Jeff Parker sighed as he studied the books in front of him. It was like any ordinary day at the Crashdown Café. Any ordinary Tuesday where the Will Smith burger came with Saturn Rings instead of fries, Alien Blasts were half priced and customers could get a Blood of Alien Smoothie flavored with strawberries, blueberries or banana.

He shook his head, shutting the book on the counter in front of him. He’d been concentrating on business for the last two hours. Correction, he’d concentrated on business for the last ten years. Anything to keep his mind away from thinking about how Lizzie had left and he’d done nothing to stop her or bring her back. From the stool on the counter Jeff’s eyes fell on a framed photo on the wall, stuck between the newspaper clippings about UFO crashes and sightings and photos of downed alien crafts.

His eyes softened at the picture of Liz, Maria and Isabel at the café. It had been taken when the girls were seventeen and working a busy Saturday night shift. The Crashdown had always been a popular hangout for the local teens, and it was one of the only non-commercial burger restaurants in town, so business was always good. And he knew how crazy it could get on the weekends. Which was why Jeff had been surprised to come down from upstairs to find the girls running the restaurant, easily keeping up with orders and keeping customers happy. He’d watched them for a minute, smiling at how hard they worked. Then he’d realized what really brought the smile to his face. They were having fun.

Jeff didn’t pretend to know everything that went on in his daughter’s life. In fact, ever since her circle of friends had enveloped Maria, Isabel, Alex, Max and Michael, she had hardly let anyone else close. Which was why it had been so nice to see her laughing and having fun with her friends. Jeff had gone upstairs and found the camera and brought it downstairs, taking a quick shot of the girls. Even though they protested for a minute, he’d gotten them to stand still as he took the photo. And each of the girls had later asked him for a copy of the picture.

He sighed as he looked at the picture framed on the wall. It wasn’t just that picture that brought back memories. Everywhere he looked in the café brought snapshots of the past back into his mind. Liz had grown up at the Crashdown, and he remembered how she would sit at the counter, her feet swinging under the stool as she studied her homework. He remembered how Liz had pleaded with him to close the Crashdown on a Friday night for a surprise birthday party for Maria. And he’d given in, because she was his daughter and he couldn’t say no to her.

Angrily, Jeff shuffled some of his papers together. He had said no to her though, at the one time he should have said yes. When Liz had told them about her pregnancy and she had asked them to accept it, accept the situation and the baby, he and Nancy had said no. They hadn’t thought, they’d reacted as any parents might, but they hadn’t counted on Liz’s quick reaction.

She’d left the next day with Maria, packing up some of her things in Maria’s Jetta and driving off to New York City without a goodbye. Nancy had been heartbroken and he’d been shattered. Liz had always been obedient and easy to trust. They had never questioned her motives, never had to wonder about her judgment. Even when Liz had become involved with Max Evans, Jeff hadn’t worried too much.

Nancy had thought Max was a bad influence on their daughter. Jeff saw that she was distracted and that her attention would waver, but he was more forgiving than his wife was. He knew that Lizzie was in love. He’d thought it would be a passing, high school romance, but when Max and Liz stayed together for three years, Jeff began to suspect otherwise.

He knew his daughter’s potential and he wanted what was best for her. Jeff realized, ten years after the fact, that Max had been what was best for her. He and Nancy hadn’t understood that, hadn’t understood how Max, and their baby, were her world and she wouldn’t give up Max’s memory or their baby for anyone. So when he and Nancy had given her only a single choice, she had refused them.

He understood now. And yet he also knew that he and his wife had made a mistake in pushing their daughter and only grandson away. They knew that Liz had a son, she had sent them the pictures that Nancy had hidden away in a drawer. Jeff also knew that Nancy had been hurt that Liz had refused them and left, so had he. They’d never thought she would stay away, and they’d always thought she would come back and they would get to start over. When the months turned to years and Liz didn’t return, Jeff thought of trying to call his daughter. But he didn’t know what to say to her.

So he and Nancy continued on with their lives in Roswell. They watched all the high school students who came through the restaurant that reminded them of their daughter and her friends. Jeff watched Nancy’s eyes mist over when she saw a boy about Max’s age playing in the park or walking in the supermarket. He knew that they were both afraid. But he feared that maybe they’d lost their chance with Liz and their grandson more than anything.

Jeff shook his head and glanced up from the counter, getting ready to gather his books to head upstairs. Nancy was in the back, doing laundry while he concentrated on the business part of the café. It was the only way that they could keep their minds off of how they’d lost their daughter. He heard the door of the café open and close as customers came in and he didn’t turn around for a minute. It was mid afternoon and past the lunch crowd, but school was just getting out, so he knew students would begin to stop by.

He couldn’t explain it, but something told him to look up. When he raised his head, his gaze automatically fell on the booth where Max, Michael and Alex had always sat whenever they came in the café and the girls were working. The booth had been theirs, the six of them, and he found that whenever he was thinking about Liz and her friends, his eyes somehow always landed at that booth.

He dropped his pencil on the counter as he looked at the two kids sitting in the booth. They’d just came in and sat down and Jeff felt as though he’d stepped back in time. He couldn’t see the girl’s face, her back was to him, but he had a clear view of the boy’s face. It was Max, of that Jeff was certain. The boy looked just like Max Evans, only ten years old. Jeff stood up slowly and somehow managed to speak.

"Max?"

Jeff swallowed and took tentative steps towards the table. As he got closer he realized exactly who he was looking at. The boy had Max Evan’s face and Liz Parker’s eyes. Jeff found all thoughts leave his mind except one. This boy was his grandson.

"I’m Max Parker, and this is Elizabeth DeLuca," the boy said to him. Jeff managed to nod and look at the girl across the table. He smiled at her, struck with familiarity at the set of her mouth, so like Maria’s. Her long hair was blond, like her mother’s and her eyes a light green. He almost felt his knees go weak as he looked at the children of the children he’d watched grow up.

Jeff turned his eyes back to his grandson and marveled at the lack of anger in the boy’s eyes. He’d expected that if the day he would meet his grandson had come, the boy would be furious at him and Nancy. Afterall, they had been the ones to push Liz away. Instead, Jeff found hope in Max’s eyes. And fear.

Jeff reached forward and took the boy’s hand, shaking it slowly.

"I’m happy to meet you Max. I’m Jeff Parker," he said. In that moment, Jeff saw something in Max’s eyes shift a little. He wasn’t blind, he knew he’d hurt his grandson, but Jeff realized that Max had already forgiven him. He was amazed at the boy’s understanding. As if seeing the question in his eyes, Max shrugged.

"Too much time has gone by already," Max explained softly, as if that explained the years of separation and eased the pain of silence. Sowly, Jeff nodded and Max stood up to hug his grandfather. Jeff felt his heart swell as he looked closely at the boy, marveling at how Max was the picture of his father at the same age. Jeff smiled at Max, who gave him a grin back.

"Max," Beth’s voice warned, glancing at the back of the café. Jeff followed her gaze and found Nancy standing at the doorway, her eyes locked on the scene of her grandson and husband standing together. Her eyes were wide as she backed away and practically ran upstairs. Jeff looked back at Max and saw the pain in the boy’s eyes. He cursed silently, realizing Nancy’s exit only seemed like another rejection.

"Stay here, I’ll be right back," he said to Max and Beth. Beth nodded and stood up next to Max, holding onto his arm. Jeff retreated upstairs as Max followed him with his eyes.

"I thought if she saw me she’d want me," Max said, his voice sounding far away. Beth sighed.

"Max, she’s scared. Can’t you sense it? You saw how your grandfather reacted, they’re afraid of your anger," Beth reasoned. Max nodded and lifted his chin.

"Then I have to prove to her that it doesn’t matter anymore," he replied.

Jeff followed his wife upstairs and found her curled up in a chair in Liz’s room. They hadn’t changed a thing in the room, leaving it exactly as she had. She hadn’t taken much, some pictures and things that reminded her of Max. Nancy was crying, and she wouldn’t look at him as he kneeled down in front of her.

"Sweetheart, you know who that was. He came to see us, he’s our grandson. He’s Lizzie’s son," Jeff said, his voice soft.

"He must hate us. Liz must hate us. How can I face him, after he’s never even seen us before?" she asked, her voice sobbing. Jeff thought for a minute.

"How did you know who he was? What told you that he was our grandson?" Jeff asked. Nancy seemed confused, but she finally responded.

"He looked at me just like Liz used to, as if he understood everything about me without saying a word," she whispered. Jeff nodded.

"And he does. He does understand Nancy. And he’s willing to leave the past behind," Jeff replied. She looked at him, skeptical.

"How can that be?" she asked, fresh tears falling down her face. They both looked up at the sound of light footsteps. Nancy looked fearfully at Max, who stood hesitantly in the doorway. Max studied her carefully, sensing how scared she was of his anger. He also sensed the regret that she felt.

"I don’t know about all the stuff that happened before I was born, between you and Mom. That’s not even what matters to me. What matters is that we have a chance to know each other now, if you want to," Max added. Nancy finally saw that her grandson was just as afraid as she was and she opened her arms, motioning him to her. Max grinned and ran to her, burrowing into his grandmother’s arms. Nancy smoothed back his hair, and smiled at her husband, who stood at the doorway with Beth. Jeff finally looked down at the girl, who looked happily at Max.

"So, Elizabeth," he started. She looked up at him.

"Actually, I go by Beth," she corrected. He nodded, making a mental note.

"So, Beth. Where are your parents?" he asked. Beth smiled meekly and looking behind her as footsteps pounded up the stairs. Amy came charging through the front door, with Belle and Mike following close behind. Somehow Beth and Max had escaped her grandmother for a few minutes, but they’d been caught. The anger on Amy’s face faded away at the sight of Max being held by his grandmother. She was furious at the children for deceiving her, but she was also happy that part of the family had been brought back together. Glancing at her watch, Amy worried about her daughter and her friends. There was still one family member missing.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Kyle asked Max, following him up the steep desert hill. Max nodded, gripping Liz’s hand tighter as he climbed, making sure that he didn’t pull her too quickly as the maneuvered towards the cave.

"This is the same area that I saw in the vision back in New York when Max, Beth and I connected with Michael. He’s here somewhere, and the only reason he’d be here that I know of is the cave. He must have found something," Max insisted. Kyle held up his hands, not arguing.

"Hey, I’m not objected. We found the jeep nearby, so he’s got to be here somewhere," Kyle threw in, loud enough for Maria to hear. She didn’t seem to hear him as she followed him up the hill and Kyle frowned, worried for his sister. He knew that she was only legally his sister, but Maria was his sister in every way except biological.

Alex and Isabel pulled up the rear, keeping the group close as they got nearer to the cave. Alex kept glancing at his wife, half expecting her to mutter about thorns or the sharp rocks and uneven ground. But she kept silent and Alex knew that she was just as eager to find Michael as anyone else.

Max pulled Liz ahead of him, helping her up some steep rocks and as he followed her, he kept his hands at her waist. Her fingers were warm as she wrapped her hands over his and reminded him that as soon as they found Michael, they could all celebrate a little calm. Max looked at Liz as he felt her stiffen.

"Max, the cave!" she exclaimed, pointing to the dark opening in the tan rocks. Max sprinted ahead of her, running with energy he hadn’t known he had. Pausing only long enough to generate some light with his powers, Max headed deep into the cave, followed by the others.

He knew exactly where he was going and Max came to a sharp halt as he came face to face with the cave drawings. He heard his sister calling his name and Maria’s urgent questioning about if he’d found Michael, but Max couldn’t form words in his throat to tell them what he saw. When they finally rounded the corner, Maria let out a cry of disappointment at the sight in front of them.

Nothing.

Michael wasn’t there. Max tried to suppress the sharp disappointment. He’d been so sure that Michael would be there. He turned away angrily until Liz came up next to him, putting a hand on his arm.

"Max, look at those stones," she said, reaching forward to pick up one of the midnight blue rocks. Max pushed her back instinctively and she looked at him surprised. Liz also looked back at Isabel, who had grabbed her arm, also pulling her back.

"What is it?" Liz asked. Max and Isabel looked at each other.

"I don’t know," Isabel admitted. "I just knew that you shouldn’t touch the stones."

Max nodded, affirming that he’d sensed the same thing. He was still looking at Isabel as a low hum seemed to gather, almost as if it were far away, but getting closer. Maria saw how Isabel and Max began to look around them and she reached forward, grabbing their arms.

"What is it? What do you hear?" Maria demanded. Max stood up and began to leave the cave, headed towards the open desert.

"Michael," Isabel whispered, following Max. Slightly puzzled, Maria, Liz, Alex and Kyle followed the aliens outside and away from the cave and the direction they’d come from. Max and Isabel began to pick up speed and then Liz felt her heart lurch as they disappeared over a hill. She ran to follow them, almost stumbling to her knees until Alex grasped her waist, lifting her to her feet. They finally caught up with the others and Liz gasped. She heard Maria cry out and Liz instinctively reached for her friend’s hand.

Max and Isabel kneeled over Michael’s still body, laid sprawled out on the desert floor. Isabel had her hand on Michael’s chest, and Max’s hand covered hers as they seemed to concentrate on Michael.

"He’ll be okay Maria, he will," Liz whispered, not even sure she believed her own words. After what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes, Max and Isabel opened their eyes and looked back at the others.

"We have to hurry. We need to get Michael to the children, and right away," Isabel said, her voice amazingly calm.

"The kids? But they’re back in New York, how are we going to get them here soon enough?" Alex asked. Isabel smiled at him gently.

"No, they’re here," she insisted. Kyle shook his head.

"Man, I’ll never get used to that," he muttered. He then moved to help Max and Alex carry Michael. Liz and Maria faced Isabel.

"Why do we need the children? What’s going on Isabel?" Liz asked, knowing that Maria was too shocked at the sight of Michael unconscious to voice her thoughts. Isabel paused, finally letting her hesitation show.

"I’m not sure exactly. I just know that we need them to save Michael. And we need to save him soon," Isabel insisted. Liz finally nodded and guided Maria away as Isabel looked down at the pouch in her hands. She didn’t remember doing it, but before she and Max had run from the cave, she’d gathered the blue stones from the cave floor in a leather cloth, careful not to touch them with her bare hands. Tightening her hold on them, she followed the others to the van. Somehow, what was happening to Michael, the blue stones and the children were connected, and they had to figure out why.