Author's Note #1: Some of the dialog in this part was borrowed from Roswell Season One episode Toy House, Roswell Season Two episodes Max in the City and Disturbing Behavior, Roswell Season Three episodes Behind the Music, Michael, the Guys and the Great Snapple Caper, and Busted! And since there was no way Kyle would behave himself completely there's also a small bit borrowed from Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Epilogue

The soft strains of an instrumental version of Silent Night played over the van's speakers as the weary group drove through a residential neighborhood in Toronto. Maria had managed to find the only station around that was still playing Christmas music the day after the holiday and even though he'd made a show of griping about it at first he'd given in and let her have her way. He normally would've argued it out until he got his way because he'd overdosed on Christmas music days ago, but given the fact that it served a purpose he'd left it alone.

Maria thought she'd won and he was okay with her misinterpretation of his capitulation. He was done with all the upbeat music and jolly elves, but all it had taken was one look at Isabel and he'd caved. That was normally reserved for his girlfriend, but Isabel was the closest thing he had to a sister and even if she had conned him into taking on the role of the fat man supreme he still had a soft spot for her. And if he'd had to listen to it and felt the urge to rip his hair out more than once, well, after tonight there would be at least three hundred days before he had to endure another merry marathon.

As darkness had fallen the girls had started to drift off and he'd had the opportunity to turn the volume down so it was more like background noise. He couldn't handle one more round of The Twelve Days of Christmas. He couldn't believe how many versions there were of that horrible song and each one was worse than the last! And what was worse than that? The fact that the girls had enthusiastically belted out the lyrics of every one of them with Kyle accompanying them! Max at least had kept his trap shut, and while Isabel was never going to win any awards for singing, he hoped he never had to hear Liz sing again. The girl could not carry a tune and he'd even caught Max wincing more than once.

At the back of the van Kyle was roused from a light doze and he blinked a few times in an effort to bring his surroundings into focus. He needed to move, needed to pop his neck to work the kink out of it, but too much movement would startle Isabel awake and she hadn't slept much since their departure early that morning. He sighed as he peered out through the window. Snow, snow, and more snow. He closed his eyes as he worked his jaw, settling down in the hope he might go right back to sleep. Somehow sleeping made road trips so much more bearable. That wish was quickly dashed when Maria spoke up, her voice loud enough to bring Isabel out of her sleep. Bleary-eyed he watched as their navigator contorted her body in the front passengers' seat in an attempt to get a look at the numbers on the houses they were passing.

"Michael, will you please slow down?!"

Kyle shook his head when she reached over and thumped Michael's shoulder with the map of Toronto.

"I think we just drove past it." She pointed even though he couldn't see what she was trying to indicate. "That one, the one with the little white twinkling lights framing the porch. See it? It has the big Christmas tree in the front window."

"Maria," he growled, "half of these houses have trees in the front window."

He turned his head slightly, trying to make out what was being said as Max and Liz carried on a whispered conversation in the seat in front of him. He didn't catch it, but El Capitan obviously did because his dark gaze was suddenly burning a hole in the rearview mirror as he watched them.

Oblivious to the conversation, Maria tried to duck down to keep the house numbers in sight when Michael kept the van in motion. "Michael, I'm telling you, that's the house back there." She huffed in annoyance. "Why didn't you slow down?"

Kyle gave up the pretense of trying to doze off again when Isabel lifted her head from his shoulder. He pushed himself fully upright and stretched as much as possible in the confined space and yawned widely. He exhaled loudly and leaned forward to rest his forearms on the seat in front of him. "Are we there yet?"

Michael slowed the van to a stop at an intersection and he contemplated a turn for a moment as he met his friend's gaze in the mirror. "Care to share with the rest of the class, Maxwell?"

"There really isn't anything to tell," Max answered with a shrug.

Um-hmm, somehow he didn't think that was the whole truth and nothing but the truth, Kyle thought as he observed Liz' body language while her husband spoke. He watched as Maria released her seatbelt to turn in her seat to look at her best friend. Let the inquisition begin.

"Liz?"

The brunette leaned forward and shook her head. "Maria, it really wasn't much of anything. I touched the coffee table where Max had hidden the envelope and there was just… I don't know, it wasn't even really a flash. There were no feelings that accompanied it, nothing that really provided anything in the way of information…" she shrugged. "I just didn't see a need to bring it up."

"Wrong answer," Michael bit out before Maria could reach out to her. "Don't you get it? Listen up, all of you. We can't afford to keep information to ourselves that could even in the most remote sense compromise the safety of any person here. Not for any reason."

Isabel leaned forward, her gaze lifting to lock on Michael's in the rearview mirror. "You're not helping." She waited until he gave a tight nod before she rested her hand on the seat next to her sister-in-law's shoulder. "Liz, do you think you could try and focus on what little you did see? Maybe you can connect with any feelings that might be attached to it."

Liz turned to look at her and slowly released a pent-up breath as she nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

Kyle moved back out of the way when Max shifted to rest his arm along the back of the seat, his hand rubbing his wife's shoulder as she closed her eyes.

"I'm here, Liz." Max shot a quick glance at Michael, his voice quiet but authoritative when he spoke. "Take it around the block and let's go by the house again. Take it slow and easy."

Maria was watching Michael, taking in the way his focus had sharpened as he scanned the houses, the neighborhood. He was doing what he always did. He was threat assessing, mapping out escape routes, identifying problematic areas. She glanced back at Max and grinned. "Way ahead of you, boss."

"Try to reach out with your mind. Utilize your feelings and tell me what you see."

Kyle's attention was pulled back to Isabel when she spoke up, her voice hushed. She was still trying to help Liz pull the flash into focus so he bit back a comment about the Vulcan mind meld and forced himself to study their surroundings instead.

Liz's brows were knit together over her closed eyes and she exhaled slowly as she nodded. "Okay. I see a red brick house, two, maybe three stories with a gabled roof."

"What the hell is a gabled roof?" Michael growled and was immediately silenced when Maria whacked him with the rolled up map. Like mother, like daughter, he thought, his lips curling up in a smile at the memory that automatically followed.

"Go on, Liz, what else do you see and feel?" Isabel murmured, ignoring the disturbance from the front seat.

"There's a large bay window on the first floor, maybe a matching one on the second, I'm not sure. It feels… I don't know, it feels calm, but there's an underlying feeling of tension… no, not tension, maybe it's anxiety." Her eyes snapped open as she came out of it, feeling as if she were waking from a dozing state rather than what she had been doing. "Maybe I was just reading my own feelings into it. I'm not sure how to really describe it. The feelings are just too distant, like I can't reach them."

"Maybe we should focus on the feelings you aren't feeling," Maria suggested.

Next to her Michael rolled his eyes. This was ridiculous. They'd been hanging around Kyle too long.

"That's true," Liz agreed. "I mean, I don't feel any fear, there're no feelings of panic or terror when I picture the house. There are no negative feelings."

"That's good, right?" Maria turned to her boyfriend, unconsciously turning his ring on her finger. "The last time things went wrong she was flooded with fear, remember?"

Did he remember? He turned his head to shoot a look at her before slowing the van to take another look at the house. "Alright, two stories," he craned his neck, "I don't know, that might be three. Big front porch, bay windows, roof… gabled or not, no clue." His hands clenched on the steering wheel. "Time for a plan. When we approach the house, we treat it as hostile." His right hand shot up to stop the expected reactions.

"My dad and your parents set this up," Kyle said, risking Michael's wrath by ignoring the signal.

"Yeah, they did," Michael said as he reached for the rearview mirror and gave it a sharp twist that surprisingly didn't snap it clean off of the windshield, "and I trust them with our lives, but we have no way of knowin' if there's been any kind of compromise since the plan was implemented and now. Our safety comes first. We can always apologize later."

"Who is 'we', Kemosabe?"

"Fine, you can apologize later."

"Great, I always wanted to play the peacekeeper," Kyle muttered.

"Good, the position's yours." Michael ran a hand through his hair. "Max, you and the girls take the front porch, ring the doorbell. I'll take the peacekeeper with me." He picked a spot that would be easy to get out of if they had to make a quick exit. "We're going in through the back. When whoever's inside answers the door, play it cool. If they're expecting us and they're friendly then they should probably recognize you. If not, we do what we have to do to get back out in one piece."

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The house at 420 Cambridge rose against the night sky, three stories outlined by the light of the moon. It was a large brick home with wide bay windows on the first and second floor that were sheltered by the gabled roof above. The large front porch was covered, the eaves decorated with strands of twinkling white lights. The bay window on the first floor was draped with tasteful curtains and framed a full Christmas tree that was lit and welcomed passersby to pause for a look.

The houses were built close together with narrow pathways between them. The surrounding neighborhood was quiet, settled for the evening, and most of the homes had windows that were lit with warm light spilling out onto the snow-covered ground. The streets and sidewalks were clear of snow and the branches of the leafless trees lining the walkways formed a lattice-work archway that cast spindly shadows over everything.

The serenity so apparent from the outside seemed to be at odds with the armed man who moved through the house with purpose. He entered the kitchen, his movements stealthy, purposeful, and his footsteps nearly silent as he crossed the tiled floor. A woman stood at the stove and she turned her head to smile at the man when he shrugged out of the stylish tweed jacket he wore to drape it over one of the chairs at the small breakfast table set up in one corner of the kitchen.

"Dinner smells good," he commented with a smile that lifted his shadowed cheeks.

"You always say that."

His shoulders lifted, drawing attention to the 1911 Colt .45 he wore in a holster on his right side. "It's always true." He moved to the stove, gently nudging her out of the way as he examined the side dishes being cooked to accompany the prime rib he knew was roasting in the oven. A knife rested in a sheath at the center of his back, easily accessible if he reached behind him.

"Would you select a red to go with tonight's dinner, Ian?"

"No problem," he answered agreeably. "We have several very nice choices in the wine cellar." He straightened to his full five-foot-eleven-inch height and stepped away from the stove to move to the window and scan the street that ran in front of the house. He ran a hand through his dark hair and nodded to himself when he found nothing out of the ordinary. He changed directions and went over to the sideboard, moving several of the desserts arranged there and smiling in satisfaction.

"I know that look."

He chuckled and turned one of the decorative serving dishes once more.

"I've never known any man to take as much pride in his cooking skills as you do."

He winked at her as he turned away from the sideboard and headed for the wine cellar. "It's the way to a man's heart, isn't it?"

As his hand was reaching for the light switch for the cellar, and before she could answer, he heard a nearly silent clicking sound and his clear blue eyes sharpened as they locked on the doorway that led to the back of the house. His head turned slightly at the accompanying sound of the doorbell and he shook his head sharply before she could move to answer the door.

"We have company. Check on Luke," he ordered quietly, his voice a commanding rasp. He watched her until she had left the room and as she finally disappeared up the stairs and out of his sight he heard the telltale sound of the back door opening. There was a near silent shuffle of feet and he turned his head to catch the sound, identifying at least two intruders.

He released his weapon from its holster and his thumb ghosted over the safety as he moved out of direct sight and made his way to the back of the house.

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Kyle's muscles were tensed as he prepared for what was coming. It almost reminded him of the tension that used to wind him up when he played football in high school. Those moments just before the snap, the way his gut would tighten in anticipation, and then that sudden release of tension as the center snapped the ball into his waiting hands. From that point on it had been a constant rush of adrenaline and the scrambling on the field had passed by in a blur as they ran a play that would hopefully put them in the end zone.

Of course, there was no football here. No cheering crowd, no deafening roar in response to the play, and there wouldn't be a party waiting to end the evening. No, the game he played now had a completely different set of rules, save one. Protect the quarterback at all cost. Surprisingly enough, it was a role he found himself accepting of. Knowing that someone trusted you enough to have their back was something that should never be taken lightly. And if Michael Guerin put that much trust in you, you'd damn well better not screw it up.

He caught sight of a shadow but before its owner could be seen there was an electric humming that was quickly followed by sudden darkness. He heard the near silent metallic whisper as the safety was switched off of a gun and in a fleeting moment he wondered when exactly he had learned to identify that sound. But it was in that single moment that the tension fell away to be replaced by the familiar rush of adrenaline. He was aware of every move Michael made as he inched towards the doorway and even though his eyes hadn't yet accustomed to the darkness he followed his lead by instinct.

He heard rather than saw Michael throw his body forward in a hard tackle and he heard something drop and slide across the floor.

"Valenti, get the gun!"

He was forced to rely on his other senses since the darkness had temporarily compromised his vision, and in spite of the sounds of struggle going on to his left he listened as the gun came to a stop, smacking up against something and thankfully not discharging. He'd been shot once, he didn't care to experience it again. Ever, if he could help it. He went after the weapon as Michael had ordered, not questioning it or defying it, just following it.

His hand wrapped around it just as the lights flickered on and he turned, his body in a crouched position as he took aim. He exhaled slowly and lowered the gun when he saw that Michael had managed to pin the other man to the wall, his forearm pressed into his windpipe. He had twisted the man's wrist and had his thumb bent at an angle that kept their attacker under control. For the moment.

The guy looked dangerous. There was something in his eyes that said he could kill without a second thought and he wondered what the hell they had just walked into. The man hadn't looked away from Michael and Kyle could see his jaw working as he tried to speak, but with the pressure on his windpipe he couldn't do much more than gasp.

"Let him talk," Kyle said.

Michael shot a look at him over his shoulder, taking in the solid stance and the steady aim of the gun his friend held trained on his prisoner. The Sheriff would be proud, he thought. His gaze shifted back to the man and he leaned in closer to him until they were almost nose to nose. "You flinch, you die," he growled menacingly as he relaxed the pressure just slightly.

He didn't look like the type to flinch, but Kyle could appreciate the threat regardless. He nodded at the man, motioning with the gun. "Who are you?"

Ian drew in a raspy breath before choking out, "Valenti? You're Kyle Valenti?"

He shifted his weight ever so slightly and suppressed the urge to roll his shoulders. His face slipped into an expressionless mask as he met the man's gaze head on. "What's it to you?"

He coughed and tried to work up enough spit to moisten his throat. "I work with your father."

Kyle shook his head. "No, you don't."

Michael pressed his forearm harder into the man's throat and his eyes darkened dangerously. "The man asked you a question. Don't waste our time with lies." He added even more pressure until he could hear the man's fight to draw breath. "You're strapped, you were expecting us, and given the opportunity you'd have us on the floor with that gun to our heads. Now you tell us who you are or…" His eyes shifted to the right when he heard footsteps and he caught movement from the corner of his eye as Kyle whirled to take aim at the doorway.

He increased the pressure of his hold on the man's wrist and on his windpipe, fully conscious of how much more he could apply before he did any permanent damage. He nodded when Kyle's gaze flicked to him for just a moment and he watched him take a couple of quiet steps back into the shadows so he could get the drop on the person approaching them.

"Let's take it easy, boys."

"Sheriff?"

"Dad?!"

Jim Valenti grinned at them and nodded. "Michael, you wanna release Ian? Kyle, give the man his gun."

Ian resisted the desire to reach up and rub his throat when the brute that had attacked him reluctantly released him. The kid's eyes were locked on him, assessing, challenging, and under other circumstances he knew he'd take him up on it. However, that wasn't why he was here. He checked his weapon before returning the safety to its correct position and holstering it in his shoulder rig. He stepped around them and shot a look at Jim. "I'm gonna check on her," he said, his voice gruff from the recent abuse his windpipe had taken.

Michael's gaze followed the man as he disappeared from sight and his eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out how he fit into things. He wasn't just some security guy and he wasn't local law enforcement for sure. He was older, but not as old as the Sheriff was. Maybe thirty or so, he decided. He was short and stocky but he had catlike reflexes and he'd been hell to keep under control. It had taken everything he'd had to keep his powers in check while making sure the guy couldn't get out of his grip and gain the upper hand.

"What the hell's goin' on, Sheriff?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation at this unexpected turn of events.

"Let's go into the living room. We'll get to that explanation soon enough. The others are waiting for us there and there's really no need to go through this more than once tonight." He chuckled as he motioned for the boys to come with him. "That was a smart move, having Isabel disrupt the power long enough for you to get the upper hand. Ian's not an easy guy to take down."

"Yeah, well, you've gotta be prepared," Michael grumbled, intentionally shoving his elbow in Kyle's ribs when he started to say something that would probably blow his cover. He'd speak with Isabel later about that little stunt. Yeah, it had worked out, but he had said absolutely nothing about improvising when he'd handed out assignments earlier.

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Max's gaze roamed around the room he found himself in as he waited with the girls for Michael and Kyle to come back. To say they had been shocked when the Sheriff had answered the door would be the understatement of the year. He had given them nothing to go on, just ushered them inside and told them to wait for him in the living room before turning and running down another hall.

Liz was busy trying to keep Maria occupied by pointing out different decorations on the massive Christmas tree that dominated the floor space in front of the large bay window. She was doing her best to steer her best friend's mind away from the back of the house and the obvious sounds of a struggle that had greeted them upon their entry. It was hard to ignore, but the Sheriff's features hadn't revealed any signs of stress and in spite of his rush to get to the back of the house, he hadn't seemed overly concerned about what he would find.

Isabel's gaze was locked on the Christmas tree, her fingertips working the pendant she wore around her neck. It was a diversion tactic as she tried to keep her nerves under control. It wouldn't take much more for her to start pacing. Her movements would be cagey and they'd remind him of Michael when he couldn't stand still.

He checked the time on the clock over the carved mantle that framed the lit fireplace for the fourth or fifth time since they had been left there. Not even two minutes had passed. The room was warm and inviting, but he hadn't let his guard down. He was trying to do as the Sheriff had asked, but it was too quiet now and it was taking too long. He took a few steps towards the entry to the hall and with nothing more than a look the girls were right behind him. He peered around the corner, his eyes searching the shadowed areas along its length, freezing when he caught sight of several figures approaching him.

His right hand flexed as they came closer, but before he could lift it up and move into a defensive stance, their features came into view. He released a pent-up breath when he recognized the Sheriff, and right behind him Michael and Kyle. It was easy to see that Kyle was relaxed, most likely due to the fact that he had seen his dad, and to him that signified safety. Michael, of course, was anything but relaxed. He was tense; his eyes were constantly in motion, scanning the area, mapping out entries and exits, and threat assessing. He also looked a little disheveled, something that indicated he had been involved in whatever had gone on at the back of the house.

"Alright, I know you've all got a lot of questions," the Sheriff said as he watched the boys take their places by the girls. Boys, he thought with an unnoticeable shake of his head. They weren't boys any longer. Circumstances had turned them into men.

"Yeah, let's start with the ninja cop back there," Michael growled as he ran his free hand through his hair. His other arm was wrapped around his girl, keeping her close. He didn't know what was going on. The Sheriff's presence took some of the edge off, but it by no means relaxed him. He damn sure wanted answers. He lifted his head slightly when the Sheriff's gaze locked on him.

"I have the answers, but before we can speak freely I need to take care of a few things." He nodded, making sure Michael understood what he was saying. "It'll just take a minute or two. You're safe here. Wait here until I get back."

Max and Michael exchanged a look and after a moment Michael gave a sharp nod.

"A few minutes."

The promised few minutes passed in tense silence and when finally the sound of footsteps neared the doorway once more their eyes locked on the entry. The Sheriff was there and he had assured them everything was fine, they were safe, but it was impossible for them to relax when they had no idea what was coming.

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"Max."

His gaze was drawn to his sister when she called his name.

Isabel's voice was subdued but the undertone of awe was easily detectible as she spoke, her eyes locked on the first person to step through the doorway. "It's our mother."

Max turned and stared. Shock, disbelief, hope, and an overwhelming sense of joy, so many emotions burst to life when he found himself facing his parents. In spite of his recent reassurances to Liz he hadn't honestly believed that he'd ever really see them again. Somewhere in the darkest corners of his mind there was the fear that he had irreparably damaged his relationship with his parents after everything he had put them through. It contradicted his own certainty that his love for his son would never be diminished, that nothing would ever have enough power to take that away, but even knowing the strength of a parents' love for a child he couldn't keep those fears at bay.

He'd grown up knowing he was loved; he'd grown up safe and secure in the knowledge that his parents would provide everything he needed and more. In spite of the proof that had surrounded him on a daily basis he had questioned that unfailing love and he didn't know if he could forgive himself for that transgression above all others.

How many times in his life had he chosen to keep them at arms' length? How many times had they, even in the smallest of ways, asked him to trust them with himself? And how many times had he put up a wall between them to protect his own self? He'd accused Michael of pushing people away, and while his friend had done that on multiple occasions, he'd had reason. No one had ever given him reason to trust them. He'd gotten a raw deal from the beginning; he hadn't been taken into a home and loved without condition and he hadn't been given a childhood full of happy memories. Yet Michael loved with a ferocity that astounded him.

When they'd been prepared to leave Earth, to travel to the home they'd searched for their entire lives, he wasn't the one who had walked away. It was Michael, the one most dedicated to locating their alien home, who had chosen to turn his back on that road. Isabel had been willing to leave with him, to take a journey whose conclusion didn't bear thinking about, and to this day he couldn't help but wonder if Tess had given her that nudge.

He could remember the brief conversation he'd had with her over the phone when he'd been in New York City. She had balked at the idea of leaving Earth. No, she had balked at the idea of leaving their parents and rather than consider the emotional turmoil just the question alone had created he had pushed forward, insisting that he needed an answer from her and Michael. The memory alone made her sudden decision to go to Antar questionable, and it made his idea that maybe Tess had orchestrated her agreement that much more plausible.

Isabel's connection to their parents had been so strong from the beginning and he knew it had torn her apart to have to keep their secret from them. He admired her strength and her ability to love. One of these days he'd have to tell her that. He had been content to keep the secret, but looking back now he realized that his desire to protect them from exposure had actually isolated and further exposed them to danger.

He had royally screwed things up with his dad. And he hadn't just done it once. Over and over he'd messed up; he'd refused to answer questions, he'd invented lie after lie, and in the process he'd alienated everyone around him. Liz, his sister, his friends, at least they knew the truth. And even if they didn't agree with every decision he'd made, they had understood to a certain degree the pressure he had been under. Even if they hadn't liked him at times because of his decisions or behavior, they had understood him in ways he'd never allowed his parents to know him.

He pushed away the memory of two specific conversations with his dad, but regardless of his desire to ignore them they pushed to the surface of his mind anyway. A little trust, a little honesty, and Dad wouldn't have been investigating him. He had been hurt when he'd learned he was being investigated by his own father, but it hadn't been hurt that had driven him to spend time on the lake with his dad. When the questions had followed them to the lake he'd felt like he was being interrogated and he'd had enough.

"I saw the board in your office. I know what you're doing."

"And what am I doing?"

"It isn't right to spy on your own son."

Dad had denied the accusation, insisting he was only trying to figure out what was going on.

"Is my concern for you a threat?"

He had taken the question out of context, not intentionally, but everything had been spinning out of control and his mind had twisted the words to fit his fears. "Do I threaten you?"

"You frighten me, Max. I don't think I know who you are anymore. I'm beginning to think I've never known you."

"I'm your son."

"With secrets. And my biggest fear is that they're terrible secrets, that you're in trouble and I can't help."

He'd had the moment of truth in his grasp and he'd let it get away from him. It had served to put more distance between them and it had increased his father's need to understand what was suddenly going on in his son's life. Dad would do anything to protect him. He would use everything he possessed to move heaven and earth if it meant protecting his children, but at the time he'd only been able to see the situation from his own side.

With that decision he had allowed the chasm between them to widen and his father had continued his investigation. Over time it had grown to include others in his circle and when his father had eventually brought in an investigator it could've unmasked them and put them all in even more danger. As time passed he had become more focused on finding his own son and while undertaking that mission he'd really stepped in it. That was when it had really started.

Armed robbery. And he'd let Liz hold the gun. He was a fool. When that mess had finally ended he had gone back to the scene of the crime. He shouldn't have been surprised that his dad had followed him. But he was. He was sure that had been in his voice when he'd turned to look at him and asked that very question.

"Yes. Yes, I followed you here. Because I can no longer trust you to tell me the truth. I thought you were involved in drugs. But this is clearly something else. What were you looking for down here, Max? What is this place?"

"If I told you what this was about, it would put you and Mom in danger."

"You didn't do it for the money. I never believed you did it for some adolescent thrill. You did it because you wanted to get down those stairs into that room. And I need you to tell me why."

"I can't ever tell you the truth. Please, don't make me lie to you."

That time his refusal to be honest and tell the truth had cost him dearly. His parents had dropped everything and come to his rescue and even after Dad managed to get the charges dropped against Liz he still hadn't been able to open up to him. What more did they have to do to prove that they loved him and had his best interests at heart? While he knew there was work to be done to repair his relationship with his father, it was his mother he needed reassurance from the most.

Years ago he had sat in the park back home and he knew without a doubt he'd wounded her deeply with his refusal to confide in her. He could only imagine how much it had hurt her to suggest that maybe they weren't enough for him, that maybe he couldn't open up to her because he needed real parents to be able to do so. He'd denied that.

"Mom, I don't think we'll ever find out real parents. And… maybe it would, you know… give us some answers, but please don't ever think that you're not enough. I mean… without you, I… I don't know where I would even be."

"Max… nothing you are could ever turn me away from you. I mean… I love you. And you're my son. Do you understand that?" Her eyes had pleaded with him to trust her with his secrets and he'd wasted the opportunity to unburden himself and ease her mind.

"Yeah."

Oh, but he hadn't understood. He hadn't been anywhere close to understanding the kind of love a parent has for a child. It was unconditional, it was all-encompassing, and it was a combination of such joy and pain that there just were no words to adequately sum it up. But now he understood. He'd had to give his son up. He'd lost one of the most precious gifts anyone could ever receive and he hoped Zan would be spared the sins of his father.

All his mom had wanted to do was understand him and he'd pushed her away, put a barrier up between them. He'd even suggested leaving and he had known that would effectively silence further questions. Her children were everything to her and he'd played dirty to keep her from searching for answers.

How much hurt could a person endure before it was just too much?

His mind was relentless as it threw up the memory of his phone call to Isabel while he'd been in New York City. He'd asked about Mom and then basically dismissed his sister's answer, too wrapped up in what was going on to really pay her words much attention. Unfortunately, his mind had locked the words away, satisfied to toss them out on occasion just to torture him with the reminder.

"I wanted to call and see how everything was going. So how… how was Thanksgiving?"

"It was… Mom cried all the way from the cranberry sauce to the peach cobbler. So did I."

He'd brushed her words off and moved on.

He wanted to go home and it was standing within reach, just waiting for a sign from him. The scared little boy inside of him wondered if they could forgive him for all he had put them through… if they could still love him. He finally forced his eyes up to meet his mother's gaze and he had his answer. Her eyes shone with a glistening sheen of tears and a smile of love and acceptance spread across her features as she opened her arms to him and welcomed him home.

"Mom." His voice cracked as he crossed the small distance separating them and he was immediately wrapped up in the warm embrace of both his parents.

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Tears welled up in Liz's eyes as she watched her husband's reunion with his parents. She knew Max harbored the fear that he had lost any chance of ever having his relationship with them back. She didn't believe it was as damaged as he felt it was, but in spite of the easing they had experienced after learning the truth so quickly after Tess' return, in spite of their acceptance of Zan, and in spite of their conversations between the truth coming out and their sudden departure after graduation, she knew he felt so much had been left unsaid.

"Liz?"

Her head snapped to the side when she heard a pair of voices she had feared she would never hear again. She felt her throat working as she struggled to find her own voice but it refused to cooperate. Max wasn't the only one who felt like there were things left unsaid, but while so much of his feelings stemmed from guilt, hers were a jumble of so many things. She had finally made peace with her dad, but her relationship with her mom had been riddled with contention. She had a better grasp on that now, but she probably wouldn't fully understand it until she had a teenage daughter of her own one day.

"Mom, Dad," she cried as she was enveloped in their embrace. She had hoped one day she'd be able to see them again, but she'd been scared to believe in that hope too much.

Nancy held her daughter tightly, terrified that if she let her go she'd lose her again. It had been six months since she'd lost her little girl; six months of sleepless nights, six months of worrying, fearing the worst while praying for the best, six months of wondering if her baby girl was safe, warm and sheltered.

Tears spilled over to track down her cheeks when her daughter burrowed deeper into her embrace, seeking and drawing comfort from her presence. She glanced over at her son-in-law and smiled at the young man's reaction to his own parents. Her little girl was married. She had finally gotten over the shock that her son-in-law was an alien, a hybrid, but it had taken time. It wasn't until Max had come into her daughter's life that she and Liz had really had a problem seeing things eye to eye.

She didn't blame Max for that though. It hadn't been easy to acknowledge that her little girl was becoming a woman. She'd wanted so desperately to handle it better than her own mother had, but in the end it had come down to a battle that had been going on as long as mothers had been faced with teenage daughters and the raging hormones that accompanied the journey into womanhood.

She turned her head to look up at her husband, seeing the glistening sheen of unshed tears in his eyes. He had promised her they would see their daughter again and she hadn't had a single doubt that he meant it. She'd had no idea how he intended to make it happen, but she had believed him when he said it. Somehow she'd envisioned it taking years, that she would miss so much of her only child's life, and that by the time they were finally reunited Liz would have little ones of her own. Months of working covertly with Jim and Philip had paid off though and when Jeff had come to her just a few weeks ago and told her they would be leaving soon she had been scared to believe it could happen so quickly.

They hadn't known exactly where they were going or where they were going to end up when they left but somehow she hadn't been surprised to learn they were leaving the country. It had been the safest way for all of them to get out, to escape the people constantly watching and monitoring their movements. She knew surveillance on them had eased considerably as the months had passed, but they'd still had to be extremely cautious and their journey to reach this destination had been quite unconventional. But she didn't care. She had her little girl in her arms and they had a plan to keep their children safe and in one place. That was what was important, that was all that mattered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Max was still trying to get his feet under him after being quietly welcomed into the family by Liz's mother. She was still high on the reunion with her daughter and he wondered if that had somehow softened her feelings towards him. He glanced over her shoulder at her husband. He hadn't stepped forward and joined his wife to welcome him and he was far from being sure of the man's reaction.

Jeff Parker's hands were tucked in the back pockets of his jeans as he observed everything going on around him. Every time the man's eyes ghosted over him every memory of every time he had put Liz in danger flashed before his eyes. Her dad had given him a second chance, but for all he knew that decision was the biggest regret of his life now. How did he feel about him now that armed assassins had done their best to take them out at Graduation? Since she had left her home, her family, and gone on the run with him? Since he had taken their little girl away from them for what might have been forever?

That implacable stare was hard to read and every time it swept his way it felt like it cut right through him. His gaze was pulled away when his mother-in-law said something and he heard Liz laugh quietly. It was so good to hear that relaxed laugh. He lifted his head and shot another quick glance over Nancy's shoulder and when he realized his father-in-law's jaw line was free of the tic that indicated several different negative emotions, he felt himself relax fractionally. He took a deep breath and stepped around Nancy to face the man directly. It took a moment to remember to release that breath and when he did he lifted his eyes to his father-in-law's.

"Mr. Parker."

He had to force himself to stand still when the man's gave moved over him searchingly. He saw Jeff's eyes pause when they reached his left hand and it took an effort to keep his fingers from curling into a fist. He wanted so badly to move, to somehow evade that probing stare, but he forced himself to remain still until the man's eyes locked on his once more.

He had controlled the urge to fidget, he had managed to avoid breaking out in a major sweat, and he had even avoided the instinctive need to look away, but nothing he did could prevent his heart from racing or his thoughts from running rampant. Yeah, Mr. Parker had given him a second chance, and for a moment that thought had calmed him. But the man's unrelenting gaze as he watched him and just waited… it sent his brain into overdrive. All he could see as he waited for the man to speak, to damn him to hell for what he'd done, what he'd taken from them, was their meeting after he had brought Liz home after one of their secret dates. Mr. Parker hadn't wanted to see him with Liz but even after she'd gone upstairs he had tried to make the man see reason, told him he loved her, and it hadn't made a difference. If anything it had only seemed to fuel his anger.

"I don't give a damn about your love. Because of you, my daughter was arrested for armed robbery. She could've been killed. Did you ever think about that? Tell me you're not dangerous, Max. Tell me that being with you doesn't put my little girl's life in jeopardy."

He knew how Mr. Parker had reacted after that mess in Utah. What would it be like now that he knew the truth about him? Now that he knew who and what he was? Now that he had taken his daughter from her home without so much as a word of goodbye to her parents to live a life on the run with him? Now that he knew she was marked for capture or death because of him?

He glanced down when he felt her fingers brush his, and for a moment everything else disappeared. He flexed his hand and he locked his fingers around hers.

"Max." There was a smile on her face and in her voice when she said his name. And before he could do more than acknowledge it she turned to look at the man still silently observing. "Dad."

One word and he watched as his father-in-law's features softened into a smile as his gaze shifted to settle on his little girl.

"Daughter." The smile gained momentum until it was a grin, but in spite of his obvious happiness at seeing his only child, he nodded at the young man holding her hand. "I'd like a couple minutes with Max, Lizzie."

Max felt her hand tighten around his and as his eyes met hers he injected confidence into his gaze and voice. "It's just a couple of minutes," he assured her.

Her gaze bounced between her husband and her father for a moment, doing her best to let them know they should play nice. "Yeah, okay," she pointed at Maria and her mom, "I'll be right over there."

It was difficult to pull his gaze from her as she backed away, releasing his hand only when it became a matter of letting him go or pulling him with her. He almost wanted her to hold on and drag him across the room to talk to Maria and her mom. He waited until she was out of earshot and then he cleared his throat as inconspicuously as possible and faced her dad again. He drew in a calming breath and straightened, his hands dangling at his sides because he didn't know what else to do with them.

"You've read her journal." It wasn't exactly a question, but he didn't quite manage to pull it off as a statement either. He held his father-in-law's gaze, watching as his lips pressed together, and he gave a sharp nod before looking away. "You were right about me, Mr. Parker. I am dangerous and because of who I am, what I am, those people are after me, and she's given up a lot for me." He turned for a moment, following Mr. Parker's gaze and smiling slightly when he saw her animated features as she and Maria carried on a conversation with Amy. "She's given up almost everything for me and I want you to – "

Jeff's hand came up, silencing the younger man as his gaze once more returned to him. He stared at Max, his eyes unashamedly glistening with unshed tears. "I learned all I needed to know about you in her first two entries." He swallowed and his eyes never left the boy as he continued. "You're the man who put himself and his friends at terrible risk to save my little girl's life that day in the Crashdown." He paused a moment, releasing a controlled breath in an effort to maintain his composure.

Max suddenly realized he was holding his breath and he exhaled as his muscles began to unlock incrementally. He was struck speechless by the man's words. He had expected nothing like them to pass Jeff Parker's lips.

"I have one question," he said, his voice level as he took a single step forward.

"Of course, anything."

"Why? That day in the Crashdown you risked everything, everyone close to you, you risked it all… why?"

Max felt the skin around his eyes tighten and he could taste the salty tang of tears but he forced them down. He ordered his voice to remain steady as he replied, but as he watched the tears in his father-in-law's eyes slowly spill over to run down his weathered cheeks, his voice betrayed him. "Because it was her," he said hoarsely.

Jeff was mindless of the tears tracking down his face as he smiled and reached for his son-in-law's hand. As soon as the younger man relinquished his hand he was pulled into a one-armed hug. "There's no way we can ever thank you enough for giving her back to us, Max. Her mother and I will never forget that." He closed his eyes tightly for a moment, opening them to look straight into his daughter's happy eyes. A daughter he would no longer have if not for the young man he had fought so hard to keep away from her. "Welcome to the family, Son."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Amy stepped back but didn't release her daughter as her eyes roved over her features. Her hands squeezed around Maria's as she took in the happiness shining in her green eyes. The familiar feelings of unwavering love and fierce protectiveness washed over her and her own eyes started to fill. Her baby girl had grown into a woman. The lights on the Christmas tree reflected off of one of the pearl earrings Maria wore and her gaze shifted to the quiet young man standing guard over the room from his vantage point in one of the corners.

It wasn't that long ago that most of her worries had revolved around her daughter's involvement with Michael, and she'd had every reason to be concerned. She didn't want her only child to repeat her mistakes, to have to make decisions that someone her age had no business making. She wanted Maria to have the life she hadn't had, to have the opportunity to experience what life had to offer, in whatever capacity that might be. She had come into motherhood too young and while she would never regret having and keeping her daughter, she wanted to spare Maria the toll that path would take on her.

She had observed her daughter's relationship with Michael, a relationship that was tumultuous at the best of times, and she'd worried that they were moving too fast. She'd never forget walking into Maria's bedroom that morning to find the two of them in bed together. It didn't matter how innocent it was, all that had mattered was the immediate flashback to her own past and the fear that her daughter was headed in the same direction.

Over time she'd grown very fond of Michael, but she'd had her doubts the two of them would make it together past high school. She hadn't been sure what Michael wanted to do with his life, but she'd known Maria had big dreams. That fiasco in New York with that woman from the record label had left her little girl a little jaded about the music scene but it hadn't quelled that thirst for more than Roswell had to offer.

She shook her head and smiled as her attention was once more drawn back to her daughter. "You found the earrings," she said as she tried to compose herself.

"I can't believe I didn't have them when we left." She reached up to touch one of them, rubbing it gently between her thumb and forefinger as she cleared her throat.

Amy smiled. "I found them not long after you left and I carried them everywhere with me. I knew you'd want to have them and I knew if I kept them with me I'd eventually see you again." She glanced at Michael again and released one of Maria's hands to motion for him to join them.

Maria pinched her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing when her mom turned back to her and Michael gave a sharp shake of his head. He crossed his arms over his chest and remained rooted to the spot. She lifted her free hand and curled her forefinger insistently but he only repeated the negative motion.

"He's still…"

Amy exchanged a glance with her daughter and smiled as she finished the sentence. "Michael."

"Yeah."

"Well, I guess we'll just go to him." She reached for Maria's hand again and her gaze dropped when her fingertips ghosted over a ring she didn't recall her daughter wearing before. She lifted her hand, holding it out to inspect the silver band. "Maria, is this…?"

Maria laughed at her mom's quietly shocked question. "It's a promise, Mom, we haven't decided to run out and get married."

Amy's right hand came up to toy with the necklace she wore. "Oh, good, that's good." She swallowed with difficulty and smiled. "There's no need to rush these things."

"No, we'll leave the rushing for the soulmates," she said with a fond look at her best friend. Liz was standing between her parents while her mom talked to Max, hugging the poor guy who was so uncomfortable he looked as if he might bolt for the door at any second. She followed her mom when Amy took off in Michael's direction, her stride determined.

"Michael, what're you doing by yourself all the way over here?"

He shrugged and his crossed arms barely had time to drop to his sides when the woman suddenly threw her arms around him and nearly hugged the breath out of him. "Hey, Mrs. Deluca," he grunted out.

Amy leaned back and looked up at him. "Well, this's been much longer than a glorious, lost weekend, hasn't it?" She glanced between them. "No matching tattoos?"

"What? No."

"Has she pierced any part of her body that can't be shown in polite company?"

Michael snorted and shook his head. "Haven't had the time."

"Good." Her eyes twinkled mirthfully. "Do I need to hunt you down and kill you like the mangy dog you are?"

He eyed her warily for a moment, struck speechless. There was no way to answer that question without giving the truth away. He'd sure as hell had sex with her baby girl and there was no way she didn't know that. The woman knew way too much without giving her anymore ammunition.

She reached up and patted his cheek. "Good answer, Michael. Don't ever let anyone else call you a mangy dog. You're part of this family now and don't you forget it," she said as she pulled him into another hug. "But if you ever hurt her," she whispered for his ears only, "I will make good on my earlier threat."

"Yes ma'am," he muttered and rolled his eyes at Maria as he returned the embrace. He slowly dropped his arms back to his sides when movement caught his attention and he noticed the woman standing in the doorway with the Sheriff. "What the hell?" he muttered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jim stepped into the room as soon as Michael left his position and headed in their direction. He held a hand up, hoping to stop the questions he could see building behind the irritated expression, and knowing nothing would stop it.

"What the hell is she doin' here?"

"Michael, son, before you get any further with that – "

"No, Sheriff, she isn't part of the deal! She didn't need to be dragged into this!" He glanced at the young woman in question as he raked a hand through his hair. "If they know she's involved it puts her at risk!"

"Agent Duff was careful, but it's still on the record that two of you were involved when she was found after being kidnapped."

Rapid footsteps on the steps beyond the doorway followed heavily on the heels of a lighter clicking sound and a moment later a small black and white blur ran into the room. "Sorry, he got away from me when I ran upstairs to grab my overcoat," Ian said, unable to hold back a grin when the Boston terrier found something to fight with. The dog had latched onto the cuff of Michael's jeans and his small body was jerking wildly as he fought with the heavy material. "Always said that dog was smart."

"Aren't you just the sweetest thing," Maria cooed as she crouched down next to the dog, hoping to diffuse the situation.

His hindquarters swung back and forth as he paused long enough to look at the owner of the new voice, but a moment later he was back at work.

"Luke."

He immediately released the material and ran to his mistress, using an area rug and launching himself into her waiting arms. The tags on his collar jingled as he wiggled excitedly, licking her face for several moments before calming down and resting in her hold.

Michael eyed the guy they had encountered upon entering the house and he glared at him as he moved to position himself between him and the others. He was aware of the Sheriff squeezing in between them but his eyes didn't move from the jerk with the gun.

"Michael, this's Ian Kelly. He's on his way out and he won't be back until tomorrow morning at eight."

Ian's eyes were locked on Michael and he didn't look away as he responded to Valenti's statement. "With all due respect, sir, I don't work for you," he said, his voice a tight rasp.

Kyle snorted and shot a look at Michael. "Well, there's a surprise."

Ian ignored the rest of them and his eyes softened as he turned to look at the woman he had been watching over for more than a year now. "Are you sure you're good?" He shook his head, still not sure about all of the new faces. "You say the word and my plans for tonight are gone."

She was aware of the questioning look Michael sent in her direction. "It's alright," she assured him, "he's with me." She turned her attention back to Ian. "And yes, I'm good. I trust him and he trusts everyone in this room." She tried hard to control the urge to fidget when everyone seemed to be watching her.

He turned from the waist to look at the other man. "Ian Kelly, bodyguard," he said.

His eyes narrowed when the man shifted, certain the move was intentional to expose the holstered gun. "Michael Guerin, brother."

Ian straightened up, dropping his hands so that his overcoat fell into place, and he sent a genuine smile in Laurie's direction. "I'll be back in the morning at eight as we discussed." He could feel her brother's intense stare as he watched every move he made. "You need anything, call."

"Don't hold your breath," Michael growled.

The other man ignored him in favor of focusing on his charge. He was more than just a bodyguard. She hadn't wanted some armed bodyguard who just stood around watching her all the time and he had enjoyed the freedom and opportunity his new position afforded him. He had been Laurie's companion and he had sensed the loneliness that resided in the young woman right from the beginning. He had made it his personal mission to erase at least some of the fears he could see in her eyes and over time he'd seen them begin to shift into the background.

"I'll be fine tonight, Ian." Laurie smiled at him when he nodded in response. "And if I need you I'll call."

His thumb rubbed over his car key and his assessing gaze moved over the group once more before he rolled his shoulders and took his leave.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Isabel looked around the room, hardly noticing that everything was tinged with blurry edges because of the tears pooling in her eyes. She had moved away from everyone else, giving them space to engage in their reunions while she observed from a distance. She'd had the chance to visit with her parents and Max deserved to have his time alone with them. She knew how much he needed it.

Like the others she had been shocked when the Sheriff stepped into the room with Laurie Dupree. And like the others she had fully expected it when Michael and the bodyguard got into an alpha male pissing contest before the man took his leave. Some things would never change and surprisingly enough she took comfort in that fact.

Laurie still had that underlying nervousness that seemed to have become a part of her personality but after years of the abuse she'd endured it was to be expected. In spite of that there was a vein of strength that now ran through her and seemed to take the edge off of her nerves. She was visibly fidgety being surrounded by so many people, but she seemed to take comfort from the bodyguard as well as Michael and Maria.

She was light years away from the terrified girl they had encountered after she had started having the dreams. Laurie had been wild and understandably so. The young woman before them now was calmer, more in control, and it was apparent she had found something that settled her. She had a feeling a lot of that was due to Michael's influence. She had listened to Maria recount his heroics more than once, and while there was always a special gleam in her eyes when she talked about him saving the day, it was that quiet smile that settled over her features when she described the way he had dealt with Laurie that really stood out. And it was probably what had made the difference with the girl.

His sister. How strange, she mused. She honestly hadn't ever given it much thought before today. Michael had a sister and somehow, some way, she had ended up in Toronto with the rest of them. Was that why she'd been able to connect with Laurie when she'd been taken and buried alive? Could it be their mutual connection to Michael that had made it possible?

"It would make sense, wouldn't it?"

A smile graced her features as she turned to look at Alex. "You're still here."

"Whenever you need me I'll be here."

"It does make sense. She's related to Michael in some way," she shrugged. "Sister makes the most sense and like Maria says, it does take some of the creep factor out of it."

He nodded. "A sister he wouldn't have if it weren't for you." He held a hand up when she shook her head. "It's true, Isabel. Think about it. Who somehow connected with her? Who found her? If not for you it's unlikely she would've survived that. It's unlikely anyone would've survived because she would've become infected with the gandarium and in time she'd have infected the entire planet."

He watched her turn to observe Michael and Maria as they conversed with Laurie. "Do you remember telling me you thought you were cursed?"

Isabel sighed and nodded. "Too many people have died, Alex." She looked back at him. "You included."

"That's true, but none of those losses are on your head. Isabel, look at her. She's here because of you. She's alive and she's stronger than before. Michael has someone he can call family. Yeah, he's always had you and Max, but a brother or a sister who's directly related to you is different. You know how that is. Michael's like a brother to you, but there's a difference between your relationship with him and your relationship with Max." He nudged her. "You gave that to him, Isabel. You're not cursed. You never were."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Alex."

He grinned and shook his head. "Get over there, Isabel. It's your reunion too, and from the looks of it there's someone waiting to talk to you."

She turned and quickly took a step back when she nearly bumped into her mother. "Mom!"

"You still talk to him, don't you?"

"What?" She leaned back to search her mom's expression. "How did you…?"

Diane smiled as she took her daughter in her arms. "Honey, I'm your mother." She brushed her daughter's hair back and cradled her face in her hands. "You cared about him so much and I caught you talking to him more than once." She shook her head when she saw the look that entered Isabel's eyes. "You're not crazy. You miss him and it gives you comfort to talk to him. When you're ready he'll go."

Isabel threw herself into her mother's arms, hugging her tightly. "I don't want him to ever go, Mom," she whispered.

"Oh, honey, I know that." She smoothed her hand over her daughter's back. "And I also know that one day you'll be ready to let him go."

She turned her head to look at the Christmas tree Alex had been standing beside, her eyes misting when she realized he wasn't there any longer. He'd be back. Mom was right. She wasn't ready to let him go yet. She smiled against her mom's shoulder and closed her eyes, just soaking up the comfort of the familiar embrace.

She was home.

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Kyle's gaze bounced around the formal dining room that was festively decorated to match the holiday theme that was prevalent throughout the house in spite of the fact Christmas had come and gone. The table was beautifully laid out with a lace tablecloth, linen napkins, and more utensils than he had any idea what to do with. There were two rectangular floral arrangements that held tall red tapered candles among the greenery and a glance at Isabel told him just how much the table setter's efforts was appreciated.

He wondered for just a moment if Ian, the bodyguard slash whatever else he was, had in any way had a hand in the settings. Nah, he decided after a moment, no way that guy knew one fork from the other however many there were. There were also several glasses by each setting, something that along with multiple forks, he'd never understood. A person could only drink one thing at a time and it wasn't like anyone ate with a fork in each hand. He shrugged, deciding he'd never figure it out, and just as he was leaning back he caught Michael frowning as he mentally counted off the number of utensils next to his plate.

Oh, well, at least it had him occupied for a moment. It had taken everything the guy had to keep from demanding answers the moment Ian had departed and he knew Michael was waiting to make sure he was really gone this time. It wasn't like they wouldn't get answers this time. Their parents had no reason to hold back on them. And maybe Michael could've dealt with that a little more easily if he hadn't been blindsided by his sister's presence. But, the fact was, Laurie Dupree was there, and as far as Michael was concerned that just threw a completely unexpected monkey wrench in the works. He shook his head when El Capitan caught him watching him and shot a glare in his direction. "Not a clue," he muttered.

"It's so beautiful," Isabel said as she reached out to run a fingertip over the rim of one of the crystal glasses.

"Isn't it?" Maria spoke up. "It's just like when we had dinner with Laurie, remember?" She reached over to shake Michael's arm when he didn't immediately respond.

"What?" he growled, annoyed when she interrupted his thoughts.

"I was just saying it's like kinda like when we had dinner with Laurie. Remember the way the table was set?"

"Yeah, whatever."

Laurie smiled at his brisk response. "We have root beer," she said. "But I thought we'd save the nineteenth century Bavarian crystal for another occasion."

Michael glanced at her and smiled at the quiet, almost shy smile that graced her features at the private joke. It was something he knew she'd never done enough of, but her presence here concerned him. He was a magnet for danger and that was bad enough, but all of them in one location? At this rate they'd have their own satellite orbiting the planet soon.

"I know you're waiting for answers, Michael," Jim said as he nudged his son aside to place a serving dish on the table, "so just give us a few more minutes to get dinner on the table and we'll all sit down and you can have at it."

Maria's hand settled on his thigh under the table in an attempt to calm his nerves. And to stop the incessant leg-bouncing that was about to drive her crazy. She looked up when her mom came up beside her to place another dish on the table and she couldn't do anything to stop the tears that immediately sprang to her eyes in response to the warm touch on her shoulder. Her mom's hand squeezed reassuringly and she leaned down to kiss the top of her head before disappearing into the kitchen once again.

All of the parents were busy running back and forth between the rooms and it didn't take long before the table was full to bursting with a mouth-watering variety of foods. The glasses were filled, the candles were lit, and one by one the parents moved around the table to settle beside their children.

Isabel rolled her eyes when Kyle rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he eyed the platter of roast beef. She knew exactly what was coming next. Maybe not the exact words, but she knew what was coming.

"And he… he himself carved the roast beast." He grinned at Michael when he received an annoyed glare in response. "We're gonna wanna work on that Grinch transformation thing before next Christmas."

"Oh, Michael's not a Grinch," Amy denied as she reached for a dish to serve herself. She turned to hand it to her daughter's boyfriend and pulled it back when he shook his head vehemently.

"Michael doesn't care for green bean delight," Isabel spoke up, accepting the dish from Maria's mom. "If he can't actually see the green beans he won't eat it." She however was going to eat it if for no other reason than it was probably her mom's recipe and she'd probably had a hand in making it.

"Look, I don't wanna be the one to bring everyone down here, but this isn't smart," Michael said before anyone else decided to keep the current conversation going.

"The running stops here," Jim said as he served himself a generous helping of roast beef and passed the platter to his son. "You're not in this alone anymore. We've got a plan and we're in the process of constructing contingency plans that you'll be involved in as they're made. We chose Toronto for many reasons, one of them being the fact that it has a population of nearly two and a half million people."

Michael shot a look at Max and he nodded.

"Dad, these people aren't gonna stop." He shook his head when his mom offered him a dish of something, but a moment later his wife accepted it and whatever it was ended up on his plate anyway. "I told you before they're not gonna stop and if it's not them it's just gonna be someone else."

His dad considered his words before nodding thoughtfully. "You're right about that, Son, but if you continue running it's also just a matter of time before that same group finds you or possibly people you've come into contact with just to flush you out. They'll have no qualms about using them against you and locking you up where no one can find you."

"This way you have a chance to live your lives while getting an education," Jeff added. "This'll give you the opportunity to live in a community where you can get into professions that may help you in the future, maybe even allow you to take the offensive in this battle."

"You're not alone in this anymore, Max," Diane said as she turned to rest her hand on her son's shoulder. "We're your family and we're gonna do this together."

Michael fought the urge to roll his eyes or possibly even gag. At any moment they were all gonna hold hands and someone was gonna break into some goofy song. He grunted when he got an elbow to the ribs – from both sides. That's all he needed, he thought, Maria and her mother in the same zip code.

"They're right," Philip agreed and reached for a dish filled with mashed potatoes. "But before we get into all that, how was the border crossing? Any problems?"

"The student IDs for me, Liz and Isabel were the perfect cover. They kinda gave Michael's birth certificate a little more scrutiny than anyone else's ID, but we managed to cross without incident."

"Score another one for the state," Michael muttered. He nudged his girlfriend. "Hand over the rolls."

"Yorkshire pudding," Laurie said, watching him frown with amusement that caused the bridge of her nose to crinkle just a bit.

"No, the rolls."

She reached for the basket he was motioning to and passed it to Maria. "It's Yorkshire pudding."

He shook his head. "There's nothin' pudding about it," he muttered as he grabbed one.

"Ian made it. He's been teaching me to cook all kinds of things but they're his creation."

"The University of Toronto bumper sticker was a nice touch," Liz said before Michael had the opportunity to ask if Ian had an apron or something.

Her mom chuckled next to her, easily recognizing the tactic. "Good job, honey," she whispered, hugging her daughter when the compliment earned her a big smile.

"The student IDs weren't just for cover," Philip continued. "The three of you are actually enrolled for the winter semester."

"You'll like it there, Lizzie," Jeff said, his expression proud as he looked at his little girl. "We know how interested you were in pursuing a degree in microbiology and the school here's one of the top-rated schools in all of North America. The discovery of insulin, the invention of some kind of electron microscope, there've been all kinds of good things to come outta this school. They're very lucky to have you, sweetie."

Maria smiled at her best friend. Liz looked so happy she was about to burst. "So the plan's for them to go to school?"

"That's what we have worked out for Max, Liz and Isabel, yes." He looked at his son. "We weren't sure what you were interested in so for now you're enrolled in general studies."

"I've put a lot of thought into what I'd like to do if I had the chance," Max said after a moment. "And I'd like to be a lawyer like my dad."

Philip nodded as his emotions got the best of him and he squeezed his wife's hand when it found his with unerring accuracy. "You'll make a damn fine lawyer, Son," he said, his voice full of pride when he was finally able to speak.

"Well, I've about had enough of sittin' in classes," Michael said after a while.

"Yeah, I'm with El Capitan," Kyle mumbled around a mouthful of roast beef.

"Then I think you two will ease right into your positions at my new towing and snow removal service," Jim said with a grin.

"Excellent. Yet another manual labor job." He glanced at his dad and shook his head. "That's exactly what I was hopin' for."

Jim just grinned and clapped his son on the shoulder. "Good, I was hoping you'd say that." He dipped his roll in the gravy overflowing from the small mountain of mashed potatoes on his plate and bit into it. "It'll give you both a place to start, steady income, and – "

"Not to interrupt the fairy tale ending or anything, but," Michael swallowed the big bite of roast he'd just taken after hurriedly chewing it, "like Max said, we've still got people after us. A steady paycheck and a lot more civilians isn't gonna stop them."

Kyle held a hand up before anyone could respond to that. "Before anyone has the opportunity to take offense to that well thought out comment, he actually doesn't mean it to be as insulting as it sounded." He glanced at his friend and rolled his eyes. "El Capitan has a tendency to ride the fine edge of hyperawareness." He reached for another roll without even looking at the basket. "However, he's got a good point because it was tough enough with just the six of us and now there's practically a small country, which makes us a much bigger target."

"The six of you have been on the run for the past six months, unable to rely on anyone other than yourselves, and we know that's been a heavy burden for you to carry on your own." Philip's gaze moved around the table, making direct contact with each of them in turn. "Let me reiterate that you're no longer alone in this. We may be a small country, but there is a certain safety in numbers." He held a hand up when Michael opened his mouth to protest. "Hear me out before you say anything. We've already applied for Permanent Residency cards for all of us. The idea is to live and work in plain sight. The Canadian government doesn't allow shadow governments to abduct residents that are contemplating citizenship in the future, and certainly not when those potential future citizens are attending one of its most prestigious universities. This gives us a cushion. We'll still have to be careful and we'll need more planning to deal with whatever may come our way, but for now we're safer here than we were in Roswell or you were on the road."

"Getting college student residency cards was a bit easier than getting our cards," Jim said. "Kyle and Maria still meet the requirements to enter with family." He cleared his throat and shifted to look at Michael.

"Yeah, lemme guess, I was the odd man out, right?" Nothin' new there, he mused and went for another roll. Yorkshire pudding… whatever. He knew a roll when he saw one.

"Working full time helps a lot, but it'd be better if you had family and were enrolled in some kind of schooling."

Michael coated his roll with butter, his mind busy mulling over the position he and Maria held in this plan when he caught Laurie smiling at him. "What?"

"Try the gravy on it, it's really good."

"Gravy, huh?" One side of his mouth quirked up in a half-smile and he nodded when she passed the gravy his way. He glanced back at the Sheriff and shrugged one shoulder as he reached for his napkin to wipe off the melted butter that was dripping down his hand.

"Michael has a case of diplomus interruptus," Kyle tossed out and ignored the glare coming at him full force.

"The graduating thing would have to be in there somewhere." Michael finished wiping his hands off and sat up straighter. "I'm not interested in college though. What I want is military skills, something that would provide training without joining the military. I won't run the risk of being a part of somethin' that might ship me out away from everyone."

"Enrolling you to earn your diploma shouldn't be difficult," Philip said, "and there are plenty of opportunities in law enforcement here that could lead to the type of training you're interested in. For now though, the most pressing matter is finding a way to keep you here longer than a visitor."

"Michael," Maria said quietly, "maybe we…?"

He glanced down and caught the movement of her fingers as they toyed with the ring he had given her and he shook his head when he realized where her suggestion was going. "No, not now. You've got your dreams."

Jim's gaze was following their every move. "Michael, I'd be proud to call you son, but when I suggested it someone else who thinks a great deal of you wanted the chance to ask you."

Isabel was soaking up everything that was being said, her attention equally divided between her parents and the situation developing around them. She paused when her eyes landed on Laurie and she detected more than just a hint of nervousness in her features. "So, you named your dog Luke?"

Laurie smiled as she reached down to pet him where he was sitting next to her chair, patiently waiting for her to finish dinner. As the spotlight was refocused she relaxed slightly and brushed her hair back over one ear and nodded. "Last Christmas Ian found Luke in a rescue for Boston Terriers. He'd been abandoned by his owners and needed a home. He took me to meet him. Ian thought it was meant to be. He's a big Luke Skywalker fan. It's his favorite movie."

"Meant to be?" Michael muttered under his breath.

Kyle snickered and reached for his empty water glass, bringing it up to his mouth and breathing into it heavily as he spoke. "Luke, I am your father."

Isabel's eyes narrowed at him. "Really? What was that supposed to be?"

"My Darth Vader impression."

"More like some heavy-breathing pervert making a crank call."

"Get many of those do you, Sugar Muffin?"

Philip choked on the drink of wine he'd just taken and he reached up to wipe his rapidly watering eyes as his wife patted his back helpfully. "Thank you," he rasped.

Laurie used the moment while everyone was distracted to compose herself before looking at Michael. "You told Ian you're my brother and," she inhaled deeply, "I'd like it if you really were."

His mind drifted back to a conversation he'd had with Maria, wanting her opinion about asking Laurie to move in with him. She'd listened, provided the appropriate responses, and in the end he'd come to the answer on his own. "I told the goof with the gun that I'm your brother because it's true, doesn't matter if it's on paper or not."

Maria smiled reassuringly at Laurie when the other girl looked at her. "In Michael speak that translates to even though it isn't necessary for him to know who you are to each other he appreciates the offer."

Amy smiled as she watched Michael's interaction with Laurie and before he could ask about Ian she let out a happy sigh and began to get up out of her chair. "I'd say this is the perfect time to have dessert. I made a chocolate kahlua cake to compliment Ian and Laurie's wonderful roast beef dinner. I thought I'd serve it in the living room in front of the fireplace to help us relax." She glanced over at Jim. "Would you stoke up the fire in the fireplace?"

Jim nodded even as he leaned towards Michael. "Listen I know you have questions about Ian. We can talk while eating dessert."

Michael gave an affirmative response and glanced at his girlfriend, noting the look on her face. "So, we're all kinda locked into one thing or another, what about Maria?"

"Oh, I didn't want to clip my baby girl's wings," Amy said with a smile as she stood and started to clear some of the dishes. "Maria's never expressed an interest in college. Her interests have always leaned towards the musical and I wanted her to follow her heart. There are plenty of opportunities here for her too." She leaned over her daughter's chair to hug her from behind. "There are music schools, there are places to audition, the options are endless, and whatever she chooses to do, it'll be right for her." She straightened up again. "Alright, we have dessert to get to."

Kyle cut in, his gleaming eyes matching his grin. "Say, that kahlua cake wouldn't by chance be made with real kahlua would it?"

She paused with a smile. "It is, but most of the alcohol bakes out of it in the oven."

"That's what you think." Kyle leaned his chair back on two legs. "I've got a big fish story to tell."

Isabel had no intention of having that particular story shared with all of these people, family or not. "Kyle Valenti, you set that chair back on all four legs or get a timeout."

"And Mrs. Valenti speaks," Max said, shooting a teasing grin at his sister.

Philip froze, the napkin he'd been using to wipe himself off after the near catastrophe he'd almost had with the wine after Jim's son had let that unfortunate endearment slip still pressed to his chin. "Mrs. Valenti?" he mumbled with a shocked look at his daughter.

"Hope you packed your Mickey Mouse sheets," Michael snorted. "You're gonna need 'em."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

December 26th, 2002. Journal entry one. I'm Liz Evans and five hours ago our lives started again.

She looked down at the pen in her hand, sliding her thumb over it and feeling the fine imprint of the brand name on the side. She turned her head to look at Max, smiling at him as he slept so peacefully next to her. Her gaze moved back to her first entry in the journal her husband had given her some time back and she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the sweet feeling of freedom. She exhaled slowly and brushed the side of her hand over the page before placing the tip of the pen against the paper, beginning right beneath the first word. It took less time than it took the human heart to beat for the words to begin to flow, taking on a life of their own as the ink brought them into existence.

It all started with a breakdown in the middle of nowhere. A freezing cold night, colder than anything I've ever felt before. Colder than any of us had ever felt before. What would've happened if we'd broken down someplace else? What if we hadn't met the Stevens family?

She paused, her mind slipping back to the Christmas lights beckoning in the distance. Not exactly the Christmas Star, but in many ways that light had led them to salvation of a different kind.

The Stevens family. Their kindness, caring and generosity saved us in more ways than one. We had been on the road for six months and we were falling apart. We practically lived in each other's back pockets and we had never been further apart. They welcomed us into their home and gave us shelter, clothing and food. Total strangers with a story full of holes and Julia never thought twice before bringing us inside. Edward, he's a protector and his family's safety comes first. He was suspicious and watchful, but thank God he listened to his wife.

She glanced at Max when he snuffled in his sleep and burrowed deeper into the pillow. She'd never understand why he did that because in less than fifteen seconds he'd nearly inhale the pillowcase and snort before turning his face in the opposite direction. She reached over to run her fingers through his mussed hair before focusing on her journal again.

Things were strained enough before Kyle's powers started to come online. But in a way it really provided the catalyst Max and I needed to really begin dealing with the issues that had been causing so much strain on our marriage. What would've happened if his abilities hadn't chosen that time to reveal themselves? What if we had missed the opportunity to make contact with the Sheriff? We still don't know exactly how his gift works, but it does and because of it we've really landed somewhere safe.

Just a few days ago we thought we'd be taking off in separate directions at the earliest opportunity. We all know Michael's right, it's the safest option. Or it was. But the thought of being separated from everyone, from Maria, that hurt the most. Me and Maria, we need each other. We're kinda necessary to each other's existence. Yeah, yeah, I know, I can just picture Michael's reaction to reading that. It'd probably look a lot like his expression the morning we woke up to find an unexpected blizzard had fallen over the Stevens' home and surrounding area.

She chuckled quietly as she thought about his reaction to Isabel's weather interference.

Was it just this morning that we rolled out of the Stevens' driveway and headed north into the unknown? It seems like so long ago now. In less than twenty-four hours we've moved from uncertainty to the potential for a promising future. We're together, we're with our families, and we're not alone any longer. We have a home.

I was sure Michael was going to blow something up when the most unexpected thing happened and Laurie Dupree, his sister, walked through the door. LOL, if only there was a way to capture his expression on this paper. That's one I'd love to preserve for future laughs.

Speaking of future laughs, there's no way to close out my first official journal entry without mentioning my sister-in-law and her 'husband', the intrepid Kyle Valenti. Yes, after my dear husband's humorous comment at dinner, followed quickly by Michael's remark about cartoon sheets, there was no doubt their parents would expect an explanation. My poor father-in-law looked ready to eat his fine linen napkin when Max called Isabel 'Mrs. Valenti'.

She may not be Mrs. Valenti right now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen one day. There's something there, something born of the fire of friendship, something that in the future we may see forged into an even more permanent bond.

She finished filling in other bits and pieces about their Christmas with the Stevens family and their Christmas with their own families before sitting back to stretch and then glance over what she had written. There was so much more to write and she was bursting to get it all down but it had been a long day and her eyelids were getting heavy.

She could just see the story this entry would make when it was complete. It would be a story they would be able to tell their children in the future, a story for Christmas Eves spent sitting in a comfortable living room, sharing the love of family and the warmth of a roaring fireplace. She smiled as the title for that story came to mind, a title so fitting it demanded to be written down before it got lost after a night of sleep. She brushed the side of her thumb over the tip of the pen and then pressed it to the page, immortalizing the title that would one day be a story their children demanded to hear every Christmas. The pen danced across the page, each letter written with a precise stroke…

A Tale of Two Christmases

Author's Note #2:

Well, folks, after four years we've finally reached the grand finale of A Tale of Two Christmases. We just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who's taken the time to read, review and patiently wait for Real Life to get its act together so we could pen another update. We've had so much enjoyment as the gang led us into an unexpected adventure. As they were enveloped in the warm embrace of a caring family, accepted into a community that needed them as much they needed that community, and adopted by a precocious five-year-old they were able to open themselves up and deal with some pretty heavy issues.

From the moment we climbed into that cramped bus with them until the moment we sat with them around the dinner table with their own families, it's been an adventure. We set out to write a little Christmas story and instead we ended up with an epic story full of surprises because once they started leading we had to follow. Now that they've led us to Toronto and their parents have set things into motion with Laurie's help, it looks like it's time to wish them luck and say we'll see them 'round. We wouldn't be surprised if someday they sent out an invitation for us to pay them another visit, maybe catch up and see how things have turned out a few years in the future.

But until then, thank you all and while it's early, we hope you all have a Merry Christmas and have the opportunity to experience your own miracles!

Cindy hugs, KK (a.k.a) ArchAngel1973 & Marsis