You Can Never Go Back

Author: Sunnycouger (foolofatook_@hotmail.com)

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: You all don't honestly think that I own any of this do you? Roswell and all its characters are property of Melinda Metz and Jason Katims..I just take them out to play sometimes...

Category: CC

Summary: This is a future fic when the aliens get a chance to go “home” and the story follows each of their reactions to the news and their final decision.

Authors Notes: Follow up to When It's Time To Leave Home and The War.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bridges Chapter 5

Late afternoon sun cast a long shadow over the house as the car pulled up outside it. The occupants of the car got out and the 2 adults sat on front step before calling the children to sit beside them. They looked at each other as the two children sat in front of them and looked at them expectantly. After a deep breath and a last look at each other the woman began to talk.

"Diane, Phil. Me and your dad have to talk to you about something and it's going to sound very silly but we need you to be quiet until we finish ok?"

The two children nodded their agreement as Alex and Isabel Whitman looked at each other awkwardly. Neither knew what to explain to the two children in front of them.

"Umm, Ok. You know that Mommy's special and Daddy...isn't. I can't do the special things that Mommy and you both can. You know that don't you? And you know that you can't ever tell anyone about it because some people are scared because they aren't special like you are. Don't look like that Diane, we both know what you've been up to at school young lady and we are going to talk about that later, so button it until we finish."

As her dad spoke at her and looked at her sternly the young girl began to mutter to her brother thinking she was out of earshot of her parents.

"Aunt Maria told...stupid old witch...stupid teacher..."

"Diane Elizabeth Whitman! If I ever hear you say that again I will make you tell Maria that you said it. I will personally make sure that she will have you cleaning the board indefinitely at school and you will be on constant detention. Is that clear?"

Seeing the angry look in her Mom's eyes Diane quickly backed down and apologised as she looked shyly at the ground in front of her.

"Yes Mom...I'm sorry."

Isabel surpressed a smile. The children were growing up so quickly. Diane was beautiful, confident and outspoken like she was but she also possessed the sense of humour of her father. Phil, on the other hand, was quiet and thoughtful. He looked the same as his dad with the same cheeky grin, dark hair and ice blue eyes and if he wasn't careful in a few years he was going to be breaking the hearts of girls like his Mom...just like his dad could.

"Good. Now listen to your Dad...you too Phil."

"Ok...anyway, as I was saying, you and your Mom are different from everyone else...and different isn't bad. It's great...we wouldn't want you any other way than you are now. Its just other people can get scared because of it...that’s their problem though, not yours. But you can't say anything about it to anyone. Just in case ok? Anyway, there are other people like you all. Your mom’s brother Max and our two friends Michael and Tess. Diane honey, you might remember them. Anyway...they..they went away a few years ago when Phil was only a baby..."

"Where did they go daddy?"

"They..." he looked at Isabel for help. He didn't want to tell them too much about what had happened...they were still only children. He didn't want to scare them.

"They went someplace where there was lots of other special people. With them went Uncle Kyle and Aunt Liz...you remember them don't you Diane?"

"Kinda...Someone had funny curly hair and I remember Aunt Maria crying because Michael went away without her. You showed us photos didn't you Mom?"

"Yes...of them all. Liz had long brown hair and she was married to Max. Maria was married to Michael and Tess had curly blonde hair and she was...friends...with Kyle."

"Anyway, they have all came back home. So Max and Liz are staying in our house for a few days. The thing is kids they have a little boy and a little girl, who are the same age as you Phil."

"Really? What’s their names?"

"Mari and Alex...they will be sharing your rooms with you."

"What? Do they have to? Why don't they sleep on the couch? I don't want a little girl in my room."

"Diane, honey: stop it. I'm not asking you; Mari is sleeping in your room. Anyway, what I want to say is we need your help with them. They don't have any friends here and they don't know about all the stuff you know. They haven't been to school, they haven't been for...milkshakes, they haven't watched TV, they haven't played with a superhero Barbie or a...a bike. They need you to teach them all that. Can you both help us?"

"Yes, I'll help. I'll get to play with them and they are the same age as me and everything. When can we see them?...Mommy? They won't break my toys will they because they don't have them will they?"

"No, they won't break your toys sweetie. Thank you for helping us. Diane? Will you help us?"

"I guess...if you need my help. She can stay in my room and I'll let her play with my stuff...can we take them for milkshakes tomorrow then instead of going to school?"

"I don't think so...maybe after school. Come on we'll take you to meet them."

With that the two young children stood and ran in the house as their parents sat hand in hand and collectively let out a deep breath.

"Whhoo…I think that went well, don't you think Izzy?"

"Yeah...I guess. I don't think they understood a word of it but...it’ll do for now. I just wish that they didn’t have to know already…they’re so young. Maybe we should have just told Diane…Phil’s still only a baby.”

“It had to be done Isabel. Besides at least they know that they don’t have to be scared of it. Diane would have just told Phil anyway and freaked him out. We made the right decision.”

“I know we did…I just liked it when we could pretend to be a “normal” family. Oh, I forgot. I called work and asked them about putting the deadline back a bit. I just haven't had time to get anything onto computer today. They said they'll give me a couple more days to get everything finished and emailed to them."

"Well, that’s something. At least your boss is a little sympathetic. Mrs Sinclair said she "cannot possibly afford to lose me at this point in the school year." She won't even give me a couple of days off and because I called in sick today she expects me to be in early tomorrow to explain. Anyway, how are you? Have you spoke to Michael?"

"No. I figure I'll give him a few more days to cool of and then I'll go see him."

"Well, I don’t want you to go and see him by yourself. I will be going with you in case he thinks he can kick of at you again.”

“Ok…”

With that she got to her feet and pulled her husband up beside her and took his hand as she walked in the door. She sighed, Michael. She never expected him to treat her like this and although she understood why Alex was upset…she knew that Michael would be more confrontational if they went as a couple. She would go and see him by herself…she would get things back to normal. He was her brother after all and they had been friends forever. She knew he wouldn’t hate her forever. She just had to put the effort in.

In the Valenti household, 6 people sat around the table having dinner. The atmosphere was light, with the three women, Amy Valenti, Maria Guerin and Tess Harding laughing and talking to each other cheerfully. Watching them in silence sat the three men, Michael Guerin and the two Valenti men: Kyle and Jim. Kyle couldn’t help but smile as Tess laughed loudly at Amy talking about…something…he wasn’t sure what because he wasn’t listening to anything other that the cheerful voices of his family. It had been so long since he had heard so much laughter…he worried that he wouldn’t experience it again. Even Guerin, was smiling. He had grown a lot in the 13 years he had know about the aliens but in the past 4 years he had become the kind of man he never thought he had the capability to be. He had become just like his Dad…he had killed people but he had also saved people, he helped to save a planet…again. He should have been ecstatic and proud but somehow…he didn’t feel proud. He knew, like the others that they hadn’t done a great thing…they had helped one race dominate another because they were expected to, and he had paid for that. He was still paying for that…even here. But here, with the sounds of her laughter in the air…he could almost forget about the atrocities they had caused, and the pain they had endured.

Almost.

“Kyle? Kyle? Are you there? Hello?”

He quickly turned around to see an amused Maria waving a hand furiously in his face trying to get his attention.

“Whew, we thought you had left us again. You seemed a million miles away there. You ok?”

“Yeah…I was just thinking about how great it feels to be able to laugh again. I mean even Mr Personality here has managed to crack a smile. I’m just really glad to be back.”

“Well, Kyle as your “sister” so to speak, I wouldn’t have you any other place. And I’m glad that you are all here…I just wish it hadn’t taken as long.”

He smiled genuinely at Maria’s words as he felt a gentle voice in his head agreeing with her. Tess. His love, his life…she had got him through everything. She loved him, he was happy as long as she was near him. He could handle it all…because of her.

“I think we all agree with that. Amy really missed all of you…me too…even you Michael. I’m just glad that you all here now. Let’s not think about how long it has taken and just enjoy this…ok? Good, now someone tell me what you all have planned to do with yourselves now?”

Michael looked at Maria and shrugged his shoulders. For years he made a living giving art lessons at a small fee whilst selling his work sporadically. He couldn’t see himself still doing that…he loved painting…but he had to get a hold of his life. He wanted to be able to travel the world with Maria and he wanted to be able to buy her the nice things she deserved. He wanted to “grow-up” and look after his family. The family that they would have one day one way or another.

“I think..I’ll maybe start to teach Art or something again. Maybe see if the school is looking for someone…or something. You know get a real job…”

Maria smiled inwardly as she sensed the inner turmoil Michael was experiencing…she knew he was desperately trying to make up to her some wrong he no doubt imagined he had done her. She didn’t need the expensive stuff he thought she wanted. She just needed to know that she wouldn’t be left behind again. She needed him. That’s all.

Tess looked at Amy and Jim nervously as she spoke.

“We…hope to find a place soon but we were hoping that maybe, if its alright, maybe we could stay with...you two? Please?”

“Tess, we wouldn’t have you staying anywhere else. I’m glad you want to stay with us and believe me when I say that it’s our pleasure. It’ll make me and your Father feel 10 years younger again: only without the worry about what you two are getting up to!”

“Umm, Thanks Amy. Actually there’s something else we want to do. I plan on getting married. Soon. I want to make Ms. Harding here Mrs Valenti…”

“Uh uh. Mrs HARDING- Valenti! We live in the age of double-barrelled names so…”

“Oh come on! You do not want to be called that?”

“Maybe…Maybe not. I haven’t decided yet. I mean Maria dropped De Luca but Liz kept Parker.”

“I wouldn’t have dropped De Luca if Maria De Luca Guerin didn’t take an hour to say. I agree with Tess.”

“What do you mean you wouldn’t have dropped De Luca? When a woman gets married they are supposed to be honoured to take her husbands name.”

“Honoured? You are kidding right?”

“I agree with Michael, you both should be happy to get your husbands name. That’s what it’s all about anyway.”

“Kyle! I can’t believe you just said that!”

“Sorry but…well, it is true. Anyway, Amy…how’s the shop doing?”

“Nice change of subject there Kyle…not too obvious either. The shops doing great. Thank you. Come on Jim; help me clean up here.

With that Amy and Jim began to clear the dishes and walked towards the kitchen. As soon as they were out of earshot of the others Jim whispered to Amy.

“It’s like they never left isn’t it. I can’t believe I missed this…this rabble.”

“Well, look at it this way, Thanks Giving will never be dull again will it?”

With that the two of them began to laugh gently as the people in the other room continued with their high pitched discussion. Business as usual.

For tonight at least.

TBC

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