Best Laid Plans
Part 4

By Prestor John

Disclaimer: All of the standard: Don't own 'em, just borrowing 'em.
Summary: My AU diverges when Max kisses Tess in Heart of Mine.
Category: Other
Rating: PG-13
Authors Note: My first fiction, so be gentle and honest. Hell, if you can’t be gentle, just be honest! :) Let me know what you think. Mega thanks to Jayfff & Cobray for beta reading, and to Robin and Fadre for editoral comments and reminding me of the rules of grammar. :)

Kyle was noticeable absent at the Crashdown the next morning. Everyone was glad to see Liz, though she didn’t volunteer any information as to her whereabouts the previous evening. Maria didn’t say what she knew either, just glared at Liz occasionally.

“So do we have any idea where Tess went?” asked Isabelle.

“No.” Replied Max, “And we’re not going to try to find her. I think she made her decision clear. If she wants to leave Roswell, that’s her choice.”

Everyone was shocked by the lack of emotion in Max’s voice, and an ‘end of discussion’ ring it carried. Liz was the first to speak. “No Max. She can’t leave. We have to find her and convince her to come back.”

As everyone was agreeing with Liz’s statement, Max countered with scorn and anger. “ Can’t, Liz? This isn’t some cult, I’ve never tried to make anyone stay or do anything against their will, as you well know.” Liz felt her heart twinge and ducked her head at the pain in Max’s voice. Looking around at everyone Max continued. “She has the same choices to make as any of us. I may be a ‘leader’ but you know I don’t demand blind obedience, and I certainly won’t tell any of you that you can’t leave, if you want to.” With that he got up and left.

“What crawled up his butt?” asked Alex. “I mean yea she tried to kill him, but come on. That’s no reason to let her run off.” Liz then shot up out of her seat and followed Max, “Again with the running off!” started Alex “ I know I put deodorant on this morning, did you Micha…OW!” interrupting his own tirade when Maria and Isabelle punched him on his shoulders.

Liz caught up with Max half way down the block. “Max! Wait, we need to talk.”

“About what, Liz?” he asked rounding on her. “I think you said everything you wanted to last night.” She could have handled hate radiating from his eyes more easily than the flat nothingness she saw there now. I have to tell him, she realized, I have to tell them all.

“Max, I have to tell you, everyone, something. Come back to the Crashdown. It’s important.” Hearing the soft pleading in her voice, he nodded his consent and began silently retracing their steps.

Minutes later they reentered the Crashdown where the elder Valenti had left and been replaced by Kyle who pointedly refused to acknowledge Max. Liz got everyone seated and then began pacing and talking. “Alright, this is going to be hard enough for me to get out, so no interruptions, ok?” Without waiting for an answer she began. “A couple of months ago, remember that day we went to the fortune teller, Alex? Well, that night I was in my room when…”

She knew where their questions would be so she answered them before they could interrupt. “Yes, he was real, and not some shape shifter, he knew things that Max was going to do before he did them” “Yes, I believe him” “No, he wouldn’t answer any questions about the future” She told the story only leaving out the emotions, the personal things, and the discussions between Max and herself. Max knew what she said, that was painful enough for her.

With the sound of desperation edging into her voice Liz finished her story. “So I had to make Max fall out of love with me or… or everyone would die. That’s why Tess can’t leave! With her gone it’s all going to happen. We have to get her back!”

Everyone was silent, each coming to grips with the sacrifice Liz had made, in an effort to save their lives fifteen years in the future. Alex broke the silence by muttering, “Lies, once again everything is lies”

“Alex,” began Liz unable to hold back the tears which had been threatening to pour out since she started talking, “I promised Future Max I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I haven’t until now.” Feeling a twinge Liz was careful not to look at Maria. She didn’t want Alex feeling left out. He had been acting very moody lately and she didn’t want him, or anyone, to know that she had told Maria. “If I had told anyone, the chance of Max finding out, and it all falling apart was too great. I couldn’t risk it.”

“My God, Liz…” Began Isabelle, but was quickly interrupted by Liz, “Isabelle, I told you all this so you would know why we have to get Tess back, so let’s just forget everything else and concentrate on that.”

“But how are we going to find her?” Isabelle began. “I mean if living with Nasedo taught her anything it was probably how to disappear. How can we find her?”

“We have to,” whispered Liz.