isabel Evans, eating at the Crashdown Cafe. A movie star eating here."
"Calm down, Jane." Max said to her. "We kind of were hoping to keep a low profile. This is my sister. Why don't you just give us two of the usual. Remember, low profile."
"Your sister? I didn't know you had a sister. You want it low-key, okay. But, only if I could get an autograph, later."
They both agreed and she left them alone.
"So, I thought you were supposed to be doing some major movie. What happened?" Max asked her, making small-talk.
"I quit." Isabel said plainly.
"You quit? Why?" Max looked at her, puzzled.
"The director was being such an asshole. He had the script rewritten so I had to strip in nearly every scene. He wanted me butt naked throughout the whole movie, which is something I promised mom and dad I would never do. So I told him he could take his script and shove it up his ass. And I walked out."
Max looked at her, smiling. "Sounds like my Isabel." He said to her, thinking about her "Ice Princess" days in high school.
"I guess so." She said as she lightly giggled to herself.
When Maria and Michael walked through the door of the Crashdown, Michael had a strange feeling. And when he saw Max sitting in a booth with some blonde woman, laughing. Michael looked a bit closer and stopped in his tracks, and he knew why he was having the feeling.
"Isabel." He said out loud, not believing his eyes. "It can't be. She said she'd never come back. Why would she come back now?"
Then it both hit them at the same time-- Alex. She knew he was getting married.
"Well, let's go get some answers." Michael said, hoping that she was back for good.
As Michael and Maria were walking over to their booth, Max spotted them and warned Isabel. She just sat there, not knowing what she was going to say. She really didn't have to worry.
When Michael reached the booth he wasted no time, he pulled Isabel up to a standing position and gave her a huge hug. Maria joined him.
"It is so good to see you." Michael said to her. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
"Hey! You aren't the only one. I can't believe you're really here, Isabel!" Maria shrieked at her. "How long are you going to be here? Are you back for good?" Maria rambled on at Isabel as they all sat back down.
"I don't know how long I'll be here. But it is so great to see you both. I've really missed you guys. Now, you have to tell me about that baby of yours." Isabel said to them.
Michael and Maria had impulsively gotten married right after high school, against everyone's wishes. No one had ever expected them to last this long together, but then their friends knew that deep down inside they would never have lasted apart.
"Oh you should see Bella! She's just learning how to walk and talk." Maria gushed about her daughter.
Michael just sat and smiled. Isabel watched him listen to Maria talk about their daughter. I've never seen him so look so happy. He was so stupid to even think about letting her go.
"Did you say Bella? I thought her name was Anna?" Isabel asked them, looking at Max.
"It's her middle name." Maria told Isabel and then added, "We named her after you."
"What? Why me?" Isabel asked her.
"Because we wanted her to have a connection to you, even if you weren't here." Michael explained.
"Speaking of which, where is she?" Max asked.
"Thank heaven for grandmothers!" Maria said. "My mom is in her 'grandmother' mode. She wanted to take her for the night, and we needed a break. So, we gladly handed her over."
"I just think she wanted to give us time alone, so she could have more grandchildren." Michael jokingly said.
"Only if you're the one who has the next one, okay." Maria said to him jokingly.
Jane appeared with their order soon after Michael and Maria arrived at the cafe.
***
The light-heartedness that they had been sharing was broken by the time that Liz arrived at the cafe.
"Isabel, why did you stay away for so long?" Michael half-said and half-sighed.
"I don't really know. Stupidity I guess." Isabel said to him, finally realizing it herself. I should have came home a lot sooner. I should have never let go of Alex and my friends. That was when she began to cry.
"Isabel, don't start crying again." Max said, trying to comfort his sister.
"How can you even stand to talk to me? I abandoned everything-- you, my home, and Alex! For what? To be famous. I'd trade it all in a minute if I could. I should have never left." Isabel sobbed.
Liz walked through the back door of the cafe with Alex in tow. As soon as Max had hung up with her, she immediately went over to his apartment and told him Isabel was in town. Shocked, he told Liz he was going to the cafe with her.
They both looked through the window in the swinging door. Alex looked at her, wondering what was being said. He could tell it was intense just by watching Michael and Maria's faces, but then he heard Isabel's voice raise and saw her fling herself into her arms on the table.
She's crying, he thought to himself. Anger rose in him. Nobody makes Isabel cry.
His desire to protect her again surged through him once more and he rushed through the door.
Alex walked over to the booth and pulled Isabel into an embrace. "Don't cry. Isabel, don't cry. Shh. Shh." Alex said, comforting her.
Am I dreaming? Isabel asked herself. Alex is holding me. Alex is here. What is Alex doing here? Isabel started to panic.
Then she noticed Liz whispering to Max. Isabel wanted to know what was said, but she didn't want to break this embrace.
Finally, after a few minutes, Alex pulled back and looked into her tear-streaked face. She is still so very beautiful, he thought. When he tried to look into her eyes, she quickly averted them, but not quickly enough. He saw the love still blazing inside of her. He saw His Isabel still in there. His Isabel. He hadn't thought that phrase in ages.
Isabel started to feel constricted, so she pulled away from him.
"Liz, how are you?" Isabel asked, trying to compose herself once again.
"Fine. Are you okay, Is?" She asked her sister-in-law.
"Yeah, I think I am." Isabel said, more to herself than anybody.
After a few minutes, Isabel started yawning and her eyes grew tired. "I'm sorry guys. I'm really tired. I practically drove straight through. Do you mind if we picked this up tomorrow?" Isabel asked.
"Yeah. Why don't we go up to the lake or something like that?" Liz said.
"Why don't we go to the quarry?" Alex said.
They all looked at him in shock. The quarry was the one place that they went to talk alone. It had been a while since they had all been there. At least together.
"The quarry? Why not the quarry. We could have a picnic and catch up." Isabel said, remembering all the times that her and Alex had spent there alone.
"Is noon good for all of you?" Alex asked.
To the rest of the group it would appear as if they were trying to set up a group date, like they did when they were in high school.
After agreeing to meet at the quarry the next day, they all went home.
***
Isabel awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so soundly. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was only 9 am. I have plenty of time, she thought to herself.
She grabbed her robe and started to walk downstairs. She hadn't even reached the top of the stairs when she heard the commotion downstairs. What is going on down there? She asked herself. Well, there's only one way to find out. She continued her trek down the stairs, when she reached the bottom she heard her name.
"Quiet down, you two. You don't want to wake Isabel. Let the poor girl sleep!" Liz was saying.
"Too late." Isabel said as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the counter.
"Sorry, Is. I honestly tried to keep them quiet."
"It's okay. I remember how much Michael and Maria love to argue in the morning." That's when Isabel heard a baby's cry.
"Is she here?" Isabel asked rather excitedly.
"Yeah, in the living room. You wanna meet her?" Maria asked.
"Yeah." Isabel said as she hurriedly got up and ran towards the living room.
She stopped suddenly when she saw Alex sitting there holding the baby. Isabel instinctively pulled her robe around her tighter and quickly felt her hair to make sure nothing was sticking up.
Alex had heard Isabel come down the stairs and go into the kitchen. He felt awkward about what had happened last night. When she had entered the living room and paused he didn't know what to expect.
When he saw her trying to straighten herself, he had to hold back a chuckle. Some things never change, do they? Alex said to himself. He didn't know what to say to her. She always had that effect on him, ever since they were children. So he decided to let her start up a conversation.
"Oh, let me hold her!" Isabel said to Alex. "My aren't you a pretty little girl. Yes, you are." Isabel cooed at the little girl.
Bella looked at her and started laughing. Isabel sat on the floor and started playing with her, tickling her and so.
Alex could do nothing but watch her. That is the real Isabel. He thought. She was born to be a mother.
“Alex, hey, Earth to Alex. You want some breakfast?” Michael asked, breaking Alex out of his thoughts.
“Yeah, I guess.” Alex said and then looked over at Isabel, still playing with Bella. “Do you want anything, Isabel?”
Isabel looked up at him and just smiled. Always the thoughtful one, was Alex. “No, I’m fine. Thanks, anyways, Alex.”
No sooner did Alex walk into the kitchen, Max came into the living room. “Isabel, are you going to eat breakfast?”
“I’m not really hungry, Max.”
“Isabel, you’re skin and bones. I’ve never seen you so thin. You need to eat something.”
“Max, I’m just not hungry right now. I’ll eat something later, I promise.”
Max kneeled down next to her and the baby on the floor and softly said, “Isabel, what’s going on with you? You’re obviously not fine.”
Isabel looked at her brother and smiled. “No, but I will be. Just give me a little time to adjust, Max.”
***
Meanwhile, in the kitchen…
“Why do you think she came home?” Alex asked them.
“Why do you think she came home, Alex? She says she just realized she needed to be home. But, we all know why she’s really here.” Liz told him.
“Max told her about Victoria? Perfect timing.” Alex muttered.
“Speaking of Victoria, where is she, Alex?” Liz asked her friend, recalling that she wasn’t at Alex’s apartment last night, either.
“We had an argument and she left.” Alex said matter-of-factly.
“An argument. Over what?” Maria asked.
“Isabel. Victoria asked me point blank, out of nowhere if I still loved Isabel. Apparently she didn’t like my answer, so she told me that she couldn’t marry someone who was and I quote, ‘obsessed with a movie star’ and then she just walked out. I haven’t heard from her since.” Alex said, emotionless.
They all looked at Alex and although he didn’t actually admit that he still loved Isabel, they all knew that he still did. They saw it in his eyes last night at the café. They just didn’t know what he was going to do about it.
“So you two are finished?” Michael asked. As soon as he said those words, Maria slapped his arm.
“Yeah, we are. I’ve had some time to think about it and I don’t think we would have lasted long, anyways. Victoria and I are so different and she isn’t my...”
“Soul-mate.” They all said in unison.
“Yeah. I really did care about her, though. Can we keep this information low-key? At least for a little while.” Alex said to his friends.
The group didn’t have time to respond to his request, because that was when Max, Isabel and the baby entered the kitchen. Isabel looked from friend to friend and realized that they had been talking about her. In their younger days, she would have blown up and demanded to know what was said. But, today, she didn’t care. She knew that they were just worried about her, so she let it slide.
“So, what’s for breakfast and where’s the Tabasco sauce?” She asked, smiling.
***
Two hours later, they drove out to the quarry. Max and Liz in the jeep, Maria and Michael in her car and Isabel and Alex in his SUV. Isabel knew the drive to the quarry was only 20 minutes long, but she was nervous being alone with Alex.
“It’s amazing that the jeep is still operational. I would’ve thought that Max would have retired her years ago.” Isabel said, trying to make small talk.
“There are just some things you don’t want to give up.” Alex said, looking straight into her eyes.
“Yeah, I know.” She said back to him.
“Max told me you were doing some 'blockbuster' of a movie. How come you aren’t filming?” Alex asked her.
“The director was this major slime. He wanted me to do something I’d never do.”
Nude scenes, Alex thought.
“So I quit.” Isabel explained. So, he still asks about me.
“Won’t that hurt your career?” Alex asked.
Isabel noticed he seemed concerned and then said whole-heartedly “I really don’t care!” And then she smiled one of those rare smiles that she used to only give Alex, and his heart thudded.
They talked the rest of the way about Alex’s software/security company and how he got the idea for it from their adventures in high school.
***
In the jeep, Liz told Max what Alex had told them in the kitchen earlier.
“So he doesn’t want us to mention this to Isabel? I wonder what he’s planning.” Max said.
“Max!” Liz shrieked and then added, “Do you think he’s planning something?”
“It would be the only reason he doesn’t want her to know. Think about it, Liz, how many times has Victoria’s name came up in conversation, only once, and that was when Isabel wasn’t around. There is something in the works. I think Isabel is planning something, too.”
“I kind of thought that about Isabel, but not Alex. Maybe he just wants Isabel to make the first move.”
“That may be it, too. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
***
“Michael, never let me forget how lucky we are.”
“What are you talking about, Maria?”
“That we are still together after all these years. That our marriage has been mostly happy.”
“Where is all of this coming from?” Michael asked worriedly.
“I was just thinking about high school. About the way all of us were then. Max and Liz were the ultimate soul-mates. We didn’t know if we should stay together or apart. And Isabel and Alex, they were the stable ones. They were the couple I thought would last.”
“Why did you think that?”
“I don’t know. It was just that they really took things slowly. They were truly friends before anything serious happened between them.”
“They still have a chance, Maria. Isabel still loves him and we both know that Alex loves her. It’s just a matter of time before they figure it out too.” Michael said to her.
Maria smiled at her husband. There were times she thought that her marriage was a mistake but they were always forgotten when Michael gave her his special “Michael look” that was only for her.
***
When they arrived at the quarry, the two married couples noticed a change in Isabel and Alex. They seemed more relaxed and calm around each other. It was almost the way they were with each other before Isabel left.
When they got out of Alex’s vehicle they were both laughing. Max couldn’t remember the last time he saw his sister laugh like that.
“So what’s so funny?” Michael asked.
“Alex was telling me about the day that Bella was born.” Isabel said with a chuckle.
“You didn’t.” Maria said to Alex, laughing.
“Michael, did you really drive all the way to the hospital without Maria?” Isabel asked, giggling.
“I don’t know what Whitman here has told you, but I did not drive all the way without Maria-- just part way.” Michael stammered.
“Well at least I wasn’t the one freaking out in the emergency room-- Maxwell!” Michael added.
“Hey, Liz was freaking out over Maria. I thought Liz was going to hyperventilate or something. I wasn’t the one who passed out in the delivery room, Michael.” Max laughed.
“Michael only passed out because he used his powers to take some of the pain away from me.” Maria told them all, looking at Michael lovingly.
“You used your powers? You never told us that.” Max said. “You felt her labor pains? Okay, I’ll give you one.”
“Yeah, well you should have seen her. I’ll tell you what, I gained a new admiration for women that day.” Michael honestly admitted.
“And what was Alex doing while you were giving birth, you two were freaking out, and you were passed out?” Isabel asked, pointing to each one individually.
“About midway through, I think, he doubled over in one of the chairs in the waiting room.” Liz said.
“Why?” Isabel asked worriedly.
“Acute appendicitis.” Alex said.
Isabel thought back to around the time that Bella was born. She was in the middle of filming a scene when she herself had doubled over in pain. It took everything she had to keep the director from sending her to the hospital. She blamed it on cramps, but in reality she didn’t know.
She had fallen asleep and had dreamed of Alex lying on a table in a sterile green room. She had gone over to him and placed her hand on his side.
Then she woke up, feeling no pain. It had made no sense to her then, but now she knew that somehow he’d called out to her-- that she felt his pain and that they had still been connected.
Alex looked over at Isabel and saw a dozen different expressions dance across her face. He saw pain, worry, love, and happiness. He wanted to know what she was thinking about, but he didn’t want to break the mood.
“I don’t know how Liz did it, but she convinced the hospital that it would be easier if they put Maria and me in the same room.” Alex told her.
“We had fun and you know it. Alex helped me with Bella when no one else was there.” Maria said, looking back.
“Yeah, that's right you did, Alex.” Liz said, remembering. “Alex, how were you able to get around so easily? You just had major surgery. It should have taken you weeks to move around that easily. Did you guys heal him or something?” Liz asked, pointing at Max and Michael. They both shook their heads.
That was when Alex remembered the dream he had had. In pain, he had called out her name, he remembered. (Victoria had also informed him later that he had said her name when he came out of surgery.)
Then out of nowhere, he saw Isabel in the room with him but she didn’t say a word, she just lovingly placed her hand over his incision, and then left. After that, he didn’t really feel any pain. It was as if she had healed him.
She did heal me. She was there. It wasn’t my imagination. Alex thought to himself. She connected with me and she healed me.
“Isabel, can I talk to you in private?” Alex asked her, grabbing her hand and walking her away from the group.
“Alex? What is it?” Isabel asked.
“You were there, in the operating room with me, weren’t you? I mean, not physically, but you were there. I thought it was a dream…a drug induced dream…but it wasn’t, was it? You were there.”
“Yeah, I was there. I don’t know how or what happened. I was doing a scene and then I just doubled over in pain. So I went to my trailer and lay down on the bed and I heard you calling my name. The next thing I remember, I was in the operating room with you. I knew you were in pain, so I placed my hand on your side. Just as soon as I did that, I woke up not feeling any pain.”
“But, how could you have known? We were so out of sync with each other. We weren’t even talking to each other. How could you have known?” Alex asked her, hoping she would admit how she felt.
“Just because we weren’t talking and lost contact with each other doesn’t mean we lost our connection, Alex. We’ve been connected to each other since the night we healed Michael in the cave.” Isabel told him.
“There has to be more, Isabel. It doesn’t make sense. That connection was the entire group. What happened in that operation room was just between you and me.”
“Alex, I don’t know how to explain it…”
“Yes, you do. Isabel, tell me.” Alex said to her as he grabbed her shoulders and made her look him in the eye.
“Alex…”
“Isabel, tell me. You owe me that much.” Alex said to her softly.
“Our connection was never broken, Alex. I don't think it can ever be broken. I never forgot about you. I never let one day go by without thinking about you or us. I think the connection became permanent that first night we made love.” Isabel said in an almost whisper.
“What do you mean you never forgot about us? You dated all those other guys. You’re confusing me.”
“Yes, I did date other men, but it never went... anywhere.”
“Wait, are you saying you never slept with any of them?” Alex asked, quite shocked.
“No, I never did. That’s why the relationships never went anywhere. In my heart, the only person I could ever make love to was you. You’re the only person who knew the real me, the vulnerable me. I didn’t want anyone else to see that side of me, to let anyone else in.”
In shock, Alex looked at her for a while. He knew she was telling the truth. He decided to ask the one question he wanted to know, hoping she would answer it the way he wanted.
“Isabel, can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, what do I have left to hide?”
“Why did you come back to Roswell?”
The question shocked Isabel. She thought he was going to ask her something else.
“Honestly, Alex, it was for a variety of reasons. But, honestly, it was because Max told me you were getting married. I know I made the choice to stay in L.A. all those years ago, but I realized that I made the wrong choice. I should have never left.” Isabel told him, while tears were welling up in her eyes.
“So what are you saying, Isabel?” Alex asked her.
“Alex, I came back here to convince you not to marry her, but to marry me, because I need you so much in my life. I have never stopped loving you and now I know that I never will. But then I realized how much I hurt you and….”
Isabel never got to finish her thought. Alex pulled her into his arms and kissed her with all the pent up passion he had had for ten years. When he finally let her go, both were breathless.
“Alex…” Isabel sighed.
“Victoria left me.”
“What?”
“Victoria and I have only fought about one thing the entire time we dated-- you. Whenever something went wrong with us, she blamed it on you. So when she asked me if I still loved you the other night, I didn’t lie to her. I told her that no one could take your place in my heart and that I would love you for the rest of my life.”
“I’m so sorry, Alex.” Isabel honestly said to him.
“Don’t be. There’s more.”
“More?”
“What started the whole conversation was this.” Alex pulled a velvet black box out of his pocket.
“Alex, I don’t understand.”
“I bought this right after you left for Los Angeles. I was going to give it to you the day you came home. And when you decided to stay in California, I put it in a shoebox with other things I saved about you and me. Apparently, Victoria found the shoebox and your ring.”
“My ring….” Isabel said with a soft sigh.
“Like I said I was going to give it to you the day you came home. Technically it is still the day you came home. ”Alex said to her, dropping to one knee. “I love you so much. Isabel Evans, will you do the honor of becoming my wife?”
Isabel looked into Alex’s eyes and saw the love blazing there. There was no pain, resentment or hurt. She also saw forgiveness.
“Alex, it would be an honor for me to be your wife. I love you, so much.”
Alex placed the ring on her finger and picked her up and swung her around. And when they kissed, they both saw stars.
***
They walked back to the rest of the group hand in hand. Max noticed the gleam coming off Isabel’s hand. So that’s what he was planning. Max thought to himself. He looked at Isabel and she was radiating. Whatever was plaguing her when she arrived, was definitely gone now.
“So where have you two been? It’s been almost an hour since you left walking?” Maria said to them, smiling. She knew that something positive had happened between them, it was radiating off of them.
“Not far. We just needed some privacy to straighten a few things out.” Alex said to them, smiling.
“Oh, really? Like what, things?” Michael said teasingly.
“Nothing really. I just asked Isabel to marry me and she said yes.” Alex told them.
“OH! MY GOD!” They all shouted as Isabel held up her hand to show off her ring.
***
A Month Later…
“I cannot believe you put this together so quickly. Thanks so much, you two.” Isabel told her two bridesmaids.
“I can’t believe you and Alex are really getting married.” Liz said.
“It’s about time.” Maria said.
“Are you really giving up acting?” Liz asked.
“Not entirely. We just want to start a family as soon as we can. Children are a top priority in my life now. Thank you, Maria.”
“For what?”
“Letting me spend time with Bella, that showed me what I’ve been missing.” Isabel went over and hugged her friend. “And you my dear sister-in-law, thank you for bringing Alex to the Crashdown. There's something I have to know, Liz. What did you whisper into Max's ear that night?”
“That I was glad you were back and that our lives could finally get back to normal.” Liz said, hugging Isabel.
“Why did you go to Alex’s apartment anyways?”
“Because I knew you both still loved each other. Besides, I never really liked Victoria anyways.” Liz said, giggling.
“Why didn’t you like her?” Isabel asked.
“Because she wasn’t you. I never could picture Alex with anyone other than you.”
“You know, I invited her to the wedding. She seemed quite shocked that I was in town. But she politely declined.” Isabel said, smirking.
“That’s our Isabel!” Liz and Maria both said.
“She probably thought you were going to kick her ass or something.” Maria said.
“I just might have had to.” Isabel said, giggling.
***
“So, Alex are you ready to throw your life away for a woman?” Michael asked his friend.
“Hey! That’s my sister you’re talking about.” Max interceded.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was supposed to be my 'destiny', remember?”
“I am most definitely ready. I’ve never been more ready in my entire life.” Alex said, smiling.
“Just wait until she gets pregnant.”
“Aw, Max, what’s wrong. Is Liz being a little hormonal these days?” Michael laughed at his friend.
“A little is not the wording I would use. If Liz is acting this way, can you imagine my temperamental sister? I feel so sorry for you, Alex.” Max said teasingly towards his soon-to-be brother-in-law.
“I wouldn’t change a minute of it. Did you know that she actually asked Victoria to the wedding?”
“Why, so she could kick her ass or something?” Michael asked.
***
Twenty minutes later Isabel walked down the aisle and took Alex’s hand. They emotionally exchanged their wedding vows, which made everyone in the room cry (even Michael). They whispered their words of forever and exchanged their rings engraved with the words-- Connected Forever.
Both knowing how those two words rang true in meaning and in each other’s hearts.
The End