ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

CHAPTER SIX

Kyle and Morgan returned from Las Vegas as the Valentis. Max and Liz threw a small party for them, inviting friends and family. It was a small gathering, as they always were. Isabel, Jim, Amy and Michael were the guests. Once again, Maria was noticeably absent. The new couple told stories of their wedding in the 'Little White Wedding Chapel' and about the shows and gambling. Michael was uncharacteristically quiet, missing Maria was all over his face.

He went to the kitchen of the condo to get something to drink, Liz followed and closed the swinging door behind her. "Hey," he nodded at her. "Great party."

"Don't lie. You look like you'd rather be anywhere else but here." Liz smiled and leaned against the counter. "So, what's Maria's excuse this time?"

"Not feeling good," Michael smiled. "She's had a lot of that lately."

"Do you think if I just went over to your house right now she'd talk to me? Because I'll leave in a heartbeat if you think there's a chance she'll talk."

"No," he shook his head. "She'll talk to you eventually."

"This is the longest we've ever gone without at least talking. Does she hate me? Did I really do something wrong? Does she still think there's something going on between us?"

"I come in here because I'm thirsty and end up with twenty questions," he laughed. "She doesn't hate you Liz, I don't think she could hate you if she tried. I tried, and I couldn't really hate you," he smirked. "She still isn't too hip on the idea that we're actually good friends."

"Yeah, I figured that was part of it. It's the future, the future Max said we'd have a unique friendship, and I guess we do. But I miss her Michael. Will you tell her that? She's my best friend in the entire world and I would do anything to have her talk to me again. I hate this!"

"She's going through a phase, that's all." Michael debated if he should tell her that Maria thought she was pregnant. He decided it wasn't his place. Not yet anyway, at least until they knew for sure. "Give her time."

"I've given her almost two months and haven't heard anything. Did you tell her we went out to lunch the other day?"

"No," he shook his head sheepishly. "Did you tell Max.?"

She looked thoughtfully at the ceiling and then grinned. "Huh, I guess I didn't. But Mr. Max doesn't think we're having some type of torrid affair."

"Torrid affair?" Isabel pushed open the kitchen door anxiously and looked from Liz to Michael and back again. Did they know about Max and the high school girl? "Who's having a torrid affair?"

"Relax, Iz." Michael laughed. "We were just talking, no torrid affairs going on around here. Hey, I meant to ask how the book signing went. I had to work."

"I know, at least Liz and my brother were kind enough to show up with two kids, yours included. That made, including them, about nine people in line."

"It wasn't like that at all," Liz rolled her eyes. "We came back by later, there were people wanting signed books all afternoon."

"Well, maybe." She grinned demurely. "I met a guy there."

"Who?" Liz's eyes widened.

"A single father, his name is Rick something and his daughter's name is Paige. She's a big fan." She nodded. "We actually have a date next week."

"That's great!" Liz smiled. "How old is his daughter?"

"Nine."

"How old is he?" Michael asked, raising his eyebrows.

"None of your damn business." She grabbed a stack of napkins off the table. "This is what I came in here for and as long as there are no torrid affairs, I shall be leaving." With a flourish of hands she went back to the party.

"So Max doesn't mind us spending time together?" Michael asked once Isabel was gone. "I mean he knows about the other lunches, right?"

"Yeah, he doesn't care. He's not the jealous type, really. Besides, it's you Michael." She shrugged. "Our relationship is so stable, neither of us would ever consider any type of an affair. After everything we went through to be together? Not a chance."

While the grown-ups were talking and laughing in the other room, Sloane Evans sat alone in her bedroom cross-legged on her bed. She had stuffed animals around her, but her attention was unfocused. She stared straight ahead.

"I know," she said softly. "We have to help them. They need each other. They always need each other. There are bad things coming."

* * *

Maria watched Leia with interest from the kitchen doorway. The little girl sat at the table, milk and cookies untouched in front of her. She looked at the wall and seemed focused on something Maria couldn't see.

"Real bad. They'll be together again," Leia said out loud.

* * *

Max was counting down the days to Christmas break along with his students, only six more school days and then he wouldn't have to see Lindy Franks everyday in fourth period. He tried to ignore her through classes and dodged her in the hallways. A stupid mistake he chalked it up to. An inexperienced new teacher with his first schoolgirl crush. He was sure there would be more and now he knew exactly what not to do.

He was meeting Michael to go Christmas shopping today, less than two more weeks until the big day and Max was excited. He had tucked away a little of each paycheck to get his two favourite girls something special this year. Sloane's birthday had consisted mostly of toys. Michael was waiting for him in the parking lot on his complex. He got out of the Tempo and into the jeep.

"When are you going to get a new car?" Max asked, looking at the Tempo and the rust that had sprung up around the wheel wells and along the door.

"When I can afford a nicer one, I will get one." Michael rolled his eyes. "When is Liz going to get a new car? You've been promising her one for two years. That clunker you got her is an embarrassment."

"I know, it's pretty bad, isn't it?" Max smiled. "We're trying to save for a house next year so it'll have to be after taht and then I'll get her exactly what she wants."

Michael shrugged and turned up the radio. He hated shopping. They parked as far away from the mall while still being in the parking lot and trooped in with the other six billion shoppers and made their way to the jewellery store.

"Next year," Max said as they looked at the cases, "I'm buying everything online."

Michael agreed and asked to see the charms. Every year he got Maria a charm for her bracelet. He found a silver cage with a solid heart inside and knew it was perfect. Max was looking at tennis bracelets and earrings. Which would Liz like more?

"A ring." Michael stood next to him. "She'd rather have a ring."

"How do you know?"

He shrugged. "Trust me, she'd rather have a ring."

Max decided to trust him and picked out a thick gold band with rubies. For Sloane, he picked out a charm on a necklace. The charm was a flat etched sun, he had it engraved on the back: Tiger Eyes / Love, Dad. He knew she was too young for it, but he wanted her to have it and remember his nickname for her when she was older. She was still acting slightly distant to him and when he asked if he felt like mommy again, she nodded slightly. The guilt was driving him crazy.

They shopped some more and bought toys and family presents. Max pointed proudly to a picture of his sister in the window at the bookstore. "See, now that is cool."

"That is cool. I can't believe she got a six book deal. That's great. She's going to get all rich and famous and leave Roswell, you know that, right?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, I know she's going to get rich and famous, but I don't think she's going to leave Roswell. I doubt if any of us will ever leave Roswell. Except my parents. Did I mention that?"

"No, where are they going?"

"Arizona. Just outside Phoenix. My dad wants to retire and retire to Arizona is what they're going to do." Max looked at him. "They're putting the house up for sale after the first of the year and they're taking off. Like in a matter of three weeks."

"Did they just tell you?"

"Last week. I knew he wanted to retire and I knew that both wanted to move to Arizona, I just didn't know it was going to be so soon." Max looked across the mall to the lingerie store. "They're excited about moving, but at the same time they're going to miss Sloane."

"I bet, I can't imagine Amy moving away from Leia." Michael shook his head. "So, after the first of the year the parents are bolting." He followed Max's gaze and they walked to the store, looking in the front window.

"Yeah, Isabel is going to stay there until the house sells." Max felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. It was Lindy Franks and two of her friends.

"Hi Mr. Evans," she grinned at him. "Christmas shopping?" She motioned to the store in front of them.

"Yeah, for my wife," he said, and looked at Michael. "Well, bye Lindy."

She waved and walked away giggling with her friends.

"Wow, girls did not look like that when we were in school," Michael said after Lindy walked away.

"I know," Max shook his head.

"Alright, let's finish this shopping thing up and get out of here. I want to see Leia before she goes to bed." Michael led the way into the store and about an hour later they were hiking back to the car loaded down with bags.

"I hope we don't get mugged," Max said, shifting bags back and forth between his hands trying to find his keys.

"I'm packing, we won't get mugged."

* * *

Max had successfully avoided Lindy except in class until the last day. Classes were over, finals were over, and it was winter break. He hurried through the halls wishing his colleagues happy holidays and made it to the lot. He looked around the parking lot and let out a deep breath. The jeep was sitting all alone. No Lindy. He grinned as he reached the vehicle. The grin was shattered when he looked inside. Lindy Franks was sitting in the passenger seat smiling at him. He opened the door and scowled at her.

"What are you doing in my jeeps?"

"Waiting for you, Mr. Evans." She smiled seductively. Too seductively for a seventeen-year-old.

"Get out, I need to go home."

"Isn't that Mr. Parsons coming this way?" She pointed in back of him. Max turned around, his heart racing. He instinctively got in the jeep and told her to put her head down. He wasn't implying she should put it on his lap. He waved to Ken Parsons as he got in his car. He watched as the science teacher drove from the lot. His zipper had come down by then. "Get up, Lindy." He pulled her up by her shoulders. "You have to get out. I have to go."

"I don't have a ride home, will you drive me?" She looked at him through the tops of her eyes. "Please?"

Max zipped his pants back up and looked at her. "Fine. Where do you live?"

She gave him directions as she unbuttoned her shirt. When he pulled up in the driveway she specified he turned to her. Her shirt hung open exposing her breasts.

"Put you shirt back on and go inside," he turned away from her.

"My parents aren't home." She moved closer to him, kneeling down on the floor in between the seats. She rested her elbows on his knees. "Do you want to come in?"

"No, get dressed and get out." He looked down to her, his eyes strayed to her chest for a moment, but it was a moment that Lindy saw. She rose and thrust her breasts into his face. He turned away, but eventually he moved his mouth to them. He felt her hand on his rock hard masculinity and couldn't move it. The zipper was coming back down; the top button was undone. His hands went to her breasts; his mouth reached for hers while her hands pulled him from his pants.

Max saw a floud in his mind. It was Liz. Then it was Sloane. He opened his eyes and pushed Lindy Franks from him. He tucked himself back in his pants and looked at her, crumped on the floor next to him. "Get out Lindy. This was a mistake."

"You want me," she stated. "I could feel how much you wanted me."

"This is beyond wrong." He shook his head. "I have a wife and a daughter; I'm happily married. This was a huge mistake. Forget about it Lindy, okay? It never happened."

She looked at him and understood. She was just a stupid girl who had a crush on her teacher. She nodded and collected her things. She got out of the jeep and didn't look back as she walked inside.

Max took a deep breath before he backed out of the driveway. He wanted to go home and be with his family. Would Sloane know? What would she say and would she say it in front of Liz?

When he walked in the door he was greeted by Liz, he moved away from her as she went to kiss him. He cited soda breath and went to brush his teeth. Sloane walked into the bathroom and looked at her father.

"It's not mommy," she said and looked at him, her brow knitted together.

He reached for her but she backed away. Max knelt on the floor and looked in her eyes. "C'mon Tiger Eyes, don't you want to give your daddy a hug? I missed you today."

She shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, a trick no doubt she had learned from the females in the family.

"Please, Sloane." He held out his arms towards her.

"You don't feel like mommy." She turned away and walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind her.

Max sank to the floor and cried for his guilt.

* * *

"Okay, tomorrow is Christmas and every year we spend it at MAx's. Is that going to be a problemt his year?" Michael asked. He was sitting at the end of the couch; Maria was lying down, her head on his lap.

"I guess not," Maria sighed. "Have fun."

"It's Christmas Maria. Time for miracles, okay." He ran his hands through his hair. "Did you manage to calland make an appointment with the doctor, yet?"

She shook her head. "I took a home test."

"You did? When?"

"Today, you were at work, as usual." She closed her eyes.

"And...?"

"I took three. The first two were inconclusive, the last one was positive." She refrained from crying. It hadn't done her any good the rest of the day.

"That's great!" Michael laughed. "We're going to have another baby!" He leaned over and kissed her lips. "Aren't you excited?"

"Yeah, of course. I feel different though, not like I did with Leia."

"Well, is that normal?"

"Hell, I don't know. Like you tell me. I can't have normal." She shrugged and sat up. "About tomorrow, I'll go. One condition, no sneaking off or private conversations with Liz. Okay?"

"I will not leave your side." He crossed his heart with his finger. "I promise. Everyone is going to be so glad to see you. You haven't even talked to Kyle since they got back from Vegas, have you?" She shook her head. "Everyone keeps asking about you."

"And what do you tell them?"

"That you're not feeling well, which they all know is crap." He shook his head. "Don't you want your life back?"

Maria shrugged as she got off the couch. She kissed Michael goodnight and went to the bedroom. She lay on the bed and took a deep breath. Tomorrow she was going to have to face all the people that she had put on hold for so long. All her friends. All the people that cared about her and were worried about her. she got a sick feeling in her stomach thinking about the next day. So it was Christmas, a time for miracles isn't that what Michael had said? She guessed it really would be a miracle if she could handle tomorrow.

BACK TO THE TOP / CHAPTER SEVEN

STORY OF LINES:
6 - THE BEAT GOES ON

CHAPTER SIX

WRITTEN BY BECKY W

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