Remnants
By Didi
Disclaimer: Every time I write this, I feel slightly ridiculous. Barring any unforeseen complications, no one is ever going to mistaken me for owning any part of the Roswell series. But here it is anyways.
Author's Note: Okay, I've made it no secret that I did not enjoy the way the people at Roswell did the second and third season. I'm always been a huge fan of unconventional pairings. And I kept thinking that the stories could have been so much more interesting, at least to me, if certain things had been different. So I decided to do my own version of what happened.
Timeline: Let's take it back to the beginning, way back into the beginning and take out everything you ever knew and believed about Roswell except the characters. In my version, Liz never gets shot in the first episode. In fact, there is no first episode. And there is no Nasado around, at least not yet, to raise Tess. Instead, we have her found by another. And here's where our story begins.
Warning: This will be an alternate universe story with lots of unconventional pairings. If you are a huge fan of the usual Max/Liz, Michael/Maria, Alex/ Isabel and Kyle/Tess stories, this may not be for you. But if you allowed yourself to be open minded about things, I will make every attempt to make this entertaining. Or at least help you waste ten minutes of your life reading really crappy materials by me.
Summary: Alternate Universe. A tragedy moves a family from Los Angeles, California to Roswell, New Mexico. There, all the secrets of the past resurface and the future becomes an uncertain place.
Note: For this chapter only, please pay attention to the dates that are given. They do have some significance though not much. And hey, if I can take the time and effort to put them there, please have the consideration to take the time to at least notice them. Thank you and enjoy!
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Chapter 1 - The Beginning
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New Mexico - July 1988
The business trip had gone particularly well this afternoon and Philip Harding was looking forward to returning to Los Angeles. He supposed that the return drive through a balmy desert could have waited until morning but he really felt refreshed by the exhilaration of success. Perhaps he would stop at the Motel 6 or something once he cross over to Arizona but at the moment he was too revved up to sleep.
Philip loved the desert, there was something almost surreal about it during the hour when the sun would rise or fall behind the horizon that seemed to spread on into forever. If his job had allowed it, he would have no doubt moved into nice little adobe house somewhere in nature's hot lands. But as life would have it, he's stuck in the city were millions push their air polluting vehicles through the crowded street everyday just to earn a living. He supposed it could be worse; he could be stuck in a tropical climate where everything and everyone sweats at the drop of the temperature.
The air was cool and the silence of the night was lulling. Perhaps had there been a cricket or two, Philip wouldn't have been so careless.
She stepped out of nowhere, face illuminated by the high beams from the car on the stretch of endless road. Even as Philip hit the breaks and felt the sudden deceleration of the car throwing him forward, he took in the clear blue eyes and blonde curls of the little cherub. The old cliché 'deer in the headlights' popped into Philip's mind a second before he felt the impact of the car hitting the small body at maybe 5 mph.
The sedan jerked to a stop. Sickening horror paled Philip's face as he stared out onto the road where the little body, devoid of clothes, laid crumpled on the ground six feet from the front bumper, still illuminated by the headlights. Golden curls hide the angel face from view.
Scrambling from the car, he rushed to the fallen body. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he noted that that car had no damage at all, amazingly. Strange that he would think about at a time like this... but there it is.
The stillness of the body sent a shiver of fear through his chilled body. "Little girl?"
Rushing back to the car, he pull the blazer he had discarded earlier and came back to drape it over the small form. Looking around, he couldn't see anyone on the long stretch of road. The child couldn't be more than three or four years old, what was she doing out in the desert alone? And naked as a jaybird too.
But now was not the time to contemplate such questions. "Little girl?" he moved around the body, checking for any signs of blood and relieved to find none. "Honey, can you hear me?" There was no response.
Bracing himself, he brushed silky strands of blonde hair away from the smooth apple-cheeked face and felt a breath of warm air against his fingers.
Collapsing by the body in relief, he almost smiled. "Thank god for some small miracles."
Knowing that it was unlikely that there would be a payphone around, and he was not about to leave the child in the middle of the desert, he could only relay on the bits and pieces of first aid training he received in Boy Scouts and three summers as a life guard at the local park pool. "Well, no broken bone. Some cuts and what looks like the beginning of a nasty bruise... You are one very lucky little girl." He smoothed back the hair on her face and picked up the small body.
Looking around again, he had to wonder where this little angel came from. Visions of harbingers dropping from the sky cause the world was coming to an end danced in his head for a second before he dismissed it with a shake of his head and silently calling himself an idiot.
Tucking the child into the back seat and buckling her in securely, he drove to the nearest hospital and hoped for the best.
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New Mexico - September 1988
"There are still no signs of guardians or caretakers for the child. I've had dozens of parents with missing children coming in but there appears to be no one looking for her." Office Reyes looked up from her notes and frowned at the one-way mirrored window. The Angel Child, as the rest of the police department had been calling her, was sitting in the ugly interrogation room swinging her short chubby legs and sipping from the juice box someone had found for her since bringing her in from the hospital. "It's like she appeared out of no where."
"But that's not possible!" Philip ran his hand through his blond hair and frowned at the child. The hospital had confirmed his relieved belief that there had been little damage to the child from the accident. Most of the cuts were already healed over, and the bruises were reducing daily. She still reminded him of a cherub as she sat there, one arm curled around the white teddy bear he had brought her and the large unsightly bruise covering a good portion of the her face. "No one would just throw away a child, especially a child that looks like that!"
Reyes smiled, her eyes soft with agreement. The Angel Child looked like she could have easily been a model for some Gruber commercial, minus the blacken eye. "I understand your frustration and your cooperation in trying to locate the child's parents but we have pushed this as fair as we can. Our resources are limited and we cannot keep that child here indefinitely."
"What are you saying?" he asked turning to the officer.
"Social Services have been called. They're taking her to a foster home in a few days."
"You're joking, right?" The disbelief written clearly on his face. "You have any idea what those places are like? What could happen to her if she get put in one of those places?"
"I'm sorry but..."
"You can't just dump her in the system like that."
"We don't have any choice on the matter."
He shook his head and watched as the little girl stared at the glass, as if she could see him through the partition. The big blue eyes were soft with confusion and bright with intelligence. The Cupid's bow mouth was curled just at the end, leaving her with a permanent smile on her sweet little face. His heart tightened in his chest. "And there's no other way?"
Watching the young man staring at the child, Reyes felt herself melt. You have to love a man that loves children. If only she wasn't already married and mother of three.... "Well..."
"What?" Philip turned and looked hopefully at the woman. "What is it?"
"You could ask Social Services if you can keep her. After all, you did bring her in."
"After I ran her over with my car," he replied dryly.
"I think your actions since have more than pronounce you to be a responsible man. You didn't abandon the child when you could have easily done so. You've driven out here once a week to check on her. Paid for her medical bills. Bought her toys and clothes. I can't see any reason why they won't let you keep her for a while."
"I'm a single man. Don't they usually want married couples?"
"If you were adopting her, yes. But you're just going to keep an eye on her until we find out what to do with her. We don't know if she has parents out there looking for her. Plus you'd be doing Social Service a great favor by taking here. They're over burdened as is."
Considering it, really considering it, Philip nodded his head slowly as the little girl put the juice box down and stared at the bear. It was as if she's never seen one before. Every little girl should have a teddy bear, its... unnatural not to have one. "I live in L.A. Is that going to be a problem?"
"Social Services can transfer the case over there," sensing victory. She has Barbara Luna of the DCFS on speed dial.
Stepping closer to the glass, he smiled as the little angel pressed her nose against the teddy bear's button one. "How fast can you make this happen?"
"I'm on the horn now."
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Los Angeles - November 1988
The doorbell rang a third time as Philip tripped over the tricycle and two tiny bathroom slippers. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Out of breath and bruised on the knee, he yanked the door open just as a tiny wail of dismay erupted from the other room. Without looking at the visitor, he held up on finger. "Just a second," and took off toward the sound of the crying, tripping once more on the tricycle and slippers. "Oh baby, don't cry! It'll clean up."
Amy DeLuca stepped gingerly into the apartment that had until recently been a bachelor's dream pad. The state of the art media system and sports equipment had been pushed to one sidewall to make room for children's toys and playpen materials that now were scattered liberally throughout the room. Glancing about, she found baby food jars next to Tabasco sauce and half empty takeout cartons. A pair of pink fuzzy slippers had been stuffed into a pair of much larger blue ones by the door.
Glancing into the room with a hanging clown on the doorknob, Amy was greeted with the sight of Philip Harding trying valiantly to pull the blue blouse from the little girl's body while trying to keep the child in his lap. After figuring out that the last button on the back needed to be undone to remove the soiled garment, he finally freed the child. "See, now it's not sticky anymore." The little girl beamed up at him. "Now let's see about getting this one on you."
"Might help if you wash her up first," Amy suggested gently at the sweet scene before her.
Man and child turn as one to stare at her with identical wide eyes looks. She could have laughed is she didn't think it was inappropriate. "Hi," the man greeted as he slowly stood with the little angel clinging to his neck, hiding her face in his neck. "Didn't see you there."
"Didn't think you did," she offered her hand in the relaxed matter that's gotten her in more places than anyone ever imagined she would. "Amy DeLuca, Social Services."
"Oh!" he looked quickly around the room and nearly winced at the sight of a spilled cup of juice, dirty clothes littered on the ground, hair clips decorating the tiny ruffled bed by the side and the extraordinary about of toys everywhere. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Of course you didn't," she said lightly as she began to mop up the mess on the little play table. "How else would I do a little spot checking if I had told you ahead of time?" She looked up and smiled at the little girl. "Hi here..." she paused. "The file they sent me didn't have her name filled in. What is it?"
"Oh that," he tucked the golden hair back as the child began to squirm to get down. "She didn't have one. Didn't speak, didn't know her name, no identifications of any kind. The police department called her Angel Child."
She nodded her head, already knowing this part of the story since she had read it in the extensive report sent to her. "So what do you call her?"
"Tess," he replied, taking the six cookies she had grabbed with her hands and handing her back one. "Short for Teresa, my mother's name." He smiled as Tess broke open the cookie and licked the frosting with delight.
"That's sweet," Amy replied as she jotted it down on her notes. "Teresa... Harding?" he nodded. "But you call her Tess."
"Yes," he answered nervously as she made more notes to herself. "I know that the apartment is a little small and she doesn't have a lot of room to play. But I'm looking into getting a bigger place soon and..."
"The apartment looks fine," Amy replied, smiling as Tess offered her a cookie. "It looks clearer than mine does anyways. Thank you, sweetie."
He picked up toys as discreetly as he could, "I've been meaning to clean up but my schedule has just been...."
"That's very pretty," Amy cooed as Tess showed her the blouse that Philip has yet to put on her. "Would you like me to put that one you?"
"Oh my god, I totally..."
"Mr. Harding," Amy looked up and smiled gently. "Relax. I'm not here to take Tess away from you. I'm just here to make sure she's getting adequate care." She took a moist towel by the side, obvious there for later when the child was done with her snack, and began to wipe the remainder of the spill juice from the girl's body. "And from what I can see, you obviously have been going out of your way to create a place for Tess here."
He sighed silently and sat down by the little girl in a chair not big enough for more than half his rear. "Thank you."
"You obvious adore her. And she loves you," Amy laughed as Tess reached out and fed half her cookie to Philip. "Heck, you're better with her than I'm with my own four year old."
"You've got a kid?" wiping Tess's mouth with a napkin.
"Maria."
Philip picked up Tess and sat her in his lap and hoped that the tiny play chair didn't collapse on him. "I didn't realize how much I would enjoy this until she came along."
"You are one lucky man." She reached over and ruffled Tess's blonde curls. "And she is one lucky little girl."
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Los Angeles - January 1989
"How was your holiday?" Amy asked as she stepped through the threshold of the Harding's condo. Boxes, wrapping papers and various toys lined the floor. "That good?"
Philip laughed and began to pick up some of the wrappings. "We spent Christmas and New Years with my parents in North Carolina. The rest of the family wanted to meet Tessie. I, of course, packed everything but the Christmas presents I had gotten for Tess, which meant I spent the first three days East scrambling around looking for replacement gifts there. Good thing I had shipped the rest of the presents first. Got back yesterday and let Tess have a field day with her gifts here."
"You're spoiling her," Amy warned lightly as she watched the sweet-faced little girl come down the stairs on her own dragging a large bunny by the ear. "Hi there, Tess. How are you?"
As with all strangers, Teresa Harding merely wiggled her fingers shyly at them and ducked her head.
"Come here, Baby." Philip opened his arms and caught the child as Tess launched herself into his arms. "I know that I spoil her even if I try not to but..." He smiled at the little thing in his arms. "Can you imagine someone just throwing her away like they did?" He blinked for a second and turned to look at her. "You're not here to tell me someone finally stepped forward and..."
"No, no, relax," Amy shook her head and sat on wrapping paper and bows. "I'm here just to do a routine check on her; see that she's still striving."
"I think she is," he smiled at the child in his arms. "At least I hope she is. Doesn't talk much but I think it is just cause she's still a little scared."
"And you're doing an admirable job of keeping her calm and happy," Amy got up slowly. "If all the parents in the world can take to their children as you've taken to this little girl, I'd be out of a job. Not that I would complain about it either."
"I can't imagine anyone not loving a child." Philip set Tess down with a kiss on her hair before she took off after a pretty silver ribbon by the Christmas tree. "We're just going to wash up and have lunch. Why don't you stay and have some with us. See how Tess is doing?"
She raised a brow. Most people were too nervous with a Social Worker around, having to hide certain things about themselves, to ever invite one to dine with them. It was refreshing to meet someone that felt different. But then, this one was different. "Sure, I'd love to."
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Los Angeles - April 1989
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Philip asked as he watched Amy closed the door on the waving babysitter. They had planned this night for so long that he had almost forgotten about it. "I mean, what if one of them get sick or something."
"The sitter has the number to the restaurant," Amy reassured him as she tucked her arm in his. It was endearing to see him fuss over his daughter as well as her own. "The girls are going to be fine. You're acting like you've never left her alone with a sitter before."
"I haven't." He admitted, glancing over his shoulder at the lightened widow.
She looked at him. "You haven't?"
"Of the three months we've been dating, have we ever left the girls with a sitter before?" He asked.
"No," she conceded thoughtfully. Usually she would bring Maria over with pizza for a movie and dinner date. The girls had fun playing together as much as she had fun playing with Philip. "Wait, before that..."
"My social life wasn't too hot when you have to bring a baby with you on dinner dates," Philip admitted quietly. Lord knows that he tried that several times. And no matter what people say about maternal instinct, there was no such thing when it comes to other people's babies. And as prettily behaved as Tess was, his dates always seemed to find something wrong with the child.
"Phil, she's four years old. She's hardly what one calls a baby." Amy laughed. "You're telling me that you never left her home with someone else?"
"Not in the evenings. Of course there is a day sitter but I thought... I thought Tessie would feel more at home if I was at home when I can."
Shaking her head, Amy reached over and pulled his cheek toward her. Planting a kiss on his clean-shaven jaw, she patted him gently on the face. "You're really too sweet, you know that?"
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Los Angeles - July 1989
"Happy Birthday, Tessie," Philip announce as he set the pink frosting cake before his happy little girl.
Golden curls bounced as she clapped her hands with excitement, her apple cheeks bright with color. Turning up to looking adoringly at him, Tess's big blue eyes reflected her happiness. "Cake! Cake! I want cake."
"Yes, cake," Amy said as she laughed and helped Maria into the highchair. "Ria honey, let mommy get that for you."
"Me too! Me too, Mommy." Maria agreed with Tess enthusiastically as her mother tucked a napkin into her shirtfront.
The two giggling girls then proceeded to consume a large slice each.
"Hey," Amy snagged Philip as he entered the kitchen for juice. "I've got a birthday present for you."
He raised one brow. "A present for me? But it's Tess's birthday."
"And you don't think that Barbie corvette is a good enough present?"
"No, no..." he laughed and hugged her. "She's loves it. But I think she likes having you and Maria over more."
"Well, we're glad cause we certainly have lots of fun when we come here." She kissed his cheek and pulled the folded envelope from her back pocket. "I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull this off so I didn't say anything about it before. But... Happy Birthday, Dad."
The smile left his face as he looked at the envelope in her hand. His head seemed to have stopped and he held his breath. "Is it..."
"Open it."
His hand shook as he slipped the paper out and read the content slowly, then read it over again, and then again. "They're going to let me adopt her," afraid that this was some wonderfully horrible dream.
Amy watched with amusement as the look of awe made him appear slightly stupefied. "That's what the nice judge said. With my recommendations of course."
He felt the air in his lungs burst with joy. "They're going to let me have her, forever?"
"Yep, as long as you live."
"Amy," he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Why thank me? You did all the work. You took her in, you clothed her, you bathed her, you cared for her, you loved her. You did that all on your own."
He hugged her tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
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Los Angeles - December 1990
"And I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"I know that part of the ceremony," Philip laughed as he leaned in and kissed Amy full on the mouth as their girls laughed and threw more flower petals in delight.
The justice of the peace beamed happily to see the two families unit. "May I present, Mr. and Mrs. Philip and Amy Harding."
"Oh I definitely like the sound of that," Amy said as she swept up Maria into her arms. "What do you say, Ria?"
"Sisters?" Maria reached out and linked pinkie with Tess who had been picked up by her father. The little pink flower girl dress cascaded around her mother's white lace dress. Her mother explained the meaning of the word to her very thoroughly before today. This means that she can have sleepovers with Tess all the time now!
Grinning back, Tess unhooked her finger long enough to kiss her new mother who had bought her to the pretty blue gown she was wearing. Her father had explained that Amy and Maria will be living with them now. No more having to say good-bye in the evenings. And she was going to get to call Amy, mommy, like all the other little girls in her class. Throwing one arm around her father's neck and one around Amy's, Tess brought them all closer. "Family."
"You tell them, girl!" Amy agreed.
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Los Angeles - February 1992
"Amy, I'm just not sure if this is a good idea."
"Why don't?"
"Because technically I'm not Maria's father!"
"You are more that little girl's father than that good for nothing excuse of a father she had is!" She grabbed Philip's arm as he turned from her. "You listen to me. Maria loves you. Maria adores you. You treat her with the kind of love and understanding that you give to your own daughter. You give her guidance and space to grow into the happy child that she is. You are her father! And I want her to carry your name."
"Have you asked Maria what she wants?"
"Of course I've asked," Amy replied gently, seeing the conflict in his eyes. "She's in her room now practicing to write her new name. She wants to make the loop on the G at the end of Harding the same way Tessie does."
Philip held his breath; feeling like his heart was going to burst into a million pieces. He wanted this, wanted it in his wildest dreams but never dare to give voice to that hope. "You sure about this?"
"100% sure. I've spoke to the in-house attorney, he says that adoption is not hard given that her father abandoned Maria and me. But to be safe, we'll publish the announcement and give it 90 days."
He nodded his head, turning toward the stairs where the girls were playing. "And then she's mine?"
Amy shook her head. "She's always been yours."
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Los Angeles - August 1994
Tess bit her lip and ran her hand over the broken pieces willing them to melt together once more. The release of energy was almost comfortable now, unlike the beginning when everything was new and frightening.
"You've almost got it, Tessie," Maria murmured encouragingly as the vase she had purposely broken came together slowly but surely before her eyes.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tess pulled back the energy stream and studied the vase with a critical eye. "Does it look smaller to you?"
"No," Maria replied happily. Tess was getting better at this every time they practice. "It looks perfect, exactly the way it was before we broke it."
"You mean before you broke it," she grinned at her sister. "How long did you think you were going to make me believe that you accidentally broke that vase again?"
"I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about," Maria said haughtily with a toss of her magnificently thick blonde hair. "If Mom would just stop putting it in the front hall ways then I wouldn't keep..." she was cut off as Tess leaned over and kissed her on the cheek
"Thank you for forcing me to practice," squeezing her hand in gratitude. "I know that I need to get a hold of this thing but..." She shook her head slowly. "I'm so afraid of it."
"I know," Maria leaned over and hugged her. How many nights did she stay up with Tess as the younger girl prayed that all the weirdness would stop? How many times did she had to reassure her that she was not a freak of nature? "Maybe if Mom and Dad knew..."
"No!" Tess glanced fearfully at the locked door to her bedroom. "I... I can't."
Maria nodded her head. She knew of Tess's fears and understood them, especially after watching the X-File Files. "Okay, okay, we do this your way for now."
"Thank you, Ria, for keeping this our secret."
"What are sisters for?"
"You mean besides breaking vases?"
Maria's eyes went wide as she picked up nearby throw pillow. "Why you little..."
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Los Angeles - April 4, 1996
"Amy, it'll just be for a couple of days," Philip explained as he dropped another pair of socks into the luggage bag. The last minute trip was wreaking havoc in the family. Maria recital was in a week and he did not want to miss it. "I'll be back before you know it."
"But why now? I thought the partners said that you won't have to make any more of these stupid..."
"I know, I know," he leaned across the bed and kissed her full on the mouth. "But something's come up in the New Mexico office and I have to take care of it."
"I don't like this," Amy said, rubbing her arms.
"And I don't like you going into those neighborhoods where the kids walk to school carrying knifes and guns. But you don't ever seem to listen to me."
"This is different, Philip."
"Relax, honey. Nothing is going to happen."
"Daddy?" Tess called from the doorway, her big blue eyes filled with concern.
"Hey honey," he beckoned her with his hand. "Did you want me to bring you something from New Mexico."
Tess walked to her father and buried her face against his shoulder. She felt an unreasonable fear at her father going away. "Don't go, Daddy. Don't go."
Philip looked up at Amy startled. Amy in turn felt bad that her youngest was picking up on her own anxiety over her husband's brief leave. "Tessie, sweetie, everything is going to be fine." She touched the blonde curls that swirled around those smooth cheeks. "Your father will be home in no time."
Philip paused in his packing and sat down with his daughter. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Tess shook her head slowly, the slow panic beginning to rise. "I don't know. I just don't feel safe anymore."
"Has something happened that I should know about?" Philip asked slowly with a measured tone. The newspapers were filled with stories of abuse and drugs, no way in hell he was ever going to allow anything to touch his family.
"No," Tess chuckled softly. "Maria would skin anyone that so much as looks at me wrong."
"Well, that's what big sisters are for!" Maria pronounced as she bounced into the room, blonde locks flying in every which direction. "You going to go pass Roswell, Dad?"
"Hey," Amy admonished. "Shoes off the bed."
"Of course, don't I always?" he said ruffling his daughter's hair. "You want another one of those alien figurines, don't you?"
Maria grinned gamely at him. "Orange or red this time, okay?"
Philip shook his head and continued packing. "All right, honey. A figurine it is." He turned to his youngest. "What about you, Tess? What would you like me to bring home for you?"
Teresa Elizabeth Harding looked through her father for a moment. "I want you to bring yourself home safe. That's all I ever want." She reached over and hugged her father once more, feeling the fearful tears gather in her eyes. "Don't want to be alone again."
Amy closed her eyes. It wasn't the first time in the seven years that Tess would sometimes spout this fear. It was almost as if she was remembering the time Philip found her alone in the desert. Yet when asked, she remembers nothing before coming to Los Angeles with her father.
Maria reached over and hugged her sister tight of a moment. "Tessie, you are never alone. After all, how are you ever going to get rid of me?"
Laughing, Tess let go of her father and grabbed the nearest pillow.
Defending herself with the other pillow, Maria yelled, "Pillow Fight!" and plummet the room into chaos and feathers.
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New Mexico - April 8, 1996
Snapping the brief case shut, Philip grabbed his jacket and tossed back the last of the cold coffee in his mug. If he were smart, he'd get a hotel room and sleep for the night before attempting to drive back to Los Angeles. But then, no one ever said he was the brightest bulb in the room.
Setting the volume of the stereo in the car up high, he dropped in one of Maria's favorite rock bands and let the roar of the musicians keep accompany him down the long stretch of highway.
He loved this road with its endless winds into the desert as the sun set before him. Every time he was one this road, he was reminded of when he first saw Tess. The Angel Child that changed his life. He was no longer sure how he ever got along without her and Amy and Maria. They were a family, his family.
The sun had just made its way behind the horizon when Philip saw him.
The man was dressed in black, head to foot, and appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Brakes screeched as Philip sent out a silently prayer that he did not hit this person the same he hit Tess so many years ago. Luck was on his side as he slid within a foot of the stranger.
Getting out of the car, "Hey buddy, you all right?" Philip came to an abrupt halt as steely blue eyes turned to stare at him. A chill made its way through his body. "You all right?"
The stranger came closer, his eyes never leaving Philip's face. "I am the protector of the royal four. Where is the queen?"
"What?" Bewildered, Philip wondered if this man might have escaped from an institution.
"The Queen of Antar. Where is she?" the man asked again, his voice completely devoid of all emotions.
"Listen, I have no idea what you're talking about buddy but I can go get help if that's what you need." Backing slowly, Philip prayed that those gruesome murders had had read about in the news later was not committed by this man. "In fact, I can go and..." the next word never came as bony fingers like steel jaws close around his throat, cutting off air.
"I do not have patience or time for this. Where is the queen?" Those eyes the color of the heavenly skies was colder than the polar icecaps.
Philip shook his head and clawed desperately at the hand that were holding him aloft as if he were nothing more than a rag doll. "I don't...."
"Yes, many of you have said that." The stranger watched the man's face turn crimson then a darker shade before he released him to the ground. "Nothing but useless humans." Then stepped around the body toward the desert once more.
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Los Angeles - April 8, 1996
Tess gasped, eyes going wide. Her heart felt as if it had stopped beating all together in her chest. But the painful squeeze was nothing compared to the sudden dread in her heart. She opened her mouth to call out to her sister, to her mother but only a scream of terror made its way through.
"Tessie!" Maria yelled as she came running from her room, all the blood having frozen in her veins. "MOM!"
Amy made a dash from the kitchen to the upstairs' bedroom in record time. "Tess! Maria!"
"Mom, hurry!" Maria clutched her sister's curled form desperately as Tess burst into tears. Her brave little sister never cried, never! The tears from those baby blues frightened her worse than the suddenness of the outcry. "Tess? Tess? Can you hear me? It's Ria. Please, please... Tess, talk to me. Tess? Tessie?"
"Tess?" Amy's arms tried to take the smaller form into her but Tess would not let go of Maria. "Oh baby, what's wrong? Tell me what's wrong."
"Mommy!" Tess cried, her blue eyes wide with terror and sorrow. "Daddy!" And she collapsed into tears once more.
Amy looked at Maria over the top of Tess's head, her eyes reflection her concern and confusion.
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Los Angeles - April 9, 1996 - 1:00 AM
The echo of the doorbell had not yet faded when Amy jerked the front door open.
If the uniforms were surprised that the woman and her two daughters were up so late on a school night, neither one showed it. "Mrs. Harding?"
Amy felt the bottom of her stomach drop. "Yes?"
"I'm afraid we have some bad news."
Swallowed the pain in her throat, Amy forced herself to be brave and turned to look at her girls. Their eyes reflected their pain. "I know."
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Los Angeles - June 1999
"Mom?" Maria called as she and Tess both dropped their lightened backpacks on the ground. Last day of school, all their books are turned back in. It was good to be alive again. "We're home."
"In here," Amy called from the dinning room as she started at the balance in her checkbook.
"Mom?" Tess asked as she and Maria walked in to catch the concern in their mother's eyes. "What happened?"
"The insurance money ran out," Amy replied, honest to a fault. She never believed in lying to the girls about anything, not since Philip's death. They shared everything, good or bad. "We knew it would but..."
"Summer just started," Maria said quietly. "We can get summer jobs and help with..."
"Honey," Amy looked up and sighed. She hated the fact that she was at rope's ends now. Her salary here just wasn't enough to support three, even as frugal as they've been; the mortgage was killing them. And the endless number of private investigators they've hired to find out what really happened to Philip that night ate up the money faster than she thought possible. "We have to sale the house."
Tess nodded, practical as always. "All right." She took everything that was thrown at her and swallowed it down without a whimper. In fact, she hasn't shed a tear of laughter, fear, frustration or grief since her father's funeral.
A sense of dread settled in her stomach. "Mom?" Maria asked sitting at the table. "Is it that bad?"
"Yes."
Maria and Tess traded looks; there was a hesitation in their mother's eyes. The sisters reached instinctively for each other's hand. If they had been sisters of the same blood, they couldn't have been closer. "What else?"
The thought of uprooting the girls broke her heart. "They've offered me a position elsewhere. Higher pay with benefits."
"Supervisory?" Tess asked, knowing the answer already. They've been waiting for this for some time now. But it had been their hope that it would be closer to home.
"Yes," Amy made a face. "In my old hometown."
"In Roswell?" Maria's eyes went big with surprise.
"Yes."
There was silence as each took a moment to think and remember. They've each struggled in their own way since Philip Harding's murder. The fact that after three years the case was still not solved, did not sit well with any of them. Amy threw herself into her work, trying to forget the pain of having loss someone so beautifully good. Tess created a wall around herself and withdrew from everything and everyone else but her sister and mother. Maria pushed forward in life, as she always did, and tried her best to help everyone else along. They leaned on one another for support, for guidance, for love.
But they can't live on love alone. And it was time for decisions.
"Mom?" Tess began softly, her blue eyes reflecting her love for the woman that raised her. "Let's go to Roswell."
Maria felt her sister's acceptance of the situation that was facing them. Practical Tess can accept anything as long as she was not alone. With her sister facing her own fear, how can Maria do any less? She could feel her dreams of a singing career slip away slowly. But looking at her sister and mother, she couldn't say that she regretted it. "Let's go to Roswell."
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A rather long and rough beginning to a story but I'm happy with it. I promise, not all of the story will be so solemn. This is just to set up the premise to the rest of the story. Soon, some very familiar faces will make appearances. Stay tuned!
By Didi
Disclaimer: Every time I write this, I feel slightly ridiculous. Barring any unforeseen complications, no one is ever going to mistaken me for owning any part of the Roswell series. But here it is anyways.
Author's Note: Okay, I've made it no secret that I did not enjoy the way the people at Roswell did the second and third season. I'm always been a huge fan of unconventional pairings. And I kept thinking that the stories could have been so much more interesting, at least to me, if certain things had been different. So I decided to do my own version of what happened.
Timeline: Let's take it back to the beginning, way back into the beginning and take out everything you ever knew and believed about Roswell except the characters. In my version, Liz never gets shot in the first episode. In fact, there is no first episode. And there is no Nasado around, at least not yet, to raise Tess. Instead, we have her found by another. And here's where our story begins.
Warning: This will be an alternate universe story with lots of unconventional pairings. If you are a huge fan of the usual Max/Liz, Michael/Maria, Alex/ Isabel and Kyle/Tess stories, this may not be for you. But if you allowed yourself to be open minded about things, I will make every attempt to make this entertaining. Or at least help you waste ten minutes of your life reading really crappy materials by me.
Summary: Alternate Universe. A tragedy moves a family from Los Angeles, California to Roswell, New Mexico. There, all the secrets of the past resurface and the future becomes an uncertain place.
Note: For this chapter only, please pay attention to the dates that are given. They do have some significance though not much. And hey, if I can take the time and effort to put them there, please have the consideration to take the time to at least notice them. Thank you and enjoy!
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Chapter 1 - The Beginning
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New Mexico - July 1988
The business trip had gone particularly well this afternoon and Philip Harding was looking forward to returning to Los Angeles. He supposed that the return drive through a balmy desert could have waited until morning but he really felt refreshed by the exhilaration of success. Perhaps he would stop at the Motel 6 or something once he cross over to Arizona but at the moment he was too revved up to sleep.
Philip loved the desert, there was something almost surreal about it during the hour when the sun would rise or fall behind the horizon that seemed to spread on into forever. If his job had allowed it, he would have no doubt moved into nice little adobe house somewhere in nature's hot lands. But as life would have it, he's stuck in the city were millions push their air polluting vehicles through the crowded street everyday just to earn a living. He supposed it could be worse; he could be stuck in a tropical climate where everything and everyone sweats at the drop of the temperature.
The air was cool and the silence of the night was lulling. Perhaps had there been a cricket or two, Philip wouldn't have been so careless.
She stepped out of nowhere, face illuminated by the high beams from the car on the stretch of endless road. Even as Philip hit the breaks and felt the sudden deceleration of the car throwing him forward, he took in the clear blue eyes and blonde curls of the little cherub. The old cliché 'deer in the headlights' popped into Philip's mind a second before he felt the impact of the car hitting the small body at maybe 5 mph.
The sedan jerked to a stop. Sickening horror paled Philip's face as he stared out onto the road where the little body, devoid of clothes, laid crumpled on the ground six feet from the front bumper, still illuminated by the headlights. Golden curls hide the angel face from view.
Scrambling from the car, he rushed to the fallen body. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he noted that that car had no damage at all, amazingly. Strange that he would think about at a time like this... but there it is.
The stillness of the body sent a shiver of fear through his chilled body. "Little girl?"
Rushing back to the car, he pull the blazer he had discarded earlier and came back to drape it over the small form. Looking around, he couldn't see anyone on the long stretch of road. The child couldn't be more than three or four years old, what was she doing out in the desert alone? And naked as a jaybird too.
But now was not the time to contemplate such questions. "Little girl?" he moved around the body, checking for any signs of blood and relieved to find none. "Honey, can you hear me?" There was no response.
Bracing himself, he brushed silky strands of blonde hair away from the smooth apple-cheeked face and felt a breath of warm air against his fingers.
Collapsing by the body in relief, he almost smiled. "Thank god for some small miracles."
Knowing that it was unlikely that there would be a payphone around, and he was not about to leave the child in the middle of the desert, he could only relay on the bits and pieces of first aid training he received in Boy Scouts and three summers as a life guard at the local park pool. "Well, no broken bone. Some cuts and what looks like the beginning of a nasty bruise... You are one very lucky little girl." He smoothed back the hair on her face and picked up the small body.
Looking around again, he had to wonder where this little angel came from. Visions of harbingers dropping from the sky cause the world was coming to an end danced in his head for a second before he dismissed it with a shake of his head and silently calling himself an idiot.
Tucking the child into the back seat and buckling her in securely, he drove to the nearest hospital and hoped for the best.
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New Mexico - September 1988
"There are still no signs of guardians or caretakers for the child. I've had dozens of parents with missing children coming in but there appears to be no one looking for her." Office Reyes looked up from her notes and frowned at the one-way mirrored window. The Angel Child, as the rest of the police department had been calling her, was sitting in the ugly interrogation room swinging her short chubby legs and sipping from the juice box someone had found for her since bringing her in from the hospital. "It's like she appeared out of no where."
"But that's not possible!" Philip ran his hand through his blond hair and frowned at the child. The hospital had confirmed his relieved belief that there had been little damage to the child from the accident. Most of the cuts were already healed over, and the bruises were reducing daily. She still reminded him of a cherub as she sat there, one arm curled around the white teddy bear he had brought her and the large unsightly bruise covering a good portion of the her face. "No one would just throw away a child, especially a child that looks like that!"
Reyes smiled, her eyes soft with agreement. The Angel Child looked like she could have easily been a model for some Gruber commercial, minus the blacken eye. "I understand your frustration and your cooperation in trying to locate the child's parents but we have pushed this as fair as we can. Our resources are limited and we cannot keep that child here indefinitely."
"What are you saying?" he asked turning to the officer.
"Social Services have been called. They're taking her to a foster home in a few days."
"You're joking, right?" The disbelief written clearly on his face. "You have any idea what those places are like? What could happen to her if she get put in one of those places?"
"I'm sorry but..."
"You can't just dump her in the system like that."
"We don't have any choice on the matter."
He shook his head and watched as the little girl stared at the glass, as if she could see him through the partition. The big blue eyes were soft with confusion and bright with intelligence. The Cupid's bow mouth was curled just at the end, leaving her with a permanent smile on her sweet little face. His heart tightened in his chest. "And there's no other way?"
Watching the young man staring at the child, Reyes felt herself melt. You have to love a man that loves children. If only she wasn't already married and mother of three.... "Well..."
"What?" Philip turned and looked hopefully at the woman. "What is it?"
"You could ask Social Services if you can keep her. After all, you did bring her in."
"After I ran her over with my car," he replied dryly.
"I think your actions since have more than pronounce you to be a responsible man. You didn't abandon the child when you could have easily done so. You've driven out here once a week to check on her. Paid for her medical bills. Bought her toys and clothes. I can't see any reason why they won't let you keep her for a while."
"I'm a single man. Don't they usually want married couples?"
"If you were adopting her, yes. But you're just going to keep an eye on her until we find out what to do with her. We don't know if she has parents out there looking for her. Plus you'd be doing Social Service a great favor by taking here. They're over burdened as is."
Considering it, really considering it, Philip nodded his head slowly as the little girl put the juice box down and stared at the bear. It was as if she's never seen one before. Every little girl should have a teddy bear, its... unnatural not to have one. "I live in L.A. Is that going to be a problem?"
"Social Services can transfer the case over there," sensing victory. She has Barbara Luna of the DCFS on speed dial.
Stepping closer to the glass, he smiled as the little angel pressed her nose against the teddy bear's button one. "How fast can you make this happen?"
"I'm on the horn now."
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Los Angeles - November 1988
The doorbell rang a third time as Philip tripped over the tricycle and two tiny bathroom slippers. "I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Out of breath and bruised on the knee, he yanked the door open just as a tiny wail of dismay erupted from the other room. Without looking at the visitor, he held up on finger. "Just a second," and took off toward the sound of the crying, tripping once more on the tricycle and slippers. "Oh baby, don't cry! It'll clean up."
Amy DeLuca stepped gingerly into the apartment that had until recently been a bachelor's dream pad. The state of the art media system and sports equipment had been pushed to one sidewall to make room for children's toys and playpen materials that now were scattered liberally throughout the room. Glancing about, she found baby food jars next to Tabasco sauce and half empty takeout cartons. A pair of pink fuzzy slippers had been stuffed into a pair of much larger blue ones by the door.
Glancing into the room with a hanging clown on the doorknob, Amy was greeted with the sight of Philip Harding trying valiantly to pull the blue blouse from the little girl's body while trying to keep the child in his lap. After figuring out that the last button on the back needed to be undone to remove the soiled garment, he finally freed the child. "See, now it's not sticky anymore." The little girl beamed up at him. "Now let's see about getting this one on you."
"Might help if you wash her up first," Amy suggested gently at the sweet scene before her.
Man and child turn as one to stare at her with identical wide eyes looks. She could have laughed is she didn't think it was inappropriate. "Hi," the man greeted as he slowly stood with the little angel clinging to his neck, hiding her face in his neck. "Didn't see you there."
"Didn't think you did," she offered her hand in the relaxed matter that's gotten her in more places than anyone ever imagined she would. "Amy DeLuca, Social Services."
"Oh!" he looked quickly around the room and nearly winced at the sight of a spilled cup of juice, dirty clothes littered on the ground, hair clips decorating the tiny ruffled bed by the side and the extraordinary about of toys everywhere. "I didn't know you were coming."
"Of course you didn't," she said lightly as she began to mop up the mess on the little play table. "How else would I do a little spot checking if I had told you ahead of time?" She looked up and smiled at the little girl. "Hi here..." she paused. "The file they sent me didn't have her name filled in. What is it?"
"Oh that," he tucked the golden hair back as the child began to squirm to get down. "She didn't have one. Didn't speak, didn't know her name, no identifications of any kind. The police department called her Angel Child."
She nodded her head, already knowing this part of the story since she had read it in the extensive report sent to her. "So what do you call her?"
"Tess," he replied, taking the six cookies she had grabbed with her hands and handing her back one. "Short for Teresa, my mother's name." He smiled as Tess broke open the cookie and licked the frosting with delight.
"That's sweet," Amy replied as she jotted it down on her notes. "Teresa... Harding?" he nodded. "But you call her Tess."
"Yes," he answered nervously as she made more notes to herself. "I know that the apartment is a little small and she doesn't have a lot of room to play. But I'm looking into getting a bigger place soon and..."
"The apartment looks fine," Amy replied, smiling as Tess offered her a cookie. "It looks clearer than mine does anyways. Thank you, sweetie."
He picked up toys as discreetly as he could, "I've been meaning to clean up but my schedule has just been...."
"That's very pretty," Amy cooed as Tess showed her the blouse that Philip has yet to put on her. "Would you like me to put that one you?"
"Oh my god, I totally..."
"Mr. Harding," Amy looked up and smiled gently. "Relax. I'm not here to take Tess away from you. I'm just here to make sure she's getting adequate care." She took a moist towel by the side, obvious there for later when the child was done with her snack, and began to wipe the remainder of the spill juice from the girl's body. "And from what I can see, you obviously have been going out of your way to create a place for Tess here."
He sighed silently and sat down by the little girl in a chair not big enough for more than half his rear. "Thank you."
"You obvious adore her. And she loves you," Amy laughed as Tess reached out and fed half her cookie to Philip. "Heck, you're better with her than I'm with my own four year old."
"You've got a kid?" wiping Tess's mouth with a napkin.
"Maria."
Philip picked up Tess and sat her in his lap and hoped that the tiny play chair didn't collapse on him. "I didn't realize how much I would enjoy this until she came along."
"You are one lucky man." She reached over and ruffled Tess's blonde curls. "And she is one lucky little girl."
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Los Angeles - January 1989
"How was your holiday?" Amy asked as she stepped through the threshold of the Harding's condo. Boxes, wrapping papers and various toys lined the floor. "That good?"
Philip laughed and began to pick up some of the wrappings. "We spent Christmas and New Years with my parents in North Carolina. The rest of the family wanted to meet Tessie. I, of course, packed everything but the Christmas presents I had gotten for Tess, which meant I spent the first three days East scrambling around looking for replacement gifts there. Good thing I had shipped the rest of the presents first. Got back yesterday and let Tess have a field day with her gifts here."
"You're spoiling her," Amy warned lightly as she watched the sweet-faced little girl come down the stairs on her own dragging a large bunny by the ear. "Hi there, Tess. How are you?"
As with all strangers, Teresa Harding merely wiggled her fingers shyly at them and ducked her head.
"Come here, Baby." Philip opened his arms and caught the child as Tess launched herself into his arms. "I know that I spoil her even if I try not to but..." He smiled at the little thing in his arms. "Can you imagine someone just throwing her away like they did?" He blinked for a second and turned to look at her. "You're not here to tell me someone finally stepped forward and..."
"No, no, relax," Amy shook her head and sat on wrapping paper and bows. "I'm here just to do a routine check on her; see that she's still striving."
"I think she is," he smiled at the child in his arms. "At least I hope she is. Doesn't talk much but I think it is just cause she's still a little scared."
"And you're doing an admirable job of keeping her calm and happy," Amy got up slowly. "If all the parents in the world can take to their children as you've taken to this little girl, I'd be out of a job. Not that I would complain about it either."
"I can't imagine anyone not loving a child." Philip set Tess down with a kiss on her hair before she took off after a pretty silver ribbon by the Christmas tree. "We're just going to wash up and have lunch. Why don't you stay and have some with us. See how Tess is doing?"
She raised a brow. Most people were too nervous with a Social Worker around, having to hide certain things about themselves, to ever invite one to dine with them. It was refreshing to meet someone that felt different. But then, this one was different. "Sure, I'd love to."
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Los Angeles - April 1989
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Philip asked as he watched Amy closed the door on the waving babysitter. They had planned this night for so long that he had almost forgotten about it. "I mean, what if one of them get sick or something."
"The sitter has the number to the restaurant," Amy reassured him as she tucked her arm in his. It was endearing to see him fuss over his daughter as well as her own. "The girls are going to be fine. You're acting like you've never left her alone with a sitter before."
"I haven't." He admitted, glancing over his shoulder at the lightened widow.
She looked at him. "You haven't?"
"Of the three months we've been dating, have we ever left the girls with a sitter before?" He asked.
"No," she conceded thoughtfully. Usually she would bring Maria over with pizza for a movie and dinner date. The girls had fun playing together as much as she had fun playing with Philip. "Wait, before that..."
"My social life wasn't too hot when you have to bring a baby with you on dinner dates," Philip admitted quietly. Lord knows that he tried that several times. And no matter what people say about maternal instinct, there was no such thing when it comes to other people's babies. And as prettily behaved as Tess was, his dates always seemed to find something wrong with the child.
"Phil, she's four years old. She's hardly what one calls a baby." Amy laughed. "You're telling me that you never left her home with someone else?"
"Not in the evenings. Of course there is a day sitter but I thought... I thought Tessie would feel more at home if I was at home when I can."
Shaking her head, Amy reached over and pulled his cheek toward her. Planting a kiss on his clean-shaven jaw, she patted him gently on the face. "You're really too sweet, you know that?"
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Los Angeles - July 1989
"Happy Birthday, Tessie," Philip announce as he set the pink frosting cake before his happy little girl.
Golden curls bounced as she clapped her hands with excitement, her apple cheeks bright with color. Turning up to looking adoringly at him, Tess's big blue eyes reflected her happiness. "Cake! Cake! I want cake."
"Yes, cake," Amy said as she laughed and helped Maria into the highchair. "Ria honey, let mommy get that for you."
"Me too! Me too, Mommy." Maria agreed with Tess enthusiastically as her mother tucked a napkin into her shirtfront.
The two giggling girls then proceeded to consume a large slice each.
"Hey," Amy snagged Philip as he entered the kitchen for juice. "I've got a birthday present for you."
He raised one brow. "A present for me? But it's Tess's birthday."
"And you don't think that Barbie corvette is a good enough present?"
"No, no..." he laughed and hugged her. "She's loves it. But I think she likes having you and Maria over more."
"Well, we're glad cause we certainly have lots of fun when we come here." She kissed his cheek and pulled the folded envelope from her back pocket. "I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull this off so I didn't say anything about it before. But... Happy Birthday, Dad."
The smile left his face as he looked at the envelope in her hand. His head seemed to have stopped and he held his breath. "Is it..."
"Open it."
His hand shook as he slipped the paper out and read the content slowly, then read it over again, and then again. "They're going to let me adopt her," afraid that this was some wonderfully horrible dream.
Amy watched with amusement as the look of awe made him appear slightly stupefied. "That's what the nice judge said. With my recommendations of course."
He felt the air in his lungs burst with joy. "They're going to let me have her, forever?"
"Yep, as long as you live."
"Amy," he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat. "How can I ever thank you?"
"Why thank me? You did all the work. You took her in, you clothed her, you bathed her, you cared for her, you loved her. You did that all on your own."
He hugged her tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
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Los Angeles - December 1990
"And I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"I know that part of the ceremony," Philip laughed as he leaned in and kissed Amy full on the mouth as their girls laughed and threw more flower petals in delight.
The justice of the peace beamed happily to see the two families unit. "May I present, Mr. and Mrs. Philip and Amy Harding."
"Oh I definitely like the sound of that," Amy said as she swept up Maria into her arms. "What do you say, Ria?"
"Sisters?" Maria reached out and linked pinkie with Tess who had been picked up by her father. The little pink flower girl dress cascaded around her mother's white lace dress. Her mother explained the meaning of the word to her very thoroughly before today. This means that she can have sleepovers with Tess all the time now!
Grinning back, Tess unhooked her finger long enough to kiss her new mother who had bought her to the pretty blue gown she was wearing. Her father had explained that Amy and Maria will be living with them now. No more having to say good-bye in the evenings. And she was going to get to call Amy, mommy, like all the other little girls in her class. Throwing one arm around her father's neck and one around Amy's, Tess brought them all closer. "Family."
"You tell them, girl!" Amy agreed.
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Los Angeles - February 1992
"Amy, I'm just not sure if this is a good idea."
"Why don't?"
"Because technically I'm not Maria's father!"
"You are more that little girl's father than that good for nothing excuse of a father she had is!" She grabbed Philip's arm as he turned from her. "You listen to me. Maria loves you. Maria adores you. You treat her with the kind of love and understanding that you give to your own daughter. You give her guidance and space to grow into the happy child that she is. You are her father! And I want her to carry your name."
"Have you asked Maria what she wants?"
"Of course I've asked," Amy replied gently, seeing the conflict in his eyes. "She's in her room now practicing to write her new name. She wants to make the loop on the G at the end of Harding the same way Tessie does."
Philip held his breath; feeling like his heart was going to burst into a million pieces. He wanted this, wanted it in his wildest dreams but never dare to give voice to that hope. "You sure about this?"
"100% sure. I've spoke to the in-house attorney, he says that adoption is not hard given that her father abandoned Maria and me. But to be safe, we'll publish the announcement and give it 90 days."
He nodded his head, turning toward the stairs where the girls were playing. "And then she's mine?"
Amy shook her head. "She's always been yours."
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Los Angeles - August 1994
Tess bit her lip and ran her hand over the broken pieces willing them to melt together once more. The release of energy was almost comfortable now, unlike the beginning when everything was new and frightening.
"You've almost got it, Tessie," Maria murmured encouragingly as the vase she had purposely broken came together slowly but surely before her eyes.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tess pulled back the energy stream and studied the vase with a critical eye. "Does it look smaller to you?"
"No," Maria replied happily. Tess was getting better at this every time they practice. "It looks perfect, exactly the way it was before we broke it."
"You mean before you broke it," she grinned at her sister. "How long did you think you were going to make me believe that you accidentally broke that vase again?"
"I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about," Maria said haughtily with a toss of her magnificently thick blonde hair. "If Mom would just stop putting it in the front hall ways then I wouldn't keep..." she was cut off as Tess leaned over and kissed her on the cheek
"Thank you for forcing me to practice," squeezing her hand in gratitude. "I know that I need to get a hold of this thing but..." She shook her head slowly. "I'm so afraid of it."
"I know," Maria leaned over and hugged her. How many nights did she stay up with Tess as the younger girl prayed that all the weirdness would stop? How many times did she had to reassure her that she was not a freak of nature? "Maybe if Mom and Dad knew..."
"No!" Tess glanced fearfully at the locked door to her bedroom. "I... I can't."
Maria nodded her head. She knew of Tess's fears and understood them, especially after watching the X-File Files. "Okay, okay, we do this your way for now."
"Thank you, Ria, for keeping this our secret."
"What are sisters for?"
"You mean besides breaking vases?"
Maria's eyes went wide as she picked up nearby throw pillow. "Why you little..."
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Los Angeles - April 4, 1996
"Amy, it'll just be for a couple of days," Philip explained as he dropped another pair of socks into the luggage bag. The last minute trip was wreaking havoc in the family. Maria recital was in a week and he did not want to miss it. "I'll be back before you know it."
"But why now? I thought the partners said that you won't have to make any more of these stupid..."
"I know, I know," he leaned across the bed and kissed her full on the mouth. "But something's come up in the New Mexico office and I have to take care of it."
"I don't like this," Amy said, rubbing her arms.
"And I don't like you going into those neighborhoods where the kids walk to school carrying knifes and guns. But you don't ever seem to listen to me."
"This is different, Philip."
"Relax, honey. Nothing is going to happen."
"Daddy?" Tess called from the doorway, her big blue eyes filled with concern.
"Hey honey," he beckoned her with his hand. "Did you want me to bring you something from New Mexico."
Tess walked to her father and buried her face against his shoulder. She felt an unreasonable fear at her father going away. "Don't go, Daddy. Don't go."
Philip looked up at Amy startled. Amy in turn felt bad that her youngest was picking up on her own anxiety over her husband's brief leave. "Tessie, sweetie, everything is going to be fine." She touched the blonde curls that swirled around those smooth cheeks. "Your father will be home in no time."
Philip paused in his packing and sat down with his daughter. "Baby, what's wrong?"
Tess shook her head slowly, the slow panic beginning to rise. "I don't know. I just don't feel safe anymore."
"Has something happened that I should know about?" Philip asked slowly with a measured tone. The newspapers were filled with stories of abuse and drugs, no way in hell he was ever going to allow anything to touch his family.
"No," Tess chuckled softly. "Maria would skin anyone that so much as looks at me wrong."
"Well, that's what big sisters are for!" Maria pronounced as she bounced into the room, blonde locks flying in every which direction. "You going to go pass Roswell, Dad?"
"Hey," Amy admonished. "Shoes off the bed."
"Of course, don't I always?" he said ruffling his daughter's hair. "You want another one of those alien figurines, don't you?"
Maria grinned gamely at him. "Orange or red this time, okay?"
Philip shook his head and continued packing. "All right, honey. A figurine it is." He turned to his youngest. "What about you, Tess? What would you like me to bring home for you?"
Teresa Elizabeth Harding looked through her father for a moment. "I want you to bring yourself home safe. That's all I ever want." She reached over and hugged her father once more, feeling the fearful tears gather in her eyes. "Don't want to be alone again."
Amy closed her eyes. It wasn't the first time in the seven years that Tess would sometimes spout this fear. It was almost as if she was remembering the time Philip found her alone in the desert. Yet when asked, she remembers nothing before coming to Los Angeles with her father.
Maria reached over and hugged her sister tight of a moment. "Tessie, you are never alone. After all, how are you ever going to get rid of me?"
Laughing, Tess let go of her father and grabbed the nearest pillow.
Defending herself with the other pillow, Maria yelled, "Pillow Fight!" and plummet the room into chaos and feathers.
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New Mexico - April 8, 1996
Snapping the brief case shut, Philip grabbed his jacket and tossed back the last of the cold coffee in his mug. If he were smart, he'd get a hotel room and sleep for the night before attempting to drive back to Los Angeles. But then, no one ever said he was the brightest bulb in the room.
Setting the volume of the stereo in the car up high, he dropped in one of Maria's favorite rock bands and let the roar of the musicians keep accompany him down the long stretch of highway.
He loved this road with its endless winds into the desert as the sun set before him. Every time he was one this road, he was reminded of when he first saw Tess. The Angel Child that changed his life. He was no longer sure how he ever got along without her and Amy and Maria. They were a family, his family.
The sun had just made its way behind the horizon when Philip saw him.
The man was dressed in black, head to foot, and appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Brakes screeched as Philip sent out a silently prayer that he did not hit this person the same he hit Tess so many years ago. Luck was on his side as he slid within a foot of the stranger.
Getting out of the car, "Hey buddy, you all right?" Philip came to an abrupt halt as steely blue eyes turned to stare at him. A chill made its way through his body. "You all right?"
The stranger came closer, his eyes never leaving Philip's face. "I am the protector of the royal four. Where is the queen?"
"What?" Bewildered, Philip wondered if this man might have escaped from an institution.
"The Queen of Antar. Where is she?" the man asked again, his voice completely devoid of all emotions.
"Listen, I have no idea what you're talking about buddy but I can go get help if that's what you need." Backing slowly, Philip prayed that those gruesome murders had had read about in the news later was not committed by this man. "In fact, I can go and..." the next word never came as bony fingers like steel jaws close around his throat, cutting off air.
"I do not have patience or time for this. Where is the queen?" Those eyes the color of the heavenly skies was colder than the polar icecaps.
Philip shook his head and clawed desperately at the hand that were holding him aloft as if he were nothing more than a rag doll. "I don't...."
"Yes, many of you have said that." The stranger watched the man's face turn crimson then a darker shade before he released him to the ground. "Nothing but useless humans." Then stepped around the body toward the desert once more.
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Los Angeles - April 8, 1996
Tess gasped, eyes going wide. Her heart felt as if it had stopped beating all together in her chest. But the painful squeeze was nothing compared to the sudden dread in her heart. She opened her mouth to call out to her sister, to her mother but only a scream of terror made its way through.
"Tessie!" Maria yelled as she came running from her room, all the blood having frozen in her veins. "MOM!"
Amy made a dash from the kitchen to the upstairs' bedroom in record time. "Tess! Maria!"
"Mom, hurry!" Maria clutched her sister's curled form desperately as Tess burst into tears. Her brave little sister never cried, never! The tears from those baby blues frightened her worse than the suddenness of the outcry. "Tess? Tess? Can you hear me? It's Ria. Please, please... Tess, talk to me. Tess? Tessie?"
"Tess?" Amy's arms tried to take the smaller form into her but Tess would not let go of Maria. "Oh baby, what's wrong? Tell me what's wrong."
"Mommy!" Tess cried, her blue eyes wide with terror and sorrow. "Daddy!" And she collapsed into tears once more.
Amy looked at Maria over the top of Tess's head, her eyes reflection her concern and confusion.
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Los Angeles - April 9, 1996 - 1:00 AM
The echo of the doorbell had not yet faded when Amy jerked the front door open.
If the uniforms were surprised that the woman and her two daughters were up so late on a school night, neither one showed it. "Mrs. Harding?"
Amy felt the bottom of her stomach drop. "Yes?"
"I'm afraid we have some bad news."
Swallowed the pain in her throat, Amy forced herself to be brave and turned to look at her girls. Their eyes reflected their pain. "I know."
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Los Angeles - June 1999
"Mom?" Maria called as she and Tess both dropped their lightened backpacks on the ground. Last day of school, all their books are turned back in. It was good to be alive again. "We're home."
"In here," Amy called from the dinning room as she started at the balance in her checkbook.
"Mom?" Tess asked as she and Maria walked in to catch the concern in their mother's eyes. "What happened?"
"The insurance money ran out," Amy replied, honest to a fault. She never believed in lying to the girls about anything, not since Philip's death. They shared everything, good or bad. "We knew it would but..."
"Summer just started," Maria said quietly. "We can get summer jobs and help with..."
"Honey," Amy looked up and sighed. She hated the fact that she was at rope's ends now. Her salary here just wasn't enough to support three, even as frugal as they've been; the mortgage was killing them. And the endless number of private investigators they've hired to find out what really happened to Philip that night ate up the money faster than she thought possible. "We have to sale the house."
Tess nodded, practical as always. "All right." She took everything that was thrown at her and swallowed it down without a whimper. In fact, she hasn't shed a tear of laughter, fear, frustration or grief since her father's funeral.
A sense of dread settled in her stomach. "Mom?" Maria asked sitting at the table. "Is it that bad?"
"Yes."
Maria and Tess traded looks; there was a hesitation in their mother's eyes. The sisters reached instinctively for each other's hand. If they had been sisters of the same blood, they couldn't have been closer. "What else?"
The thought of uprooting the girls broke her heart. "They've offered me a position elsewhere. Higher pay with benefits."
"Supervisory?" Tess asked, knowing the answer already. They've been waiting for this for some time now. But it had been their hope that it would be closer to home.
"Yes," Amy made a face. "In my old hometown."
"In Roswell?" Maria's eyes went big with surprise.
"Yes."
There was silence as each took a moment to think and remember. They've each struggled in their own way since Philip Harding's murder. The fact that after three years the case was still not solved, did not sit well with any of them. Amy threw herself into her work, trying to forget the pain of having loss someone so beautifully good. Tess created a wall around herself and withdrew from everything and everyone else but her sister and mother. Maria pushed forward in life, as she always did, and tried her best to help everyone else along. They leaned on one another for support, for guidance, for love.
But they can't live on love alone. And it was time for decisions.
"Mom?" Tess began softly, her blue eyes reflecting her love for the woman that raised her. "Let's go to Roswell."
Maria felt her sister's acceptance of the situation that was facing them. Practical Tess can accept anything as long as she was not alone. With her sister facing her own fear, how can Maria do any less? She could feel her dreams of a singing career slip away slowly. But looking at her sister and mother, she couldn't say that she regretted it. "Let's go to Roswell."
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A rather long and rough beginning to a story but I'm happy with it. I promise, not all of the story will be so solemn. This is just to set up the premise to the rest of the story. Soon, some very familiar faces will make appearances. Stay tuned!