Title: The Reception
Author: Mel (LizParkerEvans@aol.com)
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: Roswell belongs to 20^th Century Fox. Don’t sue.

Rose Galindez finished polishing the glass on the bar and hung it upside down, ready for its next use. She hummed softly to herself, glancing around the near empty bar. There were a few regulars inside the bar, but no one sitting outside on the patio. A pity since the weather was so lovely, the sun beginning to set and the bright rays fading to darkness across the Nevada desert.

Turning to hang the towel next to the sink, Rose circled around the bar and began to turn chairs around under their tables. Her eyes fell on the portrait on the wall and she felt a familiar pang of longing.

Forty seven years. Even though her husband had been gone over a year it didn’t compare to the forty seven years they’d spent together before his health failed him. But, looking around their restaurant, The Sundance, she knew she’d always have a part of him with her.

The laboring putter of an engine caught her attention as she looked out the window and caught sight of a beat up Volkswagen bus pulling into the gravel parking lot. The paint was chipped away in some places, revealing gray primer, while the front and back bumpers were rusted and dented with dings.

Rose was curious. They often did get strangers just passing through on their way somewhere else. Mostly because the town of Rachel, Nevada was on the way to other places and not often a destination stop. The Sundance usually missed out on the tourist crowd to the alien-themed restaurant across town, and Rose didn’t think the new arrivals were locals.

She watched, her eyes crinkling into a smile, as the door to the bus slid open and a young man of medium height stepped out. He had a wide grin and a bounce in his step as he turned and extended a hand inside the car. In the shadows of the cabin Rose saw a tall young woman with short brown hair study the young man for an almost impercibable second, a sadness crossing her face before an answering grin replaced her frown and she took his hand, stepping out. She smoothed her skirt as she stood, the pink fabric blowing gently in the breeze.

As another young man exited from the driver’s side, his long hair blown away from his face, she watched as he came around to the passenger side and then stopped, as if holding himself back as a slight woman jumped down from the bus, holding her own and glancing at the driver, almost challenging him to approach her.

Rose smiled to herself, enjoying all the possibilities her mind came up with as she watched the dynamics of this group. She knew nothing about them, but their actions spoke volumes. Before she could ponder the first four young people her breath was nearly taken away by the young couple that exited from the van next.

She’d been assuming that the teenagers were simply on a road trip. School had just ended after all. Now, watching as the tall man stepped out of the bus, his suit jacket and pants a little rumpled and his white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top, she realized where they’d all come from.

And as the handsome and dark haired man leaned into the van and then brought out a beautiful, petite women, his hands on her waist as he spun her around, Rose knew. The gauzy white fabric of the dress on the woman, flowers interwoven in her dark hair and the way they couldn’t take their eyes and hands off each other told her a story.

As the man twirled her around, only allowing her feet to touch the ground as he slowly lowered her and kissed her chin, Rose felt her eyes mist over.

They’d all just come from a wedding.

The young man reluctantly let the woman step away for a second, his hand automatically finding hers and not allowing her to stray far. The way they moved together was so natural and Rose found her eyes riveted to them. She realized she’d been wrong; they were hardly more than teenagers. So young, she thought. And watching as the young man tipped his wife’s lips to his for a kiss, she realized, so in love.

Rose realized the group was debating whether or not to come into the restaurant and she also realized she desperately didn’t want them to go. She could see how happy they were, and she reasoned that they were probably far from home. Their wedding reception should be more than an evening spent in the back of a Volkswagen bus.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she exited the restaurant, surprised at the looks of caution that slipped over the teenager’s faces. Brushing the thoughts away, she approached them slowly, a smile on her face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What a dump," Michael remarked plainly, looking at the small restaurant with unhidden disdain.

"This from the guy who lived in an apartment complex next to a hotel that had rooms charged by the hour," Maria muttered under her breath. She felt a twinge of regret at the slight hurt that crossed Michael’s face. No one else would have noticed, but she did.

She sighed and tried not to think about it. She didn’t know why, but she kept picking at Michael. Even though they were all together, she and Michael weren’t. After his declaration of love before he left and when he thought he’d never see her again, there had been nothing. No acknowledgement of what he’d said.

It was like it had never happened. And that hurt Maria more than she thought. More than anything else in the last three years of her relationship with Michael. They kept moving backward just when she thought they were making steps forward. Taking a deep breath Maria turned to her best friend and plastered a smile on her face, determined to be happy for Liz.

"Liz, is this what you and Max want?" she asked, wanting to make it about Liz and Max, and their day. Maria watched as Liz glanced at Max and they seemed to communicate silently. Liz turned back to Maria, a radiant smile on her face and she nodded happily.

"Yes, it’s perfect," she proclaimed. Max leaned down to kiss Liz gently as they all turned to look as an older woman approached them from inside the restaurant. She wore an apron over a flowered dress, her dark hair speckled with gray and twisted up into a bun.

She had a bright smile on her face and her eyes nearly disappeared into her face as she smiled. Maria could feel their collective wave of trepidation as she approached. They’d all been on guard since leaving Roswell. Even the most harmless looking person could be a danger.

"Hello. My name is Rose Galindez, welcome to The Sundance. Can I invite you inside?" she asked, her tone light and friendly. She waited patiently for a response and finally Isabel spoke up, her voice strong.

"My name is Isabel, this is Kyle, Michael and Maria. And this is my brother Max and his wife, Liz. They were just married this afternoon and we’d like to celebrate. Do you have somewhere we could have to ourselves and order something to eat?" Isabel replied, pointing to each of them in turn, her request spoken in a clear, commanding voice.

Rose thought for a minute and then she nodded, gesturing to the side of the restaurant where a patio with an awning covered with vines lay vacant. She led the group over, switching on a light as they walked onto the patio.

The dark patio came alive with a sprinkle of lights, tiny bulbs woven into the vines and casting a soft golden glow. There were a few tables and chairs, made of carved wood, spread over the patio. The group stood in stunned silence at the setting.

It was perfect.

Liz felt her eyes begin to tear up. She couldn’t believe how perfect it had all been. She’d married the man she loved. And now she would get to celebrate the happiest day of her life with her closest friends. And they could enjoy the sunset and the desert night in what wasn’t the most glamorous or fancy, but the most simple and beautiful, way she could have imagined.

"Thank you," Liz said to Rose, squeezing Max’s hand tightly.

"Yes, thank you. You don’t know how much this means to us," Max said to the older woman. She nodded, taking their thanks without a word and gesturing for them to sit.

"Why don’t you all get comfortable and I’ll get some food ready for you? It isn’t often that we get the chance to throw a wedding reception," Rose said with a wink as she walked towards the door attached to the restaurant. At the entrance to the door she leaned over and plugged in the old jukebox sitting against the wall. As it sputtered to life, Rose gestured to it.

"Help yourself to the music. It stopped taking dimes years ago and now it just plays whatever you ask it to. My teenage granddaughter changes the CDs, so you’ll have to rely on her taste," Rose said, almost apologetically. Again they all nodded their thanks.

Slowly, the six of them sat down at the largest table on the patio, Liz joining Max in his wide chair as he pulled her into his lap. Maria sat next to the couple and noticed that Michael took the seat furthest away from her. Ignoring her own brimming tears, she turned to Isabel, who sat next to her.

"Have you thought about calling Jesse?" Maria asked softly. Isabel shook her head.

"No. The best thing I ever did was leave him. He never knew what he’d signed up for when he married me and now I’m not even sure why I did it," Isabel replied, her voice quiet. Maria was puzzled.

"What do you mean? You loved him," Maria stated. Isabel fixed her with an unwavering gaze.

"Did I? I’m not sure now," Isabel said, looking as though she wanted to say more. The patio door swung open and Rose returned, carrying a tray of chips and salsa, setting it on the table in front of them.

"Your meal will be ready soon, but this should tide you over. Enjoy," she said, before quickly exiting. Maria took a few bites before she glanced up and found Michael staring at her again, his intense eyes practically putting holes through her head.

Abruptly, she stood and walked to the far side of the patio, crossing her arms and silently staring at the darkening sky. She couldn’t stand it, again not knowing where she stood with Michael. Even though she’d committed to this path she had hoped things might be different. At least with her and Michael.

When she heard the sound of a chair pushing back and someone walking over to her she closed her eyes, knowing instantly that it was Michael. She took a deep breath and reasoned to herself. It was now or never.

"Maria?"

"Yeah, Spaceboy?" she asked, not unkindly.

"Why did you leave? Why don’t you come back?" he asked, with uncharacteristic gentleness. She whirled to face him, her eyes blazing.

"You know, I think I’d rather we just have it out, get it all out in the open," she replied. Michael looked surprised and she noticed the hurt still there and she bitterly wondered where it had come from.

"Ok, what did you want to talk about?" he asked evenly, doing his best to control his emotions.

"I want to talk about the last three years, Michael. I want to talk about how it doesn’t seem to have mattered to you that I’ve waited and waited and wanted you for so long, but you always push me away. I want to talk about how you said you loved me and still left. And I want to talk about how you came back and have been practically ignoring me since then. Not that I’m surprised since that’s your usual MO," Maria said, everything spilling out of her in a bitter wave of words. She shut her mouth quickly, shocked that everything she’d felt had just poured out. And she watched as the hurt, surprise and then anger flooded Michael’s face.

"Wait a second, I always push you away? What about last fall, when you went to New York to get away from me? Oh, wait, you were finding yourself. And it never didn’t matter to me that you’ve always been there. Maria, that’s one of the reasons I love you so much. No matter what I do, you’ve stood by me. No one else has done that. That’s why I told you I loved you. Because I wanted you to know," he spit out, running a hand through his long hair. Maria looked taken aback.

"Why didn’t you tell me all that before?" she asked, quieter now. Michael shrugged helplessly.

"I don’t know. I just couldn’t. I was too worried that you’d laugh, you’d run, you’d leave and I would be all alone. And I’ve been keeping my distance from you because I thought you didn’t feel the same and if I can’t have you in my life the way I want, I at least want you in my life. I can’t lose you Maria," Michael said, his eyes pleading with her.

Maria stared at him, completely stunned. In the three years since she’d noticed Michael he’d never been so up front with his feelings. And now, she realized why. He was really scared of losing her. Desperation had made it all pour out. She stepped forward slowly, gently taking his face in her hands so her could see her smile.

"Michael, I’ve been waiting for you to say that for so long. We don’t always get along. You and I, we’re kind of like fire and gasoline. But I love you, Michael, and I always will. Nothing will change that. I’m not going to laugh, I’m not going to leave, and I’ll never leave you alone. I promise," Maria said, touching her lips to his gently.

Michael sighed deeply and she caught the tears that escaped his eyes with her fingers and then wrapped her arms around him, hugging him close. She felt her own tears beginning to threaten as he embraced her, his arms tight and secure around her.

She opened her eyes at the sound of clapping and laughed a little as she saw Max, Liz, and Isabel clapped while Kyle whistled loudly. Maria and Michael broke apart and he grasped her hand with his, catching her eyes.

"So, we’re going to try this thing?" he asked. Maria nodded happily.

"We’re going to do more than try," she said.

"Maria, I’m not perfect. I can’t change overnight," he reminded her, knowing that their personalities would clash sooner rather than later.

"Neither can I. But I think we’re finally in the same place and we’re together. For now, that’s all we need," Maria said, obviously believing her own words as she looked at Michael, her voice strong with conviction.

"Ok," he replied simply, leading Maria back to the table and sitting next to her. They both looked a little chagrined to realize their meal had arrived as they’d talked. The table was steeped high with every kind of Mexican food any of them could have ordered. Everything was smothered in melting cheese and tortilla shells, with beans and rice along each plate.

The six of them dug in hungrily, eating in silence for a few minutes before Kyle said something to make Maria laugh and somehow it set off the whole table.

Max turned to his wife and spoke to her quietly.

"I’m glad that Michael and Maria seemed to have worked things out," he said. Liz nodded.

"Me too. I’d like for them all to be happy. I wish I knew what to say to Isabel, she seems to be missing Jesse," Liz said sadly, glancing at Max’s sister.

Max was quiet and thoughtful for a minute before he spoke up, his voice hesitant.

"I don’t think its Jesse she’s missing," he admitted. Liz fixed him with a confused stare.

"Then who?" she asked, her own eyes dawning with recognition and before she could respond, Maria stood up to deliver a toast.

"Attention everyone! I’d like to propose a toast to Max and Liz. There is no match, no equal, to your love. You’ve been through a lot and you deserve your happiness together. And I never thought I’d say it, but Liz, I’m glad you got shot that day. It brought us all together. And even though we’ve had to weather so many storms, and even though there are those who are no longer with us, I know that we will always carry them with us. To Max and Liz!" Maria said, wiping her own eyes as Max reached out and wiped Liz’s tears away. They all raised their glasses and clinked them together.

"To Max and Liz."

The echo of their voices resonated in Liz’s ears as she looked at Max, at her husband. They had survived so much, and looking at Max, still beside her, she knew that it had been worth it. He seemed to read her mind, meeting her eyes and wordlessly pulling her hand up to his mouth and kissing her palm gently. Her fingers curled around Max’s chin, feeling the stubble beginning to grow there and her eyelashes fluttered closed as her head bowed to Liz and their foreheads touched.

Isabel’s eyes softened as she looked at her brother and sister-in-law. The toast had been beautiful even as it had been slightly painful. Because as they’d left, as they’d fled Roswell, a growing presence had been pressing on her heart. Not Jesse, not her husband she’d left behind. When her thoughts should have been of him, they’d strayed to a high school boy that had loved her unconditionally and left before she’d realized what that really meant.

"You miss him, don’t you?"

Isabel looked up at Kyle, finding his face as open and sympathetic as usual. She’s misjudged him years ago, thinking he was someone else. He’d proven her wrong over the last two years. But then, she’d misjudged many people.

"Who?" she asked, knowing that he was probably going to bring up Jesse.

"Alex."

Isabel gasped at the observation, staring at Kyle and trying to figure out how he knew what she was thinking. Everyone else automatically assumed it was Jesse who held her attention. And she felt guilty pointing out otherwise.

"How did you know that?" she asked softly. Kyle shrugged and leaned closer to her.

"Sometimes we don’t feel the things people think we should. It’s not something we can control, it just happens," Kyle said, talking as if he knew from experience. Isabel’s eyes narrowed.

"And you miss Tess, don’t you?" Isabel observed. Kyle paused for a minute and then gave her a sheepish smile.

"Is that an alien psychic thing? Cause I’d like to develop that gift if I’m going to get anything," he joked. Isabel shook her head.

"No, it’s a very human thing, listening to people and understanding them. Sometimes I think it’s the best part of humans," Isabel told him. Kyle nodded slowly and his face turned serious.

"I know I shouldn’t, because she did horrible things. But I miss how she was sometimes, when I know she wasn’t faking it. Looking back now I know those times were few, but there were moments when she was a part of my family and she made me feel like she was someone who really understood me. I hate what she did to Alex and Max and what she did to all of us because it was her choice. She didn’t have to. And I can’t help thinking about how things would have been so different if she’d grown up in Roswell with the rest of us. How our past binds us and would have bound her to us, even if it’s only been in the last three years that we’ve really come together," Kyle replied. He looked at Isabel, wondering how she would react.

He hadn’t shared his thoughts about Tess with the group for good reason. Even though she’s come through in the end and sacrificed herself, it didn’t change a multitude of previous wrongs. But it also didn’t change the fact that Kyle had thought he might love her, at least for an instant. Isabel’s hand covered his and squeezed gently and reassuringly.

"I know what you mean, Kyle. It’s like you said, sometimes we can’t control how we feel. Sometimes I wish we could. Then I would have left the pain of losing Alex behind. Then I would have really forgotten about him and married Jesse without another person there in my heart. I thought I’d let go of him, but I didn’t. I think I was trying to hide from my memory of Alex in my marriage to Jesse. That more than anything is why I didn’t want him to come. I need to remember Alex, to not forget him, and Jesse deserved to be with someone who loves him unconditionally. That was never me," she said simply. And then she looked at her brother and Liz and smiled.

"I’ve been so wrong about myself, and so many other things. I was wrong when I got upset with Max for telling Liz. And I was wrong for all the times I encouraged them to stay apart. And I never could have been more wrong for thinking that Liz was anything but perfect for Max. It’s taken me a long time to realize, but I see that my world needs to expand beyond just me. I learned that from Alex. I just didn’t realize it until now," Isabel whispered. Kyle squeezed her hand back.

"It’s just the six of us now," he replied, glancing around the table. Isabel nodded.

"Yeah, but I think that because it is the six of us, we can make it. And you and I, we have each other. I think maybe that will help us heal," Isabel said, turning her eyes to Kyle, a hopeful expression on her face. Kyle nodded slowly.

"I think we can," he replied, a slow smile coming across his face. And Isabel, as she glanced from Max and Liz to Michael and Maria, nodded slowly.

"Me too."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Liz watched as Isabel and Kyle talked, a weight seeming to lift from both their shoulders. Somehow so much of the tension they’d all been carrying around over the years seemed to slowly melt away. Her own mind was finally calm from the turmoil of the last few years. She’d come to accept many things and realize that now and forever more, Max Evans would love her.

Max’s palm flattened against her back and he rubbed her shoulders in slow, easy circled. He leaned over and kissed her bare shoulder, catching her attention and winning a smile.

"What were you thinking about Mrs. Evans?" he asked, unable to contain the thrill he felt at being able to call her that.

"I was just thinking that this is the happiest day of my life," she replied honestly. "Second to the day I got shot and you saved me."

Max looked surprised and she laughed.

"Only because if I hadn’t been shot and you hadn’t saved me we might not be here. Sometimes things happen for a reason, even if it hurts," Liz replied.

"And what about what happened to Alex? Did that happen for a reason?" Max asked softly, knowing that Alex had been on all their minds during the day. Liz paused sadly.

"I don’t know the answer to that, Max. Right now I don’t see the reason, it all seems so senseless. Especially since it wasn’t supposed to happen that way," Liz trailed off. Max caught her words and looked at her closely.

"What do you mean ‘it wasn’t supposed to happen that way’?" Max replied. Liz took a deep breath, knowing it was time to explain everything to Max.

"Max, you remember that I told you when you saw me and Kyle in my bed that we didn’t actually do anything, it was just a plan to try and push you towards what we all thought was your destiny?" Liz asked, the words tasting horribly bitter in her mouth even almost two years later. She’d been so naïve then, especially with what she’d thought was right.

Max nodded at her words, the earlier explanation familiar. Liz took a deep breath.

"Well, there’s more to the story," she began.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"And Future Max told me that when we were nineteen years old we eloped. We went to Las Vegas and Michael, Maria, Isabel, Alex, they met up with us at this dive outside of town and we had a party and danced the night away. And now, look at how things have turned out. We’re a year younger, married, at this little restaurant in the middle of nowhere, celebrating with our friends. Only Alex isn’t here," Liz said sadly, telling Max everything that Future Max had told her, and telling her husband about how Future Max had come to her. Max caught her chin with his hand.

"I’m sorry Liz. I wish you had told me the story before. Things would have made so much more sense. But I understand why you did what you did," Max explained.

"It’s just that, after you saw me and Kyle together I was sobbing on my balcony with Future Max still next to me. I asked him for my wedding dance because I thought I would never have it with you, and he danced with me and then as he twirled me around and I turned away, when I turned back, he was gone. And in that instant I knew that that future would not happen. And I knew that the wedding he’d described that I had thought sounded so perfect would not happen in that way. And now, even though this is perfect too, it’s just different," Liz replied, looking at Max with wide brown eyes and hoping he would understand.

"I know. It’s not better, it’s not worse. It’s just different," Max replied, knowing exactly what she meant. He met her eyes with his, his gaze unwavering.

"I love you."

"And I love you," Liz replied, meeting Max’s lips with hers in a deep kiss as his lips consumed her. They broke apart only at Maria’s insistent voice.

"Hello? Newlyweds? It’s time for your first dance as husband and wife!" Maria said proudly, standing by the jukebox. Liz laughed out loud and stood, bringing Max with her. She walked ahead of him, their hands intertwined, to the makeshift dance floor on the patio.

Max and Liz stood facing one another, Max’s arms practically twitching with his desire to hold Liz close. Maria made her selection at the jukebox, stepping back, her face wearing a satisfied smile. Liz waited anxiously, wondering which song Maria had picked. This was their wedding song, and therefore a song that Liz knew she and Max would never forget.

And, as the song started, a song so familiar to Liz, she almost didn’t believe her ears. Her eyes filled with tears as she looked past Max and met Maria’s eyes. Her best friend looked back, her own eyes shimmering, as she saw Liz’s reaction. And as Max pulled her close, Liz looked at Maria and mouthed "thank you" to the only other person in he entire world that could have done what she did. Because Maria was the only person Liz had ever told that detail about her wedding to Future Max.

"Liz, what’s wrong?" Max whispered, seeing the tears on her face.

"Nothing Max, everything’s wonderful. This was our wedding song," she explained. Recognition dawned on his face and he listened carefully, Liz’s own voice beginning to sing along softly.

"Please say honestly you won’t give up on me, and I shall believe. And I shall believe," she sang, and Max heard the words deep in his soul. It might not have been the most normal of wedding songs, but it fit them perfectly.

And despite the years of pain, hurt, and confusion, Max knew that moments like this would shine through. In between the bad times there had been good and Max had a feeling that the best was yet to come. And as the song slowed down and the steady beat timed with his heart, Max pulled back and looked down at his wife, her arms still wrapped around him. He fingered the gold wedding band on her finger, watching as it caught the light.

"Any regrets?" he asked softly, reaching with his other hand to brush a curl of her dark hair from her face. She beamed at him, her smile lighting her eyes.

"No Max, not anymore. We have today and the future ahead of us," she said, looking around as another song began and Michael led Maria to the dance floor, followed by Kyle and Isabel.

Max turned Liz around to the song and grinned at his wife.

"So, any premonitions or visions about what the future ahead looks like for all of us?" Max teased. Liz concentrated for a minute, searching out with her new gift, and then a slow smile spread across her face. She shook her head slowly.

"No, our future isn’t written. But whatever it is, I think it’s going to be amazing," Liz replied, believing strongly in her words. Max took what she said as truth and tucked her head under his chin, closing his eyes briefly and inhaling the sweet smell of the flowers in her hair.

The couples began to dance to the song, turning towards and then away from each other, and then back again. Isabel would catch Maria’s eye, then Michael’s and then Liz’s. Kyle glanced at Max and then Maria, thinking how he’d known them all his life, and then Liz met his eyes and he knew that knowing them had changed everything. Liz’s gaze shifted and she caught Michael’s eyes, gentle as he cradled Maria close.

Then Max turned her and she met Isabel’s eyes again and saw both the sadness and the healing as Kyle held her carefully. And finally, she met the eyes of her husband, the same golden eyes that she’s found when she’d been shot, filled with the same love for her. They stared at each other as they danced with Maria and Michael, and Isabel and Kyle around them. Always they moved together in the same area, never straying far apart and always, always within sight of one another. Always watching and always keeping each other close.

And, in the cool desert night air, the sound of laughter could be heard from the patio. Because finally they were all together.

And they were happy.

The End.