Chapter 25

As soon as Kyle left them alone in the living room, Tess took a seat across from Max and Liz, who were nestled closely together on the Valentis’ sofa. She stared down at the floor, and knew she’d do anything to avoid that shining look she saw reflected in both their eyes. Now she was sure of what she’d merely suspected earlier this afternoon—that they’d crossed some boundary together.

Both of them literally glowed. Not just the happily-ever-after human kind of glowing—no, this was an alien radiance… an energy. She’d been fairly sure she’d seen it on Max during class, and now after glimpsing Liz, she was certain of her earlier suspicions. But it went beyond that. Tess also observed how the two of them now echoed and mirrored one another in every way--they had slipped into absolute completion.

It was obvious that they’d joined.

Nasedo had told her about the alien way of mating… joining souls together permanenetly. It wasn’t just sex—it was something much more spiritual, reserved for a lifemate.

And she knew that Liz hadn’t slept with Kyle at all. She’d known that earlier today, but she’d just wanted to hurt Max. No, it was absolutely evident who Liz Parker had slept with, and it certainly wasn’t Kyle.

"Tess, are you listening to me?" Max’s soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

She glanced up at him quickly, and saw something strange in his golden eyes—and then she glanced at Liz, and was surprised to see genuine worry shadowing her features.

What were they so worried about? Why should they care what she thought about their being together? No, this didn’t make any sense at all.

"Look, I don’t know why you feel like you need my permission or whatever," she began. "It’s not like that’s ever stopped you before, Max."

"Tess, you’re important to us," Max insisted. "It’s what we’re trying to tell you."

"Yeah, right." Tess rolled her eyes. "None of you would be disappointed if I left for home tomorrow… or at least left Roswell forever."

Liz shook her head quickly. "No, Tess, see you can’t leave. We all really need you…you’re critical to," Liz hesitated. "You’re critical to everything," she finally finished, meeting Tess’s gaze intently.

"Everything?" Tess asked, raising an eyebrow. "And by everything, you would mean…to my former husband—the one you’ve stolen from me?" She was raising her voice now. "Or just this planet in general? Or maybe—just maybe—you mean to Max’s destiny?"

Tess couldn’t believe the anger she was starting to feel, as all the frustration of the past months began to erupt within her. Liz Parker had taken the one man she’d ever loved—the man she belonged with—and had done so permanently by bonding with him. She stood and began pacing in front of them both--and was about to let them know exactly what they could do with destiny--when Max reached out and captured her wrist gently within his hand.

"Tess, please," he urged. "We’ve got some things to tell you. Could you just calm down and hear us out?"

Tess stared down at him, and was unnerved by the expression in his dark eyes. She saw fire in them—as if there were something he passionately wanted her to know. What could he possibly have to say to her, when he was so thoroughly bound to Liz?

"It’s very important," he finished softly.

As she gazed down at Max, she had the feeling that his next words were about to change her life profoundly—and she felt her anger slowly dissipate.


Tess had listened to their incredible story for more than thirty minutes, just sitting quietly with her eyes focused on the floor in front of her. Max didn’t know why she kept avoiding eye contact with them so much, but he didn’t stop to question it. Periodically, at one of the more outrageous junctures in the story, her water blue eyes would quickly raise, flashing with some unnamable emotion. She asked a few questions, logistical things like where they had found the note… but mostly she just listened. Although it bothered Max that he couldn’t judge her reaction, he and Liz still pressed ahead, alternately sharing different pieces of the story.

When they finished, Tess slowly raised her eyes to meet his, and stared at him for a long, unreadable moment. But then Max felt his breath catch in his throat when she began to laugh sarcastically.

"Do you really think I’m going to believe such a ridiculous load of crap?" Tess began. "I mean, my God, how stupid do you think I am? But I do have to hand it to you, Liz," she continued. "At least you came up with a truly elaborate scheme to get Max."

Max felt familiar anger begin to surge within him.

Damn, Tess. She was not going to hurt Liz any more.

He was about to tell her as much, but before he could reply, Liz sprang angrily to her feet.

"Do you have any idea--I mean the slightest inkling-- of what I’ve been through in the past six months, Tess?" Liz began in a tight voice.

Tess’s mouth opened slightly, and Max could see she was taken aback by Liz’s strong outburst.

"I mean do you, Tess? Max and I were happy before you showed up… we were in love," Liz continued heatedly, her voice beginning to shake with rage. "Then you came into our lives, and if you’ll recall, I stepped aside so that Max could follow his destiny. With you."

Tess shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and Liz stopped right in front of her, gazing down with fiery eyes.

"Then, just last week I came to you—after Future Max appeared—and I tried to help you," Liz’s voice caught in her throat. "Help you get Max. The man that I loved more than anything in the world…because I believed it was your destiny,"

Liz’s voice grew hushed, yet was full of quiet anger, and Max could see tears shimmering in her eyes. "Max’s destiny."

"Liz, look…" Tess began quietly.

"No, Tess. You look," Liz spat. "You can either believe what we’re saying or not, that’s your choice."

Liz turned to face him. "Max, you do whatever you need to do here, but I don’t have anything more to say." Liz moved quickly to the front door, opening it to leave, then hesitated a moment.

"You know, Tess, we’re saying we need you," she paused, staring at Tess meaningfully, and Max saw her eyes flare with raw emotion. "That Max needs you. And if that’s not enough for you, well that’s not my problem anymore."

With that, Liz spun on her heel and left the Valentis’ house. Max chewed on his lip for a moment, then met Tess’s stunned gaze. Her cheeks had flushed crimson during the course of Liz’s tirade, and he wondered what was going on in her mind.

"Wow," she finally spoke. "I didn’t know Liz Parker had that in her," she laughed quietly. And he could see that somehow Liz had turned the tide with Tess—just by being honest and real.

He smiled thoughtfully. "I think there’s a lot you don’t know about Liz."

Tess raised her eyebrow in mock surprise. "Yeah, I kinda get that idea."

Then they both fell quiet again, and Max wasn’t sure what to say next. He sighed heavily, reaching desperately within his mind for a plan. Liz had been right in leaving the two of them alone now—there was too much history and animosity between Tess and Liz for this to work otherwise.

"Look, Max… this is all really overwhelming," Tess began. "And, frankly, I don’t know what to think."

"I’m sure," he replied, shaking his head.

"Could I see Marco’s letter?" Tess asked tentatively, and he realized they hadn’t even thought to simply show it to her.

He reached inside his jacket, and handed it to her. She opened it slowly, and an idea formed in his mind—a way to let her know that they really did want to trust her.

"Why don’t you just keep that tonight, okay?" he said.

"Are you sure?" Tess’s eyes widened in surprise. "Aren’t you worried that I’d destroy it or something?"

"No," Max shook his head firmly. "I trust you. But none of the others have seen it yet, so be really careful."

"You haven’t shown this to Michael?" she asked, her voice genuinely surprised. "Or Isabel?"

"No, and this is going to be just as hard on both of them for different reasons, so I’d appreciate your keeping it to yourself for now."

Tess carefully folded the letter. "Sure, but I guess I wonder why you came to me first."

"Because you were the most important one, Tess. I believe that this really is your destiny…. That we all really need you." His voice trailed off, and he gazed down at his hands for a long moment. "That I need you," he finished meaningfully.

And when he looked at Tess again, he was shocked to see tears pooling in her eyes. She didn’t speak, just nodded softly, staring down at the envelope. She clearly needed to be alone now.

"Well, I should go check on Liz," he said, standing. "I guess we’ll just…talk to you tomorrow then."

Tess nodded silently again, and he sensed she didn’t want him to know just how vulnerable she was feeling.

He left the Valenti house, and closed the door quietly behind him. When he did, he felt like they had all turned an important corner—as if some invisible battle had been waged and won this night.


Tess tossed and turned in her bed, sleep completely eluding her. She couldn’t think of anything except the letter they’d shown her from this protector—someone Nasedo had never once mentioned. She’d sat in bed , turning the so-called "facts" over in her mind for hours. She just couldn’t quite trust Max—and especially not Liz—about this. There were too many reasons they might have concocted the letter.

Like what? A small voice questioned. Why did they need her to stay at all, if they wanted to be together? Why not just ignore her, and damn the consequences… no, something told her they hadn’t faked the letter. But it didn’t mean she believed its contents either, not when they disputed everything Nasedo had ever told her.

So, she sat in the dark and pondered everything that they’d told her tonight. And then she tried memory retrieval…tried to tap into the only memories she had of Max, but she couldn’t turn up anything new, only the one recurring vision.

She was standing beside a man—she couldn’t make any features out, just impressions—and she knew that he meant everything to her, that she’d only ever belonged by his side. She closed her eyes, sighing heavily. Nothing new… and the emotion felt the same as it always did—like she was bound to this man in countless, indecipherable ways. Deep ways.

She pressed again…pushing inward to the vision, desperate for a breakthrough. She reached more forcefully than she’d ever done before—and then something happened. The vision changed. Another figure appeared beside them, with totally opaque, indistinguishable features—yet the emotion was undeniably strong. Tess felt incredible love well within her at the image, and surprising tears sprang to her eyes as she pulled the memory forward. The figure took the vague shape of a woman. A sister… a best friend.

Hot tears streamed down Tess’s face now, staining her cheeks. This feeling—she’d yearned her whole life for a friend like this. The love just swirled around her, enveloping her, and she knew this friend’s heart--such gentleness of spirit, such kindness—yet possessing strength like a warrior. The figure turned slowly toward her, nothing more than a vapor and Tess reached toward it—she had to see this woman’s face, had to know her identity.

The shrouded image grew less opaque, as the shadows fell away and Tess heard the distant echo of a hauntingly familiar name…

Zillia.

Then the mist parted--and Tess saw Liz Parker’s face, smiling at her—with radiant and open eyes.

Tess knew in that instant…. Liz had been her beloved friend. Her queen.

And she knew that her life was never going to be the same again.